A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

PART TWO: OUR MONEY

Program 09-03-29-A

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It's not hard to see why economics is called "the dismal science" – after we were blind-sided by the worst financial meltdown in decades. But economics does have its visionaries - like Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman ... and fellow Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who's started a new kind of bank that lends money to the very poor. Then there's Jeffrey Sachs, who's working to build a sustainable future in developing countries. And for some hands-on economic lessons in Afghanistan, meet "Three Cups of Tea" author Greg Mortensen. We'll talk with them all in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1:

Muhammad Yunus founded the Grameen Bank which pioneered the practice of micro-lending as a way for poor people to start their own businesses. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He talks with Steve Paulson about his plans to help the poorest of the poor by engaging in what he calls "social business." And we hear a rant/sermon from Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir.

SEGMENT 2:

Superstar economist Jeffrey Sachs runs the Earth Institute at Columbia University. He's also a special advisor to the U.N. and author of "Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet." He tells Jim Fleming why we need a new economic model rooted in an environmentally sustainable future. Also, Naomi Klein is one of the world's most prominent critics of globalization. She tells Anne Strainchamps how countries impose "disaster capitalism" on countries to get otherwise unpopular policies accepted. Her book is called "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism."

SEGMENT 3:

Greg Mortensen is the author of "Three Cups of Tea." The book explains how a failed attempt to climb K2 led to a program to build schools in the heart of Taliban country in Pakistan and Afghanistan with local people and donated money. He tells Jim Fleming how he built his first school and why he's made this his life's work. Also, Paul Krugman is one of America's most visible economists. He teaches at Princeton, has a column in the New York Times and won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics. Krugman tells Steve Paulson why he admires John Maynard Keynes and that economics should makes people's lives better.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-03-29-A.

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Books & CDs:

Muhammad Yunus, Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism (Public Affairs)
Jeffrey Sachs, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (Penguin Press)
Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (Metropolitan Books)
Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace….One School at a Time (Penguin Press)
Paul Krugman, The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 (W.W. Norton)

Websites:

• THREE CUPS OF TEA
  Inspired by Greg Mortenson’s story and want to help his project? Below is a link to ways to help (from going to Pakistan to starting a “Three Cups of Tea” bookclub):
  http://www.threecupsoftea.com/how-to-help/

• THE CHURCH OF STOP SHOPPING
  Who is Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping? Click below for sermons, music, and how you can join “the church”:
  http://www.revbilly.com/

  And, to see a trailer from the film about Rev. Billy called “What Would Jesus Buy?”:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGi21YQFjMM

• THE SHOCK DOCTRINE
  Want to find out more about Naomi Klein and her critique of global capitalism? Want to get involved? Just click here:
  http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine

• THE END OF POVERTY
  We all want to end poverty. Jeffrey Sachs says we can. Here’s his list of where we can start (and it’s NOT giving money):
  http://www.earth.columbia.edu/pages/endofpoverty/howtohelp

• MICROLOANS
  Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his bank (Grameen Bank) giving out microloans to the poorest of the poor. For more information on the bank, including how you can help (with information about how you can travel to Bangladesh to train in microloan practices):
  http://www.grameen-info.org/

• KRUGMAN’S LIST OF WEBSITES

  Paul Krugman won the 2008 Nobel Prize for Economics. What web resources on economics does he find useful? Here’s a list:
  Asia crisis homepage : Nouriel Roubini maintains this amazing site. Follow not just the events but the big intellectual debates more or less in real time.
  Brad De Long's home page : A great set of readings and links; check out in particular his book-in-progress on the economic history of the century.
  Network externalities : Nicholas Economides maintains this site, which is the best reference for the real issues (as opposed to the bogus ones) surrounding Microsoft and all that.
  Foreign labor statistics home page : For those who have tired of fact-free discussions of the global economy, here's a great site for data - especially on wages and per capita incomes.
  Samuel Brittan's website : The dean of economic commentators, as sharp as ever. A great addition to the web.
  Meghbarta : I just learned about this site via email: a Bangladeshi webzine. Read it for a genuine Third World take on issues like child labor and immigration - a powerful corrective to the self-righteousness of First World NGOs.
  

Music:

• “Der Bauch” by MC Sultan off of his CD “Super Ethno Astronaut” on Bar Fly Records.
• “Rabbit in Your Headlights” by UNKLE on their CD “Psyence Fiction” on Mo’ Wax Records.
• “A Warning” by Thievery Corporation on their CD “Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi” on ESL Records.
• “Heatwave” by Phoenix on the CD “Source Material” from Astralwerks Records.
• “Down Slow” by Moby on his CD “Play” on Rave New World Records.
• “Sayonee” by Junoon on his CD “The Best of Junoon” on EMI Music Arabia Records.
• “Tracery” and “Lament” by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on his CD “Ecstasy” on Terrascape Records.

Distribution dates: week of 12/13/2009 - hour 2 week of 03/29/2009 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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