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	• NEWS >> ATW Week of November 15, 2007 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of November 15th… I’m Teej Jenkins. Our top story this week, a rally in the Gaza Strip turns violent. TOP STORY- ISRAEL 31 degrees, 45 minutes north latitude 35 degrees, 14 minutes east longitude What started as a peaceful rally ended in chaos when Hamas policeman opened fire on rock throwing Fatah supporters in the Gaza City. More than 250,000 Fatah supporters had gathered to mark the anniversary of the 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The gathering was the strongest challenge to Hamas since it took control of the Gaza Strip by force last June. Fatah leaders say the number of people gathered shows that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has the backing to renew peace talks scheduled for later this month in the United States. The march started peacefully as Fatah supporters gathered, waving flags and cheering speeches. As the rally ended gunfire broke out. Several civilians were killed and dozens injured as people ran for cover. Hamas officials claim that police opened fire after five officers were wounded by sniper fire, a charge that Fatah denied, saying no armed men were allowed at the rally. After nightfall, Hamas forces arrested 27 Fatah activists involved in planning the rally. Hamas (n) a Palestinian Islamic militant organization and political party. Considered a terrorist organization by several countries. Fatah (n) a major Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization ( PLO), a multi-party confederation. ATW Fact Full-time teachers at the secondary and high school levels are getting younger and younger. Department of Education figures show that over 40% of teachers at those grades are 39 years old or younger. That’s up from 34% in 1993. INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… n Slovenians go to the polls n Environmental disasters on both sides of the world n And elections may be set in Pakistan #2— PAKISTAN 33 degrees, 42 minutes north latitude 73 degrees, 10 minutes east longitude Pakistan’s opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest for the second time in an effort to keep her from leading a protest march against President Pervez Musharraf’s emergency rule. The march was planned to take place from Lahore to the Pakistan capital of Islamabad, a distance of nearly 200 miles. Hundreds of police surrounded the house where Bhutto was staying with more expected as the beginning of the march neared. Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, in his first press conference since suspending his country’s constitution, said elections would be held in January. He would not, however, say when the emergency rule he declared would be lifted. Musharraf defended the suspension of civilian rights as necessary to combat terrorist activities. He said the current parliament would be dissolved, setting up elections to be held as previously scheduled. The White House quickly praised Musharaff’s announcement saying it was a “welcome sign.” emergency (n) a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurrence or occasion requiring immediate action. #3 – OIL SPILLS UNITED STATES 37 degrees, 47 minutes north latitude 122 degrees, 25 minutes west longitude Two separate disasters, one in San Francisco Bay and the other near the Black Sea, have officials fearing environmental damages that may require years to recover. A Chinese tanker sideswiped a bridge in San Francisco Bay causing 58,000 gallons of oil to spill, endangering wildlife and beaches in Northern California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in efforts to contain the spill. The Chinese crew is being detained pending a criminal investigation. A preliminary Coast Guard investigation found human error to be the cause of the spill. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, intense storms caused as many as ten ships to run aground or sink in the Strait of Kerch, near the Black Sea. One tanker broke apart dumping nearly 600,000 gallons of fuel to spill. It is being called the worst ecological disaster in the area in years. Officials say it may take years to clean up. The bodies of three sailors from a different tanker washed up on shore Monday, five more remain missing. sideswipe (n) A glancing blow on or along the side. #4— SLOVENIA ELECTIONS SLOVENIA 46 degrees, 03 minutes north latitude 14 degrees, 31 minutes east longitude Slovenia went to the polls to elect a new president and long time diplomat Danilo Tuerk appears to have won an overwhelming victory. Exit polls by the state-run Slovenian Television showed Tuerk receiving 70 percent of the vote, easily out-distancing his nearest rival. The President-elect had been Slovenia’s ambassador to the U-N from 1992 to 2000 before becoming an assistant to former U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan. His victory is a blow to Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose popularity is shrinking. Tuerk’s election is expected to boost leftist opposition as Slovenia heads into parliamentary elections scheduled for early next year. overwhelming~(adj.) so great as to render resistance or opposition useless POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Pakistan and President Musharraf we told you he had declared what kind of rule. Was it? 1. military 2. parliamentary 3. emergency And the correct answer is number three, President Musharraf declared emergency rule in Pakistan, suspending some civilian rights. OLD CLUE # 1—LOCATION – TBILISI, GEORGIA Now its time for the answers to last week’s clues in the news. Find the location of our first clue and you find Tbilisi, Georgia. President Mikhail Saakashvili called for early elections last week in an effort calm political tensions, one day after riot police put down opposition demonstrations in the capital city. The pro-Western president had imposed a state of emergency; suspending all news casts except state-controlled television. He later announced it may be lifted because the situation in Georgia was stabilizing. OLD CLUE # 2— GERMAN VISITOR Fill in the blanks of our next clue and you get German Visitor. German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas last week. Following talks with the President, Merkel said she would support further U-N sanctions against Iran if they refuse to stop its nuclear program. The Chancellor also said she would consider reducing Germany’s commercial ties with Iran should other efforts fail. OC #3 – JUDICIARY VOTE Unscramble our next clue and you get Judiciary Vote. The House Judiciary committee voted to approve Michael Mukasey as the next head of the Justice Department sending his nomination on to the Senate where he was confirmed as the 81st Attorney General in United State’s history. Mukasey was approved by a vote of 53-40 despite his refusal to discuss water boarding interrogation technique as torture. Mukasey inherits a Justice Department still reeling from controversy under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… November 15th, 1806 While on an exploratory expedition in southern Colorado, Explorer Zebulon Pike first sets his eyes on the mountaintop that today bears his name. Pike’s Peak is one of 54 mountains over 14,000 feet in Colorado. Pike failed to reach its summit in 1806 giving up in waist deep snow after going without food for two days. CHECK IT OUT INTRO vertical- directly overhead or at the highest point perspective- the way in which something is viewed engaged- greatly interested in or involved in an activity conquer- to overcome by mental, moral or physical power TEEJ : When it comes to fitness the gym isn't the only place to work out. Rock climbing can help you take exercise to a whole new level. Let's go vertical with some people who have a special perspective on working out.…Check it Out! CHECK IT OUT Chris: If you were to pick this up as a once a week thing you would notice some changes before the end of the month easy. Two or three times in a short period of time you can notice your grip getting a lot stronger, your balance get a lot better because your more aware of where your body sits. Dr Cook: Exercise is improving a lot of thing that you don't see on the outside. It also improves a lot of things that you do feel. If your able to exercise it allows you to focus better so if your a person who get distracted easily or even a lot, you’re able to focus a lot better once you've been able to get some of that excitement and energy burned out. Chris: Rock climbing is better then going to a gym because it's going to burn more calories, you burn more calories climbing then you do running in place for an hour or doing some aerobics your going to get more of a work out doing rock climbing. Climbing is surprisingly mostly leg muscles, a lot of people think that it take big arm strength to pull your self up the wall, but good climbers don't use their arms to pull they use their legs to pull. They use their arms to keep their balance and to get a grip on a rock, they use their legs to push so your going to be using your calf muscles. Dr. Cook: Linking it to something fun is far easier to get teens engaged in things. So if it's part of an after school club team that maybe something non competitive, but something that their always engaged with that they identify them self's with. Chris: I like it because it help me conquer a fear, I used to be really bad with heights my first day here I only got up about four feet and I just froze in place, and my friend had to come over and give me a hard time to get me to go up higher. Teej: If you're looking for exercise that's out of the ordinary and a great workout for your whole body, consider climbing your way to a Healthy You with the people at Rock Ventures. Chris Floro Sr. Manager Rock Ventures Dr. Stephen Cook Pediatrics,URMC ISN’T IT COOL Former U-S President George Bush celebrated the reopening of his presidential museum by jumping out of a plane! Now 83, Mr. Bush joined the US Army Golden Knights parachute team and skydived for the sixth time, the first since his 80th birthday. His first? That happened in 1944 when he was shot down over the Pacific island, Chi Chi Jima. ISSUE School boards across the nation are trying to make sure their schools are safe. Access to many schools is closely monitored. Some are even requiring students to wear ID badges while attending class. Proponents of ID badges say it makes it easier to identify those who belong in school and those who do not. School officials say it helps to make sure that all visitors check in as they enter the school building. But some students and parents object to ID badges. They say it is a fine line between the need for school security and government interference. Some say requiring ID badges for students is an invasion of privacy. One parent said “If we put ourselves in a cage just to be safe, what kind of life do we have?” Others say ID badges are easily faked and reproduced. Well, we would like to know what you think? “Should schools require students to wear ID badges?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions MAILBAG We received nearly four hundred responses to our issue question, “Is there too much stress in your school?” The majority of you, 51 percent, say yes there is too much stress. 41 percent say no there is not. 8 percent are undecided. Many of you say your school is not too stressful because you have great teachers. Brooke of Wall Lake, Iowa writes, “Our school is not stressful… because the teachers are respectful and very helpful.” Many of you think learning how to deal with stress now is a good thing. Emily S. of Greenfield, Wisconsin writes, “Once we get into the work world our bosses will not let us off easy. Kids need to learn to deal with stress.” Cody B. of Fairfield, Virginia adds, “A little stress is a good thing. It is good to learn how to deal with stress early on in life.” The majority of you, however, feel there is too much stress in your schools. Jaqui H. of Woodbury, Minnesota writes, “We get so much homework and (we) worry about tests and book reports…” Rachel M. of Lovingston, Virginia adds, “Teachers… pile stuff on us… by the end of the week you’re just glad you get to stay home.” Shari of Tampa, Florida agrees and writes, “I have so much homework I can’t even relax and get the rest I need.” Maddie D. of Georgetown, New York says her teachers go even further… Maddie writes, “My teachers give out homework… and if you don’t get it done, they keep you in detention.” Finally, Alaina S. of Combined Locks, Wisconsin says its not just the students who feel stress. Alaina writes, “Teachers have too much stress… giving us lectures makes them crabby. Students have too much stress when they don’t get enough sleep.” We look forward to your responses to our two latest questions: “Should the United States end its trade embargo of Cuba?” and “Should schools require students to wear ID badges?” If you would like to receive an Assignment: The World Press card, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may write to us here at Assignment: The World, Post Office Box three-zero-zero-twenty-one, Rochester, New York… one-4-6-zero-3… or you may contact us at the A-T-W website at http://atwonline.org. We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org POP QUIZ #2 In our story about the California oil spill, we told you the Chinese crew of the tanker causing the spill is being held pending an… 1. criminal investigation 2. environmental investigation 3. ceremonial investigation And the correct answer is number one, the crew of the tanker is being held pending a criminal investigation. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 24 degrees, 38 minutes north latitude 46 degrees, 43 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a fill in the blank…it is three words. First word C blank V blank L Second word R blank blank H blank S Third word Blank A blank C H And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter clue… it is two words. First word O O O S V K Second Word E E T O N I C L These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming week. You can find the answers on radio and television newscasts and in newspapers and newsmagazines. We’ll reveal the answers on next week’s show. Good luck! GOOD-BYE And that’s it for this week’s show. We will be off next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, for all of us here at Assignment: The World, I’m Teej Jenkins. We hope you all have a great Turkey Day! We’ll see you again in two weeks. © 2007 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.