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Rainforest mountain (A. David Bullock/flickr)Run for Cover
On today's show: Our Underappreciated Literature series continues with an examination of the life and work of Austrian writer Stefan Zweig. Also, a new documentary takes us inside a hospital emergency room in the Gaza Strip. And a former Iraq correspondent for Time and Newsweek shares his satirical novel about life in the Green Zone. But first, Brazil’s most prominent climate scientist will explain how the destruction of the Amazon rainforest is contributing to global warming.
If a Tree Falls in the Amazon...
Dr. Carlos Nobre of the Brazilian Institute of Space Research asked what effect deforestation in the Amazon rainforest might have on the climate of Brazil, and his answers have not been encouraging. He’ll describe how close the Amazon is to a “tipping point” moment when damage to the environment is so severe that it pushes the ecosystem into an irreversible cycle of self-destruction. Then Paula Moreira of the Climate Change Programme at the Amazon Institute of Environmental Research will explain what Brazil is doing to manage climate change, and why the country with the largest area of tropical forest in the world would oppose the Kyoto Protocol.
Weigh in: What are you doing to save the rainforest?
Underappreciated: Stefan Zweig
In 1930, Stefan Zweig was considered the world's most translated author, with a circle of friends that included Rainer Maria Rilke, Auguste Rodin, and Sigmund Freud. Yet when he was forced into exile from his native Austria during World War II, Zweig's work faded from view, even more so after his suicide in 1942. George Prochnik, who is working on a book about Stefan and Lotte Zweig, will tell us why the author deserves a revival.
Purchase Zweig's major works - Amok, Beware of Pity, Chess Story, and The World of Yesterday - at amazon.com.
Weigh in: Who's your favorite underappreciated author?
Hocus Potus
Former Time and Newsweek correspondent Malcolm MacPherson looked at the invasion of Iraq and saw it for a farce. His satirical novel Hocus Potus is filled with thinly-veiled portrayals of American officials and plenty of insider details gleaned while reporting on the war.
Purchase Hocus Potus at amazon.com.
Gaza E.R.
Violence and chaos are regular visitors to the Palestinian Territories, filling already overburdened hospitals with people seeking urgent care. In Gaza E.R., Wide Angle Producer Pamela Hogan and filmmaker Olly Lambert render a searing portrait of life and death inside Shifa Hospital, where war and Western boycotts have created increasingly desperate conditions.
Gaza E.R. premieres Tuesday, August 14 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).
Weigh in: Should the U.S. cease its boycott on humanitarian grounds?
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Patrick Swayze
The Leonard Lopate Show
Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”
- Comments [2]
The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate
The Leonard Lopate Show
Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.
Dominick Dunne
The Leonard Lopate Show
Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.
Video Pick: The J.D. Allen Trio
The Leonard Lopate Show
Recent Videos:
- Robert Stone on Nixon and Earth Day
- Moby on Music Business
- Nicholas Bakalar on The Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities
- Robert Feldman on The Liar in Your Life
- Matt Taibbi on Goldman Sachs
- Arianna Huffington on Pigs at the Trough
- Joel Grey on Images from My Phone
- Lawrence McDonald on The Fall of Lehman Brothers
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Let’s Go Swimming!
The Leonard Lopate Show
According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.
- Comments [33]
Frank McCourt
The Leonard Lopate Show
Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.
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Science and Faith
The Leonard Lopate Show
Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.
FDA to Regulate Tobacco?
The Leonard Lopate Show
May 14, 2009
Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.
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Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award
The Leonard Lopate Show
On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.
Leonard is on Facebook
Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.
Barack Obama, Circa 2004
The Leonard Lopate Show
Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.
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Guest Picks
The Leonard Lopate Show
Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?
