Yahoo placerar sitt europeiska huvudkontor i Dublin

Dublin – Internetportalen Yahoo! meddelande idag att de valt Dublin på Irland som plats för dera europeiska huvudkontor. Irland mötte hård konkurrens från andra europeiska länder för att vinna investerarnas gunst. Flytten beräknas skapa över 400 jobb, av vilka två tredjedelar förväntas vara för personer med kunskaper inom informationsteknologi, finanstjänster och konsumentsupport samt redaktionellt arbete vid webbplatser.


YouTube to remove 100,000 videos

Yesterday, YouTube was told by Viacom Inc. to remove over 100,000 video clips thought to possibly feature content produced by Viacom owned companies after the two failed to reach an agreement for revenue sharing. Viacom said its content posted without permission on YouTube generate about 1.2 billion video streams, based on a study from an outside consultant.

Viacom owns popular American companies such as MTV, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Nickelodeon.

Many users on YouTube upload copyrighted videos without permission everyday, sometimes unknowingly.

"YouTube and Google retain all of the revenue generated from this practice, without extending fair compensation to the people who have expended all of the effort and cost to create it," said Viacom in a statement.

"It's unfortunate that Viacom will no longer be able to benefit from YouTube's passionate audience which has helped to promote many of Viacom's shows," a YouTube spokesperson said. "We will continue to work with content partners large and small to provide them with a platform to promote their content and engage and grow their audiences."

Companies such as CBS have reached deals with YouTube over using their content.


Viacom exigeix la retirada de 100.000 vídeos piratejats a You Tube

Viacom, propietària de tel·levisions com MTV, Comedy Central o Nickelodeon ha exigit a YouTube, el famós lloc on compartir vídeos propietat de Google la retirada d'un centenar de milers de vídeos que són presumptament piratejats d'alguna de les cadenes.

Des de que Google va comprar YouTube el 10 d'octubre del 2006 moltes empreses han aprofitat per exigir la retirada de vídeos que infringeixen el copyright.

Viacom argumenta que en total, els seus vídeos s'han vist 1.200 milions de vegades sense el seu consentiment, "les eines per a filtrar programes promeses per YouTube i Google repetidament no s'han utilitzat, i continuen tenint una gran quantitat de vídeos no autoritzats", deia un comunicat de Viacom, "YouTube i Google es queden amb tots els ingressos que genera aquesta pràctica sense donar una compensació justa a aquells que han posat tot l'esforç i els costos per a crear els productes".

L'actitud de Viacom contrasta amb la d'altres empreses que ja han arribat a acords amb YouTube Warner Music, NBC i fins i tot Universal Music, que va estar a punt de demandar al portal.

Eric Schmidt, el president executiu de Google, va dir en una reunió el dimecres que YouTube estava en vàries fases per llençar una tecnologia que identificaria el material amb copyright.


Zimbabwe government allocates US$10 million for relocation of thousands of families near diamond field

The Zimbabwean government has allocated US$10 million worth of funds for the relocation of thousands of families living near the Chiadzwa diamond fields in the Manicaland province.

Murisi Zwizwai, the Deputy Mines Minister, said that the funds would be used to build houses for the residents in the area, and for developments in . “I can confirm that US$10 million has been set aside for the relocation. The relocation may take place after they have harvested their crops,” he said in an interview, as quoted by the New Zimbabwe news agency.

Zwizwai also added that “the money would be used to build new houses, clinics among others.” According to him, the residents would not be relocated until the 2009–10 agricultural season.

In a 100-day plan, the Zimbabwean coalition government noted that diamonds in the area might be a large source of funds and finance for the country, and could help revive the economy.


Gobierno de Zimbabue asigna US$10 millones para la reubicación de familias cerca de campo de diamantes

El gobierno de Zimbabue asignará US$10 millones para la reubicación de miles de familias que viven cerca del campo de diamantes de Chiadzwa en la provincia de Manicalandia.

Murisi Zwizwai, el Vice-Primer ministro, dijo que el fondo invertido será para construir los hogares de los residentes de la zona, y el desarrollo del mismo. “Yo puedo confirmar que estos US$10 millones serán usados para la re ubicación de los residentes. La re ubicación tendrá lugar después de la época de cultivos”, lo dicho por él en una entrevista, por la agencia de noticias de Zimbabue.

Zwizwai también agregó que “el dinero se usará para la construcción de nuevos hogares, clínicas entre otros”. Según él, los residentes de la zona no serán re ubicados hasta la temporada de agricultura 2009–10.

En un plan de 100 días, la coalición del gobierno zimbabuense señaló que los diamantes de la zona pueden ser una gran fuente de fondos y financiación para el país, y su explotación podría contribuir a reactivar la débil economía nacional.


2007 Ig Nobel Prize winners announced

The winners of the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize have been announced. The awards, given out every early October since 1991 by the Annals of Improbable Research, are a parody of the Nobel Prize, which are awards given out in several fields. The awards are given to achievements that, "first make people laugh, and then make them think." They were presented at Harvard University's Sanders Theater.

Ten awards have been presented, each given to a different field. The winners are:


Insolite : les prix Ig Nobel 2007 viennent d'être attribués

Les lauréats des Prix Ig Nobel 2007 ont été annoncés. Les prix, remis à chaque début d'octobre depuis 1991 par la revue humoristique Annals of Improbable Research, sont une parodie des prix Nobel, qui récompensent plusieurs champs disciplinaires. Les récompenses sont remises aux résultats qui « font d'abord rire les gens, puis les font ensuite réfléchir ». Ils sont présentés au Sanders Theater de l'Université de Harvard.
Dix prix ont été présentés, chacun attribués à un domaine différent. Les lauréats sont :


American Indian Movement protests against Professor Ward Churchill

United States —
The American Indian Movement protested against the controversial professor  Ward Churchill, chairman of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado, who in a paper written after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, compared the victims of the attack to "little Eichmanns".

The American Indian Movement says Churchill’s statements comparing victims to Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann who implemented Adolf Hitler’s plan to exterminate European Jews and others should be condemned by all. Also, they say Churchill fraudulently represents himself as an Indian and a member of the American Indian Movement.

Additionally, Ward Churchill has perpetrated art fraud and plagerism. He was banned from selling his artwork in 1990.
http://wardchurchill.blogspot.com/2005/02/chief-wannabe-is-art-fraud-indian.html
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/001596.htm


Indianer i USA protesterar mot kontroversiell professor

USA –
De amerikanska indianernas medborgarrättsrörelse American Indian Movement protesterar mot den kontroversielle professorn i etniska studier vid universitetet i Colorado, Ward Churchill. I en avhandling skriven efter attackerna mot World Trade Center den 9 september 2001 kallade han offren "små Eichmanns".

Medborgarrättsrörelsen menar att Churchills liknelse mellan offren och den nazistiske krigsförbrytaren Adolf Eichmanns planer att förinta alla judar måste fördömas av alla. De betraktar också Churchill som en bedragare då han uppträder som indian och representant för American Indian Movement. De säger att att anlita en sådan bedragare också måste betraktas som ett förräderi mot indianernas sak.


Austrian students' protests expanding through Europe

A Europe-wide student movement, started in the Austrian capital of Vienna, is developing. It started on 28 October 2009 and met with the discussions following the Conference of the Ministers for Education and Cultural Affairs in Germany on 15 October. For Tuesday 17 November — the 70th anniversary of the international students' day — a nationwide education strike in Germany has been announced. Radio Deutsche Welle reported in English about the demonstrations.

Speakers of the actions said, students are complaining that universities are underfunded and understaffed. The students' protest concerns the Bologna reforms and the tuition fees.

On Wednesday, 11 November some 600 students at the Free University of Berlin had occupied the largest auditorium of the central building of the humanities in the suburb of Dahlem. Afterwards actions took place in Tübingen, Munich and Basel, each with hundreds of participants.

The Potthoff building, a lecture hall of the Dresden TU has been occupied since Monday, 9 November. Actions also took place in Utrecht, Turin, Rome, Lublin, London and Birmingham.


Studentenprotest von Wien jetzt europaweit

Passau (Deutschland), 14.11.2009 – Aus der spontanen Besetzung von Universitätshörsälen in der österreichischen Hauptstadt Wien ist eine europaweite Studentenbewegung entstanden. Ab dem 28. Oktober 2009 wurde erst österreichweit besetzt. Danach solidarisierten sich viele andere Studenten an ihrer Universität mit ähnlichen Aktionen. Dies traf mit den Diskussionen zusammen, die sich im Anschluss an die Kultusministerkonferenz in Deutschland am 15. Oktober entwickelt und im Internet verbreitet hatten. Am Mittwoch, den 11. November besetzten rund 600 Studierende der Freien Universität Berlin den größten Hörsaal des zentralen Gebäudes der Geisteswissenschaften im Stadtteil Dahlem. Es folgten Proteste in den Audimax-Sälen, den jeweils größten Hörsälen, der Universitäten in Tübingen, München und Basel mit jeweils mehreren hundert Teilnehmern. Wie ZEIT ONLINE berichtet, fordern die Studenten eine „Demokratisierung der Universität, die Ausfinanzierung der Studienplätze und eine Überarbeitung der Bachelor- und Masterstudiengänge“. Kritisiert wird auch der sogenannte Bologna-Prozess, der an vielen Hochschulen und Universitäten dazu führte, dass die traditionellen Studienabschlüsse Diplom und Staatsexamen durch europaweit vergleichbare Zertifikate ersetzt werden sollen. Teilweise ist aber die Anerkennung von Studienleistungen selbst innerhalb von Deutschland nicht immer gegeben, so dass der Wechsel von einem Studienort zum anderen erschwert wird.

Jan Rosteck vom bundesweiten Bildungsstreikbündnis sagte, in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz seien etwa 15 Hochschulen an den Aktionen beteiligt. Seit Montag, den 9. November ist der Potthoff-Bau in Dresden, ein Hörsaalgebäude der Technischen Universität, ununterbrochen besetzt. Besetzungen fanden auch in Turin, Rom, Lublin, London und Birmingham statt. Für Dienstag kommender Woche – den Internationalen Studententag – ist ein bundesweiter Bildungsstreik in Deutschland angekündigt worden. Der Sender Deutsche Welle berichtete in englischer Sprache von den Demonstrationen.


Bangladesh government makes Hijra an official gender option

Earlier today, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina chaired a cabinet meeting which decided to grant official government recognition of people who gender identify as Hijras, people who identify as neither male nor female.

Recognition brings several government related benefits to Hijras including priority in education, housing and health.  Their gender designation will also appear on their passports as Hijras. English language documents will refer to them as Hijras as the government claims any English translation would be misleading.  The decision was announced by Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan at a media briefing following the meeting.

Hijras already have voting rights in Bangladesh. A survey by the Ministry of Social Welfare says 10,000 people who identify as Hijras live in the country.


Влада Бангладеша званично признала Хиџре

11. новембар 2013.Бангладеш -  (Агенције) - Раније данас, премијер Бангладеша Шеик Хасина председавао је на састанку кабинета који је одлучио да додели званично признање владе људима који се идентификују као Хиџре, то јест људи који се декларишу ни као мушко ни као женско.

Ово озваничавање касте и признавање од стране Владе доноси неколико предности везане за Хиџре укључујући приоритет у области образовања, становања и здравства. Њихова ознака за пол ће се појавити и на њиховим пасошима, као Хиџре. Документи на енглеском језику ће такође признавати и писати у секцији пол као Хиџре јер како бангладешка Влада тврди сваки енглески превод би био погрешан. Одлуку је најавио секретар кабинета Мушарафа Хосаин Буиан на брифингу за медије након састанка.

Хиџре већ имају право гласа у Бангладешу. У Бангладешу према истраживању Министарства за социјална питања се каже да 10.000 људи који се декларишу као Хиџре живи у земљи.


Berlusconi proposes January elections if government fails to gain parliamentary majority

Silvio Berlusconi has layed foundations for a potential election in Italy early next year. The Prime Minister of Italy said he would consider holding an election if his government failed to have a significant parliamentary majority and is unable to pass reforms by the end of January.

Berlusconi only narrowly survived a vote of no confidence in the Italian parliament a week ago, and he is facing a backlash from students over plans to radically reform the university system.

Berlusconi said he had conferred with officials in Lega Nord, his government's main ally, which has stressed elections are the most promising end to the political crisis in Italy, which began when when a split occurred in Berlusconi's party, The People of Freedom.

"If, in contrast to what we expect, we do not have a sufficient majority to govern at the end of January, I think that the best thing would be to have the chance to get a fresh majority in both houses of parliament," Berlusconi told journalists.

However, there is skepticism that even if Berlusconi wanted to hold an election, he would be unable to. President Giorgio Napolitano has insisted dissolving parliament is a last resort. Berlusconi won the vote of no confidence last week by only three votes. The Chamber of Deputies voted to keep Burlusconi in power by 314 votes to 311.

The Prime Minister said he intended to try and persuade those who voted against him to support his government. "There are lots of lawmakers belonging to various political forces who have reasons for dissatisfaction with the groups they belong to," he said.

The news comes a day after thousands of Italian students mounted a violent protest against proposed, radical reforms of the country's university system planned by Berlusconi's administration. Riot police used tear gas on protesters in Palermo; campaigners occupied a rail line in Naples; hundreds of protesters staged a short sit-in in the Mole Antonelliana, a major landmark in Turin, in northern Italy. The students urged President Napolitano to refuse to sign the law.


Ο Μπερλουσκόνι πρότεινε εκλογές τον Ιανουάριο σε περίπτωση που η κυβέρνηση δεν καταφέρει να πάρει κοινοβουλευτική πλειοψηφία

Ο Σίλβιο Μπερλουσκόνι έθεσε τις βάσεις για πιθανές εκλογές στην Ιταλία, νωρίς τον επόμενο χρόνο. Ο Πρωθυπουργός της Ιταλίας είπε ότι θα προτείνει εκλογές αν η κυβέρνηση του αποτύχει να λάβει κοινοβουλευτική πλειοψηφία και αν σταθεί ανίκανη να περάσει τις μεταρρυθμίσεις μέχρι το τέλος του Ιανουαρίου.

Ο Μπερλουσκόνι υπερψηφίστηκε σε  πρόταση δυσπιστίας στο Ιταλικό Κοινοβούλιο μόλις τη προηγούμενη εβδομάδα, και αντιμετωπίζει τις αντιδράσεις των σπουδαστών, οι οποίοι δεν είναι ικανοποιημένοι με τις απότομες μεταρρυθμίσεις στο σύστημα εκπαίδευσης στα πανεπιστήμια.

Ο Μπερλουσκόνι είπε ότι είχε συναντήσεις με τους αξιωματούχους  του κόμματος Λίγκα του Βορρά, που είναι ο κύριος σύμμαχος της κυβέρνησης του Μπερλουσκόνι, οι οποίοι υπογράμμισαν  ότι οι εκλογές είναι το πιο ελπιδοφόρο τέλος της πολιτικής κρίσης στην Ιταλία, η οποία άρχισε όταν εμφανίστηκε διάσπαση στο κόμμα του Μπερλουσκόνι, Λαός της Ελευθερίας.

"Αν, σε αντίθεση με αυτό που περιμένουμε, δεν καταφέρουμε να λάβουμε ικανή  πλειοψήφια για να κυβερνήσουμε κατά τα τέλη Ιανουαρίου, θεωρώ ότι είναι καλύτερο να λάβουν μια νέα πλειοψηφία και τα δύο σώματα του κοινοβουλίου," είπε ο Μπερλουσκόνι στους δημοσιογράφους.

Ωστόσο, υπάρχει σκεπτικισμός ότι ακόμα και αν ο Μπερλουσκόνι θέλει να διεξάγει εκλογές, που δεν θα είναι ικανός να κάνει. Ο Πρόεδρος Τζόρτζιο Ναπολιτάνο επιμένει ότι η διάλυση του κοινοβουλίου είναι η ύστατη λύση. Ο Μπερλουσκόνι κέρδισε τη ψηφοφορία  στην πρόταση δυσπιστίας τη προηγούμενη εβδομάδα με μόνο τρείς (3) ψήφους. Η Ιταλική Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων ψήφισε υπέρ της παραμονής του  Μπερλουσκόνι στην εξουσία με 314 ψήφους υπέρ και 311 ψήφους κατά.

Ο Πρωθυπουργός είπε ότι θα προσπαθήσει να πείσει αυτούς που ψήφισαν κατά να υποστηρίξουν τη κυβέρνηση του. "Εκεί υπάρχουν πολλοί βουλευτές  που ανήκουν σε διάφορες πολιτικές δυνάμεις που έχουν λόγους να είναι δυσαρεστημένοι με τις ομάδες που ανήκουν," είπε.

Τα νέα ήρθαν μια μέρα μετά που χιλιάδες Ιταλοί σπουδαστές διαμαρτυρήθηκαν για τις προτεινόμες, απότομες μεταρρυθμίσεις στο πανεπιστημιακό σύστημα της χώρας από τη διοίκηση Μπερλουσκόνι. Τα ΜΑΤ χρησιμοποίησαν δακρυγόνα κατά των διαδηλωτών στο Παλέρμο - οι ακτιβιστές κατέλαβαν τη σιδηροδρομική γραμμή στη Νάπολη - εκατοντάδες διαδηλωτές κατέλαβαν το Mole Antonelliana, ένα σημαντικό μνημείο στο Τορίνο, στη Βόρεια Ιταλία. Οι σπουδαστές προέτρεψαν τον Πρόεδρο Ναπολιτάνο να αρνηθεί να υπογράψει τον νόμο.

26 Δεκεμβρίου 2010


Bill Gates to receive honorary degree from Harvard University

Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Corporation, will be presented with an honorary degree from Harvard University, on June 7, during the university's 356th commencement proceedings. Gates is to deliver the commencement address for the event.

Although Gates enrolled at Harvard in 1973, he left soon after to focus on the development of Microsoft. Gates is, nonetheless, a member of the Harvard Class of 1977.

In a Harvard University Gazette article announcing the commencement event, the accomplishments of Gates, in both business and philanthropy, were highlighted.

"I am very pleased that the Harvard community will have the opportunity to hear from Bill Gates on June 7," said Paul Finnegan, president of the Harvard Alumni Association. "His contributions to the world of business and technology, and the great example he has set through his far-reaching philanthropy, will rightfully put him on center stage in Harvard Yard. I look forward to greeting him in June."

In 2000, Gates founded, with his wife, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF). A charitable foundation, the B&MGF focuses on worldwide health care and poverty issues. The foundation manages currently more than $30 billion in endowments.

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.


Bill Gates va être fait « docteur honoris causa » de l'université Harvard

L'université Harvard a annoncé, mercredi 21 mars 2007, que Bill Gates, co-fondateur et président de la Microsoft Corporation, sera fait docteur honoris causa de l'université, le 7 juin prochain, à l'occasion de la 356e cérémonie de remise des diplômes, au cours de laquelle le magnat de l'informatique devrait prononcer le discours traditionnel devant les étudiants primés.

Bill Gates avait lui-même étudié, un temps, au sein de l'université Harvard, où il avait été inscrit en 1973, choisissant toutefois de quitter les campus assez rapidement pour se consacrer au développement de Microsoft, société fondée en octobre 1975. Bill Gates, bien que n'ayant pas achevé ses études universitaires, est cependant inscrit comme membre de la Harvard Class of 1977.

Un article de la Harvard University Gazette a choisi, à l'occasion de l'annonce de l'événement, de mettre l'accent sur les réalisations de Bill Gates, tant au sein du monde des affaires que dans le domaine philanthropique.

Ken Gewertz, du Harvard News Office, rapporte ainsi que Paul Finnegan, président de l'Association des anciens étudiants de Harvard (Harvard Alumni Association), a commenté l'annonce dans ces termes : « Je suis très heureux que la communauté de Harvard ait l'occasion d'entendre le discours de Bill Gates le 7 juin. » M. Finnegan ajoute que « ses contributions au monde des affaires et de la technologie, ainsi que le grand exemple montré par sa philanthropie de grande ampleur, lui donnent toute légitimité pour intervenir depuis la tribune d'honneur de Harvard » et se déclare impatient de le saluer à cette occasion.

En 2000, Bill Gates a fondé, avec son épouse Melinda, la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates (B&MGF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), fondation de droit américain, à but caritatif et philanthropique, qui se veut « dédiée à la promotion d'un équilibre optimal entre les quatre domaines suivants : la santé mondiale, l'enseignement, la mise d'ordinateurs à la disposition du public dans les bibliothèques et l'assistance aux enfants et familles défavorisés dans la région du nord-ouest (côte du Pacifique) des États-Unis » [1]. La fondation gère actuellement plus de 30 milliards de dollars américains dans divers programmes et dotations.

Fondée en 1636, l'université Harvard est le plus ancien établissement d'enseignement supérieur aux États-Unis.


Cape Verde to launch first public university, with Brazil's support

To help launch Cape Verde's first public university, the Brazilian government has made the promise to provide organizational advice and to train professors.

According to Fernando Haddad, Brazilian Minister of Education, Brazil will send its professors to the small nation off the African coast to train them in lecturing, marking, and other important skills involved in the profession.

Filomena Martins, Cape Verdean Minister of Education and Human Resource Enhancement, met with Haddad on August 22 to work out the details of the plan, which was first launched by Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in July 2004.

Cape Verde also hopes to increase the level of education for the university professors themselves. Of the 300 professors at the planned institution, only 3% have doctorates and only 21% have master's degrees.

Brazil also helps Cape Verde reduce its debt through the Post-Graduate Student Agreement Program. PEC-PG encourages Cape Verdeans to become foreign exchange students in Brazil. In 2005-06, 20 students will participate, with the level increasing to 50 students in the next calendar year.


カーボベルデ、初の公立大学設立にブラジルが支援を表明

アフリカのカーボベルデで計画されている初の公立大学に、ブラジル政府は運営への助言と教授陣の訓練プログラムを提供することで合意した。カーボベルデはアフリカ西岸、大西洋上の島国で、旧ポルトガル領。ブラジルと同じく公用語にポルトガル語を用いている。

ブラジルのフェルナンド・ハッダド教育相によると、ブラジルからカーボベルデへ教授陣を派遣し、現地教員に対して、教授法、採点法など大学教育に必要とされる技術の訓練を行うという。

この計画はブラジルのルイス・イナシオ・ルーラ・ダ・シルヴァ大統領が2004年7月に最初に提唱したものである。カーボベルデのフィロメナ・マルティンス教育・人材育成相とブラジルのハッダド教育相は、8月22日に会談し、計画の詳細を詰める作業を行った。

カーボベルデは、大学の教員の教育水準を向上させることも希望している。計画中の大学の教員300人のうち、博士号取得者は3％、修士号取得者は21％にとどまっている。

また、ブラジルは、大学院教育協定プログラム(PEC-PG)を通じてカーボベルデの対外負債の軽減をも支援するほか、PEC-PGを通じてカーボベルデの学生がブラジルに交換留学することも奨励する。2005年から06年にかけての教育年度には、20人の学生がプログラムに参加する予定であり、参加者は次年度には50人に増える見通しである。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳に基づきます。


Council of Europe report challenges teaching of Creationism

The spread of Creationist doctrines within the education systems of Council of Europe member states "could become a threat to human rights", according to a report which will be discussed and voted on by the Council of Europe on 26th June.

The text written by the Committee on Culture, Science and Education of the Council, firmly challenges the belief in a creator and a world which was created, to the exclusion of accepted theories of evolution. Although Creationist doctrines were for a long time an American phenomenon and not too widespread within the European countries, the report suggests that they are tending to spread to Council of Europe member states.

According to the document, Creationism - fundamentalist doctrine of the origin of the world based on the Bible - is not based on facts and does not rely on any scientific grounds.

The report notes that children currently study predominantly evolutionary theories with a scientific basis, and suggests that there is a consequential risk of introducing confusion for them when presented with alternatives based on "convictions, beliefs and ideals" with no scientific basis.

The Parliamentary Assembly urges member states and their education authorities, inter alia, to "firmly oppose the presenting of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution by natural selection and in general resist presentation of creationist doctrines in any discipline other than religion".


Le créationnisme pourrait être une menace pour les droits de l’homme, selon le Conseil de l'Europe

L'intrusion des doctrines du créationnisme dans les systèmes d'éducation des États membres du Conseil de l'Europe peut être une menace pour les Droits de l’Homme, selon un Rapport de la Commission de la culture, de la science et de l’éducation qui sera discuté et voté par le Conseil de l'Europe le 26 juin.

Bien que les doctrines créationnistes aient été pendant longtemps un phénomène américain et donc peu présentes dans les pays européens, le rapport suggère qu'elles tendent à se répandre chez des États membres.

L'Assemblée parlementaire recommande aux États membres et leurs autorités chargé d'éducation, entre autres, à « s'opposer fermement à la présentation du créationnisme comme discipline scientifique égale à la théorie d'évolution et en général à résister à la présentation des doctrines du créationnisme dans toute discipline autre que la religion ».


Emigration perspective in the eyes of young Poles

During 19 and 20 October in Częstochowa took place National Scientific Students Conference, which  was mainly devoted to migration of young Polish people. It was prepared by two students organizations from Technical University of Częstochowa and Jan Długosz Academy. The leading theme was: To leave or to stay? Young Poles seeking for prospect year after Polish accession to European Union.

Particular parts of Conference was lead by sociology profesors Marek Szczepański, Adam Rosół and Lech Milian.

For the following two days students were presented their own research work, then discussing the reports with professors. The main problems which those reports concerns were opinion and attitudes of young Pols towards the problems of temporary and permanent emigration. Few voice concern about the unemployment rate among people under 25, an issue connected with job searching, as well as identity matters, acculturation of expatriates or the relevance of emotional sphere to adjustement to new host country.


W Częstochowie odbyła się konferencja naukowa poświęcona emigracji zarobkowej

W dniach 19-20 października 2005 w Częstochowie odbyła się konferencja naukowa poświęcona w głównej mierze emigracji zarobkowej pt. Za chlebem... wrócić czy zostać? Młodzi Polacy w poszukiwaniu swojej szansy rok po wstąpieniu Polski do Unii Europejskiej, zorganizowana przez Studenckie Koło Badań Społecznych działające przy Zakładzie Socjologii Akademii im. Jana Długosza oraz Naukowe Koło Socjologiczne działające przy Zakładzie Socjologii i Psychologii Zarządzania Politechniki Częstochowskiej.

Konferencja odbywała się w ośrodkach akademickich, przy których działają organizujące konferencję koła naukowe. Większość referatów wygłoszona została przez częstochowskich studentów i absolwentów powyższych uczelni. W konferencji wzięli udział również wzaproszeni studenci z innych uczelni oraz polscy naukowcy.

Pierwszy dzień konferencji odbywał się w dwóch salach wykładowych Akademii im. Jana Długosza i prowadzona była przez związanych z nią socjologów profesorów; Marka Szczepańskiego i Adama Rosoła. Otwarcia konferencji dokonali przedstawiciele władz obu uczelni oraz Urzędu Miasta Częstochowy. Referaty i dyskusje trwały od godziny 10-tej do 19-tej, a następnie od godziny 20.30 do późnych godzin nocnych. W restauracji Rue de Foch miał miejsce wieczór integracyjny.

20 października odbyła się druga część konferencji na terenie Politechniki Częstochowskiej, którą prowadził związany z uczelnią profesor Lech Milian. Podobnie jak pierwszego dnia, audytorium powitane zostało przez władze Politechniki, a następnie do godziny 15-tej przedstawiane były kolejne referaty.

Większość wygłoszonych referatów, głównie w przypadku studentów, oparta była o jakościowe i ilościowe badania studentów wyjeżdżających za granicę w celach zarobkowych, a także badania opinii i postaw wobec problemu czasowej lub stałej emigracji. Problemy, które były podejmowane, to m.in. bezrobocie, kwestie związane z poszukiwaniem pracy przez studentów na polskim rynku pracy, ale także problemy związane z tożsamością, akulturacją emigrantów, sferą emocjonalną i aksjologiczną towarzyszącą migracjom za granicę.

Była to pierwsza konferencja w Częstochowie zorganizowana przez studentów dwóch uczelni, jak również jedną z pierwszych konferencji podejmujących wątek emigracji do Europy Zachodniej po wstąpieniu Polski do UE.

Merytoryczny program konferencji miał następujący przebieg:


Executives from IT industry focus on 10-year anniversary of Microsoft Research Asia

On April 29 Microsoft Taiwan launched Visual Studio 2008 and Windows Server 2008 in Taipei. The event was also an occasion to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Microsoft Research Asia, with the president, Hsiao-wen Hung, who was praised by several media groups, IT executives, and academic units because of his background.

On the same day of the product launch, Hung talked to Colley Huang (Founder and Chairman of DigiTimes) about "the past decade overview of IT industry" in an executive panel.

Hung also invited several academic elites and executive panels like Ovid Tseng (Principal of University System of Taiwan), George Chen (Deputy Principal of National Taiwan University), Davis Tsai (General Manager of Microsoft Taiwan), and Hsi-peng Lu (Director of Student Affairs of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology). They reviewed the collaboration between academical units in an academical executive panel. Thereafter, Hung will sign an MoU with ITRI for the future academical collaborations.

The Pre-show Press Conference of COMPUTEX Taipei 2008, Li Chang, Deputy Secretary General of Taipei Computer Association commented on Hung's background when Wikinews Journalist Rico Shen mentioned:


微軟亞洲研究院十週年 洪小文回台 產官學界重視

昨（29）日，是微軟亞洲研究院的十週年慶，同時，微軟Visual Studio 2008與Windows Server 2008也正式問世。除了產品的問世售到關切外，現任微軟亞洲研究院院長洪小文博士，因為生在台灣，使得這次的返台之旅，更受到產官學界的高度重視。

洪小文昨日在微軟的產品發表會中，與現任電子時報的社長黃欽勇進行高峰對話，他表示：「亞洲研究院經歷的十年，看見了很多改變，特別是資訊科技的進步，包括產品迷你化，軟體親民化等。」而黃欽勇也藉由他親自辦報的經驗，在高峰會中表示：「機會不是隨手可得的，總是要有一個人跳出來，當初，沒人對我們（電子時報）有信心，現在，成果也證明了一切。無論戒嚴前後的傳媒轉變，特定產業的專業媒體，也是舉足輕重的。」

除了發表會中的高峰論壇，昨日，洪小文以「在地人才全球化」為主題，邀請學術界菁英，包含，台灣聯合大學系統校長，也是準行政院政務委員曾志朗、台灣大學副校長陳泰然、台灣微軟總經理蔡恩全以及台灣科技大學資訊管理系教授兼學務長盧希鵬，進行學術高峰論壇，並將在近期，前往工業技術研究院，簽訂學術合作備忘錄，這些，也代表台灣微軟對學術界的高度重視。

另外，在今（30）日的台北國際電腦展展前記者會中，台北市電腦公會副總幹事張笠，也對本次洪小文的訪台提出了看法：

洪小文的返台，在產官學界引起的一股資訊產業炫風，相信不容忽視，藉由多項學術合作的機會，台灣微軟預估，資訊產業，特別是軟體的研發，可望藉由各種不同形式的合作，提升更多向上發展的空間。


German education minister stripped of PhD for plagiarism

The Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf decided yesterday to revoke the doctoral title of German Federal Minister of Education Annette Schavan.

Schavan was accused of uncredited copying from various sources in the dissertation "Character and Conscience" she completed in 1980. The university's faculty council began its inquiry two weeks ago prior to yesterday's vote to strip the minister of her academic title. News agency DPA has reported she is ready to appeal the decision.

Most of the fifteen-member faculty council voted for withdrawing her doctorate, while two voted against and one abstained. The investigation began with the support of fourteen of the fifteen members on January 22. This decision was made after findings by an anonymous blogger were made public, Schavan had requested the matter be examined, and a preliminary examination completed in fall of 2012 found that around 60 of 351 pages in Schavan's doctoral thesis contained questionable sections.

Schavan admitted some discrepancies and oversights in the thesis, but said they were caused only by a careless use of sources, not by any intended cheating. The faculty council stated Schavan had "systematically and intentionally claimed intellectual achievements ... that weren't her own." ((de))German language: systematisch und vorsätzlich ... gedankliche Leistungen vorgab, die sie in Wirklichkeit nicht selbst erbracht hatte

Several well-known academic organizations in Germany interceded on behalf of Schavan prior to yesterday's decision.

Prime Minister Angela Merkel has endorsed Schavan as a minister, who is the second member of her cabinet to be charged with plagiarism. In 2011, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned after a similar case of plagiarism.

Merkel is to stand for reelection in September.


Bundesbildungsministerin wird Doktortitel aberkannt

Düsseldorf (Deutschland), 06.02.2013 – Bundesbildungsministerin Annette Schavan (CDU) wurde von der Universität Düsseldorf nach 33 Jahren die Doktorwürde entzogen. Der Vorsitzende des zuständigen Fakultätsrats, Prof. Bruno Bleckmann, erklärte, für den Entzug des Doktorgrades hätten zwölf Mitglieder des Rats der Philosophischen Fakultät gestimmt, zwei hätten mit Nein gestimmt und es habe eine Enthaltung gegeben. Die Begründung lautete „vorsätzliche Täuschung durch Plagiat“. Die Prüfung durch den Fakultätsrat habe ergeben, „dass die damalige Doktorandin systematisch und vorsätzlich über die gesamte Dissertation verteilt gedankliche Leistungen vorgab, die sie in Wirklichkeit nicht selbst erbracht hatte“.

Zudem hat Schavan jetzt keinen Studienabschluss mehr, weil sie sich damals im Alter von 24 Jahren keiner anderweitigen Prüfung unterzog, sondern sogleich das Promotionsverfahren wählte. Ihre Doktorarbeit trägt den Titel „Person und Gewissen - Studien zu Voraussetzungen, Notwendigkeiten und Erfordernissen heutiger Gewissensbildung“.

Die CDU-Politikerin kündigte an, sie werde juristische Mittel gegen die Entscheidung der Universität Düsseldorf einlegen. Bereits im Mai 2012 hatte Wolfgang Löwer, Jurist und Ombudsmann der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), auf Verjährungsfristen hingewiesen, die bei juristischen Staatsexamina beispielsweise fünf Jahre betragen. Eine Aberkennung nach über 30 Jahren halte er für problematisch.

Nach Presseberichten ist davon auszugehen, dass Schavan ihr Ministeramt nicht behalten kann. Als eine des Plagiats überführte Bildungsministerin ist sie nicht mehr tragbar, so auch der Tenor aus der Opposition. Obwohl es Stimmen aus der Wissenschaft gibt, die Schavan in Schutz nehmen, trägt ihr Fall noch die besondere Note, dass sie selbst sich im  Fall Guttenberg eindeutig gegen diesen positioniert hatte.


India subsidizes girls' education to offset gender imbalance

In a move aimed at curbing both population growth and preference for male children, the government of India has announced free and reduced cost education for girls.

The new program will offer free education at high school level to all girls of single child families.  Those with two girls and no other children may receive discounts of up to 50%.  As a continuation of India's policy of promoting education, the program includes provisions for fellowships of US$ 45 per month for those undertaking post-graduate studies.

India faces problems with the balance of the sexes in the country; some areas have a ratio of 80 girls to every 100 boys due to selective abortions.  Boys are more highly prized in Indian society and as a result, many couples will have additional children after a girl in an effort to produce a boy.  In cases where the family already has one or two female children the likelihood of a female foetus being aborted is significantly higher.

Indian law already prohibits tests to determine the sex of an unborn child for this very reason; however, it is routine during medical examinations of the mother for the doctor to disclose the sex of the child.


インド、女子教育に補助金―教育での男女格差解消を目指す

インド政府は、女子を対象として教育の無償化と負担費用の削減をすると発表した。男子の増加と偏重の是正を目的としている。

新計画では、中等教育のレベルで、ひとりっ子家庭の女子生徒すべてに教育費が免除される。女児2人の家庭に対しては、半額が免除される。インドでは教育を振興する政策を採っており、これにしたがって計画には大学院生を対象にした月額45米ドルの奨学金が含まれている。

インドは男女人口の偏りからくる問題に直面している。いくつかの地域では、性別を選択するために行われる人工中絶のために、男女比が、男児100人対女児80人の割合となっている。インドの文化では男児を持つことが非常に尊重されるため、多くの家庭では女児を得た後、男児を得ようとしてさらに子供を得ようとする。一方すでに女児が一人または二人いる家庭で、胎児が女児であった場合、中絶率は著しく高い。

このため、インドの法律は出生前の性別検査を禁止している。しかし妊婦の健康診断では、性別検査は恒常化している。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳です


Massive ice deposits found on Mars

The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft has discovered ice deposits in the south pole of Mars that are larger than the state of Texas.

Scientists say that there is enough water in the deposits to cover the entire planet with up to 36 feet of water if the ice was to melt.  Some sections of the ice deposits are up to 2.3 - 2.5 miles deep.  The ice is composed of carbon dioxide, a little bit of dust, and water (90 percent of the water is estimated to be frozen).

What has caught the attention of the scientists working on the Mars Express project is that this may help reveal whether or not there is any (microbial) life within the ice.

Another perplexing question that scientists are trying to solve is what happened to all the water that produced all the channels on the surface of Mars.

Jeffrey Plaut, who is from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California and who is also leading the study, noted that, "We have this continuing question facing us in studies of Mars, which is: where did all the water go?  Even if you took the water in these two (polar) ice caps and added it all up, it's still not nearly enough to do all of the work that we've seen that the water has done across the surface of Mars in its history."

Currently, only 10 percent of the water is remaining and is located at the poles of Mars.  It has been suggested that some of the remaining 90 percent of the water that disappeared could either be underground or could have simply left the atmosphere into space.


Mars: Eiskappe am Südpol ist bis zu 3.700 Meter dick

Pasadena (Vereinigte Staaten), 16.03.2007 – Bis zu 3.700 Meter dick ist die Eiskappe, die den Südpol des Roten Planeten bedeckt. Zu dieser Erkenntnis kam ein Wissenschaftlerteam um Jeffrey Plaut vom California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. An der Auswertung der Daten, die die europäische Weltraumsonde „Mars Express“ mittels Radarmessungen bei mehr als 300 Marsumrundungen zwischen November 2005 und April 2006 gesammelt hat, waren auch deutsche Forscher aus Bochum, Katlenburg-Lindau und Dresden beteiligt.

Das Radargerät MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) an Bord von Mars Express sandte Radarwellen aus, die zum Teil an der Oberfläche der Eiskappe gebrochen wurden, zum anderen Teil jedoch das Eis durchdrangen und erst an der steinigen Oberfläche des Planeten  reflektiert wurden. Aus der Zeitdifferenz, mit der die gespiegelten Radarwellen wieder bei der Raumsonde eintrafen, berechneten die Wissenschaftler die Mächtigkeit der Eisschicht und zeichneten eine detaillierte Karte des Südpolgebietes. Das Volumen der Eismasse schätzen sie auf 1,6 Millionen Kubikkilometer – das sind etwa zwei Drittel der Eismenge, die Grönland bedeckt. Zudem scheint es sich um fast reines Wassereis mit nur geringen Verunreinigungen zu handeln. Dies schließen die Wissenschaftler aus der kaum gedämpften Strahlungsintensität der Wellen, die die Eisschicht durchdrungen hatten.

Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchungen wurden jetzt in der englischsprachigen Fachzeitschrift Science veröffentlicht.

Eine ähnlich gewaltige Eiskappe gibt es nach Erkenntnissen eines Forscherteams um Giovanni Picardi von der Universität Rom auch am Nordpol unseres Nachbarplaneten. Picardi hatte seine Ergebnisse bereits im November 2006 der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt.


Mathematics summer school in Turkey threatened by authorities

The closure of a mathematics summer camp in Şirince, İzmir, Turkey by Turkish authorities has drawn scorn from scientists around the world.

Professor Alexandre Borovik, who organized some of the opposition, said “We are shocked to learn that the Summer School of Mathematics initiated by Professor Ali Nesin was shut down by local authorities. We found it surprising that such an esteemed mathematician such as Professor Nesin needs a specific permit each time he wants to teach math, as we saw that one of the reasons for shutting the camp down was the lack of such a permit, especially considering how this contradicts the fact that the summer schools organized every year by Professor Nesin are sponsored by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Turkish Mathematics Association and many respected Turkish universities.”

The school was reopened on August 10, 2007; however, Ali Nesin still faces charges under Turkish criminal code article TCK 263, which reads "Persons who open or run illegal educational institutions can be jailed from 3 months to 1 year."

Ali Nesin is the son of the famous Turkish humorist Aziz Nesin.


Une école d'été de mathématiques menacée par les autorités turques

La fermeture d'une école d'été de mathématiques à Şirince, İzmir en Turquie par les autorités turques a jeté un froid chez les scientifiques du monde entier.
Le professeur Alexandre Borovik, qui a organisé une partie de l'opposition à cette fermeture, indique : « nous sommes choqués d'apprendre que l'École d'été de Mathématiques initiée par le professeur Ali Nesin a été fermée par les autorités locales. Nous avons été surpris qu'un mathématicien estimé comme le Professeur Nesin ait besoin d'une permission spécifique à chaque fois qu'il veut enseigner les mathématiques, comme nous avons pu voir que l'absence d'une telle permission figurait dans les raisons ayant conduit à la fermeture du camp, spécialement si l'on considère combien cela contredit le fait que les écoles d'été organisées chaque année par le Professeur Nesin sont sponsorisées par le Conseil de Recherche scientifique et technologique de Turquie (TÜBİTAK), l'Association Turque de Mathématiques et de nombreuses universités turques respectées. »
L'école a été réouverte le 10 août 2007; cependant, Ali Nesin est toujours sous la menace du code criminel turc et plus particulièrement de l'article TCK 263, qui indique : « les personnes qui ouvrent ou dirigent des institutions éducatives illégales peuvent être emprisonnés pour une durée de 3 mois à 1 an ».
Ali Nesin est le fils du fameux humoriste turc Aziz Nesin.


Mothers, teachers air more concerns about leukemia cases at California elementary school

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

On Thursday night, California State Senator Joe Dunn held the second town hall meeting regarding a recent outbreak of leukemia in schoolchildren, at Franklin Elementary in Santa Ana, California.  Representatives from the City of Santa Ana, the Santa Ana Unified School District, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) were available to answer the community's questions.

Senator Dunn started off the meeting by thanking the panelists and parents for showing their support by attending.  "We are trying to address a very, very important issue.  What's the issue?  We have high rates of cancer, leukemia, and respiratory problems in our children.  Why are our kids sick?  This is a very difficult question," he said.  "What's causing the sickness in our children, and how can we avoid it?  We can all agree that no one wants to see another sick child in Santa Ana."  The audience applauded.  "Three weeks ago, we heard from two parents and a teacher, they told us about some deaths."

The previous town hall meeting was held to address concerns of the community about a steel plating manufacturing plant that applied to the AQMD for a permit to expand its facilities to increase pollution emissions.  Parents and teachers were concerned over the facts that the plant was located directly adjacent to Kennedy Elementary School, and that their children were experiencing high levels of lead, respiratory problems, excessive nose-bleeding, and leukemia.

"How many businesses in Santa  Ana are required to obtain permits for [emissions] of hazardous pollutants?"  This question Dunn posed at the last meeting was answered by the AQMD and the Orange County Sanitation District, who provided maps of Santa Ana with green flags indicating where businesses with emissions permits were located.  "I can tell you one thing, at the end of the meeting, we won't have all of the answers... but we'll certainly have another Town Hall meeting.

Initial concerns were raised when five boys attending Franklin Elementary were diagnosed with the same type of leukemia in Spring 2002. Attempts to gain an investigation from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) into possible causes were not successful as the Center told parents that the cases "were in an acceptable range".  Parents, teachers, public officials, and doctors remain unconvinced.  In the past three years, 19 mothers living in an apartment building a block away from Franklin were also diagnosed with leukemia.

Dunn then introduced a teacher at Franklin, Tammy Sanchez.  Tammy said, "In December 2002, we received some very disturbing news.  One of my students was diagnosed with leukemia.  Then, more children at Franklin were diagnosed with leukemia.  I later found out that three kids at a nearby apartment building were diagnosed with leukemia.  Sanchez then explained about more cancer-related deaths near Franklin, including 19 mothers all living in he same apartment building who were diagnosed with leukemia, which took over three minutes.  "To me, this is way too much," said Sanchez.

Socorro Molina, whose son Diego, a student at Franklin, is undergoing treatment for his leukemia, had this to say: "My son has leukemia.  I'm worried, because there are many kids.  Children who played with my son died from leukemia.  They should do some investigations of these companies."  Senator Dunn responded, "Thank you, Socorro.  I know it's difficult to share that privately, and you have shared this with us publicly on two occasions."

Senator Dunn then said, "at the end of that [previous] meeting, we were requested by a parent for a map of all businesses releasing toxic materials.  We asked the AQMD for a map that showed every single business [in Santa Ana] that releases harmful materials into our air.  This is that map.  The heaviest concentration of these businesses are, guess where?  Near Franklin.  This map is striking.  The OCSD gave us a map showing all businesses that release toxic materials into our sewers.  The largest concentration of these businesses are, guess where?  Near Franklin and Kennedy [Elementary Schools]."  Senator Dunn promised that at the next town hall meeting, he will have a panel of scientists present to determine if the substances released by these business pose a health risk to residents of the area.  "We are going to keep at this until we find out what is making our kids sick," he said.

Santa Ana City Council member Jose Solorio said that "the city has been following the media's attention.  I got to tell you, this is a very complex issue.  The city has jurisdiction over land use; they can issue restrictions.  We, as elected officials, need to know more."  Solorio then introduced the city's planning director and other city officials.  Solorio added, "the mayor of Santa Ana, Miguel Pulido, is a board-member for AQMD."  Miguel Pulido has not attended any of the town hall meetings, and has not spoken about this issue at any time.

Dunn then introduced the next panelist, Santa Ana Unified School District board member Rosemary Avila.  She said, "the school board is looking into this. I've talked to some teachers on the phone  I believe the federal disease organization has been contacted about this."  The Center for Disease Control was notified by parents of the leukemia cases in Santa Ana, but stated that they were "within the acceptable range".  Avila then introduced some school board officials, and said, "there has been some concern in the past, and we have looked into that.  As a school district, we really have to act not out of fear, but with facts."

Jill Whynot of the AQMD noted that "there are 515 facilities [in Santa Ana] that we issue permits to".  Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer of the AQMD said, "we appreciate the forum.  There appears to be a need for closer air quality monitoring. So, I propose that we make Santa Ana a high priority and closely monitor air quality in your community."  That statement was met with much applause from the audience.

Senator Dunn responded, "we thank the AQMD for being here and answering our questions.  We will be sure to let everybody know about any updates.  When I looked at the map, I was struck.  There are 515 permitted businesses in Santa Ana.  We will bring some scientists in at the next town hall meeting to determine which businesses are releasing carcinogenic pollutants," he said.  "When I look at the maps, there are two pockets of permitted facilities in Santa Ana.  Do you [AQMD] look at the cumulative impact of facilities grouped together [when considering issuing a permit]?" Dunn posed.

Dr. Wallerstein responded, "the short answer is 'partially'".

Senator Dunn, responding to Dr. Wallerstein's comments, said "if we need to give AQMD more power in terms of cumulative impact of permitted facilities, then we will introduce legislation to give them that power."  The Senator then asked City Councilman Solorio, "does the city in any way look at what type of business it is, or its cumulative impact [when approving a business]?"

Solorio responded, "one of the main things the city does is make a General Plan, and unlike Irvine or Newport Beach, we are an older city."  Solorio went on to talk about how in the future, the city could pass litigation limit permits, and said that "we all need to do our part".  Referring to concerns about the steel plating plant next to a school, he said, "Markland came into an industrial area, so they have a legal right to set up shop".

Dunn asked Solorio if the city is now looking at regulation to limit this, and Solorio responded, "We always have opportunities to look at our General Plan, and we need to have solid facts to make those decisions". Dunn asked Dr. Wallerstein, "what about this pocket of businesses in south Santa Ana, is that unusual?"  Wallerstein responded, "Senator, I don't think that's an issue".

Dunn then opened up the floor to public questions and comments.  One mother of three asked, "when are we going to have answers?", while a younger woman said, directed toward the AQMD, "your job is to know if this is going to give kids leukemia.  I'm very disappointed".  One woman said, "I live in Heninger Park, where all of the kids are getting Leukemia.  I've been trying to tell the city and Code Enforcement about illegal underground painters and mechanics who leave paint and fumes behind; which is causing residents to leave".

There was intense debate over the public officials' efforts to investigate health quality at the location in question.  Parents expressed their concerns about water quality and illegal activities in the community; and spoke about their children's various health problems, from high copper and lead levels in the bloodstream, to respiratory and lung problems, and cancer.


Mütter und Lehrer beunruhigt über Leukämiefälle an kalifornischer Grundschule

Santa Ana (USA), 25.06.2005 – Am Donnerstag letzter Woche hielt Joe Dunn, Abgeordneter des kalifornischen Senats, die zweite Bürgerversammlung bezüglich des Ausbruchs von Leukämie an der Franklin Grundschule in Santa Ana im amerikanischen Bundesstaat Kalifornien ab. Vertreter der Stadt, des Schulbezirks und der kalifornischen Behörde AQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management Distric) waren gekommen, um Fragen zu beantworten.

Senator Dunn eröffnete das Treffen, indem er den Anwesenden und Eltern für ihre Unterstützung durch ihre Teilnahme dankte. „Wir möchten versuchen eine sehr wichtige Debatte zu führen. Um was geht es? Wir verzeichnen bei unseren Kindern ein sehr hohes Aufkommen von Krebs- und Leukämiefällen sowie von Atemwegserkrankungen. Warum sind unsere Kinder krank? Das ist eine sehr schwierige Frage“, sagte Dunn. „Was ist der Grund für unsere Kranken und wie können wir das verhindern? Wir stimmen alle damit überein, dass niemand weitere kranke Kinder in Santa Ana sehen möchte.“ Unterbrochen von Applaus sagte Dunn: „Vor drei Wochen berichteten zwei Eltern und ein Lehrer von Todesfällen.“

Bei der letzten Versammlung ging es um Sorgen der Bevölkerung wegen eines metallverarbeitenden Betriebs, der sich an die AQMD gewandt hatte, um eine Genehmigung für die Vergrößerung seiner Produktionsstätten zu beantragen, bei der mehr Schadstoffe ausgestoßen würden. Eltern und Lehrer waren beunruhigt über die Tatsache, dass der Betrieb in der Nähe der Kennedy Grundschule liegt und darüber, dass ihre Kinder einer hohen Belastung von Blei ausgesetzt seien, was Atemprobleme, starkes Nasenbluten und Leukämie zur Folge habe.

„Wie viele Unternehmen gibt es in Santa Ana, denen Genehmigungen für den Ausstoß giftiger Abgase erteilt wurden?“ fragte Dunn auf der letzten Versammlung. Die AQMD und der Orange County Sanitation District beantworteten die Frage, indem sie Karten von Santa Ana zur Verfügung stellten, auf denen die Lage von Unternehmen, denen eine Erlaubnis zum Ausstoß von Schadstoffen erteilt wurde, markiert war. „Ich kann ihnen eines sagen, am Ende der Versammlung werden wir nicht alle Antworten kennen... aber es wird sicher eine weitere Versammlung geben.“

Erste Beunruhigung entstand im Frühjahr 2002, als man bei fünf Jungen, die die Franklin Grundschule besuchen, den gleichen Typ von Leukämie diagnostizierte. Versuche, eine Nachforschung möglicher Ursachen durch das „Center for Disease Control“ (CDC) zu erreichen, blieben erfolglos. Das Zentrum erklärte den Eltern, dass die Fälle „von akzeptablem Ausmaß“ seien. Eltern, Lehrer, öffentliche Angestellte und Ärzte blieben nicht überzeugt. In den vergangenen drei Jahren wurde bei 19 Müttern, die in Mietwohnungen einen Häuserblock von der Franklin Grundschule entfernt leben, ebenfalls Leukämie diagnostiziert.

Dunn übergab das Wort an Tammy Sanchez, einen Lehrer an der Franklin Grundschule. Herr Sanchez sagte:  „Im Dezember 2002 erreichten uns einige sehr beunruhigende Nachrichten. Bei einem unserer Schüler wurde Leukämie diagnostiziert. Schließlich stellte man die Krankheit bei weiteren Schülern der Franklin Grundschule fest. Später fand ich heraus, dass drei Kinder, die in nahegelegenen Wohnungen zu Hause sind, ebenfalls an Leukämie erkrankt sind.“ Dann berichtete Sanchez über ähnliche Krebsfälle in der Umgebung, darunter 19 Frauen, die alle Mietwohnungen im gleichen Gebäude bewohnten und an Leukämie erkrankten. „Aus meiner Sicht ist das viel zu viel“, schloss Sanchez.

Socorro Molina, die Mutter von Diego, der wegen Leukämie therapiert wird und Schülerin der Franklin Grundschule ist, sagte: „Mein Sohn hat Leukämie. Ich bin beunruhigt, da dort viele Kinder in Behandlung sind. Kinder, die mit meinem Sohn spielten, sind an Leukämie gestorben. Man sollte diese Firmen genauer untersuchen.“ Senator Dunn antwortete: „Vielen Dank, Socorro. Ich weiß, wie schwierig es ist, diese private Angelegenheit öffentlich mit uns in den zwei Veranstaltungen zu teilen.“

Senator Dunn fuhr fort: „Am Ende der letzten Versammlung wurde von einer Mutter eine Karte gefordert, auf der alle Betriebe hervorgehoben sind, die giftige Substanzen freisetzen. Wir verlangten von der AQMD eine Karte, auf der ausnahmslos alle Betriebe in Santa Ana dargestellt werden, die schädliche Stoffe in die Luft abgeben. Diese Karte liegt nun vor. Die meisten dieser Firmen befinden sich, sie ahnen es, in der Nähe der Franklin Grundschule. Diese Karte ist eindrucksvoll. Der OCSD stellte uns eine weitere Karte zu Verfügung, die alle Betriebe zeigt, die giftige Materialien in unsere Kanalisation ableiten. Auch die meisten dieser Betriebe befinden sich, wie Sie sich denken können, in der Nähe der Franklin und Kennedy Schulen.“ Senator Dunn versprach, dass bei der nächsten Versammlung Wissenschaftler anwesend sein werden, die beurteilen könnten, ob die von den Betrieben freigesetzten Stoffe für die Anwohner ein Gesundheitsrisiko darstellen. „Wir werden die Angelegenheit weiter verfolgen, bis sich herausgestellt hat, warum unsere Kinder erkranken“, sagte der Senator.

Jose Solorio, Mitglied des Stadtrats von Santa Ana, sagte, dass die Stadt das Interesse der Medien beachtet habe. „Ich kann Ihnen sagen, dass es sich um eine sehr schwierige Angelegenheit handelt. Die Stadt hat das Recht, über die Nutzung des Bodens zu entscheiden, das bedeutet, sie kann auch Einschränkungen festlegen. Als gewählte Beamte müssen wir jedoch mehr über die Sachlage wissen“, sagte Solorio. Solorio übergab das Wort an den Planungsdirektor der Stadt und an weitere städtische Beamte. Solorio fügte hinzu, dass Miguel Pulido, der Bürgermeister von Santa Ana, ein Vorstandsmitglied der AQMD sei. Des Weiteren habe Miguel Pulido noch an keiner der Versammlungen zu diesem Thema teilgenommen. Außerdem habe er noch nie öffentlich über dieses Thema geredet.

Als nächstes kam Rosemary Avila, Vorstandsmitglied der Vereinigung der Schulen von Santa Ana, zu Wort. Sie sagte: „Die Schulleitung kümmert sich um die Angelegenheit. Ich habe mit einigen Lehrern telefoniert und ich glaube, dass die Bundesbehörde für Gesundheit darüber informiert wurde.“ Das Center for Disease Control wurde von Eltern über die Leukämieerkrankungen in Santa Ana benachrichtigt. Die Behörde erklärte daraufhin, dass die Erkrankungen „von akzeptablem Ausmaß“ seien. Frau Avila übergab das Wort an andere Vertreter der Schulleitung bevor sie sagte, dass es in der Vergangenheit Beunruhigung gab, der nachgegangen wurde. Als Vertreter des Schulbezirks müsse man jedoch nicht aufgrund von Angst handeln, sondern ausschließlich wegen Fakten, so Avila.

Jill Whynot von der AQMD erklärte: „Es gibt in Santa Ana 515 Anlagen und Einrichtungen, denen wir spezielle Genehmigungen erteilen.“ Barry Wallerstein, leitender Beamter der AQMD, sagte: „Wir schätzen dieses Forum sehr. Offenbar ist eine bessere Luftreinhaltung erforderlich. Darum schlage ich vor, dass wir in Santa Ana eine sehr genaue Überwachung der Luftqualität einführen, die wir als wichtig einstufen.“ Auf diese Aussage reagierten die Zuhörer mit anhaltendem Beifall.

Senator Dunn dankte den Vertretern der AQMD für ihre Anwesenheit und für die Beantwortung der Fragen. Jeder werde über die neuen Entwicklungen informiert, so Dunn. Als er die Karte gesehen habe, sei er sehr betroffen gewesen. „Bei der nächsten Versammlung werden einige Wissenschaftler anwesend sein, um darüber zu befinden, welche Betriebe krebserregende Stoffe freisetzen“, kündigte Dunn an. Beim Betrachten der Karte fallen ihm zwei Häufungen von Einrichtungen auf, denen eine Genehmigung erteilt wurde, so Dunn. Er fragte die AQMD Vertreter, ob sie die Auswirkung der Anhäufung von Betrieben in Betracht ziehen, wenn sie eine Genehmigung erteilen. Dr. Wallerstein antwortete, dass dies „zum Teil“ geschehe.

Dunn ging auf den Kommentar von Dr. Wallerstein ein und erklärte: „Wenn die AQMD zusätzliche Befugnisse im Zusammenhang mit der Auswirkung von Anhäufungen von Betrieben mit speziellen Genehmigungen benötigt, wird eine Gesetzesinitiative ergriffen, um diese Rechte zu geben.“ Der Senator richtete sich an den Stadtrat Solorio und fragte ihn, ob die Stadt in irgend einer Weise darauf achte, um welche Art von Betrieb es sich handle oder ob man die anhäufende Wirkung beachte, wenn einem Betrieb die Genehmigung erteilt wird.

Solorio antwortete mit der Feststellung, dass die Stadt einen allgemeinen Plan erstelle. Santa Ana sei im Vergleich zu Irvine oder Newport Beach eine ältere Stadt. Er stellte fest, dass die Stadt in der Zukunft auf dem juristischen Weg für die Begrenzung der Genehmigungen sorgen könnte. Jeder müsse seinen Teil zur Lösung des Problems beitragen, so Solorio. Der Stadtrat ging auf die Sorgen bezüglich des metallverarbeitenden Betriebs in der Nähe einer Schule ein und sagte, dass der Betrieb sich in einer industriellen Phase angesiedelt habe, weswegen er das Recht hatte, die Produktionsstätten zu bauen.

Solorio wurde von Senator Dunn gefragt, ob die Stadt nun Bestimmungen erwäge, um dies zu begrenzen. Solorio sagte, dass es immer Möglichkeiten gebe, den Plan daraufhin genau zu betrachten. Um die Entscheidungen treffen zu können, seien aber immer genaue Daten erforderlich. Der Senator befragte Dr. Wallerstein über die Anhäufungen von Betrieben im Süden von Santa Ana bzw. ob dies ungewöhnlich sei. Wallerstein vertrat die Meinung, dass dies nicht das Hauptproblem darstelle.

Nach der Podiumsdiskussion konnten die Zuhörer Fragen stellen und Kommentare abgeben. Eine Mutter dreier Kinder fragte, wann es konkrete Antworten gebe. Eine junge Frau zeigte sich sehr enttäuscht und richtete sich direkt an die AQMD-Vertreter, deren Aufgabe es ihrer Meinung nach sei, zu wissen, was die Ursache für die Leukämieerkrankungen ist. „Ich wohne im Viertel Henninger Park, wo die Kinder an Leukämie erkranken. Ich habe versucht, Vertreter der Stadt und der Justiz über Maler, die illegal unter der Erde malen, sowie Handwerker, die Farben und Qualm zurücklassen, zu informieren. Deswegen haben schon Bewohner das Viertel verlassen“, sagte die Frau.

Es gab an diesem Tag eine intensive Debatte über die Bemühungen der Beamten bezüglich ihrer Nachforschungen zur Gesundheitsqualität. Eltern drückten ihre Besorgnis über die Wasserqualität und illegale Tätigkeiten in der Wohngegend aus und sprachen über ihre Kinder und deren verschiedene Gesundheitsprobleme, von den hohen Kupfer- und Bleianteilen im Blut sowie zu den Atmungs- und Lungenflügelproblemen und Krebs.


Preocupación de madres y profesores por casos de leucemia en una escuela primaria de California

18 de junio de 2005Santa Ana, (California), Estados Unidos — En la noche del jueves, el senador por el estado de California Joseph Dunn realizó la segunda reunión en el ayuntamiento de la ciudad con respecto a un brote reciente de leucemia en alumnos de la escuela primaria Franklin elemental de Santa Ana. Los representantes de la ciudad de Santa Ana, el distrito unificado escolar de Santa Ana y del Distrito para el Manejo de la Calidad del Aire en la Costa Sur (AQMD) estuvieron disponibles para contestar las preguntas de la comunidad.

Dunn comenzó la reunión agradeciendo a los panelistas y a los padres por su asistencia. "Estamos intentando tratar un asunto muy importante. ¿Cuál es? Tenemos altos índices de cáncer, leucemia y de problemas respiratorios en nuestros niños. ¿Por qué nuestros niños estàn enfermos? Es una pregunta muy difícil" "¿Qué causa la enfermedad en nuestros niños y cómo podemos evitarla? Podemos todos estar de acuerdo en que nadie desea ver otro niño enfermo en Santa Ana." La audiencia aplaudió. "Hace tres semanas, oímos de dos padres y un profesor acerca de algunas muertes."

La reunión anterior del ayuntamiento se realizó para tratar las preocupaciones de la comunidad por una planta enchapadora de acero que solicitó un permiso al AQMD para ampliar sus instalaciones y aumentar sus emisiones contaminantes. Los padres y los profesores se mostraron preocupados por el hecho de que la planta quedara situada directamente adyacente a la escuela primaria Kennedy, y por que sus hijos experimentaran altos niveles de plomo, problemas respiratorios, sangrado excesivo por la nariz y leucemia.

"¿Cuántos negocios en Santa Ana se requieren para obtener los permisos [para las emisiones] de agentes contaminadores peligrosos?". Esta pregunta, hecha por Dunn en la reunión pasada, fue respondida por el AQMD y el distrito de sanidad de Orange County, que trajeron mapas de Santa Ana con banderas verdes que indicaban los negocios con los permisos. "Puedo decirle una cosa: al final de la reunión, ninguno de nosotros tendrá todas las respuestas... pero tendremos ciertamente otra reunión del ayuntamiento.

Las primeras preocupaciones se manifestaron cuando cinco niños que asistían a la primaria Franklin fueron diagnosticados con el mismo tipo de leucemia en la primevera de 2002. Las tentativas de que el Centro para el Control de las Enfermedades (CDC) abriera una investigación para encontrar las posibles causas no prosperaron pues el Centro les dijo a los padres que los casos se encontraban "dentro de un rango aceptable". Padres, profesores, empleados y médicos no quedaron convencidos. En los últimos tres años, diecinueve madres residentes en un edificio de apartamentos a una cuadra de la escuela Franklin también fueron diagnosticadas de leucemia.

Dunn presentó entonces a Tammy Sánchez, profesora de la escuela Franklin. Sánchez afirmó que "en diciembre de 2002 recibimos ciertas noticias que nos perturbaron. Diagnosticaron a uno de mis estudiantes con leucemia. Luego, más niños de la escuela Franklin también fueron diagnosticados con leucemia. Descubrí más adelante que diagnosticaron a tres niños de un edificio de apartamento cercano con leucemia. Más adelante, Sánchez contó acerca de más muertes cancerosas relacionadas con la escuela Franklin, incluyendo las de 19 madres que habían vivido toda su vida en su edificio de apartamentos y a quienes se les diagnosticó leucemia, lo que le tomó tres minutos. "Para mí, esto es demasiado", dijo Sánchez.

Socorro Molina, cuyo hijo Diego, estudiante de Franklin, está en tratamiento para la leucemia, dijo: "Mi hijo tiene leucemia. Me preocupa, porque son muchos niños. Los niños que jugaban con mi hijo murieron de leucemia. Deben investigar a estas compañías." El senador Dunn respondió: "Gracias, Socorro. Sé que es difícil compartir eso en privado, y usted lo ha compartido con nosotros públicamente en dos ocasiones."

Luego Dunn dijo "al final de la reunión [anterior], un padre nos solicitó un mapa de todos los negocios que emitían los materiales tóxicos. Le pedimos al AQMD un mapa que mostraba cada negocio [en Santa Ana] que emite los materiales nocivos en nuestro aire. Este es el mapa. La concentración más alta de estos negocios, adivinen dónde está. Cerca de Franklin. Este mapa es alarmante. El OCSD nos proporcionó un mapa que mostraba todos los negocios que lanzan materiales tóxicos en nuestras alcantarillas. La concentración más alta de estos negocios, adivinen dónde está. Cerca de [las primarias] Franklin y Kennedy". Dunn prometió que en la próxima reunión del ayuntamiento tendrá un grupo de científicos presentes para determinar si las sustancias lanzadas por estos negocios plantean un riesgo de salud a los residentes del área. "Vamos a dejar así hasta que averigüemos qué es lo que enferma a nuestros niños", dijo.

Por su parte, José Solorio, del Consejo de la ciudad de Santa Ana dijo que "la ciudad ha recibido la atención de los medios. Les digo que este es un asunto muy complejo. La ciudad tiene jurisdicción sobre la utilización del suelo y puede poner algunas restricciones. Nosotros, como funcionarios elegidos, necesitamos saber más." Solorio presentó al director de planeación de la ciudad y a otros funcionarios y agregó, "el alcalde de Santa Ana, Miguel Pulido, es miembro principal del AQMD". Pulido no ha asistido a ninguna de las reuniones del ayuntamiento ni ha hablado de este asunto en ningún momento.

Dunn presentó a Rosemary Ávila, miembro del distrito unificado escolar de Santa Ana, quien dijo que "el consejo de la escuela está mirando esto. Les he dicho a algunos profesores por teléfono que creo que la organización federal para el control de las enfermedades debe ser contactada sobre esto". El CDC fue notificado por los padres acerca de los casos de la leucemia en Santa Ana, pero señaló que estaban "dentro del rango aceptable". Ávila presentó a algunos funcionarios del consejo de la escuela y dijo que "ha habido ciertas preocupaciones en el pasado y hemos mirado esta en particular. Como consejo de la escuela, realmente tenemos que actuar no a partir del miedo, sino con hechos."

Jill Whynot, del AQMD, señaló que "hay 515 instalaciones [en Santa Ana] a quienes les hemos otorgado permisos". Barry Wallerstein, oficial ejecutivo del AQMD, dijo: "Apreciamos el foro. Parece haber una necesidad de una supervisión más cercana de la calidad del aire. Así pues, propongo que hagamos de Santa Ana una alta prioridad y supervisemos de cerca la calidad del aire en su comunidad." Esta declaración fue recibida con aplausos por los asistentes.

Senador Dunn respondió: "agradecemos al AQMD por estar aquí y contestar nuestras preguntas. Nos aseguraremos de que todos se enteren sobre cualquier actualización. (...) Cuando miraba el mapa, quedé impactado. Hay 515 negocios permitidos en Santa Ana. Traeremos a algunos científicos a la próxima reunión del ayuntamiento para determinas qué negocios están lanzando agentes contaminantes carcinógenos. (...) Cuando miro los mapas, hay dos "bolsas" (varias fábricas contiguas) de instalaciones permitidas en Santa Ana. ¿Ustedes [el AQMD] revisan el impacto acumulativo de las instalaciones contiguas [al considerar la otorgación de un permiso]?", preguntó Dunn.

El Dr. Wallerstein respondió, "la respuesta corta es parcialmente".

El senador Dunn, respondiendo a los comentarios del Dr. Wallerstein, dijo "si necesitamos darle al AQMD más poder en términos del impacto acumulativo de las instalaciones permitidas, entonces presentaremos la legislación pertinente para darles ese poder". El senador le preguntó a Solorio si "¿la ciudad revisa qué tipo de negocio es o su impacto acumulativo [al aprobarlo]?".

Solorio respondió "una de las cosas principales que hace la ciudad es un plan general y, a diferencia de Irvine Beach o Newport, somos una ciudad más antigua". Solorio prosiguió hablando de cómo en el futuro, la ciudad podría demandar los límites de los permisos y dijo que "todos necesitamos hacer nuestra parte". Respecto de las preocupaciones por la planta de acero contigua a una escuela, dijo que "Markland está en un área industrial, así que tienen el derecho legal de establecerse".

Dunn le preguntó a Solorio si en la actualidad la ciudad está revisando la regulación para limitar esto, a lo que Solorio respondió "siempre tenemos oportunidad de revisar nuestro plan general y necesitamos tener bases sólidos para tomar esas decisiones". Dunn le preguntó al Dr. Wallerstein, "¿qué dice acerca de esta "bolsa" de negocios al sur de Santa Ana, es inusual?". Wallerstein respondió: "senador, no creo que ese sea un problema".

Dunn entonces abrió espacio a las preguntas y a los comentarios del auditorio. Una madre de tres niños preguntó "¿cuándo tendremos respuestas?", mientras una mujer más joven les dijo a los representantes del AQMD, "Su trabajo es saber si eso les va a producir leucemia a los niños. Estoy muy decepcionada". Otra mujer declaró: "vivo en el parque Heninger, donde a todos los niños les está dando leucemia. He intentado decir a la ciudad y al Code Enforcement sobre pintores y mecánicos subterráneos ilegales que dejan pintura y humo, lo que está haciendo que los residentes se vayan."

Se presentó una intensa discusión sobre los esfuerzos de los funcionarios por investigar la calidad de la salud en el lugar de la cuestión. Los padres expresaron sus preocupaciones por la calidad del agua y ciertas actividades ilegales en la comunidad y hablaron sobre los problemas de salud de sus hijos, de los altos niveles de cobre y del plomo en la circulación sanguínea, de los problemas respiratorios y de pulmón y de cáncer.


Mães e professores demonstram preocupações por casos de leucemia numa escola primária da Califórnia

Estados Unidos da América • 18 de junho de 2005

Na noite de quinta-feira, o senador pelo estado de California Joe Dunn realizou a segunda reunião na prefeitura da cidade com respeito a um surto recente de leucemia em alunos da escola primária Franklin elementar de Santa Ana. Os representantes da cidade de Santa Ana, o distrito unificado escolar de Santa Ana e do Distrito para o Manejo da Qualidade do Ar na Costa Sur (*AQMD) estiveram disponíveis para contestar as perguntas da comunidade.

A reunião anterior da prefeitura se realizou para tratar as preocupações da comunidade por uma planta *enchapadora de aço que solicitou uma permissão ao *AQMD para ampliar suas instalações e aumentar suas emissões contaminantes. Os pais e os professores se mostraram preocupados pelo fato de que a planta ficasse situada diretamente adjacente à escola primária Kennedy, e por que seus filhos experimentassem altos níveis de chumbo, problemas respiratórios, sangrado excessivo pelo nariz e leucemia.

"Quantos negócios em Santa Ana se requerem para obter as permissões [para as emissões] de agentes *contaminadores perigosos?". Esta pergunta, feita por *Dunn na reunião passada, foi respondida pelo *AQMD e o distrito de previdência de Orange *County, que trouxeram mapas de Santa Ana com bandeiras verdes que indicavam os negócios com as permissões. "Posso dizer-lhe uma coisa: ao final da reunião, nenhum de nós terá todas as respostas... mas teremos certamente outra reunião da prefeitura.

As primeiras preocupações se manifestaram quando cinco meninos que assistiam à primária Franklin foram diagnosticados com o mesmo tipo de leucemia na *primevera/ de 2002. As tentativas de que o Centro para o Controle das Doenças (*CDC) abrisse uma investigação para encontrar as possíveis causas não prosperaram pois o Centro lhes disse aos pais que os casos se encontravam "dentro de uma casta aceitável". Pais, professores, empregados e médicos não ficaram convictos. Nos últimos três anos, dezenove mães residentes num edifício de apartamentos a uma quadra da escola Franklin também foram diagnosticadas de leucemia.

Socorro Molina, cujo filho Diego, estudante de Franklin, está em tratamento para a leucemia, disse: "Meu filho tem leucemia. Preocupa-me, porque são muitos meninos. Os meninos que jogavam com meu filho morreram de leucemia. Devem pesquisar a estas companhias." O senador *Dunn respondeu: '"Graças, Socorro. Sei que é difícil compartilhar isso em privado, e você o compartilhou conosco publicamente em duas ocasiões."

Depois *Dunn disse "ao final da reunião [anterior], um pai nos solicitou um mapa de todos os negócios que emitiam os materiais tóxicos. Pedimos-lhe ao *AQMD um mapa que mostrava cada negócio [em Santa Ana] que emite os materiais nocivos em nosso ar. Leste é o mapa. A concentração mais alta destes negócios, adivinhem onde está. Cerca de Franklin. Este mapa é alarmante. O *OCSD nos proporcionou um mapa que mostrava todos os negócios que lançam materiais tóxicos em nossos esgotos. A concentração mais alta destes negócios, adivinhem onde está. Cerca de [as primárias] Franklin e Kennedy". *Dunn prometeu que na próxima reunião da prefeitura terá um grupo de cientistas presentes para determinar se as substâncias lançadas por estes negócios propõem um risco de saúde aos residentes do área. "Vamos deixar assim até que averiguemos que é o que adoece a nossos meninos", disse.

Por sua vez, José *Solorio, do Conselho da cidade de Santa Ana disse que "a cidade recebeu o atendimento dos meios. Digo-lhes que este é um assunto muito complexo. A cidade tem jurisdição sobre a utilização do solo e pode pôr algumas restrições. Nós, como servidores públicos eleitos, precisamos saber mais." *Solorio apresentou ao diretor de *planeación da cidade e a outros servidores públicos e agregou, "o prefeito de Santa Ana, Miguel Polido, é membro principal do *AQMD". Polido não assistiu a nenhuma das reuniões da prefeitura nem falou deste assunto em nenhum momento.

Senador *Dunn respondeu, "agradecemos o *AQMD por estar aqui e contestar a nossas perguntas. Seremos seguros deixamos a todos saber sobre qualquer atualização. Quando olhava o mapa, pulsaram-me. Há 515 negócios permitidos em Santa Ana. Traremos a alguns cientistas adentro na reunião seguinte do corredor de cidade determiná-lo que negócios estão lançando agentes *contaminadores *carcinógenos, "dissemos. "quando olho os mapas, há dois bolsos de instalações permitidas em Santa Ana. *Do que você [ *AQMD ] olha o impacto acumulativo das instalações agrupadas juntas [ ao considerar o publicar de uma permissão ]?" *Dunn se apresentou.

O Dr. *Wallerstein respondeu, "a resposta curta está 'parcialmente'".

Senador *Dunn, respondendo aos comentários do Dr. *Wallerstein, disse "se precisamos dar a *AQMD mais energia em termos do impacto acumulativo de instalações permitidas, então nós introduzirá a legislação para dar-lhes essa energia." O senador então pediu a cidade *Councilman *Solorio, "faz a cidade em qualquer mirada da maneira em que tipo de negócio é, ou seu impacto acumulativo [ao aprovar um negócio]?"

Tinha discussão intenso sobre os esforços dos servidores públicos de pesquisar qualidade da saúde na localização na pergunta. Os pais expressaram suas preocupações por qualidade do água e atividades ilegais na comunidade; e raio sobre os variados problemas de saúde de seus meninos, de altos níveis do cobre e do chumbo na circulação sanguínea, aos problemas respiratórios e do pulmão, e câncer.


Northern Marianas governor closes schools for ten days after three COVID-19 cases detected

Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Ralph Torres today ordered all schools and colleges on the islands to close for the next ten days, aiming to "mitigate against community spread" after three cases of COVID-19 were recorded yesterday; at least two were linked to middle schools in the capital Saipan.

In a statement, Torres promised that "We have the tools in place to contain this", adding, "I want to personally assure the educational community, staff, parents, families, and students that we will do everything as a government to protect the Commonwealth [of the Northern Mariana Islands] as we have successfully done throughout the course of the pandemic".

The Public School System of the Northern Mariana Islands has stated the two cases have been linked with the Chacha Oceanview and Francisco M. Sablan middle schools on Saipan. No information has yet been released on the third case's origin.

The Northern Mariana Islands have previously been free of community transmission of COVID-19 for over 200 days. Including the three new cases, a total of 294 COVID-19 infections have been recorded in the Northern Marianas since March 2020.


Nord-Mariana guberniestro ordonis la fermon de ĉiuj lernejoj post tri novaj kazoj de KOVIM-19

La guberniestro de la Nord-Marianoj Ralph Torres hodiaŭ, la 29-an de oktobro, ordonis la fermadon de ĉiuj lernejoj kaj altlernejoj sur la insuloj dum la venontaj dek tagoj, celante bremsi disvastiĝon de infekto post kiam tri kazoj de KOVIM-19 estis registritaj hieraŭ. Almenaŭ du el la kazoj rilatas al mezlernejoj en Saipano.

En komunikaĵo guberniestro Torres diris, ke "Ni havas la ilojn por enhavi ĉi tion", aldonante, "Mi volas persone certigi al la eduka komunumo, dungitaro, gepatroj, familioj kaj studentoj, ke ni faros ĉion kiel la registaro por protekti la Respublikon kiel ni sukcese faris dum la tuta pandemio".

La Publika Lernejo-Sistemo de la Nord-Marianoj deklaris, ke la du kazoj rilatas al la mezlernejoj Chacha Oceanview kaj Francisco M. Sablan sur Saipano. Informoj pri la tria kazo ankoraŭ ne estis publikigitaj.

Dum pli ol 200 tagoj ne estis registritaj infektiĝoj de KOVIM-19 ene de la komunumo de la Nord-Marianoj. Inkluzive la tri novajn kazojn, okazis entute 294 KOVIM-19-infektiĝoj en Nord-Marianoj ekde marto 2020.


incubator:Wn/hu/Az Északi-Mariana-szigetek kormányzója tíz napra bezáratta az iskolákat három új COVID-19-es eset miatt

A szigetek kormányzója, Ralph Torres pénteken elrendelte az oktatási intézmények bezárását tíz napra, hogy elejét vegyék a járvány terjedésének, miután előző nap három fertőzöttet találtak. Legalább két eset a főváros, Saipan iskoláihoz köthető.

– Megvannak az eszközeink arra, hogy a terjedést megakadályozzuk… Szeretném megnyugtatni az oktatókat, személyzetet, szülőket, családokat és diákokat a magam és a kormányzat nevében, hogy minden tőlünk telhetőt megteszünk a szigetek védelme érdekében, ahogy tettük azt eddig is sikerrel a járvány alatt[1] – nyilatkozta Torres.

A helyi közoktatási rendszer[2] tájékoztatása szerint a két eset a fővárosi Chacha Oceanview és Francisco M. Sablan iskolákhoz köthető. A cikk írása idején a harmadik eset helyéről még nem érkezett tájékoztatás.

Az Északi-Mariana-szigeteken ezelőtt több mint 200 napig nem jegyeztek fel COVID-19-es eseteket. A jelenlegi hárommal a fertőzöttek száma 294-re emelkedett a járvány kezdete, 2020 márciusa óta.


Escolas das Ilhas Marianas do Norte são fechadas após detecção de três casos de covid-19

O governador da Comunidade dos Estados Unidos das Ilhas Marianas do Norte, Ralph Torres, anunciou no dia 29 passado que todas as escolas e faculdades nas ilhas fechem por dez dias com o objetivo de "mitigar a disseminação comunitária" depois de três casos de covid-9 serem registrados na semana passada.

Pelo menos dois estavam vinculados a escolas de ensino médio na capital Saipan.

Em um comunicado, Torres prometeu que "temos as ferramentas disponíveis para conter isso", acrescentando que "quero garantir pessoalmente à comunidade educacional, funcionários, pais, famílias e alunos que faremos tudo como um governo para proteger a comunidade, como fizemos com sucesso durante o curso da pandemia”.

O Sistema de Escolas Públicas das Ilhas Marianas do Norte declarou que os dois casos estão relacionados com as escolas de ensino médio Chacha Oceanview e Francisco M. Sablan em Saipan. Nenhuma informação foi divulgada sobre a origem do terceiro caso.

As Ilhas Marianas do Norte estavam livres da transmissão comunitária do Sars-Cov-2 há mais de 200 dias.

Incluindo os três novos casos, um total de 294 infecções pelo novo coronavírus foram registradas nas Marianas do Norte desde março de 2020.


NRA official suggests arming teachers to prevent school shootings

A lawyer who is expected to become the president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) said in a comment to Associated Press (AP) that arming teachers with firearms is a solution to be considered in preventing school shootings by students. Sarah S. Froman, an alumni of Harvard Law School and a practicing lawyer, implied that allowing teachers to carry weapons is one of the many options that should be examined.

Guns and other weapons are commonly banned on school campuses in the United States, but the high-profile incidents of students defying the bans and bringing firearms to classes could place the school at a disadvantage if the student were to fire the weapon. In the case of the recent student shooting at a Native American reservation in Minnessota the school had metal detectors and had an on-duty security guard. The guard was unarmed, however, and was gunned down by the student.

Froman told the AP that if it is the responsibility of teachers to protect students from harm, then the society must find a way to let teachers do that. She also said that gun control laws or bans cannot prevent a malicious individual from acting out, and provided an example of a 1997 shooting incident where an armed teacher was able to help police apprehend the student.

Froman is currently the NRA's first vice president, and is expected to be elected to the post of president in the organization's elections next month. The current president of the 4-million member organization is actor and activist Charlton Heston.


Representante de organização sugere armar professores nos EUA

Uma advogada que  espera-se tornar a presidente da Associação  Nacional do Rifle ( National Rifle Association  -  NRA) disse   à Associated Press (AP) que o armamento de professores com armas do fogo é uma solução a ser considerada para os casos  disparos em escola efetuados por estudantes. Sarah S. Froman, aluna da Escola de Direito de Harvard e advogada estagiária, afirma que permitir  a professores o transportar de armas é uma de muitas opções que devem ser examinadas.

Pistolas e outros tipos de armas são geralmente proibidas em recintos escolares nos Estados Unidos da América. Todavia,  os incidentes de estudantes que desafiam as proibições e trazem armas de fogo para a sala de aula, podem colocar a escola em  desvantagem, se  o estudante resolver disparar sua  arma. No caso recente do estudante que atirou em uma reserva indígena em Minnessota,  a escola tinha detectores de  metal e um guarda de segurança.  Contudo, o guarda foi e  morto a tiros pelo estudante.

Froman disse à AP que se é  responsabilidade de professores proteger os estudantes, então a sociedade deve encontrar um meio de deixar os professores também usarem armas de fogo. Ela também disse que as leis de controle de armas ou as proibições não podem impedir um individual mal-intencionado de agir. Ela citou ainda como exemplo  um incidente em  1997 onde um professor armado foi capaz de ajudar a polícia a prender um estudante.

Froman é atualmente a primeira vice-presidente  do NRA, e é esperado que seja  eleita depois que concorrer para  presidente nas eleições da organização, no proximo mês.  O  atual presidente da organização que conta com  4 milhões de  membro é o ator  Charlton Heston.


Polish Wikipedia reaches 300,000 articles

Today, at 18:37 (CEST),  exactly five years after creating first article in Polish language, Polish Wikipedians wrote the 300,000th article. The article is a stub about a Lithuanian basketball player Darius Lukminas.

A few days ago Polish Wikimedians celebrated the 5th birthday of Polish Wikimedia at a big party in Warsaw.

Quite recently Polish Wiktionary reached a round number of entries as well: 50,000.


Poolse Wikipedia over de 300.000 artikelen

Vandaag heeft de Poolse Wikipedia de grens van 300.000 artikelen bereikt, met het artikel Darius Lukminas (pl). Dit is vijf jaar, nadat het eerste artikel op de Poolse Wikipedia werd geschreven.

Een paar dagen geleden werd ook al feest gevierd. Dit ter gelegenheid van het vijfjarig bestaan van de Poolse Wikipedia.


300 000 haseł w polskojęzycznej Wikipedii

Dzisiaj polska Wikipedia obchodzi swoje pięciolecie. Okazało się, że Wikipedyści przygotowujący artykuły przygotowali dla niej prezent z tej okazji. Dokładnie dziewięć minut po dokładnym pięcioleciu uruchomienia polskojęzycznej edycji Wikipedii, czyli o 18:37, stworzony został 300 000. artykuł opisujący krótko biografię koszykarza Dariusa Lukminasa. Dodatkowo nie tak dawno siostrzany projekt Wikipedii, Wikisłownik, świętował utworzenie pięćdziesięciotysięcznego hasła.


Science curriculum director resigns from Texas Education Agency

Christine Comer resigned this month as the director of the science curriculum for the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) director after more than nine years. Comer said her resignation was due to pressure from officials who claimed she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of intelligent design.

According to documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, "Comer was put on 30 days paid administrative leave shortly after she forwarded an e-mail in late October announcing a presentation by Barbara Forrest, a critic of the intelligent design/creationist movement. Forrest served as an expert witness at the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. At Dover, intelligent design was ruled "a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory." There is widespread scientific support for evolution, while creationism has been described as pseudoscience by the scientific community.

Comer's resignation comes shortly ahead of the TEA's State Board of Education (SBOE) reviews of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which determine what should be taught in the classrooms and what textbooks are bought.

The advocacy group Texas Citizens for Science have released a statement saying, in part, "The real reason [Comer] was forced to resign is because the top TEA administrators and some SBOE members wanted her out of the picture before the state science standards—the science TEKS—were reviewed, revised, and rewritten next year. Plans are underway by some SBOE members and TEA administrators to diminish the requirement to teach about evolutionary biology in the Biology TEKS and to require instead that biology instructors 'Teach the Controversy' about the 'weaknesses' of evolution, that is, teach the Creationist-inspired and -created bogus controversy about evolution that doesn't exist within legitimate science."

Professor PZ Myers, biology professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, wrote that Forrest is "exactly the kind of person boards of education ought to consult before going down the road of attempting to legislate religion into the public schools."

In reaction to the news Forrest told National Center for Science Education, "In my talk, I simply told the truth -- about the history of the 'intelligent design' movement, about the complete rejection of its claims by the scientific community, and about the Kitzmiller trial and my involvement in it. Maybe the TEA can't afford to take a position on what constitutes good science education -- maybe it must remain neutral on whether or not to lie to students about evolution -- but if so, that's just sad."

Agency officials declined to comment, saying it was a personnel issue.


מנהלת תוכנית הלימודים המדעית בטקסס "אולצה" להתפטר

כריס קמר התפטרה החודש מתפקידה כמנהלת תוכנית הלימודים המדעית מטעם סוכנות החינוך הטקסנית, זאת בתום למעלה מתשע שנות כהונה במשרה. על-פי מסמכים שהשיג "Austin American-Statesman", "קמר הוצאה לחופשה מנהלית עם שכר בת 30 יום זמן קצר לאחר שהיא העבירה בשלהי אוקטובר דוא"ל שהכריז על מצגת שתערוך ברברה פורסט, מלומדת הנמנית עם אנשי אסכולת התכנון התבוני/הבריאתנות. פורסט שירתה כעדה מומחית במשפט קיטזמילר נגד מחוז בתי הספר של אזור דובר. בדובר, נפסק כי התכנון התבוני אינו אלא "השקפה דתית, פשוט תיוג מחדש של בריאתנות, ולא תיאוריה מדעית".

הבשורה על התפטרותה של קמר מגיעה זמן קצר טרם פרסום סקירות חבר הנאמנים לחינוך בטקסס בנושא תוכנית הידע והמיומנויות החיוניות בטקסס, הקובעות מה יילמד בכיתות-הלימוד ואלו ספרי-לימוד יירכשו. קבוצת-הלחץ "אזרחי טקסס למען מדע" פרסמה הודעה לעיתונות בה אמרה, בין היתר: "הסיבה האמיתית לפיטורין נובעת מהעובדה שבכירים בסוכנות החינוך הטקסנית וחלק מחברי חבר הנאמנים לחינוך בטקסס רצו לסלקה מן התמונה בטרם תקני המדע המדינתיים - ייבחנו, ייערכו וישוכתבו לקראת שנת הלימודים הבאה. חלק מחברי ארגונים אלה מצויים בעיצומן של הכנות תוכניות שמטרתן גניזת התביעה ללמד על ביולוגיה אבולוציונרית במסגרת תכנית הלימודים בביולוגיה ולהמירה בדרישה כי מורי הביולוגיה "ילמדו על המחלוקת" בקשר ל"חולשות" האבולוציה, קרי,ילמדו על המחלוקת-לכאורה בנוגע לאבולוציה, שהומצאה בידי הבריאתנים, ושאינה קיימת בגבולות המדע הלגיטימי." על-פי פרופסור פ"ז מאירס, פורסט היא "בדיוק האדם שעל האחראים על החינוך להוועץ עמו בטרם עולים על המדרון החלקלק של ניסיון להכניס את הדת לתחומי החקיקה בנוגע לבתי-ספר ציבוריים".

גורמים רשמיים מטעם הסוכנות לחינוך סרבו להגיב, בטענה כי מדובר בעניינים אישיים.

30 בנובמבר 2007


Scientists announce decoy-proof Ebola antibodies

Findings published Thursday in Cell reveal the development of a new antibody treatment for the deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus and its relatives.

Scientists from the United States-based La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases identified two antibodies, 1C3 and 1C11, that can attack Zaire ebolavirus and Sudan ebolavirus.

There are currently no vaccines or antibody cocktails available to treat ebolaviruses other than Zaire ebolavirus. LJI President and CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire said: "Finding antibodies with this breadth is important because we don't know which virus in the genus of ebolaviruses is going to break out next."

Of the six ebolaviruses known to science, the Zaire and Sudan ebolaviruses are the two most deadly: the 2010s outbreak that killed eleven thousand was caused by the Zaire virus.

The new contribution made in this paper is that scientists used the imaging technique cryogenic electron microscopy to observe how and where the antibodies interact with the viruses.

The team saw that 1C3, instead of binding to the target site on the viral glycoprotein in the typical molecular lock-and-key fashion, stuck itself sideways across the glycoprotein, blocking three binding sites at once. Antibodies work by binding to pathogens and neutralizing their antigens.

1C11 works by interfering with the molecules that the virus would use to enter a cell.  Because the Zaire and Sudan ebolaviruses use very similar mechanisms, 1C11 is effective against both.

According to the research team, the primary advantage that these two antibodies have over others is that they are resistant to cross-reactivity.  When some viruses enter the body, including the Zaire and Sudan ebolaviruses, they produce excess glycoprotein and release it into the area like a smokescreen. This causes many of the body's antibodies bind to this glycoprotein instead, as many as 90 percent of them.  1C3 and 1C11 do not; they bind only to the real virus.

This means that antibody treatments based on 1C3 and 1C11 are likely to be effective at much lower doses than other treatments, as early experiments have already shown:  One treatment has already been tested in non-human primates, and even the lowest doses used were 100 percent effective.  This also means the human treatment might be much cheaper to produce than expected.

According to LJI, treatment based on these two antibodies would offer two advantages over existing treatments.  First, patients with undiagnosed species of Ebolavirus can be treated with an antibody cocktail that is effective against more than one virus.  Because doctors don't always have time to figure out which virus a patient has, this could save many lives.  Second, these antibodies would be effective in patients with later stages of the disease.

The experiments were conducted using samples donated to Emory University by two Ebola survivors.


Cientistas anunciam novo tratamento contra o ebola

Os resultados publicados na Cell revelam o desenvolvimento de um novo tratamento com anticorpos para a doença mortal causada pelo vírus ebola e seus parentes.

Cientistas do Instituto La Jolla de Imunologia (LJI) e do Instituto Nacional de Alergia e Doenças Infecciosas, com sede nos Estados Unidos, identificaram dois anticorpos, 1C3 e 1C11, que podem atacar os vírus Zaire ebolavirus e Sudan ebolavirus.

Atualmente, não há vacinas ou coquetéis de anticorpos disponíveis para tratar além do Zaire. A presidente e CEO da LJI, Erica Ollmann Saphire, disse: “Encontrar anticorpos com essa amplitude é importante porque não sabemos qual vírus do gênero ebola vai surgir a seguir”.

Dos seis vírus ebola conhecidos pela ciência, Zaire e Sudan são os dois mais mortais: o surto de 2010 que matou onze mil foi causado pelo vírus Zaire.

A nova contribuição feita neste artigo é que os cientistas usaram a técnica de imagem microscopia eletrônica criogênica para observar como e onde os anticorpos interagem com os vírus.

A equipe viu que o 1C3, em vez de se ligar ao local alvo na glicoproteína viral da maneira típica, grudou-se lateralmente, bloqueando três locais de ligação ao mesmo tempo. Os anticorpos funcionam ligando-se aos patógenos e neutralizando seus antígenos.

O 1C11 funciona interferindo nas moléculas que o vírus usaria para entrar em uma célula. Como os vírus Zaire e Sudan usam mecanismos muito semelhantes, o 1C11 é eficaz contra ambos.

De acordo com a equipe de pesquisa, a principal vantagem que esses dois anticorpos têm sobre os outros é que eles são resistentes à reatividade cruzada. Quando alguns vírus entram no corpo, incluindo os vírus citados, eles produzem glicoproteína em excesso e a liberam. Isso faz com que muitos dos anticorpos do corpo se liguem a essa glicoproteína, até 90% deles. 1C3 e 1C11 não; eles se ligam apenas ao vírus real.

Isso significa que os tratamentos com anticorpos baseados em 1C3 e 1C11 provavelmente serão eficazes em doses muito mais baixas do que outros tratamentos, como os primeiros experimentos já mostraram: um tratamento já foi testado em primatas não humanos, e mesmo as doses mais baixas usadas foram 100 por cento eficaz. Isso também significa que o tratamento humano pode ser muito mais barato de produzir do que o esperado.

Segundo LJI, o tratamento com base nesses dois anticorpos ofereceria duas vantagens em relação aos tratamentos existentes. Primeiro, os pacientes com espécies não diagnosticadas de ebola podem ser tratados com um coquetel de anticorpos que é eficaz contra mais de um vírus. Como os médicos nem sempre têm tempo para descobrir qual vírus um paciente tem, isso pode salvar muitas vidas. Em segundo lugar, esses anticorpos seriam eficazes em pacientes com estágios mais avançados da doença.

Os experimentos foram conduzidos usando amostras doadas à Emory University por dois sobreviventes do ebola.


Singapore Exam Board sets mathematically impossible question

The Exam Board of Singapore handled many complaints about the incorrectly written math question on an end-of-the-year examination.

The Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) are taken nationwide and determine what secondary school students enter. The students get into secondary schools based on merit. Based on this system, Singaporeans commonly determine how 'smart' a student is based on what school they got into.

"This is ridiculous," said a secondary student.

Question 13 of the Math exam required students to calculate the area of rectangle C based on the area of triangles A and B. The dimensions of the rectangle of which the triangles were in and the triangles themselves are inconsistent. Based on these calculations, it is mathematically impossible to draw that diagram.

All students have been given two marks regardless of their answer. However, some parents and students in top schools remain unsatisfied.

"I do not think it is fair because those who got it correct, actually it will still be the same with the others. They don't deserve it and maybe we do," said one student. "A lot of people might have spent a lot of time on that question and not have time to check on the other questions but then everyone gets two marks. 89 is an A and 91 is an A*, so there is quite a lot of difference."

Another student in the Gifted Education Programme insisted, "Well, if you get the second answer (not 25) the first time you attempt the question, you will naturally try using another method to find the answer. Say you get 25 on the second time, which is the correct answer, and 25 is the only answer you get that is inside the options, you will put your answer as 25. Therefore, I think that the SEAB should not award 2 free marks to everybody. It's unfair! Plus, the question was so easy."

Other students were happy with the compensation. "I'm very very happy that they are giving us two marks."

The Exam Board stated that it had carried out at least 5 rounds of checks by experienced examiners. It also assured parents and students all exams would be thoroughly checked to be error-free in the future.