Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Wed., Sept. 8, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Surveillance Measures in 9-11 Commission Recommendations
A Viable US Exit Strategy from Iraq?
Pitfalls of Absentee Voting
Bush Campaigns in Hurricane Racked Florida
Faith Based Government?
FSRN Headlines
More Kidnapings in Iraq
Yesterday in Baghdad four people working for nongovernmental
organizations affiliated with the Italian peace movement were
kidnapped by a group that has not yet been identified. Nora
barrows-freeman reads for Manuela Aldabe in Rome.
Geneticall Modified Food Approved In Europe
For the first time ever, the European commission has approved
genetically modified seeds for planting and sale across the
European union. The commission authorized 17 different strains
of corn engineered by us biotech giant Monsanto. The move
forces members of the European union to allow the sale and
planting of the seeds--environmentalists have raised concerns
that there are no comparable union-wide regulations in-place
to prevent biotech crops from contaminating organic and conventional
ones. The move is expected to be unpopular in Europe, where
polls show that more than 70% of consumers oppose genetically
modified foods.
Controversery Over Medicare Prescription Drug Law
Congress’s general accounting office has issued an opinion
that former Medicare administrator Thomas Scully should reimburse
the government over $70,000 in pay. The government watchdog
says Scully ordered staff to withhold cost estimates from
congress when it was considering a controversial prescription
drug benefit law. From Washington, DC, Selina Musuta reports.
Gay Republicans Do Not Endorse Bush
George W. Bush has officially lost the support of the nation’s
largest block of gay and lesbian republicans. The Log Cabin
Republicans have voted by a large margin to withhold their
endorsement of bush’s re-election campaign. From KPFK,
Aura Bogado has more.
Human Rights Abuses in Haiti
A new United Nations report on Haiti says illegal armed groups
are responsible for widespread human rights abuses. Susan
Wood reports from the UN.
[top]
Surveillance Measures in 9-11 Commission Recommendations
4:07
Today President Bush said he supports giving a new national
Director of Intelligence the authority to oversee all of the
intelligence community's budget, thus supporting a key 9/11
Commission recommendation. Bush also said the White House
will be sending to Congress some of its own ideas in reforming
the nation's intelligence agencies. Today House Democrats
slammed the Republican leadership for not quickly moving the
9/11 Commission recommendations through Congress. However,
some lawmakers want to take more time as some recommendations
could lead to the creation of checkpoints throughout the country,
national ID cards and allow the CIA to partake in domestic
surveillance. Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol Hill.
[top]
A Viable US Exit Strategy from Iraq? 4:21
With the latest kidnapping of two Italian nurses in Iraq,
aid agencies in Iraq today said they are strongly considering
a pull out from the country. And as Host Deepa Fernandes reports,
as Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry spoke about
his plans for Iraq today, he did not talk about a US exit
strategy under his command.
[top]
Pitfalls of Absentee Voting 3:57
With the presidential election expected to be very close
again this year, the margin of victory could be provided by
absentee voters. This week, Sept 3 - 11 is Armed Forces Voters
Week, when members of the military and their dependents are
urged to register, and request absentee ballots if they haven't
already done so. Overseas voters, military and civilian, are
urged to send their ballots back during Overseas Voters Week
- October 11-15. Absentee voting has grown more popular over
the years. But, as Kellia Ramares reports, the process has
its pitfalls.
[top]
Bush Campaigns in Hurricane Racked Florida
3:57
President Bush visited Florida today for the 3rd time in
the past 4 weeks, this time to survey damage from hurricane
Frances and make a formal announcement about 2 billion dollars
in federal aid that was allocated Tuesday night, in the wake
of hurricanes Charley and Frances. In his visit, Bush made
no reference to the 60 million gallons of acidic wastewater
that spilled into Hillsborough bay when high winds broke a
hole in the Cargill company's dike that held the toxic waste.
Bush instead spoke about how he supported allocating emergency
funds, and that the people of Florida will get everything
they need. But some elected representatives say the FEMA money
wont necessarily get to those who need it, and accuse Bush
of using the 2 storms to his political advantage in the contentious
state of Florida. From WMNF radio in Tampa, Andrew Stelzer
has the story.
[top]
Faith Based Government? 4:13
President Bush has made significant efforts to remove barriers
that faith-based organizations historically have had to overcome
to access public money. Bush has established offices in the
White House and throughout the government to advance his initiative.
And while the Bush-Cheney campaign is making its Faith-Based
Initiative a major part of the re-election campaign, critics
are raising questions about the constitutionality and consequences
of President Bush’s actions. Jenny Johnson reports.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
