Special Series

The controversy over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking continues in states across the country. Recently, the EPA said fracking in Wyoming contaminated the ground water. In Pennsylvania, residents are also concerned. As part of FSRN’s continuing series on hydro fracking across the country, Jim Krivo reports from Dimock, Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Dimock community go to waterdefense.org.

Today we continue our series on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the United States by going to New York. Pressure from activists and environmental groups forced New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation to extend a comment period on fracking regulations. FSRN’s Rebecca Myles has more.

In Colorado, oil and gas interests are setting their sights on nearly 3,000 new wells. Recent estimates by Anadarko, a Houston-based company that wants to drill the wells, say Colorado’s Front Range is sitting on possibly 1.5 billion barrels of oil. Most oil and gas wells are hydraulically fracked and have traditionally been in rural areas, which has many residents and some local lawmakers concerned over the potential environmental and health consequences. In the first of a series of FSRN reports on the controversial practice of hydro-fracking, FSRN's Maeve Conran reports.

Yesterday, in the first part of our series on immigration policy in Australia, we examined the controversial deal signed last week by Australia and Malaysia that allows the two countries to exchange asylum seekers.  Today, we’re going to look at Australia’s policy of mandatory detention for refugees who arrive by boat.  We turn again to Ian Rintoul spokesperson for Sydney’s Refugee Action Coalition.  I started by asking him how this policy of mandatory detention, that goes against international law, came about?

Now for the first part of our series looking at Australia’s immigration policy.  Today we examine a controversial deal signed last week by the Australian and Malaysian governments in which the countries will swap refugees. Malaysia will take 800 asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia, in exchange for Australia accepting 4,000 of Malaysia’s processed refugees.  For more we go to Ian Rintoul spokesperson for Sydney’s Refugee Action Coalition.  Welcome to Free Speech Radio News!

In the Yemeni capital Sanaa there’s been heavy fighting overnight and today, including loud explosions.  The BBC quoting local doctors and officials, says about 40 people are dead.  The violence comes after the breakdown of a truce between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and tribes loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar.  Amnesty International says security forces have killed dozens of people in the city of Taiz since Sunday, and scores of others have been arrested.  For more we’re joined by Susanne Dahlgren, Academy of Finland research fellow with the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced S

We go to Uganda for the third report in our series on gay rights, discrimination and religion. Today Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as President for a fourth time. Opposition leader Kizza Besigye also returned to the country today, after authorities prevented his entry on Wednesday. Besigye was arrested multiple times for recent “Walk to Work” protests. As his supporters gathered today to welcome him back, police fired tear gas at the crowd. CNN reports that dozens were injured and live ammunition was used.