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A lively international discourse this time

Liked the science reporting

Great issue, loved the indepth info on the STRI doings... have wanted to know that for a long time.

Your summary of Panama doings, business and political, are must reading for me... I feel like I get "the rest of the story."

Mark

Panama

Also liked the STRI coverage

Some years ago, I worked for the Smithsonian Institution and visited STRI in Panama at least once a year. I developed a great fondness for Panama and all the wonderful people I met there. I miss it very much. Thanks to your publication, I have a link to current events in Panama and it is always an enjoyable read. Keep up the good work!

Bill Schulz

Washington, DC

News Editor

Chemical & Engineering News

Universities in Panama

Hola. I have been trying to find out what colleges and universities are in the country of Panama, and I cannot find any info online. By any chance, would you know a link with that info? Muchas gracias.

Judy Klipowicz

South Carolina

Editor's note: We have a plethora of "universities" in Panama, many of them the products of corruption in the University of Panama chartering system that are unworthy of the name. But we do have some bona fide universities, some of which have web pages and a few of which are excellent. The most reputable universities in Panama are the Universidad Santa María la Antigua (USMA, the nation's Catholic university) and the Universidad Tecnológico de Panamá (UTP), both of which have websites. Panama's English-language university, Florida State University - Panama, is also online. Do a Google search.

A charming email exchange with First Global Ventures SA

Dear Mr. Jackson,

The irresponsible sensationalized writing of your article is what should be highlighted. I believe a good headline might be " Panama remains a venue of preference for foreign journalistic scamsters, and those who can't find reporting employment elsewhere". Obviously, you wrote this article without taking the time to establish the truth for yourself. Instead, no doubt because of your lazyness, you chose to regurgatate information already written by someone else with only slightly more talent than you. The projects in the FGV portfolio are sound and legitimate opporutnities. Of course, you wouldn't know this even had you taken the time to investigate them individually. Had you done the proper home work, your conclusions with respect to the projects in question would be meaningless anyway. What are your financial credentials to judge a business project? None, I'm sure. Certainly, you could copy the opinions of others... which is all you seem to do anyway. Or, you could fabricate detail to add a little spice, which is what you have done here. You write in your novel that "our calls to the company here encountered nobody answering the telephone". That is an absolute lie. You have made no calls to my office. If you had, I would have taken your call immediately... and of course recorded our disscussion for obvious reasons... you can't be trusted. Your igorance of the oil sector is also laughable. I know any real investigative work would give you a brain freeze. Why don't you have a real journalist actually call the Ministry of Energy in Israel? You might find out that Petromed was awarded a licence to explore an offshore chunk of property on June 1st 2006. Of course, that wouldn't be good writing by your standards. Why would a two bit writer really care about the truth in a story. Forgive me, I don't know what I was thinking. I won't bother to direct you to the other real detail about the other projects... whats the point? You're a moron and wouldn't understand it anyway. Feel free to continue writing your lies. I find them amusing..as do my investors. If you would really like to speak with me, please don't hesitate to actually call!

Alan Marsh, V.P. (V.C. Projects)
First Global Ventures S.A.

Editor’s reply to first missive:

Actually, I called on Friday and Saturday, and nobody picked up.

Actually, I am a Panamanian citizen, having been born here.

Marsh continues:

Actually, you're full of crap! Why would you or anyone with only half of a brain expect to reach someone at their business office on Saturday? As for your assertion that you called on Friday... as I said earlier... you're full of crap. I don't recall anyone ever saying that they could not reach me, or were unable to leave a message for me. The fact that you're a Panamanian is a disgrace to Panama, an otherwise wonderful country. Please don't advertize that you are Panamanian.

Anyway, this is a mute point... as is your lack of journalistic skill and integrity. As for the rest of the misinformation in your article, for the record, Mr. Grossman has nothing to do with FGV and never has. He is a poor slob with his own problems in Canada. That's a matter for him to deal with. I really don't care to defend his situation. However, when you write lies that include FGV, that's another matter. Of course, I will have our legal team review our options with respect to your lies and fabrications which have absolutly no merit and are written with no burden of proof by a moron. In most countries, there would immediate legal remedies to deal with scoundrels like you and your kind. Here in Panama... I'm not sure. I can assure that I will find out though.

Hopefully, you will be hearing from our legal representitives very shortly. If possible, the only damages I will seek will be to have your rag shut down, and you flipping burgers as you should be! If not, at least I know where to go to read the equivalent of a comic strip. Keep up the funny work.

Once again, if you truly wish to speak with me, I would be happy to take a short time to educate you. As stated earlier, only with a recording device engaged.

Alan Marsh, V.P. (V.C. Projects)

First Global Ventures S.A.

Editor's note: Canadian authorities linked First Global Ventures SA to Mr. Grossman because for starters in the calls that were being made to Canadians who had invested in Grossman's prior scams the offer was made to swap worthless Maitland Capital Ltd shares previously sold for shares of First Global Ventures. The New Brunswick Securities Commission (NBSC) said, in its "cease trading" order against the company which Mr. Marsh represents, that:

"In early May the NBSC became aware that a New Brunswick investor had been contacted by First Global Ventures S.A., a Panamanian-registered company. Its representative indicated that he would credit Maitland investors the full $2.50 Canadian they had already paid for the Maitland shares towards a purchase of First Global Ventures S.A. shares at $3.50 U.S., with the investor paying the difference.

"The investigation revealed that Grossman had retained an Ontario web-development company to create a website for First Global Ventures S.A. The content of the website appeared to be largely copied from the website of a legitimate equity-management firm. The investigation also suggested that Grossman was behind the solicitation of the New Brunswick investor."

The NBSC went on to advise the public that "[a]nyone who has been contacted by First Global Ventures S.A., Al Grossman, Al Marsh, Don Andrews or anyone offering shares in this company, is urged to contact the Enforcement Division at 1-866-933-2222."

I stand by the story.

Great issue, except...

I see you continue to ignore Jim Croce's advice to not spit into the wind or tug on Superman's cape and I hope you continue to do so! What a superb issue (4-17 June). I quite frankly don't know how you continue to publish what you do and remain unincarcerated, given the "politically correct" environment that I know exists in Panama.

The only rub I had was with the Larry Birns piece on US involvement in Latin American wherein he dissed Dems as well as the Big Elephant presidentes for interfering in local country affairs. I didn't do any scientific analysis but offhand I'd say our Democrat presidents have helped more than interfered with Latin American nations although the longest running joke in diplomatic history is US policy in Latin America. Never had one. And don't hold your breath. But I think it was the GOP dudes who laid the lash on LATAM nations, ie., Ike and Nicaragua, Nixon and Chile, et al, the Gipper up his eyeballs in Contras and any nutcase he could sign up, the collective Bushes. I don't thin Slick Willie Clinton did any damage to LATAM in his eight years but King George II seems to be on a roll. I'll admit I quit reading the Birns piece when he made that perplexing comparison.

Keep up the good work and as they say in Lower Curundu, "Ten cuidado!"

Bob Sullivan

Editor's note: I, too, find it annoying when some dogmatic campus activist says that there's no difference between US Democrats and Republicans --- from the Panamanian perspective this generalization impedes the sometimes useful strategy of playing on American divisions and for gringos of any sophistication the failure to distinguish is a hallmark of ignorance.

But despite such Democratic legacies as the Good Neighbor Policy and the Alliance for Progress, there are Panamanian and Latin American grievances that apply to both major US parties. In Panama, the matter of unexploded ordnance at the former US military firing ranges is one example of this. On a broader scale the drive for "globalization" on a NAFTA model that has been embraced by both Democrats and Republicans (although not unanimously in either case) has done much to revive anti-American sentiment right across this region.

It seems to me that there is a low-intensity battle to be waged within the Democratic Party, first to wrench control over US policy toward all of Latin America out of the hands of Cuban-American reactionaries who see everything that happens in this region in terms of a devious and all-encompassing Fidelista conspiracy, and then to fashion a new policy that puts the interests of ordinary people in both Latin America and the United States ahead of the privileges of multinational corporations. Easier said than done, especially because US election campaigns are not waged over issues of Latin American policy.

Worries

"The Republicans are worried about the flag, gay marriage and the terrible burden of the estate tax on the rich. The rest of us are obviously unnecessarily worried about war, peace, the economy, the environment and civilization. Another reason to vote Republican --- they have a shorter list."

Molly Ivins

But the rest of us Americans, including those of us who live abroad, need to VOTE about our concerns in the 2006 CONGRESSIONAL MID-TERM ELECTIONS. Please tell your family and friends.

US Citizens Abroad: http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org

Election Guide 2006 by John C. McQueen, available through http://www.democratsabroad.org for a donation of $25 or more.

Beverly

Stop the Republican attack on us!

Republicans in Congress want to increase taxes on Americans living abroad. We want to send them packing. And we have a simple 3-step plan for you to help.

On May 17, George W. Bush signed into law a bill that 51 Republican Senators eagerly pushed through Congress: H.R. 429, also know as the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005.

We prefer to call it the Republican Tax on Americans Abroad. Because that's what it is.

The new Republican law reduces taxes on the wealthy and increases taxes on us --- simply because we live overseas. America is virtually the only developed nation on earth to tax its citizens living outside the country. Instead of correcting this situation, the Republicans have now made it worse!

Here's the crazy part. This all happened without the slightest discussion in the Finance Committee. That's right. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman, quietly tacked on a provision that specifically targets you and me. It was a desperate last-ditch effort to generate an additional $2.1 billion over the next 10 years. And almost every Republican Senator supported his sneaky little move.

How can you help roll back this unfair law? Elect Democrats. Help us regain control of the House and Senate this November.

If you agree that VoteFromAbroad is the best way ever for overseas Democrats to register and vote, then please help us get the word out. Our goals are 500,000 overseas voters this year, and 1 million in 2008. But we can't reach this many people without advertising.

Every dollar you contribute helps us take back the reins of leadership in our country. Since George W. Bush took office, Americans are left feeling increasingly vulnerable around the world. Show him that we don't just generate taxes --- we also generate votes. Lots of them!

Please join me in taking back our government. It is as simple as 1-2-3!

STEP #1: Register for your absentee ballot now at http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org!

STEP #2: Click "Tell A Friend" and help others Vote From Abroad.

STEP #3: Donate to Democrats Abroad and help us spread the word!

Your fellow American abroad,

Michael A. Ceurvorst

International Chair, Democrats Abroad

Al Gore's presentation

These are my notes about the first presentation in Al Gore's tour for his his book and the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth."

Well, lemme tell ya, he had NO stick up his butt tonight; in fact, I wished he'd have had then that he showed tonight! Passion, power, vitality, conviction, confidence. I wondered just how much of this was under wraps before because of his advisors? Whatever, he'da blown them away then if he'da been like this. Way cool. Twas a shame. We all got robbed, but I never did understand why he and the Dems rolled over and played dead. I lost all respect for them.

I've lived through several revolutions and I could smell it in the air, even here in Houston, but it didn't happen... at least not in the traditional way. I was watching a civil war re-enactment on tele and thinking how tragic it was, and that we just might be having to face another; then it ocurred to me that it has already begun! It's what I'd call "an UNcivil war." It was part of a travel show featuring a southern state, and showed a tobacco grower being interviewed. His guilt-free reasoning is that this is a country where one has the CHOICE to smoke cigarettes or not! Yeah, and also to legally consume drugs like tobacco and alcohol, both of which require an ever-increasing "sin" tax to be paid into the State Treasury. But NOT to have the choice over birth control, abortion, who to marry, or what cable channels we'd like to access.

The presentation was fantabulous! Apparently it was based on the book, which I didn't pop for, and it was his first in the tour. Seems fitting to start the circuit in Houston! I've been following the situation for years, and I know I'm not gonna sit and read it, esp after the presentation and going to the movie on Fri. I feel so sad. And so frustrated. And so angry. What we've done to this habitat of ours is absolutely criminal. I am saddened by the number of people impeding progress and sanctimoniously endangering the rest of us by their denial of scientifically verifiable facts. As Mark Twain said, as best I can recall: It ain't what you don't know that can hurt you, it's what you know that isn't so. I don't think we can move much faster than the slowest, and there's still a lot of folks with their heads stuck up their butts. We are facing extinction while they fiddle.

The presentation included projections of when the polar ice caps AND Greenland's ice melt, which appears inevitable and may occur in my lifetime, 'Frisco Bay becomes MUCH larger, Florida disappears, the bottom half of India also goes underwater, as well as much of Texas. In the oceans, the coral reefs are dying from the amount of pollution in it. At the rate we're going, the ocean will become sludge. He also showed the steady increase of heat and how much hotter it's gonna be. Hurricanes, tornados, and typhoons have all increased in frequency and strength and will continue to do so. It's not gonna be pretty.

Naysayers in denial will tell you that it's a cyclical pattern, that there's doubt in the scientific community, or whatever nonscientific BS they've swallowed, and it breaks my heart to see their denial. I won't take any pleasure in their living to see its results. In fact, the scientific community is united in sounding the alarm, and there's plenty of empirical evidence for that alarm. And there's nothing like seeing the physical evidence as I have. Earth is in trouble. The longer we wait to preserve it and combat the pollution that we have introduced and whicb is killing it, the more impossible the task becomes. I'm glad I won't be around for the final chapter.

Gore addressed his lack of desire to pursue office again. I believe him. I don't think he wants it any more, and he may be more valuable as the point man in this endeavor.

I was right in my thinking that towards the equator is the better move; just gotta keep my wits about me in selecting my spot. And I have a new potential son-in-law who is very nice, but so young to be so rigidly conservative. I was wondering where she was getting that rightward tilt from --- now I know. Gotta give that up --- cain't do anything about it. But I don't see any good coming from it and resent people with that mindset impeding progress and sanctimoniously endangering the rest of us. Saw a pic of a beach in Panama to die for the other day, but that probably won't make it --- too low.

Just finished writing my notes and the TV was announcing the killing of Abu Musad Al-Zarkawi, age 39. He was in a remote safe house. It'll be all over the news when you wake up. It'll be interesting to see what happens next. He'd been stepping on Bin Laden's toes for some time now, and had recently been demoted. Even the Muslim clergy distanced themselves from him, saying he was now a military rather than spiritual leader. TV says US military got a "tip." I think his guys gave him up.

Granted, it's almost 4 a.m., but I'm sure there's lotsa people in Washington awake. Gen. Casy made the announcement. Interesting that former security advisor Clark was the one ABC turned to for assessment of the turn of events.

AurorA

Searching for a friend

I am trying to locate my college roommate from 1956. Her name is Rosilda Archibald. She lived in Colon in a section called Balboa I believe. I visited there with her in 1956. We were roommates in Missouri, USA.

She has two brothers named Alberto and Ernesto, a sister named Anna. If you could put a notice in your newpaper under letters, perhaps someone would see it that knows this family. She was a teacher educated here in the USA.

Wanda Phillips

GrannyPoppie5@aol.com