Tag Archives: ows

International, U.S.

World War 3: Afghan & Pakistan Taliban joining forces, will jointly attack U.S./NATO forces

Despite reports from Reuters, stating that the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are “at each other’s throats”, Japanese media are reporting that various ‘taliban’ groups have agreed to put aside differences to jointly target U.S. led forces.

Over the weekend representatives from Afghanistan’s and Pakistan’s Pashtun dominated Taliban (Mujahideen) groups met.  Japan’s NHK claims they talked with Mujahideen officials and were told they have decided to put aside their differences, and focus on fighting the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistani Mujahideen agreed to back off of attacking Pakistani government forces, and, beginning in March, will help their Afghan cousins focus their fight against the U.S.

They’ve established a 5 member council to help co-ordinate their efforts.  This news comes after reports that the Afghan Taliban have accepted an offer from U.S. President Obama, and the government of pro-U.S. Qatar, to open a diplomatic office in Qatar.

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Government & Corporate Incompetence: Ohio suffering mass earthquakes, officials blame Fracking. Not the first time; Arkansas blamed Fracking on increased quakes back in July

“The earthquakes will trickle on as a kind of a cascading process once you’ve caused them to occur. This one year of pumping is a pulse that has been pushed into the ground, and it’s going to be spreading out for at least a year.”-John Armbruster, Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

On New Year’s Eve, Ohio had a 4.0 quake.  It’s part of many quakes the state has suffered since March 2011.  Now state lawmakers are banning the energy industry’s practice of Fracking.

Energy companies inject chemically heavy water, under extreme pressures, deep into the ground.  It releases natural gas from shale. The gas is used mainly for the oil industry’s hydrogen cracking process, which makes fuels cleaner burning.

For a long time it’s been claimed that fracking pollutes underground water sources, but the industry has successfully fought off such claims.  Another claim is that it could cause earthquakes.

Now, seismologists with the U.S. Geological Survey have testified to Ohio officials that the state’s unusual quake activity is directly related to fracking wastewater injection.

In July, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission banned  fracking wastewater injection, because of increased earthquake activity.

Energy companies doing the fracking are taking their wastewater and injecting it deep into underground sand deposits, to get rid of it.  Scientists say the problem is that the companies have overshot the underground sand beds, and are basically pressurizing fault lines.

International, U.S.

Pale Green Horse: Dengue Fever deaths skyrocket in 2011, some areas see 89% increase, some countries launching programs on the level of ‘polio eradication campaigns’, catching it more than once can kill you

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Health says at least 72 Cambodian children died from dengue fever in 2011, an increase of 89%, compared to 2010.  Total number of dengue cases in Cambodia were up 26% in 2011 (15,805 cases that were reported to government officials).

“The disease broke out in a large scale every three to five years and the year 2011 was the large scale breakout, that’s why the cases were on the rise and the deaths were almost double.”-Ngan Chantha, Cambodia’s Ministry of Health

Cambodia spent U.S.$7 million fighting dengue in 2011.

Pakistan was hit hard by dengue in 2011 (never mind attacks from the Pakistani Taliban and the ungrateful government of the United States!).  By October 2011, more than 6,000 Pakistanis got sick, and at least 253 died.

The cold winter is not having any affect on the mosquitoes in Pakistan.  Contrary to the hopes of officials, two people died on December 31, after being bit by mosquitoes in freezing temperatures.

Pakistan’s Health Secretary, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, has ordered a mosquito spraying offensive, that must be completed before February 10, 2012.

One Pakistani doctor said they are launching an anti-dengue campaign “on the pattern of the polio campaign”.  Health officials will go door to door explaining to people how to prevent dengue by fighting mosquitoes.  They also hope to have a computer system in place that will let hospitals and clinics share information about incoming dengue cases.

In Borneo, officials are so concerned about dengue for 2012 that dengue awareness and prevention classes are now part of grade school education.

In Sri Lanka, officials reported a jump in dengue cases in December 2011;  290 cases in December, 170 in November.  One official said it doesn’t take much water for the dengue carrying mosquitoes to breed: “…this mosquito can breed in one teaspoonful of water!”-Pradeep Kariyawasam, Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council

On the island of Fiji (east of New Zealand), officials are now concerned about the general public, because of an outbreak of dengue in their prisons: “The symptoms of dengue fever are similar to those of normal flu but with joint pains and high fever. But people should not stay home and instead seek immediate medical attention.”-Peni Namotu, Fiji Health Ministry

Closer to the United States, Mexico reported great advances in their fight against dengue, which included testing of vaccines.  In several Mexican states, cases of dengue had dropped by as much as 80%, compared to 2010.

But fighting dengue is not that easy. In December, the University of California at Berkeley released the results of their study, which showed that surviving an initial case of dengue fever does not mean your body can survive a second infection.

The problem is that there are four major types of dengue viruses, and your body’s immune system might be lulled into a false sense of security: “With the second infection, the antibodies sort of recognize the new type of viruses, but not well enough to clear them from the system.  Instead of neutralizing the viruses, the antibodies bind to them in a way that actually helps them invade the immune system’s other cells and spread.”-Molly OhAinle, UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

The results of the study were published in the December 21 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

Check my other postings about dengue fever.

 

 

 

 

 

International

Pale Green Horse: Philippines hit with Rat Fever

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

In the Philippines, at least five people are dead and as many as 200 sick with leptospirosis.  The cases have sprung up in the southern city of Cagayan de Oro, which has suffered flooding caused by typhoon Washi.

Leptospirosis causes high fever, internal bleeding and organ failure.  It’s spread by rodents.

More than 1,200 Filipinos have been killed by typhoon Washi.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China’s strong economy can not exist without outside supplies, like oil from Iran

Chinese officials reporting that their country is the biggest consumer of natural resources in the world, and most of those resources come from outside China.

Zhang Ping, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China uses double the world average in energy (based on GDP).  Also, more than 50% of China’s petroleum and iron ore comes from other countries (like Libya and Iran in the case of oil).

Still, the amount of energy usage is far behind China’s incredible economic growth: Domestic economic growth averaging an annual rate of 11.2%, while energy consumption remains at 6.6%.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran warns it will take military action if U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Persian Gulf, U.S. Navy trying to instigate War

“…we are not in the habit of repeating a warning and we warn only once.”-Ataollah Salehi, Major General Iranian Army

January 3, a top Iranian General has made threats of military action against the USS John C. Stennis, saying the U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier can not return to the Persian Gulf.  As usual Western media is not explaining Iran’s side of the story.

Iran’s warning against the U.S. aircraft carrier came after it supposedly got too close to Iranian naval war games.  On top of that, the Iranians say the USS John C. Stennis made other threatening maneuvers by sailing right through a group of Forouzan oil platforms, and near Iran’s Farsi Island.

The USS John C. Stennis has reportedly left the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman.  So far the USN has refused to comment.

 

International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Puerto Rico pushes for Independence from U.S. Empire, wants to join the anti-U.S./Canada CELAC

The United Nations Decolonization Committee (UNDC) will be considering pleas for help from Puerto Ricans, who’re seeking freedom from the control of the United States.

A group called United Partners for the Decolonization of Puerto Rico have petitioned the UN.  The UNDC  will be holding hearings during the summer of 2012 (usually in the month New York City holds its Puerto Rican Day Parade).

Puerto Ricans have expressed a desire to join the newly formed CELAC: “CELAC is a great idea! But it will never be complete until Puerto Rico (PR) is included.”-José M. López Sierra, United Partners for the Decolonization of Puerto Rico

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Taliban New Year’s Day offensive

The Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (aka Taliban) claim a list of attacks on U.S./NATO/ISAF forces on New Year’s Day.

First they claim to have launched at least nine missiles (unguided rockets) at Bagram air base, causing dozens of casualties.  They also claim a missile attack against Sahara Bagh airbase in Khost, with no casualties effected, and a missile attack on Kandahar airfield, claiming deadly results.     

 

 

In the province of Kandahar they claim they’ve been attacking U.S./NATO/ISAF forces relentlessly: Several vehicles destroyed by home made bombs, killing the occupants. Several foot patrols ambushed, at least three foreign troops killed.  Intense fighting in Maiwand district after foreign troops were brought in by helicopter and repelled by locals.

In the province of Helmand: At least two foreign vehicles blown up by home made bombs/mines, resulting in at least three killed and three wounded.  Taliban snipers kill several foreign troops.

The Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also claim killing several “puppet” forces, meaning Afghan government military and police forces.


International, U.S.

World War 3: Arab League monitors in Syria fail, Arab League says Syrian officials made fools out of them. Excuse for war with Syria? Syrian’s say Saudi observer caught urging people to rebel. U.S. forces advising new rebel army

”For this to happen in the presence of Arab monitors has roused the anger of Arab people and negates the purpose of sending a fact-finding mission. This is giving the Syrian regime an Arab cover for continuing its inhumane actions under the eyes and ears of the Arab League.”-Ali al-Salem al-Dekbas, Arab League

After only six days in Syria, some Arab League officials have called for the withdrawal of their observer mission.  It seems hasty, but it makes sense since the Arab League is controlled by the pro-U.S. Qatari government: “[Monitors] are being affected by some regional powers, such as Qatar or major Egyptian officials, and international powers even at the level of the European community and the U.S.  This international pressure will prevent them from independent reporting.”-Maher Salloum, Universal Peace Federation

More evidence that the Arab League observer mission is a sham; on December 30, a Saudi member of the team made a speech at a mosque in Harasta, Syria.  He actually implored Syrians to rise up against the government.

Independent Arab media sources say a 6,000 strong army has formed in northern Syria.  It’s being called The Free Syrian Army.  Independent journalists say the army is armed with anti-tank missiles, mortars and rocket launchers, and, it is being advised by U.S./NATO military forces.

International, U.S.

The Wall & World War 3: Israel walling itself in, building walls along Egyptian & Jordanian borders, U.S. involved?

“When the security barrier along the Egyptian border is finished, one will be built along the border with Jordan.”–Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

On January 1, 2012, Israel announced it will continue their current Egyptian border wall project along the border with Jordan.  The Israeli wall along the Egyptian border is a five meter (16 feet) high steel fence.  It’s costing an estimated U.S.$360 million (I wonder where they’re getting the money for it?).

They expect it to be finished by September 2012, at which point they’ll start their wall along the Jordanian border.

An unnamed Israeli official told Chinese media that the border will be manned by Israeli forces, and, forces friendly to Israel:  “The fence is an important tool that will enable us and other forces to control occurrences on the border with greater effectiveness.”