Zombie Banks drag Ireland into the Grave

Zombie banks are dragging Ireland into the ground

Just like many African nations, Ireland’s debts must be cancelled or a ‘financial bomb’ will go off in its most deprived communities

 Activists more accustomed to campaigning against the debts of countries like Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ecuador and Indonesia were instead outside the Irish embassy this morning. Dressed as zombies, we hoped to shed some light on the so-called “zombie banks” whose debts continue to drain resources from an Irish public sector that is being slashed to the bone.
But in Iceland They REFUSED TO PAY
Iceland was ripe for change, having effectively gone bust thanks to the cronyism of a cluster of politicians and bankers who thought that they could turn an island of fishermen with a population of 318,000 into a financial superpower.In less than four years, the most rapid expansion of a banking system in history saw three privatised banks develop assets 10 times the size of the country’s GDP. It was the Icarus economy. Property prices tripled, the stock market multiplied nine times, and people borrowed heavily – often in foreign currencies – to cash in on the boom. The crash was fast, hard and painful, worsened by the collapse of the krona as the state, unable to bail out the banks, refused to pay foreign creditors. The strategy looks smart now, compared with events in Greece and Ireland
Ireland’s financial crisis has much in common with scores of countries across the developing world. The country has been brought to its knees by an enormous debt, which originated not with excessive public spending, but a footloose financial sector that gambled with the future of the country. Without so much as a vote, Ireland’s people found themselves on the hook for tens of billions of euros of reckless investments.
The ultimate symbol of this form of crony capitalism in Ireland is Anglo Irish, the bank that started Ireland’s slide into the abyss. Anglo Irish lent vast sums of money to fuel Ireland’s property bubble, in the process making fortunes for rich speculators. Anglo is believed to have 15 customers who owe the bank more than €500m each.
When the bubble burst, the Irish government stepped in to underwrite the bank – ultimately being forced to nationalise it. This disastrous decision was not based on any assessment of the use of Anglo to the economy. Economics professor Morgan Kelly said at the time that Anglo – as well as Irish Nationwide, which was also brought into public ownership – “were purely conduits for property speculation. They fulfil no role in the Irish economy.” He said it would be “better to incinerate €1.5bn than squander it on Anglo Irish Bank”.
Outrage at RBS boss's bonus deal
A £963,000 bonus in shares awarded to Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester is strongly criticised by politicians and unions.
Today Anglo Irish, rebranded as the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, is a zombie bank – a bankrupt institution that exists to channel government money to a group of bondholders who the Irish people can’t know anything about, and who themselves were fuelling Ireland’s increasingly speculative economy.

Occupy free space, starting Jan 28th– COPY SPAIN

”Occupy Everything! Call-Out to Occupy Buildings on January 28th, 2012 January 12, 2012 at 9:53 pm

We call on people to reclaim space in their areas on January 28th in the spirit of the occupy movement, but first and foremost to move past the idea of private property and build communities of resistance.

Groups in multiple cities have already announced plans for building takeovers on this date. We urge people to partake in actions that match their capacity. Momentum is on our side; resistance is building.

The natural next step of the occupy movement is to create a political squatting movement that will be a base of power for the continued struggle against the state and capitalism.”

https://incorporealcommittee.wordpress.com/

Comment and 10 Tips.. COPY Spain!!

In Spain also squatting is a criminal offence. Yet in Catalunya alone there are dozens of thriving ‘ Occupied Self managed Social Centers of every description.’ How is this possible? any movement to grab a bit of free space in the US could learnlots from our ideas and tactics.

Occupied self managed social center.. barcelona 2012

Here ae some tips from an ancient squatter.

1. Pick a building that’s long disused or forgotten or that it’s a disgrace to be abandoned.

2.Invite the neighbours to open house type participation from the start.

3. Immediately start all kinds of daily activities, from yoga to dance to ‘freegan’ cafes etc

4. Decide things by assembly, seeking consensus, this short circuits the ‘politicos’ and power obsessed men

5. People living there have first choice, maybe we can ‘adopt’ one person with problems, but we

can’t invite in all the drug and mental casualties of the brutal capitalism-

6.Good Squat Centers are often begun by an already strong group of friends.

7. The local economy is often based on recycling and benefit parties.

8. A great tactic is to have a backup place in case you don’t survive the first crucial days

9. A theme is a good idea, from Circus Squats, Womens centers, Prisoners Aid, rural permaculture, etc.

10. Above all look out for each other, beyond personal irritations, and enjoy the adventure!

   THEY’LL NEVETR EVICT OUR DREAMS”

‘Movimento Xingu Vivo’ BLOCKS Belo Monte

Here’s the latest report from International Rivers

In the first days of the New Year, Brazilian contractors quietly started blockading the Xingu River to allow construction to start on the massive Belo Monte Dam. Often called the “Pandora Dam” by mainstream media because of James Cameron’s support for the struggle against it, the hydroelectric project could become the world’s third largest. While construction had started on roads and associated works several months ago, the building of coffer dams to divert the flow of the river started during the Brazillian new year holiday, presumably to sidestep the scrutiny of civil society, NGOs and regional activists. But escape scrutiny it did not.

The Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre organized an action to stop construction of the coffer dams on January 18th, denouncing the illegitimate process and lack of consultation that have become a hallmark of the Belo Monte Project. For two hours a small but determined group of protestors blocked work from continuing on Belo Monte’s Pimental site, and informed the workers about the damage the dam would have in their community.
Antônia Melo, coordinator of the Xingu Vivo movement, called the project a “crime of the Federal Government” and said, “To take away the river is to take away the life of its people, because water is life.”

Much damage has already been caused construction in the region. Clearing rainforest, building roads – and the telltale sign of dam construction in the region, red mud that clouds the water of the Xingu river – all make water dangerous to drink, pollute the river, kill fish and threaten the habitat of endangered species, such as the endangered Zebra Pleco.

The construction activities have already degraded the water quality of the Arara indigenous tribe. The tribe has appealed to the Public Prosecutor of the state of Pará to file a lawsuit against dam builder Norte Energia S.A. to recoup damages and try to reclaim some of their lost livelihood.

Josinei Arara, a member of a threatened Arara indigenous community nearby said, “The dam builders have kept none of their promises to compensate our village; in they meantime, they’re assassinating our river.”

The fate of the Xingu river looks grim, but indigenous communities across the Amazon will continue to fight against further construction with the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre.

With water quality being impacted so severely this early on in construction, and the other impacts that are causing harm to indigenous communities such as the Arara, Norte Energia is in clear violation of the Brazilian Constitution and international standards – the project should be immediately cancelled and rights violators should be held accountable.

More information:

Blog Strike HERE Wed. against internet control

 

 

 

SOPA blackout list grows, as Google confirms plan to include link on homepage

by Michael R. Gideon

Note :’The Freeonline” will join the strike from midnight, though I dont k now how to black it out.

The list of websites planning a blackout or some other form of anti-SOPA protest on Wednesday January 18th continues to grow. Google has confirmed that it plans to put a link on its homepage in solidarity with the various sites that are going to go silent in an attempt to raise awareness of this crucial issue.

As well as Google’s homepage link plan, there will be blackouts at sites including Reddit, Imgur, Wikipedia (English version), Boing Boing and an estimated 10,000 other smaller sites. Many people are planning to have a blackout on their blogs, and the cumulative impact could be significant. 100gf | Politics and Computers will be joining the protest, though not blacking out because that would be impossible with the current WordPress.com infrastructure that we use.

Politicians hoping that they would be able to slip a bill as stupid and ill-considered as SOPA into law without the public noticing will be sorely disappointed. Although SOPA and its pal PIPA seem to be losing momentum, now would be the wrong moment to assume the battle has been won. Hopefully, this time tomorrow a lot more people will know about SOPA and PIPA and the attempt by US entertainment companies to grab power.

China orders first CO2 limits in 5 Cities

 

17 Jan 2012: China Sets First-Ever Cap
On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

”The Chinese government has ordered five cities and two provinces to set caps on greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for a series of regional carbon markets. Last week, China’s National Development and Reform Commission urged Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen, as well as the provinces of Hubei and Guangdong, to set “overall emissions control targets” and submit strategy proposals on how to achieve them. A plan developed by Guangdong — which commits the province to achieving 20 percent of its total energy consumption from non-fossil fuels by 2015 — has already been approved by the central government. The province must also cut its “carbon intensity,” or the CO2 emissions per unit of economic growth, by 19.5 percent. China as a whole, which has already passed the U.S. as the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has committed to reducing its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. According to a new government report, China’s urban population surpassed its rural population for the first time ever in 2011.”

http://e360.yale.edu/digest/china_sets_first-ever_cap_

Ironically a centralised authoritarian government is more able to respond to the  imminent scientifically proven  climate disaster.

Environmental activists have been repressed again, just like unions an all ‘wage slaves’. It’s also ironic that to help stop climate chaos  (and supply a plus 12% p.a. energy demand) the state is pressing ahead with the biggest and most destructive  mega dam projects in history. Green Activists Feel Sting of Chinese Government Crackdown

Meanwhile  back in the USA, the other great CO2 producer, politicians who ”believe” in climate change can’t survive, and reports of Climate disasters are disappearing from the media. The climate deniers are having a field day, with false or manipulated evidence  spread by right wing and oil company funded media and white male bloggers.

The latest this week, featured again by the BBC, says CO2 emissions have averted an Ice Age.. perfect propaganda to keep on destroying the planet, while even they admit levels would have to be below 240ppm for icing to even begin, way below even pre industrial levels.. no matter, damage done, and a name made for some happy researchers.Carbon emissions ‘will defer Ice Age’

Just Do It: A Tale of Modern-day Outlaws

Just Do It: A Tale of Modern-day Outlaws (2011)

INFO:
Emily James, UK, english, 2011, 90 min.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1941569/
http://justdoitfilm.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/JustDoItFilm

(en) The world of environmental direct action has remained a secretive one, until now. Emily James spent over a year embedded in activist groups such as Climate Camp and Plane Stupid to document their clandestine activities. With unprecedented access, Just do It takes you on an astonishing journey behind the scenes of a community of people who refuse to sit back and allow the destruction of their world. Torpedoing the tired clichés of the environmental movement, Just Do It introduces you to a powerful cast of mischievous and inspiring characters who put their bodies in the way; they super-glue themselves to bank trading floors, blockade factories and attack coal power stations en-masse, despite the very real threat of arrest. Their adventures will entertain, illuminate and inspire.

Trailer:
http://youtu.be/zavTd31qxho


Watch online:
http://www.novamov.com/video/baceb9cf89871Download:
http://fileserve.com/file/FkjhTM8/Just.Do.It.2011.XviD.DVD-Screener.avi
—or—
http://www.wupload.com/file/2637694477/Just.Do.It.2011.XviD.DVD-Screener.avi
—or—
http://www.filesonic.com/file/oQPW3Jr/Just.Do.It.2011.XviD.DVD-Screener.avi

Torrent:
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/6848141/Just_Do_It__A_Tale_of_Modern-day_Outlaws_2011_DVD_SCREENER_XviD-

Subtitles:
Not found. Help transcribe/translate this documentary!

Titulky:
Nenašiel som. Pomôžte preložiť tento film!

You might also like:
If a Tree Falls (2011)
Cultures of Resistance (2010)
Banksy Presents: The Antics Roadshow (2011)
These Streets Are Watching (2005)

http://fuckcopyright.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-do-it-tale-of-modern-day-outlaws.html

Monsanto swindle destitutes millions in India….

Using its colossal market power, Monsanto craftily penetrated into the Indian markets.

Monsanto convinced the Indian government that its GM seeds would produce better crops. According to a report by Farm Wars, one former Managing Director of Monsanto claimed that Monsanto manipulated research data “to get commercial approvals for its products in India.”

Indian regulatory agencies, instead of verifying the data, simply remained compliant with the findings of what Monsanto presented. “They did not even have a test tube to validate the data and, at times, the data itself was faked,” the Farm Wars report says.

 Government regulations worked in favor of Monsanto to monopolize the Indian seed market. For example, “Prime Minsiter’s Office” in India pressured various state governments to sign MOUs with Monsanto to privatize the seed market.

Through these “vested interests” with the Indian government, Monsanto eventually has monopolized the GM seed market for more than a decade……….

The failure of Monsanto’s GM seeds was palpable. The farmers held onto their hopes for better crops after they had planted the “magic” seeds. Their crops never came. Throughout the villages in India the harvest from the GM seeds failed. The parasites destroyed the so-called “pest-proof” GM seeds.

Monsanto uses methods of manipulation and misinformation to reap their own benefits and profits at the cost of the farmers who rely on organic methods to grow their crops and animals, a tradition that existed in India for centuries.

By a contractual clause, the farmers could not save Monsanto’s GM seeds for reuse after the first season……….

With no harvest, the farmers could not pay back the lenders. Burdened with debts and humiliation, the farmers simply took their own lives, some by swallowing poisonous pesticides in front of their families. To date, an estimated 200,000 farmers have committed suicide all over India.

To add to the misery, wives inherited the debts along with the fear of losing their homes and lands. With no money coming in, they also had to pull their kids from the schools. The mass suicide among the Indian farmers is known as the “GM genocide.”

In its company website Monsanto declares that its pledge is “our commitment to how we do business.” And then there are the business philosophies with virtuous words like “integrity” and “transparency.”

Read Long full article HERE Globalresearch.caGlobal Research Articles by Iqbal Ahmed

 

More bio tech type stories I’d like to re blog   (from The Watchers with thanks)

  1. Organic farmers sue Monsanto over GMO seeds A landmark lawsuit filed on March 29 in US federal court seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seeds and to prohibit the company from suing those whose crops become genetically contaminated. The Public Patent Foundation filed suit on behalf of 270,000 people from sixty organic and sustainable businesses and trade associations, including thousands of certified-organic farmers. In Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, et al. (U.S. District Court, Southern……
  2. Secret GM wheat experiments begin in Australia Australia’s first trial of genetically modified wheat and barley is under way near Narrabri, New South Wales in the south-eastern area of the country. The goal of the GM wheat is said to be more nutritious bread (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gm-wheat-…). How exactly the genes were altered to create this alleged more nutritious bread remains a secret. All that is known is that 14 different strains of wheat and barley will be grown. Some strains will allow researchers……
  3. Plant disease raises questions on modified crops Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean was first discovered in 1971 in Arkansas and since then has been confirmed throughout most soybean-growing areas of the U.S. SDS is a fungal disease that also occurs in a disease complex with the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines). SDS is among the most devastating soil-borne diseases of soybean in the USA. When this disease occurs in the presence of SCN disease symptoms occur earlier and are more……
  4. Nikola Aleksic, Serbian ecology leader arrested for openly defying GMOs and chemtrails In October 2011, Nikola Aleksic, leader of Ecological Movement of Novi Sad in Serbia, was arrested and fined. Earlier on his way to a conference in Belgrade, an attempt was reportedly made on his life. And Monsanto has sued him with the threat of removing him and his family from their rented flat as “collateral.” Why all the fuss? Nikola made a spirited speech, recorded on video, challenging the Serbian president for allowing GMOs to……
  5. Did the USDA deregulate all new genetically modified crops? In press release titled “ USDA Responds to Regulation Requests Regarding Kentucky Bluegrass,” agency officials announced their decision not to regulate a “Roundup Ready” strain of Kentucky bluegrass—that is, a strain genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate, Monsanto’s widely used herbicide, which we know as Roundup. The maker of the novel grass seed, Scotts Miracle Gro, is now free to sell it far and wide. So you’ll no doubt be seeing Roundup Ready bluegrass blanketing lawns……
  6. BASF tries (again) to push ‘Frankenpotatoes’ on Europe Europeans have made it abundantly clear time and time again that they want nothing to do with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). But chemical giant BASF refuses to take no for an answer, and is once again pushing for EU approval of a “Frankenpotato” known as Fortuna that, if approved, would represent the EU’s second new legalized GMO in more than a decade. Unlike most Americans, Europeans generally take a keen interest in the integrity of their……
  7. Biotech’s dirty tricks exposed in new documentary: ‘Scientists Under Attack’ “One question means one career.” This was the harsh warning of UC Berkeley Professor Ignacio Chapela for those daring to conduct independent research on genetically engineered foods and crops. “You ask one question, you get the answer and you might or might not be able to publish it; but that is the end of your career.” Both he and biologist Arpad Pusztai dared to asked questions and do the research. And then all hell broke……