Archive - Oct 2012

• As East Coast begins recovery from Hurricane Sandy, disaster response becomes issue in presidential election for some voters
• Progressives call for strategic vote in close states ahead of presidential election
• Unions say California’s Proposition 32 would erode power as state seeks disclosure of outside money
• In Nigeria, residents see high stakes in Romney, Obama race

• Sandy continues to bring severe weather to inland US
• Eurozone unemployment at all-time high
• NGOs urge Eurozone to change import policy towards Israeli settlements
• Preparations continue for military operation against Islamists in Mali
• Cases of White Nose Syndrome in bats expected to flare again this winter

Residents across the US East Coast began a slow recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy today, even as some areas remained flooded, millions were without power and transportation was disrupted in major metropolitan areas. More than 60 people were killed by the storm in the US, according to the AP. In Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and elsewhere along the coast, flooding and power outages continue to affect communities. President Barack Obama toured New Jersey’s battered coastline this afternoon, with Governor Chris Christie.

The dominant two-party system in the US has long posed a dilemma for voters dissatisfied with the narrow choice on the ballot. Some progressive advocates are backing a voting strategy in which voters in closely contested states cast ballots for the Obama/Biden ticket, but those in so-called safe states vote for third-party candidates in order to protest policies of both Democrats and Republicans and push for more choice in the ballot. The proposal, put forth from RootsAction.org also calls into question the structure of the US electoral system and highlights calls for reform.

In California, voters will decide next week on 11 statewide propositions. One of them, Proposition 32, would ban corporations and unions from using payroll deductions for political purposes. It’s proved controversial. Unions say it’s a stealth campaign to limit their influence and, recently, the measure drew a last-minute infusion of cash from outside the state from a secret funder. California is now suing to require the Arizona non-profit to reveal its donors. FSRN’s Max Pringle reports.

People around the world are watching the US presidential race closely in the final days before voting. And that’s the case in Africa, even though the continent received little mention when President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney debated foreign policy in their final confrontation. In Nigeria, Africa’s leading oil exporter, some people are looking at both candidates for signs of US foreign policy towards Africa. They say the US has strategic economic and security interests there and the candidates positions could affect millions of residents.

• Millions of US residents face severe damage, flooding after Hurricane Sandy
• In Brooklyn, community center opens doors to Red Hook residents hit by Hurricane Sandy
• Harsh weather raises concern of nuclear power plants in path of storm
• US Chamber of Commerce spends millions to influence California congressional races
• Indian government’s move to allow foreign corporations draws mixed response from local communities