1 of 51
The John James Newsletter 84
|
Inbox
|
x |
|
8:15 AM (21 minutes ago)
 |
|
|||
The John James Newsletter 84
10 October 2015
When those who are honestly mistaken learn the truth, they will either cease being mistaken, or cease being honest. They cant do both.Anonymous
Fiji PM Warns Of Syria-Style Refugee Crisis If Rich Nations Don’t Do More On Climate
Frank Bainimarama has taken aim at advanced nations for ignoring the plight of Pacific Islanders in pursuit of short-term economic growth.
Sanders Condemns ‘Disastrous’ TPP as Ministers Seal Deal for Corporate Elite
Critics say the pact will raise the price of essential drugs, drive industrial scale agribusiness, and threaten workers rights. Most of the global economy will be subject to corporate courts in which governments can be sued for protecting the public interest from corporate greed; Medicine prices will rise as Big Pharma gets more power to monopolize markets; Small farmers will suffer from unfair competition with industrial scale agribusiness.
No wonder this has been agreed in secret.
TPP agreement slammed as ‘betrayal’ of environment, boon for fossil fuelsWhat Sovereign Rights Did We Just Sign Away?The Greens worry the deal will expose Australia to litigation from multinational corporations under its Investor-State Dispute Settlement clauses.Pro-Corporate TPP Could Kill the InternetGlobal Internet censorship will criminalise online activities, censor the Web, and Internet Service Providers would be required to ‘police’ YOU, take down Internet content, and cut you off from Internet access.
China’s 3,000-Acre Aircraft Carriers Could Change the Balance of Power in the Pacific
Thus far — and construction continues — China has created nearly 3,000 acres of land out of the ocean. Just consider that the highly touted and massive US aircraft carriers (from which can launch a wing of more than 70 jets and helicopters) are only 5 acres of flattop. Are these artificial islands similar to hundreds of unsinkable aircraft carriers in the South China Sea? That shifts the balance between the two competing militaries.
In South China Sea, a Tougher US StanceRejecting China’s “Great Wall of Sand,” the US Navy concludes that failing to sail and fly close to the outposts would signal that Washington tacitly accepts Beijing’s far-reaching territorial claims.
Half of Europe opts out of new GM crop scheme
14 countries and three regions would make two-thirds of Europe’s population and arable land GM-free
Solar Company Announces Huge Step Forward In Efficiency
Residential solar company SolarCity announced Friday that its Buffalo, New York “gigafactory” will be producing solar panels that are more efficient — and 30% more powerful — than its previous version.
Syrian Battle Lines Create Tough Questions In Geopolitics
Whatever news is coming from the region bears uncertainty and increased tension with far-reaching implications in geopolitics. Many of the major geopolitical-players in the region are finding it difficult to estimate the total account.
US, Allies Blast Russia For Attacking Al Qaeda In SyriaObama says Russia “doesn’t distinguish between ISIL and a moderate Sunni opposition that wants to see Mr. Assad go… From their perspective, they’re all terrorists.”
Is Russia Repeating Cold War Mistakes in Syria?
US reluctance to be more assertive in Syria: A strategic necessity born out of war weariness and a lack of attractive options or an overall strategic retreat from the region.Putin Risks Enraging ‘the Entire Sunni World’Russia’s stepped up efforts in the country have infuriated the Sunni Arab governments of the region, which have long called for Assad to step down and pressured the US to bolster support for Syria’s rebels.Iran claims Russia has started delivery of S-300 missile defence systemThe S-300 is capable of tracking multiple planes at once and some versions have an interception range of 200 kilometers. It is considered to be one of the most sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons in the world.
Russian ‘volunteer’ forces headed for Syriamore than 600 Russian military personnel were already on the ground in Syria, not counting aircrews, and that tents for nearly 2,000 people had been seen at Russia’s air base near Latakia.
Israeli gunfire injures roughly 500 Palestinians during West Bank clashes
Violent clashes have erupted between Palestinian youths and Israeli troops in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Palestine: A Land in FragmentsMore than 200 Israeli farms occupy the West Bank, plus military zones and highways. The West Bank is no longer a viable or contiguous state. The Palestinians are being squeezed out like pips.Why the violence? Watch how their land has been annexed and eaten away leaving the Palestinians without identity or governance. What’s left?
Deforestation, Argentina
A series of NASA then and now images of the 1972-2009 period of agricultural “annexation” of the Amazon.
NSW town provides blueprint for 100% renewable energy communities
Uralla has outlined plans to go 100% renewable energy, in a government-sponsored blueprint that could become the model of many other towns. The Zero Net Energy Town – the Uralla Case study – describes a two-stage process that the town could adopt “zero net energy”. Two dozen towns in the state have already expressed interest.
Hunt says “inevitable” large numbers will quit grid with battery storage
Hunt will use the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to help accelerate the deployment of battery storage in Australia.
Counting the lost, one by one, in Syria’s Book of the Dead
You can say ‘100,000 people have died’ in two seconds, but will take 72 hours to read all their names.”
Ruminations of an Afghan Girl Burning to Death in a Hospital Bed
Physical pain makes clear-thinking and generous thinking more difficult, until death appears in front of you, and then the physical pain is as nothing.
The Chinese are taking over the movie business by sheer force of numbers
China is opening 100 new screens each week, and has grown by an average of 30% every year for the last 10 years. The US has 40,000 screens and its once mighty domestic movie market is shrinking, Chinese could grow to 160,000 screens in the next 30 years. China is already the number two movie market in the world, behind US domestic (which includes Canada). Five years ago, China was eighth.
10 Million at Risk of Hunger Due to Climate Change and El Niño
The production of maize, Malawi’s staple food, has dropped by 30% in 2014, while prices have risen 100%.
Denmark: Poverty And Inequality Are On The Rise
The number of homeless people has increased by 23% since 2009. Denmark is losing its egalitarian luster.
We Need To Fight The Coup Plotters
South America’s largest country, Brazil, has been rocked by a political crisis fuelled by a mass protest movement calling for the dismissal of centre-left president Dilma Rousseff. The protests come as the country officially moves into recession, with Brazil’s economy expected to contract this year by 2%.
The Gun Smuggler’s Lament
Libya is torn apart by two warring governments and a web of rival militias. This is the story of a failed revolution and the people it engulfed. If you wonder what the recent history has been of that sorry country, read here
The World Beard and Moustache Championships