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Global Power Project: The Group of Thirty, Architects of Austerity
by Andrew Gavin Marshall
The Group of Thirty, a p reeminent think tank that brings together dozens of the world’s most influential policy makers, central bankers, financiers and academics, has been the focus of two recent reports for Occupy.com’s Global Power Project. In studying this group, I compiled CVs of the G30's current and senior members: a total of 34 individuals. The first report looked at the origins of the G30, while the second examined some of the current projects and reports emanating from the group. In this installment, I take a look at some specific members of the G30 and their roles in justifying and implementing austerity measures.
Central Bankers, Markets and Austerity
For the current members of the Group of Thirty who are sitting or recently-sitting central bankers, their roles in the financial and economic turmoil of recent years is well-known and, most especially, their role in bailing out banks, providing long-term subsidies and support mechanisms for financial markets, and forcing governments to implement austerity and "structural reform" policies, notably in the European Union. With both the former European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet and current ECB President Mario Draghi serving as members of the G30, austerity measures have become a clearly favored policy of the G30.
Obama Violates Geneva Agreement
by Stephen Lendman
American agreements aren't worth the paper they're written on. US history reflects it. Iranians aren't surprised. More below on Washington's latest betrayal.
Native Americans suffered through centuries of heroic lost struggles. From 1492 to today, they experienced promises made and broken.
Winning the West involved betraying them. One US treaty after another was violated. Imperialism works this way. Things haven't changed. Today they're worse than ever.
Earlier US policy makers sought sea to shinning sea dominance. Today they want it globally. They want it unchallenged. They'll stop at nothing to get it.
Sun expected to 'flip upside down': What, Me Worry?
By Katherine Smith PhD
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Every 11 years or so the solar system sends out shock waves of energy that shifts across the universe. The sun’s magnetic field is going through a reversal. Sun expected to 'flip upside down' as magnetic field reverses By Lucy Kinder
National Geographic:
During a magnetic field reversal, “the sun’s polar magnetic fields weaken, go to zero and then emerge again with the opposite polarity,” explained solar physicist Phil Scherrer, also at Stanford, in the statement. Scientists are already seeing signs of the reversal happening, and this time there’s a twist: Data from Wilcox show that the sun’s two hemispheres are oddly out of sync, with the North Pole already beginning to change and the South Pole racing to catch up. Soon both poles should be completely reversed. “It looks like we’re no more than three to four months away from a complete field reversal,” Hoeksema said. August 2013 National Geographic
The sun's magnetic field changes polarity as the sun's inner dynamo reorganizes itself and the change "will have ripple effects throughout the solar system." Magnetic forces will draw out loops and strands of hot plasma from the sun's surface, but according to Todd Hoeksema of Stanford University, all it will do is effect our weather and cause a few extra storms. [1]
Why isn't anyone worried that the "the sun's two hemispheres are oddly out of sync?"
Or, why is the inner core of the Earth rotating faster than the solid mantle and surface?
And, what would cause the North Pole to change and the South Pole race to catch up?
Answer: Electromagnetic Pollution.
Hardball US Geopolitics
by Stephen Lendman
America seeks unchallenged global dominance. No holds barred tactics pursue it. Rule of law principles don't matter. Means justify ends. Might makes right.
Events are manipulated. Wars, economic disruption, financial terrorism, and other upheavals play out in real time. Grand schemes reflect them.
Ongoing Ukrainian protests didn't erupt by chance. Washington's dirty hands manipulated them. Obama officials want Kiev turning West, not East. They'll stop at nothing to achieve it.
They want Russian influence weakened. They want Ukraine's potential ruthlessly exploited. They want its people transformed into serfs. They want another NATO member they control.
Peace in the Pentagon
By David Swanson
I'm a huge fan of peace studies as an academic discipline that should be spread into every corner of what we call, with sometimes unclear justification, our education system. But often peace studies, like other disciplines, manages to study only those far from home, and to study them with a certain bias.
I recently read a book promoting the sophisticated skills of trained negotiators and suggesting that if such people, conversant in the ways of emotional understanding, would take over the Palestine "peace process" from the aging politicians, then ... well, basically, then Palestinians would agree to surrender their land and rights without so much fuss. Great truths about negotiation skills only go so far if the goal of the negotiation is injustice based on misunderstanding of the facts on the ground.
Beltway Bandit Named Senior Obama Adviser
by Stephen Lendman
On December 11, Obama named John Podesta senior "counselor to the president." According to the White House, he'll mainly advise on energy, climate, and healthcare issues.
Expect him to heavily involved in others. One of his many tasks will be selling Obamacare.
He's is a longtime Washington insider. In the 1980s, he was legal counsel for various congressional committees.
He once served as former senate majority leader Tom Daschle's chief of staff. He's known as a veteran Washington fixer.
In 1988, he and his brother, Anthony, founded the Podesta Group. It's a Washington-based corporate lobbying/PR company.
It's still operating. Anthony is chairman. Kimberley Fritts is CEO. John Podesta remained a registered lobbyist/hired gun at least into 2006. He currently or previously served on three or more corporate boards.
Chile Will Choose Their New President On Sunday
by Brian McAfee
On Sunday, December 15, Chileans will go to the polls to decide who will represent them as president for the next four years. The favorite, Michelle Bachelet, had served as president from 2006 to 2010 and now has a significant lead over her competitor Evelyn Matthei. Bachelet, representing the Socialist Party, says that she intends to increase corporate taxes and spend more in improving Chile's education system and infrastructure development. Matthei has said she would increase the minimum wage and improve pensions. She also stated her opposition to gay marriage and abortion in a recent debate.
The Iran Sanctions Game
by Stephen Lendman
Iran threatens no one. It's nuclear program is peaceful. Multiple rounds of US-dictated sanctions are illegal.
They target millions of ordinary Iranians. They target Iran's economy. Neocons want stiffer sanctions imposed.
Last July, House members passed more overwhelmingly. The Senate drafted a similar bill. Introducing it was postponed.
US Hawks Want War on Iran
by Stephen Lendman
Neocons infest Washington. Norman Podhoretz is one many loathsome examples. On December 11, he headlined a Wall Street Journal op-ed "Strike Iran Now to Avert Disaster Later."
No respectable editors would touch this trash. Responsible ones would denounce it. Journal editors embrace it. More on this below.
Podhoretz isn't America's only lunatic hawk. Others favor cruise missile diplomacy. In April 2008, a Wall Street Journal editorial headlined "Bush and Iran, Again." It spuriously said Tehran "is contributing to the death of GIs, is arming our enemies in Iraq, and is proceeding to ignore the world by enriching uranium for a nuclear weapon."
Venezuelan v. US Budget Priorities
by Stephen Lendman
Both countries are polar opposites. Bolivarian fairness defines Venezuela. Government of, by and for wealth, power and privilege describes America.
Venezuela treats all its people equitably. America exploits millions of ordinary ones callously. Conditions today are worse than ever in modern times.
Force-fed austerity when vital aid is needed defines the United States of I Don't Care! Wealth and poverty extremes are unprecedented. So are deprivation levels.
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