Democracy Now! Friday, October 5, 2007

Headlines for October 5, 2007

- Witnesses: U.S. Airstrike Kills Civilians in Baquba
- Dems Demand Secret Torture Memos
- House Backs Law to Prosecute Iraq Contractors
- Pentagon: Blackwater Guards Fired Unprovoked
- Junta: Suu Kyi Must Drop Demands Before Talks
- Pinochet’s Widow, Children Arrested in Chile
- Tutu Barred From Speaking at Minnesota University
- Report: World Bank Encourages Congo Forest Destruction


American Peace Activists Denied Entry to Canada After Appearing on FBI Database

Two leading U.S. peace activists were denied entry into Canada on Wednesday after their names appeared on an FBI criminal database that the Canadian government is using at its borders. Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel and former diplomat, and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of women’s peace group CODEPINK, were headed to Toronto to appear at an antiwar event. We speak to Ann Wright about her entry denial and its implications on civil liberties. [includes rush transcript]


Activist Ted Glick on 32nd Day of “Climate Emergency Fast” to Protest Washington Inaction on Global Warming

Ted Glick is the coordinator of the U.S. Climate Emergency Council. He is on the 32nd day of a fast to protest the failure of lawmakers in Washington to address climate change. [includes rush transcript]


In New Memoir, Award-Winning Haitian Novelist Edwidge Danticat Chronicles Death of Her Uncle at Federal Immigration Jail

Edwidge Danticat is an award-winning Haitian-born writer who now lives in Miami. In November 2004, Danticat’s 81-year-old uncle, Reverend Joseph Dantica, died in the custody of immigration officials. He had arrived from Haiti seeking political asyslum following threats on his life. Denied his medicines and accused of faking an illness, he died just days after his detention. Edwidge Danticat tells this devastating story in her latest book, “Brother, I’m Dying.” [includes rush transcript - partial]