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letters

Most of this issue’s letters come from abroad

Hurricane season correction

Your overview stated that hurricane season had not started. The news guys constantly remind us up here that the hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. Normally things do not get active until August/September. In that respect this has been an unusual year with storms appearing even in early June. Right now we on the east coast of Florida are getting lots of rain from T.S. Ophelia. Hopefully this one does not transform into another monster.

 John Ay
Florida

Editor’s note: I stand corrected, and it does seem that since this letter was written Ophelia has just been a big rainstorm up much of the east coast of North America.

Don’t blame global warming

Recently, in a story about the hurricane disaster in New Orleans, you hinted that the hurricane might have been caused by the effects of global warming. I hate to counter your speculation with verifiable scientific data, but if you look at the US NOAA website (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdec.shtml), it appears that reality does not support your liberal slant on the subject.

Global warming might be real (in my opinion the verdict is still out), but blaming disasters such as this hurricane on global warming isn't helping your cause at all. In regards to ranting about liberal causes, you would do better to stick to vague generalizations such as "Bush hates black people" or "The war was fought for Halliburton" or "It's all about oil." These type statements are nearly impossible to disprove.

I still enjoy your paper, though I disagree with a lot of what you say. Keep up the good work!

Chris Wainscott
Indianapolis, IN

Editor’s note: That there is a global warming trend underway is not all that controversial anymore. That the recent trend toward more hurricanes is a product of this is much more debatable, as is the proposition that the climate change is largely the product of human activity rather than a normal natural cycle. But these latter propositions are far from disproven, and natural forces notoriously pay no attention to political labels.

Unethical comments?

I have a friend volunteering in Panama, and so I was wondering what was going on there. In light of Hurricane Katrina, it is hard to learn about anything but that on American news, so I went to Google and found your publication. I appreciate your support for New Orleans. I have to say though, that I am quite perturbed by most of your article. While the information that you report is true, I find it to be a terrible misrepresentation of what is taking place in this country. There are people who are offering criticism and judgment and trying to push their political agendas, yes. But these people are such a tiny minority that they should only be mentioned in one sentence and then left alone. What you should be reporting is what is mostly happening. Every American who is not doing what you reported on, that is, virtually every American, is doing whatever they can to help. All over the country families are opening their homes to the unfortunate citizens of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi who have lost theirs. Thousands of military personnel are out rescuing stranded people as we speak. They are also distributing, along with thousands of civilian volunteers, food and water to the rescued. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other humanitarian organizations are fundraising and many of the people too far away to easily volunteer time are giving millions of dollars toward the relief. The Boy Scout camp near my home is housing around 400 people made homeless by the hurricane, and I know this taking place all over the country. I could go on about the wonderful response taking place here, but you get the picture. Again, I understand that the things you reported were true, but it is journalistically unethical to report such a biased description of a news story, no matter who your audience is. I hope you will reinform your readers and clear up this misrepresentation.

Lola Burke
USA

The Panama News a trafficker in gross-tasting fruit?

I understand that you are somehow involved in the distribution/purchasing/marketing of NONI products.

Have you heard the recent bad publicity NONI products are receiving ?

Firstly check http://noni.worldwidewarning.net/ along with http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5214.asp.

The American Cancer Society has published information about the Noni Plant and concludes that "there is no scientific evidence that noni juice is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease."

The information also mentions that "proponents claim that the noni fruit and its juice can be used to treat cancer, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, high blood pressure, HIV, rheumatism, psoriasis, allergies, infection, and inflammation."

The final conclusion and advice is that "the safety and long-term effects of noni juice and other noni products are not known. However, relying on this type of treatment alone, and avoiding conventional medical care, may have serious health consequences."

Go to http://mlmwatchdog.com then scroll down to article entitled “Morinda attacked by Utah Desert News,” click on the link then click the Utah Desert News article link titled "If you believe...." Sometimes the link goes awry, just keep re-trying, their site can be slightly temperamental.

Forbes are also having a pop at Tahitian noni juice as well: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/0524/178_print.html.

The bottom line:

This publicity has had a "snowball effect," various media sources suggest the TNI stock/share price will continue to drop significantly as more and more independent distributors jump ship and investor confidence continues to decrease.

Is this the end of noni?

The truth is we don't know. If I was a noni distributor I would look to re-introduce my downline/team into another MLM company that has a variety of licensed and approved health and nutrition products. There are many new strict regulations that have been introduced this year by the FDA and the EU Food Standards Agency that will dramatically affect labeling on nutritional supplements. These new legislations have even caused problems for High Street retailers like GNC (General Nutrition Centre) and Holland and Barratt.

We can help you gain something positive from something negative!

Companies are being squashed because of a lack of funding required to research and verify product authenticity. It is anticipated that Herbalife is already in FULL COMPLIANCE with the new rules. Any of our products that may face potential problems are being worked on around the clock by our company's huge worldwide research and development team to establish whether further testing is necessary.

Please remember that Herbalife is fighting fit and cash rich. We are ready to vehemently defend any of our products and any licensing issues that affect them.

You may or may not be aware that Herbalife is the only health and nutrition MLM organization that has successfully defended itself against the FDA. We have an army of the best legal representatives in the world.

You don’t have to start from scratch!

The contacts, customers, downline, colleagues and associates you may have developed from working with noni would give you a FAST TRACK to BUILDING A SUCCESFUL BUSINESS with OUR company.

DO NOT allow the bad experience you may have had with NONI put you off MLM --- USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND JOIN OUR TEAM!

For full details of our company's background please visit: http://www.herbalife.com.

Please note that I am more than happy to assist in any way and will carry out business meetings for you, I will also pass customers down to you in relation to your present business. If you decide to consider joining me you would be joining the fastest growing group in Herbalife and you can take a look at my story with a link to our main website at http://www.home-based-working.co.uk.

There is NO CHARGE for any information. When asked for credit card details, simply type in NONI and the information will be sent to you at no charge.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and we feel 100% confident that we can "RESCUE" your business, all you need to do is get in touch.

Let's get rich together!

Paul & Joan Jenkins

UK

Editor’s note: Eeeew --- fruit that tastes like vomit! Wouldn’t touch it. And even if I had the money, why would I want to waste my time on a US-based food fad franchise that needs an army of lawyers? But hey --- since you think that The Panama News is in the noni business, maybe you qualify for a limited time sure-fire offer on snake oil futures.

Wants wider sports coverage

Would it possible to provide information about the Panamanian soccer team about Panamanian boxing on the sports pages. Usually you only have info about baseball!

Mohammed Kholwadia-Bhiku
UK

Another fugitive scamster in our midst?

You should do a piece on this guy, who lives in Chiriqui. He has [Panamanian authorities who shall remain nameless] on his payroll. No reward on him, shucks! See http://www.quatlosers.com/gpg.htm .

Octavio Calderon

Editor’s note: A copy of a document that purports to be a  May 2004 warrant for the arrest of one David Struckman, issued by a federal district court in the state of Washington for the crimes of extortion and wire fraud, was attached to this email.

Paging Esther Valdez

I am seeking information on an old friend whom I knew in Panama City in the 60s and early 70s. Her name is Esther Valdez and she once worked for and probably retired from the PanCanal Company. I have lost touch over the years and would like very much to reach her again and have been unable to find a phone directory listing available for Panama. Is it possible that you could look in your directory to see if her name is listed there? Or perhaps you could place a small inquiry on your "letters" page so that she migh respond to it. Thank you for any assistance you can give.

Dorothy Craver
Texas