Let’s Talk About Facts, Not Fear

It’s not just debt burdens that are problematic. ‘Rich’ countries in the West are also rapidly debasing their currencies, spawning tomes of regulatory impediments, restricting the freedoms of their citizens, aggressively expanding the powers of the state, and engaging in absurd military folly from Libya to the South China Sea. Once again, this is not the first time history has seen such conditions. In our own lifetimes, we’ve seen the collapse of the Soviet Empire, the tragi-comical hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, and the unraveling of Argentina’s millennial crisis. Plus we can study what happened when empires from the past collapsed. The conditions are nearly identical. Is our civilization so different that we are immune to the consequences?

Derivative Meltdown and Dollar Collapse

Nation states held hostage to financial manipulation are slaves to the central banks. With the demise of the Dollar, the fake debt obligations of the United States must be repudiated. Foreign states are prepared to sever their links to the Dollar reserve currency, by trading directly in the domestic currencies of other countries. Interacting commerce in Dollars with American companies will continue, but the yoke of Federal Reserve Notes legal tender will be rejected when the derivative meltdown explodes.

Central Banks Game Plan: One World Currency

Only those in total denial would claim that the world economies could grow their way out of the debt bubble. Mathematically, the rules of compound interest always destroy the purchasing value of fiat currencies. The era of zero interest rates will end. When the cost to finance debts reverts to normal levels, the bleeding will become a gusher. The world reserve currency status of Federal Reserve Notes will come under enormous pressure. As the central banks consolidate their control over international commerce and the economies of individual countries, the coin of the new realm will shift to a replacement for the U.S. Dollar

European Commission Single Supervisory Mechanism

The lack of enthusiasm for the latest effort to centralize all banking and monitory regulation within the European Central Bank suggests that the surreal struggle for continental unanimity still resides in the minds of banksters. Elites still seek to perfect the class distinguish of century old traditions, into a modern version of feudal serfdom. Globalism is the brainchild of the cabal of international banking. As long as a financial monopoly dominates political institutions, the end result will be more consolidation of the rule of the House of Rothschild.

The Financial Super-Storm of 2013

The destructive whirlwind that hits New York in 2013 will be a financial Frankenstorm. Four years of glorious central-planning “extend and pretend” have enriched the political and financial Aristocracies, and imbued them with a bubble-era hubris that they have indeed gotten away with murder: the $6 trillion the Federal government borrowed over the past four years, the Fed’s $2 trillion in fresh cash, the Fed’s $16 trillion bailout of the banking sector and various perception management manipulations have righted the storm-tossed ship. All those with power in 2008 remain in power and all those with outsized wealth in 2008 still hold their outsized wealth. The global tsunami of borrowed and printed money lifted the water-logged dinghies of the debt-serfs enough to give them hope of better times; meanwhile, their adjusted income has declined 8%: they are poorer while the neofeudal Aristocracy is much wealthier: same as it ever was, right? Except the financial tides and winds have shifted, and the linearity of central planning is about to be disrupted by nonlinear, positive-feedback storms. Let’s list a few of the major storms brewing

US will remain among top players by 2030: US Intelligence

Washington: The US will be the "first among equals" in a world not dominated by a hegemonic power as neither China nor India are likely to topple the American supremacy to create a new international order by 2030, the US intelligence believes.

"The replacement of the US by another global power and the creation of a new international order seem to be the least likely outcome in this time period. "No other power is likely to achieve such a role in the time frame under any plausible scenario," Christopher Kojm, Chairman of National Intelligence Council, told reporters at a news conference. Kojm was responding to questions after the release of 'Global Trend 2030' report of the National Intelligence Council (NIC). Mathew Burrows, Counselor to the NIC and author of the report insisted that Asian giants like China and India are unlikely to replace the US as the world power, because like Washington, Beijing or New Delhi do not have the capacity to form an international coalition or mobilise global opinion on any particular issue. "Well, the economy is one important factor in a country's power. And our main point here is that, the Asian powers... talking here about China and India -- don't have the means like the US does of really pulling together coalitions -- these are coalitions not only of states but also non-state actors -- in dealing with the global challenges. "So in that sense, the US is in a very unique role," Burrows said. He said broadening the definition of power beyond GDP and military spending, the US still in 2030 will stand "head and shoulders" above China, India and all other powers in the world. The US official, in response to another question, said that China is not going to replace the US on a global level. "Being a very large economic power is a very important component, but it isn't -- even if you look historically -- necessarily the largest economic power that always is the superpower. "Britain in the 19th century lost its primacy on the economic side well before the First World War and then the Second World War when it dropped, of course, from being that, the big hegemonic power," Burrows said. Particularly in this world, he said, looking at this growth in global challenges, the US is the only one who can mobilise its forces to deal with it. He said China itself says that it is not a peer competitor of the US. China, he said, cannot expect to actually play the role of organising across regions, non-state and state boundaries. "If you look in the regional section, we do talk about the potential for a lot more US-China competition. Again, you know, China is -- as we say -- the wild card. "Its actions itself can be its worst enemy, particularly if it becomes, as we've seen starting a couple of years back, a lot more aggressive in the neighbourhood, then actually is sowing a lot more support for a continued US role in the region," he said. Kojm said in the world of 2030 most European countries, South Korea and Taiwan and Japan, will have a median age above 45 and ageing countries will face an uphill battle in maintaining their living standards. So, too, will China, whose median age today is younger than that of the United States, but it will be higher than that of the United States by 2030. "Surging economic growth, dramatic power shifts, nationalism and aggressive military modernisation across Asia have amplified rather than diminished tensions and competition among the rising powers and with Japan," he said. "An increasingly multipolar Asia, which lacks a well - anchored regional security framework able to arbitrate and mitigate rising tensions, constitutes potentially a significant threat. China will need to transition to a more sustainable, innovation-based economic model if it is to remain a top-tier player in Asia. "Otherwise, the influence surrounding what has been its remarkable ascendance will dissipate," Kojm said.

Philippines typhoon toll tops 700, hundreds missing

Manila: The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has climbed above 700 with hundreds more missing, many of them tuna fishermen feared lost at sea, the government said on Tuesday. Typhoon Bopha, which unleashed floods and landslides across the main southern island of Mindanao on December 4, has killed at least 714 people and obliterated entire communities, the civil defence office said. It said nearly 1,15,000 houses were destroyed and more than 1,16,000 people remain in crowded government shelters, where they face months of waiting for new housing to be built. A total of 890 people remain missing, but officials have said some of them could be among the 257 corpses that have been retrieved by rescuers but remain unidentified and unclaimed by relatives. The missing also include 313 deep sea fishermen who set off from the country's main tuna processing port of General Santos in Mindanao days before Bopha hit land, and were never heard from again. The United Nations launched an USD 65 million global aid appeal yesterday for the victims of the typhoon, the deadliest natural disaster in the Philippines since Tropical Storm Washi killed 1,200 people on Mindanao's north coast last year.

UK nurse Jacintha Saldanha who duped by Kate Middleton prank call, commits suicide

The King Edward VII Hospital in London has confirmed that the nurse who was the victim of a prank pulled by two Australian DJs about Kate Middleton’s heath status earlier this week has died.

She has been identified as Jacintha Saldanha, 46. Media reports are suspecting suicide, but no one has linked the death to suicide. Dr. Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nurses in London, said it is “deeply saddening that a simple human error due to a cruel hoax could lead to the death of a dedicated and caring member of the nursing profession.” Saldanha, who was the one who took the call from the Australian radio personalities and transferred the call to the nurse’s ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for acute morning sickness. It was announced on Monday that Kate is expecting. On Friday, police in London responded to a call at 9:35 a.m. to reports of a woman found unconscious at a residence on Weymouth Street, in central London. The hospital provided those accommodations for her. Police say they are continuing to try to establish the circumstances of Saldanha’s death and a post-mortem was being arranged. “It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha,” the hospital said in the statement Friday. Further to the statement, the hospital confirmed that Saldanha was the first person who answered the phone and transferred the call. The hospital confirmed that she was the victim of the hoax by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian and that the hospital had been supporting her “through this difficult time.” LISTEN:Radio show makes crank call to hospital treating Kate Saldanha had worked at the hospital for four years and was “an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues,” the hospital said. The BBC reports Saldanha was married with two children. Believing that Prince Charles and the Queen were on the phone inquiring about Kate’s condition, private medical information was relayed in a severe breach of privacy. The BBC reported that Saldanha had not been suspended or disciplined by the hospital. John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII’s Hospital, said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague.” Said Lord Glenarthur, chairman of King Edward VII’s Hospital, said: “This is a tragic event. Jacintha was a first class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us. She will be greatly missed.” London police would not confirm details, but they say they are investigating the circumstances of a death of a woman at a central London residence. A Scotland Yard spokesperson told the Toronto Star that it is not being treated as suspicious. It is “unexplained,” the spokesperson said. William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, reacted with sadness. St. James’s Palace spokesman Nick Loughran said in a statement: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha.” “Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.” Some people on Twitter are blaming Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian at 2DayFM 104.1 for their prank call. “I hope the two people responsible for the prank that caused a woman to take her life are very proud of themselves!! Disgraceful!” one Twitter user commented. However, some on Twitter were calling for calm. “Surely it's a bit knee jerk to lay the blame at the two dj's” one person tweeted. Their Twitter accounts have been deleted. Southern Cross Austereo, the media and entertainment company that operates the radio station, said in a statement that “(SCA) and 2Day FM are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII’s Hospital and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and all that have been affected by this situation around the world.” The company’s CEO Rhys Holleran has spoken with the presenters and “they are both deeply shocked and at this time we have agreed that they not comment about the circumstances.” The hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice “out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy.” The family of Saldanha issued a brief statement calling for privacy so they can grieve. “We as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha,” the statement read, according to the BBC. Little so far is known about the victim. The Daily Mail found a former neighbour who described her as a “nice, lovely lady.” The Mail reported that the neighbour lived next door to Saldanha, her two sons and partner Benedict Barboza — known as Ben — at an address in Bristol several years ago.

Hassan Rasouli’s end-of-life case in the hands of the Supreme Court

A faint smile flickers over Hassan Rasouli’s face when family members update him on their landmark legal fight to keep him on life support. Or, at least, so the Rasouli family believes. “We reassure him everything is going well,” said his 29-year-old daughter, Mojgan. “My father has become a representative of the value of life. ” But on the other side of a chasm that divides the family from the medical team at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that keeps Mr. Rasouli alive, doctors see a man with no quality of life and no hope of recovery. To them, Mr. Rasouli’s facial movements are involuntary and mechanical; they believe there is no realistic course of treatment to offer, aside from a dignified death. The result is a clash between deeply religious Islamic family members who believe life must be maintained at all costs, and a medical team that believes keeping Mr. Hassan alive borders on torture. Two critical-care physicians at Sunnybrook, Brian Cuthbertson and Gordon Rubenfeld, have taken the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. On Monday, the court will hear arguments in the precedent-setting battle. When it releases its ruling, likely several months from now, it could decide that doctors are free to withdraw life support unilaterally. Alternatively, the court could say the wishes of a patient and his family are paramount. Or, the court could opt for a middle road, giving the last word to a board of neutral arbiters. Lawyers who work with mentally disabled or elderly clients are looking to the Supreme Court to bring clarity to an uneven, emotionally fraught area of law. Jan Goddard, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in the field, said there has been a strong move in recent years for people to create documents expressing their wishes for when they would want to be taken off life support if they are ever incapable of deciding themselves. Ms. Goddard said the Sunnybrook case could throw a wrench into these efforts. “Termination of treatment that supports life is probably the issue most commonly raised by clients making advance directives,” she said. “I wonder what those conversations might be like between lawyer and client – or a person and his or her substitute decision-maker – if the court agrees with the doctor’s position that consent is not required?” Doctors and legislators also hope the court decision will provide much-needed guidance for dealing with people whose brains or minds have been irretrievably damaged. “Every single intensive-care unit has at least one patient who is not benefiting from being kept alive,” said Mark Handelman, a Toronto lawyer who represents families and doctors in end-of-life cases. “Listen, I understand why politicians aren’t debating this – nobody wants another abortion-type debate,” Mr. Handelman said. “But we have to address it. Frankly, I think this debate is going to make the abortion debate look like a Tuesday tea party.” Patients who are in a state of severe brain deterioration, he said, cause moral distress to both medical staff and family members who are trying to do the right thing. “Those beds cost roughly a million dollars a year, and we have an aging population of yuppies with a great sense of entitlement to everything – including health care,” Mr. Handelman added. The clash of interests has been coming for a long time. Medical science can slow the process of death in ways that were once inconceivable. At the same time, ever-more-sensitive instruments can detect minute variations in the brain activity of deteriorating patients. The two advances have collided, creating pressure to keep patients on life support based on their faintest responses to stimuli. Anand Kumar, a Winnipeg physician with experience in end-of-life treatment, said it is theoretically possible to conduct one organ transplant after another, and hook patients up to a succession of machines that remove fluids, cleanse blood and replace failing processes indefinitely.

UN climate conference throws Kyoto Protocol a lifeline

Almost 200 nations extended on Saturday a weakened UN plan for fighting global warming until 2020, averting a new setback to two decades of UN efforts that have failed to halt rising world greenhouse gas emissions. The eight-year extension of the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 keeps it alive as the sole legally binding plan for combating global warming. But it was sapped by the withdrawal of Russia, Japan and Canada, so its signatories now account for only 15 per cent of global greenhouse emisions.

“I thank you all for good will and hard work in moving the process forward,” conference president Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said as he banged down his gavel repeatedly on a package of decisions at the end of marathon talks. But Moscow’s delegate Oleg Shamanov said that Russia, along with Belarus and Ukraine, opposed the decision to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012. Russia wanted less stringent limits on unused carbon emissions permits, known as hot air.

A package of decisions, known as the Doha Climate Gateway, would also postpone until 2013 a dispute over demands from developing nations for more cash to help them cope with global warming.

All sides say the Doha decisions fell far short of recommendations by scientists for tougher action to try to avert more heatwaves, sandstorms, floods, droughts and rising sea levels. The draft deal would extend the Kyoto Protocol for eight years. It had obliged about 35 industrialized nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average of at least 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels during the period from 2008 to 2012.

Kyoto would have expired at the end of 2012 without an extension. The United States never ratified it and its main backers are the European Union and Australia. The two-week UN meeting in the Qatari capital had been due to end on Friday but the talks went on into Saturday evening. World carbon dioxide emissions are set to rise by 2.6 per cent this year, and are more than 50 per cent higher than in 1990. Recent growth has come mostly from emerging nations, led by China and India.