ldquo;In the 1920s O G S Crawford invented aerial archaeology, one of many services this eccentric Marxist misanthrope performed for the study of antiquity.rdquo;

- Jonathan Meades: Link

Bloody Old Britain: O G S Crawford and the Archaeology of Modern Life

By Kitty Hauser

Granta Books, 286pp

Amazon: Link

ldquo;Future archaeologists will perhaps excavate the ruined factories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the radiation effects of Atom bombs have died away.rdquo;

- O. G. S. Crawford, from Archaeology in the Field (1953)

O. G. S. Crawford @ Wikipedia: Link.

~ Karl Jones

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Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called on people displaced by fighting against the Taliban in the north-west of the country to go home.

He said that the first phase of a four-part programme to return them would begin on 13 July.

It is the first time the PM has made such a call since the army offensive against the Taliban began in April.

The army, meanwhile, says that its operation in Malakand has entered its final phase.

Mr Gilani said that militants had already been "cleared" from Swat, Buner and part of Upper Dir.

Several hundred families from those areas have already begun to return to their homes.

Developed and developing nations have agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels, a G8 summit declaration says.

That is the level above which, the UN says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable.

But the industrialised G8 nations have so far failed to persuade developing countries to accept targets for reducing emissions by 50% by 2050.

On Wednesday the G8 agreed to 80% cuts by the same date.

Earlier UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the G8 had not done enough and should also set 2020 targets.

He said that while the G8 agreement reached on Wednesday was welcome its leaders also needed to establish a strong and ambitious mid-term target for emissions cuts.

By Staff, Sustain Lane:

You would never cross the street without looking both ways, walk alone down a dark alley alone at three a.m., or tell your child to accept rides from strangers. So why let hazardous, toxic, and even carcinogenic chemicals into your home everyday?

The message driven home for millions of Americans each day via TV and internet commercials is this: No need to scrub or scour. With just one squeeze of the spray bottle, you can wipe away dirt, grime, and bacteria.

Alas, there’s that dark alley again. Air fresheners, disinfectants, and cleaners found under your sink are more dangerous than you think. Mix bleach with ammonia, for example, and you’ve got a toxic fume cloud used by the military in WWI. And they weren’t cleaning kitchens.

Here is a list of the ten products you should ban from your home -- forever -- along with suggested alternatives.

1. Non-Stick Cookware

When non-stick pans were first introduced into American households in the 1960s, they were thought to be a godsend. Gone were the days of soaking pans for hours and scouring pots with steel wool. In the forty years since then, however, we’ve learned that the ease of cleaning comes at a steep price: the coating that makes Teflon pans non-stick is polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE for short. When PTFE heats up, it releases toxic gasses that have been linked to cancer, organ failure, reproductive damage, and other harmful health effects.

The problems with PTFE-coated pans seem to occur at high temperatures, so if you must use Teflon, cook foods on medium heat or less. Avoiding non-stick pans altogether is the safest option. If you’re able to do so, try anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron pans with a little cooking oil. SustainLane reviewers like LeCreuset cast iron pans and more cost-effective ones like Lodge Logic. Using a lower setting on the stove will reduce the chances that your food will burn, which is how it usually gets stuck to pans the first place. If you’re worried about the extra calories cooking oil adds, try baking or steaming your food.

2. Plastic Bottles

By now you’ve heard of dangers of BPA in those ubiquitous neon water bottles. BPA mimics the effects of hormones that harm your endocrine system. While the company at the heart of the controversy has switched to BPA-free plastic, those aren’t the only toxic bottles. Single-use plastic bottles are even worse for leaching chemicals, especially when you add the heat of the sun (think about bottles left in your trunk) or the microwave. Aside from the fact that bottled water sold across state lines is not as regulated as tap water, the bottles themselves are spawning grounds for bacteria and are a source of needless waste. Each year, more than one million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the more than 25 billion single-use plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. Choose a reusable, stainless steel or glass bottle instead. SustainLane users have reviewed several water bottle alternatives.

3. Conventional Cleaning Supplies

These routinely make the top ten lists of worst household offenders. They contain toxic chemicals that negatively affect every system in your body. All purpose cleaners often contain ammonia, a strong irritant that has been linked to liver and kidney damage. Bleach is a powerful oxidizer, which can burn the skin and eyes. Another danger lies in oven cleaners, which can cause chemical burns and emit toxic fumes that harm the respiratory system. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that more than 120,000 children under the age of five were involved in incidents involving household cleaners in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available.

To protect you and your family from the hazards conventional cleaners pose, choose non-toxic, or natural cleaners. SustainLane reviewers have particularly enjoyed Method and Seventh Generation, which are commonly found on supermarket shelves. Bon Ami is a safe alternative to Comet and Ajax. If you have the time and want to go the extra mile, you can even mix your own using common household items like vinegar and baking soda. Check out these easy-to-make recipes household cleaners.

4. Chemical Insecticides and Herbicides

Since the purpose of these products is to kill pests, you can bet that many of them have ingredients in them that are also harmful to humans. For example, the active ingredient in Round-Up -- a weed-killer popular with gardeners -- is known to cause kidney damage and reproductive harm in mice. And cypermethrin, one of the active ingredients in the popular ant and roach-killer Raid, is a known eye, skin and respiratory irritant and has negative effects on the central nervous system.

There are several companies that sell natural and organic weed- and pest-control products. Buhach makes a natural insecticide from ground chrysanthemum flowers that controls ants, flies, fleas, lice, gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, and deer ticks, among other pests. Boric acid is an effective, natural solution for cockroaches as well; sprinkle it around baseboards, cracks and other places likely to harbor roaches. You can use this boric acid recipe to control ants. For weeds, check out E.B. Stone Weed-N-Grass or try spot-spraying with household vinegar.

5. Antibacterial Products

The widespread use of antibacterials has been shown to contribute to new strains of antibiotic-resistant “super-bugs.” The Center for Disease Control says that antibacterials may also interfere with immune system development in children. Triclosan -- the most common antibacterial additive found in more than 100 household products ranging from soaps and toothpaste to children’s toys and even undergarments -- accumulates in the body. In a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, 97 percent of breast feeding mothers had triclosan in their milk, and 75 percent had trace amounts of the chemical in their urine.

Make it your goal to be to be clean, not germ-free. People who are exposed to household germs typically develop strong immune systems and are healthier overall. Avoid buying antibacterial products or soaps containing triclosan. Soap and water is really all you need to clean most things. There are plenty of eco-friendly hand washes and other cleansers that are safe for you and easy on the planet.

6. Chemical Fertilizers

These are notorious for causing damage to our water supply and are a known major contributor to algal blooms. Whenever it rains or a lawn is watered, the runoff goes straight into storm-drains, and untreated water is dumped into rivers, streams, and the ocean. This causes an imbalance in delicate water ecosystems, killing fish and degrading water quality.

If you have a lawn, choose organic fertilizers rather than chemical ones.

As another alternative to harsh chemicals, consider starting a compost pile to create nutrient-rich soil for your flower beds and vegetable gardens. You’ll be creating your own inexpensive fertilizer just by letting food scraps and yard trimmings sit. An added benefit: it’ll also help divert waste from landfills. SustainLane users have reviewed several compost bins here.

7. More Bulb for Your Buck

A Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulb uses just a fraction of the energy regular light bulb uses. When your current bulbs burn out, swap them with CFLs, and start calculating your savings. General Electric has an online calculator that shows you just how much money you can save by making the switch.

One caveat of the low-energy bulb is that it contains mercury. Even so, CFLs are still your best bet, according to EPA Energy Star program director Wendy Reed. Coal-fired plants are the biggest emitters of mercury. Using CFL bulbs means you draw less power from the grid, which means less coal is burned for electricity. Because of the mercury, take precautions when disposing of these CFL bulbs. Rather than throwing them in your household trash or curbside recycling bin, take them to a hazardous waste collection or other special facility. This story from National Public Radio has a more through discussion of this topic.

8. Air fresheners

Just like cleaning supplies, these are incredibly toxic and can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma. Even those labeled “pure” and “natural” have been found to contain phthalates, chemicals that cause hormonal abnormalities, reproductive problems and birth defects. Try simmering cinnamon and cloves to give your home an “I’ve-spent-the-whole-day-baking” scent, and leave a few windows open to let in fresh air. You might also boil a pot of water on the stove with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, or use an essential oil burner.

9. Flame Retardants

A common flame retardant that was used in mattresses -- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) -- is known to accumulate in blood, breast milk and fatty tissues. This chemical is linked to liver, thyroid, and neuro-developmental toxicity. According to the Environmental Working Group, new foam items often do not contain PBDEs, but foam items purchased before 2005 (like mattresses, mattress pads, couches, easy chairs, pillows, carpet padding), are likely to contain them. Household furniture often contains flame retardants and stain repellents that use PBDE’s as well as formaldehyde and PFOA (the same chemical used in non-stick cookware).

If you are in the market for a new mattress or sofa, ask manufacturers what type of flame retardants they use. Look for products that don’t use brominated fire retardants. Organic Abode sells natural and organic furniture. If you’re looking to keep your existing mattress, but make it safer, use a cover made of organic wool to reduce PBDE exposure. You can find organic furniture and interior décor here.

10. Plastic Shopping Bags

Remember: Like diamonds, plastics are forever. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It’s a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas that’s floating 1,000 miles off the coast of California. In the United States, only two percent of plastic bags are recycled, which means that the remaining 98 percent is dumped into landfills or blown out to sea. According to Californians Against Waste, the City of San Francisco, which recently banned plastic shopping bags, spends 8.5 million dollars annually on plastic bag litter.

The good news is, we can easily decrease our plastic bags use. Bring in your own reusable cloth bags when you go shopping. If you have kids, ask them to remind you to bring them. Or keep them in a place by the door where you’re most likely to remember them on your way out.

Watch this informative cartoon on your own or with your kids

July 9, 2009

alternet

Bahamas Caribbean Blog International

By VERNON CLEMENT JONES ~ Guardian Business Editor ~ vernon@nasguard.com:

Loan loss provisioning at the country's commercial banks continues to lose ground against growing arrears, says the latest Central Bank report. It's a phenomenon only expected to worsen.

"Banks augmented loan loss provisions by $3.0 million, boosting the ratio of provisions to total arrears by 18 basis points to 23.44 percent," reads the May economic survey. "This corresponded to new loan provisions of $10.0 million, partly offset by a $6.9 million net write-off against loans provisioned for earlier.

"However, as the growth in non-performing loans outpaced the increase in provisions, the ratio of total provisions to non-performing loans fell by 5 basis points to 42.43 percent."

The gap between the cash the banks put aside to cover bad debt and the actual bad debt is expected to widen as the institutions continue to grapple with the growth in delinquent accounts.

Their hesitance to move revenue out of the plus column and into the minus one is also part of the equation, although all are expressing confidence in their respective levels of provisioning.

The quality of their collective book continued to deteriorate in May, however, says the bank report, with the value of private sector loans in payment arrears of at least one month growing by $6.1 million (0.7 percent) to $847.3 million. The associated ratio of arrears to total loans extended by 28 basis points to 13.98 percent.

The number of arrears now beyond the 90-day mark has also started to increase.

"The average age of delinquent loans increased, arrears in the 31-90 days segment waned by $12.0 million (3.1 percent) to $373.3 million," says the Central Bank. "However, non-performing loans — those over 90 days past due and on which banks stopped accruing interest — advanced by $18.2 million (4.0 percent) to $468.2 million."

The discrepancy between provisioning and bad debt has actually grown since the dark days of September and the resulting uptick in layoffs as area hotels and, indeed, businesses across all sectors felt the brunt of the global recession.

While layoffs have slowed, the long-term effects of a depressed income are now being felt by those still on the job. Work weeks little more than one or two shifts have obliterated their ability to keep current with loan payments. That reality suggests the commercial lenders have months and possibly years of growing non-accruals to deal with.

The divide also runs counter to the expectations of one financial advisor. Last January, Ken Kerr of Providence Advisors told Guardian Business the banks would move quickly to close the gap.

"I expect that in the next reporting period we'll see provisioning grow to reflect the growth in arrears and the state of the present and future economy," he said. "If they don't do that then they're very confident about the quality of their loan portfolio or expect a turnaround in the global economy much sooner than everybody else or they could be extremely aggressive in going after borrowers as a way of encouraging growth of their book and because those still able to qualify have more options open to them and the competition to win their business is greater."

That same reduced number of fully-employed Bahamians — with earnings holding against recessionary forces — is also making it tougher for banks to put relatively risk-free loans on their books.

July 8, 2009

From: World March
Date: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Subject: World March-USA - Thanks for your Initiative

A Better Community for All (ABC4All) has endorsed the World March for Peace! See:
http://www.worldmarchusa.net/endorsements.php

THANKS FOR YOUR INITIATIVE!
http://www.theworldmarch.org/

Name:Burton Danet, Ph.D.
Phone:310-712-5477
Email:abc4all (at) gmail (dot) com

Description: A Better Community for All (ABC4All) has endorsed the World March for Peace and is sharing with ABC4All Mentors in 104 countries (to date).

When:10/02/2009 - 01/02/2010
Where:Manhattan Beach and all over the world
Organization: A Better Community for All (ABC4All)

HOW CAN I HELP SUPPORT THE MARCH?

Join or Form a Local Promotion Team

Local Promotion Teams are being formed in New York, Washington, Red Bluff, San Francisco and Los Angeles, where the international team of marchers will visit, and in any city that wants to offer its support to the march through
the development of local marches or initiatives. Local Promotion Teams will coordinate outreach to organizations, schools, community groups and congregations in their area; encourage the development of locally developed events or initiatives, giving them a common framework and helping to
publicize them; and plan and oversee local press and contact with government representatives It is our plan to have initiatives in support of the March in each of the fifty States. We are looking for State Coordinators who
will oversee outreach within their state connect its activities to the national plan.

Help Plan a Local March

The route of the international base team of marchers has been decided by the International Coordination Team of the World March, but there exists the possibility of forming converging marches that will connect to the marchers
on various points on the main route and that can connect to other marches locally or regionally.

Develop an Initiative or Project

The backbone of the march will be the route through 90 countries, but the heart and body will be the thousands of local initiatives developed at each point along the way. These initiatives will vary in form and size (e.g., a
concert with thousands of people, a university symposium on economic violence, a community forum on discrimination against immigrants, a workshop on civil disobedience, a theater or dance piece that expresses the hope for
a violence-free future, seminars with school children on conflict resolution, a neighborhood potluck for peace, street actions, art exhibits, etc .). These initiatives can be developed by individuals, organizations, mayoralties, universities or schools, or by coalitions of groups who want to publicize the specific area of peace or nonviolence work in which they are engaged. There is space for everything the imagination is capable of conceiving.

Volunteer

There are lots of tasks that will need to be done, including:

Publicity/Marketing -- provide media research and connections! write, design, etc.
Research -- conduct Internet research on national organizations, universities, municipalities that might be interested in participating in the march.
Video/photographers -- document events and collect mages, make promotional videos for the march.
Fundraising -- help plan fundraising events and activities, obtain sponsorships, etc.
Website -- provide assistance in website design a nd maintenance
Phone calls -- provide follow up phone calls to organizations that have been invited to participate in the march

Get the Word Out

The march will be successful according to its ability to reach the billions of people worldwide who are yearning for an end to the violence. You can help by talking about the march with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and fellow students, and referring them to this website --

http://www.worldmarchusa.net

and

http://www.theworldmarch.org/

--
ABC4All Basics
http://abc4all.net/abc4allbasics.html

US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to turn from the past, emphasising the common goals the US shares with its former Cold War rival.

He told young graduates in Moscow they were the "last generation" to be born in a "divided world".

Mr Obama sought to reassure the country that the US sought a "strong, peaceful and prosperous" Russia.

The speech comes on the second day of Mr Obama's visit to Moscow and followed his first meeting with Vladimir Putin.

During the breakfast talks he told the former president turned prime minister that he had done "extraordinary work" leading Russia.

By JASMIN BONIMY ~ NG Staff Reporter ~ jasmin@nasguard.com:

A 10-year national plan proposed for education calls for the introduction of a special tax and national lottery, to better fund the nation's public schools and programs designed to produce more well-rounded productive students.

The 65-page document proposes that a referendum on the national lottery be held by December 2011. However, such a referendum appears unlikely as Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has already indicated that no more referenda will be held under his leadership.

As a means of funding education, the Ministry of Education also proposes in the document that departure tax be increased by $2 per passenger. This recommendation and the recommendation for a national lottery are listed as short term objectives in the 10-year plan, which was the focus of attention at the National Education Summit at the Wyndham Nassau Resort yesterday.

Another short term objective is that the government allocate at least 17 percent of the annual national budget to education in a bid to reflect its commitment to the sector.

This goal has already been achieved, according to Minister of Education Carl Bethel, who noted in his contribution to debate on the 2009/2010 budget in the House of Assembly last month that the government allocated 17 percent of the recurrent expenditure to education.

This allocation, $24,666,062.00, includes the budget for the Ministry of Education, the Department of Education, The College of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.

The proposed national education plan calls for appropriate fiscal management mechanisms to be put in place in the short term to reduce wastage by seeking to better maintain physical plants and other facilities. The document suggests these measures be fully implemented by July 2012.

The introduction of the education tax was listed as one of the proposed long term objectives. Also included in that category was the objective to reduce building repairs and costs by implementing ongoing maintenance of all school facilities.

Other long term objectives call for the implementation of programs to assist newly arrived immigrant children in adjusting to Bahamian society, and the extension of the school day to give more time to extracurricular activities and supervision of projects and homework assignments.

The report also recommends that closed circuit television systems be installed in all New Providence and Grand Bahama schools.

The comprehensive report addresses many different areas of education in The Bahamas, including developing national curricula that are more relevant to the needs of society; meeting the needs of special students; furnishing schools with the necessary training resources; improving the quality of education at the tertiary level; attracting quality teachers and constructing and properly maintaining school buildings.

While speaking to a room full of educators at the Education Summit yesterday, Bethel called the 10-year plan a visionary document designed to strengthen the education system.

"As you put your collective minds together to examine and refine the 10-year education plan, it is envisioned that each of you will be a catalyst for change in your sphere of influence and will work zealously to ensure that goals of the 10-year education plan are achieved," Bethel said.

In a message contained in the document, the education minister said the plan provides the "blueprint for transformation".

Education officials said they are seeking to create a Bahamian education system that promotes the highest standards and produces students who are intellectually curious, compassionate, responsible and capable of making a meaningful contribution to the country's productivity, prosperity and peace.

The proposed plan is being considered amid ongoing concerns in various quarters about the state of education in The Bahamas.

A July 2005 report released by the Coalition for Education Reform entitled 'Bahamian Youth: The Untapped Source' highlighted so-called learning gaps within the educational system.

Pointing to the 2004 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examination results, which averaged a D that year, the report said: "This data substantiates the conclusion that the state of Bahamian education is unacceptable. This is reality. These are the brutal facts and you absolutely cannot make a series of good decisions without first confronting the brutal facts."

The national grade average in the BGCSEs rose to a D plus last year. Results for 2009 examinations have not yet been released.

The Education Summit continues today.


Tuesday, July 7, 2009
thenassauguardian