[alternet-l] ALTERNET NEWS # 62

Thu Aug 16 19:07:59 BST 2001

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 62

This issue:

HOT SITES/
COLUMBIA POISONED/
STOP NUCLEAR COME-BACK/
SUPER WEEDS/
GREENBELT THREAT/
MANCHESTER 'OASIS'/
RE-EDUCATING TRIBES/
BEGINNERS GUIDE TO FREE-TRADE/
HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES/
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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Send items for inclusion, including a web link if possible, to
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HOT SITES

Boycottbush.net, a new campaign site from the Ethical Consumer
organisation, calls on consumers to boycott the brands of companies who
backed the Bush campaign:  
--> http://www.boycottbush.net/

The UK Recycling Database claims to be the definitive source of every
single recycling point in the country. Enter your postcode and choose the
type of waste you'd like to recycle and it'll find a site for you:
--> http://www.wastepoint.co.uk/wasteconnect/

The Haiti Support Group is a UK solidarity group working with the Haitian
people in their struggle for justice, human rights, and participatory
democracy:
--> http://www.gn.apc.org/haitisupport/

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COLUMBIA POISONED

U.S. funded spraying of coca-growing regions in Columbia continues, despite
claims that it is causing widespread health problems and environmental damage.

The Colombian Judge who recently ordered a suspension of the fumigations
has now ruled that they can continue.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador hinted that the process was a condition of
continued U.S. support for Colombia's anti-drug efforts. "I am very scared
that if the fumigation in Colombia doesn't continue, we won't give the
level of assistance that Colombia needs," she told journalists.

The herbicide used is glycophosphate, manufactured by Monsanto as
'Roundup'. According to the Roundup web site: 'Roundup should not be
applied to bodies of water such as ponds, lakes or streams as Roundup can
be harmful to certain aquatic organisms."

This herbicide is running down into the Orinoco, which gets all the
drainage from the eastern side of the Colombian Andes, an area covering
millions of
square kilometres.

Local hospitals in the Putumayo region, where the fumigation is taking
place, have reported increases in skin rashes, diarrhea and stomach aches.
Not surprising, as glycophosphate is classified as "extremely poisonous" by
the World Health Organization. 

Chemical company ICI has recently stopped supplying ingredients for the
fumigation because of the health concerns.

Fumigation-An Attack on the Ecology and People of Colombia:
--> http://www.waronwant.org/fcol.htm

Usfumigation.org:
--> http://www.usfumigation.org/homepage.htm

Roundup web site:
--> http://www.roundup.com/

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STOP NUCLEAR COME-BACK

British Nuclear Fuels wants to open a new nuclear fuel plant in Cumbria.
If it does, plutonium - the material used to make atomic bombs 
- will be exported around the world. The plant is the 

first stage in BNFL's plan to stay in business and start 
constructing new nuclear power plants in the UK and overseas. 

Friends of the Earth is campaigning to have the application to run the
plant thrown out. You can help by sending your objection by e mail to the
UK Environment
Secretary, Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP before Friday 24 August 2001.

--> http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/email_beckett/ 

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SUPER WEEDS

There is strong evidence that genetically modified (GM) crops
can spawn "super weeds".

The Canadian research,  which will raise more doubts about UK trials, shows
that different GM rapeseed strains can interbreed, producing weeds that are
resistant to a wide range of herbicides. 

"We have also found that different types of GM rapeseed, each resistant to
a different type of herbicide, can interbreed with each other and spread.
So you get rapeseed growing as a weed but with resistance to a whole range
of herbicides that would normally get rid of it."

Because rapeseed has many more wild cousins in Britain than in Canada, the
range of super weeds that could result here rises dramatically.

Canadian farmers are already reporting cases where GM rapeseed is
unaffected by spraying with
glycophosphate herbicide.

The research is confirmed by US scientists who say crops can pass genetic
traits on to related weeds that persist for generations. Scientists say it
is inevitable that characteristics designed to improve crops will make
their way into weeds.

Sunday Times on Canadian research:
-->

http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2001/08/12/stinwenws02015.html?

BBC Report on US research:
--> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1482000/1482132.stm

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GREENBELT THREAT
Developers have applied for planning permission to build 5,000 houses on
the Greenbelt west of Stevenage. The Campaign Against Stevenage Expansion
(CASE),  
have launched a 'OBJECT NOW' campaign.

An objection can be lodged through the CASE web site: www.case.org.uk
Every objection counts and will help resist this application.

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MANCHESTER 'OASIS'

Manchester residents are fighting to prevent trees being felled by
developers. Cheshire Portfolio Investments want to knock down a number of

trees and build private flats on the green site.

Residents say cutting the tree would destroy an inner city 'oasis'.

Campaign site:
--> http://www.hjoy.u-net.com/savethetrees/trees.html

News report:
--> http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/content.cfm?story=116380

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RE-EDUCATING TRIBES

The Akha tribes in Thailand have been forced from their forest homes
and ‘relocated’ to mud villages. The women have been sterilized
without their consent and their children have been vaccinated against
their will. 

Now their traditional culture is under threat from missionaries trying to
convert them. 

The Maesai Chinese Baptist Church (funded by U.S. churches), wants to bring
Akha children into their 'boarding school' to 'educate' them. 

Classes will not be in Akha language, nor will Akha history or traditions
be taught. The aim is the same as in other missionary boarding schools -
Conversion.

Akha children are normally taught by the wise people of the tribe, and have
no need or desire for education from outside.

--> http://www.akha.org/intromenu.htm

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BEGINNERS GUIDE TO FREE-TRADE

The Devil's Dictionary of Free-Trade defines some key terms to help explain
how the system works:

developing nation: Debtor.

environment: A nebulous concept inimical and irrelevant to trade discussions.

fair trade: A soft-headed neo-socialist fancy.

free trade: Free for us. You pay.

G-7: Group of Seven; a device by which Japan, Germany, France, Britain,
Italy, and Canada are deceived into thinking they, and not just the United
States, help run the world.

globalization: 1. The concentration of the world's wealth in select
multinational hands. 2. The promotional use of attractive images of Planet
Earth by those multinationals to induce feelings of well-being and security.

The Devil's Dictionary of Free-Trade
--> http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/9947/features-beers.shtml

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HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES

University of London, Institute of Commonwealth Studies new "MA in
Understanding and Security Human Rights" is registering students for
September 2002. The Institute also runs PhDs in human rights, a human
rights seminar series and human rights fellowships.

--> http://www.sas.ac.uk/commonwealthstudies/courses/humanrights.html/

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JOBS

International women's rights organisation based in North London requires a
part-time bookkeeper - £16000.00 pro rata (18hrs 45min per week). Voluntary
sector experience desirable. Immediate start. Flexible hours.

For further information contact Anissa on 020 7263 0285 or by email at
wluml at wluml.org

FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION

Campaigns Officer (temporary post, 9 month contract)
Salary £20-25,000. Based central London.
The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent charity set up to award and
promote the Fairtrade Mark, the consumer label which guarantees a better
deal for producers in the developing world. Due to staff absence we are now
looking for an experienced self-starter to organise Fairtrade’s campaign
work and supporter communications for a period of 9 months, starting ASAP.
Closing date: 3 September 2001. Interviews: 10 September 2001.

For more information see:
--> http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"If you're looking for the key to the universe I've got some good news
and some bad news. The bad news: there is no key to the universe.  The
good news: it was never locked." 

Author Unknown

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DIARY DATES:

REGULAR MEETINGS:

Headingley Free Tibet Campaign
meet at the Royal Park pub, Royal Park road Leeds. Every Sunday at
19.30 All welcome. Information:

0113-2286801 or 07799771359 

AUGUST

19 th:
Mumia Abu-Jamal, Pennsylvania death-row inmate will be in state court in
Philadelphia.
more: --> http://www.Mumia2000.org

19 th:
Kurdistan National Congress Benefit Concert 
A mixture of traditional Kurdish music, song and dance with renowned
Kurdish artists and groups including Merziye Rezzazi, Tara Caf, Siyar
Munzur, Xero Abbas, Cicek, Reber and Govend. 
12-8pm at Clissold Park
(nearest station: Manor House, Piccadilly line)
Tickets £5

20 th:
CACC campaign against the Terrorism Act meeting 7pm at Conway Hall, Red
Lion Square, WC1

21 st:
Information Evening. Find out about opportunities to volunteer overseas
with International Development organisation, Students Partnership
Worldwide. Opportunities from 4-10 months on AIDS / Environmental youth
projects. 
6.45-8.15 p.m., Dean's Yard, Westminster, London
Rosie - 020 7222 0136 or http://www.spw.org

OCOTBER:

13 th:
International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarisation of Space
12 noon - CND 'No to Star Wars' action at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square,
London
Further details from Press Officer Nigel Chamberlain: nigel at cnduk.org

27 th:
Women and the Human Rights Act Conference
Britannia Street Conference and Meeting Centre27 Britannia Street, London
WC1X 9JP10.00am to 4.00pm

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

---> http://webboard.gn.apc.org:8086/default
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