Monday, December 5, 2011

The Arab Spring has indeed wilted.

Commenting on Egypt, I can only comment on the results of the first round of the elections, where the Muslim Brotherhood and fundamentalist NOURI won a strong majority. 37% for  Muslim Brotherhood plus an addition 24% for NOURI. Inconceivable? I think not.
I remind you that the elections for a constitutional assembly. What awaits this (cumulative 61%); Sharia? Perhaps instead of Arabic spring flowers and look for something else? Began institutions?
Many people were killed and dozens others injured during clashes between Muslims and Christians in Cairo, all this time.
Nearby in the same area, Muslim protesters threw firebombs atanother church.
Relations between Sunni Muslims and Coptic Christians - whorepresent about 10% of the population - have worsened in recent years.



http://tosconto.gr/

The Gaza Strip

The worst violence I ever saw, 25 years ago, between members of Fatah and the Popular Front. Trying to explain it, it came to my mind the phrase "policy does not solve the problems, but helps in the interpretation." And the story also. Seeing the outrages of the Gaza Strip, will try - political values ​​and I - to explain. Stated the following: I am not a Zionist or anti-Zionist as I earn wages.
One assumption, an office and a little history.
The premise: The easterners were never democratic consciousness and not looked already. Always wanted a strong personality to the command.The premise: You can not ask someone to live like you. When you turn your head, you will still be scratching his nose.
and History:Areas currently represent the Arab world, resulting mostly in the fall of the Ottoman Empire, after the Turkish-Arab war. The powerful forces of the era England - France - and later the U.S., virtually diamelisan the Ottoman Empire, and first de sinora, and in many cases appointed and kings.The borders created in the region after the Ottoman acquisition and colonialism, were drawn with a ruler and therefore not sustainable. As the schemes were established.Created technical states, which then reigned required tyrannical regimes. And when "they disappeared," dominated by violence.The example of Iraq is the most decisive.
Returning to our story. The countries of the region created by the British colonialists and the Revolution of the Arabs against the Ottomans (1914-1916).'Leader of the Arab Revolution was Hussein al-Hashemi (remember Lawrence of Arabia)
Hussein has managed to unite the Arabs, but since expelled the Turks faced rebellion another strong Arab family of Saud, which belonged to the movement Ouachampiton (fanatical Muslims, against the 'tradition of religion. It is the family of bin Laden, hence the similarities with the Evangelicals in the U.S., see my earlier article). The Saud managed to defeat Hussein and the kick (1926), establishing the territories controlled Saudi Arabia, as a theocratic kingdom (1932). (Hence the name of country)Subsequently, the British founded two kingdoms, to exefmenisoun Hussein, giving to the sons. In a given Iraq and another Jordan. In fact the West Bank, after extended beyond the Jordan river.West of the Jordan to the sea were Palestine, which was under British mandate until 1947. The creation of the two kingdoms was a strategic choice of the British, who sought both to unite once Iraq and West Bank, the other to create a theocratic kingdom in Arabia, a dynasty that has Chasemitiki hereditary rights over the holy land of Islam, with very strong historical and religious foundation (for the Arabs and Sunni Muslims everywhere). Taking advantage of Britain multiculturalism and the theocracy, they felt they controlled the entire region, all the oil, one then known deposits existed there and in Texas. So they took except the U.S..In the territories of Palestine in 1947 created two states: Israel and Palestine, kratidia unsustainable. Resulted from a plan trichotomisis Palestine, passed by the General Assembly in 1947. The Decision 181 of the General Assembly provided for the creation of two states and an international protectorate. The Jews accepted the plan that. The Arabs rejected it.
The Arabs never accepted the new status quo.History of the Arab-Israeli wars:
1st: In 1948 the Arabs attacked to dissolve the State of Israel.Israel won and extended the original boundaries. Then the West Bank annexed the West Bank (which was part of the Palestinian state) and transformed into Jordan. In 1970 the PLO (Arafat) attempted to distract violent revolution in the western part of Jordan. The revolt that drowned in blood. He was the notorious 'Black September', with victims in terms Palaistinion multiple valued in the last 50 years of struggle with Israel.
2nd: In 1967 the Arabs started the war to dismantle the State of Israel (War of 6 days). They lost.
3rd: In 1973 the Arabs attacked again (War of Yom Kippur) to get back what they lost territories in 1967. This time, followed the strategy of Alexander the Great, in Granniko. By a coincidence not won, we lost Cyprus.
Who wants to eventually "normalize"? Admit that it won in war, hardly delivered at peace.
- In 1978, the Treaty of Camp David, peacefully returned to Egypt the entire Sinai Peninsula by taking as a "return", the diplomatic recognition from Egypt.- In 1993-94, Israel recognized the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO), the sole consideration to eliminate the statutes of the declared aim of destroying Israel.- In 2000, negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat came close to a complete solution. Israel accepted, then return the entire Gaza Strip and 93% of the West Bank and approached a mutually acceptable solution for the status of Jerusalem.You know it was canceled? Because Israel is begging for one thing: guarantees that the new Palestinian state would give the outset of any future claim. The Palestinians refused.
Who impede Peace? Those who do not want to rearrange the map.The Saudis because they put up with the existing kathestos. The Iranians also do not want it because it will now export only oil and not revolution. The hardline Palestinians do not want it because they seek to destroy Israel, not the creation of a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Jordanians, why should they give space to Palaistinious. Israeli hardliners. Syria does not want it, because it fears that it would limit the role, as a Baathist policemen.
Since Palaistinians and Lebanese are the most progressive cast into the Arab world, everyone is afraid, they could be reach, if solved their problems. Do not forget that at times when the Palestinians were "bourgeois" in the region, the Saudis were nomads.

syrtaki.blogspot.com: New Nobel Prize, new category; Economy Chemist

syrtaki.blogspot.com: New Nobel Prize, new category; Economy Chemist: Capitalism is the economic system where the ownership of the means of production owned by individuals, motivated by the profit generated by...

EU Bailouts


The EU bailouts are not over until
Debt crisis in Europe

In Portugal, the government seems to have enough cash to cover debt repayments this month, but can not find at a reasonable cost of € 10 billion needed in June to meet bond maturities. Bankers shouted - and heard loud-"Basta!"

Practically, to get the money before June requires negotiations to start soon, opera metherminefomenon if efinan after the elections would be too late. On the other hand, there are concerns in Brussels about whether a caretaker government can negotiate the difficult economic conditions that accompany the bailout.There are indications that the main political parties agree to negotiate, possibly under the auspices of President Aníbal Cavaco Silva.

However, digging a little deeper we see that not everything is rosy. Analysts believe that Greece will need more bailout money for a year, even in the unlikely event that satisfies (our country) the objective of the budget. And later, although the government denies the AUA, think they will be forced to restructure its debt.

In Ireland, expected new reliable stress-test banks to stabilize the financial system. But concerns persist, despite the government's assertion that there will be no sale of assets, which also would create new problems for banks - to reduce book value.

If Greece does default, the money will be needed for the recapitalization of banks that currently hold the mountains of the bond is above the limits of European support.

It is assumed that Spain will be able to run away from the crisis.The gap between yields on Spanish bonds and their German has fallen in recent months, reflecting this sentiment. Nevertheless, 10-year Spanish government bonds was at + 5.2% Thursday.And while the actions of Madrid in the past have helped to calm the creditors / purchases, analysts see the main risks in Spain lies elsewhere: in the ability of central government to affect the region. Can the Bank of Spain to find a way to enforce mergers, but how can adversely affect the regional and local authorities responsible for so much magales public spending?

The issue is not to predict disaster, but I just think that there are still many possible points that could lead to a sharp deterioration in the economic climate.

The euro has the tools to stop the crisis from spreading? Steps have been taken, but there is great flexibility with regard to crisis management mechanisms, in order to stem the existing rates. To understand any economics, everything is the trend and not absolute.

Last but not least, the economic situation is not as positive as it was a few months ago. Developments in the Middle East and Japan, energy prices contributed to increased uncertainty. A rise in interest rates from the European Central Bank will be unwelcome shaky banking structures that seek to strengthen their positions (funds).

The largest borrowers of the Federal Reserve. (In the critical period of Lehman's collapse.

Let's see what the Americans did in their 2008 crisis.
The Federal Reserve provided approximately $7.7 trillion  supporting the banking system. See the list below. 
Keep it for reference in the future.
1. Morgan Stanley: $ 107 billion
2. Citigroup Inc. : $ 99.5 billion,
3. Bank of America Corp. : $ 91.4 billion,
4. Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC: $ 84.5 billion,
5. State Street Bank: $ 77.8 billion,
6. UBS AG: $ 77.2 billion
7. Goldman Sachs Group Inc.: $ 69 billion
8. JPMorgan Chase & Co.: $ 68.6 billion,
9. Deutsche Bank AG: $ 66 billion, YES the Germans!
10. Barclays PLC: $ 64.9 billion,
11. Merrill Lynch: $ 62.1 billion,
12. Credit Suisse Group: $ 60.8 billion
13. Dexia SA: $ 58.5 billion,
14. Wachovia Corp.: $ 50 billion,
15. Lehman Brothers Holdings: $ 46 billion,
16. Wells Fargo & Co.: $ 45 billion
17. Bear Stearns: $ 30 billion,
18. BNP Paribas SA: $ 29.3 billion,
19. Hypo Real Estate Bank International AG: $ 28.7 billion,
20. Fortis Bank: $ 26.3 billion,

The American taxpayer will pay the bill.

New Nobel Prize, new category; Economy Chemist


Capitalism is the economic system where the ownership of the means of production owned by individuals, motivated by the profit generated by the exploitation of labor power. Therefore requires stability on creating additional value from the employee to which accrue, to the capitalists. .  

With the constant need to create wealth and the possibilities of production and consumption of finite, sought new funding system power. This started as soon as new global players occurred since the 1980's.We can blame many in the system, but should recognize its ability to anticipate, adapt and survive (so far).
With the core of the system been blocked in the 70's, Capitalism found the way to transfer the gains in office and even capital gains were not created by him. 
First step, from the 60's, with world gold and valuations. Second step, since 1973 (Nixon presidency) with the possibility to exchange paper (U.S. dollars) in gold. Third step (2000), with derivatives, which were transformed into global gambling.

The system is constantly moving away from its essence, now looks more like a casino. Out of every casino, there is a usurer. With the last to fear that one day could not get the money to the victim, always is trying to deliver some oxygen to the victim to continue on one hand the victim his efforts, on the other hand the usurer his profitability. It is a systemic issue that would say Benny.

So when there was a need for new products (virtual), was discovered a week ago a new one. No, it is not the 119th element of the nature. Look what is it. The new generation ETF, active management, offering vigorously exposures in the stock through short selling of shares. You can sell shares in anticipation of falling and objective is to profit if the stock falls and security risk (hedging). I opened my books and counting an addition increase on global GDP, roughly $4.5 trillion from this virtual product. With a benefit to the management of 3%, well in addition to a profit of 150 billion.Nice.