Other Stories
Tsunami Experts Say Better Safe Than Sorry
The recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake offshore from California proved a good test both of evacuation procedures and of equipment, some of which detected the 1cm tsunami that was generated. 15 died in the 1964 tsunami.
Desperate for Whale Meat
Japan is determined to kill more whales in spite of opposition from a growing number of countries, including South Africa and Australia. If it does not get its way it may leave the International Whaling Commission [IWC], which meets next week.
Human Case of Bird Flu Found in Indonesia
The poultry worker is Indonesia's first diagnosed case even though he is showing no symptoms. Recently the H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in pigs on the island of Java, nearby.
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Photo: courtesy of U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service |
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Calif. Scientists Plan to Kill Barred Owls
The cull is an experiment to see if the removal of the small number of barred owls in northern California will give the smaller threatened spotted owl a better chance to recover. If it does, then further culls may take place elsewhere. It is not clear how soon more barred owls would move into the area, or whether loggers would be allowed to fell as much old-growth forests if the spotted owl population spread.
Kenya reclaims famed game park from poachers
Kenya's biggest national park, Tsavo East, has been reclaimed from armed poachers by armed park rangers. The park has now been reopened to tourists. It is concentrating on a limited number of high-paying visitors so as to minimise disruption to the animals.
Illegal fishing hits world's poorest -UK studies
Illegal fishing accounts for $4 billion of fish a year, a significant part of it off the shores of poor countries. It threatens the poor, the fish stocks, and also kills many sea birds.
Cubans Hope U.S. Cows Will Improve Herds
Cuban experts plan to buy 500 head of cattle from Vermont, Maine and Pennsylvania to increase the gene pool and improve the quality of their stock so that they can become self sufficient in milk production.
In the same news wire, an organisation founded by a senior nutrition scientist is growing soybeans in Afghanistan to help stave off hunger there.
EPA Reviewing Human Pesticide Experiments
Companies seeking pesticide permits have submitted data from 24 human pesticide experiments. Congressional staff report that tests were designed to harm humans and that the test subjects had not been fully informed. The pesticide industry won a suit in 2003 at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The judges ruled that the EPA cannot refuse to consider such data until it has drawn up regulations, which are currently expected by 2006.
Desertification, dust are global threats - report
The Desertification Synthesis of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report has been launched. It covers Condition and Trends, Scenarios, Responses, and Sub-global Assessments. Desertification may drive millions of people from their homes over the next few decades. Dust storms can harm the health of people, even on other continents, by transporting toxins, bacteria and fungi, by causing coughs, and by reducing food availability by covering crops. They can also carry nutrients. Prevention is easier than reversal.
Are your state's or country's standards higher than the EPA's? Are they high enough?
[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization. External Websites are "At Your Own Risk," and no endorsement is expressed or implied.] Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums] | 
