Open Your Eyes News - Edition 36

If this is your first visit I would suggest that, after viewing the articles in this page, you click onto the "Blog Archive" on the right hand panel. Have a look at some of the previous editions too. That will give you a much fuller picture of what is happening than by simply reading what has happened in the last week.
Areas Covered Each Week:
Civil Liberties - Health - Environment - Democracy & International Relations - Economics - Science - The War on Terror - The Next War

Stories of the Week:
Obama wins historic US election http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm
by the end of his 1st term:
- US troops will still be in Iraq (albeit in permanent bases) in 4 years time
- War will have been fought with at least one of the following: Iran, Syria and North Korea
- Tension will be much higher with Russia in a "2nd Cold War" (great for arms sales however)
- The majority of US citizens will still have no access to affordable healthcare
- The top 1% richest people in the US will own an even bigger proportion of national wealth than they do now (just under 40%)
- There will be even less free speech and civil liberties than there is now in the USA
- Guantanamo Bay will still be fully operational and still outside the law
All in all the face may have changed, the presentation may be softer focus, but the agenda will keep marching on.

Bali bombers 'to be shot tonight' – Readers Comments http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,24615287-952,00.html
No matter how heinous the crimes, the death penalty is morally and practically wrong on many, many levels. In this situation not least due to creation of three “martyrs” which has proved throughout history to be always counter-productive; the fact that a life spent is jail is a life long punishment, this is an opt out, and in their minds possibly even a welcome step to “heaven”; and finally the unedifying blood lust it has stirred up amongst the supposedly civilised society of Australia, as witnessed by the endless news reports counting down to the executions, and the vast majority of the public comments highlighted here.

Civil Liberties:
Support fades for Australian net censorship plan
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2229495/support-fades-australian-net
Has there been a "debate"? The mainstream media has been conspicuous in its silence on this rather important topic for Australian civil liberties

No charges but US may never release Guantánamo Chinese
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/01/guantanamo-china

Waterboarding: The psychological damage is indescribable
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5061441.ece

More than 50,000 in one UK county now on DNA database
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/50-000-DNA-database/article-442962-detail/article.html

Tax website shut down as memory stick with secret personal data of 12million is found in a pub car park
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082402/Tax-website-shut-memory-stick-secret-personal-data-12million-pub-car-park.html
Let this not put us off the idea of a national DNA database with everyone's personal details on it - that will be perfectly safe, honestly

British people 'can't wait for ID cards'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7712275.stm
As I reported a few weeks back, MC Saatchi have been hired for this little PR campaign on behalf of the UK Government. First rule of PR: The bigger the lie - the more people will believe it

First ID cards for Britons from autumn next year
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3381169/First-ID-cards-for-Britons-from-autumn-next-year-Jacqui-Smith-to-say.html

Fingerprinting charge to double cost of ID card to £60 as plans to launch scheme are scaled down
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083645/Fingerprinting-charge-double-cost-ID-card-60-plans-launch-scheme-scaled-down.html

Home Secretary to unveil airport ID scheme
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7712275.stm

Royal Mail, shops and private firms to bid for right to fingerprint us for new ID cards
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083447/Royal-Mail-shops-private-firms-bid-right-fingerprint-new-ID-cards.html

National UK road toll devices to be tested by drivers next year
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/news/article5084291.ece
And Big Brother will know everywhere you go in your car............

Judge orders White House to produce wiretap memos
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6VZF8RWefyI540jlRNHxOAynQrAD946P4B80

Pensioners told tea-time chats in the park are 'anti-social' - and unless they talk quietly their benches will be removed
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082434/OAPs-told-tea-time-chats-park-anti-social--unless-talk-quietly-benches-removed.html

Government black boxes will 'collect every email'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/government-black-boxes-will-collect-every-email-992268.html

Dutch Government to force "unfit mothers" to use contraception
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/04/humanrights-women

Undercover cops were among the unruly at Democratic National Convention
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10918033
The Ten Steps to a Closed Society: Number 5 - Infiltrate Citizens' Groups

Cop Puts CBS Cameraman In Chokehold & then arrests
http://wcbstv.com/local/cbs.photographer.arrested.2.849210.html
The Ten Steps to a Closed Society: Number 7 - Target key individuals (full list at the bottom of page)

Man dies in hospital after Calgary police use Taser
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gsP6iFVbgpUV7tcpvJGhcckW7TMg

Obama's chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service
http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2008m11d6-Obamas-chief-of-staff-choice-favors-compulsory-universal-service

Environment:
BBC shunned famous botanist for denying “man-made” climate change
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/69623

WA protesters demand GM crops ban
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/06/2412059.htm

The "good oil" on GM canola
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=2&ContentID=107030
Time again to play "Spot the Monsanto Corporation Press Release"

Truly inconvenient truths about climate change being ignored
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/michael-duffy/truly-inconvenient-truths-about-climate-change-being-ignored/2008/11/07/1225561134617.html

Monsoon link to fall of dynasties
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7714019.stm
What! So there has been climate change in the past? Preposterous!

Wetlands plan is left high and dry
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24614654-2702,00.html

Recycling waste piles up as prices collapse
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5093545.ece

The GM genocide: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using genetically modified crops
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html

Queensland U-turn on recycled industrial waste
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24609388-2702,00.html

WA - Toxic ties to Alcoa
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,24594868-2761,00.html

Toxins in Perth waterways not a health risk: Department of Water
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/05/2411192.htm
That’s okay then as Government departments have never told fibs before

California votes against green power initiatives
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn15128-california-votes-against-green-power-initiatives.html

Plea for more research cash as two billion bees die from rampant disease
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3333567/Plea-for-more-research-cash-as-two-billion-bees-die-from-rampant-disease.html

What is causing the bees to disappear?
http://westernfarmpress.com/news/bees-ccd-1105/

Who ordered the Plastic Oceanic Soup?
http://nabweekly.ca/?p=266

Overfishing Threatens European Bluefin Tuna
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081107143614.htm

Brazil's endangered species list triples in size
http://www.plentymag.com/blogs/extinction/2008/11/brazils_endangered_species_lis.php

Food crisis a warning we must heed
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24546523-11949,00.html

Democracy & International Diplomacy:
Obama’s Chief of Staff of the biggest recipients of Wall Street money in Congress
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=38963
I'm sure it won't influence his actions though........

EU calls for 'new deal for new world' with Obama
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/EU_calls_for_new_deal_for_new_world_with_Obama/articleshow/3677238.cms
One world government perhaps?

Ministers revolt on Brown’s rights bill
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5063250.ece
Yet another attempt to integrate the UK into the country called the EU. This one might have possibly failed however don't expect this to be the last time you have seen this.

China's rise raises Australia war fears
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/chinas-rise-raises-australia-war-fears/1347273.aspx

Memo shows how Blair aided Murdoch
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/01/media-rupertmurdoch
You scratch my back, I scratch yours.......Democracy in action

Václav Klaus calls for patriotism, warns against EU
http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews/clanek.phtml?id=620607

Ecuador alleges 'clear' signs of CIA infiltration
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j91CPLf7jD4nemSRD4PvzDpPXJEAD94593OG0

Wiesenthal Center gets green light to build museum on ancient Muslim cemetery
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1032596.html
Tolerance and harmony - Middle East style

Scottish peace activist films Israeli navy shooting at Gaza fisherman
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Scottish-peace-activist-who-fishes.4656252.jp

'Massive' rocket attack launched on Israel
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/massive-rocket-attack-launched-on-israel-992978.html

Czechs don't want the US missile defence programme on their soil.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/05/defence-weaponstechnology
Don't they realise that a hell of a lot of potential arms sales are reliant on their helping stoke up Cold War 2.0

West lambasts Russia missile plan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7712392.stm

Health:
Why Doctors Want Boys To Get Gardasil Shot
http://wbztv.com/health/gardasil.for.boys.2.858398.html
This weeks "most obvious PR agency press release" winner. You only can sell your "wonder drug" to 1/2 the population? No problem! Persuade the other 1/2 of the population to get it, then double your profits!!

Expert's fear over cervical cancer Gardasil vaccine
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Expert39s-fear-over-cervical-cancer.4652314.jp

Merck Targets Low Income and Minority Women in Gardasil HPV Vaccine Study
http://www.naturalnews.com/024325.html

Gardasil Jab Linked to Pancreatitis - Australian Doctors Demand a Review
http://www.naturalnews.com/024233.html

Pharmacy offers Gardasil jab against cervical cancer
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5076402.ece

Big Pharma May be Handed Blanket Immunity for All Drug Side Effects, Deaths
http://www.naturalnews.com/024688.html

Safety fears over nanocosmetics
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7706818.stm

How Pure Is Bottled Water?
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6049308&page=1

Niacin May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease
http://www.naturalnews.com/024745.html

Food Label Literacy - Identifying Products With Excellent Nutrition
http://www.naturalnews.com/024741.html

China becoming the biggest pharmaceutical ingredients producer in the world
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/magazine/02fda-t.html?_r=4&oref=slogin&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
From the country that brought you melamine in food........

Migraines 'mean less cancer risk'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7710674.stm

Probiotics 'may stop pneumonia'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7708895.stm

High Dose of Flu Vaccine Boosts Immune Response in Elderly
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=2248
Or kills them? Or increases the chances of Alzheimer's as other studies have show? Never mind it boosts company profits. Aren't we glad we sponsored this research?

Finance & Economics:
John Maynard Keynes: Can the great economist save the world?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/john-maynard-keynes-can-the-great-economist-save-the-world-994416.html
His theories were great in theory, just never worked in practice as the economic cycle never corresponded with the political cycle therefore leading to increased government debt which led to further inflation.......

IMF may need to "print money" as crisis spreads
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/3269669/IMF-may-need-to-print-money-as-crisis-spreads.html

The reality of Hyper-Inflation
http://www.boncherry.com/blog/2008/10/26/global-crisis-this-is-the-real-crisis/
Get used to these images as once those trillions of dollars that have been magiced out of the air to "rescue the world economy" start kicking in (in other words printed), inflation will start stalking the whole world again, not just just the test case in mass control no matter what, Zimbabwe.

The 2008 land grab for food and financial security
http://www.grain.org/briefings/?id=212

Coming Soon: Congress Is Back With 'Stimulus-2'
http://www.cnbc.com/id/27452818
Sorry, the first one only just about covered our bonuses

Nobel Prize winning economist calls for New Monetary Order
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/10/30/un_calls_for_sweeping_new_bretton_woods_system/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed7

Medvedev calls for new world monetary system
http://www.russiatoday.com/business/news/32808

Unemployed Nation: America's Shrinking Payroll
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6199501&page=1

Banks profits jeopardised
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/3400871/Banks-profits-jeopardised-as-Libor-falls-short.html
What a quandary. Do we cut bonuses or cut staff numbers? Hmm let me see...

Where's the money gone?
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article5076566.ece

Science & Technology:
Magnetic Portals Connect Sun and Earth
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30oct_ftes.htm

Religion:
Stoning victim 'begged for mercy'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7708169.stm

The War on Terror:
Members of Israeli spy ring 'related to 9/11 hijacker'
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=97339

Millions of Afghans face starvation
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1225200841100&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout

Fresh US air raid kills Afghan civilians: officials
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/06/2412643.htm

US Military ready to respond to "transition terror attack"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/06/inside-the-ring-20169387/

US troops in Iraq not won over by 'Barack Obama commander in chief' http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5091254.ece
That's because they know his "withdrawal timetable" is not worth the paper it is written on as they have seen the four massive permanent bases that the US has been building out in the Iraqi desert.

Millions of Iraqis at risk from dirty water
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/29/news/ML-Iraq-Polluted-Waters.php

The Next War:
Israel urges US not to rule out military option in Iran
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFDACASaXuwP53BX8FLjz-wLWHNw

Suspected U.S. missile hits Pakistan
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4A61UP20081107?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

US admiral wants pain-rayguns for Gulf fleet
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/06/ads_fifth_fleet_request/

Obama Pentagon briefings to start "almost immediately"
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1634294.aspx

Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons 'unacceptable': Obama
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5heF0yjVL0PiqzsZefjeGNSkZ1rPg

North Korea seen to be building base for bigger missiles
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20081104/tpl-uk-korea-north-missiles-81f3b62.html

North Korea back on the brink of famine
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSSEO318158._CH_.2400
If Kim dies, will the resulting power struggle encourage an attempt to "reunite" the peninsula?


Quote of the Week:

"Man's inhumanity to man is not only perpetrated by the vitriolic actions of those who are bad. It is also perpetrated by the vitiating inaction of those who are good"
- Martin Luther King Jnr.

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