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> Tue., Feb. 28, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
John Negroponte Testifies on Capitol Hill
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on NSA Spy Program
A Look at Sectarian Violence in Iraq: We Speak with Dr. Sami
Zubaida
Iraq Investigates Possible Human Cases of Bird Flu Spreading
in Iraq
Hamas Urged to End Corruption and Lawlessness
Unemployment: One of Many Post-Hurricane Issues
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
FSRN Headlines
PATRIOT ACT VOTE
The Senate will vote on final passage of the re-authorization
of the USA patriot Act tomorrow morning. If it passes, the
bill will go to the President to be signed into law.
SUPREME COURT RULES ON ANTI-ABORTION DEMONSTRATIONS
In other news from Washington DC, The Supreme Court ruled
in favor of anti-abortion groups today. The unanimous decision
is the latest in a 20 year-old lawsuit that questions the
legality of using blockades, threats, or acts of physical
violence to prevent access to clinics that perform abortions.
The High Court ruled that such activity could not be banned
under a 1951 federal extortion law known as the Hobbs Act.
Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that the issue of violence is
addressed in the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act,
which Congress passed in 1994.
WATER SHORTAGE IN SOUTHEAST ENGLAND
British Prime Minister Tony Blair held an emergency meeting
today to discuss issues related to global warming. In a speech
last night, Britain's Defense Secretary warned that British
forces must prepare to tackle conflicts triggered by climate
change and shrinking water supplies. This, as the South East
of England is facing the worst drought in 75 years. From London,
Naomi Fowler reports.
Widely acknowledged as a product of climate change, England's
most densely populated region has had its lowest rainfall
for 40 to 50 years. The Chief Executive of the Environment
Agency is calling the water supply shortages 'serious' for
people and for the environment. The agency is urging England's
privatised water companies to repair leaks and ban non-essential
water use. They want the government to step in and ensure
a number of conservation measures are put in place, such as
water meters in homes. Ecologists are warning that the low
level of the water table means trees and plants are vulnerable
and forest fires are more likely. Water companies shouldn't
just hope for rain, according to the Environment Agency, they
must act to conserve water now. This is Naomi Fowler in London
for Free Speech Radio News.
COKE WOES IN INDIA
Depleting water resources in and around Coca-Cola plants in
India are involving the soft drink company in a series of
controversies, most recently in Southern India. Binu Alex
has more.
Coca-Cola's latest franchise plant in Gangaikondan in the
Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has yet to formally commence
operations but is already embroiled in a controversy. Farmers
are opposed to the amount of water allotted to the plant,
saying it will deprive them of water for agricultural purposes.
Tension has risen with the recent death of a farmer that is
now under investigation. Fellow farmers are suspicious about
the cause of the death. The High Court has ordered an inquiry
into the matter. The local village council is contemplating
the cancellation of the bottling plant's license. In the neighboring
Kerala province, yet another Coke plant is facing permanent
closure after the villagers complained about depleting water
levels. Coca-Cola India has so far not issued any public statements
on the issue. From Ahmedabad in India, I am Binu Alex for
Free Speech Radio News.
U.S. FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH COLOMBIA
The United States and Colombia signed a bi-lateral free trade
agreement yesterday after 21 months of negotiations. The treaty
is still pending ratification by the congressional bodies
of both countries. Colombian critics of the free trade agreement
say it will financially ruin small farmers, cause a sharp
rise in the cost of medicine, and hasten the privatization
of public resources. Similar negotiations with Ecuador have
stagnated, largely due to disagreements over agriculture and
intellectual property rights.
LAPD SHORT ON FUNDING FOR PROP 69
In Los Angeles, a deputy district attorney said yesterday
that the Los Angeles Police Department will need additional
funding to deal with the anticipated effects of a ballot initiative
that expanded the state's authority to collect DNA samples.
KPFK's Kelly Barnes has more.
Proposition 69, approved by a 62% majority in 2004, allows
the collection of DNA from all adults and juveniles convicted
of felonies and from all adults suspected of murder or certain
sex crimes. In 2009, the authority to collect DNA will expand
to include those arrested on suspicion of any felony and some
misdemeanors. Opponents of Prop 69 said state law already
required DNA samples from dangerous felons and the additional
measures only put innocent people's privacy at risk. Once
cleared, innocent arrestees can formally request expunging
their DNA from the massive state database. A court can deny
the request, and that denial, under Prop 69, cannot be appealed.
Currently, the LAPD collects some 5,000 DNA samples per month
and they expect that number to jump to 6,000 under the new
rules. In LA for FSRN, I'm Kelly Barnes of People without
Borders.
[top]
John Negroponte Testifies on Capitol Hill
(1:95)
National Intelligence Director, John Negroponte says there
is minimal concern over the United Arab Emirates port deal.
Negroponte testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee
hearing.
[top]
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on NSA Spy
Program (4:34)
While a great deal of media focused on Negroponte, elsewhere
on Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee held another
hearing on the President's domestic spying program - and this
time, they sought advice from analysts. Some argued that the
program is illegal, while others argued their support. As
Leigh Ann Caldwell reports from Capitol Hill, all analysts
agreed that they know few details of the controversial surveillance
program.
[top]
A Look at Sectarian Violence in Iraq: We Speak with
Dr. Sami Zubaida (3:25)
A blast has killed at least 16, and injured at least 40
people near a Shiite mosque in Baghdad today. While authorities
are uncertain of what type of explosion caused the blast,
it is certain that the attack is the latest development in
increased sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites in
Iraq. We’re joined on the line by Sami Zubaida, visiting
Proffesor of Law at New York University.
[top]
Iraq Investigates Possible Human Cases of Bird Flu
Spreading in Iraq (2:08)
In other news from Iraq, the country is investigating 3
more suspected human cases of Bird Flu in Baghdad, and one
in the northern province of Dayala. 2 other cases of the fatal
flu have already been confirmed in another northern province,
near Turkey. The World Health Organization says that 200,000
birds have been killed in Iraq alone, in an effort to curb
the spread of the disease – which has already claimed
the lives of over 92 humans worldwide, and could prove detrimental
in Iraq, which is unequipped to handle a pandemic. In this
report, produced and narrated by David Enders, Salam Talib
spoke with doctors in Iraq about the Bird Flu’s effect.
[top]
Hamas Urged to End Corruption and Lawlessness
(3:29)
In Palestine, internal pressure is mounting on Hamas to
take action against corruption and lawlessness, as the United
Nations warns in a new report of the emerging humanitarian
consequences of a continued Israeli-imposed closure of the
Gaza Strip. Laila El-Haddad and Shareef Abo Msalame (pronounced
IM-SA-LA-MA) report from Gaza.
[top]
Unemployment: One of Many Post-Hurricane Issues
(1:53)
According to a study by the National Employment Law Project,
over 160,000 Gulf Coast workers left jobless because of Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita will loose their unemployment benefits beginning
March 4, unless Congress issues an extension. Selina Musuta
reports from Washington, DC where Gulf Coast area unemployment
is just one of the issues that congressional members and non
profit organizations are discussing around rebuilding efforts.
[top]
Mardi Gras in New Orleans (3:48)
The party goes on as New Orleans celebrates its first post-Katrina
Mardi Gras despite the fact the city remaining mostly in ruins.
The controversial celebration was marked by smaller crowds
and police harassment of party revelers. FSRN’s Christian
Roselund has more.
[top]
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