Rice Farmer

## Global economic meltdown ##
IMF: Greece will miss financial targets

"The International Monetary Fund in an official report said Greece's financial situation is worse than previously thought."

Foreign Central Banks Cut Treasury Holdings by Record
"Holdings of U.S. Treasurys by foreign central banks has fallen by a record amount over the past four weeks according to the latest Federal Reserve data."

## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##
Unaccountable Killing Machines: The True Cost of U.S. Drones

"Sale is part of strategy to help friendly Mideast nations keep Iran in check"

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people ##
Youth protesters, police clash across Bahrain
"Shi'ite youths chanting slogans against Bahrain's royal family clashed with riot police across the Gulf island kingdom Saturday, trying to block highways in a second day of protests, residents said."

## Energy/resources ##
Petroplus shuts 3 oil refineries as cash runs out

Huge power shortages, load shedding in 2012: Shortfall of power generation could cross 4500MW (Pakistan)

The Taps Have Run Dry (Cameroon)
Germany's Wind Power Revolution in the Doldrums
"The construction of offshore wind parks in the North Sea has hit a snag with a vital link to the onshore power grid hopelessly behind schedule. The delays have some reconsidering the ability of wind power to propel Germany into the post-nuclear era."

Prices of essential goods continue to spiral up (Nepal)

Strike over CNG shortage, price hike cripples life in city (Pakistan)

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Copper thieves darken streetlights, create road hazards
"Nighttime stretches of road across the USA are being left dark by the theft of copper wiring from streetlights, and police are investigating whether the darkness contributed to some crashes.
"Copper thieves also are hitting traffic lights. The problem is particularly acute for localities where the sour economy has already left coffers bare and officials cannot afford to replace the wiring."

## Got food? ##

State may face food shortage next year (Odisha, India)
Organic Milk: Rising Production Costs Cause Shortage (US)

"The main reason for the shortage is that the cost of organic grain and hay to feed cows has gone up dramatically while the price that farmers received for their milk has not."

## Environment/health ##
Norovirus outbreaks rise (UK)

Man dies of bird flu in southern China

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
U.S. court upholds telecom immunity for surveillance

SOPA opponents may go nuclear and other 2012 predictions
Crackpot Anti-Islam Activists, 'Serial Fabricators,' and the Tale of Iran and 9/11 (Gareth Porter)

"Behind a mysterious Dec. 22 Associated Press story about 'finding of fact' by a district judge in Manhattan Friday that Iran assisted al-Qaeda in the planning of the 9/11 attacks is a tapestry of recycled fabrications and distortions of fact from a bizarre cast of characters."

## Japan ##
Japan spent over 14 tril. yen on forex interventions in 2011

## China ##
China says rebel village was right to complain

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. -- RF

China to Make Yuan More Convertible: Central Banker
"China is not far from making the yuan convertible under the capital account, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan was quoted as saying on Saturday in an interview with a local magazine."
Global economic crisis hits China's exporters

## UK ##
Jeremy Hunt rejects calls for 'austerity' Olympics

High street braces for wave of failures as La Senza closes 80 shops
"Analysts predict up to 40,000 could lose jobs as lingerie chain joins list of those struggling to contain their debts"

House prices will remain stagnant or fall in 2012, economists warn

## US ##
Darker Nights as Some Cities Turn Off the Lights (NYT)
Obama Signs Defense Bill Despite 'Serious Reservations'

"U.S. refineries exported a record amount of refined fuels in 2011 to markets in South America, Central America and Europe. It was one reason why Americans spent a record amount on gasoline this year: Supplies that might have helped lower prices here had been shipped abroad."

America's new poor (CNN Money video)

It was easy to promise everyone affluence when energy was cheap. -- RF