Tag: December 2002

A South African scuba diver set a new world record after
living underwater in a steel tank for 10 days and surviving by eating
through a tube. Tim Yarrow was (30) cheered by hundreds of onlookers shortly
after 12:30pm on Saturday when he climbed out of the 3 by 2,3m tank, his
home in a Johannesburg shopping mall since November 6. Yarrow spent 240
hours underwater with scuba apparatus in a controlled environment without
surfacing. The initial record was just under nine days and Tim managed
10 days, Greg Wharram, team co-ordinator, said they had contacted Guinness
World Records before the attempt began and now must file papers to make
the record official.

Source: Reuters

John from the UK is planning to go from Hawaii to Fiji,
New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Europe, the UK, the US,
and Hawaii plus any points in between, depending on limitations of the
ticket. Because he intends to start from Hawaii, the UK travel agents
have been giving him some very high quotes. Can anyone help him by suggesting
a good travel agent, not necessarily in the UK to give a quote? He would
also welcome any advice on backpacker travel insurance for the over 50's,
with sailing included. To contact John, please e-mail him on: Coehabit@aol.com

Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a
place or country – want to share something with us – why not visit our
Mutual Aid section of the Website: Mutual Aid

A coalition of international human rights organisations
is calling on countries around the world to abolish capital punishment
in the first World Day Against the Death Penalty. Sixty cities around
the world marked the occasion by illuminating significant landmarks: Barcelona
lit up the Gaudi cathedral, Santiago illuminated its central park, and
Belgium lit up its Atomium structure, with a dove of peace on the top.
According to Amnesty International, at least 3,000 people were executed
in 31 countries across the world last year.

The event was inspired by the city of Rome, which lights
up the Colosseum when an execution order is overturned or a country abolishes
capital punishment. The coalition wants to bring pressure on nations such
as China and the United States, where the death penalty is still widely
used.

According to human rights group Amnesty International,
China executed more people in the first three months of the campaign that
began in May 2002, than did the rest of the world over the past three
years. At least 2,600 people were put to death in China last year alone,
according to Amnesty. Next to China, Iran had the second-highest tally
of executions in 2001, putting to death at least 139 people, Amnesty said.
Saudi Arabia was third with 79 executions, and the United States followed,
having put 66 people to death, the organisation said.

Here’s a little Beetle quiz based on airport codes.
See how many you get right! Go on, have a guess!

Which cities are served by airports with the following
codes:

1. CPT

2. NBO

3. VCE

4. ORD

5. PRG

For the answers, see at the end of the e-newsletter.