Blog Archives
Austerity Today -Economic recovery ‘will take 20 years’
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| Lenders Pressuring Greece Over Austerity Pledges Voice of America The lenders – Greece’s European neighbors, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – have been meeting with government officials in Athens. They are demanding that the government make progress on its austerity pledges ahead of … See all stories on this topic » |
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| New Study Dispels Myths of European Austerity OpenMarket.org Cries throughout the media of “savage austerity” notwithstanding, only a handful of European countries have actually implemented austerity in the true sense of the term: reducing both public spending and taxation. On the other hand, most countries in … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Portugal gov’t in peril as another minister quits TheNewsTribune.com Portugal’s government was in danger of collapse Tuesday after Foreign Minister Paulo Portas, the leader of the junior party in the center-right coalition government, resigned over the bailed-out country’s austerity policies. By BARRY HATTON; Associated … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Rug buyers look for round rugs in austere times PRWire (press release) Rug buyers across Australia are looking to make their homes cosier as they hunker down for a period of relative economic austerity. That’s the view of the team at The Bespoke Rug Company (www.bespokerugs.com.au) Australia’s leading retailer of … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Bailed-out Portugal’s finance minister resigns Fresno Bee Workers’ unions called a 24-hour general strike to protest the government’s austerity measures with public transport and government offices expected to be the worst-hit services. The banner reads in Portuguese: “The street is our. Nothing to lose”. See all stories on this topic » |
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| The Tories must beware these feelings of irrational exuberance Telegraph.co.uk (blog) We have had enough of five years of austerity and doubt. All around there are signs that the economy is stirring, that the combination of low interest rates and high employment is beginning to encourage consumer activity. Even beyond the powerhouse of … See all stories on this topic » |
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| There are few bright spots for them in last week’s spending review by George … Third Sector There are one or two other bright spots for the sector in the sixth year of austerity announced by George Osborne in last week’s spending review, which was in effect the opening salvo of the next general election campaign. The continuing expansion of … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Portuguese Finance Minister’s Exit Elicits Few Gasps Wall Street Journal (blog) Yields on Portuguese government bonds ticked up a bit to 6.42% after the unexpected resignation of Mr. Gaspar–the architect of Portugal’s austerity plan–but volumes were low, and the news didn’t prompt predictions of outright default. Instead … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Democratic Deficit Scolds Get Desperate and Weird New York Magazine Liberals may complain about austerity, but, they argue, “we haven’t had an austerity budget.” Cowan and Kessler’s evidence for this — that the federal government spent more, on average, during Obama’s first term than during George W. Bush’s second … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Lapid: Deficit could cause collapse Globes Finance Minister: The austerity measures will stop Israel reaching the conditions in Europe with high unemployment. 2 July 13 12:42, Moshe Golan. Tweet. “The idea that we have people here whose lives are at risk because they are doing their jobs is … See all stories on this topic » |
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| EU Rehn: New Portugal Finance Minister Must Maintain Tempo of Reform Wall Street Journal The former treasury secretary took the post after Vitor Gaspar, chief enforcer of austerity demands under Portugal’s EUR78 billion international bailout program, said Monday he was stepping down after two years in the job. Mr. Rehn praised Mr. Gaspar … See all stories on this topic » |
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| The Strain in Spain Could Help Firefox OS Take Root TechNewsWorld Due to the extreme austerity measures in certain South American and European countries, “low-cost smartphones will be very appealing,” said Joshua Flood, a senior analyst at ABI Research. The ZTE Open — the first commercially available smartphone … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Merkel opponent derides jobless summit as cynical ploy Reuters BERLIN (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s summit on youth unemployment in Europe is an attempt to paper over the economic consequences of the austerity policies she championed in the region, a leading member of Germany’s opposition Social Democrats … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal’s austerity government feels the pinch BBC News The resignation in quick succession of two of Portugal’s biggest political beasts has left many questioning whether the right-of-centre government which has enthusiastically embraced austeritymeasures can survive more than a few weeks, let alone months. See all stories on this topic » |
| Twenty years of austerity ahead, says Sir Jeremy Heywood Telegraph.co.uk Sir Jeremy Heywood also suggested that the cuts made to public services to date were not sufficient and that austerity measures would have to continue for “at least” another four years. The comments from the Cabinet Secretary will have a sobering … See all stories on this topic » |
| Austerity Blitz: Eurozone Notes From Beyond the Grave Truth-Out The criminal effects of the austerity blitz strategy that the European Union (EU) conceived of on Germany’s insistence as the answer to the global financial crisis when it hit Europe’s shores with the triggering of the Greek sovereign debt crisis have … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal’s Budget Austerity May Do More Harm Than Good KTEP LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE: Of all the bailed-out countries in Europe, Portugal has been the good student – taking the austerity medicine its lenders prescribe. Portuguese Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar took it even further – doubling budget cuts and tax hikes. See all stories on this topic » |
| Public sector austerity drive ‘hitting women the hardest’ Gulf Times George Osborne’s revelation in his spending review that a further 144,000 jobs are to be slashed from the public sector means there is more pain to come for women, critics say. Data collated by the Guardian highlights the disproportionate blow to … See all stories on this topic » |
| Lapid: Without Austerity Measures, Deficit Could ‘Bury’ Israel Algemeiner Most Popular. Recent Posts. The BioHug vest. Photo: BioHug.com. Israeli-Developed Vest Hugs People to Health · Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party. Lapid: Without Austerity Measures, Deficit Could ‘Bury’ Israel · Amy Winehouse. Photo: wiki commons. See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal’s PM says he won’t quit despite resignations over austerity measures Fox News But the government’s future is hanging in the balance after the resignation earlier Tuesday of Foreign Minister Paulo Portas, the leader of the junior party in the governing center-right coalition, in protest against austerity measures. Passos Coelho … See all stories on this topic » |
| Trade unions call for social investment Morning Star Online And he said the people of Northern Ireland were suffering the same fate at the hands of the austerity-mad Westminster government. “Austerity is now no more than a mantra without meaning. The intellectual underpinning for it has been discredited,” he … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal’s finance minister resigns amid pressure for government to soften … Malaysia Sun Portugal’s finance minister resigns amid pressure for government to soften austerity | Malaysia Sun. Malaysia Sun. Issue 11/0183. Malaysia Sun · http://www.malaysiasun.com · Malaysia News · Southeast Asia News · Breaking International News · Asia … See all stories on this topic » |
| Activists climb County Hall, Westminster in anti war, anti austerity protest Indymedia UK The newly formed Black Katz Kollektive has within the last hour occupied County Hall on the south side of Westminster Bridge facing the Houses of Parliament, with banners unfurled down the side of the building. Their message is simple: stop the war … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portuguese government in peril as foreign minister, head of junior party in … The Republic Austerity is widely blamed for driving the jobless rate in Portugal to 17.6 percent and for what is forecast to be a third straight year of recession in 2013. Portugal needed a 78 billion euros ($102 billion) bailout two years ago after a decade of … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal PM defiant despite another resignation Boston.com Gaspar, a non-political economist specially selected by Passos Coelho to push the austerity drive, said he lacked the political and public support for his ongoing program of cutting public sector pay and pensions and raising taxes. Portas, the leader … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portuguese Finance Minister Gaspar resigns Channel News Asia Portuguese Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar, the architect of the country’s reforms under its EU-IMF bailout, resigned on Monday as the economy reels and social discontent mounts under the impact ofausterity measures. PHOTOS. File photo of Portuguese … See all stories on this topic » |
| Miss. tax receipts approach $5 billion in FY2013 WJTV Top budget writers say they expect pressure from schools, universities and state agencies that saw budgets slashed during four years of austerity. Tax receipts have surged more strongly than jobs or Mississippi’s overall economy, leading to notes of … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portuguese PM adamant he will not stand down Radio New Zealand Austerity measures are blamed for causing Portugal’s worst economic crisis since the 1970s. Portugal has been in recession for two years and the economy is expected to contract by 2.3% this year. Unemployment is over 17.5%. A general strike was held … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portuguese Finance Minister Resigns New York Times MADRID — Portugal’s finance minister, Vítor Gaspar, unexpectedly resigned Monday amid a prolonged recession that citizens have attributed largely to austerity measures that he helped enforce in accordance with the demands of the country’s … See all stories on this topic » |
| Concern over Portugal bailout Independent Online Lisbon – The resignation of the main architect of Portugal’s austerity policies has sparked concern over the country’s ability to complete its EU-IMF bailout programme. Analysts say the departure Monday of finance minister Vitor Gaspar has weakened a … See all stories on this topic » |
| Portugal foreign minister steps down in second major ministerial resignation Deutsche Welle Former Treasury Secretary, Albuquerque was appointed on Monday following the shock resignation of Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar, the main architect of the austerity measures. ccp/kms (AFP, AP, dpa). Date 02.07.2013; Share Send Facebook Twitter … See all stories on this topic » |
Guantánamo Bay hunger strike prompts arrival of medical back-up
Aamer has been cleared for release twice, but is still behind bars after 11 years. He has never been charged or faced trial but the US refuses to allow him to return to the UK, despite official protests by the British government.
Absolutely incredible.
A 40-strong medical back-up team has arrived at Guantánamo Bay, as the number of inmates taking part in a hunger strike continues to rise, the US military has confirmed. By Monday, 100 detainees were refusing food, with 21 having been approved for force-feeding.
Authorities said that the “influx” of medical reinforcements had been weeks in the planning. But the news will fuel speculation that the condition of hunger-striking prisoners at Guantánamo Bay is deteriorating. Shaker Aamer, the last British resident being kept at the centre, told his lawyer earlier this month that authorities will soon see fatalities as a result of the current action.
“I cannot give you numbers and names, but people are dying here,” said Aamer, who is refusing food.
The action is a protest against conditions at the centre, as well as the indefinite nature of the remaining prisoners’ confinement. Aamer has been cleared for release twice, but is still behind bars after 11 years. He has never been charged or faced trial but the US refuses to allow him to return to the UK, despite official protests by the British government.
Of the 166 detainees left at Guantánamo, almost two-thirds are on hunger-strike. Five of those approved by guards to be subjected to force-feeding are in hospital.
Increased media attention to the plight of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay has led to renewed calls for President Barack Obama to close the camp. In the face of pressure from Congress, Obama dropped a 2008 campaign pledge to close the camp.
The current hunger strike is believed to have begun on 6 February and initially involved a minority of detainees. But the number taking part has steadily increased. Two weeks ago, guards attempted to break the resolve of those refusing food by moving detainees from communal areas and placing them in single cells, where they could be monitored more closely. That action led to violent clashes in which US troops fired four “less-than-lethal” rounds on inmates.
US authorities said on Monday that the decision to bring in a back-up medical team was made as increasing numbers of inmates began to refuse food. “We will not allow a detainee to stave themselves to death and we will continue to treat each person humanely,” a Guantánamo Bay spokesman, Lt Col Samuel House, said.
He added: “Detainees have the right to peacefully protest, but we have the responsibility to ensure that they conduct their protest safely and humanely.”
via Guantánamo Bay hunger strike prompts arrival of medical back-up | World news | guardian.co.uk.
via Guantánamo Bay hunger strike prompts arrival of medical back-up | World news | guardian.co.uk.
More allegations about Shell Corrib Gas Project
“On the Corrib gas terminal Shell are employing people to do the work of industrial fitters who are not qualified… so are putting the safety of the terminal at risk. The latest breach in health and safety was on Monday the 8th of April, a worker employed as a fitter without the necessary papers worked on cutting pipes… he cut through a live nitrogen pipe and put many lives at risk. Shell has set up an incident room but it is a smokescreen..:” “The drinking culture on the site has also become a big problem…” (*ANOTHER BOOZE ALLEGATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT?)
From Mid West Radio Ireland – Evening edition – Official account provided by Shell PR
Shell Ireland says incident at Bellanaboy gas terminal last week did not pose any danger to the site
An incident that occurred at the Corrib gas terminal at Bellanaboy in North Mayo last Monday has been described by Shell as posing no danger to the environment
A pipe containing nitrogen was cut by mistake but the company says all nitrogen on the site was vented off as a precaution
Teresa O’Malley has more details…
As Shell’s Corrib Gas terminal at Bellanaboy is almost completed, the site is said to be in a state of preservation and during this phase of development low pressure nitrogen is pushed through the gas pipes to prevent any corrosion
Since January last, work has been ongoing on replacing the water surface pipes at the terminal
This procedure is completed by cutting off short sections of pipes, removing them and then replacing them
On Monday last the permitted workman carrying out the work on the surface pipes, accidentally cut a gas pipe. He immediately recognised the problem and alerted his supervisor
In response all nitrogen in the gas pipes was vented off as a precaution
In a statement from Shell the company said there was no danger to the site at any stage
An internal investigation is underway into the incident
ACCOUNT SUPPLIED BY A SHELL CORRIB GAS PROJECT INSIDER
On the Corrib gas terminal Shell are employing people to do the work of industrial fitters who are not qualified to do the work and so are putting the safety of the terminal at risk.
The latest breach in health and safety was on Monday the 8th of April a worker employed as a fitter without the necessary papers worked on cutting pipes he cut through a live nitrogen pipe and put many lives at risk.
Shell has set up an incident room but it is a smokescreen the person in question is local and an avid anti protesters.
The drinking culture on the site has also become a big problem also the amount of accidents that have been covered up is a major issue to site safety – all of this is a danger to the community.
ARTICLE ENDS
ADDED BY JOHN DONOVAN: WE ARE STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE ANY HIGH COURT WRITS FROM IRISH POLICE OFFICERS NAMED AS BEING INVOLVED IN THE ALLEGED DISTRIBUTION OF SHELL BRIBES IN THE FORM OF A FLOOD OF FREE BOOZE GIVEN TO HUNDREDS OF SERVING POLICE OFFICERS. MEMBERS OF THE GARDA WHO ALLEGEDLY ACTED AS A SOMETIMES VIOLENT OFF-SHOOT OF SHELL’S SLEAZY SECURITY OPERATION.
China slams Dalai Lama; Tibetan self-immolates – The Economic Times
BEIJING: China accused the Dalai Lama of allying with Japanese right-wingers in an island dispute as a way of attacking China and blamed him for glorifying a wave of self-immolations among Tibetans. The comments came as another Tibetan set himself on fire to protest Chinese rule, Tibetan exiles and a rights group said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Dalai Lama’s comments in Japan on the island dispute showed his “reactionary nature” and determination to split China apart under the guise of religion.
“To achieve his separatist goal, he associated with the Japanese right-wing forces. Chinese people despise him for what he did. We are firmly opposed to any country’s providing a stage for him,” Hong said.
Chinese media have said the Dalai Lama called the islands by their Japanese name during a news conference in Yokohama last Monday but an Associated Press review of a tape of the event showed he referred to them only as “the islands.”
In Okinawa, the Dalai Lama criticized Chinese media for making up a claim that he sided with the Japanese.
Tensions have run high over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, since the Japanese government nationalized some of them in September in a bid to prevent Tokyo’s right-wing governor from buying them. Violent anti-Japanese protests broke out in a number of Chinese cities, and Beijing has sent ships to conduct near-constant patrols near the uninhabited rocks.
Hong also attacked the Dalai Lama for reportedly accusing the Chinese government of failing to investigate the root cause of despair and hopelessness among Tibetans that many say have prompted people to take their lives as a form of protest. China has long accused the Dalai Lama and his supporters of inspiring such acts, despite his condemnation of all forms of violence.
“Not only did the Dalai not condemn them, but he actually glorified these acts, which are against the national law and religious principles,” Hong said.
The remarks came as a 24-year-old Tibetan man set himself on fire at a prayer ceremony in Tongren county in western China’s Qinghai province, becoming the seventh person in six days to self-immolate in the region, the rights group Free Tibet said.
Nyingkar Tashi is reported to have died in the protest in which he called out for freedom in Tibet and for the longevity of the Dalai Lama, the group said. A statement from the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharmsala, India, provided similar details.
A Tongren government official who picked up the phone said he could not comment, while Ma Chunyin, head of the Tongren Communist Party Propaganda Department, said he did not know about the reported self-immolation.
Tibet support groups overseas have said the increase in protests in recent days is meant to highlight Tibetan unhappiness with Chinese rule as the country’s leaders hand over power to younger successors at a party congress in Beijing.
“Throughout the 18th Party Congress the new unelected leaders have been reminded on an almost daily basis of Tibetans’ rejection of Chinese rule, and of the terrible failure of policies to cement the occupation,” Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said.
The Dalai Lama fled to India following an abortive 1959 uprising against Chinese rule over Tibet. He denies seeking the region’s independence, saying that he wishes Tibetans to enjoy real autonomy and protection of their traditional Buddhist culture.
via China slams Dalai Lama; Tibetan self-immolates – The Economic Times.
via China slams Dalai Lama; Tibetan self-immolates – The Economic Times.
Marijuana dispenser machine company’s stock gets really, really high, man
Medbox (MDBX), a firm that makes medical marijuana dispensing machines, says its stock “is getting way too high.” Shares spiked 3,000% this week (from about $4 Monday to $215 Thursday), “prompting executives to try and dampen investor enthusiasm.” The surge was caused by a MarketWatch story about how to invest in legalized marijuana.
via Marijuana dispenser machine company’s stock gets really, really high, man – Boing Boing.
via Marijuana dispenser machine company’s stock gets really, really high, man – Boing Boing.
Hurricane Sandy- Pictures from Monday Night
Lower Manhattan goes dark during hurricane Sandy, on Monday, as seen from Brooklyn, N.Y. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain.
A deluge floods the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel in Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy made its approach in New York on Monday.
John Minchillo / AP
Water floods the Ground Zero construction site on Monday in New York after Sandy came ashore to the south.
Fire and rescue personnel lead a boat of ConEd power workers through flood waters after their power station was flooded Monday night.
Vehicles are submerged on 14th Street near the Consolidated Edison power plant, Monday, in New York.
Rising water, caused by Sandy, rushes into a subterranean parking garage, Monday, in the Financial District of New York City.
Here’s another shot that is said to be 14th Street and Avenue C:
misebogland 