[alternet-l] AlterNet # 68

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 68

This issue:

HOT SITES/
HILL TRIBE TORTURED/
HIDING THE TRUTH/
SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION/
SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS/
GMO INFORMATION 'COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE'/
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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HOT SITES
27th January is National Holocaust Memorial Day 2002. Events are taking
place all over the UK.
List of events:

http://www.quillinternet.co.uk/hmd/database/list.asp

For more info:
---> http://www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk/

2002 is International Year of the Mountains. The Mountain Forum promotes
global action toward equitable and ecologically sustainable mountain
development:
--> www.mtnforum.org

The new Derbyshire Alvaston A6 Bypass web site outlines the campaign
against the proposed road:
--> www.alvaston-bypass.i8.com

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HILL TRIBE TORTURED

The Akha, a hill tribe in Thailand, are allegedly being tortured and
killed in an army run drug detoxification camps. The programme is jointly
managed by the army, the Public Health Ministry, the police and the
Interior Ministry.

Ateh Amoh, an Akha man, said he was savagely beaten by soldiers who took
him and others from their homes and held them at the camp. His neighbor,
Ajuuh Cheh Muuh Gooh, died from the beating.

Ateh said that "the soldiers never talked about the opium detoxification
programme. They tried to force me to admit the drug charges by electric
shocks to my ears, kicking my face and body, punching me hard in the body
and hitting me with a gun handle on my head and chest several times."

He was kept in hospital for six days after doctors found his lung was
ruptured and bleeding 
profusely.

Lt-Col Apisit Nujbutsaba, who is responsible for the detoxification
programme, insisted Mr Ajuuh died in the process of trying to break his
opium addiction.

The hospital director refused to disclose the autopsy result to the Bangkok
Post, saying she "needed more time".

Full story:
--> http://www.akha.org/akha2/abuse/armythai.htm

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HIDING THE TRUTH

Dr. Shafey worked for the Florida Department of Health on pesticide-related
heath problems, and claims he lost his job because he refused to conform to
the health department policy of "pleasing powerful agriculture interests".

When Shafey concluded that spraying was making people sick, his boss
allegedly suggested that money and politics determined how the department
treated health issues. Shafey resisted pressure to change his
recommendations, which were never published, and was sacked soon afterwards.

Tirso Moreno, executive director of the The Farmworker Association of
Florida, says Florida's pesticide safety regulations are too lax to protect

workers and pesticide poisonings are rampant.

Moreno says local farm workers have unusually high rates of birth defects,
skin problems, respiratory complaints, and auto immune diseases.

Dr. Mohammed Abou-Donia, a professor at Duke University, believes it's
likely that pesticide exposures are responsible for the health problems,
but proving it is difficult.

Shafey is suing his former employers for wrongful dismissal, but Florida
has invoked a "sovereign immunity" defense, which basically says that
states are immune from legal action by individuals.

Harassment of public health officials, scientists and technical experts is
widespread and rising, says Mary DeVany, chair of the Industrial Hygiene
Association's Social Concerns Committee. "There's a lot of pressure being
put on people to modify, soften their tone, or hedge their reports," she
says. "We're talking about an increased acceptance of unethical behavior --
about supervisors and managers putting pressure on their technical
professionals to perform unethical acts."

Full Story: 
--> http://www.tompaine.com/feature.cfm?ID=4691

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SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION

The Tikkun Community is a new organization which aims at spiritual and
social transformation.
Rabbi Michael Lerner, who is the driving forces behind Tikkun, was delighted
at the excitement aroused by a "national movement that was talking about
love and caring about the spiritual crisis generated by the ethos of
selfishness and materialism of American society." 

The Tikkun Community is "a movement that could legitimate our desire to
respond to the universe with awe and wonder and could transcend the narrow
utilitarian and manipulative frameworks that dominate most politics."

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

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SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Bjorn Lomborg's book The Skeptical Environmentalist claims that air
pollution, global warming and the similar green issues are "phantom
problems" created or inflated by the environmental movement for its own ends. 

Lomborg, an associate professor of statistics at Denmark's University of
Aarhus, writes:

"We will not lose our forests...Our oceans have not been defiled... Nor is
waste a particularly big problem...The problem of the ozone layer has been
more or less solved. The current outlook on the development of global
warming does not indicate a catastrophe...and our chemical worries and fear
of pesticides are misplaced and counterproductive."

Although the Washington Post raved about its "magnificent achievement", not
every is convinced. Lester R. Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute
and the Earth Policy Institute concludes that his analysis is
"fundamentally flawed". Norman Myers, an Honorary Visiting Fellow of Oxford
University, and a member of the U.S. National Academy of the Sciences,
looks at Lomborg on biodiversity and concludes that he lacks even "a
preliminary understanding of the science in question."

Full story:
--> http://www.gristmagazine.com/grist/books/lomborg121201.asp


Book Review:

http://www.gn.apc.org/resurgence/issues/simms210.htm

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GMO INFORMATION 'COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE'

The European Commission have published its latest Eurobarometer survey on
"Europeans, science and technology". The report is concerned about
attitudes towards genetically modified food:
* 94.6% want to have the right to choose
* 59.4% say «GMOs may have negative effects on the environment»
* Generally the more knowledge people have, the more favourable they are to
scientific and technological progress. But this not true with GMOs. "People
interviewed could have a high level of knowledge and still believe that
biotechnologies should be subject to more control and
demand more safety studies, etc."

The EU think this is most unfortunate, concluding that "In this case
information is not enough and could even be counter-productive."

Best keep us in ignorance then.

More: 
--> http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/press/2001/pr0612en.html

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JOBS

An international peace and human rights organisation requires
ADMINISTRATOR

Fluent English, strong administrative, communication and IT skills
essential. Working knowledge of Spanish desirable.
£18,235 (increase pending) pro-rata for 21 hrs p/w. London based.

Application packs available by post, email or from our website.  Please
contact:

Peace Brigades International, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX
Email: pbiio at gn.apc.org
Website: www.peacebrigades.org

Closing date: 30 January    Interviews: 7 February

Pesticide Action Network UK

Project Officer (£23,315)
To coordinate our project on urban and domestic pesticide waste management
and develop our work with local authorities and public institutions as part
of our UK programme to eliminate pesticide hazards and promote sustainable
alternatives. Applicants should be graduates with at least 2 yrs experience
in environmental or related fields.

Book Keeper part time (£14,699 pro rata)
To carry out all general bookkeeping duties including maintaining
computerised Sage accounts package, processing monthly payroll on Sage
payroll package and monthly bank reconciliations.

Closing date for applications is February 1st 2002. Job descriptions,
applications forms and background information can be found on our website:

www.pan-uk.org

Pesticide Action Network UK (formerly the Pesticides Trust)
Email: davidallen at pan-uk.org, or admin at pan-uk.org

INTERNSHIP
REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON REFUGEES & EXILES

The European Council on Refugees & Exiles (ECRE) is an organisation
established in 1974 for co-operation between 72 non-governmental
organisations in Europe concerned with refugees. ECRE's objective is to
promote through joint analysis, research and information exchange, a humane
and generous asylum policy in Europe.  ECRE is concerned with the needs of
individuals who seek asylum in Europe and the development of a
comprehensive response to the global refugee problem.

ECRE offers a legal internship position available at its Secretariat in
London. The internship runs for a period of 6 months preferably full-time

and is unpaid. Interns receive a small amount to cover daily travel
expenses within the London area and lunch. Interns are responsible for
their own accommodation and other living expenses.

The intern works closely with the Head of the Policy and Advocacy
Department and is an active member of the Secretariat attending team
meetings.  The Secretariat has 15 staff members (two of which are based in
Brussels), excluding interns, and consultants.  These are the General
Secretary, Head of Policy and Advocacy Department, two Policy Officers,
Researcher, Project Coordinator - reception and integration, Head of
Membership and Development Department, Project Officer - Eastern Europe,
Information Officer, Brussels Representative, Resource Manager, Finance
Officer and 3 administrative staff. 

The intern's work will include projects, research and day-to-day work.
Interns are expected to be able to work independently, using their
initiative and able to manage their own workload.  Interns also do their
own administrative work and assist the Head of Policy and Advocacy
Department with general office tasks if necessary.

A background in law is essential.  A knowledge of international human
rights law, or international/national refugee law, or international law is
preferable.

Fluent oral and written English is essential.  A working knowledge of
another European language, in particular, French and/or German is useful.
Typing ability and familiarity with word processors is essential.

Closing Date for Applications: Thursday 31 January 2002 for immediate start

Any persons interested should send a curriculum vitae and a sample of
original written work in English to Geri McKenna, Administrator:
gmckenna at ecre.org 

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"One regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have
When I am lying on my deathbed
Is that I did not kiss you enough."

Hafiz, 1319-1389
Persian Poet

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DIARY DATES

Walk in Peace for Peace.
Every first Sunday of the month. Meet at Speakers’ Corner (by Park Café),
Hyde Park 10.45am for 11am. The walk will take about an hour.
If you arrive a bit late don’t worry, you’ll see the Walk on ‘Broad Walk’
going south from Speakers’ Corner. Enquiries: Clare Brunt 020 8755 0353

The Campaign for Co-operative Socialism Campaign meet at The Global Cafe in
London's Golden Square every Wednesday from 11-1 pm:

http://www.cooperative-socialism.org/

JANUARY:

26 th:
Prison abolition or more prisons? 10.30am-5pm.
Conference at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1

Sun 27:
Holocaust Memorial Day. 

www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk

FIGHTING FOR PEACE - Weds 30 Jan, 5:30pm & 8pm
For centuries people have worked for radical social change with and without
violence. These provocative films show how Jewish anti-fascists in the
1940s; a Tyneside pacifist; and activists today have all struggled for
change, but with different means. Come along to be inspired from the past
and debate our future actions.
The Side Cinema, next to the Side Café at 9 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1

3JE.

FEBRUARY:

11th - 12th - 13th:
The BIG FASLANE Blockade 2002
Three days of protest & nonviolent direct action at Britain's nuclear
weapons base called by Trident Ploughshares, Scottish CND, British CND &
Faslane Peace Camp. www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/

16 th:
Anti-war petition 1pm at Monument. Silent vigil at St Thomas' at 3pm.

16 th:
Treaties Day School
Guest speaker: Merav Datan, of International Physicians for the Prevention
of Nuclear War, USA
Organised by Abolition 2000 UK, Christian CND and Medact
Admission fee £5. Places limited so early booking is essential.
 London School of Economics, London WC2. 9am - 6pm
Contact: Treaties Day School, c/o CCND, 162 Holloway Road, London N7 8DQ
ccnd at gn.apc.org

23/24 th:
"Plan Colombia - Clearing the Way For the Multinationals" Conference 
in London. Colombia Solidarity Campaign, colombia_sc at hotmail.com  07950 
923 448

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:


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

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---> 

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