Tag Archives: disaster

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Corporate Evil & What Economic Recovery? U.S. Alcoa to close factories worlwide, thousands of people to lose jobs. It’s all because Alcoa wants higher Aluminum prices

March 27, 2012, Sardinian workers are protesting the planned closing of Alcoa’s Portovesme aluminum smelter on the island of Sardinia.  The move could cost Italy the loss of at least 1,500 jobs.

U.S. media last reported that U.S. based Alcoa was making a deal with union workers to keep the factory open, however, European media says that ain’t so.

In fact three potential investors are now suing Alcoa.  The Italian government has been demanding Alcoa keep their factory open.  The Spanish government is also upset because Aloca has plans to reduce smelter operations there.

This is evidence that Corporate America is partly to blame for the continuing economic disaster in Europe!  But it’s not just Europeans losing their jobs, Alcoa is hitting Australians as well.

In Geelong, Australia, Alcoa says it’s closing down operations there, because it doesn’t want to pay its electricity bill!  Alcoa wants a deal from the Australian government, and utility suppliers, in order to keep its Point Henry smelter open.

Alcoa also blames the pending closing of their Australian smelter on the need for $100 million AUD (Australian Dollars) to upgrade the smelter to meet environmental regulations.  600 people could lose their jobs.

But the real reason for the closings of all these Aloca operations worldwide, is that the price of aluminum is not high enough for Alcoa executives.

Recently Alcoa officials said the recent drop in aluminum prices “…will result in a global aluminum industry deficit of 600,000 metric tons in 2012.” Why would that be?  Because the aluminum industry will cut back production until aluminum prices go back up. That means closing down factories, creating thousands more unemployed people.

Interestingly, despite aluminum prices being low, on March 1, 2012, Alcoa announced they were actually raising prices (by 5%) on some of their aluminum products!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Obama attacks Argentina with Tariffs, another case of shooting yourself in the foot!

On March 26, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama declared a trade war with Argentina.  This comes two days after Argentina sponsored a mission to increase trade relations with the U.S.

Obama says Argentine companies own two U.S. companies, Azurix and Blue Ridge, $300 million USD.  Obama dropped Argentina from “trade preferences”, which essentially put the South American country on the same standing as North Korea and Syria.

The two U.S. companies are owed money, but Argentine officials say every time they try to make a payment those U.S. companies refuse the terms of payment: “The U.S. trade authorities did not accept our proposal to resolve the disagreement of interpretation on the rules of ICSID [International Center Settlement of Investment Disputes]…”-Hector Timerman, Argentine Foreign Ministry

Obama’s decision goes into effect in 60 days.  Argentina is a member of CELAC, maybe that’s the real motivation behind Obama’s action?  The imposition of high U.S. tariffs on Argentina will affect at least $18 million USD in business with U.S. companies!

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: NATO convoy attacked, NATO soldiers killed, more foreign fighters helping Mujahideen

U.S./NATO/ISAF officials said that on the morning of March 27, a NATO soldier was killed after stepping on a mine (aka roadside bomb, IED) in southern Afghanistan.  They did not give the exact location or what country the NATO soldier was from.

ISAF and Afghan government forces claim to have killed and captured more allies of the Mujahideen. Those foreign fighters are coming from Uzbekistan.

The latest firefight took place on March 26, 2012, in Faryab Province.  ISAF officials say they were ambushed by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) while on patrol with Afghan forces.  ISAF did not indicate if they suffered casualties, but said they killed or captured several IMU troops.

Meanwhile, U.S./NATO/ISAF and Afghan Security officials say in the past 24 hours they’ve killed at least 14 Mujahideen.  The battles took place in Kabul, Nangarhar, Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul, Ghazni and Paktia provinces.

On the night of March 26, a NATO fuel supply convoy was ambushed in Farah Province.  The convoy was operated by a private security company.  Five of the security company’s employees were killed, they were Afghans.

 

 

Fukushima

One Year Later: More incompetence as Strontium pours into the Pacific Ocean off Japan!

March 27, 2012, Tokyo Electric officials say strontium 90 is pouring into the Pacific Ocean, from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant!

The latest leak was discovered March 26.  It’s coming from above ground tanks, which are holding radioactive water. They also admit leaks are coming from pipes connecting the water tanks.

On March 26, TEPCo detected 0.25 becquerels per cubic centimeters of strontium beta particles in the Pacific Ocean.

It turns out this happens often. TEPCo admits the first strontium leaks, from pipes and water tanks, happened in December 2011, and have continued since then!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Libyan Rebel leader says Western Powers wanted Gaddafi killed, because of his knowledge of the evil secrets of Europe & United States

“There are just too many parties who have real interests that Gaddafi doesn’t talk, that he should be silenced forever.”-Mahmoud Jibril, former Interim Prime Minister Libyan NTC

In an exclusive interview with Russia Today, Jibril said Gaddafi was not killed under NTC orders, they wanted him alive. He says it was Western Powers (United States and European Union) that wanted him dead.

Jibril even said: “I would love to know who was behind [Gaddafi’s] killing.”

Those who killed Gaddafi even used their cell phones to record video of their torture and finally killing of Gaddafi.  It was obviously meant to send a message (as was the cell phone video of Saddam Hussein’s ridicule before he was executed).

Jibril says the proof that the war in Libya was not about oil, but about killing Gaddafi, is the fact that Europe was getting oil while Gaddafi was in power. This is backed up by Jibril’s belief that Western Powers suddenly ignored Libya once Gaddafi was killed: “What I am saying is that after the regime fell down [Gaddafi killed] most of the Western countries felt that ‘mission has been accomplished’…we need the help to re-establish our national army…to re-establish our police…and prepare the country for elections…unfortunately the kind of assistance provided by our potential friends…are not a priority for the time being.”

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Three U.S./NATO troops killed by Afghan government forces!

March, 26, 2012, several U.S./NATO/ISAF troops being killed by Afghan government forces, or police officers!

British media reporting at least two British troops killed by a man who “tricked” his way onto a British base in Helmand Province.  He was killed by U.K. troops.

Afghan officials say the man traveled from Nangarhar Province, and had been in the Afghan army for 4 years.

A third ISAF troop, from the U.S., was killed by a local police officer at a police checkpoint in Paktika Province.

Fukushima

One Year Later: More incompetence; Reactor 2 overheating caused by guessing game, cooling water levels much lower than first thought, massive leak!

Disaster reactor 2 at General Electric designed Fukushima Daiichi is overheating because Tokyo Electric officials miscalculated the cooling water levels!

Reactor 2 was the only active reactor that did not explode immediately after the March 11, 2011 natural disasters.  It has been a constant struggle for TEPCo to keep its temperature down.

On March 26, 2012, TEPCo discovered that one reason is there is much less cooling water in the reactor, than what they first guessed.  They thought there was three meters (9.8 feet) of water in the containment vessel.  There is only 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) of water in the reactor!!!

TEPCo discovered this on Monday, after they used an endoscope to check out the inside of the reactor.  TEPCo has been pumping about nine tons of water per hour, for months now, trying to keep the melted nuclear fuel cooled down.

This is only the second time TEPCo used an endoscope to look inside reactor 2.  The first time the endoscope was too short, and they couldn’t see anything!

The facts that after months of pumping nine tons of water per hour (sometimes more), and finding only 60 centimeters of water at the bottom of the containment vessel, means there is a massive leak!  It also means the melted nuclear fuel has been leaking out, into the Pacific Ocean, as well!

This revaluation comes after a March 15, 2012 report, in which TEPCo said they found “…there were no cracks in the suppression chamber [of reactor 2] and there were no changes in the shape.”

The suppression chamber is also known as the ‘wetwell’, or ‘torus’.  It is separate from the containment vessel.  However, TEPCo also reported high radiation levels coming from the wetwell.  It could be a sign that nuclear fuel is leaking out of the containment vessel and into the wetwell (suppression chamber/torus).

TEPCo also reported that the paint on the wetwell was peeling and the color of the paint had changed.

 

 

 

Fukushima

One Year Later: Local officials expand nuclear disaster zone, after meeting with military leaders

Officials with Shiga Prefecture have extended their nuclear disaster preparedness zone, around local nuclear power plants, beyond the 30 kilometer (18.64 miles) radius recommended by the central government.

They made their decision after meeting with officials from Japan’s Self Defense Forces.  The JSDF is actually the best trained for nuclear accidents, because of their NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) warfare training.

In the days immediately following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the JSDF were brought in because it became clear they were the only ones who had the specific training to get close enough to the GE designed disaster reactors.

They were the ones that said Fukushima Daiichi was a Chernobyl level disaster, especially after one of the reactors blew up as the JSDF NBC teams moved in.  One of their vehicles was destroyed, luckily the crew got out.

They then tried dropping water by helicopter, but the radiation levels blasting straight up into the sky was too much, and they called off the water drops. The JSDF had learned from the Chernobyl disaster, and tried bolting extra metal plates to the bottom of their helicopters, but it wasn’t enough.

It was then the firefighters were sent in, essentially as suicide teams, to get water pouring onto the exposed spent fuel pools.

So, when Shiga prefectural leaders talked to the JSDF about how big a nuclear disaster zone should be, they were talking to people who know first hand.  Not like those BS artist corporate officials.

Their disaster zone is now 43 km (26.7 miles) radius.  They’ve also changed their policy regarding the distribution of iodine. Before, it was to be distributed to people within 50 km (31 miles) of the nuclear reactors.  Now it will be distributed to the entire Prefecture!

Fukushima

One Year Later: Japan down to just 1 operating nuclear reactor. Domestic economy threatened by lack of electricity!

Since the March 11, 2011, natural disasters led to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, 53 of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors are now off line.

On March 25, 2012, Reactor 6 in Niigata Prefecture was shut down for regular inspections.  The next, and last reactor to shut down will be Tomari in Hokkaido.

Reactor 3 at Tomari nuclear power plant was supposed to be shut down permanently in April, but the operator, Hokkaido Electric Power Company, decided to delay until May 5, 2012.

While the Tomari reactor is not scheduled for re-start, those that are have been blocked by local governments.  In Japan the local governments have the final word on reactor re-start, and because of the on going disaster reactors at Fukushima Daiichi, the majority of people in Japan are against re-starting any reactors.

For the summer of 2011 Japan’s domestic industries suffered greatly because of an electrical power shortage, even with only about 37 reactors operating.  Attempts were made at other sources of electricity, but it wasn’t enough with such short notice.

Individuals, as well as industries had to deal with power black outs.  This caused many industries to close up, since they needed at least eight continuous hours of electricity (or longer).   As an example, a bread factory needs at least eight hours of electricity to make bread on an industrial scale.  The power black outs took place about every six hours.

Some individuals say they handled the summer without air conditioning well, because it didn’t get that hot (what was that about global warming?).

Now Japan is heading into summer 2012, with not one nuclear reactor up and running.  Officials are scrambling to find ways to convince the local governments to re-start reactors, even bringing in international inspectors to reassure local leaders.

This is one reason the Obama Administration recently exempted Japan from the U.S. oil sanctions against Iran.  Japan will be using a lot more oil to run petroleum fired power generators.

There has been a push for wind power, but, just like here in the United States, there’s been a backlash of people who are against it because those windmills are “eyesores” and reduce property value.

It just doesn’t look good for Japan going into the summer of 2012.

 

International, U.S.

Terror Drones: March 18-25

“The President’s counter terrorism campaign is about stealth power, rather than hard power or soft power. He is a Jekyll and Hyde president; he is the king of covert because there are not many military options available now.”-Laura Blumenfeld, German Marshall Fund

On March 25, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama was labeled “Jekyll and Hyde”, at the annual Brussels Forum. Analyst say Obama has increased the use of terror drones in order to save money!

Pakistan’s President says Parliamentary demands that the U.S. stop using terror drones against Pakistan, is a sign of democracy.

On March 25, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Marc Grossman, Special U.S. Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Zandari said the U.S. had to respect the demands of the Pakistani members of parliament.

Zandari also brought up drug trafficking, which has increased ever since the United States started the so called War on Terror.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Senator Joe Libierman and Senator Dianne Feinstein refused demands from Afghan leaders, who’re calling for a stop to terror drone strikes in their country.

“Drone strikes are critically important to America’s national security. So obviously, I do not believe they should stop.”-Joe Libierman, Senator for Connecticut

“I think the key is whether Pakistan will go into North Waziristan and other places and take out those terrorist leaders who are essentially fueling and leading attacks against our troops in Afghanistan.”-Dianne Feinstein, Senator for California

In the Philippines the government there is denying that the U.S. is using terror drones to help the Philippine government fight mujahideen in the southern islands: “They are here as advisers. They are here as trainers. They can not participate in combat operations.”-Benigno Aquino, President of Philippines

The United States began sending troops back to the Philippines ever since the beginning of the War on Terror.  In the past two years U.S. troop numbers have increased, and could actually be due to the growing tensions over the oil rich South China Sea (especially in an area called Reed Bank).

While the Philippines says no terror drones are being used there, they admit  helping the United States, and the Malaysian government launch air strikes against mujahideen in Malaysia.