Thursday, December 11, 2014
News Links, December 12, 2014
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Eurozone Comes Back to Reality With a Crash
Eurozone Comes Back to Reality With a Crash
Charts Show 28 Seriously Troubled Mega-Banks: 24 of them in Europe
Anyone with basic Excel skills can calculate the cumulative impoverishment caused by central banks' "modest" 2% annual inflation.
Inflation rate -0.2 percent (Sweden)
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Iraq's Western Sunni Tribes Are Organizing Into Militias To Fight ISIS
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Iraq's Western Sunni Tribes Are Organizing Into Militias To Fight ISIS
Germany plans to send troops to Iraq to train Kurdish fighters
Iraq's Sadr readies militia to fight for Samarra
Iraq's Sadr readies militia to fight for Samarra
Vietnamese crewman shot dead in pirate attack off Singapore
## Energy/resources ##
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
## Environment/health ##
Awash in Plastic: Oceans May Hold 250,000 Tons of Trash
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
## UK ##
Food prices 12% higher on average in real terms than in 2007
Government report shows food prices rising, while consumers trade down to cheaper brands to save money
Britons are living beyond their means, says OBR
## US ##
Minnesota is one polar vortex away from energy crisis
With a warm-up predicted for coming days, bitter cold may be a memory, but experts say propane and wood for heating and coal for generating electricity could be in short supply if this winter begins to look like last winter.
Israeli DM Vows New Settlements After Obama's Term Ends
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Eric Garner death: 76 arrested at London Westfield demo
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Eric Garner death: 76 arrested at London Westfield demo
Ecuador indigenous leader found dead days before planned Lima protest
Youth gather in front of PM's office to rally against state secrecy law (Japan)
Youth gather in front of PM's office to rally against state secrecy law (Japan)
## Energy/resources ##
SBM to Shed 1,200 Positions in Restructuring Move
Dutch oilfield services firm SBM Offshore announced Thursday that it will cut 1,200 positions out of the 10,500 people it employs worldwide by the end of 2015 as it seeks to reduce costs in a tough market environment.
Dutch oilfield services firm SBM Offshore announced Thursday that it will cut 1,200 positions out of the 10,500 people it employs worldwide by the end of 2015 as it seeks to reduce costs in a tough market environment.
It turns out that making electricity from the ocean is tougher and more expensive than people thought. Offshore generators—which include submersible turbines powered by tides and buoy-like devices that bob on the surface to capture the kinetic energy of waves—have to withstand "an incredibly harsh environment" of salt water, storms, and powerful currents... Specially designed ships are needed to install and maintain the equipment. All this drives up costs to as much as four times the cost of generating electricity from coal.
Hundreds of brick kilns stop operation for want of coal (Bangladesh)
Hundreds of brick kilns stop operation for want of coal (Bangladesh)
Energy Sector Woes Continue to Weigh on Market as Risks of Default Increase
World on drip of unconventional oil
World on drip of unconventional oil
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
## Environment/health ##
Awash in Plastic: Oceans May Hold 250,000 Tons of Trash
Drug-resistant infections to lead to 10 million extra deaths a year – report
NASA study: Vegetation decline seen in wake of drying Amazon
Mexico City sinking as aquifer exhausted
NASA study: Vegetation decline seen in wake of drying Amazon
Mexico City sinking as aquifer exhausted
U.S., Japan named least cooperative on global warming reduction
Pregnant women should avoid these household products
Pregnant women should avoid these household products
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Spanish news to vanish from Google News globally
In a decision that will reverberate around the globe, Google announced Thursday it will close Google News in Spain and block reports from Spanish publishers from more than 70 Google News international editions due to a new Spanish law requiring aggregators to pay to link content.
Police can search cellphones without warrant during arrest: court (Canada)
In a decision that will reverberate around the globe, Google announced Thursday it will close Google News in Spain and block reports from Spanish publishers from more than 70 Google News international editions due to a new Spanish law requiring aggregators to pay to link content.
Police can search cellphones without warrant during arrest: court (Canada)
America's Illusion of Free Will
The mainstream U.S. news media's narrow parameters, especially on foreign policy issues, give the American people little opportunity to engage in meaningful debate or to influence outcomes. Typically, public perceptions are managed and consensus is manufactured.
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
The mainstream U.S. news media's narrow parameters, especially on foreign policy issues, give the American people little opportunity to engage in meaningful debate or to influence outcomes. Typically, public perceptions are managed and consensus is manufactured.
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
The Oil Crash is Under Way
Japan automakers add 550,000 cars to Takata air bag recalls
This is how fast you should reply to work emails
## Japan ##
Japan bears bet on Abe victory followed by yen disaster
Japan automakers add 550,000 cars to Takata air bag recalls
This is how fast you should reply to work emails
## Japan ##
Japan bears bet on Abe victory followed by yen disaster
Increased controls, competition spell trouble for Japan producers
Anti-dumping measures, bolstered quality controls and the advances of Chinese manufacturers are creating a tough climate for Japanese steelmakers.
Anti-dumping measures, bolstered quality controls and the advances of Chinese manufacturers are creating a tough climate for Japanese steelmakers.
Nissin Frozen Foods Co. said Wednesday it will recall about 750,000 packs of frozen pasta products after some were found to contain parts of insects believed to be cockroaches.
Pinning hopes on such junk energy shows how desperate the situation is. -- RF
With an eye on China, defense spending set to rise for 3rd year in row
## China ##
Beijing may have set up South China Sea ADIZ in secret: Kanwa
## China ##
Beijing may have set up South China Sea ADIZ in secret: Kanwa
Muslim veils outlawed in Urumqi, China
China orders banks to ramp up lending to curb flagging growth
China orders banks to ramp up lending to curb flagging growth
## UK ##
Food prices 12% higher on average in real terms than in 2007
Government report shows food prices rising, while consumers trade down to cheaper brands to save money
Britons are living beyond their means, says OBR
## US ##
Minnesota is one polar vortex away from energy crisis
With a warm-up predicted for coming days, bitter cold may be a memory, but experts say propane and wood for heating and coal for generating electricity could be in short supply if this winter begins to look like last winter.
