President Obama Reverses Stem Cell Ban
Listen
President Obama signs an executive order today allowing federal funding of research on all new embryonic stem cell lines, which had been restricted under President Bush. We speak with Alice Park, science writer for Time Magazine.
Priya Suntharalingam in the Here & Now Studios
Sri Lanka Civil War
Listen The civil war in Sri Lanka between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority rages on. Right now, thousands of civilians and Tamil Tiger fighters are trapped in a narrow war zone in the north of the country. To show support for the Tamil people, a high school student in Massachusetts took part in a recent hunger strike. We speak to Priya Suntharalingam about her effort. We also speak to Zach Abuza, professor of political science at Simmons College. He’s an expert on Southeast Asia politics and security issues.
Airline Fare: How Low Can They Go?
Listen
Airlines are offering great deals to escape the winter blues, but are the fares as good as they look? Carol Sottili, a Washington Post travel writer, tells us how to parse out the good deals from the mirages, and how to lock in low fares before they disappear.
- More from Tripadvisor.com
Freight Cars in Kentucky courtesy of Bob Carroll.
Abandoned Freight Cars
- Watch Bruce Atkinson’s Video
- See more freight car photos
Anne Heaton “Jumps” Right In
Listen
We talk with singer-songwriter Anne Heaton about her new CD “Blazing Red.” The New York Times calls “Jump,” the lead track on the recording “absolutely gorgeous.”
Music From the Show
- Radiohead, “In Limbo”
- MIA, “O… Saya” co-written by AR Rahman
- Joe Jackson, “Steppin’ Out”
- Sun Kil Moon, “Carry Me Ohio”
- Anne Heaton, “Strings O.V.”
- Anne Heaton, “My Only Way Out Is In”
- Anne Heaton, “Mama To You.”
about your “Sri lanka civil war” We want to hear from other side too in your program.
Posted by Ranjith, on March 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pmHow does Robin Young happen to sound exactly like Terri Gross? Are they related? RA
Posted by Rita Agabashian, on March 10th, 2009 at 6:44 amDear Robin:
I am writing in regard to your interview with Priya Suntharalingam and views on Sri Lanka (Here & Now – 03/09/2009).
First, by way of background, I grew up in Sri Lanka until graduating from high school, and have been living in the United States since 1991. I moved to Boston in 1995 to attend graduate school, and have been residing in the city since then. I have visited Sri Lanka practically every year after leaving the country, and recently have been visiting twice a year. My last trip was in December.
While I admire Priya’s dedication to a cause she believes in, her assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka is completely wrong. There is no genocide happening is Sri Lanka. Below are a few verifiable facts about how Tamil people live freely in the country.
a). A big reason for my trip in December was to attend a wedding of a good friend – a Tamil friend. He had a wonderful ceremony, followed by a reception at a fancy hotel in Colombo, and a after-party at a nightclub. Lots of his cousins and friends, majority Tamil, attended the festivities. On the way to the nightclub (around 1.30 AM), we were stopped several times at Sri Lanka Army checkpoints – all of us, both Sinhala and Tamil people – were treated equally.
b). There is a Tamil Temple approximately 1/4 mile down the road from my parent’s house, which is in a suburb of Colombo. Tamil people frequent this temple, and specially on Sundays, the entire area is filled with Tamil people attending Sunday Prayers. They ride the same buses as the Sinhala folks and move about freely.
c). My company employs approximately 35 people in Sri Lanka. Some of our best employees are Tamil. In fact, the two gentlemen who held the #1 and #2 management positions for 5 years are Tamil (I have never thought of them as Tamil, and feel awkward even pointing out their ethnicity).
As for the plight of the civilians in the war zone, I too am concerned about the situation. While Tamil people live free and normal lives in the southern part of Sri Lanka, the civilians in the war zone seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sri Lankan Government is making military gains against the Tamil Terrorists (LTTE). The Government seems to be taking all steps necessary to minimize civilian casualties. However, the LTTE holds the real key to ending the suffering of civilians – the LTTE can simply let the civilians free, and then either battle it out with the military or lay down arms and enter the political arena.
In conclusion, there is no genocide happening is Sri Lanka – Tamil people are able to move freely in the country.
Sincerely,
Thusith
Posted by Thusith Mahanama, on March 11th, 2009 at 8:02 amMy boyfriend is Sinhalese and I have spent significant time and energy trying to understand the conflict in Sri Lanka. It is important to me as an American to find my own unbiased perspectives on the current issues. However, that is exceedingly difficult to accomplish. On the one side, the government (led by both Sinhalese and Tamils) limits journalist activity in the country which seems suspicious – and on the other side most of what I hear from the pro-separatist Tamils is inaccurate. For example, your guest, Priya stated that she was told not to speak in Tamil in Colombo lest she be stabbed by Sinhalese mobs. I can’t imagine what she is talking about. On a recent trip to Sri Lanka, I walked through the streets of Colombo with both Sinhalese and Tamil friends. I saw numbers of Tamil women walking around alone.
In any case, I appreciate NPR’s coverage of the issues, and hope that you will continue – as I do – to try to uncover the truth in this very messy conflict.
Posted by Ashley Marks, on March 16th, 2009 at 12:44 pm