Tuesday, October 23, 2007

• Bush and the Democrats Debate over War Funding
• The Dream Act May See Debate on the Senate Floor
• Clash over GM Farms in Brazil Leaves Two Dead
• Countries Rush to Claim Land and Resources in Antarctica
• Insurgents in Kashmir Volunteer to Limit Types of Weapons Used
• Navajo Representatives Testify about the Health Risks from Uranium Mining

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Bush and the Democrats Debate over War Funding (4:09)

The Democrats are setting up for a fight with the White House over appropriations bills. The President has promised to veto any of the 13 funding bills that go beyond his spending requests – currently the bills are 22 billion over. But the president just asked Monday for an additional unbudgeted 46 billion to fund the war in Iraq. And the discrepancy is not sitting well with Democrats.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

The Dream Act May See Debate on the Senate Floor (2:01)

Tomorrow the Senate will attempt to call up legislation on education rules for foreign-born students. The Dream Act, which has been circulating in Congress in various forms for several years, would allow undocumented students who have been in the country for five years or longer to receive federal financial aid. It would also offer them a path to remain in the country. Angela Kelley director of the immigration policy center says that the debate and the legislation will be far different this time around.

But some critics of the legislation have gone so far as to call the bill a "Trojan Horse" – a means for undocumented immigrants to bring their family members into the country. Senator Richard Durbin is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Tomorrow's vote is seen by some lawmakers as a litmus test on immigration issues for the remainder of the session.

Clash over GM Farms in Brazil Leaves Two Dead (4:19)

Violence erupted this weekend in Brazil. Security forces allegedly hired by Syngenta fired upon human rights activists attempting to camp out on a test farm. The Swiss agri-business company has GM test plots throughout Brazil and has come under increasing criticism from grassroots organizations. In response to Sunday's incident, Syngenta claims its security forces are under contract not to carry weapons. But activists on the scene counter that claim. This is the latest in a year-long struggle over one farm in the Brazilian state of Parana.

I spoke with Maura Prindiville to find out more about the situation. She works with Terra de Direitos, a legal advocacy organization that works with human rights group in Brazil. I asked her if the anti-GM movement in Brazil has wide public support.

Maura Prindiville works for the legal advocacy group Terra de Direitos in Brazil. For its part, Syngenta says it is still debating what to do what the farm in question. The company says they will continue to lobby to conduct the GM trials, but they are also considering selling the farm.

Countries Rush to Claim Land and Resources in Antarctica (3:45)

The land and resource grab at the Earth's poles is in full swing. The Guardian, a London Daily, published a story last week saying the U-K plans to claim more than 360-thousand square miles of Antarctica's ocean floor and south Atlantic islands. The claim includes Antarctic territories claimed by Chile and Argentina. In Chile the news prompted the government into action. They're attempting to counter the territory grab by the United Kingdom.

From Santiago FSRN's Jorge Garretón has more.

Insurgents in Kashmir Volunteer to Limit Types of Weapons Used (4:04)

A major alliance of insurgents fighting Indian rule in Kashmir have declared a ban on the use of anti-personnel mines. These mines are designed to kill or injure people rather than targeting vehicles. But the groups say they will continue to use command detonated explosive devices against military targets.

Shahnawaz Khan reports.

Navajo Representatives Testify about the Health Risks from Uranium Mining (2:51)

In the wake of widespread health hazards stemming from Uranium excavations on Native American lands, the Congressional Oversight Committee on Government Reform convened a hearing today to hear from representatives of the Navajo Nation and personnel from the federal government in hopes to begin resolving this issue.

Naji Mujahid has more from Washington, DC.