http://www.naturalnews.com/024506.html
by Mike Adams (see all articles by this author)
(NaturalNews) Following the release of a new study strongly correlating vitamin D deficiency with Parkinson's disease, the mainstream media (MSM) has once again gone out of its way to intentionally distort the findings of the study and mislead readers about vitamin D. The study was conducted by Emory University, the same university that has just had $9.3 million in NIH grants frozen because of undisclosed ties between its researchers and the drug companies (http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000362_...). Thus, from the start, we already know that Emory University researchers are working for Big Pharma and likely have a financial stake in promoting pharmaceuticals or discrediting natural alternatives.
Nevertheless, the study -- which was published in Archives of Neurology -- examined 300 people: 100 with Parkinson's, 100 with Alzheimer's and another 100 they called "healthy" (which, by modern medicine standards, could have been seriously diseased but not yet diagnosed with disease). The study found that 90% of the healthy people had sufficient vitamin D levels in their blood. In the Alzheimer's group, the number was lower: 84%. And in the Parkinson's group, it was lower still: 77%.
What the study showed was a statistically significant correlation between low vitamin D levels and higher risk of Parkinson's disease.
Why vitamin D is a miracle nutrient for the brain
To anyone who knows even a little bit about vitamin D, these results are not surprising. Vitamin D is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system. The protective effects of vitamin D on cognitive function are well known and well documented. You can see a sampling of the thousands of clinical studies on vitamin D and brain function here: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/...
Thus, it is no surprise that patients who lacked sufficient levels of vitamin D would suffer poor brain function and eventually be diagnosed with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, both of which are entirely preventable through nutrition.
But the relationship between vitamin D and neurological function remains a great mystery to those in the mainstream media (or so they want you to believe). In fact, they've gone to great lengths to misrepresent these clinical findings and try to twist the story around to imply that vitamin D causes Parkinson's!
The false headlines
Today's BBC health headline declares, "Parkinson's linked to vitamin D."
The implication, of course, is that vitamin D causes Parkinson's. There's a word conveniently missing from this BBC headline: "deficiency." The correct headline should be, "Parkinson's linked to vitamin D deficiency," right? But no, that would tell the truth. Instead, BBC editors have decided to remove the word "deficiency" and, in doing so, completely flip the meaning of the headline, making readers believe that taking too much vitamin D might cause Parkinson's disease. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/76667...)
Not to be outdone by the BBC, The Press Association parroted the same loopy logic in their own headline: "Vitamin D 'link' to Parkinson's" (http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM...). Just like the BBC headline, this carefully-phrased headline also implies that vitamin D causes Parkinson's.
The Craegmoor Healthcare news website in the UK went even further, declaring that sunshine is linked to Parkinson's! Here's their headline: "Sunshine linked to Parkinson's" (http://www.craegmoor.co.uk/news/industr...)
Do they really think readers are so stupid as to believe sunshine exposure causes Parkinson's disease? They're apparently willing to print the false headlines and find out.
Composing such obviously-false headlines requires an incredible leap of really bad logic (or a sinister agenda). But mainstream media journalists have had a lot of practice over the years, reporting lies about 9/11, the War on Iraq, vaccines and just about every other contentious topic gullible news consumers have swallowed without a single moment of critical thinking. To become a mainstream media journalist, the first thing you have to do is leave your brain at home. It's far better to arrive at work with a hollow head that can be filled with nefarious agendas and false facts.
Some of those journalists work at HealthDay news, of course, where today's headline in the Washington Post hilariously declares, "Parkinson's Patients More Prone to Vitamin D Deficiency." (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co...)
In case you missed that, this HealthDay headline implies that Parkinson's disease causes vitamin D deficiency! Wow. The idiocy of it would be hilarious if it weren't being reprinted in a news source read by so many people. I suppose scurvy causes vitamin C deficiency, too, and cancer causes vitamin D deficiency. Maybe osteoporosis causes calcium and magnesium deficiencies. It is a worrisome sign of the times when the mainstream media engaged in such blatant logic reversals and prints them as fact.
If it all sounds familiar, it should: George Orwell's 1984 book provided the template for such newspeak:
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
And vitamin D causes Parkinson's disease, if you believe HealthDay news.
I've found HealthDay news, by the way, to be the very worst agenda-driven health news misinformation organization in America. HealthDay editors have famously authored some of the most intellectually-challenged stories I've ever seen, including one that claims people can lose weight by chugging sodas and eating ice cream and pizza (http://www.naturalnews.com/022453.html).
HealthDay editors have also authored insanely stupid stories on vaccines (http://www.naturalnews.com/022479.html) and even a story that claims lip balm defies the laws of physics and bends light rays (http://www.naturalnews.com/023122.html).
Where does HealthDay find these people? And what do they make them smoke before they start work in the morning? Given how incredibly retarded some of the news reports are that come out of HealthDay, it's no surprise that they've achieved global distribution with CNN, the Washington Post, Yahoo, Business Week, Forbes, MSN and even iVillage. What these organizations do is copy and paste the misinformation from HealthDay and run it as their own stories. This is how health lies get spread through the mainstream media.
Today, HealthDay's home page declares, "Smoking Makes You Old Before Your Time." Gee, really? That might have actually been news in 1973, too.
Not all the MSM journalists are complete idiots
A few mainstream media sources actually got the vitamin D story right. Astonishingly, even WebMD managed to state the correct headline: "Low Vitamin D Level Tied to Parkinson's." (http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease...)
The Telegraph (in the U.K.) also got the story headline correct. It reported, "Lack of sunshine linked to Parkinson's" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop...)
Kudos to the Telegraph's medical editor, Rebecca Smith, who apparently has a far greater grasp of logic than, say, certain editors at HealthDay. Then again, the Telegraph is a far smarter newspaper to begin with.
But if you want to find really smart news sources, you've got to turn to the alternative press. Check out www.Alternet.org or www.OrganicConsumers.org or www.PRwatch.org
NaturalNews, of course, remains the most trusted online destination for honest news about natural health. We don't take money from any advertisers at all (other than Google, whose ads we don't choose). Our only "agenda" is to empower the People with honest, independent information they can use to prevent ALL disease (cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, you name it...) and enhance the quality of their lives.
Far too often, the agenda of the mainstream media is to distort the truth, and in doing so, intentionally mislead readers with harmful disinformation. A careful review of mainstream newspapers, magazines and news websites reveals a clear, intentional pattern of news distortion that just happens to benefit the drug companies that fund so much of their advertising.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mainstream Media Lies about Vitamin D Deficiency and Parkinson's with Deceptive Headlines
More Than 100 NLD Youth Members Resign
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14459
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By SAW YAN NAING Thursday, October 16, 2008
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More than 100 youth members of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), resigned on Thursday, complaining that they weren’t allowed to participate in decision-making.
The mass resignations followed a statement on Wednesday by NLD Chairman Aung Shwe announcing the appointment of six new youth advisors and assigning ten others to lead youth activities.
Nay Chi Win, one of those who resigned, complained that the appointments had been made by Aung Shwe without consulting other members of the NLD central executive committee or youth members.
“We became members of the NLD because we believed that the party can solve the conflict in Burma and the plight of the Burmese people,” Nay Chi Win said. “But we later realized that the party could not guarantee that.”
Nay Chi Win said: “The chairman doesn’t care about our viewpoints.” He and others who had resigned remained willing to cooperate in the future if the leadership decided to listen to their views, he said.
Nay Chi Win said those who resigned included newly-appointed youth advisors and leaders, naming Htun Zaw Zaw, Saw Maung Thein and Khin Htun. They had recognized that the actions of their leaders were against the basic principles of democracy, he said.
Khin Htun accused the NLD leadership of ignoring the will of the party’s youth members despite assurances that they wanted to encourage the work of youth members.
“Our organization is a democratic one,” he said. ”So, we must respect the basis of democracy. If we don’t respect the rules of democracy, it will be very difficult to work out the process of democratic reform in Burma.”
He said NLD leaders should allow youth members to take part in decision-making as their role was significant for the democracy movement in Burma.
“Youth is our future,” Khin Htun said. “So, I want to urge our leaders to include the viewpoint of the youth members.”
NLD Spokesman Nyan Win said he had no comment to make on the resignations
Burma's New Constitution: Radical Change or Fig Leaf?
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14457
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By JOHN FEFFER / IPS WRITER Thursday, October 16, 2008
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E-MAIL
WASHINGTON—After more than 15 years in the drafting, Burma unveiled its new constitution in February. The 194-page document has generated a widely disparate response.
In May, just days after Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit Burma and killed tens of thousands Burmese, the military government reported that 92 percent of the population supported the new constitution in a referendum vote.
The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), however, has categorically rejected the new document. And outside observers generally treat the constitution—as well as the referendum results—with skepticism.
From the current Burmese military government’s point of view, the constitution provides for a stable transition to democratic rule. Elections are scheduled for 2010, after which the new constitution would go into effect. The military has reserved 25 percent of the seats in both houses of parliament, but the remaining seats will be open to qualified candidates.
Some measure of autonomy is accorded to the states.
The third in Burma’s history—after an initial 1947 post-colonial document inspired by British common law and a socialist-era document drafted by the military junta in 1974— the new constitution provides at least the trappings of the rule of law. For instance, the constitution mandates the creation of a constitutional court, which will administer and interpret the law as well as preside over disputes between different branches of government.
According to Dominic Nardi, a Georgetown University law student and speaker at an October 8 seminar in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the court has a third critical function as an "elite insurance mechanism.’’
"If the political situation changes dramatically, if the opposition takes over one or both houses of legislation, a constitutional court ensures that minorities will have some protection under the law," says Nardi. "In transition from less liberal to more liberal forms of government, we see authoritarian leaders establish courts so that they have protection from prosecution after the transition."
The constitution also rules out demonetization. In 1987, the government introduced a new currency and wiped out the savings of millions of Burmese. The constitutional prohibition against demonetization is therefore a positive lesson learned, says David Steinberg, professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University.
At the same time, Steinberg notes that the constitution contains a get-out-of-jail-free card for the leadership: "No one can be tried for any crimes committed by the government in the past."
The military has protected its position in other ways. In an emergency, the president can hand power over to the military commander-in-chief for a year. Moreover, changing the constitution requires the consent of three-quarters of lawmakers. So it is quite difficult to change the army’s leading role, the process of choosing the president or even the process of amendment itself.
Nardi points out, however, that the US constitution is also a notoriously difficult document to amend, so that US leaders have gotten around the amendment process by focusing on judicial appointments and constitutional interpretation.
"Many people think the amendment procedure is a horrible provision. I don't think it will matter as much as many people in the opposition believe," Nardi argues. Other provisions in the new constitution "allow the speaker and the president to appoint judges to a constitutional tribunal. If you can’t amend the constitution, you could appoint judges more favorable to you and influence judicial interpretation."
Brian Joseph of the National Endowment for Democracy believes the constitution does nothing to advance democratic rights.
"The constitution drafting effort and the draft constitution offer us virtually nothing to hold on to," he says. "It may have some provisions that allow for protections or legislative action.''
But the essential characteristic is that the military can dismiss the government without cause,'' Joseph added. ''Whoever is governing, once they overstep their bounds, will be dismissed. So the government will constantly be looking over its shoulder."
Joseph does not believe that there will be any true power-sharing under the new constitutional order or any creation of space for the opposition. "They might hold elections in 2010," he observes. "The important thing is not the technical details of the constitution but whether people can organize, whether there’s freedom of speech and mobilization. If parties can’t organize, this is all just an empty exercise."
Joseph pointed out that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi cannot run for president because she was once married to a foreigner, which disqualifies her according to a provision of the constitution.
Mideast grapples with oil price slump
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ipZdOmXLahezEMQKNeBtYF6ZevvQD93QFEI00
Mideast grapples with oil price slump
By TAREK EL-TABLAWY – 1 day ago
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Vast, oil-fueled budget surpluses may cushion some of the Mideast's major oil-producing countries now that crude prices have plummeted. But Iran, Iraq and a handful of other nations face daunting challenges to make up the money in coming months because of the price drop and global financial crisis.
The differences are stark: developers in the United Arab Emirates — whose economy is more diversified — are still announcing multibillion-dollar building projects. But merchants in Iran went on strike the past few days over tax increases imposed to bolster the country's budget.
In Iraq, postwar rebuilding could be jeopardized if the vaunted oil-money budget surplus is smaller than expected; countries like Saudi Arabia may only need to trim more ambitious projects.
"The Gulf countries have enough reserves to get through rougher periods, and have based their budgets on oil prices lower than what we see today. But poorer countries like Egypt ... don't have those kinds of reserves," said Jon Alterman, Mideast program head for the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
As for Iran, the drop in oil revenue is likely to cause that country and its hard-line president even more economic headaches, heading into presidential elections next June. But few think, despite the recent strikes, that any political upheaval is at hand.
"Oil at $70 per barrel doesn't threaten (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad's hold on power," said Alterman. "Twenty dollar per barrel oil does."
Oil was trading at about $81 per barrel Tuesday in New York, well off the record high of $147 per barrel in July that allowed Mideast OPEC members to see revenues surge.
OPEC's more hawkish Mideast members, like Iran, are heading into a November meeting — to be convened a month before a previously planned meeting is due to be held — with sights set on securing an output cut. Iran has previously said it would like to see prices remain at $100 per barrel — a level few, if any, believe is currently sustainable.
Equally questionable is whether the cartel will definitely cut production, said Serene Gardiner, oil products analyst for Standard Chartered bank in Dubai.
"They're vigorously going to defend the $80 mark, but they're not going to call for $100," Gardiner said. "There's no point in pushing for something you'll never get."
More dovish members — namely Saudi Arabia, the cartel's kingpin and the world's largest exporter — are mindful that a repeat of the surging prices earlier this year could exacerbate demand erosion, particularly in the West, further fueling cuts in consumer spending and deepening the current financial crunch.
Iran's push, however, is understandable.
The Tehran government relies on energy exports for about 80 percent of its income — a level Ahmadinejad wants to sustain because of Iran's international isolation, caused by the dispute with the West over its nuclear program.
The slump in oil prices comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Ahmadinejad, whose economic policies have many Iranians seething even as he looks to muster support ahead of next year's elections.
Scores of the country's merchants went on strike last week in protest over a 3 percent sales tax the government introduced in September. Iran's merchant class played a major role in supporting the radical students who toppled the Western-backed Shah in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Bowing to pressure, the government agreed to suspend the tax. The strike, however, continued.
Officially, Iran is playing down the impact of the oil price fall: the IRNA news agency quoted an official in Ahmadinejad's office as saying the country had based its budget on crude between $55-$60 and that recent declines "will not affect our annual budget."
Iraq, however — struggling to rebuild — could see its hoped-for revenue drop even as it sits atop the world's third largest crude reserves.
A U.S. congressional auditors report found the Iraqi government could end this year with a budget surplus of as much as $79 billion, causing many Americans to fume since the U.S. has been pumping hundreds of billions into the country.
But that number now seems unlikely. Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabr said recently said that the decline in oil prices "no doubt will have a negative impact on Iraq's economy." Other Iraqi officials say they are studying the impact on their spending plans, but so far, nothing firm has been decided.
Other countries face more mixed pictures.
A recent report by the National Bank of Kuwait warned that if spending remains high in the 2009-2010 budget year, that country's budget "could slip into deficit for the first time in 11 years" but would likely return to surplus the next year.
In Saudi Arabia, oil revenues contribute about 54 percent of the country's GDP, according to several analysts.
The kingdom earned $244 billion in the first three quarters of 2008, compared to $194 billion in all of 2007, according to the Short-Term Energy Outlook by the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Energy Department's statistical arm.
Because of the recent drop, Saudi Arabia could face difficulty carrying out planned projects critical to its push to diversify.
But few analysts are ready to sound the sirens, at least about Saudi Arabia and the UAE — which brought in $78 billion in the first nine months of 2008, according to the EIA report.
The cautious optimism largely stems from the fact that Mideast OPEC members pegged their budgets to lower oil prices.
Marios Maratheftis, Standard Chartered's head of research for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, estimates the UAE government budget is based on a price assumption of $45 to $50 a barrel. Other estimates suggest that UAE, which draws income from vast foreign investments, could cover costs even at lower prices.
"There is a huge cash cushion that the government enjoys," he said.
Associated Press writers Diana Elias in Kuwait and Adam Schreck in Dubai contributed to this report.
World Markets Stabilize, but Recession Fears Grow
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1850456,00.html
By Bruce Crumley / Paris Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
The immediate euphoria that boosted world stock markets following the announcement of government plans to prevent broad financial collapse has now given way to longer-term worries that the world is entering a recession. After starting the week with two days of remarkable gains, markets in Asia and Europe Wednesday registered moderate losses similar to those of Wall Street, which dipped 0.82% on Tuesday. Like everyone else, traders are waiting for clearer signs of what the future holds.
Wednesday's activity reflected that measured concern dominating the ebullience that drove the previous two sessions. Apart from Tokyo's Nikkei — which ended the day 1.1% higher — bourses across Asia all slumped. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 5%, for example, following its 13% surge earlier in the week. Europe suffered similar shrinkage as London's FTSE 100 slipped 3.5% by noon, while Paris' CAC 40 and Frankfurt's Dax both shedded 3.1%. Some of that slippage, market analysts said, came from profit-taking on gains posted earlier in the week. But the major factor came from broader concern and confusion about just how bad — or not — the expected general economic downturn will be.
"Visibility is very poor, so it's impossible to see how badly the flagging real economy will be undermined by this," comments HervéGoulletquer, head of fixed income markets for French Investment Bank Calyon Crédit Agricole. "Growth in emerging markets next year had been expected to mitigate zero-growth anticipated in Europe and the U.S. After all that's happened, no one can say: this could be a mild slowing, or it could be severe."
Goulletquer applauds governments in the U.S. and Europe for committing to plans to save the world's finance system. Yet one of the main pillars of those rescue packages — guaranteeing loans between banks with the aim of unblocking frozen credit markets that most businesses and households rely on — has not yet provoked the intended reaction. And while it's still fairly early in the bailout game, political and business leaders are already viewing banks with growing impatience ast credit taps remaining shut.
Less than 24 hours after unveiling France's $488 billion rescue plan earlier this week, for example, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with the heads of the nation's top banks to urge them to extend loans to creditworthy business and households "without delay or additional constraints." Sarkozy pointedly reminded bank presidents that freeing up such funds — a basic necessity for business development and economic growth — was one of the main reasons governments around the globe have pledged trillions of dollars in tax payer money to rescue the financial system in the first place.
"The president insisted on the fact that everyone has to play the game," said Laurence Parisot, head of the organization representing France's largest employers, Medef, after the meeting. "Now that banks have the means to operate more or less normally, they must assume their role of irrigating the economy so companies can likewise function normally."
In revealing an additional $63 billion aid package to Britain's top three banks Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown similarly tabled a document detailing the plan, which noted beneficiaries must maintain "over the next three years, the availability and active marketing of competitively priced lending to homeowners and to small businesses at 2007 levels". Such vivid expectation isn't limited to France and Britain. In virtually all countries whose financial systems are being bailed out by the state, governments are beginning to apply pressure for credit to finally being circulating again.
But even if banks were to open the taps, there are growing questions about whether that could buck other worrying trends. On Wednesday, Britain announced its unemployment rate had jumped half a point to 5.7% — its highest in eight years. Last month the government acknowledged that France lost 40,000 jobs in August despite predictions of a net gain. Unemployment data and generally sagging company results, observers say, reinforce the view that Europe has already entered a recession.
The question such a specter poses to both banks and governments is vexing: doesn't extending new loans to companies and individuals whose income might significant suffer during economic shrinkage risk creating the same sort of toxic debt that provoked the on-going global crisis in the first place?
"Of course it is — it's like giving an alcoholic more booze," says Gabriel Stein, director of Lombard Street Research in London, noting that while the degree of debt varies by nation, it's become a troubling factor for households and companies throughout the developed world. "Banks are being told to lend money to people who have already surpassed their borrowing capacity — and being told to do so under the same terms applied during the credit boom. It's not a good idea." But so far, no one seems to have come up with a better one.
After the economic 9/11, we will face a new world order
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/opinion/Nick-Clegg-After-the-economic.4588451.jp
Published Date: 14 October 2008
By Nick Clegg
THE financial collapse we are seeing all around us may prove to be an economic 9/11. That was a security crisis, with security implications. This is an economic crisis, but its social and security implications are potentially just as severe.
In our world, economic strength is power, and until the dust settles from this crisis, we don't know where the power will lie. The international landscape may change radically, and that will mean new risks and new threats.
Any student of history kADVERTISEMENTnows that economic turmoil creates instability. Just think back to the Great Depression of the 1930s, which created the conditions for the resurgence of fascism that culminated in the Second World War. In the public imagination, economic failure is twinned with political failure. Dictators and fundamentalists use deprivation to their advantage, tapping into frustration to spark violence and secure loyalty. We see the consequences of economic insecurity all over the world, from Afghanistan, to Pakistan, to the poorer parts of our own country. Here in the UK, fundamentalists prey on men and women alienated by widening inequality.
We need to take steps now to restore economic stability and with it political legitimacy. Without firm action, the outlook for international relations will be bleak. Developed nations facing recession will have less money to spare. For countries where developed nations have been loathe to intervene, like Zimbabwe, Burma and Darfur, the domestic economy will be another excuse not to act.
Recession could also threaten existing military action. In Afghanistan, our troops lack vital equipment, the helicopters and armoured vehicles to carry out their mission effectively. The mission in Afghanistan may need to last many years. But recession could make that impossible.
In this new order, we will doubtless see a different America. America's role in the world has undergone great change, but its relative decline will be fast tracked by the economic crisis. The country that lost its moral credibility with the war in Iraq now risks losing its economic credibility as well.
Of course, no one should under-estimate America's ability to adapt, long a hallmark of American power. But the US will have to cope with the failure of a brand of capitalism it put its name to. This may mean a retreat to isolationism.
Volatile regimes that stand in opposition to the US will be emboldened by a diminished America. Already, Iran crows over a lame President. North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and others will look to benefit as the US turns inward with economic woes.
So, what can we do? How can the world cope with the unpredictable dispersal of power that we now face? It is time for Europe to step up to the plate. Much of Europe, Britain included, is on the verge of a recession. Whole countries, such as Iceland, are being driven to bankruptcy. When economic collapse risks a surge in conflict and cross-border crime, that's everyone's problem.
I welcome the EU's package of co-ordinated measures to tackle the financial crisis. But co-ordinated action has been too slow in coming.
I worked in the EU for 10 years. I understand as well as anyone the difficulties in co-ordinating a policy response across 27 sovereign states. But I also I know the EU represents a form of international co-ordination unmatched anywhere on the planet. It is up to European leaders to emulate the courage and co-operation that fixed the global economy the last time it lay in tatters.
European governments have a responsibility to reduce inequality at home and across Europe. We need greater fairness to create greater security too. That's one of the arguments for my party's pledge to cut taxes for society's worst-off, paid for by those who can afford it and a reduction in Government waste.
Europe must agree on a new regulatory system for its financial markets, and lead the way in redesigning the Bretton Woods institutions, which were created for a different era. We must now make it right for the 21st century.
The emerging powers of China, India and Brazil need a place at the top table.
Europe needs to make clear that multilateral trade will not be replaced with economic protectionism. The protectionism of the 1930s drove Europe into a fatal spiral in the 1930s. We repeat those mistakes at our peril.
Finally, European leaders must work together to undertake a massive expansion of renewable energy. Volatile oil producing nations cannot hold all the cards and hold financial stability to ransom.
The challenges for Europe, and the world, are clear. The events of the 20th century remind us that we must restore economic security today to avoid global upheaval tomorrow. The only way to do that is through a multilateral – a liberal – approach.
Global security depends on it.
Nick Clegg is the leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Sheffield Hallam.
Local Authorities Deny Chin Villagers Food Aid -IRRAWADDY
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14447
By LAWI WENG Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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The local authorities in Chin State refused permission on Monday to a Chin development agency in Rangoon to deliver emergency food aid to about 1,000 villagers in Chin State, western Burma, who are suffering from severe food shortages, said a source close to the agency.
The Country Agency for Rural Development (CAD), a Roman Catholic-based NGO which facilitates sanitation, education and construction projects in the most remote parts of Chin State, was told by local officials that it would not be allowed to send Chin villagers free packages of emergency food—mainly rice.
“The authorities told us: ‘Teach villagers how to find food, but don’t teach them how to get free food,’” a senior member of the CAD said.
The CAD had planned to transport the food packages to 20 villages some 80 km (50 miles) south of Haka Township, an area where it recently conducted an assessment of the crisis before announcing last week that some 1,000 villagers were facing a severe and immediate food shortage with supplies due to run out by the end of this month.
Despite the crisis, the local authorities have ordered the NGO to implement what they call a “Food Forward” project—initiatives aimed at implementing local development utilizing villager labor, paying villages for their collective efforts but not providing free supplies.
Following the news, the senior member of CAD said, “We live under their control, so we have to do what they say.”
According to the CAD’s assessment, farmers from seven villages in Haka Township are facing a food crisis while hundreds of acres of land are lying fallow after an infestation of rats destroyed rice crops followed by a drought earlier this year. The people have sold their domestic animals to survive because they can’t find jobs in the area, and are too far from the Indian border to walk there in search of food. By the end of this month 1,000 people will have nothing to eat, the NGO said.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, a representative of the Chin National Council, an exiled human rights group, said that the Chin villagers in question have not received any food relief or emergency supplies from the local authorities. In addition, the Burmese government has banned food supplies from foreign countries from being transported to Chin State.
According to the Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee, a relief group based in Mizoram, eastern India, about 100,000 of the 500,000 people in Chin State currently face food shortages.
The food crisis broke out in December 2007 when an infestation of rats destroyed crops.
A famine generally occurs about every 50 years in Chin State when the flowering of a native species of bamboo gives rise to an explosion in the rat population, say experts. The rats devour the nutrient-rich bamboo fruit before going on to decimate local rice crops.
In July, the International Rice Research Institute warned of “widespread food shortages” in the region.
Then in August, the Chin National Council reported that 31 children had died from conditions caused by a lack of food, such as diarrhea.
On September 10, British newspaper The Guardian reported that several Chin villages were facing a drastic crisis following the infestation of rats. Then on September 22, the Mawta Famine Relief Committee reported that at least five children had died of famine-related illness in Paletwa Township in Chin State.
Sources said that thousands of local people in Chin State are currently surviving on nothing more than boiled rice and wild plants.
Security beefed up in Arakan State-MIZZIMA
http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1142-security-beefed-up-in-arakan-state.html
by Phanida
Wednesday, 15 October 2008 19:01
Chiang Mai – Local authorities beefed up security throughout the Arakan State capital of Sittwe this morning, a city which has seen recurring unrest ever since the early days of protests last year ahead of September's Saffron Revolution.
Uniformed soldiers and army trucks were ubiquitous throughout Sittwe on Wednesday, including at monasteries, Lawkananda Pagoda, teashops, U Ottama Park, Mizan Park and other popular and crowded venues.
"They deployed security personnel, consisting of five to a group, at the (Lawkananda Pagoda) under the pretext of a VIP security cordon. In some strategic places we saw officers with the rank of Lieutenant or 2nd Lieutenant. There are about 400 security personnel manning stations in the city," a local resident said.
Other local residents confirmed the deployment of security personnel in the city, but could not comment as to the reason behind the actions.
The show of force came a day after celebrations to mark the full moon day of the Burmese month of Thadingyut, which commemorates the date when the Buddha is said to have descended to the earthly realm.
Though previously monks could be accompanied by devotees of their choosing during the rice alms ceremony to mark the occasion, this year each monk was only permitted to be accompanied by two middle or high school students.
"Over 480 monks attended the ceremony to receive offerings. Two students followed each monk. Previously the monks could bring whoever they liked. But this year the regional military commander arranged everything to ward off outsiders," a well-wisher in this ceremony related.
Starting from 9 a.m. yesterday, about 500 monks came to the Wingabar ground, opposite the Sittwe Myo Ma pagoda and circumambulated the ground before accepting alms at about 11 in the morning.
A local resident said that this year's Thadingyut festival was not as lively or prosperous as was typical prior to last year's mass protests.
"Last year, after the monk-led protests, there was no rice alms offering ceremony. This year there still was no zat (dance troupe performance) or festival market. There were only some cold drink shops, fried snack shops and vermicelli fish soup (Monehingar) shops. The people are familiar with the situation," she added.
Moreover, authorities continue to harass Arakan State National League for Democracy (NLD) members by visiting their homes and other regular places of convening.
In one instance, military intelligence agents came to the guest house and interrogated the Arakan State Yathaydaung constituency MP U Tin Thein Aung while he was on a social visit to Sittwe with his family.
"They watch and follow me wherever I go to check whether I am still active in my political activities or not. They employ the police inspector and some soldiers on stand-by duty to stay in front of my home," he said.
Moreover, Sittwe constituency NLD MP Nyo Aye is on the run after being frequently harassed by police personnel from the township police force, while NLD members from Tungup and Gwa Townships are facing a similar situation.
"They come and stop us when we go to our party meetings. Moreover, they threaten the motorcycle taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers, telling them not to transport us or risk facing dire consequences, while questioning them over our desired destinations," said Soe Lay, acting Secretary of the Tungup NLD.
"We are losing our human rights, including freedom of movement. All the NLD members cannot move around freely. We have to do something now. But they are putting pressure on us to stop our political activities and I see this is obstructing our political movement," he further remarked.
SPACE TECHNOLOGIES INDISPENSABLE TO CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
http://7thspace.com/headlines/295323/space_technologies_indispensable_to_challenges_of_climate_change_food_security_health_fourth_committee_hears_during_debate_on_peaceful_uses_of_outer_space.html
SPACE TECHNOLOGIES INDISPENSABLE TO CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH, FOURTH COMMITTEE HEARS DURING DEBATE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
Space Technology Like Double-Edged Sword -- It Could Serve World or Inflict
Devastating Harm, Delegates Also Told, With Many Opposing Militarization of Space
Space technology could be indispensable in addressing climate change, food security and health, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) was told as it continued its general debate on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space this morning.
The devastation caused by hurricanes in the Caribbean and by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in China had demonstrated the world痴 vulnerability to the forces of nature and the importance of building capacities to mitigate their effects, Ciro Ar騅alo Yepes, Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, said, as he introduced that body痴 report.
Space applications provided non-traditional but effective mechanisms for conducting environmental assessments, managing natural resources and providing early warning and disaster management tools, as well as education and health services in remote areas, he said. Multifaceted, they often offered, through a single instrument, the means for States to make development decisions, to implement global actions and to foster regional and interregional cooperation.
Having celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the space age last year, the Outer Space Committee had entered a new chapter and was tailoring its overall focus towards meeting development needs, he said. It had added agenda items on space and climate change and was considering issues related to space and water, international cooperation in improving the use of space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development, and space and society.
Warning, however, that space technology was like a double-edged sword that could both serve the world community and inflict devastating harm, Thailand痴 representative, speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), encouraged the international community to ensure that the benefits of space were widely shared among both space-faring and non-space-faring nations.
He pointed out that fewer lives would have been lost from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar if an effective early warning system had been in place, and he stressed the role that satellite technology and the UN-SPIDER programme could play in the future.
UN-SPIDER had already shown its worth during this year痴 earthquake in China and the recent floods in Namibia, said the representative of Brazil, on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). He urged it to consolidate its productivity to increase efficiency and improve costs.
Several countries highlighted the need for a closer link between the Outer Space Committee and the Commission on Sustainable Development, and emphasized that space technologies were critical to the future of all developing nations. The representative of Syria underlined that while space technology could enhance the capacities of developing countries to meet their development goals, particularly those related to agriculture and water resources, greater and low-cost or free access to data would be needed.
Providing real-world examples of how space technology could be employed to further development goals, the representative of India said the Indian Space Research Organization had created more than 400 village resource centres that acted as a single window delivery mechanism for space-based products and services. More than 33,000 tele-education classrooms had been established and medical consultations were being made available in rural areas through a telemedicine network. Already, 270 rural and local hospitals were taking advantage of expert medical consultancies to aid more than 500,000 people.
A number of delegates emphasized that the only way to ensure the peaceful use of outer space was by preventing its militarization. Some welcomed the submission to the Conference on Disarmament in February by China and the Russian Federation of a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the threat or use of force against outer space objects.
China痴 representative said that with space activities expected to ramp up in the years to come, the international community needed to work together for its harmonious use. All States had an 砥nshirkable・responsibility to prevent the militarization of, or an arms race in, outer space. She further stressed that space exploration and uses should be conducted within a legal framework and that efforts should be made to close the gap in the existing legal regime.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, France痴 representative said that Europe hoped to contribute to the Outer Space Committee痴 work by constructing a non-binding code of conduct for outer space activities that established basic rules and reduced the risk of collisions and space debris creation, while also strengthening understanding between nations.
The Committee Chairman, returning briefly to the item on decolonization, proposed that action on the draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/C.4/63/L.5) be postponed until tomorrow, 15 October.
Concerning draft resolution VI on the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, which is contained in document A/63/23, the representative of the United Kingdom introduced an amendment to the text痴 operative paragraph 2, by which the phrase, 殿nd where there is no dispute over sovereignty・would be deleted.
Also participating in the discussion on the peaceful uses of outer space were the representatives of Brazil, Iran, Thailand (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Kazakhstan, Colombia, United States, Cuba, Jamaica and Australia.
The representative of Chile took the floor on a point of order and Brazil responded.
The Fourth Committee will continue its general debate on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 15 October.
Background
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to take action on a draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/C.4/63/L.5). By its terms, the General Assembly would give strong support to Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), dated 30 April 2007, which, among other things, called on the parties to enter into negotiations without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the developments of the last months.
The present draft would welcome the ongoing negotiations between the parties held on 18 and 19 June and on 10 and 11 August 2007, and from 7 to 9 January and from 16 to 18 March 2008, in the presence of the neighbouring countries under United Nations auspices. It would commend the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement the Council痴 resolution. The Assembly would encourage the parties to continue to show political will and a spirit of cooperation. It would call on them to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross and to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The Committee was also expected to continue its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. (The report before the Committee is summarized in yesterday痴 Press Release GA/SPD/401.)
Action on Draft Text
Turning to the draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara (document A/C.4/63/L.5), the Chair proposed that, in consideration of gaining time, action on the text be postponed until Wednesday, 15 October.
After the Committee agreed to this postponement, the Chair then drew its attention to an amendment introduced by the United Kingdom to the draft resolution VI on the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, which is contained in document A/63/23. By that amendment, the words 殿nd where there is no dispute over sovereignty・would be deleted from operative paragraph 2, so that it now reads: 鄭lso reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions;・
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Introducing the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, that Committee痴 Chairman, CIRO ARﾉVALO YEPES, welcomed the new director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, Mazlan Othman. Mr. Yepes said the devastation caused by hurricanes in the Caribbean and by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, as well as the earthquake in China, demonstrated how vulnerable the world was against nature痴 forces and how important it was to build capacities to mitigate their effects. Loss of life and property could be avoided if better information was available through improved risk assessment, early warning and disaster-monitoring systems. The integrated and coordinated use of space technologies and their applications could play a crucial role in supporting disaster management by providing accurate and timely information and communication support in case of disasters.
Emphasizing that space tools were often indispensable in addressing interlinked areas such as climate change, food security and health, he said that the Outer Space Committee continuously sought to promote and increase awareness and capacity-building in the use of such tools. Space technology and its applications, such as Earth observation systems, meteorological satellites, satellite communication and satellite navigation and position systems, provided effective tools for monitoring and conducting environmental assessments, managing natural resources, providing early warning of and managing disasters, and providing education and health services in remote areas. Multifaceted, they often offered, through a single instrument, the means for States to make development decisions, to implement global actions, and to foster cooperation at the regional and interregional levels.
He underlined that the Outer Space Committee had actively promoted efforts aimed at bringing the benefits of space technology to all humanity. With the implementation of its most recent United Nations conference on outer space, UNISPACE III, it had aligned many of its activities with the Millennium Development Goals and had established action teams in priority areas. The establishment of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) and the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) were outstanding examples of the kind of concrete results that were needed.
Having celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the space age last year, the Outer Space Committee had entered a new chapter by actively developing its overall agenda on meeting development needs, he said. It had added agenda items on space and climate change and the use of space technology, and it was considering items related to space and water, international cooperation in improving the use of space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development, and space and society. As the main mechanism for the United Nations in the coordination of space-related activities, the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities was seeking to restructure its reporting mechanism and strengthen its role with respect to the Outer Space Committee. It was working to enhance coordination and cooperation among United Nations entities, and stronger Member State participation in its work was expected.
Continuing, he said that the Outer Space Committee and its subsidiary bodies, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee, had made considerable achievements with the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 62/217, which contained Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, and of resolution 62/101, which outlined registration practice. The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee had begun considering new agenda items on space debris and recent developments in global navigation satellites, while the Legal Subcommittee was considering capacity-building in space law and the general exchange of information on national legislation relevant to peaceful space exploration.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee had also established a new partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prepare a safety framework for nuclear power source applications, while the Working Group on Near-Earth Objects was considering the range of and suitable mechanisms for the handling at the international level of the threat of an asteroid colliding with Earth. On the legal front, working groups on the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space and on the definition and delimitation of outer space were moving forward.
Noting that the Committee had been involved in creating the international legal regime governing States・activities in their exploration and use of outer space, he pointed out that the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which, as the 溺agna Carta・of space law, had celebrated its fortieth anniversary last year. The Office of Outer Space Affairs had further elaborated and developed curriculums for space law education at the regional centres for space technology education. The subcommittees had also held symposiums on 鉄pace industry in emerging space nations・and 鏑egal implications of space applications for global climate change・
In closing, he noted that the Outer Space Committee痴 report provided a comprehensive overview of the wide range of topics. The United Nations family played a fundamental role in contributing to the peaceful uses of outer space and promoting international cooperation for the benefit of all countries. The Organization faced an important challenge in using non-traditional tools like those related to space technology to deliver better results to its main constituency -- the people of the world. Towards that goal, a road map for United Nations space policy was needed, and efforts at all levels and among all relevant stakeholders should be strengthened.
PIRAGIBE DOS SANTOS TARRAGﾔ, (Brazil), speaking on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), said that international cooperation was the cornerstone of efforts to maintain the peaceful uses of outer space. Space technology would become even more essential, particularly when used as an instrument for implementing world sustainable development. It would provide a quick and appropriate response to climate change, drought, loss of biodiversity and natural and man-made disasters. Cooperative efforts should be aimed at capacity-building, since international cooperation was crucial, as well as South-South alliances. An 登pen-sourced code・must be ensured to maximize the international use of space applications. He welcomed the draft treaty submitted by China and the Russian Federation on preventing weapons in outer space and the threat of use of force against outer space objects.
He said that ongoing implementation of UNISPACE III痴 recommendations was of great importance, and should lead to concrete results. Progress made at the roundtable on space technology and food security was also significant. He welcomed the schedule of workshops, training symposiums and conferences to be held in 2009 and would offer support in areas tied to space technology through regional institutions providing training. The Centre for Outer Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, called CRECTEALC (Centro de Educac卲n en Ciencia y Tecnolog僘 del Espacio Ultraterrestre para Am駻ica Latina y El Caribe), would offer many relevant programmes, such as a spring course on space-based solutions for natural disasters and emergency response, and campuses in southern Brazil would train regional professionals, public sector experts, and representatives from non-governmental organizations.
UN-SPIDER had become an important component and global network for disaster mitigation and ready response, and had clearly shown its worth during natural disasters, such as this year痴 earthquake in China, Cyclone Nargis and the recent floods in Namibia. It must now consolidate its productivity to increase efficiency and improve costs. The paths ahead should be seen as an opportunity to promote sustainability and benefit humanity as a whole.
MANAR TALEB ( Syria) said the efforts of the Outer Space Committee were enhancing the peaceful use of space and space technology. The report indicated the importance of the recommendations of enhancing developing countries・capacities to allow them to meet development challenges, particularly those related to agriculture and water resources. That could enhance local and regional capacities, particularly the recommendations of UNISPACE III. Yet, action plans should be devised to build on that work and implement those recommendations.
Noting the interlinkages between the Outer Space Committee and the Commission on Sustainable Development, he welcomed Chile痴 proposal to organize a workshop on the application of space technology. It was important to involve a larger number of countries, particularly developing countries. Underlining the stress placed on access to data by the Outer Space Committee痴 report, he said greater and low-cost or free access to such data was needed for developing countries to harness the benefits of space technology. For its part, Syriahad enhanced its cooperation in all areas, through training workshops and information exchanges. A number of projects, including one aimed at producing and using maps for land-use issues, had been launched in the Middle East, with national organizations. The issues had been discussed at a recent meeting of Arab experts.
He said the natural disasters, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as well as transnational crises, underlined the need to manage natural resources via space-based technologies. In that regard, the work of UN-SPIDER should be enhanced. But the militarization of outer space underlined the very principle and concept of outer space, as well as the efforts made to ensure non-proliferation. Thus, Syria had supported the proposal made by China concerning the development of a treaty banning the weaponization of outer space.
ESHAGH AL HABIB (Iran), stressing that said outer space was the province of all mankind and that its peaceful uses should be protected, said his country attached great importance to international cooperation in gaining optimal benefit from space-based applications. The most spectacular uses of outer space were related to the benefits to human development. To that end, Iran supported a closer link between the Outer Space Committee and the Commission on Sustainable Development.
He further stressed that the geostationary orbit, as a limited natural resource, should be fairly and equitably accessible to all countries, regardless of their technical capabilities. Iran strongly believed that the international community could do more and better to benefit from space technology, provided it was not diverted to and used for military purposes, for which the international community must fully support initiatives aimed at preventing the weaponization of space. Such a development would be a major threat to humankind.
As a developing country, Iran conducted its space-related activities on the basis of the principles stipulated in the relevant General Assembly resolutions and related international instruments. It had signed and ratified several space-related instruments and had hosted the first workshop on space law in November 2007. The practical uses of space science were an integral part of the development agenda and were significant in managing and controlling natural resources, monitoring water pollution, predicting floods and droughts and mitigating their effects. Space technology could also be highly useful in disaster management. The work of UN-SPIDER had considerable merit in that regard, and Iran would continue to work closely with that programme.
Taking the floor on a point of order, the representative of Chile said he wished to make a clarification. Noting the 鍍ight relationship・between Chile and Brazil, he said it must be an oversight that Brazil, in the statement it had delivered on behalf of MERCOSUR, had not included Chile痴 contribution. Chile was, he emphasized, a member of MERCOSUR. As such, it had been asked to make its contributions to the common statement. It had done so, but in that process, it had followed the procedure of asking its Foreign Ministry for instructions. The response had been transmitted on Saturday and had been sent to Brazil痴 mission.
Continuing, he stressed that his delegation was associated with MERCOSUR and it would have been preferable if that statement had not been made on behalf of MERCOSUR if all members・points of view were not incorporated. Failing that, his delegation could have been told yesterday that its contribution had not been incorporated into the MERCOSUR statement. That might be due to the lack of experience of the Brazilian Ambassador, he added.
Responding, the representative of Brazil said that he regretted that that type of bilateral discussion had to take place in the Committee. He did not attribute that to an oversight on the part of Chile痴 ambassador, but to his loss of reasonable behaviour -- given his many years of service. The discussion at hand could have been had over a cup of coffee, and not in the Committee. His statement had attempted to represent all points of view of the member States of MERCOSUR, but there had not been time to reconvene all members after Chile痴 contribution was received over the weekend. Nevertheless, Chile remained a friend of Brazil and MERCOSUR member.
CHEN PEIJIE ( China) said that with space activities expected to ramp up in the years to come, the international community needed to work together for its harmonious uses. Since peace should be the cardinal principle by which all space activities must abide, the militarization of, or an arms race in, outer space was against the 鍍ide of the times・ and preventing it was the unshirkable responsibility of all States.
She said that a 塗armonious outer space・was an outer space for peace, cooperation and development, under the rule of law. In the past year, China had continued its active part in United Nations, and other multilateral cooperative, activities, and preparations for Beijing痴 UN-SPIDER office were under way. China was committed to promoting space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and it supported the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization. The on-orbit handover of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite in January marked another achievement in China痴 bilateral cooperation efforts.
Space exploration and uses should be conducted within a legal framework, and States should make joint efforts to close the gap in the existing legal regime governing outer space and address its flaws. Over the years, China, along with other States, had submitted working papers to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. In February, it tabled a draft treaty, jointly with the Russian Federation, on the prevention of the deployment of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force against outer space objects. It had received positive feedback from many States, and, hopefully, substantive discussions would begin as soon as possible to conclude an international legal instrument.
In closing, she drew attention to China痴 launch of the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft and the first Chinese astronaut to carry out extravehicular activities. That illustrated an 殿ncient Chinese vision of harmony between man and universe・
CHIRACHAI PUNKRASIN (Thailand), speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), encouraged the international community to ensure that the benefits of space science and technology were widely shared and made accessible to both space-faring and non-space-faring nations. He congratulated the United Nations Office for Outer Space and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for another year of successfully promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and assisting developing countries to use space technology and applications. ASEAN welcomed the new Committee members, Bolivia and Switzerland, and hoped a broader membership would encourage development of new knowledge and expand international cooperation.
He reaffirmed the core principles of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial bodies, and hoped that space technology and applications would be strictly used for peaceful purposes only. Space science and technology was like a double-edged sword, which could both serve the world community and inflict devastating harm.
He reiterated ASEAN痴 support for UN-SPIDER, as satellite technology would promote disaster monitoring and management. The loss of lives from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar would have been lessened, or ultimately avoided, if there had been an effective early warning and better use of technology in managing those disasters. Initiatives such as Sentinel Asia would also be prudent. ASEAN would support endeavours of the Working Group on the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space under the Space Committee痴 legal subcommittee, as the boundaries of outer space in its various aspects must be clear to States and non-state actors, as well as to the private sector.
Space technologies, shared through international cooperation, particularly via education and technology transfers for developing countries, were one of the most effective tools for attaining worldwide sustainable development, he said. Thailand planned to co-host the United Nations Workshop on Space Law in Bangkok in November, and it invited all Member States to actively participate. The gathering of representatives, experts and other stakeholders would encourage the sharing of expertise and exchange of views on space law to pave the way for the more responsible, equitable, efficient and peaceful uses of outer space.
MARIE-ANNA LEBOVITS (France), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Union was convinced of the importance of using outer space for peaceful purposes in the areas of technology, knowledge and understanding, rather than conflict. It was also convinced that, in recent years, space had become essential for positioning communications satellites and for opening up territories to enable even the world痴 most isolated areas to have a vital link to the rest of the planet. To that end, broadband access must be provided to island territories and eventually to desert regions, whose development was contingent on access to new technologies. Stressing the usefulness of space technologies for disaster forecasting and prevention, she underlined the Union痴 support for UN-SPIDER. She also commended the performance of the 鼎OROT・satellite, which had discovered five new extra-solar planets.
Underlining the key role the Outer Space Committee played in disseminating and promoting space痴 peaceful uses, she welcomed the panel discussion on space applications and food security. She also commended the General Assembly痴 approval of the resolution on space debris, noting that those guidelines should be updated in a timely manner as practices in outer space positioning changed.
For its part, the European Union intended to make progress on the two emblematic programmes: Galileo for radio navigation and Kopernikus, she said, adding that it also intended to enhance the use of space technologies in fighting climate change, so that the scale of the phenomena could be more accurately measured and better understood. Those technologies should also be used to mitigate climate change痴 effects. Emphasis should also be placed on developing new services, using integrated space applications such as GPS (Global Positioning System) telecommunications and Earth observation. The Union was also considering a framework to create dialogue with other space Powers to organize a global organization effort.
Aware of the importance of transparency, confidence and security in space matters, the European Union considered the universalization and implementation of the relevant agreements and treaties to be of utmost importance, she said. It also hoped to further Europe痴 contribution to the Outer Space Committee痴 work by constructing a non-binding code of conduct for outer space activities. That code would set the basic rules for States in outer space and reduce the risk of collisions and space debris creation, while also strengthening understanding between nations. The code should be supplemented by measures drawn up by the working group on the 斗ong-term viability of outer space activities・
BYRGANYM AITIMOVA ( Kazakhstan) urged international cooperation in the application of space technologies for peaceful purposes and sustainable development, which was important for ensuring comprehensive social and economic progress. She endorsed the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, particularly concerning active cooperation between Member States.
She said that Kazakhstan痴 launching pad facility, Baikonur, contributed to international space activities and supported United Nations development efforts. Her country had ratified the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies and had adopted a national programme for space activities through 2020. The first national geostationary communications and re-broadcasting satellite was launched two years ago, with a second satellite set to be launched next year. There was also a long-term plan to construct a high-tech satellite for remote sensing of the Earth. The application of space technologies, such as remote sensing and environmental monitoring, was critical to the development of the world agricultural sector and had special relevance to the global food crisis.
Ecology and environmental protection should be another international priority, and required extensive application of space science and technology, she said. The international community was not aware of the grave global ramifications of the drying up of the Aral Sea, and technical and financial assistance to the population of that region had long been sporadic. The use of space science and technology was extremely important in monitoring that region. Additionally, the former Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground required multilateral cooperation to more effectively address that 都creaming problem・ She welcomed the outer space Committee痴 report, particularly the 都ocial benefits areas・ which promoted the availability of data on agriculture, biodiversity, climate, disasters, ecosystems, energy, health, water and weather in times of food crisis. Information on remote sensing of regions, especially those suffering the adverse effects of climate change, should be shared on credit or for gratis.
TARIQ ANWAR ( India) said that, as a member of the International Charter on 鉄pace and Major Disasters・ India had taken an active part in implementing the Charter by providing assistance through its remote sensing and support services to the countries affected by Cyclone Nargis and the earthquake in China. India had also launched several satellites in 2008 and intended, in the coming years, to provide opportunities through its satellite launching to students and scientific communities developing countries.
Turning to space applications, he underlined his country痴 efforts to provide quality education across the country, through the establishment of more than 33,000 tele-education classrooms. It was also working to make medical consultations available to rural areas through a telemedicine network. Already, 270 rural and local hospitals were taking advantage of expert medical consultancies to aid more than 500,000 people. More than 400 village resource centres had been created by the Indian Space Research Organization, and were acting as a single window delivery mechanism for space-based products and services and providing valuable inputs to the local community.
He said that India痴 first unmanned mission to the moon was expected to launch in the coming days. Carrying scientific instruments of the United States, the European Space Agency and Bulgaria, it was an example of how scientists from different countries could share expertise for the benefit of humankind. The Indian Space Research Organization was also working with its Russian counterpart on a joint lunar mission, and it was building a satellite to carry out meteorological observations in the tropical region. That played a significant role in creating a global databank for addressing issues related to weather and climate change. The organization was also working to assist developing countries in applying space technology; it had conducted several research workshops for scholars at its Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific region.
CLAUDIA BLUM ( Colombia), supporting the statement made on behalf of MERCOSUR, said she recognized the commitment of members of the Fourth Committee, as well as of the Legal and Scientific and Technical Subcommittees, for advancing in the application of the recommendations arising from the third UNISPACE conference, including the action plan adopted by the General Assembly.
She said her country had cooperated in advancing research and education centres such as those of the United Nations Program on Space Applications. In 2007, more than 800 students received training in geospatial technologies, 130 of whom came from Latin America. The Colombian Space Commission, created in 2006, supported strategies to integrate efforts and optimize investments to put space technologies at the service of Colombian society and sustainable development. Colombia was committed to regional cooperation, and its actions were in line with the 2006 San Francisco de Quito Declaration. Deployment of weapons in outer space must be avoided, and communication should be promoted between the Fourth and First (Disarmament and International Security) Committees.
Geostationary orbit was a limited natural resource, which ran the risk of becoming oversaturated, she stressed. Its use must therefore be based on rational and equitable access by all countries, and should not be restricted to commercial uses to the detriment of social functions. Additionally, Member States and Permanent Observers should consider making contributions, through the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, particularly in 2010 and 2011. The Outer Space Committee痴 contributions had proved fundamental in promoting better understanding of the interaction between the Earth痴 system and human development. That deepening cooperation could become the guiding light on the path towards sustainable development.
KENNETH HODGKINS ( United States) said that the Office for Outer Space Affairs deserved congratulations for its support to the Outer Space Committee. As the only standing body exclusively concerned with the peaceful uses of outer space, the Committee痴 work was particularly important. In the past year, several significant achievements had been made, and those were a fitting tribute to the Committee痴 fiftieth anniversary. Over its half decade, the Outer Space Committee had been a catalyst in promoting cooperation and fostering the exchange of information.
He said that 2008 also marked the forty-fifth anniversary of General Assembly resolution 1962, the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space. Adopted at a time when global interaction in outer space was a new reality, it had recognized that that interaction presented unique legal issues. Member States had also understood that the nature of outer space would be the development of human activities, which would be best served by a pragmatic and gradual approach to these legal issues. The resulting legal framework had stood the test of time. The resolution had established the fundamental principles in the use of outer space and set the foundation for the four treaties that governed outer space interaction.
Noting that 2008 was also the fortieth anniversary of the entry into force of the agreement on the rescue and return of astronauts, he said it remained as important today as it was at its inception. It elaborated the simple but humanitarian principle that an astronaut should be regarded as an envoy of mankind. Space remained a dangerous realm and that treaty provided a useful framework in that regard.
Turning to the subcommittees, he welcomed the Legal Subcommittee痴 work on space law, particularly the introduction of a new single issue item on the General Exchange of Information on National Mechanisms Relating to Space Debris Mitigation Measures. The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee had also made strides, reaching consensus on a draft safety framework on nuclear power in space. The International Heliophysical Year had highlighted the effects of the sun on daily activities, and he looked forward to finding ways for the international community to continue to address the field of solar-terrestrial physics. It was also pleased to see the Subcommittee address the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) through the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. It was also making progress in encouraging compatibility among global and regional navigational satellite systems and their integration into countries・infrastructure, particularly developing ones. Also encouraging had been the progress made in considering the spin-off benefits of space exploration and the role of the Outer Space Committee in promoting international cooperation in ensuring that outer space was maintained for peaceful purposes.
CAMILO GARCﾍA LﾓPEZ-TRIGO ( Cuba) said it was paradoxical that in the modern world some countries spent millions on an arms race in space, while others worked to ensure that space was the common property of mankind, used for nobler ends like sustainable development and the prevention of natural disasters.
He said that the current legal status was insufficient to prevent an arms race in space, and the Conference on Disarmament should play a leading role in the urgent negotiations on multilateral agreements for preventing one. He reiterated the importance of redoubling efforts in that regard, as an outer space arms race would not only destroy the promising future of space applications, but also jeopardize their very existence. The Outer Space Committee should play a special role in spreading and promoting the peaceful uses of outer space, and improve ethical principles and legal instruments to ensure the peaceful, just and non-discriminatory use of all space applications.
Despite limited resources, Cuba was increasing its development of space research, such as an increased use of meteorology, he said. Meteorological forecasts, based on high resolution satellite images, and the organizational measures of preventative evacuation allowed for a significant reduction in the loss of life in the hurricanes that had recently lashed the country. Climate change and food security must be addressed within the framework of the Outer Space Committee, and the interrelationship between the Committee and the Commission on Sustainable Development should be strengthened and developed. Close and coordinated cooperation among countries, without discrimination, was crucial to making optimum and responsible use of the unlimited possibilities provided by space research and applications.
RAYMOND WOLFE (Jamaica), noting that yesterday痴 panel discussion on space technology and food insecurity had reinforced the theme of the current General Assembly session, said the discussion had also highlighted how space applications could contribute to combating hunger and raising agricultural productivity, thereby helping to alleviate the current food crisis. That crisis was a paramount global challenge and, as such, demanded that all means be used to prevent it from ballooning into a global epidemic. He, therefore, urged the widespread use of space technology in that effort, particularly in developing countries.
He said that the Caribbean countries continued to reap the disastrous consequences of the Atlantic Hurricane season. With six weeks to go in the 2008 season, his country, like Haiti and other Caribbean neighbours, had already suffered significant damage. He welcomed efforts by UN-SPIDER to address disaster management, including through regional workshops. As the countries of the region continued to combat the disastrous effects of climate change, they looked forward to the use of space-based technologies to enhance those endeavours. Space applications had the potential to aid sustainable development and disaster management, including through the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Indeed, space technologies were critical to the future of all developing countries. As the common heritage of humankind, space should be used for peaceful ends; no State should take any action that could result in its militarization.
JOANNA GASH ( Australia) said that concerns over global food security had arisen out of a complex set of drivers that influenced both food supply and demand, including population growth, dietary changes associated with economic development, climate variability and the diversion of food commodities to biofuels. Space-based observations would play a critical role in all of those food supply issues through the use of remote sensing to characterise productivity constraints, raise resource efficiency, and improve agricultural yield.
Providing numerous examples of how space technologies were currently supporting a range of Australian research programmes, she said that Australia was seeking to maintain and grow the productivity and sustainability of its farming systems. While Australian agriculture faced significant challenges in terms of climate variability and change, Australian agricultural research and development was making active use of remote sensing to search for more efficient resource use and sustainable land management. Her country was also engaging in a range of international partnerships to apply remotely sensed information to the management of global resources and address the food security challenge.
She said her country was looking to improve its investment in agriculture research, in order to lift agricultural productivity. Precision images projected from satellites made it possible to predict changes in crop yields, measure sea surface temperatures and track bush fires. Global positioning systems allowed the further development of precision agriculture and could reduce costs, increase production and improve the sustainability of agricultural practices. Space technologies were becoming increasingly vital for the accurate and efficient management of national resources, and it was important that they were also made accessible to developing and least-developed countries to help them reach their development potential.
Published on: 2008-10-15
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World recession fears shake markets
http://english.aljazeera.net/business/2008/10/2008101520730136627.html
e US government said it would buy stakes in troubled financial institutions [AFP]
US stocks have suffered their worst day since the 1987 stock market crash, capping a day of losses around the world amid fears a global recession may be unpreventable.
The Dow Jones industrial average plunged to close eight per cent, or 733 points, lower at 8,577 on Wednesday, despite reports of strong profits from large companies such as Coca-Cola and Intel.
Investors' mood soured after a government report showed that sales at US retailers last month fell by the biggest monthly drop in more than three years.
The news shook the markets as consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of US economic activity.
John Terret, Al Jazeera's correspondent in New York, said: "It has been another terrible day in New York City.
"There are concerns that the bailout of banks won't work, banks still will not lend and there are worries of a US and global recession.
"The Dow has opened positive for only one day in October."
Recession fears
Markets in Australia, South Korea, China and Taiwan also fell on Wednesday, though Japanese share prices ended the day up 1.06 per cent, extending the previous day's record gains.
Share prices in Europe plunged as fears of a coming recession grew.
At the close, Frankfurt's Dax 30 index slipped by 6.49 per cent to 4,861 points, French stocks dipped 6.82 per cent to 3,381 points and London's FTSE100 finished down 7.16 per cent to 4,079 points.
"After the colossal gains achieved at the start of this week, it would seem that the hangover has kicked in and investors have sobered to the reality that recession is here," Andrew Turnbull, senior sales manager at ODL Securities, said.
Recession
The head of San Francisco's branch of the US Federal Reserve on Tuesday said that the US economy "appears to be in recession".
"The recent flow of economic data suggests that the economy was weaker than expected in the third quarter, probably showing essentially no growth at all," Janet Yellen said.
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"Growth in the fourth quarter appears to be weaker yet, with an outright contraction quite likely," she said. "Indeed, the US economy appears to be in a recession."
Recession is broadly defined in the United States as more than two quarters of decline in real gross domestic product.
"All the good news has now come out," Masatoshi Sato, a broker at Japan's Mizuho Investors Securities, said, referring to the bailouts and rescues. "Attention has now shifted to the real economy."
A handful of countries, including New Zealand, Ireland and Singapore have already confirmed that they are in a recession, while Japan and Germany, the world's second and third-biggest economies, have said they were on the brink of a downturn.
"We have to expect a weakening of growth," Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said on Wednesday. She added that the slump would not be a sustained economic downturn.
Merkel made the comments ahead of a European Union summit meeting, at which Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, called for changes to the global economic system.
"If we are going to sort out global financial problems that are recognised to be global, we need better ways of doing this," he said after meeting Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.
"The IMF has got to be rebuilt as fit-for-purpose [for the] modern world. We need an early warning system for the global economy."
The leaders of the G8 group of industrialised countries - the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia - said in a statement that changes had to be made to the "regulatory and institutional regimes for the world's financial sectors".
They agreed to hold a summit with other nations in the near future to discuss the crisis.
Emergency fund
Meanwhile, South East Asian nations, along with Japan, China and South Korea, agreed to set up a multi-million fund to buy up debts and support the region's banks, Gloria Arroyo, the Philippines president, said.
"The facility can be used to purchase what the bankers call 'toxic assets' and recapitalise troubled financial institutions and private companies," she said.
Arroyo said that the World Bank had committed to initially provide $10bn to the fund.
Analysts said there was no immediate need to recapitalise banks or companies in Asia as few were exposed to the crisis, although Asian financial markets have been badly hit by contagion.
"There is no such pressing need in Asia yet for such a fund. But it is a good development as it will prepare Southeast Asian nations to better take care of any banking problems that may occur," Ritesh Maheshwari, a primary credit analyst at Standard & Poor's rating agency, said.
Governments around the world have pledged around $3.2 trillion in a variety of schemes to combat the worst financial crisis in decades which has caused the failure of several financial institutions around the world.
Also on Wednesday, Iceland's central bank cut interest rates by 3.5 per cent from a record high of 15.5 per cent as it struggled to deal with the impact of the global credit squeeze on its economy, which is heavily weighted to the banking industry.
'Objectionable'
Henry Paulson, the US treasury secretary, said a day earlier that the US plan to buy stakes in financial institutions was "objectionable", but necessary.
"Today's actions are not what we ever wanted to do," he said. "But today's actions are what we must do to restore confidence to our financial system."
Nine banks have agreed to join the US government programme, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America.
Banks signing up will have to agree to limits on executive pay and other benefits, Paulson said.
The plan will also temporarily guarantee all non-interest bearing transaction accounts, providing some relief for small businesses, and most new debt issued by insured banks .
"These measures are not intended to take over the free market, but to preserve it," Bush said of the government intervention that many economists regard as contrary to the US core principles of free-market capitalism.
India-Myanmar trade and investment talks
http://www.newspostonline.com/national/India-Myanmar%20trade%20and%20investment%20talks%20-200810159069
admin October 15th, 2008 National
New Delhi, Oct 14 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh is heading an official delegation for trade and investment talks with the Government of Myanmar in Mandalay at Myanmar today.
During the talks, Ramesh will take up the issue of expanding trade centres along the 1600-kms India-Myanmar border. At present, Moreh in Manipur is the only operational trade centre on the border. India will propose two additional such centres-Avangkhu in Nagaland and Zowkhathar in Mizoram which is also a long-standing demand of these two states.
In addition, India will propose an expansion of items to be traded with a view to move towards normal free trade very soon at these centres. India is also expected to reiterate its offer to include Mynamar in the duty free tariff preference scheme announced by it for LDCs.
The details of the financing mechanism to facilitate expanded bilateral trade will be also be firmed up during the Mandalay talks. UBI has already signed an agreement with the Foreign Trade Bank of Myanmar for establishing such a mechanism.
Myanmar will be the beneficiary of the Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be signed by India and ASEAN in Bangkok, later this year. Myanmar is also a member of Bay of Bengal Multisectoral Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) agreement involving Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.
India is hosting the BIMSTEC Summit in New Delhi in mid-November 2008. India’s exports to Myanmar in 2007/08 amounted to about 185 million dollars, while its imports from Myanmar were valued at around 810 million dollars.
On October 16, the Myanmar Prime Minister and Ramesh will inaugurate a Centre for Enhancement of IT Skills established at Yangon with Indian assistance of two million dollars.
This Centre, to be run by Indian professionals, is equipped to train 1000 youth every year initially who will be awarded a diploma of the Pune-based Centre for the Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) which is an institution under the Ministry of Information Technology. (ANI)
Exporting of diamonds in Burma
http://soopermedia.blogspot.com/2008/10/exporting-of-diamonds-in-burma.html
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Blood diamonds or rubies are the main source of revenue, supportive tool of despotic rulers of Africa and dictatorial rulers of Burma. Approximately 90% of world‘s exporting diamonds and gemstones is organized by the tyrannical regime of Myanmar and military rulers have undertaken about $750 million dollars, having gigantic profiteering shares in world s’ highest quality gemstones marketplace since 1964. The gem merchants of Bangkok display glossy wares with great pride, exporting all diamonds from Africa, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The reddish gemstones, “Blood diamonds” of Burma are well-renowned for their fantastic transparent look and reddish shades. The military dictatorship is involved in fundraising for their regime by totally dependence upon the exportation of the precious gemstones like sapphires, pearls, emeralds, topaz, jade etc. rubies of Myanmar has produced major source of income for the military rulers as almost 90% of world ‘s rubies are exported from Myanmar.
The worldwide indignation against the repressive attitude of the generals of Myanmar has encouraged the EU to disallow the trading of Myanmar s’ gemstones, one of the major exporter of diamonds in the world. US government is also under pressure to tighten a loophole on the current US sanctions which let the trading of precious stones of Burma. But the trading of Myanmar‘s gems has been continuing in its neighboring country, Thailand which has direct business deals with military junta of Burma. The citizens of Burma have been exploiting under the pressure of despotic rulers who are involved in sales of precious gems to support their dictatorial government. As the military rulers never feel any hesitation to shoot the protestors or uprising movement of the Buddhist monks who protest against repression and exploitation of Burmese dictatorship. Myanmar's generals have entire control over the exporting of diamonds since 1964 and they have been earning massive amount of income about $750 million. A large number of precious diamonds and gemstones are smuggled over the border into china and Thailand.
China, Thailand, Canada, France, the U.S.A, and Italy are the main bidders of blood diamonds of Burma and they are importing the largest part of gemstones of Myanmar to their countries. Though many times some trade sanctions are imposed upon Myanmar gemstones due to its uprising movement of public against their rulers ‘s repressive attitude but there is no use of such restrictions as the exporters of gemstones in Myanmar are running their business boastfully in spite of all such international trade ban. The defense ministry or military officers rule over Burma s’ gemstone trade dominantly and all major countries including china, India, Thailand, Singapore, America, Canada and France are scooping up Burmese diamond exportation. The government's Myanmar Gem Enterprise, Burmese Export Company has been developing its exporting business of gemstones with the ratio of 45% every year. The gem auctions are arranged by the military regime twice a year since 1964, having official hold on gem trade by Myanmar government. Blood Diamonds is a famous movie, depicting the repression, exploitation and brutal attitude of despotic rulers upon their common laymen by snatching away their precious asset without the proper payment to them.
This film is a true representation of tyranny and greediness of dictatorial regime of developing countries where the rulers are exploiting the public by having entire hold over the precious asset of the country. The perfect solution of deterring such brutal and tyranic attitude of Burmese government is to convince the international marketers not to buy Burmese gems which support the fund-raising campaigns to sustain military regime in the country. There should be some uprising protests with this slogans in international marketplace of gemstons, "The rubies from Burma are blood rubies. They are red with the blood of young people” and there is no need to support the military regime by buying Burmese gems as it is considers as human rights abuses." The dictatorship of Burma is very notorious for torturing political activists, exploiting the citizens and economic recession in the country as all army officers are engaged in filling their pockets with lucrative income, earned by precious gems sale. This violence and repressive behavior of Burma s’ leaders have stirred the intrernational human right s’ advocates, raising voice against such brutal repression by complete trade boycott with Burma.
Posted by Sooper Information Around The World at 10:23 PM
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