Newscast for Friday, November 6, 2009

Fort Hood shooting sheds light on mental health issues in armed forces
As the nation mourns the victims of Thursday’s shooting at Fort Hood, Texas many are reflecting on the challenges facing men and women in the military. Suspected shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan was himself psychiatrist who counseled soldiers returning from war. FSRN’s Tanya Snyder examines what happens when there’s a crisis among mental health professionals in the armed forces.

ExxonMobil signs deal to develop major oil field in Iraq
Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell have signed a deal with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to develop a major oil field in Basra, southern Iraq. The 50 billion dollar deal is the first American-led venture into Iraq since the oil industry was nationalized in 1972. It’s also the second major deal signed this week – a signal that perhaps multinational oil companies are ready to return to Iraq and make huge profits.

We're joined by Charlie Cray. He's the director of the Center for Corporate Policy, a non-partisan public interest group based in Washington, D.C.

Activists begin hunger strike to draw attention to climate change talks
UN climate talks in Barcelona wound down today with little progress made in negotiations. Developing nations say rich countries like the United States which produce a disproportionate amount of the world's CO2 have pledged too little to reduce emissions. Meanwhile, with the Copenhagen Climate conference just a month away, activists and NGOs are trying to keep the pressure on governments to act decisively. In Australia, one group of activists IS already taking action - by going on a hunger strike. And, as FSRN'S Tom Allan reports, it's an idea that's spreading around the globe.

Reporter's Notebook: Getting the flu vaccine in Washington, D.C.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that about 35 million doses of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine had been ordered.  Though the Department of Health has been setting up free vaccination clinics across the country, there is still a shortage of the drug. In this reporter’s notebook, FSRN’s Sam Greenspan gives us an on-the-ground look at the vaccination campaign in Washington, DC.

California overhauls its water system in third year of drought
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed California's most sweeping water overhaul in almost half a century. The legislation is aimed at protecting fragile delta eco-systems and modernizing the water system in a state now in its third year of draught. The measures split environmentalists as lawmakers crafted a plan to build new dams, cut water use, and up-date a water system for farms and southern California cities.  FSRN'S Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.