Thursday, November 29, 2012
News Links, November 27-28, 2012
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Euro zone, IMF reach deal on cutting long-term Greek debt
Euro zone, IMF reach deal on cutting long-term Greek debt
OECD warns of further weakness in Europe
"Europe's economy will contract next year and the United States will see slower growth than previously forecast, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Tuesday."
"Europe's economy will contract next year and the United States will see slower growth than previously forecast, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Tuesday."
Behind the Scenes, Germany is Already Preparing For a Grexit
Argentina Rating Downgraded by Fitch on 'Probable' Default
Argentina Rating Downgraded by Fitch on 'Probable' Default
"Li admitted that most of China's airports are now running at a loss. Of the 180 airports China had in 2011, 130 were in the red, with a combined deficit of about 2 billion yuan. In a recent report, the Beijing Evening News said that almost all of the country's feeder airports are posting losses."
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
White House seeking formal rules on drone strikes: report
Gazans say "Thank you Iran" after Israel conflagration
"Gazans offered very public thanks to Iran on Tuesday for helping them in this month's fight against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired out of the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv."
"Gazans offered very public thanks to Iran on Tuesday for helping them in this month's fight against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired out of the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv."
US Can Deter and Contain Iran, Brzezinski Says
"Former White House national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said Monday [Nov. 26] that the United States has 'no implicit obligation to follow like a stupid mule' an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites and that a US or an Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic would be 'the worst option' should negotiations fail."
"Former White House national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said Monday [Nov. 26] that the United States has 'no implicit obligation to follow like a stupid mule' an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites and that a US or an Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic would be 'the worst option' should negotiations fail."
U.S. to raise passport map issue with China
"The United States will raise concerns with China over a new map in Chinese passports which details claims to disputed maritime territory, alarming some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, the State Department said on Tuesday."
"The United States will raise concerns with China over a new map in Chinese passports which details claims to disputed maritime territory, alarming some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, the State Department said on Tuesday."
Iran in Position to Threaten Oil lanes
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Bahrain police break up march after Ashura memorial service
"Bahraini security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to scatter hundreds of youths who tried to march towards the centre of the capital on Monday after annual Ashura services marking one of the holiest days in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Bahrain police break up march after Ashura memorial service
"Bahraini security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to scatter hundreds of youths who tried to march towards the centre of the capital on Monday after annual Ashura services marking one of the holiest days in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar."
Chinese bus drivers in Singapore in rare labor protest
" At least 100 Chinese bus drivers in Singapore refused to go to work on Monday to protest against changes to their employment terms, media said, in a rare show of defiance in a city-state where industrial action is almost unheard of."
" At least 100 Chinese bus drivers in Singapore refused to go to work on Monday to protest against changes to their employment terms, media said, in a rare show of defiance in a city-state where industrial action is almost unheard of."
Passengers attack railway offices (Pakistan)
"A violent protest was sparked at the cantonment railway station on Monday, as almost every passenger train scheduled to leave Karachi was delayed for hours due to an acute shortage of fuel."
"A violent protest was sparked at the cantonment railway station on Monday, as almost every passenger train scheduled to leave Karachi was delayed for hours due to an acute shortage of fuel."
Police clash with protesters in Tunisia who want more development funds, 14 wounded
## Energy/resources ##
## Energy/resources ##
Dust a major challenge hindering Qatar's solar ambitions
"One of the main challenges hindering expansion of Qatar's solar energy sector is the build-up of dust on the panels and the need for them to be constantly cleaned, a leading energy official has said."
The rise and fall of the U.S. wind industry, in one chart
"One of the main challenges hindering expansion of Qatar's solar energy sector is the build-up of dust on the panels and the need for them to be constantly cleaned, a leading energy official has said."
The rise and fall of the U.S. wind industry, in one chart
A longish but quite interesting article. The originator of the idea is right to stick by his principles and keep everything as simple and unmechanized as possible. The high-tech version, on the other hand, is doomed to fail, as none of this will work for long in a collapsing economy. One other really big problem is that there is virtually no market in the desert, which means that the produce will have to be shipped to cities in refrigerated trucks. Also, nutrients and other supplies have to be trucked in. How sustainable does that sound? The key to food production is to stick with systems that are low-tech and do not rely on the industrial economy. -- RF
Unlike high-tech greenhouses, it's low-tech, and is completely free of the industrial economy. Here is a valuable component of the system we need to ensure we are eating even when the supermarkets close. -- RF
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Feds seize 132 domain names to stop knockoff sales
"Kill switches are a standard part of most smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. Google, Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN) all have the ability to reach into devices to delete illicit content or edit code without users' permission."
Extra budget must top 5 trillion yen
"A supplementary budget exceeding 5 trillion yen is needed for Japan to cope with the current tough economic situation, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said Tuesday."
"A supplementary budget exceeding 5 trillion yen is needed for Japan to cope with the current tough economic situation, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said Tuesday."
Former airport to be huge solar plant
"The municipal government of Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, said Tuesday it will build a huge solar power plant after demolishing a local airport in March."
"The municipal government of Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, said Tuesday it will build a huge solar power plant after demolishing a local airport in March."
The important news here is not the plan to build a solar farm there, but that an airport opened in 1991 is already closing at the end of this year. -- RF
## China ##
Gloom Over China Stocks Deepens; 4-Year Low
"China's main stock index closed at its lowest level in almost four years Tuesday and slipped below a key psychological level, indicating deepening investor worries over the health of the nation's public equity markets."
Chinese banks rush to issue bonds for more funds
"China's main stock index closed at its lowest level in almost four years Tuesday and slipped below a key psychological level, indicating deepening investor worries over the health of the nation's public equity markets."
Chinese banks rush to issue bonds for more funds
"Shipping giant China Cosco Holdings Ltd. said it plans a $1 billion, 10-year U.S. dollar bond offer for the general corporate purposes of its offshore units and affiliates."
## UK ##
Work Programme: 70% still unemployed after one year
"Seven out of 10 unemployed people have failed to find jobs despite being on the government's flagship back-to-work scheme for more than a year, according to figures released today."
London property is about to collapse
"Seven out of 10 unemployed people have failed to find jobs despite being on the government's flagship back-to-work scheme for more than a year, according to figures released today."
London property is about to collapse
## US ##
Black Friday: The Excuses Begin
Black Friday: The Excuses Begin
Ten Reasons to be Wary of US Energy Independence Claims
New York, New Jersey put $71 billion price tag on Sandy
New York, New Jersey put $71 billion price tag on Sandy
Drilling on Campus
"Oil and gas drilling is increasing on college campuses across the nation as cash-strapped schools turn to exploiting their resources in order to balance their budgets."
"Oil and gas drilling is increasing on college campuses across the nation as cash-strapped schools turn to exploiting their resources in order to balance their budgets."
"That number is $87 trillion, and it is the present value of America's future financial obligations—in plain English, what the country owes and, as things stand, cannot remotely hope to pay."
Failed Bankers Should Be Paid Like Civil Servants: Taleb
"Bankers who take government bail- outs to stay afloat should be paid no more than the civil servants who saved their business, said Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of 'The Black Swan.'"
"Bankers who take government bail- outs to stay afloat should be paid no more than the civil servants who saved their business, said Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of 'The Black Swan.'"
Science fiction: SpaceX Billionaire Elon Musk Wants A Martian Colony Of 80,000 People
