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> Fri., Oct. 20, 2006
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
As Violence Continues to Escalate, Democrats Push for New
Tactics
Oaxaca Protestors Gain No Support from Mexico's Senate
US Takes the Lead on Militarizing Space
Grassroots Effort to Stop Eminent Domain in San Francisco
Continues Despite Setback
US Closes Military Base in Military-Free Iceland
FSRN Headlines
GIGANTIC OZONE HOLE OVER ANTARCTICA
Scientists from NASA and NOAA have documented the largest
hole in the ozone layer ever observed. At the end of September,
the ozone hole over Antarctica measured 10.6 million square
miles. That's larger than the entire continent of North America.
The ozone layer prevents the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays
from reaching the Earth's surface. Holes in the ozone layer
threaten life forms and are primarily caused by human-produced
emissions.
PLUSPETROL PROTESTS IN PERUVIAN AMAZON
Indigenous Achuar people continue to occupy oil wells in the
Peruvian Amazon. They took over the oil wells of the Argentine
company Pluspetrol nine days ago to demand that the company
clean up the pollution that has dramatically affected their
quality of life. Pamela Cueva reports from Lima.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT
The election for the contested Latin American seat on the
UN Security Council has been postponed until Wednesday after
35 rounds of voting failed to give a 2/3 victory to either
Venezuela or Guatemala. Neither country seems willing to withdraw
from the race. Member nations may have to pick a compromise
nation to break the deadlock.
PALESTINIAN WORSHIPPERS ATTACKED EN ROUTE TO RELIGIOUS SERVICE
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims who flocked to the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem today to celebrate one of the holiest
days in the Muslim calendar were met by Israeli riot police
who fired tear gas and concussion grenades. Saed Bannoura
has the story.
CONTROVERSIAL EXECUTION POSTPONED IN INDIA
Today's scheduled execution of Afzal Guru, convicted in the
2001 attack on Indian Parliament, has been postponed while
India's President decides on the clemency petition filed by
his wife. Shahnawaz Khan has more.
[top]
As Violence Continues to Escalate, Democrats Push
for New Tactics
US-led Coalition forces restored control over a Southern
Iraqi City today, after a bloody fight that killed 16 people.
The conflict broke out after Shiite militia reportedly took
control of Amara. In Washington, President Bush is meeting
with top military commanders to discuss tactics in the war.
In the meantime, Democrats in Congress are calling for the
President to change course in Iraq, and they say, they have
alternatives. Yanmei Xie has the story in Washington, DC.
[top]
Oaxaca Protestors Gain No Support from Mexico's Senate
Mexico's Senate yesterday voted to uphold the mandate of
the unpopular governor of the southern state of Oaxaca, thereby
closing the last institutional possibly for the striking teachers
and the popular assembly members who have been calling for
his removal for the last 5 months. For its part, the Popular
Assembly of the People of Oaxaca has declared a maximum alert
due to fears of possible repressive actions targeting its
membership. Vladimir Flores reports from Oaxaca City.
[top]
US Takes the Lead on Militarizing Space
The Bush Administration recently released a new policy for
outer space and it shifts the focus toward national security
and defense. It's the culmination of a four year long study
on the direction of US space policy. This signals a major
shift in global space dealings. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell
reports from Washington DC.
[top]
Grassroots Effort to Stop Eminent Domain in San Francisco
Continues Despite Setback
From Oregon to Michigan to California, voters will face
ballot initiatives limiting the government’s use of
eminent domain in November. This comes in response to the
2005 US Supreme Court ruling that governments could take land
from private property owners for economic revitalization plans
such as the construction of new condominiums, office space
and shops. Local communities are also putting up a fight to
stop the practice. Willie Ratcliff, publisher of San Francisco
Bayview, a national black newspaper, is joining us to speak
about the effort to stop the city government’s use of
eminent domain to transform 1,500 acres of land in one of
the poorest areas of town, which also has great scenic views,
into new private housing and commercial development.
[top]
US Closes Military Base in Military-Free Iceland
After more than 50 years, the US military has closed its
naval base in Keflavik, Iceland. While the move may be part
of the United States strategy to move their war fighting force
from Europe to the Middle East, as FSRN’s Andrew Stelzer
reports, for Icelanders, it may signal the end of a contested
relationship between a nation that has no military, and another
which spends more on defense than any other country in the
world.
[top]
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