"NASA FINDS WIDE ANNUAL FLUCTUATIONS IN ARCTIC OZONE LOSS"
BBSN 03-03-28 - "Ozone depletion over Earth's Arctic region varies widely from year to year in its amount, timing and pattern of loss. That's the conclusion of a research team using data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. The findings, published in the current issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research, provide the first consistent, three- dimensional picture of ozone loss during multiple Arctic winters. The findings confirm previous Arctic ozone loss estimate variations."

"NASA EXPRESSES CONCERN AND CONDOLENCES FOR HELICOPTER CREW"
BBSN 03-03-28 - "NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe expressed condolences and concern for the crew of the helicopter searching for Space Shuttle Columbia debris, which crashed yesterday in Texas. "All of us at NASA express our sincere condolences to the families of the helicopter crew members killed in the accident. We deeply empathize with their loss during such a trying time, and have lowered flags at all NASA centers to honor the memory of their loved ones. Our thoughts and concerns go out to the injured crew members, and we pray for their speedy recovery," Administrator O'Keefe said."

"Rafah: Israeli army terrorizes activists while destroying Mosque: ISM"
BBSN 03-03-27 - "Brazil Block area of Rafa - Last night, Israeli forces destroyed a Mosque with a bullozer. While doing so, they terrorized a house containing Internationals just a few doors down. The two Internationals are both American and are members of ISM, the International Solidarity Movement. They have been staying in the house trying to provide protection for the family, the house, and themselves. Last night, the Israeli forces shot a tank shell at the house knowing that the unarmed Internationals and a civilian family were inside."

"Jenin: Israeli Military Breaks Into Rights Groups Offices: ISM"
BBSN 03-03-27 - "JENIN - Jenin has been under 24-hour curfew for 5 consecutive days. During this time 4 children have been shot by the Israeli Occupation Forces, two of whom, age 14 and 15 have died. One 12-year-old is in critical condition and the other is hospitalized. Twenty-six houses in the Jenin camp and city have been occupied by soldiers for the positioning of snipers and other military purposes."

"Human Rights Watch: U.N. Counter-Terrorism Watchdog Needed"
BBSN 03-26-03 - "Geneva - The United Nations should appoint a high-level expert to monitor the impact of counter-terrorist measures on human rights, Human Rights Watch urged today. In a new report released at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Watch highlighted abuses being committed around the world in the name of the international fight against terrorism. The report includes case studies from China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan."

"HUBBLE WATCHES LIGHT FROM MYSTERIOUS ERUPTING STAR REVERBERATE THROUGH SPACE"
BBSN 03-03-26 - "In January 2002, a dull star in an obscure constellation suddenly became 600,000 times more luminous than our Sun, temporarily making it the brightest star in our Milky Way galaxy. The mysterious star has long since faded back to obscurity, but observations by NASA's Hubble's Space Telescope of a phenomenon called a "light echo" has uncovered remarkable new features. These details promise to provide astronomers with a CAT-scan-like probe of the three-dimensional structure of shells of dust surrounding an aging star. The results appear tomorrow in the journal Nature."

"SPACE OBSERVATORY TO STUDY THE OLD, THE COLD AND THE DUSTY"
BBSN 03-03-25 - "A NASA observatory will soon open a new window to the universe. By using infrared technology to study celestial objects, which are either too cool, too dust-enshrouded or too far away to otherwise be seen, NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), will pierce the thick dust that permeates the universe."

"NASA SELECTS COMMERCIAL & GOVERNMENT INVENTIONS OF THE YEAR"
BBSN 03-03-26 - "Software technology, proven to be invaluable for law enforcement investigations, and a mathematical method received NASA's Commercial and Government Invention of the Year Awards. The Video Image Stabilization and Registration System (VISAR) received NASA's Commercial Invention of the Year."

"PRIMARY SEARCH FOR COLUMBIA MATERIAL PASSES HALFWAY MARK"
BBSN 03-03-25 - "As the search of more than 500,000 acres of primary recovery area for Space Shuttle Columbia material reached its halfway mark, NASA Administrator, Sean O'Keefe, visited key sites in east Texas to thank recovery crews for their diligence and hard work. "The outstanding interagency cooperation, and the hard work of all the individuals working on recovery, has been truly gratifying and inspiring," Administrator O'Keefe said."

"NASA TEAMS WITH NATIONAL EDUCATION PUBLISHER"
BBSN 03-03-24 - "NASA and Pearson Scott Foresman (PSF), the leading pre- K-6 educational publisher, will formally announce an agreement on Thursday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. EST at Overbrook Elementary School in Philadelphia. The goal of the partnership is to create a multi-faceted project to spark student imagination, encourage interest in space exploration, and enhance elementary science curricula."

"NASA NAMES NEW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER"
BBSN 03-03-24 - "NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced today, Patricia L. Dunnington is the agency's new Chief Information Officer (CIO)."

"NASA DEVELOPS LONG-TERM PLANNING PROCESS FOR SPACE SHUTTLE"
BBSN 03-03-24 - "NASA is taking new steps to ensure Space Shuttles fly safely into the future. Last week, during the first of what will be an annual Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) Summit, NASA led the U.S. space flight community in a comprehensive debate on the long-term requirements to extend the life of the Space Shuttle fleet."

"Jenin: 1 Child Killed, 1 Shot in Leg, Soldiers to Search Hospital: ISM"
BBSN 03-03-24 - "Jenin, Occupied West Bank, At 3:00PM on Monday March 24, A 15 year old child was shot in the head and killed by Israeli forces while imposing curfew in the city of Jenin. His name was "Ahmed Imad Abu Jelhad". Another child was shot in the leg and is recovering at Martyr Doctor Khalid Suliman hospital in Jenin. Israeli forces have threatened to search the hospital for other children they claim have entered the hospital and who were not hurt. There are 5 internationals at the hospital from the International Solidarity Movement."

"Media Invited to View NASA UAV Collision Avoidance Flights"
BBSN 03-03-24 - "News media will have an opportunity April 3, 2003, to see flight demonstrations of collision-avoidance systems being developed to enable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to fly safely in civil airspace shared with piloted aircraft."

"Jenin: Israeli Army Keeps up Pressure on West Bank Residents: ISM"
BBSN 03-03-22 - "Following the killing of a Jewish settler by a member of the Palestinian resistance at about 2 pm on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli Army of Occupation around Jenin has been taking its revenge upon Ya'bad, a town about 8 kilometres to the west of Jenin, close to the by-pass road upon which the killing took place. (By pass roads are those reserved for the exclusive use of Jews and soldiers)."

"NASA REVIEWS SHUTTLE SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM"
BBSN 03-03-22 - "Mike Kostelnik, Deputy Associate Administrator for International Space Station and Space Shuttle Programs, will brief the media about the Space Shuttle Life Extension Program (SLEP) Summit on Monday, March 24 at 1 p.m. EST in the James Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington."

"NASA COLUMBIA ACCIDENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES REORGANIZED"
BBSN 03-03-21 - "NASA has reorganized its support of Shuttle accident related activities to better accommodate the investigation and align more closely with the structure adopted by the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB)."

"Rachel Corrie Memorial to be Webcast - Simulcast on Radio"
BBSN 03-21-03 - "Using an array of media technology, Rachel Corrie will have a memorial on Saturday March 22nd, 2003 at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Rachel's memorial service will be broadcast live over the web..."

"Rachel Corrie: Solidarity Movement Differs With Washington Post"
BBSN 03-21-03 - "The International Solidarity Movement has made a statement in response to international news coverage in the death of Rachel Corrie. Twenty three year old Corrie was in the Gaza Strip engaging in non-violent protest action against bulldozers intent upon tearing down a Palestinian home. Corrie, pictured with day-glo red and a bullhorn was "accidentally" run over by the bulldozer after what witnesses say was a two hour confrontation with two bulldozers and other ISM volunteers on the scene. The statement from ISM is as follows:"

"SURPRISE! LIGHTNING HAS BIG EFFECT ON ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY"
BBSN 03-03-20 - "Scientists were surprised to learn summer lightning over the U.S. significantly increases regional ozone and other gases that affect air chemistry 3 to 8 miles above Earth's surface.The amounts of ozone and nitrogen oxides created by lightning surpass those generated by human activities in that level of the atmosphere. Typically over the U.S., fossil fuel burning is the main cause of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which lead to the formation of ozone near the Earth's surface. However, above the Earth's surface in the free troposphere (3-8 miles high), during the summer months, lightning activity increases NOx by as much as 90 percent and ozone by more than 30 percent."

"NASA SELECTS NEXT MEDIUM-CLASS EXPLORER MISSION"
BBSN 03-03-20 - "A swarm of spacecraft, designed to fly through the space storms that cause aurora, has been chosen as the next mission in NASA's Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) program. "The Explorer program allows the science community to identify the most compelling science questions and then design the most effective mission to answer those questions," said Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator for Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington. "The mission we've selected will directly address the science goals of the NASA strategic plan within a focused, moderate sized project," he said.

"MEDIA BRIEFING FOR NASA'S SPACE INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY"
BBSN 03-03-20 - "NASA has scheduled a media briefing to discuss the upcoming launch and mission of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). The briefing is at 11 a.m. EST, Tuesday, March 25 in the James Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington. The pre-launch briefing will consist of two panels; the first will present a mission overview and the second a science overview."

"NASA STUDY FINDS INCREASING SOLAR TREND THAT CAN CHANGE CLIMATE"
BBSN 03-03-20 - "This image from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) image shows large magnetically active regions and a pair of curving erupting prominences on June 28, 2000 during the current solar cycle 23 maximum. Prominences are huge clouds of relatively cool dense plasma suspended in the Sun's hot, thin corona. Magnetically active regions cause the principal total solar irradiance variations during each solar cycle. The hottest areas appear almost white, while the darker red areas indicate cooler temperatures. NASA & European Space Agency (ESA)"

"Rachel Corrie: A Parents Statement of Their Daughter"
BBSN 03-19-03 - "Our daughter Rachel, a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement in the Occupied Territories, died Sunday in the Gaza Strip while courageously trying to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home. Our loss is immense, but we are buoyed by the outpouring of support and love that we’ve received from around the world. We understand that Rachel is being remembered in many places in many beautiful ways, and we are grateful. We are comforted and heartened by the compassionate expressions of love that we have received from both Palestinian and Israeli people. We will forever remember and be thankful for Rachel’s ISM and Palestinian friends who cared for her and who held her for us as she died."

"RACE TO GAMMA RAY BURST REVEALS GIGANTIC EXPLOSION, DEATH, & BIRTH"
BBSN 03-03-19 - "Scientists arriving on the scene of a gamma ray burst, just moments after the explosion, have witnessed the death of a gigantic star and the birth of something monstrous in its place, quite possibly a brand-new, spinning black hole."

"9th UPDATE ON NTSB INVESTIGATION INTO CRASH OF AA FLIGHT 587"
BBSN 03-19-03 - "The National Transportation Safety Board today released the following update on its investigation of the November 12, 2001, crash of American Airlines flight 587, an Airbus A300-600, in Belle Harbor, New York, which resulted in the deaths of all 260 persons aboard and 5 persons on the ground."

"NTSB Aviation Accident Statistics Show No Fatal Accidents in 2002"
BBSN 03-18-03 - "Washington, D.C. -- The National Transportation Safety Board today released preliminary aviation accident statistics for 2002 showing no fatal accidents involving airlines or commuters."

"Cannabis Patients in Canada Surveyed about Pain Relief"
BBSN 03-03-18 - "Medical marijuana patients in Canada were surveyed recently. The International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) in Germany reported on Sunday: A questionnaire survey was conducted among patients with chronic non-cancer pain at the McGill University Health Center in Montreal to estimate their dose size and frequency of cannabis use. 209 patients were recruited in an anonymous survey. 32 (15%) subjects reported having used cannabis for pain relief, and 20 (10%) subjects were currently using cannabis for pain relief. 18% reported using it recreationally."

"Orange Alert Amid Homeland Security Online Growing Pains"
BBSN 03-18-03 - "For those who have asked for more detail, the Whitehouse and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge have brought a laundry list of domestic security issues to the kitchen table as the US moves ahead to war. Despite some online growing pains, for instance, the old National Infrastucture Protection Center (NIPC) has an old notice on it from March 1st, and still shows the "elevated" risk graphic. And even at the new Homeland Security site many press releases are undated and lack some consistancy. Hopefully those errors in detail simply reflect that the focus is on solutions to keep the US secure and minor housekeeping will follow in due time."

"Amnesty International Condemns Killing of Rachel Corrie"
BBSN 03-17-03 - "Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) today condemned the killing of Rachel Corrie and called for an independent investigation of her death. The organization also renewed a call for a suspension of US transfers to Israel of military equipment, including bulldozers, that have been used to commit human rights abuses.” Amnesty International has consistently condemned violations by all parties to the conflict and called on these parties to take all possible measures to bring to an end the killing and wounding of civilians."

"Rachel Corrie's Last Happy Moment in Gaza before Her Death"
BBSN 03-17-03 - "It is a sad reality in the United States that most people did not associate much personal grief over the plight of the Palestinians. Until Rachel Corrie was run down by an Israeli bulldozer that is. Suddenly phones are ringing off the hook, letters to the editor are pouring in and people are asking for ways to share their thoughts and condolences to the Rachel Corrie family during this tragic time."

"American Student Rachel Corrie Killed in Rafah, Gaza Strip"
BBSN 03-17-03 - "Mohammed, who maintains a pictorial Web site known as Rafah Today, described the scene to BBSNews, "when the bulldozers attack her body.. any way , the bulldozers attack her body and buried it in the sand, it was difficult to find her body.. but internationals find it, and found her dead.. as before that things, the IDF buried other one who is from Britain working with ISM, but the Palestine people was able to get his body, and now in my appreciate he is in safe .. from other hand, IDF killed Palestine man who was sweeping streets , as there is many people injured, some of them in dangers.."

"Editorial: Not a Dimes Worth of Difference"
BBSN 03-16-03 - "From most perspectives the many protests and agonizing about the impending US War on Iraq is on many levels at least as intent as it was during the height of US domestic Vietnam War protests. Few times in recent decades have seen the multi-faceted throngs of humanity united in opposition to the planned "shock" war campaign against Iraq. At the same time, it is undeniable that most of these same people protesting the war agree that Saddam Hussein is a despicable despot and they would welcome his departure. The Arab world would likely not miss this thorn in their side either."

"President Bush Authorizes Two New War on Terrorism Medals"
BBSN 03-16-03 - "A presidential executive order signed Wednesday authorizes the Department of Defense to create two new military medals for service in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The GWOT Expeditionary Medal will recognize servicemembers who participate in an expedition to combat terrorism on or after Sept. 11, 2001. This is limited to those who deploy as part of Operation Enduring Freedom."

"Róger Calero to be Deported over 14 Year Old Marijuana Conviction"
BBSN 03-14-03 - "Róger Calero is facing deportation by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) over a marijuana conviction officials were aware of the conviction when they granted him permanent residency in 1990. Calero was convicted of selling marijuana to an undercover officer while in high school. Under a plea bargain, Calero got a suspended 60-day sentence and three years probation in 1988. Calero, married to a US citizen and living in Newark, New Jersey was given a waiver for the conviction by INS in 1989 during the INS application process."

"Serbia's Djindjic Reform Legacy should be Honored, Strengthened"
BBSN 03-13-03 - "Human Rights Watch expressed sorrow at the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic today. Djindjic was a leading force behind the progress Serbia has made in respect for human rights and the rule of law since the October 2000 fall of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Human Rights Watch said. Zoran Djindjic, age 50, was fatally shot twice in front of the main government building in central Belgrade mid-day Wednesday. Unconfirmed press reports indicated that the police arrested two suspects. Djindjic had been prime minister since January 2001, after a coalition of democratic parties won the December 2000 parliamentary elections in Serbia."

"Hubble Telescope Spies an Evaporating Planet"
BBSN 03-03-12 - "For the first time, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have observed the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet evaporating off into space. Much of the planet may eventually disappear, leaving only a dense core. The planet is a type of extrasolar planet known as a "hot Jupiter." These giant gaseous planets orbit their parent stars very closely, drawn to them like moths to a flame."

"Jerusalem - Occupation Set in Stone?" - Director in Charlotte"
BBSN 03-03-11 - "Marty Rosenbluth, director of the award winning documentary "Jerusalem: An Occupation Set in Stone?" will show his film and answer questions Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 7:00pm in Perkins Auditorium on the campus of Davidson College. "Jerusalem: An Occupation Set in Stone" has received wide recognition as an in-depth, political documentary that explores the issues of housing and residency rights in Jerusalem and how they affect the Palestinian population in the city. It won the Gold Award for Best Political/International Documentary at the Charleston Film Festival."

"ONDCP's Illegal Drug Induced Deaths Claims Questioned"
BBSN 03-03-10 - "The Office Of National Drug Control Policy has cited one reason for an ever escalating war against citizens, deaths induced from illegal drugs. Others include the fully dis-credited "gateway-theory," an idea that falls flat upon examining data such as the Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) from the University of Michigan. Lifetime prevalance of heroin use as measured from the twelfth grade classes spanning 1975-2002 shows an average of 1.47% heroin use. For marijuana the average over that time is 49.17%. The two highest points of heroin use are at 2.2% for 1975 and the highest at 2.4% in 2000. Bearing in mind the average total over those years, it's clear that heroin use has not trended upward. If there was a progression upward one would think it would be apparent over twenty seven years of data. Interesting cocaine use has been trending down steadily since a high point in 1985 at 17.3%; the class of 2002 reports 7.8%. As a cornerstone theory of US led and exported drug policy it fails to withstand scrutiny upon examination of the numbers."

"North Korea Test Fires Missile into Sea of Japan"
BBSN 03-03-10 - "In another move sure to increase tension in the region North Korea test fired another missile on Sunday into the Sea of Japan. There had been warnings that such a test was to take place. Reuters reported that South Korea's Defense Ministry said by telephone, "The missile was fired around noon today on the Sea of Japan, and we judged it was the same type as was test-fired on February 24."

"NASA Teams with USDA for Agricultural Competitiveness, Environment"
BBSN 03-03-09 - "Visible Earth Observation is a long standing part of operations at NASA. A new collaboration was announced on March 5th: NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Ann M. Veneman announced the two agencies will join forces on a series of programs drawing on NASA's capabilities in monitoring, mapping, modeling and systems engineering to help protect the environment and enhance American agriculture's ability to compete in the world market."

"NYC Used City Vehicles, Extreme Noise Against Peaceful Protesters"
BBSN 03-03-07 - "By Daniel Forbes - Overwhelmed by the unexpected crush of hundreds of thousands of antiwar demonstrators on February 15 and losing control of the streets, the City of New York sent official vehicles barreling deliberately and at high speed through a mass of protesters on Second Ave. In one case, a high-stakes game of chicken between an onrushing police car and a demonstrator would have ended tragically had the demonstrator not bailed out at the last minute; the cop car was moving at such speed that it could not possibly have stopped."

"Cassini Data Flips Jupiter's Stripes Theory Upside Down"
BBSN 03-03-07 - "Pictures of Jupiter, taken by a NASA spacecraft on its way to Saturn, are flipping at least one long-standing notion about Jupiter upside down. Stripes dominate Jupiter's appearance. Darker "belts" alternate with lighter "zones." Scientists have long considered the zones, with their pale clouds, to be areas of upwelling atmosphere, partly because many clouds on Earth form where air is rising. On the principle of what goes up must come down, the dark belts have been viewed as areas where air generally descends."

"SCIENTISTS SAY MARS HAS LIQUID IRON CORE"
BBSN 03-03-07 - "New information about what is inside Mars shows the Red Planet has a molten liquid-iron core, confirming the interior of the planet has some similarity to Earth and Venus. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., analyzing three years of radio tracking data from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, concluded Mars has not cooled to a completely solid iron core; rather its interior is made up of either a completely liquid iron core or a liquid outer core with a solid inner core. Their results are published in the March 7, 2003, online issue of the journal Science."

"No Passion About Ending Our Own Drug War"
BBSN 03-03-06 - "Barely making the news lately is the vigorously waged war upon marijuana consumers. With fears of US led war in Iraq, citizen terror alerts and a looming crisis from North Korea, the US government has found vast amounts of time and money to spend on persecuting and prosecuting US marijuana consumers. Recent times have seen the misguided Ed Rosenthal case. Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club Director Jeff Jones was sentenced to three months in federal prison only to have that reversed by the judge who was sending him there. And people like Webster Alexander who is facing 26 years in prison for selling the equivalent of four packs of cigarettes, ounce for ounce, as compared to marijuana. In addition to that, the federal government found time to bring federal charges against at least 55 people for selling "drug paraphernalia," more commonly known as bongs and pipes."

"NASA ENCOURAGES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ADVISORY COMMITTEES"
BBSN 03-03-04 - "NASA encourages interested individuals to participate in agency advisory activities. To encourage participation, and to ensure NASA remains accountable to the American people, attendees at all public NASA Advisory Committee meetings will be admitted to NASA Headquarters, NASA Centers, and NASA component facilities, subject to NASA security requirements, but without any requirement for pre-clearance."

"CHIPS BEGINS INTERSTELLAR SEARCH FOR BIRTHPLACE OF SOLAR SYSTEMS"
BBSN 03-03-04 - "The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite is living up to the adage "good things come in small packages," as the suitcase-size spacecraft is entering its second month of providing data to scientists about the birthplace of solar systems."

"Fourth Annual Social Justice Conference in Charlotte, NC"
BBSN 03-03-03 - "The Fourth Annual Social Justice Conference will be held Saturday, March 15, 2003 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte at 234 North Sharon Amity Road in Charlotte, North Carolina from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The event this year is co-sponsored by the Charlotte Coalition for Peace and Justice and many other community and state-wide organizations committed to social justice."

"Charlotte Beers Steps Down: Secretary of State Colin Powell Statement"
BBSN 03-03-03 - "Charlotte Beers, a key and vital member of my team, is leaving us shortly for health reasons. Since she arrived in October of 2001, she has brought new energy, new ideas and new enthusiasm to our interaction with the public in America and throughout the world."

"NASA ENGINEERS TEST WRIGHT STUFF"
BBSN 03-03-03 - "It triggers the imagination. What would aviation pioneer Orville Wright think about a reproduction of his 1903 Wright Flyer being tested in a wind tunnel he used to visit? "

"Marijuana Medicinal Properties Confirmed, Again"
BBSN 03-03-03 - "Medical cannabis received even more confirmation recently. The International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) in Germany reported on Sunday that cannabis extracts are efficacious reducing "pain and spasticity" in research entitled "A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms" [Wade DT, Robson P, House H, Makela P, Aram J. Clin Rehabil 2003;17:18-26] The IACM reported:"