Thursday, September 9, 2010

French unions call new strike in pension showdown

PARIS (Reuters) - French trade unions called another strike over unpopular pension reform after President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday he would not retreat on plans to raise the retirement age.

Following massive street protests and strikes that disrupted air and rail traffic on Tuesday, the unions raised the stakes with a call for more strikes and demonstrations on September 23.

Hours earlier, Sarkozy said he was asking his government to make some amendments to the pension reform bill but that the rise in the minimum pensionable age, from 60 to 62, would stay.

"There is no question of going back on this," Sarkozy said. "Working a little longer is the most reasonable path."

Unions had warned of an escalation after Tuesday's protests, tapping into mounting unease over austerity measures in Europe as governments seek to reduce the large debts run up during the recession of 2008-09.

Officials at Sarkozy's Elysee Palace offices said that he had expected such a response and would not back down.

Sarkozy asked ministers to tweak the pension reform bill now before parliament, which also raises to 67 from 65 the age at which people are entitled to retire on a full pension, another key part of the plan to balance the system's finances by 2018.

SHOWDOWN

However, rather than affecting the bill's chief elements, the tweaks would accommodate complaints about the impact on people in physically grueling jobs, or who started working very early in life, or who rely on many different pension schemes.

With the government aiming to pass the reform before the end of October, the unions have little time to maneuver.

"The president's announcement does not change the unjust and unacceptable nature of the proposed reform," a statement issued by the main unions said.

The tone of Sarkozy's statement and comments from Elysee officials suggested he was determined to face down the unions on what many consider the hallmark reform of his five-year presidency. He faces elections in early 2012.

The unions say Tuesday's protests in well over 100 cities on Tuesday drew a turnout of 2.5-2.7 million people while the official count is 1.12 million.

In any case the turnout was significantly bigger than for a previous protests.

The protests and strikes halved national rail services, disrupted underground train services in Paris and led to cancellation of a quarter of flights at Paris airports.

Without changes, the pay-as-you-go pension system would run up annual deficits of 100 billion euros ($128 billion) by 2050, the government says.

Opinion polls show two-thirds of voters think Sarkozy's plan is unfair, but two-thirds think strikes will make no difference.

"There is no question of letting anybody distort the reform, as it would imperil the rebalancing of our pensions," Sarkozy said.

(Additional reporting by Marine Pennetier and Yann Le Guernigou; editing by Brian Love)

CrossTalk: Double Dip Depression Doom?

Long Island Man Arrested For Defending Home With AK-47

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBS 2) — He was arrested for protecting his property and family.

But it’s how the Long Island man did it that police say crossed the line.

He got an AK-47 assault rifle, pulled the trigger and he ended up in jail, reports CBS 2’s Pablo Guzman.

George Grier said he had to use his rifle on Sunday night to stop what he thought was going to be an invasion of his Uniondale home by a gang he thought might have been the vicious “MS-13.” He said the whole deal happened as he was about to drive his cousin home.

“I went around and went into the house, ran upstairs and told my wife to call the police. I get the gun and I go outside and I come into the doorway and now, by this time, they are in the driveway, back here near the house. I tell them, you know, ‘Can you please leave?’ Grier said.

Grier said the five men dared him to use the gun; and that their shouts brought another larger group of gang members in front of his house.

“He starts threatening my family, my life. ‘Oh you’re dead. I’m gonna kill your family and your babies. You’re dead.’ So when he says that, 20 others guys come rushing around the corner. And so I fired four warning shots into the grass,” Grier said.

Grier was later arrested. John Lewis is Grier’s attorney.

“What he’s initially charged with – A D felony reckless endangerment — requires a depraved indifference to human life, creating a risk that someone’s going to die. Shooting into a lawn doesn’t create a risk of anybody dying,” Lewis said.

Grier said he knew Nassau County Police employ the hi-tech “ShotSpotter” technology in his area and that the shooting would bring police in minutes. Cops told Guzman he was very cooperative.

Grier also said he was afraid the gang outside his house was the dreaded MS-13. And Nassau County Police Lt. Andrew Mulraine, head of the gang unit, said MS-13 has 2,000 members in the county.

“They’re probably the most organized. They almost have a military hierarchy within the gang, so they are the most organized gang we encounter on a daily basis,” Mulraine said.

You may think a person has the right to defend their home. But the law says you can only use physical force to deter physical force. Grier said he never saw anyone pull out a gun, so a court would have to decide on firing the gun.

Police determined Grier had the gun legally. He has no criminal record. And so he was not charged for the weapon.

That ShotSpotter technology pinpoints where a gun has been fired within 35 feet. Police said it also detected two other shootings in nearby Roosevelt that night.

Back on TV due to popular demand…… ‘The Peace Industry’

By Joseph Glatzer –

A Happy Moment on the Set with Ban Ki-moon and Tony Blair

The Nobel Prize award winning show, “The Peace Industry” comes back for its 19th season on September 2nd, after an almost 2 year hiatus. It is one of the longest running and most popular shows in TV history.

The pilot episode of the series premiered way back in 1991 in the exotic locale of Madrid, Spain.

FROM THE PILOT EPISODE

There were a few highly rated one-off specials set in frigid Oslo, Norway, but the show wasn’t picked up for a full run until 1993.

The Nobel Award winning cast in the glory days of the series

Critics say the picture below is proof that what used to be a natural and easy going chemistry among the cast members has now become something forced and awkward.

FORCED CHEMISTRY?

Expectations among critics are low this season. Even New York Times gossip columnist Ethan Bronner, who’s always strongly supported the Peace Industry, is expressing doubts:

…support for many of the settlements remains relatively strong in Israel. In other words, if this view holds, the Israelis have closed out any serious option of a two-state solution. So the talks are useless.

To add to the drama, some of the long running series’ most prominent Palestinian cast members are threatening to leave the show for good if their demands aren’t met.

Abbas, who plays Abu Mazen on the show, is reportedly insisting that the plot pick up where it left off: the cliffhanger which left the gang stranded in Annapolis, Maryland.

The angry star, Mahmoud Abbas

The angry star, Mahmoud Abbas

Critics dismiss this as an empty threat, because similar statements over the years have never been followed through on.

While interest in the series has slumped among Palestinian and Israeli audiences as of late, several key European markets seem to never tire of the same old drama.

Germany expresses her undying love of the Peace Industry:

Germany's Angela Merkel is excited

Merkel said feasible solutions to the key issues of dispute had already been drafted in earlier rounds of talks.

It was now up to the parties to demonstrate political willpower and the necessary willingness to compromise.

The Peace Industry has drawn comparisons to Law and Order because the casts of both shows have changed constantly over the years; but you never really notice the difference.

One of the most exciting new faces this year is a fresh faced youngster (and the show’s historic first black character) Barack Obama. He’s reportedly been heard on the set muttering to himself, “I’ll succeed where all else have failed!”

We’re counting on him to add a much needed new direction to the Peace Industry,” series regular, Mahmoud Abbas

There’s also a spinoff of the Bill Clinton character from the 2000 season: Hillary Clinton. She’ll be joining the rest of the fictional peace processors in the Quartet.

The Quartet: Not really a team of peacemakers, but they play one on tv

After a long absence, returning to the cast is everyone’s favorite right wing hothead who just can’t seem to do anything right: Bibi!

netanyahuBibi, in a characteristic outburst of anger

This is a controversial choice because Bibi was previously kicked off the show after a brief stint in the Peace Industry in 1999. But he’s been brought back due to popular demand from Israeli fans!

The Peace Processors insist the Peace Industry will reach its long promised conclusion this year.

Having heard this promise for the last 20 years it’s hard not to see the whole thing as just another tragic comedy.

SOURCE: http://mondoweiss.net/2010/08/back-on-tv-due-to-popular-demand-the-peace-industr…

The Blockade Of Fort Hood By US Vets

Five peace activists successfully blockaded six buses carrying Fort Hood Soldiers deploying to Iraq outside Fort Hood’s Clarke gate on August 23rd at around 4 a.m. While the activists took the width of Clarke Rd. and slowed the buses to a halt, police made no arrests, but instead beat the activists out of the streets using automatic weapons and police dogs so the deploying Soldiers could proceed.

Among those blockading were three veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and one military spouse. (See attached bios) The action, organized by a group calling themselves “Fort Hood Disobeys,” was aimed at preventing the deployment of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Soldiers to what the veterans termed an illegal and immoral occupation.

While standing in the street, the activists held banners reading “Occupation is a Crime” and “Please Don’t Make the Same Mistake We Did”. “RESIST NOW.” From the TX HW-190 overpass, additional supporters attempted to hang larger banners that read, “Tell the Brass: ‘KISS MY ASS’ – “Your family needs you more” - “Sick of Fighting Your Wars” and “Col. Allen [3 ACR Commander]: Do not deploy wounded Soldiers.”

This latest deployment comes less than two weeks after President Obama announced the second end to combat operations in Iraq. FHD organizers denounced this as a lie, and pointed to the deployment of the 3rd ACR, a combat regiment, to Iraq as clear proof. They have stated they will continue to organize direct action in the Fort Hood community to oppose the wars as long as troops continue to deploy.

The action organizers have established a website at forthooddisobeys.blogspot.com where they will be posting statements, photographs and video from the actions as they become available during the next 48 hours. As well, for the length of the day, FHD ran live webcasts updating their supporters and depicting portions of the direct action. All live broadcasts from the day are archived at http://bit.ly/b1WEyv.

For more information or to arrange coverage of today’s events, call 347-613-8964 or write to forthooddisobeys@hushmail.com. See attached bios for more information on those who participated in today’s action.

Participant Bios:

I am Bobby Whittenberg-James, a Marine veteran of the war against the people of Iraq, a Purple Heart recipient and a third generation military service member. I joined the Marines in June of 2003, believing the lies about weapons of mass destruction and an imminent threat to our safety. I have since come to learn that these wars and occupations do not keep the people of the United States or the Middle East safe, but instead serve the interests of politicians, capitalists and corporations; the ruling elite.

These unjust wars and occupations rob the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen of their dignity and their right to self-determination and serve to make the people of both the Middle East and the United States less safe. They also serve to further destabilize a region that has suffered under the boot-heel of western colonialism for over a century. The US Empire also supports both financially and militarily the brutal apartheid regime that occupies Palestine. All of this is done in our name with our money, and I am here to say “Not in my name!”

The recent information leaks about the US Empire’s wars lay bare their war crimes and crimes against humanity. We must face the truth, even if it makes us uncomfortable or shows us something about ourselves that we don’t want to see. When we find the truth, we must respond accordingly. I will not be complicit in the killing of people. Since I do not believe that the government or the capitalists will end these wars, I will vote with my body.

German banker hits nerve with anti-immigration book

German banker hits nerve with anti-immigration book AFP/File – Politicians have rushed to condemn Thilo Sarrazin, seen here on August 30, a board member of the German …

source: Simon Sturdee AFP

BERLIN (AFP) – Politicians have rushed to condemn a board member of the German central bank for a new book tackling immigration, but his views have found considerable support among the population at large.

Thilo Sarrazin's book "is not convincing, but it has convinced many people," said the influential Spiegel magazine, which this week has the Bundesbank executive on its cover, calling him a "people's hero."

His publisher is rushing to print more copies of "Germany Does Itself In" to meet demand. Online retailer Amazon.de has a massive 207 reader reviews on its website, with the average score 4.4 stars out of a possible five.

The Social Democrats (SPD), the centre-left political party Sarrazin belongs to, has been inundated with thousands of letters, emails and phone calls attacking the central bank board's desire to expel him.

"Listen to the voice of the people for once," Spiegel quoted one of the almost 4,000 emails as saying.

In the book, Sarrazin says Europe's top economy is being undermined, overwhelmed and made "more stupid" by poorly educated, fast-breeding, badly integrated and unproductive Muslim immigrants and their offspring.

"If I want to hear the muezzin's call to prayer, then I'll go to the Orient," he says, saying that allowing in millions of "guest workers" in the 1960s and 1970s was a "gigantic error."

He also says that Turkish and Kurdish "clans" have a "long tradition of inbreeding," leading to higher rates of birth defects, and ponders whether this might be one reason for immigrants' poor school performance, Spiegel said.

This and his comment to a newspaper that "all Jews share a certain gene", critics say, is akin to the kind of pseudo-science used by the Nazis.

Chancellor Angela Merkel called the remarks "completely unacceptable." The Bundesbank's board has asked President Christian Wulff to fire him, as it cannot do so itself.

Sarrazin has no intention of going quietly, however, and has threatened to appeal in the courts if Wulff dismisses him in a "show trial."

But at the same time, Sarrazin's book has thrown the spotlight on the fact that Germany's record is poor on integrating its 15.6 million people with what the government calls "a migration background."

According to official figures, nearly one in five young people without German nationality, which many second and third generation immigrants do not have, leave school with no qualifications.

Other figures show that people in Germany of Turkish origin, who number around three million and make up the largest minority, are significantly more likely to be living below the poverty line.

The debate has taken on such proportions that Merkel, 56, gave an interview to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, and on Sunday she admitted in the Bild am Sonntag weekly that Germany has made mistakes and has a lot of work to do.

In the past, Germany "dreamed a so-called multi-cultural dream and didn't do enough to remind immigrants of their responsibilities," she told the paper.

"Unfortunately, it is true that children from immigrant families still today on average get worse grades at school ... Our policies have made many things better but we still can't be satisfied."

But a Pandora's Box has been opened. Backing for Sarrazin, 65, is so strong that a survey published on Sunday indicated that if he set up his own new political party, almost one in five (18 percent) would vote for him.

Sarrazin has no intention of doing any such thing, but the survey raised fears that a charismatic right-wing populist in Germany, like anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, could win considerable political support.

According to a study from Bielefeld University, one in two Germans thinks there are too many foreigners in the country.

9/11 Was An Inside Job, False Flag Terror and the 9th Anniversary

TAG’s John Bush on Fox, “Free Market Solves Problems Not Big Government

Intel Hub – Thank you John for speaking the truth on the mainstream news. The vaccine truth was especially key. We all appreciate it.

MyFoxAustin News reports more and more Americans do think the government has gone too far, and they are standing up to take back their rights. John Bush debates Travis County Democratic Chair Andy Brown on the role Government plays in our personal lives. You can read more about the story here

Nanny State: Government Intrustion into Your Life

MyFoxAustin

More and more Americans do think the government has gone too far, and they are standing up to take back their rights.In fact, reason.com ranked the worst and best cities for personal freedoms, and Austin didn’t fare so well.

The latest law to stir the debate on government intrusion was passed right here in Georgetown Texas.

It was not long ago, you could spark up a cigarette or cigar anywhere outside, but then the 15 foot rule was passed. As of October, you will be pushed back, way back. Try off the county property that your taxes built.

Read Entire Article

Globalism Destroys America: 10 Reasons Why The World Trade Organization Is Bad For The United States Economy

In 2010, education has been so “dumbed down” in America that most Americans don’t even know what the WTO is, and even fewer understand why the WTO is important. The truth is that the World Trade Organization is essentially a global government for world trade. It is a “contract” that severely restricts the ability of member nations to direct their own economies and set their own trade policies. The United Nations is perhaps the only international organization that has more power than the WTO. It was created on January 1st, 1995 as a replacement for GATT (the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). Today, 153 nations representing more than 97% of total world trade are members of the WTO. It has been largely responsible for the explosion in world trade that we have witnessed over the past several decades. In fact, world trade is now over 15 times larger than it was 50 years ago. But is this a good thing?

No, it is not.

The following are 10 reasons why the World Trade Organization is bad for America…..

1 – The WTO is not accountable to the American people or to any other voters around the globe. It is a sprawling bureaucracy that wields an almost unbelievable amount of power that is completely unchecked by democratic processes. The American people could try to elect a large number of politicians who are in favor of pulling the United States out of the WTO, but considering the fact that both major political parties are very much pro-WTO at this point, that is simply not going to happen.

2 – The WTO acts as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary in matters of world trade. The WTO has the authority to impose punishments on member nations, and it has not been shy about exercising this authority. In essence, the WTO is the judge, the jury and the executioner and if anyone does not like this it is too bad for them.

3 – Many of the WTO regulations were authored word for word by the big global predator corporations that now dominate the world economy. It is an open secret that the WTO is dominated by international bankers, large international corporations and the most developed nations. Whenever new negotiations are conducted, it almost always seems as though it is the “sharks” that end up winning in the end.

4 – Any nation that attempts to protect itself against the negative effects of globalism and free trade is quickly reprimanded by the WTO. In essence, the WTO is the enforcement arm for the powerful interests who are determined to merge us all into a one world economy.

5 – The WTO allows countries to sue each other. This has been primarily used by the wealthy countries to push around the smaller, less developed nations.

6 – The WTO allows global corporations to sue countries. Forget about sovereign immunity in matters governed by the WTO. Under the WTO, the monolithic corporations who benefit the most from free trade can easily push around the smallest and least developed nations.

7 – The WTO is widening the gap between rich and poor. Under the globalized system of free trade we are all living under, all wealth is slowly but surely being transferred into the hands of the very wealthy while the rest of us are left standing around trying to figure out how the game was rigged.

8 – The WTO forces the United States to open its doors to unsafe products. For example, the United States had been very concerned about the safety of Chinese poultry products. But the WTO ruled in China’s favor and now the U.S. must allow China to import massive amounts of unsanitary chicken.

9 – Under the WTO, labor has become a global commodity. Now American workers have been put in direct competition with the cheapest labor in the world. Millions of American workers have lost their jobs and factories are closing across the United States at a staggering pace.

10 – The American people are deeply upset about the state of the economy, but they don’t even understand what is going on. According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, 81% of Americans rate the U.S. economy as “poor”. Americans continue to get angrier and angrier about the economy and they want someone to “fix” it. But what they don’t understand is that under the new global system that we are being merged into, it is intended that the standard of living for the poorer nations will go up while our standard of living goes down. In the end, there is supposed to be “equality” all over the world.

But what kind of equality will that be?

If current trends hold up, the top 1% of all income earners will become fabulously wealthy, while the remainder of us will work our lives away for their giant global corporations for near slave labor wages.

A reader of my column named Joe recently left a comment that does a good job of summarizing the kind of world that we are heading into….

I still remember the 60 Minutes program that showed an old company in Massachusetts that made winter jackets and pants. The old timer who owned the company was a wonderful character. He worked hard all his life, made excellent clothes, and treated all his employee’s like his family. Dan Rather followed him throughout the mill as he interacted with each employee, the old man knew every job because he probably had to do them all at one time. This man had integrity, a hard work ethic, honesty, and every other leadership quality. His employees loved him and respected him.

Fast forward to today and we have companies like Nike and Gap who entrap their young girl employees with a scam ad in a newspaper about a job. Then they are caged into a factory with barbed wire and security guards and have to work for .35 cents per hour. The girls have to pay “rent” for a bunk bed and a little food, a debt they can never repay for their freedom. And we buy their clothes at Wal-Mart.

Where did we go off the tracks? How did we go so wrong?

The truth is that the giant global predator corporations are going to continue to use the WTO (and other globalist organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank) to rig the game in their favor and to push us all into one global market and into one global labor pool.

The WTO is not good for the U.S. economy and it never will be.

But the vast majority of our politicians are 100 percent behind this system which is designed to deindustrialize the United States, ship our jobs overseas and substantially lower our standard of living.

Will the American people wake up and realize what is going on?

No, “Dancing with the Stars” has just announced their new cast, American Idol is looking for some new judges and football season is starting, so the American people are going to have their hands full for a while.