November 2007

Mourning Katrina (November 3 – 9)

Joanne Gabbin and Alexander Gabbin (James Madison University) believe in the healing power of words.  They have collected more than 170 poems from survivors of Hurricane Katrina who, through poetry, bear witness and respond to one of America’s worst natural disasters.  Under the auspices of the Furious Flower Poetry Center , the Gabbins have created a CD featuring 28 haunting poems, “My Soul is Anchored: Poems from the Mourning Katrina National Writing Project.” 

Also featured: in 1929 Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca left Spain to live in New York for a time.  English professsor Rei Berroa (George Mason University) (pictured above) says Lorca's visit changed the face of American poetry.

WGR's companion News Feature: As this country took note of the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, television crews descended on the Gulf Coast to chronicle the re-building efforts, or lack thereof.  But sometimes words are more powerful than pictures.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," reports on a CD collection of poems about Katrina produced in Harrisonburg. Click to hear the 2 and a half minute feature.

Climate Change in the Garden (November 10– 16)

Whether or not you believe in global warming, the past 20 years in Virginia have been getting noticeably hotter and drier. Internationally acclaimed horticulturist Ian Robertson (Piedmont Virginia CC) pays careful attention to plants in his work and says we can already see changes in the fauna of Virginia. While the issue is a global one, there are things we can do locally in our gardens to help.

Also featured: From acacia, the wood of the tabernacle, to wormwood, whose bitter leaves flavor such alcoholic drinks as absinthe, Lytton Musselman (Old Dominion University) explores the plants of the holy lands. Musselman is the author of Figs, Dates, Laurel, and Myrrh: Plants of the Bible and the Quran.

WGR News Feature: Despite the recent rainfall, trees and shrubs across Virginia are suffering from warmer temperatures and a lack of precipitation.  Some gardeners believe the plants are trying to tell us something.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," took a walk in her garden. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.

Wretched Sisters: Women and the Death Penalty (November 17-23)

Eleven women have been put to death for murder since the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1976. In her book, Wretched Sisters, Mary Atwell (Radford University) offers an analysis of the circumstances that determined how these eleven came to be subjected to the ultimate punishment.

Also featured; The gun-toting woman holds enormous symbolic significance in American culture. In Her Best Shot, Laura Browder (Virginia Commonwealth University) examines the relationship between women and guns and the ways in which the figure of the armed woman has served as a lightning rod for cultural issues from the American Revolution to the present.

WGR News Feature: On November 7th, the U.S District Court of Western Virginia granted a delay in the scheduled execution of Teresa Lewis to allow more time for federal appeals.  Lewis is the only woman on Virginia's death row.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," takes a look at a new book about women and the death penalty. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.

Escape to Hotel Rwanda (November 24 - 30)

Egide Karuranga (Virginia State University) is a Tutsi who survived genocide by seeking refuge in the real Hotel Rwanda. All his life, he feared the “final solution” was coming. He says events leading up to genocide follow a predictable pattern, which makes the mass killing something that can be averted.

Also: Gregory H. Stanton (University of Mary Washington) is President of Genocide Watch. He describes the 8 stages that lead to genocide, including the first stage “classification” where people are labeled by race, ethnicity, religion or nationality.

Egide Karuranga is accepting donations to aid young Rwandan Genocide survivors and orphans.  For more information, email him.

WGR News Feature: A former Rwandan businessman is setting aside his personal tragedy to teach Virginians about the horrors of genocide.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," reports on the story of one man's remarkable escape. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.