Tag Archives: economy

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? British Prime Minister claims 0.2% GDP is positive growth

The United Kingdom is reporting 0.2% GDP for the last quarter, many officials calling it a sign of economic “growth”.  Prime Minister David Cameron calls it “positive news” for the U.K.

0.2% is not “growth”!  It’s stagnation!  Anything from zero to 3% is stagnation.  The U.S. and U.K. mainstream media, and politicians, keep trying to trick people into thinking that proof of economic stagnation is really economic “growth”.

A country needs to see more than 3% GDP (over so many quarters) before it can be called “growth”.   If David Cameron thinks 0.2% is so great then we’re really in trouble!

Fukushima

Corporate Incompetence: TEPCo still doesn’t trust their radiation contamination numbers, 1 Billion Becquerels per hour!!!

As more proof of massive contamination of Japan is revealed by contaminated animals and waste sludge, Tokyo Electric Power Company announced they will start using a new way of monitoring radiation in the air coming out of Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant.

Apparently TEPCo has never trusted their own measurements of airborne radiation coming out of the Fukushima reactors.  Maybe they just can’t believe the high readings they’re getting?  TEPCo’s own measurements show that up to one billion becquerels of radioactive substances are being released every hour!!!  That’s measured from outside reactors 1, 2 and 3.  Now TEPCo will take air samples from inside the reactor buildings.

They will set up an air circulation system that pipes air to monitors on the first floor of every reactor building.  Isn’t the spreading, and increasing cesium contamination throughout Japan enough proof for these guys?

 

Fukushima

Japanese Nuclear Holocaust: Cesium levels skyrocketing, one city alone has 89,000 Becquerels of contamination!

Back in May I posted how “mysterious” levels of radiation were showing up all over Japan, in sewage treatment centers, and trash burning centers.  The situation has gotten incredibly worse, and is clear evidence that Fukushima Daiichi is spewing massive amounts of cesium.

All over Japan water treatment centers, and trash burning centers, are reporting that their waste sludge continues to be contaminated with cesium.  Not only that, but the levels are so high that they can not legally dispose of it.

At least 50,000 tons of waste sludge is contaminated with cesium, and 1,500 tons are so contaminated that it can’t be touched.  Those 1,500 tons contain at least 8,000 becquerels per kilogram of cesium.

But that’s not all.  A water treatment center in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, has 89,697 becquerels per kilogram of cesium in its waste sludge.  Remember the national safe limit for food is 500.

This is proof the damaged nuclear plant is spewing far more radiation that what people are being told.

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: More cesium cattle bans, 12 Prefectures asked to step up testing of cattle!

The government of Japan has already banned beef shipments from Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures.  Now Iwate Prefecture is being considered for such a ban after cows there have been found contaminated with cesium.

At least 12 prefectures are voluntarily checking their own cows.  The national government is says it will cover the cost of the testing.  It is now believed that at least 3,000 contaminated cows made it to consumer markets.

It is becoming very clear that the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been, and still is, spreading massive amounts of cesium across Japan.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Property owners put U.S. land up for auction in China, offers immigrant applications to high bidders

According to the Chinese media, 73 Chinese have won internet auctions for land in Florida.

United Solutions of America auctioned off land belonging to a bankrupt company in Florida.  The auction specifically targeted Chinese buyers, as it was a Chinese auction host, Zhuang Nuo, who ran the auction.

1,000 square kilometers of land was split into 100 sections.  Bidders were also enticed with 30 immigration applications if the total bids went over $200,000.

All 100 sections sold on July 22.  73 Chinese won the auctions, with one of them snatching up 20 of the 100 sections.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Nissan boosting production…in China

Nissan is going to invest $7.7 billion into the world’s largest car market…no not the United States…China!

Nissan entered into a joint venture with China’s Dongfeng Motor, and together they’re investing billions to boost car production in China.  They expect to produce 2.3 million vehicles per year by 2015.

Nissan’s U.S. sales mirror that of Toyota, up at the beginning of the year, but down by the end of May.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Toyota doubles production…in India

Toyota announced that demand is up so much that they’re doubling production…in India.

Toyota will invest $220 million into its Indian operations, with the goal of increasing production to 310,000 vehicles per year by 2013.  Toyota added that it’s all types of vehicles that are enjoying increased demands, from economy cars to SUVs and mini vans.

India is one of the fastest growing car markets, last year overall sales grew by 34%.  Toyota admitted that it does not expect high sales in Japan, and sales in the U.S. are not good.

For the United States Toyota has reported some confusing sales numbers.  At the beginning of 2011 they reported an increase in sales, yet as of the end of May, Toyota says U.S. sales dropped by 27.9%.  That’s based on “daily sales rate (DSR) basis”, when you look at their raw volume it gets worse, sales down 33.4%.

How about Toyota’s divisions?  Lexus reported a drop of 46.3%, and TMS Hybrids sales dropped 49.2%.

Of course Toyota officials blame the March 11 disasters in Japan for causing part of the sales decrease, by interrupting the production of  parts.  But, I remember reading an article that said there were already dockyards full of Toyotas, both in Japan and the U.S., because there was a lack of orders from U.S. dealers.

 

 

Fukushima

Second Japanese Prefecture ordered to stop shipments of cattle due to cesium contamination!

Last week the national government of Japan ordered all cattle shipments from Fukushima Prefecture halted, now they have done the same with cattle from Miyagi Prefecture.

It turns out that the majority of cesium contaminated beef came from Miyagi Prefecture. The cows were fed hay contaminated with thousands of becquerels of cesium.  The national safe limit is 500.

In another sign that radiation is spreading across Japan, officials say the contaminated cows did not come from specific areas within the prefectures, but from all over.

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Idaho to see local Post Offices shut down

The United States Postal Service released a list of nearly 3,700 post offices that could be shut down.  Many post offices in Idaho are on the list.

The list of cities where post offices could be shut down are: Ahsahka, Almo, Arbon, Avery, Boise, Calder, Chester, Clayton, Desmet, Ellis, Geneva, Hamer, Harvard, Howe, Monteview, Moscow, Ola, Parker, Pocatello, Swanlake, Tensed, Weston and Yellow Pine.

The USPS says it will also consider replacing some of the post offices with “Village Post Offices”.  These would be contracted offices run by existing local businesses.

The United States Postal Service does not make money off taxpayers, they are solely funded by the postage they charge, and other products they sell.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

If you want a good credit rating, don’t live in Idaho. Where you live now affects your credit score

Credit scoring companies are getting so nit picky that now they judge you based on where you live.

CardRatings.com now considers the state you live in as part of your credit score.  One of the states that can make your rating go down is Idaho.  Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com, says Idaho scores low because of high unemployment and high bankruptcy/foreclosure rates.

A low credit score for your state doesn’t just affect your rating, but the credit ratings of your local banks.  This makes it harder for local financial institutions to get major loans from national banks, which in turn makes it harder for them to issue local loans.

Which state can make your credit score go up the most?  Oil rich North Dakota.