Need to Know, April 8, 2011: Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Medicare, Edwidge Danticat
Summary: This week on Need to Know, we visit the island of Hispaniola, where the Dominican Republic is beginning to deport Haitians that had fled across the border following last year's devastating earthquake. Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat follows up with a conversation about the American perception of Haiti and Haitian immigrants. Also, a look at the Republican proposals for changes to Medicare and Medicaid, and essay from Jon Meacham and the return of Peter Sagal. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-HSP-th.jpg) Hispaniola: Divided island (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-as-dominican-republic-deports-haitiain-earthquake-refugees-activists-say-racism-is-the-cause/8489/) The Dominican Republic resumes mass deportations of Haitians after a one-year moratorium since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Need to Know investigates reports that Haitians are being wrongfully removed from the country. Human rights activists say race plays a role in the treatment of Haitians in the Dominican Republic. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-Danticat-th.jpg) Interview with Edwidge Danticat (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/an-interview-with-haitian-american-author-edwidge-danticat/8512/) Correspondent Rafael Pi Roman interviews award-winning Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat about the immigrant struggle for a sense of belonging and why Americans don't get a chance to hear about the Haiti that exists beyond the stereotypes and traumas of big news stories. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-GOPBudgetExplainer-th.jpg) The battle over Medicare and Medicaid (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/the-battle-over-medicare-and-medicaid/8492/) What would the Republicans' newly proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid mean to Americans? With interviews and animation, Need to Know delves into the details. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-AnActorsLife-th.jpg) An actor's life: Juliano Mer-Khamis of the Jenin Freedom Theatre (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-an-actors-life-israeli-palestinian-theater-advocate-murdered/8491/) Need to Know looks at the life and work of Juliano Mer-Khamis, the Israeli-Palestinian actor and the director of the Jenin Freedom Theatre. He was killed earlier this week in the Jenin refugee camp by unknown gunmen. He was a controversial figure who believed that art and theater could be used for social change and justice. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-Kinnect-th.jpg) Kinect hacks launch new digital future (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/how-microsoft-kinnect-will-change-the-way-we-live/8513/) The Microsoft Kinect has launched a revolution in gaming technology by turning the game player into the controller. Now, hackers have repurposed the Kinect to allow people to control computers and the digital world using just their body movements. Known as gesture technology, this innovation will change the way we live, from how we cook in the kitchen to the way doctors perform surgery. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-BayofPigsEssay-th.jpg) In Perspective: A Jon Meacham essay (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-bay-of-pigs-lessons-in-presidential-humility/8490/) Jon Meacham offers a comparison between President Kennedy’s mistakes during the Bay of Pigs with the difficulties President Obama faces in the current political climate. Watch more full episodes of Need to Know.
