Archive - Dec 22, 2009

• Suicide bomber attacks Peshawar press club
• Tennessee coal ash spill anniversary
• Minority groups push for accurate census count in 2010
• Doctors Without Borders lists top 10 humanitarian crises of 2009
  (Click here for web only special)
• Indigenous displacement in Colombia - Part two
  

• Alabama Congress member switches to Republican Party
• Colombian President orders rescue of kidnapped Governor
• 'White Christmas' immigrant raids in Italy
• BCI Coca-Cola bottling plant settles discrimination lawsuit
• Mexico City legalizes gay marriage
• NYC high school students rally against cuts to transportation passes

In Peshawar, Pakistan, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the local press club, killing three people and himself. It's the first time a suicide bomber has directly targeted the media. According to local press reports, police stopped the bomber around noon outside the gated Peshawar Press club as he attempted to enter the building. When police discovered the explosives, the man detonated them, killing the police offer, a press club employee and a female civilian. The blast wounded another 17. Radio journalist Farhad Shinwari told FSRN the attack won't deter his work.

One year ago today, a dam broke at a coal-fired power plant operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. More than a billion gallons of toxic liquid coal slurry flooded the surrounding community. Now, a year later, residents and experts say not enough has been done to clean up the site… or to prevent such an accident from happening again. Tanya Snyder reports.

The US census bureau is poised to begin its 2010 count of the US population. Minority groups are taking measures to ensure accurate representation in the upcoming count. FSRN's Karen Miller reports from Washington DC.

The international humanitarian organization known in English as Doctors Without Borders has released a list of 2009's worst humanitarian crises. The list was compiled using the organization's experiences in nearly 70 countries. While some of the issues on the list are country-specific, others cite the responsibility of the larger international community. Shannon Young spoke with Sophie Delaunay, Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders. The full list compiled by Doctors Without Borders is available here.

Yesterday, in the first part of our series on Colombia´s endangered tribes, we examined how the country's armed conflict is forcing many indigenous people to flee their territories, drastically changing dietary customs and the amount of available food. Today, FSRN'S Manuel Rueda reports on how the conflict is eroding indigenous traditions.