To the Point

America's National Parks and Beaches

Yosemite Valley, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon may be the best known, but there-s a total of no less than 388 National Parks. Each has been set aside because it-s unique in one way or another. The National Park Service is charged with preserving these natural treasures, while making them available to the maximum number of people at the same time. Meantime, America-s beaches are run by a patchwork of local agencies, which can-t control the pollution that comes from industry, over-use and a lack of resources. What-s in store for the nation-s favorite vacation destinations? Warren Olney joins environmentalists and an administrator of the National Parks Service for a look at the fragility of America-s most popular destinations. Making News: Bush-Karzai Press Conference The International Red Cross has reminded President Bush that US control of Saddam Hussein will legally end when Iraq-s new government takes over at the end of June. Today, answering questions in the Rose Garden, where he appeared with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the President refused to set a timetable for giving up the world-s most famous prisoner of war. Maura Reynolds was there for the Los Angeles Times. Reporter's Notebook: North, South Korea Switch Off Loudspeakers The border between North and South Korea has been heavily fortified since the Korean War ended 51 years ago. Last night, at what was once the world's most dangerous border, there was a historic change. Don Oberdorfer, author of The Two Koreas and a former correspondent for the Washington Post, discusses the symbolic dismantling of speakers and signboards along the DMZ, and what it portends for the future. Program Note: The Deputy Director of the National Park Service stated that the National Parks Conservation Association, which had given the Park Service a D-minus grade, had itself received a grade of D from the American Institute of Philanthropy. We thought it worth noting that the grade referred to was given four years ago, that it has since been raised, and that NPCA meets or exceeds all 23 standards of the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance, and received three out of a possible four stars from Charity Navigator, another group which rates charities.