Wednesday, February 13, 2008

• Protest in Berkeley over Marine Recruitment Center
• Obama Wins Three More Primaries
• Senate Debates Torture and Water Boarding
• Mexican President Greeted by Demonstrators in California
• General Strike in Greece
• Peru's Disappearing Amazon Region

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Obama Wins Three More Primaries

Barack Obama swept another three Democratic primaries with decisive victories in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Hillary Clinton is downplaying her losses by saying she's focusing on delegate-rich Texas. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell has more on the Democratic race as well as the Green Party nomination.

Senate Debates Torture and Water Boarding

The US's policy on torture and waterboarding dominated debate in the Senate ahead of a vote on the Intelligence Authorization Bill today. It contains a provision that would extend the Army Field Manual on Interrogation tactics, which outlaws specific torture techniques, including water boarding, to all government agencies, including the CIA.

Protest in Berkeley over Marine Recruitment Center

The city of Berkeley, California hosted a large and confrontational street protest yesterday, sparked by the city's official stance over a Marine Recruitment Office. Berkeley drew the ire of Republican lawmakers, the right wing media, and pro-war groups after it voted two weeks ago to tell the Marines that they were "unwelcome intruders" if they chose to keep their offices open in downtown Berkeley. Hundreds of Iraq war supporters spent the day in Berkeley hoping to pressure the City Council and the Mayor to back down and apologize, but they were met in equal numbers by supporters of the city's stand against the war. FSRN's Eric Klein has more:

Mexican President Greeted by Demonstrators in California

Mexican president Felipe Calderon is in California today, on his first trip to the United States since taking office in a highly contested election less than two years ago. Calderon is aiming to add his voice to the immigration debate – even urging presidential candidates to resist the urge to scapegoat immigrants. He is addressing California's lawmakers today, and meeting privately with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sacramento before heading to Los Angeles where he is scheduled to meet with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Calderon's visit has sparked protests throughout the political range – including those who say that his support of trade agreements like NAFTA has forced people to leave their homes in Mexico to find work in the US. Some 50 people are gathered outside the California capital, where they are protesting Calderon's visit. FSRN host Aura Bogado spoke with Randy Lopez, a youth community activist about the demonstration.

General Strike in Greece

The streets of most major Grecian cities rumbled as 200,000 workers, farmers and students answered the call for a second general strike in as many months. At issue is the conservative government's plan to reform the Greek social security and pensions system. Aris Oikonomou reports from Athens.

Peru's Disappearing Amazon Region

In the last three years, Peru has sold off more than 50% of its Amazon region, with little fanfare from the international community. Yet locally, a growing movement of indigenous peoples together with environmental activists, continue to organize and fight for their culture and land. People on both sides of the issue met up in Houston last week. FSRN's Rachel Clark was at the Houston Petroleum Club, where one man plead the case for the indigenous people he represents.