Israel
Continues to Occupy Lebanon
December 16, 1999
- Request
Audio
While Middle East peace
talks continue in Washington DC today, Israeli forces attacked Lebanon,
wounding more than a dozen children. This is not the first time that Israeli
attacks have hit schools and hurt children. Will this affect the ongoing
peace talks in Washington and the peace talks with Lebanon that were slotted
to follow the ongoing talks with Syrians? Joining us to talk about today's
attacks and the ongoing peace talks is Ollie Abunimah of the Arab Action
Network.
INS and the Cuban Hostage
Crisis
December 16, 1999
- Request
Audio
The US Immigration and Naturalization
Service has imprisoned nearly 300 foreigners for over 3 years - many of
whom have never been convicted of a crime. The INS refuses to identify
these longest-held prisoners, who come from more than 30 different countries.
Some of these prisoners have been confined for simply arriving in the US
with inappropriate travel documents. Others who have been convicted of
crimes are being held even after completing their prison sentences. Frustrated
with this kind of injustice, Cuban prisoners at the St. Martin Parish jail
in Louisiana are holding three prison officials hostage and demanding freedom.
They are threatening to kill the hostages if their demand is not granted.
One of the Cubans, Jonne Ponte, says he has been in jail for 13 years.
Fifty other Cubans have taken over a part of the jail adjacent to the area
with the hostages. Joining us by telephone to talk about the situation
with the INS and imprisoned immigrants is Roberto Martinez. He is with
the US Mexican Border Program of the Friends Service Committee.
Bill Bradley's Health
Care Plan
December 16, 1999
- Request
Audio
Presidential candidate Bill
Bradley claims that he has the answer to this nation's health system woes.
Bradley is touting a scheme for reforming health care, claiming, among
other things, that his plan "will guarantee that all children are insured."
Many observers, including a lot of progressives, are not convinced. Some
even detect a distinctly right-wing agenda in Bradley's proposals. Dr.
Ida Hellander, who directs the group Physicians for a National Health Program,
took a close look at Bill Bradley's health plan, and she's concluded that
it's no cure for what ails US health care. When Flashpoints Associate Producer
C.S. Soong recently spoke with Dr. Hellander, she began by describing what
Bradley's plan would do for the millions of uninsured children in this
country.
Corruption in the LA
Police Department
December 15, 1999
- Request
Audio
Revelations of police violence
and abuse of power are nothing new in Los Angeles. And since the video-taped
beating of Rodney King, Los Angeles has an international reputation for
brutality and over-reaction. But a scandal that exploded this week in Los
Angeles shocked local citizens by its sheer magnitude. The Los Angeles
public defender now estimates that more than 3,000 cases could have been
tainted by massive corruption in the police department's Rampart division.
The scandal emerged when former police officer, Rafael Perez was busted
on drug charges and turned prosecution witness. According to Perez's
testimony, dozens of officers may be corrupt, and more than a dozen have
already been relieved of their duties. Joining us to talk about the breaking
scandal is Michael Zinzin, with the Coalition Against Police Abuse. Also
from Los Angeles is Michael Novick with People Against Racist Terror, and
editor of "Turning the Tide," a magazine on police abuse and violence.
Elian Gonzales Still Being
Held
December 15, 1999
- Request
Audio
Six-year-old Elian Gonzales
is still being held hostage by the Cuban right wing in Florida, after being
found floating on an inner tube at sea. The battle for his return to his
father and grandparents in Cuba has captured headlines. For Cuban-Americans
- many of whom were separated from their own parents and homeland at an
early age - the case has a special and personal significance. It also sheds
light on the US concept of family values, materialism, and the differences
between US and Cuban culture. Just before air time, I spoke with Delvis
Fernandez Levy, the president and founder of the Cuba American Alliance.
The group works to promote engagement of mutual benefit between the people
of Cuba and the United States. Delvis Fernandez Levy came to the US as
a child in the 1950's and has traveled back and forth between the two countries
for many years.
Police Arrest Hundreds
Protesting the WTO
December 1, 1999
- Request
Audio
On today's program, police
arrest hundreds of demonstrators in a harsh crackdown at the World Trade
Organization meeting in Seattle; we'll bring you on-the-ground reports.
Also today, portions of World Trade Watch, hosted by Julie Light and Norman
Solomon, on the impact of free trade policies on workers in Africa, Mexico
and the US.
World Trade Watch Radio
November 29, 1999
- Request
Audio
On this program, we [World
Trade Watch] explore some of the key issues expected to be discussed at
the World Trade Organization ministerial in Seattle including labor rights,
environmental standards and corporate involvement in WTO negotiations.
Tuesday, November 30,
1999 - on Corporate Watch
On this program, we [World
Trade Watch] assess the significance of the massive protests taking place
in Seattle as the World Trade Organization starts its official deliberations
today. We also look at the impact of WTO policies on farmers in the United
States and abroad. And, we explore key differences among trade delegates
from developing countries and those of industrialized nations.
Wednesday, December 1,
1999 - on Corporate Watch
On this program, we [World
Trade Watch] report on the heavy police crackdown against anti-WTO demonstrators
in the streets of Seattle. Correspondent Pratap Chatterjee reports from
inside the WTO ministerial on the failed multi-agency law enforcement efforts
to keep the WTO talks on track. A member of the U.S. congressional delegation
to the WTO summit shares an insider view of WTO negotiations. We also talk
with workers from South Africa, Mexico and the United States about work
conditions and the impact of free trade policies on their jobs.
Thursday, December 2,
1999 - on Corporate Watch
On this program, we [World
Trade Watch] get an on-the-ground perspective on the protests in Seattle
from the viewpoint of a demonstration organizer. We also discuss the environmental
impacts of multinational oil companies in Latin America and Nigeria and
how the WTO could affect those impacts by ruling against environmental
standards in member countries. We get reaction to President Clinton's address
to the WTO from two policy analysts. Correspondent Pratap Chatterjee reports
on Cargill, one of the largest agricultural corporations in the world.
He also explores how multinational agribusiness is affecting the WTO's
biotechnology proposals. And, we take a look at WTO plans to eliminate
or lower tariffs on forest products and the environmental consequences.
Friday, December 3, 1999
- on Corporate Watch
On the last day of the WTO
ministerial many key issues among trade ministers appear to be unresolved.
We discuss some of the sticking points and how trade representatives from
the United States and other industrialized nations are trying to exert
influence over less developed countries within the World Trade Organization.
Also, our guests reflect on the past week's events, and what it all means
for activism and organizing around economic and environmental justice.
Correspondent Pratap Chatterjee reports on a Clinton administration decision
to not crack down on poor countries that make generic versions of HIV/AIDS
drugs, making these life saving medicines more affordable. Correspondent
Monica Lopez reports on the impacts of trade on women, often hit hardest
by the effects of globalization. And, we discuss the fifteenth anniversary
of the Bhopal gas disaster in India which left nearly 8000 workers and
nearby residents dead, one of the worst industrial accidents in history.
For full coverage of the
WTO conference in Seattle and World Trade Watch reports, visit Corporate
Watch, National Radio Project
and the Institute for Public Accuracy
web sites.
Other Coverage:
A
Global Pro-Democracy Movement
By Norman Solomon, Media
Beat, FAIR, 12/6/99
Economic
Reporting Review: WTO
Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting (FAIR), 12/6/99
WTO:
The Whole World Is Watching-- Except Ted Koppel
Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting (FAIR), 12/3/99
In
Seattle, Free Trade's Happy Face Peels Off
By Norman Solomon, Media
Beat, FAIR, 12/2/99
Initial
Reports from Seattle Gloss Over WTO Issues
Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting (FAIR)
The
Battle of Seattle
By Daniel Zoll, San Francisco
Bay Guardian
Fair
Trade
By Norman Solomon, San Francisco
Bay Guardian
The
Battle in Seattle
Democracy Now!
World Trade Watch is co-produced
by the National Radio Project: www.radioproject.org,
Corporate Watch: www.corpwatch.org,
and the Institute for Public Accuracy: www.accuracy.org.
Syndicated columnist Norman
Solomon and veteran radio journalist Julie Light are co-hosting World Trade
Watch, a series of five daily programs from the historic WTO Summit in
Seattle November 29 through December 3, 1999.
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