With the rising oil prices some people will do almost anything to get free gas. What would you do and to what extent will you do it for free gas?

To David Partin in Orlanda, Florida, it means giving up naming his son. Partin in a contest has pledged to name his son after local radio hosts – as Dixon Willoughby Partin - in order to win a $100 gas card.

The American Red Cross also run a summer contest where blood donors are eligible to win a year’s supply of fuel.

At St. Ann’s Parish in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, $50 gas cards are given out in drawing manner at Sunday masses. Going to the church will never be the same. That for sure gives you a good reason to wake up every Sunday for mass and not falling asleep, at least during the lucky draw.

Meanwhile in Beatty, Nevada, Shady Lady Ranch brothel runs a campaign to boost summer sales; giving out $50 gas vouchers to customers who spend $300 or more in a month. Within a week, the first $1,000 gas coupons were given out.

In Mesquite, Texas, thieves drained $100 worth of gasoline from buses used by the Higher Ground Church day-care center and attacked other churches in the area.

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According to the U.S. government-funded World Values Survey, Denmark stands as the happiest country in the world with its democracy, social equality and peaceful atmosphere. The survey is carried out by a global network of social scientists regularly.

“Denmark is prosperous — not the richest country in the world but it is prosperous.”
Ronald Ingelhart, the director of this study and a political scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research said there is a strong correlation between happiness and democracy.

Puerto Rico, Sweden, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Canada are among the happiest countries in the world. The world’s richest nation, the united States, ranks 16th.

Zimbabwe which is torn by political and social strife is the least happy according to the survey.
The survey which was first done in 1981, has kept to two simple questions till today.

1) “Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?”
2) “All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?”

“Finally, the most important approach to determine one’s happiness is through the extent which people have free choice in how they live their lives,” Inglehart said.

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Inspired by Britain’s Café Scientifique movement, a slew of US watering holes now host science nights, gatherings where the brainiacs from universities and labs give talks and booze it up with the locals. Check one out if you’re staying nearby for an up-close explanation and discussions on random theories - who knows you’ll end up spending your Friday night playing pool with a Nobel Prize winner?

Secret Science Club

Where: Union hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
When: Every first Wednesday of the month
Website: http://secretscienceclub.blogspot.com/

The Secret Science Club is a free science lecture and arts series. With “No cover. Just bring your own smart self” tag line, The Secret Science Club has welcomed a hand full visitors and presenters which include Nobel Prize winners, Neuroscientists, astrophysicist, authors, professors and other ‘smart self.

Café Sci

Where: The Thristy Scholar Pub, Boston
When: Every Month

Café Sci is an ongoing series that encourages open, easy-to-understand conversation with no lectures, no powerpoint and no technical jargon.

Café Scientifique

Where: The Map Room, Chicago
When: Quarterly

Inspired by the old European tradition of offering knowledge to the masses in a pub setting, the Map Room had brought numerous professors and researchers to discuss with fellow drinkers about global warming, the black hole, entropy and more.

Science Pub

Where: Bridgeport Brewpub + Bakery, Portland
When: Last Monday of the month
Website

The Science Pub is a new event where you can find out about advances in science and technology from leading researchers and scientists, all while enjoying food and drinks. Don’t expect a remote speaker behind a distant podium. Instead, experience the informal atmosphere where you can interact with the expert and where there are no silly questions. No scientific background is required; just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks, and knowledge!
Science on Tap

Where: Schlafly Bottleworks, St. Louis
When: Last Wednesday of the month
Website: http://scienceontap.wustl.edu/

For the price of a beverage, anyone who come to Science On Tap can explore the latest ideas in science and technology with a non-traditional-context meetings in a special allocated room at Schlafly Bottleworks. Meeting are normally held from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. The standard format would be a 20 minutes presentation from the guest speaker/presenter, followed by a 7 minute ice-breaking session for attendees to get to know each other and thereafter a full hour of discussion in the room.

Ask A Scientist

Where: The Canvas Gallery (and other venues), San Francisco
When: Monthly
Website: http://askascientistsf.com

Ask a Scientist is an informative and entertaining lecture series, held at The Canvas Gallery (and sometimes at other venues). Each event features a speaker, discussion on a specific topic and audience have all the chances to ask questions. Somewhat like a lecture but with no exams, no pressure, only good food, drinks, like-minded companion and engaging conversation!

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It is a well known fact that humans have an instinctive ability to strive for survival especially if you’re dying from organ failure. Imagine if you could afford $10,000 (China) for a kidney instead of waiting in line at the hospital; you’d most likely head to China as soon as possible before you kick the bucket.

This is an issued that China, Brazil, India and many countries live with everyday. The industry has grown and can only keep growing as more and more people fall into the sick and desperate situation where selling or buying organs becomes a need. The prices of human organs vary from country to country however the most disturbing news is that people are being scammed and murdered for their organs.

Kosovo is known for human trafficking and organ harvesting. In 1999 after the Kosovo war, new evidence claims that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) abducted 400 Kosovo residents, mostly Serbs, and illegally harvested their organs before killed them.

These allegations were sourced from Carla del Ponte, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia. However Carla del Ponte withheld information about this war crime for many years due to the lack of evidence.

#7 Mozambique

Photo by: John Maier

Mozambique south of Africa, is believed to be one of the main countries where organ trafficking existed. Here the most common organ for sale is the human kidney, mainly used in transplants however there are a few cases involving witchcraft use.

The law in South Africa forbids the sale of organs (‘The Human Tissue Act of 1983’) however it has given special authority to hospital’s medical directors and pathologist. This allows the removal of organs from unknown person(s) or from unclaimed bodies for medical use. This is believed to be the source of most organ trafficking.

South Africa has been famous for murder related organ trafficking however the largest organ trafficking ring has been caught.

#6 Israel / Palestine

Being called the holy land for the birth place of Jesus, Israel has seen countless carnage, war and poverty. It is also a place where organ trafficking takes place often. Up till a few months ago Israel did not have any proper laws to prevent organ trafficking.

There are strict laws to prevent human trafficking in Israel however the law on organ trafficking is not solid enough and thus the trafficking of organs continues.

The Israeli organ transplanting ring, have been persuading desperate organ sellers from Israel to have their organs removed in Ukraine where the laws are less strict. In some cases these criminals are stealing organs and leaving their donors with nothing, or they are paying very little ($2,000) for a kidney while they sell them to buyers for at least 10-20 times the amount. The organ trafficking ring has been caught thanks to a gun battle by unpaid organ donors who were promised money but ended up in a scam.

It was reported that Dr. Zaki Shapira, a chef of transplantation at the Beilinson Medical Center who’s also the head of a highly profitable organ transplanting ring. Dr. Zaki Shapira was arrested (video).

#5 India

Organ trafficking rings have been running in India for the past 12 years. Among these, was the famous 2004 scandal. It was reported that the Transplant Authorization Committee in charge of preventing organ selling was working with brokers in the sale of kidneys. They believed that they could save lives and it was better to work with the brokers rather than oppose them.

Many brokers, hospitals and doctors have been caught in India the latest being Amit Kumar. However the selling of kidneys is still on the rise in India despite all the scandals and rings exposed. Many still open shops in the illicit hunt for kidneys.

#4 Pakistan

With the abundance of poverty, Pakistan truly has a big problem on their hands. Most people find it hard to make money let alone pay off they’re debts. The only valuable assets these Pakistanis have are their kidneys which have been priced at around $3,000.

In 1994 Pakistan passed “Transplantation of Human Organs Act”. However there are many problems in this act that allow non-relatives to donate organs and receive some kind of compensation for it.

Selling your organs is illegal in Pakistan however some loopholes allow many shady people to perform illicit trades. Watch this documentary from SBS Australia.

#3 Egypt

Egypt has no current laws to prevent organ harvesters. In fact there’s been 500 unlicensed kidney transplant reported each year but evidence indicates that this figure is generous. There is much poverty in Egypt and where there’s poverty there’s organ brokers.

Organ traffickers span as far as Europe in the hopes to find many victims to buy organs from and bring them back to Egypt. What makes Egypt unique to other countries is that the law does not punish organ harvesters. The law is still being discussed and till today we are unsure if organ trafficking will be banned or not.

This article is about an undercover writer trying to expose organ trafficking in Egypt.

#2 China

You won’t find another place like China because unlike other countries, China actually condones organ harvesting. If you’re in dying need for a kidney, fly to a hospital in China where you lay in bed and wait for your kidney to arrive; fresh and ready for surgery. It is unknown how much money is made from the illegal sale of organs as there is little information.

However, there are claims that hospitals head hunt foreigners in need for organs and people are paying anywhere from $10,000 to $65,000 for a kidney.

How it works in China most of the time is really quite ingenious (or in human if you like). China has very strict laws and you can bet your bottom dollar that breaking some laws will get you in front of a firing squad. This is how you end up as an organ donor with proper consent.

In 1984, China introduced a new law, “Rules Concerning the Utilization of Corpses or Organs from the Corpses of Executed Prisoners.” Since the passing of this law many people flock to China and wait for their hand me down organs. In fact doctors are even able to tell you how old your organ donor is before it is even delivered.

In recent events, China has put a stop to hospitals in 2007 by restricting transplants to foreigners and giving first priority to Chinese patients. This does not prevent organ harvesting and in many cases executed prisons organs have been taken without consent.

#1 Moldova

Besides poverty and sex slavery, Moldova is one of the top countries in the world for organ harvesting. The population of Moldova is just over 3 million and the government looks like it couldn’t care less about organ harvesting. It is believed that the government is directly involved with the trade even after the government has issued a ban.

Many innocent victims have been murdered for their kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, and small bowel; by gangs. It is also reported that 10% of all kidney donated worldwide originate from Moldova.

Many years ago, a viral email was sent about people being drugged, then waking up naked in a bath tub full of ice with they’re kidneys removed. This is what’s happening now however many victims are being dumped by the roadside. Some of these activities are believed to be masterminded by a police chef. This report says it all.

Closing
There are other countries such as Russia, Singapore, Philippines, Colombia, Turkey, South Korea, and Taiwan that illegal organ trafficking still exist. And due to poverty and high profits ($50 million / year) on organ brokering, this world issue continues.

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While Japanese households consume less energy than Europe and U.S, the rapid increment in Tokyo on energy consumption has raised much concern from the Japanese government. The rise of greenhouse gas emissions from companies and households have raised public awareness for global warming too.

Between 1990 and 2005, the energy consumption jumped 44 percent, which lead the Japanese to zoom in on ways for people to save energy. One of the most effective ways would be speedier family baths as reported by the Japanese government on Tuesday.

Families should not only shorten their daily showers by a minute but should also try to take baths in quick succession, the report said. In general, hot water used in bathrooms and kitchens are responsible for 39 percent of energy consumption in Japanese homes, the exact opposite to European homes where energy consumption is mainly on air-conditioning and heating, the report said.

Having said, climate change will definitely be a major agenda on at the G8 summit Japan coming this early July.

Did you know: Japanese usually take a quick shower outside the tub and then soak in hot water, which is then kept for the next family member.

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