Last December 200 Bhopal women staged a peaceful two-hour protest at Dow, demanding that it finally take meaningful action to clean up the toxic pollution that continues to kill people. Dow’s response? It filed a $10,000 damage suit against the women, charging a loss in production during their demonstration.

Free advice for some--During one of the recent sieges of bitter cold and heavy snow in the eastern United States, the North Carolina Charlotte Observer had extensive coverage of the storm. There were two how-to articles--wear layers of clothing, etc. Also a prominent feature on the desperate plight of the estimated 5,000 homeless people in the area. No advice offered.

How civilized can they get--The Pentagon is building a "medium security" dormitory for some of the prisoners being held at the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, a piece of Cuba held by force for a century.

The prison currently holds some 600 people scooped up in various countries as "terrorism" suspects. They have been held, literally, in barbed wire cages. Nineteen of the "detainees" have attempted suicide.

Read it and retch--The boat races in Auckland, New Zealand, attracted super-yachts and super-rich. Among the latter was New York real estate shark Bud Schuyler and spouse Kiki, who he believes has a serious shopping problem. For the visit he put her on a $10,000 a day shopping limit. If she stayed under the limit, she got prizes--like a $100,000 diamond necklace. If she stuck to the limit for a week, a matching set of diamond earrings and cuff links. We haven’t heard the results.

No prizes--"Bankruptcy filings set records in 2002--Consumers high level of debt, lack of health insurance cited"--News headline.

A win for living wage--Daimler Chrysler reported that last year it more than doubled the pay of its 13 top executives.

‘Nothing’s too good...’--"Patients in the veterans health-care system wait an average of seven months to see a primary care doctor, the American Legion reported after questioning its members."--News item.

That will learn them--A new law in France will impose fines or jail terms for jeering at a performance of the national anthem and the flag. The law was sparked by an outburst of booing youth at a football match last year between French and Algerian teams. Prez Chirac was forced to leave his box until someone said sorry.

They’d never do that--"Bush administration officials are seriously considering that the United States tap Iraq’s oil to help pay the cost of military occupation, a move that would likely prove inflammatory in an Arab world already suspicious of U.S. motives."--New York Newsday.  
 
 
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