Justice is not easy but 14 years is truly hard time

clipped from timesofindia.indiatimes.com TEXAS: A man on death row in Texas for 14 years for the murder of a young girl has been exonerated after DNA tests, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) reported on Friday. Michael Blair who was sentenced to death for the 1993 killing of seven-year-old Ashley Estell, had his capital murder charges dismissed in late August by the Collin County court after hair used as evidence to convict him, was shown to belong to somebody else.

Being Greener will Produce More Green ($) for All?

Good news - "Early global efforts to avert dangerous climate change are already generating new jobs, and could produce millions of new employment opportunities..."

clipped from www.ilo.org Study by ILO, UNEP and workers and employers says tackling climate change could create millions of new jobs Early global efforts to avert dangerous climate change are already generating new jobs, and could produce millions of new employment opportunities, according to a new study to be launched globally by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE).

Green(er) Electronics Nokia making progress

Good to hear - Readall about it

clipped from www.greenpeace.org Company scores plummeted in the previous edition of Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics, when new criteria on climate change were introduced. However, leading brands like Nokia and Samsung are now making significant progress in greening their electronics products, with improved environmental policies responding not only to these new energy criteria, but also to the more stringent chemical and e-waste criteria.

Bird Flu in Togo - Deja vue!

Understandable need to make a living but not understanding this or finding new ways to deal with global and local threats means the next pandemic is closer than ever.

clipped from www.irinnews.org “We only started business 15 years ago. Now, because of this [H5N1] virus, my sales have plummeted by more than 70 percent. I cannot even afford to order new birds now.” The businessman says he fears the flu will not kill only birds, but also his business.

Governor Palin - Supports "Killing wolves" from the air for a bounty!$

Disgusting how greed helps destroy natural balances of nature.

clipped from secure.defenders.org

How much do you trust Federal regulation of food these days?

Deregulation, budget gutting, and over politicized Presidential appointments has led to Bush League safety and regulation of anything that has to do with our common interests and security as citizens and consumer. GM animal products are just another scheme to get bigger profit for already obese CEOs and should be opposed until we have real leadership in Congress and the White House.

clipped from www.commondreams.org Guidelines On Genetically Modified Animals To Be Released By FDA by Vittorio Hernandez Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is slated to release on Thursday guidelines for genetic engineering of animals for food, drugs or medical purposes. The guidelines, long overdue and the result of years of discussion, could open the door for the commercial production and sale of rapid-growing fish, environment-friendly swine, cattle resistant to mad cow disease and animals with meat that have healthier contents.

New Jersey school registration violates civil rights law

Federal laws and regulations govern immigration rules. When city's, county's, and other local governments pass laws or regulations about immigrants they are governing, or rather reinforcing fear.

clipped from www.southbergenite.com The ACLU-NJ sent a letter to the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) after finding that at least 20 percent of New Jersey school districts ask for immigration status for incoming pupils, which is banned under state enrollment regulations. The ACLU-NJ surveyed 635 districts statewide and acquired information from 516 in which 139 were found to have requested either social security numbers of pupils or information directly correlated to their immigration status. Another 48 districts, according to the survey, suggested immigration information would help in the registration process. According to state law, both acts are prohibited, yet many of the schools warned not to do it in the ACLU’s last survey in 2006 were found once again practicing the illegal enrollment process again this year. Carlstadt was not named as an offender of the law in the 2006 survey.

Bird Flu - Some Good News Perhaps

All now for something completely different - grin - Someone who died from last great pandemic may provide good research material when exhumed because he was buried in a lead coffin. Sorry for the pun but there is some irony in fact that pollutant - lead - may help us save us from ourselves.

clipped from www.ukmedix.com Permission has finally been granted by the family of Sir Mark Sykes Bt. of Sledmere House in Yorkshire to exhume his body and allow samples to be taken from it to be used in medical research, which could open new avenues of research to finding a cure for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. Sir Mark died almost 90 years ago from the Spanish flu which killed an estimated 50 million people before it died out. Like the present outbreaks of flu which have killed humans in Asia, the Spanish flu was also firstly found in birds and therefore any information about it could be useful to dealing with the present situation.

A Responsible Plan to End Our War in Iraq

clipped from www.responsibleplan.com What follows is a series of objectives that, taken together, refocus our current military involvement in the region while repairing damage to the U.S. to prevent a repeat of our mistakes. We have included some sample legislation currently in Congress to show that these objectives have been identified and can be addressed given sufficient political will. We have also included recommendations that the Baker-Hamilton Commission published in the Iraq Study Group Report. In some cases, no existing legislation or clear recommendations exist and new authorizing legislation plus careful planning would be required.

Texicans in Farmers Branch Don't Want Mexicans in Town!

The Federal Government made up of representatives from all the states - including Texas - who are responsible or (grin) irresponsible for immigration policy, and not the headline hunting local politicos of a Texas suburb!

clipped from www.dallasnews.com A second set of opponents has filed a federal lawsuit over Farmers Branch's latest attempt to deny rental houses or apartments to illegal immigrants.

Next Pandemic: Tick, tick, tick goes the clock

People have to make a living - yes. But trying to profit from the ever growing international poultry market without taking proper cautions is helping this virus to mutate into a worldwide human pandemic.

clipped from ap.google.com LOME, Togo (AP) — Tests performed after the first ever outbreak of bird flu in the West African nation of Togo have confirmed the presence of the virulent H5N1 strain of the virus, state media said Monday. The virus was detected at a poultry farm housing more than 4,500 birds in the village of Agbata outside the capital, Lome, according to the government.

Million Doors for Peace

Walk your talk for peace.

clipped from www.marketwatch.com The nation's largest anti-war coalition will hold a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Lisagor Room of the National Press Club to announce a historic day of organizing to end the war in Iraq.

British lawyers fight to halt ‘obscene’ US execution

clipped from business.timesonline.co.uk British lawyers fight to halt ‘obscene’ US execution of Jack Alderman ‘Innocent’ man has been on death row since 1975

Judge rules in favor of constitution - Right on!

Enforcing rules regarding immigration is the responsibility of the Federal government, not local politicians trying to look "tough."

clipped from ap.google.com DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge on Friday stopped a Dallas suburb's latest attempt to drive away illegal immigrants, ruling that Farmers Branch cannot enforce a ban on apartment rentals to those who can't prove they live legally in the country.

Texas Judge Sexually Involved with Prosecutor During Death Penalty Trial

Normally, you would say unbelievable but in Texas you might say - "So what's so unusual about laughable and inhumane justice in Texas!"

Makes you wonder what they were doing over lunch breaks when a man was being tried for murder with a death penalty specification.

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Lawyers are demanding a new trial for Charles Hood, a convicted double murderer and death row inmate whose execution has been scheduled and postponed six times, most recently last Tuesday. US legal scholars have been appalled by reports that Verla Sue Holland, the judge who presided over Hood’s 1990 trial, was at the time conducting a clandestine affair with Thomas O’Connell, the state attorney who was prosecuting the case. Several law professors agreed that however compelling the evidence in the case, it was unthinkable for a murder trial to proceed if the judge and prosecutor were romantically involved.

State Anti-Immigrant Laws Working?

Experts say no - just following the money and moving to where jobs are more plentiful. When the economy goes sour it makes nomads or migrants out of lots of people wandering across America looking for a future and work?

clipped from www.newsok.com The cold Oklahoma air was a jolt to the 26-year-old artilleryman's system, but it paled in comparison to the shocking scene he found on the city's southeast side — a virtual vacuum. Everybody was gone, it seemed.

Got Fish? Get Your Newest Hemorrhagic Delight from the Global Marketplace!

Welcome to the Global Marketplace from which many benefits and negaitves flow freely since the short term dollar is what really counts and not long term human or planetary health.

Cornell researchers have found that a deadly fish virus detected in the northeastern United States for the first time in June in two species has probably spread to at least two more. But they have yet to determine whether the virus is responsible for the death of hundreds of fish in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in recent weeks.

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) was detected and confirmed for the first time in the Northeast.

VHSV causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species but poses no threat to humans or other animals.


Source: Cornell University
Date: July 20, 2006

News not found at Captain D's or Red Lobster - grin - VHS is viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a viral fish disease that has. caused large scale mortalities in rainbow trout and turbot aquaculture operations ...
www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Viral-Hemorrhagic-Septicemia-Fact-Sheet-11-9-2006_178081_7.pdf

But what about? "Hemorrhagic septicemia is a highly fatal disease of cattle and water buffalo."
www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/hemorrhagic_septicemia.pdf

And then there is:

Hemorrhagic Fevers

Also called: VHFs

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of illnesses caused by four families of viruses. These include the Ebola and Marburg viruses and Lassa fever virus. VHFs have common features: they affect many organs, they damage the blood vessels and they affect the body's ability to regulate itself. Some VHFs cause mild disease, but some, like Ebola or Marburg, cause severe disease and death.

When taken with...

Hanta virus are parasitic to rodents all over the world, but most of the Hanta virus are not causing disease to human being.

After infection, two kinds of acute syndromes may occur to human. One of them is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, HPS, and the other is hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, HFRS.



Infection is caused by contacting urine, excrement or saliva of virus borne mouse. The major transmission manner is human inhaled particles in the air generated from the excrement or secretion of Hanta virus-borne mice. Normally, people would not have contact with Hanta virus directly from mice, as Hanta virus is existed in the saliva, urine and other excrement of mice. The most common path is inhaling the particle bearing Hanta virus and acquired Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome is a contagion transmitted through air. Virus is transmitted through inhaling of contaminated, dried particles floating in the air (especially in sweeping or over turning carpet. When people inhales these particles, it is likely for them to be infected.

Other possible ways of Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome infection include: (1) Bitten by Hanta Virus carrying mouse, (2) ingest food or drink having been in contact with person carrying Hanta Virus, (3) nose, eye or mouth in contact with particle carrying Hanta Virus (such as slicking hand).

Moth, flea or other insect that may bite people have not been found of able to transmit Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome from mouse to human. In fact, no other animal has been found of relating with the transmission of Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome from mouse to human. However, it is still possible to be infected through dog or cat having in contact with mouse.

http://www.cdc.gov.tw/WebSite_En/Health%20topics/Communicable%20Diseases%20&%20Prevention/Hantavirus%20Syndrome/General%20information1.htm

Hemorrhagic with Renal Syndrome will cause hemorrhage and serious kidney failure, but Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome will not.

but from Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome...
The main cause of death is excessive protein containing fluid in lungs.

Global markets can be the source for good or ill for people, profit, and the planet - which end we get will depend on our collective and individual intent and daily actions.

I hope you and I choose well.

How Many Dollars to Turn on a Light in Bagdad?

$56 billion - That's how much! Or at least that's how much the US alone has spent on Iraq "reconstruction" between 2004 and 2006.

There is no electricity, clean water, sewers, fuel, or safety 24/7 in Iraq but the FOB - Friends of Bush - companies have pocketed $56 billion and more than 3,000 brave men and women of our military have died.

How many died because the reconstruction did not show the Iraqi people that the US was bringing them peace, freedon, and prosperity.

$56 Billion and no light, no water, sewers, safety! $56 billion to enrich the Bush League businesses.

Smells like corruption, high crimes and misdemeanors to me - how about you?

How many Americans can't afford healthcare or insurance but we can give Bush Leaguers $56 billion?

I am not sure how much more saddened I can feel about the waste, the lies, and the smiling faces in Washington that don't seems to have the courage or horno to do anything about saving American lives, Iraqi lives or our collective future.

I am mad as can be and will not take it any more! Every day until we have fixed this mess, I am writing to our Senators and Representatives and asking them what does it cost to get you to do something about saving our nation and sending the Bush League to the showers!

Walk Away from Global Warming

We Will Fail Trying to Stop Global Warming at a Dead Run -- But...
We Can Walk Away from Global Warming Step by Step

People - all of us - will not and our governments will not make really big changes to alter the dismal future that Global Warming will bring. Why? Because we and our governments will not make really big changes in how we live unless the reason is as obvious as nightly bombing raids over London. So forget about really big changes - they will not happen until it is too late and we are gasping for air.

But we will individually and collectively can build small changes into our lives that visibly impact our local environment -- and collectively our global environment.

Most people know that they have collectively messed up their local environment - fouled the air,lakes, coastline, earth. Everyone knows it is hotter in the city because it is mostly paved over and is made up of thousands of heat sources not so present in the countryside. So making small changes that are easily fitted into daily life is possible. And if these small changes also benefit the individual in some way, all the better.

Walking away from Global Warming Step by Step
1. Find a place to park your car a half mile farther from where you usually park to go to work each day.

You burn less fuel and increase your energy output. One mile additional a day, five additional miles a week, 20 miles a month will not only reduce carbon in the atmosphere, it will help you lose about 10 pounds in a month or so without even thinking about it.

2. If you can find a place to park and walk a half mile to a bus or train that will take you to work - even better scores for the environment and you still lose weight, save money and clean the air.

3. After six months or so, you might increase the distance to one mile -- that adds 15 minutes to your travel time one way. Not a big deal and double the benefit to the environment and your health or fitness.

4. Find a square yard or two around where you live that is currently paved over with concrete or asphalt. Break it up, use it to make a small enclosure and plant something or create a grass walkway. Get a little exercise, find pleasure in growing something and add your very own two square yard oxygen cleaner and generator.

5. Convince, cajole, browbeat, invite at least one additional person to take the same four steps with you.

Start adding up the numbers and benefits if millions of people do this. Not a bad start, eh and no additional taxes, speeches, government inaction, etc. Just people making small changes to save their world.

Letter to Iraq - Is That Enki Laughing?

Letter to Iraq

This morning, I dreamed that I was an Iraqi grandfather sipping my morning coffee and puzzling over the two dreams that came to me before the morning traffic awoke me.

In the first dream, I saw myself floating over the ancient land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers - Sumer and Akkad. In the time before Judaism, Islam, Christianity. The times of Gilgamesh, Sargon, when writing was developed, when the beginning stories were begun and before they were woven into the dreams of the sons and daughters of Abraham. Then floating over the court of Hammurabi, I saw mathematics being developed, records of trade, treaties being written down and the world's first laws based on the beliefs of Ur people that justice, mercy and humility held people together in peace.

I dreamed that all of Iraq's children dreamed that same dream with me and understood how great they had been and how great had their gifts been to humanity.

Then, I dreamed that the old trickster - Enki - is whispering in the shadows to two who claim to be friends of Iraq: Tell each one of these silly people that the other is a trap or a snare and that to escape, he must chew off his leg to be free and able to destroy the trap. Then when they have devoured each other and just one is left standing, you may easily divide their land among you and make their children and women your slaves.

Then I cried into my coffee, my tears made it even more bitter. I looked to heaven and wondered which dream would be Iraq's future - It's honorable and seed planting past, or a trickster's lies and plots?

Then I woke up - back in the USA - listening to American morning news experts claiming like Enki, they knew what was best for Iraq, The USA and the world.

And I hoped that my dream of Sumner, Ur, Akkad, and Hammurabi was dreaming itself again in the hearts of those who really hold the future of Iraq in their hands - the Iraqi's.