27 April 2009 No 7/8 ISSN 1422-8831 Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 E-Mail: [email protected] Current Concerns Website: www.currentconcerns.ch The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, AZB and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law 8044 Zurich English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

Indonesian Minister of Health Demands Dignity, Equality and Transparency for all Countries in the World by Eva-Maria Föllmer-Müller and Stefan Keller ble would have to queue, together with other Indonesia poor countries, since the rich countries were NAMRU2 Indonesia with its populatin of about treated preferentially. That exactly had been On 24 April of this year the “Jakar- 237,5 million is the fourth largest coun- Vietnam’s fate. After having sent its virus to ta Post” published an article that just try with regard to its population. It com- the WHO-CCs Vietnam never again heard an- this laboratory had requested immunity prises 13,000 to 17,000 islands, 33 prov- ything about what had happened with its vi- for all its employees. Although Michael inces, 21 of them were affected by the ruses. Leavitt travelled to Indonesia himself, avian flu. “Since 1952, 110 countries in the world the Indonesian Government only part- Poultry is Indonesia’s most impor- that had had cases of common influenza (sea- ly acceded to this request. Instead In- tant meat supplier. According to FAO sonal flu) have had an obligation to share the donesian Secretary of Foreign Affairs (18 March 2008) 20 percent of the poul- virus specimen willingly, without any encum- Eddy Pratomo demanded full transpar- try population (14 million) are distribut- brance. The viruses accepted by the GISN ency. Indonesia was to have full access ed on over 30 million backyards. That is were called wild viruses and the sample be- to all research projects and their results, why the situation is critical even today. came the property of the GISN. The experts for it was suspected that this laborato- Since the outbreak of the avian flu in processed it for the purpose of risk assess- ry was working by order of some secret 2005 more than 9,5 million poultry ment and research. But part of the sample agency. NAMRU laboratories are above (ducks, geese, chilcken, quail) had to be was also developed into seed viruses. And all serving the US military personal that killed. it was the very seed viruses that later could had been stationed there. In April 2008 be developed into vaccine. The problem for Siti Sapore had stopped the virus trans- me was, after it went into commercial pro- fer to the NAMRU2 laboratory until they keep the Sovereignty of the Nation and the duction, the vaccines were distributed glo- would be willing to share their research Republic of Indonesia. And beyond the ac- bally, including to the affected countries who findings with Indonesia and other coun- knowledgment of the majority of of people, owned the wild viruses, with price which tries so that these countries would be- the WHO Collaborating Centers (WHO- only determined by the developers, most of come able to develop and produce their CCs), in fact, has been forwarding the sam- whom belong to the industrial and rich coun- own vaccines. Dr Siti Fadilah Supari, PhD: It’s Time for the ples of Indonesian strain (and other strains) tries. And of course, they put the very high of avian influenza viruses to companies in the price for the products, with only economical World to Change – In the spirit of dignity, eq- Viruses for Los Alamos … uity and transparency – Divine Hand Behind developed countries. The latter are in turn de- reasons as determinant, disregarding the so- Avian Influenza, ISBN 978-979-17357-0-4; velopping the viruses into vaccines, but then cial or moral aspect. Those are characteristic Although the professional training of Indo- the book is best obtainable with the publishing sell them commercially and expensively, also of capitalism.” (p. 11) nesia’s scientists was very good or even bet- house: PT. Sulaksana Watinsa Indonesia (SWI), to the poor and the developing countries af- Dr Supari started to oppose this unequal ter they were not treated equally compared Tel./Fax: +62 21 86614125, Mobile phone: fected by the viruses.” (authors note, p. xi) treatment: “Each time I looked into the past, I to their colleagues from the industrial coun- +62 818813154, Email:[email protected] saw the shadow of imperialism that had taken tries. Indonesia was e.g. promised a dona- In her book, Siti Fatilah Supari describes her Indonesian initiative against the western the most resources of my country because we tion of 3 million dollar by Health Minister fight against the WHO and the neo-colonial research monopoly had no technology to take the benefit from Michael Leawitt, but the country did never efforts to deprive her country – as well as all By tenacious efforts she finally succeeded the resources. It seemed that I could watch see anything of it. When US Secretary of other developing countries – of their sover- to initiate a process of restructuring, aiming they pumped out the most of our crude oil Foreign Affairs Condoleezza Rice once vis- eignty, their rights and their dignity. She ac- at more equality, fair treatment of all coun- only because we did not have the technology ited, Dr Supari learned that the money had cuses the rich industrial countries to treat the tries and more transparency. Because of her and the money to process them.” (p. 10) been given to the NAMRU2 (US Naval Med- developing countries unequally and calls for initiative other poor countries and develop- ical Research Unit 2) with the argument that transparency with respect to the passing on ing countries summoned the courage to join Premature fallacy of the WHO this laboratory did H5N1-research in co-op- and processing of viruses. the Indonesian initiative. “In expectation for With respect to the so-called “cluster-cases” eration with the Indonesian Health Ministry. She describes how the Indonesian gov- healthier and more equitable world, all the she describes another case of unequal treat- NAMUR2 is a great research unit outside the ernment and the Indonesian society careful- countries have been in an agreement that ment that affected her country. Indonesia has USA and gives jobs to 175 employees, 19 of there will be no more exploitation of one na- the largest cluster cases, that means the great- them are US-Americans. tion by others (exploitation de l’homme par est incidence of avian flu within one family. An important chapter in her book deals Avian Flu in Indonesia l’homme) in the health aspect of the world. In Tanah Karo seven of eight family mem- with the secret laboratory of Los Alamos. Indonesia was hit the hardest by the There will be no more system of diclaiming bers had become infected by the virus. The When investigating into the whereabouts of avian flu epidemic. Since 2005 avian flu the right for the viruses from the poor coun- experts drew the conclusion – prematurely the DNA sequence of the H5N1 virus she has become a serious health problem. tries affected by the pandemic, and then rais- and without any further inquiry that the fa- learned that the genetic material had been Meanwhile there are 141 confirmed ing capital through deliberately commer- milial clustering was a case of man-to-man continued on page 2 cases of avian flu in humans. 115 of the cializing the vaccines developed from the transmission of the virus. affected have died up to now. viruses, including to the poor and the devel- With this conclusion they arrogantly pub- oping countries.” (p. xii) lished a press release locally and internation- ly handled the consequences of the avian flu She goes on: “The world knows that this ally meaning for the world public that the ter- Biological Weapons in their own country and how they undertook is not a matter of win or loss in the arena of rible avian flu pandemic had finally begun. from Los Alamos the necessary steps to stop its spreading. diplomacy. The fight against avian influenza That would have had disastrous consequenc- “A senior bio defense researcher at the is the fight to sustain the authentic humanity. es for Indonesia and the country would have Defense Ministry, Isro Samiharjo, told Untiring efforts in fighting the unequal The bet in this fight is that we can loose our become isolated. treatment of developing countries the audience the U.S. government used lives in the pandemic, but the eradication of Supari describes how she started to de- Los Alamos to develop biological weap- As the Minister of Health of her country she human race is ensured by the greediness and fend her country: “Firstly, I sent a serious ons. Isro supported Siti’s claims, say- at first precisely abided by the WHO-regula- the mismanagement of the system of world notice to WHO Indonesia for releasing an ing the samples could be used to de- tions on handling the avian flu. Thereby she health.” (p. xxi) uncertain statement, which will cause very velop weapons, added that a similar noticed the rich countries gross unequal treat- When it turned out that the Indonesian severe consequences to Indonesia. […] Sec- scenario had taken place in the U.S. in ment of the developing countries’, which be- avian flu virus was a particularly aggressive ondly, I asked about the DNA sequence of the 1980s, when plant-hoppers had at- comes obvious in the following examples: specimen, Dr Supari became aware of a cer- the virus from Tanah Karo which had been tacked a wide range of paddy fields and The WHO requested the Indonesian Gov- tain mechanism: Her country was made to shared with the WHO-CCs. […] Thirdly I turned Indonesia into an importer of ernment to provide for a sufficient quantity of hand over the virus to the Global Influenza instructed the WHO Indonesia to correct the paddy seeds until now. Isro said biolog- the substance Tamiflu for virus inhibition. It Surveillance Network (GISN); they would news of CNN, or I would sue them to the ical weapons could be used to make one took a great effort to come up with the nec- pass it on to the WHO Collaboration Centers United Nations.” country dependent on another, a condi- essary sum of money. But still she could not (WHO-CCs); that would produce a seed virus Next she organized a press conference tion he referred to as “covered imperial- acquire the medicine since the provisions had and vaccines in one of their laboratories and and corrected the premature fallacy herself. ism”. “There is evidently a conspiracy,” been completely bought up by the rich coun- then sell the vaccine expensively to the rich Even when the result of the DNA-anal- he said, discussing the United States’ in- tries using them as their reserves. (90 percent countries. WHO-CCs are laboratories that co- ysis from a laboratory of her choice (with- volvement in the development of bio- of the vaccine trade is handled by 10 percent operate with the WHO and who are acknowl- out WHO acknowledgement) proved that logical weapons. With the inevitable de- of the world population) edged as reference laboratories by Australia, the H5N1 virus of Tanah Karo actually was velopment of such weapons, Isro said, These experiences led her to the con- Japan, Great Britain and the USA. a more aggressive form of the same virus Indonesia’s Defense Ministry, through clusion that her country had to stand on its When renouncing the virus the coun- and so the man-to man transmission was its directorate for defense potential, own feet. In the introduction of her book she try loses any title and the virus disappears not confirmed, this new information was ig- had begun to focus on biodefense.“ wrote: “The case of avian influenza further- in a “black hole”. In the case of a pandem- nored and was hushed up by scientists and more needs our firm commitment to always ic those countries that made the virus availa- the WHO. “Jakarta Post”, 16.3.2008 Page 2 Current Concerns No 7/8 27 April 2009 The Global Food Crisis and the Right to Food UN conference demands change of paradigm in agricultural policy Two declarations by Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63. General Assembly of the United Nations on 6 April 2009

CC. On 6 April the General Assembly’s so called “Interac- of thinking is needed, turning away from the “dominance edge, Science and Technology for Development), that had tive Thematic Dialog” dealt with the global food crisis and of the industrialized food corporations” to a production of participated in editing the “World Agriculture Report” in the right to food.The invitation came from the President of food on local regional and international level that really 2008. (cf. Zeit-Fragen No 44/2008). The demand for a the UN General Assembly, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. In serves mankind. change of paradigm in agricultural policy has since then his opening speech he pointed out that one billion people The whole-day event assembled economists, agrarian ecol- been to turn away from the industrialized food production still go hungry in today’s world. He insisted that it was high ogists, human right experts. The Special Rapporteur on the and to strive for agricultural operating methods that are time the right to food issue returned onto the international Right to Food, Olivier de Schutter, was present just as David oriented towards small scale farming structures and a food agenda. Even if many maintain the opposite, the food cri- Andrews, senior advisor on food policy and sustainable devel- production that secures the right to food for all humanity sis is far from being abated. Instead it is spreading around opment to the President of the General Assembly. and has been adopted on UN-level. the world. There is a clear connection between the world- Among the debaters were also representatives of the In the following we publish the opening speech of Miguel wide financial crisis and the food crisis. A complete change IAASTD (International Assessment of Agricultural Knowl- d’Escoto Brockmann and his final remarks. Opening Speech of the President of the General Assembly

economic crisis, the energy crisis, and the This high-level gathering of economists, (IAASTD) and other intergovernmental bod- food crisis. Rather these crises converge, in- agroecologists, human rights specialists and ies. All of them tell us that we face an ongo- teract, fuel and aggravate each other. other experts builds on the longstanding con- ing and deepening crisis that requires the es- To better grasp the magnitude, complex- cerns of the General Assembly and other tablishment of a new global architecture for ity and interrelationships of the World Food intergovernmental bodies regarding these agriculture and food. Crisis we will need to apply multiple tools. issues. I think we all recognize the serious- The United Nations has assumed a central The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to ness and the persistence of the food crisis that role in addressing the pervasive challenges of Food, Professor Olivier de Schutter, and my continues to unfold around the world and the food insecurity and access to food. We must senior advisor for food policy and sustaina- need to keep it high on the international agen- support the call to strengthen our global re- ble development, David Andrews, with assist- da. sponse by relying on tools specifically based ance from the Rome agencies, have brought Today we will attempt to find answers to on the recognition of the right to food as a together a pool of qualified and outstanding difficult questions. Why do we continue to human right, specified in international law. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann speakers. They will analyze and discuss pol- tolerate hunger and malnutrition now affect- This requires inclusive policies that recog- (UN photo/Eskinder Debebe) icy options for responding to the food cri- ing a billion people in a world of abundance? nize the needs and enable the participation of sis drawing upon four key instruments or di- What international policies are needed to as- all sectors of society. Excellencies, mensions: international law, emerging human sure the right to food? How can we change I agree with the UN Special Rapporteur High Representative of the Least Developed rights law, the ethical and moral dilemmas, agricultural production to meet the challenge on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, that States, and science and technology. Together, these of food security in the future? Beyond the we have a unique opportunity to profound- Colleague and friend, Special Rapporteur tools will afford us all a more comprehensive needed increases in food productions, how ly reorient our food policies which currently Olivier de Schutter, analysis, one that I am certain can contribute can we guarantee universal, sustained access leave a billion people on the verge of starva- Representatives of the Rome agencies and of to the better formulation of solutions. to food – a problem that is more serious as tion. The ongoing food crisis is a symptom the United Nations System, But I am particularly happy to be joined millions more are tipped into abject pover- of a broader breakdown of selfish models of Brothers and Sisters All, today by knowledge holders that bring to ty each day. governance and production that have failed I am very pleased to open this informal dia- bear the concerns, worldviews and knowl- We build on the excellent analysis and re- us and betrayed the trust of people around the logue of the General Assembly on the global edge that all too often are underrepresent- ports of a range of UN bodies – the UN Food world. These models are unsustainable and food crisis. Today’s discussion will bring to ed in our international policy forums. And and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN we must find alternatives both international- our Membership not only a diversity of views, here I am referring to our Third World scien- Environment Programme (UNEP), the Inter- ly and locally. It is also important to see the but also of disciplines and knowledge. It is tists, our agroecologists, and our small-scale national Fund for Agricultural Development food crisis as directly linked to our financial most appropriate that the General Assembly family farmers, and to our indigenous broth- (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP) crisis, the energy crisis and the overarching avail itself of various sources of knowledge ers and sisters. You are stakeholders and we and other agencies and funds as well as the problems associated with climate change. and expertise, for indeed, the crisis we are ex- are glad to welcome you here in this body, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food With the global downturn it is even more amining in depth today, the Global Food Cri- and learn together, through a dialogue of wis- and the high-level initiatives on food secu- urgent to promote a rights-based approach to sis and the Right to Food, is not independent doms. Not only do you constitute 50 per cent rity organized by the Secretary-General. We food policy. This will also address the needs or separate from the converging crises that of the world’s food producers, you also con- also have received scientific guidance from of the billion small-scale farmers around the are confronting us as an international com- stitute a large percentage of the world’s hun- the International Assessment of Agriculture munity: climate change, the financial and gry. Science and Technology in Development continued on page 3

“Indonesian Minister of …” CCs she learned from the Internet that the a way that the virus strains would remain the ation the technical, economic, and humani- continued from page 1 Los Alamos Laboratory had been closed. But property of their country of origin. (Materi- tarian concerns in a manner that effectively, where had her virus strains ended up? Part of al Transfer Agreement, MTA) […]). “In my ensures global preparedness.” (p. 180) passed on from the WHO and WHO-CCs di- the data had been given to the Global Initi- opinion this was an extreme violation if it Present at the high-level meeting were min- rectly to the Los Alamos National Laborato- ative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GI- could not be called a crime of an organiza- isters of health, high representatives and other ry in New Mexico. There were only very few SAID) and the rest had gone to Bio Health tion that should operate under the principle official representatives from 12 concerned scientists who were allowed to do research on Security (BHS). She learned that many re- of clean governance.” (p. 61) countries and 23 other countries, including the DNA-sequences. searchers had also been transferred from Los It was right to denounce that gross injus- emerging countries and industrial countries, Alamos to the BHS. She wondered whether tice. countries producing vaccines and further im- Vaccines for biological weapons? the BHS was a research institution to develop portant concerned countries and the WHO. Los Alamos is the laboratory in which re- biological weapons under supervision of the Criminal machinations at the WHO? The meeting ended with the “Jacarta Decla- search is done on biological, chemical and Pentagon. “If this was the case, it meant, that On 28 March Dr Supari organized two high- ration on Responsible Practices for Sharing nuclear weapons. “It shocked me very hard. the game was continued with different name level meetings together with similar think- Avian Influenca Viruses and Resulting Ben- I knew that the Los Alamos laboratory is and location.” (p. 21) ing countries. In her introductory speech she efits”. The declaration demanded to discuss under the control of the US Departement of Before the negotiations with the WHO raised her demands. the whole issue with all member states at the Energy. It was in the same laboratory that started her assumption was confirmed by On the day before she had already come WHA. designed the atomic bomb to destroy Hiro- WHO CEO Dr Margret Chan. At a meeting to a consensus at a high-level-meeting that On 14 May 2007 the sixtieth meeting of shima in 1945. It is likely that they utilize she told her: “What you said in your speech a new mechanism was necessary for the ex- the WHA took place in Geneva, the result the same facility to research and to develop is defenitely true. There was a criminal in change of viruses. “We cannot proceed fur- of which was laid down in the Resolution chemical weapons. What a terrifying fact! the WHO who sent the seed virus or the data ther without expressing the expectation that 60.28. The DNA sequence data of H5N1 virus had to Los Alamos. But now he has been termi- any programs concerning virus sample shar- At an important government meeting on been the privilege for the scientists in Los nated, Madame Minister,” she said. “Please ing must, as agreed with the WHO, be re- 20 November 2007 all countries agreed that Alamos. Whether they used it to make vac- help me and David Heymann, we got the sponsibly used for risk assessment purposes there is no place for a GISN in the WHO. cine or develop chemical weapon, would de- system from our predecessors. And I hope only and will not be used for a production Dr Supari’s book shows impressively and pend on the need and the interest of the US I can transform it, Madame,” she continued. of vaccine for commercial purposes, with- emphatically that a woman is able to open a government. It is indeed a very dangerous (p. 129) out the knowledge of the sample originating way and achieve a dignified and equal treat- situation for the destiny of the entire human Early in December 2006 the Indonesian countries. I mut take this point because it is ment of her country, if she is able to assume beings.” (p. 19) Government decided to no longer hand over important to stress that developing countries a determined standpoint and to persistently Supari’s suspicion was justified that one their viruses to the WHO and the WHO labo- must be assured of equitable access to the demand equality in all respects, even if she of the Indonesian virus strains that had been ratories, as long as they followed the GISN’s H5N1 influenza vaccine. To date, while only has to break through undemocratic, oppres- sent to the WHO, might have been passed on obscure mechanisms. Instead she demanded 10% of the world is concentrated in Europe sive and neo-colonial structures. She had to to Los Alamos – for the development and pro- transparency, so that those countries that had and North America, that part of the world assert herself against all attempts of the west- duction of biological weapons. “…the sender been severely affected by the avian flu, would holds 90% of the production capacity for the ern world and the super power USA to final- never knew the fate of their specimen. Was it be able to profit from the surrender of the vi- influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, in the event ly achieve the change of paradigm by persist- sent to a nonprofit institution to develop vac- ruses. of a crisis, the majority of developing coun- ent negotiations: from the old paradigm that cine needed by the affected countries? Or was A tough wrestling started on international tries would have no access to vaccines dur- meant a great danger for humanity to a new it sent to a commercial enterprise, or even to level. Supari realized that the WHO secretar- ing and possibly after the first wave of pan- paradigm that means welfare for the majority some place to be processed into biological iat had arbitrarily cancelled a passage from demic. We must therefore consolidate our of the world’s people. weapon?” (p. 13) the guidelines for the exchange of virus ma- efforts on seeking effective methodologies In May 2009 the 62nd session of the WHA When she asked for the data of the Tanah- terial from 2005 to 2007. This passage ruled for the production and distribution of pan- will take place in Geneva. Just enough time Karo-Virus that she had sent via the WHO- the correct exchange of virus material in such demic vaccines that also take into consider- to read her important book. • 27 April 2009 No 7/8 Current Concerns Page 3

“The Global Food Crisis and …” continued from page 2 world, many of whom, astonishingly, do not have enough to eat. It will address the rights and needs of impoverished consumers – espe- cially women and children – as well who face hunger in the midst of abundance. Without innovative and broad changes in our food policies, we will see hunger once again spread across the world like a medie- val plague. The shameful reality is that, de- spite the fact that we have the knowledge, the financial and technological means to prevent it, half of the human population subsists at levels of malnutrition and poverty completely incompatible with their inherent dignity and rights. This is not only shameful – it is, to use religious terminology – down right sinful, as I have often pointed out. There is evidence that the dominant glo- bal and industrial food system has entered a process of decline. The meltdown of our fi- nancial markets and the growing calls for the overhaul of the deeply flawed Bretton Woods institutions have also initiated a process of dramatic change in the international financial architecture. We can only hope that the days of the dominance by the monoculture of in- dustrialized food corporations are numbered as well. UNEP, for example, recently released a report indicating that organic, small-scale farming can deliver the increased yields that were thought to be the preserve of industrial farming, without the environmental and so- The hungry cannot wait until tomorrow. cial damage caused by industrial agriculture. The change of paradigm in agricultural policy has been adopted on UN-level. (photo reuters) Other reports point to the ecological damage self-governance, what is referred to as food politics, toward food democracy. We have to of wealth. These crises cannot be fixed one by and extraordinary costs related to meat pro- sovereignty. move ahead in this direction. With the loom- one by technology alone. They require cross- duction. The International Assessment of Ag- At the United Nations, I have made de- ing calamity of global warming, we cannot cutting, global solutions. riculture Science and Technology in Develop- mocratization of the Organization my number hesitate to take action. Most of us here today are convinced that ment released its exhaustive report last year, one priority. So too, in food politics, I would People are calling for an end to this culture the confluence of crises we face do not have reflecting the work of many United Nations advocate food democracy. We can move our of indifference to the welfare of others. We to provoke wider human tragedy. But we offices, which emphasized that current meth- food provisioning away from dominance by are seeing how these economic policies have must overcome the moral mediocrity that ods of food production are no longer sustain- a few very large corporations to the control accelerated global warming and the plunder keeps us from making the heroic sacrifices able. It argued that we must change from in- of people-oriented food systems that respect of natural resources. We see the madness of that the magnitude of the problems requires. dustrial to agro-ecological methods. communities and their right to food sover- converting crops into fuel to sustain glutton- We must address the underlying patterns of Again, we are at a moment of dramatic eignty, and localized and regionalized food ous energy appetites. To perpetuate this cul- consumptions that are clearly unsustainable. change, perhaps a turning point. The voices systems at the local and regional levels. ture is to continue to betray our most sacred We must reinforce the fundamental right to for change are multiplying and, as old sys- There is a growing awareness that we must values and principles and lead us to the most food. Realism, if not our conscience, should tems collapse in exhaustion, finally are being face up to the fact that the “haves” of this terrible consequences for people and our frag- tell us that all humanity is in the same boat heard. It is time for a new politics of food, world must change their way of life and the ile planet. and that we will all sink or sail together. I one that starts from the bottom up, not the top patterns of consumption that show little or no Solutions proposed within the existing eco- am sure that our panel discussions today will down. We need to have an approach to food regard for the disastrous impact of their life- nomic crisis are worsening the problems. In move us in the right direction. production that is multi-functional, that has a style on the wellbeing of their neighbors, our fact, the climatic crisis obeys the same logic Thank you. • concern for the poor and their right to food; brothers and sisters, and our shared home, the as the food, energy and financial crises: the a concern for the earth and its right to life; planet Earth. We can learn from those who logic of policies based on short-term profits Source: http://www.un.org/ga/president/63/state- a concern for communities and their right to are moving in the direction of a new food and speculation for maximum accumulation ments/foodcrisis60409.shtml Closing Remarks of the President of the General Assembly

Excellencies, producers, often in stark contrast to agro-in- nerable of all our societies in the most im- used to assist developing countries and their Representatives of the United Nations dustrial production. mediate and uncompromising manner. The peoples to better meet their fundamental right System, This meeting has demonstrated once again hungry cannot wait till tomorrow. This is a to food. Representatives of Civil Society, that the Assembly, the UN system and part- discussion that must be high on the interna- Let us look ahead. The UN calendar con- Brothers and Sisters All, ners from the private sector, civil society tional agenda and you have contributed to tains a series of processes and dates of great As we come to the close of this Thematic Dia- and academia can come together to identify making this possible. relevance to many of the issues raised here logue on the Global Food Crisis and the Right problems and explore solutions that reflect I must say a few words regarding food as today. The Commission on Sustainable De- to Food, I want to thank all of the panelists the concerns of all Member States. This is, a fundamental human right. There are nu- velopment will meet next month to discuss and moderators and especially the Delegates of course, the role of the General Assembly merous reasons to support a rights-based ap- agricultural policy, water, desertification and who participated so constructively in this mandated by the United Nations Charter. proach to the food crisis. Guaranteeing the other relevant themes; in June this body will timely exchange. I am grateful to Mr Cheick But what is most striking about today’s right to food turns the world’s hungry, recip- discuss the international financial and mon- Sidi Diarra, Special Representative of the presentations is the wealth and diversity of ients of our food aid, into ‘rights-holders’. etary crisis and its impact on development; Secretary-General for the Least Developed views of our panelists. We have heard com- This constitutes a radical shift in our current later in the year we will examine progress on Countries, for highlighting the importance of pelling arguments based in the solid science paradigm. the Millennium Development Goals; towards this issue for the most vulnerable populations of the International Assessment of Agricul- Rather than speak for the world’s hungry the end of year there is likely to be a Summit affected by the ongoing challenges of assuring ture Science and Technology in Development or on their behalf, we as an international com- on the Food Crisis, and finally, the important access to adequate food supplies. and the practical experience of our Rome- munity must join our voices with theirs and negotiations on Climate Change. And I thank Olivier de Schutter, the United based members of the United Nations sys- speak in defense of their rights. This will, no I urge all Member States when examining Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to tem. doubt, bring into question a series of complex food, trade and agricultural policy issues in Food, for his arguments that reminded us We have heard from the experts and prac- issues, many of which have no single or easy this array of forums, to give serious consid- of the logic and the moral imperative of ad- titioners of non-governmental organizations answers. They bring into play the role of non- eration and discussion, and to bring to bear dressing food security from rights-based per- from around the world, including the invalu- food agriculture, subsidies and unjust trade in your analysis and responses, a rights-based spective. able perspectives of representatives of our in- regimes. If we are serious in our intent, these approach, one grounded in the right to food. To achieve long-term solutions to the in- digenous peoples. This is the scope of knowl- difficult and often contentious issues will be The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, tractable but unjustifiable problems of hunger edge and depth of concern that will help us to part of discussion. numerous General Aseembly resolutions and and the lack of access to food due to poverty, reset our collective compass in the direction The right to food forms part of United Na- other legal instruments recognize the right to we must dramatically change our production of true and sustainable food security for all. tions law. As such, UN international organi- adequate and nutritious food. models and consumption patterns. This is a One week ago we gathered in this same zations, including its financial organizations, In closing, I would like to thank my senior profound but inescapable challenge. chamber to discuss the international financial have an obligation to take into account as part advisor for food policy and sustainable devel- Both expert panels made it clear that we and monetary crisis and its impact on devel- of their decision-making process, the likely opment, Brother David Andrews, for working must move quickly away from monoculture opment with the world’s leading economists, impact policy options will have on the right with our larger community to bring together and return to polyculture of food production; trade and labor specialists. A few days later, to food. this pool of qualified and outstanding speak- that we must challenge the shortsightedness leaders of the world’s most developed econo- I am convinced we must break the tenden- ers. Let us continue this dialogue and press of producing food for cattle and cars; that we mies met in London to address the challenges cy to examine the crisis from a single per- at every level for the changes that will have can and must end the harm that profit-driv- of the world’s economic crisis. spective. I urge us all to take into account in- such a profound impact on all of us and our en production is doing to the quality of our Glaringly absent in the G20 discussions ternational legal obligations, emerging human dear Planet. food and our very lives; and we must tap the was the global food crisis, not to mention the rights law, the ethical and moral dilemmas in- Thank you. • enormous potential that resides with the ef- right to food. As compelling as the economic trinsic in choosing policy options, and how Source: http://www.un.org/ga/president/63/state- ficiencies and synergies of small-scale food crisis is, the food crisis strikes the most vul- emerging knowledge and technologies can be ments/closingfoodcrisis60409.shtml Page 4 Current Concerns No 7/8 27 April 2009 There is Enough for Everybody – But not of Everything by Gabriela Neuhaus With its demand for sustainable, small farm agriculture, the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for De- velopment Report of April 2008 caused quite a stir. Hans Herren*, Deputy Chairman to the International Assessment of Agricultur- al Science and Technology for Development, has since then been travelling around the globe to propagate badly needed changes in attitude – for example in agricultural poli- cies, but also with the consumers.

One World: How many people can the world feed sustainably? Hans Herren: Many people say that there is no limit – particularly as one reckons that we will be 2.5 billion more in 50 years and that the population will decline again afterwards. Already today we can produce enough – also for an additional 2.5 billion people, if one didn’t allow half of what is being produced to go to waste – and it has to be added, – what already today is being used up by cars. We can produce enough – but the question is how, «Agriculture at a Crossroads, The Global Report.» IAASTD, Islandpress, ISBN 978 1 597 239 3 where and at what price. meantime it is no longer in the headlines – centrate which is sold in the supermarkets of ternational Center of Insect Physiology and Ecolo- Which are the three most important points for how do you judge its effect from today’s point Nairobi, comes from Pakistan. The costs for gy (ICIPE) in Kenya for many years, where he devel- oped integrated Programs for the Health of Humans, securing sustainable global nourishment? of view? transport are too cheap; this is why it isn’t Animals, Plants and Environment. Since 2005, as Di- First, agriculture is important for the surviv- The interest has even increased: Today there worth to construct such a factory in Kenya or rector of the Millennium-Institute he has been com- al of humans, not only because of the food. are attempts to continue the work of the In- Sudan. This is a further problem: free trade mitted to working out programs and instruments Water, air, our entire environment needs ag- ternational Assessment of Agricultural Sci- doesn’t boost local economics. to reach the millennium goals in developing coun- riculture, because it secures the ecological ence and Technology for Development and to tries. Together with Judi Wakhungu from the Afri- can Center for Technology Studies, Hans Herren has system services. Second, we have to preserve institutionalise reporting about the develop- Do we have to take our leave from world also headed the Institute of Assessment of Agricul- a living area, in which people can be happy. ment in agriculture. In April 2008 the pres- trade? tural Knowledge, Science & Technology (IAASTD) That means, one wants a beautiful, diverse sure to act immediately was immense, in Global trade only works with cheap oil. Of during the last four years, which laid the basis for the environment and not only large corn or soy view of the acute hunger crisis. Unfortunate- course, it is nice to eat strawberries during International Assessment of Agricultural Science and fields in a deserted countryside. And third, ly non-sustainable methods to achieve food winter. But if one calculates the real costs, Technology for Development Report. we need an agriculture, which helps devel- security still have a very significant impact, one cannot afford this. Moreover, the re- oping countries to overcome poverty. This such as the supply of fertilizer and food aid. sources wouldn’t last, if everybody liked to Global Report means, that we in the northern hemisphere Particularly the industry is once more propa- consume like we do. If we want to help those The Global Report or IAASTD-Report should not produce surpluses with the help of gating genetic engineering as the solution for in the South to have a better life, we have to was originally initiated by the World direct subsidy payments, which flow into the future hunger problems. At the same time we be consequent and curtail our consumption. Bank to have – similar to the climate re- southern hemisphere and destroy the farm- know today, also from the experiences of the port – a comprehensive analysis of the ers’ existence there. Particularly in countries, green revolution, that such hunger cycles re- What does that mean precisely? situation as a basis for future develop- where the infrastructure is missing, it is ex- turn over and again, if one does not work sus- We have to live differently, for example to eat ments in agriculture. During the four tremely difficult to bring agricultural goods to tainably. less or no meat at all. With this a lot of land year process for the further develop- the market – and also the inputs don’t come could be saved. Furthermore there should be ment of the study, representatives of from the market to the fields. Here, the whole You plea for a small-scale farming, which more local production. However, one should interest groups participated from all cycle doesn’t work. All this is a question of works with the resources of nature. How can consider exactly, what is reasonable, as some affected areas, among others farmers, investment. enough be produced with this? local products cost more energy than prod- consumers and environment organiza- Important is that the farmers can make a liv- ucts from further away. Maybe we also need tions, private industry, as well as various What should one focus on? ing with their products, that the price is ac- a new label, which indicates how much a cal- UN organizations. The publication of the Farmers must be paid for their provision of ceptable for them. People have to get used to orie costs in a certain product. It is certain report in April 2008, caused headlines: services to the ecological system. With in- the fact that high quality nourishment costs that we have to act. Since if we continue as On the one side because at that time vestments in the improvement of the earth, for a little more. In the North we can well af- we acted up to now, it may perhaps go on for the wheat price was at its maximum at example with the storage of carbon dioxide, ford it, in the south this is different. Never- 10 or 15 years – our children will pay the the international stock exchanges and at the production could be increased enormous- theless it would be wrong to keep food pro- price for this. • the same time acute hunger crises were ly – with this the farmers would even dou- duce cheap there, because the farmers will imminent in various regions, but most ble the yield. Such measures can start to be remain poor. We must invest in the develop- Source: The article appeared in “One World”, No. of all because in its recommendations taken immediately. It is not necessary to do ing countries so that the consumers will find 1/2009, magazine of the Swiss Agency for Develop- ment and Cooperation, SDC. the report rejected industrial agricul- more research. work and have more money at their disposal: ture and the green genetic engineering, build streets, railways and industries, which and concluded that an agriculture based When the International Assessment of Agri- will transform agricultural products. Today * The Swiss Agronomist Hans Herren belongs to the worldwide leading scientists in the field of biological on small-scale farming would guarantee cultural Science and Technology for Devel- most of it is being sold and exported as raw plant protection. For his groundbreaking work in Af- a sustainable food security best. opment Report (IAASTD) was released in material. In Kenya for example, mangoes rot rica, he was awarded the famous World Food price April 2008, it met with great interest. In the under the trees, while the mango juice con- in 1995. Herren was among others Director of the In-

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© 2009. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. 27 April 2009 No 7/8 Current Concerns Page 5 Accusations With Regard to Israeli War Crimes Must be Investigated by Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine and Other Occupied Territories

On 23 March Richard Falk, the American mination on the part of the Palestinian peo- ing checkpoints, concrete blocks and fences to assess adequately the human rights situa- Professor of International Law and UN Spe- ple. etc. tion in any given country or area, and espe- cial Rapporteur on Palestine and Other Oc- Since I was denied entry into Israel in De- The combination of the construction of the cially where policies of occupation are under cupied Territories, gave his eagerly awaited cember 2008, in addressing these issues, I Wall, the settlement road network and the set- scrutiny from the perspective of internation- oral statement to the Human Rights Coun- have had to rely on reports by other sources tlements themselves greatly diminishes the al humanitarian law and human rights gen- cil in Geneva on the human rights situation concerning the situation in the West Bank. land available to the Palestinians and make erally. The precedent that was set in Decem- in the Gaza strip during the last war lasting The Israeli NGO Peace Now, issued a re- a viable Palestinian state much more difficult ber, when I was denied entry to Israel, should from Dec 27, 2008 to 18 January 2009. In port in March 2009 that details official plans to establish. be seriously challenged for the sake of both this report he blatantly expounded the gross for the extensive expansion of existing set- Also of concern are reports of increas- this mandate and more broadly, to ensure that violation of law by the Israeli Army during tlements including 73,302 housing units of ing settler violence directed at the Palestin- in future Member States accord appropriate the war in Gaza, which had lasted for 22 which 5,722 are in East Jerusalem, and the ian population and their property in the West respect and cooperation with special proce- days. Thereby he questioned the Israeli rea- rest in the West Bank. Bank. According to the Israeli human rights dures of the Human Rights Council as well soning that this had been a legitimate war On the basis of calculating four persons organization BTselem, there were 429 inci- as with other official United Nations missions of self defense and he demanded an inves- per house, this expansion plan would add dents of settler violence in 2008, which rep- and activities. • tigation into the question, whether the as- as many as 300,000 to the settler popula- resents a 75% increase over 2007. sault on Gaza, one of the most densely popu- tion, which is now estimated to be between There is also continuing concern about the lated areas in the world, had to be assessed 450,000 and 475,000. use of excessive force by Israeli Occupying as a war crime, for which Israel would be It is revealing that the maps showing the Forces in the West Bank, especially in re- Greece’s Actions Differ accountable. It is not the first time that an expansion indicate accelerated settlement sponse to non-violent demonstrations against From UN and NATO Israeli assault on the Palestinians was en- construction on both sides of Israel’s securi- the construction of the Wall. BTselem reports tirely disproportional and not at all in ac- ty wall unlawfully constructed on West Bank that 42 Palestinian residents of the West Bank An interview with Argyris Sfountouris cordance with the international law. After territory. were killed during 2008 by Israeli security Richard Falk’s clear statement the commu- As is well known, all settlement activity forces. Despite suspicious circumstances sur- Current Concerns: Greece is a member nity of states have to ask themselves for how is in violation of Article 49 (6) of the Fourth rounding many of these deaths, almost none of NATO and EU. Nevertheless, it has its long they want to look on without taking any Geneva Convention. Such activity is also in- of these incidents were investigated, there own point of view concerning the Palestine action against Israel’s mistreatment of Pal- consistent with pledges made by the Israel have been generally very few prosecutions question. Its government denied a German estinians. Government to the Quartet, and at the An- for abuse, and almost no convictions. ship carrying US weapons that berthed in napolis meeting of December 2007. The out- There are also a variety of concerns about a Greek harbour permission to transfer come of the recent Israeli elections accentu- the Palestinian future in East Jerusalem, and its freight to smaller ships. The ship was Mr President, Distinguished Members of the ates these concerns. allegations that Israel is engaged in a sub- made to leave the port. How is this firm at- Human Rights Council, Honoured Represent- Given this background, the trends with re- tle, but cumulatively very efficient, process titude to be explained? atives of Civil Society Organizations, Excel- spect to the settlements are deeply disturbing. to ensure Jewish demographic dominance of Argyris Sfountouris: In this question, the lencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In 2008 the settler population (not including the whole of Jerusalem. Independent observ- Greek government is greatly influenced by In my previous statement to the Council, I East/Jerusalem) increased by 4.7% (three ers have reported on the near completion of the public opinion. And the Greek popu- spoke about the desperate situation confront- times faster than the Israeli population in- the Wall which cuts through East Jerusalem lation has had a positive attitude towards ing occupied Gaza. Here, I will not repeat crease inside Israel), with the number of new (and also runs far inside Occupied Palestine the Arab world for decades now. You have what I already said concerning Gaza, except structures in West Bank settlements increas- if measured from the Green Line); the dem- to be aware of the fact that Greece has al- to take note of two important aspects of the ing 69% beyond the rate of settlement growth olition of Palestinian homes on the grounds ways maintained a good relationship and situation not covered in my main report. in 2007, disclosing a pattern of not only ex- of the absence of a building permits that are cultivated interrelations with the Arab First of all, the continuation of the block- pansion, but accelerated expansion. virtually impossible to obtain; discriminatory countries. There were close trade connec- ade of Gaza, despite its previous impact on This pattern raises the fundamental ques- taxing pro visions; reduced issuance of work- tions, and till the Nasser coup, hundreds the civilian population since the cease-fire tion as to how possibly could a viable inde- ing permits; and stricter enforcement of resi- of thousands of Greeks lived in Egypt and was established in January 2009, and despite pendent Palestinian sovereign state be estab- dence requirements that separate families liv- among other things dominated the cotton calls by many prominent international lead- lished on the currently occupied Palestinian ing partly in the West Bank. trade. Those are old traditions that contin- ers, including by Tony Blair, Special Envoy territories, which have by now been so sub- Particular concern, leading to protests and ue to have an effect. This fact became ap- of the Quartet for the opening of the cross- stantially transformed by the occupying demonstrations, has been expressed in rela- parent on the occasion of the Iraq War, as ings and the President of the United States. Power. Should not the United Nations ex- tion to the proposed demolition of 88 Pales- well. Greece was not willing to send troops Second, to take note of recent testimonies of press in strong terms its opposition to the set- tinian homes in the Silwan neighborhood of to Iraq. Only a hospital ship was provided Israeli soldiers that add credible confirmation tlement process? East Jerusalem scheduled for later in 2009. and nothing else. Of course, this also had to the allegations of Israeli war crimes asso- The settlement expansion also has negative The overall effect of these measures, as ap- to do with the war that offended interna- ciated with the 27 December and 18 Janu- effects on the freedom of movement of Pales- plied over a period of years, if not halted and tional law, with the UN not having given ary attacks. tinians. Currently, about one third of the West reversed, will effectively isolate East Jerusa- a mandate. Greece did not want to get its An unfortunate effect of recent preoccupa- Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem is lem from the West Bank. If continued, these fingers burned here as, due to its own his- tions with the desperate humanitarian plight inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit steps will lead to the further de-Palestiniza- tory, Greece is opposed to wars of occupa- of Gaza has been to neglect developments ad- issued by the Israeli Security Forces. These tion of the city and should arouse the con- tion. Greece has first-hand experience of verse to the human rights of the Palestinian permits are increasingly difficult to obtain. cern of the United Nations, and especially the the havoc an invading army can wreak. As people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition, the movement of most Palestin- Human Rights Council. to these armament supplies, Greece abso- These developments appear to have a serious, ians is excluded on 340 km of roads inside Finally, I would like to express the hope lutely does not want the Palestinians to get and perhaps, a decisive negative bearing on the West Bank, a road network on which Is- that I will be able to conduct a field mission the impression that we support Israel. the prospects of achieving peace between the raeli settlers are allowed free movement. Fur- to the occupied Palestinian territory before Also since the dictatorial regime (1967– Palestinians and Israelis, and deliberately ob- thermore, OCHA reports that 630 obstacles drafting my next report. Field visits are nec- 74) in Greece, the Greek have little faith struct the exercise of the right of self-deter- block internal Palestinian movement, includ- essary for all Special Rapporteurs to be able in the US. The archives were opened 35 years after the coup, and they confirmed what many had suspected: that certain CIA officers had been in direct contact with the colonels who led the coup d’état, at the same time bypassing the official CIA channels and the other secret servic- es. There was a secret plan for a coup con- cocted by the Johnson Government. All of this at that time surely had a connection with the six Days’ War, which started only a few days after the coup. The government had to be checked so that nothing uncon- trolled would happen. After that, the dicta- torial regime ruled Greece for seven years, although the US stood up for human rights and democracy everywhere else. That was clearly a plan concocted by the NATO and it was imposed on Greece as a NATO member. This explains the Greeks’ reser- vation against the US. And the weaker the government, the more allowance it has to make for public opinion. The last few gov- ernments were very weak regarding for- eign policy, because they had great prob- lems on the domestic front. Argyris Sfountouris, born 1940 in Greece, came to Switzerland as a war orphan in 1949. After his graduation as a physicist, he worked at first as a teacher and later in the Relief Or- ganization for Emergency Aid. A. Sfountouris The Wall, which cuts through East Jerusalem (and also runs far inside Occupied Palestine) is one measure that will lead to further de-Palestinization of is an expert on Greek politics. East Jerusalem. (photo ap) Page 6 Current Concerns No 7/8 27 April 2009

“My banker told me …” The American Revenue Authorities: Expansion of the Combat Area (on to Switzerland) Discussion with Luis Suarez-Villa, professor for economy at the University of California, Irvine

Luis Suarez-Villa made his doctorate in in- Swiss tradition of peace and respect ternational policy at the University of Cor- Hardly any other nation in the world with a “Mon banquier m’a dit …” nell. He is a professor at the University of population equal in size possesses a poten- (My banker told me …) California, Irvine, whose member he has tial comparable to Switzerland, as it is a pre- Who wants to destroy the banking center been since 1982. He specialized in innova- dominant world center for activities based on Switzerland? tive technology and its connections with so- knowledge and creativity. Discussions on the future of the banking cial changes, economic development and re- On the other hand, the Swiss understand- center Switzerland about the worldwide gional analysis. For a longer period of time, ing of government with its referendums and financial crisis, presented by David Laufer, Luis Suarez-Villa studied, taught and did re- other mechanisms seems to be much more with: search abroad, in particular in Europe, Asia democratic than any other state system so far. • Alain Berset, Member of the Swiss Coun- and Latin America. He also often co-oper- The Swiss tradition of peace and respect for cil of States, Fribourg, (Socialist Party) ates with the University of New York, the the other peoples is likewise crucial in this • Georges Blum, former CEO of the Union United Nations as well as Spanish and Bra- context. Peace and democratic government Bank of Switzerland (SBG) zilian universities. are crucial elements, in order to develop a • Michel Dérobert, Secretary General of healthy basis of inviolable resources, such as the Association of Private Bankers In the following long discussion, Luis Sua- creativity and new knowledge, which serve rez-Villa explains and criticizes the Ameri- human needs, respect nature and help to cre- • Matthias-Leonhard Lang, Director of a can tax system, which seems to be intended ate a better world in general. branch of the Swiss Credit Bank Ltd. to do harm to Swiss banks. With respect to • Christophe Reymond, Director of the certain Swiss banks and their expansionist Due to its own history, Switzerland depends Center Patronal Vaudois strategies, based on maximum risks without strongly on service professions, in partic- • Luis Suarez-Villa, Professor for Econom- any foresight, his criticism is not less moder- ular on financial services. Do we have to ics at the University of California ate. Luis Suarez-Villa also explains his theo- fear that, in view of the explosion of serv- (Editions Xenia, Vevey, Switzerland, 2008 This book has so far only been ry of technocapitalism1 which will enable the ice occupations all over the world, the fi- ISBN 978-2-88892-055-7) published in French reader to understand the latest changes in tra- nancial center Switzerland will lose part of ditional capitalism. its attraction? And how can it maintain its advantages, although confidence into the Maximizing profit by all means given themselves to unlimited speculation for Daniel Laufer: You invented the term of banks strongly suffered due to the current These concepts and models, which I cannot many years, without any prudence and under- “technocapitalism” which considers “invio- crisis? describe here in sufficient detail, which must standing of the risks. In doing so, the banks lable values” to be crucial. Could you briefly The banking center Switzerland is in danger however meet our entire attention, were taken have been gaining record profits for years, explain what you mean? if it neglects its roots and its Swiss cultural over by the major Swiss banks UBS and CS, and the directors of these banks were among Luis Suarez Villa: Technocapitalism refers to values. One of these fundamental values is when they established their associated compa- the best paid of all sectors. The compensation the meaning of inviolable values such as cre- the respect for personal privacy, which in- nies abroad, particularly in the USA. In prac- for these banks’ managers have amazingly in- ativity and knowledge. Technocapitalism di- cludes the financial privacy. Caution with re- tice and with respect to their consequences creased and often reached a six-hundredfold rects its activity particularly toward the un- gard to financial questions, which should be these models, their frameworks and templates of the wages of an employee in the manage- derstanding of research and its importance accompanied by the utmost understanding have led to a new strategic and management ment of these banks. for the new areas of interest for which the of any risk in all its dimensions, is a typical culture in the banking world. This new op- One of the results of this long lasting and 21st century will be symbolic. These areas in- feature of the Swiss. This means that they erational culture is based particularly on the wildly speculative insanity is the dramatic in- clude nanotechnology, genomics, bio-com- never do anything they do not understand crushing, almost coercive devotion to the max- crease of indebtedness on all levels: for the puter science, genetic engineering, the pro- with regard to the tools and investment imization of profits by all means, including the consumer, for the enterprises, for the govern- teomics, bio-pharmacy, bio-robotics and schemes. The recent losses by some of the most speculative ones. Thus, risks were sub- ments and for virtually all kinds of activities. molecular computer science, just to name a largest Swiss banks, including the loss of stantially underestimated and the financial pri- Speculating with debts seems to have therefore few. The importance of technocapitalism for some thousand jobs and the destruction of vacy of the customers was endangered. been one of the principal reasons for the eco- inviolable resources also covers services with the privacy of their customers which they The operational frameworks, based on nomic growth in the United States during the highly increasing value, which require good will be blamed for from now on, seem to these narrow and insufficient models, were last 20 years. This enormous amount of debt knowledge; they include for example the fi- point to a substantial negligence of certain thought up by the academic gurus of the now threatens both the American economy as nancial world, medical supplies, education Swiss values. American professional schools, often sold well as the American financial system. Today, and computer science. These services will be for millions of dollars, and then legitimized. the USA is the country in the world which is very strongly bound to the new areas. Med- Financial problems of Swiss banks Some of these gurus have made big money deepest in debt, a situation which is in com- ical treatments, for example, are increasing- originate from the USA out of this, by hawking around new vari- plete contrast to that of the 1950s. From a fi- ly connected with bio-pharmaceutics, nano- Large parts of the financial problems, which ants of these models and propagating them nancial point of view, the US is a bankrupt technology and genomics. As a consequence, Swiss banks are confronted with at present, by calling the respective approaches “best state. It need not be emphasized that the fi- a new kind of medicine is developing. Per- and the prestige damage done to them – as practice”. But they completely neglected the nancial deregulation of the USA was copied haps we could call it bio-medicine, support- enterprises dependent on the customers’ con- fact that these practices included high risks. by the remainder of the world and now many ed by genetics. fidence – originate from the USA. The US We have now become acquainted with these other states (and in fact the worldwide financial Although the prospect on these new areas megabanks’ strategies – and now also those models’ unreal hypotheses and their results as system) are threatened by the same problems, is very promising, it contains severely terrible of UBS and Credit Suisse (CS) – were based well as with the resulting strategies. They led which are at present threatening the American aspects. These aspects concern the unexpect- on certain conceptions and certain strategic to immense losses, which the American mega- economy and also its financial system. ed negative consequences, which are inherent models, which the US commercial thinks banks and the Swiss banks copying them, had This pile of debt, linked with the current fi- in many of these new technologies. Howev- tanks monopolized about 40 years ago. These to suffer as a consequence. It is not necessary nancial crisis, caused a sudden collapse of the er, the aspect of these new areas connect- concepts spread in the American commercial to specify that those, who propagated, sold US Dollar’s value. The collapse of the dollar ing them with the activities of multinational think tanks. or defended these risky models, have lost all supported the worldwide inflation. When the companies is particularly crucial and fright- They relied on the neoclassical econo- credibility as the worldwide financial system prices for food and gasoline increased dra- ening. Large-scale enterprises have captured my, in particular on tools, which can be de- is now sinking into crisis. matically, more than a billion people were these areas and their absolute priority – be- scribed as models and hypotheses of the driven into even greater poverty. The Amer- fore any other consideration – is usually ori- “general equilibrium”. These models, which Deregulation was the origin of an ican megabanks are jointly responsible for ented towards the greatest possible profit and became known in business circles at the be- enormous wave of financial speculation this unprecedented wave of speculation, the strengthening of their position. Therefore, ginning of the 1950s (in the USA), are very The broad application of these models, their which triggered off the current worldwide they tend to place profit over all human needs unsatisfactory, not only because of their in- work environment and the operational tem- crisis. They began to create innumerable new and thus often damage our health, nature and ability to measure or understand risks, but plates derived from them are closely con- investment tools in order to securitize debts, the environment, destroy cultural values and also because of their unreal hypotheses re- nected with the process of financial deregu- integrate rating agencies – which guaranteed corrupt politicians. This is shown quite plain- garding behavior and the decision making lation, which began in the 1980s in the USA. good evaluations for the tools they had cre- ly by the astronomically high number of dis- process of people. This financial deregulation was – when the ated – and in certain cases, by bribing con- putes and by the distrust of the population These models and the functions derived avalanche of the bank mergers and takeovers trol boards, so that they turned a blind eye towards many genetically manipulated phar- from them are at the core of economic sci- began – mainly responsible for the estab- on the most shocking bank practices. They maceutical products. Thus, technocapitalism ence training in the USA and are a central lishment of the American megabanks, while also spread financial deregulation all over the concentrates on the power of large companies component of the study programs of profes- existing adjustments were reduced. This de- world modeling on the US example by en- and on their crushing control of technology in sional schools, including the area of finance. regulation was also the trigger of an enor- couraging the governments to take over the the 21st century. They were taught to generations of commer- mous wave of financial speculation, when American kind of deregulation. Moreover, Due to its high educational level and the cial school graduates and are now an integrat- new unregulated and extremely risky tools they financed think tanks and made them good quality of its human resources, Swit- ing component of business practice within became objects of speculation without any publish reports and studies, which backed zerland represents a nation whose potential many areas, including finances. They are also restraint and without considering the con- the megabanks’ methods, without any con- for the generation of creativity and new know- taught worldwide, since the American kind sequences. Among these tools were secured sideration for the containing risks. While the ledge is enormous. This potential does not of management has spread all over the world debts, credit swaps, guaranteed debt bonds American financial deregulation continued only concern the new areas that will be typi- during the last two decades. These models and others. At the beginning of the current to increase, important Swiss banks looked cal for the 21st century, but also the well-es- served as templates for those concepts which crisis, the global value of credit derivatives across the Atlantic and tried to imitate the tablished services such as financing, medical determined the operational framework within alone was an estimated 520 trillion dollars. developing American megabanks. They (for support and education. Switzerland is there- nearly all areas of banking and finance. Their The heads of the megabank Citibank estimat- example UBS and CS) became megabanks fore very well positioned in order to be a very broad application in the banking world con- ed that within the next years probably they themselves, by imitating the American mega- important basis for all services that have to tributed much to today’s worldwide financial will have to write off 400 billion dollars. do with knowledge. crisis. En clair, this means that several banks have continued on page 7 27 April 2009 No 7/8 Current Concerns Page 7

Politics Is Largely Responsible for the Financial Crisis The German Finance Minister Steinbrück has been facing criticism for a long time by Karl Müller, Germany realm of the Federal Ministry of Finance […] a liquidity-side vulnerability” – as the Minis- or the Bundesbank (Federal Bank) have con- try of Finance stated in a convoluted manner tributed to the deplorable state of the Hypo in response to an inquiry by the FDP group Real Estate Holding AG (HRE), have aggra- on February 11, 2009. vated it or have led to an avoidable excess fi- nancial burden on citizens in the form of the Facts are not to become public acceptance of risks in connection with the until after the elections federal guarantee of now 87 billion euro or Yet, Federal Minister of Finance Peer Stein- in the form of probable excess burdens of the brück claims to have been informed about the federal budget.” dramatic situation at the HRE as late as Sep- tember 22, 2008. It is interesting that on Sep- What did the government tember 25 he was still on the high horse, as and Peer Steinbrück know? Zeit Online reported on September 29, call- In detail: the committee is to investigate “if, ing out in front of party colleagues: “The cri- to what extent and when the federal govern- sis of the financial market is mainly an Amer- ment, especially Minister Steinbrück, was in- ican problem.” Three big Germans financial institutions that have backed the wrong horse with billions of euros in formed about the HRE’s liquidity problems This was just a few days before the elec- the last few years. The current German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück was always involved. His involvment urgently requires clarification. (photos zvg) and, in connection with this, since when and tions in Bavaria, so the truth about the SPD to what extent the Ministry of Finance has politics and its Minister of Finance could not The Hypo Real Estate (HRE) is a German ment of the resolution until the parliament’s been informed by the BaFin [an authority for be the issue. investment bank financing real estate busi- post-Easter session. And there are only a few supervision of the financial market] about the Only on the day after the elections, on Sep- ness and the public sector which has lost bil- months left before the parliamentary elec- need to refinance the HRE or its daughters tember 29, it became public that 35 billion lions in speculations and, according to a re- tions when the report is due. which had been detected by the BaFin itself euros in guarantees had to be provided for cent investigation report, now has worthless or in inquiries performed by the Bundesbank, the HRE, 27 of which are taken from the fed- paper assets at a nominal value of 235 billion SPD delays investigating committee on […] since when does the Federal Govern- eral budget or from the tax payers. But if it euros appearing in its official balance sheet – Hypo Real Estate ment, especially the Ministry of Finance, is true that HRE’s claims in its former owner, this is 60% of its total balance sheet. So far, The conduct of the SPD contradicts the let- know that the claims originating from HRE’s the HypoVereinsbank which is now Italian- this bank has been kept alive with state guar- ter of the law on investigating committees (“if hiving off [from the HypoVereinsbank] have owned, have expired on September 28, then antees amounting to double-digit billions of one quarter of the members of parliament have expired on September 28, 2008 […]”. the date September 29 requires special atten- euro, that is by the tax payer’s money. applied for the institution, it has to be decid- These wordings are based on reports that tion – at least according to applicants for the But on the afternoon of March 26, the par- ed without delay”) and FDP politicians have as early as 2007 the bank supervision has investigative committee. liamentary group of the SPD in the German rightly brandished it as delaying tactics. urged to include the HRE holding Depfa, a The FDP group has long hesitated to join Bundestag has told the groups of the FDP, According to the March 26 motion, the daughter of HRE residing in Ireland which the initiative for an investigative commit- the Green Party and the Left Party that it is committee requested by the three party came in trouble while speculating mainly tee. Its change of opinion is justified with not yet willing to consent to the motion of the groups is to investigate not only the financial with financial certificates, in the German fi- the above-mentioned response to the FDP three parties to institute an investigating com- conduct of the HRE, but also the question “if nance supervision. In mid-January 2008, the group’s inquiry. On March 25, the leader of mittee regarding the financial conduct of the decrees, instructions, misjudgments, public bank supervision requested a finance and risk HRE. This maneuver resulted in the adjourn- comments, omissions or other acts within the report from HRE and found “indications for continued on page 8

“The American Revenue …” washed “repatriation” operations which are which often opposes the interests of the Refusal of war and aggression continued from page 6 nothing but kidnappings, including torture or banks. The bank bosses’ highest priority is Another value is Switzerland’s traditional banks’ firm purchases and control takeovers. even murder, are very expensive and must be to make profits but the politicians must pri- commitment to peace. This value includes This also meant that the privacy of the cus- paid. The American tax system is the main oritize common welfare and national inter- the refusal of war and aggression. Conquest, tomers was impaired and in certain cases was means to facilitate such procedures. ests. Politicians must be careful and support defeat and demands to other nations are bla- completely abolished. In order to get straight the cultural values, if these are threatened tantly antithetic to this value. Supporting war- access to the American market with the pur- The Swiss commitment is in complete by commercial interests. The common wel- leading nations, which conquer and impose chase of American investment banks such contrast to the US military machinery fare and commercial interests may some- their will upon other peoples, are equally an- as Paine Webber by the UBS and First Bos- It is to hardly necessary to state that the tra- times concur, but this is seldom the case. tithetic. Such a support can be prevented not ton by the CS, the Swiss banks had to sub- ditional Swiss commitment for peace and The problem is the balance of power, and only in diplomatic, political and cultural re- mit to the American requirements and sacri- respect for other peoples and cultures is in none of the two parties feels well with re- gard, but also in financial regard. It would be fice the financial privacy of their customers complete contrast to this enormous military gard to the other. important, for example, that Swiss banks do even in Switzerland. In 2003, the UBS and machinery and its expensive adventures. Nev- Sometimes, if the banks concentrate on not contribute to the support of those nations the CS had to reveal the data of their Ameri- ertheless, Swiss banks are applying US tax their major task, i.e. the profits, they can en- and tax systems which invest in aggression, can customers, in the framework of what the laws on Swiss ground. danger cultural values. When for example the conquest or the persecution of other peoples. American authorities today consider to be a Perhaps this helps us to understand bet- Swiss banks, which are active in the USA, be- The respect for other nations and their cul- tacit exchange of friendly gestures – and the ter why the American revenue offices use came informants and applied the American tax tures can also be regarded as a Swiss cul- American authorities agreed with the access methods similar to those of the intelligence laws on Swiss ground, it affected privacy as tural value. This is strongly connected with of these banks to the American market. Thus, agencies. Arresting, interrogating or bribing a Swiss value. And why did Swiss politicians the commitment of Switzerland for peace as Swiss banks to a certain extent transformed bank employees and systematically eval- accept this kind of taxation? Did they play the mentioned above. Such a respect is multidi- into an outpost of the American treasury in uating the data of all bank transactions all tune of profit, which the banks had hoped for, mensional. This includes for example that dif- Switzerland according to the requirements of over the world – are considered to be nor- in this case for their business in the USA? ferences in languages, history and traditions American authorities. mal practices, nowadays. The American rev- are respected. This value becomes obvious in enue offices believe that without exception You recently wrote in the “Tribune de the multilingual context of Switzerland and Playing the part of the world police seems all methods are permissible in order to pro- Genève”3 that in your opinion the unspeak- in the tribute to the different cultures, to its to be a very expensive venture cure ever more tax revenues. We must not able problems, affecting Swiss economics are history and its national identity. Why do the American authorities place such forget that the American people have never mainly to be attributed to the fact that those, A further value is the adherence to stand- demands? Contrary to nearly every other been directly asked for their opinion on any who caused them relied on “non-Swiss” prin- ards necessary for the human existence. These state of the world, the USA has an extra-ter- war, taxes or other important government ciples. Could you clarify this term? include medical supply, education and pub- ritorial tax system. This means that persons decisions. This seems to make a government It is difficult to synthesize the cultural val- lic security. The rights of employees are also residing in the USA, whether US citizen or like the US administration a very anti-demo- ues. Usually they are embodied in the laws counted among these standards. These stand- not, are assessable to the American govern- cratic system of government compared with and customs of a nation, sometimes very ards are usually provided by a general acces- ment, wherever in the world they are. Thus, the Swiss state system which draws on ref- clearly but often in a completely subtle way. I sibility. Supporting them also means not to it seems to be one of the principal purpos- erendums for every important decision. It is am willing to regard the respecting of priva- copy or imitate the models of other nations, es of the US authorities to receive from all hardly necessary to state that the lies, the cy as a very important Swiss value. This is a especially of those, who do not grant access to states and their banks the financial data of covering up and cheatings, which were used value with many facets, which – among other these facilities to entire parts of their popula- each individual, who is in any way connected in order to lie the American people into the things – are at the same time intellectual, fi- tion, deport or discriminate against them. The with the USA, even if the US must then vio- Iraq war would have hardly been possible or nancial and political. Be aware that I regard models pretending to deregulate or liberate do late these countries’ national legislation. Why would have been denounced, if the Ameri- privacy as being multidimensional and not very often destroy facilities for a large part of do the USA want to push through this exces- cans had been asked directly. Just like the limited to financial affairs. In the financial the population or in the end prevent access to sive and boundless control system and contin- Swiss people who are regularly asked for sector, privacy is probable the most impor- them. These prerequisites are closely connect- ue using it? Part of the answer is connected heir opinion on every important decision tant value, which supports the long-term vi- ed with social justice, which includes integra- with the military expenditure. The economist that is taken by the government. […] tality of the Swiss financial system, not only tion and poetic justice in social and legal af- and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz recently with external transactions, but also with in- fairs, as well as the possibility to support the estimated the costs of the US administration’s Do you think that the increasing complexity ternal transactions for the Swiss people. In human existence in a dignified manner. • 2 Iraq war 3 trillion dollars . Moreover, the US of the financial world and its mechanisms is the political arena, this is a value representing Source: Mon banquier m’a dit …. Chapter 1; military budget, wasting unbelievable sums, understood correctly by the political decision the Helvetian approach of democracy, which (Translation Current Concerns) swallows at least as many national resourc- makers? Don’t we risk that dabblers take im- includes the direct questioning of the con- es nowadays as it did during the years of the portant decisions in this financial crisis on stituency, very often by questioning them. It cold war. Playing the world police and en- things they do not understand? includes furthermore the right to one’s own 1 Cf www.technocapitalism.com forcing its interests where and whenever pos- The bank bosses constantly complain that opinions and political options, also in the pri- sible by the use of force seems to be a very politicians do not listen to them sufficient- vate sphere – which again has to do with the 2 This estimation was taken up widely by the media expensive venture. All these American mil- ly. Politicians must listen, but above all they personal dignity and identity – without seek- and is reason for strong arguments in the USA. itary adventures, the prisons and the white- must keep the common welfare in mind, ing an official agreement before. 3 Letter to the editor of 18 April 2008 Page 8 Current Concerns No 7/8 27 April 2009

The New US Budget: No Money for the People, but Trillions for the Banks and the War by Professor Dr Michel Chossudovsky, Canada cc. The following text contains essential parts of a larger article written by the Canadian economist Michel Chossudovsky. The com- Defence including Supplementary allocations (FY 2010) 534,0 bn plete text “America’s fiscal collapse” was published on 2 March 2009 on www.global- billion supplemental (FY 2010) 130,0 bn 739,5 bn research.ca. billion emergency funding (FY2009) 75,5 bn The stated priorities of the Obama economic package are health, education, renewable en- Bank bailout (TARP plus Obama)* 1450,0 bn ergy, investment in infrastructure and trans- portation. “Quality education” is at the fore- Net Interest 164,0 bn front. […] At first sight, the budget proposal has all the appearances of an expansionary Total 2353,5 bn program, a demand oriented “Second New Deal” geared towards creating employment, Total Individual (Federal) Income Tax Revenues (FY 2010) 1061,0 bn rebuilding shattered social programs and re- viving the real economy.[…] Total Federal Government Revenue (FY 2010) 2381,0 bn To reach these stated objectives, a signif- icant hike in public spending on social pro- TABLE 1 Budgetary allocations to Defence (FY 2009 and 2010), the Bank Bailout and Net Interests on the Public grams (health, education, housing, social security) would be required as well as the Debt (FY 2010) in $ Billions implementation of a large scale public in- Source: Bureau of the Budget and official statements. See a new era of Responsibility: The 2010 Budget. See also vestment program. Major shifts in the com- Office of Management and Budget (www.whitehouse.gov/omb und www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/) position of public expenditure would also be * required: i.e. a move out of a war economy, The officially announced bank bailouts to be financed from Treasury Funds. The timing of disbursements could take requiring a movement out of military related place over more than one fiscal year. The actual value of bank bailout cash injections is substantially higher. spending in favour of civilian programs. In actuality, what we are dealing with is the most drastic curtailment in public spending in American history, leading to social havoc and 2009) of $3.94 trillion, an increase of 32 per- posite. The bailouts contribute to financing quired to fund the handouts to the banks as the potential impoverishment of millions of cent. Total government revenues for the 2010 the restructuring of the banking system lead- well as finance defence spending and the mil- people. fiscal year, according to preliminary esti- ing to a massive concentration of wealth and itary surge in the Middle East war. The Obama promise largely serves the in- mates by the Bureau of Budget, are of the centralization of banking power. […] Obama’s budget envisages: terests of Wall Street, the defence contractors order of $2.381 trillion. The financial elites will use these large 1. defense spending of $534 billion for 2010, and the oil conglomerates. In turn, the Bush- The predicted budget deficit (according amounts of liquid assets (paper wealth), to- a supplemental 130 billion dollar appro- Obama bank “bailouts” are leading America to the President’s speech) is of the order of gether with the hundreds of billions acquired priation for fiscal 2010 for the wars in Af- into a spiralling public debt crisis. The eco- $1.75 trillion, almost 12 percent of the U.S. through speculative trade, to buy out real econ- ghanistan and Iraq, and a supplemental nomic and social dislocations are potential- Gross Domestic Product. […] omy corporations (airlines, the automobile in- $75.5 billion emergency war funding for ly devastating. Both the Bush and Obama bank bailouts dustry, Telecoms, media, etc.), whose quoted the rest of the 2009 fiscal year. Defence Obama’s budget submitted to Congress on are hand outs to major financial institutions. value on the stock markets has tumbled. spending and the Middle East war, with February 26, 2009 envisages outlays for the They do not constitute a positive spending in- In essence, a budget deficit (combined 2010 fiscal year (commencing October 1st jection into the real economy. Quite the op- with massive cuts in social programs) is re- continued on page 9

“Politics Is Largely …” sche Industriebank IKB, originally a bank for which 2 billions are financial write-offs due readiness to assimilate to the new US gov- continued from page 7 credits to medium-sized firms. In both cases, to speculation losses with “securities and de- ernment. SPD General Secretary Heil wants the tax payer has to account for drastically rivatives”. We see that German politics is not the party to run an election campaign with the FDP group in the Bundestag declared: wrong decisions with billions of euros. Two as innocent as it pretends to be! the trivial Obama slogan “Yes, we can.” In “The covering-up tactics of the federal gov- citations may serve to underline this: Back in the beginning of January the party’s chan- ernment compels us.” November 2007, Steinbrück had announced Free movement of capital – cellor candidate and current Federal Foreign that the rescuing of the IKB will be free of to the extreme Minister Steinmeier wrote an open letter to Covering-up tactics and charge for German tax payers (Handelsblatt, Which is not surprising in view of the dom- the newly elected President, which contains embarrassing self-praise November 29, 2007) – a downright lie. On inant ideology and practice: as reported by excessive hymns of praise: “You rekindled Indeed, reading the Finance Minister’s re- February 21, 2008, Ekkehard Wenger, profes- Zeit-Fragen on March 23, the undersecre- the American dream for which countless sponse to the FDP group inquiry, one finds sor for business economics, banking and cred- tary in the Ministry of Finance, Jörg As- people over the world have admired your little substance apart from embarrassing self- it services in Würzburg, appeared on N24 and mussen (“Steinbrück’s silent power bro- country for more than 200 years [...]. I am praise like: “The support measures have suc- accused the German Minister of Finance of ker”) has revealed in October 2006 in an now 53 years of age, and never before to my cessfully stabilized the financial system in “extreme hypocrisy” and demanded his res- article what he thinks about financial spec- recollection has there been such a feeling Germany.” ignation from his position as member of the ulations: A lot! In the Zeitschrift für das ge- of hope and confidence about the inaugura- There is, however, the treacherous phrase administrative board of the national Kreditan- samte Kreditwesen, he declared it would be tion of a US president [...]. You gave peo- that, according to the ministry, it was as late stalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) which holds a meaningful if “the German market for Asset ple, in the US and beyond, enthusiasm for as September 15 that the collapse of Lehman majority of IKB shares. Steinbrück had a to Backed Securities would develop stronger.” a new start towards a common future. [...] Brothers created a “tangible threat situation”. account for IKB’s failed speculations, Wenger The Minister of Finance should take care Together we can continue to shape the 21st As if everything had been just fine before Sep- said. And Ulrich Maurer, manager of the Left that “the banks are not burdened with un- century world [...]. Let us together set out a tember 15! And it is surprising that the current Party group in the Bundestag, said on April 4, necessary duties for examinations and doc- ‘New Transatlantic Agenda’ and bring it to deputy head of the supervisory board of the 2008: “Steinbrück’s efforts to present himself umentation if they invest in current ABS life. [...].” HypoVereinsbank, the bank which – if the op- as innocent in the IKB affair is an impudent products with good ratings.” Asset Backed 2009 is the year of the parliamentary position parties are right – had no obligations deception of the public.” And: “The federal Securities – also these with good ratings – elections (for the Bundestag). It can be as- towards the HRE after September 29, took part government has used the state-owned KfW are highly speculative financial products sumed that the SPD wishes for moral sup- in the negotiations regarding the HRE bailout. as its main lever to push the trade in credit and have contributed significantly to the port when pitting on Obama. However, what A press declaration from the FDP group certificates. There is every indication that it current disaster. are Obama’s aims? For what US American dated March 26 reads: “Thanks to state guar- used its dominance in the IKB towards this And if we think back even further: It was aims the SPD should be roped in? For the antees of 87 billion euros, the HRE is being goal. The KfW was the lever, the IKB was the the EU which was the worldwide vanguard irresponsible spending policy, which is first kept alive. The opposition blames the gov- spearhead; Asmussen was responsible for this with its regulations for a radical free move- and foremost for the benefit of the financial ernment also for having overlooked payment project in the ministry.” ment of capital, one of the roots of the cur- community and the military industrial com- deadlines, with detrimental effect for the tax rent malaise. And it was the SPD/Green Party plex (see Current Concerns, 30 March ) For payer. In addition, the question arises if Min- Investigation reports not wanted government Schröder/Fischer who lifted all future wars? For keeping up the supremacy ister of Finance Peer Steinbrück (SPD) has Meanwhile, 90 percent of the IKB shares barriers for financial speculations which were of the USA? With the SPD as the leader of a known earlier about the bank’s liquidity is- have been sold dirt cheap to the US-Ameri- effective until then. German vassal superpower. sues.” End of September, Steinbrück had also can finance investor Lone Star. As the ARD The Democratic US government under Bill Against many votes in her own party and weakened the chances of the bank to obtain reported on March 26 (http://boerse.ard. Clinton did the same. The present Secretary her political camp, Angela Merkel fully sup- new credits to pay off its current debts with his de), with its voting majority in the share- of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, as well ported her Finance Minister. At the same time wording that the HRE would be liquidated. holder meeting and against the wishes of as the director of the White House National she attacked the FDP, which probably led to the small shareholders, Lone Star has now Economic Council under Obama, Lawrence the FDP’s desicion to support the installation Wrong decisions, neglect, subterfuges – stopped any further investigation into the Summers were active in this sense under of an investigative commission in the Ger- Steinbrück is costing the tax payer bil- causes and responsibilities for the IKB dis- Clinton. Michel Chossudovsky has drawn at- man parliament. lions of euros aster. It is said that the current investigation tention to this in an article “Who are the Ar- Does Angela Merkel want to remain in It is unlikely that the allegations of the op- was stopped short just as tangible results chitects of Economic Collapse?” in Current power in a renewed grand coalition as an ac- position parties are entirely unfounded. One were imminent… Concerns (No. 13/14, November 2008). complice of US policy? There are a lot of has to keep in mind that the same Peer Stein- Spiegel Online reported on March 27 that questions which are worth thinking about. • brück has been confronted with allegations of the state-owned KfW, after a loss of 6.2 bil- SPD trails Obama – whereto? severe neglect in connections with supervising lion euros in 2007, had also closed the fiscal Actually the German Social Democratic the Westdeutsche Landesbank and the Deut- year of 2008 with a minus of 2.7 billions, of Party (SPD) demonstrates a high level of 27 April 2009 No 7/8 Current Concerns Page 9 La ministra indonesia de salud exige dignidad, equidad y transparencia para todos los países del mundo por Eva-Maria Föllmer-Müller y Stefan Keller

países en desarrollo, por parte de los países Indonesia occidentales. NAMRU2 Por ejemplo, la OMS exigió del gobierno El 24/4/08 podía leerse en «Jakarta Indonesia con 237,5 millones de hab- indonesio, que para combatir el virus, hiciera Post», que justamente ese laborato- itantes es, por su población, una de posible que la población tenga acceso a una rio exigía la inmunidad para todos sus las cuatro naciones más grandes del cantidad suficiente del medicamento Tamiflu. colaboradores. Si bien Michael Leavitt mundo. Está formada por 13 hasta Con gran esfuerzo, el gobierno puso a dispos- viajó personalmente a Indonesia, el go- 17 mil islas y 33 provincias; 21 de ellas ición el dinero necesario. Pero, sin embargo, bierno de Indonesia dió su conformidad estuvieron atacadas por la gripe aviar no se pudo comprar el medicamento, porque sólo limitadamente. En lugar de ello, el en 2005. Para Indonesia, las aves son las existencias disponibles las habían com- ministro del exterior indonesio, Eddy la fuente principal de proteínas. Según prado, en su totalidad, los países ricos como Pratomo, exigió completa transparen- datos de la FAO (18.3.08), 20% de las reserva (90% de la vacuna está en manos de cia. Indonesia debía tener acceso a todas aves (14 mil millones) están repartidas un 10% de la población mundial). las investigaciones y a sus resultados. Se en más de 30 millones de gallineros. La Después de esa experiencia, Dr. Supari sospechaba que el laboratorio traba- situación es crítica aún hoy. Desde el llegó a la conclusión de que su país debía jaba para los servicios secretos. Los lab- comienzo de la gripe aviar, se tuvieron tomar sus propias medidas. En el prólogo oratorios NAMRU2 estaban sobre todo que matar 9,5 millones de aves (patos, de su libro escribe Dr. Supari: «El caso de al servicio del personal militar de EE.UU. ganzos, pollos, codornizas). la gripe aviar necesita, además, nuestra firme que estaba allí estacionado. En abril de resolución de defender la soberanía del país, 2008, Siti Supari suspendió la transfer- y de la República de Indonesia. Pasando por encia del virus al laboratorio NAMRU2, nialistas de privar a su país, y también a otros alto la mayoría de la población, centros que hasta que éste estuvo dispuesto a com- países en desarrollo, de su soberanía, sus trabajaban conjuntamente con la OMS, en- partir sus resultados investigativos con derechos y su dignidad. Ella denuncia, que tregaron pruebas de virus de gripe, (y otros), Indonesia y los demás país es, para que los países industrializados tratan a los país- provenientes de Indonesia, a firmas de los éstos pudieran producir sus propias va- es en desarrollo de manera desigual, y exige países industriales. Éstas por su lado, desa- cunas. Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari, PhD: It’s time for the transparencia para la entrega y la posterior rrollaron vacunas a partir de esos virus, para World to Change – In the spirit of dignity, equi- elaboración de los virus. después venderlas nuevamente, a altos preci- ty and transparency – Divine Hand Behind Avian Ella describe cómo el gobierno indone- os, a los países pobres y en desarrollo que es- A raíz de su iniciativa, muchos países aún Influenza, ISBN 978-979-17357-0-4; la forma sio, conjuntamente con la sociedad, encarar- taban afectados por esos virus.»(Pag. xi). más pobres y países en desarrollo, tomaron más rápida de obtener el libro es directamente de la editorial: PT. Sulaksana Watinsa Indonesia on con mucho cuidado todo lo referente a la coraje y pudieron unirse a la iniciativa indo- gripe aviar en su país, y tomaron las medidas Iniciativa indonesia contra nesia. «Con la esperanza de un mundo más (SWI), Tel./fax: +62 21 866 141 25, Mobile Phone: el monopolio occidental de investigación +62 81 881 31 54, email: [email protected] necesarias para frenar su propagación. sano y más justo, todos aceptaron un acuer- Después de una larga lucha, logró final- do, para que no haya una explotación de un Incansable contra el trato desigual mente poner en marcha en la administración país por el otro, (exploitation de l’homme par La ministra indonesia de salud Dr. Siti Fa- de los países en desarrollo del sistema internacional de salud – patro- l’homme), cuando se trata de la salud en el dilah Supari* publicó su importante libro en Como ministra de salud de su país, al co- cinado por la OMS y el World Health As- mundo. No debe permitirse un sistema, que 2007, en Indonesia; desde el año pasado hay mienzo se atuvo exactamente a las instruccio- sembly (WHA) – un proceso de reestruc- haga posible, que a los países pobres afecta- una edición en inglés. nes de la OMS con respecto a la gripe aviar. turación, para lograr mayor equidad, un dos por la epidemia, se les cuestione el dere- En su libro Siti Fadilah Supari describe la Pero a la vez, al ocuparse de la gripe, se fue tratamiento más leal con todos los países, y lucha contra la OMS, y los empeños neocolo- dando cuenta del tratamiento desigual de los más transparencia. Continuación página 10

“Swiss Society Despises Power …” serve fund to finance universal health care. At “My father’s condition continued from page 8 first sight, it appears to be a large amount. But various supplemental budgets, is (official- it is to be spent over a ten year period, - i.e. a is worsening by the day” ly) of the order of 739.5 billion. Some esti- modest annual commitment of 63.4 billion. mates place aggregate defence and military Public spending will be slashed with a An urgent call to help Tariq Aziz related spending at $1 trillion+. view to curtailing a spiralling budget deficit. cc. The following letter from Ziad Aziz, sugar, measuring blood pressure, and ad- 2. A bank bailout of the order of $750 bil- Health and education programs will not only the son of the former foreign minister of ministering drugs, which brings me to the lion announced by Obama, which is added remain heavily underfunded, they will be Iraq, Tariq Aziz, to a British-Iraqi living fact that my father has lost a lot of weight on to the 700 billion dollar bailout money slashed, revamped and privatized. The likely in the United Kingdom was sent to us a during his imprisonment, which means already allocated by the outgoing Bush outcome is the outright privatization of pub- few days ago: that the dose of the drugs he is taking administration under the Troubled As- lic services and the sale of State assets in- should be changed regularly due to his sets Relief Program (TARP). The total cluding public infrastructure, urban services, Dear Sir, weight change, which never happened. of both programs is a staggering 1.45 tril- highways, national parks, etc. Fiscal collapse As for legal and family visitation lion dollars to be financed by the Treas- leads to the privatization of the State. In regard to your reply to our letter, it is rights, the U.S. forces have asked the all ury. It should be understood that the ac- The fiscal crisis is further exacerbated by my sad duty to inform you that you infor- the lawyers, my father’s lawyer among tual amount of cash financial “aid” to the the compression of tax revenues resulting mation are inaccurate or perhaps you are them, to leave the green zone in which banks is significantly larger than $1.45 tril- from decline of the real economy. Unem- ill-informed on the matter. they were residing, which made it virtu- lion. (See table 2 below). ployed workers do not pay taxes nor do bank- My father, Mr. Tariq Aziz, has been ally impossible for the lawyer to visit my 3. Net Interest on the outstanding public debt rupt firms. The process is cumulative. The so- held in U.S. custody in camp cropper for father or even to attend the trial for fear is estimated by the Bureau of the Budget) lution to the fiscal crisis becomes the cause of more than 6 years till this date and he suf- on his life. As you may well know that at $164 billion in 2010. […] further collapse. […] fers several life threatening diseases that the lives of the lawyers who defend high Is the Treasury in a position to finance this require constant, highly sophisticated and ranking officials like my father are con- The Budget Deficit mounting budget deficit officially tagged at immediate medical attention. stantly threatened, and indeed many of These three categories of expenditure (De- 1.75 billion through the emission of Treasury Camp Cropper, as you may well know, them were killed, some even in their of- fence, Bank Bailout and Interest on the Pub- bills and government bonds? The largest budg- is basically a holding facility, in which fices, under U.S. protection, so I would lic Debt) would virtually swallow up the en- et deficit in US history coupled with the low- high-value prisoners are being held in the like you to try and imagine the situation tire 2010 federal government revenue of est interest rates in US history: With the Fed’s custody of the U.S. forces. It is highly in- now without U.S. protection and outside 2381.0. billion dollars. […] “near zero” percent discount rate, the markets accurate to say that a holding facility, i.e. the safety of the green zone. Moreover, as a basis of comparison, all for US dollar denominated government bonds a prison, of any kind can provide “state of As for the trial, I invite you to watch the revenue accruing from individual feder- and Treasury bills are in straightjacket. […] the art medical car” for any sort of condi- the proceedings as it is shown on Iraqi al income taxes ($1.061 trillion), (FY 2010) Who wants to invest in US government tion or disease. TV. I invite you to watch this mockery namely all the money households across debt? What is the demand for Treasury bills For example, my father fell during of justice where impartial judges show America pay annually in the form of feder- at exceedingly low interest rates? taking a shower 2 years ago, and fearing and admit unequivocally that they have al taxes, will not suffice to finance the hand- The market for US dollar denominated debt that he had suffered a stroke, the moved grudges against the defendants. In any outs to the banks, which officially are of the instruments is potentially at a standstill, which him to the air base in Balad (200 kilom- civilized and truly democratic country, order of $1.45 trillion. This amount includes means that the Treasury lacks the ability to eters north of Baghdad) to perform a C.T. and in any court that abides itself to the the $700 billion (granted during FY 2009) finance its mammoth budget deficit through scan. law, these judges would be immediately under the TARP program plus the proposed public debt operations, leading the entire I am sure, even to a layman, that it is removed from the case and disciplined $750 billion granted by the Obama adminis- budgetary process into a quandary. […] obvious that if someone had suffered a before an ethics committee. Add to that tration. […] The mainstream media suggests that the stroke, he or she cannot wait to be trans- frequent verbal and physical abuse and TARP is but the tip of the iceberg. A panoply banks are being nationalized as a result of ported into a hospital 200 kilometers denying the defendants their legal right of bailout allocations in addition to the $700 TARP. In fact, it is exactly the opposite: the away. My father, a 72 year-old man, is of challenging their accuser and the evi- billion were decided upon prior to Obama as- State is being taken over by the banks, the in danger of having a stroke plus having dence presented to the court. suming office. In November, the federal gov- State is being privatized. The establishment several other diseases. I apologize for the lengthy reply but ernment’s bank rescue program was estimated of a worldwide unipolar financial system is The medical care you are referring to we are facing desperate times, and my fa- at a staggering 8.5 trillion dollars, an amount part of the broader project of the Wall Street is nothing but a doctor who visits the de- ther’s condition is worsening by the day. equivalent to more than 60% of the US public financial elites to establish the contours of a tainees every once in a while and per- debt estimated at 14 trillion (2007). world government. • forms basic check-up, like testing blood Ziad Aziz Meanwhile, under the Obama budget pro- posal, 634 billion dollars are allocated to a re- Source: www.globalresearch.ca, 2 March 2009 Page 10 Current ConcernCurrents – ConcernsLa página en español No 7/8 27 April 2009

«La ministra indonesia …» Comenzó una dura lucha a nivel Continuación de la página 9 internacional. Supari comprobó que el secretariado de la OMS, cho sobre sus propios virus con el fin de sacar por cuenta propia, había tachado ganancias: a través de una comercialización un pasaje en las normas para el muy bien pensada, con los virus de los países intercambio de virus, desde 2005 pobres se elaboran la vacunas. (Pag. xii) hasta 2007. Este pasaje regula- Ella agrega: «El mundo sabe que no se ba el intercambio del material de trata de ganar o perder diplomáticamente. virus, de manera tal que las cepas La lucha contra la gripe aviar es la lucha por quedaran en posesión del país de mantener la dignidad humana. El compromi- proveniencia (Material Transfer so en la lucha contra esa epidemia, nos puede Agreement, MTA). […] «Según llevar a perder nuestra vida; pero la avaricia mi opinión, ésto ha sido una trans- y la mala administración del sistema mundial gresión extrema del derecho, o in- de salud, llevan con seguridad, al exterminio cluso un crímen, cometido por una de la raza humana.» (Pag. xxi) organización que debería tener Cuando se llegó a la conclusión de que el una administración impecable.» virus de la gripe en Indonesia es un virus muy (Pag. 61) La OMS se puso por en- agresivo, para Sra. Supari fue claro el mecan- cima de WHA. Dra. Supari, con ismo: Su país debía entregar el virus al Glo- razón, llama la atención sobre esa bal Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN); injusticia. éstos se lo entregaban a uno de los WHO Col- laborating Centers (WHO-CCs) quienes, en ¿Manejos criminales de la sus laboratorios, elaboraban a partir del virus Dr Siti Fadilah Supari on the opening of the High Level Meeting in Jakarta. OMS? una vacuna, que luego vendían por altos pre- El 28 de marzo de 2007, la Dra. cios en los países ricos. WHO-CCs son lab- Supari organizó dos High-Level- oratorios que trabajan conjuntamente con la Meetings (HLM) con países que OMS, y en Australia, Japón, Gran Bretaña y nos faltaba la tecnología y el dinero para hac- WHO-CCs, era enviado directamente a Los piensan de manera similar. En el discurso de EE.UU. son reconocidos como laboratorios erlo.» (Pag. 10) Alamos National Laboratory en New Mexico. apertura presentó sus exigencias. de referencia. Allí había pocos investigadores que podían in- El día anterior, en un High-Level-Tech- Con la entrega del virus, el país pierde Decisiones apresuradas vestigar sobre las secuencias de DNA. nical-Meeting que ella había convocado, ya todos sus derechos de posesión y el virus de- y erróneas de OMS había logrado un consenso para hacer nec- saparece de su control. En caso de una epi- Otro tratamiento desigual de su país por parte ¿… para vacunas o armas biológicas? esario un nuevo procedimiento para el in- demia, los países que han entregado el virus, de la OMS, lo describe en relación con los Los Alamos es el laboratorio en el que se tercambio de virus: «No podemos contin- estarían, junto con los otros países pobres, en llamados «cluster cases». Indonesia tiene investiga sobre armas biológicas, quími- uar, sin mostrar nuestra esperanza, que así inferioridad de condiciones, ya que los país- la mayor cantidad de casos de gripe (clus- cas y atómicas. «Me escandalizó profunda- como fue convenido con la OMS, un pro- es ricos son los favorecidos. Esta experiencia ter cases) dentro de una familia en todo el mente. Yo sabía que el laboratorio de Los grama para la transmisión de virus sea uti- la vivió Vietnam: Después de haber enviado mundo. En Tanah Karo, 7 de 8 miembros en Alamos está bajo el control del ministerio de lizado con responsabilidad; es decir, exclu- su virus H5N1 a la WHO-CCs no supo más las familias, estaban infectados con el virus. energía. Fue justamente en ese laboratorio sivamente para poder calcular riesgos, y no qué pasó con él. Los expertos de la OMS, sobre todo epide- donde en 1945, se desarrolló la bomba ató- para una producción comercial de vacunas, «Desde 1952, los 110 países en el mundo miólogos, llegaron a la conclusión, apresu- mica para destruir Hiroshima. Es de suponer sin saber de qué país provienen las pruebas. en los que la gripe corriente, típica de una rada y sin consulta, que la acumulación de que utilizan la misma instalación para inves- Debo tomar esta posición, porque es im- estación del año, estaban obligados a en- los casos de gripe en Tanah Karo, era provo- tigar y producir armas químicas. Un hecho portante señalar que los países en desarrol- tregar pruebas de virus incondicionalmente. cada por el contagio de persona a persona. terrible. lo deben tener asegurado un acceso equita- Los virus tomados por GISN se denomina- Así se presentaron con un arrogante state- Los datos sobre las secuencias de DNA del tivo a la vacuna H5N1. Hasta ahora está en ban virus salvajes, y las pruebas pasaban a ment en la prensa local e internacional, lo virus H5N1 estaban a disposición exclusiva manos de un 10% de la población concen- ser propiedad de GISN. Los expertos traba- cual, para la opinión pública en el mundo, de los científicos en Los Alamos. Si los utili- trada en Europa y Norteamérica, y esa parte jaban con ellos para la investigación y eval- significaba que la terrible epidemia de gripe zaron para desarrollar una vacuna o un arma del mundo tiene el 90% de la capacidad de uación de riesgos. Pero parte de ellos, se uti- aviar había comenzado. Ésto hubiera tenido química, eso depende de las necesidades y los producción para la vacuna contra la gripe. lizaban para elaborar virus de cultivo (seeds devastadoras consecuencias para la nación In- intereses del gobierno de EE.UU. De hecho, Quiere decir, que en caso de una crisis, la virus);de esos virus de cultivo, se desarrol- donesia, y el país hubiera quedado aislado. es una situación muy peligrosa para el desti- mayoría de los países en desarrollo no ten- laba después una vacuna. El problema era, Supari describe cómo comenzó a defend- no de toda la humanidad.» (Pag. 19) drían acceso a la vacuna durante y probable- que esas vacunas producidas comercial- erse: «Primero envié una indicación bien Supari supone, con razón, que la cepa de mente tampoco después de la primera fase mente, se vendían por todo el mundo - tam- clara a la OMS en Indonesia, porque ésta virus enviada desde Indonesia a la OMS, tam- de una epidemia. Por eso, debemos orientar bién en los países de los que provenían esos había dado un informe inseguro, que para In- bién puede haber sido transferida a Los Alam- nuestros esfuerzos hacia la búsqueda de mé- virus salvajes; pero los precios, eran fijados donesia podía tener terribles consecuencias. os para producir armas biológicas. El remitente todos efectivos para la producción y repar- en los países industrializados. Por supuesto […] Segundo, pregunté sobre la secuencia de nunca se enteró del destino de sus pruebas. ¿Se tición de vacunas contra epidemias; para que esos altos precios tenían solo el objetivo DNS del virus proveniente de Tanah Karo, enviaron a una institución comercial, para de- ésto deben tenerse en consideración los as- económico, sin considerar el aspecto social que fue entregado al WHO-CCs. […] Terce- sarrollar una vacuna que necesitaban los país- pectos técnicos, económicos y humanitari- y moral. Las típicas características del capi- ro, exigí de la OMS Indonesia, que corrigi- es afectados? ¿Se enviaron a empresas comer- os, para que estemos realmente preparados talismo.» (Pag. 11) era las noticias en CNN, de lo contrario pre- ciales, o a algún lugar donde se las elaboraba mundialmente.» (Pag. 180) Dr. Supari comenzó a defenderse contra sentaría demanda en las Naciones Unidas.» en armas biológicas?» (Pag. 13) ese tratamiento desigual: «Cada vez que miro Despúes, Supari realizó una conferencia de Cuando preguntó sobre los datos del virus Un primer paso hacia el pasado, veo las sombras del imperial- prensa, en la que ella misma corrigió este in- de Tanah-Karo que había enviado por medio para la protección de todos ismo, que había robado una parte de nuestras forme apresurado. de la WHO-CCs, llegó a saber por internet En el encuentro a alto nivel, tomaron parte reservas, porque no tenemos la tecnología Con el resultado del análisis de la DNA que el laboratorio de Los Alamos había cer- ministros de salud, altos representantes y necesaria para explotarlas nosotros mismos. de un laboratorio escogido por Supari – el rado. ¿Pero adónde fueron a parar las cepas funcionarios de 12 países afectados, otros Era como si tuviera que presenciar cómo ex- Eijkman Institut in Indonesia, dirigido por de virus? Una parte de los datos fue a la 23 países industrializados y en desarrollo, traían gran parte de nuestro petróleo, porque el Prof. Sangkot Marzuki (no reconocido Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influen- así como países productores de vacunas y por la OMS), ella tuvo la prueba de que el za Data (GISAID) y el resto a la Bio Health otros representantes de intereses, entre ellos ¿Armas biológicas virus H5N1 de Tanah Karo era sólo una var- Security (BHS). Supari también llegó a saber la OMS. El encuentro finalizó con la «Jakarta iante más agresiva, y que el contagio de per- que muchos de los investigadores y del per- Declaration on Responsible Practices for sha- de Los Alamos? sona a persona no podía ser confirmado; a sonal de Los Alamos ahora estaban en BHS. ring Avian Influenza Viruses and Resulting Uno de los jefes investigadores del pesar de ello, esa información fue ignorada Ella se preguntó si BHS es un centro de in- Benefits». En ésta se exige que toda la pro- ministerio de defensa, Isro Samiharjo, y mantenida en secreto por los científicos y vestigación para desarrollar armas biológi- blemática se discuta entre los países miem- informó que el gobierno de EE.UU. uti- la OMS. cas, bajo control del Pentágono. «Si fuera bros de la WHA. El 14 de mayo de 2007, tuvo liza Los Alamos para el desarrollo de así, eso significaría que el juego se sigue lugar en Ginebra el decimosexto encuentro de Virus para Los Alamos … armas biológicas. Isro apoyó las afir- jugando en otro lugar bajo otro nombre.» WHA, cuyos resultados fueron fijados en la maciones de Supari y dijo, que las mis- Si bien los científicos en su país están muy (Pag. 21) Resolution WHA 60.28. En un encuentro im- mas pruebas pueden utilizarse para el bien, o incluso mejor formados profesional- Antes de las negociaciones con la OMS, portante del gobierno el 20 de noviembre de desarrollo de armas. Agregó además, mente, no son tratados igual que los de los paí- Supari pudo comprobar su suposición por 2007, todos los países acordaron, que para que en los años 80 hubo una situación ses industrializados: así, el ministro de salud medio de la directora general de la OMS, Dr. GISN no hay cabida en la OMS. similar cuando parásitos atacaron nu- de EE.UU. Michael Leawitt le había prome- Margret Chan: «Lo que usted dijo en su in- El libro de la Dra. Supari muestra de forma merosos campos de arroz, e Indonesia tido a Indonesia una donación de 3 millones forme es realmente cierto. Había un criminal sensible y patente, cómo una mujer, con su – hasta hoy – debe importar semillas de dólares, pero el país no vio ni un solo dólar. en la OMS, quien envió las cepas de virus actitud consecuente de exigir equivalencia de arroz. Isro dijo, que las armas bi- Durante una visita de la ministra del exterior, o los datos sobre ellos a Los Alamos. Pero en todo sentido, encuentra el camino hacia la ológicas pueden utilizarse para que un Condolezza Rice, Supari se enteró de que el ahora se frenó, Sra. Ministra.» «Por favor igualdad y dignidad para su país, atravesando país pase a ser dependiente de otro - dinero fue entregado a NAMRU2 (US naval ayúdeme a mí y a David Heymann. Nosotros estructuras antidemocráticas, neocolonialis- una situación que se denomina «impe- medical research unit 2) con la justificación tomamos el sistema de nuestros predecesores, tas y de sumisión. Se tuvo que imponer frente rialismo cubierto». «Existe claramente de que ese laboratorio, conjuntamente con el y yo espero que lo pueda cambiar, Madame» a todos los intentos del mundo occidental y una conspiración» agregó, y argu- ministerio de salud de Indonesia, investigaba agregó. (Pag. 129) del potencia mundial EE.UU., para lograr fi- mentó después sobre la participación sobre el virus H5N1. El NAMRU2 en Indone- A principios de diciembre de 2006, el go- nalmente, con duras negociaciones, el cambio de los Estados Unidos en el desarrollo sia, es una unidad de un laboratorio fuera de bierno de Indonesia decidió interrumpir la de paradigma: Del viejo paradigma que puso de armas biológicas. Según Isro, con el EE.UU. y tiene 175 colaboradores, entre ellos entrega de sus virus a la OMS y a los labo- a la humanidad en una situación peligrosa, desarrollo inevitable de esas armas, el 19 norteamericanos. ratorios conectados con ella, mientras éstos hacia el nuevo paradigma que trajo bienestar ministerio de defensa de Indonesia y Un capítulo importante en su libro trata de siguieran los oscuros mecanismos de GISN. para la mayoría de los seres humanos. su sección para potencial de defensa, un laboratorio secreto en Los Alamos. En sus En lugar de eso exigió transparencia, para A mediados de mayo de 2009, se lleva a se concentró en la defensa biológica. investigaciones sobre el destino de las secuen- que los países gravemente afectados por la cabo la sesión No. 62 de WHA en Ginebra. Fuente: «Jakarta Post» del 16/3/08 cias de DNA del virus H5N1, descubrió que gripe aviar pudieran sacar provecho de la en- Queda aún suficiente tiempo para leer el im- el material genético, a través de la OMS y la trega de virus. portante libro de la Dra. Supari. • 27 April 2009 No 7/8 Current Concerns Page 11 Medición de radiactividad en muestras de suelo de Serbia, Segunda parte Un tribunal en Florencia condenó al Minis- protección, ni en Somalia en 1993, ni en la 1977/78 – llevado a cabo por el Airforce Ar- Horizons et débats, a comienzos del año terio de Defensa italiano a una indemniza- guerra de los Balcanes, siendo que estaban mament Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base pasado, encomendó a dos expertos para que ción por daños y perjuicios a un soldado en- informados sobre los reglamentos norteam- Florida – se promete poner a disposición los examinen con profundidad pruebas del suelo fermo a causa del uso de municiones con ericanos sobre el manejo con problemas con resultados con respecto a la protección del en Serbia. Horizons et débats publicó los re- uranio empobrecido en Somalia. Los juec- uranio. personal militar que examina esas armas o sultados en julio de 2008. Son espantosos. Y es en Florencia dictaron sentencia según que las usa en guerra. ahora a raiz de estudios de otros factores y un peritaje médico judicial. Se basó en su Está documentado: En un memorando de 1933, se advierte ex- nuevas pruebas de suelo, se llega a la con- totalidad en documentos que el diputado «The main hazard associated with deplet- presamente que: «when soldiers inhale or in- clusión que el concepto de uranio empobre- Falco Accame puso a disposición del jura- ed uranium is the harmful effect the materi- gest DU dust, they incur a potential increase cido es un concepto falso. do. Falco Accame es presidente de la asoci- al could have if it enters the body. If particles in cancer risk». («Cuando los soldados inha- El 16.2.2009 Horizons et débats informó ación Anavafaf, que se ocupa eficientemente are inhaled o digested they can be chemically lan o tragan polvo UE, aumentan el riesgo de bajo el título «Pequeña Hiroschima – de la de los problemas de los soldados en servicio. toxic and cause a significant and long lasting contraer cáncer.») que nadie se interesa» sobre las investiga- Desde el comienzo, Falco Accame no estaba irradiation of internal tissue.» Fuente: Department of the Army, Office of the Sur- ciones de la experta serbia Mirjana Andjelk- decidido a creer en las mentiras sobre la in- («El peligro principal en relación con el geon General, 5109 Leeburg Pike, Falls Church VA. ovic-Lukic sobre el bombardeo en Serbia en ocuidad de las armas con uranio empobre- uranio empobrecido es el efecto perjudicial Memorandum for headquarters U.S. Army Chemi- 1999. La sospecha, que los perjuicios fuer- cal School. ATTN:ATZN-CM-N Fort McClellan, AL cido utilizadas por la OTAN. Ya después de que ese material puede tener cuando entra 36205, Subject:depleted uranium (DU) safety train- on causados por «pequeñas bombas-Hiro- la guerra Líbano/Israel en el año 1982, Ac- en el cuerpo. Si las partículas son inhaladas ing, 16.8.1993 shima ha sido confirmado por los resultados came fue testigo del sufrimiento de los solda- o tragadas, pueden ser químicamente tóxicas de mediciones hechas por los dos expertos dos italianos que se enfermaron a causa del y provocar una irradiación importante por nuclares alemanes. Después de varios años uso de esa munición en el Líbano. largo tiempo en los tejidos internos.») Esos documentos prueban que Italia y pro- de trabajo lograron encontrar métodos de El argumento decisivo para el resultado Fuente: documento del 20.12.1984, AWS 330, firma- bablemente todos los otros países miembros medición más «sólidos «para detectar restos positivo de la demanda por daños y perjuic- do por Robert Beard, States assistant secretary gener- de la OTAN, operaron en total conocimiento de pequeñas explosiones nucleares. • ios – en proceso civil – fue el hecho de que al for defense support 1984–87. de los hechos, cuando arrojaron toneladas y el ministerio de defensa italiano no equipó En un informe sobre investigación del uso de toneladas de esas municiones en las guerras a los soldados con suficientes ABC trajes de armas con uranio empobrecido de los años de los Balcanes. Redacción Horizons et débats Gamaespectrometria, energía de rayos beta, exámen de modificaciones de la división de los isotopes naturales En julio 2008, (Horizons et débats No. 25 tividad beta, logramos además determinar el en el encuadre 1. La prueba Av-370g llama contenido extremadamente elevado de pot- del 23/6/08) presentamos los resultados de alcance máximo de las irradiaciones beta en la atención: asio de 9,5% de peso. nuestras mediciones de radiactividad en dos el aluminio, es decir la energía maximal y la • La relación entre uranio 238/235 señala la pruebas de suelo provenientes de Serbia. clasificación de isotopes. presencia de uranio enriquecido. 2. Modificación de las condiciones naturales Entre tanto, gracias a la gamaespectrometría • La concentración de Uran, Thorium y pot- de los isotopes y análisis químicos, pudimos constatar sobre asio 40 es – comparada con otras pruebas La alta concentración de potasio 40, hace su- 4 nuevas pruebas de suelo elementos particu- 1. Gamaespectrometría – muy alta. poner una modificación de la composición lares y la modificación de la división de isoto- Los resultados de las 4 pruebas (NS-15, • 2976 Bq/kg de potasio 40 corresponden isotópica natural, a causa la contaminación pes naturales. En una prueba de fuerte radiac- NS-40, Pa-290g, Av-370g) están resumidos (en condiciones naturales del isotope) a un radiactiva. Potasio natural: K 39 / 93,94%, K 40 / 0,0117%, K 41 / 6,73%. Recuadro 1: gamespectrometría, 2 Serie Serbia Se puede constatar el efecto de una modi- NS-15 NS-40 Pa Av ficación determinando la concentración total 570 g 470 g 290 g 370 g de potasio gracias a un método químico, y la proporción de potasio 40, por medio de la Nuclid Energía Actividades gamaespectrometría. keV Bq Bq/kg Bq Bq/kg Bq Bq/kg Bq Bq/kg El recuadro 2 presenta los resultados de la comparación de tres pruebas provenientes de Serbia con otra prueba proveniente de un Serie U 238 país lejano. Las pruebas del suelo de Serbia Th 234 63,3 14,5 25,4 29,0 61,7 22,0 75,9 55,0 148,6 muestran una concentración de potasio 40 92,6 23,4 41,1 31,0 66,0 33,3 114,8 66,0 178,4 mucho más elevada de un factor 7 a 132. Pa 234m 1001,0 27,0 47,4 32,0 68,1 23,0 79,3 44,0 118,9 Tales modificaciones, por ejemplo, sobre Pb 214 351,9 17,0 29,8 28,0 59,6 27,0 93,1 49,0 132,4 la reacción nuclear Ca 40 (n,p) K 40 apare- Bi 214 1120,3 16,4 28,8 25,7 54,7 23,4 80,7 44,0 118,9 cen solo por una afluencia de neutrones como 1764,5 18,0 31,6 29,4 62,6 27,0 93,1 52,0 140,5 en las explosiones nucleares.

U 235 143,8 1,7 3,6 1,3 4,5 4,7 12,7 3. Maximal energía del rayo Beta La energía maximal del desconocido rayo beta 185,7 corr. 1,3 2,28 2 4,3 3 10,3 6,1 16,5 puro se determinó por medio de la extensión Serie Th 232 de los electrones en el aluminio. Las caídas ex- tremas de la curvas de absorción, se encuen- Ac 228 911,2 18,0 31,6 31,6 67,2 30,5 105,2 101,0 273,0 tran en los dominios 30 mg/cm2 (0,156 MeV) y 1588,2 18,4 32,3 25,0 53,2 28,4 97,9 105,0 283,8 180 mg/cm2 (0,55 MeV). Esas energías pueden ser atribuidas al carbono 14 y al berillium 10. Pb 212 238,5 15,6 27,4 29,2 62,1 31,7 109,3 107,0 289,2 Estos dos isotopes resultan de la reacción (n,p) 300,1 17,7 31,1 32,2 68,5 33,1 114,1 107,0 289,2 de nitrógeno, es decir bor 10. Bi 212 727,3 19,0 33,3 33,0 70,2 34,8 120,0 107,0 289,2 Un rayo beta con energía de más de 1620,5 50 ? 32,9 70,0 31,6 109,0 94,0 254,1 0.15 MeV, puede provocar en el agua radia- ciones (azules) Cerekov. Una radiación tal se Tl 208 583,2 6,0 10,5 11,0 23,4 10,0 34,5 35,0 94,6 observó en el agua en Serbia, en 1999. Cuan- do aparecen esos efectos, significa que la con- K 40 1460,8 367 644 489 1040 490 1690 1101 2976 taminación radiactiva es considerable.

Cs 137 661,7 1,5 2,6 1,7 3,6 7,7 26,6 11,3 30,5 4. Conclusión desde el punto de vista de la 511 0,043 0,062 0,100 0,180 protección radiológica Ips/kg La carga admisible de radioactividad en la Error < ± 20% persona humana está determinada por la cantidad de potasio 40. Es de aproxidamente Recuadro 2: modificación de la composición de isotopes por potasio 0,2 mSv/a.

en pruebas del suelo de Serbia Av 1, NS 1, Pa 1, comparación de pruebas G 2/1206 Con un aumento de la concentración de potasio 40 a un factor l00, la radiactividad Pruebas Av 1 NS 1 Pa 1 G 2 Bases del cálculo llega a 20 mSv/a!! – un nivel muy elevado. Total potasio 720 1500 1400 387 – Composición de isotopes: El potasio tiene funciones importantes en el (mg/kg) K 39: 93,258%, K 40: 0,0117%, K 41: 6,730% organismo. Una modificación de las relaciones de los Potasio 40 2976 465 327 17 isotopes tiene que haber tenido lugar en el (Bq/kg) – Actividad específica del potasio: 31 200 Bq/kg de potassium «carbono» a favor del isotope radioactivo Valor admisible K 40 0,084 0,175 0,163 0,045 2976 Bq K 40 equivalente: 11,1 mg K 40 carbono 14. Un aumento de la radiactividad (mg/kg) se puede evaluar cuando se tomen medidas – Promedio de efectos del C-14, por ejemplo en los anillos anuales Valor existente K 40 11,1 1,7 1,2 0,06 de la reacción Ca 40 (n,p) K 40: 0,2b de los árboles. • (mg/kg) Afluencia resultante en modificaciones K 40 Ingeniero nuclear H. W. Gabriel Modificaciones K 40 132 10 7 1,2 al factor 100: 10 e 20 nvt (valor real/valor prescrito) D. Schalch, físico 17 de febrero 2009 Page 12 Current Concerns No 7/8 27 April 2009 Send Back US-Army Killer Games to Where They Came From by Renate and Rudi Hänsel During the nineties the killing simulators, violently. Playing computer games contain- demanded a ban: “There are killer games on employed for hand to hand combat in the US ing violence – and this was another result of the market which are absolutely intolerable “The Eurpean Parliament calls for the army and police, were released by the Pen- the study – is also the highest risk factor for and reduce young people’s inhibition to use creation, in the interests of the defence tagon to be sold for private use on the pub- later violent crime. The addictive potential of violence.” (www.sueddeutsche.de) of children’s rights, of an adequate, ef- lic markets. As a consequence the computer computer games has also been shown over The same demand is raised by one of the fective and proportionate regulation and video game industry that had co-oper- and again, most recently in a study conducted most renowned criminologists and Presi- system in dialogue with providers, the ated with the Pentagon from the very begin- by the Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut dent of the Deutsche Stiftung für Verbre- media (public and private television ning, boomed. Since then the so-called killer Niedersachsen (KFN) (Criminological Re- chensbekämpfung (German Foundation for companies, advertisers, the press, video games have wreaked havoc among children search Institute Lower Saxony), the greatest the Fight of Crime), Professor Hans-Diet- games, mobile telephone operators and youths. German youth study on the use of computer er Schwind – Chairman of the Anti-Violence and the Internet) and industry, aimed, games from March 2009. Brain research as Commission of the German Bundestag and, among other things, at prohibiting the “War toys definitely have a war promot- well confirmed these causal relations. (“Wie since 2002, chair member of the White Ring, broadcasting of harmful images and ing effect, the protection of the chil- das Gehirn Bildschirmgewalt verarbeitet”; a relief organization for crime victims. After content (including cyber bullying) and dren constitutes a higher goal than the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”, 21 May 2008). the Winnenden rampage he advocated a total the marketing of violent video games, interests of the toy industry.” In an analysis of 30 school shootings since ban of computer games containing violence which, by encouraging violence and sex- (Substantiation of the decision of the Ger- 1995 media psychologist Rudolf Weiss found as well as a tightening of the weapons legali- ism, may cause harm to children’s phys- man Bundstag, 23. June 1950) that almost in all cases excessive use of vio- zation. (Interview with the “Neue Osnabrück- ical and psychological development; lence containing electronic media had played er Zeitung”, 12.3.2009) points with concern, moreover, to the The US army’s electronic training pro- a significant role. Also in those three cases Some years ago a group of media effect growing problem of MMS exchanges of grams for killing people must be taken back where there had been evidence of psychot- researchers – drew the conclusion that dan- pornographic or child-abuse related im- to the US barracks, where they came from. ic disturbances, use of games containing vio- gerous products of the video and computer ages [...]” They have to disappear from civil society al- lence had been one of the triggers. game industry must not fall into the hands European Parliament resolution of together. They may be appropriate for the All these facts lead to one conclusion, of children and youths. Recently they found- 16 January 2008 : Towards an EU strategy purpose of national defense or fight against which common sense has long since come to: ed the association “Mediengewalt – Interna- on the rights of the child (2007/2093(INI)) crime; they have no place, however, in chil- Electronic training programs for killing peo- tionale Forschung und Beratung e.V.” (Media dren’s rooms or in living rooms. ple have to be taken off the market and must Violence – International Research and Coun- In Germany after the Second World War, be banned. selling). In their press release about the Win- the following concern: To forbid the produc- there was much more awareness of the dan- This claim is also raised by the families nenden case they write: “What we call for is a tion and advertisement, the import and trade ger arising from letting children play with war of the murdered students from Winnenden as consensus of the whole society to ban media and the spreading of game programs that toys than today: Women from the German well as by the German Bundespräsident (Fed- containing violence and degrading human be- award cruel violence against humans and hu- Christian Democratic Party (CDU) moved for eral President) Horst Köhler and by Joachim ings.” (www.mediengewalt.eu) manlike beings as an essential objective of the condemnation of any war toy in the Ger- Herrman (CSU), Bavarian Secretary of the Media researcher Professor Helmut Lukesch, the game.” man Bundestag (German Parliament). On 23 Interior. German criminologists and neuro-bi- chair member of the association wants aggres- It is high time to unify these efforts of June 1950 the German Bundestag voted that ologists also advocate the ban and renowned sive games to be banned. “It is no cultural loss, some singular countries to protect their “it was prohibited to produce and to sell war media effects researchers from Germany and if this whole junk disappears and such compu- youths0 and to come to an internation- toys of any kind.” This decision is still valid the USA have long since requested a ban. ter games are taken off the market. […] For the al ban of these “landmines for the soul”, today. It was substantiated as follows: “War In an open letter addressed to the Prime computer game industry it is high time to sep- ([email protected]). toys definitely have a war promoting effect, Minister of Baden Wurttemberg Oettinger arate from aggressive games and not to spread International organizations as the UN and the protection of children constitutes a high- the grieving parents from Winnenden write: this degrading stuff any longer. Somebody UNESCO must lend a hand. That would er goal than the interests of the toy industry.” “We want these killer games to be forbidden. who makes money with such games should mean a real change. • (www.schleidinger.com) Games, whether played on the Internet or on be ostracized by society.” (“Aggressive games (Translation Current Concerns) The murderous influence of killer games the PC, pursuing the goal of killing as many have to disappear”, Faznet, 12.3.2009) has been proved in uncountable research stud- humans as possible, must be prohibited.” In Switzerland as well there was an effort ies up to now, most recently in a German lon- During the obsequies for the Winnenden from the political side. Canton Councillor Ro- gitudinal study (Hopf, Huber, Weiss, 2008); victims Bundespräsident Köhler confirmed the land Näf advanced an initiative in Parliament among all factors reinforcing the readiness to parents’ point of view: “Are we doing enough about the ban of “killer games”. The Federal use violence and violent actions among chil- to protect our children? […] We have known Assembly is requested “to lay the grounds for dren and youths (peer-group, school, person- for a long time that in uncountable films and ality, parents) the impact of violent electronic computer games extreme violence, the exhibi- Parliamentary motion in the games and other violence containing media is tion of destroyed bodies and the debasement the strongest. That means: Even if a youngster of human beings constitute the main plot. Is it Swiss Ständerat (Council of Can- is not socially handicapped, media violence not common sense to say that these products tons) for the prohibition of “kill- has an immediate impact on his emotions, harm, if consumed during a longer period of er games” and his readiness to behave aggressively and time? My view is this: Such market develop- ment must be stopped. Parents and relatives of Based on Article 1, paragraph 1 of the the victims told me: ‘We want these things to Bundesverfassung (Federal Constitution) “It is intolerable that hundreds of thou- be changed!’” (Spiegel Online, 21. 3. 2009). as well as on Article 79, paragraph 1b of sands of children and youths are using Following a move in the German Bundesrat the Kantonsverfassung (Constitution of computer games for several hours daily (Federal Council of the German Parliament) the canton) the Federal Assembly is re- that glorify violence”. in 2007 by Günther Beckstein (CSU), former quested, to lay the grounds for the fol- (Press release of the Bavarian Minister of Bavarian Secretary of the Interior, who had lowing concern: To forbid the produc- the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, CSU at the demanded the prohibition of production, tion and advertisement, the import and Munich Conference on Media Violence in trade and the spreading of game pro- November 2008) trade and sale of killer games, today’s Sec- retary of the Interior Joachim Herrmann also grams that award cruel violence against humans and humanlike beings as an es- sential objective of the game. Motion from Roland Näf-Piera, Muri (SP) Current Concerns Crown Pub. Inc. 1999 ISBN 978-060-96061-31 The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Letter to the editor and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law Training of Violence Subscribe to Current Concerns – The journal of an independent cooperative The cooperative Zeit-Fragen is a politically and financially independent organisation. All of its members work on a voluntary Should be Banned and honorary basis. The journal does not accept commercial advertisements of any kind and receives no financial support from business organisations. The journal Current Concerns is financed exclusively by its subscribers. It is amazing that various commentators on Since there is no necessity to be entertained We warmly recommend our model of free and independent press coverage to other journals. recent acts of violence are of the unreflect- by violent games, the relatively “small” risk Order form ing opinion that a prohibition of killer games should nevertheless be reduced. Very easy Subscription details: published regularly would be useless. However, each trainer, and fast, this could be achieved with a prohi- annual subscription rates SFr 72.– (incl. postage and VAT) coach, therapist and teacher knows quite well bition of relevant games. Of course, violent £ 28.– (incl. postage and VAT) that practising situations with simulator is one games can also be downloaded from the in- € 45.– (incl. postage and VAT) of the most efficient learning methods. Pilots ternet. However, it is hard to understand that US-$ 66.– (incl. postage and VAT) learn to fly with the help of a simulator, sol- there should be a difference between the pro- Subscription for (in block capitals please): diers learn to drive a tank with the help of hibition of killer games and the prohibition Name: ______a simulator, and pupils learn languages with of websites representing violence or criminal an interactive PC etc. So why should shoot- pornography. Possible infringements never Address: ______ing and disinhibition training at the computer justify that we renounce necessary prohibi- ______contradict all those long established experi- tion! ❑ Cheque enclosed (payable to Current Concerns) ences? Of course, only a tiny part of the vio- In addition, the reference to common rep- ❑ Credit card details: ______lent video games’ players puts their training resentation of violence in films is not sub- into practice. However, who wants to exclude stantial. Concerning the learning effect Date: ______Signature: ______that the increasing inclination of young peo- there is an enormous difference whether Please send a specimen issue to: ple to “banal” assaults could have something something is passively consumed or active- Name: to do with the computer-assisted habituation ly trained. “Playful” training of violent be- Address: to acts of violence? havior in order to satisfy primitive instincts Certainly, the potentially risky future of- should be banned in a civilized society – un- Send to: Current Concerns, P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich, tel +41-(0)44-350 65 50 fax +41-(0)44-350 6551 fenders cannot be recognised in time even conditionally. with the most elaborate psychological means. Dr. med. M. Neuenschwander, Berne