PROGRAM NOTES 04/25/08- This weeks show features stories from China Radio International, Radio Netherlands, Radio Havana Cuba, and the Voice of Russia.

From CHINA- The Secretary-General of the UN has reiterated the need to tackle soaring food prices and stay on track to achieve the Millennium goals of reducing poverty. A representative from the IMF says that the world has a moral responsibility to get food to the global poor. The head of the UN FAO says aid needs to be given to farmers in developing countries. A senior N Korean official has called for the two Koreas to unite against war and the US. China continues to prosecute government officials who fail to stop environmental damage and who waste energy resources. There were protests against the Western media's anti-Chinese bias in England, France, Germany, and the US.

From NETHERLANDS- After animal rights activists stopped the construction of research facility in the Netherlands, the government wants to apply anti-terrorist laws to deal with their threats. There is a proposal in Germany to do away with any age restrictions on voting, allowing parents to cast votes for each of their children.

From CUBA- Amnesty International is calling on Israel to investigate last week's murders of Palestinian civilians and a Reuters cameraman by Israeli troops. The Israeli government says that there are no changes after an attempt at mediation by Jimmy Carter. The Israeli government agreed to pay 3.5 million dollars to the family of a British filmmaker killed while making the documentary film "Death In Gaza." According to an article in The Guardian UK senior US officials bypassed the top Army General in order to push through intense investigation techniques and torture in Guantanamo.

From RUSSIA- In a report from the Rand Corporation, twenty percent of US soldiers are experiencing PTSD on returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Presidential victory of a former priest in Paraguay adds another left-centered government in Latin America.

--"While the rest of the human family suffers and starves, enjoying false security and wealth can only be seen as a sign of insanity."
--Thich Nhat Hanh