Thursday at 12:30 pm
“Making Contact” is produced by International Media Project, an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1994, committed to investigative journalism, in-depth critical analysis, the promotion of civic participation and the dissemination of educational material. Its core focus is National Radio Project, the team that creates Making Contact.
Making Contact programs cover: Agriculture/Food – Civil Liberties – Globalization/Global-Political Economy – Education – Environment – Environmental Justice – Gay/Lesbian – Healthcare – Human Rights – Native/Indigenous Peoples – Labor – Latin America – Media – Middle East – Military/War/Peace – Nuclear – Political Activism – Prison/Police – Race – Social Justice – US Foreign Policy – US Domestic Politics – Welfare – Women – Youth … and more.
Upcoming episodes
Seeking Shelter: Building Housing and Community for LGBTQ Elders June 20, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors are much more likely than their straight counterparts to be alone and isolated as they age. Housing and support for these elders is a growing need--and the issue is not confined to the United States.Read More
Recent episodes
Rad Dads!!! June 13, 2013 | 12:30 pm
On this edition of Making Contact, fathers and mothers speak on fatherhood and how it's changing.Read More
Idle No More June 6, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Sylvia McAdam of Canada's Idle No More movement to protect indigenous rights and environmental justice is featured.Read More
Partners in the Struggle May 23, 2013 | 12:30 pm
From white Americans in the civil rights era, to Israelis in Palestine, to Latino-Americans working with the undocumented how does one work to support another's struggle?Read More
Cracking the Codes: Dr. Shakti Butler on the System of Racial Inequity May 16, 2013 | 12:30 pm
How do we talk about race and racism in this country? Not as deeply as we should, according to filmmaker and educator Dr. Shakti Butler. On this edition, we hear excerpts from Dr. Butler's film "Cracking the Codes", and speak with her about using the medium of film to start conversations around the thorny issues of racial inequity.Read More
Permission to Speak: Ex-Political Prisoners in Burma May 9, 2013 | 12:30 pm
As Burma transitions from dictatorship to democracy, hundreds of political prisoners have been freed after decades behind bars. On this edition, we hear from some of these freed political prisoners as they struggle to rebuild their lives, and test the emerging democracy.Read More
Manufacturing Terror: The Media’s Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim Problem May 2, 2013 | 12:30 pm
After the Boston Marathon bombing, journalists scrambled to identify those responsible for the attack, and their motive. Rolling news and online message boards were filled with speculation, many pointing the finger at Muslims and Arabs. Does the media reinforce anti-Arab and anti-Muslim stereotypes?Read More
Undocumented and Undaunted: DREAMer Artists Speak Out April 25, 2013 | 12:30 pm
The struggles of undocumented youth in the US often fly under the radar of the mainstream media. But with the tools of creative expression and the power of social media, a new generation of young immigrants is making sure their voices are heard. On this edition, young undocumented artists speak their truth, as the world listens.Read More
Surviving Ex-Gay Therapy April 18, 2013 | 12:30 pm
This week's edition of Making Contact explores the ex-gay therapy movement and all its detriments.Read More
Taxes Are For Suckers April 11, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Imagine paying almost nothing in taxes. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Some of America’s biggest companies are doing just that and making millions--or even billions--in profits, thanks to loopholes and more than a little political influence.Read More
Transit For All April 4, 2013 | 12:30 pm
When city budgets are cut, public transportation is often on the chopping block. And routes and lines serving those who need the service most, can be the first to go. But from New York to Portland and San Francisco to Argentina, an emerging ‘transportation justice’ movement is standing up for people’s right to ride.Read More
Our Bodies, Our Stories: Reproductive Health Behind Bars March 28, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Pregnant women in America’s prisons are being shackled to their beds and cells. Others are being sterilized, some say, against their will. Correctional institutions claim the policies are for safety’s sake, and that consent is always obtained. But others see a larger pattern at work. On this edition, from shackling to sterilization, thousands of incarcerated people are struggling to maintain control over their own reproductive health.Read More
Ten Years Later: Counting the Costs of War in Iraq March 21, 2013 | 12:30 pm
The invasion and occupation of Iraq defined a generation; the world’s largest anti-war protest was followed by the 3rd longest war in US history. Ten years later, American troops have officially left Iraq, but the occupation and its effects continue. On this edition, we look back at the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For Iraqis, for the US military, and for the anti-war movement; how have things changed? And what, if anything, has the world learned?Read More
Omar Barghouti on How to End Apartheid in Palestine March 14, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Inspired by the campaign to end South African apartheid, Palestinians are leading an international campaign to put economic and political pressure on Israel by boycotting Israeli products, divesting from Israeli companies and pushing for international sanctions on Israel. On this edition, Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti explains his people’s resistance, and the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign.Read More
Women Rising #22: International Anti-Nuclear Activists March 7, 2013 | 12:30 pm
With nuclear power back on the agenda, three prominent female activists tell their stories: Kaori Izumi was part of the grassroots campaign to shutdown Japan’s nuclear power plants, after the Fukushima disaster. Winona LaDuke, has spent much of her life working to oppose uranium mining on indigenous land. And Alice Slater is part of a global initiative to ban nuclear weapons. On this edition, is the anti-nuclear movement on the rise?Read More
Putting the “Eco” Back into Economics with David Suzuki February 28, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Author, radio host, and scientist David Suzuki has spent a lifetime working to protect the environment. But a generation later, he says activists like him have failed to shift the paradigm; more is needed to protectthe health of our species and our planet. On this edition, David Suzuki says we need to stop fighting, and use the laws of nature as a starting point for moving forward.
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Not In Our Backyard: Fighting Pollution in Richmond, California February 21, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Richmond, California is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, world-renowned for its natural coastal beauty. Though Richmond enjoys the ocean breezes like many of its neighbors, those breezes often come laden with chemical fumes, hazardous waste residues, and particulate matter. Richmond is one of the lowest-income communities in the Bay Area. It's also one of the most toxic. But in recent years, Richmond's also become a leader in the growing environmental justice movement, due in large part to lots of grassroots community actionRead More
Making Contact will not be broadcast this week February 14, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Due to our Winter Fund Dive, Making Contact will not be broadcast this week. If you'd like to show your financial support for this program, please go to http://www.kkfi.org/donateRead More
The Legacy of Slavery February 7, 2013 | 12:30 pm
African-Americans have endured one of the most painful eras of American history - an era that has been normalized and justified not only by institutions that have been complicit with slavery but also by African-Americans themselves. Dr. Joy DeGruy is the author of "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing", she argues that African-Americans suffer from a deep psychological trauma that has been passed on through generations. Dr. DeGruy explores African-American history, cultural behavior and the trauma of slavery and racism's impacts on African-Americans and society as a whole. Dr. DeGruy advocates for recognition and collective healing.Read More
Beats, Rhymes and Laughs: Culture as a Tool for Racial Justice January 31, 2013 | 12:30 pm
On this edition, excerpts from a panel on racial justice, culture and politics featuring some of today's most insightful and outspoken artists.Read More
Dam Shame: Rivers and Resistance January 24, 2013 | 12:30 pm
As we look for a solution to global energy problems and a way out of the climate crisis- some are turning to dams and hydroelectric power as a source of "green" energy. But at what cost? Massive dams are being built and considered all over the world, despite mounting concern over their economic, environmental and human impacts. On this edition, we'll take a closer look at the damage caused by hydropower projects, and we'll visit a community trying to keep their culture and homeland free from the destructive influence of river dams.Read More
In the Shadow of the Wall: From Gaza to Arizona January 17, 2013 | 12:30 pm
In dozens of countries, millions of people live beside militarized border walls, areas which can be quite dangerous. From Palestinian farmers to shootings at the US and Mexico border; living in the shadow of the wall.Read More
Human Rights: Not Just For Humans (& Corporations) Anymore? January 10, 2013 | 12:30 pm
The courts have ruled that in the US, Corporations have the same rights as people But do our communities and natural ecosystems have any rights? How about our bodies, right down to our cells and genetic material? Do they have rights? And how can we defend them? On this edition, Thomas Linzey and Katherine Davies argue that in order to defend our bodies and our environment, they must be given rights under the law.Read More
Art is Our Weapon: A Conversation With Climbing Poetree January 3, 2013 | 12:30 pm
Alixa and Naima are two poets who together make up Climbing PoeTree, an award winning performance duo. Mixing poetry and politics they seek to use their words to educate and inspire. On this edition, we hear performances by Climbing PoeTree and find out where such inspiring artists find their own inspiration.Read More
Life or Death: Ending the Death Penalty December 20, 2012 | 12:30 pm
A growing movement is demanding the United States do away with the death penalty. In 2012 voters had the chance to vote to replace California's death penalty with life without the possibility of parole. But while some saw the ballot measure as a way to end the death penalty, others saw life without parole as another kind of death sentenceOn this edition KALW reporter Nancy Mullane speaks to some of those on California's death row and we hear from two opponents of the death penalty about where the movement to end executions goes next.
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Saving or Selling the Planet? REDD, Climate Change and Indigenous Lands December 13, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Around the world communities are already facing the impacts of climate change. Now international organizations, like the World Bank, are pushing a policy that asks polluters to offset their pollution by paying governments to protect forests. But is it working? On this edition, we take a closer look at this policy and ask, is it a plan to save the planet, or just sell it off? We'll hear from indigenous activists and extracts from "A Darker Shade of Green: REDD Alert and the Future of Forests" by Jeff Conant, narrated by Dania Cabello.Read More
Room To Breathe: From Chaos to Peace in the Classroom December 6, 2012 | 12:30 pm
At overcrowded and underfunded public schools across the country high suspension rates are exacerbating existing achievement gaps. Often, chaos in the classroom is to blame, keeping students from concentrating on their classes. On this edition we’ll hear excerpts from Russell Long’s film “Room to Breathe” which takes us to a middle school in San Francisco, California, that began teaching mindfulness in the hopes of giving students the skills they need to focus on learningRead More
Native Harvest for a Modern World November 29, 2012 | 12:30 pm
For centuries, the Taos Pueblo people in New Mexico lived entirely off their land. Sustainable agriculture was a way of life, but U.S. federal policies helped put an end to that. Food wasn’t grown at the pueblos; it was trucked in. Traditional farming gave way to government subsidies and obesity rates soared. But recently, a surprising agricultural renaissance has taken root across the pueblos. On this edition, Making Contact’s Rita Daniels takes us to the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico to share a story of rebirth and renewal.Read More
Women Rising #22: International Anti-Nuclear Activists November 22, 2012 | 12:30 pm
With nuclear power back on the agenda, three prominent female activists tell their stories: Kaori Izumi was part of the grassroots campaign to shutdown Japan's nuclear power plants, after the Fukushima disaster. Winona LaDuke, has spent much of her life working to oppose uranium mining on indigenous land. And Alice Slater is part of a global initiative to ban nuclear weapons. On this edition: is the anti-nuclear movement on the rise?Read More
The Electoral College’s Dirty History November 15, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Yale University Law & Political Science Professor Akhil Reed Amar says the Electoral College discourages voting, lessens the power of the states, and could work to the disadvantage of either major political party. Professor Amar speaks with Angela McKenzie of Initiative Radio about how theUS constitution can be changed to create a more fair and just society
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Education Not For Sale November 8, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Around the world, students have been taking to the streets. They’re opposed to rising tuition fees and cuts to education. On this edition, we’ll hear how students in Quebec, helped bring down the government and why Chilean students are back out on the streets again. We’ll also speak to an activist in Puerto Rico who says she’s had enough of US-style higher education.Read More
The Life, Death, and Rebirth of ACORN November 1, 2012 | 12:30 pm
It took 40 years to build ACORN, the national community organization which at its peak had more than half a million members. But it took just a few months to bring it down. Now, local organizers are trying to rebuild from the ground up, while not forgetting the lessons they learned. On this edition, the assassination of ACORN. And a look at how the groups’ absence is affecting elections, poverty, and the continuing housing crisis?Read More
The Penalty is Exile: How Immigration and Criminalization Collide October 25, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Under President Obama more than 1 million people have been deported from the United States. Immigration officials claim that many of those being deported are criminals. On this edition, producer Cory Fischer-Hoffman investigates the connection between immigration and the criminal justice system and the impact this burgeoning relationship is having on immigrants.Read More
Confessions of a Microfinance Heretic October 18, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Microfinance was supposed to bring upward mobility to millions in the developing world. Kiva and other organizations let people lend money to struggling entrepreneurs. But a new blockbuster book by a former industry insider is exposing the dark side of the micro-lending world. In a special co-production with KALW radio, Hugh Sinclair, the author of Confessions of a Microfinance Heretic, tells the story of how he learned the dirty truths behind this exploding banking sector.Read More
The Burning Issue: America’s War on Fire October 11, 2012 | 12:30 pm
This year it made major news, but every summer wildfires torch thousands of acres of land. The National Forest Service rushes to the rescue; to save lives, homes, and communities. But is the agency’s approach to fire doing more harm than good? On this edition, producer George Lavender takes a closer look at the “War on Fire”, from the forests of California to the halls of Congress.Read More
Making it Our Business: Co-ops on the Rise September 27, 2012 | 12:30 pm
2012 has been declared the year of the co-op by the United Nations. And the global economic situation is causing more people to consider how worker owned businesses might serve their employees and community better. But forming, and sustaining a co-op isn't easy. On this edition, we go from Chicago, where workers are trying to take over the factory to save their jobs, to the Basque country in Spain, where an entire region has formed a massive co-operative society.Read More
Buying Power: Corporate Money in Politics September 20, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Buying Power: Corporate Money in PoliticsRead More
Drones: A New Death From Above September 13, 2012 | 12:30 pm
It's being sold as a cleaner way to wage war. But unmanned military drones are wreaking havoc in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere. On this edition, we bring you voices from Pakistan of families destroyed by drone strikes. And we hear from Medea Benjamin and other activists who are working to build a global movement against this controversial military technology.Read More
Being Black and Green: African-Americans & the Environment August 23, 2012 | 12:30 pm
African-Americans are helping to lead the environmental movement. We take you to a resettlement community in North Carolina, sustainable farms in Wisconsin and a local bike ride in California, where local black leaders are changing the color of environmentalism.Read More
Returning Fire: Interventions in Video Game Culture August 16, 2012 | 12:30 pm
At the mall, online, and even within the US military. Interactive, realistic, pro-war video games have become part of American culture. But anti-war protestors have found a way inside those games too. And artists are finding ways to turn the virtual world, into a place where the military hero narrative can be questioned. On this edition, we hear excerpts from the movie Returning Fire: Interventions in Video Game Culture, written and directed by Roger Stahl.Read More
Undue Influence: the Power of Police and Prison Guards’ Unions August 9, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Police officers and prison guards hold tremendous political sway. Their unions support or opposition can make or break a campaign for office. And their advocacy for better pay, more power, and more jobs has been a major factor in the expansion of the prison industrial complex. For decades, they've helped build America's build America's criminal justice system. Now that system is changing. Can law enforcement unions change as well?Read More
Lessons of Nagasaki August 2, 2012 | 12:30 pm
The US dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Three days later, the small fishing village of Nagasaki also fell victim. On this edition, we hear the voices and lessons of the most deadly attacks the world had ever seen. We commemorate the anniversary of the bombings with excerpts from two documentaries, "Hiroshima Countdown" and "Nagasaki Journey."Read More
The Struggle for Libya’s Future July 26, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Reese Erlich brings us a special report from Libya on the chaos that remains in the wake of the overthrow of hated dictator Muammar Gaddafi. While the west proclaimed a great victory for so-called “humanitarian military intervention,” armed militias once allied with the US and NATO now attack government offices and engage in extortion rackets.Read More
The Olympic Games: Who Wins? July 19, 2012 | 12:30 pm
The Olympic Games have grown into a multibillion dollar industry. But with that growth comes concerns about the negative affects of the event on the people and places where the Games take place. We ask: who wins, and who loses, when the Olympics come to town?Read More
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