Tag Archives: economy

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

Oil & Gas Prices: Big fire Down Under, Brazil oil rig “tilting”, Chevron hoping to get back to work in Brazil

“We don’t know what’s in the smoke, we don’t know what’s burning, we don’t know the toxicity of it.”-Kim Zander, Police Chief Inspector

For the second day a huge oil fire is raging in Wingfield, South Australia, Australia.  It’s a waste oil depot, and the city of Adelaide is being covered with toxic smoke.

More than 100 firefighters worked to control the fire. The fire is still raging but is contained.  Word is that it was an accident that started the fire.  Homes and businesses were evacuated.

The waste oil depot is owned by Mulhern Waste Oil, who recycles the waste petroleum oils for re-use.

In Brazil, Petroleo Brasileiro SA had shut down operation on their huge Alaska Star oil platform, after it tilted three degrees.

The platform is located over Brazil’s 7th largest underwater oil & gas field (the Albacora field).  Petroleo Brasileiro SA is the world’s largest deep water petroleum producer.

The Alaska Star platform is being operated by a contractor.  The platform was stabilized after a leak of “drilling fluid” was stopped.

Speaking of Brazil, Chevron is hopeful they will be allowed to resume operations, after the government shut them down because of a huge oil spill last year.

However, Chevron has to convince Brazilian inspectors first: “We are not convinced that Chevron has identified the causes of the accident and that the risks have been mitigated to the satisfaction of Brazilian society.”-Magda Chambriard, ANP

In 2011, 2,400 to 3,000 barrels spilled in the Frade field northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil fined Chevron $28 million.  Brazilian officials accused Chevron of trying to hide up the spill: “We believe the accident could’ve been avoided. There was an environmental crime. They hid information and their emergency team took almost 10 days to start acting.”-Carlos Minc, Rio de Janeiro state’s environment secretary

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Corporate Crime: BizJet agrees to pay $11.8 million fine for bribing foreign officials. Mexico will now take BizJet to court

Oklahoma based BizJet settled with the U.S. Justice Department, regarding the bribing of Mexican and Panamanian officials.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice announcement, BizJet will co-operate with ongoing investigations. Germany’s Lufthansa is also named as BizJet’s “indirect parent company” and will also co-operate with the Justice Department.

It was Lufthansa who discovered, and reported the bribery taking place between BizJet and Mexican and Panamanian officials.  The bribes concerned maintaining government aircraft in both countries.  Bribes involved Mexico’s Federal Police, the Mexican President’s fleet, the air fleets for the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora, and Panama’s civil aviation authority.

Mexico’s Attorney General is now investigating the case as well.

 

 

 

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

Government Evil: Palestinians try to get around energy blockade by Israel, with solar panels. Now Israel will destroy them! UN says it’s part of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians!

“We are suspended between heaven and earth; the solar panels were a glimmer of hope for us.”-Ali Mohamed Ihrizat, the village head of Imenizil

Hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank will be without electricity, because the Israeli military plans on destroying their green solar panels.

The panels are located in the southern part of West Bank.  They were built with the help of international charities, but the Israelis don’t care: “Using the backing of international assistance does not give immunity to violations.”-Guy Inbar, Israeli Defense Forces

The Israelis have control of the area, known as Area C under the 1995 Oslo Accords.  They’ve been slowing forcing out the Palestinians and replacing then with Israelis: “The denial of permits for Palestinians on such a large scale raises the fear that there is a specific policy by the authorities to encourage a ‘silent transfer’ of the Palestinian population from Area C.”-Peace Now statement, an Israeli activist group

An unnamed source within the United Nations says this all part of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians: “From December 2010 to April 2011, we saw a systematic targeting of the water infrastructure in Hebron, Bethlehem and the Jordan valley. Now, in the last couple of months, they are targeting electricity. Two villages in the area have had their electrical poles demolished. There is this systematic effort by the civil administration targeting all Palestinian infrastructure in Hebron.”

And finally, which charities built the solar panels?  Why Israeli charities!!!

“The panels are not a security threat. It’s a positive project. What do they want? Do they want the people to be more poor? To be more violent?”-Noam Dotan, one of the Israelis who built the solar panels

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Government Evil: Obama lies about having the support of the International Community against Iran

Obama continues to say the International Community are united against Iran: “I think they should understand that because the international community has applied so many sanctions.”

What does Obama mean by THE International Community?  Lets count the number of countries currently imposing sanctions against Iran: United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Switzerland, many but not all members of the European Union and India.  That’s about 36 countries, and there are 193 countries in the United Nations.  So, Obama is in a fantasy land if he thinks the International Community is behind the warmongering of the United States!

By the way, not all those countries imposing sanctions are going along with the U.S. fully. For example: India has sanctioned products that are used in the nuclear industry, but they refuse to stop buying Iranian oil. In fact the just made a deal with Iran, in which they can buy Iranian oil with Indian gold!

Oh, and don’t forget that several British oil companies (like BP) got exempted from the oil sanctions against Iran!

The fact that the majority of the International Community is not behind the U.S. raises a question concerning this statement by Obama: “Tehran must understand that it cannot escape or evade the choice before it: Meet your international obligations or face the consequences.”

If Obama is saying that Iran has violated international rules put forth by the United Nations, well the United States is even more guilty of that!

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

World War 3: Obama says the U.S. will push for regime change in Syria and Iran, U.K. & U.S. military to be integrated!

U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, stated they will continue and increase efforts to effect regime change in Syria and Iran.

“….we’re gonna keep up the pressure with the strongest U.S. sanctions to date and the European Union preparing to impose an embargo on Iranian oil. Tehran must understand that it cannot escape or evade the choice before it: Meet your international obligations or face the consequences.”  “…we agreed to keep increasing the pressure on the regime [Syria], mobilizing the international community, tightening sanctions, cutting the regime’s revenues, isolating it politically, diplomatically and economically.”-Obama

Obama also announced that the United States and the evil Red Coats will merge military forces and military industries!!!

“Finally, I’m very pleased that we’re bringing our two militaries, the backbone of our alliance, even closer. As I told David, I can announce that next month we intend to start implementing our long awaited defense trade treaty with the U.K.”-Obama

David Cameron said the uniting of Britain (remember they’re the ones our founders fought against to get our freedom!) and the United States is based on “conviction” rather than “convenience”.

“…there are some countries whose alliance is a matter of convenience. But ours is a matter of conviction. Two states, as I said this morning, united for freedom and enterprise. Working together day-in day-out to defend those values and advance our shared interests.”-Cameron

History shows societies that are driven by ideology (“conviction”), rather than “convenience”, are the most dangerous!

Cameron repeated Obama’s statements on Syria and Iran.

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

Government/Corporate Evil: DARPA director joining Google, more proof that Google is spying on you, PRODIGAL to be civilianized?

“Regina is a technical pioneer who brought the future of technology to the military during her time at DARPA.  She will be a real asset to Google, and we are thrilled she is joining the team.”-Google statement

Regina Dugan is leaving the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for a new job at Google.

Dugan helped create all kinds of new weapons for the so called war on terror, including internet programs to spy on our own soldiers. In December 2011, it was revealed that DARPA will spend $9 million to spy on the emails of U.S. personnel!

It’s called Proactive Discovery of Insider Threats Using Graph Analysis and Learning, or PRODIGAL.

Isn’t it interesting that three months later one of the DARPA officials behind it is now going to work for Google?

And don’t forget Regina Dugan’s own company, RedXDefense.  It’s a company totally dependent on military contracts, and totally about control freakism.

 

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

Oil & Gas Prices: Despite glut of oil, U.S. demands Saudi Arabia increase oil output, sign of coming World War 3 in July? Iran says U.S. government has no concern for average consumer

“There were talks held between Saudi and the U.S., and the U.S. asked if Saudi could be accommodating once the sanctions take effect in July. And the Saudi response was that it was ready to meet demand in the market if required, but would not like to take part in the politics.”-unnamed Saudi Arabian official

The U.S. demand came at the current IEF meeting in Kuwait. It was at the beginning of that meeting that IEF officials confirmed there was a glut of oil on the markets.  So why would the U.S. demand Saudi Arabia increase oil production?

One clue comes from Edward Markey, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee: “If Iran won’t stop saber rattling, and the Saudis won’t eliminate Iran’s leverage by producing more oil, then it’s time to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to send these countries a message that the U.S. economy won’t be held hostage for months.”

But wait, I though the U.S. oil industry is being flooded with oil from Canada and the U.S. state of North Dakota? And why is there this talk of “months”, and “July”?

The European Union’s oil sanctions go into effect in July.  But that shouldn’t be too big of a deal, considering Iran has already stopped oil shipments to at least two European countries, and threatens to cut off more oil shipments.

Now, just one day after the U.S. made its demands on Saudi Arabia, the Saudis say they will comply: “…Saudi Arabia and others remain poised to make good any shortfalls, perceived or real, in crude oil supply.”-Ali al-Naimi, Oil Minister of Saudi Arabia

Notice he added “perceived or real”.  This means if the U.S. tells them there’s a shortage, even if there isn’t they’ll increase production. This is significant because just days before Saudi officials told Reuters’ reporters that they would increase oil production only if there was an true oil shortage!

Reuters reported that the West vs Iran tensions are getting little attention at the IEF meeting.  However, the Iranian representative indicated that the U.S. was using oil simply as a weapon, with no concern about how it affects the average person: “Unfortunately some big countries who are among the major energy consumers, view oil as one of the basic constituents in their military, security and political strategies and use it as a political tool against oil producing countries. Exerting unilateral economic constraints of political instigations is a threat, which jeopardizes free trade and continuity of oil supply in the world.”-Rostam Ghasemi, Oil Minister of Iran

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Corporate Evil: 12 year veteran of Goldman Sachs quits, confirms they are a bunch of Money Vampires & consider investors Puppets

“I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.”-Greg Smith, former Goldman Sachs executive director U.S. equity operations in Europe, Middle East & Africa

Greg Smith, a 12 year employee of Goldman Sachs quit in disgust. He witnessed first hand how these power hungry elites feel about their customers: “It makes me ill how callously people talk about ripping their clients off. Over the last 12 months I have seen five different managing directors refer to their own clients as ‘muppets,’ sometimes over internal e-mail.”

Smith lets the public in on current Goldman Sachs policies: “…a) Execute on the firm’s “axes,” which is Goldman-speak for persuading your clients to invest in the stocks or other products that we are trying to get rid of because they are not seen as having a lot of potential profit. b) “Hunt Elephants.” In English: get your clients – some of whom are sophisticated, and some of whom aren’t – to trade whatever will bring the biggest profit to Goldman. Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t like selling my clients a product that is wrong for them. c) Find yourself sitting in a seat where your job is to trade any illiquid, opaque product with a three-letter acronym.”

Smith also warns that things could get worse: “…the most common question I get from junior analysts about derivatives is, ‘How much money did we make off the client?’ It bothers me every time I hear it, because it is a clear reflection of what they are observing from their leaders about the way they should behave. Now project 10 years into the future: You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the junior analyst sitting quietly in the corner of the room hearing about ‘muppets,’ ‘ripping eyeballs out’ and ‘getting paid’ doesn’t exactly turn into a model citizen.”

Smith is calling on the Board of Directors to take action: “Weed out the morally bankrupt people, no matter how much money they make for the firm. And get the culture right again, so people want to work here for the right reasons. People who care only about making money will not sustain this firm…”

Concerning “morally bankrupt”, did you know the ‘christian’ CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, has nicknamed his job of ripping of people “God’s Work”!

Protestors attack Goldman Sachs

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Government/Corporate Incompetence: Nebraska could have suffered Nuclear disaster last year, workers jury rigging new parts, according to NRC

March 13, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission released a preliminary report on last year’s fire at the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant in Nebraska.  It shows corporate incompetence that could have led to disaster, if the plant hadn’t already been shut down.

The nuclear reactors had been shut down for maintenance, and were shut down longer than planned because of  flooding from the Missouri river.

The incompetence comes from a incorrectly installed electrical breaker panel, which began to smolder and eventually ignited.  The breaker panel was not designed for the existing switches, and was mickey moused to fit.  The result was that grease built up in the panel, overheated and caught fire.

There is more incompetence, in that the NRC learned that workers had noticed a burning smell coming from the panel at least three days before the fire broke out!

The NRC also discovered that the warning siren system for people living nearby is faulty, and there is no back up warning system in place!

This is proof that the greatest danger involving nuclear plants, are the corporations operating them!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan sanctions Iranian bank, move could backfire on Japan’s already disintigrating economy

On March 13, 2012, the Japanese government imposed sanctions against another Iranian bank, the 21st since last year.

It’s called Bank Tejarat, and is the third largest in Iran.  There’s just one problem, most of the deals involve Iranians buying Japanese products, not the other way round!

In 2011 Iranians bought U.S.$1.65 billion worth of Japanese industrial products. The majority of those transactions went through Bank Tejarat.  What this means is that in the name of trying to maintain good relations with the United States (after announcing $10 billion deal to dump U.S. bonds for Chinese) the leaders of Japan have possibly destroyed any chances of economic recovery.

As usual Japanese leaders are masters of understatement: “There may be a slight impact, but we believe that it is now most important to carry out international cooperation.”-Koichiro Gemba, Foreign Minister of Japan