Satire

It's Friday, December 24th …

We hope you're enjoying a peaceful and joyous Christmas season … not that we mean to offend our non-Christian listeners with a cultural bias toward Christmas.

Currently, whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist … whether you celebrate Kwaanza or Festivus or Christmakkah… we wish you the best of the holiday season. And in Newfoundland and Labrador ... ahh....you guys still observing Christmas? Or is it just Canada Day you're gonna scrap?

This is the Current.

The Best of Satire

There's no doubt, the stores today will be filled with people trying to fit in some very last minute shopping---the malls will be packed with those struggling to find just the right gift for their finicky Dad or their bratty niece. Well, two producers here at the Current have come up with a quick way to cross off those names that seem to linger long after you've checked your list twice or three times.

Joining Kathryn in studio were Neil Morrison and Aaron Brindle, a couple of elves from the darker part of The Current's unending "gift" factory - they are both part of the Toronto team that looks after The Current's satire.

We also tipped our hats to the folks at Definitely Not The Opera who contribute as well. Let's hope none of you receive coal in your stockings.

Bill Cameron Promo

Okay, well that was fun! Now it's time to take a moment to tell you what's coming up on the program next week. Kathryn Gretsinger was joined by Bill Cameron, who will be hosting The Current on Monday. He dropped to fill us in on what to expect on Monday’s show. Bill Cameron is a former CBC reporter, news anchor and author.

Listen to The Current: Part 1

(Due to streaming policies, some segments may be altered or not available)

The Current: Part 2

Aid Workers

It's been an extremely difficult year for international humanitarian agencies in Iraq, Sudan, Haiti and other countries around the world.

Aid workers have been targeted and killed. Many organizations have been forced out of countries in need -- including Save the Children-UK, which left Sudan earlier this week. And yet the demand for this crucial humanitarian assistance is still urgent, as war and unrest continue.

So as the end of the year approaches, we're taking stock of some of 2004's bigger humanitarian stories. And for some first-hand perspective, we contacted three Canadian aid workers, one in South America, one in Haiti and one just returned from Africa.

We listened to the voices of Cindy Isaac, Pierre Shantz and Sylvie Ouellette, three Canadian aid workers in some of the world's many trouble spots this year.

Aid Workers Panel

Well now to discuss the changing conditions for humanitarian work, and to look at parts of the world that don't receive much international attention, we were joined by three people who work in this field.

David Agnew is the President of UNICEF Canada, and he was in Toronto.

Emmanuel Isch is the Director of Emergency Relief for World Vision, he was also in Toronto.

And Erin Baines is the Director of Conflict and Development at the Liu Institute, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Listen to The Current: Part 2

(Due to streaming policies, some segments may be altered or not available)

The Current: Part 3

U.S. Military Psychiatrist

The soldier coming home for the holidays is an iconic image -- think of that painting by Norman Rockwell, and so many classic Hollywood movies. But the truth is, some never return. And those soldiers who do are forever changed.

We can count the casualties of war -- for instance in Iraq as of yesterday, more than 1,300 American troops have been killed since hostilities broke out in March of 2003. And thousands more have been injured. But the psychological damage inflicted by war is a much harder thing to measure.

According to the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 17 per cent of soldiers surveyed after they returned from Iraq suffer major depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. And that number greatly increases for troops who have experienced combat first-hand.

One of the people treating these suffering soldiers is Dr. Paul Hill. He is a 71-year-old psychiatrist at the Fort Hood Army medical facility. He's also a Vietnam vet. And though most military men of his age would be getting ready for a quiet retirement, Dr. Hill volunteered to go to Iraq to help soldiers cope with their stressful experiences. In November, Dr. Hill returned home from a three-month tour in Baghdad. He joined us today from Waco, Texas.

Last Word

Earlier in the program, we told you about a handy gift idea--a CD collection of the best of The Current's satire. If only it really existed---because today is the last shopping day before Christmas---the time you start to wish you could be two people at the same time.

Speaking of saving time, wouldn't it also be great if you could combine gifts? So that no matter what you picked you'd cover all the categories of taste, age and sex?

We ended the show today with a mash-up of two very different musical groups, easily enjoyed under one household. You'll have pops listening to the Beatles upstairs, and junior jamming to the Beastie Boys in the basement---think of it---one song that the whole family can enjoy...

Listen to The Current: Part 3

(Due to streaming policies, some segments may be altered or not available)

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