The Islamist enactment of harsh Sharia law in Northern Mali has led to a food crisis and the exodus of over half a million people. This report paints a shocking picture of a region descending into chaos.
As over 400 refugees a day pour over the border into Mauritania, a local police chief explains, "They fear having a hand amputated, being whipped or stoned to death". In the Northern deserts of Mali, Al Qaeda have driven out the struggling national army, seized their weapons and now fly the Al Qaeda flag. "We're frightened because there's no government we can trust to protect us from the armed groups", says Maulud Ibrahim, a Tuareg refugee. "When we've conquered France, we'll come to the USA, we'll come to London and conquer the whole world", says a military commander from the local Al Qaeda ally, Defenders of the Faith.
Mike Goldwater
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UK - Rough Justice
- 16 min 00 sec [28 August 2012]
Seven police injured in disturbances at Belfast parade
Kneecapping by vigilantes sounds like something from the past, but in part of Northern Ireland it's being used against people suspected of dealing drugs. It's causing fears of a return to full on conflict. "I was saying to him "Don't do it, man, don't do it." And he did it." Raymond Coyle says as he tells us about how RAAD (Republican Action Against Drugs) shot him multiple times for selling marijuana seeds. Petty criminals across Londonderry all now live in fear of the group who have declared their own law on the streets. A growing sentiment that the Sinn Fein Peace Process is not delivering economic progress or a united Ireland have given them a bedrock of support among local communities. But as always with vigilante justice the violence has overspilled into the settling of personal feuds. Young men in the area live in fear. "As soon as you hear your next door neighbour's door close and it's a bang, you jump out of bed. You think someone is coming for you." RAAD have also developed stronger political ambitions and joined with several other dissident groups to declare a return to arms. A frightening prospect, when you consider that all the groups together would constitute the same numbers as the provisional IRA had during the height of the conflict. "That's a major force. I believe you'll have an escalation of attacks on the British forces here." SBS
(Ref: 5597)
USA - Obama and the Christians
- 13 min 45 sec [28 August 2012]
Christian voters are once again attacking Obama's religious views. Surprisingly, his views also seem to be getting support from more moderate Christian voters. So will Christians make or break Obama's re-election? "Borderline communist. Destroyer of America." These are just some of the hyperbole used by disillusioned Christians to describe President Obama. But why are so many crucial Christian voters turning against Obama? It appears that for many Americans he falls the wrong side of 'liberal' on many moral issues. "He will be remembered as the first president to openly endorse abortion. Methods harmful to women." His so-called 'crimes' against Christian values have caused moral outrage. But equally there is also a sizeable Christian sector that insists Obama's controversial liberal views are on the whole positive. "Whether you agree with gay marriage or not, it doesn't matter. We should be sticking up for any group that is being marginalized or bullied." says Christina Forrester, founder of the Christian Democrats of America.
EO
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Philippines - Bagong Silang
- 10' min 29" sec [28 August 2012]
The Navatas city cemetery is at the centre of a unique community. Nearly 2000 families have made their homes on, around and inside its walls. But now the residents are having to fight for their future.
Bagong Silang is 21st century slum life with a twist: a living community built around a city of the dead. It's a way of life that may soon be laid to rest. "I can't say what will happen in ten years". Jaime has called the shanty town home for over thirty years. Now, he is on borrowed time, living under threat of eviction, and he appreciates the irony of his community's predicament. "Bagong Silang means 'new born'. Whoever named this place, I have no idea".
Giselle Santons & Zena Merton
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Australia - My Name is Rachel Corrie
- 13 min 34 sec [30 June 2008]
Court rules Israel not at fault for Rachel Corrie's death
As an Israeli court rules that Rachel Corrie's death was an accident, this report gives an in-depth portrait of her. From a play about her to archive of her life it's a startling insight into the woman.
Rachel Corrie travelled to Gaza in 2003 to prevent the Israeli government from bulldozing Palestinian homes. Rachel insisted demolitions were wrong; "These are homes that don't have any connection necessarily with suicide bombers." But she was killed when acting as a human shield to stop a home being bulldozed. A powerful profile of a committed and brave activist.
SBS
