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Hi, I`m Carl Azuz. And this is CNN STUDENT NEWS. Today, December, 5th, 2013, there is
no such thing as the Soviet Union. When your parents were growing up, the USSR was huge.
Literally, huge. When it existed from 1922 to 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
was by area the world`s largest country. That was one nation made up of 15 Republics. And
as the Soviet Union broke up, those republics all became independent countries. Ukraine
was one of them. Right now it`s in the middle of the political crisis. Protesters are in
the streets demanding change in their government.
This is not the first time, Ukrainians have occupied Independence Square, back in 2004,
it was filled with people trying to overturn a presidential election result they didn`t
trust. It became known as the Orange Revolution, and it was successful. It triggered (inaudible)
not just here, but across Europe and the United States that this former Soviet Republic was
firmly on the path to a democratic future. But then optimism didn`t last.
The man whose initial election victory was overturned by the Orange Revolution was this
man, Viktor Yanukovych, but his opponents weren`t very effective while in power so in
2010 he made a striking political comeback, winning the presidential election. Since then,
his critics say, he`s done little to fix the economy or corruption while using the courts
to punish political rivals, most notable the former prime minister Yulia Timoshenko who`s
in jail convicted of abusing power while in office. Yanukovych`s support base is largely
in the east of Ukraine where people identify themselves more closely with Russia, both
ethnically and culturally.
The people on the streets calling for Yanukovych to go are mostly from the center and west
of the country, both to see themselves more distinctly as Ukrainian and European, they
were deeply disappointed when Yanukovych announced he wouldn`t be signing agreements that would
have locked Ukraine in step with the European Union. What these people want, a European
standards in the economy, rule of law and politics. Many things that Ukraine is a long
way behind the other Eastern European countries that were once dominated by the Soviet Union
as well. They believe a European future will bring greater prosperity and democracy, modernize
the country and ultimately improve everyone`s quality of life. Phil Black, CNN, Kiev.
Is this legit? Detroit is the capital of Michigan? Not true. Lansing is the capital, but Detroit
is the largest city in the state.
And it`s the largest city to file for bankruptcy. That`s when a person, company, or in this
case a city doesn`t have enough money to pay its debts. The financial crisis hit Detroit
and its auto industry hard. People moved away, businesses left town. It all added up to less
money for the city`s government. By declaring bankruptcy, Detroit can restructure its budget.
That could mean cuts for current and retired city employees.
I did everything I could. I did my part of the bargain, and now this is their part of
the bargain.
Promises made to city workers, now those promises can`t be kept, because Detroit is more than
$18 billion in debt.
We paid a percentage of our wages every year into that, so it`s not something that`s being
given to us. It`s our money.
Detroit emergency manger, Kevyn Orr filed for bankruptcy, and he`s proposed cutting
the city`s debt by 83 percent. That will hit city workers and retirees.
Is it likely that there is going to have to be some sort of concessions made?
There are going to have to be some concessions because that`s just the reality.
Government officials say it`s gotten this bad: 78,000 abandoned buildings, 40 percent
of the street lights don`t work, and average police response time is 58 minutes.
When you call the police now, you wonder if they are coming.
Michael Wells and Janet Watson worked for the Detroit public library for more than 30
years.
What do you think this bankruptcy means for you?
Well, I think it`s going to possibly mean a reduction in my monthly pension check.
I believe at this point it would mean I would lose my home.
They are willing to take cuts if the city improves.
If I`ve given up something, OK, and I now have a police department that responds on
a 911 call, if I have EMS when I`m having an emergency. If the lights are turned on
in the city, but if it`s simply to pay off the bond holders, all right, and the insurers
and all of these other issues are still there, then not only has my city not improved, but
I`ve gone down through as well.
What would happen if we didn`t declare bankruptcy? Detroit would continue to go downhill. And
downhill to what point? So while people say this will probably be the lowest day in Detroit`s
history, isn`t that a good thing instead of having a lower day tomorrow?
And now Detroit not only faces the stigma of bankruptcy, but also millions and millions
in legal fees in order to exit bankruptcy. There is one thing that everyone hopes, and
that is that there is a brighter future ahead for the Motor City. Poppy Harlow, CNN, Detroit.
It`s time for the "Shoutout." Chimpanzees are classified as which of these: if you think
you know it then shout it out? Is it monkeys, lemurs, apes or tarsiers? You`ve got three
seconds, go.
We`re not monkeying around when we tell you that chimpanzees are apes. That`s your answer
and that`s your shoutout.
So, chimpanzees are apes and they are primates. They are not people, but one group thinks
chimps should have some of the same rights as people, and now that debate could be heading
to court.
It may seem like an unusual statement that an animal should be recognized in some ways
as a person.
They understand that they have choices that they can make in how they want to live their
lives.
Steve Wise founded the non-human rights project. A group that says, based on scientific evidence,
chimps deserve some of the same rights, as humans.
We want to show that the chimpanzees also have autonomy, and that means that they can
-- they can choose to live their lives in the way that they want, similar to the way
that we can choose live our lives the way we want.
In a landmark lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Courty, they want civil liberties for chimps
held in captivity.
They are using a time tested legal maneuver called habeas corpus, which is essentially
means free the body. And it`s been used throughout the years to free people from what`s been
considered an unjust incarceration. Essentially under the law, a legal person doesn`t have
to be a human being.
The suit was brought on behalf of four chimpanzees being held in the state of New York. One of
the chimps is 26 year old Tommy, who lives caged in his owner`s property in Gloversville.
No chimpanzee should live the way Tommy lives. He is essentially in a chimpanzee solitary
confinement jail. All he can see is one bleak day after another in front of him, just the
way we would if we were in solitary confinement.
The 91-page memorandum filed by the NHRP refers to Tommy as a "person" illegally imprisoned
demanding he and the others be relocated to sanctuaries and says, "this court must recognize
that Tommy is a common law person entitled to the common law right to bodily liberty."
We intend to file a wide variety of case, in which we argue again and again that certain
not human animals, at least, such as Tommy are so cognitively complex or so autonomous
that they should no longer be seen as legal (ph) things without any rights.
Tommy`s owner has told reporters that Tommy is one of many chimps he`s rescued from abusive
or neglectful homes. He says he cares for the apes until they can be moved to sanctuaries.
The owner also says, Tommy`s cage opens to an outdoor area. It`s inspected regularly
and meets state and federal standards.
Mascots in today`s "Roll Call" are awesome, and they could all come straight out of history
books. They are Vandals, they are from McCall- Donnelly High School in McCall, Idaho. The
Saxons in Spokane, Washington, these Saxons represent Ferris High, same Ferris. And the
Vikings from Central Cabarrus High in Concord, North Carolina.
You think that a thief would want to avoid being caught on camera. Apparently, that message
hasn`t made it to nature. Because when an eagle absconded with this video camera in
Australia, it had no reservations about getting some face time, talk about a bird`s eye view,
you all. Listen, I know selfie was named the word of the year, but this might be taking
it a bit far: it doesn`t seem like the most sophisticated plan. Whoever came up with it,
might have been a real bird brain, but besides, if he gets away with this stunt -- there is
just no talon what it will try next. We`ll be beat tomorrow to wrap up the week -- have
a great day.