Open Your Eyes News - Edition 43

Open Your Eyes News Radio Show - RTR FM on Tues 30th December 4am-6am WST (UK - 7pm-9pm Mon 29th GMT) http://www.rtrfm.com.au/listen Unfortunately due to the wheels of community organisations moving slowly this will be a "lite" version of the planned show with just a run through of headlines & some music, but not in-depth analysis of issues. Hopefully full sign off will be given early in the New Year.
**STOP PRESS ** New Open Your Eyes News website coming soon. Updated daily. Easier navigation. Improved layout. News for information, not entertainment.
Areas Covered Each Week:
Civil Liberties - Health - Environment - Democracy & International Relations - Economics - Science - The War on Terror - The Next War
Stories of the week:
The year of the hungry: 1,000,000,000 afflicted (The Independent)
West Australia Approves Commercial Trial of GM Canola (The West Australian)
Pilot killed in Ohio crash was Bush IT consultant (Associated Press)
Arrested UK Opposition Minister was secretly recorded by police (The Times)
Fatal flaws in Australian website censorship plan, says report (The Age)
US army ready if downturn gets out of hand (New York Post)
Prominent Scientist Fired By Gore Says Warming Alarm ‘Mistaken’ (The US Senate)
The end of the British honeybee? (The Guardian)
IMF warns of 2nd Great Depression (Associated Press)
FDNY Lieutenant admitted plan to "take down" World Trade Centre 7 live on TV on 9/11(MSNBC)
KBR knowingly exposed troops to toxic dust (CBS News)
North Korea says South seeking war, threatens "sea of fire" (AFP)

Democracy & International Diplomacy:
The year of the hungry: 1,000,000,000 afflicted
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/year-of-the-hungry-1000000000-afflicted-1213843.html
The Historian - Does your local news outlet tell you this, or feed you a diet of petty politics, reality TV, celebrities and sport?

Obama the most admired man in the world, American poll says
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/26/barack-obama-most-admired-man
The Historian - The fact that he was put there by exactly the same people/corporations who put Bush there is beside the point. I'm sure British & Australian readers will see the irony in the slogan "Time for change" (which incidentally never comes). And as the sheep are herded into their pens what do they say but "O-baaaaa-ma"

Secret of the Lusitania: Arms find challenges Allied claims it was solely a passenger ship
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1098904/Secret-Lusitania-Arms-challenges-Allied-claims-solely-passenger-ship.html
The Historian - But that means the USA & Britain were lying over the principle cause for the USA to join a war which had previously been very unpopular with the American people. At least things like that don't happen these days eh?

Pilot killed in Ohio crash was Bush IT consultant
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iv1YXgRc_JuC50GZ7oqT1tcBGF0QD956TJF80
The Historian - How "unfortunate an accident". 'Mike Connell's untimely death will haunt Karl Rove and the Republican Party. As the key witness in investigations into election fraud and the firing of US attorneys, Mike Connell informed investigators that he had received death threats. Connell's testimony threatened to lead to the indictment of Karl Rove. Key allegations in the cases that were converging on Rove were to the effect that Connell was ordered to manipulate election returns in 2004 to deliver the presidency to George W. Bush instead of John Kerry who was leading the pre-election polls. Connel was under investigation in the case of thousands of missing emails relevant to the probe into the politically motivated firing of US attorneys. Oh well never mind eh....

Speaker of House of Commons blocks inquiry into his handling of MP's arrest
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3867599/Speaker-Michael-Martin-blocks-inquiry-into-his-handling-of-Damian-Green-arrest.html

General George S. Patton was assassinated to silence his criticism of allied war leaders
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3869117/General-George-S.-Patton-was-assassinated-to-silence-his-criticism-of-allied-war-leaders-claims-new-book.html

Japan asked US to prepare for nuclear strike on China
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/3899290/Japan-asked-US-to-prepare-for-nuclear-strike-on-China.html

UNICEF says 6,000 child soldiers in Darfur
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jeUuAi4rcLUUfvylTzjlB-InsDMQ

Bush E-Mails May Be Secret a Bit Longer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/20/AR2008122002102.html?hpid=topnews

Lord Mandelson goes on holiday again with Nat Rothschild
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3918609/Lord-Mandelson-slopes-off-with-Nat-Rothschild.html

Arrested UK Opposition Minister was secretly recorded by police
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5394014.ece

Riots push Greece to the edge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7798056.stm

Bush pardons 19, commutes sentence of meth dealer
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/23/bush.pardons/?iref=mpstoryview
The Historian - "Democracy" in action.

China begins anti-piracy mission
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7799899.stm
The Historian - We will look back on events like this as the changing of the international guard as China begins to flex its military muscles on the international stage and eventually gains supremacy over the (soon to be bankrupt) USA

UK Government planning secret tax on 'nice houses'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3950038/Labour-planning-secret-tax-on-nice-houses.html

Kissinger & Nixon celebrated 1972 bombing of North Vietnam, new transcripts show
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB263/index.htm

EU spends £2bn each year on 'vain PR exercises'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/3965512/EU-spends-2bn-each-year-on-vain-PR-exercises.html
The Historian - Remind me, how many people in the 3rd World could you feed or educate for £2 billion?

Civil Liberties:
Fatal flaws in Australian website censorship plan, says report
http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/web/fatal-flaws-in-website-censorship-plan/2008/12/22/1229794328860.html

Australian Government denies trialling flawed internet filter
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24840273-15306,00.html

Web sites could get film-style ratings
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20081227/tuk-oukin-uk-britain-websites-fa6b408.html

Americans prefer news from Web to newspapers: survey
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081224183017.jxmbrdyb&show_article=1
The Historian - All the more reason for the powers that be to control the internet "more closely"

Australia reviews anti-terror laws
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h_e8UbeZngWBPCl2sq22WleL3zJw

U.S. Military Preparing for Domestic Disturbances
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/military_domestic_use/2008/12/23/164765.html

US army ready if downturn gets out of hand
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232008/business/us_army_ready_if_the_downturn_gets_out_o_145522.htm

Indian parliament passes tough new terrorism laws
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/indian-parliament-passes-tough-new-terrorism-laws/2008/12/18/1229189805491.html

Tasers are an outrage we must resist
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/johann-hari-tasers-are-an-outrage-we-must-resist-1207401.html

Mugabe unleashes wave of terror with mass abductions
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/mugabe-unleashes-wave-of-terror-with-mass-abductions-1207395.html

UK bailiffs get power to use force on debtors
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5375668.ece

Clown strip-searched by airport security guards - because they thought he was a terrorist
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1099322/PC-Konk-clown-strip-searched-airport-security-guards--thought-terrorist.html

Credit crunch Britain must learn the lessons of Nazi Germany, warns Archbishop
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1099636/Credit-crunch-Britain-learn-lessons-Nazi-Germany-warns-Archbishop.html

"Please give me an ID card" say UK citizens
http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39368026,00.htm?r=4
The Historian - Yeah, sure they do

US police could get 'pain beam' weapons
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16339-us-police-could-get-pain-beam-weapons.html

Brazil to Equip All New, Imported Cars with Tracking Devices
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7792469.stm

German Journalists Worry 'Big Brother Law' Will Kill Press Freedom
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0%2C1518%2C596807%2C00.html

Naked Man Dies After 4 Shocks From Taser Gun
http://www.click2houston.com/news/18352822/detail.html

US police use excessive force, ER docs say
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081224/hl_nm/us_police_er

NSW bus drivers angry over 'spy cameras'
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24849695-2702,00.html

Environment:
West Australia Approves Commercial Trial of GM Canola
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=admjqvHS2QKk&refer=australia

West Australian farmers eye GM wheat
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=115010

Facts melted by 'global warming'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/3883550/Facts-melted-by-global-warming.html

Blight hits world's vanilla supply
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026874.800-blight-hits-worlds-vanilla-supply.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

EU plans to impose fish quotas on amateur sea anglers
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5375688.ece
The Historian - Yes clearly individuals with a single line are the problem and not drift net trawlers

Beijing's coldest December day in 57 years
http://www.danwei.org/front_page_of_the_day/beijing_winter.php

Prominent Scientist Fired By Gore Says Warming Alarm ‘Mistaken’
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=5ef55aa3-802a-23ad-4ce4-89c4f49995d2

How kangaroo burgers could save the planet
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026873.100-how-kangaroo-burgers-could-save-the-planet.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
The Historian - Yes they probably are, though not because of "methane emissions causing global warming". More that they are 100% free range, aren't pumped full of steroids and vaccines, they are very lean, and very abundant. (and currently mainly put into pet food!)

Farmers raising a stink about possible law that could tax cow 'emissions'
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/farmers_28456___article.html/dairy_tax.html
The Historian - The "argument" is being slowly manipulated to that of mankind being the problem - (after all you emit methane and CO2, and consume all these animals. Wouldn't it be a lot better if there were a whole lot less human's - say a manageable 500 million? Slowly the mindset of the world's population is being twisted by this false religion. The question is how to get rid of the other 7.5 billion "useless eaters"?

Children's Books Use Christmas to Push Global Warming Agenda
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,472164,00.html

Fix For Global Warming? Scientists Propose Covering Deserts With Reflective Sheeting
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081222114546.htm
The Historian - Boy this global warming lark is great for gaining those hard to find research grants isn't it?

Food needs 'fundamental rethink'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7795652.stm

The end of the British honeybee?
http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=869&catID=4
The Historian - not to mention the introduction of GM crops & new pesticides that coincided with the bee disappearances

UK's holiday waste smashes all records
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/uks-holiday-waste-smashes-all-records-1213858.html

Finance & Economics:
IMF warns of 2nd Great Depression
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h6Os57hYEifFkfS0_4tWaYPMVJxQ

Japan recession deepens, China cuts rates
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4B70ME20081222?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

US housing crisis worsens as economy weakens
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BL2XS20081222?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

IMF warns of 'disturbing' UK debt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7794294.stm

Where'd bailout money go? Shhhh, it's a secret
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iaxth_ZtIpwsATVdQfVYmiuZDUigD957O4VO0

World faces "total" financial meltdown: Bank of Spain chief
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2SsVV8JJZk5ooieD_bfpKcrg_qw

Hedge funds gain access to $200bn Fed aid
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/989db158-ce30-11dd-8b30-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

Britain's job 'bloodbath'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britains-job-bloodbath-1207378.html

Repossession threat even when mortgage repayments have been paid
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/property_and_mortgages/article5385975.ece

The Federal Reserve Bank is the Reason for America's Downfall
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article7920.html

U.S. Economy: Home Prices Fall Near Depression Pace
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aQ7HBEgYCzUE&refer=economy

Central banks revolution gathers pace
http://ft.onet.pl/0%2C18977%2Ccentral_banks_revolution_gathers_pace%2Cartykul_ft.html

Britain's GDP will decline at fastest pace since the 1940’s
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/britains-gdp-will-decline-at-fastest-pace-since-the-1940rsquos-1212877.html

Gold Rises Most in a Week on Middle East, South Asia Tensions
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a6ziiuAEeEes&refer=home
The Historian - You just wait until the bombing of Iran starts in the next few months

Global oil supply will peak in 2020, says energy agency
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/15/global-oil-supply-peak-2020-prediction

Health:
Leading Psychiatrist denied Emory University Chairmanship after Revelation of Secret Financial Ties to Big Pharma
http://www.naturalnews.com/025171.html

Hairspray Exposure in Pregnant Women Increases Risk of Common Birth Defect in Boys
http://www.naturalnews.com/025168.html

Radiation 'threat' to air crews
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7775405.stm

Science & Technology:
'Sex chip' being developed by scientists
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3886862/Sex-chip-being-developed-by-scientists.html
The Historian - Away from the obvious about this article however is the worrying realisation that mind-control and manipulation technology is well advanced and is nearly at nano size. The possibilities for nefarious usage are terrifying.

Did warfare drive out-of-Africa migration?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16321-did-warfare-drive-outofafrica-migration.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Minerals suggest life could have survived on Mars
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/3836365/Minerals-suggest-life-could-have-survived-on-Mars.html

Religion:
Saving humanity from gays as important as saving the rainforest from destruction, says Pope
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1100422/Saving-humanity-gays-important-saving-rainforest-destruction-says-Pope.html
The Historian - You could never tell that he spent his formative years in the Hitler Youth could you?

Bishops attack 'immoral' British Government
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7801667.stm

The War on Terror:
FDNY Lieutenant admitted plan to "take down" World Trade Centre 7 live on TV on 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KQA1KOKrPc
The Historian - The key bit is the interview that takes place after the collapse, about a minute in. Ask yourself how could anyone have organised to bring down a 40 storey skyscraper over the course of a few hours, while WTC 1 & 2 collapsed around them?

Iraq shoe-thrower to go on trial amid new torture claims
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jekhMlbHXKWLp1_o0YVVouYrSzug

Afghan parents selling their sons to survive
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/3901941/Afghan-parents-selling-their-sons-to-survive.html

KBR knowingly exposed troops to toxic dust
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/22/cbsnews_investigates/main4683471.shtml

No evidence to convict 10,000 detainees– U.S. commander
http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=105044

Many killed by Baghdad car bomb
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7801093.stm

Afghan police die in suicide bomb
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7801381.stm

Homeland Security forecasts 5-year terror threats
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_jXJ7v4NrGgkJXDMZgAHrlB86tAD95A1JLO0

The Next War:
Suspected U.S. drones kill 7 in Pakistan
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BL0DN20081222?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

US, Ukraine risk irking Russia with strategic accord
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hJTaVBZdnCpMevQ5gF1M0rEnHhsg

Russia orders 70 strategic nuclear missiles by 2011: Report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/Russia_orders_70_strategic_nuclear_missiles_by_2011_Report/articleshow/3877857.cms

Georgia’s attack was no surprise – Rice
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/35137

Budget will decide whether Israel attacks Iran
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1048358.html

Iran urges ECO to drop dollar
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=79320&sectionid=3510213

2 alleged U.S. spies killed in Pakistan's tribal region
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/22/content_10539552.htm

USA needs nuclear explosion to turn the world into dictatorship
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/106864-0/

North Korea says South seeking war, threatens "sea of fire"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hmQFcH6EFYn4OV0in8W0lbyFvG2w

Pakistan cancels army leave as India tensions rise
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BP16V20081226?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Iranian ship to break Israel' siege of Gaza
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=79544&sectionid=351020101
The Historian - The trigger that the Israeli's have been waiting for?

Quote of the Week:

"Al-Qaida, literally "the database", was originally the computer file of the thousands of mujahideen who were recruited and trained with help from the CIA to defeat the Russians"
Robin Cook MP, British Foreign Secretary 1997 - 2001, Leader of The House of Commons 2001-2003. Writing in The Guardian, 8th July 2005.

If this is your first visit I would suggest that, after viewing the articles in this page, you click onto the "Blog Archive" on the right hand panel. Have a look at some of the previous editions too. That will give you a much fuller picture of what is happening than by simply reading what has happened in the last week.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE

Open Your Eyes News - Edition 42

**STOP PRESS** Open Your Eyes News Radio Show - RTR FM 92.1 on Tues 23rd December 4am-6am WST (UK - 7pm-9pm Mon 22nd GMT) http://www.rtrfm.com.au/listen Unfortunately due to the wheels of community organisations moving slowly this will be a "lite" version of the planned show with just a run through of headlines & some music, but not in-depth analysis of issues. Hopefully full sign off will be given early in the New Year.
**STOP PRESS 2** New Open Your Eyes News website coming soon. Updated daily. Easier navigation. Improved layout. News for information, not entertainment.
Areas Covered Each Week:
Civil Liberties - Health - Environment - Democracy & International Relations - Economics - Science - The War on Terror - The Next War
Stories of the week:
US says piracy resolution allows for air strikes in Somalia (Associated Press)
Most of us would torture others if ordered to - Study (Daily Mail UK)
Severed Mediterranean undersea cables cause internet traffic jams in Middle East (Sydney Morning Herald)
Asia to North America undersea cables cut (The Times - UK)
'Thousands made slaves' in Darfur (BBC)
World Bank President warns bailouts may hurt world's poor (Reuters)
General Electric wins $3 billion Iraqi power deal (Associated Press)
Russian air defence systems for Iran (The Hindu - India)
Netanyahu: 'Iran - greatest historical challenge' (Jerusalem Post)
Cheney authorized CIA torture tactics (LA Times)
Goldman Sachs loss not as bad as feared (Reuters)
Anger over £6.4bn bonus bonanza at four City banks (The Guardian -UK)
Nobel prize row over (HPV vaccine) pharmaceuticals firm link (Daily Telegraph - UK)
U.S. debt approaches insolvency; Chinese currency reserves at risk (Asia News)
The Bill Nobody Noticed: US National DNA Databank (Natural News)
VeriChip partners with Microsoft HealthVault (RFID News)

Democracy & International Diplomacy:
'Thousands made slaves' in Darfur
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7786612.stm

Henry Kissinger calls for a new international political order
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bKwH3kJew4&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=kissiger&emb=0&aq=f&feature=player_embedded

World Bank President warns bailouts may hurt world's poor
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4BD0YB20081214

In Athens, middle-class rioters are buying rocks. This chaos isn't over
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/14/greece-riots-youth-poverty-comment
The Historian - The taste of things to come world-wide

IMF chief issues stark violent unrest warning on economic crisis
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/16/imf-financial-crisis

Could Greece's Riots Spread to France?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1866458,00.html

UN empowers land operations against Somali pirates
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g2By-gJLrbPT2jlDBpo0ux4TKQjA
The Historian - If you read the small print Somalia is now a free-fire zone for all the major powers, irrespective of the affect this will have on Somali citizens

US says piracy resolution allows for air strikes in Somalia
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081217/pl_afp/somaliapiracyunus

Gaza families eat grass as Israel locks border
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5338014.ece

£130 million refurbishment bill for UK Ministry of Justice's new offices
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3741400/130-million-refurbishment-bill-for-Jack-Straws-new-offices.html

Nicolas Sarkozy attacks Czech refusal to fly EU flag
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/3796547/Nicolas-Sarkozy-attacks-Czech-refusal-to-fly-EU-flag.html

Canadian pro-sovereignty party pledges reluctant allegiance to the Queen
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081218.wswearing18/BNStory/politics/home

Civil Liberties:
The Bill Nobody Noticed: US National DNA Databank
http://www.naturalnews.com/025116.html

Taser's 'potentially lethal and inherently open to abuse', human rights campaigners warn, 350 dead
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/16/taser-police-guns

Taser stun gun kills California man
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/397586/1/.html

Parents, Law Enforcement Spar Over Tasers In Schools
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/12/15/story_taser.html?sid=102

A nose bleed, then children were in care
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5355521.ece
The Historian - The state knows best........

Welsh bus drivers to use DNA swabs to catch yobs
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/12/16/north-wales-bus-drivers-to-use-dna-swabs-to-catch-yobs-55578-22483701/

Former soldier held against will in care home 'treated like dissident in Stalin's Russia'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/3833598/Former-soldier-held-against-will-in-care-home-treated-like-dissident-in-Stalins-Russia.html

US children forced into cell-like school seclusion rooms
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/17/seclusion.rooms/index.html

Queensland Police defend baby swinging video charge
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/police-defend-baby-swinging-video-charge/2008/12/11/1228584982919.html

UK Town halls banned from using spy laws for petty offences
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3777902/Town-halls-banned-from-using-spy-laws-for-petty-offences.html
The Historian - As if that’ll stop them.

Discrimination against white males will soon be encouraged
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C24771759-2862%2C00.html
The Historian - Discrimination against any group, no matter how well intentioned, nearly always has unpleasant side effects, not least in the alienation of the discriminated group.

UK Police elections plan is dropped to avoid further politicisation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7789046.stm

Russian treason bill could hit Kremlin critics
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D954K4Q80&show_article=1

Russian police arrest 150 at opposition protests
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gJf4uxLpJxQdF4BN_hizEP6PRs7g

Most of us would torture others if ordered to - Study
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1097941/Most-torture-ordered-study-reveals.html

Environment:
Chocolate in peril
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026873.400-chocolate-in-peril.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
This Historian - Just when you thought there was no other angle the man made climate change religion could use...no more chocolate! This anti-CO2 message was brought to you by the Mars Corporation, which incidentally has a very strong track record of rainforest deforestation....but that’s not a problem, CO2 is...focus!

EU faces battle over fish quotas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7789182.stm

Obama' Nomination as Agriculture Secretary Has Some Wondering: Agribusiness as Usual?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/vilsacks-nomina.html

Kids Wildly Out of Touch with Natural World, BBC Survey Reveals
http://www.naturalnews.com/025064.html
However they have been well and truly indoctrinated that CO2 is the source of all environmental evil

EU leaders reach new climate deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7778787.stm
The Historian - And in doing so appease the environmental concerns of the people they should represent, and turn the attention away from the real environmental destruction that is carried out by the corporations they really represent

Australia sets new climate target
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7782919.stm ditto

Obama picks Gore advisors to drive his environmental policy
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/obama-picks-dream-green-team/2008/12/16/1229189623217.html
The Historian - Expect the mass CO12 fraud to continue apace...and all the while real pollution goes on un-noticed and un-abated

Genetically Modified Hawaii
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=genetically-modified-hawaii
The Historian - spot the Monsanto Corp press release

GM crops an aid to coping with new climate, says report
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=2&ContentID=113625
The Historian - another another Monsanto Corp sponsored report

Platinum-free fuel cell promises cheap, green power
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16275-platinumfree-fuel-cell-promises-cheap-green-power.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Is the Exxon Valdez spill site finally clean?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16280-is-the-exxon-valdez-spill-site-finally-clean.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Agent Orange found in soil in Brisbane
http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=537272
The Historian - This was being sprayed in Australia right up until the 1980's, long after its dangers were known. Hundred's of Aboriginals and farm laborers have died as a result.

Scientists Call Associated Press Report on Global Warming 'Hysteria'
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,468084,00.html

Australian Coral Reefs blooming "despite global warming"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/20/2424897.htm

The vanishing bees
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/12.17.08/cover-colony-collapse-disorder-0851.html

Brazil maps partially destroyed areas of Amazon
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/19/news/LT-Brazil-Amazon-Destruction.php

Massive crackdown on the use of scores of toxic pesticides opposed by Prime Minister
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/massive-crackdown-on-the-use-of-scores-of-toxic-pesticides-1206399.html

UK councils dumping more than 200,000 tonnes of recycling every year
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3852372/Councils-dumping-more-than-200000-tonnes-of-recycling-every-year.html

Finance & Economics:
Shock waves spread from Madoff scandal
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLF62253520081216?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
The Historian - Though this itself was a huge multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme, however it is just one part of a much larger pyramid scheme – our entire financial system. Just think about the root value of the (promissory) notes in your pocket and the electronic “wealth” in your bank account. The system itself, like all pyramid schemes is unsustainable without occasional “realignments” just as the world is experiencing at the moment. And think where the winners always are in a pyramid whenever the crashes happen. You can bet your bottom (soon to be worthless) dollar that you will be no-where near that pinnacle.

Madoff millions vanish into thin air
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7783386.stm

Goldman loss not as bad as feared
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BF3FF20081216?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
The Historian – lucky they got their bailout multi-billions before they announced this eh?

Anger over £6.4bn bonus bonanza at four City banks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/21/executive-salaries-bonuses-city-finance

Analysts say Federal Reserve has fired all shots in its armory
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article5355599.ece

US offers $19bn to rescue car giants
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24826919-462,00.html
The Historian - So $8.5 trillion, plus $19 billion equals ????? Oh yes, currency collapse, hyper-inflation, poor corporate practice, relocation of wealth from the West, and taxpayer debt from cradle to the grave.

U.S. debt approaches insolvency; Chinese currency reserves at risk
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14054&geo=1&size=A

UK government still offers refuge to pinstriped pirates through its legacy of Empire tax havens
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/16/tax-avoidance-regulators-havens

UK supermarkets' emergency plans to keep shelves full
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/14/retail-supermarkets-suppliers-credit-crunch

Alternative Currencies Grow in Popularity
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0%2C8599%2C1865467%2C00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-biztech
The Historian - Soon to be replaced by an electronic "cash-less" society. When that comes you really will become a slave to your masters who control the system (and the IT) - and ultimately the plan I'm afraid

UK house prices 'to fall by 30%'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7782939.stm

Pound 'buying less than a Euro'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7782234.stm
The Historian - The crucial paragraph: “As the pound has moved close to parity with the euro, some analysts have raised the possibility of the UK adopting the single European currency” – as I have been warning for a long time, this has always been the plan

Credit-Card Users Feel Pain as U.S. Banks Reap Gain
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap_9fTPViwzU&refer=us

Americans rich and poor pawn more to pay bills
http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE4BE10920081215

Health:
Nobel prize row over (HPV) pharmaceuticals firm link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3849620/Nobel-prize-row-over-pharmaceuticals-firm-link.html

Mystery illness paralyses girl given cervical cancer jab
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5337885.ece
The Historian - According to the official clinical research statistics which got this pharmaceutical cash-cow approved there were "no adverse reactions.....other than teenage girls being hysterical"

The Proven Cure and Prevention for Cancer the Medical Establishment Doesn't Want You to Know
http://www.naturalnews.com/025079.html

Depression hits young women in record numbers
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24811777-2702,00.html
The Historian – The two questions we must ask ourselves as a society are: 1/ How much profit are the pharmaceutical companies making out of this and what will they be prepared to do to ever increase that profit? and 2/ What wrong are we doing as a so called civilization that this is happening in the first place?

Fears raised over new vCJD wave
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7788627.stm

Nestle removes artificial additives from Australian Smarties colouring
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/classic-junk-food-gets-a-health-makeover/2008/12/19/1229189886151.html
The Historian - You as an an individual do have the power to change, you are not as somebody close to me said "An Ant, and therefore powerless" This change in Nestle's policy has been brought about by the constant campaigning of a small group of Australian parents. As Gandhi said "Whatever you do is insignificant, but it is very important that you do it"

Doctor Cleared of Harming Man to Obtain Organs
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/health/19doctor.html?em

FDA Stuns Scientists, Declares Mercury in Fish to be Safe for Infants, Children, Expectant Mothers!
http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000622_mercury_FDA_fish.html

Exercise Improves Health of Elderly with Dementia
http://www.naturalnews.com/025123.html

Children and Teenagers Found to Have Arteries of Middle Aged Adults
http://www.naturalnews.com/025096.html

Faulty gene makes children who live near power lines more likely to develop leukemia
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1099077/Faulty-gene-makes-children-live-near-power-lines-likely-develop-leukaemia.html
The Historian - Oh, so its all our fault! That's okay then.

Science & Technology:
VeriChip partners with Microsoft HealthVault
http://www.rfidnews.org/2008/11/24/verichip-partners-with-microsoft-healthvault
The Historian - There is a lot of profit to be made by micro-chipping all of us

Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/16dec_giantbreach.htm?list149424

Robot wars: The rise of artificial intelligence
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/robot-wars-the-rise-of-artificial-intelligence-1203693.html

Education:
Religion in Victorian schools to go God-free
http://www.theage.com.au/national/religion-in-schools-to-go-godfree-20081213-6xxs.html?page=-1

The War on Terror:
Cheney authorized CIA torture tactics
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-cheney16-2008dec16,0,4343941.story

Pentagon looks at plan for Guantanamo closure
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN18417475
The Historian - Great PR for Barak but look behind the headlines. Where will the detainees go now? Will it be less exposed to media attention? Will they now receive free and fair trials? Will some be sent onto regimes that have an even worse record of torture than the USA? Will those that are released be compensated for their years of false imprisonment?

Larry Silverstein to sue airlines' over his 9/11 losses
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/bc2a102fca052df941033e0e4c3a4ade.htm

Revisionist history about the Iraq war
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/14/EDDO14KPM8.DTL&feed=rss.news

Shoes thrown at Bush In Iraq
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081214/twl-bush-in-the-line-of-fire-in-iraq-3fd0ae9.html
The Historian - What the mainstream media isn't telling you is what the chap said - “This is the farewell kiss you dog….this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” Of note also why the very slow reaction of the secret service agents, who normally would have had Dubya bundled away under a mass of bodies within seconds.

Nobody threw shoes at Brown – but his guilt is still undeniable
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-nobody-threw-shoes-at-brown-ndash-but-his-guilt-is-still-undeniable-1202268.html

'I was still holding my grandson's hand - the rest was gone'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/afghanistan-taliban-us-foreign-policy
The Historian - More Afghani collateral damage

British troops in 'mock execution' claim
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-troops-in-mock-execution-claim-1067056.html

Terrorism adviser to Metropolitan Police is on Interpol wanted list
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article5342730.ece

Blackwater 'could lose Iraq role'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7788641.stm
The Historian - Sure it could, and I’m the Queen of Sheba

Cheney still insists that Saddam Hussein could have produced weapons of mass destruction
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/dec/16/dick-cheney-iraq-war-wmd

Despite the optimism, Iraq is close to the edge
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/21/iraq-georgebush

General Electric wins $3 billion Iraqi power deal
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j7152EDjg4GkdC1s7FTsbSxwCjGA

Up to 30,000 new U.S. troops in Afghanistan by summer
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BJ15K20081220?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

The Next War:
India 'entered Pakistan airspace'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7782101.stm

Pakistan 'linked to 75% of all UK terror plots', warns Gordon Brown
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5339975.ece

U.S. and UAE forge nuclear cooperation deal
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-gulfnukes16-2008dec16,0,7245940.story
The Historian - Do you think the Iranians and Russians see the irony here?

Severed cables cause internet traffic jams in Middle East
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/severed-cables-cause-internet-traffic-jams/2008/12/20/1229189923604.html
The Historian - The same thing happened last year and it later emerged that it was the US military. Is this preparing the ground for the war with Iran?

Asia to North America undersea cables cut
http://timesonline.typepad.com/technology/2008/12/is-the-internet.html

Iran says has proof U.S., UK back police killer group
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081213/ts_nm/us_iran_jundollah

Barak claims Iran would nuke US
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=78785&sectionid=351020202

Russian air defence systems for Iran
http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121977771500.htm

Netanyahu: 'Iran - greatest historical challenge'
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728256365&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Iran says has proof U.S., UK back police killer group
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BC15X20081213
The CIA and MI5 have never done anything like before have they?

Quote of the Week:

"It has been said that each generation must win its own struggle to be free"
- Robert F.Kennedy


If this is your first visit I would suggest that, after viewing the articles in this page, you click onto the "Blog Archive" on the right hand panel. Have a look at some of the previous editions too. That will give you a much fuller picture of what is happening than by simply reading what has happened in the last week.

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