Making Contact

Officially opening in 1914, the Panama Canal connected the Atlantic and Pacific creating a short-cut for ships. It was the biggest infrastructure project of its time. But originally the United States wanted to build the canal in Nicaragua. The plans shifted largely after French engineer Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla convinced U.S. lawmakers otherwise. Well now the Nicaragua canal plans are back on the table. Nicaragua plans to build a $50 billion canal to connect the Caribbean and Pacific. Supporters argue it will create more than 250,000 jobs. But small farmers and environmentalists say the project will destroy Lake Nicaragua. On this edition, we’ll take a look at the economic, political and environmental controversies surrounding the Nicaragua canal. Reporter Reese Erlich has the story. Featuring: Maria Mercelin, fisherman’s wife Michael Healey, head of an agribusiness association Monica Lopez, anti-canal activist and lawyer Lionel Teller, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the EU Rosibel Lope, owner of snack bar on OmetepeIsland Jairo Carrilon, anti-canal coalition leader David Quintana, spokesperson for Foundation for Nicaraguan Sustainable Development Benjamin Lanzas, member of the canal’s governing body Juana Juarez, resident of Ometepe Island Osvaldo Navas, Ometepe Island leader Antonio Granados, land owner whose property lies directly along the canal route.

It’s the second most-traded commodity in the world after oil but how much do you think about your cup of coffee? From coffee farmers in Colombia to the trash produced by your single-cup coffee machine, Making Contact andGreen Grid Radio team up to count the costs of your morning cup o’joe. Featuring: Jairo Martinez, Mariana Cruz, Suzana Angarita, coffee farmers Jeff Goldman, former executive director FairtradeResource Network Jeff Chean, Principal and Chief Coffee GuyGroundworks Roasters John Hazen, single-cup coffee machine owner Rebecca Jewell, recycling program manager for Davis Street Transfer Station

On last week’s show we brought you to Idaho and Montana, where hundreds of trucks were routed to haul gigantic mining equipment to the Tar Sands oil fields of Alberta Canada, but an alliance of citizens and community groups was able to block the transport through environmentally sensitive land. This week we continue the saga of the megaloads heading to the Tar Sands through the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. We also follow two more tendrils of the Tar Sands project stretching from Alberta to the coast of British Columbia. This is the second of a two part special, on the growing resistance to the tar sands, produced by Barbara Bernstein. Listen the the first part here. Featuring: Kevin Lewis, Idaho Rivers United conservation director Linwood Laughy, writer & historian Borg Hendrickson, Clearwater Country co-author Andrew Nikiforuk, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent author Bob Skinner, Canada School of Energy and the Environment interim director Annick Smith, A River Runs Through It co-producer Bob Gentry, environmental attorney Steven Hawley, Recovering a Lost River author David James Duncan, The Heart of the Monster co-author Zack Porter, All Against The Haul executive director Steve Seninger, University of Montana economist Spider McKnight, All Against the Haul communications specialist

The Canadian Tar Sands is the largest industrial project on earth. And the potential environmental consequences have brought together citizens from across borders, to fight its rippling effects. This is the first of a two part special, on the growing resistance to the tar sands, produced by Barbara Bernstein. Featuring: Kevin Lewis, Idaho Rivers United conservation director Linwood Laughy, writer & historian Borg Hendrickson, Clearwater Country co-author Andrew Nikiforuk, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent author Bob Skinner, Canada School of Energy and the Environment interim director Annick Smith, A River Runs Through It co-producer Bob Gentry, environmental attorney Steven Hawley, Recovering a Lost River author David James Duncan, The Heart of the Monster co-author Zack Porter, All Against The Haul executive director Steve Seninger, University of Montana economist Spider McKnight, All Against the Haul communications specialist

We follow Dr. Ann Aurelia Lopez as she shows us the reality of farm workers' lives in the United States and Mexico. Dr. Lopez founded the Center for Farmworker Families in Watsonville, California. Featuring: Dr. Ann Aurelia Lopez, founder and director of the Center for Farmworker Families Women farmworkers

Robert Neuwirth, author of "Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World", estimates that more than a billion people--thats 1 in 7--are squatters. This week, we visit squats in Venezuela and the Philippines, and find out why squatters aren’t just tolerated...they are crucial to the growth of major cities and national economies. Featuring: Robert Neuwirth, author of "Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World" Filomena Cinco, Barangay captain of Estero de San Miguel Luz Sudueste, Urban Poor Associates organizer William Gonzalez, Gladys Flores, Jacqueline Calderon and Yolimar Noriega, Toree David residents Andres Antillano, Universidad Central de Venezuela professor & activist for squatters’ rights.

Why are so many of those killed by police young people of color? A recent ProPublica investigation found that a young black male is at twenty one times greater risk of being shot dead by police than his white counterparts. On this edition of Making Contact we'll hear from one of the reporters who analyzed the data on police killings to come up with that startling conclusion, as well as stories of family and community members who say the justice system itself needs to be put on trial.

Some call it a new civil rights movement. Others simply call it “black lives matter”. But its yet to be seen if the momentum for justice will result in systemic change. And to get there, what kind of strategies are needed? On this weeks edition, a conversation about waging non-violence between civil rights movement veteran David Hartsough and Ferguson activist Reverand. Osagyefo Uhuru.Sekou. Featuring: David Hartsough, civil rights activist and author of “Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist,” Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru.Sekou, activist and Pastor For Formation & Justice Church Special thanks to Waging Nonviolence.

Before it was legal in the United States, some doctors would risk arrest to provide women with access to safe abortions. When that wasn’t possible, some sought abortions from unsafe providers, often with deadly consequences. The Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, and the numbers of people dying after having an abortion dropped, but are we now seeing a return to the past? On this edition, what can the time before abortion was legal tell us about the dangers of restricting access to abortion today? We’ll hear a special radio adaption of "Motherhood by Choice not Chance" a documentary produced and narrated by Dorothy Fadiman.

You’ve heard of Hip-Hop, but what about Krip-Hop? That’s the name for the international movement of disabled artists, poets, musicians, and MCs. On this edition of Making Contact, we hear the story of Krip Hop from hate mail to worldwide phenomenon.