Join Cindy Sheehan and Protect Kids from the Pentagon
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:38
30
Aug
2005
Katrina's real name is global warming
For those who want to find out more about the developing movement to stop global warming, go to http://www.climatecrisis.us.
Ted Glick
Katrina's Real Name
By Ross Gelbspan | August 30, 2005, Boston Globe
The hurricane that struck Louisiana yesterday was nicknamed Katrina by the National Weather Service. Its real name is global warming.
When the year began with a two-foot snowfall in Los Angeles, the cause was global warming.
When 124-mile-an-hour winds shut down nuclear plants in Scandinavia and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland and the United Kingdom, the driver was global warming.
When a severe drought in the Midwest dropped water levels in the Missouri River to their lowest on record earlier this summer, the reason was global warming.
In July, when the worst drought on record triggered wildfires in Spain and Portugal and left water levels in France at their lowest in 30 years, the explanation was global warming.
When a lethal heat wave in Arizona kept temperatures above
110 degrees and killed more than 20 people in one week, the culprit was global warming.
And when the Indian city of Bombay (Mumbai) received 37 inches of rain in one day -- killing 1,000 people and disrupting the lives of 20 million others -- the villain was global warming.
As the atmosphere warms, it generates longer droughts, more-intense downpours, more-frequent heat waves, and more-severe storms.
Although Katrina began as a relatively small hurricane that glanced off south Florida, it was supercharged with extraordinary intensity by the relatively blistering sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.
The consequences are as heartbreaking as they are terrifying.
Unfortunately, very few people in America know the real name of Hurricane Katrina because the coal and oil industries have spent millions of dollars to keep the public in doubt about the issue.
The reason is simple: To allow the climate to stabilize requires humanity to cut its use of coal and oil by 70 percent. That, of course, threatens the survival of one of the largest commercial enterprises in history.
In 1995, public utility hearings in Minnesota found that the coal industry had paid more than $1 million to four scientists who were public dissenters on global warming. And ExxonMobil has spent more than $13 million since 1998 on an anti-global warming public relations and lobbying campaign.
In 2000, big oil and big coal scored their biggest electoral victory yet when President George W. Bush was elected president -- and subsequently took suggestions from the industry for his climate and energy policies.
As the pace of climate change accelerates, many researchers fear we have already entered a period of irreversible runaway climate change.
Against this background, the ignorance of the American public about global warming stands out as an indictment of the US media.
When the US press has bothered to cover the subject of global warming, it has focused almost exclusively on its political and diplomatic aspects and not on what the warming is doing to our agriculture, water supplies, plant and animal life, public health, and weather.
For years, the fossil fuel industry has lobbied the media to accord the same weight to a handful of global warming skeptics that it accords the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- more than 2,000 scientists from 100 countries reporting to the United Nations.
Today, with the science having become even more robust -- and the impacts as visible as the megastorm that covered much of the Gulf of Mexico -- the press bears a share of the guilt for our self-induced destruction with the oil and coal industries.
As a Bostonian, I am afraid that the coming winter will -- like last winter -- be unusually short and devastatingly severe. At the beginning of 2005, a deadly ice storm knocked out power to thousands of people in New England and dropped a record-setting 42.2 inches of snow on Boston.
The conventional name of the month was January. Its real name is global warming.
Ross Gelbspan is author of ''The Heat Is On" and ''Boiling Point."
© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.
Ted Glick
973-338-5398 indpol@igc.org P.O. Box 1132 Bloomfield, N.J. 07003
"How to bring into being a world that is not only sustainable, functional and equitable but also deeply desirable is a question of leadership and ethics and vision and courage, properties not of computer models but of the human heart and soul." Donella and Dennis Meadows and Jorgen Randers, Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
From ufpj-news
Ted Glick
Katrina's Real Name
By Ross Gelbspan | August 30, 2005, Boston Globe
The hurricane that struck Louisiana yesterday was nicknamed Katrina by the National Weather Service. Its real name is global warming.
When the year began with a two-foot snowfall in Los Angeles, the cause was global warming.
When 124-mile-an-hour winds shut down nuclear plants in Scandinavia and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland and the United Kingdom, the driver was global warming.
When a severe drought in the Midwest dropped water levels in the Missouri River to their lowest on record earlier this summer, the reason was global warming.
In July, when the worst drought on record triggered wildfires in Spain and Portugal and left water levels in France at their lowest in 30 years, the explanation was global warming.
When a lethal heat wave in Arizona kept temperatures above
110 degrees and killed more than 20 people in one week, the culprit was global warming.
And when the Indian city of Bombay (Mumbai) received 37 inches of rain in one day -- killing 1,000 people and disrupting the lives of 20 million others -- the villain was global warming.
As the atmosphere warms, it generates longer droughts, more-intense downpours, more-frequent heat waves, and more-severe storms.
Although Katrina began as a relatively small hurricane that glanced off south Florida, it was supercharged with extraordinary intensity by the relatively blistering sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.
The consequences are as heartbreaking as they are terrifying.
Unfortunately, very few people in America know the real name of Hurricane Katrina because the coal and oil industries have spent millions of dollars to keep the public in doubt about the issue.
The reason is simple: To allow the climate to stabilize requires humanity to cut its use of coal and oil by 70 percent. That, of course, threatens the survival of one of the largest commercial enterprises in history.
In 1995, public utility hearings in Minnesota found that the coal industry had paid more than $1 million to four scientists who were public dissenters on global warming. And ExxonMobil has spent more than $13 million since 1998 on an anti-global warming public relations and lobbying campaign.
In 2000, big oil and big coal scored their biggest electoral victory yet when President George W. Bush was elected president -- and subsequently took suggestions from the industry for his climate and energy policies.
As the pace of climate change accelerates, many researchers fear we have already entered a period of irreversible runaway climate change.
Against this background, the ignorance of the American public about global warming stands out as an indictment of the US media.
When the US press has bothered to cover the subject of global warming, it has focused almost exclusively on its political and diplomatic aspects and not on what the warming is doing to our agriculture, water supplies, plant and animal life, public health, and weather.
For years, the fossil fuel industry has lobbied the media to accord the same weight to a handful of global warming skeptics that it accords the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- more than 2,000 scientists from 100 countries reporting to the United Nations.
Today, with the science having become even more robust -- and the impacts as visible as the megastorm that covered much of the Gulf of Mexico -- the press bears a share of the guilt for our self-induced destruction with the oil and coal industries.
As a Bostonian, I am afraid that the coming winter will -- like last winter -- be unusually short and devastatingly severe. At the beginning of 2005, a deadly ice storm knocked out power to thousands of people in New England and dropped a record-setting 42.2 inches of snow on Boston.
The conventional name of the month was January. Its real name is global warming.
Ross Gelbspan is author of ''The Heat Is On" and ''Boiling Point."
© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.
Ted Glick
973-338-5398 indpol@igc.org P.O. Box 1132 Bloomfield, N.J. 07003
"How to bring into being a world that is not only sustainable, functional and equitable but also deeply desirable is a question of leadership and ethics and vision and courage, properties not of computer models but of the human heart and soul." Donella and Dennis Meadows and Jorgen Randers, Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
From ufpj-news
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:31
Your Internet Service Provider may be violating your freedom of speech
(excerpt)
08/30/05 10:35:22
Subject: [Multidimensionalman] Your Internet Service Provider may be violating your freedom of speech.
Your Internet Service Provider may be violating your freedom of speech. Since the Passage of the Homeland Security law, MANY of my political adversaries have disappeared from the internet. Am I pleased? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Our freedom of speech is being taken away.
My own former ISP has told me that they have been provided with long lists of numerous domains that have already been "blacklisted".
Most of the Internet Service Providers are now using a program which "filters out" certain emails. Those who send the emails; which are not being delivered, ARE NOT GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE, TO ADVISE THEM THAT THEIR MESSAGE WAS NOT DELIVERED. These messages are simply "black holed".
This program; which "filters out" certain emails, is allegedly to "protect" us from things such as spam, adult content, viruses, and "hate speech", etc. Who decides which "speech" is allowable????? The "Thought Police" are here now. I have repeatedly tested this program, by sending VERY SMALL political messages, TO ONE SINGLE RECIPIENT, who is a close friend. The messages had no "adult content", no virus, and had nothing that could remotely be called "hate speech". MANY OF these messages WERE NOT DELIVERED.
My own Internet Service Provider has told me that the program; which "filters out" certain emails, was developed using guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, the Internet Service Provider is now being told that they are now regulated by the Federal Communications Commission; which in turn, receives guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security. OF COURSE there is no legitimate justification for Federal Communications Commission regulation of the internet; since it does not use shared air ways. "Surveillance" of the internet is not new. Visit: http://www.dojgov.net/USDOJ_Carnivore_Scam.htm
To read e-mail the FBI can order an Internet Service Provider to place a special monitoring computer called Carnivore (now renamed Data Collection System 1000) on its network servers. The FBI can then select the e-mail of surveillance targets for capture and storage. Not content with this device, the FBI now seeks to expand its surveillance capability to the entire Internet.
"Surveillance" has now been upgraded to include actual censorship. Visit: http://www.cdt.org/speech/
It is time to update a famous quote from Rev. Martin Niemoller Rev. Martin Niemoller, commenting on events in Germany 1933-1939 said:
"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time, no one was left to speak up." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Niemoeller, July 1, 1937; arrested by the Third Reich
John Perna April 22, 2000
"An evil exists that threatens every man, woman, and child of this great nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland."
Are NOT dependent on which religion or ideology someone believes. If one group can be liquidated, it will just be a matter of time before they get around YOU.
THIS MESSAGE ALSO WILL BE A TEST TO BE CERTAIN THAT MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT BEING LIMITED, AND MY CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT BEING VIOLATED.
The internet has the capacity to defend itself... for the time being. It would be wise to send test messages, to close friends, to determine if your FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING LIMITED. If you find that your FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING LIMITED, change your Internet Service Provider at once.
I suggest that you visit
http://www.1smartisp.net/sc/?page=ispsignup
to learn about ISP access that is respectful of freedom of speech. My former ISP gave me the web page for the company that makes the filter, AND ADMITTED that the protcols were developed from guidelines from The Department of Homeland Security.
You will find the page at http://www.surfcontrol.com/products/
Here is the page, where they tell, as much as they will tell you, about what gets filtered out:
http://www.surfcontrol.com/Default.aspx?id=354&mnuid=1.4.1.4
http://www.surfcontrol.com/products/email/images/screen_email_dictionary.gif
This is a direct copy and past:
E-mail Dictionary
Description/Criteria
Adult
* Sexually Explicit
* Adult-Oriented
Alcohol/Tobacco/Drugs
* Instructions
* Products
* Terms
* Promotion
Arts/Entertainment
* Media
* Humorous
* Horoscopes
* Art
* Activity Guides
Computing/Internet/Hacking
* Software
* Parts
* Accessories
* Hacking
Confidential
* Customize to meet your confidentiality needs
Finance
* Stock Trading
* Money Management
* Accounting
Gambling
* Tips
* Term
* Online Casinos
* Betting Pools
Hate Speech/Offensive
* Prejudice based on Race, Gender, Religion, etc.
Job Search
* Employment Agencies
* Job Listings
* Career Searches
Medical/Healthcare
* Medical and health care terminology
Shopping
* Internet Mall
* Online Catalogs
* Retail Stores
Spam
* Spam
* Bulk E-mail
* Mass Marketing
Sports
* Sports-related content
Travel
* Airlines
* Accommodations
* Destinations
Violence / Weapons
* Avocation or depictions of violent acts
They only mention the most popular types of censorship; HOWEVER, You will notice that many of the categories include an open door for the censorship of free speech, THAT IS PURELY LAWFUL, and unoffensive.
OF COURSE, anyone can voluntarily install this software if that is what they want.
I spoke with my former ISP on the phone several times a day for a week.
I also spoke with several other ISP competitors, while shopping for one that would not censor me. I got not contradictory information, and everyone said they were not allowed to hand out the guidelines. Both The Federal Communication Commission and Homeland Security were referenced repeatedly.
Informant: Karana777
08/30/05 10:35:22
Subject: [Multidimensionalman] Your Internet Service Provider may be violating your freedom of speech.
Your Internet Service Provider may be violating your freedom of speech. Since the Passage of the Homeland Security law, MANY of my political adversaries have disappeared from the internet. Am I pleased? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Our freedom of speech is being taken away.
My own former ISP has told me that they have been provided with long lists of numerous domains that have already been "blacklisted".
Most of the Internet Service Providers are now using a program which "filters out" certain emails. Those who send the emails; which are not being delivered, ARE NOT GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE, TO ADVISE THEM THAT THEIR MESSAGE WAS NOT DELIVERED. These messages are simply "black holed".
This program; which "filters out" certain emails, is allegedly to "protect" us from things such as spam, adult content, viruses, and "hate speech", etc. Who decides which "speech" is allowable????? The "Thought Police" are here now. I have repeatedly tested this program, by sending VERY SMALL political messages, TO ONE SINGLE RECIPIENT, who is a close friend. The messages had no "adult content", no virus, and had nothing that could remotely be called "hate speech". MANY OF these messages WERE NOT DELIVERED.
My own Internet Service Provider has told me that the program; which "filters out" certain emails, was developed using guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, the Internet Service Provider is now being told that they are now regulated by the Federal Communications Commission; which in turn, receives guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security. OF COURSE there is no legitimate justification for Federal Communications Commission regulation of the internet; since it does not use shared air ways. "Surveillance" of the internet is not new. Visit: http://www.dojgov.net/USDOJ_Carnivore_Scam.htm
To read e-mail the FBI can order an Internet Service Provider to place a special monitoring computer called Carnivore (now renamed Data Collection System 1000) on its network servers. The FBI can then select the e-mail of surveillance targets for capture and storage. Not content with this device, the FBI now seeks to expand its surveillance capability to the entire Internet.
"Surveillance" has now been upgraded to include actual censorship. Visit: http://www.cdt.org/speech/
It is time to update a famous quote from Rev. Martin Niemoller Rev. Martin Niemoller, commenting on events in Germany 1933-1939 said:
"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time, no one was left to speak up." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Niemoeller, July 1, 1937; arrested by the Third Reich
John Perna April 22, 2000
"An evil exists that threatens every man, woman, and child of this great nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland."
Are NOT dependent on which religion or ideology someone believes. If one group can be liquidated, it will just be a matter of time before they get around YOU.
THIS MESSAGE ALSO WILL BE A TEST TO BE CERTAIN THAT MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT BEING LIMITED, AND MY CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT BEING VIOLATED.
The internet has the capacity to defend itself... for the time being. It would be wise to send test messages, to close friends, to determine if your FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING LIMITED. If you find that your FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING LIMITED, change your Internet Service Provider at once.
I suggest that you visit
http://www.1smartisp.net/sc/?page=ispsignup
to learn about ISP access that is respectful of freedom of speech. My former ISP gave me the web page for the company that makes the filter, AND ADMITTED that the protcols were developed from guidelines from The Department of Homeland Security.
You will find the page at http://www.surfcontrol.com/products/
Here is the page, where they tell, as much as they will tell you, about what gets filtered out:
http://www.surfcontrol.com/Default.aspx?id=354&mnuid=1.4.1.4
http://www.surfcontrol.com/products/email/images/screen_email_dictionary.gif
This is a direct copy and past:
E-mail Dictionary
Description/Criteria
Adult
* Sexually Explicit
* Adult-Oriented
Alcohol/Tobacco/Drugs
* Instructions
* Products
* Terms
* Promotion
Arts/Entertainment
* Media
* Humorous
* Horoscopes
* Art
* Activity Guides
Computing/Internet/Hacking
* Software
* Parts
* Accessories
* Hacking
Confidential
* Customize to meet your confidentiality needs
Finance
* Stock Trading
* Money Management
* Accounting
Gambling
* Tips
* Term
* Online Casinos
* Betting Pools
Hate Speech/Offensive
* Prejudice based on Race, Gender, Religion, etc.
Job Search
* Employment Agencies
* Job Listings
* Career Searches
Medical/Healthcare
* Medical and health care terminology
Shopping
* Internet Mall
* Online Catalogs
* Retail Stores
Spam
* Spam
* Bulk E-mail
* Mass Marketing
Sports
* Sports-related content
Travel
* Airlines
* Accommodations
* Destinations
Violence / Weapons
* Avocation or depictions of violent acts
They only mention the most popular types of censorship; HOWEVER, You will notice that many of the categories include an open door for the censorship of free speech, THAT IS PURELY LAWFUL, and unoffensive.
OF COURSE, anyone can voluntarily install this software if that is what they want.
I spoke with my former ISP on the phone several times a day for a week.
I also spoke with several other ISP competitors, while shopping for one that would not censor me. I got not contradictory information, and everyone said they were not allowed to hand out the guidelines. Both The Federal Communication Commission and Homeland Security were referenced repeatedly.
Informant: Karana777
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:20
Bolton Wants '11th Hour' Changes to UN Reform Plan
General Assembly President Jean Ping named a core group of 30 countries to try and work through Mr. Bolton's 750 requested amendments. The group will focus on hard-core issues, such as "defining terrorism and financing development" where the US and most other countries in the world have completely opposite positions.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/083005K.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/083005K.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:11
Here's the Funny Part
George W. Bush coughed up his latest rationale for continuing the Iraq war - I think this is the fourth or fifth one of these to this point - by saying that because so many American soldiers have been killed, we have to keep sending American soldiers to get killed as a means of honoring the American soldiers who have been killed. William Rivers Pitt says this is big talk from a guy who spends more time on vacation than a French aristocrat.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/083005I.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/083005I.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:10
ANOTHER HURRICANE CREATED BY HAARP?
New Orleans is CLOSED, ALL water is contaminated-- folks dying in hospitals-no ox
Monday, August 29, 2005 10:11:38 PM
From: BioGerminator
To: apfn@apfn.org
Ken, (@ apfn)
The following IM was sent to me by my aunt, she lives near New Orleans and has electricity. She typed IM to me as the Mayor of New Orleans was speaking. It is absolutely horrible--people dying in hospitals from no oxygen, bodies floating in the water--all water is contaminated. Feel free to read and forward, perhaps others will add to the notes. Sorry the mailing is not organized--, I had to "come down" to get the news---there is no electricity where we are presently located. Hope you guys are ok--talk to you soon and GOD help us.........
BuildMeaRainbow: Morgan City didn't have major damage, just some downed trees and heavy rain
BuildMeaRainbow: all the New Orleans tv channels are gone - watching film from BTR
BuildMeaRainbow: its terrible here, and there is no Verizon working phones
BuildMeaRainbow: you wouldn't believe new orleans, 40,000 homes in St. Bernard parish are under water
BuildMeaRainbow: yes,
Cingular BioGerminator: cannot believe I am talking to you
BuildMeaRainbow: all of the big hotels windows blew
BuildMeaRainbow: the superdome's dome was damaged from flying debris
BuildMeaRainbow: All of St. Charles Parish had to evacuate
BuildMeaRainbow: Dee, you wouldn't believe new orleans, the large malls are destroyed, the highways, like Williams, Veterans, etc, are under 3 ft of water
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor said "New Orleans is Closed" - no one can get back - state police are turning them around
BuildMeaRainbow: the yachts and sailboats are on top of each other at the lakefront - and the yacht club is on file - from gas leak they think - seems strange to see fire coming up from a flood
BuildMeaRainbow: all water in New Orleans is contaminated - hazmat warnings are up - there is an article on here but it doesn't give all the details
BioGerminator: trying to call you guys and all the numbers
BioGerminator: is there anything we can do
BioGerminator: that idiot in the white house was on the radio this morning talking about the rising oil prices as soon as the hurricane hit---
BuildMeaRainbow: school there is closed until she hears from the parish
BuildMeaRainbow: she got a call this morning not to try to enter the parish
BuildMeaRainbow: I10 has major problems, they have to test them for structural damage before opening them
BuildMeaRainbow: It came in at a 4, some gusts up to 190 though
BioGerminator: I heard it was big
BuildMeaRainbow: they said it went from Texas to S. Carolina
BuildMeaRainbow: that big BioGerminator: geeeeeeeeees
BuildMeaRainbow: I don't know what will happen to new orleans, it won't ever be the same I'm sure BuildMeaRainbow: too much has been lost
BuildMeaRainbow: 750,000 out of power
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor is on now, from NO, said New Orleans is 80% under water, some as deep as 20 ft
BuildMeaRainbow: Search and rescue are only ones allowed, the twin span at NO east is gone - totally destroyed
BuildMeaRainbow: a large tanker is underwater, leaking oil into the water
BuildMeaRainbow: water is continuing to rise because of a break in the levee
BuildMeaRainbow: not sure of the soundness of the high rises - a barge hit one of them
BuildMeaRainbow: all of Slidell and most of Metairie are under water
BuildMeaRainbow: there is no clear path in and out of the city - expressway is still full of water
BuildMeaRainbow: geeze, its worse than the Tsunami
BuildMeaRainbow: they have to rebuild new orleans - its just horrible
BuildMeaRainbow: bodies floating in the water, significant loss of lives
BioGerminator: My God
BuildMeaRainbow: its unbelieveable - only roofs of buildings are viewable - winds were consistent at over 50 mph for hours
BuildMeaRainbow: they just did, the mayor is on a lead to the BTR tv channel, said its a nightmare
BuildMeaRainbow: all the n.o. channels are closed - no one can come in to get pictures
BuildMeaRainbow: I wish the world could see what has happened there
BuildMeaRainbow: blew a 2 block break in the levee system at the Industrial Canal
BuildMeaRainbow: and water is still coming through it
BioGerminator: we are trying now
BuildMeaRainbow: okay, phone is right here BioGerminator: no way--message........... due to the hurricane your call cannot be completed
BuildMeaRainbow: there are still 20,000 people in the superdome, no a/c
BuildMeaRainbow: I thought that would be the case, I'm sorry
BuildMeaRainbow: people are being pulled from the water, dead bodies into the boats
BuildMeaRainbow: We can only pray, and be thankful we're on a local utility company
BuildMeaRainbow: 20,000 boats are in search and rescue operations
BuildMeaRainbow: sure
BuildMeaRainbow: God, they are pumping from the levee break and its going in a circle from the pumps back to the levee - they don't even think the old Slidell bridge is operable
BuildMeaRainbow: FEMA said its absolutely the worse ever disaster
BuildMeaRainbow: looters are breaking into drug stores
BuildMeaRainbow: druggies stocking up
BuildMeaRainbow: highest casualities ever noted
BuildMeaRainbow: their power went off when the transformer blew at 3 a.m.
BuildMeaRainbow: not yet, but they do have many floating bodies
BioGerminator: be prepared for your lights to come and go Aunt Donna--
BuildMeaRainbow: I will be
BioGerminator: the folks in the superdome will go nuts with no AC
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor just finished
BuildMeaRainbow: they are letting them outside for air
BioGerminator: was he shook up that you could see??
BuildMeaRainbow: hotels are running out of diesel - no food or fresh water available in NO
BioGerminator: oh my God--what a test
BuildMeaRainbow: yes, he says he's right in the middle of it, people are mad because they can't get to their homes - but what else can they do?
BuildMeaRainbow: he said all efforts now have to be search and rescue
BioGerminator: I am flipping speechless
BuildMeaRainbow: right, and I can understand that, so many used all their money on gas to get out of new orleans, can't afford hotel bills
BuildMeaRainbow: well, God watched out for us
BuildMeaRainbow: there is a good article on here, and about the only news people can get from New Orleans
BuildMeaRainbow: sorry bastard, if we were producing so much, why do we need Saudi oil?
BioGerminator: right
BuildMeaRainbow: he said in March $4 a gallon, guess he planned it well
BioGerminator: they gave the update on the hurricane and then the idiot came on and said if I could snap my fingers and make the prices go down I would...right!!!!!!
BioGerminator: 50 death toll BioGerminator: they just said on weather channel
BuildMeaRainbow: well, he said he would take crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but the refineries are breaking down
BuildMeaRainbow: 50 so far?
BuildMeaRainbow: there are still people trapped in their attics
BioGerminator: that us what they just said-FEMA dir
BuildMeaRainbow: it will be thousands
BuildMeaRainbow: they just said that the Hyatt looked like Beirut
BioGerminator: they are showing East sider now
BuildMeaRainbow: if the storm hadn't turned to the east at the last moment, NO would be history
BuildMeaRainbow: I wish you could see the news on here
BuildMeaRainbow: maybe, but we would have been in Lafayette
BuildMeaRainbow: btr looks like it did when Andrew hit
BuildMeaRainbow: huge trees uprooted and fallen over houses, power is out, main power lines down
BuildMeaRainbow: one of the buildings in downtown NO blew apart, bricks are 3 and 4 deep across the streets
BuildMeaRainbow: The quarter wasn't destroyed - hows that for irony?
BuildMeaRainbow: do you know how big Charity hospital is?
BuildMeaRainbow: windows blown out, water on each floor, people are dying because they can't be sent by ems to other hospitals, no power
BuildMeaRainbow: they don't know when EMS can get them out, no oxygen, no power - its horrible
BioGerminator: oh my God
BuildMeaRainbow: the National Guard is there patrolling
BioGerminator: who is reporting
BuildMeaRainbow: and more are coming
BuildMeaRainbow: a channel 4 newscaster, CBS local NO, feeding through Baton Rouge station
BuildMeaRainbow: we ought to have our National Guard here in our nation for things like this, not fighting Bush's war
Informant: Be Kind Whenever Possible
Monday, August 29, 2005 10:11:38 PM
From: BioGerminator
To: apfn@apfn.org
Ken, (@ apfn)
The following IM was sent to me by my aunt, she lives near New Orleans and has electricity. She typed IM to me as the Mayor of New Orleans was speaking. It is absolutely horrible--people dying in hospitals from no oxygen, bodies floating in the water--all water is contaminated. Feel free to read and forward, perhaps others will add to the notes. Sorry the mailing is not organized--, I had to "come down" to get the news---there is no electricity where we are presently located. Hope you guys are ok--talk to you soon and GOD help us.........
BuildMeaRainbow: Morgan City didn't have major damage, just some downed trees and heavy rain
BuildMeaRainbow: all the New Orleans tv channels are gone - watching film from BTR
BuildMeaRainbow: its terrible here, and there is no Verizon working phones
BuildMeaRainbow: you wouldn't believe new orleans, 40,000 homes in St. Bernard parish are under water
BuildMeaRainbow: yes,
Cingular BioGerminator: cannot believe I am talking to you
BuildMeaRainbow: all of the big hotels windows blew
BuildMeaRainbow: the superdome's dome was damaged from flying debris
BuildMeaRainbow: All of St. Charles Parish had to evacuate
BuildMeaRainbow: Dee, you wouldn't believe new orleans, the large malls are destroyed, the highways, like Williams, Veterans, etc, are under 3 ft of water
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor said "New Orleans is Closed" - no one can get back - state police are turning them around
BuildMeaRainbow: the yachts and sailboats are on top of each other at the lakefront - and the yacht club is on file - from gas leak they think - seems strange to see fire coming up from a flood
BuildMeaRainbow: all water in New Orleans is contaminated - hazmat warnings are up - there is an article on here but it doesn't give all the details
BioGerminator: trying to call you guys and all the numbers
BioGerminator: is there anything we can do
BioGerminator: that idiot in the white house was on the radio this morning talking about the rising oil prices as soon as the hurricane hit---
BuildMeaRainbow: school there is closed until she hears from the parish
BuildMeaRainbow: she got a call this morning not to try to enter the parish
BuildMeaRainbow: I10 has major problems, they have to test them for structural damage before opening them
BuildMeaRainbow: It came in at a 4, some gusts up to 190 though
BioGerminator: I heard it was big
BuildMeaRainbow: they said it went from Texas to S. Carolina
BuildMeaRainbow: that big BioGerminator: geeeeeeeeees
BuildMeaRainbow: I don't know what will happen to new orleans, it won't ever be the same I'm sure BuildMeaRainbow: too much has been lost
BuildMeaRainbow: 750,000 out of power
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor is on now, from NO, said New Orleans is 80% under water, some as deep as 20 ft
BuildMeaRainbow: Search and rescue are only ones allowed, the twin span at NO east is gone - totally destroyed
BuildMeaRainbow: a large tanker is underwater, leaking oil into the water
BuildMeaRainbow: water is continuing to rise because of a break in the levee
BuildMeaRainbow: not sure of the soundness of the high rises - a barge hit one of them
BuildMeaRainbow: all of Slidell and most of Metairie are under water
BuildMeaRainbow: there is no clear path in and out of the city - expressway is still full of water
BuildMeaRainbow: geeze, its worse than the Tsunami
BuildMeaRainbow: they have to rebuild new orleans - its just horrible
BuildMeaRainbow: bodies floating in the water, significant loss of lives
BioGerminator: My God
BuildMeaRainbow: its unbelieveable - only roofs of buildings are viewable - winds were consistent at over 50 mph for hours
BuildMeaRainbow: they just did, the mayor is on a lead to the BTR tv channel, said its a nightmare
BuildMeaRainbow: all the n.o. channels are closed - no one can come in to get pictures
BuildMeaRainbow: I wish the world could see what has happened there
BuildMeaRainbow: blew a 2 block break in the levee system at the Industrial Canal
BuildMeaRainbow: and water is still coming through it
BioGerminator: we are trying now
BuildMeaRainbow: okay, phone is right here BioGerminator: no way--message........... due to the hurricane your call cannot be completed
BuildMeaRainbow: there are still 20,000 people in the superdome, no a/c
BuildMeaRainbow: I thought that would be the case, I'm sorry
BuildMeaRainbow: people are being pulled from the water, dead bodies into the boats
BuildMeaRainbow: We can only pray, and be thankful we're on a local utility company
BuildMeaRainbow: 20,000 boats are in search and rescue operations
BuildMeaRainbow: sure
BuildMeaRainbow: God, they are pumping from the levee break and its going in a circle from the pumps back to the levee - they don't even think the old Slidell bridge is operable
BuildMeaRainbow: FEMA said its absolutely the worse ever disaster
BuildMeaRainbow: looters are breaking into drug stores
BuildMeaRainbow: druggies stocking up
BuildMeaRainbow: highest casualities ever noted
BuildMeaRainbow: their power went off when the transformer blew at 3 a.m.
BuildMeaRainbow: not yet, but they do have many floating bodies
BioGerminator: be prepared for your lights to come and go Aunt Donna--
BuildMeaRainbow: I will be
BioGerminator: the folks in the superdome will go nuts with no AC
BuildMeaRainbow: the mayor just finished
BuildMeaRainbow: they are letting them outside for air
BioGerminator: was he shook up that you could see??
BuildMeaRainbow: hotels are running out of diesel - no food or fresh water available in NO
BioGerminator: oh my God--what a test
BuildMeaRainbow: yes, he says he's right in the middle of it, people are mad because they can't get to their homes - but what else can they do?
BuildMeaRainbow: he said all efforts now have to be search and rescue
BioGerminator: I am flipping speechless
BuildMeaRainbow: right, and I can understand that, so many used all their money on gas to get out of new orleans, can't afford hotel bills
BuildMeaRainbow: well, God watched out for us
BuildMeaRainbow: there is a good article on here, and about the only news people can get from New Orleans
BuildMeaRainbow: sorry bastard, if we were producing so much, why do we need Saudi oil?
BioGerminator: right
BuildMeaRainbow: he said in March $4 a gallon, guess he planned it well
BioGerminator: they gave the update on the hurricane and then the idiot came on and said if I could snap my fingers and make the prices go down I would...right!!!!!!
BioGerminator: 50 death toll BioGerminator: they just said on weather channel
BuildMeaRainbow: well, he said he would take crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but the refineries are breaking down
BuildMeaRainbow: 50 so far?
BuildMeaRainbow: there are still people trapped in their attics
BioGerminator: that us what they just said-FEMA dir
BuildMeaRainbow: it will be thousands
BuildMeaRainbow: they just said that the Hyatt looked like Beirut
BioGerminator: they are showing East sider now
BuildMeaRainbow: if the storm hadn't turned to the east at the last moment, NO would be history
BuildMeaRainbow: I wish you could see the news on here
BuildMeaRainbow: maybe, but we would have been in Lafayette
BuildMeaRainbow: btr looks like it did when Andrew hit
BuildMeaRainbow: huge trees uprooted and fallen over houses, power is out, main power lines down
BuildMeaRainbow: one of the buildings in downtown NO blew apart, bricks are 3 and 4 deep across the streets
BuildMeaRainbow: The quarter wasn't destroyed - hows that for irony?
BuildMeaRainbow: do you know how big Charity hospital is?
BuildMeaRainbow: windows blown out, water on each floor, people are dying because they can't be sent by ems to other hospitals, no power
BuildMeaRainbow: they don't know when EMS can get them out, no oxygen, no power - its horrible
BioGerminator: oh my God
BuildMeaRainbow: the National Guard is there patrolling
BioGerminator: who is reporting
BuildMeaRainbow: and more are coming
BuildMeaRainbow: a channel 4 newscaster, CBS local NO, feeding through Baton Rouge station
BuildMeaRainbow: we ought to have our National Guard here in our nation for things like this, not fighting Bush's war
Informant: Be Kind Whenever Possible
Starmail - 30. Aug, 23:08
Before the launching of next-up organisation - Avant le lancement de next-up organisation
ASL / Next-up (FRANCE)
http://www.omega-news.info/next_up_infos.htm
http://www.omega-news.info/next_up_infos.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 22:50
Patriot Act Support Shrinks with Increased Info
Starmail - 30. Aug, 22:43
Neue Untersuchungen bestätigen Gefahr von Mobilfunk-Strahlung
WIEN. Die Diskussion um den Mobilfunk ist seit gestern um eine Facette reicher: Nach einer schwedischen Untersuchung warnt auch die Österreichische Ärztekammer (ÖAK) vor der Mobiltelefonie.
Eine aktuelle Untersuchung aus Schweden, die in zwei Fachmagazinen veröffentlicht wurde, bestätigt: Das Mobiltelefon zeige auf allen naturwissenschaftlichen Nachweisebenen Schädigungen der menschlichen Erbsubstanz. Zu dem gebe es laut der Untersuchung ein erhöhtes Risiko für gewisse Tumore. Besonders gefährdet sei dabei der Hörnerv. Erstmals wurde jetzt auch nachgewiesen, dass bösartige Gehirntumore auch nach langjähriger Verwendung von Mobiltelefonen und Schnurlostelefonen entstehen können.
Mit diesen Studien im Petto folgt jetzt die ÖAK der Empfehlung der Wiener Ärztekammer, zu mehr Sorgfalt mit mobilen Kommunikationsmitteln vor allem für Kinder. "Es geht wie bei vielen Umwelt- und Lebensstilfaktoren auch bei elektromagnetischen Feldern und Strahlungen um die Dosis. Und die kumuliert im Laufe der Jahre, wie die aktuellen Studien zeigen. Kinder sollten Funktelefone deshalb grundsätzlich nicht verwenden", sagt der Referent für Umweltmedizin in der ÖAK, Gerd Oberfeld.
Die heimischen Mobilfunker wehrten sich gestern vehement gegen die Warnung: Es handle sich dabei um "ein weiteres Scharmützel im unreflektierten Feldzug der Österreichischen Ärztekammer gegen mobile Funktechnologien", so die Kritik des Forum Mobilfunk (FMK).
vom 31.08.2005
http://www.nachrichten.at/lokal/382808?PHPSESSID=2ff9b0847a15ac3b83582e65d1ed6f0d
Eine aktuelle Untersuchung aus Schweden, die in zwei Fachmagazinen veröffentlicht wurde, bestätigt: Das Mobiltelefon zeige auf allen naturwissenschaftlichen Nachweisebenen Schädigungen der menschlichen Erbsubstanz. Zu dem gebe es laut der Untersuchung ein erhöhtes Risiko für gewisse Tumore. Besonders gefährdet sei dabei der Hörnerv. Erstmals wurde jetzt auch nachgewiesen, dass bösartige Gehirntumore auch nach langjähriger Verwendung von Mobiltelefonen und Schnurlostelefonen entstehen können.
Mit diesen Studien im Petto folgt jetzt die ÖAK der Empfehlung der Wiener Ärztekammer, zu mehr Sorgfalt mit mobilen Kommunikationsmitteln vor allem für Kinder. "Es geht wie bei vielen Umwelt- und Lebensstilfaktoren auch bei elektromagnetischen Feldern und Strahlungen um die Dosis. Und die kumuliert im Laufe der Jahre, wie die aktuellen Studien zeigen. Kinder sollten Funktelefone deshalb grundsätzlich nicht verwenden", sagt der Referent für Umweltmedizin in der ÖAK, Gerd Oberfeld.
Die heimischen Mobilfunker wehrten sich gestern vehement gegen die Warnung: Es handle sich dabei um "ein weiteres Scharmützel im unreflektierten Feldzug der Österreichischen Ärztekammer gegen mobile Funktechnologien", so die Kritik des Forum Mobilfunk (FMK).
vom 31.08.2005
http://www.nachrichten.at/lokal/382808?PHPSESSID=2ff9b0847a15ac3b83582e65d1ed6f0d
Starmail - 30. Aug, 22:42
Tons of Toxics
Hurricane Katrina, one of the largest and strongest storms on record, roared onto shore this week, causing massive devastation in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and other states. But another danger to the region is still brewing. With storm surges of up to 20 feet in some areas, huge petro-chemical plants, gas stations and waste pits have unleashed a toxic cocktail of chemicals ranging from vinyl chloride to gasoline.
Take Action! Natural disaster or terrorist attack - Tell Congress to act NOW to prevent more tragedy.
http://usactions.greenpeace.org/action/start.php?action_id=63&session_action=reset
Already nicknamed "Cancer Alley," the polluted area now suffers from contaminated flood waters of up to 20 feet - which can affect homes, drinking water and surrounding waterways. In New Orleans, the city's levee system is now serving only to hold water in the city, creating a temporary lake of toxic chemicals, gas, oil and storm debris.
Deputy director of the Louisiana State University's Hurricane Center, Ivor van Heerden, warns, "We're talking about an incredible environmental disaster a bowl full of highly contaminated water with contaminated air flowing around and, literally, very few places for anybody to go where they'll be safe."
I've been working for Greenpeace for more than 14 years to prevent just this sort of tragedy. No one could stop Katrina, but chemical plants like those found in Cancer Alley and around the nation can be converted to safer technologies. Natural disasters, chemical spills during transport and the threat of chemical terrorist attacks are reason enough. The good news is that toxic chemicals such as chlorine, which are used to make these pollutants, have many safer alternatives - it's time to make the switch.
Sincerely,
Rick Hind Legislative Director
P.S. This issue is extremely critical, so please, be sure to pass this message on to your friends and loved ones.
Take Action! Natural disaster or terrorist attack - Tell Congress to act NOW to prevent more tragedy.
http://usactions.greenpeace.org/action/start.php?action_id=63&session_action=reset
Already nicknamed "Cancer Alley," the polluted area now suffers from contaminated flood waters of up to 20 feet - which can affect homes, drinking water and surrounding waterways. In New Orleans, the city's levee system is now serving only to hold water in the city, creating a temporary lake of toxic chemicals, gas, oil and storm debris.
Deputy director of the Louisiana State University's Hurricane Center, Ivor van Heerden, warns, "We're talking about an incredible environmental disaster a bowl full of highly contaminated water with contaminated air flowing around and, literally, very few places for anybody to go where they'll be safe."
I've been working for Greenpeace for more than 14 years to prevent just this sort of tragedy. No one could stop Katrina, but chemical plants like those found in Cancer Alley and around the nation can be converted to safer technologies. Natural disasters, chemical spills during transport and the threat of chemical terrorist attacks are reason enough. The good news is that toxic chemicals such as chlorine, which are used to make these pollutants, have many safer alternatives - it's time to make the switch.
Sincerely,
Rick Hind Legislative Director
P.S. This issue is extremely critical, so please, be sure to pass this message on to your friends and loved ones.
Starmail - 30. Aug, 22:27
IN MY LIFE I LOVED YOU MORE
Starmail - 30. Aug, 22:23
Paying Their Fair Share
The KPMG scandal shines a light on the epidemic of tax evasion -- and how corporations are paying less than they ever have.
http://www.tompaine.com/uncommonsense/index.php#6005
http://www.tompaine.com/uncommonsense/index.php#6005
Starmail - 30. Aug, 18:57
Anti-War America
by Todd Gitlin, TomPaine.com
As opposition to the war grows, protestors would be wise to dissent in ways that increase -- not narrow -- their base of support.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050830/antiwar_america.php
As opposition to the war grows, protestors would be wise to dissent in ways that increase -- not narrow -- their base of support.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050830/antiwar_america.php
Starmail - 30. Aug, 18:56
Arrestee Statement: Converge on Camp Casey now
Arrestee Statement; Converge on Camp Casey now; also Sept. 17 event
DAY 16, Tuesday Aug 30, CAMP CASEY - NYC Converge on Camp Casey - NYC Statement from Camp Casey - NYC arrestee: "If you live in the New York Metropolitan Area and stand in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan and our campaign against the unconstitutional and illegal U.S. war on Iraq, please join us at Camp Casey - NYC in the South Plaza of Union Square. Whatever their point of view on Cindy Sheehan's vigil, U.S. North Americans must stand up for the First Amendment. If you support our rights, free speech and assembly, please converge on union square, today, tomorrow and every day as we mobilize for our march on Washington, D.C on Sept 24.
"Union Square, New York City is a national landmark commemorating the first Labor Day, Sept 5, 1882, where citizens fully exercised their rights to free speech and assembly. Union Square today is a convergence point for those who will continue to fully exercise these endangered First Amendment rights.
"Details to come of the arrest as well as date and time of an upcoming press conference and possible suit against the Mayor, Police and Parks Commissioners, NYPD, the arresting Inspector and arresting officers."
-- Paul "zool" Zulkowitz, Green Party Peace Action Committee (affiliation only)
There is a growing 24/7 anti-war vigil at Union Square South Plaza through September 23, 2005. A mass-action has been proposed for Saturday, September 17 as well. Zool was arrested at Camp Casey NYC Monday evening roughly 6:00 pm while exercising First Amendment rights of free speech and association along with numerous others maintaining a 24 hour vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan and Goldstar Moms, demanding, "U.S. Out of Iraq!"
Camp Casey tents were taken by a local PD Inspector. Zool was since released, promptly issued the above statement and meets tomorrow with Arthur Eisenberg of New York Civil Liberties Union to discuss the Parks Permits and First Amendment Rights.
Informant: Debi Clark
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:54
Venezuela May Seek Robertson's Extradition
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his government would take legal action against Pat Robertson and potentially seek his extradition after the US evangelist called for Washington to assassinate the South American leader.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905M.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905M.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:49
Hugo Chavez: A Walk in the Footsteps of Arbenz, Allende
Dr. Rosa Pegueros argues that Venezuela is right to publicize rumors that the US is planning to invade. If Cuba's experience, along with the CIA-sponsored coups against Arbenz in Guatemala in 1954 and against Allende in Chile in 1972, are any measure of our government's willingness to disregard international law for our own ends, Chavez cannot take these rumors lightly, particularly with the trigger-happy Bush at the helm.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905G.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905G.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:47
Robertson's Not Alone in His Dislike of Chavez
While Robertson's remarks were shocking in their utter disregard for global democracy and the rule of law, he is by no means the first to beat the drum against Venezuela. In fact, Weiss remarks, his comments were merely a more vitriolic version of what the Bush administration has been saying for some time, with declarations to "contain" Chavez and the funneling of millions of dollars to opposition groups within the country.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905C.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905C.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:46
GO-AHEAD FOR PHONE MAST DESPITE PROTEST
KATIE NORMAN
KATIE.NORMAN@GRIMSBYTELEGRAPH.CO.UK
12:30 - 29 August 2005
A Mobile phone mast will be erected despite a petition against it signed by more than 500 people.
The decision to allow the 9.5-metre Vodafone mast on the corner of North Sea Lane and Carrington Drive, Humberston, was passed after a majority of six to five North East Lincolnshire Council planning committee members voted to accept the plan. Planning officers advised councillors not to take any rumoured health issues relating to the masts into account and assured them other considered sites were unsuitable.
Humberston Parish Council had opposed the mast because of the residential location and had suggested alternative locations which were apparently inadequate.
Its chairman, Coun Cedric Skelton, who lives on Carrington Drive, said: "I think it is completely wrong. The planning committee just do not take into account what people think of these things.
"There is no consideration given. Why do they want people's opinions if they are going to ignore them?
"No matter what we do we seem to get overruled every time."
But NELC's Coun Colin Eastwell (Lib Dem, Croft Baker), who voted in favour of the plans, pointed out that a mast already exists within the grounds of Lindsey School.
He said: "I have a mobile phone in my pocket the same as the majority of the people in this room.
"I do accept there may be hazards, but I do not think they come from antennaes, I think they come from the phones themselves if at all they do.
"Nobody seems to object when they are using mobile phones. I think there is a bit of hypocrisy with these things, quite frankly."
And Coun Doug Pickett (Lib Dem, South) suggested people should accept the masts if they wished to benefit from new technology.
He said: "I think a lot of people are objecting because they do not understand whether there is a problem.
"Nobody has proved anything either way."
Omega this is not true. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/ and
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html
Support for the residents was voiced by Coun Stewart Swinburn (Con, Immingham), but he was ultimately overruled.
He said: "How would you like having it outside your front windows?
"I am not in favour of having these things in such residential areas.
"Before we know it, they will be outside everybody's houses."
In agreement, Coun John Colebrook (Con, Humberston and New Waltham) added: "I am not convinced there is not a risk to health that might emerge in future years."
Nobody from Vodafone was available for comment.
KATIE.NORMAN@GRIMSBYTELEGRAPH.CO.UK
12:30 - 29 August 2005
A Mobile phone mast will be erected despite a petition against it signed by more than 500 people.
The decision to allow the 9.5-metre Vodafone mast on the corner of North Sea Lane and Carrington Drive, Humberston, was passed after a majority of six to five North East Lincolnshire Council planning committee members voted to accept the plan. Planning officers advised councillors not to take any rumoured health issues relating to the masts into account and assured them other considered sites were unsuitable.
Humberston Parish Council had opposed the mast because of the residential location and had suggested alternative locations which were apparently inadequate.
Its chairman, Coun Cedric Skelton, who lives on Carrington Drive, said: "I think it is completely wrong. The planning committee just do not take into account what people think of these things.
"There is no consideration given. Why do they want people's opinions if they are going to ignore them?
"No matter what we do we seem to get overruled every time."
But NELC's Coun Colin Eastwell (Lib Dem, Croft Baker), who voted in favour of the plans, pointed out that a mast already exists within the grounds of Lindsey School.
He said: "I have a mobile phone in my pocket the same as the majority of the people in this room.
"I do accept there may be hazards, but I do not think they come from antennaes, I think they come from the phones themselves if at all they do.
"Nobody seems to object when they are using mobile phones. I think there is a bit of hypocrisy with these things, quite frankly."
And Coun Doug Pickett (Lib Dem, South) suggested people should accept the masts if they wished to benefit from new technology.
He said: "I think a lot of people are objecting because they do not understand whether there is a problem.
"Nobody has proved anything either way."
Omega this is not true. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/ and
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html
Support for the residents was voiced by Coun Stewart Swinburn (Con, Immingham), but he was ultimately overruled.
He said: "How would you like having it outside your front windows?
"I am not in favour of having these things in such residential areas.
"Before we know it, they will be outside everybody's houses."
In agreement, Coun John Colebrook (Con, Humberston and New Waltham) added: "I am not convinced there is not a risk to health that might emerge in future years."
Nobody from Vodafone was available for comment.
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:42
PHONE FIRM VICTORY ON MAST APPEAL
Express and Echo Devon
12:00 - 29 August 2005
Campaigners against a mobile phone mast on a 'gateway' route into Exeter have seen what they had believed to be a planning victory being turned into a defeat on appeal. Last March, telecommunications giant Vodafone applied for planning permission under the 'prior approval' procedure to erect a 10-metre high mast on a green space close to the junction of Sweetbrier Lane and Honiton Road in Heavitree.
But 37 nearby householders objected, many citing health fears.
Councillors on the city's development control committee voted six to three to block the bid, on the grounds the mast would be an eyesore on one of Exeter's busiest 'gateway' roads.
But Vodafone has now overturned the original decision with a successful appeal to Whitehall planning inspectors.
The city council, as the local planning authority, and the objectors can take the battle to the High Court, but both feel more expensive legal wrangling would be unlikely to succeed.
Retired Church of England vicar the Reverend Vincent Gillett, who lives on Honiton Road, organised opposition to the mast in his capacity as Secretary of the Heavitree Bridge Association.
He said: "We don't seem to have any mechanism for democracy any more for local communities to express themselves.
"We weren't allowed to make representations to the inspectors or be present at his site inspection. I don't see how we can take it any further. We simply don't have the money for a High Court action."
He said the question of whether such masts caused health risks was unresolved, and residents felt the mast and equipment would clutter up the first green space on the approach to the city.
A city council spokeswoman said the authority could now only challenge the decision on technical grounds.
Vodafone said all its masts emitted at a level many times lower than advised in currently recognised international guidelines. It said the mast design was in keeping with the area's character.
Omega see to this theme "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk":
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/
12:00 - 29 August 2005
Campaigners against a mobile phone mast on a 'gateway' route into Exeter have seen what they had believed to be a planning victory being turned into a defeat on appeal. Last March, telecommunications giant Vodafone applied for planning permission under the 'prior approval' procedure to erect a 10-metre high mast on a green space close to the junction of Sweetbrier Lane and Honiton Road in Heavitree.
But 37 nearby householders objected, many citing health fears.
Councillors on the city's development control committee voted six to three to block the bid, on the grounds the mast would be an eyesore on one of Exeter's busiest 'gateway' roads.
But Vodafone has now overturned the original decision with a successful appeal to Whitehall planning inspectors.
The city council, as the local planning authority, and the objectors can take the battle to the High Court, but both feel more expensive legal wrangling would be unlikely to succeed.
Retired Church of England vicar the Reverend Vincent Gillett, who lives on Honiton Road, organised opposition to the mast in his capacity as Secretary of the Heavitree Bridge Association.
He said: "We don't seem to have any mechanism for democracy any more for local communities to express themselves.
"We weren't allowed to make representations to the inspectors or be present at his site inspection. I don't see how we can take it any further. We simply don't have the money for a High Court action."
He said the question of whether such masts caused health risks was unresolved, and residents felt the mast and equipment would clutter up the first green space on the approach to the city.
A city council spokeswoman said the authority could now only challenge the decision on technical grounds.
Vodafone said all its masts emitted at a level many times lower than advised in currently recognised international guidelines. It said the mast design was in keeping with the area's character.
Omega see to this theme "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk":
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:39
It must be awful to live under such conditions
Hi All,
it is with regret that I will have to leave the mailing list. My health is so poor now and I find I struggle to cope with the enormous amount of mails on the list when my pc has been off for a few days. My own address will remain the same if there is important data that you may think will be of interest to me. The area where I live is totally surrounded by masts so I live with a permanent migraine and despite taking Asphalia (which does help) my sleep pattern doesnt exist, I am suffering from total exhaustion and the inability to concentrate is a nightmare. So - to all of you who are working so hard for Mast Sanity - my good wishes to you all, you are doing a terrific job. Sincere regards to everyone - sue fergusson
--------
Dear Sue,
Really sorry to hear this, it must be awful to live under such conditions. Concentrate on taking care of yourself. Best wishes
sue g
--------
Hello Sue.
So very sorry to hear of your ill health. It is absolutely criminal that people are being forced to live in such conditions - and I desperately hope for all our sakes, that we can get something done about it quickly. Take care of yourself, and concentrate on getting better. Thank you for everything you've done and for being such a great supporter of the Mast Movement. All Best Wishes
Jenny
--------
Dear Sue,
I am so sorry that you are feeling dreadfully ill. It is so frustrating that the government will not listen to us. I am still writing down the evidence and sending it - two letter in progress, to Patricia Hewitt and to Orange pointing out the flaws in theirs replying to our letter from the Parish Council.
I'll be thinking of you, so sorry I can't do anything.
Much love and best wishes from
Gill
it is with regret that I will have to leave the mailing list. My health is so poor now and I find I struggle to cope with the enormous amount of mails on the list when my pc has been off for a few days. My own address will remain the same if there is important data that you may think will be of interest to me. The area where I live is totally surrounded by masts so I live with a permanent migraine and despite taking Asphalia (which does help) my sleep pattern doesnt exist, I am suffering from total exhaustion and the inability to concentrate is a nightmare. So - to all of you who are working so hard for Mast Sanity - my good wishes to you all, you are doing a terrific job. Sincere regards to everyone - sue fergusson
--------
Dear Sue,
Really sorry to hear this, it must be awful to live under such conditions. Concentrate on taking care of yourself. Best wishes
sue g
--------
Hello Sue.
So very sorry to hear of your ill health. It is absolutely criminal that people are being forced to live in such conditions - and I desperately hope for all our sakes, that we can get something done about it quickly. Take care of yourself, and concentrate on getting better. Thank you for everything you've done and for being such a great supporter of the Mast Movement. All Best Wishes
Jenny
--------
Dear Sue,
I am so sorry that you are feeling dreadfully ill. It is so frustrating that the government will not listen to us. I am still writing down the evidence and sending it - two letter in progress, to Patricia Hewitt and to Orange pointing out the flaws in theirs replying to our letter from the Parish Council.
I'll be thinking of you, so sorry I can't do anything.
Much love and best wishes from
Gill
Starmail - 30. Aug, 17:31
050830 - R - Mobilfunk - Newsletter
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:50
The Peoples' Petition for an Iraq Peace Process
The Peace Action Education Fund and Progressive Democrats of America have launched an on-line petition campaign as part of a congressional pressure strategy aimed at ending the war in Iraq. Petitions will be delivered to Members of Congress to show grassroots support for ending Bush's quagmire. The National Organization for Women, Women's Action for New Directions, the After Downing Street Coalition, Peace Majority Report and Democrats.com are also supporting this petition campaign.
You can sign the petition on-line at
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/Peaceact/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=102, or via our homepage at http://www.peace-action.org/ and we ask you to forward the petition to individuals and organizations you think would be supportive.
We also seek organizational support for the campaign. Your organization can simply send out the link above, or you can set up the petition on your own website. We ask that you contact us so we can have overall counts of petition signers. You can send filled-out paper petitions to us at the address below. The campaign is less than two weeks old, but we are well on the way to 20,000 signers, aiming for at least 500,000 by mid-September.
For Peace,
Kevin Martin
Executive Director Peace Action and Peace Action Education Fund
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1020 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone (301) 565-4050, ext. 307 Fax (301) 565-0850 http://www.peace-action.org
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
From ufpj-news
You can sign the petition on-line at
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/Peaceact/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=102, or via our homepage at http://www.peace-action.org/ and we ask you to forward the petition to individuals and organizations you think would be supportive.
We also seek organizational support for the campaign. Your organization can simply send out the link above, or you can set up the petition on your own website. We ask that you contact us so we can have overall counts of petition signers. You can send filled-out paper petitions to us at the address below. The campaign is less than two weeks old, but we are well on the way to 20,000 signers, aiming for at least 500,000 by mid-September.
For Peace,
Kevin Martin
Executive Director Peace Action and Peace Action Education Fund
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1020 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone (301) 565-4050, ext. 307 Fax (301) 565-0850 http://www.peace-action.org
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
From ufpj-news
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:42
NAFTA is dead, if it ever lived
U.S. never played by trade rules so Canada can live without it.
http://snipurl.com/haqn
From Information Clearing House
http://snipurl.com/haqn
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:38
Greenspan and the Bubble
As I like to say, these days Americans make a living by selling each other houses, paid for with money borrowed from China.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10029.htm
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10029.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:37
United Nations calls for U.S. accountability
Chairman of the U.N. Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, issued a formal letter to the United States and questioned why Western Shoshone sacred land and treaty rights are not being honored.
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411464
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411464
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:33
Lawyer defends Jose Padilla in name of everyone's legal rights
Stanford Law Professor Jenny Martinez is just 33, yet she's already stood before the Supreme Court to argue a case she is very passionate and very knowledgeable about, the case of "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10021.htm
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10021.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:32
President Bush, Our loved ones are dying in an unjust war, WHY?
San Diego Candlelight Vigil:
A Gold Star Father, military families, veterans, and other patriotic Americans from the community will hold a candlelight vigil near President Bush’s hotel Monday night.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10027.htm
A Gold Star Father, military families, veterans, and other patriotic Americans from the community will hold a candlelight vigil near President Bush’s hotel Monday night.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10027.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:30
Martin Sheen, Sharpton Visit Anti-War Camp
"I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the conscience of this nation," said Sharpton, a former Democratic presidential candidate.
http://snipurl.com/hapv
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:28
Cindy Sheehan's Diary: One Mother's Stand
A photographer friend of mine went down to Crawford to the Pro-War, Anti-Peace rally today. There were about 1500 people there he said. He also said that it was the most "third reich" spectacle that he had ever seen in America.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10030.htm
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:27
Democrats Must Call For Pullout: Voters Will Punish Opposition For Not Opposing War
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:26
"Terror" war is 4th most expensive U.S. war
By the end of September the military cost of the war on terror, which began shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with the invasion of Afghanistan, will top $250 billion.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10032.htm
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10032.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:24
Fear and loathing
Anxiety about terrorism is now shaping all of Britain's political debate and redefining allegiances.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1558306,00.html
From Information Clearing House
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1558306,00.html
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:23
Foreign Office warned Blair that war was fuelling Muslim anger
Tony Blair faced criticism for attempting to play down the role of the Iraq war in the London bombings after it emerged that the Foreign Office warned more than a year ago that the invasion was fuelling Muslim extremism.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article308795.ece
From Information Clearing House
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article308795.ece
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:21
Sunnis mobilise
In a worrying sign for the government and its US backers, leaders of the disgruntled Sunni Arab former elite, which has been the driving force behind the insurgency, immediately began mobilising Monday for a massive no vote in an October referendum.
http://snipurl.com/hapc
From Information Clearing House
http://snipurl.com/hapc
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:19
Deadly game of cat-and-mouse between U.S. troops, insurgents
U.S. forces are failing to make headway, and some commanders fear that much of the military effort is wasted.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10020.htm
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10020.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:17
US sniper kills Reuters soundman in Iraq
US forces in Baghdad shot dead a Reuters television soundman and wounded a cameraman, Iraqi police said.
http://snipurl.com/habv
From Information Clearing House
http://snipurl.com/habv
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:15
The Crucifixion of Christ, American Style
By Jerry Ghinelli
“To suggest that God, would ever be on the side of an America—or any country, for that matter—which attacks poor, defenseless, impoverished people out of revenge, fear, ignorance or greed, contradicts everything I stand for today and, more importantly, died for two thousand years ago.”
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10025.htm
“To suggest that God, would ever be on the side of an America—or any country, for that matter—which attacks poor, defenseless, impoverished people out of revenge, fear, ignorance or greed, contradicts everything I stand for today and, more importantly, died for two thousand years ago.”
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10025.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 16:11
Cindy Sheehan, Military Families, Vets Ask "How Many More?
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0829-01.htm
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:57
Argentinean Ancient Forests Trashed for GE Soya Plantations
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:55
George W. Bush's Noble Cause - 'Political Capital'
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0829-22.htm
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:52
Army Contract Official Critical of Halliburton Pact Is Demoted
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:50
In the Struggle Over the Iraq War, Women Are on the Front Line
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:48
Petition to US Congress: RE-EXAMINING FLUORIDATION
http://petition.powalliance.org/index.html
Informant: Ken Hamilton
"The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think." -- Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
Informant: Ken Hamilton
"The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think." -- Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:41
Senator Challenges EPA on Military Jet Fuel
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:38
Field-testing Bacterial Pathogens and Fungus
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:37
Destroying the National Parks
The New York Times editorializes against the Bush administration's rewrite of national park management rules, saying "it essentially undermines the protected status of the national parks."
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/082905EA.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0831-24.htm
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/082905EA.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0831-24.htm
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:29
Roberts Tried to Rein In Employment Agency
Memo Says
As a young government lawyer, Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. proposed reining in the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because its civil rights positions were "totally inconsistent" with President Ronald W. Reagan's policies, a newly released memo says.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905R.shtml
As a young government lawyer, Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. proposed reining in the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because its civil rights positions were "totally inconsistent" with President Ronald W. Reagan's policies, a newly released memo says.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905R.shtml
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:27
The Deepening Climate Crisis
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905Q.shtml
Note: the complete article had dire predictions for New Orleans... turned out not as bad as feared, but could have.
Hurricane Could Turn City into Toxic Cesspool The Associated Press Monday 29 August 2005 Experts warn 'incredible environmental disaster' is possible....<snipped>
The Deepening Climate Crisis
By Elizabeth Nash
The New Zealand Herald
Monday 29 August 2005
The category four storm threatening to cause havoc around the Gulf of Mexico is another example of the way global warming is altering the world's weather systems, environmental campaigners say.
As Hurricane Katrina bore down for a second time on Florida - with New Orleans in Louisiana also in its sights - parts of central Europe were battling to overcome floods that have killed dozens.
Portugal, on the other hand, was in the grip of a new wave of fires caused by high temperatures.
Alarmed residents in Florida have barely had time to clear up damage inflicted by Hurricane Dennis last month, or Hurricane Ivan last September.
Ending a week of extreme weather worldwide, the storm was expected to swing northwards on a course heading somewhere between the southern Florida panhandle and the Louisiana coast.
Florida has been pummelled by six powerful hurricanes since last August, in what forecasters describe as an "unusually active season."
Environmental campaigners say the turbulence is a product of global warming disrupting world weather patterns.
Katrina is the 11th storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. That is seven more than are usually whipped up by this stage of the season in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the United States' National Hurricane Centre said. The season ends on November 30.
Katrina's advance is being watched closely in Europe, where many people have felt subjected to comparable celestial punishment this week. From deluged south-eastern Europe, where 43 died in tumultuous rainstorms, to tinder-dry Portugal, where 11 new fires flared in the weekend despite weeks of desperate firefighting, Europeans have been assaulted by weather extremes unknown for generations.
Hardest hit was Romania, where 31 died, many of whom drowned when water engulfed their homes. Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and Switzerland reported 12 dead, with vast areas under water.
Fears remain that floodwaters could cause the Danube to burst its banks. In the small Swiss town of Thun, the local soccer stadium was destroyed, a loss given international prominence by the club's qualification last week for Europe's Champions League tournament.
Experts seeking an explanation for the chaos point to the irregularity of the jet stream, the wriggling ribbon of fast-moving wind that drives Europe's weather from the Atlantic.
A convulsive kink last week whipped turbulence into Eastern Europe, and locked Iberia in its pocket of hot tranquillity.
"But the jet stream is a permanent feature, it always wanders around, that's nothing new," said Wayne Elliott, a weather forecaster from the Meteorological Office in Exeter.
"The jet stream moves north in summer, south in winter, and the important thing is that it didn't come as far south as was expected last autumn. That's why the rains failed in Iberia, and why northern Europe is unsettled.
"Such behaviour is consistent with predictions by scientists who argue the climate is changing. Global warming could be the key."
The World Wildlife Fund said last week: "Global warming has started to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of meteorological catastrophes."
--- ENDS ---
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905Q.shtml
-- Peace! *STRIDER*
Note: the complete article had dire predictions for New Orleans... turned out not as bad as feared, but could have.
Hurricane Could Turn City into Toxic Cesspool The Associated Press Monday 29 August 2005 Experts warn 'incredible environmental disaster' is possible....<snipped>
The Deepening Climate Crisis
By Elizabeth Nash
The New Zealand Herald
Monday 29 August 2005
The category four storm threatening to cause havoc around the Gulf of Mexico is another example of the way global warming is altering the world's weather systems, environmental campaigners say.
As Hurricane Katrina bore down for a second time on Florida - with New Orleans in Louisiana also in its sights - parts of central Europe were battling to overcome floods that have killed dozens.
Portugal, on the other hand, was in the grip of a new wave of fires caused by high temperatures.
Alarmed residents in Florida have barely had time to clear up damage inflicted by Hurricane Dennis last month, or Hurricane Ivan last September.
Ending a week of extreme weather worldwide, the storm was expected to swing northwards on a course heading somewhere between the southern Florida panhandle and the Louisiana coast.
Florida has been pummelled by six powerful hurricanes since last August, in what forecasters describe as an "unusually active season."
Environmental campaigners say the turbulence is a product of global warming disrupting world weather patterns.
Katrina is the 11th storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. That is seven more than are usually whipped up by this stage of the season in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the United States' National Hurricane Centre said. The season ends on November 30.
Katrina's advance is being watched closely in Europe, where many people have felt subjected to comparable celestial punishment this week. From deluged south-eastern Europe, where 43 died in tumultuous rainstorms, to tinder-dry Portugal, where 11 new fires flared in the weekend despite weeks of desperate firefighting, Europeans have been assaulted by weather extremes unknown for generations.
Hardest hit was Romania, where 31 died, many of whom drowned when water engulfed their homes. Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and Switzerland reported 12 dead, with vast areas under water.
Fears remain that floodwaters could cause the Danube to burst its banks. In the small Swiss town of Thun, the local soccer stadium was destroyed, a loss given international prominence by the club's qualification last week for Europe's Champions League tournament.
Experts seeking an explanation for the chaos point to the irregularity of the jet stream, the wriggling ribbon of fast-moving wind that drives Europe's weather from the Atlantic.
A convulsive kink last week whipped turbulence into Eastern Europe, and locked Iberia in its pocket of hot tranquillity.
"But the jet stream is a permanent feature, it always wanders around, that's nothing new," said Wayne Elliott, a weather forecaster from the Meteorological Office in Exeter.
"The jet stream moves north in summer, south in winter, and the important thing is that it didn't come as far south as was expected last autumn. That's why the rains failed in Iberia, and why northern Europe is unsettled.
"Such behaviour is consistent with predictions by scientists who argue the climate is changing. Global warming could be the key."
The World Wildlife Fund said last week: "Global warming has started to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of meteorological catastrophes."
--- ENDS ---
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905Q.shtml
-- Peace! *STRIDER*
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:24
Weapons: A Trillion-Dollar Trade
Military expenditure by the United States makes up 47% of the world total.
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=75551
Informant: jhw369
We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men: George Orwell
They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening : George Orwell
Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind: George Orwell
The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them: George Orwell
Liberty can not be preserved without general knowledge among people." (August 1765) John Adams
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=75551
Informant: jhw369
We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men: George Orwell
They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening : George Orwell
Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind: George Orwell
The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them: George Orwell
Liberty can not be preserved without general knowledge among people." (August 1765) John Adams
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:14
RALLY for CINDY Wednesday in AUSTIN
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=149495;article=90098;show_parent=1
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:03
NEW PHOTO'S FROM CRAWFORD
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=149495;article=90096;show_parent=1
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 15:00
The Cindy Sheehan Revolution
http://www.lewrockwell.com/zeese/zeese14.html
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:49
Cindy Sheehan vs. the Prez
http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhardt/engelhardt110.html
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:43
Hiroshima: Reconsider your collectivism
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:40
The Bombing of Nagasaki: The Untold Story
The Bombing of Nagasaki August 9, 1945: The Untold Story
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/kohls3.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/kohls3.html
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:38
A national emergency
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:35
Bundesweiter dezentraler Aktionstag "Hartzschluss" am Montag, 5. September 2005
Teilnahme am Hartz-Schluss nun schon in 47 Städten! Bisherige Ankündigungen zum 5. September auf der Kampagnenseite
http://www.die-soziale-bewegung.de/2005/hartzschluss/angekuendigt.html
Online-Anmeldeformular der örtlichen Aktionen
http://www.die-soziale-bewegung.de/2005/hartzschluss/kontakt_hartzschluss.html
Hartzschluß. Interview von Dietmar Freitsmmiedl mit Peter Grottian bei Radio Lora, München, am 26.08.2005 http://freie-radios.info/portal/content.php?id=10073
Übersicht über regionale Anti-Hartz-&-Co-Bündnisse
http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/aktionen/regionen.html wurde – nach langer Zeit – wieder aktualisiert!
Aus: LabourNet, 30. August 2005
http://www.die-soziale-bewegung.de/2005/hartzschluss/angekuendigt.html
Online-Anmeldeformular der örtlichen Aktionen
http://www.die-soziale-bewegung.de/2005/hartzschluss/kontakt_hartzschluss.html
Hartzschluß. Interview von Dietmar Freitsmmiedl mit Peter Grottian bei Radio Lora, München, am 26.08.2005 http://freie-radios.info/portal/content.php?id=10073
Übersicht über regionale Anti-Hartz-&-Co-Bündnisse
http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/aktionen/regionen.html wurde – nach langer Zeit – wieder aktualisiert!
Aus: LabourNet, 30. August 2005
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:32
"Faulenzer"-Debatte die x-te: Arbeit, nein danke! Scheitern mit Hartz IV
"Faulenzer"-Debatte die x-te - Arbeitslose sind faul und die Erde ist eine Scheibe
„Arbeit, nein danke!“
Jede neue Gesetzesverschärfung wird journalistisch vorbereitet. Die nächste Welle scheint eingeläutet zu werden durch die Sendung „Arbeit, nein danke! Scheitern mit Hartz IV“, von der ARD – wie sie sich rühmt – exclusiv gesendet am 24. August 2005, 21.45 Uhr.
Die NDR-Info zur Sendung fängt schon schlimm an: „Angelika Brauer hat Nerven wie Drahtseile. Sie ist eine von 4000 "Fallmanagern" der Bundesagentur für Arbeit. (…) Tag für Tag hört sie sich die gleichen Geschichten an. Frau M. wohnt auf dem Land und hat keinen Führerschein. Mit der Bahn will sie nicht fahren und arbeiten gehen schon gar nicht. Herr F. hat zwar einen Beruf erlernt, den aber nie ausgeübt und somit keine Berufserfahrung. Warum? Das macht mir keinen Spaß, sagt er. (…) Wenn Angelika Brauer in ihren Computer blickt, dann weiß sie, warum die Arbeitsunlust vielfach groß ist. Frau M. und Herr F. und Frau Z. haben - mit Kindern und arbeitslosen Partnern - um die 1.400 Euro im Monat zum Leben, die Miete übernimmt der Staat….“
http://www3.ndr.de/ndrtv_pages_std/0,,OID1637282,00.html
Die Sendung von Rita Knobel-Ulrich selbst und v.a. die off-Stimme muss noch viel schlimmer sein, sie sorgt seit dem für heisse Debatten und viel Empörung. Siehe stellvertretend den offenen Brief von Hans-Dieter Hey
http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/realpolitik/alos/ard-hey.pdf
Aus: LabourNet, 30. August 2005
„Arbeit, nein danke!“
Jede neue Gesetzesverschärfung wird journalistisch vorbereitet. Die nächste Welle scheint eingeläutet zu werden durch die Sendung „Arbeit, nein danke! Scheitern mit Hartz IV“, von der ARD – wie sie sich rühmt – exclusiv gesendet am 24. August 2005, 21.45 Uhr.
Die NDR-Info zur Sendung fängt schon schlimm an: „Angelika Brauer hat Nerven wie Drahtseile. Sie ist eine von 4000 "Fallmanagern" der Bundesagentur für Arbeit. (…) Tag für Tag hört sie sich die gleichen Geschichten an. Frau M. wohnt auf dem Land und hat keinen Führerschein. Mit der Bahn will sie nicht fahren und arbeiten gehen schon gar nicht. Herr F. hat zwar einen Beruf erlernt, den aber nie ausgeübt und somit keine Berufserfahrung. Warum? Das macht mir keinen Spaß, sagt er. (…) Wenn Angelika Brauer in ihren Computer blickt, dann weiß sie, warum die Arbeitsunlust vielfach groß ist. Frau M. und Herr F. und Frau Z. haben - mit Kindern und arbeitslosen Partnern - um die 1.400 Euro im Monat zum Leben, die Miete übernimmt der Staat….“
http://www3.ndr.de/ndrtv_pages_std/0,,OID1637282,00.html
Die Sendung von Rita Knobel-Ulrich selbst und v.a. die off-Stimme muss noch viel schlimmer sein, sie sorgt seit dem für heisse Debatten und viel Empörung. Siehe stellvertretend den offenen Brief von Hans-Dieter Hey
http://www.labournet.de/diskussion/arbeit/realpolitik/alos/ard-hey.pdf
Aus: LabourNet, 30. August 2005
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:28
What Noble Cause Did Casey Sheehan Die For? - Resolution of Inquiry into Bush Lies Gains Momentum
"Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation. No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam." - Iraqi Constitution supported by Iran-backed Shiites and the Bush Administration (but opposed by Sunni leaders)
"Fortunately, after years of effort and expectations in Iraq, an Islamic state has come to power and the constitution has been established on the basis of Islamic precepts. We must congratulate the Iraqi people and authorities for this victory." - Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful ultra-conservative Guardian Council
"This is the future of the new Iraqi government - it will be in the hands of the clerics. I wanted Iraqi women to be free, to be able to talk freely and to able to move around. I am not going to stay here." - Dr. Raja Kuzai, an obstetrician and secular Shiite member of the Assembly who met President Bush in the White House in November 2003.
Resolution of Inquiry into Bush Lies Gains Momentum
There are now 53 co-sponsors on Barbara Lee's Resolution of Inquiry into the Downing Street Memos, including one Republican member of the International Relations Committee, Jim Leach. If your Representative isn't on this list yet, please call their D.C. office (202-224-3121) and ask to speak to the Legislative Director. Ask why they haven't cosponsored HRes375, and then report back to us. A vote in committee will come between Sept. 6 and Sept. 16.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/902
"Bring the Troops Home Now" Bus Tour Begins August 31 On August 31st, the last day of the encampment, the Bring Them Home Now Tour will launch three buses from Crawford, Texas, each carrying military and Gold Star families, veterans of the Iraq War and veterans of previous wars. These buses will travel different routes across the country, converging in Washington, DC on September 21, for the United for Peace and Justice Mobilization September 24th-26th. From George Bush's doorstep to communities along the way, we demand that:
* Elected Representatives Decide Now to Bring the Troops Home
* We Take Care of Them When They Get Here
* We Never Again Send Our Loved Ones to War Based on Lies!
http://www.bringthemhomenowtour.org/ Why Aren't Congress's Kids
Fighting in Iraq?
Dear Senator/Representative, If you support the War in Iraq, why aren't you or your children or your grandchildren fighting there? The Army is short of soldiers because of the Iraq War disaster. This shortage has put our national security in danger throughout the world. Your family can help fix the problem that you created by supporting the Iraq War disaster. As your constituent, I will continue to ask this question until you call for the withdrawal of America's children from Iraq. http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/57
Pass Local Resolutions
The Backbone Campaign is helping grassroots activists organize their Town Councils and Democratic Committees to pass resolutions on:
* Barbara Lee's Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 375)
* Rep. Rush Holt's Resolution of Inquiry (H.Res 363) into the Valerie Plame outing
* Letter to Senate Intelligence Committee chair Pat Roberts (R-KS) for Phase II of the Investigation Into Pre-War Intelligence Show your Representatives that you have backbones - and they should too!
http://backbonecampaign.org/storydetail.cfm?id=96
Out of Iraq Rally in D.C. on September 15
The peace movement will rally against the war in front of the White House following Democrat-led hearings on an exit strategy hosted by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). Learn more:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/2369
September 24-26 - Mark Your Calendar!
September 24-26: End the War on Iraq !
Three Days of Peace & Justice Actions in Washington , D.C.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/septmobe
PDA Events Sept. 24-26 to Include Focus on Downing Street
Workshops and trainings in DC on Sept 25th organized by Progressive Democrats of America will include a focus on Downing Street, including remarks by AfterDowningStreet.org Co-Founder John Bonifaz.
http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/events/sept2005/index.php
Demand More Polls on Impeaching Bush
On June 30, a Zogby poll found 42% of Americans said "if it is found that President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should hold him accountable through impeachment." At the time, Bush's approval rating was just 43%. Since then, Bush's approval has dropped even lower - down to 36%. It's time for other pollsters to follow up on the Zogby Poll and to ask about impeaching George Bush. We've collected all the e-mail addresses you need to contact them.
http://www.democrats.com/bush-impeachment-polls
C-SPAN to Broadcast McKinney Congressional Briefing on 9/11 On July 22, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) organized a day-long briefing on the 9/11 Commission's Final Report one year later. The event included leading victims' family members, former government and intelligence workers, academics and authors speaking on the flaws and weaknesses of the 9/11 Commission's investigation, assumptions, omissions, conclusions and recommendations. It was filmed in entirety by C-SPAN and will be broadcast:
* Wednesday August 31 from 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm
* Friday, September 2 from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am
http://www.911truth.org
BS Protector - Don't Leave Home Without It!
Veteran Bill Moyer didn't take any risks when he watched Bush speak. You shouldn't either!
Make your own BS Protector - it's easy and fun for the whole family!
http://tinyurl.com/8bh8u
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=impeach
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Downing+Street+Memo
"Fortunately, after years of effort and expectations in Iraq, an Islamic state has come to power and the constitution has been established on the basis of Islamic precepts. We must congratulate the Iraqi people and authorities for this victory." - Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful ultra-conservative Guardian Council
"This is the future of the new Iraqi government - it will be in the hands of the clerics. I wanted Iraqi women to be free, to be able to talk freely and to able to move around. I am not going to stay here." - Dr. Raja Kuzai, an obstetrician and secular Shiite member of the Assembly who met President Bush in the White House in November 2003.
Resolution of Inquiry into Bush Lies Gains Momentum
There are now 53 co-sponsors on Barbara Lee's Resolution of Inquiry into the Downing Street Memos, including one Republican member of the International Relations Committee, Jim Leach. If your Representative isn't on this list yet, please call their D.C. office (202-224-3121) and ask to speak to the Legislative Director. Ask why they haven't cosponsored HRes375, and then report back to us. A vote in committee will come between Sept. 6 and Sept. 16.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/902
"Bring the Troops Home Now" Bus Tour Begins August 31 On August 31st, the last day of the encampment, the Bring Them Home Now Tour will launch three buses from Crawford, Texas, each carrying military and Gold Star families, veterans of the Iraq War and veterans of previous wars. These buses will travel different routes across the country, converging in Washington, DC on September 21, for the United for Peace and Justice Mobilization September 24th-26th. From George Bush's doorstep to communities along the way, we demand that:
* Elected Representatives Decide Now to Bring the Troops Home
* We Take Care of Them When They Get Here
* We Never Again Send Our Loved Ones to War Based on Lies!
http://www.bringthemhomenowtour.org/ Why Aren't Congress's Kids
Fighting in Iraq?
Dear Senator/Representative, If you support the War in Iraq, why aren't you or your children or your grandchildren fighting there? The Army is short of soldiers because of the Iraq War disaster. This shortage has put our national security in danger throughout the world. Your family can help fix the problem that you created by supporting the Iraq War disaster. As your constituent, I will continue to ask this question until you call for the withdrawal of America's children from Iraq. http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/57
Pass Local Resolutions
The Backbone Campaign is helping grassroots activists organize their Town Councils and Democratic Committees to pass resolutions on:
* Barbara Lee's Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 375)
* Rep. Rush Holt's Resolution of Inquiry (H.Res 363) into the Valerie Plame outing
* Letter to Senate Intelligence Committee chair Pat Roberts (R-KS) for Phase II of the Investigation Into Pre-War Intelligence Show your Representatives that you have backbones - and they should too!
http://backbonecampaign.org/storydetail.cfm?id=96
Out of Iraq Rally in D.C. on September 15
The peace movement will rally against the war in front of the White House following Democrat-led hearings on an exit strategy hosted by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). Learn more:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/2369
September 24-26 - Mark Your Calendar!
September 24-26: End the War on Iraq !
Three Days of Peace & Justice Actions in Washington , D.C.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/septmobe
PDA Events Sept. 24-26 to Include Focus on Downing Street
Workshops and trainings in DC on Sept 25th organized by Progressive Democrats of America will include a focus on Downing Street, including remarks by AfterDowningStreet.org Co-Founder John Bonifaz.
http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/events/sept2005/index.php
Demand More Polls on Impeaching Bush
On June 30, a Zogby poll found 42% of Americans said "if it is found that President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should hold him accountable through impeachment." At the time, Bush's approval rating was just 43%. Since then, Bush's approval has dropped even lower - down to 36%. It's time for other pollsters to follow up on the Zogby Poll and to ask about impeaching George Bush. We've collected all the e-mail addresses you need to contact them.
http://www.democrats.com/bush-impeachment-polls
C-SPAN to Broadcast McKinney Congressional Briefing on 9/11 On July 22, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) organized a day-long briefing on the 9/11 Commission's Final Report one year later. The event included leading victims' family members, former government and intelligence workers, academics and authors speaking on the flaws and weaknesses of the 9/11 Commission's investigation, assumptions, omissions, conclusions and recommendations. It was filmed in entirety by C-SPAN and will be broadcast:
* Wednesday August 31 from 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm
* Friday, September 2 from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am
http://www.911truth.org
BS Protector - Don't Leave Home Without It!
Veteran Bill Moyer didn't take any risks when he watched Bush speak. You shouldn't either!
Make your own BS Protector - it's easy and fun for the whole family!
http://tinyurl.com/8bh8u
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=impeach
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Downing+Street+Memo
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:23
The Postal Service's eminently absurd powers
Source: America's Future Foundation
Author: Sam Ryan
08/28/05
Much criticism of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on eminent domain has focused on the narrow circumstances of the case: The court has allowed the City of New London, Connecticut, to seize homes from families and hand them over to a private company. But the case also raises a far broader concern: Under what circumstances does the government have the incredible power of eminent domain, where it can seize private property for a public need? And does this power always serve a legitimate purpose? For an answer, look no further than the U.S. Postal Service ...
Link: http://www.affbrainwash.com/archives/020240.php
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Sam Ryan
08/28/05
Much criticism of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on eminent domain has focused on the narrow circumstances of the case: The court has allowed the City of New London, Connecticut, to seize homes from families and hand them over to a private company. But the case also raises a far broader concern: Under what circumstances does the government have the incredible power of eminent domain, where it can seize private property for a public need? And does this power always serve a legitimate purpose? For an answer, look no further than the U.S. Postal Service ...
Link: http://www.affbrainwash.com/archives/020240.php
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:09
In Iraq Zero plus zero is more than zero
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
Author: Sheldon Richman
08/29/05
Lately, it sounds as if Americans need to continue dying in Iraq because otherwise the previous deaths will be meaningless. George W. Bush says, 'These brave men and women gave their lives for a cause that is just and necessary for the security of our country, and now we will honor their sacrifice by completing their mission.' If the cause were really just and necessary, completing the mission would not be a matter of honoring those killed in it. The mission would stand on its own two feet. It can't do that, however, because the feet are made of clay...
Link: http://www.fff.org/comment/com0508q.asp
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Sheldon Richman
08/29/05
Lately, it sounds as if Americans need to continue dying in Iraq because otherwise the previous deaths will be meaningless. George W. Bush says, 'These brave men and women gave their lives for a cause that is just and necessary for the security of our country, and now we will honor their sacrifice by completing their mission.' If the cause were really just and necessary, completing the mission would not be a matter of honoring those killed in it. The mission would stand on its own two feet. It can't do that, however, because the feet are made of clay...
Link: http://www.fff.org/comment/com0508q.asp
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:06
The perfect storm
Source: Strike the Root
Author: Joe Blow
08/29/05
Bush is powerless to control what is about to happen to this nation. While he still thinks that he can manufacture his own reality, he is about to receive another object lesson in humility. Reality therapy, isn't it great!
Link: http://www.strike-the-root.com/52/blow/blow10.html
The perfect storm
CounterPunch
by Chris Floyd
09/01/05
There was the already infamous juxtaposition of captions for wire service photos, where depictions of essentially the same scene desperate people wading through flood waters, clutching plastic bags full of groceries were given markedly different spins. In one picture, a white couple are described as struggling along after finding bread and soda at a grocery store. But beneath an almost identical photo of a young black man with a bag of groceries, we are told that a 'looter' wades through the streets after robbing a grocery store. In the photo I saw, this evil miscreant also had a gasp! pack of diapers under his arm." [editor's note: And black or white, if the people had been wearing company patches on their shirts, they'd have been called what they actually are -- salvage crews - TLK]
http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd09012005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Joe Blow
08/29/05
Bush is powerless to control what is about to happen to this nation. While he still thinks that he can manufacture his own reality, he is about to receive another object lesson in humility. Reality therapy, isn't it great!
Link: http://www.strike-the-root.com/52/blow/blow10.html
The perfect storm
CounterPunch
by Chris Floyd
09/01/05
There was the already infamous juxtaposition of captions for wire service photos, where depictions of essentially the same scene desperate people wading through flood waters, clutching plastic bags full of groceries were given markedly different spins. In one picture, a white couple are described as struggling along after finding bread and soda at a grocery store. But beneath an almost identical photo of a young black man with a bag of groceries, we are told that a 'looter' wades through the streets after robbing a grocery store. In the photo I saw, this evil miscreant also had a gasp! pack of diapers under his arm." [editor's note: And black or white, if the people had been wearing company patches on their shirts, they'd have been called what they actually are -- salvage crews - TLK]
http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd09012005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:04
More pro-war hyprocrisy
Source: Strike the Root
Author: Lee Shelton
08/29/05
Over the last four years, the message sent by neoconservatives to the rest of the nation has been clear: Get behind the Bush administration's 'war on terror' or be prepared to face the consequences. But when the grieving mother of a fallen U.S. soldier tops the neoconservative most wanted list of treasonous, terrorist-sympathizing, America-haters, you know something's up. ... And yet the single defining issue that continues to separate the patriotic from the unpatriotic is the so-called 'war on terror.' I just have one question: If winning the 'war on terror' means losing our freedom, then what exactly are we fighting for?
Link: http://www.strike-the-root.com/52/shelton/shelton2.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Lee Shelton
08/29/05
Over the last four years, the message sent by neoconservatives to the rest of the nation has been clear: Get behind the Bush administration's 'war on terror' or be prepared to face the consequences. But when the grieving mother of a fallen U.S. soldier tops the neoconservative most wanted list of treasonous, terrorist-sympathizing, America-haters, you know something's up. ... And yet the single defining issue that continues to separate the patriotic from the unpatriotic is the so-called 'war on terror.' I just have one question: If winning the 'war on terror' means losing our freedom, then what exactly are we fighting for?
Link: http://www.strike-the-root.com/52/shelton/shelton2.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 14:02
Does Bush think he is a dictator?
Source: CounterPunch
Author: Paul Craig Roberts
08/29/05
With every poll showing smaller and smaller minorities approving of Bush and his war in Iraq, with top US generals sending signals that they want to reduce US troops in Iraq, and with the world at large viewing Bush as a fanatic who cannot acknowledge his blunders and mistakes, Bush announced in his weekly radio address that 'our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve.' Does Bush think he is a dictator? The polls show that it is the American people's resolve that Bush bring his Iraq venture to an end, an orderly end if possible, but to an end. Every explanation Bush has given for his invasion of Iraq has proved to be false. Yet, Bush still speaks of 'our noble cause,' while taking great care to avoid Cindy Sheehan and her question, 'What is the noble cause?' Perhaps Bush supplied the answer in his reference in his weekly radio address to 'our efforts in . . . the broader Middle East'...
Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts08292005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Paul Craig Roberts
08/29/05
With every poll showing smaller and smaller minorities approving of Bush and his war in Iraq, with top US generals sending signals that they want to reduce US troops in Iraq, and with the world at large viewing Bush as a fanatic who cannot acknowledge his blunders and mistakes, Bush announced in his weekly radio address that 'our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve.' Does Bush think he is a dictator? The polls show that it is the American people's resolve that Bush bring his Iraq venture to an end, an orderly end if possible, but to an end. Every explanation Bush has given for his invasion of Iraq has proved to be false. Yet, Bush still speaks of 'our noble cause,' while taking great care to avoid Cindy Sheehan and her question, 'What is the noble cause?' Perhaps Bush supplied the answer in his reference in his weekly radio address to 'our efforts in . . . the broader Middle East'...
Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts08292005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 13:59
Americans don't want to know the truth
Source: CounterPunch
Author: Charles Sullivan
08/29/05
My entire family is being played for fools by the power brokers in Washington; and they don't even have a clue about how they are being manipulated. I am embarrassed for them. The truth is out there; but no one is bringing it to our door step. You have to look hard. You have to want to know the facts. You have to care about social justice; and that requires effort; it requires living with a troubled conscience and trying to set things right. It requires that you inform yourself and make an effort to change things. The trouble is that most Americans don't want to know the truth because it would make them uncomfortable. So they turn their heads the other way and allow themselves to be distracted from their civic and patriotic duties. It is easier to display the flag and plaster their cars with 'Support our troops' stickers. This mode of being requires no real effort; nor accountability...
Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/sullivan08292005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Charles Sullivan
08/29/05
My entire family is being played for fools by the power brokers in Washington; and they don't even have a clue about how they are being manipulated. I am embarrassed for them. The truth is out there; but no one is bringing it to our door step. You have to look hard. You have to want to know the facts. You have to care about social justice; and that requires effort; it requires living with a troubled conscience and trying to set things right. It requires that you inform yourself and make an effort to change things. The trouble is that most Americans don't want to know the truth because it would make them uncomfortable. So they turn their heads the other way and allow themselves to be distracted from their civic and patriotic duties. It is easier to display the flag and plaster their cars with 'Support our troops' stickers. This mode of being requires no real effort; nor accountability...
Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/sullivan08292005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 13:55
Why neoconservatives won't back down
Source: LewRockwell.Com
Author: Karen Kwiatkowski
08/30/05
Jude Wanniski asks 'when will the pundits apologize?' When will they admit their mistakes and grave errors to the families of the dead on all sides and to the people of America? Homer Simpson answers for them, 'I don't apologize. I am sorry Lisa, that's the way I am.' And so it is with the neoconservatives who clamored for war and cakewalks and slam-dunks. You will hear the inconsistency in their voices. You will see their pain in the Sunday morning talk shows. But you will never hear those responsible for designing a flawed policy in the Middle East, destroying the U.S. Army and its Guard and Reserve system, and Iraq as a nation ever say they're sorry...
Link: http://www.lewrockwell.com/kwiatkowski/kwiatkowski121.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Karen Kwiatkowski
08/30/05
Jude Wanniski asks 'when will the pundits apologize?' When will they admit their mistakes and grave errors to the families of the dead on all sides and to the people of America? Homer Simpson answers for them, 'I don't apologize. I am sorry Lisa, that's the way I am.' And so it is with the neoconservatives who clamored for war and cakewalks and slam-dunks. You will hear the inconsistency in their voices. You will see their pain in the Sunday morning talk shows. But you will never hear those responsible for designing a flawed policy in the Middle East, destroying the U.S. Army and its Guard and Reserve system, and Iraq as a nation ever say they're sorry...
Link: http://www.lewrockwell.com/kwiatkowski/kwiatkowski121.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 13:52
Top ten reasons to "undo" Iraq in due haste
Source: Independent Institute
Author: Ivan Eland
08/29/05
The longer the United States stays in Iraq, the more trained Islamic jihadists will be let loose on the world. In the Islamic faith, Muslims are required to repel any 'infidel' invader from Muslim lands. Islamist fighters from all over the world came to help fuel the fierce resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Russian incursions into Chechnya. The Bush administration should have anticipated the same in Iraq, a nation that harbored no anti-American terrorists before the U.S. invasion. The U.S. invasion and occupation there have since been a recruiting poster for Islamic radicals worldwide. Also, by giving the jihadists valuable combat experience fighting U.S. forces in Iraq, the administration has unwittingly created a training ground for future anti-U.S. terrorist attacks -- much like the U.S.-sponsored anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan provided training for al Qaeda's terrorist strikes....
Link: http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1558
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Ivan Eland
08/29/05
The longer the United States stays in Iraq, the more trained Islamic jihadists will be let loose on the world. In the Islamic faith, Muslims are required to repel any 'infidel' invader from Muslim lands. Islamist fighters from all over the world came to help fuel the fierce resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Russian incursions into Chechnya. The Bush administration should have anticipated the same in Iraq, a nation that harbored no anti-American terrorists before the U.S. invasion. The U.S. invasion and occupation there have since been a recruiting poster for Islamic radicals worldwide. Also, by giving the jihadists valuable combat experience fighting U.S. forces in Iraq, the administration has unwittingly created a training ground for future anti-U.S. terrorist attacks -- much like the U.S.-sponsored anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan provided training for al Qaeda's terrorist strikes....
Link: http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1558
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 30. Aug, 12:20
The new antiwar movement in America
Source: Institute for Liberal Values
Author: Jim Peron
08/29/05
There is a new antiwar movement bubbling in the United States. George Bush used the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a bait and switch tactic. He used the rightous anger of Americans over the Twin Towers attack and misdirected against Iraq. Contrary to what the White House now claims they repeatedly lead the American public to believe that Iraq would be a cake walk-over in weeks, perhaps days. But the war drags on and on and the deaths pile up. And from this a new antiwar movement is being born. But this movement is far different from the the last major antiwar effort in the United States during the disastrous Vietnam War. Then the movement was one driven by young males. It was inspired by a justifiable desire to save one's life from a needless and senseless death. But this new movement is not led by the young and males. It is lead by their mothers and their wives...
Link: http://www.ilv.org.nz/index.php?action=view_journal&journal_id=171
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 30. Aug, 12:17
DIRECT ACTION FLOODS ICELAND
Starmail - 30. Aug, 12:09
Spitzenverdiener würden durch Kirchhof nicht belastet, sondern massiv entlastet
'Wahlkampfmunition'
Attac Deutschland Pressemitteilung Frankfurt, 30. August 2005
* Attac deckt Rechenfehler in aktueller Spiegel-Ausgabe auf: Spitzenverdiener würden durch Kirchhof nicht belastet, sondern massiv entlastet
* Attac fordert einfaches, aber gerechtes Steuersystem
"Die von Paul Kirchhof angestrebte Radikal-Steuerreform belastet die Besserverdiener weit mehr als angenommen", schreibt der Spiegel in seiner aktuellen Ausgabe. Als Beleg dient eine Modellrechnung: Ein verheirateter Manager mit einem Jahresbrutto von 300.000 Euro und weiteren Einnahmen von 50.000 Euro zahlt nach Berechnung des Spiegel nach Kirchhofs Modell 68.224 Euro Steuern; nach dem derzeitigen Recht werden, so der Spiegel, inklusive Soldaritätszuschlag nur 61.648 Euro fällig.
Doch wie die Attac-AG Steuern beim Nachrechnen feststellte, ist diese Zahl falsch. Bei dem vom Spiegel angesetzten zu versteuernden Einkommen von 229.846 Euro fallen nach der geltenden Splittingtabelle plus Solidaritätszuschlag derzeit
85.145 Euro Steuern an. Daraus folgt: Der Manager aus dem Spiegel-Beispiel wird durch Kirchhof keineswegs zusätzlich belastet, sondern vielmehr um knapp 17.000 Euro jährlich entlastet. "Die Auswirkungen von Kirchhofs Einheitssteuersatz sind klar: Riesige Geschenke für die Spitzenverdiener", sagte Sven Giegold von der Attac-AG Steuern. "Die Spiegel-Aussage, das Kirchhof-Modell sei 'sozialer als die meisten glauben', beruht auf einer peinlichen Milchmädchenrechnung."
Wie das Steuersystem vereinfacht werden könnte, ohne dabei wie im Kirchhof-Modell die Staatsfinanzen zu ruinieren und Gutverdiener zu beschenken, haben Attac, ver.di und die IG Metall mit ihrem gemeinsamen Modell für eine "solidarische Einfachsteuer" gezeigt: Diese sieht vor, Steuerschlupflöcher für Konzerne und Spitzenverdiener konsequent zu schließen, den progressiven Steuertarif in modifizierter Form beizubehalten
(Grundfreibetrag 8000 Euro, Eingangssatz 15 Prozent) und den Spitzensteuersatz (ab 60.000 Euro) wieder auf das Niveau von
45 Prozent anzuheben. Giegold: "Es geht auch einfach und gerecht - statt, wie bei Kirchhof, einfach ungerecht."
Weitere Informationen zur Solidarischen Einfachsteuer:
* http://www.attac.de/presse/presse_ausgabe.php?id=318
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
-- Angelika Shams * Mitglied im Attac-Bundeskoordinierungskreis Egertstraße 12 * 75365 Calw-Stammheim * email: shams@attac.de Fon: 07051 / 935 675 * 0179 / 513 41 59 * Fax: 07051 / 935 677
--------
Wie Euch mittlerweile sicherlich bekannt, hat der Spiegel irreführende, falsche Angaben des "Heidelberger Instituts für Steuerrecht" (Kirchhof) ohne eigene Überprüfung übernommen. Mit diesen Angaben wurde der Anschein erweckt, als ob mit dem von Kirchhof vorgelegten Modell (FlatTax) die hohen Einkommen deutlich stärker als bisher belastet würden.
Nachdem Attac dies aufgedeckt hatte, nahm der Spiegel den betreffenden Artikel aus dem Netz (die betreffenden Seiten sind in der ePaper-Ausgabe 'aus rechtlichen Gründen' nicht mehr abrufbar). Statt dessen gab es in der online-Ausgabe eine Korrektur der ursprünglichen Ausgaben.
Die Fehler bleiben aber letztlich bestehen:
- ursprüngliche Zahlengrundlage:
a) Spiegel: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 6.576,-
b) Attac: Entlastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 16.901,-
- korrigierte Zahlengrundlage:
a) Spiegel: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 6.596,-
b) Attac: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um lediglich 927,-
Mit herzlichen Grüßen, Angelika
* Spiegel-Stellungnahme zu Attac-Vorwürfen:
* Mehr Fragen als Antworten
Als Reaktion auf die Attac-Vorwürfe, im aktuellen Heft mit falschen Zahlen für die Kirchhof-Reform zu werben
( http://www.attac.de/presse/presse_ausgabe.php?id=482 ), hat der Spiegel eine Korrektur seiner Angaben ins Internet gestellt
( http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,372262,00.html bzw. unten in der Mail).
Dabei wird zwar eingeräumt, dass die im aktuellen Heft abgedruckte Tabelle falsch ist. Allerdings, so der Spiegel, sei das Endergebnis korrekt; bei der Berechnung fehlten lediglich einige Posten, die unter dem bisherigen Steuerrecht abzuziehen seien. Die korrigierten Angaben werfen mehr Fragen auf, als dass sie Erklärungen liefern.
Erstens bei den Zahlen und Rechnungen; folgende Punkte hat der Spiegel bei der Berechnung nach dem derzeitigen Steuerrecht korrigiert:
- Neu aufgenommen wurde "Erhaltungsaufwand" für die zwei Villen in Höhe von 24.903 Euro: Die krumme Zahl (nach mündlichen Spiegel-Angaben ein "Durchschnittswert") kann schon den Eindruck erwecken, dass hier die Annahmen so angepasst worden sind, dass am Ende das gewünschte Ergebnis rauskommt. Solange die Berechnungsgrundlagen nicht offengelegt werden, ist diese Zahl ebensowenig überzeugend wie der angegebene Wert von 100.000 Euro für Abschreibung und Zinsen. Die Wahl von "zwei denkmalgeschützten Villen" für das Beispiel legt zudem den Verdacht nahe, dass hier Einzelfälle als Massenphänomen dargestellt werden sollen, denn das Angebot an denkmalgeschützten Häusern dürfte eng begrenzt sein.
- Von den 10.000 Euro Aktiendividenden müssen nur 5000 versteuert werden: Diese Korrektur ist einleuchtend.
- Bei "Vorsorgeaufwendungen, Sonderaufgaben" ist der Betrag von 4.776 auf 27.900 Euro erhöht worden. Dieser Wert (der sich nach mündlichen Spiegel-Angaben aus 20.000 Euro pro Person, die zu 60 % ansetzbar sind, plus einer Pauschale von 3.900 Euro zusammensetzt), ist falsch. Abgezogen werden müssen die steuerfreien Arbeitgeberanteile in Höhe von 6.084 Euro. Überhaupt nicht einleuchtend ist zudem die Tatsache, dass die zusätzlichen Vorsorgeaufwendungen im Kirchhof-Modell nicht abgesetzt werden. Im Gegenteil sieht sein Modell (gemäß dem Konzept der nachgelagerten Rentenbesteuerung) vor, dass diese Beiträge langfristig in voller Höhe abgesetzt werden können. Umgesetzt werden soll das über einen noch nicht näher spezifizierten Stufenplan. Realistisch ist es daher, diese Beiträge (ohne die Pauschale von 3900 Euro) auch bei Kirchhof in gleicher Höhe wie im geltenden Recht abzusetzen.
Selbst wenn man die (unrealistisch bis unseriös erscheinenden) Annahmen aus dem Spiegel zugrunde legt, zahlt der fiktive Manager bei Kirchhof also nicht, wie vom Spiegel berechnet, 6.695 Euro mehr, sondern gerade mal 927 Euro. (Details zur Rechnung und den Grundlagen im angehängten Dokument der AG Steuern.)
Ein zweiter Aspekt, der mindestens so schwerwiegend ist wie die Fehler in der Berechnung, sind die Arbeitsmethoden des Spiegel: Wie die Redaktion in ihrer Richtigstellung einräumt, stammen die Daten in weiten Teilen von Paul Kirchhofs Institut selbst. ("Die Berechnungen wurden von Kirchhofs 'Institut für Finanz- und Steuerrecht' vorgelegt.") Auf Nachfragen, etwa wieso die Vorsorgeaufwendungen in der Kirchhof-Berechnung nicht abgesetzt wurde, verwies die Spiegel-Redaktion direkt an Kirchhof. (Mail-Zitat des Autors: "ich kann Ihnen dafür keine exakte Quelle nennen und würde Sie bitten, direkt am Heidelberger Institut für Steuerrecht von Professor Kirchhof nachzufragen".)
Fazit: In der Hochphase des Wahlkampfs stützt der Spiegel seine Recherchen zum zentralen Wahlkampfthemas im Wesentlichen auf den derzeit wichtigsten CDU-Wahlkämpfer. Das Ergebnis ist sichtbar, ein Kommentar erübrigt sich.
Frankfurt, 1.9.05 Attac Deutschland
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
IN EIGENER SACHE
SPIEGEL korrigiert Kirchhof-Zahlen
In der aktuellen Ausgabe berichtet der SPIEGEL über das Steuermodell des Finanzexperten Paul Kirchhof. Bei der dort abgedruckten Berechnung gibt es einen offenkundigen Fehler.
Hamburg - Bei der Modellrechnung handelt es sich um den Vergleich der Besteuerung eines fiktiven Managers mit 300.000 Euro Jahresgehalt nach dem jetzigen Steuerrecht und dem von Kirchhof geplanten. Dabei wurden mehrere nach heutigem Steuerrecht mögliche Abschreibungsvarianten zugrunde gelegt. Demgegenüber gestellt wurde die Berechnung nach dem Kirchhofschen Modell, das kaum Abschreibungsmöglichkeiten vorsieht.
Die Berechnungen wurden von Kirchhofs "Institut für Finanz- und Steuerrecht" vorgelegt. Bei den von den Steuerexperten angestellten Berechnungen wurden in der Spalte "bisherige Rechtslage" drei steuerabzugsfähige Aufwendungsarten mitberechnet, aber dem SPIEGEL nicht beziehungsweise falsch übermittelt und deshalb in der Grafik nicht korrekt dargestellt. Es handelte sich dabei um Vorsorgeaufwendungen in Höhe von 27.900 Euro, Erhaltungsaufwand für zwei fiktive Immobilien in Höhe von 24.903 Euro und die Steuerfreiheit von 50 % der Aktiendividende in Höhe von 5.000 Euro.
Deshalb wird in der Grafik das nach bisheriger Rechtslage zu versteuernde Einkommen zu hoch angegeben und die verbleibende Steuerschuld zu niedrig. Werden, wie in dem Planspiel vorgesehen, die theoretisch abzugsfähigen Posten berücksichtigt, geht die Rechnung auf. Außerdem verfälscht ein Zahlendreher die Steuersumme nach dem Kirchhof-Modell. Statt 68.224 Euro muss es heißen 68.244 Euro. Der SPIEGEL-Redaktion ist der Übermittlungsfehler des Kirchhof-Instituts bei der Endkontrolle leider nicht aufgefallen.
Angelika Shams * Mitglied im Attac-Bundeskoordinierungskreis Egertstraße 12 * 75365 Calw-Stammheim * email: shams@attac.de Fon: 07051 / 935 675 * 0179 / 513 41 59 * Fax: 07051 / 935 677
Attac Deutschland Pressemitteilung Frankfurt, 30. August 2005
* Attac deckt Rechenfehler in aktueller Spiegel-Ausgabe auf: Spitzenverdiener würden durch Kirchhof nicht belastet, sondern massiv entlastet
* Attac fordert einfaches, aber gerechtes Steuersystem
"Die von Paul Kirchhof angestrebte Radikal-Steuerreform belastet die Besserverdiener weit mehr als angenommen", schreibt der Spiegel in seiner aktuellen Ausgabe. Als Beleg dient eine Modellrechnung: Ein verheirateter Manager mit einem Jahresbrutto von 300.000 Euro und weiteren Einnahmen von 50.000 Euro zahlt nach Berechnung des Spiegel nach Kirchhofs Modell 68.224 Euro Steuern; nach dem derzeitigen Recht werden, so der Spiegel, inklusive Soldaritätszuschlag nur 61.648 Euro fällig.
Doch wie die Attac-AG Steuern beim Nachrechnen feststellte, ist diese Zahl falsch. Bei dem vom Spiegel angesetzten zu versteuernden Einkommen von 229.846 Euro fallen nach der geltenden Splittingtabelle plus Solidaritätszuschlag derzeit
85.145 Euro Steuern an. Daraus folgt: Der Manager aus dem Spiegel-Beispiel wird durch Kirchhof keineswegs zusätzlich belastet, sondern vielmehr um knapp 17.000 Euro jährlich entlastet. "Die Auswirkungen von Kirchhofs Einheitssteuersatz sind klar: Riesige Geschenke für die Spitzenverdiener", sagte Sven Giegold von der Attac-AG Steuern. "Die Spiegel-Aussage, das Kirchhof-Modell sei 'sozialer als die meisten glauben', beruht auf einer peinlichen Milchmädchenrechnung."
Wie das Steuersystem vereinfacht werden könnte, ohne dabei wie im Kirchhof-Modell die Staatsfinanzen zu ruinieren und Gutverdiener zu beschenken, haben Attac, ver.di und die IG Metall mit ihrem gemeinsamen Modell für eine "solidarische Einfachsteuer" gezeigt: Diese sieht vor, Steuerschlupflöcher für Konzerne und Spitzenverdiener konsequent zu schließen, den progressiven Steuertarif in modifizierter Form beizubehalten
(Grundfreibetrag 8000 Euro, Eingangssatz 15 Prozent) und den Spitzensteuersatz (ab 60.000 Euro) wieder auf das Niveau von
45 Prozent anzuheben. Giegold: "Es geht auch einfach und gerecht - statt, wie bei Kirchhof, einfach ungerecht."
Weitere Informationen zur Solidarischen Einfachsteuer:
* http://www.attac.de/presse/presse_ausgabe.php?id=318
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
-- Angelika Shams * Mitglied im Attac-Bundeskoordinierungskreis Egertstraße 12 * 75365 Calw-Stammheim * email: shams@attac.de Fon: 07051 / 935 675 * 0179 / 513 41 59 * Fax: 07051 / 935 677
--------
Wie Euch mittlerweile sicherlich bekannt, hat der Spiegel irreführende, falsche Angaben des "Heidelberger Instituts für Steuerrecht" (Kirchhof) ohne eigene Überprüfung übernommen. Mit diesen Angaben wurde der Anschein erweckt, als ob mit dem von Kirchhof vorgelegten Modell (FlatTax) die hohen Einkommen deutlich stärker als bisher belastet würden.
Nachdem Attac dies aufgedeckt hatte, nahm der Spiegel den betreffenden Artikel aus dem Netz (die betreffenden Seiten sind in der ePaper-Ausgabe 'aus rechtlichen Gründen' nicht mehr abrufbar). Statt dessen gab es in der online-Ausgabe eine Korrektur der ursprünglichen Ausgaben.
Die Fehler bleiben aber letztlich bestehen:
- ursprüngliche Zahlengrundlage:
a) Spiegel: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 6.576,-
b) Attac: Entlastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 16.901,-
- korrigierte Zahlengrundlage:
a) Spiegel: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um 6.596,-
b) Attac: Mehrbelastung Einkommen 300.000,- um lediglich 927,-
Mit herzlichen Grüßen, Angelika
* Spiegel-Stellungnahme zu Attac-Vorwürfen:
* Mehr Fragen als Antworten
Als Reaktion auf die Attac-Vorwürfe, im aktuellen Heft mit falschen Zahlen für die Kirchhof-Reform zu werben
( http://www.attac.de/presse/presse_ausgabe.php?id=482 ), hat der Spiegel eine Korrektur seiner Angaben ins Internet gestellt
( http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,372262,00.html bzw. unten in der Mail).
Dabei wird zwar eingeräumt, dass die im aktuellen Heft abgedruckte Tabelle falsch ist. Allerdings, so der Spiegel, sei das Endergebnis korrekt; bei der Berechnung fehlten lediglich einige Posten, die unter dem bisherigen Steuerrecht abzuziehen seien. Die korrigierten Angaben werfen mehr Fragen auf, als dass sie Erklärungen liefern.
Erstens bei den Zahlen und Rechnungen; folgende Punkte hat der Spiegel bei der Berechnung nach dem derzeitigen Steuerrecht korrigiert:
- Neu aufgenommen wurde "Erhaltungsaufwand" für die zwei Villen in Höhe von 24.903 Euro: Die krumme Zahl (nach mündlichen Spiegel-Angaben ein "Durchschnittswert") kann schon den Eindruck erwecken, dass hier die Annahmen so angepasst worden sind, dass am Ende das gewünschte Ergebnis rauskommt. Solange die Berechnungsgrundlagen nicht offengelegt werden, ist diese Zahl ebensowenig überzeugend wie der angegebene Wert von 100.000 Euro für Abschreibung und Zinsen. Die Wahl von "zwei denkmalgeschützten Villen" für das Beispiel legt zudem den Verdacht nahe, dass hier Einzelfälle als Massenphänomen dargestellt werden sollen, denn das Angebot an denkmalgeschützten Häusern dürfte eng begrenzt sein.
- Von den 10.000 Euro Aktiendividenden müssen nur 5000 versteuert werden: Diese Korrektur ist einleuchtend.
- Bei "Vorsorgeaufwendungen, Sonderaufgaben" ist der Betrag von 4.776 auf 27.900 Euro erhöht worden. Dieser Wert (der sich nach mündlichen Spiegel-Angaben aus 20.000 Euro pro Person, die zu 60 % ansetzbar sind, plus einer Pauschale von 3.900 Euro zusammensetzt), ist falsch. Abgezogen werden müssen die steuerfreien Arbeitgeberanteile in Höhe von 6.084 Euro. Überhaupt nicht einleuchtend ist zudem die Tatsache, dass die zusätzlichen Vorsorgeaufwendungen im Kirchhof-Modell nicht abgesetzt werden. Im Gegenteil sieht sein Modell (gemäß dem Konzept der nachgelagerten Rentenbesteuerung) vor, dass diese Beiträge langfristig in voller Höhe abgesetzt werden können. Umgesetzt werden soll das über einen noch nicht näher spezifizierten Stufenplan. Realistisch ist es daher, diese Beiträge (ohne die Pauschale von 3900 Euro) auch bei Kirchhof in gleicher Höhe wie im geltenden Recht abzusetzen.
Selbst wenn man die (unrealistisch bis unseriös erscheinenden) Annahmen aus dem Spiegel zugrunde legt, zahlt der fiktive Manager bei Kirchhof also nicht, wie vom Spiegel berechnet, 6.695 Euro mehr, sondern gerade mal 927 Euro. (Details zur Rechnung und den Grundlagen im angehängten Dokument der AG Steuern.)
Ein zweiter Aspekt, der mindestens so schwerwiegend ist wie die Fehler in der Berechnung, sind die Arbeitsmethoden des Spiegel: Wie die Redaktion in ihrer Richtigstellung einräumt, stammen die Daten in weiten Teilen von Paul Kirchhofs Institut selbst. ("Die Berechnungen wurden von Kirchhofs 'Institut für Finanz- und Steuerrecht' vorgelegt.") Auf Nachfragen, etwa wieso die Vorsorgeaufwendungen in der Kirchhof-Berechnung nicht abgesetzt wurde, verwies die Spiegel-Redaktion direkt an Kirchhof. (Mail-Zitat des Autors: "ich kann Ihnen dafür keine exakte Quelle nennen und würde Sie bitten, direkt am Heidelberger Institut für Steuerrecht von Professor Kirchhof nachzufragen".)
Fazit: In der Hochphase des Wahlkampfs stützt der Spiegel seine Recherchen zum zentralen Wahlkampfthemas im Wesentlichen auf den derzeit wichtigsten CDU-Wahlkämpfer. Das Ergebnis ist sichtbar, ein Kommentar erübrigt sich.
Frankfurt, 1.9.05 Attac Deutschland
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
IN EIGENER SACHE
SPIEGEL korrigiert Kirchhof-Zahlen
In der aktuellen Ausgabe berichtet der SPIEGEL über das Steuermodell des Finanzexperten Paul Kirchhof. Bei der dort abgedruckten Berechnung gibt es einen offenkundigen Fehler.
Hamburg - Bei der Modellrechnung handelt es sich um den Vergleich der Besteuerung eines fiktiven Managers mit 300.000 Euro Jahresgehalt nach dem jetzigen Steuerrecht und dem von Kirchhof geplanten. Dabei wurden mehrere nach heutigem Steuerrecht mögliche Abschreibungsvarianten zugrunde gelegt. Demgegenüber gestellt wurde die Berechnung nach dem Kirchhofschen Modell, das kaum Abschreibungsmöglichkeiten vorsieht.
Die Berechnungen wurden von Kirchhofs "Institut für Finanz- und Steuerrecht" vorgelegt. Bei den von den Steuerexperten angestellten Berechnungen wurden in der Spalte "bisherige Rechtslage" drei steuerabzugsfähige Aufwendungsarten mitberechnet, aber dem SPIEGEL nicht beziehungsweise falsch übermittelt und deshalb in der Grafik nicht korrekt dargestellt. Es handelte sich dabei um Vorsorgeaufwendungen in Höhe von 27.900 Euro, Erhaltungsaufwand für zwei fiktive Immobilien in Höhe von 24.903 Euro und die Steuerfreiheit von 50 % der Aktiendividende in Höhe von 5.000 Euro.
Deshalb wird in der Grafik das nach bisheriger Rechtslage zu versteuernde Einkommen zu hoch angegeben und die verbleibende Steuerschuld zu niedrig. Werden, wie in dem Planspiel vorgesehen, die theoretisch abzugsfähigen Posten berücksichtigt, geht die Rechnung auf. Außerdem verfälscht ein Zahlendreher die Steuersumme nach dem Kirchhof-Modell. Statt 68.224 Euro muss es heißen 68.244 Euro. Der SPIEGEL-Redaktion ist der Übermittlungsfehler des Kirchhof-Instituts bei der Endkontrolle leider nicht aufgefallen.
Angelika Shams * Mitglied im Attac-Bundeskoordinierungskreis Egertstraße 12 * 75365 Calw-Stammheim * email: shams@attac.de Fon: 07051 / 935 675 * 0179 / 513 41 59 * Fax: 07051 / 935 677
Starmail - 30. Aug, 12:02
Die Stadt Bingen hat...
Vom 30.08.2005
Die Stadt Bingen hat sich mit ihrem Konzept, Mobilfunkantennen einen Mindestabstand von 200 Metern zur Wohnbebauung zu verordnen, juristisch nicht behauptet.
Bravo für den Bauausschuss
Wer in Deutschland die staatlich verankerten Gesetze und die eng gefassten Bestimmungen im Gesundheitswesen missachtet oder übertritt, bekommt hohe Strafen. Das ist gut so und dient dem Schutz der Bevölkerung. Darüber können jedoch die Mobilfunkbetreiber nur lachen. Sie haben sich ihre eigenen Gesetze auch gleich selbst geschaffen. Und das schon seit 1992. Kommentarlos und ohne Einschränkung hat das damalige Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz die Vorgaben der Mobilfunkindustrie übernommen und dem Parlament weiter empfohlen. Mit neunmal höheren Grenzwerten, als sie beispielsweise in der Schweiz üblich sind.
Seither bewacht der Dackel die Wurst, und die Mobilfunkbetreiber sind ein Staat im Staate. Unangreifbar! Die junge, faszinierende Technik des mobilen Telefonierens wurde ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste mit Sendeanlagen inmitten von Wohngebieten durchgepaukt. Mobilfunkstandortgegner wurden gnadenlos niedergemacht. Auch mit Hilfe der Verwaltungsgerichte.
Wissenschaftler, die zu negativen Forschungsergebnissen kamen und die Schwächung des Immunsystems durch Mobilfunkstrahlen belegten, wurden aufs Abstellgleis katapultiert. So auch ein namhafter Arzt und Wissenschaftler der Krebsklinik Heidelberg.
Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es der Stadt Bingen hoch anzurechnen, dass sie ihre Bevölkerung mit einer Schutzzone von 200 Metern vor Mobilfunkstrahlen schützen wollte. Ein Bravo auf den Bauausschuss. Die Vermessenheit vieler deutscher Verwaltungsrichter, gesundheitliche Bedenken gegenüber Mobilfunksendeanlagen in bewohnten Gebieten zu ignorieren, erweist sich schon in den nächsten Jahren als ein kapitaler Fehler mit Folgen. Schon jetzt lassen die auch in Rheinland-Pfalz eingeführten Krebsregister vermuten, dass die Krebsraten im Schatten einer Mobilfunksendeanlage ungleich höher sind. Wenn das bestätigt wird, erdreistet sich kein Mobilfunkbetreiber mehr, Sendeanlagen in Wohngebieten aufzustellen.
Der Verfasser dieses Leserbriefes, seit 1991 Mobilfunkstandortgegner, weiß, von was er spricht. Hat er doch hautnah erlebt, wie im Schatten einer Sendeanlage der ersten krankmachenden Generation 16 Menschen in kürzester Zeit durch eine totale Schwächung des Immunsystems ihrem daraus resultierenden Krebsleiden erlegen sind.
Theo Bayer, Grolsheim
http://www.main-rheiner.de/region/objekt.php3?artikel_id=2019394
Die Stadt Bingen hat sich mit ihrem Konzept, Mobilfunkantennen einen Mindestabstand von 200 Metern zur Wohnbebauung zu verordnen, juristisch nicht behauptet.
Bravo für den Bauausschuss
Wer in Deutschland die staatlich verankerten Gesetze und die eng gefassten Bestimmungen im Gesundheitswesen missachtet oder übertritt, bekommt hohe Strafen. Das ist gut so und dient dem Schutz der Bevölkerung. Darüber können jedoch die Mobilfunkbetreiber nur lachen. Sie haben sich ihre eigenen Gesetze auch gleich selbst geschaffen. Und das schon seit 1992. Kommentarlos und ohne Einschränkung hat das damalige Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz die Vorgaben der Mobilfunkindustrie übernommen und dem Parlament weiter empfohlen. Mit neunmal höheren Grenzwerten, als sie beispielsweise in der Schweiz üblich sind.
Seither bewacht der Dackel die Wurst, und die Mobilfunkbetreiber sind ein Staat im Staate. Unangreifbar! Die junge, faszinierende Technik des mobilen Telefonierens wurde ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste mit Sendeanlagen inmitten von Wohngebieten durchgepaukt. Mobilfunkstandortgegner wurden gnadenlos niedergemacht. Auch mit Hilfe der Verwaltungsgerichte.
Wissenschaftler, die zu negativen Forschungsergebnissen kamen und die Schwächung des Immunsystems durch Mobilfunkstrahlen belegten, wurden aufs Abstellgleis katapultiert. So auch ein namhafter Arzt und Wissenschaftler der Krebsklinik Heidelberg.
Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es der Stadt Bingen hoch anzurechnen, dass sie ihre Bevölkerung mit einer Schutzzone von 200 Metern vor Mobilfunkstrahlen schützen wollte. Ein Bravo auf den Bauausschuss. Die Vermessenheit vieler deutscher Verwaltungsrichter, gesundheitliche Bedenken gegenüber Mobilfunksendeanlagen in bewohnten Gebieten zu ignorieren, erweist sich schon in den nächsten Jahren als ein kapitaler Fehler mit Folgen. Schon jetzt lassen die auch in Rheinland-Pfalz eingeführten Krebsregister vermuten, dass die Krebsraten im Schatten einer Mobilfunksendeanlage ungleich höher sind. Wenn das bestätigt wird, erdreistet sich kein Mobilfunkbetreiber mehr, Sendeanlagen in Wohngebieten aufzustellen.
Der Verfasser dieses Leserbriefes, seit 1991 Mobilfunkstandortgegner, weiß, von was er spricht. Hat er doch hautnah erlebt, wie im Schatten einer Sendeanlage der ersten krankmachenden Generation 16 Menschen in kürzester Zeit durch eine totale Schwächung des Immunsystems ihrem daraus resultierenden Krebsleiden erlegen sind.
Theo Bayer, Grolsheim
http://www.main-rheiner.de/region/objekt.php3?artikel_id=2019394
Starmail - 30. Aug, 08:36
29
Aug
2005
New Orange slogan
For all those with Orange problems, here is a slogan from an advice line caller for you to use.
Sandi
Hi again Sandi,
Further Good news. Orange have voluntary withdrawn their planning proposal under the guidance of the planning officer. This means they won't be appealling the refusal as it was never turned dwon.
They are to re-apply to a site recommended by the planning Dept. This is some 1.5miles away on an industrial estate where there is already another mast.
I have spoken to Orange and they are at pains to point out that this is all part of the consultation process and not due to the residents protest!
Yea, whatever.
Thanks again for all your help.
Fell free to use the slogan we adopted- "If the future is Orange than the future is Black!"
Sandi
Hi again Sandi,
Further Good news. Orange have voluntary withdrawn their planning proposal under the guidance of the planning officer. This means they won't be appealling the refusal as it was never turned dwon.
They are to re-apply to a site recommended by the planning Dept. This is some 1.5miles away on an industrial estate where there is already another mast.
I have spoken to Orange and they are at pains to point out that this is all part of the consultation process and not due to the residents protest!
Yea, whatever.
Thanks again for all your help.
Fell free to use the slogan we adopted- "If the future is Orange than the future is Black!"
Starmail - 29. Aug, 22:43
Catapulting the Propaganda
As his poll figures continue on a downward spiral, Tom Engelhardt says
Bush has found it necessary to put extra effort into "catapulting the propaganda." Though he struck a new note or two in each speech, these were exceedingly familiar, crush-the-terrorists, stay-the-course, path-to-victory speeches.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905N.shtml
Bush has found it necessary to put extra effort into "catapulting the propaganda." Though he struck a new note or two in each speech, these were exceedingly familiar, crush-the-terrorists, stay-the-course, path-to-victory speeches.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905N.shtml
Starmail - 29. Aug, 22:18
Bush Suffers Ratings Tumble as Sunnis Reject Iraq Charter
Mr. Bush's approval ratings have sunk to 36 per cent - the lowest level of his presidency. As the number of US troops killed in Iraq has risen to 1,900, domestic opposition to the war is on the rise.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905K.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905K.shtml
Starmail - 29. Aug, 22:16
Halliburton Whistle-Blower "Removed" by Army
A high-level contracting official who has been a vocal critic of the Pentagon's decision to give Halliburton a multibillion-dollar, no-bid contract for work in Iraq was removed from her job by the Army Corps of Engineers, effective Saturday.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905J.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905J.shtml
Starmail - 29. Aug, 22:15
US Forces Kill Reuters Journalist
The death brings to 66 the number of journalists and their aides killed in Iraq since the start of the invasion in 2003, said Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based news media rights group. That surpasses the 63 journalists killed over 20 years of conflict in Vietnam, the group said.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905I.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082905I.shtml
Starmail - 29. Aug, 22:11
Morddrohungen nach Handy-Steuer
Die Morddrohung richtet sich gegen all jene, die an der Handymasten-Steuer "in irgendeiner Form beteiligt sind oder daran mitgewirkt haben".
St. Pölten/Wiener Neustadt - Klaus Schneeberger, Klubobmann der Volkspartei im NÖ Landtag, sieht sich mit einer Morddrohung konfrontiert, die im Zusammenhang mit der vor wenigen Wochen beschlossenen Handymasten-Steuer steht. Das Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung (LVT) hat am Montag einen diesbezüglichen Bericht in der Lokalausgabe "Wiener Neustädter Zeitung" der Niederösterreichischen Nachrichten (NÖN) bestätigt.
Morddrohung gegen VPNÖ-Klubchef
LVT-Leiter Rudolf Slamanig sagte auf Anfrage, dass es eine "schriftliche Morddrohung" gegen Schneeberger gebe. Das Schreiben sei vergangene Woche eingegangen. Das LVT habe "entsprechende Maßnahmen" veranlasst, die "weiter aufrecht" seien. Slamanig bestätigte auch, dass die Drohung im Zusammenhang mit der Handymasten-Steuer zu sehen sei.
"Ja, es stimmt, die Polizei ist verstärkt in meinem Umfeld tätig", wurde Schneeberger am Montag in der "Wiener Neustädter Zeitung" der NÖN zitiert. "Es ist richtig, dass es eine schriftliche Drohung im Zusammenhang mit der Masten-Steuer gibt", ließ der Klubchef in einer der APA übermittelten Stellungnahme ausrichten. "Die Sicherheitsdirektion wurde eingeschaltet. Mehr ist dazu nicht zu sagen - außer: Wir lassen uns nicht einschüchtern und gehen unseren Weg weiter."
Die Morddrohung soll laut NÖN an die Privatadresse des VP-Klubchefs in Wiener Neustadt gerichtet worden sein. Sie betreffe auch die Familie des Politikers und all jene, die an der Handymasten-Steuer "in irgendeiner Form beteiligt sind oder daran mitgewirkt haben", so die Zeitung.
Artikel vom 29.08.2005 |apa |hp
© kurier.at bzw. KURIER - Wien, 2005
http://www.kurier.at/chronik/1093849.php
St. Pölten/Wiener Neustadt - Klaus Schneeberger, Klubobmann der Volkspartei im NÖ Landtag, sieht sich mit einer Morddrohung konfrontiert, die im Zusammenhang mit der vor wenigen Wochen beschlossenen Handymasten-Steuer steht. Das Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung (LVT) hat am Montag einen diesbezüglichen Bericht in der Lokalausgabe "Wiener Neustädter Zeitung" der Niederösterreichischen Nachrichten (NÖN) bestätigt.
Morddrohung gegen VPNÖ-Klubchef
LVT-Leiter Rudolf Slamanig sagte auf Anfrage, dass es eine "schriftliche Morddrohung" gegen Schneeberger gebe. Das Schreiben sei vergangene Woche eingegangen. Das LVT habe "entsprechende Maßnahmen" veranlasst, die "weiter aufrecht" seien. Slamanig bestätigte auch, dass die Drohung im Zusammenhang mit der Handymasten-Steuer zu sehen sei.
"Ja, es stimmt, die Polizei ist verstärkt in meinem Umfeld tätig", wurde Schneeberger am Montag in der "Wiener Neustädter Zeitung" der NÖN zitiert. "Es ist richtig, dass es eine schriftliche Drohung im Zusammenhang mit der Masten-Steuer gibt", ließ der Klubchef in einer der APA übermittelten Stellungnahme ausrichten. "Die Sicherheitsdirektion wurde eingeschaltet. Mehr ist dazu nicht zu sagen - außer: Wir lassen uns nicht einschüchtern und gehen unseren Weg weiter."
Die Morddrohung soll laut NÖN an die Privatadresse des VP-Klubchefs in Wiener Neustadt gerichtet worden sein. Sie betreffe auch die Familie des Politikers und all jene, die an der Handymasten-Steuer "in irgendeiner Form beteiligt sind oder daran mitgewirkt haben", so die Zeitung.
Artikel vom 29.08.2005 |apa |hp
© kurier.at bzw. KURIER - Wien, 2005
http://www.kurier.at/chronik/1093849.php
Starmail - 29. Aug, 21:55
Greenhouse Rebellion
by Frank O'Donnell, TomPaine.com
Republican governors who see the White House siding with Big Auto as gas prices rise are taking matters into their own hands.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050829/greenhouse_rebellion.php
Republican governors who see the White House siding with Big Auto as gas prices rise are taking matters into their own hands.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050829/greenhouse_rebellion.php
Starmail - 29. Aug, 18:36
MY SAFETY FEARS OVER PHONE MAST SITES
The Bath Chronicle interview someone on a topical subject each week and did Mast Sanity this week. With thanks to Andy for helping me this is the result. It has been edited down twice from the original 2200 words I submitted - I cut out 600 words and they did a further edit but I think they have done a good edit and left in most of the salient points.
SIan
MY SAFETY FEARS OVER PHONE MAST SITES
11:00 - 29 August 2005
This week's Question and Answer is with Sian Meredith, Bath campaigner for anti-mobile phone pressure group Mast Sanity
1. Why is Mast Sanity opposed to mobile phone masts and mobile phones? Mast Sanity is opposed to the siting of phone masts close to homes, schools, hospitals, old people's homes and other sensitive locations. The system emits pulsed microwave radiation and there is a long and substantial research history indicating that chronic exposure to low-level microwave radiation leads to cumulative damage. Some people appear to be more vulnerable than others, and the best precautionary advice is to limit exposure as far as possible. Siting masts in residential areas presents no choice to people, and is indiscriminate.
Mast Sanity is against the use of mobile phones by children. Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, advised in his updated report that children of eight and under shouldn't use mobiles and those under-16 should only use them in emergencies.
2. The vast majority of people now own and use mobile phones and they have become a key part of the communications network. Do not masts now have to be accepted as a necessary consequence?
Mast Sanity is calling for development of a safe alternative system. The present system is biologically and environmentally incompatible and until the Government is forced to recognise the ill health the present system is causing, Mast Sanity is demanding that masts be located away from residential areas, schools and hospitals.
3. Despite an ongoing debate about the potential risks posed by mobile phone masts, so long as recognised health and safety regulations are adhered to, concerns about health are not a valid reason in planning law to oppose permission for them to be set up. If the health and safety guidance is right, why shouldn't masts be put near people's homes?
This country has adopted the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) guidelines on emissions which are the second highest in the world. Only the USA allows higher emissions. Most other countries set much lower emission levels and wouldn't tolerate the levels this country permits. ICNIRP guidelines deal only with thermal heating effects from the radiation, and not with the biological effects that occur and so do not protect us. Interference with medical and electrical equipment is also occurring and this is of great concern especially to people with cochlear implants, pacemakers, metal joints and implants, and other medical devices. Health fears and perceptions are a material planning consideration, as is interference with electrical and medical equipment.
4. The big mobile phone operators grouped together and produced a voluntary code called the Ten Commitments to involve communities in decisions about masts being sited near them. Does it work?
No. Mast Sanity receives about 200 calls a month to its advice line plus many email inquiries, so we are very aware of what is happening at the grassroots level nationally. The operators are ignoring the codes and riding roughshod over the planning system. Residents are not being consulted despite one of the commitments being that communities will be involved in the siting of phone masts.
5. Why single out mobile phone operators and their masts for criticism? What about television and radio transmitters and equipment, military installations, power lines, electricity sub-stations and other common sources of electromagnetic radiation?
Mast Sanity campaigns for the sensible siting of mobile phone and TETRA masts. TETRA is the system the police use to communicate with. Mast Sanity is also concerned about digital cordless phones (DECT) and wireless computers because they also operate on pulsed microwave radiation and cause the same ill health effects. Other campaign groups such as Powerwatch raise awareness to the health issues around powerlines and TV and radio transmitters.
6. What led to you personally taking up the cause?
I have never had a mobile phone because I have doubts about the safety of this technology. So when Hutchinson (3G) wanted to erect a mast 15 metres from my house I was horrified because they were imposing something on us which emits radiation 24 hours a day. Having read a huge amount of research on the effects, I think there is a serious public health problem.
7. What needs to be done to reassure you and other campaigners that the health and safety questions about mobile phones and masts have been properly addressed? Is there evidence which would satisfy you they are safe?
No study has ever proven that mobile phones are safe, despite the claims made by the operators. There is a huge amount of worldwide evidence to prove that the system on which they operate makes some people ill.
Eminent scientists around the world are coming out with more and more evidence. Add that to the huge amount of evidence of cancer clusters and ill health emerging around phone and TETRA masts and you have a serious problem. The scale of the problem is of the magnitude of illnesses caused by smoking and asbestos.
8. What are the health problems which you believe are associated with mobile phone masts? What problems do you think can be caused by mobile phone handsets?
Health effects noted by some doctors in Germany, Finland, Austria, Ireland and the UK include headaches, migraines, exhaustion, agitation, sleeplessness, tinnitus, nose bleeds, susceptibility to infection, nervous and connective tissue pains. learning, concentration, and behavioural disorders, extreme fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, heart attacks and strokes, thyroid disorders, brain-degenerative diseases, motor neurone disease and epilepsy and cancers, leukaemia and brain tumours.
Mobile phones are particularly statistically related to brain tumours, notably acoustic neuroma, as well as to glaucoma and cataracts, and an alarming new trend is the rise in unusual eye cancers, and mouth cancers among children. Mobile phones have also been connected with loss of fertility from wearing phones in pockets or at the waist.
9. Who should be responsible for taking action to make sure masts are safe and the proper planning and health and safety processes are followed when companies want to put them up?
All masts should go through the full planning process. Much more stringent emission level guidelines should be implemented.
The police should use Tetrapol instead of TETRA because Tetrapol is a safer system requiring fewer masts used in Europe and by the military in Baghdad (via satellite). This is all the responsibility of the Government which received billions in revenue from the 3G licence auction, and receives billions in taxes from the industry.
Department of Health leaflets on mobile phones and health should be given out with every mobile phone sale, but they are not.
Above all, the Government has always insisted on multiple infrastructures so we have five mobile phone operators, plus O2 Airwave (TETRA). All five of our 3G networks require masts every 1.5km to 5km, a much smaller range than the older GSM. Not least, this creates a substantial energy demand at a time of energy crisis and climate change. Even when masts are not in demand they emit microwaves, and with a prospective additional 130,000 masts to the 45,000 plus already in place, to serve the new 3G networks, the environment is being filled many times over, just so that every user has a choice of five networks to connect to for the same services.
10. Do you think that the dispute between people opposed to and people who support mobile phones and mobile phone masts will ever be settled? How?
Most people don't want to live by a mast but will use a mobile. Every time anyone uses a mobile phone to send a text or make a call, someone living by a mast gets a dose of radiation.
Masts and mobiles cause the same ill health effects. There are also issues like the accumulation of emissions inside train carriages so when several people are on their phones at the same time other people are getting exposed to a lot of radiation.
People who are electro-sensitive will be unable to travel on public transport or go to some cities because of the emission levels. Mobiles are becoming a social problem.
Phones are used for pornography and internet gambling and this craze of happy slapping, whereby gangs attack other children and film the attack on phones and then email the pictures among friends, or even place them on internet sites. Phone-bullying and theft of phones is widespread, and is a serious and growing problem that isn't being dealt with.
http://tinyurl.com/aduv6
SIan
MY SAFETY FEARS OVER PHONE MAST SITES
11:00 - 29 August 2005
This week's Question and Answer is with Sian Meredith, Bath campaigner for anti-mobile phone pressure group Mast Sanity
1. Why is Mast Sanity opposed to mobile phone masts and mobile phones? Mast Sanity is opposed to the siting of phone masts close to homes, schools, hospitals, old people's homes and other sensitive locations. The system emits pulsed microwave radiation and there is a long and substantial research history indicating that chronic exposure to low-level microwave radiation leads to cumulative damage. Some people appear to be more vulnerable than others, and the best precautionary advice is to limit exposure as far as possible. Siting masts in residential areas presents no choice to people, and is indiscriminate.
Mast Sanity is against the use of mobile phones by children. Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, advised in his updated report that children of eight and under shouldn't use mobiles and those under-16 should only use them in emergencies.
2. The vast majority of people now own and use mobile phones and they have become a key part of the communications network. Do not masts now have to be accepted as a necessary consequence?
Mast Sanity is calling for development of a safe alternative system. The present system is biologically and environmentally incompatible and until the Government is forced to recognise the ill health the present system is causing, Mast Sanity is demanding that masts be located away from residential areas, schools and hospitals.
3. Despite an ongoing debate about the potential risks posed by mobile phone masts, so long as recognised health and safety regulations are adhered to, concerns about health are not a valid reason in planning law to oppose permission for them to be set up. If the health and safety guidance is right, why shouldn't masts be put near people's homes?
This country has adopted the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) guidelines on emissions which are the second highest in the world. Only the USA allows higher emissions. Most other countries set much lower emission levels and wouldn't tolerate the levels this country permits. ICNIRP guidelines deal only with thermal heating effects from the radiation, and not with the biological effects that occur and so do not protect us. Interference with medical and electrical equipment is also occurring and this is of great concern especially to people with cochlear implants, pacemakers, metal joints and implants, and other medical devices. Health fears and perceptions are a material planning consideration, as is interference with electrical and medical equipment.
4. The big mobile phone operators grouped together and produced a voluntary code called the Ten Commitments to involve communities in decisions about masts being sited near them. Does it work?
No. Mast Sanity receives about 200 calls a month to its advice line plus many email inquiries, so we are very aware of what is happening at the grassroots level nationally. The operators are ignoring the codes and riding roughshod over the planning system. Residents are not being consulted despite one of the commitments being that communities will be involved in the siting of phone masts.
5. Why single out mobile phone operators and their masts for criticism? What about television and radio transmitters and equipment, military installations, power lines, electricity sub-stations and other common sources of electromagnetic radiation?
Mast Sanity campaigns for the sensible siting of mobile phone and TETRA masts. TETRA is the system the police use to communicate with. Mast Sanity is also concerned about digital cordless phones (DECT) and wireless computers because they also operate on pulsed microwave radiation and cause the same ill health effects. Other campaign groups such as Powerwatch raise awareness to the health issues around powerlines and TV and radio transmitters.
6. What led to you personally taking up the cause?
I have never had a mobile phone because I have doubts about the safety of this technology. So when Hutchinson (3G) wanted to erect a mast 15 metres from my house I was horrified because they were imposing something on us which emits radiation 24 hours a day. Having read a huge amount of research on the effects, I think there is a serious public health problem.
7. What needs to be done to reassure you and other campaigners that the health and safety questions about mobile phones and masts have been properly addressed? Is there evidence which would satisfy you they are safe?
No study has ever proven that mobile phones are safe, despite the claims made by the operators. There is a huge amount of worldwide evidence to prove that the system on which they operate makes some people ill.
Eminent scientists around the world are coming out with more and more evidence. Add that to the huge amount of evidence of cancer clusters and ill health emerging around phone and TETRA masts and you have a serious problem. The scale of the problem is of the magnitude of illnesses caused by smoking and asbestos.
8. What are the health problems which you believe are associated with mobile phone masts? What problems do you think can be caused by mobile phone handsets?
Health effects noted by some doctors in Germany, Finland, Austria, Ireland and the UK include headaches, migraines, exhaustion, agitation, sleeplessness, tinnitus, nose bleeds, susceptibility to infection, nervous and connective tissue pains. learning, concentration, and behavioural disorders, extreme fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, heart attacks and strokes, thyroid disorders, brain-degenerative diseases, motor neurone disease and epilepsy and cancers, leukaemia and brain tumours.
Mobile phones are particularly statistically related to brain tumours, notably acoustic neuroma, as well as to glaucoma and cataracts, and an alarming new trend is the rise in unusual eye cancers, and mouth cancers among children. Mobile phones have also been connected with loss of fertility from wearing phones in pockets or at the waist.
9. Who should be responsible for taking action to make sure masts are safe and the proper planning and health and safety processes are followed when companies want to put them up?
All masts should go through the full planning process. Much more stringent emission level guidelines should be implemented.
The police should use Tetrapol instead of TETRA because Tetrapol is a safer system requiring fewer masts used in Europe and by the military in Baghdad (via satellite). This is all the responsibility of the Government which received billions in revenue from the 3G licence auction, and receives billions in taxes from the industry.
Department of Health leaflets on mobile phones and health should be given out with every mobile phone sale, but they are not.
Above all, the Government has always insisted on multiple infrastructures so we have five mobile phone operators, plus O2 Airwave (TETRA). All five of our 3G networks require masts every 1.5km to 5km, a much smaller range than the older GSM. Not least, this creates a substantial energy demand at a time of energy crisis and climate change. Even when masts are not in demand they emit microwaves, and with a prospective additional 130,000 masts to the 45,000 plus already in place, to serve the new 3G networks, the environment is being filled many times over, just so that every user has a choice of five networks to connect to for the same services.
10. Do you think that the dispute between people opposed to and people who support mobile phones and mobile phone masts will ever be settled? How?
Most people don't want to live by a mast but will use a mobile. Every time anyone uses a mobile phone to send a text or make a call, someone living by a mast gets a dose of radiation.
Masts and mobiles cause the same ill health effects. There are also issues like the accumulation of emissions inside train carriages so when several people are on their phones at the same time other people are getting exposed to a lot of radiation.
People who are electro-sensitive will be unable to travel on public transport or go to some cities because of the emission levels. Mobiles are becoming a social problem.
Phones are used for pornography and internet gambling and this craze of happy slapping, whereby gangs attack other children and film the attack on phones and then email the pictures among friends, or even place them on internet sites. Phone-bullying and theft of phones is widespread, and is a serious and growing problem that isn't being dealt with.
http://tinyurl.com/aduv6
Starmail - 29. Aug, 18:26
Camp Casey, Texas: The Village is the Answer
by Susan Van Haitsma
Every village has its cemetery, its collection of spirit inhabitants who invoke memories of village history and remind the living that death and remembrance of the dead are essential to the natural order of things in human society. But cemeteries usually are found on the edges of town, away from the goings-on of daily life. The memorials of carefully arranged and named crosses, stars of David and crescents comprising "Arlington South" in Camps Casey I and II are not relegated to the edges, but instead form the heart of the community that has sprung up near Crawford, Texas this month. Memorial crosses hug the three original tents of Camp Casey I and line the road leading to the camp. The field of crosses at Camp Casey II adjoins the large community tent and is the first thing visitors encounter as they approach from the road. In a reversal of the natural order of things, the dead represented by these memorials are society's youngest adults. The doctrine of pre-emptive war forces members of a society to do the unthinkable: to sacrifice the lives of their young to protect their own....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Haitsma0829.htm
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 17:20
Imagine No Countries
by Kim Petersen
Most progressives would probably agree that in many contexts "blind, unquestioning faith" in a president or other person is "foolish and obsequious." In this respect, Ken Sanders was right on in his recent article "Love Your Country? Demand Impeachment." Sanders considered such faith to be "contrary to the fundamental principles of this country, as set forth in the Constitution." Sanders instead advocated patriotism, which he defined as demanding "truth and honesty." To be brutally honest, "this country" that Sanders loves is an occupied, ethnically cleansed, annexed, conquered, or illegitimately purchased landmass referred to by the colonialists as the United States of America. A landmass birthed so inauspiciously might give pause to professions of love by many self-designated liberals or progressives. The landmass of the United States of America is a betrayal of the rights of first settlement and represents the theft and occupation of the territory from its Original Peoples. So, historically, it is difficult to grasp "the promise" of what such a landmass "stands for"; certainly, it is a demonstration that military might can translate to territorial expansion through genocide....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Petersen0829.htm
Most progressives would probably agree that in many contexts "blind, unquestioning faith" in a president or other person is "foolish and obsequious." In this respect, Ken Sanders was right on in his recent article "Love Your Country? Demand Impeachment." Sanders considered such faith to be "contrary to the fundamental principles of this country, as set forth in the Constitution." Sanders instead advocated patriotism, which he defined as demanding "truth and honesty." To be brutally honest, "this country" that Sanders loves is an occupied, ethnically cleansed, annexed, conquered, or illegitimately purchased landmass referred to by the colonialists as the United States of America. A landmass birthed so inauspiciously might give pause to professions of love by many self-designated liberals or progressives. The landmass of the United States of America is a betrayal of the rights of first settlement and represents the theft and occupation of the territory from its Original Peoples. So, historically, it is difficult to grasp "the promise" of what such a landmass "stands for"; certainly, it is a demonstration that military might can translate to territorial expansion through genocide....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Petersen0829.htm
Starmail - 29. Aug, 17:18
The Lords of War
by Mike Whitney
George Bush… "One dead American for every day in office". President Bush's latest milestone in the war on terror has been predictably ignored in the mainstream media. Bush, who is now in the fifth year of his presidency, has served 1,727 days in office. With the death toll in Iraq currently at 1,873 servicemen, Bush can now boast that at least one American has died for every day he's been in office, a sobering tribute to a man who wants to be remembered as "a war president." Every day, another Casey Sheehan or some other faceless patriot dies in Bush's war of choice. The tragedy of the war cannot be fully grasped simply by listing the number of American casualties on Bush's watch, but it's a good place to start....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Whitney0829.htm
George Bush… "One dead American for every day in office". President Bush's latest milestone in the war on terror has been predictably ignored in the mainstream media. Bush, who is now in the fifth year of his presidency, has served 1,727 days in office. With the death toll in Iraq currently at 1,873 servicemen, Bush can now boast that at least one American has died for every day he's been in office, a sobering tribute to a man who wants to be remembered as "a war president." Every day, another Casey Sheehan or some other faceless patriot dies in Bush's war of choice. The tragedy of the war cannot be fully grasped simply by listing the number of American casualties on Bush's watch, but it's a good place to start....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Whitney0829.htm
Starmail - 29. Aug, 17:16
Extremists
by Patricia Goldsmith
We seem to be on the cusp of achieving a truly independent media -- independent from facts, independent from reality, and now, finally, entirely independent from the views of the overwhelming majority of the American people....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Goldsmith0829.htm
We seem to be on the cusp of achieving a truly independent media -- independent from facts, independent from reality, and now, finally, entirely independent from the views of the overwhelming majority of the American people....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Aug05/Goldsmith0829.htm
Starmail - 29. Aug, 17:14
050829 - R - Mobilfunk - Newsletter
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:37
Leak Shows Blair Told of Iraq War Terror Link
Despite repeated denials by Number 10 that the war made Britain a target for terrorists, a letter from Michael Jay, the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, to the cabinet secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull, makes the connection clear.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082805A.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082805A.shtml
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:15
Counteroffensive: Bush Launches 'Operation Cindy Sheehan'
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=AMR20050828&articleId=875
Informant: sash
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:13
How Easily We Have Come To Take The Bombs And The Deaths In Iraq For Granted
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=8600
Informant: Steven L. Robinson
From ufpj-news
Informant: Steven L. Robinson
From ufpj-news
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:10
'Unprecedented' Super Storm Threatens American Economy
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:07
Guess: Who Will Die First? Poor Africans hit hard by rising world oil prices
Across Africa, prices at the pump are ballooning at an alarming rate, pushing millions of people on the world's poorest continent deeper into poverty and adding to the threat to the continent's forests, the source of much of its firewood.
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 15:36:26 -0600 From: Lance Olsen
Subject: CMCR: Guess -- Who Will Die First?
The world is in the early stages of two grand -- and intimately linked -- trends.
We have come to the end of cheap oil, and to the end of the habitable climate of the past 10,000 years.
The end of cheap oil or the end of the prevailing climate would have plausibly staggering impact, even if it were acting alone.
Together, they already pack a powerful punch, even at these early stages of change. Together, they will be posing plausibly gargantuan challenges even for the well-off.
Of earth's 6,000 million people, some 4,000 million will likely take the hardest hits, and not at some distant point in the future.
Lance Olsen
Reuters August 26, 2005
Poor Africans hit hard by rising world oil prices
By David Mageria
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Africans are struggling to cope with stubbornly high global oil prices which are forcing many to walk long distances to work or schools, go hungry as food prices skyrocket, and depend on candles to light their homes.
Crude oil prices surged to a record $68 a barrel this week on supply concerns, raising fears of further fuel hikes in Africa where burdened families were already reeling from rises.
"If they are increased again, I will be left with no food to feed my orphans because (food) prices will go up because of transport costs," said Mai Wisiki, a grandmother with four orphans in Malawi's Chiradzulu district.
Across Africa, prices at the pump are ballooning at an alarming rate, pushing millions of people on the world's poorest continent deeper into poverty and adding to the threat to the continent's forests, the source of much of its firewood.
Many rural homes in Africa do not have electricity and depend on kerosene to light their small lamps and cooking stoves in the evenings. But the price of kerosene is becoming unaffordable for many.
"Nowadays I cannot afford to buy kerosene for my children to study, I can only afford to buy candles," said Margaret Njuki, a single mother of three and a tea farmer in central Kenya.
The need for an affordable alternative source of power is also putting pressure on forests.
"Every day things are going from bad to worse. Because of the increase in the price of cooking gas, I have reverted to using firewood and charcoal," said Melanie Ndoh, a civil servant and housewife in Cameroon, where the government last week raised prices for fuel products by 8 CFA francs per litre.
With transport cost rising daily, many motorists have been forced to change their lifestyles and are now trekking to their work places. Others have opted to ride bicyles while small traders hire handcarts to save on transport costs.
"I have a car that I have now parked. I cannot afford fuel because I have other needs such as paying school fees for my children, rent and food," said John Shiundu, a shopkeeper outside Nairobi's city centre.
Students have not been spared.
"I have to walk for eight km to school and another eight km back home just to save some money," said Lewis Nyirenda, a college student in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
"GARGANTUAN OIL PRICE"
Although Africa's powerhouse South Africa has said it expects strong economic growth despite high oil prices, many on the continent say the rises pose a threat to economic goals due to soaring inflation and weakened local currencies.
"The recent gargantuan oil price increases could be disastrous for African economies," Augustin Fosu, the director of economics and social policy division at the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa told Reuters.
"Although a handful of countries that are oil-producing should benefit, the vast majority of African countries are non-oil producing and their economies will be significantly hurt by these negative supply shocks."
He said global growth is likely to be reduced which will cut export demand for African goods. Many African countries could also be forced to reallocate funds in their budgets away from crucial development projects to meet with a high oil budget.
High oil prices are also raising social tensions and some governments are grappling with protests.
In the west African country of Guinea, the government increased oil prices in May to 3,800 Guinean francs from 2,500 francs prompting a group of armed youths to attack several lorries carrying rice, the country's staple food, to deter the government from further hikes.
Some African governments like Ethiopia, Mauritius and tiny Seychelles are yet to raise petrol prices, but not for too long.
In Mauritius, the government's Automatic Price Mechanism committe is scheduled to review petrol prices in October. Analysts say prices will go only one way -- up.
"If the price of petrol is adjusted as it should, the first effect will be a further deterioration of the trade deficit", said Mahmood Cheeroo, the director of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Article found at : http://www.energybulletin.net/newswire.php?id=8378
Original article:
http://za.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-26T090109Z_01_ALL632366_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-AFRICA-OIL-20050826.XML
Peace! *STRIDER*
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 15:36:26 -0600 From: Lance Olsen
Subject: CMCR: Guess -- Who Will Die First?
The world is in the early stages of two grand -- and intimately linked -- trends.
We have come to the end of cheap oil, and to the end of the habitable climate of the past 10,000 years.
The end of cheap oil or the end of the prevailing climate would have plausibly staggering impact, even if it were acting alone.
Together, they already pack a powerful punch, even at these early stages of change. Together, they will be posing plausibly gargantuan challenges even for the well-off.
Of earth's 6,000 million people, some 4,000 million will likely take the hardest hits, and not at some distant point in the future.
Lance Olsen
Reuters August 26, 2005
Poor Africans hit hard by rising world oil prices
By David Mageria
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Africans are struggling to cope with stubbornly high global oil prices which are forcing many to walk long distances to work or schools, go hungry as food prices skyrocket, and depend on candles to light their homes.
Crude oil prices surged to a record $68 a barrel this week on supply concerns, raising fears of further fuel hikes in Africa where burdened families were already reeling from rises.
"If they are increased again, I will be left with no food to feed my orphans because (food) prices will go up because of transport costs," said Mai Wisiki, a grandmother with four orphans in Malawi's Chiradzulu district.
Across Africa, prices at the pump are ballooning at an alarming rate, pushing millions of people on the world's poorest continent deeper into poverty and adding to the threat to the continent's forests, the source of much of its firewood.
Many rural homes in Africa do not have electricity and depend on kerosene to light their small lamps and cooking stoves in the evenings. But the price of kerosene is becoming unaffordable for many.
"Nowadays I cannot afford to buy kerosene for my children to study, I can only afford to buy candles," said Margaret Njuki, a single mother of three and a tea farmer in central Kenya.
The need for an affordable alternative source of power is also putting pressure on forests.
"Every day things are going from bad to worse. Because of the increase in the price of cooking gas, I have reverted to using firewood and charcoal," said Melanie Ndoh, a civil servant and housewife in Cameroon, where the government last week raised prices for fuel products by 8 CFA francs per litre.
With transport cost rising daily, many motorists have been forced to change their lifestyles and are now trekking to their work places. Others have opted to ride bicyles while small traders hire handcarts to save on transport costs.
"I have a car that I have now parked. I cannot afford fuel because I have other needs such as paying school fees for my children, rent and food," said John Shiundu, a shopkeeper outside Nairobi's city centre.
Students have not been spared.
"I have to walk for eight km to school and another eight km back home just to save some money," said Lewis Nyirenda, a college student in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
"GARGANTUAN OIL PRICE"
Although Africa's powerhouse South Africa has said it expects strong economic growth despite high oil prices, many on the continent say the rises pose a threat to economic goals due to soaring inflation and weakened local currencies.
"The recent gargantuan oil price increases could be disastrous for African economies," Augustin Fosu, the director of economics and social policy division at the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa told Reuters.
"Although a handful of countries that are oil-producing should benefit, the vast majority of African countries are non-oil producing and their economies will be significantly hurt by these negative supply shocks."
He said global growth is likely to be reduced which will cut export demand for African goods. Many African countries could also be forced to reallocate funds in their budgets away from crucial development projects to meet with a high oil budget.
High oil prices are also raising social tensions and some governments are grappling with protests.
In the west African country of Guinea, the government increased oil prices in May to 3,800 Guinean francs from 2,500 francs prompting a group of armed youths to attack several lorries carrying rice, the country's staple food, to deter the government from further hikes.
Some African governments like Ethiopia, Mauritius and tiny Seychelles are yet to raise petrol prices, but not for too long.
In Mauritius, the government's Automatic Price Mechanism committe is scheduled to review petrol prices in October. Analysts say prices will go only one way -- up.
"If the price of petrol is adjusted as it should, the first effect will be a further deterioration of the trade deficit", said Mahmood Cheeroo, the director of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Article found at : http://www.energybulletin.net/newswire.php?id=8378
Original article:
http://za.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-26T090109Z_01_ALL632366_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-AFRICA-OIL-20050826.XML
Peace! *STRIDER*
Starmail - 29. Aug, 16:02
WTO HANDS OFF OUR FOOD
http://www.bite-back.org/objection/index.php
Citizens' Objection: BITE BACK -- WTO HANDS OFF OUR FOOD!
To: The World Trade Organisation From: Concerned People around the World
We, wishing to protect our right to decide what we eat and grow, have serious and legitimate concerns about the risks of genetically modified foods and crops (GMOs) for consumers, farmers, wildlife and environments around the world.
By mounting this World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute the US and others are trying to force genetically modified food into the European Union and other parts of the world. They seek to prevent countries from choosing for themselves whether to permit genetically modified food and farming. They also seek to undermine our right to know and choose what we eat and farm.
If successful, this will further the interests of a small number of companies which have a financial stake in this technology at the expense of our interests as citizens around the world.
With this objection we strongly advocate that
1 it's our own right and not up to the WTO to decide what we eat and what crops we farm;
2 governments around the world have the right to develop laws to protect their environment and the well being of their citizens from the risks of genetically modified food and farming, including the right to impose a ban on such products or strict labelling requirements;
3 it is appropriate for such laws to be based on the Precautionary Principle which requires that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage then despite lack of scientific certainty it is better to act now to be safe than wait to be sorry;
4 decisions concerning regulation of international trade in GMOs should be made in accordance with the UN Biosafety Protocol and not by the World Trade Organisation.
Therefore, the WTO must
1 not deny people the right to know and choose what they eat and farm;
2 not undermine the right of the European Union and others to take appropriate steps to protect their citizens and the environment from GMO food and farming;
3 dismiss the complaints of the United States of America, Argentina and Canada.
(sign-on at web link) http://www.bite-back.org/objection/index.php
Informant: Andy Robinson
Citizens' Objection: BITE BACK -- WTO HANDS OFF OUR FOOD!
To: The World Trade Organisation From: Concerned People around the World
We, wishing to protect our right to decide what we eat and grow, have serious and legitimate concerns about the risks of genetically modified foods and crops (GMOs) for consumers, farmers, wildlife and environments around the world.
By mounting this World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute the US and others are trying to force genetically modified food into the European Union and other parts of the world. They seek to prevent countries from choosing for themselves whether to permit genetically modified food and farming. They also seek to undermine our right to know and choose what we eat and farm.
If successful, this will further the interests of a small number of companies which have a financial stake in this technology at the expense of our interests as citizens around the world.
With this objection we strongly advocate that
1 it's our own right and not up to the WTO to decide what we eat and what crops we farm;
2 governments around the world have the right to develop laws to protect their environment and the well being of their citizens from the risks of genetically modified food and farming, including the right to impose a ban on such products or strict labelling requirements;
3 it is appropriate for such laws to be based on the Precautionary Principle which requires that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage then despite lack of scientific certainty it is better to act now to be safe than wait to be sorry;
4 decisions concerning regulation of international trade in GMOs should be made in accordance with the UN Biosafety Protocol and not by the World Trade Organisation.
Therefore, the WTO must
1 not deny people the right to know and choose what they eat and farm;
2 not undermine the right of the European Union and others to take appropriate steps to protect their citizens and the environment from GMO food and farming;
3 dismiss the complaints of the United States of America, Argentina and Canada.
(sign-on at web link) http://www.bite-back.org/objection/index.php
Informant: Andy Robinson
Starmail - 29. Aug, 15:53
SHUT DOWN THE WAR MACHINE THIS SEPTEMBER
From: rad-green-request@lists.econ.utah.edu To: rad-green@lists.econ.utah.edu Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2005 11:00 AM Subject: Rad-Green Digest, Vol 23, Issue 34
From: NYC WRL nycwrl@worldnet.att.net Date: 8/24/2005 1:32:59 PM Subject: Call To Action: Shut Down The War Machine This September!
SHUT DOWN THE WAR MACHINE THIS SEPTEMBER
On September 23-26, 2005, Washington, DC will host an historic demonstration of people power that includes nonviolent direct action designed to shut down the corporate war machine.
Be a part of our struggle - in Washington or in your part of the country!
Join us in nonviolent actions at the Pentagon and at DC area recruiting stations or organize concurrent actions in your town:
we are planning nonviolent demonstrations and civil resistance at recruiting centers across the country on September 26th with the centerpiece action being a peaceful occupation of the Pentagon.
These actions will include civil disobedience scenarios with a risk of arrest as well as low risk scenarios focused on education and outreach.
We urge people of all colors, cultures, faiths and walks of life to come to Washington and be a part of the change we all long for - or organize local actions and allow us to be a part of your event by publicizing it as part of a nationwide effort to end the corporate wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring the troops home.
Help us shut down the war machine on Monday, September 26th, 2005!
We will be gathering at various locations in the metro DC area and then processing to recruiting centers and to the Pentagon - carrying signs, banners and coffins.
On arrival we will blockade entrances, leaflet and engage passersby in dialogue - all to help impart our message that our young people must not become the next victims of U.S. militarism.
The Pentagon and its marketing arm - the military recruiters - will still be here after Bush leaves the White House and two unfinished wars behind him.
The cancer of U.S. militarism cannot be removed by simply cutting off the figurehead.
The enduring curse of U.S. war making must be confronted wherever it manifests itself in our communities - and at the Pentagon.
It is up to us to demand change.
Join with us as:
We demand the troops be brought home NOW.
We demand reparations for the Iraqi and Afghani peoples so they might begin to rebuild their shattered countries.
We demand money now being wasted on the military be diverted into education and healthcare.
The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) and the Direct Action Tendency are working alongside the September Action Collective, United for Peace and Justice, the Socialist Party and many others in responding to the Iraq Pledge of Resistance's call for Nonviolent Resistance to the wars of empire now raging in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Join us!
** Make plans to attend September Action's Second Regional Consulta ***
Where: New York City Address: A.J. Muste Institute (Conference Room), 339 Lafayette Street NY, NY 10012
When: September 3rd from 3 to 7pm Info: http://www.septemberaction.org nyc@septemberaction.org
For more information about the mobilization or to inform us about actions you are organizing please:
- write to info@septemberaction.org - visit http://www.septemberaction.org - call 347.524.5631
Informant: Friends
From: NYC WRL nycwrl@worldnet.att.net Date: 8/24/2005 1:32:59 PM Subject: Call To Action: Shut Down The War Machine This September!
SHUT DOWN THE WAR MACHINE THIS SEPTEMBER
On September 23-26, 2005, Washington, DC will host an historic demonstration of people power that includes nonviolent direct action designed to shut down the corporate war machine.
Be a part of our struggle - in Washington or in your part of the country!
Join us in nonviolent actions at the Pentagon and at DC area recruiting stations or organize concurrent actions in your town:
we are planning nonviolent demonstrations and civil resistance at recruiting centers across the country on September 26th with the centerpiece action being a peaceful occupation of the Pentagon.
These actions will include civil disobedience scenarios with a risk of arrest as well as low risk scenarios focused on education and outreach.
We urge people of all colors, cultures, faiths and walks of life to come to Washington and be a part of the change we all long for - or organize local actions and allow us to be a part of your event by publicizing it as part of a nationwide effort to end the corporate wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring the troops home.
Help us shut down the war machine on Monday, September 26th, 2005!
We will be gathering at various locations in the metro DC area and then processing to recruiting centers and to the Pentagon - carrying signs, banners and coffins.
On arrival we will blockade entrances, leaflet and engage passersby in dialogue - all to help impart our message that our young people must not become the next victims of U.S. militarism.
The Pentagon and its marketing arm - the military recruiters - will still be here after Bush leaves the White House and two unfinished wars behind him.
The cancer of U.S. militarism cannot be removed by simply cutting off the figurehead.
The enduring curse of U.S. war making must be confronted wherever it manifests itself in our communities - and at the Pentagon.
It is up to us to demand change.
Join with us as:
We demand the troops be brought home NOW.
We demand reparations for the Iraqi and Afghani peoples so they might begin to rebuild their shattered countries.
We demand money now being wasted on the military be diverted into education and healthcare.
The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) and the Direct Action Tendency are working alongside the September Action Collective, United for Peace and Justice, the Socialist Party and many others in responding to the Iraq Pledge of Resistance's call for Nonviolent Resistance to the wars of empire now raging in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Join us!
** Make plans to attend September Action's Second Regional Consulta ***
Where: New York City Address: A.J. Muste Institute (Conference Room), 339 Lafayette Street NY, NY 10012
When: September 3rd from 3 to 7pm Info: http://www.septemberaction.org nyc@septemberaction.org
For more information about the mobilization or to inform us about actions you are organizing please:
- write to info@septemberaction.org - visit http://www.septemberaction.org - call 347.524.5631
Informant: Friends
Starmail - 29. Aug, 15:49
Actor Martin Sheen, Rev. Al Sharpton and Joan Baez Come To Crawford In Support Of Cindy Sheehan
http://www.arcticbeacon.com/articles/article/1518131/32392.htm
Informant: Friends
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 15:45
Confront Economic Violence and Corporate Capitalism during the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings
Block the Bank! Fight the Fund! Reclaim Our Communities! Confront Economic Violence and Corporate Capitalism during the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings September 23-25, 2005 :: Washington DC :: Call for DIRECT ACTION
September 23rd to 25th 2005, the weekend of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's annual meetings, holds great importance for millions around the world. This year, the Mobilization for Global Justice, a Washington DC-based activist group, will join our allies in the global South, Europe, and the U.S. as well as with those in the anti-war community to demand an end to the international system that uses economic and military might to extract resources and serve corporate interests. We envision a world with true development, democracy, and security, and where economic policy serves the interests of the people. We call for creative direct actions on the weekend of September 23rd to 25th - all the action you can muster to shake the pillars of empire to their rotten and festering core - and work towards another possible world.
As the U.S. spends millions of public dollars a day on the deadly occupation of Iraq, the World Bank and IMF are promoting a violence less sensational and far more insidious. Using the mechanism of international debt, the World Bank and the IMF are waging a global war on the poor. Through the privatization of basic services, the prying open of developing countries' economies, and the capping of spending on healthcare, education, and employment even as military spending balloons, the institutions ensure that any resources in the global South - from water to oil, minerals to labor, bananas to money - are transferred to the benefit of transnational corporations and elites rather than to local communities.
The extraction of Southern resources facilitated by the World Bank and IMF leads to an escalation of economic violence and the destruction of real democracy and development. Forced relocation, hunger, increased poverty, environmental destruction, and disease are all direct products of World Bank and IMF policies. Rampant privatization means that communities the world over are seeing control over local resources wrested from them and delivered to unaccountable multinational corporations. For women forced to work long hours for sweatshop wages, for children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, for families forced to skip meals, for girls who cannot afford to attend school, for communities uprooted by dams, mines, and pipelines, this is not real development, it is violence. For the people of the global South whose lives are disrupted, worsened, jeopardized, and often ended, this is not true security; it is not true democracy.
These policies extend even into the U.S.: as residents of Washington DC, we are the reluctant hosts of the World Bank, the IMF, and other institutions of empire. With our only public hospital closed, a deteriorating public school system, and a private baseball stadium being built with public funds, we see that the same policies of private gain at public expense imposed on borrowing countries by the World Bank and IMF are also at work in Washington. The World Bank and IMF make billions a year in profits, use services provided by the city, and sit on valuable property downtown, yet they pay no property taxes or corporate revenue taxes. This is an injustice in a city with a majority low-income population and is a cruel hypocrisy on the part of the institutions, which state "poverty reduction" and "economic development" as part of their goals.
September 23rd to 25th the movements for global justice will defy the corrupt global system which concentrates economic and military power in a few countries and whose agents run riot across the globe, extracting essential resources, exacerbating climate change, and impoverishing the majority of humanity. The model of development promoted by the World Bank and IMF is emulated at all levels - from national governments to city councils - supporting corporate power and placing profit before people, waging economic and military war and promoting social and environmental destruction, in its hunger for the world's resources.
Join us and the millions around the world dedicated to a world where development, security, and democracy are no longer tools of rhetoric employed by the World Bank, the IMF, and the U.S. government but are realities in the lives of all. Come to Washington DC September 23-25th for a weekend of spirited action to shake the pillars of empire!
The Mobilization for Global Justice is a Washington DC-based activist group. We are committed to organizing effective, strategic, and creative direct actions during the World Bank and IMF fall meetings.
Please email us at mgj@riseup.net, or call us at 202-898-5953 for updates on the weekend and information on how to get involved. Our website is currently down, so to get information on the action go to www.septemberaction.org. This website has information about all the weekend's activities, including MGJ's. Once our website is up and running, you'll be able to find us at http.//www.globalizethis.org
Informant: Catherine Benedict
September 23rd to 25th 2005, the weekend of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's annual meetings, holds great importance for millions around the world. This year, the Mobilization for Global Justice, a Washington DC-based activist group, will join our allies in the global South, Europe, and the U.S. as well as with those in the anti-war community to demand an end to the international system that uses economic and military might to extract resources and serve corporate interests. We envision a world with true development, democracy, and security, and where economic policy serves the interests of the people. We call for creative direct actions on the weekend of September 23rd to 25th - all the action you can muster to shake the pillars of empire to their rotten and festering core - and work towards another possible world.
As the U.S. spends millions of public dollars a day on the deadly occupation of Iraq, the World Bank and IMF are promoting a violence less sensational and far more insidious. Using the mechanism of international debt, the World Bank and the IMF are waging a global war on the poor. Through the privatization of basic services, the prying open of developing countries' economies, and the capping of spending on healthcare, education, and employment even as military spending balloons, the institutions ensure that any resources in the global South - from water to oil, minerals to labor, bananas to money - are transferred to the benefit of transnational corporations and elites rather than to local communities.
The extraction of Southern resources facilitated by the World Bank and IMF leads to an escalation of economic violence and the destruction of real democracy and development. Forced relocation, hunger, increased poverty, environmental destruction, and disease are all direct products of World Bank and IMF policies. Rampant privatization means that communities the world over are seeing control over local resources wrested from them and delivered to unaccountable multinational corporations. For women forced to work long hours for sweatshop wages, for children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, for families forced to skip meals, for girls who cannot afford to attend school, for communities uprooted by dams, mines, and pipelines, this is not real development, it is violence. For the people of the global South whose lives are disrupted, worsened, jeopardized, and often ended, this is not true security; it is not true democracy.
These policies extend even into the U.S.: as residents of Washington DC, we are the reluctant hosts of the World Bank, the IMF, and other institutions of empire. With our only public hospital closed, a deteriorating public school system, and a private baseball stadium being built with public funds, we see that the same policies of private gain at public expense imposed on borrowing countries by the World Bank and IMF are also at work in Washington. The World Bank and IMF make billions a year in profits, use services provided by the city, and sit on valuable property downtown, yet they pay no property taxes or corporate revenue taxes. This is an injustice in a city with a majority low-income population and is a cruel hypocrisy on the part of the institutions, which state "poverty reduction" and "economic development" as part of their goals.
September 23rd to 25th the movements for global justice will defy the corrupt global system which concentrates economic and military power in a few countries and whose agents run riot across the globe, extracting essential resources, exacerbating climate change, and impoverishing the majority of humanity. The model of development promoted by the World Bank and IMF is emulated at all levels - from national governments to city councils - supporting corporate power and placing profit before people, waging economic and military war and promoting social and environmental destruction, in its hunger for the world's resources.
Join us and the millions around the world dedicated to a world where development, security, and democracy are no longer tools of rhetoric employed by the World Bank, the IMF, and the U.S. government but are realities in the lives of all. Come to Washington DC September 23-25th for a weekend of spirited action to shake the pillars of empire!
The Mobilization for Global Justice is a Washington DC-based activist group. We are committed to organizing effective, strategic, and creative direct actions during the World Bank and IMF fall meetings.
Please email us at mgj@riseup.net, or call us at 202-898-5953 for updates on the weekend and information on how to get involved. Our website is currently down, so to get information on the action go to www.septemberaction.org. This website has information about all the weekend's activities, including MGJ's. Once our website is up and running, you'll be able to find us at http.//www.globalizethis.org
Informant: Catherine Benedict
Starmail - 29. Aug, 12:15
Proof: Voting is Rigged
Starmail - 29. Aug, 12:11
Moving Photo's Of Camp Casey - The Beautiful People "Must See"
http://alaskagyrl.blogspot.com/
*Please forward far and wide"
Informant: Friends
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 12:08
Mad Wars Destroy in One Year the Works of Many Years of Peace
Starmail - 29. Aug, 12:02
Some Cynical Thoughts on the Iraqi Constitution
Starmail - 29. Aug, 12:00
Cindy Sheehan and the power of the ordinary
Source: CounterPunch
Author: Ramzy Baroud
08/26/05
What makes Sheehan's story utterly powerful is that it comes from a member of society that has been merely qualified as 'ordinary', meaning a person of no bearing on the outcome of things, be it political or otherwise. But she is a woman, a mother and that too is a powerful message of revolutionary proportions. Women have erroneously been regarded as minor players in shaping what social scientists coined the 'public sphere'...
Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/baroud08262005.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:58
Peaceful siege makes chickenhawks squeak
Source: Binghamton News Journal
Author: David Rossie
08/26/05
Nowhere is that more apparent today than in the case of Cindy Sheehan, whose peaceful siege of Prairie Chapel -- a reverse siege of the Alamo, with the good guys on the outside this time, and the bad guys on the inside -- has polarized the nation, or at least a part of it. Who would have thought when Sheehan set up a roadside camp a few weeks ago, hoping to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the squire of Prairie Chapel, that her presence would have such a powerful polarizing effect?
Link: http://tinyurl.com/dwgq3
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:56
A question that deserves to be answered
Source: Miami Herald
Author: Leonard Pitts Jr.
08/26/05
Cindy Sheehan will get her wish to meet with President Bush the day winged donkeys perform an air show in the skies above the South Lawn. In other words, never. In part this is because the president is famously intolerant of criticism and notoriously fumble-tongued when working without a script, so his handlers would rather chew glass than send him out to confront an angry protester who knows exactly what she believes and why. It is also because no president can afford to be seen as having been bullied into doing something. So Sheehan's vigil near the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch is likely to continue until the end of Bush's extended vacation without reaching resolution. Unless you count embarrassing a president who badly needed embarrassing. In which case, Sheehan's demand for a meeting has already been a smashing success...
Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12481085.htm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:53
Judicial activism and judicial restraint
Source: Institute for Justice
Author: Chip Mellor
08/05
Without realizing it, liberals and conservatives are working from opposite ends of the political spectrum, under opposing rationales, to reach the same end: expanded government power. As a result of the political push and pull between those advocating judicial activism and those favoring judicial restraint, two fundamental American rights -- the right to earn an honest living and the right to own private property -- have been stripped of vital constitutional protection, leaving entrepreneurs and small property owners especially vulnerable to backroom deals and majoritarian whims...
Link: http://www.ij.org/publications/liberty/2005/14_3_05_f.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Chip Mellor
08/05
Without realizing it, liberals and conservatives are working from opposite ends of the political spectrum, under opposing rationales, to reach the same end: expanded government power. As a result of the political push and pull between those advocating judicial activism and those favoring judicial restraint, two fundamental American rights -- the right to earn an honest living and the right to own private property -- have been stripped of vital constitutional protection, leaving entrepreneurs and small property owners especially vulnerable to backroom deals and majoritarian whims...
Link: http://www.ij.org/publications/liberty/2005/14_3_05_f.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:50
Pesticide study makes life-threatening conclusions
Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute
Author: Richard Morrison
08/26/05
A new article in the recent edition of British scientific journal The Lancet (August 27, 2005) threatens to undermine the battle against malaria around the world. Authors suggest public health officials should rethink the use of DDT for malaria control -- discouraging use of the most vital tool in an effort to save millions of lives. The Lancet authors concluded that there is 'evidence now indicating that DDT might have adverse effects on human health,' and that it would be 'prudent' to rethink DDT use to better assess risks and benefits. Yet the truly prudent approach would be to ignore this dangerous advice...
Link: http://www.cei.org/gencon/003,04792.cfm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Richard Morrison
08/26/05
A new article in the recent edition of British scientific journal The Lancet (August 27, 2005) threatens to undermine the battle against malaria around the world. Authors suggest public health officials should rethink the use of DDT for malaria control -- discouraging use of the most vital tool in an effort to save millions of lives. The Lancet authors concluded that there is 'evidence now indicating that DDT might have adverse effects on human health,' and that it would be 'prudent' to rethink DDT use to better assess risks and benefits. Yet the truly prudent approach would be to ignore this dangerous advice...
Link: http://www.cei.org/gencon/003,04792.cfm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:46
Under false premises
Source: LewRockwell.Com
Author: Michael S. Rozeff
08/27/05
We live under false premises, the false premises of power. The State has been put over as a fraud. We are promised one thing. We get quite another. The journey to self-government (anarchism) will be long and tough. We won't arrive unless and until we clearly understand what the goal implies and why the goal is a good goal. Changes in human nature, in the ways we think, feel, and act, are not a necessary condition for us to create better social and political lives. Changes in understanding are...
Link: http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff17.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Michael S. Rozeff
08/27/05
We live under false premises, the false premises of power. The State has been put over as a fraud. We are promised one thing. We get quite another. The journey to self-government (anarchism) will be long and tough. We won't arrive unless and until we clearly understand what the goal implies and why the goal is a good goal. Changes in human nature, in the ways we think, feel, and act, are not a necessary condition for us to create better social and political lives. Changes in understanding are...
Link: http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff17.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:43
A divided nation bares its pain and fury
Source: Independent [UK]
Author: Andrew Gumbel
08/29/05
There could have been no starker symbol of the political divisions vexing George Bush's America this weekend than the railroad track running right through the heart of Crawford, home to the president's summer holiday ranch in the scorched plains of central Texas. On one side of the tracks was the Crawford Peace House, base camp for the activists who have poured in to support Cindy Sheehan, the bereaved mother of one of America's Iraqi war dead .... On the other side, along Crawford's main drag, were clusters of an entirely different breed of protester -- ardent Bush supporters .... In the end, both sides had to feel disappointed by the turnout for the final weekend of summer madness -' no more than a few thousand people all told. The counter-demonstration failed spectacularly in its aim of outnumbering the anti-war activists by three or four to one, as chartered buses turned up half-empty, and cars adorned with 'You don't speak for me, Cindy' bumper stickers created a traffic jam stretching only one block rather than the miles the organisers had hoped for...
Link: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article308766.ece
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:34
I invaded the White House Press Corps
Source: Salon
Author: Cintra Wilson
08/29/05
July 11, the Day the Press Corps Attacked, was just the kickoff. I spent the next two weeks in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House, witnessing the molten Rove-a-thon. By the end I felt like I'd spent a couple of weeks on one of those indoor thrill rides where seats are bolted to a moving floor while a film is shown, creating a vague sensation of G-force when nothing actually goes anywhere. Still, the mini-revolt offered hope that despite its previously persistent vegetative state, the press might not be entirely dead yet. For the first time since 9/11, the reporters got nakedly hostile and went for the throat. Pandora's box opened -- just a hairline crack, but enough bats flew out to suggest that it might not close all the way again... [subscription or ad view required]
Link: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/08/27/briefing/
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Cintra Wilson
08/29/05
July 11, the Day the Press Corps Attacked, was just the kickoff. I spent the next two weeks in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House, witnessing the molten Rove-a-thon. By the end I felt like I'd spent a couple of weeks on one of those indoor thrill rides where seats are bolted to a moving floor while a film is shown, creating a vague sensation of G-force when nothing actually goes anywhere. Still, the mini-revolt offered hope that despite its previously persistent vegetative state, the press might not be entirely dead yet. For the first time since 9/11, the reporters got nakedly hostile and went for the throat. Pandora's box opened -- just a hairline crack, but enough bats flew out to suggest that it might not close all the way again... [subscription or ad view required]
Link: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/08/27/briefing/
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:31
The high price of gas
Source: The Libertarian Enterprise
Author: L. Neil Smith
08/28/05
Link: http://www.ncc-1776.com/tle2005/tle334-20050828-02.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: L. Neil Smith
08/28/05
Link: http://www.ncc-1776.com/tle2005/tle334-20050828-02.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:21
Price tag
Source: Free Market News Network
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
08/26/05
When it comes to policy decisions in a representative democracy, the job of politicians -- at least in theory -- is to weigh costs and benefits and then act to minimize the former and maximize the latter. Of course, politicians do tend to evaluate the risks and benefits according to criteria other than the strictly representative. Which do you think carries more weight: How a policy might cost or benefit you, or how a policy might cost or benefit the politician? We can safely assume that the latter concern does play in the politician's decisions -- for even if he's a really, really good guy who really, really cares about you, he's also a really, really good guy who really, really cares about his other constituents, and who really, really cares about getting re-elected...
Link: http://www.freemarketnews.com/pview/5837/2428/html/index.php
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
08/26/05
When it comes to policy decisions in a representative democracy, the job of politicians -- at least in theory -- is to weigh costs and benefits and then act to minimize the former and maximize the latter. Of course, politicians do tend to evaluate the risks and benefits according to criteria other than the strictly representative. Which do you think carries more weight: How a policy might cost or benefit you, or how a policy might cost or benefit the politician? We can safely assume that the latter concern does play in the politician's decisions -- for even if he's a really, really good guy who really, really cares about you, he's also a really, really good guy who really, really cares about his other constituents, and who really, really cares about getting re-elected...
Link: http://www.freemarketnews.com/pview/5837/2428/html/index.php
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:18
The War Party unhinged
Source: AntiWar.Com
Author: Justin Raimondo
08/29/05
Yes, it sure is 'painful' to see what the War Party has wrought in Iraq -- especially for the families of the fallen, both American and Iraqi. For Cindy Sheehan and her Iraqi equivalents, who grieve and ask 'why' and get no answer either from Bush or from Berman and his brigade of babbling armchair generals, the pain just keeps on keeping on. Not that the neocons care one whit about the human tragedy caused by their folly: as the Stalinists used to say, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, and that's a small price to pay when you take into account the glorious utopia we're building. Isn't it? As Americans begin to understand that this is really the question posed by George W. Bush's foreign policy -- a strategic doctrine fully supported, at least in principle, by his Democratic opponents -- their answer is becoming clearer by the day: No, no, a thousand times no...
Link: http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=7114
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Author: Justin Raimondo
08/29/05
Yes, it sure is 'painful' to see what the War Party has wrought in Iraq -- especially for the families of the fallen, both American and Iraqi. For Cindy Sheehan and her Iraqi equivalents, who grieve and ask 'why' and get no answer either from Bush or from Berman and his brigade of babbling armchair generals, the pain just keeps on keeping on. Not that the neocons care one whit about the human tragedy caused by their folly: as the Stalinists used to say, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, and that's a small price to pay when you take into account the glorious utopia we're building. Isn't it? As Americans begin to understand that this is really the question posed by George W. Bush's foreign policy -- a strategic doctrine fully supported, at least in principle, by his Democratic opponents -- their answer is becoming clearer by the day: No, no, a thousand times no...
Link: http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=7114
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:17
Hawks and doves descend on Bush ranch
Source: Guardian [UK]
08/27/05
A sign on the highway welcoming visitors to Crawford declares the population to be 705, but today the figure is likely to be at least four times that. Thousands of pro- and anti-war activists are making their way to this little corner of Texas for the culmination of protests that began when George Bush arrived for his five-week 'working vacation' at the beginning of August. Leading the anti-war rally will be Cindy Sheehan, 48, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, whose vigil outside Mr Bush's ranch has given the US peace movement in America a new focus and forced the president on to the defensive. Ranged against her are various conservative activists and military families, including the 'You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy!' tour, which began in Mrs Sheehan's home town of Vacaville in California and is due to arrive in Crawford at midday today. The pro-war demonstrators will hold a rally in the little town, not far from Fort Qualls, which was set up in memory of Louis Qualls -- a marine killed in Iraq last year but whose father, Gary, is a staunch Bush supporter. Between them they are determined to drag the spotlight away from Mrs Sheehan, and today's two rallies promise a showdown...
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1557489,00.html
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:14
Battle escalates over fliers' personal data
Source: Yahoo! News
08/24/05
The Homeland SecurityDepartment is making another push to get personal data on airline passengers in an effort to keep terrorists off flights. The lobbying effort comes months after the House and Senate, concerned about invading privacy, gave preliminary approval to a measure that would ban the department from tapping into credit reports, court files, shopping histories and other personal information for one year. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wants Congress to scrap the pending ban so the government can make passenger information 'more complete and accurate' when it compares names with those of suspected terrorists, according to department spokesman Russ Knocke...
Link: http://tinyurl.com/dgc5s
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
08/24/05
The Homeland SecurityDepartment is making another push to get personal data on airline passengers in an effort to keep terrorists off flights. The lobbying effort comes months after the House and Senate, concerned about invading privacy, gave preliminary approval to a measure that would ban the department from tapping into credit reports, court files, shopping histories and other personal information for one year. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wants Congress to scrap the pending ban so the government can make passenger information 'more complete and accurate' when it compares names with those of suspected terrorists, according to department spokesman Russ Knocke...
Link: http://tinyurl.com/dgc5s
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:12
They Kill Journalists, Don’t They?
More journalists killed in Iraq than Vietnam
Source: CNN
08/28/05
More journalists have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003 than during the 20 years of conflict in Vietnam, media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Sunday. Since U.S. forces and its allies launched their campaign in Iraq on March 20, 2003, 66 journalists and their assistants have been killed, RSF said."
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ddz4a
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
--------
They Kill Journalists, Don’t They?
http://tinyurl.com/6b57w
From Information Clearing House
Source: CNN
08/28/05
More journalists have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003 than during the 20 years of conflict in Vietnam, media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Sunday. Since U.S. forces and its allies launched their campaign in Iraq on March 20, 2003, 66 journalists and their assistants have been killed, RSF said."
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ddz4a
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
--------
They Kill Journalists, Don’t They?
http://tinyurl.com/6b57w
From Information Clearing House
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:08
Republicans face tough votes on entitlement "cuts"
Source: Houston Chronicle
08/28/05
Lawmakers are drafting proposals that would cut billions of dollars from the growth of Medicaid, slice into student loans just as colleges start back up, pare back food stamps and trim farm price supports in the midst of a Midwestern drought. The raft of bills, due out of 16 committees in the House and Senate by Sept. 16, will hand the Republican Party its toughest test of fiscal austerity in nearly a decade." [editor's note: Isn't it interesting how both major parties participate in the scam of pretending that a reduction in growth is a "cut?" The Democrats whip their base into a frenzy over non-existent cuts; the Republicans go to their base with reductions in growth and pretend that they've reduced spending. Someone wake me up when Congress passes a budget that's actually smaller than the previous year's. I bet I can double Rip Van Winkle's record for continuous napping - TLK]
Link: http://tinyurl.com/decsn
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
08/28/05
Lawmakers are drafting proposals that would cut billions of dollars from the growth of Medicaid, slice into student loans just as colleges start back up, pare back food stamps and trim farm price supports in the midst of a Midwestern drought. The raft of bills, due out of 16 committees in the House and Senate by Sept. 16, will hand the Republican Party its toughest test of fiscal austerity in nearly a decade." [editor's note: Isn't it interesting how both major parties participate in the scam of pretending that a reduction in growth is a "cut?" The Democrats whip their base into a frenzy over non-existent cuts; the Republicans go to their base with reductions in growth and pretend that they've reduced spending. Someone wake me up when Congress passes a budget that's actually smaller than the previous year's. I bet I can double Rip Van Winkle's record for continuous napping - TLK]
Link: http://tinyurl.com/decsn
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:06
Sharpton speaks at Texas anti-war camp
Source: Tampa Tribune
08/28/05
The Rev. Al Sharpton joined hundreds of war protesters outside President Bush's ranch for an interfaith service Sunday, saying he felt compelled to meet Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother who started the rally three weeks earlier. Sheehan had arrived in Bush's hometown on Aug. 6 and refused to leave until she could question the president about the war that has killed more than 1,870 U.S. service members, including her 24-year-old son, Casey...
Link: http://tinyurl.com/dzvok
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Cindy Sheehan
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Sheehan
Starmail - 29. Aug, 11:04
