Money is the most important thing for all people. Without it, we can not do anything. Sometimes people who are out of work due to some reason and there is no alternative before them except to borrow money, feel helpless and try to raise money from their friends and relatives. In such stage, quick payday loans help them in solving their problem. These loans solve the entire state-funded problem with snaps of fingers. Payday loans are short-term loans, which are usually borrowed for urgent and small needs. The cash thus obtained can be used for all short-term stays such as laundry bills, water bill delivery, electrical switches, telephone / mobile bills, school tuition and fees, organize birthday parties, etc. All these requirements are necessary and it is our responsibility to overcome such hurdles. In order to borrow money through online payday loans all you have to do is to fill an online application form and the money will be locked into your bank account on the same day of application once approved by the lender. Hence this loan is also referred as same day payday loans. These loans are generally of very high interest rates and so pledge to repay the amount within the loan period.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Payday Loans – provide finance at the right time
Small amount of cash can solve many of your problems if they are available to you in the right time. This can only happen through payday loans online because the requested amount is within the reach of borrowers. Payday loans online can be required for purposes such as medical expenses, car or home repairs, buy new clothes, pay bills, grocery store, credit card repayments, etc. All these needs require quick cash that can be easily borrowed through payday loans online. By applying for instant payday loans through online mode the borrower can get loan of low interest rates compared to prices in the physical market. This is because many lenders present online are willing to compromise on prices. In addition, the online application process for approval is carried out very fast as no paper is involved in this situation. In order to get approval for payday loans no faxing, the borrower should be employed in the same place since last 6 months. He should live on the same site since last 3 months and must be able to prove the same legally if there is a need. A current bank account of at least 6 months old in the name of the borrower is also a basic requirement needed to make use of this loan option.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Types of Scanners
e market and are differentiated with respect to its features, performance and efficiency. Here I provide you with some scanner types that are widely used by people.
- Flatbed scanners are the most commonly used scanners in work places where the document to be scanned is placed on a glass surface by lifting the flip up top of fine the device. The adf scanner is the advanced flatbed scanner model used to scan multiple documents at the same instance.
- Photo scanners or film scanners are used to scan high resolution pictures and photos. We cannot expect that much clarity from normal scanners as that of photo scanners.
- If cost is your concern and your nature of work needs only normal scanning of documents then, sheetfed scanners should be your choice. They are smaller in size than that of flatbed scanners and so occupy less space.
- The latest invention in scanning technology is the portable scanner.The portable scanners are very tiny and you can take them anywhere by just placing them in your pocket. These scanners are found useful for people who often find the necessity of scanners especially marketing professionals and students.this is a sponsored post
Payday Loans No Faxing
There are times when you need cash desperately and nobody comes forward to help you. This happens in every human’s life and there is nothing to feel about the situation. Your friends can try, but may not always meet your needs. What will you do in such a case? Try payday loans no faxing. Sounds confusing? Well read on. Payday loans are loans that you can use right when you need money. You pay back to the lender, as soon as you receive your paycheck. It's just like borrowing money from a friend. You can hear a negative answer from your friend, but never from payday loan companies. As with any financial institution, these companies take too some paperwork, such as proof of age, employment and bank account. But if your needs are really very urgent, you have the choice to go for payday loan no faxing. Well, otherwise you have to collect the documents required by the loan companies like your last pay slip from the office and then you have to fax it to the lender. This whole process would take at least half a day.
But with same day payday loans, you will not fax any documents to lenders. You can avail loans from 50$ to 1,500$ based on your pay slip. Your data is controlled directly through the bank information you supply. Once the bank data is verified, the money will be transferred to your bank account. They are really fast, isn’t? In short, no fax pay days loans save time both with respect to spending time in collecting documents and applying for a loan and waiting for approval. In addition, there are no other verification except your bank account information and pay. You do not need to go somewhere to apply and collect the money as payday loans are offered online and are wired directly to your checking account. Hence this type of loan is also termed as cash advance online. These loans are found to be the best source of finance when you need cash urgently. As a crown to all its benefits, payday loans do not consider about your credit history which is the basic criteria for providing all other types of loans. So, you can make use of payday loans even to clear your high risk debts that damages your credit more. But don’t forget the fact that payday loans will also become a burden if not settled back in time.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Payday Loans
Money is very important aspect of life, in order to live a luxurious life and of course to maintain that luxurious life till our end. This above sentences is applicable only for high class people. Still, we could see many people suffer to achieve their normal day-to-day requirements. When these people undergoes financial crisis, then for them it is going to be a “Do or Die problem”. If you in such do or die situation, without hesitation you can approach payday loans online. Many payday loan companies focus on middle class people and help them to achieve their basic needs. It is the one and only best process for an individual to get quick cash. The application process is very simple compared to any other loan procedure. As the name refers payday loans online, you can apply for these quick cash from your home internet. Simply fill out the application process online, it would be best for you to prefer payday loans no faxing companies, because it is not necessary to send proof of information with them. These companies will do all the legwork for you, making the process even simpler one. You can apply payday loans at anytime either day or night as it has been working 24/7; in fact, I hope no other bank or even your friend would give you money during night time, but you get it from payday loans online. You must be 18 years old to apply for this loan, to begin and you need to submit income information from your work place. By answering a couple of questions such as how long you have worked for you company how and when you get paid, and for how much. Some companies will have a requirement as to how long you must be at your present employer before they lend you the loan. However, this usually ranges from just 30 to 60 days, so most of them would have been eligible already. Next step is that supply your checking account information for your company to deposit the loan. Within 24 hours you cash will be in your hands.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sports can be practiced
Sport for excellence in the elderly is swimming, or if the gentle exercise in water. The movements are so harmonious, without impact, the thrust of water reduces body weight unloading joints, the usual air conditioning modern pools allows a comfortable temperature and tolerable for the major.
The lungs increase the filling capacity of air and the heart tones. Muscle work strengthens the veins and prevents thrombosis.
If the doctor allows cycling the usual recommendation is to go flat roads with intermediate development, which avoids excessive strain on ball joints and lower back.
Likewise, the jog should be performed on flat surfaces, elastic (grass) or otherwise using viscoelastic insoles or shoes with air chamber, that absorb the impact of your stride.
In golf long shots should be avoided on the sand or banker.
The lungs increase the filling capacity of air and the heart tones. Muscle work strengthens the veins and prevents thrombosis.
If the doctor allows cycling the usual recommendation is to go flat roads with intermediate development, which avoids excessive strain on ball joints and lower back.
Likewise, the jog should be performed on flat surfaces, elastic (grass) or otherwise using viscoelastic insoles or shoes with air chamber, that absorb the impact of your stride.
In golf long shots should be avoided on the sand or banker.
General recommendations for the largest athlete
In general, before and after practice any sports session should be performed muscle stretch to warm joints and muscles, flexible tendons and prepare the heart and lungs to the energy expenditure that will lead to muscle contractions.
Usually the doctor can give the patient tables with these exercises, which will gently and gradually, avoiding sudden movements and awkward postures, you will notice tension in the muscle and tendon stretching, but in no way should feel no pain. Hypertensive patients should avoid drinking excessive amounts of water, because they overload the kidney and heart.
Diabetics who inject insulin should also be careful because excessive energy expenditure and burn a lot of sugar may have a coma hypoglycemia .
If you experience dizziness, severe headache, chest pain or shortness of breath, you should go to an emergency department.
Usually the doctor can give the patient tables with these exercises, which will gently and gradually, avoiding sudden movements and awkward postures, you will notice tension in the muscle and tendon stretching, but in no way should feel no pain. Hypertensive patients should avoid drinking excessive amounts of water, because they overload the kidney and heart.
Diabetics who inject insulin should also be careful because excessive energy expenditure and burn a lot of sugar may have a coma hypoglycemia .
If you experience dizziness, severe headache, chest pain or shortness of breath, you should go to an emergency department.
Drug gym
The practice of regular physical exercise is certainly an activity recommended for everyone, provided they are appropriate to the age, physical ability and other limiting conditions of the individual.
The idea of the benefits of the exercise has significant depth in our society to the point that virtually all partake of it and seem to agree on the fact that if we do not practice enough exercise should seek to adapt our lifestyle to this requirement to achieve an acceptable fitness.
The promotion of sport is a social and political mood has been established that seeks, among other objectives, to increase the level of satisfaction, wellbeing and health, in short, of the population.
The idea of the benefits of the exercise has significant depth in our society to the point that virtually all partake of it and seem to agree on the fact that if we do not practice enough exercise should seek to adapt our lifestyle to this requirement to achieve an acceptable fitness.
The promotion of sport is a social and political mood has been established that seeks, among other objectives, to increase the level of satisfaction, wellbeing and health, in short, of the population.
The sport, health and social well
One of the most visible consequences of this keen interest is on the one hand, the proliferation required for sports facilities (gymnasiums, pools, gyms ,...) that are considered as a basic social service and, second, marketing and selling all kinds of products, accessories and complements several appropriate development of this activity. Among such products are the logically appropriate (sportswear, fitness equipment, etc.), But also have been selling other, whose real need is still probably not well established, such as pharmaceuticals for sportsmen designed to optimize physical performance, and whose demand has been increasing in recent years.
Medicines for a healthy man?
The use of medicines to prevent illness or restore health is well accepted by everyone. We consider it logical and elementary approach to the aims of medical practice, and yet today also advocates the use of therapeutic substances to other objectives not related to the disease, but with the strengthening or development of certain functions (for ergogenic) or enhancing aesthetics of the image of our own body (cosmetic purposes). This happens more with certain athletes, like gymnasts.
If you had asked a man for three decades in a gym, in sports, the most likely answer would have been, and feel stronger, leaner and more dynamic. The same question today would, apart from that type of response, quite another as well earned muscle and lose fat, so I feel better and, of course, more attractive.
The objectives will now move to an athlete to make the decision to medicate is different depending on their level of training and sports environment that is. Thus, in the case of competitive athletes, the use of doping substances mainly seeks to achieve a better exercise tolerance and further development of physical skills that lead to better marks.
However, in the case of amateur athletes, especially those doing physical activity in gyms, the reasons lie more in the quest for greater muscle development, fat loss and body shape modeled in the image of an ideal model .
If you had asked a man for three decades in a gym, in sports, the most likely answer would have been, and feel stronger, leaner and more dynamic. The same question today would, apart from that type of response, quite another as well earned muscle and lose fat, so I feel better and, of course, more attractive.
The objectives will now move to an athlete to make the decision to medicate is different depending on their level of training and sports environment that is. Thus, in the case of competitive athletes, the use of doping substances mainly seeks to achieve a better exercise tolerance and further development of physical skills that lead to better marks.
However, in the case of amateur athletes, especially those doing physical activity in gyms, the reasons lie more in the quest for greater muscle development, fat loss and body shape modeled in the image of an ideal model .
Purchase Tramadol Online
Tramadol is a well tolerated pain reliever that works more like morphine. People experiencing both moderate and severe pain can make use of this medication to get relieved from pain. However the formulations of this medication differ with respect to the severity of the pain. You can purchase tramadol from nearby pharmacies or you can order tramadol online. When you purchase tramadol online there is no need for you to show medical prescription and at the same time you cannot make direct purchase of this medication without prescription. Recent research has proven that tramadol can be used to treat osteoarthritis. Even though this is a well tolerated medicine it will cause serious effects when taken with other drugs like Carbamazepine, MAO and Quinidine. Extended formulations of tramadol should be taken as it is, that is it should not be crushed or broken. Also, you should not chew the pill.
If you suffer from any sort of pain and wish to order tramadol online, make sure that you know every fact about this pill, its side effects, over dosage results, etc. Tramadol can be taken with or without food and it won’t harm your stomach like any other pain relievers if taken without food. Patients who are suggested to use Tramadol for a long period of time can make a cheaper purchase of the medication if they order tramadol online. People taking tramadol over a long period of time should not stop the pill immediately as that will lead to many side effects like restlessness, sleeping disorders, sweating and respiratory problem. They should gradually reduce the dosage of the pill and then stop taking the medicine as a whole. This medication is not recommendable for children under 16 years of age and for old people above 75 years of age.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Vinyl Signs
Advertisement is an important aspect to gain profit and attention among the public. It has been done in different forms, some would promote their business in television, some in internet and but for some small business, the advertisement will be done through banners and posters. It is very essential for you to attract new customer for your business, so that your business will grow. If you would like gain awareness in your community at low cost, then you can prefer vinyl signs. It is said to be one of the most economical ways as well as effective way to gain attention from public. Since it is cheaper in cost, the business owner can easily order more than one sign to place it in multiple locations. It is very essential for a person to choose a right company to get their work done perfectly. Esigns.com is one of the leading companies in designing sign for your business. Custom Vinyl Banners from Esigns will add more value for your business, so that you can see the growth of your business in a very short span. Besides vinyl banners, you can also get magnetic signs, banner stands, A-Frame signs, yard signs and parking signs. Each work and every signs from Esigns will be unique in their design, so that it would emphasis the spirit of your business.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Doors – bamboo cabinet doors
Hi friends! I take this opportunity share few details about cabinet doors. Cabinet doors are found to the fastest moving doors in the market, as they are coming up in different designs and size with reasonable price. Our new home has come out well and all the interiors are up to our expectation. Concerning doors we had lot of controversies as everyone had different opinion. We did not have much time to go and search for in direct stores, as we had only one more week to shift our home to our new home. We decided to buy cabinet doors online. So we search the cabinet door on search engine, we got landed up in Cabinetnow.com. We could find lot of images of the doors that are so impressive that we could not go ahead with other links. In spite of getting impressed by those images and prices, we still had lot of questions rising up in our mind, whether we can get the exact size to fit our house entrance size and whether will we get them delivered at the right time. But as we go through the site deeply, we got answers for all our questions. The products available in this site are unfinished cabinet doors, custom cabinets, bamboo cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Cabinet doors are mainly divided into squared recessed panel, squared raised panel, arched recessed panel and arched raised panel. Drawer fronts are mainly divided into 5 piece drawer front and solid drawer front. Next comes the bamboo cabinet doors, these are the doors that are made up of bamboos, Abode bamboos, Shaker bamboos, Reverse bamboos, Liberty bamboos, Fiesta bamboos, Abode bamboos 5 piece drawer front, Fiesta bamboo 5 piece drawer front, Liberty bamboo 5 piece drawer front, reverse bamboo 5 piece drawer front and shaker bamboo 5 piece drawer front. Finally, our controversy ended up by choosing bamboo cabinet doors and kitchen cabinet doors.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Get reliable hunting guides
Hi bloggers! I am a car mechanic. Apart from my mechanic job I love fishing and hunting along with my little son during the weekends. Recently while I was surfing through the internet in my home, I found a wonderful website namely, Mississippi Sportsman. To my surprise there in the site I found many useful articles on fishing and hunting. The site has been delivering latest news, updates and hot topics on fishing and hunting activities over several years. In addition to these it also delivers useful and reliable guides on hunting. Their reports on fishing and hunting accessories are highly appreciable. Whatever your need may be, weather report or fishing tournaments and events or hunting supplies, this site will bring you with the best and latest. On the whole one can get all sorts of updated information regarding hunting & fishing in MS. To know more details, visit the site or call their staffs at the following toll-free number, 1-800-538-4355.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Find discount laptop computers at best quality
The bestonlinecoupons.com is an online resource that offers discount coupons on various products and services such as apparels, electronic gadgets, computers, televisions, mobile phones, footwears, education services, financial services, health and beauty services, internet services, food products, jewelry, travel accessories, party supplies, officer accessories, pet supplies, sports accessories, gifts for special occasions such as flowers, gifts, cameras, clothing and lot more. With the help of these online coupons one can get 10% to 25% off in their purchase. These coupons will help the consumers to get premier quality products or services at cheapest prices. This site specializes in providing special offers and coupons for getting discount laptop computers. They offer coupons to shop best brand computers at reputed stores such as Apple Store, Dell Outlet, HSN, Adobe Software Store, etc. You can also submit your reviews on Dell products and get a chance of winning a new Apple ipod Touch. Visit the site and get more updates.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Real money game
Do you want to generate lot of money in short period? Then it is time for you to click your computer. The best online casino games are now available in the internet, choose the right one and enjoy your day. It might be a money generating game, yet there are many chance of losing your money too. The person entering the game without knowing the basic tricks may lose the game, so it is more important for you to learn the basic tricks, rules and regulations of the game. Most of the sites will offer free trial before you start the really game.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Casino online
Casino online gaming industry found to a rapid growing industry in the world. It is the only industry which produces billions and billions of dollars in a single year. The player who involve in this game must have good knowledge in this field, because this game involves real money. The player should know the tactical strategies concerning each and every game, because each one will be played in different method. We can get valuable information and updates regarding online casino games, the player can have a look at them and they can get a clear picture about them. Playing games of chance as online casino games can be fun but also addictive so the player should beware of playing and spending too much.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Custom essay writing service
All of us must have gone through the experience of essay writing. It might be quite easy for the students during the school period compare to the college and university period. As this custom service company has chosen this to be their career, they have become professionals in different spheres. You can buy a term paper at any discipline, as they have excellent and expert writers in all fields. The writers are professionals with highly qualified education in the respective field, so you can endow with then any type of assignment. They kept their quality as their main goal so the customer need not worry for their qualities. As well as there have zero plagiarism policy into emphasis this, they provide you with free plagiarism report. They do offer service in research and thesis writing services. We are all familiar with the educational system and know how imperfect it is. General guidelines preside over personal assistance. This is why Custom-Essay.org offers you experience and professionalism we have at all stages of writing a thesis. We can find them online 24/7, so you can place your orders whenever we need. Are you struggling to write critique research paper?, then you can keep you worries aside and contact Custom-Essay.org now.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Order Custom Essays
Custom essay writing industry is growing very rapidly among the students and they have created a greater impact on the people who are all in the academic side. As these industries are working for many years, they help the students in gaining full mark in their assignment papers. Custom-Writing.org offers professional academic research and writing services in any field of study. They will prepare the paper according to our requirement and instruction. They follow a simple formula in their work, that is quality writing + responsibility + personal care = success. AS they are working 24/7 online you can order custom essays at anytime. You can also get valuable tips from them, related to essay writing. All the essay writers working for this company are highly qualified and talented, so that their work will be a professional one. The major advantages of this custom essay writing service is they will provide us with highly quality research and writing, we can get them online 24/7, they will provide us with fully referenced papers, we can get any citation style in our content, PhD and MBA students can also get PhD and MBA essay help from them. All the papers will be kept 100% confidentiality and they will be no hidden charges.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Modern furniture
Furniture can be a product of design and is considered a form of decorative art. Many of them got influenced by modern furniture designs, so they prefer modern furniture for their personal and official use. The new design of furniture has far surpassed pre-existing designs. Modern designs cannot refer to all piece created since this time period as an ample amount of pieces developed today are intended to be replications of traditional items.
We can find two major styles existing in the market, one is traditional one and other is modern one. Among the modern furniture, iconic pieces of Modern furniture are very fast movable product in the market. You can have a look about the product rate, style, designs and even more info related to this furniture through internet and you can get benefited.
“This is a sponsored post”
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Papua floods may fuel tensions
Relief workers say they are struggling to reach West Papuans hit by heavy flooding in the Indonesian province.
Criticisms over tardy relief effort are already beginning to emerge from the region, where relations between the indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian state have long been difficult.
There are fears that a failure to address the humanitarian crisis could add to tensions over the recent killings of indigenous Papuan protesters by the Indonesian security forces in the towns of Wamena and Manokwari.
Denny Yomaki, a humanitarian NGO worker, told Radio New Zealand International on Thursday that some of the flood's victims felt the state was not doing enough to assist them.
Aid workers told Al Jazeera the damage from the landslides has made it hard to reach the worst hit areas.
Hundreds have fled or been evacuated from the devastated seaside town of Wasior to seek shelter in Manokwari, the province's capital. Most are staying with extended family or in makeshift shelters on a military base, Ridwan, a member of the disaster management team for the PMI (Indonesian Red Cross), told Al Jazeera.
"The current situation is very difficult, it's very difficult to reach Waisor," Ridwan said.
Criticisms over tardy relief effort are already beginning to emerge from the region, where relations between the indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian state have long been difficult.
There are fears that a failure to address the humanitarian crisis could add to tensions over the recent killings of indigenous Papuan protesters by the Indonesian security forces in the towns of Wamena and Manokwari.
Denny Yomaki, a humanitarian NGO worker, told Radio New Zealand International on Thursday that some of the flood's victims felt the state was not doing enough to assist them.
Aid workers told Al Jazeera the damage from the landslides has made it hard to reach the worst hit areas.
Hundreds have fled or been evacuated from the devastated seaside town of Wasior to seek shelter in Manokwari, the province's capital. Most are staying with extended family or in makeshift shelters on a military base, Ridwan, a member of the disaster management team for the PMI (Indonesian Red Cross), told Al Jazeera.
"The current situation is very difficult, it's very difficult to reach Waisor," Ridwan said.
DR Congo warlord's trial to restart
Thomas Lubanga, the Congolese warlord, will not be released and his trial for crimes of war can resume, the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled.
Friday's ruling by the ICC's appeals body overturns a decision by a lower court in July to release Lubanga and halt his trial.
"The decision to stay proceedings must be reversed," Sang-Hyun Song, president of the court's appeals chamber, said.
Lubanga, 49, went on trial in January 2009 on charges of recruiting child soldiers and sending them to fight during the five year civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo which ended in 2003.
But earlier this year, the lower court had ruled that a fair trial was no longer possible because the prosecution was refusing to hand over information to the defence.
The ICC suspended the trial on July 8, after criticising Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor, for abusing court processes and ignoring judges' orders.
Ocampo had refused to obey a court order to disclose the name of an 'intermediary' who had helped the prosecution team to find witnesses.
Prosecutors quickly appealed, blocking Lubanga's release. They have since revealed the identity of the intermediary.
In Friday's ruling, Song found the prosecutor's behaviour wrong, but called the trial chamber's decision to stay the proceedings "drastic".
"The trial chamber erred by resorting immediately to a stay of proceedings without first imposing sanctions and allowing such sanctions an opportunity to bring about the prosecution's compliance with its order," Song said.
Lubanga surrendered to the court in March 2006 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is the first for the international court.
Friday's ruling by the ICC's appeals body overturns a decision by a lower court in July to release Lubanga and halt his trial.
"The decision to stay proceedings must be reversed," Sang-Hyun Song, president of the court's appeals chamber, said.
Lubanga, 49, went on trial in January 2009 on charges of recruiting child soldiers and sending them to fight during the five year civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo which ended in 2003.
But earlier this year, the lower court had ruled that a fair trial was no longer possible because the prosecution was refusing to hand over information to the defence.
The ICC suspended the trial on July 8, after criticising Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor, for abusing court processes and ignoring judges' orders.
Ocampo had refused to obey a court order to disclose the name of an 'intermediary' who had helped the prosecution team to find witnesses.
Prosecutors quickly appealed, blocking Lubanga's release. They have since revealed the identity of the intermediary.
In Friday's ruling, Song found the prosecutor's behaviour wrong, but called the trial chamber's decision to stay the proceedings "drastic".
"The trial chamber erred by resorting immediately to a stay of proceedings without first imposing sanctions and allowing such sanctions an opportunity to bring about the prosecution's compliance with its order," Song said.
Lubanga surrendered to the court in March 2006 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is the first for the international court.
New Japan stimulus package approved
Japan has approved a new $61bn economic stimulus package, the latest in a series of measures to shore up the country's troubled economy.
The new package aims to boost Japan's gross domestic product by 0.6 per cent, create or save up to 500,000 jobs and help small and medium sized businesses.
But the stimulus package, approved by the cabinet on Friday, still has to be submitted to parliament for approval later this month in order to be put into effect.
The cabinet's move comes just days after the country's central bank cut its key interest rate to virtually zero.
Reining the yen
Last month, the Bank of Japan also intervened in the currency market in what appears to have been a fruitless attempt to rein in the strong yen, which hit another 15-year high against the dollar this week.
Exports are down, factory output is falling and Japan continues to struggle with deflation, a situation in which falling prices can drag the overall economy.
The yen's spike in value, meanwhile, erodes overseas earnings for major exporters like Toyota Motor Corp and Canon Inc.
Naoto Kan, the country's prime minister, who came to power just four months ago, has been under heavy political pressure to produce a path to recovery for Japan's economy.
The massive new package follows $11bn in measures that Kan's government unveiled last month.
The new package aims to boost Japan's gross domestic product by 0.6 per cent, create or save up to 500,000 jobs and help small and medium sized businesses.
But the stimulus package, approved by the cabinet on Friday, still has to be submitted to parliament for approval later this month in order to be put into effect.
The cabinet's move comes just days after the country's central bank cut its key interest rate to virtually zero.
Reining the yen
Last month, the Bank of Japan also intervened in the currency market in what appears to have been a fruitless attempt to rein in the strong yen, which hit another 15-year high against the dollar this week.
Exports are down, factory output is falling and Japan continues to struggle with deflation, a situation in which falling prices can drag the overall economy.
The yen's spike in value, meanwhile, erodes overseas earnings for major exporters like Toyota Motor Corp and Canon Inc.
Naoto Kan, the country's prime minister, who came to power just four months ago, has been under heavy political pressure to produce a path to recovery for Japan's economy.
The massive new package follows $11bn in measures that Kan's government unveiled last month.
Expedition reveals new species
A team of international scientists has discovered some 200 news species of animals and plants, including an orange spider, a jabbing spiny-legged katydid (bush cricket) and a tiny long-nosed frog, in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) remote jungle-clad mountains.
The findings were unveiled by Washington DC-based Conversation International, whose team made the discoveries during a two-month expedition in the remote Nakanai and Muller mountains in 2009.
Among the finds: 24 frog species, scores of spiders and around 100 insects including ants and dragonflies that appear to have never been described in scientific literature before, the conservation group said.
"They tell us how little we still know about the world," research team leader Stephen Richards said on Thursday. “There is a lot of concern, quite rightly, about biodiversity loss and climate change and the impacts on biodiversity and what biodiversity means to us. ... Then we do projects like
this and we discover, 'Hey, we do not even know what biodiversity is out there.'''
The expedition was part of a global project to document the biodiversity of poorly known but species-rich environments and raise conservation priorities.
In the Nakanai mountains on New Britain island, the team found 24 new species of frogs, two new mammals, nine new species of plants, nearly 100 new insects including damselflies, katydids and ants, and approximately 100 new spiders.
Several of the katydids and at least one ant and one mammal are so different from any known species that they represent entirely new genera, the scientists said.
During the survey of the Muller mountains in the Southern Highlands, the scientists camped as high as 2,875 metres (8,625 feet), discovering a katydid which, when threatened, holds its large and spiny legs above its head to jab at predators.
"We hope that news of these amazing new species will bolster the nomination of these spectacular environments for World Heritage status," Richards said in a statement announcing the discoveries.
Communication barriers
For thousands of years, PNG's steep mountain ranges and dense forests have restricted interaction between indigenous groups. The same geographic barriers have also limited scientific exploration.
"As we flew in to land the helicopter in a mountain meadow, zooming into this spectacular landscape, it was an incredible realisation, knowing that no scientist has ever been there before," Richards said.
"Standing on top of the Nakanai mountains, I could see oil palm plantations extending almost to the coast," he said.
"It struck me just how much of the lowland forest has disappeared for oil palm. The steepness of the highlands has limited their destruction, but if people start building roads, these areas will be more accessible."
The findings were unveiled by Washington DC-based Conversation International, whose team made the discoveries during a two-month expedition in the remote Nakanai and Muller mountains in 2009.
Among the finds: 24 frog species, scores of spiders and around 100 insects including ants and dragonflies that appear to have never been described in scientific literature before, the conservation group said.
"They tell us how little we still know about the world," research team leader Stephen Richards said on Thursday. “There is a lot of concern, quite rightly, about biodiversity loss and climate change and the impacts on biodiversity and what biodiversity means to us. ... Then we do projects like
this and we discover, 'Hey, we do not even know what biodiversity is out there.'''
The expedition was part of a global project to document the biodiversity of poorly known but species-rich environments and raise conservation priorities.
In the Nakanai mountains on New Britain island, the team found 24 new species of frogs, two new mammals, nine new species of plants, nearly 100 new insects including damselflies, katydids and ants, and approximately 100 new spiders.
Several of the katydids and at least one ant and one mammal are so different from any known species that they represent entirely new genera, the scientists said.
During the survey of the Muller mountains in the Southern Highlands, the scientists camped as high as 2,875 metres (8,625 feet), discovering a katydid which, when threatened, holds its large and spiny legs above its head to jab at predators.
"We hope that news of these amazing new species will bolster the nomination of these spectacular environments for World Heritage status," Richards said in a statement announcing the discoveries.
Communication barriers
For thousands of years, PNG's steep mountain ranges and dense forests have restricted interaction between indigenous groups. The same geographic barriers have also limited scientific exploration.
"As we flew in to land the helicopter in a mountain meadow, zooming into this spectacular landscape, it was an incredible realisation, knowing that no scientist has ever been there before," Richards said.
"Standing on top of the Nakanai mountains, I could see oil palm plantations extending almost to the coast," he said.
"It struck me just how much of the lowland forest has disappeared for oil palm. The steepness of the highlands has limited their destruction, but if people start building roads, these areas will be more accessible."
N Korea marks Communist founding
North Korea has begun three days of celebrations to mark 65 years since the founding of the country's Communist Workers' Party.
For the first time, international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, are getting a rare glimpse inside the communist state - where the celebrations are to be broadcast live from the capital, Pyongyang.
But the festivities, which culminate in a large military parade in the capital on Sunday, are more than an event to mark the anniversary of communist rule.
North Korean officials are expected to use the celebrations to confirm the historic handover of power from ailing leader Kim Jong-il to his son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un.
Koreans 'honoured'Yang Hyong Sop, a senior official in the country's ruling party, told AP on Friday that North Koreans will be honoured to follow Kim Jong-un."Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said.
"Our people are honoured to be led by the great president Kim Il Sung and the great general Kim Jong-il. Now we also have the honour of being led by General Kim Jong-un."
Kim Jong-il announced his youngest known son's appointment to two important political posts late last month, according to state media, in what was regarded as the first step in his succession plan.
The senior Kim came to power when his father died of heart failure in 1994, setting in motion the communist world's first hereditary transfer of power.
He was officially chosen as successor in 1972, when he was elected to the party's central committee, and the same scenario could hold true for his son.
Regional dynamics
The question of who will take over from the elder Kim, believed to suffer from a host of ailments, is important to regional dynamics as well as security, because of North Korea's active nuclear and missile programmes, and regular threats it makes against rival South Korea.
Kim Tae-young, South Korea's defence chief, said on Friday that the US and South Korea should be prepared for a crisis in North Korea when the senior Kim leaves power.
The expected transfer of power could have unpredictable consequences in the nation, he warned, during a news conference with his US counterpart, Robert Gates, at the Pentagon.
But it is unclear whether the formal handover of power will happen any time soon.
Gates, the US defence secretary, said it remains to be seen whether a change in leadership will lead to broader political change in the country.
For the first time, international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, are getting a rare glimpse inside the communist state - where the celebrations are to be broadcast live from the capital, Pyongyang.
But the festivities, which culminate in a large military parade in the capital on Sunday, are more than an event to mark the anniversary of communist rule.
North Korean officials are expected to use the celebrations to confirm the historic handover of power from ailing leader Kim Jong-il to his son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un.
Koreans 'honoured'Yang Hyong Sop, a senior official in the country's ruling party, told AP on Friday that North Koreans will be honoured to follow Kim Jong-un."Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said.
"Our people are honoured to be led by the great president Kim Il Sung and the great general Kim Jong-il. Now we also have the honour of being led by General Kim Jong-un."
Kim Jong-il announced his youngest known son's appointment to two important political posts late last month, according to state media, in what was regarded as the first step in his succession plan.
The senior Kim came to power when his father died of heart failure in 1994, setting in motion the communist world's first hereditary transfer of power.
He was officially chosen as successor in 1972, when he was elected to the party's central committee, and the same scenario could hold true for his son.
Regional dynamics
The question of who will take over from the elder Kim, believed to suffer from a host of ailments, is important to regional dynamics as well as security, because of North Korea's active nuclear and missile programmes, and regular threats it makes against rival South Korea.
Kim Tae-young, South Korea's defence chief, said on Friday that the US and South Korea should be prepared for a crisis in North Korea when the senior Kim leaves power.
The expected transfer of power could have unpredictable consequences in the nation, he warned, during a news conference with his US counterpart, Robert Gates, at the Pentagon.
But it is unclear whether the formal handover of power will happen any time soon.
Gates, the US defence secretary, said it remains to be seen whether a change in leadership will lead to broader political change in the country.
China-Japan talks 'positive'
The defence ministers of Japan and China have met for the first time since a diplomatic dispute erupted last month over the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain by Japanese authorities.
The two officials "held a conversation" on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting on Monday in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.
Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defence minister, said talks with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimi Kitazawa, went very well and would be positive for bilateral relations.
"The talks were very good," he said. Asked what impact his discussion with Toshimi would have on strained relations, he replied: "Of course it will be positive".
Mending ties
China broke off all high-level contact with Tokyo last month after Japan detained a Chinese fishing boat captain whose vessel collided with Japanese coast guard patrol ships in waters claimed by both sides.
The row between Asia's two biggest economies was their worst in years and undermined recent efforts to improve relations marked by decades of mistrust stemming from Japan's 1930s invasion of China.
The Chinese captain was released after more than two weeks and returned to China on September 25.
With strained relations impacting their strong trade ties, the two countries are trying to mend fences. Naoto Kan, the Japanese prime minister, and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, held a brief meeting last week in Brussels on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit.
Both spoke of the need to improve ties. They also spoke of high-level talks at an appropriate time.
Kan said he agreed with Wen to "resume high-level political exchanges" suspended following the sea incident.
But the leaders also reiterated claims to a disputed area in the East China Sea where the boat collision sparked the worst row between the two in years.
The uninhabited islands, which China calls the Diaoyu and Japan the Senkaku islands, lie near potential oil and gas reserves. The islands are also claimed by Taiwan.
The two officials "held a conversation" on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting on Monday in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.
Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defence minister, said talks with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimi Kitazawa, went very well and would be positive for bilateral relations.
"The talks were very good," he said. Asked what impact his discussion with Toshimi would have on strained relations, he replied: "Of course it will be positive".
Mending ties
China broke off all high-level contact with Tokyo last month after Japan detained a Chinese fishing boat captain whose vessel collided with Japanese coast guard patrol ships in waters claimed by both sides.
The row between Asia's two biggest economies was their worst in years and undermined recent efforts to improve relations marked by decades of mistrust stemming from Japan's 1930s invasion of China.
The Chinese captain was released after more than two weeks and returned to China on September 25.
With strained relations impacting their strong trade ties, the two countries are trying to mend fences. Naoto Kan, the Japanese prime minister, and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, held a brief meeting last week in Brussels on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit.
Both spoke of the need to improve ties. They also spoke of high-level talks at an appropriate time.
Kan said he agreed with Wen to "resume high-level political exchanges" suspended following the sea incident.
But the leaders also reiterated claims to a disputed area in the East China Sea where the boat collision sparked the worst row between the two in years.
The uninhabited islands, which China calls the Diaoyu and Japan the Senkaku islands, lie near potential oil and gas reserves. The islands are also claimed by Taiwan.
'Great leaders'
Yang Hyong Sop, a senior official in the country's ruling party, told the Associated Press news agency on Friday that North Koreans will be honoured to follow Kim Jong-un.
"Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said."Our people are honoured to be led by the great president Kim Il-sung and the great general Kim Jong-il. Now we also have the honour of being led by General Kim Jong-un."
Mike Chinoy, an expert on Korea, told Al Jazeera the transition process "is still in its early stages".
"I think at this stage, despite all the speculation to the contrary, my sense is that the transition is proceeding relatively smoothly," he said.
"I think that the big question is how long will Kim Jong-il stay healthy and stay alive because the longer he does so the better the chances of his son consolidating power and ruling in an effective way."
Kim Jong-il announced his youngest known son's appointment to two important political posts late last month in what was regarded as the first step in his succession plan.
The senior Kim came to power when his father died of heart failure in 1994, setting in motion the communist world's first hereditary transfer of power.
He was officially chosen as successor in 1972, when he was elected to the party's central committee, and the same scenario could hold true for his son.
The question of who will take over from the elder Kim, believed to suffer from a host of ailments, is important to regional dynamics as well as security, because of North Korea's active nuclear and missile programmes, and regular threats it makes against rival South Korea.
Kim Jong-il rules under the songun (military-first) policy with a 1.2 million-member armed services.
"Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said."Our people are honoured to be led by the great president Kim Il-sung and the great general Kim Jong-il. Now we also have the honour of being led by General Kim Jong-un."
Mike Chinoy, an expert on Korea, told Al Jazeera the transition process "is still in its early stages".
"I think at this stage, despite all the speculation to the contrary, my sense is that the transition is proceeding relatively smoothly," he said.
"I think that the big question is how long will Kim Jong-il stay healthy and stay alive because the longer he does so the better the chances of his son consolidating power and ruling in an effective way."
Kim Jong-il announced his youngest known son's appointment to two important political posts late last month in what was regarded as the first step in his succession plan.
The senior Kim came to power when his father died of heart failure in 1994, setting in motion the communist world's first hereditary transfer of power.
He was officially chosen as successor in 1972, when he was elected to the party's central committee, and the same scenario could hold true for his son.
The question of who will take over from the elder Kim, believed to suffer from a host of ailments, is important to regional dynamics as well as security, because of North Korea's active nuclear and missile programmes, and regular threats it makes against rival South Korea.
Kim Jong-il rules under the songun (military-first) policy with a 1.2 million-member armed services.
US-China clash at climate talks
US and Chinese delegates at a climate conference have accused each other of blocking progress on reaching a new global treaty aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters reportedly made "limited progress" throughout the six-day talks, which ended on Saturday, in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.
Jonathan Pershing, the US climate envoy, said the biggest problem remained the refusal by China and other developing nations to commit to the UN process of curbing their emissions.
"We have made some very modest progress. But unfortunately it's been quite limited," Pershing said.
'Summit in jeopardy"
He said the UN's annual climate summit, which is set to take place in less than two months in Cancun, Mexico, was in jeopardy mainly because of China.
"These elements are at the heart of the deal. And the lack of progress on these gives us concern about the prospects for Cancun," he said.
China, on the other hand, insisted all week that the United States and other wealthy nations should do much more to curb their emissions, highlighting their historic responsibility for the problem.
Su Wei, China's chief climate envoy, said the US was throwing up smokescreens to hide its own inaction.
"It is not fair to criticise if you are not doing anything," he said.
The world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters reportedly made "limited progress" throughout the six-day talks, which ended on Saturday, in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.
Jonathan Pershing, the US climate envoy, said the biggest problem remained the refusal by China and other developing nations to commit to the UN process of curbing their emissions.
"We have made some very modest progress. But unfortunately it's been quite limited," Pershing said.
'Summit in jeopardy"
He said the UN's annual climate summit, which is set to take place in less than two months in Cancun, Mexico, was in jeopardy mainly because of China.
"These elements are at the heart of the deal. And the lack of progress on these gives us concern about the prospects for Cancun," he said.
China, on the other hand, insisted all week that the United States and other wealthy nations should do much more to curb their emissions, highlighting their historic responsibility for the problem.
Su Wei, China's chief climate envoy, said the US was throwing up smokescreens to hide its own inaction.
"It is not fair to criticise if you are not doing anything," he said.
'Pig looking in mirror'
Su earlier referred to a Chinese saying that roughly translates as "a pig looking in a mirror" with reference to the United States and what he said was Washington's refusal to acknowledge its own faults.
But Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change. said the rift had not derailed the Tianjin talks and that important progress had been made on specific issues.
"I would dare say that this week has got us closer to a structured set of decisions that can be agreed in Cancun," Figueres said.
"This week governments had to address together what was doable in Cancun. They have actually done that."
'Confidence in success'
She said she was confident a plan by rich nations to give developing countries $30b dollars to help them cope with climate change would be finalised at Cancun, helping build trust between the two sides.
"I have said and I will continue to say that fast-track finance is the golden key to Cancun. I am confident that the golden key will be dutifully unlocked," she said.
Delegates from more than 170 countries joined the latest round of long-running UN negotiations aimed at securing a binding global treaty on how to limit and cope with climate change.
The treaty would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012, and aims to keep global warming below the threshold that scientists warn will trigger catastrophic damage to the world's climate system.
World leaders failed to broker such a treaty in Copenhagen last year as developed and developing nations battled over who should carry more of the burden in curbing greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming.
But Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change. said the rift had not derailed the Tianjin talks and that important progress had been made on specific issues.
"I would dare say that this week has got us closer to a structured set of decisions that can be agreed in Cancun," Figueres said.
"This week governments had to address together what was doable in Cancun. They have actually done that."
'Confidence in success'
She said she was confident a plan by rich nations to give developing countries $30b dollars to help them cope with climate change would be finalised at Cancun, helping build trust between the two sides.
"I have said and I will continue to say that fast-track finance is the golden key to Cancun. I am confident that the golden key will be dutifully unlocked," she said.
Delegates from more than 170 countries joined the latest round of long-running UN negotiations aimed at securing a binding global treaty on how to limit and cope with climate change.
The treaty would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012, and aims to keep global warming below the threshold that scientists warn will trigger catastrophic damage to the world's climate system.
World leaders failed to broker such a treaty in Copenhagen last year as developed and developing nations battled over who should carry more of the burden in curbing greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming.
Rare live broadcast
The live broadcast of the parade at Kim Il-sung Plaza on North Korean state TV is also an unusual departure from broadcasting norms in the country, where any broadcasts are heavily censored.North Korea's senior leadership had gathered on Saturday at May Day Stadium for speeches celebrating the occasion.
Later in the evening, Kim Jong-il brought dancers at the gymnastics extravaganza, known as the Arirang Mass Games, to tears by making a rare appearance, accompanied by Kim Jong-un and Zhou Yongkang, the visiting senior Chinese Communist Party official.
Kim Jong-il waved to the crowd, drawing a frenzy of applause from onlookers, in what is believed to be his first appearance at the Arirang spectacle in years.
The two Kims' appearance turned the Arirang show - part theatre, part circus, and involving some 100,000 performers - into a VIP event attended by wartime heroes, foreign dignitaries and the international press, who were given front-row seats.
The festivities began on Friday night with fireworks that lit up the sky over central Pyongyang.
Students danced across the city's plazas and brass bands played "Please Receive the Best Wishes of the People," the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
Later in the evening, Kim Jong-il brought dancers at the gymnastics extravaganza, known as the Arirang Mass Games, to tears by making a rare appearance, accompanied by Kim Jong-un and Zhou Yongkang, the visiting senior Chinese Communist Party official.
Kim Jong-il waved to the crowd, drawing a frenzy of applause from onlookers, in what is believed to be his first appearance at the Arirang spectacle in years.
The two Kims' appearance turned the Arirang show - part theatre, part circus, and involving some 100,000 performers - into a VIP event attended by wartime heroes, foreign dignitaries and the international press, who were given front-row seats.
The festivities began on Friday night with fireworks that lit up the sky over central Pyongyang.
Students danced across the city's plazas and brass bands played "Please Receive the Best Wishes of the People," the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
GM mosquitoes to fight dengue
Malaysia's Health Minister on Sunday said the country would carry out a landmark field trial by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to combat dengue fever by the end of the year.
Malaysia's death rate from dengue fever has spiralled 53 per cent this year and the public is being urged to take action to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes — the females of which spread dengue — from homes and workplaces.
In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes mosquitoes are to be released in two Malaysian states.
The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether. However, environmentalists are concerned that the GM mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences. Critics have said the larvae will only die if their environment is free of tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly used for medical and veterinary purposes.
Malaysia's death rate from dengue fever has spiralled 53 per cent this year and the public is being urged to take action to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes — the females of which spread dengue — from homes and workplaces.
In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes mosquitoes are to be released in two Malaysian states.
The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether. However, environmentalists are concerned that the GM mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences. Critics have said the larvae will only die if their environment is free of tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly used for medical and veterinary purposes.
Nobel Prize for "test tube" baby creator
Robert Edwards, the British scientist whose pioneering research with his late colleague Patrick Steptoe led to the birth of the world’s first "test tube baby" in 1978, has won this year’s Nobel Prize for medicine.
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, which awarded the prize worth ten million Swedish Kronor, described his work as "a milestone of modern medicine".
“His work has made possible the treatment of infertility, a medical condition that affects a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of couples worldwide," it said in a statement.
The 85-year-old scientist was reported to be too ill to comment, but his wife Ruth and family said they were "thrilled and delighted".
"The success of this research has touched the lives of millions of people worldwide. His dedication and single-minded determination, despite opposition from many quarters, has led to the successful application of his pioneering research," they said.
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, which awarded the prize worth ten million Swedish Kronor, described his work as "a milestone of modern medicine".
“His work has made possible the treatment of infertility, a medical condition that affects a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of couples worldwide," it said in a statement.
The 85-year-old scientist was reported to be too ill to comment, but his wife Ruth and family said they were "thrilled and delighted".
"The success of this research has touched the lives of millions of people worldwide. His dedication and single-minded determination, despite opposition from many quarters, has led to the successful application of his pioneering research," they said.
‘A well- deserved honour’
Professor Basil Tarlatzis, past-president of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, called it "a well- deserved honour" and said IVF had "opened new avenues of hope for millions of couples throughout the world".
But, perhaps, no one was more delighted than Louise Brown who owed her birth to the fertility treatment (in-vitro fertilisation or IVF) devised by Professor Edwards and Steptoe.
"It's fantastic news. Me and mum are so glad that one of the pioneers of IVF has been given the recognition he deserves. We hold Bob in great affection and are delighted to send our personal congratulations to him and his family at this time," said Ms. Brown, now 32.
Her birth on July 25, 1978, prompted headlines around the world. Since then some four million babies have been born using IVF.
For Prof Edwards and his colleagues it was a "eureka" moment when they discovered that they had succeeded in creating a fertilised human embryo in 1968 but it took another ten years before the procedure was sufficiently refined to enable the birth of a baby.
"I'll never forget the day I looked down the microscope and saw something funny in the cultures. I looked down the microscope and what I saw was a human blastocyst gazing up at me. I thought: 'We've done it,'" Prof Edwards recalled in a speech two years ago.
Born in Manchester in 1925, Prof Edwards started his research on human fertilisation at the National Institute for Medical Research in London in 1958, and later moved to Cambridge where, with Steptoe, he founded the Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF centre.
Steptoe died in 1988. Despite his significant contribution, he cannot be jointly awarded with Prof Edwards because rules do not permit for the prize to be awarded posthumously.
But, perhaps, no one was more delighted than Louise Brown who owed her birth to the fertility treatment (in-vitro fertilisation or IVF) devised by Professor Edwards and Steptoe.
"It's fantastic news. Me and mum are so glad that one of the pioneers of IVF has been given the recognition he deserves. We hold Bob in great affection and are delighted to send our personal congratulations to him and his family at this time," said Ms. Brown, now 32.
Her birth on July 25, 1978, prompted headlines around the world. Since then some four million babies have been born using IVF.
For Prof Edwards and his colleagues it was a "eureka" moment when they discovered that they had succeeded in creating a fertilised human embryo in 1968 but it took another ten years before the procedure was sufficiently refined to enable the birth of a baby.
"I'll never forget the day I looked down the microscope and saw something funny in the cultures. I looked down the microscope and what I saw was a human blastocyst gazing up at me. I thought: 'We've done it,'" Prof Edwards recalled in a speech two years ago.
Born in Manchester in 1925, Prof Edwards started his research on human fertilisation at the National Institute for Medical Research in London in 1958, and later moved to Cambridge where, with Steptoe, he founded the Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF centre.
Steptoe died in 1988. Despite his significant contribution, he cannot be jointly awarded with Prof Edwards because rules do not permit for the prize to be awarded posthumously.
Experts call for comprehensive global cancer control mechanism
Global health experts, in the October 2 issue of The Lancet, have called for a comprehensive cancer control mechanism on the scale of the existing measures to combat HIV and tuberculosis in low and middle income countries.
The team that contributed to the policy recommendation in the journal, including K.Srinath Reddy of the Public Health Foundation of India, has said, “the time has come to challenge and disprove the widespread assumption that cancer will remain untreated in poor countries.”
They have stated that this would require a renewed global effort to expand cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliation in these nations. “Achievement of this aim will require additional resources that can be derived from innovative global, regional, and national financing and procurement mechanisms,” according to the paper.
Extension of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment to millions of people with or at risk of cancer is an urgent health and ethical priority, they have stated.
The authors have advocated a three-pronged strategy to make cancer care and control available as fast as possible.
Firstly, there is a need to simultaneously implement “large-scale demonstration programmes in the next few years to define and build new infrastructure, train health professionals and paraprofessionals, and harness the opportunities of technology, and especially telecommunications, to overcome many on-site limitations in resources.”
Secondly, the authors have called for designing and implementing “regional and global pricing and procurement mechanisms.” These would offer individual countries the opportunity to participate in collective, multi-country negotiation to secure reduced prices for essential services, drugs, and vaccines.
Thirdly, focusing on expanding the financial resources available for prevention, treatment, and palliation of cancer in the developing world should be a key intervention area.
All these efforts by individual nations will have to be bolstered by coordinated efforts and synergy among international organisations, such as WHO, the World Bank and regional development banks, and bilateral donors.
Setting the context for the country, Dr. Reddy said, “There are a large number of cancer patients in India and this number is steadily rising among all sections of the society. Currently, advanced treatments are available only at tertiary care centres located in major cities. There is a need to integrate diagnosis and treatment into the public healthcare system that goes beyond palliative care.”
The team that contributed to the policy recommendation in the journal, including K.Srinath Reddy of the Public Health Foundation of India, has said, “the time has come to challenge and disprove the widespread assumption that cancer will remain untreated in poor countries.”
They have stated that this would require a renewed global effort to expand cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliation in these nations. “Achievement of this aim will require additional resources that can be derived from innovative global, regional, and national financing and procurement mechanisms,” according to the paper.
Extension of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment to millions of people with or at risk of cancer is an urgent health and ethical priority, they have stated.
The authors have advocated a three-pronged strategy to make cancer care and control available as fast as possible.
Firstly, there is a need to simultaneously implement “large-scale demonstration programmes in the next few years to define and build new infrastructure, train health professionals and paraprofessionals, and harness the opportunities of technology, and especially telecommunications, to overcome many on-site limitations in resources.”
Secondly, the authors have called for designing and implementing “regional and global pricing and procurement mechanisms.” These would offer individual countries the opportunity to participate in collective, multi-country negotiation to secure reduced prices for essential services, drugs, and vaccines.
Thirdly, focusing on expanding the financial resources available for prevention, treatment, and palliation of cancer in the developing world should be a key intervention area.
All these efforts by individual nations will have to be bolstered by coordinated efforts and synergy among international organisations, such as WHO, the World Bank and regional development banks, and bilateral donors.
Setting the context for the country, Dr. Reddy said, “There are a large number of cancer patients in India and this number is steadily rising among all sections of the society. Currently, advanced treatments are available only at tertiary care centres located in major cities. There is a need to integrate diagnosis and treatment into the public healthcare system that goes beyond palliative care.”
SEMINAL FINDING
This was a seminal finding in two respects, it was the first time that in vitro activated sperm had been shown to be capable of contributing to embryo development beyond the 2-cell stage in a mammalian system and it was the first time human embryos had been shown to undergo cell divisions in vitro.
Following this, he showed in 1971 that human oocytes fertilized in vitro could undergo further cleavage generating 16-cell stage embryos and forming blastocysts (cluster of cells) in vitro. The series of discoveries made by Edwards during 1969-1971 represent important milestone in IVF research and set for the next phase to come.
In the early 1970s, Dr. Edwards and Steptoe started to transfer the early embryos that resulted from IVF back into women.
After more than one hundred attempts that all led to short-lived pregnancies, they realized that the hormone treatments given to women to induce oocyte maturation disturbed implantation of the embryo in the uterus, resulting in spontaneous abortions.
Finally, after a change in the hormone treatment protocol, the first successful pregnancy was achieved in 1976.
Unfortunately, the embryo had implanted ectopically in the Fallopian tube and the pregnancy had to be terminated.
Dr. Edwards and Dr. Steptoe then decided to abandon the ovarian stimulation protocol altogether and instead rely on the natural menstrual cycle of the patients, although this meant that they would have access to only one egg per cycle.
Based on the concentration of luteinizing hormones in the urine of the women, they could predict when the maturing oocyte would reach the metaphase stage of meiosis II in vivo.
They hoped that they then would be able to retrieve the egg by laparoscopy before ovulation occurred.
Dr. Steptoe and Dr. Edwards succeeded in their efforts and in 1978 they made the historic announcement that a normal, fit and healthy baby, Louise Joy Brown, had been born through successful IVF of a human oocytes.
Dr. Edwards' long-term vision and persistence had finally come to fruition, opening up a new era in the treatment of infertility
The first generation of children conceived through IVF, including Louise Joy Brown, are now of reproductive age. Several of them have had children of their own, without the need for IVF.
Following this, he showed in 1971 that human oocytes fertilized in vitro could undergo further cleavage generating 16-cell stage embryos and forming blastocysts (cluster of cells) in vitro. The series of discoveries made by Edwards during 1969-1971 represent important milestone in IVF research and set for the next phase to come.
In the early 1970s, Dr. Edwards and Steptoe started to transfer the early embryos that resulted from IVF back into women.
After more than one hundred attempts that all led to short-lived pregnancies, they realized that the hormone treatments given to women to induce oocyte maturation disturbed implantation of the embryo in the uterus, resulting in spontaneous abortions.
Finally, after a change in the hormone treatment protocol, the first successful pregnancy was achieved in 1976.
Unfortunately, the embryo had implanted ectopically in the Fallopian tube and the pregnancy had to be terminated.
Dr. Edwards and Dr. Steptoe then decided to abandon the ovarian stimulation protocol altogether and instead rely on the natural menstrual cycle of the patients, although this meant that they would have access to only one egg per cycle.
Based on the concentration of luteinizing hormones in the urine of the women, they could predict when the maturing oocyte would reach the metaphase stage of meiosis II in vivo.
They hoped that they then would be able to retrieve the egg by laparoscopy before ovulation occurred.
Dr. Steptoe and Dr. Edwards succeeded in their efforts and in 1978 they made the historic announcement that a normal, fit and healthy baby, Louise Joy Brown, had been born through successful IVF of a human oocytes.
Dr. Edwards' long-term vision and persistence had finally come to fruition, opening up a new era in the treatment of infertility
The first generation of children conceived through IVF, including Louise Joy Brown, are now of reproductive age. Several of them have had children of their own, without the need for IVF.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Dr. Edwards realized from the onset that IVF research would raise many important ethical concerns that had to be addressed. He wrote, together with the lawyer David Sharpe, a visionary key paper that initiated, a debate on many of the complicated issues related to reproductive medicine, that lay ahead.
They argued that research on human germ cells and embryos should be conducted under strict ethical guidelines.
Dr. Edwards himself acted forcefully on these issues, as he ensured that an Ethics Committee for IVF was created at Bourn Hall Clinic.
Despite Dr. Edwards' persistent attention to ethical and safety questions, his work on IVF initially met with strong opposition from religious leaders and others who felt the technique was morally wrong.
Dr. Edwards not only was able to respond to the continued criticism of IVF, but he also remained very persistent and unperturbed in fulfilling his scientific vision.
Today, 2-3 per cent of all newborns in many countries are conceived with the help of IVF and many individuals that turn to an infertility clinic can be helped.
IVF has also opened up new ways to treat many forms of male infertility.
The development of IVF, recognised by this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, has touched the life of millions of infertile people, giving them an opportunity to have children.
They argued that research on human germ cells and embryos should be conducted under strict ethical guidelines.
Dr. Edwards himself acted forcefully on these issues, as he ensured that an Ethics Committee for IVF was created at Bourn Hall Clinic.
Despite Dr. Edwards' persistent attention to ethical and safety questions, his work on IVF initially met with strong opposition from religious leaders and others who felt the technique was morally wrong.
Dr. Edwards not only was able to respond to the continued criticism of IVF, but he also remained very persistent and unperturbed in fulfilling his scientific vision.
Today, 2-3 per cent of all newborns in many countries are conceived with the help of IVF and many individuals that turn to an infertility clinic can be helped.
IVF has also opened up new ways to treat many forms of male infertility.
The development of IVF, recognised by this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, has touched the life of millions of infertile people, giving them an opportunity to have children.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
How to sell your property
Many reports say that the recent economic crisis has affected real estate business to some extent but still a huge demand for buying and selling properties is found all over the world. If you wish to sell your property have a note on the following points:
• Find a real estate website to list your property information that is being successful in the real estate business for a long time like www.theholmgroupaz.com, the Scottsdale Real Estate firm.
• Find the real value of your property.
• Neatly and clearly specify your buyer expectations.
• Upgrade your property if there is a definite need.
• Strengthen you property’s outlook as that is the one that first attracts the buyers.
• Provide with necessary photos and videos of your property while listing your property in the website.
• Be ready to compromise, not to a greater extent but to some extent that you can tolerate.
• Find a real estate website to list your property information that is being successful in the real estate business for a long time like www.theholmgroupaz.com, the Scottsdale Real Estate firm.
• Find the real value of your property.
• Neatly and clearly specify your buyer expectations.
• Upgrade your property if there is a definite need.
• Strengthen you property’s outlook as that is the one that first attracts the buyers.
• Provide with necessary photos and videos of your property while listing your property in the website.
• Be ready to compromise, not to a greater extent but to some extent that you can tolerate.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Build your own website
Whether we have to market a product or service, or we have to provide information or we wish to share something we are in need of the great technology internet that is widespread all over the world. This technology has also led to the situation that nowadays we can build our own website even we do not have any web designing or developing knowledge. Now, the only basic criteria needed to develop a website is you should be able to find a website that provide you with the option of easy website builder and the language to follow the instructions specified. That’s it. You will be available with your own web pages within an hour, in fact within a few minutes. For developing such website you neither need to offer for manual support nor technical support. Even a school going student can create a complete website of his own, with such website building tools.
Plan for a trip to Edinburgh
Spending vacations with family make us experience lot of fun and excitement and also refreshes our body and soul. As we are now living in a busy world, it is always good to have a long vacation at least once in every year. There is lot of things to enjoy in this universe and one should not miss them in their lifetime. If you are planning for a long vacation, it is good to plan abroad as you will be able to see different life styles, climatic conditions and much more. Plan for your tour abroad during off seasons as you can get a cheap air fare, cheap accommodations and cheap food. As these are the facts that cost more, you can save a considerable amount if you plan accordingly. If you are a person fond of seeing historical places then plan for a trip to Edinburgh. Make reservations in Edinburgh Bed and Breakfast accommodations, so that you will be able to save more on your food and sheltering.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Bathroom decorating ideas
Bathrooms today are much more elegant and luxurious than those of the past. From retro to contemporary, the right lighting will emphasize the look you'd get in your bathroom.
Whatever your style, it should be smooth and enjoyable. It is also worth emphasizing the need for external lighting, function performed by windows or any opening which, according to the conception of space, makes the environment more welcoming. Choose white and fluorescent light bulbs, not warm. If your bathroom does not receive natural light, invest in a recessed ceiling plaster, with points of light scattered in various places. If you have little space in your bathroom, fit lighting near the mirror. Choosing the right light depends on what activities will be made on the environment. Spaces for social use, such as living rooms and bedrooms, require the yellow light. Kitchens, bathrooms and offices must receive white light. Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with fluorescent yellow. The visual effect is the same, and they consume far less energy. The choice of color for the bathroom of a child may be very difficult. While many designers recommend for the suites having a neutral base with white tiled bathrooms with bright colors that are favorites among children. You will get a wide range of bathroom decorating ideas on visiting through betterbathrooms.com.
Whatever your style, it should be smooth and enjoyable. It is also worth emphasizing the need for external lighting, function performed by windows or any opening which, according to the conception of space, makes the environment more welcoming. Choose white and fluorescent light bulbs, not warm. If your bathroom does not receive natural light, invest in a recessed ceiling plaster, with points of light scattered in various places. If you have little space in your bathroom, fit lighting near the mirror. Choosing the right light depends on what activities will be made on the environment. Spaces for social use, such as living rooms and bedrooms, require the yellow light. Kitchens, bathrooms and offices must receive white light. Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with fluorescent yellow. The visual effect is the same, and they consume far less energy. The choice of color for the bathroom of a child may be very difficult. While many designers recommend for the suites having a neutral base with white tiled bathrooms with bright colors that are favorites among children. You will get a wide range of bathroom decorating ideas on visiting through betterbathrooms.com.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Purchase cabinet doors for your retail store online
I own a retail furniture showroom and here I like to share my online furniture purchase experience. I had a tough time with my business while I was purchasing furniture from local wholesale shopkeepers. I was not able to attain the profit level that I was expecting. One day I was explaining my situation to my friend who is working in a software concern. He provided me with the idea of making purchases online. As I am not very much used to internet technology, I was not that much confident that I would find a solution for my problem through internet. He guided me in learning things about basic internet technology and also helped me in finding trusted online websites. I made my first purchase by purchasing some cabinet doors online. You won’t believe me or not, I save more than 20% through my online purchase. From that instant, I became a regular online purchaser. During my next purchase, I found a wholesale cabinet doors online store and on making purchase over there I was able to save even more. The only thing to be looked at while making online purchases is whether the website is providing true service to their customers. According to my point of view, it is always good to purchase unfinished cabinet doors, so that we can implement custom designs over it depending upon the buyer’s need.
Play at different Casinos
Even though the online gambling industry has gained great popularity world wide, some beginners and people new to casino games fear to play casino games thinking that they have to spend much for playing casino games. But casino portals have supplied Free casinos with the intention of helping people to learn the strategies and skills of the game before going for real money. Even though free casino games are available with certain limits, players can make use of them to understand the method of playing the game efficiently. As there is a huge competition between casino websites, many casino websites even provide awards for winners who play free casino games. You can find a number of websites providing awards and amount for players winning over free slots. These free options carry out some limitations and once you reach that limit, you will be urged to play for real money. Normally, online casino games are played by downloading the game. But, you can play flash casinos without downloading the software. If you wish to make some money along with the thrill and excitement of casino games then go with authorized casino web portals. I am stressing this point, as a number of fraud casino websites are found over the internet.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Easy installable tire chains
It is not possible to purchase any kind of snow chain, since there are many type of tire chains that is available in the market. Tire chain dealer will be a good source for you to get the exact information for your vehicles. It is very important that you check your owner’s manual prior to purchasing tire chains and always try on tire chains before you actually need them. The right chain and cables will depend on the customer’s need and travel. The SCC Shur Grip / Super ZLT cables and the Grip 4x4 chains are the most popular materials that are used by the weekender. Grip series are considered to be fast moving chains. The two major grip series are Rud Grip 4x4 and Rud Compact Grip. There are four important reasons why do most of them like grip series chain, that is because diamond pattern chain are better for traction, it is easy for installation, rugged, durable and affordable. The link size for the Grip 4x4 is 5.5mm and is too thick of a chain to meet class "S" clearance standards when required. Link size for the Compact Grip is 3.5mm and meets class "S" clearance standards. It will take only two minutes to install the chain. They cost very less compared to other tire chains. The Grip 4x4 is priced $98 per set and a set contains of two tires.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Find Mobile Coupons
Cellit.com extended their service in all the areas including whether reports. The main service is Cellit Mobile Marketing. Cellit climate is one of the services of cellit .com dedicated to send alerts about the whether condition and some immediate change in whether to the people. Quincy
Blackjack Casino Game
Black jack is a casino game played using cards. Each card carries some point and the main objective of this game is to collect cards having 21 points and you should not go beyond 21.There are around 5 to 7 terms used in blackjack casino game. “Hit” is the main term used in this game to collect a new card from the dealer. The game will end if any one of the player reach 21 points or at least close to 21.If any player in blackjack casino game collect above 21 then he will out of the game and this condition is termed as “Bust”. At the starting of the game everybody will be given 2 cards. All the players should show both the cards but the dealer will show one of the card. If the card which is shown by the dealer is ace then game will over and the dealer will be the winner and this condition is called Dealer black jack. In blackjack casino game if the dealer collects up to 17 points he will no allow to hit again. You can go for the option “insurance” if the dealer shows the card ace. If the dealer wins then you can collect half of your bet amount.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Free family website
Opportunities are available world wide and now the current economy has made people to search for international jobs. As a result many people have caught up with the situation of living individually without their family and friends. In such situations phone and internet are considered to be the two communication tools that help them to keep in touch with their family and friends. Internet communication is found to be advantageous than phone communication with respect to both price and comfort. Email, Text chat, voice chat and video chat are the facilities available over the internet and serve as the important tools for communication. Some of these facilities are available with free of cost especially email and text chat facilities. These facilities are provided by various websites and messengers, but if you wish to create a website exclusively for your personal use, you can do so using free family website design tools available over the internet. Making use of these types of design tools does not expect any technical knowledge from the users. The website familydetails.com is one such website that provides design tools are creating a family website. Using this tool you can maintain your family member details, set birthday reminders, share photos with your family members, chat with you family without the fear of any public intervention, etc.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Find best online casinos' comparison site
In this modern world, people are in great hurry to reach their goals. Everybody wants to get best of their needs within a short period in ease. The online services stand as a good and strong support for such people. Today we are very lucky have advanced versions of online services with which we can obtain best products or services or any other means at our doorsteps just by making simple clicks. We do not need to wait in a queue or to struggle with huge crowds. With the help of the online services we can receive our needs at best quality from the comfort of our home. Due to this many fields have been establishing their services through these online services. Among them the online casinos is a remarkable one. Today there are several USA Casinos available in the web. But finding a reliable and best one among them is a difficult task. Moreover the searching process consumes lots of time, money and energy. Here is a good USA Casinos comparison site namely, Casinonavigator.com. This website provides a list of top ten online casinos in the world. The list has been prepared based on their bonus payouts, level of enjoyment, no deposit casinos schemes, etc. Visit the site and enjoy gambling in an innovative way.
Check out my photos on Shtyle.fm
Friday, August 27, 2010
Is Global Warming Getting Warmer?
Global warming causing the extinction of animals isn't a new phenomenon. According to a study published in the journal Evolution, Earth began warming 21,000 years ago; and the warmer areas became, the higher the extinction rate was. For example, Africa had a relatively small climate change and fewer species became extinct. North America had a substantial climate change and more species - giant beaver, dire wolf, ground sloth - became extinct. Although humans hunting for game would have affected the extinction of large animals, global warming affected both large and small animals - and will until human doubt becomes extinct.
Global warming is threatening lizards with extinction. Scientists studying lizards in Mexico warn that 20% of lizard species could be extinct by 2080. Lizards are ectotherms - they depend on the environment to control their body temperature. Because they don't sweat or pant, they seek shade to cool down. Because of needing more shade due to the rising temperatures, lizards have less time to look for food and mate; and because the temperatures are rising quickly, lizards don't have time to evolve. Considering lizards eat insects and birds eat lizards, the food chain is being affected. Unfortunately, humans have a slow (chain) reaction time.
One solution that is being considered to fight global warming is cloud whitening. When water vapor encounters sea salt crystals in cloud-forming areas, the water vapor condenses around the crystals, forming tiny droplets. These droplets make clouds whiter and the whiteness diffuses sunlight. Researchers want to build on this natural cloud-forming process. They want to put boats in the ocean to spray clouds with seawater mist, thus making the clouds whiter and able to reflect the sun's rays, sending them back into space. It is not a solution for global warming, but in this case "cloudy thinking" could help.
Global warming isn't destroying the world's mangroves. Ironically, mangroves - forests straddling both land and sea - generate $2,000-$9,000 per hectare annually from fishing - much more than is generated by the aquaculture, agriculture and tourism that are destroying them. In fact, mangrove forests are being destroyed 4 times faster than land-based forests. One-fifth have been destroyed since 1980. Mangroves cover about 150,000 square kilometers in 123 countries. In addition to providing valuable fishing, mangroves are a replenishing source of timber and charcoal. Mangroves also help fight global warming and provide ecosystems resilient to increasing temperatures. It's the "man" in mangrove that's destroying them.
One solution that is being considered to fight global warming is cloud whitening. When water vapor encounters sea salt crystals in cloud-forming areas, the water vapor condenses around the crystals, forming tiny droplets. These droplets make clouds whiter and the whiteness diffuses sunlight. Researchers want to build on this natural cloud-forming process. They want to put boats in the ocean to spray clouds with seawater mist, thus making the clouds whiter and able to reflect the sun's rays, sending them back into space. It is not a solution for global warming, but in this case "cloudy thinking" could help.
Global warming isn't destroying the world's mangroves. Ironically, mangroves - forests straddling both land and sea - generate $2,000-$9,000 per hectare annually from fishing - much more than is generated by the aquaculture, agriculture and tourism that are destroying them. In fact, mangrove forests are being destroyed 4 times faster than land-based forests. One-fifth have been destroyed since 1980. Mangroves cover about 150,000 square kilometers in 123 countries. In addition to providing valuable fishing, mangroves are a replenishing source of timber and charcoal. Mangroves also help fight global warming and provide ecosystems resilient to increasing temperatures. It's the "man" in mangrove that's destroying them.
Better Way to Calculate Greenhouse Gas Value of Ecosystems
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new, more accurate method of calculating the change in greenhouse gas emissions that results from changes in land use.
The new approach, described in the journal Global Change Biology, takes into account many factors not included in previous methods, the researchers report.
The new approach, described in the journal Global Change Biology, takes into account many factors not included in previous methods, the researchers report.
There is an urgent need to accurately assess whether particular land-use projects will increase or decrease greenhouse gas emissions, said Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, a postdoctoral researcher in the Energy Biosciences Institute at Illinois and lead author of the new study. The greenhouse gas value (GHGV) of a particular site depends on qualities such as the number and size of plants; the ecosystem's ability to take up or release greenhouse gases over time; and its vulnerability to natural disturbances, such as fire or hurricane damage, she said.
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. The most problematic greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4), which is about 25 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat but persists in the atmosphere for much less time; and nitrous oxide (N2O), an undesirable byproduct of crop fertilization.
The new approach accounts for emissions of each of these gases, expressing their net climatic effect in "carbon-dioxide equivalents," a common currency in the carbon-trading market. This allows scientists to compare the long-term effects of clearing a forest, for example, to the costs of other greenhouse gas emissions, such as those that result from burning fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, heat or the production of biofuels.
At first glance, biofuels appear carbon-neutral because the plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their tissues as they grow, said plant biology and Energy Biosciences Institute professor Evan DeLucia, who co-wrote the paper. That carbon is released when the plants are used as fuels. These emissions are balanced by the uptake of CO2, so -- in theory, at least -- no new carbon is added to the atmosphere, he said.
But the full impact of a new biofuel crop should account for all of the greenhouse gases absorbed and released in the process of introducing new crops, he said.
Researchers and policymakers are already in the habit of conducting "life-cycle" analyses of biofuel crops, taking into account many of the greenhouse gas effects of growing the crops and producing the fuel, such as the combustion of fuel in farm equipment, emissions from the processing plant, and emissions from associated land-use changes.
But current methods of estimating the greenhouse gas value of ecosystems -- whether for biofuels life-cycle analyses or other purposes -- often get it wrong, Anderson-Teixeira said. When considering the cost of replacing a tropical forest with cropland, for example, some may look only at the amount of carbon stored in the trees as a measure of a forest's GHGV.
"What some analyses miss is the potential for that forest to take up more carbon in the future," she said. "And they're missing the greenhouse gas costs -- the added emissions that result from intensively managing the land -- that are associated with that new cropland."
Current approaches also routinely fail to consider the timing of greenhouse gas releases, DeLucia said.
"If you cut down a forest, all that carbon doesn't go up into the atmosphere instantly," he said. "Some of it is released immediately, but the organic matter in roots and soils decays more slowly. How we deal with the timing of those emissions influences how we perceive an ecosystem's value."
Using the new method, the researchers calculated the GHGV of a variety of ecosystem types, including mature and "re-growing" tropical, temperate and boreal forests; tropical and temperate pastures and cropland; wetlands; tropical savannas; temperate shrublands and grasslands; tundra; and deserts.
"In general, unmanaged ecosystems -- those that we are leaving alone, such as a virgin forest or an abandoned farm where trees are re-growing -- are going to have positive greenhouse gas values," Anderson-Teixeira said. Managed ecosystems such as croplands or pastures generally have low or negative greenhouse gas values, she said. (See chart.)
The calculations would of course vary as a result of local conditions, the researchers said, and the GHGV does not account for the other services a particular ecosystem might provide, such as flood control, improved air and water quality, food production or protection of biodiversity.
"To understand the place of nature these days, we've got to put a value on it," DeLucia said. "It's got to compete with all the other values that we put out there. This is by far the most comprehensive way to value an ecosystem in the context of greenhouse gases."
The Energy Biosciences Institute, focused on the development of next-generation biofuels as well as various applications of biology to the energy sector, is a collaboration among the U. of I., the University of California at Berkeley, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and BP, which is supporting the institute with a 10-year, $500-million grant. The EBI has facilities at several locations, including the U. of I. Institute for Genomic Biology.
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. The most problematic greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4), which is about 25 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat but persists in the atmosphere for much less time; and nitrous oxide (N2O), an undesirable byproduct of crop fertilization.
The new approach accounts for emissions of each of these gases, expressing their net climatic effect in "carbon-dioxide equivalents," a common currency in the carbon-trading market. This allows scientists to compare the long-term effects of clearing a forest, for example, to the costs of other greenhouse gas emissions, such as those that result from burning fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, heat or the production of biofuels.
At first glance, biofuels appear carbon-neutral because the plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their tissues as they grow, said plant biology and Energy Biosciences Institute professor Evan DeLucia, who co-wrote the paper. That carbon is released when the plants are used as fuels. These emissions are balanced by the uptake of CO2, so -- in theory, at least -- no new carbon is added to the atmosphere, he said.
But the full impact of a new biofuel crop should account for all of the greenhouse gases absorbed and released in the process of introducing new crops, he said.
Researchers and policymakers are already in the habit of conducting "life-cycle" analyses of biofuel crops, taking into account many of the greenhouse gas effects of growing the crops and producing the fuel, such as the combustion of fuel in farm equipment, emissions from the processing plant, and emissions from associated land-use changes.
But current methods of estimating the greenhouse gas value of ecosystems -- whether for biofuels life-cycle analyses or other purposes -- often get it wrong, Anderson-Teixeira said. When considering the cost of replacing a tropical forest with cropland, for example, some may look only at the amount of carbon stored in the trees as a measure of a forest's GHGV.
"What some analyses miss is the potential for that forest to take up more carbon in the future," she said. "And they're missing the greenhouse gas costs -- the added emissions that result from intensively managing the land -- that are associated with that new cropland."
Current approaches also routinely fail to consider the timing of greenhouse gas releases, DeLucia said.
"If you cut down a forest, all that carbon doesn't go up into the atmosphere instantly," he said. "Some of it is released immediately, but the organic matter in roots and soils decays more slowly. How we deal with the timing of those emissions influences how we perceive an ecosystem's value."
Using the new method, the researchers calculated the GHGV of a variety of ecosystem types, including mature and "re-growing" tropical, temperate and boreal forests; tropical and temperate pastures and cropland; wetlands; tropical savannas; temperate shrublands and grasslands; tundra; and deserts.
"In general, unmanaged ecosystems -- those that we are leaving alone, such as a virgin forest or an abandoned farm where trees are re-growing -- are going to have positive greenhouse gas values," Anderson-Teixeira said. Managed ecosystems such as croplands or pastures generally have low or negative greenhouse gas values, she said. (See chart.)
The calculations would of course vary as a result of local conditions, the researchers said, and the GHGV does not account for the other services a particular ecosystem might provide, such as flood control, improved air and water quality, food production or protection of biodiversity.
"To understand the place of nature these days, we've got to put a value on it," DeLucia said. "It's got to compete with all the other values that we put out there. This is by far the most comprehensive way to value an ecosystem in the context of greenhouse gases."
The Energy Biosciences Institute, focused on the development of next-generation biofuels as well as various applications of biology to the energy sector, is a collaboration among the U. of I., the University of California at Berkeley, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and BP, which is supporting the institute with a 10-year, $500-million grant. The EBI has facilities at several locations, including the U. of I. Institute for Genomic Biology.
Advantages of purchasing watches online
Are you a person looking for a watch that is both trendy and functional? Then traser h3 watch should be your choice. These watches glow on your wrist even in dark. I am a photographer by profession and I have the habit of capturing animal photos without light. I used to go on adventurous journey to forests this watch helps me a lot in finding time accurately in dark. You may think that Traser H3 Watches are costly. But mark my words that if you buy these types of branded watches online through bluedial.com, you will definitely save a lot. On visiting this online store you will be really surprised by the range, style and brand of watches listed in the website. A new style of watch released today will find a place in bluedial, the very next day. So there is no chance for you to miss out any new models of watches over there. The real advantage of going online is you will be available with hot deals and offers. The hot deals will be released all of a sudden and you should be waiting ready to capture such extra offers. Also you will find at least 10% less while purchasing online than through near by retail stores.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
8 Countries About to Go Underwater, Literally
We've all heard about the possibility that the Maldives could go underwater because of rising seas caused by climate change. But there are other nations facing the same risk.
Not that going underwater is the only form of danger: climate change is finding vulnerabilities in countries from Mexico to Russia, droughts in already-arid countries will grow worse, and the number of climate refugees worldwide is growing steadily.
Rainforests are threatened, disease is exacerbated, and hardest hit are poor populations and women around the world.
But, it's still probably fair to say that the greatest threat from climate change faces small island nations that could be washed underwater with just a slight rise in sea levels. Here's a look at a few of those nations.
Bangladesh - 20 million people are expected to be displaced because of rising seas caused by climate change.
Papua New Guinea - TreeHugger wrote last May: "The Carteret Islanders of Papua New Guinea have become the world's first entire community to be displaced by climate change." Papua New Guinea shares an island with Indonesia, another nation threatened by climate change.
The Philippines- The water is already rising in the Philippines, not only threatening homes of people who live near the coast, but flooding rice fields and devastating other areas of agricultural production. The ILO quotes the mayor of Jabonga, a resort town in a southern Philippine province: “Before only 20 per cent of water from the lake and seaside overflow to the community, now it has increased to about 80 per cent. It has affected farm production for rice, corn, vegetables and fruit trees."
Barbados - It's not just faraway islands that Americans had never heard of before climate change started being talked about. Host of the Barbados Conference that focused on this issue back in 1994, Barbados is another of the small island nations at risk. According to UNESCO: "With populations, agricultural lands and infrastructures tending to be concentrated in the coastal zone, any rise in sea-level will have significant and profound effects on settlements, living conditions and island economies. The very survival of certain low-lying countries is threatened."
Kiribati - The highest point of land on the Pacific island nation of Kiribati "is now just two yards (meters) above sea level, said [President Anote] Tong," the Gstaad Project blog writes based on AP and IHT reports. "He said climate change “is not an issue of economic development; it’s an issue of human survival. Some of Kiribati’s 94,000 people living in shoreline village communities have already been relocated from century-old sites."
Egypt - From a paper by the OECD [PDF]: "In addition to this high biophysical exposure to the risk of sea level rise, Egypt’s social sensitivity to sea level rise is particularly high. As discussed earlier in this section much of Egypt’s infrastructure and development is along the low coastal lands, and the fertile Nile delta also constitutes the prime agricultural land in Egypt."
Tuvalu - TreeHugger has already reported on Tuvalu's plea for help: "Home to some 10,000 people, the group of atolls and reefs is barely two meters above sea level. A 1989 U.N. report predicted that, at the current rate the ocean is rising, Tuvalu could vanish in the next 30 to 50 years."
Maldives - And, of course, the one we all know, thanks to last year's underwater cabinet meeting held by Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed to bring attention to this issue.
Not that going underwater is the only form of danger: climate change is finding vulnerabilities in countries from Mexico to Russia, droughts in already-arid countries will grow worse, and the number of climate refugees worldwide is growing steadily.
Rainforests are threatened, disease is exacerbated, and hardest hit are poor populations and women around the world.
But, it's still probably fair to say that the greatest threat from climate change faces small island nations that could be washed underwater with just a slight rise in sea levels. Here's a look at a few of those nations.
Bangladesh - 20 million people are expected to be displaced because of rising seas caused by climate change.
Papua New Guinea - TreeHugger wrote last May: "The Carteret Islanders of Papua New Guinea have become the world's first entire community to be displaced by climate change." Papua New Guinea shares an island with Indonesia, another nation threatened by climate change.
The Philippines- The water is already rising in the Philippines, not only threatening homes of people who live near the coast, but flooding rice fields and devastating other areas of agricultural production. The ILO quotes the mayor of Jabonga, a resort town in a southern Philippine province: “Before only 20 per cent of water from the lake and seaside overflow to the community, now it has increased to about 80 per cent. It has affected farm production for rice, corn, vegetables and fruit trees."
Barbados - It's not just faraway islands that Americans had never heard of before climate change started being talked about. Host of the Barbados Conference that focused on this issue back in 1994, Barbados is another of the small island nations at risk. According to UNESCO: "With populations, agricultural lands and infrastructures tending to be concentrated in the coastal zone, any rise in sea-level will have significant and profound effects on settlements, living conditions and island economies. The very survival of certain low-lying countries is threatened."
Kiribati - The highest point of land on the Pacific island nation of Kiribati "is now just two yards (meters) above sea level, said [President Anote] Tong," the Gstaad Project blog writes based on AP and IHT reports. "He said climate change “is not an issue of economic development; it’s an issue of human survival. Some of Kiribati’s 94,000 people living in shoreline village communities have already been relocated from century-old sites."
Egypt - From a paper by the OECD [PDF]: "In addition to this high biophysical exposure to the risk of sea level rise, Egypt’s social sensitivity to sea level rise is particularly high. As discussed earlier in this section much of Egypt’s infrastructure and development is along the low coastal lands, and the fertile Nile delta also constitutes the prime agricultural land in Egypt."
Tuvalu - TreeHugger has already reported on Tuvalu's plea for help: "Home to some 10,000 people, the group of atolls and reefs is barely two meters above sea level. A 1989 U.N. report predicted that, at the current rate the ocean is rising, Tuvalu could vanish in the next 30 to 50 years."
Maldives - And, of course, the one we all know, thanks to last year's underwater cabinet meeting held by Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed to bring attention to this issue.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine preview
"In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war." It's this iconic catch-phrase that introduces us to the grisly war-torn world of Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine -- the new third-person action title from Vancouver-based developers Relic Entertainment.The HD-generation, and more specifically the shooter genre has seen the phrase "space marine" earn itself something of a negative connotation as of late. What was once a simple pairing of context-related words now tends to summon the trite image of the overly buff, cigar-chomping, buzz-cutted antihero that's adorned and overstuffed GameStop shelves in every variation of the brown-grey color spectrum. Generally as deep as the bullet holes they leave behind, the idea of the space marine has, to many, become synonymous with a lack of narrative cohesion, and more often than not, an excuse to show cool stuff blowing up. In space.
These tired conventions may be one of the reasons I find myself so excited for Relic's upcoming action game, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. The Warhammer 40K franchise is largely responsible for integrating the phrase into the gaming medium as far back as 25 years ago, yet has hardly succumbed to the same cliches many of the moniker's more contemporary carriers have. Space Marine trades brown-and-grey for bright blue and gold battle armor, chest-high cover mechanics for being the cover, and hastily constructed wartime scenarios for a fantastical universe rich with its own unique war-torn lore.I recently took a short trip up to Vancouver, British Columbia-based Relic Entertainment where I was able to see the game in action. Having already proven their Warhammer mettle with the critically and commercially acclaimed Dawn of War series of real-time strategy titles, Space Marine serves as the studio's first foray into the realm of third-person action, and even this early on in the game's development cycle, it's obvious that the studio's talents aren't limited to the isometric playing field.
Players are set to fill the massive metal shoes of Captain Titus of the Ultramarines -- a seven-foot tall, chainsword-savvy, genetically altered Space Marine with an itchy trigger finger and a general disdain for all things Ork. Relic wants players to understand exactly what being a Space Marine entails -- namely, the honor of the samurai, the devoutness of the medieval knight, the discipline of the centurion, and the relentless nature of the Spartan. Titus is meant to act as the pinnacle of all these historical warrior archetypes: the perfect soldier in a universe populated by unending war.We're first introduced to Titus as he rides passenger on a Valkyrie Gunship, speeding towards the Ork-infested bulk of the Imperial's weapon-harboring Mechanicus Interruptus. Pulse-pounding seconds pass before a swarm of jetpack-strapped Orks begin to speed alongside the Gunship, prompting Titus to man a stationary machine-gun turret in one of the game's first "set pieces" -- cinematic action-oriented segments meant to break up the core gameplay. Titus spends the next few minutes picking Orks out of the sky, blasting with reckless abandon -- so reckless, in fact, that he doesn't notice a gargantuan, skull-emblazoned Ork gunship creeping up from behind. The Orks begin to deploy onto the roof of Titus' gunship, prompting him to detach from the turret and manually pick them off with an assault rifle. A carefully placed shot hits an unlucky Ork right between the eyes, sending him flying into the gunship's engine turbine in a flurry of blood and flesh.
Moments later and the Valkyrie is sent plummeting towards Interruptus, prompting Titus to eject and safely land on the bulk's surface. From here, we're treated to the game's core third-person presentation: an over-the-shoulder camera angle, with Titus carrying two guns, his trusty melee chainsword, and an optional side-arm. Titus bears down on Interruptus' impressive architecture, blasting any imposing Orks in the way, their bullets pinging off the Ultramarine's iconic power armor. It's here that Space Marine's producer Raphael Van Lierop chimes in to answer the question on everyone's mind: no, Space Marine won't have any snap-to cover elements. As a Warhammer 40K property, Relic wants to ensure that Space Marine lives up to its title, offering up the one-man-army experience that the 40K lore boasts. "It's contradicting to the core fantasy of the Space Marine, which is to be a seven-foot tall marine encased in these amazing weapons. You don't need cover; you are the cover," he quips as Titus shrugs off his attackers, tossing a grenade into the distance and dispersing a tightly-knit crowd of Orks.
These tired conventions may be one of the reasons I find myself so excited for Relic's upcoming action game, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. The Warhammer 40K franchise is largely responsible for integrating the phrase into the gaming medium as far back as 25 years ago, yet has hardly succumbed to the same cliches many of the moniker's more contemporary carriers have. Space Marine trades brown-and-grey for bright blue and gold battle armor, chest-high cover mechanics for being the cover, and hastily constructed wartime scenarios for a fantastical universe rich with its own unique war-torn lore.I recently took a short trip up to Vancouver, British Columbia-based Relic Entertainment where I was able to see the game in action. Having already proven their Warhammer mettle with the critically and commercially acclaimed Dawn of War series of real-time strategy titles, Space Marine serves as the studio's first foray into the realm of third-person action, and even this early on in the game's development cycle, it's obvious that the studio's talents aren't limited to the isometric playing field.
Players are set to fill the massive metal shoes of Captain Titus of the Ultramarines -- a seven-foot tall, chainsword-savvy, genetically altered Space Marine with an itchy trigger finger and a general disdain for all things Ork. Relic wants players to understand exactly what being a Space Marine entails -- namely, the honor of the samurai, the devoutness of the medieval knight, the discipline of the centurion, and the relentless nature of the Spartan. Titus is meant to act as the pinnacle of all these historical warrior archetypes: the perfect soldier in a universe populated by unending war.We're first introduced to Titus as he rides passenger on a Valkyrie Gunship, speeding towards the Ork-infested bulk of the Imperial's weapon-harboring Mechanicus Interruptus. Pulse-pounding seconds pass before a swarm of jetpack-strapped Orks begin to speed alongside the Gunship, prompting Titus to man a stationary machine-gun turret in one of the game's first "set pieces" -- cinematic action-oriented segments meant to break up the core gameplay. Titus spends the next few minutes picking Orks out of the sky, blasting with reckless abandon -- so reckless, in fact, that he doesn't notice a gargantuan, skull-emblazoned Ork gunship creeping up from behind. The Orks begin to deploy onto the roof of Titus' gunship, prompting him to detach from the turret and manually pick them off with an assault rifle. A carefully placed shot hits an unlucky Ork right between the eyes, sending him flying into the gunship's engine turbine in a flurry of blood and flesh.
Moments later and the Valkyrie is sent plummeting towards Interruptus, prompting Titus to eject and safely land on the bulk's surface. From here, we're treated to the game's core third-person presentation: an over-the-shoulder camera angle, with Titus carrying two guns, his trusty melee chainsword, and an optional side-arm. Titus bears down on Interruptus' impressive architecture, blasting any imposing Orks in the way, their bullets pinging off the Ultramarine's iconic power armor. It's here that Space Marine's producer Raphael Van Lierop chimes in to answer the question on everyone's mind: no, Space Marine won't have any snap-to cover elements. As a Warhammer 40K property, Relic wants to ensure that Space Marine lives up to its title, offering up the one-man-army experience that the 40K lore boasts. "It's contradicting to the core fantasy of the Space Marine, which is to be a seven-foot tall marine encased in these amazing weapons. You don't need cover; you are the cover," he quips as Titus shrugs off his attackers, tossing a grenade into the distance and dispersing a tightly-knit crowd of Orks.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Why the U.S. Must Make the Middle East Less Important
American foreign policy this fall will feature the Middle East: we will see a push for direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear-weapons program and the hope that Iraq will remain stable as U.S. troops leave. Experience suggests that the chances of success for all three are poor. Over the years, the Middle East has proven inhospitable, if not downright hostile, to American initiatives. Recognizing this, the two previous administrations launched signature programs to transform the region into a friendlier place for American interests. Both failed. The Obama team should try a different approach, one that begins at home.
The Clinton Administration tried and failed to make peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The Obama Administration's prospects are no brighter, and even if it could broker a peace, it would not end the many other Middle Eastern conflicts that threaten U.S. interests. The Bush Administration tried to promote democracy in the region, concentrating on Iraq. Perhaps some day that country will become a full-fledged democracy, which could serve as an example for other Arab countries. But that day, if it ever arrives, will not come during this Administration.
(See a timeline of the first seven years of the Iraq war.)
Since no policy open to it can make the Middle East safe for the U.S. and the world, the Obama Administration should act to make the world safe from the pathologies of the Middle East. It can do that by making the region less important. The Middle East matters because the world depends heavily on its oil. Since the U.S. uses so much oil, a major reduction in American consumption would substantially lower the global total. The less oil the world uses, the less important the region that has so much of it becomes.
(See TIME's special on the World Future Energy Summit.)
Moreover, lower U.S. consumption could reduce the international price of oil, which would decrease the funds flowing to the governments that depend heavily on oil revenue to finance policies unfriendly to the U.S. Foremost among those governments is Iran's, which would have less money with which to build nuclear weapons and to support the terrorist organizations it sponsors. Another is Saudi Arabia's, which uses its oil wealth to propagate an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism known as Wahhabism, which has inspired many Middle Eastern terrorists, including those who attacked New York and Washington on 9/11. That means that by consuming so much oil, the U.S. is in effect fighting a war against terrorism while funding both sides.
Lower U.S. oil consumption would also weaken oil-dependent leaders outside the Middle East who pursue anti-American policies: Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Vladimir Putin of Russia. While the world will not be able to do entirely without Middle Eastern oil for many decades, substantially lowering the amount of oil we use would reduce the region's significance while shifting the balance of power between producers and consumers in favor of consumers — that is, in favor of the U.S. and its friends.
(See what Barack Obama needs to do to improve five international areas.)
The best way to reduce oil use is to raise the price of gasoline. People would then use less of it. In the short term, they would drive less and make more use of public transportation. Over the long term, they would demand fuel-efficient vehicles. At the same time, higher gasoline prices would make renewable fuels like ethanol and electrically powered cars economically viable.
While West European countries and Japan impose high taxes on gasoline, the U.S., the world's largest consumer, does not. Compared with what the U.S. national interest requires, gasoline is ruinously cheap for Americans. The refusal of the U.S. to charge itself as much for gasoline as is good for it (and for other countries) is the single greatest foreign policy failure of the past three decades.
(Comment on this story.)
Correcting that failure will not be easy. Taxes of any kind are unpopular, and to pass a gasoline tax, the Administration would have to compensate low-income Americans who depend on their cars. It would have to present the measure for what it is — the nation's most important national-security policy — make it the highest legislative priority and invest substantial political capital in seeing that it was passed.
Such an effort, however, would be worthwhile. Reducing oil consumption by raising the gasoline tax would once again make the U.S. a resolute and effective global leader. Unlike the Administration's fall diplomatic initiatives, it would not require the cooperation of the governments or people of other countries. Most important of all, as a strategy for shielding Americans from the dangers of the Middle East, it would certainly succeed.
The Clinton Administration tried and failed to make peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The Obama Administration's prospects are no brighter, and even if it could broker a peace, it would not end the many other Middle Eastern conflicts that threaten U.S. interests. The Bush Administration tried to promote democracy in the region, concentrating on Iraq. Perhaps some day that country will become a full-fledged democracy, which could serve as an example for other Arab countries. But that day, if it ever arrives, will not come during this Administration.
(See a timeline of the first seven years of the Iraq war.)
Since no policy open to it can make the Middle East safe for the U.S. and the world, the Obama Administration should act to make the world safe from the pathologies of the Middle East. It can do that by making the region less important. The Middle East matters because the world depends heavily on its oil. Since the U.S. uses so much oil, a major reduction in American consumption would substantially lower the global total. The less oil the world uses, the less important the region that has so much of it becomes.
(See TIME's special on the World Future Energy Summit.)
Moreover, lower U.S. consumption could reduce the international price of oil, which would decrease the funds flowing to the governments that depend heavily on oil revenue to finance policies unfriendly to the U.S. Foremost among those governments is Iran's, which would have less money with which to build nuclear weapons and to support the terrorist organizations it sponsors. Another is Saudi Arabia's, which uses its oil wealth to propagate an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism known as Wahhabism, which has inspired many Middle Eastern terrorists, including those who attacked New York and Washington on 9/11. That means that by consuming so much oil, the U.S. is in effect fighting a war against terrorism while funding both sides.
Lower U.S. oil consumption would also weaken oil-dependent leaders outside the Middle East who pursue anti-American policies: Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Vladimir Putin of Russia. While the world will not be able to do entirely without Middle Eastern oil for many decades, substantially lowering the amount of oil we use would reduce the region's significance while shifting the balance of power between producers and consumers in favor of consumers — that is, in favor of the U.S. and its friends.
(See what Barack Obama needs to do to improve five international areas.)
The best way to reduce oil use is to raise the price of gasoline. People would then use less of it. In the short term, they would drive less and make more use of public transportation. Over the long term, they would demand fuel-efficient vehicles. At the same time, higher gasoline prices would make renewable fuels like ethanol and electrically powered cars economically viable.
While West European countries and Japan impose high taxes on gasoline, the U.S., the world's largest consumer, does not. Compared with what the U.S. national interest requires, gasoline is ruinously cheap for Americans. The refusal of the U.S. to charge itself as much for gasoline as is good for it (and for other countries) is the single greatest foreign policy failure of the past three decades.
(Comment on this story.)
Correcting that failure will not be easy. Taxes of any kind are unpopular, and to pass a gasoline tax, the Administration would have to compensate low-income Americans who depend on their cars. It would have to present the measure for what it is — the nation's most important national-security policy — make it the highest legislative priority and invest substantial political capital in seeing that it was passed.
Such an effort, however, would be worthwhile. Reducing oil consumption by raising the gasoline tax would once again make the U.S. a resolute and effective global leader. Unlike the Administration's fall diplomatic initiatives, it would not require the cooperation of the governments or people of other countries. Most important of all, as a strategy for shielding Americans from the dangers of the Middle East, it would certainly succeed.