Nexus - 0226 - New Times Magazine-pages

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OB OY oF VEN? YOUR DNA ON FILE SOON? entist James Moss who was study- ing the "possibility" that a personnel insecticide given to the servicemen in the Gulf War, when combined with an anti-nerve-gas repellent that was also given to some 400,000 troops, may have resulted in Gulf War Syndrome. The officials at the Agriculture Department maintain that Moss exceeded his authority and his pro- ject had "not been approved through proper channels". (Sources: The Guardian Weekly, 23 April 1995; The Olympian, 10 March 1995; The Leading Edge #80, March 1995; New Scientist, 22 April 1995) UK — Police in the UK have ( mounted their biggest operation yet against suspected burglars, as 5,000 officers arrested nearly 1,000 people in dawn raids. DNA samples were taken from the 911 held, whether they were charged or just cautioned. It was the first time that UK police have used the new powers in the Criminal Justice Act to begin compiling an national DNA data- base. Australia — Federal police may soon be empowered to forcibly take biological samples from crime suspects for DNA analysis. If the Forensic Procedures Bill is passed, blood, semen, and pubic hair may be taken without an arrest being made. The Bill is scheduled to go before federal par- liament this year, and is expected to be adopted by the states later on. (Sources: Guardian Weekly, 14 May 1995; New Scientist, 25 March 1995; The Gene File #1, 1995) Avawausy wm Vave eaves oman pee from crime suspects for DNA id | N N GATT + WTO = analysis. If the Forensic NEW WORLD ORDER? Procedures Bill is passed, blood, The new GATT agreement is said semen, and pubic hair may be to be the most complex and exten- taken without an arrest being made. The Texan billionaire Ross Perot, gives the first sive international agreement in history. It Bill is scheduled to go before federal par- plausible scenario of what could have hap- is safe to assume that few political leaders liament this year, and is expected to be pened. Tests show that the injections, anti- who signed the document on behalf of their adopted by the states later on. nerve-gas pills, plus insecticides (which countries actually read the 500-page treaty, (Sources: Guardian Weekly, 14 May 1995; were used to saturate tents and uniforms), or indeed the small print of the 20,000- New Scientist, 25 March 1995; The Gene File are more toxic when used in combination page addendum. The general public is #1, 1995) with each other. even less informed. While the Pentagon insists it has no evi- GATT is a global treaty which not only GULF WAR SYNDROME: dence that chemical or biological weapons deals with international trade in goods and THE MYSTERY REVEALED? were used by Iraq in the war, unlike Britain services, but also incorporates “intellectual The Pentagon has confirmed that the the US Government now accepts that Gulf property rights" and “non-tariff trade barri- symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome, reported War Syndrome is a genuine ailment, for ers", among which are human rights, occu- by more than 50,000 veterans, may have which veterans are entitled to up to _pational health, trade unions, pesticide con- been caused by ‘precautionary medicines' USD$1,823 per month in disability benefits tamination of food, and environmental pro- issued to allied troops, and not by enemy and subsidised medical care. tection. action. Meanwhile, the US Agriculture The first GATT agreement was initiated A Duke University study funded by Department has upheld the sacking of sci- in 1948 as a temporary arrangement designed to maximise trade incentives for the industrialised countries. It remained a provisional treaty for 40 years during seven separate rounds of negotiation. A new set of negotiations was proposed in 1982 which became known as the Uruguay Round. It was concluded in April 1994, and signed by more than 100 countries, including Australia. The Uruguay Round was designed and planned by some of the world's most pow- erful transnational corporations (TNCs) in order to enhance their unimpeded access to global resources, cheap labour and unre- stricted markets, Negotiations were con- ducted behind closed doors, predominantly by the industrialised countries and repre- sentatives of major TNCs. GATT's provisions will be administered by by a newly created World Trade Organisation (WTO). Its mandate is to 6 * NEXUS JUNE - JULY 1995