FSRN Weekly Edition – April 17, 2015
- White House and Senate leaders reach rare compromise to allow Iran negotiations to proceed
- Asylum-seeking mothers protest family detention from inside of for-profit facility in Texas
- Palestinian couple separated by Israeli policy; launch FB campaign to marry
- Chibok girls still missing one year later, residents remain displaced
- Egypt court sentences dozens of protesters including a U.S. citizen to life in prison
- Harvard and Yale students join call for colleges to divest from fossil fuels
White House and Senate leaders reach rare compromise to allow Iran negotiations to proceed
The White House and Congress reached a compromise this week on a bill giving the Senate more say about lifting sanctions as part of a nuclear deal with Iran. The measure, however, removes the threat of foreign policy hawks on Capitol Hill using the legislation to disrupt talks between the two countries. The apparent ease of the agreement shocked many in Washington where compromise has become a dirty word. Still, hardliners on the right insist Republicans should continue fighting to prevent any deal with Iran from happening. Anthony J Rivera has the story from the U.S. Capitol.
Asylum-seeking mothers protest family detention from inside of for-profit facility in Texas
Asylum-seeking mothers held in detention with their children at a for-profit facility in South Texas began a second protest fast and work stoppage calling for their release. The women have all passed what is known as the “credible fear” test to qualify for an asylum request, but they’re still held in prison-like conditions with their children while their cases creep through a backlogged system. Shannon Young has more.
Palestinian couple separated by Israeli policy; launch FB campaign to marry
For many years, residents of the Gaza Strip have been largely segregated from the rest of the world. An Israeli-imposed lock-down on the tiny coastal enclave prevents Gazans from freely leaving the region – and blocks entry for most others… including other Palestinians. Dalia Hatouka brings us this story of one Palestinian couple’s years-long attempt to reunite.
Chibok girls still missing one year later, residents remain displaced
This week, Nigerians marked the one-year anniversary of the mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok. The girls’ kidnapping by Boko Haram militants and subsequent attacks forced most of the residents to flee the town. One year on, 219 of the girls are still missing and Chibok residents say it’s still not safe for them to go home. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
Egypt court sentences dozens of protesters including a U.S. citizen to life in prison
On April 11th, An Egyptian court upheld 14 death sentences and handed down life sentences to 36 others, including an American citizen. Nick St. Charles has the story.
Harvard and Yale students join call for colleges to divest from fossil fuels
Students at Harvard and Yale have joined other schools around the country in the past week as they step up their push for divestment of fossil fuel stocks from their universities’ multi-billion endowment portfolios. Swarthmore students have been holding a continuous sit-in since March 19. Two weeks ago, Syracuse University announced it will divest, joining more than 20 other schools. Their efforts are part of non-violent direct actions this spring coordinated through the Fossil Fuel Divestment Student Network. FSRN’s Melinda Tuhus reports from New Haven.
