Health officials, law officers take part in biohazard training
The day-long seminars are for law enforcement and emergency personnel who would be the first on the scene if a chemical or biological incident-like a train wreck, a chemical explosion, or even a terror attack-happened in Bladen.
The Soviets were deeply involved in chemical and biological warfare, Little said, and since the fall of the Soviet Union, "many of those weapons stocks have since disappeared."
"We have no way of knowing whose hands they ended up in," he said.
The advantages of biological warfare-ease of transport and distribution-make a biological attack very attractive to terrorists.
"You might not realize it," he said, "but an outbreak of smallpox, anthrax or tularemia in a major population center could quickly spread through the entire country."
http://www.bladenjournal.com/articles/2004/06/11/news/news07.txt
Acquisition of western energy grids is possible for Russia
June 11, 2004 Posted: 14:32 Moscow time (10:32 GMT)
Head of Basic Element Oleg Deripaska proposed to discuss the course of energy reforms in Russia with all interested parties involved, including representatives of the Russian government, as the latter is known to hold a controlling block of shares in RAO Unified Energy System of Russia (RAO UES). Mr. Deripaska voiced his opinion at a meeting with journalists in Moscow yesterday. “I think, all participants of this meeting will be ready by September or October,” he added.
“We have already decided regarding the necessity of these reforms. So now we have to discuss their results,” the official said and noted that the final aim of these reforms was still obscure to him. “It is important that we decide what goals the government pursues here, and then, make a decision what needs to be changed and in which way.”
Energy reforms have already raised discussions several times. In particular, following a series of breakdowns at newly-reformed energy systems of the USA, Canada, the UK and Norway, experts and analysts began saying that the elimination of vertically-integrated energy companies would make the whole system less reliable. However, this wasn’t convincing enough for the authors of the energy reforms.
Now, the reforms have been slowed down by the monopoly carrying them out only by 50%. For example, the government still does not bother to control electrical networks and control centers that used to belong to RAO UES. According to the reform concept, this should be done by the government. Mr. Deripaska suggested a solution to this problem.
In his opinion, the above mentioned control functions over the electrical networks and control centers should be handed over to the Federal Energy Agency, i.e. to its separate department that will be created for this very purpose. In addition, the Head of Basic Element expressed his opinion that currently the energy generating industry of Russia needed no investments, as it still wasn’t used at full capacity.
The main threat that the divided Russian energy system might face is its inability to compete with major western companies most of which tend to consolidate now, Mr. Deripaska emphasized. There is a possibility of consolidated energy generating companies becoming acquired by major western companies, which contradicts Russia’s interests.
Major western energy generating grids tend to merge now, among which are European concerns EDF, Fortum, E.ON, and RWE. In Deripaska’s opinion, RAO UES of Russia should remain a strong company, capable of competing with other major energy companies, such as Irkutskenergo, Bashkenergo, Tatenergo, and Rosenergoatom.
In conclusion, Mr. Deripaska stated that Basic Element was ready to consider the possibility of acquiring 40% of Irkutskenergo, a stake that belongs to the government. Such decision will be made only after tender requirements are announced, and “if they turn out to be favorable for us,” the head of the company concluded. RosBusinessConsulting
Source URL: http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cnews-article.shtml?nd=44204