Category Archives: International

International, Technology

Government Incompetence: Chile to charge former officials with manslaughter, for failing to warn people of incoming Tsunami in 2010

In 2010 an 8.8 earthquake hit a coastal town in Chile.  More than 500 people died mainly because of a tsunami.

After prosecutes investigated, it was decided that not only was no tsunami warning given, but officials said there was no tsunami.  After people returned home, they were hit with a tsunami.

Among the former officials being charged with manslaughter are a former navy official who was in charge of issuing tsunami warnings.  The former head of the National Emergency Office, and a former Interior Ministry official.

Gee, if only that kind of legal action would happen here in the U.S.!

 

International, U.S.

Red Horse & Lebanon: U.S. supported Civil War in Syria spreads to Lebanon

Lebanon used to be part of Syria, before the French separated it after World War One.  Now those who are anti-Syria (and probably backed up by the U.S., Europe or Israel) are attacking pro-Syrian Lebanese.

On February 10, fighting got so bad in Tripoli, that Lebanese troops were called in.  The gun battle lasted until February 11, leaving two dead and 20 wounded.

Some analysts say the fighting is between Lebanese Alawi Muslims and Sunni Muslims.  In Syria, most of the Ba’ath party officials are said to be Alawi Muslims.  Most Muslims in Lebanon are Shi’a (and they make up 47% of the total population).

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Pale Green Horse & Global Food Crisis: Nepal, India & Vietnam getting hit hard by H5N1. Vietnam says What Global Warming?

The H5N1 virus isn’t just killing people, it’s killing off the food people eat.

A week ago Nepal said it would have to kill off 4,000 poultry because of H5N1.  Well, already 8,000 poultry have died, because the virus is spreading so fast!

India says yet another poultry farm there has been hit with H5N1.  The virus itself killed off more than 5,000 birds at one farm!  Local officials have ordered the killing of all poultry within a three kilometer (1.8 miles) radius of the farm, that means tens of thousands of birds meant to feed humans will be gotten rid of.

In Vietnam, officials there are blaming the unusually cold weather on the spread of H5N1, as well as the undocumented importation of poultry.

So far nearly 300 birds died from the virus, while nearly 4,000 where put down.  At least two people in Vietnam have died from H5N1.

Vietnamese officials say they can not trace where most of the imported poultry are coming from.  They say many of the birds were brought into Vietnam, illegally, during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Pale Green Horse & H1N1: Mexico hit hard, thousands infected, 58 die

After what looked like a 2011 victory for Mexican health officials, the H1N1 virus is hitting back hard in 2012.

Already there are 2,815 reported cases of flu, 90% are confirmed to have H1N1.  At least 58 people have died.  93% of those who died were confirmed to have H1N1 (aka swine flu).

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Pale Green Horse & H3N2, H1N1: Costa Rica reports first 2012 deaths

The Central American country of Costa Rica is reporting the first death connected to the H3N2 virus.

On January 25, 2012, a 30 year old man died from H3N2.  The man had other health issues before getting sick with H3N2.  They believe it is the new H3N2v virus.

Two other Costa Ricans died the week before, from H1N1 (aka swine flu).

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

International, U.S.

Taiwan’s CDC says H3N2 outbreak possible in the United States

“The whole world is keeping a watch for possible mutation of the virus. We are now screening local patients who have come down with serious flu symptoms or complications of H3N2v.”-Chou Jih-haw, Taiwan CDC

On February 10, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced they are concerned of a possible outbreak of H3N2, after 12 people in the U.S. got infected at the end of 2011.

H3N2 is already hitting Japan, and parts of Europe, hard.  The new version of H3N2 is called H3N2v, and it contains genes from the H1N1 virus.

So far there are no confirmed H3N2v cases in Taiwan, but health officials there are stepping up efforts to head H3N2v off at the pass, by closely monitoring anyone who reports being sick.

 

International, Technology, U.S.

Pacific Ring of Fire Seismic Events: 2012 already shaping up to be big?

In past postings I reported on what appears to be the average number of magnitude 6.5 or greater earthquakes that hit the Pacific Ring of Fire.

In going through the USGS’s Significant Earthquakes of the World, all the way back to 1999, it seems the Pacific Ring of Fire has about 50 per year.

The Pacific Ring of Fire involves not only the Pacific Plate, but the Nazca Plate, the Antarctic Plate, Cocos Plate, Juan de Fuca Plate, North American Plate, South American Plate, Scotia Plate, Filipino Plate, Eurasian Plate and Australian Plate, whew!

Well, from January 1 to February 12, 2012, there have already been seven “significant” earthquakes involving the plates of the Pacific Ring of Fire.  In fact, so far, the only significant quakes for 2012 have been the seven around the Pacific Ring of Fire!

What about earthquakes in general?  If you look at the USGS’s list of quakes from January 13 to February 4, 2012, the overwhelming majority are around the Pacific Ring of Fire.  I counted at least 453 reported earthquakes around the Pacific Ring.

Most of the quakes are hitting Japan (with the most), California, Alaska, Mexico, Chile, countries on the Filipino Plate (like Indonesian islands getting hit almost as much as Japan), New Zealand and Vanuatu.

Vanuatu is a Southwestern Pacific Island north of New Zealand.  Since the beginning of February it’s getting hit almost daily with quakes ranging from magnitude 4 to 5.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: U.K. and Argentina heading for Second Falklands War, major oil find could change the minds of U.S. leaders

Argentine Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, demanded that the United Kingdom “…refrain from this military escalation that they are carrying out in the South Atlantic with the introduction of the latest generation of warships and warplanes, and dispatching a nuclear submarine with the capacity to unload nuclear weapons.”

While some British officials say the sending of Royal Navy ships to the Falklands (Malvinas) Islands is in response to Argentina’s growing demand to return the islands to Argentine control, other British officials say the move to send warships was planned long ago.

In any case the United Nations is asking the two countries to settle the issue peacefully: “The secretary general expressed concern about the increasingly strong exchanges between the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom on this issue. He expressed the hope that the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom will avoid an escalation of this dispute and resolve differences peacefully and through dialogue.”

In the 1990s. Argentina’s constitution was changed to make retaking of the Malvinas, from the British, a constitutional requirement.

Disputes over who controls the Falklands goes back to the late 1700s, and involves France, Spain and the United States, as well as Argentina and Britain.  This latest dispute is being exacerbated by the fact that oil has been discovered there.

If war were declared, the U.K. would find it a little more difficult to fight, than in the 1982 war, because several major South American countries have indicated they will help Argentina fight the British.

“The recovery of Malvinas Islands on part of Argentina is a fact that joins countries like Peru…It is part of our identity; there is a piece of colonial territory in these islands that still remains in South America.”-Rafael Roncagliolo, Foreign Minister of Peru

“…back Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas and back the UN resolutions calling on the Argentine and British governments to hold talks on the issue…”-Antonio Patriota, Foreign Minister of Brazil

“I’m speaking only for Venezuela, but if it occurs to the British Empire to attack Argentina, Argentina won’t be alone this time.”-Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela

What does the United States have to say about this?  Basically the same thing they said in 1982: “Our position remains the same. This is a problem between two of our partners. We do not want to change our position…”-Roberta Jacobson, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs

However, a recent huge oil find might change the stance of U.S. leaders.  Because a major U.S. oil company, Anadarko, wants to get involved with the British company that discovered the huge oil field.

Anadarko wants to invest $1.5 billion into the British company Rockhopper: “A deal has been tabled. Anadarko has got approval to do this from the highest levels in the U.S., and they’ve been reassured the British will stand by the islands.”-unnamed British source

Anadarko was involved with British Petroleum and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010.  The British media says Anadarko has connections to the Pentagon because it’s current Board of Directors include Kevin Chilton, a former commander of U.S. Strategic Command, and Preston M “Pete” Geren III, who worked in the U.S. Department of Defense for at least ten years.

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: Iran says it will reveal Nuclear Achievements in a few days, Israel says it’s ready to take action

“In the nuclear field, major achievements have been made by the Iranian nation in recent years. Today, not only has this nation become nuclear, but it has also succeeded in meeting a large portion of its needs in this field.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran

On February 11, 2012, the Iranian President not only praised the nuclear program of Iran, but said that “major nuclear accomplishments” will be revealed in the next few days.

These words will most likely give the warmongers in the United States more ammo in their call for war.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said his country is ready: “Israel has a large selection of ways, when the world of international sanctions fails, to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program.”

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Black Horse & What Economic Recovery? South American Economist says current U.S. & European economic experts are “Stupid”! Another reason why Universities are a waste of money!

The following statements are from Artur Manfred Max-Neef, a Chilean economist, who began teaching economics in the 1960s at Berkeley in California.

“This economy is crazy and poisonous. I am an economist, and I have been fighting against the economy that is taught the way it is being taught and being practiced. I have been fighting it for almost 40 years of my life, because it’s an absurd economy that has nothing to do with real life. It’s all fabrications…”

“We are simply, dramatically stupid. We act systematically against the evidences we have. We know everything that should not be done. There’s nobody that doesn’t know that. Particularly the big politicians know exactly what should not be done. Yet they do it!”

“After what happened since October 2008, I mean, elementally, you would think what? That now they’re going to change. I mean, they see that the model is not working. The model is even poisonous, you know? Dramatically poisonous. And what is the result, and what happened in the last meeting of the European Union? They are more fundamentalist now than before! So, the only thing you know that you can be sure of, that the next crisis is coming, and it will be twice as much as this one. And for that one, there won’t be enough money anymore. So that will be it. And that is the consequence of systematical human stupidity.”

“The university is, for me, the main responsible for this. The university today has become an accomplice of maintaining a world which we don’t want, because if you don’t teach something different to the economists, well, how the hell are you going to change it when they are professionals, you know, working?”

“….it ceases to be a discipline, it ceases to be a science, and it becomes a religion. And that is what economics, neoliberal economics, is today.”

“…economists know nothing about ecosystems. They don’t know nothing about thermodynamics, you know, nothing about biodiversity or anything. I mean, they are totally ignorant in that respect. And I don’t see what harm it would do, you know, to an economist to know that if the beasts would disappear, he would disappear as well, because there wouldn’t be food anymore. But he doesn’t know that, you know, that we depend absolutely from nature. But for these economists we have, nature is a subsystem of the economy. I mean, it’s absolutely crazy!”

Five postulates and one fundamental value for economists in the coming new world:

1: The economy is to serve the people and not the people to serve the economy. 

2: Development is about people and not about objects. 

3: Growth is not the same as development, and development does not necessarily require growth. 

4: No economy is possible in the absence of ecosystem services.

5: The economy is a subsystem of a larger finite system, the biosphere, hence permanent growth is impossible.

The fundamental value of the new economy: No economic interest, under no circumstance, can be above the reverence of life.

For more on Max-Neef’s insight into why our economic world is collapsing check out Democracy Now!

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”