[alternet-l] THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 55

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 55

This issue:

HOT SITES/
WOLF CULL/
WOMEN MAKE NEWS/
HACKER=TERRORIST?/
TRADE UNION TRIAL/
OIL MONSTER/
STOP TORTURE/
VIRUS WATCH 2/
INTERNET RIGHTS/
ETHICAL TRADE/
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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Back issues are on-line at: 
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HOT SITES

The TRAFFIC Network helps ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is
not a threat to the conservation of nature. The  site features a full copy
of the latest issue of their Bulletin
--> http://www.traffic.org/

Thames Water will donate £100,000 to Water Aid if there are 250,000 clicks
on the following website during the next 3 months. Get clicking!
--> http://www.givewater.org

Latest in the foot and mouth situation:
MAFF:
--> http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm
George Monbiot report:
--> http://www.guardian.co.uk/footandmouth/story/0,7369,444748,00.html

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WOLF CULL

The Norwegian government has announced a hunt to remove the last 2 packs of
wolves in the South Eastern part of Norway. The culling will be carried out
using helicopters and snowmobiles, which are illegal during regular hunting
seasons.

A wide range of international and Norwegian environmental groups have
protested.

Cull report:
---> http://home.no.net/ulvelist/protest_int.htm

Background on wolves:
---> http://www.timberwolfinformation.org/info/world/worldorganization.htm

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WOMEN MAKE NEWS

UNESCO is working with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to
encourage media enterprises to give editorial responsibility to women staff
members for a full week from 5 to 11 March 2001 to mark International
Women's Day on 8 March 2001.

The operation, called "Women Make the News 2001", is designed to bring
attention to the fact that too few women reach decision-making positions.
The initiative also aims to promote a balanced and non-stereotyped
portrayal of women as subjects in the media.

--> http://www.unesco.org/march8

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HACKER=TERRORIST?

The Terrorism Act 2000 widens the definition of terrorism to include
actions that "seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt an electronic
system" and are "designed to influence the government or to intimidate the
public".

GreenNet consultant and on-line activist Paul Mobbs, who has coordinated
protests through the Electrohippies site, says that the Act may result in
Internet campaigns being controlled. 

"If a group did an email campaign to the prime minister and that disrupted
an email system that could be defined as terrorism." 

The growth of cyberterrorism has been evident in the "e-Jihad" in the
Middle East, where protagonists have defaced and blocked politically
opposed Web sites and bombard enemies with email. 


Full story:
--> http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/2001/7/ns-21060.html

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TRADE UNION TRIAL

In October 1999  union leaders representing Del Monte banana workers were
forced at gunpoint to flee for their lives with their families. 

A trial is scheduled for March 15, and successful prosecution, conviction
and imprisonment would mark a historic breakthrough in impunity in
Guatemala, which is one of the world's most dangerous places for trade
unionists.

But testifying at the trial is high-risk for the witnesses, and without
adequate security their lives will be endangered. Banana Link are calling
for international pressure to ensure adequate security.

Banana Link;
blink at gn.apc.org         

http://www.bananalink.org.uk

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OIL MONSTER

The merger of Chevron and Texaco has created a corporate giant with an
appalling record of damaging ecosystems, undermining indigenous cultures
and encouraging human rights abuses.

"For the communities where Chevron and Texaco operate, the companies will
continue to take the form of the noxious gas flare, the polluted and silent
river, the vanished forest and the soldier's gun", said Carwil James, Oil
Campaign Coordinator of the human rights group Project Underground.

In two decades of operating in the Amazon, Texaco's operations were
responsible for millions of gallons of spilled oil, and an estimated 4.3
gallons of toxic water per day. 

The All-Ijaw Peoples Conference in 2000 summed up the situation in Nigeria:
"companies such as Shell, AGIP, Elf and Chevron have colluded with the
military and successive governments of Nigeria to wage a war of economic
exploitation and environmental degradation, as well as the institution of
internal colonialism."

Meanwhile in Indonesia indigenous people have been involuntarily resettled
to make way for oil operations.

More info: 
--> http://www.moles.org

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STOP TORTURE

The Amnesty International FAST network uses the web to stop torture. FAST
(Fast Action Stops Torture) will instantly send out an alarm to thousands
of activists around the globe who will send electronic letters of protest.
Within hours the threat of torture is exposed, which makes it nearly
impossible to carry out.  

More:
--> http://www.amnestyusa.org/stoptorture/fast/fastindex.html

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VIRUS WATCH 2

The virtual business cards that come attached to e-mails can be dangerous.

A flaw in Outlook allows crackers to crash or remotely control computers
and entire networks, via virtual business cards (Vcards) that harbor
malicious code. They can add, change or delete data, communicate with
websites, reformat a hard drive, and more. 

Microsoft has released a patch and advises anyone who uses Outlook to
download and install the patch immediately.

Ollie Whitehouse, who discovered the problem, said that this flaw is not
uncommon in Microsoft's products.


--> http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,41994,00.html?tw=wn20010224

More:
--> http://www.atstake.com/research/advisories/index.html

Microsoft patch:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/critical/q283908/default.asp

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INTERNET RIGHTS

Delegates at a recent conference concluded that defending Internet rights
is as much a defense of human rights as it is of people's right to
communicate.

The conference was organized by the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC), an international association of not-for-profit
organizations which promote an Internet for social justice and development. 

"APC is committed to giving a voice to activists and civil society groups 
who want to defend the Internet as an accessible and secure communications 
medium", said Karen Banks from GreenNet, who is the APC Europe Internet
Rights project manager.

APC members have defended threatened Website content in South Korea, South
Africa, the UK and Spain. APC strategies to respond to such threats include
a Rapid Response Network to automatically replicate threatened content
across the Internet within 24 hours.

APC: 

http://www.apc.org.

Full report:
--> http://www.gn.apc.org/apcireuro/ws/pr.html

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ETHICAL TRADE 

A Workers Perspective of Ethical Trade. Views from Central America and Asia.

How can the situation of workers in the South be improved? 
What mechanisms have been effective in improving workers lives? 
What can consumers in the North do?

14th March 7pm The House of Commons, London SW1, Nearest tube: Westminster 
Speakers from The Maria Elena Cuadra Women's Movement, Nicaragua, 'Friends
of Women', Thailand and The Asia Monitor Resource Centre.

Contact CAWN for details:
cawn at gn.apc.org 

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JOBS

Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) works to eliminate use of and
dependence on hazardous pesticides, while encouraging sustainable
alternatives. Applications are invited for the following posts:      

Finance and Funding Manager  
The successful applicant will join PAN UK’s Senior Management Team and
assist in developing effective funding and management strategies.
Candidates should have experience of staff and financial management at a
senior level, fundraising and donor management expertise, and a commitment
to health / environment / development issues. Starting salary at least
£26,000 pa.    


International Project Officer   
This is an exciting opportunity to expand our development education
activities and manage our organic cotton programme.  Candidates must be
familiar with development issues and pesticides, have proven writing
skills, and be able to work in French. Starting salary £22,600.
  
Closing dates: 16 March 2001
For more information visit www.pan-uk.org/

David Allen, Office Manager, Pesticide Action Network UK (formerly the
Pesticides Trust)
Email: davidallen at pan-uk.org

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"True gardens and fruit are in the Heart: their beauty is reflected in this
world through water and earth."

Jalaluddin Rumi 

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DIARY DATES:

Reclaim the Streets: 020 7281 4621; rts at gn.apc.org
LONDON MEETING EVERY TUESDAY 7pm - Cock Tavern pub, Phoenix Road,

MARCH

8 th:
The Dragon Talks: Reggie Kwan, eco-magician, will talk on 'Eco-magic in
co-operation with Nature Spirits'
Upstairs at The Plough, Museum Street, London WC1 on March 8 th. Arrive @
7.30 for 8 pm start. (£2 suggested donation.)
--> http://www.gn.apc.org/dragon

8 th:
International Women's Day will be celebrated with the second Global Women's
Strike. Contact: womenstrike8m at server101.com

8 th:
Hacktivists: Cyberwarriors or Political Agoraphobics?
Does online activism replace or complement more traditional forms of
protest? Speakers include Paul Mobbs, Electrohippies,Tim Jordan,
sociologist, and Caroline Basset, MacUser columnist.
The Nash Room, The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), The Mall, central
London @ 7pm.
Tickets and Information: 0207 930 3647
ICA map:
--> http://www.ica.org.uk/info/location

14 th:
'The Garden of Earthy Delights - Magick, Politics and Permaculture'
Julian Vayne, writer and occultist, will explore how permaculture reflects
much of pagan and magickal thinking. Upstairs room of the Princess Louise
on High Holborn. Talk starts at 8.30pm. Admission is £2 (£1 concs). All
welcome.

19 th: 
Car Free Day: people all around the world stay out of cars as part of a
co-ordinated global statement that we need viable transport alternatives
and a clean energy future.

23 rd:
RESPECT is an initiative aimed at empowering young people to create their
own sustainable future and supporting them with the tools they need to make
their visions happen.
Royal Horticultural Halls, London

24-25 th: 
European Meeting of People's Global Action. Everyone interested in making
contact and supporting future activities invited. Milan.
--> http//www.agp.org

29 th:
Global Union Action Day for Railway Safety. Events are being organised for
London.
--> http://www.itf.org.uk/SECTIONS/It/rail/Railway_safety/campaign.htm


APRIL

22 nd
Earth Day
--> http://www.earthday.net/

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