Headlines for Monday, August 23, 2010

Veterans blockade buses filled with soldiers deploying to Iraq
At around 4 AM this morning at Fort Hood, Texas, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars blockaded six buses filled with soldiers deploying to Iraq. Matthis Chiroux was one of the veterans who took part in the action outside the nation's largest military base.

"We slowed the busses to a halt for around 10 seconds, they stopped and we were looking eye to eye with the soldiers on the busses with our banner that said 'Occupation is a crime and the other, 'Don't make the same mistake we did.'"

Chiroux said some soldiers responded with raised fists of defiance.

"We got a lot of raised fists of defiance out the window. A lot of soldiers seemed very excited that someone wanted them to stay home as bad as they want to stay home."

This morning's action follows last week's withdrawal of most combat forces ahead of a September 1 deadline.

DREAM student set to be released
As many students across the country begin their first day of the new school year an undocumented student in Michigan has been told he'll be released rather than deported. Ivan Nikolov gained national attention after he and his mother were detained after living in the US for a decade. A bill before Congress known as the DREAM Act would allow Nikolov to apply for citizenship if he completed two years of higher education. He's set to be released later today or early Tuesday.

Australian Green Party picks up seats in otherwise inconclusive election
Meanwhile voters in Australia went to the polls this weekend, and neither of the country's two major parties won enough votes to gain power. FSRNs Jessie Boylan brings us the latest:

Absentee and postal votes could take another week to count, which leaves Australia's two major parties sleeplessly biting their fingernails. At this point, neither the Labor Party nor the Liberal/National coalition have met a 76-seat threshold. That means in order to pass laws in the 150 seat parliament, they'll have to gain 2 to 4 votes from other parties or independent  members.

Among those members are three newly elected independent candidates, as well a Green Party member who, for first time, won a lower house seat in a general election. This is a major victory for the Greens, who are beginning to be seen as a third major player in Australian politics. They could have as many as ten seats in the two houses of parliament by the time all votes are counted.  That means they could be in a better position to demand more ambitious proposals for curbing carbon emissions in an upcoming climate change bill.

Ambush in Mexico halts all-female humanitarian caravan
A deadly ambush in a conflict zone in southern Mexico has forced the cancellation of an all-female caravan to Mexico City. Shannon Young has more.

Three people died and another 2 were injured over the weekend when gunmen in Oaxaca's indigenous Triqui region opened fire on a truck carrying organizers of a caravan bound for Mexico City. The victims were all members of an indigenous autonomy movement that makes up 1 of 3 factions vying for control of the town of San Juan Copala. The purpose of the caravan was two-fold; to draw attention to the town's humanitarian crisis and to provide safe passage for women seeking to leave the conflict zone.

A Triqui woman - identified only as Reyna - explained to reporters in Oaxaca City that the caravan had been cancelled due to safety concerns.

Two other humanitarian caravans have tried unsuccessfully to reach San Juan Copala in the past 4 months. Paramilitaries supposedly linked to the state's ruling party have been blocking vehicular access to the town since November.

Chilean miners found alive after two weeks trapped below ground
Thirty-three miners have been discovered alive in Chile after being trapped for 2 weeks. Rescue crews are now sending food and drink to the men who are more than 2,300 feet below ground in a copper mine. The workers could remain trapped for up to four more months while an escape hole is drilled.

California GOP opposes Arizona's immigration law, while Florida republicans consider similar bill despite concerns tourists will avoid the state
California Republicans have voted not to endorse a resolution in support of Arizona's controversial immigration law. California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman says she also opposes the law. Meanwhile, Republicans in Florida say they still plan to introduce an Arizona copycat bill. Democratic State representative Juan Carlos Zapata said today that the bill would deliver a severe blow to Florida's already sagging economy:

"We have a lot of Latin Americans who come here on tourist visas, what kind of message do we send to them? Would they be afraid to come here? They have other places they can travel to."

Orlando, Florida is currently the country's top tourism destination. The state has many Puerto Rican residents who are U.S. citizens but fear they'll be required to prove their legal status to police.