Migratory Birds Not Spreading Bird Flu

Some good news about the H5N1 bird flu: it can’t be spread by a lot of birds. This information can change, but I hope that this is a fact.

Migratory birds would obviously spread the virus faster than birds that like to stay at home.

”There has never been any conclusive, properly documented evidence that wild birds are carriers of the virus,” Richard Thomas, editor of ‘World Birdwatch,’ said in an e-mail interview. ”Tens of thousands of healthy, wild, migrant waterfowl in Hong Kong have been tested over the last decade, yet there is not a single positive-for-H5N1 amongst them.”

Murat Kurnaz Released From Guantánamo!

In 2001 German resident Murat Zurnaz was arrested in Pakistan and soon after shipped off to be held in detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No evidence was presented against him for apparent ‘terrorist related activites’ yet he remained imprisoned for years without a trial.

The good news is that after 5 years and much lobbying by Amnesty International, his family and several lawyers he has finally been released and is back home in Germany. Not only that but during the trial a US federal judge cited his case as “illustrative of the inherant unfairness and fundamental flaws of the adminitrative review process the military authorities conduct in Guantánamo”. This case brings the unjust activity occuring in Guantanamo to light and will likely have an effect on future cases as a result.

Since Amnesty has become involved in cases in Guantanamo 16 prisoners have been released from US detention. Of those detainees transferred to their home countries, 1 remain in detention and 13 have been released indefinatly.
 

South Africa to Speak Truth About HIV/AIDS

This August we have spoken a lot about HIV and AIDS, which means that some good news is happening. Here’s some more goodness: South Africa is going to actually suggest real solutions to preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

South Africa has been criticized for suggesting bizarre “natural” cures for HIV, which are clearly not cures at all. Well, activists have demanded change and it looks like change will come.

I see a ship in the harbour

boatSomalia has opened the Mogadishu port and for the first time in more than 10 years a ship has docked. Until now porters had to unload ships from natural harbours and carry the goods ashore. Workers have been working hard to clear the access to the port.

This is a good sign for a country that has been plagued with strife and hardship. Ships arriving at the port are expected to bring down the price of goods such as TVs. There is hope that the opening of this port will also help curb piracy in the local seas.

“Mogadishu’s port used to be one of the busiest in East Africa, before the conflict led to its closure.

The port and international airport have been closed since United Nations and US troops ended their operations in the city as it descended into chaos in the mid-1990s following the collapse of central government.”

SICKO!

Documentary film maker Michael Moore is at it again with a new film hitting theaters in the coming year. It is titled “Sicko” and the film focuses on the American health care system.

A quote from his website:
“Back in February, I asked if people would send me letters describing their experiences with our health care system. I received over 19,000 of them. It was truly overwhelming as we literally took a month and read them all. To read about the misery people are put through on a daily basis by our profit-based system was both moving and revolting. That’s all I will say right now.”

It is always good when people care to speak out about the general well being of the public, however Michael Moore has also been subject to a fair share of critisism…many people have disregarded his films as extremist or incredibly one sided. Others argue that Michael Moore is extremely effective at getting his point across. One thing is for sure, the guy knows how to pack a movie theater.
The film Sicko will be released sometime in 2007. As for the past month Micheal has been keeping himself extra busy holding his second annual Traverse City Film Festival this which saw 50,000 festival goers last year. He hosts the festival as a venue for talented filmakers who’s films have gone undistributed despite the fact that they are undoubtedly deserving.

A busy guy that Michael!

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