GlobeNews FALL 2001 Special Vol.2, No.8-11 For global citizens to stay on top of the world. Current events, trends, travel, politics, eco and tech topics. Not your nine o'clock news. Add your friends to the mailing list by emailing us at: globenews-@-kahl.net CONTENTS: CHEMICAL WARFARE 101 EXHUMING MCCARTHY HOW TO OPT-OUT WINDS OF CHANGE UPDATE SAN FRANCISCO GOES SOLAR NO MORE AOL CDS! THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS SNEAK PEAK AT BABY US WARNS QUACK WEBSITES ============ !!GLOBALERT!! ============ CHEMICAL WARFARE 101 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 9-11 attacks and the anthrax letters. Time to brush up on biological and chemical weapons. Among the deadly agents are: ANTHRAX * What it is: Bacteria that normally infects sheep, horses, secondarily transmitted to humans. * Effects: Shuts down organs within six days. Accidental release from Soviet lab killed 66. * Treatment: Antibiotics available, but must be administered quickly. * Potency: released from the air, spores could create an invisible, deadly cloud extending for miles. 200 pounds could kill 3 million people. SMALLPOX * What it is: Highly infectious illness caused by variola virus. * Effects: Takes about 12 days to appear and can last for weeks, with fever, aches and vomiting followed by skin lesions. Can be fatal; can cause blindness or kidney damage. * Treatment: Vaccine available in small amounts. No effective treatment. SARIN * What it is: Odorless nerve gas. * Effects: Used by Japanese terrorists in deadly 1994-95 attacks, one in subway. Kills within minutes. * Treatment: Various treatments, but they must be applied within one minute to be effective. VX * What it is: Odorless agent resembling motor oil; traces found in Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf War. * Effects: Organs stop functioning; muscles paralyzed; deadlier than Sarin, but takes longer to kill. * Treatment: Antidote, atropine, must be injected into the arm or thigh. For gaseous attacks, antidote must go directly into heart. Dr. John Clements, professor and chair of Immunology and Microbiology at Tulane University: "I believe individuals buying gas masks to protect themselves against an unspecified biological or chemical attack is pretty useless" William Broad, author of Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War: "We all have a greater chance of dying on the highway than of getting hit by anthrax." EXHUMING MCCARTHY I ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ McCarthy's ghost has risen once again. He was the man with the list of names. Names of American government employees who betrayed their country. Half a century later the witchhunt continues... McCarthy was a demagogue who made false and misleading charges. For this he lent his name to the word "McCarthyism", which refers to a political style or method that crosses the bounds of decency. A vigorous anti-communist was this Republican Senator from Wisconsin. Joseph R. McCarthy gained national attention in 1950 by claiming he had a list of 205 known communists in the State Department. McCarthy failed to substantiate any of his charges but he struck a responsive public chord. McCarthy gained power when the Republicans won control of the Senate in 1952. As a committee chairman he had a forum for his crusade. He continued to charge top-level officials with treachery. McCarthy went too far. With polls showing half the public behind him, McCarthy overstepped himself. He challenged the US Army when one of his assistants was drafted. Many Americans saw McCarthy's savage tactics for the first time on TV. Public support began to wane and the Senate condemned him for his conduct. Until then McCarthy exerted enormous power in the USA. He legitimized tactics that were often used against innocent people. EXHUMING MCCARTHY II ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Students and people around the US have been targeted for speaking out against the bombing of Afghanistan in particular and U.S. foreign policy more generally. At the City University of New York the Chancellor denounced students and professors who participated in a teach-in on the attacks and U.S. foreign policy. The corporate media have generally reflected the position of the government. Engaging in self-censorship and in the case of CNN ordering reporters and news readers to use scripted language about Afghanistan harboring terrorists whenever they report on the human impact of US bombing. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is a nonprofit organization founded by Lynne Cheney and Senator Joseph Lieberman in 1995. It just issued a report entitled "Defending Civilization: How Universities Are Failing America and What Can Be Done About It." The report says colleges and universities are the "weak link in America's response to the attacks." Professors and students have been "short on patriotism." It lists 117 professors and students and their comments as evidence that campuses are hostile to the US and attacking Western civilization. ACTA American Council of Trustees and Alumni http://www.goacta.org/ Defending Civilization: How Our Universities Are Failing America and What Can Be Done About It http://www.goacta.org/Reports/defciv.pdf Note: this report is in pdf format, which requires the adobe acrobat reader KC TECHSHOP ----------------- * MONEY-SAVING RANKINGS - the very best sites for comparison shopping, reviews and infos. * "SWEET SPOT" SHOPPING LISTS - for PC DESKTOPs and LAPTOPs. Get the best price-to-quality ratio! * The Green PC section - helps you to save energy. DECEMBER DEAL$: SPEAKERS: Creative Labs PCWorks - compact 3 piece incl. subwoofer ONLY: $40 (if all you have are cheap little speakers get these and turn your PC into a stereo - highly recommended!) PRINTER: Epson Stylus Color 777 Inkjet 2880x720 dpi ONLY: $53 SCANNER: Pacific Image Magic Keys 1236C 600x1200 dpi ONLY: $30 MONITOR: AOC 7ELR 17" Flat Tube 1280x1024 0.27 dp ONLY: $160 Hardware or software, deals on technology: http://www.kahl.net/shopping ============== THE GOOD NEWS ============== HOW TO OPT-OUT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you live in the USA, you recently received PRIVACY POLICY letters from your financial institutions. Did you know that YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PREVENT BANKS FROM DISCLOSING YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION TO CERTAIN COMPANIES? All you had to do was read and act on the opt-out instructions in these mailings! Didn't do that? Don't worry, here's how to OPT-OUT! Use this "opt-out" notice rather than the companies' notices. Most notices were deliberately designed to make it harder for you to "opt-out." TIP: Not sure which companies sent you opt-out forms? Write any company that sends you statements: banks, credit card companies, department stores, insurance companies, etc. Keep a record proving you've mailed opt-out notices. Create your "opt-out" letters using this sample letter: ----------------------- sample letter begins ----------------------------------- TO [COMPANY NAME]: [Company Address] ATTN: "OPT OUT" Department MY FULL NAME IS: FULL STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE AND ZIP CODE: RE: These accounts. I am listing my name, the name of my account, and my account numbers here: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 1. I am asserting my rights under the Financial Services Modernization Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act to "opt out" of the following two uses of my personal information: a. You do not have permission to disclose personally identifiable information with your non-affiliated third-party companies or individuals. b. You do not have permission to disclose my creditworthiness to any affiliate. 2. I am further instructing you: a. Do not disclose any of my transaction and experience information to any affiliate of yours. b. Do not disclose any information about me in connection with marketing agreements between you and any other company. 3. Please respond to me in writing stating that you will comply with these instructions. If I have not received a letter within thirty days specifically denying my instructions, I will assume your records have been noted to comply with this letter. I am mailing this in a sealed envelope, and I am NOT including my social security number. I believe my name and account number identify me sufficiently. SIGNATURE AND DATE: -------------------------------sample letter ends----------------------------------- TIP: COPY the text, then PASTE it in any text editor. Add personal information, and print out and mail. Further Reading: Privacy Rights NOW http://www.privacyrightsnow.org WINDS OF CHANGE UPDATE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last month we reported that Florida Power and Light (FPL) is working on the biggest WIND POWER project on the planet. Reader Jonathan Lemon wrote in to point out that FPL is also one of the biggest nuclear power providers in the USA. Maybe the WINDS OF CHANGE have blown FPL's way? SAN FRANCISCO GOES SOLAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Residents of San Francisco have overwhelmingly voted to become the 'solar capital' of the United States. Seventy-four percent of voters approved a measure that gives The City By The Bay authority to issue $100,000,000 in bonds to finance solar energy facilities for use by city agencies and departments. Voters' "yes" to Proposition B and Proposition H will nearly double the number of grid connected solar systems... The funding will result in the installation, within three years, of 10 to 12 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity on city buildings such as the General Hospital, Moscone Convention Center and State University. Another 30 MW of wind capacity will be located on civic property in Alameda and San Mateo Counties. The municipal government currently consumes 160 MW of electricity. San Francisco's vote will also be a major boost for the solar industry, creating a large increase in domestic demand. It could also spur other cities or states to take similar steps. Voters in San Francisco also approved Proposition H which will allow the Board of Supervisors to issue revenue bonds for renewable energy and conservation projects without first seeking voter approval. ========== GLOBESITES ========== NO MORE AOL CDS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is a website that is fighting to end the unrequested distribution of AOL CDs. In our opinion a most noble cause! They are asking you to send them AOL CDs that you do not want! Check out their site: http://www.nomoreaolcds.com/ BARGAIN HUNTING IN THE AMAZON --------------------------------------------- Amazon.com now has an Outlet! The biggest bargains throughout the Amazon.com universe are here. > Up to 50% off toys and electronics and up to 60% off kitchen essentials > books for less than 5 bucks, CDs for less than $7, and a slew of videos for under $10? Using this link choose OUTLET from the Store Directory: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/kahlconsultants ========= GlobeNews ========= THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A colorful bouquet can warm the heart of its recipient. But the effects of some flowers on workers and the environment aren't so sweet. The impact of pesticide use in the $7.6 billion U.S. cut flower industry is just as deleterious as in other forms of agriculture. The hazards haven't received nearly as much attention. THE WORKERS SUFFER: Seventy percent of flowers sold in the US are imported; 59 percent of those come from Colombia and 15 percent from Ecuador. Chemicals help keep buds fresh over the long journey, and the major flower producing countries spray away. Rose and carnation producers in Ecuador use an average of six fungicides, four insecticides, and several herbicides. In Colombia flower-plantation workers near Bogotá are exposed to 127 types of pesticides. two-thirds of Colombian workers suffer from headaches, nausea, rashes, asthma, and other symptoms of pesticide-related illnesses. Pesticide residues may aggravate existing allergies or chemical sensitivities in shoppers. THE ENVIRONMENT SUFFERS: Flower farms--20 percent are owned by LA–based Dole Food--have polluted and depleted Bogotá’s streams and groundwater. Add the energy consumption of trucking flowers from farm to airport and from airport to customer. A vase holding a bunch of ten imported flowers contains over half a liter of oil.” Despite U.S. requirements that all imports be completely pest-free, some insects make it past the USDA and spread invasive species. A decade ago, cut flowers likely brought the South American cactus moth to Florida, where it decimated the region’s population of semaphore cactus. U.S. blossoms aren't hazard-free. The U.S. FDA regulates the pesticide on food but not on flowers. Laws are left to individual states. California is one of the only states to carefully track pesticide use. Here flower growers apply 800,000 pounds of pesticides each year. Half is methyl bromide, a fumigant banned in the Netherlands ten years ago because of concerns about air and groundwater pollution. The rest is primarily two other fumigants, metam sodium and chloropicrin, and several carcinogenic fungicides. Methyl bromide depletes the ozone layer. Use in the United States is scheduled to be eliminated by 2005 but with resistance from agricultural companies. BUY ORGANIC! Search local farms, farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture groups that supply fresh and dried organic flowers: http://www.localharvest.org/ Contact your state’s organic-certifying organization for the names of nearby growers. List of US certifiers: http://www.nhb.org/leg/orgcert.html http://web.iquest.net/ofma/certy2k.htm The organic-flower market is still small. Not even one percent. GROW YOUR OWN! If organic growers are scarce in your area, opt for potted indoor plants. Even when grown conventionally, a plant is preferable for the years of pleasure it can provide; only the freshest of cut flowers stay that way longer than a week. Dried decorations like leaves, branches, berries, and pussy willows are also lovely, long-lived alternatives. Better yet, give the object of your affection a bouquet homegrown with love. Urban gardeners can set up shop on a porch or in a window box. Nurseries sell organic seeds and plants. [Source: Sierra Magazine] So you wanna grow a window garden? http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/wingarden/wingardenFULL.html Pesticide Action Network North America http://www.igc.org/panna/ LOFTY LITERATURE Interested in space, astronomy and extraterrestrial news? READ ASTRONEWS! Another informative Kahl Consultants e-zine. Online at: http://www.kahl.net/astro ============= FUTURE IS NOW ============= SNEAK PEAK AT BABY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A hi-tech scanner can produce clear images of an unborn baby's face. The 3D ultrasound scanner will offer doctors a better way of spotting pre-birth abnormalities. Developers Siemens also hope the machine will help to promote closer bonds between parents and their children. Incredibly detailed images of the unborn foetus can now be readily available at the patient's bedside using these imaging techniques. Doctors using the scanner will be able to view the images almost instantly. The 3D scanner will touch the lives of parents and give the medical profession access to a diagnostic tool which will significantly improve their ability to detect and treat abnormalities before birth. [Source: BBC News] TALK IS CHEAP ------------------- We recommend products we personally use. We found an amazing prepaid long distance service - and we know that you'll love this virtual calling card deal! SAMPLE RATES from ANY US phone: * 5.5˘ per minute USA and Canada * 6˘ per minute Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, UK * 15˘ per minute Philippines * 7˘ Connect fee per call * Works worldwide (via web enabled CALLBACK)! * No Monthly Fees! No Hidden Fees! Get Click4Prepaid from GLOBALCOM here: http://www.kahl.net/global/ ====== NetTips ====== US WARNS QUACK WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US government is warning dozens of Web sites to stop touting unproven treatments for anthrax, smallpox and other bioterrorism agents. These sites are hawking dietary supplements such as oregano oil and zinc mineral water. The Federal Trade Commission said there is no scientific evidence for any of these alternative treatments. And so the FTC has sent about 40 e-mail warnings to site operators, giving them a week to reply. "Shut down... or face prosecution," said the FTC. Site operators who don't comply could be fined, banned from operating or required to repay consumers. The FTC has been working with the Food and Drug Administration and law enforcement officials in 30 states to scour the net for false products. The products reviewed included gas masks and protective suits; mail sterilizers; biohazard test kits; homeopathic remedies; and dietary supplements such as colloidal silver, zinc mineral water, thyme and oregano oil. The agencies found more than 200 Web sites marketing such products and many of them may also receive warning letters, the FTC said. There is no proven treatment for smallpox, nor any FDA-approved home anthrax test. The FDA has already shut down several foreign pharmacies illegally selling Cipro on the Internet. Consumers should be particularly wary of e-mail advertisements promoting products for dealing with bioterrorism. Editor's note: We get our share of e-mail advertisements selling such snake oil. We suggest that all these peddlers are given a taste of their own medicine. [Source: AP] FTC HEALTH FRAUD: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/health/frdheal.htm FTC CRACKS DOWN... http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/11/webwarn.htm Thanks to all who wrote in with comments. Send us feedback for the next GlobeNews! GLOBENEWS =========== GlobeNews by Kahl Consultants Visit us: http://www.kahl.net/globenews If you got this far you obviously enjoyed GlobeNews. Pass it on! SUBSCRIBE: subglobenews-@-kahl.net Unsubscribe: unsubglobenews-@-kahl.net Email GlobeNews: globenews-@-kahl.net THE PUNCH LINE ============== CALIFORNIA GOLD CARD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everybody makes mistakes. But not everybody has to pay for them! You can avoid your financial errors too with the new California Gold Card. http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/rp/ Note: this file is in pdf format, which requires the adobe acrobat reader