Even before the events of last fall, Afghanistan was the top recipient of US humanitarian aid. This year USAID is providing more than $117 million in food assistance alone. Besides food USAID is working on improving health care, agriculture, education, women’s issues and infrastructure.   Our guest will discuss how these services will be provided and who the recipients of these services will be.

Tuesday, Mar.19
Topic: Human Rights Report
Guest: Lorne W. Craner, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

The U.S. State Department has issued its 26th annual country report on human rights practices around the world. Lorne Craner will discuss different countries and how they came out in this year’s report.

Wednesday, Mar.20
Topic: The Youth of Iran
Guests: Dr. Feryal Gharahi, Human rights expert
              Naghmeh Sohrabi, PhD student, Harvard Univ. 

On the eve of Nowrooz our guests will talk about students and young
professionals in Iran. How do they see their lives in relationship to the rest
of the world ? What are their hopes and how do the view the West, especially the
United States.

Thr. Mar. 21
Topic: Life In Mission Control
Guest: Chris Kraft, first NASA flight director

Chris Kraft spent 10 years as the director of the NASA Johnson Space Center and after that as a consultant to the aerospace industry. Kraft shares his memories of the early days of NASA and his views about the space program of today.

Fri. Mar. 22
Topic: Outcome of Zimbabwe’s Elections
Guests: John Prendergast, International Crisis Group
               Gregory Simkins, Foundation for Democracy in Africa
                Martin Meredith, British Africa specialist

After a 22-year grip on power President Robert Mugabe was challenged for the presidency by Morgan Tsvangirai. Elections were marred by violence and arrests that independent observers and human rights organizations say poisoned the outcome of the balloting. Our guests will discuss their observations of the elections and what they see as the future of Zimbabwe.