Undercovered #40
delegation
of
American health
workers and par-
ents whose soldier sons and
daughters died in Iraq visited
Jordan to meet with Fallujah
refugees there and bring
$600,000 of medical supplies
and donations for children’s hos-
pitals. Fernardo Suarez, whose
son died stepping on a U.S. clus-
Dead Iraqi boy holding white flag in Fallujah.
ter bomb, said, “It’s time to stop
the killing and comfort the chil-
house gases, which are destroying Inuits’
dren” (codepink.org).
homeland and livelihood (Independent). As
• Although an estimated 40,000 refugees
Arctic air temperatures rise, ice thins and per-
have ventured back into Fallujah, most don’t
mafrost melts. Arctic precipitation is as low as
stay. “I couldn’t stand it,” one said. “I was born
in a desert, so most available fresh water disap-
in that town ... but I didn’t recognize it.”
pears with the permafrost. Soil slides away, ex-
Burned, leveled, and ransacked buildings, de-
posing a salty marine deposit underneath.
caying corpses, land mines, open sewage, no
Loss of sea ice is disastrous for ice-dwelling
water and electricity, U.S. checkpoints featur-
animals such as polar bears, expected to be ex-
ing retina scans, fingerprinting, and hours-
tinct within 50 years (Christian Science
long waits, and heavy U.S. military presence
Monitor).
are deterrents, though troops hand out water,
• At the recent International Conference on
food, and blankets. The U.S. claims few civil-
Global Warming, intended to begin the imple-
ian deaths in Fallujah, yet Iraqi survivors re-
mentation process for 132 countries that rati-
port families crushed in their collapsing
fied the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. and Saudi
homes, civilians with white flags shot in the
Arabia blocked efforts to begin payments to
street, wounded people run over by tanks, and
poor, low-lying island nations to help these na-
victims torched by phosphorus weapons.
tions mitigate problems connected with global
Witnesses mention cluster bombs and DU tank
warming: land erosion, greater storm damage,
rounds. U.S. casualties include 136 dead and
and rising sea levels. The U.S. delegation
800 wounded in the November offensive; so
also objected to the term “climate
far Iraqi doctors have counted 700 Iraqi bod-
change,” preferring “climate variability”
ies, including 550 women and children, in the
(bushgreenwatch.org).
rubble of nine neighborhoods, with 18 neigh-
• Bowing to pressure from shareholders
borhoods still to go. Numerous bodies already
and environmentalists, British Petroleum and
buried cannot be counted (LA Times, al-
Conoco Phillips dropped out of Arctic Power,
jazeera.net, IRIN News, Ester Republic).
the lobbying group that pushes for oil and gas
• More than 1,300 Iraqi policemen were
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
killed in the last four months of 2004; as the
However, a new struggle is brewing in
election looms, many are leaving the force.
Congress, with proponents planning to slip
“We will be the first targets, and I will leave the
ANWR drilling into a budget resolution,
country next week for Syria,” said Kamal al-
which cannot be filibustered (bushgreen-
Rabia’a, a Baghdad policeman (alertnet.org).
watch.org). With the support of his con-
• At a Canada hearing regarding refugee
stituents, Sen. Gordon Smith voted against
status for U.S. deserters (5,500 U.S. troops
drilling the last time. Smith can be reached at
have deserted thus far) servicemen gave testi-
465-6750 or (800) 839-5276 or write to 211 E.
mony about being told to regard all Iraqis as
7th Ave, Room 211, Eugene 97401.
potential terrorists, and about killing unarmed
• On Dec. 24, the Russian military test-
families, protesters, and bystanders (canoe.ca).
fired a new road-mobile intercontinental bal-
• Howard Coble, a 10-term Republican
listic missile. With that, the Bush administra-
North Carolina congressman and close ally of
tion’s brand-new, partly-functional National
Bush, now agrees with Dennis Kucinich that
Missile Defense system, which is based on in-
the U.S. should consider leaving Iraq (bella-
tercepting older types of missiles, became ob-
ciao.org). Congress members and senators can
solete (Christian Science Monitor).
be reached at (800) 839-5276. Meanwhile,
• Buried in the recently approved federal
British citizens are insisting on accurate count-
budget is $4 million that the BLM must use to
ing of civilian casualties.
rewrite all management plans for western
• Informative websites on Iraq include oc-
Oregon, plans that specify which forests and
cupationwatch.org and dahrjamailiraq.com.
streams get destroyed and which are protected.
Dahr Jamail is an Alaskan independent jour-
Pursuant to a back-room deal with the timber
nalist working in Iraq.
industry, BLM will use this process to elimi-
• Scientists hope that a sea otter who spent
nate protected old-growth forests and stream-
six months on Stimson Reef at Cape Arago is
side buffers. Contacts include Senators Wyden
an “advance wanderer” who will be
and Smith and Rep. DeFazio regarding the
followed by others, possibly from a burgeon-
need for legislation to protect old-growth
ing Washington State population (The
forests (ONRC).
Oregonian).
ew
• The Inuits of Canada are asking the Inter-
Undercovered is a synopsis of culturally and
environmentally significant news stories that receive
American Commission on Human Rights to
inadequate attention from the mainstream media.
rule against the U.S. for violating their human
Compiled by Michael Carrigan, Kate Rogers Gessert &
Brooke Robertshaw
rights by producing 25 percent of the green-
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