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ROB MCCLENDON: COMING UP THIS WEEK ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
TODAY OUR FOCUS IS AFRICA AND THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE AFRICAN
PEOPLE, COMPLEX ISSUES WITH NO EASY ANSWERS.
YET, THAT'S NOT BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ANY OF THE PEOPLE WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU
TO TODAY.
KEITH SMITH STARTS US OFF BY LOOKING AT HOW SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A
MUSHROOM COULD HELP ALLEVIATE MALNUTRITION AND POVERTY.
SANDRA WILLIAMS: HERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD, FOR, TO
EARN VERY LITTLE.
AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE VERY MUCH TO INCREASE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING,
INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
ROB: WE'LL MEET AN OKLAHOMAN WHO IS USING HIS GOOD FORTUNE TO HELP
OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES.
PHIL SMITH: MICRO CREDIT, IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, IS SIMPLY MAKING SMALL LOANS
TO PEOPLE TO HELP THEM EITHER START OR IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES.
ROB: WE'LL TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN TAKE PART IN A PROGRAM THAT DOES JUST
THAT THIS SUMMER.
PLUS, THEY'VE BEEN CALLED CORPORATE WELFARE BY SOME; AND THE LIFEBLOOD OF RURAL
AMERICA BY OTHERS.
WE EXAMINE THE DEBATE OVER THE IMPACT WESTERN FARM SUBSIDIES HAVE ON THE
DEVELOPING WORLD.
MATT MUELLER: WHAT WE WANT IS TO STOP SUBSIDIES.
SO THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT PROVIDE SUBSIDIES, SO THAT WE ARE ON EQUAL FOOT
REGARDING THE MARKETS.
THE SUBSIDIES WE RECEIVE ARE BASICALLY PASSED ON THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY, SO
THAT WE CAN GO BUY JOHN DEERE TRACTORS, SO THAT WE CAN BUY OUR CHEMICALS THAT
KEEP MONSANTO AND INVESTORS IN MONSANTO AND THOSE COMPANIES INVOLVED.
WE BASICALLY TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT BACK OUT IN THE ECONOMY.
ROB: AND WE'LL MEET AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT STUDYING IN OKLAHOMA TO
HELP HIS VILLAGE BACK HOME.
STAY WITH US FOR OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
MALE ANNOUNCER: HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA'S INVESTMENT IN CAREERTECH PROVIDES MORE
THAN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
IT PRODUCES SOLID FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH, ELEVATING OUR ECONOMY.
ANNOUNCER: AND, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY,
HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
AND NOW, FROM THE CAREERTECH STUDIOS IN STILLWATER, HERE'S YOUR
HOST, ROB MCCLENDON.
ROB MCCLENDON: WHILE WE HAVE OUR OWN STRUGGLES HERE IN THE HEARTLAND, THE
WORLD'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO WORSEN.
FOR AFRICA, IT'S A CRISIS THAT ONLY ADDS TO THE ON-GOING STRUGGLE WITH
HUNGER AND CRIPPLING POVERTY.
TODAY, WE'LL MEET SEVERAL PEOPLE RIGHT HERE AT HOME, HOPING TO HELP.
AND WE BEGIN WITH A FARM COUPLE WHO BELIEVE GROWING MORE MUSHROOMS IN AFRICA
COULD SLOWLY CHANGE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING, WHICH IS WHY THEY VISITED THE
CONTINENT AND HAVE NOW BROUGHT SOME WEST AFRICAN FARMERS TO THIS COUNTRY TO
LEARN SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES FOR GROWING SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR KEITH SMITH PICKS UP THE STORY.
KEITH SMITH: ROB, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THEM.
THE COUPLE YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET HAS SPENT OVER TWENTY YEARS IN THE MUSHROOM
BUSINESS GROWING SHIITAKES ON HARDWOOD LOGS ALREADY HAVING A SUCCESSFUL
OPERATION GOING AND GROWING, THEY STILL WANT TO DO MORE, AND HERE'S HOW
THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
IF YOU LISTEN CLOSE ENOUGH YOU BEGIN TO HEAR IT.
WHILE DOUG AND SANDRA WILLIAMS GROW MUSHROOMS, THEY'RE ALSO HELPING AN
AFRICAN NATION GROW A NEW INDUSTRY.
HIS IDEA; HER CALLING.
SANDRA WILLIAMS: AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE HE HAD WANTED TO GROW SOMETHING
IN A GREENHOUSE.
HE WANTED TO GROW SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE, SOMETHING THAT WAS
LOW TECHNOLOGY AND WOULDN'T HARM THE ENVIRONMENT.
KEITH: SANDRA AND DOUG TRAVELED TO GHANA TWO YEARS AGO TO SEE WHAT THEY
COULD DO WITH THE MUSHROOMS THAT THEY KNEW SO WELL.
SANDRA: YOU DON'T EXPECT THE COLORS AND THE SOUNDS, AND THE INTERACTIONS WITH
PEOPLE, AND THE WARM GREETING THAT YOU GET.
HERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO EARN VERY LITTLE.
AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE VERY MUCH TO INCREASE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING,
INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
KEITH: A DOOR OPENED, AND TWO OF THE TOP AFRICAN FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY
HAVE COME TO LEARN HOW TO GROW THE MUSHROOMS, ANYTHING TO HELP A NATION
ON A CONTINENT PLAGUED BY POVERTY, WHERE MILLIONS FACE FAMINE AND
STARVATION.
BERNARD BEMPAH: AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP THE MUSHROOM FARMERS TO GET
ABOVE ONE DOLLAR A DAY.
SANDRA: OKAY, THEN WE CAN START.
NOW GOING TO WORK.
PROUD TO WORK IN THIS FARM.
SANDRA: AND THEN THE SHITAKE, AS THE WOOD CELLS GO THIS WAY, THE SHITAKE
WILL GROW THIS WAY, AND IT WILL GROW THIS WAY.
KEITH: FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND THE SAKE OF GIVING.
SANDRA: THEY'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE THE LOGS; HOW TO SELECT
THE LOGS, A LITTLE ABOUT CUTTING THE WOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DRILLING HOLES IN THE LOGS; PUTTING THE SPAWN, WHICH IS THE
MUSHROOM SEED, INSIDE THE LOG, SEALING IT WITH HOT WAX.
DOUG WILLIAMS: YOU KNOW OUR OPERATION AND HOW WE DO IT AND HOW LONG THINGS
TAKE AND DIFFERENT THINGS, PROBLEMS, THAT MAY CROP UP.
KEITH: AND TO THINK, WHAT THEY'RE DOING TODAY TO HELP ALMOST NEVER
HAPPENED.
SANDRA: I CAME TO ABSOLUTELY HATE THE BUSINESS, BECAUSE IT
WASN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY EXCEPT MAKING MONEY.
SO I THINK THAT MEETING BERNARD AND MEETING THE PEOPLE IN GHANA WAS ONE OF
THE MOST CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING, AWARENESS-RAISING,
LOVE-RAISING THINGS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
AND I REALIZED THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO WITH OUR SHITAKE
MUSHROOMS THAT WOULD HELP OTHER PEOPLE, THEN I HAD A WHOLE NEW PURPOSE.
BERNARD BEMPAH: SO WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT ALL OTHER MEANS TO ELIMINATE
POVERTY THROUGH MUSHROOM CULTIVATION.
SANDRA: PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE AWARE OF MUSHROOMS, WOULD EAT MORE MUSHROOMS,
SO THE FARMERS COULD GROW MORE MUSHROOMS.
THE PEOPLE WOULD BE HEALTHIER.
THERE'S A PROTEIN DEFICIENCY GOING ON THERE, AND SHITAKE MUSHROOMS ARE
VERY HIGH IN PROTEIN.
KEITH: AND AS THE WILLIAMS WILL TELL YOU BEFORE A MEAL, THE MUSHROOMS TASTE
PRETTY GOOD TOO.
SANDRA: THEY'LL BE CHEAPER THAN MEAT; AND IF THEY'RE WIDELY AVAILABLE, IT WOULD
HELP ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.
GODWIN BAOKYE: SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO SELL A NEW PRODUCT TO OUR COUNTRY THAT IS
GOING TO LET US GET ADDITIONAL INCOME.
KEITH: THEY HOPE THE TENDER MORSELS WILL CHANGE THE MUSHROOM INDUSTRY IN
GHANA.
GODWIN BAOKYE: WHAT WE ARE GOING TO LEARN FROM THIS PLACE, WE ARE GOING TO PUT
INTO PRACTICE, AND THEN MAKE SURE OUR DREAM WILL COME TRUE ONE DAY.
SANDRA: WHERE YOU PLANT ONE SEED YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MANY BLOOMS WILL
FOLLOW.
KEITH: ON A FARM SPECIALIZING IN A FUNGUS, A DREAM THE WILLIAMS
PLANTED SIX THOUSAND MILES AWAY ON THE EARTH'S POROUS CONTINENT.
AN AMAZING COUPLE.
IT'S A TOUCHING STORY THAT'S STILL BEING WRITTEN.
AS PART OF THE TRIP, BERNARD AND GODWIN TOURED DIFFERENT MUSHROOM
OPERATIONS IN OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, AND MISSOURI PICKING UP DIFFERENT
TECHNIQUES TO TAKE BACK WITH THEM.
PLANS FOR THE TRIP EVEN INCLUDED A VISIT TO NEW YORK TO ADDRESS THE UNITED
NATIONS ON THEIR TRAINING AND WHAT'S BEING DONE IN GHANA.
MALE ANNOUNCER: YOU'RE WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON FEATURING SOME OF THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
ROB MCCLENDON: IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE LACK OF AMBITION THAT KEEPS MOST
OF AFRICA MIRED IN POVERTY, BUT THE LACK OF INVESTMENT CAPITAL.
IT'S A PROBLEM AROUND MUCH OF THE THIRD WORLD AND ONE THAT COULD WELL BE SOLVED
WITH THE SMALLEST OF INVESTMENTS ON OUR PART.
RECENTLY, WE MET A SUCCESSFUL OKLAHOMAN WHO IS MAKING IT PART OF HIS
LIFE'S WORK TO HELP FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS HELP THEMSELVES.
WITH CHILDREN IN THEIR ARMS, MALIAN WOMEN OFTEN SUPPORT THEIR ENTIRE
FAMILIES WITH WHAT THEY SELL ALONG THE ROAD.
COMMERCE AT ITS SIMPLEST, LIMITED NOT BY AMBITION BUT BY THE LACK OF
CAPITAL.
BACK IN OKLAHOMA, PHIL SMITH IS ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS HOPING
TO HELP THOSE IN POORER NATIONS.
BUT THE ENTREPRENEUR-TURNE D-PHILANTHROPI ST IS NOT GIVING MONEY AWAY; SMITH
IS LENDING IT THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED MICROCREDIT.
PHIL SMITH: MICROCREDIT, IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, IS SIMPLY MAKING SMALL LOANS
TO PEOPLE TO HELP THEM EITHER START OR IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES.
SO WITH A SMALL LOAN, THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES, MAKE AN
INCREASE IN THEIR INCOMES AND REALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
ROB: SMITH IS THE AUTHOR OF A BILLION BOOTSTAPS, A BEST-SELLING BOOK ABOUT
MICROCREDIT LENDING.
SMITH: THERE'S AN OLD FABLE THAT YOU CAN LIFT YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN
BOOTSTRAPS.
SO THAT SAYING, IN AMERICA, IS "PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN
BOOTSTRAPS," WHICH MEANS STARTING WITH NOTHING AND GROWING A BUSINESS OR
GROWING YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE.
ROB: IN THE BOOK, HE SHOWS HOW EVEN THE SMALLEST OF LOANS CAN HELP A
STRUGGLING BUSINESS OWNER IMMENSELY.
SMITH: THERE'S ABOUT 4 BILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT LIVE ON LESS
THAN $4 A DAY.
ROB: A SMALL LOAN CAN BE USED IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS, BRINGING IN MUCH
NEEDED INCOME FOR BORROWERS LIVING IN THE POOREST OF COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD.
SMITH: IN RWANDA, MAYBE THE AVERAGE INCOME IS A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS
A YEAR, SO THE FIRST LOAN MIGHT BE $50.
AND THAT'S WHY MICROCREDIT WORKS MUCH BETTER THE POORER THE COUNTRY,
BECAUSE FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU CAN MAKE MANY MORE LOANS AND
AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT THE SAME LEVEL.
IT'S OFTEN THE DIFFERENCE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN GET FED OR NOT FED; WHETHER
THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL OR DON'T GO TO SCHOOL, GET CLOTHES OR
DON'T GET CLOTHES.
ROB: AND SMITH SAYS MICROLENDING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST CHARITY.
SMITH: IT IS STILL BY FAR THE BEST WAY TO HELP PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, AND
A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THEY HELP THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT INTERNATIONAL AID IS A COMPLETE DISASTER.
YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
THEY BECOME DEPENDENT, THE MONEY GETS WASTED, IT DOESN'T GO TO THE RIGHT
PLACES.
BUT IF YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES, THEY WILL DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
ROB: NOW MOST MICROLOANS ARE GIVEN TO WOMEN, AND SMITH SAYS THIS ISN'T BY
ACCIDENT.
SMITH: PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS, GENERALLY, WILL TELL YOU, WOMEN ARE
MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN HELPING THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY TYPICALLY NEED TO HAVE JOBS THAT ARE NEAR THEIR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN
TAKE CARE OF THEM, RATHER THAN JOBS AWAY.
ROB: GIVING ENTREPRENEURS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, A REAL WAY TO PULL
THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS.
ROB MCCLENDON: AND HELPING WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD THROUGH ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT IS THE GOAL OF AN OKLAHOMA-BASED CHARITY.
JOINING ME NOW IN STUDIO IS TERRY NEESE, THE FOUNDER AND CEO, OF THE
INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN.
WELL WE FIRST GOT TO MEET WHEN YOU BROUGHT SOME AFGHAN AND RWANDAN WOMEN
IN LAST YEAR.
WHY DO THIS PROGRAM?
TERRY NEESE: WELL, CERTAINLY IN AFGHANISTAN WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IT'S AN
EXTENSION OF OUR SOLDIERS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON THE GROUND THERE, AND IN
RWANDA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AS WE ARE DOING IN AFGHANISTAN, THAT THESE
WOMEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THEIR COUNTRY.
AND IF THEY BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IF YOU
EDUCATE A WOMAN, THEY WILL EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN; THEY WILL EDUCATE THEIR
VILLAGE; AND THEY'LL REBUILD THEIR COUNTRY.
SO FOR US, IT'S ALL ABOUT PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS AND DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS.
ROB: SO WHEN THESE FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS COME TO THE STATES IN THE SUMMER, WHAT
EXACTLY WILL THEY BE DOING HERE IN OKLAHOMA?
NEESE: THEY WILL BE MENTORING WITH OKLAHOMA WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.
SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXTEND THEIR EDUCATION, BECAUSE THEY'VE
ALREADY GONE THOUGH SOME IN-COUNTRY EDUCATION THAT WE PROVIDED FOR THEM, AND
THEY'VE DONE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY, AND ATTENDED
AN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT.
NOW, THEY ARE SPENDING A WEEK WITH AN OKLAHOMA WOMAN BUSINESS OWNER AND
HER FAMILY, AND LEARNING HOW SHE BALANCES HER FAMILY LIFE AND HER WORK
LIFE.
AND GREAT EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY FOR THE WOMEN FROM AFGHANISTAN AND RWANDA,
BUT ALSO FOR OKLAHOMA WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.
ROB: AND DO WE FIND SOME COMMONALITIES BETWEEN THE TWO?
NEESE: OH, THERE ARE.
I MEAN, THEY'RE BEGINNING TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS, REAL BUSINESS
PARTNERSHIPS, AND LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THEIR BUSINESS PLAN.
HOW DO THEY GO FIND ACCESS TO CAPITAL?
HOW DO THEY TAKE THEIR PRODUCT AND SERVICE TO THE MARKETPLACE?
AND THEY BECOME FRIENDS MANY, MANY YEARS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL JUST HAPPEN THIS SUMMER.
IT WILL, HOPEFULLY, CONTINUE TO BE A MENTORSHIP VIA EMAIL FOR
MANY MONTHS AND MANY YEARS TO COME.
ROB: AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OKLAHOMA BUSINESS WOMEN TO GET
INVOLVED IN THIS?
NEESE: ABSOLUTELY.
WE WANT THEM TO BE MENTORS.
SO IF THERE ARE VIEWERS OUT THERE THAT ARE LISTENING TO THIS AND
SAYING, WOW, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE
AND BE ABLE TO PAY FORWARD SOME OF MY SUCCESSES TO WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.
ROB: AND THERE IS A WEBSITE THEY CAN GO TO.
IT'S IEEW.
ORG WHICH IS THE HOME WEBSITE FOR THE PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS PROGRAM?
NEESE: CORRECT.
IT IS CALLED PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE ARE BUILDING
BRIDGES; AND YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO BE AT WAR WITH YOUR PARTNER.
AND SO BUILDING PEACE FOR BUSINESS AROUND THE WORLD IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.
ROB: NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS REMARKABLE PROGRAM, WE DO
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS, A WEB ONLY FEATURE ON THE
AFGHAN WOMEN WHO VISITED OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR.
MALE ANNOUNCER: STILL TO COME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, SOLVING POVERTY WITH
EDUCATION; BUT FIRST, THE DEBATE OVER AMERICAN FARM SUBSIDIES AND THEIR IMPACT
ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
ROB MCCLENDON: EVERY FIVE YEARS, CONGRESS WRITES A NEW FARM BILL LEGISLATION
THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUMPING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO FARM STATES
LIKE OKLAHOMA.
MONEY THAT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM FOOD STAMPS TO FARM SUBSIDIES.
AND WHILE JUST A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE FARM BILL, IT IS THE FARM
SUBSIDIES THAT MANY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD BELIEVE ARE KEEPING WORLD
COMMODITY PRICES ARTIFICIALLY LOW.
CREATED DURING THE DUSTBOWL DAYS BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, FARM SUBSIDIES
WERE A WAY TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF SMALL FARMERS ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
SINCE THEN TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE FLOWED INTO FARM COUNTRY
TO CONTROL COMMODITY PRICES, WHILE ALSO HELPING FARMERS THROUGH THE LEAN
TIMES.
JEFF KREHBIEL: WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS FARM SUBSIDIES WERE
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO INSURE A DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY FOR THE UNITED
STATES.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE TODAY.
ROB: LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF AMERICANS ARE NOW INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURE.
YET FARMERS REMAIN A POWERFUL FORCE IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL.
WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE PROPOSED LOWERING FARM PAYMENT CAPS BY ONE-THIRD
FOR THE NEW BUDGET, FARM GROUPS RALLIED, AND THE PROPOSAL NEVER GOT OFF THE
GROUND.
TOM COBURN: FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T USE PRICE SUPPORTS ANY MORE IF WE
WANT TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD.
IF WE TRULY WANT TO HAVE OPEN AGRICULTURE EXCHANGE, TO REALLY BENEFIT THE
AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM
THAT.
MOST OF OUR AGRICULTURAL GROUPS ARE FARMERS, ARE UNDERCAPITALIZED.
SO, WHY DO WE HAVE PRICE SUPPORTS?
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANGES IN THE MARKET, MOST
FARMERS I TALK TO WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A MARKET SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T
HAVE TO DEPEND ON ANYTHING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE LIVE IN A GLOBAL WORLD, SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE EITHER A GOOD TRADING
SYSTEM, OR WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO COMPETE.
ROB: COMPETITION INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED BY A GLOBAL ECONOMY
WORLDWIDE, NO INDUSTRY IS MORE REGULATED AND MANIPULATED THAN FOOD,
TARIFFS, TAX IMPORTS COMING INTO COUNTRIES, WHILE FARM SUBSIDIES
SUPPORT EXPORTS GOING OUT, A DYNAMIC THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION SAYS HELPS
RICH NATIONS, WHILE HURTING THE POOR.
IN WEST AFRICA, COTTON IS VITAL TO THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY.
LABOR IS CHEAP HERE, JUST ABOUT A DOLLAR A DAY.
BUT FARMERS STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE A PROFIT, SOMETHING THEY BLAME ON
WESTERN FARM SUBSIDIES THEY BELIEVE KEEP WORLD COTTON PRICES UNNATURALLY
LOW.
MATT MUELLER: WHAT WE WANT IS TO STOP SUBSIDIES.
SO THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT PROVIDE SUBSIDIES, SO THAT WE ARE ON EQUAL FOOT
REGARDING THE MARKETS.
ROB: UNLIKE IN THE U S, FARMERS HERE RECEIVE NO HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
TO SURVIVE THEY GROW FOOD CROPS FOR THEIR FAMILY, AND COTTON FOR CASH,
EARNING, IN A GOOD YEAR, ONLY ABOUT 300 DOLLARS.
MUELLER: THE WORLD MARKETS SHAPE AND HURT ALL OF US.
ROB: BACK IN OKLAHOMA, MATT MUELLER IS PREPARING TO PLANT ANOTHER COTTON
CROP.
IN OKLAHOMA, IT IS COTTON FARMERS THAT RECEIVE SOME OF THE LARGEST FARM
SUBSIDIES, AMOUNTS MUELLER BELIEVES CAN BE MISLEADING.
MUELLER: THE SUBSIDIES WE RECEIVE ARE BASICALLY PASSED ON THROUGHOUT THE
ECONOMY, SO THAT WE CAN GO BUY JOHN DEERE TRACTORS; SO THAT THE GUY WHO MADE
THE JOHN DEERE TRACTOR, MAKING UNION WAGES, CAN KEEP HIS JOB; SO THAT WE
CAN BUY OUR CHEMICALS THAT KEEP MONSANTO AND THE INVESTORS IN MONSANTO AND
THOSE COMPANIES INVOLVED.
WE BASICALLY TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT BACK OUT IN THE ECONOMY.
AND IF YOU TAKE THE LEGS OUT FROM UNDER AGRICULTURE; IF WE DON'T
HAVE A SAFETY NET TO OPERATE WITH, AND THEREFORE WE CAN'T STAY IN
BUSINESS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF THE AMERICAN INDUSTRY AND
BUSINESS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A HIT AS WELL; BECAUSE WE ADD
TREMENDOUSLY TO MANUFACTURING JOBS AND SUPPORT JOBS.
ROB: WELL IF USDA PROJECTIONS ARE RIGHT, THE ACTUAL COST OF FARM
SUBSIDIES COULD DECREASE DRAMATICALLY IN THE COMING DECADE.
HIGH OIL PRICES LAST YEAR SPURRED DEMAND FOR BIO FUELS, WHICH IN TURN,
RAISED CROP PRICES TO RECORD HIGHS, VIRTUALLY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR
PRICE SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND PROMPTING OPPONENTS OF THE FARM SUBSIDY PROGRAM TO
RENEW THE CALL FOR THEIR TOTAL ELIMINATION.
YET, MANY IN FARM COUNTRY SAY ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S
RECORD LOW WHEAT CROP TO UNDERSTAND THE UPS AND DOWNS OF FARMING, AND
BELIEVE IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO "BET THE FARM" ON AN ECONOMIC FORECAST.
MALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA HORIZON IS NOW PORTABLE.
JUST SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY POD CAST.
VISIT ITUNES.
COM WHERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR SHOW FOR YOUR LISTENING OR VIEWING
CONVENIENCE.
ROB MCCLENDON: LIVING IN AN UNDER-DEVELOPED COUNTRY IS DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY
WHEN THERE IS LITTLE HOPE TO CHANGE THINGS.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH A GRADUATE STUDENT FROM KENYA WHO IS
TAKING STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS HOME VILLAGE BY EDUCATING
HIMSELF ABROAD.
WITH MORE ON THAT, JOINING ME NOW IS COURTENAY DEHOFF.
COURTENAY DEHOFF: PATRICK SAISI IS DEFINITELY ON A MISSION FOR CHANGE, AND
WHAT HE HOPES TO CHANGE IS THE WAY PEOPLE THINK IN AFRICA AND HERE IN
OKLAHOMA.
IN THIS KESWAHELI CLASS AT OSU, THE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING MORE THAN JUST A
NEW LANGUAGE.
THEY'RE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT AFRICAN CULTURE.
BUT THE INFORMATION THAT KENYAN GRADUATE STUDENT AND PROFESSOR PATRICK
SAISI IS LEARNING CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR THOSE
DEPENDING ON HIM BACK HOME.
PATRICK SAISI: I COME FROM A VILLAGE CALLED CHEPTULU.
IT IS FROM THE WESTERN PART OF KENYA WE HAVE AROUND 1200 PEOPLE IN THAT
VILLAGE, AND IT'S PRETTY MODERATE, AS FAR AS LIFE IS CONCERNED.
WE ARE FIGHTING POVERTY THERE.
WE ARE FIGHTING THROUGH EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT DEVELOPMENT LIES IN EDUCATION AND IN THEMSELVES.
COURTENAY: THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING AN AMERICAN EDUCATION IS WHAT LED
SAISI TO OKLAHOMA.
AND THE DEMANDS FROM HOME ARE WHAT KEEPS HIM HERE IN OKLAHOMA OBTAINING HIS
GRADUATE DEGREE.
SAISI: IN AFRICA WE NEED ALMOST EVERYTHING.
SO I THOUGHT, IF I KNOW SOMETHING IN BUSINESS, IF I KNOW SOMETHING IN
ECONOMICS, AND THEN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, THEN AGRICULTURE BECAUSE
OF HUNGER ALWAYS IN AFRICA, I THINK I'LL BE HOLISTICALLY APPROACHING
EDUCATION.
COURTENAY: RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN TEACHING AND WRITING DISSERTATIONS,
SAISI KNOWS HE IS EXPECTED TO SUCCEED WHILE HE IS AWAY FROM HOME.
SAISI: THE VISION THAT I HAVE FOR MY VILLAGE IS TO BE POVERTY FREE.
COURTENAY: CONSTANTLY MINDFUL OF THE BIGGER PICTURE, SAISI KNOWS
EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS FOR HIS COMMUNITY BACK HOME, AND HOW IT WILL BE
ATTAINED.
SAISI: WE MAY NOT ERADICATE EVERYTHING; BUT THE STANDARD OF LIVING, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN BUSINESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE POVERTY BEING REDUCED TO ALMOST ZERO.
THAT IS THE VISION.
AND MY MISSION TO THAT IS TO LOOK AT, HOW CAN WE ACCOMPLISH EDUCATION?
COURTENAY: WHILE SAISI'S VILLAGE IN KEYNA IS MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SAISI IS ALSO INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN DEVELOPMENTAL
POLITICS, BECAUSE HE SAYS HIS VILLAGE NEEDS TO BE HEARD.
SAISI: WHEN YOU LIVE IN A VILLAGE, YOU KNOW THAT VILLAGE BETTER, THAN WHEN
YOU JUST, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES FROM SOMEWHERE AND COMES TO SAY, HEY THIS IS,
YOU NEED TO DO THIS.
I WANT TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDE THAT THE VILLAGERS EVEN THOUGH THEY
MAY BE POOR, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE ILLITERATE; THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT VILLAGE.
AND, WHEN YOU ARE DOING DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS LACKING; BIG GAP; WE ARE JUST TOLD WHAT TO DO.
COURTENAY: UPON RETURNING HOME, SAISI HAS LOTS OF WORK TO DO, STARTING WITH
HELPING HIS VILLAGE TO RAISE THE CHILDREN.
SAISI: A KID BELONGS TO EVERYBODY, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO
WELL HERE.
AND THAT'S WHY WITHIN FIVE YEARS, I MAY BE GETTING MY MASTER'S AND PHD, FINISH
QUICKLY AND GET OUT OF HERE AND GO HOME.
COURTENAY: IN THE POOREST PARTS OF AFRICA, ALMOST HALF THE POPULATION LIVES
ON LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY.
SO YOU COULD SAY THAT HELPING HIS FELLOW AFRICANS RISE ABOVE
POVERTY IS PATRICK'S BIGGEST MOTIVATION FOR COMING TO THE UNITED
STATES.
ROB: SO COURTENAY, HOW POPULAR IS THE TREND OF AFRICANS COMING TO THE
STATES FOR A HIGHER ED DEGREE?
COURTENAY: WELL ROB, THE NUMBER OF AFRICANS TRAVELING TO THE UNITED
STATES TO OBTAIN COLLEGE DEGREES IS GROWING.
IN FACT, AFRICANS AVERAGE THE HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF ANY OTHER
ETHNIC GROUP.
ROB: COURTENAY, IN MY EXPERIENCE, MANY OF THE AFRICANS I'VE MET HAVE
COME FROM VERY MEAGER BACKGROUNDS, AND IT'S JUST A STRUGGLE TO GET HERE.
COURTENAY: IT IS, BUT IN AFRICA, LIFE IS VERY COMMUNALISTIC.
SO OFTEN TIMES, STUDENTS HAVE THE MORAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THEIR
ENTIRE VILLAGE, WHICH PATRICK WILL TELL YOU JUST INCREASES THE PRESSURE TO
DO WELL IN HIS STUDIES, THEN HURRY UP AND GET BACK HOME TO HIS LOVED ONES IN
KENYA.
ROB: WELL THE EASING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO CUBA HAS MANY ASKING, WHAT
ABOUT TRADE?
NEXT TIME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, WE RETURN TO THE ISLAND NATION,
HOPING TO MAKE A DEAL.
FROM A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, FROM A LOGISTICAL STANDPOINT,
THIS OUGHT TO BE OUR MARKET, AND WE HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY WILL GET TO THAT
POINT.
AND YES IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
ROB: THE LONG AND BUMPY ROAD OF TRADE WITH CUBA
ON OKLAHOMA'S SHOW FOR THE HEARTLAND, OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
ROB MCCLENDON: MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR FOR A STUPID REASON; THEY ARE
JUST TOO POOR TO STAY ALIVE.
ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 22,000 PEOPLE DIE EACH AND
EVERY DAY FROM POVERTY.
NOW TO SAVE THOSE LIVES WOULD COST THE DEVELOPED WORLD ABOUT SIXTY-SIX
BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
BUT IN DOING SO, WE WOULD GENERATE SIX TIMES THAT AMOUNT IN ECONOMIC
BENEFIT.
POOR COMMUNITIES ARE HOT BEDS FOR INSTABILITY, WHEREAS A FUNCTIONING
COMMUNITY BECOMES ANOTHER MARKET FOR OUR GOODS.
THE FACT IS IT'S CHEAPER AND SMARTER TO HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAN
LET THEIR ECONOMIES SPIN OUT OF CONTROL.
WHICH MAY WELL SOUND SELF-SERVING, BUT I BELIEVE MAKES
HUMANITARIANISM A SMART INVESTMENT.
I'M ROB MCCLENDON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU SOON.
MALE ANNOUNCER: HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION;
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY;
AND OETA, THE OKLAHOMA NETWORK.
COPIES OF TODAY'S SHOW ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, OK HORIZON DOT COM.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON.