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> Mon., Jan. 19, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Iowa Caucus is Close
Sneaky Bush Appointment of Far-Right Judge
Congress to Vote on 40 Hour Work Week
US asks UN to Approve Hand-Picked Iraqi Leadership
WSF Day 4 – Focus on Afghanistan
MLK Part 1: MLK Remembered in Venezuela
MLK Part 2: Police Killings in Austin
Israeli Barrier – Mohammed Ghalayini
Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has decided to challenge the authority
of the International Court of Justice to rule on the legality
of the separation barrier being built by Israel on the Occupied
West Bank. Mohammed Ghalayini reports from Gaza.
Seattle Settles
The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $250,000 to 155 World
Trade Organization protesters swept up in mass arrests in
1999. Mark Taylor-Canfield is with the Committee for Government
Accountability – he says the settlement could have nationwide
implications. The turning point in the lawsuit came when U.S.
District Judge Marsha Pechman ruled that the mass arrest had
violated the constitutional mandate that arrests be made only
when police have probable cause to believe a crime has been
committed.
Alcohol on the Pine Ridge Reservation? – Jim Kent
The Oglala Sioux tribal council has suggested legalizing the
sale of alcohol on the Pine Ridge Reservation to help balance
the tribe’s budget. Supporters of the move say it would
not only bring money to the tribe, but would also provide
jobs. Opponents cite the historically devastating impact alcohol
has had on Native Americans as a reason to look at other options.
Jim Kent has the story.
Ban on Headscarves Protested Worldwide – Zeenat Hansrod
Thousands marched this weekend in France protesting a bill
that will ban headscarves worn by Muslims attending State
schools. Scores of Muslim women and girls demonstrated around
the world echoing the protests of the French Muslims. From
Paris, Zeenat Hansrod has more.
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Iowa Caucus is Close (3:31)
Tonight Iowans will be heading to their precincts to discuss
and debate who will be their Democratic presidential candidate.
Some polls are predicting a close finish between four of the
candidates -- Representative Richard Gephardt, Senators John
Kerry and John Edwards, and former Governor Howard Dean. Senator
Joe Lieberman and former General Wesley Clark are not participating
in the Iowa caucus. Though Washington DC cast the first ballots
a week and a half ago, Iowa will be the first state in choosing
a presidential candidate to be recognized by the Democratic
National Committee. Meanwhile, as tens of thousands of Iraqis
march for their own elections, FSRN DC Editor Mitch Jesserich
looks at what the candidates propose to do with continuing
U.S. occupation of Iraq.
[top]
Sneaky Bush Appointment of Far-Right Judge (1:00)
In what was described as an extraordinary step, some critics
even calling it “sneaky”, late Friday President
Bush named Charles Pickering Sr. to the 5th Circuit Court
of Appeals as a Congressional recess appointment. Deepa Fernandes
reports.
[top]
Congress to Vote on 40 Hour Work Week (2:58)
Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill tomorrow, and the first
order of business for Senators is an omnibus spending bill
that, among other things, will determine the future of the
forty-hour work week for millions of Americans. The bill,
which has already passed through the House of Representatives,
no longer includes protections against new Labor Department
regulations that would end overtime pay rights for a range
of professions - everyone from IT and clerical workers to
journalists, engineers, nurses, firefighters, and more. John
Hamilton has the story from Washington DC.
[top]
US asks UN to Approve Hand-Picked Iraqi Leadership
(3:23)
The future of Iraq was the subject of closed-door talks
at the United Nations today between Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, American administrator Paul Bremer and members of the
U.S.-appointed Iraqi governing council. Meanwhile, tens of
thousands of Iraqis marched through Baghdad today demanding
elections to choose a sovereign government. The Bush Administration
is said to be considering political concessions in return
for UN help in transferring power to a hand-picked Iraqi legislature.
Susan Wood reports from the UN.
[top]
WSF Day 4 – Focus on Afghanistan (3:10)
The 4th annual World Social Forum has been an opportunity
for Afghan civil society organizations and government officials
to participate for the first time. Over the weekend, WSF participants
in the Indian city of Mumbai heard that years of conflict
have hampered a speedy reconstruction and reconciliation process.
Afghan delegates at the WSF said their country needed peace
more than democracy, and as our correspondent Binu Alex reports
from Mumbai, the delegates made it clear that they are more
concerned about the future of Afghan women and children than
the new buildings coming up in Kabul.
[top]
MLK Part 1: MLK Remembered in Venezuela
(2:59)
Today a national holiday was observed to commemorate the
birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He would have
been 75. The country of Venezuela also marked the birthday
of the civil rights leader by opening a school in the name
of Dr. King and receiving a delegation of African American
activists from the TransAfrica Forum to learn about the struggle
for freedom and equality in the US. As FSRN correspondent
Greg Wilpert reports, the Martin Luther King delegates are
seeing first hand how the policies of country's president,
Hugo Chavez, have benefited Venezuela’s poor.
[top]
MLK Part 2: Police Killings in Austin (3:07)
Austin's celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. is mixed with outrage, especially in the black community.
Over a span of 13 months, 3 white law enforcement officers
have shot and killed 3 African Americans and a judge dismissed
the only police indictment last Thursday. Community leaders
fault the DA's office and point out deep racial divides in
the city. Stacy Pettigrew reports from Austin.
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