China is the number one exporter, which country is number two? Germany.
Germany continues to do well when it comes to exporting its products to other countries. So well, that it’s hit a record of 98.3 billion Euros (U.S. $140.9 billion) in exports for the month of March: “That was the highest monthly figure recorded for both exports and imports since the collection of foreign trade statistics had started in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1950.”-Destatis, German National Statistics Office
Despite the bloody Drugs War, German companies are about to invest more money into Mexico.
German President Christian Wulff wants to increase business relations with Mexico. Already there are 1,200 German operations in Mexico, employing 130,000 people. Wulff also implied that Germany will help the Mexican government in their Drugs War.
Germany has historically been interested in relations with Mexico, this could be a sign of the declining influence of the United States.
“We don’t even have minimum wage!”-German protester
“Fair wages, decent work and social security is the minimum that workers in this country expect, need and have to fight for again and again.”-Michael Sommer, head of Confederation of German Trade Unions
Germany is one of the few European countries that has a good economy. It turns out Germany’s good economy is coming at the expense of German workers.
Germans have been protesting, because they are not benefiting from the so called good economy, and now they will be competing against eastern European migrant workers.
For the first time since the creation of the European Union, Germany and Austria will open their borders to eastern European migrant workers. This has German workers upset, especially since they’ve seen a decline in wages while German corporations enjoy increased profits.
At least 8,000 workers protested in Berlin alone. According to the Confederation of German Trade Unions, approximately 423,000 people demonstrated across Germany on May Day.
The German EUFOR plan is not finalized, and will be refined as the situation demands.
1: The European Union force (EUFOR) will operate seaports and airports, to evacuate civilians and bring relief supplies into the country. In addition, protect aid agencies and supply them with fuel.
2: A maximum of four months is expected to reach full operational capability.
3: Risk assessment for EUFOR troops is High to Critical. Terrorist attacks, mine and bomb attacks, similar to Iraq and Afghanistan.
4: The “Joint Operation Area” refers to Libya’s borders with Sudan, Niger, Chad, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. In other words the EUFOR will be patrolling all of Libya’s land borders.
5: Current plans for EUFOR involves, but not limited to, several company sized elements (about 80-100 people each company). Will include specialists in demining, combat diver, air traffic controllers, and rescue operations for the evacuation of injured soldiers or downed pilots.
6: Other elements used for operation to include escort ships, helicopters, amphibious vehicles and mobile clinics. EUFOR soldiers will be issued an initial supply of 23 days of rations and ammunition.
German newspaper Bild, has revealed plans for European Forces (EUFOR) ground troops in Libya. The plans are described as a 60 page “humanitarian” operation on the ground.
Germany will be in charge of the proposed four month operation. No troop numbers are given. German Defense Minister, Thomas de Maizière, says the situation is still to tense to send in ground forces, but they expect a similar situation as in Iraq and Afghanistan; IED, mines, small attacks by tribes.
De Maizière also says the European Union asked for such a plan earlier in April.
Tourism for Iran increases every year, despite UN sanctions. Iranian officials expect a huge leap in tourism for the 2011-2012 year (Iranian year 1389).
Where do the most tourists come from? Germany, then France. Iran hopes to attract three million tourists this year.
The Iran-Pak (or Pak-Iran) Gas pipeline just got a boost from Germany. A German company signed a deal to lay the new pipeline between Pakistan and Iran.
The German company might be ILF Consulting Engineers, who were hired to do a feasibility study earlier in the month of April.
The pipeline will begin from Iran’s Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south, run through Pakistan, and could end up in China, depending on future deals with China. Originally the pipeline was to run to India, but there were issues with the Indian government.
Germany has agreed to provide Iran with the latest technology and training, to take advantage of the South Pars natural gas fields in Iran.
Iran is also working with several European countries for similar deals: “We are in talks with many foreign companies to attract U.S.$20 billion of investment.”-Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh, Managing-Director of the National Iranian Offshore Oil Company
Iran has already signed a deal with South Korea.
Iran had signed a deal with the French, but said the French failed to live up to their end of the bargain.
Iran hopes to push production of the South Pars gas fields up to 1.1 billion cubic meters per day.
The German government announced that they will end the use of nuclear power plants as soon as possible.
Germany is prepared to spend the money necessary to make renewable clean energy sources their main power supply by 2020. Germany will keep its coal and natural gas fire electrical plants in operation.
Matsumoto Kenichi, special adviser to Prime Minister Kan Naoto, says they are looking at using Germany’s eco-friendly city models to build a new home for refugees from the failed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The concern is that so much contamination has spread around the 30km (18.6 miles) danger zone, that people will not be able to return for 30 years or more (just like Chernobyl).
The proposed refugee city would be based on eco-friendly projects undertaken by several German cities. The city should be self sustaining, and have no more than 100,000 residents. As in the German experiments, residents would grow their own crops, and produce their own electricity, which could be sold on the power grid. There would also be no car zones, and pedestrian only zones.
Japan should consider the German model for all its cities, not just a refugee city.