Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news5~17.htm/text0017.txt

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Subject: [UK] Oil firms challenged over coral
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, September 22nd, 1997

Oil firms challenged over coral
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor

GREENPEACE will take on 30 oil companies and the Government in court
tomorrow when it seeks permission to contest the granting of oil licences
in an area of sea known for a rare deep-water coral protected under
European law.

Greenpeace, which wants to stop all exploration in the area west of
Shetland know as the Atlantic Frontier, claims that the Government failed
to consider protecting coral reefs
before the 17th round of oil exploration licences were issued earlier this
year. Coral reefs are listed for protection under a European directive but
no one suggested until this year that
deep-water coral, Lophelia pertusa, which grows over 300 metres down in the
Atlantic, should enjoy the same protection as species in shallower waters.

However, Greenpeace said that there is evidence that Lophelia, which only a
handful of scientists have ever seen alive, supports 800 species of plants
and animals, comparable with coral reefs of the Caribbean or South Seas.

Greenpeace said the Government has not taken steps to protect St Kilda, a
colony of 400,000 breeding birds already protected under the EU birds
directive, from possible oil
spills.

The Government and the 30 companies are expected to field three QCs, with
their own legal teams, in an action that is estimated to be costing
ú500,000 for the two-day hearing alone.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 01:28:30
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Toads' haven saved from farmer's plough
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, September 22nd, 1997

Toads' haven saved from farmer's plough
By Charles Clover Environment Editor

A SUSSEX farmer has been prevented from ploughing up one of the country's
best sites for the common toad, following intervention by Michael Meacher,
the Environment Minister.

English Nature is to pay Justin Harmer, the farmer, not to plough up Offham
Marshes, a site of special scientific interest, near Lewes, East Sussex.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 toads were found there in 1989 when the site was
first protected.

It is the second time this year that Mr Harmer has been prevented from
ploughing up a special site and the second time English Nature has stood by
until there was a public
outcry.

Earlier this year, English Nature proposed to allow Mr Harmer to plough up
the marshes in the River Ouse valley to grow ryegrass or flax. He was
required only to leave narrow buffer zones around the ditches.

English Nature came up with the revised solution, which will prevent
ploughing the fields which are part of the toad's habitat, after a vigorous
campaign by local people and Friends of the Earth and after Mr Meacher
asked English Nature to think again.

Friends of the Earth says it is the second time this year that English
Nature has been "too feeble" to protect a site until forced to do so.
Earlier this year John Gummer, then Environment Secretary, asked English
Nature to reconsider and protect a site on Offham Downs which Mr Harmer had
begun ploughing up to plant flax.

Matt Phillips, wildlife campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "We are
concerned that this will happen again. That is why we are campaigning for
the law to be strengthened."

A mystery remains about Offham Marshes as to why, according to English
Nature, there are virtually no toads left.

As part of the three-year agreement to be negotiated by English Nature, the
farmer will maintain high water levels on the marsh and in the drainage
ditches in the River Ouse
valley in the hope that the toads will come back.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 01:15:40
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK]Ashdown rides to defence of Steel over hunting lobby
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, September 22nd, 1997

Ashdown rides to defence of Steel over hunting lobby
By George Jones, Political Editor.

PADDY Ashdown [leader of the Liberal Democrats] yesterday defended Lord
Steel, the former Liberal leader, after it was revealed that he was paid
nearly ú100,000 while he was an MP to campaign for the pro-hunting lobby.

Lord Steel received a total of ú93,752 for an average of one-and-a-half to
two days' work a week as part-time chairman of the Countryside Movement.
The payments covered a period of 18 months, from October 1995 to the end of
March this year.

Lord Steel's chairmanship was declared as a "remunerated directorship" in
the Commons Register of Members'  Interests, and he was reported to have
admitted that it was  "a well-paid job".

But the disclosure of the total he was paid on the eve of the  Liberal
Democrats' conference in Eastbourne proved embarrassing for the party
leadership. Mr Ashdown said Lord Steel had done nothing wrong. His views on
fox-hunting were not against party policy and were well known.

Mr Ashdown said on BBC television's Breakfast With Frost programme: "It was
out in the open. It was in the Members' Register of Interests. It was
neither wrong, nor was it secret,
nor was it kept from the party membership, nor was it kept from the wider
public."

Earlier this year the Countryside Movement and the Countryside Business
Group amalgamated with the British Field Sports Society. The three joined
forces as the
Countryside Alliance to organise this summer's mass pro-hunting rally in
London, at which Lord Steel spoke.

Mr Ashdown, clearly annoyed at the attention given to the story, criticised
the media for "deliberate and blatant mischief-making". Party officials
said that while Mr Steel was personally opposed to hunting, he did not
believe that other people should be prevented from taking part in the sport.

Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat campaigns and communications chairman, said
Lord Steel had been  "perfectly open" about his role."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 97 07:46:53 UTC
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: National Hunting/Fishing Day
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The Tulsa World is heavily promoting National Hunting/Fishing Day
which is September 27th. A long article in today's paper stresses
how hunters have literally SAVED and BENEFITED wildlife. One excerpt,
"Virtually all species of wildlife, from songbirds and chipmunks to
bald eagles and whooping cranes, benefits from the programs supported
through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and proceeds from
special excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment." It also says,
"Led by President Theodore Roosevelt, sportsmen proposed and supported
the first laws to conserve wildlife and habitat. Roosevelt - a lifelong
avid hunter - dramatically strengthened the federal wildlife program by
establishing our first wildlife refuges and the national forest system.
The first national refuge was Pelican Island in Florida, created
primarily for the purpose of protecting endangered birdlife."

To write the Tulsa World for promoting hunting, yet refusing to allow
any PAID animal rights ads, write to: The Tulsa World, "The People's
Voice," PO Box 1770, Tulsa, OK  74102 or fax: [phone].


-- Sherrill
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 10:20:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Dozens Volunteer for HIV Testing
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

    By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS
      CHICAGO (AP) - Joe Zuniga, who has watched friends and loved
ones die of AIDS, is willing to risk his life for the sake of
science by being injected with a vaccine carrying a live, weakened
strain of HIV.
      Zuniga is not alone. The International Association of Physicians
in AIDS Care announced this weekend that it has 50 volunteers
willing to take part in the project - and dozens of others calling
in offering to participate.
      The volunteers are doctors, nurses or health policy activists