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> Fri., May. 20, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Human Rights Groups Reiterate Call for Independent Investigation
Ugandans Recruited by US and European Firms for Security Work
in Iraq
Crack Cocaine and Powder Cocaine Sentencing Inequities
Pro and Anti Castro Protests in DC Today
Medicare's New Drug Benefits May Harm the Nation's Poorest
and Sickest
Global Conference on Wind Energy
FSRN Headlines
George W. Bush promised to veto pending stem cell research
legislation that will be voted on next week in the House of
Representatives. The legislation seeks to expand the number
of federally funded stem cells available for research. In
2001, Bush stopped the creation of all new federally funded
stem cells saying that he objects to destroying life even
if it is to be used to save life. Scientists say that existing
stem cells are contaminated and unavailable for research.
The Red Cross issued a statement confirming charges that
US interrogators at Guantanamo Bay have, at least in the past,
desecrated the Qumran in an attempt to break prisoners’
spirit. Kelly Giddens has more.
A Palestinian court nullifies local election results in a
number of Gaza municipalities, as the Israeli Prime Minister
gives the army the green light to attack Gaza. Laila al-Haddad
reports from Gaza City.
A day of protests around Argentina slowed down work in banks,
schools, and government agencies. Both public and private
banks were affected even though the Minister of Labor ordered
the union to mediation. Government workers, public school
teachers, and university professors are also demanding higher
wages. Students at a dozen high schools in Buenos Aires demonstrated
for better building conditions and more money for education.
Throughout Mexico, thousands of public school teachers went
on strike. Shannon Young has that story from Oaxaca.
Only some of the people who lived downwind from the Hanford
nuclear reservation during cold war radiation releases will
win compensation from the government. Leigh Robartes has more.
[top]
Human Rights Groups Reiterate Call for Independent
Investigation (4:07)
Human rights groups reiterated their call today for an independent
investigation into detainee abuse, as the New York Times reported
that an internal military investigation has found that two
Afghan detainees were brutally killed by US military interrogators.
The report also indicated that the interrogators felt that
one of the two men killed was innocent. Mitch Jeserich reports
from Washington.
[top]
Ugandans Recruited by US and European Firms for Security
Work in Iraq (3:08)
Uganda's parliament wants the government to explain the
circumstances under which private firms have been contracted
to recruit Ugandans for deployment in war-ravaged Iraq. The
first batch of about 700 university graduates, Ugandan Army,
or UPDF veterans and secondary school graduates are expected
to leave for the United States and Iraq this weekend after
a crash-training in military combat. Joshua Kyalimpa reports
from Uganda.
[top]
Crack Cocaine and Powder Cocaine Sentencing Inequities
(2:29)
Connecticut has one of the biggest disparities of any state
in the country between the amount of crack cocaine possession
that triggers a mandatory five-year minimum sentence versus
possession of a much smaller amount of powder cocaine. The
law has resulted in an enormous racial gap in the prison population.
Last night the state Senate joined the House in passing a
bill that evens the punishment between the two forms of cocaine.
Activists are pressing the governor to sign it. Melinda Tuhus
reports from New Haven.
[top]
Pro and Anti Castro Protests in DC Today
(2:15)
The Department of Homeland Security charged Cuban exile,
Luis Posada Carriles yesterday with entering the United States
illegally. Cuban officials have demanded that Posada be extradited
to Venezuela where he is wanted for the bombing of a Cuban
jetliner en route from Caracas to Havana in 1976. Meanwhile
in Cuba, government dissidents gathered this weekend to plan
and discuss strategies on the future of Cuba when Castro's
administration ends. Selina Musuta reports from the Cuban
Interests Section in Washington, DC the site of both pro and
anti Castro protests today.
[top]
Medicare's New Drug Benefits May Harm the Nation's
Poorest and Sickest (3:13)
Medicare's new drug benefits begin in January 2006. The
new drug plan is expected to bring relief to as many as one-third
of Medicare recipients, who do not have prescription drug
coverage. People who already have drug coverage through their
job or former employer or through Medicaid, the federal medical
program for the poor, are bracing for significant changes
to their drug coverage. Advocates for seniors and people with
disabilities say the poorest and the sickest may face the
most obstacles to getting the medications they need. And,
they're asking the state to help fill any gaps in coverage.
Ngoc Nguyen has the story.
[top]
Global Conference on Wind Energy (3:37)
As the world's dependence on fossil fuels increases, particularly
in developing economies such as China and India, the place
of renewable energies has largely been absent from the debate.
Despite some statewide success in the United States in forcing
utility companies to offer a portion of their electricity
from renewable sources, the clean energy lobby has nowhere
near the influence that the fossil fuel lobby currently enjoys.
This week, Denver Colorado was host to the US's largest Wind
Energy Conference to date. The 3 day conference saw global
wind energy industry leaders come together to demand their
place in the global energy market. Maeve Conran has more.
[top]
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