Satire

It's Thursday October 12th ...

U.S. president George Bush quickly dismissed a new study that contends nearly 655,000 Iraqis have died since the U.S.-led invasion of that country in March of 2003.

Currently...Bush prefers to think of them not so much as dead but rather as "liberated" from the bonds of life.

This is the Current.

Canadian Moratorium – Advocate

It's been likened to clear-cutting coral reefs or scraping the ocean floor with a bulldozer. Bottom trawling is a brutally efficient form of commercial fishing, because it not only snags fish, but anything else floating near the ocean floor. The practice has such an unsavory reputation that even U.S. President George W. Bush--a man not known for getting cuddly with conservationists---has called on fishing nations to stop, quote, “destructive fishing practices, such as unregulated bottom trawling on the high seas”, end of quote.

Last week the UN was moving toward a moratorium. But after two days of negotiations at the General Assembly, Conservative fisheries minister Loyola Hearn issued a statement saying Canada wouldn't support such a measure. That puts Canada in league with Iceland, Russia and Spain … remember the Turbot Wars, anyone? … as countries that could prevent a bottom trawling moratorium from coming into effect.

Canada's resistance to the ban has also angered environmental groups such as Greenpeace. We heard from Karen Sack. She's Greenpeace International's Oceans Policy Advisor.

Another person who disagrees with Canada's position is Professor Ransom Myers. He's a marine biologist at Dalhousie University, and he joined us from our Halifax studio.

Canadian Pro Industry

Whether a moratorium on bottom trawling is introduced will affect many Canadian maritime communities dependent on fishing. Our St. John's producer Heather Barrett asked a couple of fishers in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador for their thoughts on the subject. We heard from George Chafe and Luke Chafe who are both fishers from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador.

As we mentioned earlier, the Canadian government does not support a moratorium on bottom trawling. In a written statement released last Friday, fisheries minister Loyola Hearn rejected the proposal. Instead he says the best way to foster sustainable fishing practices is for regional fisheries management groups to oversee international waters.

Minister Hearn was not available to do an interview with us, but the Fisheries Council of Canada has come out in support of the government position. And the president of the Fisheries Council, Patrick McGuinness, joined us from our Ottawa studio.

Listen to The Current: Part 1

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

The Current: Part 2

Israeli Filmmaker

A suicide attack is intended to cause as much collateral damage as possible, while killing the attacker as well. And in the Middle East, these acts have become closely associated with Palestinian militants.

But according to our next guest, filmmaker Avi Mograbi, Israelis are also taught that suicide is preferable to surrender and it is this deadly common ground that he explores in his new film. Mr. Mograbi is known for making films that are highly critical of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, and this time is no exception. His film, called Avenge But One of My Two Eyes, argues that Israelis need to explore their own past--whether it be the story of Samson and Delilah or Masada--in order to develop compassion for the modern plight of the Palestinians.

Needless to say his film has generated international controversy. Avi Mograbi is currently touring parts of Canada with his film, Avenge But One of My Two Eyes and he joined us from our Montreal studio.

Listen to The Current: Part 2

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

The Current: Part 3

Border Patrol

Dogs sniffing after drug smugglers, illegal aliens running through the desert brush at night--those images have become synonymous with patrolling the US-Mexico border. And last week, US President George W. Bush pledged even more money--more than a billion dollars--to provide better fences and more motion detectors to patrol that pesky border.

But less is known about the threats that face the 49th parallel and beyond, and what's being done to protect what's known as the world's longest undefended border between Canada and the U.S. So the CBC's Alison Myers hitched a ride with the U.S. border patrol near Whitefish, Montana, and she joined us from our Calgary studio.

Alison Myers is a national reporter with CBC Radio, based in Calgary.

Letters

Beginning this Friday, we'll bring you the best of both worlds, as Brent Bambury -- host of Go on CBC Radio One -- takes on The Current. And Brent joined Anna Maria in our studio for a look at the mail.

Last Word: Suicide Bomb PSA

Earlier on the program we talked to an Israeli filmmaker about why militants choose suicide over surrender. Well today happens to be the anniversary of two modern-day suicide attacks, one that occurred on October 12th, 2000, which killed 17 U.S. sailors aboard the USS Cole in a port in Yemen. The other suicide bombing happened in 2002----one of a series of attacks in Bali that killed more than 200 people, many of them Australian vacationers.

In both cases, investigators say Al Qaeda was involved. Now a commercial aimed at dissuading Muslims from becoming suicide bombers has made its debut on Middle Eastern airwaves. The million dollar ad employs Matrix-like special effects, showing in intricate detail the death and destruction caused by one suicide bomber entering a crowded market place.

Filming was shrouded in secrecy leading many to believe the U.S. government was behind the commercial which was shot on a back lot in Los Angeles. You can see the entire ad at the website, www.noterror.info. But we ended the show with what it sounds like.

Music

Artist: Elliott Kirk
CD: "Fiddler on the Rocks"
Cut: CD 6,"Moon in Broad Daylight"
Label: Custom/Elliott Kirk
Spine: FOTR 05
http://www.kirkelliott.net/

Listen to The Current: Part 3

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

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