Friday, October 19, 2007

(photo from transnationalaction.org)

• IMF/World Bank Protesters Hit the Streets in DC
• AFRICOM's Intentions Come Under Scrutiny
  
• Immigrant Groups Across the US Boycott Western Union
• US Presidential Candidates Court the Right
• South African Reggae Pioneer Dies in Shooting
• Citizens Pressure South Korea Denounce Violent Actions against Protesters in Burma
• Mukasey Takes Bush Administration's Line on Torture and Executive Power

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IMF/World Bank Protesters Hit the Streets in DC (2:35)

As delegates to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings converge in Washington DC, so do social activists. The October Coalition - which has representation from organizations working on health care, housing and international trade and debt issues - has planned four days of actions to coincide with the meetings. The long weekend includes workshops,
protests and marches. Organizers want to raise awareness of social
justice issues that are affected by IMF and World Bank policies.

Katherine Jarmuhl has more from the protests in Washington DC.

AFRICOM's Intentions Come Under Scrutiny (4:02)

The United States Africa command, AFRICOM, which was set up to promote U.S.
National Security objectives in Africa, has now begun its operations
from a military base in Germany. The command's headquarters will move
to Africa next year. The Pentagon claims that the primary focus of
AFRICOM will be humanitarian, but some say the command's goals are
actually related to protecting U-S oil interests there. And most
African states are skeptical at best. Critics agree that AFRICOM will
protect US military and economic interests, but they also say the
command will have negative consequences for the continent.

Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

Immigrant Groups Across the US Boycott Western Union (2:00)

Immigrant groups from and around the country are organizing a boycott of Western Union. 150 groups launched boycotts last month. They say that workers transferring money to their families are being gouged by large fees and
unfair exchange rates. This criticism is exacerbated by Western Union's poor track record of investing in immigrant communities. Today they launch their campaign in Oakland, California.

Eric Klein has more on the situation.

US Presidential Candidates Court the Right (3:00)

The first presidential primaries are only three months away – maybe sooner
if state jockeying over who goes first continues. In this week's
political round up, F-S-R-N takes a look at some other political
elbowing. Republican candidates are courting religious conservatives,
and another presidential hopeful is looking more hope*less. He's
dropped out of the race entirely.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell has more on this week's election news.

South African Reggae Pioneer Dies in Shooting (1:23)

Violence has claimed the life of a south African reggae star. Yesterday, Gunmen
shot and killed, Lucky Philip Dube, in an apparent carjacking attempt
in a Johannesburg suburb. Three men are suspected in the shooting. Dube
was 43. Police say Dube was dropping off his son when the attack took
place. His daughter was also in the car at the time of the murder.
She was not physically injured.

The singer – lauded for popularizing reggae in South Africa – rose to international stardom in the 1980s when he changed from singing traditional Zulu or mbaqanga music to the Jamaican-born reggae sound.

[Music Clip]

His first REGGAE album, "Rastas Never Die," was banned by South Africa 's
apartheid government in 1985, but his works continued to cover
political themes that included racism, justice and poverty issues.

[Music Clip]

The murder of the reggae icon shocked mourners in South Africa, who say his
death reflects the nation's spiraling crime rate. South Africa has
one of the world's highest murder rates, with as many as 50 homicides a
day. There were 20-thousand killings reported in 2006 alone.

Citizens Pressure South Korea Denounce Violent Actions against Protesters in Burma (4:33)

It has been more than one month since Buddhist monks first took to the
streets in Burma, sparking large street protests aimed at toppling the
Burmese military regime. In that time, Burmese security forces have
reacted with brutal force, arresting nearly 3,000. And human rights
groups contend that the Burmese government has engaged in the torture
and killing of an untold number of people. Today President Bush asked
Congress to levy sanctions on Burma and is calling for the release of
political prisoners.

[Bush Clip]

Another country in the region is feeling pressure from critics of the Burmese
government. Burma's detractors are requesting that South Korea demand
more accountability for the brutal military crackdown.

Large groups of Koreans have held daily demonstrations outside of the Burmese
embassy in Seoul, and evening candle light vigils have been held on one
of the busiest streets in the capital.

Eunji Kang reports from Seoul.

Mukasey Takes Bush Administration's Line on Torture and Executive Power (1:28)

The nominee for US Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, told the Senate
Judiciary Committee that he could not rule out the use of interrogation
methods such as "water-boarding," or simulated drowning. In this clip
from Thursday's hearing, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asks
Mukasey about the method's constitutionality.

[WHITEHOUSE_MUKASEY] 1:20

Mukasey also said the President, as Commander in Chief, may authorize a secret surveillance program.

Despite the testimony, the former federal judge will likely be confirmed as the
next US Attorney General, replacing Alberto Gonzales.