Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China slashes U.S. Agriculture imports

“A seasonal drop in exports to China was expected…But the magnitude of the fall has been greater than anticipated.”-U.S. Department of Agriculture

According to a September 1 report by Agrimoney, China has slashed its purchasing of U.S. farm products.  Not by a little, by a whole lot.

Up until three months ago China was spending a monthly average of $2.5 billion, yes, $2.5 billion per month.  But starting three months ago China slashed it to $800 million per month.

Historically the United States has been the biggest supplier of farm products to China, but, if current sales continue the U.S. will end the year tied with Canada.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Argentina thrashes the U.S. as Corn supplier to Columbia, Canada to take over as main wheat supplier

According to a report by Agrimoney, Argentina has replaced the U.S. as the main supplier of corn to Colombia, and probably in the near future Canada will do the same with wheat.

U.S. corn exports to Columbia have crashed: In 2007 the U.S. supplied 96% of Columbia’s corn.  In 2010, the United States supplied a meesley 19%!!!

But don’t blame Argentina for crashing U.S. farm exports, Canada is about to kick the United States of America’s ass as well.

Columbia and Canada signed a free trade agreement on August 15.  Within ten days of the deal wheat buyers in Columbia ordered 125,000 tons of Canadian wheat!!!

On top of that, Nutresa, Columbia’s biggest cookie and pasta maker announced that their main source of wheat will now be Canada!!! 

 

International

World War 3 Race War: African Union refuses to recognize Libyan Rebels, Rebels have been targeting Black Libyans

“No, things don’t work that way.  The TNC has reassured us regarding African workers in Libya. We will wait and see.”– Jean Ping, African Union Chairperson

The AU is refusing to recognize the U.S. supported Libyan rebel TNC.  Partly because the African Union was never consulted regarding UN resolutions against Libya, and NATO attacks on Libya.  Libya is a member of the African Union.

The main reason the AU is refusing to recognize the TNC is because black Libyans, and mainly black migrant workers from other AU member states, have been targeted and murdered by Libyan rebels.

Some rebels believe that all black Africans in Libya are mercenaries working for Gaddafi.

International, U.S.

War Crimes: European Union now admits to helping the United States commit war crimes

“In attempting to combat crimes attributed to terrorists, countless further crimes have been committed in the course of the U.S.-led ‘global war on terror’. Many of those crimes have been carefully and deliberately covered up.”-Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe’s Rights Commissioner

Europe’s Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, said Europe is “deeply complicit” in Washington’s counter terrorism methods, which include torture and other human rights violations.

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Good idea from Japan: Books that tell you how to escape a natural disaster, you can’t rely on your cell phones

In Japan some of the fastest selling books are how to books that show you how to get out’a town in case of a natural disaster.

The 9.0 quake of March 11 was the motivator for such books.   Even though Tokyo was at least a hundred miles from the epicenter of the quake, the public transportation systems went down.  About 6 million people walked or rode bikes home.

People who did well walking out had road maps, or had read the 2005 book Map for Walking Home in the Event of an Earthquake.  The book was the result of experiences of the editors in a 2004 earthquake.

Amazingly the book was undergoing a revision when the March 11 quake hit.  In fact one of the editors ended up walking home over the next two days, it proved to be useful in making the revisions: “For example, there were big advertising signs above the roads, which can break and fall on pedestrians, and such potentially dangerous sites we included on the maps.”-Tatsuya Nakajima, Shobunsha Publications

Since then 150,000 of the books have sold.  Prior to that, 1 million copies had sold.  Here’s one good reason such books are in demand, cell phones did not work on March 11: “People could not access online maps on their mobile phones right after the quake because telecom systems were overloaded.  That’s probably why the demand for paper maps has increased and this book has sold well since.”-Tomoko Okawa, Shobunsha Publications

A subsidiary of Shobunsha Publications has recently solved that problem, at least if you have an iPhone, a downloadable app that does not require an active cell service to work.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: British TESCO admits defeat, pulls out of Japan, the U.S. is next

“Having made considerable efforts in Japan, we have concluded we cannot build a sufficiently scaleable business. We have decided to sell our operations there and focus on our larger businesses in the region.”-Philip Clarke, TESCO

After eight years and 250 million pounds (U.S.$404.9 million), British retailer TESCO is quitting Japan.

The Japanese retail market proved to be too tough o’nut to crack.  TESCO has been successful almost everywhere else, especially other Asian countries.

Retail analysts say Japan’s retail culture is radically different than the U.S. or Europe: “The retail market is fragmented and there are many strong regional players, often family-owned. Convenience stores dominate, particularly in the city centers, and a culture of ‘immediacy’ supports large numbers of vending machines.”-Gavin Rothwell, retail analysts IGD

Another factor against foreign companies doing business in Japan is extremely high operating costs, and extremely demanding consumers.

However, TESCO is also losing money, big time, through its U.S. venture, Fresh & Easy.  The U.S. start up is based in Los Angeles, California.

TESCO’s Fresh & Easy operation has 176 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.  Last year they lost $301 million, far more than what TESCO lost in Japan.

They’re spending even more money to remodel their Fresh & Easy stores, but if sales don’t pick up within the next two years, TESCO will pull out of the United States as well.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

What Global Warming? Typhoon Talas not Normal, showing signs of a cold weather storm!

Typhoon Talas is expected to hit Japan on August 2, but its path is hard to predict because it’s not your normal hurricane.

The U.S. Navy/Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center is saying that Talas is not a normal typhoon: “The upper-level analysis continues to reveal an unusual upper-level pattern with an upper low over the center and anticyclonic flow around the periphery.”

What’s not normal about that, is that anti-cyclonic storms normally form around high pressure systems.  Talas is showing low pressure.  Also, anti-cyclonic storms are associated with cold weather and often cause massive snowfall, it’s summer time in Japan.  (Can you say The Day After Tomorrow?)

Some predictions say the typhoon will drive up the middle of Honshu and Hokkaido, other predictions say it’ll keep driving north into the Sea of Japan.

Business/Economics, International

United Police Kingdom: British Bobbies demand reporters hand over all video of recent riots

Scotland Yard is demanding all media outlets in London turn over video of riots.

The bobbies say it will help them arrest even more people, as if the video from the thousands of city surveillance cameras isn’t enough.  Even British Prime Minister David Cameron wants the media to give in.

The bobbies are asking for all “unpublished” videos and pics.  Here’s the thing, the media has published lots and lots of video and pics that clearly show looters’ faces, so why do the bobbies need more?

“They act almost like they are above the law. They have got 40,000 hours of CCTV footage to go through. And it seems to me they are getting bored with that and are trying to co-opt the press in Britain [into being] evidence gatherers for the police.”-Tony Gosling, investigative journalist

 

International, U.S.

War on Terror: The United States is the biggest terrorist, handcuffs then executes Iraqi children, United Nations makes threats wants answers

“…a State party can be held responsible for violations of rights under the Covenant where the violations are perpetrated by authorized agents of the State on foreign territory…”-2006 UN memo to Secretary of State Rice, concerning execution of Iraqi children

A 2006 United Nations memo to then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has been made public by Wikileaks.

In the memo the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, demands an explanation as to why, on 15 March 2006, an entire Iraqi family was handcuffed and executed by U.S. forces.  That included two children aged five years, two children aged three years and one five month old baby!

After the executions the house was bombed, Iraqi TV has video of the aftermath.

The memo suspects that it was done in retaliation for two U.S. multi-national forces (MNF) troops being killed the week before.

Officially the U.S. claims the family was killed in a gunbattle.  The U.S. led MNF were attempting to arrest one suspect.

The problem is that autopsies showed all the family members had been handcuffed and shot in the head.

The United Nations asked Secretary of State Rice four questions: 1; “On what basis was it decided to kill, rather than capture, members of the Mr. Faiz Harrat Al-Majma’ee’s family.” 2; “What rules of international law does your Excellency’s Government consider to govern these incidents?” 3; “What procedural safeguards, if any, were employed to ensure that these killings complied with international law?” 4; “Does your Excellency’s Government intend to provide compensation…”

The UN memo mentions that this isn’t the only case of summary executions at the hands of U.S. forces.

Secretary Rice was also reminded of UN resolution 59/191: “States must ensure that any measure to combat terrorism complies with their obligation under international law, in particular international human right, refugee and humanitarian law.”

After all, the United States is a shining example of the Rule of Law, is it not?

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

What Economic Recovery? Hoku, Idaho, finally to start polysilicon production, but ongoing delays will cost solar company money

“We are positioned to bring the first 2,500 metric tons of manufacturing capacity online in the coming weeks, and we continue commissioning key systems on site.”-Scott Paul, CEO of Hoku Corporation

After years of continued promises of local hiring and construction delays, due to financial problems, Hoku claims it will finally start polysilicon production within weeks.

However, Idaho Power insists that Hoku pay up front for its electricity, Hoku officials claim they’ve already paid $5.3 million to the utility.  This is just part of a long list of financial problems the wannabe polysilicon maker has had.

It’s ironic that a solar power “products and services” company must rely on an old fashioned electric utility to provide power to run their new 2,500 metric tons of polysilicon factory.

Hoku Corporation has already lost $10.2 million during the second quarter of 2011.  The solar power products company is based in Hawaii.  Their polysilicon Hoku Materials plant is located in Pocatello, Idaho.

Hoku has been getting financial help from a Chinese company; Tianwei New Energy Holdings.

Hoku salesmen oversold their company’s product, and now they’re scrambling to issue refunds, and offer discounts on existing contracts for waiting so long for their product.

All current orders for polysilcon are delayed, no thanks to the financial problems that have delayed construction of the Pocatello plant for the past couple of years.  Expect Hoku to continue reporting losses as a result.

2010: HOKU TURNING TO CHINA TO HELP FINISH POCATELLO PLANT