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AP Content :: Bible Bullets
Two Different Questions: What and When?
by Eric Lyons, M.Min.
“Do you believe that baptism is essential for salvation?” “Yes.” “So you believe in water regeneration?” “No.” “But you believe that you must be immersed in water before your sins are washed away?” “Yes.” “So you believe that the power to wash away your sins is in the water?” “No.” “How can you say you do not believe in water baptismal regeneration if you think that a sinner is not saved until after he is baptized?” “Because when one is saved and what saves a person are two different questions.”
The Bible makes clear that Jesus saves. “[A]ccording to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). It is by His grace that we have hope of eternal life (Ephesians 2:5,8-9). We are “justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). We are “redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). “Jesus Christ...loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). As Jesus ate with His disciples the night before His crucifixion, He said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). What is it that saves a sinner from eternal separation from God? What is the remedy for sin? Without any doubt, “the blood of Christ” is what saves us (Hebrews 9:14). The idea of water having some kind of spiritual regenerative power is never taught in Scripture, nor have I ever met a member of the Lord’s church who believed such.
Another question altogether is when something happens. Naaman was healed of his leprosy (by the power of God!) when he washed in the Jordan River seven times (2 Kings 5:1-19). The blind man of John chapter nine was healed of his blindness (by Jesus!) when he washed in the pool of Siloam. And what about a sinner? When does the blood of Christ save one who is separated from God spiritually? The answer to that question is found in such passages as Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38 (among others), which discuss water baptism. Once Saul (later called Paul) came to believe and confess that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and expressed sorrow for his sins (cf. Acts 9:5-11), Ananias, whom God had sent to Saul, instructed him to “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). A sinner has his sins washed away when he is “baptized.” [NOTE: The participial phrase, “calling on the name of the Lord,” describes what Paul was doing when he was baptized and had his sins washed away (cf. Acts 2:21,38)—see Miller, 2003; Lyons, 2004.] Sadly, many have read Acts 22:16 and rejected the necessity of baptism because they approach their study of this verse with the wrong question in mind. This verse does not tell us what saves, but rather when a person is saved, i.e., has his sins washed away. Passages of Scripture such as those previously noted (e.g., Matthew 26:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 1:5) answer what saves, but in order to find out when a person is saved, one must consult passages like Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38.
In short, the blood of Christ is what saves a sinner. But the blood of Christ washes away sins when a sinner confesses faith in Christ, repents, and is baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16). May God help us to understand the difference between what and when, especially in regard to salvation.
REFERENCES
Lyons, Eric (2004), “Calling on the Name of the Lord,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/597.
Miller, Dave (2003), “The Bible is its Own Best Interpreter,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2293.
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Tuesday, June 27, 2006
ANSWER TO ANOTHER VIEW
ANOTHER VIEW is not my view but one a friend recommended. Naaman was the King of Syria and as such did not believe that God was the God recognized in Israel ( ll Kings chapter 5 ) but as he obeyed the man of God to go to the river Jordan ( found in Israel ) he understood and believed in the God of Israel. Why was he told to dip into the river Jordan seven times? Seven is the number of completion of the times God has deemed unto man, man has now entered into the seventh completness as it has been 6,000 years since the fall of Adam ( when time began ) and 2,000 years since the time of Jesus Christ cumulated it is the end of the 6th day and the beginning of the 7th day. This will be the timeframe when Syria will recognize the one true God as did King Naaman. Syria's recognition will come after the city of Damascus will be nuked which is coming soon.
THE burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. Isaiah 17:1
Is it any wonder that Damascus this day is the training ground for terriosts and is on the hit list due to their programs of death throughout the world? And if salvation was dependent upon the act of water baptism then would not our prime example be that of the one who can save that is Jesus Christ? Note what John stated about such.
WHEN therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) John 4:1-2
Be wary of those who must change the scripture to fit their need, was Christ baptized by John for salvation? or was he being anointed by an old testament prophet as King of kings and Lord of lords to take over the fulfilment of the New Testament of God's grace and mercy to mankind. One cannot change himself nor can he repent except the Spirit of God lead him to repentance true repentance can only be achieved when we are saved or "born again" a term introduced in John 3:1-8;
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.
So who then can be saved - those who do not shun the words of God and who receive Christ as the Saviour of their soul - as did Naaman, not by the water but by the recognition of who God was and is, as too did the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar,
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
The difference between the King of Syria and the King of Babylon was no mention from the book of Daniel 4:32-37 has no mention of water only the recognition (which God gave Nebuchadnezzar).
THE burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. Isaiah 17:1
Is it any wonder that Damascus this day is the training ground for terriosts and is on the hit list due to their programs of death throughout the world? And if salvation was dependent upon the act of water baptism then would not our prime example be that of the one who can save that is Jesus Christ? Note what John stated about such.
WHEN therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) John 4:1-2
Be wary of those who must change the scripture to fit their need, was Christ baptized by John for salvation? or was he being anointed by an old testament prophet as King of kings and Lord of lords to take over the fulfilment of the New Testament of God's grace and mercy to mankind. One cannot change himself nor can he repent except the Spirit of God lead him to repentance true repentance can only be achieved when we are saved or "born again" a term introduced in John 3:1-8;
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.
So who then can be saved - those who do not shun the words of God and who receive Christ as the Saviour of their soul - as did Naaman, not by the water but by the recognition of who God was and is, as too did the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar,
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
The difference between the King of Syria and the King of Babylon was no mention from the book of Daniel 4:32-37 has no mention of water only the recognition (which God gave Nebuchadnezzar).
Friday, June 23, 2006
EARTH 2000 YEARS AGO
Earth Hottest It's Been in 2,000 Years
Published: 6/23/06, 7:45 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Earth is running a slight fever from greenhouse gases, after enjoying relatively stable temperatures for 2,000 years. The National Academy of Sciences, after reconstructing global average surface temperatures for the past two millennia, said Thursday the data are "additional supporting evidence ... that human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming."
Other new research showed that global warming produced about half of the extra hurricane-fueled warmth in the North Atlantic in 2005, and natural cycles were a minor factor, according to Kevin Trenberth and Dennis Shea of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a research lab sponsored by the National Science Foundation and universities.
The academy had been asked to report to Congress on how researchers drew conclusions about the Earth's climate going back thousands of years, before data was available from modern scientific instruments. The academy convened a panel of 12 climate experts, chaired by Gerald North, a geosciences professor at Texas A&M University, to look at the "proxy" evidence before then, such as tree rings, corals, marine and lake sediments, ice cores, boreholes and glaciers.
Combining that information gave the panel "a high level of confidence that the last few decades of the 20th century were warmer than any comparable period in the last 400 years," the panel wrote. It said the "recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia," though it was relatively warm around the year 1000 followed by a "Little Ice Age" from about 1500 to 1850.
Their conclusions were meant to address, and they lent credibility to, a well-known graphic among climate researchers - a "hockey-stick" chart that climate scientists Michael Mann, Raymond Bradley and Malcolm Hughes created in the late 1990s to show the Northern Hemisphere was the warmest it has been in 2,000 years.
It had compared the sharp curve of the hockey blade to the recent uptick in temperatures - a 1 degree rise in global average surface temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere during the 20th century - and the stick's long shaft to centuries of previous climate stability.
That research is "likely" true and is supported by more recent data, said John "Mike" Wallace, an atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Washington and a panel member.
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Science Committee, had asked the academy for the report last year after the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, launched an investigation of the three climate scientists.
The Bush administration has maintained that the threat from global warming is not severe enough to warrant new pollution controls that the White House says would have cost 5 million Americans their jobs.
"This report shows the value of Congress handling scientific disputes by asking scientists to give us guidance," Boehlert said Thursday. "There is nothing in this report that should raise any doubts about the broad scientific consensus on global climate change."
The academy panel said it had less confidence in the evidence of temperatures before 1600.
But it considered the evidence reliable enough to conclude there were sharp spikes in carbon dioxide and methane, the two major "greenhouse" gases blamed for trapping heat in the atmosphere, beginning in the 20th century, after remaining fairly level for 12,000 years.
Between 1 A.D. and 1850, volcanic eruptions and solar fluctuations had the biggest effects on climate. But those temperature changes "were much less pronounced than the warming due to greenhouse gas" levels by pollution since the mid-19th century, the panel said.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization chartered by Congress to advise the government of scientific matters.
AND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: REVELATION 10:1-6
Published: 6/23/06, 7:45 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Earth is running a slight fever from greenhouse gases, after enjoying relatively stable temperatures for 2,000 years. The National Academy of Sciences, after reconstructing global average surface temperatures for the past two millennia, said Thursday the data are "additional supporting evidence ... that human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming."
Other new research showed that global warming produced about half of the extra hurricane-fueled warmth in the North Atlantic in 2005, and natural cycles were a minor factor, according to Kevin Trenberth and Dennis Shea of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a research lab sponsored by the National Science Foundation and universities.
The academy had been asked to report to Congress on how researchers drew conclusions about the Earth's climate going back thousands of years, before data was available from modern scientific instruments. The academy convened a panel of 12 climate experts, chaired by Gerald North, a geosciences professor at Texas A&M University, to look at the "proxy" evidence before then, such as tree rings, corals, marine and lake sediments, ice cores, boreholes and glaciers.
Combining that information gave the panel "a high level of confidence that the last few decades of the 20th century were warmer than any comparable period in the last 400 years," the panel wrote. It said the "recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia," though it was relatively warm around the year 1000 followed by a "Little Ice Age" from about 1500 to 1850.
Their conclusions were meant to address, and they lent credibility to, a well-known graphic among climate researchers - a "hockey-stick" chart that climate scientists Michael Mann, Raymond Bradley and Malcolm Hughes created in the late 1990s to show the Northern Hemisphere was the warmest it has been in 2,000 years.
It had compared the sharp curve of the hockey blade to the recent uptick in temperatures - a 1 degree rise in global average surface temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere during the 20th century - and the stick's long shaft to centuries of previous climate stability.
That research is "likely" true and is supported by more recent data, said John "Mike" Wallace, an atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Washington and a panel member.
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Science Committee, had asked the academy for the report last year after the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, launched an investigation of the three climate scientists.
The Bush administration has maintained that the threat from global warming is not severe enough to warrant new pollution controls that the White House says would have cost 5 million Americans their jobs.
"This report shows the value of Congress handling scientific disputes by asking scientists to give us guidance," Boehlert said Thursday. "There is nothing in this report that should raise any doubts about the broad scientific consensus on global climate change."
The academy panel said it had less confidence in the evidence of temperatures before 1600.
But it considered the evidence reliable enough to conclude there were sharp spikes in carbon dioxide and methane, the two major "greenhouse" gases blamed for trapping heat in the atmosphere, beginning in the 20th century, after remaining fairly level for 12,000 years.
Between 1 A.D. and 1850, volcanic eruptions and solar fluctuations had the biggest effects on climate. But those temperature changes "were much less pronounced than the warming due to greenhouse gas" levels by pollution since the mid-19th century, the panel said.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization chartered by Congress to advise the government of scientific matters.
AND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: REVELATION 10:1-6
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
33rd ASSEEIN
THE 33rd ASSEEIN
ASEAN ministers stress economic security as joint goal
The 33rd annual ASEAN meeting is being held in Bangkok, Thailand
July 26, 2000
Web posted at: 7:43 a.m. HKT (2343 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- ASEAN's foreign ministers were scheduled Tuesday to sign a joint declaration of policies to wrap up their two-day summit, and prepare for meetings on Asia-Pacific security.
The ministers' communique, designed to help the region's nations become more effective and efficient, was expected to stress the need for economic security and enhanced sharing of Information Technology to help create knowledge-based economies.
While the Thais have been pushing ASEAN to ease its tenet of non-interference in each state's affairs -- lobbying this week to create a mechanism where a troika of members could call meetings to discuss emergencies -- the idea was likely to be watered down in the final communique.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, but has since grown to include Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, and Myanmar, also known as Burma. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999. The grouping meets annually to discuss regional issues.
BACKGROUND
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. ASEAN's aim was to form an alliance that would provide an economic support base for members, allowing them to accelerate growth levels. There was also a desire to maintain regional security against the backdrop of Chinese threats to export revolution to Southeast Asian nations. Brunei joined in 1984. Membership came to Vietnam in 1995. Myanmar and Laos were admitted in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999. With Cambodia's entry, the ASEAN region has a population of about 500 million people.
Forum overshadowed
However, the killing on Monday of New Zealand soldier by armed rebels in East Timor and North Korea's first- ever attendance at the subsequent security forum overshadowed this year's forum.
The soldier's death -- the first combat fatality in the U.N. peacekeeping contingent in East Timor -- and worsening violence in Indonesia's Maluku islands underscored efforts by the Southeast Asians to raise their own security profile.
Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, whose country leads the 8,500-strong U.N. force on East Timor, expressed shock at the fatal clash, and said Thailand would push for more international involvement in East Timor.
"It's the most serious incident that has occurred, and Thailand has discussed with the U.N. administration in East Timor to help create a better atmosphere to reduce the tensions," Surin said.
Meanwhile, ASEAN's foreign ministers turned their attention to further thawing relations with North Korea. The association's annual meeting had been dominated by talk and headlines surrounding North Korean officials planned attendance Wednesday at ASEAN's regional security forum.
North Korean officials were to arrive in Bangkok on Tuesday night.
ASEAN welcomes North Korea
ASEAN's foreign ministers were expected to take the opportunity to reach out to North Korea, and to encourage the nation to play a greater role in regional affairs.
"I do hope there will be some breakthroughs in the bilateral discussions they have," Surin said.
North Korea's attendance comes weeks after the recent historic summit between North and South Korea, in which the nations agreed to work towards their eventually reunification. The United States, Japan, China and South Korea regularly attend the forum.
The ASEAN forum will be followed by an ASEAN-plus- three meeting that will include China, Japan and South Korea.
"We welcome North Korea into the (ASEAN Regional Forum), with the hope that it will serve to reinforce the progress and relevance of the ARF and its process," said Surin.
Alwi Shihab, Indonesia's foreign minister, said the goodwill generated by the Korean summit "could very well lead to the early solution of security issues once deemed intractable."
North Korea has long been considered a rogue nation by many countries, including the United States. North Korea shocked Asia in August 1998 when it test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. officials have said North Korea could be able to hit any U.S. city with a nuclear warhead by 2005.
North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun was expected to participate in several bilateral meetings on the forum's sidelines -- including talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Jong-binn and Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono.
Paek -- also scheduled to meet with the foreign ministers of Canada and Thailand -- reportedly wanted to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. However, U.S. officials said the Mideast peace talks at Camp David would likely prevent Albright from attending the forum.
Few policies expected
ASEAN's foreign ministers had not been expected to release more than vague support for greater regional cooperation, or few solid policies or new programs in their communique.
A draft of their final communique, obtained by Reuters, offered no commitment to tackle most of the problems that have engulfed Southeast Asia in recent years.
During Monday's talks, the foreign ministers said their bloc could be marginalized unless it woke up and dealt with several problems. Among the issues on this year's agenda were transnational crimes, including smuggling of drugs and people, enhanced regional cooperation and increased openness between member nations.
ASEAN's ministers had been expected to support Thailand's request that a three-nation panel be created to address regional crises -- such as forest fires that spread haze over frontiers and last year's violence in Indonesia's East Timor. ASEAN has admitted in the past that it has been slow to deal with crises in the region.
Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said regional cooperation should be deepened, especially since ASEAN includes all 10 Southeast Asian nations.
"Issues such as illicit drugs, trafficking of women and children, transnational crime and environmental degradation all represent obstacles to our development," he said during remarks to open the forum.
CNN Bangkok Bureau Chief John Raedler, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed
ASEAN ministers stress economic security as joint goal
The 33rd annual ASEAN meeting is being held in Bangkok, Thailand
July 26, 2000
Web posted at: 7:43 a.m. HKT (2343 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- ASEAN's foreign ministers were scheduled Tuesday to sign a joint declaration of policies to wrap up their two-day summit, and prepare for meetings on Asia-Pacific security.
The ministers' communique, designed to help the region's nations become more effective and efficient, was expected to stress the need for economic security and enhanced sharing of Information Technology to help create knowledge-based economies.
While the Thais have been pushing ASEAN to ease its tenet of non-interference in each state's affairs -- lobbying this week to create a mechanism where a troika of members could call meetings to discuss emergencies -- the idea was likely to be watered down in the final communique.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, but has since grown to include Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, and Myanmar, also known as Burma. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999. The grouping meets annually to discuss regional issues.
BACKGROUND
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. ASEAN's aim was to form an alliance that would provide an economic support base for members, allowing them to accelerate growth levels. There was also a desire to maintain regional security against the backdrop of Chinese threats to export revolution to Southeast Asian nations. Brunei joined in 1984. Membership came to Vietnam in 1995. Myanmar and Laos were admitted in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999. With Cambodia's entry, the ASEAN region has a population of about 500 million people.
Forum overshadowed
However, the killing on Monday of New Zealand soldier by armed rebels in East Timor and North Korea's first- ever attendance at the subsequent security forum overshadowed this year's forum.
The soldier's death -- the first combat fatality in the U.N. peacekeeping contingent in East Timor -- and worsening violence in Indonesia's Maluku islands underscored efforts by the Southeast Asians to raise their own security profile.
Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, whose country leads the 8,500-strong U.N. force on East Timor, expressed shock at the fatal clash, and said Thailand would push for more international involvement in East Timor.
"It's the most serious incident that has occurred, and Thailand has discussed with the U.N. administration in East Timor to help create a better atmosphere to reduce the tensions," Surin said.
Meanwhile, ASEAN's foreign ministers turned their attention to further thawing relations with North Korea. The association's annual meeting had been dominated by talk and headlines surrounding North Korean officials planned attendance Wednesday at ASEAN's regional security forum.
North Korean officials were to arrive in Bangkok on Tuesday night.
ASEAN welcomes North Korea
ASEAN's foreign ministers were expected to take the opportunity to reach out to North Korea, and to encourage the nation to play a greater role in regional affairs.
"I do hope there will be some breakthroughs in the bilateral discussions they have," Surin said.
North Korea's attendance comes weeks after the recent historic summit between North and South Korea, in which the nations agreed to work towards their eventually reunification. The United States, Japan, China and South Korea regularly attend the forum.
The ASEAN forum will be followed by an ASEAN-plus- three meeting that will include China, Japan and South Korea.
"We welcome North Korea into the (ASEAN Regional Forum), with the hope that it will serve to reinforce the progress and relevance of the ARF and its process," said Surin.
Alwi Shihab, Indonesia's foreign minister, said the goodwill generated by the Korean summit "could very well lead to the early solution of security issues once deemed intractable."
North Korea has long been considered a rogue nation by many countries, including the United States. North Korea shocked Asia in August 1998 when it test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. officials have said North Korea could be able to hit any U.S. city with a nuclear warhead by 2005.
North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun was expected to participate in several bilateral meetings on the forum's sidelines -- including talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Jong-binn and Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono.
Paek -- also scheduled to meet with the foreign ministers of Canada and Thailand -- reportedly wanted to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. However, U.S. officials said the Mideast peace talks at Camp David would likely prevent Albright from attending the forum.
Few policies expected
ASEAN's foreign ministers had not been expected to release more than vague support for greater regional cooperation, or few solid policies or new programs in their communique.
A draft of their final communique, obtained by Reuters, offered no commitment to tackle most of the problems that have engulfed Southeast Asia in recent years.
During Monday's talks, the foreign ministers said their bloc could be marginalized unless it woke up and dealt with several problems. Among the issues on this year's agenda were transnational crimes, including smuggling of drugs and people, enhanced regional cooperation and increased openness between member nations.
ASEAN's ministers had been expected to support Thailand's request that a three-nation panel be created to address regional crises -- such as forest fires that spread haze over frontiers and last year's violence in Indonesia's East Timor. ASEAN has admitted in the past that it has been slow to deal with crises in the region.
Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said regional cooperation should be deepened, especially since ASEAN includes all 10 Southeast Asian nations.
"Issues such as illicit drugs, trafficking of women and children, transnational crime and environmental degradation all represent obstacles to our development," he said during remarks to open the forum.
CNN Bangkok Bureau Chief John Raedler, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed
Thursday, June 01, 2006
INVISIBILITY an OPTION?
Subject: Invisibility acheived?
Invisibility cloaks in sight
James Sturcke | May 26, 2006
The development of new materials could see items such as invisibility cloaks, a key weapon in the trickery of Harry Potter and countless science fiction plots, become a reality within five years.
Two research groups have published technical blueprints for making "metamaterials" which can change how light and other forms of radiation bend around an object, in a way similar to water flowing around a rock.
An observer would see whatever was behind the object as if it were not there, said Professor Ulf Leonhardt of St Andrews University, whose research was published in the latest edition of the journal Science.
David Smith from Duke University in the US, who has been independently pioneering the development of metamaterials with John Pendry of Imperial College London said the cloak would act "like you've opened up a hole in space".
"All light or other electromagnetic waves are swept around the area, guided by the metamaterial to emerge on the other side as if they had passed through an empty volume of space," Prof Smith told the Financial Times.
The developments have led to concerns about the ethics that might govern how such technology could be used. "Innovations such as these - as fantastic, imaginative and useful as they might be - would be disruptive to society today," said Patrick Lin, the research director of the US-based Nanoethics Group.
"For instance, the ability to become invisible will have profound implications for privacy as well as national security."
Mr Lin insisted his group, which calls for open-mindedness and public debate about the development of new technologies, did not want to discourage scientists by slowing slow down their work.
"We're fans of technology and are excited about its possibilities just like everyone else," he said.
"Instead, we are encouraging ethicists, policymakers and the broader public to catch up on thinking through the enormous implications of new technologies - in this case, before any privacy violations or security breaches may occur."
Prof Smith's research has received funding from the US defence advance research projects agency, which sees possible applications for cloaking military hardware.
Experiments to demonstrate cloaking at microwave frequencies could give results within 18 months, Prof Pendry said. "But I don't think we will have cloaks for visible light for at least five years," he added.
David Schurig, another member of the Duke University research team, said there was no theoretical limit to the size of cloaking materials. They could be used to hide eyesores as large as refineries, he said.
INFOWARS: BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.0/353 - Release Date: 5/31/2006
Invisibility cloaks in sight
James Sturcke | May 26, 2006
The development of new materials could see items such as invisibility cloaks, a key weapon in the trickery of Harry Potter and countless science fiction plots, become a reality within five years.
Two research groups have published technical blueprints for making "metamaterials" which can change how light and other forms of radiation bend around an object, in a way similar to water flowing around a rock.
An observer would see whatever was behind the object as if it were not there, said Professor Ulf Leonhardt of St Andrews University, whose research was published in the latest edition of the journal Science.
David Smith from Duke University in the US, who has been independently pioneering the development of metamaterials with John Pendry of Imperial College London said the cloak would act "like you've opened up a hole in space".
"All light or other electromagnetic waves are swept around the area, guided by the metamaterial to emerge on the other side as if they had passed through an empty volume of space," Prof Smith told the Financial Times.
The developments have led to concerns about the ethics that might govern how such technology could be used. "Innovations such as these - as fantastic, imaginative and useful as they might be - would be disruptive to society today," said Patrick Lin, the research director of the US-based Nanoethics Group.
"For instance, the ability to become invisible will have profound implications for privacy as well as national security."
Mr Lin insisted his group, which calls for open-mindedness and public debate about the development of new technologies, did not want to discourage scientists by slowing slow down their work.
"We're fans of technology and are excited about its possibilities just like everyone else," he said.
"Instead, we are encouraging ethicists, policymakers and the broader public to catch up on thinking through the enormous implications of new technologies - in this case, before any privacy violations or security breaches may occur."
Prof Smith's research has received funding from the US defence advance research projects agency, which sees possible applications for cloaking military hardware.
Experiments to demonstrate cloaking at microwave frequencies could give results within 18 months, Prof Pendry said. "But I don't think we will have cloaks for visible light for at least five years," he added.
David Schurig, another member of the Duke University research team, said there was no theoretical limit to the size of cloaking materials. They could be used to hide eyesores as large as refineries, he said.
INFOWARS: BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.0/353 - Release Date: 5/31/2006
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