Professor of Public Health, Columbia University
Assistant Professor of Public Health at Columbia University and Founder-Director of its Rwanda-based Access Project to Fight AIDS, which helps African countries develop and implement public health programs; director of the Millennium Villages Project in Rwanda
The World's Biggest Challenge: Feeding Humanity The G-8 leaders took heat from Britain's Guardian newspaper this week for discussing the world's food crisis over a 19-dish dinner prepared by 25 chefs in Hokkaido, Japan. Meantime, the World Bank reported that 75% of the rise in food prices is due to bio-fuels. The rising prices of food and fuel are being called "the first real economic crisis of globalization." In the past three years, increased food costs have pushed 400 million into the ranks of the world's poorest, those who live on less than a dollar a day. Other factors include global warming, meat consumption, politics and financial speculation. We look at the worldwide food chain, stressed so thin that any disruption means it can't keep up with growing demand.
Bush's African Legacy Coming to a movie theater near you: a two-and-a-half minute trailer, narrated by President Bush, showcasing his anti-AIDS programs in Africa. This week, the President is visiting that continent to help give a positive spin to his legacy. He's touring five countries where his anti-AIDS and malaria programs have taken hold. Even his US critics concede he's made a big difference for millions of people, and he's been warmly received in Benin, Tanzania and Rwanda. What are the trade-offs? Do abstinence-only programs do more harm than good? What about poverty and the shortage of food? Do the countries he's not visiting need more help than the five where he's touching down?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.