September 24, 2009

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hiding just below the surface of mid-latitude Mars. The spacecraft's observations were obtained from orbit after meteorites excavated fresh craters on the Red Planet. Scientists controlling instruments on the orbiter found bright ice exposed at five Martian sites with new craters that range in depth from approximately 1.5 feet to 8 feet. The craters did not exist in earlier images of the same sites. Some of the craters show a thin layer of bright ice atop darker underlying material. The bright patches darkened in the weeks following initial observations, as the freshly exposed ice vaporized into the thin Martian atmosphere. One of the new craters had a bright patch of material large enough for one of the orbiter's instruments to confirm it is water ice. Full release.

Verite, the global NGO, together with the Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking (ASSET), announced today at the Clinton Global Initiative a commitment aimed at stemming forced labor and human trafficking world-wide. The joint commitment, entitled, Brokering Results in the Prevention of Slavery, will mobilize effective approaches to preventing human trafficking in supply chains, including manufacturing and material sourcing with companies, NGOs, regulators and other stakeholders. The organizations seek to recruit three companies initially to take the lead in examining and addressing risks, and then share the learning that results. Today, human trafficking and slavery ensnare the lives of more than 25 million people. Forced labor, child labor and trafficking permeate many of the world's supply chains and are an emerging concern in the private sector. Verite and ASSET's joint commitment is aimed at providing tools for corporations, governments, and civil society to address the business processes that lead to slavery through debt bondage and other risk factors. Full release.

The American Red Cross sheltered more than 420 people in Georgia and Tennessee overnight, a signal that even though flood waters are slowly receding, many are still unable to return to their homes. The Red Cross has more than 200 volunteers and staff and 18 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) in the area with more on standby. Clean up and comfort kits are being distributed and almost 2,000 meals have been served to those affected by the flooding. Officials say early estimates show as many as 3,000 homes may be affected with damages estimated at $250 million. Red Cross is partnering with Southern Baptist Convention, which has one mobile kitchen in operation and another on alert if needed. Other partners include Samaritan's Purse, Georgia Association of Food Banks, Church of Latter Day Saints, Church World Service, and NECHAMA. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts announced that he has appointed Paul Kirk as the interim successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy: "Paul Kirk will be a voice of reason and passion in the United States Senate. His belief in public service and commitment to the causes of social justice, equality, and opportunity for every American make him an outstanding choice to carry on the torch of Senator Ted Kennedy. "Paul Kirk will be an effective advocate for the people of Massachusetts, and I look forward to welcoming him to Congress and working with him to advance the cause of health care for all, energy independence, and economic growth in the coming months." Full release.

Results of a Mayo Clinic survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that while physicians are open to being involved in health care reform discussions, some opposition may exist. The results appear in the Sept. 14, 2009, edition of the New England Journal of Medicine and are the result of a national survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. physicians conducted by Mayo Clinic. A majority of physicians who responded to the survey agree that physicians have a professional obligation to address health policy issues, are obligated to care for the uninsured or underinsured, and are willing to accept limits on reimbursement for expensive drugs and procedures for the sake of expanding access to basic health care. However, the survey also showed that some health care reform measures such as scenarios in which patients are underinsured (such as Medicare) and using cost-effectiveness data in treatment decisions may face opposition from segments of the medical profession. Concerns were raised by some physicians especially surgical and procedural specialists who may be more likely to oppose these measures either because they believe physicians' decision-making autonomy may be limited or they may feel like they might not be adequately reimbursed for costly services they provide. Full release.

The Justice Department today announced that Najibullah Zazi, 24, a resident of Aurora, Colo., and legal permanent resident of the United States from Afghanistan, has been indicted in the Eastern District of New York on a charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United States. FBI agents in Colorado first arrested Zazi on Sept. 19, 2009 pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with knowingly and willfully making false statements to the FBI in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism. Zazi made an initial court appearance on those charges in the District of Colorado on Sept. 21, 2009. The government will ask that those charges be dismissed and that Zazi be transferred to New York to face this new charge. Full release.

Today the American Legacy Foundation(R) (Legacy) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit menthol in cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products as one of its first priorities related to the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the Act). Legacy highlighted menthol as a top priority, indicating that menthol products account for one-fifth of the U.S. cigarette market and highlighting that approximately 80 percent of African-American smokers smoke menthol cigarettes. Legacy's comments submitted to the FDA today as part of the agency's request for public input related to the Act on the topic of menthol states: The success of menthol cigarettes is hardly an accident. Literally many hundreds of tobacco industry documents conclusively establish that the tobacco industry has for decades systematically developed and marketed menthol products to attract and keep as long-term customers millions of "starter" and youth smokers; racial minorities and African-Americans in particular; and smokers seeking health reassurances. One study demonstrated a 17.5 percent increase in youth menthol cigarette use between 2000 - 2002. Despite a 22 percent decline in overall packs of cigarettes sold in the United States between 2000 and 2005, menthol sales remained stable. Full release.

As the G-20 Summit commences in nearby Pittsburgh, Lancaster-based Franklin & Marshall College announced findings of a new Franklin & Marshall College Poll, produced in partnership with Hearst Television. Among the findings: Americans' attitudes on economic and governance issues have shifted noticeably. Half say the "economy/personal finances/cost of living" remains the #1 "problem" facing them and their families - down from 65 percent (of registered voters) in October 2008. The second greatest problem cited - "healthcare/insurance" - jumped to 19 percent from 9 percent in October 2008. "Government/politicians" ballooned as a "problem" from 1 percent in October 2008 to 5 percent today, while "gasoline/oil/energy prices" evaporated as a "problem" - to zero today from 4 percent in October 2008 and 22 percent in June 2008. Additionally, only 54 percent say these "problems" can be solved with the help of government, down from 68 percent in October 2008. Full release.

A Phase III clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult volunteers in Thailand has demonstrated that an investigational HIV vaccine regimen was safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. According to final results released by the trial sponsor, the U.S. Army Surgeon General, the prime boost combination of ALVAC(R)( )HIV and AIDSVAX(R) B/E( )lowered the rate of HIV infection by 31.2% compared with placebo. "This is the first HIV vaccine candidate to successfully reduce the risk of HIV infection in humans. We are very excited and pleased with the outcome of this trial and congratulate all those who participated in it," said Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker, Surgeon General, U.S. Army. "In addition, this study is an outstanding example of international and interagency collaboration involving many partners from the Thai and U.S. governments, private companies, non-profit organizations and volunteers." Full release.

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