NEWS BRIEFS: New York Times did a story on found chemical weapons in Iraq, but the Pentagon had kept this little fact hidden from us. From 2004-2011, American troops repeatedly encountered chemical munitions and discovered at least (6) cases of chemical weapons, which were recently used on Kurdish fighters and Coalition troops, probably owned by Saddam Hussein and now in the hands of Islamic State Militants. Troops had found approximately 5,000 chemical warheads in the war-torn country. American government saw fit to not release information on this until recent story was released by New York Times. U.S. Government also chose to keep Congress only partly informed of 2,400 nerve agent rockets found in 2006. Partially because some of the weapons involved were chemical weapons, such as Mustard Gas, that were designed by the U.S. Government. This might explain why President Bush wanted into Iraq, to reclaim all those nerve agents but Saddam had apparently moved them 35-miles north to Syria and a munitions storage yard.
Houston, Texas: (5) Bible carrying preachers versus lesbian Mayor's new guidelines for transgenders use of public bathrooms. City attorney, going by city's new guidelines, has subpoenaed copies of their sermons for their 5 different churches. The city desires any and all communications that focus on homosexuality or the contentious equal rights ordinance, which these preachers have "fervently" opposed. Subpoena states, " All speeches, presentations or sermons related to HERO, the petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession." Houston Chronicle states. Mayor Parker, lesbian, became the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. This move comes as the city is defending itself against a lawsuit brought by local activists and church pastors who seek suspension of a controversial City Ordinance. Pastors collected the required 17,269 names to get the ordinance issue on the ballot, for the people of Houston to vote on it. Main issue seems to concern transgender people. But I must admit the sections of the city ordinance do confuse me and I believe they're supposed to. Still, I suspect it has something to do with male transgenders using female bathrooms. Pastors could be concerned male transgender could easily pose as a female, possibly a pedophile, to have confined access with female children. However, the city subsequently rejected a number of signatures on the petition , derailing the activists' and pastors' attempts to bring the ordinance to a public vote. Attorney for the city says, "If someone is speaking from the pulpit and its political speech, then its not going to be protected by Bible Law." Article IIII of the new ordinance summary "Does not require the construction of new bathrooms, shower rooms....for people of transgender identity. ( One major problem the mayor and her attorney is making concerns the man speaking from the pulpit. They'll have to violate the U.S Constitution to take any action whatsoever for anything those 5 men say in their church and from their pulpit. They are also looking at violating the 1st Amendment for Free Speech and illegally seizing these items. This mayor seems to have forgotten she serves the entire community of Houston, not just the gay and lesbian section. A wise women would attempt to work with these pastors, but maybe she has and was the victim of bad advise. Still such things happening in our country only show the coming downfall and it is only a matter of time.)
Obama Administration's effort to stop the so-called "War on Women", is now going global, and our tax money is paying for it. Department of Labor will award a $1.4 million dollar grant funding to entities that will help fight labor discrimination in....Mexico. (This is nice and all that, but America continues to dig itself deeper in debt. Printing more worthless cash causes further devaluation of our dollar. ) Labor Department also announced in September a $10 million dollar grant to implement a "Technical Assistance Project to Support Global Efforts to Create Safer and Healthier Workplaces." That one could be accomplished by individual departments through policy and maybe leasing a stronger building. But why do we spent tax money on people being told to just do their jobs and take care of their people. Maybe the Department of Defense needs another $10 Million dollar hammer for one of their black ops jobs.)
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister-Dimitry Rogozin, has made it known he wholeheartedly endorses Alaska's return to Russia's ownership. The Russia Flag had flown over Alaska for 150 years, according to Rogozin and he now oversees the Russian Defense Industry. "The fact that such a prominent figure could make such statements about Russia's claim to Alaska is significant," from an unnamed official. But could Alaska be next for Putin. ( But Rogozin is clearly making a very big mistake. For when the Russians, under Count Baranoff, traded furs with the Klinquet (bad spelling-sorry) and Haida Indian in Sitka, following a series of ugly battles, all Russia bought was 7 acres. The Indians of Southeast Alaska had no right to sell Alaska, nor would they try to. They simply wanted the furs, weapons and bright shiny jewelry pieces from these crazy Russians, who were preparing to leave. The Native Alaskans from Indians to Eskimo and Aleuts feel about the land the same way Lower 48 Indians feel. No one own the land but the Great Creator, they just felt they really took these Russian for a ride big time. Similar to how we did with our beads in Old New York. So, Russia may have put their flag up their and another one on the sea floor, but it means as much as the one we left on the moon.)
Russia boosting its air defenses is expanding their military bases to Belarus and Central Asia. Bases to be installed in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Russia has also created the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to counter Europe's NATO. The base in Belarus to be home for an air-wing of Russian SU-27 fighters. Even before the Ukraine Crisis, Putin was making major efforts to re-establish its historical military presence in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, "the Arctic and beyond." Putin reports to have ongoing negotiations to place Russian bomber bases on CUBA, VIETNAM, VENEZUELA and NICARAGUA. (Now it will be interesting to see of Obama can make his stand against Putin, as Kennedy made in 1962 October Missile Crisis. If he backsdown we'll have Russian bombers based 90 miles from Florida.
China has "URGED" Japan to make a clean break from militarism, to ensure the healthy development of bilateral ties, as Japanese politicians plan another visit up to the Yasukuni Shrine. This memorial shrine HONORS (14) Class A Japanese War Criminals from World War II. Many of these men were responsible for the atrocities committed against China and Korea. They could be considered the Hitlers of the Orient. Japan finally apologized for the nation's war crimes in the "Murayama Statement" of 1995. Still, politicians and high ranking military officers continue to make the climb to the shrine and speak or pray for these monsters. They were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Koreans, also Southeast Asians. In 1993, Japan officially admitted and apologized for the recruitment (enslavement) of 200,000 women from China, Korea and Southeast Asia
and forced to serve in the military brothels during WWII, to which only a low percentage survived. Repeated visits to the shrine has sparked anger in the countries abused by the war criminals in acts of violence that had no bearing on the war. During what came to be known as the "Rape of Nanking", an estimated 179,000 or more Chinese people were mostly killed in a period of 2-3 days. To save ammo, they were ordered to use their bayonets.
China's inflation rate eases into a 5-year low. September hit a 56-month low, fueling concern the country's economy is still struggling with weak domestic demand. Even with the massive sale of pork to Russia; 425 tons of frozen pork, pork prices , mainstaple in the Chinese diet, fell by 2.9% from September 2013. Crude oil and steel prices have dropped sharply. (poor economy is yet another trigger that weighs heavily on nation's leaders concerns, when thinking if making war could be desirable. Same reason Japan entered into war in 1941, Germany began preparing to take control of Europe in 1936 and what President Roosevelt was looking at to bring America completely out of the 1929 Depression. Conventional wars feed the people, but the world being the shape it is in, the jump to use a nuclear weapon would be all too easy. Once one is fired, or maybe three, how could another leader not respond in same.
Westerners and Europeans find it hard to comprehend the Oriental mind. Example: Today a man in South China set himself on fire: self- immolation and all because the company he worked for, the management, refused to pay him compensation after a theft. Following the act of torching himself, 400 plus workers- now protestors, made their feeling known through acts of vandalism on the business. Now I've worked and lived with Vietnamese, , Thai, Chinese, Cambodian and Laotian and they have always confused me. Things as basic as their sense of humor, to their fears and basic integrity of what is right. Rarely is thievery mentioned, they guy just got one over on you. He was faster, more talented. Orientals do not see any sin with gambling and they start soon. But they revere older people like I've never seen before and if you are invited, a stranger is royalty. Also the pride they have in their countries and their monarchy, we have lost. Most of the countries over there learned to combine monarchy with democracy, and they made it work. You never shook hands with a Thai, unless you knew him first or the man with him you trusted. Because when a stranger comes up to shake your hand or pat you on the back, he is trying to get rid of his evil spirits and on to you. Prostitution is not frowned upon, because the one woman may be supporting 3 to 5 families back in the village. No, I found so much to learn over there, but I love the people. Sadly, most of them had little value of human life.
China and Italy signed $10 Billion dollar deal involving energy to engineering. China will also donate $50 million US Dollars to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. They are also now URGING India and Pakistan to control their tensions through dialogue and consultation. Meanwhile, China is also "Urging" ( they like that word a lot) Britain not to send wrong signals to Hong Kong and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong Affairs.
China's new currency- renminbi or RMB, is expected to become the world's third largest currency under an optimistic scenario. Reported by International Monetary Institute, Renmin University of China. China General Nuclear Power Group became final investor for the building of two nuclear reactors in Romania's power plant in Cernavoda.
Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev thinks a rest in relations between Moscow and Washington is "impossible", while punishing western sanctions remains in force.
Russia seeks restoration of economic and political relations with European Union. Russia ready to discuss Free Trade Zone with EU. ( If EU goes for it, they better have a sharp knife to use when they proceed with the whole stabbing in the back routine. I sort of wonder what America would do if EU cries out for help when NATO is overrun?"
U.S. insists on Palestinian Statehood through negotiations, with Israel based on a two-state solution. ( But first, maybe we could handle this whole immigrant problem by simply releasing Arizona and New Mexico to the Hispanic and Indians, for their two-state solution. Why does Israel have to give up any land they won in 1967, we never gave our land to Britain, the French or Mexico/Spanish. How does President Obama have the right to make a judgement on a country half way across the globe? Answer- he doesn't.)
Russia now seeing oil at $81.00 a barrel, way down from the earlier figure of $108 in early September. This is bad news for Putin. His country runs on oil revenues; at least half of the government's revenue comes from oil and gas sales. Russia's stock market has plummeted 6% in last 3 months. Russia's ruble is down 20% in comparison to the U.S. Dollar. World Bank sees Russian economy slipping into recession this year and worsening for 2015 and 2016. Still, Russia is cash rich with $450 billion in international currency reserves, so its not anywhere near crisis time. One of the 38-deals Russia just signed with China was for Russia to provide China with Natural Gas for 30-years, beginning in 2018.
Ebola Statistics as of Oct 12rg: 8, 997 cases and 4,493 deaths resulting. Now I want you to remember those numbers for what we discuss in a moment and recall all the news stories, newspaper headlines, chats at the water cooler and at the dining table. Remember all the fear the White House, CDC and WHO is helping generate.
WHO doctors do not believe Ebola has mutated to airborne germ, which is a dry germ that can carry about in the air for sometime and then be eventually inhaled or touch the eye or open skin of the unlucky soul. But WHO suspects the Ebola may be transforming into what they refer to as a "drop-let borne" and between this and airborne is crucial. When a Ebola patient releases droplets of mucus and other secretions from nose , mouth and respiratory tract, or vomits, this makes the infection droplet-borne. However, a new report from the University of Minnesota, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) says there is now "scientific and epidemiological evidence" that proves Ebola has "potential" to be transmitted via exhaled breath and infectious aerosol particles- another word CIDRAP says Ebola has gone airborne. They advise the surgical face masks will not prevent transmission of Ebola. Medical and healthcare workers should should be issued full-hooded protective gear, and air-purifying respirators. CIDRAP says WHO and CDC are working in outdated mode of thought. ( Which may account for the recent infections of 2 U.S. healthcare workers. But could there be more, under quarantined in different hospitals, out of view of the press, for fear the people would grow angry with the government. How many of us recall the Iraq War with our soldiers coming under the influence of an unknown substance, the government did everything it could to keep that out of the press and some of the suspected labs were blown up to hide the facts. For my war it was Agent Orange and it took years before the US partially admitted to anything. After all it was only weed killer we flew through.)
Earthquake Reports: (17) of 4.0 or better around the globe. (5) of 2.5 to $.3 hit Mammoth Lake, California. (1) 3.4 hit Alaska. (2) 4.7/5.6 hit Iraq. (3) 2.5 or better struck Oklahoma- still something going on with that fault line. (2) 4.8 and 5.4 hit Japan.
Beijing is now expressing concern over India's plan to build a highway along their remote, disputed border with China, in India's Northeast Frontier. China defeated India in a brief, but bloody war in 1962 and their border remains unresolved. Both sides regularly accuse the others soldiers of crossing over illegally. The first section of the highway is 1,118 miles in length and will cost an estimated $16,5 Billion dollars. China URGES India take no action until border issue can be resolved.
U.S. Government has decided to step in and reviewing the purchase of New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel for $1.95 Billion by a Chinese Insurance Company. Two floors of the hotel are made home to US envoys to the United Nations, while in New York City and also for President Obama, while he visits New York City. Hilton has signed a contract to operate the hotel for next 100-years. (Take note to how long the Chinese wait for Hong Kong and now whats happening there.)
Britain government has successfully issued a sovereign bond in China new and 2nd currency- the renminbi, also known as RMB, making it the first western country to issue the largest ever non-Chinese RMB Bond. The RMB Bond is for 3 Billion, equivalent to approximately 300 million English Pounds and $477 Million U.S. Dollars. Britain had only held reserve currency in U.S. Dollars, Yen, Euros and Canadian Dollars. So, today's issuance signals China's RMB's potential as a future reserve currency. ( This may possibly and eventually push the American Dollar into a third spot, or even 4th if the Japanese Yen finds its power base, again.)
China shows off its Z-10 attack helicopter and both of their J-10 and J-20 fighter aircraft. Also on display for foreigners to observe was ocean training for helicopter carriers and the troops who will be operating from same.
Now, remember the nearly 9,000 Ebola cases and 4,500 deaths....50% statistic WHO and others like to boost up to 70% in the press. Read on:
WHO reported 207 MILLION Malaria cases in 2012, with mortality rate down to 42% globally and 49% in Africa Region. Now that was two years ago, does anyone recall a panic back then? There a lot more....
Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, like a sister to Ebola and has fatality rate of 24% to 88%. Fruit bat considered carrier, detected first in 1967 after outbreak in Marburg . Both this and Ebola caused by different viruses. Known to originate in Europe, most likely a bat cave and now connected with Uganda. Transmitted by human contact, also faulty injection equipment. Often mistakenly misdiagnosed as Ebola, but lab work is needed to show the difference. From 1967 to 2000, Marburg had 571 confirmed cases and 470-death, nearly 80% fatality rate. Then no reported cases until 2005, where Angola produced 374 cases, with 128 deaths, for approximately 42% fatality rate. 2007 and 2008 showed only 6 cases total reported with 3 fatalities. But now in 2014, Marburg has returned and showing up in Southeast USA.
Chikungunya is another viral disease transmitted to humans by infectious mosquitoes. Southeast U.S. now seeing cases of this disease and it can be misdiagnosed as Dengue Fever, which is also making its presence known in the same area of the U.S. Chikungunya first made its appearance in Tanzania in 1952 and has now been identified in 40 countries. In 2005 India, Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives and Burma reported a total of ....1.9 million cases. As of March 2014, there have been 8000 cases reported in Pacific South East Islands. No numbers for cases or fatalities in United States. But has beem reported in California now, too.
Dengue Fever is another virus and one transmitted by mosquito carrier. But this one can develop into a possible fatal element called Severe Dengue Fever (not very original.)\
Global incidence of Dengue has grown in recent decades, with about half the world's population at risk. Virus has made a showing in Floria and now California. First recognized in 1950 during dengue epicdemic in Philippines and Thailand. Severe Dengue effects most Asian and Latin America countries. Leading cause of hospitalization and death is among children in these regions. WHO estimates 50 to 100 Million infections worldwide every year. Cases across America, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific have exceeded 1.2 Million cases in 2008 and in 2012... 2.3 million people infected. Official heath data turned in by member states. In 2013, 2.35 million cases of Dengue Fever reported in the Americas alone, mostly South America, of that number 37, 687 were suffering severe dengue.
Remember all these numbers for cases, fatalities and locations.
Hepatitus C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Can cause mild illness to a serious life long illness. 130-150 million people globally have this chronic disease. People will often develop cirrhosis or liver cancer(which can be fatal).
HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 39 million lives so far. In 2013, 1.4 to 1.7 million people died of HIV/AIDS globally. WHO has released amazing guidelines for those living with this disease or education for those others on how not to catch it.
West Nile Virus, also carried by an infected mosquito, can cause a fatal neurological disease in humans. But 80% of humans will never show any symptoms. Can also caused death in horses, Birds became natural hosts of West Nile Disease. First detected in 1999 in West Nile outbreak. Hit New York City, possibly from ship coming to port and has spread throughout the country. Estimated 1 out of 150 people may develop severe form of the virus. For some strange reason, WHO does not display any of the statistics for this disease.
Suicide: WHO records show over 800,000 people die worldwide to suicide every year. This is the second leading cause of death for 15-29 year-old and 75% of this age group come from low to middle class homes. Leading three causes for death by suicide is use of pesticides, hanging or using a firearm. Only 28 countries report having a National Suicide Prevention Strategy, such as victim hot lines, which we have in Alaska. WHO has now committed itself to reducing the world's suicide rate by 10% in 2020.
Now review the numbers and compare them to this Ebola crisis. It really reduces the fear factor. But you also wonder why isn't all that money being donated to WHO for Ebola...why couldn't a share of it cone to suicide prevention, to the community centers fighting the various viruses in Lower 48 and elsewhere. Why is the government trying so hard to have us focused on Ebola, when we see only 4500 people have died and the prediction number...at least so far, stink. Oh, I don't want them to get worse, I just want to prevent panic with fear mongers leading the way.
Now this was only a a few sickness that WHO deals with. By my count, WHO lists 127 diseases, ailments, sicknesses and mental health issues.
Sorry this was so long...so unusual. No news briefs on next one. Maybe I'll tell you a story.
God Bless, BILL I've been in this chair for over 12 hours, no wonder everything hurts and my dogs want out. Not to worry, kids took them out a few times.