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> Thurs., July. 28, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Congress Approves DR-CAFTA
Effects of DR-CAFTA in Central America
IRA Announces End to Armed Campaign
Overwhelming Cancer Rates in Southern Iraq
Los Alamos National Lab Worker Contamination with Americium
Tens of Thousands of Sugar Cane Workers March to Protect Their
Livelihoods
New Mexico Governor Calls REAL ID Unconstitutional
FSRN Headlines
The Irish Republican Army announced that they will give up
its armed campaign and enter the political arena. The organization
fought British rule over Northern Ireland. A battle that has
lasted for 30 years. They said they will work through democratic
and peaceful means.
Muslim groups in the United States and Canada issued a Fatwah
today condemning violence. Jake Connelly has the story from
Washington, D.C.
The House of Representatives passed the energy bill, the
first restructuring of the United States' energy program in
over a decade. The bill is praised by many Republicans as
increasing our independence from foreign sources of oil. To
environmentalists, it is hailed as a give away to big business.
The bill includes 14 and a half billion dollars in tax breaks
to energy companies. It also authorizes building new nuclear
power plants. Furthermore, an additional 1.5 billion dollars
was added for Halliburton after the bill was closed for changes,
according to the office of Representative Henry Waxmen.
A climate pact was released today as an alternative to the
Kyoto treaty.The United States, China, Australia, India, Japan
and South Korea announced their own plan for reducing air
emissions outside the Kyoto Protocol. The alternative agreement
aims to reduce emissions through technology. It does not impose
legally binding requirements to cut greenhouse gasses or targets
for partners to meet in reducing pollution, like the Kyoto
agreement does.The six countries involved in the new partnership
account for about 48 percent of the world’s greenhouse
gas emissions.
Hard-line Hindu party ruler, L.K. Advani was charged for
inciting riots in1992, at the same location of the murder
of 6 Muslims last month. VinodK. Jose has more from New Dehli.
Human Rights Watch has released a report detailing acts of
torture carried out by the police in Nigeria. Sam Olukoya
reports from Lagos.
[top]
Congress Approves DR-CAFTA
Congress has given its final approval to the controversial
Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement. The
House GOP leadership wrung out a 217 to 215 vote in a midnight
roll call that was held open for an hour. Its passage is considered
a major victory for neo-liberalization and the Bush administration
for the next round of DOHA talks later in the year. Capitol
Hill correspondent Mitch Jeserich reports.
[top]
Effects of DR-CAFTA in Central America
The passage of DR-CAFTA in the US is already garnering attention
in Central American countries. Government and business leaders
in Guatemala applauded the treaty's passage, saying it will
bring more jobs and foreign investment to the region. Labor,
environmental and campesinoorganizations, on the other hand,
say the treaty will cause greater unemployment and more migration
to the U.S. FSRN's Jill Replogle reports from Guatemala
[top]
IRA Announces End to Armed Campaign
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) formally announced today
that they would end their armed campaign against British rule.
The IRA says that they will instead focus on engaging in a
peaceful political process to address key issues like police
reform and Ireland's reunification. Members of Sinn Fein,
the political arm of the IRA, traveled to Washington, DC to
meet with several Irish American Congressional members. FSRN's
Selina Musuta reports.
[top]
Overwhelming Cancer Rates in Southern Iraq
Though southern Iraq is more stable than the central part
of the country, the end of major fighting is only one step
in the return to normalcy. Ravaged since the Iran-Iraq war
began in 1980, and bombed again in 1991 and 2003, the environmental
damage in the south, and its toll on human life, is just becoming
evident. David Enders spoke with Dr. Jewad Al-Ali in Basra.
[top]
Los Alamos National Lab Worker Contamination with
Americium
Experts from the National Nuclear Security Administration
and Los Alamos National Laboratory today, are continuing to
investigate the americium contamination of one laboratory
worker. Experts have confirmed the employee's home and car
were also contaminated. As Leslie Clark reports,several other
lab employees are being tested for radiation exposure.
[top]
Tens of Thousands of Sugar Cane Workers March to
Protect Their Livelihoods
Although Mexico is the world's 3rd largest sugar producer,
sugar cane farmers say that their livelihoods are at risk
due to the increased use of high fructose corn syrup to sweeten
soft drinks. Thousands of cane workers demonstrated yesterday
in Mexico City in favor of a law they say will help to protect
their industry. In Mexico City, Vladimir Flores files this
report.
[top]
New Mexico Governor Calls REAL ID Unconstitutional
The REAL ID Act, approved by Congress and signed into law
in May,continues to be a topic of controversy and criticism.
During last week's National Governors Association conference
in Iowa, the REAL ID Act raised concern among governors about
how much it will cost to implement its provisions, as well
as how much it would interfere with current state law. Dolores
M. Bernal reports from New Mexico, where Governor Bill Richardson
has called the Real ID Act unconstitutional.
[top]
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