Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Germany & Turkey say Israeli war against Iran will be disastrous

Germany’s Defense Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine that if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear industry: “A success would be highly unlikely, and result in obvious political damage.”

Maiziere said the European Union sanctions should be allowed to go into effect before any military action takes place.  The EU sanctions will not be in place until July 2012.

Turkish officials also say war would be a mistake: “A military strike is a disaster. It should not be an option. Especially at a historic turning point in our region, we do not want to see another huge tension.”-Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister

International, U.S.

War Were Declared (almost): Arab League wants war, demands the United Nations invade Syria! Russia demands to see proof of AL claims!

February 12, 2012, the Arab League (AL) is calling for an end to “all forms of diplomatic cooperation”, and “tighter economic sanctions”.  Instead they want war with Syria!

In a new AL resolution, they are demanding military action by the United Nations. The resolution also says all forms of communication with Syrian rebels should be opened up.  (‘communications’ is a military term that also means supplies, like weapons and ammo)

Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud al-Faisal, backs that up saying the AL should “give all forms of support” to the rebels.

Russia doubts the sincerity of the Arab League, and says the AL observers weren’t in Syria long enough to collect viable evidence: “We would like to know why they are treating such a useful instrument in this way. I would support an increased number of observers. We are surprised that after a decision was taken on prolonging the observers’ mission for another month, some countries, particularly Persian Gulf countries, recalled their observers from the mission.”-Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister

The AL’s resolution will be presented to the UN on the same day that the Human Rights Commission is to make their report, February 13.  It’s been reported that the Human Rights Commission will make charges of war crimes against the Syrian government.  (think we’d see such charges brought against the U.S. government?)

The UN General Assembly could go around the UN Security Council, on the grounds of human rights violations.  Russia and China vetoed the UNSC resolution against Syria.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Radioactive debris in Pacific Ocean months away from West Coast of North America

“A Russian ship discovered a small Japanese fishing boat in the waters north of Hawaii in October that was definitively tied to the tsunami, and it was about where we thought it should be, given the currents.”-Jack Barth, Oregon State University

11 months after the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunamis hit Japan, and started the worlds biggest nuclear disaster, the radioactive flotsam is still a few months away from the West Coast of North America.

According to the Yamhill Valley News, in the U.S. state of Oregon, officials and non-governmental organizations are preparing.  So when do they think the March 11 debris will begin arriving, and which way will it go when it hits the coast line?

“Much of the debris generated from the earthquake and tsunami has or will become waterlogged, weighed down with barnacles or other organisms, and sink. A large fraction of it will be diverted south into the ‘Garbage Patch’ between Hawaii and the West Coast, and may circulate in that gyre. What remains should arrive here at the end of 2012, or the beginning of 2013.  If it arrives in the fall and winter, it will get pushed up north by the currents to Washington, British Columbia and even Alaska. Debris arriving in late spring and summer will hit Oregon and be swept south into California waters.”-Jack Barth, Oregon State University

Note that the university official is talking about the debris that was instantly swept out to sea by the tsunamis.  The radiation contamination of the Pacific Ocean began days after that, and is continuing.

“The major air and water discharges of radioactive material from the Daiichi plants occurred a few days after the debris field was created by the tsunami…wind, rain and salt spray have been pummeling this material for months. The key radionuclides are composed of iodine and cesium….Most of the iodine has gone because of radioactive decay. The radioactive cesium, to a great extent, will be washed off and diluted in the surrounding ocean.”-Kathryn Higley, Oregon State University

However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is warning people to use common sense when picking up objects found on the west coast beaches.  They even have a website for beachgoers: http://marinedebris.noaa.gov

The Japanese Consulate in Seattle, Washington, is asking anyone who finds personal possessions on the beach to please return them to Japan.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Pepsi will lay off 8,700 employees, gives axe man a $2 million bonus

PepsiCo announced that they must radically restructure if they want to stay competitive.  This comes after Pepsi fell to third place, after Diet Coke.

Pepsi will lay off 8,700 employees around the world, and then spend big bucks on advertising to get you to buy more Pepsi products. Pepsi officials declined to say exactly how many U.S. employees would lose their jobs, but did say it should not be more than 3% of their U.S. operations.

Pepsi already laid off about 3,300 people from 2008 to 2009.

But here’s the thing, the former executive who caused Pepsi’s fall, is getting a $2 million bouns!  Massimo d’Amore ran Pepsi’s Global Beverages Group until September 2011.  He ordered changes in how Pepsi was marketed.  Those changes actually hurt sales.

So, d’Amore is let go, but walks away with $3.4 million in retirement and stocks, plus $2 million in severance, while 8,700 Pepsi employees will probably get nothin’ when they get axed!  And it’s not their fault Pepsi lost sales, it’s d’Amore’s fault!  Just another argument for employees to be the owners of their own business!

International, U.S.

Red Horse & Lebanon: U.S. supported Civil War in Syria spreads to Lebanon

Lebanon used to be part of Syria, before the French separated it after World War One.  Now those who are anti-Syria (and probably backed up by the U.S., Europe or Israel) are attacking pro-Syrian Lebanese.

On February 10, fighting got so bad in Tripoli, that Lebanese troops were called in.  The gun battle lasted until February 11, leaving two dead and 20 wounded.

Some analysts say the fighting is between Lebanese Alawi Muslims and Sunni Muslims.  In Syria, most of the Ba’ath party officials are said to be Alawi Muslims.  Most Muslims in Lebanon are Shi’a (and they make up 47% of the total population).

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.

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

Pale Green Horse & H1N1: Mexico hit hard, thousands infected, 58 die

After what looked like a 2011 victory for Mexican health officials, the H1N1 virus is hitting back hard in 2012.

Already there are 2,815 reported cases of flu, 90% are confirmed to have H1N1.  At least 58 people have died.  93% of those who died were confirmed to have H1N1 (aka swine flu).

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

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

Pale Green Horse & H3N2, H1N1: Costa Rica reports first 2012 deaths

The Central American country of Costa Rica is reporting the first death connected to the H3N2 virus.

On January 25, 2012, a 30 year old man died from H3N2.  The man had other health issues before getting sick with H3N2.  They believe it is the new H3N2v virus.

Two other Costa Ricans died the week before, from H1N1 (aka swine flu).

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics, U.S.

U.S. CDC admits current Flu shots might not protect against H3N2v, children at risk

“The seasonal vaccine is not designed to protect against H3N2v. Limited studies show that it may boost immunity against this virus in adults, but will probably not offer protection for children.”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The U.S. CDC is concerned after 12 people caught H3N2v (the ‘v’ stands for “variant”) between August and December 2011.

“This virus is related to human flu viruses from the 1990s, so adults should have some immunity, but young children probably do not. Early steps to make a vaccine against H3N2v have been taken, but no decision to mass produce such a vaccine has been made. Public health authorities are watching closely.”-U.S. CDC

 

U.S.

Fear of H3N2 has New Jersey politicians trying to make a law that forces you to get a Flu shot.

Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a bill that would make it mandatory for health care workers to get flu shots every year.

It could be because of the growing concern over new flu viruses, like the H3N2v.  However, Canadian and Greek studies have shown that current vaccines have no effect on the new flu viruses!

New Jersey lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill next week.

International, U.S.

Taiwan’s CDC says H3N2 outbreak possible in the United States

“The whole world is keeping a watch for possible mutation of the virus. We are now screening local patients who have come down with serious flu symptoms or complications of H3N2v.”-Chou Jih-haw, Taiwan CDC

On February 10, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced they are concerned of a possible outbreak of H3N2, after 12 people in the U.S. got infected at the end of 2011.

H3N2 is already hitting Japan, and parts of Europe, hard.  The new version of H3N2 is called H3N2v, and it contains genes from the H1N1 virus.

So far there are no confirmed H3N2v cases in Taiwan, but health officials there are stepping up efforts to head H3N2v off at the pass, by closely monitoring anyone who reports being sick.