Lights go out across planet for Earth Hour
(CNN) -- Lights were going out across the world on Saturday as millions of homes and businesses in major cities went dark for one hour in a symbolic gesture to highlight concerns over climate change
In Australia, floodlights of the Sydney Opera House were extinguished as the city's iconic harbor kicked off events for Earth Hour, a day-long energy-saving marathon stretching through 88 countries and 24 time zones.
The event's Web site reported that hundreds of people lined the harbour for a glimpse of the dimming skyline at 8.30 pm -- the local time that nearly 4,000 participating cities around the world were expected to switch off non-essential lights.
Sydney became the birthplace of the Earth Hour campaign in 2007 when 2.2 million turned off their lights, igniting a grass roots movement that has become a global phenomenon.
In China, illuminations at major buildings including the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium and the Water Cube were extinguished as 20 cities joined in, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Other landmarks around the world expected to join the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event were the Egyptian pyramids, Vatican, Niagara Falls, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Acropolis in Athens and the Las Vegas casino strip.
Earth Hour events go off to an unofficial start in the remote Chatham Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean where locals switched off their diesel generators, organizers said. Shortly afterwards, 44 New Zealand cities and town joined in the event.
Organizers say they hope this year's event will send a message to world leaders meeting Copenhagen in December for a major summit on climate change.
"We are asking one billion people to take part in what is essentially the first global vote for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour and casting a vote for earth," said executive director Andy Ridley.
My comment
Earth hour events began two years ago in 2007. I remembered Soochow University had turned off some lights on downtown campus for one hour. There are more and more cities joined the events. I am glad to see Beijing also participated in them. Beijing is now a international city and a metropolitan city. It showed that its residents have the awareness of global warming.
29.3.09
24.3.09
QUOTE
We have fallen into the habit of taking the term 'toxic' a bit too literally
Stephanie Flanders, BBC economics editor
Stephanie Flanders, BBC economics editor
U.S Economy
Fed pumps $1.2tn into US economy
The US Federal Reserve says it will buy almost $1.2 trillion (£843bn) worth of debt to help boost lending and promote economic recovery.
It said it would start buying long-term government debt and expand purchases of mortgage-related debt.
The Federal Reserve said it hopes the measures will boost mortgage lending and the struggling housing market by lowering interest rates on mortgages and other forms of consumer debt.
"This is not only going to keep mortgage rates low for a long period of time," said Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
"The mere announcement may produce a honeymoon effect and bring mortgage rates down to even lower levels in the coming days."
The US central bank also kept interest rates unchanged at close to zero after its two-day policy meeting.
Japan said earlier on Wednesday it would step up its purchases of government debt.
"Job losses, declining equity and housing wealth, and tight credit conditions have weighed on consumer sentiment and spending," the Fed said.
All tools
The Fed said it would employ "all available tools" to promote economic recovery.
The biggest surprise was the announcement that the Fed would buy up to $300bn worth of government debt, known as US Treasuries, over the next six months.
It also said it would buy an additional $750bn of mortgage-backed securities to boost mortgage lending, bringing total purchases of this type to $1.25 trillion.
It added that it would buy a further $100bn in debt issued by government-sponsored agencies like Freddie Mac, which supports the mortgage market.
"This is a pretty dramatic move," said James Caron, head of global rates research at Morgan Stanley in New York.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 90.88 points, or 1.23%, to end at 7,486.58 points, reversing early losses.
The move boosted banks and financial shares, with Citigroup up 23% and Bank of America vaulting 22% higher.
However, the announcement hurt the dollar, which hit a two-month low against the euro on fears that the measures would undermine the currency.
The yields payable to holders of government bonds also fell sharply.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.5% percent from 3.01% - its biggest one-day slide since the Wall Street crash of 1987.
My Comment
Last week, US dollars fail and made Taiwan's currency NTD increase to $1 to 33.8. It was because U.S government bought its bonds with big amount. According to the basic monetary policy, the government usually do not buy largely of its bonds instead US sold bonds to foreign government.
The movement did do good to U.S stock which the Dow Jones industrial average gained 90.88 points, or 1.23%.
I think the government is doing the right thing. But the policy will influence Taiwan's exports and inports which the price of our product become expensive when sell to foreign countruies.
The US Federal Reserve says it will buy almost $1.2 trillion (£843bn) worth of debt to help boost lending and promote economic recovery.
It said it would start buying long-term government debt and expand purchases of mortgage-related debt.
The Federal Reserve said it hopes the measures will boost mortgage lending and the struggling housing market by lowering interest rates on mortgages and other forms of consumer debt.
"This is not only going to keep mortgage rates low for a long period of time," said Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
"The mere announcement may produce a honeymoon effect and bring mortgage rates down to even lower levels in the coming days."
The US central bank also kept interest rates unchanged at close to zero after its two-day policy meeting.
Japan said earlier on Wednesday it would step up its purchases of government debt.
"Job losses, declining equity and housing wealth, and tight credit conditions have weighed on consumer sentiment and spending," the Fed said.
All tools
The Fed said it would employ "all available tools" to promote economic recovery.
The biggest surprise was the announcement that the Fed would buy up to $300bn worth of government debt, known as US Treasuries, over the next six months.
It also said it would buy an additional $750bn of mortgage-backed securities to boost mortgage lending, bringing total purchases of this type to $1.25 trillion.
It added that it would buy a further $100bn in debt issued by government-sponsored agencies like Freddie Mac, which supports the mortgage market.
"This is a pretty dramatic move," said James Caron, head of global rates research at Morgan Stanley in New York.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 90.88 points, or 1.23%, to end at 7,486.58 points, reversing early losses.
The move boosted banks and financial shares, with Citigroup up 23% and Bank of America vaulting 22% higher.
However, the announcement hurt the dollar, which hit a two-month low against the euro on fears that the measures would undermine the currency.
The yields payable to holders of government bonds also fell sharply.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.5% percent from 3.01% - its biggest one-day slide since the Wall Street crash of 1987.
My Comment
Last week, US dollars fail and made Taiwan's currency NTD increase to $1 to 33.8. It was because U.S government bought its bonds with big amount. According to the basic monetary policy, the government usually do not buy largely of its bonds instead US sold bonds to foreign government.
The movement did do good to U.S stock which the Dow Jones industrial average gained 90.88 points, or 1.23%.
I think the government is doing the right thing. But the policy will influence Taiwan's exports and inports which the price of our product become expensive when sell to foreign countruies.
UN NEWS
Global crises, energy, Afghanistan top agenda at UN-organized Central Asia forum
13 March 2009
The impact of the global financial crisis, problems concerning water and energy supplies and developments in Afghanistan were high on the agenda at a United Nations-organized seminar that brought Central Asian nations together to address current challenges.
The meeting was organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), established in 2007 to help the countries of the region – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – respond more proactively to cross-border challenges and threats, such as terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime and environmental degradation, before they become costlier and more difficult to control.
The two-day meeting, which began on 10 March, brought together government officials, experts and academics, among others, to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, for what a senior UN official called a “necessary and timely” gathering amid important developments in the world and in the region.
“The participants acknowledged that an individual approach is not a viable solution, that it is important to find shared solutions,” Miroslav Jenca, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNRCCA, told the UN News Centre.
The need to work together in facing challenges was especially underscored in the context of dealing with the ongoing economic and financial crisis. Mr. Jenca noted that some countries might be tempted to find solutions taking into account their national interests only, and not considering the interests of the whole region.
Participants at the meeting, which also included representatives from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Russia, France, Slovakia and the United States, recognized this as a “dangerous tendency,” he said, and they agreed that regional cooperation was vital in order to find viable solutions.
The effects have included the devaluation of national currencies and a curtailing of projects due to lack of funding. The downturn has also affected labour migration, with migrants being unable to find enough jobs in other countries, or if they can find jobs, they are being paid less, all of which lead to a decrease in remittances, he said.
In addition, problems related to water management and energy supplies are a major challenge for the region, which as a whole has enough water and enough energy. “The problem is how to find agreement among the five countries in order to use these resources for the benefit of all countries in the region,” stated Mr. Jenca, who took up his post last June.
“The role of the leadership of the countries is extremely important in order to ensure sustainable development, and they bear primary responsibility for socio-economic development and also for addressing the crisis,” he stated.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30185&Cr=central+asia&Cr1=
My Comment
The UN is concerning water and energy supplies in Afghanistan. Because of global financial crisis, lower economic developed regions suffer devastated. Those people are originally live in poor environment where recently become worse and worse. UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) started to discuss these regions and consider the solution should be a shared idea. While most world news mainly focus on U.S or China’s economic news, I think, it is also important to know other places such as Afghanistan and eastern Euro. Insufficient water and energy supplies is more serious than housing debt or corporate toxic debt.
13 March 2009
The impact of the global financial crisis, problems concerning water and energy supplies and developments in Afghanistan were high on the agenda at a United Nations-organized seminar that brought Central Asian nations together to address current challenges.
The meeting was organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), established in 2007 to help the countries of the region – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – respond more proactively to cross-border challenges and threats, such as terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime and environmental degradation, before they become costlier and more difficult to control.
The two-day meeting, which began on 10 March, brought together government officials, experts and academics, among others, to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, for what a senior UN official called a “necessary and timely” gathering amid important developments in the world and in the region.
“The participants acknowledged that an individual approach is not a viable solution, that it is important to find shared solutions,” Miroslav Jenca, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNRCCA, told the UN News Centre.
The need to work together in facing challenges was especially underscored in the context of dealing with the ongoing economic and financial crisis. Mr. Jenca noted that some countries might be tempted to find solutions taking into account their national interests only, and not considering the interests of the whole region.
Participants at the meeting, which also included representatives from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Russia, France, Slovakia and the United States, recognized this as a “dangerous tendency,” he said, and they agreed that regional cooperation was vital in order to find viable solutions.
The effects have included the devaluation of national currencies and a curtailing of projects due to lack of funding. The downturn has also affected labour migration, with migrants being unable to find enough jobs in other countries, or if they can find jobs, they are being paid less, all of which lead to a decrease in remittances, he said.
In addition, problems related to water management and energy supplies are a major challenge for the region, which as a whole has enough water and enough energy. “The problem is how to find agreement among the five countries in order to use these resources for the benefit of all countries in the region,” stated Mr. Jenca, who took up his post last June.
“The role of the leadership of the countries is extremely important in order to ensure sustainable development, and they bear primary responsibility for socio-economic development and also for addressing the crisis,” he stated.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30185&Cr=central+asia&Cr1=
My Comment
The UN is concerning water and energy supplies in Afghanistan. Because of global financial crisis, lower economic developed regions suffer devastated. Those people are originally live in poor environment where recently become worse and worse. UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) started to discuss these regions and consider the solution should be a shared idea. While most world news mainly focus on U.S or China’s economic news, I think, it is also important to know other places such as Afghanistan and eastern Euro. Insufficient water and energy supplies is more serious than housing debt or corporate toxic debt.
17.3.09
QUOTE
Wen Jiabao: "We are concerned about the safety of our assets"
"I'd like to take this opportunity here to implore the United States... to honour its words, stay a credible nation and ensure the safety of Chinese assets," he said.
"I'd like to take this opportunity here to implore the United States... to honour its words, stay a credible nation and ensure the safety of Chinese assets," he said.
Understanding Pakistan's latest turmoil
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Barely a year after the country celebrated its return to democracy, Pakistan is ensnared in a new political crisis.
Thousands of lawyers planned a four-day march to the country's capital, Islamabad, on Thursday, demanding that the government immediately reinstate judges whom the previous president ousted.
The protesters plan a sit-in at the parliament building on Monday, and say they will continue their demonstrations indefinitely until their demands are met.
At the same time, the country's main opposition leader and his supporters have joined in the nationwide protests, but for reasons of their own.
The government responded by banning political demonstrations in two of the country's biggest provinces -- Punjab and Sindh. It also detained several hundred activists Wednesday.
The political chaos has forced the government's attention away from a deadly fundamentalist insurgency in its tribal areas and an economy that's on the verge of collapse.
To understand the reasons behind Pakistan's latest political chaos, one needs to keep three central characters in mind:
President Asif Ali Zardari: He is the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which garnered the most votes in parliamentary elections held last year.
Nawaz Sharif: He heads the second-biggest party in the country, the Pakistan Muslim League -- N (PML-N). Sharif and Zardari are bitter rivals.
Pervez Musharraf: He is the former president of Pakistan who assumed power in a bloodless coup. He stepped down in August just as a coalition comprised of parties opposed to him stepped up efforts to oust him.
What does the turmoil mean for Pakistan?
The renewed tensions threaten to take the focus away from the government's attempts to quash an escalating pro-Taliban insurgency in the country.
At the same time, Pakistan's economy is in shambles. The worsening security situation is part of the reason. Rising food and oil prices have also contributed to the crisis.
In November, the International Monetary Fund approved a $7.6 billion loan to Pakistan to help the South Asian country of 170 million people avoid an economic collapse.
Many in Pakistan worry that the latest turmoil could once again force the army on to the streets if it worsens.
In its 61-year history, Pakistan has been under army rule more than half the time. For now, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani has said he will not interfere in political matters.
My comment
Whenever the economic is in crisis and people can not get drinking water and food, there are military and powerful man show and step onto the political stage. But the tyranny always could not sovle the problem which give people efficient method to survive.
Thousands of lawyers planned a four-day march to the country's capital, Islamabad, on Thursday, demanding that the government immediately reinstate judges whom the previous president ousted.
The protesters plan a sit-in at the parliament building on Monday, and say they will continue their demonstrations indefinitely until their demands are met.
At the same time, the country's main opposition leader and his supporters have joined in the nationwide protests, but for reasons of their own.
The government responded by banning political demonstrations in two of the country's biggest provinces -- Punjab and Sindh. It also detained several hundred activists Wednesday.
The political chaos has forced the government's attention away from a deadly fundamentalist insurgency in its tribal areas and an economy that's on the verge of collapse.
To understand the reasons behind Pakistan's latest political chaos, one needs to keep three central characters in mind:
President Asif Ali Zardari: He is the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which garnered the most votes in parliamentary elections held last year.
Nawaz Sharif: He heads the second-biggest party in the country, the Pakistan Muslim League -- N (PML-N). Sharif and Zardari are bitter rivals.
Pervez Musharraf: He is the former president of Pakistan who assumed power in a bloodless coup. He stepped down in August just as a coalition comprised of parties opposed to him stepped up efforts to oust him.
What does the turmoil mean for Pakistan?
The renewed tensions threaten to take the focus away from the government's attempts to quash an escalating pro-Taliban insurgency in the country.
At the same time, Pakistan's economy is in shambles. The worsening security situation is part of the reason. Rising food and oil prices have also contributed to the crisis.
In November, the International Monetary Fund approved a $7.6 billion loan to Pakistan to help the South Asian country of 170 million people avoid an economic collapse.
Many in Pakistan worry that the latest turmoil could once again force the army on to the streets if it worsens.
In its 61-year history, Pakistan has been under army rule more than half the time. For now, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani has said he will not interfere in political matters.
My comment
Whenever the economic is in crisis and people can not get drinking water and food, there are military and powerful man show and step onto the political stage. But the tyranny always could not sovle the problem which give people efficient method to survive.
16.3.09
Somalia Pirates Problem
Japan destroyers set sail on anti-piracy mission
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Two Japanese destroyers set sail Saturday on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia, the Japanese defense ministry said, marking the first policing action for the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Two Japanese destroyers set sail Saturday on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia, the Japanese defense ministry said, marking the first policing action for the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Because of restrictions in Japan's constitution, the nation's military is limited to a "self-defense" role.
The Japanese Cabinet approved the mission Friday. The MSDF's major overseas missions have focused on background support, such as transport and refueling, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.
MSDF members aboard the destroyers may fire warning shots if they encounter pirates. However, under Japanese law they are not allowed to harm the pirates except in self-defense, Kyodo reported.
The Japanese Cabinet approved the mission Friday. The MSDF's major overseas missions have focused on background support, such as transport and refueling, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.
MSDF members aboard the destroyers may fire warning shots if they encounter pirates. However, under Japanese law they are not allowed to harm the pirates except in self-defense, Kyodo reported.
The bill would also enable the MSDF to protect any ship, including those without a Japanese connection -- a provision government officials say is needed to fulfill Japan's international obligations, Kyodo said.
Japan Coast Guard officers are aboard the destroyers to process judicial matters, including collecting evidence and handling suspects, in the event that the vessels encounter pirates, Kyodo reported.
The move comes after Somali pirates released a Japanese-owned vessel that was hijacked in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden in November, according to a nongovernmental group that monitors piracy. The ship was released last month.
The move comes after Somali pirates released a Japanese-owned vessel that was hijacked in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden in November, according to a nongovernmental group that monitors piracy. The ship was released last month.
Roughly 400 MSDF personnel and eight coast guard officers are aboard the two destroyers, each of which carry two SH-60K patrol helicopters and two speedboats, officials told Kyodo.
The 4,650-ton Sazanami and 4,550-ton Samidare destroyers left their base in the southern port city of Kure after a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Taro Aso and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, Kyodo reported.
Once the destroyers reach the Gulf of Aden in two to three weeks, they will escort vessels linked to Japan, such as Japanese-registered ships, vessels with Japanese nationals or cargo on board, or ships operated by Japanese shipping firms, Kyodo said.
The waters off Somalia have become a pirate hotspot in recent years, with more than 40 vessels hijacked in 2008 alone, according to the International Maritime Bureau. This has prompted a number of countries to send warships to the region in an effort to combat the problem.
My comment
In this news, there are three dimensions to discuss.
Somalia：
1. The piracy problem is particularly acute with Somalia because it lacks an effective criminal justice system
2. Out of the 238 suspected pirates investigated by navies operating off Somalia, barely half were sent for prosecution. Most of them were released.
Japan：
1. Japanese constitution does not allow its warship to attack others and only on “self-defense” can warships to attack the pirates.
2. Japanese government are concerned with there international business on sea transportation.
Western countries：
In a bid to tackle the apparent impunity with which pirates can operate, the US and the EU have both concluded deals with Somalia's neighbour Kenya to send pirates for prosecution there.
But is using Kenya as the first choice jurisdiction for prosecuting Somali pirates a viable long-term solution? I think it is not a feasible or long-term method.
Those Somalia’s resident live in poor living standard and this cause them to become pirate and attack foreign ships in search for resource. To certain extent, I do not want to blame them or called them as criminals.
In the end, everybody agrees that the long-term solution to piracy off Somalia is an effective government in Somalia with a well-resourced coast guard and a functional justice system.
10.3.09
China boosts police presence in Tibet
Financial Times
Published: February 25 2009
By Geoff Dyer in Beijing
China has introduced a heavy police presence into Tibetan regions of the country ahead of the start of Tibetan new year celebrations on Wednesday, the first in a number of potential flashpoints over the next month.
The 15-day festival, called Losar, is usually one of most festive times of the year for Tibetans, but this year there has been an underground campaign to boycott the celebrations to mourn those killed during the wave of protests in the region last year.
Chinese officials have been worried about the potential for unrest around other sensitive dates, including the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against the Beijing government that led the Dalai Lama to flee into exile on March 10. The government has named March 28 as ‘Serf Emancipation Day’, a new holiday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the official dissolution of the Tibetan government that was led by the Dalai Lama.
Analysts say that the pre-emptive security clampdown indicated the government lacks confidence it can predict potential protests and prevent them from taking place.
The Chinese authorities say they are responding to the increased risk of crime in the region. There were reports on Wednesday that explosives had been found under a bridge in Tibet.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Dalai Lama said Tibetans should not respond to the “provocation” of the security build-up.
The campaign to boycott the traditional new year, which Tibetan activists have described as an act of civil disobedience, has been building for several months. The authorities have countered the campaign with aggressive propaganda efforts, including a four-hour television spectacle on Tibet TV on Tuesday evening with 800 performers. The Xinhua news agency published a report yesterday entitled: “Jubilant Tibetans embrace coming new year”.
Tibetan monks in Taipei, Taiwan, boycotted the start of the Losar festival in protest against Chinese rule
Diplomats and reporters who have recently visited Tibetan areas say there is some support for the boycott, although there is also plenty of opposition, including from shops and other service businesses for whom the holiday season is peak business.
Last year, the region witnessed the biggest outbreak of anti-Beijing protests in several decades, with unrest spreading to more than 50 towns in Tibet and Tibetan populated districts in the neighbouring provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. The unrest culminated in a riot in Lhasa on March 14 when Han Chinese residents were targeted.
According to the Chinese government, 19 people including a policeman died in the riot. Tibetan exiles and human rights groups say the overall death toll during the protests was much larger.
The security build-up has been particularly intense in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. According to Human Rights Watch, the authorities have set up a detention centre near the regional capital where several thousand people have been held for short periods of time.
For the last three weeks, there have been reports of a heavy military police presence in Xiahe, the Gansu province town which was the site of a large protest last March, but residents contacted by telephone yesterday said the town was not closed off to foreign visitors. There have also been reports of large-scale security measures in Aba and Ganzi prefectures in Sichuan.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, a Dharamsala-based group, there was a two-day protest starting February 14 in Lithang county after a monk began chanting “No Losar”.
Published: February 25 2009
By Geoff Dyer in Beijing
China has introduced a heavy police presence into Tibetan regions of the country ahead of the start of Tibetan new year celebrations on Wednesday, the first in a number of potential flashpoints over the next month.
The 15-day festival, called Losar, is usually one of most festive times of the year for Tibetans, but this year there has been an underground campaign to boycott the celebrations to mourn those killed during the wave of protests in the region last year.
Chinese officials have been worried about the potential for unrest around other sensitive dates, including the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against the Beijing government that led the Dalai Lama to flee into exile on March 10. The government has named March 28 as ‘Serf Emancipation Day’, a new holiday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the official dissolution of the Tibetan government that was led by the Dalai Lama.
Analysts say that the pre-emptive security clampdown indicated the government lacks confidence it can predict potential protests and prevent them from taking place.
The Chinese authorities say they are responding to the increased risk of crime in the region. There were reports on Wednesday that explosives had been found under a bridge in Tibet.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Dalai Lama said Tibetans should not respond to the “provocation” of the security build-up.
The campaign to boycott the traditional new year, which Tibetan activists have described as an act of civil disobedience, has been building for several months. The authorities have countered the campaign with aggressive propaganda efforts, including a four-hour television spectacle on Tibet TV on Tuesday evening with 800 performers. The Xinhua news agency published a report yesterday entitled: “Jubilant Tibetans embrace coming new year”.
Tibetan monks in Taipei, Taiwan, boycotted the start of the Losar festival in protest against Chinese rule
Diplomats and reporters who have recently visited Tibetan areas say there is some support for the boycott, although there is also plenty of opposition, including from shops and other service businesses for whom the holiday season is peak business.
Last year, the region witnessed the biggest outbreak of anti-Beijing protests in several decades, with unrest spreading to more than 50 towns in Tibet and Tibetan populated districts in the neighbouring provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. The unrest culminated in a riot in Lhasa on March 14 when Han Chinese residents were targeted.
According to the Chinese government, 19 people including a policeman died in the riot. Tibetan exiles and human rights groups say the overall death toll during the protests was much larger.
The security build-up has been particularly intense in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. According to Human Rights Watch, the authorities have set up a detention centre near the regional capital where several thousand people have been held for short periods of time.
For the last three weeks, there have been reports of a heavy military police presence in Xiahe, the Gansu province town which was the site of a large protest last March, but residents contacted by telephone yesterday said the town was not closed off to foreign visitors. There have also been reports of large-scale security measures in Aba and Ganzi prefectures in Sichuan.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, a Dharamsala-based group, there was a two-day protest starting February 14 in Lithang county after a monk began chanting “No Losar”.
QUOTE
"At the speed at which the wage gap between men and women is closing, it will take another 70 years before equality is reached "
"to a man, the word "security" often means tank battalions and missile defence systems. To a woman it can mean access to education and clean drinking water for children. "
by European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom
100% agree with her words!!
The US jobless rate jumped in February to 8.1%, according to official figures from the Labor Department.
The number of people out of work rose by 651,000 during the month. Both figures were bigger than expected.
The number of job cuts in January was revised up to 655,000 while December's losses were pushed up to 681,000.
December's figure was the biggest job loss in a single month since October 1949. The unemployment rate was the highest since December 1983.
Rising unemployment has meant greater demand for free meals
President Obama said that the number of jobs lost so far in the recession was "astounding".
Speaking in Ohio, he added: "I don't need to tell the people of this state what statistics like this mean," saying that he had signed his economic stimulus package in order to save jobs.
The extra 161,000 jobs added to December and January's figures mean that almost two million jobs have been lost in the past three months.
A total of 12.5 million people are now unemployed in the US.
"It just continues to show the grim state of the labour market, which suggests a deepening US recession," said Joe Manimbo, currency trader at Ruesch International in Washington.
Across sectors
There were further signs of companies cutting back on their spending with the news that the number of people who wanted to work full-time but were forced to work part-time for economic reasons rising 787,000 to 8.6 million.
The average working week stood at 33.3 hours, matching the record low set in December.
Jobs were cut in most sectors, with only government, education and health services adding staff.
In the manufacturing sector 168,000 jobs were cut in the month while 104,000 jobs went in construction and 375,000 were cut in the service sector.
"The payroll numbers are very weak. With the revisions, we've had significant job losses in the past four months," said Gary Thayer, senior economist at Wachovia Securities in St Louis.
"Companies are reducing workers and output in order to bring inventories into line with weak sales."
Among the companies that announced big job cuts in February were Goodyear, Estee Lauder, Macy's and General Motors.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress earlier in the week that economic indicators "show little sign of improvement" and suggest that "labour market conditions may have worsened further in recent weeks".
My Comment
This week U.S reported its Feb. unemployment rate. The government also said that it will take ove the Citi Group and will not let it bankrupt. I understand the new stimula pakage was just lauched recently, so we will not see the immediate effect. However, this month as well as the following months, U.S workers should get jobs in order to pay their housing debt or other debt.
If Americans still can't find jobs, it is easily to see the amount of total consumption will not increase, and U.S will cut down its imports in global trade, then our country's exports would decrease which is a bad signal in investment.
In addition, China announced its new GDP predicated growth which is approximately 6.8 of this year. These two things make me think U.S is deeply relies on China's buying U.S bonds and the inter-trade between U.S and China.
I think this time the U.S official should carefully estimate those related economic index becasue it is always better to be cautious than to take an unpredicatble risk.
2.3.09
What do I think about President Barack Obama's speech to Congress
The speech has focused on three policy of United States: energy, health care, and education. As President Barack Obama said that"...We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century.'', I think he means American will decrease the use of oil and the production of Carbonhydrogen.
Second is health care. In the past, Americans had to pay large taxes for health care insurance. As a proportion of GDP, public health care spending in the United States is larger than in most other large Western countries.---BYWIKIPEDIA. In contrast to Taiwan, our health care insurance policy has been succeeded for years. Because each individual do not have to pay too much to tax on health care and almost everybody can readily have health insurance. I start to appreciate much more to my government.
Third is education. I agree with President Barack Obama that ''In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite. " This is why we attend the university and strive to receive an advanced education. Furthermore, the real education should start from parents because "children's education must begin at home''.
Next quote which also said by President Barack Obama reminds me a movie - THE SLUMDOG MILLIONARE. He said"...But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary. " Well, it is not only Americans could find hope and inspiration, but also some kids who live in the slums in Mubai .
THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH
Second is health care. In the past, Americans had to pay large taxes for health care insurance. As a proportion of GDP, public health care spending in the United States is larger than in most other large Western countries.---BYWIKIPEDIA. In contrast to Taiwan, our health care insurance policy has been succeeded for years. Because each individual do not have to pay too much to tax on health care and almost everybody can readily have health insurance. I start to appreciate much more to my government.
Third is education. I agree with President Barack Obama that ''In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite. " This is why we attend the university and strive to receive an advanced education. Furthermore, the real education should start from parents because "children's education must begin at home''.
Next quote which also said by President Barack Obama reminds me a movie - THE SLUMDOG MILLIONARE. He said"...But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary. " Well, it is not only Americans could find hope and inspiration, but also some kids who live in the slums in Mubai .
THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH
QUOTE
You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day......The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite. －President Barack Obama
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite. －President Barack Obama
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