Category: Archive

George Bush is dead to me

admin /11 July, 2006

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2006/07/07/notes070706.DTL

– By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

It is like some sort of virus. It is like some sort of weird and painful rash on your face that makes you embarrassed to walk out the door and so you sit there day after day, waiting for it to go away, slathering on ointment and Bactine and scotch. And yet still it lingers.

Some days the pain is so searing and hot you want to cut off your own head with a nail file. Other days it is numb and pain-free and seemingly OK, to the point where you think it might finally be all gone and you allow yourself a hint of a whisper of a positive feeling, right up until you look in the mirror, and scream.

George W. Bush is just like that.

Toowoomba’s business community supports recycle wastewater scheme

admin /10 July, 2006

Toowoomba’s business community supports a controversial scheme to recycle wastewater from the town’s sewage treatment plant, according to a new survey, reported The Courier-Mail (7 July 2006 p10).

Substantial minority holds reservations: However, 40 per cent of businesses polled by the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce were still against the idea, only 22 days before residents vote on the issue.

Opponents of recycling accused of "scare tactics": The result came amid claims opponents of water recycling had been "push polling" voters. This is where people are asked their opinion of a scenario which will not happen in an effort to scare them.

But will council have to raise rates? Council chief executive Phil Spencer said there had been several complaints about people claiming to be polling on behalf of the council. Council has not warned that it would raise rates if the recycling scheme was defeated although its "second-best" option, pumping water from Wivenhoe Dam, would cost $47 million more than water recycling.

Many businesses optimistic: Chamber of Commerce president Ian Anderson said about 57 per cent of businesses polled thought recycling would benefit them.

The Courier Mail, 7/7/2006, p. 10

Source: Erisk Net  

Claim of `well orchestrated campaign’ to bring East Timorese Alkatiri Government down

admin /10 July, 2006

According to journalist John Martinkus, author of several books, including A Dirty Little War: An Eyewitness Account of East Timor’s Descent into Hell 1997-2000 (Random House, 2001), Mari Alkatiri’s resignation was the culmination of a long-planned attack. Confirmation of what Alkatiri said: "Three weeks ago in East Timor I was given information from senior members Continue Reading →

Bores to rescue dry Sydney

admin /10 July, 2006

The NSW Government has released a new report, ‘Groundwater: Investigations for Drought Water Supply,’ detailing the results of an 18-month search for aquifers in the Sydney region, reported The Sydney Morning Herald (1/7/2006, p.11). 400GL under Sydney: Scientists with the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) estimated that there are around 400 billion litres of water in Continue Reading →

Offshore drilling rigs flee Gulf of Mexico

admin /9 July, 2006

This week the case for doing oil business with Cuba was further reinforced by a report in The Wall Street Journal showing offshore drilling rigs are leaving US waters in the Gulf of Mexico for better paying work in more prospective areas of the world, reported The Australian (7/7/2006, p.22).

Gulf oil rigs shrink from 148 to 90 in five years: In 2001 there were 148 oil rigs in the Gulf compared with 90 today. With more expected to leave soon, it is predicted Gulf production declines will be accelerated, putting more upward pressure on US domestic energy prices.

Gulf region supplies 25pc of US oil and gas but production falls: The Gulf region produces 25 per cent of US oil and gas but oil production fell alarmingly by 19 per cent between 2003 and 2005. This when the US urgency for more reserves it can call its own has never been greater.

Crunch time for gas exploration: The oil rig exodus is expected to be felt hardest in gas exploration. Many of the rigs leaving are shallow water "jack-up" rigs used for gas exploration. This is a major problem for two reasons: Gulf gas reservoirs are often quickly exhausted, requiring energy companies to keep drilling to maintain production; and gas prices are tipped to rise from about $US6 per million BTUs (British thermal units) today to $US10 by the end of next year.

Cuban waters entice US companies: So the presence of familiar US companies in Cuba’s enticing, unexplored waters may be just the lure needed to keep this vital energy infrastructure close to home and working to find supplies the US needs to establish greater energy self-reliance.

Cuba… or Iran? Some of the alternatives for the US are not all that attractive. The world’s second-largest reserves of natural gas are in Iran.

The Australian, 7/7/2006, p. 22

Source: Erisk Net  

Dirty Secrets of the US Federal Bank

admin /9 July, 2006

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=LEN20060701&articleId=2712

By Stephen Lendman

Years ago I read William Greider’s excellent book published in 1987 on how the US Federal Reserve System works.  It was detailed and explicit and makes wonderful and informative reading, except for the solution he suggests to a huge problem.  His was far too timid.  This article proposes a much different one.  Greider called his book Secrets of the Temple with a sub-title: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country.  A better sub-title might have been how the Fed (and other key central bankers) runs the world.  This article attempts to summarize what it does, how it does it, for whose benefit and at whose expense.  For those who don’t know, prepare for some stunning information and commentary.