05 February 2007
South Africa - AIDS on the Rise Among the Wealthy
A five-year research study released on Tuesday has highlighted an increasing wave of HIV and AIDS infections among the wealthy and educated in South Africa. This study was conducted by polling firm Markinor in partnership with the University of South Africa's Bureau of Market Research. Markinor director Mari Harris said the country's first wave of AIDS’ infections was seen among homosexuals followed by a second heterosexual wave concentrated in poorer, mainly unemployed people in rural areas. "We're picking up that there might be a third wave of a higher educated, professional people who also have exactly the same risks as people in the lower ends of the Living Standards Measure (LSM)" said Harris. ...[more]
Uganda - Pre-Sex Anti-Aids Gel Banned
Trials of a new product designed to help women protect themselves from HIV were halted after it was realised that women using it became infected at a higher rate than women not using it, researchers said. The microbicide, developed under the brand name Ushercell, is a cotton-based compound that had been tested on more than 500 women without any indication that it raised the risk of HIV infection. It was later tested in advanced trials in 1,333 women in South Africa, Benin, Uganda and India, after it was found to increase the risk of HIV infection. ...[more]
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USA - Excessive Pseudoephedrine Sales, an Indication of Methamphetamine Abused
Iowa, notorious just two years ago for being one of the USA's methamphetamine lab capitals, has become a national leader in wiping out the toxic sites where the highly addictive drug is made. The state's top anti-drug officials want lawmakers to go even further this year by agreeing to electronically track those who try to buy more than the legal limit of pseudoephedrine. The decongestant is contained in many cold and allergic medicines. Meth can't be made without pseudoephedrine, or its already-illegal cousin, ephedrine, according to drug experts. After a law change in May 2005, the over-the-counter medicine became a controlled substance in Iowa. ...[more]
South Africa – Puffers Slam Proposals
While local businesses support the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, which could prevent people from smoking in their homes in front of their children or domestic workers, some smokers have slammed the bill, calling it extreme and harsh. The bill also proposes increases in fines for a person smoking in a non-smoking area from R200 to a maximum of R500 and for the owners of public places allowing smoking from R200 to a maximum of R50 000. ...[more]
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Australia, Switzerland - The One-way Ticket to Switzerland
Philip Nitschke, Australia’s Dr Death, arranged and accompanied Dr John Elliot and his wife to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich, Switzerland where they witnessed the latter’s euthanasia. Nitschke condemned Australia’s laws for forcing Elliot across the world in his terminally-ill state in order to kill himself. ...[more]
Hawaii - Tries for a Euthanasia Bill… Again
Euthanasia activists in the state of Hawaii have introduced yet another bill in an attempt to legalize assisted suicide, the fourth measure to be brought forward since 1999. Critics of the measure point out that the vague terminology and the missing clause on conscientious objection that “the ultimate goal of the movement is a wide license approaching death on demand”. ...[more]
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South Africa - Activists Want Education on Homosexuals in School
High school students in Gauteng province could be taught about homosexuality in classrooms if authorities give the green light to a programme proposed by homosexual activists. South Africa is already alone in Africa with its homosexual right’s policies and became the first country in the region to legalise same-sex marriages last year, amid a storm of protest from the public. A spokesperson for the Gauteng education department, said activists had approached officials to incorporate homosexuality into life skills classes already taught in schools, but the plans are still in their "infancy". ...[more]
Italy - Government Faces Challenge Over Homosexual Rights
In a draft law (called the Civil Solidarity Pacts Bill), prepared by two government ministers, same-sex couples would be able to get certificates from town halls confirming they are a couple. However, Justice Minister Clemente Mastella said he would rather see the government fall than back a law he calls immoral. It is the most divisive issue so far for the Catholics-to-communists coalition government, particularly because it raises strong moral questions. Last month the northern city of Padua became the first in Italy to allow unmarried heterosexuals and homosexuals to register formally as "families based on ties of affection". ...[more]
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South Korea – Country Set to Ban Human Egg Donations
South Korean government is all set to ban human egg donations, seemingly in a bid to obliterate the global scandal caused by the (fake) embryonic stem cell research of Prof. Hwang Woo-suk. The National Bioethics Committee will convene on 6 February to work out a draft banning women from donating their eggs for scientific research. ...[more]
United Kingdom - Branson Launches Virgin Stem Cell Bank
Richard Branson launched a new service allowing parents to store stem cells from their child's umbilical cord. For a £1,500 fee, parents will be able to bank the cells from the umbilical blood in cold storage. The enterprise will also have a charitable arm. Half of the blood collected from the umbilical cords would go to the National Blood Service in an effort to increase the chances of a patient being able to find a stem cell match. ...[more]
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USA - Resolution on Internet Porn Gets Unanimous OK From House
A resolution that urges the United States Congress to take action to help stop children and employees from accessing Internet pornography passed the House with unanimous approval. Sponsoring Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, said the resolution would send a strong message from Utah that the state wants Congress to take action and enact legislation to "facilitate a technology-based solution allowing parents and employers to obtain Internet access services that exclude adult content." ...[more]
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...............U Arisona-hackers ...[more]
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Cape Town - CCMA Won’t Get Involved in Illegal Litigation
The statutory commission for conciliation, mediation and arbitration (CCMA) has ruled it has no jurisdiction to deal with an unfair dismissal claim by a Cape Town sex worker. The CCMA Commissioner said in a ruling given recently, that the CCMA could deal only with a legally enforceable contract, and a contract dealing with a criminalised activity could not be enforceable. Jayne Arnott, director of Sweat, an NGO championing the rights of sex workers, said "… I think it was important to challenge, and we will continue to do so”. ...[more]
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Togo – Some Forms of Abortion Legalized
The African nation of Togo has become one of just a handful of countries on the continent to legalize some forms of abortion. The western African nation now allows abortions in cases of rape or incest and the change is seen as a possible harbinger of things to come as pro-abortion groups seek to topple pro-life laws in Africa. UN agencies and pro-abortion groups want African countries and nations in South America and Europe to make abortion legal and say the rights of women can't be respected unless they do. ...[more]
USA - Push for New Abortion Ban With Exceptions
After a near total ban on abortion failed to gain voter approval, lawmakers now hope to at least restrict the killing of the preborn. A group of South Dakota legislators announced the introduction of a new legislation that would limit access to abortion services. The proposal would outlaw the practice except in cases of rape, incest or the health of the mother. It would also tighten laws that require abortion providers to report rape and incest to the proper authorities. ...[more]
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Israel – Dead Soldier Receives Family He Never Met
In a precedent-setting decision, an Israeli court has ruled that a dead soldier's family can have his sperm impregnated into the body of a woman he never met. Keivan Cohen, 20, was shot dead in 2002 by a Palestinian sniper in the Gaza Strip. He was single and left no will. "He always said he wanted children," his mother said. But at the urging of his parents, a sample of his sperm was taken two hours after his death and has been stored in a hospital since. Access to the sperm was refused by the hospital but after a four-year legal battle, a Tel Aviv court ruled that the sperm could be injected into a woman selected by Cohen's family. The ruling also ordered the Ministry of Interior to register any children born as a result of the insemination as children of the deceased. ...[more]
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Gambia - President hails herbal 'cure' for AIDS
The Gambian Health Minister says his President, Yahya Jammeh, has developed a herbal cure for HIV and AIDS. In a BBC interview, Tamsir Mbowe gave no details of the alleged cure. But Dr Mbowe said that after three days of treatment with Mr Jammeh's herbal medicine, a trial group of AIDS patients had gained significant weight and were physically and mentally stable. The Gambian leader is one of several prominent Africans to challenge drug-based methods of fighting HIV and AIDS, but critics accuse them of encouraging the spread of the virus. ...[more]
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