by Michael Gillespie

Mass round-ups and detentions of innocent civilians, torture and abuse of prisoners and detainees, America’s honor and prestige at the lowest point ever, and investigations that whitewash the president’s men and blame it all on the enlisted personnel. Thus the obscene spectacle of the grieving families at funerals forced by the president’s dishonesty to defend the honor of their dead even as they mourn: “He was noble and always carried himself with honor.” “[He was] a loving husband and father, a devoted son and brother.” “He wanted to go where good people needed help.” “He will be dearly missed.” Small wonder that the president, desperately attempting to hide behind a facade of rigid religiosity that glorifies war and false patriotism, that exalts the very evils it claims to despise, never attends the funerals of those who have died in the line of duty. How could he?

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Gillespie0519.htm

How did one maverick MP manage to outgun a committee of senior US politicians so successfully?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8883.htm

The International Committee of the Red Cross documented what it called credible information about U.S. personnel disrespecting or mishandling Korans at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and pointed it out to the Pentagon in confidential reports during 2002 and early 2003, an ICRC spokesman said Wednesday.

http://snipurl.com/f0j9


From Information Clearing House

Iraq did not violate international law, the United States did. They didn’t have the integrity to tell the truth to the United States people,” he said.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8885.htm

While information about last week’s counter-insurgency campaign in Western Iraq proves elusive, hospitals cite civilian deaths; thousands remain homeless as locals and some US troops challenge claims of success.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/1826


From Information Clearing House

"It's appalling that this story got out there," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on her way back from Iraq.

by Greg Palast

What's NOT appalling to Condi is that the US is holding prisoners at Guantanamo under conditions termed "torture" by the Red Cross. What's not appalling to Condi is that prisoners of the Afghan war are held in violation of international law after that conflict has supposedly ended. What is NOT appalling to Condi is that prisoner witnesses have reported several instances of the Koran's desecration.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8887.htm

Under international law it is the primary responsibility of the occupier to safeguard the citizens of the country they occupy.

Dahr Jamail

There has been a low-grade civil war going on for quite some time-but now the veil has been ripped off by the statements made by Dhari. All Sunni mosques in Iraq will be closed for three days...an ominous symbol of things to come.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8882.htm

Peru's lush rainforests, including our Tahuamanú BioGem, are home to some of the last remaining concentrations of big-leaf mahogany in Latin America. Yet despite the scarcity of this tropical species, the Peruvian government has failed to enforce national forestry laws and logging bans. As a result, nearly all of the country's export mahogany is harvested illegally. The United States imports 80 percent of this wood, and furniture manufacturers have no means of determining whether they are buying legally or illegally logged mahogany. Please join our fight to curb U.S. mahogany demand, which is driving the destruction of rainforests that support Peru's indigenous people, as well as endangering the squirrel monkey, the giant otter and other rainforest wildlife.

Urge Missouri-based Furniture Brands International not to buy Peruvian mahogany unless and until it can ensure -- through a clear system put in place by the Peruvian government -- that this mahogany is harvested legally.
http://www.savebiogems.org/tahuamanu/takeaction.asp

http://www.savebiogems.org/tahuamanu/
http://www.savebiogems.org/newsletter/index.asp

British Medical Journal / Newswise

May 16, 2005

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/511891/

Using a mobile phone in rural areas seems to pose a greater risk of developing brain tumours than it does in urban areas, suggests a Swedish study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The findings are based on a sample of over 1400 adults aged between 20 and 80, living in the centre of Sweden. All of them had been diagnosed with a malignant or benign brain tumour between January 1997 and June 2000.

The group were compared with a similar number of healthy adults, matched for age and sex, and living in the same geographical area.

Daily mobile and cordless phone use was assessed, via questionnaire, which included a complete employment history.

How long users spent on the phone had little impact on the probability of being diagnosed with a brain tumour. But where they lived did make a difference for all phone types, and especially for mobile digital phones.

Residents of rural areas, who had been using a mobile digital phone for more than three years, were over three times as likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumour as those living in urban areas.

And digital mobile phone use for five years or more in a rural area quadrupled the risk compared with residency in urban areas.

For malignant brain tumours, the risk was eight times as high for those living in a rural area, but the numbers were small, caution the authors. No such effect was seen for analogue or cordless phones.

The authors reiterate that there is a difference in power output between mobile phones in urban and rural areas. This is because base stations tend to be much further apart in rural areas, requiring a higher signal intensity to compensate.

The compensatory system, known as the adaptive power control or APC, is used for mobile phone (GSM) networks.

Click here to view the paper in full:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/oem/june/390_om17434.pdf


Informant: NHNE

--------

Mobile risks 'rise in rural areas
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/business/articles/timid400608?source=This%20is%20Money

Rural mobile phone use 'riskier'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4552645.stm

Brain cancer linked to mobile phone use in rural areas: study
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/147955/1/.html

Tumour risk for rural mobile users
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/17/nmob17.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/05/17/ixhome.html


Informant: billder

Verbraucherschutz: EU erlaubt mehr gefährliche Pestizide in Lebensmitteln (19.05.05)

Seit 2001 sind die Grenzwerte von 33 besonders gefährlichen Spritzmitteln erhöht worden, ist das Ergebnis einer Studie des Umweltverbandes Greenpeace: Die EU-Kommission und das deutsche Verbraucherministerium muteten Verbrauchern immer höhere Dosen gefährlicher Agrargifte in Lebensmitteln zu. Unter die erhöhten Grenzwerts seien auch Mittel, die das Erbgut schädigen könnten,die als krebserregend, hormonell wirksam, fortpflanzungsschädigend oder besonders giftig für die Umwelt gelten würden. Die zulässigen Höchstmengen für Pestizide müssten unverzüglich auf den Vorsorgewert von 0,01 Milligramm pro Kilogramm gesenkt werden, fordert der Umweltverband. Ab diesem Wert könnten Labore die Belastung nachweisen.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=11088

19.05.05

Mit einem Waldverlust von 26.000 Quadratkilometern hat das Kahlschlag-Tempo im brasilianischen Regenwald im vergangenen Jahr erneut zugenommen, teilt die Artenschutzorganisation WWF mit: Die Kahlschlagareale von 26.000 Quadratkilometern entsprächen etwa der halben Fläche der Schweiz. Es sei die zweithöchste jährliche Entwaldungsrate im Amazonas. Im Jahr zuvor hätte der brasilianische Amazonas 23.000 Quadratkilometer verloren. Dies gehe aus Satellitendaten hervor, die das Brasilianische Weltrauminstitut INPE jetzt veröffentlicht habe. "Jede Minute verliert Brasilien eine Fläche von sieben Fußballfeldern wertvollen Regenwald. Die Regierung Lula hat bislang im versprochenen Kampf gegen den Raubbau versagt", sagte Michael Evers, Leiter des Fachbereichs Wald beim WWF Deutschland. Bis heute seien bereits 17 Prozent des brasilianischen Amazonasgebietes zerstört worden.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=11089

Schwarzenburg BE, 12.5.05

Es gibt Ärzte mit 16-Stunden Tagen, welche für die neuartigen Krankheitsbilder, resultierend aus der sprunghaft zunehmenden elektromagnetischen Belastung der Bevölkerung schlicht keine Zeit oder aus lauter Stress kein Verständnis aufbringen. Es gibt auch weniger gestresste Ärzte, welche an dieser neuartigen Belastung gar eine gewisse Freude empfinden könnten, weil diese ihre Wartezimmer so schön füllt. Und es gibt auch Chefärzte an Unversitätsspitälern, welche von den Mobilfunkbetreibern modernste elektronische Labor- und Operationseinrichtungen gesponsert erhalten. Dass dieser Teil der Ärzteschaft sehr gerne auf die millionenschwere Mobilfunk-Propaganda hört, die fast pausenlos auf sie herniederregnet und welche an Elektrosmog Erkrankte kurzerhand zu psychisch Gestörten stempeln möchte, liegt auf der Hand.

Zum Glück gibt es aber noch jene verantwortungsbewussten, einfühlsamen Allgemeinpraktiker, welche die neuartigen Leiden ihrer Patienten ernst nehmen und den letzten Rest ihrer Freizeit für eigene wissenschaftlichen Erhebungen hergeben.

Von Hans-U. Jakob (verantwortlich für den Text und die Umrechnung in Schweizer Werte) und Dr.med.Cornelia Waldmann-Selsam D-96049 Bamberg, verantwortlich für die Bild-Diagramme.

Frau Dr.Waldmann schreibt einleitend :

Seit 6 Monaten führen mehrere Ärzte in vielen Orten Oberfrankens Befragungen und Messungen der gepulsten hochfrequenten elektromagnetischen Felder im Umkreis von Mobilfunkanlagen durch.

Die Ärzte verwenden das Gerät HF 38 B der Firma Gigahertz Solutions, das eine orientierende Summenmessung der hochfrequenten EMF von 800 bis 2500 MHz in µW/m² ermöglicht.

Bisher wurden über 400 Wohnungen und zusätzlich Schulen, Kindergärten, Krankenhäuser, Altenheime, Büros, Betriebe und Sparkassen erfasst. Die Messungen werden fortgesetzt.

Dr. med. Cornelia Waldmann-Selsam
Karl-May-Str.48
96049 Bamberg Fax 0951/2972506
Mail: peter.selsamATt-online.de

weiter unter: http://www.gigaherz.ch/911


http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cornelia+Waldmann-Selsam+


Ärzte und Mobilfunk
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/408385/

Ärzteappelle gegen ungezügelten Mobilfunk
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1064751/

Ärztekammern und Mobilfunk
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1104181/

Hans-U. Jakob, 17.5.05

Kurz und gut, das finanzielle Engagement und die Einmischung der Mobilfunkbetreiber (und der übrigen Industrie) in die Forschung hat ein so alarmierendes Ausmass angenommen, dass sich die Schweizerische Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften (SAMW) und die Verbindung der Schweizer Ärztinnen und Ärzte (FMH) im Dezember 04 genötigt sahen, folgende Richtlinien zu erlassen:

http://www.samw.ch/content/Richtlinien/d_AI_2_12_04.pdf

Alle Auszüge aus dieser 14-seitigen Richtlinie sind in Schrägschrift und allfällige Kommentare von Gigaherz in Normalschrift gesetzt.
Die meisten Auszüge sind jedoch so klar, dass diese gar keines Kommentars bedürfen und bei unserer Leserschaft von selbst ein grosses AHA-Erlebnis auslösen dürften.

Weiter unter: http://www.gigaherz.ch/912


Forscher und Forschungsergebnisse von der Industrie bezahlt
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/281056/

Following the Inspector's decision to allow the Sidlesham appeal, I thought you might like to see this 'leader' in today's Chichester Observer:

So Much for Local Democracy

Ministers are fond of prattling on about local democracy and the power of the people - when it suits them to do so. But these noble sentiments are quickly forgotten when they conflict with the government's own financial and strategic interests.

Sidlesham residents - and council tax payers right across the Chichester District - today learn this hard lesson to their cost. A government inspector has allowed an appeal against the district council's refusal of planning permission for a new Tetra mast in Sidlesham. The Inspector also awarded costs against the council for refusing the mast plan in the first place. Ominously, this is the third appeal in a row relating to plans for Tetra masts in the Chichester district - and each one has been allowed.

Councillors were doing their duty when they took heed of the mass of local opposition to the Sidlesham scheme, to serious concerns about possible health risks and impact on the environment, and to scientific evidence produced by the campaigners. But all of this was cast aside by the inspector, an unelected official who chose to ignore both local people and their elected representatives.

Inspectors are supposed to be impartial, but the government has a huge stake in the communications industry and it is difficult to avoid the suspicion that the planning inspectorate is dancing to the government's tune.

Many residents will be wondering this week why they bother to turn out and vote councillors into office, if decisions reflecting strongly-held local views are so easily overturned by a government lackey.

Surely local people should decide what is best for the local area, not some remote frontman for the increasingly preposterous and sinister John Prescott.

Keith Newbery
Editor


At least it was nice to see it in print!

David

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/05/18/a_steeper_ladderfor_the_have_nots/

by Derrick Z. Jackson, The Boston Globe

On the perfect storm of corporate welfare for the wealthy and disregard for the poor now hitting the have-nots in America.

http://www.tompaine.com/

FTD - Informationstechnologie, S. 5

Mobilfunker wollen in armen Ländern wachsen

Von Oliver Wihofszki, Hamburg

18.05.2005

Netzbetreibern winken hohe Gewinne mit kostengünstigen Geräten · Ausrüster bieten abgespeckte Technik · Handys ersetzen fehlendes Festnetz

Die Mobilfunkbranche rüstet sich für das stark wachsende Geschäft in Entwicklungsländern. Mit günstigen Produkten und angepassten Geschäftsmodellen versuchen Handyhersteller, Netzbetreiber und Anbieter von Mobilfunkinfrastruktur, auch in den ärmsten Ländern Lateinamerikas, Asiens und Afrikas Fuß zu fassen. Konzerne wie Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola oder Siemens werden angelockt von hohen Wachstumsraten und dem Ausblick auf über eine Milliarde neue Mobilfunkkunden. "Um die momentane Kundenzahl auf drei Milliarden zu verdoppeln, müssen Handyhersteller und Mobilfunker in Entwicklungsländer gehen", schreibt die Marktforschungsfirma Forrester in einer Studie.

Grund für die zuversichtlichen Prognosen für den Mobilfunk in den so genannten Emerging Markets ist die Tatsache, dass es in den meisten Regionen dieser Ländern überhaupt kein Telekommunikationsnetz gibt. Ein Basis-Mobilfunk für Sprache und SMS bietet die Chance, das fehlende Festnetz zu ersetzen.

"Mobilfunk ist für Entwicklungsländer billiger und kann schneller aufgebaut werden. Das läuft sehr erfolgreich", sagt Analyst John David Kim von der Marktforschungsfirma Ovum.

Wichtigster Knackpunkt für ein erfolgreiches Geschäft in Entwicklungsländern ist in allen Segmenten des Mobilfunks der Preis. Vom Netzaufbau über das Handy bis zu den Gesprächsgebühren muss alles wesentlich günstiger sein als in Industrienationen oder Schwellenländern. Die Kosten müssen aber nicht nur für die Kunden, sondern auch für die Unternehmen sinken, sonst ist ein profitables Geschäft nicht möglich.

Die Telekombranche ist gerade dabei diese Vorgabe umzusetzen: "Anbieter senken die Kosten für Netzwerkinfrastruktur. Handykonzerne bauen ,dumme Telefone', die nur für Sprachtelefonie benutzt werden können", schreibt die Beratungsfirma Ovum in einer Studie. Netzbetreiber hätten zudem Möglichkeiten geschaffen, Gesprächsguthaben mit Kleinstbeträgen aufzuladen, um den Bedürfnissen von Nutzern gerecht zu werden, die nur über wenig Bargeld verfügen, heißt es weiter.

Netzbetreiber wie Celtel, das in 13 afrikanischen Ländern wie Burkina Faso, Uganda, Sierra Leone oder Sudan Geschäfte macht, bietet Kunden beispielsweise an, ihre Handys über Rubbelkarten mit einem Guthaben von umgerechnet nur 1 $ aufzuladen. Im Gegensatz zum Geschäft in Industrienationen dominieren bei Celtel nicht die Vertragskunden, die eine monatliche Grundgebühr zahlen, sondern Karten-Kunden, die ihr Handy nach Bedarf mit kleinsten Guthaben füllen.

Eine weitere Besonderheit des Geschäfts in Entwicklungsländern ist die Tatsache, dass ein Handy meist von mehreren Menschen genutzt wird. Während in Industrienationen viele Kunden bereits mehrere Mobiltelefone nutzen, teilen sich in Entwicklungsländern oft ganze Familien, Firmen oder Dörfer ein Gerät. Das macht wegen der vielen potenziellen Telefonkunden das Geschäft für Netzbetreiber trotz einer sehr geringen Marktdurchdringung mit Handys interessant.

Dass unter diesen Voraussetzungen in Entwicklungsländern tatsächlich Gewinn gemacht werden kann, zeigt Celtel. Die aktuellsten Zahlen des Konzerns stammen von 2003. Damals wurde bei 381 Mio. $ Umsatz ein Gewinn von 74 Mio. $ eingefahren. Die Performance erschien dem kuwaitischen Konzern MTC so verlockend, dass er im März 3,32 Mrd. $ ausgab, um Celtel zu kaufen.

Der Kampf um die besten Positionen in den Entwicklungsländern hat also längst begonnen. So arbeiten Handykonzerne wie Motorola oder Nokia daran, Billighandys für unter 40 $ pro Stück als Massenware herzustellen.

Auch Infrastrukturanbieter wie Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia oder Siemens haben das Geschäft entdeckt und versuchen, mit technisch abgespeckten Mobilfunknetzen Kunden in Entwicklungsländern zu gewinnen. Sie bieten spezielle Produkte an, die mit weniger Antennen größere Gebiete mit einem Basisnetz abdecken können.

Um in den armen Ländern ins Geschäft zu kommen, werden zudem immer häufiger so genannte Lieferantenkredite gewährt. Die Netzausrüster übernehmen nicht nur die Rolle des Technologielieferanten, sondern auch die des Finanzpartners. Dabei gibt es immer wieder besondere Hürden zu bewältigen: So werden wegen der schlechten Stromversorgung viele Mobilfunkantennen über Generatoren versorgt - und die Treibstoffvorräte für die Generatoren müssen in vielen Regionen rund um die Uhr bewacht werden.

Nachricht von Marianne Kirst

--------

Zu: Mobilfunk in armen Ländern

Ein tolles Beispiel für die "wirtschaftlichen Überlegungen" der Betreiber-Strategen in den ärmsten der armen Länder, die bekanntermaßen von uns "Reichen" ausgehalten werden, mit durchaus kräftigen Margen abzukassieren.Besonders auffallend ist die Aussage zur Technik .... weniger Masten .... unkompliziertere Endgeräte..; mit anderen Worten, es geht auch mit "Primitivtechnik", die wahrscheinlich obendrauf u.U. noch weniger gesundheitsschädlich ist.

Bei mehr Elektrosmog auf dem Land ... fällt mir nur ein: Die höhere Exposition erfolgt, wie auch beschrieben, durch das Handy als Endgerät.

Feststellung: Wer sich der Strahlung und wie lange er sich aussetzen will, kann bei der Nutzung des Endgerätes jeder individuell bestimmen. Die fremdbestimmte, in der Regel 24-stündige Exposition durch die Antennenmasten wird hierbei nicht gebührend berücksichtigt und erhellend erwähnt.

Kommentar von Dr. Erich Braun

http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=94036


Informant: Debi Clark

May 18, 2005

Busted! This Friday, May 20th, every military recruiting center across the country will be closed for what the U.S. Army Recruiting Command calls an "Army Values Stand Down Day." The "stand down" will be a retraining in ethics for the military's 7,500 recruiters, following a rash of complaints that recruiters are resorting to unscrupulous tactics to enlist new soldiers. Recruiters' lies can be cruel and ridiculous; a Houston army recruiter threatened to arrest a local young man if he didn't report that day to the army recruiting station. Rae, our CODEPINK student coordinator met an army recruiter in Oakland during our action last week. He promised her a college education and world travel. The recruiter squelched her fears about being sent to war by assuring her that she would not serve in Iraq, and added that women are not engaged in combat, and that if they return home wounded, it is probably because they went out for a "joyride in a Hummer."

While the Army stands down, WE STAND UP! On May 20th, we are joined with UFPJ, AFSC and US Campus Anti-War Network in asking you to stand up for the demilitarization of youth. Stand up for students' rights to privacy from the military. Go to http://www.Militaryfreezone.org to call your local representative and tell them to support Congressman Mike Honda's "Student Privacy Protection Act" H.R. 551 and sign the petition.

We cannot allow these deceptive and predatory recruiters to infect our neighborhoods and schools. In addition to recruiting centers, recruiters are roaming the halls of high schools, stalking teenagers by repeatedly calling their homes, and enlisting cheap sales tactics to draw more young people into the military. Currently, each student's contact information is available to the Army recruiters, unless a parent signs an "Opt Out" form. Go to http://www.leavemychildalone.org to opt out your child, to adopt a school board or to host a house party.

Check out our counter-recruitment page ( http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=48 ) for local CODEPINK actions planned for May 20th around the country, especially Washington D.C. and New York City or for ideas to create actions in your own communities.

With determination for a military-free world,

Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae, and Tiffany

P.S. Watch this 4 minute video:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2005/05/17/VI2005051700710.html of MP George Galloway in a Senate hearing yesterday and see if you are not totally moved to say "NO" to the continued US occupation of Iraq, which was recently condoned by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Join CODEPINK activists and the Progressive Democrats of America in taking action to stop the war by signing the Iraq Withdrawal Petition ( http://pdamerica.org/petition/iraq-exit-petition.php ) to tell Dean and the Democrats that we are calling for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Leaked briefing says U.S. intelligence facts `fixed' around policy

by Stephen J. Hedges and Mark Silva
Washington Bureau
Published May 17, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A British official's report that the Bush administration appeared intent on invading Iraq long before it acknowledged as much or sought Congress' approval--and that it "fixed" intelligence to fit its intention--has caused a stir in Britain.

But the potentially explosive revelation has proven to be something of a dud in the United States. The White House has denied the premise of the memo, the American media have reacted slowly to it and the public generally seems indifferent to the issue or unwilling to rehash the bitter prewar debate over the reasons for the war.

All of this has contributed to something less than a robust discussion of a memo that would seem to bolster the strongest assertions of the war's critics. [...] Read the rest at the Chicago Tribune web site: http://tinyurl.com/8jds4


© Virginia Metze

by Jack Dalton
Straight-Speak

Thanks to the recently released “memos ” between the BushCo camp and the Blair “brigade” there is no longer any doubt they “cooked the books” on the intelligence to fit their already in place plans to invade Iraq. For some of us, this is just icing on the cake as there was already a wide body of evidence in the public domain articulating how “intelligence”--and I use that term loosely-- was being deliberately distorted and made to fit pre-determined plans to invade Iraq. Former Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neill, in “The Price of Loyalty” shows as early as February, 2002, a deliberate, concerted effort was being put forth to “justify”—also used loosely—invading Iraq. [...] Read more at: http://jack-dalton.blogspot.com/ (scroll down)


© Virginia Metze

Posted by Danny
May 17, 2005

Rathergate Redux?
Does Torture "Work"?
The Media Reform Debate

Now it seems to be Newsweek's turn to be crucified for the sins of the "liberal media." It is Rathergate all over again, only this time the magazine's reporting is being blamed for riots and deaths in Afghanistan, a response ostensibly to a report on the desecration of the Qur'an in a prison camp. In one quick swipe of a blogger's keyboard, the blame game has shifted from expose the abusers to beat the press. Suddenly, Newsweek is a the poster child for the blame America First media. [...] Read the rest of that and go on to the second two topics (above) at http://www.newsdissector.com/blog/2005/05/17/#1262 or
http://tinyurl.com/994d5


© Virginia Metze

by Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2005; Page A10

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit yesterday against the Department of Health and Human Services, accusing the Bush administration of spending federal tax dollars on an abstinence education program that promotes Christianity.

Filed in federal court in Boston, the lawsuit alleges that the programs and educational materials distributed by Silver Ring Thing are "permeated with religion" and use "taxpayer dollars to promote religious content, instruction and indoctrination." [...] Read the rest at the Washington Post: http://tinyurl.com/ab2qn This is also on the ACLU web site: http://tinyurl.com/dh37x


© Virginia Metze

From: Indymedia, London
Home Truths
18 May 2005

Accustomed only to hearing ‘positive’ pro-war sound-bites from the Administration, Americans were taken aback by George Galloway’s frank oratory. Facts are his defense in the face of monumental lies and his accusers expose themselves, while attempting to disgrace him. Here are some of the quotes from British MP George Galloway as he confronted his accusers on a US Senate sub-committee

"Who paid me hundreds of thousands of dollars? The answer to that is nobody and if you had anybody who paid me a penny you would have produced them here today."

"I have met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld met him. The difference is that Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns and to give him maps the better to target those guns." [...] Read it all at: http://tinyurl.com/8o7t4


© Virginia Metze

by John in DC - 5/16/2005 01:53:00 AM
AmericaBlog

I don't buy it.

Chris and I have been talking about this (I'm still in Paris), and we think President Bush placed a little call to the head of Newsweek, asking him to beg off the story since riots are now spreading across the Middle East. I simply refuse to believe anything the Bush administration says about anything at this point. And the administration's assurances that they "investigated" the story and found it not true - well, let's talk about WMD, let's talk about "no evidence of widespread abuse" of prisoners at US facilities around the world.

I say, bull. As Joe already noted, this is not the first time the story has been reported about US authorities flushing the Koran down the toilet at Gitmo. And let's not forget everything else they've been doing to the detainees, at Abu Ghraib and beyond. Newsweek is backing down to help Bush out, and it's sad. [...] Read it all at AmericaBlog: http://tinyurl.com/cefr4


© Virginia Metze

The Nation blog
Posted 05/15/2005 @ 3:40pm

Bill Moyers is not taking attacks by Bush Administration allies on public broadcasting in general and his journalism in particular sitting down.

"I should put my detractors on notice," declared the veteran journalist who stepped down in January as the host of PBS's NOW With Bill Moyers, who recently turned 70. "They might compel me out of the rocking chair and into the anchor chair." Read the rest at: http://tinyurl.com/cgumo


© Virginia Metze

As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan, America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now refusing to serve their country.

Andrew Buncombe reports
The Independent Online
16 May 2005

Sergeant Kevin Benderman cannot shake the images from his head. There are bombed villages and desperate people. There are dogs eating corpses thrown into a mass grave. And most unremitting of all, there is the image of a young Iraqi girl, no more than eight or nine, one arm severely burnt and blistered, and the sound of her screams.

Last January, these memories became too much for this veteran of the war in Iraq. Informed his unit was about to return, he told his commanders he wanted out and applied to be considered a conscientious objector. The Army refused and charged him with desertion. Last week, his case - which carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment - started before a military judge at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

"If I am sincere in what I say and there's consequences because of my actions, I am prepared to stand up and take it," Sgt Benderman said. "If I have to go to prison because I don't want to kill anybody, so be it." [...] Read the rest at: http://tinyurl.com/d3m3v


© Virginia Metze

EDITORIAL
Los Angeles Times
May 17, 2005

According to chaos theory, the flapping of a single butterfly's wings can trigger a hurricane halfway across the globe, a phenomenon known as the "butterfly effect." Now the Bush administration thinks it has detected something that might be called the "Newsweek effect." It says the magazine's publication of an item in its May 9 issue, alleging that U.S. guards flushed the Koran down a toilet in order to humiliate prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, was a cause of riots in Afghanistan and Pakistan last week that left at least 14 people dead.

[...]

The United States has already been convicted in the court of world opinion for its treatment of its prisoners, and that's the administration's fault, not Newsweek's. Shutting down Guantanamo and giving suspected terrorists legal protections would help restore our reputation abroad. Crowing over Newsweek's mishap won't. Read it all at the LA Times: http://tinyurl.com/bnhvm


© Virginia Metze

http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts05172005.html


© Virginia Metze

Their Real Target

People wonder why Senate GOP leaders are willing to go to these extremes over these last few nominees, the bottom of the barrel of President Bush's picks for the federal courts.

I'll tell you why: they want to change the rules for judicial nominations now, while they think no one is paying attention, because they know what will be next: a Supreme Court vacancy.

They expect retirements to open up one or more seats on the Supreme Court soon -- and with this permanent rule change in place, there will be no way to stop them from packing it with more conservative ideologues.

We have to protect the Supreme Court. That means we have to stop this Republican attack now:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/stopitnow

Senate Republicans, Senator Frist, President Bush and the Republican Party believe they have absolute power to dump our two-century old system of checks and balances and make our independent judiciary toe their conservative line.

But the framers of our Constitution did not want the Senate to be a rubber stamp for any President's agenda. They feared the tyranny of the majority, and designed the Senate to protect the country from it. For over 200 years the Senate has been the key safeguard against that tyranny -- and today the Republicans would throw it all away.

Their drastic and destructive path has only one aim -- the Supreme Court, and they're willing to sacrifice the Senate's inalienable Constitutional role to get their way.

Join me in telling Senator Frist to stop this despicable court-packing scheme -- tell him to stop it now:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/stopitnow

We need to speak the truth about where this fight is headed. By speaking out now we can spread the word about what is at stake -- preserving our priceless system of checks and balances and the fundamental principle of an independent judiciary.

Please take this important action now. Our success depends on it.

Thank you,

Senator Edward M. Kennedy


Informant: Martin Greenhut

Fife Today

FRUSTRATED residents staged an impromptu protest over a mobile 'phone mast as workmen tried to put it back up.

The long-running saga at Formonthills Road took another twist on Thursday morning as engineers arrived to replace the device which had been taken away for repairs. It had been badly vandalised over a month ago and was due to go back up with security cameras attached last week.

But furious locals made their views known by attempting to stop work being carried out. They are angry at how O2 were able to gain original planning permission after what many claimed was "inadequate" consultation. And the group has vowed to continue their fight to remove it altogether. One of the protestors, Evelyn Allsopp, said local people had not been listened to throughout the affair. "We've been told that proper consultation took place and that is just not true - they are lying through their teeth," she commented. "The feeling of the residents is extremely strong and we feel let down and deceived by our so-called representatives." Local woman Wilna Roger, of nearby Cardean Way, added: "There is a potential health risk - it hasn't been proved either way. "Even if just one person is made ill by it, is that worth the risk?"

The Gazette also understands that one Cardean Way resident now spends most of her time in Edinburgh as she can't bear to live in her house, which is overshadowed by the mast. Another protestor fumed: "We think the council has failed in one of their primary duties and that is to protect the health and environment of the community."

The mast initially went up in January, 2004, angering people who felt it had been granted permission without warning. It then emerged O2 had breached planning regulations, but as the initial application had been approved, it was altered and re-sited in the correct location to agreed specifications.

After the recent vandalism, community members wrote to O2 officials offering them a chance to negotiate.

But Balgeddie and Collydean councillor Bill Kay, who is on the development committee, revealed that had fallen on deaf ears. "We were prepared to try and expedite a site for them and they point blankly refused to do anything," he said. "They didn't do any real, meaningful consultation, and I think the Scottish Executive is eventually going to have to sort this type of thing out."

The 15-metre mast was finally erected after police were called, and the protest went off peacefully.

No-one at O2 was available for comment.

18 May 2005

Wirrel and Birkenhead news

A MINISTER who allowed a Vodafone mast to be placed on top of his church now says his deal with the mobile phone giant was based on a trust that "appears to have been misplaced".

Residents were alarmed that the mast, which has a cross design on top, could be used to download pornographic images.

They also complained that the mast - fitted onto St Andrew's Church in Rowson Street, New Brighton - looked out of place, could affect house prices and may be a health risk.

A meeting between The Reverend Ken Blake, Vodafone and local residents and councillors had been arranged for a date three weeks ago to discuss the complaints, but the phone firm pulled out at the last minute.

The mast was installed in March to provide connections for 3G mobile phones - delivering high-speed sound, image and video content from the internet along with normal speech and text services.

After the Globe reported on the row in our April 27 edition, Mr Blake wrote to us saying: "The cross itself is not a part of the mast and does not play a part in the transmissions.

"The cross is also a symbol of God's communication with the world. Communications are also, one might justifiably say, an indispensable feature of modern society."

But he added: "St Andrew's Church have proceeded with the installation of the mast on the basis of trust and good faith with the assurances of Vodafone that matters would be dealt with fairly and properly.

"It was a condition of the agreement that if there should be significant resistance from the local community then we would not proceed.

"Vodafone undertook to conduct a consultation prior to proceeding. We took them at their word. Sadly, that trust appears to have been misplaced."

He insisted that the church was not "simply sitting back hoping it will all go away" and was now actively working with residents to determine what course of action to follow.

"That depends at the moment on gathering some information and until we have that we cannot proceed further," he said.

However, Vodafone spokeswoman Jane Frapwell expressed surprise when told of Mr Blake's comments.

She said: "We do not proceed to install masts without the full permission of the landowner, in this case the church.

"We also carried out extensive consultation in the New Brighton area. I'm a little surprised by this but we will of course listen to what the church and local residents have to say."

Barnet and Potters Bar Times

What an interesting view of creation the Rev Laurence Hill of Holy Trinity Church, East Finchley, seems to have. (Baby owls in mast's way', May 12).

When stating that he would not comment on whether investigations will be undertaken into any potential nesting sites within the church, which could be disturbed by the mobile phone mast proposed for the belfry, he said, Birds are not allowed to nest in the church.' Is rain allowed to fall on the church during weddings, or the wind allowed to blow during services?

On a more serious note, a man of the cloth would surely wish such an investigation to be thoroughly carried out before the mast is approved, in order to protect any of the Lord's creatures from being destroyed by it.

We can only hope that the revenue deal entered into between the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England and QS4, the mast installer, will not get in the way of such Christian concerns.

Fiona Rosen
Pageant Avenue, Colindale

1:42pm Wednesday 18th May 2005

Baby owls in mast's way

Nesting birds, including a tawny owl, could scupper plans to install a mobile phone mast in the belfry of an East Finchley church.

The nocturnal guest is a familiar annual sight at the church, and has become a favourite with residents, who say it has been returning Holy Trinity Church, in Church Lane, to breed for the past five years.

A 3G phone mast is proposed for the belfry of the church spire, where residents say the owl is currently nestling with its young.

Clive Cohen, representative of the Barnet branch of the London Wildlife Trust said: "Owls breed much earlier than most birds, and it's this time of year that there will actually be young in their nests."

Members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds who live in the area are now investigating the potential effect any disturbance could have on the owl. "Last year it flew past our window at 4am. We've heard it hooting and screeching for the past five years, and calling to a mate who hooted in response," said resident Caroline Broome of Church Lane.

"Last summer a sparrow hawk was resting on our pergola, and within a week, the owl had seen it off its territory it's quite a character."

In addition to the owl, tens of other species of bird are said to be nesting in or around the wooded enclaves of the church itself, including magpies, wood pigeons, blue tits, jays and, for the first time last year, robins.

However, the parish could find itself in hot water, should any of the nests be disturbed. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, disturbing a nesting bird is illegal.

If this is the case, not only will the installation of the mast be illegal, but it is also likely to disturb the owl from ever returning to its nesting site.

Residents are currently lodging their complaints through consultations hosted by the parish and its mast installer, QS4, but are expected to write in with their objections before next Thursday. QS4 has been appointed by the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England as the sole installer of masts on its churches, with the church entering a revenue deal with the firm in return for hosting the mast.

Reverend Laurence Hill, of Holy Trinity Church, said he was not aware that any owl was nesting in or around the grounds of the church.

"It's news to me if there is an owl," he said. "And the builders who have already been up there have not seen a nest in the belfry. The bells are rung there once a week, so I'd be surprised if there was an owl there,"

He would not comment on whether an investigation would be undertaken on any potential nesting sites within the church which could be disturbed by the mast, although he did say birds are not allowed to nest in the church'.

Shropshire Star 18th May 05

A long-running fight to halt plans to install a mobile phone mast in the centre of Bridgnorth has finally been won by campaigners. Town councillors have voted to scrap the scheme.

Telecommunications giant O2 wanted to attach a mast to a floodlight at Bridgnorth Town Football Club's Crown Meadow ground, to the fury of nearby residents.

But the town council, which owns the land, last night refused permission for the mast, saying it was not allowed under the terms of the football club's lease.

Councillors voted unanimously at Bridgnorth Town Council's meeting to reject the plan. They said it had the potential to cause a nuisance or inconvenience to neighbours.

The application was refused by district planning chiefs last month after huge local opposition.

Glasgow Evening Times

18th May 2005

WORRIED parents campaigning against a giant phone mast have taken their fight to the doorstep of the club where it could be built.

Campaigners have put up a huge banner next to Riddrie Bowling Club which reads: "If you erect a mast you will harm the local kids." The club stands to make £3000 a year for 20 years for allowing the T-Mobile mast in its grounds.

But parents fear the mast, which could be up to 50ft high and will be just inches from the bottom of families' gardens and a play park, could make their children ill. Hundreds of residents have already signed a petition demanding Glasgow City Council block the plans.

Riddrie Bowling Club secretary Derek Timpany insisted the club wanted to do the right thing by the community and would be prepared to hold a public meeting to discuss the proposals. He said: "We are happy to meet with residents, councillors and T-Mobile to discuss the best way forward."

But many residents are determined to stop the plan. Mum-of-three Una Gillon, 47, said: "There are rules that say masts shouldn't be put near sensitive areas. "If they're not dangerous then why is that? And if they are dangerous how can they put them at the bottom of my garden where my children play? "There is an incredible amount of concern over this idea and we're not prepared to let it go ahead."

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "T-Mobile understands there can be concerns within local communities when locating base stations, however with more than 60million mobile phones in the UK , there is a need to develop our network to provide quality service. "Based on more than 40 years of research, T-Mobile is confident its base stations, operating within strict national and international guidelines, do not present a health risk."

Sunderland Echo

FURIOUS residents are up in arms over plans to increase the use of a mobile phone mast on their doorsteps.

The imposing phone mast behind Beckenham Avenue, in East Boldon, has been the source of much controversy ever since the plans to build it were first mooted more than five years ago.
After much local opposition and a petition signed by nearly 100 people, South Tyneside Council refused planning permission to build the mast.

But a Government inspector overturned the decision, although several conditions were imposed, including the limitation of the amount of use of the mast.

However, in 2003, more dishes were added to the mast, indicating increased usage, and, to rub further salt in their wounds, residents received a letter last month saying yet more dishes are to be added to the mast.

Pensioner Gerry Ash, of Beckenham Avenue , said: "We have a lot of children living in our street and that is one of our main concerns. "Last year the Government released a report discouraging children under 10 from using mobile phones for health reasons. "So what about the children in our street living near a mast where mobile phone signals actually come from? "We will protest against these latest plans, but, to be honest, I think the local government have their hands tied by central government policy. "Well, enough is enough and we want them to stand up to the Government."

The villagers have the support of Couns David Potts and Donald Wood from the Cleadon and East Boldon ward. Coun Potts said: "We all want to use mobile telephones, but these masts do not belong in residential areas like East Boldon. "Local residents have suffered enough with the Metro line running right outside of their back gardens. "The council and the companies who erect these masts should be consulting further with local residents before going ahead and putting these things up." Coun Wood added: "Even now, no one really knows of the potential health risks posed by these masts. "Until further research has been conducted and a definitive answer known one way or another, these masts should be erected as far away from residential areas as possible."

The plans are at a consultation stage and residents have been given 21 days to voice their objections.

18 May 2005

Cambridge Evening News

ADDENBROOKE'S Hospital has been condemned for having too many mobile phone masts on its roof.

Thirty masts and dishes are on the roof of the main ward block. The hospital says there is no risk to patients or staff from the equipment, but pressure group Mast Sanity disagrees.

Communications director, Karen Barratt, said: "Thirty is a lot of masts and, given the sensitivity of the site, on a hospital, that is completely unacceptable.

"There is increasing evidence to suggest there are serious health implications from this technology . . . they should be looking to find ways to have masts removed from the premises."

Independent mobile phone research group Powerwatch is also concerned by the number of masts.

Researcher Jean Philips said: "People in wards under the masts will probably be in the best place because emissions go out, not down. The problem will be in buildings around the ward block because emissions will go straight into the windows.

There will be a lot of buildings exposed to quite high levels of microwaves."

A hospital spokeswoman said: "We have got 30 dishes and masts up on the roof.

"That number has not grown over the last couple of years and we have not got any plans to increase that significantly in the near future.

"We follow national guidelines for any health risks and each has to have a survey done each time to show there's no risk.

It's part of our responsibility as landlord and duty of care to patients and staff."

Anti-mast campaigners say the hospital could be charging up to £100,000 a year to allow the masts to be sited there.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2005/05/18/1f691f3d-c19a-4772-a9d9-b9c96bb2a86c.lpf


Informant: Sylvie

May 18 2005

South Warwickshire

By Andrew Heath

Controversial plans for a phone mast in Kenilworth are to go before the planning inspectorate.

Phone company O2 has appealed against Warwick District Council's decision to refuse the plans for the mast at the junction of Crewe Lane and Glasshouse Lane.

Residents voiced concerns about the proposal, citing worries about health risks and the impact the mast may have on the "dangerous" junction.

They were backed by Kenil-worth Town Council, Cllr Dave Shilton and the Kenilworth Society.

Geoff Symes, clerk at the town council, said: "It is on the barrier between a residential area and the green belt.

"There is poor visibility on the junction and everyone who lives there knows that this has to be approached with great caution already."

Warwick District Council's planning committee turned down the application on the grounds the pole would be visually intrusive on an already dangerous junction.

But, despite another application for a mast a few hundred yards away, with no objections, O2 has appealed.

Cllr Shilton (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Park Hill) said: "It is a sad way of working.

"It gets the fears of residents up and I will continue to campaign against it."

Campaigners in Kenilworth are fighting other applications for masts at Birmingham Road, near Beehive Hill and on the junction of Waverley Road and Priory Road.

A spokeswoman for O2 said: "We urgently need a mast in the area for our 3G coverage.

"We are actually trying to cover all eventualities and if we get planning permission for the other one, we will withdraw the appeal against the initial application."

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/2811/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news

Die Chemieindustrie wird sich über diese Zahlen freuen, Verbraucher nicht: Aus einer vom EinkaufsNetz in Auftrag gegebenen Untersuchung geht hervor, dass seit 2001 die Grenzwerte von 33 besonders gefährlichen Spritzmitteln erhöht wurden.

Die Folge der Anhebung liegt auf der Hand: giftige Pestizide finden sich in immer höheren Mengen völlig legal in unseren Lebensmitteln wieder. Das alarmierende dieser Untersuchung ist, dass sich darunter Gifte befinden, die besonders gefährlich für Mensch und Umwelt sind. So wurde z.B. der Grenzwert für das Insektizid Methomyl, das die EU als hormonell wirksam beschreibt, um das 10 bis 20fache erhöht. Auf Tomaten, Zitronen, Mandarinen und Pflaumen darf sich das Mittel also um ein Vielfaches wiederfinden, bevor wir die Früchte essen.

Greenpeace fordert deshalb Frau Künast heute auf, sich dafür einzusetzen, dass diese Stoffe verboten werden.

Für euch haben wir einen neuen Protest-Brief verfasst,
zu dem ihr hier kommt:

http://de.einkaufsnetz.org/kampagnen/gift_im_essen/15386.html

Bitte beachtet: Ihr könnt gern euren persönlichen Text mit einfügen. Schreibt Verbraucherministerin Künast, warum ihr euch von dem Thema betroffen fühlt. Individuelle Briefe zeigen mehr Wirkung. Mehr Infos zum Thema sowie die Untersuchung findet ihr hier:

http://de.einkaufsnetz.org/kampagnen/gift_im_essen


Bis bald,

Euer EinkaufsNetz-Team
einkaufsnetz@greenpeace.de
EinkaufsNetz
Greenpeace e.V.
Grosse Elbstrasse 39
22767 Hamburg
http://www.einkaufsnetz.org
Tel. + 49 40 30618-357
Fax + 49 40 30618-130

05/18/05

I'm not at all surprised that the supporters of the current war jumped on Newsweek's flubbed story that led to widespread riots and the deaths of about 15 people. Neither am I surprised that they hold the media to a higher standard than their 'public servants' in Washington. The now-retracted story alleged that US military personnel at Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Koran in order to get their Muslim prisoners to talk. ... The knives were drawn immediately. But the skewering of Newsweek by neoconservative war pundits should be taken worth a grain of salt, for obvious reasons. These are the same people who defended or overlooked the false information fed to us by our own government in the lead up to the current immoral, unconstitutional war in Iraq in which tens of thousands have already perished." [editor's note: Why is everyone ignoring the fact that the "Quran desecration story" has been reported, without dispute, for some time, and that the problem with the Newsweek story was a claim that a forthcoming government report would admit to the known facts? - TLK]

http://www.sierratimes.com/05/05/18/68_32_155_83_61940.htm

from Sierra Times, by Garry Cobb


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/18/05

On May 16, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan expressed outrage over Newsweek's story that a U.S. military report was going to acknowledge that guards at the Guantanamo Bay detention center had tried to put a copy of the Quran down a toilet. 'The report had real consequences. People have lost their lives,' McClellan said. 'Our image abroad has been damaged.' The next day, after Newsweek had fully retracted the story, McClellan added that the magazine had a responsibility to 'help repair the damage' to our reputation in the Muslim world. Let's see. A mistake ... lives lost ... America's image abroad damaged. Does any of that sound vaguely familiar? A few instances do spring to mind. Newsweek didn't have anything to do with them. McClellan's boss did...

http://www.slate.com/id/2119055/

from Slate, by Jacob Weisberg


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/19/05

Going to war is the most serious decision a president can make. It should never be approached in a cavalier fashion. American lives, the prestige and influence of the country, international relations, the health of its defenses, and the future of the next generation are at stake. Yet every single piece of evidence we now have confirms that George W. Bush, who was obsessed with unseating Saddam Hussein even before 9/11, recklessly used the opportunity presented by the terror attacks to march the country to war, fixing the intelligence to justify his decision, and lying to the American people about the reasons for the war. In other times, this might have been an impeachable offense...[subscription or ad view required]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/05/19/lies/

from Salon, by Juan Cole


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



A leaked British memo, and other documents, make it clear that Bush intended all along to invade Iraq -- and lied about it to the American people. The full gravity of his offense has not yet sunk in.

By Juan Cole

Why has there not been more outrage in the United States at these revelations? Many Americans may have chosen to overlook the lies and deceptions the Bush administration used to justify the war because they still believe the Iraq war might have made them at least somewhat safer. When they realize that this hope, too, is unfounded, and that in fact the war has greatly increased the threat of another terrorist attack on U.S. soil, their wrath may be visited on the president and the political party that has brought America the biggest foreign-policy disaster since Vietnam.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8891.htm

05/19/05

Before attributing the Koran controversy solely to a poorly sourced magazine article and the ability of al-Qaeda and other groups to cynically exploit it, the West would do well to draw a lesson from the episode that would help formulate better plans to cope with and defeat Sunni militancy. That lesson is simply to conclude that a substantial number of the West's opponents in the War on Terrorism are motivated by faith, and that they find U.S. and Western actions -- especially those that seem to target Islamic sanctities -- overwhelmingly more offensive and humiliating than the norms and lifestyles of Western societies. Objectively, the negative reaction of Muslims at all societal levels to the Newsweek story, and their reluctance to credit the magazine's retraction, should not have been a surprise in the West -- and yet there is every indication of Western shock...

http://www.antiwar.com/scheuer/?articleid=6001

from AntiWar.Com, by Michael Scheuer


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/18/05

During the Vietnam War, people protested the draft and U.S. policy in Vietnam by burning draft cards. It was a symbolic gesture -- a way of refusing to be counted as a citizen willing to fight a morally dubious battle, a way to avoid becoming a statistic in the graveyards of the cold war. As of last week, we have a new card to burn. I'm talking about the new driver's licenses and ID cards ushered into existence by the passage of Rep. James Sensenbrenner's Real ID Act, which zoomed through the House and Senate without debate by piggybacking on an appropriations bill. It mandates that all licenses include a digital photo, as well as 'machine-readable technology with defined minimum data elements.' In other words: your license will include some kind of tech -- probably a magnetic stripe or radio frequency identification (RFID) chip -- containing all your personal information...

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/22043/

from AlterNet, by Annalee Newitz


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/19/05

The last two presidential elections revealed that American democracy is in distress. A full public airing is much needed and the stature of the Carter-Baker Commission promises to garner the national attention and respect required to truly grapple with the scope of the problem. That is, until people begin to look at the make-up of the Commission and its agenda. Perhaps the hottest issue in election reform is making sure that votes are counted accurately. It is now widely understood that paperless computer voting systems are vulnerable to human error, computer failure and malicious tampering and therefore verification of the vote is essential...

http://www.libertyforall.net/2005/may14/Myopia.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

from Liberty For All, by Linda Schade and Kevin Zeese

05/18/05

John R. Bolton planned to ask then-CIA Director George Tenet to help punish a government intelligence analyst who disagreed with Bolton, and then misled a Senate committee about the matter, a Democratic Senate report said Wednesday. Bolton pushed for months to have the analyst removed from his job or otherwise disciplined, according to details revealed for the first time in the report, but he testified under oath at his confirmation hearing to be United Nations ambassador that he 'made no effort to have discipline imposed' on the man...

http://tinyurl.com/ac5lo

from Indianapolis Star


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/18/05

As the Senate marches closer toward a nuclear showdown over President Bush's judicial nominees, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that the American public is dissatisfied -- with Congress and its priorities, with Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security and with the nation's economy and general direction. Moreover, a majority believes that the Senate should make its own decision about the president's judicial nominees, rather than just generally confirming them...

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7899754/

from MSNBC


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Opps, Newsweek Was Correct: Desecration of Koran Had Been Reported Before

Once you read the article below, you'll see how the White House bullied Newsweek magazine to make a quick retraction, before al the facts are reviewed. The Washington Post article below (which should have been on the front page) contains several references to U.S. service members allegedly desecrating the Koran. Newsweek might be weak because they caved in, but the real problem is the White House because of the enormous lies they told to start the Iraq War and allow prisoners of war to be tortured.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3270

Parrent Amy Hagopian told school board members the Department of Defense is "spending $4 billion a month in Iraq, but we have to cut our race relations class, which costs $12,500. That's an important class for our kids." Is $12,500 worth of prevention worth untold thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars wasted?

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3268

Wide words for difficult times: "The Crusades are a religiously justified violent campaign against a whole other civilization ... All of this culminates in the horrible religious wars of the 17th Century, which were the crucible out of which democracy was born. The reaction of Enlightenment figures, to the horrors of these religious wars, was to say religion simply can no longer be the defining note of the state. Thank goodness, there’s this ingenious movement to separate the church from the state, so that states guarantee the religious freedom of individual citizens by remaining religiously neutral themselves."

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3267

Seymour Hersh, arguably the greatest journalist of our time and certainly the most necessary, joined me last week at a University of Illinois conference that asked the question: "Can freedom of the press survive media consolidations?" The Pulitzer-winning journalist reworked the question, asking: "Can freedom of the press survive the Bush presidency?"

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3263

So far this month, more than 450 Iraqis and dozens of U.S. troops have been killed by an Iraqi insurgency that, even after two years, shows signs of intensifying. Yet the Bush administration, which originally expected U.S. troops to be greeted as liberators and then promised that elections would fatally undermine the rebel cause, remains clueless as to the composition of this virulent enemy.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3261

http://tinyurl.com/7szmt

http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Mike+Dolan

http://tinyurl.com/9h932


Informant: Dr Grahame Blackwell


http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Mike+Dolan

Von STEFAN VOLBERG

18.05.2005 20:13 Uhr

Weitreichende Beschränkung und Reglementierung der Werbung im Bereich Hohe Straße, Wallrafplatz, Schildergasse / Gürzenichstraße und ihrer Nebenstraßen sieht eine Verwaltungsvorlage vor, die heute auf der Tagesordnung der Bezirksvertretung Innenstadt steht. Diese Gestaltungssatzung soll die alte Satzung ablösen, die seit 1981 in Kraft ist.

Details aus der Vorlage: Einzelreklameflächen sollen maximal einen Quadratmeter groß sein; Werbeanlagen sind erst ab 3,50 Meter über Straßenniveau zulässig und dürfen höchstens 1,50 Meter ausladend sein. Einzelbuchstaben dürfen höchstens einen Meter breit und 1,50 Meter hoch sein. Flächig auf der Fassade angebrachte Werbung darf nicht schräg befestigt werden; die Montage vor Fenstern wird verboten. Unzulässig sind Anlagen mit wechselnden oder beweglichen Sichtflächen oder bewegliche Laufschrift, Bekleben der Schaufensterscheibe mit Folien, Tuchtransparente auf der Fassade und über Freiflächen zwischen den Gebäuden, großflächige Werbetransparente etwa auch als Staubschutzplane an Gerüsten oder Fassaden. Die Vorlage regelt auch die Gestaltung und Montage von Antennenanlagen; so sollen Mobilfunkanlagen an Gebäuden mit Sattel-, Walm- oder Giebeldächern ausgeschlossen werden. (KR)

http://www.rundschau-online.de/kr/KrCachedContentServer?ksArtikel.id=1113230084798&listID=1038816865446&openMenu=1038942868191&calledPageId=1038816864519 (Auszug)


Nachricht von der BI Bad Dürkheim



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Bauleitplanung

Das Thema "Mobilfunk...

Vom 19.05.2005

Leserbrief: Das Thema "Mobilfunk" erhitzt die Gemüter. Die Binger Grünen hatten deshalb Ende April Fachleute zu einer Podiumsdiskussion eingeladen (die AZ berichtete).

Mobilfunk bleibt gefährlich

Der Bildunterschrift zu dem Artikel über den Mobilfunk als "größten Freilandversuch" muss ich leider widersprechen: Es gibt sehr wohl bundesweit Beweise, dass Mobilfunkstrahlen und Sendeanlagen gefährlich sind. Das sagt sogar das den Mobilfunkbetreibern sehr nahe stehende Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, und empfiehlt, Handys so wenig wie möglich zu benutzen und soweit wie möglich vom Ohr abzuhalten. Und das Amt setzt noch einen darauf: Kinder sollten überhaupt nicht mobil telefonieren.

Die Mobilfunkbetreiber haben es seit dem Jahr 1992 meisterhaft verstanden, die Kritik der Standortgegner nieder zu trampeln. Nicht selten wurden zweifelnde Wissenschaftler kurzerhand mit Forschungsaufträgen betraut und somit mundtot gemacht.

Tatsache ist, dass Mobilfunksendeanlagen außerordentlich große Gesundheitsgefahren verursachen. Die ehemalige Sendeanlage von Mannesmann in Grolsheim hatte zur Folge, dass in kurzer Zeit im Halbradius von 200 Metern 16 Personen an Krebs und Hirntumoren starben. Vor und nach der inzwischen abgebauten Anlage hatte die Gemeinde einen oder zwei Sterbefälle im Jahr zu beklagen.

So zu tun, als ob Mobilfunkstrahlen ungefährlich sind, kann so nicht stehen bleiben. Jedoch: Schon allein aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen kann die expandierende Mobilfunkindustrie nicht zurück gefahren werden. Doch in der Schweiz sind die Richtwerte neunmal niedriger. Das zumindest könnte auch in Deutschland sein. Selbst von der krankmachenden Strahlenintensität überzeugte Experten tun sich schwer, gegen einen Staat im Staate, wie ihn die Mobilfunkbetreiber zwischenzeitlich verkörpern, anzurennen.

Omega siehe dazu „Die Schweizer Grenzwerte - Eine Mogelpackung erster Güte“ unter: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/283430/

Doch eines steht fest: Mobilfunksendeanlagen machen krank. So oder so! Und das Gegenteil ist nicht bewiesen.

Theo Bayer, Grolsheim

http://www.main-rheiner.de/region/objekt.php3?artikel_id=1902680


Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Warum Mobilfunk schädlich ist
http://mein-mobilfunk-plaedoyer.de/

Diskussionsbeitrag von Wolfgang Fabricius vom 29.04.2005 (pdf) beim Gesundheitsladen Berlin

http://www.gesundheitsladen-berlin.de/Leibeigenschaft.pdf


Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 25, Eintrag 10

Auf der Suche nach Alternativen: Das bedingungslose Grundeinkommen

Artikel von Harald Rein, erschienen in Asta der FH Münster (Hg.): Alle reden vom Wetter. Wir nicht. Beiträge zur Förderung der kritischen Vernunft, Münster 2005

http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/existenz/rein_wetter.html


http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Grundeinkommen


Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 25, Eintrag 10

http://www.izgmf.de/Aktionen/Meldungen/Archiv_04/PL-Statistik/pl-statistik.html
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/697358/

http://www.nachrichten.ch/detail/211689.htm
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/697358/

In keinem anderen Land agieren Führungskräfte derart passiv bis innovationsfeindlich wie in Deutschland. Von ihren Mitarbeitern erwarten die hiesigen Manager gerade in schwierigen Zeiten neue Ideen, viel Einsatzbereitschaft und Kreativität, doch ihnen selbst fällt zugleich nichts besseres ein, als Kürzen, Sparen, Feuern...

http://www.tecchannel.de/news/business/20867/

Mainzer Mediziner untersuchen Betroffene

MAINZ (arts). Mit einem bundesweit einzigartigen Projekt will Rheinland-Pfalz möglichen gesundheitsschädlichen Auswirkungen elektromagnetischer Felder (EMF) auf die Spur kommen. Erstmals sollen dabei betroffene Bürger umfassend medizinisch untersucht werden.

http://www.mainzer-emf-wachhund.de


Omega siehe dazu:

http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Victims/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=EMF-Wachhund

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Umweltministerin Conrad wertet gesundheitliche Beschwerden "nicht als Massenphänomen".

http://www.main-rheiner.de/region/objekt.php3?artikel_id=1895437

Omega siehe dazu:

http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Victims/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=EMF-Wachhund

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Mainz (dpa) - Beschwerden über Gesundheitsstörungen wegen Elektrosmogs von Handys oder Mobilfunkanlagen sind laut einer Erhebung des rheinland-pfälzischen Umweltministeriums seltener als bisher angenommen.

Omega siehe dazu:

http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Victims/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=EMF-Wachhund

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=EMF-Wachhund
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Victims/

Krebscluster in der Nähe von Funkantennen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/227418/

Krebsfälle in OÖ und Gesundheitsschäden unter dem Einfluss hochfrequenter elektromagnetischer Felder
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/749728/

http://www.mises.org/story/1814


Informant: Lew Rockwell

[IDW/red] – Die möglichen Risiken von Mobiltelefonen oder Sendeanlagen werden von Experten unterschiedlich eingeschätzt. Der in der Öffentlichkeit bestehende Verdacht, Mobilfunk habe negative gesundheitliche Auswirkungen, kann allerdings nicht erhärtet werden, so die Programmgruppe Mensch Umwelt Technik (MUT) des Forschungszentrums Jülich.

http://www.arbeit-und-gesundheit.de/zeige_seite.php?artikelid=737&collectionname=Startseitenartikel
(Auszug)

--------

Der "Leitfaden zum Umgang mit Problemen elektromagnetischer Felder in den Kommunen", ist zu finden unter

http://www.emf-risiko.de/leitfaden-emf/index.html,

erarbeitet von der Programmgruppe Mensch, Umwelt, Technik des Forschungszentrums Jülich, einer sehr industrienahen Institution, deren Mitarbeiter sich seit Jahren durch Verharmlosung von Umweltgefahren hervortun und im Auftrag von Mobilfunk- und Atomindustrie durch die Lande ziehen und bei Veranstaltungen und in Fernsehsendungen auftreten, um die Sorgen besorgter Bürger herunterzuspielen. Die Programmgruppe Mensch Umwelt Technik (MUT) wird von Dr. Peter M. Wiedemann geleitet, Psychologe und der Vergangenheit bereits in ähnlicher Weise für die Atomindustrie tätig. Als Partner der Programmgruppe werden beispielsweise T-Mobil und Vodaphone Produktentwicklung angegeben.

In dem Dokument http://www.fz-juelich.de/mut/hefte/heft_81.pdf teilt die Programmgruppe MUT die Mobilfunkgegner in Gruppen ein (Seite 58, Abschnitt 5.3.) und analysieren diese für ihren Auftraggeber. Offensichtlich, damit dieser dann "zielgruppenspezifisch" gegen diese vorgehen kann.

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/602488/

--------

Jülich Report

Es ist erstaunlich und für Mobilgegner nützlich, dass diese "Experten" warnen 'kurz anrufen, nicht im Auto, nicht weit vom Sendemast'. Und das nicht nur für Kinder bis 8 (wie William Stewart), sondern für Jedermann! Und erstaunlich, dass diese "Experten" klipp und klar bestätigen, dass es nicht-thermische Effekte gibt, besonders von pulsierter Strahlung. Und dass die wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen nur sagen, dass die Effekte kein Problem sind für gesunde, junge Erwachsene. Und dass es möglich ist, dass manche Gruppen damit nicht wohl und gesund bleiben können. Weiterhin stehen im Report die bekannten Verharmlosungen.

Der Pressebericht sagt zum Beispiel: 'Bedenken nicht erhärtet',
obwohl der Report sagt, dass das langfristiges Krebsrisiko wieder zur
Diskussion steht (also tatsächlich wieder erhärtet ist).

fransp at dds.nl

Quelle: http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/elektrosmog-liste/message/5334
(Bearbeitung Omega). Siehe dazu auch:
http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/elektrosmog-liste/message/5335

--------

Forscher und Forschungsergebnisse von der Industrie bezahlt
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/281056/

http://tinyurl.com/ch4y6
http://tinyurl.com/7tmjr

World: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/
USA: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

Source: http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_yfb6_h.html

Click on The Net for Today's Earthquake Forecast
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30861/story.htm


http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050516/full/050516-5.html

http://rochester.indymedia.org/otherpress/display/81/index.php


Informant: billder

Wir haben eine Reihe von online verfügbaren Artikeln zu den Attac-Aktivitäten gegen die EU-Verfassung zusammengestellt. Das Layout wird noch verbessert, und Ergänzungen wird es (hoffentlich) auch noch geben, aber wer jetzt schon mal schauen will: unter http://www.attac.de/eu-verfassung/pressespiegel.php sind die Links zu finden.


Malte Kreutzfeldt
Pressesprecher Attac Deutschland
Post: Münchener Str. 48, 60329 Frankfurt/M
Tel.: 069/900 281-42
Mail: presse@attac.de, Fax: 069/900 281-99

http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking2/INS-Torture.html


Informant: Charles Bremer

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/2809/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18256&c=206


From Information Clearing House

The people who have the effrontery to rule us, who call themselves our government, understand this basic fact of human nature. They exploit it, and they cultivate it.

http://www.independent.org/publications/article.asp?id=1510


From Information Clearing House

US government turned a blind eye as Bayoil, a Texas oil company, imported Iraqi oil and paid $37m of kickbacks to the Saddam regime. Also, as a member of the Security Council, Washington did nothing to prevent Saddam sellling oil worth a claimed $8bn, to Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Turkey, in violation of sanctions.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=639335



The Bayoil Indictment -- the Real Scandal

The neo-con team is brazenly acting as if Saddam did something wrong in selling Iraqi oil in violation of the United Nations embargo that we insisted by kept on for a dozen years after the 1991 Gulf War. The U.N. resolution did not prohibit Baghdad's sale of oil!!! It prohibited its purchase by U.N. members.

http://www.wanniski.com/showarticle.asp?articleid=4300


From Information Clearing House

George Bush, and you and I have started this bloody war in Iraq, where we are fighting people who not only never attacked us, but who never even had the means with which they could have attacked us. - We don’t even have the decency to count the number of infants we have killed.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8870.htm

An Afghan who spent three years at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre a said that interrogators frequently desecrated the Koran, which prompted a hunger strike and a US apology.

http://snipurl.com/ezko


From Information Clearing House

Iraqi Girl Blog

We are hearing of people being rounded up by security forces (Iraqi) and then being found dead days later- apparently when the new Iraqi government recently decided to reinstate the death penalty, they had something else in mind.

http://snipurl.com/ezki


From Information Clearing House

Let me make sure I heard that correctly . . . . “The image of the United States abroad has been damaged.”

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8880.htm

Gentechnik: Angemeldete Gen-Mais-Flächen zur Hälfte zurückgezogen (17.05.05)

Nach Informationen des Umweltinstituts München wird gentechnisch veränderter Mais nur auf der Hälfte der vorgesehenen Anbaufläche tatsächlich angebaut. 2005 seien bislang von knapp 1100 Hektar Genmais, die in Deutschland zur Aussaat angemeldet worden seien, 480 Hektar zurückgezogen worden. Dies sei größtenteils durch öffentlichen Widerstand erreicht worden. Auch die Hälfte der Standorte sei nach öffentlichem Druck wieder abgemeldet worden.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=11067

18.05.05

67,7 Prozent der Deutschen wollen eine Volksabstimmung über die EU-Verfassung. Das ist das Ergebnis einer am Mittwoch veröffentlichten Meinungsumfrage des Meinungsforschungsinstituts Omniquest für den Kölner Stadtanzeiger. Mehr als 60 Prozent der Befragten würden der Verfassung dann nach eigenen Angaben zustimmen. Allerdings hatten mehr als 63 Prozent der Teilnehmenden ausgesagt, sie seien "eher schlecht" oder sogar "sehr schlecht" über den Verfassungsentwurf informiert. Die Initiative "Mehr Demokratie" forderte die nordrhein-westfälische Landesregierung auf, sich im Bundesrat für eine Volksabstimmung über die Verfassung der Europäischen Union einzusetzen. Der Bundestag hatte in der letzten Woche dem Verfassungsvertrag zugestimmt. Der Bundesrat entscheidet hierüber am 27. Mai.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=11080

Atombehörde: Neue Filzvorwürfe gegen Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (18.05.05)

Das Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) in Salzgitter wird mit neuen Vorwürfen konfrontiert. Wie das Hamburger Magazin "Stern" am Mittwoch berichtete, vergab das BfS mehrfach Gutachterverträge an persönliche Bekannte von BfS-Präsident Wolfram König. Demnach ging ein Gutachterauftrag über etwa 300.000 Euro an den niedersächsischen Grünen-Politiker Hans-Albert Lennartz. Dieser war in den 90er Jahren Regierungspräsident von Hannover, der heutige BfS-Präsident König war damals sein Sprecher. Das Bundesamt warf dem Blatt vor, den Eindruck zu erwecken, das BfS sei bei der Auftragsvergabe rechtswidrig vorgegangen.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=11086


http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=BfS

People For the American Way

"Nuclear Option" Mass Immediate Response

posted 05/16/05

Sign up for the "Nuclear Option" Mass Immediate Response and receive a text message you as soon as the Senate leadership triggers the "nuclear option." Embedded in that text message will be a link to the Senate switchboard. With the push of a couple buttons, your call will go right through to the corridors of power demanding preservation of the filibuster.

http://tinyurl.com/84rhg


From Moving Ideas Blogger News, May 18, 2005

PeaceMajority.org

posted 05/17/05

The Leave No Child Behind Act includes a little-known provision that forces schools to turn over students' private information to military recruiters, without parental consent. Urge your member of Congress to support the Student Privacy Protection Act to restore students' privacy and put control of this information back in the hands of their families.

http://tinyurl.com/dmlzu


From Moving Ideas Blogger News, May 18, 2005

Please support Galloway!

Should you all wish to congratulate G.Galloway, I have an email address for him: gallowayg@parliament.uk

or you can write to the Guardian Editors who covered the hearings: politics.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk

CNN are asking people about their views on ywt@cnn.com on the Galloway affair.

Regards,

Tahrir


Informant: ranger116


http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Galloway

PO Box 656
Sparks, NV 89432
(775) 356-9009
info@mothersagainstthedraft.org

Please forward this message to your family and friends!

May 18, 2005

Dear members, supporters, and friends,

Today marks the 88th anniversary of the passage of the Selective Service Act. It’s a day that should serve as a solemn reminder to every mother and father in America that by simple majority vote, Congress could again pass legislation reinstating the draft.

For those of us with draft aged children, that threat is more real than many would like to believe, and far more real than Congress is willing to admit.

Top military leaders have been warning us that our military is seriously over-stretched and undermanned. Just last month, for the third straight month the U.S. Army missed its recruiting goal, but this time by a whopping 42 percent and the Army Reserve fell short by 37 percent. According to Army Reserve chief, Lt. Gen. James Helmly, the Reserve is a “broken force,” no longer able to meet its commitment in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, recently told a room full of reporters that the situation is serious enough that he’s losing sleep worrying about the future of the all-volunteer military.

Whether they want to our not, it’s apparent that Congress will soon be forced to make some unpleasant decisions.

The math is simple. If there aren’t enough volunteers joining the military then Congress must either reduce our commitments, drastically increase taxes to hire a mercenary force, or draft our children. And if as predicted, our commitment to this policy of “pre-emptive war” in the “global war on terrorism” is indeed “generational,” it will swallow not only our sons and daughters in a new draft, but our grandchildren as well.

It’s time for Congress to stop dodging the draft question!

As you know, Mothers Against the Draft delivered a simple six question Compulsory Service Survey to every member of the 109th Congress. To date, only 2 of 535 members of Congress (Congressman Ron Paul of TX and Congress Barney Frank of MA) have had the courage tell their constituents the truth about where they stand on the draft. In addition, thousands of citizens have signed our online Petition to Congress Opposing Conscription. Those too have been ignored.
http://www.mothersagainstthedraft.org/images/surveys/survey1.pdf

You have an absolute right to know if your elected officials would vote to draft your sons and daughters. And they have an absolute duty to tell you the truth.

If you are as outraged as I am, it’s time to make your voice heard!

1. Call your Congressman’s office and express your concern regarding the threat of a new draft and urge him/her to respond to MAD’s Congressional Survey on Conscription. It’s easy to do, it’s important, and it will only take a few minutes of your time. Just call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you don’t know your Congressman’s name, the Operator will ask you for your address and connect you to the right office.

2. Send an email to your Congressman. We’ve already drafted one for your use, or if you prefer, you can create your own email on our website. (Click here to send an email to Congress):
http://capwiz.com/mad/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7603206

3. Forward this email on to your family and friends and ask them to do the same.

All 3 Action Items will take you less than 10 minutes.

With your help, we can stop the draft before it starts!

18 May 2005

Tomorrow marks a critical day in Congress: the day global warming legislation is introduced. But there's nuclear fallout to an otherwise good bill - that's right, instead of setting strong limits on global warming pollution from power plants, Senator McCain plans to add massive subsidies for new nuclear power plants.

24 Hours to Stop a Nuclear Disaster
http://usactions.greenpeace.org/action/start.php?action_id=48&ref_source=newsletter051805

Apparently Senator McCain doesn't understand the risks. Nuclear plants are sitting ducks for terrorist attacks and there is no safe way to store nuclear waste. We need your help today to stop the Senate from nuking this landmark global warming bill.

TAKE ACTION NOW!
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=15872291&url_num=3&url=http://usactions.greenpeace.org/action/start.php?action_id=48&ref_source=newsletter051805

Limiting our global warming pollution combined with strong incentives for renewable sources and energy efficiency, is the real solution to meet our energy needs.

Please take action now and tell your Senators to "knock the nukes" out of the McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. It is vitally important that we stop the nuclear industry from poisoning the most important piece of global warming legislation being debated in Congress today.


702 H Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20001
(800) 326-0959

“If you attend a college or university, please immediately send your race or ethnicity, financial aid info rmation, the number of classes you are taking, whether or not you are living on campus or with your family, and any varsity sports you play. When you are done doing that, please also send all of the information listed here on page 74 ( http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005160.pdf - see note below about PDF files) if you ever want to enroll in college.”

Under a new federal proposal being championed by the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), any college or university you ever attend in the U.S. would be required to submit this personal information about you to the federal government. The data is slated to be stored indefinitely.

Why does the government want to collect and store all this information about you? To ensure students privacy and evaluate the performance of colleges and universities, the Department of Education currently collects aggregate statistics from schools. The Department of Education claims that collecting information on a student-by-student basis, rather than aggregate numbers, would help evaluate the performances of these institutions of higher education. Switching to a student unit record system, however, raises significant student privacy concerns:

* The potential exists for misuse of personal student information by government agencies. For example, the National Directory of New Hires, designed as a registry of workers who re-enter the workforce, has been accessed and misused by other government agencies to track parents who fail to pay child support or who owe non-tax debt, despite privacy assurances.

* The system is vulnerable to identity theft, arising from a concentrated storage of the very information necessary for such illegal activity.

* Who will be responsible for collecting student unit records from colleges and universities around the country? Will the government subcontract private companies, some of which have recently experienced security breaches, to collect personal student information?

* NCES database records will be stored indefinitely, creating the potential of a lifetime federal profile of individuals not involved with, or suspected of, any crime.

Congress has previously prohibited creating a national database to track students. When it created the No Child Left Behind Act (PL 107-110), Congress specifically refused to create such a database for K-12 students, according to The Campus Privacy Letter from the Council on Law in Higher Education ( http://www.clhe.org/campusprivacy/cplv1n1.pdf - see note below about PDFs). Why would it therefore be acceptable for Congress to create a federal database on college and university students?

Furthermore, despite the Department of Education's claim that “information about individuals may never leave NCES,” this assertion is wrong. Section 508 of the USA PATRIOT Act permits the Attorney General to apply for a special court order to obtain any “reports, records, and information (including individually identifiable information) in the possession” of NCES that are relevant to a terrorism investigation or prosecution. A final report of the student tracking proposal feasibility study was sent to Congress on March 21, 2005. NCES officials have indicated that they will not implement the proposal without congressional approval, which would require weakening privacy laws and appropriating funds. Amending the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill would be the most likely method for Congress to enact the student tracking proposal. FCNL and other privacy advocacy groups have grave concerns about this proposal because of the many unanswered privacy concerns that it raises.

You can keep your info rmation private by stopping this proposal from being enacted in several ways!

1) If your representative is on the House Education and the Workforce Committee ( http://edworkforce.house.gov/members/109th/mem-fc.htm ) or your senator is on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee ( http://help.senate.gov/committee_members.html ), contact him or her and say that you don't want your privacy invaded by the Department of Education's new student tracking proposal. If you don't know who your representative and/or senators are, click ( http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/ ). Your members of Congress want to hear from you about this controversial proposal!

2) Write a letter to the editor of your school newspaper or your hometown newspaper exposing the privacy concerns raised by the Department of Education's tracking proposal.

3) Contact Chairwoman of the Department of Education, Margaret Spellings (by clicking on http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/gen/index.html?src=gu and then clicking on the web form in the middle of the page or by calling 202-401-3000), and Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, Grover Whitehurst ( grover.whitehurst@ed.gov or 202-502-7442), and tell them that you don't want the government indefinitely collecting and storing your private info rmation from college.

4) Forward this email to your friends so they can do something to protect their privacy rights!

Please visit the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities website ( http://www.naicu.edu/HEA/UnitRecord.shtml ) for a comprehensive list of student newspapers and other periodicals that have decried the Department of Education's student tracking proposal.

Contact Jeanne Herrick-Stare at jeanne@fcnl.org if you have any questions about this proposal.

* To access PDF files you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you do not have this free program you can download it from Adobe's web site: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html


Stop New Nuclear Weapons! Find out how, http://www.fcnl.org/nuclear

The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL 's Iraq Campaign
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/index.htm

Contact Congress and the Administration: http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://www.fcnl.org/new info /special_pub.htm

http://www.fcnl.org/iraq-war.htm


Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington , DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330


We seek a world free of war and the threat of war

We seek a society with equity and justice for all

We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled

We seek an earth restored.


http://www.blueaction.org

A politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when he comes to it.

http://babyseals.care2.com/


Informant: DitziSis

http://tinyurl.com/7odp3


Informant: Friends

The strong suspicions that have surrounded the dubious and partisan activities of Reporters without Boarders (RSF) were not unfounded.

http://snipurl.com/eyp0


From Information Clearing House

DEPUTY Prime Minister John Anderson has come under fire for giving a speech before an anti-Muslim Christian group. Two pastors from Catch the Fire Ministries were last year found guilty of vilifying Muslims by calling them demons, liars and terrorists and suggesting they encouraged domestic violence.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8862.htm



Australia: Anderson catches fire

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson last night urged Australians to find "a new relationship with God", at a meeting of around 1000 Christians in Hoppers Crossing.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8863.htm

Video

Bill Moyers denounced on Sunday the right wing and top officials at the White House, saying they are trying to silence their critics by controlling the news media.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8860.htm

The continuing pursuit of unchecked executive power: It seems rather contrary to an idea of a Constitution with three branches that the executive would be free to do whatever they want, whatever they want without a check. US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, 20 April 2004(3)

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510632005


From Information Clearing House

Western governments are undermining the global ban on torture by transferring suspects to countries known for routinely torturing prisoners, Human Rights Watch and seven partner organizations said today in a joint statement.

http://snipurl.com/eyou


From Information Clearing House

The killing of a suspected operative of Al Qaeda in Pakistan with a missile launched from a remotely controlled CIA aircraft was the latest such strike in a shadowy effort that both Pakistani and American officials have sought to hide, according to two former counterterrorism officials.

http://snipurl.com/eyos


From Information Clearing House

Here's a question for international news hounds. Who is the ''son of a bitch'' referred to in this comment by a U.S. Defence Department spokesman?

http://www.ipsnews.net/new_nota.asp?idnews=28710


From Information Clearing House

Several Britons who had been held at US military prisons in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba alleged Monday that they had seen their US guards desecrate the Koran.

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=42096


From Information Clearing House

The allegations of the blasphemous tossing of the pages of the Holy Koran down the toilet may well prove to be true, but the real tragedy is that we have flushed the pages of our Holy Bible down the toilet a long time ago and hypocritically claim the righteousness of our cause.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8864.htm

One can understand how Newsweek got itself into its current jam. But the wishy-washy retraction is frustrating. It feels as though the magazine is either trying to avoid full responsibility for a mistake -- or that it continues to believe in its story but is feeling outside pressure to withdraw it.

http://snipurl.com/eyop


From Information Clearing House

"Based on what we know now, we are retracting our original story that an internal military investigation had uncovered Koran abuse at Guantanamo Bay," Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker said in a statement, a day after apologizing for the report.

http://snipurl.com/eyoo


From Information Clearing House

It finally settles this ridiculous debate about how Dear Leader Bush just wanted to bring democracy all along and we did it all for George Washington.

http://snipurl.com/eyon


From Information Clearing House

The Bush administration knew about the illegal oil sales and kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime but did nothing about them, according to a report from Democrats on a Senate committee.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/18682087?source=Evening


From Information Clearing House

The central document used against George Galloway this week by the US senate committee investigating Iraq’s oil for food programme is a forgery.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6511


From Information Clearing House

"I gave my heart and soul to stop you from committing the disaster that you did commit in invading Iraq," Galloway said. "And I told the world that the case for war was a pack of lies."

http://snipurl.com/eyoe


From Information Clearing House

"Their unwillingness to deal with the crossings of their border into Iraq is frustrating the will of the Iraqi people," and leading to the deaths of innocent Iraqis, Rice said en route home from a surprise trip to see Iraq's new leaders.

http://snipurl.com/eyoc



Syria demands US prove Iraq insurgent claims
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=42125


From Information Clearing House

The American effort in Iraq may be locked in a "vicious circle", according to a new report that surveys Iraqi public opinion data and interviews with Iraqis. The report, released on Wednesday 18 May 2005 by the Project on Defense Alternatives, concludes that US military actions meant to quell the insurgency have increased its recruiting base.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8865.htm

by Mark Weisbrot, TomPaine.com

What the media's mea culpa on their failure to accurately cover Social Security might look like.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050518/the_medias_social_security_deception.php

http://www.countercurrents.org/us-richardson170505.htm


Informant: Charles Bremer

http://www.rabble.ca/columnists_full.shtml?x=39306


Informant: Charles Bremer

http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/margo_kingston/001024.html


Informant: Charles Bremer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7591918/


Informant: Charles Bremer

http://action.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=203&s_scr=actionemail&s_subsrc=title

The Senate Intelligence Committee will be holding a secret meeting tomorrow to expand the Patriot Act. Instead of listening to the public concern about the Patriot Act’s infamous provisions, the Senators on this Committee will be meeting behind closed doors to discuss expanding the government power to conduct surveillance and obtain personal records.

The Patriot Act is too important to be expanded in secret. Click here to urge Congress to hold open meetings when it considers changes to the Patriot Act and to fully consider public input on these proposed expansions of government surveillance powers.
http://action.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=203&s_scr=actionemail&s_subsrc=middle

The proposed Patriot Act expansion would make permanent all those provisions that expand government power. For example, it would make permanent the section that allows the FBI to seize secretly a vast array of sensitive personal information and belongings -- including medical, library and business records -- using secret intelligence tools that do not require individual criminal activity and that do not require specific facts connecting these records to terrorism, to a terrorist, or to a spy.

Congress passed the Patriot Act in in a hurry with virtually no debate . . . don't let them do it again.

Take action! Click here to urge your Senators to hold open and public hearings on the expansion of the Patriot Act.
http://action.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=203&s_scr=actionemail&s_subsrc=bottom

#124 WILD NORTHWEST, May 17, 2005
A Message from Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
=====Keeping the Northwest Wild=====

Speak out for Wildlife and Quiet Recreation

New Off Highway Vehicle Route System underway on the Colville National Forest

In the next few weeks the Forest Service will decide where to allow off-road vehicle access on northeastern Washington's Colville National Forest (CNF), home to endangered wildlife including lynx and grizzly bear. The decision sets a precedent for other national forests as they implement a highly anticipated new rule for managing off-road vehicles in federal forests. Citizens throughout the Northwest are watching how the CNF implements this off-highway vehicle management plan with national significance for wildlife, non-motorized recreation, wild areas, clean water, and public safety.

We have a unique opportunity to make a difference as this off-road vehicle plan reaches its final phase. In the next few days, please comment using our action center, http://www.ecosystem.org/action/index.html?MessageTemplateID=3 Hand-delivered by Northwest Ecosystem Alliance staff, your site-specific comments will help Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell choose which roads to open and which to leave closed. Motorized vehicles and roads have a profound impact on wildlife, damaging habitat and disturbing natural cycles. Encourage the Forest Service to designate an off-road vehicle route system that is manageable and enforceable, that protects non-motorized recreation values, and that conserves forests and streams as habitat for bull trout, pine marten, and mountain caribou.

For more on this process, visit
http://www.ecosystem.org/CNF_OHVbackground.html.

And thank you for sending your personalized comments to help keep the Colville National Forest wild!

Erin Moore
Communications Coordinator
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
1208 Bay St., Ste. 201
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.671.9950 ext. 24

Multi-billion dollar corporation recruits ordinary folks into the “system”, uses politicians and pastors to build its empire

by Bill Berkowitz

Like many others, Eric Scheibeler and his wife, Patty, were recruited to the Amway Corporation by close friends. Along the "guaranteed" road to success they met powerful politicians, dined with multi-millionaires and spoke to thousands of Amway members at gatherings throughout the world. Then, without warning, their house of cards collapsed: Eric Scheibeler discovered that the operation was committing massive fraud. When he took documentation to Amway Senior Management, they shut off his income and told him not to have contact with distributors he was revealing the fraud to. Scheibeler, a former federal auditor for the US Department of Energy, refused. He and his wife were threatened, ostracized, and lost all they had built over a decade....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Berkowitz0512.htm

Military Recruiters Face Youth and Student Resistance

by Ian Thompson

We'll give you up to $70,000 for college.” “You won't have to go to Iraq.” “Your service will only last four years.” Much of what recruiters promise is based on exaggeration, half-truths and outright lies. Recruiters have to fill quotas and will do almost anything to meet them, especially during wartime. The U.S. military -- the most powerful and destructive in the world -- is growing increasingly desperate to fill its ranks. In 2005 alone, the Army seeks to recruit 101,200 new active-duty regular Army and Reserve soldiers. But recruitment in nearly all branches of the military is down. The National Guard missed its recruitment quota by 13 percent last year. The Army fell short of its goal by more than 27 percent in February 2005 and is more than six percent behind its year-to-date recruiting target. The Reserve is 10 percent behind its target and the Guard is 26 percent short. January through March 2005 was the first time in a decade that the Marines missed their monthly goals. What is causing this sudden decline?

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Thompson0512.htm

by Ken Sanders

On Tuesday, May 10, 2005, and without a hint of shame, the Bush administration awarded Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) $72 million in bonuses for its "very good" and "excellent" work in Iraq. Excuse me? Just two months ago, the Justice Department indicted a KBR manager for "major fraud against the United States" under the same LOGCAP contract for which KBR is now being awarded bonuses. According to the indictment, former KBR manager Jeff Mazon billed the U.S. more than $5.5 million for $680,000 worth of work. In other words, Mazon inflated KBR's bill by over 700 percent....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Sanders0512.htm

by Robert Jensen and Pat Youngblood

If there is a political playbook for right-wing conservatives these days, it no doubt begins, “Step #1: Whenever possible, blame the news media.” What to do if the U.S. invasions/occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq have sparked resistance in those countries because people generally don’t like being occupied by a foreign power that has interests in exploiting their resources and/or geopolitical value? Blame journalists....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Jensen-Youngblood0517.htm

by Joshua Frank

White House staffers scurried this past week to souse the flames sparked by Newsweek's recent story, which revealed that an internal US military investigation had found substantial evidence interrogators at Guantanamo Bay had desecrated the Koran. Newsweek's story led to outrage against the US in Afghanistan and elsewhere where violent protests led to at least 15 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The White House damage control team has been successful, however, as Newsweek retracted their story on May 16. But for what?

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Frank0517.htm

by John Pilger

In 1987, the Australian sociologist Alex Carey, a second Orwell in his prophesies, wrote "Managing Public Opinion: the corporate offensive." He described how in the United States "great progress [had been] made towards the ideal of a propaganda-managed democracy," whose principal aim was to identify a rapacious business state "with every cherished human value." The power and meaning of true democracy, of the franchise itself, would be "transferred" to the propaganda of advertising, public relations and corporate-run news. This "model of ideological control", he predicted, would be adopted by other countries, such as Britain....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Pilger0517.htm

by Carolyn Baker

In a recent article, I promised readers that I would address the mindset of the religious right as an addiction. . . . For my purposes, the distinction between fundamentalist Christianity and Dominionism is incidental because what is most important to understand is that any religion, philosophy, or belief system can be addictive, fear-based, and terrorizing, and if it is used to justify changing the Constitution of the United States and creating a society in which the laws of that system are also fear-based and terrorizing, then regardless of the label, fundamentalist or Dominionist, that system is both terrorist and tyrannical. Whether one wishes to debate the differences between fundamentalist Christianity and Dominionism or not, both systems are about domination, power, control, right/wrong, win/lose. Moreover, as in my last article, I am reiterating that terrorism and tyranny, like the word addiction, have much broader definitions than crashing planes into buildings, establishing a superior race, or forcing women to cover their faces....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Baker0517.htm

by Lee Hall

Famously exposing the avarice of the U.S. funeral industry, Jessica Mitford’s book The American Way of Death (1963) confronted death and its attendant rituals, removing the shroud of taboo. For today’s military managers, talk of death is taboo once again. Military funerals and coffins have, for as long as possible, been kept out of public view. Even less has come to light about the grief of Afghanistan and Iraq, where ordinary people deal with death as part of their everyday business....

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May05/Hall0517.htm

By John Byrne | RAW STORY EDITOR

A Massachusetts newspaper reporter and her then-editor have accused former White House correspondent 'Jeff Gannon' of plagiarizing an article at which the reporter was the only media witness, RAW STORY has learned.

The alleged plagiarism was discovered by blogger Ron Brynaert, who has tracked other plagiarism by Gannon and various Talon News correspondents at his blog, WhyAreWeBackInIraq.

A Jun. 17, 2003 article published by Jim Guckert, who wrote under the pen name Jeff Gannon, contains numerous identical quotes and similar phrasing to an article written by Melissa Beecher for the Waltham Daily News Tribune five days earlier. A comparison of the two articles compiled by Brynaert follows. [...] Read it all at the RawStory web site: http://tinyurl.com/clmrm


© Virginia Metze

Check out the coverage of Bill Moyers' defense of PBS on Democracy Now! web site.

Bill Moyers Responds to CPB's Tomlinson Charges of Liberal Bias: "We Were Getting it Right, But Not Right Wing"

Monday, May 16th, 2005

Read it at http://tinyurl.com/8g376


© Virginia Metze

Why do I think that Bush WANTS the military isolated from the people -- the better to turn on the people??

Clark Criticizes Planned Base Closings

Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark Says Planned Base Closings Will Isolate the Military From Americans

by CARYN ROUSSEAU Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. May 15, 2005 — Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark said Saturday that the Pentagon's plan to close military bases around the country and reorganize troops will isolate the military from the American people and the rest of the world.

Clark said the plan to pull U.S. forces back home from abroad and centralize bases takes jobs away from smaller towns. [...] Read the rest at: http://tinyurl.com/caxa8


© Virginia Metze

Hardliners reject Koran apology

Hardline Islamic parties in Pakistan say an apology by a US magazine over a story about a desecration of the Koran is a crude bid to ease Muslim anger. [...]

The head of Pakistan's conservative six-party Islamic alliance, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, told the BBC that Newsweek's clarification held no weight.

"There have been reports by the prisoners who have been released from Guantanamo Bay of desecration of the holy Koran, and different atrocities perpetrated on them. Therefore, the clarification of Newsweek has no meaning." [...] Read it at the BBC UK web page:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4553015.stm

--------

Muslims sceptical over Newsweek back-track on Koran

16 May 2005 10:12:49 GMT

Source: Reuters

by Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, May 16 (Reuters) - Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan were sceptical on Monday about an apparent retraction by Newsweek magazine of a report that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran and said U.S. pressure was behind the climb-down.

The report in Newsweek's May 9 issue sparked protests across the Muslim world from Afghanistan, where 16 were killed and more than 100 injured, to Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Gaza.

Newsweek said on Sunday the report might not be true.

"We will not be deceived by this," Islamic cleric Mullah Sadullah Abu Aman told Reuters in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan, referring to the magazine's retraction.

"This is a decision by America to save itself. It comes because of American pressure. Even an ordinary illiterate peasant understands this and won't accept it." [...] Read the rest at: http://tinyurl.com/72m9w


© Virginia Metze

The following is the prepared text for Bill Moyers’ speech to the National Conference for Media Reform on May 15, 2005. The event in St. Louis was organized and hosted by Free Press ( http://www.freepress.net ).

Bill Moyers' speech to the National Conference for Media Reform

From Free Press, May 16, 2003

by Bill Moyers

I CAN’T IMAGINE BETTER COMPANY ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY MORNING IN ST. LOUIS. You’re church for me today, and there’s no congregation in the country where I would be more likely to find more kindred souls than are gathered here.

There are so many different vocations and callings in this room — so many different interests and aspirations of people who want to reform the media — that only a presiding bishop like Bob McChesney with his great ecumenical heart could bring us together for a weekend like this. [...] Read it all and check out the links for audio/video of the speech. http://freepress.net/news/8120


© Virginia Metze

from MSNBC News Services

May 16, 2005, Updated: 12:55 p.m. ET May 17, 2005

Story: British lawmaker blasts U.S. on Iraq allegations

'Mother of all smokescreens,' he says of claims he got oil vouchers
[...] 'Republican lynch mob'

Pursued by a crowd of British journalists, Galloway arrived at the hearing just minutes before it began reviewing testimony.

“This group of neocons (neoconservatives) is involved in the mother of all smokescreens,” he said of the committee.

“I come not as the accused but as the accuser,” he added. [...] Read it from beginning to end on the MSNBC web site: http://tinyurl.com/8ggn9


© Virginia Metze

--------

Video Of The Full Testimony Of British MP George Galloway Before The U.S. Senate

Video: Galloway takes on US oil accusers

Watch Mr. Galloway Speak Truth To Power. Real Video
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8868.htm

by Harry Reid
t r u t h o u t | Statement
Monday 16 May 2005

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

The Majority Leader has stated that the Senate will turn to the subject of judicial nominations this week. Democrats are ready for this fight. We stand united against an outrageous abuse of power that would pack the courts with out-of-the-mainstream judges.

The time has come for Republican Senators to decide where they stand. Will they will abide by the rules of the Senate, or break those rules for the first time in 217 years of American history? Will they support the checks and balances established by the founding fathers, or vote to give the president unaccountable power to pick lifetime judges? [...] Read it all at: http://tinyurl.com/d4qja


© Virginia Metze

My name is Kay Lee and among other things, I am currently a coordinator for Prison Reform's first 'Call to Arms': A massive march which is scheduled to take off from Lafayette Park in Washington DC on August 13, 2005.

Groups and individuals focused on many issues nationwide are making an exciting effort to bring a million concerned people together. The time has certainly come: Too many citizens have been cruelly touched by the flawed system of justice in our country - because 'justice' apparently no longer means truth and equality and basic human rights for all.

Two and a half million people incarcerated in a free nation means most of us know someone who has lived or is living in a jail or prison or on probation. Millions have watched the burgeoning system cripple prisoners, destroy families and do something terrible to the humanity of so many of its employees. And it's just getting worse.

We're striving to have at least a million people stand together in DC. If we can pull this off, never again will anyone be able to say or believe that "Nobody cares about prisoners."

We need every one in the country to know they have this one big chance to prove that people do care about prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation - True Safety - It's what we're paying for.

If you're going to make only one pilgrimage in your life on behalf of reform, this is the one.

http://www.journeyforjustice.org.

Get all details on the Journey for Justice website. Sign up to sponsor or speak or find your state organizer onsite. If you have anything to offer or need help getting there, see the site. If you are from Georgia, see the site and contact me, Kay Lee. We'll see what we can do together to get there.

If you just can't attend, please help out by forwarding information and posting the link to http://www.journeyforjustice.org everywhere.

With great faith in the power of truth, and in you.

Kay Lee
kaylee1@charter.net
2683 Rockcliff Road S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30316-4013
404-212-0690

Making The Walls Transparent
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke

Prison Reform March in Dc August 13, 2005
http://www.journeyforjustice.org

Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform W.O.N.P.R.
http://www.wonpr.org


Informant: Michael Novick

Thanks to all of you who took the time to call your congress people about the Iraq supplemental bill. The amendments forbidding torture and funding for civilian victims made it into the final version of the legislation. While none of us can be pleased with the continued funding of this war, we did make our representatives take notice!

Last Wednesday, we made our second delivery of the Iraq Peace Petition in Washington, bringing the total to 50,000 who have signed our call to bring the troops home.

Our hand delivery of petitions to key senators was disrupted by the evacuation of the Capitol when a plane strayed into DC's restricted airspace. I was particularly struck by the conversations we overheard as a river of staffers and senators flowed out of the Hart Senate Office Building. Rumors that a plane was on the way towards Washington were interrupted by a construction worker who said, "You just gave $80 billion dollars to bomb Iraq, what do you expect?"

We can only hope that some of those who were evacuated will come to realize that terror from the air and living in fear will never bring lasting peace.

As you have probably heard, this Friday, May 20, the Army will suspend recruitment for one day. Recent scandals have shown how often military recruiters systematically mislead and lie to young people in order to meet their goals.

AFSC has long been at the forefront of the counter-recruitment movement and has helped hundreds of thousands of young men and women get the information they need to make an informed decision about enlistment. On Monday, Oskar Castro of our Youth and Militarism Program was part of a national news conference at the U.S. Capitol to call attention to this developing scandal.

On Friday, while army recruiters "stand down" for a day, AFSC offices across the country will be holding events to "Stand Up for Truth in Recruiting." Find events in your area at http://ga3.org/ct/9pA7S5F1pRsZ/may20.

It is important that we do all that we can to make the most of this opening. Even with all of the money spent on recruiting commercials that make war look like a Nintendo game and promise endless opportunities, the truth about the military is getting out. If you work with young people, if you are a student, if you are involved in religious and civic groups, now is the time to make your voice heard.

AFSC has a variety of resources available at
http://ga3.org/ct/97A7S5F1pRsK/youth/ that show how enlisting in the military rarely results in usable job skills or a large nest egg for college. Brochures such as "Do You Know Enough to Enlist," "What Are My Options," and "Conscientious Objection" can save a life or change a future.

Please speak out this Friday, next week, and in the weeks and months that will follow. Preventing enlistment prevents war.

For peace,
Peter Lems

05/17/05

When Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray stepped down as head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division a few days ago, The Washington Times reported his allegation that critics have 'misled the public' about the secretive search powers authorized and expanded by the Patriot Act. ... I believe many provisions in the Act are appropriate for the government to uncover and prosecute acts of terrorism. I believe just as strongly, however, that other provisions go far beyond this vital mission and undermine our constitutional freedoms and Fourth Amendment rights. In making this point openly ... I am hardly 'misleading' anyone. ... When leading conservative groups share some of the same concerns as organizations on the other end of the ideological spectrum, I think it's time for Congress to ignore the hyperbole of the defenders of the status quo and pay attention...

http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20050516-091558-3655r.htm

from Washington Times, by Bob Barr

05/17/05

A year ago, President Bush boldly said: 'Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America.' Yet Congress is posed to finalize the president's $82 billion request for the Iraq war that includes a half-billion dollars for permanent military bases and another half-billion for building the world's largest embassy. Despite the president's assurances, the United States is preparing for a lengthy stay in Iraq. Open-ended deployment in Iraq is bad news for the brave soldiers fighting the war and their families at home. And adding permanent facilities will actually decrease their security as they present a powerful recruiting tool for insurgent groups. As the U.S. presence has escalated, so too has insurgent recruitment. ... The overwhelming common element between the 43 insurgent groups is resentment about the U.S. military presence...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/224055_iraqbases.html

from Seattle Post Intelligencer, by Erik Leaver -- Hat Tip to Tom Paine


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

Who are they? I mean the people obsessed with control, using the government to threaten and intimidate. I mean the people who are hollowing out middle-class security even as they enlist the sons and daughters of the working class in a war to make sure Ahmed Chalabi winds up controlling Iraq's oil. I mean the people who turn faith-based initiatives into a slush fund and who encourage the pious to look heavenward and pray so as not to see the long arm of privilege and power picking their pockets. I mean the people who squelch free speech in an effort to obliterate dissent and consolidate their orthodoxy into the official view of reality from which any deviation becomes unpatriotic heresy. That's who I mean. And if that's editorializing, so be it. A free press is one where it's okay to state the conclusion you're led to by the evidence...

http://tinyurl.com/atec7

from Tom Paine, by Bill Moyers


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/15/05

Judges are in the crosshairs. The possible filibustering of some of President Bush's judicial nominees has Senate Republicans mulling a 'nuclear option' to force the nominees to a general vote, while Democrats fire back that they are under no obligation to allow 'extremist' nominees assume the bench. This comes on the heels of the Terry Schiavo mess, which caused some congressional Republicans to accuse the judiciary of being a bit too independent. And all of this is a prelude to the Big Kahuna: an upcoming vacancy (or two) on the Supreme Court...

http://www.affbrainwash.com/archives/019829.php

from America's Future Foundation, by James N. Markels


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

At this writing, it is 50-50 the president can save John Bolton, his nominee to be UN ambassador, and the media wolf pack is in full howl in pursuit of Tom DeLay. Even if Bolton survives and DeLay eludes his media pursuers and ethics committee and Justice investigators, Bush is bleeding from both battles. But it is on the great issues -- war, the economy, the budget and trade deficits, and immigration -- that his presidency could be imperiled...(for publication 05/23/05)

http://www.amconmag.com/2005_05_23/buchanan.html

from The American Conservative, by Pat Buchanan


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

If there is a political playbook for right-wing conservatives these days, it no doubt begins, 'Step #1: Whenever possible, blame the news media.' What to do if the U.S. invasions/occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq have sparked resistance in those countries because people generally don't like being occupied by a foreign power that has interests in exploiting their resources and/or geopolitical value? Blame journalists. That's exactly what the Bush administration and its rhetorical attack dogs are doing with the 'scandal' over Newsweek's story on the desecration of the Quran at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo...

http://www.counterpunch.org/jensen05172005.html

from CounterPunch, by Robert Jensen and Pat Youngblood



GIs behaving badly

(05/17/05

Are you stunned that Newsweek got it wrong? It would be major news if anyone in the corporate media reported a story accurately. Even if the specifics of that particular toilet flush incident were off, why would anyone doubt that American soldiers are capable of atrocious behavior? Perhaps such blind faith grows out of the good guy image GIs allegedly earned after World War II. Why allegedly? For one of many reasons, read on...

http://www.counterpunch.org/mickey05172005.html

from CounterPunch, by Mickey Z


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

Halliburton may be a juicy target, but it's as good as a foil. It keeps attention away from the heart of the issue. After World War II, which boosted America's GDP by 75 percent, Harry Truman needed to keep wartime booms going in peacetime. So he invented the national security state, or what Gore Vidal has aptly called 'perpetual war for perpetual peace.' One of America's most impressive achievements since then has been to make a killing on wars either by imagining them or outsourcing them. The cold war, the war on drugs and the war on terror have all been by and large psychological constructs at home. (The carnage in Vietnam was as real as it's been in Iraq, but both wars' justifications depended on deception. Bumper-sticker sympathies aside, neither made a dent in Americans' lifestyle.) Each war had bits of truth to go on. The Soviets had to be contained. Drug addiction can be a problem. Terrorists can pull off a spectacularly heinous coup once in a while. But does national purpose have to be mortgaged to these manias?

http://www.news-journalonline.com/03ColEssays.htm

from Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Pierre Tristam


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

There are many serious problems with the Real ID Act of 2005 -- problems caused by the haste and inadequate debate with which it was passed by the House and the Senate, and problems caused by a myopic focus on 'security' without attention to either the minimal benefits or the major collateral damage from the proposed fix...

http://web.newsguy.com/whoareyou/Real-ID.htm

from Web Newsguy, by William S. Statler -- Hat Tip to REAL ID Rebellion


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

So where does all this leave us? With a story that is not only true, but previously reported numerous times. So let's drop the 'Lynch Newsweek' bull. Seventeen people have died in these riots. They didn't die because of anything Newsweek did -- the riots were caused by what our government has done. Get your minds around it. Our country is guilty of torture...

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/22026/

from AlterNet, by Molly Ivins


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/18/05

[E]very time I look at the death toll, it keeps going up. Yesterday it was 500. Today it's 750 -- or maybe in the thousands. At any rate, even Karimov's chief enabler and financier, the U.S. government, is getting a little antsy about all the bloodletting .... They are going to regret propping up and feeding this regime that boiled its opponents alive and murdered hundreds at Andijan, but isn't it a little late to extend their regrets to the relatives of the dead? After all, they not only tolerated but subsidized a government that systematized torture, intimidation, and, yes, outright murder. They personally and visibly buddied up to the homicidal maniac who calls himself the 'president' of Uzbekistan. They met with him, coddled him, and gave him political legitimacy in the eyes of those poor deluded souls who see the U.S. government -- as opposed to America, the country -- as a beacon and guarantor of liberty worldwide...

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=5988

from AntiWar.Com, by Justin Raimondo


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/15/05

On Tuesday, May 10, 2005 America finally died. It had been a long, slow, lingering death. Some people said the dying started with the War Between the States, which gave free reign to federal power. Some said the dying started later, in 1913, the year we got both the income tax and the currency debasing Federal Reserve. A radical few said the death even started as far back as 1794, when George Washington crushed the the new nation's first tax revolt. But whenever the dying started, we know exactly when the whole experiment in freedom got cold and stiff and started to stink real bad. On that Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the Real ID Act. They did it unanimously. They did it without a word of debate. They did it, almost certainly, without reading it. They did it for the sake of 'one congressman with totalitarian leanings.' Without fanfare, they imposed on us a national ID card...

http://www.backwoodshome.com/columns/wolfe050515.html

from Backwoods Home, by Claire Wolfe


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/17/05

While most Parent Teacher Student Association meetings might center on finding funding for better math books or the best way to chaperon a school dance, a recent meeting here at Garfield High School grappled with something much larger -- the war in Iraq. The school is perhaps one of the first in the nation to debate and vote against military recruiting on high school campuses -- a topic already simmering at the college level. In fact, the Supreme Court recently agreed to decide whether the federal government can withhold funds from colleges that bar military recruiters. ... Some feel that's an invasion of privacy prompted by a war effort that has largely divided the American public. Others say barring recruiters is an infringement of free speech -- and a snub to the military, particularly in a time of war... [editor's note: Deja vu all over again. SAT]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0518/p02s01-ussc.html

from Christian Science Monitor


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

05/18/05

A majority of French voters have indicated again that they will reject the proposed EU constitution as France enters the 'official' two-week campaign before the vote on 29 May. As the official phase of campaigning began yesterday -- with a barrage of publicly funded television declarations by the main parties -- three polls suggested that the 'no' camp had edged ahead once more. Even in so politically volatile a country as France, no recent election or referendum campaign has seen such a complex series of reversals in public opinion. Support for the EU constitutional treaty has twice led in the polls, only to succumb to the vigorous -- and sometimes misleading -- campaigns conducted by treaty opponents of left and right... [editor's note: We know, of course, that the proponents of the EU are never themselves misleading, right? - TLK]


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=639325

from Independent [UK]

05/18/05

George Galloway confronted the American senators who have accused him of accepting oil allocations from Saddam Hussein yesterday in one of the most extraordinary and ill-tempered exchanges seen on Capitol Hill. At one point the newly elected MP for Bethnal Green and Bow was accused of 'evasion' and of choosing to ignore the questions that were being put to him. Mr Galloway vehemently repeated his denials of having done anything wrong. He launched into a fierce attack on a series of individuals and institutions, including Sen Norm Coleman, the chairman of the sub-committee that is investigating him, the Republican party, the Senate, the US and British governments and unnamed forgers in Baghdad. ... In a bass voice rising with indignation to fill the august chamber, Mr Galloway insisted that he had been 'an opponent of Saddam when British and American governments and businessmen were selling him guns and gas.' 'Who paid me hundreds of thousand of dollars?' he asked. 'The answer is nobody...

http://tinyurl.com/b2u9k

from Telegraph [UK]


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

May 17 2005

by Reuters

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the fields...

Informant: Sylvie

Mobile phones could pose a higher health risk to rural dwellers because they emit more intense signals in the countryside, Swedish scientists have found.

Base stations tend to be further apart in more remote areas, so the phones compensate with stronger signals.

Professor Lennart Hardell, of University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden said: "We found that the risk of brain tumour was higher for people living in rural areas than in towns."

"The stronger the signal, the higher the risk," he said.

Use of mobile phones has increased rapidly worldwide and there have been concerns the technology causes health problems - ranging from headaches to brain tumours. But there has been no hard evidence to back up these health concerns.

Omega there is hard evidence to back up the health concerns:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/

Some researchers have suggested that radio frequency fields could interfere with biological systems.

Health officials have urged the public to limit mobile phone use - or to use hands-free devices.

Hardell and his colleagues, who studied 1,429 people with malignant and benign brain tumours, and 1,470 healthy controls living in the centre of Sweden, said the health risks may not be evident until someone has used a mobile for 10 years or more.

Their research is published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The scientists found that rural dwellers who had been using a mobile phone for more than three years were three times more likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumour than city dwellers.

The risk quadrupled after more than five years of use.

The researchers questioned both groups about how often they used their mobile phones and for how long. They also looked at whether they lived in the countryside or in towns.

Their findings were adjusted for other environmental factors that might increase the risk of brain tumours.

"We still cannot exclude that there might be other undetected risks in the countryside but we have tried to adjust the results, as far as we know," Hardell said.

He added the study was quite small and that the findings need to be duplicated.

--------

Brain cancer linked to mobile phone use in rural areas: study

Dear Newsdesk,

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/05/17/afx2032319.html
http://www.andpop.com/article/4200

As a Telephone exchange designer I know that the mobiles/cellphones are designed to increase power when the signal is low.

This has implications in two main situations
1) Rural use of cellphones.
2) In car use of cellphones.

A Car (metal car) is like a faraday cage and the signal from outside finds it harder to get in, but more important the signal inside finds it harder to get out. The phone in this situation is designed to increase the power. The exposure to the user becomes amplified.

Would be interested in a study based on car use.

Regards Donal O'Riordain B.Eng. (Electronics)


Informant: Colette O'Connell

--------

http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Mobile+phone+health+risks+greater+for+rural+users

May 17 2005

by David Greenwood, Daily Post

"There is an urgent need for the problem to be sorted out for the sake of local people. We have taken this matter seriously from the outset.

"As an authority, we are very supportive of local people and we are doing what we can within the bounds of the law.

"In the agreement with MM02, there is a clause that states the mast should not cause a nuisance to our neighbours. If it can be shown it is causing the interference, we would argue that MM02 were in breach and they would have to remove it.

"I went to a public meeting about the problem recently and I think most people accept we are acting responsibly.

"We are doing everything within our power to find a solution to this problem and the findings of the independent report will be shared with local people."

Last month, Holyhead Town Council called for the mast to be taken down. People living within several hundred yards of the police station had noticed a marked deterioration in television picture quality.

Wavy lines appeared on screens and even when they tried to video record a favourite programme they claimed the sound became distorted.

Homeowners within a quarter mile radius with traditional analogue service were affected and some called in engineers to try and solve the problem but without success.

A spokesman for MM02 Airwave insisted the Holyhead mast met stringent planning and radio airwave regulations.

The Home Office added: "Current police radio systems are obsolete and incompatible with each other. New digital technology will allow for more complete coverage of the country, clearer signals and extra features such as encryption and data as well as voice communication.

"Before Airwave was commissioned, independent experts reviewed all available technologies. Only Tetra was found to meet the requirements of the police service."

http://tinyurl.com/9uzwf


Informant: Sylvie

ARTIKEL VOM 18. MAI 2005

INFORMATION / MOBILFUNK ALS ABENDFÜLLENDES THEMA IN OBERRIEXINGEN

Elektrokranke sind keine Spinner

Experten gaben in der Festhalle Auskunft – Stein des Anstoßes ist ein Silo in der Schillerstraße als möglicher Standort

OBERRIEXINGEN. Kompetente Gesprächspartner und einen stets abwägenden Bürgermeister Willi Baur erlebte das Publikum bei einer informativen Veranstaltung in der Festhalle in Oberriexingen. Das Thema war aus aktuellem Anlass gewählt worden: „Wie viel Mobilfunk verträgt der Mensch?“. Rund 80 Besucher wollten es am Freitagabend in Erfahrung bringen.

Der Wunsch des Bürgermeisters war, möglichst viele neue Kenntnisse zu bekommen. Bei der Veranstaltung der Stadt Oberriexingen und der Initiativgruppe UMTS Mobilfunkanlage moderierte Rathauschef Willi Baur gekonnt darauf hin, dass kein Streitgespräch entstand. Aufklärung, Gefahren darstellen, Positives erkennen und die rechtliche Situation klären, nannte der Moderator als angestrebtes Ziel des Abends, der mit 150 Minuten extensiv ausfiel.

Es lag an den eingeladenen Referenten, dass der Abend trotzdem wie im Flug verging. Vom TÜV München kam der Sachverständige für Umweltverträglichkeit, Dr. Thomas Gritsch, der über technische Grundlagen, Ausbreitung der Strahlen sowie über Grenzwerte und Richtwerte informierte. Über Emissionsquellen extern und im privaten Bereich, über die Wabennetz-Struktur beim Mobilfunk, über Ballungsnetze und über Funkvermittlungsstellen konnte der Experte verlässliche Zahlen präsentieren. Auch über Studien wie „Naila“ oder „Reflex“, die besagen, wie gefährlich das Leben ist. Was die Abstrahlungscharakteristiken beträfe, so sei klar: Die Strahlung zeigt eine starke Abnahme mit dem Abstand. Eine Erkenntnis des Sachverständigen, die wohl viele im Publikum bereits wussten.

Interessanter für die Zuhörer waren dann eher die möglichen Standorte in Oberriexingen. Zum einen der Stein des Anstoßes vor ein paar Monaten: Ein Silo in der Schillerstraße. Des Weiteren könnten nach TÜV-Experte Dr. Gritsch als Alternativen ein erhöhter Flutlichtmasten, der bestehende Umsetzer oder gar der Turm auf dem Rathaus in Betracht kommen.

Düster sah Dr. Claus Scheingraber aus München die ansteigende Strahlenemission der letzten Jahre. Der Zahnarzt und Elektrobiologe befasst sich seit 19 Jahren mit dem Thema Elektrosmog. Der Vorsitzende des Arbeitskreises Elektro-Biologie erwarb sich das Wissen, als seine Frau 1986 erkrankte. Für ihn ist auf jeden Fall sicher, dass ein so genannter „Elektrokranker“ kein Spinner sei. Dr. Scheingraber sprach den Leuchtturmeffekt an, der unterm Dach als sehr erheblich eingestuft wird. Auch die synergistische Verstärkung wurde als Gefahrenbeispiel genannt. Der Elektro-Biologe: „Wer länger als 25 Minuten täglich mit dem Handy telefoniert, hat eine starke Reduktion der Melantoninausschüttung. Und wer gleichzeitig niederfrequentierten Magnetfeldern ausgesetzt ist, erfährt eine drastische Wirkungssteigerung.“

Befindlichkeitsstörungen

Zum Thema UMTS ist sich Dr. Scheingraber sicher, dass Befindlichkeitsstörungen ausgelöst werden. Was bringt die Sicherheit durch Grenzwerte? Als Antwort darauf weiß der Experte: „Nichts, denn es sind mittelmäßige Werte, weil athermische Wirkungen, Pulsspitzenbelastungen und chronische Toxizität nicht berücksichtigt werden.“

Aussichtslos scheint die Möglichkeit, sich gegen die Errichtung von Mobilfunkstationen zu wehren. Es gäbe eine Fülle von Prozessen, doch der Bürger hätte wenig Chancen, meinte Dr. Klaus Werner Kniep, Rechtsanwalt aus Heilbronn, der die rechtlichen Grundlagen im Gesprächsabend beleuchtete. Keine Mietminderung wäre bisher durchgerungen, Eingaben der Petitionsausschüsse seien überall abgelehnt worden, und was das Strafrecht anbelangt, so sei bisher auch keine Körperverletzung von den Gerichten festgestellt worden. Auch die Vereinbarung zwischen kommunalen Spitzenverbänden und den Betreibern seien nichts wert, da eine Antenne bis zu 9,99 Meter Höhe nicht genehmigungspflichtig wäre. Eine Chance könnten städtebauliche Statuten der Kommunen sein, um mit Veränderungssperren und Satzungen einzuwirken.

Das Fazit von Bürgermeister Baur lautete: „Man darf sagen, dass Mobilfunk krank machen kann. Es muss aber auch die Möglichkeit für das Geschäftsleben bestehen, es in Anspruch zu nehmen.“

Für Karl Arnold, den Sprecher der Mobilfunk-Initiative, ist klar, dass die Sache noch nicht ausgestanden ist. Man hoffe auf eine kommunale Mithilfe, so sein Schlusswort.

VON RUDI KERN

http://www.bietigheimer-zeitung.de/html/news/artikel_stadt.php4?artikel=25046


Nachricht von der BI Bad Dürkheim

Strafbefehle und Bewährungsstrafen wegen Werfen von Wattebäuschchen.

„Wer hat mit Wattebäuschchen die Hamburger Bürgerschaft beworfen? Das herauszubekommen, bemühen sich gegenwärtig satte elf Kammern des Hamburger Amtsgerichts. In Einzelverfahren sollen elf angeblich an einer Aktion am 27. Oktober 2004 beteiligte Frauen abgeurteilt werden, derer Personalien man habhaft wurde, als es Watte- und Papierwölkchen im Hamburger Parlament schneite. Dabei handelte es sich um eine der vielen Protestaktionen gegen millionenschwere Kürzungen im Kitabereich, die Sozialsenatorin Birgit Schnieber-Jastram (CDU) durchsetzte. (…) Beteiligte Rechtsanwälte wollen nun ihrerseits rechtlich gegen Peters vorgehen, da er das Recht beuge. Das Beschäftigtenbündnis der Hamburger Kindertagesstätten fordert unterdessen, alle Strafbefehle zurückzunehmen. Legitimer politischer Protest, heißt es dort, sollte nicht weiter kriminalisiert werden….“ Artikel von Andreas Grünwald in junge Welt vom 17.5.05 http://www.jungewelt.de/2005/05-17/017.php

Nächster Verhandlungstermin: 18. Mai, 10 Uhr, Strafjustizgebäude, Sievekingplatz.



Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 25, Eintrag 9

Ohne einheitliche Tarifverträge wirkt das Gesetz nicht gegen Dumpingkonkurrenz. Doch diese Verträge kommen nicht zu Stande. Die Chancen auf tariflich vereinbarte Mindestlöhne in der Fleischwirtschaft sind nach Ansicht der Gewerkschaft Nahrung Genuss Gaststätten (NGG) gering. Die Gewerkschaft versucht zwar derzeit nach eigenen Angaben, mit den Großbetrieben der Branche einen Tarifvertrag auf Bundesebene auszuhandeln, um Lohndumping zu verhindern. Der NGG-Vorsitzende Franz-Josef Möllenberg ist aber skeptisch, ob solche Regelungen überhaupt zu Stande kommen. Der Gewerkschaftschef fordert die Bundesregierung auf, gesetzliche Mindestlöhne vorzuschreiben. „Mit 1500 Euro brutto im Monat würde die Untergrenze der Existenzsicherung erreicht“, sagte Möllenberg dem Tagesspiegel…“ Artikel von Cordula Eubel in Tagesspiegel vom 17.05.2005

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/index.asp?gotos=http://archiv.tagesspiegel.de/toolbox-neu.php?ran=on&url=http://archiv.tagesspiegel.de/archiv/17.05.2005/1820132.asp#art



Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 25, Eintrag 9

„Europaweit trommeln die Unternehmerverbände für eine Verlängerung und weitere Flexibilisierung der Arbeitszeiten. Sie finden willige Helfer in den meisten Regierungen der Mitgliedstaaten, der Europäischen Kommission und im Europäischen Parlament. Zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte der Europäischen Gemeinschaft sollen bestehende soziale Mindestvorschriften der EU ausgehöhlt werden: Es geht um die EU-Arbeitszeitrichtlinie…“ Artikel von Klaus Dräger (pdf) mit einem Info-Kasten zur Revision der EU-Arbeitszeitrichtlinie

http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/eu/sopo/azrichtl.pdf


Aktuell in Brüssel: Die Debatte um die Arbeitszeit-Richtlinie der EU.

Vor dem französischen Referendum ziert man sich ein bisschen Artikel von Bernard Schmid vom 16.5.05

http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/eu/sopo/azrichtl.html



Aus: LabourNet Nachrichtensammlung, Band 25, Eintrag 9

http://www.lobbycontrol.de/blog/index.php?p=32

Macht der Wirtschaft
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Macht+der+Wirtschaft

Europäische Nichtregierungsorganisationen fordern von der EU-Kommission Maßnahmen für mehr Lobby-Transparenz und ein Ende des privilegierten Zugangs von Wirtschaftsinteressen zu politischen Entscheidungsprozessen. Der Aufruf begleitet die heutige Diskussion der EU-Kommission über die geplante "European Transparency Initiative". Die Organisationen fordern eine verpflichtende Registrierungs- und Berichtspflicht für Lobbyisten sowie einen verbesserten Verhaltenskodex für die EU-Kommission. Dieser solle z.B. eine längere Abkühlungsphase enthalten, bevor ehemalige Kommissare oder hochrangige KommissionsmitarbeiterInnen als Lobbyisten arbeiten dürfen.

Weiterlesen unter http://www.lobbycontrol.de/blog/index.php?p=38

Ecologists in Action denounce "chaotic" increase of antennas of mobile telephony the World-wide Day of the Telecommunications Considers necessary to approach a reform "in depth" of the General Law of SANTANDER Telecommunications, 17 May.

(EUROPE PRESS) - In the occasion of the celebration today, 17 of May, the World-wide Day of the Telecommunications, Ecologists in Action have denounced the growth and "chaotic" proliferation of stations base of mobile telephony and other infrastructures of telecommunications that, according to this organization, the uncontrolled "installation of these radioelectric networks has supposed"; a significant increase of the electromagnetic contamination and the growth of the social perception of the associated risk in these infrastructures. After emphasizing that the state legislation, done by the previous Government "and taking care of only the interests of the great operators, it has not solved of the social impact and environmental of the networks of mobile telephony", EA indicates in an official notice that have been the social mobilization and ecological the one that has forced some independent communities to establish more preventive norms and levels of most restrictive exhibition to the public. It indicates nevertheless that slope has left an European director who serves like "a real" instrument to make the development of the mobile telephony and the possible environmental affections compatible and for the public health. Ecologists in Action denounce the establishment of a "plot of the telecommunications" that has supposed a proliferation in rural means and urban of a whole series of infrastructures of antennas stations bases GSM, DCS and LMDS, repeating dipoles, antennas of high gain, picocélulas and microantennas, radio links, etc., or the new Wi-Fi systems. It notices that the installation of 55,000 new antennas stations base of mobile telephony of network UMTS is going to suppose new problems in its location and a significant increase of the electromagnetic contamination "which we are put under". It adds that to this growth it has been added, actually, a "accumulation of city-planning irregularities" that affect many facilities of mobile telephony, like the deficiency of the mandatory city-planning license; the vulneración of the peak altitude that determines municipal decrees of construction; the breach of the Spanish basic norm of protection against fires (Nbe-cpi 96) or the nonexistence of a study of load on affections to the ceilings of the buildings of the stations bases between 2,500 and 5,000 kilograms on the roofs. The REFORMATION Ecological in Action considers necessary to approach a reform "in depth" of the General Law of Telecommunications and the rights on the radioelectric space, normative -- it says -- "done to the dictation of the operators of mobile telephony". In opinion of the ecological organization, these reforms would have to contemplate aspects like "the effective" application of the principle of precaution for the possible biosanitarios effects and of principle ' ALATÁ (the minimum technically possible emission), and the establishment of a value limit of citizen exhibition below the value of 0'1 microwatts by square centimeter for the emissions of mobile telephony, until levels in which cellular changes Also do not take place pleads for the establishment of a value limit below 10 microwatts by square centimeter for the sum of odas the emissions of high frequency (radio, television, mobile telephony, radio links, antennas of radio hams, etc.); and the previous information to the installation of stations base of mobile telephony and active participation of the citizens in the local scope. It also considers that the reforms must gather a study of diverse alternative locations for the location of a station bases; a moratorium in the unfolding of the UMTS; la networks minimitation of the landscaping and environmental impacts in rural and urban means; the establishment of an urban radioelectric map that reflects the set of radioelectric emissions; and a greater control on the location of antennas and repeating dipoles in residential zones. Bet also by the creation of an inter-ministerial commission (Ministries of Health, Industria and Medio.ambiente that coordinates the unfolding of networks with criteria of prevention of the public health), with participation of the social agents and environmental organizations and the accomplishment of studies epidemiologists on populations that have been exposed to values of emission over 0'1 microwatts by square centimeter. Finally, it requests the creation of an inspection organization and pursuit of the stations bases after its installation and of a public data base as the registry of all the stations bases and its emissions, as well as by the elaboration of a code of good practices and specific campaigns against the abuse of the moving body and addictive conducts, specially between young people and adolescents.

http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20050517140650&tabID=1&ch=73


Informant: Sylvie

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/4555335.stm


Informant: Sylvie

The thundering testimony reprinted below should be broadcast on U.S. television news and printed in U.S. newspapers because is exposes the stack of lies told by the current U.S. administration to start the Iraq War. And is exposes the smokescreen put up by the neo-conservatives to hide their enormous blunders in occupied Iraq.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3260

--------

UK's Galloway blisters US policy on Iraq on MSNBC

Norman Coleman -- not quite a genius, from the Guardian.
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_05_15_atrios_archive.html#111631942480779060

Video-Real Audio
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/msnbc_uk_galloway_blisters_us_on_iraq_050517-01.rm.ram

Audio-Mp3
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/msnbc_uk_galloway_blisters_us_on_iraq_050517-01.mp3

Hopefully I'll have more video on this later.

Via Attaturk:
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_05_15_atrios_archive.html#111631942480779060

The Senate report found that US oil purchases accounted for 52% of the kickbacks paid to the regime in return for sales of cheap oil - more than the rest of the world put together.

"The United States was not only aware of Iraqi oil sales which violated UN sanctions and provided the bulk of the illicit money Saddam Hussein obtained from circumventing UN sanctions," the report said. "On occasion, the United States actually facilitated the illicit oil sales."

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/05/17.html#a2978


Informant: Friends

In a brazen reversal, MSNBC reporter Keith Olbermann wants White House press secretary Scott McClellan to resign for the lies told by the U.S. government. Besides, U.S. interrogators defacing the Koran is old news: The Washington Post and other newspapers reported these facts long ago. Here are the real issues. First, the U.S. government is torturing prisoners of war in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And, second, the White House bullies the press and clouds the issues in order to continue their mistaken policies of torturing prisoners and starting the Iraq War based on lies.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3257

Army Sgt. Erik Saar couldn't wait to get to Guantánamo Bay to help ferret information from the terrorists being held there. When the intelligence linguist arrived, however, he was startled to hear the Muslim call to prayer. Why, he wondered, would America make such a "concession to the religious zealotry" of the detainees?

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=3255

Bundeswehrausstellung „Unsere Luftwaffe“ kontraproduktiv zu Konfliktlösung

Presseerklärung des Martin-Luther-King-Zentrums für Gewaltfreiheit und Zivilcourage, Werdau/Sachsen

Seitdem Deutschland „von Freunden umzingelt“ ist, wird die Bundeswehr von einer Verteidigungsarmee schrittweise zur Interventionsarmee umgebaut. Die Verteidigungspolitischen Richtlinien der Bundeswehr, die neue NATO-Doktrin sowie die Aufrüstungs- und sogenannten Beistandsverpflichtungen auch gegenüber Drittstaaten im EU-Verfassungsentwurf lassen Interventionsoptionen auch ohne UNO-Mandat zu. Der Zugang zu den Rohstoffquellen, den Märkten und die Sicherung des sogenannten freien Welthandels, der die einen reich, die anderen arm macht, soll mit militärischen Mitteln garantiert und verewigt werden.

Die Chance, dass Deutschland beispielgebend für zivile Konfliktbearbeitung wird, wurde bisher nicht genutzt. Unter dem Vorwand der Terrorismusprävention macht sich Deutschland mit seinen weltweiten militärischen Einmischungsoptionen erst zur Zielscheibe von Terrorismus.

Aus der Tradition der Friedensbewegung in der DDR und in der Alt-BRD kommend, ist es für uns unerträglich, wie mit der Faszination Technik Hunderten von Schulklassen und Tausenden von Schülern Tötungsmaschinen schmackhaft gemacht werden. Unserer Ansicht nach wird damit Gewalt verherrlicht. Die Not junger Menschen, die keinen Ausbildungs- oder Arbeitsplatz bekommen, wird ausgenutzt und ideologisiert, um Tötungspersonal anzuwerben. Mit dem Tänzchen der Offizierin mit dem Offizier auf den Tornado-Tragflächen wird Kriegstechnik verniedlicht und verharmlost. Mit Spenden aus Wohltätigkeitskonzerten und Erbseneintopf wird überspielt, wie im sogenannten Ernstfall durch Bomben und Raketen Menschenleben, und zwar immer überwiegend die von Zivilisten, ausgelöscht werden.

• Wir lehnen daher die Luftwaffenschau in Zwickau, Freiberg und anderen Städten deutlich ab.

• Wir bitten die Wirtschaft, Ausbildungs- und Arbeitsplätze zu schaffen, statt Jugendliche in die Arme von Bundeswehr-Werbern laufen zu lassen.

• Wir bitten die Beteiligten der Schau, ihren Auftrag selbst kritisch zu hinterfragen.

• Wir bitten die Lehrer, ihre Schüler auch über die Gefahren der Rüstung zu informieren.

• Wir bitten die Besucher, sich nicht unbedacht der technischen Faszination hinzugeben.

• Wir bitten alle Kritiker, die Ausstellung sichtbar und hörbar kritisch, aber fair zu begleiten.

(gez.) Georg Meusel, 1. Vorsitzender

Martin-Luther-King-Zentrum für Gewaltfreiheit und Zivilcourage e.V. Am Torbogen 5, 08412 Werdau/Sachsen
03761-760304
info@martin-luther-king-zentrum.de
http://www.martin-luther-king-zentrum.de/

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/59427


Nachricht von Bernd Schreiner

Anwohnerin beklagt Gesundheitsschäden wegen Mobilfunkmast

Nach wie vor ist die Wirkung von Mobilfunkstrahlung auf die Gesundheit von Mensch und Tier umstritten. Immer mehr Menschen betrachten Mobilfunkmasten als Ursache für verschiedene, zum Teil schwerwiegende Gesundheitsschäden. Wie die Bürgerinitiative „Gesund leben in Allach“ berichtet, leide Elfriede Weaver wegen einem Mobilfunkmast, der aus 40 Meter Entfernung direkt in ihr Schlafzimmer strahlt, immer wieder unter Migräne, Schlafstörungen, Konzentrationsstörungen und Magenschmerzen.

http://www.werbe-spiegel.de/content/artikel/1586.php

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/2802/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news

Border Patrol checkpoints deep in the interior of the United States raise the specter of Soviet-style surveillance, and may be intended merely to habituate the public to such police intrusions.

http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1076


From Information Clearing House

My focus here is on fundamentalist Christianity and Dominionism as religious systems which complement and support tyrannical political systems, specifically, fascism.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8856.htm

Few ordinary Americans would knowingly support the remilitarization of international affairs and the launch of a second Cold War merely to preserve America’s position as the sole military superpower on the planet, but they will never be asked the question in those terms.

http://snipurl.com/exrt


From Information Clearing House

Not Just A Last Resort? A Global Strike Plan, With a Nuclear Option

Early last summer, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved a top secret "Interim Global Strike Alert Order" directing the military to assume and maintain readiness to attack hostile countries that are developing weapons of mass destruction, specifically Iran and North Korea.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8857.htm

A new report provides extensive evidence that psychological torture was systematic and central to the interrogation process of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo.

http://www.phrusa.org/research/torture/news_2005-05-01.html


From Information Clearing House