[alternet-l] Alternet News - Issue # 59

[Chris Whitehouse]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 59

This issue:

HOT SITES/
KYOTO RALLY /
MAY DAY REPORTS /
SUPERWEEDS WARNING /
CHEMICAL COLUMBIA/
FOOD WARS/
BLOCKADE THE BOMB/
WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT PORTAL /
SCHNEWS ANNUAL /
GOOD FOOD /
EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA /
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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Send items for inclusion, including a web link if possible, to 
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Back issues are on-line at: 
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HOT SITES

Lazaros Petromelides is a Greek conscientious objector who is facing trial
and likely long-term imprisonment:

---> http://www.gn.apc.org/eireni/cogr/greekco1.htm

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ECHELON EXISTS

Now it's official: A report published by the European parliament removes
any lingering doubt. Echelon, a shadowy, US-led worldwide electronic spying
network, is a reality.
 
In the cold war, eavesdropping was aimed at military and diplomatic
communications, but today it has switched to commercial targets and private
individuals.

Echelon computers can store millions of records on individuals,
intercepting faxes, phone calls, and emails.

The report was prompted by claims that the US was using Echelon to spy on
European companies on behalf of American firms.
 
Though MEPs claim there is no conclusive proof of industrial espionage,
there is concern about the threat posed to privacy. 

"The real issue is whether Echelon is doing away with individual privacy -
a basic human right," said intelligence expert, James Bamford.
 
"Disembodied snippets of conversations are snatched from the ether, perhaps
out of context, and may be misinterpreted by an analyst who then secretly
transmits them to spy agencies and law enforcement offices around the
world," Mr Bamford said. 
 
Neil MacCormick, the Scottish nationalist
vice-chairman of the Echelon parliamentary committee, said: "People should
treat their emails like seaside postcards; that is to say put anything you
like on them but don't be surprised if someone else reads them."
 
The APC has long campaigned for Internet rights, and believes that without
proper protection the Internet could be transformed into a highly
monitored and state-controlled nightmare scenario.

APC's Europe Internet Rights initiative:

http://www.apc.org/english/rights/

Federation of American Scientists - Echelon pages 

http://www.fas.org/irp/program/process/echelon.htm

Guardian story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,496859,00.html

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BUSHMEN DRIVEN OUT

The last Kalahari Bushmen will be forced to leave the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana when the local district council
cut
essential services, such as food, water and basic healthcare. This latest
move is part of a long-standing drive by the government to evict the
Bushmen from their land to make way for tourism and diamond mining. The
government is forcing the Bushmen to choose between starvation and leaving
the land they have lived on for 20,000 years. 

The authorities severely
restrict the numbers of animals the Bushmen are allowed to hunt, making
them dependent on government rations, and several have been tortured by
officials for supposedly exceeding their hunting allowance. 

Survival is
launching a letter writing campaign in support of the Bushmen's rights.
Survival's Director General, Stephen Corry, said today, "The government of
Botswana's outrageous and illegal treatment of its Bushmen today makes a
mockery of its claim that its diamonds are 'clean'." 

Survival:
--> http://www.survival-international.org 


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FLUORIDE WARNING 

New research shows that some of the claims for fluoridation's benefits
were inflated, and the dangers may be greater than supposed.

The largest U.S. survey indicates that the reduction in decay resulting
from fluoridation amounts to less than one percent of the tooth surfaces in
a child's mouth.

Dental fluorosis is a defect of the tooth enamel caused by fluoride's
interference with the growing tooth. Fluorosis occurs on two or more teeth
in 30% of children in areas where the water is fluoridated.

It gets worse: Evidence suggests that fluoride could cause bone cancer in
young men and has been associated with arthritis. Additionally, Fluoride is
a hormone disrupter that may contribute to hypothyroidism (underactive
thyroid).

A long-term, low-dose rat study showed elevated Amyloid deposits
(associated with Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia) in the
brains of fluoridated groups compared to the control group.

Fluoride Action Network:

http://www.fluoridealert.org

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GET IT TRAINING 

The GET IT centre is a training and access centre for women of Islington
and nearby areas of Hackney and Camden, run by the GreenNet Educational
Trust (GET). 

GET has considerable experience of working specifically with women since
the
early nineties. 

The centre offers a series of basic ICT courses with full support from the
women running the centre. Courses are free and flexible - we can schedule
courses to meet your needs.

For more details contact Joanne 0845 055 4011 or email coord at gn.apc.org 
More:
---> http://www.gn.apc.org/get/it

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INTERNET INQUISITION?

Proposed legislation in Spain to regulate Internet activity has enraged
libertarians who say the measure would squelch free speech. The "Law of
Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce" would force websites
to register and would allow government agencies to shut down websites.

"If the (law) is passed, freedom of expression in the Internet will be as
limited as it is in countries like China, Vietnam or Saudi Arabia," said
Carlos Sánchez Almeida, a Barcelona attorney who specializes in Internet law. 

 http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,44110,00.html?tw=wn20010529 


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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE 

A New Economics Foundation report published today reviews the innovative
ways social enterprise is using to tackle the problems of lack of
finance and
appropriate legal forms.

Homeopathic Finance: Equitable Capital for Social Enterprises is based on
the practical experience of social entrepreneurs interviewed during the
course of the research.

You can download the publication free from the NEF site:

 http://www.neweconomics.org

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE 
 
The Global 500 Award celebrates the achievements of people protecting the
environment. This years winners include a husband and wife team who have
rescued over a quarter of a million turtle eggs, a Kenyan doctor who almost
single-handedly transformed an old quarry into a much loved nature reserve,
and a Canadian teenager who began battling against pesticide misuse at the
age of 10.


Past winners include Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of
Norway, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Chico Mendes, the Brazilian rubber tapper who
was murdered during his fight to save the Amazon forest.

 http://www.global500.org/laureates2000.html

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INCINERATORS
A Greenpeace study on waste incinerators reveals health impacts,
including cancers,
heart disease, birth defects, allergies and breathing problems.

The study criticises Labour policy, which it says, plans to construct more
than 100 new incinerators, “despite widespread public opposition” and the
fact that both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are seeking a
moratorium.

People living near incinerators risk exposure to a range of toxic chemicals
by breathing contaminated air or by eating contaminated produce, such as
vegetables, eggs and milk, or by skin contact with contaminated soil.


http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/4227.cfm
http://www.greenpeace.org/

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DEATHS IN TURKEY PRISONS

Protests against prison conditions in Turkey have led to the deaths of 23
people on death fasts and it is estimated that more than 500 others are
currently on hunger strike in solidarity.

Turkish prisons have a history of violent unrest: In January 1995, 3
prisoners were killed in an Istanbul prison; in September 1996, 10
political prisoners lost their lives following a military assault in the
Diyarbakir prison, while on 26 September 1999 10 political prisoners were
killed and 28 wounded in an Ankara prison following another military
operation. 

World Organisation Against Torture
 http://www.omct.org/

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WORLD BANK COUNTER CONFERENCE

Although the World Bank has cancelled its conference in Barcelona, the
'counter-conference' will go ahead. The organisers feel that the reasons to
protest still stand, and want to show that the movement goes beyond
blocking meetings with a celebration of the fact that people united
can
change the world.

The 'counter-conference' runs from June 16th to June 25th. Events include
workshops and a concert coinciding with la fiesta de St. Joan, a
traditional
night of magic and fire. The conference will conclude with a demonstration
and trial against financial institutions in front of Barcelona's Stock
Exchange, followed by a Street Party and 'Dinner at the Stock Exchange'.
 
Contact:
logisticabm at hotmail.com

Subscribe to our mailing list:
bcn2001_en-subscribe at egroups.com.

 Web site mainly in Spanish and/or 
Catalan, but some English translations: 
 www.rosadefoc.org.


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JOBS

Trustees Needed

The Rescue Foundation has vacancies on its Council of Management. They need
people with experience in caring for children with brain-related conditions
(either as family or professionally), business, or charity governance. It
would be useful to live in either West Wales or Bristol area but not
essential. The Foundation carries out and funds research into cause,
prevention and treatment of brain injury / dysfunction in babies and
children, follows up the results of the research in various ways, and
provides information and support to families.


No animal or embryo research is funded.

Call Free-phone 0800 32 81 159 for more details. 

Contact Mr. John Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive:

rescue at babybrains.org

 http://www.babybrains.org

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home & our
being, drive a spear into the land, & say to the bulldozers, earthmovers,
government & corporations, "thus far & no farther." 

Edward Abbey

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DIARY DATES: 

JUNE
2 June, Cambridge 

http://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk/

June 5th: World Environment Day
http://www.unep.org/wed/2001/index.html


June 6th: 7.30 Moving in mysterious ways: spirituality in a post-religious
age. Don Cupit (After God*) Danah Zohar (Spiritual Intelligence*) Satish
Kumar (Editor, Resurgence) Chair: Madeleine Bunting (The Guardian)


June 8th: 1.45-3pm, Mail Lecture Theatre, Barnes Wing, 
University of Leeds 
THE BREASTFEEDING IN LEEDS CONSORTIUM PRESENTS:

‘INFANT FEEDING: THE NEGLECTED FACTS’
by MAUREEN MINCHIN 
Lactation Consultant, international breast feeding advocate, author of 
Breast feeding Matters and Food for Thought - Melbourne Australia

Saturday, 9 June 17 June
Green Transport Week
We have set up an exciting range of activities, events and competitions to
celebrate this unique week! For more information contact Poppy Hayward on
poppyh at envolve.co.uk
http://www.envolve.co.uk/e018.htm

Saturday 9th June 11.00am 
Hinton Waldrist, OXFORDSHIRE 
Vigil and march against two farm-scale trials of GM maize and oil seed rape.
Contact:
foeswindon at hotmail.com or holly at gn.apc.org

June 12 th: THE WORLD IS NOT FOR SALE - book launch / meeting 
Jose Bove & Francois Dufour (co-authors, The World is Not For Sale) 
Helen Salmon (Globalise Resistance & NUS nec member), Tony Benn, George
Monbiot, (activist and author of Captive State) 
Chair: 
Gillian Marshall (Globalise Resistance) 
7pm, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street (opposite Kings Cross station).

June 14 th: José Bové and François Dufour, Confédération Paysanne (France)
in evening of inspirational debate with:
David Richardson, farmer and journalist
Jan Godfrey, Chair of the Wayland Development Partnership
Alejandro Lopez-Musalem, International Society for Ecology and Culture
(Mexico)

Clive Peckham, East Anglia Food Link
Does globalisation really mean the
end of a certain type of farming? Can farming still sustain the local
economy? What can we do to support farmers, here, abroad and in Third World
countries?
6:30 pm University of East Anglia - Lecture Theatre 2 Admission
free.
Followed by a buffet of local produce for £3.50 -  Please book meal at
least 10 days in advance with Farmers’ Link. 
email: flink at gn.apc.org

June 16 th: 12 noon - Carnival March to End the Prohibition of Cannabis:
Assemble in Kensington Park - Oval Tube. Departs 1.00 PM sharp to Rockwell
Park, Brixton. Floats, samba band and more. Bring spirit, humour, banners,
drums, your voice, to celebrate, remonstrate and 'dance on the grave of
Cannabis Prohibition' through Brixton to the Cannabis Freedom Festival.
Everyone counts.

http://www.schmoo.co.uk/may2001.htm

Rally for Compassionate Living 
June 17: 3pm, Trafalgar Square - a warm up for National Vegetarian Week! 
Celebrity speakers, music, Mahaveer Awards (part of the celebrations for
the 2,600 birth anniversary of Lord Mahaveer). 
Organised by the Young Indian Vegetarians (Veg Soc affiliated group), more 
details from: 0181 681 8884. Email: animalahimsa at yahoo.co.uk web site: 
www.indian-vegetarians.org


June 18th: 7. 30 Spirit Dot Net Erik Davis (Techgnosis*), Mike Eales
(Explorer of the human / tech interface) Jennifer Cobb tbc (Cybergrace*)
Chair: Pat Kane* (singer, The Play Ethic*)
28 th: Eco-design for competitive advantage.
1st regional conference for
manufacturing companies
London
For full conference programme and registration form see 
http://www.cfsd.org.uk/events/eco-d2001/index.html

June 19 : Women against sanctions against Iraq
 Evening of talks, letters, poems, music and discussions that illuminate
the experience of Iraqi women under sanctions. It is 6 pm for 6.30 pm at
the Rectory, St.James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL. Iraqi
refreshments will be served.

JULY:

July 3: 7.30 Spirituality Untamed	Rupert Sheldrake (Natural Grace*), Annie
Lennox tbc (musician), Andrew Samuels (Politics in the Chair*) Chair: Indra
Adnan (Director, Poiesis)

Tickets: £ 7.50 
For more information: SWord at Poiesis.org
www.poiesis.org
www.ica.org.uk

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

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

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