Important but underreported news from around the world — and your own backyard
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QUOTED: “During the five days we did not come, there were 25 deaths. This is five times above the acceptable rate.”
–Patrick Barbier of Medecins Sans Frontieres, on the conditions at refugee camps in eastern Congo.
(Story #05, below.)
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NEWSDESK.ORG EXCLUSIVE
[01] “The Dutch Grapple with Intolerance”
TOP STORIES
[o2] “New rules will cost dissidents at NIH”
[o3] “‘Clear Skies’ loophole could exempt 894 sites from emissions cuts”
[o4] “Parched village sues to shut tap at Coke”
WORLD
[o5] “Eastern Congo’s refugees face sickness and fear”
[o6] “Sacked minister Moyo forms ‘third force’ to fight Mugabe”
[o7] “China signals urgency in easing danger of mines”
[08] “Chavez says Washington plots his murder, U.S. denies”
[09] “Drug crime nourished in sleepy communities”
ELECTION 2004
[10] “Ohio wants judge to rule on presidential election conduct”
[11] “Task force finds ‘unacceptable’ flaws in state election system”
[12] “Voting commission hears complaints”
NATION
[13] “‘Counter-recruiters’ shadowing the military”
[14] “Anti-abortion activist loses battle against law again”
[15] “Bill would ban abortions of ‘gay unborn children'”
U.S. MEDIA
[16] “Another official bans contact with press”
[17] “Sinclair petitions high court on media ownership ruling”
[18] “Airwaves: the race for low-wattage stations”
ENVIRONMENT
[19] “Peasants in Peru near showdown on mercury spill”
[20] “A silent killer of rural women”
[21] “Ozone decline stuns scientists”
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NEWSDESK.ORG EXCLUSIVE
[o1]
“The Dutch Grapple with Intolerance”
By Jennifer Hamm, Newsdesk.org, March 7, 2005
The debate on multiculturalism in the Netherlands is increasingly intolerant, and occasionally bloody.
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TOP STORIES
[02]
“New rules will cost dissidents at NIH”
Los Angeles Times, March 3, 2005
Several government scientists opposed to limits on corporate gifts received stock options and consulting fees from biomedical companies.
[o3]
“‘Clear Skies’ loophole could exempt 894 sites from cutting emissions”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 2, 2005
A proposed amendment to the Clean Air Act would create thousands of industrial exemptions to EPA emissions rules.
[o4]
“Parched village sues to shut tap at Coke”
San Francisco Chronicle, March 6, 2005
An Indian tribe’s legal fight with Coca-Cola for control over its groundwater will be decided this month.
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WORLD
“Eastern Congo’s refugees face sickness and fear”
Reuters, March 6, 2005
Congolese refugees are dying at a rate of 10 or more a day in camps that lack basic medical facilities.
[06]
“Sacked minister Moyo forms ‘third force’ to fight Mugabe”
Telegraph (U.K.), March 5, 2005
Zimbabwe’s former information minister is running a surprise campaign against President Robert Mugabe.
[o7]
“China signals urgency in easing danger of mines”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 2, 2005
U.S. experts are advising China on how to reform its disaster-prone mining industry, but change is slow.
[o8]
“Chavez says Washington plots his murder, U.S. denies”
Reuters, March 5, 2005
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez claims he has evidence the U.S. intends to assassinate him, a charge Washington refuted.
[o9]
“Drug crime nourished in sleepy communities”
Globe and Mail (Toronto), March 5, 2005
The recent deaths of four Mounties in a drug bust exposes the pervasiveness of large-scale drug operations across Canada.
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ELECTION 2004
[10]
“Ohio wants judge to rule that it conducted presidential election properly”
Associated Press, March 2, 2005
Ohio state officials asked a judge to rule on its decision to deny paper or absentee ballots to voters standing in long lines.
[11]
“Task force finds ‘unacceptable’ flaws in state election system; suggests 15 changes”
Associated Press, March 2, 2005
Washington state’s contested 2004 gubenatorial race has provoked a host of proposed reforms, including a statewide voter database.
[12]
“Voting commission hears complaints”
Daily Times-Call (CO), March 4, 2005
A Colorado engineer presented a home-made voting machine as an alternative to error-prone machines used by his county in November.
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NATION
[13]
“‘Counter-recruiters’ shadowing the military”
USA Today, March 7, 2005
“Calling all soldiers: Military recruiters face resistance from young”
Amsterdam News (NYC), February 23, 2005
Military recruiters have begun facing competition from anti-war activists who focus on high school outreach.
[14]
“Anti-abortion activist loses battle against law again”
Houston Chronicle, March 1, 2005
A Texas man who drove his car into an abortion clinic lost his second appeal of a law banning violence against such facilities.
[15]
“Bill would ban abortions of ‘gay unborn children'”
Cybercast News Service, March 8, 2005
A Maine legislator has introduced a bill that would ban abortions of fetuses that may have a yet-to-be-discovered “gay gene.”
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U.S. MEDIA
[16]
“Another official bans contact with press”
Associated Press, March 2, 2005
An Oregon mayor has banned city employees from talking with the press, raising questions about accountability.
[17]
“Sinclair petitions high court on media ownership ruling”
Baltimore Sun, March 4, 2005
The Sinclair Broadcast Group wants the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that limits media ownership.
[18]
“Airwaves: the race for low-wattage stations”
San Francisco Chronicle, February 28, 2005
Church groups are snapping up newly available low-power FM radio stations in rural areas, prompting consolidation concerns.
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ENVIRONMENT
[19]
“Peasants in Peru near showdown on mercury spill”
Miami Herald, March 5, 2005
A mercury spill that in 2000 sickened three Peruvian towns has spurred a major lawsuit against Newmont Mining Company.
[20]
“A silent killer of rural women”
BBC (U.K.), March 2, 2005
Pollution from biomass-fueled stoves, or chulas, across South Asia is a major environmental health hazard.
[21]
“Ozone decline stuns scientists”
Denver Post, March 2, 2005
A combination of frigid temperatures and chemical pollution has renewed thinning of the Arctic ozone layer.
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Editors: Julia Scott, Josh Wilson
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