Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Foreign Exchange Student program really covert Slave Labor operation, no wonder Corporate America isn’t hiring

“Working hard, eight hours, we have no opportunity to speak at work.  If I speak, my supervisor comes to me and says, ‘Don’t speak anymore, or I’ll send you home.'”-Yana Brenzey, 19, of Ukraine, foreign exchange student

August 19, foreign college students are protesting in Palmyra, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, saying the U.S. State Department student exchange programs are really a form of slave labor for U.S. corporations.

Friday’s protests are focusing on the candy maker Hersey, but other companies across the United States are involved.

Foreign students say the work programs that are part of the student exchange programs, do not provide them with money to help them with money to help cover their expenses while in the U.S. going to college.  Instead the corporations deduct from their pay all kinds of expenses, which leave the students with little or no money left over.  Essentially companies like Hersey end up with free labor.

Exchange students had to kick back upwards of $6,000 to the California-based Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA).

An organization called National Guestworker Alliance is helping foreign students organize the protests, and has even got federal officials promising an investigation. This after students in New Orleans reported being “made captive” by their employers.  Protests in New Orleans started on August 17, where’s the main stream U.S. media?

Most of the media coverage of these protest are in local newspapers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

Texas Christian Governor Rick Perry is a Porn Kingpin?

Independent journalists have been tracking down where Texas Governor Rick Perry made his fortunes.  Turns out one of his early investments was in one of the biggest porn video distributors, Movie Gallery.

That was back in 1995, so some Perry supporters will likely try to defend it as something that happened in the past, and he should be forgiven.

The problem is that as recently as 2006, Governor Perry actually pushed for legislation that protected Movie Gallery, and other porn companies, from lawsuits.  Clearly he’s still involved in the Texas porn industry.

On one hand Perry claims to be for Christian family values, he even has support of the Christian organization American Family Association, while on the other hand is clearly making money off the porn industry.  To make things even stranger, the American Family Association is actively trying to shut down the very porn distributor that Perry is invested in.

And don’t think Perry’s personal financial activities aren’t affecting what happens in his administration.  Here’s what a Texas newspaper said, in 2010, about Perry’s state Film Commissioner, Bob Hudgins: “Gov. Rick Perry’s outgoing director of the Texas Film Commission has been allowed to stay on the job despite being disciplined for sexual harassment in 2009 and after a subsequent investigation found similar behavior again this year.”-The Statesman

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Venezuela to nationalize Gold industry, demands that their gold stored in European & U.S. banks be returned, creating gold back money

“Venezuela is the 13th largest holder of gold in the world. From a financial aspect, I think it is a very shrewd and intelligent move to protect his country’s gold assets.  There is, however, a political overtone in that he wants to pull out the other financial assets that Venezuela has in the U.K., in the U.S., and push it into what he calls ‘more likable allies’, Russia, China and Brazil.”-Adrian Salbuchi

President Hugo Chavez wants all of Venezuela’s gold now held in European and U.S. banks to be returned.

It would be the largest physical movement of gold in recent history.  Some reports say it would involve U.S.$11 billion in gold.

The demand for Venezuela’s gold to be returned, comes after Chavez announced that the government would nationalize all gold mines in Venezuela.

The intent of nationalizing their gold industry is a precursor to creating money backed by gold: “We are going to nationalize gold and turn it into foreign exchange reserves…”-Hugo Chavez

 

 

International, U.S.

Afghan Mujahideen claim they killed 27 U.S. troops in truck bomb attack

August 18, Taliban claim they launched a truck bomb attack on U.S. Gardez base, killing 27 U.S. troops.

Official U.S. media reports say only two Afghans were killed.  The U.S. media has proven over and over that it can not be trusted.

Witnesses say the explosion was “huge” and destroyed a U.S. helicopter as well.

Since the beginning of August the Afghan Mujahideen have escalated their attacks on NATO forces.  This despite President Obama saying the Taliban were on the decline.  August is looking like it will be the deadliest month for U.S./NATO forces.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Iran makes first oil sale not based on U.S. dollar

August 19, the first shipment of Iranian crude oil has been sold on Iran’s Bourse Organization/Kish Commodity Exchange.  500,000 barrels of heavy crude oil were sold.

Iran’s Bourse was created in 2008 for the specific purpose of selling oil using any international currency, other than the U.S. dollar.  Up until now, the Bourse/Kish exchange was selling only oil-derived products, things like plastics and pharmaceutical supplies.

This is the real reason the United States wants to attack Iran, it was the real reason the United States invaded Iraq.  If you remember Saddam Hussein announced that Iraq was no longer going to accept the U.S. dollar for its oil sales. Suddenly the U.S. was claiming that Iraq was connected to the 9/11 attacks, and that they had weapons of mass destruction (all since proven to be lies).

 

 

International, U.S.

U.S. & Europe preps for attacks on Syria by cancelling bi-annual war games with Egypt

The United States has cancelled its bi-annual “Bright Star” war games with Egypt.  The two countries have been holding such war games for decades.

This comes as the U.S. and Europe push for UN action against Syria, but officially its because of the political transition taking place in Egypt.

Bright Star war games have also included France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.  If you notice it includes many of the U.S. led NATO countries that also want to take out the Syrian government.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Chinese economists continue to push their government to dump U.S. bonds, says the U.S. has passed point of no return, will continue on a downward spiral, Morgan Stanely agrees

“China should move progressively to cut its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds and use it as leverage to ask Washington [DC] to further open its markets, including the high-technology sector, to Chinese investment.”-Xiang Songzuo, University of China

U.S. Vice President Biden is in China, trying to reassure the Chinese government that the U.S. will “…ensure the safety, liquidity and value of U.S. Treasury obligations for all of its investors.”

Chinese economist say it’s too late, the U.S. economy is too far gone: “But there is very little room left for the U.S. government to revitalize its economy.  Low growth and high unemployment will be regular features of the U.S. economy in the future.”-Wei Liang, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Even officials with Morgan Stanely, an international finance company based in New York City, say the United States has lost all economic legitimacy: “The U.S. debt crisis has taken a serious toll on China’s confidence in Washington’s [DC] economic stewardship.  China is no longer willing to risk financial and economic stability on the basis of Washington’s hollow promises and tarnished economic stewardship.”-Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley Asia

 

International, U.S.

U.S., Europe pushing UN Security Council for resolution against Syria, BRICS opposed

“We believe that the time has come for the council to take further actions to step up the pressure against those who are responsible for the violence against the citizens of Syria.”-Philip Parham, U.K. representative to UN Security Council

The U.S., France, Germany and Portugal all backed up the British demand that the UN Security Council take action against Syria.

The problem is that all the most economically powerful countries are opposed.  Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa believe the government of Syria is correct when it says the insurgency was started by outside forces (meaning the U.S. and Europe).

Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council.  India currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.

International, U.S.

Palestine opens Embassy in Lebanon

“The Palestinian flag is now flying in Lebanon’s heart and the heart of every Lebanese who loves Palestine.”-Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority Chief

As far as Lebanon is concerned Palestine is a legitimate country.  August 17, the Palestinian people opened an embassy in Beirut.

So far 100 countries have recognized Palestine as a country.  The only way to get recognition from the United Nations, is if the U.S. controlled Security Council recognizes a Palestinian state.  U.S. officials have stated they won’t let that happen.

Business/Economics, International, Opinion, U.S.

President Obama wants war with Syria, EU leaders want war with Syria, Canada wants war with Syria, it’s all about the oil baby!

“The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way.  We have consistently said that President Assad must lead a democratic transition or get out of the way.  He has not led.  For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.”-President Barack Obama, written statement.

“Our three countries believe that President Assad, who is resorting to brutal military force against his own people and who is responsible for the situation, has lost all legitimacy and can no longer claim to lead the country.”-joint statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

“I join with (U.S.) President Obama and other members of the international community in calling on President Assad to vacate his position, relinquish power and step down immediately.”-Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister

Syria is “…a proxy for Iran, a supporter of terror, and a threat to United States interests and our allies in the region.”-Eric Cantor, U.S. House Majority Leader

All these statements were made after President Assad announced an end to the crackdown on the insurgency.  He also invited the United Nations to investigate claims of human rights abuses, however, U.S. officials, and the U.S. media are reporting that some how the UN already conducted an investigation and found Assad guilty.  That was fast!

Major oil pipelines run through Syria, from Iraq and Iran to Turkey, Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea.  90% of the oil goes to Europe.  Remember, we’re attacking Libya, and the majority of Libyan oil goes to Europe, in fact almost all of Italy’s oil supplies come from Libya.

It’s really starting to look like Europe, with the help of the United States, is trying to save its sorry economic ass by taking direct control of their major suppliers of oil.