Nothing is Foreign

Argentina's annual inflation rate reached a staggering 104.3 per cent in March. It's one of the highest rates in the world, resulting in a cost-of-living crisis for many in the country. It's not a new problem in Argentina, where the market has been volatile for decades, especially during the 1980s debt crisis. From bartering to stocking up on goods before inflation spikes, Argentines have found inventive ways to cope with this economic reality. But there's also been growing discontent with the government, and the country's relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — especially as a general election approaches this fall. This week, we look at how people on the ground deal with this sky-high inflation rate, the historical conditions that led to this and what happens to a society when it's trapped in a cycle of debt and austerity. Featuring: Natalie Alcoba, freelance journalist based in Buenos Aires. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

This week, Northern Ireland marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It concluded what was known as the Troubles: a period of conflict between 1968 and 1998, involving mainly Protestant communities, who wanted Northern Ireland to be part of the United Kingdom, and nationalist, mainly Catholic communities, who believed the region should join a united, independent Ireland. More than 3,500 people were killed. Though the peace accord largely stopped the violence in the region, many aspects of Northern Irish life, like in housing and education, remain largely divided along nationalist and unionist lines. And in recent years, Britain's exit from the European Union has created political tensions that have shaken the foundations of the accord. This week, we look at the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement, and the revived conversation around reunification with the Irish Republic. Featuring: Paul Johnston, boxing coach and youth mentor, Monkstown Boxing Club, Belfast. Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology, Queen's University Belfast. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

A devastating fire at a migrant facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico that killed at least 40 is the latest in a string of deadly incidents that point to a worsening crisis along the southern U.S.-Mexico border. With the investigation still ongoing and families searching for answers, it's bringing attention to the growing number of migrants desperately seeking settlement in the U.S. and the dangerous conditions they find themselves in. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we discuss the aftermath of the tragic fire at the Juarez detention facility, how it sheds light on the migrant crisis at the border, and what the governments on each side could be doing to address the problem. Featuring: Alicia Fernandez, freelance journalist based in Ciudad Juarez Rafael Velasquez, country director for Mexico at International Rescue Committee For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

On Tuesday another major day of action took place on the streets of France after President Emmanuel Macron’s risked his government’s future to push through a controversial raise to the retirement age for most workers. Beyond pension reform, demonstrators are fighting for their preferred way of life, defined by work-life balance and a robust social safety net. It’s one that many feel Macron has been dismantling since he was elected, with his priority of making France a more globally competitive economic power. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we look at the current instability in France due to the ongoing pension reform protests, how they challenge Macron’s vision for the country, and what that might mean for France’s political future. Featuring: Rim-Sarah Alouane, French legal scholar and civil liberties expert For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

Clashes erupted in Pakistan last week after police attempted to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan at his home in Lahore. The former cricket star turned politician was kicked out of parliament after a no-confidence vote last April, but that hasn't stopped Khan's political supporters. Millions have attended his rallies, calling for an early election in Pakistan. That's despite the many charges he faces — from corruption, to terrorism, to rioting. Khan claims these charges are politically motivated. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we delve into why Imran Khan is such a polarizing figure in Pakistan, who makes up his loyal following, and what this might mean for the country's political future. Featuring: Amber Rahim Shamsi, a journalist and political commentator based in Karachi, Pakistan. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

A deadly kidnapping in Matamoros, Mexico had international media breathlessly reporting every shocking twist: first, four American tourists were kidnapped, then two were murdered, and finally the cartel allegedly involved sent out a written apology letter. But for the locals of the long cartel-held city, it was business as usual except for just one thing: the Americans were actually found. We'll hear what life alongside the Gulf Cartel is really like and the complex relationship between the community and these criminal organizations. Plus, protests erupted in South Korea last week over the government's new plan to use the country's own funds to pay for the harm caused to people who were forced to work in factories and mines during Japanese occupation from 1910-1945. We'll get into why this dispute has persisted for so many decades why South Koreans are still dealing with colonial scars today. Featuring: Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, political science professor and author of Los Zetas Inc.: Criminal Corporations, Energy, and Civil War in Mexico. Michelle Ye He Lee, Tokyo and Seoul bureau chief for the Washington Post. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

India's largest slum, Dharavi, is set for an estimated 2.4 billion dollar redevelopment headed by none other than embattled billionaire Gautam Adani and his company Adani Realty. Adani built his fortune through large industrial projects and there are concerns about the possible displacement of residents. Dharavi is home to over a million people and was famously depicted in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Despite its many dilapidated tenements, it also houses a thriving informal economy. For many, Dharavi is also a symbol of wealth inequalities in India. This week, we take you to Dharavi to better understand what's at stake with the project. We'll hear from residents who are both excited by the prospect of redevelopment, but also fearful about losing their home. Featuring: Raju Korde, resident of Dharavi. Hussain Indorewala, assistant professor at Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies and urban researcher For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

In Nigeria, the japa movement is growing. Japa is a Yoruba word that means to run away, or to flee, and it's become a shorthand way for young Nigerians to say they're leaving their home country to look for opportunities abroad. According to a recent survey by the Africa Polling Institute, 69 per cent of Nigerians would relocate if given the chance — up from 40 per cent who felt that way in 2019. This ongoing exodus of young people from the country is the backdrop of Nigeria's most recent election, which happened on Saturday. Ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu has been declared president-elect, but the main opposition parties have called the election a "sham" and want a new vote. This week, we dig into the reasons why so many young Nigerians are looking to leave their country, how that galvanized them in this election, and what their exodus could mean for Nigeria's future. Featuring: Cyril Aliemeke, 32, thinking about leaving Nigeria. David Hundeyin, a Nigerian investigative journalist. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

Shamima Begum, a British national who left England to join ISIS forces in Syria when she was 15, lost the fight to restore her U.K. citizenship on Wednesday. Begum, who is now 23, had her citizenship stripped on national security grounds in 2019. Begum's legal team argued that she is a victim of trafficking for sexual exploitation, while Britain's Home Office argued that she was a committed ISIS volunteer. This week on Nothing is Foreign, BBC journalist Josh Baker on the many sides of Shamima Begum, why her story has struck such a chord in the U.K., and what the outcome of her citizenship fight could mean for other foreign suspected ISIS affiliates. Featuring: Josh Baker, BBC journalist, creator of "I'm Not a Monster — The Shamima Begum Story" For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/nothing-is-foreign-transcripts-listen-1.6732059

Heat of the Moment is a podcast from Foreign Policy in partnership with the Climate Investment Funds. Hosted by CNN contributor John D Sutter, Heat of the Moment tells the stories of the people on the front lines of the fight against climate change. This episode from Season 3 explores the idea of a "just transition.” It’s a term often associated with coal miners and other fossil fuel workers whose jobs are going away as we move from fossil fuel use, but it’s a topic that’s so much bigger than that. As you’ll hear, this concept encapsulates broader ideals of righting past wrongs - wrongs like racism or sexism, colonialism or classism. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/heatofthemoment