President of the Luxembourg section of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), Bechara Ziade talks about MSF’s work around the globe and how each of us can make a difference.  His down-to-earth discussion touches on some of the conflicts and crises where MSF is providing urgent assistance – some of them, like the war in Ukraine, which are front-page news, and others, like the ongoing war in Yemen, that seem to have been largely forgotten.

He also talks about global concerns like climate change’s impact on health and how MSF depends on private donations rather than government support in order to safeguard its independence and remain apolitical.  “We don’t judge the people we assist, we just take care of human beings in need,” he said.

After an in-depth discussion with Bechara Ziade, Luxembourg’s favorite bodhrán player Guy Blitgen from Comhaltas will introduce us to the wonderful contemporary accordion music of David Munelly, who performed with guitarist Shane McGowan at the Neumenster the night after this show aired.