Nexus - 0906 - New Times Magazine-pages

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... GLBBAL NEWS. ... NEWS growth of video surveillance, communica- tions surveillance and information collec- tion has exceeded the growth rate in such countries as Singapore and Israel." The erosion of privacy in Britain is not a new trend. "Crime and public order laws passed in recent years have placed substan- tial limitations on numerous rights, includ- ing freedom of assembly, privacy, freedom of movement, the right of silence and free- dom of speech," the report states. It cites a number of illegal spying and surveillance activities by government agen- cies, often in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, and esti- mates that 1.5 million CCTV cameras are now monitoring public spaces. (Source: By David Rowan, The Times, London, September 5, 2002, website http:/www.timesonline.co.uk/) growth of video surveillance, communica- diverse overseas lobbyists linked to the companies. Industry observers have pre- tions surveillance and information collec- company. It announced earlier this week dicted that the company would be likely to tion has exceeded the growth rate in such that Carlyle was the preferred bidder to _ prepare QinetiQ for full sell-off within five countries as Singapore and Israel." take over its research and technology divi- years. The erosion of privacy in Britain is nota sion, QinetiQ. The former defence (Source: Guardian, London, September 5, new trend. "Crime and public order laws research agency has developed missile- 2002, http:/Avww.guardian.co.uk) passed in recent years have placed substan- tracking software, radar technology and tial limitations on numerous rights, includ- other defence systems. BELGIUM TO BAN ing freedom of assembly, privacy, freedom Fiona Draper of the trade union Prospect, FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS of movement, the right of silence and free- which represents scientists at QinetiQ, said: luoride tablets, fluoride drops and fluo- dom of speech," the report states. "The fact that they are a foreign company ride chewing gum, for decades promot- It cites a number of illegal spying and__ will obviously exacerbate my members' ed as the crown jewels of dentistry, are surveillance activities by government agen- concerns; given Carlyle's fairly opaque going to be taken off the market in cies, often in violation of the European — structure, there must be concerns over Belgium because they are poisonous and Convention on Human Rights, and esti- whether undue influence may be brought to pose a great risk for physical and psycho- mates that 1.5 million CCTV cameras are bear which may not be in Britain's logical health. now monitoring public spaces. interest." The usefulness and safety of fluoride has (Source: By David Rowan, The Times, Tn addition to the list of influential names een doubted worldwide for a long time. London, September 5, 2002, website from US politics, the company has been At least 12 Nobel Prize winners in http:/www.timesonline.co.uk/) linked to the Saudi royal family and until Medicine and Chemistry have warned of last year maintained links with the half- the associated health risks. BRITISH MoD PLANS TO SELL rother of Osama bin Laden. Research shows that fluoride can cause DIVISION TO CARLYLE GROUP However, Defence Minister Lewis joint problems, skeletal deformations and ritish government ministers have Moonie insisted that Britain's national osteoporosis, and can even cause bone can- defended plans to sell part of the interest would not be compromised by the cer. Fluoride has a negative influence on defence research industry to a US-based partial sale of the agency. "It is very the nervous system and the immune sys- company that has several former interna- important that half-truths and shades like — tem, and in children it can lead to (chronic) tional leaders on its payroll. that should not be allowed to cloud the fatigue, a lower IQ, learning disabilities, George Bush senior, his former Secretary name of a respectable company and one we __ lethargy and depression. of State James Baker, the former British ave investigated in great detail, as we Sodium fluoride, which is used in the so- Prime Minister John Major and many other have any other company with whom we called food supplements, is 80 times more figures from international big business and _ would be going into partnership," he said. oisonous than the naturally occurring cal- politics are employed by The Carlyle The British government is selling off a cium fluoride, with which it is often con- Group, a US-based private equity and significant stake in the agency, having fused even by medical professionals. defence group. dropped plans to float the company on the And, not unimportantly, it is a poisonous The government has dismissed union — stockmarket earlier this year. waste product of the aluminium and artifi- fears that the British national interest may Like other private equity groups, Carlyle cial fertiliser industry. Multinationals like be compromised by the influence of has a history of taking short-term stakes in Exxon, US Steel and Alcoa can get rid of AMERICAN Crt izes their waste totally legally—and they even ‘ a JVsT A get rich from it. = bi oF TEmlORARY (Source: HUMO magazine, Belgium, no. Civit RIGHTS ! OVERSIGHT... 3230/32, July 30, 2002, at website \¢ \ http://64.177.90.157/pfpc/html/humo.html) ~\ c\ companies. Industry observers have pre- dicted that the company would be likely to prepare QinetiQ for full sell-off within five years. (Source: Guardian, London, September 5, 2002, http:/www. guardian.co.uk) AMERICAN CITIES STi Ersoy A WIDE RANGE oF civic Rien Ts ! IJvsT A TEMPORARY OVERSIGHT... COURT RULES AGAINST FARMER PERCY SCHMEISER lhe Canadian Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that the Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser violated a patent held by Monsanto on a herbicide-resistant canola. In March 2001, Mr Schmeiser was ordered to pay C$19,000 in damages for using Roundup Ready canola. He was also ordered to cover Monsanto's court costs of $153,000. Percy Schmeiser had argued that either Roundup Ready canola seed blew into his field from a passing truck or his crop may 8 ¢ NEXUS Soran lle. www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2002