On this week’s 51%, we examine water, first as a metaphor, as Sh8peshifter explains, then, through the narrative of a Tucson teenager.
Dr. Sharon Ufberg is back with her 51% segment “Force of Nature.” This time she interviews Sh8peshifter (formerly known as Zakiya Harris). Sh8peshifter is a cultural architect working at the intersections of personal transformation, art and education. As an entrepreneur by day, Sh8peshifter is a visionary figure helping to advance opportunities for the black community’s under-resourced youth in Oakland, CA. By night, Sh8peshifter brings audiences her fusion of hip-hop vocals and electronic beats. Her latest single is “Open My Door.” Ufberg begins by asking Sh8peshifter to share her story.
Sh8peshifter’s Instagram handle is shesash8peshifter. And you can find more information at Sh8peshifter.com. Dr. Sharon Ufberg is co-founder of the personal development/wellness company, Borrowed Wisdom, in California.
Seventeen-year-old Paloma Martinez lives in Tucson, Arizona. She hears a global water crisis might be coming, and her mom thinks Tucson is going to become a ghost town soon. Martinez is with youth radio group City High Radio, from City High School in Tucson. Martinez turns to some experts to find out just how worried she should be.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has rejected a petition seeking the repeal of a 2015 deal with Japan settling a bitter dispute over Korean women enslaved for sex by the Japanese military during World War II. The ruling was in response to a petition by former sex slaves and their families who say the agreement was made without their consent. The court ruled the deal was a non-binding political agreement that doesn’t affect the victims’ right to seek official Japanese compensation. A decision to spike the deal could have complicated efforts to resolve separate ongoing trade and history disputes between the countries.
A former top United Nations human rights official says the past decade has seen a backlash against human rights on every front, especially the rights of women and the LGBT communities. Andrew Gilmour left his position as U.N. assistant secretary-general for human rights December 31. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Gilmour said the regression hasn’t equaled the advances that began in the late 1970s. But he said it is still serious, widespread and regrettable. He pointed to “populist authoritarian nationalists” on many continents who he says are looking for scapegoats, usually from society's most vulnerable groups.
That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Tina Renick for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio
“Contributions to 51% #1590 come from the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.”
