Five Minutes to Midnight

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editor

The International Criminal Court: Office of the Prosecutor
Avian Influenza

Get Involved: Run for Student Government

Comment: Youth, Politics, and Conflict in Nepal
Comment: Microsoft - World Leader or Market Bully?

Remember: send all comments, editorials, questions, and submissions to feedback@fiveminutestomidnight.org!

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Letter from the Editor

“Volume 2, Issue 5.” When I look at that part of the image for this month’s issue, it helps show how far we’ve come since the days of “Volume 1, Issue 1.” The publication is rooted in almost a full year of work, with the last half of 2003 and the first half of 2004 being testaments to the voice of youth through Five Minutes to Midnight. This issue is no exception. With two comments rather than one, it will shed light on thoughts from a Prakash Bhattarai, a Nepali youth activist, as well as Katie Dutfield, a member of War Child’s Youth Advisory Board in Canada. A very interesting mix of opinions can be found in this issue.

If you’ve been a subscriber for at least a few weeks, you probably received an e-mail regarding the Five Minutes to Midnight survey. A grateful “Thank You” goes out to all those who filled out the form. It was a very important questionnaire and we will be using it to modify the Five Minutes to Midnight website, issues, and future projects. Your comments were also very encouraging and supportive, and emphasized the global nature of this project. The staff at Five Minutes to Midnight are still processing all of the results, and if you posed questions or suggestions in the comments, we will be getting in touch with you within a week or two.

One of the questions posed in the survey asked whether readers in or around Toronto, Canada would be interested in attending a Five Minutes to Midnight workshop. Many of you said you were interested, and we are currently working with the United Nations Association in Canada – Toronto Region Branch to put one together for the public. Workshops are usually presented at conferences, but we are more than glad to give people who don’t hear about such opportunities to come and meet the Five Minutes to Midnight staff, as well as learn a bit about the psychology and effect of words in the media. The workshop is scheduled for May 25, 2004, and more information will be sent to subscribers soon!

Everyone at Five Minutes to Midnight is hard at work at this time of year, with school soon coming to close. Expect a lot to happen near the end of June, with at least one more public event and the release of the booklet we’ve been working on. Stay tuned, and we’ll make sure to keep you up to date!

            Thanks for reading,
                               Wojciech Gryc

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The International Criminal Court: Office of the Prosecutor by Wojciech Gryc

In the second of his three part series on The International Criminal Court (ICC), Wojciech Gryc will analyze how crimes will be brought forth, investigated, and tried before the ICC.

With a mandate to punish perpetrators of genocides, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court is an important entity in a world where thousands of people are killed every day due to conflict. With such a powerful mission, it is necessary to ask how the court will achieve its goals and ensure that criminals are brought to justice, while the innocent are protected. It is easy to be angry with someone accused of crimes, especially those as heinous as the ones above. Nevertheless, it is important to judge suspects objectively, and ensure there are safeguards to protect even the guilty.

Every case in the ICC is started with the Office of the Prosecutor, where a state or the Security Council normally refers a case for investigation, though individuals and non-governmental organizations may also file complaints. The Prosecutor, a job currently filled by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has the job of investigating complaints and seeing whether or not there is a valid case against a party. There are many safeguards in place protecting the accused and helping avoid misconduct. The first is apparent with the Prosecutor, who is chosen by a secret ballot by the Assembly of States Parties, a group of representatives of the states who ratified the Rome Statute.

The Office of the Prosecutor has two divisions, with one for investigation, and the second for prosecution. The former is primarily used for pre-trial purposes such as gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and making sure there is a case against the accused. Before this can even begin, however, the Prosecutor must decide whether or not there is a strong case against the accused and bring it to the Pre-Trial Chamber. This organ of the ICC is composed of three judges responsible for overseeing the complaint and allowing the Prosecutor to officially conduct investigations. The Pre-Trail Chamber also allows accused individuals and governments to appeal complaints and question the admissibility of a trial.

Aside from the safeguards above, the ICC also works in accordance with the “principle of complimentarity,” meaning it will not conduct investigations or trials of individuals if they are already on trial for the same crimes within their own countries. If this is not the case, and the Pre-Trial Chamber judges support the Prosecutor’s request for an investigation and trial, the court will proceed with the case.

Even though it aims to deal with some of the most brutal people in the world, the ICC strives to protect the rights of those accused of crimes under the court’s jurisdiction. Before the trial even begins, and as with many of the most developed nations, the party accused of a crime has the right to a defence and according to Article 67 of the Rome Statute, “To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence and to communicate freely with counsel of the accused’s choosing in confidence.” This article also ensures the accused is tried in due time, can question witnesses, and has access to a translator, as well as an attorney, if lacking funds. The accused must also be present at the trial and so cannot be convicted in absentia.

Cases take place in the Trial Chamber. The Rome Statute outlines that all judges of the Trial Chamber, currently numbering six people, must be present during the proceedings and the final judgment of guilt or innocence should be a unanimous one, though this is not a requirement. As with the Prosecutor, many checks and balances apply to the way judges are chosen and should work. Within the entire structure of the ICC, judges are chosen to represent all geographical areas equally, along with respect and representation of both genders, and with certain judges being specialized in crimes against women and children. The rules and procedures ensuring the impartiality of the judges and the trial are numerous – there are over sixty articles in the Rome Statute that outline the criminal law principles and procedures of a case, as well as conduct in the initial investigation.

If found guilty, the court can punish the accused through fines or imprisonment. The guilty party can be put in detention for a maximum of thirty years, or life imprisonment. In this case, punishments will be carried out in countries willing to accept the guilty party, with the ICC being able to transfer them to other countries in the future. The prisoner will also be able to apply for transfer, if there is a need. The party may also be fined, or have their property and other assets taken away from them. The ICC does not have the power to impose the death penalty, as it believes doing so infringes on international human rights law.

Though the ICC has not run through a complete trial yet, waiting for it to do so is simply a matter of time. Cases have already been proposed to the Prosecutor, one of the major ones being President Yoweri Museveni’s, the president of Uganda, referring the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for investigation. The Prosecutor has agreed that there is sufficient reason for the investigation to proceed, and steps are being taken to bring the LRA’s leadership to justice.

It is reassuring to see that the ICC is in the process of trying its first cases and attempting to punish some of the world’s most evil people. With its honourable mandate and focusing on some of the most gruesome crimes, it is reassuring that the ICC has taken many steps to prevent the prosecution and punishment of innocent people, and to bring those who have committed such crimes to justice. Will the ICC be successful in achieving its goals? The first few cases should provide some clues, and it is a matter of time before these results will be in.

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Avian Influenza by Michael Chong

Imagine the well-known global Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic that infected approximately 8000 people with one tenth of them dying worldwide. Over a period of almost one year, the SARS virus shed fear between people, hospitals and governments alike. We can only begin to thank the many doctors, nurses and researchers who put their lives on the line to save others. More than a year has passed since the outbreak believed to be transmitted to humans from a less deadly form in animals. Leaving the thought here for a minute, imagine another virus that affects three to five million and kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people annually. This is the influenza virus, another highly pathogenic virus that can be described as being far more successful than SARS. The ability of the virus to easily spread between persons and its symptoms being not as noticeable as SARS makes it much harder to control. Due to this, many scientists see a new danger lurking in our midst; a danger that some scientists speculate may cause another worldwide pandemic.

One possible culprit is avian influenza, also known as the bird flu. As many would have heard on the news, the virus has spread to many countries, including Cambodia, Canada, China, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam. With the increasing number of cases of human infection, a SARS-like scenario is not out of the question. Yet to understand today’s virus, we must step back into the past. Through the analysis of the influenza’s history and future implications, this article will answer the question “why is the avian influenza so deadly to both world economics and human life?”

As stated earlier, without looking at the history of the virus, we cannot see the dangers it holds for the human race. A rather horrific timeline of deaths caused by flu or flu related illnesses can be produced by looking at historical figures:

1918-1919 Spanish Flu – 20 to 50 million people may have died

1957-1958 Asian Flu – 100,000 deaths worldwide

1968-1969 Hong Kong Flu – 40,000 deaths worldwide

When looking at these statistics it is easy to say ‘medical technology was poor during those times’, ‘it will never happen again’ or ‘we have a vaccine.’ Such statements are misleading.

A scientific dissection of the virus reveals its deadly nature. Firstly, the influenza virus can be classified into three types: A, B and C. Types B and C are normally milder and do not cause much harm to humans or other animals. Type A is much deadlier and has been known to cause global pandemics. Furthermore, type A is subdivided into ‘subtypes’ based on its surface proteins (H1N1, H2N1, H3N2, etc). The avian influenza seen this year is of Type A and mostly H7 and H5 subtypes.

As with all viruses, the flu mutates by simply changing its surface proteins or antigens. Vaccines target the antigens and render viruses inactive. As a result, change in the antigens means a change in the vaccines. However, vaccines do not mutate like the virus and must be developed by researchers. Without the expression of the virus, researchers do not know what they are up against. Given that, an example already occurred in this year’s flu. In a strain of the influenza in humans, two anti-viral drugs commonly used have proven ineffective. Luckily, other forms of treatment are still available.

Avian influenza normally remains among birds and other poultry but occasionally has been known to infect other domestic animals and humans. It is spread through bird saliva, nasal secretions and feces, making it very contagious. The current and perhaps best method of control includes isolation and culling of the birds. As with SARS, those infected are quarantined until they completely heal. In a crisis like the bird flu, numbers are a much better representation of the extent this problem creates. Approximately 27 million birds have already been killed in Vietnam, with another 27 million in Thailand. The number continues to escalate daily. By these figures, it is evident that the avian influenza causes major economic effects to the affected nations. As if the culling of chickens is not serious enough, many countries have also banned poultry imports from the infected countries, causing more damage to the economy. Yet we can not say that the governments are at fault by imposing restrictions because in the long run, this is how we stop the spread of the disease. The economy may be at risk and poverty may develop as a consequence, but the worse case scenario is a global outbreak in human beings.

Recently, news of the H5N1 virus among poultry spreading into humans has increased. Vietnam has over 20 cases while Thailand follows close behind. Of those confirmed of acquiring this highly pathogenic virus, more than 50% have died. Vietnam and Thailand are not the only ones with these cases. Evidence in other Asian nations, Canada and the United States of America show the deadly virus affecting people. All of the facts point to one simple conclusion: the bird flu can affect humans. Once it affects one person, everything is like a chain reaction as they pass it on and on between more and more humans. The root causes of spread are three underlying factors present in many countries: poverty, malnutrition and poor healthcare.

Reading the above facts probably makes you think, “There is nothing we can do about the influenza. It is a hopeless case of waiting.” Thinking on a higher note, there are ways we can battle another epidemic. From last year’s SARS outbreak, we can observe the support our doctors, nurses and researchers gave; all the time they sacrificed to keep people safe and healthy. Therefore, support your medical researchers and doctors on finding ways to stop the flu. One way to battle the flu is to know about it and keep current with news on it. Keeping yourself safe from influenza means that you will not spread it to others. More importantly, we must prevent the spread of the virus. To do so, the best way is to fight for changes in healthcare, government and politics across poverty stricken countries. Remember: “To prevent the battle is a win for all.”

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Get Involved: Run for Student Government by Mark Cavdar

The high school student is the most passionate advocate for change. Whether this fervent love of amending stagnancy is rooted in a noble cause or not is oftentimes a source for debate, but the bottom line is always the same. Never is there an age when individuals are more passionate and motivated to inspire change encompassing causes in which they believe than in that fundamental senior stage of high school. It is in this critical period that students are given that first taste of leadership; that entry into the door that more often than not serves as a springboard for future endeavors.

If you have any sort of interest in running for student government within your academic institution (whether it be a high school or a post-secondary institute), cast aside your reservation. While the entire process may not go down as sweet or as simply as a spoonful of honey, the knowledge and experience garnered through involvement with student government is priceless. In fact, getting involved in a local student government does much more for prospective leaders of tomorrow than merely bolstering the blankness of a résumé. I would like to share three invaluable interpersonal skills which I picked up through my own experiences with student government and, in doing so, hope to convince those with hesitations to put their minds at ease.

Stick it to the Man! (or “How to deal with the big cheese”)

Until you are crowned supreme leader of the world, there will always be a restricting force, a superior power, or administrative restraint that will in some way limit your aspirations as a leader. The sooner you learn to deal with the ceaseless demands of this ethereal force of authority, whether it be in the form of teacher administrators, bosses on the job, or shareholders on the board, the better off you’ll be. Student councils are always restricted by the parameters set forth by the administrative bodies that oversee their projects.

For the unaware, reactions to these unavoidable restrictions oftentimes range from dour to desolate. Learning to deal with authority is as essential to student government as the actual logistical procedures of organizing council affairs. Readily meeting the toning down, slashing, cutting back and untimely ends of ambitious projects without loss of motivation is a trait that no leader can spare. Student government serves as a crucial primer to this facet of life, and it is one of the most important aspects of any project wherein an individual works for another.

The Art of Delegation (or “You Scratch My Back, I’ll Ensure Someone Gets Around to Scratching Yours”)

The key to any student government is providing a wide number of options for the student body. Focusing all your resources on one project is a mistake where potential is squandered and the inherent quality of laziness is beckoned on by the lack of variance in the workload. Any leader needs to know how to properly distribute tasks among their team, and there is no better place to dally in the realm of delegation than with the planning of social events, fundraisers, sports leagues and other endeavors that student governments are held responsible for.

Be forewarned: you will be met with those unreliable members whose punctuality is lacking and you will encounter individuals who will dole out empty promises and half-handed end results. In the end, however, you will learn a skill that everyone must at some time or other adopt into their leadership repertoire: the utter importance of credibility. The influence of credibility on your status as a reliable member of a fuller, functioning network of individuals is keystone to every individual’s success in any sort of professional climate. Through experiences with student government, you will merit an invaluable firsthand outlook on the keystone ability to delegate.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place (or “How to remain calm in the event of a ceiling that’s caving”)

How an individual in a position of authority reacts to a situation when things start falling apart is the ultimate test of leadership skills. There is no better interpersonal trait that one could possess than the ability to remain calm in the face of imminent adversity. The persona given off by such an individual is one of a confident chief, one who will let no harm or ill befall those who are entrusted to their care. Crisis management is a paramount aspect of student government, for anything could go wrong with any project at any given time (much as it often does both in the planning phases and in the realized execution). Student government gives young people the ability to learn what it takes to manage a crisis and avoid its crescendo into a catastrophe.

With these three points in mind, what’s stopping you from running for a position on your local student government or council? Not only will the experience serve as a fruitful social opportunity, you will garner invaluable practical experience that you could later put to use. You will get your first taste of the importance of such positive skills as the ability to delegate, the prowess with which to avoid crises, and the certain mindset it takes to work with administrative power systems. Rather than taking a cue from the typical teenage grail of complaint and inadequate satisfaction, inspire a change.

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Comment: Youth, Politics, and Conflict in Nepal by Prakash Bhattarai

Large volumes of youth are involved in the political movement in Nepal. Either they are involved as a wing of the multiparty democratic parties or they are in the forefront, as leaders or activists of underground revolutionary political parties like the CPN (Maoists). The youth are considered a backbone of society, and are assumed to be great thinkers and motivated to drive the community in a very effective way. They are the leaders of tomorrow, three hundred thousand strong, who are trying very hard to improve life for the people of Nepal.

If we analyze the political situation of the nation and youth involvement, it is found that youths are mobilized as a catalyst of the different political parties, and are the fighting force in different forms of the political movement. Only a handful of youths are ideologically motivated. Many are confused with regards to their visions, and their social future is uncertain.

The history of Nepalese political developments has seen youths as freedom fighters. Nepalese youth during the Rana regime (1846-1950) and the non-party Panchayat Period (1961-1989) had played important roles in conducting anti-government activities and introducing and institutionalizing democratic values within the country. This is particularly true for the Panchayat period, when political parties were prohibited to conduct their activities and fundamental human rights of the people were completely ignored. Without any doubt, the older people were involved in the movement, but the activists were mainly youth. They were brave and challenged the unfair king’s ruling system.

It must be realized that youths’ involvement in political movements during that time was with a clear vision, and the ultimate aim was to restore democracy for the well being of the people. Most of the educated youths directly or indirectly were involved in the political movement and many left their daily routines behind.

Globally, youths are facing many different kinds of problems. The youths from the developing countries like Nepal are especially deprived of their basic rights and are deprived of getting opportunities. In addition, violence has plagued the country and many are leaving for India and other countries.

Generally speaking, those between the ages of 16-40 make up 45% of the population. Here are some of the references youths of today are facing during the conflicting situation of the country.

Recent media reports say that a total of 13 youths in Dang district of mid-western region have been abducted by the Maoist and the reasons of their abduction are still unidentified.

Youth from highly conflicted areas are displacing to areas of less conflict and various neighbouring countries.

The people in the rural areas have been suppressed in every aspect of their life. Their social participation has been widely neglected, their political interests to choose leaders from their ethnic or cultural community have never been cared for, and their identities (philosophical as well as cultural) have been deserted. As a result, youths have been encouraged to carry guns and to be involved in the conflict

The above-mentioned points are some of the things influencing youths to be involved in the conflict. Many other problems exist to exacerbate the problem and make it more difficult for youth to find support and peace.

Nearly 45% people are below the line of poverty. The social and political attitude towards the public has made people in this demographic helpless. Various districts in the hilly regions of the country have less fertile land and there are little options for employment. Lack of development is also an issue. Projects in the country have not decentralised. Therefore, the hilly and mountainous regions of the country always remained in the dark regarding development. They have voted for hundreds of politicians but never see improvements and change in the appearance of their rural villages.

The educational system is not productive and lacks technical training. Youths are insecure about higher education opportunities. Even if the educational situation were to improve, there are very few employment opportunities in the country due to various reasons, including the lack of industrialisation. Agricultural systems of the country are not running effectively. Similarly, natural resources, like water and forests, are not properly utilized for getting maximal benefits. Recent figures say that nearly 85 percent youth are unemployed or semi-employed.

Furthermore, youths are deprived of getting leading position in development activities and have been neglected in decision-making processes Their innovative ideas and visions are ignored by society. The problem is only worsened by corruption, poor governance, and political instability, which serve to frustrate youth, who support of political parties with lots of hope for a better future.

A discriminatory social structure continues in the society and hinders youth action, too. Class division, caste discrimination, suppression, feudalism and degrading identities of minorities are burning invisibly.

Youths are never evaluated as competent people to carry out responsibilities. People never believe on their potential and instead, frown upon youths’ credibility and their qualification to hold responsible positions. Part of this problem has transferred into the political conflict. Youth recruitment in the conflict, both from the state and the Maoists, is a growing concern. Unemployed youth from rural areas are being recruited by state security forces and some are joining the Maoists.

The Nepalese government should think critically and creatively about social and political alternatives for dealing with conflict situations. Until the government eliminates poverty, unemployment, deprivation, people’s ignorance, the unequal social structure and neglected youth, conflict will remain in the country.

A major part is also the youths’ concern and involvement in political affairs. Current political leaders will be continuing youth mobilization for their political benefits. Thus, it is also the time for political transformation and replacement of old political leadership. The country is seeking critical and conscious political leadership to drive the nation in a new direction, and this is only possible if youths try to be part of the new political leadership. The young generation needs to be able to raise their voices against the bad aspects of their political leaders.

Therefore, the first thing is that the state must provide youth the rights to make them responsible citizens. The basic rights of youths are quality education, employment opportunities and respect of their social and cultural identity. Their participation in social affairs should be amplified.

The government needs to think of social integration of the youths, especially those who are directly involved in the armed conflict or displaced from their usual place of residence. But social reintegration is then only possible while improving the social, political, and judicial system. The state and the Maoists should not forget the pains and distressed mentality of conflict victims, displaced people and other groups while being involved in the nation building process.

Youth agendas are also in favor of decentralized development and administrative policy, national sovereignty and independent economy. Legal and practical improvement to avoid all forms of suppressions, autocratic ruling system and discriminatory state policies for underprivileged groups should also be thought over.

Youths are truly followers and advocates of peace. As we grow as a nation, it is important that we recognise the contributions that could be made by our youths, the foundation of our society, in the direction of peace making and peacekeeping. The Nepalese are capable of leading their community towards peace and prosperity. Let’s work collectively to make a better society and a peaceful one.

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Comment: Microsoft - World Leader or Market Bully? by Katie Dutfield

The ongoing challenge to Microsoft’s business strategy and practice through anti-trust laws in the United States and an increasing number of overseas countries continues to make headlines in the international business press. These challenges face Microsoft at an already troubling time, as some would argue that the company has been unsuccessful in launching any new significant products in many years.

This extremely successful software company has managed to make its computer system the standard operating platform worldwide, but it has found itself in trouble when it has linked its in-house developed software programs as a package with its operating system. This concept is called “bundling.” This has made it extremely difficult for specialist software companies to sell their products to Windows users, because Microsoft has developed its own version of these specialist companies’ products and includes them automatically as a package with the operating software. This provides little incentive for customers to purchase external software.

This situation is generally not considered to be in the public’s best interest and is seen as monopolistic, which runs counter to the Free Market System. Ironically, the company is suffering the consequence of its own success and, although it has become highly accomplished in developing a user-friendly product, it will need to change its strategy in order to avoiding losing its focus as a result of the expense and distraction of ongoing court challenges around the world.

A recent article in TIME magazine described the decision of the European Union to impose sanctions on Microsoft for its alleged anti-competitive practices. As the provider of the world’s most dominant computer operating systems, its strategy of bundling was deemed to be an infringement of anti-trust laws. Microsoft is appealing the decision and it’s likely that a ruling could take up to five years.

The European Commission would like Microsoft to make its Windows PC operating system available to manufacturers and consumers in two versions: firstly, with Media Player – Microsoft’s video and music software – built into the system as it presently is, as well as the option for consumers to purchase the operating system without this software already built in. Secondly, the European Commission is also pushing for Microsoft to stop imposing future products on consumers by bundling. Bundling is seen to be a way of manipulating and controlling the marketplace and monopolizing the industry.

Microsoft has gradually grown from a very small, privately-owned business to the top computer software company in the world. The foundation of its business is its Windows operating system, which is the standard for computers all around the world. Microsoft has recently settled its anti-trust issues with the United States federal government. Many believe that the European Union’s actions against Microsoft are undermining the recent decision made by the United States courts. Microsoft’s associate general counsel for Europe, Horacio Gutierrez, said in a statement, “We believe it’s unprecedented and inappropriate for the commission to impose a fine on a company’s U.S. operations which are already regulated by the U.S. government. The conduct at issue has been permitted by both the U.S. Department of Justice and a U.S. Court”. Patty Murray, a United States Senator shares a similar view, “the EU has now directly attacked the authority of the United States government and our economy in general, this is a blatant attempt to regulate the U.S. economy”.

It will be interesting to see how Microsoft’s competitors react to the company’s ongoing challenges. Will the expression “The higher they rise, the harder they fall” be an appropriate description for Microsoft’s future? Only time will tell, but it is obvious that Microsoft still has plenty of fight and capacity to reinvent its future. For now, Microsoft remains the unquestionable computer software super power in the world.

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Sources for "The International Criminal Court: Office of the Prosecutor"

"ICC Questions and Answers (Q&A) - Frequently asked questions about the ICC." ICC Now. 30 April 2004. <http://www.iccnow.org/documents/iccbasics/Q&AJuly2002.doc>.

"International Criminal Court." International Criminal Court. 30 April 2004. <http://www.icc-cpi.int/>.

"Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court." International Criminal Court. 30 April 2004. <http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/basicdocuments/rome_statute(e).html>.

Sources for "Avian Influenza"

“1957: British public gets 'Asian Flu' vaccine.” BBC news.com. 20 April 2004. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/1/newsid_3086000/
3086843.stm>.

“Animal Disease Alert: Avian Influenza.” United States Department of Agriculture. June 2002. 13 April 2004. <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/adaai.html>.

“Avian Influenza.” Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 April 2004. 13 April 2004. <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/>.

“Avian Influenza.” World Health Organization. April 2004. 16 April 2004. <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/>.

“Health Canada statement on the 2003-2004 influenza season.” Health Canada Online. 20 December 2003. 16 April 2004. <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2003/flu_statement.htm>.

“Hong Kong poultry market shut amid fears of bird flu.” CNN.com. 15 December 1997. 20 April 2004. <http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/15/hong.kong.flu/>.

“Influenza and Pandemic Influenza.” Community and Hospital Infection Control Association Canada. 14 April 2004. 17 April 2004. <http://www.chica.org/flu.html>.