Tuna fished 'illegally' during Libya conflict

Evidence is emerging of unregulated and probably illegal tuna fishing in Libyan waters during this year's conflict.

Signals recorded from boats' electronic "black boxes" show a large presence inside Libyan waters, a major spawning ground for the endangered bluefin tuna.

Several strands of evidence, including a letter from a former industry source, suggest the involvement of EU boats.

The issue will be aired this week at the annual meeting of Iccat, which regulates tuna fishing in the region.

The European Commission believes any buy electronic cigarettes fishing in Libyan waters this year could be judged illegal.

EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki told BBC News that she is also investigating whether Italian authorities made bilateral deals with Libya on tuna-fishing, which would contravene EU regulations.

The annual meeting of Iccat - the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas - opens in Istanbul on Friday, preceded by two days of talks within its Compliance Committee, which will begin to assess whether rules have been broken.

Suspension suspended

After the Libyan civil conflict began in February, Ms Damanaki's office was set to request a suspension of all tuna fishing in Libyan waters, given that the breakdown in governance made regulation difficult.

On 7 April, Libyan authorities, in one of a series of letters obtained by BBC News, told Iccat that because of the "recent and exceptional circumstances" they were going to suspend all tuna fishing in their waters voluntarily.

Three weeks later, Libya sent another letter to Iccat cancelling the suspension, without citing its reasons.

Iccat chairman Fabio Hazin asked Libya to reconsider. It was too late to procure international observers for the vessels, as regulations require, he said; and Iccat members did not have the time needed to discuss and approve Libya's proposed fishing plan.

In response to further correspondence, Dr Hazin and Compliance Committee chairman Christopher Rogers told Libyan official Nuredin Esarbout that "fishing by the Libyan fleet... in 2011 might be in contravention" of Iccat rules.

Ms Damanaki further warned that any catches would be "well on track to be deemed illegal".

She asked EU member states to "monitor the activities of your national operators" to make sure they were not catching or trading potentially illegal fish.

She also warned that she stood ready to use recently adopted EU rules on illegal fishing against anyone involved in such activities.

Activity maps

Under Iccat rules, all purse seine boats - the type most common in bluefin operations - have to be equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), an electronic gadget that transmits information including the boat's location every six hours.

The statistical report prepared for the forthcoming meeting - also obtained by includes a map showing the number of VMS signals received from various locations in the Mediterranean during the 2011 fishing season.

The biggest bursts of activity are in the spawning grounds where bluefin gather in the early summer; and this includes the waters off the Libyan coast.

This map does not show which vessels were operating there, although Iccat is believed to have this information.

According to environmental groups that monitor tuna-fishing ports, vessels authorised to fish in Libyan waters did not do so, remaining in French and Maltese ports all season.

If that is correct, it implies that boats from other Iccat member states were operating there, which would be illegal.

As well as the area extending 12 nautical miles off the coast which is the Mediterranean standard for territorial waters, Libya claims the whole of the Gulf of Sirte covering 57,000 sq km (22,000 sq miles) and a further "exclusive fishing zone" extending 62 nautical miles into the Med.

It is one of six main spawning grounds that purse seine vessels target. The nets are drawn around the roiling shoals like a basket, and the fish are subsequently transferred to cages that are slowly towed to "ranches" or "farms" for fattening before death and sale.

Inside track

A letter recently sent to WWF and Greenpeace - which work closely together on the bluefin issue - by an experienced hand in the bluefin tuna fishery says illegal operations have been rife in the southern part of the Mediterranean for years.

At different times, he says, operators based in Spain, France, Malta and Italy have been involved.

In 2010, Italy voluntarily closed tuna fishing in its own waters. But, the informant writes, Italian fishermen were transported to Libya by means that evaded border controls, and fished there instead.

He also accuses EU fleets of using planes to spot aggregations of spawning tuna, which has been banned since 2006; catching undersized fish; and operating with such little regard for bad weather that entire hauls of fish ended up dead in the water.

"Would you like to know where all these dead fish are? They are on the sea floor!", he writes.

Government inspectors, he says, "can be bought for a cigarette packet".

The letter has been forwarded to Iccat.

Although reports from fisheries academics and environment groups have regularly condemned aspects of the Mediterranean bluefin industry down the years, first-hand reports from people this close to the industry are rare, partly because of intimidation.

But, the source says, he is moved to "repentance" because of the "incredible things" he has seen.

His letter is very specific, naming companies, locations, activities, time periods and catch sizes.

How closely the source's claims are related to the European Commission investigation of possible bilateral deals between Italy and Libya is not clear, as Ms Damanaki preferred not to elaborate on the nature of that investigation.

Sanctuary call

From an ecological point of view, a plunder in Libyan waters would be disturbing.

The northern bluefin was classified as endangered on the internationally accepted Red List earlier this year.

Environment groups are urging Iccat and the EU to act swiftly.

"The real plundering of the bluefin tuna population in Libyan waters by local and foreign fleets makes a strong case for a ban of the fishery in those waters from 2012," said Sergi Tudela, head of WWF's Mediterranean fisheries operation.

"Actually, this area must be turned into a bluefin tuna sanctuary protecting one of the most important breeding grounds for this iconic species," he told BBC News.

WWF and the other environment groups involved in the issue continue to warn that the basic problem across the region is over-capacity - there are simply too many boats that need to exceed their catch quotas in order to turn a profit.

Last month, from the Pew Environment Group calculated that 140% more bluefin flesh entered the market from the Mediterranean than was declared by fishing boat skippers.

"Fifteen years after tuna farming started in the Mediterranean, it's still impossible to know the biomass of tuna originally caged in every farm, which prevents achieving traceability in this fishery," said Dr Tudela.

"The moment has come for Iccat Parties to ban tuna farming."

Follow Richard

Doing the messages

If you popped in for a paper or some milk at your convenience store this weekend, you may have noticed the boss was away.

That may be because he was in St Andrews for a weekend of rest, relaxation, no need to open the shutters for the morning regulars, and the conference of the Scottish Grocers Federation.

That's not just my sexism. I was there too, and while the event is a social one for all the family, female bosses in this sector seemed to have better things to do than listen to shop talk about, well, shops.

And what did I learn? Apart from the fact that Spar is as big in Austria as Tesco is in Britain, I learned that the sector is, at best, uneasy about the pressures to change customers' bad eating, drinking and smoking habits.

Fag-flogging

They weren't cheering from the rafters when the Imperial Tobacco spokesman made his pitch to roll back the Government's declared desire to "denormalise" smoking.

Imperial Tobacco was one of the event's sponsors, also including the three big rivals in the soft drinks market, two giant bakers, two rival dairy giants, the two big chocolate rivals, as well as those staples of the Scottish grocery basket; Tennents lager and Buckfast tonic wine.

In the case of the tobacco pitch, here was one audience that's quietly receptive to Colin Wragg's message that 6700 jobs are directly dependent on flogging fags, or that half of "roll-your-own" goes untaxed by the UK Treasury.

They're particularly receptive to the associated message that the restrictions on tobacco displays, and perhaps next on tobacco pack design, are the thin end of a wedge that could see grocers having to pass on fat tax on unhealthy foods.

They were pleased to hear Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw reassure them it's not their fault that people choose to be unhealthy, while he committed the Scottish Tories to opposing their Westminster colleagues on proposed moves to standard and plain cigarette packet design.

There was a sort of murmur of both recognition and despair as the fags man projected forward to a future at the check-out where customers have a quota of alcohol purchases, flashing up when compulsory electronic payment is made, beyond which the off-sales shop has to turn them away.

But then, the conference also heard that a seven-year long programme to encourage Scottish convenience stores to stock fresh fruit and veg is paying off handsomely for those taking part. The huge growth in sales of broccoli should put a spring in the step of the nation's cardiologists.

Tesco love

I also learned that these folks aren't shedding a tear over the problems at Tesco, as it seeks to refresh its brand, put more effort onto the high street, put rather less into out-of-town hypermarkets, while it "brings back the love".

For Scotland's grocers, there never was much love for Tesco. And they noted that one effect has been the gradual diminution of their number with each passing year. Most recently, it was the 200-year-old David Sands chain, gobbled up by the Co-op, with regulatory approval through in the past few days.

So what are they doing about it? Well, the so-called 'c-store' is partly to provide for those who can't get to the out-of-town, once-a-week shop. It's partly to provide a top-up service for those who do.

From retail research firm HIM, we learned there are big opportunities to 'up-sell'. The best known example of that is the ?1 bar of chocolate offered up at WH Smith's check-outs.

Apparently customers are happy to have more up-selling, when only 4% of us say it currently happens.

The secret, we're told, is not just to offer stuff, but to do it in the right, appropriate way. To that end, more than four-fifths of us say staff should be better trained and more friendly.

Two thirds of people want c-stores to be more fun and enjoyable. (A bouncy castle, anyone?)

The research also shows shoppers want to shop locally, and to support their local outlet because that's a way of supporting the local community.

But there's a lot of work for them to do if they're to signal to customers that they're doing so. Just over a third of customers think their c-store supports the local community.

Pester Power

At the SGF conference, I learned that the chief commodity to get people through the door, particularly on the top-up for the big shop, is milk. Not once did I hear talk of the importance of newspapers driving people into shops, though you have to assume they remain one of the main ways of drawing people in regularly.

Instead, milk's the thing - and all the mores if you listen to Sandy Wilkie, sales and marketing director of Wiseman Dairies. He's a sort of evangelist for lactose tolerance, talking without irony of the "in-store theatre" of how his product is presented.

And it's quite a story of turning around the 20% decline in milk sales between 1993 and 2007. This says more about the power and techniques of modern marketing than it does about c-stores, perhaps.

But it's interesting, for all that, to see how ?3m can be spent on signing up 23 celebrities to appeal to teenagers, driving them into parent pester power at the milk display.

White stuff

No, it's not through television adverts. You'll at least be aware of the milky top lip on celebrity coupons, smiling cheekily from the side of milk delivery trucks. Even more effective, we're told, are the bus shelter ads. There's 60% campaign recognition overall.

If you're part of the targeted demographic, you'll also be aware of the 15% of advertising budget spent on social media buy electronic cigarettes and PR. Among teens, there's 71% recognition.

With teenagers spending 31 hours online each week, that buys you some big numbers on YouTube, while the celebrities take the milk marketing message into the papers, often at no charge.

And by putting teenage heartthrobs The Wanted on an open-top, Fresian-style bus in central London, you can get 23,000 young women screaming for the milk message. At what cost? Not much.

Apparently, the boy band wanted to be seen as clean living, and they reckon milk's the white stuff for that.

The results? Milk sales are on the up, albeit by modest sub-2% figures for each of the past three years. But translating to 88 million litres, that ought to mean good news for dairy cows.

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Rob Lowe as John F. Kennedy First Picture From Killing Kennedy - UsMagazine.com

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Rob Lowe certainly looks the part! On Wednesday, June 12, National Geographic Channel released the first picture of the actor portraying late American President John F. Kennedy in the upcoming movie Killing Kennedy. In the moving image, the actor recreates one of the politician's most famous portraits. Production on Killing Kennedy began in Richmond, Va., earlier this week and the movie is slated to air in November.

"Just saw as Jackie Kennedy in the sad and awful blood-stained dress," Lowe, 49, June 11. "Extremely emotional." Killing Kennedy will be directed by Nelson McCormick, with whom Lowe previously worked with on The West Wing.

 

The two-hour docudrama is based on the best-selling book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film chronicles the final years of Kennedy and his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Will Rothhaar) before their deaths in November 1963. plays Oswald's wife, Marina Oswald Porter.

 

"I am so excited for the challenge to portray Marina Oswald, and to do my first role speaking only in Russian," Trachtenberg, 27, told in May. "I'm the only actor playing someone who is still alive, so I want to stay as true to her as possible. This is a story about JFK's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife Marina. And it is fascinating."

 

The real Oswald Porter, 71, currently lives in Dallas, Texas. Like many conspiracy theorists, she contends that her deceased husband was innocent. She remarried in 1965 and has two sons.

Lowe isn't the only star who'll be portraying the late president; James Marsden plays the American icon in director Lee Daniels' upcoming movie The Butler, slated for release on Aug. 16.

Syrian regime hopes for strategic gain from Qusair

The Syrian Prime Minister Wail alHalqi has described the ousting of rebels from Qusair as "a strategic turning point".

Similar claims were made in February last year when government forces finally overran the rebelheld quarter of Baba Amr in Homs.

That turned out not to be the seminal victory the regime had hoped for, although, as with Qusair, both sides had invested the battle there with huge political and symbolic significance.

The fall of Qusair town had become more or less a formality after government forces and their Hezbollah allies won control of most of the surrounding countryside.

In the end, rebel fighters recognised their situation as untenable and withdrew on Tuesday night, apparently under an informal understanding that they would be allowed safe passage. That enabled army troops and Hezbollah to advance into the town unopposed the following morning.

Whether the government victory at Qusair will prove to be a real turning point will depend on the wider ebb and flow of the struggle for control of the country.

But in immediate terms, it is clearly a major blow to the rebels, denying them easy use of an important supply route from friendly, Sunnipopulated enclaves in northeast Lebanon to Homs and central Syria.

From Hezbollah's point of view, it gives the Shia movement an easier connection between Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, where Hezbollah holds sway, and the major Syrian cities, as well as the Alawite coastal heartland to the northwest, which could prove vital if Syria eventually heads towards fragmentation.

Difference of purpose

The move at Qusair was part of a broader regime campaign to sever crossborder supply routes that has scored some success in the south and north as well.

Combined with an aggressive campaign to regain control of the suburbs around Damascus, all this has meant that the threat of a rebel assault on the centre of the capital, which seemed imminent towards the end of last year, has been staved off, at least for the time being.

But diplomats believe these gains could not have been made without help from Hezbollah, not just at Qusair but also around Damascus, where Iraqi Shia militias have also been playing a role.

The assumption is that Hezbollah will continue its spearheading role in other areas, perhaps Homs and Aleppo.

But its resources and manpower are not infinite, and unless there is a wholesale collapse of rebel morale and capabilities, it is hard to imagine regime and allied forces rapidly reconquering the whole country, as government officials have pledged.

But the Qusair affair has highlighted not just the fragmented nature of the rebel fighters on the ground, but also the total disarray of the Istanbulbased political opposition.

While that contrasts with the regime's singleness of purpose, there is a similarly glaring discrepancy between the focused commitment Damascus has been able to count on from its key allies, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, and the discordant, hesitant and ineffective backing provided to the opposition by its motley array of regional and Western supporters.

If an international peace conference does indeed emerge from the American and Russian proposal, Qusair leaves the opposition in disastrous shape in terms of confronting a tough, cohesive regime team.

Media Centre The Apprentice Meet the Boys

Adam Corbally

Father of two Adam loves swimming, playing football and cycling. Adam says that he is confident and enthusiastic but that he is not ashamed to show his emotions. Adam’s first job was stacking bread at his local Coop. He now runs a wholesale and retail fruit and veg business and manages his own property portfolio. He wishes he was the brains behind Virgin Galactic because he feels it is innovative, a world first, and offers people the chance to have their dreams come true. Adam organises the annual turning on of the Christmas lights in his local community.

He says: “I get too excited, but that shows my passion, it shows my drive and it shows my ability.”

Azhar Siddique

Thrill seeker Azhar enjoys shark diving and has two pet sharks. He feels his biggest strengths are his professionalism and integrity but also admits that he gets very restless very quickly. In his spare time Azhar enjoys strength training and Muay Thai and loves scuba diving due to his passion for marine life. Azhar is inspired by the IKEA brand and admires its founder, Invgar Kamprad, for always sticking to his high selfimposed standards.

He says: “It’s not who shouts the loudest; it’s who has the ability to control the conversation.”

Duane Bryan

Have a go hero Duane once chased and caught a hit and run driver trying to flee the scene of a crash. He says that his biggest strength in business is his creativity but that his attention to detail can be somewhat lacking. Duane enjoys going out to bars and nightclubs in his spare time and says he is inspired by the Jaegermeister brand. He has met Tony Blair as part of a voluntary group.

He says: “I am a winner and I am a fighter, in order to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”

Michael Copp

Michael says his biggest strength is his positivity but admits that he can be impatient. In his spare time Michael enjoys fishing, walking and boxing. Michael, who is dyslexic, wishes he had worked harder at school and regrets leaving at 15 and not finishing his education. He would have liked to have been the brains behind Apple as he admires the way they cornered the market with their products and set themselves apart from their rivals.

He says: “I’m better than unique; I’m naturally gifted in business.”

Nick Holzherr

Nick, who lived in Switzerland for seven years as a child, was named ‘emerging entrepreneur of the year’ by Insider Magazine in 2010. When Nick was nine years old he earned money by selling lost golf balls back to golfers. He enjoys playing squash, snowboarding and cooking, and loves buying kitchen gadgets. Nick feels his intelligence is one of his strengths but knows his impatient nature can sometimes make him come across as arrogant. He would like to build and sell his own businesses before becoming an investor in startup companies, and cites Steve Jobs as an inspiration.

He says: “I’ve got lots of ideas, I know how to whittle them down into ideas that will work and I’ve got what it takes to make them actually happen.”

Ricky Martin

By day Ricky is a successful recruitment manager operating across the UK science industries, and by night and weekend a heavy hitting professional wrestler. Ricky, who has an Honours degree in Biochemistry, spends his spare time competing at wrestling events and is also an amateur body builder, training five to six times a week. Ricky recently got engaged to his girlfriend, and says his greatest strength is his people skills and that his weakness is that he is a perfectionist. Ricky wishes he was the brains behind Facebook and once played tennis against Tim Henman at Wimbledon.

He says: “I truly am the reflection of perfection.”

Stephen Brady

Ireland born Stephen loves learning new languages, reading and writing stories. Stephen says that he is a focused and down to earth person who is inspired by Muhammad Ali. He feels it is important to make every day count and tries to live life to the absolute limit. Stephen, who once lived in New York, has a passion for sport and the outdoors and once played in the FA Cup as a semiprofessional footballer.

He says: “Enthusiasm is a huge asset of mine and I believe it’s caught and not taught.”

Tom Gearing

Tom feels his biggest strength is his selfassurance but says that he can sometimes be overconfident. He also admits he isn’t great at handling early morning starts. Tom enjoys going to music events and West Ham football matches in his spare time and also plays golf, tennis and football for a Sunday League team. Tom’s passions are fine dining and wine and he also loves travelling around the world. He is inspired by Candy & Candy and wishes he was the brains behind ASOS.

He says: “I’m confident, charismatic and some people say I’m quite good looking, so that adds to the bill."

The Himalayas Trip of a Lifetime - Telegraph

An alternative solution is Bhutan, the most exclusive destination in the Himalayas. A high tourist tax here – an attempt to retain Bhutan’s strong national identity and traditional values – has kept mass tourism out and closed the door to budget-conscious backpackers (note that the fee, now starting from £130 per day, can be used against the cost of lodging, transport and guiding). The king has also banned mountaineering in Bhutan out of respect for the deities said to live among the country’s peaks, although high-altitude treks, such as the challenging Snowman Trek, are still possible.

An excellent good-value alternative to Nepal is India, which also boasts mighty mountains, an array of traditional festivals and fervent religious rituals. India has three significant mountainous regions: Ladakh, the largest district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir; the undersung area of Kumaon in Uttarakhand, and the former Buddhist kingdom of Sikkim in the shadow of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak.

Finally to the bookends of the Himalayas – Pakistan and Tibet – at the western and eastern ends, respectively. Few prospective visitors consider either destination, deterred by security risks in Pakistan (see for the latest Foreign Office advice) and by travel restrictions in China, which have been tightened in recent years. Yet both regions are home to some spectacular high-altitude trekking routes and enriching cultural experiences.

When to travel

The Himalayas cover a vast area but in general the best months to visit are March-May and September-November. An exception is Ladakh, where tourist facilities are only open between May and September.

How to book

There are several key entry points to the Himalayas, including Kathmandu, Delhi, Islamabad (Pakistan), Paro (Bhutan) and Lhasa (Tibet). No airlines fly directly from Britain to Kathmandu; Qatar Airways operates via Doha; Jet Airways via Mumbai; Air India via Delhi; Emirates via Dubai and Etihad via Abu Dhabi, among others. From London to Kathmandu, the average flight is around 12 hours, plus connecting time, with return fares starting from approximately £425. UK passport-holders require visas to visit Nepal, India, China, Pakistan and Bhutan.

Packages

It makes a lot of sense to use a tour operator to organise a trekking holiday in the Himalayas. An experienced guide is essential, as is a professional support crew.

On a budget

World Expeditions (020 8545 9030; ) has been operating in the Himalayas for nearly 40 years; its most popular trip is the 18-day Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar with 14 days of trekking staying at fixed eco-style campsites, from £1,295, including internal flights, all meals on the trek, guide and trekking staff, as well as camping equipment (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, kit bag and down jacket) and a portable altitude chamber.

Village Ways (01223 750049; ) has a 16-night Complete Himalayan trip guiding guests through India’s Uttarakhand state on the border of Tibet. This trip encompasses eight days’ walking with accommodation at community-owned guesthouses (with one night in a tented camp) in the Binsar Sanctuary, Saryu and Pindar valleys. From £1,071 per person including transfers to/from Delhi, all meals in the villages, guiding and porterage.

The Great Himalaya Trail () is an evolving network of trails covering 4,500km across Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. World Expeditions (see above) offers the entire 1,700km (1,056-mile) Nepal section of this route, which takes 152 days and costs from £19,490 per person. The trail can be broken down into seven shorter sections, which involve moderate hiking to light mountaineering.

In style

Wild Frontiers (020 7736 3968; ) offers Pakistan: Hindu Kush Adventure, a 17-day group tour visiting Chitral and the Valleys of the Kalash , the Shandur Pass, Hunza and Skardu, from £2,395 (excluding international flights).

Cox & Kings (0845 154 8941; ) has a 14-night Ladakh & the Himalayan Foothills non-trekking tour from £3,050 per person (including international flights, private transfers, excursions and full-board accommodation for 12 nights). On one day there is an optional 5km (3-mile) trek. This trip begins in Amritsar and includes stops in Manali, Keylong, Sarchu, Leh and Delhi.

Shakti Himalaya (020 3151 5177; ) operates private journeys for parties of one to six people into the Indian Himalayas. Their Shakti Sikkim tour is a private five-night village-to-village hiking experience (available from October 1-April 20) from £1,598 per person on a fully inclusive basis (excluding international and domestic flights).

Side trips

All the key gateway cities to the Himalayas are worth spending a few days in. Kathmandu is a city rich in traditions and temples, as well as the striking architecture of Durbar Square and the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath. Shey Phoksundo National Park in the northwest of the country is home to the elusive snow leopard, blue sheep and Himalayan black bears.

For travellers flying into Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan are popular side-trips. Up in the north, Wild Frontiers (see above) has an 11-day Kashmiri Himalayas group tour, which includes a side-trip of four nights on a traditional houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar and a three-day river journey, from £1,850 (excluding international flights). One option is to tie in the dates of your visit with a traditional festival, such as Tibet’s Saga Dawa festival, which takes place at the foot of the sacred mountain Kailash. KE Adventure Travel (017687 73966; ) offers a trip to the annual festival combining sightseeing in Lhasa and a five-day trek (52km/32 miles) around the holy mountain (from £4,045 per person including international and internal flights, transfers, full-board accommodation and a full-service guided trek).

Tactics

When comparing trekking operators, pay attention to what is included. Not all provide meals and some supply camping equipment. Choose a trip that builds in acclimatisation time. Inquire about the experience of the guide(s) and the support crew, as well as their training in mountain medicine.

Camping treks are often recommended over “tea house” treks because they provide more employment for local porters and have a better reputation when it comes to hygiene.

There is a useful search engine on the Great Himalaya Trail website, which compares different treks and suggests the best times to travel. See .

Before you go

Lonely Planet publishes the Nepal guidebook (£17.99) and Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (£14.99), which has a comprehensive listing of tea houses, lodges and camp sites. The Rough Guide to Nepal (£16.99) covers all the national parks, and includes chapters on adventure sports. Robin Boustead’s Nepal Trekking and the Great Himalaya Trail (£14.99) showcases the newest trekking areas and has extensive planning sections.

Other recommended reading includes Peter Matthiessen’s The Snow Leopard about a two-month expedition in the Seventies with naturalist George Schaller. There is also Tibet, Tibet by Patrick French; The Tibetan Book of the Dead with a commentary by the Dalai Lama; and The Psychedelic Experience by Timothy Leary and Ralph Metzner, a reinterpretation of the Tibetan Buddhist text. Trekkers may be daunted and inspired by Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, his account of a Mount Everest trek that goes catastrophically wrong.

Tips

Choose a trek that suits your ability.
Do not trek alone.
Stick to trails and use recognised camp sites.
Pack in, pack out (never leave any litter).
Stay hydrated and look out for symptoms of altitude sickness.
Do not encourage begging by giving money or sweets to children.
Many tour operators have links to NGOs and offer alternative ways of supporting local communities.
Get fit.

What to take/pack

Several layers of clothing
Numerous pairs of socks
Good-quality trekking boots
Handwarmers, under-gloves and mittens
Trekking poles
Gaiters
Daypack (with raincover)
Sleeping mat
Head torch and spare batteries
Sunglasses with good UV protection
Sun cream and hat
Lip salve, blister care/plasters
Wet wipes and tissues
Pocket knife/multi-bladed tool
Watch with altimeter/GPS
Emergency blanket
Water bottles
Snacks (energy bars, chocolate)
Freezer bags
Binoculars

7 Tips to Travel to China This Quarter Wangjianshuo's Blog

My friend MT is visiting Shanghai by the end of Sept. He is very excited about it. It is his first trip to China! He asked what is my suggestion for him to prepare the trip. I do have some tips.

Tip #1: Avoid Travel from Oct 1 to Oct 7.

October 1 to October 7 is the national holiday in China. It is also called Golden Week, because the continous 7 day holiday and good weather bring millions of people to scenaric places, hotels, also trains, airlines, and buses. In short, it is crowded everywhere. People visiting China typically don’t have the constraint of travel only in the 7 days, so avoid it. Also, if possible, avoid the two days before and after the holiday.

Tip #2: Visiting Shanghai? Strongly Suggest to Visit Beijing

For many business travellers to Shanghai, I would suggest to take a weekend to visit Beijing. Shanghai is the largest commercial city in China, but it is not a typical city that represent China. If you want to claim you’ve really been to China, plan a short trip to Beijing, and visit the Forbidden city, visit the Great Wall, and visit some Royal Gardens in Beijing. Even you don’t go to these famous places, to experience the wide streets and the narrow Hutong is a good idea. Just FYI, Beijing is 1400 KM north of Shanghai, and takes 1 and half hours to fly there. Full price ticket is 1130 RMB, and you typically can get ticket at 20% off price. (8 RMB = 1 USD)

Tip #3: Take Taxi!

Don’t bother to look at the transportation options unless you are really travelling with small budget. My point is, taxi is not as expensive as people think. From Pudong Airport to downtown is about 100 – 150 RMB (12 – 20 USD). There are much cheaper options like airport bus (18 RMB), but compared to the 100-150 USD taxi fare from SFO to Silicon Valley, it is not too high. To travel inside the city, taxi is also a handy choice, unless you want to experience Metro. (Disclaimer: I gave tips according to real situations. In this case, it is my friend Martin. You may find it not suitable for you).

Tip #4: Places to See?

Top places in Shanghai you should go are

NBA Finals 2013 What's next for the Miami Heat

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MIAMI—As tenuous as their hold looked on the NBA championship at times throughout this postseason—they went to Game 7, both against the Pacers in the conference finals and against the Spurs in the Finals—the Heat are once again the holders of the Larry O’Brien trophy, thanks to a 95-88 victory.

MORE: Chalmers banks | Neal beats buzzer | Leonard finishes | Finals moments | yellow box shoes wholesale Game 7s

The Miami Heat have big money committed to 11 players. Disbanding the 'Big Three' might be the easiest way to save money. (AP Photo)

Man secretly filmed female shoppers with shoe-mounted camera

12 June 2013Last updated at 12:41 ET Man secretly filmed female shoppers with shoe-mounted camera

A man took pictures of unsuspecting female shoppers with a shoe-mounted mini camera, a court has heard.

Jonathan Alfred Gibson, from Central Promenade, Newcastle, County Down, came undone when a suspicious male shopper reported him to security staff at Forestside shopping centre in Belfast in May last year.

Gibson, 37, admitted to 'upskirting' when he was arrested a few days later.

Gibson was put on probation for three years at Downpatrick Crown Court.

Judge David Smyth QC told Gibson he believed the extended supervision was in his and the public's best interests.

He also banned Gibson, until further notice, of having any phone that could take pictures or any miniature camera, to further reassure the public and to prevent any repetition of Gibson's offending.

Judge Smyth said that while his vulnerable victims were unaware he was photographing up their skirts and dresses, Gibson, whose motivation was 'clearly sexual', had invaded and violated their privacy and peace of mind.

He added that Gibson's admitted 'outrage of public decency' was of public concern, particularly to women who should be able to go shopping without fear of being targeted by people like him.

The suspicious shopper spotted Gibson, a driving instructor, targeting females on an escalator.

Secret camera

A prosecution lawyer said that Gibson was captured on CCTV footage at Forestside, targeting women wearing either skirts or dresses.

He added that after following one woman travelling up the escalator, he waited around for another unsuspecting female to make the trip back to the ground floor.

The court was told that Gibson, whose secret camera was located in the laces of a shoe, was spooked, and, suspecting he was being watched by security staff, left the centre to return to his silver-coloured Ford car.

However, he was easily identified from the livery on the side of the vehicle advertising his Johnny's Driving School.

When arrested a few days later at his home Gibson 'candidly accepted' he had been wearing the camera.

In later statements Gibson said he did not know why he had done what he had, but that he was 'embarrassed and disappointed with himself'.

A defence lawyer said that Gibson's driving business had virtually been wiped out.

It had also put strain on wholesale bags & shoes his wife's business, which had received abusive emails.

He added that it could not be said Gibson, who was disgusted with himself, was 'caught bang to rights' as there had been no evidence, save his confession, to his 'upskirting' as it is called.

Gibson has been receiving counselling through his church, his lawyer said, and had destroyed the offending material on his way home.

This prompted Judge Smyth to ask did he do so because he suspected he'd been caught, or because of the realisation of what he had done.

Later when sentencing Gibson, the judge added that he thought 'it much more likely' Gibson suspected he had been spotted and had destroyed the evidence, the sim card in the camera.

Steven Frogg jailed for attempted murder of Mansfield boy

A man who broke a four-year-old boy's skull in three places in a "frenzied" attack has been jailed for 16 years.

Steven Frogg, from Mansfield, slashed the boy several times across the head and neck and left him in a pool of blood on the pavement outside his flat.

The boy was attacked by 52-year-old Frogg soon after his father had left him at Frogg's home to go shopping.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Frogg, who admitted attempted murder, was drunk during the attack of April 2012.

Within 15 minutes of being left with the boy on 9 April, Frogg had used a knife to slash him repeatedly.

'Further torment'

Prosecuting, John Lloyd-Jones QC told the court the boy suffered five slash wounds to his scalp that fractured his skull in three places, as well as a deep slash wound to his neck, and two stab wounds to his back.

After the attack, Frogg, of Frederick Street, was captured on CCTV at the front door of his home throwing the boy on to the street outside.

Judge Michael Stokes QC said the decision to leave the child with Frogg had been "the worst decision his father had ever made".

He said to Frogg: "Whatever caused you to behave as you did, you made a ferocious and frenzied attack on that little boy.

"The effects have been devastating, leaving markedly visible scars, not to mention serious psychological damage.

"He is frightened of stairs, he sleepwalks, he suffers dreadful nightmares - all because of you."

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Det Sgt Phil Sims said: "Frogg not only inflicted a series wholesale from china of horrific injuries on the boy, but also left him for dead.

"His blatant disregard for the welfare of the youngster is completely incomprehensible.

"Frogg has given no explanation for his disturbing actions - a further torment to his victim's family."

BBC - Media Centre - The Apprentice Meet the Boys

Adam Corbally

Father of two Adam loves swimming, playing football and cycling. Adam says that he is confident and enthusiastic but that he is not ashamed to show his emotions. Adam’s first job was stacking bread at his local Co-op. He now runs a wholesale and retail china wholesale fruit and veg business and manages his own property portfolio. He wishes he was the brains behind Virgin Galactic because he feels it is innovative, a world first, and offers people the chance to have their dreams come true. Adam organises the annual turning on of the Christmas lights in his local community.

He says: “I get too excited, but that shows my passion, it shows my drive and it shows my ability.”

Azhar Siddique

Thrill seeker Azhar enjoys shark diving and has two pet sharks. He feels his biggest strengths are his professionalism and integrity but also admits that he gets very restless very quickly. In his spare time Azhar enjoys strength training and Muay Thai and loves scuba diving due to his passion for marine life. Azhar is inspired by the IKEA brand and admires its founder, Invgar Kamprad, for always sticking to his high self-imposed standards.

He says: “It’s not who shouts the loudest; it’s who has the ability to control the conversation.”

Duane Bryan

Have a go hero Duane once chased and caught a hit and run driver trying to flee the scene of a crash. He says that his biggest strength in business is his creativity but that his attention to detail can be somewhat lacking. Duane enjoys going out to bars and nightclubs in his spare time and says he is inspired by the Jaegermeister brand. He has met Tony Blair as part of a voluntary group.

He says: “I am a winner and I am a fighter, in order to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”

Michael Copp

Michael says his biggest strength is his positivity but admits that he can be impatient. In his spare time Michael enjoys fishing, walking and boxing. Michael, who is dyslexic, wishes he had worked harder at school and regrets leaving at 15 and not finishing his education. He would have liked to have been the brains behind Apple as he admires the way they cornered the market with their products and set themselves apart from their rivals.

He says: “I’m better than unique; I’m naturally gifted in business.”

Nick Holzherr

Nick, who lived in Switzerland for seven years as a child, was named ‘emerging entrepreneur of the year’ by Insider Magazine in 2010. When Nick was nine years old he earned money by selling lost golf balls back to golfers. He enjoys playing squash, snowboarding and cooking, and loves buying kitchen gadgets. Nick feels his intelligence is one of his strengths but knows his impatient nature can sometimes make him come across as arrogant. He would like to build and sell his own businesses before becoming an investor in start-up companies, and cites Steve Jobs as an inspiration.

He says: “I’ve got lots of ideas, I know how to whittle them down into ideas that will work and I’ve got what it takes to make them actually happen.”

Ricky Martin

By day Ricky is a successful recruitment manager operating across the UK science industries, and by night and weekend a heavy hitting professional wrestler. Ricky, who has an Honours degree in Biochemistry, spends his spare time competing at wrestling events and is also an amateur body builder, training five to six times a week. Ricky recently got engaged to his girlfriend, and says his greatest strength is his people skills and that his weakness is that he is a perfectionist. Ricky wishes he was the brains behind Facebook and once played tennis against Tim Henman at Wimbledon.

He says: “I truly am the reflection of perfection.”

Stephen Brady

Ireland born Stephen loves learning new languages, reading and writing stories. Stephen says that he is a focused and down to earth person who is inspired by Muhammad Ali. He feels it is important to make every day count and tries to live life to the absolute limit. Stephen, who once lived in New York, has a passion for sport and the outdoors and once played in the FA Cup as a semi-professional footballer.

He says: “Enthusiasm is a huge asset of mine and I believe it’s caught and not taught.”

Tom Gearing

Tom feels his biggest strength is his self-assurance but says that he can sometimes be over-confident. He also admits he isn’t great at handling early morning starts. Tom enjoys going to music events and West Ham football matches in his spare time and also plays golf, tennis and football for a Sunday League team. Tom’s passions are fine dining and wine and he also loves travelling around the world. He is inspired by Candy & Candy and wishes he was the brains behind ASOS.

He says: “I’m confident, charismatic and some people say I’m quite good looking, so that adds to the bill."

BBC - Music - Review of High on Fire - Snakes for the Divine

As BBC4’s recent suggested, mainstream culture as a whole is moving wholesale towards an acceptance – if not a fundamental understanding – of all things beefy and loud.

Metal has always been big business and seen a certain level of wholesale womens clothing critical acceptance, and it’s the likes of and Oakland’s High on Fire who are fighting this new front: journeymen bands who have existed and flourished for years but who are now finding themselves under a new spotlight. Matt Pike, High on Fire’s frontman, served time in the legendary stoner trio Sleep. But with Snakes for the Divine he’s making his strongest case yet for why people who aren’t into metal should at the very least appreciate music this… nasty.

The most impressive aspect of what is a boundlessly impressive album is Snakes for the Divine’s deft summation of various different metallic styles. Frost Hammer’s irresistible head-bang rhythm complements the opening title-track’s spiralling, galloping riffery, while the likes of Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter’s theatricality and Ghost Neck’s bass-heavy assault provide outlets for Pike’s seemingly endless creativity. And the biggest change of pace and most Sleep-like track here, Bastard Samurai – blessed as it is with a fabulous name that is as evocative as it is ridiculous – is a masterpiece of sludge metal brutality, slowly but inexorably rolling forward like a landslide.

Drummer Des Kensel and bassist Jeff Matz deserve credit for not only keeping up with Pike but ensuring he teeters at the top of his game via their own evident ability. The richness and depth of sound on the frenetic Fire, Flood and the Plague burns with the excitement and hunger of a band half their age and, like the rest of the album, liberally drips with ideas.

It’s tight, concise and thrillingly sharp – what makes High on Fire’s fifth album such a success is its intricacy and balance that allows it to appeal to more than your friendly neighbourhood metalhead. Those in the know will nod in approval; everyone else hitherto untouched by the gnarled clutch of Californian metal can consider themselves very much invited to get involved.

Liam Byrne Labour would aim for 'full employment'

17 May 2013Last updated at 10:23 ET Liam Byrne: Labour would aim for 'full employment'

Full employment is the "foundation" on which the economy should be rebuilt, a senior Labour politician has said.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said aiming for full employment had been a core Labour Party ideal for 70 years.

But the party now had to make a case for it as a means of cutting the deficit and the welfare bill, he said.

Mr Byrne is also considering handing control of welfare to new local bodies if Labour wins the next election.

The Conservatives said Mr Byrne had launched a policy without any details and had opposed welfare savings.

Labour has been carrying out a wholesale review of its entire policy agenda ahead of the next general election.

Leader Ed Miliband has spoken of the need to come up with fresh ideas to cut unemployment and kick start growth at a time when there is less money to spend.

'Social disease'

The party has vowed to explore radical ideas to tackle unemployment "blackspots," which it says in a report entitled No Place Left Behind are getting worse.

Research by the House of Commons library, published by Mr Byrne, suggests unemployment is getting worse on the three quarters of housing estates in Britain where it is highest.

In a speech in Newcastle, Mr Byrne said the "old consensus" about the desirability of full employment had disappeared and the policies of the current government showed that Chancellor George Osborne believed that a certain level of unemployment was a "price worth paying".

In contrast, he said Labour had always recognised that joblessness, in the words of former foreign secretary Ernest Bevin, was a "social disease" and full employment was the catalyst for socio-economic change.

"Full employment has always been the foundation for rebuilding Britain," he said. "It was for Atlee's Labour, it was for New Labour, it will be for One Nation Labour.

"Today the goal of full employment is important for a very simple reason. The faster we return to full employment, the faster we can pay china wholesale down our debt and the faster we can put the 'something for something' back into social security.

"The Tories' problem is that they lost belief in full employment many years ago...This failure is now costing us not less but more. And more money spent on unemployment means less for working people and less for care."

The UK, he said, faced parallel challenges of long-term unemployment, youth unemployment, under-representation of women in the workforce and entrenched joblessness in parts of country where old industries had disappeared.

To tackle these problems, he said there needed to be far greater co-ordination of resources devoted to skills training, education, economic regeneration, housing, planning, transport and environmental sustainability.

'High and stable'

The government's flagship back-to-work programme was "hopelessly centralised" and the UK should follow the lead of Germany and Canada in giving local councils more freedom to pursue their own priorities.

Giving local authorities and new regional bodies a role in deciding how the welfare budget is spent, in place of the Department for Work and Pensions, could save billions of pounds and cut the benefits bill, he suggested.

Mr Byrne backed the principles set out by Tory grandee Lord Heseltine in his recent report on growth, calling for much greater devolution of power and arguing that the work and pensions secretary is a "roadblock to reform".

But the Conservatives accused Mr Byrne of failing to provide any details about Labour's welfare policies and of opposing ?83bn in benefit savings without saying how they would pay for them.

Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps, said: "Labour have launched a welfare policy with absolutely no detail and no new ideas about how to reform welfare to make work pay.

"All Ed Miliband offers is the same old Labour answer of more borrowing and more debt - exactly how they got us into this mess in the first place."

Full employment was a stated aspiration of successive post-war governments but fell out of favour in the 1970s.

Definitions of full employment differ and it does not imply 100% employment since it is accepted that a percentage of the workforce will always be between jobs.

But economists refer to it as the attainment of the highest amount of skilled and unskilled employment at any given time at prevailing wage rates while politicians have spoken of the need for "high and stable" levels of employment.

Goldman Prize for South African anti-fracking warrior

15 April 2013Last updated at 11:30 ET Goldman Prize for South African anti-fracking warrior

A South African anti-fracking campaigner is one of six winners of this year's Goldman Prize, a prestigious environmentalist award.

Fracking is a controversial technique of pumping high pressure fluids into shale rock to recover gas and oil.

Jonathan Deal has campaigned to protect the Karoo, a semi-desert region renowned for its natural beauty.

South Africa last year lifted an 18-month ban on fracking but no work has started yet.

One study has found the Karoo could hold enough gas to supply South Africa for 400 years.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) , the area of about 400,000 sq km (154,440 sq miles) in the south-west of the country is home to what could be one of the largest deposits of shale gas in the world.

The awards, sometimes known as the Nobel prize for the environment, will be presented at a ceremony in San Francisco.

Mr Deal said the Goldman Prize came as a welcome surprise when he was told in November that he was going to be a recipient of the prize, which includes the cash award of $150,000 (?97,872).

"I've already started spending it in anticipation of receiving it," the Goldman Prize winner, who has dipped into his retirement savings to finance his campaign, told the BBC's Newsday programme.

"It has allowed me to pay somebody like our chief researcher… a salary for the first time in two and a half years," he said.

'Marketing rhetoric'

Mr Deal, the author of the book Timeless Karoo, began his campaign in 2011 when he read a newspaper article about oil company Shell's plans to apply for exploratory permit to drill for natural gas in the Karoo.

The Goldman Prize jury said that "with no prior training in grassroots organising", he immediately set up a Facebook group to educate the public about the risks of fracking, which requires large quantities of water not available in the Karoo.

With an active membership of 7,000, they then formed the Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG).

As its chairman, Mr Deal led a "dedicated team of scientists, legal experts and volunteers" to prepare a report which led the government to impose an 18-month moratorium on fracking.

"The team also supported Deal in going head-to-head with Shell executives in public meetings and in the media, challenging them to debate the merits of fracking," .

"The Karoo is sparsely populated so it's wholesale bags & shoes easy to gain the impression that nothing happens there; in fact it is a bustling community," he told the BBC.

The moratorium came to an end in September, allowing for exploration to go ahead - although the government says no fracking will be allowed yet.

"I can see wholesale destruction of the environment not just in South Africa, but across Africa and globally due to fracking," Mr Deal said if oil companies were allowed to continue.

"Oil and gas companies are very clever at marketing their aims... they will market shale gas as a cleaner burning gas as a bridge fuel... as something that will create lots of jobs.

"They even have the audacity to use the word sustainable in much of the their marketing rhetoric - there is absolutely no place for the word sustainable in any connection with any fossil fuel at all - least of all shale gas," he said.

He says part of his success may be that he is at ease taking on corporate companies - unlike other campaigners who perhaps do not like wearing suits and ties.

"[But] when I'm moving around the Karoo communities my favourite garb is a T-shirt that says 'Get your fracking hands off our Karoo.'"

Other winners of the 2013 awards were:

An elementary school teacher who began a public education campaign about the dangers of incinerators in his small Tuscan town that grew into a national Zero Waste movement.

Azzam Alwash, Iraq: returned to the country from the US to lead local communities in restoring the once-lush marshes that had been allowed to dry out under Saddam Hussein's regime.

Aleta Baun, Indonesia: organised local villagers to occupy marble mining sites in order to prevent the destruction of sacred forestland on the island of Timor.

Kimberly Wasserman, US: led a local campaign to shut down two of the nation's oldest coal-fired power plants and transform Chicago's old industrial sites into parks and multi-use spaces.

Nohra Padilla, Colombia: organised Colombia's marginalised waste pickers, in the face of political opposition and threats of violence, in order to make recycling a legitimate part of waste management.

Will legalised marijuana lead to an economic boom

7 May 2013Last updated at 19:52 ET Will legalised marijuana lead to an economic boom? By Lynsea GarrisonBBC News, Seattle, Washington

Marijuana is now legal in Washington state in the north-west of America. Will the sales kick-start an economic boom?

Kimberly Bliss and her wife, Kim Ridgway, have been looking for ways to get back on their feet.

The women lost their jobs when their mutual employers sold a struggling wholesale meat business during the recession. Two and a half years later, Ridgway has been unable to find stable work, while Bliss only works part-time.

"We're both over 50, and we're women," Bliss says. "We're some of the hardest people to employ in this economy. We have nothing to look forward to in our future."

But the legalisation of marijuana has changed that.

Now Bliss and Ridgway are drawing up plans to open a quaint cannabis shop in downtown Olympia, Washington, funded by about $20,000 (?13,000) in savings.

They are among many Washington residents looking to cash in on the newly legal and potentially lucrative marijuana market, which they hope will give them a wholesale new start, create jobs, and boost Washington's slumping economy.

"I'm going to work for my American dream, and that's opening a retail marijuana store," Ridgway says. "It will be such a financial relief. And we have friends who are struggling, so this will also be putting them to work."

A diverse bunch, prospective marijuana entrepreneurs range from cannabis novices like Bliss and Ridgway to experienced sellers crawling out of the black market.

State officials are unsure how much revenue marijuana will bring because the market has never been regulated. But experts predict the industry could fetch up to $2bn over a five-year period.

And that does not include the secondary markets that legal cannabis might fuel - tourism, agriculture and the food industry.

Sales begin next year, after the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) issues rules and regulations for growers, processors and sellers, a task never before undertaken in the world.

Of course, many businesses in Washington are already on the ground floor - most visible are the medical dispensaries that have been selling cannabis for years.

"Part of the reason legalisation passed is that this has been going on for a long time," says WSLCB spokesman Brian Smith. "It's about time we regulated this thing to get revenue for the state from this product."

Medical dispensaries have flourished in western Washington for years, although it is unknown how much revenue they earn because until December, marijuana use was illegal in the state and remains illegal under federal law. Dispensaries cannot open bank accounts and probably pay no taxes.

Despite that, at least 60 storefront medical marijuana shops have opened in Seattle alone.

At The Joint in Seattle, community service plaques line the wall near the receptionist's counter, a scene more akin to a small-town dentist's office than a drug dealer's den.

"Right now we sponsor a little football league," says Shy Sadis, manager of The Joint. "We give back to the Seattle Police Department, to the Mariners [baseball team], to the Seattle Fire Department. We even run a local toy drive ever year."

With its clean waiting room and professional staff, the company is poised to expand to recreational sales once Sadis can apply for a business license. Many other dispensaries are readying themselves to do the same.

"Seattle is going to be a Mecca for cannabis," Sadis says. "And I'm happy and proud to be a part of it. We want to pay our taxes. We want to do the right thing."

Many local marijuana businesspeople fear large companies will take over small operations before they have had a chance to develop.

Yet no big corporations have directly invested in the market and are unlikely to do so until the federal government decides whether to take action against Washington for contravening federal law.

In March, Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration was still considering the federal response to new state marijuana laws.

That response is the ultimate source of concern for people looking to enter the marijuana market. Their investment and efforts could be lost if the federal government overturns legal marijuana use in the state.

"There are risks and challenges for everyone starting a new business," Bliss says. "This is a bit of a higher risk… I'm sure federal prison isn't fun. But if we do it correctly, maybe we can open some eyes."

BBC - Ethics - War Holy wars

Holy warsHoly wars

Modern people often regard the idea of a holy war as a contradiction. Killing thousands of people and causing wholesale destruction seems to be as far from holiness as one can get.

But religion and war have gone hand in hand for a long time. Armies go into battle believing that God is with them, often after prayers and sacrifices to keep God on their side. In tribal cultures (including Biblical ones) when a people lose a war they often have to change to the worship of the winner's gods.

However involving God as part of the campaign does not make a war a holy war - for a war to be a holy war, religion has to be the driving force.

Holy wars usually have three elements:

Many of the wars fought in the name of religion do conform to the just war conditions, but not all of them.

Religious causes

Francis Bacon said there were five causes for holy war: (he wrote in a Christian context, but the categories would be usable by any faith)

Only the first of these causes is completely outside the scope of the conventional idea of a just cause. Some of the other causes, because of the length of time that can pass since the offending act took place are probably not just causes either.

Lawful authority

The legitimate authority for a holy war is not the government of a state (except in a theocracy) but the Church, or the relevant organisation or person who heads the religious institution concerned.

In ancient times the authority was often God - in the Bible there are several occasions where God gave direct instructions to peoples to wage war. This would not be the case today.

Personal reward

The third condition of a holy war is a spiritual reward for those who take part. The doctrine of the just war does not refer to any personal rewards for the participants - and such rewards would be against such a generally austere doctrine.

History

The first holy war was probably in October 312 CE when the Roman emperor Constantine saw a vision of the cross in the sky with this inscription "in hoc signo vinces" (in this sign you will win).

Constantine trusted the vision and had the cross inscribed on his soldiers' armor. Even though his forces were outnumbered, he won the battle against an army that was using pagan enchantment. (Historians regard this as a turning point in Christianity's fortune.)

The Crusades

The great series of western holy wars were the Crusades, which lasted from 1095 until 1291 CE. The aim was to capture the sacred places in the Holy Land from the Muslims who lived there, so it was intended as a war to right wrongs done against Christianity.

The first Crusade was started by Pope Urban II in 1095. He raged at the capture of the holy places and the treatment given to Christians, and ordered a war to restore Christianity. He said that the war would have the support of God:

The pope also absolved all who took wholesale part in the crusade of all their sins.

The first Crusade captured Jerusalem after bitter fighting, and the residents of the city were brutalised and slaughtered by the Christian invaders. The invaders' conduct breached the principles of modern just war ethics, and the massacres still colour Islamic politics today.

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