thedailybeast--2019-01-26--Most Doctors Are Burned Out But Not Plastic Surgeons

Most Doctors Are Burned Out, But Not Plastic Surgeons

Nearly half of America’s physicians feel completely wiped out from their high pressure jobs, to the point where one in seven has reported suicidal ideations. Such were the grim findings from Medscape’s annual report on burnout, depression, and suicide risk among doctors across the country, which the online resource for medical professionals released earlier this month.  Only one set of doctors in the study seemed pretty happy about their jobs: plastic surgeons.  The Daily Beast reached out to plastic surgeons across the country to figure out why they appear to be happier than their counterparts. Their answers offered a glimpse into how the doctor burnout crisis could be tackled, and broke many misperceptions the public might have about plastic surgeons.  Here’s why plastic surgeons might be happier than their counterparts in medicine:  Plastic surgeons who practice cosmetic surgery have an advantage over most of their colleagues: much of what they practice is elective.  That means that, to a certain extent, cosmetic surgeons are able to handle scheduling on their own terms rather than life being dictated by the rhythms of a hospital. “Much of our surgery is planned ahead of time, unlike traumatic surgery,” Alan Matarasso, who owns a private practice in Manhattan and is a spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said. “Depending on the characteristics of your practice, you can dictate which types of operations you can have, which can be satisfying.”  It’s important to note two caveats here. Reconstructive surgeons are also part of the plastic surgery umbrella and aren’t necessarily able to take advantage of scheduling elective surgeries. More importantly, the fact that there is flexibility in planning surgeries might create the false impression that cosmetic surgeons swoop into their office whenever they want for a few hours, do their magic, then skip home in time to pick up the kids and live their lives.  Every plastic surgeon who spoke to The Daily Beast worked long hours. Jeffrey Janis, a professor of plastic surgery at Ohio State University, said that he takes issue with any public misperception that plastic surgeons are living a cushy 9-to-5, saying he often gets to bed at midnight, is up at 3 am, and in the office by 4 am. Another plastic surgeon, Debra Johnson, based in Sacramento, said she’s spent “nights and weekends [and] time away from family.”  Still, plastic surgery’s higher happiness rates could be related to what Janis calls “the commoditization of medicine.”  “Hospital administrators often mandate how many patients we need to see per hour, using RVUs [relative value units, a common measurement of work produced amongst physicians and hospitals systems],” he explained. “Delayed gratification and long hours and not hearing the words ‘thank you’—that’s not what motivates us. Some people can take advantage of that. When we’re asked to see more patients we are being asked to document everything as if we are giving a deposition. That’s why burnout rates are up.”  In a private practice, though, that pressure for constant churn isn’t there.  “I think we are less stressed by issues other physicians face, like electronic medical records, hassling with insurance companies, dealings with hospital bureaucracies, and taking care of emergency patient problems,” Johnson said. “We have those same issues, but because a percentage of our patients are private-pay that we can care for in our own comfortable surgery suites, we just have more control over our lives.  “I think what takes a lot of docs down is the loss of control.”  Matarasso said that many private practices for cosmetic surgery are able to take advantage of payment outside of insurance. Fees for services can be competitive, and without insurance, more of that pay can go to the surgeon than other middlemen.  “Truthfully, we don’t have to deal with insurance companies as much as other specialties might,” confessed John Layke, a plastic surgeon who, with partner Payman Danielpour, is a co-founder of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group. “That has made it much tougher for other physicians.”  “I think generally we do well financially in the spectrum of what doctors make,” Matarasso agreed.  Then there’s the old adage about making a difference. Of course, all doctors take the Hippocratic Oath and are bound to save lives. But plastic surgeons who talked with The Daily Beast said the effects of their surgery are immediately visible to the world—and to the patient.  “For lack of a better term, we see the fruits of our labor right in front of us,” Matarasso said. “You see the results. There’s fairly immediate feedback. The positive reinforcement is very quick.”  Layke agreed. “Regardless of whether or not you are dealing with a 16-year-old that is getting a rhinoplasty for a lack of self-confidence, or a woman who is getting her breasts reconstructed for cancer, this profession can change lives for the better,” he said.  The same rings true for reconstructive surgery. Johnson said that her work traveling around the world has been profound. “The thing that particularly drew me in was the ability to travel and provide free reconstructive surgery around the world,” she said. “In just this past year I’ve worked in Tanzania, Guatemala, and Myanmar. Throughout my career I’ve spent about a month a year working in developing countries providing surgery and teaching. It’s incredibly gratifying.”  Sure, there are plastic surgeons who focus solely on breast reconstruction, but most of the plastic surgeons who spoke to The Daily Beast work all over the body for both cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.  “My practice is about 60 percent cosmetic and 40 percent reconstructive,” Johnson said. “I perform all types of cosmetic surgery (face, breast, body) and breast reconstruction, breast reduction, skin cancer/reconstruction, scar revision, and pediatric plastic surgery (cleft lip and palate).”  That variety helps make the day-to-day a bit more exciting and different for these plastic surgeons, who say their colleagues in other specialties don’t have this kind of flexibility and freedom. By contrast, many other doctors will specialize only in one specific area of the body, or even one specific medical condition.  Layke, the only plastic surgeon who is completely focused on cosmetic surgery, echoed these sentiments. “Plastic surgery is a specialty that allows us to operate from head to toe, has a creative and artistic side, and can be life-changing in both cosmetic and reconstructive cases,” he said.  Plastic surgery was once a secret shame that patients did not disclose. And many plastic surgeons reflected that embarrassment, sometimes being less open about their specialty.  But in recent years, pop culture has smashed that shame. More celebrities have opened up about their work and owned it, and reality TV and Youtube have made plastic surgery as normal as any dating or food competition show.  Layke, whose practice is in Beverly Hills, said that it’s certainly been a boon to business and allowed him and his partner to not be embarrassed about the fact that they are plastic surgeons.  “It has become more widely accepted to change the way you look, admit to cosmetic procedures, and discuss personal habits to preserve youth,” he said, agreeing that pop culture had “definitely” made the practice more acceptable for patients and doctors alike.  There’s also been a fight to prove plastic surgery isn’t just boob jobs and butt lifts. “I think that most people think of plastic surgeons as just cosmetic surgeons, so we get taken as perhaps a bit more frivolous,” Johnson said. “Plastic surgery is the hardest residency training to get into, so we really attract the best and the brightest. Plastic surgeons have been incredibly innovative: a plastic surgeon, Joe Murray, performed the first kidney transplant back in the '50s, and we’re the ones doing face and hand transplants today. We take care of kids with birth defects, burn patients, cancer victims, traumatic injuries… the whole shebang.”  The growing attention has a dark side, though. “I think that in this era of social media, apps which alter photos, and the advent of influencers, realistic expectations have been altered, making our jobs extremely difficult,” Layke said.  Janis agreed, saying that the pop culture acceptance is a bit of a Catch-22: The popularity of plastic surgery and more openness around it have increased the number of patients and working hours. He said that in itself has led to burnout among plastic surgeons, even if burnout rates are still lower than that of other specialties. “More people are are working longer hours because of supply and demand,” he said. “We all struggle with work-life balance.”  One aspect of plastic surgery in pop culture that has silently become apparent is a stereotypical divide in who gets surgery done (women) and who does that surgery (men).  Johnson identifies as a woman and said she’s noticed a bit of a male-female divide. “Female plastic surgeons share that patients tend to be more chummy with them than male colleagues,” she told the Daily Beast. “Sometimes patients call me by my first name, want to take me to lunch, etc., which they never do to my male partners.”  One surprising secret to happiness and satisfaction, according to Janis, past president of the ASPS? A hard focus on wellness.  Upon getting elected to the ASPS in October 2017 (his tenure was over the following year, in October 2018), Janis established a wellness taskforce. The movement towards wellness, however, had been ongoing for several years. “We’d had several initiatives in our society over the last four to five years,” he said. “I would consider us early adopters. We figured there was a trend in this and we wanted to do something about it. It’s not worthwhile to complain if there are no solutions.”  Janis described the society as looking to European cultures and noticing a very different way by which they handled something as simple and straightforward as their annual meeting. In the U.S., annual meetings of plastic surgeons were handled much like you’d imagine any other professional gatherings to be like: held in stale, freezing, dreary meeting halls, filled with PowerPoints and fluorescent lighting, catered with plenty of cookies and treats, with long hours and not much socialization during the day.  Janis, along with a team of other ASPS members, brought experts into the fold to figure out how to prioritize wellness.  “We didn’t treat this as a back-burner issue,” he said. “We actively germinated solutions for this.”  What are meetings like now? Inspired by their European counterparts, they’re a lot less sedentary. There’s a wellness lounge and physical activity is encouraged at meetings (“Nothing bores you more than sitting in a windowless room for a few hours to earn your credits”). Meetings start later and end earlier. Participants are encouraged to go outside, which has a domino effect—more movement, more face time with others, and the opportunity to eat healthier. Group activities, like a 5K run, help bond people together and encourage more movement.  “We’re still serving the patients at the same time,” he said. But when conferences get a bit more tolerable, the mindset is brought back to clinics and can help encourage healthier workplaces that offer stressed out doctors a way to cope with burnout and depression.  Every plastic surgeon that the Daily Beast spoke to said that while the “happiness” numbers for plastic surgeons are probably true, they were hesitant to say that plastic surgeons are at their peak. “If you go back to 2013 and look at the Medscape surveys, trauma and critical care were #1 [in terms of burnout] on the list,” he said. Janis scanned down to see where plastic surgery was and it was near the bottom, “about fourth or fifth from the bottom.”  But the data showed that while plastic surgery occupied a lower level on the burnout scale at the time, the spread between those who were most burned out and least burned out was just 10 percent. “The conclusion to me wasn’t that plastic surgeons were happiest,” he said. “It was that it doesn’t matter what specialty we’re in, we’re still burned out.”  The latest Medscape data suggests the burnout rate among plastic surgeons is 36 percent. That’s pretty good compared to the 50ish percent rates for other specialties. But Janis said that even those numbers are pretty dismal. “It’s not an end, it’s a beginning,” he said.


birminghammail--2019-04-06--First UK dog dies from harrowing new killer disease leishmaniosis - and it can infect humans

A dog's life has been claimed by a harrowing illness being branded a "killer dog disease".  According to reports, a Shih Tzu dog from Herefordshire has died from a tropical parasitic disease, leishmaniasis.  The dog is the first in Britain to be put down by the disease, which is caused by parasites which spread through dogs after the bite of infected female sand flies.  The tropical disease is caused by parasites which spread through dogs after the bite of infected female sand flies.  It is behind up to 40,000 deaths annually, mainly among the poorest people in the world.  It causes lesions, weight loss and kidney failure, The Mirror reports.  The three-year-old Shih Tzu apparently became increasingly ill over three weeks, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.  The dog was treated at the Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield.  The team have published a report in the medical journal  Vet Record.  Dr Myles McKenna and colleagues said: "This dog had been in the owner’s possession since it was a puppy, had no travel history outside of the UK and had never received a blood transfusion or been used for breeding.  "However, another dog in the household, that had been imported from Spain, had been euthanased six months previously due to severe leishmaniosis.  "Given the previous diagnosis of leishmaniosis in another dog in the same household, direct transmission between these dogs is considered the most likely route of infection."  To their knowledge, they said it is the first case of its kind in the UK and vets should consider leishmaniosis as a diagnosis when appropriate symptoms are present.  This applies even if the dog has no travel history, but might have been in contact with one that has travelled from an endemic area.  The researchers said: "In an era of increased foreign travel of dogs and increased importation of dogs to the UK, it is likely that the number of dogs positive for leishmaniosis will continue to increase.  "Infected dogs may present a risk to other dogs, even in the absence of natural vectors, as direct transmission between dogs is possible."  Dogs have been known to pick it up the infection after being wounded by an infected animal.  But up to now, this has not been reported in the UK.  Cases to date have involved blood transfusions, breeding programmes or overseas travel to an area where the infection is endemic.  Another dog in the household that had been imported from Spain had to be put down six months earlier after developing the disease.  Reporting the case in Vet Record, experts warned extra vigilance is now needed to guard against the spread of the infection.  The dog was taken to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at the Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, with a three-week history of weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea.  They said this is not the usual route for this potentially fatal infection which is zoonotic - meaning it can also be passed on to people.  They called for further research to determine the risk and potential routes of direct dog-to-dog transmission.  Dr McKenna added: "It is important to take note of this first reported case of likely dog-to-dog transmission of Leishmania infantum in the UK.  "Historically we had considered this to be a condition affecting dogs with a travel history to areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic.  "Dog-to-dog transmission in non-endemic areas has previously been reported, for example in the USA, but this case serves as a reminder to UK veterinary surgeons that we must be vigilant for conditions such as Leishmania in non-travelled dogs and that alternative transmission mechanisms do exist."  A recently published letter in the same journal revealed a second case diagnosed in another dog with no obvious risk factors - in a different part of the UK.  Vets said the three year-old fully vaccinated male neutered English pointer was struck down even though it had never travelled beyond the borders of Essex, where it lived.  But its owners had lived in Spain and visited the Jalon Valley, between Alicante and Valencia, last summer - without their pet.  Unlike the first case, this dog was not living, or in regular contact, with another infected dog.  It may be infected sand flies were inadvertently brought back in the owners transport, luggage, or clothing.  Ian Wright, a veterinary surgeon and the UK and Ireland head of the non-profit group of European vets specialising in parasitology, said: "This case demonstrates it cannot be assumed that because a dog has no history of travel, leishmaniosis can be ruled out.  "It also serves as a reminder that we should not be complacent about the risk of leishmaniosis establishing in the UK, even in the current absence of the sand fly vector."


birminghammail--2019-06-25--Twisted puppy farming gang jailed for selling sickly and diseased dogs

Twisted puppy farming gang jailed for selling 'sickly and diseased' dogs

Two members of a "callous" puppy farming gang have been jailed for selling dogs they fraudulently claimed were bred in a family environment, when they were actually "sickly and diseased", with some dying within days of being sold.  Norwich Crown Court heard that the puppies were advertised for sale as being healthy, socialised and treated for worms and fleas.  But when police raided one of their premises in 2017 they found dogs in cages, some in "pitch-dark sheds with no access to light" and others "in a caravan at temperatures of up to 30C", prosecutor Hazel Stevens said.  "They were being bred in a commercial environment, not in a family home as advertised," she added.  Michael Rushmer, 27, of Low Road, Thurlton, Norfolk, his sister Zoe Rushmer, 26, of no fixed address, and her partner Jacob Murphy, 27, of The Street, Norton Subcourse, all admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between June 1, 2016 and June 18, 2018.  Michael Rushmer admitted continuing the offending while on bail for the offence, pleading guilty to a further count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between July 15 2018 and March 16 2019.  Michael Rushmer and Murphy were both jailed for three years and six months.  Zoe Rushmer was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.  Judge Andrew Shaw told the mother-of-four: "It's your children and only your children that have spared you from going to prison."  He said the fraud, which began "at least as early as 2015", "strikes at the very heart of this nation's love for its pets, dogs in particular".  "A family's decision to buy a puppy is not one that is ever taken lightly," he said, adding that "to sell (people) sickly and diseased dogs, so poorly that many do not survive, is about as callous and meanspirited a fraud as I have come across for some time".  He described Murphy as the "ringleader", Michael Rushmer as "his deputy if not his equal" and Zoe Rushmer as "the legitimate face of your brother's and partner's criminal enterprise" who "even lent (her) own children to the affair as part of (her) efforts to lend a veneer of respectability" to what they were doing.  Ms Stevens said that the dogs had an average price of £675 and the gang made £300,000 from the fraud, though they claimed it was nearer £150,000.  She said: "When visiting, buyers were often met by a female and there were often children present, giving the impression of a family they (the puppies) were supposed to be part of."  Statements were taken from 31 purchasers who described how their puppies "looked lifeless and ill", and some died within days of getting home after they were diagnosed with parvovirus, a highly contagious disease.  One buyer was told by the sellers that their puppy died "due to their negligence" and were refused help with their £2,000 vet bill, Ms Stevens said.  "These defendants exploited the emotional vulnerability of potential purchasers, especially those who attended with children to see the potential new member of their family," she said.  She added: "This fraudulent activity succeeds as the people who want to buy these small-type breeds, or cross-breeds, want to do something for their family, and because once they see the dog they want to rescue it or buy it.  "Once they've fallen in love with the puppy, regardless of the circumstances nine times out of 10 they buy the puppy, even if they think something is going on."  She described it as a "sophisticated offence" which required "significant planning", with defendants using false names and addresses and multiple SIM cards so different phone numbers could be used in adverts.  Barrister Andrew Oliver said in mitigation that Michael Rushmer took over the business from his late father, started to use cocaine and made the "foolish decision" to buy dogs from travellers, which introduced parvovirus to the farm.  Zoe Rushmer was remorseful and Jacob Murphy was trying to fund his drug habit, the court heard.  Michael Rushmer also admitted 10 animal welfare offences, and operating a pet shop and breeding establishment without a licence.  Zoe Rushmer admitted four animal welfare offences and Murphy admitted three.  Jean Boyes, 67, also admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between June 1, 2016 and June 18, 2018, but the court heard her role was limited to taking a litter of seven puppies to be inoculated on a single occasion.  For the latest on trials and court cases from across Birmingham and the West Midlands, join BirminghamLive's Court Facebook group .  Boyes, whose given address is The Street, Bramerton, but the court heard was now living in a car, was given a two-year conditional discharge.  RSPCA inspector Amy Pellegrini, lead investigator, described the farm as a "puppy factory".  She added: "The way the adverts were worded suggested to prospective purchasers that these were litters of home-bred puppies in good health and were well-socialised.  "The reality, sadly, was far from it and the sellers were running a commercial, unlicensed puppy farm on an industrial scale."


newyorkpost--2019-06-28--Dog food may be putting your best friend at risk for a fatal disease

There may be a link between the food your pooch is eating and potentially-fatal heart disease.  The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday they’re investigating whether certain dog foods cause dilated cardiomyopathy, which can lead to congestive heart failure.  There have been 560 reports of dogs diagnosed with the condition, many of which were “breeds of dogs not previously known to have a genetic predisposition to the disease,” according to the agency. At least 119 of the pets have died from the disease.  Around 91 percent of these dogs consumed pet foods labeled as “grain-free” — while 93 percent ate food with peas or lentils, the department said.  “We understand the concern that pet owners have about these reports: the illnesses can be severe, even fatal, and many cases report eating “grain-free” labeled pet food,” the department said. “The FDA is using a range of science-based investigative tools as it strives to learn more about this emergence of DCM and its potential link to certain diets or ingredients.”


sottnet--2019-09-08--Unexplained disease kills dozens of dogs across Norway

Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it. Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.


thedailyrecord--2019-01-03--Dog owners winter warning over deadly flesh-eating disease Alabama Rot

Dog owners' winter warning over deadly flesh-eating disease Alabama Rot

Dog owners are being warned to keep an eye out for deadly disease Alabama Rot, which could be triggered following a spell of cold weather.  The mystery affliction can lead to a dog's flesh rotting away and irreversible kidney failure.  The horror condition can affect any breed or age of dog, with some going on to develop acute kidney failure, which is often fatal, reports the Liverpool Echo.  And with the flesh-eating bug flourishing in chilly weather, pet owners have been asked to remain vigilant during the chilly winter months.  Alabama Rot, also known as Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy, or CRGV, was first detected in the UK in 2012 and is most prevalent between November and May.  Whilst the disease is very rare, affecting an extremely low percentage of dogs in the UK, the condition is very serious and potentially life threatening.  A case was confirmed in Scotland in May, after a retriever in Galashiels contracted the disease after playing in a river.  To lower any risk of your dog contracting Alabama Rot, it’s also advisable to keep your dog away from very muddy areas, wash wet or muddy dogs straight after a walk and regularly check your dog’s body for anything that’s different.  Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said : "While a distinct seasonal pattern is suggested, we must continue to research this deadly disease and ensure all dog owners are aware of the signs and symptoms so they are able to seek veterinary advice immediately."


thedailyrecord--2019-02-07--Kilmarnock dog owners issue warning after pet pooch contracts horrible disease on Ayrshire walk

Kilmarnock dog owners issue warning after pet pooch contracts 'horrible disease' on Ayrshire walk

A Kilmarnock couple is warning dog owners to be aware of a “horrible disease” that looks set to cost them almost £10,000 in vet bills.  Nick and Lorna Bye relocated recently from Berkshire back to Ayrshire to enjoy a more relaxing way of living – and with them they brought Murphy, Molly and Katie, their three rescue collies, and Sox the cat.  Everything was going well until late autumn when Murphy started sneezing a lot, with a constant discharge from his nose.  Lorna told the Kilmarnock Standard : “We became really aware he was sneezing a lot and he had one nostril that was always running so we took him to the vet and they referred him to Glasgow University Vet School.”  Once at the vet school, it was diagnosed that Murphy had caught a fungus infection, likely from being out for a walk in Ayrshire.  Nick said: “Murphy contracted Aspergillus in his nose which is a fungal infection which causes symptoms including nasal discharge, bleeding as well as destroying the bones.  “It is likely he has simply just picked it up whilst out a walk and his immune system hasn’t been able to fight it.”  Aspergillosis is a condition caused by aspergillus mould. There are several different types of aspergillosis and in humans, mostly affects the lungs and causes breathing difficulties.  Nick added: “Murphy’s CT scan showed a large amount of bone loss in his nasal passages.  “The treatment involves boring into the front of Murphy’s head, inserting catheters and applying the flush treatment.”  Six-year-old Murphy got his first injection at the end of January, costing £2000.  The rescue dog is expected to need a further two sessions and although insured, Murphy’s pet insurance has an overall benefit limit of £4000.  With the initial drugs already costing over £2100, Nick and Lorna are asking generous dog owners and businesses to help ‘Save Murphy’.  “We all would appreciate any donations whether it is large or small towards Murphy’s veterinary fees,” Lorna said. “We want to save Murphy.  “But as much as we want Murphy to get through this, we want to spread awareness about the disease and if your dog starts to sneeze, don’t ignore it as it could really be something as bad as this horrible disease.”  Read more news from the Kilmarnock Standard


cnbc--2019-03-19--American pigs and cattle are vulnerable to deadly foot-and-mouth disease government warns

American pigs and cattle are 'vulnerable' to deadly foot-and-mouth disease, government warns

LOS ANGELES — America's swine and cattle populations are vulnerable to the deadly and highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, and "efforts to prepare for a potential outbreak could be strengthened," according to a U.S. government watchdog's new report.  The Government Accountability Office report said the U.S. Department of Agriculture "may not have a sufficient supply of FMD vaccine to control more than a small outbreak because of limited resources to obtain vaccine." It also said an epidemic could prove costly to the nation's livestock industry and the federal government.  Foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD, in livestock is found roughly in about two-thirds of the world, but the U.S. hasn't experienced an outbreak since the 1920s.  "The United States is vulnerable to FMD transmission, given the large size and mobility of the U.S. livestock sector," the GAO said in the report published last week. "An FMD outbreak in the United States could have serious economic impacts, in part because trade partners would likely halt all imports of U.S. livestock and livestock products until the disease was eradicated."  The agency said exports of U.S. swine, cattle and dairy products totaled more than $19 billion in 2017. It warned that those shipments after an outbreak "would likely stop or be sharply reduced. Moreover, in a widespread outbreak, the scale of federal compensation payments could be substantial."  The disease affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, swine and goats. FMD is not considered dangerous to humans but is frequently fatal to younger animals.  The 2018 Farm Bill signed into law in December by President Donald Trump included more funding for USDA's animal health and disease preparedness programs, such as money for an expanded animal vaccine bank for FMD. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender, last year introduced the provision more animal disease funding and cited it in an op-ed piece last week talking about the Farm Bill.


globalresearch--2019-07-19--From Mad Cow Disease to Agrochemicals Time to Put Public Need Ahead of Private Greed

From Mad Cow Disease to Agrochemicals: Time to Put Public Need Ahead of Private Greed

The first part of this article documenting the development of BSE in Britain was written by Rosemary Mason and is taken from her new report ‘Why didn’t the UK media report the documentary on Mad Cow Disease?’ It is fully referenced and cites sources and evidence in support of her claims. Additional reporting for the second part of the article was provided by Colin Todhunter.  Mad cow disease is a fatal epidemic neurological syndrome created by the agricultural industry, farmers and food processors.  In 1987, an epidemic of a fatal neurological disease in cows suddenly appeared in Britain. Cows became uncoordinated, staggered around, collapsed and finally died. The disease was called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) because there were holes in the brain where prion protein cells became folded, had linked up and then split to cover the surface of the brain. There were more than 1,300 cases of BSE spread over 6,000 farms.  For at least 40 years, infected slaughterhouse carcasses had been rendered down and recycled into animal feed. Not wanting to waste anything, pressure cooking of the spinal cord and brain produced a sludge known as ‘mechanically-recovered meat’. The regulators allowed it to go into meat products. This processed meat and bone meal was turned into a coarse powder and was fed back to cows. Cows are herbivores and this way they were turned into cannibals.  By 1990, BSE had spread into 14 other species, including cats. Politicians, the food industry, media, the government, farmers and vets said BSE couldn’t jump species to affect humans and it was safe to eat beef. Advertisements were taken out in newspapers and politicians were shown eating steak tartare in the Houses of Parliament to boost the sales of beef. At an agricultural show, the Agriculture Minister John Gummer was seen offering a beef burger to his daughter.  In 1995, the first human under 40 contracted what became known as new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (new vCJD, related to BSE and belonging to the same family of diseases). By March 1996, there were five cases and the government was forced to alter its advice. Kevin Maguire, a journalist, was lunching with someone in Westminster who said that scientists had discovered that ‘mad cow disease’ could jump species and had been found in humans.  Maguire said that it was a scandal in an effort to get every penny out of a carcass. His newspaper, ‘The Mirror’, was the first to break the news to the public, saying that humans could catch mad cow disease from eating infected beef and that the government was about to do a U-turn by finally accepting that the brain wasting disease may have been passed to people. This U-turn by ministers – who for 10 years had insisted it was impossible – was a devastating indictment of the British government and probably one of the worst examples of government since the war.  During 1996, 10 more cases of new vCJD in people under 40 were diagnosed. All died within 13 months and there was no cure. In 2005, the authorities thought the disease was over, but in 2009, a case was discovered in a 30-year-old man. Another case appeared four years later. Today, people are living with uncertainty, not knowing if they are incubating new vCJD.  The parents of children who had died from new vCJD said “We trusted government advice.” Each Christmas one mother had sent an e-mail to those she thought responsible with a photograph of her daughter and said your actions have deprived me of my daughter. Another parent from Scotland who had lost his 30-year-old son to the disease had tattooed on his arm the name of his son followed by: ‘murdered by greed and corruption’.  In the documentary ‘Mad Cow Disease: The Great British Beef Scandal’, first broadcast on BBC 2 on 11 July 2019, Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University London, said:  The following is taken from a publication compiled by the European Environment Agency, ‘Late lessons from early warnings’ (Patrick van Zwanenberg and Erik Millstone):  “Many of the UK policy makers who were directly responsible for taking policy decisions on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prior to March 1996 claim that, at the time, their approach exemplified the application of an ultra-precautionary approach and of rigorous science-based policy-making. We argue that these claims are not convincing because government policies were not genuinely precautionary and did not properly take into account the implications of the available scientific evidence. “… It is, however, essential to appreciate that UK public policy making was handicapped by a fundamental tension. The department responsible for dealing with BSE has been the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), and it was expected simultaneously to promote the economic interests of farmers and the food industry whilst also protecting public health from food-borne hazards. The evidence cited here suggests that because MAFF was expected simultaneously to meet two contradictory objectives it failed to meet either.”  The UK introduced legislation banning the use of contaminated ruminant protein for use in ruminant feed in 1988. By then, a million cows had entered the food chain. At the height of the scandal, British beef had lost around 60% of sales. Prior to the ban, microbiologist Stephen Dealler challenged the government’s claim over safety and was moved from his research lab.  However, Britain continued to export meat and bone meal to Europe. The European Commission asked the UK to introduce an export ban on feedstuffs, but the UK refused to do so. It was not until 1996 that the EC banned these exports.  From mad cows to GMOs and pesticides  Where glyphosate (and other agrochemicals) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are concerned, we again see commercial interests being prioritised and the public interest sidelined. Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup was originally sprayed on crops in 1980 and on grazing land in 1985 (recommended by Monsanto scientists). GMOs entered the commercial market in the US in the 1990s. As shown in the report mentioned in the introduction to this article, the authorities did not heed the advice of key scientists and went ahead regardless.  Readers are urged to consult the report as it documents the duplicity that underpins the agrochemical/GMO agritech sector and describes how science and regulatory processes have been corrupted. In Britain, the government is saying that GM crops and Roundup are safe and intends to introduce these crops after Brexit.  Of course, heavily compromised industry-funded scientists and other lobbyists say the science is decided on GM and that glyphosate is safe. They say anyone who rejects this is anti-science and doesn’t care about world hunger because we can only feed the world by rolling out more GM crops and more agrochemicals. But this is little more than propaganda and emotional blackmail, part of an industry strategy designed to tug at the heartstrings of public opinion and sway the policy agenda.  We need to turn to author Andre Leu who has outlined major deficiencies in pesticide safety protocols. He offers a more realistic appraisal:  Washington State University researchers recently found a variety of diseases and other health problems in the second- and third-generation offspring of rats exposed to glyphosate. In the first study of its kind, the researchers saw descendants of exposed rats developing prostate, kidney and ovarian diseases, obesity and birth abnormalities. The study’s authors say:  And where GMOs are concerned, they are little more than a flawed technological panacea that ignores the structural causes of malnutrition and hunger.  An increasing number of prominent reports and voices are now arguing that we do not need toxic chemicals to feed the world and that if we maintain our economic and agricultural course we are headed for disaster. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva recently called for healthier and more sustainable food systems and said agroecology can contribute to such a transformation.  Moreover, the new report from the UN  High Level Panel of Food Experts on Food Security and Nutrition – Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition – argues that food systems are at a crossroads and profound transformation is needed. Many high-profile reports and figures have been saying similar things for years.  It is therefore disconcerting that the British government seems oblivious to the need of the hour and remains intent on pursuing an obsolete neoliberal, water-polluting, soil degrading, health destroying, unsustainable model of food and agriculture at the behest of corporate interests.  Mad cow disease did not just suddenly appear from nowhere. It was created by humans, particularly the farming industry and food processors. The British government kept on maintaining that eating beef was perfectly safe. A scientist who spoke out was silenced. The interests of the beef industry were paramount.  Evidence suggests there could soon be a second wave of cases affecting humans. It will be among people with a genetic predisposition towards longer incubation periods than the first patients had. This genetic predisposition is shared by half the British population. Some 177 people (as of June 2014) have contracted and died of vCJD.  That number is dwarfed when it comes to the spiralling rates of disease and illness that we now see among the British population. This too hasn’t happened for no reason. We see clear trends between the rising use of agrochemicals (especially glyphosate) and rising rates of morbidity, while much of the media and policy makers remain silent on this connection.  From the ‘great British beef scandal’ of the 1980s to ongoing pesticide issue, the profit motives of rich corporations continue to trump the public interest.  Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.  Colin Todhunter is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research.


thetelegraph--2019-11-25--Pakistan to vaccinate stray dogs in a bid to stamp out rabies

A province in Pakistan aims to vaccinate and sterilise half a million stray dogs in a bid to curb rabies deaths.  Officials in Sindh said they would stop poisoning street dogs to try to control the terrifying disease and instead attempt to catch, vaccinate and neuter them.  Hospital doctors in the city of Karachi have said they see dozens of dog bite cases each day and the media in recent months have carried horrific reports of young children dying from rabies because of a lack of vaccine used to treat the disease.  Rabies kills around 60,000 people a year and is present in more than 150 countries, but is considered a neglected disease, mainly affecting the rural poor.  Gavi, the alliance trying to increase access to life-saving vaccines, said in November that its strategy for the next decade will include investment in rabies treatment.


breaking911--2019-11-20--Raccoons Keep Attacking People In Polk County, Florida; Dept. of Health Issues Rabies Alert

On Thursday, November 14, 2019, PCSO Animal Control responded to the Providence neighborhood in Davenport, in reference to a 15-year-old boy who was bitten by a sick raccoon.  The boy’s grandmother told Animal Control that he was bitten on the hand after he saw the sick raccoon and approached it.  The raccoon was sent to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested for rabies, and was confirmed two days later.  The child’s grandmother was notified of the results and she indicated that the boy would be receiving medical treatment for exposure.  “It is imperative that children are told to avoid animals like bats, raccoons, and foxes out in the wild, and let me be clear—these animals are wildlife. If you see one in distress, leave it alone and contact Polk County Animal Control immediately,” Grady Judd, Sheriff said.  So far this year, the ten rabies cases in Polk County have consisted of five bats and five raccoons.  In 2018, there were only three cases of rabies confirmed in Polk County.


newyorkpost--2019-01-18--NJ county warns of rabies threat after raccoon attacks man

A New Jersey resident was attacked by a raccoon in their own backyard this week — and now officials are warning residents about a possible rabies threat.  “Following the report of a raccoon attack in Belmar, the Monmouth County Health Department reminds residents that rabies in wildlife continues to pose a risk to pets and people,” said agency officials in a press release Friday.  The “suspected raccoon” — which was later captured by Belmar Police with help from the Monmouth County SPCA — is being tested for rabies and its victim is receiving post-exposure treatment, according to officials.  Since the virus can be fatal, the MCHD decided to issue its warning along with a set of guidelines for residents to follow in the wake of the incident.  “Protecting your pets by keeping them current on their rabies vaccine is an important safeguard between wildlife rabies and human exposure,” explained freeholder and health department liaison Patrick Impreveduto. “Not only does the vaccine keep your pet safe, but it can help keep you and your family safe as well.”  Avoiding wildlife and “animals you do not know” was also one of several things that residents could to do to protect themselves, as was never feeding or touching them in the wild.  “If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention,” said Monmouth County Public Health Coordinator Christopher Merkel.


skynewsus--2019-05-30--Bat hidden in iPad case bites pensioners finger leaving him with rabies

Bat hidden in iPad case bites pensioner's finger, leaving him with rabies

The bat had been hiding inbetween an iPad and its case  An 86-year-old man is being treated for rabies after being bitten by a bat wedged between the back of his iPad and its case.  Roy Syvertson, from New Hampshire in the US, told WMUR-TV that he had been using the tablet for about an hour before the creature popped its head out and nipped him.  The pensioner said it felt like a bee sting at first, adding: "I looked, and the bat was coming out of here, between the cover and the back of the pad."  "And then I got up, still squeezing it, which I'm sure he wasn't happy about, and I took him outside."  The next morning, Mr Syvertson said the bat was still there and alive, but he later discovered that it died later that night.  "Then I knew I might have a problem," Mr Syvertson said.  Concerned the bat might be infected with rabies, he called the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game.  He was instructed to go to hospital to be immediately tested, and it later turned out that the bat was rabid.  Doctors told Mr Syvertson that he will be fine, though it remains a mystery how the bat got into his house and into the iPad case.  "It will remain a mystery, and my joke of, 'He probably knew my password' won't last forever. That won't be funny for a long time," Mr Syvertson said.  If left untreated, rabies can lead to brain disease and death as the virus attacks the central nervous system.  Early symptoms include fever, headache, weakness and discomfort, and the disease can also cause hallucinations and difficulty swallowing.  All mammals can carry rabies, but it is most common in dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes.  According to the NHS, post-exposure treatment involves cleaning and disinfecting the wound, a course of the rabies vaccine and in some cases, a medicine called immunoglobulin.


theguardianuk--2019-11-15--Rabies breakthrough offers fresh hope in battle against deadly virus

Researchers have discovered a way to stop rabies from shutting down critical responses in the immune system, a breakthrough that could pave the way for new tools to fight the deadly disease.  Rabies kills almost 60,000 people each year, mostly affecting poor and rural communities.  It is hoped that the discovery could lead to new and improved vaccines, including oral vaccines for dogs – which are responsible for the vast majority of transmissions to humans.  The study, published in Cell Reports and carried out by teams at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, provides crucial information about how the rabies virus targets the body.  The researchers believe they are the first to observe how a particular protein made by the rabies virus binds to a critical cellular protein known as Stat1, halting key parts of the immune response. The discovery has allowed scientists to make a modified, vulnerable version of the virus – which could be used to make a new, safe and effective live vaccine.  “You can very specifically change the rabies virus and change the sequences and structures of the proteins,” said Dr Greg Moseley, from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, a lead author of the study. “The modified virus can still reproduce, but is no longer able to stop strong antiviral immune mechanisms,” he added. “It is weakened and also should make a very strong immune response. Used in a vaccine, this would protect against infection by the deadly virus.”  Scientists plan to test these modifications in vaccine strains against rabies. If successful – and if regulatory hurdles are overcome – a modified vaccine could be administered orally to dogs through bait.  “If you can get high enough immunity in the dog population, rabies will die out. Safe and highly effective live oral vaccinations for dogs would make a great contribution to elimination,” said Moseley.  In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for transmitting the rabies virus to humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  The disease is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms. Even if people manage to get medical treatment quickly, the cost of treating rabies exposure is often financially devastating for families.  Last year, the WHO announced a global strategy to eliminate dog-mediated rabies disease by 2030. Efforts by governments to tackle the disease have been hampered by a lack of funding and poor implementation.  Sarah Cleaveland, professor of comparative epidemiology at the University of Glasgow, said a new oral vaccine for dogs could provide a helpful additional tool in fighting rabies – especially in areas where injecting dogs is challenging.  But she added that the vast majority of dogs in Africa and Asia are owned and can be restrained for vaccination, and that there are high quality injectable vaccines available. “These are not being applied effectively, largely due to a lack of resources and support to government veterinary services in low-income countries to deliver mass dog vaccination campaigns,” she said.  “We should not let the promise of new vaccines distract us from the urgent need for scaling up mass dog vaccination now,” she added.  The discovery by researchers at Monash University and the University of Melbourne not only offers hope in the battle against rabies, but could help tackle other diseases – such as the Nipah virus, related to the measles virus – that target the immune response in a similar way. The same tools that were used to study rabies could be used to tackle Nipah, paving the way for antiviral drugs or vaccines.


thesun--2019-01-07--Woman dies after anxiety attack turns out to be RABIES from puppy bite on holiday

Woman dies after ‘anxiety attack’ turns out to be RABIES from puppy bite on holiday

WHEN a woman went to A&E with shortness of breath, anxiety and swallowing difficulties, medics thought she was having a panic attack.  But it turned out that the 65-year-old was actually suffering from rabies.  She had contracted the infection from a puppy who bit her while she was on a yoga retreat in India.  Six weeks after returning home to Virginia, USA, she started to experience pain and a tingling sensation in her right arm while gardening.  Doctors diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome but the next day, she returned to the hospital with panic attack-like symptoms which became increasingly severe.  A heart examination suggested a problem with blood flow, and she underwent an emergency procedure to thread a catheter through the blood vessels to her heart.  Later the next day, she became "progressively agitated and combative" and was seen gasping for air while trying to drink water.  Difficulty swallowing and having a fear of water are both symptoms of rabies.  That's when doctors asked the woman's family if she'd been in contact with any animals, and they told them about her being bitten by the puppy broad.  You can be vaccinated against rabies but once you've got symptoms of the condition, it's often too late to do anything about it.  What are the symptoms of rabies? Rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and more than 59,000 people die of it every year. Dogs are responsible for 99 per cent of human rabies deaths. India has more cases of the disease than anywhere else in the UK and most cases tend to centre around south and south-east Asia. In the UK, however, it's extremely rare. In fact, only four people have died of it here since 2000 - and all of those were people who were bitten by dogs abroad. a high temperature (fever) of 38C or above in some cases, discomfort at the site of the bite producing lots of saliva or frothing at the mouth Once those later signs appear, the disease is almost always fatal. If you're travelling to a country where rabies is present, talk to your GP about whether or not you need a jab, and avoid contact with animals where possible. If you are bitten, licked or scratched by a mammal, wash the affected area immediately with loads of soap and water and seek urgent medical advice.  As a last resort, the Virginia doctors tried an experimental protocol for treating rabies, known as the Milwaukee protocol, which involves giving antiviral drugs.  But the woman's condition worsened, and she died shortly after the family decided to withdraw advanced medical support.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she's only the ninth person in the past decade to have died from the disease in the USA after picking it up from abroad.  Over the course of her treatment, the woman came into contact with around 250 medical staff - 72 of which were recommended to undergo rabies vaccinations to ensure that she hadn't passed on the condition.  The CDC recommends that travellers talk to their GPs before travelling to see if they need certain injections.  In this tragic case, the woman didn't arrange a pretravel health visit even though a rabies jab is common practice for people travelling to some developing countries.  In November 2018, a British dad died after being bitten by an infected cat on holiday in Morocco.  Omar Zouhri, 58, also struggled to swallow or breath after getting pain in his finger.  He died nine weeks after initially being nipped by the feline.  "These events underscore the importance of obtaining a thorough pretravel health consultation, particularly when visiting countries with a high incidence of emerging or zoonotic pathogens," such as rabies, the report concluded.  It's always best to check with your GP the moment you book an exotic holiday *just in case*.  Even in Europe, there are certain conditions you can catch that you might not normally be exposed to at home - so always check before you travel.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours


thetelegraph--2019-07-04--Rabies fear stalks Pakistan as hospitals run short of lifesaving vaccine

Pakistan is reportedly short of hundreds of thousands of doses of anti-rabies vaccine with growing numbers of stray dogs leaving dozens of people with potentially deadly bites each day.  Health officials in the province of Sindh said doctors in the city of Karachi were seeing as many as 150 dog bite cases a day and 11 people have died so far this year.  The country is short of at least 800,000 doses of vaccine which can be given to dog bite victims after they have been bitten, Dawn newspaper reported.  The shortage was disclosed amid similar shortfalls in neighbouring India where public hospitals across the country are reported to be lacking life-saving vaccines.  Rabies kills around 60,000 people a year and is present in more than 150 countries, but is considered a neglected disease mainly affecting the rural poor.  The virus is spread almost always by dog bites and once it reaches the nervous system and victims start to display symptoms, the disease is nearly always fatal. Survival can depend on prompt washing of the wound and vaccination after a bite.  “An 11-year-old boy, Kashif Sohrab, suffering from rabies was brought from Thatta to our hospital last week and died within hours,” Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali told Dawn.


theweekuk--2019-06-02--Bat lurking in iPad case gives rabies to pensioner

An octogenarian is being treated for rabies after he was bitten by a bat lurking in his iPad case. Roy Syvertson, from New Hampshire in the US, said it felt like a bee sting initially. But added: “I looked, and the bat was coming out of here, between the cover and the back of the pad.”  An author claims he met Marilyn Monrie 22 years after her death in 1952. John Baker says: “Marilyn Monroe did not die in August of 1962. Her death was staged. She was kept in a mental institution for about 20 years then released into the general public alone. Nobody, including the staff to the institution knew who she really was.”  A UFO hunter says he has spotted alien fighter jets on the Moon. Scott C. Waring says he made the dramatic discovery while trawling through photos of the moon. He says a triangular object “looks like a stealth fighter triangle”. He also says he can see “a dish, a really large satellite dish”.


thesun--2019-01-03--Declan Donnellys dog Rocky rushed to Supervet for emergency treatment after back injury

Declan Donnelly’s dog Rocky rushed to Supervet for emergency treatment after back injury

DECLAN Donnelly’s dog Rocky was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment after injuring his back.  The TV presenter made sure the Dachshund was in the best hands possible – taking him to The Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick.  Sharing a picture of himself cuddled up with his pooch alongside the well-known TV vet, Dec branded Noel and his colleagues “heroes”.  He wrote: “Another thank you to this legend and the amazing staff at @fitzpatrick_referrals for taking care of Rocky after the silly sausage hurt his back again!  “We never fail to be impressed by the kindness and care shown by all. You’re heroes! D x #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #supervet.”  Dec’s fans were very impressed that the dog got to visit Dr Fitzpatrick and wished him a speedy recovery.  One person wrote:  “Awww your dog is so cute and I hope this is going to be on Supervets sometime soon.”  A second commented: “He is brilliant vet! Get well soon rocky.”  And a third remarked: “Hope you’re feeling better Rocky.”  Rocky previously had to visit the vet in 2017 and at the time Dec thanked him for saving the dog’s life.  Dec, who now a dad-of-one with wife Ali, is so close to the dog that he accompanied him for the BGT finals this year when his co-star Ant McPartlin was forced to pull out.  He told fans at the time: “Rocky has come to keep me company and show moral support as I’ll be on my own tonight, although I’m getting the feeling he’s not as excited about the start of the BGT semi-finals as I am.”  Meanwhile Rocky is best friends with Ant’s beloved dog Hurley – who currently spends his time between Ant and his estranged wife Lisa Armstrong.  He said previously: "We had a bit of time off last summer so we thought it would be good to get dogs and spend time with them while they were puppies.  “Now are dogs are best mates… It's nice because we've got the excuse that we need to take the dogs for a walk now and then we stop for a pint."  Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.  We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


theblaze--2019-08-28--Street dog fakes injury in order to receive treats affection from passersby

Street dog fakes injury in order to receive treats, affection from passersby


wnd--2019-11-01--Quarter of world's pig population 'to die of African swine fever'

(LONDON GUARDIAN) About a quarter of the global pig population is expected to die as a result of an epidemic of African swine fever (ASF), according to the intergovernmental organisation responsible for coordinating animal disease control.  In the last year the spread of the disease has taken policymakers by surprise, and has been particularly devastating in China – home to the world’s largest pig population. The disease is also established in other Asian countries such as Vietnam and South Korea, and continues to wreak havoc in eastern Europe, where the current outbreak began in 2014.  The severity of the crisis means that global pork prices are rising, spurred largely by the demand from China, where as many as 100m pigs have been lost since ASF broke out there last year. In recent months, China has been granting export approval to foreign meat plants and signing deals around the world at a dizzying rate. US pork sales to China have doubled, while European pork prices have reached a six-year high.


globalresearch--2019-10-16--The African Swine Fever Outbreak, Devastating Impacts on Food Supply

You cannot get away from it, at least in print or in Google land. African swine fever is doing its rounds, cutting through the swine population of Asia with remorseless dedication. Since its deadly debut in China last year, it has done away with some 25 percent of the globe’s pig population. The symptoms are dramatic and lethal (mortality rates range from 95 to 100 percent), with the infected animal haemorrhaging and perishing between a period of five to fifteen days. This decline has sparked all manner of comment: a feared deprivation of pork dishes, a spark of hope in exports of pork untouched by the disease and alternative meat supplies, and the more serious issue of food security.  In China itself, the decline of pork is causing a strain of desperation, though it is always marked by reassurance and stiff-upper lip confidence. Pork supplies, both domestically and internationally, had been seen to be something of an essential in Chinese food security. In September, the country’s pig population, numbering some 440 million animals, had shrunk by 41.1 percent. While figures coming out of various Chinese ministries should be viewed with a healthy dose of scepticism, the numbers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs have caused a stir. Such contractions are perpetuating and will continue to perpetuate a loss in the global consumption of protein.  On Monday, China’s Premier, Li Keqiang did something uncharacteristic for the politburo: he ventured to a roadside stall to test the vox populi on the subject of rising pork prices. Not that the episode lacked its fair share of choreographic sense. The owner was suitably stoic; it simply would not do to panic. “Our prices have also risen a bit accordingly. The effect on business hasn’t been too big.” Bravely dishonest for party and country, perhaps?  The disastrous wasting of domestic herds, one that sees no ebbing, has caused a spike in imports in pork. The PRC saw some 1.3 million tonnes coming into the country in the first three quarters this year.  Other countries are also showing a certain fear in the face of rumour and speculation. In Europe, the fever is being held at bay, though pork consumers are seeing prices rise. But in Asian countries, the response is graver, and slightly panicked. South Korea, for instance, is mobilising snipers and civilians in an effort to shore up its border with North Korea. Drones equipped with thermal vision will also be deployed. All of this is in aid of one thing: targeting infected pigs near the line of civilian control. The South China Morning Post is positively apocalyptic. “The intensified measures aim to exterminate feral pigs in areas including Incheon, Seoul, Goseong and Bukhan River.”  As far as North Korea is concerned, the concern is that the fever is doing its worst, though official figures suggest the opposite. The North Korean agriculture ministry claimed in a May 30 report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that animal deaths had been modest, with only 22 recorded on a cooperative farm some 260km north of Pyongyang.  For those in the Asia-Pacific region as yet untouched by ASF, nerves are catching. Countries like Australia have demonstrated that terror characteristic of island mentalities: Be wary of what you import and what you let in. Biosecurity is a tic of the Australian policy mindset, though it does not come without its ironies: the Australian scientific and agricultural sector has been arguably more devastating and disastrous for the country’s ecology than any malicious or accidental introduction.  Be that as it may, Australia’s $5 billion pork industry is nothing to sneeze at, keeping something in the order of 36,000 people busy. But off Australian shores, the fear is that the fever is making its marauding march, with news that East Timor had become the tenth Asian nation to be added to the list. Customs officials are proving edgier than usual, and the federal Agricultural Minister Bridget McKenzie is getting a tad judgmental.  On Saturday, a Vietnamese woman was sent packing after arriving at Sydney Airport with quail, squid and raw pork. The unfortunate had her visa cancelled, the result of amendments made in April. As the Department of Agriculture described it,  The biosecurity and vet gate keepers have their eye on one aspect of Australia’s pig population. The 2.5 million domestic population might well be one thing, but imagine, fears Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp, the prospect of 15 million feral pigs being infected. (This figure, it should be said, varies – another estimate puts the number at 24 million.) But where crisis presents itself, there are salivating opportunities. Australian Pork Limited chief executive Margo Andrae is one who is drooling at the prospect that Australia can “increase production and prices to fill gaps that other markets can’t supply.”  What then, to do? From a thriving epidemic, ASF has become an enthusiastic pandemic. It is cutting through protein consumption and posing a risk to food supply, but as yet, there are no cures nor vaccines. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has also noted that the disease’s impact is complicated by “the range of pig production systems coexisting in the different countries.” Such instances, if they do at least conjure up a world without pork, may well encourage a world less reliant on the staple. But till then, individuals such as Dr Hirofumi Kugita of the OIE are punting for the border control and biosecurity obsessives.  Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.  Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research. Email: [email protected]


bbcuk--2019-11-23--Greta Thunberg to guest edit Radio 4's Today programme

Environmental activist, Greta Thunberg is to appear as one of the Christmas guest editors of Radio 4's Today programme.  The 16-year-old campaigner will be one of five high-profile people who will take over the programme during the festive period, as is tradition.  The others include Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry and Supreme Court president Baroness Hale of Richmond.  George the Poet and journalist Charles Moore will also take the reins.  They will each guest edit an edition of the Radio 4 programme between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.  Thunberg was nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, after spearheading a global movement demanding world leaders take action over climate change. It led to co-ordinated school strikes across the globe.  The Swedish activist's name is synonymous with the fight to save the planet. Thunberg's voice appears on the opening track of the forthcoming album by the popular UK rock band, The 1975.  "We are right now at the beginning of a climate and ecological crisis. And we need to call it what it is: an emergency," Thunberg is heard saying on the track.  Thunberg will speak to the world's leading climate change figures and hear from frontline activists, the BBC said.  She has also commissioned reports from the Antarctic and Zambia, as well as a Mishal Husain interview with the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.  Elsewhere, Baroness Hale will give Today a tour of the Supreme Court and explore the concept of coercive control. while Perry will help to examine stereotypes and conventional thinking.  Moore will focus on freedom of expression, and spoken word artist-turned-podcaster George will report from Uganda and explore issues around identity.  Previous guest editors of the show have included the Duke of Sussex, Angelina Jolie, former House of Commons speaker John Bercow and David Dimbleby, as well as Sir Lenny Henry, Nicola Adams, Tracey Emin, Professor Stephen Hawking and Sir Richard Branson.  Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


abcnews--2019-12-24--Newspaper publishes secret report on former W.Va. bishop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A newspaper has published a secret church report about a former West Virginia bishop ousted for alleged sexual and financial misconduct that details how he allegedly groomed and inappropriately touched young men.  The Washington Post reports law enforcement does not have a copy of the report, which officials said could aid in their investigation into former bishop Michael Bransfield.  The Post said it received a copy of the 60-page report in June and has previously reported its contents. Bransfield is also accused of spending church funds on dining out, liquor, personal travel and luxury items, as well as personal gifts to fellow bishops and cardinals in the U.S. and Vatican.  Bransfield resigned in September 2018 amid allegations of sexual and financial misconduct. Earlier this year, Pope Francis barred Bransfield from public ministry and prohibited him from living in the diocese.  West Virginia's attorney general and police in Washington, D.C., have issued subpoenas to church officials in Wheeling, West Virginia, and Baltimore, seeking the report. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the church has denied his request for it. He said he was told the report “is with the Pope and out of its hands.”  The report published by The Post said “no conclusive evidence was found that Bishop Bransfield committed sexual misconduct with minors.” But it said Bransfield “subjected multiple seminarians and priests to unwanted sexual overtures, sexual harassment and sexual contact.”  The newspaper does not specify how it obtained the report. A copy was published on its website this week.  Church officials in West Virginia have also said they don't have a copy of the report.  "The Holy See commissioned the preliminary investigation, thus the report belongs to the Holy See," Tim Bishop, a spokesman for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, said in a statement to The Post.  Bransfield has denied wrongdoing. He had been investigated for an alleged groping incident in 2007 and was implicated in court testimony in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case. He strongly denied ever abusing anyone and the diocese said it had disproved the claims.


aljazeera--2019-06-18--How did Egyptian newspapers report Mohamed Morsis death

How did Egyptian newspapers report Mohamed Morsi's death?

While the news of the death of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has attracted widespread Arab - and to a lesser extent - international media coverage, it has not received much attention from newspapers in Egypt.  The 67-year-old, who collapsed during a court appearance on Monday and was later declared dead in a Cairo hospital, was the country's first democratically elected president.  He came to office in June 2012, a year after the Arab Spring uprising saw the end of President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.  But Morsi only served one year of his four-year mandate before he faced massive street protests and was removed in a military coup, led by Egypt's current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in July 2013.  On Tuesday, there was almost no front page coverage of Morsi's death in Egypt's major newspapers. Instead, the news was reported briefly on the inside pages which are usually devoted to monitoring criminal cases.  The reports made no mention of Morsi's status as either a former or an overthrown president.  According to the privately owned online newspaper Mada Masr, the only major daily paper to feature news of Morsi's death on its front page was Al-Masry Al-Youm, while most other papers published the same 42-word news article.  The three main state-owned newspapers described the ex-president as either "the accused" or "the deceased", with some privately owned papers not even mentioning the news.  This was also reflected on Egyptian satellite television channels, which relayed the news in vague and abrupt terms, and referred to the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, to which Morsi belonged, as a "terrorist" group.  The largest state-owned newspaper Al Ahram published the news of Morsi's death on the margins of its fourth page under the heading: "The death of Mohamed Morsi during his trial in the espionage case".  The Al Akhbar paper's coverage was similar and included one paragraph entitled: "The death of Mohamed Morsi during his trial."  The Al Gomhuria paper published a short paragraph at the bottom of its third page under a similar heading.  There was no official statement from the Egyptian presidency or el-Sisi regarding Morsi's death.  His burial, attended by some of his family members, was a hurried affair that took place at dawn, with security officials standing guard outside the Al-Wafaa Wa al-Amal cemetery. No journalists or other mourners were allowed to be present.  "We washed his noble body at Tora prison hospital, performed prayers for him in the prison mosque ... the burial was at the cemetery for Muslim Brotherhood spiritual guides," Morsi's son, Ahmed, wrote on Facebook.  According to Morsi's lawyer, the former president wanted to be buried in his village in Sharqiyah province, but the Egyptian authorities decided to bury him at a cemetery in Cairo's Medinat Nasr.  Under el-Sisi, media censorship in Egypt has all but increased at a drastic pace. In 2018, the president ratified the Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes Law, which ostensibly aims to combat "extremism" and "terrorism".  However, the law allows Egyptian authorities to block websites that are considered "a threat to national security" or to the "national economy." Individuals who visit these websites can face steep fines and penalties.  According to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE), Cairo has blocked access to almost 500 websites, most of them belonging to media organisations. Furthermore, at least 35 journalists, citizen-journalists, and bloggers are believed to be currently detained in Egypt.  Morsi, who had been behind bars for nearly six years, had a long history of health issues, including diabetes, as well as liver and kidney disease.  He was facing at least six trials at the time of his death and was also serving a 20-year prison sentence for a conviction arising from the killing of protesters during demonstrations in 2012. In addition, he was serving a life sentence for espionage in a case related to the Gulf state of Qatar.  Other charges against the former president included jailbreak, insulting the judiciary and involvement in "terrorism".  His supporters say the charges against him were politically motivated.  There were also reports over the years that Morsi had been mistreated and tortured in jail, with activists saying on Monday his death should be seen in the context of the Egyptian authorities' systematic isolation and mistreatment of political detainees.  Human Rights Watch called the news of Morsi's death "terrible" but "entirely predictable", citing the government's "failure to allow him adequate medical care".  "The government of Egypt today bears responsibility for his death, given their failure to provide him with adequate medical care or basic prisoner rights," the group said in a statement to Al Jazeera.


bbc--2019-01-16--Stephen King persuades newspaper not to scrap its book reviews

Author Stephen King - and his readers - have persuaded his local newspaper to reverse a decision to axe its book reviews.  The Portland Press Herald, based in his home state of Maine, had decided to stop running reviews of local books.  After King expressed dismay, the paper challenged him to get 100 followers to buy digital subscriptions.  His fans did not disappoint him, prompting the paper to pledge that "book reviews will return".  The ball began rolling on Friday when King tweeted that the Portland Press Herald and its Sunday sister paper the Maine Sunday Telegram would "no longer publish local, freelance-written reviews of books about Maine, set in Maine, or written by Maine authors".  The author wrote: "Retweet this if you're from Maine (or even if you're not). Tell the paper DON'T DO THIS."  The Portland Press Herald replied by saying newspapers were facing "challenging times", but promised to "reinstate the local book reviews immediately" if enough digital subscriptions were taken out.  By the time King passed on the proposition to his Twitter followers, the 100 subscription target had already been met.  The 71-year-old gave thanks to his fans for "saving the day" - but expressed disappointment that the arts aren't considered "vital" in the US.  The author of Carrie, It and many other best-sellers said papers like the Herald were increasingly relying on syndicated reviews.  "They want to go wire service reviews only, so Maine writers won't get a boost," he told one of his followers. "Many of them depend on those reviews to buy bread and milk."  His principled stand led many to applaud him. "Thank you, @StephenKing, for showing local newspapers that book reviews are a vital part of news coverage," wrote the New York Times' Pamela Paul.  Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


bbc--2019-02-19--Alabama newspaper editor calls on KKK to lynch Democrats

The editor and publisher of a local paper in Alabama is under fire for penning an editorial calling for mass lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).  The opinion piece ran in his print-only newspaper, the Democrat-Reporter, last Thursday, Goodloe Sutton confirmed on Tuesday.  He said Democrats were going to raise taxes and that the KKK should hang them and raid Washington DC.  Alabama lawmakers have called for Sutton to resign.  The KKK is one of the oldest white supremacy groups in the US, formed just after the civil war. The group was behind many of the lynchings, rapes and violent attacks on African Americans in the 1900s.  The editorial began garnering attention online after students from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, tweeted photographs of the article.  Sutton could not be immediately reached for comment on the matter.  He was once a celebrated journalist, commended for his ethics by other news outlets - including the New York Times and American Journalism Review.  A short editorial piece published without a byline on 14 February was entitled: "Klan needs to ride again."  "Time for the Ku Klux Klan to night ride again," the article said, referencing the KKK's terrorising raids through black communities.  "Democrats in the Republican Party and Democrats are plotting to raise taxes in Alabama... This socialist-communist ideology sounds good to the ignorant, the uneducated, and the simple-minded people."  "Seems like the Klan would be welcome to raid the gated communities up there."  Sutton later confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser that he had written the article.  "If we could get the Klan to go up there and clean out DC we'd all been better off," he said. "We'll get the hemp ropes out, loop them over a tall limb and hang all of them."  "It's not calling for the lynchings of Americans. These are socialist-communists we're talking about."  Sutton also told the paper he did not believe the Klan was a violent organisation.  "They didn't kill but a few people. The Klan wasn't violent until they needed to be."  According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are currently around 5,000 to 8,000 KKK members across the US; during the Klan's heyday in the 1900s, there were as many as four million members.  Alabama Senator Doug Jones, the Democrat who won a bitter race against Republican Roy Moore, expressed his shock over the "absolutely disgusting" editorial and said Sutton must resign immediately.  Democratic Representative Terri Sewell, who is black, said Sutton's language was not a joke, but a threat.  Kyle Whitmire, a political writer in Alabama, said he once worked at Sutton's paper and felt "sickened" by last week's editorial.


bbcuk--2019-11-15--Meghan accuses Mail newspapers of 'untrue' stories - court papers

The Duchess of Sussex has accused the Mail on Sunday and its parent company of a campaign of "untrue" stories, according to new details of her legal action against the newspaper group.  Court papers filed against the group set out a list of "false" articles about Meghan, the website Byline says.  Her lawyers claim the Mail on Sunday removed passages of a private letter to her father to portray her "negatively".  The Mail on Sunday repeated its intent to defend the case "with vigour".  "There is nothing in this document which changes that position," a spokesman said.  In October, law firm Schillings, acting for the duchess, filed a High Court claim against the Mail on Sunday and its parent company over the alleged misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.  The claim came after the Mail on Sunday published a handwritten letter from Meghan to her father, Thomas Markle, sent shortly after she and Prince Harry got married in 2018.  It is claimed the newspaper did not publish parts of the letter because it would undermine its "negative" portrayal of the duchess.  The court papers claim that Meghan's father was exploited by journalists and say that reporters also invented a series of claims about her relationship with her mother.  The duchess' lawyers will also accuse the Mail on Sunday's sister title the Daily Mail of printing "completely untrue" stories about renovations to Meghan and Prince Harry's home.  They say that claims by the paper - also published on the Mail Online website - that a £5,000 copper bath and £500,000-worth of soundproofing were charged to the taxpayer were lies.  In a statement last month, the Duke of Sussex said he and Meghan were forced to take action against "relentless propaganda" and a "ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year".  Prince Harry said the "painful" impact of intrusive media coverage had driven the couple to take action.  The duke has launched separate legal action against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking.


bbcuk--2019-12-04--General election 2019: Parties warned over 'newspaper' election leaflets

Political parties have been warned not to send election leaflets that mimic local newspapers.  Industry group the Society of Editors said the practice could undermine trust in local publications.  Its executive director Ian Murray said the public would not forgive politicians who "attempt to take them for mugs".  All major parties have been criticised for the tactic ahead of next week's poll.  The Newsquest group, which publishes a number of local titles, has written to main party leaders calling on them to end the "extremely worrying" practice. • A really simple guide to the UK general election  In an open letter, the group's titles said: "Not only are you taking advantage of our highly trusted credentials, you are also actively undermining our business models".  "Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but this has to stop."  Among recent examples, the Lib Dems have faced criticism for a leaflet they produced in support of their candidate in Winchester, entitled the "Mid Hampshire Gazette".  The editor of the Hampshire-based Basingstoke Gazette said such party material could erode trust in local papers, and called for an apology.  The Conservatives have also produced a series of leaflets with different names in the style of red-top tabloid newspapers.  A Labour leaflet produced to support its candidate in the London constituency of Tooting, with a dark blue masthead carrying the title "Daily Press", has attracted criticism on social media.  Mr Murray said: "If a politician or their party can attempt to deliberately mislead you by cloaking their partisan messages in the disguise of an independent and trusted local newspaper, what else are they attempting to camouflage?  "If there is no wish to deceive, then why give the publication a similar title to the existing independent newspaper in the area, as is often the case.  "Should a reader simply mistake a political freesheet for a version of their regular paper or, worse, believe their local editor has sided with one party over another then the destruction of decades, in some cases over a century, of impartial, non-partisan reporting will be assured.  "It is time the practice was brought to an end, for the sake of local newspapers but also, I would contend, for the sake of local politics.  "The public are not fooled for long and will not forgive politicians who attempt to take them for mugs." • POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? • POLLS: How are the parties doing? • A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words  Have you received election leaflets that resemble local newspapers? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.  Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: • Please read our terms of use and privacy policy


bipartisanreport--2019-12-21--Trump Gets Reamed By NY Newspaper’s Cover Page (IMAGE)

The NY Daily News has long been a thorn in the side of President Trump. Every month, a cover page of theirs makes headlines everywhere for the witty and humorous attempts at getting the president riled up. Because it works like a charm every single time, the Daily News continues to target Trump and his administration in their epic covers, like this one, released the day after Trump’s impeachment in the House.  Vladimir Putin himself spoke out about his close pal being impeached, because what will Putin do when he no longer controls the president of the United States? According to the LA Times:  Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that President Trump was impeached for “completely fabricated reasons,” calling the move by Democrats a continuation of their fight against the Republican leader. “It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their own party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” Putin said during his annual marathon news conference in Moscow. The conference lasted more than four hours and was the fifteenth such conference in Putin’s 20 years of power.  People responding to the Daily News’ tweet were thrilled at the fact that the president is finally being held accountable for his crooked actions as our leader. Republicans, of course, will continue to insist that the president has done nothing wrong and that Democrats are convicting him merely as a way of overthrowing the 2016 election.  Check out the best comments left on the tweet below via screenshot:


bipartisanreport--2019-12-21--Trump Under Fire In Top Newspaper, Embarrassing Photo Follows


bipartisanreport--2019-12-28--Anti-Trump Newspaper Front-Page Sends Donald Into A Frenzy


breitbart--2019-08-23--Douche Zest New York Times Politics Editor Describes What His Newspaper Publishes

'Douche Zest': New York Times Politics Editor Describes What His Newspaper Publishes

The New York Post has uncovered tweets demonstrating that Wright-Piersanti, while employed at Newark’s Star-Ledger newspaper in New Jersey a decade ago, had a particular fondness for the use of the word “douche.”  “Wright-Piersanti’s Twitter page suggests he adores the word ‘douche,’ which crops up more than a dozen times,” the New York Post‘s Keith Kelly wrote Thursday evening.  In fact, he even described the work product his future colleagues at the New York Times publish as “douche zest.”  “What the NYTimes does is take your story, spice it up with a dash of *douche zest* and then a million people read it,” Wright-Piersanti tweeted on October 13, 2010, according to the New York Post.  New York Times spokeswomen Danielle Rhoades-Ha and Eileen Murphy have not replied to a detailed request for comment from Breitbart News asking if the newspaper agrees with its politics editor’s characterization of its product as “douche zest.” They have also not provided a definition of the term “douche zest.”  This is not the only time Wright-Piersanti used the term “douche” to describe what would become his future employer, the New York Times, either.  “On Oct. 10, 2013, he was at it again, venting against a Times reporter who was dispatched to do a story from Montclair, NJ,” the Post‘s Kelly wrote. “‘Maybe NYT was right to send a douche,’ he tweeted before apparently quoting a line from an NYT story that offended him: ‘Montclair likes to think of itself as having more of a mix of races and classes than other suburbs.'”  Another newly resurfaced tweet, thanks to the New York Post‘s reporting since Wright-Piersanti has again hidden his Twitter account from the public, is one where he slanders the Amish–and uses the term “douche” to do so as well.  Kelly wrote, “And on the Amish, he tweeted in August 2010, “I’m working on a tell-all expose of the Amish; calling it, ‘more like Pennsylvania Douche.’”  The Times spokeswomen, Rhoades-Ha and Murphy, have not said if the newspaper thinks Wright-Piersanti’s use of the word “douche” repeatedly on Twitter is acceptable. But the Times did provide the Post with the same statement they provided the rest of the media in response to the earlier tweets: “We are aware of these tweets, which are a clear violation of our standards. We are reviewing next steps.”  These revelations that Wright-Piersanti assailed his then-future colleagues and employer using this foul language come in the wake of a Breitbart News investigation published on Thursday morning that discovered Wright-Piersanti made a number of antisemitic and racist comments on Twitter over the years. On Thursday, in response to the Breitbart News investigation, Wright-Piersanti deleted several of the tweets and issued a statement admitting they were “offensive” and apologizing for them while also downplaying them as from a decade ago. In statements to several media outlets through spokeswoman Rhoades-Ha, The Times admitted the tweets were a violation of the Times‘ standards and that the newspaper was considering next steps and options regarding what to do in the future.  This latest example of the pervasive culture of racism and antisemitism inside the New York Times institution-wide comes in the wake of several other recent examples of such activity. Now, former deputy politics editor Jonathan Weisman was demoted recently, in part, because of racially insensitive things he said, which the Times called a lapse in judgment. Weisman was also behind a list during the Barack Obama administration that the Times published, then quietly removed, listing Jewish lawmakers in opposition to the Obama Iran deal.  The Times also has faced serious criticism for having published a series of antisemitic cartoons in its international edition. The person or persons responsible for those publishing decisions have not been publicly identified yet, but the Times, under criticism, stopped publication of all cartoons in the international edition to prevent more antisemitism from reaching its pages.  What’s more, in the editorial wing of the paper, open leftist Sarah Jeong–who has made a number of blatantly racist statements–remains employed as the Times has rallied behind her despite her history of racially insensitive comments.  In response to all of this, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has called for the Times to terminate Wright-Piersanti and then conduct an organization-wide audit to root out racism and antisemitism lurking within the newspaper.  “The Zionist Organization of America urges the New York Times to fire its Senior Staff Editor Tom Wright-Piersanti, in light of Wright-Piersanti’s antisemitic and racist tweets that were recently uncovered,” ZOA said in a statement on its website. “Further, we urge the Times to conduct an internal editorial review of every piece of content that Wright-Piersanti has been involved in publishing during his five plus years with the Times, for antisemitic bias, and to take all necessary corrective actions regarding that content.”  Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump’s campaign, added in a statement to Breitbart News that the Times should hire an outside counsel, an independent law firm, to conduct such a review into antisemitism and racism pervasive throughout the newspaper.  “Combined with other recent scandals like the publication of antisemitic cartoons and racist tweets that led to the demotion of another political editor in the Times’ newsroom, it is long past time for the New York Times to hire an independent outside counsel legal firm to conduct a thorough review of the newspaper’s entire staff, hiring practices, and all editorial processes,” Pierson told Breitbart News.  Several current staffers at the New York Times, including multiple reporters, believe that Wright-Piersanti should be–and probably will be–fired. In conversations with Breitbart News over the past day-plus since this was exposed, during which all of the Times staffers requested anonymity, New York Times staffers described being caught flat-footed by these revelations. One said Wright-Piersanti would have been fired already had the Times leadership not wanted to hand a “win” to the many conservatives and Trump supporters calling for his termination, and others expressed fear that similar stories may come out about other Times employees or others in media. Executive editor Dean Baquet is personally involved in the handling of this matter, too, some staff said.  In fact, the Times has even tasked some reporters with writing a story about what happened here and describing it in their own terms. That story is forthcoming and likely to be published as soon as the newspaper figures out exactly how to handle the matter. It may be an effort to control the narrative of firing Wright-Piersanti, if that is what the paper intends to do, and frame it in the best possible way for the Times so it does not have to address the broader culture of antisemitism and racism permeating the organization.  “We’re almost damned if we, damned if we don’t–in that if they fire him, the right will scream it is correct about the culture here having racial issues,” a Times staffer said. “If we don’t fire him, how can we avoid the accusation of hypocrisy?”  The Times spokeswomen, Rhoades-Ha and Murphy, have not answered detailed questions from Breitbart News about each of these points about what Times staffers believe is a serious mishandling of this situation by Baquet and the leadership of the newspaper.  Baquet has given an edict to editorial staff that after the failure of the Russia hoax scandal with the implosion of special counsel Robert Mueller in the wake of his weak report and even weaker congressional testimony, the Times is now set to pre-plan coverage pushing the narrative throughout the next year-plus over Trump and racial issues.  But given that Baquet has remained silent following the exposing of Wright-Piersanti’s racist and antisemitic comments–and the paper continuing to refuse to forcefully condemn those, as well as Baquet and the Times‘ broader mishandling of other recent racial and antisemitic issues–Times staff are concerned they will not be able to honestly and accurately cover the president on issues of race.  “You guys have a point when you say there’s hypocrisy with us covering race and antisemitism when we have not been too great in handling this,” one Times reporter told Breitbart News.


channel4uk--2019-11-22--Lib Dems and others under fire over ‘newspaper’ adverts

The Liberal Democrats have been accused of “underhand tactics” after putting out an election pamphlet that mimics a local newspaper – using the same name as a real news title.  It comes after the Conservatives were widely condemned for briefly changing the name of their press team’s Twitter account to “FactCheckUK” during Tuesday’s ITV leader’s debate.  Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake responded to the story: “Tories are now resorting to deliberately misleading the public.”  But it has emerged that the Liberal Democrats have been putting out election leaflets that closely resemble real newspapers.  One Twitter user, Charlotte Baker (“@WinchesterJelly”), sent us a picture of the front page of the “Mid-Hampshire Gazette”.  The publication describes itself as a “free newspaper” covering several local districts.  The words “Liberal Democrats” appear in very small print at the top right of the front page.  A real local newspaper, also called the Basingstoke Gazette – which brands itself as simply the Gazette – says it also covers mid-Hampshire.  Katie French, editor of the Basingstoke Gazette and Andover Advertiser, told us: “This is the second occasion this week where a major political party has resorted in underhand tactics to reach voters.  “It is deeply worrying that despite much debate about transparency and honesty, the Liberal Democrats here in Hampshire have shamelessly exploited the trusted format of a local newspaper for their own political gain.  “This is nothing more than a political advertisement dressed up as a newspaper. The look and feel of this advertisement is very convincing and readers will have to spot the small print in the top right corner to see the so-called Mid Hampshire Gazette is published by the Liberal Democrats.  “This is a flagrant attempt to manipulate voters by presenting them an advertisement in the form of a front-page news story. Frankly it is insulting to the public who deserve better from one of the leading political parties.  “It is also offensive to local journalists, including my team, who work very hard to be the trusted and balanced voices in the community.  “As non-broadcast political adverts are largely exempt from regulation, we will be writing a letter of complaint to the Liberal Democrat party.”  FactCheck readers also pointed us to other publications put out by Conservative general election candidates which resemble newspapers and magazines, often without party branding visible on the front pages.  The Brexit Party also publishes a free newspaper, the Brexiteer, which carries the words “the newspaper of the Brexit Party” – in much larger print than the Lib Dem publication – under its title.  A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats told FactCheck: “Liberal Democrats pride ourselves on working hard locally all year round on the issues that matter to local people. During an election period this even more important and we are committed to informing people about the issues that matter to them.”  Please follow @FactCheck on Twitter and send us examples of party campaign material that has come through your letterbox in the form of a fake local newspaper.