This Week's Top Stories

The week's top Peace Corps news stories posted here every Saturday.

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October 30, 2004: Get Out the Vote! New York Times endorses Chris Shays 29 Oct Iowa RPCV Paul Johnson's long shot is worth the effort 29 Oct RPCV Taylor Hackford talks about his movie "Ray" 29 Oct Legislator Dave Magnani reflects on State House career 29 Oct Tom Petri calls himself a "low-key" legislator 29 Oct Doyle presents Springsteen at Kerry rally 28 Oct Chris Matthews interviews John Kerry 28 Oct Maria Shriver on crutches after breaking her foot 28 Oct RPCV promotes Hands Across the Water 27 Oct Exhibit "Iowa in Ghana" pays tribute to RPCV 27 Oct PCVs get 100 absentee ballots in Bangladesh 27 Oct Author Peter Hessler visits from China 27 Oct more top stories...

New York Times endorses Shays
The New York Times and The Advocate of Stamford today endorsed incumbent Republican Rep. Christopher Shays over Democratic challenger Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell 29 October 2004


Iowa RPCV Johnson's long shot is worth the effort
Paul Johnson knows he's a long shot but armed with his ideas and energy, and bothered by his belief the country is headed in the wrong direction, he said he thinks it's worth the effort 29 October 2004


RPCV Taylor Hackford talks about his movie "Ray"
An Interview with RPCV Taylor Hackford about his movie "Ray" 29 October 2004


Magnani reflects on return to private life
RPCV Dave Magnani reflects on State House career 29 October 2004


RPCV in race for Michigan 8th District State Senate
RPCV Robert Alexander in race for Michigan 8th District State Senate 29 October 2004


Hackford uses dramatic points in Ray Charles' life
Director Taylor Hackford (RPCV Bolivia) cleverly uses some of the more dramatic points in Charles' personal life and career to illustrate how the late singer-pianist's music evolved from a young man trying to parrot Nat "King" Cole to a player who could command genres from gospel to country to R&B. 29 October 2004


Rogers' colorful challengers include RPCV Bob Alexander
Flint Journal says Rogers' colorful challengers are former Peace Corps volunteer Democrat Bob Alexander, Libertarian Will Tyler White, who owns a tuba museum and restaurant, and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate John Mangopoulos, who said his extreme views regularly prompt death threats. 29 October 2004


Czajka faces a challenge as Columbia County judge
In the race for the 10-year term as Columbia County judge, incumbent Republican Paul Czajka (RPCV Philippines) faces a challenge from Democrat Pamela Joern. The duties of the county judge include family, criminal and surrogates court. The salary for $119,000-a-year post is set by the state 29 October 2004


Heinz Kerry saw PCVs as inspiring "face of America."
Though she is a woman of wealth and privilege, Heinz Kerry might technically be considered African-American, since she grew up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She did refer to herself once as "a kid from the Third World" who saw Peace Corps volunteers as an inspiring "face of America." 29 October 2004


Petri calls himself a "low-key" legislator
Petri calls himself a "low-key" legislator who likes to do his work in a non-pushy manner, but who has gained a lot of experience in government. "People are just going to have to decide if they feel it’s worthwhile that people have a track record as a representative or if it’s more important to them to give someone (else) a chance to learn on the job," 29 October 2004


Jemison to deliver keynote at "Women of Diversity Entrepreneurship"
Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut to travel into space, will deliver the keynote address at the "Women of Diversity Entrepreneurship" conference at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship on Nov. 3 29 October 2004


Doyle says Wisconsin is hotly contested state
Gov. Jim Doyle, who has campaigned for Kerry in Wisconsin, said that Wisconsin has always been a hotly contested state. "But here has never been anything like this," he said. "To have presidential candidates in here daily is pretty remarkable." 29 October 2004


Shays leads Democratic challenger by five points
Poll: Shays leads Democratic challenger by five points. The phone poll of 500 registered voters was conducted from October 26th to October 28th and has a sampling margin of error of nearly five percentage points 29 October 2004


GOP should have had Ohio locked up
A couple of years ago, it might have seemed that the GOP would have the Buckeye State locked up. But with the current crop of Republican leaders - including Gov. Bob Taft - winning Ohio is not as simple, according to this story published on the web site of the National Review 29 October 2004


Gouttierre interviewed for "Rush to War"
Thomas Gouttierre interviewed for "Rush to War" 29 October 2004


Hall presents ratification of Cape Town Convention
Ambassador Tony Hall deposited the instrument of ratification for the Cape Town Convention, an international treaty to facilitate asset-based financing and leasing of large commercial aircraft and aircraft engines 29 October 2004


Elaine Jones: "educate all our children, not just some"
"It’s in our national interest to educate all our children, not just some," said panelist Elaine Jones, former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense fund 29 October 2004


Shays proud of his record
As a young man, Chris Shays was a conscientious objector and did not fight in the Vietnam War. He did, however, join the Peace Corps. Asked about his prior antiwar position and his current strong commitment to war in Iraq, Shays said that he had considered resigning in 1991 when Congress had to vote on whether or not to invade Iraq for the first time. 28 October 2004


RPCV Butler-Diaz promotes Southeast Asian culture
Jacqueline Butler-Diaz, who spent two years in Thailand with the Peace Corps, is promoting interest in Southeast Asian culture 28 October 2004


Bobby Shriver considers himself accidental politician
Bobby Shriver considers himself an accidental politician 28 October 2004


Tsongas honored with Distinguished Alumni Award
The late U.S. Sen. and one-time Democratic presidential candidate Paul Tsongas, class of 1958, was one of five Lowell High School graduates honored last night by the school's first annual Distinguished Alumni Award reception 28 October 2004


Doyle presents Springsteen at Kerry rally
Bruce Springsteen and John Kerry electrified a huge crowd in Madison, Wisconsin, at midday rally on October 28. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle estimated the crowd at "more than 80,000." 28 October 2004


Shays Responds to Negative Attacks
Shays Responds to Negative Attacks in Final Ads of Campaign 28 October 2004


Chris Matthews interviews John Kerry
Chris Matthews interviews John Kerry 28 October 2004


Petri helps hammer out measure to fund highways
House Republican Tom Petri of Fond du Lac chairs the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee and is helping to hammer out a six-year measure to fund highways, mass transit and highway safety programs. But the House, Senate and White House are at odds over the price tag for the so-called reauthorization measure, which could cost upwards of $300 billion. "It's been a struggle," said Debbie Gebhardt, Petri's chief of staff. 28 October 2004


Maria Shriver on crutches after breaking her foot
Maria Shriver broke her foot. California's first lady, a faithful Red Sox fan, was hobbling on crutches after injuring herself while watching the fifth playoff game between Boston and the New York Yankees. 28 October 2004


Doyle introduces Springsteen with library of song titles
Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin used his two minutes at the microphone introducing the singer to co-opt his library of song titles for Mr. Kerry's sake 28 October 2004


RPCV promotes Hands Across the Water
Sharon Mosher Tangney's nonprofit organization, Hands Across the Water, is affiliated with the national Friends of Liberia association made up of former Peace Corps volunteers 27 October 2004


Des Moines Register endorses Paul Johnson
Des Moines Register endorses Paul Johnson 27 October 2004


Exhibit "Iowa in Ghana" pays tribute to RPCV
The exhibit "Iowa in Ghana," now on display at the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, pays tribute to the work of the late D. Michael Warren. Warren, an RPCV, anthropologist and leading Africanist scholar, taught at Iowa State University from 1972 until his death in 1997. 27 October 2004


PCVs get 100 absentee ballots in Bangladesh
American Citizen Services distributed about 600 absentee ballots in Bangladesh and this includes about 100 given to the Peace Corps Volunteers 27 October 2004


Peter Hessler visits from China
Hickman alumnus Peter Hessler visits from China 27 October 2004


RPCV worked with Ray Charles for 15 years
Director Taylor Hackford (RPCV Bolivia), who worked with the jazz/R&B/country/pop star for 15 years in an effort to get his story on film, might have been too close to his subject 27 October 2004


Doyle says we have to be more much more strategic
Gov. Jim Doyle picked up on the theme of improving security at home. "We have to be more much more strategic … and much more focused on the protection of our national homeland than going out without allies and getting completely involved in Iraq," he said. "There is a real need, as the senator said, to be much smarter and more strategic in what we do." 27 October 2004


Chris Matthews interviews James Webb
Chris Matthews interviews James Webb who says "I think that by putting our people in Iraq, we certainly made them targets in a way that they wouldn‘t have been if we were fighting the war against international terrorism from a position to maneuver" 27 October 2004


Carl Pope says college students not registered
Carl Pope said that college students here complain that some local election clerks try to discourage them from registering to vote 27 October 2004


Rep. Sam Farr faces five challengers
Despite his 11 years in office, incumbent U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, faces five challengers for his 17th Congressional District seat 26 October 2004


Malaria vaccine shows promise
Malaria vaccine shows promise 26 October 2004


Doyle excited the Boss is coming
Gov. Jim Doyle said today he's very excited The Boss is coming 26 October 2004


Taft says more registered to vote than live in counties
Taft told CNN’s Bill Hemmer that in four Ohio counties, more people have registered to vote than live in those counties and are of voting age. 26 October 2004


Five candidates vie to unseat Sam Farr
The five candidates vying to unseat Democratic Rep. Sam Farr of California have little in common -- except their address and the likelihood that they will lose 25 October 2004


Taft says focus on Ohio is unprecedented
Gov. Bob Taft said the focus on Ohio by both campaigns is unprecedented. "I've never seen anything like this week, or the last couple of weeks for that matter," said Taft, a Republican and chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2004 Ohio Leadership Team. 25 October 2004


Chris Shays fight for 4th deadly serious
Chris Shays, Diane Farrell fight for 4th deadly serious 24 October 2004


Chris Matthews is in top 10 list
Chris Matthews is in top 10 list of TV's election-year influentials 23 October 2004

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October 23, 2004: This Week's Top Stories CBS News to air PCV Murder on "48 Hours Mystery" 23 Oct Maria Shriver's CA volunteer plan rejected 23 Oct PCV sees Halloween in Romania 22 Oct Chao may move to DOT in new Bush cabinet 22 Oct Tribune impressed by Johnson's character and vision 21 Oct Shays plays straight man to McCain 21 Oct Kennedy Delivers Eulogy for Salinger 21 Oct Turkmen Language Guide compiled by PCVs 20 Oct Rep. Walsh has easy opposition 20 Oct Lantos asks PC to consider withdrawing Haiti PCVs 19 Oct Farr visits UCSC politics course 18 Oct Bellamy says 200 schools damaged in Baghdad 17 Oct more top stories...

CBS News to air PCV Murder on "48 Hours Mystery"
CBS News to air "48 Hours Mystery" on Deborah Gardner murder told by best-selling author Phil Weiss in his new book, "American Taboo." 23 October 2004


Maria Shriver's CA volunteer plan rejected
Maria Shriver's idea of requiring college students to perform some volunteer work before they can graduate is rejected 23 October 2004


PCV sees Halloween in Romania
Logically, Halloween should be huge in Romania. Or so I thought before I came here a year ago as a Peace Corps volunteer. 22 October 2004


RPCV Inventor displays inventive imagination
Though Amy Smith has displayed an inventive imagination since childhood, it was only after four years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana that she found her true calling 22 October 2004


Chao may move to DOT in new Bush cabinet
Elaine Chao may move to Department of Transportation in new Bush Administration 22 October 2004


Tribune impressed by Johnson's character and vision
The Tribune's editorial board is impressed by Paul Johnson's character and vision. A former director of the Department of Natural Resources, chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, and an Iowa legislator, Johnson is known for his conservation ethic. 21 October 2004


Shays plays straight man to McCain
Shays plays straight man to McCain's touring Daily Show routine. "When you're president, I want to be your vice president," Shays, looking at McCain, added humbly. 21 October 2004


RPCV for the North Carolina Supreme Court
We recommend Turkey RPCV Sarah Parker for the North Carolina Supreme Court 21 October 2004


Kennedy Delivers Eulogy for Salinger
Kennedy Delivers Eulogy for Salinger 21 October 2004


Shays in hotly contested race
With less than two weeks to go in their hotly contested 4th Congressional District race, things got a bit testy today between incumbent Republican Rep. Christopher Shays and his Democratic opponent, Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell 21 October 2004


Petri assesses war in Iraq
We asked the Republican incumbent in the 6th Congressional District, Tom Petri, how he would assess the war in Iraq and where we should go from here 21 October 2004


Dodd uses Spanish-speaking abilities on stump
U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd used his Spanish-speaking abilities on Wednesday to stump for himself, congressional candidate Theresa Gerratana and state Rep. Bob Godfrey at a Hispanic community center in Danbury. Dodd, who learned to speak Spanish while in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, rolled out the jokes as he trilled his R's for the group who came to see him. 20 October 2004


Peace Corps honored by "Water for People"
Peace Corps, President Kennedy Honored by "Water for People" 20 October 2004


Turkmen Language Guide compiled by PCVs
The Turkmen Language Learning Guide has been compiled by Juleah Berliner and Kyle Dietrich, Peace Corps volunteers in Turkmenistan 20 October 2004


Rep. Walsh has easy opposition
Rep. Walsh has easy opposition in the 25th 20 October 2004


Lantos asks PC to consider withdrawing Haiti PCVs
Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) asks Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez to consider withdrawing volunteers from Haiti to protect their safety amid increasing violence and a shortage of international peace-keeping forces there 19 October 2004


RPCV Hull operated in Yemen with Freedom
Tunisia RPCV Edmund Hull is no longer ambassador in Yemen, but many who had dealings with him in Yemen note he operated with a freedom that set him apart from his diplomatic peers 19 October 2004


Challengers question Petri in debate
Challengers question Petri, GOP in debate 19 October 2004


Korea's influence on RPCV continued through his life
David McCann was a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea in the late 1960s, and Korea's influence on him has continued throughout his life, weaving into his passions of history and poetry and coming to fruition with a prestigious award the country presents annually 18 October 2004


RPCV doing research in Indonesia
Malaysia RPCV Gene Ammarell, an associate professor of anthropology, relocated, along with his wife Bonnie Edwards to do research on Fishing Technologies among the Bugis in the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi 18 October 2004


Shays resists changing Tactics or Stands
Chris Shays Resists Changing His Political Tactics or His Stands 18 October 2004


Farr visits UCSC politics course
Democratic Congressman Sam Farr visited a UCSC politics course on Friday, talking shop and fielding questions from students before urging them to register and to vote 18 October 2004


Petri deserves new term in Congress
Oshkosh Northwestern says Petri deserves new term in Congress 17 October 2004


Volunteers for Prosperity is growing
Volunteers for Prosperity is building a network of organizations--both nonprofits and businesses--that support international voluntary service 17 October 2004


Bellamy says 200 schools damaged in Baghdad
Carol Bellamy says more than 200 primary schools were damaged by bombing since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 17 October 2004


Theroux reviews Graham Greene bio
Paul Theroux reviews Graham Greene biography 17 October 2004

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October 16, 2004: This Week's Top Stories More Muslim countries ask for PCVs 15 Oct The civilian face of America in the Middle East 15 Oct Walsh has little challenge in Congressional Race 15 Oct Vasquez speaks at National Press Club 14 Oct RPCV is special effects supervisor for Star Trek 14 Oct Shays leads in new 4th District poll 14 Oct Doyle: "Wisconsin is coming down to being ground zero." 13 Oct RPCV works in Florida Relief after Hurricane 12 Oct Gouttierre says Afghanistan elections deserve praise 12 Oct RPCV discusses lethal impacts of coal 12 Oct Carl Pope speaks out on nuclear waste 11 Oct Dodd taking nothing for granted 10 Oct more top stories...

More Muslim countries ask for PCVs
More Muslim countries ask for Peace Corps Volunteers 15 October 2004


The civilian face of America in the Middle East
The Peace Corps sent idealistic young Americans to build schools and dig wells and show the world how good the United States could be. These days, though, belligerent men with sunglasses and guns are America's most visible civilian representatives in some parts of the world. 15 October 2004


Walsh has little challenge in Congressional Race
RPCV James Walsh receives minimum challenge in 25th District 15 October 2004


McPherson proposes "Alliance for Progress" for Africa
Peter McPherson, president of Michigan State University, announced Thursday at the World Food Prize symposium in Des Moines that the time has come to begin a new partnership for African development that will rival the Alliance for Progress, a 40-year-old development program in Latin America 15 October 2004


India RPCV in Nepal on Diplomatic visit
India RPCV Donald Camp Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs, recently visited Nepal 15 October 2004


RPCV named Middlesex County College President
Colombia RPCV Joann La Perla-Morales named new president of Middlesex County College 15 October 2004


Senator McCain campaigning for Shays
Arizona Senator John McCain is in Connecticut today, campaigning for Republican Congressmen Rob Simmons and Chris Shays 15 October 2004


Shays: We should have gone into Iraq before 9/11"
"We learned a big lesson but people weren't listening. We should have gone into Iraq before 9/11," Congressman Chris Shays said during a debate at Temple Israel on Coleytown Road 15 October 2004


Vasquez speaks at National Press Club
Vasquez tells National Press Club that Peace Corps now works in 18 Muslim countries and that 27 additional countries have requested a Peace Corps presence including 13 Muslim countries 14 October 2004


RPCV is special effects supervisor for Star Trek
Seven-time Emmy Award-winning senior visual effects supervisor and second-unit director for television’s “Star Trek: Enterprise" Dan Curry was in the U.S. Peace Corps and was stationed in Khon Kaen, Thailand 14 October 2004


Shays leads in new 4th District poll
Shays leads in new 4th District poll, Farrell close 14 October 2004


Honda to lead Get out the Vote rallies
Congressman Mike Honda (CA) will lead Get Out The Vote rallies around the country for APIA Voice, the largest Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Get Out the Vote drive in the history of presidential politics 14 October 2004


Doyle: "Wisconsin is coming down to being ground zero."
"Wisconsin is coming down to being ground zero," Jim Doyle said. "More and more people are saying there are really three states that count right now -- Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin 13 October 2004


RPCV works in Florida Relief after Hurricane
Rod Cook spent seven years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala. The lack of electricity and poor living conditions in Florida after the hurricane reminded him of those years. 12 October 2004


Gouttierre says Afghanistan elections a success
"This election had two major messages. First, Afghans believe they have a right to participate in their government, that it's their legacy after 30 years of violence," said Thomas E. Gouttierre, who just returned from Kabul and directs the University of Nebraska's Center for Afghanistan Studies. "The results will also carry a message to jihadis: Thanks for what you did against the Soviets, but we want to turn a new page and have another group of leaders for our future." 12 October 2004


RPCV discusses lethal impacts of coal
RPCV Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network to discuss the lethal impacts of coal from inner-city D.C. to rural W.Va 12 October 2004


PCVs arrive in Mexico
Peace Corps volunteers have been sent to Mexico to assist the country in information technology, small-business development and water management 11 October 2004


Morocco RPCV opens Marrakesh Mercantile Co.
Morocco RPCV Tim O'Brien is co-owner and manager of Marrakesh Mercantile Co. 11 October 2004


RPCV 's Korean War Museum hoping to relocate
RPCV Kyle Kopitke's National Korean War Museum hoping to relocate 11 October 2004


Guatemala RPCV is "snow hen"
Nicole de Lorimier, who traveled in Guatemala as a Peace Corps volunteer and then worked in Santa Barbara as a real estate broker, is now part of the "snow hens," the growing number of single, senior women who flock to sunny spots behind the wheel of a motor home 11 October 2004


Anthony Shriver throws party for "Best Buddies"
Anthony Shriver, the youngest of Eunice and Sargent Shriver's five children, proved that most Washington parties are "tame" compared to the wild and exotic "Zulu Tu-Du!" bash he threw at his parent's Potomac manse Saturday for his 16-year old non-profit organization, Best Buddies International 11 October 2004


Californian says Return Sam Farr to Congress
The Californian says Return Sam Farr to Congress 11 October 2004


Carl Pope speaks out on nuclear waste
Carl Pope: Where Bush and Kerry stand on nuclear waste 11 October 2004


Dodd taking nothing for granted
Senator Dodd taking nothing for granted 10 October 2004

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October 9, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Vasquez to speak at National Press Club 8 Oct Thomas Gouttierre testifies on Taliban threat 8 Oct Peter McPherson to lead federal commission 7 Oct PCVs make fun of "Survivors" in Vanuatu 6 Oct Jim Doyle appears on "The Al Franken Show" 6 Oct Mae Jemison kicks off science competition 6 Oct RPCVs for Kerry hold Press Conference 5 Oct Carl Pope says voter turnout key to election 4 Oct First group of Volunteers head to Mexico 3 Oct Celeste in constant motion to promote College 3 Oct Bellamy is ready to hand over the reins 1 Oct Gearan hosts the Campaign for Civic Learning 1 Oct more top stories...

China launches Peace Corps-like program
Last year the Education Ministry and the Communist Youth League launched a Peace Corps-like program to send recent graduates to impoverished regions in western China. According to the Chinese press, over 10,000 volunteers have signed up for this Go West program. 9 October 2004


Kazakhstan RPCV recognized by Foundation
Kazakhstan RPCV Rob P. Mocarsky was one of 100 teachers across the country recognized by the Milken Family Foundation 8 October 2004


Guyana RPCV named winner in CA University
Guyana RPCV Cara Statucki was recently named one of 14 winners throughout the California State University system 8 October 2004


Mongolia PCVs help conduct ethnographic survey
Group members also had the opportunity to conduct an ethnographic survey, with the help of Peace Corps volunteers also working in Mongolia. They surveyed local inhabitants, asking questions that pertained to the burial of their dead, the treatment of animals, how they choose the sites for their gers, and rituals associated with horses. 8 October 2004


Vasquez to speak at National Press Club
Peace Corps Director to Speak at National Press Club in DC on Thursday, October 14 about Peace Corps Volunteers Serving in Muslim Countries 8 October 2004


Thomas Gouttierre testifies on Taliban threat
RPCV Thomas Gouttierre told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently: "Though routed out of their strongholds and camps after 9/11, replenished and reorganized elements of Al Qaida and the Taliban remain at large and constitute a threat, both real and symbolic, to the overall reconstruction effort" 8 October 2004


Shays and Farr praised for Captive Mammal Act
The Fund for Animals and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) praised Congressmen Sam Farr (D-CA), Christopher Shays (R-CT), and 20 other Representatives today for introducing H.R.5242, the Captive Mammal Protection Act of 2004 8 October 2004


Senator Chris Dodd to Become a Dad Again
Senator Chris Dodd to Become a Dad Again 8 October 2004


Pope says Bush gives wild places the shaft
India RPCV Carl Pope says Bush administration gives wild places the shaft 8 October 2004


Shays come out swinging in first debate
Farrell, Shays come out swinging in first debate 7 October 2004


Matthews "snookered" by Cheny performance
MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews explained his reaction the previous evening to Vice President Dick Cheney's performance: "I think I got snookered again last night by the guy." 7 October 2004


Peter McPherson to lead federal commission
Peter McPherson will lead a commission created by federal law that will make recommendations to expand study abroad for U.S. universities and colleges, including study abroad fellowships 7 October 2004


Fred Poses to be CEO through 2007
American Standard Extends Tenure of CEO Fred Poses (RPCV Peru) Through December 2007 7 October 2004


RPCV says future of peace lies with John Kerry
Thailand RPCV Charles Frederickson says the future of peace lies with John Kerry 6 October 2004


Kinky Friedman's psychedelic tour of Texas capital
Malaysia RPCV Kinky Friedman's psychedelic tour of the Texas capital 6 October 2004


PCVs make fun of "Survivors" in Vanuatu
Peace Corps Volunteer Jeanna Goddard says the “Survivor” crew filiming on the island of Efate is definitely a presence on Vanuatu. “Most of us in the Peace Corps office make fun of the show. Mainly, ‘yeah, they can survive 30 days. We survive 2 years,’ ” she said. 6 October 2004


Armenia RPCVs monitor hometown code enforcement
Armenia RPCVs John and Janice Hahn are determined to monitor the condition of Richard Avenue and complain to supervisors and township code enforcement officer Angela Hock on a daily basis if necessary 6 October 2004


Bolivia RPCV is Mortar Board honoree
Bolivia RPCV Jerry Ledin is Mortar Board honoree at San Diego State University 6 October 2004


India RPCV says the US needs a draft
India RPCV Dwayne Hunn says the US needs a draft 6 October 2004


Mae Jemison kicks off a science competition
Dr. Mae C. Jemison who joined the Peace Corps in 1983 and spent two years as a medical officer in Africa was at Morristown to kick off a science competition for New Jersey students and told them: "We're not going to solve our problems by going to a different planet," The former astronaut, who made history in 1992 when she boarded the space shuttle Endeavor on an eight-day mission added, "We must teach critical thinking." 6 October 2004


Jim Doyle appears on "The Al Franken Show"
RPCV Governor Jim Doyle appeared on "The Al Franken Show" and slammed the Bush administration for allegedly being closely tied to big U.S. drug companies 6 October 2004


Togo RPCV criticizes Bush sugarcane policy
Sugarcane Cooperative General Manager and Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot had this to say "its just unwise for our administration to be sending our jobs oversea's. And that's gonna be a key issue in the election this year. And we feel their out souring our jobs in the sugarcane industry". 6 October 2004


Wini Yunker's service in Ukraine inspires book
Wini Yunker served in Ukraine. Her sense of adventure inspired Prill Boyle to write "Defying Gravity: A Celebration of Late-Blooming Women." 5 October 2004


Turkey RPCV in campaign for NC Supreme Court
Turkey RPCV Sarah Parker in re-election campaign for North Carolina State Supreme Court 5 October 2004


Peru RPCV Charlie Clifford sells Tumi Luggage
Peru RPCV Charlie Clifford sells Tumi Luggage 5 October 2004


RPCVs for Kerry hold Press Conference
New National Effort for Kerry-Edwards by Former Peace Corps Volunteers 5 October 2004


RPCVs for Kerry make Statement of Support
Statement of Support for John Kerry and John Edwards by Returned Peace Corps Alumni 5 October 2004


Chris Dodd possible challenger for Minority Whip
Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is mentioned as possible candidate to challenge Minority Whip Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) if Daschle’s leadership job were to become vacant 5 October 2004


Elaine Jones to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Elaine Jones will receive NCADP's Lifetime Achievement Award 5 October 2004


Shacochis, Erdman in Miami for November Book Fair
Peace Corps Writers Bob Shacochis and Sarah Erdman will appear at Miami Book Fair International (MBFI) on November 13 - 14 4 October 2004


Shriver Center to present Scott Stossell
Shriver Center presents Scott Stossell 4 October 2004


Paraguay RPCV named CEO of Technoserve
Paraguay RPCV Bruce McNamer will become President and Chief Executive Officer of Technoserve, a non-profit organization focusing on economic development in Africa and Latin America 4 October 2004


Thailand RPCV named chancellor at U of Missouri
Thailand RPCV Brady J. Deaton is new chancellor of the University of Missouri's flagship campus in Columbia 4 October 2004


Matthews calls Bush re-election race closest ever
'Hardball' host calls Bush re-election race closest ever 4 October 2004


Carl Pope says voter turnout key to election
India RPCV Carl Pope says that the trick to getting John Kerry elected is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for the Democrat to actually go to the polls 4 October 2004


First group of Volunteers head to Mexico
First group of Volunteers head to Mexico 3 October 2004


Celeste in constant motion to promote College
Richard Celeste keeps in constant motion to promote Colorado College 3 October 2004


South Africa President Mbeki praises Jason Carter
South Africa President Mbeki had special praise for former US president Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason, who, as a member of the US Peace Corps spent two years teaching in rural KwaZulu-Nata 3 October 2004


"Adventure Women" was founded by RPCV
Adventure Women was founded in 1982 by Susan Eckert, who had spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone 3 October 2004


Ghana RPCV Alicia Henry exhibits art
Ghana RPCV Alicia Henry exhibits art 1 October 2004


RPCV Hasting's Netflix to partner with Tivo
Reed Hastings' Netflix Inc., the largest mail-order video-rental service, and TiVo Inc., which makes digital video recorders, said they will work together to develop a service that offers movies downloaded from the Internet 1 October 2004


Bill Moyers on Internet Journalism
Bill Moyers who tackled the reality of an Internet populated by people who may not be journalists by training and are making up their own rules as they go along. He said he was glad to see bloggers credentialed for the conventions, then urged his audience to read Dan Gillmor's new book on citizen media 1 October 2004


Bellamy is ready to hand over the reins
Unicef Director Carol Bellamy says after 10 years on the job, she is ready to hand over the reins 1 October 2004


Gearan hosts the Campaign for Civic Learning
Mark Gearan will hosts more than 100 college and university presidents, chancellors, trustees and legislators from across the country to launch The Campaign for Civic Learning in College 1 October 2004


Colin Powell says we're doubling size of Peace Corps
Colin Powell says we're doubling the size of our Peace Corps at Southern Center for International Studies 1 October 2004

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October 2, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Nick Craw new President of ACCUS 1 Oct DDN wins first place in Investigative Reporting 30 Sept Bellamy urges more aid to help Haiti 30 Sept Director Vasquez in Thailand 30 Sept Bill Moyers on the truth behind Presidential debates 30 Sept RPCV Alrick Brown in reality series Film School 29 Sept Chao celebrates Job Corps' 40th Anniversary 29 Sept Tony Hall with Feed the Children in Dayton 29 Sept RPCV Matthews interviews RPCV Shalala 29 Sept Botswana RPCV wins MacArthur 'Genius' Grant 28 Sept Under Donna Shalala UM is finally on the map 26 Sept Toledo at National Museum of the American Indian 26 Sept more top stories...