THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

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  This week we present Between The Lines' summary
  of under-reported news stories and:

  Critics Say Bush Military Tribunals
  Will Be Kangaroo Courts
  Interview by Scott Harris.

  Since the September 11th terrorist attacks the Bush administration has promoted legislation and issed executive orders that have provoked concern among a growing number of civil liberties activists. The USA Patriot Act, which passed Congress with little debate, grants the government new powers to monitor telephone and Internet communication and detain immigrants. More than 1,000 non- citizens are now being held by the Justice Department which has kept the names of those detained secret and refused to specify the charges lodged against these individuals.

  In the latest round of executive orders issued by the White House, the President allows the government to use secret military tribunals to try non-citizens accused of engaging in terroust activity. These tribunals will put on trial any person the President dictates, can conceal evidence - and issue verdicts by a two-thirds majority with no right to appeal to any other court. Other recent executive orders include a Justice Department plan to question thousands of Middle Eastern men who recently arrived in the U.S. and eavesdrop on conversations between some prisoners and their attorneys.

  Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Kit Gage, Coordinator of the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom, who explains why she opposes these recent executive orders, which bypass Congress, rejecting the argument that these extraordinary measures are required to effectively fight the war against terrorism.

  For more information contact the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom by calling (202) 529-4225 or visit their Web site at http://www.ncppf.org

  Groups Work to Pass Legislation
  Ensuring Women Have Role in Rebuilding Afghanistan
  Interview by Denise Manzari.

  In the weeks after the tragedy of September 11, the misogynist oppression of women under Taliban rule and Islamic fundamentalism was finally recognized by the corporate media, if for nothing else but to garner support for the subsequent U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan.

  Now the Taliban have retreated and the U.S., in collaboration with the Northern Alliance, has taken over the city of Kabul and other major cities. But Afghani women have been vocal about the brutality of elements of the Northern Alliance that steered then into the arms of the Taliban five years ago.

  Although there have been assurances of liberalization, by those currently in contol, allowing women to shed the burqa - the full body covering that only allows a 30-degree field of vision - women are still fearful and distrusting since many have experienced acid being thrown in their faces for being unveiled.

  On November 19, the Access for Women Act, H.R. 218, was introduced by U.S. Reps. Constance Morella (R-MD) and Carolyn Malone (D-NY). The Bill urges the White House and the State Department to make the restoration of women's human rights in Afghanistan a priority goal of U.S. policy.

  Rita Sharma is the executive director of Women's Edge, a D.C.-based organization working to pressure the Bush administration to support the resolution. She spoke with Between The Lines' Denise Manzari about the necessity for women to fully participate in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

  For more information, call area code (202) 884-8398 or visit the Women's Edge web site at: http://www.womensedge.org/

  Have the Sept. 11th Attacks Derailed
  the Global Social Justice Movement?
  Interview by Scott Harris.

  Plans for a massive demonstration against the policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund scheduled to coincide with the financial institution's annual meeting Sept. 30 in Washington D.C. were called off when the summit itself was canceled in the wake of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. The growing global social justice movement had expected 50,000 to 100,000 activists to participate in a variety of actions calling attention to economic policies that protesters say exacerbate poverty around the world and enrich wealthy corporations.

  After canceling their Washington gathering, the World Bank and IMF rescheduled their summit to meet in Ottawa Nov. 17th and 18th. With short notice, activists from Canada and around the hemisphere pulled together a number of demonstrations to greet delegates of the financial institution. But police reacted to the several thousand protesters that came to Ottawa with what many describe as excessive force. Rubber bullets, pepper spray and water cannons were fired at demonstrators, with many suffering bites from police dogs used for crowd control. In the end some 50 activists were arrested, with only a few held on serious charges.

  Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with author and spiritual activist Starhawk. Starhawk, who led non-violence trainings at the Ottawa actions, and was briefly detained with dozens of others at the U.S.-Canadian border, she says, due to her activism. She reports from Ottawa on how the Sept. 11th terror attacks have affected the organizing and agenda of the global social justice movement.

  Starhawk's books include "The Twelve Wild Swans" and "The Spiral Dance." Visit her Web site at http://www.starhawk.org

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

  • Since the second Intifada, paying work has been hard to find, creating an exodus of young, educated Palestinians. ( "The Secret Exodus," World Press Review, December 2001)
  • Next front against global terrorism could be in the jungles of southeast Asia.( "Next Stop, Southeast Asia," In These Times, November 26, 2001)
  • Canadian researchers have developed a genetically-engineered pig to reduce problems associated with manure, a major source of water pollution, but environmental groups want the swine squelched. ( "The Next Pig Thing," Mother Jones, October 26, 2001)

  Credits:
  Senior news editor/writer: Bob Nixon
  News writer: Rich Fraser
  Program narration: Denise Manzari
  News reader: Elaine Osowski
  Segment Producer: Denise Manzaru
  Distribution: Anna Manzo, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
  Web editor/producer: Anna Manzo, Bill Cosentino
  Executive producer: Scott Harris

... MORE ...

Commentary on America's Crisis, from the Producer

"Respond to Terror With a Revolution of the Heart"

"Respond to Terror With a Revolution of the Heart," audio file in MP3.

Between The Lines' Special Reports on Fallout from Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks

Special Report, Week Ending Sept. 21, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Sept. 28, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 5, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 12, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 19, 2001

Ali Abunimah, vice president of Chicago's Arab American Action Network, interview in RealAudio, Sept. 12, 2001

In-Depth News Analysis

Third World Traveler, Foreign Policy section, collection of resources on www.thirdworldtraveler.com

"They can't see why they are hated: Americans cannot ignore what their government does abroad" by Seumas Milne, Guardian Unlimited, UK's Special Report on Terrorism in the U.S., Sept. 13, 2001

In-depth Reporting and Analysis of Sept. 11 Terror Attacks

AlerNet.org

The Nation magazine

Mediachannel.org

Economic Globalization Resources

ZNet's Global Economic Crisis resource site Excellent source for understanding global economics and trade issues and particularly in preparation for ongoing demonstrations about economic justice

"The Fight for Everything" A series of interviews with activists and leaders of grassroots, progressive groups analyzing the goals, strategy and tactics of the global social justice movement

Multi-Ethnic Public Issues Advocacy

Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson's Commentaries, The Hutchinson Report

Between The Lines' 10th Anniversary CD