From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Mon Jan 31 21:58:51 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 21:58:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Hacking the Prius Message-ID: <20050201055851.29321.qmail@web13606.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-01-28-plugged-in-hybrids_x.htm Some plugging in hybrids to save even more fuel By Mark Clayton, The Christian Scinece Monitor Not long after Dan Kroushl got his new 2004 Toyota Prius, he began to wonder about the mysterious button on the dash. It didn't seem to have any function. Didn't boost the turbo or engage an ejector seat. In online discussions with other Prius enthusiasts, Mr. Kroushl soon discovered the button did have a hidden function: It could turn the gasoline-electric hybrid into an all-electric car ? for a mile or so on limited battery power. This "stealth mode" button works fine in Japan and Europe where it's handy for drivers to roll politely about densely packed subdivisions in the early morning and late evening. But the button has been disconnected for North America's Priuses. Now, scores of Prius owners in the United States are activating the button on their own ? despite company warnings that altering the car will void its warranty. Some drivers, including Kroushl, are going even further: adding battery capacity ? and a plug. The hoped for result: a high-tech commuting car that plugs into a socket at night and gets amazing gas mileage the next day. In effect, these backyard mechanics have turned the hybrid car's appeal on its head. Instead of emphasizing gasoline over electric power and the convenience of today's cars, they're aiming to create less polluting higher-mileage vehicles that emphasize electricity over gasoline ? even if it's a bit less convenient. "One guy I know plugs his Honda hybrid into a windmill for power," Kroushl says. "It costs him practically nothing to drive." Since before the Model T, electric cars have been among the most efficient modes of transportation. They made a bit of a comeback in the mid-1990s, when General Motors and other automakers reintroduced electric-only cars to meet a proposed California clean-air mandate. But with the weakening of that requirement, which called for some vehicles to be zero-emission in 2003, GM, Toyota, and Honda stopped production of their electric vehicles. Some automakers, which had leased the cars, began taking them back to be destroyed. Only the dedication of enthusiasts has kept them from disappearing completely. This past summer, after Ford Motor Co. announced it would scrap its electric Think vehicles, environmental groups occupied the roof of the company's Norwegian offices and held a mock funeral at a San Francisco dealer. Within two weeks, Ford agreed instead to ship its vehicles to a Norwegian electric-car manufacturer. Just last week, Ford also reluctantly agreed to let Dave Bernikoff-Raboy, a California rancher, buy the all-electric pickup truck he had been leasing. He was so devoted to the vehicle, which recharged off a solar panel, that he camped out near a Ford dealership in Sacramento, to protest that automaker's plans to dispose of its remaining electric fleet. Now, a growing interest in hybrids has rekindled the hopes of the electricity-firsters. Global demand for hybrids is estimated to rise from about 200,000 units produced annually to more than 1 million vehicles a year by 2010, according to ABI Research, an international market-research firm, in a report last year. If only 1% of these were converted to run primarily on electricity, it would create a base of more than 30,000 vehicles by the end of the decade. "We're not talking about electric vehicles, but about plug-in hybrid vehicles that can be topped off with electricity for short trips," James Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said last month during the unveiling of a report by the 16-member National Commission on Energy Policy. "The potential in terms of national policy, and in terms of global warming, ought to be focused on by anyone" concerned about terrorism or "paying over $2 a gallon." Other experts are also urging automakers to take a new look. "We think the transportation fuel sector should be diversified by utilizing more electricity as a fuel ? plug-in hybrids that can get 100 miles per gallon and allow you to run on electricity alone for 20 to 30 miles, then shift to the combustion engine," says Gal Luft, director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, an energy-security think tank in Washington. But automakers show little interest. "Why would anyone want to do that?" wonders Sam Butto, a Toyota spokesman in Torrance, Calif., when told some Prius owners are creating their own plug-in Priuses. "One of the great features of the Prius is that you don't have to plug it in." It is also unlikely Toyota would make a plug-in Prius ? though "nothing is impossible," he hedges. The problems are many, including a "much, much, much larger battery" needed to increase range, which would add hundreds of pounds, says David Hermance, a Toyota environmental engineer. How green is that plug-in? Anyway, plug-in hybrids are not that green, Mr. Hermance argues. They run on electricity that's often created by coal-fired power plants. So, such a car would be only marginally better from an environmental and economic perspective than a regular hybrid and have limited appeal, he concludes. Case closed. While Andrew Frank concedes that an electric car powered indirectly by coal isn't much better for the environment, he argues it is still more efficient transportation ? and it makes a world of difference from the standpoint of energy security. With engineering students at the University of California at Davis, Professor Frank has spent more than a decade turning production vehicles into plug-in hybrids using off-the-shelf parts. "We just built a high-performance plug-in hybrid Ford Explorer," he says. "It's 325 horsepower ? 200 of that horsepower is electric and 125 is gasoline. This car goes like a rocket, but still gets double the fuel economy of a regular hybrid. And for the first 50 miles it is all electric ? zero emissions." That's enough for many drivers to complete their daily commute. Compared with conventional cars, the annual fuel consumption of the modified cars "is only about 10%, because you're using gas so infrequently," he says. "Our studies show [that] the average person would only go to the gas station six times a year compared with maybe 35 times a year." Built on a stock Explorer platform, the hybrid retains all its original interior space. There is also more space in the engine compartment because the vehicle lacks moving parts like a fan belt, generator, water pump, and even a transmission. Because it has fewer than one-fifth the number of moving parts of a conventional SUV, the hybrid's weight, even with a heavier battery, stays the same. Assembly is simpler and reliability, better. In production, it might cost $40,000 or less, he says. A nibble from Toyota Despite repeated presentations to the Big Three automakers in Detroit, Frank has received little interest from them. But last year, Toyota flew his Explorer to its research facilities in Japan so engineers could pore over the vehicle. "There's no question in my mind that Toyota has plans for a plug-in hybrid right now, but they aren't talking about it," he says. Certainly, plug-in hybrids are for real. DaimlerChrysler is reportedly near delivery of the first batch of what is expected to be as many as 100 Sprinter delivery vans that permit travel of up to 20 miles on electricity alone. This will come in handy in car-clogged European cities currently considering bans or other limits on gas- and diesel-powered delivery vehicles. AC Propulsion had demonstrated a converted VW Jetta with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system. Renault is offering its Kangoo PHEV that can go 60 miles on a charge before switching back to gas. Commuter Cars Corp. of Spokane, Wash., is offering a low-volume electric car called the Tango for $85,000. Meanwhile, a not-for-profit outfit called CalCars in San Francisco is modifying two Priuses by adding more battery power and a plug. The group has discovered an empty space under the hatch near the current battery that looks almost as if Toyota intended to do this itself one day. "We hope to get significantly more miles per gallon with the additional battery power," says Felix Kramer, the group's founder. "Our purpose is to show Toyota that there is demand for this kind of vehicle." Will Toyota ? or Detroit ? respond? Not without major breakthroughs in technology, says Dan Bedore, a Ford spokesman. "It's become pretty clear that our ... non-plug-in hybrid system is the direction we see the market going." "The answer is they really don't want to do it," Frank says. "We're just a bunch of students. If we can build this with off-the-shelf technology, they can too ? and do things better than what we do. If they really were interested in doing something in the short term, they could do it." Copyright 2005, The Christian Scinece Monitor ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Tue Feb 1 11:27:58 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 11:27:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Union of Concerned Scientists - Automakers v. The People Message-ID: <20050201192758.48280.qmail@web13602.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.ucsaction.org/action/ The Union of Concerned Scientists Action Center makes it easy for you to communicate directly with the people currently making critical decisions that affect our planet. TAKE ACTION TODAY to ensure that these policy makers get timely, accurate information to help them make decisions that will protect and improve the health and safety of our environment globally, nationally and in communities throughout the United States. http://www.ucsaction.org/action/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Tue Feb 1 12:13:57 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 12:13:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Robert Scheer | Now, U.S. Must Get Out of Iraq's Way Message-ID: <20050201201357.39623.qmail@web13605.mail.yahoo.com> Robert Scheer | Now, U.S. Must Get Out of Iraq's Way http://truthout.org/docs_2005/020105X.shtml Now, U.S. Must Get Out of Iraq's Way By Robert Scheer The Los Angeles Times Tuesday 01 February 2005 After the excellent election news, it's time for Bush to plan a pullout. The election in Iraq, though flawed, is terrific news. Any time a people get to use the ballot box instead of guns to make history, they, and the rest of the world, benefit immensely. That more than 60% of those eligible are estimated to have voted despite the dreadful conditions in war-torn Iraq is a testament to the enormous courage humans so often display under extreme duress. It appears, too, that the election will be something of a rebuke to those who preach a toxic blend of fundamentalism and nihilist violence, as was the case in last month's Palestinian election. But the test now, in both occupied regions, is whether the will of the voters will be allowed to be more than a symbolic gesture. It is hard to imagine how the Kurdish and Shiite parties are going to finesse the fact that the Sunni religious minority that ruled Iraq off and on for centuries largely boycotted the election. Yet, if the newly elected leaders can smartly wield real democratic power for the common good, it could be a major step toward a stable and legitimate Iraq. It would be hopelessly naive, however, to believe that the agenda of those elected will mesh smoothly with that of the occupiers, or do much to dampen the insurgency. Very preliminary reports indicate that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's United Iraqi Alliance may have garnered a majority of the votes cast. This empowers the Iranian-born and Tehran-backed Shiite religious and political leader, who has been very firm on wanting an accelerated timeline for a U.S. withdrawal. And an Abu Dhabi TV/Zogby poll conducted two days before the election makes clear that he speaks for the citizenry on this: About 82% of Sunnis and 69% of Shiites want the U.S. military to leave "either immediately or after an elected government is in place." One can quibble as to how fast they want that to happen, but there can be no doubt that the Iraqi election results are a historic victory for a posture of self-determination rather than subservience. Make no mistake: A clear victory for Sistani does not fit the White House neoconservatives' blueprint for creating a more pliable Middle East. To be sure, President Bush did the right thing in pushing through the election, because the Sunni insurgency is not going to fade away as long as it can feed off the occupation's presence. But this positive moment will blow up in his face if it proves to be nothing more than a co-optation of the Iraqi people's strongly felt desire for self-rule. For the United States, acting in good faith is essential at this point. This past weekend, the nation took another embarrassing hit when the BBC reported that the United States' own auditors had found that nearly half of all oil revenues generated since the invasion cannot be accounted for - an astonishing $8.8 billion. Iraqi voters risked their lives, and they deserve far more than a facade of democracy or a puppet strongman acting as the United States' "muscle" in the region, as Saddam Hussein did for so many years. They need to be given democratic and transparent control of their oil, their economy and their security. The election should also be the occasion for beginning the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign forces. To be clear, this does not mean abandoning the responsibilities the U.S. has taken on by crushing Iraq through two invasions and a decade of sanctions. We should make sure Iraq's international debt is absolved and its infrastructure repaired, which will take billions of dollars and many years. But if we are asked to leave, we must do so, or expose all the talk of "liberation" as just so much Great Power rhetoric. Unfortunately, despite our own democratic tradition, we have not historically been very supportive when weaker nations make their own history through the ballot box; we thrashed elected leaders in South Vietnam, Iran, Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Venezuela, Haiti and other nations. Yet, if we are to believe in the vision promoted so eloquently by this nation's founding fathers - and I passionately do - the only real hope for Iraq is self-determination with the good-faith support of the international community. No matter what happens, it is going to be a long and messy process. Iraq and the Middle East have been frozen politically for too long. It will only be made worse, however, if the United States can't learn how to get out of the way. ------- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Tue Feb 1 15:23:59 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 15:23:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Whale Stranding in N.C. Followed Navy Sonar Use Message-ID: <20050201232359.19259.qmail@web13623.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42788-2005Jan27.html Whale Stranding in N.C. Followed Navy Sonar Use Military Says Connection to Death of 37 Animals Is 'Unlikely' By Marc Kaufman Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, January 28, 2005; Page A03 At least 37 whales beached themselves and died along the North Carolina shore earlier this month soon after Navy vessels on a deep-water training mission off the coast used powerful sonar as part of the exercise. Although the Navy says any connection between the strandings and its active sonar is "unlikely" -- because the underwater detection system was used more than 200 miles from where the whales beached themselves -- it is cooperating with other federal agencies probing a possible link. Government fisheries officials, as well as activists for whales, say the fact that three species of whales died in the incident suggests that sonar may have been the cause. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists "are looking at all the possible causes of this stranding, which was a significant one," spokeswoman Connie Barclay said. Although the number of whales that came ashore is far from a record for mass strandings, Barclay said that "it's very curious to have three different kinds of whales strand, and a number of possible causes are being examined. Sonar is certainly one of them." The possible connection between naval sonar and the deaths of whales and other marine mammals has become an increasingly controversial issue since the Navy acknowledged that the loud blasts of its sonar helped cause a mass stranding of whales in the Bahamas in 2000. Since then, critics have accused the Navy of involvement in numerous mass strandings in U.S. and international waters, and federal environmental officials have concluded in some instances that the loud pulses from active sonar cannot be ruled out as a cause. The North Carolina strandings could be especially problematic for the Navy because it hopes to establish a 500-square-nautical-mile underwater sonar testing range off that coast. The Navy says a draft environmental impact statement is near completion, and officials have said the range is a high priority. Most of the animals that died in the latest incident were pilot whales, which stranded around the Oregon Inlet of the Outer Banks on Jan. 15. One newborn minke whale also beached at Corolla that day, and two dwarf sperm whales came ashore at Buxton on Jan. 16, locations about 60 miles north and south of the inlet. Six of the pilot whales were pregnant when they died, Barclay said. None of the three whale species is considered endangered, though NOAA officials say their populations are relatively small and little understood in the Atlantic. But other endangered marine animals -- including right and humpback whales and numerous species of sea turtles -- regularly migrate through the waters off North Carolina. Navy officials said that the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, based in Norfolk, was conducting an anti-submarine exercise about 240 nautical miles from the Oregon Inlet on Jan. 14 and 15. In e-mailed answers to questions, the Navy said a review of activities after following the strandings concluded that "no Navy ships were using active sonar within 50 nautical miles radius" of the inlet on Jan. 15 or the four days preceding -- although one ship not associated with the strike group did use sonar for seven minutes about 90 nautical miles south-southeast of Oregon Inlet. The strike group was on its way to a deployment after the training exercise, the Navy said. Sonar acts as the underwater eyes and ears of the Navy, and intermittent bursts are often used in transit to detect potential enemies and other dangers. In addition, Navy officials increasingly believe that inexpensive quiet submarines from hostile nations pose a potential threat and want to upgrade sonar tracking systems to protect against intrusions into U.S. coastal waters. The Navy now uses mid-frequency sonar for its tracking but wants to deploy a new generation of low-frequency sonar that travels much farther underwater and is more powerful. The Navy has sometimes been slow to acknowledge that its ships were in an area where strandings occurred and has accepted responsibility only in the Bahamas event. Environmental activists said that track record makes them skeptical of the Navy's statements about the North Carolina strandings. "The circumstances are troubling," said Michael Jasny, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which has sued the Navy on other sonar-related issues. "After so many whale deaths caused by sonar, these latest strandings are a red flag. . . . Unfortunately, the Navy has a long history of denial." The Outer Banks area is close to the Norfolk base and on the general course to where the exercises were held. Most of the stranded whales were dead when they were found, and NOAA scientists are conducting necropsies of many of the animals to try to determine a cause of death. Although pilot whales travel in herds and are prone to strandings, the other two whale species are not, officials said. Pilot and dwarf sperm whales are both deep-diving animals that feed off the ocean floor and slopes of the continental shelf. The other whale strandings linked to sonar use have also involved deep-diving species, such as the beaked whale. Researchers have theorized that the loud sounds of sonar can damage the whales' sensitive hearing system and cause them to surface too quickly from fright. After another stranding off the Canary Islands in 2002, researchers found unusual gas bubbles in some whale organs -- leading them to conclude that the animals suffered from a form of decompression sickness similar to the bends. The Navy's plan for an East Coast underwater sonar testing range was first announced in 1996. Since then, the plan has been discussed internally and work on an environmental impact statement has proceeded, with some input from NOAA. A Navy spokesman said last year that a final decision had not been made on where to locate the test site. But in April, the Atlantic Division of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command said in a statement: "The Navy's preferred site for the range is in the Cherry Point Operating Area located in Onslow Bay, southeast of New River, North Carolina, and approximately 105 km (57 nautical miles) from the North Carolina shoreline." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Wed Feb 2 09:03:24 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 09:03:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Mobile-using drivers 'age 50 years' Message-ID: <20050202170324.46261.qmail@web13621.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/02/mobe_using_drivers/ Mobile-using drivers 'age 50 years' By Lester Haines Published Wednesday 2nd February 2005 16:05 GMT University of Utah researchers claim that a 20-year-old blabbing on a mobile phone while driving has the reaction times of a 70-year-old, AP reports. And it doesn't matter if you're chatting hands-free, because "any activity requiring a driver to actively be part of a conversation likely will impair driving abilities," said principal study author professor David Strayer. Guinea pigs were subjected to four 10-mile freeway trips lasting about 10 minutes each in a simulator. They talked with a researcher via a handsfree mobe for half of the trip and maintained a concentrated silence for the other half. The results showed that those chewing the fat were "18 per cent slower in braking, had a 12 per cent greater following distance and took 17 per cent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked". The team concludes that "when 18-to-25-year-olds were placed in a driving simulator and talked on a cellular phone, they reacted to brake lights from a car in front of them as slowly as 65- to 74-year-olds who were not using a cell phone." Which means that a 70-year-old yakking away on his cellphone has the reaction times of a 120-year-old, or have we misunderstood this rather poor analogy? In fact, old timers behind the wheel interfacing with their telephone do not pose a greater risk to road users because "more experience and a tendency to take fewer risks helped negate any additional danger," as Strayer puts it. Yes indeed, we have ourselves been stuck behind octogenarian motorists doing 10mph in the fast lane and can confirm that their safety consciousness is a shining example to other road users. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Wed Feb 2 11:03:35 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 11:03:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Mark Morford: Come See Our Brutal Democracy Message-ID: <20050202190335.91064.qmail@web13625.mail.yahoo.com> ===== Mark Morford's Notes & Errata ===== SFGate.com - February 2, 2005 --------------------------------- Come See Our Brutal Democracy Our dog-lovin' columnist finds the bird life surreal indeed. And you thought your cat was strange By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist Ah, the violent march of democracy. Beautiful thing, really, seeing repressed and weary Iraqis vote for the first time, and dance in the bloody bombed-out streets, and avoid the suicide bombers and of course not be able to travel between provinces or drive anywhere in their locked-down nation and by the way watch out for the snipers on the roofs. It really is amazing, watching the deeply flawed system of democracy take hold in a raw and decimated nation like a thorny weed cracking through shattered concrete. All people deserve to be free and now Iraqis have a tiny bloody taste of it and this is always, always a good thing. I am not kidding. So, should we be proud? Is Bush's thuggish and illegal pre-emptive attack strategy justified? Are Iraq's first-ever elections a defining moment in American political history? Are we all righteous and good and holy, despite all the dead bodies and the hatred? Well, sort of. But then again, not really. Should Bush get some credit for all the cheering Iraqis who are now breathing sort of free? Well, no. Not even close .... (click here to read the rest) (Full URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2005/02/02/notes020205.DTL&nl=fix ) --------------------------------- All contents (tm) (c) 2005 SF Gate Have a lovely day ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. Learn more. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Wed Feb 2 11:16:28 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 11:16:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] NRDC: View the Bush Record in chronological order, 2001-2004 Message-ID: <20050202191628.45681.qmail@web13608.mail.yahoo.com> Yeah we know it's dismal, but like a war criminal, it needs to be documented, IBB Here is NRDC's account of what the Bush administration has done and is doing on environmental matters in chronological order, 2001-2004. http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/2004.asp http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/2003.asp http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/2002.asp http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/2001.asp ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Wed Feb 2 11:29:44 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 11:29:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] Kucinich Demands Broad Investigation Of Missing $9 Billion In Iraq Message-ID: <20050202192944.67569.qmail@web13626.mail.yahoo.com> http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0131-11.htm Kucinich Demands Broad Investigation Of Missing $9 Billion In Iraq Ranking Member on National Security Oversight Committee Calls For Federal Grand Jury Investigation and Congressional Hearings WASHINGTON -- January 31 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), the Ranking Member on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today demanded a broad investigation of the $9 billion in missing reconstruction funds in Iraq, including a criminal investigation and Congressional hearings. Kucinich will send two letters today calling for a full investigation into the missing $9 billion in funds in Iraq. One letter will be sent to Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT), Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, requesting an immediate Congressional hearing. The second letter will be sent to United States Attorney General-designate Alberto Gonzales demanding a criminal investigation, including a grand jury, by the United States Department of Justice. "In view of this Administration's tendency for covert or secret operations, there is no assurance that these funds were not misused for illegal or unauthorized activities," stated Kucinich. "The Administration, the Department of Defense, and Coalition Provisional Authority must be held directly responsible for this staggering lack of accountability of $9 billion. If ever there was a reason for a grand jury to start asking questions of high ranking federal government officials, this is it." Kucinich's actions followed a report issued yesterday, by the special inspector general (IG) for Iraq, Stuart Bowen Jr., which stated the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion in funds it transferred to government ministries between October 2003 and June 2004. "It is simply not believable that the Administration lost track of every dime of the funds. The Administration willfully turned a blind eye and allowed the misuse of funds, and now must be held accountable," continued Kucinich. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? All your favorites on one personal page ? Try My Yahoo! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From italysbadboy at yahoo.com Thu Feb 3 11:24:55 2005 From: italysbadboy at yahoo.com (ItalysBadBoy) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 11:24:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Shadow_Group] In Defense of Animals: E-News: 2-02-05 Message-ID: <20050203192456.40129.qmail@web13601.mail.yahoo.com> BODY, P, TD, TD P, TD UL, TD BLOCKQUOTE, BLOCKQUOTE { color: black; font-family: Verdana, "Trebuchet MS" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt}A:link { color: #003366 }A:visited { color: #003366 }A:active { color: #0000FF }.bodybold { font-weight: bold} /* this is for making body text bold */.bodybold10px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 10px} /* this is for making body text bold at 10px */.bodybold11px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 11px} /* this is for making body text bold at 11px */.bodybold12px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px} /* this is for making body text bold at 12px */.bodybold13px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px}.bodybold14px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px}.bodybold15px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 15px}.body8px { font-size: 8px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body9px { font-size: 9px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body10px { font-size: 10px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body11px { font-size: 11px} /* this is for making body text smaller *.body12px { font-size: 12px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body14px { font-size: 14px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body16px { font-size: 16px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.body18px { font-size: 18px} /* this is for making body text smaller */.bodyunderline { text-decoration: underline}.bodyitalic { font-style: italic}.none {list-style-type: none}.titleitalic { font-weight: bold; font-style: italic}.titlebold { font-weight: bold} /* this is for making title text bold */.titlebold10px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 10px}.titlebold11px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 11px}.titlebold12px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px}.titlebold13px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px}.titlebold14px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px}.titlebold15px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 15px}.titlebold16px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px}.titlebold17px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 17px}.titlebold18px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18px}.titlebold19px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 19px}.titlebold20px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px}.titlebold21px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 21px}.titlebold22px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 22px}.titlebold23px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 23px}.titlebold24px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px}.titlebold25px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 25px}.titlebold26px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 26px}.titlebold27px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 27px}.titlebold28px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 28px}.titlebold29px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 29px}.titlebold30px { font-weight: bold; font-size: 30px}.flashtitle { font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px} /* Used for Advocacy Campaign titles */.monospace { font-family: Courier, monospace;}/* monospace fonts for input forms */.roll { text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color: black }/* rolling links */a.roll:hover { text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color: D10000 } Vol. 3, Issue 50 February 2, 2005 Table of Contents: 1. January's Guardian of the Month - Cheri Brown Thompson 2. New Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) Kit Now Available 3. Greenland Plans to Put Polar Bears in Line of Fire 4. California Seals Are In Danger 5. Over $1 Million in Awards & Scholarships for Humane Youth 6. USDA Puts Crooked Animal Dealer Out of Business Dear Animal Friends, Legend has it that if a groundhog sees his/her shadow on Groundhog Day, we will have another six weeks of winter. I always figured that groundhogs had an internal timer set to wake them from their five-month hibernation on February 2nd when they would naturally emerge from their burrows en masse to perform this sacred yearly ritual. Not surprisingly, the reality is somewhat more surreal. Americans look to an individual "celebrity" groundhog - Punxsutawney Phil - for their winter weather forecast. Phil lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania: not in a burrow with his family, but alone in a climate-controlled home at the local library. On February 2nd, his handlers take him out and place him in a heated burrow beneath a simulated tree trunk to perform his prognostication as part of a media spectacle that includes national TV coverage and tens of thousands of spectators. How accurate are Phil's predictions? Well, since the first official Groundhog Day in 1886, he's been "wrong" 61% of the time: an average that would bankrupt a TV news meteorologist. However, we can't blame Phil for this poor record. - Firstly, anyone rudely awakened from a deep slumber only to find tens of thousands of people gawking at them would probably want to go right back to bed. - Secondly, it seems bizarre to expect an animal who lives year-round in an artificial environment protected from the elements to know so much about the seasons. Wild groundhogs consume a wide variety of fresh green vegetation, and only emerge from hibernation when there is enough for them to eat. However, Phil doesn't have to worry about such details because (according to his official Website, www.groundhog.org), he "thrives on dog food and ice cream." The average groundhog is 5 to 10 pounds, yet Phil weighs in at a hefty 15 pounds, making him one obese groundhog. I guess this is what happens when you feed a natural herbivore a standard American diet! - Finally, how can Phil "predict" the weather when it's not up to him whether he sees his shadow or not? Either the sun is shining and he sees it, or it's not and he doesn't. Groundhog Day celebrations aside, many people poison groundhogs to protect their gardens and farms, while others hunt them for "sport," mainly as practice for stalking "real" game like trophy bucks and bears. Perhaps someday, Americans will show a little more respect for these intelligent and sentient creatures. In the meantime, we can each celebrate Groundhog Day by nurturing the deep reverence for all animals that inspires us to work on their behalf. Sincerely, Mat Thomas E-news Editor --------------------------------- 1. January's Guardian of the Month - Cheri Brown Thompson January's Guardian of the Month, Cheri Brown Thompson is the founder and director of the Healing Species, a program that teaches compassion and empathy for animals to over 5,000 South Carolina schoolchildren every year. The 11-week program is based on the principal that the unconditional love offered by animals can boost children's self-esteem and empowers them in a very real way. The willing assistance of one of Cheri's thirteen rescued dogs allows the children to practice empathy directly through interaction and small acts of kindness. She also tells the children each dog's story of abuse and neglect, cruel realities to which many of the children can sadly relate. The acceptance and love offered by these gentle dogs can be especially healing for children who have suffered abuse and help them begin to identify and break the cycle of violence. Cheri creates a warm, relaxed atmosphere that gives children the space to discover their connection with animals and other people. To learn more about the Healing Species and how to get the program in your school, please visit www.healingspecies.org. --------------------------------- 2. New Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) Kit Now Available With Neighborhood Cats' new TNR Kit, anyone can manage a thriving feral cat colony. They've taken all the knowledge gained from five years of working directly with feral cats and put it together for the first time ever in one easy-to-use package. The kit includes: - "The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook," a complete guide for the feral cat caretaker that includes photos illustrating innovative management techniques. The handbook covers trapping, nutrition, shelter, spaying/neutering, socialization, finding adoptive homes, keeping cats out of gardens, winter care, establishing good community relations and much more. - A new 32-minute instructional video, "How to Perform a Mass Trapping," that complements the handbook by providing a visual guide to the TNR of an entire feral cat colony at once. Each step in the process is demonstrated using footage from successful Neighborhood Cats' projects. Whether you're trying to persuade your town council to support a TNR program or catch an elusive feline, the Neighborhood Cats' TNR Kit can help. Click here to learn more and to order your kit today! --------------------------------- 3. Greenland Plans to Put Polar Bears in Line of Fire In an attempt to invigorate the country's sagging economy, the government of Greenland is making plans to allow tourists to shoot polar bears and keep their pelts as souvenirs. Government officials are currently drafting a decree for presentation to Greenland's parliament, and Fishing and Hunting Minister Rasmus Frederiksen expects to officially announce open season on polar bears this summer. The polar bear is part of Greenland's natural heritage, and actually appears on the country's national coat of arms. Rather than inviting visitors to kill them for profit, Greenland should protect and celebrate its native wildlife, which includes reindeer, wolves and whales. Please write to the Greenland Tourist Board to let them know that if Greenland proceeds with this cruel plan they will lose far more tourists than they will attract. Greenland Tourism - The National Tourist Board of Greenland P.O. Box 1615 Hans Egedesvej 29 3900 Nuuk Greenland Tel: 299 34 28 20 Fax: 299 32 28 E-mail: 77info at greenland.com --------------------------------- 4. California Seals Are In Danger The San Diego City Council voted to overturn a city ordinance and remove warning signs and physical barriers that protect seals in a small cove. The cove is the only nearby habitat where the seals can give birth and raise their young. Some seals have already suffered human-related injuries and death following the removal of these protections. In addition, the stress of human contact may be causing premature births: seven pups born weeks before the beginning of the normal birthing season for the seals have already died. The seals are legally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, so anyone harassing or harming them is in violation of both state and federal law. Pleas to the City Council and National Marine Fisheries Service to protect the seals have fallen on deaf ears. This is horrible timing as the seals are preparing to give birth and births peak in the next few weeks. We are asking all advocates, California residents and beyond, to urge Mayor Dick Murphy and the San Diego City Council to reinstate all protective measures, including signs and barriers, and ensure that the Marine Mammal Protection Act is enforced. Mayor Dick Murphy/San Diego City Council Members 202 C St. 11th Floor San Diego, CA 92101 E-mail: DickMurphy at sandiego.gov Tel: (619) 236-6330 Fax: (619) 229-7228 Please also urge the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect these seals by enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Vice-Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher Undersecretary of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service 14th and Constitution Ave. NW, Room 5128 Washington, DC 20230 Fax: (202) 408-9674 E-mail: conrad.c.lautenbacher at noaa.gov --------------------------------- 5. Over $1 Million in Awards & Scholarships for Humane Youth Did you know that there are lots of great awards, scholarships, contests, and fellowships for students and youth who want to help animals? It's true! The Student Animal Rights Alliance (SARA) has done the searching for you and compiled the information in one place so you can find the information quickly and hassle-free. If you are a student or young animal advocate who wants to get recognized for your work on behalf of animals or apply for grants to continue your work, then visit www.defendanimals.org/involved/awards.htm. Some deadlines are approaching fast, so check out the listings today! Don't miss this opportunity. For more information, visit www.defendanimals.org or contact the Student Animal Rights Alliance: PO Box 932 New York, NY 10013 Tel: (212) 696-7911 E-mail: info at defendanimals.org --------------------------------- 6. USDA Puts Crooked Animal Dealer Out of Business An undercover investigation of the Martin Creek Kennels run by C.C. Baird was conducted by Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and led to the biggest raid ever by federal authorities on a Class-B animal dealer. The investigation included over 72 hours of video footage documenting extreme cruelty, abuse, neglect, and unsanitary conditions. Charged by the USDA with hundreds of Animal Welfare Act violations and facing trial with 64 witnesses scheduled to testify against him, Baird knew he was in trouble. Just days before the trial was set to begin, he made a deal to relinquish his license and the hundreds of animals under his "care," making it illegal for him to sell any more animals. He was also slapped with a $262,000 fine, the largest ever imposed by the USDA, and put on five years' probation. Baird was the biggest (and most notorious) animal dealer in the U.S., and this sends a strong message to other dealers that federal authorities take animal cruelty cases very seriously. Now that the civil case has closed, LCA will focus on the criminal case against Baird and monitor him to ensure that he doesn't attempt to deal animals through others. Click here to learn more about LCA's investigation of Martin Creek Kennels and C.C. Baird. --------------------------------- Join IDA's President's Circle Become part of a special group of people who help animals each month. Twenty-one years ago Dr. Elliot Katz and a motivated group of animal advocates came together to stop cruel animal experiments at the UC-Berkeley research laboratories. From this initial call to action through the formation of IDA as a non-profit organization and over these many years, IDA has expanded the circle of caring and compassionate individuals. Our growing numbers have helped us achieve many amazing victories for animals. We could not do our vitally important work on behalf of our animal friends if it weren't for the time and financial support that you and our other supporters so generously provide to us. We are very grateful for all that we have accomplished together. We are dedicated to continuing our mission to defend the rights, welfare and habitats of animals and we know that we will have many more victories in the coming years thanks to your support! Pursuing the promise of continued success, we invite you to join Dr. Katz in a special group of supporters by becoming part of IDA's President's Circle. President's Circle members are IDA donors who support our critical efforts to help animals by making a regular monthly contribution. Your monthly gift, along with those of the other President's Circle members, will afford us the resources necessary to act in defense of animals quickly. In addition, your monthly gift will provide a pool of stable funding that Dr. Katz and our staff can count on whenever an emergency need to help animals arises. It will also help us maintain the critical on-going campaigns we carry out in support of our mission. The President's Circle makes giving easy. Giving automatically through your credit card each month lets you save time while conserving IDA's resources. To find out more and to join the President's Circle, please visit our web site at: www.idausa.org/supportf.html and scroll down to the President's Circle section. From there you can click the link to our secure on-line enrollment form at: www.secure.ga3.org/02/prescircle. --------------------------------- Team IDA encourages teammates to take part in local athletic events to raise awareness of animal issues and much-needed funds to rescue and protect animals from cruelty and abuse. You don't have to be an avid runner or a serious athlete to sign up. Just by cheering and wearing your Team IDA apparel you can show your pro-animal attitude. Wear your Team IDA t-shirt whenever you are running, biking, walking, or just hanging around your neighborhood to help promote a cruelty-free world. If you have a Team IDA t-shirt and have received comments about it, we want to hear from you! If you do not already have a Team IDA t-shirt, please call (415) 388-9641 to receive one. Also, if you have participated in any events in your area on behalf of Team IDA, or would like your picture and bio posted on our website, please let us know! You can also make Team IDA even more successful by spreading the word: a great way to do this is by distributing Team IDA brochures at races and placing them in athletic stores and clubs. Team IDA brochures are always available free of charge by (415) 388-9641. We are always interested in learning more about your experiences and hearing your ideas regarding Team IDA. Please send an email to teamida at idausa.org and tell us your story. Visit www.teamida.org for more information. Join Team IDA today! Tell-a-friend! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? 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