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> Wed., Oct. 20, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
9-11 Bill to Pass Before November 2nd?
Census Shows Growing Latino and API Vote
Election Special Coverage: Education in Detroit
Aid Dependency: Sudan’s Nuba Build Self-Sufficiency
Australia Could be Sued Over Global Warming
FSRN Headlines
Iraq Update
Witnessed say missiles dropped from a US warplane killed four
children and two adults today in Fallujah where more than
1,000 joint forces have encircled the city for the past week.
US military officials say the house struck in today’s
attack was one of two "terrorist safe houses" linked
to Al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi. Two Egyptian
men held hostage since September 23rd were freed today and
will return to Cairo tomorrow. And following yesterday’s
abduction of the top CARE official in the region, the humanitarian
organization has suspended operations there.
Haiti Arms Embargo Lifted
The US State Department has confirmed lifting a 13-year arms
embargo against Haiti. The decision appears designed to begin
supplying weapons to the 2,500-member police force that has
carried out gun battles with armed supporters of ousted President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The police have been accused of firing
on peaceful pro-Aristide demonstrators and rounding up well-known
leaders of Aristide's political movement. Sylvio Juste is
in Haiti.
French Teens in Court Over Turbans
In France the ban on religious insignia in state schools is
not only causing problems for the Muslim community –
it is also creating problems for France’s 3000 strong
Sikh population where three Sikh students cannot attend classes
because they refuse to remove their turbans. Nick Champeau
reports that the case was heard in a French court today.
Georgia High Court Hears Challenge to Same Gender Amendment
A constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage in Georgia
is being challenged in the Georgia State Supreme Court. Stephen
Duncan reports from Atlanta.
Social Security Increase Eaten Up
The White House has announced that Social Security benefits
will rise 2.7 percent next year. Matt Swope explains.
[top]
9-11 Bill to Pass Before November 2nd?
Today members from both the House and the Senate began trying
to reconcile two very different bills attempting to implement
the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. On Tuesday the
White House released a letter urging Congress to pass a 9/11
bill before the November 2nd elections. The White House endorsed
measures to expand the Patriot Act and increase surveillance
on foreigners in the United States. While the White House
also supports expanding the authority to deport foreign nationals,
it rejects a provision in the House bill that take away judicial
review of such deportations. Mitch Jeserich has more from
Washington DC.
[top]
Census Shows Growing Latino and API Vote
An analysis of census data has shown a significant increase
in the immigrant electorate, illustrating the growing power
of the Latino and Asian Pacific Islander American vote. Jenny
Johnson reports.
[top]
Election Special Coverage: Education in Detroit
This November 2nd Detroit voters have the chance to regain
local control of the Detroit Board of Education and reverse
a 1999 takeover of their school board by state legislature.
As we continue our One Month Election Countdown Special coverage,
Jonathon Cunningham reports for FSRN from Detroit Summer's
LOUD & Clear youth media center.
[top]
Aid Dependency: Sudan’s Nuba Build Self-Sufficiency
The International Red Cross warned today that tens of thousands
of the families in Sudan's Darfur region face starvation as
the ongoing violence there has kept most farmers from planting
crops. As the conflict in Darfur drags on, food supplies in
Sudan's western region are running out. Many say that along
with peacekeeping troops, the international community needs
to send aid. However, in southern Sudan, after almost 20 years
of war, millions of people have come to rely on emergency
aid. And now there is increasing concern that this aid dependency
has had a negative long-term impact on southern Sudanese culture
and society, without doing much to build capacity in southern
Sudan. Recognizing this threat, the Nuba people of central
Sudan adopted a different policy. Both during the war and
after the ceasefire, they have accepted aid programs from
international agencies on the condition that the program is
one which demonstrably builds Nuba capacity to be self-sufficient.
Rupert Cook reports.
[top]
Australia Could be Sued Over Global Warming
This week Russia and Iran came a step closer to signing
on to the environmental Kyoto Protocol. Along with the United
States, Australia is the only developed nation that has refused
to sign the Kyoto Protocol. But the effects of global warming
are already being felt on the world famous Great Barrier Reef.
A new report claims that the Australian government could face
legal action for failing to protect this World Heritage listed
property from climate change. Christine Baker reports from
2SER community radio in Sydney.
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