Saturday Morning for Saturday 24 September 2022

8.10 Carlos Dada: freedom of the press under El Salvador authoritarianism

El Salvador journalist Carlos Dada received the IPI World Press Freedom Hero award this month in the face of continued persecution of the media in central America. 

Dada is the co-founder and director of Salvadorian online news outlet El Faro, renowned for its fearless coverage of human rights violations, corruption and inequality. 

El Salvador’s controversial president, Nayib Bukele, has announced plans to seek re-election despite a constitutional ban on doing so. Elected in 2019, the former publicist has sky-high approval ratings, but Dada says Bukele now controls all arms of the state and has incarcerated more than 50,000 people in the last four months, accusing them of links with gangs despite not having any proof.

 

8.30 Toby Manhire: reporting in from the local body campaign trail

The Spinoff's editor-at-large Toby Manhire has been spending much of his recent time following the highs and lows of the local body election campaigns across the country as part of their policy.nz coverage. 

This year's elections have not been without some flavour - Nick Smith attempting a political comeback with a run at the Nelson mayoralty,  Lush vs Shadbolt in Invercargill, and Wellington's hopefuls delivering their pitches in poetry. With ratepayers having till October 8 to cast their votes, Manhire joins the show to discuss the latest developments. 

Toby Manhire is also co-host of The Spinoff's Gone By Lunchtime political podcast, which will be recording live as part of Tauranga's Escape Festival on October 16. Head over here for more information.

 

9.05 Prof Daniel Pick: the fascinating history of thought control

Psychoanalyst and historian Daniel Pick explores the intriguing world of mind-control in his book Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control.

The book traces a path through thought-control over the decades, right up to the role of the QAnon conspiracy theory in the attack on the US Capitol last January. 

Daniel Pick is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society. 

 

9.35 Johanna Emeney and Sarah Laing: picturing Auckland’s famous bird lady

The life and work of Sylvia Durrant, otherwise known as Auckland’s Bird Lady, is celebrated in a new book which is part graphic biography part environmental handbook authored by Johanna Emeney and Sarah Laing.

Now retired and in her late-80s, Durrant cared for injured and lost birds for 35 years - seeing about 4000 each year at her home at Rothesay Bay on the North Shore. 

Sylvia and the Birds: How The Bird Lady saved thousands of birds and how you can, too not only shines a light on the remarkable deeds of Durrant, but is also a practical guide, acting as a call to action for young ecologists and environmentalists.
 

 

10.05 Helen Dew: Carterton’s legendary alternative currency trader

At 85 years old, Helen Dew is a sustainability legend in Carterton. Her interest in the potential of complementary currencies for environmental, social, and economic wellbeing began in 1991 when she joined the Wairarapa Green Dollar Exchange. 

Dew went on to attend conferences on currencies in Germany and New York, and recently formed a working group to develop a local digital currency for Carterton that would be “as easy as Flybuys”. 

Passionate about using all her land for productive gardening and a founder of the Carterton Farmers Market, Dew's actions have been so inspirational locally they have been turned into a children’s book to inspire the next generation: Good For You, Helen Dew! by Ali Foster, Catherine Cooper, Nikki Slade Robinson.

 

10.35 Robbie Burton: taking writing above the bushline

Robbie Burton has been at the helm of independent publishers Potton & Burton since 1990, when it was called Craig Potton Publishing. Having published countless non-fiction titles over the decades, Burton has finally put pen to paper to write his own.

Burton grew up in Nelson as one of six children, and his new memoir Bushline recounts a childhood spent in the wilderness, sparking a life-long infatuation with tramping, skiing and mountaineering. He also reflects on his experiences as an everyday tramper, and looks at Aotearoa’s environmental movement of the 1970s and 1980s.

Burton will be appearing as part of the Nelson Arts Festival on October 24. Head over here for more information.
 

 

11.05 Playing Favourites with RNZ’s Bryan Crump 

After 17 years hosting Nights on RNZ National, Bryan Crump will be heading over to sister station Concert in early October to present the afternoon show.

Crump’s love affair with radio started when he became interested in sound recording as a young person, and began producing radio plays and programmes with friends. 

His radio career has seen him in a variety of positions within RNZ. He began in 1993 as a rural reporter based in Dunedin, and also produced and presented Country Saturday and then Country Life between 1995 and 1999. 

 Crump joins the show to play a few favourites and reflect on his career, both past and future.

 

Books mentioned in this show:

Brainwashed
By Daniel Pick
Published by Profile Books
ISBN: 9781781257890

Bushline
By Robbie Burton
Published by Potton & Burton
ISBN: 9781988550367

Sylvia and the Birds: How The Bird Lady saved thousands of birds and how you can, too
By Johanna Emeney & Sarah Laing
Published by Massey Univerisity Press
ISBN: 978-0-9951407-8-3

Good For You, Helen Dew!
By Ali Foster, Catherine Cooper and Nikki Slade Robinson
Published by David Ling Publishing
ISBN: 9781927305737

Music featured in this show:

Brainwashed
George Harrison
Played at 9.08am

The Legend Of Ironui Maota
Aitutaki Enua Culture Group
Played at 11.15am

Messa da Requiem: IV. Tuba mirum irie
From Verdi's Requiem)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Played at 11.27am

Status Back Baby
Frank Zappa
Played at 11.40am

When the Spirit Returns
Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy
Played at 11.54am