September 2009 - Page 3 of 7

All Eyes on Pittsburgh: Activists, Big Business Converge on G20 Summit

Jeb Sprague September 22, 2009 Jeb Sprague

Local activists say development has been an undemocratic process geared toward the beautiful downtown.

Credit:CBC/Wikimedia

(IPS) – As media and government delegates prepare for the G20 Summit to be held Sep. 24-25 in Pittsburgh, local business and activist groups are promoting clashing visions of days to come.

Hit hard over the last quarter of the twentieth century with a collapsing steel industry, recession and falling population, Pittsburgh is still a decent place to live – often highly rated because of low housing costs.

On one side, Pittsburgh government and business leaders say they have reshaped the city to connect with globalisation as a hi-tech, financial and medical industry hub. read more

Video Report: Zelaya Returns in Defiance of Coup Gov’t

Democracy Now! September 22, 2009 Democracy Now!

We go live to the Brazilian embassy in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, where Manuel Zelaya has sought refuge. After Zelaya’s dramatic return, the coup government ordered a curfew, but thousands of Zelaya supporters defied the ban and rallied outside the Brazilian embassy. Earlier this morning police fired tear gas outside the embassy to disburse the crowd. We hear Zelaya speak from inside the embassy and speak to Andres Conteris and Mark Weisbrot.

The Road to Zelaya’s Return: Money, Guns and Social Movements in Honduras

Benjamin Dangl September 21, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

Nearly three months after being overthrown by a violent military coup, Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has returned to Honduras. "I am here in Tegucigalpa. I am here for the restoration of democracy, to call for dialogue," he told reporters. The embattled road to his return tested regional diplomacy, challenged Washington and galvanized Honduran social movements.

Court Okays Halliburton Rape Trial

Stephanie Mencimer September 18, 2009 Stephanie Mencimer

Mobile Schools Help Nomadic Somalis Fight Drought

Siena Anstis September 17, 2009 Siena Anstis

Mobile outdoor classroom

The sandy track cutting through Kenya's northeast province is marred by the corpses of cows, goats and donkeys. The drought has sucked all color leaving the landscape a singular shade of gray. Global warming has scarred this region. Somali pastoralists, the main community in this barren desert, cannot remember a drought this severe. It has not rained for over a year.

Blackwater Offers Training to ‘Faith Based Organizations’

Jeremy Scahill September 16, 2009 Jeremy Scahill

Source: Rebel Reports

In its ever-evolving re-branding campaign, Blackwater has created a new alter-ego for part of the company’s business. Meet the “Personal Security Awareness” program, which appears to be an off-shoot of Erik Prince’s Greystone, Ltd., a classic mercenary operation registered offshore in Barbados. On its website, which was registered on February 20, 2009 and went live recently, the “program” is described as “a multi-phase course which is designed to assist Non-Government Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and Commercial Businesses by providing individual personal awareness and driver training for their personnel when deployed to unfamiliar environments.” It adds: “Greystone recognizes the importance of “preparation by doing” and looks forward to you joining us for this exciting training!” read more