GOOD NEWS 
Humanist Electronic Press Agency 
The reproduction of the news is permitted and encouraged
Publishes only news about social, scientific and cultural achievements and progress of humanity.   
N. 17 - November 1998 
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EDITORIAL 

A very rich issue thanks to the contribution of the new list of "Buena Nuevas"; could it be that our Italian friends need to wake up and strengthen themselves a little? However, the chief editor is always more unemployed, besides translating and coordinating! 
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SUMMARY
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Spain: improvements made in the vaccine for malaria. 
Great Britain: immunity denied to Pinochet 
Argentina: supper with the humanists 
Brazil: large landed estate occupied 
Central America: debt for flooded peoples suspended or cancelled 
Outer Space: laid first piece of the international orbiting station 
USA: stamina cells isolated and cultivated 
Egypt: violations of human rights denounced 
USA: medicine against hepatitis C 
Senegal: first African humanist cultural meeting 
Argentina: teachers protest in mourning. 
USA: cerebral cells regenerated 
USA: ex-convicts in favor of Mumia 
Great Britain: first artificial finger 
USA: food against hypertension 
Japan: increase in conversation times 
USA: arsenic to cure cancer? 
Israel: beginning of evacuation of territories 
Bangladesh: Talisma Nasreen freed 
Guyana: Natives ask for their lands back 
USA: a computer to be worn 
Argentina: give back the land to the Mapuches 
Costa Rica: humanist singer wins song festival 
Congo: Amnesty report on human rights 
Colombia: Native victory 
USA: bionic eye for a person blind for 15 years 
USA: plain in flight for six months 
Argentina: dinosaur embryo found 

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NEWS 
Where: Spain 
About: Improvements to the anti-malaria vaccination 
When: 22/11/98 
Source: El Espectador, buenasnuevas 
The Colombian scientist Manuel Elkin Patroyo presented, in Granada, the improvements he has introduced to the anti-malaria vaccine which have made it more efficient. According to Patroyo, the experiments demonstrate that this new version of the vaccine is 70% more efficient, thanks to an increase in 100 to 200 antibodies. The Colombian scientist has refused, more than once, the offer of money by North American pharmaceutical companies and continues to donate his vaccine to the World Health Organization, which allows the vaccine to be sold to the public at a minimal price. 
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Where: Great Britain 
About: immunity denied to Pinochet 
When: 11/25/98 
Source: MI.S.N.A, Amnesty International 
The House of Lords has denied, today immunity, to the once Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The Supreme Court of Appeal has thus given its judgement on the lawfulness of the arrest notified to Pinochet on the 16th of October while he was interned in an English clinic for surgery. The ex-dictator, who is now out on parole in a London clinic, could therefore be extradited to Spain where he is incriminated for genocide. Manifestations of joy occurred in various parts of the world and in Chile. Among the various comments here is the one given out by the Italian office of Amnesty International. "The sentence emitted by the House of Lords on the Pinochet case opens a great, new hope. For the many victims of the crimes of which he is responsible, but also for all of humanity that is thirsty for justice. 
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Where: Argentina 
About: dinner with the humanists 
When: 11/18/98 
Source: Humanist Movement, Buone Nuove 
In Cordoba 1700 persons participated in the dinner with the candidates of the Humanist Party who are introducing themselves to their future electors in a very original way. It is a very common way in Argentina. It is called a "cena compartida", that is a popular manifestation where everyone eats, there are shows, short speeches, and, most of all, there is time to be together in a relaxed and informal way. The candidates of the various areas where accompanied by the founder of the Humanist Movement, Mario Rodriguez (Silo) who is touring the whole country. Starting from the farthest regions, the campaign will reach Buenos Aires, the capital, only towards its end, thus opposing the little attention that the other political parties give to "the province"(the Argentine capital is where all of the powers are concentrated). Silo’s brief speech for the occasion was based in a strong denouncement against the International Monetary Fund and in an invitation to all, independent of their origins, or the area where they militate, to rebuild a strong social and human action starting from the base of society, from neighborhoods, working places, schools. 
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Where: Brazil 
About: occupied large landed estate 
When: 11/27/98 
Source: MI.S.N.A. 
About two thousand member of the Movement of the Workers Without Land (Movimento do Trabalhadores rurais sem Terra) have occupied a large landed estate of Bacuri, in the municipality of Castanhal, about 70 km. away from Belem (state of Para’, Brazil). The National Institute of Colonization and Agricultural Reform (Incra) had already designed the Bacuri plantation for expropriation. The "Landless" now ask that the Incra allow them to settle soon in the territory of the estate and to be allowed to cultivate it. In support of the workers of the MST, some representatives of religious and lay organisms visited, yesterday, the place that was occupied and brought food and first necessity articles. 
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Where: Central America 
About: suspended or cancelled the debt of the flood victims 
When: 11/98 
Source: agencies, MI.S.N.A, Prensa Latina 
France and Cuba have cancelled it, while Spain has decided for a three-year suspension the payment of the foreign debt of the countries in Central America hit by the hurricane "Mitch". Cuba is also willing to send, immediately and free of charge, two thousand doctors to Honduras, Guatemala and any other Central American country hit by the hurricane. The "chain of solidarity" which includes numerous other initiatives of persons, associations, and institutions was asked by the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa and re-launched by the European Commissary for humanitarian aid, Emma Bonino, who has asked that the European Union pronounce itself on canceling the debt in those countries. 
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Where: Outer Space 
About: first piece of international orbiting station 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
The first element in the international orbiting station was launched from Baikonur, Kazakistan, with a Proton rocket. By putting into orbit the Russian control module, Zarya, the construction of the space base that will replace the Mir, was inaugurated. The module in orbit will act as a sort of space raft for the astronauts to assemble the station. Another four or five launches will be needed before 2004 when the assemblage will be completed. The launch of the second module, the American Unity, will be on December 3. There is still no accord on the name of the station, which will probably be "Alpha".
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Where: USA 
About: stamina cells cultivated 
When 11/6/98 
Source: Science, agencies 
In a handful of years, maybe less than ten, doctors could dispose of unlimited quantities of human tissue to be used in transplants. To allow this dream to come true is the revolutionary success of a group of Wisconsin researchers, who have declared in "Science" magazine that they were able, for the first time, to isolate and cultivate, in laboratory conditions, stamina cells derived from human embryo. The stamina cells are at the origin of all of the tissues in the organism. From them, in successive stated of differentiation, all of the other various types of cells in the body are developed. Since the stamina cells of the embryo proliferate unlimitedly in vitro, they are a potential source of specific adult cells, like those in the bones, muscles and blood. The American scientists started from the internal cells of human blastocytes, one of the first stages of development of an embryo, a few days after fecundation. From these, they derived five independent cellular lines, which they managed to cultivate in vitro and they observed the differentiation into the three different fundamental types of embryo cells: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. The possibility to reproduce at will the stamina cells has profound implications for the medicine of transplants as well as for the development of medications. One day, it would practically be possible to cultivate in any laboratory tissue, cardiac muscles, bone marrow and even cerebral tissue. 
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Where: Egypt 
About: reports on human rights 
When: 11/17/98 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Organization for human rights have denounced in an open letter to President Hosni Mubarak, the systematical use of torture by the police to extort confessions and information. The two organizations suggested the creation of an Independent Commission of Inquest to reinforce an anti-torture legislation. 
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Where: USA 
About: medicaments against hepatitis-C 
When: 11/98 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
After the European study was published by Lancet on the efficacy of the combination of two medicines- interferon and ribavirine- against hepatitis-C, it was confirmed from research in the United States. From a research project presented in Chicago, it emerges that bitherapy is twice as efficient than a single treatment of interferon. This data is a big step ahead in therapy against hepatitis-C that affects more than 170 million persons in the world. 
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Where: Senegal 
About: first African humanist cultural meeting 
When: 11/26/98 
Source: Humanist Movement, Center of Cultures 
The first of a series of humanist cultural meetings took place in the University of Dakar with the theme "Man in front of man: hope or despair". Attending this meeting were Salvatore Puledda, thinker of the New Humanism, Loredana Cici, President of the Humanist International, Eduardo Gozalo, President of the Federation for Human Support, Amath Kante’, Imam of the UCAD mosque, J. M. Afoutou, doctor and biologist, Serigne Mbaye, sociologist, Mrs. Sidibe’, Director of the Institute of Law. Other debates and conferences will follow on Islam, human rights, with the participation of African philosophers. It is the first round of conferences in the continent by members of the New Humanism with the goal of creating a bridge and an interchange with the African humanist culture. 
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Where: Argentina 
About: teachers protest in mourning 
When: 11/19/98 
Source: MI.S.N.A. 
The Argentine scholastic education dressed in mourning. Since yesterday, for every Wednesday until December 16, the teachers of the province of Mendoza, near the Andes, will go to class dressed rigorously in black waiting for the government to face the question of the scholastic budget. As shown today in a daily newspaper, "Los Andes", in some cases, as in the schools of Godoy Cruz, instead of the all black dress, a black band is worn around the arm as a sign of mourning. We have lost a lot, there is no clear educational policy, the Statute of the Teacher is not respected and neither is our salary, explained Isabel Speck, teacher in the school Presidente Quintana. 
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Where: USA 
About: cerebral cells regenerated 
When: 11/14/98 
Source: agencies, buenasnuevas 
A group of California scientists affirms to have demonstrated for the first time that the cells of the human brain divide themselves and grow. This fact opens great possibilities in the cure of diseases caused by accidents. The specialists announced that there are in preparation a series of experiments that aim at regenerating human brain cells outside of the brain and then implant them in patients suffering from Alzheimer and Parkinson, other than those who have lesions in their spinal chord. 
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Where: USA 
About: ex-convicts for Mumia 
When: 11/13/98 
Source: Committee for Mumia 
In the campaign to avoid the death sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal, an Afro-American journalist who is once again in danger of being executed for facts which he has always declared himself innocent of, 15 ex-convicts detained in death row, who were released after their unjust condemnations were overturned, signed an appeal that asks the state of Pennsylvania to free Mumia. The letter circulated during the National Conference of Unjust Condemnations to the Death Penalty, held in Chicago. Each one of those who signed was condemned and sentenced to death for a crime he had not committed. They were then released from death row after being found innocent by an official court or after the accusations had fallen following determinant proof of innocence. 
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Where: Great Britain 
About: first artificial finger 
When: 11/14/98 
Source: agencies, buenasnuevas 
For the first time, a finger made from a bone in a laboratory, was built and then transplanted on a human being. The finger, a thumb, was inserted in the hand of a North American factory worker who had lost his finger in an accident while at work. This revolutionary transplant could sign a new era in medicine. The researchers believe that if this technique reveals itself efficient, in the future, it would be possible to build new breasts in women cancer victims, or to make complex organs like the liver or uterus. 
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Where: USA 
About: food against hypertension 
When: 11/21/98 
Source: agencies, buenasnuevas 
A diet rich in olive oil, pasta, bread and vegetables fights arterial hypertension, according to the conclusions of the researchers in the University of New Orleans. The research involved circa 14,000 persons, older than 18, in which the relationship between diet and arterial pressure varied in function of a diet based on carbohydrates. 
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Where: Japan 
About: increase in the times of conservation 
When: 11/4/98 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
A group of Japanese scientists have found a way to multiply the maximum time of conservation of an organ destined for transplant, by using tardigrads as an example. The minuscule invertebrates can survive in extreme conditions, entering in latent life for months even. By treating the organs with sugar used by the tardigrads it is possible to conserve them for ten days, instead of 30 hours. 
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Where: USA 
About: arsenic to cure cancer? 
When: 21/11/98 
Source: agencies, buenasnuevas 
A study on terminal cancer patients has shown that a treatment based on arsenic trioxide has produced that were defined as "very satisfying". It is to be noted that in the 11 cases examined the patients did not react anymore to any conventional cancer cure. 
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Where: Israel 
About: the withdrawal from the territories has begun 
When: 11/24/98 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
The Israeli army has started to withdraw itself from the West Bank, which was occupied in 1967 after the Six Year’s War. The withdrawal occurs in an area around Jenin and Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank. According to the memorandum signed with the Palestinians at Wye Plantation on October 23, Israel must withdraw from the 13.1% of the West Bank; of this 3% will be destined to be a natural reserve. At the same time, after two years from its completion, the airport Yasser Arafat of Rafah in the Gaza stripe has begun functioning. Still according to the Wye accord, Israel has freed 250 Palestinian convicts, 150 of which were detained for common crimes. Other 500 will be freed. 
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Where: Bangladesh 
About: Tasmin Nasreen freed 
When: 11/22/98 
Source: agencies, Buone Nuove 
The High Court has conceded parole to the writer Taslima Nasreen, accused of having included blaspheme comments in her books. Talisma who, among her other numerous commitments for peace and human rights, subscribed to the Humanist Campaign of 2000 Without Wars, returned to her country last September after four years of exile in Sweden, to assist her sick mother. On her head lies the condemnation, by the Islamic fundamentalists, especially due to her courageous opinions on the rights of women in her country. 
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Where: Guyana 
About: Natives ask for their land back 
When: 11/4/98 
Source: Amarc - Pulsar, buenasnuevas 
Six Native chiefs have formally asked the High Court of Guyana an extension of land to live in their communities; the Native chiefs highlight that their request was initiated in 1967, and there still has not been any response. The region that was asked for, High Mazaruni, has gold mines and diamonds exploited by North American companies and small local Brazilian miners. In 1995 some tons of cyanide of a Canadian company were discharged in an affluent of the river Esequibo causing an ecological disaster which has involved the indigenous communities. 
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Where: USA 
About: computer to be worn 
When: 11/4/98 
Source: Internazionale, agencies 
IBM has presented the first personal computer to be worn. Large as a walkman, it weighs 300 grams and is equipped with a screen which can be worn like a pair of glasses, as well as a microphone which allows one to control it by voice. It has an Intel processor of 233 MHz and a hard disk of 430 Mb. 
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Where: Argentina 
About: land given back to the Mapuches 
When: 11/10/98 
Source: Amarc - Pulsar, buenasnuevas 
Recently in the province of Neuquen, at Loma de Lata, lands were returned to the Mapuche communities of Patagonia. This success has encouraged the Natives to fight with greater decision for their rights and for the recognition of their popular identity. The lands in question, returned by the Argentine government, are near a gas duct in construction in a region rich in petroleum and precious minerals. 
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Where: Costa Rica 
About: humanist singer wins song festival 
When: 11/14/98 
Source: agencies, Buone Nuove 
Raul Alarcon, in art Florcita Motuda, has won the International Latin American Song Festival, OTI, considered the most important one of the South American world. The Chilean songwriter and singer presented the song "End of the Century (this is the time to inflame oneself, get depressed, or transform oneself), undertaken with lots of happiness in cooperation with his daughter who conducted the orchestra. "El Flor", as his friends call him, is a humanist militant of the first hour, became famous in the whole world with his ironic parody of Strauss’s "Blue Danube" that became "The No Waltz" during the plebiscite against Pinochet. It earned him a citation in the French magazine "Actuel" among the ten songs that changed the world. During the dictatorship, the songs of Florcita, caustic against the regime, were underground editions, and circulated among an opposition militant net. After the announcement of the victory of the NO, the plebiscite the singer presented himself at the Moneda with the three-colored band to find out when the dictator had the intention to leave the palace. 
The audio file of the winning song can be found in internet at: 
http://www.ciberaula.com/~mundohum/ 
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Where: Congo 
About: Amnesty report on human rights 
When: 11/23/98 
Source: Amnesty International 
In a report that coincided with the visit of Laurent Kabila to Italy, Amnesty International denounces the violence committed against civilians by all of the factions involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thousands of persons have been massacred, have "disappeared", have been tortured, raped, or have been illegally detained after the fighting began last August 2nd. In the report entitled Democratic Republic of Congo: the war against defenseless civilians, the organization signals the abuse committed by the government soldiers and allied ethnic groups of both sides, as well as, foreign forces intervening on either side. 
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Where: Colombia 
About: victory of the Natives 
When: 11/11/98 
Source: buenasnuevas 
The Colombian constitutional Court has sentenced that the hydroelectric project of the Sinu’ Valley in Cordoba will be allowed to continue only if the company will respect the requirements of environmental impact and will give indemnity to the indigenous populations of the Embera Katios. The Court has specified that the company will have to recognize the authority of the Natives, will have to start a health program, will have to start a substitution program for the animal and plant species, and will have to build an organism where the Natives will have the possibility of giving an opinion and participating in the project. 
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Where: USA 
About: bionic eye for a person blind for 15 years 
When: 11/6/98 
Source: agencies 
A man who had been blind for fifteen years was able to see the light after the insertion of a microchip in his eye bulb. For 45 minutes Harold Chulchey, 71 years old, was able to see again thanks to a 2 mm2 microchip that was put on his retina in the place of the damaged cells. The doctors simply transmitted the signals on the chip, which reacted by sending images to the brain. The bionic eye was built by Mark Humayun, a surgeon of the John Hopkins hospital, of Baltimore, Maryland (USA) according to whom, in five years, there will be a definitive chip that will be able to give back vision to those who have less serious eye problems. 
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Where: USA 
About: airplane in flight for six months 
When: 11/22/98 
Source: agencies 
Without a pilot, and in flight for six months without landing. This is the data of Helios, the first, almost eternal, airplane that went on its first flight on the Mojave desert, in California. The airplane, produced by an American company, works thanks to solar energy that activates eight helixes and flights at a quota of 17000 and 23000 m. At night, the helixes are activated by a series of batteries. The airplane, weighing 727 kg. has a single long wing of 76.8 m. 
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Where: Argentina 
About: first dinosaur embryos found 
When: 11/18/98 
Source: MI.S.N.A. 
Sensational archaeological discovery in Patagonia (Argentina). Fossil dinosaur embryo of the Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era) kept in their egg shells, dating 80 million years ago were found by an expert of the New York Museum of Natural History and the Municipality Museum of Argentina, Carmen Funes. The embryos were found near Auca Mahuida. According to the American archaeologist, Luis Chiappe, the incredible quantity of eggs with embryo inside, makes one thing of a real slaughter of would-be baby dinosaurs due to a flood. The water, penetrating through the porous surface of the shells killed the embryo but, in the meantime, the thick mud strata allowed the perfect conservation of the eggs. 

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