text:
Biodiversity and Conservation source ref: biobook.html |
ARGUMENTS FOR CONSERVATION Food Supplies Genes Biological Control Agents Natural Products Pesticides Fertilizers Medicines Materials Environmental Services Warning Signs Model Systems for Science Interesting Wildlife Future Options |
Question: What good are they?
Answer: What good are you?
(in reference to an endangered species of desert pupfish)
From Species
in a Bucket by Edwin Philip Pister. Natural History, January 1993.
It is important to be able to clearly define the reasons for believing in conservation of biodiversity, if we are to justify it in the face of increasing threats to species survival. One way to identify the reasons is to look at what we derive from biological diversity, and what we will lose as a result of species extinction.
Animals. Only a couple of dozen animal species have been domesticated for food production. Virtually 100% of the protein from domesticated animals consumed by people comes from nine species: cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, water buffalo, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
Fish are becoming a new kind of domesticated animal through the development of aquaculture techniques. Salmon are now being farmed in large steel/net cages that are moored in various estuaries and rivers in Norway, Canada, Chile, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland. Shrimp is being grown by aquaculture in many less developed countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Ecuador and the Philippines. These shrimp farms often replace Mangrove Forests, so they have a serious environmental impact.
Many freshwater fish can be grown in ponds. Israel and China already get about half of their fish from aquaculture. The species most commonly grown in existing facilities is a cichlid called Tilapia. But there may be many other kinds of wild fish that could be grown by aquaculture. The huge, colorful and spectacular tridacna clam is now being farmed in Palau, and the farms are a popular tourist attraction.
Plants. Only a very small proportion of the world's plants have been used for food on a large scale. About 10-50,000 are thought to be edible, but only about 150 are used as human food. As economies have become more global, man has concentrated on fewer species so that today, 90% of the world's food comes from 15 species. Three of them - wheat, corn, and rice - supply two-thirds of this amount. Although there are over 10,000 species of cereals, no new ones have been brought into cultivation during the past 2000 years.
The dangers of relying on too few crops are illustrated by the Great Irish Potato Famine. Potatoes were introduced into Ireland from the New World in about 1600 and eventually most of the Irish people became dependent on this one crop. But then in 1845-1847, the wind-borne Potato blight fungus spread throughout the country and caused almost complete failure of the potato crop. It is estimated that 1 million people died of starvation, cholera and typhoid.
Bananas and plantains are a staple food crop for millions of people in the tropics, for example in large areas of West and Central Africa, where about 10 million tonnes are produced each year. The genus originated in the Asia and Pacific region, where there is still a rich source of diversity of wild species. Although bananas and plantains are best known as a food crop, the plant is used for many other purposes. Juice from the ripe fruit is used to make beer, unripe fruit is dried and made into animal feed, and the peels are used to make an antiseptic poultice for wounds. The plant fiber is made into a strong paper (used for bank notes), textiles, string, and for various handicrafts. The leaves are used as umbrellas and plates, and for making thatched roofs, for wrapping food, and many other uses. Starch is extracted from the plant and used for production of glue. In mixed farming systems, bananas are used as a shade plant for cocoa, coffee, black pepper and nutmeg, and in many countries the plant itself is used as an ornamental. Seeds from wild species are used for making necklaces and other ornaments. Banana sap can be used as a dye, and banana ash is used in making soap.
The vast store of species in the tropics is the obvious place to look for new potential crop plants. At least 1650 known tropical forest plants have potential as vegetable crops. The botanist N. Vavilov identified the major areas of high diversity of crops and of the origins of food crops around the world. Most of them are in developing tropical countries. The table shows some new tropical plant products that are gradually making their way on to the market, at least in health-food stores:
Crop | Product |
Uvilla | Fruit |
Lulo | Fruit |
Pupunha | Fruit |
Guanabana | Fruit |
Buriti palm | Vitamin C-rich fruit, palm hearts, oil, starch, wine, fiber. |
Quinoa | High-protein cereal |
Amaranto | High-protein cereal |
"Biopiracy". Unscrupulous investors have been trying to patent genetic varieties, often when it is clear that they have not "invented" anything, but are simply taking advantage of traditional knowledge. For example, in 1994 the president of the U.S. seed company POD-NERS bought yellow beans in Sonora, Mexico. He brought them home, bred several generations, selecting for yellow seeds. In 1996 the company had produced a "uniform and stable variety with yellow seeds", and applied for a patent. In 1999 a U.S. patent (and Plant Variety Protection Certificate) was granted. In 1999 the company was suing Mexican bean exporters for patent infringement. There are hundreds of other cases of suspected biopiracy: search RAFI-USA for the latest news on this.
Wild plants are also important sources of genes that can confer useful properties on our conventional crops.
A wild relative of the potato was found in Peru, and when it was hybridized with the standard crop plant a variety was obtained that was resistant to potato blight.
A wild barley plant from Ethiopia provided a gene that protects the $160 million California barley crop from lethal yellow dwarf virus.
Rice grown in Asia is protected from the four main rice diseases by genes brought in from a wild species from India.
In both India and Africa, yields of cassava (tapioca) - one of the most important root crops throughout the tropics - were increased 18-fold because of disease resistance brought in from wild Brazilian cassava.
The sugar cane industry in the U.S. was saved from collapse by disease-resistance genes brought in from wild Asian species.
A wild tomato discovered in the Andes has been used to increase the sugar content of cultivated varieties, increasing their commercial value by $5-8 million per year.
Wild plant species usually have a great deal of genetic variability, so that markedly different strains can be developed by selective breeding from one species. This is an important reason for conserving not only species, but a good sampling of the genetic variability within species - i.e. samples from different locations, different subspecies, etc.
These genes from wild species usually have to be brought into the crop by hybridizing it with the wild species, then selectively breeding the hybrids. For this to work, the wild plant has to be closely enough related to the crop plant that it can be hybridized.
About 2.5 million entries are kept in 700 seed banks world wide, but there has been only limited success in using these wild species for crop improvement. Most of the successes have been in disease resistance, and this is because disease resistance is controlled by one or a few genes. This makes it very easy to transfer into a domestic species that can be hybridized to it:
Parents: |
RR x rr |
Hybrids: | Rr |
Backcross (hybrid x parent): | Rr x RR |
Resistant variety: | RR |
But other characteristics, especially quantitative ones like
annual yield or nutritional quality, are controlled by many genetic differences. One wild
species may differ from a crop species in some genetic variations that increase yield and
others that decrease it, their effects may be masked in the hybrid, and it is very
difficult to capture the desired genes in the progeny of the hybrid. Therefore, a new
trend in plant breeding is to try to map all of these genetic differences to their
positions on the chromosomes. They are called Quantitative Trait Loci or QTLs. The idea is
to carry out traditional hybridization and backcrosses, but to track the genetic
differences at the DNA level rather than just measuring their effect on the plant (i.e.
assess the genotype rather than the phenotype). This should make it possible to exploit
much more of the useful genetic variations in wild species.
Another method of introducing desired genes into a species is by the newly developed technique of Genetic Modification (Genetic Engineering). If a desired gene from one species has been cloned, then by genetic engineering it can be transferred into another species. The gene has to be first inserted into an individual plant cell, and this cell is then grown into a clone in tissue culture, and the clone can be used to regenerate an entire transgenic plant. There are no serious barriers to this kind of gene transfer - the desired gene can come from another plant species or a different family, or from a bacterium or fungus or animal, or can be completely synthetic. Surprisingly, the way that genes are copied into RNA, and the RNA translated into protein, are practically identical in all species, so a foreign gene is usually functional. Furthermore, the protein produced by the foreign gene is also usually a functional product. For example, Monsanto is engineering crops to produce bovine growth hormone, which can be used to promote milk production in cattle, using a gene cloned from cattle. Transgenic sheep have been produced that synthesize a human protein for use in treating hemophilia.
An estimated 57 percent of the soybeans and 30 percent of the corn planted in the U.S. in 1999 were genetically modified (GM) (genetically engineered), either to resist pests or herbicides. As of February 1999, at least 64 GM crop varieties had been approved in the USA and Canada, 20 in Japan but only eight in Europe.
Many kinds of GM crops are being produced:
Insecticidal crops. Monsanto and Aventis CropScience have produced several GM crop varieties that make their own insecticide. This is done by transferring a gene from the naturally occurring soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, that encodes an insecticidal protein called Bt toxin. Thus:
This reduces the need for pesticide spraying.
Roundup-ready crops. Several crops have been modified to make them resistant to the herbicide "Roundup" (glyphosate). This made it possible to use large quantities of Roundup around the crop to kill weeds without killing the crop.
Plants that taste better. Wheat and soy plants have been engineered to contain a gene from brazil nut plant that gives cereals produced from the plant a "nutty" flavor.
Plants that immunize. Australian scientists are trying to produce transgenic crops that produce a measles virus protein, so that children could be vaccinated by eating special varieties of rice or lettuce. The initial trials used tobacco plants, since the genetic methods had already been worked out with that plant. When fed to mice, the transgenic tobacco caused the mice to develop antibodies against the measles protein, and those antibodies then protect the mice against measles. Targets for development are plants that produce vaccines against cholera, tuberculosis and hepatitis, which kill millions of people every year including many children in developing countries.
Terminator technology. Another modification made in transgenic crops is called "terminator technology". It is a genetic modification that makes the plants grown from the transgenic seed sterile. This was promoted as a way to prevent the transgenic crop from hybridizing with other varieties. However, it was seen as a tactic by the seed companies to guarantee their markets. In response to public criticism, Monsanto has announced that it will no longer use this technology.
Increased crop yields. Global demand for food is expected to increase by ~50% in the next 20 years as a result of population growth and rising incomes. Its supporters argue that genetic engineering will contribute substantially to increased crop yields and so help increase the food supply. It can also increase the food value of crops: for example, a variety of rape seed (canola) has been genetically modified to contain high levels of beta carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A. Canola oil from these plants could be made into a margarine that could provide enough beta carotene to prevent night blindness.
Reduced use of herbicides. The industry maintains that Roundup-ready crops will help farmers increase yields by improving weed control while reducing the total number of sprays needed to control weeds.
Reduced use of insecticides. Monsanto claims that their NewLeaf insect-resistant potato requires 40 percent less insecticide (for the Colorado potato beetle and aphids that transmit leaf roll virus disease) than other varieties.
Reduced soil erosion. When the crops planted are "Roundup-ready", the fields can be sprayed with Roundup and the weeds will be eliminated but the crop will not be affected. This eliminates the need for plowing, consequently there is less erosion and loss of topsoil.
Drought tolerance. Crops are being produced that are tolerant of drought, by incorporating genes from east that improve tolerance to high sodium.
Criticisms of GM crops
Some people object to genetic modification, believing it is unnatural and therefore wrong. Other criticisms are based on more practical considerations:
Health risks. GM crops may cause allergies. For example, Wheat and soy plants have been given a gene from the brazil nut plant to give them a "nutty" flavor , but this is the same gene that is responsible for allergies against brazil nuts, so the GM cereal may cause the same allergies! There have already been some examples of mistakes in identifying Genetically engineered crop plants. Studies of StarLink (insecticidal) corn show that it was not allergenic, as had been suspected but then an EPA report concluded that it may be. It was approved only for animal feed but was found to be contaminating several corn products sold to consumers.
Poisoning of wildlife. Pollen produced by the plant also contains the toxin, and this may be harmful to animals that feed on pollen. In field tests of Bt cotton, massive mortality of the bees around the test sites was observed.
Evolution of insecticide-resistant insect pests. The constant exposure to the insecticide may lead to faster development of resistance in the pest insects, than would be the case with an insecticide sprayed only when necessary. This could make the environmentally friendly Bt spray ineffective and force farmers to go back to more toxic chemical sprays. Bt-resistant insects have already been discovered in the US and elsewhere.
Contamination by Insecticide. The insecticide may be released into the soil and have harmful effects there, or contaminate streams. Bt toxin is known to be highly poisonous to fish.
Genetic contamination. There are two fears about genetic contamination. First, the herbicide-resistance genes may be transferred into other related wild species (e.g. sunflowers) by hybridization, producing herbicide-resistant weeds. Second, antibiotic-resistance genes have usually been used as genetic markers during the production of GM crops. They have no harmful effect on the plant, but there are fears that they could be captured by harmful bacteria, which would then be resistant to the antibiotic.
Loss of crop diversity. If the GM crops are successful, farmers are likely to become too dependent on a small number of GM varieties, leading to loss of non-GM varieties that could be have been useful in the future under changed conditions (e.g. drought or attack by presently unknown diseases or pests).
Conflict of interest. The company responsible for developing Roundup-ready crops was also selling Roundup. Terminator technology was widely believed to have been developed to provide a permanent market for the seeds, rather than to prevent genetic contamination.
65 plaintiffs including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements have filed a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), demanding that the agency withdraw approval of all Bt plants and stop approving any new ones until it has done a complete assessment of their environmental impact.
Europe is considering a compulsory labeling system for foods containing products from genetically engineered crops. US biotech companies are frustrated with the resistance to GM crops in European countries, and claim that European governments are imposing non-tariff trade barriers that threaten to undermine the USA's $60 billion export trade in agricultural products. They have urged the US government to take their case to the World Trade Organization.
Food testing. Public fear of GM crops has led to calls for more complete testing of foods for health effects. But there are no good methods available. For example, to test for health effects of a GM tomato, biologists fed it to rats at a rate corresponding to 13 tomatoes per day, and were not able to demonstrate any difference between GM and conventional tomatoes - both groups of rats got sick! This is a general problem in food safety testing. It is very difficult to feed enough of the food product to any test animal to get a useful result. Instead, the usual procedure is to synthesize the suspect chemicals some other way (for example, produce them in transgenic bacteria) and then test the pure compound on animals. But this approach assumes that we know what chemicals need to be tested. We often do not know enough about how the biochemistry of the GM crop is altered to make this a safe strategy.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for certifying the safety of foods and food additives, has no authority over pesticides, so they refer matters concerning Bt to the EPA. But the EPA has been slow to recognize any dangers of GM crops. USDA is responsible for determining whether GM foods represent plant pests, and they have ruled many GM crops harmless.
StarLink, produced by Aventis CropScience, has been genetically altered to produce a protein, Cry9C, to repel pests. Because the protein may be a human allergen, it was barred from human food in 1998. Since then, Aventis has asked EPA to approve StarLink for human consumption. In September 2000, the altered corn was detected in Taco Bell taco shells being sold in grocery stores. Since then it has turned up in numerous other brands of taco shells, corn meal and corn flour. In February 2001, a group of Iowa farmers filed a class action suit in Des Moines, saying they were financially hurt because of consumer fears generated by StarLink.
Politicians debate genetically engineered seeds | Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture | Genetically Modified Trees Pose Concern | Key FDA Documents Revealing Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods | Rachel's Environment and Health weekly #685 - Trouble in the Garden | Genetically modified world | Rural Advancement Foundation International | Biosafety talks conclude in surprising accord | Biotech Myths Exposed | PBS - harvest of fear
Value of genes. Genetic engineering only works with genes that have been isolated and analyzed at the molecular level, and the technology is still dependent on biological diversity to get the genes in the first place. All of the genetic variation present in wild populations is potentially useful for improvement of domestic animals and plants, and therefore should be preserved.
On many occasions, man has introduced exotic animals or plants that have become serious pests. Usually, the best control methods have been to find the natural antagonists of the species in its original home. For example:
Prickly Pear Cactus was introduced into Queensland, Australia, in the 19th century to provide cattle fences. It grew out of control, almost covering 100,000 square miles of land. Eventually a small moth was discovered in South America, whose caterpillars feed on prickly pear. It was introduced to Australia and quickly decimated the prickly pear, and ever since the prickly pear population has been low enough that it is not a major problem. Now we need something like that for Artichoke thistle, Pampas grass and Castor bean.
Introducing exotic species can, of course, cause problems of its own. Sometimes the organism introduced to control a pest can expand its host range and cause serious damage to native organisms. This happened with a weevil introduced to control thistles.
Rabbits were introduced from Europe to Australia and were a serious pest. They were brought under control using the myxomatosis virus.
Striga. In Africa, sorghum, millet and maize production can be reduced by as much as 70% by a parasitic weed called witchweed or striga. Striga is a parasitic plant that penetrates the roots of other plants, diverting nutrients from them and stunting their growth. Traditional weed control methods are ineffective in controlling striga but scientists have identified an African fungus that effectively eliminates the weed from cropland.
Cottony Cushion Scale was introduced here from Australia in the 19th century and almost wiped out the California citrus industry. Entomologists went to Australia and found a small beetle predator, the Vedalia. This was introduced and has kept the scale insect under control ever since.
Other insect pests including Sugarcane Weevil in Hawaii, Gypsy Moths, Browntail Moths and Alfalfa Weevils in the U. S., and Rhinoceros Beetles in Mauritius, have been controlled by introduced parasitic insects.
Scientists from the University of Illinois recently identified two species of parasitic wasps that may prove useful in controlling stable flies and house flies, two well-known pests in the midwest United States.
Gypsy moth larvae have been defoliating huge areas of forest in New England since they were accidentally introduced in 1869. The insecticide spraying programs have wiped out dozens of native moths and butterflies, probably doing more damage than the gypsy moth would have done. Now it is being controlled by a short-lived toxin (Bt) produced by a naturally occurring soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, and a naturally occurring virus (marketed as Gypchek). A lethal fungus is also being tested.
A new strain of Bacillus thuringiensis might be able to kill more pest species than previously used strains, without harming beneficial insects.
All of these examples depended on the availability of wild species.
Pesticides. Many tropical
plants produce chemicals that deter herbivores. Tropical indigenous people have discovered
many of these plants, and use them as poisons or medicines:
i.Calabar bean was traditionally used as a poison in West Africa. Chemical studies
of this plant led to the development of methyl carbamate insecticides.
ii. Daisy plants (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) were first used centuries ago as a lice
remedy in the Middle East, and this led to the discovery of pyrethrum insecticides. The
seeds contain a natural insecticide called pyrethrin, a generic name for six related
active compounds. It is one of the safer insecticides for several reasons: it decomposes
rapidly in sunlight; it has few known effects on mammals; and insects do not develop
resistance to it. It is used on foodstuffs, in head lice shampoos, and in many indoor
insect sprays. 100,000 tons of mosquito coils made from pyrethrum are sold each year.
Scientists have synthesized similar compounds called pyrethroids, but the chemical
synthesis produces all geometric isomers of the compounds, many of which are ineffective
and are difficult to separate from the active forms. The plant material contains only the
active isomers.
iii. In South America, the natives use an extract of a forest vine to stun fish; this led
to the discovery of rotenone, a biodegradable insecticide.
iv. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces toxic proteins that kill certain insects
but are apparently harmless to humans. These are being produced and marketed as
biopesticides. And Monsanto has engineered cotton plants that produce their own protein
v. The Neem tree, in India, has been found to be a source of the insecticide azadirachtin, as well as fungicides, spermicide, and agents potentially valuable in birth control such as materials that prevent implantation or cause abortion. The tree has been used in traditional agriculture, medicine and cosmetics for centuries. However, recently companies from industrialized countries have been seeking patent protection, and 90 patents have been granted worldwide for "inventions" of products from Neem. A coalition or organizations has been fighting patenting of materials already in traditional use (biopiracy), and in 2000 they achieved their first victory in persuading the European Patent Office to revoke a patent from USDA and W.R. Grace on Neem tree fungicide on the basis that the product was already being used traditionally (in India) before the Company patented it.
Other tropical plants have been found to be toxic to leafcutter ants, mosquitoes, and other insects, and could lead to the discovery of other pesticides.
Medicines. The potential for discovering medicinal compounds in wild organisms is enormous, and provides one of the most powerful arguments for conservation of biological diversity. This is especially true of tropical forests.
The pharmaceutical industry is much more dependent on natural products than is generally realized. About a quarter of all prescription drugs are taken directly from plants or are chemically modified versions of plant substances, and more than half of them are modeled on natural compounds. About 121 prescription drugs are derived from higher plants. These include morphine, codeine, quinine, atropine, and digitalis. Yet fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been tested.
MEDICINES FROM WILDLIFE(from a list of 117) |
Purpose | Drug | Source | Traditional use |
Immunosuppressant | Cyclosporin | Fungus, Tolypocladium inflatum | |
Contraceptives | Steroids | Fungus, Rhizopus nigricans | |
Anti-inflammatory | Cortisone and prednisone | Fungus, Rhizopus nigricans | |
Cholesterol lowering | Lovastatin | Fungus, Aspergillus terreus | |
Painkillers | Aspirin Codeine Morphine Cocaine Tetrodotoxin |
Willow Opium poppy Opium poppy Erthroxylum coca Central American frog |
+ + + + + (trance-inducer) |
Antimalarial | Quinine | Cinchona (coffee family) |
+ (Indian fever bark) |
Amebicide | Emetine | Cephaelis ipecacuanha |
+ |
Heart stimulants | Digitalis Ouabain |
Foxglove Strophanthus gratus |
+ + (arrow poison) |
Pupil dilator | Atropine | Nightshade (Belladonna) |
+ |
Antispasmodics for intestinal disorders | Scopolamine, Hyoscyamine | Nightshade (Belladonna) |
+ |
Muscle relaxant | Tubocurarine | Chondrodendron tomentosum |
+ (arrow poison) |
High Blood pressure | Reserpine | Rauwolfia serpentina |
+ |
Glaucoma | Pilocarpine | Pilocarpus jaborandi |
+ |
Why should plants make medicines? Wild plants
have been evolving chemical defense mechanisms for millions of years. The chemicals that
have evolved are highly specific toxins that attack herbivores at various different points
in biochemical pathways. Although the chemicals are often toxic, sometimes if they are
delivered in the right way or in the right dose, or altered chemically, they can be used
to attack disease-causing agents or even cancer cells.
Many of these chemicals are derived from plants that had been used in traditional medicine. For example, Peruvian Indians had a cure for malaria; they used an extract of the bark of the Cinchona tree, and this led to the discovery and use of quinine as an antimalarial treatment. Many plants have been used traditionally because they are psychoactive. Of the 121 drugs mentioned earlier, 74% were identified through native folklore.
A Japanese company was recently awarded a patent on a chemical derived from the Congorosa bush, a plant that is native to Uruguay. The native people have known for centuries that the plant can be used to combat inflammation and as a stomach and liver analgesic, so they are very much opposed to paying a fee to a Japanese company for the right to continue these uses.
Natural products isolated from higher plants and microorganisms
Even compounds produced by insects and other invertebrates may be useful. Recently a protein isolated from the salivary gland of a biting sandfly was shown to have a very powerful vasodilation effect (this facilitates blood feeding by the insect when it is injected into the host).
i. Anti-cancer drugs. The rosy periwinkle was used in Cuba, the Philippines, and South Africa for the treatment of inflammation, rheumatism, and diabetes. In the late 1950s, vincristine and vinblastine were isolated from the periwinkle plant by Eli Lilly scientists and these chemicals were shown to have anti-cancer effects. Treatment with these drugs has increased the chances of remission to 99% in childhood leukemia and to 70% in Hodgkin's disease. Global sales of vincristine and vinblastine earn the Eli Lilly Company about $100 million each year.
Drug |
Source |
Traditional use |
Cantharidin | Chinese Blister beetle | + (abortifacient) |
Etoposide, podophyllotixin, teniposide |
Podophyllum peltatum | + (snake
bites, weakness, condyloma, lymphadenopathy, tumors) |
Monocrotaline | Crotalaria spectabilis | + (skin cancer) |
Vincristine, Vinblastine |
Rosy periwinkle | + (diabetes) |
Taxol | Yew (Taxus brevifolia) | _ |
In 1986, the National Cancer Institute started a new, extensive plant collection and screening program and has tested (on cultured cells) 35,000 species of higher plants as well as other organisms for anti-AIDS and anti-cancer activity. As of 1991, over 800 had shown some anti-HIV activity and 60 had shown anti-cancer activity (the HIV screens have been given higher priority). Plants used as medicines or toxins by forest people were 2-5x more likely to be active in these assays as other plants. This is a very preliminary result, and many more tests have to be done before any of these compounds will go into clinical trials. NCI estimates that of every 10,000 extracts tested, fewer than 10 will reach clinical trials. NCI is also supporting botanical exploration, research and training to increase the number of species to be tested. The collections have identified more than 40 new species of plants. NCI requires that if a pharmaceutical company receives a patent license, they have to share a percentage of the royalties with the country where the sample originated.
Chemists have devised ways of synthesizing many of the medicinal compounds found in plants. But it is usually (in about 90% of cases) cheaper to extract the natural product. In spite of this, pharmaceutical firms in the U.S. are doing very little to discover new drugs from higher plants. They are concentrating on other approaches; for example, using supercomputers to design new molecules.
An exception is Shaman Pharmaceuticals, a company set up specifically to identify and obtain medicinal compounds from tropical plants. Their program involves a serious effort to obtain not only materials but also knowledge from the people of the rain forest; they spend a lot of time interviewing forest people about medicinal uses of plants, then give much higher priority to testing those that have folk uses. They are screening for antiviral, antifungal, and sedative/analgesic activity. Out of the first 58 species screened, they found that 60% had activity in one of their screens, and 74% of their active samples correlated with the original ethnobotanical use. This is a much higher "hit" rate than then NCI rate, perhaps because of the different activities being screened for, and perhaps because they make greater use of ethnobotanical knowledge. This company is also dedicated to developing nondestructive harvesting methods and in providing benefits from any discoveries to the indigenous people who are the primary sources of the inventions. Merck & Co. have also set up an agreement with a research institute in Costa Rica to screen samples from micro-organisms, plants and insects from that country's forests. The institute will earn a share of any royalties on the sale of products derived from the project.
In 1982, the. e TRAMIL (Traditional Medicine for the Islands) research network was launched in the Dominican Republic to provide scientifically proven alternatives to patent drugs, which are becoming scarcer and more expensive due to increasing poverty and dwindling foreign currency reserves. The network which recognizes that many rural people are more familiar with medicinal plants aims to ensure the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of natural medicines. In this manner, TRAMIL hopes to preserve the diversity of plant species and indigenous knowledg
Commercial overharvesting of some medicinal plants including
goldenseal root, American ginseng, and Echinacea, may be endangering the survival of these
species. American Indians have developed ways
of using these plants more sustainably. Recommended
book: |
In 1998, the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research successfully challenged six patent applications on the medicinal properties of turmeric. The U.S. patent office ruled that turmeric's medicinal properties were part of the traditional Indian knowledge base and were therefore not patentable.
The Pacific Yew tree, a rare and slow-growing tree in the Pacific Northwest, is the only source of a drug called taxol, which appears to be very effective in treating ovarian cancer and has great promise for treating breast cancer as well. Each year, about 20,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about half that number die from it. But it takes six Pacific yew trees to extract enough taxol to treat one patient. The National Cancer Institute has enough available to treat about 300 patients-not even enough to complete clinical trials. The yew tree is found only in old-growth forests, so it has now become a potential problem, along with the spotted owl, in trying to save these forests. Recently, chemists found ways of synthesizing taxol, but it is a very complicated process. Another more feasible solution is to chemically modify related compounds that are found in the English Yew, which is a widely planted ornamental plant and could produce a sustainable supply so that the Pacific Yew will not have to be harvested.
The taxol story will hopefully have a happy ending, and it teaches us that the forest (and other natural habitats) should be considered a source of knowledge about medicines, rather than a source of the medicines themselves.
ii. Antibiotics. Antibiotics are generally isolated from fungi (e.g. penicillin) or bacteria (e.g. erythromycin). However, a small group of antibiotics comes from marine animals- mimosamycin, that comes from a nudibranch (sea slug) and a sponge.
ANTIBIOTICS(about 1,000 now known) |
Antibiotic | Source | |
Penicillin Cephalosporin C Griseofulvin Bacitracin chloromycin erythromycin streptomycin tetracycline mimosamycin |
Penicillium chrysogenum Cephalosporium acremonium Penicillium griseofulvum Bacteria Bacteria Bacteria Bacteria Bacteria Nudibranch, Sponge |
Fertilizers. Recent research has led to the identification of species of bacteria from the deep ocean that are capable of fixing nitrogen, converting into a form that can be used as a fertilizer for crops.
Materials. Many organisms have evolved materials whose unusual physical properties may make them useful. They may be obtained from the wild or, better, copied by biochemists. In many cases, finding one useful material may lead to the discovery of many more, with subtle differences in physical properties, from related organisms.
i. Fibers. Silkworm silk has been used for hundreds of years in production of fabrics. Spider silk, which is chemically very similar to silkworm silk, comes in many different varieties (some species make seven different kinds - see slide) and has 5-10x the tensile strength of steel and some very unusual elastic properties. It has been used on a limited basis for fishing nets and for wound dressings, and for cross hairs in optical instruments. However, for other applications it cannot be obtained in large enough quantities from spiders. Therefore, the genes for spider silk have been placed in bacteria or animal cells, which then make the silk protein. However, they make it in a solution, and this has to be extruded (forced through a small orifice at high pressure) to force the protein molecules to line up into a fiber. Nexia Biotechnologies is now producing transgenic goats in which a gene for spider silk is expressed in large quantities in the mammary glands. They are now working on ways to spin it into fiber. The artificial silk has the potential to be strong enough to make bullet-proof vests, surgical sutures and artificial tendons.
Access Excellence Science Updates Archive
ii. Coatings. Shellac, a wax produced by insects that is harvested by hand from trees in India. 4 million pounds/year are harvested and used in varnishes, paints, stiffeners and other uses. Some related species of insects in the southwestern U.S. make colored waxes that were used by the Indians to waterproof and decorate baskets and to repair pottery.
The cuticles and eggshells of insects, crustaceans, and many other animals, and the seed coats and other protective layers on plants may have useful properties as waterproof coatings for other materials. Chitin (the carbohydrate part of cuticle, extracted from shrimp shells) is already used to make wool shrink-resistant.
Keratins (the protein of feathers and hair) is used as a coating for pills so that they survive the acid stomach but then release their contents in the alkaline intestine.
iii. Adhesives. Casein, a protein from milk, is already used extensively in glue manufacture as well as in plastics and paints.
At least two companies are now marketing a glue based on the adhesive used by marine mussels to hold themselves on rocks. This kind of glue will stick to animal tissue as well as to metals and other materials. It might be useful in surgery and in other places where glue needs to function in a wet environment or needs to join dissimilar materials like metal and bone. One company is extracting the glue directly from a gland in the mussel, the other is synthesizing a glue based on the composition of the natural adhesive. Unfortunately, the natural material is not well understood. However, there are hundreds of different kinds of mussel, and there may be many different versions of the glue to investigate.
iv. Biopolymers, especially moldable polymers, similar to plastics made chemically, have been produced in bacteria and theoretically could be produced in plants, so that the material could be grown as a crop.
v. Oils. About 20% of the petroleum used in this country is used for non-fuel purposes such as plastics, fertilizers, lubricants, and adhesives. The majority of these substances can now be synthesized from plant products. In fact, about 3 million tons of vegetable fats and oils are already used in these processes annually. Further development of these industries could help in reducing our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels.
There are several promising tropical oil plants in South America, including:
Another very important plant is Jojoba, a desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico that produces a "liquid wax" (chemically different from an oil) that is almost identical to sperm whale oil, is very useful as a heat-resistant lubricant and has many other potential uses. Another desert plant, guayule, has a very high content of natural rubber and could help to relieve the dependence of this country on rubber grown in Southeast Asia.
Oil from the seed of India's Pongamia pinnata tree is being used as a substitute for diesel in electricity generation in rural areas of the country.
vi. Enzymes. Some of the bacteria-like organisms found near submarine hot vents (Archaea) can live at temperatures as high as 113oC and may be useful in the production of enzymes that are stable at high temperatures (for use in washing machines, for example).
Biomimetic materials science is the name given to attempts to mimic the materials found in nature. Much of it is funded by the Navy and the Air Force, because of the potential importance of lightweight but strong materials in aerospace engineering, and of underwater glues and coatings in marine engineering. It is necessary to understand not only the chemical makeup of the biological materials, but also the organization of different components within the material (e.g. calcite and proteins in sea urchin skeleton, or carbohydrate and protein in cuticle), which in nature is controlled by the cells producing the material.
Wild organisms carry out many functions in the environment that are vital to us, and that would be very difficult to do ourselves. Bees pollinate about a trillion apple blossoms each year in New York State.
Carpenter bees pollinate Brazil-nut trees. Bats pollinate wild bananas (not the cultivated ones that are parthenocarpic), breadfruit, guava and durian (Malaysian fruit). Wild micro-organisms biodegrade much of our garbage as well as fallen leaves and other dead animal and plant matter. Earthworms turn over soil and keep it aerated. Soil bacteria turn nitrogen into nitrate fertilizer. Plants use up carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, thereby slowing global warming due to CO2.
A few decades ago, the water in the Chesapeake Bay was clear because oysters were filtering out particles at a rate estimated to be the equivalent of the entire volume of the bay every three days. Because the oysters have been overharvested (99% gone) they are no longer able to keep up with the accumulation of silt and other particulates.
All of these services, and many more besides, are provided free of charge and usually taken for granted until they stop.
Service | Organism | |
Pollination Biodegradation Soil aeration Fertilization CO2 - 02 exchange Water storage |
bees, bats micro - organisms earthworms soil bacteria plants plants |
Bioremediation (=phytoremediation if it is done by plants) refers to the use of organisms to clean up toxic wastes. Some plant species that live naturally on soils that are rich in heavy metals have evolved biochemical mechanisms for extracting those metals from the soil and accumulating them to very high levels in their tissues. They are called hyperaccumulators. Plants in the mustard family are especially promising. Some of them accumulate so much metal that it makes up 5% of their weight. This makes them toxic to insects, so it has probably evolved as a defense mechanism. The accumulated metals also makes them harmful or lethal to grazing animals including cattle and horses. Read how "locoism" may have played a part in General Custer's defeat at the battle of Little Big Horn. Plants have been found that hyperaccumulate copper, nickel, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, cobalt, mercury and selenium, so they are being planted on toxic waste sites where they remove the toxic metals from the soil. They can be burned in order to recover the metal in cases (copper and nickel) where the metal is valuable. With less valuable metals such as lead, the hyperaccumulating plants are much easier to dispose of than contaminated soil.
A simple use of phytoremediation has been used in California's San Joaquin Valley, where there is a problem with high levels of selenium in the soil. Growing mustard plants on the contaminated soil reduced selenium levels by 50% at depths down to 1m.
Other sites where this technique is being used include abandoned mines (zinc and lead); military sites (lead and cadmium); municipal waste dumps (copper, mercury, lead); and sewage dumps (all of these metals). Phytoremediation is potentially much more effective and less expensive than current methods which consist mainly of excavation and reburial.
Some of the metals that are toxic at high levels (e.g., selenium) are actually required by the body at low levels. So hyperaccumulating plants may also be useful in providing essential metals in the diet at the appropriate levels.
Some of the hyperaccumulating plants are difficult to grow and do not produce much biomass. Scientists are therefore identifying and cloning the genes responsible for hyperaccumulation and exploring ways of transferring them into common crop plants that would not have these drawbacks.
In a paper published in Nature in May 1997, a
group of 13 ecologists, geographers and economists estimated the economic value of these
environmental services at between $16 and $54 trillion per year. This estimate is based on
the cost of artificially providing the same services. The services they evaluated included
food production, raw materials, recreation and water supply, regulation of climate and
atmospheric gases, water cycling, erosion control, soil formation, nutrient cycling and
the purification of wastes. Also read the discussion of this paper.
Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems
"Miners use canaries to warn them of deadly gases. It might not be a bad idea if we took the same warning from the dead birds in our countryside" (H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh at the Wild Life Fund dinner, about 1963 in reference to DDT). Today, we might take the same warning from the forest dieback, the dead sea lions and dolphins on our beaches, and the missing amphibians. (See Lecture 14 for examples of the effects of chemical pollutants on wildlife.) If the environment is killing animals and plants, it might eventually kill us too. Pesticide levels in human milk are enormous. If we were egg-laying mammals we might be suffering from eggshell thinning caused by DDT by now.
The necessity of looking to wildlife species for warning signs becomes more evident when one considers that for 71 percent of the 3,000 highest-volume chemicals in the U.S. economy no human health-effect screening has ever been conducted. A 1984 report released by the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council documented a lack of "even minimal" health screening tests for 78 percent of high-production-volume chemicals in the U.S. In July of 1997, the Environmental Defense Fund released a study entitled "Toxic Ignorance" that pointed to the lack of improvement in screening over the last 13 years. In conjunction with the report's release, the EDF called for commitments from the chief executive officers of the 100 top chemical manufacturers in the U.S. to complete preliminary health screening tests on each company's top-selling chemicals before the year 2000, and disclose the results to the public. According to the EDF study, the testing requested would cost between 1/10 of a cent to 2/3 of a cent per dollar of profit for the top 100 US companies, which made profits of $29.4 billion last year on $230.5 billion of chemical sales. In the meantime, the effects of these chemicals on wildlife, and on humans, remain unknown.
Wild species provide raw material for basic research. The object of basic research is simply to understand the natural world. Even though it often leads to material benefits, and is justified that way, the motivation is simply the challenge to know as much as possible about the natural world, and to understand how both living and non-living things work.
Wildlife is worth conserving because it is interesting, beautiful, spectacular, or contributes to landscapes that are interesting, beautiful, or spectacular. Wild animals and plants provide inspiration not only to biologists but also to millions of naturalists, explorers, painters, photographers, writers, poets and musicians. After Aldous Huxley read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (about the loss of songbirds due to DDT), his comment was that "we are losing half the subject-matter of English poetry".
Enjoying wildlife is far from being restricted to poets, however. According to a survey conducted for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 77 million Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 1996. During that time, they spent $108 billion compared to only $81 billion on cars. Preserving the environment is healthy for the economy as well as for the soul.
John Muir, one of the founders of the Sierra Club, valued wilderness and wild creatures for their aesthetic qualities. He managed to convince President Theodore Roosevelt, the hunter, that our most beautiful areas should be protected, simply for aesthetic reasons. His work led to the establishment of Yosemite National Park and many other protected areas.
These arguments justify saving subspecies as well as species. Some of them justify preserving abundance as well as existence of a species. Of course, ecosystems are interesting too, and according to this view they should also be conserved. Some of the most interesting aspects of animal life (social behavior, migration, etc.) occur only in the wild, not in zoos. So this argument favors conservation in the wild.
We do not know what our value systems will be in the future, or what the value systems of our successors will be. Perhaps they will need vast quantities of some species that we now consider insignificant or even harmful. Many of the natural sources of medicines are, in fact, poisonous. Nobody could have predicted that bread mold would be the source of one of the most useful antibiotics; that armadillos would have been useful in medical research because they are the only experimental animal that can be infected with leprosy; or that the Madagascar periwinkle would be a source of an antileukemic drug, or that a heat-loving microbe living in a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park would provide a key ingredient in the DNA fingerprinting work was so important in the O.J. Simpson trial.
The main reason for preserving not only species but also genetic variability of not only wild species but also domesticated ones (and humans!) is so that we, and the other animals and plants on the planet, can adapt to unforeseen changing circumstances.
A relevant question that is now being asked is whether we should destroy the last remaining stocks of the smallpox virus. They are being kept in a freezer pending review of a decision made to destroy them in 1999.
In the future we may find new reasons for keeping ecosystems, not just species, alive. We could not learn about medicinal plants from chimpanzees if they are in a zoo - they have to be in an intact environment in the wild.
By allowing species to become extinct and by destroying ecosystems we cut off options that we are not capable of imagining; the responsible course is to keep as many options open as possible.
For additional reading, see "Do We Still Need Nature? The Importance of Biological Diversity".Biodiversity and its value (Biodiversity Series No. 1)
The search for agricultural and medicinal uses for the world's biodiversity can be controversial. Legal and ethical issues surrounding the sharing of genetic resources and the profits realized from them remain unresolved. The United Nations Convention on Biodiversity addresses many of these issues and has been ratified by 170 countries. Some countries, including the United States, still refuse to sign the agreement, primarily because it contains clauses requiring profits from biodiversity be shared with the species' country of origin.
Finding useful drugs in wild plants and animals can be a mixed blessing. According to the World Health Organization the global trade was worth about $500 million a year in 1980, but by 2000, the larger European market alone may reach $500 billion. A 1998 study by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring program of World Wildlife Fund and the World Conservation Union, identified 102 medicinal plant species (including the frankincense tree) and 29 medicinal animal species (including the green turtle, African rock python, and black rhinoceros) as priorities for early conservation and management action.


text:
Haleo - The Voice of Life
Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
78-128 Ehukai Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Reservation Info
Phone:(808) 329-0580
Fax:(808) 930-4800
Toll Free:(866) 482-9775
The Story of Haleo - the Voice of Life, at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa celebrates the history of the land divisions called Keauhou, and the heart of those who came from this land area. From the birth of Kamehameha III to the surfing stories of Heeia Bay, the dancers and musicians take you on a journey through a special time in Hawaii's history, sharing the stories of our Polynesian cousins and the gifts they brought to Hawaii through their language, culture, music and dance. You will have the opportunity to meet the dancers before the show, to "talk story" and learn more about the language and culture of Hawai'i. Live dinner music serenades guests as they enjoy a delicious feast. And, just as the sun is setting over Keauhou Bay - Haleo begins.
For a unique Hawaiian cultural and dining experience, reserve your place at the table for Haleo luau dinner and show on the Hawaii Lawn at Sheraton Kona Monday evenings.
Cards Accepted

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pati's Mexican Table
Pati's Mexican Table | Cilantro Pesto Pasta with...
A quick and easy recipe for Cilantro Pesto Pasta with Avocado by Chef Pati Jinich the host of PBS Pati's Mexican Table. 01:01
Pati's Mexican Table | Preview | PBS
"Pati's Mexican Table" is all about cooking authentic Mexican food here in the US. 01:24
- Watch more video from this program »
Series Description: PATI'S MEXICAN TABLE brings authentic Mexican flavors, colors, textures and warmth into American kitchens. A former policy analyst focused on Latin American politics and history, Pati Jinich is a chef, cooking teacher, food writer and mother of three whose true passion lies in sharing the tastes of her childhood and culinary adventures in her native country. In each episode, Pati embarks upon an exciting and entertaining journey, where each dish serves as a point of departure into Mexico's rich history and culture, Pati's personal experiences, and her ongoing conversations with cooks in both Mexico and the United States. Each half-hour highlights a singular Mexican food - from familiar ingredients like vanilla, avocado and chorizo to the mysterious grains used by the Aztecs and the adventurous and trendy cuisine found across Mexico today. From traditional takes on tomatillos to modern spins on huevos rancheros, Pati inspires viewers to make great Mexican dishes in their own homes.
All Upcoming Episodes
Quesadillas (#101)
Ham and Cheese Sincronizadas and Plantain and Refried Bean Quesadillas with Guajillo Chile Salsa. [26 minutes]
- Mon, July 8, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Foods of the Mexican Revolution (#102)
Cowboy "Charro" Beans, Chilorio Burritas, Chunky Guacamole and Sweet Anise Rosquitas are served. [26 minutes]
- Wed, July 10, 6:00 AM on IPTV Learns
- Wed, July 10, 12:00 PM on IPTV Learns
- Thu, July 11, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Avocado (#103)
Avocado and Hearts of Palm Chop Chop Salad and Steak and Avocado Sandwich are prepared. [26 minutes]
- Mon, July 15, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Tomatillos (#104)
Salsa Verde with Avocado and Queso Fresco, Chicken in a Tomatillo, Chipotle and Brown Sugar Sauce. [26 minutes]
- Wed, July 17, 6:00 AM on IPTV Learns
- Wed, July 17, 12:00 PM on IPTV Learns
- Thu, July 18, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Convent Food (#105)
Picadillo Empanadas of the Immaculate Conception, White Rice and Poblano Rajas Casserole are made. [26 minutes]
- Mon, July 22, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Hibiscus Flower (#106)
Jamaica Water, Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans and Jamaica Vinaigrette and Steak Tacos. [26 minutes]
- Wed, July 24, 6:00 AM on IPTV Learns
- Wed, July 24, 12:00 PM on IPTV Learns
- Thu, July 25, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Mexican Picnic (#107)
Ancho Chile Mexican Hamburgers with Lime Aioli and Pickled Onion and Potato Salad are made. [26 minutes]
- Mon, July 29, 12:00 AM on IPTV Learns
Mexican Brunch (#108)
Poached Eggs in a Tomato and Poblano Rajas Sauce and Refried Beans and Cheese Chimichangas. [26 minutes]
- Wed, July 31, 6:00 AM on IPTV Learns
- Wed, July 31, 12:00 PM on IPTV Learns
Past Episodes
These episodes of Pati's Mexican Table aired in the last few months on Iowa Public Television.
- Naturally Vegetarian Mexican (#213)
- Tacos, Tacos, Tacos (#212)
- Puebla: Food from a Colonial Jewel (#211)
- Lip-Smacking Mexican Meal (#210)
- Xochimilco: Cooking with Flowers (#209)
- Family-Style Breakfast (#207)
- Mexican Brunch (#108)
- Tequila! (#208)
- A French Twist On Mexico (#203)
- Classic Mexican Food Battles (#201)
- Easy Comfort Food (#204)
- Fonda Favorites (#206)
- Mexican-Style Kids' Party (#205)
- School Lunch with a Mexican Twist (#202)
- Middle Eastern Influences (#111)
- Wrapped Treats (#113)
- Vanilla (#112)
- Cinnamon (#110)


text:
Today, my blog is open to a guest blogger: fellow BSFA Orbiter and SF writer friend, R.B. Harkess. I've met Rob and his wife at FantasyCon and NewCon as well as on facebook and of course as a critiquer. He writes fine science fiction and has just had a Young Adult novel published by Proxima – Aphrodite's Dawn. Here is his blog. Feel free to click on his links and say hello.
Guest blogger – R.B. Harkess, science fiction writer.
When I first got into writing the internet didn't exist. OK, so I've now established myself as either way older than you thought, or a liar. Seriously, though, back then we had bulletin board systems and modems, and they worked pretty much the same as forums do on websites today.
I was even a member of a writers group. We called ourselves 'Writer's Block' and we lived in awe of the only two members who were published writers, Steve Harris (a horror writer) and a bloke named Pan Pantziarka. It was a great place to hang out, but the support was emotional and social, rather than practical or technical.
I gave up writing after a couple of years; there seemed to be so little opportunity, and the only resource we had to find markets was the trusty Writers and Artists Yearbook.
I got bitten by the bug again two years ago, after getting into podcasts. I started on short stories, which I still love to write, and was absolutely astonished at how things had changed; social media, online databases, and the number of anthologies and e-zines that were out there to help you showcase your work.
I met Geoff through a crit group, one run by the British Science Fiction Association. We don't share that group any more, and I greatly miss his wisdom and skill. It was also Geoff who gave me my first real break in the industry, publishing one of my short stories in "Escape Velocity: The Anthology".
And now, to my ongoing surprise, my first novel, "Aphrodite's Dawn", has been published as an e-book by Proxima, which is why I am creeping around on other people's blogs. It's a refreshing diversion in the YA market, involving no sparkly vampires or other objects of paranormal romance, and tells the story of three young people who find the tiny world they thought they lived in was actually a huge asteroid, kitted out as a rescue ship. The ship has 300,000 sleepers on board, but is out of control, and Garret, Pitr and Alyssa have to puzzle, and sometimes fight, their way through to the other end of the ship to give the engines the commands to save them all.
I'm not saying couldn't have written it without the support and encouragement of the wonderful community of writers I've met since I sat in front of a keyboard and stared at that terrifying blank screen again. I am saying it wouldn't have been as good, and it certainly wouldn't have been as much fun.
R B Harkess was born in Bristol but now lives just outside London. Writing is constantly complicated by a real-world job in IT and two cats – one of which likes to lie on the printer whilst the other prefers to sprawl on the laptop. A blog can be found at www.rbharkess.com, where such wonders as links to facebook, twitter and email can be found.


text:
Just as President Obama's "you didn't build that" gaffe was, contrary to his defenders' insistence, worse when experienced in context, his "I actually believe in redistribution" remark is more alarming when examined in toto.
Last week Mother Jones released a videotape [8] of Mitt Romney at a Boca Raton fundraiser telling his audience that the 47% of the American population who pay no federal income tax see themselves as victims, automatically support Obama, and cannot be swayed by targeted campaign efforts.
The media went wild over Romney's statement, accusing him of not caring about half the population and of attempting to carve out an electorate who support his elitist economic policies.
Several days later someone leaked audio [9] of a Loyola College conference on community organizing in 1998 in which Obama remarked, "I actually believe in redistribution."
NBC claimed that they had a fuller version of the Loyola tape, and insisted that the quote was being taken out of context. The Daily Caller managed to track down the full 102-minute tape [10] and released it this week.
Obama's Loyola speech proves his intention of using voters for political purposes in exactly the way Romney's remarks suggested.
Obama's wealth distribution comment is actually the least shocking thing he said at the conference. Here's the full quote:
"I actually believe in redistribution. At least at a certain level, to make sure that everybody's got a shot. How do we pool resources at the same time as we decentralize delivery systems in ways that both foster competition, can work in the marketplace, and can foster innovation at the local level and can be tailored to particular communities?"
As offensive as this to people who resent subsidizing not only unproductiveness but "decentralized delivery systems" for these subsidies (i.e. overpaid government workers), the comment is basically on par with Obama's "spread the wealth around" gaffe four years ago.
The rest of Obama's remarks show that his campaign never should have dared us to check whether his redistribution quote was taken out of context.
In one portion, Obama rails against his political enemies: "The people who are guilty of disempowering the population are not only the bad guys—I won't be partisan here and say who bad guys are. It's not only the folks who are representing the special interests, quote-unquote, and the guys with the pinky diamond rings and fat cats. Sometimes it is also us."
Does that sound like Obama cherishing the opportunity to "represent the entire country [11]"? Does it seem like Obama is following his own advice to Romney to "not writ[e] off big chunks of the country"?
The rest of Obama's speech aims, as Romney alluded, to Obama trying to build coalitions of voters who receive freebies from the government and support Democrats in return.
Obama repeatedly hypes the advantages of joining policy with politics: "What I think will reengage people in politics is if we're doing significant, serious policy work around what I will label the 'working poor,' although my definition of the working poor is not simply folks making minimum wage, but it's also families of four who are making $30,000 a year… [W]e are then putting together a potential majority coalition to move those agendas forward" [emphasis added].
Does that sound like Obama selflessly devoting his energy to the needy with no ulterior motives? Is it possible that Romney was on to something in Boca Raton?
Obama continues: "One of the good things about welfare reform, which—the 1996 legislation, I did not entirely agree with and probably would have voted against at the federal level. But one good thing that comes out of it, is that it essentially desegregates the welfare population, which presumably is black and underserved and urban—versus the working poor, which are the other people. Now you just have one batch of folks… That is increasingly a majority population…" [emphasis added].
Translation: I despise welfare reform (we couldn't tell! [12]), but one upside is that now the left can aim its campaign toward a large, growing, consolidated bloc of voters—the entire "working poor"—and squeeze out Democratic victories more efficiently.
Obama confirms this cynical interpretation: "I don't think… that that is just a problem for urban areas or the inner city or particular populations. I think that cuts across issues of race and geography, and as a consequence becomes a useful means for coupling policy with politics" [emphasis added].
In other words, "Let's stick our noses in the affairs of the upwardly mobile and shower them with goodies, then sit back and wait for the votes to roll in." (For an example of this strategy at work, see Obama's vast expansion of food stamps to people who don't want or need them [13].)
At one point in the speech, after reeling off a laundry list of "important" issues that must be addressed someday, Obama gets to the part that really interests him: "I am actually a strong believer that if we organize policy around issues of economics that diverse populations have in common, we will have the basis, and the conversation will have taken place, and the coalitions will have been formed" [emphasis added]. There's that word again! I think we could call 47% a healthy-sized coalition, don't you?
Now that we've heard Obama's off-the-record comments in full context, it's plain that Romney was absolutely correct. Obama's raison d'être is figuring out new ways to redistribute wealth so as to form an indebted monolith who will flood the left with votes in perpetuity.
Previously published in modified form at Red Alert Politics [14]


text:
Founding Fathers and Slaveholders
To what degree do the attitudes of Washington and Jefferson toward slavery diminish their achievements?
- By Stephen E. Ambrose
- Smithsonian magazine, November 2002, Subscribe
Americans in great numbers are rediscovering their founding fathers in such best-selling books as Joseph Ellis' Founding Brothers, David McCullough's John Adams and my own Undaunted Courage, about Lewis and Clark. There are others who believe that some of these men are unworthy of our attention because they owned slaves, Washington, Jefferson, Clark among them, but not Adams. They failed to rise above their time and place, though Washington (but not Jefferson) freed his slaves. But history abounds with ironies. These men, the founding fathers and brothers, established a system of government that, after much struggle, and the terrible violence of the Civil War, and the civil rights movement led by black Americans, did lead to legal freedom for all Americans and movement toward equality.
Let's begin with Thomas Jefferson, because it is he who wrote the words that inspired subsequent generations to make the heroic sacrifices that transformed the words "All men are created equal" into reality.
In 1996 I was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin. The History Club there asked me to participate in a panel discussion on "Political Correctness and the University." The professor seated next to me taught American political thought. I remarked to her that when I began teaching I had required students to read five or six books each semester, but I had cut that back to three or four or else the students would drop my course. She said she had the same problem. She had dropped Thomas Jefferson's writings from the required reading list.
"You are in Madison, being paid by the citizens of Wisconsin to teach their children American political thought, and you leave out Tom Jefferson?"
"Yes," she replied. "He was a slaveholder." More than half the large audience applauded.
Jefferson owned slaves. He did not believe that all were created equal. He was a racist, incapable of rising above the thought of his time and place, and willing to profit from slave labor.
Few of us entirely escape our times and places. Thomas Jefferson did not achieve greatness in his personal life. He had a slave as mistress. He lied about it. He once tried to bribe a hostile reporter. His war record was not good. He spent much of his life in intellectual pursuits in which he excelled and not enough in leading his fellow Americans toward great goals by example. Jefferson surely knew slavery was wrong, but he didn't have the courage to lead the way to emancipation. If you hate slavery and the terrible things it did to human beings, it is difficult to regard Jefferson as great. He was a spendthrift, always deeply in debt. He never freed his slaves. Thus the sting in Dr. Samuel Johnson's mortifying question, "How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negroes?"
Jefferson knew slavery was wrong and that he was wrong in profiting from the institution, but apparently could see no way to relinquish it in his lifetime. He thought abolition of slavery might be accomplished by the young men of the next generation. They were qualified to bring the American Revolution to its idealistic conclusion because, he said, these young Virginians had "sucked in the principles of liberty as if it were their mother's milk."
Of all the contradictions in Jefferson's contradictory life, none is greater. Of all the contradictions in America's history, none surpasses its toleration first of slavery and then of segregation. Jefferson hoped and expected that Virginians of Meriwether Lewis' and William Clark's generation would abolish slavery. His writing showed that he had a great mind and a limited character.
Jefferson, like all slaveholders and many other white members of American society, regarded Negroes as inferior, childlike, untrustworthy and, of course, as property. Jefferson, the genius of politics, could see no way for African-Americans to live in society as free people. He embraced the worst forms of racism to justify slavery.
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Related topics: George Washington Thomas Jefferson American Slave Trade
Comments (22) |
Thank you Mr. Ambrose for a very thoughtful article.
Posted by Terrence on February 6,2013 | 06:39 PM
Posted by TAUREAN on February 5,2013 | 09:25 PM
You may want to do a little mor e research on Adams. He had slaves African and Indian. I know this for a fact my ancestors were those slaves.
Posted by Lita Adams on January 1,2013 | 08:13 AM
Although George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, they were still the fathers of our country, and are the reason why we are still united today. Yes, everyone is flawed in their own ways, and we have to open our eyes to that, instead of ripping on them for what they did, and discrediting their amazing accomplishments. I view them as great men to liberty and justice.
Posted by Jake on December 18,2012 | 12:38 AM
Jefferson was one of the most educated, intelligent, and skilled writers of his and our time. He was also a slave owner. On the other hand, Washington was an inspiration to Revolutionary soldiers, a wonderful character, and a guiding first President. Washington was also a slave owner. To say that these two men "failed to rise above their place and time" is preposterous. If anyone rose to the occasion, it would be the author of the Declaration of Independence and the first President of the United States. By today's standards, it may seem cruel to own a slave, but during Jefferson and Washington's time, it was acceptable. Remember, when thinking on the past, one must put them selves in the past, and when living in the present, one must put them selves in the future. Washington and Jefferson were certainly thinking ahead by defying the British and creating a lasting government, but we have to do our part and put our futuristic minds in the past.
Posted by Rusty on December 18,2012 | 09:33 PM
I do not agree with Ambrose. Washington and Jefferson should be viewed by the people of their time not ours. Back then many people could have been for slavery, it could have been helping the economy, we never know. It is more cear to us today what the right decision should be but we will never kno for sure what was going on back then and in Washington and Jeffersons' minds.
Posted by John on December 18,2012 | 06:50 PM
Jefferson a racist?? That's the most pathetic attempt at an attention grab I've ever seen. He had a black mistress who who took with him to Paris!! The two had a child, which is the only 'slave' that could truly be considered his. Also, the 'slaves' mentioned in this story were never truly Jefferson's. They were inherited from his father and law and worked the land at Monticello. Due to the debt also inherited from his father and law and Jefferson's incessant collecting and travels his creditors would NEVER have allowed him to free his slaves and cut all source of income from the small plantation. His child with the 'slave' lived happily on their plantation in a separate house with his mother, with no responsibilities, traveled with him to Europe and was 'FREED' by Jefferson on his deathbead. He also guaranteed that he receive an education, something that was all but forbidden at that time. He took ridiculous amounts of care to ensure the safety and continued success of even an illegitimate child with a slave. Doesn't sound very racist to me.
Posted by Erikch Weiss on December 6,2012 | 04:35 PM
In their times they may have been on par with other men, but through the lens of history they were elevated to higher status for the framework they helped lay that transcends their times. It does not make them any better or less than their contemporaries, but viewed through history and through specifics of their nature, the flaws can be seen as things to not admire, that affect them personally, not so much the frameworks left. Much of what the country celebrates in holidays are the affects of the person, not really the person since so few know the whole person.
Posted by xaviersx on November 23,2012 | 02:20 PM
Can I just point out that being hanged, drawn and quartered is not at all what the author describes here. It is being hanged or strangled to death or near death, followed by evisceration and dismemberment.
Posted by Kay on November 11,2012 | 07:45 PM
Absolutely unfounded and biased information. But just look at one of a multitude of actual historical writings: John Quincy Adams, called the "Hell Hound of Abolition" for his extensive endeavors against that institution, regularly invoked the efforts of the Virginia patriots, particularly Jefferson, to justify his own crusade against slavery. In fact, in a speech in 1837, John Quincy Adams declared: The inconsistency of the institution of domestic slavery with the principles of the Declaration of Independence was seen and lamented by all the southern patriots of the Revolution; by no one with deeper and more unalterable conviction than by the author of the Declaration himself [Jefferson]. No charge of insincerity or hypocrisy can be fairly laid to their charge. Never from their lips was heard one syllable of attempt to justify the institution of slavery. They universally considered it as a reproach fastened upon them by the unnatural step-mother country [Great Britain] and they saw that before the principles of the Declaration of Independence, slavery, in common with every other mode of oppression, was destined sooner or later to be banished from the earth. Such was the undoubting conviction of Jefferson to his dying day. In the Memoir of His Life, written at the age of seventy-seven, he gave to his countrymen the solemn and emphatic warning that the day was not distant when they must hear and adopt the general emancipation of their slaves. 52
Posted by Judy on November 10,2012 | 12:40 AM
Since when is curriculum based on the subjects actions? I'm not excusing Jefferson one bit, but why not teach the reality?
Posted by Ryan on August 29,2012 | 06:27 PM
"Yes," she replied. "He was a slave holder." And that, class, is how ignorance is born. Thomas Jefferson had a flawed character in many ways, yes, but he was one of the greatest minds to ever live. If you do not teach his writings like they are the very word of truth, you are an imbecile. Criticize his actions and preach his writings.
Posted by max on August 6,2012 | 04:12 PM
What PC garbage. The Libertarian leader M. Gilson wrote an amazing article in 2001 "Jefferson's Slaves" based on his personal research. It seems Jefferson COULDN'T free his slaves because they weren't his--he was in massive debt (the article here points it out but doesn't make the connection)--just as you can't give away your house if ther is a mortgage on it. Also, there were many legal problems to mass emancipation as in where would these people go? etc. Gilson also points out that the whole matter diverts attention from today's neo-slavery of putting people in prison for lifestyle offenses. Why don' we free those slaves and the academics talk about that? Cultural blindness lives on...
Posted by Rich on July 20,2012 | 10:03 AM
I see that 200 years from now we will ridcule and castigate those who set the foundation for bringing awareness to reducing carbon emissions, just because they owned automobiles in their lifetime. Even if it was a hybrid, that wasn't good enough.
I've read in several sources that Thomas Jefferson actually freed the slaves who were children of Sally Hemings (the slave women who he is said to have fathered the children with). He kept Ms. Hemings from being traded or sold until his death when Thomas Jefferson's daughter freed her.
Jefferson was the leading proponet to ban international slave trade during his presidency in 1807, denouncing this action as,
"violations of human rights which have been so long continued on the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, in which the morality, the reputation, and the best interests of our country have long been eager to proscribe".
Now it may seem contradictory since domestic slave trade continued, but I believe it refutes the claim of him being a racist and "incapable of rising above his time and place".
Posted by Ry on March 12,2012 | 02:35 PM


text:
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common and serious cardiovascular disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Given the incidence, prevalence, and life-threatening complications of AFib increase with age, Medicare is forced to absorb a majority of the substantial clinical and economic burden.
Medicare and Atrial Fibrillation (pages: 36)
The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax
The contents of this site are © 2013 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.


text:
Rugs USA Beaumont Adileh Natural Rug
Item #: 200VBVI2A-P
$169 - $944 + FREE SHIPPINGFeatures: This product has the following features:
- Collection: Beaumont
- Brand: Rugs USA
- Material: 100% Viscose
- Weave: Machine Made
- Styles: Traditional Rugs
- Origin: Belgium
- Available in the following sizes: 5' 3" x 7' 6" and 7' 10" x 11' 2"
This rug is amazing! Not only is it exactly as pictured, but the character it brings to my home is just beyond words. The rug isn't only beautiful, but it may very well be the softest thing I've ever touched in my life. Definitely recommend this to anyone who is thinking about adding some new decor to their home.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Horrible customer service! I cannot comment about the actual product, because I never received it. I received my order and they sent me the wrong rug. I waited on hold for 15 minutes to talk to someone, then finally got to a representative, then got put on hold again for another 5 minutes. She made no apologies for their mistake and was only concerned with getting me a return label and me shipping the rug back to them. She did not offer to help me to correct the order. I questioned her several times about me having ordered it on a promotion and that I was concerned about getting that price again. She then looked for the correct rug for me and notified me that it was out of stock. Again no apology and no concern for the fact that I received the wrong rug and now the rug that I originally ordered is out of stock! I now have no rug and had to drag the incorrect rug that they sent me back to UPS. I do almost all of my shopping online and I have never encountered such horrible customer service. I shipped the rug back two weeks ago and still have not received my return.
RECOMMENDED: No, I would not recommend this to a friend.I just received the Adileh rug in natural and I am so pleased with it. It's incredibly soft to the touch and provides a wonderful neutral look to my living room. From other reviews, I had heard that it is quite thin, so I went ahead and ordered a rug pad to go with it, which makes it seem much more thick. I really can't understand some of the negative reviews - for the price, this is a wonderful rug.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.This rug is absolutely beautiful. It is so soft and shiny. It looks expensive and had just the right amount of a "worn" look to it. The colors are also very neutral. I know some reviews mentioned a "mauve" sheen, but I don't really see it. It's definitely creamy, tan and charcoal grey. I am using it in my dining room and it's perfect. I like the fact that it isn't too thick. It also shipped quickly. This is my 3rd purchase with Rugs USA and I never fail to be thrilled. I am planning on purchasing all my rugs from this site.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Great rug...very soft and silky. The ivory base color is a little more silver than the photo shows, but very neutral.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Rug looks cheap. Second rug from this company that looks nothing like the photo. Will be returning it.
RECOMMENDED: No, I would not recommend this to a friend.Was a little nervous to purchase online as its so hard to tell from photos what it'll really look like in person but I'm thrilled with this rug! I bought the mauve and the colors are beautiful and the rug is so soft. I got it for 50% off too so $300 for a 9 x 11 rug that looks and feels gorgeous is a hard deal to beat. Really really pleased!!
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Being in design, I am the typical crazy, picky, obsessive person you might imagine. Between the low price and the use of the word "mauve" as the color description (eeek! terrible flashbacks to bridesmaids dresses and wall to wall carpeting) I will be honest - I was a bit nervous about how this piece was going to look in the aesthetic/quality department. With 50% off, coming to $157, I had to wonder, "what is wrong with this rug"? The rug arrived quickly (before the confirmation had time to update that it had even shipped). I am VERY pleased. The rug is very soft, upon light hitting it, the rug does appear to have the silk quality other reviews speak of. The color is a beautiful dusty purple and the accents of light and charcoal grey, cream and small flecks of beige make it very versatile for decorating the rest of the room. I was worried that the "worn effect" was going to come off as looking fake and poorly executed, but it looks like a rug we've had for years (in the best possible sense) and it blends right in. The rug is thin, which I expected and do not find to be a problem. My only regret is not having the space to buy the larger size! Buy this rug, you know you want to! You will be very happy you did.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Love it! I got it in Spruce Blue. Yes, it's a thin rug, but that's the beauty of it; you don't have to wait days or weeks for it to settle. Like many of the reviews, I agree, the rug is soft and silky to the touch. Perfect. In addition, the customer service I received was phenomenal. Much appreciated.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.rug came approximately 10 days after order, is a beautiful mauve color and very soft to the touch. quite thin but lovely w our decor, would definately buy again
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Softer than I expected - it's very flat and has a velour type feeling to it. It's exactly what I wanted as far as looks and exceeded my expectations as far as how it feels. Love it!
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.I absolutely love the rug! It is so soft and the color range of ivory, light caramel, light gray and charcoal make it really versatile!
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.I ordered the cream approx 8 x 11 size. So soft to the touch, fabric backing (so soft against wood floors) and the viscose does look a bit like silk. A great value rug, not cheesy at all. I was worried it may scream "Home Depot" but it does look as if it is an (at least partially) silk rug that could be quite old. Only with very careful inspection (like sitting and staring and touching) would someone see that it is printed synthetic. Very soft to the touch. The binding is a bit of a give away (that it is not old). Color very close on my monitor, perhaps a hint more peach bits than in the picture, but by no means a peachy color. Super soft and neutral. Well worth the back-ordered wait.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Exactly the look I wanted and for a great price! Very happy with this purchase! Delivery was very fast.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.I got this when they were running the 50%+ off sale during Labor Day. As the reviewer stated it is a thin rug but that is exactly what I was expecting. You can tell it is a printed rug but for the price and the look you really cannot find a better rug.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.It's not a thick carpet, rather thin, but silky and wonderful feeling. Color is pretty accurate, it's a gret range of creams, beiges and black highlights.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Fill out the information below.


text:
Healthy Living: Resetting Your "Food Clock" To Lose Weight
By: KARK 4 Today
Updated: January 1, 2013
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco say your body has a food clock that keeps your metabolism working at a certain pace.
When you change the type of food you eat and start eating at different times -- like during the holidays -- your food clock is thrown off schedule -- which causes weight gain.
Researchers have pinpointed the mechanism that resets the food clock every time your eating habits change.
One day experts hope to use this information to help people prevent weight gain.
In the meantime, you can begin to eat normal portions at your normal time to reset that food clock.


text:
- excitableocelot likes this
- oberlin-college reblogged this from oberlinactivisthistory
- oberlinactivisthistory posted this
My name is Brittany Craig and I'm a rising senior at Oberlin College. For the last year and a half, I've been working on a history of abortion and birth control access at Oberlin College. This has formed into a history of women's activism and reproductive health activism at Oberlin College. This is the dirt I find in the archives, bamf quotes, and other fun Oberlin facts. If you are an alum who graduated roughly between 1960 and 1980 and want to get involved, please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Set your Xperia Tablet on a stylish stand with integrated speakers and start sharing your favorite playlists with the entire room. S-Master™ digital amplifier technology brings out the best in every note while bass boost feature gives extra bump to every bass line. Best of all, your Xperia Tablet stays charging the entire times it's docked, so you won't find yourself with a drained device when it's time to head out the door. Convenient remote control included.
Stylish stand with integrated speakers for Xperia™ Tablet S. Supplied with a remote control.
Charges the tablet while docked for convenience
S-Master™ Digital Amplifier produces superior audio sound. Bass boost feature adds extra punch to the music.
Sony Rewards is a free loyalty program with many ways to earn, including earning at least 1 point per $1 spent when you shop at Sony Store. To earn points on your purchase, simply log in or join now to link your Sony Rewards account to a Sony Store account. Click here to learn more. You can also log in or enroll to earn points after completing your Sony Store online purchase.


text:
White / Black - Shemagh Tactical Desert Scarf
Product Info - Wholesale White / Black - Shemagh Tactical Desert ScarfCategory - Wholesale Military ShemaghsArmy Navy Store » Military Hats, Caps, Headwear » Military Shemaghs
The shemagh is a traditional arab headdress/scarf worn by arab men of a square of cloth, it is folded and wrapped in many various unique styles around the head. Shemaghs are found in arid and dry climates to provide protection for direct sun exposure as well as dust and wind. The woven design originates from ancient Mesopotamia (referring to either fish nets or ear of grain). The shemagh is also known as a keffiyeh, (ya)shmagh, ghutrah, hattah, mashadah, military shemagh, middle eastern keffiyah or arab kefiya. The keffiyeh is usually folded in half, into a triangle, and the fold is worn across the forehead. Often, the keffiyeh is held in place by a black rope circlet, called an agal. Some wearers wrap the keffiyeh into a turban, while others wear it loosely draped around the back and shoulders. The shemagh is known as a traditional desert Arab head dress, which evolved from turbans in ancient times. The shemagh is essential for protecting the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and face from sand and elements during windy and desert conditions. It is also used as a neck warmer or hand towel. Military shemagshs are worn by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and abroad throughout the middle east. Retains heat and absorbs sweat in warm/hot conditions. The middle eastern neck scarf is very popular amongst arabs and bedouins. Similiar to: the karma and Cambodian scarf and Tagelmust scarves. Military Shemaghs are also known as black army scarfs, Arabic fashionable clothing, red Keffiyeh scarves, arab scarves, middle eastern keffiyehs, arab turbans, Palestinian shemaghs, head tie arab neck scarf, desert scarf wrap, buy tactical shemaghs, Indian ghutra head cover, Keffiyah turbans, Military kefiyeehs, desert Arab headdress hat, Muslim kaffiyeh, Fashion shemaghs, Wear head tie shameghs, mashadah, hattah, ya-shmagh, etc. Military Shemaghs are commonly misspelled as arme arab keffiyeh, etc. Available OptionsItem Details• GalaxyArmyNavy.com Item # 8537blackwhite• Product Description: Cotton material. White colored shamag with black Arabian pattern design. The shemagh has turned into a cultural fashion phenomenon. Traditional desert headwear designed to protect the head and neck from sun and/or sand. Decorative tassels are attached to both ends of the shemagh. Dimensions: 42" X 42" (inches). The black-and-white keffiyeh is sometimes referred to as a symbol of Palestinian heritage and was worn and was a trademark of Yasser Arafat. Traditional desert Arab head dress, which evolved from turbans in ancient times. Essential for protecting the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and face from sand. Can also be used as a neck warmer or hand towel. Scarf is high quality stitch. Worn by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and abroad. Retains heat and absorbs sweat in warm/hot conditions. Imported. The keffiyeh is also known as a shmagh, shemagh or yashmag, a ghutra or a hatta, and is a traditional headdress of Arab men, made of a square of cloth ("scarf"), folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly found in arid climate areas to provide protection from direct sun exposure, as well as for occasional use in protecting the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand. • Sale Price: 12.99 + • Link: http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-8537blackwhite.asp Product Tags,We offer special low pricing for bulk orders and cheaper prices on large quantities for wholesale White / Black - Shemagh Tactical Desert Scarf. Our online army navy shop is always open to take your order to purchase and buy the White / Black - Shemagh Tactical Desert Scarf on sale at the cheapest and lowest price at our army navy store. We carry unique army navy clothing, military clothing, army gear, military surplus, camo clothing, vintage fatigues, emt ems uniforms and army supplies. GalaxyArmyNavy.com is the online military store and army navy shopping catalog. Customer Testimonials
Army Navy Store
Payment Methods
army navy store military store camouflage clothing military clothing vintage fatigues military surplus army apparel


text:
Finally, those bags full with money are being used wisely! ~ Made by yours truly ~
The Bond of Aura - 3/31/2013 Update
"Lucario is rewarded by getting to watch "Lucario & The Mystery of Mew." He can't help but compare his situation with the Lucario in the movie..."
4/27/2013: AuraChannelerChris' Youtube Channel: Feature Walkthroughs: Lego City Undercover - MegaMan: Network Transmission
Watchog. I would like it if they make it to Nacrene City or something where Team Plasma steals some fossil restoration from Nacrene Museum and Lenora must get it back. Maybe leading up to the Genesect plot.
Omg, I just had a thought; what if the Watchog belongs to Jimmy Ray!? I would just die if he came back; he's one of the few BW characters that I actually liked. I'm here for him turning into a recurring character. I don't want Cameron to come back just to break more rules; please writers, send in the king of rodents instead.
I really can't think of something where Watchog will be the star of this episode. It is probably an episode followed by the Seviper episode, so maybe Watchog is just a Pokemon TP control.
Sincerely, IcySealeo.
It's most likely wild or to a random trainer, but i'd like to see Cameron return purely because I want to see his character redeemed as more mature. And so Ash and him can have a rematch where Ash actually wins. He can't get any worse as a character so we've got nothing to lose.
Maybe in Ep 6 starts a new Don tournament and someone futures Seviper and Watchog! That would be the best way to handle it beside having a good Plasma arc again!
My Final B2-normal mode- team:
Hope not, I'm more interested in Woobat and Yamask still being with them and with Woba not being back I kinda doubt other old ones are.
I wish but I don't see anything pointing towards that, no hints at all.
I actually like Watchog, so I don't mind it getting some attention. I hope it's Lenora's and that she'll kinda start to explain the whole Team Plasma thing.
It does sound like a filler as of right now, but then again this whole 'Episode N' thing will most likely be that for the most part lol, so I can't really complain.
"It is a capital mistake to theorize
before one has data. Insensibly one
begins to twist facts to suit
theories, instead of theories to suit
Current Black 2 team


text:
Meal deals
Your filters: |
Sponsored listings |
Name | Area | Cuisine | |||
Friday brunch
at Choices
The Grand Friday brunch now spills into the hotel lobby and features food from Blue Elephant and Benihana. There is also a kids' corner featuring face painting, clowns and a special buffet of yummy treats. Dhs205 (soft drinks), Dhs235 (selected house beverages), Dhs300 (selected premium beverages) |
Garhoud | Contemporary European Fusion International | |||
Le Méridien Village Terrace
at Le Méridien Village Terrace
The Friday evening brunch on the al-fresco terrace has a Latin theme with live music. The buffet features Brazilian meats, fajitas and seafood, plus Cuban drinks. Dhs219 (soft drinks); Dhs259 (premium beverages); Dhs159 children aged six to 12 |
Garhoud | Bar Food | |||
Double Munch Brunch
at Millennium Airport Hotel
Gozo Garden and Biggles team up to offer a British carvery, seafood delights, abundant desserts and a kids' play area. Dhs149 (soft drinks), Dhs200 (selected house beverages) |
Garhoud | ||||
Friday brunch
at The Dubliner's
Fry-up and two pints. Simple. Dhs69 (two selected house beverages) |
Garhoud | Bar Food British | |||
Friday Brunch
at Warehouse
Two different offerings at the same venue: chose between hops and barbecue or small plates and Cuban mixed drinks. Malt brunch: Dhs219 (selected hops), Dhs299 (premium hops and bubbly) |
Garhoud | Fusion | |||
at Yalumba
A decadent selection of dishes with fine free flowing bubbly. Dhs499 |
Garhoud | Australian International |
Meal deal search
Refine by
Most viewed restaurants
All reviewsMost viewed articles
- Best meal deals in Dubai
- 74 brilliant food deals
- 67 best meal deals this week
- 70 best meal deals this week
- 68 great meal deals in Dubai
Our favourite features
31 weekend escapes Ever wanted to just get up, get dressed and escape the busy city?
25 amazing summer holiday ideas Barbados, China, Italy, Thailand and more top summer festivals
10 to try: Family road trips East coast, wildlife park, desert safari and more boredom-busting trips
Dubai's most beautiful gardens We peek over the fence at some of Dubai's best gardens
10 hottest new clubs and bars in Dubai Hollywood ping pong, theatre antics and more top new nightpots
25 top Dubai brunches Looking for a weekend feast? Try these brunch offers in Dubai
Dubai in 2030 What does the future hold in store for Dubai
Best Indian restaurants in Dubai Where to find the best Indian food in Dubai
Dubai World Cup 2013: Ladies Best dressed women at the Meydan Racecourse for the Dubai World Cup
Restaurant Awards: winners 2013 Time Out reveals the best restaurants in Dubai
Time Out Nightlife Award winners Best DJs, clubs, bars and parties in Dubai revealed
10 best steakhouses in Dubai Vegetarians look away as Time Out reveals the 10 best steakhouses in Dubai


text: Everyone, if you are reading this on Monday, needs to go to the Radio From Hell Facebook page and vote for Kerry's pick in battle of the Records. I picked it for him, so I would love for it to succeed. Kerry, as you should remember, got Gregor his job as a mall Santa. So, if not for him, we'd have never met Chloe! So do your duty, Chloe lovers!


text:
I love this poster featuring art by Shepard Fairey, which can be purchased here for only $15! I originally spotted it in in this photo of a super-fab apartment located an hour east of London which was decorated from top to bottom on a shoestring. Check out the entire slideshow with all of the creative details, here. Meanwhile, I'll be ordering that poster!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
shoping bag
Your shopping bag is empty!
Sebago Dockside
The handsewn boat shoe that started it all. With rubber slip-resistant soles, rawhide laces and non-corrosive brass eyelets. Genuine moccasin construction wraps the foot in a single piece of leather, creating a fit that's uniquely your own.
- Handsewn Blucher Moccasin Construction
- Unlined, Full Grain, Nubuck or Waxy Pull-Up Leather Uppers
- Functional Rawhide Laces
- Leather Socklining
- Littleway Stitched Sebago® Docksides® Boat Sole with Slip Resistant, Non-Marking Solid Rubber