European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 a the stars and stripes sunday february 16, 1992ozone loss called possible aids Factor Nairobi Kenya apr a . Environmental report speculates that depletion of the Earth a protective Ozone layer could weaken Peoples resistance to the aids virus. The report suggested that increased ultraviolet radiation from Ozone depletion could Speed up progression to full blown acquired immune deficiency syndrome in those already infected with his which is the aids virus. The 45-Page report from the Nairobi based . Environment program said increased exposure to ultraviolet rays would not necessarily increase the rate of infection but it a would result in the increased severity of the disease or a More rapid course of  the report based on what it Calls a conservative estimate of 5 percent to 10 percent Ozone depletion by 2000, also predicts a up to 1.75 million additional cataracts annually worldwide and up to 150,000 More cases of blindness for every 1 percent Ozone loss. A More than 300,000 More skin cancers per year. A creation of new crop problems leading to food shortages. Ozone is a Pale Blue Gas found nine to 18 Miles above the Earth. It absorbs harmful rays from the Sun and stops heat from escaping from the Earth. Scientists say depletion of Ozone is exacerbated by the use of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration air conditioning and aerosol sprays. The United states recently announced that the Ozone layer in the Northern hemisphere was being depleted faster than expected. In response president Bush said last week that he would order an end to the production of rfcs by the end of 1995,Hunting for a ban a Man masquerading As a Fox dances around children dressed As rabbits during a London protest against Hunting. The group turned out Friday As parliament began debate on Banning the Bunting of Small game with hounds. The measure was eventually Defeated 187-175, but advocates or the ban vowed to renew their Battle in the next session of parliament. Marathon in Vietnam helps vets exorcise past to Chi Minh City Vietnam apr the last time George Gentry was in Vietnam a mine threw him to the ground a Crimson dirt Road surrounded by the Lush greenery of a tropical land. The vivid colors still haunt him. He and several Vietnam veterans some in wheelchairs like Gentry plan to compete today in the to Chi Minh City International Marathon to Chase away ghosts of the past. To them it will always be Saigon. A a it a easier to say Saigon. That show i remember it a said Gentry who lives in Long Beach Calif. Veteran Jim Barker 45, of san Jose came up with the idea to return to Vietnam for the country s first major athletic event since the wars end. As a stranger in a strange land Barker never gave up running when he Wasny to dodging bullets in the Bush he was dodging potholes and mortar Marks in training runs along country roads. In 1972, the Man fighting next to him was shot in the head during an ambush. And still Barker ran. A i always varied my course and i trained hard so i knew i presented a difficult target a Barker said. Watching the movie platoon a couple of years ago brought the images of War and running Back to the marathoner As sgt. Elias played by Willem Dafoe sprinted through the Jungle in a Hail of enemy fire that Cut him Down. A i was right with him on every stride a Barker said. A i thought a my god stay Low stay Down done to tire out a a the Marathon where More than 300 runners Are expected is evidence of new International cooperation said be Buu a former Viet Cong Soldier directing the race for the City a sports and gymnastic service in april 1975, the City fell to the North vietnamese communist forces As americans and South vietnamese fled. About 50 competitors Are coming from the United states including a few veterans and some who protested the War such As marathoner Bill Rodgers. Rodgers who held the american Marathon record from 1975 to 1980, was a conscientious objector and did alternative service in a Hospital. Bob Farmer another Veteran from Long Beach sees a Chance for personal Healing and leaving the past behind. Farmer 43, was Only 19 when shrapnel blinded him in both eyes during an ambush while he was patrolling a demilitarized zone Between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. He later regained his sight in his left Eye but two years after he left Vietnam on a Stretcher he was paralysed in a motorcycle Accident. Gentry 50, plans to return to the humid Jungle spot where he forever lost the use of his legs on dec. 8, 1967. Now he just has to close his eyes and he a transported Back. A i want to see the place one More time to see How much its  the Marathon course is both Scenic and historic in this bustling anarchic City most people still Call Saigon its name before the communists took Over. It starts at the old City Hall built during the French colonial Era goes through the old bar District frequented by gis winds along the Saigon River and into the Countryside. As it loops Back into town the runners Are to pass the former . Embassy a scene of the famous frantic helicopter evacuation in the closing Days of the War men route to the finish line at the old presidential Palace into which communist tanks rammed on a a liberation Day. Lack of funds leaves space program orbiting cosmonauts up in the air Moscow apr economic troubles Are depriving cosmonauts orbiting the Earth of a most crucial necessity a communication with the Home planet a television report said Friday the Commonwealth television Channel reported that the Cash Short ground control Center recently had to abandon expensive communication via ships. Thus the two cosmonauts aboard the Mir space station have no link with Earth for nine hours a Day it said. The demise of the soviet government and the Independence of the former republics have delivered a severe blow to the former superpowers space program. The chief space Agency Gla Kosmos has been broken up and the space program thrown into disarray delaying the planned return of one cosmonaut Sergei Kri Kalev for months. Energy a a russian rocket building company that took Over Many of Glav Kosmos functions now has to pay Kazakhstan for the use of its Bai Konur cosm drome. The planned Landing of Kri Kalev and fellow cosmonaut Alexander Volkov will Cost Energy a about 1.5 million rubles the television said. That a $15,000 at the widely used unofficial Exchange rate. The flight has become a Nightmare for Kri Kalev who along with Anatoly arts Barsky blasted off from Bai Konur on May 18. They were scheduled to return aug. 30 after a routine three month Mission. But within a week of last Augustus failed coup the Landing site was claimed by Kazakhstan and officials put off the return until october. By october Russia already had to work out a Compromise with Kazakhstan. It got use of the Landing site in Exchange for sending up an inexperienced kazakh instead of Kri Kaleva a successor. The kazakh returned to Earth with arts Barsky who was replaced by Volkov. Kri Kaleva a plight has moved even residents of far off Lincoln neb., who have started a Kitty to end the 34-year-old cosmonauts 16-orbit-a-Day flight. Fred Stone a lobbyist at the Nebraska legislature said Friday that 42 lobbyists and three state senators had chipped in $2.50 each to become charter members of the bring Back the russian Guy  is in Horst is out for boys in Germany Berlin apr what a in a name sometimes a hit movie. Kevin has made its first appearance among the top 10 names germans chose for their sons. The phenomenon coincided with last years release of the american hit movie Home alone whose main character is named Kevin. Kevin was the third most popular boys name in Western Germany and no. 5 in Eastern Germany according to the Wiesbaden based German language society. Leading the boys list in the West was Daniel and Philipp was tops in the East the society said. For girls Lisa was the favorite name in both parts of the nation. Both lists were dominated by Anglo american names such As Jennifer Julia Patrick Robert and Melanie. Germans in recent years have increasingly shunned traditional names such As Horst Gunther and Heinrich