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Man banned from using wheelbarrow to take his recycling to rubbish tip - told to D...
Health-and-safety chiefs have banned an avid recycler from taking rubbish to his village tip in a wheelbarrow - telling him to bring it by car.
For the last eight years Andre Wheeler has loaded his glass, cans, paper and garden waste onto his barrow before setting off to the tip.
But now he's been told that wheeling the barrow onto the site is too dangerous and he must join the queues of motorists who deliver their rubbish by car.
The 61-year-old, a design and technology teacher, said: 'It's too ridiculous for words. Telling me to burn petrol to drive to the recycling bins is hardly going to save the the planet.
'I passionately believe in recycling and I use the barrow for environmental reasons.'
He added: 'Walking there keeps me fit - but now I've been banned for health-and-safety reasons.'
Mr Wheeler, who is chairman of Barwell Parish Council in Leicestershire, said staff at the tip had told him the lack of footpaths at the site meant he could get knocked down. Health-and-safety chiefs have banned an avid recycler from taking rubbish to his village tip in a wheelbarrow - telling him to bring i... more -
A smart bill for smart growth in California
Shorter commutes. Less sprawl. Cleaner air.
Denser housing closer to downtown near transportation hubs.
"Smart growth" it's called.
California policy makers have been yakking about this -- dreaming about it -- for decades. But too many interests have been prospering from dumb growth or have merely been skittish of a future they can't quite visualize.
Enter a tenacious policy wonk with roots in local government: state Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). He has just managed to finesse to the verge of legislative passage a visionary smart growth bill that, by its nature, also fights global warming. Shorter commutes. Less sprawl. Cleaner air. Denser housing closer to downtown near transportation hubs. ... more -
Beijing BMX Hopeful
BMX makes it's debut in Beijing this year and Donny Robinson, an 18 year veteran of the sport, is one of the top prospects for the U.S. Gold. In this pod, by vc2 producers Chris Soule & David Paterson, we see some of the hard work that has made Donny one of the sport's most dominant figures. BMX makes it's debut in Beijing this year and Donny Robinson, an 18 year veteran of the sport, is one of the top prospects for th... more
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Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy has finally hit the big time. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced today that it is investing $10.25 million in an energy technology called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The funding will also go towards geothermal resource mapping, information tools and a geothermal energy policy agenda.
And it looks like Google made a wise investment choice. According to an MIT report on EGS, only 2% of the heat beneath the continental US between 3 and 10 kilometers (depths we can reach with current technology) is more than 2,500 the annual energy use of the United States.
While traditional geothermal energy relies on finding natural pockets of hot water and steam, EGS fractures the hot rock, circulates water in its system, and uses the steam created from the process to create electricity in a turbine.
The investments will go towards three institutions: AltaRock Energy, Potter Drilling and the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab
Google’s funding may just be the push we need to really get geothermal off the ground, once again proving that government funding and initiatives can’t do everything. Substantial change can only come when private investors and corporations decide to help out—whatever their motives may be. Geothermal energy has finally hit the big time. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced today that it is investing $10.... more -
WARNING: Satan is using Olympic volleyball to get young boys
Behind the locked doors of America's Christian bedrooms, young boys are getting swept up in a disturbing trend. "I had a frantic mother come to me the other day in tears," said Pastor Deacon Fred. "She told me that her son, Timothy, invited several of his friends over into his bedroom for private prayer and devotional scripture studies. What she told me next is enough to send shivers down the spine of every God fearing mother and father in our Christian Nation! Satan is in our midst, my friends! The Devil is using Olympics volleyball to lure young men into shedding their clothes, flopping around and falling off off their beds with him into the pit of iniquity.
> what can I say? It had a beach volleyball pic, lol. Behind the locked doors of America's Christian bedrooms, young boys are getting swept up in a disturbing trend. "I had a fra... more -
Homeland Security, FEMA phones hacked; calls made to Mideast, Asia
A hacker broke into a Homeland Security Department telephone system over the weekend and racked up about $12,000 in calls to the Middle East and Asia. A hacker broke into a Homeland Security Department telephone system over the weekend and racked up about $12,000 in calls to the Middl... more
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NYC agrees to pay 52 antiwar protesters $2 million
The City of New York has agreed to pay $2 million to a group of fifty-two protesters who were swept up in a mass arrest during a peaceful antiwar protest outside the headquarters of the Carlyle Group in 2003. We speak with the lead plaintiff in the case, Sarah Kunstle The City of New York has agreed to pay $2 million to a group of fifty-two protesters who were swept up in a mass arrest during a peace... more
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Girl in Court over 'Bunny-slapping' video
A GIRL of 14 swung a rabbit by its ears and hurled it against a wall — as her pals filmed the sickening attack on a mobile phone.
The drunk teenager smashed the pet called Fi-Fi against a house FOUR TIMES, with the final fatal attack caught on camera.
The animal took an agonising 12 hours to die from massive head injuries.
The thug and her cronies passed on the grisly footage to other friends’ phones. A GIRL of 14 swung a rabbit by its ears and hurled it against a wall — as her pals filmed the sickening attack on a mobile phone. ... more -
Ohio bans voting machine 'Sleepovers'
The Ohio secretary of state has prohibited poll workers from taking voting machines home before Election Day, a practice known as "sleepovers." Jodi Dibble, deputy director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, says there has never been an incident of tampering.
Sleep Overs! Holy mackerel, thats how they are doing it. Why in the world would they ban it if "there has never been an incident of tampering." as they stated?
I'm all for paper balloting, the old fashion fool proof way..or is it? We'll keep a close eye on this years election. The Ohio secretary of state has prohibited poll workers from taking voting machines home before Election Day, a practice known as ... more -
First out lesbian to host prime-time news show
35-year-old Rachel Maddow, an openly gay political commentator, is the first out lesbian to be given her own prime-time show and one of the few women ever to do so.
The cable news channel MSNBC has confirmed that Maddow will join their team of presenters beginning September 8 and will replace commentator Dan Abrams in the 9 p.m. time slot.
While her show is expected to focus on the presidential race initially, it will turn into a more general news program after the election is over. "This is great," Maddow told the Times. "Getting a regular cable show is something I’ve wanted."
Maddow, who was educated at Stanford University and later got a D.Phil. in political sciences from the University of Oxford, has hosted a popular liberal talk radio show on Air America since 2004. She has also been a frequent guest commentator on political talk shows like MSNBC's Tucker and CNN's Paula Zahn Now, and is currently a regular panelist on MSNBC's Race for the White House With David Gregory.
It looks like Maddow herself is surprised about her success on television. Last year, she stated she believed her career in television hadn't taken off, "not only because I am gay, but because of what I look like. I am not a Barbie girl with Barbie doll-like looks. Because in television, what you look like is a huge deal." 35-year-old Rachel Maddow, an openly gay political commentator, is the first out lesbian to be given her own prime-time show and one o... more -
Lake Tuz, Turkey's 2nd largest lake disappearing
Lake Tuz, located in central Anatolia and known as the second-largest lake of Turkey, can no longer carry that title as it has shrunk by 85 percent over the last 90 years due to global warming, drought and the over usage of its water for irrigation purposes.
Aksaray University department of engineering, geodesy and photogrammetry engineering instructor Semih Ekercin spoke with the Anatolia news agency on Tuesday and said he examined the changes to the coastlines of Lake Tuz, second in size only to Lake Van, located in eastern Anatolia, and Beyşehir Lake, located in the western part of central Anatolia.
Ekercin said he even received support from NASA during the course of his study, adding that after examining satellite maps of Turkey provided by the US, Japan and France, he found there was a serious shrinkage of Turkey's lakes.
Ekercin said Lake Tuz covered 216,400 hectares in 1915. "Lake Tuz has shrunk at an alarming rate from then on. The water surface area of Lake Tuz decreased to 92,600 hectares in 1987," Ekercin said. "I clearly detected from the satellite images that the area of Lake Tuz decreased to 32,600 hectares in 2005. Drought, the over usage of water in the lake basin for irrigation and global warming have led to the loss of water in the lake.
snip
Ekercin said there is a need for urgent and radical measures to protect Lake Tuz. "If the necessary measures are not taken, by 2015 Lake Tuz will no longer exist."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radical measures indeed. The World Water Forum is taking place this week in Stockholm... but like every other year, what "radical" plans will come from it? Every year there are meetings, forums, dinners, and talks. And every year we see scenarios like Lake Tuz in Turkey continuing to play out before our eyes. We talk, and yet while talking still continue to perpetuate the climate change/global warming that is dropping levels in waterways worldwide. We talk, and yet continue to pollute our waterways until they are of no use to us or other species and cause the death of many rivers worldwide. We talk, and yet we still do not have a sufficient global plan to deal with the affects of climate change/drought that are slowly and silently creeping to all corners of this world as we continue to waste water with inefficient agricultural practices, infrastructure, and greed.
Those who know of and remember the tragedy of the Aral Sea in Russia see a hauntingly familiar and frightening pattern here. People care more for their own selfish sustainment than for only using what they need, which is considerably less than what they want. How many lakes and rivers will we run dry before we realize that we are running out of time to fight for the sustainability of this planet? Where is the plan? Where are the politicians? The World Bank doesn't have that plan. The IMF doesn't have that plan. The G8 doesn't have that plan. Will the World Water Forum in Stockholm have that plan?
The loss of Lake Tuz like so many other waterways, the Murray River in Australia as a starker example is a harbinger to us that something is terribly wrong.
Why aren't we listening?
WHAT WILL IT TAKE?
How many more? Lake Tuz, located in central Anatolia and known as the second-largest lake of Turkey, can no longer carry that title as it has shrunk ... more -
RUMOUR: Apple music subcription service - iTunes Unlimited
Despite Jobs going on record to say that he never wanted to 'rent music', Apple forums are swarming with rumours about a new Apple 'subscription service'.
"The service, titled iTunes Unlimited, would run alongside Mobileme and cost $130 a year - you wouldn't be able to subscribe for less time than that. Here are the full details of the tip [linked from Techdigest]:
iTunes Unlimited
- 256 Kbps music; highest quality digital music subscription service ever
- 50% of U.S. store available for iTunes Unlimited at launch, U.S.-only launch
- Available through iTunes or retail box a la MobileMe, funds applied through iTunes gift cards cannot be used towards subscription purchase
- $129.99 stand-alone or $179.99 with MobileMe, current MobileMe subscribers can add iTunes Unlimited for $99.99
- One-year subscription period
- Current a la carte options unchanged
- When signed in to subscription account, "Buy" is "Get"
- "Download and Play throughout iTunes Unlimited Subscription" or "Buy and Keep"
- "Buy and Keep" option available for downloaded subscription songs, purchased version replaces subscription version
- Late October launch with iTunes 7.8"
I'm not sure about this...
Hacker happy time? Despite Jobs going on record to say that he never wanted to 'rent music', Apple forums are swarming with rumours about a new... more -
Scientists turn fat directly into muscle
Harvard Scientists have discovered a method to turn the body's 'good' fats, directly into muscle, which could help in the treatment of obsese people. Harvard Scientists have discovered a method to turn the body's 'good' fats, directly into muscle, which could help in t... more
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Coldplay to rush release new album
Coldplay are reportedly set to release a new album in 2009 - despite the fact that the band's last record, 'Viva La Vida Or Death And all His Friends', was only released in June.
A report in The Sun (August 21) suggests that the band's 'Viva La Vida..' sessions with producer Brian Eno had been so successful that they were now looking to rush-release a new album of already recorded material.
A source at the band's label EMI said: "The 'Viva La Vida...' sessions were incredibly fruitful. They gelled brilliantly with Brian and recorded much more music than they could fit on one album.
"The majority of the follow-up is already in the can, though they will have to go back into the studio at some point to add a few more songs."
Frontman Chris Martin previously revealed that the band had recorded a song with Kylie Minogue, titled 'Luna', which didn’t make it onto 'Viva La Vida...', saying that the song "will be on a record we will put out in 2009". Coldplay are reportedly set to release a new album in 2009 - despite the fact that the band's last record, 'Viva La Vida Or ... more -
Police detain more foreign activists in Beijing
Swarms of plainclothes police took away four foreign activists who tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag outside the main Olympics venue on Thursday, squelching the latest attempt to demonstrate during the Beijing Games. Swarms of plainclothes police took away four foreign activists who tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag outside the main Olympics venue on T... more
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End Beating of Children in Public Schools
More than 200,000 US public school students were punished by beatings during the 2006-2007 school year, Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union said in a joint report released today. In the 13 states that corporally punished more than 1,000 students per year, African-American girls were twice as likely to be beaten as their white counterparts.
In the 125-page report, "A Violent Education: Corporal Punishment of Children in US Public Schools," the ACLU and Human Rights Watch found that in Texas and Mississippi children ranging in age from 3 to 19 years old are routinely physically punished for minor infractions such as chewing gum, talking back to a teacher, or violating the dress code, as well as for more serious transgressions such as fighting. Corporal punishment, legal in 21 states, typically takes the form of “paddling,” during which an administrator or teacher hits a child repeatedly on the buttocks with a long wooden board. The report shows that, as a result of paddling, many children are left injured, degraded, and disengaged from school.
“Every public school needs effective methods of discipline, but beating kids teaches violence and it doesn’t stop bad behavior,” said Alice Farmer, Aryeh Neier Fellow at Human Rights Watch and the ACLU, and author of the report. “Corporal punishment discourages learning, fails to deter future misbehavior and at times even provokes it.”
The report found that in the 13 southern states where corporal punishment is most prevalent, African-American students are punished at 1.4 times the rate that would be expected given their numbers in the student population, and African-American girls are 2.1 times more likely to be paddled than might be expected. There is no evidence that these students commit disciplinary infractions at disproportionate rates.
“Minority students in public schools already face barriers to success,” said Farmer. “By exposing these children to disproportionate rates of corporal punishment, schools create a hostile environment in which these students may struggle even more.”
Students with mental and physical disabilities are also punished at disproportionate rates, with potentially serious consequences for their development. In Texas, for instance, 18.4 percent of the total number of students who were physically punished were special education students, even though they make up only 10.7 percent of the student population.
"A Violent Education" is based on four weeks of on-the-ground research in Mississippi and Texas in late 2007 and early 2008, including more than 175 interviews with children, teachers, parents, administrators, superintendents, and school board members.
The report documents several cases in which children were beaten to the point of serious injury. Since educators who beat children have immunity under law from assault proceedings, parents who try to pursue justice for injured children encounter resistance from police, district attorneys, and courts. Parents also face enormous, sometimes insurmountable, obstacles in trying to prevent physical punishment of their children. While some school districts permit parents to sign forms opting out of corporal punishment for their children, the forms are often ignored. More than 200,000 US public school students were punished by beatings during the 2006-2007 school year, Human Rights Watch and the Ame... more -
Internet Explorer 8 to get 'privacy mode'
Microsoft is planning a "privacy mode" for the next release of its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser.
By clicking a button, users of IE8 will be able to limit how much information is recorded about where they go online and what they do.
Microsoft watchers have spotted two patent applications covering ways to manage the amount of information a browser logs.
When introduced the privacy mode will match features found on other browsers. Microsoft is planning a "privacy mode" for the next release of its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser. ... more -
Iraq: Draft for U.S. troops pullout reached
U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to a preliminary draft of an agreement on the future of U.S. troops in Iraq, a senior U.S. military official said.
Earlier, Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Haj Hamood indicated that it included a date of June 30 for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraqi cities and villages. But the U.S. official said there are no dates in the agreement, only general time frames that would take into account conditions on the ground.
The U.S. source, though, said the June 30 date is a goal, but not set in stone. The source said the plan has the approval of U.S. negotiators but President Bush has not signed-off on it. He said it could take a while for the plan to be approved by Iraq's government.
In recent weeks, Iraqi government officials said that early versions of the plan would have called for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2010 and for the remainder of troops to depart by the end of 2011. By June 20, 2009, troops would be restricted to their bases and prohibited from patrolling Iraq's streets.
The Iraqi government also would be able to request that U.S. troops remain longer under the preliminary agreement talks. U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to a preliminary draft of an agreement on the future of U.S. troops in Iraq, a senior U.S. mili... more -
The costs of marital rape in Southern Africa
For years now, women’s groups in Southern Africa have campaigned tirelessly to ensure that the Southern African Development Community adopt the Protocol on Gender and Development. Yesterday, the SADC finally took that historic step. Member states will be obliged to amend their laws to ensure equal rights for women across a wide range of issues, from provisions that require member states to enshrine equality in their constitutions, to firm commitments to reduce maternal mortality by 75 per cent. But while that’s a cause for celebration, the Protocol still does not refer explicitly to domestic violence, and it still doesn’t oblige states to introduce legal provisions that criminalise marital rape.
Women's groups face huge hurdles to make that happen.
While a few SADC countries already have provisions in their legal frameworks to that effect, in a number of other Southern African countries, women’s groups are being told, again and again, by policy makers and traditional leaders, that it would be difficult to convince the “ordinary man on the street” that having sex with his “lawfully wedded” wife can ever be rape, and a crime. SADC leaders, who in the same Protocol make commitments to stepping up HIV prevention and treatment, need to understand that the effects of domestic violence, including marital rape, can seriously undermine any efforts to combat the pandemic.
On the ground, the evidence is plain. When I interviewed women in Zambia last year, it became clear very quickly that victims of domestic violence, including marital rape, are at increased risk of HIV infection and their ability to get effective HIV treatment is drastically undermined. The Zambian women I met told me that domestic violence at the hands of their husbands and intimate partners and their fear of such violence had a direct, harmful impact on their ability to start and continue using HIV treatment.
One woman, who hid her HIV status and medication to avoid violence at the hands of her husband, told me: “Sometimes I miss a dose [of antiretroviral treatment] when my husband comes back at six o’clock, drunk, closes the door and says, ‘Today you are going to freak out.' He locks [me] in, he beats me up and locks me out of the house …. As a result of that I miss doses sometimes. I feel very bad. I don’t even feel like taking the medicine.”
This stark picture shows exactly how a lack of commitment to fighting domestic violence, marital rape and gender inequality could make fighting the HIV pandemic harder – and could cost SADC countries universal access to HIV prevention and treatment. This is why women’s groups must continue to press governments to do more to combat domestic violence, until the idea that marital rape is a contradiction in terms becomes a thing of the past.
Dr Nada Ali is a researcher in the Women's Rights division of Human Rights Watch For years now, women’s groups in Southern Africa have campaigned tirelessly to ensure that the Southern African Development Community ... more -
Next Gen Film Fest
If you find yourself in Sacramento this Labor Day weekend, then check out this four-day film festival that features up to 50 short films and a number of guest speakers. If you find yourself in Sacramento this Labor Day weekend, then check out this four-day film festival that features up to 50 short fil... more
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More bottled water bans in Canada
Toronto could join London, Ontario and other municipalities in banning the sale of bottled water at municipal facilities, said Mayor David Miller Wednesday.
"I think Torontonians should use Toronto tap water - it's more pure than leading brands of water," said Miller. "If you buy water, just find a container that's portable and use your tap water. It's terrific tap water, it's to the highest standards and that's what people should do."
Miller made the comments in the wake of a decision by London City Council to ban the sale of bottled water in that city's facilities. Other municipalities across the country are considering it, and Toronto will too.
This fall, council will consider a report on how to divert garbage from landfill - 70 per cent of it by 2010.
"It's going to look at all sorts of things for reducing packaging - not just for bottled water but for a number of things. But it will specifically look at bottled water and what can be done," he said.
Toronto currently recycles 65 million individual plastic water bottles a year. While several brands advertise that they are providing spring water, others are simply filtered municipally sourced water. Toronto could join London, Ontario and other municipalities in banning the sale of bottled water at municipal facilities, said Mayor D... more -
Too much skin at beach volleyball?
There can be no adoration of male abs in the Olympic beach volleyball tournament.
The Switzerland-based International Volleyball Federation requires men to wear shirts on its professional tour and the Olympics.
Why? If sex sells — and isn’t that part of the lure of beach volleyball — doesn’t it sell both ways?
Federation spokesman Fabrizio Rossini wrote in an e-mail to The Sun that the shirts are required because they can “characterize in the best way the competition among countries, displaying clearly the country code.”
Rossini added, “... the sponsors and especially the technical sponsors ... can show in the best way their brand, which is important to maintain a high level prize money.”
Asked why the same logic doesn’t apply to the women whose bikinis have only a few square inches of fabric for logo display, Rossini replied, “The FIVB has always admitted that Beach Volleyball is a very tough but also a sexy sport. The uniforms are part of the game and give the perfect look and feel to our sport.”
The men’s coverup/women’s exposure has not gone unnoticed by volleyball players around Gainesville.
“The girls are forced to wear the bikinis and the guys are forced to cover up. It’s kind of funny,” said Kevin Steinkirchner, vice president of the University of Florida men’s volleyball club. There can be no adoration of male abs in the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. ... more
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