Israel
This jarring program chiefly uses the ideological battle between ultra-orthodox Jews and Zionists to examine the division between religion and politics in Israel. Leaders of religious parties attack the thinking of Tommy Lapid, minister of justice a...
Ecuador: divided over oil
This program contrasts indigenous, community-based culture with market economics driven by multinational corporations. The film assesses the growing conflict between Burlington Resources, an American oil company licensed to prospect in regions of Ec...
The Meiji period (1868-1912)
The arrival of Commodore Perry in 1854 marked the stage for Japan's dramatic leap from the Middle Ages into modernity. The ports of Japan were forced open; the English, French, Russians, and Dutch promptly demanded-and got-the same privileges. In 18...
Ancient China
From the creation legend of Panku to the demise of the Han Dynasty, this program traces Chinese history and explores the roots of Chinese culture today. Visit the Great Wall of China as scholars discuss why it remains even today a symbol of oppressi...
Crisis in Darfur
Precious time has been spent on protracted debate over the term "genocide." Meanwhile, regardless of what politicians and activists choose to call it, a colossal tragedy has torn Darfur apart. In March of 2006, NBC’s Ann Curry traveled to the bord...
Malawi: a nation going hungry
Poverty, unstable government, and disadvantages in trade have virtually eliminated food security in Malawi. This program explores the African country's struggles on both a personal and national level, interviewing frustrated civil servants and impov...
India: working to end child labor
This program examines India's immense child labor problem and the fight against it. The video contrasts this nation's status as the world's largest democracy with the fact that, inside its borders, 80 million children work physically exhausting jobs...
Nicaragua: turning away from violence
In Nicaragua, a growing awareness of domestic violence and its consequences has spurred grassroots activism. This program documents the efforts of two groups, the Xochitl-Acatl Center and the Association of Men Against Violence, both of which confro...
Guatemala: the human price of coffee
Coffee is second only to oil as the world's most valuable traded commodity, but small-scale producers rarely profit from it. This program reveals the hardship and uncertainty faced by coffee farmers in Guatemala, and how many are taking steps to obt...
New York: the world's city
To describe New York City's cultural makeup, the best metaphor is a salad bowl rather than a melting pot. This program follows the Queens #7 subway line through a dazzling array of ethnic communities, each with its own distinct texture and flavor, i...