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THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

• Left-Right Coalition Resists
  President Bush's Call
  to Renew USA Patriot Act
  For story text and audio, Click here!

• Anti-Immigrant Groups Wage Campaign
  to Take Over the Sierra Club
  For story text and audio, Click here!

• 4th Annual World Social Forum
  Debates its Future as a
  Vehicle for Political Action
  For story text and audio, Click here!

• Underreported News Summary
  from Around the World
  For full summary and audio, Click here!

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In his State of the Union address delivered to the nation on Jan. 20, President Bush called on Congress to renew key provisions of the USA Patriot Act set to expire next year. Bush stated that the Patriot Act provided the tools needed by law enforcement to protect Americans from future terrorist attacks.

But more than two years after Sept. 11 and quick congressional passage of the Patriot Act, a grassroots coalition of civil liberties advocates from across the political spectrum have been increasingly critical of the legislation that they assert weakens protections embodied in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Among the provisions of the Act that most concern activists are Section 215, which allows the FBI to collect evidence and private records without judicial review.

Around the country more than 230 local governments -- and three state legislatures -- have passed resolutions condemning the Patriot Act. Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Charlie Mitchell, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, who explains why the ACLU and other groups oppose the president's call to make the USA Patriot Act a permanent part of American law.

Contact the ACLU by calling (212) 549-2500 or visit their Web site at: www.aclu.org

Related links:

• Center for Constitutional Rights at www.ccr-ny.org
• Bill of Rights Defense Committee at www.bordc.org
• "Federal Court in Los Angeles Declares Key Provision of the USA PATRIOT Act Unconstitutional," Center for Constitutional Rights, Jan. 26, 2004
• "Critics Charge that FBI Spying on Peace Groups Chills Free Speech,"Between The Lines interview with Barbara Olshansky, attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending 12/12/03
• "Patriot Act Expansion Moves Through Congress," by Jim Lobe, OneWorld.net, Nov. 21, 2003
• "Federal Court Upholds Secret Detentions; Another Victory for White House Measures Eroding Civil Liberties," Between The Lines interview with the ACLU's Arthur Spitzer, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending July 4, 2003
• "Critics Say White House Successor to USA Patriot Act Threatens Further Erosion of Civil Liberties," Between The Lines interview with Nancy Chang, Center for Constitutional Rights, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending Feb. 28, 2003

Anti-Immigrant Groups Wage Campaign
to Take Over the Sierra Club

Interview with Mark Potok,
editor of the Southern Poverty Law Center's
Intelligence Report,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus

The Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest environmental organization, is facing what many activists inside and outside the group say is the gravest threat to its survival in its 112-year history. Founded in 1892 by Scottish immigrant John Muir, some members of the board of directors are seeking to have the club adopt an anti-immigration platform. Three more board candidates with similar views have petitioned their way onto the ballot for the March election. They argue that greater numbers of people coming to the U.S. will deplete the nation's resources and strain ecosystems. Their solution is to severely restrict immigration.

For 20 years Mark Potok, editor of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report has been researching the radical right, which includes many anti-immigrant organizations that he classifies as hate groups. Potok says he has uncovered both public and private documents that reveal a focused campaign by these groups to take over the Sierra Club.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Mark Potok who examines the objectives of these anti-immigrant groups, what chance they have of success, and what Sierra Club members who oppose anti-immigration policies are doing to protect what they consider the integrity of one of the nation's most important environmental organizations.

Contact the Southern Poverty Law Center at (334) 956-8303 or visit their website at www.splcenter.org. For more information on Sierra Club members' efforts to resist the anti-immigration platform, visit www.groundswellsierra.org.

4th Annual World Social Forum
Debates its Future as a
Vehicle for Political Action

Interview with William Fisher,
co-editor of "Another World is Possible:
Popular Alternatives to Globalization
at the World Social Forum,"
conducted by Scott Harris

The World Social Forum, one of the largest international gatherings of progressive activists, drew more than 100,000 delegates to this year's event held Jan. 16 through 21 in Bombay, India. The Forum, often described as part political summit meeting, part carnival and part protest, had held its first three annual meetings in Porto Alegre, Brazil, but chose this year to move the gathering to Asia.

Originally conceived as a venue to counter the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos, Switzerland, where elite business and political leaders gather to network and formulate policies -- the World Social Forum has in many ways overshadowed its rival. Activists, academics, workers and students -- representing diverse social justice movements -- come to the World Social Forum to participate in workshops, seminars and strategy sessions exploring alternative models for equitable economic and environmentally sustainable development. Last year's Forum gave birth to coordinated international protests opposing the Bush administration's planned invasion of Iraq.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with William Fisher, co-editor of the book "Another World Is Possible: Popular Alternatives to Globalization at the World Social Forum." Fisher, who just returned from the Bombay gathering, discusses some of the issues considered at this year's Forum and the internal debate about the future of the progressive summit meeting.

William Fisher is co-editor along with Thomas Ponniah of the book, "Another World Is Possible: Popular Alternatives to Globalization at the World Social Forum," published by Zed. Visit the World Social Forum's website at www.wsfindia.org

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

• Global activists have united behind the India-based People's World Water Forum, which launched a campaign opposing Coca-Cola and Suez Degremont's drive to privatize water resources. ("Activists Launch Global Offensive Against Waterguzzling Multinational Companies," Oneworld.net, Jan. 15, 2004)
• Bush's anti-choice policy that restricts U.S. funding for international family planning agencies is resulting in dire consequences for clinics in the developing world. ("Abort Mission," American Prospect, January 2004)
• Another voting recount fiasco is emerging in Florida, as Democratic congressman files lawsuit charging that the new digital touch screen voting machines undercount votes, lack a paper trail for recounts and violate state law. ("Good Intentions, Bad Technology," The Economist, Jan. 24, 2004)
  

DOWNLOAD this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below. Needs Quicktime Player or your favorite MP3 player. Note: Make sure your browser is set for streaming or download depending on your connection speed. MP3 files available until Feb. 10, 2004

Note to our broadcast affiliates: We are now offering FTP access for faster, more reliable download of our broadcast quality files. Please call Anna Manzo at (203) 268-8446 ext. 2, to register for FTP logon access or send feedback to us at betweenthelines@snet.net.

• Consumer-quality MP3 for dialup or fast connection (Links to www.radio4all.net) download (6.6MB)

Credits:
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Sasha Summer Cousineau
Segment producer: Melinda Tuhus
Distribution: Anna Manzo, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
Senior Web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeff Yates
Web editors: Bill Cosentino and Hank Hoffman
Executive producer: Scott Harris
Theme music: Mikata

Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 1/30/04

Election 2004

"Iraq Probe Said to be Based on JFK Panel," Associated Press, Feb. 2, 2004. Bush building 'Warren Commission' to investigate his case for war

"White House Withholds Notes Taken By 9/11 Commission," Contra CostaTimes, Jan. 31, 2004

"Bush's Service Records Criticized At Kerry Event," Boston Globe, Jan. 31, 2004

"Bush Slips--Among Republicans," The Nation, Jan. 30, 2004

"Iraq War Questions Gain Momentum," The Los Angeles Times, Jan. 30, 2004

"Former Air Force Commander Criticizes Bunker-Buster Nuke Program," Global Security Newswire, Jan. 29, 2004

"A Warhawk Flies The Coop," MensNewsDaily.com, Jan. 27, 2004

"The Lie Factory," Mother Jones, Jan. 26, 2004

"Kay Testimony Impeaches Bush," AlterNet, Jan. 26, 2004

"Grand Jury Hears Plame Case," Time Magazine, Jan. 22, 2004

"America As A One-Party State," The American Prospect, Feb. 1, 2004

"Columbia Journalism Review's Campaign Coverage Critique & Analysis," Columbia Journalism Review

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Doing Business With The Enemy," CBS - 60 Minutes, Jan. 25, 2004

"The Halliburton Shuffle," The New York Times, Jan. 30, 2004

"U.S. Plans Spring Offensive In Pakistan," Reuters, Jan. 28, 2004

"The U.S. is Now in the Hands of a Group of Extremists," by George Soros, The Guardian, Jan. 26, 2004

Robert McNamara: "It's Just Wrong What We're Doing," The Globe and Mail, Jan. 24, 2004

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq

"For Whom The Death Tolls: Deliberate Undercounting Of 'Coalition' Fatalities" Counterpunch, Jan. 31/Feb. 1, 2004

"U.S. Officials Knew In May Iraq Possessed No WMD" Observer/UK, Feb. 1, 2004

"Safer? U.S. Deaths Rise In The Wake Of Saddam Capture" Financial Times, Jan. 29, 2004

"The First Lie: The War Was Unconstitutional" TomPaine.com, Jan. 27, 2004

"Nothing To Preempt" By Ray McGovern, TomPaine.com, Jan. 27, 2004

"Videotape Shows U.S. Helicopter Crew Gunning Down Suspected Insurgents," ABC News, Jan. 9, 2004 MP3 audio

Civil Liberties

"The New Commissars Of Academia," The American Conservative, Feb. 2, 2004

"The Police Assault On Labor And Antiwar Protesters In Oakland," Counterpunch, Jan. 31/Feb. 1, 2004

"Dossier Program Alarms Utahans" Deseret Morning News, Jan. 29, 2004

"Concentration Camp Contract? Preparing For More Detainees: Homeland Security Awards Contract To Private Prison Company," Correctional Services Corporation press release, Jan. 26, 2004

"Part Of PATRIOT Act Declared Unconstitutional," The Guardian/UK, Jan. 26, 2004

"ACLU Says, Beware The Matrix," Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2004

Media And Activism

"BBC at War," by Greg Palast, www.truthout.org, Jan. 30, 2003

"Dean Campaign Meets the Awesome Destructive Power Of The Corporate Media" The Black Commentator, Jan. 29, 2004

"Corporate Owners Of Radio, TV Blasted At FCC Hearing" San Antonio Express-News, Jan. 29, 2004

"Ritter Was Right; Kay Was Wrong: My Exchange With CNN's Aaron Brown" Counterpunch, Jan. 27, 2004