Foxonar: December 2008

Thursday 4 December 2008

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Five years after Georgia's Rose Revolution and weeks after the Russian-Georgian War, correspondent Sonja Pace visited the Caucasus nation to check on Georgia: Beyond the War. Our special report includes video, an interactive timeline, slideshows and more. Follow economic news on our Global Economic Turmoil page. And, VOANews.com, with its new community site USAVotes2008.com, will continue to provide you with coverage on the transition from President Bush to President Obama.

Rice Says Pakistan Committed to Mumbai Investigation

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US secretary of state meets with Pakistan's president, prime minister and other senior officials and calls her conversations 'quite satisfactory'
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Pakistan's leaders understand the importance of finding the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and are committed to fighting terrorism. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad, where the secretary held talks with Pakistani officials.U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gestures as she talks to journalists during a press conference at Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 04 Dec 2008In recent days, senior U.S. officials have called for Pakistan to do more against militant extremists, following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. On her way to Islamabad, Secretary Rice said robust action is needed. But after meeting with Pakistan's president, prime minister and other senior officials, Rice called her conversations quite satisfactory and said leaders pledged to support the Mumbai investigation. She also downplayed speculation that India could launch military strikes against Pakistani targets associated with the Mumbai plot."Let me be very clear: I have heard nothing but reasonable discussion and responsible discussion in both India and Pakistan about the problem here - about the attack in Mumbai," she said.In a statement released after his meeting with the secretary, President Asif Zardari pledged strong action against any elements in his country that were involved in the strike. India has said there is information that a Pakistani militant group that formerly had ties to Pakistan's spy agency was involved in the attack. But Pakistani officials say they are still waiting to see evidence that backs up the allegations.When asked about the back and forth, the secretary said there is already a lot of information about the attacks. "There are many mechanisms through which to share information," she said. "And that information needs to be used now to get the perpetrators and prevent them from doing this again." Rice did not say if she discussed President Zardari's plan to try Pakistani suspects in the plot in Pakistani courts. India has demanded Pakistan turn over those believed to have links to the attack. Both Condoleezza Rice and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen have been visiting leaders in the two countries this week, trying to calm tensions aggravated by the Mumbai attack. As investigators continue to try to piece together who helped or planned the plot, Rice said the operation's complexity made it even more important to uncover who was behind it."It was a sophisticated attack at a level of sophistication that we have not seen here on the subcontinent before," said Rice. "That means there is urgency to getting to the bottom of it, there is urgency to bringing the perpetrators to justice and to use the information to disrupt and prevent further attacks."She said the United States and Britain are prepared to help investigators, but so far both India and Pakistan are committed to using their own capabilities to locate and prosecute those responsible.

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Mumbai's Children Cope With Terror Attacks

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Now that schools have opened, some children finding it difficult to focus on studies, but many are glad to be back to comfort of routines
With schools closed during the terror attacks in Mumbai, many of the city's children stayed indoors during the three-day siege, watching tragedy unfold on television. Now that schools have opened, some children are finding it difficult to focus on their studies, but many are glad to be back to the comfort of routines. Raymond Thibodeaux has this report from Mumbai.Girl in a bus on her way back home from school in Mumbai, 01 Dec 2008Here at the Bharada New High School, the classrooms are once again alive with the sound of children. There are about 1,500 students at this school. It is across the street from Mumbai's main railway station, where gunmen launched attacks that killed 174 people and wounded more than 230 others in the city's longest-running terror attack. Pooja Kumar, the school's principal, said, "Even the grownups are not feeling very normal. I also come by the [rail] station and, even as I was putting my foot down on the platform, there was some apprehension. A number of our children come that way. They must have also felt the same way I feel." "It is like I cannot concentrate on any of my work," said Shweta Singh, a 16-year-old senior at the school. "Now, I am feeling that I want to go home because that is the only safe places for us. God knows what will happen tomorrow."Fifteen-year-old Maiz Indorewala says he is finding comfort in the familiar routines of school. He says being back in school helps him cope by keeping him from dwelling on the attacks. He also says going back to school sends a message to those who carried out the attack against the city.Indian police officers run to a new position around the landmark Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, 29 Nov 2008"I was very afraid, with all the violence and bloodshed, that make our minds fearful right now. We have to show them that we are not afraid of them. We show them that we are back at work and at schools and offices," he said.As with many other principals at the more than 400 schools across the city, Kumar says she has been busier than usual, on the school's intercom, trying to maintain calm and to reassure the children that they are safe."My message to the children - I'm going to make an announcement to the children and ask them not to be afraid. Nothing is going to happen. Just be brave. Whatever has to happen will happen one day. Life has to go on. Children have to study. We have to earn our bread. Everyone has to go back to work," Kumar said. On a chalkboard on the entrance hall of the school, some of the day's news headlines are written out in white chalk, in perfect cursive script. One of them reads, "Police question the captured gunman." Another reads, "Mumbai back to life," punctuated by a smiley-face sun.

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European Banks Cut Interest Rates

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Officials of European Central Bank make biggest rate cut in the bank's history;
key rate now at 2.5 percent
Europe's two leading central banks are cutting key interest rates in an effort to ease the impact of the global financial crisis.President of the European Central Bank, ECB, Jean-Claude TrichetOfficials of the European Central Bank made the biggest rate cut in the bank's history Thursday, a three-quarters of one percent cut, putting the key rate at 2.5 percent. Meanwhile, the Bank of England slashed its interest rate by a full percentage point, putting the key rate at two percent - the lowest level since 1959. Lower interest rates make it cheaper for people to borrow money to pay for homes, businesses and other investments that fuel the economy.French President Nicolas Sarkozy has introduced a new plan to help stimulate his country's economy and save jobs. The $30 billion plan includes targeted investments in the auto industry and infrastructure projects.The U.S. government is considering steps to influence home loan rates, to help stabilize the U.S. housing market. Under the plan, the Treasury Department would buy investments linked to new home loans, under the condition that those loans are set at a low interest rate of 4.5 percent. The goal is to make it easier for consumers to borrow the money needed to buy homes. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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General Motors Worse Off Than Expected on Eve of Bailout Request

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Top executives of General Motors, Ford, Chrysler preparing to make their case to Congress Thursday, Friday
With congressional hearings set Thursday and Friday of this week in advance of a vote on lending money to the beleaguered U.S. auto industry, General Motors says it needs money almost immediately. VOA's Barry Wood has more on the controversy over government aid to America's ailing auto industry.

Chrysler is one of the US auto companies seeking a federal loanWith U.S. car sales at their lowest level in a quarter of a century, General Motors says it needs $4 billion before the end of this month. The largest of the so-called "Big Three" automakers, that also includes Ford and Chrysler, GM says its sales this year are down 22 percent, compared with an industry decline of 16 percent.

"GM, as many analysts point out, has very severe cash needs. They need the infusion as soon as possible," said Dennis Virag, who heads the Automobile Consulting Group.

Mike DiGiovanni, Director of Global Market Analysis at General Motors, says he is hopeful the industry will get its loans from Congress. He detects a spirit of cooperation between government, industry management and the auto workers union.

"I think it is doable with our partners. One of the positive things that has come out of this is a really good dialogue with the federal government and what our issues are, and some of the challenges we face," he said.

DiGiovanni and Virag spoke on Bloomberg Television.

Ron Gettlefinger, the head of the United Auto Workers, says his union is prepared to make concessions to cut industry costs.

"There's no question that we face some difficult challenges. Being honest, we've been saying for a long time that we're in a race to the bottom, a race to the bottom that workers in no country can win. Because there is always somebody else or somewhere else to go that pays less," he said.

The viability plans submitted by the carmakers are generally being well received and the companies are expected to receive government loans.

FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair (file)But Sheila Bair, who heads the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the agency charged with safeguarding U.S. bank deposits, wonders where to draw the line because the government cannot help all needy industries.

"Everybody is coming to Washington and wanting help. And picking winners and losers is a very difficult part of their [Congress and the Treasury Department's] job," she said.

But union leader Gettlefinger says the auto industry is different and more vital than most.

"I'm not sure where you draw the line. But let's just look at this. Let's look at the backbone of our economy, as Barack Obama describes it. Let's look at the millions of jobs that will be lost in this country if we lose this industry," he said.

Gettlefinger and the Big Three emphasize that American car companies, unlike banks and insurance companies, are seeking loans, not grants, and that their plight stems from the sudden, unpredicted decline in economic activity.

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Bangkok Airport Back in Operation, But Economic Pain May Linger

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Business leaders in Thailand say country's reputation badly damaged by airport occupation, which shut traffic for eight days
Bangkok's international airport is returning to normal, after protesters shut it down for eight days. But business experts say the economic damage caused by the country's political crisis may linger for some time. VOA's Kate Pound Dawson reports from Bangkok.Thai Airways planes parked at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, 04 Dec 2008Within a few days, cargo and passengers should be flowing normally through Bangkok's international airport. The anti-government protesters who occupied it began leaving Wednesday, after a court barred Thailand's prime minister and his party from politics.But business leaders in Thailand say the country's reputation has been badly damaged by the occupation, which shut traffic for eight days.John Koldowski, an executive with the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Bangkok, says that, although tourism has been most immediately affected, problems caused by the airport's closure spread around the country."I think the ripple effect is beginning to be felt now, because the freight's affected as well. So you're looking at produce that can't be shifted out of Thailand. You're looking at produce that can't come into Thailand for consumption. It's now starting to be felt right across the wider society," said Koldowski.Stranded passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok, 26 Nov 2008Hotels struggled to accommodate stranded guests while the airport was closed. Now, they are looking ahead to see whether potential visitors have been scared away. Porntina Tangsajjavitoon - the communications director for the Accor Group, which has 20 hotels in Bangkok - says, so far, the damage is moderate for her company, in part because their rooms stayed filled with stranded tourists. She says only a few bookings for the upcoming Christmas holiday have been canceled. "It's not as bad as we thought. … However, the new reservations, we'll probably have to wait and see a little more. Of course, there are some cancellations as well," she said.However, other hotels are seeing a greater number of cancellations. Some report they may see fewer than half their rooms occupied, in the coming weeks - the heart of the peak tourism season. Business leaders worry that the damage could be long-lasting and they are concerned because it could be weeks before a new government is installed.Dusit Nontanakorn, the vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, says airport managers worked hard to get flights moving again, but more must be done now to help the business community, which already was suffering because of the global economic downturn. "The private sector and the government officials really have to join hands and work together. We cannot wait until the next government will be coming in," he said. Thai police man a checkpoint near the Suvarnabhumi airport compound Sunday 30 Nov. 2008 in Bangkok ThailandThere is considerable concern that Thailand's political crisis is just on hold and has not ended. Most members of parliament from the banned party have regrouped under another banner and they, along with coalition partners, still hold a majority of seats. If their choice for a new prime minister - expected next week - does not satisfy the anti-government group, protesters may well be back on the streets.Robert Broadfoot runs Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, a Hong Kong company that assesses business risks around Asia. "This is not the end of the crisis by any means, I don 't think. It's just moving on to the next chapter. There's still a large number of uncertainties. And, when it comes to businesses like tourism, this is going to be a disastrous high season," he said.Broadfoot says it will be hard to determine just how much damage the political crisis has done to the economy, compared with the damage caused by the global slump. Foreign investment is likely to shrink and demand for exports will be weak, because of the worldwide financial crisis.He says one way the Thai government can minimize the pain and help build a foundation for future economic growth is to focus on improving its infrastructure, such as roads and schools. Somchai Wongsawat, left, talks to reporters after court dissolves ruling party and bans him from politics, in Chiang Mai, 02 Dec 2008 "Probably the best that could happen now is if they get some sort of agreement in the political process, even if they're going to get revolving-door governments, where you can push ahead with major infrastructure and other programs, at least A., to create opportunities, and B., to create the impression that the economy's not just stuck in quicksand," he said.Broadfoot points out one advantage to focusing on infrastructure projects is that they are not dependent on foreign investment.The political uncertainty and the effects of the global economic crisis have factored into the decision by international credit rating agencies to downgrade ratings in Thailand. That means the government and businesses here will pay more to borrow money. However, Thailand's central bank may have eased some of the pain this week, when it surprised financial markets with its largest rate cut ever. The benchmark lending rate dropped a full percentage point, to 2.75 percent.

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ICC Prosecutor Warns of Possible Sudanese Reprisals if Bashir Arrest Warrant Issued

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Luis Moreno-Ocampo warns that UN Security Council should prepare for possible reprisals against peacekeepers and civilians
The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that the court might soon decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide in the war-torn Darfur region. Luis Moreno-Ocampo warned that the Security Council should prepare for possible reprisals against peacekeepers and civilians if a warrant is issued. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), addresses a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, 17 Jul 2008Moreno-Ocampo says more than 5,000 displaced persons continue to die each month in Darfur. He said continued attacks against ethnic groups, rapes in and around camps, and the obstruction of humanitarian efforts are only possible with the compliance of the Sudanese government, headed by President Bashir."Such acts have required the sustained mobilization of the Sudanese state apparatus, including the military, security and intelligence services, the integration of the militia/Janjaweed into the reserve forces, the coordination of the diplomatic and public information bureaucracies and the control of the judiciary," said Moreno-Ocampo said.The prosecutor asked the court in July to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. A decision is expected by early next year. Moreno-Ocampo said the evidence shows that in March 2003, President Bashir ordered brutal attacks on villages and camps inhabited by the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa tribes. "At least 35,000 persons have been killed, around 300,000 suffered a 'slow death,' thousands of women and girls are the victims of rape," he said. "2.5 million people in the camps today are subjected to conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction."The prosecutor said that in response to his request for an arrest warrant, President Bashir and some of his officials have made direct threats against peacekeepers and civilians."Such threats should be seen for what they are - a confirmation of criminal intentions," Moreno-Ocampo said.Moreno-Ocampo also charges that the president is protecting two other individuals for whom the court has already issued arrest warrants. One of them, Ahmad Harun, is a government minister. "The impunity afforded to Ahmad Harun is a direct message to all perpetrators of crimes in Darfur," he said. "That message is the president will protect those who are following his orders."Moreno-Ocampo said President Bashir could have disarmed the militias, stopped attacks on civilians and surrendered those with arrest warrants against them to the court, but that he has instead chosen to continue to implement his plans of genocide. He said the council must be ready to take united and consistent action to ensure the implementation of an arrest warrant if the court issues one.The U.N. Security Council originally referred the Darfur issue to the International Criminal Court, and has spoken in a united voice in demanding that Sudan end impunity. But there are some diffrences developing.Council members China, Russia and Libya are close to Khartoum. And the African Union and the Arab League have asked that the Council consider deferring the investigation of President Bashir, saying it is not helpful to the peace process.Costa Rica's U.N. Ambassador, Jorge Urbina, acknowledged differences exist among Security Council members on whether to invoke the Council's power to suspend the investigation for one year, and made clear that his country does not support such a move."We regret very much the pressure that has been put on the Council to defer the case from the court," he said. "We believe that this pressure should be put on the government of Sudan to comply with the decision of the court."Human rights groups are also calling on the Security Council to send a clear and united message to Khartoum that it must comply with the court's decision and that no retaliatory violence will be tolerated. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is also seeking arrest warrants against three rebel commanders for a 2007 attack on African Union peacekeepers in which 12 were killed.

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Blair Says Conditions Must Change for Israelis and Palestinians to Make Peace

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Former British prime minister says there cannot be a Palestinian state until situation in Gaza is resolved
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will not succeed until the reality on the ground improves for both sides. Mr. Blair made the remarks during a speech in Washington and VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details.

Tony Blair, 3 Dec 2008The same day Tony Blair resigned after 10 years as British Prime Minister he was appointed as representative of the Middle East Quartet to help the Palestinians build their institutions and economy.

The Quartet, which consists of the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States, has been trying to improve conditions for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

But Mr. Blair says everyday realities must improve for both sides before any agreement is possible.

"The problem is that until now the reality on the ground for Israelis and Palestinians has not passed what I would call the minimum threshold of credibility for the political negotiation to succeed. Not for the Israelis on security, not for the Palestinians on lifting the occupation," he said.

Mr. Blair, who has been the Quartet's representative for the past 18 months, says there recently have been small improvements in the West Bank.

He says Palestinian security forces have successfully deployed in the West Bank cities of Jenin, Nablus and Hebron. Mr. Blair says the economy is improving and the unemployment rate is falling.

In his speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, the former British prime minister said conditions continue to deteriorate in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the militant group Hamas.

Mr. Blair says there cannot be a Palestinian state until the situation in Gaza is resolved.

"There can only be one Palestinian state. It will combine Gaza and the West Bank. However much we are tempted to set Gaza to one side because of the chaos it causes to Palestinian cohesion, it cannot be. But neither is its predicament inevitable. It can and it must be reversed," he said.

Mr. Blair says the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank must prove it can maintain security. He says Israel must also stop building Jewish settlements there.

Mr. Blair says ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains key to solving other problems in the region.

"Peace between Israelis and Palestinians would release forces of modernization across the region. It would pin back the forces of reaction and it does not inhabit an entirely separate sphere from issues like Iran or Iraq or Afghanistan or Pakistan or any of the other troubled parts of that region, which crowd in on our consciences and compete for our attention. It is integral to resolving them too," he said.

Mr. Blair says an effort by the Bush administration to boost peace talks during a conference in Annapolis, Maryland last year does provide a platform to build on even though the sides will not reach their goal of an agreement by the end of this year.

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S. Korean School Isolates N. Korean Defectors to Better Integrate Them

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Special school trys to level the playing field of opportunity for North Korean arrivals
There are about 15,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea. That number is steadily growing. Most of them left the communist North to escape hunger, severe deprivation and political repression. Starting a new life in the advanced, capitalist South is daunting - especially when it comes to getting an education. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin traveled to a special school that is trying to level the playing field of opportunity for North Korean arrivals.The bell rings and uniformed students hurry to their next lesson. It looks like a typical South Korean school day. But, here, there are some big differences.None of the students attending classes here were born in South Korea. All of them fled - at one point or another - from North Korea. They are among thousands of North Koreans who have arrived in South Korea after making an illegal border crossing into China - where they arranged passage here, often via travel brokers who operate in secret. The process is usually dangerous and traumatizing.Because of the communist North's isolation and poverty, they have enjoyed few if any of the learning opportunities South Korean children take for granted. Because of food shortages, they are noticeably smaller than South Koreans. Even using their native language is hard, because the South's version of Korean has borrowed so many words from other countries, over the decades.So here, at the Hankyoreh Middle and High School in the South Korean town, Anseong, they get special attention. The students eat, sleep and study on campus. Security is kept tight. It is South Korea's only publically-administered school exclusively for North Korean defectors. Principal Kwak Jong-moon says it is designed to meet every need - not just academics.He says the basic goal is to acclimate the North Koreans to the very different culture and society of South Korea. The school provides psychological counseling to help the students attain emotional stability. He says a range of medical treatment is also available.Most of the North Korean students have lost one or both parents or have left family members behind in the North. Kwak says the school does the best it can to fill that void.He says teachers live with students, in the dormitories, and become a reassuring presence, just like like mothers and fathers. He says they can sometimes even be better, because they can keep teaching the students after school, which many parents cannot do.The students' curriculum includes everything from history to English to digital-media technology. They also play sports - from badminton . . .. to traditional Asian swordplay.Students in a drama class have been rehearsing a play called "You Are Not Alone." Drama teacher Lee Do-ran says the young North Koreans appreciate the chance to act out the challenges of starting their new lives.She says the culture shock North Korean defectors experience, when they first arrive in the South, can sometimes lead to conflict. She says the play deals with that and with other problems faced by all young people.Back in the dormitories, at night, the North Korean students say they spend much of their free time talking about life back home and their hopes of returning, one day. Twenty-one-year-old student Kim Kyung-ha says her life at Hankyoreh has helped her see the South differently.She says, when she watched South Korean television in China, it looked as though everyone in the South was one big family. But she was disappointed to find that people here can be very cold. However, she says the teachers at this school are a big exception.Kim and most of the other students are not expected to graduate formally from Hankyoreh. Instead, they will transition to regular South Korean schools when their teachers feel they are emotionally and academically ready for that challenge.

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Miami Cuban-Americans Shifting Opinion on Cuba Embargo

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Latest Miami poll shows 55 percent of Cuban-Americans now oppose continuing embargo
A new U.S. public opinion poll shows long-time support for the U.S. embargo against Cuba is falling among the Cuban-American community in Miami. VOA's Brian Wagner reports from southern Florida the poll reflects a shift of opinion away from harsh policies toward Cuba. The question has been a staple in the yearly poll conducted by Florida International University since 1991. Cuban-Americans in the Miami area are asked whether they favor or oppose continuing the U.S. embargo of Cuba.For years, the majority of Cuban exiles supported the trade restrictions even while recognizing the embargo had little impact on the Communist government in Havana. But the latest poll shows the tide is shifting, and now 55 percent of people said they oppose continuing the embargo.Hugh Gladwin is director of the university's Institute for Public Opinion Research, which conducts the poll. "The biggest factor in the changing position on the embargo is the number of younger people who arrived more recently from Cuba has been increasing. And the number of people who arrived in the 1960s has been decreasing," he said.Fidel Castro (file photo)Recent arrivals tend to favor closer ties with Cuba, partly because they still have family and friends on the island, while those who fled Cuba decades ago have powerful feelings about the rise of former President Fidel Castro and his Communist government.Elsewhere in the United States, the embargo and U.S. policy toward Cuba receives little attention. Most Americans do not support the trade and economic restrictions, which were first imposed in 1962 and expanded in 1996. Another key question the poll asked was what should happen now, and what president-elect Barack Obama should do when he takes office next month. Gladwin said researchers are still studying the responses, which included people saying they expected Mr. Obama to make no real changes."But I would say much more frequently were responses like 'maybe now things will change.' The thing I noticed a lot is that people are just fed up with the situation," said Gladwin.Obama at an Independence Day Celebration at the Cuban American National Foundation, Miami, 23 May 2008During the campaign, president-elect Barack Obama tried to tap into frustrations about how U.S. policy has failed to weaken the Communist government in Havana. He did not promise to end the embargo, but the incoming president said he will review other U.S. restrictions and would be open to meeting Cuban leaders.The big question is whether Cuba policy and possible reforms will be high on the political agenda, once Mr. Obama takes office.

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South Africa Experiments With Houses Made of Sand

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MMA Architects will build 10 houses for low-income families bigger and better than the low-income homes South Africa has been building
Builders in South Africa have begun construction on a new type of housing for low-income families. The buildings look like conventional homes, but the walls are made with sandbags. Architects say their experimental design is quicker and easier to build. For VOA, Terry FitzPatrick reports from Cape Town.South Africa builds about 250,000 houses for the poor, every year. But ten homes going up in Freedom Park are a radical departure from standard construction practices.Construction of a sandbag home in South Africa"This is a drawing plan which we use for construction," said Luyanda Mpahlwa of MMA Architects, who was commissioned by a Cape Town foundation, called the Design Indaba, to develop new ideas for low-cost homes."We had to be creative, in terms of finding a different way of building. Because we're all comfortable to say this is how you build today and we don't challenge ourselves to find alternative methods," added Mpahlwa.The design team's first innovation was to move beyond the standard floor plan of a single-story home. The new layout has two floors. A living room, kitchen and bath are downstairs. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and a balcony. Mpahlwa says the 581 square feet of living space is bigger and better than the low-income homes South Africa has been building."We are trying to introduce the element of dignity in low-cost housing. Now, as architects we've got the challenge to apply our trade to improve the lives of people. But, at the same time, we should provide good quality for the people, so that they have a decent house," said Mpahlwa.The building's most unusual innovation comes from a small factory, a few miles away. Frameworks for the homes are pre-fabricated at a company called Eco Beam and then shipped to the construction site. Mike Tremeer developed the wood-and metal framework design. "I think it makes it easy to build. It's extremely fast. It's ideal for situations where you have no infrastructure," said Tremeer. Once the frame goes up on site, the walls are filled-in with 3,500 sandbags. Tremeer says sandbags are strong and durable. And, to keep costs down, community members fill the bags, themselves, at the building location."It adds so much value to someone's property, if they've actually had an input in actually being able to help to build that house. And, this is an opportunity for people to actually do that. We can use extremely unskilled labor," said Tremeer. "Once the framework is up, it's just a matter of filling in the gaps."The ten experimental sandbag homes will be occupied by families who have been living in shacks. Construction is being financed by private donors. The project recently won the prestigious Curry Stone architectural award from the University of Kentucky, in the United States. But it is not clear if South African officials will adopt the sandbag concept for other housing developments. The architects estimate each home will cost about 10-thousand dollars to build. That is more than expected and is twice the price of a conventional low-income house in South Africa.

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Scotland Promotes Whiskey as a Weapon Against Polluted Water

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Scientists have conducted field tests around Britain and say a scotch by-product can cure contaminated groundwater
Scotch whiskey is said, by some, to have many magical qualities. Now, scientists in Scotland have discovered one more: it can be a weapon against polluted waste sites. A by-product of the spirit is 99.96 percent effective in cleaning contaminated ground water and scientists in Scotland are hoping to export their special clean whiskey to the world. VOA's Mandy Clark reports from Aberdeen. Scotchmen stand as they wear traditional dress behind the first bottles in the world of Scotch Whiskey Royal Salute 38 Years Old (File)A wee dram of whiskey - it is Scotland's national drink and locals say it cures the common cold.

But there is another Scottish DRAM that has even greater health implications. It is a water-cleaning technology invented by scientists at Aberdeen University. This DRAM is derived from a scotch by-product and it can cure contaminated groundwater. Its clever name, DRAM, stands for Device for the Remediation and Attenuation of Multiple pollutants. Soil toxicologist Graeme Paton says it can take chemically polluted water and make it clean. "We are making something that fish can survive in, that plants, that can be used for washing and irrigation, that is the objective of this project," said Paton.DRAM is far quicker and more cost effective than current clean-up techniques. It can remove multiple pollutants simultaneously, such as pesticides or heavy metals, making once-tainted water safe enough to go back into the environment. The scientists have conducted field tests around Britain, from toxic sites to water treatment facilities. The university research team considers the trials so successful it is keeping the by-product secret and Graeme Paton says they are contemplating setting up a company to exploit the commercial potential to a global market. "Part of our ambition is not just to deal with the West and developed world, but also other very under developed countries, like Pakistan and Bangladesh and West Africa, where much of our tanneries are carried out to produce our leather and the by-product that produces is horrifically toxic to local areas," added Paton. "We can actually deploy this as a very sustainable option to help those people as well. Water, clean water is the right of every human being that we should expect in the Western world." The inventors say it is also an environmentally friendly solution. Unlike current methods, DRAM does not use potent chemicals to clean the water - the pollutants simply get trapped in the organic DRAM material. Leigh Cassidy came up the idea of using the whiskey by-product as a groundwater cleaner. She credits her profound knowledge of Scotch. "I started doing a check list of the ideal properties, and as I ticked off the list I thought, 'Ohhh, I know what has got that in it," said Cassidy. Paton and Cassidy say they are thrilled with their scientific discovery of an environmentally friendly water-cleaning solution. Well, it is certainly a idea worth toasting.

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Wednesday 3 December 2008

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Rice Calls on Pakistan to Cooperate With Mumbai Terror Probe

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During US Embassy press conference in India, secretary of state notes assault on commercial capital resembles type of attacks staged by al-Qaida
With tensions heightened between India and Pakistan, the top American envoy is calling for Islamabad to show its resolve and to join the international effort to find those responsible for the Mumbai terror attack. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Indian capital to meet with top government officials. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi. Condoleezza Rice talks to reporters during press conference in New Delhi, 03 Dec 2008Speaking to reporters at the American Embassy before her meetings with the Indian prime minister, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice directed much of her message towards Islamabad. "We have to act with urgency. We have to act with resolve," said Rice. "And, I have said that Pakistan needs to act with resolve and urgency and cooperate fully and transparently." Rice says that message will be delivered again to Pakistan. She is expected to fly to Islamabad Thursday, as part of her altered itinerary that saw her detour from Europe to South Asia, after last week's attack by terrorists on Mumbai. Although some U.S. officials suspect involvement of the Pakistan-based Lashkar e-Taiba, Secretary Rice says it is premature to draw any conclusions on who is responsible. But she notes the assault on India's commercial capital resembles the type of attacks staged by al Qaida."Where there is a direct al Qaida hand or not, this is clearly a kind of terrorism in which al Qaida participates," she said. India blames the attack on 10 gunmen who came by sea from Pakistan, heavily armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades. They killed about 175 people during a 60-hour siege. The United States and other countries are concerned that the attack could wreck the Indo-Pakistani peace process that has been underway in recent years. The nuclear-armed countries have gone to war against each other three times. A number of other prominent Americans have come to the region to hold talks with Indian and Pakistani officials. They include three senior American senators and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. Speaking at an election campaign rally Thursday, the chairperson of India's governing United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, issued a new warning to Islamabad about limits to India's patience, as it awaits a favorable from Pakistan. The widow of slain Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi says India's neighbors should not make the wrong assumption that its desire for friendly relations is a sign of weakness. Speaking in India-controlled Kashmir, the powerful Congress Party leader added India will not bow down to terrorists, but rather will demonstrate what she calls a "fitting reply." The rhetoric comes amid opposition party criticism that the government is soft on terrorism and failed to improve intelligence and security that could have prevented a wave of bombings this year, mostly blamed on Muslim militants.

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Many Indians Angry About Failure to Stop Terror Strikes

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Indians express disappointment at government inaction to stop, reduce threat of attacks
A week after coordinated terrorist strikes killed and injured hundreds of people in India's financial hub, Mumbai, public anger is mounting at what people see as the government's failure to reduce the threat of terror strikes. As Anjana Pasricha from New Delhi, terror attacks have devastated several Indian cities, in the last decade. Members of anti-terrorist squad take positions outside Chhatrapati Shivaji railroad station following rumor of terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, 28 Nov 2008The assault by about 10-15 gunmen who wrecked havoc in Mumbai, last week, is over. But the booming sound of gunshots and images of fires billowing at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai have been imprinted on the minds of people across the country.It was not the first time that an Indian city was devastated by a terror strike. This year, bomb attacks have ripped through busy markets in New Delhi, in the information-technology hub, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad, killing hundreds of people.But the attacks in Mumbai were the bloodiest and most brazen in the last decade. And, across the country, it has unleashed a wave of anger at the political establishment for not formulating an effective strategy to tackle terror, despite repeated attacks in Indian cities. Fingers are being pointed at not just the government, but all politicians. "Very angry, very, very angry at the government, the politicians, the bureaucrats, everybody," one person said. "They have been saying they will be doing things, but they have really not done anything.""The policy makers were not bothered," noted another. "Instead of working together, they are now opposite each other - rather than joining hands and finding a solution for the problem we are facing," another person said."Very disgusted, and a lot of anger inside. We must do something at least to protect ourselves," a fourth person said.The anger has been fueled by media reports that security agencies failed to share information and act on intelligence reports about a possible attack on luxury hotels in Mumbai.In recent days, two politicians who went to pay condolences to families of officers killed battling the gunmen in Mumbai were turned away. In Mumbai, crowds have been gathering near the Gateway of India, adjacent to the devastated Taj Hotel, after text messages called on people to come and "tell the politicians and leaders that we want our safety." In letters to newspapers, people are attacking what they say is "a weak political system."The call for accountability has been heard. Political heads have rolled. The federal interior minister has been replaced with former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. He is promising tough action to tackle terror. "We will respond with determination and resolve to the grave threat posed to the Indian nation," he said. "This is a threat to the very idea of India, to the very soul of India." Civic groups are debating what citizens can do to contribute to the fight against terror. Not all people are just blaming the politicians. Many young people, like college student Vaibhav, say ordinary people need to do more to ensure that governance is clean and honest. "Ultimately it is us who make them corrupt, it is we who pay them bribes," he said. "So it is necessary we take self initiatives and work towards it together, without forming any bias on the basis of caste, religion or whatever."Others, like Deepali Dalmia, say the repeated terror strikes in cities have made them fearful of being hit by another attack. "We are hardly stepping out - especially no five-star hotels - and being a little conservative about sending children to birthdays in public places, only to people's houses. It is just not a good feeling," Dalmia said. Observers say that, in a country that is no stranger to terror attacks, the level of concern and debate triggered by the Mumbai attacks is unprecedented . They say it could partly be because the attacks targeted the elite of India, who have not directly faced the threat so far.

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Obama to Announce Nominee for Commerce Secretary

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US President-elect Barack Obama expected to tap New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for key trade position
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is set to name another governor to his Cabinet Wednesday.New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (file photo)Mr. Obama has scheduled a news conference in the central city of Chicago to announce the nomination of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for commerce secretary.Richardson is a former Democratic presidential candidate who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration.As commerce secretary, Richardson would play a key role in promoting international trade and helping to strengthen the U.S. economy. Another governor, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, was nominated Monday to head the Department of Homeland Security. Also Wednesday, members of Mr. Obama's transition team are meeting with about a dozen retired generals and admirals. The former high-ranking military officials are urging the future Obama administration to ban the use of harsh interrogation techniques by the Central Intelligence Agency. President George Bush authorized the use of such techniques as part of U.S. efforts to get information from terrorism suspects. Harsh interrogation techniques have included waterboarding, which simulates drowning and that, in the past, had been classified as torture by the United States.Also, Vice President-elect Joe Biden is being briefed in Washington by a congressional commission on the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Biden will be joined by Obama's pick for homeland security chief, Governor Napolitano.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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Britain Prioritizes Economy in Legislative Plan

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Queen Elizabeth II delivers annual address to House of Lords and Commons
The British government presented its legislative agenda to parliament Wednesday, and dealing with the financial crisis and stabilizing the economy are the top priorities. It's the government's program, but, as every year, it is Queen Elizabeth II, who delivered the message in a very formal and elaborate ceremony. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London.It's an age-old tradition, full of pomp and ceremony, as the Queen arrives in Parliament to address the House of Lords and Commons.Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks from the throne in the House of Lords, during the State Opening of Parliament in London, 03 Dec 2008The speech is drawn up by the government - the Queen delivers it, and thus marks the beginning of a new parliamentary session.There were no surprises - the financial crisis and what to do about the slumping economy tops the legislative agenda."My Lords and Members of the House of Commons. My government's overriding priority is to ensure the stability of the British economy during the global economic downturn," said the Queen. "My government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times."The government has already outlined proposals to try to re-energize the economy - including a cut in the national sales tax and tax breaks and incentives for low income families and small businesses.And, Britain will host a summit of the G-20 group of industrialized and emerging economies in April, as the UK and governments around the world attempt to stem the economic downturn and stimulate their economies back into growth.Announcing the government's legislative agenda, the Queen stated a number of proposals - from reforming the social welfare system and making the justice system more transparent, to forging ahead with plans to eradicate child poverty by the year 2020.On foreign policy, it was very much a continuation of stated goals."My government will press for a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East, continued progress in Iraq and for effective measures to address concerns over Iran's nuclear program," said the Queen. "My government will work with the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan for security, stability and prosperity."After the annual address, the Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Phillip, left the chamber for the carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace.

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Gates: New Afghanistan Strategy a High Priority

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US defense secretary says one of his first priorities in new Obama administration will be to re-evaluate US strategy in Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says a new strategy for fighting Islamic extremists in Afghanistan will be a high priority for the administration of President-elect Barack Obama. Gates, who has served as Defense secretary under President George Bush, has been chosen by Mr. Obama to remain in the post. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington.Defense Secretary Robert Gates holds a press briefing at the Pentagon, 2 Dec. 2008Secretary Gates told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday that one of his first priorities in the new administration, which begins on January 20, will be to re-evaluate U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. "It is very important for us to do everything we can to make sure that the Afghans understand this is their fight, and they have to be out front in this fight," he said. "That is why I am such a strong supporter of accelerating the expansion of the Afghan army."The Bush administration is reviewing the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, and the Obama administration is expected to do the same.Gates said U.S. officials are greatly concerned about terrorist safe havens on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which Mr. Obama has called the number one threat to the security of Americans. Gates said the United States and Afghanistan will increase their efforts to close safe havens on the Afghan side of the border, and he said Washington will emphasize a similar partnership with Pakistan's government to shut down the enclaves on its side. "We are prepared to move as quickly as the Pakistanis are," he said. "I know they are uneasy about the American footprint in Pakistan, and I think we have to be sensitive to their political concerns. At the same time, we cannot do this on our own."Soldiers in a Humvee patrol the perimeter of the Camp Delta detention compound, at Guantanamo Bay's US Naval Base, in Cuba, 06 Jun 2008Secretary Gates also said another high priority will be to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, where more than 250 detainees suspected of terrorism are being held. Gates said closing the controversial facility will require help from Capitol Hill. "I think it is possible to close it," he said. "I think it does require a joint effort with the Congress. I think some legislation probably is needed as a part of it. I think trying to move forward on that, at least from my standpoint, should be a high priority."The defense secretary commended India for its restraint in responding to last week's deadly attacks in Mumbai. He said the killings were clearly the act of an extremist group trying to target Americans and Britons. But he acknowledged that most of those who died were Indians.Gates is the only Bush administration cabinet member who has been asked to stay on in the Obama administration.

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Zimbabwe Police Turn Back Protesters

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Riot police break up two separate protests in Harare over dismal state of public health, economy
Police officer falls from pickup truck while trying to disperse doctors and nurses demonstrating in Harare, 03 Nov 2008Riot police in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, have broken up two separate protests over the dismal state of public health and the economy.Witnesses say police drove off a group of doctors and nurses protesting in front of Zimbabwe's Health Ministry Wednesday.In the other incident, police using batons beat union members as they demonstrated against tight restrictions on cash withdrawals. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions says at least 50 union members were arrested, including the group's leader, Wellington Chibebe.Zimbabwe is mired in a deep economic crisis, marked by extreme inflation and chronic shortages of everything from food to fuel to cash. The country is also dealing with an outbreak of cholera. The United Nations said Wednesday that the epidemic has killed 565 people. Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper said that individuals will now be allowed to withdraw up to $100 million (Zimbabwe dollars) per week from their bank accounts. In another indication of drastic inflation, the Herald reports the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will begin circulating three new banknotes - worth $10, $50 and $100 million (Zimbabwe dollars) - on Thursday.Meanwhile, the government says it will punish rogue soldiers who loot stores and attack civilians. Earlier this week, police clashed with about 100 soldiers who went on a looting spree in Harare.The Herald says the soldiers had been unable to withdraw money from the country's cash-strapped banks. The paper quotes Zimbabwe's defense minister as warning that anyone who tries to incite the armed forces to riot will be held accountable.Conditions in Zimbabwe have deteriorated as the country's political crisis drags on. Power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been stalled for months.Mr. Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on Western sanctions against his government. But critics say Mr. Mugabe has destroyed the country through reckless policies and mismanagement during his nearly 30-year rule.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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Anti-Government Protests End in Bangkok, but Uncertainty Remains

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Analysts say political outlook remains clouded, because of concerns over choice of new prime minister
Anti-government protesters have ended their occupation of the airports in Bangkok after a court ruling removed Thailand's prime minister. But as Ron Corben reports from the Thai capital, the political outlook remains clouded, because of concerns over the choice of a new prime minister.Thai officials began cleaning up Bangkok's airports.Passengers from a Thai Airways flight come out from the plane after arriving at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok, Thailand, 03 Dec 2008Earlier in the day, the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy ended its eight-day siege of the terminals. And the first passenger flights in a week arrived at the international airport.The blockade left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded. Airport officials say it will be several days before operations are back to normal. Since May, the PAD has campaigned against the government, accusing it of acting as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.The protests ended after a court ruling dissolved three governing coalition parties, led by the People's Power Party, for breaking election laws.Somchai Wongsawat, left, talks to reporters after court dissolves ruling party and bans him from politics, in Chiang Mai, 02 Dec 2008 The decision ended the 77-day government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.But members of the banned groups shifted to new parties, and they continue to dominate parliament.Sunai Pasuk, with Human Rights Watch here, says next the parties will select a new prime minister. But he says that will not necessarily end the political tensions. "I would say at this point this is only the end of Act One; we are having a cool-off period until the selection of prime minister, that will start next week on the seventh, eighth and ninth of December. These will be three critical days," said Sunai. If the PAD sees the new prime minister as being too close to Mr. Thaksin, the protests could resume. The PAD considers Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup two years ago, corrupt and authoritarian. He has fled the country to avoid corruption charges.Protesters at main international airport in Bangkok, 26 Nov 2008However, Sunai says Mr. Thaksin's supporters are increasingly frustrated by what they see as a lack of official impartiality in dealing with the PAD, which occupied a government office compound and the airports without punishment.Pro-government groups also accuse the judiciary of bias against Mr. Somchai's government. Sunai says the political situation remains unsettled. "The situation remains very fluid - with all these factors together - the PAD can come back anytime - Thaksin's side remains defiant and it is very likely to take control of the government again so we are back to square one," said Sunai. Kraisak Choonhavan, a member of the opposition Democrat Party, says the outlook appears bleak, with only a slight chance of the governing coalition breaking up.But Kraisak does not expect the PAD to begin new protests soon. He says it is now up to parliament to find a way through the political crisis."There is a chance in the very near future here we are able to go back to the parliament and do the job we can and maintain democracy - as crippled as it is - to make it work somehow," said Kraisak. He says the governing coalition is likely to be weaker this time around, and the government will to have to call an election in 2009.Thailand's current political crisis is the most severe in 16 years. It has pitched Mr. Thaksin's supporters in the rural and urban working class against the middle class and urban elite who make up the PAD.

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US, Japan, S. Korea Agree on North Korean Nuclear Verification

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Negotiators to take samples from N. Korean facilities to confirm Pyongyang's declaration of its programs
Envoys from the U.S., Japan and South Korea say they will push North Korea to allow inspectors to take samples from its nuclear facilities to verify claims that it has ended its nuclear weapons program.US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, right, answers questions as Japan's nuclear envoy Akitaka Saiki, looks on in Tokyo, 03 Dec 2008Following talks in Tokyo Wednesday, the three envoys said they would seek a written document detailing the issue of taking samples.Akitaka Saiki, Japan's chief nuclear negotiator, says he and his counterparts - Christopher Hill of the United States and South Korea's Kim Sook - agree they must take samples from North Korean facilities to confirm Pyongyang's declaration of its programs. He says they will introduce their demands when the six-nation nuclear talks resume next week in Beijing.Wednesday's meeting took place on the eve of one-on-one talks between Hill and his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye Gwan in Singapore. Washington says North Korea agreed to sampling during a meeting with Hill in October, but Pyongyang denies it. The agreement cleared the way for Washington to remove Pyongyang from a terrorism black list. In return, North Korea halted moves to reverse disablement measures at its main nuclear reactor and allowed international inspectors to resume monitoring at the facility.The U.S., Japan and South Korea, along with China and Russia, have been negotiating with the isolated communist regime to end its nuclear activities in exchange for energy and other benefits. Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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UN Security Council Extends Anti-Piracy Measures Off Somali Coast

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US-drafted resolution authorizes states to take all necessary means - including force - to combat piracy
The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution allowing member states to continue fighting pirates off the coast of Somalia for another year. The resolution also offers support for a European Union anti-piracy mission that launches next week. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.The U.S.-drafted resolution authorized states to continue taking all necessary means to combat piracy - including the use of force.It also laid a legal foundation for a European Union naval operation, known as Atalanta, which is expected to begin next week. Under the European Union flag, France, Britain, Germany and Greece are sending one warship each, and Spain is contributing airpower. The force will patrol near Somalia's pirate-infested waters and escort ships carrying commercial and humanitarian cargo.French UN envoy Jean- Maurice Ripert, 8 Jul 2008French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said he considers the resolution a very important step in the fight against piracy."Piracy is killing. Every day more than three million Somali people are depending on food aid, on emergency relief - which are coming, 95 percent of them - by the sea. So by adopting resolution 1846, the international community is sending a very strong signal of its determination to deal with piracy," he said. Council members said they still need to work out a mechanism for prosecuting suspected pirates once they arrest them. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo said it is a difficult issue that must be resolved."We have noted in our resolution the SUA convention - the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Maritime Security - that we believe allows for prosecuting pirates. It provides the jurisdiction for states party to the convention -there are almost 150 countries now that have signed on - we are urging those who are states parties to use the authorities in that convention to deal with this issue," she said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 07 Nov 2008Council members stressed that the explosion of piracy off Somalia's coast is a symptom of the political conflict and lawlessness in that country, and that these root causes must be resolved to really stop piracy.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked the council to authorize an international stabilization force for Somalia, which would take over from the small African Union force on the ground, and eventually would be replaced by U.N. peacekeepers once the situation has stabilized.

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Muslim School Plan Provokes Anger in Australia

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Hundreds of protesters waving placards gather outside council office to vent frustration over plan for Islamic school in ritzy coastal area known as 'Gold Coast'
Hundreds of demonstrators have protested against plans to build a Muslim school on Australia's Gold Coast. Residents waving placards bearing slogans like "Muslim school - Hell no!" have gathered outside council offices to vent their frustrations. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.Muslim schools have operated in the northern Australian state of Queensland for many years. However, the prospect of another college has provoked public anger.Plans have been submitted for an Islamic school on the Gold Coast, a ritzy coastal community south of Brisbane.Some locals are worried about traffic and are concerned that the new development will only add to congestion on the region's roads. Others have barely concealed their distaste for Islam and have made their feelings known on an Australian radio show."My main concern with the whole deal is what sort of stuff are they going to be teaching these children?" a female caller said. "Are they going to be teaching them radical Islam, go out and become a suicide bomber, oppress the women and all that sort of stuff?""They've got one agenda: get in, take over," a male caller said. "Australians, wake up, for God's sake. If we like our democracy and freedom, we should stop all Muslim immigration to this nation." For the second time in a week, demonstrators have protested outside council offices on the Gold Coast.The local mayor has said he has been shocked by the sentiments expressed by some of those attending the rallies. The council has insisted that the multicultural region, which has more than 80 ethnic groups, has never had a reputation for racial or religious intolerance.Supporters of the Islamic college's Gold Coast application have stressed that concerns that it would promote religious segregation and extremism have been disproved. The college's trustees have said that it would be open to students of all faiths.The council will make a final decision, early next year.Earlier this year, officials rejected plans for an Islamic school on the outskirts of Australia's biggest city, Sydney. Many residents in Camden said the presence of hundreds of Muslim students would harm their community. The council said it had based its decision on town planning issues, such as traffic flows.Australia's Muslim community numbers about 350,000 people. Its members, have often complained about discrimination from the wider community.

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Black-White Comedy Team Remembered for Building Bridges Through Humor

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New book looks at race relations through eyes of two stand-up comedians: Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen
The 1960s and '70s were times of changing race relations in the United States. A new book called Tim and Tom looks at the era through the eyes of two stand-up comics. Mike O'Sullivan spoke with authors Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen about their experience as the nation's first, and possibly last, black and white comedy team.The 1960s were trying times, says comic Tom Dreesen, who co-authored Tim and Tom with former partner Tim Reid."The Vietnam War was raging," said Tom Dreesen. "I just got out of the service. Tim just got out of college. College students were protesting all over America. There were riots across the land. They were protesting against the war. The world was in turmoil."Against this backdrop, Dreesen and Reid worked as community volunteers in an anti-drug program in suburban Chicago. The two friends visited schools and used humor to urge youngsters to stay away from drugs. Dreesen recalls that one student had a suggestion."She said you guys are funny," he said. "You ought to become a comedy team." They embraced the idea and worked out a routine. From 1969 through the early 1970s, they appeared in bars and night clubs, telling jokes about their childhood, their friends and neighborhoods. Dreesen is white and Reid is black, and the two would often touch on the sensitive topic of race.Tom Dreesen (r) and Tim Reid (undated photo)The United States was going through dramatic social changes. Congress had passed the sweeping Civil Rights Act of 1964, banning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Reid says racism was still a fact of life, and while barriers broke down, most black and white people still led separate lives."The law had been passed, but still, in the height of our career, we called an integrated audience an audience that had maybe, out of 150 or 200, 12 to 18 blacks because they just did not feel comfortable being in that surrounding at that particular time," said Tim Reid. "So whenever they were in the audience, whenever we did a joke, people would look at the black people in the audience and see if they laughed first. And then if they laughed, then everybody joined in."The two comics were sometimes the target of racial remarks from intolerant critics, both black and white, but their humor often got people of both races laughing together. The men have since built successful careers, Dreesen as a standup comic who spent 14 years as a warm-up act for singer Frank Sinatra, and Reid as an actor best known for the role of disk jockey Venus Flytrap on the popular TV series WRKP in Cincinnati. He also starred in the series "Sister, Sister" and the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Frank's Place. Dreesen says comedy is not easy, but performing in front of an audience of 20 or 20,000 can be addictive. He says most comics crave the laughter and applause.DREESEN: "Eighty-five percent of all standup comedians I have ever met in my life are insecure, neurotic, sometimes psychotic, love-starved wrecks. And the other 15 percent are gifted, confident people who say, this is what I do. I know how to write a joke and I know how to tell it." REID: "There really are gifted confident people there?"DREESEN: "Fifteen percent. I include Bill Cosby. I like to think I am in that category, but never trust anyone who tells you they are sane."The comedians say the election of the first black U.S. president has changed the cultural landscape, altering race relations in a good way. Tim Reid says comics will have to adapt, as the great ones have done in the past."Because we have a black president, all bets are off," he said. "And so I think they are interesting times for the future 21st-century Will Rogers or the future kind of person who can step out of the shackles of the old racial stereotypes and create new racial jokes, create new paradigms for comedy."Dreesen says comics all pay their dues and learn their skills from hard experience, but no others have tackled the issue of race as directly as Tim and Tom did. He says both have the scars to prove it - a drunk once put out a cigarette in his partner's face."In the history of show business, no comedy team ever had to pay the kind of dues that Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen paid," said Dreesen. "None. Everybody pays dues and everybody's got their horror stories, but we were America's first black and white comedy team and we were the last.The two men say that Tim and Tom, which they wrote with journalist Ron Rapoport, is more than a tale of two comics. It is a chronicle of a turbulent time of changing race relations, and it shows how the country got through the era with a dose of humor.

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Tuesday 2 December 2008

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Thai Court Bans Ruling Coalition Parties from Politics

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Decision prompts anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy to allow flights to resume at Bangkok's international airport
A court has ruled that the Thai prime minister, his party and his coalition partners are banned from politics. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the decision led the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy to pledge to allow flights to resume at Bangkok's international airport. Anti-government protesters cheer during a rally at Suvarnabhumi international airport, 01 Dec 2008The People's Alliance for Democracy says it will continue some protests at the international airport, but on Tuesday agreed to allow flights to resume. However, airport officials say it could be several days before full operations resume.

Court ruling disbands 3 coalition partiesThe PAD decision came hours after a Thai constitutional court disbanded the three leading parties in the government coalition. A judge read the order banning the Chart Thai Party, one of the coalition partners. The verdicts were announced, under strict security, after the judges were forced to move to another building after the constitutional court was surrounded by pro-government demonstrators. The ruling follows court findings that the main coalition party, the People Power Party, Chart Thai and another partner, violated election laws during the December 2007 general elections. Several executives from each party also were banned from politics for five years.

Ruling removes PM Somchai from office Somchai Wongsawat, left, talks to reporters after court dissolves ruling party and bans him from politics, in Chiang Mai, 02 Dec 2008 The verdict removes Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from office. A PPP spokesman says party members in parliament not directly affected by the ruling will join a new party that already has been created. Deputy Prime Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul has been named interim prime minister until a new coalition government is formed and a new prime minister can be selected.

Government supporters say judiciary staged 'silent coup'Pro-government supporters have accused the judiciary of bias and staging a "silent coup" against Mr. Somchai and his brother-in-law, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD calls the verdict a victory, following months of long protests, including a three-month siege of the main government office building."Today, the constitution court finally dissolved the party that acted as a nominee for Thaksin Shinawatra," said Parnthep Pourpongpan, a PAD spokesman. "We have to consider about the victory. We totally agree that at least we have to review the level of demonstration now at least about how we reduce and how much we reduce."

Protests strand touristsThailand's tourism industry and air cargo have been severely disrupted by the airport occupation, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost income. It is estimated that up to a quarter of a million tourists remain stranded because of the occupation.Soon after the ruling, the government postponed a summit of Southeast Asian leaders, which was to start December 13.

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India Re-Submits Fugitives List to Pakistan in Wake of Mumbai Terror Attack

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Move seen as latest effort to pressure Islamabad to take action to defuse network in Pakistan that allegedly plans, carries out terrorist attacks against India
In wake of the terror attack in Mumbai, India is renewing demands Pakistan hand over wanted fugitives. India's government says a list of alleged terrorists and others has been re-submitted in a formal diplomatic request. VOA correspondent Steve Herman in New Delhi reports the move is seen as the latest effort to pressure Islamabad to take action to defuse the network on Pakistani soil that allegedly plans and carries out terrorist attacks against India. India's external affairs minister, speaking to reporters Tuesday, has given some details of the formal diplomatic note - known as a "

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demarche" - handed to Pakistan's top envoy here. Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, 02 Dec 2008Pranab Mukherjee says the document contains the names of about 20 individuals India has long wanted extradited from Pakistan. "The demarche asks the arrest and hand-over of those persons who are settled in Pakistan and who are fugitives of Indian law," Mukherjee said.List includes India's most wanted manAlthough India's government did not release the names of those on the fugitive list, Indian media say they include the infamous Mumbai crime kingpin, Dawood Ibrahim, and Maulana Masood Azhar - a Pakistani Muslim cleric who, in 1999, was freed from an Indian prison, in exchange for passengers on a hijacked Indian airliner. Ibrahim is considered India's most wanted man. His organization is suspected of involvement in a 1993 bombing in Mumbai that left 250 people dead. Indian media reports say there is also official suspicion some of his underlings may have provided support to the terrorists who struck last week. Azhar leads the group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is believed to support Muslim separatists in the part of disputed Kashmir which is under Indian control. India initially gave Pakistani officials the list six years ago and says it never received an adequate response. India blames Pakistani elements for Mumbai terror attackThe Mumbai terror attack, which India blames on elements in Pakistan, threatens to send relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors into their worst state since 2002. An intense international diplomatic effort is under way to try to prevent tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad from entering another crisis phase. The two nuclear-capable countries have gone to war against each other three times since their independence in 1947. Among those already here or about to arrive in the Indian capital are the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Indian Cabinet meeting discusses security strategyTuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting of his security Cabinet to discuss strategies. Government officials say among those attending were the defense, foreign and home ministers as well as the chiefs of the armed forces and the national security advisor.In recent days, top Pakistani government officials have vowed to cooperate with India to determine responsibility for the attack on Mumbai. But Islamabad rejects any allegations of complicity, blaming non-state actors which Pakistan says it is also battling.

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Indian Maritime Forces Rebuff Criticism in Wake of Mumbai Attack

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Naval Chief of Staff, Admiral Suresh Mehta, acknowledges 'systemic failure' by forces charged with protecting coast
India's maritime forces are defending themselves in wake of criticism they could have prevented the terror attack on Mumbai, which left about 175 people dead. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman in New Delhi reports on the response from the Indian navy and coast guard. India's maritime forces are finding themselves on the defensive following the Mumbai terror attack. India's Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta in New Delhi (File)India's naval chief of staff is acknowledging "public outrage" for perceived security lapses after 10 to 15 terrorists came ashore along the coast of the country's commercial capital.

Admiral points to intelligence failureAdmiral Suresh Mehta acknowledges a "systemic failure" by the forces charged with protecting the coast, but says the navy and coast guard received no specific intelligence they could act upon. "The information available should be actionable. It should have some specifics to it. Whatever actionable have come our way we have always taken action promptly," he said. Admiral Mehta, who formerly commanded the India coast guard also says Indian vessels were patrolling the Arabian Sea off the state between Pakistan and Mumbai.

"The coast guard had deployed a large number of units on the Gujarat coast. There were special units which were over there. Naval ships are also operating off the Gujarat coast," he added.

Fishermen expressed concern about militantsIndia media reports quote fishermen from Gujarat as saying they had repeatedly expressed concern to the government - even writing to the prime minister - about the likelihood of militants from Pakistan capturing their boats to infiltrate India. Indian investigators say the terrorists apparently hijacked a Gujarati fishing trawler at sea to get to the Mumbai coast.Maritime security experts contend that India has too few vessels and personnel to patrol the country's 7,500 kilometers of coastline and too many agencies operating on Indian waters, 23 in all, to allow effective coordination.

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NATO Foreign Ministers Meet in Brussels

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Ministers to discuss candidacies of Georgia and Ukraine; may also hold talks on sending interim force to Democratic Republic of Congo
NATO foreign ministers meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels to discuss the candidacies of Georgia and Ukraine to join the Atlantic alliance. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports the European ministers may also hold talks on sending an interim force to the Democratic Republic of Congo. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, waves as she arrives at NATO headquarters in Brussels, 02 Dec 2008 The candidacies of Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO are a tricky issue, with alliance members divided over what just how to proceed this week. The Bush administration earlier pushed for a quicker entry process for the two countries, but it says neither is ready to join right now. Both Georgia and Ukraine were given guarantees they would eventually join NATO, earlier this year. At issue is the question of a formal road map for joining, known as a Membership Action Plan or map. France and Germany fear the MAP process may be side stepped, and in particular do not want to anger Russia which is opposed to the two countries joining NATO.Daniel Korski, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says the ministers may reach a compromise at the end of the meeting -- but there are no guarantees that will happen. "The debate is likely to continue," Korski said. "There is a compromise proposal and the big issue is whether the Germans and the French are happy with that proposal. They will, after all, host the NATO 60th anniversary summit this spring and they'll want to make sure its a success. Certainly its going to be President Barack Obama's first meeting. So there's a lot of push to accept a compromise, but its not going to be certain in the first couple of hours or at least until the foreign ministers meeting is over. European ministers are also expected to discuss in Brussels a U.N. request to send an emergency peacekeeping force to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been torn apart by fighting. France and Belgium are pushing for such a force, but other countries are skeptical about the proposal.

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China Stands by Decision to Postpone Summit with EU

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Officials blame French President Nicolas Sarkozy for decision, citing his scheduled meeting with Dalai Lama later this week in Poland
China is unapologetic for its last minute decision to postpone a major China-European Union summit originally scheduled for this week. Chinese officials say the reason is because current EU head, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, will meet with the Dalai Lama later this week in Poland. Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing. To hear Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao tell it, the reason China postponed the summit meeting with EU leaders is not complicated.Liu placed all the blame squarely on France, saying it is because President Sarkozy is, in the spokesman's words, "bent on meeting the Dalai Lama."The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, 23 Nov. 2008China's discontent with the Dalai Lama is not new. He is the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, which is part of Chinese territory. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of working for independence, while he says he seeks greater autonomy for his homeland within Chinese rule.When asked what China could do to help smooth over tense relations with Europe, Liu said this should be a question for France.Liu says China has done nothing to, "hurt the EU's interests." Instead, he said France and EU leaders should take China's concerns about sovereignty and territorial integrity more seriously.Most of the nearly 50,000 Chinese netizens polled by a website affiliated with the official People's Daily newspaper supported the postponement of the China-EU summit. One netizen went so far as to urge a boycott of French goods. This echoes a similar call earlier this year, when Chinese citizens were angered by protesters who disrupted the Olympic torch relay overseas. France was targeted because the demonstrations were particularly chaotic in Paris. Despite China's current anger directed at France, President Sarkozy is not the only European leader to have met with the Dalai Lama. Others who have met with the Tibetan leader this year include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. The Czech Republic takes over the EU's rotating presidency in January.

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Former Communists Claim Romanian Elections

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But victory does not mean former Communists will be in control of new government
The left leaning Social Democratic Party has won the most votes in Romania's first parliamentary elections since becoming a member of the European Union last year. The party claimed victory with about 33 percent of Sunday's vote. As Stefan Bos reports from Budapest, Hungary the victory does not mean the former Communists will be in control of the new government.After a nail biting vote count, Romania's Central Election Bureau announced that the Social Democrats received a little more than one-third of the vote, less than one percent more than their nearest rival, the opposition Democrat-Liberal Party of Romanian President Traian Basescu.The center-right National Liberal Party of pro-Western Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu came in third with a little more than 18 percent of the vote.Election observers say the results came amid widespread anger over the government's perceived inability to tackle the impact of the global financial crisis on Romania's economy.Romanian Social Democrat leader Mircea Geoana, 30 Nov 2008Since October, thousands of workers have lost their jobs at major Romanian factories, and more lay-offs are expected. Social Democrat leader Mircea Geoana expressed his concern about the social tensions.Speaking in front of flag waving supporters outside his party's headquarters, he said "Romanians voted for an intelligent and capable state for a hard time ahead." He added that Romanian voters support his party's message of "change" as Romania starts down a long hard road. However, Geoana made clear that he has no illusions that change can be introduced overnight as millions of Romanians, including pensioners, live in poverty.Yet despite his party's gains, it remains unclear whether the 50-year-old Geoana will be able to become the next prime minister.Under Romania's constitution President Basescu can name the next government leader, regardless of the election results.No party won enough votes to govern alone, forcing the main players to seek coalition arrangements in Romania's difficult political landscape.Smaller parties, including the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, are also expected to play a key role in discussions over a future coalition.But there is international concern that a long period of difficult political negotiations could undermine urgent reforms required by the European Union, such fighting corruption, and further destabilize the country of 22 million people.

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Rights Groups: Sudan Lying About Improvements in Darfur

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Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition and 13 other rights organizations say government continues to conduct large-scale military attacks against populated areas
15 human rights organizations said in a joint report released Tuesday, the Sudanese government is lying about improvements in the situation in Darfur. Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition and 13 other rights organizations said the Sudanese government continues to conduct large-scale military attacks against populated areas, harass aid workers, and allow impunity for the worst crimes committed in Darfur. Sudan wants the U.N. Security Council to suspend the International Criminal Court's consideration of an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the ICC (17 Jul 2008 file photo)The new human rights report said Sudanese officials have been lobbying Security Council members to order the suspension of the ICC investigation of Mr. Bashir.The ICC prosecutor is scheduled to brief the Security Council Wednesday about the progress of his investigation. Earlier this year, the court's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said Sudan's "whole state apparatus" was involved in crimes against humanity in Darfur. The United Nations reported that five years of fighting in Darfur involving rebels, the Sudanese government and government-backed militias has killed more than 300,000 people, and caused more than 2.5 million others to flee their homes.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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Zimbabwe Relief Agencies Ramp Up Efforts to Combat Cholera

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United Nations Children's Fund will launch four-month emergency response to epidemic in country troubled by health and political challenges
Relief
Agencies in Zimbabwe say they are ramping up emergency programs to
combat a cholera epidemic that has infected more than 11,000 people and
killed nearly 500. The emergency comes as soldiers rampaged in the
capital, Harare, over declining living conditions. VOA's Scott Bobb
reports from our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.A child walks barefoot past rain water and sewage near Harare, 25 Nov 2008The
United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, says it is launching a
four-month emergency response in Zimbabwe because of what it calls the
"closure" of many hospitals, failing social services and the collapse of
the country's education system.Spokesperson Shantha Bloemen
says years of decline in water, sanitation and health services have
caused a cholera epidemic that has spread to nine of Zimbabwe's ten
provinces and into neighboring countries."The immediate concern
is making sure that we provide life- saving responses which continue to
be providing emergency safe water, doing health education for
communities and keeping the cholera treatment centers going," said
Bloemen.UNICEF has been trucking clean water to high-density
residential areas, distributing water purification tablets and drilling
wells in neighborhoods to prevent the spread of disease.

Humanitarian
groups say the epidemic is the result of deteriorating public services
due to years of economic decline and hyper-inflation.

Soldier rampage adds to citizen stressSome 100
soldiers Monday clashed with police in Harare after taking money from
foreign currency dealers and looting some shops. Media reports say the
soldiers rampaged because they could not collect salaries from
cash-strapped banks.The Zimbabwean government Tuesday blamed
the clashes on undisciplined troops and said military police were
patrolling to prevent further incidents.Frustration is rising
in Zimbabwe over a power sharing dispute between the ZANU-PF party of
President Robert Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change party of
Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai.

Women, children most affected by crisisBloemen of UNICEF says the crisis is affecting women and children of Zimbabwe the most."For
your average Zimbabwean family now, life has become incredibly tough
and this is reaching the breaking point. And I think we have to
remember we have a responsibility to respond and that people can't be
held hostage to politics so we need to make sure we continue to provide
the humanitarian relief that is needed," noted Bloemen.But donor agencies say they are running short of funds partly because of the global economic downturn.The
World Food Program says that next month it will run out of funds needed
to feed five million people, one-half of the Zimbabwean population,
needing food aid. UNICEF has appealed for $9 million to fund
its latest effort.

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Georgia Hosts Key US Senate Runoff Election

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Republican Saxby Chambliss is favored to win race that will help determine whether Democrats can get strong control of Senate
The southeastern U.S. state of Georgia votes to choose a senator in a runoff election Tuesday, that will help determine whether the Democratic Party can get strong control of the U.S. Senate.Georgia Senator Saxby ChamblissIncumbent Saxby Chambliss - a Republican - is favored to win, which would thwart the Democrats' ambition to control 60 of the 100 Senate seats.Sixty seats would create what has been called a "super-majority," giving Democrats the ability to overcome Republican attempts to filibuster, or block legislation from coming to a vote in the upper house of Congress.Democrats already control 58 seats in the incoming Senate, with a recount in a very tight race in Minnesota yet to be decided. Chambliss is facing Democrat Jim Martin in today's runoff, after each fell short in November of the majority required to win outright in Georgia.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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Bush Reflects on His Presidency

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In television interview with ABC News, US president says biggest regret is intelligence failure in Iraq
U.S. President George Bush is taking stock of his years in office, now that his presidency is nearing its end. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush says that when he was elected in 2000, he never expected he would lead the nation in a time of war.President George W. Bush (file photo)As his second term enters its final days, President Bush is taking time to reflect on the events that may well shape his legacy.In an interview with ABC television, he spoke in unusually candid terms about the achievements and disappointments of his presidency.Mr. Bush said his biggest regret of his eight years in office was the intelligence failure in Iraq - the faulty information on weapons of mass destruction that prompted him to remove Saddam Hussein from power in 2003.He spoke of the difficulties of leading a nation at war, and said he never thought when he first ran for the presidency that he would preside over a major conflict."I didn't campaign and say, 'Please vote for me, I'll be able to handle an attack.' In other words, I didn't anticipate war," said President Bush. "[For] presidents - one of the things about the modern presidency - is that the unexpected will happen."Mr. Bush said that during his presidency, he has had to make a lot of tough decisions. Lately, they have revolved around efforts to revive the ailing U.S. economy.In an interview excerpt that aired Monday on ABC's World News program, the president was asked whether he feels in any way responsible for the nation's economic woes."I have been president during this period of time," said Mr. Bush. "But I think when the history of this period is written, people will realize a lot of the decisions that were made on Wall Street took place over a decade or so before I arrived as president."Mr. Bush said the economic crisis played a major role in Democrat Barack Obama's victory over Republican John McCain in last month's presidential election."Obviously, the economic situation made it awfully difficult for John McCain to get a message out," he said. "And I felt that Barack Obama ran a very disciplined campaign."Mr. Bush acknowledged he never thought he would live to see an African-American as U.S. president. But his 27-year-old daughter Barbara, who was with him during a portion of the interview, said she was not surprised to see Barack Obama make history.

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