Rice Farmer

## Global economic meltdown ##
Factory output subdued going into 2012

"Global manufacturing activity was subdued going into 2012, with the euro zone's industrial sector suffering its fifth straight month of declines in December and Asian factories mostly stuck in a rut."

Life Insurance Industry Reeling Under The Effect of Negative Growth (India)

Insurance companies struggling in new economy (Canada)

Bleak Outlook for the Insurance Industry (US)

Biggest Economies Face $7.6 Trillion Bond Tab as Rally May Fade
"Governments of the world's leading economies have more than $7.6 trillion of debt maturing this year, with most facing a rise in borrowing costs."
Moody's: Greatest risk to Israel's rating - security

But they can't continue growing if the rest of the world is going down the tubes. And both countries have serious energy shortages. -- RF

## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##
Iran refuses to fuel certain airlines

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people ##
Nigerian anger heats up as petrol prices rocket
"Nigerian motorists and unions vented their anger Monday at a sudden more than doubling of fuel prices, a day after government subsidies were removed in a sweeping economic reform that could trigger mass protests."

Gas-price increases anger Pakistanis
"Transportation slowed Monday across Pakistan because of protests, some violent, over price increases for gas and other petroleum products."

JI announces full support to mass protest against outages, gas shortage (Pakistan)
"Announcing all out support to the protest movement by industrialists, traders and workers against fuel price hike, stoppage of gas to industries and prolonged loaf shedding of electricity, the Jamaat-e-Islami has urged the people from all walks of life to join the JI countrywide protest on the issue."

Kashmir power cut protest turns deadly
"At least one person killed when Indian troops open fire on protesters angered by electricity outages in winter weather."

## Energy/resources ##
Pemex oil output slips for 7th year

Lights out: For India, a Power Failure Looms

"Almost a decade ago, India's government, seeking to overcome one of the biggest challenges to the nation's development, set an ambitious goal: electric power for all by 2012.

"Instead, as the target date of March nears, the power sector is in shambles, and its dire state threatens India's economic prospects at a time when a high inflation rate, a burgeoning government budget deficit and ripples from the European financial crisis are already damping growth."

"A new paper presented by Mark Cooper, senior fellow for economic analysis, Institute for Energy and the Environment, Vermont Law School, suggests that the cost of nuclear power, which already had risen sharply in 2010 and 2011 before the Fukushima disaster, could climb another 50% due to tighter safety oversight and regulatory delays in the wake of the reactor calamity in Japan. The Cooper paper is available online at <http://www.markcooperresearch.com/Nuclear-Safety-and-Nuclear-Economics-Post-Fukushima.pdf>."

Although MSW power production might seem like a win-win solution, it's actually a system which merely feeds off the detritus of the petroleum economy. -- RF

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Thieves stole £13m of metal from railways, say police (UK)

## Got food? ##
India's wheat production may be hit by ongoing weather

## Environment/health ##
Egypt's Red Sea Sharks Face Extinction

Britain braced for gale force winds

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
The cybersnoops are always one step ahead of ministers (UK)

"Most people would assume – and certainly hope – that the emails of a serving Chancellor could not be read by a newspaper looking for a story.

"Because if a journalist can access someone like Gordon Brown's personal correspondence just imagine what the Chinese are reading."

Govt working on defensive cyberweapon / Virus can trace, disable sources of cyber-attacks (Japan)

## Japan ##
No-man's land attests to Japan's nuclear nightmare

Happy New Year! -- RF

## China ##
Gushan announces significant drop in biodiesel production

China's Low-Cost Housing Boom (MarketWatch video)
"Building low-cost housing projects is part of the Chinese government's plan to restructure its housing sector. But some say it's a risky strategy for the already shaky real estate industry."
Mayan property risk looms for China

## UK ##
Commuter pain as rail fare rises take effect

## US ##

"New York police are investigating as bias crimes four Molotov cocktail attacks on Sunday night including one against a mosque with 75 people inside and another against a Hindu place of worship."

Happy New Year! -- RF