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> Tue., Jan. 8, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Israeli-Palestinian Ceasefire
Women and Sharia Law in Iraqi Constitution
NY Same Sex Marriage Law Appealed
Santa Cruz Parents Protest Gay Tolerance in School
Right to Demonstrate in UK Threatened
FSRN Headlines
Protests Over Power Shift in Togo
There are mixed reports from Togo today about protests and
demonstrations marring the transfer of power in the country.
Some reports from the capital Lome indicate that the protests
against the appointment of the late presidents son shut down
the main market and businesses. Other news sources say it
was business as usual today with only schools being shut down
for safety reasons. Over the weekend Africa’s longest
serving head of state General Gnassingbe Eyadema died of a
heart attack and his 39-year-old son immediately assumed power
of the west African nation. After Togo’s Parliament
changed the constitution over the weekend to support the ascension
and prevent elections in 60-days, other nations on the continent
called it a coup. The Peace and Security Council of the 53-nation
African Union threatened sanctions unless constitutional rule
was restored.
LPFMs Talks to FCC
The Federal Communications Commission heard from advocates
of micro-radio today, making good on a promise to consider
the low power community broadcasters’ contribution to
the media landscape. At the FCC building, Selina Musuta reports.
U.S. Federal Workers Protest New Rules
Hundreds of federal workers marched to the Capitol protesting
a recent overhaul of employment rules. Brian Zinn has more
from D.C.
Thousands of Mexican Farmers March
Thousands of farmers marched in Mexico demanding greater respect
for an agreement they signed with the government more than
a year ago. Luz Ruis reports from Chiapas.
Fascists and Leftists Clash in Italy
Fascists are clashing with leftist activists in northern Italy.
Diletta Varlesce reports from Brescia.
Nepal Shut Down by Monarch
The monarch of Nepal has allowed international phone service
to be restored during a total crack down on freedoms in a
desperate attempt to maintain control. Last week the King
seized power, arrested the prime minister, his cabinet, journalists
and activists. Leading politicians are under house arrest
and access to the internet was shut down. Nepali human rights
groups plan the first open show of defiance against the king's
seizure of power for Thursday.
[top]
Israeli-Palestinian Ceasefire (3:52)
With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas securing a ceasefire
yesterday with all Palestinian resistance groups, U.S. and
Israeli officials are expressing their support for Abbas,
a man who just last year was called an "American agent"
by prominent Palestinians. Today Abbas is facing the challenge
of negotiating with the Israeli government, a government whose
military has been occupying the territory of Palestine for
over 30 years. Israel is the only country in the Middle East
that possesses a stock of over 100 nuclear warheads, as well
as maintaining chemical and biological weapons programs. The
Israeli army, the sixth-largest in the world in per-capita
spending, while the provisional Palestinian government, the
Palestinian Authority, has no army. Jenka Soderberg reports
from Palestine.
[top]
Women and Sharia Law in Iraqi Constitution
(3:47)
A mortar attack against an Iraqi army recruiting center
killed at least fourteen people in Baghdad this morning. Though
violence in the country has continued unabated since U-S-backed
elections more than a week ago, some Iraqis are looking with
fear toward a new government, many members of which have signaled
they want Islamic law to be a strong factor in the drafting
of the country's new constitution. David Enders files this
report from Baghdad.
[top]
Budget Proposal to Cut Low Income Housing Assistance
(3:55)
Under President Bush's 2006 Budget Proposal, the Department
of Housing and Urban Development will shrink by 11.5%. Most
of those cuts are targeted at low income housing assistance.
Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol Hill.
[top]
NY Same Sex Marriage Law Appealed (2:09)
New York City filed an appeal to last week's court decision
which ruled that marriage law in that state- which only grants
licenses to heterosexual couples, is unconstitutional. FSRN's
Leigh Ann Caldwell has more from New York City.
[top]
Santa Cruz Parents Protest Gay Tolerance in School
(2:59)
More than 300 students, parents, teachers, and administrators
turned out to a California high school last night for a special
board meeting to address charges that the school promotes
a "Gay Agenda." The California Student Safety and
Violence Prevention Act of 2000, also known as, AB 537, prohibits
discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived
sexual orientation and gender identity in California public
schools. FSRN correspondent Vinny Lombardo has the story.
[top]
Right to Demonstrate in UK Threatened (2:24)
After a long history of public protest for centuries outside
Britain's Parliament, the British government is currently
trying to pass legislation that will create a demonstration-free
zone one kilometer around the seat of power, taking away rights
to protest there that date back to the Magna Carta. The legislation
was initially aimed at ridding Parliament Square of one man
and his three and a half year peace vigil. But now, the consequences
are far reaching, as Naomi Fowler reports from Parliament
Square.
[top]
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