Both Google and Facebook have announced sweeping changes in the past couple days to how their services operate that have direct impacts on privacy. In both cases there is no option to opt out.Big brother on the rise or nothing to worry about? You be the judge.
A British study has found that fried foods aren’t all bad , depending on the oil you’re using
The black market! Brilliant article highlighting the underground economy worldwide.
Enbridge pipeline talks fail as First Nations reject proposals – shipping supertankers full of oil to Asia in dangerous northern coastal waters; what could go wrong right? ; have we forgotten Valdez?; spills and accidents happen and besides it’s more efficient to ship it within North America only. The demand is here so why risk disaster. As peak oil progresses, the oil becomes worth more in the ground as time goes on so why rush to expand the oilsands when it’s well known that they are a filthy wasteful way of getting oil. ( the amount of water and natural gas used is staggering not to mention the contamination of groundwater) Kudos to the First Nations for not selling out our future for short term gain.
Keystone XL pipeline proposal rejected as well by the US
These two stories really highlight some key points.
We seem to be in great haste to export our resources as witnessed by disappointment caused by the recent Keystone decision.
Maybe we should take some time and develop an energy plan for Canada that encompasses more than extraction, partial process and wholesale export.
Do we even have a good idea of the value of the oil sands? New techniques are appearing that are increasing recovery levels and hence the value of resource properties.
Do we have any sort of impartial assesment of the possibilities of further refining and processing in Canada?
Are we making any allowances for Canada’s long range energy needs?
Are we missing opportunities by taking the easy road?
World Bank report warns of troubled times ahead “No country and no region will escape the consequences of a serious downturn.”
Lawmakers back down after Wikipedia protest of anti-piracy legislation
Sham of a Democracy – it’s an opinion piece but I think it echoes what many people feel these days.
Top 25 Censored News Stories of 2011
The World is a Business a 1 percenter tells it like it is
As another famous scene that has been long forgotten by most says perhaps people just need to stand up and say ….
Well the new year has started off ominously as the financial war against Iran has escalated and Obama has signed the NDAA into law allowing for the indefinite detention of civilians
Ship that ran aground off New Zealand in October has broken apart releasing more debris. Salvage efforts have been somewhat successful but more oil and cargo remains.
A story here that is relevant if you’re traveling and are given the option of using the full body scanner at the airport. Might wanna think twice …
The ‘miracle’ pine that survived the tsunami in Japan
US asks Iran for it’s drone back -fat chance
Tens of thousands of Russians protested in Moscow and other cities on Saturday in the largest demonstrations Russia has seen in over a decade. Protesters are demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and have denounced suspected electoral fraud. In response to the protests, the Russian government has vowed to investigate allegations of fraud surrounding the nation’s recent parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov announced today he will run for president against Putin in the March presidential elections.
Egypt protesting military rule; numerous casualties and injuries
Robots to patrol South Korean prisons
Recap of a recent Coast to Coast radio broadcast – Fourth generation Texas farmer, Eric Herm, discussed how the Thanksgiving turkey Americans just ate was probably fed with GMO (genetically modified) corn, and how the emergence of ‘frankenfarming’ is poisoning delicate ecosystems. He planted some GMO seeds back in 2005-6, but after he noted numerous warning labels on the packages, he began to investigate, and found that the seeds have genes of a pesticide and herbicide in their make up, as well as antibodies, and this is going into the food we eat. In studies with mice that were fed GMO foods, they suffered from spleen damage, liver atrophy, smaller organ growth, and accelerated aging, and for the last 15 years, humans have become guinea pigs in their unwitting consumption of these crops, he said.
GMO seeds sold and patented by Monsanto cost $400 a bag, and the company rakes in billions of dollars from their sales, he reported. Four major commodities crop in the US– corn, cotton, canola, and soybean are now 90% GMO, and alfalfa was recently deregulated, he noted. To get back to healthier foods, the future lies in small organic farms, Herm commented, adding that organic fertilizers outproduced chemical agriculture. GMO seeds don’t produce more than conventional seeds, and in a 30-year study, it was found that organic farming outperformed chemical agriculture, he detailed.
OilDrum
