Archive - Oct 9, 2009

• President Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize in surprise decision
• Argentina lawmakers vote on media reform; community radio stands to gain
• Gay rights advocates prepare for National Equality March in Washington
• On the 8th anniversary of war, Afghans opine on security conditions
• Israeli female war resisters Wind and Mishly tour the US after refusing to be conscripted

• Suicide Bombing in Peshawar kills 50
• Sri Lankan government increases military budget
• House broadens investigation in Congressman Rangel’s finances
• Lawsuit against mandatory H1N1 vaccine
• Senate Judiciary Committee extends portions of Patriot Act

President Barack Obama was not on anyone’s list of top contenders for the Nobel Peace Prize, but Friday morning he was pronounced the winner to the surprise of many people, including himself. Some say he has not achieved enough yet in his presidency to deserve the prize, especially in comparison with some of the other candidates for the honor. FSRN´s Tanya Snyder reports.

In Argentina Friday, lawmakers are expected to vote on a media reform bill that could open the airwaves to community groups. Media conglomerates have been fighting the bill in an attempt to preserve their control over news and information. FSRN’s Marie Trigona reports from Buenos Aires.

The first national gay rights march in almost a decade will take place in Washington, DC this weekend. The National Equality March is focusing on equal protections for members of the LGBT community.

The 2-day-long event comes as Congress discusses several issues that could affect members of the LGBT community, including a hate crimes bill and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. For more on this, FSRN contacted Rick Jacobs, director of the Courage Campaign, an equal rights advocacy group.

For more on this weekend´s national events go to www.equalityacrossamerica.org.

Critics of President Obama´s Nobel Peace Prize say the Administration's continuation of the Afghanistan War is antithetical to the spirit of the award, which founder Alfred Nobel intended as a way to honor people who fight to end war and militarism. As the world marks the 8th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, the Obama administration is considering sending even more troops there. This week in our coverage of the war's anniversary, we heard from veterans, peace groups and policy analysts. Today, we're going straight to Kabul to hear from people on the ground.

Thirty-three-year old Aziza Salihi lives in the Taimani area of Kabul. She said the security has worsened over the last eight years and bomb blasts and suicide attacks are the daily routine.

“How much can we continue to worry about daily, routine insecurity? Everyone´s worried about this, when we come out of our homes we just pray and can´t guarantee if we´re going to be back home safely or not. People are losing their morale. We cannot afford to move to another place and must tolerate the situation. The people responsible for these attacks are enemies of humanity and Islam.”

But opinions are divided, and 25-year old high school student Matuillah argues that the foreign troops have done some good things.

“We have gotten many things in the last eight years. We have schools and life is getting better day by day. In the Taliban days it was hard for us to take a patient to the doctor, but after the Americans came we got asphalted roads and we can now bring a sick person to the hospital in the middle of the night. We want foreign troops to stay here until peace comes to our country.”

One of the biggest concerns for Afghans and anti-war activists alike is the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Although NATO General Stanley McChrystal has pledged to change military policy in order to avoid civilian deaths, many, including 28-year-old Mohammad Nabi, are skeptical.

“What is the difference between the Taliban and foreign forces? They both kill us. The international forces are not doing anything to improve our lives. It is better to ask them to leave our country before all the people turn against each other.”

Estimates for the number of civilians killed as a direct result of US-led military actions vary from 8,000 to 28,000 people. One of the deadliest attacks on civilians occurred last May. Some 150 people were killed in the village of Granai in Farah Province because of mistakes made by the US military.

In Israel today, US Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of ongoing efforts to advance peace talks. Netanyahu called the 2-hour-long meeting “constructive” and agreed to continue conversations over the coming days.

Mitchell is expected to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Friday evening. Palestinian leaders have said they won´t negotiate until the Israeli government stops settlement construction on Palestinian lands.

Meanwhile, two Israeli war resisters are currently touring the US to speak out against their country´s occupation of Palestinian territories. Maya Wind and Netta Mishly recently finished high school. They´re part of the Shministim or “twelfth grader” movement and at the age of 19 they refused the mandatory conscription into their country's military.

While ways exist to join military service and avoid serving in combat positions, the two teens chose imprisonment instead. FSRN'S Jaisal Noor caught up with Wind and Mishly on their month-long tour of the US, which they´re calling, "Why We Refuse: A National Tour of Israeli Young Women for Peace."