World-News

09.05.06

Die EU-Kommission hat am Montag entschieden, ein in Polen erlassenes Verbot für die Verwendung von 16 Genmais-Sorten und rund 700 Sorten von nicht genetisch verändertem Mais zu genehmigen. Diese Maissorten sind zwar in einem gemeinsamen EU-Register für Landwirtschaftliche Nutzpflanzensorten enthalten, was zur Folge hat, dass deren Saatgut überall in der EU vermarktet werden darf. Polen berief sich allerdings auf eine Ausnahme in der relevanten EU-Richtlinie 2002/53, der ein solches Verbot erlaubt, wenn eine Sorte für das Staatsgebiet eines Mitgliedstaates nicht geeignet ist.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=13557

09.05.06

"Die Förderung der Biokraftstoffe ist ein wichtiges Ziel der Bundesregierung", sagte der parlamentarische Staatssekretär im Bundeslandwirtschaftsministerium, Peter Paziorek, anlässlich des Kraftstoffkongresses im Rahmen der Bioenergiemesse ENBIO 2006. Vor dem Hintergrund von Forderungen der Europäischen Union sollen den Kraftstoffen auch in Deutschland zunehmend mehr Biotreibstoffe beigemischt werden. Wer Kraftstoffe in den Verkehr bringt, wird ab Anfang 2007 verpflichtet, bei Diesel einen Anteil von 4,4 Prozent Biokraftstoffe und bei Ottokraftstoff zunächst 2 Prozent beizumischen. Insgesamt soll bis 2010 ein Biokraftstoffanteil von 6 Prozent erreicht werden. Die Biokraftstoffe zur Erfüllung dieser Quoten sollen künftig der vollen Mineralölsteuer unterliegen. Die Umweltorganisation Rettet den Regenwald (RdR) warnt vor einer Verwendung von Biotreibstoffen aus den Tropen. In Emden werde zur Zeit die erste Palmöl-Raffinerie Deutschlands geplant, die ab 2007 jährlich rund
430.000 Tonnen Palmöl aus Indonesien zu "Bio"diesel verarbeiten solle. Dabei handelt sich nach Einschätzung der Umweltschützer nicht um Erneuerbare Energien, sondern um "Kahlschlag-Diesel".

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=13566

Jacqueline Rose, EMR Project Manager, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel was in this conference: http://www.apdee.org/ehe06/ and prepared the attached summary.

The keynote speaker was Professor Paulo Vecchia, the chairman of ICNIRP. Other Plenary speakers were the vice-chairman of ICNIRP.

Iris Atzmon


Report from EHE ’06 Conference

27-29 April 2006

Attendance:
An estimated 150 people from around the world where meant to attend the conference in Madeira, Portugal. In actuality about 100-120 people attended, mostly from Europe and the UK. Many presenters did not attend and someone that I spoke to said that at least 50% of presentations that he wanted to hear were cancelled to due lack of attendance.

Most participants were either academics, researchers, from technology companies or representatives of governmental bodies/authorities. Apart from myself and one other woman, there was no representation from NGOs or the environmental sector.

Content:
The general focus of the conference was scientific/technological. There were …. Plenary sessions, which were attended by all participants. The keynote speaker was Professor Paulo Vecchia, the chairman of ICNIRP. Other Plenary speakers were the vice-chairman of ICNIRP,

1. Plenary Session Conclusions
Professor Paulo Vecchia presented a general overview of the current international situation. His first point was that there needs to be a harmonisation of EMR standards and guidelines throughout Europe and around the world, based on ICNIRP standards. This is especially true for exposure guidelines for workers (a topic heavily discussed).

The second conclusion, and one repeatedly stressed, was that no causal/biological link has been proved between EMF and morbidity. Numerous research studies were presented by Prof Vecchia and other plenary session presenters, which all stressed the point that no clear scientific proof exists to confirm a theory often presented in epidemiological studies. It is important to note that I felt the scientists in attendance did not seem to place too much value on these epidemiological studies. Numerous problems where mentioned with them which warranted their lack of consideration. In summary Prof Vecchia stated that “RF fields can not be established as carcinogenic causes”.

Furthermore, the vice-chairman of ICNIRP presented an extensive range of short-term lab tests carried out on humans who were exposed to limited radiation levels from mobile phones. From these lab experiments no evidence was found of biological changes in the patients. When questioned regarding the fact that there was a problem with assessing the acute exposure of low level radiation from mobile phones verses the chronic exposure represented in epidemiological studies, no satisfactory answer was provided. It was repeatedly mentioned that until clear biological and scientific evidence exists, no one was willing to say with any conviction that EMR caused ill health effects.

The adoption of a precautionary approach should be carefully considered as according to Prof Vecchia, “setting precautionary limits may create confusion and generate more public concern”. He continued to say that the costs, risks and impacts of EMR must be carefully assessed and balanced with other environmental hazards and what society is willing to accept.

The issue of public confusion, lack of knowledge and information was raised. Prof Vecchia expressed the need to put risks into perspective, whilst another plenary session presenter stated that “concern, fear, anxiety and confusion pose more of a risk then EMR”

2. Other Session Conclusions
Most of the other sessions focused on the presentation of new technology to measure and assess exposure and research. There were a limited number of case study presentations, the most relevant being that of Eva Marsalek. She works at an Austrian environmental organisation which champions the issues of public participation specifically with respect to EMR. They are based at the Vienna University.

Other case study presentations included
· German Telecommunication Research program
· Residential sources of exposure to Power Frequency, UK
· Sao Paulo, Brazil

All these presentations were very interesting and highlighted what was happening in other countries. All these presentations however were made by governmental bodies, and there was no pure environmental representation.

General Conclusions:
After conversations with some of the participants, there was a strong feeling that the conference was a bit of a white wash. No conclusions were reached (other then the need for more research), and there was a definite sense that plenary session speakers were trying to assure participants that no scientific proof existed. In addition, the blame was being directed at other possible causes, such as the thermal effects of radiation rather then EMR itself, nutrition and that public confusion had fuelled the flames of panic. The need to educate the public and adopt a clear precautionary approach was not discussed sufficiently.

Two aspects which were discussed extensively were setting clear exposure guidelines for workers and the issue of hypersensitivity to EMR by specific groups of the population.

Auch die Genprofile von vielen Kindern und Unschuldigen werden trotz zweifelhafter Erfolge in der britischen Gendatenbank unbegrenzt lange gespeichert.

http://www.telepolis.de/tp/r4/artikel/22/22627/1.html

Steven Roach, der "letzte Mohikaner", wirft das Handtuch. Der einzige kritische Wall Street-Ökonom sieht die Welt nun "auf einem guten Weg" - internationale Finanzblätter befürchten den Anfang vom Ende.

http://www.telepolis.de/tp/r4/artikel/22/22634/1.html

The money is to be spent on empowering civil society, providing supplemental requests, broadcasting into Iran, promoting democracy, offering scholarships and fellowships, and enhancing communication. But Iranian civil society activists believe this policy will just intensify the Islamic republic's repressive approach toward non-governmental organizations, and will be used as an excuse to crack down on their activities.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050906F.shtml

Republican lawmakers, facing the prospect that their power to cut taxes may soon be curbed, plan to extend breaks that mostly benefit the wealthy and Wall Street at the expense of reductions for middle-income households.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050906E.shtml

As if rallying fading public support for keeping more than 100,000 US troops in a disintegrating Iraq and preparing the ground for a possible military attack on Iran were not enough, some influential hawks are now promoting a more confrontational stance against Russia and China, as well.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050906D.shtml

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia last week released new evidence that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting counterterrorism investigations into School of the Americas Watch. As we've seen time and again when the FBI targets social change organizations, the files demonstrate a clear attempt to stifle political opposition.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050906B.shtml

By Bill Theobald
The Tennessean
May 8, 2006

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060508/NEWS02/605080356

WASHINGTON - Vaccine industry officials helped shape legislation behind the scenes that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist secretly amended into a bill to shield them from lawsuits, according to e-mails obtained by a public advocacy group.

E-mails and documents written by a trade group for the vaccine-makers show the organization met privately with Frist's staff and the White House about measures that would give the industry protection from lawsuits filed by people hurt by the vaccines.

The communications were made public in a report released this week by the group Public Citizen. Its study follows a February story in The Tennessean that Frist, along with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., ordered the vaccine liability language inserted in a defense spending bill in December without debate and in violation of usual Senate practice.

The group, called the Biotechnology Industry Organization, wanted such language in the bill, the e-mails reflect.

"At Senator Frist's staff's request, this morning, BIO (Tom and I) participated in a meeting with three other industry representatives (Sanofi and an outside counsel who works for both Pfizer and Roche, I believe), administration staff (HHS, DoJ and WH Leg Affairs), and Liz Hall to further discuss liability," BIO official Dave Boyer wrote in a November e-mail obtained by Public Citizen.

In a written statement, Frist spokeswoman Amy Call stated that the senator had promised publicly to include the vaccine liability protection in the defense spending bill. She did not address the issue of the influence of industry lobbyists.

The statement points out that the Public Citizen board includes prominent trial lawyers and liberals. "Trial lawyers oppose these provisions because it will strip them of the ability to line their pockets at the expense of the American public," Call said.

Frist and the White House reached out to the industry, according to the communications cited by Public Citizen, and Boyer, chief lobbyist for the industry group, was asked to provide an analysis of draft legislation.

The group asked that the legislation make clear that a vaccine maker could only be successfully sued if "willful misconduct" on its part were proved. The law includes that standard and says a company is protected from claims of negligence or recklessness.

The analysis, which Public Citizen quoted from, included BIO's concerns that the draft bill would have still allowed people hurt by vaccines to get jury trials.

"The lack of any restriction on jury trial is problematic," the analysis said. "Where injured parties have no other avenue for relief, juries are likely to find ways to award damages."

In another e-mail, Boyer described a meeting in which a deputy of Bush strategist Karl Rove said it was "important to the President that a bill move this year," and said "they had invited industry to discuss what they understood to be a few key remaining points" of contention.

"The intimacy of this, we think, is quite unusual," said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, about the relationship between the organization's lobbyists, Frist and the Bush administration. "We think it is an interesting case study of how the inside operation works in Washington."

In a January interview with The Tennessean, Frist denied the vaccine liability provisions were added improperly. Later, when others challenged his version of events, Call simply restated Frist's commitment to protecting people from a bioterror emergency.

Frist and other backers say the law is needed to boost the number of vaccine makers. Vaccine shortages during last year's flu season along with fears of a pandemic of bird flu or a bioterror attack have prompted interest in building up the country's lagging vaccine industry. The legal protections kick in only when the secretary of health and human services declares a public health emergency.

Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, said the group's "staff acted with the utmost integrity and professionalism, as they do on all issues."

"BIO staff regularly comment on proposed legislation from, and meet with, Democrat and Republican lawmakers and their staffs alike all the time," Eisenberg said.


Informant: NHNE

ACTION PAGE: http://liberty.horneforcongress.com/petitions/pnum289.php

It's time for Congress to take the keys for starting preemptive wars away from this president, before he turns Iran into an even bigger geopolitical disaster than Iraq.

Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has introduced a house resolution [H.C.R. 391] to express the sense of Congress that the President cannot initiate military action against Iran without congressional authorization, as clearly required by the Constitution in Article One, Section Eight.

Already over 60 members of the house have signed the DeFazio letter.

ACTION PAGE: http://liberty.horneforcongress.com/petitions/pnum289.php

This alert is brought to you by the activism of Andrew Horne, candidate for U.S House from the 3rd Congressional District of Kentucky. Fighting for the rights of all Americans is why Andrew Horne is running for Congress, and he's not waiting until the election to start fighting for Kentucky and the rest of America.

When we talk about taking back Congress, that is what we will have to do, TAKE IT. Nobody is going give us anything we won't give to ourselves. And when we donate to a candidate like Andrew Horne who is showing just the kind of leadership we need, we can make an example of him, and show other candidates that if they show real backbone they will get the support of the people too.

DONATIONS LINK: http://www.horneforcongress.com/contribute2?code=2

We NEED candidates like Andrew Horne to champion the issues that are important to us. Andrew needs your help to get his message out, to get YOUR message out, and has now just two weeks before his primary to do so. Please make a contribution today to send Andrew to Congress and fight for you on the issues you care about.

How many times have you felt helpless and wished you could influence the votes of representatives in other districts to prevail on a critical vote in Congress, but thought you could not do so effectively because you were not one of their own constituents? How much more would you support Andrew if you do live in his district?

Here we have a courageous candidate who will fight for all the issues you care about, if only he is given the chance to make the run. Please donate whatever you can to help Andrew get on the radio to recruit and mobilize even more people to speak out so we can have a real impact on these policy decisions now and for the future. What would you give to have a whole legislature of people like Andrew Horne? Won't you give him your support now to make that a reality?

We have been valiantly speaking out with action alerts based on one fundamental premise --- either our representatives in Congress would listen to and heed the voices of their people --- or else we would work to replace them in the next election.

The time for the replacement action is NOW.

DONATIONS LINK: http://www.horneforcongress.com/contribute2?code=2

If each of us will just contribute what we can, to the most worthy candidates we can find, it will make a real difference in the kind of Congress we will all have to deal with in 2007. Most importantly, strong showings NOW by candidates who DO have a backbone, and WILL stand up and fight, can send a powerful message to the rest that they better start shaping up or we will ship them out too. Make your donation today and it will have cascading positive effects in many other races for months to come.

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this message to everyone else you know.

Powered by The People's Email Network Copyright 2006, Patent pending, All rights reserved

http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3594


From EarthForceUnited

Feingold on the pre-1776 mentality at the White House and the challenges of the 21st century.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/08/feingold_the_forthright.php

by Shadi Hamid, TomPaine.com

At least you can't say we're Johnny-come-latelies in this game of messing with Iranian regimes.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/09/the_path_to_war_with_iran.php

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/MSNBC_reporter_I_am_convinced_that_0508.html


Informant: Annie

William Fisher calls it chutzpah when after years of ignoring the United Nations panel charged with oversight of the Convention Against Torture (CAT) - a centerpiece of international human rights law - the US government turned up at a meeting of the group in Geneva with a delegation of more than two dozen lawyers and other officials to affirm that the US is "absolutely committed to uphold its national and international obligations to eradicate torture" and that "there are no exceptions to this prohibition."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050906Z.shtml

Salon
by Paul McLeary

05/09/06

'Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq,' by the New York Times' Michael Gordon and retired Marine Gen. Bernard Trainor. It has none of the fleshy humanity that Shadid and Goldfarb -- and to a certain extent Packer -- brought to the story of Iraq. Nor should it. Gordon and Trainor, well situated with a bevy of sources inside the decision-making process at the Pentagon, never avert their gaze from the often politically inspired recklessness of the Pentagon brass leading up to the invasion; nor do they neglect to notice how the grunts on the ground carried out their orders with courage and professionalism. A good portion of the book is taken up with relating the smug, detached war plans hatched at the Pentagon by civilian commanders -- led, of course, by Donald Rumsfeld -- convinced the war could be fought cheaply and quickly. While the outcome of the conflict was never in doubt, in Gordon and Trainor's account, Rumsfeld, Gen. Tommy Franks and the ideological yes men they surrounded themselves with at the Pentagon often come off as almost fictional in their self-delusion... [subscription or ad view required]

http://www.salon.com/books/review/2006/05/09/trainor/


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

CNN

05/08/06

A former top aide to an Ohio congressman pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge in connection with the ongoing investigation of a Capitol Hill lobbying scandal. Neil Volz, a lobbyist and former chief of staff for Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Volz negotiated a plea deal in which he agreed to cooperate with Justice Department prosecutors and the FBI...

http://tinyurl.com/rry3w


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Las Vegas Review-Journal

05/08/06

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed a letter that Iran's president sent to President Bush on Monday, saying the first direct communication from an Iranian leader in 27 years does not help resolve the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. Iran's top nuclear negotiator called the surprise letter a new 'diplomatic opening' between the two countries, but Rice said it was not. 'This letter is not the place that one would find an opening to engage on the nuclear issue or anything of the sort,' the top U.S. diplomat said in an interview with The Associated Press...

http://tinyurl.com/qfmwr


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0604/S00088.htm


Informant: ranger116

The CIA announced today that the agency's third-ranking official, Kyle (Dusty) Foggo, is leaving. The CIA's inspector general has been investigating whether Foggo helped steer agency contracts to companies run by his old friend Brent Wilkes, a defense contractor involved in the Duke Cunningham bribery scandal.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050806R.shtml

MAYDAY MESSAGE FOR THE DEEP SEAS!
http://activism.greenpeace.org/yil_alerts/mayday/html/od_alert_mayday_en_gpi.html

HILFERUF FÜR DIE TIEFSEE!
http://activism.greenpeace.org/yil_alerts/mayday/html/od_alert_mayday_de_de.html

The MY Esperanza - defending our oceans Hello Ocean Defenders,

I'm Richard Page, writing to you from onboard the Esperanza somewhere in the deep blue near the Azores. We are now well into the third leg of the Defending Our Oceans expedition, a collaborative venture with scientists from the University of the Azores and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). I'm writing to ask for your help.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HELP US STOP THE CLOCK!
http://ctk.greenpeace.org/od-en/ctk-letters/send-letter?letter_id=2165130

The Azorean government has had the wisdom to ensure that bottom trawlers are not allowed to trawl here, meaning the coral habitats are relatively pristine. The dive we conducted yesterday was fabulous, it was so exciting seeing parts of the planet that nobody else had ever set eyes on before. The coral we found there was other-worldly, strange white whip corals and yellow corals like trees, blue sea cucumbers, orange fish and even a deep water shark.

....Elsewhere things are not so good, bottom trawlers are laying waste to fragile deep sea life.

The MY Esperanza - defending our oceans In exactly one month it will be World Oceans Day - a day when we should all consider the plight of the oceans. One immediate step that Governments could take is supporting a United Nations moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. This would give time for scientists and policy makers decide what measures ought to be put in place to ensure their protection.

After two years of talk, the time is running out for the deep sea and Governments around the world need to pledge their support for a moratorium.

TAKE ACTION NOW and help pressure world governments to 'Stop the Clock' and support a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.

http://prefs.greenpeace.org/mail-links/clicks/21308.2489579.5409


Thank you for your help.

Richard

--------

Stay tuned for more ways to defend deep sea life
http://www.omega-news.info/bottom_trawling.doc

CONTROVERSIAL plans to install a phone mast close to a primary school has not gone down well with residents.

Mobile phone company Hutchison 3G has submitted planning applications for a 12m radio mast to be erected at the junction between Grange Avenue and Parkstone Road.

The proposed site is in the middle of a residential area and within 90m of St Peter and St Paul's playgroup.

Home owners, parents and staff at the playgroup plans to present a petition to the council.

Will Burkitt, who lives on Parkstone Road, believes the proposals are outrageous and should be vetoed.

He said: "This plan has aroused a lot of bad feeling in the area and I wish to protest in the strongest possible way. Firstly it's a very built up area with many old residents and secondly it's close to an area where small children play everyday.

"Radiation transmitted from these masts can damage the health of people living close to them and they are also an eyesore."

Staff and parents at the playgroup were equally vocal in their condemnation of the mast.

Cynthia Dunmall and Mariam Hutchison have run the playgroup for the last 15 years.

Mrs Dunmall said: "We are concerned about the children's health and welfare. We have a petition going and everyone we have asked has signed it."

Cinnamon Austin, whose three-year-old son Quinn attends the playgroup, was also not happy about the positioning of the mast. She said: "There might be possible health risks associated with phone mast, there might not. But when my child is involved I'm not prepared to take the risk."

When the Observer contacted 3G for comment, we were referred to Erickson employee and mast expert Gareth Combes-Olney.

He said: "All of Hutchison 3G's equipment is carefully safety tested and complies with international safety standards set by the International Commission for Radiation Protection.

Omega read "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

"We are more than happy to talk to anybody who has concerns on 07792 328255."

The application is at the consultation stage and will come before the planning committee in the next two months.

09 May 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.hastingstoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=479&ArticleID=1490895

Das "Terroristen-Gefängnis" in Guantanamo ist heutezutage weltweit unrühmlich bekannt für Folter und Menschenverachtung. Das gesamte System des US-Strafvollzugs aber ist so unterschiedlich von Guantanamo gar nicht - mit 2 Millionen inhaftierter Menschen ohnehin trauriger Rekordhalter. Und während Experten schätzen, dass etwa 15 Prozent der Drogen-Konsumenten Afroamerikaner seien, sind es 37 Prozent der wegen "Drogenmißbrauchs" (gemeint sind nicht die Produkte der Philip Morris Tobacco oder Miller Beer) weggesperrten. Eine ausführliche Analyse eines unmenschlichen Systems der rassistischen und sozialen Unterdrückung - und seiner Profiteure qua Privatisierung leistet der (englische) Beitrag "The US Gulag Prison System" von Steve Lendman vom 24. April 2006 beim Center for Civil Society der Universität von Kwazulu Natal.

http://www.nu.ac.za/ccs/default.asp?2,40,5,988


Aus: LabourNet, 9. Mai 2006

Bugging the Democrats

Hayden, ran the NSA when Bush authorized domestic warrantless wiretapping of American citizens and residents.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12973.htm



Gen. Michael Hayden refused to answer question about spying on political enemies

At a public appearance, Bush's pointman in the Office of National Intelligence was asked if the NSA was wiretapping Bush's political enemies. When Hayden dodged the question, the questioner repeated, "No, I asked, are you targeting us and people who politically oppose the Bush government, the Bush administration?

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12974.htm



EXCLUSIVE: CIA Nominee Hayden Linked to MZM

While director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Michael V. Hayden contracted the services of a top executive at the company at the center of the Cunningham bribery scandal, according to two former employees of the company.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000581.php



Potential Evidence Surfaces of Bush's Illegal Spying

An Oregon attorney may have the first concrete proof of Bush's domestic spying operation -- which means the illegal program's days might be numbered.

http://www.alternet.org/story/35807/



The Spy Master Cracks the Whip

How John Negroponte won control of the CIA, and what he plans next to consolidate rival agencies and his power.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1191833,00.html?promoid=rss_top



America’s Secret Police?

A threatened turf grab by a controversial Pentagon intelligence unit is causing concern among both privacy experts and some of the Defense Department’s own personnel.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12290187/site/newsweek



Pentagon's Intelligence Authority Widens

The Pentagon's newest counterterrorism agency, charged with protecting military facilities and personnel wherever they are, is carrying out intelligence collection, analysis and operations within the United States and abroad.

http://tinyurl.com/e33kl



Pentagon hired contractor to advise on collecting information on churches, mosques, other U.S. sites

A Pentagon intelligence agency that kept files on American anti-war activists hired one of the contractors who bribed former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., to help it collect data on houses of worship, schools, power plants and other locations in the United States.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/14126125.htm



Suit Claims Defense Dept. Data Use Illegal:

The Defense Department is violating the privacy of millions of high school students nationwide with a detailed database it uses for military recruitment, a federal lawsuit filed Monday claims.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=1885571


From Information Clearing House

Defense lawyers urged a Kuwaiti judge Sunday to acquit five former inmates of Guantanamo, arguing the trial was politically motivated to appease the emirate's major ally the United States.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=24236


From Information Clearing House

By drawing attention to Iraq and the obvious role oil plays in US policy today, the Bush-Cheney administration has done just that: they have drawn the world’s energy-deficit powers’ attention firmly to the strategic battle over energy and especially oil.

http://tinyurl.com/k2sgo


From Information Clearing House

Iran impasse

The United States is behind attempts by Britain and France to draw up a UN resolution that would declare Iran in violation of international law if it does not suspend uranium enrichment. They want to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter that would authorize economic sanctions or even military action. Russia and China, the other two permanent Security Council members, oppose such action.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12975.htm

It wouldn't be the first time that the Bush administration has played an important role in persuading Tony Blair to sack his foreign secretary.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1769900,00.html


From Information Clearing House

Women in Iraq are living a nightmare that is hidden from the west. Now one has turned film-maker to give us a window on to what they endure. She tells Natasha Walter what she saw.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1769815,00.html


From Information Clearing House

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media

Required Viewing for every citizen in the Free World.

Click here to view. Windows Media
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12972.htm

A Nation of Waitresses and Bartenders

By Paul Craig Roberts

Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, as are many company pension plans. Decide for yourself--is this the economic picture of a superpower that can dictate to the world, or is it the picture of a second-rate country dependent on foreigners to finance its consumption and the operation of its government?

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12977.htm

Video:
Paradise Now

Very powerful film that goes beyond the obvious, delivering a strong insight into a difficult subject, while maintaining a tension and drama that makes it impossible not to be stirred by the film. Delivering a film without falling into the pitfalls of political correctness or propaganda is an achievement in itself.

Click here to watch. Windows Media
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12978.htm

mongabay.com

May 8, 2006

http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0508-glaciers.html

Researchers at Syracuse University have determined that glaciers once covered a much larger area of Antarctica than originally thought, suggesting that Earth's climate system is capable of rapid shifts.

Looking at sediments from marine deposits and rock sources on Seymour Island, Syracuse University Professors Linda C. Ivany and Scott D. Samson along with colleagues at the University of Leuven in Belgium and Hamilton College found evidence that glaciers once covered extensive parts of the West Antarctica ice sheet. Previously, scientists had assumed that glaciers were confined to the eastern part of Antarctica, where the biggest ice sheet is today. The findings are significant because they suggest that the climatic response to the drop in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere 34 million years ago was greater than initially believed.

³One of the most fundamental climate shifts that this planet has undergone since the events that precipitated the extinction of the dinosaurs is the so-called Œgreenhouse to icehouse transition¹ -- the time when Earth went from having virtually no ice on it at all to one with a more or less permanent ice sheet covering Antarctica,² said Ivany, a professor of earth science at Syracuse and lead investigator of the study. ³This happened about 34 million years ago, and is marked by dramatic changes in the chemistry of the oceans and the appearance of Œice rafted debris¹ in ocean sediments around Antarctica, carried there by icebergs from land that floated out and melted far from the continent, releasing the sand and rock that had been frozen into them.²

According to a release from the research team, scientists believe the "growth of the Antarctic ice sheet was initiated by a drop in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere in combination with a change in ocean circulation caused by South America pulling away from Antarctica" during the Eocene-Oligocene transition. The researchers say that at this time, Earth cooled rapidly enough to allow the growth of ice on the entire Antarctic continent all at once.

The researchers conclude that "because Earth¹s climate system is capable of shifting this rapidly and dramatically to such a new and different state, their discovery may provide an insight into how things could change in the future if we continue to alter our environment."

The research is published in the article ³Evidence for an Earliest Oligocene Ice Sheet on the Antarctic Peninsula,² in the May 2006 issue of the journal, Geology and was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation¹s Office of Polar Programs.


Informant: NHNE

A former congressional aide and business associate of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has agreed to plead guilty to charges in connection with the investigation of influence-peddling and public corruption.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050806C.shtml