• NEWS >> ATW 02/04/10
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OPEN/WELCOME
Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of February 4th, I’m Carlet Cleare.
Our top story this week…Efforts continue to help the residents of Haiti.
TOP STORY- Haiti Earthquake
18 DEGREES, 32 MINUTES NORTH
72 DEGREES, 20 MINUTES WEST
Currently, estimates range from one to two hundred thousand deaths as a result of the earthquake in Haiti and many more remain injured and in need of care.
This has left many children without parents, but the Haitian government has halted all adoptions due to fears that children may be put in the wrong hands or taken from parents who are still alive, but separated from their children.
One group of Americans was arrested for trying to take 33 children out of the country. They claim they were trying to help the children, but admit that they did not get the proper permissions.
During a temporary suspension of airlifts to take the injured out of Haiti for medical help, a group of doctors used a private jet to airlift three kids to hospitals in the US.
Since then, the US military has resumed medical evacuations.
Meanwhile aid from across the globe continues to arrive, along with heavy machinery to use during the clean up.
temporary (adj) lasting only for a short time
ATW FACT
The American Professional Football Association changed its name to the National Football League in 1922. The NFL had 18 teams at first, including the Oorang Indians of Marion, Ohio. This team was made up of all Native Americans, including Olympian Jim Thorpe.
Source: National Football League
INTRO REST OF THE NEWS
In the rest of the news this week…
- The UN Secretary-General addresses the African Union
- President Obama attends a meeting of Republicans
- China denounces a deal with Taiwan
#2— US-Taiwan Arms Deal
39 DEGREES, 55 MINUTES NORTH
116 DEGREES, 24 MINUTES EAST
In China, discontent is increasing over the expected arms deal between the U.S. and Taiwan, a self ruled island that China still claims as their territory.
In the deal, the U.S. will sell Taiwan 6.4 billion dollars worth of weapons, including missiles and helicopters.
China’s foreign minister stated that the deal is a "crude interference in China's internal affairs" and would hurt its national security. The defense minister added that it would cause "severe harm" to overall U.S.-China cooperation.
Currently the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest arms supplier and is required by law to ensure that Taiwan is able to respond to Chinese threats.
China has responded negatively to many arms deals with Taiwan and some analysts feel that China may impose sanctions against the companies and groups involved in this sale; a step that has not been reached in the past.
crude (adj) blunt or offensive
#3— Obama attends a Republican Meeting
39 DEGREES, 17 MINUTES NORTH
76 DEGREES, 37 MINUTES WEST
President Barack Obama attended a meeting with Republican lawmakers in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss many issues from health care to the economy.
The President acknowledged that the Republicans have worked with the Democrats on issues like sending troops to Afghanistan, but was disappointed that the Republican Party altogether opposed many other bills and programs like health care reform.
Republican Tom Price argued that the President’s administration claim his party offered nothing, but in fact, the Republicans offered many positive solutions, many of which can be found in the GOP agenda booklet that had been given to the President.
acknowledge (v) to admit the existence or truth of
#4— UN Secretary General at the African Union Summit
09 DEGREES, 02 MINUTES NORTH
38 DEGREES, 42 MINUTES EAST
In the Ethiopian capitol of Addis Ababa, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, spoke before members of the African Union thanking them for their aid to Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake.
He also addressed the issue of climate change warning, that African nations were among "the least responsible and yet the most susceptible" to climate change.
An accord that was reached during the climate change talks in Copenhagen called for developing nations to present plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and Ban called on the delegates to "keep up the momentum towards achieving [this] legally binding global climate agreement".
accord (n) an agreement between nations
POP QUIZ #1
In our story about the United States’ weapons deal with Taiwan, we told you what country was upset over the deal… was it?
1 Japan
2 China
3 North Korea
And the correct answer is number two. China stated that the deal could strain their relations with the U.S.
OLD CLUE # 1—LOCATION – London, England
Now its time for the answers to last week’s clues in the news.
Find the location of our first clue and you get London, England.
Former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, recently sat before an investigative panel to defend his decision to join the United States in the war in Iraq.
The panel questioned Blair about stretching the truth when discussing reports that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was keeping weapons of mass destruction.
After six hours of questioning, Blair stated that the world is safer as a result of his actions.
OLD CLUE # 2— SCRAMBLED CLUE – Mitchell Travels
Unscramble the letters of our second clue and you get Mitchell Travels.
US Envoy George Mitchell traveled through the Middle East in an effort to revive peace talks between Israel and Palestine that have been deadlocked over Israeli settlement building.
After Mitchell met with President Abbas, a Palestinian official stated that his government is committed to peace, but then added, "We don't have any conditions to resume negotiations; when we say a settlement freeze; this is not a Palestinian condition, this is an Israeli obligation.”
OC #3 – FILL IN THE BLANKS- Forces Vives
Fill in the blanks of our third clue and you get Forces Vives.
Jean-Marie Dore of the Forces Vives coalition has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Guinea in an attempt by the transition government to lead the country out of political crisis. Guinea has been under the rule of a military junta since 2008.
Dore has called for a fair presidential election and a reworking of the military.
A recent accord reached on January 15th requires that the elections are held within six months.
THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY
This week in world history… February 2nd 1887.
The first Groundhog’s Day is celebrated at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Legend has it that if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. No shadow means an early spring.
CHECK IT OUT
INTRO
Stepping is an art form that has evolved since its origins in slavery. Check it Out!
CHECK IT OUT
Pearl:
Stepping is a combination of rhythm and hand movements to make a beat.
Pearl:
You clap and stomp. It's very passionate and energetic.
Patricia:
Stepping overall is a very physical activity and it’s beautiful to watch. Its fun and it's very creative.
Pearl:
Its something that you do to express yourself.
Patricia:
Stepping today is very different than when stepping originated. Back with slavery, stepping was originally a form of communication. So on Sunday's when slaves were allowed to come out of the coal mines; they would step for their masters as a form of entertainment. What the masters didn't know was that each step and each movement and each rhythm carried a different message so that they were able to communicate to their different families through their stepping and through some of the beats and some of the rhythms that they were able to create with this art form. It then went through military when blacks were first able to join the military. They did things like cadence, so its kind of evolved to that and then when African Americans were allowed to go to colleges and universities, it was a way of unity. So these individuals would get together. They would form brotherhoods or sisterhoods and through that they would do stepping. Today high school students use it as... an activity, but for us it's a program to help them with their academics, their cultural development, to prepare them for college.
{PERFORMANCE}
ISN’T IT COOL
During a bout of severe weather in Germany, local residents in the town of Badbergen found two horses trapped in a lake amid chunks of ice.
Firefighters were called and with just man power and a couple of ropes, the horses were eventually pulled safely out of the frigid waters.
ISSUE ANSWERS DUE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14th.
President Obama has sent Congress a 3.8 trillion dollar spending plan for 2011. The plan is aimed to combat high unemployment and pull the nation out of the recession.
Republicans feel that this is a bad idea because it will increase our nation’s deficit, putting us 1.5 trillion dollars in debt. They feel it shows that the President has not gotten government spending under control.
His administration disagrees. They feel the downturn in our economy is so severe that we must spend money to create jobs and stabilize the economy. When the economy improves, the government can then focus on reducing its debt and controlling spending.
We want to know what you think, “Should the government spend more money to improve the economy, even if it can put our nation deeper in debt?”
Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions.
MAILBAG
We received over three hundred and fifty responses to our issue question “Should people in prison have the right to vote?” The majority of you, 54 percent, say no while 43 percent disagree. 3% are undecided.
Sean from Albany, NY writes, “The Constitution states that all citizens of the U.S. have the right to vote. Our country has to follow the laws of the Constitution.”
Meredith from Mequon, Wisconsin adds, “When prisoners don’t vote, it’s like taking a chunk out of America and throwing it away.”
Another viewer, Dayo, writes, “…giving prisoners the right to vote may help them rehabilitate, which would be significant to avoid repeating why they went to prison.”
Still, most of you feel prisoners should not have the right to vote.
Pranjal from Latham, NY writes, “Voting is a privilege and if they did the wrong thing, their privilege is gone. It’s like a child and TV. If you do something wrong, you get grounded from the TV.”
Lyndsay from Loudonville, NY writes, “…we vote for people who are making decisions about what’s going on in the world, not in prison. People in prison aren’t affected that much…”
Claire writes, “They don’t contribute to our society, therefore I don’t feel they should get to make choices about how things should be run.”
We look forward to your responses to our two latest questions. “Should governments be able to control the internet access of their citizens?” and “Should the government spend more money to improve the economy, even if it can put our nation deeper in debt?”
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 atwonline.org.
We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org.
POP QUIZ #2
In our story about the UN Secretary-General’s address to the African Union, he warned the delegates of what… was it?
1 the effects of climate change
2 recession
3 war
And the correct answer is number one. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon warned the African Union that Africa is most susceptible to the effects of climate change.
NEW CLUES
And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news…
Our first clue a location…
Miami Gardens, FL-Super Bowl
25 DEGREES, 59 MINUTES NORTH
80 DEGREES, 12 MINUTES WEST
Our next clue is a scrambled letters clue….it is two words
Niger Delta-militant group calls off cease fire with government
First Word
R G N I E
Second Word
L E D T A
And finally, our third clue is a fill in the blanks clue. It is two words?
Bank Data-Germany is considering by Swiss bank data
First Word
B_N_
Second Word
D_T_
These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming weeks. 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. I’m Carlet Cleare and from all of us here at Assignment: The World, Have a great week!
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