Weekend Edition Sunday

The United States and its partners in the International Energy Agency will release 60 million barrels of oil onto the world market over the next 30 days. It's part of a plan to compensate for losses of a high-quality grade of oil produced by Libya. Guest host Susan Stamberg talks with Daniel Yergin, a longtime observer of energy policy and chairman of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates.

You may not know his name, but if you're a fan of Weekend Edition Sunday, you've heard his music. The opening notes of the program's theme were recorded by pianist Stef Scaggiari, and in the early days of the show he was our "staff pianist." Next week, we'll talk more with Scaggiari, but today we're offering a little hint of his playing to get you in the mood.

The mayor of the high desert town of Lancaster, Calif., says he believes he's found the solution to bringing down crime and making people in the city generally happier and less stressed. He's piping in new age music and bird songs all around downtown. Residents are not necessarily happy. Gloria Hillard reports.

Every three seconds, someone in America needs blood. And the need is even higher during the summer months – especially over the upcoming  4th of July holiday weekend.

Several days' travel from the ruins at Machu Picchu, dropping into the thick heat and greenery of the upper Amazon, lies the Peruvian village of Shimaa. Dozens of simple buildings hug a hillside above a river. Far below, a few children play on a soccer field at the water's edge.

The nearby Camisea gas fields hold over 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The pipeline that carries it out lies right under Shimaa, home to the indigenous Machiguenga.

Mariana Masuyu, a slender, freckled mother of four, says her life is getting harder because of the gas.