Open Your Eyes News - Edition 33

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.

Areas Covered Each Week:
Civil Liberties - Health - Environment - Democracy & International Relations - Economics - Science - The War on Terror - The Next War

Stories of the Week:
900 million face starvation - Oxfam http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hiEux9nVHdQowcSWbh8H_ls3uFOQ
Morally, ethically and financially would it be a/ better to bail of fat cat bankers with trillions of dollars and give them just a mere slap on the writs, or b/ feed, clothe, house and educate the entire world's population?

US bites the bullet with an 'aggressive' $250bn bank bail-out http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/15/wall-street-bank-shares
This is on top of last week's $700b (minimum), and the hundred's of billions already paid (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, etc), and the hundred's of billions the Europeans and British have suddenly "injected into the system. Lucky they had so much spare cash hidden under the bed for a rainy day eh? In the real world that money has to come from somewhere – extra government (& therefore taxpayers) debt – which is created by printing more money – which causes more inflation – say goodbye to your savings, the long forgotten dragon is back, and it will be staying for quite a time to come.

Civil Liberties:
No opt-out of filtered Australian Internet
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id%3b1399635276
The question you should ask yourself is should the state have the power to control what you see on the net or should it be free access – the problem could be that this becomes the thin edge of the wedge and overtime other, say political, sites might become black-listed, the only problem is that by the time that happens you wouldn’t know as the information wouldn’t be accessible.

Documents show Australian Federal Police out to get Haneef 'by any means'
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24508855-2702,00.html

US states are spying on political activists and classifying them as terrorists in order to stifle protest
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/15/terrorism-civil-liberties-surveillance

ID cards plan in crisis as the 'guinea pigs' revolt
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/12/idcards
Once the MC Saatchi PR agency hired to get this "accepted" gets to work I'm afraid it is highly likely that this opposition will be brushed aside.

UK Peers throw out 42-day detention
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7666022.stm
A small victory for British democracy – ironically coming from a totally un-democratic 100% appointed (not elected) upper chamber of Parliament. But is it a pyrric victory?

Home Secretary resurrects 42-days after Lords rejection
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/14/42_days_defeat/
If at 1st you don't succeed.......

UK faces major terror plot, warns minister - just hours after Government ditches 42-day detention plan
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gFA7B1NXaj1yTHGPF7HSpVhY-ORAD93QHI8G0

Cover-up claim as Special Branch officer admits changing evidence at de Menezes inquest
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ietn-hv5uJ-Z0AwOMXCEWWJd5lXw

CNN anchor highlights threat of martial law following economic crisis
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0810/13/gb.01.html
at last someone in the mainstream media asking questions that others have been asking for weeks now. If you can't find the question in the transcript select Find and search for "martial"

UK police may get more data collection powers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7671046.stm

White House memos endorsed CIA waterboarding says report
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20081015/tpl-uk-security-interrogation-memos-81f3b62.html

UK will soon be a country more spied upon than Communist East Germany under the Stasi
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1078026/STEPHEN-GLOVER-This-soon-country-spied-Communist-East-Germany.html

UK database would 'stop terrorists'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7674775.stm
Yeah, sure it would

Security services want personal data from sites like Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/15/terrorism-security

Ugandans ban female circumcision
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=74061
Shouldn't foreign aid be reliant on these factors not how much of their state operations we can buy on the cheap and how much wealth the local strong man can accumulate?

Pentagon Considering Portable ‘Pain Ray’ Guns
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/pain_ray_gun/2008/10/14/140279.html

Airport admits 'strip search' body scanners WILL show people naked
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077800/Airport-admits-strip-search-body-scanners-WILL-people-naked.html
Scariest entry on a comments section of the week ""I don't mind that all that they will see me naked. It is important to check people and if this helps then all for the good. However, I notice that it is a low grade X-ray and I am concerned that if pregnant that this might hurt the baby. Will pregnant women have the option of being strip searched instead?"!!!

Free US nationwide Wi-Fi network to censor, amongst other things, political websites
http://www.dailytech.com/Fight%2BBrewing%2BOver%2BPornFree%2BCostFree%2BNational%2BWireless%2BInternet/article13193.htm
The key bit is: anything “contemporary community standards” deem as obscene

Spying on Activists Discussed at Forum
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/11/AR2008101101427.html?hpid=sec-metro

Community officers to be able to detain suspects
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3210448/Community-officers-to-detain-suspects.html

Paris to quadruple number of CCTV cameras
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/3209808/Paris-to-quadruple-number-of-CCTV-cameras.html
The French have clearly seen how effective it has been in stamping out all crime in the UK (well maybe not – its actually increased but never mind)

Israel's new "skunk" weapon drenches Palestinians with foul smelling liquid.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7646894.stm

Parent fury as school uses 'Guantanamo Bay' isolation cells to punish unruly pupils
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077168/School-introduces-Guantanamo-Bay-isolation-cells-punish-unruly-pupils.html
It is called conditioning - Don't worry kids this is normal for citizens, just as the game show on TV that uses water-boarding is just funny (see last weeks edition)

Call for More Doctors to Help End Organ Pillaging by Chinese Regime
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/canada/doctors-help-end-organ-pillaging-chinese-regime-5556.html

Democracy & International Diplomacy:
Rich nations 'reneging' over aid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7675103.stm

Postponing the US Presidential election: It's a joke, or is it?
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/10/11/postponing_the_election_its_a_joke_or_is_it/

'Straight guy' Blair did help F1 beat tobacco ban
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/straight-guy-blair-did-help-f1-beat-tobacco-ban-959402.html

Blair Lied Over His Knowledge of Abu Ghraib Atrocities
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1078670/As-confirmed-Blair-lied-MPs-Ecclestone-I-reveal-lied---heres-proof.html

Insider’s Projects Drained Missile-Defense Millions
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/washington/12missile.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

W.H.O warning over health inequalities
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7669054.stm

China will be a democracy by 2020, says senior party figure
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3195370/China-will-be-a-democracy-by-2020-says-senior-party-figure.html
yeah, sure it will, and I'm Santa Claus. The current Chinese model is the way of the future (look at un-democratic and pro-corporate nature of the EU now for example)

EU steps up pressure on Ireland to hold second Lisbon Treaty referendum
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/3173967/EU-steps-up-pressure-on-Ireland-to-hold-second-Lisbon-Treaty-referendum.html
If at first you don't get the "right" democratic result, keep asking until you do.

Bush Signs India-U.S. Nuclear Pact Into Law
http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=4860
So what if India hasn't signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty? There are even more of them that the Chinese. It's always good to have lots of friends.

Health:
Traditional light bulbs banned by EU
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/3174452/Traditional-lightbulbs-banned-by-EU.html
Following on from the story last week that eco-bulbs emit harmful levels of UV...but hey they have a higher profit margin so what is a corporation to do?

Monsanto-Backed State Bill Seeks to Outlaw rBGH-Free Label Claims on Milk Products
http://www.naturalnews.com/024453.html

Break out the bubbly: White wine may be good for you
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn14920-break-out-the-bubbly-white-wine-may-be-good-for-you.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Parkinson's linked to vitamin D
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7666749.stm
Getting exposure to the sun (in moderation) is good for you. Using carcinogen filled sun creams is not.

Pharmaceutical freebies may harm children
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg20026773.400-pharmaceutical-freebies-may-harm-children.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Most health workers skip flu shot
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-16-flu-shot_N.htm?csp=34
Good - bloody inconsiderate to shareholders however as sales will be down.

Diabetes aspirin use questioned
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7673587.stm

Mobile phones 'cause skin rash'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7673589.stm
and they are cooking your brain too.

Organically Grown Foods Higher In Cancer-fighting Chemicals Than Conventionally Grown Foods
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030304073059.htm

New Jersey Mandatory Flu Shots for Preschoolers Cause Outrage
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/story?id=6051917&page=1

Finance & Economics:
Dow Jones bloodbath mirroring 1929 rout, Another 27% drop to go - Analyst
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=892188181&play=1

UK Consumer inflation reaches 5.2%
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7668608.stm
Expect it to go much, much higher worldwide in the light of the banking “bail-outs”.

EU Pushes for Overhaul of Postwar Financial System
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=arrakoZdgCFg&refer=europe
How about One World Currency? That might just work.........

Banks borrow record $437.5 billion per day from Fed
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49F97920081017
Just where is all this money coming from? Printing yet more money. Great idea!

Wall Street banks in $70bn staff payout
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/17/executivesalaries-banking

London bankers' £16bn bonus bonanza
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bankers-16316bn-bonus-bonanza-965445.html

JPMorgan & Goldman Sachs Responsible for the Destruction of U.S. Financial System
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article6826.html

Former Fed chief says U.S. now in recession
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE49D2QB20081014?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
So in recession, bankrupt, and stoking massive inflation by printing more money – a recipe for disaster perhaps?

Gold will thrive on dollar flight
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A862031

Gold runs out in German rush
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23571196-details/Gold%2Bruns%2Bout%2Bin%2BGerman%2Brush/article.do

Berlusconi Says Leaders May Close World's Markets while they ``rewrite the rules of international finance.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aP5mpMUORBWM

Londoners Queue on Sidewalk to Buy Gold in Rush for Money Haven
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aL9NzLB3xtbs&refer=uk

Lehman Unit Shrank $400 Billion Before Bankruptcy
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a6eigPY5XGJ8&refer=home
How careless "losing $400 billion". Other reports, from non-mainstream media, claim that the same $400b was transferred out (to a "safe place") to precipitate the crash which resulted in mega taxpayer bailouts worldwide.

Barclays faces Paris money laundering trial
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/latest-world-news/2006/07/22/barclays-faces-paris-money-laundering-trial-50082-17429756/

Banks To Get £37bn From Taxpayer
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20081013/tuk-banks-to-get-37bn-from-taxpayer-45dbed5.html

Germany prepares €470bn bank rescue
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/835936d0-9903-11dd-9d48-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
Has anyone out there got a calculator with enough digits on it to add up all taxpayers trillions that are being handed out to the worldwide banking corporations at the moment?

Nobel winning economist says world recession likely
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE49C8AE20081013?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

State’s intervention swells UK public sector to one in three workers
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4938794.ece

Professor who predicted this crash in 2006 predicts Worst Recession in 40 Years, Stock Drop
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0AZ3ECSkvwc&refer=home

Hard times bring barter back into vogue in Britain
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20081015/tuk-life-us-britain-barter-fa6b408.html

Tent Cities Emerge Outside of Los Angeles
http://www.nationalexpositor.com/News/1417.html

High food costs 'a global burden'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7671612.stm

Brown bail-out under threat as bank seeks better deal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/16/banking-gordonbrown
"It's just so unfair that you have to impose all these conditions on us poor bankers when you are only spending billions of taxpayers money to help us out"

UK Government owned Northern Rock bank criticised over 'aggressive repossessions'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/oct/17/repossessions-mortgages

Environment:
Whale deal falls at last minute
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7668526.stm

New sunspots may signal end of solar dry spell
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn14933-new-sunspots-signal-end-of-solar-dry-spell.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Snowy Mountains cloud seeding 'paying off'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/14/2390294.htm
Official admission of cloud seeding? (the source of "Chem." Trails - which are not the same as vapor trails as they don't dissipate, and very much man-made)

Ecuador Constitutional Assembly Approves Rights of Nature In New Constitution
http://www.globalexchange.org/update/press/5922.html

Rainforest plan may 'fuel corruption'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7669215.stm

Alaska glaciers grew this year, thanks to colder weather
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/5581
Hence why it is branded "Climate Change" nowadays and not "Global Warming" - another inconvenient truth for Mr. Gore (PS: It's the Sun!!!!)

Obama to Declare Carbon Dioxide Dangerous Pollutant
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=alHWVvGnkcd4&refer=canada
He'd better stop breathing then. But for as long as everyone worries about CO2 no-one will notice all the massive & real pollution that is taking place daily by the corporations that are bankrolling him.

Chimpanzees' last stronghold in danger as numbers fall by 90 per cent
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/10/13/scichimp113.xml

Plight of the bumblebee
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2008/10/18/gbee118.xml

English honey to run out before Christmas
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/10/16/eahoney116.xml
No bees = Big problems

The War on Terror:
Camp Bucca: Iraq's Guantánamo Bay
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49E01S20081015

'US missile' hits Pakistan town
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7665620.stm
The concerted effort to catch Osama "Dead or Alive' before the US election claims more innocent victims.

Afghan strike 'kills civilians'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7674435.stm
Technically described as “collateral damage”

U.S. nuked Iraq during Gulf War - report
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/31680

Pentagon Wants $450 Billion Increase Over Next Five Years
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002973555
Why should only the bankers get all that lovely taxpayers money?

Mail carriers to bring drugs in anthrax attack
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4906HH20081001
Contingency preparation?

US considering Iraq security deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7675171.stm
A little disingenuous as they will still retain a permanent military presence at 3 huge bases in the Iraqi desert no matter what – much like there are US troops currently stationed in 144 countries worldwide.

US military: No. 2 al-Qaida in Iraq leader killed
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD93R5NPO0
Interestingly he has been announced "killed" on at least 2 previous occasions. Is he a cat?

The Next War:
Israel's Peres warns Iran against surprise attack
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5inVcLuEkbi1Jr0_cDMcCmUl_9I4g

Iran: Enemies won't dare to attack
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=72170&sectionid=351020101 I
'm sure old Saddam once said pretty much the same thing.

India, US plan Arabian Sea war games
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=57920
The USS Ronald Regan is just one of 5 US aircraft carrier groups currently in the Gulf. Guess what country co-incidentally is also in the Gulf....the gloves will come off after the US election is out of the way.

North Korea threatens to cut ties with South
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20081015/twl-uk-korea-north-bd5ae06.html
Don't be too surprised if, while the US is at war with Iran, the imploding North Korean regime seizes its chance to "unite" the peninsula.


Quote of the Week:

"Corporations that have signed codes of conduct promising good behavior appear to have taken important steps towards social responsibility, but the pressures operating on them to lure and keep consumers and investors haven't eased one bit. In capitalism, they cannot be socially responsible, at least not to any significant extent.....You and I are complicit. As consumers and investors, we make the whole world run. Markets have become extraordinarily responsive to our wishes - more so all the time. Yet most of us are in two minds, and it is the citizen in us that has become relatively powerless. Capitalism is triumphant. Democracy is not."

Robert Reich, Supercapitalism - The transformation of business, democracy and everyday life

Open Your Eyes News - Edition 32

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.

Areas Covered Each Week:
Civil Liberties - Health - Environment - Democracy & International Relations - Economics - Science - The War on Terror - The Next War

Story of the Week:
Dollar soars as anxiety over crisis mounts http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7845380
Back in early editions of OYE News I warned readers to get their money out of the stockmarket as quickly as they could as a massive crash was being engineered - and so it has. The next phase of the mega accumulation of wealth and power by the global elite will be raising the value of, and then the collapse of the US dollar. As I have warned on many occasions the goal is for the dollar to be replaced by the Amero, the currency union of the NAFTA countries. This is just another stepping stone on the way towards the world government and single currency that those in ultimate power so crave. The US people would never countenance giving up the dollar unless they were taken to a very dark place. That moment of truth will very soon be with us, and this is how it will most probably happen: If China sells its massive dollar holdings the value of the ‘mighty dollar’ will plummet and if its debt is not repaid it can claim American assets, yes government assets, just as a bank forecloses on your house if you don’t make the payments. And the US is now ten trillion dollars in debt with more being added by the minute. The ‘superpower’ is essentially bankrupt and at the mercy of its overseas creditors – not least China. If you have US dollar savings or investments this is your warning. This week was also a great week to "bury bad news" - the events that have taken place away from the "financial crisis" are the warning to the all of us who value our civil liberties, our democracy, our environment and their freedom, this plus the numerous largely unreported events beyond the "financial crisis" that have taken place this week, are taking us all down a very dark road. The window of opportunity for us to do anything to stop it happening is very rapidly closing. Do your bit and spread awareness. As one writer recently said "A society whose citizens refuse to see and investigate the facts, who refuse to believe that their government and their media will routinely lie to them and fabricate a reality contrary to verifiable facts, is a society that chooses and deserves the Police State Dictatorship it's going to get." The German people missed their opportunity in 1933, and the window closed with the Reichstag fire - let us learn from history, not repeat it on a far bigger scale.

Just in case that you don't believe me, watch an interview given this week by arguably the most famous feminist writer of her generation, Naomi Wolf.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgkeTanCGI

This is happening, and not just happening in the US, the process is taking place across Our World right now.

Civil Liberties:
British police train for riot scenarios
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7653211.stm

Army combat unit to deploy within U.S.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/army.unit/index.html
As I reported last week, via the Army's website. Now the mainstream media are running with this event which is unprecedented in recent US democratic history. Interesting note is also the picture they use of an Apache attack helicopter being readied for use - why would they need an attack helicopter for dealing with "catastrophes" on the US mainland?

Germany to allow domestic military deployment
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHlrJ3QdZG_ojqGm_x3pE2_U3kPQD93L1HJO0
Military being allowed on streets and police in riot training. This is a worldwide phenomenon taking place over the last few weeks. Do you think that they might know something that we don't?

UK Spies will tap into all e-mails and calls
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/64725

There’s no hiding place as UK spy HQ plans to see all
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4882622.ece

US Satellite-Surveillance Program to Begin Despite Privacy Concerns
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122282336428992785.html

Guidelines Expand FBI's Surveillance Powers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303501_pf.html

Over 800 American concentration camps are fully operational and ready for prisoners
http://www.daily.pk/world/worldnews/7702-over-800-american-concentration-camps-are-fully-operational-and-ready-for-prisoners.html

Record 720,000 people added to Britain's DNA database - making it world's largest
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076143/Record-720-000-people-added-Britains-DNA-database--making-worlds-largest.html

Bank Bailout Bill contains IRS "police state" provisions
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10057618-38.html
It may have passed but in the small print there the bill also gives the Internal Revenue Service new authority to conduct undercover operations. It would immunize the IRS from a passel of federal laws, including permitting IRS agents to run businesses for an extended sting operation, to open their own personal bank accounts with U.S. tax dollars, and so on.

42-day detention dropped as unworkable
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4887653.ece
Linked to the article referenced last week that the UK terror alert status was at its highest possible rating? Don't forget MC Saatchi have been officially brought on board to run the UK government's PR campaign to sell ID cards to the people, so may well be involved in this too.

First UK ID cards are to be issued within weeks
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4825353.ece
What a great way of winning the PR war on ID cards - Saatchi really are worth the expense - Target immigrants 1st (always popular with the general population), then, purely "voluntarily" make it impossible to get a passport without it after that, so that the population has virtually no way of avoiding it if they want unfettered travel, and finally once you have critical mass make it law for everyone. Not entirely dissimilar to the kind of tactics Joseph Goebbels used to employ.

New Taser Weapons Produced For Crowd Control
http://www.taser.com/products/military/Pages/TASERShockwave.aspx

Now TV contestants face water torture in new show
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1069333/Now-TV-contestants-face-water-torture-sickening-reality-yet.html
Conditioning of the general public that torture is acceptable and even "funny"

Protesting nuns branded terrorists
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/protesting-nuns-branded-terrorists/

Investigating 'Africa's Guantanamo'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7644989.stm

Terror police 'did not check photo' before shooting innocent man
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20081010/tuk-terror-police-did-not-check-photo-6323e80.html

Nobody is safe from the long arm of EU law
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2008/10/06/noindex/do0604.xml

Finance & Economics:
Bank of China buys into Rothschild bank
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/19/business/AS-China-Bank-of-China-Rothschild.php
Rothschild are part owners of the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England - what a coincidence.

U.S. Treasury to Hire Up to 10 Asset Management Firms
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGGMo21aihyg
Former Goldman Sachs CEO, now US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson truly is a friend indeed to his ex-colleagues on Wall Street in their "hour of need"

Lehman Bros head took home $300m
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7655178.stm

Paulson picks former Goldman Sachs Executive as interim head for rescue effort
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_kashkari

Global financial crisis: does the world need a new banking 'policeman’?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/3155122/Global-financial-crisis-does-the-world-need-a-new-banking-policeman.html
I know, how about a single global currency and government, that would solve everything! What a swell idea. Democracy & Civil Liberties? What are those?

Terror law used for Iceland deposits
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/abf583de-9546-11dd-aedd-000077b07658.html

US debt clock runs out of digits
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7660409.stm

UK Government commit £500 billion of taxpayers money for bank bailout
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4905637.ece

Bank fat cats will STILL receive £3.5bn in bonuses - despite PM's pledge to slash them
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076133/Bank-fat-cats-STILL-receive-3-5bn-bonuses--despite-Browns-pledge-slash-them.html

Is the Federal Reserve Engaged in Acts of Economic Warfare Against America?
http://www.naturalnews.com/024427.html
You decide.

UK Council taxes to rise for the next 25 years after collapse of Icelandic banking system
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1075929/Council-taxes-rise-25-years-collapse-Icelandic-banking--Prescott-blame.html

Environment:
The war over GM is back. Is the truth any clearer?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/05/gmcrops.food
Of course what this article misses is the fact that the great thing about GM (from Monsanto's perspective) is that every time they introduce it, it cross pollinates with other crops resulting in them falling under the patent. As I referenced a few months back, though the debate may still be raging in the UK, the argument has already been won by Monsanto with more than 1/2 the cops in the UK falling under their patent inadvertently.

Prince Charles targets GM crop giants in fiercest attack yet
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/charles-targets-gm-crop-giants-in-fiercest-attack-yet-951808.html

Global warming set to shake our eating habits
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24450474-11949,00.html
A number of things out of this article to comment on: 1/ Climate change has always occurred, often considerably more dramatically than is happening now - that is historical fact. 2/ Our seafood stocks are under a hell of a lot of danger already and that is nothing to do with climate change, just plain old simple human greed leading to over-fishing (as often referenced on these pages), and the massive pollution we are putting into the seas, not least the plastics, 3/ Eating Kangaroo? Why not. Just because it looks cuter than a cow or a pig, so what? It is 100% free range, not battery reared, it is very lean and it isn't pumped full of antibiotics and steroids unlike much of the rest of our current meat supply. And it tastes good too.

Unilever comes out against worldwide rush to biofuels
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/06/unilever.biofuels
Though the opposition to biofuels is admirable, their motivations - that when the poor have to spend more on food they can buy less Unilever goods - is classic global corporation psychology

UN urges global biofuel rethink
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7655042.stm

World's mammals are in crisis, Red List reveals
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn14781-worlds-mammals-are-in-crisis-red-list-reveals.html

Frogs face extinction
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24450461-2702,00.html

Pollution linked to appendicitis
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7654140.stm

Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7662565.stm

Fisheries waste 'costs billions'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7660011.stm

Health:
'High level of melamine' in two Cadbury products
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/05/china.milk/index.html?eref=rss_world

FDA: Tiny amount of melamine not harmful to adults
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/03/fda.melamine.amount.ap/index.html?iref=werecommend
Of course after reading last week's article about the FDA you may rightly be a little skeptical of this helpful advice

Blood tests could eliminate Down's miscarriage risk
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn14879-blood-tests-could-eliminate-downs-miscarriage-risk.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Merck's Combination Children's Vaccine Linked to Convulsions
http://www.naturalnews.com/024449.html

Obesity boom will cost tax payers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7656214.stm
But boy are those food corporation profits good?

Some coma patients 'feel pain'
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn14891-some-coma-patients-feel-pain.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Probiotics 'worthless' for eczema
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7656727.stm

'St John's Wort plant as effective as Prozac for treating depression', say scientists
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1072414/St-Johns-Wort-plant-effective-Prozac-treating-depression-say-scientists.html

Eco bulbs emit skin damaging UV radiation - health experts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7661462.stm
As I have said on many occasions they are a corporate scam that feeds off your "global warming" guilt, and pollutes the water table with mercury when disposed of - and now they can give you cancer too.

White Sugar Now Coming From Genetically-Modified Sugar Beets
http://www.naturalnews.com/024417.html

Weed Killer Chemicals Linked to Brain Cancer
http://www.naturalnews.com/024424.html

The War on Terror:
Iraq to Give 82% of Proven Oil Reserves to International Oil Companies
http://www.energyintel.com/DocumentDetail.asp?document_id=241186

British commander says war in Afghanistan cannot be won
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4940O020081005?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

US report says Afghanistan conflict rapidly worsening
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081009/twl-us-report-says-afghanistan-conflict-2802f3e.html

Reports Link Karzai’s Brother to Afghanistan Heroin Trade
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/world/asia/05afghan.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
As I have referenced many times before, the war in Afghanistan is over control of two things, the new Trans-Afghanistan pipeline being built by UNOCAL (former employee - Hamid Karzai), and the control of the global drug supply. It is therefore not entirely surprising that the Karzai brothers have fingers in both pies. Don't forget that during the Vietnam war the CIA used to have a nice little sideline in drugs which ran under the auspices of "Air America".

Australian SAS may have killed Afghan governor
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24460515-601,00.html
With friends like these......

Homeland Security seeks cyber counterattack system
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/04/chertoff.cyber.security/index.html

Blackwater Machine Gun Found in Raid on Iraqi Insurgents
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5931528&page=1
It is not in the business interests of the world's largest private army (it’s a listed corporation too http://www.blackwaterusa.com ) for the Iraq war to end anytime soon - unless someone starts a fight with Iran in the near future that is.

Secrets of Iraq's death chamber
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/secrets-of-iraqs-death-chamber-953517.html

Iraq Foreign Minister says 'very close' to security pact with US
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2dt1R2237kXFf_GCfbo2n38E0Ow
allowing permanent US occupation of Iraq in the 3 massive military bases that they have built in the Iraqi desert

White House anger after judge sets free 17 Chinese Muslims held in Guantanamo for seven years 'without evidence'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1072631/White-House-anger-judge-sets-free-17-Chinese-Muslims-held-Guantanamo-seven-years.html

The Next War:
World War III Practice Session - In Wales
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/09/28/world-war-iii-91466-21914726/
The rehearsal for the coming war with Iran?

Iran: Intruding jet belonged to NATO
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=71581§ionid=351020101

Iran could spark Mideast nuclear arms race: Miliband
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gRIhGGjJPy-mEa7WtqykuFDmd7UQ
Conditioning the population for the inevitable

EU, US block IAEA Israel resolution
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOk7cipo156H15awPWT9e9btej4wD93JUC9G1
Double standards?

NATO Chief : Israel entitled to nukes
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=71462§ionid=351020202

U.S. Military: Tense Encounters With Iran Occur Almost Daily in Strait of Hormuz
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,433832,00.html
all that is needed now is a spark......

Religion:
Gay men should be forced to have 'warning' tattoos, says Stock Exchange chaplain
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1069603/Gay-men-forced-warning-tattoos-says-Stock-Exchange-chaplain.html
Bigotry alive and well in the Church. Was the subsequent stock market crash God's punishment?

Media:
Ridley Scott confirms he is making Brave New World movie
http://io9.com/5059265/ridley-scott-confirms-hes-making-brave-new-world

Democracy & International Diplomacy:
Somalia is 'most ignored tragedy'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7653928.stm
Two words: No Oil

Six million Ethiopians need emergency aid: charity
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i8pHeu9waWnnyG33SLY1Fmpi7i6Q
Did you hear this story from your media outlet as you watched the market's crash?

In food crisis, Cuba limits sales so all can eat
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iuWIRmAaK5IDgv4VMWMrSEaAcszgD93NQBO00
Or this one?

UN in Zimbabwe appeal as millions face starvation
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1011/1223676792620.html
Or this one?

Every country for itself as European unity collapses in an attack of jitters
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4888286.ece
Though this "crisis" may bring out some good old fashioned nationalistic posturing I somehow doubt that will weaken the resolve or position of those at the very top who are keen to see ever further integration of nation states, until none exist at all.

'Sovereignty threat' after European parliament adopts flag and anthem
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3167928/Sovereignty-threat-after-European-parliament-adopts-flag-and-anthem.html
If it has a currency, a "parliament", a civil service, a flag, an anthem, and sets at least 80% of laws for its 300m citizens I think it is fairly safe to say that it is THE sovereign power.

Mass Fraud Fears In US Election
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20081009/twl-mass-fraud-fears-in-us-election-3fd0ae9.html
Not that it really matters as the agenda will keep marching forward, it is just over bragging rights for whichever faction of the same corporate controlled elite that is at stake.

Anger in China over US $6.4 billion arms plan for Taiwan
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200810/s2383825.htm

US told to increase nuclear arsenal as China threat looms
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3166201/US-told-to-increase-nuclear-arsenal-as-China-threat-looms.html
The "war" with China will be financial, not military, and China will win hands down. However in the meantime time to sell some more weapons to help the balance sheet

Our psychology helps politicians bend the truth
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg20026774.400-our-psychology-helps-politicians-bend-the-truth.html?feedId=online-news_rss20


Quote of the Week:

"If Homo Sapiens is such a fool that he can't realise what is before him now and set himself urgently to save the situation, while there is still some light, some freedom of thought, speech and action, can there be the slightest hope than it 50 or a 100 years hence, after he has been through two or three generations of accentuated fear, cruelty and relentless individual frustration, with ever-diminishing opportunity of apprehending the real nature of the troubles, he will be any less of a fool? Why should he undergo a magic change when all the forces within him as without, are plainly set against it?"

- H.G Wells, The Fate of Homo Sapiens (written in the spring of 1939)
- that generation missed its moment and tens of millions died. How many multiples more than that will suffer this time, if we do not act?


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