News You Might Have Missed * December 8, 2004

QUOTED
“I would support any bill that would call for the death penalty for illegal loggers, because really it causes displacement and death.”

— Phillipines legislator Panfilo Lacson wants illegal logging classified as a “heinous crime,” after clearcutting was blamed for devastating floods and landslides there (story #o7, below).

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TOP STORIES
[o1] “Reuters still seeking answers on alleged abuse of 3 staffers”
[o2] “From church, a challenge to Israeli policies”
[o3] “U.S. giant’s defense on Bhopal could be undermined by papers”

WAR & TERRORISM
[o4] “German police raid offices of charity with links to Hamas”
[o5] “200 in Iran vow suicide attack willingness”
[o6] “DR Congo settlements turned to ghost villages amid burning reports”
[o7] “Beslan inquiry under fire”

WORLD
[o7] “Death for illegal loggers pushed”
[o8] “Iranian students heckle Khatami”
[o9] “Child suicides high in Shanghai”
[10] “Sistani pulls main Shia parties together to dominate Iraq poll”

HUMAN RIGHTS
[11] “Foes trying new tack to get Pinochet: Financial crime”
[12] “Chinese activists ‘risk torture'”
[13] “Baghdad prostitutes fall on hard times”
[14] “Legislators back reform of felon rules”

ENVIRONMENT
[15] “Large methyl bromide exemptions granted”
[16] “Canada losing pollution fight, report shows”
[17] “Public health group warns about impending plastic problem”
[18] “Climate talks bring Bush’s policy to fore”

VIEWPOINT
[19] “You asked for my evidence, Mr. Ambassador. Here it is”
[20] “Invoking genocide, Rwanda takes aim at rebels”
[21] “Last chance saloon for U.N.?”

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TOP STORIES

[o1]

“Reuters still seeking answers on alleged abuse of 3 staffers”
Editor & Publisher, December 5, 2004

A Reuters bureau chief in Iraq is investigating the alleged abuse of his Iraqi staffers under interrogation by U.S. soldiers.

[o2]

“From church, a challenge to Israeli policies”
Christian Science Monitor, December 6, 2004

The Presbyterian Church’s decision to stop doing business with Israeli companies may signal the beginning of a trend.

[o3]

“U.S. giant’s defense on Bhopal could be undermined by company papers”
Independent (U.K.), December 6, 2004

New documents paint a damning picture of Union Carbide’s participation in the events leading up to the Bhopal disaster.

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WAR & TERRORISM

[o4]

“German police raid offices of charity with links to Hamas”
Reuters, December 4, 2004

German police raided and seized materials from the offices of al-Aqsa, a group accused of ties to Hamas.

[o5]

“200 in Iran vow suicide attack willingness”
Associated Press, December 2, 2004

200 Iranian men and women have vowed to carry out suicide attacks on Israelis and U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

[o6]

“DR Congo settlements turned into ghost villages amid burning reports”
Agence France-Presse, December 6, 2004

A U.N. spokesman in the Democratic Republic of Congo accused Rwandan troops of burning villages for over a week now.

[o7]

“Beslan inquiry under fire”
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, December 1, 2004

Families of the Beslan victims asked President Putin to intervene in the investigation, which they say is being distorted.

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WORLD

[o7]

“Death for illegal loggers pushed”
Manila Times, December 7, 2004

“Logging led to deaths, Filipinos say”
International Herald Tribune, December 6, 2004

Devastating floods and landslides and have prompted a controversial ban on logging in the Phillipines, and a call for capital punishment.

[o8]

“Iranian students heckle Khatami”
Reuters, December 6, 2004

A group of Iranian students startled outgoing President Khatami at a meeting, accusing him of failing to deliver on promised reforms.

[o9]

“Child suicides high in Shanghai”
Christian Science Monitor, December 6, 2004

One in four children living in Shanghai have considered suicide, according to a report from Fudan University.

[10]

“Sistani pulls main Shia parties together to dominate Iraq poll”
Guardian (U.K.), December 1, 2004

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has included many Shia factions, including Moqtada al-Sadr’s, on a preliminary election list.

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HUMAN RIGHTS

[11]

“Foes trying new tack to get Pinochet: Financial crime”
Los Angeles Times, December 6, 2004

“Pinochet to stand trial over 1974 murder”
Independent (U.K.), December 3, 2004

Lawyers seeking justice for former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet want to try him on corruption and criminal charges.

[12]

“Chinese activists ‘risk torture'”
BBC (U.K.), December 6, 2004

“Lobby group urges E.U. to keep China arms ban”
Agence France-Presse, December 3, 2004

Human rights groups argue that the E.U. should not lift its arms ban on China because of the country’s human rights record.

[13]

“Baghdad prostitutes fall on hard times”
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, November 29, 2004

Prostitutes enjoyed relative protection under Saddam Hussein’s regime but now live under threat of assault by radical Islamists.

[14]

“Legislators back reform of felon rules”
Miami Herald, December 2, 2004

Florida may pass legislation requiring county jails to help restore ex-felons’ civil rights.

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ENVIRONMENT

[15]

“Large methyl bromide exemptions granted”
Chemical & Engineering News, December 2, 2004

“Chemical treatment of crop exports spotlighted at climate conference”
Greenbiz.com, November 29, 2004

The U.S. was granted the right to use the fumigant methyl bromide in 2005, due for a full phaseout under the Montreal Protocol.

[16]

“Canada losing pollution fight, report shows”
Toronto Globe & Mail, December 8, 2004

The amount of toxic chemical emissions in Canada rose by 50 percent between 1995 and 2002, a new report finds.

[17]

“Public health group warns about impending plastic problem”
Scripps Howard News Service, December 7, 2004

About 70 billion pounds of obsolete PVC will be incinerated or landfilled, releasing dioxin and estrogen-mimicking chemicals.

[18]

“Climate talks bring Bush’s policy to fore”
Washington Post, December 5, 2004

The Bush administration will continue to rely on technology, rather than pollution limits, to address climate change.

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VIEWPOINT

[19]

“You asked for my evidence, Mr. Ambassador. Here it is”
The Guardian (U.K.), December 4,

“Counterinsurgency run amok”
Asia Times (Hong Kong), November 18, 2004

Naomi Klein says she has proof of a U.S. cover-up of civilian casualties in Fallujah, based on press and witness accounts.

[20]

“Invoking genocide, Rwanda takes aim at rebels”
Reuters, November 28, 2004

Rwanda will portray itself as a victim while waging war on neighboring DR Congo, predicts a Reuters columnist.

[21]

“Last chance saloon for U.N.?”
BBC News, December 1, 2004

Proposed changes to the United Nations policy on intervention could make a big difference if adopted, says a BBC correspondent.

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Editors: Erica Junghans, Julia Scott, Josh Wilson

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