Woman's Hour - 10/03/2009

Presented by Jane Garvey. Singer-songwriter Laura Izibor is releasing her debut album, Let The Truth Be Told. The 21 year-old plays live in the studio and joins Jane to talk about her music, her roots and America's fascination with her heritage. Jane is joined by Margo Miller of Democrats Abroad and Eleanor Clift in Washington, who writes for Newsweek, to discuss Barack Obama's nomination for Secretary of State for Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, and the challenges ahead. What do children look for in their friends? Is there such a thing as a 'bad' friendship? Author and parenting expert Elizabeth Hartley Brewer and Siobhan Freegard, founder of the parenting website Netmums, talk to Jane about how we can make sense of children's friendships. Jane speaks to Dr. Rita Giacaman, the Professor of Public Health at Birzeit University in West Bank, about how the recent conflicts in Gaza and inter-Palestinian fighting are undermining the health and development of the population. Including drama: Writing the Century 1948-1953: Starting from Scratch Series exploring the 20th Century through diaries and correspondence of real people, dramatised by Peter Roberts. The story of Hazel Taylor, a young woman from Huddersfield who dreams of becoming a freelance writer, as England struggles through the postwar period of rationing and rebuilding. After hearing some devastating news, Hazel waits with her brother Philip for the return of their mother, unaware that her life is about to be turned upside down. Hazel ...... Amy Humphreys Hilda ...... Olwen May Joe ...... David Fleeshman Stan/Policeman ...... James Quinn Sylvia ...... Lucy Jo Hudson Philip ...... Luke Walker Mrs Brook ...... Kate Layden Directed by Peter Leslie Wild.