International News

Oslo, Norway - Carter Recognized for Peace Drive

The former US President Jimmy Carter, 78, is the newest Nobel Peace Laureate. He was selected between 156 nominees because of "untiring effort to found peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advocate democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." He is a man of steel with a very soft exterior who travels the world trying to stop war. In his acceptance speech he stated, "My concept of human rights has grown to include not only the right to live in peace, but also to adequate health care, shelter, food and to economic opportunity. I hope this award reflects a universal acceptance and even embrace these broad-based concepts of human rights." Many people have argued that this recognition of Carter's achievements came too late, since he deserved it a much longer time ago.

Ontario, Canada - Ken Thomson's $370 million donation to Art Gallery Ontario

Kenneth Thomson, a Canadian billionaire and chairman of the national Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail, donated $70 million cash for a new expansion of the AGO. He also offered his fabulous art collections (2000 precious pieces) which equaled $300 million, including Ruben's epic masterpiece baraque, The Massacre of the Innocent, which alone was purchased for $117 million and the Scenes of the Northwest (1845) which sold for $5 million. Thomson's collection also contains a wide variety of art objects including models, blueship Canadian historical art, medieval renaissance, Baraque women miniatures, boxwood carvings, ship models small scale European structures from the feudal ages through the 18th century, ivory sculptures, renaissance, jewelry, old Masters portraits, British and Canadian landscape paintings all which he collected during the last 50 years from different auctions. The AGO expansion and renovation will cost $170 million and will be done by the Toronto-born famous architect Frank Gehry, 72, who designed the Musco Guggenheim in Spain, Walt Disney concert hall in LA, the National-Nederlandan building in Bilbao, Seattle's Expansion Museum Project, the American Center in Paris, and the Rassin building in Prague.

North America - Will Pot be legalized and de-criminalized? 

Eighty years after Canada made pot illegal, the Justice Minister said, "If we're talking about that question of decriminalization of marijuana, we may move ahead quickly as a government." A Senate Committee on illegal drugs recommended legalizing marijuana for people 16 years or order. John Walter, the US administration's drug czar, criticized that report.

Interestingly, Marc-Boris St.Maurice, head of the Marijuana Party of Canada, along with the Medical Marijuana Club activists launched a new website for home delivery service of marijuana for medical purposes for those who are sick and needy on the internet. The website is www.marijuanahomedelivery.ca. Also, provincial police in Killaloe Ontario made a special delivery of 30g of marijuana plants to pot activist and cancer sufferer, Rob Brown, 2.5 months after they were stolen from him. The Ottawa Valley man said that the Ontario Police did a good job taking care of his pot, but he is still upset since it took a long time to get the plant back! Ottawa may move towards decriminalizing marijuana as early as 2003. Users will not receive a criminal record if caught with less than 30g, and individuals would be allowed to cultivate the same amount without criminal sanctions.

Sri Lanka - Monthly Moon Holiday

Every month, the Ceylon island of 18.5 million people shuts down all the schools, offices, cinema and bars for one day, it is POYA - the full moon - the birthday of Buddha. People in essential jobs get triple pay if working on POYA. Although the full moon is a time of celebration throughout the Buddhist world, Sri Lanka's almost total shutdown is unique. Last year, a friendly cricket match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had to stop for a day because of a full moon.

Colorado, USA - Mike Tyson's adopted tigers!

Tyson, known for biting off part of fighter Evander Holyfield's ear and serving a prison sentence for rape, bought the animals as cubs and then tried unsuccessfully for seven years to get a license to own big cats. Rather than euthanize the tigers or turn them over to law enforcement, Tyson gave them to the animal shelter and asked that they be sent to the Sculacs. 

"Mike Tyson picked us because he wanted them to have a good home," said Nick Sculac. The Sculacs never talked with Tyson, but the Texas refuge said he checked out sanctuaries across the country. Tyson, who told reporters he sparred with the tigers, paid $900 a week to board the cats while he owned them and hooked up video cameras around their cage so he could watch their antics on a computer when he traveled, Nick Sculac said. Tyson wasn't available for comment. And, the tiger support checks stopped coming when the Texas shelter took in Kenya, Storm and Boris.

San Francisco, USA - First woman to lead US political party

For the first time in 226 years history of US politics, a woman has been elected and taken control of a major party at the US Congress. Ms. Nancy Pelosi (62 years old) was elected as leader in the House of Representatives to unite the Democratic Party. She represented San Francisco for 15 years and compared herself with Susan B. Anthony, the American feminist pioneer, who's portrait appears on the American US dollar coin. She said, "I don't run as a woman, I run as a seasoned politician and experienced legislator." Currently there are three other rising woman in US politics; Condolezza Rice (National Security Advisor), Hillary Clinton (Senator for New York) and recently elected Elizabeth Dole (Senator for North Carolina).

Swaziland - The polygamous king's 10th wife!

=Swazi King meets with Prince Charles.

The Swazi King Mswati III is an interesting example of royal polygamy. The British educated 34-year-old king of Swaziland took three potential new brides last September, from among thousands of virgins who danced bear-breasted before him as happens every year in traditional reed ceremonies. Mrs. Lindiwe Dlamini, the mother of one of the brides (18-year-old Zena Mahlangur), a feminist filed a law suit against the ruler as the first challenge to royal polygamy in the tiny South African kingdom of green hills and conflicting cultural forces. The mother claimed that the engagement was illegal since her daughter attended the reed ceremony without her permission and the family had not given the approval to the marriage. The present king's father Sohuza II married at least once yearly during his 60 years on the throne. Zena has reportedly been made the monarchs 10th wife and attended an amusement park ceremony accompanied by four of the king's nine other wives. Media reports on said Mswati was planning to marry Miss Swaziland, Nozipho, soon after she returned from the Miss World contest! 

Kenya - Does Somalia export FGM?

Somali refugees in Kenyan camps have rushed to circumcise young girls (as young as 2) after being told that the practice is illegal in Western countries, where they hope to re-settle. Dr. Philip Egikin, MSF physician working in the Dadaab refugee camp, said that the refugee parent's excuse was that it had been explained to them that circumcision was illegal in their country of relocation. The rush to carry out the traditional rite-of-passage ceremony reportedly began last November and December, when the families were first informed that they would not be allowed to do it in America. But since then, according to one aid official, an aggressive public information campaign has persuaded many parents to change their minds. Dr. Khadiga Ali, a Somali community health worked in Toronto estimated that 75% of Somali women who come to care have undergone the procedure. Growing immigrant populations in Western countries brought female genital mutilation (FGM) to states where it was prohibited. US authorities have threatened to ban dozens of Somali refugee families from emigrating to America because the parents have mutilated the genitals of their young daughters.

Kabul, Afghanistan - General Khatol the first Afghani female parachutist

Khatol Muhammadzai, 40,  is the highest ranking woman in the Afghani air forces. She is the first and only female parachutist in the country, with 500 parachute jumps on her record within her 14 years experience, receiving 30 medals for her achievements. She is a champion in her country, who's greatest joy remains parachute jumping, in a country where female life expectancy is 44 years and maternity mortality rate is 17/1,000 births.

Nunavut, Canada - "Warm" welcome for the Queen

Arriving in Nunavut's territorial capital, Queen Elizabeth II, found herself sung to, prayed over, praised, and cheered during the 2 hour and 25 minute she spent in this far northern part of Canada. She stood in the canter of 6,000 community people - 85% of whom are Inuit. The Queen talked about the people's eloquent forms of cultural expression, ending in the words "Inuktitutu" (Thank you and be happy)! 

It is noteworthy that as part of her Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip went to a pre-season hockey game in Vancouver as part of a busy cross-Canada 50-anniversary tour in October. The visit took them from Nunavut at Iqualuit to Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Fredericton, Moncton, Sussex, New Brunswick, and Ottawa. www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/royalvisit2002

Lima, Peru - The Purple Christ

Thousands of believers dressed in purple congregated to pay homage to Peru's most revered-Catholic religious icon, the Lord of Miracles in Lima. Throngs of the faithful make the annual procession through the city's streets in the first day of the saint, also known as the "Purple Christ". The cult to the image of the Lord of Miracles dates back from Colonial times, in the XVII century. The procession is celebrated every October and it is the South American’s largest procession because it gathers the largest number of believers in South America.

Cairo, Egypt - First woman dean of a medical college in the Middle East

Prof. Maddiha Khattab, a professor of geriatrics medicine, has been appointed as the first woman dean of Cairo University's Medical College. She graduated in 1969 and received her MD in 1972. She is married to Prof. Mohamed El-Zorkany (dermatology). Her son is a chest specialist and her daughter is a dermatologist. Prof. Khattab, as the first dean of the first medical college in the Middle East, has a lot of scientific and humanitarian programs. She is the sister of Amb. Mosheera Khattab, one of the top assistants of Egypt's first lady Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.

Tibet - When will the Dalai Lama visit Tibet?

Symbolic steps in recent months offer encouraging evidence that the Dalai Lama may visit Tibet very soon. China has allowed two of his envoys to visit Lhasa and hold meetings with high ranking officials. The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, the Dalai Lama, said the Chinese government has sent positive signals to resolve the vexed Tibet issue through dialogue.

"We have got some positive indications from Chinese side in September for talks (over Tibet). This is a good beginning," the highest spiritual leader of the Tibetans said here. Talking to reporters after inaugurating the world's highest stupa (185 feet), the Dalai Lama said he was always ready to hold talks with China over the autonomy issue.

He said Tibetans were committed to attain their goal of "genuine autonomy" through the principle of non-violence. The Tibetan leader said he wanted education, preservation of culture, spirituality and environment under the control of Tibet. The government in Beijing can retain Defense and Foreign affairs, he added. The question remains, Will China accept Tibet's independence?

Lebanon - New Secretary-General of the Francophonie

At the end of the ninth Summit of Francophonie which was held in Beirut from the 18 to October 20, 2002, the former President of the Republic of Senegal, Abdou Diouf was elected Secretary-general of Francophonie. The former secretary-general, Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghalli requested retirement. The 10th Summit will be held in Burkina Faso, which will be led by Mr. Abdou Diouf and will focus on a discussion and dialogue between different cultures. The Algerian President mentioned that his country will work towards joining this organization, 40 years since their independence from France.

Yemen - $6,000,000 and 10,000,000 hours for qat daily

Yemenis waste $6,000,000 and 10,000,000 hours for qat per day, a Yemeni group disdaining qat-chewing custom reported last week. Roughly YR 400 billion is being circulated in qat trade per annum, an amount exceeding Yemen’s annual budget, reported Yemen’s Association for Fighting Qat. Yemen has a population of 20 million souls, and next year the government’s expenditure is slated to total YR 500 billion. The most distinctive and important Yemeni social institution is the “qat session,” a relaxed but ritualized afternoon gathering at which men and women socialize separately and chew the mildly narcotic leaves of the privet-like qat (khat) plant. Most men and many women “chew qat” at least twice a week. Of the agricultural production, Qat in Yemen marks up 33% but of the overall national production, it constitutes 9.3%. Qat takes almost over 63% of the household income. In its new publications, the association formally called for introduction of acts prohibiting qat-chewing in work places particularly the private workplaces after it was banned in the state-owned facilities. Qat-chewing causes cancer to thousands per annum, thanks to the pesticides for its trees to help them grow, doctors say." (The Yemen Observer, 30/11/2002).

United Arab Emirates - Sheikh Zayid renovates Maarib dam 

Sheik Zayid Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE,  financed the second phase of the Maarib Dam project with $29.9 million. The project involves structuring 14.5km of main canals 69km of secondary canals, 38km of main tarmac road in addition to 87km of paved streets, and an area of 27km for dam canal protection. The estimated pieces of land to be irrigated by the dam are 10,000 hectares for crops and 7,400 hectares of fields. It is predicted to take two years till completion. The Marib Dam is now irrigating an area of 1200 hectares and has a storage reservoir whose capacity is 400 million cubic meters of water in addition to two diverting dams.

Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Soufan, Minster of Planning and Development, expressed the Yemeni government and people’s appreciation for Sheikh Zayid and the remarkable efforts he makes to enhance agricultural development and infrastructure projects in Yemen. 

Maine, USA - New Campaign brings Academics together for global peace

Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, a distinguished cytogeneticist at Yale University, has established a new group called Academics For Justice. The mission of the group is to defend academic freedom and advance causes of peace with justice especially vis-à-vis the Israel/Palestine issue.  More than 360 scientists have joined this group. The mission and planned goals can be found at www.academicsforjustice.org

New Delhi, India - Soft drink giants deface Himalayan landscape

India's Supreme Court appointed a panel to access environmental damage caused by soft-drink giants, Pepsi and Coca Cola, after they painted logos along 55-km stretch of a major pass in the Himalayas. The Press Trust of India news agency reported that a 3-judge bench headed by India's Chief Justice mentioned that the court would impose exemplary costs on those who cause environmental pollution by painting rock faces.

Japan - Aiki: a paraplegic hero

A Japanese film is inspired by the true story of a Danish paraplegic child whose life is redeemed through the martial arts. A spectacular car accident confined promising young boxer, Taichi, to a hospital bed, paralyzed and devastated. His life changes for the better when he meets a flighty temple assistant, who introduced him to the ancient art of "Aiki-jujitsu", which somewhat teaches its proponents to channel enough energy to turn away opponents with a flick of the wrist. The son of the great Shohei Imamura, director Daisuke Tenjan attempts to merge the coming-of-age genre with spirituality and a humanist parable about the ability of disabled people to resist societal limits, yet somehow pulls it off.

Brazil - Conservation program to save rainforest

Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso announced the biggest conservation program for tropical rainforests in the planets history - setting aside 50 million hectares of the most sensitive rainforest ecosystems over the coming decade (about 3.6% of the planets remaining tropical forests. The Brazilians found that about 1.8 million hectares of the country's tropic rainforests had disappeared every year (between 1996-2001). They have fallen to clear cut logging, damns, power projects, roads and agriculture. As the trees, ecosystems are wiped out and many other species are wept off. It is well known that the hot and humid Amazonian rainforest is the birth place for new species. It also has a rich range of species including 350 types of mammals, 950 birds, 2000 fish species, 2.5 million insect species, hundreds of different trees and thousands of different plants. Together with the rainforests of Peru, Columbia and Ecuador, Brazil holds a third of the species known to science including monkeys, parrots, eagles and snakes. The Brazilian ran forest, like Canada's boreal forest, plays a vital role in regulating the planets climate and carbon dioxide - known as the lungs of the planet, since they store and regenerate vast amounts of carbon, helping to absorb it from the atmosphere.

Johannesburg, South Africa - Dreams aim to save the planet

Thabo Mbeki, greets UN Secretary General of the World  Summit on Sustainable Development Nitin Desai

A call for an end to the rift between the world's rich and poor marked the opening of the 10-day United Nations Third World Summit on Sustainable Development in Ubuntu village on August 25 to find a way to promote human development without damaging the environment aiming to develop a firm plan of action for lifting people out of poverty; providing health care, clean water and sustainable energy supplies. 

The meeting, also known as the Earth Summit, attracted more than 100 presidents and prime ministers from Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America, who discussed plans to protect the globe's atmosphere, lakes, forests and wildlife and focus the link between poverty and environmental degradation. It is a 10-year follow-up to the ground-breaking 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro which led to the foundation of the 1997 Kyoto Accord on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions that cause global warming.

After the first meeting, in Stockholm in 1972, wealthy nations began cleaning air and water, but continued to ravage forests and other resources elsewhere to maintain growth. In Rio de Janeiro 1992, at the second meeting, leaders signed an ambitious agenda to protect the environment while strengthening the economies of poor countries. Since then, the world's population has continued to surge, poverty has deepened in Africa, forests have retreated, fish stocks have decreased and concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.

Memphis, USA - Elvis Presley silver anniversary

Hundreds of thousands Elvis fans flocked to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his death (16 August, 1977) with candle lit vigils, public worship and souvenired t-shirts. His fans compete on who can wear the most Elvis-themed paraphernalia, though a few restrained themselves to a lightening-bolt pendent, the symbol Presley designed for his Taking Care of Business band. There are old Elvises; child Elvises; obese Elvises; female Elvises; East Indian Elvises; Mexican, and Korean Elvises.

Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan - Old age starts at 85!

An interesting decree was recently issued by Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov that extends adolescence until the age of 25 and postpones old age until 85, well beyond the life span of the average Turkmenian. His changes divide life into 12-year cycles: childhood until 12; adolescence until 25; 'youthful' for those between 25-37; and 'mature' between 37-49; the latter cycles are divided into the prophetic, inspirational and wise periods. Mr. Niyazov, 62, is in his inspirational period. Old age begins at age 85, while Turkmen who reach age 97 enter a period named for Oguzkhan, considered the founder of the Turkmen nation, who died at age 109.

According to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy at birth for Turkmen men is 60; it is 65 for women. Niyazov has built an elaborate cult of personality in his impoverished former Soviet republic, with cities and a meteorite named after himself and his portrait gracing the currency and nearly all public buildings. Last week, he proposed that months of the year be renamed, including January, which he said should be named after him. 

China - Discovery of ancient civilization recasts Chinese history

In 1986, Chinese archaeologists discovered a previously unknown civilization in an obscure corner of Sichuan province and unearthed very strange artifacts of the village of Sanxingdui dating back 3,200 years. They found bronze objects including sculpted heads with bizarre creased eyeballs and slender mouths, terrifying masks with bat-like ears that marked them as divinities or demons of a long vanished religion. They also unearthed a great quantity of spearheads, axes, bronze and ceramic pottery and cult objects including a 4-meter tall shamanistic bronze tree with sacred birds on every branch. A show of the bronze sculptures and treasures was organized in collaboration with the Seattle Art Museum with support of China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Metreopolitan Museum in New York and Kimpell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas in the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto from August 3 to November 10, 2002. There was a belief that all Chinese civilization originated in the Yellow River region and eventually spread throughout the country but Sanxingdui discoveries supports the belief that regional civilizations grew up independently and cross-fertilized each other with new ideas. Visit www.rom.on.ca. 

Middle East - Peace through Muppets only a dream

The idea of a joint Israeli-Palestinian TV production of Sesame Street was born in 1993 after the Oslo Accords raised hopes for peace. The Muppets popped onto the TV screens in the Middle East 4 years ago, spreading hope that their fantasy world of camaraderie and boundless optimism might teach Palestinian and Israeli children to live in peace. But even Kippi, the giant Israeli porcupine and Kareem, the small Palestinian rooster seem unable to shelter Sesame Street from the bitter divisions flowing from Palestinians bombers and Israeli jets brought together by the New York based Sesame Workshop and a grant from Calgary's Kahnoff's Foundation appeared to be divided as the Middle East itself. The star Muppets were controversial from the start. Kippi, the Israeli porcupine, is the size of Big Bird, meaning it towers over the rooster Kareem, a small hand puppet and this spurred debate as to whether Palestinians were being belittled.

Oslo, Norway - McDonalds faces criticism for new burger

McDonalds is being accused of gross insensitivity for introducing a McAfrika burger to its product line in Norway at 15 locations across Oslo. The new item is part of an exotic-foods promotion marketed as "Big-Juicy Burger". During the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia, McDonalds had a promotion offering 5 burgers from 5 continents over 5 weeks - there was McAmerica, plus items from Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. The company was criticized from different organizations, some saying "Why would they launch this product, why now, with 12 million people facing starvation?" With food shortages across much of southern Africa including half the populations of Zambia and Zimbabwe considered at risk of starvation. Advertising African relief and donation boxes were inserted in outlets that sell the McAfrika burger. Norwegians are known as socially progressive and the world's highest per capita donors to developing nations.

England, UK - Founder of Learning Oasis in Swaziland during apartheid dies

Captain Michael Stern, the most influential educationalist since the second World War died at the age of 80 in a car crash in England on July 14, 2002. Born in Cairo, Egypt and having lived in Britain, north Africa, Italy and Greece, Stern is a teacher of English and History. His appointment as headmaster of St. Peters School in Johannesburg, he revolted over the racist education system in South Africa and founded Waterford, a multi-racial school in Swaziland, along the lines of an English public school. During his headmaster position between 1963-1973, parents from Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique and Rhodesia sent their children to benefit from high quality education in the multi-racial environment. Waterford became a haven for children of anti-apartheid leaders. Walter Sisulu, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, and Seretse Khama all sent their children to this school. He created an oasis of non-racism in a country flanked by colonial and racist regimes. In 1995, he received special recognition from President Mandela, who mentioned, "Mr. Stern demonstrated in the worst days of apartheid, that even those who were free to enjoy the privileges of the system could ally themselves with the oppressed in the interest of non-racism in southern Africa." Waterford is now linked with United World College movement - it is known as Waterford Kamhlaba, which means "wherever you are in the world does not distinguish who you are", and apt description of the democratic tradition Mr. Stern embraced.

Global - Winter Olympics 2010

Preliminary assessment by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eliminated four cities from the competition, leaving four others with the chance of hosting the Winter Olympics in 2010: Bern (Switzerland), Pyeongchang (S. Korea), Salzburg (Austria), and Vancouver (Canada). The final decision of the games site is only a year away, with voting to take place next July in Prague. The competition seems to be primarily between Vancouver and Salzburg, the Austrian alpine city which has been sustained by the enduring popularity of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music. There is speculation that the IOC will accept that the 2004 Summer Games will take place in Athens and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The Olympics was last held in Canada 14 years ago, when Calgary played host to the 1988 Winter Games. Montreal played host to the Summer Games in 1976. For more information visit www.olympic.org.

Cambodia - Golden Buddha's discovered

Cambodian workmen have unearthed 27 solid gold Buddha statuettes, buried for hundreds of years beneath the foundations of a ruined pagoda hidden deep in the jungle. The statues, about four inches high and each weighing around one pound, came to light at the weekend when builders started restoration work on the centuries-old pagoda destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Four statues made of silver and bronze were also found beneath the sandstone pagoda, which is believed to be at least 200 years old, making the Buddhas even older.

The find is already stirring up controversy between locals who want the statues to be placed in a special shrine inside the restored pagoda and government officials who are intent on putting them in a museum. Monks and nuns were overjoyed at the find, kicking off three days and two nights of religious celebrations.

Berlin, Germany - Finland and Scandinavian countries with least corruption

Transparency International, a Berlin-based non-governmental organization published its international survey of corruption in 102 countries. They build the index from "poll of polls" using 15 different independent surveys, including one by the Economist Intelligence Unit. A country must appear in at least 3 surveys to be ranked. The corruption perceptions index (CPI) scores for 2002 relate to the perceptions to the degree of corruption as seen by business people and risk analysts, ranging between 10 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt). Finland ranked first with a score of 9.7. Other wealthy Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Sweden, along with New Zealand and Canada scored above 9. Bangladesh bottomed the list at 1.2, 0.4 points behind Nigeria.

Giza-Egypt - Can a robot uncover secrets of the Great Pyramid?

A robot explorer was sent into the Great Pyramid at Giza to discover what lies beyond a blocked shaft. The Pyramid Rover climbed 210ft along a channel and used a radar antenna and a fiber-optic camera to look beyond the blockage. The existence of the shaft has been known since 1872, but the blockage was discovered by German engineer Rudolf Gantenbrink in 1993 with the help of a robot. The Pyramid of Khufu contains two great rooms, the King's Chamber and the Queen's Chamber. The shafts running from the north and south wall of the Queen's Chamber are blocked at each end. Some experts believe they are "star shafts" pointing to constellations, or routes for the soul to escape to heaven, but others think they could lead to a third chamber. The rover project was being headed by Zahi Hawass, director of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Mark Lehner, director of the Giza Plateau Mapping Project.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

On October 16,2002 the world celebrated the re-birth of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina after 1600 years. President Mubarak and more than 3000 world dignitaries, including French President Jacques Chirac, President Carlo Ciampi of Italy and Greece's President Costis Stephanopoulos, attended the opening ceremony. The design concept of the 11-storey building is a simple circle inclined towards the sea, partly submerged in a pool of water, the image of the Egyptian sun, that in contemporary terms will illuminate the world and human civilization. The inclined roof allows indirect daylight and a clear view of the sea. The building is surrounded by a wall clad with Aswan granite engraved with calligraphic letters and representative inscriptions from the world civilizations.

The resurrected library reflects all the ambition of a bold 20-year project costing $200 million with backing from UNESCO and numerous countries. President Mubarak focused in his speech during the opening ceremony on the importance of inter-cultural dialogue and how the new library can help in "maintaining inter-cultural dialogue and interaction is the only rational way to eliminate violence and tension and build bridges among peoples using knowledge and peaceful co-existence as common bases of communication.".

Health news

Denmark - The mysteries of autism

With the growing sense that autism is spreading like flu as numbers rise in industrialized countries, the viral theory is gaining interest even among the mainstream medical community. Dr. Michael Goldberg, from Los Angeles, prescribed anti-viral therapy in conjunction with special diet since he is convinced of viral culprit exploiting children who are genetically susceptible to autism. He called it Neuro-Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (NID). The frequency of this disease is around 1: 500 and speculations around culprits: food allergies, vaccinations, mercury, viral, genes that erode both physiological and personality traits leading to profound social disability.

Oxford, UK - Birth Control Pills For Men

British scientists tested a new contraceptive drug in mice that meets all the criteria of an ideal male birth control pill. It can be taken orally and acts quickly with no side effects and its effects are easily reversible. Dr. Frances Platt said, "It has not been tested in healthy human males yet." The compounds chemical structure closely resembles the sugar we eat and is capable of making the male mice infertile but only when they take that drug and it had no effect on female mice. This sugar named, NB-DNJ, deforms mice sperms in a late stage of development. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Aarnoud C. van der Spoel, et al. (2002) Reversible infertility in male mice after oral administration of alkylated imino sugars: A nonhormonal approach to male contraception, PNAS, 99: 17173-17178.

USA - Superman conquers his quadriplegia!

More than ten years ago Christopher Reeves made a permanent place for himself in the popular imagination as the muscular, red-caped Superman. His slow, crooked smile and the inevitable curl of hair on his forehead, coupled with his bumbling Clark Kent persona, saw him through four action-packed Superman movies and transformed him into a superstar.

But a horse-riding accident changed everything. During a show-jumping event in 1995, his horse stopped unexpectedly, sending Reeves flying over. He landed on his head and injured his spinal chord, and he was paralyzed from the neck down. Seven years after actor Christopher Reeves' paralysis, tests show his brain has maintained a near-normal ability to detect feeling. Now he wiggles his toes and twitches his left index finger. This is quite remarkable since no one with similar injuries has ever been known to regain motility and sensation after spending seven years completely incapacitated. Superman, who refuses to live with disability, insists on conquering his ailment with intensive exercise, daily physiotherapy, and electric stimulation.

Boston, USA - Gene could aid in fight against cancer prostate

Scientists discovered that high levels of a protein used by a gene called FZH2 are more common in patients with prostate cancer, which has spread beyond the gland, than in less serious cases. This could form the basis of a prognostic test that could reduce deaths from the disease by spotting men with the most lethal type that needs aggressive treatment.

South Africa - Tutu's miracle train sets off 

Noble Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's mobile hospital (Tutu Train) called Phelophepa (PAY-low-PAY-puh) is a 16-coach hospital on wheels with traveling medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and psychologists. Tutu Train has a 15,000 km and 36-week annual journey across South Africa. Health educators and ophthalmologists have recently been added on board the train. Mrs. Leah Tutu shares her husband's activities since he was a poor young village teacher.

In South Africa, Phelophepa has been held up as a model of what the country's private sector, government and volunteers can do for the poor. Some call it "the miracle train."

Al-Arish, Egypt - Honey and bee stings as possible alternative therapy

Archeologists found honey in many Egyptian kings graves that dated back to more than 3200 years. Hypocrites (460 BC) mentioned that bee poison was the miraculous treatment, and more recently, Prof. Ali Farrid has mentioned that it has been proven to be useful in the treatment of infertility, repeated abortions, fibroids and glaucoma. In Al-Arish, the capital of Northern Sinai, there is the first hospital that treats patients with bee honey and stings. Another doctor in the hospital noted that it has also given positive results when treating hepatitis C, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, prolapsed disc, and atherosclerosis. The bee sting is administered between 1-5 times daily, and the treatment can range from 1-12 weeks. There is also a map of the body showing the strategic points, similar to that used in Chinese acupuncture!!

According to the American Apitherapy Society, the venom of bees consists of approximately forty elements. For example, the main element in the venom has anti-inflammation, anti-germ, and antipyretic effects. Especially the anti-inflammation effect is expected to be a hundred times stronger than in regular medicine. Also the venom strengthens the immunity, so this remedy is considered effective to ailments associated with chronic pains. There is evidence that people actually utilized apitherapy two to three thousand years ago in China.

Sanaa, Yemen - Remote areas to get hospitals – from the US

Paris, France - RAMMAL medal to the founder of MEGA

Prof. Ahmed S. Teebi, the distinguished syndromologist and founder of the Middle East Geneticist Association (MEGA), received the prestigious RAMMAL Award on December 3, 2002.. The Award was created in memory of the Lebanese physicist Rammal (1951-1991), is awarded each year to an outstanding personality of strong scientific stature from one of the Mediterranean countries, who, through his life and activity, has elevated the scientific exchanges in this part of the world. This honor has been awarded to other distinguished scientists Miguel Virasoro (1993), Celal Sengor (1994), Habib Bouchriha and Faouzia Charfi (1995), Manuel Velarde (1996), Lotfia El Nadi (1997), and André Megarbane (2000).

During the presentation, Professor Jean-Patrick Connerade (President of EUROSCIENCE) and Professor André Lebeau (President of the Judging Panel) summarized Prof. Teebi's excellent contribution  in Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Yale University, McGill University and the University of Toronto.

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Counselors revise approach after September 11

Prof. Arnold van Emmerik and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam published recently their study, "Single session debriefing after psychological trauma: a meta-analysis"  in the Lancet [Sept. 7, 2002, Vol. 360, Issue 9335] about the effectiveness of a common approach to helping people with distress. Known as critical-incident stress debriefing (CISD) that involves a tightly scripted group-debriefing session in which survivors are encourage to relive the experiences and vent their emotions. This study suggest that the 9000 grief counselors who descended to New York following September11, did very little to prevent post-traumatic stress disorders and other psychological problems.

Dr. Richard Grist, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri wrote an editorial accompanying the research paper asking for a new approach for treatment since 3 hours of counseling  may not be sufficient. He noted that there is evidence showing that individual counseling 4 weeks after a traumatic event can help those who have trouble coping.

Guatemala - Conjoined twins' separation offers hope for others

On August 7, 2002, the Guatemalan conjoined twins Marias slept on separate pillows last night for the first time. The one-year-old sisters were born joined at the top of their heads. Cases like theirs occur in fewer than one in 2.5 million live births. After a 22-hour operation by a team of 50 at the University of California Mattel Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, the twins were separated.

There are several other famous cases like Nida and Hira Jamal, the 2-year old Pakistani twins joined also at their heads. In 1995, a 30-member team at the Hospital of Sick Children in Toronto separated them. A similar head-to-head case of conjoined Egyptian twins (Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim) are undergoing tests in the US to see if they will be the next to face risky separation surgery. 

Global - "Kava" pulled off store shelves

Kava, a herbal supplement used to treat anxiety, insomnia and pain has been ordered off store shelves worldwide due to concerns it may cause liver dysfunction and failure. Kava has been readily available in capsule form or in teas to treat stress, nervousness, muscle tension and induce sleep. The herb is derived from a leafy plant that grows on Pacific islands. Spain and Canada have withdrawn cava products from the market entirely. France, Germany and the UK have suspended sales of all kava products. Ireland announced a voluntary recall of cava products while Brazil has restricted kava to prescription usage.

Ontario, Canada - The good doctor who wasn't a doctor!

For 15 years, Dr. Stephen Chung wore a white doctor's smock and stethoscope draped around his neck as he saw patients at his Hamilton practice since July 1983. He won the respect of all his colleagues and patients. When the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons began their investigation of more than 25,000 doctors registered to practice in Ontario, they discovered that he had never graduated from medical school. He gained his physician license based on a medical degree he bought that claimed he had graduated from Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic. He applied for an internship at McMaster University. Recently a website was created that helps identify quack doctors. http://www.questionabledoctors.org/info.cfm

Toronto, Canada - Does the "Garden of Eden" diet lower cholesterol levels?

More than 10 million prescriptions for cholesterol lowering drugs were issued in Canada last year. Circulation (Journal of the American Heart Association) published an article in its August edition about this topic. Researchers at the University of Toronto were asked to eat 37 grams of almonds daily for a month so their low density lypoprotein (so-called bad cholesterol) fall 4.4%. When they ate 74 grams if almonds daily, low density lipoproteins (LDL) fell 9.4%. Dr. Jenkins has played a key role in the promotion of nuts, in particular with his research of the so-called "Garden of Eden", which consists of high fiber diet of fruits, vegetables and nuts, mirroring that of our distant ancestors, has been shown to dramatically improve heart health and cholesterol levels.

Canada - Folic acid supplements reduce neural tube defects

Two recent studies from the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), showing that the rate of some major birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida has been halved in Canada since the government forced flour and pasta makers to fortify their foods with folic acid in 1998. Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables as spinach and legumes such as lentils and kidney beans. In the first month after conceptions, between 17 and 30th day, the neural tube which later becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord forms in the embryo. Without sufficient folic acid, the neural tube fails to close properly, leaving the brain or spinal cord exposed to amniotic fluid. Both anencephaly and spina bifida can occur due to the neural tube defects. In Ontario, Dr. Enza Gucciardi et al. showed that neural tube defects have fallen from 16.2/10,000 pregnancies in 1995 to 8.6 cases in 1999 (CMAJ 2002 167: 237-240). The rate of neural tube defects has fallen from 25.8/10,000 in 1995 to 11.7 in 1999 in Nova Scotia as reported by Dr. Vidia L. Persad and her colleagues (CMAJ 2002 167: 241-245). It is known that the rate of neural tube defects is higher in specific ethnic groups such as the Irish, Welsh, Sikh, and Bedouins.

Montreal, Canada - blind parents donate young son's corneas

Dennis Harting and his wife Peggy Roux, a blind couple, donated to an organ-transplant bank the corneas of their dead little boy, who was the only seeing person in their household - who drowned recently. The 6-year old boy was helpful to his parents and 8-year old sister Lauvia. His parents are aware of the symbolism of their decision to donate his corneas.

Arizona, USA - Palatin: a new aphrodisiac Barbie drug

The Univeresity of Arizona developed a new aphrodisiac drug for sexual stimulation. Unlike Viagra, this miracle pill is not just for males. Female lab rats that took it, showed more courting behavior since "Melanotan" works in the brain center that handles sexual arousal. Melanotan I and II are both synthetic hormones of melanocyte stimulating hormone that were created, synthesized and developed at The University of Arizona and the Arizona Cancer Center. Both forms have sunless tanning capabilities but because Melanotan had spontaneous erection as a side effect, it is not being further developed as a tanning agent. It is now being evaluated as an erectile dysfunction drug." For more information visit http://melanotan.org/botwin.html.

Robber Island, South Africa -Mandela to host star-studded AIDS benefit concert

President Nelson Mandela will play host a concert featuring some of the world's leading entertainers including, U2 star Bono, Macy Gray, Shaggy, Michael Jackson, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Janet Jackson. "Mandela SOS" will be held in February 2003 on Robber Island off the coast of Cape Town where he spent nearly two decades as a prisoner of the apartheid regime. All proceeds of the concert will go towards the anti-AIDS campaign and will host 3000 invited guests.

The Ambassadors