Americas

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Tracking Your Every Move: ‘Enhancing’ Driver’s Licenses at the Cost of Privacy

Christopher Parsons October 28, 2008 Christopher Parsons

Provincial and state governments in North America are proposing to 'enhance' driver's licenses in coming years by including a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips in them. These 'enhanced' licenses emit unique identifiers and will be optional when they are first available to the public, though they will be required to enter the United States using a driver's license beginning in July 2009. The proposed Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDLs) are intended to be associated with border security, but are also accompanied with concerns linked to individuals' reasonable expectations of privacy.

photos by José Luis Quintana.MIN-PRESIDENCIA/ABI

Bolivia: Congress Approves Referendum on Constitution

Benjamin Dangl October 23, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

Marching to La Paz (ABI)
After months of street battles and political meetings, a new draft of the Bolivian constitution was ratified by Congress on October 21. A national referendum on whether or not to make the document official is scheduled for January 25, 2009. "Now we have made history," President Evo Morales told supporters in La Paz. "This process of change cannot be turned back... neoliberalism will never return to Bolivia."

Photo from anthonypollina.com

Vermont’s Chance: Breaking the Two-Party Monopoly

Greg Guma October 20, 2008 Greg Guma

Anthony Pollina
Barack Obama is expected to win Vermont in the presidential race by as much as 30 points. But the real surprise is the race for governor. At first, three-term Republican incumbent Jim Douglas looked like a shoo-in. But something unusual is happening. Independent candidate Anthony Pollina has pulled ahead of the Democrat, Gaye Symington.

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Inside USA: Early Evidence of the Financial Crisis

Avi Lewis, Inside USA, Al Jazeera October 16, 2008 Avi Lewis, Inside USA, Al Jazeera

Source: Inside USA

Over the last few weeks, the world has watched as some of the best-known brand names in US capitalism have either crumbled or been bailed out by taxpayers. You could be forgiven for thinking that the financial crisis is all about men in suits, whether on Wall Street or in Washington. But the meltdown did not begin on Wall Street and it did not begin just a few weeks ago. It has been building for years as US workers have struggled with stagnant wages and rising costs – whether for housing, fuel or health care. For the past year, Inside USA has been following those stories. read more