19 February 2007
HIV skeptics beyond stupid, says top scientist
Robert Gallo, the American scientist who established the link between HIV and AIDS in 1984, appeared for the prosecution yesterday in the application for an appeal by an HIV-positive man convicted of exposing three women to the virus. Defence witnesses – both medical specialists – made claims that the science behind HIV is flawed, that the virus has not been purified, that tests for it are indirect and unreliable, and that it is not sexually transmitted or the cause of AIDS. Professor Gallo said he had reviewed much of the defence testimony and rejected it as "misunderstanding" at best, and "misrepresentation" of HIV and AIDS research, at worst. ...[more]
Scientists expose HIV weak spot
"Creating an HIV vaccine is one of the great scientific challenges of our time. NIH researchers… have revealed a gap in HIV's armour and have thereby opened a new avenue to meeting that challenge", says Dr Elias Zerhouni, director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The results of this research have revealed that certain parts of the virus remain relatively unchanged in order to bind to, and enter cells, making it a target for vaccine development. ...[more]
return to top
Alcohol Guidelines for pregnant women too lenient
AUSTRALIA – National guidelines on alcohol consumption for pregnant women are too lenient and could be putting babies at risk, the Government admitted. The Government is reviewing the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council, which sets standards on how much people can drink without suffering health effects. Assistant Health Minister Christopher Pyne said ensuring the health of pregnant women and their children would be a primary focus. ...[more]
U.S. Adults Support R-Rating For Films With Tobacco
USA - According to a new survey, 81 percent of adults in the USA agree adolescents are more likely to smoke if they watch actors smoke in movies, and 70 percent support a new R- rating for any movies with on-screen tobacco imagery, unless the film clearly demonstrates the dangers of smoking. ...[more]
return to top
Hawaii dumps Euthanasia Bill
The Hawaii State house vote of 6-1 has defeated a measure to instate physician assisted suicide. The House Health committee held a hearing on the proposed bill and faced massive opposition from pro-life advocates, doctors’ groups, and the disabled community. A quadriplegic testified against the bill, saying, “This Bill is wrong. It’s taking advantage of the disabled, the elderly, the sick–kicking a man when he’s down.” This is the fourth time the ACLU and Democrat-led force has tried to get the bill passed. ...[more]
Dr Death holds suicide workshops in NZ
The man dubbed 'Dr Death' is giving a workshop in Wellington on suicide methods. Australian campaigner Philip Nitschke has attracted fierce criticism for promoting voluntary euthanasia for the sick and elderly. He outlined three options, including the use of helium, plastic bags and travel to Mexico to obtain drugs. The Ministry of Health issued a statement earlier this month, saying authorities will confiscate the suicide drug Nembutal from anyone re-entering New Zealand from Mexico. ...[more]
return to top
Nigeria moves to tighten homosexuality laws
NIGERIA - The House of Representatives held a public hearing on a new bill seeking to outlaw homosexual relations. The bill, which could become law before April's elections, proposes a five-year sentence for anyone convicted of being openly homosexual or practicing homosex. Critics say the bill is anti-freedom, but religious leaders say it will help "protect society's morals and values". ...[more]
return to top
Muscular Dystrophy breakthrough using adult stem cell research
[ITALY] Researchers at the Stem Cell Institute in Milan claim they’ve been able to regenerate muscles in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy using human adult stem cells. MD is an extremely hard condition to treat as it involves the loss of muscles all over body. The beauty of these experimental cells is that when injected into the bloodstream, they spontaneously go to the affected muscle tissues.
...[more]
return to top
Archbishop Considers Canceling Telus Contract Over Porn Sales
[CANADA] Vancouver Archbishop, Raymond Roussin, has said he will consider canceling diocesan contracts with Telus Mobility over the phone company’s decision to offer pornography through cellphones, the Canadian Press reported. ...[more]
Libraries, cafes shield criminals from police
[CANADA] Police frequently track cyber crimes to Internet-cafe computers and occasionally to those in public libraries, but are never able to identify the criminals because no user records are kept. Library officials say they are caught between their duty to assist the police and their obligation to protect the privacy rights of their patrons. ...[more]
return to top
Prostitution Bill Gains Support
[HAWAII] A bill to legalize prostitution has caused much controversy in the Hawaiian islands. The decriminalization bill would permit sexual favors done in private, and it would designate areas where prostitution is allowed. The head of the Hawaii Libertarian Party said, “Prostitutes have a hard time getting help if they are hounded by the police in addition to facing the dangers of their profession… By criminalizing them, you're only adding to their problems." Conversely, the Executive Director for the Hawaii Family Forum said, “These women should be helped out of their situation, but legitimizing them is not the answer…Oftentimes, the point at which a woman is arrested is where help begins.”
...[more]
return to top
EU Threatens to Withdraw Aid to Nicaragua if Pro-Life Law Remains
Representatives from the European Union are increasing pressure on the government of Nicaragua to reverse its recent law which unilaterally forbids abortion under any circumstances. According to a report from the Catholic News Agency, the EU representation has threatened to withdraw economic assistance to the country if the abortion law is not reversed. Nicaragua’s revised the abortion law as it had a loophole which allowed for the killing of the unborn child if the life or health of the mother was determined to be in danger. The ambiguity of this clause in most countries around the globe has eventually led to practical abortion on demand. ...[more]
Study Finds Majority of Doctors Object to Abortion for Failed Contraception
[USA] A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that the majority of doctors in the United States have objections to resorting to abortion if contraception fails. An even larger majority believe that it is ethically permissible for a physician to express his moral objections to his patients. ...[more]
return to top
Australian pedophiles trapped by web hunt
ONE HUNDRED and thirty Australians are among the 2360 suspects being hunted, in what is believed to be the largest international pedophile ring ever to be cracked. The videos depicted "the worst kind of child sexual abuse" of children up to the age of 14. The investigation began in July, when a man working for a Vienna-based internet business spotted child porn on one of the company's computers during a routine check. He blocked access to the videos but recorded the internet addresses of people who tried to download the pornographic material. Within 24 hours, more than 8000 attempts from 2361 computers in 77 countries were recorded. This information was turned over to the police.
...[more]
return to top
Australia – Desperate Couples Turn to Home Insemination
Increasing numbers of couples are breaking the surrogacy law and making use of DIY home-insemination methods. As one woman explains, “You find the couple you want to work with, make sure each has tests for STDs… track your ovulation, the intended father gives a donation and you go into a room with a syringe…”. Although a number of infertility websites offer step-by-step instructions on home insemination, Professor Michael Chapman of IVF Australia, warns of the risks involved: "The stringent controls we put in place…excludes things like hepatitis, HIV, Chlamydia". Also, DIY surrogacy is ethically difficult, as the surrogate mother is biologically related to the child.
...[more]
return to top
Uganda: Traditional Healers Ordered to Register
FOLLOWING rampant child sacrifices in the country, about 200 traditional healers have been instructed to register to monitor their activities. "With the human sacrifice scare still hanging in the air, it is better we know your number and places of operation… You should also put a registration book in your shrines for easy identification of all the people you attend to. In case a need arises for a check up, it will simplify our work," said LC3 chairman, Gerald Mukasa. ...[more]
return to top
|
