Tag Archives: unemployment

Fukushima

Food Crisis: Think Tuna prices are high now? Red Sea Tuna now extinct!

23 August 2013 (00:07 UTC-07 Tango)/16 Shawwal 1434/01  Shahrivar 1392/17 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

“We are currently experiencing some of the most severe supply shortages that the tuna industry has ever faced.”-Unnamed fish supplier in a memo to a Rhode Island restaurant in 2012, trying to explain why prices are going up

On 22 August 2013, Japan’s Fisheries Agency warned they will order a reduction in allowed bluefin tuna catches by their fishing industry.  In March 2013, there were reports that the Japanese news media almost ignored a study by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the Northern Pacific that said not only have tuna populations been falling for decades, the population decline has snowballed towards extinction!

The latest survey estimates that today’s Pacific bluefin tuna population has crashed by 96.4% over the past few decades, and current catches could guarantee extinction: “Over 90% of the catch is juveniles, caught in nursery and spawning areas. Literally, the zero to three year age class, so they’re being caught on their spawning grounds before they can reproduce, with no catch limit, and gee whiz, we’re at 3.6% of the original population. I wonder why?”-Amanda Nickson, Pew Environment Group

In fact, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Ministry of Fisheries Affairs has reported a loss of 70% in its Red Sea fishing industry. Fishermen say it’s partly due to the extinction of Red Sea tuna caused by pollution: “The entire expanse of sea lying between Jeddah and Qunfuda is polluted and has resulted in the depletion of the fish resources and the total disappearance of tuna.”-Abdullah Al-Sayed, a fisherman in Jeddah.

Even the cheap generic brand of canned tuna could become unaffordable. Tuna packed in veggie oil has already gone way up because veggie oil prices have skyrocketed!

Even the cheap generic brand of canned tuna could become unaffordable. Tuna packed in veggie oil has already gone way up because veggie oil prices have skyrocketed!

It should matter to Japanese because tuna is king of sushi.  It’s estimated that the Japanese eat 80% of the tuna caught around the World!  Japanese have been hearing about this for awhile, but maybe they haven’t noticed that since 2007 some tuna sushi has been replaced with different fish (some reports mentioned deer meat).

But Japanese fish mongers have seen for years a decline in available tuna in the fish markets, resulting in higher prices every year.  In January 2013, a 489 pounds bluefin tuna sold for a record $1.76 million USD in Japan!

(don’t forget to add the incredible amount of deadly radiation that’s been pouring into the northern Pacific from Fukushima Daiichi, since 2011:  Pacific bluefin tuna transport Fukushima-derived radionuclides from Japan to California)

It’s not just bluefin that’s disappearing, it’s other tuna as well.  Today, the latest global tuna catch records show that only 18-thousands metric tons of tuna were caught last year, it hasn’t been that low since the 1980s.

Vietnam just reported that its fishing industry is having a hard time catching tuna, their exports are down as result.

An official with New Zealand’s Secretariat of the Pacific Community recently blamed lack of government management and monitoring of fishing industries: “…this is done country by country, different countries are doing different things and taking different approaches to their management and data collection. Some are focusing more on the tuna fishery….that’s being lost to the countries because the fishery wasn’t managed sustainably. We know that many of the main centers around the Pacific, the main urban centers, there is a shortage of fish and people are needing to go further to catch fish, or in some countries they are trying to bring in fish from other locations in the country, so we know there is over fishing occurring…..management is to include the monitoring so that you actually have an idea of what’s happening in the fishery…”-Lindsay Chapman

India has just lifted its trawling fishing ban, many people in India hope it will bring fish prices down, because the industrial fish farms just could not produce enough fish to offset the lack of wild caught fish due to the trawling fishing ban.  Not only are tuna prices way up in India, so are sardine prices.

What was that about “teach a man to fish”?

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Major U.S. employer slashes health insurance for 15000 people, blames Obama Romney Care!

21 August 2013 (16:58 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Shawwal 1434/30 Mordad 1391/15 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

“This change is consistent with the way many large employers are responding to the costs associated with the Health Care Reform legislation.”-UPS memo to employees

United Parcel Service (UPS), a major employer in the United States, has canceled insurance policies for spouses of employees.   15-thousand spouses now have no health insurance!

UPS officials told Kaiser Health News that the Obama/Romney Care is actually causing health care/insurance costs to skyrocket, and they can not afford to provide insurance to so many people.

Another reason for the drop of 15-thousand people from the UPS provided insurance plan, is that UPS officials said the Obama/Romney Care law claims everyone will end up being covered anyway.  But, UPS said it will continue covering spouses who don’t work, or who work for companies that do not provide insurance.

International

Martial Law BS: New Zealand government passes law to spy on its own people!

21 August 2013 (03:29 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Shawwal 1434/30 Mordad 1391/15 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

“It reduces our freedom to live free from state surveillance, and what we have seen around this debate is the government trying to actively confuse people!”-Russel Norman, Green Party

The British empire country of New Zealand has just passed a bill giving itself the authority to spy on its own citizens!  It empowers the Orwellian Government Communications Security Bureau to do the evil deed.

On 19 August, Prime Minister John Key got pissed at the news media questioning his rationale for spying on his fellow citizens.  Key swears it’s necessary for New Zealand’s national security!

Here’s what one reporter asked: “Prime Minister, numerous legal jurors have informed us publicly that they disagree with you wholeheartedly, that you are taking broad powers, which would allow you to invade privacy…and you are saying that all those people are wrong…”

News reports say Keys interrupted the reporter, then stated the reporter’s question contained the answer and cut the press conference short.  Do any U.S. main streamer news reporters have the balls to ask similar questions of ‘elected’ officials?

The bill must now be given Royal Assent to become law (remember, this is the British empire we’re talking about).  I don’t doubt the Queen of England will approve.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 22-23 June 2013. BoA lays off 1320 people in New York! More school & health care cuts!

Designer of trade show and event exhibits, VisionStream, now bankrupt.  Company officials hope another company will merge with them, or buy them, so they can survive.

In Michigan, Genesys Health System laid off 100 employees: “….these initiatives were necessary due to reduced reimbursement brought about through the Accountable Care Act [aka Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act] and Sequestration. For instance, it is estimated that for its fiscal year 2014 Genesys will have an $11 million reduction in reimbursement for the same amount of patient care it is delivering today.”   In Plainfield Township, Eastern Floral shut down.   The company is focusing on internet sales.

In Arizona, the Christian God couldn’t stop Carondelet Health Network (Southern Arizona Catholic/Ascension Health) from laying off 40 people: “The effects of sequestration, the increased cost of caring for the uninsured, and national trends toward fewer people seeking inpatient hospital care were all factors.”

In California, the approved Fresno City budget means 30 people will be unemployed.

The Oregonian newspaper laid off 95 employees.  The newspaper is switching to digital service.

In Pennsylvania, Aramark Educational Services lost its dining services contract with Duquesne University.   358 people out-o-work!

In New York, PJ’s Pub and Grill closed in Syracuse.  It was sold.  In  Westchester, Buffet de la Gare closed after 33 years of business.  The owner wants to retire, her co-owner husband (and the restaurant’s chief chef) died in 2011.  In Medina, the Worthington Industries BernzOmatic factory is shutting down.  174 people out-o-work!  Production being moved to Wisconsin. Too Big to Jail, Bank of America, closed its Getzville office.  1320 people laid off!!!!  The office was sold to M&T Bank, which might hire on some of the former BoA employees.

The Swank outlet store in Taunton, Massachusetts, closed.   The new owners say economic conditions don’t justify keeping the store open.  It sounds like the company will focus on distribution of products to customers like Macy’s and Kohl’s.  The company first started in 1897.

In Missouri, Milbourn’s Family Restaurant shut down.  It’s blamed on the property owner (Farris Truck Stop) who demanded the restaurant operator leave, and then terminated the lease.  There was no explanation by the property owner.

Bodytalk women’s clothing store in Westport, Connecticut, closed after 20 years of business.  The 81 years old owner said “We’re closing for a whole bunch of reasons.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

International

Martial Law BS: Strict anti-gun laws fail to stop mass shooting in Germany!

21 August 2013 (23:45 UTC-07 Tango 20 August 2013)/14 Shawwal 1434/30 Mordad 1391/15 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

According to German news sources, a man shot several people in a restaurant in Dossenheim.  At least three people dead including the shooter.  Five people wounded.

Police say it might have something to do with an argument involving a meeting of local property owners.

To own a gun in Germany you must become licensed by proving you have a need to own a gun, such as hunting, target shooting or collection. Believe it or not, needing a gun for personal protection is only accepted in exceptional circumstances!

You must go through criminal and mental background checks to get licensed.  A gun training course is required.

All personally owned guns must be registered with the government, your gun will be stamped with a government ID mark.  You must have a dealers license to sell your gun.  How you store your gun is dictated by federal and state rules.

Open carry of a gun requires a permit.  Fully automatic guns are illegal for personal possession. Ownership of semi-automatic assault type guns, and handguns, requires special government approval.  Armor-piercing, incendiary and expanding ammunition is illegal for personal use.  Breaking a gun law will get you 10 years in prison.

However, European Union rules also apply, so in reality Germans must deal with state, federal and EU anti-gun laws.

Between 1990 and 2009 Germany destroyed more than 2-million personal guns.

It’s reported that a semi-auto version of the low velocity AK-47 assault rifle sells for $1300 USD in Germany, which is outrageous for a gun that’s not that accurate (it’s main attributes are that it is incredibly easy to maintain and use)!

Despite Germany’s anti-gun laws, officials admit there are an estimated 17-million illegally owned guns in Deutschland!

 

 

 

Fukushima

More Fukushima Fallout: Children suffering cancer as direct result! Latest leak now Level Three Incident! Japan asks for international help!

21 August 2013 (23:16 UTC-07 Tango 20 August 2013)/14 Shawwal 1434/30 Mordad 1392/15 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

“The water is believed to contain thousands of trillions of becquerels of radioactive substances.”-NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

At least 18 children in Fukushima Prefecture now have thyroid cancer caused by radiation contamination!  25 children shows signs of cancer!  The Prefecture is conducting its own medical exams of children, because the Japanese right winger government refuses to do so.

So far 210-thousand children have been tested.  Thyroid cancer can result from long term exposure to radiation, which builds up in the thyroid especially in children.  This is yet another sign that the GE designed disaster reactors at Fukushima Daiichi are still spewing deadly radiation.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has now declared the leaking storage tanks at Fukushima Daiichi to be a Level Three Incident, which is considered a “Serious incident” on the zero to seven level international Nuclear Event Standard.

Levels one thru three are considered “incidents”, levels four thru seven are “accidents”.   The tanks have leaked at least 300 metric tons of highly contaminated water.  The contamination detected on 19 August was at 100 millisieverts per hour!  The safe limits for nuclear industry workers in Japan are set at 50 millisieverts per year!

Japan’s NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) has also reported that the NRA is now asking the International Atomic Energy Agency for help!

A nuclear analyst in Tokyo (interviewed on Iranian TV) stated that a Level Three Incident means that anyone exposed to the contamination could become severely sick within 12 hours.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 08-09 August 2013: World Bank & Sweden giving away more money! U.S. admits drug war a failure! U.S. using Afghanistan to push India & Pakistan into war?

In Logar Province, Azra District, major battles leave at least 211 people dead!  The Afghan National Army says they’ve been fighting militants who are not Afghans.  20 of those insurgents have been captured.

In Kabul Province, Kabul city, three Chinese citizens have been killed, two kidnapped, after an Israeli style home invasion of their apartment.  There are no apparent motives.

In Nangarhar Province, Ghani Khel District, an explosion killed 14 civilians and wounded four others. It happened in a cemetery.  Someone planted a bomb and when a family came to pay their respects it blew up.  Most of the victims are from the same family.

Mujahideen claim they’ve launched rocket artillery attacks against Bagram, Jalalabad and Kandahar airbases.  No other details given.

Not so neutral Kingdom of Sweden is promising Afghanistan $130 million USD every year until 2019!!!  Up ’till now Sweden has been giving away $92.3 million!  Sweden also stated it will keep 200 troops in Afghanistan after the 2014 NATO pullout.

The United States Department of Defense admitted the war on drugs in Afghanistan is a failure: “Due to bad weather [not U.S. actions], the 2012 poppy yield was lower than previous years…….The 2013 poppy harvest is expected to expand considerably over 2012 due to improved weather conditions, increased prices and the drawdown of ISAF security forces…”-Defense Department report to Congress

U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins, stated that Pakistan’s concerns over the growing presence of India in Afghanistan “…aren’t groundless. They are simply, in our judgement, somewhat exaggerated.”

The U.S. based World Bank has given Afghanistan yet more free money, this time $50 million: “This particular grant will help the government maintain growth momentum during the transition and beyond.“-Paul Edwin Sisk

Perhaps the key to getting free money is become a puppet/failed state?

Click here to see pics of a prosperous Afghanistan from the 1960s-70s, before the Soviet and U.S. occupations.

Obama side steps War

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 21 June 2013. Allstate shuts down call centers! “Worst nightmare” for Alabama! More health care cuts!

The University of Maryland Medical Center laid off 65 people, and warned of more layoffs in August.  Also, vacant positions have been eliminated and contract positions will be reduced.  Hospital officials blame the federal government (Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act/sequestration).

In New York, Archcare closed its Kateri Residence nursing home in New York City.  At least 555 people unemployed (some reports say 592)!  Archcare is selling the property.

In Vermont, the Rutland Manor assisted living facility shutting down in September.

South Carolina based Stacy’s Garden Center bankrupt.  The company has stores in 24 states.  It’s not clear why they went bankrupt, their liabilities are not much more than their assets.  The company has been for sale for several months.

In New Jersey, the Atlantic City Housing Authority laid off four employees.  It’s blamed on federal funding cuts.

After 38 years of business the mom & pop Ed’s Riverside Market grocery store in Pennsylvania, shut down.  19 employees out-o-work.  It’s blamed on the bad economy, even Mennonites started shopping at Walmart!

In Connecticut, Cable Ready now bankrupt.   It’s blamed on the current economy: “…due to industry consolidation, mergers and acquisitions of production companies, larger competitors paying higher and higher advances for programming or networks retaining all rights, and the uncertain global economy squeezing independent companies like ours, Cable Ready was left with no choice but to seek protection.”

In Wisconsin, Kohl’s laid off 67 employees.  They contracted out their accounts payable and sales audit department.  In Milwaukee, the wine store Vino 100 closed down.  Typical of business owners, they denied they were closing for several weeks, before finally announcing a “…monster farewell party.”

In Ohio, the massive Jones Day law firm laid off 65 IT employees.  The IT director was also let go.  In Cincinnati, the Whiskey Bar shut down. The property owner sold the building and the lease was bought out.  The child prison known as Ashland County Juvenile Detention Center closed down.  The 83 years old prison building was deemed too old to economically upgrade.

In Louisiana, the child prison system known as Saint James Parish Youth Detention Center closed down.  It’s blamed on the high prices they charge to come close to properly housing child prisoners.

In Chicago, Illinois, Goose Island brewery shut down.  The brewery owners asked the property owners to reduce the rent by 30%, the answer was no.  In Woodridge, Allstate insurance company shut down a 12 years old call center.  Originally Allstate promised the local government that they would create 700 jobs. 348 people now unemployed! (is the new call center in Chubbuck, Idaho, next to be shut down?)

In Indiana, the Tri-Way Drive-In Theater warning it will have to close because it can not afford to buy new digital projectors.

Cooper Lighting shutting down their factory in Eufaula, Alabama, by October.  Mayor Jack Tibbs called it “Our worst nightmare!” More than 300 employees will be directly affected!  Two smaller companies will also be affected. Cooper Lighting is moving production elsewhere.

In Oregon, Lucy’s Tool Store closed after 20 years of service.  The owners (who’ve worked decades of other jobs before becoming business owners) want to retire, finally.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 06-07 August 2013: Mullah Mohammad Omar still alive! More comedy of errors! Germany will not join NATO 2014 pullout!

In Nuristan Province, Kamdesh District, two days of heavy fighting reported.  Eight personnel from Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) killed, 20 wounded.  Mujahideen shot down a medivac helicopter that was called in.

In Badakhshan Province, Shuhahda District, Mujahideen liberated the areas of Miyanda, Mahmoodan, Lub Dara and Kalan Taran.

In Nangarhar Province, Jalalabad city, for the third day in a row an explosion.  This time no official comment from local government officials.  Officials at a hospital say one person was killed, at least three wounded.  Witnesses say the explosion went off as police vehicles were passing through an intersection.  Amazingly, India has promised to pay the victims of the recent attack on the Indian consulate $10-thousand USD per family.   India is also paying the Afghan forces guarding the consulate a $20-thousand reward, as well as paying the Afghan who finally stopped the attack by machine gunning the attackers $2-thousand.   Another $20-thousand will be given to treat those wounded in the attack.   This despite the supposed fact that India had nothing to do with the attack.  The Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) has concluded that a recent major battle in Shirzad District, that left at least 100 people dead, was the result of a comedy of errors.  Mujahideen and ANP were locked in battle when apparently ANA forces were returning from another operation.   The MoI says there was an extreme lack of “professionalism” on the part of the ANP, which could have caused the high number of government casualties.  The MoI has ordered all police in Nangarhar Province to undergo new training.  In Chaparhar District, Dawlatzi area, an Israeli style home invasion resulted in four people being kidnapped and another person being shot and wounded. Valuables in the home were also stolen.

In Ghazni Province, Moqor District, a female Afghan senator and her husband were wounded in an assassination attempt.  Their daughter and a bodyguard were killed.  In Ghazni city an explosion wounded 13 people.  No word on the cause.

In Maidan Wardak Province, Nirkh District, two explosions killed three people and wounded nine others.  Witnesses say when people gathered after the first explosion that’s when the second bomb went off.

In Helmand Province, a suicide bomber rammed his car into the convoy of the provincial ANP commander.  The car exploded, but only wounded the commander and four cops.  Two civilians were also wounded.

In Baghlan Province, Burka District, Tangi Murkh area three people were kidnapped after an Israeli style home invasion.

In Kunduz Province, Chahr Dara District, Qasab area, Mujahideen claim they blew up a German/NATO armored vehicle killing four crew and wounding another.  Mujahideen say they then attacked other Germans coming to the aid of those blown up, killing one more and wounding two others.  Mujahideen say they captured a small amount of German personal weapons, ammo and cameras.

Colonel Ulrich Kirsch, head of the German Armed Forces Association (Bundeswehrverband), has stated that Germany will not pullout of Afghanistan!

Mullah Mohammad Omar, the one eyed Mujahid the United States has repeatedly claimed to have killed, has denounced the 2014 elections in Afghanistan: “Our pious and Mujahid people know that selection, de facto, takes place in Washington. These nominal rulers are not elected through the ballots of the people. Rather they are selected as per the discretion of Washington! Participation in such elections is only a waste of time, nothing more.”

India has accused Pakistan of using Afghan Mujahideen in Kashmir and Jammu (a newly created Indian state).  Afghan Mujahideen deny the accusation: “We are engaged in a major and vast war in out own country…..It’s been 12 years that our country is occupied and we do not have time to deploy our fighters to other places, specifically in regional countries and India.”-Zabiullah Mujahid

Fukushima

Government & Corporate incompetence: Increasing radiation at Fukushima Daiichi! Korea demands action!

20 August 2013 (21:16 UTC-07 Tango 19 August 2013)/13 Shawwal 1434/29 Mordad 1392/14 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

The Republic of Korea (RoK, aka South Korea) is demanding the government of Japan reveal the truth about what’s going on with the ongoing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.  RoK also wants disclosure on the damage being done to the environment.

This demand comes as Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCo) revealed more and increasing radiation leaks!

After two incidents in a little more than a week saw 12 workers contaminated with dangerous levels of radiation, while standing at a bus stop,  TEPCo officials are now realizing there must be an airborne leak of radiation.  In both cases radiation sensors sounded an alarm, meaning there was radiation in the air.  In the first incident TEPCo blamed a water mister, but that was turned off before the second incident.  The level of airborne radiation was five times more than TEPCo’s own safety standards!

In another case, someone left a check valve open on a retaining wall.  The retaining wall was built around above ground contaminated water storage tanks near Reactor 4, which are leaking.  Over the weekend it was discovered the open check valve was pouring out highly contaminated water, at least 300 tons worth!   The water contains 100 millisieverts per hour of radiation.  The safe limits for nuclear industry workers in Japan are set at 50 millisieverts per year!

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority has declared the leaking storage tanks to be a Level One incident, which is considered an “incident-anomaly” on the zero to seven level international standard.  The NRA has ordered TEPCo to conduct soil sampling.

Levels one thru three are considered “incidents”, levels four thru seven are “accidents”.