Category Archives: International

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

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

U.S. investigates Israeli banks, helping wealthy U.S. citizens avoid paying taxes

September 17, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Israeli banks, for helping wealthy U.S. citizens avoid paying their fair share in taxes.

At least three of Israel’s largest banks, Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi le-Israel BM and Mizrahi-Tefahot, are being investigated.  The have accounts in Switzerland.

It’s estimated that thousands of wealthy U.S. citizens are using such accounts to hide their incomes from the Internal Revenue Service.

In a 2009 settlement, UBS, paid a U.S.$780 million fine, after admitting to helping U.S. tax evaders.

International, U.S.

New evidence that nerve gas is causing Gulf War Syndrome

Ever since the end of the Persian Gulf War of 1991, veterans have been complaining of a range of ailments, including pain, fatigue, and problems with memory and concentration.

Now a study by the University of Texas concludes that the effects are the result of exposure to nerve gas.

The University of Texas used a new technique to measure blood flow in the brains of sufferers and has detected “marked abnormalities” in brain function that can be attributed to low levels of exposure to sarin.

“The findings mark a significant advancement in our understanding of the syndrome, which was for years written off by the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a form of combat stress rather than an objectively diagnosable injury.”-The Dallas Observer.

Read my Chemical Weapons Primer


Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Good Teachers leaving the United States, competition to get out is increasing, America is replacing them with foreign teachers

“The educational pathway is in decline, and I don’t see anything in the near future that sounds like it’s on a positive upswing.”-Stephanie Olsen, leaving the U.S.

While there’s always plenty of reports about students leaving school without getting a high school diploma, you rarely hear about the fact that thousands of good teachers are leaving the U.S., for jobs overseas.

According to one teacher employment agency, TeachAway, the number of U.S. teachers applying with them for foreign jobs is up 50% from last year.  TeachAway has also placed 3,000 U.S. teachers with overseas jobs.  And that just one teacher employment agency, there are dozens!

In the past all you needed to get a foreign teaching job was an TESOL certificate,  but now teachers with just the TESOL are competing against teachers with Masters degrees.

Marie Constant has a Masters degree and could not get a job state side, now she’s moving overseas after getting a job through TeachAway: “Here’s an opportunity for me to not only go to another country where they will pay for me to go, they will pay for me to have living quarters…and I get to practice what I know.”

Stephanie Olsen has two Masters degrees, she’s leaving her teaching job in Arizona for a teaching job in the Middle East: “This is such an opportunity to take, where your employer is helping you get over there. They’re providing everything that is necessary for you to make a life there. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

And how are U.S. school districts dealing with the brain drain of good U.S. teachers?  They’re either pushing for online schools, or hiring foreign teachers!  PBS POV will air a documentary about the Baltimore, Maryland, schools bringing in teachers from the Philippines.

International, U.S.

World War 3: NATO kills 2,000 Libyans in 17 days

Despite the U.S. led NATO mandate of protecting civilians in Libya, they’ve managed to kill 2,000 civilians in the past 17 days.

NATOs been bombing the crap outta the city of Sirt, and a couple of other cities.  The latest air strike, on September 18 Libya time, hit a major hotel, and an apartment complex in Sirt.  At least 700 people are wounded, and 89 missing.

These numbers don’t include the people killed by the rebels!