Well, the Thrilla on the Hilla seems to be at an end, at least for the moment, with the Tea Party tucking its tail between its legs.
But the underlying austerian agenda remains alive and thriving, transforming human society and its mechanisms into a conveyor belt for high tech looting.
Our long post today includes the latest ill omens from Europe, including the ongoing austerian debacle in Greece, new alarm bells from the Indian and Chinese economies, and the latest edition of Fukushimapocalypse Now!
Our first headline comes from the Oakland Tribune and exposes the lie behind all those much-ballyhooed new jobs numbers:
More than half of fast-food workers rely on public assistance, UC Berkeley researchers report
As for the apparently now-ending debacle in D.C., consider this from ThinkProgress:
Ted Cruz Admits Budget Standoff Was All About Building Fundraising Lists
The Atlantic Wire reminds us that there were those who loved the shutdown:
EPA Shutdown Is Great, Say Senate Environment Committee Republicans
And from BuzzFeed, another symptom of Cruz control:
Conservative Activists Don’t Really Care If They’re Hurting The Republican Party
At the Values Voter Summit, no one is worried about polls showing their anti-Obamacare crusade doing damage to the GOP’s image. “I consider myself more of a conservative than… a straight Republican.”
Meanwhile, a reminder of what some saw as the stakes via the London Telegraph:
America faces ‘financial armageddon’, says Kenneth Rogoff
Former IMF chief economist compares President Barack Obama’s position to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis
And from The Independent:
US ‘days’ from causing worldwide economic disaster, World Bank warns
Obama considering measures, but politicians must quickly come to an agreement or risk disaster
Ditto from Reuters:
World top bankers warn of dire consequences if U.S. defaults
Three of the world’s most powerful bankers warned of terrible consequences if the United States defaults on its debt, with Deutsche Bank chief executive Anshu Jain claiming default would be “utterly catastrophic.”
And from CNBC, a consequence of another sort:
Dollar’s reserve role at risk from US budget uncertainty: ECB’s Nowotny
The dollar’s role as the world’s leading reserve currency is at risk because of the political impasse in the United States, which has raised fears of a debt default, European Central Bank policymaker Ewald Nowotny said.
From the London Daily Mail, another side of contemporary America:
Middle class poverty, USA: Women forced to sell their own hair, breast milk and eggs to make ends meet as economic recovery fails to raise wages
The top Google results for ‘I want to sell my…’ have been ‘kidney,’ ‘eggs’ and ‘hair’ since 2011
Websites have sprung up that allow women to post their hair and breast milk for sale online
Long locks of hair can fetch up to $1,500
Breast milk can sell for $5 an ounce online
Egg donations nets up to $8,000
Likewise, from the Los Angeles Times:
Most Americans expect to work during ‘retirement,’ poll finds
More than 4 in 5 older Americans expect to keep working during their latter years, a sign that traditional retirement is out of reach for vast swaths of society, according to a new survey.
From Next New Deal, the usual victims:
Women Are Bearing the Brunt of Shutdown Fallout
The “non-essential” programs that are currently unfunded due to the shutdown are in fact essential for many women and children.
Meanwhile, CNBC reports on dollars coming home. Sort of:
Chinese developer invests $5 billion in Brooklyn
Greenland Group, a Chinese state-owned developer, will take a majority stake in New York’s Atlantic Yards in a deal that is expected to be the biggest Chinese investment in U.S. real estate.
From Bloomberg, more investments:
Beverly Hills, NYC Upper West Side Lead Luxury Home Sales
Beverly Hills, California, and New York’s Upper West Side had the most home sales for more than $10 million in the past year, according to a report today.
And from the Los Angeles Times, California corner-cutting:
Proposal would let California’s 2-year colleges grant 4-year degrees
A 16-member panel is considering the controversial proposal, which would require legislation authorizing junior colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees.
Moving on, the South China Morning Post notes another shift:
Chinese state media calls for ‘de-Americanised’ world after US shutdown
Xinhua says ‘new world order should be put in place’ where all nations can have interests respected on equal footing
While Raw Story covers another shift:
International Monetary Fund strongly suggests countries tax the rich to fix deficit
Tax the rich and better target the multinationals: The IMF has set off shockwaves this week in Washington by suggesting countries fight budget deficits by raising taxes.
On to Europe, starting with a video report from RT:
China Buyout: Beijing firms snap up European industries
Program notes:
Having amassed a 3 trillion dollar warchest – Chinese firms have gone on a shopping offensive, in Europe. Just today, it’s been reported that Beijing is on the brink of a multi-billion deal to snap up shares in the UK’s nuclear industry. And not even iconic London taxis, have been spared the interest of cash-rich businessmen from Beijing. As RT’s Polly Boiko reports.
Next, Reuters covers fiscal baring:
Europe prepares to come clean on hidden bank losses
Euro zone countries will consider on Monday how to pay for the repair of their broken banks after health checks next year that are expected to uncover problems that have festered since the financial crisis.
But EurActiv notes a glitch:
Germany digs in heels as EU moves towards banking union
EU finance ministers agreed on Tuesday (15 October) to give the European Central Bank sweeping supervisory powers in the euro zone but Germany dug in its heels on how to deal with failing banks, the second stage in building a banking union.
While Deutsche Welle covers a semantic subterfuge, the notion that massive hunger and poverty are “post-crisis”:
Europe facing dramatic post-crisis problems
120 million Europeans are at risk of poverty and one third of them are not getting enough to eat, says the Red Cross. A new report shows the negative effects of Europe’s response to the financial crisis.
The Independent takes us to Britain as our focus shifts from regional to national:
Exclusive: Red Cross launches emergency food aid plan for UK’s hungry
Welfare cuts and the economic downturn send soaring numbers of people to soup kitchens and food banks across Europe
From BBC News, more evidence of the British malaise:
Numbers relying on food banks triple in a year
The number of people relying on food banks to survive has tripled over the last year, according to new figures.
From The Independent, yet another sign of vicious face of “post-crisis” Britain:
An NHS free at the point of use could soon be a thing of the past, officials warn
A National Health Service free at the point of use will soon be “unsustainable”, if the political parties do not come forward with radical plans for change before the 2015 election, top health officials have warned.
The Independent again, with more:
Poorest areas of England ‘will suffer under new NHS spending formula’
Plan will see funding rise by 14 per cent for some and drop by a quarter for others
Meanwhile, the London Telegraph covers a winner who’s BFF with the country’s money minister:
Hedge fund investing in Royal Mail employs George Osborne’s friend
A hedge fund that employs one of George Osborne’s closest friends and best man is among the City institutions set to make millions from the privatisation of Royal Mail.
And The Independent notes the money minister’s own new BFFs:
George Osborne signs banking deal to put Britain at front of the queue for Chinese cash
Chinese banks will be able to apply to set up wholesale branches in Britain, under plans announced by George Osborne.
On to Ireland, with Independent.ie reporting the wisdom of the central bank:
Mortgage crisis and house bubble driven by banks’ ability to manipulate market – report
The mortgage crisis and house price bubble was driven in part by banks’ ability to manipulate so called “affordability” measures for borrowers in order to increase lending.
The Irish Times covers plaudits:
ECB president praises Ireland’s efforts to repair public finances
Mario Draghi says country has ‘improved on all fronts’ since financial crisis began
And Independent.ie brings us the word from the prime minister:
Ireland will exit bailout in December
IRELAND will officially exit the bailout in two months time, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed.
The Irish Times covers the Central Bank’s efforts to demolish alternative financial institutions:
Credit unions call for Central Bank showdown to be held in public
Irish League of Credit Unions taking judicial action over ‘coherency’ of bank’s decisions
And Independent.ie notes the government’s steadfast allegiance to the neoliberal goal of gutting the state and social support mechanisms:
Taoiseach insists corporation tax won’t be increased despite Germany pressure
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny says the Government will not increase the country’s corporation tax rate to get EU recapitalisation of the banks.
On to Germany, where Merkel ponders a price. From Deutsche Welle:
SPD Secretary General Nahles demands minimum wage agreement from Merkel
A leading opposition Social Democrat says coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives can begin only if they agree to introduce a minimum wage. The remarks came before the parties’ second exploratory meeting.
And Spiegel muses whether Merkel got some quid for quo:
Merkel’s Patrons: Donation from BMW Owners Raises Eyebrows
Just weeks after the German election, Angela Merkel’s conservatives received donations totalling 690,000 euros from the family that owns almost half of BMW. The payment coincides with Berlin’s forceful intervention to halt tough new CO2 curbs for carmakers in the EU.
Next up, France, starting with a pre-election report on an election in a former communist stronghold, via France 24:
Far right plays up crime fears as French town votes
Despite falling crime rates, insecurity is a major issue for certain residents in the southern French town of Brignoles, something that the far right has been keen to exploit as it eyes victory in a local by-election Sunday.
Deutsche Welle covers the outcome:
France far-right National Front candidate Laurent Lopez wins competitive by-election
France’s far-right National Front Party has won a local by-election. The result reflects the rising popularity of the anti-immigrant, anti-EU party ahead of next year’s municipal and European elections.
While EUbusiness reports on a consequence:
France’s Le Pen to see Dutch far-right leader next month: report
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is to visit the Netherlands in November to forge closer ties with the Dutch anti-Islamic party of Geert Wilders ahead of next year’s European elections, a Dutch media report said Monday.
Meanwhile, RFI covers yet another instance of that hard times intolerance, one that exposes the rotten heart oif the French socialist party:
France’s Socialists fall out after 15-year-old Roma girl grabbed from school bus
France’s ruling Socialist Party has been plunged into a public row over the deportation of a 15-year-old Roma girl to Kosovo.
Next up, Spain, starting with a bleak austerian diagnosis from El País:
Austerity can kill: public health authorities obstruct new treatments
Spanish patients and families are being denied access to expensive drugs
Medicines are approved but hospital authorities resort to bureaucratic ploys
MISH’S Global Economic Trend Analysis covers a bit of austerian blowback:
VAT Increase Backfires in Spain, Supermarket Sales Plunge 7.2%
While El País covers a regional government’s evfforts to stand up to the banksters:
Andalusia carries out first expropriation of private residence to protect residents
Regional authorities embargo mother-of-two’s home to prevent her eviction
While thinkSPAIN reports on yet another push by the privatizers:
All motorways in Spain ‘should have toll fees’ which would earn the State 10 billion euros
MOTORWAY toll companies say the Spanish State should apply fees to all major trunk roads because it would provide up to 10 billion euros extra a year for the public coffers.
From El País, the sins of the past, unhealed:
Spain stonewalls on Franco-era abuses
The government, Congress and the courts are ignoring the UN’s demand for action
Victims of Franco’s dictatorship seek universal justice
The long road to justice
Next, Portugal, with this from ANSAmed:
Crisis: Portuguese gov’t approves 2014 austerity budget
Contains 3.9 bln in spending, equal to 2.3% of GDP
Some detail from the Portugal News:
Austere budget proposal for 2014 unveiled
Finance Minister, Maria Luis Albuquerque, used prime-time television on Tuesday evening to announce the main points of the country’s 2014 budget and that GDP would grow just 0.8% in 2014.
After the jump, the latest economic and poilitcal disasters from Greece, Latin American news, ominous rumblings from India and China, and Fukushimapocalypse Now!. . .
We open with bad news for pay-slashed, job cut Hellenes from Keep Talking Greece:
Troika rejects decrease in heating oil tax; Greeks to freeze another winter
More from Keep Talking Greece:
Almost half of Greek households cannot afford heating oil
…and another half cannot afford to heat with natural gas, I suppose, because prices are just slightly lower.
EUbusiness covers a denial of mercy:
ECB shoots down Greek bond rollover proposal
Greece floated Monday a proposal to roll over 4.5 billion euros ($6.1 billion) in debt next year fill a budget gap that has sparked concern Athens will need a new bailout, but a senior ECB official immediately ruled out such a move.
Greek Reporter notes another harsh reality:
Homeless People Living in Caves
After a journey on the streets and mountains of Attica, the reporters of Euronews found a shocking number of homeless people living in mountain caves due to the prolonged crisis in Greece over the last 5 years.
And Kathimerini English covers a looming threat:
Joblessness hits IKA’s coffers hard
Rising unemployment – topping 27 percent – has had a devastating effect on Greece’s largest social security provider, IKA, which has seen contributions drop by nearly a quarter since 2009.
Some numbers from ANA-MPA:
Greek public debt at 156.9 pct of GDP in 2012
And more bad news from Neos Kosmos:
Eurogroup dashes Greek hopes for funding gap fix
Top-ranking European officials meeting in Luxembourg suggested on Monday that no decision regarding Greece’s bailout program would be made before the end of the year
One response from ANSAmed:
Greece: private sector union calls strike on November 6
To Vima covers the leading challenger to the neoliberal regime, with a prediction that Greece is destined to become more like California:
Tsipras lashes out against government at university protest event
“Suspensions condemn the public University to death” – “Government working towards imposing tuition fees”
And on to the ongoing Golden Dawn debacle, first with this from Deutsche Welle:
Greek parliament strips immunity of lawmakers from neo-Nazi Golden Dawn
The Greek parliament has lifted the immunity of several legislators from the far-right Golden Dawn party. The vote comes as part of a major probe into the murder of an anti-fascist musician last month.
To Vima covers the latest on the police front:
SDOE “raids” Golden Dawn’s central offices
Financial and Economic Crime Unit investigates the ultra nationalist party’s accounting records
More from Kathimerini English:
SDOE goes after funding sources of Golden Dawn
As judicial officials investigating criminal activities linked to Golden Dawn prepare to bring new charges against party officials and lawmakers, representatives of the country’s Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) are seeking to determine what sources of funding were available to the ultra-right party.
And Kathimerini English covers some shrinking assistance:
Psychiatrist suspended over claims he helped GD members get gun licenses
Greek Reporter covers another side of the law enforcement front:
Greek Police Find Rifles in Golden Dawn Related Investigation
Greek Police found 20 rifles and 60 knives at a fugitive businessman’s villa in Voula, Greece during an investigation for illegal weapons associated with Golden Dawn.
And the latest from EnetEnglish.gr:
More weapons and Nazi paraphernalia found in fugitive businessman’s villa
Anastasios Pallis is alleged to have contacts with Golden Dawn
In addition to ten pistols, police find Nazi flags, military uniforms, statutes, Hitler portraits, Nazi helmets, swastikas and other items in a specially designed room in fugitive businessman Anasatios Pallis’ villa
More from ANA-MPA:
Two more arrests linked to Golden Dawn, illegal weapons
Greek authorities on Friday reported another two arrests of individuals related to the activities of the far-right party Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) and for illegal possession of weapons.
And Greek Reporter finds support:
Most Greeks Support the Crackdown on Golden Dawn
According to a new poll made by Rass for the Typos Tis Kyriakis newspaper, the vast majority of respondents, corresponding to 81.9%, believe that the prosecution against the leader and the top officials of the Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, after the murder of Pavlos Fyssas, is justified. In parallel, according to the poll’s findings, ND is ahead of SYRIZA, by 1.3 percentage points.
New Europe brings us a Cypriot story:
Country’s biggest lender blames the bailout
Bank of Cyprus posts mamoth losses
Next, Russia, with another manifestation of hard times intolerance via The Guardian:
Moscow police arrest 1,200 migrant workers after murder of ethnic Russian
Moscow police launch ‘pre-emptive raid’ on warehouse after nationalists searching for killer clash with security forces
On to Latin America, first with a headline from the Argentina Independent:
Argentina Set To Pay Foreign Claimants Over Post-Default Losses
From the Argentina Independent again, justice is sought:
Italy Begins Plan Condor Trial Against Southern Cone Ex-Military Members
Today Italy commenced preliminary hearings against 35 former members of military juntas from Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay involved in the deaths of 23 Italians in the 1970s.
MercoPress covers indignation:
Argentina and Brazil blast IMF for its excess of pessimism regarding emerging economies
Argentina and Brazil strongly questioned the IMF generalized “excess of pessimism” because of a slowing down in emerging economies but also underlined that these countries have the sufficient ‘training’ and recent experience to confront the new challenges.
And Want China Times reports opportunism:
Brazil remains land of opportunity for Chinese investors
China’s investment in Brazil has increased rapidly over the past three years, with China’s investment in the country surpassing US$15 billion last year, according to Rubens Gama, director of the Trade and Investment Promotion Department in Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
While the Los Angeles Times covers a Southern Hemispheric Occupation:
In Brazil, more buildings are seized by residents in need of housing
In Brazil’s sem-teto movement, protesting squatters occupy abandoned buildings in Sao Paulo, where soaring rents have priced many out of the market.
And BBC News covers more discontent:
Clashes after teachers protests in Rio and Sao Paulo
Protesters have clashed with the police in Brazil’s largest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, after marches in support of striking teachers.
On to Asia, starting with an Indian story from the Financial Express:
After IMF, World Bank now cuts India GDP growth forecast to 4.7 per cent
The report – India Development Update – expects India’s GDP to accelerating to 6.2% in FY2015.
The Financial Express again, with a big box rebuff:
Despite Bharti Walmart split, govt spikes all chances of more multi-brand retail concessions
With Bharti Walmart JV unravelling as both partners go their separate ways, saying foreign direct investment (FDI) environment is still not ideal, Indian government refuses to bend saying it will not relax norms further to placate foreign multi-brand retail companies.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram is skeptical, reports the Financial Express:
Chidambaram questions IMF’s growth projection, calls for speedy quota reforms
IMF has lowered India’s growth projection for the current fiscal to 3.8 per cent from 5.6 per cent.
From the Financial Express again, great expectations rebuked by the central bankster:
I am not superman: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan
‘We can do more what a central bank in an industrial country can do.’
And from the Economic Times, desperate measures for desperate times:
India may use forex reserves to finance CAD: World Bank
PTI Economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram had earlier said that India would finance its current account deficit this year without drawing down on its reserves.
The Financial Express reports on other desperate measures:
Economic slowdown: Indian executives hit by job fears start shunning bank loans
Jobs uncertainty among young spenders is working as a big dampener for bank loans, says survey.
While an industrial group rebuffs other great expectations. From the Financial Express:
Green growth: India Inc lagging in innovation, sustainable development, says CII
India Inc’s faulty focus leads to complacency and lack of innovation.
Next up, China, starting with a London Telegraph alert:
China’s soaring fiscal deficit rings alarm bells
Analysts describe rebound of world’s second largest economy as “unhealthy” and likely to wither over coming months as Beijing is forced to tighten policy
Reuters reports bad numbers:
China’s September export growth in surprise slide
China’s export growth fizzled in September to post a surprise fall as sales to Southeast Asia tumbled, data showed, a disappointing break to a recent run of indicators that had signaled its economy gaining strength.
Details from Channel NewsAsia Singapore:
China’s September trade surplus down 44.7%
China’s trade surplus narrowed to a disappointing $15.2 billion in September from $28.6 billion in August, customs figures showed Saturday.
Want China Times reports a response:
People’s Bank likely to depreciate RMB to save exports
The People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, will likely push the yuan weaker in the near term in the face of a sharp decline in the world’s second-largest economy’s trade surplus in September, an economist said on Saturday.
And Xinhua notes another neoliberal “reform”:
China broadens private capital access to public sector
In a renewed push to improve public services and infrastructure, governments across China are soliciting private investment and expertise in sectors ranging from transportation to sewage treatment.
China Daily covers dollars at work:
Riding the wave of big bargain buy-ups
Chinese companies make their mark in Europe with flurry of M&A deals
While Want China Times ponders a bubble:
Attempts to curb property prices in China fail after double-digit jump
The price index of newly built houses in Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou surged more than 20% in September from a year earlier, indicating the nation’s effort to control its property prices have failed, reports the Shanghai-based First Financial Daily, citing figures released by the China Index Academy on Oct. 1.
And South China Morning Post covers a real estate land rush for apartments with prices starting at $1.55 million U.S.:
5,000 jostle for cut-price luxury flats at The Cullinan in West Kowloon
About 5,000 people queued, pushed and jostled as 60 luxury flats went on sale at The Cullinan development in West Kowloon yesterday.
China Labor Watch finds another dark side of the Chinese miracle, one with roots in the U.S., via Want China Times:
Mattel accused of barbiearous working conditions: CLW
US Barbie doll maker Mattel has been accused of serious labor violations at its supplier factories in China by an American activist group.
And from SINA English. A sign of the times:
15.4 percent of online whistleblowers are mistresses
About 15.4 percent of a sample of China’s recent online whistleblowers were mistresses who used the Internet to expose corrupt officials after breaking up with them, according to a new report on the country’s online anti-corruption efforts.
While Want China Times notes a major move by the man who spent millions to impose his brand on the UC Berkeley campus:
Li Ka-shing packing bags for ‘Journey to the West’
With declining profit levels a ripening reality for his businesses in mainland China and Hong Kong, business magnate Li Ka-shing is dumping his assets and heading West, the Economic Observer reported.
And without further ado, Fukushimap[ocalypse Now!
First up, this from the Asahi Shimbun:
U.N. panel doubts radiation dose estimates among Fukushima workers
The Japanese government may have underestimated by 20 percent the internal radiation doses in workers during the initial phases of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant disaster, a U.N. panel said.
The Japan Times covers a harsh judgment:
Tepco’s toxic water failures pitiful: NRA
Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s efforts to keep radioactive water at its stricken Fukushima No. 1 power station from spilling into the sea have been ineffective, according to the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
And the Mainichi notes an oops:
Loose packing responsible for leak of radiation-tainted water from tank: TEPCO
Some 300 tons of radioactively contaminated water leaked from a storage tank on the grounds of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant because waterproof packing between steel sheets in the tank was pushed out of alignment, the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), has announced.
The Asahi Shimbun covers yet another new hot water release:
TEPCO forced to drain water overflow from typhoon at Fukushima plant
Heavy rain from Typhoon No. 26 forced Tokyo Electric Power Co. to discharge rainwater Oct. 16 that was threatening to swamp the barriers that surround the radioactive water storage tanks at the devastated Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
While Jiji Press covers as prime ministerial reassurance:
Radioactive Water Leaks under Control in General: Abe
Radioactive water leaks at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant are generally under control, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday.
NHK WORLD notes orders given:
TEPCO instructed to look for other possible leaks
Japan’s nuclear regulators have instructed the operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to look into the possibility of contaminated water leaking from an unexpected source.
More from Jiji Press:
NRA Sees TEPCO Steps to Combat Water Leaks Ineffective
Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority have said that Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s measures to combat radioactive water leaks from its stricken Fukushima No. 1 power station into the sea have been ineffective.
NHK WORLD covers interested parties:
S.Korea, IAEA discuss Fukushima seawater survey
The International Atomic Energy Agency and South Korea have discussed a plan to allow South Korean officials to help monitor radioactivity in seawater near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant
And The Guardian covers consequences:
Plummeting morale at Fukushima Daiichi as nuclear cleanup takes its toll
Staff on the frontline of operation plagued by health problems and fearful about the future, insiders say
The Japan Daily Press notes new jobs:
TEPCO to add more utility workers at Fukushima nuclear plant
Nuclear operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said in a statement released Tuesday that it will be drafting more workers and improving equipment for the cleanup of the defunct Fukushima nuclear power plant
And the Japan Times reports that some folks may be going back to homes closer than 20 kilometers to the nuclear complex:
District’s evacuation order may be lifted
Any residents returning to Tamura area to get dosimeters
The Asahi Shimbun reports the latest bad news:
Cesium contamination increasing in water at port of Fukushima plant
And Jiji Press covers a deficiency:
Japan Used Only 60 Pct of Nuclear Decontamination Funds
Japan has used only 60 pct of outlays set aside in fiscal 2011-2012 for decontaminating areas tainted with radioactive substances released from the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, a Board of Audit survey revealed Wednesday.
While NHK WORLD ponders preparations:
Kagoshima holds nuclear disaster drill
People in Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima held their first nuclear disaster drill since the accident at Fukushima Daiichi power plant in March of 2011.
Jiji Press logs blowback:
Massive Antinuclear Rally Staged in Tokyo
Tens of thousands of Japanese citizens and others rallied in Tokyo Sunday in what appears to be the largest antinuclear demonstration in Japan since the country’s last active nuclear reactor went offline on Sept. 15.
Jiji Press again, and more blowback from high places:
Japanese Unconvinced by Pro-Nuclear Energy Policy: Ex-PM Koizumi
Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday that a pro-nuclear power policy will not win the understanding of Japanese people.
From the same folks who assured the world Germany wasn’t antisemitic after awarding the country the 1936 Olympics, a new reassurance via the Japan Daily Press:
IOC says no worries over health concerns for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has said they are not worried over any health concerns regarding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, even as issues continue to haunt the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
From Al Jazeera America, things closer to home:
Fukushima on the Hudson: Could a nuclear accident happen near NYC?
New York’s Indian Point reactors are 40 years old and could threaten millions of people
And from The Guardian, the requisite story about other energy sources:
BP oil spill: Ex-Halliburton manager pleads guilty to destroying evidence
Anthony Badalamenti faces a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine after his guilty plea in US district court
To close, and just because, from The Guardian:
Eating popcorn in the cinema makes people immune to advertising
Study by Cologne University concludes that chewing makes advertising ineffective
