Wednesday, October 31, 2007

• Human Rights Advocates Cringe at Latest Statement from the Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey
• Public Speaks Out against Media Consolidation at FCC Hearing
• Somali Government Searches for its Next Prime Minister
• Local Organizers Gear Up for a Day of Climate Actions Across the US
• Chile Grants Amnesty to Undocumented Migrants within its Borders

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Human Rights Advocates Cringe at Latest Statement from the Attorney
General Nominee Michael Mukasey

He calls water-boarding "repugnant," but he doesn't call it illegal.... That's from a recent letter written by Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey to members of the Senate Judiciary committee. Some Democrats and human rights advocates say it proves Mukasey is the wrong man for the job, while some Republicans say the committee needs to move ahead with the nomination.

Karen Miller has more from Washington.

Public Speaks Out against Media Consolidation at FCC Hearing

Opposition to media consolidation was the dominant theme at a Federal Communications Commission hearing today. The hearing is one of the last the FCC will hold before they decide on new media ownership rules. Participants insisted that greater media consolidation reduces local news coverage and diversity.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

The Somali Government Searches for its Next Prime Minister

On Monday the Prime Minister of Somalia, Ali Mohamed Ghedi, resigned, ending a long-standing feud within the Somali government. The president and prime minister have had many fall-outs since the transitional federal government was formed in 2004. The resignation also comes amid continuing violence in the Somali capitol of Mogadishu. According to UN estimates, more the 350-thousand residents have fled the coastal city.

Now the Somali President says he has begun consultations with lawmakers in southern Somalia to decide upon a replacement P-M. Under a power-sharing agreement in Somali law, Ghedi's replacement must be a member of the dominant clan in Mogadishu.

Abdurrahman Warsameh reports form the Somali capitol.

Local Organizers Gear Up for a Day of Climate Actions Across the US

This Saturday, thousands of people will participate in National Climate Day of Action events across the country. The day of action is being organized on the national level by Step it Up – a grassroots organization calling for national leadership on climate change issues. So far 52 members of Congress and 6 presidential candidates are slated to appear at the events.

Earlier today, I spoke with May Boeze, a national organizer with Step It Up. She said the organization held a similar day of action last April. There they rolled out the ambitious policy goal of reducing carbon output 80 percent by the year 2050.

For more information about actions happening around the country on Saturday, go to www.stepitup2007.org.

Chile Grants Amnesty to Undocumented Migrants within its Borders

Walls are being built on the U.S. border with Mexico to keep migrant workers from entering; Europe is imposing tough restrictions to undocumented migrants who brave the sea to enter. As developed nations close doors to migrant workers and immigrants, Chile is going against the tide. They're granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants who live and work in the country.

From Santiago FSRN's Jorge Garretón has more.