Archive - Oct 16, 2007

• Mukasey to Face Democrats on Civil Liberties Issues
• Congolese Rebels Miss Disarmament Deadline
• Finger Pointing at Congressional Hearing on Jena 6
• Female Suicide Rate in China Stresses Support Systems
• Legacy of Resource Grabs Haunts the Peruvian Amazon
  

• Immediate Withdrawal or Draft: Former Army Captains
• Occupation Project Targets Senator Durbin's Chicago Office
• Revelations of Telecom Complicity in Domestic Spying
• SEIU Locals Throw Weight Behind Candidates
• Constitutional Debate in Venezuela
  

Despite a long history of opposing Bush Administration appointees to high level positions, Senate Democrats aren't putting much of a fight against the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey for Attorney General. The Senate anticipates an easy confirmation of the Judge.
But public interest groups demand a commitment to restoring the Department of Justice's civil rights division, prohibiting torture, and making aspects of various surveillance programs transparent. Hearings are scheduled to begin tomorrow on Capitol Hill, Democrats are expected to address many of these issues. FSRN's DC Editor, Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Today, Congress held a hearing to decide what the federal government's response should be to cases like Jena 6 and other violent hate and racial crimes in schools. An impassioned crowd looked on as Democrats condemned the justice department for not stepping in more quickly. Karen Miller has more from the hearing.

Fighting continues in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between rebels and government forces. This, despite the extension of the deadline for rebels - who are led by dissenting general Laurent Nkunda - to disband and reintegrate into the army. The deadline expired yesterday, but
President Joseph Kabila has extended it another two weeks. Fighting has
been reported in the areas of Rutshuru and Kalengera both in the northeast of the country. Meanwhile the rebels are reported to be holding hundreds of civilians hostage. And fighting in the region has displaced nearly 400-thousand people in the past year. FSRN's Joshua Kyalimpa spoke two men who have managed to escape from the rebels, and are seeking refuge in Uganda.

China's suicide rate is much higher than the global average, and it's one of few countries where more women than men commit suicide. In particular, the number of suicides in rural communities is high, with many women struggling to cope with family and work pressures. In the last ten years, China has come a long way in terms of providing counseling and support services. But, as Elise Potaka discovers, service providers just can't cope with the demand.

In yesterday's show we heard about the massive expansion of oil and
timber exploitation taking place in the Peruvian Amazon. In the second
part of this special feature on the region, Tom Allan traces the
history of the first great rush for the regions resources - and how the
effects are still being felt today.