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	• NEWS >> ATW Script November 6, 2003 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of November 6th 2003. I’m Elissa Marra. In our top story this week… America’s mission in Iraq will continue despite the deadliest day since March. #1— IRAQ ATTACK 16 American soldiers were killed and 20 more were wounded when their helicopter was hit Sunday by an anti-aircraft missile. American military officials continue to warn that there are potentially hundreds of surface to air missiles that are unaccounted for in Iraq. The two latest hit the Chinook transport helicopter near Fallujah which is a center of Sunni Muslim resistance to American occupation. The 84-foot long aircraft was destroyed. Those wounded were evacuated to a military hospital in Germany. That attack was followed by another Monday when 3 or 4 mortars struck near the Palestine Hotel. Many foreign journalists are based at the Palestine. Also on Monday, another American soldier died when his vehicle hit a mine north of the Iraqi capitol. And on Tuesday, one soldier was killed and another wounded by a homemade bomb. Despite the continuing and escalating loss of life, President Bush says the US has no intention of changing course or leaving Iraq. Mine (n) Explosive device often placed in a concealed position ATW FACT A marathon is a foot race over 26 miles, 385 yards. That’s the distance legend has it that a runner traveled to ancient Athens to announce a Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BCE. Unlike that runner, most marathon contestants survive the race. Source: American Heritage Dictionary INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… -Better prospects for Mideast peace -nature finally cooperates in California -and a look at the political future of Georgia. #2— ISRAEL/ARAFAT 10-thousand Palestinian laborers are back at work and the process for peace may be back on track. Israel opened its checkpoints with the Gaza Strip Sunday for the first time since a suicide bomber killed 21 restaurant patrons a month ago. Israel has severely limited traffic to and from the Gaza Strip, claiming security precautions. It has also caused resentment and brought the Palestinian economy to a near halt. The opening of the checkpoints may have brought talks between Israel and the Palestinians back to the US plan for peace. While Palestinian leaders say no formal or official talks have been set, they are at least open to negotiate. Peace was also on the minds of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sharon met with Putin on Monday to discuss a U-N proposed peace plan as well as Israel’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiate (v) to confer in order to reach an agreement #3— CALIFORNIA Help in the form of snow, rain and cooler temperatures finally came to the aid of thousands of firefighters in southern California. It may be weeks before an accurate estimate of the cost can be made but some figures are clear. Among those: at least 20 people died, more than 3-thousand homes were destroyed and 750-thousand acres were burned. Hundreds of people and pets are in shelters for a second week. Some critics say the fires were at least partly preventable. California had asked for 430-million dollars in federal aid to cut down forests that had been killed by bark beetles. That aid was denied. Those forests were a large part of why the fires spread so rapidly and were so destructive. Preventable (adj) able to keep from happening #4— GEORGIA ELECTIONS Voting irregularities, an important referendum and a preview of a key presidential race. Those are just some of the headlines coming out of elections held over the weekend in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The party led by current President Eduard Shevardnadze held an early lead over a number of political challengers. Some polling places opened late while one closed early. That led some to charge election fraud, something Shevardnadze denies. Many countries are watching these elections in part because Shevardnadze, who is limited to two terms, must step down next year. Fraud (n) a deliberate deception for unlawful gain POP QUIZ #1 In our story about the Mideast, from where did we tell you Israel allowed Palestinian workers to once again cross? Was it… The Gaza Strip The West Bank Jerusalem And the correct answer is number one…thousands of Palestinian laborers were allowed to resume their jobs outside the Gaza Strip. OLD CLUE #1— PEOPLE W/AIDS CONFERENCE And now it’s time for the answers to our clues in the news… Our first clue was a location. Travel to those coordinates and you would have been in Kampala. The capitol city of Uganda was the site of the 11th International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Leaders of the 5-day conference hoped to strengthen collaborations between governments, businesses and religious communities to help fight AIDS. AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Uganda where the average life expectancy for its 24 million citizens is just 42 years. . OLD CLUE #2—UNICEF DAY Fill in the blanks of our second clue and you got UNICEF Day. Trick or Treat for UNICEF started in Philadelphia in 1950. A youth group collected money to help children overseas. By 1967, President Johnson officially declared October 31st National UNICEF Day. US children have collected more than 100-million dollars that’s been used by the United Nations agency to improve “the health, environment, and education of children throughout the world.” Canada is among the other countries that have also declared Halloween as a national UNICEF day. OLD CLUE #3—NYC MARATHON And finally, unscramble our third clue and you have New York Marathon. 35-thousand runners started the 37th annual New York City Marathon. 2 hours and ten minutes later, Martin Lei won his first marathon ever. 12 minutes later, Margaret Okayo smashed the women’s record for the event. Lei, Okayo and most of the top finishers in New York are all from Kenya. Also finishing on Sunday was British adventurer Sir Randolph Fiennes who made New York’s the 7th marathon he had run in 7 days on 7 different continents. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… on November 7th, 1885, a driven spike marked the completion of Canada’s first transcontinental railroad. The western portion of its 46-hundred kilometers opened up vast areas for settlement, ranching and farming. FEATURE INTRO For the next two weeks we will be exploring the coffins of an ancinet Egyptian official named Pa-Debehu-Aset, check it out! (Wyatt Doremus) “Here at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, New York a new exhibit called ‘Protected for Eternity: The Coffins of Pa-Debehu-Aset’ is giving people an opportunity to view a pair of highly decorated Egyptian coffins from the 4th century BCE.” (Marlene Hamman Whitmore: Curator of Education Memorial Art Gallery) “People seem to be facinated with Ancient Egypt. We all really know quite a bit about it and what we're going to have on view is two coffins that originally were made for Pa-Debehu-Aset and one fits inside another. There is an inner coffin which is the anthropoid coffin, which is human shaped which fits inside the outer rectangular coffin called a shrine coffin. Also in this exhibit will be small objects that would have been either burried with a mummy, not Pa-Debehu-Aset but some one like him that would of helped his spirit, perfected his spirit in the afterlife.” (Wyatt) “The mummy, or physical remains of Pa-Debehu-Aset was long ago lost, but his beautifully made coffins eventually made there way to an auction in New York City. Once authenticated the coffins were purchased by Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery. While there are literally thousands of Egyptian coffins in museums across the world there are only three of this type and time period known to exist…of those these are the only ones available for viewing by the public. Before that could happen though, there was a long process of study, conservation and restoration. Mimi Leveque is a conservator; for eight weeks she worked very hard to restore Pa-debehu-Aset’s coffins to their natural beauty.” (Voice of Mimi Leveque) “Because this coffin is an ancient object, it has a long history that we don’t want to obscure and so I try only to fill in areas where it will add strength to the coffin and not cover up any changes that have happened over time.” (Wyatt) “For ‘Assignment: The World’ I’m Wyatt Doremus.” ISN’T IT COOL ANTIQUE CAR RACE The vehicles may be a 100 years old but the drivers are having a blast…even in the rain! Hundreds of vintage car fans braved windy and rainy weather to drive these antique cars from London to Brighton, England. With speeds averaging 20 miles per hour it was a leisurely drive rather than a race. Three hours after the start of the rally, the first participants completed the 54 mile course and crossed the finish line. ISSUE The alarming pictures shown recently of a school bus rolling over reawakened an ongoing national controversy. Students at the Keene Middle School in Keene, New Hampshire are among those wondering why seat belts aren’t mandatory on all school buses. A number of parent groups are pushing for just that. They say a lap-shoulder belt used properly would make for a safer, quieter, less confusing trip to school. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says seat belts may cause even more severe injuries. The N-H-T-S-A points to several studies that indicate seat belts might slow down children who need to evacuate a bus immediately. Those studies also claim that buses that are compartmentalized or that have densely situated, high backed chairs are a much safer option. So, what you think… “Should students have to use seat belts on school buses?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions. MAILBAG We received nearly four hundred responses to our issue question … “Is the Presidential political season too long?” The majority of you fifty four percent say yes, it is too long. Thirty six percent say no, it is not. Ten percent are undecided. Many of you feel running for president is too important and the more time taken to learn what the candidates stand for… the better. Ryan K. of Rockford, Michigan writes, “… candidates need a lot of time. They need to go … across the U-S to win peoples’ votes. The long (season) give people time to decide.” Bryce T. of Mequon, Wisconsin agrees and adds, “The season gives (candidates) a chance to develop their ideas and issues. (It) also gives people a chance to choose the one they believe thinks like they do.” Kathleen S. of Loudonville, New York sums it up this way. “Different parties need time to select their candidates. The candidates need time to campaign. Voters need time to make decisions on whom to vote for.” The majority of you, however, feel the presidential political season is too long. Katryna M. of Waunakee, Wisconsin writes, “Too much time is spent talking about important issues … not enough time is spent doing anything about the issues.” Taylor D. of Rochester, New York adds, “Voters get sick of politics by the time the election actually gets here! (And) candidates waste a tremendous amount of money on advertising.” Kali M. of Weyers Cave, Virginia has this suggestion. “The Presidential season should last no longer than six months. This would give all the people an opportunity to listen to the candidates while not (getting) sick of the whole process.” Finally, Dave. E. of Muskego, Wisconsin writes, “Most people don’t even care until the election year. Why waste (the) money? You’re better waiting until people care!” MAILBAG CLOSE We look forward to receiving your responses to our two latest issue questions… “Should we continue to use Daylight Savings Time?” and … “Should students have to use seat belts on school buses?” 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 the New York City Marathon, which country is home to both the men’s and women’s champions? Was it… The U-S England Kenya And the correct answer is number three…In addition to both winners, 7 of the top 10 men and 4 of the top 10 women were all born in Kenya. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 39 Degrees, 55 minutes north latitude 116 degrees, 25 minutes east longitude Our second clue is newsmaker: Who is….? Hamid Karzai And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter…three words: STREAVEN YAD 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.