Nine To Noon for Wednesday 1 September 2021

 

09:05 Afghan refugee, UK doctor & global charity founder: Waheed Arian

President Joe Biden has again addressed the American people about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying continuing a military presence would not enhance the safety and security of America. The US 20 year military involvement came to an end yesterday with the final flight out of Kabul airport, leaving chaos and an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The aid agencies Medicins Sans Frontiere and the Red Cross are warning Afghanistan's healthcare system is at risk of collapse, and foreign donors have stopped providing aid since the Taliban takeover.  Kathryn speaks with Afghan born British doctor Waheed Arian, who witnessed both the Soviet war in the 1980s and the civil war in the 1990s, before finally settling in the UK when he was just 15. He studied medicine at Cambridge University, works as a NHS radiologist, as well as running Arian Teleheal, a global charity connecting specialists all over the world with doctors in warzones.

09:30 Biden defends Afghan exit 

The US President has defended the chaotic withdrawal of troops following the official end of America's 20 year conflict in Afghanistan. Joe Biden addressed the nation this morning and spoke of refusing to continue a war that was no longer in the vital interests of the American people. President Biden has faced criticism, particularly from Republicans over the way the withdrawal of American troops and civilians unfolded. More than 100,000 people were airlifted from Kabul airport but around 100 Americans were left behind. Kathryn speaks with US correspondent Simon Marks. 

09:40 Background checks on new employees, protecting privacy

A new service for employers doing background checks on new staff, helps to protect new recruits' privacy. MyChecks allows a business to check all the usual types of information for assessing potential employees, including criminal backgrounds, driver's licenses, credit checks and on-line references.  But rather than detailed reports it gives employers simple interpretations to help keep private information at arm's length.

09:45 Premiers push back against reopening, Afghan evac leaves some behind

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the Covid situation, with  states now into their third, fourth and tenth week of lockdown as premiers push back against talk by Prime Minister Scott Morrison about opening up when vaccination rates hit 70 or 80 percent. The PM has warned its unlikely a land corridor will be established to pull out Afghans who helped Australia and couldn't be evacuated by yesterday's deadline. And in some good news - Australia's Paralympian Dylan Allcott is on the verge of a "golden slam". 

10:05  Let it go? The effect of Disney princess culture on kids
 

If you're at home under lockdown and watching Frozen for the hundredth time, there may be some good new into its long-term effect on your kids (if not your own mental health). Professor Sarah Coyne has revisited a study she led, published in 2016, into the impact of Disney Princess culture on young children. At the time it found greater interaction with Disney princesses also increased female gender-stereotypical behaviour. But a follow up study found the kids who identified strongly with the princesses when they were four and five years old, were more likely to hold progressive views on gender roles when they reached 10and 11. Sarah is associate director of the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University in Utah, and joins Kathryn to talk about the findings.  

10:35 Book review:  Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

Phil Vine reviews Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand

10:45 The Reading

Stepping Out by Patricia Grace, read by Tanea Heke.

11:05 Music with Charlotte Ryan

Music reviewer Charlotte Ryan joins Kathryn to play a track from Carole King, a new Te Reo version of a song by Ria Hall and a tribute to the late Lee Scratch Perry.

11:20 The Lonely Islands: How NZ evolved in isolation
 

Terry Thomsen has written a book that digs deep into how New Zealand's unique native life came to be. It's called The Lonely Islands: The evolutionary phenomenon that is New Zealand. It looks at New Zealand's Gondwanan origins and its separation, the impact of the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, ice ages and how its plants and animals evolved in isolation at the bottom of the world.

11:45 How will Covid-19 vaccines fit with our jobs?

Covid-19 vaccines are going to be a part of our future going forward - but where will they fit with our jobs? Some workers are already subject to mandatory vaccination orders - mainly people working in our MIQ facilities or at our border. But what those working with at-risk groups, like those in the aged care sector, or employees in essential services? Joining Kathryn in the legal slot today is employment lawyer Catherine Stewart.

 

Music played in this show

Track: Lose Your Head
Artist: London Grammar 
Broadcast time: 10:30am

Track:  Feel Good 
Artist: Terrell Hines
Broadcast time: 10:40am