• NEWS >> ATW November
20, 2004
Yearly
Script Program Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPEN/WELCOME
Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of October 28th,
2004. I’m Elissa Orlando.
In our top story this week…the race for the White House comes
down to its final week.
1—PRES. CAMPAIGN
States that have a combination of undecided voters
and key electoral votes were the focus of both major party candidates.
Both men made several visits to Florida, a key state with 27 electoral
votes and the site of the controversial recount in the 2000 election.
At a Florida church Sunday, Kerry told the congregation that four more
years of President Bush would mean more casualties in Iraq and bigger
deficits for the federal government. President Bush told his supporters
that he and not Senator Kerry was best equipped to keep American homes
safer from terrorists. The President said that while voters must consider
many different issues, the single most important is homeland security.
Most major polls of public opinion in the presidential race still have
Senator Kerry and President Bush in a statistical dead heat.
Congregation (n) a group of people gathered for religious worship.
ATW FACT
Earthquakes,
which are caused by faults and plates in the earth’s crust, were
once blamed on giant snakes, turtles, catfish or spiders. Among the
most destructive quakes in history were ones that leveled Lisbon, Portugal
in 1750 and San Francisco, California in 1906.
INTRO REST OF THE NEWS
In the rest of the news this week…
--new tactics have more deadly results in Iraq..
-several earthquakes shake up Japan…
-and its “mission accomplished” for two space travelers.
#2—IRAQ UPDATE
50 Iraqis, all of them unarmed and most of them recently trained by
the U-S to join Iraq’s army, were killed Sunday. Iraqi officials
say infiltrators or spies were able to find out exactly where and when
the soldiers would be traveling. The attack was well planned and one
of the most ambitious by anti-US insurgents. It also deals a blow to
efforts to train Iraqis who will eventually replace American soldiers
in that country. U-S troops spent the weekend trying to root out weapons
in the Baghdad slum known as Sadr City. The area has been the site of
fierce fighting between US troops and the followers of radical Muslim
cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. More than 11-hundred Americans have died thus
far in Iraq. A small group of anti-war protestors paid tribute to them
Saturday by placing more than a thousand cardboard coffins in front
of the Lincoln Memorial in the nation’s capital.
Slum (n) heavily populated urban area often with poor housing and squalor
#3—JAPAN QUAKES
Officials are still trying to assess the damage caused by a series
of earthquakes
in Japan. The first and most powerful struck early Saturday night in
a region 160 miles northwest of Tokyo. At least two dozen people were
killed, more than a thousand were injured and power was cut to hundreds
of thousands. A bullet train was ripped off its rails and the quake
had buildings in Tokyo swaying for more than a minute. As emergency
officials tried to get food and other supplies into the affected regions,
more earthquakes struck, one of them just after dawn on Monday. Japan
rests atop several tectonic plates, making that country one of the most
prone to earthquakes in the world. These latest earthquakes hit Japan
just after a typhoon struck earlier last week.
Tectonic (adj) pertaining to the structural deformation in the earth’s
crust
#4— —ASTRONAUTS RETURN
Life for Mike Fincke and Gennady Padalka is a bit more weighty and
the view isn’t quite as good. The astronaut and the cosmonaut are
back on Earth after spending the last six months on board the International
Space Station. They returned to their home planet early Sunday,
arriving in a Soyuz space capsule on the steppes of Kazakhstan. U-S
and Russian space officials praised the two men. During their time in
orbit, Fincke and Padalka conducted four space walks, made some critical
repairs and provided valuable information about long term time in weightless
space. NASA says it will be no earlier than mid May of 2005 before shuttles
are once again the vehicle for bringing and removing astronauts from
the space station.
Steppe (n) vast semiarid grass covered plain in southeastern Europe
and Siberia
POP QUIZ #1
In our story about the presidential campaign, which issue did President
Bush say was key to this year’s election? Was it
1. The deficit
2. Homeland security
3. the war in Iraq
And the answer is number 2. President Bush said homeland security is
the biggest single issue in this year’s election.
OLD CLUE #1—PRISTINA, KOSOVO
Its time now for the answers to our Clues in the News.
Our first clue was the location
of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo in Serbia Montenegro. Voters there
went to the polls for the second time since the U-N and NATO took over
control of the area in 1999. Prior to that, war between ethnic Albanians
and Serbs resulted in the deaths of an estimated 10-thousand people.
Feelings between the two groups remain strained. While the Albanian
majority cast ballots they hope will lead to independence for the region,
most Serbs stayed home. Their boycott was part of Serbian claims that
the United Nations has done little to ensure safety in the region. Results
of the voting will be available early next week.
OLD CLUE #2—TUNISIA VOTING
Unscramble our second clue and you got Tunisia Elections. Voters in
that north African country voted overwhelmingly Sunday to give another
4 year term to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. President Ben Ali
took power 17 years ago in a bloodless coup. Like his earlier election
victories, Ben Ali captured 95 per cent of the vote, a margin that prompted
an opposition party to call the election a sham. Human rights groups
have criticized Tunisia for controlling its press, denying some civil
liberties and discouraging dissent.
OLD CLUE #3—UNITED NATIONS DAY
And finally, fill in the blanks on our third clue and you got United
Nations Day. The U-N formally came into being October 24th, 1945. Out
of the ashes of World War Two, 50 countries voted to create a new organization
that would be an instrument of peace, human rights and development.
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, there are now 191 member countries. The
organization got its name from former US President Franklin Roosevelt
who first used the term in 1942. The United Nations celebrates its birthday
each year with meetings, discussions and exhibits. In 1971, the U-N
General Assembly recommended that October 24th be observed as a holiday
in each of its member nations, something the U-S has yet to approve.
THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY
This week in world history…October 29th, 1929, stock market investors
began to panic. By the end of what became known as Black Tuesday, the
market had suffered its single worst day. By the end of that week, the
US had suffered a financial collapse that would lead directly to the
Great Depression.
FEATURE
PUMPKIN CARVING
When did pumpkin carving become the favorite thing to do around this
time of year? Wyatt Doremus went in search of answers about Halloween
and how to carve the perfect pumpkin. Check it out !
FEATURE
PUMPKIN CARVING
When we went out in search of the perfect pumpkin our travels took
us to Powers
Farm Market in Pittsford, New York. Judging by their front lawn
it looked like the perfect place to learn more about carving pumpkins.
A short walk around the corner and we found two master carvers hard
at work. Stan and Ned Powers estimate they carve between 3-400 pumpkins
every October. What’s the key to carving the scariest pumpkin?
First, picking the right gourd and then using the right tools.
Stan Powers
“The first part is picking out a good pumpkin. One with a green
stem that is hard and firm. The pumpkin should be a bright orange. Those
pumpkins tend to last a lot longer.”
“I would use a pumpkin knife with soft ridges because if you
use a steak knife you can’t make the turns… something like
this can make nice, easy turns. It’s very easy to carve.
…the bigger the mouth…the bigger the eyes… the more light
can come through and make it more dramatic. The more light comes through
makes the pumpkin more scary…”
“I throw some little impression marks around the eyes and mouth…little
freckles here, a little nose… the more detail you put in it makes
the pumpkin stand out..”Stan and Ned had some recommendations on
how to make your pumpkin last longer.
“Carve it from the bottom, that way the water and stuff won’t
get in the top… we actually carve and gut the pumpkin and let it
sit for two, three days. That will let it harden a bit and then we carve
it.”
If you put a light bulb in it, don’t use a real hot one.
I will create little chimneys, little holes in the top and the heat
can get out…that will actually preserve it as well.”
Pumpkins can be found almost anywhere… they come in just about
every imaginable color and in other parts of the world they are largely
grown for food.
For Assignment: The World, I’m Wyatt Doremus.
ISN’T IT COOL
PANDA MOM
Huamei, an American-born giant panda gave birth to two cubs last month
at the world renowned Wuolong Panda Center in southwest China.
Researchers helped Huamei, which means “China America,” to
learn to nurture her off-spring by dabbing her midriff with milk.
Despite a healthy appetite Huamei is unable to produce enough milk to
feed both cubs. One is being raised by “human parents.”
Both cubs are in good health and growing fast.
ISSUE
As we told you earlier, one astronaut and a cosmonaut returned to Earth
this weekend after six months in the International
Space Station. Life there was a mixed blessing. In space, they lived
in cramped quarters, with no gravity, could not eat the favorite or
familiar foods and going for a walk brought dangers only partly solved
by a special suit. Friends, family and most of the usual forms of entertainment
must be left behind for half a year. But, going to the space station
is a once in a lifetime opportunity, an honor extended to very few people.
Much of the work done there furthers scientific research and helps take
us one step closer to exploring the rest of our solar system. And for
some relatively minor inconveniences, people on the space station become
famous as members of a small but important group of men and women who
have left the Earth’s atmosphere. So, what do you think? “Would
you want to live on the space station? Discuss this issue with your
classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions.
MAILBAG
We received over a thousand responses to our issue question…”Who
would be your choice for President?”
The majority of you, fifty seven percent, chose President George Bush
as your candidate.
Thirty six percent feel Senator John Kerry should get a chance to fill
the office of the Presidency.
Seven percent chose other candidates such as Ralph Nader.
Many of you feel John Kerry offers a better plan to lead the United
States.
Rochelle A. of Mequon, Wisconsin writes, “He has experience in
the military from fighting in Vietnam. He also wants to lower health
insurance and give tax relief to the middle class.”
Erik M. of Janesville, Wisconsin agrees and adds, “Bush spent all
our money on war and has been shipping jobs overseas. That’s not
fair to us… the next generation of workers.”
Austin S. of East Northport, New York offers, “(Kerry) believes
in stem cell research. I am 10 years old and I have diabetes. Living
with diabetes is very hard and stem cell research is my closest hope
for a cure.”
The majority of you, however, feel President George Bush deserves to
be re-elected.
Dar V. of Eldora, Iowa writes, “George Bush… is a man of principle
who doesn’t just say things to be popular or get votes. He is right
on moral issues and he has done a good job leading our country after
9/11.”
Ally N. of Jamestown, North Dakota agrees and adds, “George W.
Bush should be re-elected. He has shown good presidential skills.”
Jonathan P. of Waynesboro, Virginia writes, “President Bush has
proven himself (with) his dedication and hard work. He has protected
us from terrorism.”
Kristy B. of Keene, New Hampshire adds, “He did what he believed
to be necessary to keep our country safe. Bush has stood behind every
single decision he makes. Kerry can’t seem to make up his mind.”
And finally, Sarah O. of Liverpool, New York writes, “I like what
(President Bush) is doing in Iraq. He needs to finish what he started.”
We look forward to receiving your responses to our issue questions:
“Should the US open
the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling?” and “Would
you want to live on the space station? ” 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 Kosovo, we told you that region is populated mainly
by ethnic Albanians and
Croats
Slavs
Serbs
And the correct answer is number three. Kosovo is a province populated
by Albanians and Serbs.
NEW CLUES
And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news…
Our first clue a location…
50 Degrees, 26 minutes north latitude
30 Degrees, 31 minutes east longitude
Our second clue is a newsmaker:
ARIEL SHARON
And finally, our third clue is a fill in the blanks, two words:
W__R__D S__R__E__
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 Orlando. We’ll see you next
week.
© 2004 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World.
All Rights Reserved.
