WXXI-TV | Assignment: The World |


	• NEWS >> ATW April 26, 2007 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of April 26th, I’m Teej Jenkins. Our top story this week…a nation mourns the death of its history-making leader. 1—YELTSIN REMEMBERED 55 degrees, 45 minutes north 37 degrees, 35 minutes east Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin died Monday of heart failure. Yeltsin was hailed by many as the man who helped lead Russia in its first years as a democracy. Two months after becoming the first democratically elected president in 1991, he helped put down a coup attempt against then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. But Yeltsin left public life in 1999 with a checkered resume. Critics say he sold parts of the former Soviet empire to loyal friends for next to nothing. Yeltsin also responsible for sending in tanks to the breakaway republic of Chechnya. He later called the 21-month conflict there his biggest mistake. President Bush offered his sympathies and said “President Yeltsin was an historic figure who served his country during a time of momentous change.” Coup (n) sudden overthrow of a government by a group in violation of the constitution ATW Fact Ukraine is country in eastern Europe bordered by Russia, Poland, Romania, Moldova and the Black Sea. Slightly smaller in area than Texas, it finally won its independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Slightly more than 46 million people live there now.INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… --the political crisis widens in Ukraine... ---a truly out of this Earth trip comes to an end... ---and Virginia Tech tries to move beyond the mourning... #2—VIRGINIA TECH UPDATE 36 degrees, 45 minutes north 81 degrees, 49 minutes west Students returned to classes Monday for the first time since a gunman killed 32 people before ending his own life. Seung-Hui Cho's family apologized for what they called his “unspeakable actions” but after a week of mourning most people at Virginia Tech are hoping to regroup and go on. Students returned to campus Sunday with some electing to move out of West Ambler Johnston hall where the first two students were murdered. Others waited until after attending one of the many memorial services held across the country. Some students welcomed the return to Virginia Tech, calling it and the people in it the perfect blend to begin the healing process for all those affected. The university offered to allow students to end their semester now by accepting their current grade as final. Most students chose to return for the final month of the semester. Memorial (adj) serving as a remembrance of a person or event, commemorative #3—UKRAINIAN POLITICAL CRISIS Thousands of rival demonstrators took to the streets of Ukraine's capital city late last week. Their actions echoed the political chaos and deadlock that continue between that country's president and premier. Talks between the two ended Friday with no immediate breakthrough. Ukraine's premier, Viktor Yanukovych says he and his party are read to hold talks and sign a peace agreement. President Viktor Yushchenko says he is ready to suspend his parliament if lawmakers promise to quickly adopt laws on the sharing of political power. Ukraine's political paralysis began April 2nd when Yushchenko signed a decree that set early parliamentary elections for May 27th. Yanukovych and his parliamentary majority have ignored the decree, calling it unconstitutional. Suspend (v) cause to stop for a period, interrupt #4— —SPACE TOURIST RETURNS 55 degrees, 45 minutes north 37 degrees, 35 minutes east American billionaire Charles Simonyi is back on solid ground after a 13 day trip aboard the International Space station. Simonyi and two astronauts touched down in central Kazakhstan on Saturday, one day later because of fears that flooding in the area might complicate their arrival. It cost Simonyi 25-million dollars to make the trip. He earned his fortune through his work with software including the development of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Simonyi seemed in good spirits as he bit into a green apple, a custom that's become traditional for space travelers who return to earth in Kazakhstan which is famous for its tasty apples. Fortune (n) wealth, a large amount of money POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Ukraine, when did we tell you that country's current political problems began? Was it February 2nd March 2nd April 2nd And the answer is number 3. A decree signed April second was the beginning of Ukraine's ongoing political crisis. OLD CLUE # 1—NIGERIA ELECTION Time now for answers to last week’s Clues in the News. Our first clue was the location of Abuja, Nigeria. Violence, poor organization and fraud were among the many problems marring voting in Nigeria over the weekend. At least 200 people died in the week leading up to the presidential election. International observers and opposition candidates claim the ruling People's Democratic party rigged the election. OLD CLUE # 2— FRENCH VOTING Unscramble our second clue and you got French president. Voters in France pared the list of presidental hopefuls from 12 to 2 Sunday. Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal will face each other in a runoff election May 6th. Both candidates have promised to get France back on its feet but their plans to do so are very different. Sarkozy wants to cut taxes and loosen labor laws. Royal says she would increase government spending and guard France's already generous protections for workers. If she wins on May 6th, Royal would be France's first woman president. seh-goh-LEHN~ROY-ahl nee-ko-LAH~sahr-ko-ZEE OLD CLUE # 3—EARTH DAY And finally, fill in the blanks on our third clue and you got Earth Day. Former Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day in 1970. The 20 million people who participated in events that year have grown to an estimated 500 million in 175 countries this year. While some of the original goals, including clean air and water, have yet to be achieved, global warming is the center of attention. A number of scientists are predicting that without action, it could cause environmental and economic disaster. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… April 26th, 1777, 16 year old Sybil Ludington rides her horse more than 40 miles in the dark over unmarked roads to rouse the local militia. They arrive in time to drive off British soldiers who were trying to burn the town of Danbury, Connecticut.. ATW FEATURE The 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum is a place in Geneseo, New York where you can learn all about the history of aviation, the great part is, they also hold the World Renowned Geneseo Air show putting the museum on display in the air, Wyatt Doremus checks it out! ATW FEATURE (Sterlin) This show has got quite a bit of a reputation now, in fact a British aviation magazine ranked us as one of the top 10 air shows in North America, I figure we are going to get close to 20,000 people for this air show. We get planes from all over; we have a guy who flies in from Texas, Georgia, Maine, and we have the F-15 that fly’s in from Seymour Johnson down in North Carolina. (Wyatt) Sterlin not only does it for the love of aviation, but because it gives him a sense of pride and patriotism as he himself is a war veteran. (Sterlin) It’s pretty amazing b/c it’s all volunteer, all money goes to bills and fixing planes and we all do it for the love of aviation. My official title is the public information officer for the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum, and today I’m acting as ground boss at the airshow. I have 1 frequency to talk to pilots and 1 to talk to fuel trucks and flight lines, and if someone needs fuel I have to make sure someone goes over and fills them, and I have to figure out what time to start the planes, so they don’t sit on the runway and over heat, I keep the whole show moving. (Wyatt) Sterlin Harris is just one of the many volunteers with many tasks, who keep this Museum and Air show going, with hours of dedication making it an event not to be missed! (Sterlin) I grew up reading about pilots and flying and I’ve always been interested in it and this was a way to have a hands on interest , I love to be down here with other fellow veterans because it re-kindles a lot of that camaraderie from serving our country and now we are paying homage to all veterans by working on and displaying these planes. (Wyatt) For Assignment: the World, I’m Wyatt Doremus ISN’T IT COOL TEXTING CHAMP In the first ever-national championship of texting competitors got the chance to put their phone texting capabilities to the test. Hoping to win $25,000 contestants competed by typing phrases that appeared on overhead screens, into their handsets as accurately, and as quickly, as possible. The competition, open to the public, started in Los Angeles in March. ISSUE We told you earlier about life returning to normal at Virginia Tech. But the incident there last week once again raised questions about the availability of guns in America. In a poll taken last October 55 percent of Americans think stricter gun control laws are needed. At the very least, gun control advocates say Federal laws should be strengthened to prevent criminals, juveniles and high-risk individuals from being able to get guns. Also, they say sales of ammunition should be cut off to such groups. Such measures, they say would help prevent another such tragedy. But opponents say the incident at Virginia Tech is not a good argument for further limiting the Constitution's Second Amendment. In fact, some argue that the shootings there are proof that more people, perhaps even professors, should be able to carry arms to defend themselves and others. They say there are far more effective ways to spot potentially dangerous people than disarm everyone else. So, what do you think? Is further gun control needed? Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions. MAILBAG We received over two hundred responses to our issue question, “Should fighting in hockey be banned?” The majority of you, 70 percent say no, fighting should not be banned. 27 percent say yes it should. Just 3 percent are undecided. Many of you feel fighting in hockey should be stopped. Danielle M. of Mt. Solon, Virginia writes, “If someone gets into a fight, they should be suspended for at least a week.” Lindsey of Pittsford, New York thinks fighting sets a bad example. Lindsey writes, “Children go to hockey games and they might be influenced by the fighting and start violence at school or home.” Faith of Woodbury, Minnesota agrees and adds, “It is setting a bad example for kids… if they see them fighting, they want to fight too.” The majority of you, however, do not feel fighting should be banned. Ryan of Waunakee, Wisconsin writes, “Most fans love fights. Some fans only go to games to see fights.” Brenna I. Of Walker, Michigan adds, “Fighting is a way to get your anger out. If fighting in hockey is banned then shouldn’t boxing and wrestling be banned?” Sean W. of Waverly, Iowa agrees and writes, “They have enough pads on so it shouldn’t hurt them. It is a good way to release anger.” Amanda D. of Buffalo, New York thinks fighting makes it interesting. Amanda writes, “Hockey fights do not always end well but they do create an interesting game.” Finally, Zach W. of Combined Locks, Wisconsin adds, “Fighting in hockey games is like half the entertainment. It is a lot of fun to see them slam each other into the glass.” We look forward to your responses to our two latest questions: “Should eating or other activities in cars be banned?” and “Is further gun control needed?” 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 space tourist, how much money did we tell you his trip cost? Was it 10 million dollars 20 million dollars 25 million dollars And the correct answer is number 3. His trip to the International Space Station added up to 25 million dollars. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 12 Degrees, 39 minutes north latitude 8 Degrees, 0 minutes west longitude Our second clue is a scrambled letter, two words First word R A C E D M O S T Second word E A T B E D And finally, our third clue is a fill in the blanks, two words First word D blank R F blank R Second word C blank NF blank R blank N 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.