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> Fri., Dec. 19, 2003
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Criticism of Sharon Speech
9th Circuit says Gitmo Prisoners Denied Basic Rights
Enola Gay Goes on Display
French Law Marginalizes Muslims
Cintas Profits on Backs of Workers
Free Speech Radio News Headlines by Randi
Zimmerman
Internet IDs Can Not Go to RIAA
Internet suppliers are not obligated to turn over the names
of subscribers when subpoenaed by the Recording Industry Association
of America, according to today’s US appeals court decision.
One judge, on the three-seat panel said Internet piracy is
illegal and poses a direct threat to the recording industry.
But according to one advocacy group’s reading of the
decision, the RIAA overstepped its bounds. Using a 1998 copyright
law, the RIAA was able to obtain the names of people from
ISP providers without a lawsuit or judge’s specific
order. So far the RIAA has filed thousands of subpoenas for
the identities of internet users they suspect of downloading
thousands of songs for free and has sued hundreds of others
for violating the copyright laws.
Schwarzenegger Calls Fiscal State of Emergency
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal
emergency on Thursday and took control of the state’s
budget without involving the Democrat-controlled state legislature.
Brian Edwards-Tiekert has more from KPFA.
Patients Sue Over-Zealous Hospital Collection Tactics
Eight patients who were treated at a Yale University-affiliated
hospital filed a lawsuit this week claiming a variety of financial
abuses they say they suffered at the hands of hospital administrators.
From New Haven, Melinda Tuhus reports.
Anti-war Protestors Go to Jail Rather than Pay Fine
Anti-war protestors, who were arrested for trespassing in
front of a federal building in Philadelphia the day the United
States invaded Iraq this year, started their short-term jail
sentence. From Radio Volta, Jamie Graham reports.
Peace Plan in Sri Lanka Shaky Again
Power plays at the top of Sri Lanka’s government could
quickly crumble the peace process from the bottom up. Ponniah
Manikavasagam reports from Sri Lanka.
[top]
Criticism of Sharon Speech (4:07)
World leaders have roundly criticized Israeli leader Ariel
Sharon after his speech yesterday outlined his decision to
unilaterally separate from Palestinians, should peace talks
fail. Under his plan, Palestinians would be denied land that
would enable them to establish an independent state and keep
them behind a controversial wall that Israel is building that
will run through the West Bank. The wall, coupled with Israeli
settlement activity, would effectively partition the West
Bank into 3 sub-divisions controlled by the Israeli military
with the ability to shut down any of the 3 areas at any time.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, said he was disappointed
with Sharon's "threat" and urged negotiations. Michel
Warshawski, long time Israeli peace activist and co founder
of the Alternative Information Center offered this reaction
to Sharon’s speech. He speaks to Deepa Fernandes from
Jerusalem.
[top]
9th Circuit says Gitmo Prisoners Denied Basic Rights
(3:10)
In a striking blow to the Bush Administration’s post
9-11 judicial policy, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
in San Francisco ruled yesterday that the government cannot
imprison so-called enemy combatants, captured in Afghanistan
and held at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, indefinitely and deny them
access to lawyers. Max Pringle reports from KPFA, in Berkeley.
[top]
Enola Gay Goes on Display (4:08)
This week a multi-million dollar exhibit of 80 aircraft
opened at the new Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The meticulously
restored Enola Gay was among them. And while the exhibit was
welcoming hundreds of guests, critics, including radiation
survivors, the Japanese Hibakusha, held a peaceful demonstration
telling exhibit goers what is missing from the museum's version
of history. WPFW's Jenny Johnson has more from Washington.
[top]
French Law Marginalizes Muslims (2:22)
Condemnation is pouring in from around the world over French
President Jacque Chirac’s law banning various forms
of religious expression, namely the right to wear a Muslim
headscarf, a Jewish skull-cap or a large Christian cross in
public schools. Muslim’s, Jews and Christians alike
see the decision as discriminatory by banning the basic right
to express one’s faith. And as our correspondent in
Jordan, Oula Farawati reports, Muslims and Christians are
coming together to demand the law be abolished.
[top]
Cintas Profits on Backs of Workers (4:13)
Yesterday the Cintas corporation cemented its place as the
nation's largest uniform apparel and laundry services company,
posting a ten percent increase in second-quarter income. Cintas
is a darling of Wall Street and a model of corporate success,
having earned a quarter of a billion dollars in profits last
year. But critics of the laundry and uniform giant say that
success comes largely on the backs of its workers - from the
women who stitch together Cintas uniforms in Haitian sweatshops,
to the largely immigrant workers who clean uniforms in dangerous
laundries here in the U.S. John Hamilton has this report.
[top]
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