NYMHM Blog — November 22

As Nuclear As They Wanna Be
The jig may be up for nuclear non-proliferation. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “experts” say the technology is circulating amongst “smaller powers” and could initiate a new arms race.

This comes on the heels of another article in the Chronicle, describing the potential effects of an act of nuclear terrorism in San Francisco.

“Experts fear nuke genie’s out of the bottle”
San Francisco Chronicle, November 22, 2004

“An attack on an American city by terrorists armed with a small nuclear device is an even bet within a decade, some say”
San Francisco Chronicle, November 21, 2004

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A Popular Problem
Election results in the Ukraine are under fire. The opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, was leading by six percentage points in the exit polls, but lost 46-49 percent. Yuschenko disputes the government’s claim of 96 percent voter turnout, and has called for massive civil disobedience, bringing out tens of thousands of protestors. An independent monitoring group said the election “fell short” of European norms.

“Ukraine cities defy poll result”
BBC, November 22, 2004

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The Florida Factor
An “internal audit” of a Florida database tracking felons and dead voters revealed “lax” standards, but no attempts at disenfranchisement. Check back with NYMHM as we follow this story.

“Audit lays blames for Fla. database errors”
Associated Press, November 22, 2004

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Remember the Passenger Pigeon
Conservationists kicked off a new effort to stem the widespread slaughter of migratory birds as they fly over North Africa and the Middle East each year. The killing of birds has reached “industrial proportions,” said one scientist.

“Measures aim to stem Middle East bird slaughter”
Reuters, November 23, 2004

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The Air up there
A Christian Science Monitor report finds that the EPA’s clean-air enforcement powers have dwindled dramatically over the last three years, leaving the agency “increasingly toothless.”

“Clean-air cops handcuffed”
Christian Science Monitor, November 18, 2004

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“Guantanamo on the Hudson”
A lawsuit has just been filed against New York City for its treatment of protestors arrested at August’s Republican National Convention. The suit alleges prisoners were kept in “inhumane” holding facilities, and denied access to lawyers.

“GOP protesters file suits”
Newsday, November 22, 2004

“Lawsuit: NYC created ‘Guantanamo’ at RNC”
Associated Press, November 22, 2004

“New York sued by protesters over Republican Convention arrests”
Bloomberg, November 22, 2004

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