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HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW. I'M IMRAN SIDDIQUI ..AND I'M ALEX VILLARREAL.
THIS WEEK ON ASSIGNMENT, WE GO FIRST TO EGYPT, WHERE PROBLEMS IN
POLITICS ALSO MEAN PROBLEMS FOR THE PRESS. BUT IS THE STIFLING NECESSARY? WE'LL HEAR
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN CAIRO. MEANWHILE - HE'S ELUDED OFFICIALS FOR YEARS.
WHY CAPTURING THE LEADER OF AFRICA'S LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY IS STILL A U.S. MILITARY GOAL.A
NEW PALESTINIAN CITY IS RISING UP IN THE WEST BANK. THE FIRST TENANTS
ARE MOVING IN SOON, BUT NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES.AND A FOOD MARKET THAT CATERS TO THE DEAF, WHAT
IT DEMONSTRATES ABOUT HOW TO BETTER BLEND THOSE WHO CAN AND CANNOT
HEAR.YOU'RE GOING ON ASSIGNMENT WITH THE VOICE OF AMERICA ... AND THAT ASSIGNMENT STARTS
RIGHT NOW.IN EGYPT, ACTIVISTS SAY MEDIA THAT FAIL TO SING THE ARMY'S
PRAISES FACE CLEAR HOSTILITY. THE MILITARY OUSTED ISLAMIST PRESIDENT MOHAMED MORSI IN
JULY, AND SINCE THEN, TELEVISION STATIONS SYMPATHETIC TO HIM HAVE BEEN SHUT
DOWN, AND REPORTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND DRIVEN UNDERGROUND.BUT EVEN SOME LONG-TIME
CHAMPIONS OF FREE SPEECH SAY THERE ARE REASONS TO SUPPRESS THE PRESS. VOA
CAIRO CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT HAS REPORTED ON THIS VERY ONE-SIDED MEDIA MOVEMENT AND
SHE TALKED WITH ON ASSIGNMENT'S PHILIP ALEXIOU. YOU'LL SEE THAT RIGHT
AFTER THIS CLIP FROM HER REPORT.EGYPTIAN STATE TELEVISION OFFERS CONSTANT REMINDERS THAT
THE NATION IS AT WAR. AND THERE ARE FEW BATTLEGROUNDS AS CONTESTED AS THE
MEDIA ITSELF. SINCE THE JULY OUSTER OF ISLAMIST PRESIDENT MOHAMED MORSI, STATIONS SYMPATHETIC
TO HIM HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN. REPORTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND OTHERS
DRIVEN UNDERGROUND.ELIZABETH WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF THIS ONE SIDED MEDIA LANDSCAPE IN
EGYPT? THE MILITARY BACKED GOVERNMENT HAS PRETTY MUCH SHUTDOWN ANY VOICES THAT
DON'T FOLLOW PRETTY MUCH THE GOVERNMENT LINE. AND WE'VE SEEN IT NOT ONLY SHUTTING DOWN THE
ISLAMIST PRESS BUT ALSO A SHIFT, SOME OF IT VOLUNTARY BY PEOPLE IN THE
MEDIA REALLY GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO PRAISE THE MILITARY, TO ALMOST FALL OVER THEMSELVES
SOMETIMES TO PUT THEM IN THIS VERY, VERY FLATTERING LIGHT. IT'S QUITE
CHILLING, MANY JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, DETAINED, IT'S NEW REGULATIONS ON HOW YOU
CAN ACTUALLY FILM. WE NOW NEED TO GET PERMISSION FOR EVERY SINGLE THING
WE GO OUT TO DO.NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE FOREIGN MEDIA, HOW ARE THEY BEING TREATED IF THEY
ARE NOT PRO MILITARY? THERE'S CERTAINLY, I MEAN THERE'S BEEN NO APPARENT
CENSORSHIP OF REPORTS GOING OUT, HOWEVER, AL-JEZEERA, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WAS VERY OPENLY
SIDING WITH THE BROTHERHOOD AND ISLAMIST AGENDA, THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING
MANY RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR REPORTING AND OTHER WESTERN JOURNALISTS ARE BLAMED VERY MUCH.
IF YOU GO OUT WITH A CAMERA, YOU WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION, PEOPLE ARE VERY
ANGRY. AND HOW IS VOICE OF AMERICA'S ELIZABETH ARROTT BEING PERCEIVED WHEN SHE GOES OUT?
IT'S DIFFICULT NOW BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS. I MEAN IT REALLY IS. A
LOT OF FILMING INDOORS...CERTAINLY BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AMERICA'S
POLICY GETS MIXED UP IN THAT, IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN THEREFORE YOU MUST
FOLLOW THAT AND BECAUSE AMERICA HAS A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION IN ALL OF THIS THAT WASHINGTON'S
OFFICIAL POSITION HAS BEEN SORT OF NEITHER HERE NOR THERE IN MANY
PEOPLE'S MINDS. THE MILITARY FEELS IT HASN'T DONE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEM, THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
FEELS ABANDONED BY THEM. AND SO IT'S NOT GREAT STANDING FOR
AMERICA AT THE MOMENT HERE.WHY DO THEY FEEL THIS KIND OF PRO-MILITARY MEDIA IS NEEDED
RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTRY? THE DIALOGUE AND THE DYNAMIC THAT'S BEEN SET UP BY
THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT IT'S THE MILITARY AND THE RIGHT EGYPTIANS VERSES THE "TERRORISTS."
AND THE TERRORISTS ARE PRETTY MUCH ANYBODY WHO OPPOSES THE GOVERNMENT.
SO, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS KIND OF SETUP IT PUTS EVERYBODY INTO ANOTHER CAMP SO EVERYBODY
DEFINITELY WANTS TO BE IN THE NON-TERRORIST CAMP. AND THERE'S A FEELING
THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE STABILITY AFTER, AFTER THIS ONE YEAR OF MORSI'S PRESIDENCY IN WHICH
PEOPLE FELT THAT THINGS WERE FALLING APART AND CERTAINLY THE MILITARY IS
A VERY FAMILIAR FACE FOR MANY EGYPTIANS. MOST PEOPLE HAVE A MEMBER THAT'S SERVED IN IT AND
SO SOME PEOPLE GENUINELY EMBRACE HAVING THEM BACK AND OTHER JUST FEEL
THAT THEY NEED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROOM TO BE ANYTHING OTHER
THAN THAT.PRESS FREEDOM GROUPS DECRY WHAT THEY CALL A "CLEAR HOSTILITY
TOWARDS MEDIA THAT FAIL TO SING THE ARMY'S PRAISES." BUT SOME LONG-TIME CHAMPIONS OF
FREE SPEECH SEE THE NEED. POLITICAL SOCIOLOGIST SAID SADEK. "THERE ARE
MOMENTS IN HISTORY WHEN HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND MEDIA, THEY HAVE TO TAKE
A PAUSE UNFORTUNATELY. THIS IS A POLITICAL REALITY, NOT POLITICAL
ILLUSIONS." SADEK IS AMONG MANY WHO SAY NATIONAL SALVATION IS NOW AT STAKE. BUT MILITARY ATTEMPTS
TO CURRY FAVOR IN THE MEDIA WERE EVIDENT EVEN BEFORE THE COUP. A
VIDEO LEAKED ON THE RASSD YOUTUBE CHANNEL SHOWS MILITARY CHIEF GENERAL ABDEL FATTAH
EL-SISSI EARLIER THIS YEAR DISCUSSING WAYS TO INFLUENCE KEY MEDIA FIGURES. "WE
ARE CERTAINLY WORKING ON THAT AND WE ARE ACHIEVING BETTER RESULTS, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED
WHAT WE WANT." WELL, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE ARE IN 2013, WERE
NOT IN THE 1950 OR 1960 SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER, IS IT NOT, TO CONTROL THE MEDIA WITH
ALL OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA AVAILABLE TODAY? YES, AND EGYPTIANS ARE VERY, AT
LEAST A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF EGYPTIANS ARE VERY, VERY ACTIVE ON ESPECIALLY FACEBOOK, TWITTER
AND SO THAT IS A FORUM FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS. NOW, AGAIN THEY ARE OFTEN
SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GETTING TO A WIDER GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SO
YOU DO HAVE THAT PROBLEM. FOR THE EDUCATED AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG THERE
IS, THERE IS A ROOM FOR DEBATE AND REINFORCING THESE IDEAS, BUT YOU GO A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY
FROM THAT DEMOGRAPHIC AND BASICALLY PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING THIS ONE
MESSAGE. AND OF COURSE WE THANK ELIZABETH FOR THAT COVERAGE. IN EGYPT, FREEDOM OF THE
PRESS ISN'T THE ONLY FREEDOM AT RISK. EGYPTIAN AUTHORITIES ACTED RECENTLY TO
END A THREE-MONTH STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT THEY ALSO EDGED A STEP CLOSER TO LEGISLATION
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS VIEW AS A THREAT TO THE RIGHT TO PROTEST. WE'RE TAKING A
BREAK RIGHT NOW. COMING UP - A BRUTAL WARLORD IS ON THE RUN IN AFRICA. CAN THE U.S. MILITARY
CATCH HIM? YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT. U.S. MILITARY PLANNERS ARE
CONSIDERING EXPANDING THEIR EFFORTS TO CAPTURE THE LEADER OF AFRICA'S LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY,
JOSEPH KONY. THE LRA REBEL GROUP IS BEHIND ONE OF THE CONTINENT'S
LONGEST AND MOST BRUTAL ARMED CONFLICTS -- A CAMPAIGN OF MASS ***, KIDNAPPINGS, RAPES
AND CHILD SOLDIERS. THE LRA'S STATED GOAL: TO OVERTHROW THE UGANDAN
GOVERNMENT. BUT ITS REACH EXTENDS WAY BEYOND UGANDA. JOINING ME NOW IS VOA PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT
LUIS RAMIREZ. LUIS, TELL US MORE ABOUT JOSEPH KONY, AND WHY THE
U.S. IS CONSIDERING EXPANDING THESE EFFORTS. ALEX, JOSEPH KONY IS A SHADY AND MANY WOULD
AGREE A RATHER BIZARRE CHARACTER. HE HAS LED THIS QUASI-RELIGIOUS GROUP,
IT'S A CULT THAT HAS OPERATED THERE IN CENTRAL AFRICA FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS. HIS PHILOSOPHY
COMBINES OR RATHER MIXES UP ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND
ANIMISM. AND THOSE WHO KNOW HIM SAY HE LEADS A RATHER STRANGE LIFE, SOMETHING LIKE 88 WIVES,
42 CHILDREN THAT HE'S FATHERED. HIS CAMPAIGN HAS DEPENDED ON
ABDUCTING CHILDREN, GIVING THEM WEAPONS, FORCING THEM TO FIGHT. THE REASON WHY THE UNITED STATES
IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIM IS NOT SO MUCH THAT HE POSES A THREAT TO
U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY. HE DOESN'T. BUT RATHER HE DOES POSE A THREAT TO THE STABILITY OF
FRIENDS OF THE U.S., NAMELY UGANDA. AND THAT'S SOMETHING INTERESTING
THAT YOU MENTION IS THAT THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT, AND THE LRA IS NOT, A NATIONAL SECURITY
THREAT HERE IN THE U.S. SO HOW DIFFICULT IS IT GOING TO BE FOR THE U.S.
TO GET AMERICANS TO SUPPORT THIS? IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY EASY ACTUALLY. THE SUPPORT THAT
THIS HAS GOTTEN HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. IN A RARE EXAMPLE OF BIPARTISAN
ACTION, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO GO AFTER HIM, TO PUT U.S. RESOURCES AND
THE MIGHT OF THE U.S. MILITARY IN THIS EFFORT TO GO GET HIM. ADD TO
THAT A GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT'S MAINLY AMONG AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE. THERE WAS LAST YEAR
A VIDEO CALLED KONY 2012, PUT OUT BY AN NGO NAMED INVISIBLE CHILDREN.
THIS WENT VIRAL. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF HITS. YOUNG PEOPLE BUYING BRACELETS, GETTING ON
BOARD AGAINST IT, AGAINST THIS GROUP, AND SO THIS PROVIDED THE
ADMINISTRATION WITH THE COVER IT NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN THAT ORDER TO SEND 100 U.S.
SPECIAL FORCES. ALL RIGHT LUIS. WE WILL BE DEFINITELY FOLLOWING THIS
CLOSELY IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AND I KNOW WE WILL TOUCH BASE WITH YOU AGAIN TO
FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE U.S. IS DOING IN TERMS OF THESE EFFORTS. THANK
YOU AGAIN LUIS RAMIREZ OUR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT. WE ARE TAKING ANOTHER BREAK. ON THE OTHER
SIDE, A NEW PALESTINIAN CITY IS RISING ON A HILL IN THE WEST BANK.
YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT. NORTH OF JERUSALEM, A NEW PALESTINIAN CITY IS RISING ON A HILL
IN THE WEST BANK. SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE TO MOVE NEXT YEAR INTO
THE FIRST 600 HOMES. EVENTUALLY A CITY WILL RISE WITH A POPULATION OF 25-THOUSAND. THE
NEW CITY, CALLED RAWABI, WILL BE THE FIRST MODERN PLANNED PALESTINIAN CITY
-- INCORPORATING A GRAND VISION FOR SCHOOLS, SPORTS FACILITIES, A BUSINESS DISTRICT AND
SHOPPING MALLS. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES, AS VOA CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB TOLD OUR DOUG BERNARD. LET'S START WITH A LOOK AT SOME OF SCOTT'S REPORT. RAWABI WILL
BE THE FIRST MODERN PLANNED PALESTINIAN CITY -- AS SEEN IN THIS
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO -- INCORPORATING A GRAND VISION FOR SCHOOLS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
FACILITIES, A BUSINESS DISTRICT AND SHOPPING MALLS. ALL WILL BE LINKED BY
FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND OTHER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES. SCOTT, YOU VISITED THIS NEW CITY THAT'S UNDER
CONSTRUCTION, RAWABI, TELL US WHAT YOU SAW WHEN YOU WENT THERE?
WELL IT'S VERY MUCH A SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION - A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT'S VERY AMBITIOUSS
AND COVERS ALL BUT JUST ABOUT THE TOP OF A HILL OUTSIDE RAMALLAH. AND OF
COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO ADD APARTMENTS AND A WHOLE DIFFERENT RANGE OF LIVING ABODES AS
THEY GO ALONG. IT LOOKS MORE THAN AMBITIOUS. IT LOOKS REALLY QUITE
LUXURIOUS. I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO BE LIVING THERE? THE INITIAL PHASES ARE AIMED AT PROBABLY
PALESTINIAN PROFESSIONALS AND WEALTHY OR MODESTLY WEALTHY BUSINESS
PEOPLE. THERE'S TALK LATER ON ADDING LOW INCOME HOUSING BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO GET THIS PART
OF THE PROJECT FUNDED AND AT $1 BILLION ESTIMATED, THAT'S A LOT OF
MONEY. WHAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THIS PROJECT? THE GENESIS LIES WITH THE DIRECTOR AND PART
OWNER, BASHAR MASRI, WHO WAS BORN IN THE WEST BANK AND THEN WENT TO UNITED
STATES AS A YOUNG MAN. HE WORKED 25 YEARS IN AMERICA BEFORE RETURNING HOME WITH A VISION.
"I WANTED TO DO A LARGE PROJECT THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE PALESTINIAN
ECONOMY, CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS INSTEAD OF HUNDREDS OF JOBS AND CREATED BY OUR OWN,
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE." WILL THIS BE SOLELY FOR PALESTINIANS OR COULD YOU
IMAGINE A GENUINE MIXED COMMUNITY THERE? IT'S ENVISIONED AS MIXED FROM A RELIGIOUS POINT
OF VIEW. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MOSQUE AND A CHURCH. AND SOMETHING LIKE 10
TO 20% OF PEOPLE SO FAR HAVE BEEN CHRISTIAN. IT WILL BE PREDOMINATELY MUSLIM. THERE'S A
PROBLEM FOR ISRAELI CITIZENS IN THAT TECHNICALLY THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
GO INTO THE WEST BANK BECAUSE OF SECURITY ISSUES AND OF COURSE I THINK DOWN THE ROAD
I HOPE MIGHT BE THAT IF THERE'S A PEACE AGREEMENT AND PEACE - THAT EVEN
ISRAELIS AND POSSIBLY JEWISH PEOPLE COULD ESTABLISH THEMSELVES THERE. AT THE MOMENT
THOUGH, IT'S REALLY VERY MUCH A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN - MUSLIM PALESTINIAN
ENDEAVOR.OKAY. IT LOOKS AMBITIOUS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY THERE. BUT
THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES AND I UNDERSTAND FOR EXAMPLE THERE'S ONLY ONE
ROAD INTO THIS DEVELOPMENT. WELL YES - ALTHOUGH THE CITY IS BEING BUILT AN AREA THAT IS UNDER
THE CONTROL OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CALLED AREA A, THE WATER
SUPPLY IS IN AREA C WHICH IS STILL CONTROLLED BY ISRAEL. AND THE ROAD MUST PASS THROUGH
PARTS OF AREA C. ITS WATER SUPPLY, ALSO UNDER ISRAELI CONTROL, IS SUBJECT
TO CUTOFFS. THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, WHICH GOVERNS HERE, HAS NOT PROVIDED FUNDS FOR THE
SCHOOLS, CLINICS OR INFRASTRUCTURE. NEARBY ISRAELI SETTLERS OPPOSE THE
PROJECT. BUT MASRI REFUSES TO BACK DOWN, SAYING RAWABI IS SENDING A MESSAGE. "THAT YES, WE
CAN. WE CAN BUILD A NATION, DESPITE OCCUPATION. THE OWNER AND HIS PEOPLE
ARE STILL QUITE KEEN AND QUITE OPTIMISTIC BUT THESE ARE A FRUSTRATION OR WHAT THEY CALL
CHALLENGES. AND LOOKING AT THE DESIGN IT'S VERY MODERN - AT LEAST IS WHAT
THEY'RE PLANNING AT THIS POINT. DO PALESTINIANS LOOK AT THIS PROJECT IN A WAY THAT SAYS WILL
PERHAPS THIS IS SOMEHOW EMBLEMATIC OF - THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A
NEW MODERN NATION? I THINK THOSE THAT THINK ABOUT IT YES. VERY DEFINITELY AND SOME OF
THESE WELL-EDUCATED YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, THEY'RE INTERESTED OF COURSE IN THE
PRICE. THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THE MODERNITY. BUT THERE IS THAT SENSE OF PRIDE OF HAVING
SOMETHING THAT'S MODERN AND DIFFERENT, AND LIKE OTHER MODERN CITIES,
PLANNED CITIES IN PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. SO YES I'D SAY
THAT IS A FACTOR FOR SOME PEOPLE. AND AGAIN THAT WAS VOA JERUSALEM
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB. NOW ACCORDING TO SCOTT, THE SALES PRICES OF THESE VERY MODERN
APARTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER THAN COMPARABLE UNITS IN
NEARBY JERUSALEM, AND EVEN RAMALLAH. SPEAKING OF CITY LIVING ... THERE'S A NEW FOOD MARKET
IN WASHINGTON HAS BECOME A HUB FOR DEAF PEOPLE. AND THE MARKET IS PART
OF A LARGER EFFORT TO INTEGRATE DEAF PEOPLE INTO THE HEARING COMMUNITY, AS I LEARNED WHEN
I SPOKE WITH VOA REPORTER MICHAEL LIPIN. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. LUNCHTIME
FOOD VENDOR THADDEUS SUGGS HAS NO TROUBLE TAKING AN ORDER FROM DEAF CUSTOMERS AT THIS
STORE IN WASHINGTON'S UNION MARKET. COMMUNICATION IS EASY BECAUSE THE 23-
YEAR-OLD COOK IS FLUENT IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. SUGGS, WHO ALSO IS DEAF, BEGAN WORKING AT
THE MARKET SOON AFTER IT OPENED LAST YEAR. THAT'S WHEN HE TOOK A BREAK
FROM STUDYING ACROSS THE STREET AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY - THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD DESIGNED
TO ACCOMMODATE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS. WITH THE HELP OF
GALLAUDET INTERPRETER CAROLYN RESSLER, SUGGS EXPLAINS WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT HIS JOB. "ONE
NICE THING IS IT'S SO CLOSE TO GALLAUDET, WHICH BY THE WAY IS THE 'DEAF
MECCA'. AND WITH THAT, WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE GALLAUDET COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE." WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON, D.C., PEOPLE JUST
THINK ABOUT CAPITOL HILL AND POLITICS OF THE CITY, BUT YOU HAVE PICKED UP AN AMAZING SUBJECT.
TELL ME HOW DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? WELL, THE IDEA DEVELOPED IN FEW
STAGES. THE FIRST THING WAS ACTUALLY (I) WENT TO UNION MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE,
THAT WAS ABOUT NINE MONTHS AFTER REOPEN FOLLOWING A LONG RENOVATION.
UNION MARKET IS IN NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND IT IS A KIND OF TRENDY FRESH FOOD MARKET AND
ALSO A DINNING VENUE AND IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A VERY SPECIAL
PLACE - THE ONLY UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR DEAF PEOPLE.SO
HOW CAN A FOOD MARKET BECOME A HUB FOR THE DEAF PEOPLE? WELL, THIS
HAPPENED IN SEVERAL WAYS. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT IT REALLY IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
FROM GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY. AND THAT MEANS THIS FOOD MARKET HAS A VERY BIG
CUSTOMER BASE RIGHT NEXT DOOR OF DEAF STUDENTS AND ALSO STUFF OF THE UNIVERSITY. NOW, THE
MARKETS TOOK THIS IN MIND WHEN IT FIGURED OUT HOW TO DESIGN THE INTERIOR
OF THIS SPACE. THE DEVELOPER REALIZED WE HAVE THIS BIG CUSTOMER BASE ACROSS THE STREET,
HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR MARKET FRIENDLIER TO THEM. WELL THAT INCLUDES A SEVERAL
ASPECTS OF DEAF DESIGN OR DEAF SPACE IN TO THE FEATURES. ONE FEATURE IS LOTS OF LIGHTS,
TO MAKE VISUAL COMMUNICATION EASIER, ANOTHER FEATURE IS KEEP THE WALLS LOW.
IN FACT, YOU GO IN TO UNION MARKET...IT'S REALLY ONE BIG ROOM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
IS QUITE NEW IN TERMS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. HANSEL BAUMAN WHO IS THE
PLANNING DIRECTOR AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY TOLD ME THAT IT'S RELATIVELY NEW THING TO
THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU DESIGN ANY PUBLIC SPACE. AND UNION MARKET IS REALLY ONE OF
THE FIRST BIG PUBLIC SPACES THAT HAVE EMBRACED THIS PRINCIPLE. ANY PLAN TO REPLICATE THIS
ACROSS THE STATES OR EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE BEING DEAF
IS A STIGMA? I DON'T KNOW OF PLANS FOR MORE DEAF-FRIENDLY PUBLIC SPACES OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON,
ALTHOUGH I CAN TELL YOU THAT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY IS WORKING WITH
THE WASHINGTON COMMUNITY TO INCORPORATE DEAF DESIGNED PRINCIPLES INTO MORE SPACES IN THIS
CITY. THEY ALSO WANT TO CONVERT PART OF THE GALLAUDET CAMPUS INTO MORE
SHOPS AND PUBLIC SPACES AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO DESIGN THE NEW ASPECTS OF THE GALLAUDET
CAMPUS. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THOSE WHO CAN HEAR AND THEY
ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF AND THEY HAVE THIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEM? TRY TO REACT THE
WAY THAT I DO WHEN I GOT TO MEET AND LEARN FROM THE DEAF PEOPLE THAT I
WORKED WITH ON THE STORY AND THAT IS THAT IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED IN UNDERSTANDING,
HAVE SOME PATIENCE. PERHAPS THE DEAF PERSON YOU'RE SPEAKING TO CAN READ
YOUR LIPS, MAYBE NEEDS YOU TO REPEAT SOMETHING ONCE OR TWICE, BUT JUST HAVE THAT PATIENCE
TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND... FROM THEM...AND THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO DO
THAT, JUST TO BE CONSCIOUS THAT THERE ARE THOSE VARIOUS WAY THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE.
OUR THANKS TO VOA REPORTER MICHAEL LIPIN FOR THAT STORY ABOUT A SITUATION
THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE -- HERE IN THE U.S. ALONE, THERE ARE SOME 8 MILLION PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY HEARING. RIGHT, YOU MENTIONED THE U.S. BUT, OF COURSE,
THIS IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN PROBLEM, IT IS A WORLDWIDE ISSUE. SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING
TO KEEP WATCH ON. MOVING ON ... KENYA HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS MANY
WORLD CLASS DISTANCE RUNNERS. BUT NOW, KENYA IS QUICKLY GAINING A REPUTATION FOR ANOTHER
DISTANCE SPORT - CYCLING. ROOPA GOGINENI HAS MORE ON THE KENYAN RIDERS -
ROLLING WHEELS IN A COUNTRY OF RUNNERS.THE SMALL TOWN OF ITEN, KENYA, PERCHED NEARLY
2,500 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, HAS NEW ATHLETES ON THE ROAD. ITEN IS FAMOUS FOR
PRODUCING THE FASTEST MEN AND WOMEN ON EARTH. THIS REPUTATION SPARKED THE INTEREST OF SINGAPOREAN
PHOTOGRAPHER NICHOLAS LEONG AFTER HE WATCHED KENYANS DOMINATE THE
SINGAPOREAN MARATHON IN 2006. HE WONDERED IF THEY COULD BE JUST AS FAST ON A BICYCLE.
SO HE BEGAN BUILDING THE KENYAN RIDERS - A WORLD-CLASS CYCLING PROGRAM IN A
COUNTRY OF RUNNERS. NATURALLY, HE STARTED LOOKING FOR TALENT IN ITEN. LEONG APPROACHED
BENJAMIN KIPCHUMBA WHILE HE WAS RUNNING INTERVALS ON THE TRACK. "WHEN HE
LOOKED AT ME HE SAID YOU CAN MAKE A VERY GOOD CYCLIST. I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM. I DIDN'T WANT
TO. I TOLD HIM NO, I CANNOT DO CYCLING. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A BIKE BEFORE. MY ONLY JOB IS RUNNING." EVENTUALLY AN INJURY FORCED
KIPCHUMBA OFF THE TRACK. LEONG PERSUADED HIM TO CYCLE AS HE RECOVERED.
SOON, KIMPCHUMBA JOINED THE TEAM. HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE LEONG CONVINCED. KENYAN RIDERS
PITCHED SIMON BLAKE, A FORMER RUNNER AND MOUNTAIN BIKE INSTRUCTOR FROM
AUSTRALIA. "AND SO THEY SAID DO YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG
TIME. I'VE BEEN HERE HEAPS. I DO LIKE ITEN, DIFFERENT PACE OF LIFE. WHY
NOT?" THE CYCLISTS HAVE FOUR GRUELING WORKOUT SESSIONS A DAY, BEGINNING AT 6AM. WITH LIMITED
RESOURCES, BLAKE INTRODUCED A TRAINING REGIMEN OF PILATES AND HOMEMADE
WEIGHTS TO BUILD STRENGTH OFF THE BIKES. AFTER THE EARLY MORNING PROGRAM, THE BIKERS QUICKLY
REFUEL BEFORE SETTING OFF ON THE DAY'S RIDE. THE TEAM SPENDS THE NEXT
FIVE HOURS CLIMBING AND DESCENDING THE STEEP HILLS SURROUNDING ITEN, REACHING SPEEDS OF
90 KILOMETERS PER HOUR. THE KENYAN RIDERS HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET ON THE TOUR
DE FRANCE, A RACE DOMINATED BY EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS. IN ITS 110 YEARS, AN AFRICAN TEAM
HAS YET TO QUALIFY. UNTIL THEN, THE KENYAN TEAM AIMS TO BE THE FASTEST ON
THE CONTINENT. IN MID NOVEMBER THEY COMPETE AGAINST TOP TEAMS FROM SOUTH AFRICA, RWANDA
AND ETHIOPIA IN THE TOUR OF RWANDA, AFRICA'S BIGGEST RACE.
WOW, SO 90 KILOMETERS AN HOUR! ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I JUST GOT ON THE
BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER RECENTLY A FEW WEEKS AGO
AND I WAS GOING NOWHERE CLOSE TO NINETY KILOMETERS AN HOUR..YOU CAN DO THIS WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED,
IT'S NOTHING. ALL YOU HAVE TO IS TO GO TO SLEEP...YEAH, I THINK
THAT'S THE TRICK. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR OUR SHOW, BUT NEXT TIME, A SPECIAL PROGRAM
FROM THE NEWSEUM HERE IN WASHINGTON. WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A VOA DOCUMENTARY
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, 50 YEARS AGO IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
JOIN US FOR THAT, AND FOR ALL OUR EPISODES, CHECK OUT ON ASSIGNMENT ON
VOANEWS.COM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. THANKS FOR WATCHING. WE'LL CATCH YOU NEXT WEEK.