Thursday, August 26, 2010

ABC news: Gene Wars

This might be an interest one.

ABC news: Gene Wars: The race to own our food
The race to find and own all the drought resistant plant genes on the planet: A risk to universal access to food and the end of biodiversity or a solution to the predicted global food crisis?

Read more!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Australia Greens

Yeah! Australia Greens!

這是澳洲綠黨第一次在下議院 (Lower House) 選上一席,而且是在 Melbourne (墨爾本),為 Greens 歡呼。不過如果不是澳洲特殊的計票方式,Greens 的總票數其實是低於 Labor Party (ALP),還好澳洲和台灣及美國有不同的投票計票方式,使得綠黨的理念可以影響到政策的實踐。

根據澳洲選委會 (Updated: 22/08/2010 11:23:22 AM) 目前的開票結果 (Enrolment: 14,088,260 Turnout: 77.88%),澳洲綠黨在上議院 (Upper House, 也就是 Senate) 的 first preference 獲得 1,183,541 選票 (11.43%)。

Ecstatic Greens take ALP's long-held heartland
AFTER years of unfulfilled expectations, Greens supporters were celebrating a historic victory last night, booting Labor out of its formerly safe seat of Melbourne.

Greens rip Melbourne from Labor
The Greens have won a historic lower house seat, claiming the electorate of Melbourne from Labor. Although the Greens' Adam Bandt is trailing the ALP's Cath Bowtell on a two-candidate preferred basis, Liberal preferences have helped propel him to a stunning victory.

Larissa Waters wins Queensland Senate seat for Greens
Brisbane environmental lawyer Larissa Waters looks set to be Queensland’s first Greens Senator after a concerted Green rush through the Sunshine State.

Read more!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Chicago 10

We just watched "Chicago 10: Speak Your Peace". A documentary movie mixed archival footage, animation, and music to look back the anti-Vietnam-war protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the 1969 Conspiracy Trial. Worth watching.



Long Time Coming (BY GRAHAM MEYER)
Q: Why did you choose Chicago 10 as the title, rather than Chicago Seven or Chicago Eight, as the group is better known?

A: It was called C7 for five years. We liked that it made it feel like a movie, as opposed to a documentary. However, there were eight defendants. Jerry Rubin once said, "Anyone who calls us the Chicago Seven is a racist. Because you're discrediting [Black Panther leader and codefendant, in part] Bobby Seale. You can call us the Chicago Eight, but really we're the Chicago Ten, because our two lawyers went down with us." And I felt like it would also allow me to appropriate the story, rebrand the story.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

Honeybee and Beehive

Beehive
My internet connection is very poor. It takes more than 8 minutes to connect above link and unable to connect below link. But I think I might be interested in them after reading today's news 重箱養蜂不毀巢 蜜還多2倍



私の父は日本蜜蜂を飼育しています。巣箱も手作りしています。著名な先生からの要望を受け、研究機関にも納入し、使用していただいています。巣箱の詳細を動画で撮影しましたので、参考にしてください。
HPとブログを運営しています。
週末養蜂家のニホンミツバチのおいしいはちみつ
日本蜜蜂(ニホンミツバチ)の入門書

Read more!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Proximal Phalanx

The left side of the 2nd proximal phalanx and 2nd metarcarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of my left hand has been painful for more than 1 week. It is getting worse especially when I move my left 2nd finger. I don't know what's this, but it starts to bother my daily life.

Read more!

EIA in Taiwan

I like these 2 reports by PNN (PTS News Network). We celebrated when Taiwan's EIA Act was passed and promulgated by presidential order on Dec. 30, 1994. Sixteen years have passed and our EIA Act has been used to serve politician and industrial development since day one. General principal 1 "prevent and mitigate the adverse impact of development activity on the environment in order to achieve the goal of environmental protection" is a joke in Taiwan.

I know that I should not post the whole articles in here. But I just want to keep a copy in my blog.

再從中科三、四期開發環評案辨正環評制度 (公共電視,by P評催稿中心 on 2010/08/17)

今年1月間最高行政法院駁回環保署對於台北高等行政法院判決撤銷中科三期的環評結論的上訴後,因環保署長沈世宏非但拒不依法轉請國科會命中科管理局停工,反而登報指責行政法院的判決是「無效用、無意義、破壞環評體制」(因而引起公共行政與法律二方面的學者大加指責,詳見環評的真相十)。后里居民不得已再度向台北高等行政法院訴請確認國科會的開發許可無效,及以環保署怠於執行職務為由,提起另一公民訴訟,並同時聲請法院裁定命停止執行開發行為及假處分。

幸運地,繼7月30日中科四期遭行政法院裁定命停止執行後續開發行為後,台北高等法院同時再一口氣做出一個假處分裁定及一個停止執行裁定,內容簡單地說,都是要求中科管理局應停止實施開發行為。裁判一出,新聞熱度持續達二周之久。這其間,據報載,吳敦義自白海豚會轉彎後,再說出諸如停工不包括停止營運;國科會官員說出施工是指土建,所以廠房的安裝機器設備,不包含在內;沈世宏說環評僅在評估對自然環境的影響,不包含土地利益、環評制度被法院捅出大窟窿、最後把關的角色被推翻、法官們、法律專家學者都不瞭解環評法且別有用心、後果要法院自行負責等等貽笑大方的言論,真是令人歎為觀止!

我們只要引證幾條環評法規定,就可以印證這些官員根本是在睜眼瞎說,尤其主管環評業務的環保署長沈世宏,為了諂媚上意,任意解法令,賤踏環評專業,更是失格。茲矑舉如下:

一、環評法中關於開發行為所指為何?依環評法第4條第1款規定「其範圍包括該行為之規劃、進行及完成後之使用。」因此,不管是土建工程或機器設備的安裝,難道不是開發行為的「進行」?至於營運,不是「完成後的使用」,是什麼?

二、環境影響評估究竟是什麼?其實只要從環評法第4條第2款的規定,就可以看到全貌:「指開發行為或政府政策對環境包括生活環境、自然環境、社會環境及經濟、文化、生態等可能影響之程度及範圍,事前以科學、客觀、綜合之調查、預測、分析及評定,……」,依此規定,可以看出:

1. 環評絕對不是單單只有評估對自然環境的影響而已,包括人的生活環境、社會環境,甚至經濟、文化與生態都包含在內,而且同等重要。

2. 環評之所以是一項有預防及減輕功能的篩選機制,關鍵在於它是「事前」以科學、客觀、綜合之調查、預測、分析及評定。而此處的「事前」,指的當然是在實施前述的開發行為之前。對照中科三、四期環評有條件通過的條件中,都有一條開發單位必須在「營運前」完成對周邊居民的健康風險評估。乍看之下,似無不妥,但依上述說明,環評法之所以要求必須在事前完成各種調查、預測及分析,目的在於提供環評委員審查及做成結論時有充份且完整的資訊。然而環保署為配合廠商開發期限,強行以表決先行通過,事後(施工完成後營運前)再補做健康風險評估。此即行政法院先後認為中科三期環評審查結論違法,予以撤銷,及認為四期也有相同情形,在相思寮等居民訴請撤銷環評審查結論判決確定前,先裁定命停止後續開發行為的原因之一。

三、環評分為第一階段及第二階段,一階環評只是較簡易的書面審查;二階環評則有比較完整嚴格的審查程序及公民參與機制。依環評法第8條規定,如果在一階審查時,認為環境有重大影響的疑慮,即應繼續進行第二階環評。而如何認定應否進行二階環評,在環評法的施行細則第19條則列舉一些判斷的項目,其中第六款即是國民健康或安全。國民健康既然被列為判斷應否二階環評的項目之一,且國民健康或安全無價,在是否有重大不利影響,完全懵然無知的情形下,豈容先上車後補票?因此,行政法院認為三期應進行二階環評而未予進行,顯然也有違法而引為撤銷環評結論的第二個理由。

此外,吳敦義與沈世宏一再將中科三期被法院裁定停止開發行為的責任推給前朝,但他們在四期反而更加變本加厲(請參同前文),而且沈世宏也承認中科三期環評審查結論所要求中科管理局應補提的健康風險評估正在補件審查,顯然尚未審查完成。既然原有三期環評審查結論要求「營運前」應完成健康風險評估的條件,為何縱容甚至積極護航在中科三期七基農場基地完成設廠的旭能公司在健康風險評估尚未完成前,迄今可以光明正大地營運及在中科污水處理廠尚未完成前,任意排放廢污水?

何況,解讀一份司法裁判絕非只看當事人欄與主文,還必須審閱構成主文所不可缺的理由,因為那是支撐主文的「鋼骨結構」。以中科三期的99年度全字第43號假處分裁定為例,行政院硬拗裁定主文效力只及於中科管理局有關園區公共設施的施工,不及於廠商的施工及營運,卻無視於當初送審的開發計畫與環境影響說明書可不是僅有園區的公共設施,而是整個園區的開發使用。而上開裁定書的第14頁以下,也清楚記載是因為環保署怠於執行職務,且在法院開庭時再度明白表示拒絕執行命停止實施開發行為的義務,法院才下此裁定,命環保署應命中科管理局停止實施(整個園區)開發行為。

對於法律條文的適用,主管該業務的行政機關固然有解釋權,但遇有行政爭議,最終的法律解釋權仍在司法機關。此乃三權分立,相互制衡的制度設計使然。所以,行政機關即使擺出全體閣員為環保署與國科會曲解法令的說詞背書,仍然無法改變應以司法判決理由內所做法律解釋為準的定律。

以上種種因行政官員顛倒是非,曲解法令所種下的惡果,被在憲政體制下有監督制衡行政權的司法權用裁判予以糾正後,忝不知恥的官員竟無賴地要法院負責,實在滑天下之稽!

其實,此案至今,演變成政府威信、廠商利益與環境保護三輸局面,完全是政府機關知法玩法的結果。中科四期的法院裁定(99年度停字第11號)有二段語重心長的話可以說明一切:「環評事件的核心問題,簡單而言,在於增加正向影響、減少負向影響,最終評估的結果是要符合這個社會的最大利益,然而何謂『社會的最大利益』,不是開發單位(本案是參加人中科管理局)說了算數,也非環保主管機關(本案是相對人)、當然也不是環保團體或當地居民(本案是聲請人)。…我們應該從一個制度著手,由制度上探知如何謀求『社會的最大利益』」;「效率的實質考量不是在達成共識,而是在共識履行的順遂;所以,就行政處分而言,效率的目的不在儘速作成處分,而是做一份共識基礎深厚而沒有執行阻力的行政處分。」

本文作者:詹順貴,律師,民間司法改革基金會常務執行委員。 曾任環評委員。1992年律師高考及格,因執業律師前任職於銀行界多年,故專攻於金融法相關研究。工作之餘,長期關注環保問題,參與濱南工業區、關西精密機械工業園區、國家公園採礦權之展延等環保反對運動、公聽會,並投身環境基本法、環境損害賠償法、海岸法等法案及草案之研擬與意見發表。本文係作者「環評的真相」系列專文第13篇。詹順貴的部落格:獨立蒼茫

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健康風險三道門 中科三期闖一關 (公共電視 2010.8.17 記者胡慕情 / 台北報導)

中科三期健康風險評估連續安排3天會議(專家會議、專案小組、環評大會)要闖關,報告卻遭專家學者批評「送到焚化爐燒掉算了!」長期被排除在環評、 直到中科環評被撤銷才獲邀發言的大安鄉公所更猛烈炮轟「錢中科在賺,垃圾都丟在我們這邊,你們摸摸良心!」即便如此,環署卻祭出專家會議規範,及「開過很 多次會」的理由,要求專家選擇「讓報告通過」的模式,引發學者周晉澄痛斥:「我絕對不背書!」

中科三期健康風險牽涉行政院能否「補正」程序、讓中科局與廠商繼續「合法動工」,近日相關審查,環署都動員大批警力維安;17日的健康風險專家會議,環署更 大動作只開小門、要求警察把關記者需有記者證才能入環署,民眾則被擋在環署外。此外,環署原預計讓媒體只旁聽十分鐘就不能錄影,但最後沒有趕媒體。

權威學者不背書

環團在會議召開前一小時於環署外抗議、要求環署長沈世宏下台,立委田秋堇質疑:「健康風險還沒審,環署在早上4點多就發新聞稿說健康風險評估在可接受範圍,會議還需要開嗎?」

台大職業醫學與工業衛生研究所教授詹長權與副教授吳焜裕也嚴正否認參與沈世宏宣稱「可接受的健康風險評估」,接受中科局委託的中國醫藥大學健康風險 管理學系助理教授許惠悰也澄清:「這份報告兩位老師只做第一年,之後中科局只委託我,報告是我做的。」但他又說「我引用的曝露參數中 某些化學物質劑量是吳焜裕算的,要說他沒參與其實也是有。」

許惠悰所言引發前環評委員、台大獸醫系教授周晉澄不滿,周晉澄質疑,許援引數據卻未經過原研究者確認,「會有不確定性跟適用性問題,這就是環署一直說風險可接受的原因!這有學術道德瑕疵!」

中科局:風險很低 大安鄉:白賊講!

儘管如此,主席、環委李俊璋仍讓中科局繼續報告。許惠悰表示,經專家指教,這份風險評估已加入廢水健康風險評估,許惠悰強調,他做的風險評估非常保守,在計算大甲溪全年平均流量與中科三期廢水混合後的濃度,「健康風險屬可接受範圍。」至於空污的影響也在可接受範圍。

「可接受?可接受需要拉20多公里的管來大安鄉放嗎!我們大安鄉民不是笨蛋!」大安鄉公所指出,大安鄉民從未反對開發建設,「只要求不要污染我們」;當地居民不如許惠悰所言,85%都引用地下水飲用、清洗與灌溉,且放流口下游2百公尺也有居民,「這種說法根本在欺騙社會!」

大安鄉公所表示,大安鄉位於大安溪與大甲溪交會處,大安鄉整鄉都應列入風險評估、但卻被忽略。此外,大甲溪一年有4、5個月「連一滴水都沒有」,居民對許惠悰以平均流量計算風險相當不滿,「難道沒水的季節中科都不排水嗎?」

數據資料問題多 與會專家強烈抨擊

大安鄉公所代表會副主席陳鈂星進一步指出,許惠悰憑估沒住人的地方靠海,「一滿潮,污染物就會跑回來!」但許惠悰卻說,當地地下水流速一年才2.5公尺,「就算長期放流,污染物跑回來的速度也不快。」

但大安鄉公所舉大安海水浴場為例,海水浴場離放流口約2.8公里,環署每年海水浴場大腸桿菌檢測時,大安海水浴場都超過標準,原因就是海水浴場匯集大安、大甲溪的污染,「未來廢水肯定流到這裡來,遊客不就是喝廢水嗎?」,

周晉澄也反駁地下水流速緩慢的說法,他表示,大安鄉有很多伏流水回流,「這份報告糟到可以丟去焚化爐燒!」周晉澄指出,許惠悰引用的數據是中科三期初始環評時,顧問公司做的錯誤資料,「當時我是環委,叫他們改都沒改,你居然還引用?」

受中科影響的居民希望專家為她們的健康把關,但因環署技術規範限制,專家無用武之地
中國醫藥大學公衛系教授江舟峰也認為用平均流量計算風險並不妥;台大公衛系教授王榮德則指出此風險評估缺乏地下水經呼吸道影響健康的曝露風險,「這假設過份大膽,我絕對不為這背書。」

此外,科技廠會排放全氟有機化合物及跟環境荷爾蒙,但風險評估都沒談到;也缺乏考慮毒化物在水產的累積濃度數據;孕婦跟胎兒的風險也沒有被評估。清大化學系教授凌永健也認為抽樣的水體不具代表性。

周晉澄進一步質疑化學物的正確性。他以七星基地為例,乙醇和異丙醇在2個廠排放,6月時中科只評估其一,經質疑後評估另一廠,「但污染濃度卻不增反減」。他強調:「中科局呈現的這些值,我全部無法認可。應該重做!」

專家會議兼專案小組主席李俊璋護航

只是,報告雖被專家批到一無是處,李俊璋卻在專家學者討論時,要求學者以環署制定的專家會議規範做出關鍵決定。

據環署說法,專家會議是為釐清專案小組無法釐清的爭議,讓民間團體、環署、開發單位各自推派「可信任專家」,做出公正客觀建議,但專家會議卻不給專家決定權,規範中僅有「評估結果可接受」,或是「評估結果有疑慮,可再做模擬然後提專案小組與環評大會審查」等四種選項讓與會專家選擇。

雖學者都認為「不能接受」、甚至說出「這報告是大笑話」的評語,卻得選擇其中一項結論。不過周晉澄斬釘截鐵地拒絕:「基本資料都錯,這樣就想送有決定權的專案小組?」

李俊璋表示,中科修正的報告還會給專家看過,但周晉澄反駁:「只是個別專家看過,並沒有再討論的機會!環署根本是要學者來背書,我絕對不願意!」李俊璋情急下表示,「專家提的意見我們都重視,『一個開發案如果要做』,我們都會要求中科。」

最後,環署要求中科局補正資料再送環署審查。由於缺漏資料繁多,明、後天的會議暫時取消,但中科局副局長郭坤明表示,將「日以繼夜趕資料送審」,最快26號將審查。

公視新聞影像報導 中科三期健康風險爭議點


中科健康風險評估 真實狀況遭質疑 (2010.8.17 記者林靜媒 邱福財 / 台北報導)

為了加速中科三期開發案的環評審查,環保署原訂要一連三天接力開會;而在今天下午先登場的健康風險評估,提出的報告中指出,中科三期開發後,當地增加的致癌風險比率,在全國平均值以下,屬於可忽略的風險,不過有專家學者批評,報告中有非常多的錯誤,沒有呈現真實的狀況,最後會議主席裁示,要求開發單位再補充更完整的數據.而受到連帶影響,明後天的會議也都全部取消。

不能進入環保署,參加中科三期七星農場的健康風險評估審查,環保團體決定在大門口貼上符咒,表達不滿。而來參加審查的前環評委員周晉澄則直說,這份報告應該可以直接燒掉。

中科三期七星農場一開發,會不會危害地方居民的健康,根據中國醫藥大學團隊調查發現,當地的致癌風險,比美國所公認的可忽略風險率、10的負六次方還要低,也就是小於可忽略之風險。

儘管報告很艱澀,不過地方鄉民代可是一聽就懂,直接點出問題,質疑研究團隊評估廢水排入大安溪的風險,結果只用平均流量,卻沒考慮到枯水期,污染物根本很難稀釋。

更有專家直接質疑,當地居民高達八成使用地下水洗澡飲用,廢水排入大安溪,也會流入地下水,結果報告卻沒提,表明不願背書。

由於問題實在太多,會議主席裁示,應該再補充更多數據和重做模擬的模式,也因此原本預定要接著開的專案小組會議、和後天開的環評大會,通通取消,預計月底再接續審查。

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The Story of Cap and Trade

I like this short video. It is easy to understand for everybody. I hope people, especially those politician and policy maker, can start to think the problems in Cap and Trade. Below are English and Taiwanese versions.

The Story of Cap and Trade
The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the "devils in the details" in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you’ve heard about cap and trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film is for you.


碳交易的故事
繼「東西的故事」之後,曾獲選為時代雜誌環保英雄的Annie Leonard團隊又推出「碳交易的故事」,告訴你為何二氧化碳的「總量管制與交易制度」(Cap & Trade),不能真正解決全球暖化危機,達到節能減碳的目的。政府核配給大型污染源的免費碳權、虛假不實的碳抵減,這由能源交易商與華爾街金融業者搞出來的制度正在浪費人類處理氣候危機所需的寶貴資源 ,與時間...

碳交易的故事The Story of Cap and Trade from Wild at Heart on Vimeo.



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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Primary amenorrhea

Here are top 5 webpages about Primary amenorrhea by google search. Why do I put them here? It is because ....

Amenorrhea - primary
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Menstruation is a woman's monthly period. Primary amenorrhea is when a girl has not yet started her monthly periods, and she:
(1) Has gone through other normal changes that occur during puberty
(2) Is older than 15

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Amenorrhea, Primary

Primary amenorrhea is the failure of menses to occur by age 16 years, in the presence of normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics. If by age 13, menses has not occurred and the onset of puberty, such as breast development, is absent, a work-up for primary amenorrhea should start.

Pathophysiology

Menstruation is the cyclic, orderly sloughing of the uterine lining, due to the interactions of hormones produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries.


Hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries form a functional endocrine axis, known as HPO axis with hormonal regulations and feedback loops.

Hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries form a functional endocrine axis, known as HPO axis with hormonal regulations and feedback loops.

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Amenorrhoea
Amenorrhoea (BE), amenorrhea (AmE), or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. Physiological states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding), the latter also forming the basis of a form of contraception known as the lactational amenorrhoea method. Outside of the reproductive years there is absence of menses during childhood and after menopause.
Amenorrhoea is a symptom with many potential causes. Primary amenorrhoea (menstruation cycles never starting) may be caused by developmental problems such as the congenital absence of the uterus, or failure of the ovary to receive or maintain egg cells. Also, delay in pubertal development will lead to primary amenorrhoea. It is defined as an absence of secondary sexual characteristics by age 14 with no menarche or normal secondary sexual characteristics but no menarche by 16 years of age. Secondary amenorrhoea (menstruation cycles ceasing) is often caused by hormonal disturbances from the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland or from premature menopause, or intrauterine scar formation. It is defined as the absence of menses for three months in a woman with previously normal menstruation or nine months for women with a history of oligomenorrhoea.

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Primary amenorrhea: Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Primary amenorrhea is not considered to have occurred until a girl is beyond age 16, if she has undergone other normal changes that occur during puberty.


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Primary amenorrhea


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Saturday, August 14, 2010

More about Formosa Betrayed

I am not good on English writing. Here are some articles talking about this movie.

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Telling the story (by J. Michael Cole)
Years in the making and produced on a shoestring budget, Formosa Betrayed has already played in select theaters in the US and Canada. Starting on August 6, it will finally be playing in the country whose story it strives to bring to a wider audience — that of Taiwan.

Formosa Betrayed: a quest for truth and justice (by David on Formosa)

Will Tiao on ‘Formosa Betrayed’: ‘I can defend my movie to the T” (August 8th, 2010, by Trista di Genova)

您,看過「被出賣的台灣」了嗎?(by Tottoro, 08/12/2010)









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Friday, August 13, 2010

Sea Beans Entada

My husband and his colleague collected some sea beans from the islands. We don't know what are them and decide to grow them. Based on the size and shape of those seeds, we believe they are those beautiful sea beans Entada.

Photos from http://www.beachbeans.com/descriptions.html


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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The English Surgeon

In the beginning, I thought this might be another heavy and somber documentary. But it is touching and humanity. I like the end "What are we if we don’t try to help others? We are nothing. Nothing at all", very breathtaking.

BBC, 2007

The English Surgeon (PBS Broadcast: September 8, 2009)
What is it like to have power over life and death, and yet to struggle with your own humanity? This is the story of acclaimed British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who has traveled to Ukraine for 15 years to treat patients who have been left to die; of his friend and medical colleague in Kyiv who carries on the fight despite official hostility and archaic surgical conditions; and of a young patient who hopes that Henry can save his life. Tense, heartbreaking and humorous, The English Surgeon is a remarkable depiction of one doctor's commitment to relieving suffering and of the emotional turmoil he undergoes in bringing hope to a desperate people. A BBC/ITVS International Production.

The English Surgeon (2008): The Doctor Who Went Into the Ukrainian Cold
By MANOHLA DARGIS, July 24, 2009, NY Times


Dr. Henry Marsh, 'The English Surgeon' (Listen to the Story, September 8, 2009)
Fifteen years ago, British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh went to Ukraine as a visiting lecturer, and found a medical system that was decades out of date. Dr. Marsh talks about his collaboration with a Ukrainian doctor to save lives and bring hope to patients, and a PBS documentary titled The English Surgeon that tells his story.

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Mining on Stradbroke Island

I don't understand why it is so difficult for the State government to stop sand mining in this beautiful island, the 2nd biggest sand island in the world. Why the state government insists to renew expired mining leases on land earmarked to become national park in next year, i e. 2011?

Greens push for Stradbroke Island mining ban (July 26, 2010, Brisbane Times)

Greens Senate candidate Larissa Waters: Long phase-out timetable would not properly protect old growth forest. Photo: Michelle Smith
The Australian Greens have called on the federal government to ban mining on Stradbroke Island, southeast of Brisbane.

However, the Queensland government today was sticking by its plan to phase out the island's 50-year-old mining industry over the next 17 years.
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Greens call for Straddie mining ban

The Australian Greens have called for the federal government to step in and ban sand mining on Stradbroke Island.

This follows a state government deal to extend mining until 2027 on already expired leases at the island's largest mine.
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Greens call for federal intervention to ban mining on Stradbroke Island
The Australian Greens have called for the federal government to step in and ban mining on Stradbroke Island after the state government's dirty deal to extend mining until 2027 on already expired leases at the Island's largest mine.

“The federal government should act to protect the old growth forest, ancient sand dunes and koalas of the second largest sand island in the world, because the state government has totally failed to do so,” said Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, environmental lawyer Larissa Waters, who flew over the Enterprise mine site today.

“It's no coincidence that Premier Bligh's 2027 end date for mining is exactly the year the miners told the ASX that Enterprise mine would run out of minerals. She has given the miners exactly what they want, and will even change state laws to enable renewal of Joh-era mining leases that expired nearly three years ago.

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Greens: Coral Sea protection plan

I like Greens because they have dreams, they have ideas, and they have actions.

Plan to protect Barrier Reef announced
The Greens have announced a new plan to tackle the biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef.

The plan includes:

1. Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020
2. Extending the requirements for satellite tracking of vessels on board vessels for all ships transporting coal and gas throughout the reef
3. Extending compulsory pilotage across the entire reef for large transport ships through the relevant international forums
4 Banning the use of the pesticides, particularly diuron, atrazine and ametryn, which are found in high concentrations in run-off from the land.
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Greens launch Coral Sea protection plan (by JAMIE MCKINNELL, Brisbane Times, August 10, 2010)

Queensland would become home to one of the world's largest Protected Marine Reserves, under a new proposal announced by Greens leader Bob Brown.

The Coral Sea, a region covering one million square kilometres, boasts flourishing ecosystems which the Greens say are threatened by oil and gas extraction, unsustainable fishing and pollution.

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Sunday, August 8, 2010

Dairy-free Chocolate Cookie

We bought 100% cocoa powder last month because we love chocolate. Those commercial chocolate and chocolate cookie are too sweet and most of them contain milk. There are some recipes found on google are listed in my Dairy-free Chocolate Recipes. We tried one of the chocolate cookie and it is so delicious that we almost couldn't stop eating. We added much less sugar and love it.

Summarized from Our 3rd and 4th test on Aug 21 and 23, 2010

(1) Dairy-free Chocolate Cookie
Mix sugar 70g + cocoa powder 40g + Self-raising flour 146g together + 0.5 tsp salt
-> Add canola oil 64g and water 80g, then mix
-> Separate to 40 bite-size pieces and bake 17 min at 180 oC

(2) Dairy-free green tea cookie
Mix sugar 70g + green tea powder 40g + Self-raising flour 146g together + 0.5 tsp salt
-> Add canola oil 64g and water 80g, then mix
-> Separate to 40 bite-size pieces and bake 17 min at 180 oC
(ps. Green tea powder is not suitable in here.)

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Our first test on Aug 7, 2010

Mix sugar 50g + cocoa powder 20g + Self-raising flour 70g together
-> Add canola oil 32g and water 40g, then mix
-> Separate to 15 bite-size pieces and bake 15 min at 180 oC

(note) It is very delicious with strong cocoa favor. We love it. I will suggest to use less sugar such as 40g because I prefer to have a little bit bitter taste for chocolate related desert.

This chocolate cookie costs 0.52 AUD when we bought all the ingredient in Woolworths. The sugar content is 29% if no oil evaporated, which is much lower than most cookies selling in stores. We will try 40g sugar next time.
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Our second test on Aug 11, 2010

Mix sugar 40g + cocoa powder 20g + Self-raising flour 70g together + 0.25 tsp salt
-> Add canola oil 32g and water 40g, then mix
-> Separate to 20 bite-size pieces and bake 17 min at 180 oC

We love it. It tastes even better without the sugar sweet, just rich cocoa flavor.
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Our 3rd test on Aug 21, 2010

Mix sugar 70g + cocoa powder 40g + Self-raising flour 140g together + 0.5 tsp salt
-> Add canola oil 64g and water 80g, then mix
-> Separate to 40 bite-size pieces and bake 17 min at 180 oC

We love it. I think we don't need much sugar, rich cocoa is enough.
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Our 4th test on Aug 23, 2010

Mix sugar 70g + green tea powder 40g + Self-raising flour 146g together + 0.5 tsp salt
-> Add canola oil 64g and water 80g, then mix
-> Separate to 40 bite-size pieces and bake 17 min at 180 oC

We love it. I think we don't need much sugar, rich cocoa is enough.

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Our untried test

Mix sugar 40g + canola oil 32g
-> Add cocoa powder 20g and mix
-> Add 1 egg and mix
-> Add self-raising flour 70g and salt 0.75g, then mix
-> Bake 10-15 min at 180 oC

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Dairy-free Chocolate Recipes

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies ( 35個 )
Ingredients:
A: 2 cups of sugar (380 g)... 3/4 cup of oil (180 cc = 144 g)...
B: 3/4 cup of cocoa powder (60 g)...
C: 4 eggs ... 2 teaspoon vanilla extract ...
D: 2 1/3 cups of flour (280 g)... 2 teaspoon baking soda (11 g) ... 1/2 teaspoon salt (3 g)...

Other:
E: Powdered sugar

作法:
{一}.. 將 A 打發後加入 B 攪拌均勻..再加入 C 至全部攪拌均勻 ...
{二}.. 材料 D 均過篩...加入作法{一}...
{三}.. 外沾用的糖粉E放在盤子裡 ...取少許的麵糰滾圓後(註2)..
再均勻的沾滾上糖粉...然後再稍稍搓圓放在鋪了烘焙紙的烤盤上...
{四}.. 烤箱預熱350度..烘烤10-12分即可...

註1 : 我覺得 2 杯糖的甜度剛剛好...
註2 : 我是用挖小球冰淇淋的scoop( 1T.) 整形的...
註3 : 整的越大.. 烘烤的時間就越久...
註4: 我通常會在烘焙的前一天先完成作法{二} ... 如此麵糰較易操作...
另外 .. 整的越小..糖粉就會用的越多...

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Chocolate Cookie

Material (approximately 15)
Cake flour 70g
Cocoa (unsweetened) 30g
Sugar 50g
Salad oil 2 tablespoons
Milk 2 tablespoons
Vanilla oil (if any) 2 to 3 drops
Powdered sugar Appropriate
◆ Beikingupauda 0.25 tsp (without OK)

Mix flour, cocoa powder and sugar together
-> Add oil & vanilla oil and mix
-> Add milk and mix to dough
-> Separate to 15 bite-size pieces and bake 180 oC for 15 min
-> Sprinkle some sugar powder

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Irrigation and Murray-Darling Basin

Today's ABC Landline has discussed the problem between irrigation and Murray-Darling Basin. I will put its link in here when ABC put it up on their website. It
is a difficult problem for people when the water resource is limited. I hope this water shortage will also give a chance for people to think about Australia population growth.

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Murray-Darling Basin (wiki inf)
The Murray-Darling basin is a geographical area in the interior of southeastern Australia, which spans parts of the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. It is 3,375 km in length (the Murray River is 2589 km long), drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass, and is currently by far the most significant agricultural area in Australia. The name of the basin is derived from its two major rivers, the Murray River and the Darling River.

The Murray Darling Basin is home for many native animal species. The true numbers are not known, but a fairly accurate estimate has been made of these animals and the current status of their population. .....

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Report finds basin water cuts to slash jobs (ABC, By Sam Burgess, Fri Aug 6, 2010 7:31am AEST)

Irrigators in Queensland's southern inland region say even a small reduction in water entitlements in the northern Murray-Darling Basin will have a devastating impact on rural communities.

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Food Security

I am not sure if this is because it is election time in Australia or it has become a national concern. Worrying about Losing farmland and food resources & security has become an issue on TV in these 2 weeks in Australia. I think that every country should try to save their own farmland for their own people. It is not just for food security, but it is also environmental friendly.

Here are 2 reports in ABC.

PART 1: Does Australia risk losing control of its food resources? (By Stephen Crittenden)

Foreign interests including state-owned companies from China and the Middle East are increasingly looking to Australia to secure their food production by purchasing key agricultural assets.

PART 2: Does Australia need a food security plan? (ABC, By Stephen Crittenden)

Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne says Australia urgently needs a national food security plan because of the growing danger of foreign takeover of key Australian agricultural assets.

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Friday, August 6, 2010

Lost in Translation

I think this is a very interest article. Just share with you. Each individual language is a human heritage which should be treasured by everybody.

Lost in Translation (The Wall Street Journal, JULY 23, 2010)
New cognitive research suggests that language profoundly influences the way people see the world; a different sense of blame in Japanese and Spanish

Do the languages we speak shape the way we think? Do they merely express thoughts, or do the structures in languages (without our knowledge or consent) shape the very thoughts we wish to express?
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All this new research shows us that the languages we speak not only reflect or express our thoughts, but also shape the very thoughts we wish to express. The structures that exist in our languages profoundly shape how we construct reality, and help make us as smart and sophisticated as we are.

Language is a uniquely human gift. When we study language, we are uncovering in part what makes us human, getting a peek at the very nature of human nature. As we uncover how languages and their speakers differ from one another, we discover that human natures too can differ dramatically, depending on the languages we speak. The next steps are to understand the mechanisms through which languages help us construct the incredibly complex knowledge systems we have. Understanding how knowledge is built will allow us to create ideas that go beyond the currently thinkable. This research cuts right to the fundamental questions we all ask about ourselves. How do we come to be the way we are? Why do we think the way we do? An important part of the answer, it turns out, is in the languages we speak.

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