The Plight and Power of Women in the Middle East

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First Lady Laura Bush is just back from her good-will tour of the Middle East. Along with touting education in her speeches in Jordan, Israel and Egypt, she emphasized the importance of women-s roles in any democracy. In Afghanistan, women comprised 40% of the voters in the most recent elections. Just last week, women in Kuwait were granted the right to vote. Yet while many women in the Middle East are starting their own businesses, millions of others are seriously disadvantaged in education, healthcare and the justice system. Life is an often violent hardship. Guest host Diana Nyad speaks with social anthropologists, women's advocates, activists, and a State Department coordinator who accompanied Mrs. Bush on her recent trip about democratization of the Middle East and the daily struggle for women there. (An extended version of this discussion aired earlier today on To the Point.) Making News: Heal the Bay Releases Its Annual Report With Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer coming up, Heal the Bay released its annual beach report card today. Mitzy Taggart, a staff scientist for the Santa Monica-based environmental group, discusses the best and the "bummers" and explains what pollution and precipitation have to do with water quality.
Guest host Diana Nyad, who was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002 as the world record-holder for the longest swim without the aid of a cage -- from Bimini to Florida, 102.5 miles! -- is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, has served as senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books, Other Shores, Basic Training and The Keyshawn Johnson Story.

Heal the Bay's 2004-2005 Annual Beach Report

LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Amnesty International's 2005 Human Rights Report

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton