The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News
1. HEALTH
A new breed of genetically modified mosquitoes may help fight the spread of malaria.
CEI Experts Available to Comment: Director of Risk & Environmental Policy Angela Logomasini on the continued need for pesticides like DDT in the fight against malaria:
“DDT is still the best available tool for controlling the spread of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Public health authorities spray DDT on the interior walls of buildings, which deters mosquitoes from entering the homes. This approach is effective because mosquitoes feed largely at night when people are inside. In addition, DDT is much more affordable than other pesticides, which is critically important for poor people in developing nations.”
2. ENVIRONMENT
James Hansen, a NASA scientist who claims that his views on global warming were censored by the Bush Administration, admits to giving over 1,400 media interviews in recent years.
CEI Experts Available to Comment: Journalism Fellow Jeremy Lott on Hansen’s mention at the most recent convention of the Society of Environmental Journalists:
“When fellow panelist ABC reporter Bill Blakemore did a story about NASA scientist James Hansen’s allegations of Bush administration censorship, he failed to tell ABC World News Tonight viewers that Hansen had endorsed John Kerry and received money from Kerry’s wife’s foundation.”
3. INTERNET
Chinese authorities imprison a website editor for “defaming” the government of China.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on the need for U.S. tech companies to stay engaged in China:
“Leaving China disconnected, as some suggest, would hinder developing internet infrastructure and would deny Chinese citizens access to the many useful services these companies provide. Just 110 million people out of China’s 1.4 billion now have net access; there’s still a monumental “digital divide.” Most Chinese citizens do not experience a limited or censored Internet, but no Internet at all.”