NATION-BUILDING The Inescapable Responsibility of the World's Only Superpowerhttp://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/summer2003/nation1.html

We at the RAND Corporation have compiled what we have found to be the most important lessons learned by the United States in its nation-building efforts since World War II. Not all these hard-won lessons have yet been fully applied to America's most recent nation-building efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. We define nation-building as "the use of armed force in the aftermath of a conflict to underpin an enduring transition to democracy." We have compared the levels of progress toward this goal among seven historical cases: Germany, Japan, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. These are the most important instances in which American military power has been used in the aftermath of a conflict to underpin democratization elsewhere around the world since World War II.

EU environmental policy awards millions in windfall profits to oil companies and heavy industryhttp://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=129

As national ministers meet this week in Copenhagen to discuss a new climate change deal, Open Europe has found that under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), oil and gas companies’ operations in the UK were granted a surplus of carbon permits worth €28.6m in 2008. For example, ExxonMobil received €4.3m and Total received €5.4m. Meanwhile, heavy industrial polluters such as Corus received €47m, while cement firms Hanson and Lafarge received €17.3m and €20.2m. The EU is keen to be seen to take the lead at the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen and has already announced ambitious targets to reduce its carbon emissions. However, the EU’s principle policy for achieving those reductions, the ETS, is fundamentally flawed. Due to the economic downturn, many heavy polluters, such as oil and gas companies and heavy industrials, have been left with a surplus of carbon permits – essentially a free asset that firms can sell on to bolster their short term profits. The glut of surplus permits on the market has driven down the price of carbon and led to a sharp increase in the number of permits being traded via carbon exchanges. Open Europe has found that the two largest carbon trading exchanges, European Climate Exchange and Bluenext , which includes members such as Barclays Bank, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Shell, have earned a combined average of €245,000 a day from the trading of carbon permits so far in 2009, in transaction fees alone. In total, they have made over €57m between them in 2009.  Instead of producing a firm carbon price to encourage investment in greener technologies, the ETS has become a subsidy to some of the UK’s biggest polluters and has simply created a new breed of carbon traders, which are cashing in on a policy that is failing to achieve its core objective. Open Europe Analyst Stephen Booth said:  “It is a perverse situation when our chief environmental policy is granting such huge benefits to companies that pose the most harm to the environment. Profits should be greasing the wheels of the emissions trading system rather than lining the pockets of the biggest polluters and carbon exchanges.”  “The ETS is meant to be an environmental policy. Instead it has become an industry in its own right. The concept of trying to create a ‘carbon market’ is all very well but ultimately the ETS is failing in its core objective – to reduce emissions while encouraging investment in the future low carbon economy.”  “The EU is desperate to be seen as a leader at the Copenhagen summit but its principle environmental policy leaves a lot to be desired. In this context it’s completely understandable that other nations, like China and India, are sceptical about the EU’s grandstanding.”  BACKGROUND  The EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) is failing in its key objective:  Under the ETS, firms in the power sector and heavy industry are allotted an annual quota of emissions permits called EU Allowances (EUAs) for free, and are forced to buy more if they emit more carbon dioxide than allowed. By setting a cap on emissions allowances the ETS is designed to make carbon scarce, thereby putting a price on each tonne emitted. Previous research by Open Europe found that the ETS will cost the EU economy over €14 billion a year . The volume of carbon trading across the globe has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the World Bank , the value of the ETS market increased from $49 billion to $91 billion between 2007 and 2008. Although carbon emissions in the EU declined last year, according to the European Environment Agency “The vast majority of the decline in emissions in 2008 was due to lower CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the energy, industry and transport sectors. The 2008 emission reductions reflect the effects of the global economic recession which began in 2008, which resulted in reduced industrial output and reduced energy consumption by industry, and correspondingly reduced freight transport.” The recession has left heavy industry with a huge surplus of allowances as their emissions declined, which in turn reduced the price of carbon. The current carbon price of €14/tonne is too low to incentivise investment in greener technologies and is therefore simply delaying moves towards a low carbon economy. In an October 2009 report, the UK Government’s Committee on Climate Change commented that, “The recession has also led to a reduction in EU traded sector emissions which has reduced the carbon price and could undermine incentives for investment in low-carbon technologies in the UK’s energy-intensive sectors, including power generation.” In January 2009, Vincent de Rivaz, the Chief Executive of the UK arm of EDF, said, “the carbon price has to become simple and not become a new type of sub-prime tool which will be diverted from what is its initial purpose: to encourage real investment in real low-carbon technology.” Millions in windfall profits to oil companies and heavy industry The recession has decreased the demand for energy and reduced industrial output. This has left both oil and gas refineries and heavy industry with a surplus of carbon permits, which they can sell to boost their short-term profits.  Oil and Gas companies in 2008:  Company Value (€)  BP € 111,636  ConocoPhillips € 4,532,458  Exxon/Mobil € 4,333,280  Ineos Refining € 4,422,796  Petroplus € 5,477,220  Shell € 699,650  Talisman € 1,394,932  Total € 5,367,194  Tullow Oil € 2,265,606  Total € 28,604,772  Heavy industrials in 2008:  Value (€)  Corus €47,011,790  Hanson €17,313,618  Lafarge €20,213,704  The value reflects a carbon price of €14. The data has been extracted from the EU’s Community Independent Transaction Log for the year 2008 .  For a breakdown of the figures see:  http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/ets2008.xls  In addition, recent press reports note that the Department of Energy and Climate Change has confirmed that Corus’ owner Tata Steel is likely to get its free allocation of carbon permits for 2010, valued at around £90m, for its steel and iron works in Redcar, Teesside despite announcing last week that it plans to close the plant . The closure of the plant is likely to cost 1,700 jobs. Carbon exchanges cashing in with €245,000 a day in transaction fees In 2008, the European Climate Exchange (ECX) and Bluenext accounted for 92% of exchange-traded EU carbon permits – the ECX had 83% and Bluenext 9%.  So far in 2009, the value of the carbon permits traded through both exchanges is €85,304,050,227 – or €364,547,223 a day. Members of the Blunext carbon exchange include Barclays Bank, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Shell . Both the ECR and Bluenext offer different types of tradable carbon products, which are subject to different transaction fees. The transaction fee is charged twice – once for either side of the transaction. ECX have made a total of €19.2m so far, while Bluenext have made €38.2m. The total €57.4m has been divided by the 234 days that the exchanges were open for trading in 2009. The figures represent trades made in 2009 up to 30 November. EUAs are the standard carbon allowance for the EU and are equivalent to one tonne of CO2. CERs are set against emission reduction projects in developing nations and are meant to represent the equivalent of a reduction of one tonne of CO2.

US' imperial offensive: Latin leaders denounce US interference...http://www.hamsayeh.net/hamsayehnet_iran-international%20news649.htm

WMD treaty violations and inspection refusal for biological, nuclear, chemical weapons. Iran? No, UShttp://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m12d11-WMD-treaty-violations-and-inspection-refusal-for-biological-nuclear-chemical-weapons-Iran-No-US

President Obama rejected inspection protocol for US biological weapons, in Orwellian contradiction to his statement to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). This comes after increased US investment in bio-weapons during the Bush Administration with multiple reports of secret and illegal programs.

Climate Talks Suspended After Mass Walkouthttp://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Copenhagen-Climate-Change-Summit-G77-Group-Of-Developing-Countries-Walk-Out-As-Protest/Article/200912215499846?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15499846_Copenhagen_Climat

The main sessions of the UN conference were halted after the protest, which was led by African countries and backed by the G77 group of developing nations. They accused developed countries of trying to back out of the Kyoto Protocol on carbon emissions. "Poor countries want to see an outcome which guarantees sharp emissions reductions yet rich countries are trying to delay discussions on the only mechanism we have to deliver this - the Kyoto Protocol."

VIDEO: Osama Bin Laden, Dead or Alive? ..hahahaha... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-dGHwe6COM&feature=player_embedded

Secret documents detail Monsanto's seed business domination amid antitrust fearshttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/AP-IMPACT-Monsanto-seed-apf-4027376931.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=7&asset=&ccode=

Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co.'s business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found. Declining competition in the seed business could lead to price hikes that ripple out to every family's dinner table. That's because the corn flakes you had for breakfast, soda you drank at lunch and beef stew you ate for dinner likely were produced from crops grown with Monsanto's patented genes.

Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi is bloodied by attackhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8410946.stm

video!!! Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy is recovering in hospital after an assault left his face covered in blood following a rally in Milan. He suffered two broken teeth, a minor nose fracture and cuts to his lip after being struck by a man wielding a souvenir model of the city's cathedral. Mr Berlusconi, 73, tried to assure supporters afterwards he was OK. The alleged attacker, who has a history of mental illness, has been charged with throwing the souvenir.

Outraged Brits want Blair prosecuted for war crimeshttp://rawstory.com/2009/12/outraged-brits-blair-prosecuted-war-crimes/

Tony Blair's admission that Britain would have backed the Iraq war even if he knew it did not have weapons of mass destruction sparked outrage Sunday and calls for his prosecution for war crimes. The former British prime minister, who backed the US-led invasion in 2003, told the BBC he would "still have thought it right to remove" Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein because of the threat he posed to the region.

British Journalist Mourns Death of Magna Carta Under EU- http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/world-mainmenu-26/europe-mainmenu-35/2529-british-journalist-mourns-death-of-magna-carta-under-eu

Europe moves toward single area on justice and home affairshttp://euobserver.com/9/29139

The so-called Stockholm programme tries to combine a Swedish EU presidency focus on civil rights with more security-driven provisions, including a tougher stance on illegal immigration - something called for by Italy and other Mediterranean countries.Under the provisions of the new EU treaty, which came into force on 1 December, Brussels gains more powers in the area of justice and home affairs, through the strengthening of agencies such as Frontex, the border management agency and Europol, the police co-operation body.Friday's Stockholm agreement called for the development of an EU-wide "internal security strategy," focusing on the division of labour between Brussels and national capitals in counter-terrorism, border management, civil protection and judicial co-operation in criminal matters.The new security body (COSI) would be tasked to develop, monitor and implement this strategy.However, civil liberty watchdogs fear that this body will lack transparency and accountability. "COSI is going to be a very powerful body ...and should be accountable to national and European parliaments," Tony Bunyan from Statewatch writes.Annie David of the French Senate said "the security aspects of the programme are worrying" and give the impression of a "fortress Europe." Human rights organisations are likely to be concerned by the strong security and law-enforcement wording in the text: "In order to maintain credible and sustainable immigration and asylum systems in the EU, it is necessary to prevent, control and combat illegal migration as the EU faces an increasing pressure from illegal migration flows and particularly the member states at its external borders, including at its southern borders."

Van Rompuy plans shake-up of EU summitshttp://euobserver.com/9/29134

Speaking about future meetings of EU leaders, which he will start to chair from 2010, Mr Van Rompuy on Thursday evening (10 December) said: "We have to constitute a group, a club, that gets on, that works for the same cause, namely the European Union."

"Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror" :: Book Review ::http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/69462

Mamdani’s book is much more than an exposé of the Darfur lobby in the United States, which “has turned the tragedy of the people of Darfur into a knife with which to slice Africa by demonizing one group of Africans, African Arabs.” Along with his in-depth analysis of the history of the conflict he proposes real solutions. He also warns readers, “At stake is the independence of Africa. The Save Darfur lobby...is a clarion call for the recolonization of ‘failed’ states in Africa. In its present form, the call for justice is really a slogan that masks a big power agenda to recolonize Africa.”

Bankers may be good at making money for themselves - and sometimes for their banks - but they are a drain on society, a study has found.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235576/How-bankers-destroy-7-1-create-Hospital-cleaners-valuable-society-say-researchers.html

Bankers may be good at making money for themselves - and sometimes for their banks - but they are a drain on society, a study has found. It says they effectively take £7 from the rest of us for every £1 they create. Lowly-paid employees such as hospital cleaners and waste recycling workers are far more valuable according to the New Economics Foundation think tank.

Are Americans a Broken People? Why We've Stopped Fighting Back Against the Forces of Oppressionhttp://www.alternet.org/story/144529/are_americans_a_broken_people_why_we've_stopped_fighting_back_against_the_forces_of_oppression

A psychologist asks: Have consumerism, suburbanization and a malevolent corporate-government partnership so beaten us down that we no longer have the will to save ourselves?

Despite US Laws, Thousands Still Virtual Slaves in America http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/12/13-5

America's failure to live up to its own high standards isn't for lack of will or good intentions or even money. The Star's investigation pointed to problems that are more systemic: an uncoordinated, inconsistent approach to finding victims; politically charged arguments over how to define trafficking; and a continuing disbelief among some in local law enforcement that it even exists.The issue is further complicated by the heated debate over illegal immigration. The willing participation initially of some victims is blurring the lines and testing the law."People feel if you come in illegally, anything that happens to you is your fault," said Lisette Arsuaga, with the Los Angeles-based Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking. "Slavery is not an immigration issue. It's a civil rights issue. There's no justification for making someone a slave."

There Are Thousands Of Slaves In Americahttp://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1626936-p2.html

REMINDER: US has been threatening Iran with NUCLEAR WARhttp://www.examiner.com/x-25059-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m12d9-US-terrorizes-Iran-threatens-nuclear-war-over-wipe-Israel-off-map-nuclear-program-lies

Center for Food Safety and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Petition FDA to Remove Arsenic from Animal Feedshttp://truefoodnow.org/2009/12/08/center-for-food-safety-and-trade-policy-petition-fda-to-remove-arsenic-from-animal-feeds/

Today, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for the immediate withdrawal of approvals for all animal drug applications for arsenic-containing compounds used in animal feed. These additives are commonly used in poultry production to induce faster weight gain and create the appearance of a healthy color in meat from chickens, turkeys and hogs. The petition was supported by a coalition of food and farm groups around the country.“The fact that arsenic – a known and powerful carcinogen – in these feed additives leads to arsenic residue in chicken is now well known,” said the Center for Food Safety’s Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell. “FDA’s failure to investigate the mounting evidence that these compounds are unsafe is a breach of the public trust, and the use of arsenic-containing compounds in food animal production is a needless and dangerous risk to human health.” “Arsenic can be poisonous. Its use in animal feed, therefore, is unnecessarily risky and has not been shown to be safe given the latest science,” said David Wallinga, M.D. of the IATP. “To best protect public health, all avoidable exposures to arsenic should be eliminated. FDA can and should act.” COMMENT-FDA of course will take no action...