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> Fri., Jan. 6, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Palestinians And Israelis React To A Possible Future After
Sharon
New Study Finds DRC's High Mortality Rate Linked To Conflict
Poland's New Government
The Kashmiri State High Court Question Kashmiri Detainees
Status
Federal Court Orders New Orleans To Stop Demolition Of Homes
Portland's Homeless Negotiate With City For Housing
FSRN Headlines
FOOD CRISIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization issued
a special alert today, warning that millions of people are
on the brink of starvation in the Horn of Africa. Severe droughts,
depletion of livestock herds, and crop failure along with
the effects of regional conflicts have led to critical food
shortages in the area. The FAO estimates that in the east
African countries of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti
over 11 million people are in need of assistance.
FLASH FLOODS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
In southern Africa, flash floods have left at least 17 people
dead and some 40,000 homeless this week. Affected countries
include Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Malawi was already facing a massive food crisis before the
flood, as a severe drought had decimated the country's corn
crops. More heavy rains are expected in the coming days.
US-ASIA-PACIFIC CLIMATE TALKS ON HOLD
Citing concerns over the health of Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today postponed
a trip to Australia where she was scheduled to participate
in Asia-Pacific climate talks. Anastasia Gnezditskaia reports
from Washington DC.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was scheduled to travel
to Sydney, Australia next week to meet with representatives
from Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea to discuss
a US-backed alternative to the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto treaty
calls for mandatory cuts in methane, carbon dioxide, and other
gases linked to global warming. The US position is to promote
private investment in cleaner energy technologies rather than
to require cuts in the output of greenhouse gases. Today,
Secretary of State has canceled her trip due to concerns over
Israeli Prime Minister's Health condition. According to State
Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, this was done so that
she could communicate with President Bush's other top foreign
policy aides in Washington without time differences. For Free
Speech Radio News, I am Anastasia Gnezditskaia in Washington,
DC
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ON VOUCHER PROGRAM
The Florida Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Governor Jeb
Bush's private-school voucher program violates the state Constitution's
promise of a "uniform system of free public schools."
The ruling is considered a major blow to Bush's seven-year
public education overhaul in Florida. Mitch Perry reports
from Tampa.
Watched nationwide, the 5-2 decision topples Opportunity
Scholarships, the only statewide voucher program in the country.
It also raises doubts about two related voucher programs that
Florida employs. National organizations who both support and
oppose vouchers had filed friend of the court briefs in the
case. Elliot Mincberg is with People For the American Way.
He says Thursday's ruling could have a major impact on other
school voucher programs across the country. (sound clip) Legal
scholars said there are no grounds for Bush to appeal successfully
to the U.S. Supreme Court. There are no federal issues involved.
But Bush did not rule out an appeal and vowed to pursue every
strategy to keep vouchers alive, including raising money from
private sources. Mitch Perry, FSRN, Tampa.
ENRON JURY
Former Enron heads Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling have asked a
judge to move their impending trial out of Houston, where
they say the jury pool is biased against them. From KPFT,
Renee Feltz reports.
Some of the potential jurors surveyed for for the trail of
ex-Enron CEO, Jeff Skilling, and ex-chairman, Ken Lay, say
they believe Skilling "would lie to his mother if it
would further his cause" and Lay is a "lowdown scumbag."
These quotes likely came from jurors who were dropped from
the jury pool. But defense attorney's want more dropped. They've
entered a motion in a Houston federal court requesting the
trial be moved out of Houston. Alternatively, they've requested
delaying the January 30th start date for the trial, and summoning
a new jury pool. The judge is not expected to move the trial.
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PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS REACT TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE
AFTER SHARON (4:49)
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains deeply sedated
following today's third major round of surgery to stem new
bleeding in his brain. With doctors saying that Sharon has
a slim chance of living, Palestinians and Israelis react to
what his possible death could mean for their future. Laila
El-Haddad has more from Gaza.
[top]
NEW STUDY FINDS DRC'S HIGH MORTALITY RATE LINKED
TO CONFLICT (2:25)
The International Rescue Committee or IRC released their
fourth study detailing the mortality rate of the Democratic
Republic of Congo and its causes. According to the IRC, more
than 4 million people have died due to the nation's seven
year conflict. We're joined by IRC’s health director
and co-author of the report Richard Brennan. Brennan spent
a year between 2003 and 2004 surveying 19, 500 Congolese households
for this study.
[top]
POLAND'S NEW GOVERNMENT (3:04)
Poland's right wing conservative minority government has
taken steps to call in its pre-election pledge of ridding
Poland of its communist past. As many as 10 Polish ambassadors
from various embassies across the globe were recalled because
of their alleged collaboration with communist era secret police
or military intelligence. Poland is also drafting legislation
that would lead to the dismantling of the military intelligence
service. Leaders of that service are thought to have communist
era links. From Warsaw, Danuta Szafraneic reports on whether
the new government's steps to cast off the legacy of communism
will work.
[top]
THE KASHMIRI STATE HIGH COURT QUESTION KASHMIRI DETAINEES
STATUS (4:04)
In Indian administered Kashmir the state High Court has
asked the state government to provide reasons why Kashmiri
detainees have not faced trial in the last six months. The
court heard a petition filed by the Jammu Kashmir High Court
Bar Association that states that these Kashmiri political
detainees are not only being denied a speedy trial but are
also facing harsh prison conditions. Shahnawaz Khan has more
[top]
FEDERAL COURT ORDERS NEW ORLEANS TO STOP DEMOLITION
OF HOMES (1:57)
Now for news in New Orleans, a federal court ruled today
that the city must stop demolishing homes in the city's lower
9th ward or be held in contempt of court. Christian Roselund
has more from New Orleans.
[top]
PORTLAND'S HOMELESS NEGOTIATE WITH CITY FOR HOUSING
(4:08)
Frustrated with the limited resources available to them,
people experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon have
created their own version of transitional housing. It's called
Dignity Village and, five years after its inception, the community
is negotiating a lease with the city of Portland to keep their
place on city property. FSRN's Julie Sabatier has more from
Portland.
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