World-News

In an ironic twist, legislation that would open up the murky world of government contracting to public scrutiny has been derailed by a secret parliamentary maneuver.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082806E.shtml

Vor einem Jahr zerstörte der Hurrikan Katrina New Orleans. Seitdem verhindern weiße Politiker und Baulöwen die Rückkehr schwarzer Flüchtlinge und planen eine Stadt der Reichen. Artikel von Mike Davis in Die Zeit vom 24.08.2006 http://www.zeit.de/2006/35/New-Orleans-August


Aus: LabourNet, 28. August 2006

"President Bush travels to the Gulf Coast this week, ostensibly to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina." Frank Rich writes, "Everyone knows his real mission: to try to make us forget the first anniversary of the downfall of his presidency."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082806O.shtml

The ousted head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, Michael Brown, says the White House wanted him to lie about the response to Hurricane Katrina. The former FEMA chief cited what he called an email "from a very high source in the White House" that quoted the president at a Cabinet meeting saying, "Thank goodness Brown's taking all the heat because it's better that he takes the heat than I do."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082806M.shtml

Scores of American troops are deserting - even from the front line in Iraq. But where have they gone? And why isn't the US Army after them? They are the US troops in Iraq to whom the American administration prefers not to draw attention. They are the deserters - those who have gone AWOL from their units and not returned, risking imprisonment and opprobrium.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082806J.shtml

Eine Bundesratsmehrheit will einen Gesetzentwurf einbringen, wonach der Antrag auf Prozesskostenhilfe nur noch nach Zahlung einer pauschalen Gebühr gewährt werden soll. Siehe dazu:

Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Begrenzung der Aufwendungen für die Prozesskostenhilfe (Prozesskostenhilfebegrenzungsgesetz - PKHBegrenzG)
(Bundestagsdrucksache 16/1994) http://www.erlacher-hoehe.de/Arbeitsdateien_%20Web/PKHBegrenzG.pdf


Die Armen sind alle Verbrecher!?

„Die Neue Richtervereinigung (NRV) wendet sich vehement gegen eine Generalverdächtigung sämtlicher Bedürftigen in Deutschland, welche nun auch zur Beschneidung von Prozesskostenhilfe genutzt werden soll. Baden-Württemberg und Niedersachsen wollen ihre Justizhaushalte auf Kosten ihrer sozial schwachen Bürgerinnen und Bürger entlasten. Dazu haben sie im April 2006 einen Gesetzesentwurf in den Bundesrat eingebracht, mit dem die Aufwendungen für die Prozesskostenhilfe erheblich begrenzt werden sollen (BR Drucks 250/06). Dieser Gesetzesentwurf ist in vielfältiger Weise verfassungswidrig und geeignet, der deutschen Justiz und dem deutschen Sozialstaat dauerhaft erheblichen Schaden zuzufügen…“ Presseerklärung der Neuen Richtervereinigung (NRV) (pdf) http://nrv-net.de/downloads_presse/24.pdf


„Wer wenig im Leben hat, braucht viel im Recht!“ Eine Aktion der Erlacher Höhe http://www.erlacher-hoehe.de/7___Kampagne-Recht.htm


Das Recht wird für Arme zu teuer.

Artikel von Helmut Weidemann in Linksnet vom 26.8.06 http://www.linksnet.de/artikel.php?id=2570


Aus: LabourNet, 28. August 2006

--------

Prozesskostenhilfe soll kostenpflichtig werden

Zur Eigenständigkeit der Sozialgerichtsbarkeit

„Anlässlich der öffentlichen Anhörung zur Änderung des Sozialgerichtsgesetzes am kommenden Montag im Bundestagsausschuss sprechen sich die Mitglieder des Netzwerkes für die Eigenständigkeit der Sozialgerichtsbarkeit aus. (…) Entschieden sprechen sich SoVD, VdK und DGB auch gegen die im Hintergrund diskutierte Einführung von Gerichtsgebühren aus, die insbesondere diejenigen betreffen würden, die am Existenzminimum leben und auf diesen Klageweg angewiesen sind, um im Streitfall ihren Rechtsanspruch auf staatliche Leistungen durchzusetzen. Die Änderung der Prozesskostenhilfe soll ebenfalls im Bundestag beraten werden – auch hier soll der Zugang erschwert werden, so dass den Ärmsten der Weg zu ihrem Recht von allen Seiten immer stärker blockiert wird…“ Gemeinsame Erklärung vom 08.02.2008 http://www.dgb.de/presse/pressemeldungen/pmdb/pressemeldung_single?pmid=3140


Aus: LabourNet, 12. Februar 2008

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Prozesskostenhilfe: Änderungen bzw. Verschärfungen für die Bewilligung

„Der Deutsche Bundestag möge beschließen, die geplanten gesetzlichen Maßnahmen zu den Änderungen bzw. Verschärfungen für die Bewilligung von Prozesskostenhilfe nicht durchzuführen…“ öffentliche Petition von Armin Kammrad zur geplanten Verschärfung für die Bewilligung von Prozesskostenhilfe (Abschlusstermin für die Mitzeichnung: Dienstag, 15. April 2008) http://itc.napier.ac.uk/e-Petition/Bundestag/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=637

Siehe dazu auch:

Änderung des Arbeits- und des Sozialgerichtsgesetzes beschlossen

„Der Änderung des Arbeits- und des Sozialgerichtsgesetzes im Bundestag steht nichts mehr im Wege. Der Ausschuss für Arbeit und Soziales billigte am Mittwoch den Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung (16/7716), mit dem vor allem das sozialgerichtliche Verfahren gestrafft werden soll…“ Bundestagsmeldung vom 20.02.2008 http://www.bundestag.de/aktuell/hib/2008/2008_050/03.html

Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Änderung des Sozialgerichtsgesetzes und des Arbeitsgerichtsgesetzes Drucksache 16/7716 vom 11.01.2008 (pdf) http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/16/077/1607716.pdf


Aus: LabourNet, 18. März 2008



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

Zitat des Tages: „Hartz-IV-Empfänger als Volkssturm gegen El Kaida, da können sogar die Amerikaner noch was von uns lernen.“

Aus: „Arbeitslose auf der Jagd nach El Kaida. Regierung will Hartz-IV-Empfänger in Bussen und Bahnen patrouillieren lassen“. Kommentar von Maxim Leo in Berliner Zeitung vom 28.08.2006 http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/print/politik/581242.html

Siehe dazu:

„Tiefensee: Hartz-IV-Empfänger als Bus-Patrouillen“. Artikel bei Focus online vom 27.08.06 http://focus.msn.de/politik/deutschland/hartz-iv_nid_34347.html


Aus: LabourNet, 28. August 2006

Best Friends Animal sanctuary (Utah) is such a good and reputable place!....I have dealt with them for many years.

PLEASE take the time and sign this petition which would allow the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to help.... Save.... and evacuate animals from Lebanon.

THANK YOU ALL!

Annie


Subject: Petition for homeless animals in the Middle East

To view an online version of this email, click here http://editor.ne16.com/he/vo.asp?FileID=46946&MemberID=93232123&MailID=1527950 .


Dear Members Friends,

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is quite fragile. And for the animals caught in the war zone, life is still very precarious. We urgently need your help in evacuating some of them to safety. Best Friends is working with groups in both Lebanon and Israel. This e-mail is about how we are organizing an evacuation of about 300 dogs and cats from around Beirut. The animals are in the care of BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) – a truly dedicated group and Lebanon’s only animal welfare organization. In the early days of the bombing, when their shelters were being damaged, BETA volunteers moved all the dogs to a farm in the hills outside Beirut. This looked like a safer situation. But now local people are complaining about the dogs and are threatening to poison them at night. This creates an increasingly urgent situation. Hundreds of people in the United States have offered to adopt these displaced pets, and Best Friends is acting on behalf of BETA to make this possible. The big challenge is organizing the transport. Several carriers have agreed to bring the animals to the United States, and at discounted prices. And we have now spoken with the Israeli Embassy about the possibility of lifting the blockade that is still unofficially in place so that we can get the transport under way.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION: We have set up a respectful petition to the government of the State of Israel, supporting our request and asking them to lift any blockade that may be in place and that could prevent the evacuation of these homeless pets. Please view and sign the petition here http://www.ne16.com/t/1527950/93232123/18680189/0/ .

SPONSOR THE EVACUATION: We’re estimating a further cost of about $200 for each of the 300 cats and dogs who will be brought to the United States. (They’ll be coming to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for further health and behavior checks, and then on to new homes.) Your donation to this effort, large or small, will be a huge help. Basically, we can’t do this without you. So please go to http://middleeast.bestfriends.org and make whatever donation you can. This rescue effort is now moving into high gear. We’ll have updates throughout the weekend and next week on how it’s developing. So please check in regularly at http://middleeast.bestfriends.org . As always, thank you for caring. And let’s join together in the simple knowledge that kindness to animals can help us all reach beyond our human conflicts and bring us one small step closer to peace.

Michael Mountain
Best Friends Animal Society

P.S. We’re still gathering information on what the urgent needs are for displaced pets in Israel, and we’ll address this in our next e-mail. But there is only one animal rescue group in the whole of Lebanon, supply routes are blocked and the most critical need right now is to evacuate the group of dogs and cats in their care to safety. Thank you so much for being part of this.

This email was sent by:
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/5043/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news



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

by Trita Parsi, TomPaine.com

Instead of dealing with the real challenge Iran poses, the White House focuses on 164 centrifuges.

http://ga3.org/ct/M720pgF14zuJ/

No Force, No Fraud
by Bob Smith

Why do so many Americans seem so unconcerned about our liberties being eaten away? I think there are a number of reasons, such as just not wanting to believe that our nation is in trouble, or, as I've said before, being so personally invested in one political party that they will deliberately blot out apparent truth. Feeling helpless, unable to have an effect is another reason, but the one reason that drives me crazy is the attitude that 'Bad things only happen to people who deserve it ... I'm law-abiding, so I'll be safe'... (originally published 06/27/03; posted 08/26/06)

http://libertyed.org/noforce/2006/08/im-law-abiding-ill-be-safe.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

San Francisco Chronicle
by Carolyn Lochhead

08/27/06

President Bush vowed last week that he would never abandon his goal of creating democracy in Iraq, but outside the White House, the foreign policy world is wondering how to contain a civil war that could engulf the Middle East. Even Bush acknowledged the debate. 'If you think it's bad now, imagine what Iraq would look like if the United States leaves before the government can defend itself,' he said Monday. Analysts across the political spectrum say the Bush Doctrine -- preventive war, choking the roots of terrorism by planting democracy, and brandishing power to force others into line -- has failed. Bush's lofty goals, shared even by his critics, have been set back, perhaps decades, by the Iraq occupation. Yet for all the criticism, neither the Democratic Party nor the foreign policy elite has devised an alternative for the post-Sept. 11 world, leaving U.S. foreign policy adrift...

http://tinyurl.com/m425a


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Tom Paine
by John Prados

08/25/06

More and more it appears that the pattern of manipulation and misuse of intelligence that served the Bush administration in the drive to start a war with Iraq is being repeated today for its neighbor Iran. Recently we reported on TomPaine.com one facet of the repetition -- that Congress, not the president, has had to ask for National Intelligence Estimates that would shed light on a key foreign policy issue on the front burner in the Bush White House. The demand described there pertained to Iraq, but Congress has also pressed for an NIE on Iran, where many worry that the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which denies it, is secretly conducting a nuclear weapons development program. Now that the Senate has called for the NIE, the first marker has gone down, in the form of a report released this week by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence chairman Peter Hoekstra...

http://tinyurl.com/j5pj7


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Salt Lake Tribune
by Matthew D. LaPlante

08/27/06

When President Bush walked into the Salt Palace on Aug. 22, 2005, it was with the intention of launching a national campaign to reverse sagging support for himself and the war in Iraq. Bush will return to the Salt Lake City convention center Thursday having failed in that mission. Inexorably tied to successes and failures in Iraq -- a war Americans increasingly are seeing as contrary to the security of the country -- the president's popularity has plummeted even lower than it was last year at this time. ... Americans -- even those in Utah, where Bush continues to enjoy strong support -- are growing weary...

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_4245780


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Wichita Eagle

08/27/06

Former Vice President Al Gore said Sunday ever-tighter political and economic control of the media is a major threat to democracy. Gore said the goal behind his year-old 'interactive' television channel Current TV was to encourage the kind of democratic dialogue that thrives online but is increasingly rare on TV. 'Democracy is under attack,' Gore told an audience at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. "Democracy as a system for self-governance is facing more serious challenges now than it has faced for a long time...

http://tinyurl.com/ptxwl


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

"How could George W. Bush have blown the aftermath of Katrina?" wonders Jonathan Alter. "It's not as if he lacks confidence in the power of his office."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706H.shtml

Despite assuring Congress that career military lawyers are helping design new trials for accused terrorists, the Bush administration has limited their input on their key request, that any tribunals must give detainees the right to see the evidence against them, officials said. After the Supreme Court struck down the White House's military tribunals system in June, government lawyers began drafting legislation that would set new rules for trials of terrorist suspects.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706F.shtml

Despite aggressive efforts to repair the New Orleans levee system following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, it isn't clear yet whether it could withstand a hurricane with heavy storm surge this year, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers conceded Saturday.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706E.shtml

Her birthday is August 19, her death day March 12. We cannot let this crime, too, pass into oblivion. When news surfaced that GIs allegedly stalked, terrorized, gang-raped, and killed an Iraqi woman, the US tried minimizing this latest atrocity by our troops—claiming the victim was age 25 or even 50, implying a rape-murder is less horrific if the victim is an older woman.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706D.shtml

The wives of soldiers whose duty in Iraq was extended to add troop strength to Baghdad peppered US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with tough questions, some that he could not answer, at a closed-door meeting in Alaska on Saturday.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706A.shtml

Die Kleine Anfrage der Fraktion DIE LINKE zur Ergänzung des Betreuungsbehördengesetzes ist als Deutsche Bundestag Drucksache 16/2355 im Internet veröffentlicht: http://dip.bundestag.de/btd/16/023/1602355.pdf

Die Stellungnahme der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Psychiatrie-Erfahrener zu dem Gesetzvorschlag ist hier veröffentlicht:
http://www.die-bpe.de/index#stellungnahme

René Talbot und Uwe Pankow
Für den Vorstand der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Psychiatrie-Erfahrener e.V. http://www.die-bpe.de


Nachricht vom Werner Fuss Zentrum

http://quintessenz.at/cgi-bin/index?id=000100003656

Verwanzte Mülltonnen
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/77348

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/5039/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news

DEAR FRIENDS, RIGHT NOW NO MORE NEED TO CPOST ABOUT "JABAL" - DEAR KATHY G HAS JUST SENT ME A NM SAYING HE IS BEING RESCUED BY A NON-KILL SHELTER ON MONDAY. BUT WILL STILL BE NEEDING A FOREEVER HOME!!!! AT LEAST HIS LIFE IS SAFE FOR WE HOPE TO THE MOMENT HE FINDS A FAMILY! IF ALREADY CPOSTED, AM SENDING OUT A NEW 10/10 FOR 2 OTHER DOGS TO GO TO GAS CHAMBER ON MONDAY IF NOT RESCUED AND IN THE TOP OF THIS I MENTION THE ABOVE FOR "JABAL". THANKS FOR CARING, LOVE AND HUGS,

agnesC

--------

A message from NANCY

Original Message

ABOUT JABAL (MY EALIER CPOSTING TODAY) = NEWWS JUST RECEIVED AND GIVEN BY DEAR KATHY G = THANKS DEAR! = INFORM HE IS BEING TEMPORARILY BEING REMOVED TO A NON-KILL SHELTER BUT WILL STILL REQUIRE A FOREVERHOME! SO, PLEASE NOW HELP SAVE THESE TWO DOGS ...BELOW!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE !

Blog: 2 DOGS TO GO GAS CHAMBER 28.AUG.IF NOT RESCUED-PLEASE HELP!!!! PLEASE CPOST THIS?? THANKS.agnesC

(Received from Kathy G - thanks). THEIR TIME ENDS 28.AUG. - 4.30PM..PLEASE

PLEASE, SPREAD THIS. CPOST, HAVE IT IN GROUPS, MAKE SHARES - FOR THE 2 DOGS LISTED BELOW... PLEASE DO HELP!

NOW IT IS THE TIME TO TRY OUR BEST TO SAVE THESE TWO GREAT DOGS ! PLEASE LET US AVOID THEM GONG TO THE GAS CHAMBER !!!! PLEASE !!!

There are 2 great dogs that will die in this shelter on Monday if they are not rescued-(this is a gassing shelter)

Spalding County Animal Shelter Griffin, GA
http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/GA42.html
(770) 467-4772 animalshelter@spaldingcounty.com

Tinkerbell: Labrador Retriever Mix
Size: Medium Age: Adult Gender: Female ID: A06-2398

Notes: SPALDING ID A06-2398 THIS DOG IS SCHEDULED TO BE UNAVAILABLE AFTER 4:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006.

Tinker Bell is an owner surrender and is available NOW for rescue or adoption. She is already SPAYED and up-to-date on vaccinations!

If you wish to adopt this dog, please CALL (do not e-mail) the shelter IMMEDIATELY at (770) 467-4772 to arrange for the paperwork to be filled out (in person or by fax) PRIOR to 4:30 p.m. on the dog's listed date.

AND:

Ian: Boxer Mix
Size: Medium Age: Adult Gender: Male ID: B06-549

Notes: SPALDING ID B06-549 THIS DOG IS SCHEDULED TO BE UNAVAILABLE AFTER 4:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006.

ABOUT JABAL, NM I SENT JUST EARLIER = HE WILL BE TEMPORARILY REMOVED TO ANOTHER NON-KILL SHELTER BUT WILL STILL REQUIRE A FOREEVER HOME. WILL CPOST THE NEW DETAILS AS SOON AS IN HANDS. I THANK KATHY G FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THIS INFORMATION. If you wish to adopt this dog, please CALL (do not e-mail) the shelter IMMEDIATELY at (770) 467-4772 to arrange for the paperwork to be filled out (in person or by fax) PRIOR to 4:30 p.m. on the dog's listed date.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1858709,00.html


Informant: Lew Rockwell

http://www.takistopdrawer.us/article_2006-June-10p.html


Informant: Lew Rockwell

by Jeffrey Smith

The scientist dismissed these newly created proteins in the cotton plant as unimportant background noise, but Kirk wasn’t convinced. Proteins can have allergenic or toxic properties, but no one at Monsanto had done a safety assessment on them. “I was afraid at that time that some of these proteins may be toxic.” He was particularly concerned that the rogue proteins “might possibly lead to mad cow or some other prion-type diseases.”.....

http://www.newswithviews.com/Smith/jeffrey14.htm

Fraud, Scandal and Greed Has Crippled the Gulf Coast's Recovery, But Made Some Very, Very Rich.

http://www.counterpunch.org/green08262006.html


From Information Clearing House

The White House wants military tribunals hearing the cases of terrorism suspects to be able to use "coerced" confessions. As Acting Asst. Atty. Gen. Steven Bradbury helpfully assured Congress last month, "there are gradations of coercion much lower than torture."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14719.htm

Scores of American troops are deserting — even from the front line in Iraq. But where have they gone? And why isn’t the US Army after them? Peter Laufer tracked down four of the deserters.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-531-2318643-531,00.html


From Information Clearing House

http://www.counterpunch.org/moore08252006.html


Informant:

Francis A. Boyle
Law Building
504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign IL 61820 USA
217-333-7954 (voice)
217-244-1478 (fax)
(personal comments only)



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

At every wedding, it seems, something happens not according to plan. Expect the unexpected, planners warn. But how many brides and grooms expect a peace protest? That is what happens when the president shows up for the ceremony in the midst of a polarizing war. About 700 demonstrators marched past the seaside church where President Bush's second cousin was to be married Saturday and then up to the checkpoint guarding the family summer compound to protest the war in Iraq.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082706Z.shtml

Rice contaminated by GM has been on sale for months

US has been knowingly shipping banned food here all year. But only now do they tell us

By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor Published: 27 August 2006 http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1222081.ece

Britons have unwittingly been eating banned GM rice imported from the United States for months, if not years, food safety experts fear.

Imports of the rice were stopped by the European Commission (EC) on Thursday. But investigations in the US show that it has long been "wide-spread" in grain destined to be shipped overseas.

It was first discovered in January that the banned crop, which has never received safety clearance, was contaminating export stocks of long-grain rice. But it was not until nine days ago that the US government informed importing countries.

European governments are furious that the Bush administration delayed warning them. And the row threatens ministers' plans for growing GM crops in Britain.

The unauthorised rice, codenamed LLRICE601, was developed by Bayer CropScience to tolerate weedkiller. It was tested on US farms between 1998 and 2001, but the company decided not to market it and never submitted it for official approval.

In January, it was found to have contaminated rice from Arkansas-based Riceland, the world's largest miller and marketer, which is responsible for one-third of the entire US crop.

In May, Riceland tested samples from "several storage locations", finding the contamination in a "significant" number. It concluded, in an official statement, that it was "geographically dispersed and random" throughout its rice-growing area.

Bayer officially notified the US government on 31 July. But it was a further 18 days before the Bush administration told importers, informing EU countries such as Britain just an hour before holding a press conference to make details of the contamination public.

On Thursday, the EC prohibited any shipments from the US unless they could be proved to be free of the banned rice. But it remains concerned that Britons and other Europeans may have been eating it for months, possibly years.

Britain has imported more than 42,000 tons of long-grain rice from the US since January, when the problem was first discovered. No one knows how much of this was contaminated, but the Food Standards Agency is planning to carry out tests on rice that has yet to be sold to the public.

The Arkansas government suspects that the crisis began when pollen from the rice tested on US farms spread to contaminate conventional crops. This would mean that it has been present - and presumably been exported - at least since 2001, when the trials stopped.

Richard Bell, the state's agriculture secretary, admits that the contamination is "widespread" and predicts it will show up again in this year's crop when it is harvested.

The Bush administration says that "there are no human health, food safety or environmental concerns associated with this rice". But the EC's Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, says it must not be allowed to enter the food chain.

Bayer, which had no part in exporting the contaminated rice, says it is "co-operating closely" with the US authorities. But it says that while the matter is being investigated, it cannot say when it first knew of the problem .

Britons have unwittingly been eating banned GM rice imported from the United States for months, if not years, food safety experts fear.

Imports of the rice were stopped by the European Commission (EC) on Thursday. But investigations in the US show that it has long been "wide-spread" in grain destined to be shipped overseas.

It was first discovered in January that the banned crop, which has never received safety clearance, was contaminating export stocks of long-grain rice. But it was not until nine days ago that the US government informed importing countries.

European governments are furious that the Bush administration delayed warning them. And the row threatens ministers' plans for growing GM crops in Britain.

The unauthorised rice, codenamed LLRICE601, was developed by Bayer CropScience to tolerate weedkiller. It was tested on US farms between 1998 and 2001, but the company decided not to market it and never submitted it for official approval.

In January, it was found to have contaminated rice from Arkansas-based Riceland, the world's largest miller and marketer, which is responsible for one-third of the entire US crop.

In May, Riceland tested samples from "several storage locations", finding the contamination in a "significant" number. It concluded, in an official statement, that it was "geographically dispersed and random" throughout its rice-growing area.

Bayer officially notified the US government on 31 July. But it was a further 18 days before the Bush administration told importers, informing EU countries such as Britain just an hour before holding a press conference to make details of the contamination public.

On Thursday, the EC prohibited any shipments from the US unless they could be proved to be free of the banned rice. But it remains concerned that Britons and other Europeans may have been eating it for months, possibly years.

Britain has imported more than 42,000 tons of long-grain rice from the US since January, when the problem was first discovered. No one knows how much of this was contaminated, but the Food Standards Agency is planning to carry out tests on rice that has yet to be sold to the public.

The Arkansas government suspects that the crisis began when pollen from the rice tested on US farms spread to contaminate conventional crops. This would mean that it has been present - and presumably been exported - at least since 2001, when the trials stopped.

Richard Bell, the state's agriculture secretary, admits that the contamination is "widespread" and predicts it will show up again in this year's crop when it is harvested.

The Bush administration says that "there are no human health, food safety or environmental concerns associated with this rice". But the EC's Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, says it must not be allowed to enter the food chain.

Bayer, which had no part in exporting the contaminated rice, says it is "co-operating closely" with the US authorities. But it says that while the matter is being investigated, it cannot say when it first knew of the problem.


Informant: binstock

ACTION PAGE: http://www.usalone.com/hambacker/pnum467.php

This week the Pentagon announced yet another massive involuntary call up from the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), intended to be deployed only in case of national emergency. But for the Bush administration, there is no honorable commitment by our servicemen and women that they will not abuse for the purpose of expediency. Instead of facing up to their wrong-headed policies which have had such a negative impact on our military, they force our national guard troops into overseas combat, callously extend tours of duty, impose stop-loss orders, and now again drain our IRR to fill regular boots on the ground.

Is it any wonder that the grossly counter-productive result has been the increasing reluctance of our citizens to make a commitment to military service, or that it has gotten increasingly tougher to get those who have served to re-enlist? Those who serve with honor must be treated with honor, their promises from the government must be fulfilled, and they should not be called to sacrifice even more because this administration will not face up to its political responsibilities and change their disastrous course in Iraq.

Many of us have a family member or friend who has already been affected directly by the failure of leadership of the Bush administration. Our loved ones may have been killed or injured, or face that grim chance every day, just so that Bush can style himself a "war president". Cloy, the son of my own campaign manager, is a patriotic American who enlisted in the Marines at the age of 17, received the Presidential Unit Citation for serving honorably in Iraq, only to struggle to find employment stateside by corporations who preach "Support our troops". And it now appears they will take him again back into harm's way under the IRR.

Send your personal message to the department of Defense and your members of Congress now. Tell them your OWN story. And tell them the back door drafts must stop now.

The one click form below will send your personal message to all your government representatives selected below, with the subject "Stop the Back Door Draft." At the same time you can send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper if you like.

ACTION PAGE: http://www.usalone.com/hambacker/pnum467.php

This alert is brought to you through the activism of Veronica Hambacker, running for the U.S. House in the 8th Congressional district, and one of the leading progressive voices in the state of Missouri. Veronica won her primary with your help and will your continued loyal support with be victorious for also in November.

Veronica wants to keep running the call to action radio spots that that have been so effective in rallying her constituents, including contributing to the pressure which finally brought about a cease fire in Lebanon. Veronica thanks you for your courage in speaking out. Please make whatever contribution you can to help her encourage others to raise their voices as well.

RADIO SPOT DONATIONS: http://www.usalone.com/hambacker/donations.php

Nobody can predict how a particular race will turn out. But we know that the spots we ran on impeachment had tremendous secondary impact, as TWO other groups were inspired to run their own call to action ads on this issue as a result of the investment we made in this action. If you are able to do so, please make whatever donation you can to continue the stand we are taking on issue after issue.

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://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/chi-060823iran,0,1434982.story?coll=sfla-newsnation-front


Informant: ranger116

In a major blow to one of the most infamous war profiteers operating in Iraq, Afghanistan and New Orleans, a federal appeals court has ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the mercenary firm Blackwater USA can proceed in North Carolina's state courts.

http://www.alternet.org/story/40853


From Information Clearing House

The press buys the pretense of Bush being "the decider," and relentlessly covers Bush -- meeting with world leaders, cutting brush, holding press conferences, while Cheney works in secret, largely undisturbed.

http://tinyurl.com/zbabp


From Information Clearing House

TEN YEARS AGO today, one of the most controversial news articles of the 1990s quietly appeared on the front page of the San Jose Mercury News. Titled "Dark Alliance," the headline ran beneath the provocative image of a man smoking crack — superimposed on the official seal of the CIA.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14704.htm

Russia ruled out imposing economic sanctions on Iran yesterday, delivering a blow to America's efforts to isolate Teheran's regime in protest over its nuclear programme.

http://tinyurl.com/eopln


From Information Clearing House



U.S. May Curb Iran

If the U.N. Security Council won't penalize Tehran for its nuclear program, the White House may forge an alliance to do so.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14701.htm

By Gordon Prather

The members of the Cheney Cabal continue to forcefully assert – without offering any proof whatsoever – that Iran has a nuclear weapons program that has already "reached a point of no return."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14706.htm

Not a Clue

By Charley Reese

What have you gotten for your $300 billion, your 2,600 dead, your 8,000 seriously maimed in Bush's ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Stability? Don't make me laugh. Security? America is hated in more parts of the world today than at any time in its history. What has Bush done right?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14705.htm

From Iraq and Lebanon to Afghanistan, the Anglo-American attempt to remake the world by force is failing.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14710.htm

http://articlesofimpeachment.com/


Informant: ranger116



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=impeach
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=impeach

Oil spills - Philippines, Indian Ocean and Lebanon

Oil is harmful to the environment every step of the way. Every year millions of gallons of oil enters the ocean from routine ship and car maintenance, off shore oil drilling operations and ship spills.

http://www.sonnenseite.com/index.php?pageID=80&news:oid=n5910

Die indische Bevölkerung befindet sich in Aufruhr, die Regierung beschwichtigt, und die Firmen machen wohl weiter wie gewohnt. Wie aus einem Getränk ein Insektenvernichter wurde. Ein Bericht von Joseph Keve, Bombay.

http://www.sonnenseite.com/index.php?pageID=18&article:oid=a5904

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USA drohen Indien wegen Getränkeboykott - Kampagne gegen verseuchte Softdrinks von Coca Cola und Pepsi zieht weitere Kreise

„Einen Monat, nachdem sieben indische Bundesstaaten den Verkauf von Cola- und anderen Brausegetränken eingeschränkt haben, formiert sich im größten Unionsstaat des Subkontinents, in Uttar Pradesh, eine starke Bürgerbewegung gegen den internationalen Getränkekonzern Coca-Cola. Im Mittelpunkt der Kampagne steht die Coca-Cola-Abfüllanlage in Mehdiganj. Die Betreiber werden beschuldigt, die Grundwasservorräte zu erschöpfen und das Grundwasser mit giftigen Schwermetallen wie Blei, Cadmium und Chrom zu verseuchen…“ Artikel von Praful Bidwai/IPS in junge Welt vom 12.09.2006 http://www.jungewelt.de/2006/09-12/006.php


Aus: LabourNet, 12. September 2006



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Coca-Cola

by Mitchel Sanderson & Stepen Baskerville

Those who work in what was once nobly known as the Civil Service – and what has degenerated into the “bureaucracy” – are required by law and ethics to be politically neutral. Presidents and members of Congress, cabinet and sub-cabinet secretaries can voice opinions. Even judges are permitted (and often abuse) a privilege of obiter dicta. But career officials are supposed to implement the policies of the people and their elected officials, not publicly advocate what those policies should be.....

http://www.newswithviews.com/Baskerville/stephen5.htm

by Deanna Spingola

David Rockefeller said: “We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order.” So David was 9-11 the “right” major crisis or are there others planned.....

http://www.newswithviews.com/Spingola/deanna49.htm



The One World Order: Weapons of Mass Inhumanity
Part 9

by Deanna Spingola

A government that does not value the life of its own citizens yet claims to demonstrate their compassion and concern by the “humanitarian bombing” of a populace in a foreign nation thousands of miles away is practicing extreme hypocrisy and devilish deceit.....

http://www.newswithviews.com/Spingola/deanna50.htm

by Patrick Wood

The global elite, through the direct operations of President George Bush and his Administration, are creating a North American Union that will combine Canada, Mexico and the U.S. into a superstate called the North American Union (NAU). The NAU is roughly patterned after the European Union (EU). There is no political or economic mandate for creating the NAU, and unofficial polls of a cross-section of Americans indicate that they are overwhelmingly against this end-run around national sovereignty.....

http://www.newswithviews.com/Wood/patrick18.htm

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/5034/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news