October 3, 2005: Rustbelt Radio

Intro

Welcome to this week's edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of the news from the grassroots, news overlooked by the corporate media. The show airs live every Monday from 6-7pm on WRCT 88.3FM in Pittsburgh, PA, every Thursday from 11am to noon on WARC-Meadville from the campus of Allegheny College, and every Saturday from 5-6pm on WVJW Benwood, 94.1 FM in the Wheeling, West Virginia area. We're also available on the internet, both on W-R-C-T's live webstream at W-R-C-T dot ORG and archived at radio dot I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot org.

On today's show...

• we'll talk with members of the pittsburgh community about wrongful incarceration
• we'll report on last week's general strike in India
• and we'll hear about a former Marine Captain who is starting a new job as a news commentator for Al Jazeera, but first, these local headlines

Headlines

Local News

[1:30] Pittsburghers test positive for mercury

In August, the Sierra Club offered free mercury testing for Pittsburghers. The results were recently released, and more than 3/4 of those tested had detectable levels of mercury.

The informal survey was meant to raise awareness of mercury pollution and it found that 31 of 39 people tested had mercury levels above 0.1 parts per million. The eight with no detectable mercury all reported that they do not eat fish.

Two women tested above the federal Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit of 1 part per million for women of childbearing age. The woman with the highest level said she regularly ate local fish.

There is no known safe level of mercury exposure. Developing fetuses are especially sensitive, and studies estimate some adults may be affected at levels as low as .2 parts per million. Mercury causes impaired brain development in children exposed in utero, including learning disability and fine motor skill impairment. In adults, mercury can increase risk of heart attacks, compromise the immune system, and cause neurological damage. New research suggests that mercury exposure may also exacerbate neurological degeneration in old age.

Because Pennsylvania’s lakes and rivers have elevated levels of mercury, which accumulates in fish, the state Department of Environmental Protection has issued advisories warning citizens to limit consumption of fish caught in Pennsylvania waters to avoid being poisoned.

The elevated levels of mercury are caused by coal-burning power plants, which release the compound into the atmosphere, where it is absorbed into rainwater. Pennsylvania’s coal power plants release over 9000 pounds of mercury per year, about 10% of the national total.

[:15] Playwright August Wilson died

Celebrated Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson died this weekend. He was 60. His cycle of 10 plays chronicled the experience of black Americans in the 20th century. 9 out of 10 were set in the Hill District.

[1:00] August 20th Arrestees update

On Tuesday was a preliminary hearing for four individuals who were arrested at the August 20th protest outside a military recruiting station near the University of Pittsburgh. The protest resulted in six arrests, two people tasered, and another bitten by a police dog.

One of the arrestees accepted a plea to a summary offense and was accessed a fine. The judge dismissed some of the charges for the other three arrestees at the hearing, the most serious of which was the felony "rioting to prevent official action. All three charges of failure to disperse were also dismissed.

However, several charges are being held over for trial. One protestor still faces charges of simple assault, criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct. Another protestor still faces a charge of obstruction of administration of justice, and yet another still faces charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

A fifth arrestee who was bitten by a police dog has a preliminary hearing on October 11. She is charged with failure to disperse.

[5:00] Jerry Jackson truth

On April 6, 1995, an unarmed man named Jerry Jackson was shot dead by Pittsburgh police after fleeing in a suspected, later confirmed, stolen car. The chase ended in a hail of 51 bullets in Pittsburgh's Armstrong Tunnel. The unarmed Jackson was hit with 14 bullets while pinned against the tunnel wall. Ten years later, justice for Jackson still has not been served.The truth has been corrupted with perjury, obstruction, a deliberately unreconstructed crime scene, and missing case files.

The first "official" version claimed that Jackson turned completely around and tried to ram pursuing Housing Authority Police Officer John Charmo. The initial homicide report and police video taken the night of occurrence prove that version FALSE. Yet it has taken 2 inquests, two trials and seven years to establish that fact.

The case was corrupted and stalled for years which resulted in a meaningless verdict. Now, in 2005 the Black Political Empowerment Project, or B-PEP,; The Black and White Reunion, and other members of the community continue working towards bringing the truth of the case to light.

We hear from Beth Pittinger of the Citizen's Police Review Board:

• beth p 1.31 (1:31)

Another local citizen in support of Jerry Jackson is William Anderson, President of the Young Democrats of PA

• will a 53.4 William Anderson (0:54)

Tim Stevens, the Chairman of B-PEP describes what happened to the officer who shot and killed Jackson.

• tim stevens .46 Chairman of BPEP (0:46)

B-PEP and the Black& White Reunion have called for a public hearing, which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday October 4th at 1pm in the City Council chambers, located at Ross St Downtown. Their goal is to reveal and document the specific areas of obstruction of justice and to ask for council's support in requesting intervention by the PA State Attny General and the US Dept of Justice. They hope this will lead to an "obstruction of justice" investigation into the officials who corrupted the Jerry Jackson case. B-PEP is asking the public to come to the City Council meeting tomorrow and show their support in the 10th year anniversary of the death of Jerry Jackson. For more information call 412-758-7898.

Wrapup

For more on all of our local news stories, visit pittsburgh dot I-N-D-Y-M-E-D-I-A dot O-R-G.

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Global News

Intro

You are listening to Rust Belt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news overlooked by the corporate media. We turn now to headlines from Independent Media sources around the world.

[1:00] SEC Investigates Taser International

The Securities and Exchange Commission, announced last week that they will conduct a formal investigation into the business practices of stun-gun manufacturer, Taser International. The SEC will look into Taser International's safety claims, its year-end sales, and whether the company manipulated its stock prices. The SEC was previously conducting an informal investigation but now with the opening of the formal investigation, the SEC has the power to subpoena documents and testimony about Taser International.

Today, Taser president Tom Smith said that the company will restrict the use of the term "non-lethal" in its advertising efforts. He explained that the company used the term as defined by the US Department of Defence, and intended that non-lethal does not mean the weapon cannot cause death, but that it is not intended to be fatal.

Smith also announced that instead of the phrase (quote) "leaves no lasting after-effects", now tasers (quote) "are more effective and safer than other use-of-force options".

[2:45] Former Marine Captain working for Al Jazeera

Former Marine Captain Josh Rushing, who served in the Central Command media office in Doha, Qatar, has quit his job with the Marines to work with Al-Jazeera, it was revealed this week.

Rushing, who once accused all Arab media of (quote), "Pandering to Arab Nationalist ideologues who dominate intellectual discourse," this week accepted a job with Al-Jazeera, the most far-reaching Arab media source, which claims a daily audience of 45 million.

Rushing, a fourteen-year veteran of the Marine Corps, was the unwitting movie star of Jehane Noujaim's (JEE-han NOO-Jime [rhymes with 'dime] ) documentary, Control Room, which examined the interplay between media, military, and the Iraq War. Rushing was a Marines spokesperson whose interviews with Al-Jazeera forced him to grapple with his notions of Arab media and of the Iraq War.

Control Room came out in summer of 2004. In August, the Marines banned Rushing from giving interviews about the film and even asked him to keep his wife from giving interviews after she, too, was publicly critical of the military. In October 2004, Rushing decided to leave the Marines, saying he was (quote) "frustrated and disappointed with [his] institution."

Rushing will host for Al-Jazeera International, which is due to begin airing in Spring 2006. He believes that reporting for Al-Jazeera will, (quote) "educate the American public on the reality of war," he said in an interview with Time Magazine. Said Rushing, "War in America has its own branding - it's the American flag, it's that Lee Greenwood song, it's a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square. But Americans need to be aware of the consequences."

Rushing told Time that "The journalists at Al-Jazeera International are a mix of nationalities and most in the Washington Bureau come from established outlets like CNN, BBC, Britain's ITN and even Fox News."

"I think it should all be shown, the dead on both sides," he said. "In America war isn't hell - we don't see blood, we don't see suffering. All we see is patriotism, and we support the troops. It's almost like war has some brand marketing here."

"Al Jazeera shows it all," he continued. "It turns your stomach, and you remember there's something wrong with war."

Rushing will based in DC and will likely do set pieces on issues, interviews, and perhaps even a 30-minute international affairs show.

The Marine Corps has historically been the most aggressive branch of the armed forces in promoting itself on the silver screen and has worked closely with movies and television shows, including the Nicolas Cage film "Windtalkers" and the Fox reality series "Boot Camp."

[2:00] Left-Wing Labor Unions Stage Strikes in India against Economic Reforms

This past Thursday, left wing trade unions in India staged an all day labor strike in protest of the new economic reforms. The reforms look to privatize airports and bring foreign investors into pension plans. The strike mostly affected air travel within India but effects were also felt in other sectors. Public transport including Calcutta’s underground railway shut down as well as government and private offices, including info-tech companies, schools and colleges.

In the capital city of Delhi, riot police were deployed at the airport but there were no incidents. The strike affected most of India’s 78 airports but did not affect international flights. More than five million federal and state government employees in the western Maharashtra state alone participated in the strike. “The strike is a 100% success," MK Ghosal, general secretary of the Airports Authority of India Employees Union, told Reuters news agency. MK Pandhe, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said, "This will be just a warning for the government. Unless the government undertakes a comprehensive review of its policies, we will call for a much bigger action - we may go for longer strikes,"

[1:00] Chavez advances land reform 500,000 hectares

In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez announced that he is speeding up the redistribution of land among poor farmers that he previously promised, by nationalizing large underused ranches without compensating the owners. Chavez says (quote) “productive areas have to be run for the benefit of the community.” Chavez was joined by members of Brazil’s landless movement when he announced that this year over 1 million acres will be claimed for the poor. Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez hinted that if oil companies refuse to convert their operating contracts to joint ventures before the end of this year, oil fields may also be claimed by the state.

Wrapup

You can read more about our global news stories by visting I-N-D-Y-M-E-D-I-A dot O-R-G. We'll be back after a brief break.

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Features

Intro

Welcome back to Rust Belt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.

[40:50] Innocence

[Feature Introduces itself]

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You're listening to Rust Belt Radio.

Ending

[2:00] Calendar of events

And now we present the Indymedia calendar of events:

• On Tuesday, October 4th at 1:00 PM there will be a Public Hearing on police violence in the City Council Chambers, 510 City County Bldg., Grant St, Downtown
• On Thursday, October 6th from 12:00 to 3:00 PM there is a Local Fast for Darfur in Western Sudan happening in Mellon Square Park (Downtown) for nore information log on to pittsburghdarfur.org
• Also at 7:00 PM on Thursday the film War Feels Like War will be screening at the University of Pittsburgh in the Cathedral of Learning room 1228
• And Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM 'Pro-Union/Anti-War' Plays "Waiting for Lefty" and "Bury the Dead" will be presented at Rockwell Hall on the 1st Floor of the Peter Mills Theater at Duquesne University. Call 412-396-6215 for more information.
• Lastly, next Monday, October 10th at 6:00 PM the "What to do with a vacant lot" greenlots workshop will be held at the Community Activity Center, located at 113 North Pacific Avenue in Garfield.

Outro

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Thanks for tuning in to Rust Belt Radio here on WRCT Pittsburgh, WARC Meadville and WVJW Benwood.

Our hosts this week are Abie Flaxman and Jessie Buckner with contributions from Carlin Christy, Andulusia Knoll, Jessi Berkelhammer, Lora Gordon, Jessie Buckner, and Jessica McPherson. This week's show was produced by Abie Flaxman. Special thanks to all of our hosts, producers, and contributors.

Your story submissions are welcome! To get involved with Rust Belt Radio, or to send us your comments, email RADIO at I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot ORG. All of our shows are available for download on our website at RADIO dot INDY-P-G-H dot ORG

Tune in next week at this time for another edition of Rust Belt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.