[alternet-l] THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE #100

[Joanne Doyle]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE #100

This issue:

HOT SITES/
FEATURE - DATA RETENTION/
UK GM UPDATE/
HELLO, PEACE!/
RECYCLING WIN/
ACTION ALERTS/
JOBS/
AWARDS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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The AlterNet News is celebrating its 100th edition! You may notice that
this issue seems shorter on first glance - there are fewer stories, but AN
#100 includes a special message from Adrian Harris, Alternet editor from
issue 1 to 82, together with a special feature on data retention in the
UK, including my take on the issues, following a recent meeting discussing
the voluntary code of data retention proposed by the government and GreenNet's
stance - somewhat more lengthy contributions than usual.
Hope you enjoy the issue and continue to find the Alternet News a good read,
and now over to Adrian:

"Way back in the last century - 1998 to be precise - we launched the
Alternet News to "keep you informed about the news you need to know". The
idea emerged from a casual conversation with Satish Kumar, the editor of
Resurgence magazine, who was looking for a way to communicate with the
GreenNet community.

Thanks to the hard work of GreenNet staff and volunteers, AlterNet News has
become a key tool in our work and this issue marks our centenary.

Over the years we've fulfilled our aim of bringing you news from all over
the web, occasionally networking a 'scoop' story and regularly reporting
what the mainstream miss. We haven't just reported the bad news (GM 'COULD
END ALL LIFE' in AN #54); we've also aimed to  brighten your in-box with
good news, like our report that "laughing can make us healthier", in AN #74.

How well we continue our mission over the next 100 issues will ultimately
depend on you - the people who make the news that's worth reporting."

   - Adrian Harris

Back issues are on-line at:
--> www.gn.apc.org/news/alternet/index.html

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HOT SITES

EarthwireUK !
A NEW Free Environmental News Portal specialising in
issues surrounding environment and sustainable development news.

--> www.earthwire.org/uk

HOT SITE revisited

Resurgence was featured in the first edition of the Alternet News and we
would again like to draw your attention to a wonderful resource that brings
you cutting-edge articles on deep ecology, sustainability, low-impact
living, art and culture.

Read articles on-line, find out about Resurgence speakers available for
conferences, meetings and events, and details of the new Resurgence Art
Anthology, published this week!  Visit the Resurgence website:

--> http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/home.htm

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SPECIAL FEATURE - DATA RETENTION

A legal Opinion of Communications Data Retention in the UK was commissioned
by Privacy International (PI)
17th October 2003. It questions the legality of Home Office plans to snoop
on the phone and Internet activity of the UK population.

Privacy International reports:

"The Opinion, which relates to the EU framework directive on the retention
of communications data, has ramifications for ten EU states that have
implemented, or are planning to implement, measures to place communications
users under blanket surveillance. The UK is in the early stages of
implementing such measures."
The Opinion, provided by a prominent global law firm, has unequivocally
concluded that the government's plans would be unlawful.

The Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) maintains its
recommendation to ISPs that they do not subscribe to the voluntary code of
practice under the Home Office's data retention proposals.
Read ISPA's concerns:
--> www.ispa.org.uk/html/media/RIPA&ATCSA170903.html

I attended a meeting, organised by PI and FIPR (Foundation for Information
Policy Research): 'Scrambling for Safety 7', on October 22nd.
--> www.privacyinternational.org/conference/sfs7/

The meeting aimed to address a number of key issues:
- Has the Home Office addressed any of the concerns expressed by the public
last year?
- How much remains to be fixed? Are the Statutory Instruments a useful way
forward? What further legislation might be required?
- How will government agencies use their new powers?
- Is it appropriate to use emergency powers to impose surveillance
requirements on ISPs and phone companies?
- Are the government's proposals legal under the Human Rights Act?

Prior to the meeting, GreenNet had decided not to participate in the
voluntary retention as we remain deeply concerned that the voluntary code laid
before parliament is not compliant with data protection principles and Human
Rights standards. It was therefore interesting to note that other 
Communication
Service Providers (CSPs) had grave reservations about the voluntary code,
yet the government has not carried out any survey of the potential take-up of
the code amongst CSPs before proposing it.

Discussions highlighted the main concerns that CSPs have about a voluntary
code of conduct:
   - it doesn't give legal authority to retain the data. Although the
Secretary of State will write a letter giving his support to the voluntary
code, service providers (SPs) don't have legal protection.
   - it is not legislated for because it may be in breach of Human Rights
(as detailed above)
   - the cost of storage and retrieval systems. The voluntary code of data
retention is asking that CSPs retain data for up to one year. Currently
GreenNet stores the majority of user data for 7 days.

At the meeting, a representative from Intellect, the association for the UK
IT, telecommunications and electronics industries, stated that the code
puts businesses in an uncomfortable position whereby the liability and cost
are shifted to the industry and alongside this, they run they risk of
abusing customer trust at a time when the public at large are increasingly
concerned about what personal information is stored.
Read their latest press release on the issue here:
--> www.intellectuk.org/press/pr/press_release_22_09_03.asp

To date, it appears that a voluntary code would be implemented in breach of
Human Rights and in an effort to cut costs. The legality of the code will
be addressed at a further meeting as there was too much to go into detail
about at the meeting on Wednesday.

Visit the PI site for updates. Simon Davies of Privacy International can be
reached for comment on 07958 466 552.

In the meantime, GreenNet calls on other UK ISPs not to subscribe to the
voluntary code of practice under the Home Office's data retention
proposals. This is in line with with ISPA's (Internet Service Providers
Association) recommendations.

Read the GreenNet user and data retention policy:
--> www.gn.apc.org/userpolicy.html#Data

See what specific information GreenNet stores here:
   http://www.gn.apc.org/Communications%20Data.html

Read other responses and the public consultation document here:
--> www.fipr.org/retention.html

As the majority of Alternet readers are part of the GreenNet community,
please let us know what you think and whether or not you agree that
GreenNet should retain its current position, and thereby not participate
in the voluntary retention scheme.
Email: coord at gn.apc.org

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UK GM UPDATE

As Adrian mentioned in his editorial, an early edition of the Alternet
News featured a story on Monsanto - today, we highlight the developments in
the UK, following the government's nation-wide debate and the results of
field trials:

Monsanto, the huge American biotechnology company which has pioneered GM
crops, is pulling out of Europe saying "the growth in hybrid wheat had
"failed to materialise" "
--> www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1064024,00.html

In addition, Bayer, a key GM crop developer, has decided to halt its UK
trials.
-->
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/sciences/story/0,12243,1051895,00.html

However, The Guardian report goes on to say that Bayer
"hoped to start up again soon when conditions were 'more favourable'".

The Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Duncan McLaren,
calls for the prosecution of Bayer (formerly Aventis) for allowing
contamination of crops, following Government scientists findings of
unauthorised GM material in the UK's GM crop trials.

Read the press release here:
--> www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2003/10/SEEN654.aspx

Biotech Indymedia is a good source for background information and reports,
and announcements about actions against GMOs:
--> www.biotechimc.org

Read the results of the Government's farm scale evaluations of GM crops:
--> www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/fse/

However, the possibility remains that GM crops will be grown commercially
by spring 2004. FARM carried out a survey to find out what form of
protection from the financial risks associated with growing these crops
would be available to farmers.

"The results were staggering - not one of the UK's insurance firms was
willing to offer any form of cover relating to the growing of GM crops.
They even went as far as to compare the risks associated with GM with those
from thalidomide and asbestos!"

Visit their website for more information:
--> www.farm.org.uk/

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HELLO, PEACE!

An Israeli - Palestinian Hello Peace telephone system to U.S. residents has
recently been connected. The system will enable U.S. residents to converse
with Israelis and Palestinians and thus allow them to understand and
empathise with both sides of the conflict in the Middle East who suffer
from the ongoing cycle of violence.

Yitzhak Frankenthal, on the Politics and Spirit Network reports:

"The Hello Shalom telephone system, enables any Israeli or Palestinian
who call *6364 in Israel or in Palestine, to speak with one another in the
interest of enhancing empathy, reducing the level of hatred, and
contributing to the possibility that collectively, each side will take
risks for peace.

The telephone connection is made through an IVR system which has
enabled, since October 2002 to date,  230,000 Israelis and 230,000
Palestinians to converse with each other for over 700,000 minutes. We turn
to Israelis and Palestinians to use the system and dial *6364, through
publicity in the written press, radio and in billboards. In the current
reality, the system enables the only direct telephone contact between
Israelis and Palestinians interested in speaking with one another.

We thought it would be an extremely positive action to enable U.S.
residents who are concerned at the occurrences in the Middle East to
speak with English-speaking Israelis and Palestinians. Any U.S resident
interested in speaking with an Israeli or a Palestinian will be able to do
so by dialing 1-900-at peace. The system will connect the caller, to his
choice with an Israeli or a Palestinian."

More information about the Hello, Peace! here:
--> www.hellopeace.net/about.htm

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RECYCLING WIN

Friends of the Earth applaud a new law introduced to England that ensures
every house will be included in a doorstep recycling scheme.

"England's rubbish position near the bottom of the European recycling
league is set to change today (Tues 14 Oct 2003) after a new law requiring
councils to provide every home with a doorstep recycling collection passed
its final Parliamentary hurdle in the House of Lords. The Bill, which now
goes for Royal Assent, will help stave off the threat of dozens of new
rubbish incinerators across England.

The Household Waste Recycling Bill, originally drafted by Friends of the
Earth, was introduced to Parliament as a Private Members Bill by Joan
Ruddock MP (Labour, Lewisham Deptford). The new law will mean that every
home will have to be given a doorstep collection for at least two
recyclable materials by 2010.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Waste Campaigner Claire Wilton said:

"The public has been crying out for an easy way to recycle for many years.
Now every home in England will have its recycling collected - something
Friends of the Earth has campaigned about for over two years. We're
delighted about this powerful new law which should lead to a dramatic
increase in the UK's recycling rate, which is still one of the worst in
Europe." "

Full story at their website:

--> www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/new_law_to_boost_englands.html

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ACTION ALERTS

FAWN is currently looking for help in distributing three pre-printed
postcards. These are:

1)To CWS (the Co-op) to urge the company to stop selling battery eggs.
Battery hens inhabit a nightmare world of lifelong incarceration. The CWS
boasts ethical values; battery eggs represent gross cruelty, and are
unethical by any standards.

2)To the Chairman of the House of Commons' Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, regarding the so-called "enriched cage", a form of battery cage
which threatens to remain legal even after the "traditional" cage ban (due
to take place in 2012).

3)The Senior Producer of "The Archers", asking that the programme stops
presenting the role of a gamekeeper in a misleading light. (For some years
FAWN has researched the conditions under which pheasants reared for shoots
are kept. Please see our website for details of our findings.)

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED
The need to extend outlets for campaigning material is very urgent. Please
write to FAWN P.O. Box 40 Holmfirth HD9 3YY or fax us on (01484) 689408 if
you can help to distribute our material. We can send post cards etc free,
up to six of each type. If you require more, please contact them for prices
(to cover postage).
--> fawn at gn.apc.org

Visit their site for further information:
--> www.fawn.me.uk/

Haiti Support group are calling for protest against the physical abuse of
Haitian workers in Port-au-Prince sweatshops!

The Haiti Support Group joins the Batay Ouvriye workers' organisation in
condemning recent acts of aggression against workers in Port-au-Prince garment
assembly factories operated by the South Korean Willbes Company.

Write letters of protest  - demanding an end to violent and abusive treatment
of workers at the four Willbes garment assembly factories in Port-au-Prince,
and calling for the full respect of workers' rights under Haitian and
international law.

Further details:
--> www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org/fea_campaign_index.html

Greenpeace calls for action to ensure a toxin-free future:
"The EU chemical legislation is at another crucial stage and so we need
your help again. On the 29th October all 20 European Commissioners will
adopt a draft if they can agree on the text. Then it will go to the
Parliament and Council of Ministers. Industry is lobbying hard to weaken
the text and we urgently need to generate public pressure for strong
legislation! Your action can make a difference."

Join the campaign here:
--> www.chemicalreaction.org/

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JOBS

Peaceworkers UK is looking for a part-time Finance Officer -
Peaceworkers UK is a small charitable company running projects for the EU
and the British government which require complex accounting in two
currencies and auditing of accounts. Other income is from charitable trusts
which also require separate accounting of restricted funds.

The Finance Officer is the sole member of staff working on day-to-day
finances in the office, but works closely with the Director to produce and
monitor budgets and cash-flow forecasts. Shortlisting for this post will
take place on 30 October 2003 and interviews will take place during the
week of 3 November.

Further information:
--> www.peaceworkers.org.uk

The Fairtrade Foundation are seeking a commercial assistant to help them
promote FAIRTRADE to potential licensees and support existing ones.
Closing date for applications: 29th October.

Further information:
--> http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/jobs

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Temporary Research Assistant (28 hrs pw)
£16,897- £21,392 pro rata   Highbury, London N5

CDF, a national community development agency, is seeking a Temporary
Research Assistant who will work primarily on an initiative to test
indicators on community involvement. You will have sound theoretical and
practical knowledge of research methods and have experience of: Access
and Word.  This post is funded to 31 March 2004. Closing date for
applications: 10 November (no CVs please). Interview date: 18 November

Further details via email --> Valerie at cdf.org.uk
or --> www.cdf.org.uk

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AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ON THE GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Research scholars and professionals in the social sciences and
humanities are invited to apply for the Fulbright New Century Scholars
(NCS) Program.
Chosen fellows will be working on a multidisciplinary collaboration the
theme "Towards Equality: The Global Empowerment of Women."

Applicants to the program must be leading scholars and professionals in any
area of the social sciences or humanities concerned with the study of women
or gender.

Full details:
--> www.cies.org/NCS/NCS_2003.htm

The NextGENDERation network, a transnational (European) network by and for
students, researchers and activists with an interest in women's & gender
studies and feminist theory and politics, is preparing a number of feminist
interventions at the European Social Forum (12-16 November 2003, in Paris),
in collaboration with other feminist groups. Travel grants are available
for women that want to participate in these feminist interventions.

For more information, see:
--> http://nextgenderation.let.uu.nl/esf2003/index.html)

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"And if you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right and three quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind."

- Dr Seuss

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DIARY DATES

OCTOBER

Saturday, 25th
National Demonstration.  "United for Justice No more deaths in custody"
Assemble wearing black in Trafalgar Square 1.00pm.
Organised by  United Families and Friends.
--> www.uffc.org
--> email Chris Gwyntopher: housepeace at gn.apc.org

Friday, 31st
"The Nonviolent Peaceforce and support for nonviolent struggles around the
world"
7pm @ Kingsley Hall Community Centre, Powis Road, East London E3 3HJ.
For further information, email: info at peaceworkers.org.uk, or visit the
website:
--> www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org

Friday, 31st
OPERACIÓN DIGNA will launch a virtual sit-in against the Mexican Government

OPERACIÓN DIGNA will net.cast the UCLA conference on the Maquiladora Murders
featuring presentations by Marisela Ortiz of Bring Our Daughters Home,
  mothers of the disappeared, human rights activists, filmmaker Lourdes
  Portillo and playwright Eve Ensler LIVE from 10/31-11/2.

For more information contact OPERACIÓN DIGNA
--> OPERACIONDIGNA at yahoo.com

NOVEMBER

Saturday 1st
The Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the LSE, in association with
the Guardian, is holding a conference on Humans Without Rights: asylum
seekers in the 21st century:
from 9.30 am - 4.30 pm at the Old Theatre, London School of Economics,
Houghton Street, WC2A.
Price: £10/£5 unwaged/free to asylum seekers.
Details from: --> www.lse.ac.uk/humanrights

Saturday 1st
"Don't worry, it is safe to eat" with Andrew Rowell - a talk about GM
French Institute cafe, 17 Queensberry Place, South Ken Tube, 11am
Contact: Elisabeth Jeffries, Tel: 020 8767 7455.

Thursday, 6th
A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY: IS IT ACHIEVABLE, OR EVEN NECESSARY?
7pm - 9pm @ Hill & Knowlton, 35 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4SG
More information:  --> www.spiked-online.com/event/index.htm

Friday, 7th
Images of Earth and Spirit - Resurgence in Association with the Temenos Academy
To launch the Resurgence Art Anthology, authors, speakers and poets will
gather to celebrate.
Venue: The Princes Foundation, 19-22 Charlotte Street, Old Street, London
EC2A 3SG.
6.15pm for 6.45pm
Cost: £5.00 with wine.
For more details and bookings visit:
--> http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/home.htm

Sunday, 9th
Global day of demonstrations against the Apartheid wall in Palestine
Further details: www.stopthewall.org

Tuesday, 11th
Learning for Peace - NIACE Conference
Britannia Street Conference Centre, near Kings Cross/St Pancras, London
For more information, contact Katharine Friedmann at NIACE on Tel: 0116 204
4291, Email: katharine.friedmann at niace.org.uk

Tuesday, 11th
Responsible Products and Services: Myth or Reality?
Making Sense of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Supply
Chains
The Bush Hotel Conference Centre, Farnham, Surrey, UK
Please see: --> www.cfsd.org.uk/events/csr

Thursday, 13th
Big Noise Demo:
There will be a big noise demo outside Bayer's Head office in Newbury all
day starting at 10am. Bayer's HQ is at:
Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1JA
More information: --> www.stopbayergm.org/upcoming/index.php

Saturday, 15th - Monday, 24th
Arab-American activist and Voices delegate Ramzi Kysia - who spent nearly
two years in Iraq before, during and after the war and has only recently
returned to the US - will be in the UK between 15th and the 24th November
and is eager to speak to groups across the country provided they can cover
his train fare. This is a rare opportunity for your local anti-war group /
church / mosque / union etc... to hear recent eyewitness testimony from Iraq.
Full details: --> www.voicesuk.org

Thursday, 27th
"Local Food Links: Ideas into Action", Food Links UK Conference, organised
by Food Links UK, f3 - the local food consultants (a trading name of
the Foundation for Local Food Initiatives), Sustain and the Soil Association.
Further information from the bookings coordinator, Sarah Bastable:
--> conference at localfood.org.uk

*

OTHER

Zero Waste Conferences in UK and Ireland. Book via numbers listed.
WALES --Cardiff, VILLAGE HOTEL - 28th -29th October - contact 029 20 647016
IRELAND --Cork, SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL - 30-31st October - contact (00353)025
334411
ENGLAND -- Doncaster - EARTH CENTRE - 3rd-4th NOVEMBER- contact 01803 732941
SCOTLAND -- Edinburgh, DYNAMIC EARTH CENTRE, - 5-6th NOVEMBER- 0131 226 6666

*
second Tuesday of every month -
Green Drinks
@ Princess Louise Pub (upstairs), 208 High Holborn, London WC1

*

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:
--> www.gn.apc.org/calendar/calindex.shtml

Please add your events to the calendar here:
--> www.gn.apc.org/calendar/add.shtml

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The AlterNet News is edited by Joanne Doyle for GreenNet:
---> www.gn.apc.org

The AlterNet News is the GreenNet e-newsletter that carries brief news
items, campaign updates, a diary of key forthcoming events and
announcements. News comes from our contacts all over the web, but most of
the AlterNet News will come from the GreenNet community. Please don't send
news to the AlterNet address. 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.

Please note that opinions expressed in AlterNet are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the GreenNet
Collective.
To subscribe or unsubscribe see:

http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/alternet-l
For more information on this service and how to use it, contact
joanne at gn.apc.org

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