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... GLOBAL NEWS ... NEWS ... data on near-collisions and collisions and retains this data for as long as 18 months. In California, aides to Governor Schwarzenegger have floated an idea in which these same MVEDRs could be enlisted to record mileage so that those who drive greater distances pay an additional mileage tax. In Oregon, a similar proposal calls for MVEDRs to include GPS transponders in order to tax cars driving within the state boundaries. On the commercial side, at least one auto insurance company has considered using MVEDR data to offer discounts to "safe drivers". (Source: Robert Vamosi, CNET Reviews, 4 May 2007, http://reviews.cnet.com/4520- 3513_7-6731442-1.html) industrial use. The first commercial synthetic organism, dubbed Mycoplasma roducts using synthetic biology (e.g.,a laboratorium. If they succeed, it will mark textile fibre by DuPont) are about to enter a break with evolution as we know it. the market and there are concerns that (Source: ETC news release, 25 June 2007, dangerous pathogens, such as smallpox or _http://vww.etcgroup.org) Ebola virus, could now be constructed as ioweapons. CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF Because synthetic biology goes far US INTELLIGENCE WORK beyond the genetic engineering techniques lhe US government now outsources a reviously used to develop genetically vast portion of its spying operations to modified food and drugs, no laws have yet private firms—and with zero public een developed that address its safety, accountability. security and social risks. More than five years into the global "war "Once more, a new technology is on terror", spying has become one of the storming ahead with no government or fastest growing private industries in the international body able to regulate or United States. The federal government control it," says biologist Florianne — relies more than ever on outsourcing for Koechlin from SAG (the Swiss Working some of its most sensitive work, though it Group on Gene Technology). "Once more, has kept details about its use of private we hear from the scientific community, contractors a closely guarded secret. supported by industry and the military, that Intelligence experts have warned—as has they have life under control and will soon the government itself—of a critical lack of be able to construct it. But life is more oversight for the booming intelligence than the sum of its parts." business. Koechlin is a member of the Swiss On 14 May at an industry conference in government-appointed ethics body that will Colorado sponsored by the Defense investigate the implications of synthetic Intelligence Agency, the US government biology later this year. revealed for the first time that 70 per cent Already, US patent application no. _ of its classified intelligence budget is spent 20070122826, entitled "Minimal bacterial on private contracts. genome", claims monopoly ownership of a Because nearly 90 per cent of "free-living organism that can grow and intelligence contracts are classified and the replicate", whose genome (full genetic _ budgets kept secret, it's difficult to draw up information) has been built entirely through a list of top contractors and their revenues mechanical means. derived from intelligence work. Craig Venter, whose scientific institute Based on publicly available information, filed the patent application, has since told including filings from publicly traded Business Week that his team is only weeks companies with the Securities and or months away from building such a Exchange Commission and company press releases and websites, the current top five fowe,.. THIS IS SPIRE, intelligence contractors appear to be THE MEW comovlTaAnT Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, 5 ovERSEEING THE SAIC, General Dynamics and L-3 HeigiG PROGRAMME. Communications. Other major contractors include Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International, DRS Technologies and ManTech International. The industry's growth and dependence on government budgets has made intelligence contracting an attractive market for former high-ranking national security officials, like former CIA director George Tenet who now earns millions of | wa dollars working as a director and adviser to "= a gl ; ! four companies that hold contracts with US Pe a intelligence agencies and do big business in ya | Iraq and elsewhere. (Source: Tim Shorrock, Global Research, 3 June 2007, http://www. globalresearch.ca/ Somers: ite index.php ?context=va&aid=5868) synthetic organism, dubbed Mycoplasma laboratorium. If they succeed, it will mark a break with evolution as we know it. (Source: ETC news release, 25 June 2007, hitp://www.etcgroup.org) CALL FOR CONTROLS ON SYNTHETIC LIFE n international scientific congress, Synthetic Biology 3.0, met in Zurich, Switzerland, on 24—27 June to discuss the atest advances in synthetic biology—the new field of extreme genetic engineering that attempts to build synthetic life-forms. Synthetic biologists contend that all the arts of life can be made synthetically (that is, by chemistry) and then engineered in the aboratory to produce "living machines"— fully working organisms programmed for particular tasks. Some are being designed for intentional environmental release. Today there are about a dozen synthetic iology companies worldwide, plus almost 70 commercial "gene foundries" that manufacture designer DNA molecules for EVERYOWE...THIS IS SPIKE, ahr THE MEW CoMVLTAWT Ho's oversees THE sea ENS] DOWNSIZING PROGRAMME. Sone rus fife ‘| 8 = NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007