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... GLPBAL NEWS ... NEWS centres" and compulsorily have their fingerprints taken and have a facial scan. The biometric data gathered will be stored on a chip embedded in the new passports. Personal details and the biometric data will be held on national databases and on an EU-wide database of European Register for issued passports. The latter will be on the Schengen Information System (SIS II) and will be accessible by law enforcement agencies. Regulations will be binding in their entirety on all 25 member states. (Source: Statewatch, 24 October 2004) in October by the World Wildlife Fund (WWE). The chemicals found in the European officials include those used in fire-resistant furniture, non-stick pans, greaseproof pizza boxes, flexible polyvinyl chloride, fragrances and pesticides. "The ministers are all contaminated with industrial chemicals whose effects are largely unknown,” said Karl Wagner, director of WWF's DetoX Campaign. "It is hard to believe that legislators have been willing to allow this uncontrolled experi- ment to continue for so many years." The 14 environment and health ministers were found to have a total of 55 industrial chemicals in their blood—S3 per cent of the 103 chemicals tested. The highest number of chemicals found in any one minister was 45, and the lowest was thirty- three. All the officials tested positive for 25 of the same chemicals, including one flame retardant, two pesticides and 22 polychlo- rinated biphenyls (PCBs). WWE tested ministers from Great Britain, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. The conservation group carried out the tests in a bid to rally support for tougher European laws on chemical testing and identification, in particular for the draft European Union proposal known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals), a law that could lead to the identification and phasing out of the most harmful chemicals. Some 86 per cent of the 2,500 chemicals used in large quantities do not have enough safety information publicly avail- able to do a basic safety assessment, according to WWF. The study of the European Union minis- ters can be found at http://www.world- wildlife.org/toxics/pubs/badblood.pdf. (Source: Environment News Service, 20 October 2004) THINGS GROW BETTER WITH COCA-COLA! | eee farmers have come up with what they think is the "real thing" to keep crops free of bugs. Instead of paying hefty fees to international chemical companies for patented pesticides, they are reportedly spraying their crops with Coca-Cola. Gotu Laxmaiah, a farmer in Andra Pradesh, is one of hundreds of farmers delighted with his new cola spray, which he applied this year to several hectares of cotton. "I observed that the pests began to die after the soft drink was sprayed on my cotton," he told the Deccan Herald news- i the UK, a Bill on identity cards will introduce the compulsory taking of fin- gerprints and a facial scan for all new and replacement passports and driving licences issued—meaning that these new micro- chipped cards will also be identity cards. The "processing" is expected to start in 2006, and is expected to deal with over five million people a year needing pass- ports. It is estimated that after six to 10 years, 80% of the population will have an ID card—at which point it will become compulsory for the rest. (Source: StateWatch.org, 24 October 2004, http://inyurl.com/S8at6) paper. It is clearly not Coke's legendary "secret" ingredient that is upsetting the bugs. The farmers also swear by Pepsi, Thums Up, and other local soft drinks. The properties of Coke have been dis- cussed for years. It has been reported that it is a fine lavatory cleaner, a good wind- screen wipe and an efficient rust-spot remover. (Source: The Guardian, 2 November 2004, http://www. guardian.co.uk) i the USA, all visitors who are not required to have a visa will now be fin- gerprinted and photographed. This even applies to 27 nations which have so far escaped the new security controls—includ- ing several European nations, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Immigration officials will take a digital photo of each visitor and inkless prints of both index fin- gers. The data will be cross-referenced against "no-fly" lists held by anti-terrorist and law enforcement agencies. From October 2005, all passports issued in the 27 countries on the visa waiver program must contain a barcode and a digital photo. By the end of next year, all US border-crossing officials will be carrying out the new checks. (Source: BBC News, 30 September 2004) \ (A Wye it Zi lai, CHEMICAL COCKTAIL FOUND IN BLOOD OF EU MINISTERS Ihe blood of ministers from 13 European Union countries has been found to be contaminated with dozens of industrial chemicals, including some that were banned decades ago. The officials have an average of 37 industrial chemicals in their blood, accord- ing to tests conducted in June and released NEXUS +7 a as DECEMBER 2004 — JANUARY 2005 www.nexusmagazine.com