Rice Farmer

## Global economic meltdown ##
Euro-Zone Sentiment Darkens as Recession Fear Looms
Eurozone strains increase with grim new economic data

Cement sector's capacity utilization lowest in 10 years (Pakistan)

## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##
Iran holds military exercise near Afghan border

Iran's Ahmadinejad to seek Latin American support
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will seek support from Latin America's leftist leaders on a tour starting on Sunday after tough new Western sanctions targeted Iran's oil industry."
Britain warns of militant attacks in Kenya

"The requisite faceless bureaucrat, EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Ottinger, has been spinning that the EU can count on Saudi Arabia to make up the shortfall from Iran.

"Any self-respecting oil analyst knows Saudi Arabia does not have all the necessary extra spare capacity. Moreover, and crucially, Saudi Arabia needs to make a lot of money out of expensive oil. After all, the counter-revolutionary House of Saud badly needs these funds to bribe its subjects into dismissing any possibility of an indigenous Arab Spring. "

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Unilever workers to stage series of strikes (UK)
"Thousands of workers at Unilever, the consumer goods giant, are to stage a series of strikes in a huge escalation of a row over pensions."
Defying ban, protesters rally in Bahrain

TA: Social activists clash with police (Israel)
"Housing protest in Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood turns unruly as 600 protesters clash with police, torch dumpsters and try to block Ayalon Highway."

## Energy/resources ##
How do consumers use engine efficiency? On bigger, faster cars.

Jevons paradox. -- RF

Green Self-Sufficiency Isn't Actually Self-Sufficient
Hormuz Bypass Oil Pipeline Delayed as Iranian Tensions Mount

## Got food? ##
Collapsing Honey Bee Colonies: Blame The Parasites?

## Environment/health ##
Record heat in January (video)

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
Iran Mounts New Web Crackdown

Israel vows to retaliate after credit cards are hacked
"Israel has said it will respond to cyber-attacks in the same way it responds to violent "terrorist" acts after the credit card details of thousands of its citizens were published online."

## Japan ##
Military engineers set to be deployed to South Sudan

## China ##
China 2011 insurance premiums up 10 percent: report

China's Property Bubble Is Imploding

## UK ##
Market Report: Man trips again – and falls to its lowest for 10 years
Farmers threaten to quit egg trade over low prices

## US ##
For many Americans, jobs crisis to last many years
Training excercise startles locals

NYC like 'occupying nation' to county
"New York City is like an 'occupying nation,' abusing waterways and poaching resources to get an exurban county's pure drinking water, the county executive says."