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	• NEWS >> ATW October 27, 2005 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of October 27th , I’m Elissa Orlando. Our top story this week…millions are without power as yet another large hurricane sweeps in from the Atlantic. 1—HURRICANE WILMA UNITED STATES 24 DEGREES, 33 MINUTES NORTH 81 DEGREES, 47 MINUTES WEST Tropical Storm Alpha hit the Dominican Republic Sunday, becoming the record breaking 22nd named storm of the 2005 season. Forecasters were watching it at the same time as they tracked Hurricane Wilma’s path from Mexico to Florida. Wilma lingered over the Yucatan Peninsula for two days, causing enormous damage to tourist centers including Cancun. Wilma finally spun off toward Florida, arriving there Monday morning. The Category 3 storm came ashore with pounding waves and winds in excess of 125 miles per hour. Wilma is the 8th hurricane to strike Florida in just 15 months. While many people chose not to evacuate their homes in southern Florida, state and federal officials were prepared with trucks of ice and food nearby. The destruction caused by Wilma increased late Monday morning when it caused several tornados in central Florida. Governor Jeb Bush asked that 14 counties be declared major disaster areas. Excess (n) amount or quantity beyond what is normal ATW Fact There are several million earthquakes each year but fewer than two dozen are of any major magnitude and usually only one that is 8 or higher on the Richter Scale. Of the 10 major earthquakes thus far this year, the worst was an 8.7 magnitude that hit Northern Sumatra in late March. INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… --a long awaited trial will wait a little longer… --old enemies work together in the face of tragedy… --and new charges might mean sanctions for Syria. #2—IRAQ UPDATE IRAQ 33 DEGREES, 21 MINUTES NORTH 44 DEGREES, 25 MINUTES EAST Insurgent attacks continue to rock parts of Iraq as that country waits for a final count of votes on a new constitution. Three explosions killed 10 people and wounded 19 on Monday in Baghdad. Bombs were responsible for at least a dozen more deaths Sunday in Baghdad and elsewhere. On Saturday, mortar rounds apparently intended for a police station hit an elementary school instead. There were no reported casualties there. American and Iraqi officials had expected violence to increase around the beginning of the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. However, that trial was postponed almost as soon as it began. Hussein pleaded innocent to charges including pre-meditated murder as well as challenging the legitimacy of the court trying him. Hussein is one of several defendants charged in the 1982 massacre of nearly 150 Iraqi Shiites in the town of Dujail. The court agreed to postpone the case until late November to allow the defense more time to prepare. Mortar (n) muzzle loaded cannon used to fire shells at short ranges #3—EARTHQUAKE FOLLOW PAKISTAN 33 DEGREES, 42 MINUTES NORTH 73 DEGREES, 10 MINUTES EAST Longtime enemies are at least temporarily forgetting their differences in order to help those left homeless by earthquakes two weeks ago. India and Pakistan are working together in the disputed region of Kashmir, one of the world’s most heavily guarded borders. And despite Pakistan’s alliance with the U-S, al-Quaida’s second in command is calling on all Muslims everywhere to send money to help relief efforts. That may be the only good news facing an estimated 800-thousand people who are still without shelter as winter begins in that area of the Himalayas. Aftershocks continue to tremble through Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. Most of the estimated 80-thousand people who died in the earthquake lived in Pakistan. On Monday, Afghan leader Hamid Karzai traveled to Pakistan to offer his sympathies as well as several tons of medicine and supplies . Estimated (v) approximate extent or amount of #4— —HARRIRI PROBE, SYRIA 33 DEGREES, 30 MINUTES NORTH 36 DEGREES, 18 MINUTES EAST The U-S and Britain are calling for international action to be taken against Syria. That call came after a U-N report implicated Syrian officials in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri earlier this year. Punitive actions including economic sanctions could be put before the U-N Security Council soon. Syrian officials deny any involvement in Hariri’s assassination and claim they have cooperated with the investigation. Hariri was a longtime critic of Syria’s military presence in Lebanon. His death in February touched off mass demonstrations and an international call for Syria to pull its forces out. That withdrawal began in April, nearly 3 decades after Syrian soldiers arrived to calm Lebanon’s civil war. Sanction (n) penalty against a nation violating international law POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Hurricane Wilma, how many named storms did we tell you there have been this season? Is it 1. 21 2. 22 3. 23 And the answer is number 2. Tropical Storm Alpha became the 22nd named storm of the season, a new record. OLD CLUE #1—WORLD SERIES It's time now for the answers to our Clues in the News. Our first clue was the location of Chicago, the site of the first game of the 2005 World Series. The National League’s Houston Astros are in the first championship series in the team’s 44 year history. The American League’s Chicago White Sox haven’t won a championship since 1917. The two leagues have played each other since 1903 with the American League coming out on top 59 times to the National League’s 41. 7 current teams have never won a World Series. OLD CLUE #2—UNITED NATIONS DAY Fill in the blanks on our second clue and you got United Nations Day. October 24th was the 60th anniversary of the ratification of the U-N charter. 51 nations signed it in 1945. There are 191 member nations now. The goals of the organization remain the same: to promote global understanding, strengthen ties among nations, advance human rights, health care, security and education. The U-N has helped negotiate more than 170 regional conflicts. U-N leaders and agencies have won 8 Nobel Peace prizes, the latest awarded just a couple weeks ago. OLD CLUE #3—MAHMOUD ABBAS And finally, our third clue was a newsmaker, Mahmoud Abbas. The head of the Palestinian Authority met with President Bush at the White House late last week. After meeting behind closed doors, the two leaders took questions from reporters about the ongoing effort toward peace in the Middle East. Abbas accused Israel of putting barriers on Palestinian movement and its fragile economy. President Bush warned both sides not to sabotage the peace process but said the Palestinians have a responsibility to work harder to root out terrorists. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… October 27th, 1925, Fred Waller mounts a camera on two pieces of wood to get motion pictures as he is towed behind a boat. Though at least three other people had roughly the same idea at about the same time, Waller is the only one to patent and market what we now call water skis. ATW FEATURE STORM CHASERS As Hurricane Wilma worked her way ashore thousands of people evacuated to get out of her way. But there were some individuals who went looking for the eye of the storm. Wyatt Doremus Checks it out. ATW FEATURE STORM CHASERS As the US National Hurricane Center issued evacuation warnings for residents in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Dobbins Air Force Base, flies their specialized C-130 Hercules aircraft directly into the center of the hurricane. Using computerized meteorological data-gathering instruments on board they hope to learn more about these destructive storms. Captain DeAnn Lufkin Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer “…We can pin point it, within less than a mile accuracy exactly where it is. We can also collect data, where we are going to be flying about 10,000 feet all the way down to the surface which helps the forecasters understand what’s going on in the storm. It helps their models improve; the accuracy of that track tends to be pretty good.” As they climb into the eye of the storm the cloudiness clears inside the hurricane. It provides an opportunity to drop their instruments. Master Sargeant Deano Harrison Dropsonde Operater “We use the green tube her to launch the GPS dropsonde into the eye wall of the hurricane. As its falling at 2500 feet per minute it collects data and sends it back to the computer.” By gathering this information, hurricane forecasters can better determine the strength of the storms. (Lufkin) We increase the accuracy of the storm by at least 30 percent and it really helps the models tighten up. The more scientists can learn about hurricanes the better they can predict where and when they might occur. The information they gather can save lives. For ATW, I’m Wyatt Doremus. ISN’T IT COOL TIGER HAVEN In 1999, a Buddhist monk received three sick tigers at his Thailand monastery. The tigers were near death, but with a little help from their two-legged human friends, the animals miraculously survived. Now, six year later, the temple has more tigers living in it than monks. In all, there are 16 tigers that call the temple home. ISSUE At Chelsea High School outside of Boston, students are paid 25-dollars for each school quarter they have perfect attendance. At various levels in Niagara Falls, perfect attendance for the school year makes students eligible to win bicycles, computers or even a car. Gordon Hess, the principal of Frank Elementary School in Kenosha, Wisconsin handed out 30 bicycles last year. To critics who call that bribery, Hess says, “Tell me what’s wrong with it?” Attendance at his school has gone up 3 per cent as have test scores. He and others say students cannot learn if they are not present. And, if students are motivated to stay in school and not risk suspension, proponents say those students will be better behaved. But opponents say students who want to earn cars, cash or other prizes for perfect attendance will come to school when they should not. Sick students will pass on their colds to other students and staff. Others argue that some students are forced to stay home by circumstances they cannot control. For poorer, disadvantaged families, that often includes having to baby sit a younger sibling. And still others say perfect attendance should be expected, not paid for. Well, we would like to know what you think? “Should students be bribed to have perfect attendance?” Discuss this issue with your classmates, friends and family and write to let us know your opinions. MAILBAG We received over three hundred responses to our last issue question, “Should Supreme Court Justices have to have previous judicial experience?” The majority of you, fifty three percent say yes, judges should have previous experience before being appointed to the high court. Thirty seven say no, experience isn’t necessary to become a Supreme Court Judge. Ten percent are undecided. Many of you say, experience isn’t necessary to be a fair judge. Hallie R. of Ft. Defiance, Virginia writes “As long as they know the Constitution…than I have no problem with them not being a judge.” Alisha of Lebonon, New Hampshire thinks requiring experience as a judge “…would be turning down a lot of people who might have good ideas.” Jordan M. of Liverpool, New York writes “14 others weren’t judges before they were voted for Supreme Court justice.” The majority of you, however, think experience as a judge would be a good thing. Alexandria T. of Manitowoc, Wisconsin writes “Well of course they should have experience. For practically everything else you have to, so why not this?” Others feel having experience could help the person make a better decision. Brittany S. of Grottoes, Virginia writes “Someone who hasn’t [had experience] might get confused and make the wrong decision.” Alex T. of Waupaca, Wisconsin agrees. “If they don’t have experience dealing with small cases, how would they deal with the most important cases in the United States?” Others of you say that even though some former Supreme Court Justices didn’t have experience, that doesn’t make it right. Taylor O. of Mt. Sidney, Virginia writes “Even though some of the best Supreme Court Justices didn’t have judicial experience, I feel it would be best if they did.” MAILBAG CLOSE We look forward to reading your responses to our two latest issue questions: “Should the NBA have a dress code?” and “Should students be bribed to have perfect attendance?” 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 Lebanon, which nation did we tell you the U-N suspects of plotting the death of Lebanon’s former prime minister? Is it 1. Iraq 2. Iran 3. Syria And the correct answer is number three. The U-N suspects Syria in the death of Rafik Hariri, something Syria denies. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 6 Degrees, 48 minutes south latitude 39 Degrees, 18 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a newsmaker Who is? SILVIO BERLUSCONI And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter, three words First word G L A D Y H I T Second word S N A G S V I And the third word I T E M 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 again next week. © 2005 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.