EDITORIALLETTERSTOTHEEDITORReaderscommentontheUSsecretspaceprogramandNASA'sdisinformation,takingactiontostoppollution,Russianawarenessin1957ofcosmicradiationdangers,Tesla'scritics,andcropcirclesasmechanicalblueprints.

GLOBALNEWSWereportonUNplansforuniversalbiometricIDby2030,China'syuantojointheSDRreservecurrencies,fungifoundinthebrainsofAlzheimer'sdiseasevictims,evidencethatTonyBlairandGeorgeW.Bushhada"dealinblood"ayearbeforetheIraqinvasion,andtherisingcancerrateinJapansincetheFukushimanucleardisaster.

PROJECTCENSORED’STOP25NEWSSTORIESByProf.MickeyHuffandProjectCensored.Continuinganinitiativegoingbackto1976,theProjectCensoredteamhasselectedandjudgedthemostimportantAmericanandinternationalnewsstoriesof2014–2015thatwereunderreportedbytheUScorporatemedia.

TRIALS&TRIBULATIONS:TheTruthaboutClinicalResearchByLeonHorton.Manypeoplewillinglyparticipateinclinicaltrialsthattestproductsandtreatments,butfewareinclinedtovolunteerforpharmaceuticaldrugtrials.Eventhoughstrictguidelinesaremandated,testingonhumanscanhaveunforeseenconsequences.

HOWTOMANAGETHEIMMUNESYSTEMByWalterLast.Theimmunesystemtrieshardtoeliminatepathogensandcleanupmetabolicwaste,butthisprocesscancauseinflammationscharacteristicofchronicdiseases.Weneedtostrengthenandcontroltheimmunefunctionsinordertorevitalisethebody.

SACREDSOLIDSINTHEATOMICNUCLEUS—Part2ByJordiSolà-Soler.DrRobertMoon'smodelofthePlatonicsolids,whichproposeshowprotonsintheatomicnucleusmaybearranged,istakenastepfurtherwithanalternativereorderingthatallowsthefreespinofprotonshellswithineachgeometricstructure.

SCIENCENEWS

Inthisedition,wepresentanextractfromarare1951USNavymanualaboutmagneticamplifiers,nowfreelyavailablewithaforewordbyeditorGeorgeTrinkausonthis"losttechnology"anditsmultiplecapabilitiesinelectricalandelectronicsengineering.

NANMADOL,CityofSpiritsontheReefofHeavenByAlistairCoombs.TheWestPacificmegalithiccomplexofNanMadol,withitsconstructionsofprismaticbasaltcolumnslinkedbywaterways,servedasaspiritualcentreforthePohnpeianancestorsandreflectedasunkenculturalheritageconnectedwiththePleiadesstarcluster.

SHADOWOFNEMESIS:TheSphinxandTheGreatPyramid—Part2of2ByJackHeartandOrage.InexplorationsoftheSphinxandpyramidsatGiza,keyplayershaveincludedmembersoftheEdgarCayceFoundation,keentolocatetheso-calledHallofRecords,andpersonnellinkedwiththeUSmilitary–industrialcomplexsinceWorldWarII.

THETWILIGHTZONEWefeatureanarticlebyStevenA.ArtsonthesearchforthelostcityofTartessos,knowntotheancientGreeks,RomansandHebrewsandbelievedtobeburiednearthemouthoftheGuadalquivirRiverinsouthwesternSpain.Scientificstudieshaveuncoveredpromisingfinds.

REVIEWS-Books"FatherEarth"byOlofSmit"PrimalNutrition"byRonSchmid,ND"TheyExist:AReviewofKeyLiterature…"byPiersMorris"SecretHistory:Conspiracies…"byNickRedfern"WhentheGodsReturn"byJackBarranger"TheSoulofAncientEgypt"byRobertBauvalandAhmedOsman"EngagingtheExtraterrestrials"byNoelHuntley"SurvivingAI"byCalumChace"GenesisfortheSpaceRace"byJohnB.LeithviaRobynAndrews"Hybrids:SoYouThinkYouAreHuman"byTanisHelliwell"PlayingGod"byBenjaminNowland"TheGlobalizationofWar"byMichelChossudovsky"PopulationControl"byJimMarrs"TheEU:ACorporatistRacket"byDavidBarnby

REVIEWS-DVD"PackingforMars"byJacobmedia/ScreenAddiction

REVIEWS-Music"Fatteliku"byYoussouN'DouretleSuperEtoiledeDakar"AmanecerAndino(AndeanSunrise)"byInkuyo"CelebrationofaLegend"byGeorgeTelek"ZoyZoy"byTalNational

CARTOONS

Volume23,Number1December2015—January2016

Editor:DuncanM.Roadsemail:editor@nexusmagazine.com

Editorial

Thecrazy,busytimethatImentionedinmylasteditorialshowsnosignofabating.IfindmyselfwritingthiseditorialwhilesittinginaquiethouseinBoulder,Colorado,lookingatsquirrelsscamperingacrossthefirstsnowoftheseason.Moreonmytravelsandadventuresnextissue.

Meanwhile,thisissuehastheusualassortmentofnewsandinformationnotfoundinthemainstreammedia.ProjectCensoredhasagainreleaseditstop25mostunderreportednewsstories,markingalmost40yearsofthisproject.ThecriteriaforthisindependentprojectarestoriesnotcoveredbytheUScorporatemedia,andasalwaystherearesomeinterestingitemsamongsomepredictableones.

WerepleasedtoberunninganarticlebyLeonHortononthepitfallsoftriallingproductsandpharmaceuticaldrugsonhumans,andI'veaskedhimtoprepareanarticleforournextissueonthefraudulentpracticeoftestingdrugsandproductsonanimalsto"prove"humansafety.

Stillonhealth,WalterLastisbackwithanimportantarticleonhowtomanagetheimmunesystem.IhavetotakemyhatofftoWalter,asheiscontinuallyfindingnewandinterestingtitbitswhichheaskstobeincludedinhisarticlesatthelastminute.OnesuchitemthistimeisaresearchpapershowingthatthebraintissueofdeceasedAlzheimer'sdiseasepatientscontainsfungalinfections(seeGlobalNews).Giventhat

ADisstillanameallocatedtoacollectionofsymptomsonly,maybeitistimeforareexaminationoftheroleoffungalpathogensinthehumanbody.

Part2ofthe"SacredSolidsintheAtomicNucleus"articlecontinuestheexaminationofDrRobertMoon'smodelofplatonicsolidsandhowprotonsintheatomicnucleuscanbearranged.AsmentionedinearlierissuesofNEXUS,weknowofonesuccessfulantigravityexperimentwhereinthemain"factor"involvedanunderstandingoftheroleofthe"shape"oftheatomicnucleus.

I'mpleasedatlonglasttogiveGeorgeTrinkausamentioninthisissue.Georgeisanavidaccumulatorandresearcherofsuppressedand"lost"technology,asyoucanseefromavisittohiswebsite.InScienceNews,wepresentanextractfromarare1951USNavymanualaboutmagneticamplifiers.AlsoseehisletterinanswertocriticsofNikolaTesla.

Forthoseintoancientmysteriesandlostcities,wehavetwoarticlesthistime.AlistairCoombshasdoneagreatjobcoveringthemysteriesandmarvelsofNanMadol,amegalithiccomplexnearPohnpeiintheWestPacific.Wealsolookatwhatsomeconsidertobeacontenderfor"AtlantisinSpain"withanarticlebyStevenArtsaboutthelostcityofTartessos,locatedsomewhereinsouthwesternSpain.SeeTwilightZone.

Stillonancientmysteries,werepleasedtocontinueJackHeart'sfascinatingcoverageofexplorationsundertheGreatPyramidandtheSphinx.InotethatrecentlytherehasbeenmoreactivityatGiza,andsuggestionsofundergroundchambersareagaincomingtolight.Staytunedformoreaboutthisinthenextissue.

ThosewholiketoplanaheadmightwanttomakeanotethatI'vebookedtheNovotelTwinWatersResortontheSunshineCoastofQueenslandforthe2016NEXUSConferenceon18-19-20June.We'llgivealistofspeakersinournextissueandwillpostitonourwebsiteafterChristmas.Duncan

NASA’sDisinformationHelloDuncan:IhavesubscribedtoNEXUSmagazineformany

years.Ithinkthatoneofthemostimportantsubjectsinyourbroadnetofinterestsisthesecretspaceprogramandresultingmissionstoothermoonsandplanets,whichaccordingtothelateBenRich,engineerwithLockheedMartin'sSkunkWorks®,hasbeeninprogressfrompossiblythelate1950s.

We(particularlyusolderfolk)don'tallhavethesavvyandmeanstokeepupinthiscomputerage.ThegenuinestuffonYouTuberegardingcitiesancientandmodernontheMoonisabsolutelyincredible.HowNASAgetsawaywithitsdisinformationiscriminal.

Itwouldappearthattheastronomer-physicistMorrisK.Jessupwascorrectinhisassumptionthatacivilisationofhuman-likebeingssharedandinhabitedEarth,theMoonandMars.Unfortunately,itprovedadangerousandfatalrevelationforhim.

Highestregards,Mike

Nottingham,UK

ActionagainstPollutionHiDuncan:I'vebeenobservingalotofclimatechangediscussion

overthelast12monthsorso,andhavecometotheconclusionthatwhetherit'strueornotdoesnotmatter.

Whatdoesmatteristhatwhilewearecaughtupinadebateoverfacts,science,observationsandconspiracies,wearenotconcentratingonwhatwe(humanity)shouldbedoing.Ibelieveourplanetisinserioustrouble.Themorallyrightthingtodobytheplanetistostopabusingit,

andonewaytodothatistostoppollution.Inthiscontext,governmentsadoptingaclimatechangepolicywhich

favoursthenaturalenvironmentisagoodthing.Whetherornotthosesamegovernmentsdesignsuchpoliciestobenefitthewealthy,orifit'sjustlipserviceandtheydon'tactuallyenactitmeaningfully,thepointisthatthereisapolicythatsaystheywanttoreducepollution.Ibelievethat'sasmallstepintherightdirection.

Kindregards,DavidC.

Brisbane,Queensland,Australia

CosmicRadiationDangerHifriends:Herewegoagain!In1957,evenbeforetheVanAllen

beltswereofficiallydiscovered,theRussianscientistProfessorStanjoekowitsjsaidthatwhenastronautswalkontheMoontheywouldneedheavymetalsuitstoprotectagainstcosmicradiationandprotectivevehiclestoexploretheMoon.Thisis100percentevidencethattheRussianswereawareofthedangerofcosmicradiationontheMoon.

Hereisatranslatedquotefroma1957newsarticlethatwaspublishedintheNetherlands.Itisfromoneofthelastlinesinthearticle:"HumansshouldwearheavymetalsuitstoprotectthemfromcosmicradiationthatisconstantlypresentontheMoon.Also,itisnecessaryforhumanstodriveaheavyprotectivevehicletomovearoundontheMoon."

RegardsAdrian

TeslaCriticsBeratedDearDuncan:TheacademicantipathytowardsNikolaTeslashould

notbeunderestimated.IlearnedthisdirectlywhenIgavemyfirstTeslapublication,Tesla

Coil(1986),toaClaremontCollegesphysicsprofessorwhoflatlyrefusedtoreadit.

Inarecentradiointerview,thedirectoroftheCenterforSETI[searchforextraterrestrialintelligence]Research,DrSethShostak,whenaskedbyacallerforhiscommentsonTesla'swirelesspower,smuglyretorted,"IfTesla'ssystemworked,hewouldhavereceivedtheNobelPrize"—thusshuttingdownwhatmighthavebeenaninterestingconversation.Thisistypical.(Actually,TeslawasofferedaNobel,whichherefused.)

ThepersistentpressureoftheTeslaundergroundmovementhasthwartedtheestablishment'scampaigntorenderTeslacompletelyinvisible,anditisthismovementthathasforcedoutoftheclosetandintotabooterritorythelikesofProfessorW.BernardCarlson(authorofTesla:InventoroftheElectricalAge,reviewedinNEXUSAugust-September2015).Butthepersistentpressureofacademictraditionwillstilltempttheacademicbiographertomakeinvidiousremarksinordertowinpointswiththeanti-Teslaacademicculture.

CarlsoncriticisesTeslaforpublishinginpopularsciencemagazinesinsteadoftheapprovedscientificjournals.ButTeslaprofessionallywasnotascientist:hewasanengineerwhogavemanylecturestomeetingsoftheAIEE[AmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineers].AnumberofhisarticleswerepublishedinTheElectricalExperimenterandotherintelligentpopularsciencemagazinesofthetime,whichhavenocounterpartstoday.

Finally,consistentwithacademicfashion,CarlsoninsiststhatTesla'sradioandwirelesspowerdonotwork—theultimatedismissal.Thiswasthereasonforhisdownfall,academicsliketosay.

AsapublisherofTeslatechnologymaterialfor30years,Icantestifythatneitheracademianortheenvironmentalistliberalleftthatorbitsaroundithasshownahintofinterestinrevivingthetechnologyofaninventorwhodeclaredin1933:"Electricpoweriseverywherepresentinunlimitedquantitiesandcandrivetheworld'smachinerywithouttheneedofcoal,oil,gas,oranyotherofthecommonfuels."

GeorgeTrinkausHighVoltagePress,Oregon,USATeslaPress.com

CropCirclesasBlueprintsHiDuncan:ReadingAndyThomas'sround-upofthelatestcrop

circlesfromaroundtheworldintheOctober-NovembereditionofNEXUS[22/06],Iwasstruckbytwothings:theabsolutelackofanyconciseexplanationforsuchacontinuous(andcontinuing)worldwidephenomenon,and,moreimportantly,whatappearstobeaconcisecorrelationbetweenthecircledesigns.Theseobservationsledmetoaskthequestion:arecropcirclesactuallymechanicalblueprints?

Havingdonemyfairshareofcartographicimagingfornewinventionsovertheyears,whereinadevice'sdesignforthepreliminaryworkingmodelis"builtup"bythemultiplelayering(sectioning)ofimages,eachseeminglyunrelatedtothenextbutthewholeenablingthemachine'sendoperation,Iwasimmediatelystruckbythesimilarityofthesesectioningblueprintswithcropcircledesigns.

Iaskedmyself:whatifthesecirclesareindividualsectionsofagreaterwholedesign?Idecidedthatalittleinvestigationmayenlightenmysuspicions.

Havinganenquiringmind,Ihavebuiltupovermanyyearsquitealargecatalogueofaerialphotosofsuchcropcircles.AndsoIbeganmyenquirybycorrelatingoneswithasimilar"type"ofdesignfeature.Thistellsmethattherearebasicallytwotypesofcropcircledesign.

Thefirstisthe"even"design;thatis,bothsidesofthedesigncorrelatewith(mirrorimage)eachother,making,forexample,thepretty"floral"designs—butwithoneproviso,whichisthatmanyofthesefeaturean"offset"aspectsuchasthedistantsolidcircleintheStrzelnoexample,whichwillbecomemoreimportantfurtheron.

Theseconddesigncanbestbedescribedas"altogetheroffset";thatis,thedesignappearsconciseinitsarrangementbuthasasingularoffsetbuiltintoitsdesign.ThecropcirclesatEtchilhampton,MaidenCastle,HooMillandRavennaWaterskiClubareallgoodoffsetexamples.

Further,manyofthese,theAeroportodiTorino-Aeritalia,Etchilhampton,MaidenCastle,HooMillandRavennaWaterskiClubamongthem,allscreammechanicaldesign—specificallyoneslice,one

sectionedpieceofaninterlockingand/oroscillationfeaturewhichwoulddoanypatentofficeapplicantproud.

Stroud Green, near Hawkwell, Essex, UK, 21 July 2015, ©CropCircleConnector.com

OneexamplenotedbyAndyas"slightlywonky",fromStroudGreen,Essex,on21July,isaperfectexample.It'stheslightlywonkyaspectwhichgivesitaway,asanypendulum-makerorsteam-motorrestorerwilltellyou.It'sasectionofanharmoniccounterbalancerevolvingaroundapivot.

ManyaspectsofViktorSchauberger'svortexenergyinventions—theRepulsineandImplosionmotors,designsfarbeyondtheirtime—canbeseeninthesecropdesigns.

Anychildwhohasmadeaholeintheendofaschoolrulerwithapenknife,tiedthereinalengthofstringandwhirleditabovehisorherheadasa"bullroarer"cantellyouthattheresultsachieved(agreatroaring,whirringsound)havelittletodowiththeoriginalpurposeoftheimplementusedtoachieveit!Itismysuspicionthatthesedesignswilleventuallyprovetobeinpreciselythesamecategory.

Further,manymagneticpowerinventionsusepreciselysuchoffset

designstoachievetheirunpoweredperpetualmotion.Ihopemysuspicionswillfertiliseotherenquiringmindstopursue

suchatrainofthought,particularlysomeonewiththetimeandthewherewithaltopiece(layer)togetherthemyriadcropcircledesignsoutthereindifferentconfigurations.

Remember,therearerareeyewitnessaccountsofthe"little,brilliantglobesoflight"caughtmakingthesethings,andtheirprecisionsaysthatthey'renotjusthorsingaroundinthedark!

Regards,Peter,

Queensland,Australia

UNPLANSTOIMPLEMENTUNIVERSALBIOMETRICIDBY2030

Thankstoaseriesofinterlockingtreatiesandinternationalagreements,thegovernanceofthisplanetisincreasinglybecomingglobalisedandcentralised,butmostpeopledon'tseemalarmed.

During25to27September,theUnitedNationslauncheda"newuniversalagenda"forhumanity.ThePopetravelledtoNewYorkCitytogivetheaddressthatkickedoffthisconference,thusgivinghisconsiderableendorsementtothisnewplan.Virtuallyeverynationontheentireplanetwillinglysignedupforthe17goalsthatareincludedinthisplan,butthisstunningturnofeventsmadeveryfewinternationalheadlines.

TheUN’s17GlobalGoalsforSustainableDevelopment

Oneofthese17goalsistohavebiometricidentificationcardsinthehandsofeverysingleman,womanandchildontheentireplanetbytheyear2030.TheUnitedNationsisalreadyworkinghardtowardstheimplementationofthisgoal—particularlyamongrefugeepopulations.TheUNhaspartneredwithAccenturetoimplementabiometricidentificationsystemthatreportsinformation"backtoacentraldatabaseinGeneva".

Theso-calledIdentificationforDevelopment(ID4D)initiativewasoriginallylaunchedbytheWorldBank,whichisproudtobeworkingsidebysidewiththeUNtoget"legalidentity"intothehandsofall.

Thisisbeingframedasa"humanitarian"venturerightnow,butwillitalwaysstaythatway?(Source:ActivistPost.com,1November2015,http://tinyurl.com/patwfyp)

CHINA’SYUANONTRACKFORINCLUSIONINIMF’SBASKET

http://tinyurl.com/patwfyp

China'scurrency,theyuan,seemstobeontracktobeincludedintheInternationalMonetaryFund's(IMF's)benchmarkcurrencybasket,puttingitonparwiththeUSdollar,euroandpoundsterling.

AdraftreportbyIMFstaffwhohavebeenassessingtheyuan'stechnicalcriteriaseemstobefavourable.

ApositivereviewbyIMFstaffwilllowerthehurdleforboardapproval,asa70percentvotingmajorityisneededratherthanthe85percentwhichisnormallysetfortoughdecisions.TheIMF'sexecutiveboardiscurrentlyreviewingtheSpecialDrawingRight(SDR),aninternationalreservecomprisingthemajorcurrencies:theeuro,Japaneseyen,poundsterlingandUSdollar.

TheSDRcompositionisreviewedeveryfiveyears.TherehavebeensuggestionsthatChina'scentralbankhasbeenaggressivelytryingtoensurethattheyuanmakesittothebasketinthecurrentreview.

JoiningtheSDRcouldnotonlyboosttheyuan'sinternationalrecognitionandtheuseofthecurrencyglobally,butitisalsoexpectedtoliftChina'sfinancialpower.Inaddition,themoveisseenasasteptowardsBeijing'slong-termgoalofreducingitsdependenceonthedollarandplacingitselfasaseriouseconomicpowerintheinternationalarena.

FranceandtheUKhavebackedthemove,andGermanyandItalyareamongseveralwhohavesaidtheyareopentothemove,dependingonwhethertheyuanmeetsthetechnicalcriteria.TheUSisbelievedtohavegivenconditionalsupportfortheyuantojointheSDR.(Source:IBTimes,27October2015,http://tinyurl.com/pkamjn2)

ICELANDJAILEDBANKERSANDREJECTEDAUSTERITY-ANDIT’SBEENASUCCESS!

Whentheglobaleconomiccrisishitin2008,Icelandsufferedterribly—morethanmostothercountries.Thesavingsof50,000peoplewerewipedout,plungingIcelandersintodebtandplacing25percentof

http://tinyurl.com/pkamjn2

homeownersintomortgagedefault.Now,lessthanadecadelater,thenation'seconomyisbooming.This

yearitwillbecomethefirstculturallyEuropeancountrythatfacedcollapsetobeatitspre-crisispeakofeconomicoutput.That'sbecauseittookadifferentapproach.

Insteadofimposingdevastatingausteritymeasuresandbailingoutitsbanks,Icelandletitsbanksgobustandfocusedonsocialwelfarepolicies.InMarch,theIMFannouncedthatthecountryhadachievedeconomicrecovery"withoutcompromisingitswelfaremodel"ofuniversalhealthcareandeducation.

Icelandallowedthoseresponsibleforthecrisis—itsbankers—tobeprosecutedascriminals.ThisisinsharpcontrasttotheUSAandelsewhereinEurope,whereCEOsescapedpunishment.

Byrefusingtoallowitscurrency,thekrona,tosufferultra-lowinflationtoprotecttheassetsoftherich—asintherestoftheWest—Icelandletthekronatumble.Theresultinginflationandhigherpriceshavehelpeditsexportindustries,unlikewhathappenedinmanyEuropeanUnioncountrieswhicharecontendingwithongoingdeflation.

InearlyJune,Iceland'sMinisterofFinanceandEconomicAffairs,BjarniBenediktsson,announcedtheintroductionofa39percenttaxoncreditorsseekingtoreclaimassetsfromthecountry'sfailedbanks.AstheGuardianexplains,thisis"anattempttopreventforeigninvestorsrushingenmassetowithdrawbillionscurrentlyfrozeninIceland'sfinancialsystem".Thismoveandotheractionshave,unsurprisingly,drawntheireofothercountries—inideologicalandmeasurableways.

ByrefusingtohonourbankguaranteesgivenbyBritishandDutchinvestorsinIcesave—asubsidiaryofoneofIceland'smainbanks,Landsbanki—IcelandcreatedenemiesofitsEuropeanneighbours.Butithasnowrepaid85percentofUKclaims,andIceland'sfinanceministerannouncedrecentlythatallwillbesettledbytheendoftheyear.

WhenaskedwhyIcelandwasenjoyingsuchastrongrecoverywhileeveryoneelseisstillmiredindebt,PresidentOlafurRagnarGrfmssonsaidin2013:

"Whyarethebanksconsideredtobetheholychurchesofthemodern

economy?Whyareprivatebanksnotlikeairlinesandtelecommunicationcompaniesandallowedtogobankruptiftheyhavebeenruninanirresponsibleway?Thetheorythatyouhavetobailoutbanksisatheorythatyouallowbankersenjoyfortheirownprofittheirsuccess,andthenletordinarypeoplebeartheirfailurethroughtaxesandausterity.Peopleinenlighteneddemocraciesarenotgoingtoacceptthatinthelongrun."(Source:TruthDig.com,11June2015,http://tinyurl.com/qfvpf77)

DIFFERENTBRAINREGIONSINFECTEDWITHFUNGIINALZHEIMER’SDISEASE

ThepossibilitythatAlzheimer'sdisease(AD)hasamicrobialaetiologyhasbeenproposedbyseveralresearchers.Now,Spanishscientistshaveprovidedevidencethattissuefromthecentralnervoussystem(CNS)ofdeceasedADpatientscontainsfungalcellsandhyphae.Differentbrainregionsincludingtheexternalfrontalcortex,cerebellarhemisphere,entorhinalcortex/hippocampusandchoroidplexuscontainfungalmaterialwhichisabsentinbraintissuefromcontrols.

Analysisofbrainsectionsfrom10additionalADpatientsrevealedthatallareinfectedwithfungi.Fungalinfectionwasalsoobservedinbloodvessels,whichmayexplainthevascularpathologyfrequentlydetectedinADpatients.SequencingoffungalDNAextractedfromfrozenCNSsamplesidentifiedseveralfungalspecies.

ThepossibilitythatADisafungaldisease,orthatfungalinfectionisariskfactorforthedisease,opensnewperspectivesforeffectivetherapyforAlzheimer'ssufferers.(Source:Nature.com,15October2015,

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep15015)

90PERCENTOFPEOPLEKILLEDINDRONESTRIKESAREINNOCENTCIVILIANS

http://tinyurl.com/qfvpf77http://www.nature.com/articles/srep15015

AnanonymouswhistleblowerwithintheUSintelligencecommunityhasprovidedacacheofclassifiedintelligencedocumentstoTheIntercept,whichrevealthedysfunctionalnatureoftheAmericandronewarfare/targetedassassinationprogram.

Thestunningarrayofclassifiedinformationrevealsanextremelackofprecisioninthedroneassassinationcampaign,withonedocumentreportingthat"nearly90percentofpeoplekilledinairstrikeswerenottheintendedtargets"overonefive-monthperiod.

WhiletheObamaadministrationhasconsistentlystatedthatthedroneprogramisoperatedasaprecisionprogramcarriedoutwithstrictoversightandregulation,evidencerevealsthatthisisfalse.

"It'sstunningthenumberofinstanceswhenselectorsaremisattributedtocertainpeople.Anditisn'tuntilseveralmonthsoryearslaterthatyouallofasuddenrealizethattheentiretimeyouthoughtyouweregoingafterthisreallyhottarget,youwinduprealizingitwashismother'sphonethewholetime,"theintelligencewhistleblowertoldTheIntercept.

"Thisoutrageousexplosionofwatchlisting—ofmonitoringpeopleandrackingandstackingthemonlists,assigningthemnumbers,assigningthembaseballcards',assigningthemdeathsentenceswithoutnotice,onaworldwidebattlefield—itwas,fromtheveryfirstinstance,wrong."

Thesourceclaimsthatgatheringdigitaldatafromcellphonesandemailsistheprimarytoolusedbythemilitarytofind,fixandfinishitstargets,andsaysthatrelyingonsuchtactics"require[s]anenormousamountoffaithinthetechnologythatyou'reusing".

Thereportmakesitclearthatbadintelligencehasresultedinmanyinnocentpeople,includingUScivilians,beingkilledindroneattacks.

ThedocumentsrevealthattheUSgovernmenthasintentionallylabelledpeoplekilledindronestrikesas"enemycombatants",eventhoughtheywereinnowayintendedtobethetargetofthestrikeandhadnorelationtotheoperation.TheactionsbythegovernmentareintendedtomasktheactualextentofciviliansbeingkilledbytheUSdroneprogram.(Source:TheFreeThoughtProject.com,15October2015,

http://tinyurl.com/p3twde5;"TheDronePapers",October2015,TheIntercept.com/drone-papers)

DESPITEWHININGBYMONSANTO,ROUNDUPDOESCAUSECANCER-ANDMANYOTHERDISEASES

TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)isrightwhenitannouncedrecentlythatRoundup®weedkiller,alsoknownas"glyphosate",probablycausescancer.Inresponse,Monsantohasbeenwhiningthatthe

http://tinyurl.com/p3twde5

WHOiswrong.However,accordingtoProfessorDaveSchubert,headoftheCellular

NeurobiologyLaboratoryattheSalkInstituteforBiologicalStudies,USA:"Thereareanumberofindependent,publishedmanuscriptsthatclearlyindicatethatglyphosate...canpromotecancerandtumorgrowth.Itshouldbebanned."(TheSalkInstituteisoneoftheworld'stopbiomedicineresearchinstitutes,andin2009itwasrankednumberonegloballybyScienceWatchintheneuroscienceandbehaviourareas.)

Rounduphasbeenlinkedwithnumerousdiseasesincludingautism,dementia,thyroidandbladdercancer,kidneyfailure,bowelandintestinaldisease,highbloodpressure,obesityanddiabetes.Ithasbeenfoundin75percentofairandwatertested,andinvirtuallyallsanitarycottonproducts.CropsaredrenchedinRounduprightbeforeharvest,meaningthatwegetalotofitinourfood.

AndyettheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)recentlyraisedtheallowableamountofglyphosate—themainingredientinMonsanto'stoxicRoundup—by3,000percent,pretendingthatitwon'thaveadversehealtheffects.

TheEPAusesMonsanto'sownbiasedresearch—largelybasedonoutdatedstudiesfromthe1970s—topretendthatRoundupissafe.(Monsantostudiesfromthe1970sand1980s—sharedwiththeEPAatthetime—allegedlyshowedthatRoundupistoxic.)(Source:WashingtonsBlog.com,7November2015,

http://tinyurl.com/plxk3wk)

AMNESTYINTERNATIONAL:AUSTRALIASMUGGLESPEOPLE

MoreevidencehascometolightregardinganincidentinMaywhen65asylumseekersandthecrewofaboatonitswayfromIndonesiatoNewZealandwereinterceptedineitherIndonesianorinternationalwatersbyAustralianauthoritiesandescortedintoAustralianwaters.

Fiftyweretransferredunderfalsepretencesanddetainedincellson

http://tinyurl.com/plxk3wk

anAustralianBorderForcevesselforalmostaweek.Crewandasylumseekerswereforcedontotwosmallerboatslesswell-equippedthantheiroriginalvesselandescortedtointernationalwaters.

AmnestyInternationalsaidthatthecrewwasgivenmapsbytheofficialsshowingthemwheretolandinIndonesia.Theywereprovidedlittlefuel,andsubsequentlyoneoftheboatsranoutoffuelatsea."Theterrifiedpassengerswereforcedtodoadangerousmid-seatransferontotheremainingboatandwereeventuallyrescuedbyIndonesianlocalsafterhittingareef."

InAugust,AmnestyinterviewedthesixcrewmembersinIndonesiawheretheyremaininpolicecustody.ThecrewassertsthatAustralianofficialsgavethematotalofUS$32,000in$100notestoheadbacktoIndonesia.Thisaccountwasbackedupbyoneofthepassengers,andIndonesianofficialshavealsoconfirmedthatthiswastheamountseizedfromthecrewonarrival.

"Australiahas,formonths,deniedthatitpaidforpeoplesmuggling,butourreportprovidesdetailedevidencepointingtoaverydifferentsetofevents,"saidAnnaShea,RefugeeResearcheratAmnestyInternational.

InJune,thethenAustralianPrimeMinisterTonyAbbottstatedthatborderprotectionofficialshadbeen"incrediblycreative"incomingupwithstrategies.(Source:AlternativeNewsProject,29October2015,

http://tinyurl.com/pprr476)

UKGOVERNMENTINQUIRYACCIDENTALLYDELETEDDATABASEOFEVIDENCEONPAEDOPHILERINGS

Aninquirywhichwasintendedtoinvestigatewhypaedophileringsseemtobeexemptfromcapturehashaditsentiredatabasepermanentlyandcompletelydeleted.TheIndependentInquiryintoChildSexualAbuse(IICSA)issuedaformalapologyaftervitaltestimonyfromvictimsofchildsexualabusewas"instantlyandpermanentlydeleted"fromitsservers.

http://tinyurl.com/pprr476

TheInquirysaidthatthelossofdatawasduetoatechnicalmalfunction,whichdumpedanuntoldnumberoftestimoniesthatweresubmittedtoitsofficialwebsite.Itnowclaimsthattherewasnosecuritybreachandthat,whilethetestimonieswerelost,theprivacyofthevictimsisnotatrisk.

TheIICSA,whichwasestablishedbytheBritishHomeSecretary,TheresaMay,on7July2014,postedthefollowingstatementonitswebsiteon15October:

"Duetoachangeinourwebsiteaddresstohttp://www.iicsa.org.ukon14September,anyinformationsubmittedtotheInquirybetween14Septemberand2OctoberthroughtheonlineformontheShareyourexperience'pageofourwebsite,wasinstantlyandpermanentlydeletedbeforeitreachedourengagementteam.

"Weareverysorryforanyinconvenienceordistressthiswillcauseandwouldliketoreassureyouthatnoinformationwasputatriskofdisclosureorunauthorisedaccess.Duetothesecuritymeasuresonourwebsite,yourinformationcannotbefoundorviewedbyanyoneelseasitwasimmediatelyandpermanentlydestroyed.

"WewouldliketoapologiseagaintoanyonewhosubmitteddetailstotheInquiryduringthistimeandtoaskyoutopleaseresubmityourinformationthroughtheonlineform.AlternativelyyoucancalltheInquiryhelplineon08009171000tosubmityourinformationoverthephone,oremailourteamatcontact@iicsa.org.uk."

TheInquiryisbeingrunbyTheHon.LowellGoddard,DNZM,QC,aNewZealandjudgewhowillreceiveapaypackageofnearlyhalfamillionpoundsforherworkwiththegroup.(Source:TheTelegraph,UK,16October2015,http://tinyurl.com/o2kjk7d;TheFreeThoughtProject.com,19October2015,http://tinyurl.com/ovv3gyv

BOMBSHELLMEMOSREVEALBLAIRANDBUSHHAD“DEALINBLOOD”AYEARBEFOREIRAQINVASION

AbombshellWhiteHousememohasrevealedforthefirsttime

http://www.iicsa.org.ukmailto:contact@iicsa.org.ukhttp://tinyurl.com/o2kjk7dhttp://tinyurl.com/ovv3gyv

detailsofthe"dealinblood"forgedbytheUK'sTonyBlairandtheUSA'sGeorgeW.BushovertheIraqWar.

ThesensationalleakshowsthatBlairhadgivenanunqualifiedpledgetosignuptotheconflictayearbeforetheinvasionstarted.

ItfliesinthefaceoftheBritishPrimeMinister'spublicclaimsatthetime,thathewasseekingadiplomaticsolutiontothecrisis.Hetoldvoters:"Werenotproposingmilitaryaction."Thisisindirectcontrasttowhatthesecretemailnowreveals.

Thedamningmemo,fromUSSecretaryofStateColinPowelltoPresidentGeorgeW.Bush,waswrittenon28March2002,aweekbeforeBush'sfamoussummitwithBlairathisCrawfordranchinTexas.

Inthememo,PowelltellsBushthatBlair"willbewithus"onmilitaryaction.PowellassuresthePresident:"TheUKwillfollowourlead..."

AsecondexplosivememofromthesamecacherevealshowBushused"spies"intheLabourPartytohelphimmanipulateBritishpublicopinioninfavourofthewar.

Thedocuments,obtainedbytheMailonSunday,arepartofabatchofsecretemailsheldontheprivateserverofDemocraticpresidentialcandidateHillaryClintonwhichUScourtshaveforcedhertoreveal.

FormerToryShadowHomeSecretaryDavidDavissaid:"Thememosproveinexplicittermswhatmanyofushavebelievedallalong:TonyBlaireffectivelyagreedtoactasafrontmanforAmericanforeignpolicyinadvanceofanydecisionbytheHouseofCommonsortheBritishCabinet.

"HewashappytolaunderGeorgeBush'spolicyonIraqandsubcontractBritishforeignpolicytoanothercountrywithouthavingtheremotestabilitytohaveanyrealinfluenceoverit.Andinreturnforwhat?ForGeorgeBushpretendingBlairwasaplayerontheworldstagetoimpressvotersintheUKwhentheAmericansdidn'tevenbelieveitthemselves."

Daviswasbackedbyaseniordiplomat,withcloseknowledgeofBlair-Bushrelations,whosaid:"ThismemoshowsbeyonddoubtforthefirsttimeBlairwascommittedtotheIraqWarbeforeheevensetfootinCrawford.

"AnditshowshowtheAmericansplannedtomakeBlairlookanequalpartnerinthespecialrelationshiptobolsterhispositionintheUK."

ThePowelldocument,headed"SECRET/NOFORN...MemorandumforthePresident",liftsthelidonhowBlairandBushsecretlyplottedthewarbehindcloseddoorsatCrawford.

PowellsaystoBush:"Hewillpresenttoyouthestrategic,tacticalandpublicaffairslinesthathebelieveswillstrengthenglobalsupportforourcommoncause,"addingthatBlairhasthepresentationalskillsto"makeacrediblepubliccaseoncurrentIraqithreatstointernationalpeace".

Fivemonthsafterthesummit,DowningStreetproducedthenotorious"45minutesfromdoom"dossieronSaddamHussein'ssupposed"weaponsofmassdestruction".AfterSaddamwastoppled,thedossiersclaimswereexposedasbogus.

NowhereinthePowellmemoisadiplomaticroutesuggestedasthepreferredoption.

Instead,PowellsaysthatBlairwillalsoadviseonhowto"handlecalls"forthe"blessing"oftheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,andto"demonstratethatwehavethoughtthroughthedayafter"—inotherwords,madeadequateprovisionforapost-SaddamIraq.

Criticsofthewarsaythatthelackofpost-conflictplanninghascontributedtothelossofmorethan100,000livessincetheinvasion—andapowervacuumwhichhascontributedtotheriseofIslamicStateterrorism.

Significantly,PowellwarnsBushthatBlairhashit"domesticturbulence"forbeing"toopro-U.S.inforeignandsecuritypolicy,tooarrogantand'presidential'",whichPowellpointsoutis"notacomplimentintheBritishcontext".(Source:DailyMail.co.uk,17October2015,http://tinyurl.com/oxbp5hn)

CANCERSRISINGINJAPANSINCEFUKUSHIMADISASTERAshockingnewreport,"CancerontheRiseinPost-Fukushima

Japan",fromFairewindsEnergyEducation(FEE),revealsthattheongoingmulti-corenuclearmeltdownattheFukushimaDaiichiplantthatstartedinMarch2011hasproducedapproximately230timeshigherthannormalthyroidcancersinFukushimaPrefectureandcouldresultinasmanyasonemillionmorecancersinJapan'sfutureasaresultofthemeltdown.

AccordingtoFEE,dataprovidedbyagroupofesteemedJapanesemedicalprofessionalsaswellastheTokyoElectricPowerCorporation(TEPCO)confirmadirectlinkbetweenthetriplemeltdownandnumerouscancersinJapan.

The2014medicalprofessionals'report,"AirbornePlutoniumandNon-NaturalUraniumfromtheFukushimaDNPPFoundat120kmDistanceaFewDaysafterReactorHydrogenExplosions",revealsthattheincidenceofthyroidcancerisapproximately230timeshigherthannormalintheFukushimaPrefecture.

http://tinyurl.com/oxbp5hn

FEEstatesthatTEPCO'spressreleaseconfirmstheleukaemiadiagnosisforaTEPCOworkerduetohisongoingexposureduringthelastfouryearstoradiationfromtheFukushimatriplemeltdown.Sadly,duringtheearlymonthsoftheemergency,mostTEPCOworkersdidnotweartherequireddosimetersneededtomeasureeachemployee'sexposuretoradiation,whichhasmadeaccurateassessmentoftheradiationdosesreceivedbyTEPCOemployeesimpossible.

AstranscribedbyEnenews.com,ArnieGundersen,ChiefEngineeratFairewinds,statedon4November:"It'sbeenalmostfiveyearsfromtheFukushimaDaiichimeltdowns,andthenewsfromJapanisstillnotgood...Ibelieve,asdomanyofmycolleagues,thattherewillbeatleast100,000andasmanyasonemillionmorecancersinJapan'sfutureasaresultofthismeltdown.Sowhat'sthebottomline?ThecancersalreadyoccurringinJapanarejustthetipoftheiceberg.I'msorrytosaythattheworstisyettocome."

ThecontentoftheFEEreportdefieswhatarechronicallyunderestimatedradiationexposurelevelsandeffectsproducedbytheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency,TEPCOandtheJapanesegovernment.

Thepresent-dayradiationriskmodelisbasedonoutdatedscienceandadatasetextractedfromHiroshimaatomicbombsurvivors,andwasarrivedatbeforethediscoveryofDNAandknowledgeofuptosixordersofmagnitudehighergenotoxicitycausedbywhatisknownas"photoelectroninduction"associatedwithlow-doseradioisotopeexposure—thatis,theincorporationintoourtissuesofextremelylowdosesofradionuclidessuchasplutonium-239,uranium-238andover100othersproducedasbyproductsofthenuclearreactionsthatproducenuclearpower.

AstudypublishedinDecember2011intheJournalofEnvironmentalRadioactivityconfirmsthattheradioactivefalloutfromtheFukushimanucleardisasterreachedLithuaniaandincludedplutonium,themostdeadlyman-madeelement(nanogramfornanogram)inexistence.Accordingtotheauthors,theradio-isotopeconcentrationsmeasuredindicatethattherewas"long-rangeairmasstransport"fromJapanacrossthePacifictoNorthAmericaandthenacrosstheAtlantictoCentralEurope"asindicatedbymodelling".

Whatthismeansisthateveryregionunderthejetstream,whichincludeshalfoftheplanetnorthoftheequator,couldhavebeenexposedtosomedegreeofplutoniumfallout.Thisfactisallthemoredisturbingwhenweconsiderthatthereisnosuchthingasasafelevel,andthattheharm(onthehumantime-scale)doesnotdissipate:thehalf-lifeofplutonium-239is24,200yearsandthatofuranium-238is4,460,000,000years,whichisolderthanourplanet.

Clearly,withanthropogenicradioisotopeslikeplutonium-239havingthepotentialofcausingharmtobiologicalsystemsforhundredsofthousandsofyears,thehealthimplicationsofthisandothermeltdowns

areprofound.(Source:SayerJi,GreenMedlnfo.com,8November2015,

http://tinyurl.com/pofgbhd)

http://tinyurl.com/pofgbhd

PPROJECTROJECTCCENSOREDENSORED’’SSTTOPOP2525NNEWSEWSSSTORIESTORIES

Continuinganinitiativethatdatesbackto1976,theProjectCensoredteam has selected and judged the most important American andinternational news storiesof2014-2015 thatwereunderreportedorignoredbytheUScorporatemedia.

CompiledbyProjectCensored©2015ProfessorMickeyHuffDirector,ProjectCensoredMediaFreedomFoundationPOBox571,Cotati,CA94931,USAWebsite:http://www.projectcensored.org

1.HalfofGlobalWealthOwnedbytheOnePerCent

InJanuary2015,Oxfam,aninternationalnon-profitorganisationthataimstoeliminatepoverty,publishedareportstatingthatonepercentoftheglobalpopulationwillownmorewealththantherestofthe99percentcombinedby2016.

TheOxfamreportprovidedevidencethatextremeinequalityisnotinevitablebutistheresultofpoliticalchoicesandeconomicpoliciesestablishedandmaintainedbythepowerelite—wealthyindividualswhosestronginfluencekeepsthestatusquoriggedintheirownfavour.

Inadditiontoreportingthelatestfiguresonglobaleconomicinequalityanditsconsequences,theOxfamstudyoutlinedanine-pointplanthatgovernmentscouldadoptincreatingnewpoliciestoaddress

http://www.projectcensored.org

povertyandeconomicinequality.Accordingtothereport,theproportionofglobalwealthownedbythe

onepercenthasincreasedfrom44percentin2009to48percentin2014andisprojectedtoreach50percentin2016.

AnOctober2014Oxfamreport,"EvenItUp:TimetoEndExtremeInequality",revealedthatthenumberofbillionairesworldwidehadmorethandoubledsincethe2009financialcrisis,showingthat,althoughthoseatthetophaverecoveredquickly,thevastmajorityoftheworld'spopulationarefarfromreapingthebenefitsofanyrecenteconomicrecovery.

Evenmorestaggering,theworld'srichest85peoplenowholdthesameamountofwealthashalftheworld'spoorestpopulation.

"Failuretotackleinequalitywillleavehundredsofmillionstrappedinpovertyunnecessarily,"thereport'sauthorswarned.

Throughitsreportsandthe"EvenItUp"campaign,Oxfamdescribedhowtoaddresseconomicinequality,identifyingninespecificactions:

1. Make governments work for citizens and tackle extremeinequality.2.Promotewomen'seconomicequalityandwomen'srights.3. Pay workers a living wage and close the gap created byskyrocketingexecutiverewards.4.Sharethetaxburdenfairlytoleveltheplayingfield.5. Close international tax loopholes and fill holes in taxgovernance.6.Achieveuniversalfreepublicservicesby2020.7.Change the global system for research and development andpricingofmedicines so everyonehas access to appropriate andaffordablemedicines.8.Implementauniversalsocialprotectionfloor.9. Target development finance at reducing inequality andpoverty, and strengthening the compact between citizens andtheirgovernment.

Oxfam,inits"EvenItUp"report,calculatedthata"1.5percenttaxonbillionaires'wealthover$1bnin2014wouldraise$74bn",whichwould

be"enoughtofilltheannualgapsinfundingneededtogeteverychildintoschoolanddeliverhealthservicesinthepoorest49countries".

2.OilIndustryIllegallyDumpsFrackingWastewater

CaliforniastatedocumentsobtainedbytheCenterforBiologicalDiversityinOctober2014revealedthattheoilindustryhadillegallydumpedalmostthreebilliongallonsofwastewaterfromfracking(hydraulicfracturingtoextractoilandgas)intocentralCaliforniaaquifers.

AccordingtotheCenterforBiologicalDiversityreport,theleakingoccurredthroughatleastnineinjectiondisposalwellsusedbytheoilindustrytodisposeofcontaminatedwaste.

Theaffectedaquiferssupplywaterforhumanconsumptionandforirrigationofcropsforhumanconsumption.Thedocumentsalsorevealedthatwatersupplywellslocatedclosetowastewaterinjectionsitesweretestedandfoundtohavehighlevelsofarsenic,thalliumandnitrates,alltoxicchemicalslinkedtotheoilindustry'swastewater.

InJune2015,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)releaseditsstudyoftheimpactsoffrackingondrinkingwatersupplies.

AlthoughtheEPA'sassessmentidentified"importantvulnerabilitiestodrinkingwaterresources",itconcludedthat"hydraulicfracturingactivities...havenotledtowidespread,systemicimpactsondrinkingwaterresources".

Inresponse,Food&WaterWatchissuedapressreleasebyexecutivedirectorWenonahHauter,whowrote:"Sadly,theEPAstudy...fallsfarshortofthelevelofscrutinyandgovernmentoversightneededtoprotectthehealthandsafetyofthemillionsofAmericanpeopleaffectedbydrillingandfrackingforoilandgas."

NotingthattheoilandgasindustryrefusedtocooperatewiththeEPAonasingle"prospectivecasestudy"offracking'simpacts,Hauterconcluded:"Thisrevealstheundueinfluencetheindustryhasoverthegovernmentandshowsthattheindustryisafraidtoallowcarefulmonitoringoftheiroperations."

An aerial view of pits containing production water from oil wells nearCalifornia33andLokernRoadinKernCounty.(Source:eroHedge.com)

3.Eighty-NinePerCentofPakistaniDroneVictimsNotIdentifiableasMilitants

SincePresidentBarackObama'sinaugurationin2009,anestimated2,464peoplehavebeenkilledbydronestrikestargetedoutsideoftheUnitedStates'declaredwarzones.

ThisfigurewaspostedinFebruary2015byJackSerleandtheteamatTheBureauofInvestigativeJournalism,whomaintainadatabaseofallknownstrikes—basedonfieldwork,mediareportsandleakeddocuments—whichprovidesaclearerpictureofthescaleandimpactoftheUSdroneprogramthantheepisodicreportingprovidedbycorporatemedia.

AccordingtoBureaudata,al-Qaedamemberscompriseonlyfourpercentofthetotal2,379peoplekilledbyUSdronestrikesinPakistanasofOctober2014,justover10yearsafterthefirstsuchstrikes.Ofthetotalkilled,about30percentcouldbeidentifiedand11percentweredefinedasmilitants.

Littleisknownabouttheremaining1,675unnamedvictims.TheBureauofInvestigativeJournalismreportedthesenumbersafterconductingayear-longinvestigationthatcompiledinformationfromvarioussourcestoprovideanoverviewofdronestrikecasualties.

USdronemissionsareflownmainlyoverPakistan,wheretheCIAaimstoweakenal-QaedaandlimititsmovementintoneighbouringAfghanistan.

TheuseofunmanneddronesisseenasawaytominimiseinvolvementandresentmentinacountrythatischaracterisedbytheNewYorkeras"unstable"andthatisknowntopossessover100nuclearweapons.WhiletheunofficialdronewarforcontroloverthePakistan-Afghanistanborderendedinmid-2013,thedronecampaigncontinuedwithfivestrikesrecordedinJanuary2015,themostsinceJuly2014.

InJanuary,additionalstrikeswerereportedtohavekilledatleast45inSomaliaandthreeinYemen,wherea12-year-oldchildwasamongthecasualties.

TheBureauofInvestigativeJournalism'sfindingsunderminethe

validityofUSSecretaryofStateJohnKerry'sclaimthat"theonlypeoplewefireadroneatareconfirmedterroristtargetsatthehighestlevel".

Regardlessofwhetherornotthosekilledwereinfactdangerous,theinabilitytoaccountfortheiridentitiesinvitesscepticismtowardsUSmilitaryoperationsandraisesmoralconcernsaboutbasicrespectforhumandignity.

InApril2015,JeremyScahillreportedthataUSmilitarybaseinRamstein,Germany,isthe"thehigh-techheartofAmerica'sdroneprogram".Top-secretUSdocumentsobtainedbyTheIntercept,Scahillreported,provide"themostdetailedblueprintseentodateofthetechnicalarchitectureusedtoconductstrikeswithPredatorandReaperdrones".MostdronepilotsoperateintheUS,butdependonRamsteintocontroltheiraircraft.

4.PopularResistancetoCorporateWaterGrabbing

InJanuary2000,thepeopleofCochabamba,Bolivia,Ishutdownthecityinprotestagainsttheprivatisationoftheirmunicipalwatersystemwhichhadresultedinratehikesthatdoubledortripledtheirwaterbills.

InFebruaryofthatyear,PacificNewsServicecorrespondentJimShultzbrokethestoryintheWesternpresswith"AWarOverWater",hisfirst-handreportsofclashesbetweenriotpoliceandprotesters.

Onthe15thanniversaryoftheCochabambaprotests,popularresistancetocorporatewatercontrolcontinuestoexpandaroundtheworld,encompassingremunicipalisationofprivatisedwaterutilities,directactionagainstunjustwatershutoffs,andrainwaterharvesting.Acommontheme—accesstowaterasafundamentalhumanright—unitesthesethreeissues.

AsEllenBrownreported,today's"waterwars"notonlypitlocalfarmersagainstranchersorurbanites,butalsoinvolvenewcorporate"waterbarons"includingGoldmanSachs,JPMorganChase,Citigroup,TheCarlyleGroupandotherinvestmentfirmsthatarepurchasingwaterrightsfromaroundtheworldatanunprecedentedpace.

A2014reportonwatergrabbingdefineditintheseterms:watergrabbingreferstosituationswherepowerfulactorsareabletotakecontroloforreallocatetotheirownbenefitwaterresourcesattheexpenseofprevious(un)registeredlocalusersortheecosystemsonwhichthoseusers'livelihoodsarebased.

Itinvolvesthecapturingofthedecision-makingpoweraroundwater,includingthepowertodecidehowandforwhatpurposeswaterresourcesareusednowandinthefuture.

Theauthorsofthisreportidentifiedfive"interlinked"driversofthecurrent"newwaveofwatergrabbing":

Changingpatternsinglobalfoodmarketshavetriggeredarenewedinterestinacquiringlandandwaterresourcesforagriculturalproduction.

Risingoilpricesandconcernsthata"peakoil"periodhasbeenreachedhaveledtotheriseofagrifuelsthatuselargeamountsofwaterthroughouttheproductioncycle.Growingglobaldemandforrawmaterialsunderpinsthecontinuedexpansionoftheextractiveindustriesandlarge-scaleminingprojects—including,inparticular,hydraulicfracturingor"fracking".Themarket-basedmanagementofwaterresources,especiallytheprivatisationofwatersystemsandservices,whichjeopardiseswateraccessforpoorandmarginalisedgroupsinmanydevelopingcountries.Thefinancialisationofwaterutilities,infrastructuresandtheresourceitself.

Corporateeffortstoprivatisewaterrightsaremeetingrobustgrassrootsresistanceascommunitiesaroundtheworldasserttheirrightstodecidehowwaterresourcesareused.

Overthepast15years,asVictoriaCollierreportedforCounterPunch,therehavebeen180casesacross35countriesofwater"remunicipalization",withwatercontrolreturnedfromprivateownershiptothepublic."FromSpaintoBuenosAires,CochabambatoKazakhstan,BerlintoMalaysia,waterprivatizationisbeingaggressivelyrejected,"shereported.

Inoppositiontothefast-growingprivate-publicpartnership(PPP)model,whichCollierdescribedasamarketingeuphemismforprivatization",communitiesinJapan,theNetherlands,India,CostaRica,Brazilandothercountriesarenowpursuingpublic-publicpartnerships(PUPs)toforestallcorporatewatertakeoversandtodevelop"non-profit,public-drivensolutionsforwaterinfrastructureneeds".

5.FukushimaNuclearDisasterDeepens

The2011nuclearreactormeltdowninFukushima,Japan,continuesunresolved,despitebothassurancesbygovernmentauthoritiesandmajornewsmediathatthesituationhasbeencontainedandtheassessmentoftheUnitedNationsInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencythatJapanhasmade"significantprogress"incleaningupthesite.

ThecontinueddumpingofextremelyradioactivecoolingwaterintothePacificOceanfromthedestroyednuclearplant,withradiationalreadybeingdetectedalongtheJapanesecoastline,hasthepotentialtohaveanimpactonentireportionsofthePacificOceanandNorthAmerica'swesternshoreline.

WhileacknowledgingthatthewaterinremainingtanksattheFukushimafacilityisheavily"tainted",theJapanesegovernment'sNuclearRegulationAuthorityaffirmedinaDecember2014statementadecisiontodumpitintothePacific.

AsidefromthepotentialreleaseofplutoniumintothePacificOcean,TokyoElectricPowerCompany(TEPCO)admittedthatthefacilityisreleasingawhopping150billionbecquerelsoftritiumandsevenbillionbecquerelsofcaesium-andstrontium-contaminatedwaterintotheoceaneveryday.

Bycontrast,theJapanesegovernmentdoesnotallowover100becquerelsperkilogramtobesoldtoitscitizenry."Thiswatercontainsplutonium239anditsreleaseintotheOceanhasbothlocalaswellasglobalrepercussions,"wroteMichelChossudovskyofGlobalResearch.

InAugust2014,TEPCOacknowledgedthatnearlyeveryfuelrodatReactor3intheNo.1planthadmeltedasaresultoftheearthquakeandtsunami,SarahLazarereported,drawingonJapanesepresssources.

Previously,TEPCOhadestimatedthatonly63percentofthereactor'snuclearfuelhadmelted.TheTEPCOstatementalsonotedthatthefuelbeganmeltingsixhoursearlierthanpreviouslybelieved.Bothfactors,Lazarewrote,wouldmaketheextractionanddisposalofmeltedfuelmoredifficult.

MorethanfouryearssincethetsunamiandearthquakedevastatedFukushima,corporatemediadonottreattheongoingdisasteritselfassignificantlynewsworthy.Instead,mostdevelopingcorporatecoveragefocusesonwhetherothercountries,includingtheUSA,areadequatelypreparedifasimilartypeofnucleardisasterweretooccurelsewhere.

Certainlythisisanimportantconsideration,buttheplightoftheJapanesepeopledisplacedbythedisaster,nottomentionthelong-term,potentiallyglobalenvironmentalconsequences,remainsdramaticallyunderreportedinthecorporatepress.

InMay2015,theJapaneseNuclearRegulationAuthoritygavefinalclearancetotheSendaiNuclearPowerPlant,whichisownedandoperatedbytheKyushuElectricPowerCompany,torestartoperations.Itisthenation'sfirstnuclearpowerplanttoresumeoperations,undernewgovernmentregulations,sincethe2011Fukushimadisaster.

RussiaTodayreported:"Despiteobjectionsfromalmosttwothirdsofthepublic,[JapanesePrimeMinisterShinzo]Abewantsnuclearplantstosupplyabout20-22percentofJapan'senergyneedsby2030."

6.MethaneandArcticWarming’sGlobalImpacts

Inrecentyears,atmosphericmethanelevelshavereachedanall-timehigh.Agreenhousegasthatisaleadingcontributortoglobalwarming,methaneisfarmoredestructivethancarbondioxide.

InhisreportforTruthout,DahrJamailquotedPaulBeckwith,apart-timeprofessorofclimatologyandmeteorologyattheUniversityofOttawa:"...ourclimatesystemisinearlystagesofabruptclimatechangethat,unchecked,willleadtoatemperatureriseof5to6degreesCelsiuswithinadecadeortwo."Suchchangeswouldhave"unprecedentedeffects"forlifeonEarth.

ThemeltingofArcticicereleasespreviouslytrappedmethaneintotheatmosphere."WhathappensintheArctic,"Beckwithobserved,"doesnotstayintheArctic."

ThelossofArcticiceaffectstheEarthasawhole.Forexample,asthetemperaturedifferencebetweentheArcticandtheequatordecreases,thejetstreamincreases.ThisinturnspeedsthemeltingofArcticice.

DrLeonidYurganov,aseniorresearchscientistattheUniversityofMarylandandtheJointCenterforEarthSystemsTechnology,stated:"Increasedmethanewouldinfluenceairtemperaturenearthesurface.ThiswouldacceleratetheArcticwarmingandchangetheclimateeverywhereintheworld."

TheEastSiberianArcticShelf(ESAS)isoneareaofparticularconcern.Sometwomillionsquarekilometresinsize,theESASreleases17milliontonsofmethaneintotheatmosphereeachyear,accordingtoarecentstudy.

DrNataliaShakhova,aresearchassociateprofessorwiththeUniversityofAlaskaFairbanksInternationalArcticResearchCenter,reportedthatESASemissions"arepronetobenon-gradual(massive,abrupt)".

A2013study,publishedinNature,reportedthata50-gigaton"burp"ofmethaneis"highlypossibleatanytime".

7.FearofGovernmentSpyingis“Chilling”Writers’FreedomofExpression

Masssurveillancehas"badlyshakenwriters'faiththatdemocraticgovernmentswillrespecttheirrightstoprivacyandfreedomofexpression",accordingtoaJanuary2015PENAmericareportbasedontheresponsesof772writersfrom50countries.

ReportingforCommonDreams,LaurenMcCauleycoverednotonlythePENAmericareport,butalsoaJuly2014reportbytheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionandHumanRightsWatchindicatingthatUSjournalistsandlawyersincreasinglyavoidworkonpotentiallycontroversialtopicsduetofearofgovernmentspying.

8.WhoDiesattheHandsofUSPolice—andHowOften

Comparedwithothercapitalistcountries,theUnitedStatesisunquestionablydifferentwhenitcomestothelevelofstateviolencedirectedagainstminorities,RichardBeckerreportedinJanuary2015forLiberation.

Using2011figures,Beckerwrotethat,onapercapitabasis,"therateofkillingbyU.S.policewasabout100timesthatofEnglishcopsin2011".Similarly,USpolicewere"40timesaslikelytokillasGermanpoliceofficers",and"20timesaslikelytokillastheirCanadiancounterparts".

This,Beckernoted,isprobablynotthekindof"Americanexceptionalism"thatPresidentObamahadinmindwhenheaddressedgraduatingWestPointcadetsinMay2014.

ItisnotclearhowmanypeoplethatpoliceintheUSkilleachyear,sincethereisnofederalagencythataccuratelykeepstrackofsuchinformation.TheFBIcompilesannualstatisticsfor"justifiedhomicides"bypolice,andallreportedpolicekillingsareregisteredas"justified"killingsbytheFBI.

ParticipationinreportinghomicidestotheFBIbypoliceandsheriff'sdepartmentsisvoluntary,butonlyabout800policeagencies—outof18,000—providestatistics.

AccordingtoFBIstatistics,therewere461"justifiedhomicides"bypolicein2013,butthewebsiteKilledByPolice.netreportedthat"U.S.non-militarypolicekilled748peopleinjustthelasteightmonthsof2013,and1,100in2014".

TheKilledByPolicefigureswerecompiledusingestablishmentmediasources;butbecausenoteverypolicekillingisreported,andcheckingallnewssourcesacrossthecountryisvirtuallyimpossible,thesefigureslikelyunderestimatethenumberofpolicekillingsofcivilians.

InEngland,whichBeckercharacterisedas"alsoacapitalistcountrywithalonghistoryofracism",policedonotcarrygunsonpatrol.

OfficialrecordsindicatethatpoliceinEnglandfiredgunsonlythreetimeswhileondutyin2013,with"zeroreportedfatalities".

Inrecentmonths[late2014],therehasbeenanoutpouringofoppositiontopolicemurderintheUnitedStates.Hundredsofthousandshavetakentothestreetsinhundredsofcities,townsandcampuses.

"Asinallotherprogressivestrugglesthroughouthistory,"Beckerwrote,"itisthemovementofthepeopleinthestreets,schoolsandworkplacesthatisthekeytorealchange."

InJune2015,ateamofreportersattheGuardianfiledamajornewreportonpolicekillingsintheUS.

Summarisingfindingsfromthestudy,JonSwaine,OliverLaughlandandJamilesLarteyreportedthat102unarmedpeoplewerekilledbyUSpolicethroughthefirstfivemonthsof2015,andthat"agenciesarekillingpeopleattwicetheratecalculatedbytheUSgovernment".

Furthermore,theywrote:"BlackAmericansaremorethantwiceaslikelytobeunarmedwhenkilledduringencounterswithpoliceaswhitepeople."

Basedonanalysisofpublicrecords,localnewsreportsandtheGuardian'sownreporting,theynotedthat"32%ofblackpeoplekilledbypolicein2015wereunarmed,aswere25%ofHispanicandLatinopeople,comparedwith15%ofwhitepeoplekilled".

Overthefive-monthperiodcoveredinthestudy,Guardianresearchersidentified27peoplekilledbypoliceuseofTasers.Allbutoneofthesevictimswereunarmed.

Thestudyalsodocumented14officer-involveddeathsfollowingaltercationsincustody,includingthatofFreddieGray,whosedeathfromabrokennecksustainedinaBaltimorepolicevanledtopublicprotestsandtheindictmentofsixcitypoliceofficers.

9.MillionsinPovertyGetLessMediaCoverageThanBillionairesDo

InJune2014,FairnessandAccuracyinReportingpublishedastudyshowingthatABCWorldNews,CBSEveningNewsandNBCNightlyNewsgivemoremediacoveragetothe482billionairesintheUSthantothe50millionpeopleinpoverty,airingalmostfourtimesasmanystoriesthatincludedtheterm"billionaire"asstoriesincludingtermssuchas"homeless"or"welfare".

"ThenotionthatthewealthiestnationonEarthhasoneineverysixofitscitizenslivingatorbelowthepovertythresholdreflectsnotalackofresources,butalackofpolicyfocusandattention—andthisisduetoalackofpublicawarenesstotheissue,"FrederickReeseofMintPressNewswrote.

10.CostaRicaSettingtheStandardonRenewableEnergy

For75daysstraightduringthefirstmonthsof2015,thenationofCostaRicadidnotburnanyfossilfuelstogenerateelectricity.

Instead,asaresultofheavyrainfall,hydropowerplantsgeneratedalmostallofthecountry'selectricity.Thecountry'sgeothermal,windandsolarenergysourcesmaderelianceoncoalandpetroleumsourcesunnecessary.

11.PesticideManufacturersSpendMillionsonPRResponsetoDecliningBeePopulations

AMay2014studyfromHarvard'sSchoolofPublicHealthshowedthattwowidelyusedneonicotinoidsappeartocausesignificantharmtohoneybeecolonies.

InApril2015,Sciencemagazinepublishedtwoadditionalstudies,whosefindingscorroborateandextendthoseoftheHarvardstudy.

Neonicotinoidsareusedasseedtreatmentsinmorethan140crops.Theyaresystemicpesticides,meaningtheyareabsorbedthroughrootsandleavesanddistributedthroughoutanentireplant,includingitspollenandnectar.

Forpollinators,low-levelexposurecanleadtosublethaleffectssuchasalteredlearning,impairedforagingandimmunesuppression;athigherlevels,exposurecanbedeadly.

Inresponsetoscientificevidencelikethis,threeoftheleadingcorporationsthatproduceneonicotinoidpesticides—Bayer,SyngentaandMonsanto—haveengagedinmassivepublicrelationscampaigns,costingmorethanUS$100millionandemployingtacticssimilartothosethatBigTobaccousedfordecadestodenypublichealthfindings.

AsMicheleSimonreportedinastudyforFriendsoftheEarth,thesetacticsincludecreatingdistractionsbyblaminganythingbutthepesticidesfordocumentedcollapsesinhoneybeepopulations—including,forexample,blamingfarmersformisuseofthepesticides.Thesecompaniesalsoattackscientistsandjournaliststodiscredittheirfindings.

Atthesametime,Bayer,SyngentaandMonsantoattempttobuycredibilitybycultivatingalliancesandstrategicpartnershipswithfarmers,beekeepersandagriculturalorganisationsbyrepresentingthemselvesas"FriendsoftheBees".

Thus,forexample,MonsantoannouncedtheformationofaHoneyBeeAdvisoryCouncil,astrategicallianceofMonsantoexecutivesandothers.TheBritishBeekeepersAssociationreceivedsignificantfunding

fromBayer,Syngentaandotherpesticidecompanies;inreturn,itendorsedtheinsecticidesas"bee-friendly".

12.SeedsofDoubt:USDAIgnoresPopularCritiquesofNewPesticide-ResistantGeneticallyModifiedCrops

Despitenearly400,000petitionsignaturesfromcitizens,healthprofessionalsandfarmersexpressingpublicopposition,inSeptember2014theUSDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)approvedanewgenerationofgeneticallyengineeredcornandsoybeanscreatedbythebiotechcompanyDowAgroSciences.

ThenewEnlist™brandseedswilltolerateanewweedkilleralsoengineeredbyDow,calledEnlistDuo™,whichcombinesforthefirsttimetwocommonherbicides:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid,acomponentofthetoxicAgentOrangeherbicideusedduringtheVietnamWar,andglyphosate,thekeyelementinMonsanto'sRoundup®herbicide.

Sincesomeweedshavedevelopedresistancetoeither2,4-Dorglyphosate,Dowaimedtocombinethetwointoasingle,moreeffectiveherbicideinEnlistDuo.

TheUSDAapprovedthenewEnlistDuo-resistantseeds,eventhoughitacknowledgedthatthisapproval"couldincreaseuseof2,4-Dbyasmuchas600percentandpossiblyaffectnearbycropssuchastomatoesandgrapesnotengineeredtoresistthechemical"accordingtoAnastasiaPantsios'sreporting.

Herreportcontinued:"Asfarmershavebeenencouragedtodevotemoreandmoreacrestosinglecrops(aka'monocropping')andusehugedosesofglyphosate-basedherbicidestodealwithweeds,so-called'superweeds'havecroppedupthatareresistanttotheherbicides.Butmanyfarmersandfoodsafetyadvocatesfearthatincreasedapplicationsofmorepowerfulherbicideswillonlycausemoreresistantweedstoappear."

Theherbicide2,4-Dnotonlythreatenscropintegrity,butisalsoassociatedwithpublicsafetyrisksincludingvariousformsofcancer,Parkinson'sdisease,hormonedisruptionandbirthdefects.

Spokespersonsfornumerousorganisations,includingtheCenterfor

FoodSafetyandtheOrganicConsumersAssociation,condemnedtheUSDAdecision.PantsiosreportedthatWenonahHauter,executivedirectorofFood&WaterWatch,saidthat"theUSDAignoredpublicoppositionanditsresponsibilitytoprotectpublichealthandagriculture".

Hautercalledtheapprovalof2,4-D-readycrops"oneofthemostnegligentdecisionsthattheUSDAhasmadeinthenearlytwentyyearssincegeneticallyengineeredcropshavebeenonthemarket".

AsMaryEllenKustinandSorenRundquistreported,researchshowsthatalmost500elementaryschoolsarelocatedwithin200feet[-61metres]ofsoybeanandcornfields.

"Thisfindingisalarming,"theywrote,"becauseyoungchildrenareespeciallyvulnerabletothetoxicherbicide2,4-DinDowAgroSciences'EnlistDuo™..."KustinandRundquistnotedthatalthough"DowclaimsthatEnlistDuowouldnotdriftmorethan202feet[61.6metres]ifappliedproperly",theEPA'sownriskassessmentfoundthat"otherformulationsof2,4-Dhavedriftedmorethan1,000feet[~305metres]".

Theyconcluded:"TheEPAneedstopayconsiderablymoreattentiontotheadditionalexposurerisksbornebyyoungchildrenwholiveorstudynearcornandsoybeanfieldsthanitdidinitsriskassessment."

TherevolvingdoorbetweenMonsantoandtheUSgovernment.(Source:TheCornucopiaInstitute,http://tinyurl.com/mamce5b)

http://tinyurl.com/mamce5b

13.PentagonandNATOEncircleRussiaandChina

Inserviceofcorporatecapitalandwithvestedinterestsintheregions'naturalresources,thePentagonandtheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)havebeenencirclingRussiaandChinawithmilitarybasesandmissiledefencesystems,BruceK.Gagnonreported.

TheUShasestablishedmilitarybasesinRomaniaandBulgaria,withplansforanotherinAlbania,inanattempttosurroundRussia.

BaseswithmissiledefencesystemsarelocatedinTurkey,PolandandRomania,whileUSNavydestroyerswithcomparablecapabilitiesoperateintheBlackSea.

Similarly,NATOhasexpandedintoLatvia,LithuaniaandEstoniaonRussia'sborder,withtalkofGeorgia,Sweden,UkraineandFinlandjoiningNATOandthusaddingtothepotentialforencirclement.

USandNATOdeploymentisdesignedto"safeguardoilandgasfieldsinthe[CaspianSea]region",accordingtoGeneralJamesJonesin2006whenhewasNATO'sSupremeAlliedCommanderEurope.

TheUSNavyisalsopreparingtoincreaseitspresenceintheArctic,officiallyto"protectshipping".However,SenatorAngusKing(Independent-ME)hasobservedthatpreviouslyinaccessiblefossilfuelsintheArcticwillnowbeaccessible,suggestingthat,asintheCaspianSearegion,protectionofsealanesislinkedtothepotentialforincreasedoilextractionintheArctic.

InencirclingChina,theUSNavyhasAegis-equippeddestroyerswithmissilecapabilitiespatrollingtheregion.Inadditiontothenavalpresence,thereare30ground-basedmissiledefencesystemsinSouthKoreaaswellasatbaseslocatedinHawaii,SouthKorea,Japan,Guam,Okinawa,Taiwan,AustraliaandthePhilippines.

AuthorandprofessorNoamChomskyhasdescribedUSforeignandmilitarypolicyregardingoilsuppliesasa"leverofworlddomination".ControlovernaturalresourceskeepscompetingmarketsdependentontheUSaswellasinlinewithitsinterests.

14.GlobalForcedDisplacementTopsFiftyMillion

OnWorldRefugeeDay2014,theglobaltotalofpeoplewhohadundergoneforceddisplacementwasthehighestonrecordsinceWorldWarII.

A"GlobalTrends'reportcompiledbytheUNHCR(UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees)establishedafigureof51.2milliongloballydisplacedpeopleattheendof2013,anincreaseofsixmillionfrom45.2millionin2012.

Thegloballydisplacedpopulationconsistsofrefugees,asylumseekers,andinternallydisplacedpeoplewhohavefledtheirhomestootherpartsoftheirhomecountries.

Refugeesaccountfor16.7millionpeopleworldwide—includingoversixmillionwhohadbeeninexileformorethanfiveyearsbytheendof2013.

Overhalf(53percent)ofthe11.7millionrefugeesundertheUNHCR'smandatecamefromthreecountries:Afghanistan(2.56million),theSyrianArabRepublic(2.47million)andSomalia(1.12million).(TheremainingfivemillionPalestinianrefugeesareregisteredundertheUnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgency,UNRWA.)

Inaspanofjustfiveyears,Syriahasgonefrombeingtheworld'ssecond-largestrefugee-hostingcountrytobeingitssecond-largestrefugee-producingcountry.

Thereportdocumentednearly1.2millionasylumseekers,includingarecord25,300asylumapplicationsfromchildrenwhohadbeenseparatedfromorwereunaccompaniedbytheirparents.

Internallydisplacedpeopleamountedtoarecord33.3millionpeople,thelargestincreaseofanygroupinthe"GlobalTrends"report.TheUNHCRnotedthat"helpingthesepeoplerepresentsaspecialchallengeasmanyareinconflictzones".

Further,thereportnotedthatthefigureof51.2millionforciblydisplacedpeopledoesnotincludetheworldwidepopulationofstatelesspeople.

Notingthatstatelessness"remainshardtoquantifywithprecision",theUNHCRreportedafigureof3.5millionstatelesspeoplebasedondatareportedbythegovernmentsof75countries.However,recognisinglimitsinthatdata,theUNHCRestimatedthatstatelessnessaffectedcloserto10millionin2013.

15.BigSugarBorrowingTacticsfromBigTobacco

TheUnionofConcernedScientistsreportedinJune2014that"foodandbeveragemanufacturersalongwithindustry-supportedorganizationssuchastradeassociations,frontgroups,andpublicrelationsfirms"haveactivelysoughttoensurethatAmericanscontinuetoconsumesugarathighlevels.

Thesugarindustryhasadoptedmanyofthesametacticspreviouslydevelopedandemployedbythetobaccoindustry,includingattackingscientificevidence,spreadingmisinformationthroughindustrywebsites,researchinstitutesandtradeassociationstodeceivethepublic,deployingindustryscientists,influencingacademiaandunderminingpolicy.

16.USMilitarySexualAssaultofColombianChildren

Accordingtoan800-pagereportcommissionedbytheColombiangovernmentandtheRevolutionaryArmedForcesofColombia(FARC),USmilitarypersonnelrapedatleast54childreninColombiabetween2003and2007.

AdriaanAlsema,writingforColombiaReports,wasfirsttoreportthestoryintheEnglish-languagepresson23March2015.

Alsema'sarticlehighlightedthesubsectionofthereportauthoredbyscholarRenanVega,whodocumentedthatUSmilitarycontractorssexuallyabusedmorethan50underagegirlsinthetownofMelgarin2004.

Vegareported"abundantinformationaboutthesexualviolence"aswellastheUScontractors'"absoluteimpunity"dueto"bilateralagreementsandthediplomaticimmunityofUnitedStatesofficials".

AccordingtoVega,theUSmilitarycontractorsalso"filmed[theabuse]andsoldthefilmsaspornographicmaterial".

Alsema'sreportdocumentedadditionalinstancesofsexualabuse,includingthedruggingandrapeofa12-year-oldgirlbySergeantMichaelCoenanddefencecontractorCesarRuizin2007.

DespitewarrantsissuedforthearrestofCoenandRuizbyColombianprosecutors,thewarrantswerenotexecutedduetodiplomaticimmunitygrantedtoUSmilitarypersonnelandciviliancontractors.

Infact,Alsemareported,noarrestshavebeenmadeinanyofthecasesregardingchildrenrapedbyUSmilitarycontractors.

17.Media“Whitewash”Senate’sCIATortureReport

AlthoughthecorporateandprogressivepressalikefocusedpublicattentionontheUSSenateIntelligenceCommittee'sDecember2014reportontheCIA'ssecretprogramofabductions,"brutal"interrogationsandtortureofterrorismsuspects,NafeezAhmedreportedthatthiscoveragehas"whitewashedtheextenttowhichtorturehasalwaysbeenanintegralandsystematicintelligencepracticesincethesecondWorldWar".

DespitePresidentBarackObama'sclaimsthatheofficiallybannedtorturein2009,thesepracticescontinuetoday,"underthecarefulrecalibrationofObamaandhisseniormilitaryintelligenceofficials",servingto"legitimizetheexistenceandexpansionofthenationalsecurityapparatus",Ahmedwrote.

PresidentObamadidnotbantorturein2009,Ahmedreported,andnowhisadministrationis"exploitingthenewSenatereporttoconvincetheworldthattheintelligencecommunity'ssystematicembroilmentintorturewasmerelyaBush-eraaberrationthatisnowsafelyinthepast".

Infact,Obama's2009executiveorder"rehabilitatedtorture".ThatorderrequiredthatinterrogationtechniquesfittheUSArmyFieldManual,whichcomplieswiththeGenevaConventionprohibitionsagainsttorturethatdatebackto1956.

However,in2006,revisionstothemanualadded19differentmethodsofinterrogationthat"wentfarbeyondtheoriginalGeneva-inspiredrestrictions"ofthepreviousfieldmanual.

Atthetime,Obama'sDirectorofNationalIntelligence,AdmiralDennisBlair,advisedtheSenateIntelligenceCommitteethattheArmyFieldManualrevisionsallowing"newformsofharshinterrogation"wouldremainclassified.

"Whatweareseeingnow,"Ahmedwrote,"isnottheObamaadministrationputtinganendtotorture,butratherputtinganendtotheopenacknowledgementoftheuseoftortureasaroutineintelligencepractice."

TheSenate'scompletereportranto6,700pages,yetafterWhiteHouseobjectionsonlya499-pagesummarywaspublishedinDecember2014,withsignificantdetailsredacted.

AstheBureauofInvestigativeJournalismreported,lessthanonequarterofthe119detaineesnamedintheSenatereportontheCIA'ssecrettortureprogramareactuallyhousedattheGuantanamoBaymilitaryprison.

TheBureau'sinvestigationhasproducedadatabaseprovidingdetailsofwhatoccurredtoeachofthe119individuals.

ResearchbytheBureauofInvestigativeJournalismdocumentedthatonly36individualsofthe119weresenttoGuantanamoafterCIAinterrogation.Ofthese,29remainedasofJanuary2015.Sevenofthe36werereleasedbetweenMarch2007andJanuary2010,withsixmovedabroadandonesenttoamaximum-securityprisonontheUSmainland.

18.ICREACH:TheNSA’sSecretSearchEngine

BasedondocumentsleakedbyEdwardSnowden,RyanGallagherreportedforTheInterceptthattheNationalSecurityAgency(NSA)hasdevelopeda"Google-like"searchenginecalledICREACH,whichhasthecapacitytogatherpersonalinformation.

Thissearchenginecanaccessover850billionpersonalrecords,includingprivatephonecalls,emails,Internetchatsandsomecellphonelocations.TheNSAissharingthedatacollectedthroughitsICREACHprogramwithnearlytwodozenUSgovernmentagencies.

"Thedocumentsprovidethefirstdefinitiveevidence,"Gallagherwrote,"thattheNSAhasforyearsmademassiveamountsofsurveillancedatadirectlyaccessibletodomesticlawenforcementagencies."

PlanningdocumentsspecificallyidentifytheFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI),theCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)andtheDrugEnforcementAdministration(DEA)as"coremembers",Gallagherreported.

AccordingtoaDecember2007NSAsecretdocument:"TheICREACHteamdeliveredthefirst-everwholesalesharingofcommunicationsmetadatawithintheU.S.IntelligenceCommunity."

TheInterceptreportedthatonekeyissueraisedbytheICREACHprogramiswhetherdomesticlawenforcementagencies,suchastheFBIortheDEA,haveusedICREACHtotriggersecretinvestigationsofUScitizensthroughacontroversialprocessknownas"parallelconstruction".

AsGallagherexplained,parallelconstructioninvolvesinformationgatheredcovertlybylawenforcementagents,whosubsequentlycreateanewevidencetrailthatexcludestheoriginal,covertone.

"Thishidesthetrueoriginoftheinvestigationfromdefenselawyersand,onoccasion,prosecutorsandjudges—whichmeansthelegalityoftheevidencethattriggeredtheinvestigationcannotbechallengedincourt."

19.“MostComprehensive”AssessmentYetWarnsAgainstGeoengineeringRisks

TwocomprehensivereportsbydozensofresearchersconvenedbytheNationalAcademyofSciences(NAS)offered"afairlydamningcritiqueofgeoengineering",accordingtoTimMcDonnellofMotherJones.

Highlycontroversial,geoengineeringreferstotechnologicaleffortstocounteractglobalwarmingbyalteringtheatmosphere'schemicalcomposition.

ThefirstofthetwoNASreportsfoundthatmostproposalstoremovecarbondioxidefromtheatmosphere—throughprocessessuchasfertilisingtheoceanwithirontodissolvecarbondioxide—aretooexpensivetobeimplementedwidely.

However,asRobinsonMeyerreportedintheAtlantic,aFebruary2015UniversityofOxfordstudyfoundthatreforestation—plantingtrees—isamongthe"mostpromising"short-termresponsestoclimatechange.

TheAcademy'ssecondreportevaluatedproposalstoseedtheatmospherewithparticlestoreflectsunlightbackintospace,aprocessknownas"albedomodification".AccordingtotheNASstudy,albedomodificationisinexpensivecomparedwithcarbondioxideremovalproposalsbutinvolvesunknownrisks.

Implementingtechnologiestoblocksolarradiationwouldentail"significantpotentialforunanticipated,unmanageable,andregrettableconsequencesinmultiplehumandimensions.includingpolitical,social,legal,economic,andethicaldimensions"accordingtotheauthorsoftheNASstudy.

AsJeremySchulmanreportedinasubsequentarticleinMotherJones,KenCaldeira,oneoftheclimatescientistswhofirstranmodelstotestpotentialgeoengineeringsolutions,continuestoadvocategeoengineeringresearch—butnotasanimmediateorbestresponse.

AsSchulmanreported,Caldeirawould"muchratherstaveoffglobalwarmingbydrasticallycuttingcarbonemissions".Caldeira'sstance

alignswiththeconclusionsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences.

20.FBISeeks“Backdoors”inNewCommunicationsTechnology

RespondingtoannouncementsbyAppleandGooglethattheywouldmakecustomers'smartphoneandcomputerdatamoresecure,inOctober2014theFBI'sdirectorJamesComeyannouncedthattheBureauwasseekingtoenlargeitsdatacollectioncapabilitiestoincludedirectaccesstocellphones,tabletsandcomputersthroughanexpansionofthe1994CommunicationsAssistanceforLawEnforcementAct(CALEA).

ComeytoldanaudienceattheBrookingsInstitutionthatexpandingsurveillancewasintheinterestofpublicsafetytoprotectthenationagainstpotentialterroristthreats.

AccordingtotheFBIdirector:"Unfortunately,thelawhasn'tkeptpacewithtechnology,andthisdisconnecthascreatedasignificantpublic-safetyproblem."

Specifically,ComeycalledonCongresstoupdateCALEAtomandateallsoftwareandhardwareproviderstobuildinterceptionmethodsintotheirproductsandservices.

21.TheNewAmazonoftheNorth:CanadianDeforestation

Since2000,Canadahasledtheworldindeforestation,despitebeingovershadowedbyreportsoftheforestsinBrazilandIndonesia.

Withonly10percentoftheworld'sforests,Canadanowaccountsfor21percentofalldeforestationintheworld.Surgesinoilsandsandshalegasdevelopment,loggingandroadexpansionhavebeenthemajorcontributorstothedestructionofCanada'sforests.

AccordingtoStephenLeahy,writingfortheInterPressService,deforestationbyCanadaandothercountriesdepositsmorecarbondioxideintotheatmospherethandoesalloftheworld'stransportationmachinery.

22.GlobalKillingofEnvironmentalistsRisesDrastically

A2014report,DeadlyEnvironment,bythenongovernmentalorganisationGlobalWitnessrevealedthatfrom2002to2013atleast908peoplegloballywerekilledduetotheirenvironmentaladvocacy,withtherateofmurderdoublinginthelastfouryears.

LatinAmericaandAsiashowthehighestratesofviolenceastensionsoverlimitednaturalresourcesintheseregionsescalate.WillPotterwroteforForeignPolicythat,today,"Brazilremainsoverwhelminglymoredangerousforenvironmentaliststhanothercountries".

TwiceasmanyenvironmentalistswerekilledinBrazilasinanyothercountry.However,Brazilisjustoneespeciallystrikingcaseinwhatisaglobaltrend.

ThoughtheGlobalWitnessreportissignificant,ithaslimitationsofitsown,Potternoted."Theresearchisconfinedto74countriesinAfrica,Asia,andCentralandSouthAmerica,anditonlyincludesmurders,"heobserved.

"Nonlethalviolenceandintimidation,which[are]muchmorepervasive,areleftout."Further,thereportdoesnotaddressthe"well-documentedhistoryofviolenceagainstenvironmentalistsinWesterncountries".

23.UnprocessedRapeKits

AreportbytheWhiteHouseCouncilonWomenandGirlstitled"RapeandSexualAssault:ARenewedCalltoAction",issuedinJanuary2014,revealedthatnearlyoneinfiveUSwomenhaveexperiencedrapeorattemptedrapeintheirlifetime.

Furthermore,thereportindicatedthat,althoughthetestingofrapekits—forensicexamsthatcollectevidenceofrapeorsexualassault,includingtheperpetrator'sDNA—canbe"vitalfortheprosecutionofcases",abacklogofuntestedrapekitsmayfactorintolowrapeprosecutionrates.

ThereportdescribedaDNABacklogReductionProgram,administeredthroughtheNationalInstituteofJustice,whichwouldfund120stateandlocalcrimelabstoconductDNAtesting.

InMarch2014,theWhiteHouseannouncedthatitsfiscalyear2015budgetwouldprovide$35millionforanewgrantprogramto"inventoryandtestrapekits,developcoldcase'unitstopursuenewinvestigativeleads,andsupportvictimsthroughouttheprocess".

24.NSA’sAURORAGOLDProgramHacksCellphonesaroundtheWorld

TheNationalSecurityAgency(NSA)hashackedcellphonenetworksworldwideformanyyears,accordingtoareportinTheInterceptbasedondocumentsprovidedbyEdwardSnowden.

RyanGallagher'sarticleanalysedthecontentsofatleastnineNSAdocumentsthatshowhowtheNSAhasspiedonhundredsofcompaniesaswellasothercountriesthatareclosetotheUS.

AsGallagherreported,throughasecretprogramcodenamedAURORAGOLDtheNSAsought"securityweaknessesincellphonetechnology"to"exploitforsurveillance".

Furthermore,Gallagherwrote,thedocumentsalsorevealedNSAplans"tosecretlyintroducenewflawsintocommunicationsystems"whichwouldmakethosesystemseasierfortheNSAtoaccess—a"controversialtacticthatsecurityexpertssaycouldbeexposingthegeneralpopulationtocriminalhackers".

AURORAGOLDmonitoredthecontentsofmessagessentandreceivedbyover1,200emailaccountsassociatedwithmajorcellphoneserviceproviders.

Insomecases,thisallowedtheNSAtointercept"confidentialcompanyplanningpapers"thatwouldhelpit"hackintophonenetworks",Gallagherwrote.

"EvenifyoulovetheNSAandyousayyouhavenothingtohide,youshouldbeagainstapolicythatintroducessecurityvulnerabilities,"saidKarstenNohl,aleadingcellphonesecurityexpertandcryptographer,"becauseonceNSAintroducesaweakness,avulnerability,it'snotonlytheNSAthatcanexploitit".

TheexistenceoftheNSAsurveillanceunitsthatconductedAURORAGOLDhasnotbeenpubliclydisclosed.

However,theNSAdocumentsrevealedthatasofMay2012,theagencyhadtechnicalinformationon"about70percentofcellphonenetworksworldwide—701ofanestimated985—andwasmaintaininga

listof1,201email'selectors'usedtointerceptinternalcompanydetailsfromemployees",wroteGallagher("Selector"isanNSAtermforauniqueidentifier,suchasanemailaddressoratelephonenumber.).

AURORAGOLDappearstohavebeenactivesince2010,accordingtothedocuments.

SummarisingNohl'scomments,Gallaghernotedthat"thebroadscopeofinformationsweptupintheoperationappearsaimedatensuringvirtuallyeverycellphonenetworkintheworldisNSAaccessible".

25.Greenland’sMeltwaterAddstoRisingSeaLevels

InFebruary2015,TimRadfordreportedfortheClimateNewsNetworkthatatmosphericwarmingiscapableofreachingthousandsofmetresbelowGreenland'smassiveicesheet,potentiallyincreasingtheglaciers'rateofflowandcreatingpoolsof"meltwater"trappedbelowtheice.Twoseparatebutrelatedstudiesconfirmedthatsurfacemeltcandraindowntofillconcealedlakesundertheice,ultimatelycontributingtorisingsealevels.

Editor’sNote

ThisarticleiseditedfromProjectCensored’scompilation.Toseethecompletetext,linksandreferences,gotowww.projectcensored.org/category/top-25-of-2014-2015.ThebookCensored2016:MediaFreedomontheLineisnowavailablefromhttp://www.projectcensored.org.

http://www.projectcensored.org/category/top-25-of-2014-2015http://www.projectcensored.org

TTRIALSRIALSAANDNDTTRIBULATIONSRIBULATIONS

TTHEHE TTRUTHRUTH AABOUTBOUT CCLINICALLINICAL RRESEARCHESEARCH

Many people willingly participate in clinical trials that test productsand treatments,but feware inclined tovolunteer forpharmaceuticaldrug trials. Even though strict guidelines are mandated, testing onhumanscanhaveunforeseenconsequences.

byLeonHorton©October2015Email:leonhorton@live.co.uk

Volunteeringforclinicalresearchtrialscanbearewardingexperience,notleastfinancially—orsotheliteraturewouldhaveusbelieve.

Toofferoneselfasaguineapigforthefuturebenefitofothersisundoubtedlyaselflessact,butunderwhatsafeguardsarethesestudiesconducted?Whatsortofpeoplevolunteerforthem?Andwhatwouldtheysaytoanyoneinterestedingettinginvolved?Anoccasionaltestsubject,Ihaveputclinicalresearchunderthemicroscope.

"Youdon'twanttodothat—youmightgrowasecondhead."ThusopinedmyfriendwhenItoldhimI'dsigneduptotestanewhygieneproductforsomeextracash.

Quitehowamouthwashmightresultinanextranogginisanyone'sguess;butwithseveralhigh-profileaccusationsofclinicalmalpracticelevelledatpharmaceuticalanddrug-testingcompaniesinrecentyears,Idecidedtoconductalittleresearchofmyown.

WiththeannouncementinSeptember2014thattheUKNationalHealthService(NHS)communicationsmanager,RuthAtkins,had

mailto:leonhorton@live.co.uk

volunteeredtobeinjectedwithanEbolavaccinecontaininggeneticmaterialfromtheZairestrainofthevirus,themediawerechampingatthebitwithspeculationanddoommongering.

Fewseemedinterestedinreportingthatthevaccineisbasedonabenigncold-likevirusfoundinchimpanzees,thatitcannotcausethevolunteertodevelopEbola,orthatitsimplyallowstherecipient'scellstoreleaseaproteinandthuscreateanimmuneresponse.Thatwouldn'tmakegoodcopy.

Rather,itseems,themediaprefertowaitwithready-madeheadlines,hopingforthekindofnegativecoveragethatsellsnewspapers—and,yes,Icanseetheironyinthatstatementgiventheverynatureofthisarticle.

Ithinkmuchofthisispsychological:say"clinicalresearch"andmostpeople,likemyaforementionedfriend,presumeyoumean"drugtesting"andwillregaleyouwithsecond-handhorrorstoriesofexplodingbrains,spontaneoussexchangesandtheacquisitionoftertiarynipples.

Suchfears,ofcourse,arenotwithoutprecedence.FromthehorrorsofNazidoctorsconductingexperimentsonconcentrationcampvictimsduringWorldWarIItothethalidomidescandalof1957-1961,clinicalresearchcommunitieshavefacedseriousPRproblemswhenitcomestoallayingourconcernsabouttheworktheydointhenameofprogress.

Butthatplaysintothehandsofthedetractorssomewhat,sincemanythousandsofclinicalresearchstudiesareconductedeveryyear,withoutincident,withoutsideeffectsandwithouthittingtheheadlines.Andwhereasalldrugtestingcomesunderthebannerofclinicalresearch,notallclinicalresearchstudiesconcerndrugtesting.

ABriefHistoryofClinicalTrialsandEthicalStandards

TheFirstClinicalTrial,1747

Thefirstproperclinicalresearchtrialcameinthewakeofthediseasescurvyanditscatastrophiceffectsonthewelfareofsailorson

long-distancevoyages.PhysicianJamesLindconductedthetrialoninfectedsailorsandestablishedbeyonddoubtthatscurvyiscausedbyvitaminCdeficiency.

TheNuremburgCode,1947

AttheendofWorldWarII,NazidoctorswhohadperformedhumanexperimentsweretriedatthewarcrimestribunalinNuremburg.Duringthetrials,theNuremburgCodewasdraftedasasetofstandardsforjudgingphysiciansandscientistswhohadconductedbiomedicalexperimentsonconcentrationcampprisoners.Thisbecamethefoundationofmanylatercodesintendedtoensurethatclinicalresearchinvolvinghumansubjectsiscarriedoutinanethicalmanner.

TheThalidomideScandal,1957-1961

Inthe1950s,thalidomidewasdevelopedasananticonvulsantdrugandintroducedontotheGermanmarketwithoutanygovernmentalreview.Thalidomidewasprescribedtoexpectantmotherstocontrolthesymptomsofmorningsickness,andledtomanybabiesbeingbornwithseverephysicaldisabilities.

TheDeclarationofHelsinki,1964

TheethicalprinciplessetoutintheNuremburgCodewereelaboratedonandclarifiedbytheWorldMedicalAssociation.TheDeclarationofHelsinkiprovidestheethicalfoundationfortheEuropeanClinicalTrialsDirectiveaswellasallUKclinicalresearchlegislation.

GoodClinicalPractice(GCP),1996

Theclinicaltrials“bible”wasintroduced,thecontentsofwhichhavebeenimplementedintheEuropeanclinicaltrialsqualitystandardsthroughtheClinicalTrialsDirectiveof2001andtheGCPDirectiveof2005.ThesedirectiveshavebeenturnedintolawbyeachoftheEUmemberstates.

BadClinicalPractice,2001

Publishedsimultaneouslyin12majorjournals,ajointeditorialexposedthelevelsofcontrolthatsponsorsexertoverclinicaltrials,attackingtheuseofcontractsthatallowsponsorstoreviewthestudiespriortopublicationand,iftheywishit,suppresstheresults.

UglyClinicalPractice,2012

PharmaceuticalgiantGlaxoSmithKlinewasfinedUS$3billionforcivilandcriminalfraudafterpleadingguiltytochargesrelatingtounlawfulpromotionofprescriptiondrugs,bribingdoctors,withholdingdata,andmakingfalseandmisleadingclaimsaboutthesafetyofdrugs.

AllTrialsCampaign,2013

Callingforalltrialstoberegisteredandtheresultsreportedandmadepubliclyavailable,theAllTrialscampaignwaslaunchedinJanuary.Withinmonths,thecampaigngrewtobecomethemainstream,normativepositionintheUK,withtheMedicalResearchCouncil,theWellcomeTrustandevenGlaxoSmithKlinesigninguptoanewagreementfortransparencyinresearch.

TrialandTrialAgain,2015

FormerpriestAdrianHailerannouncedhisintentiontosueNovartisafterhedevelopedbraindamagefollowingatrialforamedicationtotreatabonemarrowcondition.ThedrugwasapprovedbytheEUinAugust2012.

Aclinicaltrialisbestdefinedaseitherabiologicalorabehaviouralresearchstudyonhumantestsubjects,designedtoanswerspecificquestionsregardinganythingfromtheeffectsofanewvaccineordrug,toeffectivetreatmentmodelsforbiologicalorbehaviouraldisorders,totherequirementsofcertainhealthconditions,totestingnewdevicesandhealthcareproductsintendedfortheopenmarket.

Forthemajorityofthosewhovolunteerforsuchstudies(andIincludemyselfinthis),theexperiencehasonlyeverbeenpositive.

ProductTesting

FormersocialcaresupportworkerNeal,52,startedvolunteeringwithIntertek,atestingandcertificationcompanyforthechemicalsandtextilesindustries,afterafriend,alreadyavolunteer,recommendedit.

"Iwaswaitingtostartanewjobandneededsomeextracash.Asasingleparent,myreasonsforsigningupweremostlyfinancial,butIwasalsocuriousabouttheworktheyweredoing,"saysNeal."Iendeduptestinganewdeodorant."

Sohowdidhefindtheexperience?"Itwasfascinating.Imetsomenicepeople,andthemoneycameinhandy,"recallsNeal."Thedeodorantgavemearash,butitsoonclearedup."

Wouldheeverconsiderdrugtesting?"Iwouldn'truleitout.Itwoulddependwhatitwasfor.I'mquiteopentonewexperiences.Lastyear,ItookpartinasunburnstudyforManchesterUniversitythatinvolvedtakingseveralbiopsiesfrommybuttocks."

Testinganewdeodorantisclassifiedasa"low-risk"study,butunderUKstatutorylawitiseverybitassubjecttothestringentregulationslaiddownintheguidelinesforGoodClinicalPractice(GCP)aswouldbe,say,anewantiviraldrugorpainkiller.GCPconsideredtobetheclinicaltrials"bible",isaninternationalquality-assurancestandardforhowclinicaltrialsshouldbeconductedandisdesignedtoprotecttherightsandhealthofvolunteers.

Clinicaltrialsonhumansconstituteonlyasmallpartoftheextensiveresearchthatgoesintodevelopingapotentialnewproduct,treatmentordrug.

Withtheoccasionalexception,whereitisdeemedexpedienttofast-trackastudy(thenewEbolavaccinebeingacaseinpoint),anyproposedtrialmustundergoseveralyearsofrigorouslaboratoryresearchbeforeitisapprovedbyregulatorybodiesandreachesastagewherehumantestsubjectsareinvolved.

SubjectsSharonandDanny,amarriedcoupleintheir40s,started

volunteeringfouryearsagoafterarecruitmentleafletwasdroppedthroughtheirletterbox.Aprivatetutorandasoundengineerrespectively,theyhavetakenpartinnumerousskin,hairanddentalstudies.

"We'rebothself-employed,socanfitthestudiesaroundourwork,"saysDanny."Theprocessiseasyandthestudiesarealwaysinteresting."

Sharonagrees:"Ilikedoingavarietyofthingstomakemoney,andasascienceteacherI'malwaysfascinatedbyfrontlineresearch."

Despitesomeinitialreservationsfromfriendsandfamily,thecouplearehappytorecommendthistypeofclinicalresearchtoanyoneinreasonablygoodhealth.

"Ithinksomepeoplemistakeproducttestingfordrugtrials,"saysDanny,"whichwewouldn'tconsider."

DrugTrials

Itisperhapsunsurprisingthatevenseasonedvolunteersshyawayfromdrugtrialswhenyouconsiderwhathappenedin2006atNorthwickParkHospital,London.SixmalevolunteerswerecontractedbytheUSdrug-testingcompanyParexeltotestanewanticancerdrugknownasTGN1412.

Withinminutesofbeinginjected,themenbeganvomiting,theirheadspuffeduptotwicetheirsizeandsomebeganslippingintoandoutofcomasastheyshowedsignsofmultipleorganfailure.Byallaccounts,itwasadeeplydisturbingstory.Allthevolunteersrecovered,thankfully,buttheincidentraisedseriousconcernsabouttrialproceduresandmedicalethics.

AninterimreportinApril2006bytheUKMedicines&HealthcareProductsRegulatoryAgencyfoundthatParexelhadconductedthestudyaccordingtoprotocolsandconcludedthattheseriousadversereactionsexperiencedbythevolunteersweretheresultof"anunpredictedbiologicalaction".

Theepisodewasplayeddownbytheindustry,butitisfairtosaythatdrug-testingcompaniesandclinicaltrialsingeneraltookacriticaldrubbing.

InhisSundayTimesbestsellerBadPharma:Howmedicineisbroken,andhowwecanfixit,DrBenGoldacreseestheeventsatNorthwickParkassymptomaticofawider,systemicproblemwithresearchstudies,whereinterestedpartiessuchaspharmaceuticalcompaniescanexert,quitelegally,undueinfluenceontheresultsofclinicalresearch.

"Drugsaretestedbythepeoplewhomanufacturethem,inpoorlydesignedtrials,onhopelesslysmallnumbersofweird,unrepresentativepatients,andanalysedusingtechniqueswhichareflawedbydesign,insuchawaythattheyexaggeratethebenefitsoftreatments,"Goldacrewritesinthebook'sintroduction."Unsurprisingly,thesetrialstendtoproduceresultsthatfavourthemanufacturer.Whentrialsthrowupresultsthatcompaniesdon'tlike,theyareperfectlyentitledtohidethemfromdoctorsandpatients,soweonlyeverseeadistortedpictureofanydrug'strueeffects."

AwriterfortheGuardianandadvocateoftheAllTrialscampaignforfulldisclosureofallclinicaltrialresults,GoldacrecontendsthattheincidentatNorthwickParkcouldhavebeenavoidedifallresearcherswerecompelledbyinternationallawtopublishandsharetheirdata.

Henotes[2013ed.,p.356]:"Weneedtoensurethatalltrialsreporttheirresultswithinayearattheverylatest;weneedtomeasurecompliancewiththat;weneedstiffpenaltiesforcompanieswhotransgress;andweneeddoctorsandacademicswhocollaborateinwithholdingtrialdatatobeheldpersonallyresponsible,andstruckoff."BadPharmaisacomplexanddifficultbook,itsdepthandscopetoo

far-reachingtocoverinmuchdetailhere,butanyonethinkingofvolunteeringfordrugtrialswouldbewelladvisedtoreadthisseminalworkfirst.

Noteveryonehasahorrorstorytotellwhenitcomestodrugtesting.Maggiewasabarmaidinherearly20swhenshetookpartinresidentialdrugtrialswithMedeval,nowICONDevelopmentSolutions:

"Ihadfriendswho'ddoneit,"shesays."Allsaiditwaseasymoney,nothingtoit,perfectlysafe,etc.Ihadbeenbrokenintotwiceandwasjustdesperatetomove.Ijustwantedtomakesomemoneytoputadepositdownonaflat."

Wassheconcernedaboutpossibleside-effects?"No.Ididtwotrials,bothfordrugsalreadyinuse,whichIconsideredtobelessscary.Oneinvolvedbeingwokenupeverymorningwithashotofvodka.Sowhat'snottolike?"

Soshe'ddoitagain?"Icouldn't,evenifIwanted.Ihaveahistoryofdepression,whichwouldautomaticallyexcludemefrommoststudies.Thatandthefactthatmymum,whowasanurseatthetime,washorrifiedwhensheheardwhatIwasdoing.Lookingback,Ithinkshewasmayberighttobeconcerned.ShewasmuchmoreawarethanIwasthatthingscangowrong."

AndgowrongtheydidinIndiabetween2008and2011whenover2,000deathswererecordedduringclinicaldrugtrialsinthecountry,forcingtheIndiangovernmenttotightentheregulationssurroundingwhatwasdescribedas"acultureofimpunityfordrugresearchcompaniesandthedoctorswhoworkforthem".

Theresearchersinvolved,manyofthemmultinationalpharmaceuticalcompanies,wereinitiallydrawntoIndia(wheretheclinicaltrialsindustryisestimatedtobeworth£326[A$706]million)forseveralreasons,includingpatientavailability,lowcostsanda"friendlydrug-controlsystem".

Thecompaniesconcerneddefendedthemselvesbyinsistingthattheywereconductingtrialsonpatientswhohadlittleornohopeofcure;thatinconsequence,theycouldnotbeblamedfortheirdeaths;andthatthestandardsapplicabletoallclinicaltrialsinIndiaarenodifferentfromthoseintheUSAandtheEuropeanUnion.

Withtheresultantchangeinthelaw,however,manyofthesecompanies,ledbyAmeri