October 16, 2000
Subject: Miscellaneous Subjects #29: The road to disaster: Major Threat to the Amazon Rainforest + Extinction of Light, still, warmth + Global Meditation Bulletin + Nuclear Weapons: The Time Bomb The Candidates Ignore + Ralph Nader and the U.S. Presidential Election + A Call to the Faith Community for October 22 by the Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation + Doomsday Danger + I'm not optimistic today + Light washes away all what is not of the Light + YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STARLINK, BABY, TO BE IN MY SHOW + The Sinister Side Of Sunscreens + UK Insurance Firms To Screen Clients For Genetic Illness + CREATING A NEW WORLD
Hello everyone
There are always so many things vital for the future of our planet to follow.
I especially recommend you go read "The road to disaster: If Brazil paves this route through the Amazon, the earth's largest rain forest could go up in flames" posted at
http://www.canoe.ca/TimeCanada0010/16_time23.html
You will be left fuming!!
Here is a telling quote:
"In 1998, a bad fire year, more than 40,000 sq km of Brazil's rain forest went up in flames. Ecologists say the paving of BR-163 will put at risk 1.5 million sq km--one-third of the dense forest remaining in the Amazon region. To get an idea of the scale of the potential catastrophe, imagine all of Alaska as scorched earth."
And then there's all that I compiled below for you to consider...
"On est pas sorti du bois" as we say in Quebec...
Jean Hudon
Earth Rainbow Network Coordinator
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000
P.S. Check also "CELL PHONES: Cause for Concern? Manufacturers will now disclose how much radiation they emit" at http://www.canoe.ca/TimeCanada0010/9_time11.html
From: "Hagit" <h-raanan@netvision.net.il>
Subject: Re: Extinction of Light, still, warmth
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
It is thanks to people like you that we find the strength and faith to progress with achieving the only goal - the long awaited peace. It is true that sometimes - like now, it appears hopeless like striving upwardly. Toilsome but possible though. With your prayers it sure will be much easier.
Earlier today I went to Erez checkpoint near Gaza to try built Sukkat Shalom - Arishat Il Salam - Hunt for Peace. After long hours of negotiating with the Israeli authorities - both, army & police, we realized that it might be irritating action in anybody's eyes. As our desire is to evoke positive reactions and God forbidden - no violence, we decided to postpone our peaceful gesture until next week. Our plan now is to erect Peace Pole near the Checkpoint's entrance, possibly next Monday.
It is now the time to find our inner strength to encourage people to be wise instead of right. There is too much "justice" while "Wisdom" is still concealed. People like you can help us reveal it. God Bless your Heart. Love - Hagit
Ps., tonight the Israeli TV will present the movie "Gahndi"
LOVE ENDS ALL ARGUMENTS - From the 'Rumi Collection'
Dear Soul, Love alone cuts arguments short,
For it alone come to the rescue
When you cry for help against disputes.
Eloquence is dumbfounded by love: it dares not wrangle,
For the lovers fears that, if he answers back,
The pearl of the inner experience might fall out of his mouth
To get a news bulleting compiling info related to global meditations, ask Leigh...
See an excerpt below
From:"Leigh"
Subject: Global Meditation Bulletin 1:
CLIP
6. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING PROJECT (ongoing, starting 2001)
We are initiating an Environmental Healing Project for the UK. Through the
power of meditation, prayer, and positive intent we will focus on clearing,
balancing, and uplifting the Earth's energy field at the local, regional,
and national levels.
By working at the subatomic or subtle-energetic level of being, which gives
rise to physical manifestation, we will expect to see changes within
physical reality at some point in time afterwards, that will be
statistically significant and consistent with our work. We will use crime,
hospital admissions, pollution, and weather statistics as indices of
resultant social and environmental change. We would also invite dowsers in
the UK to monitor changes within the Earth's energy field.
This exciting new project will require the coordination of individuals and
groups to direct healing on a regular basis, for a sustained period of time.
You do not need to be in the UK to take part, but you do need some
commitment for this project to work. If successful it will prove to be an
important landmark in healing research, for there will then be sufficient
evidence to demonstrate that meditation and positive thought alone can heal
our environment - regardless of where we are located geographically. This
kind of work has already been explored by with some success by
Transcendental Meditators, Fountain International, and the Institute of
HeartMath.
In early 2001 we shall begin our work by focusing on London and the county
of West Midlands. Once we have worked on these locations sufficiently to
achieve a beneficial and statistically significant change, we will shift our
focus to other locations to demonstrate that we can replicate the results
across the UK. If the project is considered successful there will be the
opportunity of forming a taskforce for the healing of the global
environment.
Website: www.worldhealing.co.uk/ehp
From: "John Owen" <jowen@igc.org>
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000
The nuclear issue has been my main concern for twenty years. I don't know if
the candidates will be discussing it tonite, but I'm impressed with the
Boston Globe article as a starting point. Comments?
John Owen
Nuclear Weapons: The Time Bomb The Candidates Ignore
http://commondreams.org/views/101000-101.htm
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000
Subject: FW: Interesting re Nader--Michael Moore
From: Makasha Roske <makasha@globalfamily.net>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 2:54 PM
Subject: FW: Ralph Nader and the U.S. Presidential Election
Dear friends and non-voters,
How has America responded after the first week of debates between the four
men from the "two" parties who sat there and agreed with each other on
increasing military spending, continuing the death penalty,
exporting/exploiting more jobs through "free" trade, and standing firm
against immediate universal health care?
Ralph Nader got a whopping 40% jump in the polls!
That's right. According the Zogby poll, Ralph went from 5 to 7% after the
first debate, and 17% of independent voters now say they will vote for
Ralph Nader. In Connecticut, the state represented by Gore's running mate,
Nader is at 11%. In Alaska, he's polling 17% . He's at 9% in Oregon, and
8% in California and New Jersey.
Seven percent is no small number in a country of more than 275 million
people. Seven percent equals the combined voters of Alaska, Colorado,
Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New
Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming!
Imagine telling all the voters of those 16 states that who they want for
President cannot participate in the debates and is not allowed on all 50
state ballots! There'd be a revolt if that happened.
But that is EXACTLY what IS happening. Nearly 20 million voters are being
told to bug off.
And the polls are not even counting everyone. They only count what they
call "likely voters." That means when a pollster calls someone, the first
question they ask is, "Are you likely to vote?" If you say "no" -- and 55%
of the people are telling the pollsters they WILL NOT VOTE -- the pollster
hangs up on you.
SO, when they say "45% are for Gore" (or "45% are for Bush"), they mean
45% of the 45% who are "likely" to vote are for Gore
In other words, only 21% of the entire ELIGIBLE voting public is "for
Gore"!
I call that a minority, a special interest, a man 79% of the country
does NOT want!
I do not want a single Gore voter to change their vote to Ralph. Why?
Because Ralph doesn't NEED a single Gore voter to win! The group of Gore
voters is so small and insignificant that, if it makes someone feel good to
vote for a man who is now receiving more money than Bush from Wall Street,
then I say go right ahead!
Our appeal is to the majority of Americans who say that NEITHER of the
"two" major parties are worth a hill of refried beans.
On Mount Rushmore, we have carved in stone the heads of our four most
revered Presidents. YET, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM BELIEVED IN THIS CORRUPT
"TWO-PARTY" SYSTEM! Lincoln won as a third-party candidate of a brand new
party. Jefferson won in a three-way race too close to call -- it had to be
decided by Congress. Washington didn't even belong to a party, and
Teddy Roosevelt, after succeeding a slain President and serving another
term, became so disgusted with the "two" parties he formed his own third
party and came in second, beating the Republican, William Howard Taft!
If we admire these individuals so much, why do we now aspire to so little,
settling for the evil of two lessers? What has happened to us? We keep
settling for less, and we keep getting less. We start with a Kennedy or a
McGovern, people who, though flawed, at least had a VISION and BELIEVED in
something, and, by settling for the "lesser" each and every time, we have
ended up with... Gore and Lieberman! You keep splitting and weakening the
political gene pool, and this is what you get! Settle for less, get less!
Less of us Americans now have health care insurance.
Less of us can now read at a fourth-grade level.
Less of us can now afford our own homes...
...and more of us have given up.
One month from today -- you can make a mark on history, or you can sink
further into the despair those in charge so keenly hope has choked you
into giving up. "They all suck. I ain't votin' !" Music to the ears of the
richest one percent who want you to continuing funding the greatest
prosperity they have ever known with your hard and underpaid work, your
taxes financing their tax breaks, and your willingness to pay more for
everything from the pump to the pet food.
31 days and counting...
Yours,
Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
mmflint@aol.com
P.S. Following the tens of thousands who have packed arenas in Portland,
Minneapolis, Seattle, and Boston, two more big Ralph Nader rallies are
happening this week. Ralph's crowds are still outnumbering Bush's and
Gore's appearances combined! I will be with Ralph at Madison Square Garden
this Friday night, October 13 along with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Ani
DeFranco, Ben Harper, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins and others. You can
order your tickets at www.votenader.org. Also -- this Tuesday, Oct. 19, at
the University of Illinois-Chicago with Ralph, Studs Terkel, Phil Donahue
and me. Come on out and scare the pants off the "two" party system!
"Teach only love, for that is what you are."
www.soupoftheday.homepage.com
From: "Leti Guerra" <letiguerra@hotmail.com>
Subject: A Call to the Faith Community for October 22nd
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000
----Original Message Follows----
From: Sofia <laresistencia@laresistencia.org>
Here is a letter regarding OFFICIAL BRUTALITY that can be signed by individuals as well as organizations/churches, by groups of people gathered to work on this or that issue/project. Hope you decide to sign. Also pass it to others you work with in the religious community!
Please return it to La Resistencia: laresistencia@laresistencia.org
Thanks, Sofia
Faith Initiative Task Force
October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation
(212) 477-8062
P.O. Box 2627
New York, NY 10009
Dear Friends in the Faith Community:
As we head into a new millennium, we call upon you to support the 5th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation scheduled across American on Sunday, October 22, 2000. Wear black and say no more stolen lives! As believers and members of our diverse and powerful "Faith Communities," we call upon you to provide leadership and speak prophetically and forthrightly about "Injustice and Unrighteousness." Unfortunately, there is a pandemic of police brutality across America. People of color communities are disproportionately affected, from law enforcement officials on the streets to prison guards inside the jails.
Police Brutality, Repression and Criminalization of our young and poor is going unabated, despite a much heralded overall drop in crime across the land. There is also growing resistance to this nationwide epidemic of police brutality. As leaders representing diverse religious communities, we must join in that resistance and bring to it our prayers, our support and our participation to bring these abuses to the public's attention. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news unto the poor, and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound." Your support of this most significant cry from various communities in America will make a difference.
Let us come and reason together, as we pray for the power of God to break the chains that bind his people. Our voices as religious leaders and lay people must be added to those calling for an end to this official abuse. As members of the Faith Community, in observance of Sunday, October 22, 2000, we ask that you covenant to do any or all of the following:
1) Address the problem of police brutality in your religious service on the weekend of October 22nd,
2) Have your religious institution hold a moment of remembrance at 10:22 A.M. on October 22, 2000. Have a moment of silent prayer, ring the bells of your church, mosque or synagogue, or mark this moment of remembrance in any other way.
3) Invite a victim of police brutality or a family who lost a loved one at the hands of law enforcement to address your congregation on or before October 22, 2000.
4) Join with others in the Faith Community to hold an Interfaith or Ecumenical day of prayer on or before October 22, 2000. Make sure you inform the media about this event and involve as many religious leaders in it as possible.
5) Endorse the Call for the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality -- on Sunday, October 22, 2000. Join in the events being held to make this day. Circulate this call for the Faith Community to participate in this important mobilization for social justice to others in the religious community.
6) Organize a gospel music concert in memory of the Stolen Lives, those who lost their lives at the hands of police and other law enforcement agents. Highlight the families in your local areas impacted by police abuse during this event. Our goal is to have hundreds of leaders in the Faith Community participate in the mobilization to highlight opposition to the nationwide epidemic of police brutality this year on October 22nd. Add your voice to those calling for justice, and encourage others in the religious community to also join in. Thank you for your cooperation with this most urgent concern of Peace, Justice and Righteous.
In the Los Angeles Area, please call for more information:
(213) 413-4755
I endorse this letter. Please add my names to the list of signatories.
Name
Title
Church/Mosque/Temple/Religious Group
To subscribe, send an email to oct22la-subscribe@egroups.com
NOTE from Jean: We often know what we are against and what we would like to see instead in this world where so many things seem to be going wrong despite the best efforts of so many people to make things right. You will find below a compelling example of someone who, despite being in his 80's, has never given up hope and has persistently continued to fight for what he believes in. John McConnell is offering us a compelling and accurate picture of possibilities that may spell out the onset of a real global disaster as we forge ahead globally with our money and greed-driven culture, ripping apart that last strands that still hold the planetary Web of Life together. If you are interested in exploring the alternative views John proposes us and the instruments to bring them to further fruition -- his Earth Trustee vision and action --, you will then want to explore his website at www.earthsite.org ... and you will probably want to drop him a line or two in support of his formidable dedication to a better life and the highest good of all.
From: John McConnell <TrusteeOne@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
Subject: Doomsday Danger.
DOOMSDAY DANGER!
Will the beginning of the new millennium on January 1, 2001 signal the doom
of civilization -- or a new beginning for our planet?
Evidence compiled by experts points to global disaster. The facts are
succinct in PARADISE FOR SALE, a new book by Carl M. McDaniel and John M.
Gowdy.
This parable of Nature documents how the quest for money and the misuse of
science and technology exhausted the natural wealth of Nauru, a tiny island
in the Pacific. The profit-first-mentality rendered Nauru a "Paradise Lost"
for its natives and habitat. The authors compare the devastation of the
small island to what is happening world wide. But while Naura has become a
Charity case, to whom will the world turn for Charity?
Nauru is a microcosm of the rest of the world. The only chance for survival
of civilization is a rapid change of attitudes and actions that will
rejuvenate our planet.
DEFEATING DOOMSDAY
November 11, (Veterans Day) is just 50 days before January 1, 2001. What we
do in this 50 Day countdown can decide whether New Year's Day is Doomsday --
or a new era for civilization.
In this brief period it is imperative the whole human family mobilize for a
moral equivalent of World War II. Every thinking individual who receives
this message is urged to quickly choose what they will do. Think about it,
talk about it -- and then act.
Be aware that today global institutions induce individuals to accept as truth
what is forced upon them by their propaganda and keep them from thinking for
themselves. Don't let powerful people in political and social institutions
make your choices for you or take away your self-confidence.
The Earth Trustee idea of the original Earth Day (March 21, 1970) provides
the key: Every individual and institution must now seek to eliminate
pollution, poverty and injustice by Earth Trustee choices in ecology,
economics and ethics.
Thousands of group projects already helping people and planet. Their impact
can increase dramatically by uniting in a global Earth Trustee Campaign with
one common cause -- the REJUVENATION of Earth.
Human greed, injustice and folly have almost ruined our planet. But with the
aid of new technology a vigorous global effort can repair the damage.
Until now, Earth Caretakers have been a sad minority. The most powerful
institutions (global corporations and rich governments) have usually put
financial profit first. The resulting social and environmental damage is
disastrous. But Earth Trustee vision and action can change that.
MASS MEDIA
Press, Radio, TV and Internet play a vital role. Actions, good or bad, begin
in the mind. Those able to command media attention have a special obligation
to speak out about the crisis and its solution -- the Earth Trustee vision
and agenda. (See: www.earthsite.org)
Here is an opportunity for Pope John Paul II, Billy Graham, The Dalai Lama,
and ALL world leaders to call for prayer and heartfelt dedication to the care
of Earth -- to think and act as Trustees of Earth. Leaders in other areas of
public trust ideally will do the same.
Mass media has a sacred obligation as the yews and ears of the public to:
-- Feature solutions as well as problems
-- Headline cases of peaceful progress in the human adventure that replace
hate, fear, greed and lust.
-- Give recognition and attention to people and projects that eliminate
pollution and poverty and foster peace, justice and the care of Earth.
With the media's cooperation, Earth Day 2001 -- on nature's historic annual
event, the March Equinox, will provide a great global holiday with world wide
participation by people of every creed and culture.
THIS ONE IS REALLY DISCOURAGING AND DISPIRITING TO SAY THE LEAST. I DO NOT CONDONE THE DISMALLY CAUSTIC AND PROFOUNDLY PESSIMISTIC VIEW EXPRESSED BELOW AS I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AND WAYS TO MANAGE TO ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE WAY OF LIVING FOR ALL OF US ON EARTH THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED BY MOST PEOPLE. BUT ONLY A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION AND GLOBAL AWAKENING ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE WILL MAKE THIS HOPEFUL FUTURE A REALITY. AND THIS IS *OUR* RESPONSIBILITY, ALL THE LIGHT BEARERS AND AWAKENED SOULS NOW ON EARTH, TO HELP INSTILL SUCH A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL AWAKENING THROUGH THE QUANTUMLY MULTIPLYING EFFECT OF OUR OWN AWAKENING AND CONNECTING GLOBALLY TO JUMP START THE EMERGENCE OF OUR GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS AS *ONE* - THE SO-CALLED SUDDEN PLANETARY SHIFT IN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE HERE TO TRIGGER...
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000
From: Mark Graffis <ab758@virgin.vip.vi>
From: Steve Hansen <shansen5@uswest.net>
Subject: [energyresources] I'm not optimistic today
Maybe the "best" way to respond to the problems dealt with on this list is
to buy an SUV and vote for Dubya. Here's justification for that approach
from Reg Morrison's "The Spirit in the Gene", pp. 255- 256:
"Judging by the past 600 million years of fossil record, the main thrust
of evolutionóapart from a half dozen major hiccupsóhas been toward
biological diversity. As suggested by Darwin, and corroborated by
fieldword all around the globe, it is diversity that lends earth's biota
its stability and resilience. Even James Lovelock's computerized
Daisyworld offered clear confirmation of the link between biodiversity and
environmental stability. Given the soaring extinction rate due to human
overpopulation, the greatest threat to earth's biota is our own species.
>From a biospheric point of view, then, whatever contributes to our
species' collapse is of paramount evolutionary value. Since global
industrialization and rampant consumerism currently offer the biosphere
its best chance of achieving a final solution to the human plague, what it
now needs from us is more of the same behaviour. That means a steady
procession of wealthy entrepreneurs and corrupt governments in developing
nations and a succession of ambitious, business-oriented governments in
developed nations. This combination has produced maximum environmental
degradation in the past and will continue to do so by ensuring that those
old sacred cows óGrowth and Progressó continue to wander the corridors of
power unchallenged."
The earth's sustainable carrying capacity for humans is estimated to be at
most 2 billion. (David Pimental, Cornell) The longer we stay above the
carrying capacity, the lower it becomes as we destroy the resource base
that would maintain that many humans. Morrison thinks that within a
hundred years we'll be half a billion to a billion.
It's currently a race between population collapsing due to running out of
fossil energy and population collapsing due to climate change, topsoil
erosion, epidemics, etc. We might dream of applying rational policies and
solutions to gently ease ourselves down under the population limit, but if
you think that's likely, I suggest you read the rest of "The Spirit in the
Gene"--rational behavior is a rarity, difficult in the extreme to
cultivate and maintain, and easily overwhelmed in times of stress.
Attempts to continue to sustain overpopulation and over consumption by
replacing dwindling fossil energy with nuclear power, or even solar or
wind, are at best temporary and serve only to worsen the ultimate payback.
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000
From: kiwi@spiritweb.org
Subject: Re: Meditation Focus #23: ANCHORING THE VIBRATION OF LOVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
> Through this healing assistance, not directed against anything as there is
> nothing that can subdue the simple Presence of the Light, we shall very
> significantly help tilt the balance of vibratory energies in the Middle
> East and dissipate the source of energy feeding the anger, rage and hate in
> so many hearts. And a miracle may occur as people in the Middle East,
> through their own freewill, decide to turn away from the abyss and walk
> towards each other with open hearts and a renewed will to make peace and
> live as brothers an sisters, for the highest good of all.
Dear Jean, as you know I admire your activities very much as you are
like a tireless worker to share information to the people. Let
me emphasize what you just wrote. It is the Presence of Light,
and yes, not directed to anything else in order to avoid to enhance
dualistic reality there. But be aware that the Presence of Light
does not instantly create Peace, Light washes away all what is
not of the Light. And what we see in the Middle-East now IS THE
INFLUX OF LIGHT.
Light isn't always received in dancing and bliss, for those who
created illusions in their reality-caves cannot digest that Light
as many of us do who are going through personal crisis in which
we shed away patterns, illusions and anger. A Healing Process is
NOT a process of Peace at first, that Peace is found at the END
of a healing-process, as a result, as a consequence. Therefore,
we should NOT make any Peace-Prayers for the Middle-East, but
a Prayer for the Presence of the Light, and I again want to
emphasize how important this is to distinct just to affirm Peace
solely, not Peace is required, but the Presence of Light, so
that true Peace can manifest itself, nothing is worse than a
false Peace covering up what is stuck, and everybody having
done inner spiritual work knows of this important distinction.
Lightwork is to work with light, some do it gently, some do it
fiery, it is up to every individual to maintain patterns, woundes
and illusions, but once the individual (or a collective) made
the decision to welcome the Presence of Light, then the Healing
Process can start, and this is at first often painful, because
all resurfaces again, and this is what we see in the Middle-East,
all the politians affirmed Peace, but not the people living
there, now the anger and rage resurfaces on all sides, don't
put this anger to silence, you just postpone the healing, yet,
we can affirm the Presence of Light, and provide ways in which
the energy which is now expressed in anger and pain could be
transformed into a Light which flurishes Life as such on this
Planet, for now so much pain anger is locked up in a certain
expression. It is NOT about to not to feel anger, pain or
dispair, it is energy we choose to express this way, it is
up to us, who consider themselves as Lightworker, to assist
in the transformation of thought-patterns, of belief-systems,
so collective entities are seeing an option to express their
life-energy . . . that Peace, that Love which you will see
after such an awakening is more worth that a false silence
and false Peace many are wishing now.
The Presence of Light is powerful, it vanishes all what is
not of the Light . . . yet, you can tone it down to come
over more gentle :-)
The Light and Truth Reveals Itself Through All,
,
Rene K. Mueller
Editor & Webmaster of SpiritWeb
---
Rene K. Mueller <kiwi@spiritweb.org> or <webmaster@spiritweb.org>
SpiritWeb: http://spiritweb.org/ - Large spiritual site > 3,000 pages,
many mailing-lists, chat-places, online audio & video
SpiritArt: http://www.gristmagazine.com
1.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STARLINK, BABY, TO BE IN MY SHOW
The U.S. EPA moved yesterday to revoke approval for a variety of
genetically modified corn that has illegally made its way into two
brands of taco shells, prompting nationwide recalls. The Starlink
corn, manufactured by Aventis, had been licensed for use as livestock
feed but banned from human food because of concerns that it could
trigger allergies or prove difficult to digest. The EPA decision
marks the first time a biotechnology crop license has ever been
rescinded. The presence of the Starlink corn in the taco shells was
uncovered by the Genetically Engineered Food Alert, a coalition of
enviro and consumer groups calling for stricter regulation of
biotechnology, and the coalition has suggested that the corn may be
found in other food products. At a press conference yesterday, the
GE Food Alert criticized the feds and Kraft, maker of one of the
contaminated brands of taco shells, because the shells are still
being sold in grocery stores nearly three weeks after a recall was
announced.
straight to the source: New York Times, Andrew Pollack, 10.13.00
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/business/13TACO.html
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Melinda Fulmer, 10.13.00
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environ/20001013/t000097513.html
do good: Take action against genetically modified foods
http://www.gristmagazine.com/grist/dogood/food.stm
From: ilyes@earthlink.net
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
Subject: The Sinister Side Of Sunscreens
Maybe you could pass this on, Jean -- so many folks I know use sunscreen
- ilyes
From: http://sightings.com/general4/sun.htm
Sunlovers beware: sunscreens could be toxic. A chemical
commonly used in sun lotions to protect against ultraviolet radiation kills
animal cells, Norwegian scientists have discovered. And it may become more
deadly after a few hours out in the Sun.
The widespread use of sunscreens has been increasingly
questioned by experts who say that it may not provide protection against
skin cancer because it encourages people to sunbathe for longer. Now there
is evidence that a substance called octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), used
as a UVB filter in 90 per cent of sunscreens worldwide, may itself be toxic.
Terje Christensen, a biophysicist from the Norwegian
Radiation Protection Authority near Oslo, found that half of the mouse
cells in an ethyl alcohol solution died when OMC was added at five parts
per million, a much lower concentration than occurs in sunscreens. Over
90 per cent of the cells survived in the solution without OMC.
When the team shone a lamp on mouse cells in the OMC
solution for two hours, to simulate midday sunshine, even more died than
in the original OMC solution. Christensen suggests this is because the
products of reactions between OMC and light are roughly twice as toxic
as OMC itself. Christensen believes OMC could damage human cells if
it penetrates the outer layer of dead skin. Some sunscreens do this so
they should be treated "with caution", he says. "They should
only be used when other protective measures cannot."
Rona MacKie, a dermatologist from the University of Glasgow,
stresses the difficulties of extrapolating from animal cells to people.
But she agrees that sunscreens should only be used as a last line of defence
against UV radiation. The Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association, which
represents sunscreen manufacturers in Britain, points out that OMC "has
been thoroughly tested for safety" and approved by regulatory authorities
in Europe and the US.
Source: Radiation Protection Dosimetry (vol 91, p 283)
Ilyes also recommend to read this:
UK Insurance Firms To Screen Clients For Genetic Illness
http://sightings.com/general4/uktst.htm
Genetic testing by insurance companies is to be sanctioned
for the first time. Ministers this week will approve the use of DNA samples
to assess whether a person will inherit the degenerative Huntington's disease.
The decision, by the Government's expert advisory body
on insurance and genetics, will begin a string of applications by the insurance
industry to use genetic tests for inherited diseases, including breast
cancer. Opposition MPs and consumer groups say DNA testing for insurance
will create a "genetic underclass" of people unable to gain cover.
Those with the gene for Huntington's, a fatal disease, may not qualify
for life insurance or have to pay higher premiums. In future, people who
have had a DNA test for the disease, and refuse to disclose it to an
insurance company, could render their cover "null and void".
CLIP
From: SpiritNet@webtv.net
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
Subject: Fwd: CREATING A NEW WORLD
"Every thought tends to reproduce itself in physical form." Are yours
constructive?
CREATING A NEW WORLD
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000/Creatneworld.htm
From: "Harmonia" <harmonia@curinfo.com>
"When they think that they know the answers,
people are difficult to guide. When they know
that they don't know, people can find their
own way."
- Tao Te Ching
