Nexus 0703 - new times magazine

APRIL – MAY 2000 NEXUS • 1

N E X U SNEW TIMES MAGAZINE

Volume 7, Number 3 APRIL - MAY 2000

PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560, Australia

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.............................................4

GLOBAL NEWS.............................................................6

This issue we look at a secret report from the soft-drink industry on aspartame dangers; revelationsthat US Army PsyOps personnel have infiltratedCNN News; and new threats to Internet freedoms.

d e B R I E F I N G S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

Don Maisch reports on anomalies between Russianand Western EMF standards; Wayne Madsendiscusses Internet disinformation; and Jim Puckettprovides a WTO-speak dictionary for activists.

SOY PRODUCTS: TRAGEDY AND HYPE...................19

By Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, PhD. Soy productsare not a panacea for good health; rather, theycontain antinutrients and toxins which inhibit theabsorption of essential vitamins and minerals.

THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG COMPLEX—Part 1......27

By Hans T. van der Veen. The so-called War onDrugs will never be won by strategies which, ineffect, give incentives to illegal entrepreneurs toreorganise their activities and increase their profits.

TOXIC PRODUCTS, DECEPTIVE LABELS—Part 2.......35

By Nina Silver, PhD. We need to be aware of thepoisonous chemicals that abound in commonhousehold products, and be informed of the safealternatives that are readily accessible.

UP AGAINST THE BEAST—Part 2...............................43

By Uri Dowbenko. According to a class actionlawsuit, the US CIA and Department of Justice havecollaborated in concealing the truth aboutgovernment-sanctioned illicit drug running.

NEW SCIENCE NEWS.................................................51

From the underground science network. This issue,we resurrect Edwin V. Gray's EMA motor whichtaps static electricity and releases it on demand.

INCREDIBLE INVENTIONS OF TONY CUTHBERT.....55

By Tony Edwards. A gifted, prolific inventor whohappens to be seriously dyslexic, Tony Cuthbert hascome up with inventions that can provide limitless,free energy and change the world for the better.

COL. STEVE WILSON, UFO WHISTLEBLOWER.........61

By Richard Boylan, PhD. Before his death in 1997,Retired US Air Force Colonel Steve Wilson divulgedincriminating details about the military's covert UFOretrieval and back-engineering programs.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE................................................69

This issue's coverage includes a report on 'pipelines'on Jupiter's moon Europa, and UFO sightings byRussian cosmonauts from the Mir space station.

R E V I E W S — B o o k s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3"Genetic Engineering, Food & Our Environment" by Luke Anderson"The Inquisition" by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh"Mass Control: Engineering Human Consciousness" by Jim Keith"Secret Chamber" by Robert Bauval"Earth Rising" by Dr Nick Begich and James Roderick"Gaia Matrix" by Peter Champoux and Friends"Projections of the Consciousness" by Waldo Vieira, MD"The Coincidence File" by Ken Anderson"Progesterone: The Natural Hormone" by Kimberley Paterson"The Magic of Our Universe" by Kent Davis Moberg"What if Everything...about AIDS was Wrong?" by C. Maggiore "The Lost Magic of Christianity" by Michael Poynder"The Arch Conspirator" by Len Bracken"Ley Lines: A Comprehensive Guide" by Danny Sullivan"Gateway to Atlantis" by Andrew Collins

R E V I E W S — Vi d e o s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9"UFO Abductions: A Global Phenomenon" "UFOs: The Footage Archives – Part 5: 1998-1999"

R E V I E W S — M u s i c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 0"Flowing Harmonies" by Jaro*Kova"East Wind" by Uttara-Kuru"Phat Global #1" by various world music artists"Bolivian Blues Bar" by Alex de Grassi"All the Rivers Gold" by Terry Oldfield

NEXUS BOOKS, SUBS, ADS & VIDEOS..............96–103

NEXUS MAGAZINEVolume 7, Number 3

APRIL – MAY 2000PUBLISHED BY

NEXUS Magazine Pty Ltd, ACN #003 611 434

EDITORDuncan M. Roads

CO-EDITORCatherine Simons

ASSISTANT EDITOR/SUB-EDITORRuth Parnell

EDITORS' ASSISTANTRichard Giles

OFFICE ADMINISTRATORJanine Carmichael

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUEDon Maisch; Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD;

Hans T. van der Veen; Nina Silver, PhD; UriDowbenko; Tony Edwards; Richard Boylan, PhD

LAYOUT & DESIGNDuncan M. Roads

CARTOONSPhil Somerville

COVER GRAPHICJohn Cook, [email protected]

PRINTINGWarwick Daily News, Queensland, Australia

AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTIONNewsagents Direct Distribution

HEAD OFFICE - All CorrespondencePO Box 30, Mapleton, Qld 4560, Australia.Tel: (07) 5442 9280; Fax: (07) 5442 9381

E-mail: [email protected] page: www.nexusmagazine.com

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSENEXUS recognises that humanity is undergoing amassive transformation. With this in mind, NEXUSseeks to provide 'hard-to-get' information so as toassist people through these changes. NEXUS is notlinked to any religious, philosophical or politicalideology or organisation.

PERMISSION-TO-REPRODUCE POLICYWhile reproduction and dissemination of the infor-mation in NEXUS is actively encouraged, anyonecaught making a buck out of it, without our expresspermission, will be in trouble when we catch them!

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Advertisers upon and by lodging material with the Publisher for publication or authorising or approving of the publication of any material INDEMNIFY thePublisher and its servants and agents against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication and without limiting the generality of theforegoing to indemnify each of them in relation to defamation, slander of title, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks or names of publication titles, unfaircompetition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy AND WARRANT that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations and thatits publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the Publisher, its servants or agents and in particular that nothing therein is capable of beingmisleading or deceptive or otherwise in breach of the Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974. All expressions of opinion are published on the basis that they arenot to be regarded as expressing the opinion of the Publisher or its servants or agents. Editorial advice is not specific and readers are advised to seek professionalhelp for individual problems. © NEXUS New Times 2000

Editorial

Anew era is emerging on our planet. No longer do we occupy just this one observablespace-time continuum, for we have now created and occupy another: cyberspace.

It started off as a resource for low-budget activists and came to be known as "the informa-tion superhighway". But now, e-commerce has taken over to the extent that if the Internetwent "down" tomorrow, we would have total global financial meltdown. The Internet isalready so crucial to social infrastructure that the next wars are just as likely to be fought andwon in cyberspace, with electronic viruses and super-hackers. Controlling, disrupting or dis-informing an enemy's computers is more cost-effective than carpet-bombing. It's a cleanerway to wage war, with no public outcry—such as that which results when NATO bombscivilians with so-called "smart" bombs. Of course, this only applies to computerised coun-tries: the UN/NATO will continue to bomb and economically "sanitise" nations whichrefuse to adhere to the new international economic order.

I believe it will be the Internet that primarily facilitates the ushering-in of total globalisa-tion, through sheer economics—"e-commerce", as it is now termed. Already, e-commercetranscends national boundaries, effectively ignoring the tariffs and taxes of sovereign states.The increasing volume of individuals and businesses trading around the world in cyberspacewill ensure that we will buy our way into a new, globalised economic system. It is the onlyway the global community will swallow a proposed global currency. It is the most likelyavenue leading to a cashless economy.

An item in Global News this issue reflects on how the Internet itself is evolving and caus-ing us to evolve with it. A few years ago, many considered the Internet an effective resourcetool for communicating and sharing research, for organising logistics—the informationsuperhighway. Many of the original, small, Internet service providers (ISPs) have beenbought by transnational media corporations—or have gone bust because they cannot com-pete economically with the free Internet services on offer by those same transnationals.Another giant merger or two will see virtually all Western ISPs in the hands of just two orthree transnational telecommunications giants.

We are gradually realising that the Internet is the ultimate intelligence-gathering tool.Everything you write, everywhere you visit in cyberspace is monitored by computers youdon't even know exist. Instead of a person making data entries into your personal file, acomputer now does it. If you visit political activist sites, sex sites, religious sites, environ-mental sites, UFO discussion groups, an E c h e l o n-connected computer somewhere noteswhat preferences you are displaying in all these categories.

Working at a computer, while alone at a desk, leads many to feel secure and private; peo-ple tend to express parts of themselves that they don't usually express to others when face-to-face—but this is just the sort of preferred intelligence information required to makeassessments of people. Just when you think you are not on display, you are more exposedthan ever!

In the UK, a sinister Bill has been tabled (see Global News) which amongst other things,makes it a crime to possess and use privacy encryption technology for your e-mail.Significantly, the Bill is part of an international cooperative effort by law enforcement agen-cies to secure legal access to all electronic communications conducted over the Internet.Australia has already enacted legislation, allowing ASIO—the Australian SecurityIntelligence Organisation—to penetrate anyone's computer legally, any time it likes, to doanything it likes to your computer to cover its e-tracks, for any reason it chooses to invent inthe name of "national security".

Cash registers, video surveillance cameras, automatic teller machines, medical equipment,computers, TVs, e-mail, faxes and telephones are all—or soon to be—hooked up to theInternet. They will cross-match your image, whereabouts, medical records, DNA profile,history, spending habits, police records, hobbies, sexual preferences and list of friends andassociates with information in databases accessible by law enforcement, taxation and gov-ernment authorities as well as Big Business. Many declare that this is happening already;only now, it is just becoming more efficient!

Oops...time to go check my e-mail! — Duncan

2 • NEXUS APRIL – MAY 2000



Spying via America OnlineHi, Duncan: Well, am I

shocked/dismayed/proven right! Ihave been using America Online(AOL) for the last few years nowand had no idea that it was beingused a tool of infiltration and spy-ing until I started associating myfrequent crashes, the disappear-ance of my whole e-mail list andthe further disappearance of mylast six months of e-mails.

This was happening regularlyuntil I started wondering what mycomputer was doing when somemail took forever to download—far longer than it should havetaken for its file size. I lost mywhole hard-drive...corrupted mys-teriously... before I cottoned on towhat may be happening.

When a savvy privacy expertwarned me about the sinistermeaning of extended e-mail down-load times, I started taking closenotes. I also noticed that I wouldget unsolicited "official AOL soft-ware" files in my AOL prefer-ences folder, where they wouldnot get noticed.

I have some software that peersinto the guts of almost any appli-cation or file, and I saw—gasp!—big sections of my private data-base in the (AOL) "Window SizeDatabase" and the (AOL) " AccessNumbers" file that downloadstealthily into my (window nowalways kept open on my desktop)S y s t e m / P r e f e r e n c e s / A O LPreferences/Data/Folder.

These people clearly have all myconfidential data, addresses, phonenumbers, bank account details,PIN numbers, and all the detailsthat one would want to keep pri-vate—all 1,100 or so records withnotes and scary details.

Surely this is the security ser-vices operating through AOL, butit is a major piece of info that yourreaders should know. They justneed to be able to inspect the filesI mentioned to verify it for them-selves. How does it work? Imean, how does AOL get into mydatabase? Dunno again.

Regards, Denis, [email protected]

Mass Media Mind Slaves Dear Editor: I feel the need to

express my gratitude and admira-tion for consistently providing meand others like me with informa-tion that is essential if one wants

to make intelligent decisions andpreserve a critical view of reality.

Mass media has taken over fromreligion as the "opium of themasses", since people accept thepresented reality without anyreservations or second-guessing.Most of us have become MindSlaves to the all-knowing TVmoghuls. Commercials have beenelevated to art status, and we actu-ally watch programs devotedentirely to the screening of ads.

I feel that the human race, as faras it has access to Western(American) luxuries and ideas, issinking ever deeper into a seem-ingly deliberately organised dum-mification. We have becomemindless, consuming and utterlyself-centred automatons. Theideal is a human who works 70hours a week, consumes beyondall reasonability, accumulatesmassive debts and maintains thestatus quo. Why do we live theway that we do? Because the sys-tem is self-perpetuating. Those inpower have the power to preservethat which is, and have absolutelyno interest in changing the mind-set of their well-maintained herd(flock).

We are riding on a train that isfast approaching its last stop andare blithely bickering over thenext promotion or dreaming aboutthat large screen TV, while theworld we are rushing through isfed at an ever-increasing speedinto the all-consuming furnace thatpowers our civilisation!

Thank you very much for tryingto disturb our comfortable passageinto oblivion.

Cheers, Mecci Oncel, mecci@travel.

com.au

Overdosing on TV Drug Ads Hello: Though I don't know

anything about other parts of theworld, America has become rifewith the proliferation of prescrip-tion drug advertising on the televi-sion, and it is making all of ussick.

If you haven't done any articleson this, or if it has been a longtime since you have, I wish youwould consider something aboutthis problem. We are all beingsubliminally seduced andconditioned to expect sickness andthat drugs are the way to a cure.We are being both drugged and

induced to accept that healing issomething coming from without,instead of within. Fifty times aday, drug ads bombard us with themessages that "things" are lurkingout there, trying to get us, and thattheir drugs will protect us. Theglobalisation of business, the oneworld order, the proliferation ofillicit drugs and the prison systemsare all prospering from thisconstant, hypnotic induction ofdisease.

I have recently started a cam-paign to get them removed fromTV and have written letters to ourCDC, FDA, FTC that they bestopped. All of us are being nega-tively impacted by these ads andtheir ramifications will be felt forgenerations to come. They areeroding the whole fabric of man-kind. Help, and thank you.

Jamie Love, [email protected]

Fluoride Dangers IgnoredDear Editor: Why is that, in the

UK, all Health Visitors (is thatname a contradiction in terms?!)seem to promote actively the useof fluoride drops on a daily basisfor babies and toddlers? Surelythe fact that fluoride is already inmost toothpastes is enough, letalone adding to the daily intakewith extra drops!

I have refused to use fluoridedrops for both of my children,aged 14 months and five years.The Health Visitor spent agesgoing through all the benefits offluoride and telling me how I wasdamaging my children's teeth bynot giving extra fluoride. Both mychildren have strong teeth and theelder one has not got any fillings.I also ensure that they both use afluoride-free toothpaste.

When I showed your article tomy Health Visitor, she said thatpublications like these only dam-age children's health. She just didnot want to know! I would havethought that as a health profes-sional she would be interested tolook at both points of view—butnot so, it seems.

Thanks for your informativehealth articles; slowly I am man-aging to change my lifestyle,thanks to your magazine.

Susan Grayson, [email protected]

[Dear Susan: See the update onfluoride next issue. Ed.]

Analysing UFO, POW Photos Dear Editor: Highly enjoyed the

article in NEXUS called "UFOsand National Security: AnInterview with Clifford Stone"[7/01]. NEXUS is a very informa-tive magazine and an enjoyableread.

The Government knows aboutUFOs and may even know wherethey come from. During my timeI spent in the US Army MilitaryIntelligence (MI), I was stationedin Seoul, South Korea, with PIC-K(Photo Interpretation Center–Korea). My job as a 97 Bravo(Intelligence Analyst) was to cata-logue aerial images of NorthKorea and mainland China—images that were taken by recon-naissance aircraft and satellites. Afew times I had to catalogue andclassify radar images, informationand pictures of unidentified flyingobjects. UFO images and infor-mation were sent to DIA and thenlater channelled to the CIA.

At the time, I held a Top SecretSBI (Special BackgroundInvestigation) clearance. I workedside by side with image inter-preters, and one time a blurryphoto came through of what waspossibly an American POW inVietnam. The year was 1981.

I hope your magazine will con-tinue to seek out the truth, becausethe truth is truly out there.

Sincerely yours,Paul Dale Roberts,

S i l h o u e t 9 @ a o l . c o m ,[email protected]

Nuclear Waste TransmutationDear Duncan: Your recent arti-

cle by Robert A. Nelson on"Transmutations of NuclearWaste" [7/02] was of considerableinterest. The following additionalinformation may be of interest toyour readers.

Dr S.-X. Jin, Chief Scientist forTrenergy, Inc., has shown in arecent article (published in theJournal of New Energy) that a newtype of particle accelerator can bebuilt. Here are the importantfacts:

A proton (ionised hydrogenatom) particle accelerator has beenshown to transmute high-levelradioactive wastes (such as spentfuel pellets from nuclear powerplants).

Dr Jin shows that a new type ofparticle accelerator, based on work

Letters to the Editor ...


done in Trenergy's laboratories,can be fabricated that is analytical-ly up to one million times moreeffective in terms of proton densi-ty on target than any of the exist-ing particle accelerators.

In my judgement, the develop-ment of this new technologywould allow for the on-site trans-mutation of high-level radioactivewastes into stable elements.Billions of dollars can be saved bynot packaging, transporting andstoring these wastes in geologicalstorage for 10,000 years.

Best personal regards, Hal Fox, Editor, Journal of New

Energy, [email protected]

Unfair Slur on Psychology Dear NEXUS: I am responding

to your article "Psychiatry:Shrinking from the Truth" [7/01],which was quite unbalanced. Icould not respond to all the arti-cle's flaws in such a small space,so I'll be brief.

Firstly, some fair points havebeen made regarding psychiatrists,shock treatment, drugs and psy-choanalysis. It is a shame thatsome members of the mentalhealth community, either by beinggreedy or overzealous, actuallycause more harm than good.

However, the actions of thesepeople does not allow for a blan-ket generalisation being drawnthat suggests all psychologists andpsychiatrists are bad.

I'll remind you that many fieldsof "science", such as the much-revered chemistry, have beenaffected by corruption in our time:Monsanto, nuclear power,genetics—need I go on? Is this agood enough reason to ban allchemistry?

Many treatments used by psy-chologists (such as cognitivebehaviour therapy) have beenshown countless times, in thou-sands of journals, to be quiteeffective in treating a range ofproblems. The research in thearticle had methodological flawsof its own.

The article focused (convenient-ly) on treatments that no reason-able psychologist would use thesedays. I couldn't find onedoctor/lecturer/professor at myuniversity who would agree withthe practices listed as "exalted".

I agree wholeheartedly that,sadly, many psychiatrists have

abused their positions in society(though this trend is mainly hap-pening in the US). The author ispointing her finger at the wrongtarget. The problems regardingthe "DSM", ECT, drugs, ADD,etc. are all largely related to badpsychiatry (not most of psycholo-gy) and the "biomedical" model ofhealth. Under this model, medi-cine relies solely on "hard science"(such as the logic of treating can-cer with radioactive poisons), andignores alternative therapy.Funnily enough, all of the treat-ments these people advocate arehighly profitable (for example, thepharmaceutical industry).

There is great irony in attacking(by generalisation) psychology onthe grounds it has no scientificbasis, when the real problem isconnected to that hard science sorevered by the article.

Ben Fletcher, b f, [email protected]

ETs and Our EnvironmentTo the Editor: I admit to enjoy-

ing reading articles about UFOsand alien contact, but I do believethat there is a very dangerous mes-sage contained within the article,"Meetings with RemarkableAliens" (Feb-Mar 2000, 7/02).The danger lies in the myth thatanyone in government or privateenterprise has access to some formof remarkable technology that isgoing to stop humankind's destruc-tion of the environment.

Rather than hoping for somenew technology, humankind needsto take/accept responsibility forthe environmental crisis andchange its own behaviour, attitudeand morality towards the naturalenvironment. We choose a violentpath of destruction of nature. Wehave the free will to choose a dif-ferent path.

Expecting new technology tosolve the environmental crisis is adangerous excuse for continuingon the same path of material satia-tion and environmental destruc-tion. Waiting for aliens to revealthis new technology is a similarform of procrastination.

Geoff Lamberton, [email protected]

[Dear Geoff: Firstly, the tech -nology exists to run cars on water;to have free, unlimited electricity;and to eliminate polluting energysources totally. I agree that we

need to accept responsibility, butthe people are being conned by thevery transnational conglomerateswhich would cause economic col -lapse if they switched to "freeenergy".

Secondly, as for "waiting foraliens", I suggest you actuallyread the article. Nowhere thereindoes it suggest we should 'wait';on the contrary, the 'aliens'encourage and advocate our tak -ing responsibility for our planet.Ed.]

Truth: the Greatest Religion Dear Duncan: Thank you for all

the wonderful work you put intoNEXUS Magazine. This is theonly magazine I have ever sub-scribed to on a regular basis. Ifind all your articles interestingand thought provoking.

Recently I purchased LaurenceGardner's book, Bloodline of theHoly Grail, as a result of readingthe articles and letters to the editorin NEXUS, and, boy, what amind-spin! I must say thatLaurence's book is a real eye-opener. Who could ever havebelieved the extent of the treach-ery and deceit that has been foistupon the unsuspecting generalpublic of the ages?

Whilst reading Laurence's book,I experienced feelings of anger,resentment and despair towardsthe so-called leaders and represen-tatives of our various govern-ments, but also feelings of relief,elation and intense joy that some-one has finally helped me to makesense of all the little quirks of his-tory, religion and the Bible that Iqueried as a teenager. Thanks toLaurence Gardner, I now under-stand why, as a young boy, I couldnot stand to walk into an Anglicanor Roman Catholic church.

They say there is no religiongreater than the truth, and they areright. Thank you so much.

Regards, Dave Dennis, daviddennis@

one.net.au

Products of SocietyDear Duncan: Thank you for

your insightful magazine. I don'twish to turn this section into agossip column, but I really mustreply to Chris [Letters, 7/02].

We need to be realistic. We allknow why drugs are illegal—and

it's not because they are bad for us.People, especially the young, willalways find a way to get out of it.

All you can do as a parent is toeducate them and not to alienatethem if they do stray. Also, youneed to accept the fact that it is notthe person on the street who is toblame for his addiction, but theperson beside him who allowed itto happen. All drugs need to belegalised so that we can deal withthe problem openly, honestly andfinally.

Now, I don't sell drugs; I'm not ajunkie; I don't even smoke pot. Infact, I'm doing 20 years for killinga drug grower.

So I now find myself in a systemwhich makes relatively good peo-ple bad and bad people worse—asystem which promotes ignoranceand apathy.

We criminals are not victims ofsociety, we are a product of soci-ety. We, like everyone else, arethe product of everyone we evercame into contact with: parents,teachers, friends, strangers, TV,etc. I have not yet met a person inprison who, given the right guid-ance, could not have taken a com-pletely different path.

So, ask yourself what you havedone to help and guide thosearound you. Judging and directingblame is easy. It's about timecommunities took an active, posi-tive interest in the "rehabilitation"of inmates in "correctional" cen-tres, rather than bitch about andturn your backs on them, on us, onme.

I'm doing 20 years for killinganother criminal and I probablydeserve every day of it; however,eventually I will be back in soci-ety, perhaps even in your commu-nity. How would you like meback: educated and self-confident,or ignorant and resentful?

Mary Shelley once wrote: "Noman chooses evil because it isevil; he only mistakes it for happi-ness, the good he seeks."

May Peace and Love be withyou,

Johno, Parklea, New SouthWales, Australia

PS: I gladly fork out $4.95 foreach copy of NEXUS.

PPS: Thank you for your per-mission-to-reproduce policy. Itallows me to copy and pass onarticles to others.

... more Letters to the EditorNB: Please keep letters toapprox. 100 to 150 words

in length. Ed.


HIBERNATION GENESIDENTIFIED IN HUMANS

The discovery could pave theway for human hibernation of

the kind foreshadowed for astro-nauts in the film 2001: A SpaceOdyssey, now 30 years old.

Human hibernation could makeultra-long-haul space travel feasi-ble, with crews effectively put tosleep for months or even years.

The United States Army, whichhas been funding the research, isinterested in the concept of induc-ing protective hibernation in battle-field casualties to keep them alivewhen medical help is not at hand.

Researchers in Britain are alsoinvestigating the role of genes inthe mini-hibernation of Siberianhamsters, with the aim of triggeringsimilar genes in humans to help peoplelose weight.

But the first use of hibernation technolo-gy is likely to be in transplant surgery,where donor organs would be preserved onshelves for weeks or months by puttingthem into a state of deep sleep.

After a five-year project, MatthewAndrews, Associate Professor of Geneticsat North Carolina State University, hasidentified two genes—PL and PDK-4—which appear to mastermind hibernation.One stops carbohydrate metabolism, whichensures that the glucose that animals have

stored in their body from their last meal ispreserved for use by the brain and centralnervous system. The second gene controlsthe production of an enzyme that breaks upstored fatty acids and converts them intousable fats for fuel. As a result, the animalcan tick over on its stored fat.

The researchers found that the genes canbe made to work in similar ways inhumans. The PDK-4 gene, for example, isswitched on by starvation, when its job isto conserve glucose.(Source: The Sunday Times , UK, 6February 2000)

CHINESE DOCTORS HAILANTI-CANCER TREATMENT

Chinese surgeons have made abreakthrough in cancer treat-

ment after turning a patient's malig-nant tumour into a ball of ice, theXinhua news agency said onSaturday.

Surgeons at Xijing Hospital, inthe northwestern city of Xian,inserted a superconductive knife,two millimetres in diameter, intothe tumour of a liver cancer patient,the agency said.

By forcing high-pressure argonand helium gas through the knife-point, they were able to lower thetemperature of the tumour to –140°Celsius (–220° Fahrenheit).

"In 60 seconds, the tumourbecame an ice ball," the article

reported, adding that "all cancer cells werekilled".

"The operation took only 30 minutes.The patient felt no pain and there was nobleeding," the agency reported.

"The therapy is a breakthrough in cancertreatment," said Dou Kefeng, a surgeon incharge of the operation, who was quoted inthe article.(Source: Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, 12February 2000, via Reuters, http://news.e x c i t e . c o m / n e w s / r / 0 0 0 2 1 2 / 0 5 / h e a l t h - c h i n a -cancer)

AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICE CANLEGALLY BEND THE TRUTH

In its zeal to "deter schemes that seek toreduce any GST liability, obtain or

increase any refunds of GST and alter thetiming of a payment of GST", theAustralian Tax Office has bestowed someawesome powers upon the Commissioner:

"For the purpose of making a declarationunder this subdivision, the Commissionermay:

(1) Treat a particular event that actuallyhappened as not having happened; and

(2) Treat a particular event that did notactually happen as having happened and, ifappropriate, treat the event as (a) havinghappened at a particular time, and (b) hav-ing involved particular action by a particu-lar entity; and

(3) Treat a particular event that hap-pened as (a) having happened at a time dif-ferent from the time it actually happened,or (b) having involved particular action bya particular entity, whether or not the event


... GL BAL NEWS ...involved any action by that entity." (SeeSection 165-55, Goods and Services TaxAct, Australia, June 1999.)

When Australian law empowers the TaxOffice to replace the facts with fiction andto rule by that fiction, we are in trouble.What next? The police?(Source: Jeff Corbitt, Newcastle Herald ,NSW, Australia, 27 July 1999)

ASPARTAME SWEETENERDAMNED BY SECRET REPORT

Aspartame, the artificial sweetener inbestselling brands like NutraSweet,

Equal, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, was con-demned as dangerous and potentially toxicin a report compiled in the early 1980s bysome of the world's biggest soft drinkmanufacturers—who now buy tonnes of itto add to diet drinks.

The documents were unearthed lastweek under Freedom of Information legis-lation. This followed a decision byresearchers at King's College in London tostudy suspected links between aspartameintake and brain tumours.

The 30-page aspartame report wasdrawn up under the auspices of America'sNational Soft Drinks Association (NSDA),whose governing body at the time includedsenior Coca-Cola and Pepsi executives. Itwas produced before the artificial sweeten-er aspartame had been approved for use inthe United States.

The report states: "We object to theapproval of aspartame for unrestricted usein soft drinks." It then lists ways in whichaspartame is believed have a direct effecton brain chemistry, including the synthesisof vital neurotransmitters such asserotonin. Thus, it warns, aspar-tame can affect the workings of thebrain, change behaviour and evenencourage users to eat extra carbo-hydrates—so destroying the pointof consuming diet drinks.

Aspartame, made by the multina-tional giant Monsanto and market-ed under the name NutraSweet, is200 times sweeter than sugar and isused in many popular low-caloriefoods and drinks. It has beendeclared "safe" in a number ofstudies and has been approved foruse in both the United States andEurope.

Other papers obtained with theNSDA documents show that theUS Food and Drug Administration

also had misgivings. Despite this, the FDAwent ahead and approved aspartameanyway.

With Coca-Cola's recent announcementthat it will soon retrench 6,000 employees,perhaps the company is hiring a barrage oflawyers instead, to prepare for theavalanche of aspartame litigation that'sabout to come down upon it. (Source: The Sunday Times , UK, 27February 2000)

US ARMY 'PSYOPS' AGENTSDEPLOYED TO CNN NEWS

According to Major Thomas Collins ofthe US Army Information Service,

CNN (Cable News Network) regularlyemploys military specialists in"Psychological Operations" ("PsyOps").

"PsyOps personnel, soldiers and officershave been working in CNN's headquartersin Atlanta through our program, 'Trainingwith Industry'," said Major Collins in atelephone interview with T r o u w, adding,"They worked as regular employees ofCNN. Conceivably, they would haveworked on stories during the Kosovo War.They helped in the production of news.''

The temporary outplacement of USArmy PsyOps personnel in various sectorsof society began a couple of years ago.Contract periods vary from a couple ofweeks to one year.

CNN is the biggest and most widelyviewed news station in the world. Theintimate liaisons with Army PsyOps spe-cialists raise serious doubts about CNN'sjournalistic integrity and independence.

The military CNN personnel belonged to

the air-mobile Fourth PsychologicalOperations Group, stationed at Fort Bragg,North Carolina. One of the main tasks ofthis group of almost 1,200 soldiers andofficers is to spread "selectedinformation".

US PsyOps personnel use a variety oftechniques to influence media and publicopinion in armed conflicts in whichAmerican state interests are said to be atstake. Recent examples include the GulfWar, the Bosnian War and the crisis inKosovo.

CNN spokeswoman Megan Mahoneysaid: "I don't believe that we wouldemploy military personnel; it doesn't seemlike something we would normally do."

So far, CNN senior officials have notcommented on the allegations. (Source: By Abe de Vries, T r o u w, 21February 2000; translated from Dutch by anEmperor's Clothes volunteer, websitewww.tenc.net [emperors-clothes])

US NAVY'S LOW-FREQUENCYACTIVE SONAR IS LETHAL

The full name is SURTASS LFAS, a USNavy acronym for Surveillance Towed

Array Sensor System / Low-FrequencyActive Sonar.

Often referred to as LFAS or LFA Sonaror just LFA, it is basically a loud, under-water sonar designed to detect today'squiet submarines but whose effects onmarine life are unknown to science.

Broadcasting at up to 240 decibels (dB),this low-frequency sound can travel thou-sands of kilometres and can injure, deafenand even kill marine mammals—as well as


... GL BAL NEWS ...humans—who are too close to the source.

What started in the 1980s as a US Navyproject to detect a new class of so-called"silent submarines", remained virtuallyunknown until 1995, when, with LFASonar on the verge of being deployed in 80per cent of the world's oceans, the NaturalResources Defense Council (NRDC)became aware of the program and of thefact that the Navy had never filed anEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS).

NRDC sent a letter to the Navy, threaten-ing to sue because the Navy was violatingnumerous environmental laws. To avoid alawsuit from NRDC, the Navy decided tofile an EIS on LFAS.

In 1997 and 1998, the Navy conductedtests of LFA Sonar on blue, fin, grey andhumpback whales off the coasts ofCalifornia and the Big Island of Hawai'i—in a national marine sanctuary for hump-back whales. The test levels were alwaysmuch lower than the 240 dB level at whichthe Navy wants to deploy LFAS.

In March 1998, the Navy came to thewaters off the Big Island of Hawai'i andbegan broadcasting LFAS. Almost imme-diately, whale-watch boat captains beganreporting whales leaving the test area, andthese reports were filed with the NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

A swimmer who was in the ocean at thetime of one of the tests was "ensonified" bythe LFAS transmission at 120 dB. (Notethat since the decibel scale increasesexponentially, the proposed 240 dBdeployment level is n o t twice the 120 dB

that this swimmer was exposed to, but—and this is not a typo or a miscalculation—it is one trillion times as strong!) She wasdiagnosed within an hour of her exposureas having symptoms comparable to acutetrauma.

The damage caused to humans andwildlife has resulted in the filing of threeseparate lawsuits and is spurring concernedpeople from many countries into action. (Source: Margaret Mead, 25 February 2000,with credit to the Stop LFAS Worldwide web -site, http://manyrooms.com/ and other links)

SOUTH AFRICA CALLS EXPERTSTO REASSESS HIV=AIDS THEORY

An expert panel, which will reassessvarious aspects of AIDS science, is to

be convened by South African HealthMinister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang,according to her special adviser, Dr IanRoberts.

"We are looking into the feasibility ofgetting an international expert panel to lookinto AIDS in Africa and the way forward.It will be internationally representative andmade up of experts from the US, Europeand Africa," Dr Roberts told the SouthAfrican Press Association (SAPA).

The new panel would be reappraising thescientific evidence that HIV causes AIDS.

Debate in scientific circles over AIDShas been raging since the viral cause ofAIDS was proposed in 1984, with main-stream science and medical journals consis-tently refusing to publish articles by the so-called AIDS dissidents, who, in 1991,

formed a coalition calling for a reappraisalof AIDS.

Tshabalala-Msimang's initiative to con-vene an international panel to reassessAIDS science is a first.(Source: Ben M a c l e n n a n , SAPA, 28February 2000, e-mail [email protected])

COLOUR PHOTOCOPIERS DOHAVE TRACKABLE ID CODES!

Last issue in Global News, we ran anitem from J.J. Johnson who was

refused permission to make a colour photo-copy of his driver's licence (to deal with anidentification problem with his local tele-phone company). A Kinko's (copying cen-tre) worker reportedly told him that makingsuch a copy was "illegal" and that any suchcopy could be traced to the store through ahidden ID code.

According to a Privacy Forum Digestspecial report: "...it's been well known foryears—no secret—that 'invisible' IDs a r eimprinted on virtually all color xerographicoutput, from (apparently) all of the manu-facturers. But for persons outside of 'thetrade', this hasn't been as widely known(even though the issue goes back to theearly '90s, and the topic has appeared inpublications such as the Wall StreetJournal)."

As explained in the report: "Modern sys-tems, which are now reportedly implement-ed universally... [encode] the ID effectivelyas 'noise' repeatedly throughout the image,making it impossible to circumvent the sys-tem through copying or printing over asmall portion of the image area or by cut-ting off portions of printed documents.

"To read these IDs, the document inquestion is scanned and the 'noise' decodedvia a secret and proprietary algorithm." (Source: Privacy Forum Digest, vol. 8, issue18, 6 December 1999, webpage www.vortex.com/privacy/priv.08.18)

UK LEGISLATION COULD MAKEINTERNET CAMPAIGNS ILLEGAL

Continuing with a definition firstbrought in by the Thatcher government

to allow police to tap the phones of unionmembers in the 1985 British miners' strike,the proposed Regulation of InvestigatoryPowers (RIP) Bill specifically designates"conduct by a large number of persons inpursuit of a common purpose" to be "a seri-ous crime" justifying an interception oftheir private e-mail correspondence.

Under the Bill, police will be able to


... GL BAL NEWS ...obtain facilities to spy on the private e-mailof people and protest groups, and Internetservice providers (ISPs) will have to build"interception capabilities" into their sys-tems. When served with an "interceptionwarrant", ISPs will be forced to interceptprivate e-mail and convey the contents tothe police or various intelligence services.Refusal to comply with a warrant will carrya maximum prison sentence of two years."Tipping-off" someone that their e-mail isbeing read will be punishable by up to fiveyears' imprisonment. This also applies toinforming anyone not authorised to knowabout the interception warrant.

The warrant will initially be served on anamed individual within an ISP. That per-son may inform only those other peoplewhose help they need to implement thewarrant; and those people, in turn, will facethe same penalties for tipping-off.

A separate section of the Bill deals withencryption. This provides for "properlyauthorised persons (such as members of thelaw enforcement, security and intelligenceagencies) to serve written notices on indi-viduals or bodies, requiring the surrenderof information (such as a decryption key)to enable them to understand (make intelli-gible) protected material which they law-fully hold, or are likely to hold".

Such an order can be served on anyonewho "there are reasonable grounds forbelieving" has an encryption key. Theycould face two years behind bars for notrevealing the key, and are also subject tothe same possible five-year prison sentenceas ISPs for informing someone thatattempts are being made by the authoritiesto read their e-mail. This section of theBill has been widely condemned by civilliberties lawyers as reversing the funda-mental right of a person to be presumedinnocent until proven guilty, and willalmost certainly be challenged using theEuropean Convention on Human Rights.

The British Bill is part of long-termplans that have been in development since1993, to give law enforcement bodiesaround the world the ability to interceptand read modern digital communications.

The RIP Bill represents a serious threatto the rights of those who use the Internetto campaign on social justice issues, bothin Britain and internationally. Anyone whowants to help in this campaign, please con-tact [email protected].(Source: GreenNet statement, 22 February2000, www.gn.apc.org/activities/ir/)

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 'INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY'?by Norman Solomon

Afew numbers tell a dramatic story about extreme changes in media fascination with theInternet. After the 1990s ended, I set out to gauge how news coverage of cyberspace

shifted during the last half of the decade. The comprehensive Nexis database yielded somerevealing statistics:

• In 1995, media outlets were transfixed with the Internet as an amazing source ofknowledge. Major newspapers in the United States and abroad referred to the "informationsuperhighway" in 4,562 stories. Meanwhile, during the entire year, articles mentioned"e-commerce" or "electronic commerce" only 915 times.

• In 1996, coverage of the Internet as an "information superhighway" fell to 2,370 storiesin major newspapers—about half the previous year's level. At the same time, coverage ofelectronic commerce nearly doubled, with mentions in 1,662 articles.

• For the first time, in 1997 the news media's emphasis on the Internet was mainly to toutit as a commercial avenue. The number of articles in major newspapers mentioning the"information superhighway" dropped sharply, to just 1,314. Meanwhile, the references toe-commerce gained further momentum, jumping to 2,812 articles.

• In 1998, despite an enormous upsurge of people online, the "information superhighway"concept appeared in only 945 articles in major newspapers. Simultaneously, e-commercebecame a media obsession, with those newspapers referring to it in 6,403 articles.

• In 1999, while Internet usage continued to grow by leaps and bounds, the news mediaplayed down "information superhighway" imagery, with a mere 842 mentions in majorpapers. But major newspapers mentioned e-commerce in 20,641 articles.

How did America's most influential daily papers frame the potentialities of the Internet?During the last five years of the 1990s, the annual number of Washington Post a r t i c l e smentioning the "information superhighway" went from 178 to 20, while such New YorkTimes articles went from 100 to 17. But during the same half-decade, the yearly total ofstories referring to electronic commerce zoomed, rising in the Post from 19 to 430 and inthe Times from 52 to 731.

In other prominent American newspapers, the pattern was similar. The Los AngelesTimes stalled out on the "information superhighway", going from 192 stories in 1995 to ameasly 33 in 1999; while Chicago Tribune articles went from 170 to 22. Meanwhile, thee-commerce bandwagon went into overdrive: the LA Times accelerated from 24 to 1,243stories per year, while the Chicago Tribune escalated from 8 to 486.

Five years ago, there was tremendous enthusiasm for the emerging World Wide Web.Talk about the "information superhighway" evoked images of freewheeling, wide-rangingexploration. The term suggested that the Web was primarily a resource for learning andcommunication. Today, according to the prevalent spin, the Web is best understood as away to make and spend money.

The drastic shift in media coverage mirrors the strip-malling of the Web by investorswith deep pockets. But mainstream news outlets have been prescriptive as well as descrip-tive. They aren't merely reporting on the big-bucks transformation of the Internet; they'realso hyping it—and often directly participating. Many of the same mega-firms that domi-nate magazine racks and airwaves are now dominating the Web with extensively promotedsites.

Yes, e-mail can be wonderful. Yes, the Internet has proven invaluable for activists withhigh ideals and low budgets. Yes, Web searches can locate a lot of information withinseconds. But let's get a grip on what has been happening to the World Wide Web overall.

The news media's recalibration of public expectations for the Internet has occurred intandem with the steady commercialisation of cyberspace. More and more, big money isweaving the Web, and the most heavily trafficked websites reflect that reality. Almost allof the Web's largest-volume sites are now owned by huge conglomerates. Even search-engine results are increasingly skewed, with priority placements greased by behind-the-scenes fees.

These days, "information superhighway" sounds outmoded and vaguely quaint.The World Wide Web isn't supposed to make sense nearly as much as it's supposed to

make money. All glory to electronic commerce. As Martha Stewart rejoiced in aDecember 1998 Newsweek essay: "The Web gives us younger, more affluent buyers."

Establishing a pantheon of cyber-heroes, media coverage has cast businesspeople likeBill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Steve Case as great visionaries. If your hopes for the communi-cations future are along the lines of Microsoft, Amazon.com, and America Online, you'llbe mighty pleased.

(Source: Written by Norman Solomon, author of The Habits of Highly Deceptive Media;published in Z Magazine, February 2000)





RADIOFREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE (RF/MW) EXPOSURE STANDARDS: RUSSIA AND THE WEST IN MAJOR CONFLICT by Don Maisch, EMFacts Consultancy © 2000

Russian and other Eastern European countries' exposurelimits for radio frequency and microwave (RF/MW) radia-tion are far stricter than those in either the USA or

Western Europe—a situation that has existed for over 30 years,mainly due to a fundamental difference between East and West asto exactly what exposure standards should provide protectionagainst.

With the previous "Cold War" between East and West nowwell over and with the present push towards "globalisation", anattempt was made to resolve this difference at the 2ndInternational Conference on Problems ofElectromagnetic Safety of the HumanBeing, held in Moscow in late 1999. Thisconference was sponsored by the RussianNational Committee on Non-IonisingRadiation Protection (RNCNIRP) andmany other Russian scientific organisa-tions, in conjunction with the World HealthOrganization (WHO), the InternationalCommission on Non-Ionizing RadiationProtection (ICNIRP) and the US Air Force.

Despite extensive discussions during thisconference, the attempt to "harmonise"RF/MW standards was unsuccessful, withlittle chance of a compromise in the nearfuture. As mentioned by Professor YuriGrigoriev, chairman of the RNCNIRPand a senior research scientist inMoscow: "So far we have entirelydifferent approaches to 'harmonisa-tion'. Western standard-setting organ-isations have emphasised protectionfrom RF/MW thermal effects,"Grigoriev said, "while Russia's morerestrictive standard also reflects aconcern over non-thermal effects andsubjective symptoms."

Grigoriev emphasised the need totake into account possible cumulativeeffects from repeated exposure to rel-atively low levels of radiation as wellas the potential bio-effects of specific modulated patterns. "If webring our viewpoints together, we will have a shorter way to har-monise," he said.

Way back, during the Second World War, concerns began tobe raised by military personnel that there may be health hazardsfrom working with radar equipment. Servicemen standing infront of the radar antenna soon discovered it was a great way tokeep warm on a cold night, but rumours began to circulate thatthis could also cause temporary sterility. In the 1940s, variousUS military and government agencies investigated the possibili-ties of health hazards. They all found no evidence of hazards, butrecommended avoiding prolonged exposure as a precautionarymeasure.

After the war, in the late 1940s, several studies came to lightthat indicated that there were possible hazards involved with theuse of microwaves. In 1948, two US studies reported a possiblelink with cataracts and testicular degeneration in dogs. Thesestudies were largely ignored, simply because the companieswhich had developed microwave technology for the military sawan opportunity for wide commercial use of microwaves, such asin diathermy equipment and, later, microwave ovens. As such,there was no interest in funding research that might put a damperon this expanding business opportunity. It must also be remem-bered that this was the start of the Cold War between the East andWest, and military uses of radar and other new equipment wereseen as paramount to the national interest.

However, in 1953, a study of workers at Hughes AircraftCorporation found excessive amounts ofinternal bleeding, leukaemia, cataracts,headaches, brain tumours, heart conditions,etc. in those employees working withradar. This study resulted in the US mili-tary initiating the first investigation intothe biological effects of microwaves, withthe aim to develop "tolerance levels" forboth single and repeated exposures. Sincelittle research data existed at that time (thatcould be used in determining tolerancelimits), it was decided that the known abil-ity of microwaves to heat up tissue (ther-mal effects) would be the main criterionused in developing limits. This decision,based more on a lack of scientific data than

anything else, quickly gained favourwith both the military and industry,as it avoided the unknown issue ofother possible non-thermal healtheffects not caused by tissue-heating.

The "thermal school of thought"quickly became the accepted normwith Western standard-setting organi-sations and, as a result, the vastmajority of research in the West wasdirected at short-term, high-levelexposures, with the aim of gaining abetter understanding of thermaleffects and refining exposure stan-dards to give adequate protection

against body heating. Research directed towards health effectsother than thermal was not favoured, and any findings (especiallyepidemiological) that indicated that low-level biological effectsmay exist were criticised and not followed up. It was simply badfor business!

This situation was well described by Dr Rochelle Medici, aresearcher on animal behaviour, who said: "It is though scientistshad retreated from doing challenging, frontier studies becausesuch work engendered too much controversy or elicited too muchcriticism. We are left with 'safe' but meaningless experiments.The results of such experiments are a foregone conclusion."

Now, almost 50 years after the first enquiry into setting anexposure standard in the USA, the arbitrary decision to consider

d e B r i e f i n g s

Russian and otherEastern European

countries' exposurelimits for

radiofrequency andmicrowave radiation are far stricter than those in the West.

An attempt to'harmonise' safety

standards has led tosome interesting

disclosures.


thermal effects only has become a paradigm in the West. Today, the ICNIRP exposure guidelines (thermal only) are

being promoted as "the best that science has to offer" for an"international" standard, and many countries are now being urgedto incorporate them as their national standard.

In Russia, however, a vastly different political, economic andsocial situation resulted paradoxically in their scientists beinggiven far more democratic and aca-demic freedom (and funding) thantheir Western counterparts in choos-ing the focus of their researchefforts, without interference fromvested interests. This has resultedin a Russian RF/MW exposure stan-dard with a different viewpoint onwhat "protection" should mean inregards to ensuring people's health.

While thermal effects are accept-ed by both Western and Russian sci-entists, it was only the Russianswho expanded their research toinclude extensive studies withhuman workers who were exposedto non-thermal electromagnetic fields. The reasons why Easternscientists had more freedom in this regard are as follows:

• The socialist philosophy about protecting "the worker". • The military was exempt from the public/occupational stan-

dards and could go about its business unfettered by these limits.As such, Russian (USSR) research into developing a non-thermalstandard that considered low-level, prolonged exposures was notseen as a possible threat to the military's developing and deploy-ing new technology, the way it was in the USA, for instance. Anexample of this was the suppression of the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency's (EPA) 1990 report, "Evaluation of thePotential Carcinogenicity of Electromagnetic Fields", which wasa review of the scientific literature up to that date. A US Air

Force paper on the EPA report stated: "If published, the [EPA]report will contribute to public anxiety and have serious impactson capabilities and costs of air force programs."

• The absence of large, capitalist, private corporations whichwere investing in microwave technology purely for future corpo-rate profit, and would view research into low-level hazards asitself a risk for "the bottom line". An example of this was in

Australia, where the possible healthrisks from mobile phone use wereconsidered serious enough to men-tion in the Telstra 2 share offer doc-ument. The document says therehave been allegations but no proof,and warns "there is a risk that a per-ceived or actual risk could lead tolitigation against Telstra".

Now that East and West are talk-ing about the standard-settingprocess, it is only rational that thelarge body of Russian medicalresearch into non-thermal biologicaleffects should now be included instandard-setting. Unfortunately,

however, it appears that the current attitude of ICNIRP is that theprocess of harmonisation means total acceptance of the existingICNIRP guidelines (thermal effects only) without alteration.

This was very much the case in the 1999 Australian StandardsTE/7 Committee: Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields,where an alliance of government/industry/military representativeswould consider no changes to ICNIRP guidelines, despiteconcrete evidence being submitted that these guidelines wereincorrect and biased in their interpretation of the Westernscientific literature.

Now that the large body of Russian literature is becomingavailable to the West—literature which convincingly shows thatICNIRP voluntary standards do not provide adequate protection

for workers and the public—how will ourstandard-setting bodies handle that?

If it turns out that ICNIRP still insiststhat only high-level thermal effects canbe considered in standard-setting, thenthe question must be raised: Exactly forwhom does ICNIRP provide protection?

About the Author:Don Maisch established EMFactsConsultancy in 1994, and has pro-duced over 21 publications/papers onvarious health issues related to humanexposure to electromagnetic radiation.He is a scheduled speaker at the May2000 NEXUS Conference. He can becontacted at PO Box 96, NorthHobart, Tasmania 7002, Australia, tel+61 (0)3 6243 0195, fax +61 (0)36243 0340, e-mail [email protected], ICQ 30814841, websitewww.tassie.net.au/ emfacts/.


In Russia, a vastly different political, economic and social

situation resulted paradoxically intheir scientists being given far moredemocratic and academic freedom(and funding) than their Western

counterparts...without interferencefrom vested interests.


HACKERS, MEDIA HYPE AND DISINFORMATIONby Wayne Madsen © 2000

For what it is worth, I am a 20-year veteran of the computersecurity community. I have served in the Navy, NationalSecurity Agency, State Department, Computer Sciences

Corporation and RCA, and have consulted on computer securitywith the National Institute of Standards and Technology, interna-tional banks, telecom companies and even firms that manufacturecandy.

While working for the FBI and Naval Investigative Service, Iput one US Navy official in federal prison for espionage andother crimes, and I was involved in US counter-terrorism work inGreece and The Philippines. I think I know how the "spook"community operates and, more impor-tantly, how it thinks.

The hype associated with the recentInternet flooding is outrageous andserves the agendas of the military andintelligence communities regarding newvistas for bloated Pentagon andespionage budgets.

On 17 February, National PublicRadio's Diane Rehm Show had a round-table discussion featuring James Adams,a former London Sunday Times reporterin Washington who is now a drum-beaterfor information warfare, and JeffreyHunker, the former head of the WhiteHouse Critical Infrastructure AssuranceOffice. Adams suggested that, forcritical infrastructure protection,certain civil liberties must be for-feited. He also stated that Internettransactions should not be affordedthe same degree of privacy as theUS mail.

Hunker was uncomfortable thatsome people think that scare-mongering has been at the centre ofthe recent packet-flooding of theInternet. Adams supported theCIA's creation of IN-Q-IT, a CIA"Trojan Horse" in Silicon Valley.

According to Adams, ScienceApplications InternationalCorporation (SAIC), a virtual CIAproprietary firm, is funding, through IN-Q-IT, a program calledNet Eraser. None of the participants in the Rehm Show was will-ing to talk about Net Eraser, and some seemed very nervousabout discussing it in detail.

This radio program is highly indicative of the current hype sur-rounding the Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks ondot-com sites on the Internet. Even the use of the acronymDDOS is amazing. Here they are, 20-something dot-com execu-tives (who probably never thought about computer securityexcept for watching re-runs of H a c k e r s and S n e a k e r s) usingPentagon-originated terms like "Distributed Denial of Service"attacks. Why? Who told them to use those terms?

Then President Bill Clinton manages to spare 90 minutes toattend an Internet security summit on 15 February. NorthernIreland's peace agreement is falling apart, the Israel-Palestineagreement is unravelling, and Russia's new President is puttingex-KGB agents in his government, but Clinton has enough timeto talk with a group of e-commerce barons, computer securitygeeks and even one hacker. The whole thing appeared to bestaged and scheduled way in advance.

The whole so-called Internet "hack" smells of a perceptionmanagement campaign by the intelligence community. Perhapsthe system-flooding was coordinated by one group; however,those types of attacks probably occur on a daily basis withoutbeing reported by the world's media. It is important to note that

one of the key components of informa-tion warfare, according to the Pentagon'sown seminal documents, is "perceptionmanagement"—psychological operationsto whip up public support for a policy orprogram.

The early Defense Science Boardreports on Critical InfrastructureProtection actually call for a campaign tochange the public's attitude about infor-mation system and network security.

The Pentagon is a master at deceptioncampaigns aimed at the news media.They constantly broadcast disinforma-tion to television and radio audiences inHaiti, Serbia, Colombia, Mexico and

elsewhere. They are now extend-ing this to cyberspace. Criticalinfrastructure protection is a mas-terful ruse aimed at creating themyth of impending cyber-peril.

The major domo is a weird chapnamed Richard Clarke, a DrStrangelove type of character whois Clinton's counter-terrorism czar.He always talks about defensivecyber-warfare, but clams up whenit comes to offensive US cyber-operations. That is classifiedinformation.

However, it is certain that theUS Government has already donemore to disrupt the Internet than

any other player, state-sponsored or freelance.For the past few years, US Government hackers have penetrat-

ed networks at the European Parliament and Australian StockExchange, and banks in Athens, Nicosia, Moscow, Johannesburg,Beirut, Tel Aviv, Zürich and Vaduz. The US also engaged innetwork penetrations in Yugoslavia during the NATO waragainst that country.

Why doesn't NPR, CBS, ABC, NBC and the others focus onwhat the US is doing to disrupt the Internet? They are insteadfalling into a familiar Pentagon trap of deception and diversion.[Source: Wayne Madsen, 17 February 2000, websitehttp://cryptome.org/madsen-hmhd.htm]


The US Government hasalready done more to

disrupt the Internet thanany other player,

state-sponsored orfreelance.

US Government hackershave penetrated networks

at the European Parliament,the Australian StockExchange, banks in

Athens, Nicosia, Moscow,Johannesburg, Beirut,

Tel Aviv, Zürich and Vaduz.

AN ACTIVISTS DICTIONARY FOR TRANSLATING WTO-SPEAK (Orwellian to English) by Jim Puckett © 1999

Agreement on Government Procurement (AGP) – An agreement thatprohibits taxpayers from specifying how they want their tax money to bespent (i.e., on sustainable, equitable products).Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) – An inter-national treaty that sounds hopelessly esoteric, but only happens to governthe integrity of all of the food that we eat and the risk from all of the dis-eases we might contract! Within it there lies numerous prohibitionsagainst trade restraints, including a concerted undermining of thePrecautionary Principle, thus allowing chemical pollution and diseases toenter our food and agriculture products.Dispute Resolution – Under the World Trade Organization, any countrycan challenge a national law by running to the WTO dispute panel. Thispanel usually consists of three trade lawyers who deliberate in secret with-out participation from stakeholder groups unless requested. The decisionof the three is binding and can overturn laws decided democratically bymany millions of citizens.Fair Trade – A term for alternative trading rules which might make dis-tinctions that favour responsible and sustainable trade over that which isnot.Fast Track – Globalisation without representation. A means by which theU S Government can vastly limit debate, congressional hearings and thepossibility of amendments on international trade agreements and allowCongress only a thumbs up or down on the entire package.Free Trade – Lawless trade.GATT – The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the tumour that on1 January 1995 metastasised into the cancer that is the WTO.G l o b a l i s a t i o n – A global economic model where unbridled capitalism,free trade and the rights of transnational corporations are given value overdemocracy, sovereignty, human rights and sustainability. Harmonisation – An euphonious word for one set of rules. In practice, itis another word for "downward harmonisation", as the deck is stackedagainst any dreams of upward harmonisation due to corporate dominancewithin the rulemaking institutions, the consensus nature of internationallaw and the unwillingness of developed countries to assist developingcountries in leapfrogging over dirty development.Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) – These are interna-tional treaties that free-traders feel the WTO should be able to trump, eventhough they have equal standing in international law. Now there areefforts underway to insert "supremacy clauses" into new MEAs (e.g.,POPs treaty) to ensure that WTO has precedence over the MEA. Yet otherfree-traders want to set a limit that only via MEAs can environmental stan-dards and rules be set—not allowing local, national or regional agree-ments. Both of these ideas spell disaster.Most Favoured Nation Treatment – All countries must be treated equal-ly, no matter how much they destroy the global environment, abuse work-ers or human rights, and no matter how little economic and political cloutthey might have to resist unfair investment or trade, or compete with largercountries (see Non-Discrimination).Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) – A liberalisation agree-ment dealing with investment rather than goods and services. It wouldgrant rights to capitalists, which will dramatically diminish the ability ofgovernments to decide the types of foreign investment allowed in theircountries and the terms of entry and operation. This agreement proposedby the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD)—the club of 29 most wealthy countries—was put on hold by anoutcry organised by a globalised activist movement. NAFTA alreadyincludes many investment provisions that have been proposed under theMAI.N A F T A – North American Free Trade Agreement, which establishedWTO and MAI like provisions within a trade agreement for Canada,Mexico and the United States.

National Treatment – All foreign business must be treated just likehomegrown business, regardless of environmental, labour or social prac-tices of the importing country, and regardless of the need to protect a localeconomy from foreign investments, imports or trade in problematic sub-stances such as a toxic waste or cigarettes.N o n - D i s c r i m i n a t i o n – A term that in itself is used with greatdiscrimination to allude only to discrimination against a country's right totrade, and not, for example, its right to protect its environment or theglobal commons. Indeed, the WTO seems to take pride in the fact that itcannot distinguish between sustainable, responsible trade and non-sustainable, irresponsible trade—clearly a lack of a discriminating mind.This term is used as an excuse to lower environmental and social standardsto lowest common denominator levels.Production and Process Measures (PPMs) – How things are made,farmed, caught or processed (e.g., with pollution or not, with child labouror not), deemed irrelevant by WTO rules.Proportionality – The idea that an environmental or social measure takenby a government must not impact trade to an extent that is not in propor-tion to the environmental problem involved. In other words, environmen-tal or social issues can never be considered more important than trade.Protectionism – A pejorative term for "protection" (the true noun form of"protect"), it implies that economic, social and environmental protectionsare motivated by selfish interests.Quantitative Restrictions – Bans or limits on trade in substances or prod-ucts. The WTO disallows "quantitative restrictions", even when the ban orlimitation protects the environment or public health.Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) – Let's get technical! What they arereally talking about is laws—your laws, my laws, our laws. Also an agree-ment (TBT Agreement) under the WTO that seeks to eliminate TBTs.Trade Barriers – Anything that can limit profits made via trade orinvestment.Trade Distortion – Used to describe the effects of "trade barriers". Notused to describe the effects of allowing "distortions" in true economics viaexternalising true costs to communities and the environment.Trade Liberalisation – Freedom to allow transnational corporations andgovernments to externalise environmental and social costs to the planetand its people (see Free Trade).Trade Wars – According to the WTO, these are what happens when coun-tries retaliate against tariffs. They are not what happens when the WTOallows countries to sanction one another if they fail to overturn democraticdecision-making (as is currently taking place between Europe and the USover the beef hormone issue).Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) – The subject of aWTO agreement which requires that the whole world adopt US-stylepatent laws. Can be used to strip traditional peoples' ownership of rights totheir own seeds, recipes, methods and genetic material. Can be used todeny developing countries appropriate technologies (e.g., waste minimisa-tion technologies). The Agreement on TRIPs proves that the WTO is notprimarily about "free trade", as the Agreement actually legislates againstfree trade. Rather, the WTO is about giving transnational corporationswhat they want. World Trade Organization (WTO) – An umbrella organisation designedto limit governmental regulation of trade and investment to one set ofrules. But because these rules have been created primarily by the largest ofour corporations, these rules have been established primarily for these cor-porations. They have become a Corporate Global Constitution and "Bill ofRights" that denies rights to people and the environment. ∞

[Source: Written by Jim Puckett and extracted from his October 1999publication, "When Trade is Toxic: The WTO Threat to Public andPlanetary Health", a project of Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange(APEX) (tel +1 206 720 6426, e-mail apex@seanet. com) and BaselAction Network (BAN) (e-mail [email protected], website www.ban.org).]





Each year, research on the health effects of soy and soybean components seemsto increase exponentially. Furthermore, research is not just expanding in theprimary areas under investigation, such as cancer, heart disease andosteoporosis; new findings suggest that soy has potential benefits that may bemore extensive than previously thought.

So writes Mark Messina, PhD, General Chairperson of the Third International SoySymposium held in Washington, DC, in November 1999.1 For four days, well-funded scientists gathered in Washington made presentations to an admiring Pressand to their sponsors—United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association,

Monsanto, Protein Technologies International, Central Soya, Cargill Foods, PersonalProducts Company, SoyLife, Whitehall-Robins Healthcare and the soybean councils ofIllinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

The symposium marked the apogee of a decade-long marketing campaign to gain con-sumer acceptance of tofu, soy milk, soy ice cream, soy cheese, soy sausage and soy deriv-atives, particularly soy isoflavones like genistein and diadzen—he oestrogen-like com-pounds found in soybeans. It coincided with a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)decision, announced on October 25, 1999, to allow a health claim for products "low in sat-urated fat and cholesterol" that contain 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving. Breakfastcereals, baked goods, convenience food, smoothie mixes and meat substitutes could nowbe sold with labels touting benefits to cardiovascular health, as long as these products con-tained one heaping teaspoon of soy protein per 100-gram serving.

MARKETING THE 'PERFECT FOOD' "Just imagine you could grow the perfect food. This food not only would provide

affordable nutrition, but also would be delicious and easy to prepare in a variety of ways.It would be a healthful food, with no saturated fat. In fact, you would be growing a virtualfountain of youth on your back forty." The author is Dean Houghton, writing for T h eFurrow,2 a magazine published in 12 languages by John Deere. "This ideal food wouldhelp prevent, and perhaps reverse, some of the world's most dreaded diseases. You couldgrow this miracle crop in a variety of soils and climates. Its cultivation would build up,not deplete, the land...this miracle food already exists... It's called soy."

Just imagine. Farmers have been imagining—and planting more soy. What was once aminor crop, listed in the 1913 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) handbook not as afood but as an industrial product, now covers 72 million acres of American farmland.Much of this harvest will be used to feed chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows and salmon.Another large fraction will be squeezed to produce oil for margarine, shortenings andsalad dressings.

Advances in technology make it possible to produce isolated soy protein from what wasonce considered a waste product—the defatted, high-protein soy chips—and then trans-form something that looks and smells terrible into products that can be consumed byhuman beings. Flavourings, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers and synthetic nutrientshave turned soy protein isolate, the food processors' ugly duckling, into a New AgeCinderella.

The new fairy-tale food has been marketed not so much for her beauty but for hervirtues. Early on, products based on soy protein isolate were sold as extenders and meatsubstitutes—a strategy that failed to produce the requisite consumer demand. The indus-try changed its approach. "The quickest way to gain product acceptability in the less

Far from being theperfect food,modern soy

products containantinutrients and

toxins which inhibitdigestion and blockthe absorption of

vitamins andminerals.

© 2000by Sally Fallon

E-mail: [email protected] &

Mary G. Enig, PhDE-mail: [email protected]

All rights reserved



affluent society," said an industry spokesman, "is to have theproduct consumed on its own merit in a more affluent society."3

So soy is now sold to the upscale consumer, not as a cheap,poverty food but as a miracle substance that will prevent heartdisease and cancer, whisk away hot flushes, build strong bonesand keep us forever young. The competition—meat, milk,cheese, butter and eggs—has been duly demonised by the appro-priate government bodies. Soy serves as meat and milk for a newgeneration of virtuous vegetarians.

Marketing costs money, especially when it needs to be bolsteredwith "research", but there's plenty of funding available. Allsoybean producers pay a mandatory assessment of one-half to oneper cent of the net market price of soybeans. The total—somethinglike US$80 million annually4—supports United Soybean'sprogram to "strengthen the position of soybeans in the marketplaceand maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for uses forsoybeans and soybean products". State soybean councils fromMaryland, Nebraska, Delaware, Arkansas, Virginia, North Dakotaand Michigan provide another $2.5 million for "research".5 Privatecompanies like Archer Daniels Midland also contribute their share.ADM spent $4.7 million for advertising on Meet the Press and$4.3 million on Face the Nation during the course of a year.6

Public relations firms help convert research projects intonewspaper articles and advertisingcopy, and law firms lobby forfavourable government regulations.IMF money funds soy processingplants in foreign countries, and freetrade policies keep soybean abundanceflowing to overseas destinations.

The push for more soy has beenrelentless and global in its reach. Soyprotein is now found in most super-market breads. It is being used totransform "the humble tortilla,Mexico's corn-based staple food, intoa protein-fortified 'super-tortilla' thatwould give a nutritional boost to thenearly 20 million Mexicans who live inextreme poverty".7 Advertising for a new soy-enriched loaf fromAllied Bakeries in Britain targets menopausal women seekingrelief from hot flushes. Sales are running at a quarter of a millionloaves per week.8

The soy industry hired Norman Robert Associates, a publicrelations firm, to "get more soy products onto school menus". 9

The USDA responded with a proposal to scrap the 30 per centlimit for soy in school lunches. The NuMenu program wouldallow unlimited use of soy in student meals. With soy added tohamburgers, tacos and lasagna, dieticians can get the total fat con-tent below 30 per cent of calories, thereby conforming to govern-ment dictates. "With the soy-enhanced food items, students arereceiving better servings of nutrients and less cholesterol and fat."

Soy milk has posted the biggest gains, soaring from $2 millionin 1980 to $300 million in the US last year.10 Recent advances inprocessing have transformed the grey, thin, bitter, beany-tastingAsian beverage into a product that Western consumers willaccept—one that tastes like a milkshake, but without the guilt.

Processing miracles, good packaging, massive advertising and amarketing strategy that stresses the products' possible health bene-fits account for increasing sales to all age groups. For example,reports that soy helps prevent prostate cancer have made soy milkacceptable to middle-aged men. "You don't have to twist the armof a 55- to 60-year-old guy to get him to try soy milk," says Mark

Messina. Michael Milken, former junk bond financier, has helpedthe industry shed its hippie image with well-publicised efforts toconsume 40 grams of soy protein daily.

America today, tomorrow the world. Soy milk sales are risingin Canada, even though soy milk there costs twice as much ascow's milk. Soybean milk processing plants are sprouting up inplaces like Kenya.1 1 Even China, where soy really is a povertyfood and whose people want more meat, not tofu, has opted tobuild Western-style soy factories rather than develop westerngrasslands for grazing animals.12

CINDERELLA'S DARK SIDE The propaganda that has created the soy sales miracle is all the

more remarkable because, only a few decades ago, the soybeanwas considered unfit to eat—even in Asia. During the ChouDynasty (1134–246 BC) the soybean was designated one of thefive sacred grains, along with barley, wheat, millet and rice.However, the pictograph for the soybean, which dates from earliertimes, indicates that it was not first used as a food; for whereas thepictographs for the other four grains show the seed and stemstructure of the plant, the pictograph for the soybean emphasisesthe root structure. Agricultural literature of the period speaks fre-quently of the soybean and its use in crop rotation. Apparently

the soy plant was initially used as amethod of fixing nitrogen.13

The soybean did not serve as afood until the discovery of fermenta-tion techniques, some time during theChou Dynasty. The first soy foodswere fermented products like tem-peh, natto, miso and soy sauce. At alater date, possibly in the 2nd centuryBC, Chinese scientists discoveredthat a purée of cooked soybeanscould be precipitated with calciumsulphate or magnesium sulphate(plaster of Paris or Epsom salts) tomake a smooth, pale curd—tofu orbean curd. The use of fermented and

precipitated soy products soon spread to other parts of the Orient,notably Japan and Indonesia.

The Chinese did not eat unfermented soybeans as they did otherlegumes such as lentils, because the soybean contains large quan-tities of natural toxins or "antinutrients". First among them arepotent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of trypsin and otherenzymes needed for protein digestion. These inhibitors are large,tightly folded proteins that are not completely deactivated duringordinary cooking. They can produce serious gastric distress,reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino aciduptake. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors causeenlargement and pathological conditions of the pancreas, includ-ing cancer.14

Soybeans also contain haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting sub-stance that causes red blood cells to clump together.

Trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinin are growth inhibitors.Weanling rats fed soy containing these antinutrients fail to grownormally. Growth-depressant compounds are deactivated duringthe process of fermentation; so once the Chinese discovered howto ferment the soybean, they began to incorporate soy foods intotheir diets. In precipitated products, enzyme inhibitors concen-trate in the soaking liquid rather than in the curd. Thus, in tofuand bean curd, growth depressants are reduced in quantity but notcompletely eliminated.

The propaganda that has createdthe soy sales miracle is all the

more remarkable because, only a few decades ago, the soybeanwas considered unfit to eat—

even in Asia.


Soy also contains goitrogens—substances that depress thyroidfunction.

Soybeans are high in phytic acid, present in the bran or hulls ofall seeds. It's a substance that can block the uptake of essentialminerals—calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and especiallyzinc—in the intestinal tract. Although not a household word,phytic acid has been extensively studied. There are literally hun-dreds of articles on the effects of phytic acid in the current scien-tific literature. Scientists are in general agreement that grain- andlegume-based diets high in phytates contribute to widespread min-eral deficiencies in Third World countries.15 Analysis shows thatcalcium, magnesium, iron and zinc are present in the plant foodseaten in these areas, but the high phytate content of soy- andgrain-based diets prevents their absorption.

The soybean has one of the highest phytate levels of any grainor legume that has been studied, 1 6 and the phytates in soy arehighly resistant to normal phytate-reducing techniques such aslong, slow cooking.17 Only a long period of fermentation will sig-nificantly reduce the phytate content of soybeans. When precipi-tated soy products like tofu are consumedwith meat, the mineral-blocking effects of thephytates are reduced.1 8 The Japanese tradi-tionally eat a small amount of tofu or miso aspart of a mineral-rich fish broth, followed bya serving of meat or fish.

Vegetarians who consume tofu and beancurd as a substitute for meat and dairy prod-ucts risk severe mineral deficiencies. Theresults of calcium, magnesium and iron defi-ciency are well known; those of zinc are lessso.

Zinc is called the "intelligence" mineralbecause it is needed for optimal developmentand functioning of the brain and nervoussystem. It plays a role in protein synthe-sis and collagen formation; it is involvedin the blood-sugar control mechanismand thus protects against diabetes; it isneeded for a healthy reproductive sys-tem. Zinc is a key component in numer-ous vital enzymes and plays a role in theimmune system. Phytates found in soyproducts interfere with zinc absorptionmore completely than with other miner-a l s . 1 9 Zinc deficiency can cause a"spacey" feeling that some vegetariansmay mistake for the "high" of spiritualenlightenment.

Milk drinking is given as the reason why second-generationJapanese in America grow taller than their native ancestors.Some investigators postulate that the reduced phytate content ofthe American diet—whatever may be its other deficiencies—isthe true explanation, pointing out that both Asian and Westernchildren who do not get enough meat and fish products to coun-teract the effects of a high phytate diet, frequently suffer rickets,stunting and other growth problems.20

SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE: NOT SO FRIENDLY Soy processors have worked hard to get these antinutrients out

of the finished product, particularly soy protein isolate (SPI)which is the key ingredient in most soy foods that imitate meatand dairy products, including baby formulas and some brands ofsoy milk.

SPI is not something you can make in your own kitchen.Production takes place in industrial factories where a slurry ofsoybeans is first mixed with an alkaline solution to remove fibre,then precipitated and separated using an acid wash, and, finally,neutralised in an alkaline solution. Acid washing in aluminiumtanks leaches high levels of aluminium into the final product. Theresultant curds are spray-dried at high temperatures to produce ahigh-protein powder. A final indignity to the original soybean ishigh-temperature, high-pressure extrusion processing of soy pro-tein isolate to produce textured vegetable protein (TVP).

Much of the trypsin inhibitor content can be removed throughhigh-temperature processing, but not all. Trypsin inhibitor con-tent of soy protein isolate can vary as much as fivefold.21 (In rats,even low-level trypsin inhibitor SPI feeding results in reducedweight-gain compared to controls.2 2) But high-temperature pro-cessing has the unfortunate side-effect of so denaturing the otherproteins in soy that they are rendered largely ineffective.23 That'swhy animals on soy feed need lysine supplements for normalgrowth.

Nitrites, which are potent carcinogens, areformed during spray-drying, and a toxin calledlysinoalanine is formed during alkaline pro-c e s s i n g .2 4 Numerous artificial flavourings,particularly MSG, are added to soy protein iso-late and textured vegetable protein products tomask their strong "beany" taste and to impartthe flavour of meat.25

In feeding experiments, the use of SPIincreased requirements for vitamins E, K, Dand B12 and created deficiency symptoms ofcalcium, magnesium, manganese, molybde-num, copper, iron and zinc. 2 6 Phytic acidremaining in these soy products greatly

inhibits zinc and iron absorption. Testanimals fed SPI develop enlarged organs,particularly the pancreas and thyroidgland, and had increased deposition offatty acids in the liver.27

Yet soy protein isolate and texturedvegetable protein are used extensively inschool lunch programs, commercialbaked goods, diet beverages and fast foodproducts. They are heavily promoted inThird World countries and form the basisof many food giveaway programs.

In spite of poor results in animal feed-ing trials, the soy industry has sponsored

a number of studies designed to show that soy protein productscan be used in human diets as a replacement for traditional foods.An example is "Nutritional Quality of Soy Bean Protein Isolates:Studies in Children of Preschool Age", sponsored by the RalstonPurina Company.28 A group of Central American children suffer-ing from malnutrition was first stabilised and brought into betterhealth by feeding them native foods, including meat and dairyproducts. Then, for a two-week period, these traditional foodswere replaced by a drink made of soy protein isolate and sugar.All nitrogen taken in and all nitrogen excreted was measured intruly Orwellian fashion: the children were weighed naked everymorning, and all excrement and vomit gathered up for analysis.The researchers found that the children retained nitrogen and thattheir growth was "adequate", so the experiment was declared asuccess.

Whether the children were actually healthy on such a diet, or

Soy containsgoitrogens—substances

that depress thyroidfunction.

Soybeans are high inphytic acid, a substancethat blocks the uptakeof essential minerals—calcium, magnesium,

copper, iron andespecially zinc—in the

intestinal tract.


could remain so over a long period, is another matter. Theresearchers noted that the children vomited "occasionally", usual-ly after finishing a meal; that over half suffered from periods ofmoderate diarrhoea; that some had upper respiratory infections;and that others suffered from rash and fever.

It should be noted that the researchers did not dare to use soyproducts to help the children recover from malnutrition, and wereobliged to supplement the soy-sugar mixture with nutrients large-ly absent in soy products—notably, vitamins A, D and B12, iron,iodine and zinc.

FDA HEALTH CLAIM CHALLENGEDThe best marketing strategy for a product that is inherently

unhealthy is, of course, a health claim. "The road to FDA approval," writes a soy apologist, "was long

and demanding, consisting of a detailed review of human clinicaldata collected from more than 40 scientific studies conducted overthe last 20 years. Soy protein was found to be one of the rarefoods that had sufficient scientific evidence not only to qualify foran FDA health claim proposal but to ultimate-ly pass the rigorous approval process."29

The "long and demanding" road to FDAapproval actually took a few unexpected turns.The original petition, submitted by ProteinTechnology International, requested a healthclaim for isoflavones, the oestrogen-like com-pounds found plentifully in soybeans, based onassertions that "only soy protein that has beenprocessed in a manner in which isoflavonesare retained will result in cholesterol lower-ing". In 1998, the FDA made the unprecedent-ed move of rewriting PTI's petition, removingany reference to the phytoestrogens andsubstituting a claim for soy protein—amove that was in direct contradiction tothe agency's regulations. The FDA isauthorised to make rulings only on sub-stances presented by petition.

The abrupt change in direction was nodoubt due to the fact that a number ofresearchers, including scientists employedby the US Government, submitted docu-ments indicating that isoflavones aretoxic.

The FDA had also received, early in1998, the final British Government report on phytoestrogens,which failed to find much evidence of benefit and warned againstpotential adverse effects.30

Even with the change to soy protein isolate, FDA bureaucratsengaged in the "rigorous approval process" were forced to dealnimbly with concerns about mineral blocking effects, enzymeinhibitors, goitrogenicity, endocrine disruption, reproductiveproblems and increased allergic reactions from consumption ofsoy products.31

One of the strongest letters of protest came from Dr DanSheehan and Dr Daniel Doerge, government researchers at theNational Center for Toxicological Research. 3 2 Their pleas forwarning labels were dismissed as unwarranted.

"Sufficient scientific evidence" of soy's cholesterol-loweringproperties is drawn largely from a 1995 meta-analysis by DrJames Anderson, sponsored by Protein Technologies Internationaland published in the New England Journal of Medicine.33

A meta-analysis is a review and summary of the results of many

clinical studies on the same subject. Use of meta-analyses todraw general conclusions has come under sharp criticism bymembers of the scientific community. "Researchers substitutingmeta-analysis for more rigorous trials risk making faulty assump-tions and indulging in creative accounting," says Sir John Scott,President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. "Like is notbeing lumped with like. Little lumps and big lumps of data arebeing gathered together by various groups."34

There is the added temptation for researchers, particularlyresearchers funded by a company like Protein TechnologiesInternational, to leave out studies that would prevent the desiredconclusions. Dr Anderson discarded eight studies for various rea-sons, leaving a remainder of twenty-nine. The published reportsuggested that individuals with cholesterol levels over 250 mg/dlwould experience a "significant" reduction of 7 to 20 per cent inlevels of serum cholesterol if they substituted soy protein for ani-mal protein. Cholesterol reduction was insignificant for individu-als whose cholesterol was lower than 250 mg/dl.

In other words, for most of us, giving up steak and eatingvegieburgers instead will not bring down bloodcholesterol levels. The health claim that theFDA approved "after detailed review of humanclinical data" fails to inform the consumer aboutthese important details.

Research that ties soy to positive effects oncholesterol levels is "incredibly immature", saidRonald M. Krauss, MD, head of the MolecularMedical Research Program and LawrenceBerkeley National Laboratory.35 He might haveadded that studies in which cholesterol levelswere lowered through either diet or drugs haveconsistently resulted in a greater number of

deaths in the treatment groups than in con-trols—deaths from stroke, cancer, intesti-nal disorders, accident and suicide. 3 6

Cholesterol-lowering measures in the UShave fuelled a $60 billion per year choles-terol-lowering industry, but have not savedus from the ravages of heart disease.

SOY CONSUMPTION & CANCER The new FDA ruling does not allow any

claims about cancer prevention on foodpackages, but that has not restrained theindustry and its marketeers from making

them in their promotional literature. "In addition to protecting the heart," says a vitamin company

brochure, "soy has demonstrated powerful anticancerbenefits...the Japanese, who eat 30 times as much soy as NorthAmericans, have a lower incidence of cancers of the breast, uterusand prostate."37

Indeed they do. But the Japanese, and Asians in general, havemuch higher rates of other types of cancer, particularly cancer ofthe oesophagus, stomach, pancreas and liver.38 Asians throughoutthe world also have high rates of thyroid cancer.39 The logic thatlinks low rates of reproductive cancers to soy consumptionrequires attribution of high rates of thyroid and digestive cancersto the same foods, particularly as soy causes these types of can-cers in laboratory rats.

Just how much soy do Asians eat? A 1998 survey found thatthe average daily amount of soy protein consumed in Japan wasabout eight grams for men and seven for women—less than twot e a s p o o n s .4 0 The famous Cornell China Study, conducted by

Thousands of women are now consuming soy

in the belief that itprotects them against

breast cancer.

Yet, in 1996, researchers found thatwomen consuming soyprotein isolate had anincreased incidence of

epithelial hyperplasia, acondition that presages

malignancies.


Colin T. Campbell, found that legume consumption in China var-ied from 0 to 58 grams per day, with a mean of about twelve. 4 1

Assuming that two-thirds of legume consumption is soy, then themaximum consumption is about 40 grams, or less than threetablespoons per day, with an average consumption of about ninegrams, or less than two teaspoons. A survey conducted in the1930s found that soy foods accounted for only 1.5 per cent ofcalories in the Chinese diet, compared with 65 per cent of caloriesfrom pork.42 (Asians traditionally cooked with lard, not vegetableoil!)

Traditionally fermented soy products make a delicious, naturalseasoning that may supply important nutritional factors in theAsian diet. But except in times of famine, Asians consume soyproducts only in small amounts, as condiments, and not as areplacement for animal foods—with one exception. Celibatemonks living in monasteries and leading a vegetarian lifestylefind soy foods quite helpful because they dampen libido.

It was a 1994 meta-analysis by Mark Messina, published inNutrition and Cancer, that fuelled speculation on soy's anticar-cinogenic properties.4 3 Messina noted that in 26 animal studies,65 per cent reported protective effects from soy. He convenientlyneglected to include at least one study in which soy feedingcaused pancreatic cancer—the 1985 study by Rackis. 4 4 In thehuman studies he listed, the results were mixed. A few showedsome protective effect, but mostshowed no correlation at all betweensoy consumption and cancer rates. Heconcluded that "the data in this reviewcannot be used as a basis for claimingthat soy intake decreases cancer risk".Yet in his subsequent book, The SimpleSoybean and Your Health , Messinamakes just such a claim, recommend-ing one cup or 230 grams of soy prod-ucts per day in his "optimal" diet as away to prevent cancer.

Thousands of women are now con-suming soy in the belief that it protectsthem against breast cancer. Yet, in1996, researchers found that women consuming soy protein iso-late had an increased incidence of epithelial hyperplasia, a condi-tion that presages malignancies.45 A year later, dietary genisteinwas found to stimulate breast cells to enter the cell cycle—a dis-covery that led the study authors to conclude that women shouldnot consume soy products to prevent breast cancer.46

PHYTOESTROGENS: PANACEA OR POISON? The male species of tropical birds carries the drab plumage of

the female at birth and 'colours up' at maturity, somewherebetween nine and 24 months.

In 1991, Richard and Valerie James, bird breeders inWhangerai, New Zealand, purchased a new kind of feed for theirbirds—one based largely on soy protein.47 When soy-based feedwas used, their birds 'coloured up' after just a few months. In fact,one bird-food manufacturer claimed that this early developmentwas an advantage imparted by the feed. A 1992 ad forRoudybush feed formula showed a picture of the male crimsonrosella, an Australian parrot that acquires beautiful red plumage at18 to 24 months, already brightly coloured at 11 weeks old.

Unfortunately, in the ensuing years, there was decreased fertili-ty in the birds, with precocious maturation, deformed, stunted andstillborn babies, and premature deaths especially among females,with the result that the total population in the aviaries went into

steady decline. The birds suffered beak and bone deformities,goitre, immune system disorders and pathological, aggressivebehaviour. Autopsy revealed digestive organs in a state of disin-tegration. The list of problems corresponded with many of theproblems the Jameses had encountered in their two children, whohad been fed soy-based infant formula.

Startled, aghast, angry, the Jameses hired toxicologist MikeFitzpatrick. PhD, to investigate further. Dr Fitzpatrick's literaturereview uncovered evidence that soy consumption has been linkedto numerous disorders, including infertility, increased cancer andinfantile leukaemia; and, in studies dating back to the 1950s,48 thatgenistein in soy causes endocrine disruption in animals. DrFitzpatrick also analysed the bird feed and found that it containedhigh levels of phytoestrogens, especially genistein. When theJameses discontinued using soy-based feed, the flock graduallyreturned to normal breeding habits and behaviour.

The Jameses embarked on a private crusade to warn the publicand government officials about toxins in soy foods, particularlythe endocrine-disrupting isoflavones, genistein and diadzen.Protein Technology International received their material in 1994.

In 1991, Japanese researchers reported that consumption of aslittle as 30 grams or two tablespoons of soybeans per day for onlyone month resulted in a significant increase in thyroid-stimulatinghormone.49 Diffuse goitre and hypothyroidism appeared in some

of the subjects and many complained ofconstipation, fatigue and lethargy, eventhough their intake of iodine was ade-quate. In 1997, researchers from theFDA's National Center forToxicological Research made theembarrassing discovery that the goitro-genic components of soy were the verysame isoflavones.50

Twenty-five grams of soy protein iso-late, the minimum amount PTI claimedto have cholesterol-lowering effects,contains from 50 to 70 mg ofisoflavones. It took only 45 mg ofisoflavones in premenopausal women to

exert significant biological effects, including a reduction in hor-mones needed for adequate thyroid function. These effects lin-gered for three months after soy consumption was discontinued.51

One hundred grams of soy protein—the maximum suggestedcholesterol-lowering dose, and the amount recommended byProtein Technologies International—can contain almost 600 mgof isoflavones,52 an amount that is undeniably toxic. In 1992, theSwiss health service estimated that 100 grams of soy protein pro-vided the oestrogenic equivalent of the Pill.53

In vitro studies suggest that isoflavones inhibit synthesis ofoestradiol and other steroid hormones.54 Reproductive problems,infertility, thyroid disease and liver disease due to dietary intakeof isoflavones have been observed for several species of animalsincluding mice, cheetah, quail, pigs, rats, sturgeon and sheep.55

It is the isoflavones in soy that are said to have a favourableeffect on postmenopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, andprotection from osteoporosis. Quantification of discomfort fromhot flushes is extremely subjective, and most studies show thatcontrol subjects report reduction in discomfort in amounts equalto subjects given soy.56 The claim that soy prevents osteoporosisis extraordinary, given that soy foods block calcium and causevitamin D deficiencies. If Asians indeed have lower rates ofosteoporosis than Westerners, it is because their diet providesplenty of vitamin D from shrimp, lard and seafood, and plenty of

The claim that soy preventsosteoporosis is extraordinary,

given that soy foods blockcalcium and cause vitamin D

deficiencies.


calcium from bone broths. The reason that Westerners have suchhigh rates of osteoporosis is because they have substituted soy oilfor butter, which is a traditional source of vitamin D and other fat-soluble activators needed for calcium absorption.

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR BABIESBut it was the isoflavones in infant formula that gave the

Jameses the most cause for concern. In 1998, investigatorsreported that the daily exposure of infants to isoflavones in soyinfant formula is 6 to 11 times higher on a body-weight basis thanthe dose that has hormonal effects in adults consuming soy foods.Circulating concentrations of isoflavones in infants fed soy-basedformula were 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than plasma oestradi-ol concentrations in infants on cow's milk formula.57

Approximately 25 per cent of bottle-fed children in the USreceive soy-based formula—a much higher percentage than inother parts of the Western world. Fitzpatrick estimated that aninfant exclusively fed soy formula receives the oestrogenic equiv-alent (based on body weight) of at least five birth-control pills perday.58 By contrast, almost no phytoestrogens have been detectedin dairy-based infant formula or in human milk, even when themother consumes soy products.

Scientists have known for years that soy-based formula cancause thyroid problems in babies.But what are the effects of soy prod-ucts on the hormonal development ofthe infant, both male and female?

Male infants undergo a "testos-terone surge" during the first fewmonths of life, when testosterone lev-els may be as high as those of anadult male. During this period, theinfant is programmed to express malecharacteristics after puberty, not onlyin the development of his sexualorgans and other masculine physicaltraits, but also in setting patterns inthe brain characteristic of malebehaviour. In monkeys, deficiencyof male hormones impairs the devel-opment of spatial perception (which, in humans, is normally moreacute in men than in women), of learning ability and of visual dis-crimination tasks (such as would be required for reading). 5 9 I tgoes without saying that future patterns of sexual orientation mayalso be influenced by the early hormonal environment. Male chil-dren exposed during gestation to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a syn-thetic oestrogen that has effects on animals similar to those ofphytoestrogens from soy, had testes smaller than normal on matu-r a t i o n .6 0 Learning disabilities, especially in male children, havereached epidemic proportions. Soy infant feeding—which beganin earnest in the early 1970s—cannot be ignored as a probablecause for these tragic developments.

As for girls, an alarming number are entering puberty much ear-lier than normal, according to a recent study reported in the jour-nal Pediatrics.61 Investigators found that one per cent of all girlsnow show signs of puberty, such as breast development or pubichair, before the age of three; by age eight, 14.7 per cent of whitegirls and almost 50 per cent of African-American girls have oneor both of these characteristics.

New data indicate that environmental oestrogens such as PCBsand DDE (a breakdown product of DDT) may cause early sexualdevelopment in girls. 6 2 In the 1986 Puerto Rico PrematureThelarche study, the most significant dietary association with

premature sexual development was not chicken—as reported inthe press—but soy infant formula.63

The consequences of this truncated childhood are tragic.Young girls with mature bodies must cope with feelings and urgesthat most children are not well-equipped to handle. And earlymaturation in girls is frequently a harbinger of problems with thereproductive system later in life, including failure to menstruate,infertility and breast cancer.

Parents who have contacted the Jameses recount other problemsassociated with children of both sexes who were fed soy-basedformula, including extreme emotional behaviour, asthma, immunesystem problems, pituitary insufficiency, thyroid disorders andirritable bowel syndrome—the same endocrine and digestivehavoc that afflicted the Jameses' parrots.

DISSENSION IN THE RANKS Organisers of the Third International Soy Symposium would be

hard-pressed to call the conference an unqualified success. On thesecond day of the symposium, the London-based FoodCommission and the Weston A. Price Foundation of Washington,DC, held a joint press conference in the same hotel as the sympo-sium, to present concerns about soy infant formula. Industry rep-resentatives sat stony-faced through the recitation of potential

dangers and a plea from concernedscientists and parents to pull soy-based infant formula from the mar-ket. Under pressure from theJameses, the New ZealandGovernment had issued a healthwarning about soy infant formula in1998; it was time for the Americangovernment to do the same.

On the last day of the symposium,presentations on new findings relatedto toxicity sent a well-oxygenatedchill through the giddy helium hype.Dr Lon White reported on a study ofJapanese Americans living inHawaii, that showed a significantstatistical relationship between two

or more servings of tofu a week and "accelerated brain aging".64

Those participants who consumed tofu in mid-life had lower cog-nitive function in late life and a greater incidence of Alzheimer'sdisease and dementia. "What's more," said Dr White, "those whoate a lot of tofu, by the time they were 75 or 80 looked five yearsolder".65 White and his colleagues blamed the negative effects onisoflavones—a finding that supports an earlier study in whichpostmenopausal women with higher levels of circulating oestro-gen experienced greater cognitive decline.66

Scientists Daniel Sheehan and Daniel Doerge (National Centerfor Toxicological Research), ruined PTI's day by presenting find-ings from rat feeding studies, indicating that genistein in soyfoods causes irreversible damage to enzymes that synthesise thy-roid hormones.67 "The association between soybean consumptionand goiter in animals and humans has a long history," wrote DrDoerge. "Current evidence for the beneficial effects of soyrequires a full understanding of potential adverse effects as well."

Dr Claude Hughes reported that rats born to mothers that werefed genistein had decreased birth weights compared to controls,and onset of puberty occurred earlier in male offspring. 6 8 H i sresearch suggestes that the effects observed in rats "...will be at

An infant exclusively fed soyformula receives the oestrogenic

equivalent (based on body weight) of at least five birth-

control pills per day.

Continued on page 85




DYNAMICS OF CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT & THE DRUG ECONOMY 1

The "War on Drugs" is lost, but the struggle continues. In spite of ever-increasingresources dedicated to the reduction of supply and demand of illicit drugs, con-sumption levels are still rising all over the world. The drug industry is probablythe largest and most profitable sector of international crime. The perceived

threats of drug consumption and organised crime provide the main justifications forimportant impulses given in recent years to the development of legislation and the organi-sation of law enforcement. Drug repression thereby increasingly acquires an internationalcharacter.

Unilateral, bilateral and multilateral forms of pressure, intervention and collaborationare proliferating between states in the name of suffocating the ever-swelling drug econo-my. The prohibition regime is thereby, in a rapid pace, extended with the coercive powersof states to intervene in national and international drug markets, but therewith also in thesovereignty of individuals, peoples and countries.

Just as individuals might get addicted to the use of drugs, so the societies in which theylive are becoming addicted to the money that is generated in the drug business (OGD,Observatoire Géopolitique des Drogues, 1995:xiii). This seems to be equally true for theagencies that are assigned the task to control it.

The drug war cannot be won, at least not by the state, as long as demand for illicit drugsexists. Instead of keeping drug trafficking and organised crime in check, supply repres-sion is likely to increase the profits of illegal entrepreneurs and to give incentives to theprofessionalisation of their organisations. Repression-induced scarcity inflates the priceof the merchandise; consequently, more people will be attracted to take the risk and enterthe business. When governments enhance their efforts to repress the illicit drug industry,remaining drug entrepreneurs will reorganise their activities so as to limit the risk ofdetection and prosecution.

Supply reduction therefore seems a dead-end strategy, as it is likely to produce little butcounterproductive effects on the supply of illicit drugs and on the organisational strengthof the trafficker networks it attacks. There are, nevertheless, many other regulative func-tions for the police and other state agencies that might merit their intervention in control-ling the problems related to drug trafficking/distribution and drug use. Such problems arebasically related to issues of public health and public order. Ultimately, policies aimed atsupply reduction must, at least in accordance with official policy goals, be judged by howthey affect consumer demand—through the decreased availability of drugs, through anincrease in price or through the deterrent effect of the criminal law (UNDCP, 1997:237).This picture is rather bleak.

Over the last decade, worldwide production of illicit drugs has expanded dramatically.Opium and marijuana production has roughly doubled, and coca production tripled (Perl,1994:ix). New synthetic drugs find a burgeoning demand in countries all over the world.Nonetheless, what is discussed in the relevant international fora is not so much if drugpolicies are one the right track, but how more powers and resources can be assigned tolaw enforcement agencies to suppress the drug trade. Thereby, the prohibition regime isextending its scope towards the financial sector (money laundering), new drugs, the chem-ical precursor industry and the disruption of organised crime. Moreover, it is increasinglyextending its scope across borders.

In public policy debates, human rights and anti–War on Drugs perspectives standopposed to the belief that only by the strengthening of domestic and international legal

Repressing thesupply of illicit

drugs is acounterproductive

strategy thatencourages illegalentrepreneurs toreorganise theiractivities andincrease their

profits.

Part 1 of 2

by Hans T. van der Veen © 1999European University Institute

San Domenico, Italy

Reprinted with permission from:

Centre for Drug Research (CEDRO)University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands


Website: www.frw.uva.nl/cedro/


instruments can the necessary conditions for the democratisationof society be brought about (Dorn, Jepsen and Savona, 1996:4).As proponents of legalisation and those of intensified lawenforcement vie with one another in the media and political are-nas, the two worlds of crime and law enforcement are increasingtheir grip on society. Both are extending the scope of their activi-ties, professionalising and internationalising their operations.Moreover, they seem to find support in the existence of oneanother.

To understand the perverse dynamics of both the booming drugindustry and the proliferating state powers to control it, it is mycontention that more attention shouldbe given to the political and econom-ic interests related to both the drugeconomy and its control. Equally, theintertwined symbiotic and systemicinteractions of the upperworld andthe underworld, which take shape inthe international political economy,need to be more closely scrutinised.

Why people produce, traffic andconsume drugs are very complexissues. Money and the power (pover-ty and marginalisation) that goes withit account for trafficking and muchproduction. But other answers thatexplain the flourishing of the drugeconomy must be found in society.These relate to how a society is structured, how political power isaccrued and wielded within it, how economic policy is applied,how the economy performs, and how resistant the cultural fabricis to the use of public office for private gain (Tullis, 1991:2). Tounderstand the policy options and policy choices of governments,we have to consider these factors as well.

Dealing with these drug-related interests and the multifariousand interdependent dimensions of the drug problem presentsgovernments with very complex policy choices. Difficult as the

management of these interests in the domestic domain may be,with the internationalisation of both the drug economy and druglaw enforcement this task places governments in far greaterdifficulties. No matter how good the intentions of drug lawenforcement may be, no matter how valuable their outcomes are,they are unlikely to curb the expansion of the drug industry.

It is to this spiralling escalation between two power contenderson different sides of the law that I want to draw attention in thisarticle. My quest is to understand how this failure is produced,why this policy is continued and what its consequences are.Thereby, I mainly try to explain the escalation of the drug war and

understand its underlying dynamics asderiving from structural changes inthe global political economy. I thuslook at the drug war as a response tothe problems states face in dealingwith the loss of their authority in aglobalising world. Thereby, I focuson the political and economic stakesof drug trafficking and drug control,and analyse the flourishing of boththe drug industry and the crime con-trol industry as forms of projectingpower and imposing social disciplineand as mechanisms of wealth accu-mulation more adapted to the exigen-cies of the pursuit of power and plen-ty in the "new world order". My core

point is that misguided assumptions and the instrumentalisation ofthe War on Drugs, in both domestic and international domains,subvert the goals of the prohibition regime and produce not onlyunintended but also intended consequences that explain its escala-tion.

By an incipient theory of the International Drugs Complex (as Ilabel it), I hope to offer a deeper understanding of the mutualdynamics of the expanding drug industry and the extension ofrepressive state powers, and provide further insights in the loom-

ing and actual dangers posed by these forces for thedemocratisation of societies.

The theoretical concept of the International DrugComplex is chosen in analogy with the theory of theMilitary-Industrial Complex (MIC), which was broad-ly used to explain for the longevity of the Cold War,the spiralling arms race, the persistence of ideologicalantagonisms, 'perverted' priorities in state budgets andinterventionist proclivities of big powers' foreign poli-cies (Rosen, 1973:1).

To explain the dynamics underlying these societalevents and tendencies, the theory of the MIC focusedspecifically on relations between the military estab-lishment and the weapons industry, that together,within the social, economic and institutional fabric ofspecific countries, formed a community of interestpowerful enough to lead to such outcomes. Apartfrom analysing such symbiotic relations between dif-ferent players with common and interrelated interests(e.g., special-interest groups seeking special attentionfrom the government), the theory of the MIC alsofocused on more systemic factors that lead to thegrowth of both the arms industry and the military ser-vices. Such systemic factors, the theory asserted, existwithin a specific society as well as in the internationalarena.

The War on Drugs is actually, in effect, creating an escalation of drug consumption, as well as

driving the fast-growing (private) prison industry.

It is also being used to usher inincreased surveillance of

the population.


In the domestic domain, even where there was no structure ofinterest mediation between a confederation of business firms andmilitary services, and where the goals of the MIC were merelyachieved through innumerable and basically unrelated decisions,still the outcomes of these decisions taken in the pursuit of per-ceived self-interests led to the growth of both sectors. In theinternational arena, the theorists of the MIC perceived different,nationally bound, military-industrial complexes to support eachother mutually, as the alleged achievements of one party in theCold War urged the other on to greater heights.

In a similar way in this paper, I try to understand the underlyingdynamics of the War on Drugs by focusing on the symbiotic andsystemic relations between the drug industry and states' drug con-trol efforts, and from there develop a theory of the InternationalDrug Complex. This theory should help explain the continua-tion—if not escalation—of the War on Drugs, explain the pre-dominant place the drug issue has attained indomestic and international policies of manystates, and provide a deeper understanding ofthe very dynamics of the drug industry and ofthe state powers put in place to control it.

I depart from the assumption that by focus-ing on the political and economic dimensionsof the drug industry and drug law enforce-ment, a more profound understanding can beachieved of the dynamics underlying theirmutual expansion. I place the drug industryand law enforcement within the context ofboth the societies and the international politi-cal economy in which they take shape, andthereby try to delineate their interac-tions and mutual dynamics. To assessthe outcomes of their mutual interac-tions, I focus on the distributional con-sequences of these interactions withinand between societies, stating theseintended and unintended consequencesin terms of the distribution of power,wealth and security in both domesticand international realms.

Below I develop three closely relatedthemes, through which I aim to illumi-nate the intertwined dynamics of thedrug industry and law enforcementpractices, and so provide the buildingblocks for a theory of the International Drug Complex:

1. The global drug industry—in which I focus on the interna-tional division of labour in the drugs business, and on how states'laws and drug control practices might impinge on the industry'sorganisational structures and the distribution of reward;

2. The political economy of drug law enforcement—in which Ifocus on the trade-offs between drug repression and broader poli-cy goals of states in domestic and international arenas, and on themechanisms through which the intertwined dynamics of the forcesof crime and punishment influence the distribution of power,wealth and security within and between societies;

3. The International Drug Complex—in which I assess theunderlying dynamics of the interactions between the drug industryand drug enforcement practices, and argue that the War on Drugsis driven by similar collusive and systemic mechanisms as thosethat spurred the Cold War, with possibly no less detrimental con-sequences for the relations between states and their societies.

As my focus is specifically on the international dimension of

the interactions between the drug industry and law enforcementpractices, in the next section I first clarify some of the dominantchanges in the international political economy that I see as thenecessary background for understanding the escalation of theirmutual dynamics.

CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE NWO The internationalisation of both crime and law enforcement and

therefore also their mutual dynamics are closely related to thechanges in the world system, brought about by the end of the ColdWar, by globalisation, regional integration and neo-liberalreforms. The transformations these developments and processesgave rise to are manifold. They produced new patterns of hierar-chy and dominance in the international system and changed therole of the state in this system. Therewith, we see new forms ofsovereignty (e.g., economic, multilateral, multinational) and

changes in the relations between economicand political systems (e.g., deregulation,informalisation, corruption). These changesin the world political and economic systemalso lead to a diminished separation betweenthe domestic and the international frame-works for policy making and the manage-ment of economic affairs (Cherny, 1995;Rosenau, 1992). With these developments,the very basis of the accumulation of powerand wealth—and the use of these resourcesfor their protection—takes unprecedentedshapes. This is equally true for the forcesthat try to redistribute these political and

economic resources. Globalisation thus leads to a much

more fragmented competition for thesources of power and wealth, in whichnon-state players exercise an increas-ingly important role. In this context,the internationalisation of crime andlaw enforcement takes place. In thiscontext, their interactions take shape.It is also in this context that they influ-ence the international political econo-my and, therewith, the distribution ofpower, wealth and security in the inter-national system.

Globalisation, defined as the "inten-sification of economic, political, social and cultural relationsacross borders", has to a large extent been facilitated by techno-logical developments, and has further been sustained by economicand political decisions to give international exchanges free way.Together with the partial liberalisation of global markets, globali-sation has offered increasing opportunities for the unfettered flowof capital, goods, people and information over the globe. Theconcomitant increase in the power of market forces and theimpact of neo-liberal reforms have debilitated states' capabilitiesor willingness to regulate and control these flows. With the fall ofthe Berlin Wall, this globalisation, uneven as it may be, is gainingtruly global dimensions.

Paradoxically, together with the further integration of the worldsociety, these developments have also brought about disintegra-tive forces which, combined with new technological capabilities,offer unprecedented opportunities for the expansion of transna-tional criminal enterprises. The political turmoil and poverty thatcame with these changes in the international political economy

The internationalisationof both crime and law

enforcement andtherefore also their

mutual dynamics areclosely related to thechanges in the world

system, brought about by the end of the ColdWar, by globalisation,

regional integration andneo-liberal reforms.


offer a virulent breeding ground for the drug industry, as increas-ingly people seek and find in it a way to alleviate economic dis-tress and/or fund their nationalist struggle through criminal enter-prise (e.g., Kurdistan, Chechnya, Kosovo).

Globalisation has also fostered the expansion of networks andillegal transactions over the globe. Migratory diasporas link rela-tively poor, drug-producing countries to consumer markets withfar greater spending power. Financial technology makes it easierto hide the proceeds of crime, and increasing trade in general islikely to enhance the opportunities for smuggling and fraud.

Like transnational enterprises, some criminal entrepreneurs inmore organised forms extend their transnational operations andthe degree to which their authority in world society and the worldeconomy rivals and encroaches upon that of governments(Strange, 1996:110). Mafias, like the Italian N'Drangheta,Camorra and Cosa Nostra, the American Cosa Nostra, theColombian drug cartels, the Chinese Triads, the Japanese Yakuzaand, more recently, many more-or-lessnationally or ethnically based organisa-tions from former Eastern Bloc countriesare only the most commonly known exam-ples of criminal networks extending theiractivities over the globe. Amongst eachother they either compete for markets orestablish ways to cooperate in their activi-ties. Drugs may or may not be their mostrentable product, as they engage in manyother legal and illegal activities (arms traf-ficking, prostitution, extortion, etc.) thatoften have a much longer record of provenprofitability. These activities not onlyoffer them quick profits, but also themeans to exert political power.

Organising their resources helpssome drug entrepreneurs to establisha power structure to protectthemselves, to challenge theauthority of states in specific areas oreven to supplant or penetrate thepower of elites controlling a state.Such developments ultimately mayalso endanger other sectors ofsociety and the social body ingeneral, where progressively the ruleof law and formally regulatedrelations between states, markets andsocieties give way to informal arrangements, corruption, violenceand intimidation.

Such consequences might, however, be brought about more bythe fact that their activities are illegal, than that their organisationsare criminal. More than the leverage power that organised crimecan attain, it is their untouchability—which comes with theinternationalisation of their activities—that makes them such athreat to a state's authority. It is my assertion that where drugentrepreneurial networks cannot be incorporated in local ornational political and economic arrangements, their impact onsociety becomes much more detrimental—a situation that is onlyworsened as the state increasingly resorts to criminalisation andrepressive means to control their activities. In this context, wecan see a seemingly contradictory increase in both the importanceof specific criminal or criminalised activities and the coercivepowers of states (police, military, customs agencies, fiscal andintelligence apparatuses).

Since the end of the Cold War, the "peace dividend" to a largeextent has been absorbed by assigning new tasks to coercive stateagencies. In many countries, this was given shape by a rise inexpenditure for internal coercion, whereas the cost of defence isincreasingly legitimised by the proclaimed need to counter newexternal threats. In this process, police forces especially haveincreased their size, their resources and their legal powers. Inmany countries, the military has also been given tasks in drugrepression. The United States in the 1980s and 1990s sufficientlyamended the Posse Comitatus Act—which since 1878 had pre-vented military involvement in civil law enforcement—to engagein drug law enforcement at home and abroad (Bagley, 1992:130,Drug War facts). But also the Dutch, British and French naviesare patrolling the Caribbean to interdict drug shipments.

Globalisation and liberalisation thus go hand in hand with newefforts directed at the control and regulation of markets, institu-tions and societies—notably, those related to illegal drugs and

migration and, to a lesser extent, those con-trolling capital flows (Andreas, 1995). Someof these control mechanisms lie in the remit ofstate agencies. However, there is also a ten-dency to hive-off part of the control responsi-bilities to other levels of political authority aswell as to the private sector (Johnston, 1992).Most striking may be a shift from the use ofadministrative law to criminal law for themaintenance of order in society and thepreservation of national security in general.Internal and external security concerns sobecome increasingly blurred, and therewiththe tasks assigned to coercive state agencies to

protect the sovereignty of the state. The challenges to national sovereignty

posed by the consequences of globalisa-tion have led many governments tobelieve that the traditional system for theorganisation of criminal justice policy—the system of individual states—nolonger suffices to deal with new prob-lems of international crime (Anderson eta l ., 1995:40). Extending and interna-tionalising state powers, political pres-sures and foreign interventions in astate's sovereignty, as well as a growingshare of populations imprisoned ondrug-related charges, lead many people

to perceive law enforcement itself as a threat to liberal society. Out of the more than one million [now two million; Ed.] people

serving terms in United States state prisons, about 59.9 per centare casual and non-violent drug offenders (Akida, 1997:607). Inthe United States, of every 100,000 inhabitants, 641 are in prison;in The Netherlands, this figure is 'only' 65 in 100,000 (Belenko,1998).2

The "Americanisation" of the "War on Drugs" is also takingshape in Europe and other countries. International conventions,mutual assistance treaties and institutional mechanisms, set upunder the three pillars of the European integration process, com-bine with quickly expanding informal networks among policeagencies intended to intensify the suppression of the drug scourge(Sheptycki, 1996).

Important changes in the international political and economicsystem that accelerated in the last decade or two, have offeredunprecedented opportunities for legal and illegal trade and for the

Like transnationalenterprises, some

criminal entrepreneurs in more organised forms

extend their transnationaloperations to the degree

that their authority inworld society and

the world economy rivals and encroaches

upon that of governments.


redistribution of power and wealth. These developments incitestates, or the elites controlling a state, to look for new ways toaccumulate such resources, control their societies and manage theinterface with the outside world. Liberalising some activitiesthereby seems to go in parallel with the criminalisation of others.The War on Drugs is becoming one of the main legitimationvenues for states to enhance their capacity to intervene in bothnational and international domains.

In the next sections, I turn to how political and economic inter-ests and interactions between the illegal drug industry and statedrug-control practices shape the dynamics and outcomes of theWar on Drugs.

THE DRUG INDUSTRY Drug trafficking is to a large extent a transnational business.

The drug industry consists of various stages: cultivation, refining,transport, distribution, money laundering and investment ofproceeds. In every stage of this drug trajectory, from productionto distribution, profits are made that are consumed or invested butoften demand some form of laundering to conceal their illegalorigins.

From the marijuana, coca andpoppy fields to the refininglaboratories and further on to theconsumers, the drugs pass throughmany different routes of transportand distribution. They therebycross many territorial frontiers,formal and informal jurisdictions.More sophisticated launderingtechniques, equally, use anelaborate international network offinancial institutions, trade andinvestment firms to hide and investthe drug profits. The various stagesof the drug trajectory and thelinking of these stages involve theparticipation and sometimesorganisation of a great manydifferent people to see to the proper execution of activities,including protection against the encroachment of law enforcementagencies and competitors.

The transnational dimension of the drug industry therefore isnot only a function of the territorial distance between major pro-duction and consumption regions. It also consists of the links thatare made through networks and organisations with diverse home-bases that sometimes develop transnational operations. Thereby,differences in countries' legislations and law enforcement capabil-ities shape the opportunities for drug entrepreneurs to evade therisks of interdiction and prosecution and prop the flourishing oftheir business.

The variety of laws and systems of control and criminalisationthroughout the world, and the disparities in ability and determina-tion to control the drug problem displayed by various countries,enable major drug traffickers to take advantage of the weak pointsin such a patchwork (Van der Vaeren, 1995:350).

However, we might as well reverse this perspective, which thenwould suggest that a state's political and/or economic interestsdemand it to create "weak points" or shield niches in which one ormore of the stages of the drug trajectory can flourish (like coffeeshops, bank secrecy, self-regulating stock markets, etc.).3

Such features explain the existence of a very dynamic interna-tional division of labour in the drug industry. Production centres

for 'natural' drugs (marijuana, coca, opium and their derivatives)can particularly be found in the Golden Triangle of South EastAsia, the Golden Crescent in West Asia, some Middle East andMaghreb countries and in Latin America. These regions competeincreasingly with each other, with emerging production areas informer Eastern Bloc countries and with producers in the Westernworld where synthetic drugs (ecstasy, amphetamines) are pro-duced. To this list can be added many other countries where drugentrepreneurs try to conquer a niche in national and internationaldrug markets. Some of these have an important transit functionfor drugs heading to the most lucrative consumer markets in theUnited States and Europe. Others find a gainful role in the laun-dering and investment of drug profits, thanks to "liberal" bankingregulations (secrecy, confidentiality and financial investmenttools). We thus deal with a very heterogeneous competition,where different drugs, different drug entrepreneurs/traffickinggroups and diverse jurisdictions compete for market shares inmany if not all of the subsequent stages of the drug trajectory.

According to a recent estimate of the UNDCP (United NationsDrug Control Program), the global illegal drug industry comprises

about eight per cent of internation-al trade (UNDCP, 1997). Its esti-mated annual turnover ofUS$400 billion constitutes alarge share of the income fromillegal activities worldwide,which the UN believes to beUS$1,000 billion. But how toassess such data? Reminiscent ofvery distinct calculations like theglobal accumulated production ofrazor blades (said to be enough tocover the surface of the Earth),we see that what matters morethan aggregate numbers is thedistribution of such profits andtheir rents in terms of power andwealth and their overall impacton societies.

The drug industry does constitute the backbone of many nation-al and local economies, directly and indirectly offering incomeand employment opportunities for millions of people around theglobe. They serve the demand of many more. Countries likeBolivia, Morocco, Mexico and Afghanistan derive incomes fromthis industry that pair with their formal export income. Moroccoearns an estimated US$5.75 billion, or 20 per cent of its grossnational product from the production and export of cannabis andhashish (Ouazzani, 1996:122), supplying the lion's share ofEurope's demand for these products. The Mexican drug economy,based chiefly on the export of homegrown marijuana and poppyderivatives and the transit of Colombian cocaine to the UnitedStates, is valued at more than US$20 billion. Important as thecontributions of this illicit enterprise may be to overall incomeand employment levels, the real impact should be measured inrelation to its effect on the economy at large, the distribution of itsproceeds and the social costs in terms of health, safety, politicaltransparency, etc.4

Such aggregate data for developing countries—estimative andfluctuating as they are, as an indication of the wealth and powerthat might be derived from criminal sources—pale in comparisonwith the late-1980s consumer expenditures on illicit drugs in theUnited States alone. These likely exceeded the total gross domes-tic product of 88 different countries (cited in Tullis, 1995:2; 80

Repression of the drug trade not only contributes to the growth

of the drug economy but alsoincites a redistribution of the

income from the trade.


countries in Akida, 1997). This tells us that probably the greaterpart of drug turnovers never leaves the main consumption coun-tries, as they are likely to offer the most lucrative investmentopportunities.

To assess the economic power and political influence of drugentrepreneurs, and therewith the strategies that states adopt tointervene in drug markets, it is paramount to know how thesecriminal markets are organised, how drug entrepreneurs confrontor collide with the legislation and political economy of their coun-tries of origin, and the scope of activities of the players involved.

The organisation of the drug trajectory involves the linking ofthe different stages of the drug industry. In spite of much policerhetoric, common wisdom is not very conclusive about the extentof horizontal or vertical integration of the drug trajectory. Are wedealing with organised crime or with disorganised crime?5

Such organisational characteristics to a large extent determinethe distribution and accumulation of wealth derived from theindustry. As the lion's share of, for instance, cocaine profits ismade in American cities, it makes an enormous difference toColombian traffickers if they can control the upstream gold mineof the retail part of the drug trajectory or whether they have tocontent themselves with wholesale profits they can make throughtransactions in Colombia, Mexico or the United States.Wholesale profits may still be considerable but rather insignifi-cant compared to the turnover made at the retail end.6

It is clear that law enforcement can play a role in disrupting thedrug trajectory, and in so doing can bring about important shifts in

the distribution of drug profits. This works not only by takingpeople out and so creating market space for new entrants (whichcan be individual entrepreneurs, institutions or whole regions), butalso by increasing the cost of maintaining links in the drugtrajectory.7

Drug repression drives up the prices and so gives an enormousimpulse to the profitability of the product and the services ren-dered to the drug industry. Drug entrepreneurs, be they poppy-growing farmers in Pakistan, transport companies in Turkey orlaundering exchange offices in The Netherlands, have to protectthemselves against prosecution by investigation services andagainst competitors. The costs to decentralise production, bribestate officials, hire protection, create well-camouflaged transportfacilities or convince bankers to take a certain risk, increase withthe intensity of repression.

Repression of the drug trade thus not only contributes to thegrowth of the drug economy but also incites a redistribution of theincome from the trade.

Taking this competition in the drug business and the effects ofstate intervention on the division of labour in the drug industry asa starting point, I now focus on the mechanisms through whichthe interactions between states' drug enforcement practices andthe drug industry become part of more general efforts in thenational and international domains to redistribute power, wealthand security.

Endnotes 1. My greatest thanks are due to YaseminSoysal, Marnix Croes, Gianfranco Poggiand Anne Wegner for reading and criticis-ing an earlier draft of this article. In amore morphological sense I may beindebted to Peter Andreas, whom I findsharing similar approaches and concernstowards the underlying dynamics andconsequences of the War on Drugs.2. Between 1980 and 1996, the numberof inmates in the United States more thantripled from 501,886 to 1,700,661(Belenko, 1998:53). One in 50 Americanmen are in prison; one in 20 are on paroleor probation. In 1993, one in three blackAmericans who did not finish high schoolwere in prison (ESB, 26 June 1996). Thenumber given by Mauer (1997) for drugoffenders in American State and Federalprisons is substantially lower than thatprovided by Akida. However, he alsonotes a considerable shift in law enforce-ment priorities towards drug law enforce-ment. According to his data, from 1985to 1994 drug offenders accounted formore than a third (36%) of the increase inthe number of offenders in state prisonsand more than two-thirds (71%) of theincrease in federal prisoners. One of thelargest increases in arrests has been forviolation of laws prohibiting drug sales,distribution and possession—up 154%during this time period, from 580,900 to1,476,100 (Belenko, 1998:55). [Editor'snote: In February 2000, the USA's two-millionth prison inmate was announced.

According to the November Coalition, theprison population has 500,000 non-vio-lent drug offenders. As investigatorDuncan Campbell reports, the US com-prises 5% of the global population, yet isresponsible for 25% of the world's prison-ers. See Guardian Weekly, UK, 17-23February 2000.]3. Naylor (1987) describes extensivelyhow governments and financial institu-tions compete with one another to attractinternational flows of hot and/or dirtymoney to shore up bank liquidity or for-eign exchange reserves.4. The literature embarking on suchassessments is extensive, especially forproducing countries. See, for example,Studies on the Impact of the Illegal DrugTrade (six volumes), undertaken by theUN Research Institute for SocialDevelopment (UNRISD) and the UnitedNations University.5. For a discussion of 'models' of thecriminal firm, see, for example, PeterReuter (1983) and Joseph Albini inThomas Mieczkowski (ed.) (1992).Thomas Naylor (1995) points at theimportant distinction to be made betweenforms of organisation to participate in themarket and organisation to control themarket.6. An example of one of the few studiesthat analyses cocaine as a transnationalcommodity chain can be found in Wilsonand Zambrano (1994). They assess thatmost profits (87%) remain in drug-con-suming countries. They also note the

selective nature of US drug policy, thatdistributes the risk of participation in thetrade unequally throughout the cocainecommodity chain as it overlooks orunderfunds investigation into the formalsectors (provision of key components likechemicals, airplanes, arms and communi-cation equipment) and core countries'roles in the drug trade (money laundering,distribution networks).7. For example, the US DrugEnforcement Administration estimates thatin 1993 the Colombian drug cartels spent23% of their profits on laundering thehard-earned drug money, up from 6% inthe late 1980s (Foust and DeGeorge,1993).

Editor's Notes:• Due to space constraints, we willpublish the author's bibliography in ournext issue, June-July 2000. Meantime,interested readers can check theCEDRO website or follow the link fromthe NEXUS website.• Hans T. van der Veen's article isreprinted with permission from CEDRO,the Centre for Drug Research (Centrumvoor Drugsonderzoek) at the Universityof Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht130, 1018 VZ Amsterdam, TheNetherlands, telephone +31 (20) 5254061 /4280 /7432, fax +31 (20) 5254317, e-mail [email protected], web-site www.frw.uva.nl/cedro/.

Continued in the next issue of NEXUS...




WHAT AND WHERE THE POISONS ARE

The following chart was prepared in part with the aid of several trips to the super-market and health food store and a number of sources [see references andresources at end of this article], but I would also encourage readers to do theirown research. The chart lists categories of common poisons, their effects on

human beings, in what types of products they can be found, and examples of specific[mostly US-sourced] products. Since this chart is an overview, there are several points Iwant to make.

It is difficult to keep track of all the new chemicals that are constantly being manufac-tured. The "Pesticides" section provides only a fraction of a per cent of the pesticides thatwe encounter in our daily lives. Similarly, the "Products" column furnishes only a minutesample of brand name products that contain a given additive. If a brand name product isnot listed, this does not mean that it lacks the chemical. Rather, it reflects the constraintsof space for this article and the difficulty in deciphering what is really in the productsbecause the labels are so imprecise. For instance, the labels on many detergents (such asMop & Glo) are so vague that I am obliged to rely on other researchers to specify the con-tents. Lestoil is visible in many more poison categories not because other products aresafe, but because Lestoil is one of the very few cleansers whose ingredients are plainlylisted on the label. My inclusion of some brand name products and not others is in noway intended to single out individual companies or products.

The category of poisons called "dyes" is widely used in foods as well as householddetergents and cosmetics. I mention them, however, mostly in reference to non-fooditems. Although it is crucial to avoid all foods coloured with synthetic dyes, an in-depthdiscussion of food additives is beyond the scope of this article. Refer to A Consumer'sDictionary of Food Additives by Ruth Winter, The Safe Shopper's Bible by Steinman andEpstein, and The Mirage of Safety by Beatrice Trum Hunter for more details about dyes,medications, hormones and flavourings in food. In doing this research, I have tried to rep-resent adequately the products found in the health food store as well as the supermarket,to repudiate the notion that health food store items are completely free from danger.

Because this chart is an overview, not every chemical listed in the first column causesevery symptom in the column, "Effects on the System". However, there is a high level ofoverlap. The class of chemicals called "solvents" contributes to similar kinds of damage.The same is true for detergents, etc. Individual toxins in a particular group might be lessurgently hazardous than others; but, in general, all chemicals that function in a similarway induce similar degenerative symptoms and pathological conditions. As you continuereading the chart, differences between individual chemicals eventually matter less andless, as do the differences between categories of poisons. All of them cause serious, if notlethal, damage.

Some of the most contradictory reports involve the relative dangers of cleansing agents.Winter writes that sodium laurel sulphate is merely irritating to the skin; Steinman andEpstein acknowledge that it is also dangerously irritating to the eyes and mucous mem-branes; and Vance goes even further, referring to Japanese studies that show DNA dam-age. Hunter (whose book is unfortunately out of print) informs us that the chemical canalso affect the absorption of numerous food constituents, among them glucose andmethionine (an amino acid)—an important consideration when you realise that the surfac-tant is a primary ingredient of common toothpaste, which is often swallowed. Hunteralone provides statistics on the maximum amount in parts per million (ppm) at which an

Surrounded as we are by toxicproducts, it's

important that westudy their labels,take note of their

health effects, and ditch them in

favour of safesubstitutes.

Part 2 of 2

by Nina Silver, PhD © 1999

190 Kripplebush RoadStone Ridge, NY 12484, USA

Tel: +1 (914) 687 0963E-mail: [email protected]


PRODUCTS

Easy-Off Kitchen, Les toilConcentrated Heavy Duty, DowBathroom, Ecover Natural All-Purpose and Simple Green All-Purpose cleaners. Sof tsoap,Nature's Gate Liquid Soap, Oil ofOlay Body Wash. Joy, Ivo rySnow and Citra-Solv. Head &Shoulders, Clairol Herbal Essence,Tom's Baby, Nature's Gate, Tom'sNatural, Weleda Rosemary andRevlon Flex shampoos. Gilletteand Colgate shaving creams.Johnson's Baby Magic andNutr iBiot ic bubble ba th.Pepsodent and Crest toothpaste.Contac Decongestant; Anacinpain relief medicine.

Ajax and Comet scouring powder.Borateem Color Safe Bleach.

Windex and Sweet Life windowcleaners. Scrub Free Soap ScumRemover , Lysol Deodor izingCleaner, Dow Bathroom Cleaner.

Fantastik, Pine-Sol. Glass Plus,Sweet Life and Windex glasscleaners. Lysol, Dow BathroomCleaner, Vanish, Sani-Flush, EarthEnzymes Drain Opener. Spray 'NVac. Easy-Off and Dow ovencleaners. Pledge, Mop & GloPolish. Clairol Herbal EssenceShampoo. Clairol Herbal Essenceand Desert Essence conditioners.Johnson's Baby Magic BubbleBath. Secret, Sure and Arm &Hammer ant iperspirant-deodorants; Old Spice deodorant.Kiss My Face, Gillette and Colgateshaving creams. Kiss My FaceMoisturizing, Vaseline IntensiveCare and Lubr iderm lotions .Pepsodent toothpaste. Ben GayPain Relieving Cream. NoxemaSkin Cream. Anacin and Excedrinpain relief medicine; Children'sTylenol; Vicks CoughSuppressant , and ContacDecongestant.

CHEMICAL NAME

Detergents/SurfactantsThese create foam. Don't befooled if the label says "Natural,from coconut". Detergent ispoisonous.

Sodium lauryl sulphateSodium laureth sulphateCocamido/Cocamide DEACocamido/Cocamide MEAMyristyl myristatePolysorbate (number)Modified sulphonatesCocoyl sarcosinamide Monoethanolamine**Diethanolamine (DEA)**Triethanolamine (TEA)****Also used as solvents andpreservatives....Any combination of, or termssimilar to, the above

BLEACHIf chlorine bleach is mixed withammonia, deadly chloramine gasfumes are produced.

AMMONIAObtained by blowing steamthrough specially treated coal,ammonia is highly toxic. If mixedwith chlorine bleach, deadly chlo -ramine gas fumes are produced.That is why detergent labels warnnot to mix ammonia with bleach.Variations of ammonia include:Ammonium hydroxideMade by dissolving ammonia inwater.Ammonium gluconateMade from gluconic acid andammonia.

SolventsSolvents corrode. They dissolvesolid material into liquid. Somesolvents are so potent they eatthrough flesh as easily as they dobaked-on food. Solvents are alsoused to remove barnacles fromthe bottom of boats. Becausesome solvents are made frompetrochemicals, they also appearunder "Plastics".

Isopropyl alcohol Glycols: (anything that soundslike or contains) Propylene,Butylene, Ethylene, PolyethylenePropanol Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol)*(*Its safety is debatable and it isoften tainted.)Methanol (wood or Methyl alco-hol, wood spirits)(anything) Ether or EthylButane, Isobutane, PropaneAcetone, (anything) AcetateLye (Sodium Hydroxide, SodiumSesquicarbonate)Hydrochloric AcidSodium Acid Sulphate

EFFECTS ON THE SYSTEM

Strips protective oils from skin,leaving it vulnerable to microbialcontamination. Scalp eruptionssimilar to dandruff. Allergic reac-tions. Eye irritation includingearly onset of cataracts (from sodi-um lauryl sulphate), hair loss, liverand kidney cancer (from DEA).Interference with nutrient absorp-tion, disruption of hormones,impeded reproductive functioning(such as decreased sperm count).DNA damage (from sodium laurelsulfate). Triethanolamine, an eyeand skin irritant, can react withother disclosed or undisclosedchemicals in a product to formcarcinogenic nitrosamines.

Corrosive to skin. Lung irritation,sore throat, coughing, wheezing,runny nose. A mixture of bleachand ammonia can kill you.

Headaches and difficulty in men-tal functioning. Severe eye irrita-tion including stinging, wateryeyes, vision problems, cataractsand cornea damage. Burning ofmucous membranes also results insevere respiratory tract irritationincluding coughing and gagging,difficulty breathing, asthma, bron-chitis and pneumonia. Chemicalskin burns, sometimes with ulcer-ations and lesions. Hair breakage.A mixture of bleach and ammoniacan kill you.

Breakdown of cells. Skin rashes,burning and numbness of skin.Burning, tingling and numbing ofnerves, headaches, fainting, dizzi-ness, nerve response depression,impaired percept ion, stupor,coma, permanent nerve damage.Nausea , vomit ing, diar rhoea,abdominal pain. Clouding of theeyes, vision problems, permanenteye damage such as blindnessand, i f lye or other acid issplashed in eyes, within minutes.Kidney damage. Liver damage.Leukaemia. Cancers. Irritation/damage to mucous membrane lin-ing, coughing, shallow breathing,difficulty swallowing and otherrespiratory disturbances. Alsoheart damage, sometimes leadingto attacks. Death. (An article inthe March 2, 1999 issue of theNew York Times reports on thedangers of solvents, which someteenagers are now sniffing to get"high".)

FOUND IN

Metal polish, dishwashing liquid,laundry powder, laundry liquiddetergent, spot remover.

Shampoo, bar (hand and bath)soap, facial cleanser, bubble bath,toothpaste, shaving cream, hairdye. (US hair colouring productsare "grandfathered" by a 1938 lawthat exempts them from federalregulation.) Any product that pro-duces suds contains at least onedetergent.

Medicine.

Scouring powder, laundry andother detergent. Paper productssuch as toilet paper, paper towelsand coffee filters.

Glass cleaner, detergent, disinfec-tant, hair dye, bathroom cleanser.

----------------------------Cocoa products, animal feed, skincream, hair dye and straightener,detergent, spot remover.-----------------------------Emulsifying agent for cheese andsalad dressings.

Paint, paint thinner and stripper,marking pens , adhesives ,antifreeze, ink, gasoline, spotremover, furniture polish, varnish,glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner,oven cleaner, drain opener,disinfectant , rug shampoo,upholstery cleaner, dish detergent,"al l-purpose cleaner", airfreshener, laundry detergent(liquid and powder). Also used asa "carrier" in pesticides.

Shampoo, hair conditioner, nailpolish remover, facial mask andastringent, permanent wave solu-tion, body lotion, moisturiser,bath salts, mouthwash, antiperspi-rant, deodorant, tooth powder,aftershave.

Medicine tablets, medicinalcreams, cough syrup.

Butter, milk, cream, ice cream,cocoa, canned olives and peas,spices; in aerosol cans, e.g., con-taining whipped cream.


additive can be present in a compound before it is considered dan-gerous. Sodium laurel sulphate is presumed to be safe at 10,000ppm. This may be why most of the other authors defend it,although the question arises: How poisonous does a chemicalhave to be before its danger is recognised? As for sodium laurethsulphate, which is supposed to be a milder form of sodium laurelsulphate and therefore more acceptable: Winter believes thatsodium laureth sulphate is not harmful; Steinman and Epsteinwrite that although sodium laureth sulphate is somewhat milderthan sodium laurel sulphate, it is still dangerous because it con-tains carcinogenic compounds; while Vance reports the presenceof a hazardous ether that causes dermatitis. There are many othersynthetic detergents that are reported by Steinman and Epstein tobe safe but which are asserted by Vance to be toxic (Hunter focus-es on food additives).

Regarding the safety of chemicals, then, because their danger isalmost always underreported I have chosen to present the moreominous information. Rather than deeming my choice biased, itis more realistic to remember that companies: (1) are in businessto make money; (2) are constantly manufacturing new chemicalsand products to increase profits; (3) are responsible for conduct-ing their own safety tests; and (4) are trusted by our regulatoryagencies to report truthfully thehazards of their own products.Given these lax regulations, arenegative data likely to be reported?This question is rhetorical. If com-panies had nothing to hide, "watch-dog" organisations would not needto exist. Nor would they be filinglawsuits for personal injury andwrongful death.

It is important to remember thatthe tests themselves (even if theyare conducted with the best ofintentions and accurately recorded)are not designed to produce datathat human beings can easily use.

"The tester," wrote Hunter, "hopes to find a level that does pro-duce a toxic effect so that a 'safe dose' can be established at alower level, where these effects are not observed."

With our present knowledge, this concept appears simplistic.We now recognise that many adverse effects may be inflictedwhich at the moment are beneath the threshold of perception andmay not appear for 20, 30 or even 40 years—at which time thecause may be completely undeterminable. Hence, one of thebasic principles of traditional toxicology—the myth of a "safedose" level—needs to be discarded.12 Moreover, it is impossibleto extrapolate test results from animals to humans. Not only isanimal testing cruel; if different species of mice register complete-ly opposite responses when injected with or fed a poison, how canwe know for sure how a human being will react to the samechemical? The bottom line is that our bodies were never made toingest or transmute synthetic chemicals. It is better to err on theside of caution and avoid the chemicals entirely.

Many readers may find this chart shocking, but unfortunately itis true. Until our labelling laws are changed and regulatory agen-cies do their job, people will continue to get duped—and sick.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID POISONS More than ever, citizens are demanding to have control over

what is in the food they eat, the water they drink, the productsthey use. I have gone to town meetings to protest my local

government's plans to spray pesticides on the edge of roads,pointing out that clippers work just fine. Some people instituteclass-action lawsuits against major corporations for trying toconceal the toxicity of their products. And still others notice arelationship between the chemical waste dump next door and anastronomical increase in cancer—and notify the press.

The regulations that do exist have preposterous loopholes, andchemical companies take advantage of them. We can no longerrely on government to control big business because the govern-ment has become big business.

It is therefore up to each of us to take charge of our own healthand well-being. Here are some suggestions on how we canrestore vitality to ourselves and our environment.

1. Notice Your Reactions to Various ProductsOne of the most treacherous myths we must learn to overcome

is, "It's all in my head". I am referring to the dizzying variety ofsymptoms that people can develop from exposure to poisons.

Too often, people ignore what their own bodies are telling thembecause they simply cannot believe that a poisonous substancewould be so prominently used in the marketplace. In this case,the person is giving more credibility to an idea instilled by an out-

side authority than to his or her ownexperience and responses.

Some people find it helpful tokeep a written record of the dates oftheir exposure to chemicals. Sincethey might not immediately observea connection between exposure andlater problems, the record can revealpatterns over time.

Other people recognise instantlywhen they respond to a toxic chemi-cal: they sneeze when doing thelaundry, break out in hives afterapplying a face cream, feel nauseat-ed from inhaling a room deodoriser,or have teary eyes when they clean

the kitchen floor. Pay attention to these reactions! They are yourbody's way of letting you know that something is wrong. T h emore you pay attention to these reactions and refuse to block themfrom your awareness, the more you will learn to trust that you arenot crazy for focusing on something "minor" or "trivial".

It is common for industry to negate and ridicule people's reac-tions to chemicals until the problem reaches epidemic propor-tions. But thousands of people react negatively to detergents,food additives, medications, the chemical dump site next door.People not specifically diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitiv-ity (MCS) can still be chemically sensitive. Why wait until yoursymptoms turn into a full-blown, more serious illness?

2. Study the Product LabelsBecause of our vague and incomplete labelling laws, it is often

impossible to tell what exactly is in a product. Some products(particularly cleansers) do carry warnings—often very scaryones—because they are so dangerous. Lysol bathroom cleaner,whose principal ingredient is highly caustic lye, reads bluntly (inpart): "Danger: Corrosive – produces chemical burns." And thelabel on Fantastik cleaner says, after advising the consumer tonotify a doctor if the product comes into contact with the eyes orskin: "Not recommended for use by persons with heart conditionsor chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema orobstructive lung disease."

The bottom line is that our bodies were never made toingest or transmute synthetic

chemicals.


PRODUCTS

Secret, Sure and Arm &Hammer antiperspirant-deodorants. Noxema skincream. Advil pain medicine.Jergens Skin Smoothing andVaseline Intensive Care anti-bacterial lotions. All toothpastecontaining fluoride, includingbut not limited to Pepsodent,Tom's and Crest toothpastes.

Although almost 100% ofhousehold detergents containpesticides, only a very smallnumber of products indicatespecifically that they are anti-bacterial or fungicidal. In anycase, the labels would never list"pesticides" as one of the ingre -dients.

"Generic" mothballs. CometHomecare Bathroom Cleanerwith Disinfectant. Head &Shoulders Shampoo. Joy andPalmolive Antibacterial handsoaps, dishwashing liquid. DialAnti-Bacterial Soap, SuaveAntibacterial Hand Soap. ZestFamily Deodorant Bar. Germ-Xand Purel l hand sanitisers.Lever 2000 Body Wash.Vaseline Intensive Care Anti-Bacterial Hand Lotion.

The FDA has authorised that an"allowable" amount of pesti-cides can be present in foods,which include (but are not limit-ed to): meats, fruits and vegeta-bles, baked goods, liquor, candyand beverages. The pesticideso-called "residues" are presentnot only because of what issprayed on crops; many ingredi-ents classified as pesticides arealso used in the processing offood.

CHEMICAL NAME

Toxic MetalsToxic metals don't belong in thebody. If the person is deficientin minerals (which is likely,considering the depletion of oursoil), the body, unable to distin -guish between helpful andharmful minerals, will absorbtoxic metals in lieu of life-givingminerals. Dyes often containmetals.

Aluminium "something" (such aschlorohydrate)LeadCadmiumFluoride...and others

Pesticides & FungicidesMost common household soapsand detergents are legally classi -fied as pesticides because theycontain pesticides. The label,however, will read "germicidal","anti-fungal" or "anti-bacterial",rather than "contains pesticides".Not every pesticide present inan insecticide is listed on thelabel, and some of the harmfuleffects occur when the differentchemicals are combined. Manypesticides are derived frompetroleum. What follows isonly a partial list: Acephate, Orthophenyl-phenol,Lindane, Captan, Methidathion,Benomyl, Diazinon,Fenvalerate, Linuron, Botran,Aldicarb, Cabaryl ,Carbendaxim, Al- lethrin,Diphenyl, Dieldrin, Trifluralin,Methomyl, Imazilil, Parathion,Sodium Orthophenylphenate,Folpet, Chlordane, DDT,Dieldrin, Chlorothalonil ,Demeton, Chlorpyrifos ,O r t h o p h e n y l - a m i n e ,A z i n p h o s m e t h y l ,Thiabendazole, Benzaflor ,Dicloran, Permethrin, Ipro-dione, Ethion, Dicofol, Endrin,Toxaphene, EthyleneBisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs),Endosulfan, Naphthalene,Cyfluthrin, Hexachlorobenzene(HCB), Dimethoate,Hydroquinoline Bromide, D-limonene, Orthophenylphenate,Nitro-benzenamine, Phenothrin,Resmethrin, Tetramethrin


Stomach cramps, nausea,constipation, vomiting. Skinrash. Weakness, joint and bonepain. Mouth sores. Cancer.Tooth discolouration.Premature ageing. Stillbirths.Immune disorders. Geneticdamage. Brain disorders suchas Alzheimer's disease (fromaluminium build-up in thesystem), learning disorders.Poor impulse control, leading toviolence and murderousoutbursts, probably caused byabnormally lowered levels ofthe brain neurotransmitterserotonin.

Flu-l ike symptoms such asweakness, muscle and joint painand fatigue. Digestive distur-bances such as nausea, vomit-ing and stomach burns.Nervous system disorders: moodswings, emotional and mentaldisorientation, lack of motorcoordination, slurred speech,insomnia, memory loss, dizzi-ness, tingling, numbness,tremors, paralysis, convulsions,grand mal seizures. Cardiacirregularities. Swelling of face,eyelids, lips, mouth and throat.Excessive salivation. Liver andkidney damage. Rashes andburns of the skin. Shortness ofbreath, chest pains. Urinarytract damage. Birth defects(including stillbirths) and genet-ic mutations. Cancers of alltypes, including bladder;tumours of liver, lung and thy-roid gland. The kind of damageand time per iod of onset ofsymptoms are unknown formost pesticides, as they areeither inadequately tested or nottested at all.

Keep in mind that chemicalsoften degenerate into other toxiccomponents once they areingested. Only one exampleamong thousands is the fungi-cide Captan, whose breakdownproducts include a chemicalsimilar to thalidomide, widelyknown to cause birth defects.Labelling laws do not cover pes-ticides that enter the USA onproduce from other countriessuch as Mexico.

FOUND IN

Drain opener, laundry deter-gent, dishwashing liquid, shoepolish, house paint, artist's oilpaint and other art supplies.Antiperspirant, hair dye, mois-turiser, body lotion, toothpaste,bar (hand and body) soap, sunblock and sunscreen, mascara,eye shadow, rouge and otherface powder, lipstick, theatricaland clown makeup.

Obvious products:Mothballs, weed killer, insectrepellent, insecticide, flea andcockroach spray, rat poison,anti-fungal and anti-algal swim-ming pool chemicals, pet fleaand tick spray, dust and bathsolution.

Items listed as germicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, disinfec -tant, or kill ing mould andmildew, including:Most bathroom, ki tchen,laundry and personal care soapssuch as hand and body barsoap, liquid and powderlaundry detergent anddishwashing liquid; disinfectantsand sanitisers such as toiletbowl cleaner; deodorant; handand body lotion; mouthwash;anti-fungal medicine cream andfoot powder; facial mask.

Unidentified in:Carpets, finished wood prod-ucts, clothing (non-organic cot-ton is heavily sprayed).

Produce is heavily sprayed.Among the most toxic are:Strawberries, green and red bellpeppers, peaches, celery,apples, apr icots, cherries,grapes, lettuces, cucumbers,cantaloupe, watermelon,spinach, green beans, pears,grapefruit and oranges. Produceis even sprayed after beingpicked. Bananas and tomatoesare picked unripe, and then arti-ficially "ripened" with polyethyl-ene gas just before they reachthe stores.


Now that you know the hazards of a product that reads simply"Do not swallow", there is no excuse for buying it. And there iscertainly no excuse for purchasing products whose warnings aremore explicit. Read everything before you buy. Refusing topurchase, store or use it may save your life and the lives of yourfamily, friends or pets.

3. Exercise Your Legal Right to Request the MSDSThe one document that most thoroughly addresses the degree of

toxicity in chemicals, and what kinds of safety measures arerequired when handling them, is rarely seen by consumers. In theUSA, all industries that manufacture potentially dangerous sub-stances—whether these substances are single ingredients or amixture of ingredients such as in a bathroom cleaner—arerequired by the government-run Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) to issue a Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS). This legal document addresses various aspects of a pro-duct's safety: Is it flammable? Does it emit toxic fumes? Is it askin or eye irritant? Is it poisonous when ingested and, if so, howmuch is needed to kill? How must it be discarded? Is it safe todump in the environment? Is it chemically stable; that is, does itdecompose or react to heat or cold? And does it emit other toxicchemicals as a byproduct of its breakdown? Industry does notroutinely volunteer this information to the general public. Andmost consumers don't know that this documentation exists or thatthey have a legal right to ask for it.

Contact the company that manu-factures your soap, shampoo, cos-metic, cleaner or paint, and ask for acopy of the MSDS. Ask your localsupermarket or health food store topost the data prominently. Sendyour local representative copies ofthe MSDS along with other docu-mentation about the dangers ofchemicals.

4. Use Safe Substitutes Insteadof Poisons

If you are committed to yourhealth and receptive to innovativemethods, you will almost certainly want to throw out the contentsof your medicine chest and replace most (if not all) of the itemswith herbal and homeopathic remedies, which are generally moreeffective and far safer than the poisons found in a drug store. In-depth information on how to replace synthetic drugs is beyond thescope of this essay; so do some research on homeopathy andherbs. Two fine books on the subject of herbs are How To BeYour Own Herbal Pharmacist, by Linda Rector-Page, and T h eScientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, by Daniel B. Mowrey.

You can learn a great deal about natural remedies and alterna-tives to toxic substances simply by visiting a good health foodstore, even though you may want few of the personal care items,and probably none of the detergents, that you find there. Most ofthe detergents sold in health food stores are poisonous. And someof the hand lotions and cosmetics are similar to those found inmainstream drug stores, although they do have fewer additives,feel better and generally smell better than their mainstream coun-terparts. Those who want the convenience of ready-made, safe orrelatively safe commercially made personal-care items may wantto shop for products from the American company Aubrey Organics(which also manufactures cosmetics) and the international com-pany Weleda, Inc., which also makes wonderful homeopathic

remedies (many of them available only by prescription). It is difficult to find uncontaminated and satisfactory skin care

products and cosmetics. And it is almost impossible to locateeffective cleansers that are free of poisons.

The dangers of bleach are well documented. One of the best-kept secrets for bleaching and cleaning is pure hydrogen peroxide(H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide is both safe and highly effective as agermicide because, chemically, H 2O2 breaks down into water(H2O) and oxygen (O1)—which is known for killing most kinds ofbacteria, viruses and fungi. Food grade hydrogen peroxide is usedmedicinally, for agriculture and livestock, and in the food andelectronics industries. I want to emphasise that the only accept -able hydrogen peroxide is food grade. Non-food-grade H2O2, thekind found in drug stores and supermarkets, is unnecessarily rid-dled with dangerous stabilisers and other additives.

The dilution of the hydrogen peroxide is also of paramountimportance. Drug store H2O2 is sufficiently weak at 3% strength,though, as I already mentioned, it is not safe because of the addi-tives. Six per cent hydrogen peroxide, the major component ofClorox 2, is caustic to the skin (and contains additives). Foodgrade H2O2 is usually sold to individuals at 6% strength, to whichone adds equal amounts of water to create a safe 3% solution.Food grade H2O2 concentration of 35% or 50% burns your skin,blinds you if it gets splashed in your eyes, and can kill you if youingest it. Nevertheless, food grade hydrogen peroxide, if handled

correctly at the proper dilution , isnot only safe but beneficial.

There is an important differencebetween the caustic effects of H2O2

and the caustic effects of poisonslike neurotoxins or petrochemicals.Even when added to water or anoth-er benign substance, neurotoxinsand petrochemicals are inherentlylethal. Their molecules may bemore spread out, but this does notdiminish their essentially toxicnature: at a weak dilution, they stillmaim and kill. Food grade hydro-gen peroxide, on the other hand,changes its inherent character at

weaker dilutions, as when it is dispersed in water. (A source forfood grade H2O2 is Family Health News, 9845 NE 2nd Avenue,Miami Shores, FL 33138, USA, tel +1 303 759 8710 or 1-800 2846263, toll-free in USA.)

For general cleaning, the only commercial preparation I knowof that is genuinely safe and really cleans well (it even removesgasoline, oil, ink and blood from clothing) is Planet SolutionsMulti-Purpose. The Material Safety Data Sheet from the compa-ny is impressive: the solution is stable at all temperatures, is notflammable, does not irritate skin or eyes, does not emit toxicfumes and does not break down into or react with other chemicals.The "First Aid Measures" section of the MSDS states that there isno known level of toxicity, whether the fluid contacts the eyes orskin, is inhaled or ingested. Because the product is not classifiedas a detergent and is truly safe, there are no warnings on the label.

Planet Solutions is made from amino acids, minerals, enzymesand botanicals derived from edible, leafy green and seed-bearingplants, and it contains absolutely no detergents, solvents, pesti-cides, fragrances, dyes, plastics or any other additives. The fluidcuts grease electrically rather than chemically: the molecules,imbued with a negative-negative ion charge, wrap around themolecules of oil and dirt rather than interact chemically.

It is difficult to find uncontaminated and satisfactoryskin care products and cosmetics.

And it is almost impossible to locate effective cleansers

that are free of poisons.


PRODUCTS

Mop & Glo, Pledge Polish.Lestoil Concentrated Heavy DutyCleaner. Le Natural Stick FrenchGreen Clay Deodorant; SecretAntiperspirant. Gillette ShavingCream. Ponds Cold Cream;Jergens Skin Smoothing, VaselineIntensive Care Anti-Bacterial andLubriderm Moisturizing Lotion.Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.Children's Tylenol; Excedrin andAnacin pain relief medicine; VicksCough Suppressant.

Pledge furniture polish. SweetLife Window Cleaner. Easy-OffOven Cleaner. Softsoap, Joy, ZestFamily Deodorant Bar, Oil ofOlay Body Wash. Clairol HerbalEssence, Revlon Flex, Head &Shoulders and Johnson's BabyShampoo. Johnson's Baby MagicBubble Bath. Clairol HerbalEssence Conditioner. Ponds ColdCream, Noxema Skin Cream;Jergens Skin Smoothing,Lubriderm Moistur izing, andVasel ine Intensive Care Ant i-Bacterial Lotion. Colgate and KissMy Face shaving creams. OldSpice Deodorant. Arm &Hammer, Secret and Sure antiper-spirant-deodorants. CarefreeLongs and Kotex Lightdays sani-tary napkins. Playtex DeodorantTampons. Vicks CoughSuppressant.

Gillette and Kiss My Face shavingcreams. Clairol Herbal Essence,Johnson's Baby, Nature's Gate,Tom's Natural, and Revlon FlexShampoo. Deser t EssenceConditioner. Sure Antiperspirant-Deodoran t. Johnson's BabyMagic and NutriBiotic bubblebaths. Softsoap and Nature's Gateliquid soap; Oil of Olay BodyWash. Ecover Natural All-Purpose Cleaner. Jergens SkinSmoothing, LubridernMoisturizing, Kiss My FaceMoisturizer , Nature's GateMoisturizing and Vasel ineIntensive Care Anti -Bacter ialLot ion. Listerine and Scopemouthwashes. Chi ldren'sTylenol; Excedrin and Advil painrelief medicines . MylantaAntacid; Contac Decongestant;Vicks Cough Suppressant.

CHEMICAL NAME

Plastics/PetroleumMany alcohols are derived frompetroleum.Mineral OilPetroleum JellyPetrolatum and ParaffinMicrocrystalline waxPVP/VA CopolymerPropylene GlycolDipropylene GlycolButylene GlycolPolyethylene GlycolAcrylic polymersToluene and XylenePhenolPetroleum hydrocarbon resinButane...anything that contains Ethyl,Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, Octyl-ene, -eth

Synthetic FragrancesSynthetic fragrances may containas many as 200 ingredients,which instead of being listed sep -arately can simply be described as"Fragrance". The main compo -nent of fragrance is poisonous sol -vent (which can also be burned asfuel). Air freshener desensitisesthe nose by covering nasal pas -sages with a film of oil, maskingone odour with another or numb -ing the olfactory nerves.

----------------------------Synthetic FlavoursSynthet ic fragrances arechemically related to flavours (likethose found in toothpaste), andare usually manufactured fromalcohol solvents. So-called"natural" flavors are not natural,unadulterated or whole.

PreservativesClassi fied as ant i-microbialagents, some preservatives arealso used as flavourings.Formaldehyde (embalming fluidused for corpses), (anything) alde-hydeParabens: Propyl, Butyl, Ethyl,Benzyl, Heptyl, Methyl and (any-thing) HydroxybenzoateBenzoic AcidSodium BenzoateEthylenediamineTetra-acetic Acid (EDTA)Tetrasodium EDTACalcium Disodium EDTABHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol*Imidazolidinyl urea *Diazolidinyl urea*DMDM Hydantoin*Quaternium-15*(*These chemicals either releaseor degrade into deadly formalde -hyde.)


Coats skin with a layer of plastic(literally), inhibiting its ability tobreathe, to eliminate waste mate-rials, to moisturise itself and togenerate new heal thy cel ls.Common reactions are black-heads, pimples, dry skin, photo-sensitivity (hypersensitivity to thesun), premature ageing of the skin.Cardiac disorders. Allergic reac-tions. Malnutrition. Immune sys-tem disorders. Central nervoussystem depression. Liver and kid-ney damage. Asphyxiation.Narcotic effects.

Skin rashes, blisters, changes incolouration of the skin. Digestivedisturbances, including vomitingand diarrhoea. Muscular achesand pains, including shoulderpain. Coughing, i rri tation ofmucous membranes. Allergies,including sneezing. Sluggishness,fatigue. Headaches, mood swingsand irritability, dizziness and ver-tigo, confusion, coma. Narcoticeffects.

Headaches. Skin rashes, inflam-mation, ulcers and burns. Eye irri-tation and damage. Irritation oflungs and mucous membranes,asthma. Flu-like symptoms suchas sore throat, coughing andsneezing. Various cancers (espe-cially f rom formaldehyde, aproven carcinogen). Allergies.Digestive disturbances. Blurryvision, inability to concentrate.Moodiness, mental confusion,emotional outbursts, hyperactivi-ty. Blood in urine. Kidney dam-age. Muscle weakness, musclecramps, joint pains, lack of motorcoordinat ion. Tumours.Chromosome aberrat ions andreproductive disorders.

FOUND IN

Floor and furni ture polish,antifreeze, air freshener.

Lip balm, eye products, nail pol-ish, nail pol ish remover, hairspray, hand and body lot ion,moisturiser, foundation, makeup.

Medicine.

Chewing gum base, ice cream,beverages, baked goods, meatproducts. Plastics are also rou-tinely used to coat fruits and veg-etables, including organic pro-duce (although beeswax is some-times used on organics).

Dishwashing detergent, windowand glass cleaner, antifreeze, airf reshener, furni ture and shoepolish.Shampoo, bar (hand and body)soap, moisturiser, hand lotion,toothpaste, perfumes, shaving andface cream, bubble bath and bathsalts, disposable wipes, sanitarynapkins, antiperspirant, deodor-ant, talcum powder, femininehygiene spray, tissues, to iletpaper, tampons.

----------------------------Medicine. Ice cream and otherdairy products, ices, candy, bakedgoods, tea, coffee, spices, syrups,chewing gum, soft drinks, pud-ding, gelatin, liquor, condiments.Ethyl acetate is used as a nail pol-ish solvent and as a flavouring forcandy, baked goods, liquor, icecream, chewing gum.

Paint, paint thinner, paint stripper,spot remover, furniture polish,lacquer, varnish, glass cleaner,toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner,drain opener, disinfectant, rugshampoo, upholstery cleaner,dishwashing liquid, air freshener,"all-purpose cleaner", laundrydetergent.

Bar (hand and body) soap, shav-ing cream, shampoo, nail polishremover, facial mask and astrin-gent, cold cream, permanentwave solution, aftershave lotion,bubble bath, moisturiser, eyeliner,antiperspirant, deodorant, mouth-wash.

Medicine tablets, cough syrup.

Baked, canned and packagedgoods, sweets, fish, meats, condi-ments, dairy preparations, soda.Most supermarket foods containpreservatives.


Thus the solution is suitable even for bathing pets and for per-sonal hygiene (I also use it for skin rashes). (To obtain samples ofPlanet Solutions at cost, telephone +1 719 689 5842, or 1-800 301991, toll-free USA, or 888-480-9949, 24-hr hotline, toll-freeUSA; or e-mail [email protected].)

5. Educate Your Family, Friends and NeighboursBegin with the people you know who would be most open to

hearing this information. Do n o t approach them with, "Do youknow you're doing everything wrong?", as this will only makethem feel ashamed, worthless and defensive. Instead, begin bydescribing how much better you feel when you don't use poisons,and ask if they have noticed anything similar regarding them-selves. Make sure to provide them with alternatives to what theyare using while you explain how they are poisoning themselves.

A Final Word: You Can't Afford to be Apathetic Our lives have been irreversibly touched by the conveniences of

soon-to-be 21st-century technology, but we are sicker than wehave ever been. Our air, water, soil, vegetation and animals arealso sick. The Earth can regenerate itself, given thousands ofyears, but people don't have that lifespan. Nor do we possess thecomparable ability to adapt to unfavourable conditions.

Those who appear to be safe from immune system malfunctionsimply have a higher threshold of tolerance for chemical poison-ing; it is only a matter of time before our poisonous environmentmakes presumably healthy people as ill as their more sensitive sis-ters and brothers.

Don't be afraid to make waves and rock the boat, whether it'seducating your family and friends, lobbying your elected officialsto implement honest labelling laws, or confronting industry exec-utives. People have become anaesthetised to the dangers aroundthem. When we live with something every day, because it's socommonplace we think that it is normal and thus healthy, correctand proper. But the ordinariness of a situation doesn't make itlegitimate or safe. It simply means that we have forgotten how tothink and feel for ourselves.

Protect yourself and your loved ones. Your home no longer hasto be a toxic waste dump site. ∞Editor's Note : Due to space constraints, we are unable to reprintthe full text of the author's article, including an 18-page chart listingsafe substitutes. The complete 50-page, spiral-bound document,titled "The Politics of Poison", is available from the author forUSD$15.00 (inc. p&h in USA; elsewhere, contact author re p&hcosts).

Endnotes12. Hunter, Beatrice Trum, The Mirage of Safety: Food Additives andFederal Policy, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1975, p. 30.

References and Resources• Hampton, Aubrey, Natural Ingredients Dictionary, Organica Press(4419 North Manhattan Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33614), 1994; andthe Aubrey Organics Catalogue. (To receive information or order theirskin care and personal hygiene products, call 1-800-AUBREYH.)• Household Hazards: A 7 Days Report, 7 Days, January 25, 1989.• Human Ecology Action League (HEAL) is one of the best-knowngroups for the chemically sensitive. The organisation has a quarterlypublication and books for sale, and is a wonderful resource for non-poisonous, hard-to-find items. (For information, contact HEAL, POBox 29629, Atlanta, Georgia 30359-0629, USA, telephone +1 (404)248 1898, e-mail [email protected].) • Mott, Lawrie and Karen Snyder, Pesticide Alert: A Guide toPesticides in Fruits and Vegetables, Sierra Club Books, San Francisco,1987.• Mowrey, Daniel B., The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine,Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, CT, 1986.• Murphy, Finbarr, President, Weleda, Inc. In January 1999, FinbarrMurphy gave me an interview and tour of their Congers, New York,facility that manufactures homeopathic remedies and skin care prod-ucts. (For info or to order their products, call 1-800 289 1969.)• Rector-Page, Linda, How To Be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist,Crystal Star Herbs (20065 B Highway 108, Sonora, CA 95370, tel +1209 532 0586), 1991. • Safe Food News, Spring 1995.• Saulson, Donald and Elisabeth, A Pocket Guide to Food Additives,VPS Publishing (PO Box 2705-261, Huntington Beach, California92649), 1991.• Steinman, David, Diet For A Poisoned Planet, Harmony Books, NewYork, 1990.• Steinman, David and Samuel S. Epstein, The Safe Shopper's Bible,Macmillan, USA, 1995.• "The Cosmetic Conspiracy", interview with cosmetician Linda Chaéin Natural Health & Fitness, Summer 1998. (To receive information ororder her Organic Essentials skin care products, call 1-800 838 3637.) • Vance, Judi, Beauty To Die For, ProMotion Publishing (tel 1-800 2311776), San Diego, 1998.• Winter, Ruth, A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, ThreeRivers Press, New York, 1994, 4th edition.• Zamm, Alfred V. and Robert Gannon, Why Your House MayEndanger Your Health, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1980.

About the Author:Nina Silver, PhD, is an holistic health educator, Reichianpsychotherapist and social-change agent. Her non-fiction,fiction and poetry in the fields of psychology, health, feminism,natural science and metaphysics have been internationallypublished.

PRODUCTS

Windex Glass and Sweet Life win-dow cleaners. Head & Shoulders,Clairol Herbal Essence, RevlonFlex and Johnson's Baby sham-poos. Clairol Herbal EssenceConditioner. Johnson's BabyMagic Bubble Bath. Zest FamilyDeodorant Bar. Joy Detergent.Old Spice Deodorant. Pepsodentand Crest toothpastes. Listerineand Scope mouthwashes.Children's Tylenol; Excedrin painrelief medicine; Sominex sleepingpills; Contac Decongestant; VicksCough Suppressant. Tr ix andFroot Loops cereal.

CHEMICAL NAME

DyesMost dyes are synthesised fromcoal tar. Many contain alumini -um and other toxic metals to givea shine to makeup.Azo colour/dyes/compoundsD & C Blue (number)*D & C Brown (number)*D & C Green (number)* D & C Orange (number)*D & C Yellow (number)*D & C Violet (number)D & C Red (number)* ++

(*Some also contain AluminumLake)( + +Some also contain Bar ium,Zirconium and Strontium Lake)


Allergic reactions, including hives.Eye irr itation and permanentblindness. Leukaemia (4% of allcases due to hair dye). Hodgkin'sdisease. Non-Hodgkin's lym-phoma (20% of all cases due tohair dye) . Mult iple tumours,including in kidneys and adrenalglands. Cancer of the thyroid,b ladder and intestinal tract .Behavioural problems and emo-tional volatility; Attention DeficitDisorder (especially in children).Interference of brain-nerve trans-mission. Chromosome damage.Reproductive mutations.

FOUND IN

Detergents and cleaners forkitchen, bathroom, laundry,dishes, furniture, home.

Shampoo, bar (hand and body)soap, mouthwash, bubble bathand bath salts, moisturiser, facialpowder, rouge, mascara, eyeliner,hair dye, most cosmetics.

Medicines.

Candy, pudding, bakery products,chips, carbonated beverages, petfood, packaged cereal, cannedmeat, condiments, soup, pasta,caviar, fresh fruits and vegetables.



IV. CIA/DoJ COLLUSION IN DRUG TRAFFICKING/COVER-UP Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Federal Statute Violations

Despite documented evidence by government whistleblowers, the US CentralIntelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) have neverbeen held accountable for their collusion in and/or acquiescence to drug traf-ficking. On March 15, 1999, however, class action lawsuits were filed by attor-

neys Katya Komisaruk, William M. Simpich and Kenneth Frucht on behalf of RosemaryLyons and Olivia Woods in northern California and Donna J. Warren and Berlina M. Dossin southern California (Case No. 99-02603).

The suit names the Central Intelligence Agency, the United States Department ofJustice, Estate of William Casey, Robert Gates, John Deutch, George Tenet, Estate ofWilliam French Smith, Edwin Meese, Richard Thornburgh, Janet Reno and others asDefendants, alleging that these US Government agencies and employees were responsiblefor the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic and the resulting social and economic devastation ofinner city communities.

According to the Statement of Facts: "On March 16, 1998, CIA Inspector-GeneralFrederick Hitz appeared before the House Intelligence Committee to report on his investi-gation of the CIA, the Contras and crack cocaine. Hitz testified that, beginning in 1982,the CIA entered into an undisclosed agreement with the Department of Justice, allowingCIA officers to refrain from reporting drug trafficking by its 'agents, assets and non-staffemployees'. Hitz admitted that 'there are instances where the CIA did not, in an expedi-tious or consistent fashion, cut off relationships with individuals supporting the Contraprogram, who were alleged to have engaged in drug trafficking activity, or take action toresolve the allegation'.

"When asked by Congressman Norman Dicks of Washington, 'Did any of these allega-tions involve trafficking in the United States?', Hitz's answer was 'Yes'. Hitz acknowl-edged that the CIA knew of drug trafficking allegations 'regarding dozens of individualsand a number of companies connected in some fashion to the Contra program or theContra movement'.

"Hitz recounts in Volume II of the Inspector-General's Report dated 10/9/98 thatthrough the secret agreement, the CIA and DoJ attempted to exempt the CIA from report-ing about the drug trafficking of persons employed by, assigned to, or acting for an agencywithin the intelligence community."

Since the CIA itself admitted to having knowledge of its own "assets" being involved inillegal activities, the argument seems to be indisputable.

"Plaintiff claims that the CIA/DoJ agreement violated a federal statute, 28 USC §535,"the lawsuit alleges, "which imposes a duty on every department and agency in theExecutive Branch to report promptly to the Attorney General any information, allegationsor complaints relating to possible violations of [criminal law] by officers and employeesof the government."

In other words, if federal agency employees are aware of violations, these must also bereported. There is another category of criminal code violation called "misprision offelony", which refers to the offence of concealing knowledge of a felony by one who hasnot participated in it. CIA officials could be charged with this as well.

"The private CIA/DoJ agreement attempted to get around this federal law by redefiningthe term 'employee' to mean only full-time career officials—as opposed to persons'employed by, assigned to, or acting for an agency within the intelligence community'. In

A number ofwhistleblowers

are suing the CIAand other USGovernment

officials to exposetheir complicity

in drug-traffickingoperations and

cover-ups.

Part 2 of 2

by Uri Dowbenko © 1999, 2000

PO Box 43Pray, Montana 59065

USAEmail: [email protected]


addition, the secret agreement violated Executive Order 12333issued in 1981, which required the reporting of drug crimes."

The suit also states that the 1989 Kerry Report ("Drugs, LawEnforcement and Foreign Policy") made specific findings that"drug trafficking had pervaded the entire Contra war effort, that'one or another agency of the US Government had informationregarding the involvement either while it was occurring or imme-diately after' and that 'senior policy makers were not immune tothe idea that drug money was a perfect solution to the Contras'funding problems'".

A Little History, Please"In the opening phase of the crack

cocaine epidemic, between 1982 and1986, CIA officers and other intelli-gence agencies received reportsregarding Bay Area cocaineimporters Norman Meneses andDanilo Blandon," the class actionlawsuit alleges.

"Both of these men were amongthe primary importers in the UnitedStates and dominated the market onthe West Coast. Because of thesecret CIA/DoJ agreement whichpurported to exempt the CIA fromhaving to report drug crimes, cocaine suppliers connected with theContras or other US covert operations were able to import their'unregulated product' under the cloak of national security.

"Meneses and Blandon funneled vast quantities of cocaine, at aprice far lower than other suppliers, to 'Freeway Rick' Ross, whoproceeded to flood south-central Los Angeles with a new, low-cost product dubbed 'crack'. By 1984, Ross was selling 150 kilo-grams of cocaine every week, enough to put 3,000,000 doses ofcrack on LA's streets every seven days.

"The crack cocaine epidemic enveloped Los Angeles between1982 and 1986. Government documents show that the CIA andDoJ knew or should have known of the massive importations byMeneses, Blandon and other cocaine supplying operations," thelawsuit continues.

"Common sense and a review of the news coverage for thatperiod indicate that these agencies knew or should have knownthat their ongoing policy of deliberate silence allowed the crackepidemic to rage unchecked. The CIA turned its back while ship-

ment after shipment of this new,intensely addictive form of cocainewas delivered to one of Ross's fivecookhouses and then put up for salethroughout south-central Los Angelesand Compton. The result was thedeath of men, women and children,the collapse of businesses and thedestruction of whole neighborhoods.

"Once the initial southernCalifornia market was glutted, crackmoved north. Mid-level dealersdiverted the flow to other African-American communities in California,such as East Palo Alto, SanFrancisco, Oakland and Richmond.The consequences to these communi-

ties, in terms of loss of life, family structure and economic power,continue to this day."

The lawsuit categorised two classes of plaintiffs: (a) inner cityresidents of northern and southern California (Alameda, ContraCosta, San Francisco, San Mateo counties), "largely African-American, who experienced particular economic, physical and/oremotional injuries arising from the neighborhoods hardest hit bythe crack cocaine epidemic, such as addictions to crack, death orabsence of loved ones due to drug-related crimes, reduction of

income and increase in the number of dependents",and (b) "residents of the metropolitan areas of thecounties listed above who experienced injuries suf-fered by the community as a whole, such as lack ofsafety, overburdened social services, loss of localbusinesses and damage to the tax base".

CIA/DoJ Liable for Crack EpidemicAccording to the lawsuit's Theory of Causation,

"the signatories of the CIA/DoJ secret agreement—Attorney General William French Smith and CIADirector William Casey—and their successors,agencies and agents are legally liable for thepipeline of crack cocaine which inundatedCalifornia urban centers from 1982 to 1986, and forthe after-effects which continue to the present day".

"Smith, Casey, their successors and their agentsknew or should have known that failing to reportdrug crimes would interfere with law enforcementagencies' efforts to halt the importations ofcocaine," the lawsuit continues, "and that this wouldultimately result in a 'crack epidemic' involvingaddiction, death, increased crime, higher taxes,exhaustion of social services and destruction ofbusinesses. The outcome followed the well-knownpattern of opium in China and heroin in the UnitedStates which similarly devastated low-income urbancommunities."

"The CIA turned its back whileshipment after shipment of thisnew, intensely addictive form ofcocaine [crack] was delivered...

and then put up for salethroughout south-central

Los Angeles and Compton."


"The proof of the harm which ensued is based on official statis-tical evidence from city and county budgets, public health depart-ments, hospitals, police departments, courts and jails. In addition,individual plaintiffs and witnesses will testify concerning theinjuries they sustained due to the crack epidemic."

This class action suit against the CIA demands a jury trial andno specific dollar amount for damages, but certainly "money torebuild the community and to fund drug treatment".

"To a large degree, we tried to take it [the lawsuit] verbatimfrom government docs," said one of the lead attorneys, BillSimpich of Oakland, California, in a recent telephone interview.

"We're trying to use this case as a floor," he continued, "so wecan start with this very stark premise: the CIA had a writtenagreement with the DoJ, starting in 1982, that they did not have toreport drug trafficking. The critical issue here is the admissionthat they had a written policy not to report,and then 'let the chips fall where they may'.They can offer any explanation theywant—and none of them are good."

V. UNITED STATES MILITARY/CIADRUG TRAFFICKING: Green Berets, Drug-Running Gofers

According to the Tyree lawsuit [see Part1], Colonel Carone told Tyree: "I'veworked with Green Berets (Special Forces)all over the world... Most of the guystrained Contras, in violation of the BolandAmendment, at Special Forces 'A Camps'built on the border of Nicaragua andHonduras during the big buildup in theearly 1980s. Hell, I saw the camps myself.A lot of the Green Berets from 7thSFG (A) were involved in thecocaine shipments that were broughtinto the 'A Camps' from Panama.These 'A Camps' were isolated. Theywere cut right out of the jungle inmany cases, with good runways.

"A lot of the Green Berets inThailand, for example, helped withthe drug flow," Carone continued."These Green Berets knew that thedeal was simple. Without drug prof-its, there were no Contras to train, asthere was no equipment to train themwith, as Congress cut off the funding.

"Without real-world situations,every one of those Green Beretsknew that they would be sittingsomewhere, going through some boring routine with training.Many of them were either involved with drug shipments out ofLatin America into the United States or simply looked the otherway. And you know, the Green Berets out in the middle ofnowhere won't tell on each other, as they have to depend on theirteam mates to survive."

George Bush, CIA and the JFK HitIn another revelation which informs recent American history,

CIA operative Al Carone said that "George Bush was CIA prior tothe assassination of John Kennedy in 1963" and that "theGovernor of Arkansas that looked the other way at Mena [CIA'scocaine trans-shipping station], Bill Clinton, was CIA back in the

late '60s". CIA agent Cord Meyer has often been named as BillClinton's handler, while the late Pamela Harriman has been citedas the "power behind the throne".

Carone also told Tyree that he "had taken money to a femalenamed Ruth Paine in late 1956 on orders from William Casey [anOSS–CIA operative who was CIA Director from 1981 to 1987]".

According to the Tyree lawsuit, "Carone said that Paine wasapproached by the CIA to find and recruit an individual that wasexpendable, with communist ties and some type of anti-Americanbackground...

"Carone said that when Ruth Paine found the individual, shenotified her CIA contact, identified as George de Mohrenschildt,who in turn contacted his CIA supervisor, identified as GeorgeBush. Carone said that George Bush was the same George Bushthat was CIA Director. Carone said the individual located by

Ruth Paine was identified as a Mr LeeHarvey Oswald.

"FBI records/reports within 14 daysafter the assassination of PresidentKennedy will reflect that Mr George Bushmet with J. Edgar Hoover, as Bush wastrying to ascertain what the FBI mighthave stumbled onto by mistake in regardsto the Ruth Paine–Oswald connection."

CIA's Global Money Laundry:Stephens, Riady & BCCI

In his sworn testimony, Al Carone toldBill Tyree that he "was a paymaster forboth US military intelligence personneland CIA personnel when Tyree knew andworked with him".

"He [Carone] also worked as arepresentative of the Bank of Creditand Commerce International(BCCI) which he stated was a bankfounded by the US intelligencecommunity in part to finance covert(black) operations worldwide with-out the approval of the USCongress. He was authorised towithdraw funds from FirstAmerican Bankshares (aka BCCI)account #2843900, which he statedwas a black operation fundunknown to the US Congress at thetime."

Moreover, Carone said that hewas "the middleman between cer-tain CIA factions and certain Mafia

families that operated illegal enterprises in New York City"."Carone told the Plaintiff [Tyree] that the CIA used BCCI,

BNL, BCP and Intermaritime Bank to launder money for blackoperations worldwide and for the Mafia in New York City."

According to Tyree's lawsuit: "Colonel Carone said the mili-tary drug trafficking Operation Watchtower fitted in the picture inthe following fashion. Between 1971–72, BCCI was conceivedand born primarily as a bank for the US intelligence communityto go around Congress in funding so-called 'black operations'...

"In December 1975, February-March 1976, OperationWatchtower took place that brought over 100 military-style cargoplane loads of cocaine out of Colombia into Albrook Air Stationin Panama.

CIA operative Al Carone saidthat "George Bush was CIAprior to the assassination of

John Kennedy in 1963" and that "the Governor ofArkansas that looked the other way at Mena, Bill

Clinton, was CIA back in the late '60s".

CIA agent Cord Meyer hasoften been named as Bill

Clinton's handler, while thelate Pamela Harriman hasbeen cited as the "power

behind the throne".


"In 1976, Arkansas businessman Jackson Stephens andIndonesian businessman Mochtar Riady formed StephensFinancial Ltd in Hong Kong, which led to a meeting of Stephensand Riady with members of the BCCI.

"In 1977, Jackson Stephens invited BCCI into America andhelped BCCI bring about the purchase of First AmericanBankshares, operated by Clark Clifford and Robert Altman."

How do these facts connect? Jack Stephens has been a finan-cial backer of both the George Bush campaign and the BillClinton campaign for US President. The long and winding roadof corruption also led Stephens to purchase Alltel, whose sub-sidiary, Systematics, used a version of the oft-purloined PROMISsoftware.

According to Tyree's lawsuit: "Jackson Stephens and MochtarRiady were in business together and paid off politicians fromArkansas to look the other way and ignore the CIA cocaine opera-tion at Mena, Arkansas. The Lippo Group,i.e., Mochtar Riady, had been involved withBill Clinton since Clinton was Governor inArkansas.

"'Stephens, Riady and the CIA are in bedtogether,' said Carone. 'They own a lot ofpeople. They have a lot of money. They getthings done. I answer to Stephens indirectly.I answer to his money is who I answer to,and so does everyone else at the CIA thatwants to get things done where Stephens hasinfluence.'"

Just as Special Prosecutor LawrenceWalsh effectively covered up the "highcrimes and misdemeanours" of GeorgeBush in the so-called "Iran-ContraReport", so did Kenneth Starr continuethe cover-up of CIA drug traffickingwith the Clinton/Lewinsky sexcapadesand the Clinton impeachment.

FBI Agent Richard Taus FramedWhen Long Island, New York–based

FBI Special Agent Richard M. Taus, adecorated Vietnam veteran, got tooclose to CIA drug running, he wasframed. Imprisoned at the ironicallynamed Clinton Correctional Facility inDannemora, New York, Taus is cur-rently seeking an attorney to appeal his sentence.

How does it all tie in? Carone told Tyree that "you need to findout and uncover the business that involved Ollie North andGeorge Bush, called 'The Enterprise', as everything went throughthere".

According to Tyree's lawsuit: "Vincent Foster, a good friend ofGovernor Bill Clinton, often shuttled vast sums of money aroundthe world that related completely to 'The Enterprise' formed byOllie North and George Bush."

The Enterprise was also called "K-Team". Taus says that sincehis trial he has tried to "obtain records and files from the FBI"concerning himself, especially about his investigation into K-Team's involvement in the Iran-Contra arms initiative.

"Finally in 1995, the Bureau acknowledged possessing 2,400pages that mentioned the Irangate affair and my name," Taus says,"but I have never received them or any records on me—recordsthat were used by the prosecution in my case, against me, yetnever shared with the defense."

According to Taus: "It was my initial investigation into theorganized crime case which evolved into the Pizza Connectioncase that identified CIA involvement. And CIA's ugly headreared itself in many other FBI probes.

"I was convicted in January 1991, after a most unfair and outra-geous county trial," writes Taus. "A CPL 330 motion was filed,based upon a juror's undisclosed blood relationship to the DistrictAttorney in Nassau, New York, and interview of jurors during thetrial by investigating police officers as well as improper instruc-tions to the jury by court officers, etc. The trial record showsjudicial prejudice, prosecutorial misconduct, fraud, duress, mis-representation, Rosario and Brady violations as well as numerousviolations of my constitutional rights.

"I am seeking an aggressive and dynamic appellate attorney tohandle my direct appeal in the 2nd Appellate Division, Brooklyn,New York," writes Taus, adding: "...both my military and FBI

records are impeccable. Given my formerlaw enforcement background, I have donethe legal research. There are only limitedfunds available for the appeal." (Write to:Richard Taus, 91A1040, LH, Clinton C.F.,POB 2001, Dannemora, NY 12929, USA.)

CIA Coke: The Real ThingThe Big Media Cartel continues the cover-

up of the CIA's criminal activities, despitedocumented and cross-corroborated evidencedetailed in books by whistleblowers RodneyStich (Defrauding America), Michael Levine(The Great White Lie), Gary Webb (D a r k

A l l i a n c e), Celerino Castillo(Powderburns) and others.

In a book called C o m p r o m i s e d :Clinton, Bush and the CIA (SPI Books,1994), authors Terry Reed (a formerCIA operative) and John Cummingscorroborate the Carone story in Tyree'slawsuit—a dirty and tangled web ofdrug- and gun-smuggling and moneylaundering in Arkansas during the late1980s.

"The meeting had been called at FortRobinson, an army facility outsideLittle Rock, to get some problemsironed out," write Reed and Cummings

(p. 234). "In addition to the governor [Bill Clinton] and his aide,the guest list included Max Gomez [Felix Rodriguez], JohnCathey [Oliver North], resident CIA agent Akihide Sawahata,Agency subcontractor Terry Reed, and the man in charge, the onewho would call the shots. He called himself Robert Johnson [hewas CIA agent William Barr, later appointed US AttorneyGeneral by George Bush]. A lot of loose ends were to be tiedup...

"'Our deal was for you to have 10% of the profits, not 10% ofthe gross,' Johnson sternly admonished Clinton. 'This has turnedinto a feeding frenzy for your good ole boy sharks. We knowwhat's been going on. Our people are professionals. They're notstupid. They didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, as you guyssay. This ADFA [Arkansas Development Finance Authority] ofyours is double-dipping. Our deal with you was to launder ourmoney. You get 10% after costs and after post-tax profits. Noone agreed for you to start loaning our money out to your friendsthrough your ADFA so that they could buy machinery to build

When Long Island, NewYork–based FBI Special AgentRichard M. Taus, a decorated

Vietnam veteran, got tooclose to CIA drug running,

he was framed.

Imprisoned at the ironicallynamed Clinton CorrectionalFacility in Dannemora, New

York, Taus is currently seeking an attorney to appeal his sentence.

our guns. That wasn't the deal... That's why we're pulling theoperation out of Arkansas. It's become a liability for us. We don'tneed "live" liabilities.'"

The long list of Clinton/Bush-related casualties is proof that"live" liabilities are definitely not on the CIA balance sheet.

Army Colonel Al Carone himself died on January 7, 1990, inAlbuquerque, New Mexico. His medical records state chemicaltoxicity of unknown etiology.

Was it CIA cancer? Or is it...CIA, the cancer?

VI. DEAD SPOOKS DON'T LIE: Former DCI William Casey's Affidavit

In the ongoing cover-up of the Bill Tyree frame, Ray Kohlman,Tyree's attorney, received a document titled "Declaration ofWilliam Casey". In Kohlman's own affidavit, dated August 27,1999, he states that "most the the contents of this affidavit can beproven" and that he "will testify to the contents of this affidavit incourt".

Kohlman then filed the document in US District Court for theDistrict of Columbia on November8, 1999, as Civil Action No.99cv2709, William M Tyree,Plaintiff v. Department of the USArmy, Defendant. Judge ColleenKollar-Kotelly entered a SealingOrder for the Casey document,marked "Top Secret". In a letter tothis author, Tyree pointedly asks,"Why seal it—if it isn't authentic?"

Please note the heavy irony andthe specious reasoning of this deadmember of the so-called GreatestGeneration, whose defence of hisown criminality contains powerfulinsights into the aberrantpsychology of the Ruling Class.The "end justifies the means" philosophy of the late, former CIADirector William Casey also belies his Jesuitical training andprogramming.

The following affidavit—Casey's rationalisation of his heinousbehaviour and his cocaine trafficking, which he frames as a noblebattle against the enemies of Western Civilisation—should berequired reading for every student of 20th century history, andevery student of psychopathology. Casey's apologia pro vita suais the classic defence of a world-class criminal.

Declaration:

I, William J. Casey, declare: I have found that freedom is apriceless commodity that demands constant vigilance toguaranteed [sic] its longevity.

I was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) inLondon, England, during World War II. During that time Ibefriended a young German soldier named Gunther[Russbacher, who later became one of the key covert opera -tives of the CIA-US secret criminal government]. I usedGunther and several other anti-Nazi German prisoners ofwar in OSS operations within Nazi Germany.

I knew this violated Geneva (War) Convention. I did notcare. The Geneva Convention was but a set of rules govern -ing man's atrocities committed in the name of political ideol -ogy. To wage war with rules is to prolong human suffering.Open warfare is the last resort of a civilized nation and mustbe used sparingly. Wars must be fought savagely utilizing all

tools and tricks at hand. Gunther was a tool. Ignoring theGeneva Convention was the trick.

After I became Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) onJanuary 28, 1981, I was approached and briefed by WilliamColby, former DCI. My history with Bill Colby is known.Colby notified me off the record of two operations he wasstill running in Latin America. Both operations were withoutthe knowledge and consent of the United States Congress,President Ronald Reagan or even the United States intelli -gence apparatus. Colby identified the operations as "A-6"(RED MIST) and "A-7" (PROJECT SANDMAN). A-7entailed smaller operations.

Retired US Army Colonel William Wilson, a former MilitaryIntelligence (MI) officer who worked with the Office of the USArmy Inspector General (IG)—and who, like the late US Armycriminal investigator William McCoy, also died under mysteriouscircumstances (in November 1996)—completed an exhaustiveinvestigation of the Bill Tyree case, verifying the facts in the

Cutolo document. According to Wilson's affidavit,

he writes that "...in the affidavit ofJune 6, 1996, at paragraph fifty five,I stated Mr Tyree had been decorat-ed in relation to the classified opera-tions he participated in. Followingthe participation of Mr Tyree in theWATCHTOWER operation, he wascalled upon to serve his country in avariety of classified operations inLatin America, Africa and Pakistan.Our investigation found that thesesubsequent operations came underthe general project referred to asSANDMAN. SANDMAN was aproject of the United States Central

Intelligence Agency (CIA). SANDMAN also involved soldiers ofthe United States military. The information about SANDMAN islimited. SANDMAN exclusively dealt with the so-called 'wetoperations' (i.e., assassinations) and Mr Tyree was involved inseveral assassinations that were verified by Special Forces sol-diers we interviewed. This resulted in Mr Tyree receiving a vari-ety of decorations which the US Army refuses to admit were everawarded to Mr Tyree."

Wilson also stated: "...ironically, during conversations I hadwith Mr Colby, I learned that he had personally requested andattained a waiver be given to soldiers involved in WATCH-TOWER and SANDMAN. One of those soldiers was Mr Tyree.The waiver allowed Mr Tyree to receive the decorations andCombat Infantry Badge (CIB) that Mr Tyree was recommendedfor. The same decorations and CIB that had to be sterilized fromthe records of Mr Tyree. From my involvement in the CIAProgram MK-ULTRA (Manufacturing Killers Utilizing LethalTradecraft Requiring Assassination), I was aware that waiverscould be given in regards to meritorious action during the courseof intelligence-related operations." (Page 4 of Wilson affidavit)

The Casey affidavit continues: I was told that A-6 identified individuals and the build-up ofthe communist threat in Latin America. Some intelligencecollected in A-6 was used in TASK FORCE-157.

I was told that A-7 was "the Phoenix Program" of LatinAmerica. It involved the assassination of the communistinfrastructure throughout Latin America.


The following affidavit—the late,former CIA Director William Casey's

rationalisation of his heinousbehaviour and his cocaine

trafficking—should be requiredreading for every student of

20th century history...

I was told that Colby authorized assets's [sic] involved inA-6 and A-7 to engage in narcotic's [sic] trafficking tofinance both operation's [sic]. Colby engaged in similaroperations's [sic] that I know of in Vietnam for the same rea -son.

Colby candidly informed me that he had prepositionedmore than one million pounds of cocaine in Panama betweenDecember 1, 1975 and April 1, 1976. This was done with theaid of our gallant ally, General Manuel Noriega. Thecocaine was transported into El Salvador, Costa Rica andHonduras between 1976 and 1981. Colby now sat in front ofme with hat in hand and requested my help in the delivery ofthe cocaine to the american [sic] market.

I was told that Colby was using a mutual friend of ours,Colonel Albert Vincent Carone, United States Army, MilitaryIntelligence, to field A-6 and A-7. Al Carone is a charismaticpatriot that General Joseph W. Stilwell introduced us to inlate 1945. Beside the usual qualifica -tions, Al Carone brought to the anti-communist effort a direct connection tohis longtime friend, Vito Genovese.Genovese was the head of the gamblingand narcotics for the controlling mafiafamily in New York to [sic] which AlCarone was made a member. Carone isa friend of international fugitive RobertVesco. Carone has several anti-commu -nist intelligence sources that includeMaurita Lorenz, a friend of FidelCastro. Al Carone is the younger broth -er of Dr Pasquale Carone. Dr Caroneworked for Central Intelligence onother matters.

Colby told me that profits fromthe prepositioned cocaine wouldbe laundered through Al Carone,the New York mafia and RobertVesco, then redirected to the anti-communist effort through Colby.

After discussion with Al Carone,I made the decision to bring theprepositioned cocaine into Menaairport, Mena, Arkansas. CentralIntelligence has used MenaAirport on prior occasions. Thistime the cocaine is the tool. The trick was to ignore the lawand avoid public scrutiny. We were helped in our efforts byWilliam J. Clinton and William F. Weld.

By 1984 all prepositioned cocaine had arrived at Menaairport and additional cocaine sources were secured.Cocaine was being transshipped through Hangar[s] Fourand Five at Ilopango Airbase, El Salvador. My point man atMena was Adler Berriman Seal (Berry [sic] Seal).

Bill Clinton has proved invaluable so far by containing thelocal law enforcement investigations into the intelligenceactivity at Mena. Bill Weld, as Assistant United StatesAttorney, was placed in charge of the Criminal Division ofthe Department of Justice. This was done so that Bill Weldcould control investigations into Mena by federal lawenforcement agencies. The placement of Weld has provedinvaluable.

I ordered John Poindexter, Robert McFarlane and OliverNorth to go outside normal channel's [sic] and use available

assets, including the mafia, to ensure the arrival of thecocaine into Mena Airport. The arrival's [sic] occurred inno small part through the effort's [sic] [of] personnelassigned to the National Security Agency (NSA) and ArmySecurity Agency (ASA). The men and women of the NSA andASA blinded early warning defense satellites and radar gridto enable the aircraft to land undetected at Mena Airport.The NSA and ASA operation's [sic] were SEA SPRAY andJADE BRIDGE.

I have learned that the course of the democratic strugglefor Nicaragua and Latin America is beginning to swing inour direction. I attribute this success to A-6 and A-7 whichBill Colby had the insight, precision and spine to carry out.

I take notice of the heroic efforts of Al Carone, BillClinton, Bill Weld, John Poindexter, Bud McFarlane andOllie North. Without these men, A-6 and A-7 would not haveappeared.

Freedom is a priceless commodity.The amount of freedom you enjoy is aresult of the amount of vigilance youinvest.

My actions may be recorded as crimi -nal, condemning countless american's[sic] to drug dependency. I don't care.All wars produce casualties. Generallythe more violent the war, the shorter thelength. My choice was either to staredown a protracted cold war guerillainsurgency in Latin America or use themeans' [sic] available to finance andwage a violent war of short duration for

democracy. I stand by my deci -sions. The tool is cocaine. Thetrick is to understand that the druguser had the freedom to make achoice. They chose the drug. Ichose to use their habit to financethe democracy that all american's[sic] enjoy. To keep those ameri -can's [sic] safe from the commu -nist threat knocking on our backdoor in Latin America. For achange the drug user will con -tribute to society.

I declare under penalty of per -jury that the above facts are true and correct to the best ofmy knowledge and belief.

Executed this 9th day of December 1986 in McLean,Virginia, [signed] William J. Casey

In the meantime, former Green Beret Bill Tyree is doing timefor the dead spook's crime.

(Letters to Tyree, one of America's many political prisoners,can be sent to: William M. Tyree, PO Box-100, S. Walpole, MA02071, USA.) ∞

About the Author:Uri Dowbenko is CEO of New Improved Entertainment Corp.Most recently he has completed a joint venture with publish-er-editor-author Kenn Thomas, launching an online version ofthe respected US-based alternative publication S t e a m s h o v e lPress (www.steamshovelpress.com). Uri can be reached bye-mail at [email protected].


"I ordered John Poindexter,Robert McFarlane and OliverNorth to go outside normalchannel's [sic] and use availableassets, including the mafia, toensure the arrival of the cocaineinto Mena Airport...

The men and women of the NSAand ASA blinded early warningdefense satellites and radar gridto enable the aircraft to landundetected at Mena Airport."

— William J. CaseyVirginia, 9 December 1986




THE EV GRAY ELECTRIC MOTORTHE ENGINE THAT RUNS ITSELF

Editor's note: The following articleabout inventor Edwin V. Gray andhis EMA Motor was originally pub -

lished in June 1977 by Newsreal Series,and posted at the KeelyNet BBS inOctober 1991. Gray died in April 1993, incircumstances that are still unresolved.

A February 2000 update at the KeelyNetwebsite announces the rediscovery of the"EV Gray Electric Motor", and discussessome of the controversy surrounding theinventor's death. Here we publish theblock diagram and a photograph ofGray's EMA-4 Motor. These and otherfiles on Edwin Gray and his discoveriescan be found at the KeelyNet website,www.keelynet.com.

Though harassed by the authorities andunder-financed and ignored by science,

business and industry, Edwin V. Gray, aself-educated Los Angeles inventor, hasdeveloped a revolutionary electromagneticmotor that promises to greatly improveconditions for the world.

A vast new technology is openingbecause Gray invented a motor that deliv-ers super-efficient horsepower at lower costwith less wear and tear than any otherdevice known. His EMA Motor takes agiant step closer to the magnificent,whirring power plants visualised by sci-ence-fiction writers. [EMA is an acronymfor "electromagnetic association". Ed.]

Implications for the auto industry aloneare staggering: Gray appears to have theanswer to Detroit's dilemma involvingpractical electric vehicles.

Ed Gray's name may well go down inhistory alongside the likes of Edison,Marconi, Goddard and Bell—that is, if theestablishment will get off his back.

A social quality known as "resistance tochange" and another called the "economicstatus quo" have made his motor a tale ofbitter frustration. Most people would havequit in despair long ago.

However, tireless experimentation andremarkable determination have paid off in

a technological triumph that brings theheretofore untapped source of static elec-tricity into the workhouse of man. Anyexpert can tell you "static electricity willnot do work". Gray is slowly and doggedlyproving the experts wrong.

His battle is not over, but perhaps thetide is finally turning in his favour. Hiscorporation, EV Gray Enterprises, is seek-ing the necessary financing to develop themotor further. His efforts were thwartedby serious legal problems which recentlywere resolved when he agreed to enter aguilty plea to a minor Securities andExchange violation. Thus, nearly twoyears of legal entanglements came to aclose. The legal costs alone have been nearruinous. He's won some important battles,but he could yet lose the war.

Gray's start in life wasn't promising. Hewas one of six children of a poorWashington, DC, family and grew up in thestreets. Few suspected he had the stuff ofgenius. Like many kids, he was fascinatedby engines and motors, but his thinkingabout them went far beyond normal curios-ity; he wanted to know more than just whatmade them run.

Gray dropped out of school at fourteenand began tinkering with ideas. He was solacking in formal education that he did notrealise for some time that his thinking wasboth original and far advanced.

Three thingsabout electricityfascinated him:

1) A capacitorcan store an elec-tric charge andrelease it ondemand;

2) Pulses ofelectricity can besent out andbrought back;

3) Lightningbolts seem to bemore powerfulwhen closer tothe earth wherethe atmosphere isheaviest.

These were facts known to every physi-cist, but to most such scientists they wereunrelated facts. Ed Gray's genius was incorrelating this knowledge into new tech-nology.

"I remember getting a shock when Igrabbed a charged capacitor off a workbench," he recalled. "That simple factnever left my mind. Then I watched whenthe government people were testing thefirst radar across the Potomac River. Itstuck in my mind when one of the menexplained it as 'pulse out, pulse back'.

"And I've always been a nut about thun-derstorms. I watched lightning by thehours. I noticed how much stronger itappeared to be when closer to the earth andjust naturally concluded that more air hadsomething to do with it."

These three principles, plus a super-secret means of generating and mixing stat-ic electricity, make up Gray's EMA Motor.

Gray grew to adulthood, married,divorced, and married again. For 22 years,the idea of a special new kind of motorturned over and over in his mind.Meanwhile, he had moved to southernCalifornia where he maintained a workshopand sought the advice of knowledgeablepeople. Bit by bit, his ideas began to takeshape.

By 1973, Gray was ready to demonstratehis motor to the world. Wisely, he had

S C I E N C E


incorporated himself to prevent the EMAmotor from being gobbled up by someindustry giant who might want to suppressit.

As early as 1957, Gray was pounding thepavement, seeking financial backers. Overthe years he picked up 788 stockholders, allfriends or friends of friends. This fact wasto stand Gray in good stead later when theLos Angeles County District Attorney hithim with questionable charges of fraud.

From 1957 to 1972, Gray raised aboutUS$2 million to make the EMA Motor areality. That same year he incorporatedand built the first working model.

Still, more money was a big need. Heapproached top electronics and automotivefirms such as General Dynamics, RockwellInternational, Ford, General Motors and the

like. Usually he was turned away. "When they did listen to me and got a lit-

tle interested, it turned out they wanted 90per cent. Then it was I who did the turningaway," he said.

However, Gray had interested some topexperts who offered the benefit of theirknowledge to his fledgling firm. Theyincluded Richard B. Hackenberger, an elec-tronics engineer who had served Sony andSylvania [Commercial Electronics], as wellas Fritz Lens, a master machinist whounderstood what Gray was trying toaccomplish. In the spring of 1973, Grayand his associates unveiled the EMA Motorto the world.

In the workshop, a six-volt car batteryrested on a table. Lead wires ran from thebattery to a series of capacitors—the key to

Gray's discovery. The complete systemwas wired to two electromagnets, eachweighing a pound and a quarter.

As the test started, Gray said: "Now, ifyou tried to charge those two magnets withjuice from the battery and make them dowhat I'm going to make them do, youwould drain the battery in 30 minutes andthe magnets would get extremely hot."

Fritz Lens activated the battery. A volt-meter indicated 3,000 volts. Ed Gray threwa switch and there was a loud, poppingnoise. The top magnet flew off with pow-erful force, and Richard Hackenbergercaught it in his bare hand.

This first demonstration proved thatGray was using a totally different form ofelectrical current—a powerful but "cold"form of energy. The fact thatHackenberger caught the magnet and wasnot burned was evidence enough of that.

It was a moment in history, perhaps asimportant as the day in 1877 when ThomasA. Edison threw a switch which lit up aglass bulb that continued to glow all dayand part of the next.

Ed Gray's demonstration was witnessedby two unbiased experts and the author ofthis article (who later printed the story ofwhat he had seen in a national publication).

"The amazing thing is that only a smallper cent of the energy was used. Most of itwent back into the battery," Hackenbergersaid.

Actually, two "improbables" had beendemonstrated that day. The second wascharacterised by the lack of heat generatedin the magnet, excessive heat being one ofthe big drawbacks in utilising electronicsadvancements. The successful test seemedto be Ed Gray's big break. In reality, hisreal troubles were just beginning.

The publicity about the test brought Grayto the attention of a firm in Denver whichagreed to back him with several million innew capital over a period of a few years.At the time, Gray planned to test-marketthe EMA Motor in a radically new autobody called "Fascination", developed byPaul Lewis of Sidney, Nebraska.

The first prototypes were due on 1January 1974. But by then, mysteriousthings had started to happen—misfortunesGray suspects were created by personsworking to undermine his motor's develop-ment. The Fascination trial was dropped.

In July 1974, raiders from the LosAngeles County District Attorney's officedescended on Gray's plant in Van Nuys.They confiscated plans, records and the

N E W S C I E N C E N E W S C I E N C E N E W S C I E N C E


N E W S C I E N C E N E W S C I E N C E N E W S C I E N C Elatest working prototype of the motor.

Investigators for the DA threatened tofile a variety of charges against Gray, rang-ing from fraud to grand theft. Yet monthspassed and no charges were brought. Theinvestigators defied all attempts by theinventor's lawyers to get the confiscatedmaterials returned.

Meanwhile, the DA's men sought outGray's investors and tried to convince themto prefer charges against him. All refused.

Finally, eight months after the raid, theDA's office brought a series of chargesagainst Gray, including grand theft, byclaiming he had raised money frominvestors by means of a hoax. But all theserious charges were dropped when it wasproved they were unfounded.

Remaining were two counts of violatingSEC regulations. In late March 1976, Graypleaded guilty to these misdemeanours,paid a fine and was freed.

The long-drawn legal hassle had otherserious consequences. The major financ-ing promised by the Denver firm was cutoff after only a fraction of the money haddribbled in. Fortunately there was enoughto enable Gray to build a second prototypeengine.

Today Gray is very careful in the claimshe makes for his motor. Even to discussthat which has already been proved to thesatisfaction of sceptical scientists couldbring the law down on his head again.

"There has been a lot more to the sup-pression of my ideas than meets the eye,"he said. "It is a wonder we have survived."

But survived he has—and if some big,vested interest was indeed behind all hiswoes, it may be too late for such a force tostop an idea whose time may have come.

Powerful allies are now rallying to hiscause. For example, Gray was nominatedfor "Inventor of the Year" by the LosAngeles Patent Attorney's Association lastFebruary [1977].

Two highly respected scientists, DrNorm Chalfin and Dr Gene Wester ofCalifornia Institute of Technology havepublicly endorsed Gray's motor. DrChalfin was present when Gray demon-strated the latest working model in front ofa stockholders' meeting.

"There is no motor like this in theworld," Dr Chalfin told the group."Ordinary electric motors use continuouscurrent and constantly drain power. In thissystem, energy is used only during a smallfraction of a millisecond. Energy not usedis returned to an accessory battery for

reuse. It is cool running," Dr Chalfinadded, putting his hand on the motor."There is no loss of energy in the system."

Dr Chalfin has placed his own consider-able prestige on the line by writing the textfor Gray's patent applications, the unedu-cated inventor finding the technical writingtask beyond him.

At the same meeting, Dr Gerald Price,Gray's patent counsel, told the stockhold-ers: "For discovering and proving a newform of electric power, Mr Gray has beennominated for the annual award presentedby the patent lawyers of southernCalifornia."

Looking forward to prospects of abrighter future, Gray says he wants to getthe EMA Motor into production and provehe has discovered more than even hisbackers understand.

Gray is advised by his lawyers to makeno claims. However, this reporter, who hasfollowed Gray's work closely for fouryears, has seen and heard enough to feelsafe in saying that the inventor may beunlocking the key to a natural phenomenonreferred to as "ball lightning".

With the combined use of capacitor dis-charge and spikes of energy made up ofmixed static and direct current, Gray con-ceivably could get more out of a batterythan a battery has stored in it, simplybecause he is also tapping the huge reser-voir of static electricity in the atmosphereas his motor runs.

S c i e n t i s t sbaulk at thistheory, butsome day EdGray may backthem downanother notch.He has alreadybeen provenright about thecapacitor dis-charge motoridea. Withthat, his motoralready is rev-olutionary: itruns cool.That in itselfcould solvemyriad heat-r e s i s t a n c eproblems fori n d u s t r y .C o o l - r u n n i n gparts do not

experience the intense friction, and so donot wear out as quickly as overheated partsdo.

If Ed Gray's motor makes its final break-through and goes into general production,it may make the one-time dropout into agiant in history. It also could be a massiveboon to mankind in the following ways:

• It conceivably could power every auto-mobile, airplane, truck, train and ship with-out using a drop of gasoline, kerosene ordiesel fuel.

• It could cool or heat every Americanhome at a fraction of the present-day cost.

• It could power the engines of all heavyindustry—likewise, cheaply.

And it could accomplish all this withoutspitting a single speck of pollution into theEarth's atmosphere.

One question remains: How did EdwinGray, an unschooled tinkerer, bring togeth-er certain facts of technology and natureinto a device beyond the capabilities ofbrilliant, richly subsidised scientists?

"Someone trained in electronics simplywould have looked at the concept and saidit cannot work," Dr Chalfin said. "Graydid not know this, and he made it work.As a result, he has provided the world witha totally new and exciting technology." ∞(Source: KeelyNet website; E.V. G r a ypostings at www.keelynet.com/evgray/.Note that one posting refers to the EMAMotor as the EMS, which is possibly amisprint.)



One Monday morning recently, Tony Cuthbert woke up in his remote Welshcottage and went to his battered Pentium 2 laptop in the corner of the bedroom.Typing slowly, key by key, he tapped out: "Hear is an inventoin for a newchuck deavice, using an aloy with a low liuqifactoin temperature [sic]."

Inventors normally guard their ideas jealously, and try to patent them before talkingabout them, but Tony doesn't care who knows about Monday's little inspiration. "Havingnew ideas isn't a problem for me. I come up with at least one moderately interestinginvention every day and a really good one about once a week." He says it completelywithout arrogance and with a touch of surprise, as if talking about someone else. "It maybe something to do with my dyslexia, but I seem to think differently from other people."

At the age of 54, Tony can't remember how many bright, technological ideas he hashad, but he reckons they must run into "many thousands"—most of which he says he hasforgotten.

Michael Laughton, Professor of Electrical Engineering at London University, who hasspent the last decade informally scouring Britain for out-of-the-way inventors, saysCuthbert is unique. "Tony is the most prolific and gifted inventor I have come across.Given the right kind of backing, he could easily surpass Edison's record of a thousandpatents."

The rewards of technological creativity are notoriously fickle and often illogical: theinventor of a complex vacuum cleaner has earned a few million, but a simple cardboardmilk carton has made someone else a billionaire. If there were any justice in the world ofinvention, Tony Cuthbert would now be a multi-millionaire, too—for his new clutchlessgearbox and brake system alone. But then there's also the Cuthbert turbine, the Cuthbertmagnetic separator, the Cuthbert Rain Enhancer, Cuthbert sub-sea ice technology—and acouple of free-energy devices as well. And yet he has only his disability pension onwhich to live.

"One of Tony's problems is that some of his inventions are so revolutionary that theycan threaten existing technologies," says Professor Laughton. "That makes it difficult forhim to convince the various industries he has tried to interest." James Dyson had precise-ly this problem with his vacuum cleaners, and finally ended up having to manufacture themachines himself. But Cuthbert is not in the entrepreneur mould. "I know it's my fault,"he admits disarmingly. "Dyson succeeded because he has a one-track mind and was ableto focus his energies on one invention, but I have so many different ideas at once that sofar I haven't concentrated on any one of them long enough."

At school, Cuthbert had been the classic classroom dunce. Profoundly dyslexic beforethe word had been coined, he was bottom of the class in everything except science."More suitable for manual labour than mental work" said his final report when he left hisLiverpool school at the age of fifteen. He began work as a garage hand, then joined themerchant navy as an engine boy. He was then eighteen. Within two years, he had risen tothe rank of Chief Electrician—one of the youngest in the whole merchant fleet. "I had noformal training at all, but I seemed to instinctively understand how things worked.Whenever there were any electrical problems on board, I somehow just knew how to fixthem. That's how I got the job so young," he says.

He stayed with the merchant navy for 20 years, ending up overseeing the electricalinstallations on new merchant ships built in Poland and Finland. Severe arthritis forcedhim into early retirement at the age of thirty-seven. But, despite illness, he found his mindbubbling with ideas, so he set up his own consultancy. Word of mouth in the mid-Wales

Could TonyCuthbert, a gifted

and prolificinventor with

serious dyslexia,be the new Edison

of the 21stcentury?

by Tony Edwards © 2000


Tony CuthbertE-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.cuthbert-physics.com


countryside quickly made him famous as a local Mr Fixit. "If afirm had a technical problem, I found I could normally offer themtwo or three solutions within a couple of days", he says.

Eventually, word about Cuthbert reached as far as Aberdeen,Scotland, where the mighty Shell Oil picked his brains on how todeal with their Brent Spar oil platform problem. After environ-mentalists had forced the company to abandon their initial propos-al to sink the Spar in the North Sea, Shell had decided to float theplatform and bring it ashore for dismantling, and were looking forthe best way to do it. Cuthbert showed them how they couldfreeze the seawater around the rig to strengthen and seal the struc-ture, and then pump out the water to float it on its side, ready fortowing. Although Shell finally used a more conventional flotationtechnique, they had taken the ice idea seriously. "Cuthbert's ideascertainly had merit," recalls Eric Fowlds of Shell.

A HYBRID TURBINE/ENGINEOil platform problems one day, engines the next. Small-time

inventors are fond of engines—they have lots of little bits toimprove on—but eight years ago Cuthbert had more than tinker-ing refinements in mind. "I realised nobody had made a newengine for a hundred years, apart from Wankel; he was a brilliantinventor, but even his engine has prob-lems," says Cuthbert. "So I decided totry and re-design the perfect enginefrom scratch."

It took him six months to come upwith something that would satisfy him.Early in 1993, he sent the drawings tothe giant Perkins Diesel company whoinvited him to make a presentation totheir chief technical designers. It was abold, unique concept that was a hybridof a conventional engine and a turbine.The power generation system wasincorporated inside the turbine itself,with the rotation being provided by aclever waveform shape of the turbinediscs. Cuthbert explained how, accord-ing to his calculations, the hybrid engine should have "incrediblepower", enabling an ocean liner to be run by an engine the size ofa Mini car.

Perkins' designers were impressed, calling it a "novel and sim-ple concept which offers potential", and eagerly suggested "mov-ing the concept forward into a working model". Two monthslater, however, they suddenly went cold on the idea, cancelling allfurther meetings. Cuthbert rang to ask why. "Perkins apologisedprofusely," he recalls, "but said that their financiers had advisedthem to drop my turbine as it would be 'detrimental' to their busi-ness. I guess it was too much of a competitor to their existingrange of turbines."

The money men also appeared to be behind Cuthbert's nextfailed attempt to interest big business. He took the hybridturbine/engine idea to Cray Marine, the large British defencecontractor, who seemed to be as impressed as Perkins by theconcept and went so far as to calculate the engine's potentialoutput. They confirmed Cuthbert's own figures, showing itshould develop at least 10 times more power than existingturbines. Cray were keen to develop the concept into a workingprototype, but not without external finance. However, theycouldn't find a venture capital bank to back it. "Time was thedeciding factor; the one bank that showed interest wanted a quickcapital return," says Cuthbert, ruefully.

But time is now running out for Cuthbert himself. Desperate tofind a backer for his turbine, he has decided on a high-riskstrategy. In order to attract investment, he has published thetechnology on the Internet, but without the protection of a fullpatent; he has only been able to afford a limited patent for oneyear—and the patent has just a few months left to run.

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR FERROFLUIDSIn the meantime, Cuthbert's bedroom is knee-deep in drawings

for a new invention for the scrap metal industry. This time, theidea came to him "in a few days", after Shell had introduced himto Britain's leading scrap metal company, Mayer Parry Recycling.Impressed by his inventiveness, Mayer Parry then showed himround their huge metal reclamation plant, hoping to pick hisbrains.

"I was very impressed by the Mayer Parry operation, but Icould see several areas where I could suggest improvements,"says Cuthbert. "They asked me to come up with some ideas, and Igave them three suggestions, one of which was a metal separationtechnique based on ferrofluid—a magnetic liquid."

Back in his workshop, he happened to have a bottle of ferrofluidleft over from some long-forgotten experiment. First developed

for NASA in the 1960s, ferrofluids aretiny, magnetised metal particles in anoil suspension. They have now founduses in a variety of specialisedapplications, from loudspeakers torotary seals—but in relatively smallquantities. Cuthbert had half a jar ofthe stuff and immediately set to work,testing it with whatever bits of metalhe had to hand.

Mayer Parry bosses saw the result-ing demonstration—literally in one ofCuthbert's old teacups—and shortlyafterwards commissioned him to pre-sent a design for an industrial-sizedmetal separator. Within weeks he hadcome up with a system, and a small-

scale prototype was built. In November 1999, in conditions ofgreat secrecy, the ferrofluid separator was started up—and itworked.

"Cuthbert's metal separator is a very, very significant advance,"says Mike Glossop, who runs the UK division of Ferrofluidics,Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of ferrofluids. "Cuthbert isthe first person to have invented a workable metal reclamationsystem using liquid magnets. This is a real breakthrough."

Cheap, efficient, metal reclamation has obvious environmentalbenefits, particularly in Britain where landfill sites for waste arebecoming scarce. But Glossop also foresees the Cuthbert separa-tor revolutionising the mining industries, making it far cheaper toextract precious metals from crude ores.

Although Cuthbert is happy enough with the prototype separa-tor, he has since thought of an even better way of doing it. So heis now designing a top-secret Mark 2 version, based on an entirelydifferent principle. Mayer Parry has earmarked £500,000 for it.

But, with a mind like Tony Cuthbert's, playing about with anynew material is bound to set off a chain reaction ofinventiveness—and ferrofluids have done just that. "Magneticliquid is really weird stuff," he says excitedly, "so I knew therewas bound to be lots more to do with it." Sure enough, whilstburied in the details of his magnetic separators, he was able tocame up with a fistful of applications. Understandably, given his

...according to his calculations,the hybrid engine should have

"incredible power", enabling anocean liner to be run by an

engine the size of a Mini car.


naval background, his first ideas were for ships. Very soon, hehad a revolutionary marine propulsion concept using ferrofluids.Again, he can't afford to patent the idea, but is happy to explain itto anyone who will listen.

"Magnetise the hull of a ship. Take a few hundred litres offerrofluid and stick it to the hull. Being superparamagnetic, it willnaturally form itself into a thick film on the surface of the hull.The trick to turn it into a propulsion system is to put a magnet ona track just inside the hull and move the magnet from prow tostern." He does a rough sketch of a ship and draws a fin-likeshape on the hull opposite the magnet. "The magnetic field willcreate a bump on the side of the ship, and by altering the field Ican make a bump of any shape I want—like a fin or an oar. If Imove the magnet sternwards inside the hull, the bump will traveldown the ship and propel the ship forward. Obviously, in a realapplication you wouldn't move a magnet; you'd use a solid-statelinear motor. That would let you have multiple bumps along thehull and make it a continuous process—likethe fins on a fish, only much more efficient,with hundreds of them."

Never one to come up with an idea withouttesting it, Cuthbert built a small-scale proto-type, using a tin can, an electric motor, a pieceof string, a pulley and a child's magnet. He putthe contraption in his bath "and it went 'zzhipp'through the water". "That was a useful one-day project," he adds.

The following day he was down at thebutcher's, buying a cow's heart. He wanted totry out another off-the-wall application formagnetic liquid—in cardiac medicine."Existing artificial hearts are verycomplicated things with lots of movingparts which can get clogged up," he says,"so I wondered: how about usingferrofluids to power a real heart?" Hepicked up the inert lump of cow's heartand injected ferrofluid into the muscle.He placed a rotating magnet next to it andthe heart started pumping. He is clearlyproud of having invented something withthe potential to save lives. "Imagine, youcould have an artificial heart made of realheart tissue which would never clog up,"he says, "or you could inject a damagedheart and encourage the muscle toregenerate."

CUTHBERT'S GRAVITY ENGINEMike Glossop of Ferrofluidics has a soft spot for Cuthbert.

"Many people Tony meets think he's a bit like a mad professor. Imight use the same term myself, but I would use it as a term ofendearment rather than [in the sense] that he's some sort of loonytune. He's a combination of an old-fashioned type of experimen-tal physicist and an extraordinary lateral thinker. Ideas come outof him in torrents. It is possible many of them will be disproved.But I've got too much respect for him to dismiss any of them outof hand."

Glossop admits recently losing a small, friendly bet with Tonyover an idea that he felt couldn't possibly work. Cuthbert pro-posed used ferrofluids as a sort of vertical magnetic track. Paint awall with a strip of liquid magnetic paint, he said, and it could beused as a track to take firehoses up skyscrapers, or even as a fire

escape route. Glossop was sceptical and bet him it wouldn't work.But within two days, Cuthbert had the demonstration. He stuckmagnets onto the caterpillar tracks of a wind-up toy tractor, andpainted ferrofluid up a wall. The tractor climbed the wall withease. "It was the nicest £100 I ever parted with," says Glossop.

Last year, however, much more of his money went to financeanother Cuthbert idea, even though most conventional engineerswould rate it on the loony tunes scale as highly melodious.Cuthbert calls it the Gravity Engine.

"Ever since my days in the navy, I've always been interested ingetting power for nothing," says Cuthbert. "I know theoreticallyit's impossible because of the law of conservation of energy, butthere are always ways round things."

He had built lots of over-unity devices in the previous 20 years,based on various principles, but without success.

"When I started observing the strange properties of ferrofluids,something clicked," he recalls. "It suddenly occurred to me that,

with ferrofluids, the source of power for afree-energy machine could now, probablyfor the first time ever, be gravity."

There were two key insights behindCuthbert's creative leap. The first is sim-ple; in fact, any child playing in the bathknows it. Solid objects appear to be heav-ier in air than in water, and hollow objectsare lighter in water than in air. As everyschoolkid knows, it is the fact that water isdenser than air that is responsible for theseeveryday phenomena. But what few of uswould have the vision to realise is that in afriction-free universe this could be exploit-

ed to make a "gravity engine". Cuthbert's second insight came

while "playing about" with ferrofluidfor his experimental metal separatoridea. He discovered that magneticliquid could be held in a hollow tubeby surrounding it with a magneticfield, and that this would in turnsupport a whole column of waterabove. Poking a pencil up throughthe magnetic liquid into the water, hewas surprised to discover that thepencil went in very easily and yet theferrofluid seal was so tight that not adrop of water escaped.

In a flash, Cuthbert put insights one and two together, and theGravity Engine was born. He saw that, with ferrofluid acting asthe interface between water and air, he could pass a hollow ballup into the water from below, let it float to the surface, drop itdown through air and reintroduce it into the water. In theory, thisshould be a constantly self-propelling, free-running system—"nota perpetual motion machine, an idea which would send any rea-sonable scientist running for cover," he is quick to point out, "buta device to extract usable energy from Earth's gravitational field.In its crudest form, a series of balls on a string should be able togo endlessly round and round, powered by the difference betweenthe density of water and air. It's easiest to imagine it workingwith balls that float in water, but balls of any density should pro-duce the same result."

Cuthbert knew the problem was going to be whether the energyproduced by the system would be enough to pull the balls throughthe ferrofluid seal. He decided to put it to the test in an

In theory, this should be aconstantly self-propelling,

free-running system—"not a perpetual motionmachine, an idea which

would send any reasonable scientist

running for cover," he isquick to point out, "but adevice to extract usable

energy from Earth'sgravitational field."


experiment, and constructed a crude device out of a glass column,half a pint of ferrofluid and two lead balls on a piece of string. Tohis surprise, it appeared to work—but he knew that beforepursuing the idea any further, he had to do some real science; inparticular, he needed some hard data on the boundary layerproperties of ferrofluids.

Cuthbert mentioned it the next time he talked to Ferrofluidics."I am only after the principle at the moment," he told MD MikeGlossop. "All I'm saying is, 'Look at this; this is weird.'"

Glossop responded by funding a mini research project under theaegis of a leading ferrofluids expert. Such people are pretty thinon the ground, but, as it happened, a German physicist-engineer,Dr Wolf Fruh, had just taken up a research fellowship at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland; hewas working on a ferrofluid project for thegas and oil industry.

Thus it was that, early in 1999, Cuthbertfound himself driving his 15-year-oldVauxhall Carlton the 600 miles from Walesto Scotland. Fruh, the university-educatedtheoretician, and Cuthbert, the self-taughtexperimental physicist, were an ideal com-bination, although Fruh was initially highlysceptical. "The second law of thermody-namics says perpetual motion machinescan't exist," he told Cuthbert firmly at theoutset.

Cuthbert and Fruh decided to test theGravity Engine concept using balls made ofpolystyrene foam on a length ofstring, so it was barely more sophisti-cated than Cuthbert's own first set-up.However, to Fruh's astonishment, itworked.

"I made one rig over the summerand tried one of Tony's experiments,and proved that he was correct," saidFruh. "We managed to repeat hisfinding that a number of floating ballsin the water column will pull anotherball through the magnetic liquid seal,overcoming the resistance it encoun-ters when entering the ferrofluid."But he remains sceptical that he haswitnessed an embryonic perpetualmotion machine. "It's quite an inter-esting result," says Fruh, "but you cannot conclude that you coulddo anything useful with it."

Naturally, Cuthbert himself is much less pessimistic. "TheGravity Engine isn't a perpetual motion machine. It's just a deviceto extract energy from Earth's gravity field. In that respect, it's nodifferent from a water wheel," he says. "The next step is to findsome funding to make a decent experimental rig."

A FASTER-THAN-LIGHT PROPULSION SYSTEM? In the meantime, while waiting for the right sugar-daddy to

come along, Cuthbert has been working on yet another scientifi-cally "impossible" device. This one appears to break another sci-entific canon—Newton's third law, which says that "action andreaction are equal and opposite". The force of a rocket goingupwards is equal to the force of the rocket gases going down-wards, in the same way as the force of a car going forward isequal to the force of the tyres trying to push the road backwards.

But Cuthbert is in the Michael Faraday tradition of experimentalscientists, for whom theory must always take second place toexperiment.

One day, while playing around with some weights, Cuthbertsaw something that made him wonder whether there might be away around Newton's third law. Three months later, he had a testdevice. He videoed it working and took the tape to the advancedprojects division of one of Britain's leading defence companies."We'll look at it on condition you mention our meeting tonobody," the company told him. "If it were known that we wereinterested in this sort of paranormal stuff, our share price mightplummet."

What made the company scientists sit up and stare at Cuthbert'stape in disbelief was this: they saw amachine that moved forward in mid-air, andyet was powered by neither rocketry norany other form of external thrust. The con-traption Cuthbert showed them was socrude, it could have come out of the pagesof Rube Goldberg or Heath Robinson.

Reluctant to disclose too much before thething is patented, Cuthbert describes it likethis: "The device can be best described atthis time as a rotary-to-linear conversioneffect utilising the angular velocity of mass.However, the effect generated is notdirectly gyroscopic."

At first, the company scientists thoughtthat they were seeing a simple "ratcheting"

effect, where a vigorous thrust back-wards will propel the device forward,but friction will prevent it going back-wards during the return cycle.However, Cuthbert already knewabout this ratcheting effect and hadeliminated it.

To do that, he bolted the device to ametal plate and suspended it on an"air table"—a surface peppered withtiny holes through which jets of airare pumped. Nevertheless, even onthis totally frictionless surface, thedevice still moves forward. And thatis what has puzzled the defence com-pany scientists who have seen it, andhas prompted them to give Cuthbert

limited finance to develop the idea further. "It is probably somekind of unknown ratcheting effect," they told Cuthbert, "but if itisn't, we want to know what's going on."

The stakes could be high. The defence contractor sees itspotential as a possible satellite propulsion system, but Cuthbert'smind has already jumped far ahead. "If I am right and inertia canbe eliminated, perhaps it will be able to travel beyond the speed oflight," he says. "I think I already know how to modify inertia inan electro-mechanical model, but my ultimate goal is a solid-statedevice."

Cuthbert has already designed it. "The technique uses very-high-speed switching circuitry, and will probably involve laser ormicrowave radiation," he explains to gobsmacked potential back-ers. A university department of engineering is already taking theconcept seriously enough to check the mathematics behind it.


What made the company scientists sit upand stare at Cuthbert's

tape in disbelief was this:they saw a machine

that moved forward inmid-air, and yet waspowered by neither

rocketry nor any other form of

external thrust.




Dr Richard Boylan interviewed and corresponded with Colonel Steve Wilson, USAF(Retired), and wrote this article only months before Wilson's death from cancer inNovember 1997. Colonel Wilson's amazing story has been largely overlooked by theUFO research community. In fact, we've only just rediscovered it languishing in a pileof "must publish" articles. Dr Boylan writes that Wilson became a hunted man, mov -ing from state to state to evade several attempts on his life while also battling cancer;and that, like several other prominent whistleblowers on UFOs and governmentalcover-ups, his cancer "may have been externally 'imposed' to silence him". But thedeath threats only strengthened Wilson's resolve to tell all, reports Dr Boylan, who ded -icates this article to the memory of this courageous man. — Editor

This biographical sketch is based on limited information provided by ColonelSteve Wilson, as well as certain data from his discharge papers. I have writtenthis biographical sketch as a tribute to a man who [felt] that the public's right toknow extremely important information about extraterrestrial contacts supersedes

a military/intelligence cabal's misuse of "national security" secrecy to cloak its misdeeds.Here, then, without varnish, is Steve Wilson, the man, the officer and the crusader.

UNEXPECTED INTERVENTION FROM UNSEEN FORCESSteve Wilson was born in the 1930s and spent five years in a state orphanage. In order

to escape the savage beatings there, he ran away. He had always dreamed of being a pilot.Befriended by a prostitute with the proverbial "heart of gold", this tall thirteen-year-oldwas accepted into the Air Force when his newfound "mother" stated he was sixteen andsigned for him to enlist.

Starting out as a private, he worked hard to advance. He took US Armed ForcesInstitute courses, earned his high school diploma and then the equivalent of a two-yearcollege degree. Simultaneously he studied at Aircraft Mechanic school and became a cer-tified mechanic. Then he enrolled in Flight Engineer school and became a flight engineeron B-17s. Later he was promoted to Staff/Sergeant and to the personal B-29 staff ofGeneral Crabbe. The General took a liking to Steve, and encouraged him to re-enlist andtake an appointment to Air Cadet school at Kelly Air Force Base. Completing CadetSchool, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant Wilson—a fighter pilot at last.

Lt Wilson's first assignment was the Fighting 12th Fighter Squadron, Clark Air ForceBase, The Philippines. As soon as he arrived, the Squadron was reassigned to Korea. Hepromptly was reassigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron, forward-based at the Korean War'sfront lines. He graduated from Mustang propeller fighters to sleek Sabre jets, and wassoon doing supersonic runs down MiG alley, duelling communist jet pilots.

On one run into enemy territory to bomb a dam, Lt Wilson dropped his load of bombsand watched the dam burst. As he turned his plane around to return to base, he felt pain inhis stomach and looked down to see blood gushing from his side. The Lieutenant radioedin that he had been hit by ground fire. He reported his position and fuel level, and addedthat he was about to pass out and would not be returning. Lt Wilson's memory faded outat that point. But subsequent events point to extraordinary intervention by unseen helpersthat kept him alive.

Three days after Wilson radioed-in that he was passing out, the control tower at the 67thFighter Squadron base saw an extraordinary sight. Wilson's plane was coming in for alanding, although its engine was not running! The fuselage was surrounded by a strange,

This former US AirForce Colonel (nowdeceased) tells theextraordinary storyof how he came to

terms withextraterrestrial

contact, theMajestic-12 group

and the Wackenhutcorporation.

by Richard Boylan, PhD © 1997

2826 O Street, Suite 2Sacramento, CA 95816, USA

Telephone: +1 (916) 455 0120E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.jps.net/drboylan/


greenish light. Flight line personnel, the officer of the day andBase Operations staff all looked on in amazement as the planemade a perfect dead-stick landing. Inside, they found Lt Wilsonstill unconscious! He was rushed to a hospital. When he regainedconsciousness, he noted that his shrapnel wound had almost com-pletely healed! Furthermore, base staff informed him that hisplane still had the same amount of fuel as when he was hit andradioed in his fuel level. The Lieutenant quickly got out of bedand secured a copy of the reports on his highly unusual experi-ence. Shortly thereafter, the original reports disappeared, and noone at the base would talk about his miraculous return.

Soon, Lt Wilson underwent numerous tests and was debriefedon his mysterious return incident by what he calls a "strangegroup". They administered testing, which revealed that his IQ hadjumped from an already very high 162 to an unheard-of 232.After the testing was completed, he was returned to active duty.But other changes had taken place inside the young pilot, affect-ing his ESP abilities.

TELEPATHIC CONTACT ASSISTS A DARING RESCUETwo months after Wilson's unexplained aerial rescue, one of his

squadron mates, Chuck, was shotdown during an aerial dogfight overKorea. Wilson and the others in thesquadron watched him go down anddisappear. As they banked theirplanes to return to base, Wilsonheard the downed pilot's voice in hishead. Chuck was crying for help.Wilson jumped, startled, in his cock-pit seat. Then he heard the voiceagain.

Lt Wilson broke formation andstarted descending to look for him.The Squadron Commander screamedover the radio for Wilson to get backin formation. The Lieutenant pre-tended he couldn't hear theCommander, and radioed that he washaving plane trouble.

Wilson flew low, 100 feet above the ground, searching forChuck. Suddenly Wilson heard the downed pilot's cry (telepathi-cally) that he had just flown over him. "The other airman sound-ed distressed that I would not see him," Wilson recalls. Hebanked 180 degrees and came in low. Wilson could sense that hewas there somewhere. He spotted a clearing with enough room toland, and he set his plane down. As he rolled to a stop, he lookedaround and saw the other man's plane wedged under some trees.Wilson taxied over close, jumped out and ran to the wreckage.Chuck was pinned in and badly hurt.

Wilson tells the rest simply: "Where the strength came from, Idon't know, but I ripped the wreckage away from him, lifted himout of the cockpit and carried him to my plane. I threw the radiogear out to make room for him and me. With me sitting on hislap, I taxied out and to the end of the clearing. Swinging around,I saw there was very little room for a take-off. I looked up andsaid, "God, if you exist, help me get this motherfucker off theground." I held the brakes and gunned the engine to the breakingpoint, let go of the brakes and rocketed across the clearing. Theminute I felt myself off the ground, I began to raise the wheels.The enemy broke cover ahead of me and began firing. I passedoverhead, and heard the crunch and ripping of metal as I left mywheels in the trees. My plane became hard to manage with the

undercarriage ripped away. I finally made it back to base. I couldsee the fire-trucks lining the runway and saw the tower blink.They were asking me to wag my wings if I had no radio. Whatelse could I do? I wagged my wings, passed over the field so theycould see the problem, made another 180-degree turn and startedin low. I picked the dirt next to the runway.

"I felt the jolt as my plane skidded down the side of the runwayand came to a halt. The ambulance was the first to arrive, and Ialready had Chuck on my back and headed for the ambulance. Hehad made it out alive. I walked around the plane and saw all thebullet holes. [A report later said that there were 38 bullet holes.]I patted her tail and said, 'Thanks, Lady.' Then I looked at the skyand said, 'You, too.'"

Despite being a rebel, and disobeying orders (which, luckily,the Squadron Commander could not prove), Lt Wilson wasawarded his first Distinguished Service Award for gallantry aboveand beyond the call of duty. He remarks about the incident lacon-ically: "Another one I should have been court-martialled for."

SURVIVING TORTURE WITH HIDDEN RESOLVEForty-six days later, Wilson again switched roles from rescuer

to pilot needing rescue. His planedeveloped engine trouble over enemyterritory and he was forced to land.When he saw the enemy coming, heburned his plane to the ground andwas taken prisoner. Because he'dburned his plane and would give noinformation to the enemy, he wasbeaten for three days straight. Afterthe first hour, his subconscious mindtook over and he felt nothing.

Wilson recounts his captivity withgrim detail: "I remember them askingfor information about my squadronand about troop movements. Irealised that if I could hold out longenough and through enough torture,they would believe anything I told

them, and maybe then they would leave me alone. After threedays, they tied a stick through my arms behind my back andplaced the rope around my neck and down my back, tying therope to my feet which were pulled up. If I tried to lower my feet,it would choke me, cutting off my air.

"They placed me in a small bamboo cage about two feet wideand three feet long and three feet high. I lay there with my headon the ground, with my knees spread and holding me upright, andtrying to keep the rope from strangling me. There was no room tolie down or move. I remember the gooks pointing and laughing atme, and a hatred began in my gut as I have never hated before.Suddenly this thing within my mind kicked in. I remember themhaving to drag me out and into this hut. My body could feel noth-ing.

"Someone cut me loose and my mind began to function. Theother prisoners said I had lasted fifteen days out there, and wasthe only one who hadn't broken within a week. It was almost aday before the circulation would let me move my legs and arms.As soon as I could get around, they dragged me back to the torturechamber, as we all called it.

"I swore to myself that those dirty bastards would never breakme. Now I hated with a ferocity that even scares me to this day. Iremember watching as they stuck bamboo shoots in the joints ofmy hands, piercing between the bones. I could hear myself

Three days after Wilson radioed-inthat he was passing out, the controltower saw an extraordinary sight.Wilson's plane was coming in for a landing, although its engine was

not running! The fuselage wassurrounded by a strange,

greenish light.


screaming, but my mind was calm and I felt no pain. After whatseemed like days, I was returned to the other prisoners. After sev-eral days, I could move my hands some."

It had been 32 days. Lt Wilson decided that he had had enough.That night, another pilot and he saw their chance to escape. Theymade a break for it. Two of the guards who had laughed at historture were on duty that night. Wilson moved up behind the firstone and snapped his neck, then felt him slide lifeless to theground. The Lieutenant took his knife, moved around behind theother and cut his throat without a qualm. They then ducked intothe underbrush and ran the rest of that night.

Later they found out that they were only 28 miles [45 kilome-tres] from friendly lines. They had to crawl on their belly, onlydaring to do so at night. They ate grubs and roots, just as they hadbeen taught in survival school. It took 23 days to crawl back toUS lines.

Wilson relates the climactic moment of their escape: "Wetopped the last ridge and lay on our bellies, watching the move-ment below from a point that overlooked thevalley. Nuckolls rolled over on his back,and you could hear his leather jacket pullloose from the frozen ground. 'We made it,'I yelled. I heard Nuckolls softly sobbing.Whoever said that grown men don't cry?The most welcome sound I heard was a sen-try's shout: ‘'Who goes there? Advance andbe recognised or I'll blow your fuckin' headoff!'"

MAJESTIC-12 INDOCTRINATIONThe next defining moment in Colonel

Wilson's life began during the summer of1960. The Cuban Missile Crisisbecame a global concern as PresidentKennedy and Soviet ChairmanKhrushchev were facing off in a deadlygame of global nuclear showdown overSoviet ICBMs in Cuba, and the threatof using the US Navy blockade ofCuba to sink freighter deliveries ofICBMs.

By now, Steve Wilson had been pro-moted to Air Force Captain andCommander of a tactical fightersquadron out of Wright-Patterson AirForce Base, Ohio. His squadron wasordered to Florida, and then deployedto Guantánamo Naval Base in Cuba, with orders to provide aircover for Navy ships doing picket duty in the Cuban Gulf.

In 1963, Wilson's squadron was ordered back to Wright-Patterson AFB. He soon received an assignment to fly cover overHouston. Just prior to this, Captain Wilson had been told that hewould be assigned to Majestic-12 as soon as this mission wasaccomplished, and that upon his transfer he would become aMajor. (Majestic-12 [MJ-12], he would soon learn, is the super-secret organisation which controls UFO surveillance and interdic-tions, retrievals and analysis of recovered extraterrestrial space-craft and occupants, and public access to any information aboutthese matters.) It would turn out to be a day that would linger inhis mind for a long time.

Captain Wilson's mission in Houston was to keep any planesaway from the city during President Kennedy's visit. Hissquadron had shoot-to-kill orders for anyone who disobeyed their

commands to stay back. While flying protective cover overHouston, the news came over the squadron's radio that PresidentKennedy had been shot in Dallas.

Wilson describes their reaction: "I was shocked. I had met theman and really liked him. My eyes welled up, and I could hardlysee as we were ordered back to the airfield. I could hardly see therunway. The tears were streaming down my face. After landing,I watched some of the worst landings ever exhibited by asquadron of Top Gun pilots. There wasn't a dry eye in thebunch."

After returning to Wright-Patterson AFB, Wilson was informedhe was receiving Top Secret clearance and was being commis-sioned as a Major. His indoctrination into the UFO secrets keptby the Majestic-12 agency then began. He was shown theremains of the extraterrestrials and crashed UFOs from the 1947Roswell incident, that were all housed at Wright-Patterson'sHangar 84. He read reports he was shown about that incident, andabout how Majestic-12 covered it up by putting all the documents

and expenses with a Socorro, New Mexico,crash. He was informed that, because of hisspecial abilities, he was being assigned toMajestic-12 (code name, Majic-12). As partof his duties, he would be assigned to the 1stSpecial Forces Air Command and wouldundergo special training with Delta Forceand then the Black Berets.

Wilson comments about that period: "Ilooked at these fellows I was to train with.Every one was a trained killer and assassin.But it still didn't prepare me for the MIB[Men In Black], the Wackenhuts [privatesecurity firm operatives with government

covert projects contracts], and all theBlack Ops that exist deep within ourgovernment. This was when I was toldthat I would cease to exist."

Major Wilson was informed that hisjob was so secret that stops would beplaced on all his records and where-abouts, and that they would be movedto Majestic-12. He was told that histelepathic ability was needed for some-thing very special, and that he would beon a "need to know" basis, at least untilhe had a high enough security clear-ance.

Wilson recalls: "It made me feelvery special, and inflated my ego about 100 per cent. Little did Iknow at the time that I would be involved in one of the most das-tardly and heinous cover-ups the world has ever known. To thinkabout it, even today, makes me sick to my stomach...but at thattime in my life, I felt I was serving my country. I knew nothingof the greed and power of a few men, who were later to be knownas 'Maji' [the top executives of Majestic-12]."

TRIP TO A HOLLOW MOUNTAIN For the next nine years, Major Wilson travelled to nearly every

Air Force base in the world, meeting and making contacts withkey people for MJ-12.

Finally, in the summer of 1972, he was assigned to the 1stSpecial Forces Air Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base,California. He was planning on getting some rest and relaxationthere. He had just put all his gear away nicely, his B-4 travel bag

Wilson was informed hewas receiving Top Secretclearance and was beingcommissioned as a Major.

His indoctrination intothe UFO secrets kept bythe Majestic-12 agency

then began.

He was shown theremains of the

extraterrestrials andcrashed UFOs from the1947 Roswell incident...


finally empty and hanging in the closet. No sooner had he fin-ished unpacking than a man looking like a refugee from a warcamp sauntered into his room. The man flashed CIA identifica-tion and told the Major that he needed to pack his bag, that therewas a plane waiting and that they would be leaving in 20 minutes.True to his word, in 20 minutes the plane was taxiing to a take-off.

Major Wilson knew better than to ask where they were going,but by observation of the compass heading and the terrain, heknew they were over Nevada. The plane circled and set down ona dry lake bed. Later he learned it was Papoose (dry) Lake (S-4),deep within the Nellis Air Force Range in central Nevada. Evenup close, the mountains and terrain looked barren. They walkedabout 300 yards to a rock outcropping. On the other side, nestledbetween some large rocks, was an iron door with no handle. Thescruffy-looking CIA man somehow opened the door. They wentinside and down a tunnel. At the end of the passageway, Wilsonglanced around quickly.

He still marvels at the size of the structure: "I could swear thatthe whole damned mountain was hollow. Right down the middlewas a runway and, at the end, huge doors that I later found couldbe opened to allow a plane to take off right out of the mountain."

The CIA man and he proceeded to an elevator without saying aword. The CIA agent punched an unmarked button. Wilson does

not know how many floors they went down, because the elevatormoved with lightning speed. It descended so fast that he almostlost his dinner! He was ushered out of the elevator and into anoffice down the hall to meet the Full Colonel in charge. He salut-ed and sized up the tall, angular officer standing in front of him.The Colonel's beady eyes had a mean look which was matched byhis cold and harsh attitude.

The Colonel informed Wilson of his duties, as well as the planeschedules in and out of Nellis Air Force Base Headquarters, LasVegas—the closest acknowledged military facility. The Colonelalso told Wilson how to get there through the secret undergroundhigh-tech tunnel shuttle system connecting this installation withNellis. Wilson was also warned that anything he saw was TopSecret, and that if he so much as "breathed wrong", or opened hismouth about anything he saw, it would be his last breath. Wilsonnoted soberly: "I believed him."

UFOs, ETs & 3-D SURPRISES AT S-4Major Wilson had begun his duties at the Papoose Lake instal-

lation, still not knowing what existed 30 storeys farther down. Hehad been well indoctrinated in Top Secret work and knew all theconsequences of keeping the nation's most guarded secrets. Thepast six years had been slow and boring, he recalls, and, otherthan what he saw at Wright-Patterson AFB, he felt that he was in

a vacuum, going nowhere. He was sitting in his office at S-4, mulling this

over one morning, when a Lieutenant ColonelBennett came in. He asked Wilson if he was busy("Like he gave a damn," Wilson recalls), and said"Let's go".

Wilson followed the Lieutenant Colonel, andthey eventually wound up two storeys down at thesuper-secret S-4 UFO technology area. As theycame out on a landing there, Wilson saw eight dif-ferent kinds of UFOs! There were intellectual-looking people all over the area, whom he guessedwere scientists. He glanced at Bennett, who cutoff his implied question with a curt "Forget it".

The Colonel and the Major went into a cubiclewhere there were about 20 officers and civilianssitting around. Wilson was startled when awoman came in who was at least eight feet tall.There was not an ounce of excess fat on her body,he recalls. She wore a strange-looking jumpsuitwhich had a "HI" pattern on the right side abovethe breast line. To this day, Wilson recollects thedetails of this striking encounter.

"The woman had finely chiselled features. Herblonde hair cascaded neatly past her shoulders.Her eyes were the bluest blue I'd ever seen.Somehow she was different. Little did I know,then, how different! She sat a large crystal on thetable and, without warning, her fingers began toglow as she ran them over this crystal. A 3-Dhologram began to form above it! I lookedaround the room and everyone's mouth was hang-ing open, and suddenly I noticed mine was, too.Little did I realise that at that moment my lifewould forever be changed. My past teachingsslipped from me as I stared. My whole concept oflife did a 180-degree turn as I watched the holo-gram, complete with sound, unfold the mysteriesof the past and the present and of other worlds."

DATA FROM COLONEL WILSON'S FORM DOD214 DISCHARGE PAPERS

Name: Colonel Steve Wilson, USAF (Retired) Date of Birth: 4/5/33 [5 April 1933]Service No. AO 325727 Length of Service: 40 years, 19 days, 7 re-enlistments

Medals: (1) 2 Distinguished Flying Medals(2) 2 Purple Hearts (3) 1 Joint SVS Commendation Medal (4) 13 Good Conduct Medals (5) 1 National Defense Service Medal (6) 1 Korean Service Medal (7) 1 Vietnam Service Medal (8) 1 POW Medal (9) 1 USAF Commendation Medal

MIA/POW, Korea: 12/07/50 to 01/18/51 [7 Dec 1950 to 18 Jan 1951]

Education: (1) University of Oklahoma, 1956 to 1960 (2) USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (3) Advanced Flight Training, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas (4) High-Tech Weapons School, US Air Force(5) High-Tech Advanced Combat Computers, US Air Force


Wilson related that among the scenes which the female extrater-restrial's crystal hologram displayed for the assembled group, wasthe history of the Earth and of extraterrestrial involvement with it.That involvement included fashioning the consciousness of Jesusand sending him to live among Earthlings to point to a better wayto understand life and to live. The extraterrestrial woman alsoshowed the officers and scientists scenes from inhabited planetsof other star systems.

Wilson was transformed by this experience: "When it wasover, I knew that, whatever part I was to play in all of this, my lifeas I knew it had ended forever."

He would go on to be appointed executive officer of ProjectP o u n c e. Created in the final days of December 1980, ProjectPounce is an elite group of Air Force Black Berets and militaryscientists who rush to the scene of any UFO crashes, cordon offthe area, retrieve the extraterrestrial spacecraft and any occupants,then "sanitise" the crash site back to its pre-crash appearance and intimidate any outsidewitnesses into silence.

Eventually rising to the rank of Coloneland receiving an Ultra Top Secret, CosmicQ, Level 27 security clearance, Wilsonlearned much about the inner workings ofthe Majestic-12 agency. Wilson's UFO-secrecy duties included interacting withcovert "MIB" enforcement goons from theWackenhut private security firm on contractto MJ-12. Wilson came to despise the"Whack"-enhut killers.

The Colonel learned about secret space-warfare operations, conducted by mili-tary astronauts trained at a covert AirForce Special Academy. He found outthat these military astronauts fly US-manufactured antigravity aerospacecraft, such as the two-man LockheedX-22A disc, out of Vandenberg andBeale Air Force bases in California andup into space. These military astro-nauts then interdict UFOs deemed"unfriendly", and fire Star Warsweapons to disable or destroy them.

RETURN OF THE MAJIColonel Wilson came to know some

things about the top command of Maji, including the identity oftwo of its executive board members: chairman Henry Kissingerand advisory scientist Edward Teller, both of whom hold the top-most Level 33 security clearance. He eventually learned enoughabout their avarice and hunger for power to sicken him. He dis-covered that the Maji were "so powerful that they acted as thoughthey were above the President and the laws of nature andmankind". To his distress, Wilson found out later that they wereto be known as the "New World Order".

Finally sickening of the unconstitutional and unethical activitiesof the Majestic-12 agency and of his involvement in "one of themost dastardly and heinous cover-ups the world has ever known",Wilson got out.

At retirement, after 40 years in the Air Force, Lt ColonelWilson was Flight Commander of the 1st Special Forces AirCommand, Vandenberg Air Force Base. His decorations includethe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, twoAir Force Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, the

Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air ForceCommendation Medal, the USAF Good Conduct Medal and theNational Defense Service Medal.

After musing for 15 years, he decided to risk his life and tell all.The means he used was the global communication tool of theInternet. He placed his torrent of disclosures of sensitive informa-tion on the Skywatch webpage (www.wic.net/colonel/ufopage.htm) and founded a UFO information newsgroup as hisforum ([email protected]).

After years of military and intelligence career-building by play-ing by the rules, Lt Colonel Steve Wilson, in retirement, has dis-played the highest patriotism of all: whistle-blowing on the cor-rupt MJ-12 parallel government.

While stricken with cancer, Steve Wilson assesses the price ofhis years in the "black world" of the UFO cover-up: "I have nofeelings, truthfully. My association with Maji has left me dead

inside. I feel myself still cold and calculat-ing. I never let anyone get close to me. Ifeel like a human robot. I have killed merci-lessly and lied for the good of the country—or so I believed at the time."

His final comments cryptically hint atwhat everyone will soon know aboutextraterrestrial visitation, and the profoundchanges society will make as a consequence:"The things I have seen are beyond humanunderstanding and totally unbelievable. Ionly have a desire to help humanity some-how through what is bound to come soon."

DIALOGUE WITH COLONEL STEVE WILSON

This dialogue between the authorand Colonel Steve Wilson is datedTuesday 19 August 1997:

RB (Dr Richard Boylan): In theStar Wars City (SDI/01) organisationalchart you posted, there is identified an"Air Force Special Academy" (AFSA),which takes its orders from Star WarsCity in Colorado Springs, CO. I take itthat this is not the regular Air ForceAcademy, right?

SW (Colonel Steve Wilson): No, it isn't the regular academy.RB: Is it AFSA which trains the military astronauts who are

quietly sent up from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California,while the Press keeps the public's attention on the space shuttleoperating from Cape Canaveral, Florida?

SW: Yes, Vandenberg and Beale AF bases are both involved. RB: Or does the AFSA have some other function? SW: Yes, it has other functions in Black Ops. RB: And what range of duty assignments do these Star

Warriors [military astronauts] have, once they are positioned inspace?

SW: To shoot down unfriendly UFOs. The US is shootingdown at least one a day. Other countries are doing this also.Russia is averaging two a day.

[Author's note: I doubt seriously that the US shoots "down"one UFO per day, or any number near that. ONI and CIA infor-mants have told CSETI's Dr Steven Greer that two UFOs were

He would go on to beappointed executive officer

of Project Pounce... an elite group of Air ForceBlack Berets and military

scientists who rush to the scene of any UFO

crashes, cordon off the area, retrieve the

extraterrestrial spacecraftand any occupants, then"sanitise" the crash site...


shot "down" in 1995. From my research, Isuspect that the number may be closer to ahalf-dozen per year—certainly tragic,regardless of the numbers. Dr MichaelWolf of MJ-12/SSG states that a renegadegroup, "the Cabal", is conducting theseunprovoked attacks deliberately to sabo-tage peaceful relations between ETs andEarth.]

RB: And what vehicle do the militaryastronauts ascend into space and operatetherefrom? Is it the [classified, not-sup-posed-to-exist] A u r o r a aerospace vehicle,which flies above Mach 8 and operates at100 miles up where the atmosphere startsto approach vacuum?

SW: No. These are our ultimate two-man back-engineered UFOs and classifiedUltra Cosmic Top Secret.

RB: The [Ultra-classified] Pumpkinseedis reportedly much faster and operates on amore exotic propulsion system, apparentlyincluding antigravity field propulsion andfuelled by antimatter reaction. Is this latterthe vessel the military astronauts use inspace?

SW: Cannot comment on this, but sureyou can figure it out.

RB: In the analysis of the Star WarsCity/Spaceship Defense Initiative organisa-tion chart posted on Skywatch, there isidentified the 1010 Special SecuritySquadron which bypasses the Air Forceand reports directly to the NationalReconnaissance [UFO cover-up] Officeand to Maji [MJ-12, the UFO informationpolicy group]. Is this specialised squadroncomposed of elite Delta Forces (BlackBerets)?

SW: No. This is the W[h]ackenhutagency and their killers.

RB: Is this the unit in which ProjectPounce was located?

SW: Project Pounce does not exist as aunit per se. We all had other jobs and eachcame from our own areas of expertise. Noone knew the other, and we only cametogether on a crash retrieval. Thus theUltimate level of security was maintained.

RB: "Ultimate", as in classified UltraCosmic Top Secret, Q Clearance, Level33?

SW: Cosmic Q, Level 33 is Maji; Level32 is MJ-12; Level 31, certain personnel inAC [aircraft] manufacturing; Level 30, thefirst four of W[h]ackenhut officials, etc.,DOD, NSC. I was only a Level 27—as faras I could go.

RB: Ah, Colonel Steve—as always, youare a fund of interesting information.


STAR WARS CITY (SD1/01)Code: Strategic Defense Inititiative (SDI), also known as

Spaceship Defense Inititative (Star Wars project).Control Location: Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs

US SPACE COUNTER-INTELLIGENCEHEADQUARTERS

BOEINGTELEDYNE RYAN

AERONAUTICAL, INCROCKEFELLER CO. FUJIKA CO.

McDONNELLDOUGLAS

FORDAEROSPACE

DECISION SCIENCEAPPLICATIONS, INC.AEROJET ELECTRO

SYSTEMS

KAMAN INDUSTRIES

CONSOLIDATED SPACEOPERATIONS CENTER

(CSOC)

NORTH AMERICA AIRDEFENSE COMMAND

(NORAD)

LOCKHEED

IBM

MARTINMARIETTA

ENTERPRISES

ROCKWELLINTERNAT'L

ENTERPRISES

1010 SPECIALSECURITY

SQUADRON

NATIONALSECURITYCOUNCIL

(NSC)

NATIONALSECURITYAGENCY

(NSA)

NATIONALRECONNAISSANCE

OFFICE (NRO)

PRESIDENT OF THEUNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL

INTELLIGENCE(DCI)

STAR WARS CITYColorado Springs HQ

MAJI

AIR FORCESPECIAL ACADEMY

(AFSA)

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

AGENCY(CIA)




'PIPELINES' ON EUROPA ANDUFOS OVER MIR & BAIKONUR

by Rubén Sobrino

Spanish ufologist Rubén Sobrino, amember of SEIP-La Coruña,recently contributed this article to

the magazine I n e x p l i c a t a. Sobrino hashis own website, Expedientes Secretos ,and is webmaster for Spain's highly pop-ular Mundo Misterioso.

On 16 January of this year, almost allthe newspapers in our country echoed

the same remarkable news item fromMoscow, carried by the prestigious EFEnews agency.

The agency disclosed certain controver-sial statements made by Russian astro-physicist Boris Rodionov to Moscow'sKomsomolskaya Pravda , in which heclaimed to have proof of the existence of "ahighly developed extraterrestrial civilisa-tion on one of the satellites of the planetJupiter". The astrophysicist also claimedthat the enigmatic "flying saucer phenome-non, which has stimulated popular imagi-nation worldwide, could well be outridersfor this civilisation".

Wielding a vast amount of scientific dataand photographs transmitted by NASA'sG a l i l e o probe, Rodionov, a tenuredprofessor of microphysics andcosmophysics at the State Institute of

Physical Engineering, stated that Europa,smallest of Jupiter's four main satellites,was "inhabited by an ancient andtechnologically advanced civilisation".

Through the use of a high-powered com-puter and sophisticated photographic analy-sis technology, the scientist managed toobtain a close-up with a record-breakingresolution of nine kilometres from themoon's surface, enabling him to make outthe contours of what he calls pipelines, tun-nels and spherical domes. According toRodionov, the photo clearly shows that thelines, considered mere fissures by the sci-entific community, actually cross over eachother like a knot of expressways.

Prof. Rodionov says that the variety of"pipelines" and "tunnels", having a diame-ter similar to the "Chunnel" that crosses theEnglish Channel, is surprising. "There are100-kilometre segments, as well as otherpipelines having immense junctures or ori-fices between them."

Anyone may join the controversy, sincethe image in which Rodionov claims to seethe aforementioned pipelines and tunnels isavailable to anyone having Internet accessand a simple photo-retouching programcapable of analysing it. This photo, whichis available from the NASA/JPL net serverthat provides images for the G a l i l e o m i s-sion, portrays a number of lines (fissures,in fact) which cross each other, but never atdifferent elevations as Rodionov claims.

The fissures, having a width of 20 to 40kilometres and a length of thousands ofkilometres, are believed to be attributableto a period of global expansion on Europacaused by volcanic eruptions or geysersunder its frosty surface, creating a series offractures on the ice crust.

On 23 December 1998, another newsitem pertaining to the UFO phenome-

non appeared in a number of papers. Aswith the preceding one, it also came fromMoscow, but in this event the source wascosmonaut Alexandr Baladin.

Baladin stated that "flying saucers" havecome into close proximity to the Mir spacestation as well as the BaikonurCosmodrome, adding that sufficient evi-dence exists to warrant a scientific study ofthe phenomenon and that it is time thatworld governments officially acknowl-edged the UFO phenomenon's existence.

"General Vladimir Ivanov, former com-mander of Russia's Military Space Forces,recalls that three objects flew at a consider-able altitude over the BaikonurCosmodrome and were picked up on radar.There is no way they could have been air-planes," insisted the cosmonaut.

Baladin also disclosed at Brazil's FirstInternational Ufology Forum that he (alongwith fellow cosmonaut Musa Manarov)had been the protagonist of a disturbing


experience during his second spacemission.

While the docking operations betweenhis space capsule and Mir were underway,Baladin became aware of a glowing objectgyrating a short distance away. Manarovmanaged to capture the strange phenome-non on videotape, which was shown duringthe UFO forum. Baladin claimed that therecording, along with other evidence pre-sented, "must be studied by an internationalscientific commission".

Baladin insisted that the Russian militaryhas a great contribution to make to UFOresearch, giving as an example the multi-ple-witness case at the Kaputsin Yar mis-sile base, whose personnel sighted a semi-circular object flying at low altitude andlighting up all of the base's depots andmagazines with a powerful searchlight inJune 1989.

"Many of my old comrades, who are nowworking at top-secret military facilities,acknowledge having seen unidentified fly-ing objects over manufacturing centres,gunnery ranges and military facilities."

In any event, Baladin made it clear that"not all that can be seen should be taken fora UFO, since it is very possible that wemay be facing natural phenomena whichhave not been properly studied".

These explosive and unexpected state-ments should at least give us cause to askmany questions about what is happening inthe former USSR on the ufological level. (Source: Inexplicata, h t t p : / / w w w . i n e x p l i -cata.com)

MONSANTO'S TOP-SECRETRESEARCH AND THE 'SEEDING'

OF AMERICAby Kenny Young

With the July 1997 publication ofPhilip J. Corso's The Day AfterR o s w e l l, the retired Lieutenant

Colonel, who served under Eisenhower,introduced the public to the concept of the"seeding" of American industry and corpo-rations with exotic technology derivedfrom recovered extraterrestrial vehicles.

In the midst of the hype and furore overthe Corso publication, I couldn't help buttemper my disbelief in serious considera-tion of his claims, because of a bizarreencounter that I have been absorbed in fornearly two years.

The Phantom Informant In the spring of 1995 I received a phone

call from a resident of Springfield, Ohio."I wanted to tell you about certain reverse-engineering projects conducted on flyingsaucer components," stated the voice on theother end of the phone line. The caller hadtracked me down after a statewideAssociated Press newspaper article waspublished in a Springfield, Ohio, newspa-per. The article had portrayed me as a"UFO skeptic" who questioned the possi-bilities of extraterrestrial visitations.

"I'm listening," I replied to the caller,expecting an outlandish or delusionalaccount to commence. To my surprise, thegentleman on the other end of the line

sounded cognisant, sane andknowledgeable.

"A friend of mine was an employee atMonsanto Research Corporation, onNicholas Road near Dayton, Ohio..."

The caller (who claimed to be formerlyof the military) and I had agreed to meetfor lunch at a restaurant south of Daytonwithin two weeks.

I had contacted two acquaintances, Carlaand Lois, who shared my interest inaccounts of the bizarre, and we all thoughtit would be intriguing to meet the infor-mant and receive his news.

We left Cincinnati with plenty of time tospare and, reaching the Dayton area anhour before our appointment, decided toventure to the Monsanto ResearchComplex, the focal point of the drama.

Having been given directions to the facil-ity by the informant, we found the complexeasily. Situated near Interstate 75 onNicholas Road, south of Dayton, the facili-ty is now operating under the name ofQuality Chemical, and from the road itappears to be several big, box-shapedbuildings surrounded by fencing. The tophalves of the windowless buildings are rid-dled with air ducts, protruding ventilationshafts and metal railings.

Approaching the main gate, a securityguard put down his sandwich and hitchedhis pants up around his big belly. "Can Ihelp you?"

"I am conducting a research project oncorporations in this area, and am curious toknow if this facility was once calledMonsanto Research," I said, just to breakthe ice, even though I already knew theanswer.

"Yes it was, several years ago." "Do you know what type of research pro-

jects were done here?" I asked, hoping forsomething juicy.

"Nope, but it was some classified projectfrom Wright-Patterson Air Force Base."

Carla and Lois thanked the security

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

"I wanted to tell you aboutcertain reverse-engineeringprojects conducted on flyingsaucer components," statedthe voice on the other end

of the phone line.


officer after we had gleaned everythingpossible from him—including details ofseveral large fires that had occurred yearsprior. Driving away, we were unanimouslyimpressed by the statement from thewatchman regarding a classified Air Forceproject. Even though unaware of thespecific activities performed at the facilityhe was guarding, the officer had providedsoft corroboration of Air Force affiliation—an affiliation we were now on our way toverify through the offerings of themysterious whistleblower who would laterbe known as "the Phantom Informant".

We met the gentleman as he waited inhis car outside the restaurant. Parking nextto him, we greeted one another and enteredthe restaurant. Telling the gentleman ofour recent experience with the securityguard, he smiled with a self-assured grinand said, "That's interesting."

"Tell us about this friend of yours,"came the question from Carla after foodwas ordered.

"He's dead, now...but he used to work atMonsanto and had a security clearance,"said the former military officer."Evidently, as the story goes, parts andcomponents from a flying saucer weretaken to the Monsanto facility and keptthere for a number of years. The situa-tion was kept quiet and, surprisingly,extensive security precautions had beendeemed unnecessary. The low-intensitysecurity provided a good cover for thehighly classified project."

"Where did this flying saucer comefrom?" came the next obvious question.

"I don't know, but we've all heard sto-ries about Roswell," said the informant ashe sought to deflect the anxious questionsand stay on his point. "Anyhow, therewere a number of other operations at thefacility that had also been going on, andthere had been several accidents over theyears. One involved a chemical explosionwhich resulted in a large fire."

Carla chanced a quick glance to Lois,recalling the earlier statement from thesecurity guard.

"One particular accident occurred as aresult of experimentation with gravitywaves. This person was injured and takento the Miami Valley Hospital where he washeld a while for observation. He wasreleased later in the evening, but he wassaid to be disoriented for a while.

"Much of the reverse-engineeringresearch was regarding gravity waves. In

fact, at one point I was told of a rod orbaton-like instrument that could be pointedat a heavy block of concrete. When theywould point this rod at the block, theycould lift it up into the air...almostmagically.

"There were also some nuclear materialsthat were produced at the location, andthey were taken discreetly by the truckloadto Jackass Flats for burial and disposal.The whole facility was contaminated at onetime."

"Did this contamination have anything todo with the components?" I asked, tryingto home-in on the UFO discussion.

"I'm sure some of it could have," hereplied with uncertainty, giving us theimpression that he wasn't seemingly a"know-it-all". "But the real story is theman who came in."

Monsanto's Mysterious Visitor "According to my late friend, apparently

there was a certain person who visitedMonsanto under armed escort. He hadpaid visits about a half-dozen times fromthe late '60s to the early '70s. This well-dressed person had a security clearance toget in, and was allowed to interact with theemployees there."

The term "interact" caused eyebrows toraise as the Phantom Informant paused toallow his enigmatic comment to sow theseed of curiosity.

"He talked to them," the informant clari-fied, "but he wasn't a regular person. Thisindividual would talk with the workers anddiscuss certain matters about routine jobduties and inspections, and, more cryptical-ly, would discuss matters about their ownpersonal lives. He knew things he wasn'tsupposed to know."

"What do you mean, 'he wasn't a regularperson'?" asked Carla intensely.

"I mean, he wasn't a regular person. Helooked normal, just like you or me, evenwore a nice business suit, but he wasn't aregular person. He talked to the peopleand, when he did, he ruined them. Heknew things he shouldn't have. He talkedwith my friend, and whatever he said thatday traumatised him for the rest of his life.His widow told me that from that day for-ward he sat up on the edge of his bed atnights, in a cold sweat, and wonderedabout that man. He said, 'That man kneweverything about me.'"

According to the informant, "parts andcomponents" of an exotic and unknown

technology were taken from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton,Ohio, and reverse-engineered at theMonsanto Research Lab on NicholasRoad under light security. The partswere duplicated there and taken else-where for re-assembly.

Not satisfied with gleaning thesedetails from a second-hand source, Isought more details of the deceased gen-tleman in question. I was told that thewife of this worker talked to the infor-mant on plenty of occasions, for they hadbeen acquaintances through their mutualassociation with the worker and continue

to talk years after the death of the worker. The account, if true, remains unverifi-

able at present. However, with the impli-cation of Monsanto by Colonel PhilipCorso and his book, two years later, andwith the recent admissions by Bell Labsand American Computer Company, thebizarre tale of the reverse-engineered partsand components from the MonsantoResearch Complex may simply be anotherpiece in a warped and convoluted puzzlethat is too strange to be true—and, if true,too difficult to believe. ∞(Source: From an article by Kenny Young,http://home.fuse.net/ufo/MONSANTO.htm)

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

"...as the story goes, parts and componentsfrom a flying saucer were taken to theMonsanto facility

and kept there for anumber of years...

The low-intensitysecurity provided a good cover for the

highly classified project."



GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOOD,AND OUR ENVIRONMENTby Luke AndersonPublisher: Scribe, Aust/NZ, 2000 (firstpublished by Green Books, UK, 1999)ISBN: 0-908011-43-1 (191pp pb); 1-870098-78-1 (pb, UK, USA)Price: AUD$17.95; NZD$24.95; £3.95Available: Australia/NZ— ScribePublications, tel (03) 9349 5955; UK—Green Books, tel 01803 863260, [email protected]; USA—ChelseaGreen, tel (802) 295 6300

The backlash against genetically engi-neered food is gaining pace worldwide,

not only on a consumer level but at a globaltrade level, as more people become aware ofthe implications for agriculture, health andthe environment from an inadequately testedtechnology. This brief guidebook, GeneticEngineering, Food, and Our Environment, isrecommended reading for background ongenetic science as well as on up-to-datedevelopments (as at February 2000) ondiverse GE-related subjects.

The author, Luke Anderson, is a UK-basedwriter, campaigner and speaker on GEissues, and here he does an admirable job inparing down his research into a succinctsummary of these often complex matters.He looks at potential allergic reactions andantibiotic resistance with GE food, geneticpollution of crops from unchecked transferof genes, dangers with herbicide- and insect-resistant crops, and the environmental haz-ards of glyphosate (the active ingredient inthe herbicide Roundup). He considers bio-

diversity and biopiracy, terminator technolo-gy, patents on life, rBST milk, and theinability of GE technology to live up its"feed the world" promise.

Anderson targets the so-called "life sci-ences" corporations and their pathetic PRcampaigns aimed at allaying consumer con-cerns about GE food, and highlights theimportance of the Precautionary Principle insetting up mechanisms so that human, ani-mal and environmental health can be proper-ly protected. This edition has an informativeforeword by Bob Phelps of the Gene EthicsNetwork, covering GE specifics on theAustralian/NZ scene, and an extensive list ofGE info resources worldwide.

THE INQUISITIONby Michael Baigent and Richard LeighPublisher: Viking/Penguin, UK, 1999 ISBN: 0-670-88032-9 (318pp hc)Price: AUD$45.00; NZD$49.95; £16.99;NLGƒ66,90; CAD$40.00Available: Aust/NZ/UK/Canada—Penguin Books; Europe—NEXUS Office,tel +31 (0)1321 380558

By the time you read this, the Pope mayhave apologised for some of the excess-

es committed in the name of Jesus Christ inthe past 2,000 years. But if the Inquisition ison the agenda, it's unlikely to be the subjectof a direct apology because, as MichaelBaigent and Richard Leigh describe in theirlatest work, The Inquisition, it lives on underthe title "Congregation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith", having only lost its contemptuousname in 1908. Before then, however, thePapal Infallibility Bill of 1870 pronouncedwhat is tantamount to an intellectualInquisition—one that continues in its vari-ous guises to this very day.

Looking back on the era of the Crusades,no one could have expected that a 'humble'friar named Dominic would start a purge inthe early 13th century that led to the deathsof millions of so-called heretics, unbeliev-ers, Jews, pagans, women who were or werenot witches, scientists, Freemasons and anyother free-thinkers who could be subjugatedover the next 600-odd years. Even thedreaded Spanish Inquisition of both Crownand Church was only part of the story, its1478 imprimatur only revoked in 1834. Themass burnings (especially of women) inEurope over hundreds of years can only beinterpreted as a total repudiation of Natureby the Church—a pattern which has beenongoing for near-on 2,000 years.

The authors emphasise that they don't wishto denigrate the virtuous deeds of the major-ity of churchmen (not women!), but fromtheir book it's obvious the Catholic Churchhas so much for which to answer.

REVIEWSReviewed by Ruth Parnell

MASS CONTROL: ENGINEERINGHUMAN CONSCIOUSNESSby Jim KeithPublisher: IllumiNet Press, USA, 1999 ISBN: 1-881532-20-8 (253pp tpb)Price: AUD$30.00; NZD$36.50; £11.95;USD$16.95 +$2.00 p&h in USA, $3.00Canada, $5.00 elsewhere; NLGƒ40,90Available: Aust—NEXUS Magazine; NZ—NEXUS Office; UK—Counter Prodns, tel0171 274 9009; Europe—NEXUS Office;USA—IllumiNet Press, tel +1 (770) 2792745, website www.illuminetpress.com;Adventures Unlimited, tel (815) 253 6390

We dedicate our review of Jim Keith'sposthumously published book to his

memory. This celebrated conspiracyresearcher died suddenly in September lastyear (see Global News 7/01). Perhaps it'sironic that Mass Control should be his lastbook, for never before has our challengebeen more urgent, as mind-control technolo-gy becomes ever more finely tuned andincreasingly used against 'troublesome' indi-viduals and groups.

Mass Control: Engineering HumanConsciousness is Jim Keith's follow-up tohis 1997 book, Mind Control, World Control(see review in 5/02), and expands on manythemes based on new material and testimo-ny. Keith provides additional historical per-spective, tracking today's social engineeringmovements such as outcome-based educa-tion to late 19th-century German influences(without the rhetoric). He briefly relates theexperiences of several former CIA Monarchand cultist mind-control victims in as bal-

anced a way as can be expected, consideringtheir shocking claims. And he reiteratesthat, far from being science fiction, the elec-tronic, microwave and even pharmacologi-cal mind-control and surveillance technolo-gies used by intelligence agency operativesare only becoming more sophisticated, intru-sive and lethal. As Keith would attest, werehe with us today, there's no shortage ofmind-control harassment victims comingforward to speak out, against the odds.

Read this damning book to find out moreabout the black-budget projects which UStaxpayers have unwittingly financed.

SECRET CHAMBERby Robert BauvalPublisher: Century, UK, 1999 ISBN: 0-7126-8048-9 (433pp hc), 0-7126-8453-0 (433pp, tpb) Price: AUD$27.95 (tpb); NZD$57.95 (hc),NZD$34.95 (tpb); £16.99 (hc);NLGƒ66,90; USD$38.00 inc. p&h (hc)Available: Aust/NZ/UK— Random House;Europe—NEXUS, tel +31 (0)1321 380558;USA/Canada—NEXUS UK, tel +44 1342322854, e-mail [email protected]

The promised placement of an alloy cap-stone on the apex of the Great Pyramid

by the Egyptian authorities on 1st January2000—heralded by author/engineer RobertBauval in his latest book, Secret Chamber—has not yet happened (at least as we go topress in early March). Nor has the tiny doorin the shaft of the Queen's chamber beenopened; nor has the fabled Hall of Recordsbeen discovered; nor have the ancient godsyet returned. But, the exciting news is thatthe symbolic sarcophagus of Osiris has beenuncovered in a previously submerged cham-ber, 30 metres below the surface between

the Sphinx and the Khafre Pyramid, thusgiving credence to Bauval's insistence thatthere are still secrets of great import justwaiting to be discovered.

In Secret Chamber, Bauval devotes a chap-ter to the tomb of Osiris and traces the eso-teric clues in Hermetic and Masonic textswhich suggest that sacred books attributed toThoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom andwriting, were deposited on "Monte Libyco",on the Giza plateau—most likely below theSphinx, in view of recent seismographic evi-dence and Bauval's own astronomical calcu-lations. Indeed, the quest for the Hall ofRecords has taken on mythical overtones,boosted by Edgar Cayce's 1932 prophecyand, more recently, by the Cayce groupARE's willingness to fund excavations inhand with the Egyptian Supreme Council ofAntiquities. Bauval relates the stories andintrigue behind these and other latter-dayattempts to unlock the mysteries of Giza,and his treatment is engrossing.


REVIEWS


THE ARCH CONSPIRATORby Len BrackenPublisher: Adventures Unlimited Press,Kempton, Illinois, USA, 1999 ISBN: 0-932813-72-0 (343pp tpb)Price: NLGƒ40,90 to UK; NLGƒ35,90 inEurope; USD$14.95 + p&hAvailable: UK/Europe— NEXUS Office,The Netherlands, tel +31 (0)1321 380558;USA—Adventures Unlimited, tel (815) 2536390, fax (815) 253 6300, [email protected]

American author and self-styled "archconspirator" Len Bracken has some

nerve stamping his favourite moniker on hisnew book, but it's in keeping with the rogu-ish style that permeates his writings on con-spiracy theory and history. Bracken has hisown conspiracy zine, Extraphile, and is acontributor to alternative publications suchas Steamshovel Press, whose editor, KennThomas, contributed the cryptic foreword tothis collection of essays.

Bracken's anarchic approach takes in thepsychological dimension of geographyacross time; thus it's not surprising to findreferences to ancient Greek wars, Romanslave revolts, Machiavelli and the streets ofNew York City in the same flow of argu-ment, all connected in a conspiracy sense tobasic drives like instinct and lust for life. Asfor the definition of psychogeography,Bracken offers more than a dozen, includingthat it "is intentionally vague", but "is theoutlook of the lookout, an inspection of thespectacle", which gives some vague idea!

Included is an Anti-Labor Day polemic

against work which is further highlighted inthe so-called Neo-Catiline conspiracy wherehe argues for the cancellation of all ThirdWorld debt in the face of the forces of glob-al capitalism. There are raves taking in con-spiratorial underpinnings in Russia, Poland,Italy, Central America and South Africa, aswell as his lengthy thesis on a zero-worktheory of revolution and general theory ofcivil war. Some of this material is off thewall, but Bracken is ultimately witty, enter-taining and mind-expanding.

LEY LINES: A Comprehensive Guideto Alignmentsby Danny SullivanPublisher: Piatkus, UK, 1999 ISBN: 0-7499-2017-3 (230pp hc)Price: AUD$44.95; NZD$79.95; £16.99;NLGƒ66,90Available: Aust—Hodder Headline, tel(02) 8248 0800; NZ—David Bateman Ltd,tel (09) 415 7664; UK—Piatkus Books, tel0171 631 0710; Europe—NEXUS Office,tel +31 (0)1321 380558; USA/Canada—General Publishing, tel (416) 445 3333

Adefinitive explanation of the ley linephenomenon continues to elude

researchers, despite the past 75 years ofinvestigation and theorising. The scientificstudy of Earth mysteries began in moderntimes with Alfred Watkins' 1925 survey ofBritain's criss-crossing lines and monu-ments, and has metamorphosed through the1960s spiritual revival to new heights in the1990s, taking in academia, the new age, thecrop circle phenomenon and UFOs.

In Ley Lines, author Danny Sullivan, anarchitect and recent former editor of The LeyHunter magazine, provides the essential

background (and gives some sensible tips) tosteer the lay "ley hunter" on the right path.And while these ancient paths through thelandscape (not just in Britain, but in Europe,the Americas and Australia) have unusualproperties and connections, long-termattempts to quantify their energy patternsand functions have drawn inconclusiveresults—as Sullivan's predecessor and men-tor Paul Devereux found with his Rollrightstones Dragon Project.

Here, Sullivan's focus is on the enigma ofstraight landscape lines, be they Watkinsianley lines, astronomical alignments, energypaths, processional ways, old straight tracks,funeral paths, death roads, spirit lines, orUFO highways à la Aimé Michel. Sullivanincludes a directory of ley lines, togetherwith diagrams, covering over 50 sites in theBritish Isles and Europe. Above all, he fos-ters the spirit of enquiry by encouragingreaders to get involved and build up theirown ley maps in their areas.

REVIEWS


PROJECTIONS OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS by Waldo Vieira, MDPublisher: IIPC, UK, 1997 ISBN: 85-86019-25-9 (249pp tpb)Price: £10.00; NLGƒ28,90; USD$12.00Available: UK—International Institute ofProjectiology and Conscientiology, tel +440171 723 0544, e-mail London@iipc. org,website www.iipc.org; Europe—NEXUSOffice; USA—IIPC, tel/fax (718) 721 6257,e-mail [email protected]

Brazilian physician, dentist and plasticsurgeon Waldo Vieira, MD, is also a

world-renowned consciousness researcher.He first experienced a "whirlwind projec-tion" of consciousness in 1941, aged nine,and has devoted much of the past 40 years toexploring/cataloguing the varieties and qual-ities of out-of-body states. "Projectionallows one to replace belief with knowl-edge," he says. In 1988 he founded theInternational Institute of Projectiology andConscientiology, a non-profit group operat-ing in seven countries, which aims to clarifythe phenomenon with the general public.

Dr Vieira's book, Projections of theConsciousness, is one of only a couple of hisdozen books that has been translated fromPortuguese into English, long after its origi-nal publication. It is based on his diaryrecords of 60 significant out-of-body experi-ences that he underwent in the second halfof 1979, and they represent the broad spec-trum of experiences possible beyond thisphysical dimension—from encounters withdisoriented, departed ones and soul entities

preparing for birth, to attainment of totalconsciousness expansion and transcendenceof the time-space continuum.

Dr Vieira maintains that we all experienceseparations from the body during sleep; butretaining lucid memories requires the deter-mination to want to sharpen one's powers ofmental concentration. Tips for achievingthis as well as techniques to practise areinterspersed through the pages of his diaryaccounts. With too few books available onastral projection/out-of-body experiences,this one is well worth studying.

THE COINCIDENCE FILEby Ken AndersonPublisher: Blandford Cassell, UK, 1999 ISBN: 0-7137-2749-7 (256pp tpb)Price: AUD$29.95; NZD$n/a; £9.99;NLGƒ38,90Available: Aust—Allen & Unwin, tel (02)8425 0100; NZ—Archetype Book Agents,tel (09) 377 3800; UK—Blandford Cassell,tel 0171 420 5555; Europe—NEXUSOffice, tel +31 (0)1321 380558; USA—Blandford Cassell, tel 1800 561 7704

With this follow-up to his third book,Coincidences: Chance or Fate? (see

3/02), Sydney-based journalist/author KenAnderson aims partly to entertain but mainlyto raise awareness of the ubiquitous yetmysterious phenomenon of coincidence.

Anderson explains how the mechanisticthinking of the 17th century put a damper onthe public's attitude to coincidence as ademonstration of our connectedness withnature, the universe and each other. Then,in the early 20th century, thinking changedagain, with Jung's theorising on synchronici-ty and mathematicians analysing coinci-dences in terms of statistical analysis. And

now, at the millennium turnover, with peo-ple becoming increasingly aware of coinci-dence in their lives, some authors believethis signifies humanity is on the brink of ahuge expansion in consciousness. YetAnderson doesn't necessarily agree, suggest-ing instead that the subject should beapproached with objectivity, but he contin-ues to be amazed by the way coincidencescreep into people's lives. He advocateskeeping a coincidences diary as an aide-mémoire for finding deeper meanings andgreater self-understanding.

The Coincidence File is divided into threeparts. The first part presents accounts frompeople who claim their lives have beenenriched by coincidence, and touches onawareness, morphic resonance, intuition,miracles, names and numbers; the second,published accounts from around the world;and the third part looks at the uncanny simi-larities of the Lincoln and Kennedy assassi-nations. Don't be surprised if it changesyour attitude to coincidences in your life.

REVIEWS


PROGESTERONE: The NaturalHormoneby Kimberley PatersonPublisher: Flip Publishing Ltd, NewZealand, 1999 ISBN: 0-9582011-5-3 (132pp tpb) Price: AUD$16.95; NZD$19.95; £7.99airmail to UK/Europe; USD$13.99 airmailto USA; CAD$18.95 airmail to Canada Available: Aust—Banyan Tree BookDistributors, tel (08) 8363 4244; NZ—Bookshops; Forrester Books, tel (09) 4152080; UK/Europe/USA/Canada— FlipPublishing Ltd, PO Box 1815, Auckland1001, New Zealand, tel (09) 379 8666, fax(09) 379 8667

The lives of tens of thousands of womenaround the world have been transformed

by natural progesterone. Women who havesuffered from PMS, menopausal symptoms,migraine, osteoporosis and a multitude ofother health problems—including the side-effects of synthetic hormone replacementtherapy—have derived great benefit fromusing a nature-identical progesterone hor-mone cream. (And many of them have doneso as a result of reading Sherrill Sellman'sarticles in NEXUS.)

In Progesterone: The Natural Hormone,New Zealand-based independent journalist,author and former nurse Kimberley Patersonexplains the science and history of proges-terone and laments that, in her country atleast, this safe, nature-identical cream is nowavailable only on doctor's prescription—ostensibly to safeguard patient welfare andprotect against unscrupulous manufacturers.Is it any coincidence, she asks, that nature-

derived, non-synthetic compounds, used bytraditional societies for millennia, can't bepatented, and that doctors tend to prescribesynthetic hormones pushed by pharmaceuti-cal multinationals but which often have dis-astrous side-effects?

This brief but info-packed guide includesadvice on how natural progesterone can helpa variety of women's health problems; guid-ance on healthy nutrition; an interview withprogesterone 'guru' Dr John Lee; contacts inAustralasia; and a medical paper to copy foryour doctor if he/she happens to be unawareof this natural therapy. This book is recom-mended for all women who want to be moreresponsible for their own health.

THE MAGIC OF OUR UNIVERSE:Beyond the Factsby Kent Davis MobergPublisher: Camelot Prodns, USA, 1999 ISBN: 0-9663797-2-1 (132pp tpb) Price: NLGƒ35,90; USD$14.95Available: Europe—NEXUS Office;USA—Camelot Productions, PO Box1709, Blowing Rock, NC 28605-1709, tel+1 (828) 265 0241

Our world, let alone our universe, is amysterious place full of unknowns and

anomalies that can be threatening to thosewith closed minds. Kent Moberg's stance inThe Magic of Our Universe is to highlightsome of these anomalies and suggest howthey are interconnected, though his explana-tions fall short of giving definitive answers.

His coverage takes in some of the pet sub-jects of Forteana: extraterrestrial life, cropcircles, cattle mutilations, crystal skulls,falling fish and frogs, vampires, unidentifiedlake and wilderness creatures, spontaneoushuman combustion, miracles and angels, lifebeyond death, ghosts, poltergeists andextrasensory perception. Each anomaly isdivided according to type, definition, statis-tics, history, documented evidence, specula-tion and resources, including researchers ofnote (biogs are brief and under-researched),useful websites, organisations (mainly US-based), docos and books (which are not list-ed with publisher details).

Moberg relies rather heavily on informa-tion gleaned from television documentaries,and while these may reflect popular tastesand fulfill some infotainment needs, they areno substitute for hard-core research, espe-cially as much important detail never makesit to the screen. Indeed, in this reliance,Moberg misses some valid viewpoints andexplanations from frontier science fields andinstead takes us "beyond the facts" whileoffering only more questions. Nevertheless,he does highlight interesting cases for thecurious-minded to pursue.

REVIEWS

WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOUTHOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT AIDSWAS WRONG?by Christine MaggiorePublisher: AFAA, USA, 1999 (4th ed rev)ISBN: 0-9674153-0-6 (286pp tpb)Price: USD$10.95 + USD$2.00 p&h inUSA, USD$5.00 p&h to Aust/NZ/UK/Eur,USD$2.00 to Canada; NLGƒ26,90Available: USA—American Foundationfor AIDS Alternatives/Alive & Well, tel +1(818) 780 1875, e-mail [email protected], website www.aliveandwell.org; Europe—NEXUS Office

This slim but powerful book has turned afew heads around on the HIV=AIDS

hypothesis/fraud since it was first publishedin the USA in 1996. For author ChristineMaggiore, the impetus for writing What ifEverything You Thought You Knew AboutAIDS Was Wrong? (now in its fourth revisededition) came a result of her being declaredHIV-positive in 1992 (while being in no riskcategory), then becoming an AIDS activist,and then discovering a body of scientific,medical and epidemiological data at oddswith that of the "AIDS establishment". In1995, this HIV dissident set up her ownorganisation to disseminate alternative infor-mation and give renewed hope to HIV-posi-tives who are still alive and well.

In her book, Maggiore provides facts andfigures on the science of AIDS and HIV, thevariable accuracy of AIDS tests, the fallacyof the viral load concept, the alarmingeffects of new and "combo cocktail" AIDSdrugs, and the statistical fudging that helpskeep the AIDS industry booming. She con-siders who is really at risk (immune-sup-pressing drug-taking activity is a key factor)and what actually causes this combination ofillnesses popularly called AIDS.

Maggiore also gives well-reasoned advicefor anyone who has tested positive for HIV,and outlines alternative health/wellnessoptions available, from ayurvedic to naturo-pathic medicine. She includes a guide to"AIDS-speak", numerous references, organi-sations (US-based), websites and publica-tions to consult, and personal case stories toinspire. This is a book that clearly dispelsthe myths about AIDS.

THE LOST MAGIC OF CHRISTIANITY:Celtic Essene Connectionsby Michael PoynderPublisher: Green Magic, UK, 1999 ISBN: 0-9536631-0-8 (192pp tpb)Price: AUD$31.95; AUD$37.95 econ. airto NZ; £9.99; IR£12.70; NLGƒ39,90;USD$17.95Available: Aust/NZ— Banyan Tree,Adelaide, tel +61 (0)8 8363 4244, fax +61(0)8 8363 4255; UK—Counter Culture,tel/fax +44 (0)1823 698895; Ireland—Easons; Europe—NEXUS Office; USA—Samuel Weiser, tel (212) 777 6363

Interwoven through the fabric of millenniaof cultural and religious traditions is a

common thread which joins all those whohave sought unity with the Source. The fun-damentals of this premise are ably elucidat-ed by Michael Poynder in The Lost Magic ofChristianity. Here he explains how the firstof the Essene Christians came to Britain inAD 36 and quickly found common groundwith the Celtic Druids. Indeed, that com-monality goes way back to the neolithicpriests/seers who tuned into and amplifiednatural forces by positioning stones insacred geometric relationships.

This ancient metaphysics and esotericism,with roots in both the East and West,encompassed knowledge of how to tap intoenergy flows and represent them in graphic,spiral forms (Celtic knotwork being a laterdevelopment); understanding of the humanchakra and meridian systems (and how touse them for pendulum dowsing of earth/water energies); and insights into the power-ful geometries of crystals, the stars andarchitecture (later seen in the Irish roundtowers, whose positioning around Irelandmimics the winter solstice night sky).

This tuning-in to nature, so basic to theDruids and Celtic Christians, was eventuallydebased by the patriarchal priesthood of theChurch of Rome. The magical traditionswent 'underground', the memories wererelegated to folklore and the spirit of thepeople was suppressed. But the magic is notall lost, and Poynder gives guidance to helpthe individual take responsibility for theirdivine selfhood. His fresh look at ourancient heritage suggests a few more piecesof the puzzle that we can put in place.


REVIEWS


EARTH RISING: The Revolutionby Dr Nick Begich & James RoderickPublisher: Earthpulse Press, USA, 1999 ISBN: 1-890693-43-X (286pp tpb)Price: AUD$30.00; NZD$37.90; £14.95;NLGƒ43,90; USD$17.95 +p&hAvailable: Aust—NEXUS Magazine, tel(07) 5442 9280; NZ—NEXUS Office, tel(09) 403 8193; UK/Europe— NEXUSoffices; USA—Earthpulse Press, Alaska, tel+1 (907) 249 9111, www.earthpulse.com;Adventures Unlimited, tel (815) 253 6390,e-mail [email protected]

The pace of technological advance is sorapid that it leaves our ethical and social

systems, not to mention the average person,struggling to catch up. The problem isamplified when the technologies developedby the military-industrial complex are keptsecret under national security laws.

Fellow Alaska-based activists Dr NickBegich and Jim Roderick, authors of EarthRising, have presented papers to theEuropean Parliament, resulting in the EPcalling on the US to reveal its true intentionsfor the HAARP ionospheric installation(which it hasn't, as yet), but their exampleshows that like-minded, well-informed,determined individuals can make a differ-ence in getting ethics put on the agenda—and will need to, if we're going to have anypersonal freedom in the future.

The array of high-tech weaponry that is inexistence—and which, because it exists (yetis publicly denied or downplayed), is beingused against unsuspecting populations andenvironments—is mind-boggling: weaponsemploying lasers, electromagnetic pulses,microwaves and acoustics, psychotronics toeffect mind/behaviour control, and ionos-pheric beams to alter the weather. Other

not-so-secret high-tech advances are alreadyused as weapons of control, e.g., biometricID systems, interactive TV, thermal imagingcamera surveillance—and that's not to forgetthe Echelon system that's been monitoringour communications for years.

Begich and Roderick warn that we'll all beliving in police states unless concerned citi-zens rise up and demand their governmentsexert controls over the implementation ofthese Big Brother technologies. Their intel-ligent, well-researched book is a clarion callto action if we want to live in peace.

GAIA MATRIXby Peter Champoux and FriendsPublisher: Franklin Media, USA, 1999 ISBN: 0-9672328-0-5 (242pp tpb) Price: USD$25.00 + $5.00 p&h in USAAvailable: USA—Franklin Media, tel +1(413) 623 2168, foreign orders (518)436 9686, fax +1 (413) 623 5954, e-mail [email protected]

It took 20 years of studying rocks, workingas both stone mason and sculptor, and

delving into ancient mysteries for PeterChampoux ("rock of the fields") to develop"a deeper understanding of our relationshipto sacred space and the crust of the Earth asa matrixed landscape". In 1993 he discov-ered what he calls "the core Arkhom geome-try of the Gaia Matrix" in westernMassachusetts (corresponding with the cen-tre of the North American tectonic plate),and extrapolated the geometry to take in allthat region and beyond.

In Gaia Matrix, Champoux definesArkhom as a geometry that comprises bio-logical elements and embraces human cul-tural and geographic parameters. But healso sees these landscape geometries as res-onating on a grander scale, inviting humani-ty through their harmonic resonance toembark on a new renaissance in religion,science, art and politics. This concept maynot be easily grasped but it is intriguing, ashe shows that the locations of key events inpre/post-Columbian history have surprisingrelationships with the geometries he delin-eates; indeed, such concepts were quitefamiliar to America's Masonic forefathersand Sinclair's Templar Knights who preced-ed them hundreds of years before.

The "geomantic corridors" and chakrapoints Champoux identifies through much ofthe eastern North American continent areinspiration for other ley hunters and dowserswho are also attempting to make sense of thegeometric overlay of their land—a matrixthat is fundamental to all life, nay, Gaia her-self. With contributions from friendsincluding Dr Bethe Hagens (of "CelestialBasket" fame), this book is food for thought,exploration and expansion.

REVIEWS


UFO ABDUCTIONS: A GlobalPhenomenonProduced by Michael Hesemann andNatalia Zahradnikova for 2000 FilmProductions, Germany, 1999 (PAL/VHS,NTSC/VHS, 78mins)Price: AUD$40.00; NZD$55.00; £21.00NLGƒ70,00; USD$29.95 + p&hAvailable: Australia/NZ/UK/Europe—NEXUS offices; USA—AdventuresUnlimited, tel (815) 253 6390

The thing I have always admired aboutMichael Hesemann's videos, is that hereports just the facts of each case, no specu-lation is entered into, no hype and no sensa-tionalism typical of many UFO films.

This is literally the best video documentaryon the subject of UFO abductions I haveever seen. Not only is it very up to date, butthe cases presented stem from nearly everycontinent on the planet.

Topics include the Roper Poll statistics;strange implants; uniformity of abductionexperiences; discussion of the four primaryalien types (which appear to work together);and of course, interviews with some recenthigh-profile abductees.

Researchers included on the film are Prof.Dr John Mack, Prof. Dr David Jacobs, BuddHopkins, Dr Roger Leir, Derrel Sims, NickPope and Barry Chamish. Abducteesinclude Linda Cortile, Kelly Cahill, WhitleyStreiber, Leah Haley, Kathie Davies andDebbie Jordan.

UFOs: The Footage Archives Part Five: 1998–1999Produced by Michael Hesemann andNatalia Zahradnikova for 2000 FilmProductions, Germany, 1999 (PAL/VHS,NTSC/VHS, 95mins) Price: AUD$40.00; NZD$55.00; £21.00;NLGƒ70,00; USD$29.95 + p&hAvailable: Aust/NZ/UK/Eur— NEXUSoffices; USA—Adventures Unlimited, tel(815) 253 6390

This long awaited Part 5 contains another100 film clips from some 13 countries,including USA, Mexico, Brazil, England,Italy, Russia and Israel. Some highlightsfeatured are a mini-UFO filmed near a cropcircle formation; some amazing films fromSoviet MIR cosmonauts; and a UFO inter-rupting a televised football match in SouthAmerica.

These are a great series of videos - nocommentary, just pure raw footage taken byhundreds of amateurs - leaving the viewersto make up their own minds.

REVIEWSGATEWAY TO ATLANTISby Andrew CollinsPublisher: Headline Publishing, UK, 2000 ISBN: 0-7472 2280 0 (436pp hc), 0-7472-7554-8 (tpb)Price: AUD$29.95 (tpb); NZD$39.95(tpb); £18.99; NLGƒ74,90; USD$40.00Available: Aust—Hodder Headline, tel(02) 8248 0800; NZ—Hodder MoaBeckett, tel (09) 478 1000; UK—Headline,tel 0171 873 6000, www.headline.co.uk;Europe—NEXUS office; USA/Canada—NEXUS UK, tel +44 1342 322854

From where did Plato's Atlantis legendspring, if not from the last great vestige

of an ancient empire in the Caribbean? Inhis new book, Gateway to Atlantis, AndrewCollins (From the Ashes of Angels; Gods ofEden) argues convincingly for that last greatoutpost being none other than Cuba.

Some of the stories that reached Plato,Collins maintains, may have been passed onby ancient seafarers from Phoenicia andCarthage who travelled to the Caribbean in(relatively) ancient times, bringing backaccounts which described a topography that,on analysis, closely resembles the island ofCuba. They are imbued with the mythologyof the number seven—seven cities, sevenmountains, seven caves (as at Punta del Esteon Cuba's Isle of Youth, which Collins hadthe good fortune to visit in 1998).

Such accounts are reinforced by some all-but-forgotten historians, whose descriptionsCollins gives renewed credibility in hisbook—such as Cabrera's late 1700s descrip-tion of the island of Septimania. Their nar-ratives have been downplayed not leastbecause of the competing Euro-political cli-mates of the ensuing centuries.

Further, Collins asks how traces ofcocaine could have been found in ancientEgyptian mummies without trade havingbeen conducted with the Americas.

One only has to look at a map of theCaribbean and Gulf of Mexico to surmisethat the entire region has experienced cata-strophic natural disasters over the aeons.Collins suggests that a cometary impact wasthe final seal of fate for the Atlantean civili-sation, and presents evidence for such a cat-aclysmic event affecting this area, and wellbeyond, circa the ninth millennium BC,coinciding with the end of the last ice age.Ancient ruins that arguably pre-date thistime are clearly visible from the air, if one islucky enough to be able to fly low over theCuban region (as Collins has).

Collins's thesis is another worthy contribu-tion towards fathoming this deep mystery.

Reviewed by Duncan Roads

FLOWING HARMONIES by Jaro*Kova Producer: Dr Jaroslav Kovaricek forKova Productions, 1999 (63mins)Distributor: Australia—KovaProductions, tel +61 (0)8 8332 0993,e-mail [email protected]

Dr Jaroslav Kovaricek established theABC music show Dreamtime, a pio-

neering program in the ambient music field.In 1992 he co-founded the company TerraAustralia, publishing over 30 albums ofAustralian music. Believing that muchmodern music is destructive sound pollu-tion, he's designed this first CD in his Eco-Music series to restore healthy ambience toyour living space. It's suitable for therapistsand healers and can be used to reverse harm-ful energies, cleansing the home.

EAST WIND by Uttara-KuruProducers: Kazumasa Yoshioka &Seiichi Kyoda for Pacific Moon Records,Tokyo, Japan, 1999 (51mins) Available: USA—The Creative ServiceCompany, tel +1 (719) 548 9872, [email protected]

World music has stretched out the soundboundaries around the planet, and

Uttara-Kuru's album, East Wind, fusesJapanese instruments like the koto andshakuhachi, mixing them with melodiesfrom traditional Japanese songs plus thehaunting female voice of folk Japan to pro-duce a very strong album. Both musicianshave classical training and wish to takeJapanese indigenous music to a wider worldaudience. Songs such as "Falling Through aCloud", "Flowers, Birds, Winds & Moon"capture that feeling exactly. Recommended.

PHAT GLOBAL #1 Compilers: Trevor Wyatt and JumboVanrennen for Palm Pictures, London,UK, 1999 (54mins)Distributors: Aust—Festival, tel (02)9955 8000; UK—Rykodisc, tel 0181746 2129; USA—Rykodisc, tel (508)744 7678, website www.rykodisc.com

If you're entranced by the many streams ofworld music, Phat Global #1 will satisfy

that taste. This funky compilation featuresartists such as: Indian Ropeman, a BritishIndian/Asian band; Cheb Mami Feat, anAlgerian Rai star from France; Sidestepper,with a Latin-style bass sound; P18, who fuseCuban salsa with Caribbean/Latin styles; Sly

and Robbie's Brazilian and dance beat com-binations; and Baaba Maal with hisSenegalese dance style. With other artistsusing dance, rap and fusion forms, this is amoving, upbeat, global collection.

BOLIVIAN BLUES BAR by Alex de GrassiProducer: Alex de Grassi for NaradaProductions, USA, 1999 (49mins) Distributors: Aust—MRA, tel (07) 38496020; USA—Narada, tel (414) 9618350, website www.narada.com

Alex de Grassi is one of the acoustic gui-tar greats in the USA, and this album

breaks new ground for him. In a daringattempt to capture the essence of the jazzand swing eras, he has recorded some gold-en classics with just a solo acoustic guitarapproach. With arrangements of songs fromsuch legends as Billie Holiday, TheloniusMonk, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong,Duke Ellington and the Gershwins, he'sgone into jazz/blues fields with aplomb. Asmooth, mellow album of depth and nuance.

ALL THE RIVERS GOLD by Terry OldfieldProducer: Terry Oldfield for NewWorld Music, UK, 1999 (52mins)Distributors: Aust—New World, tel (07)3367 0788; UK—New World, tel 01986781682; USA—New World, tel 1800771 0987, www.newworldmusic.com

Terry Oldfield is known for his extensivelist of ambient music recordings and also

for winning several awards for his contribu-tions to television wildlife film soundtracks.A return to his Irish roots is celebrated in Allthe Rivers Gold. He's accompanied by harp,pipes, mandolin, whistles and flute, and alsoby the gorgeous voices of KatherinaHeinrich and Imogen Moore on severaltracks. This is a moving, gentle album thatwill touch base with your heart and call youto the essence of Ireland.

Reviewed by Richard Giles


REVIEWS


least somewhat predictive of what occursin humans. There is no reason to assumethat there will be gross malformations offetuses but there may be subtle changes,such as neurobehavioral attributes, immunefunction and sex hormone levels." Theresults, he said, "could be nothing, or couldbe something of great concern...if mom iseating something that can act like sex hor-mones, it is logical to wonder if that couldchange the baby's development".69

A study of babies born to vegetarianmothers, published in January 2000, indi-cated just what those changes in baby'sdevelopment might be. Mothers who ate avegetarian diet during pregnancy had afivefold greater risk of delivering a boywith hypospadias, a birth defect of thepenis.70 The authors of the study suggestedthat the cause was greater exposure to phy-toestrogens in soy foods popular with vege-tarians. Problems with female offspring ofvegetarian mothers are more likely to showup later in life. While soy's oestrogeniceffect is less than that of diethylstilbestrol(DES), the dose is likely to be higherbecause it is consumed as a food, not taken

as a drug. Daughters of women who tookDES during pregnancy suffered from infer-tility and cancer when they reached theirtwenties.

QUESTIONS OVER 'GRAS' STATUS Lurking in the background of industry

hype for soy is the nagging question ofwhether it's even legal to add soy proteinisolate to food. All food additives not incommon use prior to 1958, includingcasein protein from milk, must have GRAS(Generally Recognized As Safe) status. In1972, the Nixon administration directed are-examination of substances believed to beGRAS, in the light of any scientific infor-mation then available. This re-examinationincluded casein protein which became cod-ified as GRAS in 1978. In 1974, the FDAobtained a literature review of soy proteinbecause, as soy protein had not been usedin food until 1959 and was not even incommon use in the early 1970s, it was noteligible to have its GRAS status grandfa-thered under the provisions of the Food,Drug and Cosmetic Act.71

The scientific literature up to 1974recognised many antinutrients in factory-made soy protein, including trypsin

inhibitors, phytic acid and genistein. Butthe FDA literature review dismissed dis-cussion of adverse impacts, with the state-ment that it was important for "adequateprocessing" to remove them.

Genistein could be removed with analcohol wash, but it was an expensive pro-cedure that processors avoided. Later stud-ies determined that trypsin inhibitor contentcould be removed only with long periods ofheat and pressure, but the FDA hasimposed no requirements for manufacturersto do so. The FDA was more concernedwith toxins formed during processing,specifically nitrites and lysinoalanine. 7 2

Even at low levels of consumption—aver-aging one-third of a gram per day at thetime—the presence of these carcinogenswas considered too great a threat to publichealth to allow GRAS status.

Soy protein did have approval for use asa binder in cardboard boxes, and thisapproval was allowed to continue, asresearchers considered that migration ofnitrites from the box into the food contentswould be too small to constitute a cancerrisk. FDA officials called for safety

Tragedy and Hype: The Third International Soy Symposium

Continued from page 24



specifications and monitoring proceduresbefore granting GRAS status for food.

These were never performed. To thisday, use of soy protein is codified as GRASonly for this limited industrial use as acardboard binder. This means that soy pro-tein must be subject to premarket approvalprocedures each time manufacturers intendto use it as a food or add it to a food.

Soy protein was introduced into infantformula in the early 1960s. It was a newproduct with no history of any use at all.As soy protein did not have GRAS status,premarket approval was required. This wasnot and still has not been granted. The keyingredient of soy infant formula is notrecognised as safe.

THE NEXT ASBESTOS? "Against the backdrop of widespread

praise...there is growing suspicion thatsoy—despite its undisputed benefits—maypose some health hazards," writes MarianBurros, a leading food writer for the N e wYork Times. More than any other writer,Ms Burros's endorsement of a low-fat,largely vegetarian diet has herdedAmericans into supermarket aisles featur-ing soy foods. Yet her January 26, 2000

article, "Doubts Cloud Rosy News on Soy",contains the following alarming statement:"Not one of the 18 scientists interviewedfor this column was willing to say that tak-ing isoflavones was risk free." Ms Burrosdid not enumerate the risks, nor did shemention that the recommended 25 dailygrams of soy protein contains enoughisoflavones to cause problems in sensitiveindividuals; but it was evident that theindustry had recognised the need to coveritself.

Because the industry is extremelyexposed...contingency lawyers will soondiscover that the number of potential plain-tiffs can be counted in the millions and thepockets are very, very deep. Juries willhear something like this: "The industry hasknown for years that soy contains manytoxins. At first they told the public that thetoxins were removed by processing. Whenit became apparent that processing couldnot get rid of them, they claimed that thesesubstances were beneficial. Your govern-ment granted a health claim to a substancethat is poisonous, and the industry lied tothe public to sell more soy."

The "industry" includes merchants, man-ufacturers, scientists, publicists, bureau-

crats, former bond financiers, food writers,vitamin companies and retail stores.Farmers will probably escape because theywere duped like the rest of us. But theyneed to find something else to grow beforethe soy bubble bursts and the market col-lapses: grass-fed livestock, designer veg-etables...or hemp to make paper for thou-sands and thousands of legal briefs. ∞Editor's Note : The list of endnotes is so extensive that we havedecided to save space and refer interested readersto our website at www.nexusmagazine.com.Readers without Internet access can request a faxedprintout of the endnotes from our Australian office.

About the Authors:Sally Fallon is the author of Nourishing Traditions:

The Cookbook that Challenges Politically CorrectNutrition and the Diet Dictocrats (1999, 2nd edition,New Trends Publishing, tel +1 877 707 1776 or +1 219268 2601) and President of the Weston A. PriceFoundation, Washington, DC (www.WestonAPrice.org).

Mary G. Enig, PhD, is the author of Know Your Fats:The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition ofFats, Oils and Cholesterol (2000, Bethesda Press,www.BethesdaPress.com), is President of the MarylandNutritionists Association and Vice President of theWeston A. Price Foundation, Washington, DC.

The authors wish to thank Mike Fitzpatrick, PhD,and Valerie and Richard James for their help inpreparing this article.

Tragedy and Hype: The Third International Soy Symposium



MORE INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS

Meanwhile, Cuthbert's current mission isto follow up an initial spark of interestfrom DERA (the UK equivalent of the USDefense Advanced Research ProjectsAgency, or DARPA) in his clutchless gear-box/brake system. It's yet another stun-ningly inventive concept, which again hecannot afford to patent. The potentialrewards are so high that he dare not let thesecret out, and a mere mention of its princi-ple in these pages would put it in the publicdomain and lose him his intellectual prop-erty rights forever. The same goes for hisRainfall Enhancer, which he successfullydemonstrated last week in his bath, usingsalt water, floating balls and a floodlight.But that's probably already saying toomuch.

Keeping body and soul together—letalone protecting patents—while at the sametime doing innovative science is theeternally painful way of life of most small-time inventors. They must endure a classicdouble-bind: they're too brilliant andeccentric to be conventionally employable,

but lack the entrepreneurial skills to fundthe fruits of their inventiveness.

Like composers and artists of the past,21st-century inventors need patrons. Atpresent, Cuthbert's most powerful supporteris Michael Laughton, Professor ofElectrical Engineering at LondonUniversity and a member of a major UKGovernment energy advisory committee;he is doing his best to put the strugglinginventor in touch with anyone who canhelp.

Part of Professor Laughton's motivationis sheer Christian charity, but there's also amore fundamental message he wants toconvey to his academic colleagues. "Theindustrial revolution happened because ofcraftsmen-inventors like Tony Cuthbert,James Dyson and the inventor of clock-work radio, Trevor Bayliss," Laughtonpoints out. "It did not spring from theminds of university-educated people. Fortoo long have we worshipped at the altar ofpaper qualifications to the exclusion of awider view. We must recognise the enor-mous value of the true innovator in effect-ing the technical changes in society whichcreate real wealth."

In February of this year, Cuthbert's luck

stopped running out. He got a phone callto say that "someone big" was interested inhis turbine.

"I can't tell you who it is, because I havesigned a confidentiality agreement," heapologises, "but let's just say that a branchof the British Government has provided thefunds to build and test a 'proof of principle'prototype. And that particular version ofthe turbine will be fully covered by patents,I can assure you." ∞

About the Author:Tony Edwards is an award-winning Britishtelevision producer and writer on scienceand medicine. He is best known for his1994 BBC series, Heretic—film portraits ofsix contemporary scientists who fell foul ofthe scientific establishment for their 'dissi-dent' research. He is at present directing amini-series for the Discovery Channel onthe current international race to build thebiggest and highest-flying airships ever.He can be contacted by e-mail [email protected].

About the Inventor:Tony Cuthbert can be contacted by e-mailat [email protected]. He also has a web-site at www.cuthbert-physics.com.

The Incredible Inventions of Tony Cuthbert



Permit me two more questions, if youwould.

RB: I note on the Star Wars City chartthat the Rockefeller Company is one of theelite defence contractors at that trough ofthe Black Budget known as SDIO/BMDO[Star Wars projects]. What "contribution"does the Rockefeller Company make to theSDIO project?

SW: Have no idea of specifics; onlygeneral information. This is the reason thatsecrets can be kept. No one person knowsit all, except Level 33.

RB: Also on the Star Wars City organi-sation chart, there is a corporation knownas Decision Science Applications,Incorporated (DSAI). This sounds anawful lot like Science ApplicationsInternational Corporation (SAIC) of SanDiego—headed by Black Ops veteranAdmiral Bobbie Ray Inman—which makesthe engines for US antigravity craft. AreDSAI and SAIC one and the same, or relat-ed companies/proprietaries?

SW: This is a group made up of allheads of military hardware manufacturingin the Black area. By the way, I have heard

that Inman chairs that group.

[Author's note: Thus, Decision ScienceApplications, Inc. (DSAI) consists of thedirectors of the Black Budget divisions (USantigravity craft and space warfareweaponry) of: Rockwell, Martin Marietta,Boeing, IBM, Lockheed, McDonnell-Douglas, Ford Aerospace, Aerojet ElectroSystems, Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical,Inc., Kaman Industries Co., RockefellerCo. and Fujika Co., etc. And retired NSAAdmiral Bobbie Ray Inman heads bothDSAI ("inside") and SAIC ("outside") theBlack world. However, Dr Michael Wolfof MJ-12/SSG says the DSAI and SAIC areone and the same!]

RB: Colonel, in the material posted onthe Skywatch webpage [(formerly)www.wic.net/colonel/ufopage.htm], theUFO information secrecy managementorganisation is laid out.

Which leads to a question: What rolesdo Dr Henry Kissinger and Dr EdwardTeller play in this Ultra-classified organisa-tion? Dr Teller cleared Department ofNaval Intelligence physicist Bob Lazar towork at Area 51's S-4 on back-engineering

captured UFOs. Dr Kissinger's businessoffice in New York City has got quitethreatening with a person who madeinquiries into Kissinger's connection to theUFO cover-up. What light can you shed onthese two men's involvement?

SW: Both are MJ-12 members, whichnumber 36 in all, as of 1994. It mightinterest you to know that they go back asfar as [Project] P a p e r c l i p. But, eventhough they have histories before that, theydo appear to have been at the University ofHeidelburg during the same time-periodthat they were supposed to have been in theUS. Kissinger is a firm believer and keyfigure in MK-ULTRA, whereas Teller lovesto play at it. Nothing I can prove; justsomething I heard at a high level. ∞

About the Author:Richard Boylan, PhD, is a behaviouralscientist, certified clinical hypnothera-pist, university instructor (retired) andresearcher into extraterrestrial-humanencounters. You are invited to join DrBoylan's UFOTruth Internet reports andcommunications list at http://UFOTruth.listbot.com.

Colonel Steve Wilson: Whistleblower on UFO Secrecy


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