The John James Newsletter 121
4 June 2016
When the government fears the People, that is Liberty. When the People fear the Government, that is tyranny
Thomas Jefferson
Seven Economic Problems Bigger Than Budget ‘Black Holes’
By focusing on phoney debates about deficits and costings, the major parties and the media are obscuring the big picture. Instead of playing political games, these are the issues we should be talking about,
https://newmatilda.com/2016/05/27/seven-economic-problems-bigger-than-budget-black-holes/
Success in Speaking out in defence of science: Great Barrier Reef & climate change
We reached millions of Australians via 260 media stories, including 50 big international stories.
http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/reefgate-update
Climate change risks threaten home values
Research by the Climate Institute warns the potential damage bill from coastal erosion is conservatively estimated at $88 billion, excluding the value of land. More than 2% of all houses are already exposed to risks of flooding.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-30/climate-change-risks-threaten-home-values/7458144
and the report itself
The Future Is Here!
In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide. Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they got bankrupt. What happened to Kodak will happen in a lot of industries in the next 10 year – and most people don’t see it coming
http://www.liftingtimes.com/economy/the-digital-future/
Will humans be banned from driving?
The shared mobility market promises to upend huge industries – auto, oil and personal experience – into a new commodity, shared services. Human driving may be seen as a major health and safety risk that can be addressed by technology.
Enter the Robots
In 28 states “truck driver” is the most common job. What happens to them when self-driving trucks are on the roads? Automated trucks will be safer and cheaper and will use less fuel. So, millions of truck drivers will be dropped out of the deal, and probably fairly soon. Wendy’s just ordered 6,000 self-service ordering kiosks to be installed, and KFC’s first automated restaurant went live April 25.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-25/system-wont-survive-robots
The Bomb Didn’t Beat Japan… Stalin Did
Among the number of people killed in all 68 cities bombed in the summer of 1945, Hiroshima was second in terms of civilian deaths. If you chart the number of square miles destroyed, you find that Hiroshima was fourth. If you chart the percentage of the city destroyed, Hiroshima was 17th. Hiroshima was clearly within the parameters of the conventional attacks carried out that summer.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/30/the-bomb-didnt-beat-japan-stalin-did/
A Russian Warning
In a war between the US and Russia it is guaranteed that the US would be obliterated. There would be no electric grid, no internet, no oil and gas pipelines, no interstate highways, no air transportation or GPS-based navigation. Financial centers would lie in ruins. Government at every level would cease to function. US armed forces, stationed all around the globe, would no longer be resupplied. At worst, the entire landmass of the US would be covered by a layer of radioactive ash.
http://thesaker.is/a-russian-warning/
Are these three connected?
UK to stockpile tanks in Eastern Europe
https://www.rt.com/news/344751-uk-tanks-eastern-europe/
Sweden votes to allow Nato to deploy forces in the country
http://www.thelocal.se/20160525/sweden-votes-yes-to-controversial-nato-deal
Russia ready to help Islamic world counter global threats
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=12973
A Court You’ve Never Heard of Is About to Raise the Stakes in the South China Sea
An international tribunal’s decision will reorder the tense chess game over the South China Sea — and test Washington’s commitment to the Philippines.
China’s New Silk Road Into Europe Is About More Than Money
Beijing is spending billions on new ports and rail lines, but its ambitions for Europe are as much about geopolitics as commerce. Several of Europe’s biggest countries supported China’s creation of a new international development bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, despite heated objections from the United States.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/06/01/chinas-new-silk-road-into-europe-is-about-more-than-money/
99.2% of new electricity production capacity came from renewables during first quarter of 2016.
http://cleantechnica.com/2016/05/31/renewables-99-new-electricity-capacity-q1-2016-usa/
Melbourne wastes 200 kg of food per person a year
Food waste is expensive, costing the average household over A$2,200 a year, and it undermines the resilience and sustainability of our food supply.
Israel’s Future is Terrifying: Moshe Ya’alon and Israel’s Disconcerting ‘Morality’
Israeli society is constantly swerving to the Right and is now ruled by the most extreme rightwing government in history.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44781.htm
Four People Were Sued for $30 Million for Trying to Stop a Toxic Landfill
The defendants are being sued by Green Group Holdings for speaking out against the hazardous coal ash that the company keeps in a landfill in a residential area—a “sprawling dump” that stands as a symbol of racial and environmental injustice.
Coalition’s transition plan: Build a new mega coal mine
The Coalition has restated its commitment to major coal projects like the Carmichael mega mine, to meet what it describes as soaring global demand for the fossil fuel that is inextricably linked to dangerous global warming.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/coalitions-transition-plan-build-a-new-mega-coal-mine-15392
Queensland government doubles large scale solar target
It will provide long term financial support for 120MW of large scale solar farms to fast-track the sector in the state.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/queensland-government-trebles-large-scale-solar-target-18757
Solar panels and battery systems power off-grid living as a lifestyle choice
France Paralyzed by the ‘War of the Lefts’
France is semi-paralyzed – from dockworkers in the port of Le Havre (a key trade hub) to workers in refineries, oil depots, nuclear power stations (= 75% national electricity supply), airports, and the metropolitan Paris rail system.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44770.htm
The Truth About Syria: A Manufactured War Against An Independent Country
The people of the world should ask Western leaders: Isn’t five years of civil war enough? Is overthrowing the Syrian government really worth so much suffering and death?
https://www.mintpressnews.com/truth-syria-manufactured-war-independent-country-2/216688/
UK Trains or Arms Half the Countries on Its List of Human Rights Abusers:
UK armed forces have trained security and armed forces personnel from 16 of 30 regimes who are on a Foreign Office watch list for use of torture and violence.
http://theantimedia.org/uk-sells-arms-human-rights-abusers
FBI Will Make A Huge Move Against Hillary Clinton
“One way or another either she’s going to be indicted and that process begins, or we try her in the public eye with her campaign. One way or another she’s going to have to face these charges.”
http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/breaking-fbi-is-ready-to-indict-hillary-rodham-clinton/
6 Giant Corporations Control The Media: Americans Consume 10 Hours Of ‘Programming’ A Day
If you allow someone to pump hours of “programming” into your mind every single day, it will inevitably have a major impact on how you view the world. In America the average person consumes 10 hours a day from 6 giant media corporations that overwhelmingly dominate that market. 90% of the “programming” comes from them
Target Russia. Target China. Target Iran
China is operating with a balance sheet equivalent to $60 trillion. Loans from external sources is about $11 trillion while cash is above $3.6 trillion. This cash is the biggest discretionary force in the hands of China’s leaders while nothing worth mentioning is in the hands of any other Western government.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44779.htm
India’s $500 Million Bet on Iran
Plan to spend $500 million on a new port complex on Iran’s Indian Ocean coast caps a decade-long quest to find a way to get sorely needed supplies of energy— and outflank Pakistan and to elbow its way into the economic and diplomatic jockeying that is reshaping Central Asia.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/31/indias-500-million-bet-on-iran/
1,000,000,000 Birds – Just Gone
The first State of North America’s Birds report finds that of 1,154 bird species that live and migrate in North America, 432 are of “high concern” due to shrinking ranges, habitat loss, invasive predators and climate change.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/5/20/1528745/-1-000-000-000-Birds-Just-Gone
World’s Low-Cost Economy Built on the Backs of 46 Million Modern Day Slaves
Business leaders who refuse to look into the realities of their own supply chains are irresponsible. A modern slave cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, abuse of power. Victims of human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, sex trafficking, forced marriage. 60% are in five countries: India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan.
Trump University ‘playbooks’ offer glimpse of ruthless business practices
An unprecedented glimpse into the ruthless business practices Donald Trump used to build his business empire.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/31/donald-trump-university-playbook-real-estate-courses
This is why We Need to Stand Up for the Planet
Polar bears are pictured emaciated and marooned on melting sheets of ice.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/sun-setting-on-the-polar-bear-population/
