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The Global Battle Against Noise Pollution

Plane Over London Neighborhood
Until a few decades ago noise was seen as no more than a nuisance of modern urban life. Then research began to show that loud, but not uncommon, noise could damage hearing. And numerous studies indicated that many widespread sources of sound near schools impaired children's ability to learn. More recently the World Health Organization (WHO), using data from pioneer studies done in several European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, has demonstrated that noise can be a major killer.

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Bush Administration Accused of Withholding “Lifesaving” Aid to Haiti

Collecting Water in Haiti
Human rights groups released a report on June 23rd accusing the Bush Administration of blocking "potentially lifesaving" aid to Haiti in order to meddle in the impoverished nation's political affairs. The report, "Wòch nan Soley: The Denial of the Right to Water in Haiti," also takes aim at the international community for its role in politicizing aid while standing idly by as people suffer and die.

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Who’s confused about alternative medicine?

Professor Edzard Ernst, the UK's first professor of complementary medicine, gets lots of exposure for his often overtly negative views on complementary medicine. He's become the media's favourite resource for a view on this controversial subject. Yesterday's report by Barbara Rowlands in the Daily Mail (Complementary medicines are useless and dangerous, says Britain's foremost expert, 12 December 2006) is par for the course.