Half the world's population depends on rice for their staple food, and it is one of the most politically sensitive of agricultural commodities. In South-East Asia, where people have farmed rice paddies for thousands of years. It is eaten twice, often three times a day across the region. Today, in an exclusive FSRN documentary, we'll go to Indonesia, and hear, “Disappearing Rice Paddies,” Produced by Rebecca Henschke.

• Democrats Crown Obama
• Thousands of Veterans Demand Obama's Attention: Boots Riley Weighs In
• DC Clamors for Voting Rights As Dems Celebrate Democracy
• Free Gaza Boats Return to Cyprus
• Street Beat: What Do You Think About Ralph Nader's Candidacy?
• A Commentary By Mumia Abu-Jamal: The Nominee
  

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• 3 Days of Demonstrations Call on Thai Prime Minister to Resign
• Tort Case Against ExxonMobil Can Proceed in US Court
• Gustav Heads Towards Jamaica, Forecast to Hit US Gulf Coast as Hurricane
• Arctic Sea Ice at 2nd Lowest Levels - End of Summer Melt Season Still Weeks Away
• Military Urban Warfare Exercises in Portland, Oregon
• Radical Library Raided in Berkeley, California

At the Democratic convention this week, Washington D.C.’s nonvoting delegate to Congress made an impassioned plea for democracy for the citizens of the nation’s capitol. D.C. residents don’t have Senators, their Congresswoman can’t vote on legislation, and they don’t control even their own local budget and laws. FSRN’s Tanya Snyder reports on the problem that some say has turned DC into a modern day colony.

This week in the occupied territories, Israeli Police arrested Free Gaza Activist Jeff Halper.  Halper, Along with nearly 4 dozen other, reached the Gaza shores Monday, symbolically breaking the israeli naval blockade of Gaza.  Today, the Free Gaza started back to Cyprus.  FSRN's Rami Al-Meghari reports.