Expatica International news forum

End of the Financial World as we Know It.

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:49:11 +0100

Here's a good op/ed piece from the NYT, written by Michael Lewis of 'Liar's Poker' fame.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/opinion/...tml?_r=1&hp

It goes into some detail into the disgraceful and incompetent performance of the S.E.C. as well as the (mostly) greed and (some) incompetence of all the major Wall Street players.

The follow-on article about what we should do next, is also intersesting.

Next Derivatives Scam

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:11:57 +0200

$1 Trillion market set up with a the help of a few photos of polar bears clinging to ice.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...&refer=home

It surprising that the populace has basically begged to be taxed and the request will be granted.

The death of Dr.David Kelly

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:28:30 +0200

Wonder if the creeps who did this will ever be brought to justice.

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?id=4852

America and health care

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:14:04 +0200

Let's hope Obama pulls it off in his speech on Wednesday, and eventually gets health care bills passed in both houses.

I think he can do it (because after all the Democrats have both houses), but it won't be easy. He has to stay away from specifics because it's obvious that anything specific will be grossly misrepresented by his opponents. He also has to somehow offer constant reassurance to the nervous majority, who seem blinded by the shrill nonsense coming at them through their TVs. But at the same time he can't promise too much.

It's sad and perplexing that the US has so far been unable to introduce universal health care for its citizens. This is hardly a left v. right issue. I mean, every other modern country has been able to make it happen. The strange thing is that the Americans already have government insurance programmes. It seems Americans don't really understand how health care works in their own country. Some of them apparently don't see it as an expansion of Medicare, but as the end of Medicare.

But I suppose I'm glossing over how difficult it was to introduce universal health care in the UK and other countries. It won't be an easy thing to take on the insurance industry and the medical profession.

Still, it has to be done. It seems so self-destructive for America to stay on this course.

And the debate is based on so much ignorance. What is that all about? The vitriol in the American media on this issue is creepy and depressing. To non-Americans it is practically incomprehensible. You'd think that after two decades of cultural warfare the Americans would get exhausted and be able to compromise on some of these basics. Is there anything they can agree on anymore?

Take a bow, Mr. President

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:35:14 +0100

This story covers the latest uproar in Washington regarding a bow President Obama made in Japan. Apparently some people think it is a disgrace, personally I feel he was respecting Japanese culture. In America, bowing down to someone is a no-go. But he was in Asia for goodness sake where the culture is entirely different and they perceive certain matters much differently. A bow is a sign of respect between two people and it is done even on the street by common people.

Do you think President Obama was wrong?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/091116/usa/...macy_asia_obama

Credit crunch

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:16:00 +0100

Hello all,

Expatica is currently working on a number of articles (across all country sites) regarding the credit crunch and how the global downturn is affecting expats.

We would like to ask our forum users in particular, how the recession is influencing them. So if you have an opinion on the matter, or have an experience to share, then please post in this thread.

You could also simply give a yes or no answer to the question: 'Has the current financial crisis affected you?' in the poll above.

The editors may also contact those members who have added a comment, to ask for a quote or to contribute to one of the articles.

Kind regards,
Matt (Admin)

Healthcare Battle

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:45 +0100

One of those little tidbit pieces of info in the 2,000-pages long healthcare bill in the US. Get health insurance or go to jail. "The CBO projects that the lowest-cost nongroup family plan will cost roughly $15,000 in 2016, a hefty sum for millions of middle-class Americans..."

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/1...ies-and-prison/

I'd like to add that according to a current Pew Poll- 47% are opposed to the current health care proposals while 38% are in favor.

Swine flu vaccine

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:33:23 +0200

Just passing on some info I received:

Today, 21st October, the swine flu vaccine will be rolled out in mass across the UK
Here is the declared ingredient list for the UK version of the vaccine, Pandermix

THE INGREDIENTS (PANDEMRIX VACCINE)

THE RECIPE
Adjuvent: Squalene 10.68mg (Linked to Guillane Barre (Gulf War) syndrome and illegal in the UK)
Alpha-Tocopherol 11.86mg
Polysorbate 80 (Tween)4.86mg

OTHER INGREDIENTS
Octoxinol 10 (this is a contraceptive)
Sodium Chloride
Disodium Phospate
Potassium dihydrogen Phospate
Potassium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride
Thiomersol (MERCURY) (strongly linked to autistim spectrum neurological disorders, and removed from all other vaccines in the UK since 2003)
Water for Injections

SAFETY CONCERNS
Neurodegenerative and Autoimmune Illness

There is much resistance in the scientific community to its use at this stage, not least as it has been rushed into production amidst accusations of carelessness if not downright negligence. Baxter International, one of the companies supplying the UK, are themselves currently the subject criminal charges after having distributed 72 kgs of swine flu vaccine tainted with Live H5N1 or Avian Flu.
Currently, more than 60% of UK medical professionals have said they will not be taking it.
In Germany, chancellor Merkl last week announced that although the ordinary population will get a version similar to ours, the cabinet and other high ranking officials will get a very different one.
The goverment has granted companies supplying the vaccines, immunity from prosecution for any adverse reactions.
And people in those companies have said that they will not be taking the vaccine.

The swine flu vaccine programme represents a gigantic financial opportunity for these companies.
In these times of financial hardship, is it perhaps an opportunity that could outweigh issues of safety and efficacy?

Before agreeing to an untested and potentially dangerous substance being put into your body, or those of your children, do some research.

Ten Things You're Not Supposed to Know about the Swine Flu Vaccine
http://www.naturalnews.com/026717_swine_fl...lu_vaccine.html

Americans Wake Up

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:31:16 +0100

This is a 'say-it-like-it-is' article by Peggy Noonan from the WSJ. I think its time for a change from "change" and many other Americans are feeling the same way. President Obama's approval rating is in the basement. People are fed up. Rightfully so.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405...1430926354.html

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:36:27 +0200

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...09/10/09/AR2009

Remembrance Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:50:45 +0100

Armistice was took effect 1918 November 11th at 11:00 h.

Here is the Monument to the Unknown Hero:

[

US soldier slaughters own troops in gun rampage

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:29:37 +0100

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8345713.stm

QUOTE

Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.
Lt Gen Bob Cone said the shooter had been killed in the incident and two suspects arrested. All were American soldiers. The base is locked down.

Well, undoubtedly you'll have seen this story already. Shocking, isn't it?

Intelligence Squared

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:34:42 +0100

Did anyone catch the IQ2 debate on BBC World this weekend? The topic was "Is the Catholic Church a force for good"?

Ann Widdecombe (for) and Stephen Fry (against) were amongst the panelists. Very good viewing, in my opinion, if you get the chance to watch.

Five gun attack dead named by MoD

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:55:41 +0100

These incidents will continue....
The situation in Afghanistan is only going to get worse.
When I see politicians supporting this war I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
On a positive note,more and more people are starting to see right thru the BS.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8343531.stm

The five British soldiers killed in an attack by an Afghan police officer have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

They were Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Guardsman James Major, Acting Cpl Steven Boote and Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith.

A "rogue" Afghan policeman has been blamed by the UK military, but PM Gordon Brown has said the Taliban could have infiltrated the police.

The dead soldiers had been mentoring Afghan police in Helmand province.

WO1 Chant, Sgt Telford and Guardsman Major were from the Grenadier Guards, while Acting Cpl Boote and Cpl Webster-Smith were from the Royal Military Police.

They had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district for the last two weeks.

Six British servicemen and two Afghan National Police (ANP) officers were also injured in Tuesday's attack.

Taliban link probed

"While we are assembling evidence, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for this incident," Mr Brown told MPs in the Commons on Wednesday.

"It may be that the Taliban have used an Afghan police member or they have infiltrated the Afghan police force and that is what we've got to look at," he said.

Gordon Brown addresses MPs on Afghanistan shootings
However, BBC Kabul correspondent Ian Pannell later said the Taliban had not admitted carrying out the attack.

Mr Brown said training of Afghan police remained an "essential element" of the strategy in Afghanistan and would not be stopped because it was "what the Taliban fears most".

"We will have to increase the number of police but it's clear we will have to increase the quality of police as well," he told the Commons.

"I would not want to draw conclusions about all the Afghan police from one single incident," he added.

William Ferrand, the uncle of Sgt Telford, said his nephew had "absolutely loved" his job training Afghan forces.

He added: "Everybody knows what a wonderful lad he was. It has devastated all of us."

Sgt Telford, of Grimsby, leaves a wife, Kerry, and two sons aged nine and four.

Paul Thundercliffe taught Guardsman Major at the Lindsey School in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

"He had a cheeky smile and he always wanted to make you understand where he was coming from," he told the BBC.

"He was very forthright and as he went through the school he just wanted to get better and better at everything that he did."

'Dumb' American criminals...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:47:42 +0100

'Dumb' American criminals attempt robbery with ‘permanent marker pen disguises’

Two hapless robbers in America, Matthew McNelly and Joey Miller, have been arrested with the “worst disguises ever” after trying to hide their faces with permanent marker pen.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...-disguises.html
--

Congo

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:49:19 +0200

"Too few UN troops assigned..."

From C. Amanpour's CNN report about sexual violence against women in this area. More should be done to help these innocent people and more attention to this topic would help push leaders to do more.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/1...tary/index.html

Al Qaida works for US

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:49:18 +0200

Al Qaida exists where US intelligence dominates. Al Qaida in US when Bush need excuse to activate Mid-east war. That is 911 attack. Al Qaida is everywhere in Iraq now to bomb innocent civilians when US occupies Iraq. Strange to say, under the Saddam regime, there is no Al Qaida. Al Qaida seems only exist where the regime being controlled by US. So we see no Al qaida in Syria and Iran. But they appears to attack ordinary people when the government either is controlled by US intelligence or supported by US intelligence. That's why you see Al Qaida attacks in US, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, in Iraq (after it is occupied by US). Because where they are protected by the intelligence, worked as a whip to beat people. When government want money and power, they beat the people with this whip (Al Qaida terror attack) People feel hurt then give up their civil rights and money to the government.

Petro-dollar, the cause of Iran war

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:14:08 +0200

556. Petro-dollar, the cause of Iran war (7/4/08)

People think the nuclear ambition of Iran is the reason for Iran war. That is only right on Israel's part. For US part, it is petro-dollar.

US dollar is appointed currency in oil trading. Because the oil trade is a huge business, a large amount of dollar is locked up in that trade. That money is called petro-dollar. Why it is so important to US? Because it acts as a long term none interest loan The prosperous US economy partly was based on the petro-dollar - a long term loan without interest. Let me depict it in this way:

US bought a house from Japan (whom represents the oil customers of Iran) for one million dollars. US also bought another house from France (whom represents other oil customers of OPEC) for one million dollars. Japan and France use these two million dollars as fund to buy oil. The money was used in oil trading circle and never back to US. US enjoys the two houses almost free. He doesn't have to pay monthly mortgage payment. Not a penny for interest, nor for principle. All the cost was the printing of a green back paper. However, that green back paper - petro dollar, is still a debit note. How long is it? So far it's more than forty years - since dollar became the appointed oil trade currency.

But suddenly, Iran refuses to accept dollar. Japan has to ask US to exchange that one million dollar into Euro or yen. What US can do is: 1. to get the dollar back by export more merchandise. But he is not able to. He has a trade deficit already. 2. To get the dollar back with gold or foreign currency reserve. But he hasn't that much reserve. 3. To lock up that extra one million dollar in US Bond by raising the interest rate to attract the buyer. But he unwilling to do it. There is a sub-prime crisis in real estate market. Any interest increase will further devalue the house. Feds holds a large amount of real estates in my case, they don't allow such thing to happen. So to solve the problem, they go to the fourth option. 4. By pushing up the oil price.

France (other oil consumption countries) keeps one million dollar as oil trading fund. How much does he need if the oil price doubled? Two million. Thus the one million dollar Japan abandoned is absorbed by France. That's why the oil price jumped like crazy in recent days - a tricky way to keep US dollar from collapsing.

US has to pay for high oil price too. Ordinary people bear the cost. But the high oil price will hurt the economy. The condition won't last long. So war on Iran is unavoidable.

Of course, US is a "democratic" country. It can't start a war because others refusing to use its currency. Then beware of another 911 style false flag attack.

We know there was an incident of live nuclear head weapons being carried over the continental US by a B-52 last August. There is attempt of dirty bomb attack in Houston this year.
Quote, "State of Emergency: The US in the Final Six Months of the George W. Bush Administration
by Lewis Seiler and Dan Hamburg
June 13, 2008 by CommonDreams.org
.......
Former National Security Agency analyst and naval intelligence officer Wayne Madsen has been in Houston investigating the Carnaby case at great personal risk. Madsen believes Carnaby was involved both in heading off a potential war with Iran (by leaking Mossad plans to assassinate Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah just days before Carnaby himself was killed) and in trying to forestall a potential terrorist attack on the port.
According to Madsen, “federal agents in Houston fear that ‘another 9/11-type part false flag’ attack is imminent, perhaps as early as July 4.”.......

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/13/9596/

Another time factor for Iran war is the Olympic Game in August. China has interest in Iran. He is an oil customer of Iran. Olympic Game could be an extortion chip for China's support in Iran war.

International Law

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:01:44 +0100

Hmmmm .....who is exempt from International law, crimes against humanity, and Hague Trials.

EU members, NATO members, countries with nukes,
supported dictatorships, and allies of any of the above.

All others obey or else. Fair and equal justice served ?

Project for the New American Century

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:18:13 +0100

Gee guys, how's that working out for you? Can you say 'neanderthal'?

http://www.newamericancentury.org/