Living-Today: Issues of modern living

RUN FOR THE BORDER

U.S. and Canadian customs and immigration officials wrapped up two days of meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., aimed at battling terrorism and drug smuggling.

Among the agreements expected in the future are deals for prescreening cargo shipments between the two countries. "It is in our interests to increase the security of our borders, but to do it in a way that won't impede the trade between the two countries," said Commissioner Robert C. Bonner of U.S. Customs.

The two nations are trying to implement the 30-point Canada-U.S. Smart Border Declaration signed by John Manley, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tom Ridge, Director of the Office of Homeland Security in the United States. The two are scheduled to meet again next week.

"Sept. 11 had a dramatic impact on how we approach the world and protect the citizens of both countries," said Canadian customs Commissioner Robert Wright. "We have to share information so we can work together seamlessly."

Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner James Ziglar said if the United States and Canada continue to work together, they will prevail. "The terrorists have failed and they will continue to fail because of the principals and ideals shared by Canada and the United States," he said.

(Thanks to UPI's Les Kjos in Miami)

THE AIDS EPIDEMIC

The AIDS epidemic has surpassed the bubonic plague of the 14th century -- yet some experts are predicting an HIV vaccine will be available within the decade.

That's according to two reports released Thursday. Both are published in the Jan. 25 issue of British Medical Journal.

In his report, Peter Lamptey, president of the Family Health International AIDS Institute in Arlington, Va., compares the effects of the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, to the global acquired immune deficiency syndrome crisis.

During the 14th century, Black Death quickly spread from China to Europe killing an estimated 40 million to 50 million people. The bacterial disease spread by fleas found on infected rodents. Humans who suffered flea bites would develop fever and severe swelling of the lymph glands. Bubonic plague wiped out entire families and decimated communities.

Lamptey said the history of AIDS has its similarities. Since discovered two decades ago, as of 2001, AIDS had killed 25 million people worldwide, 65 million have been infected and an estimated 40 million are currently living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

"Despite advances in technology in the 21st century, 700 years later we're still having an epidemic that could kill 65 million people," Lamptey told UPI. Modern medicine and other advances have failed at curbing this epidemic, he said, adding, "Both pandemics had an impact way beyond public health."

Bubonic plague and AIDS, he pointed out, both have destroyed societies, economies and families, particularly in underdeveloped nations, where the numbers of AIDS cases have exploded. Once considered in the United States as a disease spread mainly among the homosexual population, Lamptey said heterosexual transmission in poor countries is fueling the rise in AIDS.

One nation struggling with pandemic is South Africa, from which the second report originated. According to the AIDS Foundation in South Africa, an estimated 1 in 10 South Africans are HIV positive. In his report, Malegapuru William Makgoba, president of the Medical Research Council of South Africa in Cape Town, said he expects there will be an HIV vaccine available in seven to 10 years.

The report said he is optimistic because data from animal studies suggests promise for a vaccine. However, he added vaccine development could be furthered if the world produced a more collaborative effort -- rich countries working with poorer nations and private and government scientists and drug companies working together as well.

(Thanks to Katrina Woznicki, UPI Science News)

JOB HUNTERS

Job hunters stymied by waves of corporate layoffs are turning to small businesses, where a recent hiring surge may signal the end of the economic recession.

That's according to a survey released Thursday by Challenger, Gray and Christmas. The Chicago-based outplacement and recruitment firm said two-thirds of job seekers found work at small businesses in the final quarter of 2001, up 22 percent from the second quarter.

"Small businesses are less insulated from changes in the economy compared to large corporations," said CEO John Challenger. "Small businesses are simply better suited to react quickly to those changes because they lack the bureaucracy common in most large corporations."

Challenger said small business hiring also led a rebound in the 1990-91 economic recession. The Challenger Job Market Index is based on data from 3,000 discharged managers and executives in a variety of industries.

National Bureau of Economic Research data said the recovery that began in April 1991 was preceded by a first-quarter spike in job seekers finding employment at small firms to 69 percent. It was a 30 percent jump from the 53 percent in the second half of 1991.

"The similarity between the current situation and 1990-1991 is not a coincidence," Challenger said. "Job seekers often discover that smaller firms are able to offer flexibility when it comes to balancing work and family. This has become increasingly important to many workers, particularly since Sept. 11."

Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees collectively are the largest employer in the United States, responsible for creating nearly two-thirds of net new jobs, according to the Small Business Administration. About 68 million people, 58 percent of all private sector employees, were employed by small businesses in 2000.

(Thanks to UPI's Al Swanson in Chicago)

GERMAN TOURISM

Despite a slump in sales during the winter season, one of Germany's leading tourism services groups reported that its earnings should continue to grow this year in spite of the downturn in tourism since Sept. 11.

Preussag's bullish prospects contrast sharply with those of other tourism-oriented companies across Europe, which have suffered from a sharp decline in travelers since the terrorist attacks, and the subsequent reluctance for people to travel far from home.

In fact, Preussag AG said holiday bookings for this summer are currently at lower levels compared to the same time last year. Yet, January's sales are actually higher compared to a year ago, said Preussag's executive board chairman, Michael Frenzel.

By slashing operational costs by 80 million euros ($70.16 million) in addition to the cuts totaling 40 million euros ($35 million) since November, the company is expecting this year's revenue to remain solid. The company did not, however, reveal its targeted earnings for the full year.

It will also cut costs by pulling its British operations as well as all its airlines under the single Preussag umbrella.