European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes thursday August 15, 1991ash Cloud circling Earth May affect climate Washington apr a worldwide band of volcanic dust is screening sunlight and possibly Cooling the climate now that the Ash from mount Pinatubo has girdled the Globe. How much the philippine Volcano will change the weather remains to be seen but already it is providing some spectacular sunsets. And several air plane engines have been damaged by the grit in the air scientists report. While the thickest Cloud straddles the Earth Between 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South latitude a roughly the distance from Mexico City to Rio de Janeiro Brazil a a thinner Cloud stretches beyond that band to 35 degrees latitude. That would bring it As far North As Fayetteville . Memphis Tenn. And Albuquerque . Already residents of Hawaii and Central and Southern California have reported spectacular sunsets due to Light being filtered through the dust. And Bright sunsets Are being reported in other areas too even beyond the apparent band of dust. The greatest hazards from the Ash Cloud a besides the immediate threat to people near the Volcano a have been damage to the engines of aircraft flying near the Mountain. To Date 18 Jet aircraft have been affected by the Ash with several experiencing engine failure and other mechanical problems said Mike Matson of the National environmental satellite data and information service. No crashes or deaths have occurred but Ash induced engine damage can Cost a big Bucks Quot to fix Matson said. As Many As 10 Jet engines have had to be replaced because of damage from Ash said Tom Casadevall of the . Geological Survey. Mount Pinatubo began erupting june 9, with the most powerful blast occurring june 14-15. It forced the . Military to evacuate More than 17,000 family members and troops from Clark a and Subic Bay naval facilities. It still spews Ash from time to time and scientists say the Volcano could continue erupting for up to three years. The Cloud completed its planetary circuit july 7. The Ash extended into the stratosphere As much As 14 mites High where winds carried it from East to West according to satellite observations made by the National oceanic and atmospheric administration. Larry Stowe of Noaak a satellite service said measurements based on reflected sunlight show the thicker parts of the Cloud Are More than double the Normal Toad of airborne dust. The Haze has the potential to Cool the climate somewhat possibly for several years according to Noaa scientists. But measuring the change could be complicated by the Al Nino Southern oscillation a periodic change in air pressure coupled with a warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean. This irregular phenomenon which can cause worldwide weather changes seems to be gaining momentum. Farewell to Moon Walker six former astronauts carry the coffin of colleague Jim Irwin from a Church in Colorado Springs colo., on tuesday. From left in foreground Are Al Worden Alan Itean and Eugene Cernan. From left behind the casket Are Bill Pogue Buzz Aldrin and Dave Scott. The Man carrying the front part of the coffin is a funeral Home employee. Irwin who died of a heart attack last week was one of a dozen men to walk on the Moon. Marine charged for refusing duty in persian Gulf Eltoro Calif. Up a a Marine who described himself As an expatriate from a the corporate United states government was charged with desertion tuesday for failing to accompany his unit to the persian Gulf. Capt. Betsy Sweatt a spokeswoman at the Eltoro Marine corps air station said Cpl. Darrell l. Spencer 23, of Oklahoma City faces a general court martial. He could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and Dis honorable discharged. The Marine a member of a helicopter Squadron was arrested earlier this month in Stockton and had been on a unauthorized absence since feb. 1. Spencer who is being held in confinement at Camp Pendleton 53 Miles North of san Diego had refused to join his unit in the persian Gulf in february. In a statement released sunday by his Fiancee he said he was unhappy with the . Government. A what i have come to find out is that this nation certainly is not operating As it was set up by our founding fathers and we do not even operate under the Constitution of the United states anymore a spec tier said. A i am a citizen of new nation Usa arid i have expatriated myself from the corporate United states government a he said. Little is known about new nation Usa. Sweatt said Spencer a Mechanic based at Tustin Marine corps air station six Miles North of Eltoro signed up for a six year hitch in Early 1987.new  seek to level Odds Aid dogs Anchorage Alaska up a alaskans 1,150-mile Anchorage to Nome id Tarod sled dog race May get tougher for some mushers easier on the dogs and Richer for the top 20 finishers under a set of new race rules unveiled tuesday the humane society of the United slates saying it opposed sled dog racing sought numerous changes in the race rules. The id Tarod Trail committee noted that it had been considering some of the changes it adopted before the humane society entered the picture. The 1992 id Tarod the 20th annual race starts feb. 29 with a fatter purse increased from $300,000 to $375,000, the Winner still gets $50,000, but the next 19 finishers will get More prize Money. The id Tarod Board also voted to lengthen the mandatory rest Stop at White Mountain 77 Miles from Nome from six to eight hours. The race already requires one 24-hour rest but the humane society wanted another one. Other changes prohibit use of no Northern Breeds on the teams and re 3uire that Straw bedding be provided for ogs at checkpoints that mushers carry More dog food and that dogs have More accessible to veterinarians at checkpoints. Id Tarod president Lavon Barve said the changes were made for humanitarian reasons. Other changes May make the trek tougher for Well known or better financed mushers but were designed to make the Competition More even. Mushers will now be prohibited from accepting any help at Village checkpoints a whether a Nap in a warm House dog care assistance or getting extra supplies flown in a practices that had become common especially for racers better known and financed. Prohibiting help equalizes the Mush ers Barve said requiring the Well known competitors to rough it a bit More As do the unknown rookies. Safety device firm targeted by Michigan . Agency Detroit apr Michigan a attorney general charged tuesday that smoke detectors fire retardants and extinguishers sold door to door in 27 states done to work As advertised and Are dangerous to Consumers. Meanwhile a Federal Trade commission official charged that safety plus inc. Has violated Federal Law in its employment practices. Attorney general Frank Kelley said he would file a lawsuit charging safety plus of Lexington Kyd a with making false product claims. A what the company promises is a path of life through flames but what you get is a disaster waiting to happen Kelley said. The company a president Chuck Giallanza defended his products. A a they re All tested a he said tuesday. A we have tests and videos saying they do  Giallanza also said safety plus discontinued objectionable hiring practices three or four years ago. However the it cd a regional director Mark Kindt said his Agency obtained a temporary restraining order against the company and has Frozen its assets because of recent violations. Kelley said that during videotaped tests at the state police fire Laboratory Cotton curtains were treated with the fire retardant sold by safety plus and ignited. He said the retardant failed to halt the spread of the fire. The smoke detectors worked slowly and sometimes did not sound at All even with a source of flame and smoke directly adjacent to the Detector he said. And Kelley said Gas fire extinguishers Are intended for use in Small enclosed areas and Are not recommended for Home use