Category Archives: International

International

Food Crisis: World Food prices in “Danger Zone”, creating Mass Poverty

The U.S. based World Bank says international food prices have entered the “danger zone”, and are heading towards the “tipping point”.

World Bank president, Robert Zoellick, blames in on several things.

People in countries where the economies are good, are buying more meat.  The problem is that increasing meat production means more grain crops going to ranchers, instead of food for people.  Crops used for bio-fuels, instead of food,  is also a problem.

Then there’s a supply system problem; it’s taking longer to rebuild stocks of basic food ingredients, once they are used up.  This is made worse by the fact that many countries are facing lower crop production mainly because of climate change (cold wx, flooding and drought).

Add to that oil.  Petroleum is used for fertilizers, pesticides, etc, and that is adding to the cost of food production.

One country, China, is so scared of lack of food that they’re buying up huge tracts of land in Africa for food production.

Zoellick says this is a long term problem, we’re only at the beginning of higher food prices.  Also, while countries with more money to buy food are seeing higher prices, the poorer countries are paying far more for their food.

Zoellick says just since last year the higher prices have pushed 44 million people into poverty.  He predicts another 10% increase in food prices will push another 10 million people into poverty.

International, Opinion, U.S.

NATO and Coalition members will openly fund Libyan Rebels

Despite the fact that UNSCR 1973 doesn’t say anything about taking sides, and supporting a militant group (it’s supposed to be about protecting civilians), NATO, and other UN coalition members say they are now going to give money to the Libyan rebels (where’s the money coming from? taxpayers?).

They’re calling the funds a “temporary financial mechanism”.

The coalition has already recognized the non-elected rebel council as the new government of Libya.

Rebels say they want more weapons as well, but coalition members still say, officially, they are not supplying weapons.  Here’s what one rebel leader said publicly: “We’re discussing weapons deals with countries that officially recognised the council; we’ve been getting positive replies.” They also said: “…participants in the contact group agreed to continue to provide support to the opposition, including material support.”

Sounds to me like the rebels are trying to tell the truth and the coalition members (including the U.S.) are flat out lying.  It makes you question the motive of the coalition for supporting the rebels.   It wouldn’t be the first time western powers supported one group, only to put another group into power once the dirty work was done. 

Franco Frattini, the Italian foreign minister,  was most honest when he demanded: “…either we make it possible for these people to defend themselves, or we withdraw from our obligation to support defending the population of Libya.” Many analysts say the UNSCR 1973 includes an arms embargo, but Frattini doesn’t interpret the resolution that way.  This is an example of the continued division within the UN coalition, which is proof of the lack of coalition building by Sarkozy and Obama.  Which, again, is another reason to question this whole adventure into North Africa.  Where’s Erwin Rommel?


Business/Economics, International, Technology

Iran announces they have their own Nuclear Fuel

“Our scientists took action to supply fuel for the Tehran research reactor and this fuel which is the fruit of the efforts made by our country’s scientists will be loaded into the Tehran Research Reactor this year.”-Ali Baqeri, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Undersecretary

Iran decided to provide its own nuclear fuel, after several deals to get fuel from Western countries fell through, due to complaints from the U.S. and France.

In April 2010, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the domestic production of nuclear fuel. They claim to have produced uranium fuel at 20% purity.

International, U.S.

Israeli officer says he was ordered to kill U.S. citizen

More than eight years ago U.S. citizen Rachel Corrie was bulldozed to death by Israeli troops.

In court testimony, on April 4, 2011, the Israeli captain in charge of the demolition operation, of Palestinian homes, says he questioned his orders to bulldoze while civilians stood in the way.  He said he was ordered to continue the operation anyway.

“Today’s testimonies provide further strong evidence regarding the Israeli military failure to take necessary and reasonable measures to protect Rachel’s life and prevent her avoidable tragic death. They also underscore the systemic inadequacy of the military investigation system which in this case, was nothing but a whitewash.”-Hussein Abu Hussein, attorney for the Corrie family.

The Israeli captain, as well as the driver of the bulldozer, both contradicted the official report by the Israeli army.  They both said it was clear Corrie was run over by the bulldozer, which the official Army report denies.

The Israeli captain also testified that the order to continue bulldozing, with civilians present, violated the Army’s own policies.  Standard practice on the ground was to stop if someone was within five meters of the bulldozer.  He also confirmed that the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) had video of the incident.

International, U.S.

War in Iraq not over, U.S. forces attacked 3rd time in a week

After Defense Secretary Roberts Gates announced that the United States would NOT be leaving Iraq, as planned, U.S. troops have come under fire.

April 13, a U.S. base in southern Iraq was hit with mortar fire.  Photos show the base burning after the attack.  No word on casualties. This is the third attack in a week.

The U.S. was supposed to get combat troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. But last week secretary Gates announced to troops that we will be staying.  Many Iraqis began protesting.  Gates claims the Iraqi government asked the United States to keep troops in Iraq, but foreign media say many Iraqi politicians want the U.S. out.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Iran strikes back at Europe, refuses to fuel European airlines

“In a retaliatory move, we have stopped providing fuel to European aircraft.”-Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi

For some time several European countries have refused to fuel up Iranian passenger planes that land at their airports.  After repeated requests by Iran, countries like Germany and United Kingdom, still refuse on the grounds that they are following the latest sanctions placed against Iran by President Obama.

Iran now says it will not fuel passenger planes from those countries, that land in Iran.

Germany’s Lufthansa says they will have to come up with a plan, because they can no longer get fuel in Tehran.  Netherland’s KLM says they’re not worried because they fuel up in Greece on their way back from Iran.

The sanctions placed on Iran by Obama do not specifically say that Iranian airlines can not be fueled.

International, U.S.

Military government detains Mubarak & Sons

After weeks of protests, the military leaders of Egypt have detained Hosni Mubarak, and his sons, for questioning.

Mubarak is in a hospital after he suffered a heart attack. Protesters were demanding that the former Egyptian ruler be arrested for corruption.

On April 12 the pro-U.S. military rulers cleared protesters from Tharir Square.  But Egyptians promised an even bigger protest on Friday, if Mubarak was not arrested.

With the detention of Mubarak and his sons, Egyptians say they can now focus on pushing the military leaders to hold elections for a new government.

International, U.S.

Mexico asks for help as Fire hits 200,000+ Acres

NASA photos show, as of April 11, the Coahuila fire has burned at least 300 square miles.  The photo also shows the smoke blowing northeast, towards the Rio Grande (called Rio Bravo in Mexico).  This is contrary to some Mexican reports that say it’s blowing to the southwest (maybe they meant it’s bowing OUT of the southwest). But, the winds have been the main cause of the big fire, and could be changing directions.

“We could have the area under control in about two to two and a half weeks.”-Juan Elvira, Mexican Environment Minister

This has turned into Mexico’s biggest wild fire.  Fire fighting helicopters, and a Boeing 747 water tanker, from the United States are helping.  Mexico is asking Canada for help, as well.

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

Nissan Leaf won’t start

Nissan is investigating why its electric car, the Leaf, won’t start.  Several customers, in Japan and United States, are complaining that their Leafs won’t start.

Nissan thinks it is related to the air conditioner sensor: “…it will illuminate a warning light on the instrument panel and may cause the vehicle to not restart once it has been turned off.”-Katherine Zachary, Nissan’s North American unit

International

More than 100 evacuation sites, said to be safe, turned into Death Traps

A Kyodo News investigation revealed that more than 100 evacuation sites were swept away by the March 11 tsunami.

Most of the evacuation sites were selected by local governments.  One of the main reasons for selecting the site, even though many were near sea level, is that they were thought to be too far inland for any tsunami.  Not only was the tsunami higher than expected, it reached much farther inland.