Gaps: Gigatonnes and Megawatts

DDP Newsletter January 2012, Volume XXX, No. 1.

After the UN climate conference in Durban, South Africa, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a report on the “gigatonne gap” between current emission reduction pledges and the actual emission reductions needed to maintain a good chance of keeping global warming to two degrees Celsius, as estimated by IPCC models. Continue reading “Gaps: Gigatonnes and Megawatts”

Resistance to Vaccination Grows

DDP Newsletter November 2011, Volume XXIX, No. 6.

Public health officials are concerned that more parents are requesting exemptions from childhood vaccines. In some states, as many as 1 in 20 public school kindergartners have skipped one or more of the required immunizations (AP 11/29/11). Continue reading “Resistance to Vaccination Grows”

Modeling Trumps Data

DDP Newsletter September 2011, Volume XXIX, No. 5.

The official faith of America is in Science. This idol is an erroneous construct of what the scientific quest for truth really is. When officials say that “the Science has spoken,” these days they generally mean that white-coated priests are interpreting the oracular conclusions derived from a mathematical model or a computer program. Continue reading “Modeling Trumps Data”

Enhanced Defense

Suppose that we had a readily available, affordable, broad-spectrum, extensively researched, well-tolerated modality that could treat serious disease and also prevent future problems such as cancer, at very low risk, by stimulating the body’s own defenses?

DDP Newsletter July 2011, Volume XXIX, No. 4.

Suppose that we had a readily available, affordable, broad-spectrum, extensively researched, well-tolerated modality that could treat serious disease and also prevent future problems such as cancer, at very low risk, by stimulating the body’s own defenses? Should we want to have these facilities in shopping malls and pharmacies, as vaccines are now? Continue reading “Enhanced Defense”

Immunity and Pre-Emptive War

The human body is constantly besieged by pathogenic organisms, environmental as well as internally generated toxins, and trauma. To survive, it must have robust, highly adaptable immune and repair mechanisms. But they must be discriminating—they must be able to distinguish self from not-self, and know when to stop growing new tissue.

DDP Newsletter January 2011, Volume XXIX, No. 1.

The human body is constantly besieged by pathogenic organisms, environmental as well as internally generated toxins, and trauma. To survive, it must have robust, highly adaptable immune and repair mechanisms. But they must be discriminating—they must be able to distinguish self from not-self, and know when to stop growing new tissue. Continue reading “Immunity and Pre-Emptive War”

Climate Change: Censorship and Fraud

DDP Newsletter November 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 6

In reaching its endangerment finding about the staff of life (CO2), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quashed a 98-page paper by its own analyst, Alan Carlin, because it “does not help the legal or policy case” for its controversial decision. Carlin is “not a scientist,” official said. Continue reading “Climate Change: Censorship and Fraud”

Novel Influenza: Global Agenda, Many Unknowns

DDP Newsletter September 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 5

There are young adults on ventilators with a diagnosis of novel H1N1 influenza. There are discussions about how to ration hospital beds and ventilators. The first doses of vaccine are available, and people are lining up–in crowds–to receive it. At the same time, there is growing resistance to vaccine mandates. People ask, what should they do? Continue reading “Novel Influenza: Global Agenda, Many Unknowns”

H1N1 Influenza Emergency?

DDP Newsletter July 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 4

In 2002, there was a push to get states to pass the Model Emergency Health Powers Act (MEHPA), giving public health authorities expansive powers in the event of a declared public health emergency. Maine was one state to pass portions of this act, and its governor has now found an occasion to declare a statewide civil emergency: H1N1 influenza. Continue reading “H1N1 Influenza Emergency?”

Is There One More Chance for Defense?

DDP Newsletter May 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 3

The seismic shock detected in Texas on Memorial Day was just a test. The magnitude of the tremor from the underground test of a North Korean 1.5 KT nuclear weapon registered 4.6, compared to 4.1 from the detonation in October, 2006. The strength of the Chinese response (“resolutely opposed”) was about the same. Continue reading “Is There One More Chance for Defense?”

Caps, Quotas, and Central Planning

DDP Newsletter March 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 2

A “hard cap on all carbon emissions.” A “25% federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to require that 25% of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind, and geothermal by 2025.” A goal of “making all new buildings carbon neutral (that is, producing zero emissions) by 2030.” Within six years, “one million 150 mile-per-gallon plug-in hybrid cars on our roads.” These are promises from the I-can-and-I-will President. Continue reading “Caps, Quotas, and Central Planning”