"Genetically Modified Lies?"

Genetically Modified Lies or An Honest Mistake?
Contaminating the world's food supply is becoming a habit for big agribusiness. Back in 2000, a genetically-modified (GM) corn called StarLink was discovered in Taco Bell tacos. Manufactured by Aventis, StarLink was modified to be more insect-resistant through the insertion of a bacterial toxin into the corn's DNA. When eaten, however, it can provoke intense allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. The EPA had banned StarLink corn from human consumption, but allowed it to be grown for animal feed and let Aventis regulate itself. Mysteriously, though, StarLink corn ended up at Taco Bell. In the ensuing scandal, more than 300 food products were recalled. But the story didn't end there.

Sloppy Criticisms of Zimbabwe Elections
They are using the structural deficiencies that most politicians usually exploit in all so-called democratic countries, as an excuse to demonize President Robert Mugabe. The same 'democratic deficient structure' exists in the U.S. The state media is usually dominated by the party in power, while they all seek the interest of their investors. Members from their party are appointed to the best government jobs. Bush and Blair are leaders in these type of party politics. The ruling party and opposition use scare tactics compounded by inflammatory statements.

Accept Zimbabwe's Election Results
Despite being declared free, fair and a reflection of the will of the Zimbabwean people by both the South African Observer Mission and the Electoral Commission Forum of Southern African Development Community (SADC), the conduct of Zimbabwe's last Thursday's parliamentary elections cannot be said to have been anywhere near perfect.

There are still many flaws and a number of areas that need improvement. But whose conduct of elections can be said to be perfect or near perfect? No one. Even the United States' conduct of elections - as witnessed in the last two elections - is nowhere near perfect; they still have flaws of one form or another.

Venezuela to Create Military Reserve Force of 1.5 Million
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced on his weekly television program Aló Presidente that a military reserve force of 1.5 million Venezuelans will be trained in order "to defend, with the people, the sovereignty and greatness of this land."

The Commander General of the Army Reserves, Julio Quintero Viloria, will be in charge of what is to be the largest reserve force in Venezuelan history.

Speaking from the western state of Apure, Chávez explained that although the armed forces will train, equip and prepare the reserves, only the active military officers will be armed, clarifying that although the military reserves and the forces of national mobilization are two complementary mechanisms, they are distinct and have different purposes.

Call for Tsvangirai to resign after poll
Zimbabwe's main opposition party is in crisis as the fallout from a heavy, if disputed, election defeat at the hands of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF turned to criticism of its campaign and tactics. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is expected to face calls to stand down in favour of its spokesman, Welshman Ncube.

Instead of harnessing popular support by presenting alternative policies, the MDC campaigned on an anti-Zanu-PF ticket. Consequently the opposition was perceived as a party of protest rather than a credible alternative. Its open-door approach to international financial institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, did not play well with an electorate that has painful memories of the "structural adjustment" of the 1990s.

Zimbabwe poll flawed, says Straw
Jack Straw said yesterday that Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections had been flawed and expressed disappointment that other African nations had accepted them as fair.

Morality of Straw:
Where were you when there were similar complaints about the last two U.S. Elections?

British Councillors guilty of postal votes fraud
A Judge has delivered a devastating indictment of the postal voting system championed by ministers as he found six Labour councillors guilty of electoral fraud. He said checks against corruption were "hopelessly insecure" and accused the Government of being in denial about the risks to democracy.

Richard Mawrey QC, sitting as an electoral commissioner in Birmingham, found "overwhelming" evidence of fraud in last year's city council elections that would "disgrace a banana republic". The elections, where several Labour candidates bucked the trend to win, were dogged by claims of intimidation, bribery, "vote-buying', impersonation and even the creation of a "vote-forging factory". The judge's comments yesterday, a day before the expected announcement by Tony Blair of a 5 May general election...

Death of Pope Preempts Misery of Iraq
"By the time President Bush ordered U.S. troops to disarm Saddam Hussein of the deadly weapons he was allegedly trying to build, every piece of fresh evidence had been tested-and disproved-by U.N. inspectors, according to a report commissioned by the president and released Thursday," the Washington Post reports early today. In other words, Bush groomed a passel of lies and passed it off as a pretext to invade a sovereign nation and kill more than 100,000 innocent Iraqis. Now the Strausscons wants to blame this defective intelligence--i.e., lies--on the CIA and the "intelligence community."

Hanoi Jane and The City Of God

Egypt Students Demonstrate for Democracy

Palestinians Decry Israeli Trash Dump Plan
Israel plans to dispose of garbage on Palestinian land in the West Bank, and a Palestinian official immediately denounced it Monday as violating international law, saying, "We are not a dumping ground."

Russia Official Warns Against Infighting

Fiery priest may seek Haiti's presidency

Philippine craftsmen keep centuries old boat-making tradition alive

Medford hotel owners say Bush Admin. left them with unpaid bills