Japan’s elections result in a “quiet revolution” with the new PM wanting independence from the US; Palestinians hope to establish an independent state within two years regardless of negotiations with Israel. And, activists denounce a recent Obama appointment of an industry-friendly regulator for coal mining.

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Wildfires in Southern California’s San Gabriel mountain range have “gone nuclear” according to the National Forest Service. More than 42,500 acres are now affected by the so-called “station fire,” threatening Foothill communities north of Pasadena including La Canada and Altadena. Twelve thousand residences remain evacuated and two firefighters were killed on Sunday when their vehicle overturned on the side of a cliff. Eighteen homes have apparently been destroyed and 3 residents are reported to have been injured. The fires are now heading toward Mount Wilson, home to numerous local television and radio transmitters including KPFK. Firefighters had laid down flame retardant in front of the communication center and evacuated all personnel. Mount Wilson is also the site of an historic astronomical observatory. The famed astronomer Edwin Hubble realized that galaxies were …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Last week the Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District voted 6-1 to turn over 200 existing schools and 50 schools yet to be built, into the hands of charter organizations and private non-profit institutions. The drastic move which is seen as the strongest push so far by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to take control of the school district, shocked teachers, and also many parents. The 200 existing schools in question are those that did not reach federal standards for state test scores. The United Teachers of Los Angeles is vehemently against the resolution saying it opens the door to privatizing LA’s public education system. School Superintendent Ramon Cortines has 60 days to come up with a plan to implement the resolution. LAUSD schools have been rapidly losing students and come under …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

On Friday, an appeals court overturned an FCC regulation that limited cable companies to a national ownership of thirty percent. Calling the rule “arbitrary and capricious,” the court’s decision was a victory for the Comcast Corporation. It went on to say that the FCC had not adequately factored the role of platforms such as satellite television providers in re-imposing the cap in 2007. The thirty percent rule had been originally stipulated as part of the Cable Act of 1992, but was deemed unconstitutional by a district circuit court in 2001. The FCC, after a study of cable ownership, reconstituted the cap in 2007 until it was overturned last Friday. In the court case, the regulatory agency had argued that if limits were not placed on cable ownership, then certain companies could amass …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

As the late Senator Ted Kennedy was laid to rest this weekend, Democrats and Republicans are jockeying to interpret his legacy on health care. As debate over the issue continues, Democrats have suggested that the Senator from Massachusetts would have pushed hard for universal care and a public option. Republicans, on the other hand, have been quick to stress compromise as Kennedy’s attribute to remember. Meanwhile, on the issue of single payer reform, a number of Democrats who originally co-sponsored Representative John Conyer’s Bill, HR 676, had pledged not to vote on a similar bill next Congressional session. Locally, as the debate on the issue fluctuates, activist David Busch is unwavering in his water only fast for health care reform. Already on his tenth day, Busch pledges to remain outside the Los …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

The California Sanitary Canning Company Strike

Back in the day on August 31st, 1939, four hundred mostly Mexican women working at the California Sanitary Canning Company walked off their jobs. George and Joseph Shapiro, who owned the large Los Angeles processing firm, refused to bargain with the workers despite their dramatic move coming at the profitable height of the peach season. Organized under the banner of the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing and Allied Workers of America, the women nevertheless pressed on with their demands. They wanted, among other things, union recognition, a closed shop, an increase in wages and the dismissal of almost every supervisor on staff. With the organizing leadership of Dorothy Ray Healy, the women workers prepared for the prospects of a lengthy strike. In one highly effective …

“Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” — Susan B. Anthony

We’ll look at the recent decision by the LAUSD to open up the public school system to charter organizations and private entities, in a move that the teachers union says is the path to education privatization. And, we’ll find out why a Federal Appeals court recently overturned ownership caps on cable companies in favor of further media consolidation. Plus, we’ll hear from one activist who is on a water-only fast for health care reform.

Our weekly edition is a nationally syndicated one-hour digest of the best of our daily coverage.

Audio Stream | Podcast | Mp3 Download

This week on Uprising:

* Afghanistan Elections Marred by Fraud, Disillusionment
* Prosecuting the CIA for Torture
* Black Agenda Report on the Prison State Budget Crisis
* Repression and Resistance in Honduras

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Afghanistan Elections Marred by Fraud, Disillusionment

Results from last week’s Presidential election in Afghanistan continue to trickle in with 17% of polling stations reporting from across the nation. Incumbent President Hamid Karzai leads his main opponent Abdullah Abdullah with 43 to 34%. Karzai needs 51% of the vote to avoid a runoff. President Obama has lauded the …

Listen to this segment | the entire program

Results from last week’s Presidential election in Afghanistan continue to trickle in with 17% of polling stations reporting results from across the nation. Incumbent President Hamid Karzai leads his main opponent Abdullah Abdullah with 43 to 34%. Karzai needs 51% of the vote to avoid a runoff. President Obama has lauded the election as a success calling it “an important step forward in the Afghan people’s efforts to take control of their future.” But on the ground in Afghanistan sentiment is not as optimistic. Reports indicate that Karzai forged alliances with influential regional warlords who pressured large blocks of their followers to vote for him in exchange for promises of newly carved-out provinces. Other reports of voter fraud include the distribution of multiple voting cards to single individuals, including to children ineligible …