Archive - Jun 17, 2009

• Federal employees gain benefits for same sex partners
• Obama calls for new regulations on US financial system
• Civil Rights leaders say hate crimes are up; they claim media is responsible
• Muslim charities “targeted” by US authorities
• Protests continue in Tehran; Iran accuses US of meddling in its affairs
• Sewage filled lagoons pose health risk in Gaza; Residents say Israeli border controls make problem worse

• Berlusconi tours Italy’s earthquake site following protests by homeless survivors
• North Korea renews threat against US and allies
• Economic crisis intensifying human trafficking concerns
• House passes war funding bill
• Activists take over Detroit park for Peoples’ Summit

In the Gaza strip, scientists and community members are saying that lagoons filled with sewage are creating serious health and environmental problems.  But as FSRN´s Rami Almeghari reports, efforts to build a water treatment plant have been stymied by Israel´s tough restrictions on the materials that can be sent into the coastal strip.

Protests continued in Iran today over elections results that declared a victory at the polls for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Today, about one hundred thousand supporters of opposition candidate  Mir Hossein Mousavi, held a silent protest through Tehran´s streets.  Human rights organizations are saying the government is repressing protests and journalists´ freedom to report on the events has been significantly curtailed.

The ACLU says that some government policies are restricting the rights of American Muslims to practice their religion. Some American Muslims are abstaining from donating money to Islamic charities – a practice called Zakat- because they fear US authorities will investigate them for links with terrorist organizations. The new report says that many Muslim charities have been mistakenly targeted by law enforcement officials.  Salim Rizvi reports.

In the wake of three fatal shootings fueled by racial and religious hate, U.S. Civil Rights leaders have issued a report that details what they call a “perfect storm of grievances” for extreme hate groups in America.

The report shows an increase in hate crimes against Latinos and immigrants, linking the rise to inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric in the mainstream media and on internet message boards.  Matt Pearson reports.

President Obama revealed plans to significantly change regulation over America´s financial system on Wednesday. In a White House speech, Obama called for tougher government regulations on large financial institutions.  He also called for greater coordination between America´s numerous financial regulators.  

Obama spoke about the current situation, saying that one of the most significant contributors to the economic downturn was  “an unraveling of major financial institutions” and a failure by regulators to “prevent abuse and excess.”