NEWS BRIEF CLIMATE BRIEF VITAMIN D BRIEF ANALYSIS Landmark Face- NOAA says Lowers blood The Islamofas- book ruling temps falling pressure cism problem page 3 page 5 page 7 page 11

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ISSN 1172-4153 | Volume 5 | Issue 2 | incorporating TGIF Edition | 19 May 2013 Sunlight’s benefits may far outweigh on the cancer risks - study INSIDE By Edinburgh Bureau health of sunlight will outweigh why dietary vitamin D supple- skin cancer in people who have causes, we will need to reconsider BBC News the risk of skin cancer. ments alone will not be able to received different amounts of sun our advice on sun exposure.” Edinburgh University “The work we have done pro- compensate for lack of sunlight. exposure. The study will be presented on research suggests sunlight helps vides a mechanism that might “We now plan to look at the “If this confirms that sunlight Friday in Edinburgh. reduce blood pressure, cutting account for this, and also explains relative risks of heart disease and reduces the death rate from all heart attack and stroke risks and even prolonging life. UV rays were found to release Terry Schmitt / UPI PHOTO a compound that lowers blood pressure. Researchers said more studies would be carried out to determine MOVIE if it is time to reconsider advice REVIEWS on skin exposure. ‘Star Trek - Into Dark- Heart disease and stroke ness ’ Page 15 linked to high blood pressure are estimated to lead to about 80 times more deaths than those SCANDAL from skin cancer in the UK. Production of the pressure- HITS OBAMA reducing compound, nitric oxide, Benghazi & IRS Page 8 is separate from the body’s manu- facture of vitamin D, which rises TREATY TRICK after exposure to sunshine. Reuben Chapple Page 14 Researchers said that until now vitamin D production had been considered the sole benefit of the sun to human health. During the research, dermatol- ogists studied the blood pressure of 24 volunteers under UV and heat lamps. In one session, the volunteers were exposed to both UV rays and the heat of the lamps. In the other, the UV rays were ANGELINA’S RISK: IS IT REALLY THAT HIGH? blocked so that only the heat A YEAR TO affected the skin. By Nick Budnick versity and the Providence Can- or strong family history of breast The test is not recommended REMEMBER The results showed that blood The Oregonian cer Center, who reviewed this area or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi for people without a family his- The Profumo Scandal’ pressure dropped significantly News that Angelina Jolie chose for the federal government. Jewish heritage. Cancers that tory of breast or ovarian cancer. for an hour after exposure to UV a preventive double mastectomy Genetic testing is not for every- strike before age 50 are the most Testing does not lead to a black- Page 10 rays, but not after the heat-only raises questions for women: one. concerning. People with these and-white result; a significant sessions. Should they take the same blood Only about 0.2 percent of risk factors should consult with portion of tests come back unde- Scientists said that this sug- test that led her to undergo the women have the type of genetic their doctor or a genetics coun- termined, leading to more tests Non-genetic causes behind gested it was the sun’s UV rays surgery? mutation that lends itself to easy sellor such as those employed by and the potential for unnecessary breast cancer. that brought health benefits. The answer is not simple, and testing for a predisposition to major health systems. stress and expense. The test is Getting a negative test result The volunteers’ vitamin D lev- talking to your doctor is cru- breast and ovarian cancer. The Even men with a strong fam- not cheap, but insurance may pay for BRCA mutation does not els remained unaffected in both cial. Here are things you need mutations involved affect two ily history of breast or ovarian for it. suggest you won’t get breast sessions. to know about Jolie’s decision genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Most cancer might want to take the Only one company, Myriad cancer. The testing only points ‘Reconsider our advice’ and what it means for you, from people don’t need the blood test test, particularly if they have Genetics, makes the test, and it to increased risk for some people. Dr Richard Weller, a sen- sources including the Susan G. that looks for BRCA mutations. daughters. BRCA mutations sells for up to US$3,000. Many As much as 95 percent of breast ior lecturer in dermatology at Komen Center for the Cure and Who should be tested? can indicate risk for other types US health insurers cover the test, cancer occurs in people without Edinburgh University, said: “We Dr. Heidi Nelson, researcher for Several factors indicate the test of cancer as well. assuming you meet the definition the genetic marker. suspect that the benefits to heart Oregon Health & Sciences Uni- is called for, such as a personal Who should NOT be tested? of having a high likelihood of risk. Risk-reduction, not elimina-

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off BEAT Fancy Thai tonight? IT WAS A GUN IN HIS POCKET... Jupiter, Fla., (UPI) – A Florida man carrying a revolver Our one-stop connection in the pocket of his shorts accidentally shot himself while will have you in Phuket bowling, witnesses said. Police said the man, whose same day. name was not released, was bowling at Jupiter Lanes in Jupiter around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when he incurred the gunshot wound to his leg, WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, reported today. Witnesses said the man was carrying a revolver in the pocket of his shorts and the weapon fired off a round when he struck himself in the leg with his bowling ball.

LEGAL STORM IN A B-CUP New York, (UPI) – A performance artist in New York has filed a lawsuit accusing the New York Police Department of violating her civil right to bear her breasts in public. Holly Van Voast filed suit Wednesday against the city and the NYPD, alleging she had been detained, arrested or issued summonses 10 times 2011 and 2012 for showing her breasts, The New York Times reported. In her lawsuit, Van Voast, 46, says each time her case was either dismissed or dropped because the state’s highest Back to the front page court ruled more than 20 years ago that baring one’s

chest is legal for men and women. FROM FRONT PAGE

HUGE GATOR CAUGHT IN TEXAS Richmond, Texas, (UPI) - The Texas Parks and Wildlife tion. Department said a man set a state record by killing an Mastectomies or removing ovaries and fallopian tubes do reduce risk, but are not foolproof. So they 800-pound alligator measuring 14 feet and 3 inches Fly THAI to the world, smooth as silk. long. The agency said the alligator killed by Braxton should not be undertaken lightly. The top reasons Bielski, 18, of Fort Bend County, is the heaviest alligator women may choose preventive mastectomy beside with a certified weight the group had encountered, a mutation in the BRCA genes and a family his- the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday. Bielski, who tory of breast cancer include: radiation therapy bagged the reptile in the James E. Daughtrey Wildlife to the chest before age 30; lobular carcinoma in For more information and details of our latest special deals, ask your travel agent. Management Area, about 90 miles north of San Antonio, situ, unusual cells in the lobularies of the breast; obtained a permit for a five-day hunt in the area from a tiny calcium deposits in the breast or dense breasts.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department drawing publiceye_3754_M2 -- Nick Budnick Scandal-plagued Obama uses PR buzzwords

By Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parsons related to the Benghazi attack, aimed at proving with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Pfeiffer. Tribune Washington Bureau wrong those who claimed the administration had Former Clinton Press Secretary Mike McCurry, Clin- politicized the event – except that the released ton speechwriter Don Baer and Tad Devine, who WASHINGTON - At a news conference in a rainy documents did not include any relating to the first was an adviser to Vice President Al Gore, huddled Rose Garden on Friday, President Barack Obama 67 hours of the unfolding tragedy. with others for what participants said was an occa- and the Turkish prime minister had weighty mat- Little more than an hour later, Obama appeared sional get-together. ters to discuss - the bloody civil war in Syria, a dis- in the East Room to announce on live television “This is what passes for a scandal these days?” astrous Syrian refugee crisis and Turkey’s strained that he had pushed out the acting IRS commis- quipped one longtime Democratic strategist. relationship with Israel. But before they got too far sioner, seeking to show he would move quickly to The president’s attempt to change the subject into that, Obama had something else to say. straighten out the tax agency after an inspector included his meeting at the White House with “With the prime minister’s permission, I want to general’s report released Tuesday concluded that it Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the Joint make one other point,” Obama said, launching into had inappropriately targeted conservative groups. Chiefs of Staff to discuss sexual harassment in an appeal for Congress to support more money for Today, in addition to his remarks on embassy the military. The subject gained credence not only embassy security - a not-so-subtle reply to Repub- security, Obama appointed a new acting commis- because of the report on undisclosed assaults but licans who’ve pounced on the president’s handling sioner to take over at the Internal Revenue Service also because of the sexual abuse investigations of of last year’s attack on the diplomatic post in Beng- and made his first comments on the AP subpoe- two servicemen who coordinated sexual assault hazi, Libya. nas. Obama said he respected press freedom, but prevention programs. The remark signalled how Obama and his aides defended aggressive investigations of leaks as neces- IG’s report, they declassified the emails, they got The media were allowed in for photos and his have decided to respond to the pounding they sary to protect American personnel overseas, saying, their facts together. They didn’t care about one comments. have taken in recent days as three controversies “I make no apologies.” 24-hour news cycle.” Obama said sexual assault in the military was have threatened to interfere with his second-term The president also sought to demonstrate he was The game of scandal response is relatively new “not a sideshow,” a label his advisers use to describe agenda. The White House has tried to showcase handling other crises that were nearly overlooked, to a White House that prides itself on its low blood the controversy over the Benghazi talking points, Obama as a pragmatic leader taking decisive gathering top military brass at the White House pressure and control of the news cycle. White House and he assured military leaders he would be work- action, contrasting him with what the president’s after a report estimated that 26,000 military mem- aides privately vented about the frustration of feel- ing on the issue. aides see as a Washington establishment obsessed bers were sexually assaulted in unreported incidents ing unable to push their message, set the record “There’s no silver bullet to solving this problem,” with scandal. last year. straight or change the subject. Obama said. “This is going to require a sustained “My concern is making sure that, if there’s a The moves came after pressure from Democrats The White House has since tried to thaw the chill effort over a long period of time.” problem in the government, that we fix it,” Obama outside the White House. Many feared that the pres- with the media. On Wednesday, Press Secretary Jay It’s not yet clear whether the newfound strategy said, one of five times he used the word “fix” in his ident’s Mr. Cool approach would not overcome the Carney tried to lighten the tone at his briefing with will turn the tide for the White House. Republicans comments. familiar churn of the Washington scandal machine. a self-effacing joke and reference to a viral video on Capitol Hill did not let up after the release of the Signs of the strategy have been large and small, One Democratic strategist, who asked not to be mocking his frequent use of the phrase “I appreci- Benghazi emails, saying the documents did not back touching each of the controversies that have domi- identified to preserve relations with the administra- ate the question” for questions he doesn’t especially up the White House version of events.“If the White nated the news cycles of the last week. tion, said early in the week that he called a senior appreciate. Senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer, who rarely House wants to get out of hot water they should just On Wednesday, administration officials administration official to find out when the West does television interviews, also appeared on CNN start being candid,” said Brendan Buck, spokesman announced support for a law to shield the news Wing was going to come out fighting. “They didn’t today to urge Democrats and Republicans to come for House Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio. media from at least some subpoenas in criminal want to get out ahead of the facts,” he said, was the together to “fix the problem.” Some Obama partisans, however, are relieved, said investigations, a move to deflect criticism from lib- answer he got. Other surrogates will be pushing the message Neera Tanden, president of the left wing think tank erals over a federal prosecutor’s decision to seize Tommy Vietor, a former National Security Coun- soon. As the president spoke to the media in the Center for American Progress. “Most people, most telephone records of Associated Press reporters. cil spokesman, defended the White House response. Rose Garden today, a who’s who of Democratic spin- Democrats, think they turned the corner,” she said. Then the White House released 99 pages of emails “They took their time,” he said. “They reviewed the masters and veterans of scandals past met inside 19 May 2013 NEWS BRIEF 3 Landmark court ruling on Facebook defamation By Ursula Cheer, Law Professor Thomson-Reuters I have previously blogged EWCA Civ 68 at [48]). anonymous posts by third parties there must also be no reason to defamatory material at all. Other Accordingly, on the facts on how far internet service pro- Is a host accountable for 3rd should be struck out because as think it likely that the material English cases, such as Davison v in Wishart, it was arguable that viders (ISPs) seem to be liable party comments/content? the mere host of the Facebook being published contained such Habeeb [2011] EWHC 3031, have the defendant was a publisher for defamation on the internet In that previous blog, I also dis- page, he was not a publisher. a statement (at para 83). also distinguished Bunt, using of the anonymous comments. by providing access for sub- cussed the New Zealand decision Mr Murray argued that Face- ‘Graffiti on the wall’ approach the analogy of blogs being like He was not a passive instrument scribers. In that post, I dis- of the High Court, A v Google book owned the service and had overturned noticeboards over which ISPs do and it appeared likely that even cussed the English case, Tamiz New Zealand Ltd HC Auckland, ultimate control of the contents In Wishart, the defendant have control. if the first circumstantial test set v Google Inc [2012] EWHC 449, CIV: 2011-404-002780, 12 Sep- of the page. He disclosed that he had argued that actual knowl- ‘… hosts cannot be passive out above was not satisfied, the which involved a claim arising tember 2012, where the claim- moderated the site by identifying edge is required in relation to instruments’ second would be. The result is from a statement posted by a ant argued he was defamed by and removing abusive, threaten- website hosts, referring to a rec- At this point, it is reasonably that this part of the claim can be blogger on the popular Blogger the publication of results which ing or defamatory comments, and ommendation made by the Law clear where Courtney J’s sympa- argued further. platform on a blog called the pointed to a website in the blocking the relevant users. He Commission in a report in 1999 thies lie, and these are in a similar Clearly the first limb of the London Muslim blog. United States containing alleg- also solicited reports about the (Electronic Commerce part 2). direction to that suggested by the circumstantial test set out above In the High Court in that edly defamatory statements. presence of such comments from The Law Commission view was court in A v Google. The decision will be more straight forward to case, the judge, Mr Justice Eady, I noted that the judge in that his followers on Twitter. However, based on a US approach which is that the host of a Facebook apply to the facts in any given thought much depended on the case expressed a reluctance for he acknowledged that when the was essentially the ‘graffiti on page has established something case. Although the second limb facts in each case and decided exempting internet third party page attracted some 250,000 the wall’ approach favoured by akin to a noticeboard, which can is more problematic because tests that there, Google was like an publishers from responsibil- comments in total, he found it the lower court in Tamiz that has be either public or private. In based on imputed knowledge owner of a wall covered in defam- ity and a preference for hold- difficult to review them all and now been overturned. Similarly, either case, the host has the abil- require greater supposition, this atory graffiti where failure to ing them liable for publishing remove potentially harmful ones the court in Wishart rejects this ity to control postings and block concept is not unknown in the remove does not necessarily make where appropriate, with access as previously. He finally took the approach, preferring Emmen- users. This means such hosts law. In fact, the entire two-step the owner a publisher. to the defence of innocent dis- site off line on or about 13 August sand the more recent English cannot be passive instruments approach is very similar to that I need to update the outcome semination or other appropriate 2011. approach being applied to pub- or mere conduits of information. applied in the defence of innocent of that case. Tamiz has now been defences. Prima facie liability lication on the internet. The court goes on to state dissemination, which the judge to the Court of Appeal, which That approach has been forti- In the judgment, the judge, Justice Courtney surveys the clearly (at para [117]) that such notes could still be available to disagreed with the approach in fied by a new New Zealand deci- Courtney J, carries out a careful English law favourably, but high- hosts will be publishers of anony- parties like the defendants in the court below and held that sion on third party internet pub- and comprehensive review of the lights that Bunt v Tilley [2006] mous postings in two situations: theWishart case. although not a primary publisher lication, Wishart v Murray [2013] development of the law to date. EWHC 407, another decision of Where they know about the Applying the test of the blog in this case, Google NZHC 540 (19 March 2013). The The first principle noted is the Mr Justice Eady which accepted defamatory statement and fail It seems likely that the test still defined the limits of permit- issue arose in this case in relation general rule that there is prima that internet service provid- to remove it within a reasonable will be applied in a general way ted content and had the power to comments by anonymous third facie liability for anyone who par- ers that did not hold any infor- time such that it can be inferred to determine the preliminary and capability to remove or block parties on a Facebook page estab- ticipates in or contributes to the mation or host a website were they are taking responsibility matter of who is a publisher, and access to material which it was lished by the defendant, who had publication of the defamatory passive parties and could not for the statement (this could be then in a more detailed way to the notified about. Therefore, liability also used Twitter to publicise the statements of others. be publishers of defamatory called the ‘actual knowledge and question of whether the defend- could follow for the period after page. The page was set up to dis- A very old case, Emmens v Pot- material posted online, is out of failure to act test’); ant, although a publisher, was which Google was notified of the cuss the impending release of a tle (1885) 16 QB 170, is referred to line and indeed irreconcilable Where they do not know, but actually innocently disseminat- statement. However, the poten- book co-authored by the plaintiff as authority for this proposition. with other decisions. The judge ought to, that defamatory state- ing the material. However, it is tial liability was too short to give and Macsyna King, the mother To quote the judge, it is ‘clear that in Wishart then proceeds to ments are likely in the circum- quite difficult to conceptualise a rise to a real and substantial tort, of the Kahui twins who died the absence of actual knowledge strictly confine Bunt v Tilley to stances (the ‘imputed knowledge situation where applying the test because the offending blog was from non-accidental injuries in does not prevent a person who, situations where the ISP role is test’). results in a finding that a defend- removed very soon after notifica- 2006. The defendant argued the prima facie, publishes a defama- truly entirely passive and there is Establishing who is the pub- ant has published due to control, tion: (Tamiz v Google Inc [2013] part of the claim relating to the tory statement from being liable; no notification of the presence of lisher Continue reading

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NY Times NoRoy Spencer interview increase in superstorms - Spencer The Catholic Online admits less COL: When we look at the ice caps, sea ice around Antarctica has gradually current rate of rise, which is very slow, to The mainly warmist Catholic Online particularly the Arctic, they show dra- increased, not decreased, which climate humans when we don’t know how much warming is to be congratulated for publishing an matic loss of sea ice. The images are very models have not been able to explain. of the rise is natural. By Paul Knappenberger and Patrick interview with Dr. Roy Spencer. As usu- clear and the overall loss during the sum- COL: We are experiencing a variety COL: Let’s say tomorrow, evidence is Michaels ally, Dr. Spencer’s views are wise and mer is about 40 percent, using the most of other seemingly unique weather found that proves to everyone that global The Cato Institute balanced: recent data from the Cryosphere pages. phenomenons such as superstorms, tor- warming as a result of human released (I think about 7 percent in the winter?) nado outbreaks, rising sea levels, and the emissions of CO2 and methane, is real. When it comes to the press, the New COL: Well, let’s cut to the chase. Is the Regardless of the percentages, it’s visibly increasingly frequent closing of locks on What would you suggest we do? York Times pretty much defines planet warming? significant. What’s happening? the North Sea (Netherlands and UK, SPENCER: I would say we need to “mainstream.” And Justin Gillis is SPENCER: No one knows whether it SPENCER: We started satellite River Thames). Isn’t this evidence of grow the economy as fast as possible, in the Times’ mainstream reporter on the is currently warming, because we only monitoring of sea ice in 1979, after an warming? order to afford the extra R&D neces- global warming beat. see warming “in the rearview mirror”... extended cold period in the Arctic. It SPENCER: There has been no sary to develop new energy technolo- So it is somewhat telling, that his arti- after it has occurred. Warming of the is entirely possible that summer sea ice increase in “superstorms” or tornadoes, gies. Current solar and wind technolo- cle on Tuesday, “A Change in Tempera- global average surface temperature meltback now is no worse than it was by any objective long-term measure. It is gies are too expensive, unreliable, and ture,” was largely dedicated (although seems to have stopped about 15 years back in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when an urban myth. Sandy-class storms occur can only replace a small fraction of our begrudgingly) to facing up to the pos- ago, although there is some evidence ship explorers reported unprecedented every year...they just don’t happen to hit energy needs. Since the economy runs sibility that mainstream estimates (i.e., that the deep ocean has continued to warming and sea ice and glacier changes high population density areas. But sea on inexpensive energy, in order to grow those produced by the U.N.’s Intergov- warm by hundredths of a degree. Global in the Arctic. Humans could not have levels have indeed increased, which prob- the economy we will need to use fossil ernmental Panel on Climate Change) of average surface temperatures have been responsible for that event, so how ably is a sign of warming. But sea levels fuels to create that extra wealth. In other climate sensitivity are too large. definitely warmed in the last 50 to 100 can we know the extent to which we were rising long before we could have words, we will need to burn even more Readers of this blog are proba- years, by an amount which increases are responsible for the current melting been to blame, since well before 1900. So, fossil fuels in order to find replacements bly well aware of the reasons why. northward. event in the Arctic? Also, since 1979, once again, it is difficult to attribute the for fossil fuels Despite our illusions of grandeur, this blog isn’t the mainstream press –although we do seek to influence it. Maybe we are being successful. Islands rising not sinking Throughout Gillis’ article are sprin- Tired of your workmates and friends By Andrew Bolt kled references to “climate contrarians,” Herald Sun and even the recognition of the effort swallowing the global warming con by such contrarians to push the new Yesterday I noted this typical exam- for alarm: science on low climate sensitivity to the like they’re following the Pied Piper? ple of eco-catastrophism by one of the Climate scientists have expressed forefront of the discussion to change the warming alarmists on the Global Mail: surprise at findings that many low- existing politics of climate change. lying Pacific islands are growing, not Gillis writes: The waves are slowly seeping over Kiri- sinking. Still, the recent body of evidence — and Help them hear a different tune: bati, which is at the frontline of the cli- Islands in Tuvalu, Kiribati and the the political use that climate contrarians mate-change-induced rise in sea levels Federated States of Micronesia are are making of it to claim that everything “Currently the best book on the subject” striking low-lying nations all over the among those which have grown, largely is fine — sheds some light on where we are world. Formerly part of the Gilbert and due to coral debris, land reclamation in our scientific and public understanding - Amazon UK, 2012 Ellice Islands — a British protectorate and sediment. of the risks of climate change. until the mid 1970s — Kiribati is lower, The findings, published in the mag- We at the Cato’s Center for the Study of “One of the best I’ve read on climate” frailer and more defenceless. It may be azine New Scientist, were gathered Science are at the leading edge of efforts the first nation to enter an end game by comparing changes to 27 Pacific to present a more accurate representa- - Amazon US, 2009 against climate change. islands over the last 20 to 60 years tion of the scientific of climate change Kiribati’s leaders now face wrenching using historical aerial photos and sat- through our testimony to Congress, pub- questions: How many of its 100,000 peo- ellite images. lic comments and review of govern- ple will need to leave? Where will they Auckland University’s Associate ment documents and proposals, media go? How will it feed those remaining? Professor Paul Kench, a member of appearances, op-eds, and serial posts on And, as its islands become uninhabit- the team of scientists, says the results this blog, among other projects. We SEE HTTP://WWW.IANWISHART.COM for details able, can Kiribati remain a nation at all? challenge the view that Pacific islands emphasize that current regulations I wondered how that Kiribati-is- are sinking due to rising sea levels asso- and proposed legislation are based on drowning meme squared with satellite ciated with climate change. outdated, and likely wrong, projections time-lapse pictures showing no such “Eighty per cent of the islands we’ve of future climate impacts from human thing. looked at have either remained about carbon dioxide emissions from the use Indeed, recent studies show no cause the same or, in fact, gotten larger,” he said. of fossil fuels to produce energy. But you just Gillis recognizes the positives of a low can’t tell an climate sensitivity value: alarmist anything. “…tantalizing possibility that cli- The Global Mail’s mate change might be slow and limited alarmist, Bernard enough that human society could adapt Lagan, promptly to it without major trauma.” claimed that I ’d “It will certainly be good news if these simply looked at recent papers stand up to critical scru- the wrong island: tiny, something that will take at least a Continue reading Continue reading

SkepticalScience site scores own-goal A W Montford Bishop Hill I really have been struggling to sum- humans. No other rating says how much than another value listed in the paper: mon up much enthusiasm for the inani- humans contribute to global warming. Reject AGW 0.7% (78) ties of John Cook’s paper, but Brandon The only time an abstract is rated as Remembering AGW stands for Schollenberger has written an extraor- saying how much humans contribute to anthropogenic global warming, or global dinary analysis of the data, which really global warming is if it mentions: warming caused by humans, take a has to be seen to be believed. Readers are that human activity is a dominant influ- minute to let that sink in. This study no doubt aware that the paper involves ence or has caused most of recent climate done by John Cook and others, praised rating abstracts of a whole bunch of change (>50%). by the President of the United States, research papers to see where they stand If we use the system’s search feature found more scientific publications whose on the global warming question. for abstracts that meet this requirement, abstracts reject global warming than say The guidelines for rating [the] abstracts we get 65 results. That is 65, out of the humans are primarily to blame for it. show only the highest rating value blames 12,000+ examined abstracts. Not only is I’m speechless. the majority of global warming on that value incredibly small, it is smaller Read the whole thing. 19 May 2013 CLIMATE BRIEF 5 Cycle of snow NOAA data shows temps falling CLIMATE CHANGE IS OLD NEWS: reduces sea level By Dr David Whitehouse increase: study Global Warming Policy Foundation 14 October 1902 A paper published today in Geophysi- The observed lack of change in global 9th-10th warmest on record, although identical to the past 15-years or so, and if cal Research Letters finds “Enhanced annual average surface temperature when errors are taken into account it is destined to be a record year then the snowfall on the East Antarctic ice sheet over the past 15-years or so is a fact that is it could almost have been 15th or monthly averages for the rest of the year is projected to significantly mitigate being increasingly debated within the sci- thereabouts. Nasa Giss gives January will have to behave abnormally to make up [reduce] 21st century global sea level entific literature and in the wider world. It as the 6th warmest, February as the the increasing shortfall when compared to rise. In recent years (2009 and 2011), is fair to say there is no consensus over its 11th, March as the 12th and April as the the ‘warm’ years of 2010 and 2007. In Nasa regionally extreme snowfall [increases cause, or about how long it may continue. 13th. Hadcrut4 has January at 10th, Giss for example there is 0.88 deg C to make in] East Antarctica have been observed.” Although we have only a quarter, and February at 9th and March at 12th. up after only four months. The authors find that the large in one case a third, of the annual global So far 2013 is proving to be statistically One has to be careful in looking at the observed increases “could signal the surface temperature data avail- global annual average tempera- beginning of a long-term increase able for 2013 it is interesting to ture for the past 15-years or so. I of snowfall” rather than just natural look at how things are going, par- would go no further than saying variability. The authors also find that ticularly since the world is cur- that it is remarkably flat with no climate models did not predict this rently El Nino neutral and has statistically significant change. increase during the current climate and been for the past ten months. So But something to look out for only predicted such changes would hap- far we have no El Nino pushing comes from NOAA data as repro- pen toward the end of the 21st century. temperatures slightly up, or La duced below. It shows 0.1 deg C Abstract: Enhanced snowfall on the Nina doing the converse. decline in global temperatures East Antarctic ice sheet is projected The major global temperature in the past decade! What would 5 April 1923 to significantly mitigate 21st century databases are all telling the same it have been like if the 2010 El global sea level rise. In recent years story about 2013 so far. Nino had not taken place? Won’t (2009 and 2011), regionally extreme According to NOAA January, the next five years of data prove snowfall anomalies in Dronning Maud February and March were the interesting. Land, in the Atlantic sector of East Ant- arctica, have been observed. Continue reading Cosmic rays drive climate, life

BY NIGEL CALDER CALDERUP convincingly explained.. and decreases in carbon dioxide, which Fishy story As the geological and astronomical they explain in intricate ways. For Sven- Today the Royal Astronomical records converge, the match between smark, the changes driven by the stars on ocean Society in London publishes (online) climate and supernova rates gets bet- govern the amount of carbon dioxide in Henrik Svensmark’s latest paper enti- ter and better, with high rates bringing the air. Climate and life control CO2, not warming tled “Evidence of nearby supernovae icy times. the other way around. affecting life on Earth”. After years of Presented with due caution as well By implication, supernovae also As usual, global warming enthusi- effort Svensmark shows how the vari- as with consideration for the feelings determine the amount of oxygen Failure of cli- asts in the press overlook some basic able frequency of stellar explosions of experts in several fields of research, a available for animals like you and me issues—like the sea surface tempera- not far from our planet has ruled over story unfolds in which everything meshes to breathe. So the inherently simple tures for the Indian and Pacific Oceans the changing fortunes of living things like well-made clockwork. Anyone who cosmic-ray/cloud hypothesis now has mate models By Anthony Watts from pole to pole haven’t warmed in 19+ throughout the past half billion years. wishes to pooh-pooh any piece of it by far-reaching consequences, which I’ve WattsUpWithThat years, and the Atlantic data show little Appearing in Monthly Notices of the saying “correlation is not necessarily tried to sum up in this diagram warming for more than a decade. Fur- Royal Astronomical Society, It’s a giant causality” should offer some other mega- Cosmic rays in action. The main Via the Hockey Schtick: A paper pub- ther, the tropical Indian and Pacific sea of a paper, with 22 figures, 30 equations theory that says why several mutually findings in the new Svensmark paper lished today in Geophysical Research surface temperatures haven’t warmed and about 15,000 words. See the RAS supportive coincidences arise between concern the uppermost stellar band, the Letters finds that the latest climate mod- since 1986. It’s therefore difficult to press release at events in our galactic neighbourhood and green band of living things and, on the els are performing even worse than the make claims like “more evidence of http://www.ras.org.uk/news-and- living conditions on the Earth. right, atmospheric chemistry. Although earlier generations of climate models in a rapidly warming planet”, but that press/219-news-2012/2117-did-explod- An amusing point is that Svensmark solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays predicting doesn’t stop proponents of hypothetical ing-stars-help-life-on-earth-to-thrive stands the currently popular carbon is important to us on short timescales, “…both the mean surface air temper- human-induced global warming By taking me back to when I dioxide story on its head. Some geosci- its effects are smaller and briefer than ature as well as the frequency of extreme BACKGROUND reported the victory of the pioneers of entists want to blame the drastic alter- the major long-term changes controlled monthly mean temperature events due Anthony Watts presented the press plate tectonics in their battle against nations of hot and icy conditions during by the rate of to climate warming.” release for the paper Cheung et al (2013) the most eminent geophysicists of the the past 500 million years on increases Continue reading The author hypothesizes the reasons Signature of ocean warming in global day, it makes me feel 40 years younger. for this are that attempts in the lat- fisheries catch in the WattsUpWithThat Shredding the textbooks, Tuzo Wilson, est generation of models to reproduce post Fishy Temperature Proxy. And Cli- Dan McKenzie and Jason Morgan mer- observed changes in Arctic sea ice are mateDepot’s Marc Morano alerted me rily explained earthquakes, volcanoes, causing “significant and widening dis- earlier in the day to Lenny Bernstein’s mountain-building, and even the vary- crepancy between the modeled and May 15th article in the Washington Post. ing depth of the ocean, simply by the observed warming rates outside of the See “Worlds fish have been moving to drift of fragments of the lithosphere in Arctic,” i.e. they have improved Arctic cooler waters for decades, study finds”. various directions around the globe. simulation at the expense of poorly sim- The first two paragraphs of Bernstein’s In Svensmark’s new paper an equally ulating the rest of the globe. The paper article read (my boldface): concise theory, that cosmic rays from adds to hundreds of other peer-reviewed Fish and other sea life have been exploded stars cool the world by increas- papers demonstrating the abject failure moving toward Earth’s poles in search ing the cloud cover, leads to amazing of climate models. of cooler waters, part of a worldwide, dec- explanations, not least for why evolution The paper: ades-long migration documented for the sometimes was rampant and sometimes Emerging selection bias in large-scale SkepticalScience site scores own-goal first time by a study released Wednesday. faltered. In both senses of the word, this climate change simulations The research, published in the jour- is a stellar revision of the story of life. Kyle L. Swanson nal Nature, provides more evidence of a Here are the main results: Abstract: rapidly warming planet and has broad The long-term diversity of life in the Climate change simulations are the repercussions for fish harvests around sea depends on the sea-level set by plate output of enormously complicated mod- the globe. tectonics and the local supernova rate els containing resolved and parameter- Rapidly warming planet? Maybe the set by the astrophysics, and on virtually ized physical processes ranging in scale author of the Washington Post article nothing else. from microns to the size of the Earth should check sea surface temperature The long-term primary productiv- itself. Given this complexity, the appli- data before making nonsensical com- ity of life in the sea – the net growth cation of subjective criteria in model ments. of photosynthetic microbes – depends development is inevitable. Here we show The University of British Columbia on the supernova rate, and on virtually one danger of the use of such criteria press release for the Cheung et al (2013) nothing else. in the construction of these simula- paper is titled “Fish thermometer” Exceptionally close supernovae tions, namely the apparent emergence reveals long-standing, global impact of account for short-lived falls in sea- of a selection bias between generations climate change. level during the past 500 million years, of these simulations. Continue reading long-known to geophysicists but never Continue reading VITAMIN D BRIEF 6 19 May 2013 High-dose Vit D safe for mums Health Review: TEBONIN® EGb 761® By Daniel Roth et al BioMed Central

Antenatal vitamin D status may Losing your mental edge? be associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes; however, the benefits of vitamin D supplementation dur- ing pregnancy remain unknown. Methods: We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial to evaluate the effect of high-dose prenatal 3rd trimester vitamin D3 sup- plementation on maternal and neonatal (cord blood) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) concentration (primary bio- chemical efficacy outcome) and maternal serum calcium concen- tration (primary safety measure). Eligibility criteria were pregnant women aged 18 to <35 years, at 26 to 29 weeks gestation, and vs. 38 nmol/L; p <0.001) and new- tions above 50 nmol/L in almost residing in Dhaka, Bangladesh. borns (cord blood: 103 vs. 39; p all participants without inducing 160 women were randomized <0.001). hypercalcemia or other observed by 1:1 allocation to one of two In the vitamin D group, 95% safety concerns. Optimise your workplace parallel intervention groups; pla- of neonates and 100% of mothers Doses up to 35,000 IU/week cebo (n = 80) or 35,000 IU/week attained 25(OH)D >50 nmol/L, may be cautiously used in further potential and keep up! TEST LY E

(5,000IU a day) of vitamin D3 (n versus 21% mothers and 19% research aimed at establishing L D A C

® ® I N I

Tebonin EGb 761 supports: L = 80) until delivery. All partici- of neonates in the placebo group. the clinical effects and safety of C ● computer work station performance(1) pants, study personnel and study No participants met criteria vitamin D3 supplementation in ● brain and cognitive function(1) investigators were blind to treat- for hypercalcemia, there were pregnancy.Trial registration:This ● mental clarity, focus and mental balance (stability)(1) Available from ● performance and information processing while under stress(2) leading Pharmacies ment allocation. no known supplement-related trial was registered at ClinicalTri- ● mental function and quality of life(3) and Health Stores ● (4) Results: Mean maternal adverse events, and major preg- als.gov (NCT01126528). normal neurocognitive functioning during tasks such as number processing For more information ● healthy brain activity and neuronal energy activity(5) phone 0800 657 876 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or 25(OH)D concentration was nancy outcomes were similar Author: Daniel E RothAb- email [email protected] Distributed by Pharma Health NZ Ltd. ® ® similar in the vitamin D and between groups. dullah Al MahmudRubhana Tebonin EGb 761 has over 600 published peer-reviewed, scientifi c studies. Your Health. Nature’s Power. More than 8,000,000 tablets are taken worldwide every day. Made in Germany PO Box 15 185, Auckland 0640. placebo groups at baseline (45 Conclusions: Antenatal 3rd- RaqibEvana AkhtarNandita it is clinically tested & recommended by doctors and neurologists worldwide. www.pharmahealth.co.nz Supplementary to and not a replacement vs. 44 nmol/L; p = 0.66), but was trimester vitamin D3 supple- PerumalBrendon PezzackAb- 1. Kaschel Phytomedicine R. 18 (2011) 1202 -1207; 2. Kaschel et al., Journal fur Pharmakologie und Therapie 16, (1), 3-9, for a balanced diet. Always read the label. 2007; 3. Cieza, Maier et Poppel. Archives of Medical Research (2003) 373-380; 4. Mix & Crews. Human Psychopharmacology Use only as directed and if symptoms significantly higher in the vita- mentation (35,000 IU/week) dullah H Baqui 17: 2002; 17: 26-277. (5) Abdel-KaderR:, Eckert A., Muller et Al. Pharmacological Research 56 (2007) 493 -502. persist see your health professional. NA5913 TAPS min D group vs. placebo group significantly raised maternal and Credits/Source: Nutrition among mothers at delivery (134 cord serum 25(OH)D concentra- Journal 2013, 12:47 Sun can’t give you vitamin D in winter

By Oliver Gillie phere is short. In winter when rivers. Fish must have had a large we might sit in a sheltered spot Some people who have had Children who do not get enough The Ecologist the sun comes in at a low angle place in their diet. They must outside our cottage and enjoy little previous sun exposure may may suffer from rickets when legs UVB is fully absorbed and never have spent much more time in the gentle spring sun. In this burn after a few minutes while become bowed or knock-kneed. Human beings in high-income reaches us. the sun then we do because their way we would gradually build others may be able to stay out- We have known for 100 years countries are leading increasingly For full health, it is important shelters were primitive and pro- up a good reserve of vitamin D doors for hours in Britain, except how to prevent this disease and artificial lives divorced from the in summer to expose as much vided nothing like the comfort we together with a natural resist- on those clear days in summer it is shocking that it has become natural environment and without skin to the sun as possible dur- take for granted today. These first ance to burning as the summer when everyone needs to wear increasingly common in the UK the important health benefits of ing the middle of the day while settlers almost certainly had dark progressed and the sun became a hat and take special care not in recent years. sunshine. The result is chronic ill taking care not to burn. How- skin because man originated in stronger. to burn. People with very pale, Adults who are short of vita- health of many kinds. ever, after years of misleading Africa. But in our extreme north- People who have outdoor jobs freckled skin are often afraid min D may suffer from osteoma- People who spend weekends and scary advice from health ern climate only the fittest sur- get less melanoma, the serious of the sun and have very low lacia, a weakness of bones accom- outside get less melanoma. lobby groups, particularly Can- vived and in doing so evolved a form of skin cancer, than indoor vitamin D levels. These people panied by pain in bones and Most people nowadays live cer Research UK, many people white skin which makes vitamin workers and people who spend can benefit from frequent brief muscles. GPs often have great indoors working in offices, glued are confused and afraid of any D several times faster than black their weekends outside get less exposures to the sun and their difficulty helping people with to screens, cushioned from the exposure to the sun. skin. melanoma than people who stay skin gradually becomes able to such generalised non-specific real world, and sheltered from Most people will remember the A few people, such as the Inuit, indoors. The sun, by providing tolerate longer exposure times. pains but are now beginning to the elements - wind, rain and CR UK slogan: “There is no such who eat a diet rich in fish, seal and vitamin D, actually protects us Vitamin D has been known realise that insufficient vitamin sun. Possibly we could do without thing as a healthy tan”. Sadly whale, obtain enough vitamin D against melanoma skin cancer so for many years to be important D can lie behind the problem. the wind and rain that buffets our this important charity - which from food. But for most of us sun long as we do not burn. for growth and health of bones. Continue reading bodies as we flit from one build- has undertaken a host of good exposure is our primary natural ing to the next, but we cannot works - pursued an ill-judged source of vitamin D – even in the live a healthy life without direct campaign against sun exposure British Isles where the sun is so TWO BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE exposure to sunshine – unless we for many years, a campaign that, unreliable. In fact, today we only take a vitamin D supplement. it turns out, was not based on obtain small amounts of vitamin Sun on skin is essential for life. sound scientific evidence. D from fish and eggs and most Ultra violet B rays from the sun In fact a pale, untanned skin foods contain little or no vitamin catalyse the formation of vitamin has now been recognised to be a D. The typical diet in the UK, while stocks D in skin. We now know that vita- risk factor for ill health. We look Europe or North America does last min D is not only essential for the into a person’s face and may say: not provide more than about 5% formation of healthy bone but for “You are looking well”. Instinc- of the vitamin D we need for full the health of almost all the tis- tively, and correctly, we know that health. click for details sues and organs of the body. a face with some colour is likely If we were living outdoor lives UVB rays are readily absorbed to be healthy, even though for sev- without central heating at home by the atmosphere and by cloud eral decades now we have been we would naturally get plenty of and so only reach us when the sun told otherwise. summer sun. In times gone by, is above an angle of 45 degrees The first settlers to the British when a sunny day came in April and its path through the atmos- Isles came along coastlines and after weeks of winter weather, 19 May 2013 VITAMIN D BRIEF 7 Most vitamin supplements don’t work - except D, says paper

By Randy Shore cold. The cold is really dozens of larly in vitamin E studies is an Vancouver Sun different viruses. increased risk of death. Scientists have been undecided I know that if you are a vita- Vitamin D - the sunshine vita- about the effectiveness of vitamin min C believer, nothing I say will min - may be the only vitamin of supplements pretty much since change that. I’m OK with that. them all that you need in doses the moment they were able to iso- Vitamin E was a darling of the higher than you’d get from food. late them from our food. They’ve health and supplements world. It Health Canada has recently had decades to prove that sup- was supposed to prevent heart dis- increased its daily recommenced plements work but for the most ease, enhance virility and protect intake of vitamin D and it is part, they have failed. you from Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t. higher than you might ordinar- Vitamin C is probably the most A massive four-and-a-half- ily get from food. widely used vitamin supplement, year study involving 10,000 peo- Vitamin D seems to reduce because of its supposed ability to ple found the participants taking the risk of some cancers and prevent and shorten the common vitamin E were no less likely to may prevent osteoporosis in post- cold. It doesn’t. have a coronary event than peo- menopausal women. Vitamin D A recent analysis of 29 tri- ple who weren’t. Ditto for Alz- may also boost immune function, als involving more than 11,000 heimer’s. Large well-designed especially when days are short or people concluded that vitamin C studies find that mega-doses of exposure to the sun is limited. A does not reduce the incidence of vitamin E has no effect of your dark Canadian winter would colds and that it has no effect on risk of Alzheimer’s. surely qualify. the duration of a cold when you As for natural male enhance- As for all the rest of the supple- take it after the onset of symp- ment - you might as well order ments, you probably don’t need toms. In fact, the results are all those crazy pills on the Internet. them as long as you are eating over the map, due in part to the But I don’t think you should. well and if you aren’t, fact that there is no one common One effect that does pop up regu- Continue reading Vitamin D lowers blood pressure - new study By Mark Huffman Consumer Affairs USA

Consumers spend billions of dollars on medication to control high blood pressure but getting plenty of vitamin D might help too. Research continues to sug- gest that the vitamin, present in dairy foods and sunlight, has ben- efits for the circulatory system. In March researchers at Bos- ton’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted a study that suggested moderate amounts of vitamin D supplements could reduce high blood pressure. Since African Americans tend to have high higher incidence of hyper- tension, the study followed 250 African American adults. “We found that vitamin D sup- plementation modestly but effec- Dr. Sheldon G. Sheps, of the Growing threat What to do tively lowered blood pressure,” Mayo Clinic, agrees that the High blood pressure is a grow- There are many sources of said Dr. John Forman, who led the role too little vitamin D plays ing threat, especially to the aging vitamin D that could probe research team. “And people who in developing high blood pres- population. While being over- healthy in other ways, even if it were taking a placebo had a slight sure is not exactly clear. But he weight, getting little exercise doesn’t reduce high blood pres- increase in their blood pressure.” says a vitamin D deficiency may and consuming excessive levels of sure. Spending time outdoors, Vitamin D has long been be linked to heart disease and a sodium are all contributors, not with exposure to the sun, is one thought to have some benefits higher risk of high blood pressure. all of its causes are understood. way but should be measured when it comes to blood pressure. It’s too early to know, he says. High blood pressure occurs against the risk of skin cancer. Some previous students on ani- More research is needed. when the heart has to work Some foods also are rich mals achieved that result, though However, there appears to be a harder to move blood through sources of vitamin D. Dairy the findings have not been univer- growing consensus that it could veins and arteries, usually products, like milk, cheese and sally accepted. be beneficial. Researchers at because of rigidity in the blood yogurt are good sources. You can No proof Edinburgh University in the UK vessels. Prolonged high blood also get vitamin D from salmon, “In population studies, people are so convinced that vitamin pressure can cause the heart to tuna, flounder, cereal, pork, eggs, with low levels of vitamin D seem D is effective in reducing high enlarge. The high pressure of the mushrooms and liver. to have a high risk of developing blood pressure, as well as heart blood flowing through the veins Vitamin D is also available in high blood pressure than those attack and stroke risk, that they can eventually cause a blood ves- supplements. Popular brands cost with higher levels of vitamin D,” suggest getting vitamin D from sel to break, causing a stroke. about $25 for 120 capsules, a four according to researchers at the sunlight has benefits that may If increasing vitamin D intake month supply. As with any health University of Maryland Medi- far outweigh skin cancer risks. can be shown to prevent high or diet issue, discuss the role of cal Center. “However, there’s no Their research focuses on ultra blood pressure, it could provide vitamin D in your diet, and as a proof that low levels of vitamin violet (UV) rays, which report- an easy and effective treatment. tool to control blood pressure, D cause high blood pressure in edly release a compound in the It might also save money on pre- with your physician. healthy people.” body that lowers blood pressure. scription medications. Continue reading WORLD BRIEF 8 19 May 2013 Disputin’ Putin: The Power of One By James G. Zumwalt suddenly being accused of under- inflicted by Russian Ministry of neers have tried to stop the lean- UPI Outside View paying them. Interior officials implicated by ing Tower of Pisa -- a freestanding Magnitsky’s audit uncovered Magnitsky’s fraud investigation. bell tower that began tilting as It is fairly well accepted that a massive theft of state assets They attempted to get Magnit- soon as construction started in President Vladimir Putin’s Rus- orchestrated by Russian officials sky to change his findings -- but the 12th century -- from increas- sia is a democracy in name only. working in collusion with a crimi- the courageous auditor refused ing its tilt. Despite modern engi- He controls the legislature, which nal element seeking to leave the to do so. neering advances, they have yet passes laws aimed at giving him company open for exploitation A January 2013 Financial to do so. The ground conditions greater powers. He controls the by government officials. Times news report concluded, under the tower won’t change police, who demonstrate a heavy Magnitsky identified a police- the Magnitsky case is egregious, so that one day, the weight of propensity for arresting Putin man involved in the scandal who well-documented and encapsu- the upper levels of the world critics. He controls a judiciary accused the auditor of fraud and lates the darker side of Putinism. renowned architectural marvel boasting a record of convictions theft. An arrest was made on Nov. One would think Magnitsky’s will cause its own collapse. of those involved in opposing 23, 2008 -- not of the policeman death marked the end of his The Tower of Pisa’s tilt was an Putin’s seemingly unlimited but Magnitsky -- for fraud and persecution by terminating his unintended consequence of its authority. tax evasion. The man who had prosecution. However, earlier this construction. The tilt within the The playing field in Russia discovered and reported the month, his trial began -- posthu- Russian judicial system was just has clearly been tilted in Putin’s fraud was now being charged for mously! the opposite, i.e. it was built into favor. One can only wonder how committing it! The defense argued the gov- it. Both the tower and Russia’s much more tilting such a system Russian law required a defend- ernment had no legal right to judicial system will eventually can endure? ant to be brought to trial within prosecute a dead defendant; how- suffer the same fate. It is just a Not unlike the Tower of Pisa, one year or to be released. Coinci- ever, this defense was rejected in matter of which will collapse first. the tilting appears to be a con- dently, only one week shy of Mag- a ruling by the Putin-controlled . tinuing process with little hope it nitsky’s 2009 release deadline, he judge. No one should be sur- -- will ever abate of its own accord. was found dead in his prison cell. prised, therefore, what the ulti- (James G. Zumwalt, a retired U.S. Marine Nowhere has this become more Initially, prison officials mate outcome of the trial will Corps lieutenant colonel and infantry officer, obvious than in a recent court claimed his death was caused by be. The voiceless ghost of Sergei served in the Vietnam war, the U.S. invasion ruling in the continuing case of a rupture to the abdominal mem- Magnitsky will be found guilty, of Panama and the first Persian Gulf war. He is the late Sergei Magnitsky. brane, later changing it to a heart leaving Russian officials, unfazed the author of Bare Feet, Iron Will--Stories from Magnitsky was a Russian audi- attack. However, the Moscow by the blood on their hands and the Other Side of Vietnam’s Battlefields, Living tor. He was hired to investigate Helsinki Group -- a non-govern- never even investigated by the the Juche Lie: North Korea’s Kim Dynasty a dubious claim that a company mental human rights monitoring government, free to enjoy their and Doomsday: Iran--The Clock is Ticking. that had earlier been credited organization -- reported the real ill-gotten gains. He frequently writes on foreign policy and with overpaying its taxes was cause as beatings and torture For centuries, Italian engi- defense issues.)

Obama wallows in scandal, media rush to defend him

By John Kass in Washington, to where things Benghazi means something to Chicago Tribune were just about perfect: the presidential prospects of Hillary Back home to Chicago. Grant Dogged by scandal, and with Park. November 2008. Clinton. HER snarky comment “What his press secretary presumably Can you remember the looks of difference, at this point, does it now curled up in the fetal posi- genuine adoration in their eyes? make?” will hang from her neck like tion and breathing into a brown Some were so overcome they paper bag, it’s obvious President couldn’t help but weep for joy. the dead albatross in the poem Barack Obama is in need. Others barely stopped their lips She and Bill had dared suggest Obama doesn’t bother me. I Our president must find his from twitching. Still others were that Obama had played the old disagree with his politics, but happy place again, away from wiggly with excitement, like Chicago race card on her in the that’s not what’s galling. What’s irritating controversies. puppies unable to keep still, and Democratic presidential primary appalling was the pack mentality Like Benghazi, where four we know what puppies do when - that primary of the 3 a.m. phone of journalists - and I don’t need Americans died and he stood they’re excited. call. The media response was to polls to tell me that most are lib- before the United Nations and Many hugged and offered crush her. erals - who were so eager to wag made a phony reference to a high-fives, or loudly clapped, or There was no memo, but the their tails at his approach. ridiculous video in order to save clinked glasses and gave each messengers gathered with com- Benghazi is trouble enough for his politics at the expense of the other profound smiles of satis- mon purpose, as if compelled by Obama, so troubling that a liberal truth. faction and joy. journalistic pheromones to do soccer friend (yes, I do appreciate And now it’s known that his And that was just the journal- what must be done. And it was diversity of opinion) greeted me Internal Revenue Service was ists. done. To Hillary. For her apostasy, by sarcastically chanting,“Beng - used to threaten conservative The rest of Obama’s voters she was almost cast out. hazi! Benghazi! Benghazi! Beng- and tea party groups and quash were ecstatic too. But as histori- Because Obama wasn’t just hazi!” as if that dusty, bloody town political dissent. The IRS also ans will no doubt tell us, Ameri- another politician. Reporters in Libya doesn’t mean a thing. leaked damaging information can journalists were especially flocked to him as if he was the But it means something to from secret files against his politi- thrilled. gentle forest faun, Mr. Tumnus Obama’s credibility, which is now cal enemies to the media, prompt- Not all. A few grumpy types straight out of the Narnia tales. in tatters. And it means some- other scandals have joined it, ing to tea party members and ing some to call him President complained that messianic And American journalism thing to the four dead Americans, and combine in organic fashion conservatives to investigative Barack Milhous Obama. politics is never healthy for the was like that little girl in the including U.S. Ambassador Chris to produce a president on the reporters at ProPublica. Another scandal, involving Republic. But who could listen C.S. Lewis stories, Lucy Pevensie, Stevens. It means something to defensive. The Obama admin- Using the IRS to smother the Justice Department seizing with all that joy in their ears? graciously accepting his tea and the whistle-blowers who say they istration insists its fingerprints dissent and grabbing the phone reporters’ phone records hoping The Republican establish- cakes, nodding off to the music were pressured not to talk. aren’t on this IRS business, and records of The Associated Press to find administration leaks, is ment - the War Party - had been of his woodland pipes, sleeping And Benghazi means some- the president himself condemns isn’t something a gentle Mr. Tum- a chilling assault on the First vanquished, and deservedly so, on his couch, smiling. thing to the presidential pros- it as an outrage. nus would do. Amendment that would have for talking out of both sides of It was odd and somewhat pects of Hillary Clinton. The for- But it is worse than an outrage. But it is something done by made Nixon or J. Edgar Hoover its mouth about the need for a frightening to watch so-called mer secretary of state’s snarky And the president was the benefi- politicians from Chicago, where smile. smaller government while feed- journalistic iconoclasts cleav- comment “What difference, at ciary. If he were truly angry, he’d government is the muscle that What Obama requires is ing from that monstrous defense ing desperately to the myth of this point, does it make?” will have fired people immediately. shuts the mouth. another relaxing vacation. This industry trough. They’re in Obama as savior. His mouth- hang from her neck like the dead The push by the White House for time, the man needs a visit to the wilderness still, and should pieces came up with excellent albatross in the poem. By 2016 it an “independent” investigation is ABOUT THE WRITER Happy Land. remain there for a while. lines that were repeated endlessly, should be exceedingly ripe. also an outrage. John Kass is a columnist for the Chicago So please take my hand, Mr. And Democrat Hillary Rod- my favorite being that the guy These days, Benghazi is no It is the Congress’ job to inves- Tribune. Readers may send him email at President, and we’ll fly there, ham Clinton had already had from Chicago would transcend longer being viewed as some iso- tigate. Let them ask the IRS why [email protected] over those political storm clouds her wings clipped. Remember? “the broken politics of the past.” lated artifact in a glass jar. The it provided information damag- 19 May 2013 EDITORIAL 9

Mission Brief INVESTIGATEDAILY

-Constitutional Outrage Why we’ve published The Briefing: Few realize what is happening in Godzone. In a low key approach designed to “fly under the radar”, the Maori and Welcome to InvestigateDaily’s ‘The Briefing’. As developments in these fields and committing them National parties are planning to introduce an Apartheid you’ve probably gathered by now, this is a free digital to a permanent record in The Briefing archives that society through a new Treaty based Constitution. Maori- newspaper available online worldwide, providing a readers can come back to as and when they need only meetings are scheduled – non-Maori are not invited. round-up of recent events and offering a range of to. Often, the headlines fade away and change each A recent poll reveals how close minority interests are to analysis on global issues. week, and it’s too hard to stay across all the different changing race relations in New Zealand. The Briefing has been published in various for- blogs and news websites. It is the brainchild of Maori radicals. This agenda is mats by Investigate magazine since 2007. It mor- Now, you don’t have to. We’re doing the donkey being led by a minor Maori sovereignty party that gained phed for several years into our TGIF Edition digital work to select the most interesting and important only 1.4 percent of the party vote in 2011 General Elec- newspaper that ran between 2008 and 2010. news, so that your time isn’t wasted. The Briefing tion, just 31,982 votes. A condition of the Maori Party’s It’s a communication point, first and foremost, can be read in bed or on the run; in the plane or on coalition deal with National was a review of the consti- between our publishing company and our readers. a train - at the risk of going the full Dr Seuss, you tution giving ‘effect’ to the Treaty of Waitangi. The Maori Hundreds of thousands of people have purchased or can have us anywhere. Party’s goal is clear - a new constitution based on the read our books and magazines,and The Briefing is We’re also open to suggestions. What would you Treaty of Waitangi as supreme law. a way for us to offer something in return at no cost. like to see included in The Briefing? How often We are told it’ll be helping to overcome “Maori disad- With the rise of smartphone and tablet technol- would you like it to be published?. vantage” - BUT past grievances have been settled MUL- ogy, digital publishing is taking hold everywhere. Comments can be left on the Investigate maga- TIPLE times. Maori tribes are now amongst the wealthiest Retail stores are cutting the numbers of printed zine Facebook page or emailed to us at The Briefing institutions in our society and well resourced to pursue magazines they stock as more people make the at [email protected] . their sovereignty agenda. If a Treaty-based constitution switch to digital. Above all, feel free to share this PDF or the web becomes law; Every law and every regulation will be tested As part of our particular focus, The Briefing version with your friends. The Briefiing is the free to ensure preference is given to Maori. The outcome will includes specialist sections on Climate Change and internet paper. If you see a story you think is impor- be a two-tier society divided by race: a tribal ruling class SUBSCRIBE TO INVESTIGATE Vitamin D. We’re keeping an eye on the significant tant, share it. Others might thank you fo it. dictating across-the-board race-based preference, with all other New Zealanders relegated to second class citizen- Comment ship status. NZ will become an apartheid society. Denis Shuker The domino effect of Cyprus Hibiscus Coast C Crewe book a great read I was at Auckland International Airport heading to Seoul in South Korea and I decided I needed a book to read dur- By Martin Walker If Europe’s leaders seriously want to trigger ing the 11 hour journey so I called at a book shop near the NICOSIA, UPI bank runs across Europe, comments such as these, departure lounge and I found your book “The Inside Story” Only a fool would deny the ability of the European What an excellent and well written book Ian, a book Union to concoct some fudged last-minute rescue suggesting that public savings are fair game, seem to that I found hard to put down. I don’t why I didn’t get the for Cyprus that keeps the great euro suspense drama be the right way to do it But at the same time, Europe’s leaders demand book when it was first published but congratulations on a limping wearily onward. no slacking; for many of them, austerity still rules. very good account on the story that has consumed the But only a bigger fool would deny that the crises Lucinda Creighton, Ireland’s minister for Europe, NZ community of the classic whodunit. keep on coming, that the fudges are looking less declared last month that her battered island could After reading your account, I believe your theory about convincing and that the long-suffering European be an inspiration for other countries going through who the likely suspect is and coming on the back of the voters are becoming less patient. difficult times.“If they see Ireland re-enter the mar- death of Bruce Hutton makes it all the more intriguing. And only the biggest fool of all would believe that ket, they’ll have a sense of hope. We know all about Congratulations Ian. I am after another book you have the European economies are showing enough evi- tough decisions in Ireland. Unfortunately, there are written relating to “Climate Change” because I am going dence of recovery to make the drama and the losses, no easy solutions. We just have to get on with it.” to Papua New Guinea and whilst there, Climate Change the austerity and the unemployment seem remotely It is, by the way, interesting to reflect on the role will be a topic for some discussion. worthwhile. If there is any light at the end of the of Europe’s islands in this crisis. Iceland, then Ire- Rex Nathan euro-tunnel, it isn’t discernible to the human eye. land, then Cyprus, were all countries with massively Dargaville For the eurozone as a whole, employment has swollen banking sectors, seven and 10 times larger fallen for the 15th consecutive month and last fort- than the size of their economy, which plunged into cA climate change believer night’s Markit Index found both service and manu- financial disaster. The markets have yet to turn their No climate scientist has ever claimed that sea levels will facturing companies reporting steepening declines attention to Malta, another eurozone member with rise by 20 feet by the end fo the century. Just yet another in new orders. The detailed reports for individual an unusually large banking sector. flat out lie from the denial PR machine. If the denial indus- countries are even worse. The biggest island of all with its own massive try is so sure of their case why do they lie over and over In France, the Markit index showed private sec- financial industry is Britain and late March the and over again? tor firms reporting more falls in output this month, Fitch ratings agency announced it was putting Brit- Leslie Graham sinking at their fastest in four years. The latest fall ain on watch for a downgrade from its AAA credit In response: “No climate scientist has ever claimed that in service sector business activity was the steepest status. But Britain has some North Sea oil and sig- sea levels will rise by 20 feet by the end fo the century”. since February 2009, in the depth of the recession. is starting to catch on elsewhere. Jorg Kramer, the nificant shale natural gas potential. And Cypriot Yeah. Nah: In Italy, where firms are going bankrupt at the chief economist of Germany’s Commerzbank (itself gas looks to be a future ace in the hole if they can “As an example, let us say that ice sheet melting adds rate of 1,000 a day, the employers’ federation Con- no outstanding model of banking rigor) suggested finance the liquefying plants and terminals. 1 centimetre to sea level for the decade 2005 to 2015, findustria reports that 29 percent of Italian firms in the business paper Handelsblatt last week that Of course, it would make more sense to send the and that this doubles each decade until the West Antarctic cannot meet operational expenses, while late pay- Italy could solve its problems in the Cypriot way. stuff by pipeline to Turkey but the bad politics of ice sheet is largely depleted. This would yield a rise in sea ments squeeze cash flow and they can get no credit. A tax rate of 15 percent on financial assets would Turkey’s 1974 invasion and occupation of the north level of more than 5 metres by 2095,” intoned Hansen. The Italian economy is being suffocated. The probably be enough to push the Italian government of the island appear to rule that out. If the European But although Hansen started with five, the excitement country must intervene rapidly to re-inject funds debt to below the critical level of 100 percent of Union had any strategic sense, they would make in his New Scientist article built as he threw in a fresh into the economy, said Telecom Italia Chairman gross domestic product, he wrote. a bail-out for Cyprus conditional on its agreeing estimate of ten metres a century. Franco Bernabe. And in Le Monde last week, Paris University the peace settlement with Turkey that Kofi Annan “There is growing evidence that the global warming Italian Finance Minister Vittorio Grilli last week economist Bruno Moschetto seemed to be suggest- devised in 2004 (and which Greek Cypriots then already underway could bring a comparably rapid rise in revised the official economic forecasts and said Ita- ing a similar approach in France in an article titled rejected in a referendum). sea level. The process begins with human-made green- ly’s economy would shrink 1.3 percent this year and ‘No, France is not bankrupt’. That would be a win-win for everybody, par- house gases, which cause the atmosphere to be more 1.7 percent next year. As a result, the country will go “A state cannot be bankrupt, in its own currency ticularly for the European Union, which broke its opaque to infrared radiation, thus decreasing radiation of yet deeper into debt. In the minister’s words, Italy to foreigners and residents since the latter would be own rules by allowing Cyprus to become a member heat to space. As a result, the Earth is gaining more heat will “increase our potential debt of 20 billion per invited to meet its debt by an immediate increase despite an ongoing territorial dispute. than it is losing: currently 0.5 to 1 watts per square metre. year in 2013 and 2014, to create the cash on hand.” in taxation,” he wrote (note the elegant use of the The European Union did so because they were This planetary energy imbalance is sufficient to melt ice Instead of the eurozone economy stabilizing in word ‘invited’). In abstract, the state is its citizens, held to ransom by Greece, which threatened to veto corresponding to 1 metre of sea level rise per decade.” the second quarter, as many -- including the Euro- and the citizens are the guarantors of obligations the admission to the European Union of Poland and You got your first statement wrong, big time. Evidently you pean Central Bank -- have been hoping to see, the of the State. the other central and Eastern European countries also failed to read the NZ Antarctic Research Institute paper downturn could therefore intensify in coming If Europe’s leaders seriously want to trigger bank unless Cyprus was allowed to join. The bad blood properly, because five metres a century is what it predicts. months, commented Chris Williamson, Markit’s runs across Europe, comments such as these, sug- that engendered toward Greece and Cyprus helps Keep drinking the climate science Kool-aid from those chief economist. Even Germany showed worrying gesting that public savings are fair game, seem to be explain the toughness now being displayed by Ger- nice guys in white coats… signs of growth fading in March, driven by a return the right way to do it. (And note that an enterprising many and other EU partners. What goes around, THE BRIEFING is published by HATM Magazines Ltd to contraction of its manufacturing sector. Spanish bedding firm last week responded to the comes around. Letters to the editor can be emailed to: In such circumstances, the extraordinary plan fears for money held in banks by launching a new [email protected] in Cyprus last month to confiscate peoples’ savings line: mattresses with built-in safes.) THE ANALYSTS 10 19 May 2013

A VERY BRITISH COUP: from left, Mandy Rice-Davies, who was having an affair with Conservative War Minister John PRofumo (centre); who in turn was also sleeping with call-girl Christine Keeler who in turn was in bed with the Soviet KGB.

When Macmillan resigned as prime minister in October of that year, he was replaced by Alec Douglas-Home, who had to give up his title as the 14th Earl of Home in order to take the job, which required him to sit in the House of Commons. He didn’t last long. Within the year he lost a general A YEAR TO REMEMBER election and was replaced by a moderate socialist By Martin Walker from Yorkshire who liked to mock Douglas-Home’s UPI aristocratic credentials by referring to himself as the 14th Mr. Wilson. This is a great year for anniversaries, from the battle ister) that he had lied and resigned his post. lan, the supposed suicide of Stephen Ward and the Wilson had ruthlessly exploited the affair to of Gettysburg in July to the assassination of Ken- It wasn’t immediately clear that this sexual launch of the glossy myth of Swinging London. embarrass the government, insisting there is a secu- nedy 50 years ago in November and the Battle of the entanglement posed any serious security risk. Its cultural significance, as the end of one era rity threat and claiming that it all represented the Nations at Leipzig 200 years ago that really sealed Indeed, Profumo noted to his friends that if in the of British rectitude, class distinction and hypoc- sickness of an unrepresentative sector of our soci- Napoleon’s fate. With 600,000 soldiers engaged, it course of their encounters Keeler had suddenly risy and the launch of permissive society was best ety by which he meant the ruling classes and the was Europe’s largest battle until World War I. asked about military matters, his suspicions rather summed up by the greatest English poet of the day, corruption of their rule. There is something utterly But it is also just 50 years since the British minis- than his libido would have been aroused. Philip Larkin. nauseating about a system which pays a harlot 25 ter for war, John Profumo, lied to the House of Com- Peter Wright, a counter-intelligence official from “Sexual intercourse began times as much as it pays a prime minister, Wilson mons about his relations with a young woman called MI5 who was allowed to question Keeler when she “In nineteen sixty-three told Parliament. Christine Keeler. While having a brief affair with was arrested on charges of perjury, had no such “(which was rather late for me) -- But there was at the same time a real security Profumo, she was simultaneously having an affair doubts. While he found her poorly educated and “Between the end of the ‘Chatterley’ ban scandal unfolding. In January 1963, the Middle with the military attache at the Soviet Embassy, ill-informed on public events, he noted that at one And the Beatles’ first LP. East correspondent for the Observer newspaper Yevgeni Ivanov. point she used the terms nuclear payload. This was The Chatterley ban was a reference to the obscen- disappeared from Beirut. His name was Kim Philby Throughout the months of April and May in 1963, not then a term in common parlance and Wright ity trial the previous year, in which D.H. Lawrence’s and after a long and distinguished career in British Profumo maintained his lie that there had been no reported to the government that in his view there novel, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, was allowed to Intelligence MI6, rising to be its representative in impropriety in his relations with Keeler. Many in had been a real security risk at the heart of the be published for the first time in Britain on the Washington in the early years of the Cold War, he London society knew otherwise, including Viscount Profumo affair. grounds of redeeming artistic merit. had been recalled and eased out amid growing and William Astor, who owned the Cliveden estate where Keeler was a busy young woman, since she was The Beatles need no explanation. Their first well-founded suspicions that he had been a Soviet Profumo first met Keeler as she arose nude from also at the time involved with a Jamaican drug album, with titles like Love Me Do and Please Please agent since the 1930s. the swimming pool. dealer called Lucky Gordon and with another West Me, was dominating the airwaves in the same weeks It was in July 1963, as John Profumo began his Astor also owned the Observer national news- Indian, a petty criminal called Johnny Edgecombe. that scurrilous tales of Christine Keeler’s sexual new career and penance cleaning the toilets at a paper and his younger brother David Astor was its The two men fought over her and she fled. When adventures dominated the newspapers. charity for the poor in London’s East End, and editor, so many in the media had reason to believe Keeler was hiding in the London apartment of soci- Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll came together in a when the Beatles went to see a new band called that Profumo had lied. Rumor abounded, gossip ety osteopath Stephen Ward, Edgecombe tried to heady cocktail with high politics and London the Rolling Stones perform at The Scene in Great swirled and the opposition Labor Party dropped break in to see her, firing several shots at the door. lowlife and at least in the popular memory, Britain Windmill Street, that it was formally announced heavy hints and leading questions until the pressure These were the events that triggered the Profumo was never quite the same again. It was much more that Philby had defected to the Soviet Union. on Profumo became intolerable. On June 5, Profumo scandal, Profumo’s forced resignation, the fall of fun, rather less stuffy and something shifted in the Quite a year. had to confess to Parliament (and to his prime min- the government of Prime Minister Harold Macmil- social system.

AL QA’IDA STILL MAJOR THREAT By Special Correspondent UPI The jihadist storming of Algeria’s In Amenas strengthened their power. al-Qaida is attracting increasing numbers of West- desert gas complex in January, apparently in retali- The assassination of bin Laden signalled a water- ern Muslims and converts, particularly in Syria, just Despite Western claims that al-Qaida’s on the ation for France’s military push against jihadists in shed in the West’s long struggle with jihadism, the as the war in Iraq did a few years ago. ropes, counter-terrorism experts warn that jihadist Mali, is a case in point. Financial Times observed. The International Center for the Study of Radi- forces remain as dangerous as ever as they gather So although the current surge of jihadist opera- But nearly two years on,“unease has returned and calization at King’s College, London, concluded a strength across the Muslim world and exploit the tions aren’t a direct threat to Western civilization, a new chapter in the battle against Islamic extrem- yearlong survey of the Syrian conflict by noting, “We Middle East’s political upheaval. they still cause deep concern among the West’s intel- ism appears to be underway ... U.S. and European can say with certainty ... that hundreds of Europe- Indeed, the so-called third generation of jihad- ligence services. governments have a right to be worried.” ans have joined the fight in Syria.” ists may prove to be the most deadly al-Qaida yet, The mushrooming jihadist influence in Syria’s Now the threat is more widely scattered and And here things get more complex, because observes veteran CIA analyst Bruce Riedel, now civil war, now in its therefore more com- there’s a school of thought that Saudi Arabia and with the Brookings Institution. third year, threatens to plex. the other Arab monarchies are supporting the sec- Riedel is a hard-line conservative for whom destabilize the entire British Prime Min- ondary uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia because jihadists are an existential threat to the West. Yet Middle East and ignite ister David Cameron they don’t want democratic Muslim governments al-Qaida has been unable to replicate the horrors new sectarian conflicts warned after the In to succeed lest they threaten the future of their own of Sept. 11, 2011. in Lebanon, Jordan and Amenas slaughter, “We absolute regimes. The last major attack in Europe was the multi- Iraq. face a large and exis- Nigel Inkster, a former senior official with Brit- ple bombings of London’s transport system July 7, Meantime, the tential terrorist threat ain’s Secret Intelligence Service, observed: “When 2005, in which 54 people and four suicide bombers maelstrom of turmoil from a group of extrem- al-Qaida was largely holed up in the badlands of people were killed. triggered by the pro- ists based in different Pakistan and the tribal areas, the U.S. had the capa- But then al-Qaida is no longer the highly central- democracy uprisings parts of the world who bility to deal with them in a much more focused way ized network it was in 2001. of the so-called Arab want to do the biggest through drone attacks. But now we have a far more Its founder and mastermind, Osama bin Laden, Spring that began possible amount of disaggregated threat that no one country has the was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan May in January 2011 has damage to our interests capability to tackle.” 2, 2011. opened immense and way of life.” Riedel says of al Qaida 3.0: “It’s an adaptive Dozens of his top- and mid-level commanders opportunities for the Echoes of George W. organization and it has exploited the chaos and have been killed, mainly in U.S. drone strikes, decapi- jihadists. Bush in 2001 but, as turmoil of revolutionary change to create opera- tating the leadership of al-Qaida Central. They were originally al-Qaida expert Jason tional bases and new strongholds ...It’s a complex These days, the threat is more diffuse, coming thought by liberal daily Burke observed, “A gas and decentralized enemy that requires strategies from regional affiliates which run their own wars. media to have been refinery in southern tailored to each franchise. There’s no one answer The threat to the West is largely directed at its inter- marginalized by these Algeria is not the Pen- to each challenge. There’s no ‘strategic defeat’ of al- ests in regions far distant from the United States revolutions, but they’ve tagon.” Qaida in sight.” or Europe. exploited the chaos and That may be so. But 19 May 2013 THE ANALYSTS 11

Outside View: IRANIAN NUKES UN- THINKABLE By Harlan Ullman KILLOWEN GROUP a year can last a long time or indeed be over in a and moves closer to or obtains a nuclear weapon, restoring relations with China during the same seeming flash. the United States will strike. period. During the Cold War, the thermonuclear standoff Sanctions imposed on Iran by the international Hence, metaphorically, both states are circling Soviet Russia and China were far more powerful between the United States and Soviet Union was community spearheaded by the United States are and stalking each other as wild animals or gladia- and dangerous adversaries with tens of thousands of often described as two scorpions in a bottle. The damaging that economy and the lives of most Ira- tors of old might in one on one combat. nuclear weapons under the command of the Krem- notion was that both scorpions would sting the other nians. For the time being, the sanctions appear to Three relevant issues describe the risks of con- lin. And ideologically, with the Cultural Proletar- to death no matter which struck first. Of course, the have no positive effect on the ayatollahs running frontation. ian Revolution imposed by Mao, many Americans prospect of the scorpions being of the opposite sex the country regarding nuclear issues. Indeed, there First, as North Korea has provocatively threat- thought him irrational -- as some regard perhaps with options other than mutual suicide was rarely is some evidence that the sanctions have steeled ened war by abrogating the truce ending the Korean Ayatollah Khamenei and Kim Jong Un today. raised. Iran’s will and caused the regime to move faster in War and now threatening to target U.S. forces in But who would or could be an intermediary? Nei- Today, the United States and Iran aren’t two scor- developing its nuclear enrichment programs while the Pacific, an accident or miscalculation could ther Russia nor China would be interested Britain pions in that once famous bottle. But both states installing new, more modern centrifuges. precipitate a shooting incident that could lead to is rated as an even greater Satan than the United remain locked in a dangerous embrace going back Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa (religious escalation. States by Iran. decades to the overthrow of the Mossadegh gov- edict) declaring nuclear weapons immoral and Second, both sides aren’t listening to what the And could any talks be kept secret by both sides? ernment in the 1950s and the restoration of the denying that Iran would build them. Supporting other says. Purposeful ignorance or turning a deaf Secret diplomacy is surely needed. Overtures can shah to the 1979 revolution and takeover of the this pledge was Iran’s decision not to use weapons of ear, to mangle the phrase, means both sides are talk- be made. Possible envoys could be former President U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The shooting down of an mass destruction, particularly chemical, during the ing past each other. Thus, what Tehran and Washing- Bill Clinton or Secretary of State John Kerry as Iranian Airbus in the 1980s and U.S. tacit support war with Iraq and after Saddam’s army repeatedly ton need is far better understanding of the other. both have the status and gravitas to be viewed seri- for Saddam Hussein during the long Iran-Iraq employed them against Iran. Yet, Khamenei stand- Tehran says it will negotiate only after sanctions are ously by Tehran. war reinforced this mutual animosity and hostil- ing in the West isn’t high so his promise is generally lifted. Washington won’t lift sanctions until Tehran Since containment is off the table and a year is ity between governments. dismissed. submits to further inspections and foregoes the abil- a very short time, action is needed now. Otherwise Today, the embrace is fixated on Iran’s nuclear Obama hasn’t been reluctant to use force as the ity to enrich uranium certainly to weapons grade. this deadly embrace could be a suicide pact for a ambitions and enrichment of uranium to possible surge in Afghanistan and the decision to approve The result is an impasse and deadlock. great many people. weapons grade levels. That U.S. President Barack action against what was thought to be Osama bin Third, neither side has been able to find or agree ? Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Net- Laden’s home in Abbottabad, Pakistan vividly to a means for a discreet or covert bilateral meet- anyahu agreed that it would take at least a year demonstrate. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s com- ing to begin some serious form of negotiation as Harlan Ullman is chairman of the Killowen Group, which for Iran to construct a nuclear weapon provides ment that the president is not bluffing reinforces the United States did with the Soviet Union vis-a- advises leaders of government and business, and senior some breathing space. Still, in international politics, the impression that if Iran doesn’t alter its course vis arms control in the Nixon years and of course adviser at Washington’s Atlantic Council

ISLAM VS SECULARISM: THE BATTLE FOR SYRIA By special correspondent UPI

As Syria’s civil war grinds on, major differences suspicions he was involved in the death of Firas al- are emerging between Islamist and secular rebel Absi, head of a group linked to the al-Nusra Front. forces, raising fears that the defining conflict will On March 24, Mohammed al-Daher, a popular be a showdown between these forces rather than al-Farouq commander in eastern Syria, was badly battling the Damascus regime. wounded in an apparent attempt to assassinate him There are growing fears that the country will by the al-Nusra Front. be divided in a war between north and south, a The next day, Col. Riad al-Asaad, who estab- split that almost led to a civil war between the two lished and initially commanded the FSA, was regions in 1954 centered on Syria’s two great trad- badly wounded in a car bombing. It was initially ing cities -- Aleppo in the north and the capital attributed to the regime but Syrian sources said it Damascus in the south. bore remarkable similarities to the attack on Daher. Analysts and other observers liken this to the intense A full-blown civil war among the rebels is not out rivalry in Libya between the Islamist east centered on of the question, said analyst Victor Kotsev. Benghazi and the west dominated by Tripoli. U.S. history Professor Joshua Landis, who lived The friction between the rebels has deepened in in Syria for several years and now teaches at the recent weeks, with Islamist forces led by the increas- University of Oklahoma, says the real war in the ingly powerful jihadist Jabhat al-Nusra and the country is being fought on the ground by militia Farouq Brigades of the Free Syrian Army at each leaders who are becoming the real leaders of Syria. other’s throats. The Islamists, who fought mainly in the north and In January, Thaer al-Waqqas, leader of the FSA’s northwest around Aleppo where they were supplied al-Farouq Brigade was killed in northern Syria amid from neighboring Turkey, are increasingly pushing south after taking the strategic Deir al-zur region and its oil fields. In recent days they have taken regime bases near the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau in the south that has been largely occupied by Israel since 1967. The Islamists’ presence has alarmed the Israelis, who fear they could come under attack on what for 40 years has been their quietest border. Landis noted that the Islamists are head- ing south“down the Eastern highway toward Damascus ... “Already al-Nusra has a strong foothold in the Damascus region in the Palestinian neighborhood of Yarmouk, around the Jebel Druze and the Daraya-Adhamiya district of Damascus.” was avoided at the last minute when the United nians, and to a lesser degree the Saudis, on training Many Damascenes are fearful of being States and Saudi Arabia convinced Shishakli to go secular forces in the Hashemite kingdom on Syria’s overrun by the North, Landis observed. The into exile in the kingdom. southern border. time-honored divide between North and Today, Landis wrote in his blog, Syria is not so But, Landis observed, it is not clear how committed South is again gaining relevance. lucky. “North and South could be in for a real fight, the U.S. and the West are to manning up the opposi- He was referring to 1954, when the coun- dividing the country not only along geographic lines tion in the South of Syria to get the jump on the try split in half under the dictator Gen. but also along ideological lines.” growing Islamic tide washing down from the North. Adib ash-Shishakli who had seized power Meantime, there’s strong speculation that the Kotsev said, “The noose around Damascus is in December 1949. United States and Britain are seeking to build up slowly tightening and many observers believe the The north, led by mutinous Druze troops the FSA and its allies around Damascus so they take fall of the capital is a matter of time.” and Aleppo notables, rose against him and the capital rather than have it fall into Islamist hands. Meantime, he added, it remains to be seen who military forces began moving south on That would fit in with recent disclosures the disintegrates first: the regime or the main rebel Damascus, where Shishakli ruled. Civil war Americans and British are working with the Jorda- groups opposing it. THE ANALYSTS 12 19 May 2013

THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF the responsibility of each individual. SOCIETY This was not a faith that allowed people to do By Margaret Thatrcher whatever they wished, regardless of the conse- THE HILLSDALE LECTURE, 1994 quences. The Ten Commandments, the injunction of Moses (“Look after your neighbor as yourself”), the The Moral Foundations of the American Sermon on the Mount, and the Golden Rule made Founding Americans feel precious-and also accountable-for History has taught us that freedom cannot long the way in which they used their God-given tal- survive unless it is based on moral foundations. The ents. Thus they shared a deep sense of obligation American founding bears ample witness to this fact. to one another. And, as the years passed, they not America has become the most powerful nation in only formed strong communities but devised laws history, yet she uses her power not for territorial that would protect individual freedom-laws that expansion but to perpetuate freedom and justice would eventually be enshrined in the Declaration throughout the world. of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. For over two centuries, Americans have held fast Freedom with Responsibility to their belief in freedom for all men-a belief that Great Britain, which shares much of her history springs from their spiritual heritage. John Adams, in common with America, has also derived strength second president of the United States, wrote in 1789, from its moral foundations, especially since the 18th “Our Constitution was designed only for a moral century when freedom gradually began to spread and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the throughout her socie!y Many people were greatly government of any other.” That was an astonishing influenced by the sermons of John Wesley (1703- thing to say, but it was true. 1791), who took the Biblical ethic to the people in What kind of people built America and thus a way which the institutional church itself had not prompted Adams to make such a statement? Sadly, done previously. too many people, especially young people, have a But we in the West must also recognize our debt to hard time answering that question. They know little other cultures. In the pre-Christian era, for example, of their own history (This is also true in Great Brit- the ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle ain.) But America’s is a very distinguished history, had much to contribute to our understanding of nonetheless, and it has important lessons to teach such concepts as truth, goodness, and virtue. They us regarding the necessity of moral foundations. knew full well that responsibility was the price of John Winthrop, who led the Great Migration to freedom. Yet it is doubtful whether truth, goodness, America in the early 17th century and who helped and virtue founded on reason alone would have found the Massachusetts Bay Colony, declared,“We endured in the same way as they did in the West, shall be as a City upon a Hill.” On the voyage to where they were based upon a Biblical ethic. the New World, he told the members of his com- Sir Edward Gibbon (1737-1794), author of The pany that they must rise to their responsibilities Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, wrote tell- and learn to live as God intended men should live: ingly of the collapse of Athens, which was the birth- in charity, love, and cooperation with one another. place of democracy. He judged that, in the end, more Most of the early founders affirmed the colonists than they wanted freedom, the Athenians wanted were infused with the same spirit, and they tried security. Yet they lost everything-security, comfort, to live in accord with a Biblical ethic. They felt they and freedom. This was because they wanted not weren’t able to do so in Great Britain or elsewhere to give to society, but for society to give to them. in Europe. Some of them were Protestant, and some The freedom they were seeking was freedom from were Catholic; it didn’t matter. What mattered was responsibility. It is no wonder, then, that they ceased that they did not feel they had the liberty to wor- to be free. In the modern world, we should recall the ship freely and, therefore, to live freely, at home. With Athenians’ dire fate whenever we confront demands munism, it could not crush the religious fervor of the gifts were given by a divine Creator, who alone can enormous courage, the first American colonists set for increased state paternalism. peoples of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. unlock the secrets of existence. out on a perilous journey to an unknown land- To cite a more recent lesson in the importance So long as freedom, that is, freedom with respon- Societies Without Moral Foundations without government subsidies and not in order to of moral foundations, we should listen to Czech sibility, is grounded in morality and religion, it will The most important problems we have to tackle amass fortunes but to fulfill their faith. President Vaclav Havel, who suffered grievously last far longer than the kind that is grounded only today are problems, ultimately, having to do with Christianity is based on the belief in a single God for speaking up for freedom when his nation was still in abstract, philosophical notions. Of course, many the moral foundations of society There are people as evolved from Judaism. Most important of all, the under the thumb of communism. He has observed, foes of morality and religion have attempted to who eagerly accept their own freedom but do not faith of America’s founders affirmed the sanctity of “In everyone there is some longing for humanity’s argue that new scientific discoveries make belief in respect the freedom of others-they, like the Atheni- each individual. Every human life-man or woman, rightful dignity, for moral integrity, and for a sense God obsolete, but what they actually demonstrate ans, want freedom from responsibility. But if they child or adult, commoner or aristocrat, rich or poor- that transcends the world of existence.” His words is the remarkable and unique nature of man and accept freedom for themselves, they must respect was equal in the eyes of the Lord. It also affirmed suggest that in spite of all the dread terrors of com- the universe. It is hard not to believe that these the freedom of others. CONTINUE HERE

BROOKHAVEN BIOLOGISTS MAKE INTELLIGENT DESIGN ANALOGY AFTER FINDING MOLECULAR ENGINE By Staff Correspondent EVOLUTION NEWS.ORG

Cells use molecular vehicles that carry cargo on "switch" for kinesin motors. They found that in the networks of "highways." Some scientists can't presence of magnesium, the engineered enzyme avoid the comparison to modern vehicular traffic. stops functioning. But introduce manganese, and Brookhaven National Laboratory reports: it will jumpstart the motor protein again. “Molecular motor proteins inside the body, called Their ignition switch thus includes the function of kinesins, are a lot like the motor in your car. The a pedal to control the speed. Cochran explains, "One molecular motors convert stored chemical energy can simply vary the ratio of magnesium and man- into specific conformational changes, which lead to ganese ions, which in turn can modulate the target various movements in cells, analogous to the way a enzyme activity from inactive to wild-type levels." car engine converts the energy of gasoline combus- Mechanics will appreciate the analogy to gear ratios. tion into torque generation, which leads to tires The metal "switch" is a valuable tool that can rotating on an axle. (Emphasis added.)” help researchers studying energy conversion in The analogy proceeds seamlessly into a discus- enzymes. This method also allows researchers to sion of how Dartmouth College researchers have study sub steps of the kinetic cycle, stopping the succeeded in tweaking the kinesin motor by add- reaction at particular steps in the cycle, which can ing a "switch" to "to control the activity of these be tricky to isolate. organic nanomotors." Kinesins don't come with an Let's get this straight. The researchers recognized "ignition switch," so the researchers exchanged a these protein machines as performing functions that they could understand it. Why, then, attribute evolution, showing once again that evolutionary magnesium atom for manganese, giving them the analogous to automobile engines. Even though the original machinery to blind, purposeless evolu- theory is superfluous to much biological research, ability to stop and start the kinesin engine: cars and trucks are orders of magnitude larger, the tionary processes? You don't tweak a rock to make despite Dobzhansky's claim that nothing in biology "Now we have the ability to tightly control the functions are the same: ignition, energy conversion, it work better. If kinesin has a function analogous makes sense without it. On the contrary: nothing speed of these motors, such that we can 'turn them controlled movement. to that of a car engine, the intelligent design of the about molecular machines makes sense without off' and 'turn them back on' similar to a dimmer No one questions the intelligence of the research- car engine is equally analogous to the intelligent intelligent design. switch on your lights at home," said Jared Cochran, ers whose design, purpose and action were "geared" design of the cellular machine. Continue reading who worked with a team to devise the control to taking existing cell machinery and modify it so The news from Brookhaven says nothing about 19 May 2013 THE ANALYSTS 13 New book: The Ultimate Food Garden (a must-have for every home...click cover for details)

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ISLAM FLIPS THE BIRD TO WESTERN LIBERALS rialized. Thus, using Cordoba symbolized a middle- similar zones for non-Muslim vendors. The effort is By Lt. Col, James G. Zumwalt finger salute to America. slowly turning non-Muslim neighbourhoods into UPI OUTSIDE VIEW Mosque supporters set their sights upon the old Muslim footholds to convert locals to Islam. Burlington Coat factory building, valued at $18 mil- And Islamists have found converts to be good To those Muslims looking to expand Islam's global Zero Mosque would help bring back the atmosphere lion before 9/11 but damaged during the attack, buy- fodder for terrorist activity. reach, symbolism is very important. of interfaith tolerance and respect that we have ing it for less than $5 million. Yet to be disclosed is the Interestingly, since 9/11, as mosque construction In the weeks after 9/11, photographs circulated longed for since Muslims, Christians and Jews lived mosque's $100 million funding source for renovations. has blossomed in the West, so, too, has the intimida- within the Muslim world of the New York skyline, together in harmony and prosperity 800 years ago. Additionally, the relatively small size of Lower tion and persecution of non-Muslims in Muslim its normally dominant World Trade Center replaced To understand this statement is to understand Manhattan's Muslim community should bring countries, forcing them either to close their houses with photo-shopped mosques, identifiable by their Islam's hypocrisy. into question the need for such a large -- 13-story of worship or leave. prominent domes and minarets. First, Islamic scholars agree, “Wherever Muslims -- mosque. Supposedly moderate Muslim countries like The depiction represented an Islamic conquest live and have mosques, it is impermissible for any In 2010, U.S. sentiments against the Ground Zero Saudi Arabia prohibit other religions from being on U.S. soil, providing it with a strategic foothold. sign of infidelity to be present, churches or otherwise.” Mosque's construction ran high. Over time, sup- practiced. Thus, the West's tolerance has been met Becoming an Islamic shrine demanded further But the right of ‘taqiyya’ allows Muslims to porters took a lower profile, accurately assessing with continuing intolerance by Muslim states. action be taken to follow up on this victory to turn deceive non-Muslims as to their actual intent to such sentiments would fade. Quietly, they contin- A surprising discovery was made April 25 by symbolism into reality. advance Islam. Mosque supporters claiming the ued to put their construction plans into action to surveyors inspecting the Ground Zero Mosque site Throughout history, Islam has built mosques scholars' statement is untrue are simply exercis- make Cordoba House a reality, changing the name on behalf of its owner. In a small trash-filled alley in lands it conquered. That is why the effort was ing taqiyya. to Park51. passageway, found wedged between the mosque and launched, several years after 9/11 to build the Second, wanting to imprint the mosque with a Peeling back the complex layers of Islamic groups an apartment building next door, was the 5-foot Ground Zero Mosque two blocks from where the name bearing significance for Muslims but lost on and individuals behind the mosque reveals link- high landing gear of one of the Boeing 767 aircraft WTC collapsed. naive Americans, sponsors settled upon Cordoba age to the Muslim Brotherhood -- an organization flown into the WTC by Islamic hijackers. The 9/11 attack brought to light certain sensitivi- House -- after a city symbolizing one of Islam's whose goal, as documented in its leadership's own This discovery, almost 12 years later, opened old ties within both the Muslim and non-Muslim com- greatest victories. writings, is to bring Shariah law to the United wounds for those who lost loved ones on 9/11, espe- munities in addition to another symbol important Cordoba was a Spanish city conquered by the States, ultimately displacing the U.S. Constitution. cially the 1,000 families of victims whose remains to the former. Muslims centuries ago, whose citizens were forced Despite Islam's influence on the 9/11 attack, the were never found. After 9/11, U.S. President George W. Bush called to submit to Islam. In keeping with the practice of United States has continued to keep the doors of As mentioned, symbolism is important to Mus- for a crusade against a new kind of evil -- i.e., ter- conquering Islamic armies to memorialize a battle's tolerance open to a religion clearly motivating some lims. Perhaps non-Muslims should see some symbol- rorism. Using crusade in the context of a noble goal, victory by constructing a mosque where it was won, followers to pursue violence against it. ism in the discovery, years later, of a 9/11 plane's he subsequently stopped the reference due to the one was built. A site where a Christian church once In the years since 9/11, there has been a signifi- landing gear. For one, it should symbolize that the negative connotation it had among Muslims. stood gave way to a mosque. cant increase in the number of mosques built in victims of 9/11 never be forgotten. While crusade generates the same negativity The harmony referenced above, therefore, was New York. Where these mosques have been built, But just as important, it should symbolize in among Muslims as the word jihad does among Muslim harmony as non-Muslims were ruled by steps have been taken later by Muslims to close ‘plane’ language a warning about Islam: Mus- non-Muslims, the latter have refrained from call- Muslims. businesses providing un-Islamic services, such as lims aggressively increase their global footprint ing for a crusade although Muslims continue their Since 9/11 is viewed by some Muslims as a con- selling alcohol. methodically and deliberately while decreasing that call for jihad. quest of the United States, they believed the New Like areas in Paris, which are no-go zones for of non-Muslims passively accepting their doing so. Muslim sponsors claimed building the Ground York site, like Cordoba, similarly had to be memo- non-Muslims, some areas in New York have become NZ BRIEF 14 19 May 2013 Was it a ‘partnership’ deal? By Reuben Chapple Breaking Views with a large quantity of firearms, and condemned” and even “hung Warerahi (Ngaitawake), rose to powder and shot. These weapons by the neck” should he behave address his fellow chiefs:“Is it not Only in the last 25 years has any- were used by Ngapuhi to over- badly enough. good to be in peace? We will have one considered it an established run much of the North Island Rewa (Ngati Taweke) spoke this man as our Governor” and fact that the Treaty of Waitangi in the first of the Musket Wars. next, saying:“This country is ours “Say to this man of the Queen, created a partnership between A destructive arms race ensued. … we are the Governor.” Like Te Go back! No, no.” Maori and the Crown. For almost Thousands of Maori died as other Kemara, Rewa saw that chiefly Hakiro (Ngatinanenane) was 150 years, this view was largely tribes acquired European weap- authority would be trumped by another recalictrant: “We are not unheard of. Moreover, there is ons of their own. that of Hobson:“[Authority over] thy people. We are free. We will not not a shred of evidence that the Maori had no national con- Your land will be taken from you have a Governor.” British authorities intended to sciousness before the Treaty and your dignity as chiefs will be Tareha (Ngatirehia) stood establish such a partnership, nor was signed, seeing themselves destroyed.” after Hakiro and told Hobson: that the chiefs saw this as the as belonging to separate iwi. Moka (Patukeha) then stood up. “We, we only are the chiefs, rulers. Treaty’s object. With the coming of the musket, “Let the governor return to his own We will not be ruled over.” Never Lord Normanby’s 1839 instruc- the various tribes possessed for country. Let us remain where we are would he accept“the Governor up in power].” Then in an abrupt of Appeal to usurp the proper law- tions to Captain William Hobson the first time weapons of mass [as sovereign powers in the land].” high” and Tareha “down, under, about-face he told Hobson: “O making function of Parliament. demonstrate that the Crown’s extermination with which to be Tamati Pukututu (Te Uri-o- beneath!” Governor! remain. But, the Gov- The source of the partner- purpose was “sovereign author- revenged upon traditional ene- Te-Hawato) was the first to speak Rawiri (Ngatitautahi) rose to ernor up! Te Kemara down, low, ship myth can be traced to an ity over” those of the “accepting mies. The farsighted soon came up for Hobson: “Sit, Governor, greet the Governor in English as his flat! No, no, no.” erroneous decision of the Court aborigines of New Zealand” who to see that only outside interven- sit, for me, for us. Remain here, a “Father,” saying, “Stay here, O Gov- After the Treaty was endorsed of Appeal in a 1987 case involv- would agree to place themselves tion could put a stop to this ever- father for us.” ernor! … that we may be in peace.” by the chiefs at Waitangi, Crown ing the New Zealand Maori “under Her Majesty’s dominion.” escalating cycle of violence. Matiu (Uri-o-Ngongo) stood Hone Heke (Matarahurahu) agents went throughout New Zea- Council. It is founded upon Modern-day revisionists claim The words of the chiefs them- next, reiterating what the previ- reiterated what previous speak- land seeking signatures. Piko, a what researcher, Alan Everton the Maori understanding of the selves display a full awareness ous speaker had said: “Do not go ers in favour of Hobson had said: chief at Coromandel, rejected describes as: “nothing more than Treaty was that “chiefly author- that their acceptance of Gover- back, but sit here, a Governor, a “Remain, Governor, a father for us.” the Treaty because he could “see the opinion of five judges, who ity” would be preserved under nor Hobson would place him in father for us.” Hakitara (Te Rarawa), also no necessity for placing himself combined a lamentable igno- the “governorship” of the Crown. authority over them, and that Kawiti (Ngati Hine) was stood up for the Governor, though under the dominion of any prince rance of New Zealand history The Maori version of the Treaty behind Hobson stood Queen another who rejected the Gover- most of his words were drowned or queen, as he was desirous of with a willingness to ignore the supposedly failed to convey the Victoria. Anyone who has read nor: “We do not want to be tied out by side conversations taking governing his own tribe.” constitutional principle that they meaning of the English version, eyewitness accounts of the sign- up and trodden down. We are free. place after Heke had spoken. Mananaui Te Heuheu of were appointed to apply the law, and the Treaty negotiations ing of the Treaty and continues to Let the missionaries remain, but, Tamati Waka Nene (Ngatihao) Tuwharetoa also refused to sign, not make it. failed to clarify the difference. believe Maori thought they were as for thee, return to thine own then told Hobson: “[R]emain for saying“I will never consent to the The Court of Appeal’s proper That the chiefs were victims of going into“partnership” with the country.” His fellow chiefs were us – a father, a judge, a peace- mana of a woman resting upon response in this matter would Crown duplicity is not supported Crown needs to go away and boil warned that acceptance of Hob- maker. Stay thou, our friend, our these islands. I myself will be chief have been to reserve its decision, by the facts. The chiefs of coastal their head to clear their thoughts. son meant the Governor would father, our Governor.” in these isles: therefore begone!” then ask Parliament to define in tribes had lived and worked On 5 February 1840, the Treaty be able to order: “Kawiti must Eruera Maehe Patuone, Tamati The partnership fallacy came statute how (if at all) “the prin- alongside Europeans for more was first debated at Waitangi by not paddle this way, nor paddle Waka Nene’s older brother, spoke about because the 1984 Labour ciples of the Treaty of Waitangi” than two decades. Their young Ngapuhi chiefs assembled there that way, because the Governor next, saying: “Remain here with Government placed references differed from its simple black men had travelled all over the for that purpose. said ‘No.’” us, to be a father for us, that the to “the principles of the Treaty of letter clauses. Yet Cooke J. man- world in British ships, observed Te Kemara (Ngati Kawa) Pumuka (Te Roroa) rose next. French have us not.” Waitangi” into most of the legisla- aged to state in his ruling that the British sovereignty in operation, spoke first, observing that the To the chiefs, he said: “I will have Te Kemara (who’d spoken first) tion it passed. What many would Treaty was “somewhat akin to a and returned to tell the tale. effect of signing the Treaty this man a foster-father for me.” To here jumped up again, saying to see as a deliberate failure to define partnership.” Ngapuhi were the first tribe to would be for “the Governor to be the Governor:“I wish to have two the Governor:“Go away; return to these “principles” in statue then How could that be? As Alan obtain muskets after Hongi Hika up, and Te Kemara down.” Under fathers – thou and Busby, and the thine own land.” To the chiefs, he allowed the Waitangi Tribunal Everton says, “the Treaty was... returned from England in 1821 the Governor, he could be “tried missionaries.” said: “Let us all be alike [in rank, and activist judges on the Court READ MORE HERE

“There are questions written by Ian Wishart and others that need to be answered.” - David Rankin, Ngapuhi

“I can recommend it, I think it is a fascinating read and I think every- body should be read- ing it. We’ve all read Claudia Orange and the other books – this is an updated version.” - Doris Mousdale, ZB 19 May 2013 NZ BRIEF 15 Marriage as we know it - sink or swim time

By Rex Ahdar, Professor of Law, Otago Stuff.co.nz

The catchcry of same-sex marriage proponents is Is gay (partnership) marriage “like” conjugal “equality”: gay couples have a right to equal treat- marriage? In some respects, yes: both may involve ment and to deny them legal marriage is blatant monogamous couples who have a deep commitment discrimination. to each other. Yet this claim deflects attention from the real Both can express this commitment in a sexual issue: what is the true nature of marriage? fashion and raise children (if any) in a caring way. Two rival visions jostle for supremacy. The conju- In other respects, however, the answer is no: lack- gal model says marriage is a lifelong union between ing sexual complementarity, gay couples cannot a man and a woman. The partnership model says achieve complete sexual bodily union. marriage is a contract between committed loving And lacking reproductive capability they cannot couples. be biological parents. Conjugal marriage is a comprehensive union They can nurture children but they cannot pro- (mental and physical, emotional and sexual) of a vide the example that a father and a mother can, the man and a woman. intangible things that only a father and a mother Marriage has a true essence, a fundamental core; can supply. They lack the inherent structure to rear it is a real phenomenon, not just a human invention well-rounded, psychologically secure children. or convention. Who says these attributes - sexual complementa- A crocodile is a crocodile, a tree is a tree, a river rity, reproductive capacity - are “essential”? is a river. We did not invent crocodiles, we simply Who says this is the standard? discovered them and named them. We can call a We did. We decided that marriage involves the hippopotamus a crocodile if we want but that does comprehensive sexual union of a man and a woman. not change its essential nature. We decided that, ideally, children are best raised All it does is lead to confusion. by their biological father and mother. Marriage is a pre-political institution. When I say “we”, I mean every culture, tribe States recognise marriage; they do not invent and race since antiquity has recognised these as it. States value the institution in which men and essential elements of this thing called marriage and women commit indefinitely and exclusively to each accorded such unions special status. other and to the children their sexual union com- Perhaps every society throughout the ages has monly (but not invariably) produces. got it wrong and we alone in the West have now Gay marriage proponents will argue that defines stumbled upon the truth. marriage so as to exclude gay couples, a neat trick But I think not. that fools no- one. The wanton use of the slogan“equality” just skews Not so. Recall their key claim: gay couples deserve the debate. equal legal recognition. The tactic is to brazenly repeat that conjugal That is an empty argument. To insist upon equal- marriage and partnership marriage are equal - as make no mistake. We may treat gay couples the same as hetero- ity is to require that “like things be treated alike”. if this were somehow self-evident - then require To redefine marriage is to abolish it. sexual couples when it comes to property division, So X and Y should be treated equally for X and that those who deny this to show why “unequal” Partnership marriage does not keep the existing pensions, inheritance and so on, but not when it Y are alike. But we need to know in what respects treatment is justified. institution and simply allow more persons to join comes to marriage. X is like Y and whether these characteristics are And who can be against “equality”? it. Instead it eviscerates it and substitutes a radical Here, the two are simply not alike. morally valid before we can be confident that they Opponents must show why this enlightened pro- experimental concept. In the end sit still, close your eyes and quietly ask merit equal treatment. posal is wrong, rather than gay marriage proponents Gay couples should not be permitted to marry yourself: can a man.... We must have a standard for deciding which char- having to demonstrate why the partnership model because they lack the essential traits that constitute READ MORE HERE acteristics count and which don’t. deserves to replace the existing institution. And true (conjugal) marriage. AMY BROOKE AMY “Reform (of our institutions, laws, regulations, politics) must come from outside the realm of public institutions. It must come from the associations Amy Brooke of civil society. It must come from us, the citizens.” – Niall Ferguson, BBC Reith Lecture No 2, 2012 The Rule of Law and Its Enemies

“Politicians…I have come to the conclusion that the only way to control them is through your proposal”. – Emeritus Professor David Flint http://www.davidflint.com.au

“That Amy’s book will be attacked by the ‘progressives’ will only endorse

how adrift they are. The hope is that New Zealanders may find this book as a compass in a storm. “ – Leighton Smith, Talk-back radio host, NewstalkZB THE 100 DAYS “As always, the quality of writing is superb, the power of the arguments Claiming Back New Zealand is compelling, the research behind the debate is impressive…The book draws from a wide and eclectic range of sources and displays deep THE 100 DAYS understanding of a number of pertinent issues. It’s a high-quality piece of What has gone wrong work and a joy to read…I find myself saying ‘Absolutely! Hear! Hear!’ to the great bulk of your analysis – particularly in relation to education and how we can control and Maori matters. Agree or disagree, because of the concerns it raises our politicians and the information it contains, this book should be compulsory reading for all New Zealanders in public office. I really do congratulate you on a magnificent effort. – Greg Newbold, Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Canterbury

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Star Trek: Into Darkness 0Director: J J Abrams 0Cast: Chris Pine, Karl Urban Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Sal- dana, Alice Eve 0Length: 132 minutes 0Rated: PG-13 Star Trek: Into Darkness The warp drives on the USS Enterprise are, as usual, on the verge of meltdown in “Star Trek Into Dark- ness.” Luckily, the entertainment propulsion system for the sci-fi saga is roaring full throttle. The second entry in the revived franchise is a archive is vaporized (or is it?) by a nefarious rogue Without feeling note-perfect blend of escapist fun and thought-pro- officer (or was he?) named John Harrison (or is he?). over-packed, the film voking commentary, ensemble drama, comic relief, English star Benedict Cumberbatch, bringing the contains a multiplex daredevil action and senses-shattering spectacle. mandatory Old World pomposity to the villain’s worth of standout Director J.J. Abrams, who recently was anointed the role, flees to the Klingon homeworld Kronos. Since action scenes, all of new master of the “Star Wars” empire, leaves Gene a boots-on-the-ground strike force would turn the which advance the Roddenberry’s galaxy positioned to live very long Federation’s Klingon cold war hot, Adm. Marcus story while boggling and prosper like crazy. (Peter Weller) orders the Enterprise to launch mis- the mind. My favorite Despite its baleful title, “Into Darkness” is fleet- siles from a safe distance. The allusions to domestic answers the question footed and never far from a jovial wink at the audi- terrorism and drone warfare add real-world reso- “How do you travel a ence. It opens with a stupendous chase sequence nance to the drama. great distance between that out-Spielbergs “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Kirk As Harrison, Cumberbatch is a huge improvement spacecraft without a (Chris Pine) and Bones (kiwi Karl Urban) hot- over Eric Bana’s Nero, the gale-force banshee villain shuttle or transporter foot it through a weird / gorgeous scarlet forest. A of 2009’s“Star Trek.” Harrison is a daunting foe, pos- beam?” The sequence, a primitive race of chalk-white primitives barrel after sessing icy intellect, superhuman physical prowess callback to a bravura them, flinging spears (the only use of 3-D that has and a psychologist’s eye for his adversaries’ weak passage in the earlier caused me literally to jump out of my seat.) Piling spots, as well as a menacing, theatrically trained “Star Trek,” is hair- emergency atop crisis, Spock (Zachary Quinto) is baritone. He taunts Kirk with his glacial disdain raising. trapped inside that ready-to-blow volcano on the until the hothead snaps. When he discovers that Abrams and ace horizon, the second hand ticking toward its planet- Harrison isn’t an opponent who can be defeated by a cinematographer Dan obliterating explosion. Topside, the sprinting duo punch, or three, or 10, Kirk must rethink his strategy. Mindel handle the hit the deadest of all possible dead ends. The multi- He struggles to adapt to a murky moral dimen- special effects with a cliffhanger ends with multiple surprises and a sly sion where evil deeds spring from understandable sure hand, shooting as punchline about the origins of fanboy culture. impulses and where the enemies of your enemies are many of the sequences Here in a nutshell is the Abrams approach to possibly, but not reliably, your friends. as possible with mini- blockbuster filmmaking. The sequence isn’t a hand- As in last summer’s “Avengers,” the main business mal computer trickery. ful of undifferentiated characters amid a crushing of “Into Darkness” is to teach the series’ familiar A fistfight sequence concatenation of pyrotechnics. It’s a series of clev- characters a few lessons. Kirk, the brash cadet who aboard a speeding erly engineered “What next?” moments, with a sur- landed in the captain’s chair almost by accident, is garbage scow attains a prising, perfectly apt payoff. It is storytelling, always obliged to learn the qualities of leadership. Spock level of realism rarely the strongest attribute of the “Star Trek” tradition. must understand that rule-bound robot logic doesn’t seen, thanks to most of it being filmed with real Tribble. I was captivated every moment. While Back on a 23rd-century Earth, Kirk is in hot cover every nuance of context-sensitive human life. actors in real sunlight. building in myriad references to earlier “Star Trek” water. His crew’s heroic but forbidden interference Uhura (Zoe Saldana) must recognize that having The film isn’t perfect. The score works overtime adventures,“Into Darkness” feels like a summation with an alien culture earns him a suspension. His a tongue as sharp as her beloved Spock’s ears does to let us know that Harrison is eeeeevil. New Enter- of all the previous chapters. mentor, Adm. Pike (Bruce Greenwood) strips the not make her more persuasive. The romantic byplay prise science officer Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) Boldly go. cocky beginner of his command and sends him back of Spock and Uhura compliments the bickering strips down to her underwear in one brazenly gra- STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS to the academy. But soon the service is in need of bromance between Spock and Kirk, which reaches tuitous scene simply because she looks really good 3 ½ stars every able-bodied man. Starfleet’s London data a surprisingly affecting payoff. that way. Some might quibble about including a reviewed by Colin Covert