Category Archives: International

Women’s breast milk contaminated with Iodine-131

Radioactive iodine has been found in the breast milk of four women living in Japan.

One woman, living in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, contained 36.3 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram.  Milk from two women in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, contained 8.7 and 6.4 becquerels.

A citizens group paid for the analysts of the breast milk.  Currently there is no official limits for radiation levels in breast milk, in Japan.

 

BP blames rig owner for Gulf of Mexico oil disaster

British Petroleum is suing Transocean for at least $40 billion in damages.  BP claims the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history was caused by the failure of every safety system on the Deepwater Horizon rig.

BP is also suing Cameron International, claiming they provided a faulty blowout preventer.

Transocean, and Cameron International are suing BP, saying British Petroleum caused the problems, by making decisions based on cost savings, not safety.

Transocean is also suing Cameron International, and Halliburton, as well.

More details about extended Toyota factory cuts

On Tuesday Toyota announced more cuts for North American factories, now more cuts in Europe and China.

For Europe Toyota announced that they will cut production, after the already scheduled production halt for the end of this month.  The reason is lack of electronic parts.  Toyota’s Chinese factories will also see production cuts, in some cases production will be down to 30%.  The production cuts, around the world, could last past May.

 

U.S. Admiral says the first 8 years in Afghanistan were incorrectly “resourced”

“Resourced”?  Is this new mil-speak for “operational planning”? Or “tactics”?  How about pull your head out!

In an official announcement made on the Joint Chiefs of Staff web site, U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen, admitted that the U.S. was totally screwed up for the first eight years of the occupation of Afghanistan, ‘cept it wasn’t quite put like that in the official statement: Although the United States has been in Afghanistan for 10 years, the chairman said, only over the last 18 months has the effort been resourced correctly.

So basically, the first eight years were ‘incorrectly resourced’.  This is the new way to say you’ve F’ed up, without actually saying it.

 

Obama lied about leaving Afgahnistan, U.S. will stay beyond 2014

In an interview with a Pakistani news station, GEO TV,  U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen said the U.S. will maintain bases beyond the 2014 troop pull out.

He also contradicted himself saying the U.S. will not maintain bases in Afghanistan.  Mullen said that Bagram and Shindand air bases will be used by the U.S. to continue training Afghan government forces.   It could be that officially the bases will be maintained by Afghan forces, yet there will be a U.S. “presence” on those bases.  Talking out of both sides of your mouth is becoming a common thing with our leaders.

U.S. to begin withdrawing Marines from Okinawa

For decades Japanese living on Okinawa have demanded that U.S. forces leave.  They might be getting their wish.

Internal U.S. Marine Corps documents obtained by NHK revealed a plan to reduce the number of Marines by 8,000.  The Marines would be relocated to the U.S. territory of Guam.

It still leaves about 10,000 personnel at the Futenma Air Station on Okinawa, but, eventually the air base will be moved as well.  There is a meeting between U.S. and Japanese officials, to work out details, scheduled for June.

Obama considering sending food to North Korea

After giving a speech that implied that social programs for citizens of the U.S., such as Food Stamps, would have to be cut, President Obama is considering sending food to North Korea.

U.S. Special Envoy, Robert King, made the announcement in response to the UN World Food Program’s call for 430,000 tons of food aid to North Korea.  The United States canceled food aid about two years ago, because of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

France increasing air strikes in Libya

After announcing that they will send military advisers to train Libyan rebels, France announced they will increase air strikes in Libya.  France is a UN coalition member, but is not a member of NATO.

France was even reluctant to allow NATO to take official control of the coalition forces military actions against Libya.  The latest decision by France, to increase air strikes, is independent of NATO.

The decision was made after rebel leaders met with French officials, and asked for more help.

Obama giving Libyan Rebels $25 million, after giving speech saying the U.S. needs to cut domestic spending

To the people of the United States it’s one slap in the face after another.  Recently President Obama gave a speech saying cuts need to be made to U.S. government spending.  Then he gives $3 million so some students can study in China, and now he’s giving Libyan rebels $25 million in equipment!

On April 20, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement.  Obama is joining with United Kingdom, France and Italy in openly taking sides with Libyan militants, some of who might actually be al-Qaeda, according to military officials, including NATO boss U.S. Admiral James Stavridis.

Toyota to cut more North American production

Toyota announced that it will have to continue cuts in production in its North American factories.  Continued parts supply problems being blamed.

Factories in Mexico, Canada and the United States will now suspend operations on Mondays and Fridays.  Production will be cut in half on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The latest cuts will continue until June 3.

Toyota expects the new cuts to directly affect North American car sales.