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6. november 2002
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GM Food Row Continues in Zambia
 Last week, Zambia's president Levy Mwanawasa (picture) refused to accept a donation of food from the United States because it was genetically modified maize. The president called the food 'poison,' and officially the government refers to a scientific report for support.
When the report was made public, it appeared that it states that there is 'insufficient evidence' to prove it is safe. The report also contained some statements based on false information about the actual origin of the food.
Zambia, like the rest of the war-torn region, faces a serious threat of famine. The World Food Program (WFP) has appealed for help against the famine that threatens 14 million people in Southern Africa.
This week, the Zambian government made it clear that it absolutely opposes GM food at any cost. Officials chastised aid workers for distributing GM food already in the country to refugees, dispite the fact that there is no other food to replace the food currently feeding 125,000 refugees in five camps.
My take: This falls into a pattern of leaders in Southern Africa opposing everything of western origin, no matter what consequences it has for its own people. While there may be a tiny residue of chance that eating insufficiently tested GM food can be dangerous, the fact is that starvation is known to be absolutely lethal!
Anti-GM hysteria in the west must also share some blame for this absurd situation. I found it appaling that in the BBC poll accompanying this article, more than 50% of those who decided to cast a vote, presumably mostly British, agreed with the Zambian decision. Obviously environmentalist propaganda against GM food, more religious in fervor than anything else, has left the public scared of GM food. I think if they were starving, having the choice between GM food and nothing, they'd choose to live.
11:49:17 PM 
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Security Council Draft Gives Iraq 'One More Chance'
A third attempt by the US and UK to present a draft to the UN Security Council softens the stance on automatic use of force against Iraq if arms inspections fail. France and Russia is signalling that they may accept this draft.
The US is opposed to a resolution requiring a second resolution for use of force, and France/Russia is will not accept one validating automatic use of force.
It will be interesting to see how a draft satisfying these apparently conflicting demands looks like.
7:52:09 PM
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How the world sees Americans
One American went into the world to find out, was surprised he wasn't really hated, wrote a book about that, and was interviewed by Salon.
As one non-American who sees Americans and have opinions about them (lots!), I think his observations were spot on.
Note to self: write something about the world's view of America and Americans one day.
4:13:44 PM
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Book Report
If I am reading Rayne correctly, adding the statement 'book report' to this blog will greatly improve the number of hits I get from google, and also teach those cheaters to do their own homework.
2:33:12 PM
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Republicans Gain Senate, Keep House
The best comment so far is the picture I found in Fried Green al-Quadas. My condolences to that half of Americans who did not deserve this.
2:22:03 PM
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Gay Rams Give Clue to Homosexuality
 Gay rams have a different brain structure than 'straight' rams, according to a recent American study.
The scholars are cautious about what this may imply for humans, but it does support the results of an earlier study on gays who had died from AIDS. Professor Charles Roselli, who led the study, believes that exposure of hormones on fetuses may affect the brain in a way that influences sexuality.
My take: The hunt for the 'gay gene,' which now may prove futile, seems to have been guided by the mistaken idea that whether people are born homosexual has any influence on its ethical standing. However, if this study is correct in its conclusions, and it applies to humans, it will confirm what many gays have stated based on personal experience: they were born that way. Either way, the existence of homosexuality in nature, which is well-known outside fundamentalist circles, surely debunks the fundie slogan that it is 'unnatural.'
1:56:36 PM
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Narcolepsy Drug May Improve Memory
Tests of the drug modafinil, used to treat a sleeping disorder, shows promising results in improving memory and problem-solving skills.
I need this, and I need it fast, before I forget about it.
11:52:43 AM
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Nagging Older Siblings Key to Greatness
 A study argues that great creative thinkers like Charles Darwin (picture), Martin Luther King Jr or Mahatma Ghandi more often than not have one thing in common: they had at least one older brother or sister.
Humans are naturally very competitive, the scholars argue, and sibling rivalry may create an incentive for people who become successful later in life.
BBC One will broadcast details about the study in Human Instinct Wednesday at 2100 GMT.
I was an only child. Woe onto me.
9:21:44 AM
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New Court Setback for Online Privacy
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled against AOL's effort to protect the privacy of one of its subscribers. A Californian court had issued a subpoena for an AOL user's identity in a defamation case. AOL's attempted to quash the subpoena. AOL had argued that first amandment rights to free speech made the subpoena unconstitutional. It can still appeal, if necessary to the Supreme Court.
It is a confusing world where AOL suddenly represents the good guys.
8:48:51 AM
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How to Avoid Learning Japanese — for Dummies
A classic, hilarious article, where the author is brilliantly lying through his teeth, explaining in very clear terms why you should never even consider contemplating the mere idea of ever learning Japanese.
8:34:25 AM
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We Have Nuts!
The City of Moscow is missing the once lively squirrel population that used to beg for nuts in its numerous parks.
The solution: a breeding programme, a feeding programme, and also some attention to its natural enemies, the New York Times reports.
6:58:30 AM
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Hardcore pornography!
Or, rather, prawnography, a hilarious site you just have to see. I'd love to take you directly to the, eh, juicy bits, but this site also features the first pop-up screen in history you should not miss. So do dive in and enjoy.
12:44:30 AM
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Age of Real Time Strategy Sequels
 Fans of RTS style games are strongly recommended in Gamespot's raving review to have a look at Age of Mythology. According to the review, the daring leap from the 2D 'historical' battles in Age of Empires to a fully 3D mythological battlefield looks like another massive winner from Ensemble Studios.
I surely liked and played Age of Empires II a lot, even though it was never as fun as StarCraft (which I still play!), and I will try to give this one a playtest.
12:17:50 AM
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Acronym of the Day
PCMCIA = People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms.
12:02:17 AM
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© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.12.02; 02:50:42.
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