Important but underreported news from around the world — and your own backyard
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QUOTED: “This is as bad as Chernobyl because over time people are getting sicker and sicker. The impact is cumulative — the cancer comes out with time.”
–Belgian agricultural engineer Nathalie Weemaels, on oil exploration in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
(Story #14, below)
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TOP STORIES
[o1] “The return of the fallen”
[o2] “Media falls prey to assassins”
[o3] “Ad execs want to track every move”
WORLD
[o4] “Chinese protesting more as social problems grow”
[o5] “War’s lingering cloud”
[o6] “Khmer Rouge court gets go-ahead”
[o7] “Saudi Arabia detains 40 Christians – newspapers”
[o8] “No vote for U.S. in chemicals treaty”
NUTRITION & POLITICS
[o9] “USDA’s subsidies ignore its own dietary advice”
[10] “Most nutrition products break federal regulations”
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
[11] “Niger residents fear they’re being exposed to radioactive poisoning”
[12] “Red Valley residents say oil company is polluting land, people, animals”
[13] “Belarus cursed by Chernobyl”
[14] “Amazon pollution: victims of ‘Toxico'”
PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING
[15] “Hard sell: how marketing drives the pharmaceutical industry”
[16] “As seen on TV: Patients getting advertised drugs”
TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
[17] “‘Rocky’ to introduce mile-high citizen journalism”
[18] “Manufacturers rally against bullet ID bill”
VIEWPOINT
[19] “My election 2004 bad dream”
[20] “Then they came for the children”
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TOP STORIES
[o1]
“The return of the fallen”
National Security Archive, April 25, 2005
The Pentagon has released hundreds of photos of flag-draped caskets bearing fallen U.S. soldiers.
[o2]
“Media falls prey to assassins”
Dallas Morning News, April 27, 2005
Dozens of Mexican editors and reporters have been assassinated by militias that face no punishment from the government.
[o3]
“Ad execs want to track every move”
Wired.com, May 2, 2005
Two ad companies have a plan to track the connection between marketing and consumption habits in 30,000 U.S. households.
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WORLD
[o4]
“Chinese protesting more as social problems grow”
San Francisco Chronicle, May 1, 2005
China analysts say civic and labor protesters are becoming more savvy and fearless in expressing their dissatisfactions.
[o5]
“War’s lingering cloud”
The Free Lance-Star (VA), May 1, 2005
“Focus: Agent Orange Aftermath”
Newsdesk.org, March 25, 2005
Both native Vietnamese and American war veterans continue to suffer from exposure to Agent Orange. Their governments deny its effects.
[o6]
“Khmer Rouge court gets go-ahead”
BBC (U.K.), April 30, 2005
“U.S. wants Khmer court justice assurance”
Associated Press, April 21, 2005
Cambodia has secured funding to prosecute Khmer Rouge leaders — without financial support from the U.S.
[07]
“Saudi Arabia detains 40 Christians – newspapers”
Reuters, April 23, 2005
Saudi Arabian officials detained a group of Pakistani Christians, and confiscated their religious materials.
[08]
“No vote for U.S. in chemicals treaty”
Chemical & Engineering News, April 27, 2005
Congress has failed to pass legislation enabling the U.S. to join an international body that will recommend toxic chemical bans.
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NUTRITION & POLITICS
[o9]
“USDA’s subsidies ignore its own dietary advice”
Chicago Tribune, May 2, 2005
The nutrition advice in the USDA’s new food pyramid conflicts with subsidies the department gives to rice, wheat and corn farmers.
[10]
“Most nutrition products break federal regulations”
Globe and Mail (Canada), May 2, 2005
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is cracking down on nutrition supplements they say are unsafe or improperly labeled.
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INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
[11]
“Niger residents fear they’re being exposed to radioactive poisoning”
Integrated Regional Information Networks (UN), April 28, 2005
A French uranium mine in Niger may have contaminated local water supplies, resulting in an epidemic of cancer and tuberculosis.
[12]
“Red Valley residents say oil company is polluting land, people, animals”
Gallup Independent (NM), April 26, 2005
A Navajo community says Kerr-McGee Inc. has spilled hundreds of barrels of oil on their crops and in their water.
[13]
“Belarus cursed by Chernobyl”
BBC (U.K.), April 26, 2005
Nearly 20 years after Chernobyl, Belarussians farm and raise cattle on contaminated land, and lack proper health services.
“Amazon pollution: victims of ‘Toxico'”
Independent (U.K.), April 27, 2005
Texaco’s legacy of oil exploration in the Ecuadorian Amazon has prompted international protest and a major lawsuit.
MORE on the Texaco lawsuit from NEWSDESK.ORG:
“U.S. courts tackle foreign abuses”
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PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING
[15]
“Hard sell: how marketing drives the pharmaceutical industry”
San Francisco Chronicle, May 1, 2005
Doctors try to help patients by prescribing drugs not yet approved by the FDA, but the results can sometimes be fatal.
[16]
“As seen on TV: Patients getting advertised drugs”
St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 27, 2005
A study reveals that marketing influences consumers to ask for, and doctors to commonly prescribe, brand name drugs.
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TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
[17]
“‘Rocky’ to introduce mile-high citizen journalism”
Editor & Publisher, April 28, 2005
The Rocky Mountain News will debut 40 “hubs” for open posting by citizens; some of their writing will make the print edition.
[18]
“Manufacturers rally against bullet ID bill”
Tri-Valley Herald (CA), April 26, 2005
Bullet manufacturers say a Califonia proposal to serialize bullets to prevent crime would put them out of business.
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VIEWPOINT
[19]
“My election 2004 bad dream”
Philadelphia Daily News, April 26, 2005
A statistic professor says he is suspicious about President Bush’s margin of victory over John Kerry.
[20]
“Then they came for the children”
Uexpress.com, April 26, 2005
Two teenage Bangladeshi girls in New York City have been jailed without evidence for being terrorist threats.
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Editors: Julia Scott. Proofreader: Jodi Wynn.
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