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> Thur., June. 30, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
A Look At the Dominican Republic Central American Free Trade
Agreement
No Child Left Behind's Hidden Clause
Carpenter's Union Joins Coalition Challenging the AFL-CIO
No End in Sight for Trapped Mexican Newspaper Workers
Local Residents in Albuquerque Organizing to Place Minimum
Wage on Ballot
Mass Protests in Democratic Republic of Congo
FSRN Headlines
In Gaza, Israeli police raided buildings that Israeli activists
have been occupying to protest the Gaza evacuation plan. The
protestors handcuffed themselves to each other and to furniture
to resist orders to leave. The settlers' Yesha council demanded
that the Israeli Defense Forces re-open the Gaza strip. Earlier
in the day, Israel declared it a closed military zone, allowing
no one to enter, including Israelis who live in the area.
It is reported that many of the right wing activists traveled
from the West Bank.
EMBATTLED PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO HAS
LOST A KEY CABINET MINISTER AMID A POLITICAL CRISIS TRIGGERED
BY VOTE-RIGGING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HER. GIRLIE LINAO IN MANILA
REPORTS.
Time Magazine has agreed to turn over information to a grand
jury to avoid jail time for one of its reporters. The information
Matthew Cooper will reveal led to a report that exposed the
identity of a CIA operative. Time's decision comes 3 days
after the Supreme Court ruled that the journalists' refusal
to hand over documents holds them in contempt of court. After
the Supreme Court ruling, the judge gave Cooper of Time Magazine
and Judith Miller of the New York Times one week to hand over
their documents. At this time, the New York Times has no intention
of complying.
US President Bush has taken steps to create an agency for
domestic spying, despite objections from Congress, the 9/11
Commission, and several key former intelligence officials/civil
liberties groups. Ingrid Drake has more from Washington, DC.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed an oil pact with
14 Caribbean nations to help foster their energy needs. Greg
Wilpert has more from Caracas.
The World Health Organization says that they will not be
able to meet their goal of obtaining HIV medicine to 3 million
people in developing countries by the end of 2005. They blame
the drug supply chain and lack of health care workers for
the shortfall. But as Vinod Jose reports from New Dehli, HIV
is spreading quickest in Asia.
[top]
A Look At the Dominican Republic Central American
Free Trade Agreement (4:17)
The U.S. Senate is on the verge of passing the Central American
Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement today, and a key House
committee also approved the measure, putting the country closer
to ratifying the controversial free trade agreement. Supporters
call the passage in the Senate a victory for economic globalization.
However, DR-CAFTA's fate in the House remains questionable
as concerns for the sugar industry and worker rights protections
persist. Washington Editor Mitch Jeserich has the story.
[top]
No Child Left Behind's Hidden Clause (3:35)
School districts around the United States are struggling
to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. The Act threatens
to cut federal funds if they fail to provide military recruiters
with phone numbers and other personal information about students.
But a little known clause gives parents and students the right
to opt out of the military listing. In Watsonville, California,
last night, the Pajaro Valley School Board voted 4-3 to improve
the notification process to parents that their child's information
will be handed over to recruiters. FSRN's Vinny Lombardo has
more.
[top]
Carpenter's Union Joins Coalition Challenging the
AFL-CIO (3:19)
The nation's largest carpenter's union is joining a coalition
of other major unions, challenging the AFL-CIO on its commitment
to building the labor movement. The debate represents the
biggest split in the labor movement since the merger of the
American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial
Organizations 50 years ago. Max Pringle reports.
[top]
No End in Sight for Trapped Mexican Newspaper Workers
(3:48)
The standoff at Oaxaca, Mexico's largest newspaper, Noticias,
is about to enter into its third week. Although the issue
has received international attention in recent days, there
are no indication of an end to the blockade that has prevented
31 workers from leaving the newspaper's offices since June
17th. Vladimir Flores and Shannon Young file this report from
Oaxaca City.
[top]
Local Residents in Albuquerque Organizing to Place
Minimum Wage on Ballot (1:47)
Members of the Albuquerque City Council hoped to join neighboring
Santa Fe by passing an ordinance increasing the minimum wage
in the city. But the proposal was defeated by a single vote.
Now, Albuquerque residents of are taking up the issue themselves,
and as Leslie Clark reports, are working to have the measure
placed on the October ballot.
[top]
Mass Protests in Democratic Republic of Congo
(2:13)
We close today's newscast by marking the 45th anniversary
of the independence of The Democratic Republic of Congo. That
was when Patrice Lumumba burst onto the world stage as Congo's
dynamic leader who led his country to freedom after 75 years
of brutal Belgian colonialism. Lumumba was assassinated after
only 2-and-a-half months as Congo's leader, would have turned
80 years old this Saturday. Meanwhile in Kishasa, thousands
of Congolese are demonstrating at the capitol over the postponement
of elections that should have been held today. Wake Up Call's
Elombe Brath and Deepa Fernandes spoke with DRC Ambassador
Otakey Ulekah about the elections and the state of the country.
[CUT (2:13)] Special thanks to Elombe Brath, Deepa Fernandes
and Wake UP Call for that interview.
[top]
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