Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? China invests billions into America’s backyard, the U.S. is no longer a beacon of Hope

“China represents hope for the poorest nations of the world and its impressive development springs from its own resources…not exploiting or pillaging other nations.”-Orlando Hernandez Guillen, Cuban Vice Minister of Trade and Investment

China is fast replacing the influence of the United States on Caribbean countries.

“China has become an important source of foreign direct investment for us.”–  Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister

The China Development Bank will issue U.S.$1 billion in loans to countries like Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas.  China has already invested billions in Caribbean countries in recent years.

China buys nickel, sugar and other products from Cuba, and Cubans buy Chinese made cars.

China is planning to invest more than U.S.$400 million to revive a beachfront resort project in the Dominican Republic.

The Chinese are helping Jamaica build new ports, a conference center, highway projects and a cricket stadium.

If anybody remembers the Cold War, or knows that history, they would know that there was a time when the U.S. government would not tolerate Chinese involvement in “America’s backyard”.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. citizens smuggling drugs in and out of Mexico

A month ago it was revealed that U.S. citizens have been smuggling prescription drugs into Mexico.  Arrests have included doctors!

Now, Mexican army officials say U.S. citizens are smuggling marijuana out of Mexico into the U.S.

They say U.S. citizens are bringing Meth into Mexico, and on their return trip they take out marijuana.  Captured drug lords say U.S. border patrol agents don’t suspect U.S. citizens, and many people in the U.S. are desperate to make extra money!

International, Technology, U.S.

Polar Ice Caps Paradox: Ice Caps melting, should raise ocean levels, NASA says the opposite is happening, launched Aquarius satellite to find out why

In June 2011, NASA and the Space Agency of Argentina (CONAE) launched a new Earth observatory, called Aquarius.  The mission: Find out why ocean levels are seemingly dropping, despite glacial melting and heavy rain.

Scientist think the ocean water levels are going down because the ocean salt levels are going up, a sign that the ocean water is evaporating faster than it can be replenished: “Based on decades of historical data gathered from ocean areas by ships and buoys, we know the salinity has changed over the last 40 years. This tells us there’s something fundamental going on in the water cycle.”-Gary Lagerloef, Aquarius Mission

Up ’till now scientists have made some assumptions about how the ocean will react to the so called “global warming”, but, they now admit they missed an important ingredient: “We’ve been missing a key element, salinity. A better understanding of ocean salinity will give us a clearer picture of how the sea is tied to the water cycle and help us improve the accuracy of models predicting future climate.”-Gary Lagerloef, Aquarius Mission

What’s amazing is that the United States and Argentina built a satellite that could measure sea salt levels from space: “One of our Argentine instruments is another microwave radiometer in a different frequency band that will measure sea surface winds, rainfall, sea ice, and any other ‘noise’ that could distort the Aquarius salinity measurement. We’ll subtract all of that out and retrieve the target signal.”-Sandra Torrusio, CONAE

On September 1, 2011, Aquarius finished successful tests of its equipment, and has started checking the Earth’s oceans for salt.  Canada, France and Italy also contributed to this global climate change mission.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Japanese Police finally uncover illegal immigrant operations, hiding in plain sight, Americans need not apply

In order to fight illegal immigration Japanese police decided to check out all those free classified ads newspapers.  They should’ve looked sooner!

40% of free newspaper ads, in Japan, are geared towards inciting illegal immigration. The number one type of add offers illegal employment, while the number two type of add offered illegal marriage as a way to stay in Japan.

The search of free newspapers involved just 58 publications, not really a lot when you think about it.

So which nationality was the most sought after?  Not people from the United States, that’s for sure, they’re looking for people with money.  The top four requested illegal immigrants in Japan are Chinese, South Koreans, Brazilians and Filipinos.

 

International

Tropical Storm Roke still hovering near Okinawa

Japan’s Meteorological Agency says that on September 19, Japan time, the storm was hovering over water 110 kilometers (68 miles) west-northwest of Minami Daito Island, Okinawa Prefecture.

Roke is expected to continue to move northward slowly, it might hit Japan’s main island of Honshu on September 20, or later.

Some of the rain forecasts for Monday/Tuesday calls for up to 200 millimeters (7.87 inches) in southern Kyushu, 150 mm (5.9 inches) in northern Kyushu and some parts of western Japan, and 120 mm (4.7 inches) in Okinawa, Amami islands and Kinki region.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Global Economic War: Suzuki wants out of deal, VW could seek hostile takeover

There’s been a lot of news about a possible break up of the merger between  German VolksWagen and Japanese Suzuki.  Last week Suzuki demanded an end to the deal, but VW officials say there’s no way they’re gonna sell their stake in Suzuki.

Now, Der Spiegel says not only is VW not gonna sell it’s Suzuki stocks, but it’s looking like they’re going for a hostile takeover!

Currently VW holds 19.9% stake in Suzuki, and under current contract could acquire a majority holding.  But, under the current contact the same could be true for Suzuki taking over VW.

Such takeovers would require the consent of whoever is being taken over.  Right now Suzuki wants out.  Also, in the recent past VW officials say it’s become obvious that something was lost in translation concerning the partnership.

Originally VW officials thought Suzuki wanted German hybrid technology.  VW thought it was a good opportunity to get into the booming Indian car market, because Suzuki already had a strong presence in India.  Apparently that’s not what Suzuki had in mind.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic Class War: City of God issues its own money, fights back against U.S. led multi-national corporations

“If we empower the economically marginalized grassroots network and build social capital, poor people will leave poverty.”-Paul Singer, Brazil’s National Secretary of the Solidarity Economy

In the impoverished Brazilian suburb of Rio de Janeiro, known as the City of God, the residents are taking economic measures into their own hands.

On September 15, they opened their own community bank called, City of God Communitarian Bank.  Not only do they have their own bank, but they’re issuing their own money.

The new bank is part of the Brazilian Network of Communitarian Banks, which was started by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2003.  It’s based on a growing international form of banking for lower income people.

One of the radical ideas of this new international bank, is that local banks issue their own local currency, to be used only for locally enrolled businesses. The idea is to develop strong local economies, to counter the destructive power of U.S. led multi-national corporations.

International

France bans Muslim street prayers, Muslims like it, but there’s no room at the inn

September 16, France banned street prayers by Muslims.  French Muslims are upset because they were not told.  However, French Muslims are happy, ’cause they say they don’t like praying in the streets!

Islam has spread so much in France that there are not enough Mosques to accommodate everyone who shows up for Friday Prayers (I wonder why christians don’t have that problem).

One study said that France has 2,000 mosques, but needs at least 4,000 to accommodate all the Muslims who show up to pray.  Remember, France is a country that’s slightly smaller, geographically, than the U.S. state of Texas.

In Paris, officials tried to help by providing an abandoned military building as a Mosque, not everyone was happy: “We are still in the street. We are still without a roof. One hour before lunch time prayer, it was already full.”

“For me to pray in a place like this? It’s not for me. It’s a factory here, sir. They raise chickens next door. I’m sorry, but to respect Friday Prayers this is not an appropriate place.”

France has the largest Muslim population in Europe.

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Germans join International Day of Rage, everyone lets join the Pirate Party!!!

September 18, several thousand of Germans hit the streets of Berlin, protesting the lowering of wages: “Higher wages lead to more purchasing power. This would strengthen the economy. The government’s policies are counterproductive.”-German protestor

Germany is supposed to be doing well economically, but tell that to the average German worker: “My husband was a coal miner for 38 years. Now he is at home and seriously ill, but of his pension there is hardly anything left after paying the rent, electricity, water and the medicine he needs.”-German protestor

At least one third of Germans are threatened by old-age poverty as unemployment, part-time or mini-jobs in a growing low-wage sector will lead to lower pensions in the future.  This is a trend that’s happening all around the world.

There’s even a new political party gaining strength in Germany; the Pirate Party: “This is a situation in all countries. The gap between rich and poor becomes greater and otherwise we are in a critical situation of finance and economic system in the world. Therefore we need new ideas to solve these problems.”– Alexander Spiess, Pirate Party candidate