Boulder @ MindSay 
U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics Contract for Biological Detection System Production and Support
“The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract option worth approximately $43 million to produce and test Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS).” (Carolina Newswire; 08Apr08) http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?database=01news.db&command=viewone&id=2561&op=t
Commissioners to consider asking for study of Detrick lab expansion
“Frederick's commissioners will vote Thursday whether to ask Sen. Barbara Mikulski to support a National Research Council study of plans to expand biodefense labs at Fort Detrick. […] Gardner said the study would be both more informative and less confrontational than a lawsuit that had been proposed earlier. […] USAMRIID [U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases] doesn't believe another study is necessary, [Caree Vander Linden, AMRIID’s spokeswoman] wrote. […] Last year, a NRC study of a proposed BSL-4 lab at Boston University found that a risk assessment for that lab wasn't based on sound and credible science. As a result of the NRC study, the National Institutes of Health, one of the lab's sponsors, are undertaking more reviews of the project, which will likely delay the lab's opening.” (Frederick News Post; 08Apr08; Justin M. Palk)
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=73499
DoD [U.S. Department of Defense] funds development of anthrax vaccine patch
“Iomai Corp., a biotechnology company that specializes in needle-free vaccines, announced today that it will receive a grant from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to fund preclinical development of a patch-based anthrax vaccine. The 1-year grant to Iomai, based in Gaithersburg, Md., will be in the form of a $943,856 cost reimbursement from the US Army Medical Research and Material Command, according to a press release from Iomai.” (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy [CIDRAP]; 08Apr08; Lisa Schnirring) http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/anthrax/news/apr0808anthrax.html
Israeli intel projects a one-month war with Syria
“Israel's intelligence community has concluded that the next war would involve missiles and H[e]zbullah, last at least a month and include Syria. The intelligence community has drafted a series of scenarios for Israel's emergency services to prepare for future war. The scenarios envisioned the next war as including massive missile and rocket salvos, some of them containing chemical weapons, on Israeli cities.” (World Tribune; 08Apr08) http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/me_israel0033_04_08.asp
Israel in the Crosshairs
“Israel's security cabinet convened Wednesday, April 2, to examine the homeland's preparedness for war. It decided to redistribute the bio/chemical warfare masks a few months after they were called in. DEBKAfile's [Israeli website] military sources disclose intelligence data indicating the possibility that Syria may transfer to Hezbollah chemical or biological warheads known to have been developed for its war arsenal. […] A cursory perusal of Israel’s leading newspapers and Internet news sites does not reveal that it is about to move to a full war-footing, but that might just be part of the effort to deceive the militias poised in Lebanon and Gaza, as well as the military forces being massed in Syria.
The Syrians are still smarting from a recent Israeli attack on structures said to contain possible nuclear or other WMDs.” (Israel e News; 09Apr08; Alan Caruba)
http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=1685
Safe 'Green' Decontamination Method Detoxifies Nerve Agents In Chemical Weapons And Pesticides
“Research by two Queen's University [Ontario, Canada] scientists has resulted in an exciting new method for rapidly and safely destroying toxic agents such as chemical weapons and pesticides. […] Recently completed testing by an independent European defen[s]e corporation has shown the researchers’ method to be greater than 99 per cent effective when used on the deadly nerve agents Tabun, Soman and VX.” (Science Daily; 08Apr08; adapted from Queen’s University materials) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408132133.htm
Consultancy firm probed over shady deals tied to ODA projects
“Major consultancy firm Pacific Consultants International made payments totalling [sic] about 25 million yen to influential people in Costa Rice [sic] and other nations in the period 2000 to 2004, to enable it to carry out agricultural and other surveys for official development assistance projects, sources said Tuesday. Tokyo-based PCI was previously found to have misappropriated government funds earmarked for the disposal of chemical weapons left in China by the former Imperial Japanese Army.”
(Yomiuri Shimbun; 09Apr08)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080409TDY01306.htm
CU [University of Colorado, Boulder] wins chemical warfare grant
“The $1.2 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Defense Department's Defense Threat Reduction Agency asks CU researchers to develop breathable, thin-film membranes that can be used to make protective suits or building filtration systems that filter out harmful molecules, CU said Tuesday.”
(Denver Business Journal; 08Apr08)
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/04/07/daily27.html
Iraqi culture in the~firing line
“Filmmaking was hampered under Saddam's regime, and for some unexpected reasons. The UN trade embargo prevented the import of film stock because the chemicals used to develop it were classified as dual use: that is, the UN considered they could be used to produce chemical weapons.” (The Australian; 09Apr08; Michael Bodey) http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23508228-16947,00.html
UN [United Nations] chief calls for world free of chemical weapons
“UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged on Monday Member States to work toward a world free of chemical weapons. […] He noted that, because of the Convention, some 27,000 tons of chemical weapon agents and 2.9 million chemical munitions and containers have been destroyed.” (People’s Daily, China; 08Apr08; Xinhua) http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6388290.html
Destruction of chemical weapons top priority of convention, China says
“China said Tuesday that the complete destruction of chemical weapons within the deadline remains the top priority of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). [Cheng Jingye, head of the Chinese delegation] asked Japan to initiate as soon as possible the destruction process for chemical weapons it had abandoned in China. […] A new implementation roadmap has been worked out for the following five years.” (Window of China; 08Apr08; Wang Hongjiang) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/08/content_7941660.htm
Boost for chemical weapons treaty
“IRAQ and Lebanon will be the latest signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention at this week’s meeting in The Hague in The Netherlands, providing a significant boost to the United Nations’ (UN’s) most successful treaty.” (Business Day; 09Apr08; Hopewell Radebe)
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A744458
Statement to the Second Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention [by Amb. Eric M. Javits, Head of the United States Delegation]
“I warmly welcome the Republic of the Congo, the newest member of the Convention, into our organization. Other states -- Iraq, Lebanon, Guinea Bissau, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas -- are on the verge of accession, and I urge them to take the final steps to join us as soon as possible. For those few states remaining outside the Convention, we must renew our efforts to urge ratification and accession. Unless and until our membership is truly universal, we will not fully meet the aims of the Convention. […] The destruction of chemical weapons is fundamental to the Convention. Those of us who possess chemical weapons have special responsibilities to secure these weapons, to declare them, and to destroy them under international monitoring. Destruction has not been as rapid as any of us would wish. Most possessors of chemical weapons were forced to seek extensions to their original 10-year deadline. But destruction is proceeding. Albania has completed its destruction. India and another State Party are nearing completion. The United States, with the second-largest stockpile in the world, has destroyed over 51 percent of its chemical weapons.” (U.S. Department of State; 07Apr08; Eric M. Javits) http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/103312.htm
Radioactive substance stolen in Japan: police
“A sealed metal container holding a small amount of iridium 192 was stolen on Monday from the office near Tokyo of a company that inspects industrial products, police said. Iridium 192 is commonly used in cancer radiation treatment but it is also cited in scenarios by anti-terrorism investigators as an ingredient for a makeshift nuclear bomb. Police said they did not know the motive of whoever stole the substance from the office of Non-Destructive Inspection Co. Ltd in the Tokyo suburb of Ichihara.” (The Anatolian Times; 08Apr08; Associated Press) http://www.anatoliantimes.com/hbr2.asp?id=&s=int&a=080408072558.a65jti4h
EMS [emergency management system]: preparing for every disaster [Johannesburg, South Africa]
“Johannesburg's emergency management services (EMS) is leaving nothing to chance in preparing for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, and is learning new lessons from the best in the field. […] Over 1,000 Johannesburg metro police department (JMPD) officers have already been trained in level three first aid. Likewise, the City's healthcare services will be strengthened to create a link to the EMS. […] Although an expensive capability, the EMS has already trained 56 individuals in terrorism and biological warfare. Training is done with the assistance of United States expertise and the South African National Defence Force. Hazardous material technicians have also been added to the growing specialist base. “ (JoBurg; 08Apr08; Emily Visser)
http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/2356/168/
Sirens wail in Israel as part of largest ever civil defen[s]e drill [an update]
“The drill, dubbed ‘Turning Point 2,’ began Monday and will include, among other scenarios, simulated missile attacks on towns in populated areas. Rescue services will simulate mass evacuation from hit zones - including those hit with chemical and biological weapons - and hospitals will practi[c]e treating thousands of casualties. […] ‘I believe an initial strike on Israel would see hundreds of missiles hit us ... all of Israel will be within range of Syrian and Hezbollah missiles,’ [Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Benjamin Ben-Elizer] said.” (The Earth Times;
08Apr08)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/197409,sirens-wail-in-israel-as-part-of-largest-ever-civil.html
Fears of Iraq Becoming a Terrorist Incubator Seem Overblown, French Say
“Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière, France’s senior counterterrorism magistrate at the time, later warned that Iraq was a ‘black hole sucking up all the elements located in Europe.’ Some of them were coming back to Europe, he added, and some of those were armed with chemical and biological weapons training. […] The logistical challenges and expense of reaching Iraq has been one deterrent, [French and other European intelligence and law enforcement officials] said, particularly with Syria’s making episodic efforts to halt the use of its territory as a transit route. Compared with the thousands of European Muslims who joined the fight in Afghanistan in the 1990s through organized networks in Britain, the number of fighters going to Iraq has been extremely small, according to senior French intelligence officials.” (The New York Times; 08Apr08; Elaine Sciolino) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/world/europe/08terror.html?ref=europe
[Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff urges constant vigilance
“Comparing Islamic radicalism to communism, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned Yale students Monday that the United States will have to be on guard against the threat of terrorism for at least a generation. […] Chertoff wandered from the threat of the British empire against the young American confederacy to the power of a single rogue dissenter in the 21st century to kill thousands or even hundreds of thousands through the use of biological or chemical weapons. […] ‘I’ve laid out what some of you may think is a grim scenario about what we face in the world,’ he acknowledged. ‘On the one hand, the Cold War is gone… On the other hand, we have a much more disorderly set of threats, much more networked, much more widely distributed, much more difficult to deter and, unfortunately, much better enabled to carry out acts of violence.’” (Yale Daily News; 08Apr08; Thomas Kaplan)
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24294
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
I wasn't sure how/where or even when to start blogging again. The reality is that I love to write, and had actually spoken to my good good (and patient) friend: Adam Ostrow about starting it up again in 2008 as I prepare for what could surely be (up to date of course) the most important year of my athletics life .
The second jolt came from an internet friend of mine: Yommie Omogbeja, whom I met through my participation in the last Olympic Games. I was very honored to have him request my blogging services in order to have them featured on www.AthleticsAfrica.com .
So here I'm, finally getting back on the proverbial horse again with a new year and a new blog. For those of you that didn't follow my old one -which gradually deteriorated in relevancy sometime after the 2004 Olympics- I'll re-introduce myself. My name is: Robert Caracciolo. I was born in Barcelona, Spain back in the early early 80's (1982). My mother was born in Equatorial Guinea and thus I received citizenship from them. I grew up all around the world traveling and living in such countries as: Egypt, South Africa & Mali, due to my father's Job (USAID/World Bank).
I begun running early in High School, but can't really say I took it that seriously till my last year and even through college. Once I left College I decided to give it a real good go at things and took my 1st steps in "professionalizing" myself after the 2004 Olympics, by moving to Boulder, Colorado.
I've been here for about 3 years or so now. I recently got a great new coach: Lorraine Moller. She and her husband: Harlan Smith have become my family out here over the years and have really looked after me. Lorraine is from New Zealand, and was the 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the Marathon. Harlan's an all around great role model as well to have around, with and endless supply of (I guess you could call it) "new age" perceptions and outlooks into bettering life, one's self & of course maximizing the most out of your true potential. They along with their little girl, 7 year old Jasmine have not only become part of my family out here, but my "TEAM". Without their support I'm not sure exactly where I would've been, especially this fall when I returned from Europe with one goal in mind: Beijing Olympics, but very little clue as to how to prepare myself (properly this time!) for them.
So there you have it more or less, this has been my re-introduction to the blogging community. I will now write a brief entry about my fall training and where I'm at right now, but first it's 10:45AM local time and I must get out for my morning run. So next update will come in a couple hours when I've returned, showered & had some breakfast!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to keep any old and new readers interested in my journey.
Peace & Love
i had an awesome catch-up talk with dave- someone i worked with my freshman year in the dining hall. he is now managing the new deli/burrito place in our dorm's common building. it's pretty awesome, i recommend any student in cu-boulder to come check out the 2-1-3 out at will vill. dave is one of the most approachable and interesting people i have ever met. he's also an mcdb major, but he's in no hurry. he's just working, studying, and living life. i always like talking to him.
then i hung out with tony on the hill and, it being friday night, the bus was full of drunk/high people, or people ready to be drunk/high. now, as you all know, if you're been reading my blog, i have decided not to be a hardcore drinker. yes, i've tried drinking/partying, because i don't like it when i haven't tried something and think badly of it, unless it's something that's a lot more dangerous than alcohol. to tell you the truth though, i do like the social scene- i like hanging out with all my friends and, sometimes, not having to think about anything complicated at all, and meeting lots of people. and i even like a crowded house full of fun-loving, somewhat intoxicated people. i do not, however, like it when people drink themselves sick and drink way beyond their limit. repeatedly.
so i was on the bus with tony tonight, and this guy sitting next to me on the ride back home was completely not in control. he was swaying like crazy and i swear, i thought he was going to throw up all over himself and me. i was ready to jump out of the seat and bolt if i saw any indication of vomiting :P
anyways, i'm not here to preach. well sorta. i'm saying when you go out and drink, go ahead. i'm all for it, but don't drink beyond what your body can take. i've drank way beyond my limit a few times in the past and i was scared for myself each and every time. i can't handle being scared like that anymore. yes, i want to have fun and live life, but i also want to be alive. anyone who's been paying attention to the news will know that cu has that reputation for being a major party school. honestly, i don't think we can stop underage drinking here and any money promoted to that cause will probably be wasted. but i would like students, especially freshmen, to starting drinking smarter, to have a set limit (not just "ok, i'm gonna take it easy tonight"), to bring someone who will look after you (whether or not you have to drive home), and to still have fun.
eh. my rant is over and i'm tired.
oh wait- if you like cookies, good cookies, check out boulder baked- they make the best cookies i have ever had (besides maybe mrs. fields). mmmmmm... yummy!!
for the past week though, i've been going through hall council president training. lots of talking, but i'm learning and having some fun. meeting some really great and interesting people- the other hall council presidents are so much fun! last year, i didn't get along with the rha execs at all, but now that i've been hanging out with them for a while, they're actually a lot of fun- i was completely wrong about them last year. i think it's just the politics of it all that gets in the way.
i had to make door decorations for the hcps and the rha execs so i finished those today. then i had to make some for the freshmen who are coming early to attend the cu stampede, a leadership camp rha is holding. for the stampede door decs, i traced the cu buffalo onto yellow pieces of construction paper and outlined it in sharpie. then i thought, it looks kinda stupid if the buffalo isn't colored in, so i spent the last hour coloring in 15 buffaloes with a big, black sharpie marker and writing names on them. needless to say, my eyes are watery and i have a little headache. never again.
now i have to go hang them up and then i'm going to bed.
oh- oh wait- did i mention i went to an m-pact concert?! heck yes!!! it was freakin' awesome (see tag)!!!!!! for those of you who don't know, m-pact is one of the best a cappella groups out there, and they come from right here in good ol' denver, co. woo! the first time i saw them was when i was in the 8th grade honor choir in hill middle school and my choir teacher ms. allen brought them out to sing for us. they were just starting. i got an autographed copy of their first album (i think) it's all about harmony! i didn't think about them again until i came to college when jim (from bufferzone) said his favorite group was m-pact last year. then this year, kirk said he really liked m-pact and that they were having a concert tonight. so we bought our tickets and we both went to our first concert-that-counts (according to us, janet jackson and spice girls don't count). excellent stuff. quality vocals. i fully recommend them to anyone who has any good taste in music whatsoever. the concert itself was awesome- another a cappella group groove society opened. m-pact was fantastic. there was a drum-off between two of the members that was (excuse the language) off the hook!!!! afterwards, kirk and i bought their new cd m-pact together b/c neither of us had enough money separately. we were supposed to get a free poster with the cd, but we got 2 instead (hehe- kirk's idea, but i didn't stop him). we got the lot autographed, kirk got a hug from marco b/c he worked with him in a vocal jazz camp. then i found my choir teacher (b/c two of the members were college friends with her). she sang with them on one of the songs (over the rainbow) and runs the vocal jazz camp. she is now married and is no longer ms. allen, but mrs. williams. she didn't recognize me at first but she did after i told her my name. i'm sure i've changed a lot. haha, she said i looked "old." understandable since it's been about 7 years since i've seen her.
anyways, i'm really off to do my buddhism final now. really. perhaps after i listen to a couple m-pact songs.
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