Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Wed., Mar. 17, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Groups Move to Censure Bush
Halabja Remembers Bombing
Iranian Elections Criticized
U Texas wants to Manage Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Facilities
Social Promotion Ended in NYC Schools?
FSRN Headlines
Clashes in Kosovo
At least 7 people have been killed and up to 200 injured in
the worst street clashes between Kosovo Serbs and ethnic Albanians
in the four years since the United Nations assumed administrative
control of the region. Jackson Allers reports from Kosovo’s
capital, Pristina.
Gearing Up to El Salvador's Elections
International monitors for El Salvador’s upcoming elections
on Sunday are being stopped at the airport. Rebecca Myles
has more.
Powell in India
Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Afghanistan today.
But, before he left India, he faced off with university students
over outsourcing and open markets. Binu Alex reports from
Ahmedabad.
Water Contamination in DC
More than 23-thousand residents with lead contamination in
the nation’s capitol may be receiving water filters
per orders from the mayor. Darby Hickey with the D.C. Radio
Coop reports.
Interest Burden on College Loans
Republicans on the Hill want to take away low interest rate
education loans from mostly middle class college students.
From the D.C. Bureau, Jenny Johnson reports.
[top]
Groups Move to Censure Bush (4:04)
According to reports - a car bomb destroyed a hotel in central
Baghdad today. At least ten people were reportedly killed
when the attack toppled the 5-story Hotel Jabal Lebannon,
where many foreigners have stayed in. The attack comes just
three days before the anniversary of the Iraqi invasion. In
Washington, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Richard
Meyers claimed that Iraq is on the road to democracy and economic
prosperity. Meanwhile, the advocacy groups Move On.org and
Win Without War have delivered over five hundred thousand
petition signatures to Congress calling for the censure of
President Bush. Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol Hill.
[top]
Halabja Remembers Bombing (4:47)
This week marks the 16th anniversary of one of the worst
chemical attacks in world history. On March 16, 1988, the
Iraqi military dropped deadly ‘Serin’ gas on the
Kurdish city of Halabja instantly killing 5,000 civilians
and making the rest of the area's population refugees. In
Halabja yesterday for anniversary commemorations, US Administrator
Paul Bremer said the bombing served as proof that last year's
US-led invasion of Iraq was justified and asked peace activists
to see how a peaceful village was, quote "turned into
hell over-night by evil." What Bremer failed to mention
in his speech - is that at the time - America was supporting
Saddam Hussein. From the refugee camps of Northern Iraq, Aaron
Glantz has the story.
[top]
Iranian Elections Criticized (3:45)
A high-ranking delegation from the Iraqi Governing Council
arrived in Tehran on Monday for five-day talks on bi-lateral
co-operation. Among the most important issues discussed will
be the exchange of pilgrims for Holy sites. Meanwhile, the
assembly elections of Islamic Republic of Iran ended up with
a victory for the conservative party. But this victory does
not indicate that the majority that will be represented in
the new 7th assembly corresponds to the majority of the people’s
will. The elections are now subject to both national and international
criticisms on the basis that it was undemocratic. Ezgi Saritas
files this report.
[top]
U Texas wants to Manage Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons
Facilities (3:30)
The Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico
is the birthplace of the atomic age. The Manhattan Project,
at Los Alamos, developed the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. The lab today, under the University of California's
management, is pursuing new nuclear weapons, like the bunker
buster bomb. While the U.S. nuclear program has a clear mandate
from the Bush administration to create a new generation of
nuclear arms, what's unclear is whether the University of
California will continue to manage Los Alamos, as it has for
more than 60 years. The University of Texas has its eyes on
the nation's premiere nuclear weapons facility. Stefan Wray
has more.
[top]
Social Promotion Ended in NYC Schools? (2:52)
On Monday night New York’s Panel for Educational Policy
voted to adopt a controversial plan ending social promotion
in New York City schools, hours after Mayor Michael Bloomberg
orchestrated the last minute replacement of three members
who planned to vote against the proposal. Meanwhile, those
who oppose the way the Mayor stacked the panel in his favor,
plan to question the legality of Bloomberg’s replacements
for the three panel members he fired. Gail Walker has the
story.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
