Transcripts for KCHO 91.7 FM/KFPR 88.9 FM [North State Public Radio] KCHO 91.7 FM/KFPR 88.9 FM [North State Public Radio] 20191204 120000

Opening NATO 70th anniversary gathering in London this Johnson said that friends and allies must never shy away from discussing new realities he highlighted the emerging threat from hybrid warfare and disruptive technologies Jonathan Marcus has the details opening this meeting the prime minister said that NATO was coming home London was a location for its 1st headquarters at its foundation he described the alliance as a giant shield of solidarity that now protects 29 countries the nearly a 1000000000 people however upbeat his words these talks have been overshadowed by a host of differences between the allies a product of its greater size the complexity of the security challenges it faces and the disruptive impact of President Trump's rhetoric Germany is expelling 2 Russian diplomats in connection with the murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin xylem Han hunger shrilly was shot in the head in August as he was walking to a mosque the German or forages are holding a Russian national on suspicion of murder German media reports say investigators believe Russian intelligence was behind the killing the Russian foreign ministry has said it will respond to the expulsion of its diplomats in kind. China has reacted furiously are to the u.s. House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at countering the detention of an estimated 1000000 Muslims in the western region of Sion John joiners from ministry described the bill as defamatory and a serious violation of international law a spokeswoman warns that those who undermine China's interests would pay the due price Johnson worth is in Beijing Chinese state media has made some suggestions one is that there may be some kind of retaliatory set of sanctions against certain u.s. Companies and also that they may put some kind of visa restrictions in place or at least prevent certain u.s. Officials from trying to visit shin Jang and I think these measures would be designed to match of course some of the language we hear in this so-called We go act in Washington officials in southern Pakistan are examining the body of the girl amid concerns she may have been murdered by her family is Joe me giving is buried in a simple dirt grave it's outlined marked by rocks she died 2 weeks ago in a remote mountainous region of Sindh Province her parents said she fell in a landslide then disturbing reports surfaced which suggested she'd actually been stoned to death on the orders of a village council the allegation is that she was accused of damaging the family's honor but it's not clear exactly how officials say they now need to examine her body to find out how she died world news from the b.b.c. . The head of a Japanese aid agency in Afghanistan has been shot dead in eastern Afghanistan officials in one go hard province so Dr Ted soon Nakamura died on the way to hospital of the gunman opened fire on his vehicle 5 Afghans traveling with him also died the Taliban has denied being involved Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abbay paid tribute to Dr Nakamura as head of peace Japan medical services he was well known in Afghanistan for work on irrigation and I agree culture. Dozens of people are feared to have been killed in a landslide caused by heavy rains in eastern Uganda almost 50 are still missing patients are too high rate reports from Camp holler the local authorities in Mt ill going region say more than 20 buildings were buried by the landslide I didn't only flooding has cut roads and hampered the work of Emergency Service says though the area is prone to landslides this is worse than usual it's been caused by weeks of heavy rains that have claimed more than 200 lives across East Africa in northern Uganda the river Nile has best its banks cutting off a major highway with experts have warned that the heavy rains are likely to continue until the end of December the French interior minister Christophe Kasten air has condemned what he called the imbecilic desecration of a Jewish cemetery near the eastern city of Strasburg Mr Carson enjoined Jewish leaders of the graveyard heard verse 12 and where more than 100 headstones were daubed with swastikas on Tuesday the European Union's top court has thrown out an attempt by Italian vinegar make has to stop competitors elsewhere using the term but also make Italian producers argue that each word in the description about some Then I go from modern or was theirs to use exclusively on the e.u. Rules the European Court of Justice said vinegar was a common word b.b.c. News. Hello I'm Emily Webb and today I'm speaking to Ted. Ted Turner is 36 and lives in El Salvador in Central America she enjoys hanging out with her teenage son she enjoys dancing to put Chad to a style of Latin music and the reason that she tries to make the most of every day is because of what she's been through when you tell people what has happened to you they shocked. Some people get very shocked when I tell them what happened to me but most of the times they don't believe what just happened and the ones that feel empathy when I tell them to still something inside them telling them this is not possible. RINGBACK We speak to people who can do it and overcome unimaginable experience today we're bringing you the story of Ted or It's shocking it's of setting and it's sometimes hard to wrap your head around. That you have been. The same with. It begins back in 2007 in El Salvador as capital San Salvador is in the highlands of the country in the cities actually surrounded by volcanoes that's where théodore was based She was living in a school where she worked as a cleaner and in the canteen she had a son from a previous relationship he lived with her and when Ted door wasn't working she spent time with him. I was very. Young woman but very responsible as well I was just 22 years old but I was very dedicated to my family I fight a lot for my family for us to do well in life and tell me about your family because he had a son how old was he and what was his name. Has a book on me my son was 3 years old at the time his call and the relationship with my son was amazing he was a lovely boy what a name and head. But it's very primitive I call him uncle because he was my 1st son and for me an angel means company and he's been my company and they have a partner at the time as well wherever they are yeah we've been together for 2 years we were a very nice couple we were very understanding with each other he looked after my child he was really loving to him we really had a very good relationship we used to go to the park we used to go to the cinema we were very united with a family so we used to get a lot of time with him tell me about the day you found out that you were expecting another child how did you share that he's a go partner. When a stay at the lock up like that again our relationship was basing our confidence we were very loyal to each other and for us was always very important to share and to tell us everything so when I found out I was pregnant he really had his suspicions and he was very very happy I told him and he told me something like I knew it I know it is it will happen but obviously I had to keep working because he was hot to Montane a family and I had to look after my song and then also prepare for the one that was coming and what preparations did she start to make when the woman clamor had Mr Perrin close we had some still from Uncle even if I was expecting a girl we started talking to one fell for him not to feel jealous and explain here that our baby was coming home and we didn't want him to be sat so we make sure that we explained him that the baby that was coming on the way it will be his friend we just prepare as everyone's ass I guess. It was quite a normal pregnancy but then 9 months into a you went to well one day I think and you weren't feeling great Can you talk me through what happened step by step like I say they care whether you'll let me have that is it is that yeah the pregnancy was very normal so I plan my life as normal but that day is when everything happened or it is that is a normal day I was working in in these coffee shop inside the school and I was serving the children everything was fine and till me day my boss approached me and told me I need you to go to the market and buy some vegetables fans and fruit was meant to go with 2 colleagues we were in there around 3 pm and it was around 6 pm when we go back and when did you start to feel bad or on longer already everything is that day when we came back from the market we start putting the things in the 3 Chan in the freezer and I started to feel a very very strong pain in my back so I told to one of my colleagues I'm not feeling well I need you to help me and she said yes don't worry stop what you're doing I'll do it for you so I said I'm going to go to my room and lay down why was it that you decided to call the police is poor so I was in my room lay down fell in pain and my colleagues left and when I started to feel that the pain was very very strong what I thought Ok I'm going into labor that is that is what's happening so I called the police because it was the only number that came to my mind and your was 911 and I just thought I'm going to call them to ask them to send me an ambulance because I don't find the strength to go to the hospital so I called one. Woman pick up the phone I gave him my address but they didn't arrive even posit a lot of time and didn't arrive I ended up calling around 7 times and I couldn't move so I knew I had to wait for them cool the last thing I remember I was and left the room and I wait for them at this or that I fainted I just fell a very strong pain and something that came off me that I lost conscious when you woke up what was happening around. What is to eat every local area that. All of the medical marijuana that the particularly. When I walk up to police was that the same a I've been calling for the last hour and the 1st thing they told me was why did you kill your baby. Here let alone I couldn't understand what happened my mind was blank my eyes were open but I still didn't understand what was going on I was bleeding a lot I was feeling really really weak they took me straight in a pickup vehicle to take me to the police station and they told me. To be quiet and not to say anything because anything outset could be used against me so you were arrested and at this stage you didn't even realize that you had given birth you know as being as well meant that you have been back you know I thought that I still pregnant when they arrested me it was then at the police station when they put me their handcuffs and they put them for me to han my arms really high and very short 160 meters they put their book for they handcuffed like 2 meters away so I kept bleeding for hours I think everything happened around 9 pm and they kept me in that position bleeding bleeding and me gettin weaker and weaker for hours so it was then when I start realising that I didn't have my baby anymore because there was too much blat then someone is that to to say in the background she's going to die she needs to be taken to the hospital otherwise she's going to die here and that's why they took me there because they didn't want the responsibility for me to die in their place of station so you were taken to hospital I mean at this stage you basically stayed accused of suffocating your baby and obviously you were you Crystal in police custody did it just all seem like some big mistake how could you process what was happening. Mentally double back if that were the end of I thought that all was a nightmare really horrible nightmare I just didn't show any reaction I was not realizing what was going on I thought that what I was leaving was not really my reality it was very strange so only on their following day the morning of the 14th of July around 8 am. I was already in the hospital and I was with medication and I start to recover some strength but it was then when I found t.v. Cameras and reporters in my room spreading the news that a woman had been arrested for killing her child that's how I start realizing what they really were accusing me of. Now in El Salvador this has to be put in context since 998 the country has had some of the strictest abortion laws in the world if you're a woman in El Salvador you've been raped when you're pregnant you can't get an abortion if you're pregnant as the result of incest you can't get an abortion if your health is at risk because you're pregnant you still can't get an abortion and sometimes when a woman suffers a miscarriage or a stillbirth if she can't prove it was a natural death she can find herself targeted under this legislation the women who are convicted tend to be the ones who can't afford a lawyer the reason that Ted Dura was in custody why she woke up to a room full of reporters is because she was being accused of aggravated homicide or killing her baby Christians. They are not full of women who have an abortion they are full of women who have committed homicide because that's how is regarded by the state and by the government they don't see it as an accident that could happen a secret stance that can happen so what this means is that there are women in prisons in El Salvador who have had even a miscarriage or maybe have lost their baby during childbirth and can find themselves accused of murder this was what happened to you can you tell me about what happened in your trial. I was convicted. Having a stillbirth you were then sentenced to 30 years in prison I mean is it possible to describe what it was like to hear. That a day is the moment think that is a moment where all your world collapse your world is breaks it's really difficult to cope with that because it's not just that they are telling you and accusing you of something that you know you haven't done it's also that they basically end your life there were many moments where I thought it was not worth it to keep fighting and I even thought about my own life if his was worth it to carry on live in it because when you hear something like that they're put in your way from all the things that you lawful the people you love for your family so you think about the people living outside the people that care about you and that's what at the end gave me the strength. One very important person always he was your son who was only 4 years old when you were sent to prison how could you process that the thought of missing out on so much of his life in a very very empty I just kept thinking how old I would be when I finally made it out how old would it be I just thought I have lost all my life with him so he was really really difficult that I honestly thought that I would have lost all my life and we were able to see him if he is. I just got to see my son 4 times in 10 years Rico's there were a lot of restrictions so. If you want to get your song or your children to come to visit you you have to fill up a form and that form cost it $500.00 from the u.s. . I didn't have the money for that so there was only once a year that the children could come to visit their moms without any paper and that's when I got to see him and what about your partner I mean facing the prospect of 30 years in prison what conversations did you have about how you were going to me for it when or if it ever day it was really sad for both of us and there was a point where I was even afraid that he started to believe that I was guilty as well of killin our child I was convicted for too many years and it was unfair to ask him to stay with me so we have a conversation and I told him that he was free to go and to find someone else because we didn't know when our will get out of jail at the beginning he said no no no I'll be by your side I want to be with you but he was a young man and eventually he found someone else another woman who he's sharing his life with and I think that was the 1st totally fine because just because I was in prison and hours and happy that didn't mean he couldn't be happy it wouldn't be fair on him. Oh riving in prison accused of murdering you I'm baby hell he treated by the other prison this. Is that other women didn't like to know that a woman would be able to kill her own child so I was regarded as a moderate there I got beaten by other inmates they didn't allow me to get my food many many times even water. What they were saying to me is No you just die here as you kill you child you're going to die here is this right that there's always someone no that eventually turns up so there was a woman still inside who helped me and she said stay with me be on my side and they will stop beating you and stop mistreating you so that's how I survived because there was someone my my side helping me and was this woman did she have a photograph of that hand or particular memory that kept me going to help teach her in that period no none of them and you know we were not allowed to have pictures with us so they only thing I heart to remind me of him was my own memory I used to recall every moments with him especially birthdays remembering his 1st words his 1st steps and he has been danger in that kept me going food the years remembering him and reminding myself that he was my child after 5 years in prison you were contacted by the citizen group who work on the decriminalization of abortion what did they say to you not that I am better than the me in 20091 woman convicted for the same crimes as me got free and she was represented by the citizen group they thought that was an only case but she told them that there were many other women in this same situation so then these Association of Floyd is found out there were 17 women inside been convicted for the same reason. They approaches and they told me they will fight for me the legal team began their campaign and they argued that the cause of death was actually undetermined in the autopsy and that théodore sentence was excessive she was represented by a man called Dennis Munoz he managed to get her 2 appeals théodore lost both of them the 3rd appeal was launched that take it to a wasn't optimistic. It was very difficult because in every appeal one gets excited about the idea of these might work I'm going to be free but then when this didn't happen one time and then the 2nd time is devastating and then the results of that 3rd appeal when in February 28th Dennis came to you with a letter he said it was very important and he asked you to open it what's what's the state where you in welcome and. Well that moment when he came with the letter 2 of their peers were not successful so I didn't have much hope in fact I got really really angry and upset because I kind of thought. Fed up of them lying to me this is going to end up in nothing and then these were saying no no this is for real this is very important you see that this means your freedom I still didn't believe him completely so I handed the letter to some of my friends my colleagues inside and they were saying yes yes this means that you'll be free and I couldn't believe it. I mean you literally were free to go almost immediately I mean more King out of the prison doors. After 11 years behind bars what will make 7 nations will be feeling. It was difficult because somehow when you're inside you build up a family. So I was really sad for leaving my colleagues my friends and I was really sad that they couldn't leave but at the same time I was really happy because I got my freedom back I knew I could get to see my son again so tell me about that mine and I mean the moment that you were reunited with Helo Where was that and what happened I. Have no words for what happened when I got to meet I collect and he told me so many sweet things he told me that this was the moment he had been dreaming about for so many years he was crying his eyes out and honestly I have no words to describe what happened in that moment but I know I will never forget the feeling of saying him and feeling in a moment how bittersweet Was it as well I mean being reunited with him but having missed out on 11 years of his life. Well it was difficult to start over from it from basically from scratch because the how to build up again a different relationship with him and even now is going to be nearly 2 years I've been out of prison I still find his reality a little bit difficult but at the same time is in the best time of my life there are still women in prison convicted of the same thing that you were what do you make of the people who are holding these little. Yes but I mean I think the people who support these laws are sexist they don't believe in equality it can be only explain by having patrol Arcola state and not respecting in women's rights that's why as our mother is full of women being convicted for which is missing their children you are now working advocating for the women who are still in prison the women who are coming out of prison how important is that for you and how much does that help d.d. Think right now but only what it is very important to me because it is very very difficult to be a woman in. Them we need to show the states that even if they put us down we still standing and fighting not just for us but also for the future generations for them not to have to go through the same things when you were imprisoned I mean you told me that however Heller was this this amazing source of comfort fully and I used to remember in particular his birthday parties What did you do for his 1st birthday when you were out of prison a little of them a little I will be alone when I got out of prison I was about to turn 15 and you know some other as well as in all the Latin American countries these is a big deal when a teenager turns 15 so we threw a very big party for him to remember it and not only that we also trouble around Europe to celebrate his birthday you know if there was a fun trip there the family went yeah it was amazing we really had a good time it was really special because we got to share a lot there was a lot of founding it was beautiful to have him with me in the street to do your own name on my. Own not. Ted or the skis last year according to civil rights groups an estimated 20 women were still in prison n.l. Salvador accused of killing their babies terminating their pregnancies to see a photograph of Ted or and and Helen reunited we put one up on the b.b.c. Outlet Facebook page. Distribution of the b.b.c. World Service in the us is made possible by American Public Media with support from Baird celebrating 100 years of financial partner ships with individuals businesses communities and institutions more information at Baird 100 dot com and Cronos providing h.r. Solutions for the modern workforce and the people who support them learn more at Kronos dot com slash h r swagger. We know you're busy this time of year round Santa Claus this drug and I'm so sick of hearing about the meat that we put on Morning Edition for things and I think. It's Morning Edition from n.p.r. News I'm Steve Inskeep whether you're in North Carolina North Dakota or maybe up the North Pole we've got you covered this holiday season Morning Edition it's the gift that keeps on giving you the news every day all year long from n.p.r. . Next on in the u.s. Meeting another mother with a fight on her hands when the genny a wooden fall at some stop going to school and got involved in gangs people gave questionable advice people would tell me you know he's one of those kids to school probably get lost don't waste your team better just made me more determined determined to get him the education he needed Little did she realize how big that struggle would be. On out. B.b.c. News where Jerry's mate Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson has told NATO leaders they have the opportunity to strengthen the unity that has made NATO the most successful alliance in history a joint declaration will say that aggressive actions by Russia continue to be a serious security threat. In Germany to Russian diplomats are being expelled in connection with the murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin the German with or it is said Moscow had failed to cooperate with an investigation into the murder of xylem Han hung Gosh really he was shot twice in the head as he was walking to a mosque a Russian national is being held on suspicion of murder. Unknown gunman in Afghanistan have shot in killed the head of a Japanese aid agency and 5 local staff tend to knock a more or died on the way to hospital India's cabinet turns approved a controversial bill which could grant citizenship to some refugees from neighboring countries on religious grounds people from 6 faiths including Christians Hindus Sikhs and Buddhists may be able to become Indian citizens if they've been victims of religious persecution. Officials in southern Pakistan are examining the body of a 10 year old girl over concerns she may have been murdered by her family and other villagers reports suggest the girl may have been stoned to death in a so-called all my killing the French interior minister Christoph cast and there has condemned the desecration of a Jewish cemetery mistress Berg mystic has to never join to Jewish leaders of the graveyard verse 12 and where more than 100 graves were dogged with swastikas on Tuesday. Hong Kong's government is to spend half a $1000000000.00 on relief measures after months of street protests that have damaged the economy businesses will get subsidies for utility bills b.b.c. News. Hello you know without bringing you extraordinary stories from around the world and Emily Webb now we're going to hear about education discrimination and one woman's fight to get children equal access to schools in the u.s. Outlook's has the story. And. Will start and Little Rock a place synonymous with those powerful images from the 1957 when a group of African-American students known as the Little Rock 9 enrolled at Central High School and became the 1st nonwhite students to enter the previously segregated school. What happened next was dramatic the students were attacked a verbal e. And physically and the governor of Arkansas who was against the concept sent state soldiers to prevent them from entering the school unit of the National Guard air fare and are now being mobilized in response your President Eisenhower sent 1000 federal us soldiers to protect the black students on their way to and from school mom would. Not be allowed to override the state of our court Virginia Walton Ford was only 6 at the time but even then she knew in her bones that this was a historic moment. Was. My mom and dad were very involved in civil rights movement and I remember the night before the law right now were to go to school they are met to pray and talk in someone's home and they put all the kids in the back room and I remember even as 6 years old I knew something really important was happening eventually your parents did talk to you about what was happening do you remember what terms they explained it to you so they talked to us about desegregation and you know we had always come segregated schools and how this would impact us as time went on and how brave the law right now and were and how we would see in our own laughs what that meant to go to schools that were going to serve African-American kids you mentioned that your father was the 1st black assistant superintendent so is correct I read that your home was actually attacked by the Ku Klux Klan when your father took on that position yes it was they burned a cross in the yard in threw a rock through a window and I was terrified and I mean I remember looking out the front door and seeing the cross. Bernie and then almost as soon as we looked at the door we heard a rock come through the back window which was our baby sister's room she just was not in there so she could have been hurt if she had been in her room so those girls terrifying you know we cracked and held on to each other's 5 girls and my mom and dad he was you know trying to reassure us and keep us from being so afraid it would be an other 7 years before discrimination based on color religion sex or national origin would be outlawed but the Civil Rights Act But even when the law had changed the reality on the ground was a different matter the federal government had started putting pressure on the state of Arkansas to ramp up its public school desegregation efforts and in 19661 Virginia was 14 years old it was time for her to go to high school. Virginia was chosen to start at Central High the same school the Little Rock 9 had attended as part of the 2nd wave of black students to go to the school I remember not want to go and I remember my parents telling us we got to continue to desegregation pride says so you all need to be prepared to go to these schools and I remember telling my dad I don't want to go I want to go to the black I ask you but my dad said to me you have to go in you have to do well and you have to make sure you grasp everything the school has to offer because you have younger siblings and how would the world look at you if you don't go and your younger siblings have to follow you what will they go through and I remember thinking Wow No that's really important because I love my little sisters and I wanted to be a role model for them so I went. Right out I remember walking into the. Robberies central in Goa This is wonderful and never seen a labyrinth in a school like that where there was so many books and so I was good was a sauna lab rare but I have never. It was tough on us you know people often talk about what the law right now with through and blossomed they went through a lot and I prayed for them all the time but even when we went in 66 there was a lot of opposition to us going there and we knew we had to be tough and strong and we knew we had to go in with the attitude that we were going to get everything we could out of this opportunity but it was the lot for a 14 year 0 I mean a muscle it was in a degree sponsibility it was in I remember many times over the 3 years I was a central where I was frustrated in devastated by what I saw was happening and there was a student that commune and every day that was really hard on me you know to not respond to that but I walked away because that's what our parents told us to do and they say it don't let people being mean to you affect who you are you are good kids and you know the rules and you know what's right in Rome walk away so for 3 years I walked away now we're going to jump ahead quite a few years but keep in mind that those values her father had instilled in her about the merits of education and the role of a good school but all play out later. After graduating from high school Virginia who always loved math studied accounting and college she did well she got a job working for cultural exchange program and moved to the Us capital Washington d.c. . In the meantime quite a lot of life happened to Virginia she got married at 3 kids the marriage events. He fell apart and by the mid 1990 s. She was trying to make ends meet as a single parent I was kind of by myself with children and my oldest son was a joy he was one of those kids that you know everybody prays for Ivy he never got to travel get all A's he was jealous Khuda it was terribly challenge but he found a way to get through and so that the beginning started off really well and then as I saw the schools in d.c. Deteriorate in change and then a few years later with my youngest son I really saw it and I saw that he was in an environment that was my serving him well and he needed to be somewhere else but at that time I was working 3 jobs trying to raise the 3 of them and there were no options available for me except the neighborhood school and he just wooden door well I remember the teacher telling me you know what he was not necessarily bad he she was really mischievous and he gets in trouble all the time I mean it was a lot of gang activity in our community so he also got pulled into the streets he was running away and the year he was 14 or 15 I found 11 missing persons reports with the bullies good thing my God he would leave and he would be gone for $2.00 and $3.00 days and we'd all be out looking for him and it was scary I mean I can imagine that you probably had the feeling of like helplessness I did helplessness hopelessness you know I remember sit on the porch and cran many a night's about what we were going to do with him and so we were kind of stuck and people would tell me you know he's one of us kids just go probably get lost don't waste your time who tells a mother not to waste their time and I'd bet just made me more determined that I was going to fancy whatever he needed and then you came into the sudden windfall right a neighbor offered. To pay for William to attend a private school he offered to pay for part $2.00 issues for waiving the 10 private school and I would be responsible for the rest of what affected the new school have on him that he changed it was Oh absolutely he was it was amazing in a couple of months he was jumping up and going to school and and I remember asking him when Ted Ok what changed and he said Mama for the 1st time in my life other people care whether I learn and not other than you. And never makes me feel good William seemed to be on the right track at last it looked like Virginia's troubles were over she could have put her feet up turned her attention to something else but that's not really the kind of person Virginia is once where you get involved in thriving in school who looked around among neighbors kids were not and I just believe that there was some different for working class and poor kids in d.c. And bright at that moment I heard about legislative action proposing a scholarship program for low income kids in d.c. And I was working with a faith based organization that had been invited to get parents to participate in this I mean what they were looking for were parents to come and tell their stories and testified before the Education and Workforce Committee of the house and told them our story and it just kind of went from there all of sudden they were invited me to talk to other committees and we get other parents involved in spend a lot of time talking about our kids and what to needs were for our kids and that was kind of has starred Virginia had seen her own son thrive after switching from public to private education and she saw the difference a good school made for him and she knew she wanted that for other kids than it should have she talks about. Would have created a system of state funded scholarships for kids to go to private schools but although she had put her heart and soul into campaigning for it the legislation didn't make it into law. It was a setback but there was no stopping Virginia she had found her calling. She began to gather a group of like minded parents and they were going to fight for access to education for all kids no matter how long it took became really obsessed almost with making sure that the children of d.c. Had something there would get them out of schools that weren't serving to morrow then in 2003 legislation was once again proposed for a scholarship program for low income kids by now an old hand at campaigning Virginia rallied hundreds of parents this time she was going to make sure it didn't fall through. Over the next 10 months as the bill made its way through the legislative process Virginia worked with parents and children from across the city to relentlessly lobby Congress every single day that Congress was in session there were groups of parents on Capitol Hill often led by Virginia making themselves known and talking to lawmakers and the media. Have come out after the out. First then fight for now not exactly why so there you are you're the face of this campaign you know you're telling your story you're getting all these other parents involved but I have heard you say that you were quite a shy person I was like for you to all of a sudden be the face of the campaign Well I would tell you is terrified and I mean I remember summer early speeches and pray before I go as a lawyer to put the words in my mouth because I'm shaken and I have never been a speaker Virginia says The idea behind school choice incentives is to provide a way for all children to get a better education and give them a way out of failing schools now as with lots of elements of education there's always some controversy involved some people argue that allocating money to fund scholarships for private schools means you're going to weaken the already struggling public schools opponents also say that taking kids whose passionate parents are prepared to fight so hard for them out of the public education system means that those public schools are even more likely to fail. I put these concerns to purge and you know and she insisted that her movement was giving parents the option to make the best choices possible for their kids not take resources away from public schools we love the scholarship program but we also love traditional public schools that are do well we love homeschool what we love and what we $54.00 . Or is education to children can you to last to be successful so I fight for the best school possible what did your own kids make of what you were doing well I'll tell you one story I got a threat somebody threatened me and I remember at that point I've been involved for wow and it was 1st time a really sat down and talked to Mike his about it and I remember a column the older kids to say in our it I've been threatened if I've been threatened it is a threat to you as well so if you want me to stop I will hold the son speaking for his siblings and saying I mean the kids have talked about it we are really proud of the work you're doing and we'll be Ok so it took years of hard work and knock backs and threats but in 2004 the d.c. Voucher legislation was passed and it was signed into law right both that like for you after everything you had put into it. It was an amazing feeling and in the years since have you been able to see firsthand the impact that the program has had on young people Oh absolutely I have stayed in touch with many of the 1st group of parents that fall with us and I watched the children grow into adulthood I think the 1st group of kids to want to discuss your program in their late twenty's now and I've watched them go to college and finish college and get their 1st jobs and buy their 1st homes Virginia has seen at the impact her work has had on many young people but her proudest moment was watching her son William graduate at the top of his class as the valedictorian the student who delivers the closing statement at graduation as a mother you better Danette when they called him up to the stage to make his valedictory speech my heart was just the Rugby Union it was like This is a child who nobody expected. Do where ever I wrote him off to me and now he is the valid Torreon of his high school graduating class that's my proudest moment as a mother my proudest moment as an act of is is for we had our closing program there President Bush came to and he talked about how special our kids were and then our kids got up and talked about how special they were. And for them to have that kind of bread in joy of learning in you know that's the best moment in the world and that's all I want that's the reward for be an activist when you see something new or fall out passionately about come to fruition activists Virginia ward in full expecting to Outlook's us a fix we've made a longer version of the interview available as a podcast it's code a mother's battle for her son's education find it on the b.b.c. Outlook website or step James name I was listening in Kenya write to us saying Coo dust of a Jenny a and her fight to empower children through quality private education no mean feat as she faced the system and life setbacks if you'd like to comment on this or any other story e-mail is Outlook at b.b.c. Dot com That's outlook at b.b.c. Dot com. Now it's time for witness history today we're looking back at the impact of a British coal mine a sun on the world of art during the 20th century Henry will revolutionize scope to changing the way the human body was seen and setting his works in natural landscapes he became internationally renowned and by the 1970 s. His scope his could be seen outside government buildings universities museums banks and theaters worldwide Mary more is the only daughter of Henry Moore I mean one can't believe because his work seems so. Comfortable but there was this feeling that it was dangerous that it was outrageous that it would. Be following all use and we will was born in Yorkshire England in 8098 during the reign of Queen Victoria when he was 4 alternate and was totally representation you know we'd have narrative thought it was representation all could be done by photography with titles like you know the soldier comes home but Henry Moore would make abstract sculpture popular in the u.k. He was the 7th of 8 children his father was a miner but the family were keen on education and he decided to go to art school I mean I think that that generation believed in education as a way of changing the world changing your life and his choice was bold at the time England wasn't known for sculpture at his 1st art school he was the only student in the sculpture class later in a b.b.c. Documentary he said this freed him from any expectations I began my career at a time when people were saying that. England never had produced sculpture and never would do. This. For me is much better than if one had been born say an Italian. And had all the renaissance as a year as a background this was a complete conquest that I could make entirely alone and he began the Conquest immediately from the beginning he broke away from the tradition of copying an exact likeness but college more was taught to draw from models but this could not disguise the individuality of his own personal vision. Studies of the human figure were expressive interpretations of shape and form not careful copies of reality one of most teachers was provoked into exclaiming This man has been feeding on garbage the art schools that he was studying and many of his teachers called his work you know. Ugly and disgusting and that he said on a cesspit kind of rule academicians teachers and artists who believed in representation a lot Henry Moore's figure is usually women with large smooth bulky and powerful his inspiration came from what was then called primitive art freestanding sculpture from Africa and South America as this b.b.c. Report decades later explains people want used to seeing such sexualized sculptures what took people aback was a matter of expression which emphasized the sexual nature of its subject and rejected the realistic treatment of the human figure. It was considered to be a primitive decadent and savage a willful mutilation of noble ideals in a way it was more wanted to cut across the inhibitions that he felt robbed art of its vitality he wanted sculpture to have greater power and strength he wanted to rise in as the deepest forces and instincts my belief is that no matter what advances we make in technology. And in the controlling of nectar real bases of life in human relationships he just told them to do the happy or unhappy throughout his career he kept returning to the themes of the mother and child and the reclining figure women he told the b.b.c. Well much more interesting and emotional Heaven knows I don't want to play the editors I thought it was to you with all these maternal figures somewhere welling up from your unconscious I think. I think I'll. I love my mother earth but my mother really was a big stick to me Mary says Henry Moore's love for his mother helped inspire both his subject matter and the creative process itself learning to rob a need material into shape echoed back to a time when he helped ease his mother's back pain as he was the 7th child he was the youngest and he was often at home and his mother was quite old at the when he was young and used to rub really the moment in to have back because she had arthritis rheumatism so I think it you know and often when you look at the backs of his with me or even his mother's They are very large women with very broad backs he always said his work was more about form the no ideas I never know and I can't say and I don't know where the ideas come from how I get them whether what they mean so on the time it turn live the fun part perhaps can explain a little bit afterwards I don't set out to do. Something representing. Some literary. Idea and then try to do it I work by a kind of likes and dislikes of you know who think and shapes and not him and his school days had a lasting influence everybody's appreciation for is built on this appreciation of say part of my. Training that I was a young sculptor come from being. A mixed 2nd vehicle. I could look at all the girl's legs and I could tell you which girl was which to put her only shown me her figure from the need onwards I mean the. The falls for. The top Mr Paul all these things are connected with life and life effects by the 1950 s. His reputation was secure he'd been awarded the international sculpture prize at the Venice Biennale a in Italy and then in 1956 the United Nations Cultural Organization UNESCO requested a sculpture outside their headquarters in Paris suddenly the more family home became a hub of activity film stars came to us musicians came to us collectors came to us writers came to us but also one was aware that we were going to the world because they were lorries that were cranes there were a sculptor being created on crazy taken off to exhibitions his home and studio were in rolling green countryside he often carved outside and displayed his work in the landscape it's because the sculpture looks different all the time every day of the year every hour of the trade for for nothing it looks different in history or in life there is certain scientists or musicians or writers or painters or sculptors who invent a new language and not many people invent a new language and he invented a new language. A new way of seeing things and in 1978 he opened up the doors to his home to the public creating the Henry Moore Foundation here his sculptures were on display in the greenery surrounding his home I mean he wanted sculpture to be part of everybody's life and experience and he's rich that lives and we should go on fighting that fight you can't have something that stops me is like saying why is it necessary to go on I mean why can't the factory 5 of the platter of all this is a growth of human intelligence sensitivity and saw you can't go wrong just repeating the practicing not as if they don't make a case then they're doing nothing Henry Moore died in 1986 his foundation continues clear those reporting teaching in tomorrow if you like penguins and nature documentaries as I'll be joined in the studio by the award winning wildlife camera man Lindsay McRae He spent 11 months in Antarctica filming emperor penguins in some of the harshest conditions on Earth imagine temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius he'll be telling me about how he came to rescue some of those penguins after a storm and why he missed the birth of his 1st child to film the colony for a wildlife documentary join me for that but for me Emily Webb and the whole of the outlook team have a lovely morning afternoon or evening wherever you are in the world. Your tune to end s.p.r. Nor State Public Radio k c h o Chico n.k.f. Reading listener supported public radio for northern California a broadcast service of California State University Chico where on the web and my p.r. Work. On This is the news room from the b.b.c. World Service the British prime minister Boris Johnson has told funny.

Related Keywords

Radio Program ,Political Science ,School Types ,Liberal Democracies ,Republics ,Types Of University Or College ,Member States Of The United Nations ,Parenting ,Education ,Parts ,Former Spanish Colonies ,Public High Schools In Ohio ,British Journalists ,Aid ,Economics Terminology ,Community Organizing ,Childhood ,Scholarships ,Sculpture Techniques ,Legal Procedure ,Machines ,Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ,Plant Anatomy ,Tissues ,Radio Kcho 91 7 Fm Kfpr 88 9 ,Stream Only ,Radio ,Radioprograms ,