Archive - May 3, 2010

• Coastal communities respond to massive oil disaster in Gulf of Mexico
• Peace activists converge in New York as nuclear non-proliferation treaty talks open
• Consumer advocates gather strength in fight for financial reform bill
• Thousands march across the country for immigrant rights
• In Germany, protesters stop Neo-Nazi march with broad coalition

• Nationwide strike in Nepal
• Guilty verdict for Mumbai terrorist
• Protesters killed in Sudan
• Bailout approved for Greece
• World Press Freedom Day
• Vote recount begins in Iraq
• Thai Prime Minister offers new elections

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has restricted fishing for at least ten days in federal waters affected by the Gulf oil disaster. Residents in Louisiana have reported dead turtles, pelicans and seagulls washing up on shore. Yesterday, President Obama visited the region and spoke from Venice, Louisiana.

In New York today, world leaders launched the latest review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT. The negotiations to renew the 40-year-old treaty are held every five years, and will last a month. Many consider 2005's conference a failure, and this year, attention is already focused on tensions between Iran and the United States.

But many want to see world leaders take more decisive action to both reduce and abolish nuclear weapons. To emphasize that call, thousands of people rallied in New York over the weekend. FSRN's Salim Rizvi has more.

This week, the US Senate will continue debate of financial reform legislation. Lawmakers could vote on dozens of amendments that could alter the bill. As FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, consumer advocates are optimistic that they could beat out a multi million dollar lobbying campaign by the financial institutions to dilute stronger consumer protections.

Across the country, thousands turned out in some 70 cities for immigrant rights rallies. In Los Angeles, an estimated 100,000 marched through downtown and to a rally led by singer Gloria Estefan. Some 20,000 turned out in Chicago and Dallas; and thousands more in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Boston. In the nation's capitol, police arrested 35 people who sat down in front of the White House fence and refused to move, including Illinois Congressmember Luis Gutierrez, who was wearing a t-shirt that said "Arrest me, not my friends."

Photo by Cinnamon Nippard

May Day celebrations also took place across the world Saturday. And in Germany, some of the marches pitted leftists with the far-right. In Berlin, more than ten thousand protestors stopped a march of some 700 Neo-Nazis. Anti-fascist groups, students, political parties, trade unions, and families gathered peacefully, strategically blockading the almost four mile long route. Around seven thousand police in riot gear barricaded the streets to prevent violence. Cinnamon Nippard has more from Berlin.