BETWEEN THE LINES
A weekly radio newsmagazine

WHO WE ARE

Between The Lines History

Production staff


ARCHIVES

Past programs (text/audio)

"Between The Lines Q&A"/Transcripts

Search The Archives

[If you don't already have the FREE RealPlayer 8 Basic, then download it here.]


BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Click here to find a radio station which broadcasts Between The Lines near you.


ACTIVIST RESOURCES

Global social justice movement resources
Collection of interviews and Web sites with contacts for breaking news about the global social justice movement. (Audio files in MP3 and RealAudio formats.)

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Get "Between The Lines" delivered right to your desktop! For more information, click here.

To sign up for Between The Lines Q&A, a weekly interview transcript with RealAudio link, send an email by clicking here!

To sign up for Between The Lines Weekly Summary, a summary of the week's program with RealAudio link, send an email by clicking here!

Listener/Activist Network Subscriptions

Downloadable, MP3 broadcast quality audio files now available. Please contact us for our distribution schedule.


Hungry for more news from "Between The Lines?"

Many BTL interviews are excerpted from Scott Harris' WPKN program, "Counterpoint." To hear more in-depth analysis you'll rarely hear in corporate media, listen to "Counterpoint" LIVE Monday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. ET.

Listen during the above time slot by clicking here!

Check out our
new archive
of selected in-depth interviews and other audio collectibles on our distribution production company's site at www.squeakywheel.net


WPKN Radio mentioned in Danny Schechter's "The News Dissector" column on independent media values. Click here to view the column on Mediachannel.org.

New Haven Advocate's
"Best of New Haven 2001"
-- Staff Picks --
Scott Harris, Best Radio News Reporter
WPKN Radio, 89.5 FM

"Giving Voice to Dissent: Bridgeport's WPKN Radio Covers The News With Left-Of-Center Takes Not Found In The Mainstream Media" Hartford Courant, Feb. 26, 2003

"The Rest of the News," New Haven Advocate, July 3, 2003


ISSUES IN-DEPTH

War And Profiteering

Those Who Dared to Come Forward
Compilation of Washington insiders speaking out on Bush administration policies and actions

Project for the New American Century's Letter to President Clinton on Iraq, Jan. 26, 1998 Urges President Clinton to remove the threat that Iraq poses by stating a strategy to do so in his "upcoming State of the Union Address."

"Iraq On The Record," U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman report, March 16, 2004

"Greenspan Testimony Highlights Bush Plan for Deliberate Federal Bankruptcy," by Michael Meurer, truthout.org, March 2, 2004

"Noam Chomsky on Middle East Conflict and U.S. War Plan Against Iraq," Between The Lines interview with Noam Chomsky, conducted by Scott Harris, for the Week Ending May 3, 2002

"The Iraq War & The Bush Administration's Pursuit of Global Domination," Counterpoint, Sept. 15, 2003

The Iraq Crisis, a Global Policy Forum, U.N. Security Council section on the 13 years of sanctions and other background of the war, the humanitarian situation, the importance of Iraq's huge oil resources, and disputes over a post-war government and reconstruction plan

"Occupation, Inc." Southern Exposure, Winter, 2003/2004

"Pipeline Politics: Oil, The Taliban, and the Political Balance of Central Asia," World Press Review Special Report, Nov.-Dec. 2001

"War Profiteering," by The Nation editors, April 24, 2003

"An Annotated Saddam Chronology," ZNet, Dec. 15, 2003

Civil Liberties

"The Global Gulag: Into The Shadows," by Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com, April 5, 2004

"Keeping Secrets: The Bush administration is doing the public's business out of the public eye. Here's how--and why," by Christopher H. Schmitt and Edward T. Pound, U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 12, 2003

"FBI Memo: Tactics Used During Protests And Demonstrations" Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oct. 15, 2003

"F.B.I. Scrutinizes Antiwar Rallies" by Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, Nov. 23, 2003

"Fascism Anyone?" 14 Signs of Fascism, Free Inquiry Magazine, Volume 23, No. 2

"Germany In 1933: The Easy Slide Into Fascism," The Crisis Papers, June 9, 2003

Multi-Ethnic Issues Advocacy

Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson's Commentaries, The Hutchinson Report
and in Audio (needs RealPlayer)

Between
The Lines

Home | Archives | About Between The Lines | Search BTL Archives
Broadcast Schedule | Contact us | Squeaky Wheel Productions

Between The Lines
For The Week Ending Jan. 7, 2005

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

  • Newly Released Documents Reveal
    Widespread Torture in Pentagon-Run
    Prisons Abroad

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Failures on Drug Safety
    and Conflicts of Interest
    Shake Confidence in FDA

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • White House Rules Changes
    on Forest Management Could Reduce
    Protection of Endangered Species
    and Limit Public Input

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Underreported News Summary
    from Around the World

    For full summary and audio, Click here!
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below. MP3 files available until Jan. 11, 2005.

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

Newly Released Documents Reveal
Widespread Torture in Pentagon-Run
Prisons Abroad

Interview with Reed Brody,
special counsel with Human Rights Watch,
conducted by Scott Harris

In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights groups, the government was forced to release thousands of pages of documents that establish the abuse of detainees held in Pentagon-run prisons abroad was much more widespread than first admitted after news of the Abu Ghraib scandal broke last spring.

The documents contain reports by FBI agents who describe techniques they saw systematically used by U.S. officials to abuse prisoners that included isolation, physical and sensory assault. Accounts describe the use of stress positions, dogs to intimidate detainees and exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures. In one instance, a prisoner was seen shrouded by an Israeli flag while a strobe light flashed and loud music was blared into his cell.

Some of the newly released documents allege that inhumane interrogation methods employed against prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan and at the U.S. Guantanamo Naval base were authorized by President Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld -- a charge that the White House denies. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Reed Brody, special counsel with Human Rights Watch, who assesses the importance of these documents in understanding the use of torture in U.S. military prisons and who should be held accountable.

Contact Human Rights Watch by calling (212) 290-4700 or visit their website at www.hrw.org

Related links:

Failures on Drug Safety
and Conflicts of Interest
Shake Confidence in FDA

Interview with Linda Marsa,
journalist and author,
conducted by Scott Harris

Before its recall, the painkiller Vioxx had been used by more than two million people in more than 80 countries. But Merck & Co., the maker of Vioxx withdrew the drug in September after studies confirmed earlier indications that the painkiller increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Since then other drugs, including the painkiller Celebrex and the attention disorder medicine Strattera have come under scrutiny.

But, more importantly, confidence in the regulatory process supervised by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration has been shaken. The FDA reports that adverse drug reactions among Americans has more than doubled from 1995 to 2003 -- and risen by more than fourfold since 1990. Questions have been raised about the standards used by the FDA in testing the safety of new drugs and about the regulatory agency's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry it monitors. The recent announcement by the drug-maker's top lobby group, PhRMA, that its new president would be retiring 13-term Republican Congressman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, who chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee, further raised alarm about the revolving door between government and industry.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with journalist and author Linda Marsa, who examines the recall of drugs like Vioxx, and the relationship between the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry.

Linda Marsa's article, "Sleep For Sale," can be read online at www.motherjones.com. Marsa's 1997 book about the pharmaceutical industry, "Prescription for Profits," is published by Scribner.

Related links:

White House Rules Changes
on Forest Management Could Reduce
Protection of Endangered Species
and Limit Public Input

Interview with Marty Hayden,
legislative director with Earthjustice,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus

True to form, the Bush administration picked the run-up to a major holiday to announce a radical change in environmental policy. This time the holiday was Christmas, and the issue was national forest management policy.

The stated goal of the change is to increase efficiency and give more decision-making power to local and regional forest managers when creating 15-year plans for managing the nation's forests. The changes will make it easier for these forest managers to decide whether to allow more logging, drilling or off-road vehicle use in the nation's 155 national forests and grasslands.

However, environmentalists say the changes will lead to greatly reduced protections for all species who live in the forests and will cut back on opportunities for public comment. Although the rules are effective Dec. 31st, environmental groups are gearing up to challenge them. Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Marty Hayden, legislative director with Earthjustice, an organization that litigates on behalf of environmental groups. He discusses what the rule changes will mean for the almost 200 million acres of forests now under federal control.

Call Earthjustice at (202) 667-4500 or visit their web site at www.earthjustice.org

Related links:

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon and Denise Manzari

  • In the aftermath of a massive earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Indonesia, disease and lack of access to food and water could increase the death toll, as relief efforts are hindered in areas hardest hit by the tragedy. The severity of the initial loss of life may have been exacerbated by rising ocean levels due to global warming and lack of a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean. ("Asian Disaster Toll Surges Past 55,000 as Relief Operations Stall," Agence France Press, Dec. 28, 2004; "Experts: Global warming, pollution add to coastal threats," CNN, Dec. 27, 2004; "Tsunami may have damaged Indian nuclear power plant," Terradaily.com/Agence France-Press, Dec. 27, 2004; "Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant Safe," Sify.com, Dec. 28, 2004)
  • Debate over social and economic issues is thriving within the framework of the Chinese Communist Party, but with strict limitations. ("Let Us Speak," New Internationalist, September 2004)
  • Oil giant Unocal to pay damages to 14 Burmese villagers who filed a lawsuit claiming the company was liable for acts of forced labor, rape and murder committed by Burmese soldiers during the firm's pipeline's construction there. ("Unocal to settle rights claims," Los Angeles Times, Dec. 14, 2004; "Unocal to settle human rights case," Associated Press, Dec. 13, 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 Jan. 11, 2005

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.

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


Between The Lines
Airs on WPKN 89.5 FM ET
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
(7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. during April, October fundraising)
Saturdays, 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.


Listen to Between The Lines live at these times by clicking here!
Between The Lines Broadcast Availability
- Pacifica Radio Network
Ku Satellite feed (every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on the Satellite's Left Channel A)
- MP3 download by FTP access
or CD subscription
Contact us for distribution schedule and/or FTP logon access below:

BETWEEN THE LINES
c/o WPKN Radio 89.5 FM
244 University Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Telephone:
(203) 268-8446
or
(203) 331-9756

E-Mail: betweenthelines@snet.net

Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.
(c)2004 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

... MORE ...

Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 12/31/04

Between The Lines Community Forum

Share your thoughts with the Between The Lines crew and listeners' community!

Election 2004

"Ten Preliminary Reasons Why The Bush Vote Does Not Compute, And Why Congress Must Investigate Rather Than Certify The Electoral College," by Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld & Harvey Wasserman, Columbus Free Press, Jan. 3, 2005

"Dialing In For Democracy--Now Is Critical," by Thom Hartmann, Common Dreams, Jan. 3, 2005

"Debunking 'Centrism,'" by David Sirota, The Nation, Jan. 3, 2005

"Ohio Recount Steeped In Fraud," Democracy Week, Jan. 1, 2005

"Ohio's Official Non-Recount Ends Amid New Evidence Of Fraud, Theft And JudicialContempt Mirrored In New Mexico," by Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld & Harvey Wasserman, Columbus Free Press, Dec. 31, 2004

"Conyers To Object To Ohio Electors, Requests Senate Allies," by William Rivers Pitt, Truthout, Dec. 30, 2004

"Impossible Phantom Votes In New Mexico," by Warren Stewart, Columbus Free Press, Dec. 30, 2004

"We May Never Know What Happened In The Ohio Vote," by Mark Halvorson & Kirk Lund, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Dec. 29, 2004

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"Bush Labor Board Seen As Anti-Worker," The New York Times, Jan. 2, 2005

"Bush Failing At Nuclear Security," by Lawrence J. Korb, Boston Globe, Jan. 2, 2005

"Bush Immigration Plan Meets GOP Opposition," Washington Post, Jan. 2, 2005

"Conservatives Raise Millions To Privatize Social Security," Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2005

"The Reality Of Red-State Fascism," by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., LewRockwell.com, Dec. 31, 2004

"Up To 90,000 Students To Lose College Aid In Surprise Move," Seattle Times, Dec. 24, 2004

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Top Ten War Profiteers Of 2004," Center For Corporate Policy, Dec. 31, 2004

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"Intelligence Chief: Iraq Battling More Than 200,000 Insurgents," Agence France Presse, Jan. 3, 2005

"Ghosts Of Vietnam: A Mire Of Death, Lies And Atrocities," by Robert Fisk, ZNet, Jan. 3, 2005

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"The Guantanamo Gulag: Injustice As State Policy," by Mike Whitney, Counterpunch, Jan. 3, 2005

"Plan To Keep Detainees In Jail For Life Criticized By Senators," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 3, 2005

"Senators Plan To Grill Gonzales On Torture Memos," The New York Times, Jan. 3, 2005

"Redefining Tortue," by Marjorie Cohn, Truthout, Jan. 3, 2005

"U.S. Said To Mull Lifetime Detentions Without Trial For Terror Suspects," Reuters, Jan. 2, 2005

"Guantanamo Torture Worse Than Reported," The New York Times, Jan. 1, 2005

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"Media Whites Out Vote Fraud," by David Swanson, ILCA Online, Jan. 3, 2005

"The Duplicity Of The Media: Iraq Versus The Tsunami," by Mike Whitney, Counterpunch, Dec. 31, 2004

"Waves Of Hypocrisy: The Tsunami And Corporate Media," by Peter Phillips, Counterpunch, Dec. 31, 2004

"The 2004 Falsies Awards: Polluting The Information Environment," by Laura Miller, Alternet, Dec. 30, 2004

More newswire ...

Activism

"Antiwar Action: Back To The '60s?," by Jeff Epton, In These Times, Jan. 3, 2005

"Antiwar Organizing On Campus," by M. Junaid Alam, Left Hook, Dec. 29, 2004

"Small But Growing Resistance To Iraq War In Military," The Journal News/New York, Dec. 27, 2004

More newswire ...

Home | Archives | About Between The Lines | Search BTL Archives
Broadcast Schedule | Contact us

[Return to top of this page]