Prosecutors want the entire 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to recuse itself from the latest appeal for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal because Gov. Ed Rendell - whose wife serves on the court - was district attorney during his trial.
Abu-Jamal, a former radio reporter and Black Panther, was convicted in 1982 of killing a police officer. In his latest appeal, his attorneys say prosecutors practiced racial discrimination during jury selection; an allegation prosecutors deny.
"Since Mr. Rendell was the elected district attorney at the time in question, and so would have been responsible for the supposed 'routine' racially discriminatory practices of Philadelphia prosecutors, Abu-Jamal's accusations necessarily implicate Mr. Rendell personally," Assistant District Attorney Hugh J. Burns Jr. wrote in a motion last week.
A federal judge in 2001 overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence but upheld his conviction. Both sides appealed that ruling to the 3rd Circuit, whose members include the governor's wife, Marjorie O. Rendell.
Prosecutors could simply ask for Judge Rendell to recuse herself but they want to avoid any possible grounds for a future appeal.
Abu-Jamal was convicted in the Dec. 9, 1981, shooting death officer Daniel Faulkner after the officer pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother. He remains on death row during the appeals.
His writings and taped speeches on the justice system have made Abu-Jamal a popular figure among activists who believe he was the victim of a racist justice system. Abu-Jamal is black; Faulkner was white.
Abu-Jamal's lawyer, Robert R. Bryan of San Francisco, opposes Byrne's motion, according to court records. He did not return telephone messages seeking comment.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/09/2007 11:35 Comments ||
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#2
I'm reminded I forgot to report I took some Direct Action the other day. In my local Barnes and Noble, their "Young Adult" section was featuring an end cap of notable biographies... with all the usual suspects ... and "Nobel Peace Prize Nominee" Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Gah.
The Tookie books found themselves being redistributed throughout the bookstore, away from the YA section.
#3
His writings and taped speeches on the justice system have made Abu-Jamal a popular figure among activists who believe he was the victim of a racist justice system.
That he was stone cold guilty seems not to bother them in the least...
#5
#3: "That he was stone cold guilty seems not to bother them in the least..."
It never does, tu.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/09/2007 21:09 Comments ||
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#6
I agree, Rendell should recuse himself. He is the worst governor we've ever had and we can't get rid of him because he gives stuff away by the carload for votes, then raises taxes. Ed Rendell is a total failure. He hasn't accomplished shit in the statehouse but introduction of donkey style corruption. Thanks, Ed, please stop breathing.
ATLANTA -- An unseasonable cold snap put a chill on Easter Sunday services across the Southeast and much of the rest of the country, moving some events indoors and adding layers over spring frocks. Across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, Easter celebrants swapped frills, bonnets and sandals for coats, scarves and heavy socks. Baseball fans huddled in blankets and, instead of spring planting, backyard gardeners were bundling their crops.
Record lows all across the land as the Gore Effect continues
Two weeks into spring, Easter morning temperatures were in the upper 30s along the Gulf Coast and in the single digits in northern Minnesota and the Dakotas. Atlanta had a low of 30 degrees, with a wind chill of 23, the National Weather Service said. The same reading hit New York City's Fifth Avenue, celebrated in song for the traditional Easter Parade of spring finery.
Despite the chill, nearly 1,000 people attended the annual sunrise service at Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, as a slight breeze whipped over the granite monument. The service usually attracts 10,000 people. Later in the afternoon, about 5,000 people braved the wind and chill in Homer, a small town in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains that claims one of the nation's largest Easter egg hunts. "We've had cold weather before, but this might have been the coldest," said Sandra Garrison, whose family hid more than 100,000 plastic eggs on their farm, continuing a 48-year tradition. "They had their coats on for sure."
Nashville, Tenn., bottomed out Sunday at 23 degrees, knocking one degree off the Easter Sunday record set March 24, 1940. The Cleveland Indians tried all weekend to kick off their series against the Seattle Mariners but were stymied when the weather forced Friday's home opener and subsequent double headers on Saturday and Sunday to be postponed. Officials in Morrison, Colo., canceled Sunday's annual sunrise service at the Red Rocks Amphitheater because seats and stairways were covered with ice.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/09/2007 07:54 ||
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#2
Heh--the entire 4-game series of the Mariners at the Indians in Cleveland was postponed--it will be interesting to see how they reschedule those games.
Also, the Brewers and Indians had to switch their next series starting tomorrow from Cleveland to Milwaukee. Cleveland's home opener ain't gonna happen 'til at least Friday now.
Posted by: Dar ||
04/09/2007 15:35 Comments ||
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#3
Oops--I misinterpreted what I'd heard on the radio. The Indians are actually playing the Angels, and they're borrowing the Brewers' stadium to do so while the Brewers are on the road. So Cleveland will get their home opener tomorrow--in Milwaukee!
Posted by: Dar ||
04/09/2007 16:27 Comments ||
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#4
> Can we have global warming back please.
No, no, no - it's "Global Climate Change" now. If it's too hot, too cold, too dry, or too wet - it's the fault of Bush and SUV driving Republicans.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/09/2007 20:05 Comments ||
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#6
Al Gore: "TREMBLE at my POWER!"
NO, it's "Shudder at my stupidity"
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/09/2007 20:16 Comments ||
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#7
Snow, fog, rain and ice coated most of Colorado this weekend, with highs in the low 30's. Today's high was 62, with partly-cloudy skies. The three to four inches of snow we received Friday night through Sunday evening is gone. Baseball games, Easter egg hunts, and sunrise services were cancelled.
I remember another year with weather like this one, about ten years ago. That year, it ended up snowing on the 4th of July...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/09/2007 21:32 Comments ||
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#8
Everybody to Gore's place! He has fuel to burn. And he's been doing so.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
04/09/2007 22:16 Comments ||
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#9
So long as we don't have a year without summer, I can handle March weather changes in April.
Bangladeshs army-backed interim government and Election Commission have both ruled out a short cut to parliamentary polls, despite expressions of impatience from leading politicians.
Politicians have freedom of expressing opinion on any matters, but we have a job to do, said Sakhawat Hossain, a member of the election commission and a retired army brigadier-general. We are trying to establish sustainable democracy in the country through a free and fair election. And we will take whatever time it requires, he told reporters on Sunday.
Mainul Husein, law and information adviser to the interim authority said the government was determined to take whatever steps necessary, with the help of the armed forces, to rid politics and administration of corruption and criminalisation. We have no intention to delay the election deliberately, he said. The officials were reacting to a warning from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina that peoples patience might run out if the election was delayed for too long. On Saturday, Hasina, now visiting the United States, called the interim authority headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed undemocratic and unconstitutional.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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Former health minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and six others were sued yesterday for extorting Tk 15,000 and demanding Tk 50,000 more from an activist of Awami League (AL). Mohammad Abul Hossain of the city's Jatrabari area lodged the case with the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court. Magistrate ABM Abdul Fattah directed the officer-in-charge (OC) of the Paltan Police Station to register the complaint as an FIR (first information report) on investigation into the matter.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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The Special Judge's Court here yesterday issued warrant of arrest against Joynal Hazari, former lawmaker of Awami League, upon a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for failure to submit his statement of wealth.
Deputy Director of Comilla ACC Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan who is also in-charge of Feni district, filed the case. After hearing the petitioner, Senior Special Judge Nazrul Islam ordered for issuing warrant of arrest against Hazari. Hazari is accused under the provisions of ACC Act and Emergency Ordinance that may earn him a maximum of 11 years jail, the prosecutor said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of ten U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are 2nd Lt. Raymond A. Cooley, of Leary, Texas; 2nd Lt. Dudley R. Ives, of Ingleside, Texas; 2nd Lt. George E. Archer, of Cushing, Okla.; 2nd Lt. Donald F. Grady, of Harrisburg, Pa.; Tech. Sgt. Richard R. Sargent, of North Girard, Pa.; Tech. Sgt. Steve Zayac, of Cleveland, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Joseph M. King, of Detroit, Mich.; Staff Sgt. Thomas G. Knight, of Brookfield, Ill.; Staff Sgt. Norman L. Nell, of Tarkio, Mo.; and Staff Sgt. Blair W. Smith, of Nu Mine, Pa.; all U.S. Army Air Forces. The dates and locations of the funerals are being set by their families.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
On April 16, 1944, a B-24 Liberator crewed by these airmen was returning to the aerodrome at Nadzab, New Guinea, after bombing enemy targets near Hollandia. The aircraft was altering course due to bad weather and was proceeding to the aerodrome at Saidor, but it never returned to friendly lines.
In late 2001, the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea notified the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command that wreckage of a World War II bomber had been found in Morobe Province. Early the next year, a JPAC team surveyed the site and found aircraft wreckage and remains. They also collected more remains and Gradys identification tag from local villagers who had found the items at the crash site.
Later in 2002, a JPAC team began excavating the crash site and recovered remains and crew-related items, including identification tags for Knight and Smith. The team was unable to complete the recovery, and another JPAC team re-visited the site two weeks later to complete the excavation. The team found additional remains and identification tags for Sargent and King.
Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.
#2
amen, xb. True patriots who made sacrifices for us all.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/09/2007 20:28 Comments ||
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#3
Whatever tax money got spent on these efforts was entirely worth it. We must never forget those who have put their lives on the line for America. All who fight for our nation must be able to take that to the bank.
Indian scientists Monday said that in 2007 uranium production in the country would double. According to the officials of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), only four imported reactors - two at Tarapore in Maharashtra and two in Rajasthan - are actually under inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
'As for the other reactors, there is a proposal to classify them as civilian, but until an agreement takes place we are continuing as usual,' Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) director S. Banerjee said here Monday.
Asked to clarify, he said: 'We in India have never looked at reactors as military or civilian. We are not going to do any classification until there is a specific agreement and will continue operating them as we have been doing' for the last two decades.
The country is preparing to set up 12 new reactors for nuclear power in the next two years, so that by 2012 India could get at least 10,000 MW.
Banerjee, along with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) chairman S.K. Jain, was speaking to the media here on the sidelines of an international steel conference.
India's own mines at Jaduguda (Jharkhand) have 1,000 MTPD (metric tonne per day) processing capacity and India owns only 0.8 percent of the world's uranium reserve. 'The plan is to step up power production by next year, starting with eight 700-MW PHWR (pressurised heavy water reactors) rea,' said S.K. Jain, chairman and MD, NPCIL and BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd).
India is also looking at setting up one light water reactor and three fast breeder reactors, he said. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India is operating 14 (two boiling water reactors and 12 PHWRs) reactors, with a total capacity of 2,720 MWe and the eight reactors it is building will up its power production by another 5,600 MWe (totalling more than 8,000 MWe). It also has two test reactors and the first indigenous fast breeder reactor is expected to start production by next year.
'The sites for four PHWRs has already been found, we are now looking among our basket of sites to find the most suitable, for the other four,' Jain said. The first four are to be at Rajasthan and at Kakrapara (Gujarat). Of the three fast breeder reactors, two 500 MW ones will be at DAE's Kalpakkam campus.
Designing for one advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) too has begun, Jain said. This will be a thorium reactor of about 300 MWe. The safety appraisal for this is over, officials said. 'We do not want to begin setting up all the reactors at the same time. Our uranium production will double next year and we want to link the reactors to uranium availability,' Jain said.
Therefore, NPCIL is going to set up the reactors in a phased manner over the next two years, the first four new PHWRs and then the next ones after 10 months or so. He said that NPCIL has been constructing its power plants on a commercial basis 'without any foreign investment' so far.
India is planning its reactors to work for at least 60 to a hundred years, officials here said. 'The prototype fast breeder reactor has a life time of 40 years, the FBRs have 60 year life, we want to ensure that they give us power for the next 100 years,' BARC director S. Banerjee said. He said India is looking for deep-seated uranium reserves now.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/09/2007 13:00 ||
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The government on Sunday rejected speculation about a change in government and a deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). A press statement issued by a spokesman for the president also refuted speculation about a change in the government and a deal with an opposition party. Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said this obviously meant the PPP.
The spokesman said that such reports continue to be printed and telecast despite clear denials from the government. He advised everyone, including the opposition, to concentrate on the forthcoming elections, which will be manifestly fair and transparent. Anybody creating confusion at this stage is clearly doing a disservice to the democratic process, the spokesman said.
Responding to reports of a deal with the PPP, the spokesman said that all political parties have an equal opportunity to contest the elections freely under the law and no concession or deal has been offered to any, hoping that all speculation to this effect will now be put to rest.
Talking to Daily Times, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani attributed the rumours to irresponsible quarters and said that these were 100 percent based on speculation. He did not name the irresponsible quarters.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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The government has made no deal with any party and no alliance will be forged with those who plundered the country, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Sunday. The PML is a stable party. We will take the country forward. We have not hammered out any deal with any party. We will not forge alliance with those who plundered the country, the prime minister told a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for Ghourgushti Environment Park in Attock district.
He said contacts and negotiations with other political parties were going on, but these were a routine part of the political process. He predicted that politicians who looted and plundered the national exchequer will not return for the elections as they would not be able to face the public.
Aziz said extremism had no place in Pakistan. We will take forward the country in the name of Islam. Our religion does not allow extremism and terrorism. If there is no peace and tranquillity in the country, there will be no development, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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The work of Mukhtar Mai, who survived a gang rape to become a fervent campaigner for voiceless women in Pakistan, has earned her many enemies, among feudal lords and even in the government, according to noted American columnist Nicholas Kristof. Mukhtar is a hero of mine, Kristof writes in The New York Times. But her work has earned her many enemies, particularly among the feudal lords - and even in the government of President Pervez Musharraf, who fears that Mukhtar displays Pakistans dirty laundry before the world. So the Pakistani authorities are harassing Mukhtar, trying to break her organisation, which helps women and the poor in distress.
Most of the pressure right now is on Mukhtars top aide and soul mate, Naseem Akhtar. Lately Naseems brother was in a mysterious vehicle accident, her father was ordered arrested for no apparent reason and her own house was broken into, writes Kristof.
The report says that Farooq Leghari, a police chief, was transferred away from Meerwala because he tried too hard to protect Mukhtar. He now is police chief in another town and, when Kristof visited him, he told him that this harassment and pressure on them is from very high up, from Islamabad.
Their lives are in danger, Mr Leghari said of Mukhtar and Naseem, adding that they could be killed by assassins sent by feudal lords or by the Pakistani government itself, says Kristoff. He adds: So I have a message for President Musharraf: Dont even think about it. Start protecting Mukhtar instead of harassing her. And if any accident happens to Mukhtar or Naseem, you will be held responsible before the world. We are watching.
Good for Kristof.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
All of Islam treat women worse than cattle, and deserves to be stomped so hard they'll be able to look down to see stars. Unfortunately, the "Christian west" still feels the Crusades were a disaster, that PCism is more important than some people being treated like human beings, and will refuse to do anything. THAT is our greatest sin, and will probably end up destroying us from within.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/09/2007 21:43 Comments ||
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The new Palestinian tourism minister is planning to overhaul the image of the Palestinian areas in order to attract more tourists and boost the number of visitors.
Newly appointed minister Khuloud Daibes said one of the main plans was to focus on marketing in order to put Palestine back on the world tourism map. This would require a lot of lobbying, she said, because many countries advise against traveling to the West Bank, labeling it dangerous.
Daibes, a Christian, is an independent in the Hamas-dominated Palestinian cabinet and is one of two female ministers in the unity government.
Shouldn't she be in a burqa? Why is she outside her home? Is she lecturing people of the Master Religion?
Ahead of the Easter holiday, Daibes told The Media Line the number of incoming refugees tourists had increased, especially with regard to visitors to Bethlehem and Jericho.
However, she said this did not necessarily entail increased income to the Palestinian tourism sector. Usually, tourists visit the religious and archeological sites for two or three hours, then spend the night in Israeli hotels, she said.
Any idea why that might be?
We would like to lengthen the stay of tourists in the Palestinian areas, in Bethlehem Jericho and other cities, in order to achieve some benefits for the local community, especially in this difficult economic situation, Daibes said.
"And the gun sex is so lovely this time of year!" she added.
The number of tourists to the Palestinian areas went down drastically after violence broke out between Israelis and Palestinians at the end of the year 2000. There has been an increase in tourists and pilgrims since then, but it is still down 60 percent compared to the year 2000.
There has been no official cooperation between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the field of tourism since Hamas was elected to power in January 2006. Cooperation over the past year was reduced to individual initiatives by the private sector in order to avoid reaching a total standstill in incoming tourism, Daibes said. However, she pointed out that this was limited because the Palestinian private sector accounts for only 2% of the tourism revenue.
Mostly because there's no such thing as a 'Palestinian private sector'.
Daibes urged Palestinians to give more attention to Christians living in the Palestinian areas.
Yaaaasss, you should soil your hands by dealing with the dhimmis. Good idea.
Tourism is a tool to build a bridge to Crusaders Christians all around the world with the Christian Palestinians living here. Its a major resource for economic development and it will help all Palestinians suffering from economic stagnation from the Palestinian Israeli conflict, she said.
#3
Hard to imagine how they think that driving all the Christians out of Bethlehem is going to promote tourism. They made their position very clear to the West when the "Lions of Islam" defecated in the Church of the Nativity.
#4
Hi. I'm Alan Johnston for the Gaza Tourist Bureau...
Posted by: Alan Johnston ||
04/09/2007 14:29 Comments ||
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#5
"Newly appointed minister Khuloud Daibes said one of the main plans was to focus on marketing in order to put Palestine back on the world tourism map."
Trust me Khuloud, using marketing only works if people don't already know about your 'product'.
They know, alright:
This story is from July 2004. One thing of interest:
The variation in sunspot numbers has revealed the Sun's 11-year cycle of activity as well as other, longer-term changes. In particular, it has been noted that between about 1645 and 1715, few sunspots were seen on the Sun's surface. This period is called the Maunder Minimum after the English astronomer who studied it.
It coincided with a spell of prolonged cold weather often referred to as the "Little Ice Age". Solar scientists strongly suspect there is a link between the two events - but the exact mechanism remains elusive. Over the past few thousand years there is evidence of earlier Maunder-like coolings in the Earth's climate - indicated by tree-ring measurements that show slow growth due to prolonged cold.
Checked Spaceweather this morning, currently there are no sunspots.
#4
Someone was predicting a lower than average sunspot count through 2050, with associated changes in Earth's climate. THEN, IIRC, the prediction was for another Ice Age. This has all got to hold off until 2062, when I can publish my memoirs.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/09/2007 21:56 Comments ||
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#5
I think the carbon thingy is saving the earth from an ice age or delaying it. For those of us not of the Neanderthal race the carbon thingy is likely a win win.
Yeah! As long as you're not poor or third world. All the limosine liberals will buy you out and keep you in the Stone Age, so they can fly their jets and ride their SUV's!
An offence by Myanmar pro-junta forces against ethnic minority Karen separatist rebels drove about 250 Karen civilians to flee into neighbouring Thailand, officials said Sunday. The pro-junta Democratic Karen Buddhist Army or DKBA launched attacks against the Karen National Union rebels on Saturday, said Police Lt Col Thawal Patanachareon, field commander of Thailands border patrol police. Thawal said the DKBA fired several mortar shells into mobile Karen National Union camps.
More than 50 mortar shells hit three KNU camps, where about 80 KNU fighters were based, Thawal said. He said Thai authorities did not immediately know if there were casualties. The offensive prompted at least 250 Karen civilians, mostly women and children, to flee into Thailand early Sunday via the Moie river to seek refuge in Mae Ramat district, about 400 kilometres northwest of Bangkok, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/09/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
I have a thought. Maybe the Thais should 'resettle' the Karens in the south of the country, along the border with Malaysia. The Karens seem to be one Buddhist group that can also fight. It might put some pressure on the local muzzie movement.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/09/2007 21:51 Comments ||
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A published report says Middle Eastern investors and American partners are preparing for the worlds biggest leveraged buyout ever. The deal is a $50 billion offer for Dow Chemical. If it works out, analysts say Dow would likely be split into a number of smaller companies. Dow was founded in Michigan in 1897, and its headquarters remain there today. The company employs 43,000 people worldwide.
Dow Jones Indexes is in talks with the (Malaysian) Securities Commission (SC) and Bursa Malaysia Bhd to set up an Islamic-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Malaysia for the Asia-Pacific region. Dow Jones Indexes Islamic group global director A Rushdi Siddiqui said the talks were in the preliminary stages but said the SC was very keen to establish the ETF. An ETF is a type of investment that attempts to reflect the performance of a stock market index. An ETFs value comes directly from the assets that it represents. On the global front, Rushdi said Dow Jones was planning on introducing real estate investment trusts (REITS) and commodities to its Islamic Indexes. So you are looking at REITS, you are looking at commodities the issue is working with scholars to establish screens, different screens for different asset classes, but the development of the indexes is still in its the early days.
#1
This is obviously due to the fact that there is some concern about the toxicity of the foam DOW is providing to NASCAR for crash protection in their Cao of Tomorrow; the first two races with that car brought allegations of noxious fumes and burning of the foam from heat transferred from the headers; and since DOW has never caused any tixoc releases that could hurt anybody, they are wanting to keep their record and finances intact....
/off sarc mode
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The work of Mukhtar Mai, who survived a gang rape to become a fervent campaigner for voiceless women in Pakistan, has earned her many enemies, among feudal lords and even in the government, according to noted American columnist Nicholas Kristof. Mukhtar is a hero of mine, Kristof writes in The New York Times. But her work has earned her many enemies, particularly among the feudal lords - and even in the government of President Pervez Musharraf, who fears that Mukhtar displays Pakistans dirty laundry before the world. So the Pakistani authorities are harassing Mukhtar, trying to break her organisation, which helps women and the poor in distress.
The new Palestinian tourism minister is planning to overhaul the image of the Palestinian areas in order to attract more tourists and boost the number of visitors.
The number of tourists to the Palestinian areas went down drastically after violence broke out between Israelis and Palestinians at the end of the year 2000. There has been an increase in tourists and pilgrims since then, but it is still down 60 percent compared to the year 2000.
