2010 spring vol xxii no 1

8/9/2019 2010 Spring Vol XXII No 1

1/16

Education brings choices.

Choices bring power.

World Ecology Report

is printed on recycled paper.

SPECIAL FOCUS:THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT OF YOUTH

AROUND THE WORLD

Spring 2010Vol. XXII No.1

N THIS ISSUE:

ailable in English,krainian/Russian, Chinesed Spanish

SPECIAL FOCUS:The Ecological Footprintof Youth Aroundthe World

HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT:

UNEP briefing onChemical/WasteConventions Meeting

NCDs on the GlobalHealth Agenda

Did You Know

Good News

Chornobyl Update:46th Munich SecurityConference: A year of

Daunting Challenges

Americans are exposedto seven times moreradiation from diagnosticscans than in 1980

More Good News

More Did You Know

Voices

Point-Counterpoint:ElectromagneticRadiation in CellPhones Beneficialfor Human Health?

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As youth ace the prospect o catastrophic resource depletion, it is critical they main-tain a healthy ecological ootprint. With all the ocus on carbon ootprint, we are orget-ting that our ecological ootprint is equally important. Encompassing carbon ootprint,ecological ootprint is a primary driver or youth coping with a planet in ecologicaldebt. Accordingly, todays youth will discover that ecological capital will determine eco-nomic wealth.

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT, BIO CAPACITY,

AND DEBT VS. SURPLUSSimply stated, an ecological ootprint is how much we have, how much we use and

whos using what. It measures a countrys or an individuals resource demand with bi-ological capacity. Biocapacity is the measurement o land productivity. Biocapacity is

measured in global hectares.

Average world ecological footprint: 2.7Measured in gha (global hectare)

TOP 10 COUNTRIES

UAE 9.4USA 9.4Kuwait 8.9Denmark 8.0 Australia 7.8New Zealand 7.7Canada 7.1Norway 6.9Estonia 6.4Ireland 6.3

Source: Worldmapper.org

GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTS

The map above is the current ecological footprints of nations. When referring to the ecological

footprint of youth we must predict that footprint based on current trends. That means the ecologi-

cal footprint of youth in China and India is expected to get exponentially larger than pictured here.


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World Ecology ReportWorld Information Transfer

Spring 20102

An ecological ootprint is dierent rom a carbonootprint in that it acts as a balance sheet comparingecological assets to debts: assets being resources; debtsbeing consumption. While a carbon ootprint is usedto measure CO2 emissions, an ecological ootprint, notonly measures CO2 emissions, but also provides system-atic land accounting or all the earths renewable andnon-renewable resources. Ecological ootprints also al-low us to estimate the number o earths needed to sus-tain the worlds population at that level o consumption.

Non-renewable resources are oil, coal, natural gasbecause once consumed, these resources cannot be re-placed. Renewable resources are those replaced by natu-ral processes at a rate comparable or aster than its rateo consumption by humans. Solar radiation, tides andhydropower ,and winds are perpetual resources that arein no danger o a lack o long-term availability.

Some natural renewable resources must be careullymanaged to avoid exceeding the worlds capacity to re-plenish them. These include geothermal power, resh

water, timber and biomass, algae, marine lie, animalsand ertile soil.

Ecological ootprints also help us determine whichcountries have ecological debts vs. ecological surplus. Acountry with an ecological debt has used too many o itsassets, and must depend on resources rom outside itsown borders or consumption. Countries with ecologi-cal surplus have extra resources that are unnecessary ortheir citizens. These countries are increasingly scarce.

Since the mid 1980s society has exceeded its ecologi-cal budget. 80% o the worlds population lives in coun-tries with an ecological decit. Humanitys demand onnatural resources exceeds planetary limits. Gauging theecological ootprint o youth around the world is criticalto our uture because it lets us know when their resourc-es will run out.

DIFFERENT LESSONSKids in rich countries are oten told to eat all the ood

on their plate because there are starving children in theworld. This trick to get developed world children toeat more reveals the root o the problem: overconsump-

tion. The trick taught the wrong lesson, that it is okayto waste as long as we consume that waste or try to,beore we discard it. Consequently, this lesson not onlymade us at (actually morbidly obese), but also did noth-ing to help the hungry kids in Arica.

The average Aricans ecological ootprint is 1.4gha,while the global average ootprint is 2.1 gha. In compar-ison to the rest o the world, this is small, actually toosmall. For many in Arica, their ecological ootprint istoo small to meet basic ood, shelter, health and sanita-tion needs.

Arica has many countries rich in natural resources,

but most Aricans do not have access to them. Resourceexploitation by industrialized countries with ecologi-cal decits, along with extreme poverty and confict iscausing Aricas citizens to live at an ecological decit

Adding to the problem is Aricas booming population.Aricas youth (ages 5- 20) are expected to have a popula-tion o 1.9 billion by 2035. That will only shrink Aricasbiocapacity even urther.

In a new global trend, countries and businesses arebuying the direct rights to another countrys biocapacityrather thatn purchasing the exports produced by thatcountry. China, or example, has leased 2.8 million hec-

tares in the Congo or the rights to its palm oil produc-tion. This is to ensure continued access to ood, biouelcrops and other resources or China. What about Ari-can youth who desperately need these resources?

It has become very clear: we can no longer teach ourkids to stu themselves while children in Arica remainhungry. We can no longer burn through our own re-sources and expect the weak and vulnerable to supplyour insatiable appetites. I we continue to pass this les-

Source: United Nations Populations Program


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3World Ecology ReportWorld Information Transfer

Spring 2010

son on to our youth, the planet will simply run out oresources. Todays youth are entering a much dierent

world than that o previous generations. This new worldo resource scarcity requires new lessons.

YOUTHS SHIFTING

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Young people will see a shit in which nations, re-

sponsible or consuming the most resources, will havethe largest ecological ootprint. Until recently, the Unit-ed States was responsible or having the largest ecologi-cal ootprint. This has already shited. The United ArabEmirates (UAE), with an ecological ootprint o 9.4 gha,now has the largest ecological ootprint per capita. This

will be a growing trend among developing countries.For the youth in developed nations like the United

States and the countries o the European Union, theirecological ootprints are not expected to rise much.Since they are already industrialized, additional con-sumption o resources is not required in development.

Also, populations are expected to stay consistent leavingthese youth with an ecological ootprint comparable toadults today.

This comes as relie considering that America aloneconsumes 30 percent o the worlds resources with only5 percent o the population. Also, it would take 5.1 plan-ets to sustain human lie, i everyone consumed as manyresources as Americans.

Unortunately, any relie brought by youth in theUnited States and EU maintaining a consistent ecologi-cal ootprint, is wiped out by the industrialization o de-

veloping countries, like China and India. Our youth willlive in a world where, i trends continue, the typical Chi-nese will out consume the typical American by 2040; In-dian consumption will surpass American consumptionby 2080. These countries will also have enormous popu-lations. The combined population o China and India,alone, is expected to exceed 3 billion.

The ecological ootprint o China is 2.1, but Chinahas not yet ully industrialized. Nor has India with anecological ootprint o 0.8. Our youth will live in a world

where China and India are ully industrialized and livingthe same standards as todays typical Americans. Along

with increases in population and consumption, the eco-logical ootprint o Chinese and Indians is expected togrow exponentially. This does not add up. I Americansused 30 percent o the worlds resources with a popu-lation o roughly 300 million, what will happen when 3billion people are using the same amount o resources?I we continue to teach our youth the same lessons andcurrent trends continue, catastrophic resource deple-tion is the only oreseeable outcome.

Although, longtime industrialized regions like theUnited States and the EU have gotten us to this pointo ecological crisis, it is developing nations that will ulti-mately tip the world over the edge.

With the rise o the global economy more and moredeveloping countries are putting a toll, equal to theirpredecessors on the planet. Surpassing the UnitedStates, the UAE is now responsible or having the largest

ecological ootprint on the planet (whats interesting isthat while the United States never signed the Kyoto Pro-tocol, the UAE has. In 2005, when the UAE ratied theKyoto Protocol, it was classed as a non-annex I coun-try or developing nation, despite having a high GDP.

Although the UAE has the largest ecological ootprintand is one o the highest producers o carbon emissionsin the world, it is under no obligation to reduce its pol-lution). The UAEs economy is built rom cheap extrac-tion o natural resources, just like America. The UAEthen took their newound wealth, bought SUVs, builtindoor ski elds, and turned up their ACs, thus imitat-

ing Americans.Our youth cannot embrace this old system, while de-

veloping in a new world o scarce resources. We cannotbuild economies and countries on old methods. Youngpeople either recognize this or, imitating America onceagain, they go or broke.

GOING FOR BROKEAmerica became an industrial power at the end o the

19th century and then quickly rose to the top throughcheap extraction o natural resources. Ater the U.S.liquidated its own ecological assets they decided to getmore. From other countries, like Arica, the U.S. bor-rowed ecological assets on credit. Ater the resources areextracted, they are taken back to the States. Products areproduced with those resources, sold to the consumerand lots o money is made to pay back the ecologicaldebt. Whats wrong with that method is, you cant payo an ecological debt with cash. We are spending what

we cannot aord. The last time the U.S. did this, the en-tire world suered.

2007 Populations: (millions)

1. China 1,318

2. India 1,132

3. U.S. 302

4. Indonesia 232

5. Brazil 189

6. Pakistan 169

7. Bangladesh 149

8. Nigeria 144

9. Russia 14210. Japan 128

2050 Projected: (millions)

1. India 1,747

2. China 1,437

3. U.S. 420

4. Indonesia 297

5. Pakistan 295

6. Nigeria 282

7. Brazil 260

8. Bangladesh 231

9. Rep. Congo 14410. Philippines 150


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Spring 20104

When Americans could no longer aord their homes,bought on borrowed money, they went into deault, set-ting o the largest worldwide recession since the greatdepression. Every corner o the planet elt the impact othe nancial collapse o the United States o America.The same will be true or the collapse o our ecosystems.

Our ecological systems are being treated exactly likethe United States nancial system. The only dierenceis when we go into deault on our environmental sys-tems, there is no bailout.

In pursuit o economic development and growth, wehave spent too much. I we continue to mismanage ourecological capital; were broke. Decision makers mustlearn rom the economic collapse and not hand downa ailed system, to our youth, coping with a heavily deb-ited planet. We cannot expect to build thriving societieson ecological debt and build innite wealth based byconsuming nite resources. We can no longer borrowrom beyond our borders, ater we have run out o ourresources at home. We can no longer stu ourselves ull

while children in Arica remain starving.

A NEW KIND OF WEALTHAnother lesson we can learn rom the nancial col-

lapse is that appearances are oten deceiving. Ameri-cans ooled themselves into thinking they were wealthy,because o appearances. They leased expensive cars oncredit and bought expensive homes with hety mortgag-es. The reality was they were not actually wealthy. We aredoing the same thing in society; appearing wealthy when

were not.In todays world o limited resource, gross domestic

product (GDP) is an increasingly inaccurate measure-ment o economic perormance. GDP relies on howmany products are produced and consumed. In thismodel, the more resources you use, the more you canproduce, the more money you can make, not taking intoaccount these resources are nite.

As resources become scarce, ecological wealth willemerge as a powerul geopolitical orce. In an ecologi-cally constrained world, todays youth, will discover thatthey must align their development priorities with theirnatural wealth and in order to maintain a stable ecologi-cal ootprint while undergoing economic growth. Thisnew kind o wealth is dened by making sustainablelong-term investments aimed at mitigation, adaptation,increasing biocapacity and development around ecolog-ical budgets.

A new kind o wealth will be critical in determiningthe ecological ootprint o our youth and our old meth-ods must become obsolete or our youth to build thriv-ing societies o the uture while avoiding resource deple-tion.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTThe Brundtland Commission coined what has be-

come the most oten-quoted denition o sustainabledevelopment as development meets the needs o thepresent without compromising the ability o uture gen-erations to meet their own needs.

As nations continue to grow and develop, decisionsand investments made today will determine the uture

wellbeing o our resources and humanity. For example,inrastructure choices can lock cities and nations intoeconomically and ecologically risky paths o high re-source dependence, or they can increase their resiliencein the ace o growing resource constraints.

For the youth in developing countries with balloon-ing economies, the challenge will be nding ways to in-

vest, rather than liquidate their ecological assets, whilestill growing. Maintaining a stable ecological ootprintor these youth will require present day decision makersto embark on a new revolution; the industrialization agehas passed. A new era requires new methods. Develop-

ing countries must actor into their development plansthe value o ecological wealth and rely on renewable en-ergy sources such as biouel, biomass, geothermal, hy-droelectricity, solar energy, tidal power, wave power and

wind power. Wealthy and developed countries like the United

State and the EU should be leading the rest o the worldin sustainable practices. This can be achieved by notonly setting higher standards or themselves, but alsoby supporting developing countries in adopting cleanertechnology aimed at mitigating global warming and ad-aptation education. Countries with ecological decits

must also ensure that they maintain healthy ecologicalreserves in countries they borrow rom, while not in-ringing on their ability to rise rom economic poverty.

As we hand our planet down to our youth, presentday decision makers must understand the importanceo staying within ecological limits. We must also real-ize that countries and regions with surplus ecologicalreservesnot the ones relying on continued ecologicaldecit spendingwill emerge as the robust and sustain-able economies and societies o the uture. Maintain-ing stable ecological ootprints will allow us to meet theneeds o todays generation without compromising the

needs o uture generations.Author:Jessica Williamson

Sources: www.footprintnetworker.com/ Global Footprint

Network; www.panda.org / WWF Living Planet Report

United Nations Environment Programme UNEP reports

www.worldmapper.org; http://www.un.org/esa/population/

United Nations Population Division; Scientific American Earth

3.0, Summer 2009, Population and Sustainablility by Robert

Ingleman; The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard; Our Common

Future, by the World Commission on Environment

and Development, 1987.


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Spring 2010

Health and Environment:PRESENTATION FROM UNEP BRIEFING ON

CHEMICAL/WASTE CONVENTIONS MEETING, JANUARY 29, 2010

Basel, Rotterdam

and Stockholm Conventionsl Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed con-

sent (PIC) procedure for certain hazardous chemi-cals and pesticides moving in international trade- entered into orce February 2004 - 131 Parties- Secretariat UNEP/FAO Geneva/Rome

l Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollut-ants (POPs)- entered into orce May 2004 - 168 Parties- Secretariat UNEP Geneva

l Basel Convention on the Control of TransboundaryMovements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal- entered into orce May 1992 - 172 Parties- Secretariat UNEP - Geneva

Tools for Lifecycle ManagementChemicals Coveredl9 o the 21 intentionally produced POPs are subject to

the Rotterdam Convention;l anticipate that in uture intentionally produced POPs in

the Stockholm Convention will be rst included in the RC;las wastes all chemicals will be subject to the Basel Con-

vention.

National focal points/

Designated National Authoritieslencourage integrated implementation o common issues;lclose cooperation among ocal points and with those

responsible or chemical regulation;l use inormation available under the RC and SC to

strengthen national decision making on chemicals.

Development of national implementationplans/prioritieslnational rameworks or chemicals management

llegislation/regulations/enorcementltechnical capacity

Import/Export controlsl work through UNEP Green Customs initiative and

World Customs Orgnisationlhelp to prevent accumulation o new stockpiles

The beginning of current processlThe Ad Hoc Joint Working Group on enhancing coop-

eration and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdamand Stockholm Conventions (AHJWG) was establishedin 2006 by decisions taken by the COPs o each.

lAHJWG.- was composed o 15 representatives o Parties to each

o the three conventions;- had three co-chairs (rom Chile, China and Finland);- met three times (Helsinki, March 2007; Vienna, De-

cember 2007; Rome, March 2008).

COPs agree to Synergies decisionsl The Conerences o the Parties to the Basel Conven-

tion (decision IX/10, June 2008), Rotterdam Conven-tion (decision RC-4/11,October 2008) and StockholmConvention (decision SC-4/34, May 2009) adoptedthe drat decisions prepared by the AHJWG withoutany substantive amendments.

lThese decisions, among other things, set in motion theestablishment o joint services among the Conventionsand the process or the rst meetings o the extraordi-nary COPs o the 3 Conventions to be held simultane-ously and in coordination with the UNEP GC/SS andGMEF in February 2010.


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Spring 20106

Agenda for the ExCOPslFinal decisions on joint services (secretariat report)lDecisions on joint activities (secretariat report)lDecisions on joint management (independent study)lDecisions on synchronizing budget cycles and joint au-

dits (secretariat reports)lDecisions on review mechanisms and ollow up (secre-

tariat report)lReports on inormation received ED o UNEP and the sec-

retariats on activities or proposals or joint institutions.

Joint activitieslCooperation between the three conventions has taken

place over the years but the synergies process led tomore deliberate eorts to think synergies rst beorestarting any new project or program.

lPast and ongoing cooperation includes participationin the green customs program, chemicals and waste

management enorcement in South East Asia and rep-resentation at WTO meeting.

lSeveral new activities are underway or planned which in-volve all three conventions including workshops on im-plementation o synergies at the national and regionallevels, development o a joint clearing house mechanism

joint planning o technical assistance activities, trainingor technical subsidiary bodies members, support tothe Arica, Caribbean and Pacic (ACP) Programme,

joint activities with the FAO and UNEP regional oces,and Basel and Stockholm regional centres

l In the uture, a joint global public awareness cam-paign is to be launched on the liecycle managemento chemicals and waste on how the conventions helpcountries to ensure that chemicals are used saely. Co-operation is also planned on liecycle management oindustrial chemicals, national reporting and trainingon developing legislation.

NCDs ON THE GLOBAL HEALTH AGENDANon-communicable diseases, or NCDs, exist today as a lead-

ing threat to human health and development. Unlike communica-

ble diseases, NCDs are not spread by contact because most are

not caused by germs, but rather by genetic, lifestyle, or environ-

mental factors. Four of the most prominent non-communicable

diseases, namely cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic ob-

structive pulmonary diseases and diabetes are commonly linked

to preventable risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet

and physical inactivity. These four diseases are classified as si-

lent killers and are responsible for 60% of all deaths globally.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has obtained

sufficient evidence to prove that poverty contributes to NCDs, with

80% occurring in low and middle-income countries. The poorestpeople in developing countries are affected the most, with more

exposure to risk factors due to the lack of available resources for

early detection, prevention and treatment.

Compared to other regions in the Americas, the prevalence

and mortality rates of non-communicable diseases in the Car-

ibbean are considered to be exceedingly high. The Caribbean

Community, otherwise known as CARICOM, has noted that 62%

of deaths in the Caribbean were from NCDs, particularly car-

diovascular disease and diabetes, which together account for

40% of deaths in the region. These deaths in the region could

be attributed to unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, both of

which could be prevented. However, because the region lacks

effective health care services, many of the people suffering fromnon-communicable diseases are unable to get equitable access

to prevention and treatment.

The WHO has reported that the number of deaths from NCDs

is double the number of deaths that result from infectious diseas-

es (communicable diseases) such as, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and

malaria, but the action to control and prevent non-communicable

diseases garners less international attention as opposed to com-

municable diseases. In addition, the need to combat NCDs is

currently absent from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),

which were established in 2001 by the United Nations member

states. This omission of non-communicable diseases from the

MDGs may further restrict related targets from being fulfilled by

2015 if attention is not paid to reducing the silent epidemic of

non-communicable diseases, which contributes to the increas-

ingly high mortality rate worldwide. Therefore, more action needs

to be taken to address the burgeoning mortality rate of NCDs

by integrating preventive and control strategies at the individual,

community, and national levels.

Many diseases are the direct or indirect result of harm-

ful lifestyle behaviors, but healthful lifestyle behaviors can help

prevent or control certain diseases and disorders. To combat

the spread of non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean,CARICOM, has declared the second Saturday in September

Caribbean Wellness Day. The strategy to create a day dedi-

cated to health and wellness was to help reduce chronic dis-

eases by discouraging tobacco use and unhealthy diets, and

stimulating increased physical activity and exercise among in-

dividuals and the region as a whole. People from all countries,

regardless of the status of the country, should have the right to

the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

According to CARICOM and the Caribbean Wellness Day mes-

sage, we should all be able to Love That Body.Sources: 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategyfor the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Dis-eases. World Health Organization, 2008.; Lieberman, Amy.

Caribbean Nations Push for Resolution to Address Non-Communicable Diseases. Europa Newswire, 5 Feb. 2010,Web: europanewsblog.com/2010/02/caribbean-nations-push-for-resolution-to-address-noncommunicable-diseases.html;Press Conference on CARICOM Non-communicable Diseas-es Initiative. United Nations Press Conference. Departmentof Public Information, News and Media Division, New York,5 Feb. 2010, Web: 10 Feb. 2010. un.org/News/briefings/docs/2010/100205_CARICOM.doc.htm; World Health Organi-zation. Facts Related to Chronic Diseases, Web: who.int/diet-physicalactivity/publications/facts/chronic/en/index.html.


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Spring 2010

Global Glacial Melting

Rate is Increasing According to the latest study

by the UNEP and WGMS (WorldGlacier Monitoring Service), the

global average melting rate o gla-ciers has doubled in the past dec-ade. Additionally, the melting ratehas increased with each succeedingdecade since 1975. Record losses

were recorded in 2006. It is becom-ing clear that climate change andglobal air temperature increases areresponsible or the shrinking andthinning o glaciers worldwide. In-creased melting o glaciers will haveenvironmental impacts on water and

energy supply, vegetation patterns,and natural hazards, especially in

vulnerable parts o the world. Unor-tunately, these more susceptible ar-eas- the Poles, the Tropics, and Cen-tral Asia- are also the regions withthe least available data on glacial

melting patterns. The report high-lighted the potential or problems

with water supply on a continentalscale and rising sea levels worldwide.Going orward, it will be crucial toimplement the latest technologies,like high-resolution remote sensingand geo-ormatics, to better monitorglacial activity in remote areas.Source: unep.org/Documents.Multilin-gual/Default.asp?DocumentID=608&Art

icleID=6449&l=en&t=long http://www.

unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.

asp?DocumentID=608&ArticleID=6449&l

=en&t=long

POPs and the

Indigenous PopulationsSeveral studies over the past

decade have created a tie betweendiabetes and exposure to Persistent

Organic Pollutants, such as PCBs,Dioxins, and DDT. This nding isespecially important or indigenouspopulations, which oten recordhigher-than-average diabetes rates.

According to a UN report, more thanhal o the adult (over 35) indigenouspopulation has Type 2 Diabetes. Tra-ditional wisdom points to obesity,diets heavy in meat and sugar, andlack o exercise as the primary actorsor the disease. But examination o

certain indigenous communities hasraised concern over environmentalpollution as a major indicator. Indig-enous settlements are oten downri-

ver rom polluting industries or oth-erwise disproportionately exposedto these harmul chemicals. For in-

stance, the Mohawk community o Akwesasne, along the St. LawrenceRiver, is downstream rom aluminumoundries that discarded PCBs intothe river or years. High blood levelso POPs is related to adult diabetesas is the consumption o meat anddairy products which are staples othe western diet adopted by the indig-enous communities.. Unortunately,these ndings have not gained much

attention rom the government.Source: www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/3129

Accelerated Forest

Growth Attributed

to Climate ChangeSelect orests in the Eastern United

States have recently displayed growthat a much aster rate than what hasbeen the norm or 225 years. In a cur-rent 22 year study, ecologists o theSmithsonian Environmental ResearchCenter (SERC) have been analyzingthe maturity o over 20,000 plottedtrees in Maryland, US. The data re-trieved rom their measurements in-dicate that the orests have annuallyacquired an extra 2 tons o biomassper acre (on average). Leading causesor this change appear to be a 3/10th

Historic and recent photos of Grinnell Glacier. Taken from the same point,

the photographs clearly demonstrate the retreat of Grinnell Glacier over 88 years.

Source: www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/products/GCC/Bioscience_Hall_03.pdf

Source: http://www.akwesasne.ca/news/

ASPSP/ASPSPV1A40.html


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Spring 20108

NUCLEAR

ENERGY REVISITEDThe passion surrounding nuclear

power is engaging Washington as twoissues have reentered the public do-main: increasing loan guarantees tonew projects and the casting aside ofa permanent storage facility for nu-clear waste. While the nuclear indus-try has gotten a second wind, it is stillgetting sideswiped by opponents. Assuch, it may be too soon to pronounceits official revival. But the reality is thatthe energy source has earned biparti-san support. The Bush administrationsaw it as a way to increase the nations

energy independence while Obamas

team mostly views it as a potential toolto combat climate change. The onething that both sides can agree on isthat the capital costs associated withconstructing nuclear power plants aretremendous. According to Moodys

Investor Services, the number is akinto $9 billion per reactor -- a lot morethan a conventional fossil-fired plantor a renewable energy facility.Source: energycentral.com/

o a degree increase in temperature,longer growth season o 7.8 days, anda 12% increase in atmospheric CO2.However, the results rom this study

have not been able to be conrmedin other regions o the world. SERCecologists desire to have more compre-hensive research rom ecosystems out-side o Maryland to determine i this isa local phenomenon, or a wide spreadbyproduct o climate change.Source: Smithsonian Environmental

Research Center, February 1, 2010

http://sercblog.si.edu/?p=466

Author: Tina Tennessen

Plastic Bags in Japan

Contain Lead

Lead is a serious environmentalpollutant as well as a major health riskor humans that are exposed to the

toxin at high levels. There have re-cently been reports that Japanese su-permarkets are distributing coloredplastic bags used to carry ood prod-ucts that have reported high levels olead in the dye. The dye used to colorthe bags contains lead levels that arealmost 100 times greater than theEuropean Union standard permits.Most o the bags have been burnedat waste disposal plants, but plasticbags that are already in circulationpose potential environmental risks.It is a direct concern or humans as

well, or the ood placed inside othese bags may have been in contact

with the lead thereore raising a seri-ous health issue. Lead-contaminatedplastic bags have become an increas-ing trend within the nation o Japan

where it is estimated that 84 to 110tons o lead are used in the produc-tion o plastic bags annually.Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.

php?idn=7&sid=&nid=7&rid=258000

Increased Seismic

Activity in the Caribbean

Region Poses Threat

to all Island NationsFollowing the earthquake that

struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, theCaribbean islands pose a new area oconcern or potential environmentalcatastrophes. The Caribbean is a re-gion o high seismic activity but hasnot been considered a critical issueprior to Haitis recent earthquake.Due to relative inactivity within recent

years, the Caribbean region has beenoverlooked in regard to natural envi-ronmental threats. Now that attentionis being drawn to Haiti and her sur-rounding island nations, environmen-

tal experts suggest that the earthquakein Haiti is only the beginning o a se-ries o possible environmental disas-ters. The last major seismic event, 240

years ago, resulted in a century-longoccurrence o earthquakes along the

westward region o the island o His-paniola. This historical act signiesthe long-term danger that Haitiansmay ace in years to come. The accu-

Source: http://crag.org/our-work/public-

lands/climate-change-initiative/mulating strain along geologic aults,such as the Enriquillo and Septentri-onal aults, are o great concern to sur-rounding Caribbean populations. Dueto the increased movement o the Car-

ibbean tectonic plate, environmen-tal events such as volcano eruptions,landslides, tsunamis, and earthquakesare prone to occur within this area oincreased seismic activity.Source: http://www.nytimes.

com/2010/01/26/science/26fault.

html?scp=1&sq=seismic%20activity%20

in%20the%20caribbean&st=cse


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Spring 2010

Panasonic Unveils

Concept for a Virtually

Zero-CO2-Emissions

House that Conserves,

Generates, and Stores

EnergyThe overall intensity o societys

response to environmental chal-lenges today seems to have rapidlyaccelerated, and policies aimed atpursuing the dual goals o achievinga healthy ecology and economy arebeing vigorously promoted aroundthe world. In concert with this trend,the consumer electronics industry is

also undergoing signicant changes.Source:JFS Newsletter No.88

(December 2009). japanfs.org/

en/mailmagazine/newsletter/

pages/029641.html

Japans Fisheries Group

Earns Worlds First MSC

Certification for Skipjack

Pole and Line FisheryJapans Tosakatsuo Suisan Group

announced on November 4, 2009,that its pole and line skipjack tunashery has received a Marine Stew-ardship Council (MSC) certicateor sustainable and well-managedsheries. It is the rst time that askipjack tuna shery has been award-ed such MSC certication.Source:japanfs.org/en/pages/

029670.html

Lawn on Wheels -

Cool Car Roof in Okinawa

Mr. Mitsuji Chinen o Naha-city,Okinawa, successully grew grass onhis car roo, maintaining a comort-able interior temperature withoutusing the air-conditioner even insummer. The idea occurred to himin 2007 when his cars air-condi-tioner broke down and he neededto do something to keep the carcool. Since his mother dislikes air-conditioning, he decided to create a

condition similar to tree shade. Thesolution he came up with, which hethought would be both aesthetic andecological, was to make a garden onhis car roo, and he chose grass or acharming look.Source:japanfs.org/en/pages/

029674.html

Green Games for

2010 Winter Olympics

in VancouverOver the past three years, the

Vancouver Organizing Committee(VANOC) and the United NationsEnvironmental Programme (UNEP)have partnered to establish environ-

mentally riendly initiatives to mini-mize the carbon impact o the 2010

Winter Olympic Games. The environ-mentally riendly initiatives span romthe green construction o Olympic

venues and an expanded public trans-portation system to onsite eaturessuch as low fow toilets that use rainwa-ter or fushing, energy ecient grass-clad roos, and extended recyclingoptions or compostable waste. UNEP

will run a review o the Olympics

green perormance later this year. The VANOC and UNEP aspire to bringabout broader awareness o climatechange and environmental degrada-tion during the Olympic games. A Do

Your Part video contest or Canadianyouth aged 13 to 24 was organized withthis aspiration in mind. The contesters

were asked to produce a short videoon how youth can lessen the worldscarbon ootprint by leading environ-mentally riendly liestyles. As part oits campaign to lessen the carbon oot-print o major sporting events, UNEPis working with the organizers o thenext Winter Olympics, to be held in2014 in Sochi, Russia.Source: UNEP, http://www.unep.org/

Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?Doc

umentID=612&ArticleID=6460&l=en

Pacific pole-and-line tuna catchers. Source: Greenpeace


10/16


Spring 201010

Chornobyl Update:THE 46TH MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE,

FEBRUARY 12, 2010 - A YEAR OF DAUNTING CHALLENGESThe Munich Security Con-

erence (MSC) addressedmany o the topics that had

marked the discussions o thepast ew years: the Middle EastPeace, Aghanistans contin-ued instability, the eorts othe EU to become a more rel-evant actor on global securityissues. The nuclear issue washighlighted by Irans oreignminister appearing on a sur-prise visit.

Forty years ater enteringinto orce, the treaty on the

Non-Prolieration o Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which wasextended indenitely in 1995,

will see another ve-year re-view in May 2010 at UN head-quarters in New York. Securityexperts and leaders embrace Global Zero a new pushor disarmament. President Obamas Prague speech putthe weight o his oce behind abolishing nuclear weap-ons in the long run. This objective received a positive re-sponse rom Russian President Dmitry Medvedev , andit was lent credibility rom a group o elder statesmen

including Henry Kissinger, George P. Shultz, Klaus Nau-mann, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Helmut Schmidt.

A group o experts has since triedto operationalize the objective o a

world ree o nuclear arms with the

Global Zero Action Plan (www.globalzero.org ) which aims or aour-staged complete nuclear disar-mament process until 2030. The newpositive spirit was encouraging but thediculties immense. Russias propos-als or a comprehensive European Se-curity Architecture got caught up in anet o suspicions, and the glimpses ohope over new fexibility in Tehransposition quickly vanished.

At this years conerence, there

was a separate program or MunichYoung Leaders ahead o the mainevent. Twenty-fve participantsrom 17 countries had been select-ed by MSC and the Krber Founda-tion which unds these eorts. In

discussion rounds, presentations and inormal gather-ings, these emerging leaders in the oreign and securityfeld rom across the globe are more closely introducedto the established policy community. For additional in-ormation see: www.securityconerence.de.

Source: worldsecuritynetwork.com, World Security Network

reporting from the 46th Munich Security Conference,

February, 12, 2010

Source: Microscopiq.com

Between 1996 and 2007, the use o advanced im-aging during doctors visits increased veold amongadults under 65 years o age and quadrupled amongadults 65 years o age and over (Figure 25). In 2007,12% o visits among persons under 65 years o age and

26% o visits among persons 65 years o age and overincluded advanced imaging scans ordered or provid-ed during the visit.

Although use o these technologies in ambulatorysettings has increased, hospitals continue to perormthem on an inpatient basis. The rate o use o at leastone MRI during a given hospital stay among adults hasremained relatively stable since 1990.

AMERICANS ARE EXPOSED TO SEVEN TIMES

MORE RADIATION FROM DIAGNOSTIC SCANS THAN IN 1980

Most medical imaging is considered to be low risk;however, it is not without risk. The National Academyo Sciences Biologic Eects o Ionizing Radiation

VII (BEIR VII) report on the eect o low-level ion-izing radiation concludes that or any exposure to ra-

diation, a linear relationship exists between the doseo radiation and an increased risk o cancer. Con-cerns have also been raised about standards or im-age quality and interpretation. A recent report by theGovernment Accountability Oce concluded thatthe increase in imaging in physician oces, whichhave less oversight than more institutional settings,may be problematic.


11/16


Spring 2010

Year Physician off ice and hospital outpatient department visits

AS ages Under 65 years 65 years and over

Visits per100 pers.

SE Visits per100 pers.


SE

1996 3.9 0.4 32 0.3 9.0 1.3

1997 3.7 0.3 3.1 0.3 8.4 1.1

1998 4.3 0.4 3.5 0.3 10.3 1.4

1999 5.4 0.6 4.6 0.5 11.4 1.9

2000 5.6 0.5 4.6 0.4 12.7 2.0

2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a




2005 9.2 0.8 7.3 0.7 23.0 3.2

2006 10.3 0.7 8.2 0.6 25.7 2.4

2007 12.6 1.1 10.0 0.9 31.1 3.2

Emergency department visits

AS ages Under 65 years 65 years and over

Visits per100 pers.



SE

3.2 0.1 0.9 0.1 3.2 0.3

1.3 0.1 1.0 0.1 3.3 0.3

1.6 0.1 1.2 0.1 4.1 0.5

1.9 0.1 1.5 0.1 4.3 0.4

2.1 0.1 1.7 0.1 5.5 0.4

2.4 0.1 2.0 0.1 5.8 0.4

2.8 0.2 22 0.1 6.9 0.5

3.1 0.1 2.5 0.1 7.5 0.6

3.6 0.2 3.0 0.2 7.7 0.6

4.4 0.2 3.7 0.2 9.5 0.6

4.8 0.3 4.1 0.2 9.9 0.6

5.6 0.4 4.7 0.3 12.5 0.9

AMBULATORY CARE VISITS WITH MRI/CT/PET SCANS ORDERED OR PROVIDED

DURING THE VISIT, BY AGE AND LOCATION OF CARE: UNITED STATES, 1996-2007

More Good NewsChina: Poised to

Dominate the Green-

Technology SectorWith one o the highest public in-

vestment rates o the G-20 countries,China has not hesitated in ashioningan expansionary scal policy that will

heavily subsidize capital investmentsin the green-technology sector as glo-bal economic conditions improve.The recent decision to hike the rate oreserves required to be held by banks

will soak up some o the excess liquid-ity that is threatening the stability o itsnancial system. And despite eortsto curb lending, China will continueto pressure banks to loan to investors

willing to contribute to the nationalstock o green-technology capital, par-ticularly in wind turbines, solar energyand electric car batteries.

Economists can predict a loom-ing shit in the structure o the globaleconomy towards green-technology inorder to accommodate our rising de-mand or natural resources. It is impor-tant to accept that green investment islargely dependent on fuctuations in

energy prices. As the price per barrel

o oil peaked at $147.29 in July 2008, itmade sense or governments and cor-porations to act on their environmentalambitions; but since global prices havedipped, our attention has been divert-ed. In the ourth quarter o 2009, USclean-technology investment ell 45%.Chinas prudence to realize the vulner-ability o energy prices - as well as globalscarcity o natural resources and the ris-ing costs o accessing them - will surelypay o in the near uture.

By positioning themselves as theglobal leader in the largest emergingindustry o the twenty-rst century,China has ound a way to maintain itsrapid rate o government-engineeredeconomic growth. As the rest o the

world recovers rom nancial crisisand rising budget decits, investors

will fock to the new East Asian mar-

ket. Indeed, the China Green TechReport 2009 conrmed that Chinasgreen-technology sector will attractmore investment and create a market

with a potential value o one trillionUS dollars annually.

Developing countries have thehistorical tendency to resist policymeasures that embrace the greenrevolution, as it is widely believed that

environmental protection can only beachieved through ederal mandatesthat would discourage internationaltrade and oreign investment in theregion. China will prove this assump-tion wrong. Through an aggressivescal policy, China will create jobs,attract oreign investment, service itsdebt and acilitate economic growththat is sustainable in the long run.Emerging markets should look to theEast or a new model o economic de-

velopment in the twenty-rst centurythrough public investment in green-technology.Source: newshopper.sulekha.com/correc-tion-china-green-technology_photo_964413.

htm; latimesblogs.latimes.com/technol-

ogy/2010/02/us-cleantech-investment-

falls-45-in-fourth-quarter.html; money.cnn.

com/2010/01/27/technology/china_clean_

energy.fortune; english.peopledaily.com.

cn/90001/90776/90883/6754574.html

Source: www.thedailymaverick.co.za

Rapid growth in these relatively expensive imagingprocedures has been the subject o several recent stud-ies that attempt to examine the reasons or this growthand have raised concerns that some imaging may be

unnecessary. Medicare Part B spending or imaging

services under the physician ee schedule more thandoubled between 2000 and 2006, rom $6.9 billion to$14.1 billion.Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys; National Acad-

emy of Sciences Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII).


12/16


Spring 201012

More Did You Know

Unsolved problems

in foodborne diseases:

questions to be

answered.

As new oodborne problems

emerge, several questions need tobe answered beore the problem canbe successully controlled. It takescareul scientic observation andresearch to answer these questions.Some pressing unanswered ques-tions include:

How do the oodborne patho-gens spread among the animalsthemselves, and how can this beprevented? This includes E. coliO157:H7 among cattle, SalmonellaEnteritis among egg-laying hens,and Campylobacter in broiler chick-ens. I we could prevent the animalsrom becoming inected in the rstplace, we would not have as muchillness in the humans who eat them.

What is the microbial cause o out-breaks in which no pathogen can beidentied by current methods? This

is true or over hal o the reportedoodborne outbreaks. Will wider ap-plication o existing experimental di-agnostic methods help, or are theseoutbreaks caused by pathogens wesimply do not yet know how to iden-tiy?

What would be the impact o basicood saety education o restaurant

workers on the risk o oodborne dis-ease among restaurant patrons?

How can the ood and water thatanimals consume be made saer?

How can we dispose o animalmanure useully, without threaten-ing the ood supply and the environ-ment?

How can basic ood saety prin-ciples be most eectively taught toschool children?

How can we be sure ood saetystandards in other countries are asgood as those in the United States?

As we import more o our resh oodsrom other countries, we need to becondent that they are produced

with the same level o saety as oodin the United States.

What control strategies in theslaughter plant will reduce the con-tamination o poultry meat withCampylobacter?

How can irradiation pasteuriza-tion o certain high risk oods, suchas ground bee, be used most eec-tively?

How do raspberries in Central America get contaminated with Cy-clospora in the rst place? Does thisparasite have an animal reservoir?

How can alala sprouts and otherraw sprouts be produced saely?Sprouts are unique among oods inthat the conditions or sprouting are

also perect or bacterial growth, andthey are not cooked ater that.Source: US Center for Disease

Control, National Center for

Immunization and Respiratory Diseases:

Division of Bacterial Diseases, October

25, 2005; http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/

dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.

htm#criticalproblems

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/kansas-

explorer3128/136632570/

The Way Things Work.

Matagalpa, Nicaragua. I want to be

just like mother she said; I do not play

sports, my brothers do.

Young and Calloused.

A little girl aids her mother in preparing

lemons for juicing on a weekday.

Down with the Burden Pass it On.

Son follows in his mothers footsteps,

selling water on the streets of Managua,

Nicaragua.

HEREDITARY


13/16


Spring 2010

World Information Transfers 19th International Conference on Health and En-

vironment: Global Partners for Global Solutions, on the theme:

CHEMICALS AND CHILDRENS HEALTH:

CHALLENGES FOR A CHANGING CLIMATEThursday April 22 &

Friday April 23, 2010

UN Headquarters, New York

Co-sponsored by theGovernment of Ukraine

Organized byWorld Information Transfer

Register online at - www.worldinfo.org

Register by e-mail: [email protected]

Register by fax: 212-686-2172

Pre-registration is mandatory by April 1, 2010.

Luncheon reservations must be received by April 18, 2010.

Student Group Registrations MUST be completed online

Global Perspectives 2050The Vision 2050 Report: The new agenda or busi-

ness launched on February 4, 2010 by the World BusinessCouncil or Sustainable Development (WBCSD) outlinesa plan leading to a global population o 9 billion peopleliving well within the resource limits o the planet by 2050.The report was released at the World CEO Forum in NewDelhi, India where 29 leading companies representing 14dierent industries met. The Vision 2050 Report speci-es the must have things that must happen over thecoming decade to make a sustainable society a reality.

Among these are: addressing the development needs obillions o people through education, economic assist-ance, and instilling the eco-ecient solutions and behav-iors; incorporating the costs o externalities, starting withcarbon, ecosystem services and water; doubling agricul-tural output without increasing the amount o land or wa-

ter used; halting deorestation and increasing yields romplanted orests; reducing carbon emissions worldwideby shiting to low-carbon energy system; and improveddemand-side energy eciency. The Report can be oundat: http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/dhxR1BWYVPX-3e6wr0vZQ/Vision_2050_FullReport_040210.pdSource: World Council for Business, Vision 2050: New Agenda

for Business, February 4, 2010.

Voices for Healing our Planet OurselvesOn March 26 and 27, 2010, riends rom all corners o

the world will gather on the campus o West Chester Uni-

versity or a unique two-day event with world-renownedentertainer, philanthropist, advocate or health and theenvironment, and ACEER Foundation Board Member-Ol-ivia Newton-John. Olivia: Voices or Healing...Our Planet...Ourselves will oer conversation, refection, and song tobenet the ACEER Foundation (Amazon Center or Envi-ronmental Education and Research), the College o HealthSciences, and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and WellnessCentre Appeal.

April 22, 2010 Morning: 10 to 1 PM

CHORNOBYL UPDATE

Lunch 1 to 3 PMby invitation onlyAfternoon: 3 to 6 PM

CHEMICALS AND CHILDRENS HEALTH

April 23, 2010 Morning: 10 to 1PM

CHEMICALS AND CHILDRENS HEALTH

The event begins Fri-day evening, March 26 withthe keynote address o thecolleges 11th IntegrativeHealth Conerence: Inte-grative Strategies or Breast

Cancer. Olivia, a breastcancer thriver hersel, willpresent. On Saturday, March27, Olivia will join a notableassembly o cancer expertsor sessions on integrativeapproaches to cancer prevention and treatment. The pro-ceeds o this two day event will urther environmental con-servation mission o the ACEER Foundation.Source: http://www.wcupa.edu/ aceer/onj/

IV Por Colombia Student Conference:

Colombia: Prospects and OpportunitiesApril 10th and 11th, 2010 in Washington, D.C.The IV Por Colombia Student Conerence brings to-

gether students, journalists, environmental activists, andbusiness leaders to share their insights about the realeconomic and political panorama in Colombia today. Inrecognition o the environmental challenges acing Co-lombia and the necessity o youth involvement in design-ing novel solutions, this years conerence will eature anentire panel dedicated to environmental issues.

Colombia has the second most diverse natural environ-

ment in the Americas (next to Brazil) and has long been oneo the most active western hemispheric nations in climatechange negotiations including the United Nations Frame-

work Convention on Climate Change. This panel will in-clude an overview o Colombian biodiversity and what canbe done to protect it and actions which can be taken to mit-igate climate change, including environmental side agree-ments in Colombias Free Trade Agreements and the novelsolutions currently in place in Las Gaviotas, Colombia.Source:porcolombiastudentconference.org


14/16


Spring 201014

Point o View,continuing rom page 16

exposure discoveredthat requent cell phoneusers in the early stageso lie (teenage years)

were ve times morelikely to develop braincancer than those onlystarting to use a mobiledevice as an adult.

COUNTERPOINT - Although a plethora ostudies have been con-ducted on the harmuleects o EMR on hu-man health, a recentarticle published in the

Journal o Alzheimers Disease presents a dierent per-

spective. In the article, Arendash and colleagues arguethat there is a lack o evidence suggesting that EMRexposure is detrimental to human health. The authorsindicate that EMR exposure might actually provide cog-nitive benets in human health by partially mitigatingthe eects o those already aficted with Alzheimers dis-ease, or better yet, prevent the disease rom occurringall together.

Additionally, in a long-term study conducted onAlzheimers diseased mice, two groups o mice were ex-posed to the same requency o EMR. The results indi-

cated that the exposed mice without the disease experi-enced cognitive-protective benets; that is, they becameless likely to suer rom additional impairment aterEMR exposure. Similarly, the diseased mice also saw

cognitive-enhancing eects with increased blood fow

and brain activity, thus minimizing the adverse eectso the disease. As a result, new ndings on the cogni-tive benets o EMR generate the question o whetheror not electromagnetic radiation can be benecial orhuman health. However, while these results are by nomeans denitive, uture research should be conductedto properly deduce the relationship between EMR andhuman health.

Finally, the World Health organization (WHO) as wellas a number o other respectable health organizationshave come to similar conclusions. In act, one WHO

publication notes that EMRs have been around sincethe birth o the universe. This study indicates that light(which is omnipresent) as well as a number o other typeso EMR which have been around or eternity, are still themost prevalent orms o EMR ound today.

In conclusion, while these studies are by no meansdenitive, they do beg the question can EMR be ben-ecial to human health?Sources: Arencash, Gary W., et al. Electromagnetic Field

Treatment Protects Against and Reverses Cognitive Impairment

in Alzheimers Disease Mice. Journal of Alzheimers Disease.

(2009); Mercola. Cell Phones are Dangerous, But This May

Be Far Worse.... Electromagnetic Fields: EMF Information forYour Personal Safety. 09 Feb 2010. Mercola.com, Web. 15 Feb

2010. http://emf.mercola.com/sites/emf/archive/2010/02/09/

new-study-confirms-electrical-pollution-from-cell-phones-and-

wifi-is-hazardous.aspx; WHO, Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

Project. World Health Organization (WHO). Web. 20 Feb 2010.

http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/ ; Study Suggests Link Between

Cell Phone Use and Lower Alzheimers Disease Risk -- in Mice

- Physicians First Watch. (2010, January 8). Physicians First

Watch. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from firstwatch.jwatch.org/

cgi/content/full/2010/108/3.Sources: IEEE Spectrum Magazine, August 2000


15/16


Spring 2010

World Inormation Transer, Inc., (WIT) is a not-or-prot, non-govern-mental organization in General Consultative Status with the United Na-tions, promoting environmental health and literacy. In 1987, inspired bythe Chornobyl nuclear tragedy, WIT was ormed in recognition o the press-ing need to provide accurate actionable inormation about our deteriorat-ing global environment and its eect on human health. WIT exercises itsmandate through: World Ecology Report (WER). Published since 1989, the World Ecology

Report is a quarterly digest o critical issues in health and environment,produced in our languages and distributed to thousands o citizens

throughout the developing and developed world. Health and Environment: Global Partners for Global Solutions Con-

ference. Since l992, WIT has convened what we believe to be one o the worlds premier orums or the presentation o scientic papers by in-ternational experts on the growing clinical evidence supporting the linkbetween degrading environments and diminished human health. Theconerence has been convened as a parallel event to the annual meetingo the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. The scientic pa-pers presented at the conerence are available on WITs web site.

Health and Development CD ROM Library. This project consists o alibrary o CDs each o which ocuses on a subject within the overall topico Development and Health inormation. Our Human Inormation CDROM Library oers one bridge across the digital divide or both devel-oped and developing countries. The project is continuous with uturetopics being developed.

Health and Development CD ROM Library for Ukraine. In conjunc-tion with UNDP, WIT has developed a country specic library disc ordistribution in schools and centers in Ukraine.

Humanitarian Aid. In conjunction with the K.Kovshevych Foundation,WIT provides humanitarian aid to schools, hospitals and orphanages inareas devastated by environmental degradation. Shipments include com-puters, clothing, toys and medical equipment.

Internship. World Inormation Transer (WIT) oers internships inNew York City, where our main oce is located. Our goal is to encour-age uture leaders in health and environment. Our interns spend themajority o their time at the United Nations.

Scholarship Program. With the support o the K. Kovshevych Founda-tion, WIT oers scholarships to intellectually gited university studentsin need o nancial assistance to continue their studies in areas related tohealth and environment.

www.worldinfo.orgWIT provides through its web site up to date sciencebased inormation on the relationship between human health and thenatural environment, including the papers rom the WITs annual con-erence, the archived World Ecology Reports, and our new Ecology En-quirer, an e-newsletter written by our Interns targeted to young people.

Centers for Health & Environment. The aim o the Centers is to pro-mote research, education and solutions. The rst center was opened inUkraine in 1992, and the second center opened in Beirut, Lebanon in1997 at Bir Hasan, United Nations Street, Al-Salaam Building.

World Information Transfer

World Ecology ReportWorld Information Transfer, Inc.

(ISSN #1080-3092)475 Park Avenue South, 22nd FloorNew York, NY 10016TELEPHONE: (212) 686-1996FAX (212)686-2172E-MAIL:[email protected] EDITION AVAILABLE ON:

http://www.worldinfo. orgFOUNDER &EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Dr. Christine K. DurbakMANAGING EDITOR:

Dr. Claudia StraussCONTRIBUTING EDITORS:

Valerie J. Chiong, Martha Duff,Barnett Koven, Christopher Martini,

Jessica Williamson, Deeba ZivariWIT spring interns

CIRCULATION MANAGER:

Carolyn ComittaLANGUAGE EDITORS:

CHINESE -Au Yin Yu, Liao Jinghua

RUSSIAN - Natalia Hatki

SPANISH - Patricia Munoz Tavira

UKRAINIAN - Oleh Harasevych

REGIONAL DIRECTORSAFRICA:Dr. Mohamed El-Banna74 Sawra St. Heliopolis, 11341 Cairo, EgyptTel: (202) 368-2887; Fax: (202) 365-0492E-mail: [email protected]

CANADA:Mykola Zilhalov2179 Stir CrescentMississauga L4Y 3V2 Ontario, Canadatel: (647)891-9418E-mail: [email protected]

CHINA:Au Yin Yu (Josephine)Liao Jinghua (Greta)3 Hop Yat Road 4th Floor,Kowloon, Hong Kong, ChinaE-mail: [email protected]

EASTERN EUROPE:Prof. Mykola PrytulaK. Levychkoho11a, #15,Lviv, UkraineTel/Fax: (380) 322 76-40-39 & 76-68-18E-Mail: [email protected]

EUROPEAN UNION:Dr. Michel LootsOosterveldlaan 196B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumTel: 32-3-448-05-54; Fax: 32-3-449-75-74E-Mail: [email protected]

LATIN AMERICA:Patricia Munoz TaviraSleutelstraat 38,2000, Antwerp, BelgiumTel: 32 (0) 48 66 79006E-mail: [email protected]

USA:Dmitry Beyder3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd.Portland, OR 97239Tel: 646-924-8464E-mail: [email protected]

World Inormation Transeris a Non-Proft,Non-GovernmentalOrganization inGeneralConsultative Statuswith the United Nations,Promoting Health andEnvironmental Literacy.

Board of DirectorsDr. Christine K. Durbak,CHAIR & CEO

Roland DeSilvaEXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR

Dr. Claudia StraussVICE CHAIR

Carolyn T. ComittaSECRETARY

Barnett KovenTREASURER

Dr. Ruth EtzelDr. Bernard D.Goldstein

H. E. Valeriy KuchinskyDr. Philip J. LandriganDr. Patricia MyscowskiDr. Maria PavlovaDr. Scott RatzanDr. William N. Rom

Jay Walker


16/16


Spring 201016

Continuing on page 14

Point-Counterpoint:ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN CELL PHONES

BENEFICIAL FOR HUMAN HEALTH?

Source: http://www.ska.ac.za/education/materials.php

POINT - Many prominent researchers have long ar-gued that electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which isemitted by most electronic devices and power sources(cellular phones to high voltage power lines), results innumerous eects that are deleterious to human health.Since all communication between the brain and cells inthe body are transmitted by highly calibrated electro-magnetic pulses, the presence o EMR rom dierentemitters (i.e. televisions, stereos, household appliances,etc.) can result in intererence and disrupt cellular com-munication.

There are a number o recent studies that appear to validate this argument. One example comes rom an

ongoing study prepared in 2007 by the Bioinitiative Working Group. This particular study indicated thatregular exposure to low-level EMR (such as that emittedby cellular phones) could aect human health by dam-aging the immune system, causing various cancers andcontributing to a host o diseases, namely Alzheimersand heart disease. In addition, other studies have rep-licated these results and concluded that low-level EMRexposure does indeed increase the risk o certain typeso cancers, specically melanoma, thyroid and uterinecancer. Furthermore, in a study conducted in Sweden,researchers interested in quantiying the eect o EMR

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