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This is an open trackback linkfest. It happens on Tuesday and Saturday. Each linkfest is open until the next one starts. Trackbacks will be on the frontpage in a post called MoreWhat Matters. The Secure the Borders theme is intended as a reminder to all for obvious reasons. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions or just feel the need to communicate, trackback or post it in the comments. If you want to be added to Z’ Blogroll, register and/or inquire to make arrangements. The Honor Roll is reserved for blogs viewed as special by this blog’s owner.
JIHAD stands for Jesus I Have A Deathwish.

This linkfest is dedicated to the guest worker who never left.There are plenty of illegal immigration posts on this blog.

If you’re here legally and behavin’ yo self, welcome aboard.
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China Promises Safe, Peaceful Olympics

By VOA News
05 August 2008

China is promising a safe and peaceful Summer Olympics, despite a deadly attack on police officers in the country’s northwest.

A spokesman for China’s Olympics committee is assuring athletes and spectators arriving in Beijing for the Olympics that they will be safe from terrorists.

Tens of thousands of police were on alert across Beijing Tuesday as the Olympic torch arrived in the capital ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.

Authorities also have increased security in the far western Xinjiang region, where 16 police were killed in a knife and bomb attack Monday.

Chinese state media say authorities have detained two men from a mainly Muslim ethnic group for their role in the attack.

Chinese authorities have linked the violence to the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, a group dedicated to gaining Xinjiang’s independence.

The group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang have been waging a low-level rebellion against Chinese rule for years. Human rights advocates and Uighur groups say Chinese authorities often use terrorism as a pretext to persecute the country’s Muslim minority.

Chinese authorities say the East Turkistan Islamic Movement has been planning attacks ahead of the Olympics.

Another challenge facing the Beijing Olympics is air pollution.

Members of the U.S. cycling team arrived in Beijing Tuesday wearing face masks, showing the concern of many athletes that the smog could harm their health and performance.

But the International Olympic Committee’s medical commission chief, Arne Ljungqvist, said China’s air quality did not pose problems to the athletes or visitors.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

from MoreWhat.com:

So what do you think about all this?

Stanford Matthews

Below is a press release for the Tata Nano and a news report about its debut. It is doubtful anyone has really had time to draw any conclusions about this vehicle or the implications of its introduction yet. There is probably enough speculation to go around and one cannot help but recall the Yugo at a time like this. But it seems reasonable to offer a post on this blog featuring this unique development in the automotive industry.

As far as the $2500 price tag is concerned that has to get someone’s attention. You could purchase a Ford Mustang in 1970 for about $3500. A Fiat 850 went for $2500 in 1972. So is the Tata Nano reliable? Is it really safe? Will it be reasonable to service? Will it be available in the US? How will the insurance industry respond? What are the performance characteristics? Is anyone interested in the US? Will it have an effect on automotive trends here? Is anyone reading this buying one?

Tata Motors unveils the People’s Car

Released on : 10th January, 2008
A comfortable, safe, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata ‘NANO’, the People’s Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, “I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

Stylish, comfortable
The People’s Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.

Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.

When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual’s preferences.

Fuel-efficient engine
The People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.

Meets all safety requirements
The People’s Car’s safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.

Environment-friendly
The People’s Car’s tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.
(For more information: www.tatanano.com )

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors’ international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

(For free broadcast-standard and streaming quality video content about Tata Motors, please log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/tatamotors. You can preview and request broadcast-standard video which will be delivered digitally or by tape. Registration and video is free to the media.)

- Ends -

Issued by:
Debasis Ray
Head - Corporate Communications
Tata Motors Limited
Phone: +912266657613
E-Mail: peoplescar@tatamotors.com
Website: http://www.tatanano.com

Indians Respond Enthusiastically to World’s Cheapest Car

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
15 January 2008

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The world’s cheapest car, made by an Indian manufacturer, has triggered unprecedented interest in a country where only eight people in every thousand own a car. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha has a report on how people in India are reacting to Tata Motors’ Nano.

Tens of thousands of people are flocking to the Auto Show in New Delhi - and the star attraction is a $2,500 car dubbed the “People’s Car”.

The Nano, produced by India’s Tata conglomerate, made its debut last week.

After a peek at the no-frills vehicle, with a 624 cubic centimeter engine, thousands say they want to buy it.

“I belong to middle class family, so it is very good thing for us, good news for us, because I can dream a good car in India,” said one person.

“This is very cheap, I want to buy for my son,” one gentleman said.

“Its cost is not too much, and I wish I have personal car and I cannot buy large one,” said one woman.

“It appeals [to] me just due to the parking situation available in India number one, number two the fuel efficiency, number three is price, number four it is very cute vehicle, seems to be very cute,” added yet another gentleman.

People have even flocked in from villages far from the city to see the Nano.

Balwan Ram took a bus from a village in Haryana state, 100 kilometers away from Delhi. Ram says he came especially to see the car and now is waiting to buy it to replace his motorbike.

The enthusiasm is not surprising in a country of more than a billion people, where a family outing can be a challenge because of dismal public transportation.

Tata chairman Ratan Tata says he conceived of the low-priced car for India’s masses when he saw a family traveling on a two wheeled scooter; the father driving, his child standing in front of him, and wife seated behind holding a baby - all getting wet in the rain.

“This has been referred to as one man’s dream,” sadi Tata. “And indeed it was.”

Now global automakers are watching to see how that dream pans out in the marketplace.

If the small car is successful after hitting the roads later this year, it could expand the car market in an unprecedented manner in developing countries.

But not everyone is happy. Although the manufacturers say the small car will meet strict emission standards, environmentalists worry about fuel use and the congestion it will cause on India’s crowded roads.

The head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, R.K. Pachauri, says the focus should be on more efficient public transportation.

“The problem is not with the product itself. The usage of the product and what that implies, how can we be blind to that?” he asked. “Where are we going to find road space to accommodate all these cars, not to speak of local pollution, not to speak of the fact that it is going to crowd out public transport options.”

But these concerns are of little interest to the millions eagerly waiting to become car owners for the first time.

Here’s a report on India about food and medicine safety. With all the offshore manufacturing from the US and the string of safety problems with products from China it seems there is a need to spend money on fixing safety issues in the country’s where American goods are now produced and sold back to American consumers. The businesses save money on labor, the offshore employees get puny wages, Americans lose jobs and pay the same or more for the products. Gee, exactly who is winning with this arrangement? And then there is the matter of less regulation or pesky labor and environmental laws and probably tax benefits as well for American corporations. And speaking of taxex, where do you suppose the money to train whoever on safety measures comes from….. US tax dollars perhaps?

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India and the United States have agreed to work together to improve standards for food and drugs. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that the progress comes during a visit to India by the U.S. government official who oversees many of the agencies responsible for America’s health and safety standards.

Indian officials say New Delhi and Washington have agreed to form working groups to set standards for the import and export of medicine and food.

This comes after the United States signed two agreements with India’s economic rival, China - one concerning food, the other dealing with pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

Both India and China have had problems with exports to the United States because health regulations and other standards were not being met.

Compared to other countries, India has the highest number of food products that are rejected as imports by the United States. Spices, seafood, fruit and additives have been especially troublesome in terms of high levels of bacteria or carcinogenic substances.

India also has a problem with widespread counterfeiting of prescription drugs.

The formation of the Indo-American working groups comes after meetings this week in India between U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his Indian counterparts.

Leavitt tells VOA News enhancing health standards for products moving across borders has become vital.

“We’re at the early stages of a global market that is now maturing and requiring new tools that haven’t existed in the past to handle the substantial volume of trade that is beginning to occur,” he explained. “These were important conversations and I expect, in time, we will see action - not just at the government level, but among private vendors as well.”

Leavitt was speaking Friday in New Delhi right after administering polio vaccination drops to children in a local slum area.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contributed $2.3 million to India’s efforts to eradicate polio.

Leavitt also announced Friday that the U.S. government is willing to provide technical assistance to help create an Indian version of the Food and Drug Administration. In the United States, the FDA is the federal agency responsible for ensuring the safety of food, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, cosmetics and certain electronic products.
By Steve Herman
New Delhi

By Phillip Wellman
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
10 November 2007
The ministry of tourism in Ivory Coast says it disagrees with warnings issued by many Western nations advising against all but essential travel to the country. The ministry says although full reconciliation has yet to occur, Ivory Coast is peaceful. It says revenue generated from tourism could help boost the country’s economy, which has suffered from years of conflict. Phillip Wellman reports for VOA from Abidjan

At the Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan, three tourists are playing a game of ten-pin bowling. They are the only customers this evening, which does not surprise the bowling lanes’ manager, who says many people are afraid to come to Ivory Coast following the country’s brief civil war five years ago.

Chief spokesman for the Ivorian ministry of tourism, Satigui Kone, says a fear of violence, which he describes as unnecessary, is the biggest problem facing the country’s travel industry. He says the fear is costing the country crucial revenue and is being prolonged by Western governments that continue to post travel warnings for Ivory Coast.

“Some embassies want their populations not to come here. We don’t know why. If you consider Ivory Coast like it was (before the peace accord), it is a very, very big fault. There is no reason for tourists to stay in their countries because of those messages you can find by some embassies. We are very sad to know of them,” he said.

Several unexplained killings of prominent foreigners have occurred in Ivory Coast since the civil war which began in 2002.. A strong anti-French sentiment also swept though Abidjan in 2004, with mobs of government supporters looting French businesses throughout the city and attacking French nationals.

In March, a peace accord was signed by Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and the rebel leader Guillaume Soro. The agreement stipulated that northern rebels would be integrated into the country’s army and free and fair elections would be held. Elections are now due to be held next year.

Although tourism is not a major industry in Ivory Coast, the Tourism Ministry thinks it can be. Kone says the March agreement has brought peace to Ivory Coast. He admits that there have been setbacks which have delayed the accord, but says none poses a threat to foreign visitors.

However, in June, the U.S. State Department issued a new travel warning, saying political violence could erupt at any time because most key goals of the peace accord remain unachieved. The warning said the security situation is particularly poor and unpredictable in Abidjan and in the west part of the country.

Canada, Britain and New Zealand updated their travel warnings on Ivory Coast last month.

The manager of Abidjan’s Hotel Tiama, Christian Filiol, also says tourists have little to worry about when visiting Ivory Coast, but he says he does not blame them for being scared.

He says like other businesses that rely on tourism, the hotel is struggling to make a profit. He says this is because the Ivorian government is not accelerating the peace accord, which is provoking the travel warnings. “The peace process is going very slowly- too slowly. The question is why. I suppose the slow process is a good arrangement for certain people, but for the economical situation, it is very bad,” he said.

The United States embassy in Abidjan was unavailable for comment on the U.S. warning.

from MoreWhat.com:
Let’s see. A recent history of civil war and indications that a peace settlement has items yet unresolved. And the ministry of tourism considers travel warnings as something of an overreaction. Maybe right when he said things were ‘peaceful’ they were. But what’s to say it will remain that way? But then, if you really need travel warnings as enlightenment on where to go and not go, you’re already an easy target.

By VOA News
10 November 2007
China’s state-run news agency says the country’s quality control investigation has found a toxic substance was contained in Chinese-produced toy beads that harmed at least five children in Australia and the United States.

Xinhua reported Saturday that Chinese authorities have suspended the toymaker’s export license. It is believed all the beads were produced at the same factory in the southern city of Shenzen.

On Friday, China’s safety administration halted the export of the toy beads that had already been recalled in the United States, Australia and South Africa.

The toy beads were sold under the name Bindeez or Aqua Dots.

When swallowed, an adhesive coating on the beads reacts with digestive enzymes to make a powerful sedative that has caused unconsciousness, seizures or respiratory distress in several children. The children affected by the chemical have since recovered.

The toys were supposed to be covered by a harmless coating, but on some of the beads it appears that a toxic substance that metabolizes into a so-called date-rape drug known as GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate) was used instead.

Moose Enterprises, the Chinese producer of the toy, says it now plans to coat the beads with a bitter tasting substance that will discourage kids from eating them.

The recalls are the latest in a series of problems that have seen 21 million Chinese-made toys pulled from store shelves world wide because of lead paint and other hazards.

from MoreWhat.com:
This is certainly getting a little old. Combined with food recalls, commercial pharmaceuticals and street drugs as well as obesity, health care issues and health in general, we may no longer have to concern ourselves with terrorism. We will be our own worst enemy.

Avian flu may be the best example of a potential catastrophic event that will be largely ignored or shrouded with incompetence or sheer apathy right up until the moment it becomes a pandemic. While considerable focus and attention was placed on the topic early on, since then the tiny foe has systematically gone about its business with little opposition from any source capable of mounting a reasonable defense.

Not like there are no other major issues about which we should be concerned. However, avian influenza is a threat that can make all the others rather moot. It is the sort of problem that displays no discrimination or prejudice or other human attribute when selecting targets. Whatever can be defined as part of the biosphere is on its list of targets. No socio-economic or geopolitical considerations here. No personal preferences or bias or any other subjective analysis clouds its judgment. As a matter of fact, there is no judgment. It’s not that kind of arrangement.

Most people are aware that H5N1 is only advancing as slow and methodical as it has for lack of successful method to infect other species. There have also been reports that much progress has been made in developing vaccines. Reports in addition to the two presented here have suggested enough vaccine can be produced but there may be shortcomings attached to this solution. And of course, the early discussions made many comparisons to the 1918 flu epidemic as well as the frequency of such events and that we are overdue for another.

The primary point of this post is to publish another warning that there may be a serious lack of concern and response to the risk from this particular foe. The virus is extending the courtesy of giving the human species a great deal of time to solve the problem. But just like the fact that this living organism does not apply subjective analysis to its daily business, the time allowed thus far to prepare ourselves is simply the result of a natural sequence of events. If we end up not being prepared when the threat advances we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Scientists Say Bird Flu Spreading in Several Asian, African Countries

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
07 November 2007

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Nations in Asia and Africa have had much success in stopping the spread of bird flu, but experts meeting in Bangkok this week say the H5N1 virus continues to spread in a number of countries. VOA’s Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Experts with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization say bird flu is still considered an animal disease, affecting only a small number of humans so far. But they say the threat of a human pandemic, in which millions could die, is still very real.

Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations’ senior Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, told reporters in Bangkok Wednesday that while most nations have made progress in containing the virus’ spread, there remain some problem areas.

“We’ve seen during the last three years that countries have invested a lot of resources in vaccination of poultry, in improving veterinary services, and also in what we call bio-security, in order to try to reduce the risk of…avian influenza continuing to circulate in poultry or in wild birds,” he said. “We’ve seen in many countries, extraordinary success in getting this under control: (but) not everywhere. There’s some problems in the region.”

He says the virus continues to spread in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam in Asia, and Egypt and Nigeria in Africa.

Experts say nations that have yet to develop an export-oriented poultry industry are finding it more difficult to contain the disease.

They say Thailand, as one example, has had greater success in controlling bird flu, because it already had a veterinary system in place to support its sizable poultry exports.

Another challenge that could hinder efforts to contain the spread of H5N1 is the reluctance by some countries to hand over tissue samples of bird flu cases. China is one of them. Dr. Nabarro says negotiations continue in efforts to get Beijing to disclose more data and materials that could help scientists develop a vaccine.

“There are some situations in which countries have asked for clarification on the benefits that they’re likely to get as a result of sharing samples, and there is some international negotiation under way at the moment to try to establish a satisfactory basis for sample-sharing by seeing whether or not it will be possible to ensure that those who do provide samples are able to benefit from products that are produced with the help of those samples,” he said.

Experts say Beijing’s concerns have to do with intellectual property rights to any vaccine that is developed with data or research originating in China. Indonesia has hesitated to supply tissue samples for similar reasons.

Representatives of several nations are scheduled to meet in Geneva later this month to address those concerns and talk about setting up a new international standard of sharing information and samples.

The H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus mainly affects birds and has struck primarily in Asia, but it has also appeared in Europe and Africa. Since its appearance in Hong Kong in 1997, the H5N1 virus has killed at least 211 people in eleven countries. Tens of millions of poultry have died or been slaughtered due to the disease.

The World Health Organization says all evidence to date indicates that close contact with dead or sick birds is the principal source of human infection. Scientists say they are mainly concerned about the virus in animals for now, but fear that the virus could mutate and become easily transmissible between humans.

UN Expert Says World Unprepared for Avian Flu Pandemic

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
24 October 2007

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A top United Nations expert on Avian influenza says the world is not yet ready to protect itself from a potential avian influenza pandemic that could kill millions of people. He says it will take another few years before countries complete their pandemic preparedness plans. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Health experts are concerned that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus will transform itself into the virus that causes the next human pandemic.

David Nabarro is senior U.N. systems coordinator for avian and human influenza. He says many uncertainties surround the disease. But, what is certain, he says, is that there will be a human influenza pandemic some time in the future.

He says no one knows when or where this will happen or how severe it will be. But, he says, given the potential magnitude of human suffering and of the economic consequences, it is essential to be prepared.

He says most countries have some kind of pandemic preparedness plan in the works.

“Unfortunately, only a relatively small proportion are adequately prepared to keep going in the event that the pandemic has massive absenteeism associated with it. And we need hard work for at least two or three years more to make sure that the whole world is properly pandemic ready. It is not easy. But, I will tell you one thing: being prepared for a pandemic will help countries to be prepared for other mega-catastrophes, not just those that are due to infectious disease,” said Dr. Nabarro.

The World Health Organization reports bird flu has spread to about 60 countries and territories. It says the H5N1 virus appears to be entrenched in the poultry populations of Indonesia, northern Egypt and parts of Nigeria, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam.

Bird flu remains a largely animal disease. But, latest figures show about 350 people who had close contact with diseased poultry have become infected and more than 200 have died.

Dr. Nabarro says health experts fear that one day H5N1 or another animal virus will mutate into a form that could spread easily from one human to another.

In anticipation of this, he says WHO is working with national authorities to make sure they will be able to respond promptly to contain the virus wherever it emerges.

“That prompt response has to be within days,” said Dr. Nabarro. “WHO has worked with countries to develop protocols for rapid response and has also been ensuring that there are adequate stockpiles of Oseltamivir or Tamiflu, which is part of the rapid response. WHO is also working on trying to ensure that there will be a plan that can be put into place for rapid production of pandemic vaccines once the new virus appears and also is looking at the possibility of vaccines against H5N1 in humans stockpiled.”

Dr. Nabarro says it will take drug companies about six months to manufacture vaccines against avian influenza once a pandemic appears and the viral strain is identified. He says millions of people could die during that period.

Should avian influenza strike, he says people should stay away from crowds. They should wear protective gear, such as masks and they should use the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

By Trish Anderton
Jakarta
22 October 2007
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The Indonesian government says the pilot in a fiery plane crash earlier this year ignored repeated warnings to abandon his landing attempt. The March 7th accident in Central Java claimed 21 lives. Trish Anderton reports from Jakarta.

The report from Indonesia’s National Transport Safety Committee, issued Monday, says the pilot of the Garuda plane tried to land, despite 15 warning alarms and his copilot’s calls to abort the attempt.

It also finds the plane was traveling faster and descending more sharply than normal. The plane skidded across the Yogyakarta runway into a rice field and burst into flames.

Peter Gibson of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority says pulling out of a landing if you are having problems is one of the essential rules every pilot learns.

“You must have a stabilized approach and that means, literally, the aircraft is configured for landing, and everything is proceeding smoothly, and if anything is giving the pilot concern, the training says go around and do it again,” said Gibson.

The report also called the airport’s emergency plan less than effective, and said delays in putting out the fire may have contributed to the death toll.

Transport officials say the report is designed to help prevent future accidents.

But Danang Parikesit of the Indonesian Transportation Society says it should have made detailed recommendations on how to improve elements such as communications and emergency response.

“The report does not address specific intervention or specific measures that need to be carried out by those three most responsible organizations in airline safety: first, the government, second, the airport authority and the third is the airline company,” said Parikesit.

The pilot and copilot survived the crash, and remain suspended from duty. The government says, by law, the report may not be used as part of any possible criminal case against the men.

The accident was the second major air crash in Indonesia this year. On New Year’s Day, an Adam Air jetliner plunged into the sea off the island of Sulawesi, killing everyone aboard.

The United States has declared that Indonesia does not comply with international air safety standards. In June, the European Union banned all Indonesian airlines from its airspace.

An absolutely outstanding development in the case of the internet pedophile Christopher Paul Neil is detailed below in a press release from Interpol. Not unlike many websites around the world, the request by Interpol was honored on Blog @ MoreWhat.com October 9th. That request was for assistance in getting out the word on Interpol’s global search for this thoroughly disgusting criminal. They provided the necessary information to post alerts and we thank them for their efforts and success in capturing this pedophile. Let’s hope this starts a trend. The more pedophiles removed from civilization the better.

After the Interpol press release is a report from VOA on this story.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Global hunt for suspected child abuser launched by INTERPOL ends in Thailand

LYON, France – International co-ordination between police on three continents has led to the arrest of Christopher Paul NEIL in Thailand just 10 days after INTERPOL launched a worldwide appeal to identify an unknown man photographed sexually abusing young boys.The Royal Thai Police arrested the 32-year-old Canadian in Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast region of the country today, 19 October, just one day after issuing an arrest warrant and requesting an INTERPOL Red Notice, an international wanted persons notice.
“I want to commend the Royal Thai Police for the swift and decisive actions that led to NEIL’s arrest and those local citizens who helped to identify and locate this suspected predator in a civil manner,” said INTERPOL’s Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

“This is but one example of how co-operation between INTERPOL, its police partners in 186 member countries and the public can work together to bring international criminals to justice.

“Today’s arrest sends a clear message to those men who think they can travel to Southeast Asia to abuse innocent children: there is no longer any such place as a safe haven for paedophiles; there is no such thing as anonymity; and there is no escape.”
On October 8, INTERPOL launched its first-ever global appeal for assistance to identify an unknown man featured in a series of around 200 photographs in which he was shown sexually abusing young children. Nearly 400 people worldwide responded, with five different sources all naming Christopher Paul NEIL as a potential match.

Police work on the ground quickly established that NEIL had fled his home in South Korea. He was last seen on 11 October arriving at Bangkok International Airport in Thailand.

Close co-operation between the Royal Thai Police and INTERPOL led to the identification of a previously unknown victim who confirmed to police that he had been abused by NEIL, which enabled Thai authorities to issue an arrest warrant. NEIL was arrested 24 hours later.

“That NEIL is in Thai police custody just 10 days after INTERPOL’s appeal to identify a man whose name, nationality and whereabouts were unknown is an outstanding achievement due to the co-operation between the police, the public and the media” said Head of INTERPOl’s liaison office in Bangkok, Colonel Panaspong Sirawongse.

Canadian Suspected of Sexually Abusing Children Arrested in Thailand

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
Thailand’s capture Friday of a suspected pedophile from Canada is highlighting efforts in the Southeast Asia region to combat child sex tourism. VOA’s Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Thirty-two-year old Christopher Paul Neil of Canada was taken to Thailand’s Royal National Police headquarters in Bangkok Friday after his capture in the north of the country.

Neil’s arrest came after the international police agency, Interpol, issued an unusual appeal over the Internet to law enforcement agencies and ordinary people around the world. The appeal was to help identify and catch a man shown in Internet photos, allegedly performing lewd acts with at least 12 young boys in Cambodia and Vietnam.

The photos showed the man’s face distorted by a digital swirl pattern, but authorities in Germany were able to unscramble the pictures and reveal Neil’s face. A manhunt ensued when Thai authorities discovered he had entered the country last week after leaving South Korea, where he had worked as a teacher. He had previously taught children in Thailand.

The manhunt for Neil and his arrest highlights growing worldwide efforts to combat so-called sex tourism, a problem that is rampant in Southeast Asia. Richard Bridle, UNICEF’s deputy regional director for Southeast Asia, tells VOA the number of pedophile arrests and prosecutions is rising, thanks to growing cooperation between the rich western nations that export child molesters and the poorer countries that host them.

“There are two parts to the equation: the kids who are the victims seem to be Southeast Asians - at least that’s what the news stories tell us - and a lot of the perpetrators are coming from Europe and North America, and so on,” said Bridle. “I think we’ve begun to realize that it just isn’t right that crimes like this should be committed against children, and this says very, very bad about our own society.”

Bridle says technology and improving communication have helped in the battle against an age-old crime, which is prevalent not only in Asia, but in Africa and Latin America as well.

“If you go back in history, you’ll find a lot of instances of sexual abuse of children in Europe and North America, for instance. But I think this is one of the positive sides of globalization,” he said. “We’re beginning to see a common ethic that is developing around the world, and we’re beginning to see that wherever you are, there should be absolute zero tolerance of crimes against children, and we’ve got all these instances of good cooperation.”

Some nations, including Australia, Britain and Canada, have passed laws with extra-territoriality clauses - meaning those who travel and abuse children in other countries can be prosecuted and jailed at home.

crossposted at:
Maggie’s Notebook | Conservative Blog
FaultlineUSA
Conservative Thoughts

October 16, 2007 14:24 PM
Bird Flu Takes Another Life In Indonesia, Toll Now 88
(source:http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=290179)

JAKARTA, Oct 16 (Bernama) — A 12-year-old boy at Ceger village in Tangerang district in Banten province near here died of the H5N1 virus over the weekend, bringing to 88 the death toll in bird flu cases in Indonesia, a health official reported.

The boy was brought to a local midwife on Oct 3 after suffering from fever for three days, said head of the communicable disease control and prevention section at the Tangerang district health office, Dr Yuliah Iskandar.

Among the critical issues facing this planet is H5N1 and the threat of a worldwide pandemic. While the other major issues such as terrorism, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, increasing tensions over nuclear technology and weapons proliferation, whether a dirty bomb in a suitcase or a trend of more nations joining ‘the club’, matters involving critical health issues seem to take a back seat.

There was the mad rush for duct tape and rolls of plastic sheet for personal household protection with the advent of fears over biological weapons like anthrax. Perhaps the addition of sarin gas to the publicly known 21st century arsenal assisted the waning of these simplistic countermeasures. The flow of information regarding potential catastrophes in the form of warning the public is weighed against the risk of panic. That judgment typically resides with those who have access in ‘leadership’ roles in government and the military.

Is the relative quiet and limited media coverage about the avian flu the result of typical public apathy, a concerted effort by those in charge to let a sleeping dog lie or editorial decisions based on what sells? A combination of all three may be the low risk bet on a high risk topic. The information is out there, you just have to look for it. The story about the Indonesian boy who died from H5N1 this week should cause everyone to take another look.

In case you are interested a few handy references are provided. A world map from July 2006 displaying countries with confirmed cases in animals and humans. A WHO list of cases reported to them as recent as this month. The US government site devoted to H5N1 and some NIH information. The narrative about vaccine trials in helpful. Except the part where they describe several cases within months in Viet Nam where patients survived the avian flu. There is no discussion illuminating how they survived. Was it without intervention or did they get assistance?

It would be nice if those involved in finding solutions have been successful. But the prudent reaction to the quiet front on this health issue suggests otherwise. With the flu season of the common variety approaching with its habit of killing thousands each year in the US alone, the scenario for its deadlier cousin is likely similar. As the scary cousin develops, the likelihood of avoiding a pandemic may be within reach but a similar trend compared to the common forms of flu may become an annual event also only with many more deaths in the future and a relatively apathetic view from the world’s humans.

Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/en/

Nations With Confirmed Cases: H5N1 Avian Influenza (MAP: July 7, 2006)
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/map.html

Pandemic Flu Dot Gov
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

Human Antibodies Protect Mice from Avian Flu
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2007/niaid-28.htm
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, report using antibodies derived from immune cells from recent human survivors of H5N1 avian influenza to successfully treat H5N1-infected mice as well as protect them from an otherwise lethal dose of the virus.

February 2007 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS on Avian Influenza Trials
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/H5N1QandA.htm

January 2007 NIAID DNA Vaccine for H5N1 Avian Influenza Enters Human Trial
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2007/FluDNAVax.htm

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, “Jihad”

Friday, Oct 12, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, “Jihad.” The ad highlights Governor Romney’s belief that we must strengthen our intelligence services and our military to confront “this century’s nightmare, Jihadism.” Governor Romney has outlined a strong blueprint for strengthening our capabilities to defeat this threat.

The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign’s rotation in Iowa today. Script and viewing links are below.

Script For “Jihad” (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “It’s this century’s nightmare, Jihadism – violent radical Islamic fundamentalism.

“Their goal is to unite the world under a single Jihadist caliphate.

“To do that, they must collapse freedom-loving nations like us.

“As President, I’ll strengthen our intelligence services.

“Increase our military by at least 100,000.

“And monitor the calls Al-Qaeda makes into America.

“And we can stop and will stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message.”

To watch “Jihad,” please see: http://mitt-tv.mittromney.com/?showid=426599

AD FACTS: Script For “Jihad” (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “It’s this century’s nightmare, Jihadism – violent radical Islamic fundamentalism. Their goal is to unite the world under a single Jihadist caliphate. To do that, they must collapse freedom-loving nations like us. As President, I’ll strengthen our intelligence services.”

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “Increase our military by at least 100,000.”

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “And monitor the calls Al-Qaeda makes into America.”

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “And we can stop and will stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message.”

- Bill Bennett: “On Iran, you have been as strong and tough as anybody running for president, that’s for sure.” (”Bill Bennett’s Morning In America,” 9/20/07)

- Governor Romney: “Iran is an extraordinary threat to the nation and to the world as it considers nuclear armament; that is a course which is very threatening. … It’s essential for us to stop that.” (Dolly A Butz, “Romney Calls For Isolation Of Iran,” Sioux City Journal, 2/19/07)

- Governor Romney: “The Iranian regime threatens not only Israel, but also every other nation in the region, and ultimately the world. And that threat would take on an entirely new dimension if Iran were allowed to become a nuclear power.” (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference, Herzliya, Israel, 1/23/07)

To watch “Jihad,” please see: http://mitt-tv.mittromney.com/?showid=426599

The Romney Vision: Gov. Romney Supports Expanding Intelligence Gathering Capabilities

Thursday, Oct 11, 2007

“When Al Qaeda calls into America, we should be listening. Unfortunately, the Democrats are moving to weaken our foreign intelligence listening capabilities. The Democrats are dangerously out of touch when it comes to defending our homeland. Our most basic civil liberty is the right to be kept alive and I agree with the President that we must use every tool at our disposal to keep America safe.” – Gov. Mitt Romney (Gov. Mitt Romney, “Governor Mitt Romney On FISA Legislation,” Press Release, 10/10/07)

THE ROMNEY VISION: EXPANDING FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE GATHERING TO PREVENT ATTACKS ON U.S. SOIL

Gov. Romney Agrees With President Bush That Democrats Are Threatening To Take Away Tools The Intelligence Community Needs:

This Week, President Bush Criticized The Democrats’ Actions In Committee, And Called On The Congress To Reject Their Rollback Of Our Intelligence Capabilities. “Today, the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees are considering a proposed bill that instead of making the Protect America Act permanent would take us backward. While the House bill is not final, my administration has serious concerns about some of its provisions, and I am hopeful that the deficiencies in the bill can be fixed. Congress and the President have no higher responsibility than protecting the American people from enemies who attacked our country – and who want to do so again. Terrorists in faraway lands are plotting and planning new ways to kill Americans. The security of our country and the safety of our citizens depend on learning about their plans. The Protect America Act is a vital tool in stopping the terrorists – and it would be a grave mistake for Congress to weaken this tool.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 10/10/07)

Gov. Romney Agrees That The Actions Of The Democrats In Congress Are Reckless And Would Weaken Our First Line Of Defense. “When Al Qaeda calls into America, we should be listening. Unfortunately, the Democrats are moving to weaken our foreign intelligence listening capabilities. The Democrats are dangerously out of touch when it comes to defending our homeland. Our most basic civil liberty is the right to be kept alive and I agree with the President that we must use every tool at our disposal to keep America safe.” (Gov. Mitt Romney, “Governor Mitt Romney On FISA Legislation,” Press Release, 10/10/07)

Gov. Romney Rejects Such Dangerous Reductions In Our Intelligence Capability:

Gov. Romney Supports Doing “Whatever It Takes” To Protect America From Terrorists. GOV. ROMNEY: “It means if people are coming to this country terrorizing or talking about terror in such a way that it could lead to the violent death of Americans, we need to know about that, track them, follow them, and make sure that in every way we can we know what they’re doing and where they’re doing it. And if it means we have to go into a mosque to wiretap or a church, then that’s exactly where we’re going to go because we’re going to do whatever it takes to protect the American people.” (Fox News, Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Durham, NH, 9/5/07)

Gov. Romney Understands We Must Effectively Use Intelligence, Including Wiretapping And Electronic Surveillance, To Prevent Attacks. GOV. ROMNEY: “The key to effective homeland security, in my view, is intelligence, finding the attackers before they attack, gathering and analyzing tips, monitoring suspects, wiretapping, surveillance, all of the tools associated with intelligence work. It’s aided measurably by the Patriot Act, perhaps our most effective new tool. It is also dependent on effective delineations of responsibilities between and among federal agencies, across federal and state lines and state and local lines.” (Gov. Mitt Romney, Remarks At The National Press Club, Washington, D.C., 7/14/04)

THE DEMOCRATS: HAMSTRINGING OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

Democrats In Congress Want To Rollback FISA Reforms Needed In The War On Terror:

Under Democrat Control, The House Judiciary And Intelligence Committees Have Voted To Extend Only Select FISA Provisions And Place More Surveillance Operations Under Judicial Burdens. “In August, Congress passed a law that temporarily relaxed legal restrictions on wiretaps, e-mail searches and other surveillance done to gather foreign intelligence. Those changes to the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire in February. The House Judiciary and Intelligence committees on Wednesday approved a Democratic proposal to extend some FISA changes while placing more surveillance under the jurisdiction of the FISA court.” (Richard Willing, “4-1-1 On FISA Eavesdropping Bill,” USA Today, 10/10/07)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Said That The Democrat Committee Version Is Better Than The Original FISA Legislation. ‘”Not only is this bill better than the bill passed in August, it?s better than the original FISA bill in protecting our civil liberties,’ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters on Tuesday at a lunch hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.” (Helen Fessenden and Jonathan E. Kaplan, “House Dems Propose Fix On Wiretaps,” The Hill, 10/9/07)

Not Surprisingly, The Liberal ACLU Said The Bill Is A “Step In The Right Direction.” ‘”What?s good is they?ve put some more protections in place. It?s a step in the right direction,’ said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union.” (Stephen Labaton, “House Panels Vote For More Scrutiny Over Foreign Eavesdropping,” The New York Times, 10/11/07)

According To A Washington Times Editorial, The Democrats’ Bill Favors Trial Lawyers Over National Security Concerns. “The Democrats’ measure does not include an essential provision sought by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, who wants to grant retroactive immunity to U.S. telecommunications companies that cooperated with government efforts to conduct warrantless surveillance of terrorists following the September 11 attacks. The lawsuits against telecom companies could prove to be a financial windfall for a favored Democratic Party constituency: trial lawyers. Approximately 40 lawsuits are pending against telecommunications firms accused of violating the law.” (Editorial, “Getting Around FISA Naysayers,” The Washington Times, 10/11/07)

THE DEMOCRATS: A HISTORY OF PANDERING TO THE FAR LEFT AND LIMITING U.S. INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING ABILITY

Earlier This Year, Leading Democrats Voted Against Critical FISA Reforms:

In August, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) And Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Voted Against Bipartisan Reform Of The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. (S. 1927, CQ Vote #309: Passed 60-28: R 43-0; D 16-27; I 1-1, 8/3/07, Clinton And Obama Voted Nay)

- Sen. Clinton Was Cheered For Her Vote Against FISA Reform At The Most Recent YearlyKos Convention. “But that was it when it came to any sort of tense back and forth. By and large Clinton drew praise and applause for her votes — especially the one she cast against the FISA court last evening. Iraq, surprisingly, was not mentioned by any of the questioners.” (Chris Cillizza, “Clinton’s Tame Session With The Netroots,” The Washington Post’s “The Fix” Blog, blog.washingtonpost.com, Posted 8/4/07)

- Sen. Obama Said Wiretapping Is Not Needed To Defeat Terrorism. OBAMA: “That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens . . . no more ignoring the law when it is inconvenient. That is not who we are, and it’s not what is necessary to defeat the terrorists.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Woodrow Wilson Center On Terrorism, Washington, D.C., 8/1/07)

In August, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Led The Majority Of House Democrats In Voting Against Bipartisan Reform Of FISA. (S. 1927, CQ Vote #836: Passed 227-183: R 186-2; D 41-181, 8/4/07, Pelosi Voted Nay)

Starbucks Recalls Children’s Plastic Cups Due to Choking and Laceration Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Starbucks Children�s Plastic Cups

Units: About 250,000

Importer: Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.

Hazard: If the cup is dropped, the colorful face on the cup can break off and leave small parts or sharp exposed edges that can pose a choking or laceration hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Starbucks has received seven reports of the cups breaking, including two reports in which a child began to choke on a broken piece. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall includes four styles of Starbucks children�s plastic 10-ounce cups. Styles include: �Dot� Red Ladybug; �Dash� Green Turtle; Bunny Pink; and Chick Yellow cups.

Sold exclusively at: Starbucks stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2007 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled cups away from young children and contact Starbucks for instructions on returning the cups for a refund. Starbucks is also offering a complimentary beverage as an incentive to return the recalled cups.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Starbucks at (888) 288-4008 anytime or visit the firm�s Web site at www.starbucks.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2007
Release #08-017

Firm�s Recall Hotline: (888) 288-4008
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

By VOA News
18 August 2007

Turkish media say two men who tried to hijack a Turkish Cypriot flight to the Middle East Saturday did not have a bomb as they claimed.

Reports quoting Turkish authorities say the so-called bomb the hijackers used to threaten the plane’s 136 passengers and six crewmembers turned out to be modeling clay. However, police say at least one of the hijackers had a knife.

Both men later peacefully surrendered to police after most of the people aboard the aircraft either escaped or were released during a refueling stop at Antalya Airport in southwestern Turkey.

Authorities also detained one passenger as a suspected accomplice.

The two hijackers seized control of an Atlasjet flight traveling from northern Cyprus to Istanbul early Saturday, demanding to be flown to Iran or Syria. Passengers interviewed after the incident on Turkish television said the hijackers claimed to have ties with al-Qaida.

The motive for the hijacking is not clear.

Authorities say one suspect is Turkish. The other has a Syrian passport, but is believed to be Palestinian.

Officials say some of the passengers and crew who fled the plane suffered minor injuries when they jumped from the aircraft’s open door to the Antalya Airport tarmac. The pilots escaped through the cockpit windows, and they shut off the plane’s power to prevent the hijackers from taking off.

Cyprus has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the island in response to a Greek-backed military coup in Nicosia. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot state.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

By Daniel Schearf
Beijing
16 August 2007

China’s Commerce Ministry is investigating Chinese companies that produced and exported the toys that the U.S. company Mattel says are unsafe. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday that the manufacturers and exporters of the toys sent to Mattel would not be allowed to operate until their products were deemed safe.

Mattel, the leading U.S. toy company, this week extended a recall to more than 18 million toys made in China. Mattel says the toys had two safety problems: unsafe amounts of lead paint, which can cause serious bodily damage, or small magnets that children could choke on.

Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei repeated the Chinese authorities’ often-used defense in such cases, saying the majority of China’s toy exports are safe, and the media are exaggerating the extent of the problem.

“Why is there some bias against Chinese-made products, or a belief that ‘made in China’ is bad? There are some media or irresponsible people taking small problems, without any basis, and applying them to other products or all Chinese products,” the spokesman said.

Wang says in 2006, the Chinese toy industry’s exports were worth $7 billion, and amounted to 70 percent of world toy exports.