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> Fri., May. 6, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Controversy Growing over Pharmaceutical Industry
Environmental Protections Repealed
Tony Blair Re-Elected Without Popular Mandate
Mustafa Barghouthi on Municipal Elections in Palestine
Real ID Act Will Rescind Habeas Corpus
Indigenous Resistance to Colombian Military and FARC
FSRN Headlines
The chair of the Oil for Food Inquiry Committee, Paul Volcker,
said that US Congressmen misused their subpoena power when
they demanded that a former investigator turn over documents.
A lawyer, who resigned from the committee investigation team,
turned over the documents after receiving the subpoena saying
they show that the committee’s report protects UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan. Volker stated today that the subpoena
issued to Robert Parton was inappropriate and that the investigator
was not obligated to turn over the papers because he has immunity.
(TAPE 0:17) The Oil for Food program was established by the
United Nations so that Saddam Hussein’s regime could
purchase food and other humanitarian item while still under
international embargo. An inquiry committee, lead by the former
US Federal Reserve chair, is investigating allegations of
corruption.
African American ministers are trying to curb the sway of
the religious right and criticizing the Senate majority leader
for calling those who disagree with him non-believers. David
Koppel reports from D.C.
The South African government will consider creating laws
against free speech after news reports of a leak at a nuclear
plant. Na’eem Jeenah reports from Johannesburg.
Mexico’s two right wing parties are still struggling
over the now closed case against the leading Presidential
candidate. Shannon Young reports from Oaxaca.
Portugal is planning to build the world’s largest solar
power station. The 250 hectares former mining site is expected
to supply power to 130-thousand homes. The site manager says
that the environmental ministry has already given approval.
They are now waiting for the Portuguese administration to
do the same. A consortium of German companies is reportedly
investing more than 400-million Euros in the project. Another
German company announced they will establish a solar panel
manufacturing plant near the site. The solar power station
will take 4 to 5 years to be built.
[top]
Controversy Growing over Pharmaceutical Industry
As controversy continues over the pharmaceutical industry
misrepresenting the safety of their drugs, mental health activists
launched a national campaign this week against the powerful
pharmaceutical lobbying group known as PHRMA. They accuse
PHRMA of using aggressive promotional techniques to sell psychiatric
drugs that activists claim are better for the drug companies'
bottom line than for the people consuming them. They are calling
on PHRMA to stop such practices and to stop funding so called
front groups that are promoting policies of forced medication
on people with mental illnesses. PHRMA, meanwhile, has refused
to meet with the activists. Mitch Jeserich has more from Washington
with Special thanks to Pierre Loiselle of Praxis Productions
who provided sound from the demonstration.
[top]
Environmental Protections Repealed
The Bush Administration has repealed the 2001 Roadless Area
Conservation Rule, one of the most popular environmental protections
passed in recent years. Once federally protected for wildlife,
clean drinking water, and recreation, more than 58 million
acres of national forests are now vulnerable to mining, logging,
and oil-drilling. Ingrid Drake from the DC Radio Co-op has
more.
[top]
Tony Blair Re-Elected Without Popular Mandate
Tony Blair's Labour party was re-elected to government for
a historic third term in Britain. However, it was very far
from a popular mandate. The war in Iraq and other controversial
issues slashed Labour's lead down to a 66 seat majority in
Parliament. From London, Naomi Fowler reports:
[top]
Mustafa Barghouthi on Municipal Elections in Palestine
Preliminary results reveal that the Fatah movement has won
municipal elections held in 84 cities across the West Bank
and Gaza in Palestine yesterday. Official results are expected
this Sunday, after all votes are counted. Few troubles were
reported at polling booths- although a group of masked people
destroyed two out of three ballot boxes in Atara, north of
Ramallah. FSRN's Manair Jibrin had the opportunity to speak
with Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary of the Palestinian
National Initiative, or Mubadara about the election.
[top]
Real ID Act Will Rescind Habeas Corpus
A series of immigration overhaul provisions came one step
closer to becoming law when the House of Representatives passed
immigration reform amendments as part of the $82-billion war
supplemental last night. Included in the bill are strict driver's
license standards, a national license database, and money
to construct a fence along the Mexico-California border. Yet
another feature of the bill takes away the right of habeas
corpus to any immigrant facing deportation. In New York, FSRN's
Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.
[top]
Indigenous Resistance to Colombian Military and FARC
In Colombia, nearly three weeks of sustained combat between
the country's largest rebel group and the army has tested
the resistance of the indigenous Nassa people- caught in the
crossfire. The fighting, thus far, has killed 3 policemen,
one nine-year-old villager and a one-year-old girl. 20 homes,
the school church and hospital have also been left in ruin.
FSRN's Nicole Karsin has more.
[top]
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