11/30/06 Email Scam, Vietnam Vote & Stopgap

Email Scam, Vietnam Vote and Lame Duck Stop Gap. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Social Security has issued a warning about a new email scam message that is being circulated with the subject "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update." The message redirects the reader to a website designed to look like Social Security`s Internet website. Once directed to the phony website, the individual is asked register by giving personal information such as the individual`s Social Security number, bank account information and credit card information. To report receipt of this email message or other suspicious activity to Social Security`s Office of Inspector General, call 1-800-269-0271. After a near unanimous vote - Vietnam`s legislature has ratified the country`s entry into the World Trade Organization. This paves the way for the communist nation to become the global trade body`s 150th member. Senate Majority Lead Bill Frist has passed the word to incoming Majority Leader Harry Reid - the Lame Duck house will pass only a stopgap spending bill during the lame duck session. That bill will last at least through January - and will move ag disaster assistance to the new Congress. A Reid spokesman has been critical of the Republicans for not finishing their work. But conservative Republicans are pleased that their leadership has decided to fund the government at last year`s level and avoid last-minute earmarks. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. It is so easy to take for granted the fact that we have food in America. Hang out in a Wal-Mart parking lot and it is obvious that obesity is more of a concern than starvation. On that same note we give nary a thought to the fact that most of us have access to a bathroom. In the African country of Chad only 9 percent of the population even utilize a pit latrine, in Nigeria the percentage is a bit better at 13 percent. UNICEF is one organization that has under taken dramatic efforts to improve sanitation throughout the world citing the fact that 1.5 million children die each year from diarrhea caused by lack of proper sanitation. As disgusting as it is for western society to fathom a lack of proper toilets can spread terrible intestinal worms. UNICEF's work in both Malawi and Senegal has resulted in nearly 75 percent of the population receiving hygienic sanitation along with the majority of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Kudos' to UNICEF for taking on the unpleasant task of improving the world's sanitation. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.