Rice Farmer

## Global economic meltdown ##
IMF to Lower 2012 Growth Forecast

Do Not Underestimate the Desperation of Broke(n) Governments (Financial Sense)

Elpida seeking 40 bil. yen in aid / DRAM chip business declines in face of strong yen, falling prices (Japan)
"Elpida Memory Inc., the world's third-largest manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, is seeking a total of 500 million dollars (40 billion yen) in financial assistance from about 10 of its business partners, according to sources."

## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##

Bureau of Counterterrorism (US Dept. of State)

Crude Plan: Iran war & double recession? (RT video)

"Iran's crude-oil exports to China, its largest export customer, are expected to fall by almost 40% in January because of a dispute over pricing and other contract terms, a person familiar with Iran's oil sales said.

"Though China could play a key role in the effectiveness of international sanctions on Iran, a major supplier to its energy-hungry economy, it has steadfastly declined to join international efforts to deprive Tehran of revenue."

Royal Navy sends its mightiest ship to take on the Iranian show of force in the Gulf
Chinese ships attacked again on Mekong River
"Four Chinese cargo ships and a Myanmar patrol boat were attacked early morning on Jan 4 at Wan Pung Port in Myanmar, further aggravating safety concerns over the Mekong River that saw a bloody slaughter of 13 Chinese sailors last October."

Iraq: 84 killed, 157 wounded in attacks

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Libyan soldiers demand salaries
"Hundreds of Libyan soldiers protested on Thursday in the eastern city of Benghazi, demanding payment of overdue wages and complaining militia groups had taken over their bases and were not interested in joining a new national army."

Nigeria police block fuel hike protesters
"Trade unions have threatened to begin an indefinite general strike from Monday, as protests continue."

## Energy/resources ##

"Western powers this week readied a contingency plan to tap a record volume from emergency stockpiles to replace nearly all the Gulf oil that would be lost if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, industry sources and diplomats told Reuters."

Trains suspended again due to diesel shortage (Pakistan)

It appears that the trains are competing with diesel generators... and losing. -- RF

Not enough fuel in Kruger National Park (South Africa)

"According to the KNP's head of public relations, William Mabasa, the situation is a result of a general shortage of fuel in the country which is not only affecting Kruger, but many filling stations in the region."

"While all these projects have potential, until the government of President Robert Mugabe addresses the 'perception problem of Zimbabwe as a safe investment destination,' it would seem that for the foreseeable future Zimbabwe's most important energy source will remain – wood."

A good read. -- RF

My take is that they are giving too much credit to efficiency and not enough to the crashing economy. -- RF

Saudi Arabia's oil price cuts not seen tempting Asia buyers

## Got food? ##
Agri collapse in '12 (Pakistan)

"Like other oil-rich, water-poor Gulf states, Qatar has been investing in large areas of farmland overseas to ensure access to food supplies. The agricultural arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, Hassad Food, has bought land in Sudan and Australia, and has announced plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on agricultural projects in countries including Kenya, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey and Ukraine."

## Environment/health ##
Latin America Battling Wildfires, Floods, Droughts

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
Feds turn to dating websites and facial recognition tools to catch crooks

Stuxnet cyberweapon looks to be one on a production line, researchers say

## Japan ##
Six Reasons to Avoid Japan In 2012 (on investing)

Techno-porn. -- RF

GDP shrank last quarter on Europe debt woes: JCER
"The rebound from the March 11 disasters was probably cut short in the fourth quarter as the impact of Europe's crisis outweighed the support from reconstruction spending."

## China ##
How China Stays Stable Despite 500 Protests Every Day

China faces social unrest from housing woes
Chinese Solar Firms Will Die Before Being Acquired

## UK ##
UK car registrations fall 4.4% in 2011

The UK's 10 Biggest Shopping Malls Are Tracking Shoppers Via Their Cell Phones

## US ##

"Positive inflation is the feds' answer to a debt blow-up. They have no other answer… When bond buyers refuse to roll over US debt at reasonable rates, the Fed will use its printing press. The resulting 'positive' inflation will blow up the world's monetary system as well as government debt. Gold will be the about the only money left."

U.S. issues travel warning for Philippines
"U.S. citizens are advised of a heightened risk of terrorist activity in the Philippines, the U.S. State Department said in an updated travel warning."
Profit Warnings at Target, Kohl's, J. C. Penney, American Eagle

U.S. Industry Associations Release Bleak Report
"A trio of U.S. defense industry associations jointly released a report Jan. 6 warning of catastrophic damage that might be caused by defense cuts."