Tag Archives: economy

International, U.S.

Chinese dumping wheels on the U.S. Market

The U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce are investigating claims by U.S. companies, that China is dumping steel wheels on the U.S. market.

The claim was filed by the U.S. wheel makers, Accuride Corp and Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.

16 Chinese companies are being investigated for selling their wheels in the United States, for far less than what it cost to make them.  Dumping is a way a company can gain a foot hold in a specific market, by selling their products at huge loses, to push out their competitors. Once that is done the dumping company will increase their prices to make up the difference.

Fukushima

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Nuke disasters, now Typhoons!

Japan has gone through a lot in the past month.  But typhoon season is on it’s way.  Nishiyama Hidehiko, of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, said nuke plant operators are now preparing for typhoon season.

They believe preparations will be complete by the end of the month.  Officials say the nuke plants are designed to withstand a typhoon, but isn’t that what they said about earthquakes and tsunamis?

Another factor is that some of those nuclear plants have been damaged by the 11 March, 9.0 quake and tsunami.  Wouldn’t that comprise their strength?  Even this morning, 22 April, Fukushima Daiichi was hit by yet another aftershock, 5.6 magnitude.

Fukushima Daiichi is right on the coast, and Tokyo Electric doesn’t think they can get the plant stabilized enough for a cold shut down for at least six to nine months. The Typhoon season is here, now.  Typhoons start hitting Japan as early as May, and the season peaks in September.

 

Fukushima, U.S.

Two U.S. Nuke Plants shut down, one for no apparent reason

At least two nuclear plants in the United States have been automatically shut down this week.  A nuclear plant in Virgina, and a nuclear plant in Georgia.

In Surry, Virginia, a nuke plant was hit by tornadoes.  It shut down automatically, and is now undergoing repairs to its electrical switchyard.

A nuke plant in Georgia automatically shut down, for no reason.  The plant remains off line while an investigation continues to find out why the automatic systems shut it down.  The plant is near Waynesboro, Georgia.

Fukushima

Radiation Evacuation Zone expanded!

Not only has the Japanese government made it a legal offense to enter the evacuation zone around Fukushima Daiichi, they have expanded the zone as well.

Because of high radiation build up, towns outside the original 20km (12.4miles) zone will be evacuated.  The towns are Katsurao, Namie, Iitate and some areas of Kawamata and Minamisoma.  Residents have until the end of May to leave.

Fukushima

Fukushima says No to TEPCo!

The prefectural government of Fukushima said no to allowing Tokyo Electric Power Company to resume any nuke plant operations.  ”A resumption of plant operations must be impossible.”-Sato Yuhei, Fukushima Governor

Governor Sato made the statement after a 15 minute meeting with TEPCo president Shimizu Masataka.  TEPCo had tried to meet with the state government of Fukushima twice before, and was unofficially told to take a hike both times.  This time Fukushima officials made it official.  They told TEPCo there is no way they will allow them to resume any nuclear power functions at the damaged Fukusima Daiichi plant.

Business/Economics, International

Booming economy in Argentina creates more homelessness

The United Nations released a study which shows that violent evictions in Argentina has increased, despite a booming economy.  The reason is inflation.  Along with a good economy comes inflation, and the cost of housing is leaving thousands of people in Argentina with nowhere to live.

Most of the evictions are from what’s called “informal” housing.  The UN reported that despite Argentina’s attempts to balance the housing issue, demand for “formal” housing still outpaces supply.  This is keeping “formal” housing costs too high for the lower income earners, who turn to “informal” (illegal) forms of housing.

 

Fukushima

TEPCo lays off employees inorder to pay for Nuke plant damages

Tokyo Electric Power Company says it must cut wages and salaries in order to meet expected compensation payments due to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.

Wages would be cut by 5%, with bonuses cut in half.  Salaries will be cut by 20%. TEPCo will also reduce the number of employees by 100 each year, for the next five years.

 

Fukushima

Radiation into Pacific Ocean 20,000 times safe limits

Tokyo Electric Power Company has given an estimate on the amount of radiation spilled into the Pacific Ocean, during the first week of April: 4,700 terabecquerels, 20,000 times the safe limits for an entire year!  Contaminated water is still getting into the ocean.

Radioactive iodine levels on 02 April 2011, were 7.5 million times safe limits.  As of 19 April, iodine levels had dropped to 1,700 times the safe limits.

 

 

Fukushima

Food Crisis: Half million livestock starving to death in Japan!

In another blow to world food supply issues, the nuclear disaster in Japan is making things worse.

Officials say that many livestock left behind in the 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, have starved to death!  There were about 30,000 pigs, about 600,000 chickens and about 3,000 cattle the evacuation zone, but the Fukushima Prefectural government believes most have died.

Farmers are demanding that someone go in and humanely put down the remaining livestock, rather than have them starve to death.  YouTube video shows many cows starving to death.  The farmers fear that their animals are too contaminated with radiation, to try saving.

JAPANESE BREAK INTO 20KM EVACUATION ZONE TO BRING YOU VIDEO OF LIVESTOCK & PETS LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES!