BPR Mailing List Digest: 11/10/99

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
November 10, 1999

Digest Home | 1999 | November, 1999

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Pope to appear on phone cards
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 08:55:04 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

Pope to appear on phone cards

November 9, 1999

SARASOTA, Fla., Nov. 9 (UPI) A Sarasota, Fla., firm said
Tuesday it has received permission to market a series of prepaid
long distance telephone cards carrying images of Pope John Paul
II.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said
the arrangement with Siesta Telecom Inc. did not have the
support of some elements of the Catholic Church.

"In no way should it be taken to have the support of the U.S.
Bishops Conference the Italian Bishop's Conference or the
Vatican secretary of state," said spokeswoman Marianne Walsh.

Stephen May, president and Chief Executive Officer of Siesta,
said the deal was made with Forum of the Families in the
Vatican. He said, contrary to Walsh's statement, it was approved
by the Vatican secretary of state.

May said the arrangement will be announced Thursday at Miami
Beach, Fla. The Vatican would get $1 for each $10 card sold, and
the money would go to the Forum of the Family, part of the
Catholic Church's Jubilee 2000 celebration.

The cards include the pope's signature, his seal and a
blessing. Siesta Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it was the first time
these items have been included together.

A series of four cards, featuring different images of the pope,
will be sold by convenience stores and local Catholic churches,
and are scheduled for sale on the QVC shopping channel next
year. May said churches and schools participating would also get
from 30-45 percent of the proceeds.

Four additional images will be issued later.

The phone cards are a part of the church's strategy to raise
funds. On trips to the United States in 1990s and in later
promotions, the pope endorsed Christmas tree ornaments, T-
shirts, caps, bottled water, fanny packs glow-in-the dark
watches and CDs.

The initial contact with the Vatican was made by Siesta
Chairman Marvin Rosen, a former finance chairman for the
Democratic National Committee, with an acquaintance, the
Vatican's representative to the United Nations.

http://news.excite.com/news/u/991109/17/news-phonecards

_________________________
To subscribe to BPR send a message to bpr-list@philologos.org
with the word "subscribe" in the subject. To unsubscribe send a
message to the same address with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Nov 7th Hindu Protest Rally
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 12:16:09 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

PRESS RELEASE (As sent to Indian American News Papers)
For Immediate Release

Carrying signs reading "Religious Intolerance Is Un-American"
and "There is no 'your God' or 'my God.' There is only one God.
Be enlightened", a group of over 150 Houston-area Hindus
picketed silently and peacefully in front of Houston's Second
Baptist Church on Sunday, November 7, 1999. They were protesting
what they consider an anti-Hindu guidebook recently published by
the International Missionary Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention.

The Southern Baptist Convention guidebook urges Baptists to
pray for the conversion of Hindus during the Hindu holiday of
Divali, the festival of lights. Asserting that Hindus worship
false gods and even Satan, the guidebook has raised a furor
among Hindus not just in Houston, but worldwide. Swami Dhrumil
Kumar, a saint of the Vallabh Preeti Seva Samaj who is on a
visit to various VPSS temples in the United States, said, "We
must protest so our youth are not misled by such vicious lies."

The crowd protesting at Second Baptist, one of the nation's
largest churches with 26,000 members, included people from all
ages and all walks of life. Many of the participants, as well as
the rally organizers, were college-and high school youth and
young professionals. Also participating were a number of couples
and their children. Older adults also joined the rally. Several
members of the Jewish faith that was also targeted by the
Southern Baptists in a similar prayer book recently also joined
the protest.

"It's absurd," said Jewish protester Bernard Shapiro, director
of the Freeman Center for Strategic Studies. "This is middle
ages-type stuff. I mean, in a country like America, we should be
more tolerant."

"I am here to protest against religious intolerance; ignorance
brings prejudice" said Shilpa Chunchu, 24. The main thrust of
the protesters was that religious intolerance in America cannot
be left unanswered. As Ms. Abha Misra, one of the rally
organizers, stated, "The foundation of religious freedom in
America is the religious tolerance of the American people. In
order to sustain this religious freedom, we must remain ever
vigilant for the first sign of religious intolerance."

The purpose of the protest was not mere publicity. It was also
to focus attention on the rise of religious intolerance among a
major denomination and to correct the misunderstanding that
exists about Hinduism in the face of these untruths, according
to Amit Mishra, a young Houston attorney who spearheaded the
planning and organization of the rally. He also stated that
"There is nothing wrong in educating someone about your faith.
But when there is an element of trickery or coercion involved,
that is just not right; that is violence."

Mr. Stanley Berly, another rally organizer, noted that "the
Southern Baptist guidebook attempts to dehumanize Hindus as evil
and foreign. Two million Hindu-Americans and all freedom-loving
Americans, regardless of religion, must stop this cancer of hate
from spreading."

via: BSaphir@aol.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Stratfor: "Russia is looking south and Turkey is in the way"
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 12:27:26 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

Stratfor Commentary
11/08/99
http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/commentary/m9911082340.htm

Turkey Silent on Cyprus Missiles

Within the past year, Turkey opposed the purchase of anti-
aircraft systems for Crete and Greek-controlled Cyprus, even
threatening military action. Yet bold Cypriot statements and
actions involving these systems indicate that they do not fear a
Turkish response. Such confidence is most likely due in part to
Turkey´s desire to join the European Union, but it may also
indicate Russian pressure on Ankara.

Cyprus Defense Minister Socratis Hasikos´ brazen comments Nov.
7 about anti-aircraft defenses on the disputed island of Cyprus
left Turkish government officials strangely silent. Hasikos
publicly confirmed that TOR-M1 missiles were fully operational
in Cyprus, as were long range S-300 anti-air missiles on Crete.
This statement comes a little more than a month after a Cypriot
military parade showed off its TOR-M1s.

Turkey´s silence is linked to its potential EU candidacy. Its
membership, to be decided in December, has been a long-term goal
for Ankara. Radical diplomatic or military action against Cyprus
would in no way improve its chances. Of course, Cyprus is aware
of this and may simply be enjoying a few months of relative
impunity. Dutch reaffirmation of support for Turkey´s EU
candidacy Nov. 8 may have been a reward for Turkey´s silence.

A slightly more complicated explanation could be that Russia
pressured Turkey to not respond to Cypriot actions. Russia is a
natural and historical geopolitical competitor of Turkey and
assisting Turkey´s adversaries is in Russia´s interests.

Ankara and Moscow compete in several areas: in the Balkans,
with Turkey backing Albanians and Russia backing Serbs, in the
Levant, with Turkish-ally Israel against Russia-backed Syria and
in the southern Caucasus as Russians battle Chechens, who
reportedly receive Turkish support. Of course, Ankara also
controls the Bosporus Strait, which regulates traffic in and out
of the Black Sea.

As Russian foreign policy looks south, its interactions with
Turkey have increased, as evidenced by last week´s Moscow summit
between Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin. Moscow has begun a carrot and stick
game with Ankara, sometimes working with them and sometimes
against. For example, in a friendly move, Moscow TV reported
that Russia assisted Turkey in capturing Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, but in return, Russia extracted
Turkish acceptance of the S-300 system in Crete. Similarly,
Russian military assistance to Syria is perhaps balanced by
promised cooperation on the proposed Blue Stream natural gas
pipeline to flow between Russia and Turkey.

Russia holds still more levers with Turkey. It reportedly
supports the Kurdish resistance movement within eastern Turkey
and is strengthening relations with Turkish rival Greece. The
use of these levers signals a possible expansion of Russian
interests in the region, and in Turkey in particular. Russia is
looking south and Turkey is in the way. With these pressures on
Turkey, the issue of the anti-air missiles on Crete pales by
comparison.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Nov 11, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:45:42 -0500

From: research-bpr@philologos.org

9:00 PM Eastern

FOX - GREED: THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE -
Teams of contestants compete for more than $2 million; host
Chuck Woolery.(CC)(TVG)

A&E - INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS - "Inside Scientology" -
Controversy continues over the Church of
Scientology.(CC)

DISC - DEAD SEA SCROLLS: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY -
New technologies enable researchers to decipher the ancient
documents.(CC)(TVG)

HIST - ESCAPE! TALES OF SUSPENSE - "Breakout From
Iran" - Ross Perot recruits a team of commandos to rescue his
employees in Iran.(CC)(TVPG)

10:00

DISC - DIVINE MAGIC - "Prophecy" - The life and times of
Nostradamus.(CC)(TVG)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - NOAA announces storm warning scale for solar explosions
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:47:21 -0500

From: research-bpr@philologos.org

11/9/99 -- 6:03 PM

NOAA announces storm warning scale for solar explosions

WASHINGTON (AP) - The sun will greet the new millennium by
turning angry, erupting into the most active part of its 11-year
cycle with outbursts of energy that can threaten satellites,
electrical power and spacewalking astronauts.

Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration said Tuesday the approaching solar storm could be
more destructive than previous cycles because the Earth has more
power grids and satellites that might be affected.

"There are bigger power grids, drawing more power now so the
power companies are more vulnerable," said D. James Baker, the
NOAA administrator.

There are also 600 satellites, more than ever in history, that
also might be affected, said Baker.

This year, though, the power companies and satellite operators
will be better prepared than ever, he said.

Two satellites, operated by NOAA, NASA and the Air Force, are
positioned in orbit to warn about hazardous energy bursts from
the sun.

One satellite, orbiting a million miles from Earth, will detect
a rise in charged solar particles and give an hour's warning.

Baker said that will be enough time for power companies to
protect their electrical grids.

Satellite operators can protect orbiting equipment by turning
off circuits to prevent shorts, by closing solar panels, or by
turning away from the wave of energy. He said operators are also
prepared for "ghost signals," spurious electronic surges that
may prompt the satellite to take an unexpected action.

The hour's warning also would allow spacewalking astronauts to
seek the safety of the shuttle or the space station.

Baker said that NOAA also has created a new scale to precisely
describe the intensity of solar storms. He said the new values
"are the Richter scales of space weather."

The scales will predict the intensity of three types of energy
eruptions from the sun: geomagnetic, radiation and radio storms.

For geomagnetic storms, caused by ejections of charged masses
from the corona of the sun, there is a scale of G1 to G5. The
strongest, G5, warns of electromagnetic energy powerful enough
to knock out power grids, disable satellites and cause auroras,
the so-called northern lights, to be visible as far south as the
equator.

For radiation storms, caused by bursts of protons and neutrons,
the scale is from S5, the strongest, to S1. An S5 storm would be
powerful enough to kill spacewalking astronauts, disrupt
communications, cause memory losses in satellites and even
disrupt navigation signals.

For radio storms, caused by bursts of radio frequency energy
from the sun, the scale is from R5, the strongest, to R1. An R5
storm could cause a blackout of high frequency radio signals on
the sunlit side of the Earth and disrupt low frequency
navigation signals for hours.

The sun goes through an 11-year cycle, building up energy
outbursts until it reaches what is called solar max. Baker said
the solar activity is building now and should peak next year and
then tail off.

During the last solar max, in 1989, a major geomagnetic storm
sent a power surge through electrical lines, burning out
switches and transformers and causing an extended blackout in
Quebec. The same storm also knocked out some Defense Department
satellites, said Baker.

A solar storm last year was blamed for the loss of a
communications satellite that put 40 million pagers and phones
out of business, Baker said.

He said the approaching solar max should be only "average,"
about like the one in 1989. But this time, he said, most power
companies and satellite operators are ready.

"They are better prepared now," said Baker. "If they get a
warning, they are ready to act. An hour's warning is enough for
the power guys."

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19991109/pl/angry_sun_1.html

via: End_Times_News@onelist.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today Items - Nov 10, 1999
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:50:30 -0500

From: research-bpr@philologos.org

Israel gives Chinese jets advanced
airborne early warning system

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: AP

Tue Nov 9,1999 -- Israel is outfitting a Chinese air force
plane with an advanced airborne early warning system that will
allow the aircraft to conduct long-range radar surveillance and
coordinate forces during battle, an Israeli official said
Tuesday. The Soviet manufactured Ilyushin-50 aircraft has been
in Israel for more than two weeks, being mounted with the
PHALCON radar system, said the Israeli official.

PHALCON, which stands for Phased-Array L-Band Conformal radar,
is manufactured by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aircraft
Industries. Elta designed the system for the Israel air force
using an American- manufactured Boeing 707 airliner as a
platform. It has also been reported that Israel has sold the
PHALCON to South Africa and converted two South African air
force Boeings for the system. According to foreign reports,
Israel already has extensive military cooperation with China.
Jane's Defense Weekly has reported that a fighter plane now
being developed by China bears a striking resemblance to the
Lavi, an Israeli aircraft developed in the 1980s but scrapped
before it entered production.

Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian, who visited Israel last
month, discussed the possibility that Israel Aircraft Industries
might upgrade China's Mig-21 fighters, which form the backbone
of the Chinese air force but are antiquated, the Israeli
newspaper Haaretz said. The Soviet-built Mig-21 dates back to
the 1960s.

Barak clarifies 242 Statement

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arutz7

Tue Nov 9,1999 -- Prime Minister Barak's statement yesterday to
the effect that U.N. Resolution 242 has no bearing on the
Palestinian problem is one of the main issues facing him during
his visit in Paris. Barak's office has already issued a
clarification, to the effect that Israel regards Resolution 242
as binding, but that there are "different interpretations" as to
how to apply it to the Palestinian question. Barak addressed the
Socialist International in Paris, of which he was elected Vice
President, this afternoon. In his speech, Barak made an
impassioned plea to Syria President Assad to "contract peace
with Israel." He said that the time for painful decisions has
come, and that the window of opportunity may soon close.

Barak met this morning with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,
and will meet with PA Chairman Arafat and other leaders before
his departure for Israel this evening. Arafat accused the
"Israeli mafia" of responsibility for the terrorist attack in
Netanya two days ago. Minister for Regional Development Shimon
Peres, who is accompanying Barak, said that Arafat's words are
ridiculous, and that "from time to time, Arafat spouts
nonsense." Peres will be chosen as Honorary President of the
Socialist International.

Opening statment by Israel in the
Final Status talks

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Tue Nov 9,1999 -- Mr. Yassir Abed Rabbo, and the members of the
Palestinian Delegation, In the life of nations there comes a
time when crucial decisions have to be made and there is nothing
to be gained from avoiding these decisions. At these junctures
in history, heavy burdens are imposed on the leaders involved
and nations are plunged into debate and internal conflict. Prime
Minister Ehud Barak and Chairman Yassir Arafat have taken the
decision to renew the process to end more than one hundred years
of conflict between the people of Israel and the Palestinian
people.

This should not be simply an end to a conflict but a fair and
just solution for both sides. It has to be a realistic and
comprehensive solution, putting an end to dreams and
aspirations, which question the very existence of the parties to
the conflict. This has to be an Agreement which will create a
stable, durable and just foundation to our own lives, as well as
to the generations to come in this part of the world. We
recognize the enormity of the problems, we are aware of the
differences in our position which will reveal themselves in the
days of negotiation ahead of us, but we commit ourselves -with
no reservations – to holding these negotiations as partners, to
maintaining a dialogue based on mutual respect.

After years of strife and conflict we need to listen to each
other and to respect each other's points of view even when we
disagree. We have come here to negotiate and to reach a
solution. No one else can decide for us. Only Palestinians and
Israelis can, negotiating between ourselves, reach the solutions
to all the issues on which we differ, and I repeat - it is our
wish to reach a permanent and comprehensive peace with you as
our neighbors. This peace should be based on security - long-
term and immediate. The act of terror yesterday serves to
refresh our memory and awareness of this requirement. The peace
should be based on economic security as well, ensuring a stable
environment for economic growth and prosperity. And last but not
least, it should be based on mutual respect and partnership.

We have set ourselves an ambitious timetable for resolving the
outstanding issues between us and for reaching a Comprehensive
Agreement on Permanent Status by the agreed target date of
September 2000. In reaching this goal, the next 100 days will be
crucial. In this time, both sides have undertaken to conclude a
Framework Agreement on Permanent Status.

This Framework Agreement should serve as a road map for the
comprehensive Permanent Status Agreement. It should comprise the
essential elements of the agreed solution to all remaining
issues to be negotiated between us, as stipulated in all our
previous agreements. It should address these issues - the most
important and complex ones we face - in a definitive way, while
leaving the detailed formulation of arrangements for
implementation to the Comprehensive Agreement, which should
bring about the full and final resolution of the Israeli-
Palestinian dispute, in all its aspects.

While recognizing that this is a new phase in our relations, we
must first acknowledge that we are marching on a road, parts of
which were paved earlier. Both Palestinians and Israelis
participated in the Madrid Conference of October 1991. Both
concluded the historical document which really ushered us into
the new era in our relations - the Declaration of Principles of
September 1993. We continued with the agreements of May 1994,
September 1995, the Hebron Protocol of January 1997, the Wye
River Memorandum of October 1998, and last but not least the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of September 1999. These agreements
and memoranda are based on the mutual commitment of the two
sides to Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. They guide us
toward the Framework and will lead us to the comprehensive
agreement which should bring about the absolute end of our
conflict.

The Declaration of Principles of September 1993 and the
subsequent documents have created the agenda for our
negotiations beginning today. Clearly each side may raise other
issues to be included in the agenda. We will together decide how
we want to tackle them, but with your permission Mr. Yassir Abed
Rabbo, I would like to state that just as you represent the
overwhelming Palestinian consensus on the major issues - so do I
for Israel. To all Israelis, regardless of their political
views, Jerusalem is our capital and it should continue to be so.
Under its sovereignty Israel has proven its sensitivity to all
religions and to the sanctity of freedom of worship. We
therefore maintain that it should remain united, open and under
Israel's sovereignty.

Ours is a region of uncertainty, of a volatile nature and of
violence. As a nation which was subjected to forceful attempts
to bring an end to its existence as a political entity, one can
understand our deep concern for long-term, meaningful, non-
virtual security, based on borders that are secure and on
demilitarization. The pre-1967 lines clearly do not provide for
this. Establishing secure borders should equally leave most of
the Israelis residing today in the West Bank and Gaza under
Israeli sovereignty. We aim not to dominate our neighbors but to
live in good neighborly relations and harmony next to each
other, with borders which separate us but do not detach us in
the various spheres of life. Let me make it clear that in this
respect Israel will do its utmost to assist the Palestinians
long- term economic stability.

We are not indifferent to the plight of the Palestinian
refugees throughout the last fifty-one years. We believe,
however, that in order to bring about a permanent and stable
solution which does not perpetuate the conflict, this cannot be
found within the borders of Israel. Any solution to the refugee
problem must create a strong, economic foundation to their well
being, collectively and individually, wherever they reside.

Stating our key positions as we enter the negotiations is by no
means contrary to the need for both delegations to use every bit
of ingenuity and creativity to make it possible to reach a
Framework Agreement on Permanent Status. We must promise to
conduct our negotiations with an open mind, a sense of
partnership, and respect for each other's views and beliefs. We
shall need to remind ourselves during the weeks ahead that
failure to reach a just and agreed framework may entail the
paying of a heavy price by both peoples for many years to come.
Since I believe that the path of continued conflict cannot serve
the course and interests of either people, it is certain that if
we fail this time we may return to the negotiation table – but
only after having suffered further pain and agony.

The eyes of the world are focused on us today and will continue
to be so for the next few months. Clearly the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict is but one of many which draw the attention
of leaders of the leading Nations to other areas of tension. We
should therefore thank the United States, the European Union and
the European Countries, Russia, Canada and Japan for their
special and continuing efforts to help us attain a reasonable,
stable and durable peace. We welcome the constructive advice of
Egypt and Jordan.

Dear Colleague, I was born only five kilometers from where you
were born. This symbolizes the roots of the conflict and yet –
we are starting out together today on the same road towards a
better future. You have my government's commitment - as well as
my personal commitment and that of my colleagues - to make every
possible effort to reach this goal. It will be an honor to
disagree with you - but it will be a fulfillment of a life's
dream to shake hands with you at the end of the process and to
say "Brother and comrade, we did it".

Red Crescent countries still opposed
to Israeli membership

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Tue Nov 9,1999 -- Following years of a discriminatory policy,
leaders of the International Red Cross are now considering the
inclusion of the Israeli Red Magen David in the organization.
Should Israel be permitted to join, the red Star of David (Red
Magen David) would join the red cross and red crescent as
emblems associated with the international humanitarian and
relief organization. Addressing an international forum last
Tuesday, the president of the American Red Cross, Dr. Bernadine
Healy said in a speech that the exclusion of the Israelis is "a
betrayal of the sacred principles of this movement" and "cannot
be tolerated any longer."

Most of the reluctance for any change in the current status
stems from Arab Red Crescent Societies unwilling to accord
acceptance to the Israelis, and leaders of the IRC fear that a
decision to include Israel would result in a division in the
movement. The six-pointed red star, also known as the Red Star
of David, was excluded in a 22-21 vote in 1949. Since then, the
Israeli group has worked closely with Red Cross societies, but
it is only accorded nonvoting observer status at the meetings of
the 176-nation International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies.

Barak-Arafat meeting scheduled for
Tuesday in Paris

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Tue Nov 9,1999 -- Prime Minister Ehud Barak and PLO Authority
(PA) Chairman Yassir Arafat are scheduled to meet in Paris on
Tuesday. Both leaders are in France to attend the meeting of the
Socialist International. Prime Minsiter Barak is also scheduled
to meet with other foreign leaders while in Paris, including
President Jacques Chirac and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

http://upway.com/cgi-bin

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

Philologos | Bible Prophecy Research | Online Books | Reference Guide

Please be advised that this domain (Philologos.org) does not endorse 100 per cent any link contained herein. This forum is for the dissemination of pertinent information on an end-times biblical theme which includes many disturbing, unethical, immoral, etc. topics and should be viewed with a mature, discerning eye.