Headlines for Friday, August 27, 2010

Russia’s president does 180-degree-turn on Khimki forest highway issue
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has halted construction of a new toll highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg in response to growing grassroots protests - a move that marks an important victory for activists.  From Russia, FSRN’s Jenny Johnson reports.

The highway was planned to run through the largely intact Khimki Forest near Moscow, which has resisted development pressure for centuries.  In announcing a halt to construction, Medvedev said the government would look more closely at alternative routes, which could take the road around the forest almost entirely.

The Ministry of Natural Resources later said that it will hold hearings on the alternatives with the transportation agency, the ruling party, and non-governmental organizations and environmentalists.

The victory for activists comes after years of work on the issue.  Protection of the forest has come to symbolize the need to stop the destruction of Russia’s environment and has generated large-scale grassroots support.

The change in the government's position comes late, however.  Local television news today aired footage showing that the trees in the path of the planned highway had already been cleared.  Jenny Johnson, FSRN, Russia.

As Pakistan flooding spreads, residents seek help rebuilding
As floodwaters spread into southern Pakistan, the UN estimates there are now more than 17 million people who have been affected by the disaster.  Health officials are seeing a rise in malaria infections and an additional 1 million people have been displaced since Wednesday.  FSRN’s Gabe Matthews has the latest from the ground.

In the outskirts of Peshawar, the flood destroyed thousands of houses and killed hundreds of people.  Many are still searching for the dead bodies of their loved ones.  Others wait, in open-air camps, for help and support to rebuild their houses.

Forty-eight year old Rahima Jan is the family elder.  Her house was completely destroyed except one wall.

“Our rooms, our house is completely destroyed.  We haven’t received any tents or blankets so far.  We’ve just propped wood up against the walls to make shelter.  We haven’t received any food aid either.  We’re just passing our lives here.”

Water supply infrastructure has been completely destroyed and people are using unclean water for drinking, washing clothes and bathing.  According to Agriculture department, 9 million acres of farmland have been destroyed.  Sugar cane, wheat and rice fields in southern Punjab have been badly affected, and food shortages are expected.  I’m Scott Pham reading for Gabe Matthews in Pakistan.

UN suggests Rwandan and Congolese Hutu massacre could be genocide
The UN says a massacre of Hutus in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the Rwandan genocide of 1994 could possibly be characterized as genocide as well.  The incident happened after Hutus in Rwanda, some of which perpetrated genocide against Tutsis, fled to the DRC to escape reprisal.  A leaked UN report says between 1996 and 1998, Rwandan government forces and Congolese rebels raided these Hutu camps, possibly killing tens of thousands of people with clubs and axes.  The victims included women, children and the elderly, according to excerpts of the report published by the BBC.  The report says the final genocide ruling must be made by a court.

Mexican prosecutor on Tamaulipas massacre case found dead
The official who opened the investigation into the massacre of 72 Central and South Americans in northern Mexico has been found dead.  FSRN’s Shannon Young has the details.

Mexican marines found the investigator's body dumped along a highway in the northern border state of Tamaulipas.  A second body encountered at the scene is thought to be that of a municipal police official linked to the same case.  The state's attorney general reported the two as missing late Thursday.

The investigator's disappearance and death illustrates why many high-level crimes in Mexico go unpunished.  Cartel-related violence in Tamaulipas also frequently goes unreported for fear of retaliation.  Early this morning, a car bomb exploded outside of the Ciudad Victoria office of the national broadcaster, Televisa, which has been covering the massacre.

More than 1600 migrants are kidnapped in Mexico each month according to data published by the country's National Human Rights Commission.  Shannon Young, FSRN, Mexico.

FDA begins regulatory hearing on genetically engineered salmon
The Food and Drug Administration says it will begin committee hearings on the proposed use of genetically modified salmon in the US.  The “AquaAdvantage” fish, produce by AquaBounty Technologies is an Atlantic salmon that grows at a higher rate than wild salmon.  The details about the fish have been kept relatively hush-hush because of proprietary concerns.

“We’re concerned what will happen if these fish get out into the wild and breed.  The company claims that they’ll be sterile, but I haven’t been shown any evidence that that’s true.”

Eric Hoffman with Friends of the Earth says they’re also concerned about public health risk.

“Right now there’re no genetically engineered animals on the market.  And this GE salmon stands to be the first one to reach our plates.  And the FDA approval process is pretty closed an opaque, and there’s not much room for public engagement or participation in the process.”

The FDA will also decide how and if the engineered fish should be labeled.  Meetings and hearings will continue for 60 days.  If approved by regulators, consumers could begin seeing the salmon in stores in less than 2 years.