Tuesday, September 30, 2008

• ICE Raids Sweep Through California; Largest in State Ever
• Naomi Klein Weighs In On US Bail-Out from Canada
• More Financial Woes To Come?
• Obama, McCain Energy Plans May Be Too Ambitious
• Burma’s Neighbors Absorbing Cyclone Survivors

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ICE Raids Sweep Through California; Largest in State Ever

More than 1000 people have been arrested in what federal agents say is the is the largest sweep thus far in california.  According to the U.s. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the raids targeted people who have ignored deportation orders or returned to the united states illegally after being deported.

More than 400 people were arrested in both Los Angeles and San Francisco and 301 in San Diego, representing 34 countries.

According to a press statement released by ICE, the squads responsible for the arrests, known as fugitive operations teams, were developed specifically to focus on immigrants who have ignored final orders of deportation.

Nativo Lopez, president of the Mexican American Political Association and the executive director of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, thinks there are other reasons.

Nativo Lopez is president of the Mexican American Political Association and the executive director of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana.

Naomi Klein Weighs In On US Bail-Out from Canada

First thing this morning, President Bush used his pulpit to urge passage of the Wall Street bail out. The House of Representatives is closed for the Jewish Holiday, Rosh Hashana, but lawmakers are still sorting out how to move past yesterday's rejected proposal. Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to President Bush that said she would continue to work with him to pass something by the end of the week. Meanwhile, lawmakers opposed are working to insert provisions that could bring them on board.

Commenting on the failure of the bailout was Naomi Klein, speaking lat night in Toronto to an audience of more than 800. Klein is the author of the recently published book, "The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism". The book documents how disasters and crises are created, perpetuated, and exploited by capitalist rulers to destroy opposition to free market policies. She applied that analysis to the financial crisis now gripping the United States.

Klein says that the bailout plan on the table was not a solution to the crisis; instead, it changed the location of the crisis from Wall Street to Washington, DC and then made it a public crisis.

More Financial Woes To Come?

As Congress continues to negotiate a financial bailout plan for Wall Street, some experts say the worst may be yet to come for those on Main street. Africa Jones reports.

Obama, McCain Energy Plans May Be Too Ambitious

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have big plans when it comes to energy and the economy. Both say that investment in new energy sources will bring new jobs.  FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell takes a look at their plans and finds that both the candidates are promising something that might not be achievable. 

Burma’s Neighbors Absorbing Cyclone Survivors

One year after Burma's monks rose up against the military, more and more Burmese are fleeing to neighboring countries in search of work. Some make the journey to gain political safety but most are doing it out of economic necessity.

Cyclone Nargis hit Burma at a time when inflation and unemployment were already at their highest levels in years. To make matters worse, salt water now covers many of the rice paddies making this year's planting season impossible. 

Many Survivors have been forced to join the more than one million migrants already in neighboring Thailand.

Rebecca Henschke speaks with some of the new arrivals in the Thai border town of Mae Sot known as 'Little Burma'.