WXXI-TV | Assignment: The World |




	• NEWS >> ATW Script February 13, 2003 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of February thirteenth, 2003. I’m Elissa Marra. In our top story this week… divisions widen among U-N members over Iraq. #1— IRAQ The divisions among members of NATO widened Monday on the issue of war in Iraq. Of the nineteen member countries, France, Germany and Belgium refused to support an attack on Iraq or a U-S proposal to provide a military build-up in Turkey. The U-N Security Council also rejected the plan to assist Turkey in the event of war in the Gulf region. Security Council members said that a build-up of military in Turkey would dash all hopes for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Iraq. The United States said Monday that the U-S would work directly with Turkey if the U-N Council does not approve a union. France, Germany and Belgium appealed once again for more time for weapons inspectors and urged the U-S to not act alone and forge ahead with an attack. Also on Monday, Iraqi officials made concessions in their appeal for more time. They agreed to the use of U-S-made surveillance planes by weapons inspectors and to pass legislation next week to outlaw any weapons of mass destruction. Concession (n) to concede or give in on a point in a dispute. ATW FACT The Venezuelan government estimates that the two-month-long oil strikes in Venezuela have cost that country over four-billion U-S dollars. Source: World Television News, 2/10/03 INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… --NASA finds key parts of Columbia… --Venezuela’s president threatens fired oil workers… --and finally, the Israeli prime minister sets to work on creating a new government. #2— SHUTTLE Searchers recovered a fragment of space shuttle Columbia's left wing Monday, which is thought to have played a major role in the accident. The wing fragment was found near Fort Worth, Texas and taken for analysis to Barksdale Air Force Base. The wing included some of the dense carbon-carbon tile, an extremely dense material that covered the leading edge of the wing. The piece could be important, given that all the trouble apparently began in the left wing during the final minutes of Columbia's flight. NASA also found the cover of one of the two landing gear compartments, another potentially critical piece because the temperature surged inside the left wheel well and was the first sign of trouble. NASA transported debris to Kennedy Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral this week to be cataloged and assembled. Dense (adj) having component parts closely packed together. #3— VENEZUELAN STRIKES Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened Sunday to jail oil workers fired for leading a two-month strike against him. More than nine-thousand workers were dismissed from the state oil company since a national strike began in early December to force the president to step down or agree to early elections. Chavez’s threat of jail sentences came as his opponents staged a bicycle protest in the capital in support of the fired oil workers. The protestors rode bicycles around Caracas, wearing red, yellow and blue--the colors of the Venezuelan flag. The bike protest followed a huge rally Saturday where more than 100-thousand Chavez opponents took to the streets. Dismiss (v) to discharge from office or service. #4— SHARON Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accepted the task of forming a new government Sunday. He called on his defeated rivals to join him in a broad-based government, but leaders of the opposition Labor Party rejected the offer after being crushed by Sharon’s Likud Party. The opposition insists that that Sharon had no plan for restarting peace talks and they don’t want to join in a crackdown on the Palestinians. Sharon said his new government would have to expel terrorists and at the same time, work toward a peace agreement. He said he would no longer work with Yasser Arafat, but instead only deal with an alternative Palestinian leadership. Crackdown (n) the severe enforcement of laws. POP QUIZ #1 In our story about the U-N Security Council, how many members do not support the U-S plan to invade Iraq? Is it… three nineteen seven And the correct answer is number one… three members, France, Germany and Belgium pressed for more time. OLD CLUE #1— MUNICH, GERMANY And now it’s time for the answers to our last clues in the news… Find the location of our first clue and you get Munich, Germany. The Munich Conference on Security Policy is the international security community's annual discussion forum. Nearly 250 decision-makers from more than 40 countries, including politicians, members of the business community, high-ranking representatives of the armed forces and the media - meet regularly in Munich to exchange views. The discussions focused on issues of European, transatlantic and global foreign and security policy. OLD CLUE #2—POLISH LEADER Fill in the blanks of our second clue and you’d get “Polish Leader.” Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller met with Lockheed officials in Washington Wednesday morning to discuss an investment and trade deal. Miller said Poland would welcome U-S investments in biotechnology, high-tech and infrastructure. Miller met with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney Wednesday in Washington. The discussion centered on Poland's general investment climate. OLD CLUE #3—AGHAN UPDATE And finally, find the role of our newsmaker and you’d get, “Afghan Update.” U-S soldiers continue checking mountain caves for enemy forces in southeastern Afghanistan. The searches are part of an ongoing operation following last week’s battles in Afghanistan involving U-S ground troops—the fiercest in nearly a year. The soldiers checked the cave complex, where they found stashes of food, boots and rockets. The supplies suggest that a hostile group may have used the caves. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… on February fifteenth, 1879… U-S President Rutherford Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court. FEATURE DOUGLASS INTRO Frederick Douglass spent most of his life fighting for the rights of others. And a majority of his work originated in Rochester, New York. Check it Out! FREDERICK DOUGLASS: PART 2 David Shakes (Frederick Douglass Actor) "There is not a nation on Earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour" (Eric Logan) “In the early part of the 1840’s Frederick Douglass toured the United States and Great Britain lecturing on the brutalities suffered by black people at the hands of vengeful slaveholders. These first hand accounts were written about in his book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , an American Slave which sold 5,000 copies in 1845. Shortly thereafter Douglass bought a house in Rochester, NY and started his own newspaper the North Star, which furthered the anti-slavery movement. Douglass’ newspaper symbolized the potential for African Americans to achieve whatever goals they set. His house also became a stop on the Underground Railroad which helped runaway slaves escape to freedom.” “During this age of reform, Douglass also supported the ‘women’s rights movement’ and urged women to fight for the right to vote. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln became President; he believed all people should be free, regardless of race. This feeling was not shared by southern slave states. As the Civil War got underway Douglass met with President Lincoln and insisted he outlaw slavery. On December 31, 1862 Lincoln issued the ‘Emancipation Proclamation,’ declaring all slaves held in the 23 northern states free. Frederick Douglass’s vision was almost complete. He assisted the Union army in enlisting more than 200,000 black troops to help defeat the South. By 1865 the Civil War was over, and the nation was united once more. The Thirteenth Amendment was passed and slavery was officially abolished in all areas of the United States. Nobody worked harder than Frederick Douglass to gain rights for African Americans…his legacy continued to burn in the hearts and minds of many brave Americans who fought to make all people in this great nation equal.” ISN’T IT COOL! Polar Plunge What some people will do for a good cause! Over two-thousand “polar plungers” went for a frosty swim in Virginia to raise money for the Special Olympics. The chilly waters of Virginia Beach were just what the doctor ordered as a loud yell could be heard when the crowd ran into the ocean. This year’s event raised 250-thousand dollars! Over the eleven years the event has been held, more than a million dollars has been raised. ISSUE Video games are more popular than ever among millions of school-aged children in our country. Many adults complain that their kids spend way too much time on games and that there are no educational video games available. Many of the game choices are sports, or movie adventures, but others are violent and demeaning to women. Video games are oftentimes quite expensive, too. Those who enjoy video games say that they are simply entertaining, and sometimes it’s okay to just be entertained and not educated. They feel it is something to do when friends come over. As kids get older, they no longer want to play board games or with toys, so the video games provide something to do together. Well, we’d like to know what you think… “Would you like educational video game choices?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinion. MAILBAG We received nearly X hundred responses to our issue question, “Are you overwhelmed by homework?” The majority of you, x percent say no, you are not overwhelmed. X percent say yes, you do have too much homework. X percent are undecided. Some of you feel that with all the other things you are involved with, you don’t have enough time for homework. Carly S. of Commack, New York writes, “Kids are doing so many things … religious school, gymnastics, and sports. That is why I think I’m overwhelmed.” Amber B. of Spencer, Wisconsin agrees and adds, “… they should cut down the homework level. You should enjoy your childhood while you still have it.” The majority of you, however, don’t feel you have too much homework. Caitlin J. of Weyers Cave (say “Wheres” Cave), Virginia writes, “We barely get any homework and if we do it takes … thirty minutes max. Some say they don’t have time? Give me a break.” Matthew B. of Ticonderoga, New York adds, “If you have paid attention … you should not have problems doing homework.” Kasey S. of Minot, North Dakota writes, “My teacher doesn’t give us homework. He feels we should have time for family and friends after school.” Gabrielle C. of Glen Falls, New York adds, “I don’t feel overwhelmed. I actually think homework is fun!” And finally, Rebekah J. of Henderson, Nebraska thinks it’s all about time management. Rebekah writes, “If you use your time wisely … you should get your work done in school.” MAILBAG CLOSE We look forward to receiving your responses to our two latest issue questions…ard to receiving your responses to our two latest issue questions… “Should the space program continue?” and “Would you like educational video game choices?”If you would like to receive an Assignment: The World Press card, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may write to us here at Assignment: The World, Post Office Box three-zero-zero-twenty-one, Rochester, New York… one-4-6-zero-3… or you may contact us at the A-T-W website at http://atwonline.org./ We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org. POP QUIZ #2 In our story about Israel, the opposition rejected a call to join Sharon because of what? Was it… They support Arafat they rejected election results no plan for peace talks And the correct answer is number three… the opposition insisted that Sharon had no plan to hold peace talks with the Palestinians. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue is a location… 48 Degrees, 51 minutes north latitude 02 Degrees, 20 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a fill-in-the-blank, it’s two words… _ L I _ B _ I E _ I N _ And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter, it is two words… E A C P I E G T E M N These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming week. You can find the answers on radio and television newscasts and in newspapers and newsmagazines. We’ll reveal the answers on next week’s show. Good luck! GOOD-BYE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And that’s it for this week’s show. From all of us here at Assignment: The World, I’m Elissa Marra. We’ll see you again next week. © 2003 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.