China Bookstore Owner

People are sleeping in the streets and organizing impromptu aid convoys in and around Chengdu, the provincial capital in the earthquake- stricken zone in China, where there are fears that a bigger aftershock is on the way.

China/Burma

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China is coping with a natural disaster; so too is it’s neighbor and ally, Burma. What is the relationship between these two countries? Our guest is Melinda Liu, Beijing bureau chief, Newsweek.

Mangroves

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What role do mangroves play in protecting people from tsunamis and cyclones? We speak to Aaron Ellison of Harvard University.

Graduation Names

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What’s in a name? A lot more than you might think, if you’re announcing a list of graduating seniors who are receiving their diplomas. As we enter college commencement season, we find out what’s involved in reading those names from Sue Alexander, Dean of Students at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.

Hebrew Words

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We look at the rebirth and revival of the Hebrew language. Reporter Daniel Estrin tells the story of how an ancient language gets modernized. The Academy of the Hebrew Language still coins words for things like ‘cellphone ringtone’ and ‘jingle.’