October 2007
Americas Armageddonites
Utopian fantasies have long transfixed the human race. Yet today a much rarer fantasy has become popular in the United States. Millions of Americans, the richest people in history, have a death wish. They are the new “Armageddonites,” fundamentalist evangelicals who have moved from forecasting Armageddon to actually trying to bring it about.
Most journalists [...]
EU-funded Quality Low Input Food project indicates significant nutritional benefits from organic food
Early results of the 12 million 4-year Quality Low Input Food (QLIF) study indicate organic fruit and vegetables contain 40% more antioxidants (believed to cut the risk of heart disease and cancer) in organic produce compared to non-organic foodstuffs. There were also higher levels of other beneficial minerals such as iron and zinc. [1] These [...]
Eat your words, all who scoff at organic food
Its unassuming location belies its importance. Sandwiched between Hadrians Wall and the busy A69 road to Newcastle upon Tyne is a 725-acre farm that will help to determine the nations future eating habits. In a unique experiment, its rolling pastures and ploughed fields have been split into two so that conventional and organic produce can [...]
Missing Nukes: Treason of the Highest Order
According to a wide range of reports, several nuclear bombs were “lost” for 36 hours after taking off August 29/30, 2007 on a “cross-country journey” across the U.S., fromU.S.A.F Base Minot in North Dakota to U.S.A.F. Base Barksdale, near New Orleans,in Louisiana. [1] Reportedly, in total there were six W80-1 nuclear warheads armed on AGM-129 [...]
Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Mattel and Takeda Pharmaceuticals top list of international brands guilty of abusing consumer rights
The world federation of consumer organisations, Consumers International (CI) today announced the winners of the International Bad Product Awards, to be presented at CIs World Congress in Sydney, Australia, 29 Oct 1 November 2007. The awards aim to highlight failings of corporate responsibility and the abuse of consumer trust by internationally recognised brands. The [...]
Crime Against Humanity to Convert Food Crops to Fuel
Six in 10 Americans believe the use of corn to make ethanol has raised food prices and caused more people to go hungry, the latest evidence of a growing global backlash against alternative “green” fuels. The Hormel Hunger Survey released on Monday also showed 53 percent of Americans polled believe government subsidies for ethanol production [...]
Arab League: Development in Darfur Requires End to Abuses
When Arab League members meet in Khartoum this week to discuss aid and development for Darfur, they should press the Sudanese government to end the massive human rights violations in the region, Human Rights Watch and other organizations said today in a letter to league members.
The meeting on October 30-31 will focus on humanitarian assistance, [...]
Gaza: Israel’s Fuel and Power Cuts Violate Laws of War
Israel’s decision to limit fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip in retaliation for unlawful rocket attacks by armed groups amounts to collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza, in violation of international law, and will worsen the humanitarian crisis there, Human Rights Watch said today.
“Israel may respond to rocket attacks by armed groups [...]
Strong ALP renewable energy target good for jobs and the environment
Australian Labor’s commitment to a 20 per cent renewable energy target represents a strong move towards a clean energy future. “This announcement could reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 13 million tonnes per annum and create 5,800 jobs,” said Australian Conservation Foundation executive director Don Henry.
“It’s an investment in a clean, renewable energy future for [...]
Official: organic really is better
Early results from the biggest study into organic food has found that it is more nutritious than ordinary produce and may help to lengthen people’s lives. The evidence from the 12m four-year project will end years of debate and is likely to overturn government advice that eating organic food is no more than a lifestyle [...]
Be the Change is born in NZ
A major new campaign being launchedaims to get tens of thousands of New Zealanders active in tackling climate change. The Be The Change campaign waslaunched outside the Auckland Museum by personalities Robyn Malcolm and Francesca Price. Spearheaded by Greenpeace, Oxfam and Forest & Bird, Be The Change will provide advice and encouragement to community groups [...]
ENVIRONMENTAL NASTY SURPRISES AS A WINDOW ON PRECAUTIONARY THINKING
All environmental problems are nasty surprises. Each runs counter to Western society’s expectation of endless progress through mastery of nature.[1] But the term seems especially appropriate for problems that:
** catch most scientists, technologists, regulatory officials, the mass media, and the general public off-guard;
** are already quite extensive by the time they are recognized;
** stem from [...]
Christchurch Solidarity Protest for Human Rights in Pictures- 27th October
What follows is a selection of photos of a very successfulprotest march against the so-called “terrorist raids” of the previous week and the continued detention of prisoners without any evidence of any substance being made public in Christchurch on Saturday the 2th of October. There were around 400+ people on the march which is an [...]
UK Soil Association to ensure air freighted organic food benefits poor farmers
The Soil Association’s Standards Board [1] is today [25 Oct 2007] announcing proposed changes to the Soil Association’s standards to ensure that organic food is only air freighted to the UK if it delivers genuine benefits for farmers in developing countries. In future, air freighted organic food will have to meet the Soil Association’s own [...]
James Watson’s Legacy: Promoting a New Eugenics
Do James Watson’s apology and resignation in disgrace from his post at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory lay to rest his troubling legacy? The world now knows about the blatant racism of the twentieth century’s most famous geneticist. Those tracking the story have also learned of Watson’s other assorted bigotries - his denigration of “ugly girls,” [...]
INDUSTRY’S PLAN FOR US
It now seems clear that the coal and oil industries are not going to allow the United States to curb global warming by making major investments in renewable sources of energy. These fossil fuel corporations simply have too much at stake to allow it. Simple physics tells us that the way to minimize the human [...]
Iran; The Road to Armageddon?
They are at it again. Remember when Milosovic was labelled “the butcher of Belgrade”, the new Hitler? Then Saddam Hussein was “the butcher of Bagdad” and, of course the most dangerous man since Hitler - with weapons of mass destruction which could be unleashed on the world “in forty five minutes”.
Colin Powell lied to the [...]
Global Environmental Outlook -4 - Executive Summary
The United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook 4, GEO-4, is published 20 years after the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) produced its seminal report, Our Common Future. GEO-4, the latest in UNEP’s series of flagship reports on the state of the global environment, assesses the current state of global atmosphere, [...]
UN Global Environmental Outlook
The United Nations Environment Programme says that major threats to the planet such as climate change, the rate of extinction of species, and the challenge of feeding a growing population are among the many that remain unresolved, and all of them put humanity at risk. The warning comes in UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook: environment for [...]
Teaching grandma how to peel onions
The lead article in last Sunday’s South China Morning Post breathlessly reported that some of those involved in recent protests throughout Burma had received training from the National Endowment for Democracy, a group funded by the United States government. Its editorial tut-tutted that Americans are yet again meddling where they shouldn’t be.In a letter to [...]
Christchurch protest Saturday 27th October as part of global day of action
A Christchurch protest has been organised for Saturday 27th October, 12 noon in Cathedral Square as part of the “Global Day Of Action” in solidarity with those arrested, raided, questioned and terrorised during and since the raids of Monday October 15th. Supporters of the arrestees will take to the streets with their message and finish [...]
MAORI YESTERDAY: TRADE UNIONS TODAY?
Union activists say that a police raid on a 72-year old trade unionist in poor health today is part of a crackdown on all political activists. This afternoon at 2pm, eight police cars raided the Orakei house of Jimmy O’Dea, a 72-year-old trade unionist in poor health. The house was searched under a warrant mentioning [...]
Chevron Investors Urged To Freeze Purchase of Company Stock Because of Ecuador Disaster
San Francisco, CA. - Amazon Watch and environmental activist/producer Trudie Styler joined forces today to urge Chevron investors to impose a “buy freeze” of Chevron stock until the oil major resolves a multi-billion dollar liability arising from a landmark environmental lawsuit over its toxic contamination of a vast area of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The call came [...]
Australian Urban water: need a national plan
The Australian Conservation Foundation has urged all parties to commit to a national plan to secure a sustainable water supply for our cities and towns. “To prepare for the longer droughts and reduced rainfall that are projected to come with climate change it is vital all parties detail strong national plans for Australia’s urban water [...]
General Update on Events in Burma
In this general update on events in Burma, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) concentrates on the following topics:
- Details emerging of more deaths during September
- Denial of medical treatment for injured persons
- Family members of wanted persons taken as hostages
- Special concerns over women prisoners
For all statements, press releases, updates and media, visit the [...]
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