BP Oil leak may destroy the world’s major source of food for more than 4.5 billion people
AS BP’S latest effort to stop the world’s worst environmental catastrophe fails, implications demand concern over the pending collapse of the world’s major food supply.
Fish is the staple of some 2.5 billion people on the planet!
There has been a global increase in fish consumption among both rural and city populations in the last few decades. The trend is because Nutritional standards have shown positive long-term trends, with worldwide increases in the average global calorie supply per person and in the quantity of proteins per person. However, many countries continue to face food shortages and nutrient inadequacies, and major inequalities exist in access to food, mainly owing to very weak economic growth and rapid population expansion, yet the majority of undernourished people in the world live in Asia and the Pacific, with the highest prevalence of undernourishment found in SSA, and to a large extent in the South of America
The global population in 2005 consumed over 107 million tonnes of fish, the latest date figures were available for this report.
Asia accounted for two-thirds of the total consumption, of which 36.9 million tons were consumed outside China (13.9 kg per capita), with 33.6 million tonnes in China alone (26.1 kg per capita). The corresponding per capita consumption figures for Oceania, North America, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America were 24.5, 24.1, 20.8, 9.5 and 8.4 kg, respectively.
It is estimated that fish contributes to at least 50 percent of total animal protein intake in some small island developing states, as well as in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, the Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia and Sierra Leone. The contribution of fish proteins to total world animal protein supplies rose from 13.7 percent in 1961 to a peak of 16.0 percent in 1996, before declining to 15.3 percent in 2005. Corresponding figures for the world, excluding China, show an increase from 12.9 percent in 1961 to 15.4 percent in 1989, then declining slightly to 14.7 percent in 2005. Figures for 2005 indicate that fish provided about 7.6 percent of animal protein in North and Central America and more than 11 percent in Europe. In Africa, it supplied about 19 percent, in Asia nearly 21 percent, in the LIFDCs including China about 19 percent and in the LIFDCs excluding China 20 percent. Globally, fish provides more than 1.5 billion people with almost 20 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein, and nearly 3.0 billion people with 15 percent of such protein.
Many cultures rely on fish and other sea creatures for their survival, and this BP disaster has the potential to reduce many cultures to near starvation if not worse.
Because of our greed we have placed the earth in an untenable position, with a potential to destroy all life forms. Even if we as a race are lucky enough to get beyond this BP disaster, there will be another, and another, as long as we elect officials who cater to the moneyed monopoly, rather to their own survival and ours.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
How do we define Courage?
Start with a 19 year old kid. It's November 11, 1967
He’s critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam LZ (landing zone) X-ray. His unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards away, that his CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.
He’s lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and he knows he’s not getting out. His family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and he'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, he knows this is the day. Then, suddenly - over the machine gun noise - faintly heard is the sound of a helicopter. He looks up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in to take out the wounded. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.
Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway. And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 wounded at a time on board. Then he flies this kid up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.
And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 wounded GI’s out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman,United States Air Force, died April 21, 2101 at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho ..
Where was the Media Report?
Too busy I guess reporting on the important things, like Lindsey Lohen, or Paris Hilton!
He’s critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam LZ (landing zone) X-ray. His unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards away, that his CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.
He’s lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and he knows he’s not getting out. His family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and he'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, he knows this is the day. Then, suddenly - over the machine gun noise - faintly heard is the sound of a helicopter. He looks up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in to take out the wounded. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.
Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway. And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 wounded at a time on board. Then he flies this kid up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.
And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 wounded GI’s out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman,United States Air Force, died April 21, 2101 at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho ..
Where was the Media Report?
Too busy I guess reporting on the important things, like Lindsey Lohen, or Paris Hilton!
China to teach Geithner business strategy.
Perhaps the Chinese government can teach Geithner a thing or two about how to support business.
While Washington and business groups have for some time expressed anxiety over Beijing's "indigenous innovation" policy, meant to promote “Chinese technology” by favoring domestically developed products in government procurement and other areas, which the US does not, Chinese citizens are working and US Citizens aren’t.
According to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) world factbook for 2010 China has a 4.30% unemployment rate compared to the US currently over 11.44%
Perhaps that’s the reason why so many American jobs have been lost since the mid 1980’s, our Bank bred Government economists, are lost as to how business should be supported by government because they are watching their bottom line, and not looking in the faces of Americas workers.
Government teaches that the economy is like war. And as such you never look in the face of the enemy, but the working poor in America aren’t the enemy! Those in government that support outsourcing are! Governments MUST support domestically manufactured products and technology, as China has set as a world example. By outsourcing even the weapons our service personnel use in day to day combat as well as the parts for military equipment, which is a part of the US Strategy, the government, creates a dead zone in the US economy, which has allowed a free fall in the US unemployment numbers.
All the talk in the world isn’t going to find jobs in America for Americans. And there will be no change in the US Economy until the government strategy, supported by big business, and their profit motivation, comes to grips with the reality that by sending jobs across the vast reaches of the globe, America is being reduced to yet another third world economy, while China once looked at as a back woods nation is strong enough today to financially support the US by buying our deficits financed through Bond sales.
While Washington and business groups have for some time expressed anxiety over Beijing's "indigenous innovation" policy, meant to promote “Chinese technology” by favoring domestically developed products in government procurement and other areas, which the US does not, Chinese citizens are working and US Citizens aren’t.
According to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) world factbook for 2010 China has a 4.30% unemployment rate compared to the US currently over 11.44%
Perhaps that’s the reason why so many American jobs have been lost since the mid 1980’s, our Bank bred Government economists, are lost as to how business should be supported by government because they are watching their bottom line, and not looking in the faces of Americas workers.
Government teaches that the economy is like war. And as such you never look in the face of the enemy, but the working poor in America aren’t the enemy! Those in government that support outsourcing are! Governments MUST support domestically manufactured products and technology, as China has set as a world example. By outsourcing even the weapons our service personnel use in day to day combat as well as the parts for military equipment, which is a part of the US Strategy, the government, creates a dead zone in the US economy, which has allowed a free fall in the US unemployment numbers.
All the talk in the world isn’t going to find jobs in America for Americans. And there will be no change in the US Economy until the government strategy, supported by big business, and their profit motivation, comes to grips with the reality that by sending jobs across the vast reaches of the globe, America is being reduced to yet another third world economy, while China once looked at as a back woods nation is strong enough today to financially support the US by buying our deficits financed through Bond sales.
While the Banks control Congress, the American people remain the real losers.
“The bold effort the present (central) bank had made to control the government ... are but premonitions of the fate that await the American people should they be deluded into a perpetuation of this institution or the establishment of another like it.” Andrew Jackson
It was 1836, and the central bank had attempted to take control of the Federal government, sensing the power the bank asserted over the nation and the influence its money contained over the destiny of its citizens Jackson vowed to shut the bank. He succeeded!
Now more than170 years later we find ourselves once more embroiled in a struggle against the banking interest over control of the US government and even the destiny of America as a nation. We are failing! And as we fail, we present a new decade of enslavement for not only ourselves but a season of global instability.
It was 1907, and 71 years after Jackson made the nation aware, when JP Morgan set in motion one of the greatest scams America could ever envision, the great panic leading to the passage of the Federal Reserve Act, where Wall Street took control of America.
Until this panic congress had been reluctant to allow the Banks to control the issuance of our money, mainly due to the constituency who at the time understood the real nature of Bankers and mainly held them to a high level of distrust. Morgan and his allies set in motion rumors that created an atmosphere of fright, the rumors were calculated to cause a run on New York’s prominent banks. Morgan then rode to the rescue bringing in some 100, million of Rothschild’s gold to save the day, his white horse made him a stunning figure, and continued his legend as the leading banker of his day.
But it didn’t stop there JP Morgan Jr. attempted the unthinkable, too actually over through the US government. It was 1934 and Morgan led and financed the failed attempt to over through the legitimate presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, though it failed it showed the true character of Americas leading bankers, and showed them as the real villains of American free enterprise, Morgan and his other allies such as chemical industrialist Irénée du Pont, their avowed purpose to form a fascist government.
Now that fight continues at the treasury where some want what Obama and his co-harts don’t, real Bank reform. Let’s face it Congress is completely dominated by Wall Street money and that money means influence amounting to control. Today Money buys loyalty, and there is little money on Main Street to even buy a hot dog. So the loyalty of congress and yes even the president himself goes to Wall Street insiders. Like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin reiterated Thursday that he would like to see the "Volcker rule" included in the bank reform bill now being finalized, and reconciled in congress, the thrust of the “Volcker rule” would separate banking from proprietary trading, a revisit to Glass Steagall. Since the FED under Greenspan and as he was directed by his association with JP Morgan, Glass Steagall was dumped by the FED and later by Congress and Clinton.
Yes to reinstate Glass Steagall would be a beginning, but there is so much more required. And America sadly lacks the stomach for a real fight.
It was 1836, and the central bank had attempted to take control of the Federal government, sensing the power the bank asserted over the nation and the influence its money contained over the destiny of its citizens Jackson vowed to shut the bank. He succeeded!
Now more than170 years later we find ourselves once more embroiled in a struggle against the banking interest over control of the US government and even the destiny of America as a nation. We are failing! And as we fail, we present a new decade of enslavement for not only ourselves but a season of global instability.
It was 1907, and 71 years after Jackson made the nation aware, when JP Morgan set in motion one of the greatest scams America could ever envision, the great panic leading to the passage of the Federal Reserve Act, where Wall Street took control of America.
Until this panic congress had been reluctant to allow the Banks to control the issuance of our money, mainly due to the constituency who at the time understood the real nature of Bankers and mainly held them to a high level of distrust. Morgan and his allies set in motion rumors that created an atmosphere of fright, the rumors were calculated to cause a run on New York’s prominent banks. Morgan then rode to the rescue bringing in some 100, million of Rothschild’s gold to save the day, his white horse made him a stunning figure, and continued his legend as the leading banker of his day.
But it didn’t stop there JP Morgan Jr. attempted the unthinkable, too actually over through the US government. It was 1934 and Morgan led and financed the failed attempt to over through the legitimate presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, though it failed it showed the true character of Americas leading bankers, and showed them as the real villains of American free enterprise, Morgan and his other allies such as chemical industrialist Irénée du Pont, their avowed purpose to form a fascist government.
Now that fight continues at the treasury where some want what Obama and his co-harts don’t, real Bank reform. Let’s face it Congress is completely dominated by Wall Street money and that money means influence amounting to control. Today Money buys loyalty, and there is little money on Main Street to even buy a hot dog. So the loyalty of congress and yes even the president himself goes to Wall Street insiders. Like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin reiterated Thursday that he would like to see the "Volcker rule" included in the bank reform bill now being finalized, and reconciled in congress, the thrust of the “Volcker rule” would separate banking from proprietary trading, a revisit to Glass Steagall. Since the FED under Greenspan and as he was directed by his association with JP Morgan, Glass Steagall was dumped by the FED and later by Congress and Clinton.
Yes to reinstate Glass Steagall would be a beginning, but there is so much more required. And America sadly lacks the stomach for a real fight.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wall Street Reforms Congress
The legislation intended to reform the financial system and as it passed the Senate and House have so many loopholes place in it by congresses Wall Street handlers, that this legislation is a complete sham.
Not only will it not prevent other crises and more taxpayer bailouts in the future, but it guarantees it.
The legislation is full of gaps, and loopholes, but more importantly many provisions of the Law depend on the “effectiveness” of regulatory agencies, who failed to over see the financial sector and mishandled the blooming bubble that took Wall Street and America to the brink of collapse.
A big reason for the bill's limitations is that Wall Street banks and industry groups lobbied against rules they felt would reduce Wall Streets profit-making ability, such things as derivatives, those same instruments that collapsed the mortgage security network. The financial sector's influence in Washington reflects its massive donations and lobbying efforts, what you and I ceremoniously call Bribes.
Over the past two decades, the Banks and their lobbyists have given more than $2.3 billion to federal candidates; one more time, $2.3 Billion dollars to bribe Federal Candidates.
Since 1998, this group has invested $3.8 billion in “gifts” in the form of Bribes to Washington ’s most elite,
Is there any wonder, when Congress finds itself dealing with Insurance companies, Big Pharma, Wall Street, or the Military Industrial Complex, America looses.
America needs a lobby in Washington , but not the kind we see controlling congress with lavish bribes. America needs a lobby that will intimidate the insiders, by giving money to their opposition Office seekers seem to understand one thing, ”Money” because to Washington Money brings power.
Not only will it not prevent other crises and more taxpayer bailouts in the future, but it guarantees it.
The legislation is full of gaps, and loopholes, but more importantly many provisions of the Law depend on the “effectiveness” of regulatory agencies, who failed to over see the financial sector and mishandled the blooming bubble that took Wall Street and America to the brink of collapse.
A big reason for the bill's limitations is that Wall Street banks and industry groups lobbied against rules they felt would reduce Wall Streets profit-making ability, such things as derivatives, those same instruments that collapsed the mortgage security network. The financial sector's influence in Washington reflects its massive donations and lobbying efforts, what you and I ceremoniously call Bribes.
Over the past two decades, the Banks and their lobbyists have given more than $2.3 billion to federal candidates; one more time, $2.3 Billion dollars to bribe Federal Candidates.
Since 1998, this group has invested $3.8 billion in “gifts” in the form of Bribes to Washington ’s most elite,
Is there any wonder, when Congress finds itself dealing with Insurance companies, Big Pharma, Wall Street, or the Military Industrial Complex, America looses.
America needs a lobby in Washington , but not the kind we see controlling congress with lavish bribes. America needs a lobby that will intimidate the insiders, by giving money to their opposition Office seekers seem to understand one thing, ”Money” because to Washington Money brings power.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Is High Frequency Trading “Insider Trading?”
Looking through the secret profit center behind Wall Street is like looking at wonderland through the eyes of Alice . It’s an amazing picture few ever get to see and fewer will ever understand. There are mega bucks floating everywhere. That is except into the pockets of those of us on Main Street who could use a little green coloring.
These HFT’s have been around since the 1990’s, ever fine tuning their computer software, searching for deals where the investors have not yet realized a stock is about to rise or fall, or where an exchange hasn’t provided consumers notice of a recent stock trade.
While billions of dollars are churned in mega seconds sometimes a million dollars and more in a fraction of a millisecond and on only a fraction of a penny profit. The stock market has become a fools paradise, left to the big hedge funds and their inside investors.
How do they work?
One way these traders make money is by exploiting the fact that stock indexes sometimes don't immediately reflect falling or rising prices of their component stocks. If GM shares for example rise 5 percent but an index fund that includes it such as the SPDR S&P 500 lags by a fraction of second to adjust, these HFT computers pick up the lag and buy or sell the stock in fractions of a second reaping large profits. HFT computers will “automatically” buy shares of SPDR S&P 500 at the lower price and then sell them again when they are fully valued, in other words, when the information is released to the general public.
Is this really Insider Trading, we believe it is because the information has not yet been released to the public!
This reminds me of the old days and Ben Siegel, who charged fees from bookmakers for a wire service that transmitted horse racing results. Often allowing bookmakers to lay off bets from a direct source after the race had been concluded.
It appears to be time that the SEC took a real hard look at these high frequency traders to determine if in fact they are trading on information that has not yet been made public.
Since Goldman Sachs is a part of this trading mechanism we need to take a hard look at its legitimacy.
These HFT’s have been around since the 1990’s, ever fine tuning their computer software, searching for deals where the investors have not yet realized a stock is about to rise or fall, or where an exchange hasn’t provided consumers notice of a recent stock trade.
While billions of dollars are churned in mega seconds sometimes a million dollars and more in a fraction of a millisecond and on only a fraction of a penny profit. The stock market has become a fools paradise, left to the big hedge funds and their inside investors.
How do they work?
One way these traders make money is by exploiting the fact that stock indexes sometimes don't immediately reflect falling or rising prices of their component stocks. If GM shares for example rise 5 percent but an index fund that includes it such as the SPDR S&P 500 lags by a fraction of second to adjust, these HFT computers pick up the lag and buy or sell the stock in fractions of a second reaping large profits. HFT computers will “automatically” buy shares of SPDR S&P 500 at the lower price and then sell them again when they are fully valued, in other words, when the information is released to the general public.
Is this really Insider Trading, we believe it is because the information has not yet been released to the public!
This reminds me of the old days and Ben Siegel, who charged fees from bookmakers for a wire service that transmitted horse racing results. Often allowing bookmakers to lay off bets from a direct source after the race had been concluded.
It appears to be time that the SEC took a real hard look at these high frequency traders to determine if in fact they are trading on information that has not yet been made public.
Since Goldman Sachs is a part of this trading mechanism we need to take a hard look at its legitimacy.
Political Payoff
Obama has Kept One Campaign Promise: He Shower His Friends with Money, our money!
George Soros Obama’s largest campaign contributor has become even wealthier thanks to President Obama and his share the wealth platform, unfortunately his platform doesn’t include average America .
The U.S. loaned billions of dollars to Brazil ’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to finance exploration of the huge offshore discovery in Brazil ’s Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro .
The dichotomy was that at the time America was facing its worst financial crisis, and Americans were not only losing their jobs but their homes as well. And to add insult to the injury, all oil discovered is under contract to China , so there is absolutely no benefit to America .
And what makes this even more interesting Soros Hedge Fund Bought Petrobras Stake Worth $811 Million
But it wasn’t really a surprise! In 2008 Michelle Malkin penned a column in which she described the payoffs in store for George Soros and friends if Obama were elected! Those friend’s unfortunately Waller around Wall Street.
George Soros is on target to make hundreds of millions in profit from the loan by the U.S. to Petrobas for its offshore drilling especially now.
This may be one of the biggest political payoffs by any administration that has occupied the White House.
Also of note: Stimulus spending also went largely to areas that supported Obama’s election.
But even more striking is the reality that Petrobras, Brazil 's oil conglomerate announced that it has set a single-day record for oil output producing 2.08 million barrels on April 24.
The state-controlled energy agency says it also set a monthly record for output in April by pumping an average of 2.03 million barrels of crude per day.
The company goal for the year is to average 2.1 million barrels per day once two more facilities come online this year.
As for George Soros, what a lucky break! He will now have a lot more money to provide to his favorite charity, the Democratic Party.
George Soros Obama’s largest campaign contributor has become even wealthier thanks to President Obama and his share the wealth platform, unfortunately his platform doesn’t include average America .
The U.S. loaned billions of dollars to Brazil ’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to finance exploration of the huge offshore discovery in Brazil ’s Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro .
The dichotomy was that at the time America was facing its worst financial crisis, and Americans were not only losing their jobs but their homes as well. And to add insult to the injury, all oil discovered is under contract to China , so there is absolutely no benefit to America .
And what makes this even more interesting Soros Hedge Fund Bought Petrobras Stake Worth $811 Million
But it wasn’t really a surprise! In 2008 Michelle Malkin penned a column in which she described the payoffs in store for George Soros and friends if Obama were elected! Those friend’s unfortunately Waller around Wall Street.
George Soros is on target to make hundreds of millions in profit from the loan by the U.S. to Petrobas for its offshore drilling especially now.
This may be one of the biggest political payoffs by any administration that has occupied the White House.
Also of note: Stimulus spending also went largely to areas that supported Obama’s election.
But even more striking is the reality that Petrobras, Brazil 's oil conglomerate announced that it has set a single-day record for oil output producing 2.08 million barrels on April 24.
The state-controlled energy agency says it also set a monthly record for output in April by pumping an average of 2.03 million barrels of crude per day.
The company goal for the year is to average 2.1 million barrels per day once two more facilities come online this year.
As for George Soros, what a lucky break! He will now have a lot more money to provide to his favorite charity, the Democratic Party.
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