[alternet-l] ALTERNET NEWS # 63

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 63

This issue:

HOT SITES/
DEBT FORUM/
WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP/
SCIENTISTS ENVIRONMENTAL DECLARATION/
ETHICAL SCIENCE/
EARTH SUMMIT DEBATE/
WORLD CAR FREE DAY/
INCINERATOR PROTEST/
ARMS FAIR PROTEST/
WORLD FOOD SUMMIT/
BLASPHEMER TO HANG/
JOBS/
ALLEGEDLY.../
DIARY/

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Send items for inclusion, including a web link if possible, to
actnow at gn.apc.org. Items may need to be edited. Plain text e-mail is
preferred.

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HOT SITES

DevNetJobs carries a comprehensive listing of International Development
jobs in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, US and other regions.

Jobs listed can be freely accessed by anyone. You can subscribe to a free
weekly mailing list of these jobs by sending a blank e mail to:
developmentjobs-subscribe at yahoogroups.com 

--> http://www.devnetjobs.org

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DEBT FORUM

OneWorld www.oneworld.net and Eurodad www.eurodad.org are running an
on-line discussion on international debt.

The discussion topic is whether there is "a necessary trade-off between
deeper debt cancellation for HIPCs and broader debt reduction for more
countries (for instance Lower Middle Income Countries). If so, which of the
options should be favoured?"

The debate runs from 3 September to 21 September:
--> http://forum.oneworld.net:8080/~debtchannel

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WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP

Back in September 1996 the US National Security Agency started proceedings
to evict the Womenwith Hill Peace Camp. Three years later the Camp was
finally evicted.

But now their back! The camp, which is currently operating everyday from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m., is located about 500 yards east of the base, in the lay-by
at Kettlesing Head, on the A59 about 7 miles west of Harrogate. 

The camp needs more women to get set up full-time, and they are preparing a
calendar of civil resistance actions for 2002.

The regular monthly 3rd weekend camp/gathering will recommence from October
20th/21st.

Further information from Helen 01943 468593, after 6 p.m. 'cos she's at
camp all day.  

--> http://www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/mhs/wpc/wpcinfo.htm

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SCIENTISTS ENVIRONMENTAL DECLARATION

Over 1,500 scientists from over 100 countries helped formulate the
Amsterdam Declaration on Global Change.

The Global Change Open Science Conference concluded that human-driven
"global change is real and is happening now." More worrying still is the
conclusion that these global changes" are difficult to understand and even
more difficult to predict.  Surprises abound."

The scientists call for "An ethical framework for global stewardship", and
emphasize that the "business-as-usual way of dealing with the Earth System
is not an option."

Challenges of a Changing Earth: Global Change Open Science Conference:

--> http://www.sciconf.igbp.kva.se/fr.html


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ETHICAL SCIENCE

Scientists for Global Responsibility are calling for an ethical dimension
to UK Science Year, which begins on 7th September. 

Their new booklet, 'An Ethical Career in Science and Technology?'challenges
UK science to take much greater responsibility for the consequences of its
work.

UK science and technology is dominated by commerce, much of which is
inconsistent with goals of social justice and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Stuart Parkinson, Chair of Scientists for Global Responsibility said: "Too
much of the scientific agenda is decided by narrow commercial and military
interests, whilst ethical concerns are sidelined."

SGR aims to make ethics an integral part of science. Many scientists have
to deal with ethical problems in their work:

"In the end I can't see how true scientists can serve two masters: the
search for truth and pursuit of profit."  (Edward Milner, P.9 of the booklet)

The booklet is available from the SGR web site at:

--> http://www.sgr.org.uk/ethics.html

Email: pressoffice at sgr.org.uk

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EARTH SUMMIT DEBATE

Most AlterNet News readers will have an opinion on what the Earth Summit
2002 should be trying to achieve. Now is your chance to share what you
think in an on-line debate.

Key writers and thinkers on sustainable development will start the debate,
but everyone is encouraged to join in.

The forum hopes to initiate a focused and constructive public discussion on
some of the priority issues. The results of the debate will be taken
forward to inform the next preparatory meeting for Rio+10 / Earth Summit 2002.

The debate continues throughout September 2001, so the best time to
subscribe is now:
--> http://www.lifeonline.org/debate

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WORLD CAR FREE DAY 

September 20 th is the second World Car-Free Day. Last year about 65
million people in more than 800 cities participated, and this one should be
a lot bigger.

There is some confusion about the date, as the European Union organize less
radical version the day after and there is also 'Earth Car-Free Day' on
April 19 th.

That still leaves 362 car full days, so maybe we need some more...

--> http://www.carbusters.ecn.cz/WCFDIndex.htm

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INCINERATOR PROTEST

Local people have occupied the site of the Crymlyn Burrows incinerator near
Swansea in protest against the dangers to health it brings.

Evidence shows that incinerators are damaging the health of people living
up to 5 miles around. But the effects are even more far reaching, because
the ash left after incineration, contaminated with very nasty heavy metals,
is dumped on special landfill sites.

Incinerators produce high levels of dioxins, the most toxic chemicals
known, plus heavy metals and ultra fine particles which lodge in the lungs
and cannot be removed by the body's defence mechanisms.

Over 70 new incinerators are currently planned.


Crymlyn Burrows protest:

--> http://www.stic.org.uk

For more info on incinerators:

--> http://www.communities-against-toxics.org.uk/

E-mail: ralph.ryder at communities-against-toxics.org.uk

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ARMS FAIR PROTEST

Defense systems and Equipment International (DSEi) is the UK's largest arms
fair, and plays host to some of the world's most repressive regimes.

The Fair is held from the 11th to 14th September at Excel Exhibition
Center, Docklands, London. 

Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, and many
others are calling for protests. While Tuesday 11th is the main date for
protests, a vigil will continue until the 14th September.

Events on 11th September:

Palestine Solidarity Campaign meet at Keir Hardie Recreation Ground at 9
a.m. (nearest tube Royal Victoria DLR). The procession leaves at 10 a.m.
Bring banners, placards, friends and ideas.

Critical Mass will assemble at Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank at 10 am.

The Fiesta for life against death will meet 12 noon at Tidal Basin Road,
London E16. "Bring drums, instruments, food and water to share, props,
puppets, banners, circus skills, your blue suede shoes and your love of life."

--> http://www.disarm-trade.org

Palestine Solidarity Campaign:
--> http://www.palestinecampaign.org

E-mail: endarms at palestinecampaign.org 

CAAT
--> http://www.caat.org.uk/caatwork/index.html

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WORLD FOOD SUMMIT

Amidst preparations for November's World Food Summit, New Agriculturist
looks at the issues.

Professor M.S. Swaminathan considers the "paradox of hunger in the midst of
plenty".

Perspective: Global agriculture - facing the challenges:
--> http://www.new-agri.co.uk/01-5/perspect.html

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BLASPHEMER TO HANG

International Humanist and Ethical Union are mounting a protest in support
of Dr Younis Shaikh, who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for saying
that the Prophet Mohammad could not have been a Muslim before the Koran was
revealed to him.
The Pakistan High Commission will be the focus of a demonstration on the 10
th September. The hour-long London demonstration will take place at 1pm
outside the High Commission of Pakistan, 35 Lowndes Square, London SW1.

Full details:
--> http://www.iheu.org/Shaikh

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JOBS

Stroud Valleys Project is seeking an Energy & Waste Project Officer to
continue the successes of our community Energy Club initiative, and to
research waste issues with a view to creating new projects.

Please see http://www.StroudValleysProject.org (under the News Section) for
more
information.

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ALLEGEDLY....

President Bush has the lowest IQ of any US President of the past 50 years.

The Lovenstein Institute of Scranton, Pennsylvania estimates Presidential
IQ's by examining scholarly achievements, writings produced without aid of
staff, ability to speak with clarity and several other psychological factors.


The study determined the following IQs of each president as accurate
to within five percentage points:

174 John F. Kennedy
126 Lyndon B. Johnson
155 Richard M. Nixon
121 Gerald Ford
175 James E. Carter
105 Ronald Reagan
098 George HW Bush
182 William J. Clinton
091 George W. Bush

The low rating for President Bush is due to his apparent difficulty to
command the English language in public statements, his limited use of
vocabulary (6,500
words for Bush versus an average of 11,000 words for other presidents), his
lack of scholarly achievements other than a basic MBA, and an absence of
any body  of work which could be studied on an intellectual basis.

Blaise Pascal had an estimated IQ of 195. The average is 85 - 114.

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DIARY DATES:

REGULAR MEETINGS:

Regular protests outside Esso in Brighton during September. Noon 1st, 15th
and 29th outside Esso on Dyke Road.

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 

Green Drinks for anyone involved with environmental issues.
Bath Green Drinks is on the first Wednesday of alternate months. Next
meeting is October 3rd at The Ram, in Widcombe (2 minutes walk from Bath
Spa Railway Station).

London Green Drinks is on the second Wednesday of each month at The Ram
Page pub (Basement Room) 32 Great Queen Street London  WC2
Tube: Holborn or 
Covent Garden.


http://www.greendrinks.org

SEPTEMBER

11 th:
PARENTS AT WORK + local voluntary sector groups present a series of half
day training workshops for managers/ chief executives of voluntary sector
organisations to explore work-life balance.
--> http://www.parentsatwork.org.uk/voluntarysector/

OCTOBER:

6 th: Exploring the Roots of Eco-magic
Conference on eco-magic work with Nature Spirits. Speakers: William Bloom,
Andy Lechter, Caroline Wise, Jani Farell Roberts and Jack Gale.
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London. 10 am 'til 5 pm
--> http://www.gn.apc.org/dragon/

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 Centre, 27 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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The AlterNet News is edited by Adrian Harris for GreenNet:
---> http://www.gn.apc.org/


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