Radio highlights

Is Every Sperm Sacred? — Written and performed by Irene Stephanou, a South African of Greek descent. A funny and furious dissection of the "new" South Africa. ABC Radio National, Friday, February 24, 9.30pm.

Womadelaide live — For all those sad sacks unable to make it to Adelaide for the cream of world music, at least you can hear bits of it live at home on the wireless. Among the artists performing in your living room will be Pakistan's Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; Cuba's premier dance band Sierra Maestra; Uganda's Goeffrey Oryema; Zaire's Papa Wemba; Belgium/Zaire a cappella supergroup Zap Mama; and local artists Christine Anu, Vika and Linda, and Kate Ceberano. ABC Radio National, Saturday, February 25, 7.10pm "till the fun stops".

More Womadelaide live — It seems the gods are smiling on us losers, alone in our bed-sits with only stale cheese sandwiches to keep us company. WOMAD will also be broadcast live on Newcastle public radio and other public radio stations around Australia (phone your local station). 2NUR-FM, Friday-Sunday, February 24-26, 7pm-9pm.

Clearing the Square ... In Memory — By Cathy Peters. On June 3 and 4, 1989, the Chinese government used lethal force against unarmed civilian democracy protesters in Tienanmen Square. Hundreds of military vehicles and tens of thousands of troops enforced martial law in Beijing following five weeks of peaceful student protests, supported by more than 100,000 local workers and residents. During the carnage, one of the student leaders, Chai Ling, managed to make an audio record of what happened. This was smuggled out of China and forms the basis of this tribute in memory of the 2500 people who were killed during the clearing of the square (Chinese Red Cross estimate). ABC Classic FM, Monday, February 27, 9pm.

From GLW issue 176