The John James Newsletter 120
28 May 2016
The victor will never be asked if he told the truth
Adolf Hitler
When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law
Frederic Bastiat
Men occasionally stumble on the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened
Winston Churchill
A Conquered People: The New Serfs
Americans have lost the Bill of Rights that protect their liberty. Anyone, other than the One Percent can be picked up without charge and detained indefinitely. Only those with power are safe. In America anyone not politically protected can be declared associated with terrorism and taken out by a drone from a list of human targets drawn up by the president’s advisers. Due process, guaranteed by the US Constitution, no longer exists. Neither does the constitutional prohibition against the government spying on citizens without a court warrant. The First Amendment itself, the importance of which was emphasized by our Founding Fathers by making it the First Amendment, is no longer protected by the Supreme Court. Whistleblowers are imprisoned despite their legal protection in US law.
http://thedailycoin.org/2016/05/23/americans-a-conquered-people-the-new-serfs/
Silencing the United States as It Prepares for War
The record of perfidy is so mutated in the public mind that it “never happened …Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. It didn’t matter … “.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44755.htm
Russia, China Placing Heavy Bets on ‘Petro-Yuan’
After the West imposed economic sanctions against Moscow, Russia and Beijing established a powerful energy alliance which changed the global oil market. In addition to increasing trade operations with oil and gas, the two countries are set to challenge dominance of the US dollar in setting prices for crude. Instead of humiliating Russia, the economic war started by Washington and Brussels has contributed to strengthen energy ties between Moscow and Beijing
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44712.htm
Eurasia: China and Russia is Where It’s Happening
In May, 2014 the Russian East Route pipeline deal, a $400 billion agreement. November 2014 the West Route to connect gas fields in western Siberia with northwest China, a priority and to be finished in six years.
http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/25/eurasia-china-and-russia-is-where-its-happening/
The average length of “displacement” is now 17 years
The humanitarian system is cracking under perpetual crisis. 125 million in need, 60 million displaced by conflict and oppression. While Iraq, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen account for a fraction, hundreds of thousands have been displaced by conflict in Ukraine, Central African Republic, and Somalia and massive droughts in Ethiopia and India.
$60,000 for each refugee
Syrian refugees are due to arrive in Australia by Christmas under the emergency humanitarian intake, after passing stringent health and security tests and promising to support Australian values.
Australia will be paying $70,000 for each asylum seeker that arrives
Refugees aren’t the only immigration issue
Australia’s current annual permanent immigration program of 200,000 dwarfs our humanitarian intake of 14,000 refugees. Due largely to immigration, Australia is now on track to double its population by 2050 to more than 40 million people, despite little real discussion and certainly no mandate for this dramatic change.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/refugees-arent-the-only-immigration-issue-20160525-gp3v70.html
US reports first case of bacteria resistant to antibiotic of last resort
‘It is the end of the road for antibiotics unless we act urgently,’ says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after superbug infects Pennsylvania woman
Australia scrubbed from UN climate change report after government intervention
All mentions of Australia were removed from the final version of a Unesco report on climate change and world heritage sites after the Australian government objected as it could impact on tourism.
National Spelling Bee ends in a tie – but co-winner denies flubbing on purpose
Twice, Jairam missed a word, giving Nihar a chance to seal the title. Both times, Nihar followed up with his own flub. After each nailed his final two words, Nihar, from Austin, Texas, and Jairam, from Painted Post, New York, were declared co-champions. It was the third year in a row that the bee ended in a tie.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/26/national-spelling-bee-tie-jairam-hathwar-nihar-janga
China to send nuclear-armed submarines into Pacific
To help penetrate US missile defences, China has started putting multiple warheads on its largest missile, the DF-5, that has set alarm bells ringing in the Pentagon, where some analysts view it as the first step towards a massive nuclear armament drive aimed at obliterating the US arsenal.
What’s behind Beijing’s drive to control the South China Sea?
China’s startling attempt to assert control over vast waters has alarmed nearby countries and escalated tensions with the US. Howard W French reports from Hainan, the island at the heart of Xi Jinping’s expansionist ambitions
A project that may interest you:
Zero Carbon Coaching Clinic
Designed to be a festive, interactive space for you and your community to explore your options to get to net zero carbon. The event is designed to be replicated in cities, counties and states throughout the US until the Race to Zero Carbon is won.
http://fp2w.org/blog/article/zccc-may-21
Can OPEC Agree on Oil Production Policy?
The conflicting geopolitical interests of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia explain the failure to reach an agreement in Doha.
http://lobelog.com/can-opec-agree-on-oil-production-policy/
Nuclear Standoff in South Asia
India’s economy is now nine times larger than Pakistan’s. Pakistan can produce from 14-27 warheads annually, whereas India can only produce 2-5 warheads per year.
http://thecipherbrief.com/article/asia/nuclear-standoff-south-asia-1095
Santiago’s subway system will soon be powered mostly by solar and wind energy
The solar plant will be built by SunPower, based in San Jose, California and majority owned by oil company Total.
http://qz.com/691078/santiagos-subway-system-will-soon-be-powered-mostly-by-solar-and-wind-energy/
Adani identifies 650MW large-scale solar projects in Australia
It still wants to proceed with Carmichael coal mine, but sais solar is better financial deal than coal.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/adani-identifies-650mw-large-scale-solar-projects-in-australia-75303
When you divest this is to be expected
Exxon Shareholders Rejected Climate Change Proposals
Investors were hoping to force Exxon to add a climate expert to its board, to enact a policy to avoid 2°C warming, to increase capital distributions, and to report on the impact climate change policies worldwide to the company’s bottom line.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/05/25/3781929/exxon-votes-against-climate-action/
Where is Turkey Headed?
The recent sacking of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, coupled with recently passed parliamentary bills and laws, confirms that Turkey is headed for one-man dictatorial rule.
http://lobelog.com/where-is-turkey-headed/#more-34318
Erdogan Nears Absolute Power With Appointment Of Puppet Premier, Stripping MPs Of Immunity
Donald Trump would allow Keystone XL pipeline and end Paris climate deal
Trump pledged to cancel the Paris climate agreement, endorsed drilling off the Atlantic coast and said he would allow the Keystone XL pipeline to be built in return for “a big piece of the profits” for the American people.
Coalition’s great big climate hoax turns to outright denial
Direct Action has already been described as a hopeless waste of money handing out funds to people largely doing things they were intending to do anyway. The safeguards component is so generous it allows polluters to emit at their highest levels for the last six years without question.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/coalitions-great-big-climate-hoax-turns-to-outright-denial-53810
Leaked Transcripts Detail How Elite Orchestrated Overthrow in Brazil
Revelations detail pact between government, military, and oil executives The discussion took place in March, just weeks before Brazil’s lower House voted to impeach the democratically-elected Rousseff.
Networks discover that rooftop solar is no longer the enemy
It’s taken a few years, but it appears that the Australian electricity network operators have had an epiphany. The business is not about them after all, it’s all about the customer.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/networks-discover-that-rooftop-solar-is-no-longer-the-enemy-52651
US Credit Card Debt Nears $1 Trillion Record Level
The all-time peak for national credit card debt was $1.02 trillion in July 2008, indicating that many Americans have already forgotten the lessons of the Great Recession.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-credit-card-debt-nears-202844955.html
Fukushima clean-up chief still hunting for 600 tonnes of melted radioactive fuel
The location of the highly radioactive blobs remains a mystery. Robots sent into the reactor have been disabled by radiation
The Desperate Plight Of Petro-States
Increases in energy efficiency, the spread of affordable wind and solar, slowing economic growth, and concern over climate change will continue to damper demand. Meanwhile, the oil industry — now equipped with fracking technology and other advanced extractive techniques — will continue to boost supplies. It’s a formula for keeping prices low.
http://www.countercurrents.org/klare260516.htm
Scientists say proposed cuts could “wipe out” solar research in Australia
The Coalition has proposed to remove $1.3 billion of unspent funds from ARENA and revoke its ability to issue grants Labor says it will reserve $300 million of funding for large scale solar thermal projects and community energy, but will then cut the remaining $1 billion of grant funding.