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> Thu., Aug. 24, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
European Nations Inching Toward Troop Commitments for Lebanon;
Cluster Bomblets Injuring Returning Lebanese; Crackdown in
Oaxaca; Widespread Protests Against South African Health Minister;
Conflict Escalates in Southern Senegal; Expanding Immigrant
Detentions Profitable for Prison Industry; Controversy Over
Massive Development in Brooklyn
FSRN Headlines (4:33)
PLAN B APPROVED
The US Food and Drug Administration today approved
the over-the-counter sale of Plan B emergency contraceptive
pills to women 18 and older. The drug can prevent pregnancy
if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Rebecca Myles
reports.
The drug's approval coincides with a lawsuit filed against
the FDA charging them with discrimination against women by
holding Plan B to different standards than other drugs. The
lead plaintiff in the suit is Annie Tummino who said today's
decision is: (Tummino) "Definitely a big partial victory
and I think it comes after years of pressure from the women's
movement, the legal and medical and scientific communities.
What the age restriction does is place a behind-the-counter
status on the pill and rather than not over the counter status
and still requires an id to be show to a pharmacist."
Tummino says she will continue her lawsuit to demand over-the-counter
status for women for all ages. For Free Speech Radio News,
I am Rebecca Myles reporting.
PUBLIC HEALTH RULING
A British retiree won a court battle today to stop a US health
care giant from being awarded a public health care contract.
It's seen as an important victory for those campaigning against
prime minister Tony Blair's privatization of sectors of the
public health service. From London, Naomi Fowler reports.
United Health Europe, the British branch of the US's biggest
health care corporation had been contracted to provide family
doctors for patients in the north of England...but today's
court case established the principle that British patients
have a legal right to be consulted over decisions on changes
to their public services. Judges ruled that in this case,
that had not happened. The ruling will force the local authority
to start its tender process from scratch and consult with
patients. The government policy of contracting for-profit
companies to perform public health services has met with strong
opposition from the British public. Tony Blair's close ties
with the private medical industry have also been questioned.
United Health Europe's vice president was formerly his senior
health policy adviser. After today's victory, similar court
action may be likely if future public health sector contracting
is not carried out according to the benchmarks set by today's
ruling. This is Naomi Fowler in London for Free Speech Radio
News.
FOLLOW UP ON SCHIPHOL ARRESTS
Dutch authorities have downplayed terrorism fears after yesterday's
arrests of 12 people traveling on a Northwest Airlines flight
to Mumbai, India. The plane returned to Amsterdam's Schiphol
airport shortly after take-off due to concerns that some passengers
were exhibiting suspicious behavior. Dutch police found no
evidence of explosives on the airplane. The 12 detained passengers
are set for release today.
SURVIVING IMPEACHMENT
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today beat the
latest attempt to impeach her over allegations of vote-rigging,
corruption and human rights abuses. Girlie Linao in Manila
reports.
After a 17-hour session of debates, which lasted late into
the night, the Philippine House of Representatives voted to
dismiss the impeachment complaint against President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo on a legal technicality. Only 32 lawmakers
in the 236-member House voted for Arroyo's impeachment, while
173 backed the 59-year-old leader and one abstained. Thirty
House representatives, including nine opposition members,
did not even show up for the vote. The outcome was widely
expected and marks the second time in as many years for Arroyo's
political allies to save her from impeachment. Despite the
defeat, the opposition vowed it would not abandon their efforts
to oust Arroyo. Analysts also warned public support for the
president could continue to suffer as she fails to answer
the allegations against her. Arroyo has been hounded by calls
for her resignation, protests and even coup threats since
June 2005 when charges first surfaced that she rigged the
May 2004 presidential elections. In the latest impeachment
complaint, opponents also accused her of corruption, human
rights abuses, and violations of the constitution. Arroyo
has vowed not to step down despite the attacks. She still
has four years left of her six-year term. For Free Speech
Radio News, I'm Girlie Linao in Manila.
PLUTO DEMOTED
Pluto lost its status as a planet today when some 2,500 scientists
gathered in Prague defined the criteria for a planet. Due
to it's irregular orbit, Pluto will now belong to a new category
known as "dwarf planets".
Features
European Nations Inching Toward Troop Commitments
for Lebanon
European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to meet tomorrow
in Brussels to discuss their contributions to a peacekeeping
force in Lebanon. Italy has agreed to lead it, and committed
3,000 troops for that purpose. French President Jacques Chirac
announced today that France will increase its commitment to
2,000 troops. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuimioja, who
currently holds the rotating presidency of the E.U., said
the union would like to see fresh U.N. troops deployed to
Lebanon within a week—the U.N hopes to have all 15,000
troops authorized by its cease-fire resolution in place by
November.
Cluster Bomblets Injuring Returning Lebanese (3:50)
That ceasefire is now in its 10th day. Israeli bombing raids
have come to a halt in Lebanon—but that doesn’t
mean the explosions have stopped. The hundreds of thousands
of displaced Lebanese returning to their homes in Southern
Lebanon are now confronting unexploded pieces of cluster bombs
that were dropped on more than 170 villages. To date, they’ve
injured over 30 people and and killed 7, including three Lebanese
soldiers. FSRN reporter Jackson Allers reports from southern
Lebanon.
Crackdown in Oaxaca (2:39)
Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca is in its third month
of a political crisis. A broad social movement, sparked by
a public school teachers' strike over wages, has been pushing
for the resignation if Governor Ulises Ruiz. Various elements
of that movement have shut down highways, taken over five
radio stations, burned more than a dozen buses, blocked off
the city's historic center, seized government offices, and
blockaded some tourists in their hotels. Governor Ruiz has
so far refused to leave office, and the federal government,
distracted by continuing controversy over the presidential
election, has largely stayed out of the conflict.
Widespread Protests Against South African Health
Minister (3:16)
An AIDS activist group in South Africa began nationwide protests
today to call for the immediate dismissal of South Africa's
Health Minister. The Treatment Action Campaign, or TAC for
short, says that Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has failed to show
leadership in dealing with the country’s AIDS epidemic.
Solidarity protests are taking place in In New York, Los Angeles,
Washington, DC, Chicago, and parts of Canada. Selina Musuta
reports from in front of the South African Embassy in Washington,
DC.
Conflict Escalates in Southern Senegal (2:58)
In the Senagalese region of Casamance, fights have begun breaking
out between the military and a faction of the separatist Movement
of Democratic Forces of Casamance. Many fear food shortages
are imminent as farmers abandon their land to the fighting.
So far, more than 4,000 refugees have crossed into neighboring
The Gambia. In Senegal, Ndiaga Seck has more.
Expanding Immigrant Detentions Profitable for Prison
Industry (4:18)
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is paying a visit
to the rural Texas county of Willacy. He’s there to
hale the opening of 500 new beds in an immigrant detention
facility. The new beds, which are already at full capacity,
are in tent domes built by private contractor Hale Mills.
As Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, prison expansions add up to
business for the prison industry.
Controversy Over Massive Development in Brooklyn
(3:39)
A developer’s proposal to build a massive complex in
New York is stirring controversy there. Forest City Ratner’s
Atlantic Yards Development Plan would bring 16 skyscrapers
and a 19000-seat basketball arena to 22 acres in Brooklyn,
possibly creating the most densely populated area in all of
North America and Europe. The Empire State Development Corporation
held a mandatory public hearing to discuss the proposal. Joshua
Smith was there:
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