Image via WikipediaDon't let disputes over data get in the way of sanitation and safe water for billions
http://www.irc.nl/page/53548
The climate change debate has demonstrated how dangerously disputes about methodology can distract attention, public support and political will, from the big issue.
Biswas was misleading when he said that if, in the developing world, "we put concrete around [a] well – nothing else – it becomes an 'improved source of water'; the quality is the same but you have 'improved' the physical structure, which has no impact." But there is an impact. My experience is that such a simple measure, if properly done and accompanied by clear sensible hygiene education and environmental improvements, protects the well against faecal contamination or other pollutants.
For water and sanitation, there are numerous low-cost but highly effective technologies and interventions. To dismiss them unilaterally is unwise.
Cheap DIY Solar Collectors Made From Recycled Soda and Beer Cans
http://www.energyboom.com/solar/cheap-diy-solar-collectors-made-recycled-soda-and-beer-cans
Advanced AC Beats Heat and Humidity
http://news.discovery.com/tech/advanced-ac-beats-heat-and-humidity.html
Capstone Announces Launch of Carb Emissions Certified Product to Operate in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
http://newsblaze.com/story/2010062105312900004.pz/topstory.html
Fungi, Feces Show Comet Didn't Kill Ice Age Mammals?
Tiny balls of fungus and feces may disprove the theory that a huge space rock exploded over North America about 12,900 years ago, triggering a thousand-year cold snap, according to a new study.
The ancient temperature drop, called the Younger Dryas, has been well documented in the geologic record, including soil and ice core samples.
The cool-down also coincides with the extinction of mammoths and other Ice Age mammals in North America, and it's thought to have spurred our hunter-gatherer ancestors in the Middle East to adopt an agricultural lifestyle.
The carbon spherule study has been accepted for publication in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
America’s Topsoil Loss Disaster
http://fixingourfood.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/americas-topsoil-loss-disaster/#comments
There is similarity between the oil spill disaster and our topsoil loss disaster
Apparently BP took short cuts in the drilling process which led to the disaster. The same has happened to cause our topsoil disaster. When industrial agriculture eliminated pasture which had live roots in the ground 100% of the time they went to the domination of a corn based monocrop and two crop system that has live roots in the ground less that 32% of the time. Just adding one crop to the yearly rotation increases the live roots to 76% of the time. Adding winter cover crops would increase this even further at the most critical time. A three crop rotation plus winter cover is the minimal that USDA should accept for farmers to qualify for grain subsidies.
The Sibel Edmonds Story
http://www.breakfornews.com/Sibel-Edmonds.htm
Greatest whistleblower's message still rings true
Whistleblowers are a fact of life and have become a seeming necessity in our democracy. The most famous of them, Daniel Ellsberg, has been joined by more recent examples such as Coleen Rowley, Cynthia Cooper and Sibel Edmonds. Their courage is still as vital. Daniel Schorr of NPR says: "Ellsberg single-handedly changed the course of history."
Fired FBI translator sues over government records
Sibel Edmonds, who alleged there were security lapses in the FBI's translator program sued the Justice Department on Wednesday to compel its inspector general to disclose results of an investigation into her firing. The inspector general, Glenn Fine, has said he would work toward releasing parts of his office's investigation.
An Open Letter to the 9/11 Panel
by Sibel Edmonds, 1 Aug, 2004
Dear Chairman Kean:
It has been almost three years since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, during which time we have been placed under a constant threat of terror and asked to exercise vigilance in our daily lives.
Your commission... has now issued its "9/11 Commission Report". Unfortunately, I find your report seriously flawed in its failure to address serious intelligence issues that I, as a witness to the commission, made you aware of... ...more
FBI whistleblower 'vindicated' over intelligence services failings
National Security Experts Speak Out: 9/11 Commission Falls Short
On Tuesday, July 6, 2004, Judge Reggie Walton made a decision and ruled on my case. Under his ruling, I, an American Citizen, am not entitled to pursue my rights; First Amendment & Fifth Amendment; guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States.
The vague reasoning being cited, without giving any explanation, is to protect ‘certain diplomatic relations for national security.’
Judge Walton reached this decision after sitting on this case with no activity for almost two years. He arrived at this decision without allowing my attorney and I any due process: NO status hearing, NO briefings, NO oral argument, and NO discovery. He made his decision after allowing the government attorneys to present their case to him, privately, in camera, ex parte; not allowing us to participate in these cozy sessions.
Is this the American System of Justice we believe in? Is this the due process we read about in our civics 101 courses? Is this the judicial branch of our government that is supposed to be separated from the other two branches in order to protect the people’s rights and freedom?
This court decision by itself would have been appalling and alarming enough, but in light of all other actions taken against my case for the past two years it demonstrates a broken system, a system abused and corrupted by the current executive branch, a system badly in need of repair.
• Under this current broken system the Attorney General of the United States is being allowed to illegally gag the United States Congress regarding my case. And even worse, the United States Congress is readily complying with this illegal gag.
• Under this current broken system the Attorney General of the United States is being allowed to hinder on going investigations such as the ones by the 9/11 Commission and the DOJ-IG
• Under this current broken system the Attorney General of the United States is getting away with interfering and tampering with pending cases under the judicial process, such as my court cases, and the lawsuit by the 9/11 victim families.
To this date John Ashcroft’s relentless fight against me, my information, and my case, on various fronts, from the Congress to the courts, and from the 9/11 Commission to the Inspector General’s Office, has been taking place under his attempt at a vague justification titled ‘Protecting Certain Foreign & Diplomatic Relations for National Security.’On September 11, 2001, 3000 lives were lost. Yet this administration has hindered all past and on going investigations into the causes of that horrific day for the sake of this vague notion of protecting ‘certain diplomatic & foreign relations.’
As a result of the attack on 9/11, many thousands lost their loved ones and had their lives changed forever. Yet, this administration knowingly and intentionally let many directly or indirectly involved in that terrorist act go free - untouched and uninvestigated - by simply citing ‘protection of certain foreign & diplomatic relations for national security.’
Today, we are told that we are still under the threat of terrorists, and remain under various colors of the color-coded threat system invented and promoted by this administration. Yet, this same administration is relentlessly preventing any real investigations into finding out the facts, the real facts, regarding acts, semi-legit organizations, and people, involved in plots against this country and its people - under their sorry excuse of ‘protecting certain foreign & diplomatic relations.’
Isn’t it time to ask what 'diplomatic or foreign relations' they keep referring to?
Legal Eagles Eye Ashcroft Over 9/11 Whistleblower
Al-Qaeda Tried to Penetrate FBI's Translation Service
Ellsbrg: Ashcroft May Face Prison over 9/11 Cover-Up
State Dept. Quashed 9/11 Links to Global Drug Trade
Gagging Congress Edmonds in Media Documents
ACCOUNTABILITY: Anti-Whistleblower Track Record Continues
http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/1611
One of two whistleblowers to win even a temporary victory before a government whistleblower review board under a Bush administration appointee lost last week after the board’s February reversal was upheld by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Protection Lags for Workers Who Report Hazards on the Job
http://www.fairwarning.org/2010/06/protection-lags-for-workers-who-report-hazards-on-the-job
hazards at his job with a plastics recycling firm,OSHA cited the plant for multiple violations, and Jorgensen was fired.
“The deck is stacked against the whistleblower,” an investigator said. “You’ve got an agency that’s under-resourced and takes a real long time to do the investigation. All of that puts the whistleblower at a serious financial disadvantage.”
“Some of them just can’t wait that long,” he continued. “They lose their houses. They end up getting divorced over the financial woes. And, of course, their wife doesn’t understand why they didn’t keep their…mouth shut and keep their job — why they had to blow the whistle in the first place.”
Education Department Pulls Student Debt Collectors Guide off Website
http://www.publicintegrity.org/data_mine
Something’s Wrong with the McChrystal Slam Dunk UPDATE
http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2010/06/22/somethings-wrong-with-the-mcchrystal-slam-dunk
IRAQ: Killing for water
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89586
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