Category Archives: International

International, U.S.

Lack of Death Drugs Forcing executioners to use drugs for animals and epileptics

“We oppose the death penalty in all cases and are clear that British drugs should not be used to carry out lethal injections.”-Vince Cable, British Business Secretary

Mississippi has joined the growing list of U.S. states forced to use drugs used to put down animals, to execute prisoners.  Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina have also begun using pentobarbitol.

The United Kingdom has already banned drugs sent to the U.S. for lethal injections.  Germany is pushing the European Union to do the same: “We have to make sure that no drugs from Germany or the EU will be used to carry out executions.”-Markus Loening, German Human Rights Commissioner

U.S. prisons can’t get their usual death drug, thiopentol sodium, because the only U.S. maker of the drug stopped making it in January.

Amnesty International says the only countries using lethal injections are China and the United States.

But prisons could also see a shortage of pentobarbitol, because the only FDA approved maker of it, Lundbeck, has publicly denounced its use for lethal injection in humans: “Lundbeck does not condone the use of [pentobarbitol] or any other product for capital punishment.”

Lundbeck officials say they have already sent letters of complaint to the states that are now using their drug to kill prisoners.  Lundbeck will now look at ways to blockade access to their drug by prisons.

 

International, U.S.

Japan tells U.S. get your Marines out of Okinawa

“There is no change in our policy to carry out the Japan/U.S. accord steadily.”-Yukio Edano, Chief Cabinet Secretary

On May 12, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, said Japan will stick to the plan.  This after U.S. Congressman reneged on a promise to move a USMC base on Okinawa.

For decades the people of Okinawa have wanted the removal of the Futenma Air Station.  One of the reasons has been the crimes, including rape, committed by U.S. Marines and sailors.  In 2006 the U.S. and Japan signed an agreement to move the air station.

One option was to merge the Marine Corps Air Station with the USAF Kadena base, also on Okinawa.  But even that plan is being questioned by U.S. Congressman.  The main issue is money, apparently the United States doesn’t have enough money to move an air base.

Business/Economics, International

Latin America gets huge economic boost from China

“I feel a very important wave coming…actually no, I fell we are on the wave right now.”-Rodrigo Contreras, Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Shanghai

Trade between China and Latin America shot up in 2010, by 51%.  China’s trade with Latin America is growing twice as fast as U.S. trade.

Not only has trade grown, but China has reduced its trade deficit with Latin America as well.  Most of the trade has been in raw materials/natural resources.  Officials want to move towards trading other products in the future.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Argentina bans Smokeless cigarettes, U.S. FDA will treat them as real cigarettes

Argentina has banned smokeless cigarettes (aka electronic cigarettes), because there is no proof they help people stop smoking real cigarettes.

Electronic cigarette makers say their product is not dangerous, but Argentina says some of the aerosols used in the cigarette actually contain nicotine.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration lost a court battle to regulate the e-cigarettes as “drug delivery devices”.  Now the FDA says it will regulate the e-cigarettes as if they were real cigarettes.

Some U.S. states have banned smoking the e-cigarettes indoors, because they can contain nicotine.

It seems the makers of the electric cigarette don’t understand the problem with real cigarettes; they contain nicotine and are addictive.  So how can they claim you can quite smoking if their product contains nicotine?

Business/Economics, International

Argentina warns South Africa: WalMart will destroy your economy

“WalMart does not take ownership of the goods until a product is sold.”-Sofia Scasserra, FAECYS

At a labor conference in South Africa, the Argentine Federation of Commerce and Service Workers ( FAECYS ) warned of allowing WalMart to set up shop.  The warning wasn’t about labor issues, but supply issues.  They claim that since WalMart was allowed to operate in Argentina, the affects on business supply has almost destroyed the business middle class.

In Argentina WalMart operates a “spot sale” deal with its suppliers.  Basically WalMart doesn’t pay anything for the products it stocks, until they sell.  On top of that, WalMart takes three months to pay suppliers.

Another trick WalMart plays; it ships its own products in from China.  First the the products go to Brazil, then Argentina, thus avoiding tariffs.

In the case of home appliances is was discovered that WalMart forced suppliers to sell below their cost, and even give them to WalMart for free.

The result is that Argentine suppliers are going out of business.  And the result of that, is that small manufacturers in Argentina are going out of business as well.

 

International, U.S.

A Clue that U.S. plans on staying in Iraq & Afghanistan: Romania

On May 11, the President of Romania got a visit from USAF General Duncan J. McNabb.  Was it because the Romanian government agreed to let the United States base a “missile shield system” in their country?  No, it was because, in a quietly done deal, Romania agreed to be used as a transit point for troops and supplies going to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two bases shall be used for the “multi-mobile” operations.  General McNabb thanked President Traian Basecue for the agreement.

President Basecue hinted at U.S. money for Romania: “I am thanking you for the attention granted to Romania’s infrastructure.”

If the U.S. is supposed to leave Iraq at the end of 2011, and then Afghanistan in 2012 (as originally stated), then why do they need to establish new “multi-mobile” (quoting Gen. McNabb) bases to support operations in those countries?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

China gets to open factory in United States

Days after the U.S. and China signed an agreement to promise to work together, a Chinese company announces they will spend $161 million building an aluminum plant in the U.S.

Shandong Nanshan Aluminum company will open an extrusion plant in Lafayette, Indiana.  If there are no complications with the deal, they hope to start building the plant next year.  It could employ 150 people, and produce 40,000 tons of aluminum per year.

International

Gaddafi international man of mystery, Libyan TV says he is alive, NATO bombs again

Libyan state TV showed video of Gaddafi meeting with tribal leaders.

On April 30, Gaddafi’s youngest son, and three grand children were killed by a NATO airstrike.  Italian media has been speculating that Gaddafi was also killed, because he stopped making public appearances.

Libyan TV did not give a date for when the video of Gaddafi was made.  Hours after the video was aired NATO bombed Tripoli.