This was Earth as seen from the Pacific Global Satellite. It wasn't as bad as it is today, but it was getting there.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
The Unexpected at Michael Moore Dot Calm
MICHAEL, I'll be completely up front with you. When I noticed the vortexes on October 4, 2002 I did some 'quick and dirty' calculations as to what the vortexes would do in accelerating the destruction of Earth's Ice Fields and Ice Caps. I never admitted it to myself that I might be right until the other day when I saw the drastic acceleration in the Northern Hemisphere.
I thought my equation had to be the most hideous thing one could ever talk about over two years ago and I would just be yelling 'wolf' and all the sheep would never pay attention to my message.
When I did my math, Michael I gave civilization two years to begin to realize I was grossly correct at the time NASA/NOAA were hiding the facts that this was Global Warming and impending Climate Change and not an El Nino.
After that two years my calculations gave civilization another year to realize their foolishness.
My first calculation was off by four months.
I doubt if my second one is much further wrong.
Bush can lie and deceive and calculate all he wants with his cronies to 'pull the wool' over American Eyes, but, there is one thing he cannot 'pay off' or 'bargain with' or 'barter away' and that is Earth and it's physics. We are in dire trouble Micheal. I just can't tell you enough.
"Thank you for this Michael. My hero."
Apocalypse now: how mankind is sleepwalking to the end of the Earth. Floods, storms and droughts. Melting Arctic ice, shrinking glaciers, oceans turning to acid. The world's top scientists warned last week that dangerous climate change is taking place today, not the day after tomorrow. You don't believe it? Then, says Geoffrey Lean, read this...
The Independent
Future historians, looking back from a much hotter and less hospitable world, are likely to play special attention to the first few weeks of 2005. As they puzzle over how a whole generation could have sleepwalked into disaster - destroying the climate that has allowed human civilisation to flourish over the past 11,000 years - they may well identify the past weeks as the time when the last alarms sounded.
Last week, 200 of the world's leading climate scientists - meeting at Tony Blair's request at the Met Office's new headquarters at Exeter - issued the most urgent warning to date that dangerous climate change is taking place, and that time is running out.
Next week the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty that tries to control global warming, comes into force after a seven-year delay. But it is clear that the protocol does not go nearly far enough.
The alarms have been going off since the beginning of one of the warmest Januaries on record. First, Dr Rajendra Pachauri - chairman of the official Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - told a UN conference in Mauritius that the pollution which causes global warming has reached "dangerous" levels.
Then the biggest-ever study of climate change, based at Oxford University, reported that it could prove to be twice as catastrophic as the IPCC's worst predictions. And an international task force - also reporting to Tony Blair, and co-chaired by his close ally, Stephen Byers - concluded that we could reach "the point of no return" in a decade.
Finally, the UK head of Shell, Lord Oxburgh, took time out - just before his company reported record profits mainly achieved by selling oil, one of the main causes of the problem - to warn that unless governments take urgent action there "will be a disaster".
But it was last week at the Met Office's futuristic glass headquarters, incongruously set in a dreary industrial estate on the outskirts of Exeter, that it all came together. The conference had been called by the Prime Minister to advise him on how to "avoid dangerous climate change". He needed help in persuading the world to prioritise the issue this year during Britain's presidencies of the EU and the G8 group of economic powers.
The conference opened with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Margaret Beckett, warning that "a significant impact" from global warming "is already inevitable". It continued with presentations from top scientists and economists from every continent. These showed that some dangerous climate change was already taking place and that catastrophic events once thought highly improbable were now seen as likely (see panel). Avoiding the worst was technically simple and economically cheap, they said, provided that governments could be persuaded to take immediate action.
About halfway through I realised that I had been here before. In the summer of 1986 the world's leading nuclear experts gathered in Vienna for an inquest into the accident at Chernobyl. The head of the Russian delegation showed a film shot from a helicopter, and we suddenly found ourselves gazing down on the red-hot exposed reactor core.
It was all, of course, much less dramatic at Exeter. But as paper followed learned paper, once again a group of world authorities were staring at a crisis they had devoted their lives to trying to avoid.
I am willing to bet there were few in the room who did not sense their children or grandchildren standing invisibly at their shoulders. The conference formally concluded that climate change was "already occurring" and that "in many cases the risks are more serious than previously thought". But the cautious scientific language scarcely does justice to the sense of the meeting.
We learned that glaciers are shrinking around the world. Arctic sea ice has lost almost half its thickness in recent decades. Natural disasters are increasing rapidly around the world. Those caused by the weather - such as droughts, storms, and floods - are rising three times faster than those - such as earthquakes - that are not.
We learned that bird populations in the North Sea collapsed last year, after the sand eels on which they feed left its warmer waters - and how the number of scientific papers recording changes in ecosystems due to global warming has escalated from 14 to more than a thousand in five years.
Worse, leading scientists warned of catastrophic changes that once they had dismissed as "improbable". The meeting was particularly alarmed by powerful evidence, first reported in The Independent on Sunday last July, that the oceans are slowly turning acid, threatening all marine life (see panel).
Professor Chris Rapley, director of the British Antarctic Survey, presented new evidence that the West Antarctic ice sheet is beginning to melt, threatening eventually to raise sea levels by 15ft: 90 per cent of the world's people live near current sea levels. Recalling that the IPCC's last report had called Antarctica "a slumbering giant", he said: "I would say that this is now an awakened giant."
Professor Mike Schlesinger, of the University of Illinois, reported that the shutdown of the Gulf Stream, once seen as a "low probability event", was now 45 per cent likely this century, and 70 per cent probable by 2200. If it comes sooner rather than later it will be catastrophic for Britain and northern Europe, giving us a climate like Labrador (which shares our latitude) even as the rest of the world heats up: if it comes later it could be beneficial, moderating the worst of the warming.
The experts at Exeter were virtually unanimous about the danger, mirroring the attitude of the climate science community as a whole: humanity is to blame. There were a few sceptics at Exeter, including Andrei Illarionov, an adviser to Russia's President Putin, who last year called the Kyoto Protocol "an interstate Auschwitz". But in truth it is much easier to find sceptics among media pundits in London or neo-cons in Washington than among climate scientists. Even the few contrarian climatalogists publish little research to support their views, concentrating on questioning the work of others.
Now a new scientific consensus is emerging - that the warming must be kept below an average increase of two degrees centigrade if catastrophe is to be avoided. This almost certainly involves keeping concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main cause of climate change, below 400 parts per million.
Unfortunately we are almost there, with concentrations exceeding 370ppm and rising, but experts at the conference concluded that we could go briefly above the danger level so long as we brought it down rapidly afterwards. They added that this would involve the world reducing emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 - and rich countries cutting theirs by 30 per cent by 2020.
Economists stressed there is little time for delay. If action is put off for a decade, it will need to be twice as radical; if it has to wait 20 years, it will cost between three and seven times as much.
The good news is that it can be done with existing technology, by cutting energy waste, expanding the use of renewable sources, growing trees and crops (which remove carbon dioxide from the air) to turn into fuel, capturing the gas before it is released from power stations, and - maybe - using more nuclear energy.
The better news is that it would not cost much: one estimate suggested the cost would be about 1 per cent of Europe's GNP spread over 20 years; another suggested it meant postponing an expected fivefold increase in world wealth by just two years. Many experts believe combatting global warming would increase prosperity, by bringing in new technologies.
The big question is whether governments will act. President Bush's opposition to international action remains the greatest obstacle. Tony Blair, by almost universal agreement, remains the leader with the best chance of persuading him to change his mind.
But so far the Prime Minister has been more influenced by the President than the other way round. He appears to be moving away from fighting for the pollution reductions needed in favour of agreeing on a vague pledge to bring in new technologies sometime in the future.
By then it will be too late. And our children and grandchildren will wonder - as we do in surveying, for example, the drift into the First World War - "how on earth could they be so blind?"
WATER WARS
What could happen? Wars break out over diminishing water resources as populations grow and rains fail.
How would this come about? Over 25 per cent more people than at present are expected to live in countries where water is scarce in the future, and global warming will make it worse.
How likely is it? Former UN chief Boutros Boutros-Ghali has long said that the next Middle East war will be fought for water, not oil.
DISAPPEARING NATIONS
What could happen? Low-lying island such as the Maldives and Tuvalu - with highest points only a few feet above sea-level - will disappear off the face of the Earth.
How would this come about? As the world heats up, sea levels are rising, partly because glaciers are melting, and partly because the water in the oceans expands as it gets warmer.
How likely is it? Inevitable. Even if global warming stopped today, the seas would continue to rise for centuries. Some small islands have already sunk for ever. A year ago, Tuvalu was briefly submerged.
FLOODING
What could happen? London, New York, Tokyo, Bombay, many other cities and vast areas of countries from Britain to Bangladesh disappear under tens of feet of water, as the seas rise dramatically.
How would this come about? Ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica melt. The Greenland ice sheet would raise sea levels by more than 20ft, the West Antarctic ice sheet by another 15ft.
How likely is it? Scientists used to think it unlikely, but this year reported that the melting of both ice caps had begun. It will take hundreds of years, however, for the seas to rise that much.
UNINHABITABLE EARTH
What could happen? Global warming escalates to the point where the world's whole climate abruptly switches, turning it permanently into a much hotter and less hospitable planet.
How would this come about? A process involving "positive feedback" causes the warming to fuel itself, until it reaches a point that finally tips the climate pattern over.
How likely is it? Abrupt flips have happened in the prehistoric past. Scientists believe this is unlikely, at least in the foreseeable future, but increasingly they are refusing to rule it out.
RAINFOREST FIRES
What could happen? Famously wet tropical forests, such as those in the Amazon, go up in flames, destroying the world's richest wildlife habitats and releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide to speed global warming.
How would this come about? Britain's Met Office predicted in 1999 that much of the Amazon will dry out and die within 50 years, making it ready for sparks - from humans or lightning - to set it ablaze.
How likely is it? Very, if the predictions turn out to be right. Already there have been massive forest fires in Borneo and Amazonia, casting palls of highly polluting smoke over vast areas.
THE BIG FREEZE
What could happen? Britain and northern Europe get much colder because the Gulf Stream, which provides as much heat as the sun in winter, fails.
How would this come about? Melting polar ice sends fresh water into the North Atlantic. The less salty water fails to generate the underwater current which the Gulf Stream needs.
How likely is it? About evens for a Gulf Steam failure this century, said scientists last week.
STARVATION
What could happen? Food production collapses in Africa, for example, as rainfall dries up and droughts increase. As farmland turns to desert, people flee in their millions in search of food.
How would this come about? Rainfall is expected to decrease by up to 60 per cent in winter and 30 per cent in summer in southern Africa this century. By some estimates, Zambia could lose almost all its farms.
How likely is it? Pretty likely unless the world tackles both global warming and Africa's decline. Scientists agree that droughts will increase in a warmer world.
ACID OCEANS
What could happen? The seas will gradually turn more and more acid. Coral reefs, shellfish and plankton, on which all life depends, will die off. Much of the life of the oceans will become extinct.
How would this come about? The oceans have absorbed half the carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, so far emitted by humanity. This forms dilute carbonic acid, which attacks corals and shells.
How likely is it? It is already starting. Scientists warn that the chemistry of the oceans is changing in ways unprecedented for 20 million years. Some predict that the world's coral reefs will die within 35 years.
DISEASE
What could happen? Malaria - which kills two million people worldwide every year - reaches Britain with foreign travellers, gets picked up by British mosquitos and becomes endemic in the warmer climate.
How would this come about? Four of our 40 mosquito species can carry the disease, and hundreds of travellers return with it annually. The insects breed faster, and feed more, in warmer temperatures.
How likely is it? A Department of Health study has suggested it may happen by 2050: the Environment Agency has mentioned 2020. Some experts say it is miraculous that it has not happened already.
HURRICANES
What could happen? Hurricanes, typhoons and violent storms proliferate, grow even fiercer, and hit new areas. Last September's repeated battering of Florida and the Caribbean may be just a foretaste of what is to come, say scientists.
How would this come about? The storms gather their energy from warm seas, and so, as oceans heat up, fiercer ones occur and threaten areas where at present the seas are too cool for such weather.
How likely is it? Scientists are divided over whether storms will get more frequent and whether the process has already begun.
I thought my equation had to be the most hideous thing one could ever talk about over two years ago and I would just be yelling 'wolf' and all the sheep would never pay attention to my message.
When I did my math, Michael I gave civilization two years to begin to realize I was grossly correct at the time NASA/NOAA were hiding the facts that this was Global Warming and impending Climate Change and not an El Nino.
After that two years my calculations gave civilization another year to realize their foolishness.
My first calculation was off by four months.
I doubt if my second one is much further wrong.
Bush can lie and deceive and calculate all he wants with his cronies to 'pull the wool' over American Eyes, but, there is one thing he cannot 'pay off' or 'bargain with' or 'barter away' and that is Earth and it's physics. We are in dire trouble Micheal. I just can't tell you enough.
"Thank you for this Michael. My hero."
Apocalypse now: how mankind is sleepwalking to the end of the Earth. Floods, storms and droughts. Melting Arctic ice, shrinking glaciers, oceans turning to acid. The world's top scientists warned last week that dangerous climate change is taking place today, not the day after tomorrow. You don't believe it? Then, says Geoffrey Lean, read this...
The Independent
Future historians, looking back from a much hotter and less hospitable world, are likely to play special attention to the first few weeks of 2005. As they puzzle over how a whole generation could have sleepwalked into disaster - destroying the climate that has allowed human civilisation to flourish over the past 11,000 years - they may well identify the past weeks as the time when the last alarms sounded.
Last week, 200 of the world's leading climate scientists - meeting at Tony Blair's request at the Met Office's new headquarters at Exeter - issued the most urgent warning to date that dangerous climate change is taking place, and that time is running out.
Next week the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty that tries to control global warming, comes into force after a seven-year delay. But it is clear that the protocol does not go nearly far enough.
The alarms have been going off since the beginning of one of the warmest Januaries on record. First, Dr Rajendra Pachauri - chairman of the official Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - told a UN conference in Mauritius that the pollution which causes global warming has reached "dangerous" levels.
Then the biggest-ever study of climate change, based at Oxford University, reported that it could prove to be twice as catastrophic as the IPCC's worst predictions. And an international task force - also reporting to Tony Blair, and co-chaired by his close ally, Stephen Byers - concluded that we could reach "the point of no return" in a decade.
Finally, the UK head of Shell, Lord Oxburgh, took time out - just before his company reported record profits mainly achieved by selling oil, one of the main causes of the problem - to warn that unless governments take urgent action there "will be a disaster".
But it was last week at the Met Office's futuristic glass headquarters, incongruously set in a dreary industrial estate on the outskirts of Exeter, that it all came together. The conference had been called by the Prime Minister to advise him on how to "avoid dangerous climate change". He needed help in persuading the world to prioritise the issue this year during Britain's presidencies of the EU and the G8 group of economic powers.
The conference opened with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Margaret Beckett, warning that "a significant impact" from global warming "is already inevitable". It continued with presentations from top scientists and economists from every continent. These showed that some dangerous climate change was already taking place and that catastrophic events once thought highly improbable were now seen as likely (see panel). Avoiding the worst was technically simple and economically cheap, they said, provided that governments could be persuaded to take immediate action.
About halfway through I realised that I had been here before. In the summer of 1986 the world's leading nuclear experts gathered in Vienna for an inquest into the accident at Chernobyl. The head of the Russian delegation showed a film shot from a helicopter, and we suddenly found ourselves gazing down on the red-hot exposed reactor core.
It was all, of course, much less dramatic at Exeter. But as paper followed learned paper, once again a group of world authorities were staring at a crisis they had devoted their lives to trying to avoid.
I am willing to bet there were few in the room who did not sense their children or grandchildren standing invisibly at their shoulders. The conference formally concluded that climate change was "already occurring" and that "in many cases the risks are more serious than previously thought". But the cautious scientific language scarcely does justice to the sense of the meeting.
We learned that glaciers are shrinking around the world. Arctic sea ice has lost almost half its thickness in recent decades. Natural disasters are increasing rapidly around the world. Those caused by the weather - such as droughts, storms, and floods - are rising three times faster than those - such as earthquakes - that are not.
We learned that bird populations in the North Sea collapsed last year, after the sand eels on which they feed left its warmer waters - and how the number of scientific papers recording changes in ecosystems due to global warming has escalated from 14 to more than a thousand in five years.
Worse, leading scientists warned of catastrophic changes that once they had dismissed as "improbable". The meeting was particularly alarmed by powerful evidence, first reported in The Independent on Sunday last July, that the oceans are slowly turning acid, threatening all marine life (see panel).
Professor Chris Rapley, director of the British Antarctic Survey, presented new evidence that the West Antarctic ice sheet is beginning to melt, threatening eventually to raise sea levels by 15ft: 90 per cent of the world's people live near current sea levels. Recalling that the IPCC's last report had called Antarctica "a slumbering giant", he said: "I would say that this is now an awakened giant."
Professor Mike Schlesinger, of the University of Illinois, reported that the shutdown of the Gulf Stream, once seen as a "low probability event", was now 45 per cent likely this century, and 70 per cent probable by 2200. If it comes sooner rather than later it will be catastrophic for Britain and northern Europe, giving us a climate like Labrador (which shares our latitude) even as the rest of the world heats up: if it comes later it could be beneficial, moderating the worst of the warming.
The experts at Exeter were virtually unanimous about the danger, mirroring the attitude of the climate science community as a whole: humanity is to blame. There were a few sceptics at Exeter, including Andrei Illarionov, an adviser to Russia's President Putin, who last year called the Kyoto Protocol "an interstate Auschwitz". But in truth it is much easier to find sceptics among media pundits in London or neo-cons in Washington than among climate scientists. Even the few contrarian climatalogists publish little research to support their views, concentrating on questioning the work of others.
Now a new scientific consensus is emerging - that the warming must be kept below an average increase of two degrees centigrade if catastrophe is to be avoided. This almost certainly involves keeping concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main cause of climate change, below 400 parts per million.
Unfortunately we are almost there, with concentrations exceeding 370ppm and rising, but experts at the conference concluded that we could go briefly above the danger level so long as we brought it down rapidly afterwards. They added that this would involve the world reducing emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 - and rich countries cutting theirs by 30 per cent by 2020.
Economists stressed there is little time for delay. If action is put off for a decade, it will need to be twice as radical; if it has to wait 20 years, it will cost between three and seven times as much.
The good news is that it can be done with existing technology, by cutting energy waste, expanding the use of renewable sources, growing trees and crops (which remove carbon dioxide from the air) to turn into fuel, capturing the gas before it is released from power stations, and - maybe - using more nuclear energy.
The better news is that it would not cost much: one estimate suggested the cost would be about 1 per cent of Europe's GNP spread over 20 years; another suggested it meant postponing an expected fivefold increase in world wealth by just two years. Many experts believe combatting global warming would increase prosperity, by bringing in new technologies.
The big question is whether governments will act. President Bush's opposition to international action remains the greatest obstacle. Tony Blair, by almost universal agreement, remains the leader with the best chance of persuading him to change his mind.
But so far the Prime Minister has been more influenced by the President than the other way round. He appears to be moving away from fighting for the pollution reductions needed in favour of agreeing on a vague pledge to bring in new technologies sometime in the future.
By then it will be too late. And our children and grandchildren will wonder - as we do in surveying, for example, the drift into the First World War - "how on earth could they be so blind?"
WATER WARS
What could happen? Wars break out over diminishing water resources as populations grow and rains fail.
How would this come about? Over 25 per cent more people than at present are expected to live in countries where water is scarce in the future, and global warming will make it worse.
How likely is it? Former UN chief Boutros Boutros-Ghali has long said that the next Middle East war will be fought for water, not oil.
DISAPPEARING NATIONS
What could happen? Low-lying island such as the Maldives and Tuvalu - with highest points only a few feet above sea-level - will disappear off the face of the Earth.
How would this come about? As the world heats up, sea levels are rising, partly because glaciers are melting, and partly because the water in the oceans expands as it gets warmer.
How likely is it? Inevitable. Even if global warming stopped today, the seas would continue to rise for centuries. Some small islands have already sunk for ever. A year ago, Tuvalu was briefly submerged.
FLOODING
What could happen? London, New York, Tokyo, Bombay, many other cities and vast areas of countries from Britain to Bangladesh disappear under tens of feet of water, as the seas rise dramatically.
How would this come about? Ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica melt. The Greenland ice sheet would raise sea levels by more than 20ft, the West Antarctic ice sheet by another 15ft.
How likely is it? Scientists used to think it unlikely, but this year reported that the melting of both ice caps had begun. It will take hundreds of years, however, for the seas to rise that much.
UNINHABITABLE EARTH
What could happen? Global warming escalates to the point where the world's whole climate abruptly switches, turning it permanently into a much hotter and less hospitable planet.
How would this come about? A process involving "positive feedback" causes the warming to fuel itself, until it reaches a point that finally tips the climate pattern over.
How likely is it? Abrupt flips have happened in the prehistoric past. Scientists believe this is unlikely, at least in the foreseeable future, but increasingly they are refusing to rule it out.
RAINFOREST FIRES
What could happen? Famously wet tropical forests, such as those in the Amazon, go up in flames, destroying the world's richest wildlife habitats and releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide to speed global warming.
How would this come about? Britain's Met Office predicted in 1999 that much of the Amazon will dry out and die within 50 years, making it ready for sparks - from humans or lightning - to set it ablaze.
How likely is it? Very, if the predictions turn out to be right. Already there have been massive forest fires in Borneo and Amazonia, casting palls of highly polluting smoke over vast areas.
THE BIG FREEZE
What could happen? Britain and northern Europe get much colder because the Gulf Stream, which provides as much heat as the sun in winter, fails.
How would this come about? Melting polar ice sends fresh water into the North Atlantic. The less salty water fails to generate the underwater current which the Gulf Stream needs.
How likely is it? About evens for a Gulf Steam failure this century, said scientists last week.
STARVATION
What could happen? Food production collapses in Africa, for example, as rainfall dries up and droughts increase. As farmland turns to desert, people flee in their millions in search of food.
How would this come about? Rainfall is expected to decrease by up to 60 per cent in winter and 30 per cent in summer in southern Africa this century. By some estimates, Zambia could lose almost all its farms.
How likely is it? Pretty likely unless the world tackles both global warming and Africa's decline. Scientists agree that droughts will increase in a warmer world.
ACID OCEANS
What could happen? The seas will gradually turn more and more acid. Coral reefs, shellfish and plankton, on which all life depends, will die off. Much of the life of the oceans will become extinct.
How would this come about? The oceans have absorbed half the carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, so far emitted by humanity. This forms dilute carbonic acid, which attacks corals and shells.
How likely is it? It is already starting. Scientists warn that the chemistry of the oceans is changing in ways unprecedented for 20 million years. Some predict that the world's coral reefs will die within 35 years.
DISEASE
What could happen? Malaria - which kills two million people worldwide every year - reaches Britain with foreign travellers, gets picked up by British mosquitos and becomes endemic in the warmer climate.
How would this come about? Four of our 40 mosquito species can carry the disease, and hundreds of travellers return with it annually. The insects breed faster, and feed more, in warmer temperatures.
How likely is it? A Department of Health study has suggested it may happen by 2050: the Environment Agency has mentioned 2020. Some experts say it is miraculous that it has not happened already.
HURRICANES
What could happen? Hurricanes, typhoons and violent storms proliferate, grow even fiercer, and hit new areas. Last September's repeated battering of Florida and the Caribbean may be just a foretaste of what is to come, say scientists.
How would this come about? The storms gather their energy from warm seas, and so, as oceans heat up, fiercer ones occur and threaten areas where at present the seas are too cool for such weather.
How likely is it? Scientists are divided over whether storms will get more frequent and whether the process has already begun.
Stuff
Will President Bush achieve his second-term goals?
Yes - 23% - 12726 votes
No - 77% - 42300 votes
Total votes: 55026 votes
Women's Right to Birth Control/Abortion
THERE IS NO BASIS for the delay. None. This is all Bush moralizing.
Morning-After Pill? Not This Morning Says FDA
January 22, 2005
The Food and Drug Administration has delayed a decision on allowing Over-The-Counter access to an emergency contraceptive called Plan B, widely known as the morning-after pill.
The manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, said the FDA " is committed to completing its review of the application in the near future".
http://www.healthtalk.ca/morning_after_pill_012205_37829.php
The Boston Globe
New England braces for fierce winter storm
By Theo Emery, Associated Press, 1/22/2005 19:09
ADVERTISEMENT
BOSTON (AP) With two feet or more of snow expected in some parts of the state, along with coastal flooding and near hurricane-strength winds bringing subzero wind chills, Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts.
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/022/region/New_England_braces_for_fierce_:.shtml
U.S. soldier sentenced in Iraqi's killing
January 22, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A U.S. military court found a 1st Cavalry Division soldier guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Saturday in the fatal shooting of an Iraqi translator and sentenced him to three years in prison, reduction in rank and a bad conduct discharge.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/22/us_soldier_sentenced_in_iraqis_killing/
Yes - 23% - 12726 votes
No - 77% - 42300 votes
Total votes: 55026 votes
Women's Right to Birth Control/Abortion
THERE IS NO BASIS for the delay. None. This is all Bush moralizing.
Morning-After Pill? Not This Morning Says FDA
January 22, 2005
The Food and Drug Administration has delayed a decision on allowing Over-The-Counter access to an emergency contraceptive called Plan B, widely known as the morning-after pill.
The manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, said the FDA " is committed to completing its review of the application in the near future".
http://www.healthtalk.ca/morning_after_pill_012205_37829.php
The Boston Globe
New England braces for fierce winter storm
By Theo Emery, Associated Press, 1/22/2005 19:09
ADVERTISEMENT
BOSTON (AP) With two feet or more of snow expected in some parts of the state, along with coastal flooding and near hurricane-strength winds bringing subzero wind chills, Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts.
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/022/region/New_England_braces_for_fierce_:.shtml
U.S. soldier sentenced in Iraqi's killing
January 22, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A U.S. military court found a 1st Cavalry Division soldier guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Saturday in the fatal shooting of an Iraqi translator and sentenced him to three years in prison, reduction in rank and a bad conduct discharge.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/22/us_soldier_sentenced_in_iraqis_killing/
Odds and Ends
Heaviest snowfall in 50 years hits Algeria
Reuters
Algiers: The heaviest snow in more than 50 years fell on the Algerian capital yesterday, paralys-ing traffic, killing 13 people and isolating nearly a third of the North African country's provinces, authorities said.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149662
US says more violence likely in Kuwait
By Nirmala Janssen, Correspondent
Kuwait City: The US Embassy has issued a warning to its citizens of possible violent clashes in the wake of two gunbattles between security forces and militants earlier this month.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149578
Location of polling booths is best-kept secret in Samarra
Reuters
Samarra: Three days before Iraq's first multi-party election in decades, the best-kept secret in the restive city of Samarra is where the polling stations are.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149661
Nobel Winner Tells Iran to Ban Solitary Confinement
Jan 17, 2005 — By Paul Hughes
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi on Monday issued an unprecedented demand for Iranian authorities to ban the use of solitary confinement because she said it amounted to torture, again defying the Islamic Republic.
Ebadi, who last week refused to obey a summons from Iran's feared Revolutionary Court, said: "I am calling on judiciary officials to issue a stern order banning the use of solitary confinement."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=418469
Expert witnesses defend Aussie sailor
February 5, 2005
Perth yachting personality Christopher Packer was justified in carrying firearms on board his ship to protect himself against pirates as he sailed between Indonesia and Malaysia, an expert witness told a Balinese court.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Expert-witnesses-defend-Aussie-sailor/2005/02/04/1107476800418.html
3.6 million nickels taken from Fed found buried in Redland
BY MARTIN MERZER
mmerzer@herald.com
Police searching for marijuana plants in South Miami-Dade County discovered an entirely different stash Friday -- a buried wooden box filled with nearly 3.6 million nickels that disappeared last year en route to a Federal Reserve facility in New Orleans.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10818377.htm
Post-Election Poll: Abortion Helped Bush With Hispanics, Catholics
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 3, 2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll conducted by researchers at the University of Akron shows that the abortion issue helped President Bush make considerable gains in the 2004 elections among Catholics and Hispanics. The poll also finds Bush improving with most religious groups while those who attend church infrequently backed John Kerry.
http://www.lifenews.com/nat1171.html
Expulsion of Israeli envoy covered up
By Ed O'Loughlin Herald Correspondent in Jerusalem, Jonathan Pearlman and Cynthia Banham
February 5, 2005
Australia has secretly forced a senior Israeli diplomat to leave the country, for reasons that neither government will divulge.
The effective expulsion of the Canberra-based diplomat - described as a "consul" in Israel - has been covered up for several weeks. It was revealed in an Israeli newspaper, Ma'ariv, but inquiries about the story last night were met by a wall of "no comments" from the Australian Government.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Middle-East-Conflict/Expulsion-of-Israeli-envoy-covered-up/2005/02/04/1107476807834.html
Actor Ossie Davis found dead in Miami Beach hotel room
By DANIEL CHANG and NICOLE WHITE
dchang@herald.com
Actor Ossie Davis, known for stage and screen roles dealing with racial injustice, was found dead in his room at the Shore Club hotel on Miami Beach early Friday. He was 87.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10817753.htm
4 dead in Mich. plane crash
By James Prichard
The Associated Press
Published February 4, 2005, 3:55 PM CST
BERRIEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A twin-engine plane nosedived Friday in thick fog and crashed into a stand of trees near a cornfield in far southwestern Michigan near the Indiana state line, killing everyone aboard, authorities said. Four people were believed to be on the plane.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050204plane,1,3994336.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Coderre visits former Haitian PM in prison
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti — Former immigration minister Denis Coderre met with Haiti's imprisoned former prime minister and urged the U.S.-backed interim government to speed up the process of bringing him to trial on murder charges.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050129.whaiti0129_1/BNStory/International/>
China Defends Raid on S. Korean Lawmakers' Beijing News Conference
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, January 14, 2005; Page A15
BEIJING, Jan. 13 -- The Chinese government on Thursday defended its decision to raid a news conference called by visiting South Korean legislators to discuss the status of North Korean refugees in China, accusing the lawmakers of inciting North Koreans to enter the country illegally and break into foreign embassies to seek asylum.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6271-2005Jan13.html
Mark Thatcher Admits Role in Africa Mercenary Plot
Jan 13, 2005 — By Gordon Bell
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pleaded guilty on Thursday to a role in a foiled mercenary plot in west Africa under a plea bargain to avoid prison.
The Cape High Court agreed to a deal for Mark Thatcher to pay a fine of 3 million rand ($500,000) or face five years in jail in South Africa, in addition to a further 4-year prison sentence suspended for five years.
Prosecutors said Thatcher was free to leave South Africa.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=408607
Chinese Agents Storm Briefing By South Korean Lawmakers
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 13, 2005; Page A16
BEIJING, Jan. 13 -- Chinese security agents raided a news conference organized by visiting South Korean legislators Wednesday, shutting off the lights in a hotel meeting room and forcibly ejecting several foreign journalists. The raid prompted official statements of protest and concern in Seoul.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4194-2005Jan12.html
Reuters
Algiers: The heaviest snow in more than 50 years fell on the Algerian capital yesterday, paralys-ing traffic, killing 13 people and isolating nearly a third of the North African country's provinces, authorities said.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149662
US says more violence likely in Kuwait
By Nirmala Janssen, Correspondent
Kuwait City: The US Embassy has issued a warning to its citizens of possible violent clashes in the wake of two gunbattles between security forces and militants earlier this month.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149578
Location of polling booths is best-kept secret in Samarra
Reuters
Samarra: Three days before Iraq's first multi-party election in decades, the best-kept secret in the restive city of Samarra is where the polling stations are.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=149661
Nobel Winner Tells Iran to Ban Solitary Confinement
Jan 17, 2005 — By Paul Hughes
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi on Monday issued an unprecedented demand for Iranian authorities to ban the use of solitary confinement because she said it amounted to torture, again defying the Islamic Republic.
Ebadi, who last week refused to obey a summons from Iran's feared Revolutionary Court, said: "I am calling on judiciary officials to issue a stern order banning the use of solitary confinement."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=418469
Expert witnesses defend Aussie sailor
February 5, 2005
Perth yachting personality Christopher Packer was justified in carrying firearms on board his ship to protect himself against pirates as he sailed between Indonesia and Malaysia, an expert witness told a Balinese court.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Expert-witnesses-defend-Aussie-sailor/2005/02/04/1107476800418.html
3.6 million nickels taken from Fed found buried in Redland
BY MARTIN MERZER
mmerzer@herald.com
Police searching for marijuana plants in South Miami-Dade County discovered an entirely different stash Friday -- a buried wooden box filled with nearly 3.6 million nickels that disappeared last year en route to a Federal Reserve facility in New Orleans.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10818377.htm
Post-Election Poll: Abortion Helped Bush With Hispanics, Catholics
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 3, 2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll conducted by researchers at the University of Akron shows that the abortion issue helped President Bush make considerable gains in the 2004 elections among Catholics and Hispanics. The poll also finds Bush improving with most religious groups while those who attend church infrequently backed John Kerry.
http://www.lifenews.com/nat1171.html
Expulsion of Israeli envoy covered up
By Ed O'Loughlin Herald Correspondent in Jerusalem, Jonathan Pearlman and Cynthia Banham
February 5, 2005
Australia has secretly forced a senior Israeli diplomat to leave the country, for reasons that neither government will divulge.
The effective expulsion of the Canberra-based diplomat - described as a "consul" in Israel - has been covered up for several weeks. It was revealed in an Israeli newspaper, Ma'ariv, but inquiries about the story last night were met by a wall of "no comments" from the Australian Government.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Middle-East-Conflict/Expulsion-of-Israeli-envoy-covered-up/2005/02/04/1107476807834.html
Actor Ossie Davis found dead in Miami Beach hotel room
By DANIEL CHANG and NICOLE WHITE
dchang@herald.com
Actor Ossie Davis, known for stage and screen roles dealing with racial injustice, was found dead in his room at the Shore Club hotel on Miami Beach early Friday. He was 87.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10817753.htm
4 dead in Mich. plane crash
By James Prichard
The Associated Press
Published February 4, 2005, 3:55 PM CST
BERRIEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A twin-engine plane nosedived Friday in thick fog and crashed into a stand of trees near a cornfield in far southwestern Michigan near the Indiana state line, killing everyone aboard, authorities said. Four people were believed to be on the plane.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050204plane,1,3994336.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Coderre visits former Haitian PM in prison
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti — Former immigration minister Denis Coderre met with Haiti's imprisoned former prime minister and urged the U.S.-backed interim government to speed up the process of bringing him to trial on murder charges.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050129.whaiti0129_1/BNStory/International/>
China Defends Raid on S. Korean Lawmakers' Beijing News Conference
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, January 14, 2005; Page A15
BEIJING, Jan. 13 -- The Chinese government on Thursday defended its decision to raid a news conference called by visiting South Korean legislators to discuss the status of North Korean refugees in China, accusing the lawmakers of inciting North Koreans to enter the country illegally and break into foreign embassies to seek asylum.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6271-2005Jan13.html
Mark Thatcher Admits Role in Africa Mercenary Plot
Jan 13, 2005 — By Gordon Bell
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pleaded guilty on Thursday to a role in a foiled mercenary plot in west Africa under a plea bargain to avoid prison.
The Cape High Court agreed to a deal for Mark Thatcher to pay a fine of 3 million rand ($500,000) or face five years in jail in South Africa, in addition to a further 4-year prison sentence suspended for five years.
Prosecutors said Thatcher was free to leave South Africa.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=408607
Chinese Agents Storm Briefing By South Korean Lawmakers
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 13, 2005; Page A16
BEIJING, Jan. 13 -- Chinese security agents raided a news conference organized by visiting South Korean legislators Wednesday, shutting off the lights in a hotel meeting room and forcibly ejecting several foreign journalists. The raid prompted official statements of protest and concern in Seoul.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4194-2005Jan12.html
Why Trust Rice? Because of a Wreath?
Ms. Rice's boss was re-elected by an 80% caucasian vote. The administration she participates in has overtly exhibited racism while 'undermining' the Civil Rights Administration that supports initatives of her own race. Now, that should be telling everyone something.
Gaza and Jericho first - again
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536427.html
No border between Yesha and the IDF
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536426.html
MKs make last-ditch bid for majority on pullout bill
By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's aides and coalition members are making last-ditch efforts to muster a majority for the bill to implement the disengagement plan (Evacuation Compensation Law) in the Knesset Finance Committee on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536665.html
The USA need not apply !
Analysis / Israel braces for Rice's visit
By Aluf Benn
There were many "signs" immediately following the announcement that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was planning a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, during her inaugural trip abroad in her new role in the Bush administration.
"It is not certain she will actually come," the reporters were told in a whisper by government officials. This is a blatant sign that Israel is not happy with the visit. The whole thing became more puzzling as these same officials spoke with excitement at the increased involvement of Egypt in the talks between Israel and the PA, and the invitation to attend a summit at Sharm el-Sheikh.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536407.html
I believe an release in prisoners that have committed 'war crimes' against Israel need to be examined. Those criminals have intentions beyond the recent peace settlement between Palestine and Israel. They still have old agendas and have not become willing members of a new Palestinian State. They still want Israel destroyed. It is best to be careful for both the sake of Israel and the new Palestinian government.
Palestinians demand release of Hamas, Jihad prisoners
By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents
During talks on Saturday night between Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, the Palestinians demanded that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants be included among those prisoners whom Israel plans to release.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
Israel, PA to form joint committee on prisoner release
By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents
Israel and the Palestinians agreed in talks Saturday night on the establishment of a special committee to deal with the thorny issue of prisoner release, and to address the issue in earnest following the completion of the summit meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh on Tuesday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
I BELIEVE 'Prudent' moves are necessary and not 'rash' changes that insure the danger to Palestinians as well as Israelis.
Defense chiefs disagree with Dichter on approach to PA
By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent
The disagreement between Shin Bet head Avi Dichter and Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon on how best Israel can act to bolster new Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas goes deeper than the question of Palestinian prisoner release; it includes issues of timing of the withdrawal from Palestinian cities and whether to continue the hunt for Palestinian fugitives that have been involved in the killing of Israelis.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536647.html
Youths murder guard who forbid their entry into Haifa club
By Roni Singer, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
A security guard at the Luna dance club on Haifa's Kibbutz Galuyot Street was shot to death Saturday night, apparently by three youths whose entry into the club the guard had earlier prevented.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536654.html
DO I DETECT A DOUBLE STANDARD? ONE MIGHT ASK HOW JEWS APPEAR IN THE NEWS MEDIA IN THE USE? Then realize the extent to which the USA's moral directives have gone array under the re-election of Bush/Cheney while realizing Bush wants nothing more than to plant CIA in Israel under the guise of 'security' (Bush favorite reason to manipulate.) while Cheney makes statements of how Israel should feel free to attack Iran. The USA is not anyone's ally anymore. It is a profound truth that is difficult to believe. Bush seeks not a peace settlement in The Middle East but sovereignty over it.
THIS BLOG HAS EXTENSIVELY recorded an extensive Anti-Semitic, Pro-Terror Trend in the USA media. Propaganda. This does not surprise when realizing the very charities of Israel based in the USA are under attack for no reason. Bush has coveted Israel.
U.S. to examine censorship in Israel
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
The United States government is examining reports on the intensified role of state censorship in Israeli media.
American officials have begun collecting information on the activities of the military censor, in preparation of the annual State Department report on human rights in various countries.
The report is expected to include a section on the limits to the freedom of expression in Israel.
The American officials have expressed interest in the criteria used by the censor for banning a news item. They are also keen to learn of the activities of a special committee - "the tribunal" - that deliberates cases brought before it by the chief military censor, Colonel Miri Regev, and of the media, which is partner to the censorship agreement.
Another point of interest for the Americans are the fines issued against media for violating the censorship agreement.
Still, sources at the military censor justified their decision to ban news items by claiming that they were acting at the behest of the Bush administration to "moderate information."
To representatives of the media who complained at the banning of the items, the military censor said it was done following a request from Washington.
It is unclear whether the American administration is operating on two directly opposing fronts - one that regards Israeli censorship as damaging to human rights, and the other seeking to utilize it to further U.S. interests. The possibility also exists that there are those in Israel seeking to deflect public criticism and use the claim of "American pressure" to justify problematic decisions.
In the last American report on human rights it was said that censorship in Israel is limited to the banning of news in cases of "very near certainty of damaging security interests" of the state.
However, American officials have followed up news in Israel and claim there is an intensified effort to enforce censorship, especially in the demand to the media to file for authorization in areas of news where censorship has not been exercised in recent years.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536437.html
Rice urges Israel not to undermine new PA leadership
By Arnon Regular and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem Sunday and urged Israel to take steps to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and to show the Palestinians that nonviolence produces results, so as not to miss the opportunity created by his election. "Don't undermine him," she warned.
Pasted from <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536784.html>
I TRUST CONDI RICE as far as I can spit and that isn't far. I don’t care how many wreaths she lays, she and Bush are untrustworthy. Her politics start with salvos of warnings as she did in Europe to put all of interest on the defense and give her a psychological advantage to get what she wants.
The USA has done nothing for Israel and continues to be a burden to the peace Prime Minister Sharon is attempting to carry out unilaterally. If one remembers CLEARLY, it was Prime Minister Sharon that stated immediately after the Palestinian elections that he was cutting off diplomatic ties after killings by Palestinians.
Ms. Rice should not be so arrogant as to tell Prime Minister Sharon his business so much as praising his efforts and restrictions and the success to which it has lead. In other words who does Ms. Rice think she is? Her condescending 'tone' in accusing Prime Minister Sharon of 'undermining' the Palestinian Authority while he has done nothing but helped including opening all venues during the elections to ensure contact by the candidates for election to their electorate.
Again, I say, who does Condi Rice think she is? As matter of fact, she would seem to be as uncouth as her boss in demeanor and speech spending perhaps too many years near the Oval Office and not getting out much, because, it is easy to state that 'empty accusations' against the Prime Minister of sovereign Israel is more a threat then a reality and easily seen as Anti-Semitic.
Who does she think she is?
What happens, Ms. Rice, if Israel does something Washington decides is 'undermining' (whatever that means)? Invasion? Penalties? It sounds to me as thought Ms. Rice has a real problem with hatred.
Typical of a Neocon woman. You can dress them up but you can't take them anywhere.
I suggest Dr. Rice take a slow and meditating walk to the nearest water cooler and start all over again.
Rice urges Israel not to undermine new PA leadership
By Arnon Regular and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem Sunday and urged Israel to take steps to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and to show the Palestinians that nonviolence produces results, so as not to miss the opportunity created by his election. "Don't undermine him," she warned.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536784.html
State to tell High Court: Hague ruling on fence is irrelevant
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
The state prosecution plans to inform the High Court of Justice next week that the opinion of the International Court of Justice at the Hague on the separation fence is irrelevant.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536845.html
CIA agrees in principle to disclose Nazi records
By Reuters
WASHINGTON - The CIA, under pressure from Congress, has agreed in principle to release new documents detailing its ties to former Nazis who aided U.S. Cold War espionage against the Soviet Union, officials said on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536782.html
Fatah movement reissues call for truce with Israel
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah movement reissued a call on Sunday for a mutual cease-fire with Israel, reinforcing the Palestinian leader before a crucial summit in Egypt.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
Calls to dissolve 'corrupt' PA cabinet
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is under intense pressure to replace the PA cabinet with a new one that would exclude a number of ministers allegedly involved in financial corruption.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107575181588
Rough weather, including heavy rain and snow, pounds the country
By Eli Ashkenazi and Jackie Khoury
Heavy rain fell and strong winds blew throughout the country Friday, while heavy snow fell on Mount Hermon and Mount Bental in the Golan Heights. Both sites were closed for visitors.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536291.html
Russia's Duma lambastes anti-Semitic letter
By The Associated Press
The Russian parliament's lower house adopted a declaration Friday sharply condemning a letter that urged prosecutors to outlaw all Jewish organizations in Russia, but the nationalist and Communist factions whose members had signed the letter were absent or voted against.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536331.html
Jewish Agency grants full couple benefits to lesbian worker
By Daphna Berman
The Jewish Agency has granted full recognition to the same-sex partner of one of its emissaries, for the first time in the organization's history.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536277.html
New Worlds: 'Born-free' deer return to Carmel
Joy Adamson earned fame in 1960 when she published Born Free about her successful efforts to return an orphaned lion cub named Elsa to her natural environment in Kenya.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107659933368
Gaza and Jericho first - again
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536427.html
No border between Yesha and the IDF
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536426.html
MKs make last-ditch bid for majority on pullout bill
By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's aides and coalition members are making last-ditch efforts to muster a majority for the bill to implement the disengagement plan (Evacuation Compensation Law) in the Knesset Finance Committee on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536665.html
The USA need not apply !
Analysis / Israel braces for Rice's visit
By Aluf Benn
There were many "signs" immediately following the announcement that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was planning a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, during her inaugural trip abroad in her new role in the Bush administration.
"It is not certain she will actually come," the reporters were told in a whisper by government officials. This is a blatant sign that Israel is not happy with the visit. The whole thing became more puzzling as these same officials spoke with excitement at the increased involvement of Egypt in the talks between Israel and the PA, and the invitation to attend a summit at Sharm el-Sheikh.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536407.html
I believe an release in prisoners that have committed 'war crimes' against Israel need to be examined. Those criminals have intentions beyond the recent peace settlement between Palestine and Israel. They still have old agendas and have not become willing members of a new Palestinian State. They still want Israel destroyed. It is best to be careful for both the sake of Israel and the new Palestinian government.
Palestinians demand release of Hamas, Jihad prisoners
By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents
During talks on Saturday night between Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, the Palestinians demanded that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants be included among those prisoners whom Israel plans to release.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
Israel, PA to form joint committee on prisoner release
By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents
Israel and the Palestinians agreed in talks Saturday night on the establishment of a special committee to deal with the thorny issue of prisoner release, and to address the issue in earnest following the completion of the summit meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh on Tuesday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
I BELIEVE 'Prudent' moves are necessary and not 'rash' changes that insure the danger to Palestinians as well as Israelis.
Defense chiefs disagree with Dichter on approach to PA
By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent
The disagreement between Shin Bet head Avi Dichter and Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon on how best Israel can act to bolster new Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas goes deeper than the question of Palestinian prisoner release; it includes issues of timing of the withdrawal from Palestinian cities and whether to continue the hunt for Palestinian fugitives that have been involved in the killing of Israelis.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536647.html
Youths murder guard who forbid their entry into Haifa club
By Roni Singer, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
A security guard at the Luna dance club on Haifa's Kibbutz Galuyot Street was shot to death Saturday night, apparently by three youths whose entry into the club the guard had earlier prevented.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536654.html
DO I DETECT A DOUBLE STANDARD? ONE MIGHT ASK HOW JEWS APPEAR IN THE NEWS MEDIA IN THE USE? Then realize the extent to which the USA's moral directives have gone array under the re-election of Bush/Cheney while realizing Bush wants nothing more than to plant CIA in Israel under the guise of 'security' (Bush favorite reason to manipulate.) while Cheney makes statements of how Israel should feel free to attack Iran. The USA is not anyone's ally anymore. It is a profound truth that is difficult to believe. Bush seeks not a peace settlement in The Middle East but sovereignty over it.
THIS BLOG HAS EXTENSIVELY recorded an extensive Anti-Semitic, Pro-Terror Trend in the USA media. Propaganda. This does not surprise when realizing the very charities of Israel based in the USA are under attack for no reason. Bush has coveted Israel.
U.S. to examine censorship in Israel
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
The United States government is examining reports on the intensified role of state censorship in Israeli media.
American officials have begun collecting information on the activities of the military censor, in preparation of the annual State Department report on human rights in various countries.
The report is expected to include a section on the limits to the freedom of expression in Israel.
The American officials have expressed interest in the criteria used by the censor for banning a news item. They are also keen to learn of the activities of a special committee - "the tribunal" - that deliberates cases brought before it by the chief military censor, Colonel Miri Regev, and of the media, which is partner to the censorship agreement.
Another point of interest for the Americans are the fines issued against media for violating the censorship agreement.
Still, sources at the military censor justified their decision to ban news items by claiming that they were acting at the behest of the Bush administration to "moderate information."
To representatives of the media who complained at the banning of the items, the military censor said it was done following a request from Washington.
It is unclear whether the American administration is operating on two directly opposing fronts - one that regards Israeli censorship as damaging to human rights, and the other seeking to utilize it to further U.S. interests. The possibility also exists that there are those in Israel seeking to deflect public criticism and use the claim of "American pressure" to justify problematic decisions.
In the last American report on human rights it was said that censorship in Israel is limited to the banning of news in cases of "very near certainty of damaging security interests" of the state.
However, American officials have followed up news in Israel and claim there is an intensified effort to enforce censorship, especially in the demand to the media to file for authorization in areas of news where censorship has not been exercised in recent years.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536437.html
Rice urges Israel not to undermine new PA leadership
By Arnon Regular and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem Sunday and urged Israel to take steps to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and to show the Palestinians that nonviolence produces results, so as not to miss the opportunity created by his election. "Don't undermine him," she warned.
Pasted from <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536784.html>
I TRUST CONDI RICE as far as I can spit and that isn't far. I don’t care how many wreaths she lays, she and Bush are untrustworthy. Her politics start with salvos of warnings as she did in Europe to put all of interest on the defense and give her a psychological advantage to get what she wants.
The USA has done nothing for Israel and continues to be a burden to the peace Prime Minister Sharon is attempting to carry out unilaterally. If one remembers CLEARLY, it was Prime Minister Sharon that stated immediately after the Palestinian elections that he was cutting off diplomatic ties after killings by Palestinians.
Ms. Rice should not be so arrogant as to tell Prime Minister Sharon his business so much as praising his efforts and restrictions and the success to which it has lead. In other words who does Ms. Rice think she is? Her condescending 'tone' in accusing Prime Minister Sharon of 'undermining' the Palestinian Authority while he has done nothing but helped including opening all venues during the elections to ensure contact by the candidates for election to their electorate.
Again, I say, who does Condi Rice think she is? As matter of fact, she would seem to be as uncouth as her boss in demeanor and speech spending perhaps too many years near the Oval Office and not getting out much, because, it is easy to state that 'empty accusations' against the Prime Minister of sovereign Israel is more a threat then a reality and easily seen as Anti-Semitic.
Who does she think she is?
What happens, Ms. Rice, if Israel does something Washington decides is 'undermining' (whatever that means)? Invasion? Penalties? It sounds to me as thought Ms. Rice has a real problem with hatred.
Typical of a Neocon woman. You can dress them up but you can't take them anywhere.
I suggest Dr. Rice take a slow and meditating walk to the nearest water cooler and start all over again.
Rice urges Israel not to undermine new PA leadership
By Arnon Regular and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem Sunday and urged Israel to take steps to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and to show the Palestinians that nonviolence produces results, so as not to miss the opportunity created by his election. "Don't undermine him," she warned.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536784.html
State to tell High Court: Hague ruling on fence is irrelevant
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
The state prosecution plans to inform the High Court of Justice next week that the opinion of the International Court of Justice at the Hague on the separation fence is irrelevant.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536845.html
CIA agrees in principle to disclose Nazi records
By Reuters
WASHINGTON - The CIA, under pressure from Congress, has agreed in principle to release new documents detailing its ties to former Nazis who aided U.S. Cold War espionage against the Soviet Union, officials said on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536782.html
Fatah movement reissues call for truce with Israel
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah movement reissued a call on Sunday for a mutual cease-fire with Israel, reinforcing the Palestinian leader before a crucial summit in Egypt.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html
Calls to dissolve 'corrupt' PA cabinet
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is under intense pressure to replace the PA cabinet with a new one that would exclude a number of ministers allegedly involved in financial corruption.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107575181588
Rough weather, including heavy rain and snow, pounds the country
By Eli Ashkenazi and Jackie Khoury
Heavy rain fell and strong winds blew throughout the country Friday, while heavy snow fell on Mount Hermon and Mount Bental in the Golan Heights. Both sites were closed for visitors.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536291.html
Russia's Duma lambastes anti-Semitic letter
By The Associated Press
The Russian parliament's lower house adopted a declaration Friday sharply condemning a letter that urged prosecutors to outlaw all Jewish organizations in Russia, but the nationalist and Communist factions whose members had signed the letter were absent or voted against.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536331.html
Jewish Agency grants full couple benefits to lesbian worker
By Daphna Berman
The Jewish Agency has granted full recognition to the same-sex partner of one of its emissaries, for the first time in the organization's history.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536277.html
New Worlds: 'Born-free' deer return to Carmel
Joy Adamson earned fame in 1960 when she published Born Free about her successful efforts to return an orphaned lion cub named Elsa to her natural environment in Kenya.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107659933368
Global Warming Needs Unbiased Expert Input
THIS 'BLOGSPOT' ALONG with the website of Earth Rescue is autonomously funded by unrelated interests.
GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL. IT KILLS. The need to reverse this trend is dire.
Letters To The Editor:
The antagonists in the global-warming debate cannot agree on the facts. Is the atmosphere warming at an alarming rate or are we only observing natural variation in the climate? Is the sea level rising or not? Recent letters introduced DDT as another environmental issue (“Global warming still looks like a big hoax,” Jan. 28 and “Global warming looms over us all the time,” Jan. 31.)
Is DDT a “caustic carcinogen” or a boon to those endangered by malaria? The answers to these questions lie buried in thousands of scientific papers. Thus, to form an opinion, the average citizen has to rely on experts. Among these there are substantial disagreements. The facts are there, but political concerns obfuscate the issues.
Until these matters are adjudicated by a serious, nonpartisan panel of qualified experts, we will be subjected to ad hominem arguments such as the one given by Paul Schaafsma: “The scientific evidence that debunks global warming were mostly funded by fossil-fuel companies and thus biased toward their agenda.”
However, by the nature of his work in the alternative energy field, he opens himself to the same criticism. Are his conclusions biased by the funding he receives from his business?
James W. McFarlandLyme
GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL. IT KILLS. The need to reverse this trend is dire.
Letters To The Editor:
The antagonists in the global-warming debate cannot agree on the facts. Is the atmosphere warming at an alarming rate or are we only observing natural variation in the climate? Is the sea level rising or not? Recent letters introduced DDT as another environmental issue (“Global warming still looks like a big hoax,” Jan. 28 and “Global warming looms over us all the time,” Jan. 31.)
Is DDT a “caustic carcinogen” or a boon to those endangered by malaria? The answers to these questions lie buried in thousands of scientific papers. Thus, to form an opinion, the average citizen has to rely on experts. Among these there are substantial disagreements. The facts are there, but political concerns obfuscate the issues.
Until these matters are adjudicated by a serious, nonpartisan panel of qualified experts, we will be subjected to ad hominem arguments such as the one given by Paul Schaafsma: “The scientific evidence that debunks global warming were mostly funded by fossil-fuel companies and thus biased toward their agenda.”
However, by the nature of his work in the alternative energy field, he opens himself to the same criticism. Are his conclusions biased by the funding he receives from his business?
James W. McFarlandLyme
Global warming 'confuses us all'
This is for Ethereal and those like him.
THE threat of global warming is a worry to the people of Wales but many of its causes remain a mystery to them, research revealed yesterday.
Two-thirds of people are worried about climate change and believe it could have serious consequences.
However, 45% did not know that driving a car contributed to global warming, and only one- third were aware of the negative effects of air travel, the report funded by the Countryside Council for Wales found.
The Welsh Consumer Council and Friends of the Earth Cymru have responded by calling on the Government to boost efforts to educate the public.
Scientists at an international conference hosted by the Met Office in Exeter this week warned that unless the warming process is slowed Africa and South Asia will be devastated.
However, David Bellamy, one of Britain's best-known environmental campaigners, has denounced the theory of global warming as a fallacy and a waste of money. He suspects that governments are privately coming to the same conclusion.
Prof Bellamy told the Western Mail, "If I were Tony Blair and I believed global warming was worse than Bin Laden, I would have done something ... It beggars belief what's happening.
"It really does worry me. I speak to a lot of kids who are all worried about global warming."
Real dangers confronting the world, he said, include the pollution of rivers, over-fishing and over-grazing, and the lack of security of supply of food products.
He believes radical changes in climate have always occurred, claiming there have been six minor ice ages in the past 1,000 years alone.
Other high-profile critics of the theory that the Earth is being unnaturally warmed through carbon dioxide emissions include Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park and creator of hospital drama ER. He has lambasted the scientific establishment for viewing those who do not believe in the theory as heretics. In a lecture on his website, he warned such an atmosphere is bad for science.
He said, "Let's be clear: the work of science has nothing to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable. In science consensus is irrelevant."
Despite growing criticism, the vast majority of scientists remain convinced that climate change is taking place and can be slowed.
Professor Dennis Hawkes, who has been involved developing alternative sources of energy to fossil fuels at the University of Glamorgan said, "I know the people who study this for a living and have a pretty good idea of the possible consequences of global warming and know what's happening at the moment.
"It's not just feelings; there's scientific evidence and science is about truth at the end of the day."
Simon Jones, an expert on coastal defences at the same university, said, "Global warming is natural. It was going ahead anyway. Are humans contributing to it? Yes. It's incumbent on everyone to reduce their contribution."
Julian Rosser, Head of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said, "Climate change is the biggest threat facing humankind today. It requires concerted action from individuals and from all levels of government.
"We need a far greater public understanding of climate change if society is to support controversial solutions like windfarms and increased fuel prices."
Vivienne Sugar, chairwoman of the Welsh Consumer Council, said, "The political will to tackle climate change has been slow to build, but is finally starting to build strength. This report has shown that there is a long way to go."
THE threat of global warming is a worry to the people of Wales but many of its causes remain a mystery to them, research revealed yesterday.
Two-thirds of people are worried about climate change and believe it could have serious consequences.
However, 45% did not know that driving a car contributed to global warming, and only one- third were aware of the negative effects of air travel, the report funded by the Countryside Council for Wales found.
The Welsh Consumer Council and Friends of the Earth Cymru have responded by calling on the Government to boost efforts to educate the public.
Scientists at an international conference hosted by the Met Office in Exeter this week warned that unless the warming process is slowed Africa and South Asia will be devastated.
However, David Bellamy, one of Britain's best-known environmental campaigners, has denounced the theory of global warming as a fallacy and a waste of money. He suspects that governments are privately coming to the same conclusion.
Prof Bellamy told the Western Mail, "If I were Tony Blair and I believed global warming was worse than Bin Laden, I would have done something ... It beggars belief what's happening.
"It really does worry me. I speak to a lot of kids who are all worried about global warming."
Real dangers confronting the world, he said, include the pollution of rivers, over-fishing and over-grazing, and the lack of security of supply of food products.
He believes radical changes in climate have always occurred, claiming there have been six minor ice ages in the past 1,000 years alone.
Other high-profile critics of the theory that the Earth is being unnaturally warmed through carbon dioxide emissions include Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park and creator of hospital drama ER. He has lambasted the scientific establishment for viewing those who do not believe in the theory as heretics. In a lecture on his website, he warned such an atmosphere is bad for science.
He said, "Let's be clear: the work of science has nothing to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable. In science consensus is irrelevant."
Despite growing criticism, the vast majority of scientists remain convinced that climate change is taking place and can be slowed.
Professor Dennis Hawkes, who has been involved developing alternative sources of energy to fossil fuels at the University of Glamorgan said, "I know the people who study this for a living and have a pretty good idea of the possible consequences of global warming and know what's happening at the moment.
"It's not just feelings; there's scientific evidence and science is about truth at the end of the day."
Simon Jones, an expert on coastal defences at the same university, said, "Global warming is natural. It was going ahead anyway. Are humans contributing to it? Yes. It's incumbent on everyone to reduce their contribution."
Julian Rosser, Head of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said, "Climate change is the biggest threat facing humankind today. It requires concerted action from individuals and from all levels of government.
"We need a far greater public understanding of climate change if society is to support controversial solutions like windfarms and increased fuel prices."
Vivienne Sugar, chairwoman of the Welsh Consumer Council, said, "The political will to tackle climate change has been slow to build, but is finally starting to build strength. This report has shown that there is a long way to go."
Sea of Galilee level rises 17 centimeters over weekend
By Eli Ashkenazi and Jackie Khoury
Haaretz Correspondents
The water level in Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) rose 17 centimeters over the past weekend due to heavy precipitation, the largest rise since the beginning of the winter.
The lake level is now 1.54 meters below the upper red line, which is set at 208.8 meters below sea level.
According to water commission representative Shuli Chen, rivers in northern Israel are running at their full capacities.
The flow of water in the Jordan River by Hapkak bridge was measured at 97 cubic meters per second. This rate of flow will raise the Kinneret's level by some five centimeters daily.
Nahal Hadera overran its banks on Sunday.
Due to flooding, the southern entrance to Baka al-Garbiyeh was passable only to front-wheel drive vehicles.
Some 70 centimeters of snow fell on Mount Hermon on Saturday night through Sunday morning. The ski basin remained closed to visitors on Sunday due to the inclement weather.
There is currently 90 centimeters of snow by the lower cable car and 1.2 meters in the area of the upper cable car.
Mount Hermon and Mount Bental were closed to visitors throughout the weekend but despite the warnings, a bus carrying 20 passengers got stuck at the entrance to the Hermon site. The passengers were evacuated by Israel Defense Forces troops to the nearby moshav of Neveh Ativ.
Monday's forecast is for a drop in temperatures with localized rain showers.
Haaretz Correspondents
The water level in Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) rose 17 centimeters over the past weekend due to heavy precipitation, the largest rise since the beginning of the winter.
The lake level is now 1.54 meters below the upper red line, which is set at 208.8 meters below sea level.
According to water commission representative Shuli Chen, rivers in northern Israel are running at their full capacities.
The flow of water in the Jordan River by Hapkak bridge was measured at 97 cubic meters per second. This rate of flow will raise the Kinneret's level by some five centimeters daily.
Nahal Hadera overran its banks on Sunday.
Due to flooding, the southern entrance to Baka al-Garbiyeh was passable only to front-wheel drive vehicles.
Some 70 centimeters of snow fell on Mount Hermon on Saturday night through Sunday morning. The ski basin remained closed to visitors on Sunday due to the inclement weather.
There is currently 90 centimeters of snow by the lower cable car and 1.2 meters in the area of the upper cable car.
Mount Hermon and Mount Bental were closed to visitors throughout the weekend but despite the warnings, a bus carrying 20 passengers got stuck at the entrance to the Hermon site. The passengers were evacuated by Israel Defense Forces troops to the nearby moshav of Neveh Ativ.
Monday's forecast is for a drop in temperatures with localized rain showers.
Cold and rain
Rain will fall throughout the country Friday, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong gusty winds. Heavy snowfall is expected on Mount Hermon. Snow will also fall in the northern hills. The cold weather and rain is due to continue Saturday, but the winds will weaken. Snow will continue on the Hermon and in the Galilee hills. Sunday will see sporadic rains, while Monday is forecast to remain cold with local showers.
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