Unfair trade practices have been a hallmark of US policy for over a century. Former President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 said, “Since trade ignores national boundaries and the manufacturer insists on having the world as a market, the flag of his nation must follow him, and the doors of the nations which are closed against him must be battered down. Concessions obtained by financiers must be safeguarded by ministers of state, even if the sovereignty of unwilling nations be outraged in the process. Colonies must be obtained or planted, in order that no useful corner of the world may be overlooked or left unused.”

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Donna Crane, Deputy Director of Government Relations at NARAL Pro-Choice America, Julie Sternberg, Senior Staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project

On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the so-called “Child Custody Protection Act,” or S. 403. The bill would make it a federal crime for any person other than a parent or legal guardian to accompany a minor across state lines to have an abortion. It would also make it illegal for anyone, including a grandparent, aunt, or other trusted adult, to transport a pregnant teen out of a state to avoid the home state’s parental notification and/or consent law. The bill was passed 65-to-34, with 14 Democrats voting for the measure. There are currently 22 states that only …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUESTS: Rania Masri, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Balamand (Lebanon) and the assistant director of the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Balamand, Bilal El Amine, writer based in Beirut, Lebanon, currently in Tyre.

An international conference to reach agreement on a cease-fire plan in the Middle East failed earlier this week. Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon told media, “We received … permission from the world … to continue this operation, this war, until Hezbollah won’t be located in Lebanon and until it is disarmed.’” He added, “all those now in south Lebanon are terrorists who are related in some way to Hezbollah.”

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, who recently visited the region announced that the United …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: John Grebe, US based journalist, with WZBC Radio in Boston, currently in Ramallah

As if Israel didn’t already have its hands full with bombing Lebanon, Israeli soldiers shelled the West Bank city of Ramallah earlier this week. Soldiers surrounded a Ramallah building after invading the neighborhood and fired rounds of live ammunition before using loud speakers to demand the residents to leave the building. The Israeli Army claimed that a “wanted fighter” was hiding in the building, though no arrests were reported. Three Palestinian residents were injured. Also in Gaza, the on-going assault that began after the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, still continues. Twenty-four resients, including three children, were killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Nina Farnia, a graduate student at UCLA, organizer with the Peace and Liberation Alliance of Los Angeles

There will be a local protest today against Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon and Gaza from 4-6 pm at the Israeli Consulate, located at 6380 Wilshire Blvd, LA, near Wilshire & San Vicente. The protest is organized by various organizations representing communities of color from around Los Angeles County.

Organizations Include the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), The Peace and Liberation Alliance of Los Angeles and its member organizations: South Asian Network, Youth Justice Coalition, Koreatown Immigrant Workers (KIWA) Alliance, Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere (AWARE), Muslim Students Association west and Eye Witness Palestine; AL-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition; A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition-LA, including member …

Neighborhood activists all over Southern California hold regular peace vigils to end the war in Iraq. Each week we announce just some of the 50 plus vigils that are taking place. Complete listings of all the vigils are available at www.neighborsforpeaceandjustice.org or www.peacevigils.com.

On Fridays in Belmont Shore
7 to 9 PM
On the corner of 2nd & Nieto
the information line is 562 866-7743

On Fridays in Ojai
5 to 7 PM
Libbey Park,at the fountain on Ojai Ave
the email contact is cgrier@ojai.net

On Fridays in Pasadena
At 5 – 6:30 pm
on South Lake at the corner of Lake Avenue and Del Mar Avenue
the email contact is rsmoak2@yahoo.com

On Fridays in Riverside
6-7 pm
On the corner of University & Iowa
the information line is 909-653-0743 or go to rapja.org

On Saturdays in Fairfax
6–7:30 p.m.
On the corner of Fairfax Avenue & Third Street, at the Farmers Market
the information line is …

“Abolition of a woman’s right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity: a form of rape by the State.” — Edward Abbey

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Jacinto Lopez, Max Mariscal, ex-Assi workers and organizers with KIWA, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance

Considered to be Koreatown’s worst employer, Assi Supermarket, is the target of a new workers campaign called the “Koreatown Immigrant Workers Season of Justice.” Four years ago, Daniel Rhee, the owner of Assi market, threw out 56 low-wage workers for attempting to organize. As part of this new campaign, community members plan on conducting a series of non-violent actions to call on Rhee to respect immigrant workers’ rights.

This Friday at 6 pm, KIWA and members of the Koreatown community will be forming a “human chain” around Assi Market. Assi Market is located at 3525 W 8th Street (at Oxford), in Los Angeles.

For more information and to get involved …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Josh Lerner, PhD student at the New School for Social Research, he has been researching and organizing around participatory budgeting in Canada, Argentina and the United States since 2003. He facilitates an international participatory budgeting network and is currently working on the New York Participatory Budgeting Initiative.

Originating in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, the concept of participatory budgeting has been adopted by an increasing number of cities worldwide. Most recently, residents of two Canadian cities have used participatory budgeting to decide public housing and city budgets. It’s a simple concept, involving residents directly in decision making that affects them rather than leaving it up to elected representatives. In Britain, it has received recognition from the UK Department for International …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Mario Escobar, Miguel Carvente, immigrant students at UCLA

Last month, a caravan of students from Southern California converged on Sacramento to join a rally supporting the “California Dream Act.” On June 19th and 20th, students from various colleges including UCLA, East LA College, and Cal State Dominguez Hills went to the state’s capitol to urge members of the California State Legislature to approve Senate Bill 160. Authored by Democratic State Senator Gil Cedillo, SB160 would make all California high school graduates, including undocumented immigrants, eligible to receive state-sponsored financial aid. Public colleges and universities have come out in support of the bill. Locally, student activists are planning a voter registration drive to gain votes on behalf of undocumented students and SB160.

The voter registration drive …