Environment
Weekend America's coverage of the environment.
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Let Them Drink Coke
Pretty much, someone is trying to market something to everyone, always. But this was not always the case. Not so long ago, African-Americans were largely ignored by marketers. As part of our "Consumed" series, Weekend America reporter Krissy Clark brings us the story of how Madison Avenue discovered minorities.
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Life-Changing Purchase: Four Wigs
The Caskettes, a Minnesota singing group, is comprised of four sisters -- Babs, Delna, Mimi, and CindyLee (their stage names). They first got a taste of the spotlight when they performed about ten years ago at their grandmother's funeral (she had a riotous sense of humor and would've gotten a kick out of it, says CindyLee). Now they get together and perform whenever and wherever they can -- birthday parties, piano bars, family talent shows. The Caskettes have always dressed to the nines (think feathers, sequins), but this year, they upped their glamour ante when Delna got sick. In particular they bought wigs, so that the effects of radiation and chemo couldn't be seen. The singing and laughter have been cathartic for all of the women, and besides, you look a lot less ill in a wig and go go boots.
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Weekend Carbon Emissions
This weekend millions of families are going about their normal weekend activities: Little League games, shopping and running errands, meeting up with friends. "Weekend America" wanted to know where being green and the weekend intersect. How do normal activities affect one's carbon footprint--or the resources each individual is taking up? Host Desiree Cooper sits down with Lisa Wise, executive director of the Center for a New American Dream, and a couple of listeners to talk weekend carbon emissions.
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Your Ad Here: Adventures in Assvertising, and Other Pursuits
Ads are everywhere. They're on cars, buses and planes. They're on people's bodies: stomachs, foreheads and rear-ends. Marketers are constantly scouring for unexpected advertising real estate. Weekend America reporter Sean Cole has a look at where they're headed next.
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Winning the Lottery Didn't Change His Life
As part of our coverage of the consumer economy, we're asking listeners what single purchase changed their lives. In Florida, Pete had started a new job. One day, a colleague asked him if he wanted to join the office pool to buy a lottery ticket. He said yes, and they won $14 million dollars. Pete tells us his story of a truly life-changing purchase.
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In Dallas, a Fight Over the Land Between the Levees
On November 6th, voters in Dallas have a ballot question before them: Should the city build a toll-road along its river? Opponents of the toll-road say it puts the city more at risk of a catastrophic flood, and it will ruin a planned park. Supporters say that without the road, Dallas will strangle itself on traffic jams. Weekend America's Julia Barton navigates Dallas' wild river, portaging over log jams, clambering the muddy banks, whacking through head-high grass to find whether Big D is ready to embrace its soggy center.
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Forget Ads, What's Your Brand?
Almost every Saturday, 15-year-old Emily Erickson is at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. Most of its 500 stores don't interest her, except Hollister, a clothing store for teens. Hollister is odd. It's dark, with music so loud you can't hear yourself shop. The air is filled with a deep citrus scent that stays on your clothes for hours. But Emily loves it and keeps coming back. Hollister's "brand" invites her to become part of a particular tribe, and to show her allegiance by wearing its clothes. It's part of the way that branding has taken over from traditional advertising. We hear from brand designer Joe Duffy about the concept of "brand" for clothes, kids and even countries.
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Baby's First Mastercard?
Babies now have the choice of Barney clothing, Elmo diapers and fruit chews shaped like Teletubbies. Weekend America's John Moe wants to know if this is a cynical marketing ploy or a harmless way of enhancing a child's experience. He hears from Dr. Susan Linn of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, Dr. Rosemarie Truglio of the Sesame Workshop and some plain old parents.
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Buy a Gun, Get Inner Peace for Free
The first firearm Eric bought was a Ruger MK II pistol. It changed his life. According to Eric, owning the gun has made him think long and hard about the responsibility. And believe it or not, owning a firearm has brought calm to his life. Shooting at the range helps him take a step back from his hectic life and breathe deeply -- it's almost Zen.
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Life-Changing House
Seven years ago, Karen Tips of Winston-Salem, N.C., bought a house for herself and her daughter Katie Rose. Prior to that, they'd been living in a worn-down shack, a life made all the more difficult by the fact that Katie Rose has cerebral palsy. It turned out that the new house changed their life completely. We'll hear their story.
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Not Crazy Over Ethanol
This year, America grew the most corn it has since the end of World War II. This bumper crop is thanks to demand for ethanol, an alternative to gasoline that's made by fermenting sugars. Weekend America host Bill Radke talks with two corn farmers, Larry Meints of Seamboat Rock, Iowa, and Barney Lavin of Dover, Wis., about why they're not crazy about the ethanol craze.
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Bill Radke's Environmental Impact
Of all the American Public Media hosts who took the "Consumer Consequences" test -- our online calculator that measures a person's environmental footprint -- Weekend America's Bill Radke scored the greenest. But he doesn't consider himself an environmentalist. Radke explores what does and does not motivate people to change the world.
