10 Jul 2009: Today's Democracy Now!

President Obama Heads to Ghana On First Official Trip to Sub-Saharan Africa
President Obama arrives in Ghana today on his first official trip to sub-Saharan Africa since becoming President. He is expected to meet Ghana"s President John Atta-Mill today and speak to the country"s parliament on Saturday in what is expected to be a major policy address outlining US policy on Africa. Why Ghana? Some say it has to do the recent discovery of oil in Ghana. A quarter of US oil imports are expected to come from West Africa by 2015, according to estimates by National Intelligence Council.

"China Safari: On The Trail of Beijing's Expansion in Africa"
As President Obama heads to Ghana, we look at China’s expanding role in Africa where it recently became the continent’s second largest business partner, behind only the United States. We speak to author Serge Michel and analyst Nii Akuetteh.

Costa Rica Hosts Talks Over Honduras Coup
Talks between the ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and the leaders of last week’s military coup began on Thursday in Costa Rica. Zelaya and the military-backed Roberto Micheletti met separately with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias but there were no face-to-face meetings between the two sides.

Greenpeace Activists Hang Banner on Mt. Rushmore
Activists with the environmental group Greenpeace scaled the Mount Rushmore National Monument Wednesday and hung a banner urging President Obama to take action on global warming. The banner was hung next to the carved mountain face of Abraham Lincoln. It read: “America honors leaders not politicians: Stop Global Warming.” The group of eleven Greenpeace activists were arrested and charged with trespassing. They each face up to six months in prison.

27 Arrested For Erecting Anti-Logging Blockade in Oregon
The blockade in the Elliott State Forest began on Monday and continued until yesterday when the last of the protesters were arrested. The activists were blocking access to a timber sale on 79 acres of forest land. They say logging practices in the Elliot are damaging old-growth forests and endangering spotted owls.

Conservative Democrats Oppose Public Option Health Plan
AIG Prepares To Hand Out Millions More In Bonuses
Costa Rica Hosts Talk Over Honduras Coup
Reporters At Murdoch Papers Accused of Hacking Into Cell Phne
Panetta Orders Inquiry Into CIA’s Handling Of Secret Program
G8 Leaders Pledge Billions For Food Security Initiative
Greenpeace Activists Occupy Four Coal Plants in Italy
GM Exits From Bankruptcy
Thousands of Iranians Protest in Tehran
Canada Urges Iran To Free Newsweek Reporter
U.S. Frees Iranians From Iraq
UN To Help Gaza Remove Rubble From Israeli Bombing
27 AIDS Activists Arrested on Capitol Hill