‘NOW’ Reports on ‘A Growing Hunger’ in Africa
The Issue: United States Cotton Subsidies and Their Global Effect on Cotton Growers
People who complain about how meaningless and time-wasting television is apparently don’t make the effort to explore all of the available alternatives. Since 1969, the non-profit Public Broadcasting Service—better known as simply PBS—has been offering viewers intelligent and informative TV programming, such as the Emmy-winning weekly newsmagazine NOW, hosted by seasoned journalist David Brancaccio (the series began in 2002 as NOW with Bill Moyers and with Moyers hosting). This week’s original installment, “A Growing Hunger,” focuses on a pressing issue many are likely unaware of, but that still merits immediate attention nonetheless: United States government subsidies for American cotton growers, which add up to billions of tax dollars each year.
On the surface, this subject seems more like a nonissue because what could be so bad about the government helping farmers—often among the lowest paid and hardest hit workers in times of economic fluctuation—in its own country? It turns out that U.S. cotton subsidies actually impact communities around the world, particularly in the poorest locales, such as Africa, where growing cotton is an essential endeavor capable of making the difference between supporting one’s family and starving to death.
NOW‘s timely report will take viewers all the way to West Africa’s Burkina Faso in order to present a close-up view of just how deeply U.S. cotton subsidies have influenced the profitability of growing the crop in that country. In addition, the episode will spotlight a highly contentious new proposal to decrease government farm aid that is guaranteed to cause strife in Congress should it move forward.
One of the best things about PBS programming is the amount of effort the organization has devoted to constructing equally enlightening Web sites that enhance the televised shows. To accompany this week’s report, NOW’s Web site currently features a host of links to helpful material that expands upon the subject matter, including an interactive map detailing the annual dollar amount each U.S. state receives from the government for farm subsidies, as well as a well-researched list of critical facts about the cotton industry. [OnTV Friday, 9 March 2007, PBS, 8pm EST*]
Other Good Stuff on TV Tonight:
- Clatterford : Join creator and costar Jennifer Saunders, along with a variety of popular comedic talent from the United Kingdom, in this humorous examination of small-town life through the eyes of a women’s group’s members. [Series Debut/BBC America/9:00]
- Comedy Central Presents: It’s time to laugh with two fresh installments of Comedy Central’s half-hour stand-up specials, the first featuring Chelsea Handler of E!’s The Chelsea Handler Show and the second Deon Cole of Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business. [New Episodes/Comedy Central/10:00 & 10:30]
- Debbie Does Dallas Again: Yes, there is truly something for everyone on TV much of the time, and this graphic, late-night/early-morning offering intended for mature audiences only will probably score big for premium cable’s Showtime. The documentary-style program is not the same soft-core porn classic that became *very* popular after its 1978 debut, but rather a series about remaking that cult film. A second new episode follows at 11:30pm. [Series Debut/Showtime/11:00 & 11:30]
- Las Vegas—HEROES: If you’re a fan, make sure to catch outgoing stars James Caan and Nikki Cox in the fourth-season finale because although the series was recently renewed for a fifth season, NBC subsequently announced that the two will not be back. And don’t be fooled by tonight’s contrary episode either—it was written and filmed before Caan and Cox reportedly decided to walk and received the ax, respectively. [4th-Season Finale/NBC/9:00]
*PBS times may vary—Check your local listings to verify them
All times are PM and EST/Eastern Standard Time
NOW photo courtesy of PBS
