NAACP kicks off Martin Luther King observance

NAACP kicks off Martin Luther King observance: "Activities begin Saturday in Paris to celebrate the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

UK alert after anthrax-tainted heroin kills six

UK alert after anthrax-tainted heroin kills six: "

Hospitals, ambulance services and GPs warned to watch out for suspected cases as six more seriously ill in hospital

A nationwide alert has been issued to hospitals, ambulance services and GPs after a batch of heroin contaminated with anthrax killed six addicts in Scotland, raising fears for drug users across the UK.

It is feared that the death toll will rise to at least 10 soon, the Guardian understands, after cases spread across Scotland from Glasgow to Lanarkshire, then to Dundee, Fife and now central Scotland.

The first cases came to light before Christmas, when an addict died in hospital in Glasgow. It emerged today that the sixth addict died earlier this week in Stirling. A further six users with the lethal bacterial disease are in hospital, in the worst anthrax scare in recent times.

Health ministers issued an alert to all primary care trusts in England tonight after the latest cases came to light, advising drugs workers, consultants and accidents and emergency units to watch out for suspected cases.

A fresh alert has also been issued by the agency Health Protection Scotland, which has set up an outbreak control team to investigate the source of the contamination, while a parallel investigation has been launched by police. Heroin users are being urged to stop taking the drug immediately.

Dr Colin Ramsay, the consultant epidemiologist at HPS who is leading the agency's inquiry, said contaminated heroin, or a contaminated cutting agent, could be responsible for the infections.

'The death of this patient in NHS Forth Valley indicates further geographical spread of the cases, meaning that heroin users all across Scotland need to be aware of the risks of a potentially contaminated supply,' he said. 'If any heroin users do notice signs of infection, for example marked redness and swelling around an injection site, or other signs of serious infection such as a high fever, they should seek urgent medical advice.'

The Department of Health alert issued tonight states: 'Investigations are continuing into the cause of these cases and into any heroin supply routes that may be affected. While cases remain confined to Scotland, you should be alert to the possibility of anthrax infection in injecting drug users presenting with severe soft tissue infections or sepsis.'

Dave Liddell, of the Scottish Drugs Forum voluntary organisation, said it was suspected that a large batch of heroin was to blame. 'It was alarming when it was just centred on Glasgow; now it looks as if its following the drugs supply route,' he said.

Gordon Meldrum, director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said the spate of deaths was disturbing. 'Illegal drugs are often prepared in unhygienic surroundings and can be vulnerable to contamination from various harmful agents.It is highly probable that the contamination of heroin by anthrax is accidental and there is a history of batches of heroin being contaminated in Afghanistan, Turkey and other countries key to the production and supply of heroin.

'Production processes can be basic and often be conducted in areas where there is contamination from animal carcasses or faeces. Our priority remains to reduce the harm to drug users and the communities they live in and all cases will be investigated and reported where appropriate to the procurator fiscal.'

The sixth casualty was named locally as Colin McPhee, 49, who was well known for begging in Stirling city centre. A neighbour said: 'Colin was a wee skinny guy with dark, straggly hair, who was a junkie and begged on the streets — but he was a harmless wee guy. It's a shame.'

• Drugs trade
• Drugs
• Anthrax
• Scotland

Severin Carrell

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

"

The American Third Position, America’s BNP?

The American Third Position, America’s BNP?: "

A3P Launch Marked by Tabletop Outreach

Even before the American Third Position was officially launched, the Southern California branch was christening its new outreach-booth along the heavily-trafficked coastline at Huntington Beach. And, not knowing what to expect from their beleaguered countrymen, the young activists were proud to report that their message was incredibly well-received.

“We delivered several hundred of our ‘American Jobs for American Workers’ flier, a few scores of our more detailed anti-immigration brochure, and we even gave out a few dozen stickers to people who decided to come back to our booth after having read our materials”, reported Sean Vax, who organized the event.

“I thought the stickers might be somewhat controversial, as they bore the caption, ‘for race & nation’, but people really seemed to enjoy them, and quite a few came up to us just to grab a few. People seemed to be emboldened by our presence.”

The young activists were proud to report that they also received offers by no less than three passersby to come out and help at the booth the very following weekend. They were even more excited to hear that one of the people they spoke with had registered on the website and had asked to become a party member.

The Southern California branch plans to conduct outreach efforts on a weekly basis, and the group promises to soon begin a door-to-door registration effort, which will help to satisfy the state’s requirements for ballot access.

William D. Johnson, Chairman

William D. Johnson, J.D., is an international corporate lawyer practicing in Los Angeles, Ca. He holds both an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, where he majored in Japanese, and a law degree from Columbia University. He has been married for 27 years and has five children.

As Chairman of the American Third Position, he serves the purpose of speaking on behalf of the party, championing its sensible and just policies before the American people. He is also, more than any other, responsible for safeguarding the course, values, and program of the party.

Kevin B. MacDonald, Director

Kevin B. MacDonald, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach. MacDonald is the author of seven books on evolutionary psychology and child development and is the author or editor of over thirty academic articles. He received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1966, and he received a M.S. in biology from the University of Connecticut in 1976. He earned a Ph.D. in 1981 (Biobehavioral Sciences) from the University of Connecticut.

As a Director of the American Third Position, he influences the course of the party and provides guidance to both the Chairman and President.

Americans who had enough of the 2-party political dictatorship (Democrats and Republicans) and want to have an alternative to that, should join the American Third Position party. Click here to visit their website.

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