Abstract
The paper looks at France and at its changing demography, growing economy, and steadily-growing energy needs. The paper focuses upon France's massive consumption of bio-fuels and what the future holds for this country as its demand appears to be out-stripping domestic supplies.

From the Paper
"Before delving too deeply into the matter of bio-fuels and their relationship to France, it is vital to present an overview of the country in question. As most people are well-aware, France is located in Western Europe, bordering the Pacific Ocean, with Germany to its immediate East and Spain to the West (a map outlining France's location can be found in the appendix to this paper). The population of France, according to one online source was, as of late 2006, 60,742,000 ("Population of France" 2006). France's GDP (as of 2006) stood at around US$1.9 trillion and its per-capita GDP stood at US$31,200 (Central Intelligence Agency 2007,...)"

Tags:france, bio, fuels, europe

Abstract
This paper discusses Toronto's burgeoning bio-tech industry. In particular, it looks at where these companies are located, what they are, what they look like and where they rank internationally. The paper also focuses particular attention upon Affinium Pharmaceuticals. Ultimately, the paper describes Toronto's bio-tech sector and illustrates Toronto's growing profile among the bio-technology centers of North America.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Geography Of Toronto's Bio-Tech Industry
Toronto's Bio-Tech Companies: What They Are And What They Look Like (A Representative Sampling)
The International Status Of Toronto's Bio-Tech Companies
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Even if Toronto's bio-tech sector is still relatively fledgling compared to its U.S. counterparts, the city is quickly developing an enviable reputation. For one thing, the well-regarded University of Toronto - the school with which Affinium Pharmaceuticals has such a strong relationship - has more than 16,000 researchers on its campus and at affiliated teaching hospitals. Further, the Samuel Lunefeld Research Institute, the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, the Ontario Cancer Institute and the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry are all held in high esteem as research "hot beds" and employ literally thousands (Biotechnology Ontario, "Toronto: Profile," para.1-5)."

Tags:Affinium, Pharmaceuticals, biologics, biotechnology, GTA

Abstract
The use of bio fuels has long been viewed as a potential solution to solve the world's dependency on petroleum and its negative environmental impact. Recently, many Western countries, Canada among them, have begun to make a deeper examination of bio fuels, and specifically bio diesel, now that both its production costs have been lowered due to technology advances and its cost-basis is improved due to petroleum's high market costs. This paper examines the issue concerning the artificiality of the gasoline demand curve that creates a greater need for bio diesel irrespective of its benefits related to lowering the external costs associated with gasoline.

Tags:soybean, biodiesel, bus

Abstract
This paper discusses the way the products, which make up bio-diesel industry, are made and sold and their benefits to the environment. The author points out that bio-diesel energy is a clean burning alternative fuel, which is produced from domestic, renewable resources. The paper focuses on three companies: The American company Bio-diesel Industries and two British companies Bio-fuels Corporation and D1 Oils Plc..

From the Paper
"The energy needs of the world must be met somehow, and many today see the continuing reliance on fossil fuels as a dead end proposition, for fossil fuels will one day run out and are not renewable. It took thousands of years to produce the oil we are not pumping out of the ground, and there is no way to speed that particular process to replace those resources. Finding sources that are truly renewable and that can satisfy the world's energy needs is a major research goal, and one of the types of fuel being developed today is bio-diesel. Several companies are working to produce bio-diesel today, conducting research and producing the fuel for use in diesel vehicles in order to reduce reliance on petroleum-based products and improve the environment."

Tags:alternative, fuel, companies

Abstract
The paper researches whether al Qaeda or any other international terrorist group has the motivation and capability to develop and use bio-weapons to carry out their missions of terror. The paper also examines the capability of authorities to deal with this challenge to existing health and defense systems. The paper studies the 2001 anthrax attack and contends that terror groups definitely have the intention to attack with bio-weapons, although we can only speculate about their capabilities. The paper asserts, however, that the threat is very real and the biggest imperative is to neutralize any al Qaeda scientists and technicians engaged in bio-weapons development.

Outline:
Introduction
Bio-Weapons
Biological Agents
Response
Prevention
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The threat posed by biological disease agents as a terrorist weapon emerged following the anthrax scare in October 2001, when anonymous letters filled with anthrax spores were mailed to US senators and selected media men. Anthrax is one of many biological agents suitable for use as weapon of mass destruction, which fall under five categories: bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi and toxins. The anthrax attack in the US came soon after 9/11, in which the terrorist group identified with al Qaeda seized two civilian planes and smashed them into the World Trade Center in New York and killed about 3,000 people."

Tags:al, Qaeda, anthrax, biological, weapons

Abstract
This paper discusses the production of bio-ethanol fuel as an alternative to fossil fuels, in Brazil. The paper begins by giving a summary of the political and economic background of Brazil and goes on to describe why the production of bio-ethanol has been so successful in Brazil. The paper presents the pros and cons of bio-ethanol production and concludes that, at this stage, the advantages of producing ethanol for fuel use appear to outweigh the disadvantages.

From the Paper
"Overall, the advantages of producing ethanol for fuel use appear to outweigh the disadvantages, which at this stage, are believed to be manageable. The first benefit is the decrease of the net output of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, since the amount of carbon dioxide released in the manufacture would be cyclically absorbed in the production of the new fuel crops (Wikipedia 2006). The burning of fossil fuels brings up massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere without creating damage. But this advantage can be derived only from agricultural ethanol, not petroleum ethanol. It is also assumed that production processes, like distillation and fertilizer production, would not exact large amounts of energy and done without using fossil fuels (Wikipedia)."

Tags:fossil, butanol, contamination

Abstract
An examination of bio-terrorism. The writer explores the type of threat posed by bio-terrorism and the extent to which the nation has prepared for it, especially after the events of 9/11. The paper shows the various types of materials that can be used in bio-terrorism and how each of them can be prevented and treated.

Contents
Introduction
What is Bioterrorism?
How Can it be Used Against Us?
What Types of Things Can Be Used to Commit it?
What Now?
Steps That Were Taken after 9-11
Government Readiness
School Readiness
The Future
What Should be Done for Future Protection?
International Cooperation
Protecting our Borders

From the Paper
"For almost two hundred years Americans were lulled into a false sense of security with the belief that nobody could penetrate the "invisible" shield of protection around the country. While chaos was happening around the world by way of attacks, bio-terroristic threats, wars and other problems, Americans went about their daily business believing it could never happen here. And then the events of 9-11 unfolded. Americans were horrified and glued to television screens as the World Trade Centers came down. From that point on the nation understood it was not invincible and the concern about possible bio-terrorism began to grow."

Tags:al, quaida, bin, ladin, world, trade, center, ricin, chemical, weapon, mass, destruction

Abstract
This paper examines how bio-terrorism has been called a disease of modern society, a condition of life, an unsurpassed weapon of psychological warfare, and an antithesis of democracy and the democratic spirit It shows how, although bio-terrorism is thought to be difficult to accomplish on a large scale, recent cases of small scale bio-terrorism have demonstrated how easily it would be to inflict large-scale damage in small doses, if done in a coordinated attack. It examines recent cases, such as anthrax-tainted mail, and looks at how terrorists seem to have relatively easy access to a range of sophisticated, "off the shelf" weapons technology that can be readily adapted to their operational needs.

From the Paper
"In September 1984, a non-state sponsored terrorist cult called the Rajneeshee from Oregon intentionally contaminated many salad bars in restaurants with salmonella bacteria. The incident resulted in 751 cases of enteritis, inflammation of the intestine (especially the small intestine), usually characterized by diarrhea, and 45 hospitalizations. This occurred just from a weak bacteria like salmonella. In 1995, the radical Aum Shinrikyo cult of Japan attacked the subways of Japan by releasing a sarin gas that killed twelve and left thousands debilitated. This cult had allegedly launched three unsuccessful biological attacks in Japan using Anthrax and botulin toxin."

Tags:anthrax, sars, salmonella, terrorists, virus, bacteria

Abstract
The paper relates that the Minamata Bay disaster, which was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956, was caused by the disposal of the industrial chemical wastewater into the Minamata Bay. The paper explains that the Chisso Corporation released methyl mercury with its industrial wastewater in the period between 1932 to 1968, in uninhibited quantities. The paper explains that mercury, an extremely toxic metal and bio-accumulative substance, collected in the fish and shellfish of the nearby waters, and was consumed by the population and the livestock, and as a result, thousands people died and were injured from what became known as the Minamata Disease.

From the Paper
"The Minamata Bay disaster, which was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956, was caused by the disposal of the industrial chemical wastewater into the Minamata Bay. The Chisso Corporation released methyl mercury with its industrial wastewater in the period between 1932 to 1968, in uninhibited quantities. Mercury, an extremely toxic metal and bio-accumulative substance, collected in the fish and shellfish of the nearby waters, and was consumed by the population and the livestock. As a result, thousands people died and were injured from what became known as the Minamata Disease. This paper will examine the causes of this disaster..."

Tags:environment, disaster, minamata

Abstract
This paper explains that risk perception examines the opinions of people when asked to evaluate hazardous activities, substances and technologies, which helps policy-makers by improving communication between them and the public, by directing educational effort and by predicting public responses to new technologies, events and new risk management strategies. The author points out that the fields that have the most important influence in evaluating risk perception are (1) geography because of the recent broadening of focus on technological hazards, (2) sociology and anthropology because risk perception is influenced by friends, family and co-workers, and (3) psychology because of the use of psycho-physical scaling and multivariate analysis techniques to produce quantitative representations or`cognitive maps' of risk attitudes and perceptions, which demonstrate that every hazard has a unique pattern of qualities related to its perceived risk. The paper states that, for the last 30 years, instead of asking how to prevent lead poisoning, the medical community has taken a risk assessment approach, asking, "How much lead is safe for industry to put into children?"

From the Paper
"The present 'risk balance' situation also does not appear to differentiate between different sorts of risk. For example, a one in 1000 risk imposed on someone is different to a one in 1000 risk accepted by someone. It is often the case that the risk from using a chemical, say, is borne by the population as a whole, whereas the benefits accrue only to a minority. This is inequitable, and a new focus in risk - allowing a product on the market only if it passes a criterion of 'social need' for example, would ensure that inequitable distributions of costs and benefits were reduced."

Tags:bio-accumulate, communication, cognitive-maps, assessment, risk-balance