Global Threat Blog

Suicide Bomber enters Ops Center in a wheelchair

I just recently did a research paper on Suicide Bombers some of the techniques they use when in USA Today there is a report about a man using a wheelchair containing hidden explosives talked his way past security - into an Iraqi Operations Center and then blew himself up.  Combine this with last week's attack by an adolescent - and you can see that terrorist groups are really trying to be innovative in their approach to escape detection of their suicide bombers.  The suicide bomber is no longer just some middle aged, poorly educated male who has nothing to live for.  There is a rise in female participation, some posing pregnant, disabled, and participants.  While motivations are uniquely different, the evidence is clear that terrorist are only going to increase their use of suicide bombers and employ whatever means necessary to disguise their bomber.

Violence breaks out over Culling Birds in India

According to the Times of India, five members of a culling team were beaten (their homeguards took off running) when they arrived in a village to resume culling operations.  The villagers beat attacked the team and five team members ended up having to receive medical treatment.  The situation in West Bengal is pensive at best.  The culling of birds in West Bengal is ruining entire villages economically.  At the same time, the outbreaks and spread of H5N1 must be stopped.  There will be more violence as people become desparate to feed their families.  Some are handing over beloved family pets to be culled, while others are hiding them.  Farmers are starting to turn against the government and are finding ways to get around the enforced culling.  This does not bode well for the spread of H5N1 and in fact will contribute to its spread.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has identified another outbreak of H5N1 which now leaves them with 8 provinces reporting outbreaks.

Want to Dance with the Devil?

The Devil's Miner is a documentary that delves into the use of Child Labor in Bolivia.  The film takes us on a journey into the lives of 14 year-old Basilio and his 12 year-old brother Bernardino as they work in a silver mine.  The children worked at an altitude of 15,000 feet and chewed coca leaves and chocolate bars to combat the headaches and fatigue they suffered from.  Bolivia is in a real struggle to curb child labor but they lack the education that is needed.  Children are all too often put in a position to become the providers for the family as is the case with Basilio who lost his father at a young age.  Many miners believe child labor should not happen, but many families cannot do without the labor their children can provide.  Others think that labor is a way to teach responsibility to children, no matter what their age.

On the heels of the above documentary was another film I found on YouTube also about Bolivia and child labor.  This mini-film is about the nearly 4,000 children work in the Cerro Rico mines of Bolivia. Sadly, those who are not injured or buried alive often develop lung diseases. Miners here have a life expectancy of just 39 years-old.  This is a horrible statistic.  Click Here to see the film.

Bird Flu is getting out of Control in Bangladesh and West Bengal

So you think Bird Flu has went away?  Think again.  Recent news stories show an INCREASE in the amount of cases over the last few months.  In fact, there is an alarmingly large outbreak in Bangladesh.  The Gulf Times is reporting that the poultry industry is going to take a bath there and it will effect the livlihoods of the farmers, as poultry is a main industry.  The Daily Star is reporting that the culling of flocks continues in the region.  8 more districts have reported finding infected birds (ducks, chickens, crows, and other).  It is important to note that officials are saying that the spread of the virus has overtaken the country's contamination measures.  There are even reports that some resturants and vendors have bought sick chicken meat and put it in curry stew to sell to poor customers.  The other consideration here is a very large source of nutriants are being taken off the market because Chicken is a protein and now that the disease has infected most of the major producers of chicken in the area, chicken cannot be sold, is being taken off menus and is also one of the least expensive meat items to buy.  The economic impact alone is at an all time miserable mess. 

Neighboring West Bengal is showing signs of containment finally as tests are starting to come back negative.  China and Vietnam have reported human deaths related to Bird Flu this month.  The CDC currently states Cases: 364 Deaths: 230.

Thailand has seen the reoccurance of Bird Flu in 6 of it's providences. 

Keep a close eye on this - Bangladesh is going to be a hot bed if they cannot step up and contain their outbreak.

Another Look at Urth Solution

A few more things I want to add about UR THE SOLUTION (catchy isn't it?) that is important to note, keep your eyes on this company!  There are some great projects under development.  If you are interested in finding out more, check their website - but check it in a few weeks.  The website up now, is in response to a large article that came out in October 2007 (UK Article).  Their new and improved (and more robust) site will be up end of February/early March 2008.   Look in the info/research link for additional reading on the company and other documents I used as reference to the information on this site.

More about sustainability to come....

If you are waiting on Tamiflu to help your flu....

If you are waiting on Tamiflu to help you recover from the flu - any flu, you could be waiting for no reason.  Seasonal influenza is showing a tolerance for Tamiflu rendering the vaccine useless.  It seems the virus has started to develop a resistence against the popular vaccine.  Reuters is reporting that Austraila and now Hong Kong join the list of countries reporting this resistence.  That is added to North America and parts of Europe.