Between The Lines is a weekly syndicated half-hour news magazine featuring progressive perspectives on national and international political, economic and social issues. http://www.btlonline.org http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:29 -0400 Mon, 20 May 2013 00:31:17 -0400 FeedForAll Mac v2.1 (2.1.0.1); http://www.FeedForAll.com/
• Mark Jaycox: Obama Administration Wiretaps Associated Press Reporters, Seeks New Rules to Make Internet Surveillance Easier
• Carlos Warner: Guantanamo Defense Lawyer Says White House Action Can End Detainee Hunger Strike and Close the Controversial Prison Camp
• Emma Cheuse: U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms EPA’s Authority to Revoke Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Permit
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This week's summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon


• An historic opportunity to build new water infrastructure during Haiti’s dry season has been lost to indifference. ("Cholera cases down, but disease still deadly in Haiti," Miami Herald, May 3, 2013)
• According to the Center for Public Integrity, Florida has experienced a surge of gun violence over the last decade, with the number of gun murders rising by 38 percent. ("As firearms ownership raises, Florida gun murders increase," Center for Public Integrity, April 23, 2013)
• Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s new lobby group – FWD.us, with a $40 million bank account and no obligation to disclose donors–ran ads recently supporting incumbent Republicans and a conservative Democrat praising their support for the Keystone XL pipeline, more drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and opposition to Obamacare. ("Moveon, Sierra Club, and Daily Kos spike Facebook ads to protest Mark Zuckerberg’s dark money group," Mother Jones, May 7, 2013; "Mark Zuckerberg rattles tech leaders," Politico, May 7, 2013; "Mark Zuckerberg’s political status: It’s complicated," ABC News, May 1, 2013; "Elon Musk quits Zuckerberg’s immigration advocacy group," Reuters, May 10, 2013)
Listen here: MP3 ]]> http://btlonline.org/2013/130524-btl.html 2A86F746-D568-407E-AEC1-ACFF54C74F45-1114-0000079780D13ABE-FFA Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:25 -0400
• Ralph Nader: Ralph Nader: President Obama’s Drone Warfare Program Violates U.S. and International Law
• Sarah Anderson: Corporate CEOs Advocating Austerity Policies Receive Millions in Taxpayer-Subsidized Stock Options
• Gar Alperovitz: Innovative, Democratic and Sustainable Economic Models Emerge as Viable Alternatives to America’s Current Failing System
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This week's summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon


• During his May Day speech, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the expulsion of the U.S. Agency for International Development from his nation, for what he said was an attempt to influence local leaders through its programs. Morales also criticized U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for referring to Latin America as the United States’ “backyard”. ("Bolivia’s Evo Morales says ‘adios’ to USAID," Christian Science Monitor, May 2, 2013; "USAID out of Bolivia: What happens now?" Devex, May 2, 2013)
• The April 23rd bombing of the French embassy in Tripoli, Libya set off alarm bells as Islamic militants go on the offensive in northern Africa. In January French troops were deployed to Mali where they attacked Islamic fighters. ("Libya faces growing Islamist threat," The Guardian, April 28, 2013; "Libya’s south teeters toward chaos," Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2013)
• Grand Forks, North Dakota deputy Sheriff Alan Frazier was looking for an affordable alternative to a $25 million turbo-powered helicopter. He came across an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone, which were about the same prices as a high-end police cruiser. ("A rise of ‘eyes’ over America," Christian Science Monitor, March 18, 2013)
Listen here: MP3 ]]> http://btlonline.org/2013/130517-btl.html DC54EE19-38FF-4D03-9EB4-0B91C26E9FA0-467-000004A70DF4033F-FFA Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:14 -0400
• Charles Kernaghan: Garment Industry Sweatshop Conditions Led to Tragic Loss of Lives in Bangladesh Building Collapse
• Elizabeth Nash: Anti-Abortion Activists Pass Dozens of Laws Restricting Reproductive Rights in GOP State Legislatures Across the U.S.
• Alka Pradhan: Bipartisan Panel Finds U.S. Officials Authorized Torture of Post-9/11 Detainees
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This week's summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon

• Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, allied with the Muslim Brotherhood, is facing pressure to reduce domestic food subsidies in order to win a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. ("Egypt street vendors, store owners say Morsi is bad for business," Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2013; "Short of money, Egypt sees crisis on fuel and food," New York Times, March 30, 2013)
• Three months after Cuban President Raul Castro eased restrictions on Cubans traveling abroad, the Miami Herald reports an increasing number of Cubans are obtaining travel visas to visit the United States – or going through countries such as Mexico, to make their way to America. ("Number of Cuban migrants to the U.S. believed to be rising," Miami Herald, April 21, 2013)
• The massive explosion at West Fertilizer Co. plant in Texas on April 17 that killed 15, most of the victims being firefighters or rescue workers, exposed a regulatory black hole around plant safety. The fertilizer factory stored 270 tons of ammonium nitrate, the material Timothy McVeigh used to blow up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. ("What went wrong in West, Texas—and where were the regulators," ProPublica, April 25, 2013; "Texas plant may not have been inspected in years, despite risks," Mother Jones, April 19, 2013; "Why didn’t 24,000 tons of ammonium nitrate at West plant raise concerns?" Dallas Morning News, April 23, 2013; "Texas explosion: government shared info for anti-terrorism, but not for workplace safety," In These Times, April 25, 2013)
Listen here: MP3 ]]> http://btlonline.org/2013/130510-btl.html E3B628C4-AF3F-4FF3-ADC0-B9F26D422F83-467-00000493F8A644BA-FFA Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:01 -0400
• Terry Kay Rockefeller: Sister of 9/11 Victim Urges Nonviolent Response to Boston Marathon Bombing
• Ladd Everitt: U.S. Senate's Failure to Pass Universal Gun Background Check Bill Moves Battle to 2014 Election Campaign
• Bill McKibben: New Global Movement Now Waging Humanity's Most Important Struggle – to Confront Climate Change
Listen here: MP3

This week's summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon


• Domestic work has traditionally been excluded from labor laws around the world. as it was often dismissed as “women’s work.” But when the International Labor Organization adopted Convention 189 in 2011, domestic work was for the first time officially recognized by a global body. The ILO convention lays out key rights for domestic workers including the right to a fair contract, a safe work environment free from exploitation and coercion.("Domestic workers sow a new global movement," In These Times, April 15, 2013)
• Immigrant rights activists in Miami claim over half of foreign nationals held for deportation in south Florida are not a threat to public safety. ("Many foreign nationals detained for deportation are not criminals," Miami Herald, April 15, 2013; "Immigrants held in solitary cells, often for weeks," New York Times, March 23, 2013)
• U.S. Dept. of Energy Inspector General Gregory Friedman is pressing Congress to create a commission to restructure America’s nuclear laboratories similar to the body that closed many under utilized military bases. Friedman is also urging the agency which manages the nation’s nuclear weapons complex to target its $6 billion dollar environmental cleanup on high risk, high priority sites. ("DOE Inspector General recommends consolidating nuclear labs," Center for Public Integrity, March 27, 2013)
Listen here: MP3 ]]> http://btlonline.org/2013/130503-btl.html 7A2CC40C-87CB-4810-9AAC-9A3FE2C16915-475-000000A74D5BDF3E-FFA Mon, 20 May 2013 01:21:46 -0400