The Documentary Podcast: Archive 2008

Abandonment, abuse and neglect of the elderly by their own children and grandchildren is at record levels in India. In a society where reverence and respect towards senior citizens has been a source of pride, Tinku Ray reports for Assignment on why things have changed in India.

Forty years ago in the village of My Lai in South Vietnam, a massacre took place. The victims were innocent Vietnamese civilians – 504 mainly women, old men, children and babies. They were murdered, and in many cases, raped by US soldiers. This episode of the Vietnam War became known as 'The My Lai Massacre' and proved to be a turning point in the war. In the My Lai Tapes Robert Hodierne tells the story of what happened that day in interviews with the victims and the perpetraotors.

Laurie Taylor explores Marseille's unique racial geography to find out what kept the peace during 2005 and 2007 when race riots tore at the fabric of French society.

Manuel Bagorro, the director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts, describes his efforts to bring a cultural highlight in the midst of the election chaos in Zimbabwe.

The last few weeks have seen an increase in violence in Somalia. Insurgents have stepped up attacks on the Ethiopian army and on the Somali transitional government it's backing. Ethiopia sent it's troops into Somalia at the end of 2006, to remove an Islamist movement - the Islamic Courts - from the capital. But now Ethiopia is bogged down and anger at its presence has boosted supported for the insurgents. In Assignment, Rob Walker goes in search of a radical Islamist movement which is playing an increasingly deadly role in the conflict.

Award winning poet Fred D’Aguiar is head of creative writing at Virginia Tech, the scene of a mass shooting of students and staff one year ago. He lost a student in the tragedy and had, in the past taught the shooter. In this documentary Fred reflects on the events of that day and the poetry both he and his students have written since.

China is on track to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving Dollar-a-day poverty. But what uncertainties lie ahead now the Iron Bowl has been smashed? Mike Wooldrige reports.

More than 65,000 grandparents in Canada are raising their grandchildren on their own, turning their lives upside down to raise a child for a second time.

Dr Anne-Marie Brady from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand investigates how the Chinese Communist Party has adapted its propaganda methods to suit the 21st century.

Why do Ghanaians dream of living a better life abroad? What must change in Ghana for more Ghanaians to want to stay?