October 28, 2003
Free Speech Radio News Headlines by Randi Zimmerman
Sony to Lay Off Thousands – John Hamilton
Electronics giant Sony unveiled plans today to slash its worldwide workforce by thirteen percent over the next three years, targeting thousands of workers in wealthier nations while maintaining production in countries with weak labor and environmental laws.
UN Reports Protects Multi-national Corps.- Haider Risvi
A United Nations report is expected to keep hidden some of the financial dealings of multi-national corporations and provisional government official in the Congo claiming it may weaken the tentative political situation.
WHO Stops Immunizations as Muslims Protest – Sam Olukoya
Nigerian Muslims and the World Health Organization are embroiled in a controversy over the safety of an immunization exercise aimed at curbing the spread of the viral infection Polio in West and Central Africa.
NAACP Says Not Enough Diversity – Craig Murphey
The NAACP finds little racial diversity in the television and film industry both in front of and behind the cameras.
Senate Approves Leavitt to Head EPA (4:14)
Today the Senate overwhelmingly approved the nomination of Utah Governor Mike Leavitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists opposed the nomination charging Leavitt with looking the other way when, as governor of Utah, corporations broke state and federal pollution laws. Supporters say environmentalists misrepresent Leavitt’s environmental record, and they say Leavitt will protect the environment without damaging the economy with regulations. Meanwhile, besides the Leavitt nomination, the Senate will also likely vote this week on a measure to reduce green house gasses and on President Bush’s Healthy Forest Initiative. Mitch Jeserich reports from Capitol Hill.
Protests Outside of Rumsfeld’s Home (3:56)
Last Saturday, thousands rallied in Washington D.C. and San Francisco calling for an end to the occupation in Iraq. But on Sunday, people in Taos, New Mexico, focused on a problem that they say lives in their backyard: their neighbor, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. At one of two properties he owns in Taos, about 200 rallied to demand he be fired for his role in starting and perpetuating the Iraq conflict. Catalina Reyes was there and has this report.
Lobbying Congress Against the FTAA (3:57)
On the heels of the CAFTA meeting in Houston last week, US trade representatives are preparing for the upcoming FTAA meetings in Miami and to avoid a repeat of the failed WTO meetings in Cancun, Argentina and the US have agreed to pre-FTAA meetings in Buenos Aires on November 4. Meanwhile, back in Washington DC, student leaders from around the country went to Capitol Hill yesterday to lobby for the rights of poor farmers and workers, and against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Avishay Artsy has more from DC.
New Community Radio Station Goes Live in Spokane! (3:33)
After the FCC recently seized broadcasting equipment from low power Fm radio station San Francisco Liberation Radio, across the country in Vermont another battle over a small radio station rages. Radio Free Brattleboro is forging a strong base of support and has a resolution in support of itself stating that the airwaves belong to the public while urging the Vermont Legislature and the U.S. Congress to change the laws governing radio broadcasting. RFB is also asking for the authority to broadcast, despite the fact that the 10-watt volunteer-run station lacks a broadcasting license. Meanwhile, this past weekend, a new community radio station was born in Spokane Washington. KYRS, Thin Air Radio, has been waiting for three years to get on the air. Peter Graff and Dante Toza report from Spokane, Washington.
Global Power Exposed Part Two: Argentina (3:55)
The 26th of every month in Argentina is recognized as the day that Dario and Maxi, two activists in the unemployed movement, were killed by police during a Piquetero march. Police repression in Argentina continues to be a problem for the workers movement which has gained worldwide recognition since the economic collapse in December 2001. The economic crisis left a quarter of the population unemployed, and increased dramatically those living in poverty to 18 million, approximately half the population. And over the past weeks, national daily newspapers have reported that the government is taking a firm position against social protest, opening criminal cases against members of the unemployed movement. Pauline Bartolone and Tomas Eliaschev have this second report in our special series Global Power Exposed, from Buenos Aires.
