INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES ARE ASKING PRIVATE AND CORPORATE DONORS WHO HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED MONEY TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE ASIAN TSUNAMI, TO EXPEDITE TURNING IT IN. NEARLY $2 BILLION IN INTERNATIONAL AID HAS BEEN PLEDGED. IF THE DONOR GIVES ON A CREDIT CARD THE MONEY IS MADE READILY AVAILABLE, BUT UNTIL THOSE WHO PLEDGE CASH OR CHECKS ACTUALLY DELIVER IT TO THE AGENCIES, THEY CAN NOT HELP VICTIMS. U-N UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, JAN EGLAND, CONCLUDED HIS DAILY TSUNAMI BRIEFING TODAY WITH THE PLEA. "IT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE IRONY IF WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL GENEROSITY, AND WOULD END THIS YEAR WITH NO MONEY."
MORE PACHECO CHARGES S.S.
THE MONTEREY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY?S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A CASE INVOLVING A BUSINESS OWNER, WHO ALLEGEDLY USED HIS STOREFRONT TO DISPENSE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. THE SITUATION WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT AFTER A WOMAN HAD A MEDICAL REACTION TO SOME ?MEXICAN? PENICILLIN SHE SAID SHE OBTAINED FROM OWNER JORGE PACHECO (AT HIS MEAT MARKET AND DELI IN SOLEDAD). PACHECO WAS CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF AN ASSAULT WEAPON, AS WELL AS POSSESSION OF NON-PHARMACIST MATERIALS/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, AND DISPENSING THEM WITHOUT A LICENSE. THE MEDICATIONS DISPENSED INCLUDED THOSE THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED SUBSTANDARD.