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BurmaNet News January 9, 1996

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"

The BurmaNet News:January 9, 1996
Issue #318

January 9, 1996   (abridged)

Narcotics production and trafficking in the Golden Triangle
will continue and many even increase despite the fact that
drug warlord Khun Sa and his Mong Tai Army (MTA) have given
up the armed struggle for an autonomous Shan State, according
to a situation assessment report by the Office of Narcotics
Control Board (ONCB).

A senior official of the National Security Council also
predicted a possible rise in banditry by elements of the
armed combatants who refuse to give up their arms to Burmese

Although Khun Sa's influence has substantially decreased,
there are still several splinter groups of combatants who are
yet to surrender to Rangoon and who may take over drug
production and trafficking from Khun Sa because Burmese
troops have not achieved full control of the Shan State,
according to the report.

These splinter rebel groups will be the main conduit through
which narcotics will be smuggled into Thailand, the report
said. Besides, Rangoon may implicitly allow Khun Sa and his
men to carry on the illicit trade as usual because Burma
itself does not have adequate financial means to help improve
the livelihood of the Shan people, said the report.

Khun Sa's surrender, according to the report, will do away
with a buffer that used to exist with the presence of the
Shan rebels and put Thai forces in direct confrontation with
Burmese troops. The report predicted more border disputes
between Thailand and Burma because of the poorly demarcated

On a brighter side however, the report said border crossings
in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai which have been
closed by Rangoon since last February may be re-opened so
that border trade can resume. As far as Rangoon is concerned,
the report said the Burmese military junta might use Khun Sa
as a bargaining chip in dealing with the United States or  Asean.

January 9, 1996    Report: AP, Rangoon

Three members of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's
political party, the National League for Democracy, have been
released from jail after nearly three weeks, according to party sources.

Khun Myint Tun, Tin Tun Oo and Saw Tin were arrested on
December 20 after making arrangements to invite Aung San Suu
Kyi to attend the New year's celebration of the Karen ethnic
minority in a northern suburb of Rangoon.

An ethnic Karen, whose name has not been released, was also
arrested. He was freed along with the others last Tuesday,
said an NLD member who demanded anonymity. Mrs Suu Kyi, who
was released from six years of house arrest in July, was
detained briefly by the military as she attempted to drive to
the celebration. They warned her to return to her Rangoon
home, and she complied.

The Karen are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Burma,
which the military government has renamed Myanmar. A segment
of the Karen who live near the Thai border have been waging a
war of independence against the government in Rangoon for
nearly five decades. Burma celebrated the 48th anniversary of
its independence from Britain on Thursday with flag-raising
ceremonies and public lectures around the country. Britain
ruled Burma as colony from 1824 until 1948. (BP)

RELATIONS    January 9, 1996    (abridged)
By Dinesh C Sharma, New Delhi

Indian politicians have expressed concern that a growing
Chinese presence in Burma is posing a security threat to
India. Speaking at a conference on Burma, the politicians
also criticised the "constructive engagement" policy the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and some
Western countries were pursuing with the ruling military
junta in Rangoon.

Conference organiser George Fernandes, the leader of the
opposition Samata party, said the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) had trampled on the aspirations
of the Burmese people with the help of military hardware
supplied by China. He said the Chinese had sold weapons worth
$1.4 billion to the Burmese military and were currently
building roads as part of their strategy to gain access to
the Indian Ocean via Burma.

China is threatening the peace of South and Southeast Asia by
building a naval base in the Coco Islands, he charged. India
faces a grave threat because the base is located only 40
kilometres north of India's Andaman islands. The Chinese
already are using the Coco base for spying on Indian naval
bases in the Andamans, he said.

 Former Foreign Minister I.K. Guiral, who attended the conference,
was also critical of the Chinese presence in Burma. The three-day
conference which ended on Saturdaym, adopted an action plan
that calls for the economic blockade of Burma and urges the
implementation of United Nations resolutions on the country.

Former prime minister Chandrashekhar opened the conference,
which was attended by human rights activists and Burma
watchers from ten countries, as well as Burmese exiles in
India. The ruling Congress Party sent former foreign minister
K Natwar Singh as its representative.

According to Mr Fernandes, the Slorc saw this as tantamount
to official assent to the conference and cancelled permission
previously given for an Indian delegation to attend the 60th
anniversary celebrations in Rangoon of the Indian National
Army. The INA operated from the Burmese capital during the
Second World War.

On the question of "constructive engagement", conference
participants said advocates who believed it was possible to
civilise the Burmese military rulers by investing in that
country effectively were putting a premium on barbarism. In
fact, Asean and others who were "constructively engaging" the
military junta should examine the political and military
aspects of the China-Burma axis for the future of peace in
South and Southeast Asia, they added.

At the same time, Mr Fernandes also called for closure of
trade points opened recently on India's border with Burma. He
argued that these crossings had boosted the trade in
narcotics drugs. The influx of narcotics from the Burmese
side of the border had caused a high incidence of AIDS/HIV in
India's northeastern border states, he said.

The conference expressed solidarity with Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and called for the immediate
transfer of power to her National League for Democracy party,
which won a landslide victory in elections in 1990. The
conference also resolved to raise public opinion in different
countries for democracy to be restored in Burma.

In a message to the conference, Mrs Suu Kyi expressed
appreciation for the support of India's pro-democracy people,
and stressed the importance of interdependence in today's world.

January 8, 1996

Dear Shan H.NG.P

Thank you for the informative reports on MTA surrender. We can
always make do with reliable reports from inside the country.

I cannot however agree with the assessment by your "source" that
"I wouldn't be surprised if she and her party found themselves
losing their stature both nationally and internationally" because
the MTA surrender will enable SLORC to exploit the situation.

The struggle by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for
Democracy has always been for a legitimate cause -- democracy and
human rights in Burma. Their struggle has never been supported by
Khun Sa or the MTA.  I can't understand why the downfall of Khun
Sa and the MTA should be instrumental in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
the NLD "losing their stature" nationally and internationally.

Only SLORC gains from the sell-out by the MTA.  Drugs flow
will continue, after a brief period of readjustment of drug
interests.  This is because Khun Sa was never the key producer
of opium or the only person to run refineries.

SLORC will turn a blind eye to narcotic activities as it had
done following previous cease-fire agreements with other forces
with interests in drugs.

January 6, 1996

December 12, 1995

There are many Burmese students with UNHCR recognition as persons
of concern who are still in the SDC, although some have been released already.

The list of the first group which was released from the SDC on 29 June 1995,
is as follows:

No:  Name
1. Tun Tun Oo
2. Safe Areaw Myint Aye
3. Ba Hein Kyaw
4. Aung Naing Tun
5. Hla Soe
6. Aung Myint Than

The list of second group which was released from the SDC on 21 July 1995
is as follows:

No:  Name      NI No:     Entry date to SDC   alleged offence
1. Latt Ko Ko  1236      19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
2. Hein Htat   3377      19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
3. Maung Maung Pyone3532 19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
4. Yaung Ni Oo 3782      19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
5. Han Zaw     4830      19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
6. Myint Wai   5853      19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area
7. Maung Maung Tun 6081  19 Jan 95           Staged protest in Safe Area

The list of the third group released from the SDC to the Safe Area  on 18/10/95
is as follows:

No:  Name      NI No:     Entry date to SDC   Alleged Offence
1. Zaw Lat     1370      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
2. Zaw Wanna   1372      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
3. Zaw Min     1608      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
4. Hla kyi     2614      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
5. Zaw Lay     2966      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
6. Kon Balai      #
7. Charly         #
8. Maung Maung Oo #
9. San Lwin    3903      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
10. Win Tun Lin 5340     19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area

The list of fourth/last group released from the SDC to the Safe Area on
24/11/95 is as follows:
No:  Name      NINo:     Entry date to SDC   staged protest in Safe Area
1. Tun Lin     1181      19 Feb 95           staged protest in Safe Area
2. Yan Naing   1574      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
3. Kyaw Thu    1593      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
4. Paing Htoo  1828      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
5. Kyaw Zay Ya 1873      19 Feb 95           staged protest in Safe Area
6. Toe Toe     1883      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
7. Soe Oo      3309      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
8. Tin Htut    3799      19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area
9. San Tun Aung 5070     19 Feb 95           staged protest in Safe Area
10. Htun Htun Oo 5689    19 Jan 95           staged protest in Safe Area

The following persons left for resettlement in  Australia directly from the SDC:

1. Khin Maung Aye
2. Phone Myint
3. Aung Kyaw Moe
4. Soe Soe Oo
5. Tin Htay
6. Ms. Mi Mi
7. Par Pa (a) Nyi Nyi Soe
8. Maung Maung Than

The list of persons still remaining in the SDC is as follows:

NO:  Name      NI No:    Entry to SDC   Alleged Offence
1. Han Thein   1149      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
2. Myint Lwin Oo1185     19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
3. Win Naing Tun1187     19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
4. Nanda Kyaw  1319      19 jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
5. Ye Hein     1340      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
6. Pho Shwe Hla1359      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
7. Thet Oo Naing 1360    19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
8. Aung Tun    1397      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
9. Naing Tun   1587      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
10. Win Htut   1852      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
11. Aung Myint Kyi1864   19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
12. Win Myint  2093      27 Jan 94      staged protest in Safe Area
13. Tin Kyaing 2300      19 Feb 95      staged protest in Safe Area
14. Tint Zaw Oo 2500     03 Dec 93      staged protest at Burm. Embassy
   (a) Toe Kyi
15. Ye Moe     2702      17 Dec 93      violation of Safe Area rules
16. Nyi Nyi Lwin 2318    19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
17. Kyaw Soe   3276      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
18. Min Khin Kyaw 3386   19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
19. Myo Aung   4103      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
20. Min Naing Aung 4123  19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
21. Safe Arean Oo     4274      09 Feb 95      violation of Safe Area rules
22. Tin Maung Htoo 4311  03 Dec 93      staged protest in Safe Area
23. Kyi Win    5209      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
24. Than Naing 5725      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
25. Aung Zaw   5850      19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
26. Tint Lwin Oo 6260    19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
27. Thant Zin Htun 6920  19 Jan 95      staged protest in Safe Area
28. Myint Soe  9259      19 Jan 95      staged protest at Burm. Embassy
29. Aung Kyaw Moe 7296   03 Dec 93      staged protest in Safe Area

They all seem weak, and they have been especially suffering from scabies,
eye & ear  problems and mental illness.  The ossibility of HIV infection is
also a serious problem. Myint Ko Ko (5688) was taken to the emergency ward
of a hospital for unknown reasons on 22 November 1995.

NOTES: Tint Zaw Oo (2500), Tin Maung Htoo (4311), Myint Soe
(7295) and Aung Kyaw Moe (7296) have been charged with illegal
entry and staging a protest in front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok and
on 1 January, they got sentenced only 40 days imprisonment or a fine of 2800
Baht, but the order for  their releases has still not come out.

 Is there a law that allows putting someone in such detention for longer than the
sentence he received? What is the UNHCR's role supposed to be in ensuring fair
treatment for these persons of concern? Is there any junstification stated by the
parties concerned to inflict such unlawful punishment?

Among them, Myint Soe and Aung Kyaw Moe have not received  "person of concern"
status by the UNHCR but they appealed to the UNHCR to get recognition.
(What has the UNHCR done to follow up their appeal cases?)

Ye Moe (2702) has been in the SDC since 17 December 1993 without having
any court trial for a violation of the Safe Area's rules and Win Mying
(2093) has been in the SDC for a similar case since 27 June 1994.

(How long do they need to serve there for such a violation of the Safe Area's
rules and what are the sentences those violations?
Are there any stated sentences for such violations and what is
UNHCR's monitoring process to ensure fair treatment?
What is UNHCR's concern? And what does the UNHCR do when
the authorities violate the rules instituted by themselves?
(eg: MOI stated that they would allow the issuance of week long travel
documents twice a month for every Safe area resident, but they don't
actually do this. What does the UNHCR do to maintain the rights MOI
has allowed for those refugees?

All students who staged protests in the Safe Area were detained in the SDC
such a long time without having any trial.
(Without having legal treaties or court processes, one must
question what the rules and justice actually mean)

Update on 28 December 1995
A group of ten were released from the SDC on 21/12/95, but the release
orders for Tint Zaw Oo (Toe Kyi), Tin Maung Htoo, Myint Soe and Aung
Kyaw Moe (who have been detained there since December 1993) did not
come out yet. And hence, there are a total of 20 left in the SDC including
Myint Ko Ko who has been in hospital for full-blown AIDS up to now.

U Ye Gaung, the journalist and his wife are still in the IDC and they
are being kept separately. U Ye Gaung is in cell 8 and his wife
is in one of the cells for women. Cell No: 8 is designated not
only for immigration acts but also for other charges.

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: U Ye Gaung, his wife, and the more than 20
Burmese students arrested around the same time are still in the IDC
despite reports that they were going to be sent to the Safe Camp three
weeks ago. - January 9, 1995]

January 7, 1995

Comment by Jennifer Beer, an anthropologist who has done extensive
research on tourism in Asia, on Khin Maung Kyi's article on tourism
which appeared in Burma Debate and was recently posted on BurmaNet.

The tourism article is right on. The only time he goes overboard, to my
mind, is in the nostalgic notion that tourism will sully the local culture
as if other kinds of industrial development with international financing
won't also transform life and culture in Burma drastically as well. A
poli. scientist named Linda Richter published an excellent book in the mid
80s on the different tourism policies throughout Asia, and what a
*difference* the governmental stance on tourism makes in terms of
economics and cultural and political impact. Bali has managed to do some
things right, and preserve at least elements of their environment /
cultural pride / livelihood. (At least in contrast to places like Phuket.)
As I recall, Richter's section on India indicated the most success--they
plan albeit haphazardly for DOMESTIC tourism, and let the international
travellers fit in where they can. Much more robust and diversified
economic gain and less culture-smashing. Perhaps Burma can think about
attracting Southeast Asian tourists (religious tourists....?) who have
less need for 5 star hotels and super-infrastructure, and can be repeat

Of course the main issue he talked about less is the use of tourism to
gain acceptance in the wider world--In Richter's book, she discusses
Fiji after the coup and how tourism was the cornerstone of the new gov'ts
legitimacy. Here you have a double-edged sword: the ruling junta gets to
prove that Burma is safe and open (to tourists' eyes), however I disagree
with the standard opinion that tourists come in and out without ever
learning or caring about the locale. Sure they don't tour slums and prison
camps--they are on *Vacation* for heaven's sake, not on a school trip--but
I think that once people have travelled somewhere they have more interest
in the place, it has a reality for them, and they will pick up snippets
from the media, pay more attention. If only to prove their
cosmopolitanness to their neighbors, they have to be able to say, "oh
Burma, yeah, I was there in '95 and boy they have troubles
there....beautiful though...and now they've released whats-her-name..."
The packaged tour participants will come back to a place if they liked
the first taste--this time maybe on their own. Anyway, I wouldn't
discount the value of having more people coming in and out. Just makes
ugly things harder to hide.

January 6, 1996 Phnom Penh, AFP

Cambodia will re-establish ambassadorial level diplomatic
links with Burma later this month when a high-level
delegation from Phnom Penh visits Rangoon, Cambodia's foreign
minister said yesterday.

Foreign Minister Ung Huot said he would leave for Burma on
the invitation of its foreign minister on January 25 and
would be joined two days later by First Prime Minister Prince
Norodom Ranariddh, who will be on a working visit.

Cambodia's new ambassador to Burma, Kek Larang, who also
serves as Cambodia's ambassador to Laos, will present his
credentials to Burmese authorities during the trip, Ung Huot said.

Cambodia still has property in Rangoon that was used as an embassy
in 1960s. "I am going to inspect the property to see what is there and
what we can do with it," he said. (BP)

January 6, 1996

The provincial administration has proposed two new sites to
accommodate over 9,000 Karen refugees who are soon to be
moved from a camp in Tha Song Yang District.

The proposal to relocate the refugees from Sho Klo camp to a
site further inside Thailand was prompted by security
concerns. Chief among these is the possibility of reprisal
attacks on the refugees by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
(DKBA) troops, a Thai official said.

The committee responsible for finding a location to
accommodate the refugees has recommended two sites: at Km 53-
54 on the Mae Ramat-Tha Song Yang Road, Mae Ramat District;
and at Km 48 on the Mae Sot-Umpang Road, Phob Phra District.
Some 40 DKBA fighters clashed with Thai rangers on the Tha
Song Yang-Mae Sarieng Road yesterday morning after the former
robbed a Thai villager's grocery shop in Sho Klo camp and
later broke into a hospital. (BP)

January 7, 1996  by RITA PATIYASEVI  (abridged)

Two countries eager to explore economic pentagon with Burma,
India, Bangladesh

THAILAND and Sri Lanka have agreed to propose that the Asian
Development Bank make a feasibility study of a possible economic
pentagon linking the two countries with Burma, India and Bangladesh.

The topic was discussed by Foreign Minister Kasem S Kasemsri and
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Bangkok last week.

Nopporn Adchariyavanich, a counsellor at the Foreign Ministry's
Department of Economic Affairs, said all countries but Burma have
shown an interest in the proposal.

Cooperation would, to a considerable extent, help promote joint
private sector ventures in fields like trade, skills training,
tourism, agriculture and fisheries, manufacturing, transport and
telecommunications, he said.

January 8, 1996   (abridged)

THE border alert in Chiang Mai's Mae-Ai district will continue
until the Burmese government withdraws all of its troops from
area nearby formerly controlled by drug warlord Khun Sa's army,
Supreme Commander Gen Viroj Saengsanit said yesterday.

Gen Viroj said no reinforcements had been sent to the area.

"Thai troops will remain stationed along the border until all the
Burmese troops withdraw. When the Burmese go back to their
barracks, so will we," the general said.

He toned down the situation, saying that the Burmese have been
deployed along the border to block the escape route of Mong Tai
Army (MTA) troops from Burmese territory.

January 8, 1996

RANGOON _ Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called
on the country's ruling military junta to tone down it's
criticism of the democracy movement in the interest of national unity.

Speaking to about 5,000 supporters at one of the regular weekend
rallies held in front of her Rangoon home, Suu Kyi said the cause
of national unity was too important to be put at risk by partisan bickering.

We must therefore avoid doing anything harmful to national unity,
such as making adverse criticisms against one another," she said.
"So far I as we are concerned we welcome constructive criticism,
but we don't have time and energy to waste on destructive criticism."

Her remarks on Saturday were an apparent reference to recent
strong criticism of her political party, the National League for
Democracy, in the government-controlled press.

The New Light of Myanmar and other state-run newspapers have
accused her party of trying to sabotage the government's
development efforts and discredit a national convention convened
to draft principles for a new constitution. _ United Press International.

January 8,  1996
Mounting pressure left drug kingpin with little choice

CHIANG Mai _ Pressure from an internal split and an imminent
joint attack by the Burmese army and rival ethnic Wa forces
forced Golden Triangle warlord Khun Sa to recently open peace
talks with the Burmese junta.

Khun Sa, who was indicted six years ago by US courts on several
drug trafficking charges, also encountered difficulties after
Thailand sealed off the Thai Burmese border a year ago.

Bangkok's action prevented food and medical provisions reaching
Khun Sa's forces, according to his uncle and close associate Khun

Khun Saeng, said to be one of the key players in Khun Sa's
negotiations with Burma's rulers, said in an interview yesterday
that Khun Sa had no alternative but to open talks with Rangoon.

He said Khun Sa had been pressured politically and militarily
since Maj Gan Yord defected in June with about 2,000 troops of
the Mong Tai Army (MTA).

The defection had caused a serious split between the Chinese and
Shan membership of the MTA, he added.

The MTA was also pressured by the Burmese junta, the State Law
and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), who had cooperated with
Khun Sa's ethnic Wa rivals to encircle and attack various MTA
outposts since June. The assaults resulted in about 300 death on
the MTA and Wa sides, said Khun Saeng.

The other factor was the decision by the Thai Army and government
to close various paths into the MTA areas opposite Mae Hong Son,
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, making it difficult for the MTA to
acquire food and medical provisions, he added. Khun Saeng, who
was responsible for MTA finances, said after the Thai closure,
the MTA had to pay Bt2,500-3,000 for each pick-up load of goods
and Bt500 for each traveller crossing the Thai border.

The Burmese side had also demanded a Bt200,000 protection fee a
month, with some Thais sharing the financial benefits, he said.

Under the deal with SLORC, the MTA would give up some of its
weaponry and MTA troops would be transformed into local militia
forces, which would help Rangoon develop the country, according
to Khun Saeng.

He said SLORC would seize all MTA heavy weapons, allowing them
only personal firearms.

Khun Sa's secret deal with SLORC has caused some dissension in
the MTA, especially among the leading Shan members and grassroots

Maj Kyaw Htun, an MTA officer, said he and 300 other troops had
fled MTA headquarters at Homong, opposite Mae Hong Son province,
before the Burmese troops marched in to take control of the area.

He said he recently learned that Khun Sa had sent Chinese
emissaries to hold secret talks with SLORC without informing Shan
members of the MTA.

Kyaw Htun said he found out that Khun Sa had agreed to surrender
the MTA controlled area to Rangoon.

"Khun Sa's decision was a betrayal of the Shan revolutionary
cause. It's a sell-out of the Shan land to the Burmese. It's a
well planned conspiracy," he said.

He added that Khun Sa had basically used MTA members of Chinese
origin from various outposts to secretly talk with Burmese
authorities. SLORC had asked the MTA to lay down all arms by Jan
3, he said.

Kyaw Htun said a large number of Shan troops in the MTA had fled
Homong into Thailand and that 2-3,000 of them were trying to reunite.

He said by Jan 3 about 2-3,000 Burmese troops of the 55th, 99th
and 525th battalions had full control of Homong and various
strategic MTA outposts.

The Shan members, he said, were very displeased with Khun Sa's
surrender and the handing over of arms and decided to continue
their struggle for the independence of Burma's northeastern Shan

January 8, 1996    (slightly abridged)

True to form, Shan politics has taken another convoluted turn.
The latest report is that Slorc's troops are now in Khun Sa's
mountain redoubt, Ho Mong. According to Shan sources, Khun Sa has
agreed to a token surrender in exchange for Home Guard status and
other yet unknown "dispensations".

It can also be said that the high-stakes, cat-and-mouse game
between Slorc and Khun Sa has just begun. The latter is certainly
not without friends in Rangoon, Bangkok, Vientiane, Kunming,
Taipei etc. It is very possible that Khun Sa might be able to
retire in comfortable obscurity somewhere. Being a wily operator,
whose political-economic entrepreneurial skills are considerable,
he may have already made such an arrangement.

On the other hand, he may be in danger since there are powerful
figures from many countries who cannot afford to have him put on
an open, American-style trial.

What prompted Khun Sa's "surrender", according to those in the
know, is the shift in the centre of gravity of the heroin
business to China, via Yunnan, and to Laos and Cambodia. In other
words, big heroin players have found other more respectable
partners and protectors, now that the bug of gaining wealth by
any means has bitten power-holders and officials, particularly in
Burma and Yunnan.

A new, and bigger, transnational heroin network has been
established, and Khun Sa's importance has declined. As a result,
his coffers have these past few years been much depleted. To add
to his woes, a strong Shan contingent led by Gunyod defected and
entered into a ceasefire arrangement with Slorc in mid-1995.

According to some veteran Shan leaders, Gunyod's defection was
one factor which forced Khun Sa to "return to his masters" _
conjecture which sounds weird, but given the nature of Shan
politics, seems quite reasonable (though quite illogical,
needless to say).

To make matters more complex, a contingent of Khun Sa's MTA (Mong
Tai Army) led by his long-time "Foreign Minister", Kheunsai, has
not surrendered. It is reported that this group has established
informal links (or understandings) with both Khun Sa and Gunyod.

Further complicating the situation, the Wa army (Slorc's
ceasefire ally) has launched an offensive against Khun Sa's Home
Guard army. The war between the two is likely to drag on for a
long while, despite the fact that both are, so to speak, on the
same side of the political fence.

>From the above, it would seem that with Khun Sa's "surrender",
although much appears to have changed, there is, at the bottom,
very little that is really different. Shan politics and wars
remain, as in the past, the function of competition for profit
among big players in the heroin industry (global in scope) and
their clients, ie, governmental and non-governmental warlords of
Burma and Shan State.

In the meantime, it seems that the 2 people of Shan State remain
condemned for some time to a life either as debt-ridden producers
of raw material (opium) for the global heroin industry, hewers of
wood for various "armies", cannon-fodder of a variety of
warlords, and powerless, voiceless victims of political violence
and wars. This is all the more so in the "new world order" where
Deng's dictum, "to be rich is glorious", has become the sacred
gospel of those possessing highly mobile economic power,
legitimized by the "global triumph" of capitalism.

With the collapse of communism and Yunnan's push to "modernize",
via links with the financial hub of the region, Singapore, Burma
is well on its way to becoming a lucrative backwater for
Yunnanese and Singaporean tycoons (and would-be tycoons). The
most likely result is a Burma which is more of a marketplace than
a sovereign political entity. Its future will increasingly be
shaped by the imperatives of powerful economic powerhouses from
abroad, with the result that the already existing state-society
dysfunction and political decay will be perpetuated by both
outside economic powerhouses and the predatory Burmese state _
not unlike the many states of sub-Saharan Africa.

Given the trajectory of the "new world order", marked by a
situation where economic powerhouses are able to hold states and
governments hostage to the needs of profit-taking, Shan State,
and Burma as well (like sub-Saharan Africa), may perhaps
represent a harbinger o f things to come for the rest of the
world. The slide of humanity toward a hell ruled by apolitical,
asocial greed (a more honest, if crude, name for
"profit-maximization") seems inevitable, unless those who purport
to value human freedom, dignity and human rights above greed, are
able to get their act together.

Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe is a son of the late Sao Shwe Thaike, Burma's
first Independent president from 1948-1952. This article was
contributed to the Nation.

BURMESE DEMAND              January 7, 1996

More than 200 police oversaw the removal of 140 stalls along
the Moei river yesterday. The evictions, ordered by Deputy
Interior Minister Suchart Tancharoen ahead of the Jan 8
deadline, met no resistance. Burma claims the stalls, which
lie across the border from Myawaddy, encroach on its  territory.

The owners agreed to move to a one-rai plot nearby in
accordance with a resolution at a meeting chaired by Deputy
Finance Minister Newin Chidchob at the Finance Ministry on
Dec 27. Traders can remain at the site for a year, after which they
will be given space at two other plots owned by the Treasury Department.


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Padiham pledge to clean up ‘illegal’ firms

Work gets underway to remove the old window frames from the land on Stocksbridge Road.

Work gets underway to remove the old window frames from the land on Stocksbridge Road.

Have your say

Firms operating “illegally” in Padiham could be facing a crackdown, leading councillors have warned.

Calls were made for authorities to clamp down on businesses operating without planning permission in the town.

Councillors in Padiham vowed to draw up a list of companies operating outside the law.

County Coun. Johnstone, speaking at a town council meeting, said: “What always disturbs me is the number of people operating illegally.

“It seems to be a particular problem in Padiham. Although I have no evidence the problem is more serious here than anywhere else.

“Nobody wants to stop trade, enterprise or people creating jobs but these people operating beyond the law must know that they have a responsibility to society to make sure the basic rules and conditions we all have to live by are adhered to.”

The call comes after a long-running battle with the operators of a plastic recycling centre in Stockbridge Road which Lancashire County Council officials said failed to gain the permissions to process waste on the site.

The controversial site had caused residents misery but county hall chiefs said the site is now being cleared of piles of uPVC window frames after a retrospective planning application was withdrawn.

Stuart Perigo, head of development management, said the operator had “abandoned” the site, adding: “The landowner, who is not responsible for the waste plastic remaining on the site, is now in the process of clearing it and we will continue to monitor the situation until this process is complete.”

A car recycling firm in nearby Green Lane Mill was granted retrospective planning permission after county hall officials discovered it had been operating without the correct permissions.

County Coun. Marcus Johnstone said: “When they went to Stockbridge Road they discovered the operation in Green Lane was not operating with planning permission.

“They are now operating with permission but the planning committee has put conditions on it. They have to do work in doors rather than in the yard and it should prevent things going into the brook.

“If there any evidence that is not happening let us know and we will enforce the planning conditions which must be adhered to.”

Lancashire County Council confirmed permission was granted subject to conditions controlling working programme, hours of operation, safeguarding watercourses and drainage and site operations.

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oil well pump workers coloradoREUTERS/Rick WilkingWorkers install an oil well.

In this week's Barron's cover story, Sandra Ward profiles Schlumberger, the oil and gas equipment and services provider, which is set to see profits grow.

Schlumberger, Ward notes, is also focusing more of its efforts on the North American energy market, where smaller rivals Halliburton and Baker Hughes derive more of their profit, with Schlumberger's North American operating profit margin topping that posted by Halliburton during the second quarter.

Schlumberger, the 29th largest component of the S&P 500 with a market cap of $138 billion, is trading at a historical discount to its future earnings expectations, writes Ward.

Bill Herbert of Houston-based investment-banking firm Simmons & Co. told Ward that for Schlumberger, "The value proposition has never been higher," with Hebert seeing the shares gaining more than 30% to $145 per share.

Ward also highlighted some of the company's cost-cutting and capital-return goals:

"Overall, the company is targeting a return of capital of 20% by 2017, up from the current 16%. Capital spending is expected to drop to 10% of revenue from the more typical 12%, which will free up more cash flow to return to shareholders in the form of buybacks and dividends. Indeed, Schlumberger expects to convert 75% of earnings to free cash flow, up from the current level of 55%. An estimated 60% to 65% of that will be given back to shareholders."

Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard told Ward that Schlumberger isn't focused on being the best-run company in its industry, but said, "We have the potential to be the best-run company in the world, and that's what we are trying to do."

You can read Ward's full profile here

In pre-market trade, shares of Schlumberger were up 1.6%.


text:
alexandra lenas sean parkerAP Images

Alexandra Lenas and Sean Parker have been engaged since February 2011, and last year they had a child together, Winter Victoria Parker.

They've settled on a date for their wedding, which will be in Big Sur, Calif. on June 1.

The theme?

Medieval, according to the New York Post. (Update: Sean Parker later tweeted that it wouldn't be medieval, but guests would be given modern, whimsical, custom-made outfits to wear)

Guests don't have to worry about coming up with their own costumes. Lenas and Parker will be providing custom-made medieval costumes for them all.

The invitations have been sent, and they're designed to look like a scroll.  It could easily end up looking like an episode of "Game of Thrones," one person tells the NYP. But Lenas and Parker like to dress up. They've appeared in public with highlighted hair as Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, and as "The Birds" for Halloween.

We're still waiting to receive our invitation (and hoping this isn't some cruel April Fools joke).

While we're all waiting, get to know the gorgeous and talented woman Sean Parker is marrying >

*UPDATE: We're disappointed to say that the wedding won't be quite as "medieval" as NYP initially reported. Sean Parker just tweeted:


text:
BloombergMayor Michael Bloomberg briefed New Yorkers on the City's response to Hurricane Sandy this afternoon.

Here are some updates:

Food and water

From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., NYC officials will distribute meals and water at designated locations. (See a list of water and distribution locations below).

AT&T will also bringing in pods to provide cell service and charging stations near food centers.

Bloomberg calls it "one stop shopping."

Four-hundred members of National Guard will also be going to door-to-door delivering meals and supplies to elderly and other home-bound residents.

Con Ed will also be handing out dry ice at one spot in each of the five boroughs.

Death toll

There are now 37 Sandy-related deaths reported in New York City.

M.T.A Fares

Fares will be waived today and tomorrow.

Park and playgrounds

The majority will be open by Saturday.

Classes will resume on Monday.

City water

The water supply is safe.

Distribution Center Locations

Distribution centers


text: Here's Who 'The Most Interesting Man In The World' Thinks Is The Most Interesting Man In The World en-us Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 06:47:20 -0400 Graham Flanagan DAAAAAAAMN...... Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:07:55 -0400 ...I was sure he was gonna name me. Musta been his second choice. D Draper Sat, 29 Mar 2014 13:43:58 -0400 Should be a opening monolog for Mad Men season. Bruce Jonathan Fick Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:43:39 -0400 Calm yourself bro. In the real world it's always chill or be chilled. Bruce Jonathan Fick Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:41:37 -0400 Oddly enough, it's the narrator of those Dos Equis beer commercials, who's the real back story here. Will Lyman played the Swiss folk hero William Tell in the mid 1980s TV series cult classic: " Crossbow " . Will Lyman was also the narrator behind the PBS documentary on the Viet Nam War from long ago. I recall how they featured oriental percussion in the background. There's more true History in that Documentary than you'll ever read in books on the subject. Yet Will Lyman is in the shadows for not getting the credit he properly deserves. João Bento Wed, 26 Mar 2014 07:00:25 -0400 Certamente não serei o " Homem mais interessante do Mundo" mas serei mais um Homem do Mundo. Branson Philanthropic? Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:14:15 -0400 Yeah, and Gates probably donates more money every month than Branson has in his whole life. dknola Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:58:44 -0400 Sorry most interesting Man, the second you mention Branson, I had to stop. He's a union buster and does illegal ads for union busting for Virgin America. You might be nice and manly, but to be a member of SAG and give kudos to a union buster ain't cool. TheFree_Lance Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:34:57 -0400 Never trust a grown man with small dogs. Never. JoMo Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:25:26 -0400 DAMN YOU AUTO PLAY VIDEOS!! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!! A little heads up that there's a video in this article would have been nice... SERIOUSLY CUT THAT SHIT OUT.


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2009 Mercury Milan Premier and Ford Focus SES
By: Michael Cooney

Everywhere you look you see Ford SUVs—they’ve sold millions of them. In these times of high fuel prices, it’s fitting to cast our focus on the good old American sedan. In this case, two from Ford Motor Company, sporting attractive designs and economical 4-cylinder engines.

The Milan is a midsize front wheel drive sedan, and is Mercury’s entry level car. It’s an upscale version of the Ford Fusion. Tastefully styled inside and out, the Milan has a lot going for it. You can choose between 4- and 6-cylinder engines. The Six comes standard with a 6-speed automatic. My 4-cylinder 160 horsepower test unit had the optional 5-speed auto; a 5-speed stick is standard with the smaller engine.

Inside, the Milan’s interior is quite attractive, with very comfortable seats front and rear, and spacious rear legroom. This example had the Voga Package which included perforated leather seating, additional trim items plus special wheels. I liked the white needles on warm green instrument lighting. Attractive and classy. The gauges were clear and easy to read at a glance, night or day.

Both Milan and Focus came with Ford’s Sync system. In partnership with Microsoft, it gives you a hands-free link to your MP3 player and cell phone by using voice commands. It even syncs up with your cell phone’s address book and more. Very cool.

Comparing the Milan’s two engines equipped with automatics, the 4-cylinder is rated two MPG higher in both city and highway use. The 6-cylinder’s extra 61 horsepower (221) is the way to go if you need the extra oomph, but you’ll pay roughly a $2,400 premium. I found the 4-cylinder engine to be peppy and just fine.

It’s not as smooth sounding, and requires a bit more planning when passing others on a two-lane road. If those don’t concern you, get the four and you’ll save on the initial cost and also each time you fill ’er up.

Driving the Milan is a pleasure. The ride is very comfortable. Even so, it handles the curves quite well. There is some body lean, but the engineers did a great job of hitting a good compromise between ride and handling. If you’re willing to push the tires to their limits, you can hustle along a mountain road quickly while maintaining good control. I had no complaints there.

Ford’s small sedan, Focus, was restyled for 2008 and its new design moves away from shouting “economy car” like the old one did. It looks like someone took a midlevel sedan and just shrunk it a bit. A 2- door coupe version is also available.

The interior is nicely finished. Materials are entry level but manage to come across as pleasing to the eye and touch. My unit was the top level SES, with firmer suspension and optional leather seating for $695. Room up front is generous; in the back just adequate.

The optional audiophile sound system is nice, but open the trunk before you buy it. A speaker enclosure there takes up a lot of space.

With a 2.0L 4-cylinder 140 horsepower engine and optional 4-speed automatic, acceleration is peppy and should please most owners. Handling is good, with little body roll and decent cornering limits. One must-have option is the ABS brakes and traction control combo for $385.

Mercury’s Milan Premier 4-cylinder is EPA-rated at 20-city, 28-highway MPG. It gave me a noteworthy 25.2-MPG in my usual city, freeway and mountain driving.
It’s sticker came to $27,265 including destination and over $4,000 in options. The Ford Focus automatic is EPA-rated at 24-city, 33-highway MPG. I was pleased with the 30.6 MPG I got. This Focus SES was priced at $20,085 including destination and about $2,000 in options.

Both cars were enjoyable to drive. The Milan won me over with it’s good fuel economy, upscale looks, comfort, and good handling. The Focus, especially in silver or black, is a handsome economical car that really saves on gas. Here are two good choices for value-minded drivers.


text:
ADA: Reasonable Accommodation

Get PDF file

by on
in Employment Law,Human Resources

Under the ADA, a “reasonable accommodation” is a modification or adjustment to a job, work environment or work process that enables a qualified individual with a disability to perform the job duties successfully.

An accommodation must ensure equal opportunity in the application process, assist qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job and enable them to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.

An accommodation is considered “unreasonable” (or, in the terminology of the ADA, “causes an undue hardship”) if it’s too difficult or expensive for an employer to provide. What’s considered reasonable varies greatly and depends on the size and resources of the company, as well as on the nature of the accommodation made.

To argue that an accommodation would cause your company an undue hardship, you must have supporting data in the following areas:

The nature and net cost of the acco...(register to read more)

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Concrete that clears the air

Posted by: Adam Aston on March 20, 2008

super absorber - perspective4 400x.jpg

Concrete is about to start helping in the fight against air pollution, thanks to a new recipe spiked with titanium dioxide, a compound that becomes chemically active in sunlight. Originally concocted by Italy’s Italcementi for its bright white, self-cleaning features, the product, called TX Active cement, also neutralizes air pollutants such as benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and others. In the U.S., where the mix is distributed by Essroc Italcementi Group, the first application may be to improve air quality at schools near highways. Working with school districts in Los Angeles and elsewhere, architectural firm Fieldoffice has designed exotic-looking barriers to keep road smog and noise away from areas where kids live, study, and play. To maximize the walls’ surface area and thus their pollution-eating potential, the designers plan to use concrete-forming gear that employs ink jet printing technology to create Swiss cheese-like patterns in the walls.

Reader Comments

April 2, 2008 11:23 AM

This concrete is used only for walls and not used for structural purposes yet, columns and beams?

April 3, 2008 2:28 PM

Could you please send me some more information or detail on this product.

John M. Stone, CCIM, CPM, CIPS

April 4, 2008 6:32 PM

This TX Active Concrete helping fight air pollution through its Titanium DiOxide component is way cool. Show it to the Texas Department of Transportation soon, please.

February 6, 2009 12:12 PM

what about the cost of this concrete?

Post a comment

BusinessWeek correspondents John Carey and Mark Scott, cover the green scene, keeping on top of the business aspects of energy, the environment and climate change, as well as the technologies, policies, markets and people that are shaping how the earth's resources will be used in the century ahead.

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Site last updated: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 Bookmark our site!
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Published: October 23, 2013 print this article Print save this article Save email this article Email ENLARGE TEXT increase font decrease font

Litwin, Miller

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Matthew and Kimberly Miller
Kimberly Louise Litwin and Matthew Francis Miller, both of Philadelphia, were united in marriage May 26 at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, Calif. Anthony Resnick officiated. A reception followed at Calamigos Ranch.

The bride is the daughter of Denise Litwin of Santa Clarita, Calif., and Robert and Liz Litwin of Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Parents of the bridegroom are George and Mary Ann Miller Jr. of Butler.
The honor attendant was Amanda Litwin of Studio City, Calif. The bridesmaid was Katie Kavetsky of Thousand Oaks. The bridesman was Jason Kopeck of Fremont, Calif.
The flower girl was Charlotte Kopeck of Fremont.
Performing the duties of best man was Michael Miller of Tarzana, Calif. The groomsmen were John Codi of Burbank, Calif., and Adam Martin of Butler.
The ring bearer was Holden Domeier of Studio City.
The bride is a 1999 graduate of La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks. She received a bachelor’s degree in physics in 2004 and a master’s degree in physics in 2010, both from San Francisco State University.
She is pursuing a doctoral degree in earth and environmental sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
The bridegroom graduated from Butler High School in 2001. He received a bachelor’s degree in international relations in 2005 from San Francisco State University.
He is co-owner of Taco Twins Films, a Los Angeles-based film and television production company. He is employed as an editor for the National Geographic Channel.
The couple is planning a honeymoon in Spain and is residing in Philadelphia.

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One of These Days Google, Straight to the Moon

In the voice of Peter Griffin… Pow! Right in the kisser! Pow! Right in the kisser!

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NAUPA held their 2012 Holder Workshop and Forum last Thursday and Friday as a part of the 2012 NAST (National Association of State Treasurers) Treasury Management Training Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had the pleasure of attending to represent my company and to demonstrate the UPExchange system.

Many state unclaimed property administrators were in attendance. This gave the holders a rare opportunity to ask their reporting questions directly. The state administrators, unclaimed property service providers, and even auditors were among those who gave presentations to educate the holders. I attended these sessions and learned a lot. I find that no matter how many years of unclaimed property experience I have under my belt, there is always something new to learn.

The big evening event was a ride on the tramway to see Sandia Peak. The tram ride was the experience of a lifetime. It spans 3 1/2 miles and ascends about 4000 feet to the peak. We ate dinner at a restaurant on the peak. The food was only mediocre but the view of the city lights completely made up for it. If you are ever in Albuquerque, Sandi Peak is a definite must see.

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Renewable Energy Program

The California Energy Commission's Renewable Energy Program works to support renewable electricity generation technologies and to develop a renewable energy market in California. The Renewable Energy Program administers $540 million collected from the ratepayers of Southern California Edison Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. Two potential additional sources of funds are voluntary contributions from customers and contributions from municipal utilities. Assembly Bill 1890 (AB 1890) restructured electricity generation and sales in California and also established a new statewide renewable energy policy. The Energy Commission submitted a report to the Legislature (Policy Report on AB 1890 Renewables Funding, publication number 500-97-002), recommending funding allocations and distribution mechanisms to foster the development of a competitive renewable energy market in the state. Senate Bill 90 (SB 90) implemented the report's recommendations and created the Renewable Resource Trust Fund for administering ratepayer funds. The Trust Fund consists of four accounts: the Existing Renewable Resources Account ($243 million), the New Renewable Resources Account ($162 million), the Emerging Renewable Resources Account (Buydown Rebate Program, $54 million), and the Customer-Side Account (Customer Credit Subaccount and Consumer Education Subaccount, $81 million). The Existing Renewable Resources Account has three tiers. Tier 1 ($135 million) consists of biomass, waste tire, and solar thermal projects. Tier 2 ($70.2 million) consists of wind projects. Tier 3 ($37.8 million) consists of geothermal, small hydro, digester gas, landfill gas, and municipal solid waste projects. The Renewable Energy Program disburses payments from the Renewable Resource Trust Fund using market-based mechanisms that assist both the supply and demand sides of the market. Each account is fashioned to support the market in a unique way. The Existing Account provides assistance to California renewable energy facilities that were operating before September 1996. Funds are distributed through a cents-per-kilowatt-hour production incentive, with a cap of 1.0 cent per kilowatt-hour. The Existing Account has helped support 259 existing renewable facilities with generation totaling 4, 144 megawatts. The New Account supports the development of new renewable power facilities in California. Funds are distributed through a production incentive based on competitive auctions. The first auction conditionally awarded $162 million to 55 winning bidders, including 300 megawatts of wind, 157 megawatts of geothermal, 70 megawatts of landfill gas, 12 megawatts of biomass, 2 megawatts of digester gas, and 1 megawatt of small hydro. As of January 2002, 12 projects are operational, contributing more than 100 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity to California's energy supply. A second auction in December 2000 awarded an additional $40 million to 17 new projects. Since the original awards were made, most of the projects have become operational. Once they are fully completed, they will collectively add 471 megawatts in new energy capacity. The California Energy Commission offers cash rebates on eligible renewable energy electric-generating systems through the Emerging Renewables Buydown Program. To date, consumers have received rebates from the account for about 480 installed emerging renewable technology systems, representing more than 2, 000 kilowatts in capacity from on-site generating systems. Eligible systems are photovoltaic, solar thermal electric, fuel cell technologies using renewable fuels, and wind turbines of 10 kilowatts or less. As of September 2001, the Emerging Buydown Account had received more than 965 reservation requests. Currently, $2.7 million have been earmarked for projects with reservation requests, and $5.7 million have been paid in rebates for completed projects. The Customer Credit Subaccount provides credits to customers who purchase eligible renewable electricity products from registered renewable energy providers. As of September 2001, the credit level extended to consumers is 1.0 cent per kilowatt-hour. There are currently 29 providers with 46 registered renewable energy products participating in the account. Technologies represented by this program include biomass, landfill gas, solar thermal, digester gas, municipal solid waste, waste tire, geothermal, wind, and small hydrolic. Since the program's inception, it has continued to grow in popularity with California consumers. The most recent data available from the Commission report that 200, 000 customers received the credit during 2000, with payments on eligible technologies totaling more than $44.1 million. The Consumer Education Subaccount helps develop a consumer market for renewable energy in California. Grant and contract opportunities are available to eligible individuals and organizations whose activities raise consumer awareness about renewable energy and its benefits. A $1.2 million contract was awarded in 2000 with the intent to educate consumers in targeted California communities about renewable energy. As an ongoing program, the goal of this project is to educate consumers, generate public interest about renewable energy resources, and build and maintain a consumer-driven market for renewable power through consumer education. In the spring of 2001, the CEC awarded an additional contract of $2.5 million to initiate a general public awareness campaign with California?s consumers. During 2001, grants totaling $620, 000 were awarded to address grassroots outreach needs. In addition to these activities, several grant projects totaling $375, 000 have been initiated to help promote emerging renewable technologies.

Program Summary
Brief Description:
The California Energy Commission's Renewable Energy Program supports renewable electricity generation technologies and helps develop a renewable energy market to avoid greenhouse gas emissions.
The Renewable Energy Program has jumpstarted California's renewable energy resource development. Program officials estimate that the quantity of California's electrical generation produced from overall renewable resources will increase from 12 percent in 2000 to 17 percent in 2007. Through June 2001, the program resulted in 60, 830, 142 kilowatt-hours of electricity generated from renewable energy, displacing fossil fuel generation. The resulting reduction in CO2 is at least 25, 000 tons per year. This CO2 reduction benefit will grow as the program expands.
Lessons Learned:
The Renewable Energy Program was designed to facilitate the growth of a sustainable renewable energy market in California. The program uses market-based incentives to support renewable energy developers, generators, and their customers to help stimulate customer demand for, and supply of, renewable energy and technologies. The program affects a broad range of stakeholders, and therefore presents the challenge of delivering effective results while accommodating many interests. Coordination among many state agencies and the private sector was important for the program's success. The key is developing a number of new market-based incentives that mesh with other state and federal incentive programs.Program managers recommend that other states considering a renewable energy program should develop market- and performance-based incentives to ensure long-term sustainability. The program structure should be flexible to respond to changing market conditions. Policies should have simple guidelines that are transparent to stakeholders and easy to administer.
Without AB 1890, electricity generation restructuring in California would have resulted in reduced or non-existent funds for renewable energy. AB 1890 (1996) and SB 90 (1998) created the Renewable Resource Trust Fund, which charged the Energy Commission with developing and implementing a market-based program to provide incentives for renewable electricity generators and their customers who purchase emerging renewable energy technology systems. The legislation also provided for consumer education to help increase demand for renewable energy and technologies. The program, implemented in 1998, has been extended. In 2000, AB 995 and SB 1194 created the Reliable Electric Service Investments Act, extending the collection of funds and requiring the Energy Commission to recommend a plan for allocating the funds from January 2002 through January 2007. Interested parties can download the plan, Investing in Renewable Electricity Generation in California, from .


text:
: Need Engine Expert in Vegas

07-16-09, 06:33 PM
I need a recommendation for a Cadillac engine expert in Las Vegas that has specific experience with the engines of the 1960's such as the 390, 429 and 472. I need this expert for diagnostic purposes. If anyone knows of someone that meets this criteria, please let me know.

02-25-15, 03:53 AM
Well, I know Ed Cholakian is THE expert for Cads from the 40s and 50s, and he's in Vegas. If he can't help you, I'm sure he'd know someone who could.

Give him a call: Ed Cholakian, All Cads from the 40s and 50s, (702) 454-1147, allcads.com


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Join the Meeting Place for Moms!
Talk to other moms, share advice, and have fun!

(minimum 6 characters)

My two month old has not pooped in three days. When should I start to worry?

He doesn't seem uncomfortable. He is not any more fussy than usual. When should I call his pediatrician? Is there any natural remedies for this? BTW he is exclusively breastfed.

Answer Question

Asked by Anonymous at 1:16 AM on Feb. 13, 2009 in Babies (0-12 months)

Answers (10)
  • this is normal. if your LO doesn't poop over a week or so then you need to call the pedi. they can go a few days without pooping at this age.

    Answer by armywife43 at 1:18 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • If there's no poop in over a week, then you should all you doctor and ask what to do. It is COMPLETELY normal in breastfed babies.

    Answer by Anonymous at 1:20 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • should not go over two days without calling your doctor

    Answer by havingaboy08 at 1:26 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • Karo syrup on his bottle it will help the what they told me to do for my little one

    Answer by Anonymous at 1:34 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • My breastfed baby went every 4-5 days. They can digest breastmilk almost completely...Unless it comes out as hard pebbles then no worries mama!

    Answer by ColleenF30 at 1:45 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • Giving infants corn (Karo) syrup for constipation is NOT recommended.

    It is true that corn syrup draws more fluid into the intestine, which makes stool less hard. But in excess, corn syrup can cause diarrhea in infants, resulting in water and electrolyte losses.

    In the past, concern has been raised about whether corn syrup is a source of bacterial spores that produce Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These bacteria are typically harmless to older children and adults. But when ingested by an infant, these bacteria make a toxin that can cause infant botulism.

    Botulism stops the muscles from working, so someone with botulism needs medical care right away. As the toxin spreads, muscles become weak all over. It is a very serious disease.

    Answer by Anonymous at 1:46 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • NO KARO. And no worries. The no-poop record for a breastfed baby is 20 days! Normal blowout at the end of it.

    Breastmilk is easily digested and well-used by the body. Poop is what the body cannot use...and you get very little of that with breastmilk.

    Answer by gdiamante at 2:04 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • My pedi told me that babies can go a whole week w/o pooping. Idk up to what age though. Your baby is fine. Just don't use suppositories because you don't want you baby to depend on that to go poop. That's what I was told.
    If you're still iffy about your 2 month old then just call your doctor's office and talk to a nurse. She'll be able to let you know what's ok and what's not ok.

    Answer by ek_white at 2:05 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • My pediatrician recommended the Karo to me 21 years ago and it worked time after time. Baby after baby. Without one problem whatsoever. However, there have been recent studies that show that there "can" be problems such as botulism. It's just not worth the gamble to me. My 10 month old grandson was born with down syndrome and his occupational therapist also does infant massage. She showed how to very gently massage the baby's tummy to encourage him to poop. I wouldn't even venture to explain on here how it's to be done. But I will tell you - it works 99% of the time. Ask your pediatrician for someone in your area who specializes in infant massage. There are countless benefits!

    Answer by 9Rmine at 2:19 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

  • Absolutely no reason to worry! if baby is 100% breastfed, there is no reason to poop because there is so little "waste" left over with breastmilk! You are doing everything right!

    and, dear lord, do NOT put karo syrup in that poor baby's perfectly functioning system!

    Answer by TanyaR1024 at 8:59 AM on Feb. 13, 2009

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...with more then one child. How do you do it?! Financially I mean. I want to have another child sooo bad but we are worried about money. I also am not a fan of working while there is a baby around. I would want to stay home if possible. So I guess my question is stay at home moms with husbands who are in the E-4 or less pay grade, how do you do it?

by on Jan. 5, 2013 at 11:03 PM
Replies (21-30):
by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 1:45 AM

Quoting SandraJo:

DH is an e2, and I'm a SAHM. We just do it. It's hard, and I really have to think about my purchases. $3-$4 here and $3-$4 there, and before you know it, all your money is gone. We're lucky that our truck is paid off. So no car payment. We do have a $100 allotment for some furniture we financed, but since its an allotment, we never even see it. I can't wait for April and I can turn off my phone line with Sprint. That's freaking expensive. Ugh.

Shop sales. I make a lot of food from scratch. If we want cookies, or cake, we bake it ourselves. Which means we don't have it often. I hate baking cookies. DH loves baking though. Chips are a special treat.

If you can get something for free, take it. We got a recliner and a picnic table from someone PCSing who didn't want to have it hauled all the way overseas. Someone else bought a new washer and dryer and let us have their old ones. Thrift stores can be your friend for clothes. You really have to go over your budget and look at what do you really need, and what is a want.

It is do-able. Might be tight, but it is. Do you have cable and internet? Would it be cheaper to shut off the cable and get netflix? Shop around for cheaper car insurance.

The $3 here and there is what gets us right now! We are really starting to realize that. Starbucks, cigs, fast food...we have made a promise to each other to cut it all! As far as thrift stores for clothes, we usually shop places like Burlington coat factory, Kohl's, and Target and I will never buy full price! I can get us all clothes for super cheap! We don't have cable and we use wifi...we do have netflix and hulu (getting rid of hulu soon) but that's all. I love netflix and don't think we will ever have cable again...not as long as we have internet. Out phones KILL us! We go through Verizon and they are SO expensive! We are going in tomorrow to talk about cutting the bill and how much longer we have on the contract and will probably be switching when it's up.

by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 2:08 AM
1 mom liked this
My husband just enlisted as an E2 and we have one child. I used to work before we got pregnant but once our daughter was born I became a SAHM. It took a lot of budgeting to get used to 50% of our income being gone but we did it. E2 pay is about twice what we were living on before so it's been easy for us so far. We clothing shop at thrift stores, I coupon for groceries and household items, we only eat out once a month if that, no cable only wifi w/ Hulu and Netflix, no car payments, breastfed, we don't smoke or drink alcohol, and we don't buy "luxuries" unless it's for a holiday. We do have a credit card we have/use for emergencies and right now we have a "New Car Fund" saved up so hopefully before we get to our first duty station we will have a second car. Budgeting is the key! If you can cut cigarettes out completely you will probably save enough each month to cover diapers! Lol goodluck!
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by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 4:04 AM
Dh is e4, we have 2 kids. I stay at home....we just live within our means. We're still making payments on dh's mustang he bought when he was a newby ($465 a freakin month!), we live off base, and still have extra to get what we want. I don't find it hard to do, but I've always been a saver so I'm used to it.
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by Chel on Jan. 6, 2013 at 4:29 AM

We were snug as an E5 with 2 kids, but was paying off debt. Became much better after getting some of the debt paid off. I'm thinking we will be just fine here in Germany!

by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 8:55 AM
My DH is an E2. We live pretty comfortably on his income. Meaning we aren't going into debt. We have 3 kids. I also work to pay child support for my oldest and childcare for the two little ones while I work. We own our vehicles and have no credit cards. If we want something expensive we save for it. I have always had a tight budget and can get groceries for the whole month for around 250. I also utilize websites for dinner ideas and coupons. I very rarely use brand names and shop thrift stores for clothes. We put some away each month in case of emergencies.
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by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 9:09 AM
My second was born a month before my dh made E5. We made it work. We saved as much as we could before she was born for everything she needed and wic is a lifesaver for us even with him as a 5 for formula since I don't produce breastmilk.

Figure out where every cent of tour money is going throughout the entire month and make a budget. Or just wait for him to gain rank.
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by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 9:17 AM

We had a budget, used coupons, breastfed, we didn't have cable, just internet, we didn't eat out, I fixed my husband lunch everyday and he would come home to eat. We cut our cell phone bill by calling around and getting the least expensive plan. We lived in a cheap apartment that was actually pretty nice. We survived and did just fine. Just look at what you currently are spending and try to figure out a way to reduce costs anywhere you can.

by Ada on Jan. 6, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Its a lifestyle choice... If you want kids and want to stay at home you give certain things up. Husband is an E5 and we just had our first... We won't try for another till he makes E6.
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by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 10:36 AM

my 2nd kid really didnt cost a thing. I cloth diapered my first and just reused all that for the 2nd. breastfed exclussively. we cosleep so didn't need any new furniture or a nursery. I used an old toy organizer for new baby's clothes (worked out really well actually). i had everything left over from my first and reused it all. I learned after having my first that all that baby gear and gadgets were not needed.

by on Jan. 6, 2013 at 12:59 PM

we have friends that started out as E3 with 2 kids. She budgeted. they rarely ate out, lived comfortable, but made sure they were living within their pay check. she was on WIC for formula for their baby*once the baby stopped using formula they stopped using wic*  and used cloth diapers so it wasn't as expensive.  you just do what ya got to do:)

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How to politely end meddling?

Posted by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:10 PM
  • 13 Replies

First, a little background:

DH became a widower in 2007, with children who were 4 and 9. Their BM's family has been very involved in the kids' lives, and for some of the past few years have essentially raised them.  Since I started dating my now-husband, I've been getting nonstop feedback on ways in which to "fix" him. Everything from career advice to insisting he gets his dog neutered to ... well, everything.

Lately, my stepkids have been coming home with stories about how their family (grandparents, an aunt, and most notably a great-aunt) will explain to them basically everything wrong with their father.  It's typically the same things they say to me, but  I really don't want the kids to get into the middle of this crap. Is there any polite way to confront these people an explain that they don't have anything to do with how often my husband works (vs staying home and helping with the kids, house, yard), how much or little we choose to spend on toys, the way we're apparently starving the children because we limit their junk food consumption, etc.? I know that they're worried that, now that we're married, they'll be less involved with the kids' lives, so I don't want to push these people away completely. And honestly, I'm enough of a grown-up most days to be able to handle them encouraging me to improve my husband. What I can't stand is them telling our kids that there's something wrong with their dad. I just won't accept that, but I'm at a loss for how to handle it.  Any advice?

by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:10 PM
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by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:25 PM
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Thats a touchy subject. Maybe a polite "I love him just the way he is and wouldnt have him any other way" could do the trick. But I think when it comes to the kids, your DH should be the one to say something to them. And if he doesnt know that they are doing this, you should definitely inform him!

by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Simple, when they approach you "DH's and my marriage is our private business, we'll handle it privately, thank you." and leave it at that. Let DH fight them when they come to him, he needs to stand up for himself. As for when they give you advice on how to handle the kids "DH and I have discussed how he wants his children parented and I am in agreement with him, thank you for your input though, he's got it covered." Then let DH fight his battles with his family. They are involved because is hasn't been. This is realistically a minefield he has to clean up. First though, he has to want to be involved with the kids and seriously step up and be a father again. He CAN NOT armchair parent over his family. If he wants to call the shots he HAS to do the work and be a parent, otherwise he needs to keep letting them parent...

by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:40 PM
1 mom liked this

It's got to stop.  Children view themselves as extensions of their parents, so criticizing him is attacking them too by extension.  That's why divorced parents who attack one another create very insecure, guilt-ridden children.  If it were me, I'd tell them that that they will only be welcome in the children's lives if the criticism stops.

by Kelly on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:47 PM
1 mom liked this
Dh has to stand up for himself and his children. I'm sure they all helped him when his wife died and perhaps he feels beholden to them??? Regardless, what they are saying to the kids isn't acceptable and he needs to put an end to it. As for you, just tell them your marriage isn't up for discussion.
by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:53 PM
1 mom liked this
DH should tell them that your lives are private and not to be discussed and to quit talking about him to the children. If they cannot stop then perhaps the children shouldn't be going over there without DH present.
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by Gold Member on Oct. 8, 2012 at 4:54 PM
1 mom liked this

You stop the meddling by not responding to it.

by Ruby Member on Oct. 8, 2012 at 5:13 PM

Personally  I'd tell them to eff off.  But I agree with the fact that DH needs to tell them to butt out. And really-its none of BM's family's concern-as long as the kids are happy/healthy-sounds like DH's doing a fine job on his own without THEIR (bms family)help.

by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 5:20 PM
Stop the info train. Don't give them any information about what you're doing and they can't comment on it.

"Blah blah blah his job"
" he supports his family. Did you see the lakers game?"
"Blah blah you should/ shouldn't"
"I'll give that all the consideration it deserves. Have you been to that new coffee shop downtown?"
"Blah blah"
" we've got it covered."
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by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Thank you all for your replies.  I've been sticking with responses along the lines of "DH and I have it under control" and reminders to the kids that only their dad and I make the rules for our house, and that other people's opinions are nothing more than that... but some days it just drives me insane. It doesn't seem to matter whether we ignore it or I try a polite dismissal, every week or two some new thing crops up. DH has been saying he'll handle it, but I guess I'm just getting impatient. It's comforting to know that the general consensus is that he needs to manage the relationship with BM's family.

by on Oct. 8, 2012 at 6:03 PM
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Its fine for them to have an opinion but its out of line for them to criticize DH to his own children! He should put a stop to that before it starts to have damaging effects on the kids.
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Alex Morgan Named US Soccer Athlete of the Year
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BERKELEY - California alumna Alex Morgan added another honor to her growing collection of awards when U.S. Soccer named her its 2012 Female Athlete of the Year, the national soccer federation announced on Monday.

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