Caribou Tracks deeply etched on coal seams from centuries of migrations, Utukok River Uplands. Photo by Subhankar Banerjee, 2006.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
CONFUSED PELICANS
Russia's been having a record breaking autumn weather-wise, with temperatures in Altai, in southwestern Siberia, remaining as high as 41° Fahrenheit. And it looks like the balmy weather has attracted some new residents: on Tuesday, a flock of seven African pink pelicans landed in the village of Suslovo, reported Reuters. The birds, which had spend the summer in Kazakhstan, should have been flying south to winter in Africa. But that's where global warming stepped in. Confused by the unnaturally high temperatures to the north, the pelicans, all barely a year old, flew in the wrong direction.
WARMING OF THE OCEANS
Raised ocean temperatures result in severe damage to reefs in the Caribbean.
The year 2005 was devastating for coral, with unusually warm waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea causing one of the worst bleaching events on record. Researchers who monitored the event have now catalogued the full extent of the disaster — and they warn that 2010 is shaping up to be even worse.
Mark Eakin, coordinator of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch programme based in Silver Springs, Maryland, and his colleagues performed an extensive coral survey to record the effects of unseasonally high temperatures on reefs in 2005. The project involved more than 250 collaborators from 22 countries, and compared satellite data with field surveys to determine how heat stress affected the coral in different places.
The year 2005 was devastating for coral, with unusually warm waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea causing one of the worst bleaching events on record. Researchers who monitored the event have now catalogued the full extent of the disaster — and they warn that 2010 is shaping up to be even worse.
Mark Eakin, coordinator of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch programme based in Silver Springs, Maryland, and his colleagues performed an extensive coral survey to record the effects of unseasonally high temperatures on reefs in 2005. The project involved more than 250 collaborators from 22 countries, and compared satellite data with field surveys to determine how heat stress affected the coral in different places.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
SUBASTAN COSAS DE LOS NARCOS
MEXICO - El Servicio de Administración y Enajenación de Bienes, (SAE) dio a conocer los pormenores de la "Gran Subasta Pública SAE 2010" que se llevará a cabo el próximo 18 y 19 de noviembre, en al Ciudad de México.
SAE ofrecerá en la subasta el mayor lote de joyas y automóviles decomisados al narcotráfico, servidores públicos y ciudadanía en general que no hayan cumplido con los reglamentos internos de la Ley de Funcionarios Públicos.
Esperan recopilar unos 80 millones de pesos mexicanos.>>>
Más sobre el narco mexicano en Noticias de MéxicoEntre la mercancía de los 181 lotes que se preparan para ser subastados, hay disponibles autos, aviones y jets exclusivos.Sergio Hidalgo Monroy, director del SAE, explicó: "Es algo que no habíamos vendido antes, así que sentimos que hay lógicamente empresarios y miembros del público a los que les pueden interesar estos lotes". La convocatoria de la Gran Subasta 2010 está abierta al publico general.
El costo de las bases es de US$41 y los datos personales quedan bajo estricta confidencialidad. "Hay que perder simplemente el miedo", afirmó el director del SAE.
LA REALIDAD
Pekín.- La policía tailandesa anunció el hallazgo de otros mil 800 fetos humanos, producto de abortos ilegales, en un templo budista de Bangkok, con lo que el número de embriones encontrados en ese lugar supera los dos mil.
Los fetos fueron localizados durante la noche cuando la policía efectuó una nueva búsqueda en el templo de Wat Phai Ngern, luego que un empleado del lugar que fue arrestado confesó que había muchos más fetos que los 350 hallados el pasado miércoles.
Los restos se encontraban en la morgue del templo, en bolsas de plástico colocadas en contenedores que son utilizados para guardar cuerpos que serán incinerados, de acuerdo con reportes del diario tailandés Bangkok Post.
La policía fue alertada el pasado miércoles sobre un olor putrefacto en el templo y cuando acudió al lugar descubrió en una habitación alrededor de 350 fetos en estado de descomposición, por lo que arrestó a dos empleados.
Los detenidos -un hombre y una mujer- reconocieron que recibían dinero por colectar fetos de clínicas ilegales de aborto y deshacerse de ellos con el horno de cremación, pero que éste se había descompuesto hacía varios días.
La policía indicó que los dos trabajadores del templo, quienes dijeron obtener 16 dólares por cada feto, fueron acusados de ocultar cadáveres.
El aborto es ilegal en Tailandia, a menos que el embarazo sea resultado de una violación o de incesto, o bien cuando la salud de la madre está en riesgo. Sin embargo existen unas cuatro mil clínicas en Bangkok sospechosas de realizarlos.
EL PLANETA QUE VINO DE OTRA GALAXIA
Un grupo de astrónomos europeos descubrió a través del telescopio MPG/ESO un exoplaneta muy especial; nació y se formó fuera de la Vía Láctea y luego fue devorado, junto a su estrella, por la enorme gravedad de nuestra galaxia.
El planeta, conocido como HIP 1344b se encuentra a unos dos mil años luz de la Tierra en la constelación austral de Fornax (el Horno) y es 1.25 veces la masa de Júpiter, detalla el descubrimiento publicado en la revista Science.
Según los resultados de la investigación, es una estrella compuesta casi exclusivamente por hidrógeno y helio, sin apenas metales, que son la materia prima a partir de la que los sistemas estelares alumbran planetas.
Los investigadores, dirigidos por Jonny Setiawan, del Instituto Max Plank de Alemania, consideran que este nuevo planeta podría cuestionar el conocimiento actual de sobre la formación y supervivencia planetaria, dado que es la primera vez que se descubre un planeta alrededor de una estrella extremadamente pobre en metal.
"Este descubrimiento es muy emocionante", dijo en un comunicado Reiner Klement, del Instituto de Astronomía Max Planck, de Alemania.
Más noticias de Ciencia y Tecnología"Por primera vez, los astrónomos detectaron un sistema planetario en un conjunto estelar de origen extragaláctico.
Debido a las grandes distancias implicadas, no hay una detección confirmada de planetas en otras galaxias, pero esta fusión cósmica trajo un planeta extragaláctico a nuestro alcance", agregó..
El planeta fue descubierto gracias a las observaciones realizadas en el telescopio de 2,2 metros de diámetro que el Observatorio Austral Europeo (ESO) tiene en La Silla (Chile).
Para las observaciones, los astrónomos utilizaron un espectógrafo capaz de detectar las pequeñas variaciones gravitacionales que se producen en las estrellas cuando son orbitadas por algún astro.
El nuevo planeta gira alrededor de una estrella procedente de lo que se conoce como la corriente Helmi, un conjunto de estrellas que originalmente perteneció a una galaxia enana a la que devoró la Vía Láctea hace entre 6,000 y 9,000 millones de años.
Los investigadores aseguran que el astro también es uno de los pocos planetas conocidos que han sobrevivido al periodo de expansión de gran escala de la estrella a la que pertenecen después de que a ésta se le agotara su combustible de hidrógeno en el núcleo.
La estrella se contrajo de nuevo, según los expertos.Johny Setiawan, también del Instituto Max Planck, agregó que "este descubrimiento es en particular intrigante cuando consideramos el futuro distante de nuestro propio sistema planetario, ante las previsiones de que el Sol también se convertirá en una gigante roja en unos 5.000 millones de años".
En internet: http://www.sciencemag.org
El planeta, conocido como HIP 1344b se encuentra a unos dos mil años luz de la Tierra en la constelación austral de Fornax (el Horno) y es 1.25 veces la masa de Júpiter, detalla el descubrimiento publicado en la revista Science.
Según los resultados de la investigación, es una estrella compuesta casi exclusivamente por hidrógeno y helio, sin apenas metales, que son la materia prima a partir de la que los sistemas estelares alumbran planetas.
Los investigadores, dirigidos por Jonny Setiawan, del Instituto Max Plank de Alemania, consideran que este nuevo planeta podría cuestionar el conocimiento actual de sobre la formación y supervivencia planetaria, dado que es la primera vez que se descubre un planeta alrededor de una estrella extremadamente pobre en metal.
"Este descubrimiento es muy emocionante", dijo en un comunicado Reiner Klement, del Instituto de Astronomía Max Planck, de Alemania.
Más noticias de Ciencia y Tecnología"Por primera vez, los astrónomos detectaron un sistema planetario en un conjunto estelar de origen extragaláctico.
Debido a las grandes distancias implicadas, no hay una detección confirmada de planetas en otras galaxias, pero esta fusión cósmica trajo un planeta extragaláctico a nuestro alcance", agregó..
El planeta fue descubierto gracias a las observaciones realizadas en el telescopio de 2,2 metros de diámetro que el Observatorio Austral Europeo (ESO) tiene en La Silla (Chile).
Para las observaciones, los astrónomos utilizaron un espectógrafo capaz de detectar las pequeñas variaciones gravitacionales que se producen en las estrellas cuando son orbitadas por algún astro.
El nuevo planeta gira alrededor de una estrella procedente de lo que se conoce como la corriente Helmi, un conjunto de estrellas que originalmente perteneció a una galaxia enana a la que devoró la Vía Láctea hace entre 6,000 y 9,000 millones de años.
Los investigadores aseguran que el astro también es uno de los pocos planetas conocidos que han sobrevivido al periodo de expansión de gran escala de la estrella a la que pertenecen después de que a ésta se le agotara su combustible de hidrógeno en el núcleo.
La estrella se contrajo de nuevo, según los expertos.Johny Setiawan, también del Instituto Max Planck, agregó que "este descubrimiento es en particular intrigante cuando consideramos el futuro distante de nuestro propio sistema planetario, ante las previsiones de que el Sol también se convertirá en una gigante roja en unos 5.000 millones de años".
En internet: http://www.sciencemag.org
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
ELECTION DAY MARRED BY FRAUD
Posted By: Kate McConaughy
To: Members in One Million Faces Against the Inhumane Treatment of Activists Imprisoned in Burma
Election Day Marred by Fraud, Intimidation
IRRAWADDY By BA KAUNG
By 10 a.m. On Sunday, a ghostly silence had descended on the polling stations in Rangoon. Local media estimated that voter turnout was low for the first general election in 20 years. Despite having four million eligible voters in the former capital, no queues of more than 100 people were seen at polling stations in the early morning.
But in other cities, such as Pegu, there were reports of as many as 1,000 voters showing up at a time. Even so, the voters who decided to go to the polling stations were faced with fraud and intimidation in different parts of the country, according to major opposition parties.
“The polling station officials themselves ticked the “Lion” symbol of the junta's party on behalf of the voters,” said 32-year-old Khin Maung Than, a candidate for the National Democratic Force (NDF), referring to the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). He was competing for a parliamentary seat in Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Division against the Burmese Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung, a top USDP candidate who is one of the most trusted subordinates of junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe and is believed to be overseeing the alleged nuclear weapons program.
“The voters were threatened with jail sentences if they chose to vote for the NDF,” said Khin Maung Than, adding that the public in Than Shwe's native town were so fearful of these threats that they were believed to be voting for the USDP.
“There is little or no chance of my winning here. But we showed that we dared to compete with them,” he said. The NDF party chairman, Dr. Than Nyein, in Rangoon also said that he has received reports of voters being intimidated into voting for the USDP in at least 10 locations, including Thingangyun, Thaketa and Kayan townships in Rangoon, Thabeikkyin Township in Mandalay and Kamma Township in Magwe Division.
“The polling station officials themselves urged the voters to vote for USDP,” he said. “I have asked our candidates to record those incidents and make complaints.” The Democratic Party (Myanmar), the second-largest pro-democracy party in Rangoon, also complained about lack of proper procedures at polling stations.
“The ballot boxes were neither sealed nor tied with ropes. Half of the 10 polling staff were out for lunch in Pathein Nyunt Ward in Mingalar Tuangnyunt Township in Rangoon. We are extremely disappointed,” said Hla Myint, the spokesman for the Democratic Party (Myanmar). “When we asked the officials for the voter list, we were rebuffed,” he said.
“Things are now in very bad shape.” Thu Wai, the chairman of the Democratic Party (Myanmar), said there is a lack of secrecy in the voting process. “Everyone can see who you are voting for. It is a complete disappointment,” he said. An NDF campaign manager in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay, Dr. Hla Soe Nyunt, said that he had seen a woman, believed to be a USDP member, stuffing four ballots in a single box in Maha Aung Myay Township. Despite these voting irregularities, the NDF was reputed to be the most popular party in Rangoon among voters leaving polling stations.
“I voted for NDF because I hate the USDP,” said one. But one of the party's main candidates in Tavoy Township said that he has already lost hope of a fair result after villagers in the area were forced to vote for the USDP in advance. Meanwhile, ethnic opposition parties said that they were confident of a victory since ethnic minority people would almost certainly select their own ethnic parties.
Several ethnic politicians said they expected to win the vote despite the high number of alleged cases in which USDP members were forcing people to vote for their party.
The Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, the All Mon Region Democracy Party and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) were reportedly doing well in their respective ethnic areas. “We are doing very well,” said Sai Aik Pao, the SNDP chairman.
“But it would have been far better if we had not faced such dishonest advance voting for the USDP.” He said he had reported the alleged cases to Election Commission officials, and requested that the voters in question were allowed to recast their votes in secret. At the close of the day's voting, he had still received no response.
Party representatives said they were still hoping for an unbiased and transparent vote count, but were far from positive about whether that would happen in their respective areas.
“Our greatest worry now is about vote-counting,” Than Nyein said. “Polling officials who have clearly been involved in a fraudulent voting process must be suspect in the counting process too.” http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/4550-obama-denounces-burma-polls-calls-to-free-suu-kyi-.html
To: Members in One Million Faces Against the Inhumane Treatment of Activists Imprisoned in Burma
Election Day Marred by Fraud, Intimidation
IRRAWADDY By BA KAUNG
By 10 a.m. On Sunday, a ghostly silence had descended on the polling stations in Rangoon. Local media estimated that voter turnout was low for the first general election in 20 years. Despite having four million eligible voters in the former capital, no queues of more than 100 people were seen at polling stations in the early morning.
But in other cities, such as Pegu, there were reports of as many as 1,000 voters showing up at a time. Even so, the voters who decided to go to the polling stations were faced with fraud and intimidation in different parts of the country, according to major opposition parties.
“The polling station officials themselves ticked the “Lion” symbol of the junta's party on behalf of the voters,” said 32-year-old Khin Maung Than, a candidate for the National Democratic Force (NDF), referring to the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). He was competing for a parliamentary seat in Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Division against the Burmese Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung, a top USDP candidate who is one of the most trusted subordinates of junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe and is believed to be overseeing the alleged nuclear weapons program.
“The voters were threatened with jail sentences if they chose to vote for the NDF,” said Khin Maung Than, adding that the public in Than Shwe's native town were so fearful of these threats that they were believed to be voting for the USDP.
“There is little or no chance of my winning here. But we showed that we dared to compete with them,” he said. The NDF party chairman, Dr. Than Nyein, in Rangoon also said that he has received reports of voters being intimidated into voting for the USDP in at least 10 locations, including Thingangyun, Thaketa and Kayan townships in Rangoon, Thabeikkyin Township in Mandalay and Kamma Township in Magwe Division.
“The polling station officials themselves urged the voters to vote for USDP,” he said. “I have asked our candidates to record those incidents and make complaints.” The Democratic Party (Myanmar), the second-largest pro-democracy party in Rangoon, also complained about lack of proper procedures at polling stations.
“The ballot boxes were neither sealed nor tied with ropes. Half of the 10 polling staff were out for lunch in Pathein Nyunt Ward in Mingalar Tuangnyunt Township in Rangoon. We are extremely disappointed,” said Hla Myint, the spokesman for the Democratic Party (Myanmar). “When we asked the officials for the voter list, we were rebuffed,” he said.
“Things are now in very bad shape.” Thu Wai, the chairman of the Democratic Party (Myanmar), said there is a lack of secrecy in the voting process. “Everyone can see who you are voting for. It is a complete disappointment,” he said. An NDF campaign manager in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay, Dr. Hla Soe Nyunt, said that he had seen a woman, believed to be a USDP member, stuffing four ballots in a single box in Maha Aung Myay Township. Despite these voting irregularities, the NDF was reputed to be the most popular party in Rangoon among voters leaving polling stations.
“I voted for NDF because I hate the USDP,” said one. But one of the party's main candidates in Tavoy Township said that he has already lost hope of a fair result after villagers in the area were forced to vote for the USDP in advance. Meanwhile, ethnic opposition parties said that they were confident of a victory since ethnic minority people would almost certainly select their own ethnic parties.
Several ethnic politicians said they expected to win the vote despite the high number of alleged cases in which USDP members were forcing people to vote for their party.
The Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, the All Mon Region Democracy Party and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) were reportedly doing well in their respective ethnic areas. “We are doing very well,” said Sai Aik Pao, the SNDP chairman.
“But it would have been far better if we had not faced such dishonest advance voting for the USDP.” He said he had reported the alleged cases to Election Commission officials, and requested that the voters in question were allowed to recast their votes in secret. At the close of the day's voting, he had still received no response.
Party representatives said they were still hoping for an unbiased and transparent vote count, but were far from positive about whether that would happen in their respective areas.
“Our greatest worry now is about vote-counting,” Than Nyein said. “Polling officials who have clearly been involved in a fraudulent voting process must be suspect in the counting process too.” http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/4550-obama-denounces-burma-polls-calls-to-free-suu-kyi-.html
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