GlobeNews 4/2000 | DESERT SPECIAL | Vol.2, No.4 Global citizen! Keep on top of events worldwide: politics, travel, society, environment, technology. Not your nine o'clock news. GlobeNews by Kahl Consultants. STOP! Add a friend to the mailing list: subglobenews-@-kahl.net TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------- TRASH TO TREASURES | WYLY COYOTE | PROJECT CENSORED T. REX MEET BAMBIRAPTOR! | FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FOLLIES KYOTO TOPPLES NORWAY | PRIVACY AT STAKE! | DESERT TORTOISE DESTINATION: DESERT | YUMMY MOMMY ============== THE GOOD NEWS ============== TRASH TO TREASURES ------------------------------ The 8th annual TRASH TO TREASURES is an annual junk-art competition and exhibition. Proffessional and amatures of all ages are invited to create artwork using discarded or reused materials and to compete for prizes including $250 best of show. Presented by EAST BAY DEPOT PLACE: Oakland YWCA Julia Morgan Tearoom 1515 Webster Street Oakland, CA TIME: May 6th - June 1st, 2000 Mon - Fri: 9 -5 Sat-Sun: Noon - 5 Awards Ceremony & Artists' Reception May 6th 2 -4 PM. For more info or to get and entry form call (510) 547-4285. Entries must be hand delivered by April 24th or April 25th so Hurry & get your application form -@- East Bay Depot 6713 San Pablo Ave or call to have one mailed to you. Rumor has it that the Dumpster Diva will once again enter TRASH TO TREASURES. Visit her at: http://www.generationgreen.com WYLY COYOTE? --------------------- Sam Wyly exhibits a flair for the dramatic. His latest effort is a $2.5 million advertising campaign that attacked the environmental record of Senator John McCain. The ads appeared just before the Republican primaries and praised environmental policies of Gov. George W. Bush in Texas. Mr. Wyly and his brother Charles are major contributors to Mr. Bush, and the ads were sponsored by "Republicans for Clean Air," a group recently formed by them. Mr. Wyly is a 65-year-old Dallas investor, part of a small circle of wealthy, politically connected Republicans. A founder of Maverick Capital Ltd., a hedge fund, he amassed an estimated $1 billion fortune in ventures as diverse as oil drilling, mining, software, steak houses and arts-and-crafts stores. And an investment by Maverick Capital in GreenMountain.com appears to be at odds with a past statement of a top fund official that it would not get involved in Wyly family enterprises because of potential conflicts. Mr. Wyly, his family members, Maverick Capital and others invested $100 million in GreenMountain.com. Since that investment, the company has successfully lobbied lawmakers in states like California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas to pass laws that deregulate energy markets by either encouraging alternative energy use or requiring that a small portion of the states' electricity pool -- up to 3 percent -- come from nontraditional sources. These include solar power, wind energy, and biomass (burning of organic matter like wood). GreenMountain.com, which had been a unit of a Vermont utility, does not produce alternative energy but markets such power to mostly residential customers who are willing to pay a premium. In return, the company has said it will invest in alternative energy. It now has about 100,000 customers in California and Pennsylvania, and will soon market its services in other states. Some environmental groups have criticized the company for buying energy from sources that for all their environmental claims, generate significant pollution. But the company has won the backing of other groups, and some said Mr.. Wyly had lobbied hard to promote state and federal laws to deregulate energy. "He has been very aggressive in the market," said Scott Sklar, executive director of the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group. "When deregulation takes root, Wyly is going to make money." Mr. Wyly, his son, Evan, and his daughter, Lisa, as well as offshore trusts whose beneficiaries are Wyly family members, also hold stakes in GreenMountain.com, S.E.C. filings show. Those documents also show that Maverick Capital invested $15 million in GreenMountain.com immediately before last year's planned stock offering. Mr. Wyly said he had no immediate plans to pay for ads against Vice President Al Gore during the general election, but Mr. Wyly added that he and another son, Andrew, a Dennison University student whom he credits with the promotions against Mr. McCain, have kicked around ideas. They would be built around the theme that Mr. Gore, whose environmental record might appeal to some voters, was a regulation-happy Democrat who would not be good for business or the environment. "Be green without being red," said Mr. Wyly, testing out a slogan on a listener. "Al Gore is an heir to the old czars and commissars. He never saw a regulation he didn't like." But without these protections, Wyly's GreenMountain.com renewable power brokering services would not be marketable today. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is "calling on environmentally concerned citizens to send a message to Mr. Wyly in the only language he seems to understand... money. Boycott GreenMountain.com until Mr. Wyly and his son leave its board and relinquish all control over the organization." EWG website: http://www.ewg.org/ ----------------------------------- CALIFORNIANS GO GREEN! ----------------------------------- Make an Earth Day resolution to switch to clean green energy for your home. Get cheaper, cleaner, better. Just like changing your phone company! This really is the best deal, and everybody wins! Get clean electricity online: http://www.kahl.net/energy Or CALL toll free 1-877-GO-CLEEN (462-5336) or 1-888-425-3361 Mention Alex Kahl as your agent and I get a referral buck (woo woo!). ========== GLOBESITES ========== PROJECT CENSORED --------------------------- Project Censored at Sonoma State University brings news stories from alternative, i.e. REAL news sources. These stories have been censored or under-covered in corporate media. Here is a recent example. SOCIOLOGIST DEPICTS THE NEW SLAVERY Sources: The Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/7/1999 Author: D. W. Miller Sociologist Kevin Bales exposed a phenomenon called "New Slavery," a product of demography and global capitalism, in his book "Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy." Bales claims 27 million people around the globe endure forced servitude and are "in a relationship in which one person is completely controlled by another person through violence or the threat of violence for the purpose of economic exploitation," from which the rest of us benefit. Bales states, "the population explosion plus the globalization of the economy have pushed a lot of people into economic vulnerability." When capital flows where labor remains cheap, then bribery undermines labor laws. As a result of such corruption, workers become easily replaced or "disposable." Currently slaves work and sweat and build and suffer for products we use. Slaves in Pakistan may have made shoes you are wearing and the carpet you stand on. Slaves in the Caribbean may have put sugar in your kitchen and toys in the hands of your children. Debt bondage forces many men into near starvation and often they die from starvation conditions. 45,000 children in India make fireworks and matches in factories while the gunpowder they handle often corrodes and blisters their already scarred fingers. Bales estimates that about 35,000 of the women (1 in 20) in the huge commercial sex industry in Thailand are slaves. In some case, families sell their own children into prostitution. Visit Project Censored: http://www.projectcensored.org/ HOME IMPROVEMENT - AMAZON STYLE ---------------------------------------------------- Amazon.com is now in the HOME IMPROVEMENT business. No more endless mazes and lines at Home Depot. Go online and get your tools (how about a handy leatherman as a gift?) and home renovation products (time to prepare your lawn & garden for summer?)! PLEASE SUPPORT GLOBENEWS by only using this link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/kahlconsultants ========= GlobeNews ========= T. REX MEET BAMBIRAPTOR! -------------------------------------- An incredible discovery of a SMALL BABY RAPTOR shows uncanny similarity between birds and dinosaurs. The skeleton is less than 3 feet long and has a 5 inch long, very brainy skull with carnivorous teeth. There are sickle-shaped killing claws on the hands and feet, a long stiff tail for balance as well as a wishbone similar to modern birds. It was a lightly built animal with tremendous agility—the large claws on the feet were retractable and the hand claws resided on arms that were spring-loaded like stilettos. In life, the animal would have weighed about seven (7) pounds, may have been covered by feathers and possessed of superior intelligence as compared to its contemporaries. It is unquestionably the most bird-like among all dinosaurs which have become commonly known as “raptors”. Since the new skeleton is so remarkably well-preserved, it reveals certain features which unravel the relationships between dinosaurs and birds. It also demonstrates how these little beasts, with ferocious predatory movements, were related to fully flighted birds. Although it is yet unknown whether this raptor actually flew or not apparently it had already evolved the mechanisms required for flight. The skeleton was discovered in 72 million year old rocks in Montana. A schoolboy, Wes Linster, overturned a rock and saw a jaw bone with sharp, tiny black teeth imbedded on the other side. His family excavated the small fossil from their quarry brought it home and nicknamed it “Bambi”. Curious about this find? Then visit the home of BAMBIRAPTOR at: http://www.bambiraptor.com/ FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FOLLIES ----------------------------------------- TAKE I: NEW REPORT ON IMF AND WORLD BANK ---------------------------------------------------------------- The International Financial Institution Advisory Commission, a creation of the US Congress, has just released a report making recommendations as to the future of the IMF and the World Bank. In short, for the IMF, it recommends that the IMF ceases its long-term lending operations, cancel the IMF loans owed by the poorest countries, stop trying to micromanage the governments of the developing world, and refocus its lending on emergencies. These recommendations are being tabled at a point in which the major economic powers are seeking a new director-general for the IMF, a position now empty and recently vacated by Michel Camdessus. The report and recommendations are equally sweeping for the World Bank. Criticizing the World Bank for failing to adjust to fundamental changes in the world economy, it observes that the bank has fallen far short of its basic goal of combatting global poverty. It recommends that the bank phase out its lending operations to the richer of developing countries, cancel its claims against the highly indebted poor countries, stop the pretense of "lending" for poverty relief and instead provide grants. It suggests renaming the World Bank the World Development Agency. The report further suggests that primary responsibility for country-level assistance should lie with regional agencies. It suggests targeting (scientific) knowledge and support for research partnerships in areas like malaria (the WHO has launched such partnerships in recent times). Much of what the report recommends reads like the agenda that has been put on the table by the NGO community. While it is not the US position, just a report, it does capture a significant slice of US thinking on where to go from here with the IMF and World Bank. It is a significant document. Read the Wall Street Journal article by Allan Meltzer and Jeffrey D. Sachs, well known economists and authors of the Report: www.nationalpost.com/financialpost.asp?s2=fpcomment&f=000309/227238.html TAKE II: RALLY ROUND THE INSTITUTIONS -------------------------------------------------------- Rally and Non-Violent Protest at IMF & World Bank in Washington DC Sun-Mon April 16-17, 2000 The protesters at the WTO conference in Seattle are in D.C. for a follow-up gathering: an IMF-World Bank meeting is their target. A powerful U.S. movement for economic and human rights and fair trade had its coming-out party at the WTO meetings in Seattle. A range of forces who value human and ecological dignity over corporate profits and trickle-down economics came together there. The target is now in Washington DC - The IMF and World Bank, in many ways the "parents" of the WTO. Dozens of groups are in D.C. for protest, education, training, and direct action during the week of April 9-16 in Washington. The culmination is a Massive Rally and Non-Violent Direct Action at IMF Headquarters Sunday April 16th and Monday April 17th. Curious what is going on? Contact: http://www.globalexchange.org/ http://www.50years.org/ ============= FUTURE IS NOW ============= KYOTO ACCORD TOPPLES NORWAY GOVERNMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------- In March the Norwegian Prime Minister Bondevik announced the resignation of his government after losing a vote of confidence in parliament over its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bondevik's is the first government to fall as a result of global warming issues. Bondevik called a vote of confidence which he had no chance of winning. The issue was his objection to the building of several natural gas fired power stations that would increase carbon dioxide emissions in Norway. The government argued that the plants would release far too much CO2. The government wanted to put the gas power plants on hold until more efficient, cleaner technology is developed. BLATANT ADVERTISEMENT: You enjoy GlobeNews. But are you also interested in space, astronomy and ET news? Read ASTRONEWS! Another free monthly E-zine from Kahl Consultants. Visit us: http://www.kahl.net/astro Beam your request to: subastronews-@-kahl.net ============ !!GLOBALERT!! ============ WARNING!!! YOUR PRIVACY AT STAKE!!! ----------------------------------------------------- You won't believe THIS! I found a site that has ALL of the driver's license photos, old and new, from every DMV database in the USA! I was floored! The company, AsWeSeeIt, won a court ruling which gave them the right to post OUR PICTURES on the net. TALK ABOUT BIG BROTHER! Go to the AsWeSeeIt site, and search for your license photo, and I'm certain your reaction will be the same as mine! Please go to this website as soon as possible: http://www.asweseeit.com/616LicenseForm.htm DESERT TORTOISE ------------------------- VIVA LA TORTUGA! That's what some activists are saying. All i know is that they're not always easy to find. California Turtle & Tortoise Turtle & tortoise preservation, conservation, study and education http://www.tortoise.org/ The Desert Tortoise Council Promotes conservation of the desert tortoise in the southwestern USA and Mexico http://www.deserttortoise.org/ Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee Non-profit organization promotes the welfare of the desert tortoise. Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area (DTNA) is a natural habitat set aside for the official California State Reptile. http://www.tortoise-tracks.org/ And three more for turtle talk: http://www.tortoisegroup.org/ http://www.seaturtles.org/ http://www.tortoise.com/ BEAR WARNING --------------------- In light of the rising frequency of serious incidents between humans and black bears, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for black bears while in the field. We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing as a warning, so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of a close encounter with a bear. Additionally, it is a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should also be able to recognize the difference between the black bear and its more ferocious cousin, the grizzly bear: While the tracks for the two species of bear are quite similar, the black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. On the other hand, the grizzly bear dung has LITTLE BELLS IN IT AND SMELLS LIKE PEPPER. ============= SAVE ON CALLS ============= Long Distance Tips --------------------- LIVING IN THE USA? Get the VoiceNet GOLD plan! ANY domestic US calls from ANY phone for only 6.9 cents/min! No more expensive calls! It's the best deal we could find! Check out this offer AND MANY MORE! Visit GlobalCom: http://www.kahl.net/global ====== NetTips ====== DESTINATION: DESERT ------------------------------ Does the "call of the desert" urge you to pack your canteen and head for the nearest sand dune? Here's some choice sites to prepare a DESERT TRIP. Total Escape! California Destination: Deserts Details about desert towns, cities, canyons, mountains, ghost towns, scenic areas and resorts! http://www.totalescape.com/destin/desert.html RadiKahl Camping Wild west camping with outdoor gear advice. http://www.kahl.net/camping/ Mojave Desert State Parks WARNING: Some of THE GREATEST PLACES on earth. Get hooked for life! http://www.calparksmojave.com/ Death Valley National Park Official Park Info http://www.nps.gov/deva/ Mojave National Preserve Desert Ecology Yo hippy eco-freaks! Made 4U. http://www.nps.gov/moja/mojade.htm DesertUSA 2000 Travel and adventure guide to the American Southwest http://www.desertusa.com/ Thanks to all who wrote in. Send us your questions for the next edition of GlobeNews. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Email: globenews-@-kahl.net Add an email to the mailing list: subglobenews-@-kahl.net Unsubscribe: unsubglobenews-@-kahl.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PLUG ======== How's your small biz performing? Happy with work? Technology. Use it appropriately. Put it in our hands. Kahl Consultants. Visit us: http://www.kahl.net You got this far - you obviously enjoy GlobeNews. Pass it on! Please forward to a handful of friends. Remember, the best things in life are free. THE PUNCH LINE ============== YUMMY MOMMY ----------------------- The cecidomyian gall midge, a fly, can reproduce either by laying eggs or by parthogenesis (reproduction without a male). In the latter method, the female's offspring develop within her tissues and when the time for their birth arrives, they eat the mother from the inside.