September 12, 2002
Bush Advocates Iraq Attack to UN
President Bush took to the floor of the United Nations General Assembly today, hoping to win international support for his campaign to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Speaking one day after the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Bush accused Iraq of supporting terrorism, and warned of far greater horrors to come if the international community fails to confront the regime. But with US allies and other nations opting for a diplomatic approach, Bush faces an uphill battle. Susan Wood reports from the UN.
Israeli Attacks Continue – Cabinet Resigns
Yesterday, in a restaurant in Jerusalem, a group of Israeli’s attacked world renowned musician Daniel Barenboim, calling him a “traitor” for giving a performance in Ramallah on Tuesday. His wife responded by throwing vegetables at them. Some Israeli politicians have proposed that Barenboim should be put on trial for entering the occupied territories without permission. This as the military incursions from Israel continued early this morning into the two eastern districts. Four tanks and an Israeli bulldozer also staged a brief incursion into the al-Mughazi refugee camp, where they demolished two houses. Palestinian security sources said that after destroying the houses the troops pulled out. And as Yassir Arafat’s entire cabinet resigned yesterday, Awad Duaibes brings us the latest from the Ramallah.
Alabama Coal Miners Face Disaster
“In These Times,” out of Chicago, last month documented that each year of the Bush presidency, the budget for the Mine Safety and Health Administration has fallen significantly, and that the number of inspectors to check on the safety of the nation’s miners has fallen. Jack Hickey takes a look at some of the resulting terror for coal miners near Birmingham, Alabama, a threat of terror no one in Washington has been addressing Since 9/11.
NAB Threatens Grassroots Media (4:53)
The National Association of Broadcasters, or the NAB is meeting this weekend in Seattle and media activists will hold their own meetings as they attempt to address a number of issues affecting grassroots and community radio. The Telecommunication Act of 1996 eliminated restrictions on station ownership, allowing mega-chains like clear channel to own twelve hundred stations. Congress has eliminated most urban frequencies for the new ‘low-power FM’ service pending further testing. New copyright fees and restrictions on internet broadcasting are forcing hundreds of small stations to take their signals off the web this fall. Meanwhile, small, community and college broadcasters on the FM band face reduced listening areas from a new digital radio technology that is expected to bleed over many of their signals. Critics of the ‘in-band’ digital technology say some lower-power broadcasters may be forced off the air entirely if they can’t reach their listeners. Leigh Robartes has more.
NAB Meets in Seattle- Community Media Ignored
And with the National Association of Broadcasters meeting set to begin tomorrow here in Seattle, correspondent Martha Baskin takes a look at a democratic media institution in Seattle called Real Change Newspaper, a newspaper of the poor and homeless who are often ignored by the corporate media and often not the media makers in community media projects.
