Episode 35 - Rise for Syria

Radio Against Apartheid - Amplifying voices for justice and equality in the Middle East. On West Philadelphia's community radio station, WPEB 88.1 FM.

On this week's episode, we are joined by three members of Philly for Syria - Abdur, Ahmed, and Jihad. They tell us all about the Rise for Syria iftar and dinner banquet and fundraiser, this Saturday (8/4) at 6 PM in Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall at 3417 Spruce Street.

To get tickets, you can go to the website of Helping Hands USA, call Abdur at [phone], or buy tickets at the door.

Then we discuss the Syrian revolution - what has happened since it began in March of 2011, and what is happening today, after over 15,000 people have lost their lives and millions have been forced from their homes.

News Headlines:

- Mitt Romney recently concluded a foreign policy trip in Israel as US Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. As Common Dreams reports in 'Romney Raises Cash in Israel, Ire in Occupied Territories', Romney held a fundraiser at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. During the fundraiser, Romney had racist statements directed towards Palestinians and Jews, and outraged the Palestinian leadership.

The statement by Romney was reiterating the stances of two large financiers of the Romney campaign, Sand's Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and New York lawyer J. Philip Rosen, both of whom were in the audience at the Romney fundraiser in Jerusalem.

- The New York Times reported on Sunday on the emotional disconnect for US military drone operators, in 'A Day Job Waiting for a Kill Shot a World Away'.

- Democracy Now! reports 'Congressional Probe Reveals Cover-Up of "Auschwitz-like Conditions at U.S.-funded Afghan Hospital'.

- And finally, hundreds took to the streets of Philadelphia on Tuesday to protest the cuts to General Assistance, which eliminates a $200 assistance to close to 70,000 Pennsylvanians, 40,000 in Philadelphia. The cuts affect sexual assault survivors, those with disabilities, those attending drug recovery programs, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations. The cuts were implemented on Wednesday, August 1.

WPEB 88.1 is a project of Scribe Video. As a community radio station, WPEB 88.1 relies on the donations of listeners. Please consider donating or ask others to at the Scribe Video website.