Tag Archives: europe

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Economic powerhouse Germany sees surprise drop in factory orders, recession certain!

“…a catastrophe and very bad news….We have a huge problem in the rest of the euro area that now seems to be reaching Germany and its labor market. For the coming quarters, the economic outlook is quite gloomy.”-Thomas Harjes, economist at Barclays

On 06 November 2012, Deutsche Bundesbank revealed that there is no let up in the dropping factory orders for German companies.  September had a 4.7% drop, October saw a 4.6% drop, from the year before.

From October to September (month to month) there was a 3.3% drop, which was much more than analysts had expected.

Factory orders from European Union (EU) customers (Euro-area orders) make up the biggest part of the drop, followed by orders outside the EU (export orders): “The weak economic environment in the euro area and in the broader global economy is having a bigger impact on demand for German industrial goods. Therefore industrial production may weaken further in the months to come.”-Statement from Germany’s Economy Ministry

Germany is considered the economic powerhouse of the European Union.  Almost a month ago the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, said: “The German economy continues to be in robust shape….”

Now one analyst says Germany “…is unlikely to be spared from a technical recession.”-Annalisa Piazza, New Edge

Christian Ott, an investment bank economist said: “…the [German] resilience has come to an end…”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government & Corporate Incompetence, World War 3 & What Economic Recovery? United States not even part the top ten most prosperous countries! War on Terror makes the U.S. insecure!

According to the Legatum Institute, the United States not only is not the most prosperous country anymore, it’s not even in the top ten!

The United States was considered the 10th most prosperous last year, but in 2012 the U.S. is now ranked 12th overall!

The Legatum Institute ranks 142 nations in eight sub-indexes: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom and social capital.

According to their 2012 Prosperity Index, the U.S. now ranks 2nd in health, 5th in education, 10th in governance, 10th in social capital, 12th in entrepreneurship and opportunity, 14th in personal freedom, 20th in economy, and despite more than a decade of War on Terror 27th in safety and security (seems the war has actually made the U.S. more unsafe)!

The top 10 most prosperous countries are: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland.  (notice that most of these are in Europe where the economy is supposed to be worse than the U.S., many of these countries have strong labor unions and more worker rights than the U.S.)

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 26 – 29 October 2012. Mujahideen continue steady attacks across the country! ISAF says they will not protect Afghan borders! Bin Laden & Taliban supporters to mediate peace talks! U.S. agents detain Pakistani official in Canada!

29 October 2012

In Wardak Province, Mujahideen ambushed U.S. and Afghan National Army troops.  The U.S. and ANA personnel were conducting assessments of local police checkpoints.  They were attacked with assault rifles and RPGs.  U.S. officials claim they killed three Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, at least two ANA soldiers were killed (some reports say four) when the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine.

Despite the fact that U.S. officials continue to claim we are there to provide security to Afghanistan, ISAF officials said they are not there to protect Afghanistan’s borders: “In the first Bonn conference in December 2001 there was a proposal of the Afghan delegation to include the protection of the border of Afghanistan in one of the annexes. Actually this annex was part of the Bonn proposal however, this annex never made it into our mandate that we received from the United Nations.”-Brigadier General Günter Katz, International Security Assistance Force

The Afghan High Peace Council revealed that Saudi Arabia will mediate peace talks between Mujahideen and the Afghan government.  It must be remembered that it was Saudi Arabia that supported Osama bin Laden and, along with Pakistan, eventually supported the creation of the Taliban (“Students”) political party.  Saudi Arabia also officially recognized the Taliban government.  Analysts say this time the Saudi’s are concerned about blowback: “Saudi Arabia is in a situation to support the Afghan peace talks not only because of the moral stance of Saudi in this regard but also they should consider the post 2014 situation in Afghanistan which will threaten the national security of Saudi Arabia if necessary steps have not been taken to eliminate insurgency in South Asia.”-Nasrullah Stanekzai

Saudi Arabia is also spending $100 million USD to build a huge Mosque/madrasa in Afghanistan.  They claim it will house 5,000 university aged students.

In Ghazni Province, five people were killed and four detained by U.S./ANA forces.  Officials claim they were all Mujahideen, but locals say at least one civilian man and one civilian woman were killed.  Officials say the U.S./ANA operation started Sunday night and continued until Monday morning.

Afghan elected official, Ramazan Bashar Doost, said that while the U.S. is offering a $25 million reward for the arrest of Mullah Omar, the U.S. has been in contact with Mulla Omar the whole time!   Doost also says the U.S. is actually funding not only Pakistan’s ISI, but Afghan Mujahideen groups as well.

28 October 2012

In Canada, Pakistani elected official, Imran Khan, was detained by U.S. agents: “I was taken off from plane and interrogated by U.S. Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop!”-Imran Khan

Imran Khan is also the Pakistani official who said war in Afghanistan was justified Jihad.  Khan was on his way to New York anyway, so why couldn’t the U.S. wait until he arrived there?

Afghan intelligence, aka National Directorate of Security (NDS), told Pakistani officials that the man they claim is behind the shooting of a teenaged Pakistani girl is not in Afghanistan.

27 October 2012

In Ghor Province, local government officials say 13 people were kidnapped.  However, police say they do not know who did the kidnapping, and they don’t know the identities of those kidnapped!

The British Red Coat Ministry of Defence said the deaths of one Royal Marine and one Royal Army medic was not the result of fratricide (Blue on Blue).  However, the two Red Coats died (as well as a Afghan National Policeman performing Muslim prayers) after two British patrols fired on each other.  The MoD stated: “…the deaths of Corporal O’Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not U.K. personnel.”

An investigative reporter says Green on Blue attacks are not caused by insurgents, but by the way U.S./NATO personnel treat Afghans: “These attacks are motivated by grudges, by people who are unhappy with the people they are coming in contact with in the U.S. and NATO military forces, but also by the broader context of what they hear and see these forces are doing in Afghanistan specifically for example breaking into people’s homes and taking away the males in these homes and detaining them.”-Gareth Porter

26 October 2012

In Ghazni Province, the bodies of six people were found on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. They had been shot. Police believe the victims were traveling to see relatives for the Eid holiday.

The Wall Street Journal said Afghan sources claim Iran has infiltrated Afghanistan through charity organizations.  Sources claim Iran can now muster up to 20,000 Afghans at one time for militant activities, making Iran a greater threat than Pakistan.

In Farah Province, an NDS agent was attacked by Mujahideen. Several people were wounded and the a gunman was arrested. No info on what happened to the  NDS agent.

ISAF said:  “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan today.”

In Faryab Province, a suicide bombing killed at least 40 people, and wounded 50.  It appears the Provincial governor and local police chief were the targets. It happened at a Mosque.  President Hamid Karzai said the attacks made against Muslims while they are praying in Mosques are not being made by Muslims, suggesting the attacks are really being instigated by non-Muslims (like non-Muslims from the United States or Europe).

Recently the grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia declared that suicide attacks by Muslims against Muslims was unforgivable.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Germany says economy worse than they thought! Greece tells IMF they can not make anymore compromises! IMF pushes for U.S. consolidation, code for even more drastic deleveraging! Oil prices to crash!

“We are talking about the things that still need to be solved and here it became clear that the global economy’s risks are very evident, as is clearly stated in the communiqué. The economic growth outlooks are not as good as we would hope.”-Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

The German leader made the statement on 30 October 2012, after reading a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The IMF boss, Christine Lagarde, admitted that economic growth will be pathetic: “I would characterize the situation as that of a laborious recovery out of the financial crisis through some degree of stabilization by way of tepid growth.” 

The IMF also pushed developed economies to further consolidate their fiscal policies. This is another way of saying government deleveraging (typically in the form of austerity) should be increased.

(deleveraging began for individuals and small businesses with the 2008 Credit Crisis/Crunch. It’s one of the causes behind all the Sears & Kmart store closings in the U.S.)

The IMF is specifically targeting the United States, saying the U.S. needs a credible fiscal consolidation plan, implemented “at an appropriate pace” in order to stabilize a “fragile” world economy.

Just two days ago, the IMF, along with European lenders, told Greece that they could not provide anymore financing unless more drastic changes were made, such as drastic changes in Greece’s labor/wage laws.  The Greek coalition government is showing signs that it would rather default than make anymore compromises.

The paradox is that while world economic organizations want increased deleveraging of individuals, small businesses and governments, they also want employment to somehow increase and people to somehow spend more money buying stuff they don’t need (domestic consumption)!

And it’s not just developed countries being told to axe their government spending, even oil rich Arab countries are being told to do the same: “A rapid deterioration in the global economy could bring about developments similar to what the region experienced in 2009, including a sharp fall in oil prices and disruptions to capital flows.”-IMF

The IMF explained that as the world economy worsens, demand for oil is going to drop to such lows that the the six Gulf Cooperation Council economies of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain could experience an economic crash.

The IMF projects that the price of oil could drop by $30 USD per barrel in 2013, and continue dropping!  This might sound like good news, but it’s because people won’t have the money to buy it at any price!

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Too Big to Fail bank revises planned layoffs, upward by the thousands!

30 October 2012, Swiss banking giant, UBS, announced a major change in its plans to cut employees; they now want to layoff 10,000 workers worldwide!

Last year UBS announced they would layoff 3,000 employees, but because the too big to fail bank has been losing money from its investment operations, they’ve now upped it to 10,000.

UBS employees in Stamford, in the U.S. state of Connecticut, will make up the majority of those laid off.

Of course (and more proof that unAmerican Corporate America/Europe is behind the economic disaster) stock investors loved the announcement, and drove up UBS stock prices in European stock markets with frenzied buying (I’m sure the same thing would be happening on Wall Street if it wasn’t for the hurricane).

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 22 – 25 October 2012. Cops kill U.S. troops! Australian & Italian soldiers killed! Wives killing husbands! Red Coats killing Red Coats! U.S. supports British created Pakistani border!

25 October 2012

In Faryab Province, a major battle broke out. Afghan government officials claim they killed 25 Mujahideen, and five Afghan National Police troops were killed.

In Farah Province, one Italian soldier was killed, three wounded, after someone open fired on them.  No one knows who did it.

In Uruzgan Province, two U.S. personnel were killed by an Afghan National Policeman:“Two U.S. Forces -Afghanistan service members died after an individual wearing an Afghan National Police uniform turned his weapon against them in Khas Uruzgan, Uruzgan.”-ISAF statement

Also, in the same province, there are reports that an Afghan National Army soldier killed one Australian Digger, and wounded another.  The shooting took place inside a military compound, the ANA soldier got away.

In Helmand Province, two British Royal Marines Red Coats died.  They had been wounded in a firefight in Nahr-e Saraj district the day before.

In Baghlan Province, reports say various police units attacked each other.  Three cops were killed.  Local government officials say the fight broke out after national police ignored warnings from local police.

In Herat Province, a local cop was killed by his wife, and his daughter.  His wife confessed and said he was forcing her and her daughter to commit illicit acts.  The cop just happened to be the boss of the local girls’ hostel.

24 October 2012

In Helmand Province, a confused battle resulted in British Red Coats killing Afghan government forces, and themselves!  According to local government officials two joint Afghan-British patrols, in the Greshk district, mistook each other as Mujahideen: “A group of British troops opened fire on an Afghan national police [who was about to perform Muslim prayers] and killed him. [those] British troops were then attacked by a group of other British soldiers who were also patrolling in the area, killing two service members.”-Farid Ahmad Farhang, Helmand security official

In Farah Province, a district official and a cop were assassinated by explosion.  Two bodyguards were wounded. The official was performing night inspections of security check points.

Spanish officials announced that they will pull their troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2013.

23 October 2012

ISAF said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, James Cunningham, confirmed statements that said the United States supports the British empire created border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Known as the Durand Line, the British took land away from Afghanistan in order to create a buffer zone between Afghanistan and British controlled India in 1893.  Latter the British kept that area as part of the new Pakistan in 1947.  Afghan officials have refused to recognize the Durand Line: “The status of the Durand Line is a matter of historic importance for the Afghan people. The Afghan government therefore rejects and considers irrelevant any statement by anyone about the legal status of this line.”-recent Afghan government statement

USMC General John R. Allen admits U.S. forces are killing children, and tried to make up for it by apologizing: “ISAF has completed its initial assessment of the circumstances of the October 20 operation against known insurgents in Baraki Barak district, Logar province. In addition to the insurgents killed during the operation, ISAF may be responsible for the unintended, but nonetheless tragic, death of three Afghan civilians.  I offer my sincerest condolences to the families of the civilians that were killed. Additionally, I am committed to ensuring we do the right thing for the families of those harmed and we will meet with them personally to offer a condolence payment and express our deep regrets. Protecting Afghan civilians is the cornerstone of our mission. We maintain our commitment to take all appropriate actions to minimize the likelihood of similar occurrences in the future as we assist the Afghan people in their battle against the enemies of peace and stability.”

Allen mentions 20 October, but there were also U.S. killings of innocents on 14 & 16 October.

In Zabul Province, Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, claims U.S./NATO forces kidnapped three civilians.  Karzai ordered the provincial governor to investigate U.S./NATO forces, he also condemned the 20 October U.S. attack that killed children.

In Nuristan Province, local government officials say a battle is taking place with Afghan government forces and Mujahideen.  Several people have been killed including one child.

In Herat Province, local government officials say a large battle resulted in the deaths of as many as 10 cops and soldiers. Several more cops are missing.  Their joint patrol was ambushed by Mujahideen.   The police/army patrol was out trying to rescue aid workers who had also been ambushed.

In Laghman Province, a U.S./NATO patrol was ambushed. The ambush took place as the vehicle patrol passed through Basram village.  Mujahideen claim they hit one armored vehicle with RPGs, killing all on board.

British Red Coat Ministry of Defence announced they are doubling the number of their assassination drones in Afghanistan.  They will bring in five more Reaper drones, specifically for use in Helmand Province.

22 October 2012

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen claim to have killed five U.S./NATO personnel.

In Wardak and Kandahar provinces, at least eight people were killed by U.S./NATO airstrikes.

In Khost Province, two cops were killed, four wounded, by explosion.

Pakistan claims Afghanistan is hiding the mastermind behind the attempted assassination of a 14 years old Pakistani girl activist.

Protestors blocked the Kandahar-Kabul highway in the city of Qalat.  They are protesting the fact that Afghans killed while in the custody of U.S./NATO forces are rarely being returned to their families.  In one recent case, three people killed by U.S./NATO forces, and then buried by their families, had their graves blown up by U.S./NATO forces.

ISAF announced: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan October 21.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic war & World War 3: Iran orders the United States to back off! Will stop all oil sales to the World!

“If you continue to add to the sanctions we will cut our oil exports to the world…..The dearth of Iranian oil on the market will increase the price drastically.”-Rostam Qasemi, Iran’s Minister of Petroleum

On 23 October 2012, Iranian officials quietly announced that Iran is prepared to stop all its oil sales to the world, if the United States and Europe continue economic sanctions.

On 15 October, the European Union voted for more sanctions against Iran.

Iranian officials say they are ready for “Plan B”, which means halting all petroleum sales and running their country without oil revenues.  This is possible because Iran’s non-oil exports are now high enough to offset the huge loss of oil money.

Even Iran’s domestic industries are becoming more self sufficient.  Example: According to the World Steel Association, Iran’s steel industry is now the 16th largest in the world: “Despite the intensified sanctions during the last two years, the capacity of Iran’s steel production has increased 5 million tons and we will be completely self-sufficient in the steel industry in the next three years.”-Hamidreza Taherizadeh, Vice-President of Iran’s Steel Association

The announcement was made at a OPEC meeting in Dubai.

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

What Economic Recovery? Dow Chemical to close 20 factories, despite making profits! Warns economy is getting worse!

“Economic growth in 2012 has slowed to a trickle, and that has spooked a lot of people.”-Jake Dollarhide, Longbow Asset Management

“Our low cost feedstock [natural gas] advantage enabled us to deliver volume growth, despite weakening demand. These difficult conditions [bad economy] may have extended staying power, as the new reality is that we are operating in a slow growth and volatile world.”-Andrew Liveris, Dow Chemical CEO

On 24 October 2012, Liveris explained the 2,400 job cuts (inadvertently announced the day before) as being necessary because Dow officials see the world economy getting worse.

Some analysts were surprised by the elimination of jobs and 20 factories: “Dow had very strong volumes in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. When I heard the announcement they were cutting jobs, I thought they had a really bad quarter, but it seems that business is A-OK.”-Hassan Ahmed, Alembic Global Advisors

Stock market investors are overjoyed at the announcement of the elimination of jobs (as they always are), and Dow Chemical stock values shot up 5 to 6% the morning after the job cuts were announced.

Dow reported net revenue for this past quarter at $582 million USD.  But that’s down from the same quarter last year, when they reported $900 million. (note: various U.S. media sources are reporting slightly different revenue numbers) Dow officials say their sales are down across the board.  The only area they see possible increase in sales is in their plastics made from cheap natural gas.

Their natural gas supplies come from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico operations, and Saudi Arabia.  Dow has no plans for cutting workers from those operations. About 1,500 of the job losses will come from Dow’s paint and solar cell factories.

20 factories in Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and the United States will be closed.  Bloomberg reports that Dow did not want to make the layoffs public, but mistakenly emailed the announcement to some media outlets!

Despite stock investors buying up Dow stock, the chemical company said it will also cut $500 million from their own investing and capital spending.   That’s the exact opposite of what U.S. President Barack Obama has been saying is needed to revive the economy.  Obama has been stressing that unAmerican Corporate America needs to increase spending on investments and capital.

 

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

Global Food Crisis & What Economic Recovery? Crops being destroyed by weather, disease and plagues of Red Squirrels! Crop prices going up, good for Idaho farmers with crops to sell, bad for you at the grocery store check out! Is it all smoke & mirrors bull shit?

17 October 2012,  despite reports indicating crop destruction worldwide, and within the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports (in their newly released October 2012 report) that overall crop production in the United States is way up (if you throw out corn & soybeans).

A major indicator of crop destruction is the announcement by Farm Credit Service of America (FCSA) that insurance payouts, to U.S. farmers who’ve lost crops, will be at least $25 billion USD, but could hit $40 billion for 2012.

FCSA blames the insurance claims for most of the U.S. crop losses on drought.  Even the USDA reported that the entire state of South Dakota is suffering severe to exceptional drought.  South Dakota farmers, alone, have filed more $149 million in insurance claims.

Some states are now experiencing corn crop destruction because of early freezing temps.  So, in states like Arkansas and Kentucky, not only have drought and cold weather hurt corn production, but the October/Halloween corn mazes aren’t happening because the stalks are too short. The result is that revenue from agritourism is going down (the USDA does agritourism surveys every five years, the last one in 2007).

It’s so bad that corn crops from the Midwestern states are considered destroyed (U.S. corn production is at its lowest point since 1995).  The result is corn prices are soaring.  By 15 October, corn commodity prices increased 5% at the Chicago board of trade.

Last year U.S. corn prices averaged $6.22 per bushel, this year the average is now $7.80!  Some analysts say it’ll hit $8.25 before the end of the year.

The U.S. corn crop destruction is part of a worldwide decline in corn crops. Currently international corn stockpiles are 14 million metric tons below what was expected!  (keep that in mind; “what was expected”, research UN data and you’ll learn that there’s still a lot of corn out there)

Apples are down as well. My own apple tree (here in Idaho), as well as my neighbors’ apple trees, have produce only a fraction of what they normally put out.  In the state of Michigan apple farmers are reporting the same thing, saying their trees produced only 10% of normal output!  An apple farmer in Michigan reports his agritourism revenues way down at his U-Pick apple farm.

In Indiana, apple farmers report getting only 25% of their normal apple harvest.  The Washington Growers Clearing House reports that apple commodity prices are 13% higher than last year.  But that’s good news for Washington state apple farmers; they’re reporting a record harvest.

Even with their record harvest, apple growers in Washington can not make up for crop loses in the rest of the U.S.  As a result, with the high commodity prices for apples, Washington apple farmers could see a record $7 billion in revenue for 2012!  By the way, if your willing to pick apples reports say Washington apple farmers are unable to fill 700 apple picking jobs.

Why the decrease in apples in the rest of the country?  Some states are blaming earlier than normal freezing temps, but several states are reporting a plague of red squirrels.  In Vermont some apple farmers report the squirrels ate half their crop.  In South Carolina, squirrels are blamed for killing more than 100 apple trees.

While biologists suggest that warmer than normal temps caused an increase in squirrel populations (causing an increase in food sources), they admit no one could have predicted this year’s huge numbers of squirrels.  The squirrels are now devouring apples because their normal food source, acorns and beechnuts, are way down this year.

Around the world, in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Korea (north), India, Pakistan, and in African countries, crops have been destroyed by drought, or other extreme weather events like flooding.

In Japan, domestic agriculture has not only been affected by weather but by the ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi.

In Afghanistan, farmers report hundreds of acres of crops destroyed by disease.

In Zimbabwe, farmers who couldn’t pay their electric bills had the power cut off to their irrigation pumps.  A farmer said the power was cut without warning, even thought they tried to make payment arraignments with the utility company: “We admit we owe ZESA a debt of $3,000 but they should not have disconnected us without discussing our payment arrangements which we had submitted. The farmers were willing to settle their debts after harvesting their crop during the first week of November.”-Newton Gwetu

In India it’s not just weather, but animals.  Farmers are reporting that their crops are being destroyed by rampaging wild boars and elephants. Elephant rampages have been reported since August.

It’s not just elephants in India, but elephants in African countries are also rampaging.  In Tanzania, officials report elephants have destroyed villages and crops: “Up to now people are helpless and TANAPA [Tanzania National Park] rangers are just watching the destruction without taking any action.”-Jumanne Kwiro, Serengeti District Council

In Australia, the climate change is being blamed for driving feral pigs to eating farmers’ crops: “We’re seeing enterprises being destroyed, also pressure in grazing lands that we haven’t seen before. Going into drier seasons we’re really looking at grazing problems as well as destruction of crops.”-Rachel Pratt, Queensland’s AgForce

Australian ag officials are also concerned the exploding feral pig population will affect cattle: “Pigs carry diseases like bruscellosis, leptospirosis and paracites and also they can also carry potentially exotic diseases like foot and mouth.”-Ben Gardiner, Australian Veterinary Association

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) recently reported that corn and wheat crops in Central America are expected to continue their downward trend, averaging a loss of $120 million per year by 2020: “Even with our most conservative estimates, it’s clear that climate change could transform the agricultural landscape across Central America.”-Anton Eitzinger, CIAT

One activist said farmers need to be more adaptable to radical changes in climate: “Extension services across the region need to be reinvigorated to train small farmers in soil and water management. And governments need to lead, they have the ability to make a real difference through setting climate-smart agricultural policies.”-Paul Hicks, Catholic Relief Services

War can be blamed for crop destruction as well. Not just the obvious destruction by bombing and gunfire, but illegal Israeli settlers, in Palestinian territory, have been actively destroying Palestinian olive trees.  More than 500 Palestinian olive trees destroyed by illegal Israeli settlers, so far in 2012!

But what about crops that we don’t eat?  The clothes on your back could be threatened as well.  Cotton crops in Pakistan and India have been destroyed by recent floods.  However, Indian officials have stated that many cotton farms that survived the floods will actually produce bumper yields.  (also, cotton production in the U.S. is up, according to the October 2012 USDA report)

Again, those areas that are not suffering from crop destruction tend to be enjoying bumper crop yields, which means those farmers will also enjoy the higher revenue due to the higher commodity prices, created by speculators supposedly fearful of crop destruction.

While researching Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) I noticed that their most recent graph of global food production shows a steady increase, year after year.  Yet back in August, the UN actually asked the United States to stop bio-fuel production so those crops could be used for food!

The problem isn’t a lack of crops, the problem is the increasing cost to people who need to eat those crops.

There are several examples from the 1990s, such as U.S. rice rotting on Haitian docks because Haitians couldn’t afford to buy it, and African tomato farmers who left their crops to rot in the field because forced competition from Italian companies drove down tomato prices so low it wasn’t worth harvesting the fruits.

Is that what’s happening now, but on a global scale?  Is this what our leaders  mean by leveling the playing field of globalization?

I live in a state that is experiencing bumper crops: Idaho.

Idaho’s dry bean production is up 61% from 2011 (in fact bean production for the entire U.S. is expected to be 56% more than last year).  Despite bean production being so high, speculators are also keeping prices for beans high. Commodity prices for beans are currently about 40 cents per pound, some bean prices are down from last year but they’re still near record highs: “That’s still the best price I’ve ever got myself! I’m not going to complain.”-Dana Rasmussen, Idaho bean farmer

The USDA says Idaho’s canola production has doubled from last year (canola production is also up in Washington & Oregon).  Ag officials attribute this directly to higher commodity prices driven by speculators: “The number one  reason for this increase is there have been excellent and very competitive prices available for farmers.”-Jack Brown, University of Idaho

Idaho’s alfalfa production was down 7%, but that reflects those hay farmers who do not have irrigated fields.  Idaho hay farmers with irrigation actually saw bumper alfalfa yields: “I would say our yields were up a half to a ton per acre. It was a warm summer, and alfalfa loves heat and water.”– Will Ricks, Idaho Hay and Forage Association

Even though Idaho hay farmers with irrigation had bumper crops, the demand for those crops far exceeded supply: “Hay producers were getting calls from dairies in the Midwest. They were willing to pay $300 per ton plus shipping, but nobody had any hay to sell.”-Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho

Ag Officials from other states are lamenting just how much Idaho’s ag industry has grown: “Idaho has increased in just two years the equivalent of the entire state of Maine’s production. The July 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report showed Oregon at 41,000 acres, Colorado at 55,000, Michigan at 46,000, Minnesota at 51,000, Maine at 59,000, New York at 17,000 and Wisconsin at 63,000 acres.”-Bob Davis, Maine Farmers Exchange

What is Bob Davis talking about?  Idaho’s farming acreage has grown, in just two years, to 345,000.   That’s 13,000 more than Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New York and Wisconsin combined!!!

You might say Idaho’s ag industry is good for the economy, providing jobs for Idahoans.  But that ain’t so.  Most ag workers are migrants, and even though there’s a shortage of migrant workers many Idaho farmers complain that Idahoans aren’t willing to work for the peanuts they pay.

Idaho law states that farm workers must be paid minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour in Idaho), however, if a farm laborer is “contracted” that’s a different story: “When I first talked to the farmer about work, he told me that he would pay me $14 per acre. I worked nine hours every day for over a week, but the work was so hard I was only able to do three acres a day. On payday, my boss made up all kinds of excuses and ended up paying me just $11 per acre, which comes out to about $3.60 an hour…. I didn’t know what to do. I have two children to feed.”–Gloria Paniagua, Cassia County, Idaho

Being a contracted farm worker is similar to being on salary, a really bad salary.

According to a report by Idaho Community Action Network, and the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, the average wage earned by farm workers in Idaho is $5.97 per hour, working ten hours per day, six days per week.

So what’s the point of all this?  There is no food shortage!  Reports show that while there are massive crop losses, those farms still producing are producing record yields!  UN agencies (FAO) report record global ag production almost year after year!  Crony capitalist speculators (who’re probably working for the corporate farms) are driving up food prices, even when there is no shortage of the resources!  Farmers with crops to sell are making big money because of the increased commodity prices and because of the dirt wages they pay their workers!  Don’t forget to add in escalating transportation costs! The net result is everyone is going to pay unjustifiably more for their food at the grocery store or restaurant!

Did you get a pay raise?

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 05 – 08 October 2012. U.S. occupation results in increased rapes & ‘honor’ killing! Red Cross says U.S. mission a big FAIL! Report says U.S. puppet goverment will collaspe in 2014! U.S. now contradicts NATO!

08 October 2012

In Helmand Province, a car bomb exploded at a police station, killing two intelligence agents and wounding at least 15 people.

The christian based International Red Cross (IRC) said the U.S. occupation has made life worse for most Afghans: “I am filled with concern as I leave this country. Since I arrived here in 2006, local armed groups have proliferated, civilians have been caught between not just one but multiple front lines, and it has become increasingly difficult for ordinary Afghans to obtain health care. Hardship arising from the economic situation, or from severe weather or natural disaster, has become more widespread, and hope for the future has been steadily declining.”-Reto Stocker, former boss of IRC-Afghanistan

The Afghan Human Rights Commission (HRC) says that since the U.S. occupation began cases of rape and ‘honor’ killing have increased! Just in the first six months of 2012, at least 100 women and girls have been raped and/or killed: “Honor killings are mostly committed by the family members specifically the husbands of the women and majority of the rape victims are girls who are under 18 years of age…”-Suraya Sobrang, HRC-Afghanistan

Sobrang also made the bold accusation that some of the very ‘authorities’ supposedly trying to make Afghanistan a better place, are actually instigating the rapes and killings.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim Pakistan launched yet another round of artillery strikes against their province.  No casualties reported.

A report by Crisis Group, says the U.S. backed Afghan government “….could collapse upon NATO’s withdrawal in 2014.”  Seems to me this report is just what U.S./NATO needs to use as an excuse to stay.

In Nooristan Province, at least nine local government militiamen/security guards joined the Mujahideen.

In Paktia Province, two local government militiamen/security guards joined the Mujahideen.

07 October 2012

In Nangarhar Province, Mujahideen fired artillery rockets on Jalalabad airbase.

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen claim to have destroyed a U.S./NATO armored vehicle while it was refueling.

In Kandahar Province, four local police officers joined the Mujahideen.

Afghan religious leaders now offering a $300,000 USD reward for the killing of the producer of the U.S. made anti-Islam movie. They are also offering $100,000 for the killing of the French cartoonist who published anti-Islam comics.  One religious leader said he will sell all his land to help pay the reward.

06 October 2012

In Kunar Province, Mujahideen claim to have launched a assault on a major U.S./NATO base in Narang.

In Ghazni Province, two children of a local police officer were assassinated.

A British man died after being infected with a rare hemorrhagic fever.  The man caught Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever while in Afghanistan, he died after returning to United Kingdom.

International Security Assistance Force confirmed that two U.S. personnel were killed in Wardak Province. They were shot.

Afghan elected officials held closed door meetings with defense and intelligence bosses, to discuss how to retaliate against Pakistan.  The issue behind the supposed Pakistani artillery attacks is directly connected to the border.  When the British created Pakistan, at the end of the 1940s, they got Afghan leaders to agree to give up the eastern part of Afghanistan to help create the new Pakistan.  The new elected officials of Afghanistan refuse to recognize that agreement and want the land back.

The United States is now contradicting an earlier NATO report concerning Green on Blue attacks.  NATO had said it was due to disrespect and mistreatment of Afghan troops by U.S./NATO troops. Now, in line with the Afghan puppet government, the U.S. is blaming Pakistani Haqqani Network!

In Kandahar Province, local government officials say a night time U.S. led airstrike killed five people.  Also, Mujahideen claim to have attacked a U.S./NATO outpost with 82mm recoiless guns. They say the base caught fire and U.S./NATO forces had to evacuate.

In Herat Province, two artillery rockets hit Herat airbase. Also, a police chief was assassinated.

In Paktia Province, an Afghan National Army soldier joined the Mujahideen.

05 October 2012

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said: “I think it would be helpful if the president [Karzai] every once and awhile expressed his thanks for the sacrifices that have been made by those who have fought and died for Afghanistan, rather than criticizing them.”  You’re the invader/occupier you numb nuts!!!

In Kunar province, an Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed his commander, then joined the Mujahideen.

In Parwan Province, at least eight artillery rockets hit the U.S. run airbase at Bagram. No casualties reported.   Mujahideen claim dozens of attacks launched across Afghanistan.