To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - EU jump starts Car Free Day 2000
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 09:33:54 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

European Union Jump Starts Car Free Day 2000

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 4, 2000 (ENS) - At a conference in Brussels
today, the European Commission and nine European Union countries
launched the European Car Free Day initiative.

European Commissioner for Environment Margot Wallström, ministers and
high-level representatives signed the "European Car Free Day" pledge
committing themselves to facilitate the organisation by local authorities of a
car free day event on September 22, 2000.

Dominique Voynet, French Minister for Spatial Planning and the
Environment; Edo Ronchi, Italian Minister for the Environment; José
Socrates, Portuguese Minister for Environment; and Isabelle Durant, Belgian
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport were on hand at the the
Palais des Congrès to support the initiative.

Commissioner Wallstrom said, "I believe that Car Free Day is a popular
initiative because it addresses some of the key concerns of Europe's
citizens. Eurobarometer opinion polls show that when asked about the
reasons they have to complain about their living environment, 51 percent
mention density of traffic as their greatest concern, and 41 percent mention
air pollution."

Wallstrom said some steps have been taken to relieve pressure of living with
traffice, but more needs to be done. "During the last five years a
comprehensive legislative framework on air quality has been established in
the Community. This framework will place increasing pressure on local
authorities to respect strict legal limit values so that the quality of ambient air
is improved. Following a similar approach later this year I hope to table draft
legislation on noise. This will lead local authorities to measure, monitor and,
where appropriate, reduce noise in urban areas," the commissioner said.

Other speakers at the launch event were Mayors of small and large
European cities, including Leoluca Orlando, who is mayor of Palermo and
president of the Car Free Cities network. The Car Free Cities is a network of
some 70 European cities which was created in 1994 by Eurocities and the
Directorate General for Environment to study, to develop and to exchange
good practices in the field of sustainable mobility by local authorities.

Recent surveys indicate European citizens are becoming increasingly
concerned about air pollution, noise, danger and stress caused by traffic. At
the same time, the number of cars on the road continues to grow in
European cities, while a significant majority of all car trips made in Europe
cover a distance of less than five kilometers.

The European Car Free Day initiative aims to raise awareness of the need to
change mobility patterns. It enables citizens to see the benefits of a 'car free'
environment whilst representing a platform for dialogue on the development of
transport and urban planning. It also allows city councils to test new
transport concepts in situ - gas buses, pedestrian areas, electric vehicles for
goods delivery or a cycle network.

This year's Car Free Day initiative follows the success of the "In town without
my car" days held in 1998 in 35 French cities and in 1999, when, with the
support of the LIFE programme, 66 French cities were joined by 92 Italian
cities.

On September 22, 1999, car-free areas were established in large parts of city
centres, enabling citizens to discover their hometown on foot, by bicycle or
public transport, and to test new low emission vehicles. Conventional goods
vehicles were replaced by electric or zero emission alternatives and public
transport fares were discounted for the day.

In 1999 22 million people participated in the campaign, with more than 80
percent wishing to see the operation repeated regularly in the future.

At the 1999 event, Commission President Romano Prodi and Commissioner
Margot Wallström took a cycle ride with members of their staff through the
streets of Brussels, accompanied by Isabelle Durant, Belgian Transport
Minister.

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/feb2000/2000L-02-04-02.html

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 09:40:20 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

BOARDED RUSSIAN OIL TANKER IN GULF IS DETAINED
WASHINGTON -- An international patrol enforcing U.N. sanctions against
Iraq has decided to divert a Russian oil tanker to a holding area after
finding evidence it engaged in smuggling, the United States said on
Thursday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=131736&text

No U.N. Comment On Diversion Of Russian Tanker (4Feb.00)
 http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=131764

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Year of the Dragon
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 09:40:20 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

February 4, 2000

Year Of The Dragon: Expect Momentous Events In China And The World

The arrival of the Year of the Dragon on Saturday should have China and the
world on tenterhooks as astrologers warn it could bring momentous or
cataclysmic changes.

"The year will be marked by huge events, especially in China," said Gu
Changwen, a monk from Mount Wutai in the northern province of Shanxi
which is one of Buddhism's holiest shrines.

"It is an auspicious year for the Chinese. The country will continue to develop
and people will grow richer."

The dragon is considered the most prestigious of the 12 signs of the
horoscope and it can often fuel a baby boom as couples try to bring their
child a life of luck.

But Gu warned: "If he becomes angry it can lead to huge flooding as he rules
over the waters."

He said the rest of the world could also be in for some major changes as it
leaves the Year of the Rabbit behind, refusing to rule out new wars and
natural disasters.

The Communist Party has tried hard to eradicate superstition during its 50
years in power, but nevertheless belief in traditional astrology remains deeply
embedded in Chinese culture.

Many Chinese have been preparing feverishly to celebrate the coming of the
dragon, which this year will combine with metal -- one of the five elements in
Chinese astrology along with wood, fire, water and earth.

Not withstanding China's one-child policy, millions of Chinese are expected
to try to take advantage of the extreme good fortune brought by the dragon
and the figure 2,000.

The Lunar New Year calendar has been observed in China since time
immemorial, and each year the calendar moves through a different sign of the
zodiac -- repeating itself every 12 years.

The dragon is the only imaginary animal among the list of 12 beasts called
on by Buddha to populate the earth. The cycle is rat, bull, tiger, rabbit,
dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

"The dragon is the ultimate power. It can stand up to any of the animals
because it contains the powers of several elements -- the body of a snake,
the scales of a fish, the feet of a rooster and the horns of a stag," said the
monk.

The year of the dragon has a history of causing massive upheavals in China.

"The dragon is the very incarnation of China," said Gu, pointing out that the
first emperor Qin Shihuangdi (221-207 BC) made the dragon a symbol of his
power.

"Remember 1976," said amateur astrologer Diao Ming, referring to the year
24 years ago when "three stars were extinguished".

He was referring to three of the founders of the Communist revolution in
China in 1949. Mao Zedong, Prime Minister Zhou Enlai and Marshal Zhu De
all died in 1976.

The event triggered the fall of the "Gang of Four" in power in Beijing and the
end of the Maoist Cultural Revolution which left between two and five million
people dead.

In 1976 China was also hit by the massive earthquake in the northern city of
Tangshan which left at least 240,000 people dead.

The cataclysmic events of 1976 ultimately brought to power Deng Xiaoping,
himself born in a Year of the Dragon, and set the country on the road
towards free market reform.

Each year is heavy with risk for those under whose star sign it falls, and
many Chinese wear a red belt during the year of their animal to keep them
attached to the earth and prevent their death.

China's number two, parliamentary leader Li Peng, and number three, Prime
Minister Zhu Rongji, are dragons born in 1928. The political rivals would do
well to watch their step in the coming year. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

http://www.insidechina.com/features.php3?id=132031

[Saturday, February 5, 2000 starts the Chinese "Year of the Dragon."]

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Two Witnesses
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 13:23:32 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

This concept of Eliyahu's [Elijah] coming as a herald of Mashiach Ben-
David [Messiah, son of David] is supported not only in the Tanakh [Old
Testament] and the B'rit Chadashah [New Testament] but also in our
Jewish literature:

* ...The resurrection of the dead cometh through Elijah of blessed memory.
[Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sotah 49b]

* ...the holy spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead; the resurrection of
the dead leads to Elijah the prophet. [Midrash Rabbah Song of Songs]

* The resurrection of the dead will come through Elijah, who will likewise
act as the herald to announce the advent of the Messiah. [Everyman's
Talmud]

It was even taught that Eliyahu had three cities in Y'hudah [Judah] from
which he would again begin his ministry. The discussion follows:

It [one of the three cities of Eliyahu in Y'hudah] was called 'Zenan'
because he [Elijah, its owner] was a buckler (zinah), and 'Hadashah,'
because God would renew him (me-hadesho) in the millennium. It was
called 'Migdal-gad,' because from there God would one day go forth and
cut down (magdid) the foundations of Esau. (Midrash footnote: Warsaw ed.
reads "the foundations of the heathen"--the meaning is the same.) [Midrash
Rabbah Exodus]

Zenan and Hadashah were lowland cities about 50 km (31 miles) from
Y'rushalayim. Migdal-gad was located about 38 km (24 miles) west of
present-day Hebron. According to Jewish expectation, Eliyahu will emerge
before the resurrection from one of these cities (ruins) and not in the desert
as was Yochanan the Immerser [John the Baptist].

One more interesting fact: According to Jewish expectation, Eliyahu will
come with Mosheh [Moses]. In the ancient Jewish writings of the Midrash
Rabbah, we join a discussion in progress, one not linked to some special
revelation but rather a drash which is a Hebrew form of storytelling. The
discussion focuses upon a dialogue between G-d and Mosheh. After
Mosheh brings the second set of stone tablets up to G-d for His signature,
G-d says:

Moses, I swear to you, as you devoted your life to their service in this
world, so too in the time to come when I bring Elijah, the prophet, unto
them, the two of you shall come together. [Midrash Rabbah Deuteronomy]

...I believe Eliyahu and Mosheh will return in the flesh prior to the
resurrection and rapture on the Day of the L-rd. How soon before the Day
of the L-rd will they appear? I am not sure about Mosheh but I think
Eliyahu will come six months before the resurrection because Yochanan (a
type of Eliyahu), who was a forerunner of Mashiach, was six months older
than Y'shua. And if Y'shua comes for His bride at Rosh Hashanah then
Eliyahu will appear in Israel at Pesach. Why Pesach? Because that is when
Eliyahu is expected. For almost 2,000 years, Jews every year at the annual
celebration of Pesach prepare a table-setting for him.
--------------------

In the ancient Jewish writings including the Tanakh the resurrection is
scheduled for the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) which is called an
"appointed time," or in Hebrew, a Moed.

Signs in the Heavens
Avi Ben Mordechai
====================

Joshua 15:21,37 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of
Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were...Zenan, and Hadashah,
and Migdalgad,

Online Bible Hebrew Lexicon:
Zenan = "pointed"
Hadashah = "new"
Migdal-Gad = "tower of God"
====================

For more on the two witnesses, please see "Elijah" and "Two Witnesses"
files at BPR website http://philologos.org/bpr/research.htm

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