WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 23: U.S. President Barack Obama announces the nomination of Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim (2nd L) for president of the World Bank, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) looks on March 23, 2012 in Washington, DC. Kim, who is seen as a surprise pick, is a Korean born physician that is reportedly prominent in global health circles. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

By Avalon
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

“When you turn on the television, whatever you’re watching has been filtered by those people!

So, we don’t have a Democracy here.

… my story is about being very close to Martial Law”

In one of the most significant interviews on International Finance and Banking, Karen Hudes, Former World Bank Attorney, talks about her experience working for the World Bank. Her actions to report on corruption at the World Bank led to her termination in 2007. Since then, she has been trying to get her story out to the public.

Although this story is complex, a few great points are listed in an article authored by Karen Hudes (with Jim Fetzer) at VeteransToday.com titled, The World Bank: Rejecting “The Rule of Law”

During the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings last October, with her encouragement, the Development Committee informed President Jim Yong Kim of the need for “a more open, transparent and accountable World Bank Group.”  The reasons that motivated that request included the following series of disturbing developments:

•  The World Bank has disregarded the Joint Economic Committee’s 2005 inquiry into the World Bank’s “corporate governance irregularities” and “accounting problems”;

•  The World Bank has failed to follow the Joint Economic Committee’s advice that professional financial and accounting employees be given independent access to the World Bank’s Board and its Audit Committee;

•  The World Bank has failed to protect Hudes against retaliation for challenges of illegality or other misconduct  through external arbitration pursuant to the 2005 Lugar-Leahy amendment, which could threaten its mission;

•  The World Bank has stonewalled Senator Lugar’s and Congressman Van Hollen’s four requests for the advice of the executive search firm following Hudes’ disclosure of internal control lapses;

•  The World Bank has refused to comply with the Government Accountability Office inquiry into corruption requested by Senators Lugar, Leahy and Bayh for more than three years;

•  Congress has reiterated its request for the GAO inquiry during hearings on the World Bank capital increase, with which it has yet to comply;  and,

•  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner misrepresented progress on World Bank reform in his 11/21/12 report to the Appropriations Committees pursuant to § 7082 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012.

During her research of The World Bank, she discovered that there are 43,000 Trans-National Corporations that control nearly everything and that these corporations are merged together into Conglomerate – a Super Entity. This fact translates into the recent  LIBOR Scandal.

Confirming what one sees in the world in terms of a coordinated plan to control all finance, Karen explains that this Super Entity controls 40% of the Net Worth of Publically Traded Corporations and 60% of the Net Earnings on the Capital Markets through their Interlocking Directorships.

Also, as many in the Alternative Media have known for years, there exists a  Mainstream Media Cover–Up of most criminality and corruption, including the 9/11 WTC Terrorist Attack on September 11, 2001, the Benghazi 9/11 Assassination of Ambassador Stevens, the Death of Seal Team 6 in retaliation for their knowledge of the Fake Bin Laden Killing, the Boston Marathon Bombing False-Flag and other recent events including the IRS Scandal that is unfolding now.

Whistleblower Karen Hudes [Pt.1] Corruption / World Bank Exposed
Published on May 24, 2013 – 158 views on May 24, 2013 @ 4:00pm
Whistleblower Karen Hudes [Pt.1]

Corruption / World Bank Exposed
Interview – http://OneRadioNetwork.com
Karen Hudes – http://kahudes.net

Excerpting from the same article by Karen Hudes (with Jim Fetzer) The World Bank: Rejecting “The Rule of Law” adds more details to this emerging story:

Where things stand

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, has refused to tackle the corruption.  He has even had me locked out of the World Bank’s headquarters.  On March 19, 2013, I reported to the World Bank, informing Allied Barton’s security personnel that I was duly reinstated by the shareholders of the World Bank.  Allied Barton illegally denied me a security badge.  An Allied Barton officer raised his voice to me.

The World Bank, under Dr. Kim’s presidency, called the DC police on a legal officer of the World Bank whose reinstatement was necessary in order to qualify for the US contribution to the World Bank’s capital increase. Notwithstanding that the World Bank refused to confirm any request to the police in writing in an attempt to evade accountability, I left the premises at the request of the DC police.  However, I did report to the 2nd District Precinct that the DC police had been derelict in their duties.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have tried to expose the corruption to the American public by calling for an inquiry by the Government Accountability Office.  Congress has attempted to fight the corruption by refusing to disburse the World Bank capital increase until there is substantial progress in eliminating the effects of retaliation against whistleblowers who disclosed illegality and corruption.  The UK and EU Parliaments have also published testimony and held hearings on the corruption.

The World Bank has attempted to intimidate the World Bank’s Board members, which violates federal, state, and international securities laws.  Fortunately, a team of whistleblowers disclosed this corruption and lawlessness to state governors, attorneys general, and chief justices of state supreme courts.  State authorities, together with NATO and other allies, are attempting to prevent this corruption from lowering the US credit rating and causing a currency war between nations.

The situation in Cyprus appears to be growing increasingly more serious. The prospects for the World Bank itself are also increasingly in jeopardy, where Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS nations) are planning to create their own alternative World Bank. These consequences might well have been avoided had President Kim adhered to the principles of the rule of law, reinstated me and implemented appropriate accounting procedures.  That he has done none of these, alas, remains a cause of grave concern, where his past performance in relation to JFK is anything but reassuring.

Source:

Karen Hudes – World Bank Stakeholders

The World Bank: Rejecting “The Rule of Law”

Karen Hudes – Blowing the Whistle on the World Bank

The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to poor countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group.[2] The bank is based in Washington, D.C. and provided around $30 billion in loans and assistance to “developing” and transition countries in 2012.[3] The bank’s mission is to reduce poverty.[4]

Paul Dundes Wolfowitz (born December 22, 1943) is a former United States Ambassador to Indonesia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, and former dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, working on issues of international economic development, Africa and public-private partnerships,[2] and chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council.[3]

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in Intellihub.com articles are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Intellihub.com. Intellihub.com will not be held responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in Intellihub.com articles. Intellihub.com reserves the right to remove articles from the website.

*****

Avalon is an Investigative Journalist and Strategist working for Intellihub.com 

www.veteranstoday.com/2013/03/27/the-world-bank-rejecting-the-rule-of-law/

The post Karen Hudes Exposes Control of the World Bank, Corporations and the Media appeared first on Intellihub.com.

Summer Truth 101

by Ginger Jane Hammack
Yuma Liberty Outpost
May 24, 2013

I awoke, in this Matrix. I’ve escaped. Here to help humanity awake from the coma of this fallacy that has become vague.

Virulently deceptive. I’m writing from a remote desert location. Within the desert southwest.

The hour is 1615. The day? May 22, 2013.

It’s been a day since an F5 Tornado hit Moore Oklahoma. In this day and beyond all hours that have existed. Great Truth! Must be delivered. Humanity is in trouble. The Matrix is near implosion.

All that has been brought to the table was a feast of deception. A carcass, of lies. Stuffed, glistening with icing. Eaten by masses. For decades! (All along.)

Today it has been reported that Chicago school districts have decided to close over four dozen elementary schools.

The future of our country is no longer an investment. It is a burden. Throw the kids a packet. Do you think they will learn? Throw employees packets, do you think they feel valued? Not only have the people been spoon fed cake; but cheap cake at that, they’ve also been dumbed down.

Drinking far too much aspartame kool-Aid, opppressed. Humiliated at times.

The dust bowl has arrived. The depression is here. History repeats. History, mans broken record.

Abandoned by a multitude of qualified leaders. Lacking familiarity with skills. Such as, Logic or sound reasoning.

The public wakes only slightly to a sleeping giant. Fascism! Yet, how quickly many retreat back into the Matrix, where it is comfortable.

Predictable, scripted. All for them. With soft smiles, and handouts.

All for them indeed. Ambush them! Rob their very unknowing souls!

Wolves in sheep clothing have infiltrated every sector of society. Evil has been running rampant. Implemented to trample anything good.

However, truth catanates with man whom seek knowledge. Beyond the confines of this Babylonian time.

In the meanwhile, IRS scandals hit mainstream news. Rocking the boat. As if democracy hasn’t been abused enough. Scandals proceed.

Benghanzi, GM Crops, High Fructose, and an array of immunizations over the last decade.

Is it any wonder society is arrear in activism? We are only as strong as our weakest links. Sadly, we have far too many weak links these days.

Drowning in their poisoned cells. We need more angels. Where are the intellectuals? The anticipators? The soothsayers?

A celestial event will take place in our American skies this November. Known, as Comet ISON. 15x’s brighter than our sun.

Clearly visible in broad daylight. Already identified as, The Comet of The Century!

Volcanic eruption goes largely un-recognized all over the planet this week. Alaska, Costa Rica, and Indonesia.

Caviar from across the ocean goes rotten in the hands of the most powerful.

As the pacific sea swells in decay, plagued with Fukushima radiation.

Caviar dreams become pale, thick forms of stench. In this dark hour, goodness shall seep!

Summer Truth will prevail. Nations may rise against nations. People may drop to their knees. The heart of man WILL fail many, in fear.

As long as truth, prevails…..Angels will soar! Revelations will unfold! For those still locked, blinded and gasping in the Matrix? Global economical changes will become so norm that the people’s slide into modern day slavery will be a smooth journey. A gentle landing.

Modern day intelligence will be void of recognizing the symptoms of tyranny. Empty shallow souls shall walk down sidewalks – mindlessly blocking reality via a variety of technological advances.

I dare you to not conform with them. I dare you to see what I see. To ponder as I think. To awaken! Summer Truth 101. Will you embrace the calm before the storm? The hour glass is almost full. The Matrix is imploding from within. It’s time to exit the chair, abort the class. Wake up, please awaken.

The post Summer Truth 101 appeared first on Intellihub.com.

SAN CLEMENTE, CA – DECEMBER 6: Evening sets on the San Onofre atomic power plant December 6, 2004 in northern San Diego County, south of San Clemente, California. Electric companies are reportedly saying that nuclear energy could disappear from California within a decade if the state rejects plans to spend $1.4 billion repairing the aging generators at the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon nuclear power plants. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

by Shepard Ambellas
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

A rather bizarre spoof video featuring top staffers at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Station has made its way full circle into the press, causing even more controversy for the already troubled facility.

The unfinished video came at the cost of $800 and has gotten some concerned.

The mock Star Trek video was shot on site, in a simulator at a training event in 2010. However, the timeframe the video was filmed in falls close in line with dates that the plant was experiencing troubles, reported by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

KTLA reported, “The company told KGTV that the video was shot for an employee recognition event on a budget of $800, but was never completed.

In the video, entitled “SONGS Trek,” the crew discusses issues presented by “unusual space fabric” the ship has encountered.

A man dressed as Spock tells the Captain Kirk — played by the plant’s former chief nuclear officer, Ross Ridenoure, “If we remain in this state for much longer, we run a risk of equipment failure and crew demoralization. It is imperative we get to star base to replace our uranium dioxide crystals.”

To some this is in bad taste considering the problems the plant had. An excerpt from the LA Times reads, “San Onofre had new steam generators installed in 2010 and 2011. In January 2012, a steam generator tube leaked a small amount of radioactive steam, leading to the discovery that the tubes were wearing down much more quickly than expected due to an unusual type of vibration.

Edison has requested permission from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart one of the plant’s two units at 70% power, but it remains unclear when the NRC will decide on the plan. The company has signaled that it could choose to retire the plant completely rather than carry out extensive repairs if the NRC does not give the go-ahead.

An NRC spokesman told KGTV that there were no safety issues with the filming of the spoof.

Nevertheless, San Clemente Green, a local activist group opposed to the plant, called it “deeply disturbing that San Onofre’s top managers were fooling around like this” when the plant was dealing with issues in the manufacturing of the steam generators and with concerns about the plant’s safety culture.”

Dispite what the NRC has told the American public, a California Senator is calling out the NRC’s ability to even judge safety for the public. In fact she is calling recent shenanigans taking place at the plant an “experiment” conducted by the NRC. 

SPCR.org reported, “California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer told Nuclear Regulatory chairwoman Allison Macfarlane that she wants two things before the restart of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is considered: completion of an investigation and a public hearing.

Boxer made her comments Thursday as part of the Senate reconfirmation hearing for Macfarlane, who is seeking another term as chair of the NRC.

Boxer scoffed at Southern California Edison’s (SCE) plan to change its operating license to restart the number two reactor at San Onofre at partial capacity.

She repeated the U.S. Atomic Safety Licensing Board‘s description of the plan as an “experiment.”

Boxer commented on SCE’s plan to operate the reactor at 70 percent.

“We’ll see what happens, we’ll see how it goes,” Boxer said during the hearing.  ”That’s like saying I think I fixed the damaged brakes on your car, but don’t drive it over 40 miles per hour.” 

Boxer repeatedly brought up the 8 million people living within 50 miles of the nuclear plant,  saying if someone came to the NRC today and asked for a license to operate a nuclear power plant at that site, “in a seismic and a tsunami zone, we all know every single commissioner would say, ‘don’t you think you could find a better place for it?’”

The plant has been shut down since January 2012 after a radiation leak led to discovery of faulty steam generator tubes.”

Sources:

^http://ktla.com/2013/05/23/edison-employees-shot-star-trek-spoof-video-at-san-onofre/#ixzz2UECGXx4w

^http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/05/23/37391/boxer-tells-nrc-chair-she-wants-hearing-on-san-ono/

*****

Read more articles by this author HERE.

Shepard Ambellas is the founder & director of Intellihub.com (a popular alternative news website), researcher, investigative journalist, radio talk show host, activist, and filmmaker.

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For media inquires, interviews, questions or suggestions for this author email: shepard@intellihub.com

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Jay Leno

Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

(The following is a transcript from a portion of Jay Leno’s opening monologue from his show on 5/23/13)

JAY LENO: Not looking good for President Obama. Today, his teleprompter took the Fifth. That’s a bad sign. In fact, they’ve changed their slogan from ‘yes we can’ to ‘no I can’t remember, I’m sorry.’

Well, the latest scandal in Washington, of course, is raising questions about the IRS. You know, I have a question. Why is it called the Internal Revenue Service? How is having your money confiscated a service? Really? ‘Oh, thank you so much. We really appreciate it.’

Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland said that he worries the IRS scandal might have a chlling effect on the IRS and that they might be afraid to audit people. So, finally, some good is coming out of all of this! Thank you very much. Thank you.

I guess TIME magazine found a picture of President Obama at his high school prom back in 1979. Show the picture. I love this picture. Look at that.

What is that weed around his neck? I’m curious.

The theme of the prom was ‘Hope and change out of that dress into something more comfortable.’

See, that was back in 1979. Let me tell you how long ago that was. Back then, Obama had to ask a girl for her phone number. He couldn’t illegally obtain it through the Justice Department. You had to ask the girl.

The post Jay Leno Slams Obama and IRS in Opening Monologue appeared first on Intellihub.com.

by Cassius Methyl
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

“One strong indication that the “great awakening” or “truth movement” is accelerating, is the noted increase of pro-war propaganda appearing in more and more places , like statist advertisements.

For instance, yesterday the logo for google.com on the homepage that regularly changes, depicted several children holding tiny American flags, in line to give hugs to an American solider. In addition, on the back of some newer Netflix DVDs, there are poems describing the honor of dying to protect poppy fields.

There’s just so much honor in guarding poppy fields, hmm? Poppy fields that produce most of the worlds heroin, and almost all opiates.

Whoops, it looks like they accidentally admitted that the U.S. military protects Afghan poppy fields , in an attempt to reinforce the morally and logically foundation less pro-war philosophy.

Photo: Cassius Methyl/Intellihub.com

The blatant hypocrisy and lack of any foundation for this blindly pro-war mentality they wish to cultivate, is getting almost comically obvious. Those who sponsor pro-war propaganda , like Bilderberg Group associated ‘Google’, seem to be doing nothing but accelerate this awakening, and further illustrate the dysfunctional nature of this vague pro war philosophy.

Photo: Google.com

And oh wait, this pro war philosophy does have a bit of a foundation – fear, and the indoctrination matrix that mainstream media, and Bilderberg group associates, have helped build. An ideological foundation for a broken philosophy with truth and morality against it, barely worth recognizing, as it crumbles before our eyes with the help of activists. “

******

Cassius Methyl is a writer for intellihub.com , a liberty activist in any way possible, and he plays every instrument and vocals for experimental metal / truth movement project core of a virus. 

The post Blatant Pro-War Propaganda Appears Everywhere, as State Indoctrination Crumbles appeared first on Intellihub.com.

Police Presence at Smokedown Prohibition 5

By JG Vibes
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

On 5/22/2013 Mark Passio appeared on the Bob Tuskin show to share his recent experience with police at the now infamous smokedown prohibition protest in Philadelphia.

Mark was illegally detained, cited, assaulted and even stolen from by federal park police.

This was the same event where N.A Poe and Adam Kokesh were arrested on trumped up, imaginary charges of “assaulting an officer”.

The audio from the show can be found below:

(the following post was made on Mark Passio’s facebook page)

I was walking with Barb from Arch Street to Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets, and handed out a few fliers about how the Federal Reserve Bank is de-valuing our nation’s currency to people standing in the line at the Liberty Bell location (something I have done almost 20 times in the past).

I briefly spoke to a couple of them who asked me for more information. We then proceeded to continue to walk to Market Street when we were stopped by two Park Police who said that I could not hand out fliers without a permit (I had already finished handing them out actually; I had a few left in my hand, and was in the process of leaving the area).

They began citing some obscure federal regulation that I had never heard of and quite frankly, do not care what it states. I told them that I was peacefully engaging other people in Free Speech and Free Press as I was walking through the area, which is a Natural Right which can not be granted by man, nor alienated from man, and which they do not have the right, regardless of what the terms of their “job” many state, to usurp from me or stop me from exercising.

Mark Passio

I informed them that the unalienable Rights to Free Speech and Free Press were also guaranteed and protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, which trumps any regulation which they were quoting to me, even under their legal system. I calmly informed them that they were violating those Natural Human Rights by even attempting to stop people from exercising them and claiming that Natural Rights can be invalidated by some obscure regulation. I then proceeded to attempt to walk away toward fifth street on Market Street, when these Park Police told me that I was NOT FREE to walk away from them, even though I had long since finished handing anyone any fliers.

They appeared to be viciously angered at my declaration that I had engaged in a peaceful activity that was a Natural Right, and that they had no right to attempt to stop me from exercising it. Along with many other Park Police who had gathered while I was speaking to the original two officers, they followed me and Barb onto Market Street, violently stopped us from proceeding on our way, put handcuffs on us so tight that I have lost feeling in a large portion of the top of my left hand and will need to see a doctor tomorrow about possible nerve damage, detained us unlawfully for over 20 minutes, illegally searched my person when I told them that I did not consent to any searches, stole my property in the form of the remaining fliers which I paid to print, and, adding insult to injury, also stole a $20 bill from my wallet, which I discovered was missing when they returned it to me, after releasing us.

They attempted to give me a citation for exercising Free Speech, which I refused to take from them, because I will not admit that I did anything morally wrong or have my time wasted to have to “defend” myself, as my actions harmed no other being, and I was doing my duty to warn people about the de-valuation of their earning and savings, and in doing so exercising a Natural Right which is “allegedly” Constitutionally protected in America.

They told me that a warrant will be issued for my arrest if I did not take the citation from them, and I still refused. Free Speech is being shut down in America, and if you do not agree with that statement after reading the above, def-friend me immediately because you are no friend of mine, no friend of Freedom, and certainly no friend of Truth and Goodness.

See more from Mark Passio at:

www.whatonearthishappening.com

www.freeyourmindconference.com

******

Follow my updates and join the discussion at www.facebook.com/jgvibes

Read more articles by this author HERE.

J.G. Vibes is the author of an 87 chapter counter-culture textbook called Alchemy of the Modern Renaissance, a staff writer, reporter for Intellihub.com and Executive Producer of the Bob Tuskin Radio Show. You can keep up with his work, which includes free podcasts, free e-books & free audiobooks at his website www.aotmr.com

The post Mark Passio Detained for Handing out Flyers About the Federal Reserve (Update) appeared first on Intellihub.com.

by Igor Alexeev
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

Bureaucratic hurdles like “Third Energy Package” or even more mysterious “Southern Gas Corridor” create non-competitive and non-transparent advantage to the EU initiatives on the energy market. “We will not impose any unreasonable or unjustified level of administrative or regulatory requirements. We will act as fair partners”, promised EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger in May, 2011. Two years after this speech one can clearly see quite an opposite situation.

“Third Energy Package” is a direct attempt to implement retroactive legislation thus driving down natural gas prices. It is absolutely inconsistent with the principles on which the whole European legal framework is based. Another notorious example of arbitrary behavior on the part of the European Commission is its indirect support to the alleged “virtual” reverse gas supplies from Poland to the Ukraine. There is every reason to believe that this natural gas is Russian. One can hardly call it fair play (any partner would consider such actions fraudulent), but after the Cyprus affair it is very hard to predict how far the EU can go in denying market realities.

On a long-term horizon this strategy may harm German national interests as a major natural gas importer and create unnecessary credibility gap between Russia and the European Union. Germany needs to get over its love/hate relationship with “South Stream” and return to thinking in terms of realpolitik. After all, it’s just a pipeline, not some ad vitam Doctor Faust’s contract as some analysts with Atlantic orientation often assume. European double-game seems especially illogical if we consider the scope of economic problems which Merkel and Oettinger have to solve in their own backyard. Global natural gas demand growth should be treated as an opportunity, not a “threat”. 

The European leaders are very well aware of “Nabucco West” and “TAP” project limitations (lack of solid resource base and insufficient infrastructure to name a few). These pipelines may contribute to the diversification of supplies although even if completed they cannot be a game-changer. Recent talks of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev in Austria have shown that “OMV” and other key European shareholders prioritize “Nabucco-West” over other pipeline blueprints. Unfortunately “South Stream” remains on the periphery of European energy policy, despite the fact that it is a very advanced project. In comparison, “Nabucco West” is yet to meet environmental goals and objectives in Romania. Nabucco Gas Pipeline International, the consortium to develop, build and operate the “Nabucco West” pipeline, has spent less than 5% of the total value of the investment on the development of the project.

There are clear differences of opinion among the EU regulators. EU Energy Directorate’s wavering position on “South Stream” sends contradictory signals to the non-EU transit states. Serbia, for instance, has officially announced it is ready to start building its section of the South Stream pipeline. “All problems are solved”, announced “Srbijagas” Director-General Dusan Bajatovic. At the same time “Nabucco” and “Southern Gas Corridor” lobbyist Zorana Mihajlović (Serbian Minister of Energy and Washington-backed ISAC Fund zealot) has recently been very active in her meaningless crusade against Russia’s “South Stream”. Many experts also remember her “brave” attempt to change the final draft of agreement between Gazprom and Srbijagas not that long ago. Although an old Serbian proverb says: you can’t have both goatling and money. Politically motivated red tape will not undermine Serbia’s energy self-sufficiency on the Balkans.

In April, 2013 Prime Minister of Slovenia Alenka Bratusek confirmed that Russia’s gas pipeline remains a priority for her country, which pursues economic development and foreign investments. Slovenia’s investments in the project will total some 1.1 billion euros ($1.4 billion). Bulgaria has also expressed its deep interest in Russia’s pipeline. A look on the map of the Southern Europe reveals that political contradictions in Belgrad will cause nothing but a short delay in “South Stream” realization. Hardly the same could be said about “Nabucco”.

Igor Alexeev is a Russian journalist and blogger for Strategic Culture Foundation and Route Magazine. He writes on the oil and gas sector, Eurasian energy security and shipping industries in the Arctic.

The post Who is Compromising “South Stream” in Europe? appeared first on Intellihub.com.

Photo: AP/Don Ryan

by Derrick Broze
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

Mayor Charlie Hales expressed his disappointment in a statement. “The measure lost despite my own ‘yes’ vote.That’s sure disappointing, but I accept the will of the voters.”

Portland voters first turned down fluoridation when the process began in the 1950′s, and again during the 1960′s. It was briefly approved in 1978, however that plan was overturned two years later, before any fluoride was ever added to the water.

After rumors of backroom deals between the City Council and fluoridation supporters emerged, clean water activists sprung to action. In response to last years city council vote to begin fluoridating water serving 900,000 citizens, protestors organized efforts to bring the issue to the public for a vote. After gathering over 40,000 signatures the measure was brought forth.

The issue also wound up politicizing a statewide health report  that showed falling cavity and tooth decay rates in the state over the past five years. One of the report’s authors said she felt pressure by Upstream Health, the group spearheading fluoridation efforts, to present the findings in a certain way.

Oregon Live covered the details  of the report:

“The percentage of children who already had a cavity fell from 64 to 52 statewide, according to the survey. That represents a drop of nearly one-fifth.

The percentage of children with untreated decay also declined from 36 to 20 statewide, the survey found. That’s down by nearly half.
And the other major measure, rampant decay — which is defined as seven treated or untreated cavities — fell from 20 percent to 14 percent statewide. That’s down by about one-third. “

With this latest rejection Portland becomes the largest city in the United States that does not add fluoride to the water. Speaking to the Portland Tribune, Kim Kaminski, leader of Clean Water Portland said, “At a very fundamental level, people understand that we don’t want more chemicals in our water.”

This year marks the 68th anniversary of fluoridation – the first U.S. city to adjust the fluoride levels in its water supply was Grand Rapids, Mich. on January 25, 1945, according to the American Dental Association.

Despite the fact that most mainstream health organizations, including the American Medical Association, endorse fluoridation over 200 communities have rejected the practice in recent years. Opponents of fluoridation in Portland worry by adding fluoride to the water it will ruin the city’s famously pristine water supply, as well as violate an individuals civil liberties, by forced medicating through the water.

Portlands stance against water fluoridation has become an attacking point for many publications around the country. Accusations of being anti-science, or a conspiracy theorist abound for those opposing the controversial practice.

Despite a recent Salon article that claims the Fluoride Free movement is “Without a study to stand on” there are a number of studies that show a variety of health concerns . The article also states, “The (fluoride) ion occurs naturally in ground water in varying levels, some that are in fact too high.” While this claim is true it is also misleading.

When a city chooses to add “fluoride” to the water supply they are actually adding the toxic substance hydrofluorosilic acid. Hydrofluorosilic acid is a by-product of phosphate mining, and if not for cities purchasing the substance for millions of dollars, it would have to be disposed of at a hefty cost to the producer.

The history books are filled with examples of medical and scientific practices that were seen as safe at one point only to be demonized later. The early critics of any common practice are often ridiculed until new evidence creates a shift in understanding and future practices. When it comes to water fluoridation we are dealing with a similar situation.

For more information on the dangers of water fluoridation and how you can get involved please check out the Fluoride Action Network. (www.fluoridealert.org)

sources:

^http://www.seattlepi.com/news/medical/article/Portland-Ore-rejecting-water-fluoridation-4535706.php#ixzz2UB34ZyOK

^http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/153165-inspired-water-fight-sends-message

The post Portland Voters Reject Water Fluoridation for the Fourth Time appeared first on Intellihub.com.

Photo: Kimihiro Hoshino / Getty Images

by Mick Meaney
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

Consider then, the audacity of Eric Schmidt’s proclamation that:

“We have to fight for privacy or we’re going to lose it.
Because it’s so easy to lose.”

Yes Schmidt, you’re right! Because you’re part of a small cabal that’s invested heavily in taking it away from us!

The duo also attempted to blame younger generations for the dramatic loss of privacy – despite research that continues to prove the contrary.

Bilderberg regular Eric Schmidt said:

“As you age, more and more of your digital identity is determined by others and that indelible record is something new generations will live with for the rest of their lives.”

Sidekick Cohen interjected:

“Kids are coming online and saying things that will follow them round for rest of lives, faster than the physical maturation process.
Parents should talk to them about privacy years before the birds and the bees.”

Schmidt Continued:

“Each of you completely expects Google to maintain the integrity of data you share with us. It would be a huge problem if data
was leaked or inappropriately given to governments. [But it's] very difficult to delete things. It’s unlikely posted things will be deletable
and that’s a problem for parents.”

I’ll leave the obvious hypocrisy to one side for a moment and point out that the latest research figures demonstrate that children and teenagers are concerned about their privacy and actively take steps to protect it.

A joint study by the Pew Research Center and the Berkman Center for Internet Society has shown that teenagers take “a variety of technical and non-technical steps to manage the privacy of that information” with only 8% believe that setting privacy controls is “somewhat difficult”.

But Schmidt, who once said: “We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about,” chose to ignore this at his Big Tent event.

Google’s privacy issues and law suits are well documented, less reported
however are the companies ties to the NSA and its connections to the CIA.

In 2008, a disturbing video produced by Consumer Watchdog demonstrated how Google’s web browser, Chrome, records what a user types into the web address field, and then sends that information to Google servers.

Sounds like a step too far? Well watch this video and make up your own mind:

In 2007 the rights group Privacy International rated Google as “hostile to privacy,” its lowest rating in their report.

When questioned about Google’s privacy track record, Schmidt attempted to defend the company:

“We try to be as transparent as possible… We publicly said these are the things we can do with your data, and it was discussed for months. From our perspective, we disclosed what we were doing, now we’re criticized for not disclosing what we’re doing.

“If we were to violate your privacy that would be material — we would lose you. Independent of whether you like us, we have a clear business perspective to protect your privacy because if we don’t we’ll lose you, governments will write laws that restrict this. We’ll suffer penalties and get sued to death because we get sued for everything.”

No Schmidt, you have violated our privacy, repeatedly and you frequently get sued because your company has a complete and total disregard for users privacy, violating laws in horrendously unethical ways. You’ve intentionally developed systems that are designed to stripaway our basic human right to privacy.

But I suppose what else can we expect from a man who once said:

“If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”

<i>Mick Meaney is an independent journalist who works exposes the crimes and misdeeds of the ruling elite. He founded the RINF Alternative News website in 2004 as a response to increasing levels of corruption, lies and control from the government and mainstream media.

The post Gross Hypocrisy From Google: ‘We Have To Fight For Privacy’ appeared first on Intellihub.com.

Xbox One

 by Mick Meaney
Intellihub.com
May 24, 2013

During a PR move designed to make the Xbox One appear more attractive, Microsoft’s hardware program manager, John Link, let slip that a component bundled with the console, the Kinect, will contain a microphone that never turns off.

The current version of the Kinect also contains a microphone but that can be switched off.

Speaking last night, Link said:

“The Kinect has a variety of settings. You know, it’s always available to the system, so … you can count, as an application developer
or a game developer, [that] everyone’s going to have a Kinect. You always have that stream available. And then, you know, there are settings,
obviously, in the console to be able to change the settings of how your Kinect is used, if you’re interested.

“It will be just listening enough to know that, ‘Hey, I heard something interesting. Somebody’s probably trying to wake me up.’ It sends it to the
console for confirmation, and then it can really power up to that high-power state.”

The new system can automatically detect and identify users through their body shape and voice. The system can also monitor heart rates.

Microsoft were quick to defend the technology, releasing a statement:

“The new Kinect is listening for a specific cue, like ‘Xbox on,’” the spokesperson said. “We know our customers want and expect strong
privacy protections to be built into our products, devices and services, and for companies to be responsible stewards of their data. Microsoft has
more than 10 years of experience making privacy a top priority. Kinect for Xbox 360 was designed and built with strong privacy protections in place and the new Kinect will continue this commitment.”

They also added:

“We aren’t using Kinect to snoop on anybody at all. We listen for the word ‘Xbox on’ and then switch on the machine, but we don’t
transmit personal data in any way, shape or form that could be personally identifiable to you, unless you explicitly opt into that.”

However, the company aren’t exactly known for their commitment to privacy.

We recently revealed how the company were involved with ’Legal intercept’ technology that provides governments with an easy way to monitor VoIP communication, and how the Kinect could be potentially used to restrict activity in the home.

Not to mention that last year they helped police to build a surveillance system across New York which connects a wide variety of technologies together for the NYPD. They hope to sell the big brother system to other cities around the world.

Also in 2012 Microsoft came under fire for its privacy policy and in 2010 Windows Live exposed users names and other data.

Its not just Microsoft that Xbox One users should be concerned about, it’s also malicious hackers who could eavesdrop on conversations in the living room via the Internet.

The software giant doesn’t exactly have a solid track record for producing secure systems. Earlier this year hackers accessed the Xbox Live accounts of employees.

Nonetheless, millions of children, including my own, will now be begging their parents for the latest must-have tech. We have to hand it to
corporations like Microsoft and Google… they have managed to turn Big brother into the unthinkable; an object of desire.

*****

About the author:

Mick Meaney is an independent journalist who works exposes the crimes and misdeeds of the ruling elite. He founded the RINF Alternative News website in 2004 as a response to increasing levels of corruption, lies and control from the government and mainstream media.

The post Xbox One: Constantly Listening To Conversations appeared first on Intellihub.com.