World-News

Apr 11, 2006 7:00 AM

WASHINGTON - A just-released study by researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life found that long-term exposure to the radiation emitted by cell phones raises the odds of developing cancer. The largest such study to date compared 2,200 cancer patients with an equal number of healthy individuals and found that heavy users, defined as logging more than 2,000 hours, and those who started using the devices before age 20 had a higher risk of developing a malignant brain tumor, particularly on one side of their head.

“What the Swedish meta-analysis shows is that after a minimum latency period of about 10 years, you start to see tumor risks,” Dr. Louis Slesin, editor of the New York-based Microwave News, who has been covering the subject for 26 years, told The Examiner. In the early ’90s, only 10 to 12 million people used cellular phones, he added. But in the last five years alone, that number has swelled to 200 million worldwide. “Is this a warning sign or a statistical fluke?”

Despite increasing evidence linking such radiation to increased rates of childhood leukemia worldwide, “there’s not a single study being done on it in the U.S. today,” Slesin lamented. “Nothing. The industry is calling the shots, the government is terrified of this issue and nobody wants to hear about it.”

Anders Ahlbom, deputy director of Stockholm’s Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska, who has been studying the biological effects of such radiation for 20 years, found that the epidemiological evidence linking it to a 1 percent annual increase in childhood cancer was “rather strong and consistent” in the nine different European countries that studied it, and that the link became even stronger when the data was aggregated. Japanese and German teams reported similar results earlier this year. Scientists are still not sure how microwave radiation damages cells, but speculate that it may disrupt some electrical or chemical signals cells use to communicate.

Ignoring accumulating international evidence that cell phone radiation may be a health hazard, particularly to children, one company has even begun advertising cell phones for preschoolers. And Fairfax County has expanded its practice of installing cell phone monopoles on schools, telephone poles and park light towers without bothering to get permission from parents or local homeowners associations. The county is currently attempting to install another one on Mount Vernon High School over the objections of the PTA president and local residents — and bypassing the Planning Commission’s approval process.

Some cell towers are hidden in church steeples or disguised in fake trees, so people have no idea how much microwave radiation they or their children are absorbing. The levels are highest about 100 feet from the base of a tower. We agree with Slesin that “they should not be anywhere near a school building.”

However, the risk from cell phone towers pales in comparison with the phones themselves, which emit a thousand times more radiation. The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it would review wireless phone safety in light of the Swedish study. Until its completed, experts say the safest thing is to use a hands-free set and not have the phone attached anywhere on your body.

Adults who know the risks should be free to yak all they want. But shouldn’t we shield children as a precaution until we know more?

http://www.examiner.com/Opinion-a74346~Editorial__Keep_cell_phone_towers_away_from_schools.html


Informant: James River Martin

http://www.omega-news.info/over_230000_more_seals_will_die.htm



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=seals

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/don-t-nuke-iran


Informant: Kev Hall



http://freepage.twoday.net/topics/Is+Iran+next/

Unknown News
by Helen & Harry Highwater

04/14/06

Are you awake yet, America? I'm wide awake, and worried. Are you worried with me, wondering what's next? Are you terrified? If you're not scared silly, that frightens me even more. Some people are seriously suggesting that the Constitution should be ignored, because it puts people's rights above Presidential power. Can Americans truly be this stupid? ...

The United States of America is not magically immune to totalitarianism, and we're flirting with it. It can happen here, and we're approaching the brink. It's amazing to me, how quickly so-called 'patriots' are willing to surrender Amerca's freedom. Patriots don't meekly and obediently surrender the nation's liberty on demand...

http://www.unknownnews.org/060414a-hh.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

My country, 'tis of thee, bittersweet land of diminishing liberty, of thee I weep.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12720.htm

Mit der Bitte um Veröffentlichung senden wir Ihnen folgende Pressemitteilung der ödp München:

20. Tschernobyl-Jahrestag - ödp erinnert an Atomgefahren:

Infostände in München – Anti-Atom-Postkarten an Stoiber

Am 26. April jährt sich die Atomreaktorkatatsrophe von Tschernobyl zum 20. Mal. Aus diesem Anlaß verteilt die ödp bei Infoständen am 6. Mai in München-Milbertshofen, Keferloherstraße Ecke Knorrstraße von 9 bis 13 Uhr und am 13. Mai in München-Schwabing, Leopoldstr. 75, vor Postamt 44, nähe Ecke Herzogstraße, Postkarten an Edmund Stoiber „für einen schnelleren Atomausstieg“. Mit der Aktion soll der CSU-Vorsitzende Edmund Stoiber aufgefordert werden, "nicht mehr für eine längere Reaktorlaufzeit einzutreten“. Mit einer zweiten Postkarte wird der österreichische Kanzler Schüssel aufgefordert, während der österreichischen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft für eine Aufhebung der EU-Atomkraftförderung einzutreten. „Die Atomenergie ist nach unserer Überzeugung ein zu großes Risiko – vom Uranabbau, unter dem viele Menschen in den Abbaugebieten leiden, bis hin zur völlig ungeklärten Endlagerung“, kritisiert ödp-Regionalbeauftragter Markus Hollemann.

Auch in deutschen Reaktoren gab es bereits schwere Störfälle, so Hollemann. "Niemand kann uns garantieren, dass bei uns eine Katastrophe und Verstrahlung weiter Teile Deutschlands ausgeschlossen ist“.

Nach Ansicht der ödp ist der „Atomausstieg“ der früheren rot-grünen Bundesregierung „ein Schwindel“. Es sei nämlich gar keine feste AKW-Laufzeit vereinbart, sondern eine bestimmte Stromproduktionsmenge garantiert worden: „Der rot-grüne Ausstiegsbeschluss bedeutet, dass fast noch einmal soviel Atomstrom und Atommüll erzeugt werden darf wie bisher. Deshalb hat die atomkraftkritische internationale Ärzteorganisation IPPNW recht, wenn sie den ‚Ausstieg’ als größtes Täuschungsmanöver der früheren Regierung bezeichnet“, so Hollemann.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Markus Hollemann
Regionalbeauftragter
Ökologisch-Demokratische Partei (ödp)
Stadtverband München
Fon 089/45 24 74 15 × Fax 089/244 365 397 E-Mail m.hollemann@oedp-muenchen.de
http://www.oedp-muenchen.de


Veranstaltungshinweise:

Alle Vorträge finden jeweils am zweiten Donnerstag im Monat in den Räumen der Gregor-Louisoder-Umweltstiftung statt: Brienner Str. 46, zwischen U2/U8 Königsplatz und U1/U7 Stiglmaierplatz.

Do., 11. Mai 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Die 12 Salze des Lebens - Mit Schüßlersalzen gesund durch das Jahr" Referentin: Angelika Gräfin Wolffskeel von Reichenberg, Heilpraktikerin und Buchautorin

Do., 08. Juni 2006, 19.30 Uhr "EU-Feinstaubrichtlinie - zahnloser Papiertiger?" Referent: Dr. Stefan Taschner, Mobilitätsexperte, Green City

Do., 13. Juli 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Die Welt vor einer neuen Energiekrise? - Solare Zukunft ohne Erdöl und Atomenergie?" Referent: Dr. Herbert Kuhn, Ingenieur, Energieberater

Do., 10. Aug. 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Limbische Wahrheiten – Gehirnforschung, Marketing und Ökologie" Referent: Günther Hartmann, Berater im Stadt- und Regionalmarketing

Do., 14. Sep. 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Pflegenotstand - Keine Perspektive im Alter?" Referentin: Christiane Lüst, Dipl.-Soz. Päd., Initiatorin des Münchner Pflegestammtischs

Do., 12. Okt. 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Ein Jahr nach der Bundestagswahl - Wo steht Deutschland heute?" Referent: Prof. Dr. Klaus Buchner, ödp-Bundesvorsitzender

Do., 09. Nov. 2006, 19.30 Uhr "Das 1,5-Liter-Auto ist machbar - Entwickler berichten" Referent: Uli Sommer, Chefentwickler Loremo-Projekt



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Tschernobyl

In Coastal States, a Revival of Offshore Drilling Debate

The battle over offshore oil and gas drilling in the US is heating up. In Congress, a raft of bills dealing with offshore oil and gas has been introduced.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041306EC.shtml

http://tinyurl.com/md6yz



http://freepage.twoday.net/topics/Is+Iran+next/

*Excerpt

"Seeds of Change is now owned by M&M-Mars Candy: "Women are from Venus, Seeds are from Mars

"Earlier this year, Seeds of Change, an idealistic company formed in the 1980s to "preserve and spread a diversity of organic seeds through the gritty, caring hands of backyard gardeners," was bought out by M&M-Mars, Inc, the candy company. As Seeds of Change Vice President Steve French explained to the incredulous editors at Food & Water magazine, "I don't think there are any real differences between Seeds of Change and Mars.... whether it's a Mars product or it's a Seeds of Change product, the product benefits are very, very similar if we're talking about nutrition here."

--Earth Island Journal, Fall 98

---------------------------------------

http://www.corporganics.org/

What We Need to Know About the Corporate Takeover of the "Organic" Food Market

by Paul Glover

Most goods sold at GreenStar Co-op are chosen with a high degree of concern for the environmental and labor impacts of manufacture, and the health effects on shoppers.

GreenStar's Mission Statement emphasizes "exercising ecological responsibility and leadership in our choice of product line..." and "being sensitive to the working and living conditions of those whose labor produces the goods we sell..."

But exploring GreenStar's aisles, one finds that several of our favorite products are now owned by global corporations which damage the environment, oppress labor, and endanger world peace.

The good news is that there are alternatives to these products, and we should stock them. In fact, GreenStar can use its capital to help start new businesses which rely on local culinary talent to create new products of greater variety and quality.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

Bearitos, Bread Shop Granola, Celestial Seasonings, Garden of Eatin', Health Valley, Imagine Foods (Rice Dream), Terra Chips, and Westbrae (canned vegetables, soy drinks, pastas, Little Bear Corn Chips), are all owned by the Hain Food Group whose prime investments are managed by companies like "Wellington Management." Their principal stockholders are PHILIP MORRIS (cigarettes), MONSANTO (genetically modified food), CITIGROUP (rainforest destruction), (genetically modified foods), EXXONMOBIL (global warming), WAL-MART, ENTERGY NUCLEAR, LOCKHEED MARTIN (weapons), WASTE MANAGEMENT INC (giant landfills), PFIZER (drugs), MERCK (drugs), BANK OF AMERICA (racial discrimination) & (animal cruelty), etc.

All of the above are themselves significantly owned by Citigroup, "the World's Most Destructive Bank" --Rainforest Action Network.

Citigroup backs corporate prisons, Third World debt, genetic engineering, predatory lending, and rainforest destruction.

H.J. Heinz Co. owns nearly 20% of Hain:

Editorial in Natural Progressions, by Bob Swientek 11/99: "Back in April, I wrote in this column that the corporate suits (mainstream food manufacturers) were overrunning the tofu eaters (natural foods processors) at the Natural Products Expo-West.

Well, the "run" is now a full-fledged sprint. In September, Heinz bought a 19.5% stake in Hain Food Group for nearly $100 million. Hain, the leading producer of natural foods in the country with annual sales of $206 million in '99, acquired the Earth's Best baby food brand in the deal.

By gaining entry into the natural and organic foods arena, Heinz may be in the initial stages of reinventing itself.

It better...most of its businesses, including its profitable ketchup franchise, are slow growth." Heinz itself is owned by same mutual funds that own Hain, and its prime stockholders include the same multinationals. Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen are owned by Small Planet Foods which is owned by GENERAL MILLS, whose principal investors are PHILIP MORRIS, EXXONMOBIL, GENERAL ELECTRIC, CHEVRON, NIKE, McDONALD'S, TARGET STORES, STARBUCK'S, MONSANTO, DUPONT (weapons & pesticides), DOW CHEMICAL (Agent Orange, breast implants, napalm), PEPSICO, ALCOA ALUMINUM, DISNEY (exploit Third World labor), TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (weapons: one of GW Bush's top contributors), PFIZER. General Mills is also being boycotted for animal rights abuse.

Stoned Wheat Thins is made with GMOs and is owned by NABISCO, which has been bought by PHILIP MORRIS (12/00), which also owns KRAFT General Foods Philip Morris Boycott & In Fact & Nabisco/Labor & Nabisco News & pension funds & other

Odwalla Juice is owned by Coca-Cola, part of the Minute Maid unit. Coca-Cola prohibits unionizing:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire --

Edgar Paez, of the Colombian trade union Sinaltrainal, was joined on Monday by Teamster representatives, the AFL- CIO, members of the clergy, civil rights activists and political leaders as he described the brutal torture, kidnapping and murders of union workers in his country -- particularly those working at Coca-Cola bottling facilities.

The group assembled for a peace vigil in front of the World of Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta, GA. "My brothers and sisters in Colombia have suffered unspeakable horrors because they belong to a trade union," Paez said. "We stand united with American workers to demand that Coca-Cola stop the violence."

Coca-Cola paid $192.5 million to settle a U.S. racial discrimination lawsuit in 2000. Fresh Samantha, a Maine juice brand that merged with Odwalla in May 2000, "has already begun reducing its fresh-fruit content by boosting the water content-- a way to make juices cheaper and longer-lasting," according to Bill Sipper, marketing vice-president of the Ultimate Juice Company.

Boca Burgers is owned by Kraft Foods, which is owned by Philip Morris. Hearty & Natural veggie burgers is owned by Sunrich Food Group, which is owned by Stake Technologies, which is owned principally by Gruber & McBain Capital Management, whose principal investors are Boeing, Lockheed Martin and by Polymedica, whose principal investor is Safeco, whose principal investors are ExxonMobil, General Electric, and Citigroup.

Morningstar Farms (Kellogg's) has been contaminated by Starlink GM corn.

Silk Soy Drink is owned by White Wave, which is owned by Dean Foods (5/9/02), whose main shareholders are Microsoft, GE, Philip Morris, Citigroup, Pfizer, ExxonMobil, Coca Cola, Wal-Mart, PepsiCo, Home Depot.

Stonyfield Farm (yogurt) is not yet dominated by multinationals, but has "partnered" with GAIAM, whose major stockholders include IBM, EXXON, CITIGROUP, JOHNSON & JOHNSON, WAL-MART, and will be owned by Danone by 2004, which has been (like Nestlé) 'breaking code on baby milk for Third World' (1/17/03 http://www.independent.co.uk).

Danone is publicly traded: (DA) and has trace ownership by Citigroup, GE, Wal-Mart, Exxon, etc. Gardenburger is getting on the corporate gravy train, with 20% of its stock owned (8/02) by such companies as PFIZER, WAL-MART, MICROSOFT, CITIGROUP, AMERICAN EXPRESS, GILETTE, EXXON. Among their brokers is Patman Foods, a major factory farm meatpacker.

Arrowhead Water and Poland Spring Water are owned by NESTLE, which is being boycotted because its "breast milk substitute" causes the deaths of millions of babies. Nestle Boycott & breastfeeding.com & Baby Milk Action: "These babies are twins.(see photo) Their Pakistani mother was wrongly advised that she would not have enough breastmilk to feed both and so bottlefed her daughter while breastfeeding her son. The girl died the day after this photo was taken in Islamabad Children's Hospital. 'Use my picture,' said the mother, 'if it will help others not to make the same mistake.'"

Seeds of Change is now owned by M&M-Mars Candy: "Women are from Venus, Seeds are from Mars "Earlier this year, Seeds of Change, an idealistic company formed in the 1980s to "preserve and spread a diversity of organic seeds through the gritty, caring hands of backyard gardeners," was bought out by M&M-Mars, Inc, the candy company.

As Seeds of Change Vice President Steve French explained to the incredulous editors at Food & Water magazine, "I don't think there are any real differences between Seeds of Change and Mars.... whether it's a Mars product or it's a Seeds of Change product, the product benefits are very, very similar if we're talking about nutrition here."

--Earth Island Journal, Fall 98

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERE'S A LIST of these multinational brands to print out.

Impact on Organic Standards & Supply

Some have said they welcome major corporate investment in the natural food market, as vindication of the value of natural foods.

We should be concerned, however, that control of the natural foods industry by fewer companies will result in multinational corporate control of organic acreage and marketing, forcing out smaller regional/family suppliers, reducing competition, leading to weakened organic standards (sewage sludge, irradiation, GMOs).

We have already seen the political effects of media integration-- once there were thousands of independent radio stations and daily papers, now there are a handful of TV networks and newspaper chains owned by these same corporations.

As well, payments by GreenStar shoppers to these companies reinforce corporate control of other markets and of lobbying, where they do great damage.

"If we don't pay attention to the politics of health food industry then we will shortly not have organics." --Milo MacTavish, manager, Whole Foods Co-op, Norfolk, VA

For additional corporate link updates, see also VeganBuyout

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HEALTH IMPACTS GreenStar's Mission Statement:

"Emphasizing the sale of nutritious food in as natural a state as possible." BOTTLED WATER BOYCOTT:

"Evian is Naive spelled backwards" "most bottled water is nothing more than tap water in a bottle" --New York State Department of Consumer Affairs

"Bottled Water: Pure Drink or Pure Hype?" FDA Rules for Bottled Water are Generally Less Strict than Tap Water Rules --Natural Resources Defense Council

"Every year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water and toxic chemicals can be released during the manufacture and disposal of the bottles." --Worldwide Fund for Nature

"Bottled water may be no safer, or healthier, than tap water in many countries, while selling for up to 1,000 times the price." --World Wildlife Fund

"If you are concerned about the quality of your drinking water and regularly buy bottled water, you should invest in a water filter. The production, packaging, and transportation of bottled water uses an enormous amount of resources. Water filters are economical when compared to bottled water and much kinder to the earth." --Co-op America

Categories of Bottled Water

Breast cancer and plastic bottles

Increasing drinking water protection in New York State REJECTED: A.3205-C: "This legislation requires the water resources institute to prepare and disseminate information regarding cryptosporidium to those individuals who are more susceptible to illness caused by exposure to cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a waterborne pathogen which may cause death to individuals with compromised immune systems and may cause illness to healthy individuals. It may be transmitted through bottled water as well as by way of regular tap water.

Consumers of bottled water will be better informed about the dangers of a variety of waterborne pathogens through the enhanced labeling program set forth in this legislation." This bill passed the Assembly but died in the Senate."

"NATURAL FLAVORS". may include aspartame, a potent carcinogen.

"Since it was granted blanket [FDA] approval it's mixed with sugar and other sweeteners, unlabeled and mixed in artificial and natural flavors." citation more and more and see also FLAVORS

"Natural flavorings" in Celestial Seasonings contain "free glutamic acid," the bad part of MSG. See also www.truthinlabeling.org

Tom's of Maine toothpaste contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a known mutagen. See also Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate "Harmful if Swallowed"

GreenStar is prohibited from selling products containing refined sugar. "Brown sugar" consists primarily of refined white sugar coated with a fine molasses film.

Milk hazards to health & environment & "Not Milk!"

Petguard contains "Ocean Fish" which may include unregulated non-dolphin-safe tuna catch. Animal Protection Institute & Pet Food Ingredients & more yuck

Food Additives is book describing harmful ingredients in health foods.

"While not all vegetable-protein products are 100% organic, most of them sport the label 'made with organic soy.' According to the new FDA rule, this means no genetically modified foods. The Wall Street Journal decided to challenge GMO-free labeling by testing 20 products labeling that claim. One product tested showed 40% of the soybean DNA in a veggie bacon came from genetically modified plants." --Soyinfo.com Ten Reasons Why GMOs Will Not Ensure Food Security

To say that the cosmetics industry is very poorly regulated is an understatement. The FDA can make suggestions or recommendations to manufacturers about cosmetic products or their ingredients, but the manufacturers do not have to comply.

"Most products are labeled to 'sell' rather than to provide accurate information about the product. Terms like natural and hypoallergenic do not have official definitions, so the manufacturers can use them to mean anything they want.

This often leads to misleading information about the product on the label." --From Dying to Look Good: The Disturbing Truth About What¹s Really in Your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products By Christine Hoza Farlow, D.C.

HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN SHAMPOOS AND COSMETICS --EcoMall

Harmful Ingredients in Personal Care Products

"When it comes to soaps and shampoos, "almost every product out therelabeled organic isn't," said Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association. The United States Department of Agriculture, which regulates organic food labeling, has neither standards nor the authority to regulate labels on personal care products." --

--NYTimes 5/18/03: "Is Organic Shampoo Chemistry or Botany?"

"Restoring Health to Health Foods"

EXCESS FOOD PACKAGING is one of GreenStar's founding concerns. "Recycled" soymilk containers are taken to the Tompkins County Recycling Facility, then trucked to Philadelphia where they are "hydropulped" (paper part removed). The plastic and aluminum parts are trucked to New Jersey, where they are burned in a "waste-to-energy" plant. Burning the plastic creates dioxin, which causes birth defects and cancer downwind. Here are overpackaging details. As well, Food packaging may contain carcinogens.

MISCELLANY:

No dolphin safe tuna due to weakened purse seine standards: "At least six to 10 percent of eastern spinner dolphin mortality, and 10 to 15 percent of northeastern offshore spotted dolphin mortality, is caused by the separation of baby dolphins from their mothers during the chasing and netting process." --National Marine Fisheries Service

The current supply of GreenStar t-shirts ("Ithaca Is Gorges") were assembled in Honduras and El Salvador. Chances are above 90% that these shirts are made by teenage girls working long hours in brutal conditions for less than livable wages:

"Right now, no college code contains a provision that companies must pay a living wage. But without this provision, we will not be able to call our university clothing "sweatshop free."

"When I look at a college sweatshirt made in Honduras, I feel pretty confident it was made in a sweatshop," said Ginny Coughlin, the sweatshop campaign coordinator for United Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. T-Shirts & Sweatshop Watch & Sweatgear & CISPES e-mail.

Here's an alternative: Union-made t-shirts CHOCOLATE: Chocolate Slavery & Cadbury attacks chocolate slavery & Thornton's against Chocolate Slavery. GreenStar has slavery-free brands.

Corporate Agriculture Research Project & California's Central Valley

THIS PAGE IS BEING CONTINUALLY UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION IS GATHERED.

THE GOOD NEWS:

There are healthy and tasty alternatives in all of these food categories, owned by companies which are locally/regionally- and/or family-owned.

GreenStar's GreenFuture explains how GreenStar can help create more locally-owned businesses to supply our health food needs.

Shopping is Voting (cartoon) dramatizes the difference between corporate and co-op food supply. Co-op members here and elsewhere have a lot of power: "Did you know there are more than 48,000 cooperatives in the United States serving 120 million Americans and generating in excess of $500 billion in economic activity? From childcare to healthcare, agriculture to housing, electricity to telephone service, hardware stores to grocery stores, credit unions to media outlets, cooperatives provide Americans with the basic services they use everyday.

Revenue generated by cooperatives tends to stay in the community as it is distributed to local members rather than removed shareholders. Cooperatives exist not to generate a profit for themselves or outside investors, as do other businesses, but rather to provide goods and services at the lowest possible cost. With cooperatives serving almost 40 percent of all Americans, cooperative members comprise a significant percentage of the electorate." --Alison M. Christie Marketing, Merchandising, & Member Services Manager, GreenStar Cooperative Market, Inc.

Building a Green Store from the Ground Up

This web page therefore is created not only for GreenStar members who care about environmental and labor issues, but for members of all co-ops and all other grocery shoppers. Together we can create a loyal national market for independent non-corporate organic brands, and restrain small labels from selling to multinationals.

GreenStar's Mission Statement: "emphasizing and promoting locally produced goods, and items made or distributed by other cooperatives."

Co-op America's Green Pages is an inspirational portrait of the variety of alternatives available. Organic Agriculture and the Small Farm Crisis GreenPeople and Organic Consumer's list thousands of alternative brands. Organic Certification Community Food Security Coalition

The Food Alliance Organic Means Local PCC Natural Markets: A Partner in the Community Harvest Co-ops Links to Vegetarian Products -- The Vegetarian Resource Group CROPP: largest organic farmers cooperative in North America (owns Organic Valley) Loyalty to the farming members is the guiding principle for CROPP's operations. "We plan to stay a cooperative," says Siemon. "We are not planning for growth so that we can sell to a corporation or for a favorable business valuation; we have no exit strategy." Quill's Apothecary in Buffalo, N.Y. sells natural soaps. "When any of our suppliers is bought by a chain traded on the stock market, we cease purchasing that brand." homemade skin care

Natural Organic CHIPS: Here's a look at tortilla chip machines & Organic Production Index Pecans for our pecan pies could be bought from this Georgia co-op of black growers. Consumer Reports water filter survey. water filter recycling

GreenStar Education Committee GreenStar's Mission Statement:

"Educating ourselves about the co-op, the goods we sell, and the principles to which we subscribe." To revive the founding purposes of GreenStar (favoring regional/local producers, least packaging, boycotting companies which damage nature and labor, educating members about these issues), the following reforms are presented to GreenStar's board and members:

1) Formation of an independent GreenStar Education Committee (not appointed by the board) dedicated to bringing this information to GreenStar's members.

2) Display space in the front of the store about these products, and alternatives.

3) Placement on lower shelves for products which are owned by publicly traded corporations.

4) Promotion and shelf prominence for regional products in these product categories.

5) Color coding on shelves (red, yellow, green) to grade products according to corporate ownership, packaging, environmental impacts, labor impacts, local/regional ownership.

6) Creation of two superworker shifts for research into the above.

If GreenStar's board takes the initiative to enact these reforms, then our co-op will get credit for upholding these values, and will further distinguish GreenStar from Wegmans and Tops. The change of product line will be orderly and will least affect our budget.

GreenStar's Mission Statement: "...to build an alternative social and economic structure..."

To join the GreenStar Members' Education Committee and/or provide more information, contact Paul Glover (member since 1972) (607) 272-4330, or Marlo Cappocia

The GreenStar Members' Education Committee has endorsed the following candidates for GreenStar's Council (elections throughout April 2002): DISSIN, HARBER, RADIN, YOUNG, ZWACK. See statements by all candidates at GreenStar's website and at ithacanews.org/greenstar.candidates.html"

Shopping is Voting!


Informant: Friends

--------

University of Michigan Falls Prey to Another Coca-Cola PR Scam
http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0417-06.htm

ISBN: 82-7701-038-9
Date of Publication: March 2006
Publisher: UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Order on-line at: http://www.Earthprint.com

For further information, contact: grid@grida.no

http://www.grida.no/products.cfm?pageID=11

[Link above includes wonderful, highly-detailed graphics and maps. -DS]

Planet in Peril: An Atlas of Current Threats to People and the Environment offers a holistic and well-researched analysis of today¹s global issues and their impact on human population and the environment.

Written by an international team of specialists, this Atlas illustrates through text and beautifully rendered maps, graphics and diagrams the interplay between population and the world¹s ecosystems and natural resources both in the short and long terms. It brings together a wealth of information from the most up-to-date sources on such key issues as climate change, access to water, exploitation of ocean resources, nuclear energy and waste, renewable energy, weapons of mass destruction, causes of industrial accidents, waste, export, hunger, genetically modified organisms, urban development, access to health care and ecological change in China.

Planet in Peril, which features the English translation of the environment pages of the recently published L¹Atlas 2006 by Le Monde diplomatique, is the result of a long-standing cooperation between Le Monde diplomatique and GRID-Arendal.

With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this Atlas is an indispensable resource for understanding the planet we live in.

............

CONTENTS:

POLAR ICE CAPS MELTING FASTER

Global warming is not affecting the planet evenly and most of the existing models forecast that it will be greater in the northern hemisphere. With an overall increase of 2°C, temperatures in the Arctic could increase by a factor of two or three. The southern hemisphere, would also be affected, though less severely.

...

POINT OF NO RETURN FOR GLOBAL WARMING

The Kyoto protocol came into force on 16 February 2005, heralding the advent of a more mature attitude. Mankind, we were told, had finally woken up to the increasing pressure that it is exerting on the environment. Unfortunately a closer look shows that such claims have more to do with wishful thinking than actual fact.

...

WATER BECOMING A RARITY

Despite the international community¹s commitments many people still do not enjoy the right of access to clean water and half the world¹s population is in danger of running short of this vital commodity in 30 years.

...

OCEAN RESOURCES UNDER THREAT

The planet¹s one ocean -- for the various oceans form a single ecosystem -- covers 361m square kilometres, or 71% of the Earth¹s surface. Exploitation of renewable and non-renewable resources has steadily increased. Some renewable resources are the focus of keen rivalry. No sooner do we realise their potential than they threatened by over-exploitation.

...

NUCLEAR POWER FOR CIVILIAN AND MILITARY USE

Nuclear power only makes a minor contribution to world energy consumption. Given the average age (about 22 years) of the nuclear reactors still in service and nuclear power stations¹ limited share (barely 2%) of the market for new electricity production facilities, the situation is unlikely to change in the immediate future. In the meantime there is still no solution to the problem of nuclear waste and the risk of proliferation.

...

RENEWABLE ENERGY, FACT AND FICTION

Renewable energy technologies have made considerable progress. Windmills and solar panels, modern wood-burning boilers, biofuels, bioclimatic buildings are all widely available, often at competitive prices.

...

WEAPONS FOR RICH ... AND POOR

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have only one thing in common, their potential for killing large numbers of people. The term covers nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as ballistic missiles, their main vector. On the sidelines dirty bombs belong to the arsenal of terrorism.

...

WHO CAUSES INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS?

The Johannesburg summit in 2002 emphasised the part that business would have to play in achieving sustainable development. But in many cases we are still waiting for tangible results, with large firms taking advantage of the laxity of national governments.

...

WASTE, RECYCLERS AND RECYCLED

Promoting growth based on intensive productivity and consumption has major disadvantages, one of the most serious being the huge volume of waste produced and the problem of its disposal. Statistics fail to convey the full measure of the problem, particularly for industrial waste, now a commodity for international trade transported long distances around the world.

...

THE SOUTH DEPENDS ON ITS EXPORTS

Since the 1970s the price of raw materials has followed a downward trend, subject to great instability. But developing countries, heavily in debt and dependent on their exports, are increasingly reluctant to bow to the demands of rich countries, as the failure of the Cancun negotiations demonstrated.

...

LOSING THE BATTLE AGAINST HUNGER

In 2000 there were 852 million undernourished people on Earth. Over the last five years their number has increased every year by about 4 million. Without a radical change of course we will not achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (of reducing by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015). The reasons for this failure are all too familiar.

...

GM ORGANISMS, TOO MUCH, TOO SOON

The issue of genetically modified organisms draws together strands from the debate on the global market and the concept of progress. It is a perfect illustration of how market forces come into play much more quickly than the precautions that seem appropriate given the current state of research. We are consequently already eating genetically engineered foodstuffs without it being possible to guarantee they are entirely safe.

...

URBAN DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

Urban culture, with its values, fads and fashions, now governs the entire planet. But from one continent to the next the form and pace of urban development vary, even if motor vehicles and their attendant infrastructure are omnipresent.

...

WIDENING HEALTH CARE GAP

Unequal access to health care is the cruellest, most widespread attack on human integrity. Coming on top of longstanding differences in standards of living, the balance of power that lets North dominate South inflicts chronic bad health on whole countries, sapping any attempt at development.

...

CHINA A KEY FACTOR IN TOMORROW¹S CLIMATE

China is fast becoming the workshop of the 21st century world. But a shortage of raw materials abroad and increasingly serious environmental problems at home are already threatening continued growth.


Informant: NHNE

PRE-EMPT an attack on Iran by speaking out NOW

OUR CONGRESS MUST ASSERT THAT AN ATTACK ON IRAN IS OFF THE TABLE

In the wake of the irresponsible invasion of Iraq, which has killed and wounded thousands, the Bush administration is again using outright lies about "weapons of mass destruction" to justify an attack on Iran. To the dismay of their own Joint Chiefs of Staff they are seriously considering using tactical nuclear weapons to do so, a plan characterized as "completely nuts" by even our British allies.

It is time for Congress to reassert their authority under the Constitution as the controlling voice on the declaration of war, and tell this administration that an attack on Iran is NOT on the table, and especially not a nuclear one. We cannot stand idly by while the Bush administration plunges us deeper into a quagmire we never should have entered in the first place.

ACTION PAGE: http://www.clearwaterforcongress.com/petitions/pnum248.php

JOIN GRETCHEN CLEARWATER IN STANDING UP FOR YOU ON THIS AND ALL OTHER ISSUES

This alert is brought to you through the activism of Gretchen Clearwater, Democratic candidate for the U.S House from the 9th district of Indiana. Gretchen needs your help in the next 3 weeks to win her primary election. 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 knew you could not do so effectively because you were not one of their own constituents? How much more would you support Gretchen if you do live in her district?

Here we have a courageous candidate who will fight for all the issues you care about, if only she is given the chance to make the run. Please donate whatever you can to help Gretchen 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 Gretchen Clearwater? Won't you give her your support now to make that a reality?

ACTBLUE DONATIONS: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8688?refcode=cwt1

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.

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

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Stop Nuclear War with Iran!! ACT NOW!

From: CODEPINK
codepink@mail.democracyinaction.org

Join us on Mother's Day Weekend in Washington D.C.

April 13, 2006

Here we are in the midst of a disastrous war in Iraq, and the Bush administration is now talking about attacking Iran! Any such "preventive military strike" is illegal under international law, but to hear Bush threatening a nuclear strike is not only illegal but threatens to destroy 30 years of efforts toward non-proliferation and disarmament, and could even trigger a global war. It's time to declare a hot pink alert! We weren't able to stop the last war, but we must stop the next one…NOW!

The United Nations, which is the mandated to uphold international law, must speak out against the Bush Administration's plans. Let's send a collective letter to Secretary General Kofi Annan imploring him to denounce this threat and call for a diplomatic solution. Click here to sign on and or send your own, and to pass it to friends and family around the world. Let's let the Bush administration and Kofi Annan know that the world is demanding an end to this madness!

Here in the US, we must be even more visible in our opposition to the threat of war in Iran and the ongoing war in Iraq. It will soon be Mother's Day, a day that dates back to the 1870 Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe for women to rise up and say "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Join us for Mother's Day weekend, May 13-14, in Washington DC as we gather for a 24 hour vigil outside the White House. We'll be joined by special guests Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon, Patch Adams and many more. Bring your mother, your children, your grandmother, your friends, your loved ones. Click here to sign up and let us know you'll be at the vigil. For more information about the Mother's Day event click here.

If you can't make it to DC, you can still be a part of this important action by participating in a local activity and writing a letter to First Lady Laura Bush to ask her how she, as a mother, can continue to support a war that is leaving thousands of American and Iraqi mothers bereft. We will read the letters aloud in DC during the Mother's Day vigil and later publish a selection for the world to see. Please send your letter soon to Laurabush@codepinkalert.org and encourage your friends and family to do the same!

Let's make this Mother's Day, May 14, one where we heed Julia Ward Howe's original call to action. Let's come together to build the world we want for our children -- and our mothers.

Together towards peace,
Allison, Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae and Tiffany


Informant: Martin Greenhut



http://freepage.twoday.net/topics/Is+Iran+next/

Artenschutz: Naturschutzbund sieht alarmierenden Rückgang von Wiesenvögeln (13.04.06)

Mit Blick auf die Ostertage hat der Naturschutzbund NABU auf "die alarmierende Situation bei Deutschlands Wiesenvögeln" aufmerksam gemacht. Den Feld- und Wiesenvögeln gehe es so schlecht wie nie zuvor, einige seien mittlerweile in Deutschland sogar vom Aussterben bedroht. Aktuelle Auswertungen des NABU zeigten, dass typische "Ostervögel" wie Kiebitz, Uferschnepfe und Feldlerche bundesweit erschreckende Bestandsrückgänge aufwiesen.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=13382

13.04.06

Auf einem Kühlschiff vor Gran Canaria, das nach Darstellung von Greenpeace mit "Piratenfischern" zusammenarbeitet, protestieren Aktivisten der Organisation seit Mittwoch abend gegen "illegale Fischerei". Die "Binar 4" liege im Hafen von Las Palmas auf Reede und wolle Fisch entladen. Vier Umweltschützer, darunter ein Aktivist aus Hamburg, kletterten auf die Masten des Schiffes, wo sie die ganze Nacht ausharrten. Sie wollen nach eigenen Aussagen den Protest so lange fortsetzen, bis die spanischen Behörden die illegale Fracht beschlagnahmen. Die Aktivisten vom Greenpeace-Schiff "Esperanza" schrieben auf die Bordwand der "Binar 4" die Warnung "Gestohlener Fisch". Die Behörden Guineas hatten den Angaben zufolge bestätigt, dass die "Binar 4" gegen das Gesetz verstoßen hat.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=13381

HLV INFO 48/AT

13-04-2006

Leserbrief an die Schweriner Volkszeitung SVZ zu

HLV INFO 47/AT

13-04-2006

Funken von der Stiftskirche

Kirchgemeinde hat UMTS-Anlage zugestimmt / Gegner sind ratlos

Judaslohn in Bützow?

Auf zynischste Weise werden Menschenrechte, d.h. universelle Werte, die nicht nur im Grundgesetz verankert sind, sondern gerade den ureigensten ethisch-moralischen Grundprinzipien der Kirche entsprechen sollten, mit Füßen getreten.

Monetäre Interessen werden für erforderliche kirchliche Umbauarbeiten favorisiert.

Statt sich konkret für die Menschen und einer Prävention zu entscheiden, wird für einen Judaslohn der Freilandversuch am Menschen in unchristlichster Weise vorgezogen. Dies geschieht, obwohl immer mehr Wissenschaftler weltweit und ca. über 1500 Ärzte in Ärzteappellen dringendst vor der Gefährdung der Mikrowellenstrahlung via Mobilfunk warnen. Selbst kirchliche Institutionen wie fast 50% der katholischen Bistümer und einige evangelische Landeskirchen haben teilweise ein Verbot von Neuinstallationen ausgesprochen. Dies geschah bereits schon in der 60-seitigen ökumenischen Handreichung beider Kirchen “Mobilfunk auf dem Kirchturm?“, welche auf dem Kirchentag 2003 in Berlin verteilt und für 5,00 € erworben werden konnte.

Fakt ist, dass im Umfeld von Mobilfunkanlagen immer mehr Menschen vielfältig erkranken, insbesondere erschreckend hierbei sind die massiven Krebserkrankungen!

UMTS soll lt. vorliegender TNO Studie und anderweitigen Erkenntnissen noch fatalere biologische körperliche Einwirkungen haben, als dies bei GSM bereits der Fall ist.

Den Kirchenverantwortlichen sei dringendst angeraten, vom Vertrag zurückzutreten.

Anderenfalls kann man den Kritikern nur empfehlen, in massivster Weise Ihre Menschenrechte zu verteidigen: Veranstalten Sie Massenproteste, inszenieren Sie Mahnwachen vor der Kirche und treten Sie aus der Kirche aus.

Mehr zur Polarisierung Mobilfunk und Kirche finden Sie unter
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/301883/


Alfred Tittmann, 63486 Bruchköbel

13.04.2006

CAMPAIGNERS have stepped up their fight against a second mobile phone mast in a park with a children's play area.

T-Mobile want to build a 14.7metre mast in Cross Park, Thornwood, just 34 metres away from an existing 02 mast.

They have been refused planning permission, but have appealed to the Scottish Executive.

Protesters descended on the west end park yesterday during a site visit by a Scottish Executive reporter.

The reporter will make the final decision on whether the controversial structure is to be allowed.

One protester, Graham Morrisson, of Thornwood Gardens, said: "We are determined to keep up the opposition to this mast.

"If it goes ahead there will be two masts in this park and a total of 19 in the west end. That's way too many.

"We are concerned about the detrimental effect upon our health.

"I am among those who suffer symptoms which have been linked to phone masts including headaches and dizziness."

The proposed second mast would be sited close to the railings at the front of Cross Park.

Glasgow City Council threw out T-Mobile's application last October on the grounds it would cause visual disruption and there were already several masts in the area.

Campaigners say the existing mobile mast is already too close to nearby Thornwood Primary and Harley's Nursery and insist a second structure is out of the question.

June McBlane, chairwoman of Thornwood Community Council, said: "There has been much debate about the health risks associated with mobiles and masts and I accept some arguments may be difficult to back up.

"However, there is no way a mobile phone mast should be allowed to go up in a children's playpark."

A consultant acting on behalf of T-Mobile said a health compliance certificate had been submitted with the original planning application.

"This means it should not be necessary for the company to provide any more information about health or for health issues to be considered during the appeal," he said.

The reporter's decision is expected within the next six weeks.

13/04/06

Copyright © 2006 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/print/news/5051028.shtml

13 April 2006

A MOBILE phone company has been given permission to put up another telephone mast in Cheddar, despite fierce objections.

The parish council had reacted angrily to proposals to replace a mast in Batts Coombe Quarry, with an even bigger one, saying it would ruin the appearance of the area.

But Sedgemoor District Council has given mobile phone firm O2 permission to put up the 17.25m high mast. It will have three antennas and two dishes and will be able to serve phones with '3G' technology.

The decision to grant permission comes after another mast was put up by T-Mobile in the quarry last year, despite objections from villagers.

Parish councillors said they do not understand why a mast is necessary and believe the company should be sharing a mast with another provider.

They also said they feared masts with higher power output and upgraded technology could jeopardise future digital television broadcasts.

When approving O2's application, members of Sedgemoor's development and control committee said the company should consider sharing the site in future.

Bosses at O2 said the mast was necessary because of the number of people buying mobile phones in the area. They also expect many users to upgrade to 3G technology in the future.

A company spokesman said: "Often we are asked why we cannot share masts with other networks. We do try to but the only way we can share is with one of the bigger tower masts.

"Unfortunately planning rules dictate we cannot build this type of mast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty like the Mendip Hills.

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/ntvho

http://www.lookingglassnews.org/viewstory.php?storyid=5691
or:
http://www.countercurrents.org/iran-eriqat080406.htm


Informant: Kev Hall

--------

Petition by physicists on nuclear weapons policy -

You can sign under non-physicists and under institution many people wrote "Student" or "Self"

Petition by physicists on nuclear weapons policy, September 2005

As physicists we feel a special responsibility with respect to nuclear weapons; our profession brought them into existence 60 years ago. We wish to express our opposition to a shocking new US policy currently under consideration regarding the use of nuclear weapons. We ask our professional organizations to take a stand on this issue, the Congress of the United States to conduct full public hearings on this subject, and the media and public at large to discuss this new policy and make their voices heard.

http://physics.ucsd.edu/petition /

Will The U.S. Nuke Iran?

Professor of Physics Highlights The Dangers....

NO ONE in the reality-based world could ever be prepared for the foreign policy of this administration. In a sense, it's the perfect storm: bigots, a population of disinterested, seemingly decorticate workers clinging to their jobs with a hope and a prayer (for those outsourcing said jobs), greedy economic ideologues, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim nutjobs,and the reins of government of the most powerful nation on the planet held by a group of people so severely pathological it's amazing they're able to function. Now what training could every prepare anyone for that?

=pertinent here as well. (re NRFE *ilson #19)

When Truman faced the decision of whether or not to use the A-bomb in 1945, no one outside of the project (except numerous Soviet spies) knew about it. President Harry S. Truman didn't learn about it until he was informed (by Stimson, IIRC) a few hours after FDR died.

Also, obviously, no one had any idea of the long term affects such as fallout, etc. But the key factor was that he was getting estimates from the JCS that the invasions of Kyushu and Honshu, planned for October, 1945 and Spring, 1946, respectively, would likely result in 500,000+ KIA for the US forces alone. This, pus growing concern about the geopolitical implications of the Soviet Union entering the war against Japan, led to his decision. If he had not used it and the casualty rates of the invasions of the home islands had been in accord with projections he would have been villified.

Things are very different now, and there's no excuse for the use of nuclear weapons, even "tactical" ones, not being dismissed out of hand. In today's environment there is no such thing as a "tactical" nuclear weapon because their use would have profound strategic blowback. In this I disagree with Billmon's awsome post of yesterday.

Anyone morbid enough to want to pursue this topic should check out The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.

==BC, i keep on mentioning this, but no one has picked up on it yet. If there is an order to nuke Iran, this will have to go to officers who are especially trusted. Who are those?

People like Boykin—crazy, end-timer christians who want to bring on Armageddon, whom Bush will use for his own purposes, whatever they are. I really think that if there is a way to look at recent officer promotions for suspicious patterns, it would be worth doing.

=I try to keep up with Prof. Cole and others as often as I can. All of my int'l relations studies never really prepared me for a foreign policy analysis of an Administration THIS out of whack. SIGH

=And while we're discussing Iran and nuclear weapons, Mr Preznit really needs to get out the bubble.

His saber-rattling appears to be causing a crisis of conscience in the military's officer corps.

Apparently some general officers who would have to counter-sign an order to use WMD have announced they would not do so. I know quite a few of the ROTC cadets on our campus and the more thoughtful among them are trying to figure out what to do.

I've never heard ROTC cadets questioning the command authority before. Not even during the Vietnam wind down.


© Virginia Metze



http://freepage.twoday.net/topics/Is+Iran+next/

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/4347/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news

An interview with controversial feminist Catharine MacKinnon about her new book. The book includes an essay called "Women's September 11" claiming that roughly the same number of women are murdered by men in the US each year as were killed in the Twin Towers (between 2,800 and 3,000), and asks why there is no war on this terror.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041206WA.shtml

Twenty-five years ago, 81 percent of all workers with retirement coverage were entitled to a "defined benefit" - if they qualified under their plan. Today, that number is less than 38 percent of the 100 million workers with pension coverage. Another 48 million workers have no job-based retirement benefits whatsoever.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041206LB.shtml

The clearance of wetlands due to drainage for agriculture or hydroelectric projects is forcing some wild birds to move on to alternative sites such as farm ponds and paddy fields, bringing them into direct contact with domestic poultry, a UN report said.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041206HB.shtml

New studies accuse the pharmaceutical industry of "disease mongering." Healthy people are being turned into patients by drug firms which publicize mental and sexual problems and promote little-known conditions only then to reveal the medicines they say will treat them.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041206HA.shtml

--------

DRUG FIRMS ACCUSED OF TURNING HEALTHY PEOPLE INTO PATIENTS

By Ian Sample
The Guardian
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1751362,00.html

You are lying on the sofa after a hard day at work and should be relaxing. But you are overcome by an insatiable urge to kick your legs about. As you struggle to control yourself, your kids run riot in the room. And to cap it all, your sex life is rubbish.

Just an everyday scene in many people's ordinary lives, or the combination of three newly identified medical conditions that can be treated at the pop of a pill?

The latter, according to some of the world's biggest, most profitable pharmaceutical companies, which have come up with a range of new drugs to treat "restless legs syndrome", attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, and female sexual dysfunction. But according to reports published today, the truth is more complicated. Healthy people are being turned into patients by drug firms which publicise mental and sexual problems and promote little-known conditions only then to reveal the medicines they say will treat them.

The studies, published in a respected medical journal, accuse the pharmaceutical industry of "disease mongering" -- a practice in which the market for a drug is inflated by convincing people they are sick and in need of medical treatment.

The "corporate-sponsored creation of disease" wastes resources and may even harm people because of the medication they turn to, the researchers add.

In 11 papers in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine, experts from Britain, the US and elsewhere argue that new diseases are being defined by specialists who are often funded by the drug industry.

According to the researchers, the campaigns boost drug sales by medicalising aspects of normal life such as sexuality, portray mild problems such as irritability in children as serious illnesses and suggest that rare health conditions, such as the urge to move ones' legs, are common.

"Disease mongering exploits the deepest atavistic fears of suffering and death," said Iona Heath, a general practitioner at the Caversham Practice in London who contributed to the journal. She added: "It is in the interests of pharmaceutical companies to extend the range of the abnormal so that the market for treatments is proportionately enlarged."

In the journal's editorial, guest editors Ray Moynihan and David Henry write: "Informal alliances of pharmaceutical corporations, public relations firms, doctors' groups and patient advocates promote these ideas to the public and policy makers, often using mass media to push a certain view of a particular health problem."

In one of the reports, Dr Joel Lexchin, a drug safety expert at York University in Toronto, alleges that Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, devised ways to "ensure that the drug was seen as a legitimate therapy for almost any man", and "took steps to make sure Viagra was not relegated to a niche role of just treating men with [erectile dysfunction] due to organic causes, such as diabetes or prostate surgery".

The message from adverts and Pfizer's website, "is that everyone, whatever their age, at one time or another, can use a little enhancement," he claims.

In a statement, Pfizer said it "only promotes prescription medicines to healthcare professionals and only in line with its licensed indications. Pfizer does not promote any of its prescription medicines to the general public and does not recommend, or promote the use of Viagra, outside of its licensed indications."

It added: "Viagra has been available in the UK for over seven years and is an important treatment for erectile dysfunction. All promotion of Viagra is aimed at educating health professionals on this serious condition, to enable them to effectively treat patients with this condition."

According to Leonore Tiefer, clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University, a textbook case of disease mongering is the creation and promotion of "female sexual dysfunction". The campaign by a number of drug companies has been especially successful in the US, he notes, where there has been a heavily contested attempt to convince the public that 43% of women live with the condition.

In another paper, David Healy, director of the North Wales sub-department of psychological medicine at Cardiff University, describes how a TV advertisement from Lilly Pharmaceuticals encouraged people to find out about mood disorders via a website sponsored by the company. "This advert markets bipolar disorder," he writes in the journal.

Dr Graham Archard, vice-chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said it was inevitable that drug companies benefited from such campaigns.

"If a company produces a product, they are going to want to market it in the best way they can and if they can increase public awareness of a condition that may or may not exist, then a person may well believe they have that condition and look for treatment," he said. "There's a limited amount of cash in the NHS and if people are spending limited resources on areas that aren't terribly important, that will detract from areas of greater importance. Potentially we could all be losers."

Lilly Pharmaceuticals said: "Bipolar disorder is one of the most debilitating and serious psychiatric illnesses there is. Appropriate treatment should be decided after the treating clinician has fully evaluated the person's condition and discussed the full range of treatment options. The advertisement that Dr Healy refers to was not designed for and was not shown to the general public in the UK. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is not approved for use in children. Lilly does not market it for use in children."

GlaxoSmithKline said: "It's estimated that 10-15% of adults suffer from restless legs syndrome, yet it is a very underdiagnosed medical condition, which even when diagnosed, often leaves people without effective treatment. About 3% of adults experience moderate to severely distressing RLS symptoms at least two to three times a week and are likely to benefit from treatment."

...........

MODERN MALADIES:

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Pfizer asserts that more than half of all men over 40 have difficulties getting or maintaining an erection, a figure contested by many studies.

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

Prescriptions for ADHD drugs escalated during the 1990s following the organised penetration of the education system by the pharmaceutical industry. Teachers may be most likely to report signs of behavioural disorders.

FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION (FSD)

Publicised as the female equivalent of erectile dysfunction, FSD has been plagued by vague definition. In the British Medical Journal, John Bancroft, director of the prestigious Kinsey Institute, called it "preconceived" and "non-evidence based".

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Selling bipolar disorder has become "the latest mania" according to David Healy at Bangor University in Wales. Awareness campaigns have encouraged people to "mood watch".

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME

A campaign launched by GlaxoSmithKline in 2003 raised RLS as a "common yet unrecognised disorder". In 2005, the company was granted approval to use its drug, Ropinirole, to treat the condition.


Informant: NHNE

--------

Drug firms accused of turning healthy people into patients
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1751362,00.html


Informant: Sianette Kwee

Using several models that project habitat changes, migration capabilities of various species, and related extinctions in 25 "hotspots," scientists predict that a quarter of the world's plant and vertebrate animal species would face extinction by 2050.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041206EA.shtml

Ralph Nader

In the name of fighting stateless terrorism, George W. Bush is looming as the American Caesar running roughshod over the civil liberties of the American people who have turned against him in ever larger majorities.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12710.htm

http://omega-news.livejournal.com/224914.html



Bush Must Be Shocked: He's The Leaker

Why didn't President Bush just come out and say that he was the leaker? Instead, when this leak first became public, the president said that anyone in his administration involved in the leak would be fired. Is he going to fire himself now?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/12/opinion/garver/main1491498.shtml


From Information Clearing House

By Charles Sullivan

Why are we so afraid to acknowledge that U.S. aggression is interrelated with capitalism, class privilege, war profiteering and worker abuse in every part of the world? Are we just going to sit quietly in our living rooms before the television’s tiny light while the world burns? It appears so.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12706.htm



The Century of the Self

Part 4 - Windows Media Video

This episode explains how politicians on the left, in both Britain and America, turned to the techniques developed by business to read and fulfil the inner desires of the self. The Democrats, led by Bill Clinton, used the focus group, which had been invented by psychoanalysts, in order to regain power. They set out to mould their policies to people's inner desires and feelings, just as capitalism had learnt to do with products.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12698.htm

Doris "Granny D" Haddock

If we Americans are split into two meaningful camps, it is not conservative versus liberal. The two camps are the politically awake and the hypnotized.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12691.htm

By Pepe Escobar

The ominous signs are "on the table" for all to see. The Pentagon has its Long War, the rebranded "war on terror" that Vice President Dick Cheney swears will last for decades, a replay of the war between Eastasia and Oceania in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12694.htm



The trailer park HQ where the 'long war' is being waged

Suzanne Goldenberg in Fort MacDill, Florida

They are planning for a global conflict that, Washington believes, will dominate the next 20 years. The Pentagon calls it the "long war": an integrated military, financial and diplomatic campaign against al-Qaida and its affiliates that will eventually span the globe, shaping the lives of the coming generation much as the cold war defined the baby boomers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1750657,00.html


From Information Clearing House



Democracy Be Damned - Republicans Need Another War

By Thom Hartmann

Unless Democrats in Congress and the American people stand up and speak out - in the process Bush and his Republican enablers may just bring about the end of the great American experiment in democracy.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12697.htm

WORRIED parents are hoping people power will prevent two phone masts from going up near their Chorley homes.

The masts, from two different mobile phone giants, would also be close to a playing field and Eaves Green Community Centre.

T-Mobile has approached Chorley Borough Council with prior notification of a slim line lamppost supporting three antennas, measuring 11.7m on land opposite the playing fields 70m south east of The Minstrel Public House on Cottage Fields.

And Vodafone has submitted prior notification of a 12m 'street works' mast with a tri-sector antenna on grass land 60m south west of the same pub.
Brian Taylor, 65, of Eaves Green Road, has organised a petition and has already attracted 300 signatures. He said there is already one mast in nearby Moor Road with a potential second one by O2, in addition to the proposed ones for the Lower Burgh Way area. He said: "We are not objecting to them being up, but they should share them on one pole."
Mr Taylor is urging residents to write to the council stating objections on grounds of siting and appearance.

Julie Frederick, 39, has two children aged six and 11 and her home on The Oaks backs on to Lower Burgh Way. She said: "It's a bit too close with it being a big neighbourhood with lots of children about. I signed."

Neighbour Shelley Williams, 39, who has a three-year-old daughter, said: "I am not very happy, I don't like the thought of them being in a residential area. I will be objecting."

But both mobile companies have assured residents their base stations always adhere to national and international guidelines.

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

Jane Frapwell, electro-magnetic field advisor for Vodafone, said: "The reason for any radio base station is to provide a service for local people who use mobile phones which would be the case in this instance.

"They have to be locally based because they are low powered so they have to be placed where people live, work and travel. These are fairly discrete structures designed to blend in with existing street furniture They have the same sort of appearance as lighting columns and telegraph poles."

A T-Mobile spokesman added: "The mast is to enhance our network because more people are using mobile telephones, there are more than 60 million mobile telephone users in the country and we have to supply a network that will keep up with that demand."

A council spokesman said: "We have not yet received a petition."

The register includes 38 masts in the Leyland Guardian area.

The masts near you

They are:

1. Global Trading, Walton Summit Road, Bamber Bridge; LFA;
2. LFA, King Street, Leyland;
3. Walton Hall Farm, off Carrwood Road, Walton-le-Dale;
4. Transco Compound, Walton Summit Industrial Estate, Walton Summit;
5. NTL Bamber Bridge Telecommunications Site, Charnley Fold, Bamber Bridge;
6-8. Leyprint, Leyland Lane, Leyland (3);
9. Land on the northern side of Preston New Road (opposite Quattros) Samlesbury;
10-12. Bamber Bridge Football Club, Irongate, Bamber Bridge (2);
13. Global Trading, Walton Summit Road, Bamber Bridge;
14. Land adjacent Global House, Walton Summit Road, Bamber Bridge;
15. Fox Lane Sports Club, Fox Lane, Leyland;
16. Leyland ATE, Golden Hill, Leyland;
17. Yew Tree Farm, Fowler Lane, Leyland;
18. Land adjacent Church House Farm, Preston New Road, Samlesbury;
19. Freshfields, Wigan Road, Leyland;
20. South Ribble Industrial Estate, Winery Lane, Walton-le-Dale;
21. British Car Auctions, Reedfield Place, Walton Summit;
22. Land adjacent 16 and 17 Charnley Fold Lane, Bamber Bridge;
23. Chandler Ltd, Chandler House, Talbot Road, Leyland;
24. Grass verge, Carrwood Road, Bamber Bridge;
25. Dog Kennel Wood, London Way, Walton-le Dale;
26. Land at Tomlinson Road, Leyland;
27. Land to rear of the Poachers, adjacent Cuerden Way, Bamber Bridge;
28. Land to north of Slater Lane, Schleswig Way, Leyland;
29. Opposite junction of Dawson Lane and Western Avenue, Leyland;
30. Schleswig junction with Dunkirk Way, Leyland;
31. Land off Langdale Road, Leyland;
32. Grass verge adjacent 219 Brownedge Road, Bamber Bridge;
33. Clayton Brook Farm, Preston Road, Bamber Bridge;
34. Schleswig Way, Leyland.
35. Land adjacent Barton Dene, Heald House Road, Leyland;
36. Land adjacent Church House Farm, Potter Lane, Samlesbury;
37. South Ribble Industrial Estate, Winnery Lane, Walton-le-Dale;
38. 311 Croston Road, Farington Moss, Leyland.

13 April 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.leylandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=77&ArticleID=1441092

Erwerbslose solidarisch gegen Zumutungen und Schikanen

Sozialpolitische Aktionen und Proteste 2006

Aktionstag Jobcenter Berlin Neukölln

„Erwerbslose solidarisch gegen Zumutungen und Schikanen“ – unter diesem Motto stand der Aktionstag der FAU Berlin vor dem Jobcenter Berlin-Neukölln am 11.04.2006. Siehe dazu

Den Bericht von faub32 vom 11.04.06 bei der FAU http://www.fau.org/artikel/art_060411-152256

Rote Punkte für das Jobcenter Die kleine anarchosyndikalistische FAU befragt Hartz-IV-Betroffene nach ihren Erfahrungen im Jobcenter. Die freuen sich, einmal Dampf ablassen zu können. Artikel von Peter Nowak in der taz Berlin vom 12.4.2006 http://www.taz.de/pt/2006/04/12/a0254.1/text


Aus: LabourNet, 13. April 2006

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Alltägliche Schikanen

Bericht einer frustrierten Beamtin in einer Arge für Hartz IV

Frau K. ist Beamtin, Anf. 60, und arbeitet in einer Arbeitsagentur in einem der alten Bundesländer. Sie möchte aus nahe liegenden Gründen hier anonym bleiben. "Sie haben angedeutet, dass Sie zahllose schlechte Erfahrungen seit der Einführung von Hartz IV gemacht haben?" Frau K. sagt heftig: "Nein, ich mache nicht zahllose, ich mache vor allem eine grundsätzliche, hässliche Erfahrung, und das ist die der Würdelosigkeit. Die ist quasi schon per Gesetz so angelegt und zusätzlich wird sie dann noch durch schlecht qualifizierte Kollegen verschärft. Dem Arbeitslosen ist seine Würde aberkannt worden … das schlägt natürlich auch auf uns zurück, ich habe eine richtige Wut im Bauch! Und da stehe ich nicht alleine…“ Der Bericht (pdf) http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/realpolitik/zwang/frust.pdf


Aus: LabourNet, 13. Juli 2006

Antimilitarismus allgemein: Ostermärsche 2006

Keine neuen Kriege! - Auch die Bundesregierung auf der Anklagebank

Pressemitteilungen zu den Ostermärschen 2006 von der zentralen "Informationsstelle Ostermarsch" und vom "Bundesausschuss Friedensratschlag" http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/frieden/bewegung/ostermarsch2006/presse-baf.html

Terminübersicht mit Landkarte http://www.ostermarsch.info/

Drei apokalyptische Reiter

Rüstung und Krieg – Kapitalismus und Globalisierung. Zu den Ostermärschen 2006. Artikel von Winfried Wolf in junge Welt vom 12.4.06 http://www.jungewelt.de/2006/04-12/001.php


Aus: LabourNet, 13. April 2006

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Auf dem heutigen Ostermarsch in Wiesbaden gab es einen Redebeitrag vom AKU. Zur Thematik: Atomkraftnutzung, Tschernobyl und militärische Bedrohung.

Mainz-Wiesbadener Ostermarsch am 15.04.06

REDEBEITRAG DES AKU

Liebe Anwesende,

der Ostermarsch 2006 steht in engem zeitlichen Zusammenhang zum 20. Jahrestag der Katastrophe von Tschernobyl. Am 26.4. 86 kommt es in der Ukraine zum folgenschwersten Super- Gau in der Geschichte der Atomenergie:

Link zum Artikel: http://www.aku-wiesbaden.de/artikel_111.htm


Wir sehen uns am 29.April bei der Biblis-Demo.Bringt Eure Freunde und Freundinnen mit...

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Friedensbewegung: Zehntausende bei Ostermärschen gegen einen Iran-Krieg (18.04.06)

An den traditionellen Ostermärschen der Friedensbewegung haben sich an diesem Wochenende bundesweit zehntausende Menschen in 83 Städten beteiligt. Das teilte ein Sprecher der Friedenskooperative am Montag in Bonn mit. Damit seien weitaus mehr Menschen gekommen als erwartet. Die Friedensbewegung, Gewerkschafter, Globalisierungskritiker und christliche Gruppen hätten sich lautstark zu Wort gemeldet. Wichtige Themen in diesem Jahr waren den Angaben zufolge der Iran-Konflikt, die Abschaffung der Atomwaffen, der Irak, Rüstungskosten und die Auslandseinsätze der Bundeswehr. An den Aktionen hätten sich auch viele junge Leute beteiligt, teilte das Netzwerk mit.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=13390

--------

Drohender Kriegsschauplatz Iran
http://www.arbeiterfotografie.com/galerie/kein-krieg/hintergrund/index-iran-0012.html

Bush prepares unmanned attack over nukes.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16926177&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=exclusive--robo-jet-plan-to-strike-iran-name_page.html

Informant: w r



http://freepage.twoday.net/topics/Is+Iran+next/

Co Kerry, Ireland: "EXPANSION OF MASTS HALTS DAWN MASS ON HILLTOP"

And now health-endangering masts cause the cancellation of an open-air traditional Easter Mass.

Best, Imelda, Cork.


THE IRISH TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2006

"EXPANSION OF MASTS HALTS DAWN MASS ON HILLTOP: TRADITIONAL EASTER CEREMONY TO BE ABANDONED IN NORTH KERRY

EASTER CEREMONIES [by] Anne Lucey

An Easter Sunday dawn Mass on a Kerry hilltop is being abandoned this year because of the number of telecommunications masts and structures which have sprung up there in recent years. Local parish priest Fr Pat Moore said yesterday there are now over 20 masts, wires and antenna structures on the hilltop of Knockanore at the confluence of three parishes - Ballydonoghue, Ballylongford and Ballybunion. "I began to wonder if it was like sticking your head into a microwave," Fr Moore said. There has been a traditioin of an Easter dawn Mass on the hilltop with the lighting of a paschal fire for the last 15 years. In 1929 the hill - its name derives from the Irish cnoc an fomhair or autumn hill - was one of a string of hills along the west coast where fires were lit to announce Catholic Emancipation. At 268m (879ft) high, Knockanore is a landmark and was always special in that part of north Kerry, partly because no one parish could claim it, Fr Moore, who is parish priest of Duagh, explained. When Fr Moore revived the dawn Mass some 15 years ago, there was just one antenna structure on the hill to guide aircraft into Shannon airport. The Mass started with a turf fire. Local musicians and choirs sang at the bottom of the hill. Fr Moore recalled yesterday that the congregation descended with a sunflower seed and a candle, to symbolise light and new life. He said it had become a social occasion and people went to each other's houses to breakfast together on Easter Sunday. The 6 am Mass had grown in popularity and last year there were over 1,000 on the hilltop and many more who were forced to remain lower down, despite its early start. The masts and "the jungle of wire" on the hill had crowded the people out, Fr Moore said. The popularity of the dawn Mass showed there was a hunger in people for a higher vision, he added. Local Sinn Fein councillor Robert Beasley said there had been concern locally. Knockanore was a landmark in the area. He said people accepted the mast which directed planes to Shannon airport, but the number of antennae, wires, and other poles had grown in recent years.

http://omega-news.livejournal.com/216498.html

Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet?
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/4065504/

Here we go again... Mast campaigners go back into battle

Concerns that a proposed 12 metre high phone mast near homes in Barton Hills could be a health risk have spurred protesters to vow to repeat a battle they thought they had won five years ago.

The latest plans to put a mobile phone mast on the corner of Quantock Rise and Barton Road brought back memories from the last fight, when more than 100 residents campaigned against a One2One mast.

Paul Caris, who lives near the site, said: "We have only a few years ago fought off the erection of one of these masts. The area abounds with children and no one has proved conclusively that these things are not a health hazard.

"In any case, mobile phone reception is excellent, so why is a new mast needed?"

John Edser, who led the Barton Hills Mast Action Group, said: "It's sad for all the kids round here. There's already a transmitter on that corner. We know from last time that the place they want to put it is so close to the nearest house that it was outside the guidelines of the company that wanted to do it. I think it's an outrage what they're trying to do."

Although John is leaving Luton in the near future and will not be able to lead a campaign against the phone mast, he has pledged to support anyone who wants to step into his shoes.

He said the phone company would have to prove that the need for a mast is greater than the amenity harm, which includes the anxiety caused to local residents for their health and welfare.

A letter from Luton Borough Council to those living near the corner where the mast would be sited said that it did not need planning permission, although the council as the local planning authority could object or raise concerns.

A council spokeswoman said: "Our policy is to consult all residents within 150m of any proposed phone mast. But in the majority of cases the mobile phone company already has the legal right to erect a mast. The council does not have the right to refuse.

"Any comments that have been received from Barton Hills residents about the proposed T-Mobile mast will be reported to a council meeting on May 3."

Since the original proposal five years ago, One2One has become T-Mobile.

13 April 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=541&ArticleID=1438697

--------

A council spokeswoman said: "Our policy is to consult all residents within 150m of any proposed phone mast. But in the majority of cases the mobile phone company already has the legal right to erect a mast. The council does not have the right to refuse.

Luton Borough Council making the same mistake that many other Councils have made - there is an urgent need for Local Authorities to be given proper planning advice, preferably not by ECS (Richard Newstead!!)

Sylvia


From Mast Sanity/Mast Network

http://www.gerhard-wisnewski.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=205&mode=&order=0&thold=0

Online-Petition gegen eine mögliche Vogelgrippe-Zwangsimpfung
http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/1819889/

I feel this is important information because more and more people resort to moving to a new place because of mast-radiation in their old house.

But please spread it if you can, as it might be able to help some people.


Best regards.

Agnes


Info for all!

I saw this article in a newspaper shortly after we had to move from our former house in Worcester.

I had a letter from Jim asking if I knew of an insurance company where people could insure against a mobile mast being sited near to a new home, and remembered that I had seen the article, so here it is for everyone’s info.

The only thing is, that it has to be done within 13 months of buying or re-mortgaging a property.

So, I for one will be re-mortgaging as soon as possible.

Althought I live in a really serious “Conservation Area” (Area of outstanding natural beauty) the Malvern Hills,

I know by experience that, that is no guaranty.

My former Worcester home was a listed building in a conservation area, and that did not stop the mast being installed next door.

I hope this info can be of use for many of you

Best regards.

Agnes


Scotsman.com

Mon 23 Aug 2004
Firm Offers 'Home Blight` Insurance
By Nicky Burridge,
Personal Finance Correspondent, PA News

Homeowners worried about the impact noisy neighbours or a mobile phone mast would have on the value their property can take out a new insurance policy, it emerged today.Insurance broker Lucas Fettes & Partners has launched Home Value Protection Insurance, offering people cover against tens of thousands of pounds being knocked off the value of their home as a result of blights in their neighbourhood.

The policy will pay out up to £100,000 plus moving expenses and legal fees for a range of nuisances in the vicinity of someone’s home, including the construction of mobile phone masts, new roads, airports, retail developments and prisons.It will also pay out if noisy neighbours move in and people could even claim on the policy if a brothel was set up next door which caused a nuisance through high noise levels.The policy, which is underwritten by various Lloyd’s of London syndicates, costs a flat fee of £12 a month.The policy must be taken out within 13 months of moving to a new property or remortgaging if a local authority search was carried out, and homeowners must sign a declaration saying they are not currently aware of any problems.The group has described the move as the most important development in the household insurance market since subsidence cover became widely available in the early 1970s.It hopes to take in £1 million in premiums during the coming 12 months, and is looking at marketing the policies through mortgage lenders.Richard Heighton, partner at Lucas Fettes, said: “We are a nation of homeowners and for many our homes are our largest asset.“The impact of blight upon homeowners can be devastating and force many to consider moving, thus incurring significant additional costs as well as loss of equity.“It is for these reasons that Home Value Protection Insurance is being launched.”

Here is link to the story:
http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:NIe_A7PHUoIJ:news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm%3Fid%3D3395396+mobile+mast+blight+insurance&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=4

Here is a direct link to the: Home Value Protection Insurance
http://www.lucasfettes.co.uk/content_page.asp?guid={FE5D0643-566D-43FA-ACA0-637DA6CACF0B}


Informant: Eileen O'Connor

By Jacqueline Theodoulou

PUPILS of the Dianellio Gymnasium in Nicosia took to the streets yesterday in a peaceful demonstration against the ever-increasing number of mobile telephone masts situated on buildings surrounding the school. Their gripe was with the government, who they say has not yet guaranteed the antennas are not posing a serious threat to their health.

Holding up banners and chanting “No to the masts, yes to our health!” the children stood outside their school, urging the island’s politicians to do something about the problem.

“They must bring the masts down so that we can have a better life,” a pupil told the Cyprus Mail. “We don’t know if our health is being affected by them and it worries us.”

Currently, there are 13 mobile telephone masts on buildings surrounding the school. On the APOEL football club building, located exactly opposite the school, there are two GSM masts.

Messages on pupils’ placards included “Electromagnetic Radiation: NO it’s killing me”, “Who can assure us that the antennas are not doing us harm? Nobody can guarantee our health”, and “My dear APOEL, why are you putting up your lethal mobile phone masts on your building when you know that they are killing me? If you kill me, how will I come to the football?”

A spokesman for the Pancyprian Committee against Electromagnetic Radiation said there was no national organisation that could guarantee the masts were not causing serious long-term damage.

“You can understand our worries,” he told reporters. “We need to use the principles of protection, precaution and avoidance in order to protect our children.”

The Chairman of the House Education Committee, Nicos Tornaritis of DISY, also attended the demonstration.

“It is unacceptable,” he told the press. “I think it is time for words to become actions. It is unbelievable to have cables surrounding our schoolchildren.”

Green Party Permanent Secretary George Perdikis condemned the Interior Ministry’s decision two years ago to cancel the need for companies to acquire town-planning permission to set up a mast.

“We sounded the alarm bells on time. But it seems the personal interests behind the development of mobile telecommunications – semi-governmental and private – are far more powerful than the need to ensure public health is beyond any possible danger.”

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=25390&cat_id=1