To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - July 22, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 07:56:30 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
8:00 PM Eastern
HIST - HISTORY UNDERCOVER - "Secrets of Soviet Space
Disasters" - Soviet space disasters cause more than 150
deaths.(CC)(TVG)
9:00
DISC - SCIENCE MYSTERIES - "Miracles of Faith" - Scientific
debate seeks to explain religious miracles, including the
Shroud of Turin.(CC)(TVG)
HIST - TALES OF THE FBI - "Operation Solo" - Morris
Childs becomes the FBI's inside man in the American Communist
Party.(CC)(TVPG)
10:00
ABC - VANISHED - Madalyn Murray O'Hair disappears in 1995
with her son and granddaughter.(CC)
DISC - INTO THE UNKNOWN - "Supernatural Beings" - Legendary
creatures challenge the scientific
community.(CC)(TVPG)
HIST - TRANSATLANTIC CABLE: 2500 MILES OF COPPER - In 1866
Cyrus Field lays the first trans-Atlantic telegraph
cable.(CC)(TVG)
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (7/21/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 08:16:34 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Palestinians say peace deal with Israel must be reached by May
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Tampa Bay Online (AP)
Wed Jul 21,1999 -- The Palestinians insisted Wednesday that a
permanent peace agreement with Israel be concluded by May, rejecting a
later target date floated by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said that in exchange for
the Palestinians' decision to forgo a unilateral declaration of
statehood in May 1999 - the original deadline for a peace accord -
they were assured by the EU and the United States that an extension
should not exceed one year. ``A year from May is all that can be
tolerated. We are already very late," Shaath said. On Tuesday,
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat also said the 15-month framework put
forward by Barak, which would conclude in October, was unacceptable.
The dispute over the timetable suggests that the brief honeymoon
between the PA and the moderate Barak may be over. A Barak-Arafat
meeting tentatively scheduled for next week is expected to be more
difficult than their first get-acquainted session earlier this month.
The Palestinians expect Israel to immediately carry out last year's
U.S.-brokered interim Wye River land-for-security agreement, said
Shaath. The accord was suspended by Barak's hard-line predecessor,
Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak, who returned to Israel on Wednesday from
the United States, had proposed folding parts of Wye - including
long-delayed troop withdrawals in the West Bank - into negotiations on
a permanent peace accord. However, he and his advisers have said they
would not insist if the Palestinians objected. Clinton spoke Wednesday
with Arafat to update him on his talks with Barak. He told the
Palestinian leader the meeting with Barak left him with a ``very
positive feeling,'' National Security Council spokesman P.J. Crowley
said in Washington. Israel's police minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, said the
15-month timeframe did not mean it would take that long to reach an
agreement but was intended to show Israel's intention to move quickly.
In an example of the goodwill that continues in some areas between the
Palestinians and Barak's government, Ben-Ami met Wednesday with Faisal
Husseini, the top PLO official in Jerusalem, and agreed to drop plans
by Netanyahu's government to close Orient House, Husseini's
headquarters in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem. In return, Husseini
repeated promises that Orient House would not be used for Palestinian
Authority business - something Israel says is forbidden under interim
peace deals. Netanyahu, who was campaigning on a platform of
strengthening Israeli control over Jerusalem, had accused the
Palestinians of breaking those promises and tried to shut down Orient
House days before the elections. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem,
which was seized by Israel in 1967, as the capital of a future state.
China warns U.S. to stay out of Taiwan conflict
Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: South China Morning Post
Wed Jul 21,1999 -- President Jiang Zemin has warned the US against
intervention in the cross-strait crisis. During Sunday evening's call
from President Bill Clinton, Mr Jiang said Beijing had not ruled out
the use of force against Taipei in the crisis sparked by President Lee
Teng-hui's remarks on seeking "state-to-state" relations with China.
The United States sent two aircraft carriers into the Taiwan Strait in
March 1996 when Beijing carried out missile exercises before Taiwan's
presidential election. Mr Jiang warned that Mr Lee had taken a "very
dangerous step toward splitting the country", stressing that Beijing
was not committed to abandoning the use of force in seeking
unification with Taiwan", Xinhua reported. Despite the threat, Mr
Jiang said Beijing remained committed to peaceful reunification with
Taiwan. "We will never sit idle if some people engage in Taiwan's
independence or foreign interventions attempt to separate Taiwan from
the motherland," Xinhua quoted Mr Jiang as telling Mr Clinton.
U.S. considers decision to stop sending military aid to Taiwan
Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: The Washington Times
Wed Jul 21,1999 -- The Clinton administration has halted a visit to
Taiwan by Pentagon officials and is considering a cutoff of U.S.
military assistance as a sign of displeasure over Taipei's
pro-independence comments, U.S. officials said yesterday. The group
would have included officials of the Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization, Joint Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense and
would have included talks on how to counter China's growing
short-range missile force. With tensions in the region high, Stanley
Roth, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, will leave today for
talks in China and Richard Bush, the U.S. representative to Taiwan,
will travel to Taipei for talks. China has launched a major propaganda
campaign to avert U.S. help with missile-defense efforts in Asia,
especially in Taiwan. Additionally, plans to announce the sale to
Taiwan of E-2 surveillance aircraft were put on hold because of
heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, the officials said. The
Pentagon was set to notify Congress of the sale this week, which is
the only time weapons sales to Taiwan are made public. But the sale is
being delayed because of remarks by Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui,
the officials said. China opposes all U.S. arms sales that are allowed
under the Taiwan Relations Act. Further punitive steps against Taiwan,
including a cutoff of spare parts deliveries for Taiwan's U.S.-made
F-16 jets, also are being considered, the officials said. "Taiwan is
being punished," said one official.
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - New cloned sheep are 'humanised'
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 12:42:04 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000140326706927&rtmo=gZwZfwVu&atmo
=gZwZfwVu&pg=/et/99/7/22/nclon22.htm l
Thursday 22 July 1999
New cloned sheep are 'humanised'
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
THE creators of Dolly the sheep announced yesterday the birth of two
cloned lambs - the first of a new generation of "humanised" farm
animals.
The clones have been altered using a novel targeting technique that
makes it easier to swap genes in animals for the human equivalent.
Researchers at PPL Therapeutics in Edinburgh believe the method could
be used to create a range of animals that can be milked for human
proteins which can be used as drugs, or that contain customised organs
that can be used for transplant into humans.
The lambs, named Cupid and Diana, are each carrying a new gene,
although the company would not say which one. The firm has already
used gene targeting to "turn off" genes in pig cells as a step towards
genetically altering pigs so that their organs are not rejected by
humans.
Scientists may now be able to replace the bovine gene for serum albumin
with the human equivalent, so that cows can be milked for human serum
albumin, which can treat burns and other traumatic injuries.
Dr Ron James, managing director of PPL, who worked with the Roslin
Institute to create Dolly, described the birth as a breakthrough.
via: isml@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Fox says no to John-John joke
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 12:49:20 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
FOX SAYS NO TO JOHN-JOHN JOKE: Fox will not rerun an episode of Family
Guy that contains a joke about the late John F. Kennedy Jr., network
chief Doug Herzog The Boston Globe reports. "It's not something we
want on our air at the moment," says Herzog, the normally
envelope-pushing TV exec who launched the controversial South Park
during his previous reign at Comedy Central.
via: TVGuide Insider <tvguideinsider@TVGUIDE.COM>
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Y2K Glitch Likely To Disrupt Trade
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 10:47:48 -0500
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
July 22 12:06 AM ET
Y2K Glitch Likely To Disrupt Trade: U.S. Official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The 2000 computer glitch is likely to
disrupt the worldwide flow of goods and services, perhaps sparking
havoc and unrest in some countries, a top State Department official
said in remarks prepared for Congress and obtained Wednesday.
With less than six months left before the technology-challenging date
change, "the global picture that is slowly emerging is cause for
concern," said Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers, the State Department's
inspector general.
"Our assessments suggest that the global community is likely to
experience varying degrees of Y2K-related failures in every sector, in
every region and at every economic level," she said.
Y2K is short for the glitch that may cause computers to mistake 2000
for 1900, the result of an old programming shortcut that used only a
two-digit date field. Simulations have shown that some systems may
crash or cause errors starting on Jan. 1.
In some unnamed countries "there is a clear risk that electricity,
telecommunications and other key systems will fail, perhaps creating
economic havoc and social unrest," Williams-Bridgers said.
She made her comments in written testimony prepared for a hearing on
global corporate readiness Thursday before a special Senate panel
looking into the problem. An advance copy was obtained by Reuters.
"Y2K-related disruptions in the international flow of goods and
services are likely," she said, adding that "a breakdown in any part of
the supply chain would have a serious impact on the U.S. and world
economies."
The international economy is "vulnerable" because Y2K-related
failures in the supply chains of one country or region could disrupt
others' ability to keep factories working, transportation systems
running, food supplied and people employed, the State Department's
inspector general added.
Calling for contingency planning on a global scale, Williams-Bridgers
said authorities should apply "lessons learned from recent disasters"
such as the 1996 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, to cope with potential
disruptions.
Williams-Bridgers, whose office has been assessing international Y2K
readiness, did not name the countries said to be most at risk of
encountering social upheavals.
But she said key sectors in the republics of the former Soviet Union
and other former Eastern bloc nations have "a relatively high
probability of Y2K-related failures."
Industrialized countries, on the other hand, were generally found to be
at low risk of having Y2K-related infrastructure failures, particularly in
the finance sector.
Still, 11 of 39 of these countries were reported to be at "medium risk"
of encountering transportation failures. And nine of 39 were reported
to be at a medium or high risk of failure in telecommunications, energy
or water services.
From 52 to 68 developing countries out of the 98 rated were said to
have a medium or high risk of Y2K-related failure in the
telecommunications, transportation and/or energy sectors.
But "the relatively low level of computerization in key sectors of the
developing world may reduce the risk of prolonged infrastructure
failures," Williams-Bridgers said.
Overall about half of the 161 countries assessed by U.S. officials were
reported to be at medium to high risk of Y2K-related failures in their
telecommunications, energy and/or transportation sectors.
To assess others' readiness, U.S. diplomats used a standard survey to
collect information on host countries' Y2K programs, vulnerability to
short-term economic and social turmoil, reliance on technology in key
infrastructure sectors and the status of Y2K corrective efforts.
Williams-Bridgers said the State Department planned to notify
"select" nations of its concerns about Y2K-related problems that
could affect American citizens living or traveling abroad.
The department's Bureau of Consular Affairs "will bring those
concerns to the attention of the traveling public in September," when
it begins blowing the whistle on nations it views as Y2K laggards, she
said.
via: Newmill <hblonde1@tampabay.rr.com>
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - THE TEMPLE MOUNT FAITHFUL Fanatics or Jewish Patriots?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:54:26 -0500
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
Reissued on the occassion of Tisha B'av
=============================
Published first on July 15, 1993 in the
Jewish Herald-Voice, Houston
=============================
THE TEMPLE MOUNT FAITHFUL
Fanatics or Jewish Patriots?
By Bernard J. Shapiro
I got a call a few weeks ago from a friend and supporter who lived in
Clear Lake. She told me with much enthusiasm that Gershon Salomon,
leader and founder of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful,
would be in Houston for just one day. Did I want to meet him? I said
yes immediately and began calling a few of my friends to join me for
that meeting.
I was fairly ignorant about what the Temple Mount Faithful stood for.
I knew they wanted to rebuild the Temple of Solomon or the Third
Temple but not much else. When I started inviting people to the
meeting, I discovered quite a lot of negative feeling toward them.
Rabbi Moishe Traxler was very helpful in explaining to me the
Lubavitch position regarding the rebuilding of the Temple. They very
clearly prohibit any activity on the Temple Mount until the coming of
the Messiah. The Israeli Consul General Meir Romem was quick to tell
me about the horrible international conquenses of attempting to
rebuild the Temple. Romem also told me that he went to school with
Salomon and that he was a charming person and Israeli war hero.
Others, including Rabbis of great note, told me the rebuilding of the
Temple would require the introduction of animal sacrifices. My wife, a
vegetarian and animal rights activist, was horrified by such a prospect.
Obviously, there was a lot to discuss with Salomon and I looked
forward to our meeting.
In his private life, Salomon is an expert researcher and lecturer in
Middle Eastern studies, specializing in the history of the national
movement of the Kurdish people. He is an officer in the Israel Defense
Forces and a 10th generation Jerusalemite. He is descended from
Rabbi Avraham Solomon Zalman Zoref who settled in Jerusalem in
1811 and was one of the first Jewish pioneers dedicated to the
redemption of the Holy Land. Rabbi Zoref was assassinated by Arabs
who thought they could stop his Godly mission. Salomon has fought
in all of Israel's wars. Badly wounded on the Golan, when a tank ran
over his legs, he walks now with crutches.
It was in one of those battles, as he lay dying, that he felt God telling
him that He was not through with him. Salomon understood that this
was a divine call to consecrate himself to the Redemption of all of
Israel including the Temple Mount. The Mount came back into Israeli
hands as a result of the Six Day War liberation of Jerusalem. In a act of
great stupidity, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, a few days
latter, gave control of the Temple Mount to Moslem religious leaders.
His reasoning was that this would prevent panic among the newly
defeated Arab population. He also made great efforts to prevent
Arabs from fleeing to Jordan. Today, as these same Arabs plot our
demise, we realize how mistaken his policies were.
Gershon, exploded all the myths about his group. Quoting Rambam, he
explained that animal sacrifice is not necessary if the Temple is rebuilt.
He talked about a process of REDEMPTION. First regain control of
the Temple Mount. Second remove the Moslem buildings that
desecrate our Holy Mount. Then the Temple (Beit Hamigdash) should
be built. He was very clear on this: Building the Temple is preparatory
process for Redemption. It is not an end in itself. Worship at the
Temple would still await the Messiah. It is important, Salomon kept
reiterating, that we PREPARE and WORK for Redemption. In other
words, the Messiah will not come to Israel and reclaim the Temple
Mount and rebuild the Temple. We must do those things BEFORE the
Messiah comes, in order to CAUSE him to come.
What about the Arabs? Wouldn't they object to the removal of the
Mosque of Omar (Dome of the rock) and the Al Aqsa mosque from the
Temple Mount? Of course they would, but they have no legitimate
rights in the area. From my Hindu friends I have learned how Moslem
conquerors built mosques on Holy Places of other people in every
part of the world. They did it to humiliate and degrade their subject
nations. Salomon stated it bluntly, "There is no reason the sovereign
State of Israel, needs to allow this desecration Jewish Holy Places to
continue." Today on the Mount, the Arabs are supreme. They are
destroying all archaelogical remnants of Jewish sites. They are storing
weapons in their mosques to kill Jews. They have built a museum to
Palestinian nationalism, including gut-wrenching pictures from the
battles of Sabra and Shatila. Tourists from the world over are told Jews
committed these killings ( It was Christians).
Salomon was a gentle, inspiring and very religious person. His firm
belief in the coming Redemption made the discussion of politics seem
irrelevant. He is not a fanatic but a Jewish patriot of the highest rank. I
am not competent to discuss Halacha with reference to the Mount. I
do know that it is wrong for us to allow the Arab desecration of our
people's most Holy Site. What about the consequences of our
asserting our rights to the Temple Mount? The Moslems cannot hate
us anymore, and the Christian world will be electrified with
anticipation of coming of the Messiah. In fact, Christians the world
over will raise millions of dollars to help us rebuild the Temple. As in
the days of Solomon, the nations of the world will send their best
architects, artisans and materials to help build the Temple. Jews in the
diaspora will be inspired to "go up to Jerusalem" and join in the sacred
process of Redemption. (From my mouth to G-d's ear).
via: freemanlist@lists.io.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Fast of Tisha B'Av - 9 Av - July 22, 1999
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:59:10 -0500
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
From an entry in our Online Jewish Calendar
------------------
Fast of Tisha B'Av - 9 Av - July 22, 1999
(Fast to commemorate destruction of 1st and 2nd Temple)
"Jewish tradition states that 'the Messiah will
appear on Tisha B'Av, and the day of mourning
will become a national day of rejoicing with the
rebuilt Temple" (Ready to Rebuild, Thomas Ice
and Randall Price; p 213).
For more info see:
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Jewish_Feasts/js001.htm
Online Jewish Calendar:
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Calendar/A.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - A Sheriff Who Sees the Future and is Taking Action
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 18:12:46 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
From: http://www.y2k-links.com/garynorth/5454.htm
Subject:
A Sheriff Who Sees the Future and Is Taking Action
Comment:
There are over 3,000 counties in the United States. Every one of the
sheriffs of these counties should send out a letter like this one.
It's real. I have verified it. I have decided to remove his name and
his county's name. He might suffer ridicule from reporters who do not
live in counties as safe as this one, but who will wish they did next
January.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Concealed Weapons Permit Holder:
These are troubling times. I personally believe that the potential
exists for some very trying, perhaps even catastrophic events to come
to pass during the next few years. And I strongly suspect that we may
enter into this era of turbulence within the next 6 to 12 months.
Any number of events could precipitate a series of reactionary social
responses, which would almost certainly lead to times of deep unrest,
hardships, and lawlessness of a magnitude unprecedented in our memory.
I think the Y2K situation is far from being resolved. A stock market
crash or other economic crisis could lead to a social breakdown with
great and grave consequences. One would have to be totally deceived or
deluded not to perceive the depravity and lawlessness present in our
nation today.
Recently I attended a law enforcement conference, which dealt with
murder and serial killers. A number of detectives and investigators
from major metropolitan areas detailed cases of such an horrendous
nature that the ordinary mind boggles at the evil and malevolence of
the acts committed. One of the instructors said, "If you knew how many
of these psychopaths are among us you would be scared to death."
I'm sure by now you are wondering why I am telling you all of this.
The fact is the sheriff's office may need your help in a time of
crisis. If that time should come we must be able to rely upon people
who are solid, decent of character, and law-abiding. As a holder of a
permit to carry concealed weapons you have been certified, by virtue
of a background investigation, as morally and psychologically fit to
accept the responsibilities which accrue to the possession of these
permits. If I would have had no faith in your stability, integrity,
and character, I would not have given this permit to you. There are
roughly 400 concealed weapons permit holders in XXX YYY County. And it
occurred to me that our permit holders comprise a great reserve of
trustworthy individuals.
I don't know if major disruptions or catastrophes will actually occur,
but if they do we will almost certainly experience the collapse of
many state and federal agencies, or an inability of those who staff
these agencies to respond appropriately to the crisis. Most of the
state and federal law-enforcement agencies are ill-equipped by
training or experience to deal with local enforcement exigencies.
Ironically, as you know, the major portion of your tax dollars are
siphoned off to the state and federal branches of government, thereby
depriving local government of the means to provide some really
necessary services.
The XXX YYY County Sheriff's Office has a force of fifteen sworn peace
officers to uphold the law and provide for the safety of 32,000
residents, roughly one officer for every 2,133 residents. No matter
how well-equipped, trained, or dedicated these officers are it is
plainly evident that we are simply too few to cope with a complete
breakdown of social order. And this is where you come into the
picture.
I propose to put together a stand-by force comprised of concealed
weapons permit holders. This would be strictly a volunteer pool of
trustworthy people that I could summon in dire times. I further
propose to issue to those who accept this invitation to volunteer for
this list an identification card denoting the holders status as a
stand by subject to call and deputization should an actual crisis
occur. I urge you to give serious consideration to this call for
volunteers. I have provided, with this letter, a short form of
acceptance of this invitation. If you would be willing, during times
of grave emergency, to work with the active members of the sheriff's
office, please complete this form and return it to this office in care
of my attention. This call for volunteers is restricted to the holders
of valid XXX YYY County concealed weapons permits.
I would like to close with a personal observation and opinion. Our
nation was founded by mostly Christian men and any authority the
federal government was allowed to possess was to derive solely from
the purposely narrowly drawn tenants of the Constitution. Sadly and
tragically this nation has renounced the Christian principles upon
which it was founded. As a nation we have mocked the Sovereign God who
blessed us, and we have denied Jesus Christ who saved us from eternal
destruction. Be not deceived good friends, God will not be mocked.
Whatever we sow we will reap. If God withholds His presence from this
nation and leaves us to our own devices, we are indeed in deep
trouble. And I do believe that time is at hand. Believe in Jesus and
look to Him alone for leadership and guidance, and He will be with you
even unto the end of the world.
Sincerely yours,
Sheriff
P.S. A reminder that we all need to take the proper measures to
protect and sustain our families and neighbors should a complete
breakdown of social order come to pass.
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Muslims close Al Aqsa Mosque compound after threats
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 18:15:32 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9907/22/BC-Israel-HolySites.ap/
Muslims close Al Aqsa Mosque compound after threats
July 22, 1999
Web posted at: 9:48 AM EDT (1348 GMT)
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Angry Islamic clerics banned visitors from Islam's
third holiest shrine Thursday in reaction to a call from Jewish
extremists to expel Muslims from the area which they believe is sacred
Jewish ground.
The compound is known to Muslims as Haram as-Sharif, or Noble
Sanctuary. The mosque area is located on the site of the second Jewish
Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Israeli police arrested three members of the outlawed anti-Arab Kach
group overnight Wednesday after they distributed leaflets near the
compound calling on Jews to "expel the strangers from the Temple
Mount."
In response to the threat, Al Aqsa's Muslim clergy closed the mosque
to outsiders.
Israeli police also issued statements published in Palestinian
newspapers Thursday promising that Jewish extremists would not be
allowed into the area. Police apparently hoped to prevent possible
Palestinian demonstrations.
Some Jewish extremist groups believe the Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock
mosques should be razed to make way for the rebuilding of the Temple.
But most observant Jews believe the structure will be built only with
divine intervention.
As part of a semiannual tradition, one extremist group, the Temple
Mount Faithful, made an attempt Thursday to enter the gates of
compound on Tisha Be'Av, the day marking the destruction of the two
ancient temples.
But police blocked the way of the about 30 demonstrators, including a
few American Christian evangelists, who chanted mournful prayers and
waved Israeli flags.
"I am here to bless Israel and to support it," said Miriam Lee of
Buena Vista, Georgia. "According to the Scriptures, this mount is
Jewish land."
Some evangelical Christians believe that the rebuilding of the Temple
will hasten the Second Coming of Christ.
Jerusalem Police Chief Yair Yitzhaki said the police decided not to
let the group onto the Temple Mount after the Kach members distributed
the leaflets.
Jews are allowed to visit the compound and pray, but only silently and
in small groups.
The Haram as-Sharif hill overlooks the Western Wall, the holiest site
to Jews and the last remnant of the Second Temple. Dozens were killed
in Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the area in 1990 and 1996 as part of
disputes over the holy sites.
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Cong. Saxton Announces Jerusalem Act of 1999
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:04:56 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Congressman Saxton Announces Jerusalem Act of 1999.
CONGRESSMAN Jim Saxton
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JEFF SAGNIP HOLLENDONNER
July 22, 1999
609-261-5800/202-225-4765
SAXTON ANNOUNCES JERUSALEM ACT OF 1999
WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ3rd) unveiled a bill
today to move the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem.
The legislation, H.R. 2584 calls on President Clinton to abide by the
Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which requires the President to move
the U.S. embassy to the Israeli capital. An amendment to the 1995 law
will seek to spur the administration into action by eliminating the
President's authority to delay action.
"Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and Jerusalem is where the
embassy should be," said Saxton.
"Israel is the only nation in the world where the American embassy is
not located in the capital. Our failure to move the embassy
contributes to a cloud of uncertainty over Israel's future.''
The 1995 act, Public Law 10445, stated that the president should
make the move no later than May 31, 1999. The act did give the
president waiver authority for a period of six months, with
optional six-month extensions. The president employed the waiver on
June 19.
"We have seen absolutely no progress in moving the embassy
whatsoever,'' Saxton said. "The delays are unacceptable. The United
States must eliminate this uncertainty which hangs over Jerusalem's
long term status."
Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Jews
have been the majority since at least 1840. Jewish occupants were
driven out of the city in 1948 during the Israel War of Independence,
but returned following the 1967 SixDay War. During the interim,
Israeli citizens and Jewish and Christian pilgrims from around the
world were barred from areas of the city controlled by Jordan.
"Before Israeli jurisdiction began in 1967, Jerusalem was not open to
all faiths,'' Saxton said. "Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united
city in which the religious sites of all faiths were kept open and
administered by their respective authorities.''
The 1995 act won broad support in Congress among Democrats and
Republicans. The House passed the measure on Oct. 24, 1995 in a
374-37 vote. The Senate passed the measure the same day 93-5.
via: "Koenig's International News" <bill@watch.org>
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hollywood Code of Conduct
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:18:56 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Former Presidents Ask Hollywood For Code Of
Conduct
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) -- A diverse group of nearly 60
Americans, including former Presidents Jimmy Carter and
Gerald Ford, have made an appeal to the entertainment
industry to institute a new code of conduct that will reduce
violent and sexual content.
In "An Appeal to Hollywood" (http://www.media-appeal.org)
released July 21, the group calls for "executives of the
media industry -- as well as CEOs of companies that
advertise in the electronic media -- to join with us, and
with America's parents, in a new social compact aimed at
renewing our culture and making our media environment more
healthy for our society and safer for our children."
Full story:
http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3266.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (7/22/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:25:42 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Barak to start second round of peacemaking summits
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: TampaBay Online (AP)
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is planning a
second round of regional summit meetings, his office announced
Thursday, in an effort to assuage Arab concerns that he is delaying a
peace process revival. The announcement of meetings with Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat and with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak came as
Barak's ministers made concessions likely to please the Palestinians -
another sign the new government is seeking to smooth feathers ruffled
by proposals Barak made in Washington this week. Justice Minister
Yossi Beilin suggested Thursday that a ``blood on their hands''
criterion for keeping Palestinians who participated in anti-Israel
attacks jailed, whatever the status of the peace process, was no
longer relevant. Previously, Palestinians accused of harming Israelis
were excluded from prisoner releases. Public Security Minister Shlomo
Ben-Ami ended a policy of challenging meetings between Palestinian
officials and diplomats in Jerusalem, a city claimed by both peoples.
It was a reversal of policies promoted by Israel's previous
government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak defeated Netanyahu in
May elections and took office July 6. Since then, Barak has been
emphasizing his goal to restart peace talks and reach agreements with
the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon, preferably within 15 months.
Meeting with President Clinton last weekend, Barak proposed wrapping
implementation of the Wye River accord, an interim agreement signed by
Netanyahu after a marathon summit with Arafat and Clinton last
October, into final status talks. That could delay land concessions
promised in Wye for months, a possibility Arafat rejected this week.
In Gaza on Thursday, Arafat repeated his demand that Israel implement
the Wye accord ``accurately.'' He spoke to reporters after meeting
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Khatib. Barak has scheduled a
meeting with Arafat for Saturday at the Israel-Gaza crossing point and
with Mubarak on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt, Barak's office said. A day
after returning from a trip to Washington, New York and London, Barak
said he was convinced he could conclude peace agreements with the
Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon. ``There will be 15 months during
which we will know if we have agreements in the Middle East or we are
stuck. I believe that we will have agreements,'' Barak told reporters.
In unusual praise for an Israeli initiative, Syrian state radio
welcomed Barak's 15-month timetable. ``It may constitute one of the
main elements for intensifying efforts to make the peace process
succeed,'' Damascus Radio said in a political commentary.
Spanish prime minister visits Israel
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, coming
from Gaza, arrived in Israel today. He has met with Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat and discussed means of activating the European
role in the region. Aznar's visit to Israel and Palestinian
territories comes in the course of a Middle East tour aimed at
discussing means of developing the Middle East peace process. The
Spanish prime minister's arrival in Israel coincided with the Israeli
prime ministers' return from the USA and Britain. Barak and Aznar met
today, where Aznar shed light upon the reaction of the Syrian
president on the Israeli initiatives to activate the peace process.
AL council to discuss UN decision 181
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- A source at the Arab League said on Wednesday that
the 112th session of the AL will be held on September 4 and 5 instead
of September 8 and 9. The source said the reason behind the early
convening of the 112th session is that it coincided with the emergency
African summit due to be held in Libya on September 6 though 9, in
order to carry out possible revisions of the Organization of African
Unity charter. The general secretariat of the AL has included decision
no. 181 of the UN General Assembly which calls for the partition of
Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, on the agenda of the council of
Arab foreign ministers. The AL secretariat stressed that the aim
behind reviving the resolution, which was rejected by the Arabs in
1947, is to "assert commitment of the Arab states to this resolution
and considering it the grounds for the foundation of the state of
Palestine."
Gas, electricity cooperation between Israel, Egypt and Jordan
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- The director general of the Israeli electricity
company, Rafi Beild, has expressed his opposition to setting up an
electricity generation station in Jordan, using natural gas
transported from Egypt and providing electricity to Israel. Israel
Radio said that Beild considered it very wrong to invest a lot of
money in an electricity generation station in a foreign country rather
than in Israel, especially in the light of the numerous work
opportunities provided by the station. Beild also warned against the
idea of Israel's embarking on importing natural gas from Egypt on the
grounds that this idea constitutes a "strategic danger."
On the fate of the Palestinian refugees
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arabic News
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- The Kuwaiti daily al-Anbaa quoted sources from the
Palestinian alliance which opposes Yasser Arafat's Palestinian
government in Sidon as saying on Tuesday that the fate of the
Palestinian refugees constitutes the main issue for the coming tour of
Jordan's King Abdullah, which will include Lebanon. These sources,
which are close to Damascus, unveiled that the king of Jordan talked
about this matter with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on the ground
that Jordan hosts some 2 million Palestinians in its territories and
proposed the idea of getting Iraq involved in this matter due to its
geographical capabilities in settling Palestinians in Iraq. According
to talks held by the Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam with
the former chairman of the Palestinian National Council, Khaled
al-Fahoum, the secretary general of al-Saeqa organization, Issam
al-Qadi, and the assistant secretary general of the People's Front,
General Command, Talal Naji, Damascus is not in a hurry to take a
final position in waiting for circumstances pertaining to the
negotiations, because Damascus believes that such an issue should be
kept for the time being. The sources added that in the context of this
Syrian vision the follow-up committee of the Palestinian national
forces conference, which was held in Damascus on December 26 and 27,
1998, is to convene a meeting for the alliance groups in Jordan,
Lebanon and Syria, in Damascus next Saturday, July 24, in order to
assess the situation regarding current international proposals as well
as relations with the PLO. The sources indicated that it seems that
Damascus is not conservative over maintaining an inter-Palestinian
dialogue to this end.
Spanish prime minister takes message from Assad to Barak
Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: Reuters
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar expressed
optimism Thursday about two ancient foes forging regional peace as he
took a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Barak. Aznar, who met Assad Monday as part of a Middle
East tour, said the Syrian leader had asked him to convey ``some
specific issues'' to Barak. He did not elaborate. ``All I can tell you
is that my impressions are very positive of an active will to reach
peace,'' Aznar told reporters after meeting Barak and Israeli
President Ezer Weizman in Jerusalem. Aznar said Barak had asked him to
take up several issues with Assad and Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat. He did not elaborate, but said he would do so in the coming
days. Israel and Syria have traded compliments and signals on their
desire to resume peace talks since Barak replaced right-wing Israeli
leader Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month.
Israeli official seeking special status from EU
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- Minister of Industry & Trade Ran Cohen stated on
Tuesday that he was going to attempt to achieve a duty-free status for
goods manufactured in "Israel proper" and PLO Authority (PA)
autonomous areas. To date, EU officials have already told Israel it
would not recognize Israel and autonomous areas as a single export
zone for free-trade status until Israel agrees to include PA areas
throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Relations with the EU deteriorated
under the former Netanyahu government following the EU's announcement
that it would boycott Israeli goods manufactured in Jewish areas in
"occupied territories," including Judea, Samaria, Gaza, Golan Heights,
eastern Jerusalem and other areas
Temple Mount Faithful Barred from Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- Despite a ruling by the High Court of Justice
permitting activists of the Temple Mount Faithful organization to
visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on Tisha B'Av,
Jerusalem police exercised their prerogative stopping the worshipers
from doing so. Assistant Commander Ra'anan Tal, who commands the David
Station responsible for the Mount, told reporters that he could not
permit the Jewish worshipers to come onto the Mount, a move that would
spark Islamic violence. The police commander informed the group he was
making his decision despite the High Court ruling. At the same time,
Islamic Wakf officials announced the closing of the Temple Mount to
visitors, citing Wednesday's confrontation with right-wing activists
who were distributing leaflets in the area as the cause. [Editor's
note:Is it coincidence that on the day known for destruction of God's
Temple that, after having been given permission for the first time,
that the group who is dedicated to rebuilding the Temple, is denied
access because of fear of those who inhabit it? See Numbers chapter
14. ]
Activists blames for barring worshippers from Mount
Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire
Thu Jul 22,1999 -- The commander of the Jerusalem District of the
Israel Police, Yair Yitzhaki, on Thursday stated he would have
permitted Temple Mount Faithful activists to go up to the Temple Mount
as ruled by the High Court of Justice if not for the actions of the
Kach activists on Wednesday. Yitzhaki explained the distribution of
leaflets calling for the removal of the Arabs from the Temple Mount by
Kach activists on Wednesday led to Wakf Authority officials to close
the Mount to visitors on Thursday. He explained there was no
alternative but to bar Jews from attempting to go to the Mount. Three
Kach activists involved in the distribution of the leaflets were
placed under arrest. They include Itamar Ben-Gavir, Haim Noach, who
was thrown out of the IDF due to his Kach-related activities and
Nachshon Friedman. Noach has taken his case to the High Court of
Justice but has recently arrived at an acceptable agreement with the
IDF. He will 'complete' his approximately six months of military
service while on vacation, thereby entitling him to all benefits
granted to veterans of combat units.
via: bible_prophecy-news@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Pentagon Urges Russia to Come to Nuclear Monitoring Center for Y2K
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:30:57 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Pentagon Urges Russia To Come To Nuclear Monitoring Center For Y2K
WASHINGTON, Jul 23, 1999 -- (Agence France Presse) The Pentagon is urging
Russia to send officers to an early warning monitoring center in Colorado
to help prevent nuclear misunderstandings that may arise from Y2K computer
failures, defense officials said Thursday.
Russia backed out of plans for a joint center in March in anger over the
NATO air campaign against Serbia, but the Pentagon wants to have it in
operation by December with Russian participation, the officials said.
"We have an offer on the table to the Russians right now and we are
expecting a reply sometime hopefully in the next couple of weeks," said
Peter Verga, deputy undersecretary of defense.
"We'd like to get restarted in about August in order to get that in place
by mid-December," he said.
Under the plan, US and Russian military officers working at computer
consoles in the center in Colorado Springs would monitor real-time data
derived from US early warning data on missile launches.
US officials are worried that misunderstanding may arise if Russia's
computerized command and control systems are suddenly hit by glitches or
failures on New Year's, when the year 2000 threatens to create havoc in
some computer systems.
The Pentagon hopes to offset that danger by giving the Russians access to
information from US early warning systems during the critical millennium
bug dates.
Verga, however, minimized the risks involved if the Russians decide not to
participate in the center.
"We've been assured by the Russians that their systems, just like our
systems, are not totaly dependent on computers, and therefore not subject
to failure on Y2K (Year 2000)," Verga said at a Pentagon press conference.
"It's more a matter of confidence."
"We have in place the hotlines which have been in place since the '60s that
allow the exchange of information directly with Russian command
authorities," he said.
US Defense Secretary William Cohen, meanwhile, said the Pentagon has fixed,
tested and verified fixes on 92 percent all its "mission critical" computer
systems for Y2K bugs, and expects to have them all completed by December.
"It is literally a race against time," he said.
All but two of 198 nuclear-related mission critical systems have been
fixed, and work-arounds have been devised for the remaining ones, said
Admiral Richard Mies, commander-in-chief of the US Strategic Command.
"I want to make it clear there is no risk of accidental launch," said Mies.
"Procedures for launching our nation's nuclear weapons involve multiple
safeguards, such as code verifications and human interactions, to verify
and authenticate an order from the president," he said.
"Computers by themselves cannot launch nuclear weapons," he said.
The Pentagon, which has 10,000 separate computer systems and 1.5 million
computers, will have spent 3.7 billion dollars by March fixing the Y2K
problem.
It is feared that computers programed to read the calendar year as two
digits will be stumped on January 1 when the year 2000 registers as "00."
((c) 1999 Agence France Presse)
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=80952&text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Palestinian Jerusalem HQ's Active
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:35:53 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
05:41 PM ET 07/22/99
Palestinian Jerusalem HQ's Active
JERUSALEM (AP) _ The Palestinian headquarters in Jerusalem hosted a
contingent of European diplomats on Thursday, resuming a practice that
earned it a closure threat from Israel's previous hard-line government.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak's new government this week revoked the order
shutting down Orient House, a conciliatory gesture toward the Palestinians.
The diplomats ``share our point of view that a new page has been turned
with the new Israeli government,'' Orient House director Faisal Husseini
said after the gathering.
Barak's predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, made Palestinian activity in the
disputed city an election issue and ordered the offices shut down in May,
after Orient House hosted a similar gathering of diplomats. Netanyahu had
said such gatherings represented a Palestinian claim of sovereignty on the
city, which Israel has vowed to keep undivided.
The Supreme Court stayed the order, citing fears of violence before May 17
elections. Barak, preaching reconciliation with the Palestinians, ousted
Netanyahu in a landslide.
via: Infobeat News
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - China News
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 08:36:30 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Beijing Warns International Communities on Taiwan Issue
[CND, 07/22/99] Beijing is to step up its lobbying effort of
diplomatic allies to counter Taiwan President LEE Teng-hui's
redefinition of cross-Straits relationship as "state-to-state" one,
the Hong Kong Standard reported.
According to mainland officials, any possible acceptance of Lee's "two
states" statement by the international community or by major powers
would leave Beijing with no choice but to use force in solving the
"Taiwan problem."
A military officer was quoted as saying that in the central
leadership's initial judgment, Lee's "two states" statement was
virtually an announcement of Taiwan's independence. However, without
recognition by the international community or any major power, Lee's
move will only serve to create tension across the straits.
The officer thinks that under such a situation, Beijing has a variety
of options to counter-attack Lee at political, economic, and military
levels.
It is reported that options such as cutting off cross-straits
exchanges and imposing a ban on import of Taiwanese-made goods are all
now under active consideration by the central leadership.
If Taiwan takes concrete measures to institutionalize Lee's statement
by revising its constitution, mainland policy or diplomacy, Beijing is
almost certain to upgrade its reactions in accordance with the
development of the situation. (Ray ZHANG, WU Yiyi)
China News Digest
7/23/99
--------------------
WASHINGTON -- Confronting a crisis in Asia, President
Clinton refused to recognize Taiwan's assertion that it is
a separate state. But he warned China that any use of
force to resolve their dispute would be viewed "with the
gravest concern." The administration sent representatives
both to Taiwan and China to defuse tensions.
via: daywatch@mcjonline.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arutz-7 News items (7/23/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 12:28:47 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
BARAK TO OFFER QUALITY IN PLACE OF QUANTITY
Prime Minister Barak will meet tomorrow night with Yasser Arafat at
the Erez Crossing at the edge of the Gaza Strip. Arutz-7's Haggai
Huberman reports that Barak will propose a smaller withdrawal from
Judea and Samaria than called for by the Wye Agreement, but one that
will give the Palestinian enclaves a measure of contiguity. The
remainder of the withdrawals will be carried out, according to this
plan, in the framework of the final-status arrangement. If Arafat
rejects the proposal, Barak plans to be more insistent on the
Palestinians' compliance with their own Wye commitments. This
morning, Barak briefed the representatives of the coalition factions
on the results of his talks in Washington.
ALWAYS FACING JERUSALEM
The European airplane manufacturer Airbus is offering to include a
synagogue aboard the planes it wishes to sell to El Al Israel
Airlines. Airbus is currently competing with Boeing for the sale of El
Al's next jumbo jets. Hatzofeh's Danny Shalom reports that the plans
call for a synagogue to be built in the lower deck of the plane, and
would include seats for 12 worshippers, a full-size stand for Torah
reading, and an Ark for the Torah. Airbus noted that it would be
technically possible to install the Torah Ark such that it would be
able to revolve on its hinges and face Jerusalem at all times.
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Friday, July 23, 1999 / Av 10, 5759
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Gold rush in space?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 18:04:17 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Thursday, July 22, 1999 Published at 17:54 GMT 18:54 UK
Sci/Tech
Gold rush in space?
Two views of Eros, a prime chunk of real estate in outer space
By BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse
The most detailed study of an asteroid shows that it contains precious
metals worth at least $20,000bn.
The data were collected last December by the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous
(Near) spacecraft which passed close to the asteroid Eros.
It provided an unprecedented look at one of the mountains of rock that fly
around the solar system.
The first conclusions from that encounter are now published the journal
Science.
Near, which due to a computer malfunction will not be able to go into orbit
around Eros until next year, revealed that the asteriod is shaped like a 33
km by 13 km by 13 km banana.
Over a thousand images of Eros were transmitted back to Earth that allowed
scientists to estimate its size and mass. The results are startling.
Gold mine in space
Eros is believed to have been formed from the wreckage of a collision with
a larger body. Its composition appears to be similar to the stony
meteorites that frequently fall to Earth.
That means Eros is a goldmine in space, as well as a platinum mine, a zinc
mine and many more minerals besides.
If Eros is typical of stony meteorites, then it contains about 3% metal.
With the known abundance's of metals in meteorites, even a very cautious
estimate suggests 20,000 million tonnes of aluminium along with similar
amounts of gold, platinum and other rarer metals.
In the 2,900 cubic kms of Eros, there is more aluminium, gold, silver, zinc
and other base and precious metals than have ever been excavated in history
or indeed, could ever be excavated from the upper layers of the Earth's
crust.
That is just in one asteroid and not a very large one at that. There are
thousands of asteroids out there.
Astronomic value
How much is Eros worth? Today's trading price for gold is about $250 per
ounce or about $9m per tonne.
It means the value of the gold in asteroid Eros is about $1,000bn. That is
just the gold. Platinum is even more expensive, $350 per oz. Work it out
yourself.
Since it contains a lot of rare elements and metals that are of use in the
semiconductor industry for example, at today's prices Eros is worth more
than $20,000bn.
Market busting
But there are two problems with this analysis.
Firstly, such a dramatic influx of metals to Earth could crash the global
market for such commodities. Secondly, the resources are way out in space.
But in the week we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first footprint on
the Moon can we not contemplate mining what is just another big chunk of
rock in space?
One way to get the metals back would be to mine them on Eros and send the
refined iron back to Earth.
Solar powered
It takes about 2,000 calories to boil a gram of iron so the equivalent of
between 20 to 200 thousand megatons of TNT would be needed to start
liberating substantial quantities of iron from the asteroid.
But this energy could be obtained from the Sun.
If you wanted to mine only a section of Eros at a time then a huge solar
energy collector - a sheet only a few kilometres in size - could collect
enough energy from sunlight to power a smelting plant on the surface of
Eros.
These are all "guesstimate" figures. But they serve to demonstrate just how
plentiful are the resources of the Solar System, in terms of minerals,
metals and energy, once we decide to go out and get them.
It shows how mining one fairly small asteroid like Eros would revolutionise
the availability of many raw materials on Earth.
No one knows how much a robot mission to mine an asteroid would cost but I
am willing to bet it would be the best return on an investment since
Leonardo da Vinci bought a sketch pad or Paul McCartney a guitar.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_401000/401227.stm
--- BPR
BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Dark side of the eclipse
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 18:12:17 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_398000/398112.stm -
Friday, July 23, 1999 Published at 06:07 GMT 07:07 UK
Sci/Tech
Dark side of the eclipse
For some, the end is nigh
By BBC News' Mike Thomson
The eclipse has given rise to all kinds of predictions - most related
to the chaos the hundreds of thousands of sightseers are expected to
cause as they flock to get the best view of the event in Cornwall and
Devon.
But forecasts of record traffic jams, hotel prices and food shortages
look tame when compared with the prophecies of astrologers, druids and
New Age enthusiasts. Some of them are convinced that the eclipse
heralds anything from the "re-encoding" of the Earth's sacred sites to
the end of the world.
Time is running out for retired civil servant Matthew Dumbrell and the
rest of us, if you share his view that St Matthew had 11 August, 1999,
in mind when he penned Verse 24:
"On that day, the Sun will be darkened, the moon will not give off its
light, stars will fall from the sky, and God will call his chosen from
the four corners of the present Heaven and the present Earth"
Mr Dumbrell's interpretation? "When people look to the heavens on the
11th of next month, they will be seeing the most significant event
since the creation of the Universe: Darkness over the face of the
Earth, previewing the ultimate earthquake."
Spiritual rebirith
Brett Kellett and his colleague Marcus Mason from Totnes in Devon have
been airing their views about what the coming eclipse will mean in
town and village halls across the country under the slogan "Eclipse 99
- Doorway to the Divine".
Will the eclipse bring rebirth or global destruction?
"This is the step that we've all been leading up towards, to this
point, to this eclipse, to this time, to this re-encoding of the
Earth", says Mr Kellett.
Mr Kellett insists that because the total eclipse line falls across
most of the places where the world's major religions and philosophies
were born, "it heralds spiritual rebirth rather than global
destruction". A theory which is supported, he says, by the discovery
of an "amazing astrological configuration", in the form of a grand
cross.
All we have to do now, he believes, is tune in and soak up the
planetary energy.
"When you have an eclipse going across the surface of the Earth, what
happens is that the energy grids go down to near zero, and because the
Sun's energy is blocked off from the surface of the Earth, the
influence of the planets can be imprinted into the sacred sites and
the energy grids of our planet."
Psychic effects
The UK's druids also claim to have proof that the eclipse is capable
of changing the way we act and think.
"There are changes in the earth's magnetic field that will produce
direct effects in the pineal gland and will trigger the production of
melatonin - that is a precursor to another brain hormone that can
promote psychic effects," says Andy Norfolk, the author of the book
Eclipse Curiosities.
Spiritual healer Geoff Boltwood, who has a surgery in Glastonbury,
believes that because we are made of the same raw materials as
planetary objects, the forces generated by the coming eclipse can be
harnessed and used to improve physical and mental health.
But he recommends that those planning to dabble in ecliptical powers
should first make sure they are in the right frame of mind.
"My biggest fear is that because these events are powerful, they do
move energies of the planet, then maybe enough negative thoughts could
actually cause negative things to happen," he warns. "So I would think
it is really important that as many people as possible do think
positive things at that time."
A fashionable end
Matthew Dumbrell, however, is convinced that come the eclipse no
amount of positive thought can save the world. He is busy packing his
bags and preparing to return to his home town of Lewes in East Sussex
to await the final hours of the world as we know it.
Druids: We must think positive
"I booked into a hotel down there for 10 August, and then I'll have my
last supper in the hotel, check out in the morning, and then wait for
the moment of truth. It will be just as the Good Book says - a flash -
and a moment later we shall all be in one place, or the other."
But before we run away with the idea that all the eclipse eccentrics
are English, it should be noted that the French designer Paco Rabanne
is getting out of Paris for the eclipse.
According to reports, he has put up the shutters and given his staff
time off to get out of the French capital, having decided that the
Russian space station Mir will fall there on 11 August.
If he is proved wrong, he promises not to expect to be taken seriously
again. At least he has admitted the possibility.
The 1999 total eclipse can be viewed on 11 August.
via: isml@onelist.com
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Paradise & Hell
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 18:16:36 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Pope redefines nature of Paradise
FROM RICHARD OWEN IN ROME
JUST days after a leading Jesuit magazine redefined concepts of Hell,
the Pope turned his attention yesterday to Paradise, declaring that it
was not a place above the clouds where angels played harps but a
"state of being" after death.
"The Heaven in which we will find ourselves is neither an abstraction
nor a physical place among the clouds," the pontiff, 79, told pilgrims
in St Peter's Square.
Looking invigorated and tanned after his summer break in the Italian
Alps, the Pope, who has suffered from a series of debilitating
illnesses, said he wanted to make clear that Paradise was "a living
and personal relationship with the Holy Trinity".
Just as Hell was separation from God, so Paradise was "close communion
and full intimacy with God . . . Heaven is a blessed community of
those who remained faithful to Jesus Christ in their lifetime, and are
now at one with his glory".
At the end of last week Civilta Cattolica (Catholic Civilisation), the
magazine of the Society of Jesus, said Hell was not a place where the
souls of the damned were tortured eternally by fire and demons, as
represented by Dante and others, but a state of being in which those
who had consistently rejected God and "consciously chosen not to do
good" were condemned to permanent banishment from God's presence.
Earlier this year the Pope, rejecting artistic images from
Michelangelo to Blake, told pilgrims they should not see God as an
"old man with a white beard", but rather as a supreme being with both
masculine and feminine aspects.
Originally a Persian word meaning "pleasure ground", Paradise became
synonymous with Heaven as the destination of redeemed souls, and is
referred to in the Revelation of St John as "the Garden of God". It is
often represented in religious painting as a place of lush meadows and
angelic choirs in the skies.
The concept is not always taken seriously, even in Catholic Italy: the
Vatican has repeatedly complained in vain about an Italian television
advert in which an actor sips a particular brand of coffee with God
while seated in an armchair in the clouds watching pretty girls go by.
Although many writers such as Milton have propagated a literal idea of
Paradise, others have taken a sceptical view, with Proust observing in
Remembrance of Things Past that "the true paradises are the paradises
we have lost on earth".
The Pope told his listeners that they could gain some "intimation" of
what
Paradise would be like by following "the sacramental life, of which
the Eucharist is the centre", and by devoting themselves to "fraternal
love for their fellow beings".
He did not refer to the popular concept of St Peter receiving souls at
the "pearly gates" of Paradise and deciding who had earned admittance.
But the pontiff did hint that non Christians who "devote themselves to
others" might also enter Paradise even if they had not believed in
Christ.
Monsignor Carlo Molari, a Vatican theologian, said that "those who
live a form of spirituality without speaking of God or Christ" were
worthy of Paradise, since "what matters is to recognise our
limitations and realise that there is a life beyond".
He recalled that Christ tells one of the robbers crucified with him,
"Truly I tell you: today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23 v
43).
http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/07/23/timfgneur020
02.html? 1996766
No hellfire say Jesuits
Copyright 1999 by Agence France-Presse
VATICAN CITY, July 15 (AFP) - There is no fiery furnace in Hell, which
is not a place but simply a condition in which God is absent, the
influential Jesuit magazine Civilta cattolica said Thursday.
An editorial in the magazine, closely examined by top Vatican
doctrinal authorities, dismissed the idea that Hell might be a form
Divine injustice.
"The existence of Hell is a fact of faith," the journal of the Italian
Jesuits asserted. "It is not a place, but a condition, a form of
existence for those who suffer the pain of being deprived of God."
"We must not believe, despite popular images, that God, by the
intermediary of demons, inflicts dreadful torments such as that of
fire," the editorial reassured readers.
"Hell is eternal not by God's will, but because men condemn themselves
in rejecting God," it said.
As for those who did end up in Hell, the church knew nothing of their
fate, Civilta cattolica said.
The editorial acknowledged that in the past "the Church insisted too
strongly on fear of Hell in order to save mankind from perdition."
But it also expressed regret that the modern world had gone to the
other extreme: "People hardly talk of Hell any more."
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Infobeat News items (7/23/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 19:15:01 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
*** Ukraine, EU sign nuclear agreements
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - The European Union promised Ukraine up to $143
million to strengthen banking and financial systems and signed two
nuclear agreements with the former Soviet republic at a summit Friday.
The third EU-Ukraine summit was attended by Finnish Prime Minister
Paavo Lipponen, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency;
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma; and EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner
Hans van den Broek. Long-standing differences over the Chernobyl
nuclear plant snagged the talks. The agreements signed at the one-day
summit concerned nuclear safety and research and were expected to
boost EU-Ukrainian cooperation in radiation protection, radioactive
waste management, decommissioning of nuclear devices and atomic
science, officials said. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560406830-1b6
*** Russian PM wants high-tech weapons
MOSCOW (AP) - NATO's bombing campaign in Yugoslavia highlighted
Russia's need to modernize its army and build a new generation of
high-tech weapons, the prime minister said Friday. However, Prime
Minister Sergei Stepashin gave no clue as to where Russia would find
the money to pay for an overhaul of its impoverished military. The
prime minister made his comments in Siberia, part of a cross-country
tour to examine Russia's troubled military manufacturing plants. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560406720-5cf ***
Also from Russia: Journalists seek reprieve, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560406265-38e
*** Russian soldiers rented as slaves
MOSCOW (AP) - Some military officers in southern Russia have been
renting out their troops as slave labor, and a number of the young
soldiers have subsequently been kidnapped and taken to the breakaway
Chechnya region, a newspaper reported Friday. A number of similar
reports have surfaced in recent months, and several Russian soldiers
have been charged with selling their troops directly to Chechen
kidnappers, according to Russia media reports. "The sale of soldiers
by their commanders has become endemic in military units stationed in"
southern Russia, the business daily Kommersant said. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560406413-2d3 ***
Also from the region: Election ruled invalid, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560406301-cf5
*** Officer caught smuggling nuke fuel
MOSCOW (AP) - Customs police in Kazakstan arrested a Russian military
officer who was allegedly trying to smuggle a small amount of nuclear
fuel to Uzbekistan, a news report said Friday. Capt. Alexei Konkov was
detained at the Kazak-Uzbek border late Wednesday carrying a round tin
container enveloped in lead plates, the ITAR-Tass news agency said. A
radioactivity check revealed that the container was emitting more than
50 times natural radiation levels, the report said. According to
ITAR-Tass, the radioactive material inside the container was nuclear
reactor fuel. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2560404600-894
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - NASA looks at beaming solar power down from space
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 19:37:18 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
NASA Looks At Beaming Solar Power Down From Space
http://ens.lycos.com/en
7-19-99
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (ENS) - The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) is investigating to determine if solar collectors can
be constructed in outer space to capture solar energy and beam it down to
earth.
Twenty years after rejecting the idea as costly and impractical, NASA has
awarded more than $6 million in contracts to assess the feasibility of
constructing what the agency calls "sun towers" that could capture 1.2
billion watts of solar power.
Using highly efficient photovoltaic cells and replacing metal towers with
plastic, the sun towers would have 22 mile solar collectors in a stationary
orbit more than 22,000 miles high.
NASA estimates the solar energy beamed down to earth could supply the
electricity needs of 1.2 million homes.
NASA has awarded contracts to 23 organizations to work for nine months to
see if the concept of space stations would be feasible by 2015. The
companies will meet soon at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.
Microwave beams are the most practical technology to transmit the energy,
but microwaves burn anything that crosses its beam, including planes and
birds. NASA opposes using laser light, because lasers could be perceived as
a potential weapon.
Research in Japan is evaluating transmission by lasers from the space
station to airships in the atmosphere, which would convert the energy into
microwaves for beaming to earth. The receiving antennas would be up to 15
miles in diameter.
Each sun tower would mount a series of 200-meter solar collectors along the
22 mile structure, and stay in a geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles high.
This positioning means each sun tower would stay in the same place with
relation to the Earth, as communications satellites do today. Concentric
prisms would focus the sun's rays onto the solar cells, and robots would be
needed to maintain the system.
The units would be beyond the reach of a space shuttle, and would have to
be constructed on earth.
Cost estimates run from $1 to $2 billion for a 1.2 gigawatt plant. NASA
officials say they want to reduce costs to five cents per kilowatt hour,
close to price for conventional electricity.
http://www.sightings.com/ufo4/beam.htm
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - The Sight of Sound
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 19:42:07 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
The Sight of Sound
Navy Lt. Ron Candiloro's F/A-18 Hornet creates a shock wave as he breaks
the sound barrier July 7. The shock wave is visible as a large cloud of
condensation formed by the cooling of the air. A smaller shock wave can be
seen forming on top of the canopy.
It is possible for a skilled pilot to work the plane's throttle to move the
shock wave forward or aft.
Candiloro is assigned to Fighter Squadron 151, currently deployed with the
USS Constellation battle group. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign John Gay)
To download the high resolution version of this photo, go to
www.defenselink.mil/specials/images/sightofsound .jpg.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul1999/n07161999_9907162.html
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Baptist Press items (7/23/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 09:31:05 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Senate OKs hate-crimes bill; opponents remain hopeful
By Tom Strode
WASHINGTON (BP)--The U.S. Senate has quietly approved protection
for homosexuality under hate-crimes legislation, but opponents of the
measure expressed hope it still would be thwarted from becoming law.
Senators approved the Hate Crimes Protection Act late July 22 in
a voice vote. The bill was passed on a single vote with numerous
other amendments to the appropriations bill for the Commerce,
Justice and State departments. The Senate also approved the
spending bill.
The hate-crimes measure was not included in the spending bill the
House of Representatives approved for the same departments, however.
That means a conference committee consisting of members from both
houses will have to work out a final version, probably after the
month-long recess that ends Labor Day.
The conference committee's negotiations hold hope for opponents
of the hate-crimes proposal. Spokespersons for the Family
Research Council and Traditional Values Coalition expressed
varying degrees of confidence the hate-crimes language would be
stripped from the final bill.
There was no way to prevent the hate-crimes amendment from being
considered on the Senate floor, and it appeared it would be
adopted if there were a recorded vote, a FRC spokeswoman said.
The hate-crimes bill had 37 cosponsors, and "supporters say they
have the necessary votes to win," TVC said in a memorandum before the
vote.
The bill would expand a 1969 hate-crimes law that bans the use of
force or threat of force against a person "because of his race, color,
religion or national origin." The bill would add gender, disability
and "sexual orientation," which includes homosexuality, to the
protected classes. The amendment also would remove the six "federally
protected activities" that a person must be participating in before
being considered a victim of a hate crime. Those activities include
employment and public-school attendance.
Opponents of the legislation say its drawbacks include violating
the idea of equal protection under the law, increasing the
authority and scope of the federal government to intervene in
local issues and curbing free speech, including having a chilling
effect on religious liberty by threatening those who teach
homosexuality is a sin based on the Bible.
In April, President Clinton affirmed his 1997 endorsement of a
similar bill. He also announced a public-private partnership to
teach programs on tolerance, including of homosexuality, in the
country's middle schools.
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission, called the president's effort "part of a
larger strategy by the radical homosexual and lesbian movement." Land
said the effort would work against parents who teach their children
homosexuality is unacceptable behavior but they should not hate
homosexuals.
In another development, Missouri has become the 22nd state to
include "sexual orientation" in a hate-crimes law. Gov. Mel
Carnahan, a member of a Southern Baptist church, signed the law
into effect July 1, according to the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force. Missouri becomes only the fourth state to include
"transgendered" people under the law, the NGLTF reported.
Carnahan is a member of First Baptist Church of Rolla, Mo.
Eight states have no hate-crimes law, and 20 states have
hate-crimes laws that exclude "sexual orientation."
-----------------------------
Subcommittee OKs measure opposing assisted suicide, supporting
pain relief
By Tom Strode
WASHINGTON (BP)--New legislation designed to prevent the use of
federally regulated drugs for physician-assisted suicide or
euthanasia while at the same time promoting pain management in
the terminally ill has cleared a congressional subcommittee.
The Constitution Subcommittee of the House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee recently approved by voice vote the Pain
Relief Promotion Act. The bill supports the use of federally
controlled substances for the alleviation of pain, even if the
risk of death increases in the process, but it clarifies
federally regulated drugs may not be used intentionally to assist in a
suicide. The measure says the U.S. attorney general may not make
exceptions in the case of a state that permits assisted suicide or
euthanasia. It also establishes a program at the Department of Health
and Human Services for research into pain management.
The House members who voted for the bill "should be applauded,"
said Ben Mitchell, consultant on biomedical and life issues for
the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
The bill is "a two-pronged approach to a double-edged problem,"
said Mitchell, who is a professor of bioethics and contemporary
culture at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. "One
problem is pain; the other is a barbaric answer to pain, namely,
assisted suicide and euthanasia.
"When you think about it, it just makes sense. There's not a
single drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use
in killing a human being. Drugs are designed to treat illness,
not kill patients. The bill introduces a little bit of sanity
into the culture of death.
"This will not stop the euthanasia and assisted-suicide movement
in this country, but it will slow it down a bit."
The bill, H.R. 2260, is a secondary response to a 1998 ruling by
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno clearing the way for doctors to
use federally regulated drugs to help people commit suicide in
Oregon, the only state that allows assisted suicide. Reno ruled
the federal Controlled Substances Act does not authorize the
federal government to take action against doctors who prescribe
medication for terminally ill people who desire to take their
lives under Oregon's Death With Dignity Act.
Reno's decision overturned a 1997 ruling by DEA Administrator
Thomas Constantine. The day after Oregon voters reaffirmed an
assisted-suicide law, Constantine announced the federal law still
prohibits doctors from prescribing controlled substances, such as
morphine and barbiturates, to aid in a suicide.
Rep. Henry Hyde, R.-Ill., introduced the Lethal Drug Abuse
Prevention Act last year. That bill would have revoked a doctor's Drug
Enforcement Administration registration if he prescribed federally
regulated drugs for the purpose of assisted suicide or euthanasia. A
DEA registration enables a doctor to prescribe federally controlled
drugs. The legislation failed to make it through Congress.
The Pain Relief Promotion Act, also introduced by Hyde, takes a
different approach and may have a better chance of passage.
Oregon's voters first approved a law legalizing assisted suicide
in a 1994 initiative, but legal challenges blocked its
enforcement for three years. The voters reaffirmed the law by a
wider margin in 1997. Fifteen people died by assisted suicide in
1998, the state's first full year after the law went into effect.
In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously states could
prohibit assisted suicide, but its action did not prevent states
from legalizing the practice. In the same year, President Clinton
signed into law legislation banning federal funding of assisted
suicide.
At its 1996 meeting, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a
resolution condemning assisted suicide.
The Baptist Press email service is a cooperative effort between
Baptist Press and GOSHEN.net. Visit Baptist Press on the web
at http://www.BaptistPress.org/
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items (7/24/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 09:36:13 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
COMMUNIST PARTY BOSS CALLS FOR CLOSER TIES WITH US
MOSCOW -- The head of Russia's Communist party Gennaday Zyuganov
warmed up to the west Friday in a meeting with the US ambassador to
Russia, James Collins, saying cooperation between the two countries
had become crucial, Interfax reported.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=81113&text
RUSSIA TO REBUILD YUGOSLAVIA AS PARTIAL DEBT PAYMENT
MOSCOW -- Russian plans to pay off part of its debts to Yugoslavia in
a million-dollar aid package to the war-ravaged Balkan nation, Russian
economics ministry spokesmen said Friday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=81114&text
========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - An Elephant Tale
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 13:13:24 +0000
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Narrator:
In Africa lie the largest savannahs in the world, home to an
abundance of wildlife including the magnificent African elephant, the
largest living land mammal. Elephants are gregarious and social
creatures. Their legendary intelligence and complex social structure
are curiously similar to that of humans. Both invest years in the
development of their young because much of their behavior is learned.
Without adults, the young raise themselves.
Kruger Park Official:
"We are experiencing problems in some of the natural reserves where
these calves have grown up without what we can call 'parental
guidance.'"
Narrator:
Recent efforts to limit elephant overcrowding through the practice of
culling have disrupted the social structures these animals depend on.
[Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary:
cull: to select from a group: choose; something rejected esp. as
being inferior or worthless]
Some elephants orphaned by culling were relocated to the Pilansburg
(sp?) Game Reserve in South Africa but the well-intentioned efforts
proved to have disastrous results.
The Reserve is the site of the largest game translocation in the
world. In the past 20 years, 6,000 animals have been moved here from
parks across Africa. Among them are elephants from South Africa's
world-famous Kruger National Park.
For two decades, Kruger's elephant population was managed by culling
[killing] older animals and relocating the younger ones. The largest
group of 35 was translocated to Pilansburg, but the practice totally
unhinged the strict social structure of the herd--the structure in
which young elephants were taught social behavior by their elders. As
a result, the isolated youngsters devised their own social rules,
developing much like unruly teen-agers, particularly during the
normal mating period called "must."
Kruger Park Official:
"Problems that are seen are abnormal behavior from young elephant
bulls that are coming into must for the first time, staying in must
for a prolonged period and that causes more aggression towards people
even and also towards other animals."
Narrator:
Under normal conditions, unprovoked elephant attacks are unusual, but
rangers have seen a high incidence of aggression among the
unsupervised youngsters with rhinos a frequent target.
A line of skulls at Pilansburg bears testament to this strange new
dynamic. Young bulls in this park alone have killed 23 rhinos. The
fatal rivalry occurs only when young bulls have grown up without the
guidance of older animals.
Kruger Park Official:
"In Kruger National Park we have over 4,000 wild rhino and we have
over 9,000 elephants and up to now we haven't seen any death of a
wild rhino being caused by an elephant. I believe in normal, natural
situations you won't have anything like that."
Narrator:
One belligerent encounter with a hippopotamus left a cow with a huge,
gaping wound. A team of park rangers and vets tranquilized the
elephant so her injury could be treated.
Elephants and hippos are not natural enemies, but this was not a
natural situation. The young cow was part of a circus before being
moved to the Pilansburg Game Reserve. Her attacker grew up in a zoo
rather than on a riverbank. The elephant's former life in show
business was of no help in dealing with an aggressive hippo.
Kruger Park Official:
"We have two tamed animals and the one not giving way to the other
one and there you can expect aggressive behavior. Again, in the wild,
you don't see anything like that and under natural conditions an
elephant and a hippo will never be able to clash."
Narrator:
The lessons this elephant might have learned from an adult have come
much later in life and with far graver consequences.
In response to public pressure, South Africa's National Parks Board
has launched the Elephant Relocation Project to raise funds to buy
land, extend existing parks and relocate entire families. It is also
importing mature males and females into Pilansburg Reserve. These
older generations will reassume their positions of teachers and
role-models as nature intended.
Excerpt from:
Into the Unknown
Supernatural Beings
Discovery Channel
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