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	• NEWS >> ATW February 28, 2007 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of March 1st, I’m Teej Jenkins. Our top story this week…Britain takes a step away from Iraq. 1—IRAQ UPDATE IRAQ 33 DEGREES, 21 MINUTES NORTH 44 DEGREES, 25 MINUTES EAST The commander of British forces in Iraq says the gradual handover of security to Iraqi troops and police is all part of a plan and not a reaction to public pressure. Major General Jonathan Shaw said he is conscious of the need to back up the relatively new Iraqi security forces and that no hasty steps will be made. His news conference came just days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that 16-hundred British troops will be withdrawn from Iraq over the coming months. And all of that news came amidst reports that Iraq’s president, Jalal Talabani, had been flown to Jordan for medical treatment. A government spokesman said Talabani was simply working too hard and had not suffered from a stroke or a heart attack. Talabani was reportedly back on his feet by late last weekend when he had meetings with aides before leaving for Jordan. Hasty (adj) done too quickly to be accurate or wise ATW FACT One of the most common infectious diseases around the world is malaria. It infects as many as 500 million people each year. Of those, it kills as many as 3 million every year, many of those the very young of Sub Saharan Africa. INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… ----flooding strands thousands in Bolivia… ---Virginia regrets a large chapter of its history… ---and the UN ponders the next step against Iran. #2—IAEA REPORT IRAN 35 DEGREES, 40 MINUTES NORTH 51 DEGREES, 26 MINUTES EAST New U-N sanctions against Iraq are now being considered. Those would come in the wake of a report by the U-N’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. It confirmed late last week that Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment program though Iran continues to claim that it has only peaceful intentions. The U-N Security Council voted late last to demand that Iran suspend its nuclear program and ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with any materials that could be used to develop weapons. After this latest report, the U-S was the only country to openly condemn Iran and call for stricter sanctions. China, Russia and Israel are among the other countries that had no immediate reaction other than to favor diplomacy over force. Uranium (n) radioactive element that can be processed for use in nuclear weapons or energy #3—BOLIVIAN FLOODING BOLIVIA 18 DEGREES, 36 MINUTES SOUTH 13 DEGREES, 56 MINUTES WEST International aid is finally starting to arrive in Bolivia where flooding is described as the worst in 25 years. At least 40 people are dead though that may rise as health officials say drinking water and sanitation have been severely compromised. More than 16-hundred cases of dengue fever and 14-hundred cases of malaria have already been reported. Meteorologists blame the heavy, sustained rains on El Nino, a periodic phenomenon that begins with warm waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The International Red Cross says it is trying to help an estimated 350-thousand people, many of them poor, indigenous residents of the most remote areas of Bolivia. Highways which could carry supplies are under water throughout an area covering more than 500-thousand acres. The United Nations is calling for help from around the world. Dengue (n) infectious tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causes fever and rash #4— —VIRGINIA SLAVERY VOTE UNITED STATES 37 DEGREES, 28 MINUTES NORTH 77 DEGREES, 24 MINUTES WEST Virginia’s General Assembly voted unanimously on Saturday to express profound regret for its role in almost 250 years of slavery in America. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has made any sort of apology for slavery. While the resolution doesn’t carry the weight of law, sponsors say its an important symbolic message. In part, the resolution calls government-sanctioned slavery “the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights” and that it violated the founding ideals of our nation. It also expresses regret for the exploitation of Native Americans. The measure comes as Virginia begins celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. That’s where the first African slaves arrived in 1619. Depredations (n) plunder, ravage, looted POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Iraq, how many soldiers did we tell you Britain will soon withdraw? Was it 1. 600 2. 1600 3. 6000 And the answer is number 2. Britain’s prime minister recently announced that 16-hundred British troops will soon be withdrawn. OLD CLUE # 1—CHENEY TRIP Time now for answers to last week’s Clues in the News. Our first clue was the location of Canberra. Australia’s capital was one of the stops on a multi-nation trip taken by Vice President Dick Cheney. With Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Cheney left open the possibility of military action against Iran. Cheney left Australia to make an unannounced stop in Pakistan where he reportedly gave a stern warning to that country’s leader to step up efforts to combat Al Qaeda. Cheney then went to Afghanistan. While at the main US base there, a suicide bomber killed at least 14 people outside the base. The Taliban claimed responsibility and said Cheney was their target. OLD CLUE # 2— SENEGAL VOTE Unscramble our second clue and you got Senegal election. International monitors say voting in Senegal over the weekend appeared orderly and fair. Incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade appeared to be leading in early returns but with 14 other contenders,a runoff election may have to be held. Though Wade is credited with keeping Senegal largely peaceful, this year’s race centered around that country’s nearly 50 per cent unemployment rate and its crumbling electricity network. ahb-doo-L-EYE-eh~~WAHD OLD CLUE # 3—ACADEMY AWARDS And finally, fill in the blanks on our third clue and you got Academy Awards. Hollywood’s annual celebration was held Sunday night. Among those who left with a golden statuette were Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker, who won for Best Actress and Best Actor. The Departed came away with four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. Newcomer Jennifer Hudson took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. In one of the newer categories, Happy Feet was named Best Animated Feature. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… March 1st, 1872, President Ulysses Grant signs legislation that creates the world’s first national park. Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres draws 3 million visitors every year partly to see its abundant wildlife and partly to see its 250 active geysers. ATW FEATURE Zoos all around the world are making efforts to preserve species of animals that are endangered. We visited Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York to learn more about one especially large endangered animal. Katie Sullivan checks it out. ATW FEATURE (Katie) Many species of animals across our globe are in danger of becoming extinct. For the Asian elephants of SE Asia, deforestation is causing their world to close in around them. Often, breeding these animals in captivity through the Species Survival Plan gives the elephants hope by helping to sustain their numbers in captivity. (John) These are Asian elephants. Mostly in parts of SE Asia. You're at Thailand, Sri Lanka, parts of India. They're an endangered species. Their numbers are diminishing daily as we speak. Probably looking at somewhere between 45, 000 or less in the wild. A big part of us in captivity is trying to sustain a north American captive population. That’s why we have breeding programs here in the states. One day they could be gone and the only place you might see them is here in zoos. (Katie) Breeding these elephants through the SSP's ensures that the elephants born in captivity are born healthy and able to sustain the Asian elephant population. Although living in captivity is a far different environment than the forests from which they came, the collection managers keep the Asian elephants busy and active. (John) Well, its hard to mimic exactly what they do in the wild, A big part of captivity with elephants is we try to just keep them busy. Not only physically, but mentally. Training is a big part of it, its a good enrichment activity but we find other ways of getting them enriched like giving them boomer balls, jungle balls to kick around, and we find hay nets, hanging hay nets that they can reach up naturally like they're foraging for food. (Katie) These beautiful animals are wild and it should always be that way, but unfortunately loss of habitat and poaching by humans makes their native forests a dangerous place to live. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo offers the species protection through a safe breeding program and daily enrichment to keep these Asian elephants healthy and happy. ISN’T IT COOL Fleur-de-lis Mexico More than 10,000 people flocked to Mexico City’s main square to see if boy scouts could break the record for the world’s largest fleur-de-lis. The scouts used 1,614,583 cans to produce the lily flower. Once completed, the scouts ran into the square crushing the donated cans that were bagged for later recycling. ISSUE Earlier, we told you about Virginia passing a resolution to express regret for that state’s role in slavery. 6 years ago, a group of African leaders called for the United States and other nations to make their own formal apologies. According to former columnist Luther Keith, many black Americans say the lack of an apology represents a denial of the past, something they feel continues to isolate them from the rest of the nation. An apology, they feel, would be a part of the healing process. And others argue that large parts of the nation were built and thrived on the strength of slave or enforced labor. If no slaveholders are still alive, it is the government’s place to apologize. But opponents say an apology is unnecessary and a sign of political correctness. Some say slavery was a private business that was largely restricted to the south and not a function of government. Others argue that a government cannot apologize, only people can and those who were responsible are no longer alive. It is time, they say, to move on. So, what do you think? Should the US offer an apology for slavery? Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions. MAILBAG We received nearly two hundred responses to our issue question, “Should the U.S. strike back against Iran?” The majority of you, 67 percent, say no the U.S. should not attack Iran. 26 percent say yes, striking against Iran is justifiable. 7 percent are undecided. Some of you feel that if we can prove that Iran has helped terrorists in Iraq, we should strike back. Abigail A. of Waynesboro, Virginia writes, “We should strike back because they helped with bombing in Iraq and they have nuclear bombs (that) they could harm us with.” Patrick F. of Lancaster, New York agrees, Patrick writes, “I think the United States should strike back for what they did to us. They have killed a lot of people, including my best friend’s older brother.” The majority of you, however, do not feel striking back at Iran is in our best interests. Monique S. of Stephens City, Virginia writes, “We should compromise with Iran. We already have enough problems.” Keaton H. of Waverly, Iowa is against it simply because, “… bombing Iran is wrong and cruel.” Katie N. of Appleton, Wisconsin adds, “It would start another war and we don’t need another war.” Riley T. of Jamestown, North Dakota agrees writing, “It will cause a bigger problem and will (lead) to World War Three.” And finally, Sydnie J. of La Vista, Nebraska has a better idea. Sydnie writes, “We should try to make peace with them, maybe they will not be our enemy but our friend instead.” We look forward to your responses to our two latest questions: “Should the US offer an apology for slavery?” and “Should the Iditarod stop running?” We’ll put some of the more thought provoking letters and e-mails on the air. 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 Academy Awards, which movie did we tell you won Best Animated Feature? Was it 1. Monster House 2. Cars 3. Happy Feet And the correct answer is number 3. The penguins of Happy Feet are this year’s animated winners. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 42 Degrees, 37 minutes north latitude 21 Degrees, 5 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a scrambled letter, two words First word R E N N E T G O O P Second word S I N I S O M And finally, our third clue is a fill in the blanks, two words First word J blank P blank T blank R Second word P blank O blank 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 Teej Jenkins. We’ll see you again next week. © 2007 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.