Who writes puerto rico is already an environmental tragedy. Hurricane maria will make it even worse. Then President Trump gives his first address to the u. N. General assembly, boasting about the size of the u. S. Military and threatening to totally destroy north korea. Pres. Trump the United States has great strength and patience. But if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy north korea. Rocket man is on a Suicide Mission for himself and for his regime. Amy we will get reaction from jeff sachs on north korea, iran, climate change, President Trump. As continues its ethnic cleansing with more than 400,000 people forced out of burma we will speak with andrea pitzer, author of the new book, one long night a global history of concentration camps. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In mexico, the death toll from the massive, magnitude 7. 1 earthquake has risen to 250 people, as rescue workers continue to search for hundreds of missing people. The earthquake struck just hours after residents participated in an earthquake preparedness drill marking the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake that killed 5000 people. Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto has declared three days of national mourning. Tuesdays quake caused dozens of buildings and at least one school to collapse. On wednesday, residents gathered at the site of collapsed buildings, hoping for news about their missing family members. I am vanessa. Im looking for my brother in this building that held down. He worked here and we dont know where he is. They told me hes in a hospital with his wife, that they were able to get out of the building, but that is not true. His wife is in critical condition, but we dont know if my brother went to look for my sisterinlaw or where he is. We have been calling. It rings, but he doesnt answer. This is all very sad and we truly ask people to help us with supplies and waters to all of those who are here. And if they know anything about my brother, that they let us know, please. Amy to hear our full interview on the earthquake with Laura Carlsen in mexico city, go to democracynow. Org. Millions of people are without power in puerto rico after Hurricane Maria made landfall wednesday as a category 4 storm. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the island in nearly a century. The hurricane brought record rainfall and catastrophic flooding to puerto rico. The National Weather service warned early this morning of flash flooding risks across the entire island. Puerto ricos governor Ricardo Rosello says at least one person has died on puerto rico and that the death toll may rise when communication with the southeastern part of the island is reestablished. Meanwhile, the death toll on the island nation of dominica has risen to 14. The hurricane caused widespread devastation there, when it made landfall as a category 5 storm. It also destroyed parts of the u. S. And British Virgin islands and killed two people on the French Island of guadeloupe. Early this morning, the hurricane passed just north of the Dominican Republic and haiti, lashing the island with winds up to 115 miles an hour. It is now gathering strength as a barrels towards turks and caicos and the bahamas. At the United Nations headquarters in new york city, dozens of countries have signed on to a landmark treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons worldwide. The United Nations calls it the worlds first legallybinding Treaty Banning Nuclear weapons. It prohibits the development, testing, and possession of nuclear weapons, as well as using or threatening to use these weapons. The treaty was approved by 122 u. N. Member states in july, despite heavy u. S. Opposition to the treaty. Following the treatys approval, the u. S. , britain and france published a joint statement saying they have not taken part in the negotiation of the treaty and do not intend to sign, ratify or ever become party to it. The treaty will be in effect 90 days after 50 u. N. Member states have ratified it. Meanwhile, President Trump told reporters wednesday that hes made a decision about whether hell take action to undo the landmark 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal , but refused to say what his plans are. Nbc is reporting, based on unnamed sources, that trump is leaning toward decertifying the deal, even though secretary of state Rex Tillerson acknowledged wednesday that iran is in compliance with the deal. All other parties to the Iran Nuclear Deal also agree iran is in compliance. This is the European UnionsForeign Policy chief federica mogherini. Frank, open and the discussion during which we have agreed on the fact that all implementing so far fully in agreement. Amy on wednesday, the iranian president Hassan Rouhani slammed trumps threats to undo the landmark deal. I really dont know whether a country or power or individual who tries to back out of this agreement, other than bringing embarrassment upon themselves, it will gain nothing from it. If the u. S. Government access the agreement, it will be condemned by the American People themselves. And before that, by the European Union by all countries throughout the world. The condemnation will be equal. Even the allies of the United States will no longer have the courage to support america, visavis this issue. Amy President Trump met with egyptian president Abdel Fattah Elsisi on wednesday. Ahead of the meeting, trump said hes considering resuming military aid to egypt. Last month, the u. S. Denied egypt nearly 100 million in military funding and other aid, and withheld another nearly 200 million in Foreign Military financing saying the money would be released when the human rights conditions improve. Sisis government has launched a wideranging crackdown against human rights activists and press freedom advocates in egypt. Former president barack obama has slammed the republicans latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care act. Pres. Obama when i see people trying to undo the hardwon progress for the 50th or 60th , to those most affected, for whom coverage once again would be honest unattainable, it is aggravating. And all of this is being done without any economic or actuarial were plain common , it frustrates. Amy that was former president obama speaking wednesday at an event sponsored by the bill and Melinda Gates foundation. The Health Insurance industry also came out against the republican plan known as the grahamcassidy bill, warning it could cause chaos in the healthcare industry. Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted a flurry of support for the plan throughout the day, tweeting i hope republican senators will vote for grahamcassidy and fulfill their promise to repeal replace obamacare. Money direct to states later he tweeted i would not sign grahamcassidy if it did not include coverage of preexisting conditions. It does a great bill. Repeal replace. In fact, healthcare experts say there is no guarantee the grahamcassidy bill will protect people with preexisting conditions. California has sued President Trump over the construction of his proposed border wall, saying the administration has not complied with state and federal environmental laws. This is California Attorney general xavier becerra. The border between the u. S. Milesxico spans some 2000. The list of laws violated by the President Administration in order to build his Campaign Wall is almost as long. The department of Homeland Security would waive 37 federal statutes as well as regulations that are related to those statutes. And he would also violate numerous state and local laws here in our great state of california. Amy in the west african nation of togo, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country on wednesday to demand an end to decades of rule by the gnassingbe family dynasty. Security forces attacked the protesters, shooting live bullets and tear gas into the crowd. Amnesty International Says military forces shot a nineyearold boy in the head, killing him, during the crackdown. Wednesdays protest is the latest in weeks of massive demonstrations demanding president faure gnassingbes ouster and the reinstatement of constitutional term limits. The Spanish Government has dramatically escalated its crackdown against an upcoming independence referendum in catalonia. On wednesday, the Spanish Police raided the catalan regional governments offices and arrested at least 14 people. The arrests prompted thousands to pour into the streets of barcelona to protest the crackdown. About more protesters gathered 1000 for a solidarity rally in spains capital, madrid. The referendum is scheduled for october 1. The Spanish Government says the referendum is illegal. This is the cat alone president c atalan president. , dehe Spanish Government facto apply the state of emergency. Freedom is being suspended and repressed. The government will analyze in the coming hours the appropriate response to give in any case, citizens are called to vote on october 1 to defend democracy before our present an intimidating regime which we have to give a massive and civic response. Amy the journalistic Monitoring Group airwars says u. S. Led Coalition Airstrikes along the syriairaq border reportedly killed at least 6 civilians and wounded up to two dozen more people on sunday. The airstrikes reportedly targeted villages west of the iraqi city of anbar. In croatia, billboards depicting First Lady Melania Trump have been removed after she threatened a lawsuit. The billboards advertising an Language School by showing an image of melania trump, along with the phrase just imagine how far you can go with a little bit of english. Back in the United States, former tv commentator Scottie Nell Hughes sued fox news on monday, alleging she was raped by longtime charles payne, and then coerced into maintaining a sexual relationship with him in exchange for airtime and career opportunities. In her lawsuit, hughes says she was blacklisted by fox news in 2016 after she ended the relationship and came forward with rape allegations. Fox news denies the charges, calling them bogus and downright shameful. Its the latest Sexual Abuse Scandal to rock the network. Host eric bolling was suspended last month amid accusations that he texted unwanted photos of his genitals to female coworkers. Former fox news star bill oreilly was fired in april amid revelations that he and fox news had paid out 13 million to settle lawsuits by five women who accused oreilly of Sexual Harassment and inappropriate sexual behavior. And longtime fox news head roger ailes was ousted last year after more than 20 women accused him of Sexual Harassment. He has since died. In north dakota, local judges are petitioning the north Dakota Supreme Court to end a program that allows out of state lawyers to represent the hundreds of water protectors who were arrested amid the monthslong resistance at Standing Rock against the Dakota Access pipeline. The water protector legal collective says ending the program could leave more than 100 water protectors without legal representation. More than 300 people are still facing criminal charges over the protests. The north Dakota Supreme Court is currently accepting comments on the proposal to end the right for water protectors to have representation from outofstate lawyers. And prominent palestinian activist rasmea odeh has been deported from the United States, after living in the u. S. For more than 20 years. Odeh was convicted of immigration fraud in 2014 and sentenced to 18 months in prison and deportation for failing to disclose her conviction on bombing charges by an Israeli Military court more than 40 years ago. Odeh says her conviction was obtained through weeks of torture and Sexual Assault in israeli custody. Her supporters say she was targeted over her support for palestinian liberation. On tuesday, rasmea odeh addressed the crowd of friends and supporters who gathered at chicagos Ohare Airport to say goodbye before she was deported to jordan. I will continue [indiscernible] it is difficult for me. [indiscernible] amy and those are some ofhe headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Nermeen and im nermeen shaikh. Welcome to all of our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. We begin todays show in puerto rico, where Hurricane Maria made landfall wednesday as a category 4 storm, bringing record rainfall and catastrophic flooding come destroying power lines, and leaving the entire country in the dark. Puerto ricos governor Ricardo Rosello says at least one person has died and the death toll is expected to rise when communication with the southeastern part of the island is reestablished. This is puerto rican resident grisele cruz. At this point on many parts of the island, we are without power because of the first storm that came through. That was irma. We are are without water and many districts. This is catastrophic. Were going to become i think, without services for a long time fulls top nermeen Hurricane Maria has already killed at least two people on the island of guadeloupe and devastated the island of dominica. Amy this comes as many homes on puerto rico were still dark two weeks after Hurricane Irma cut electricity to hundreds of thousands. The storm also raised concerns about potential environmental disasters. Puerto rico is home to 23 superfund sites, including on the island of vieques, site of a former u. S. Naval test range, which took a neardirect hit from the storm. It is also the site of a coalfired power plant owned by the private company aes. Residents across the island have been demanding the plant be closed and that the company stop dumping toxic coal ash into their community, saying the waste is poisonous to their health and the environment. For more were joined by emily , atkin, a staff writer covering the environment at the new republic. In her latest article, she writes puerto rico is already an environmental tragedy. Hurricane maria will make it even worse. Welcome to democracy now talk about the Environmental Crisis will stop at this point, after the storm, verily, 100 of puerto rico is dark. It was no electricity. That is true. To what you said, the Environmental Crisis, every single major hurricane is a major pollution event, especially when it hit a populated area. In the fact this major hurricane hit puerto rico, that is in even pollution even because puerto rico has extreme pollution problems. You mention the fact that 100 of power is out across the island. That is a problem that would be a problem in any situation because most Sewage Systems are run on electric pumps. The easily become overwhelmed during flooding, especially if they are shut off. If all of the Sewage Systems or off, that means the ruby prolonged releases of sewage into floodwaters and into soil, which poses a longterm health risk of people coming contact with those waters or soil. There are other issues that are very unique to puerto rico and that have to do with their extensive financial crisis. There are situations that, frankly, we would not accept in the mainland United States. One of those is the fact that most of the landfills on puerto rico are overflowing with liquid garbage. They are at capacity. They do not have the financial means to create new landfills or secure them. The toxic coal ash you mention is frequently dumped in these landfills. Flooding in those landfills aseatens an overflow, well as coal ash disposed across the island in ways that are very controversial. One of which i talk a lot about in my piece, a fivestory uncovered pile of coal ash. Five stories. That is a large building. Just uncovered ash sitting next to a community of 45,000 people. That community, i saw footage from that community where water was flowing through the streets like a river and the w