Nexus - 0705 - New Times Magazine-pages

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... GLOBAL NEWS. ... NEWS ... UN SEEKS JURISDICTION TO SILENCE DRUGS DISSENT that four major online companies are secretly collecting personal information from websurfers. The Law News Network says the law- suits against DoubleClick, Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Buy.com are the first of their kind. The suits claim that the companies are secretly tracking Internet users' activities and collecting personal data such as e-mail and home addresses and phone numbers. (Sources: www.cosmiverse.com/, 29 June 2000; and www.wired.com/ news/politics/, 7 July 2000) The reluctance of some officers to com- ply makes a mockery of the expectations placed on members of the public who are routinely asked to volunteer for mass DNA screening to help police eliminate innocent people from their enquiries. (Source: By David Taylor, The Express, London, 2 July 2000) I. a high-profile New York press briefing in June, Pino Arlacchi, who fronts the UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), announced that the INCB would soon begin seeking "universal jurisdiction" to prosecute digital drug traffickers. Currently, this select legal mechanism is employed only with respect to those who commit acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. However, the one-time Italian prosecutor asserts that this drastic control measure is needed to stem a medium he believes is becoming a veritable nexus for criminals wishing "to disseminate informa- tion about drugs". Although this legal stratagem would severely undermine cherished notions of national self-determination, Arlacchi sts that even websites which post critical of global anti-narcotic efforts could also be fair game. "These views are spreading and we are now thinking about some instrument to at least stop the expansion of this flow of information," he warns. Arlacchi's machinations represent the first step towards codifying recommenda- tions set forth in the INCB's 1997 Annual Report. Published after California's contro- versial Medical Marijuana Initiative, the little-known document sternly chastises various member-nations for having the temerity to allow open discourse in regard to global anti-drug strategies. (Source: From the Disinformation website, www.disinfo.com, 11 July 2000; research by Cletus Nelson, teevee @ earthlink.net) and collecting personal data such as e-mail LIGHT AND OXYGEN DESTROY employed only with respect to those who and home addresses and phone numbers. TERMINAL CANCERS commit acts of genocide and crimes against (Sources: www.cosmiverse.com/, 29 June lhe first results of a light-activated treat- humanity. However, the one-time Italian 2000; and www.wired.com/ news/politics/, 7 ment for some cancers, particularly of — prosecutor asserts that this drastic control July 2000) the skin, throat and mouth, may offer hope measure is needed to stem a medium he for otherwise terminal cases. believes is becoming a veritable nexus for ANXIOUS POLICE REFUSE TO In the new photodynamic therapy, a __ criminals wishing "to disseminate informa- GIVE DNA SAMPLES cream is injected around a cancerous _ tion about drugs". lhousands of UK police officers have tumour and a light is beamed onto it. As it Although this legal stratagem would refused to give DNA samples to anew glows, a drug—Foscan temoporfin— _ severely undermine cherished notions of Home Office database, amid concerns that releases oxygen that destroys the cancerous national self-determination, Arlacchi the genetic fingerprints could be used _ cells, thus minimising damage to healthy suggests that even websites which post against them in paternity suits. tissue. materials critical of global anti-narcotic Police officers are also said to be anxious The details of the medical breakthrough _ efforts could also be fair game. that their samples could be used to check were announced at the annual meeting of "These views are spreading and we are for drugs or to link them with unsolved the American Society for Clinical now thinking about some instrument to at crimes, but their big concern is that the Oncologists in New Orleans. least stop the expansion of this flow of Child Support Agency will be able to Dr Barry Wenig, chief researcher for information," he warns. access the computer database ina bid to Scotia, the drug's manufacturer, presented Arlacchi's machinations represent the track down fathers who shirk their _ the results of trials on 64 patients terminal- first step towards codifying recommenda- responsibilities. ly ill with skin cancer. The patients were _ tions set forth in the INCB's 1997 Annual The Home Office wants to collect DNA treated with the drug, and four days later Report. Published after California's contro- samples from 75,000 officers who might be the tumour was strongly illuminated with a versial Medical Marijuana Initiative, the expected to come into contact with evi- red light. little-known document sternly chastises dence at crime scenes, so they can be elimi- "These patients were classed as incurable various member-nations for having the nated as suspects. So far, it has received and the only other option was to refer them temerity to allow open discourse in regard only 21,000 samples from volunteers. to hospices," Dr Wenig said. to global anti-drug strategies. An independent (Source: From the Disinformation website, panel of experts judged = www.disinfo.com, 11 July 2000; research by that 58% of patients Cletus Nelson, teevee @earthlink.net) had extended their sur- vival time; 25% had AUSTRALIA'S NEW MEDICATION achieved a complete or | DATABASE THREATENS PRIVACY partial reduction of ustralia's Medicare card will become a their tumour; and in de facto identity card, and a national 16% of the cases, the database containing personal health infor- tumour had been com- mation will be created under a planned pletely eliminated. Federal Government initiative. The drug is not yet Privacy advocates and even the licensed for use inthe Australian Medical Association have react- USA or Europe, as _ ed with alarm at the proposals, under which tests are still in the Medicare number will be used as a progress. Atwo-year unique patient identifier for a new trial is currently under- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) way in Leeds, UK. entitlement checking system and for elec- (Source: By Helen tronic medication records to be offered Rumbelow, The Times, — through pharmacies. London, 30 May 2000, The proposal, outlined in the recent www.the-times.co.uk/ Federal Budget, would create a system sim- news) ilar to the Australia Card system that the \ GENOME Ns ( },6000...THIS G00D... THIS ") — WILL BE yay ANXIOUS POLICE REFUSE TO GIVE DNA SAMPLES lhousands of UK police officers have refused to give DNA samples to a new Home Office database, amid concerns that the genetic fingerprints could be used against them in paternity suits. Police officers are also said to be anxious that their samples could be used to check for drugs or to link them with unsolved crimes, but their big concern is that the Child Support Agency will be able to access the computer database in a bid to track down fathers who shirk their responsibilities. The Home Office wants to collect DNA samples from 75,000 officers who might be expected to come into contact with evi- dence at crime scenes, so they can be elimi- nated as suspects. So far, it has received only 21,000 samples from volunteers. 8 = NEXUS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2000