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> Thur., Mar. 24, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Rumsfeld in Latin America Seeking to Strengthen Military Ties
Nigerian Legislators Seek to Stop External Debt Payment
Slavery in Angola's Mining Industry
GM and Fiat Split - Fiat Workers Strike Continues
Students On Strike at Georgetown University Demand Fair Wages
for Janitors
Mumia Abul Jamal Commentary: Why Women's History Month Means
Little
FSRN Headlines
The U.S. Supreme Court announced they are rejecting the Terry
Schaivo case. This is the fifth and likely the last time the
issue can go before the high court. A Florida state court
rejected a bid to reinsert her feeding tube later in the day
and a request by the states’ governor Jeb Bush and the
Department of Children and Families to take control of Terry
Schaivo.
U.S. government officials kept quiet about several hundred
tons of genetically modified corn that was mistakenly distributed
to U.S. farmers and ultimately into the U.S. food supply.
Avishay Artsy reports from Omaha, Nebraska.
California high school officials are intentionally using
misleading statistics on high school graduation and drop out
rates. Sarah Olson reports from Oakland.
Reporters threatened with jail unless they reveal their sources
should only be jailed if the information is illegal, according
to 36 news organizations. Brian Zinn reports from D.C.
U.S. officials are in a standoff with the rest of the United
Nations Security Council over how to move forward on the internal
horror in Sudan because the Bush administration is categorically
rejecting granting any authority to the International Criminal
Court. Haider Rizvi reports from the U.N.
Protestors in Kyrgyzstan stormed the Presidential compound
and assumed power as the President left the country. The Prime
Minister has also resigned. Members of Parliament are reportedly
meeting over night to work towards restoring order and holding
new elections in the Spring. Contested elections held in February
sparked the popular protests around the country that have
been taking place over the past week. At least 30 people have
been injured in the capitol Bishkek.
[top]
Rumsfeld in Latin America Seeking to Strengthen Military
Ties (3:26)
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Guatemala
today as part of his Latin American tour. He talked with Guatemalan
President Oscar Berger about strengthening military ties-
and announced that the US will resume providing military aid
to the country. Ten years ago, the US halted aid to Guatemala
citing human rights abuses. Resuming military ties appears
to be a regional theme for Rumsfeld's visit in Latin America-
he has already met with officials in Argentina and Brazil
earlier this week to discuss the topic. On Tuesday, Rumsfeld
and his Argentine counterpart Jose Pampuro met in Buenos Aires.
In a brief meeting, the secretaries looked at the possibility
of resuming joint military exercises, discussed Argentina's
troops in Haiti, a satellite program and the planed ahead
of the Summit of the Americas.
[top]
Nigerian Legislators Seek to Stop External Debt Payment
(3:26)
A face-off between Nigeria and its external creditors seems
imminent. The country's legislators want President Olusegun
Obasanjo to stop the repayment of Nigeria's debt. The country's
debt, owed mainly to the Paris and London clubs, is about
thirty five billion US dollars. Nigeria's legislators say
further debt repayment should stop because the creditors have
placed the country in perpetual slavery. Sam Olukoya reports
from Lagos.
[top]
Slavery in Angola's Mining Industry (4:09)
A new human rights report shows that the diamond industry,
the United Nations and the United States have all allowed
human rights abuses and human slavery to go unchecked in Angola's
diamond mining industry. Angola is one of the top diamond
producing countries in the world. Mitch Jeserich speaks with
the report's author, who is currently in the Washington trying
to bring world recognition to the crisis.
[top]
GM and Fiat Split - Fiat Workers Strike Continues
(2:11)
A split has been declared between General Motors and Italian
car-maker Fiat. The announcement puts a Master Document to
rest, which could have forced General Motors to buy out the
car-maker that is struggling to recover from an economic crisis
in 2003. Fiat's production remains at a standstill however,
as workers in Italy have been on strike since January, contending
that their government is not providing the company the necessary
financial support. In Brescia, FSRN's Diletta Varlese has
more.
[top]
Students On Strike at Georgetown University Demand
Fair Wages for Janitors (2:30)
Georgetown University students are in the second week of
a hunger strike, demanding a living wage for janitors on campus.
Students say the school's values should compel the administration
to grant the janitors a fair wage. Doug Cunningham reports.
[top]
Mumia Abul Jamal Commentary: Why Women's History
Month Means Little (3:42)
[top]
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