Hague says Gaddafi must go. The US notes they've referred Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court although the US is not a signatory of the ICCthrough fear of how many Americans are guilty of War Crimes

Anyway, away from the Middle East which is only really important to oil companies, and back to where things matter for the world and for us: North Asia. If peace in the Middle East mattered it would have happened years ago. I note that the UK's FM Hague is saying today that Gaddafi must go, so it's not about a NFZ or anything else except about going to war. Savages. They always end up doing far more horrific things and on a grander scale than the bad guys they have to replace could ever have done. This is such a bad and rushed and vicious corporate-oil decision. Who will win the war? BP and France's Total.

Monsters.

War on Libya/Monsters of the Air

America, under Obama, launching another War.


I've just heard a direct radio statement of the UN Security Council with the Chinese committee chairman noting the vote: a No Fly Zone and airstrikes on Libya will go ahead within hours. The vote was 10 countries in favour, none opposed, with China and Russia being 2 of the 5 who abstained from the vote. I really don't like this eagerness to launch another war in yet another oil-rich muslim country, and a No Fly Zone means destroying all Libyan ground and air defence installations and people within miles and miles. It's war. As in Iraq, the freedom-loving Americans and the UK, and the French, oh no, are going to destroy everything apart from the Oil processing plants and the pipelines and all for the good of the poor damn people they kill.The 'world petrol police' are at it again.

The great success of the NFZ and war on Iraq? One million dead Iraqis. Afghanistan? No one counts the bodies anymore but most are under 18 years old.And now Libya...and for their own good.

Monsters of the Air.











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My Thoughts on the China Model and the Future

Whilst many people think that China will one day become democratic, I don't. I think it will develop representational methods that suit China but it will never be like the West and it shouldn't be, because it is China. The massive developments and the dynamic ongoing obliteration of so much human poverty in the last 20 years has happened because it is not like the West. Western Democracies can change their whole ideological vision and policies each 3 or 4 years from one opposite to another so the ability to plan ahead just isn't there...so everything is worked out on what will be popular within 36 month vision. China's success also is due to the character of Chinese people. 60 years ago they had a massive and total revolution through absolute necessity and passion for change and through it they are, as a nation, their own masters and beholding to no other power, nor do they invade other countries to fix their economy. This is an outstanding human achievement on a grand scale. The policy of: ON ECONOMIC MATTERS: relaxed controls; for POLITICAL MATTERS: tight controls; is very effective... because it works. I expect it will be still working well a century from now and will provide great world stability and the greatest benefit will be for China and there's nothing wrong with that at all, because they've earned it...not borrowed it or stolen it. They've made it work.




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The Emperor of Japan

It is very, very rare to see the Emperor of the Chyrsanthemum Throne on TV offering prayer for Japan. This is indicative of a unique and very serious development beyond earthquake and tsunami.

Thai Health Ministry issues Iodine tablets to thais enroute to Japan

Health ministry issues iodine tablets to Thais enroute to Japan





BANGKOK, March 16 - Thailand's Ministry of Public Health will give iodine pills to all Thais travelling to Japan from Thursday at the country's international airports to protect from the radioactivity released from quake-hit Japanese nuclear power plants.






Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said 15,000 iodine pills will be distributed to Thai passengers who will depart for Japan at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports from tomorrow.






Permanent-Secretary for Public Health Dr Paichai Varachit said the country’s newly-set up operations centre on Japan's natural disaster will advise Thai nationals planning to visit northern Japan on staying safe from radiation including regular body and hand washing and avoiding outdoor activities.






Dr Paichit said those who return from Japan must also complete a questionnaire on arrival about their state of health so that they can monitor if and how they have been affected by the radiation crisis there.






The official however asserted that the two measures are introduced for the benefit of the travellers themselves.






Although radiation particles are detected in their bodies, they will not transmit the radioactive iodines to other people, he said.






Meanwhile, the Medical Council of Thailand on Wednesday announced it is recruiting Thai doctors to be dispatched to help earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, but warned the public not to overdose on the iodine tablets.






Council president Amnat Kusalanant said after discussing possible further medical assistance from Thailand with Japanese embassy officials in Bangkok that the council has launched a new website www.tmc.or.th to recruit volunteer Thai doctors to Japan.






Those who want to go there should be able to communicate in Japanese well and now ten Thai doctors have registered for the mission, according to Dr Amnat.






Thailand will also issue a warning on the overuse of iodine pills to prevent radiation particles as Thailand still does not need to use them as it is too far from the affected areas, said the president.






Dr Amnat explained that those who do not get the radiation but take the pills might have an adverse reaction for iodine overdose.






Group Captain Niwat Intravichien from the Directorate of Medical Service, the Royal Thai Air Force, on Wednesday said C130 transport aircraft will depart Thailand for Japan 10pm Thursday to take Thai nationals back home. So far 200 people have informed they want to return home.






The second flight will leave Thailand Friday night, said Gr Capt Niwat, adding the operation is under the supervision of the Thai foreign ministry.






In the latest official figures, the death toll from destructive quake and tsunami mounted to 3,676 and 7,558 people were missing. In Miyagi prefecture alone, some 10,000 are feared dead as it is the hardest-hit area. (MCOT, agencies)

Cambodia sets age limit for foreign husbands

PHNOM PENH, March 16, 2011 (AFP) - Male foreigners over the age of 50 have been outlawed from marrying Cambodian women in the country under new rules designed to crack down on sham marriages and human trafficking, the government said Wednesday.



Foreigners who earn less than $2,550 per month are also barred from wedding local women, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP, but the restrictions do not apply to weddings taking place overseas.



Marriages between old men and young women are "inappropriate", Koy Kuong said, and foreign men who wish to marry nationals must earn a high salary to ensure that "Cambodian women can live a decent life".



"We are preventing fake marriages and human trafficking," he said, adding that the government was aware of cases, documented by rights groups, where Cambodian women were sent into prostitution or "used as slaves" in their husband's home country.



The Cambodian foreign ministry has sent a diplomatic note to all the embassies and consulates in the country informing them of the new regulations, which came into effect on March 1.



Kek Galabru, president of local human rights group Licadho, praised the government's intention to protect Cambodian brides.



But she said the new guidelines "go against Cambodian marriage law and international law" -- specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.



"This is discrimination against women because they will not be allowed to marry men who are over 50... while Cambodian men can marry any foreign woman they choose," she said.



Cambodia imposed a temporary ban on foreign marriages in 2008 to prevent human trafficking, amid concern over a sharp rise in the number of brokered unions involving South Korean men and poor Cambodian women.



That ban followed an International Organisation for Migration report that said many Cambodian brides suffered abuse after moving to South Korea in marriages hastily arranged by brokers who made large profits.



The restriction was lifted about eight months later after new laws were introduced to prevent women becoming mail-order brides.

Tokyo Dangerous

With the spent fuel rods exposed out of water completely & outside the secure containment of Reactor 4, the Fukushima Daiichi danger grows exponentially.
You would not think it possible that after a 9 quake, a tsunami and rolling aftershocks from 4 to 6, that the situation for Japan wasn't already very serious, but the Reactor 4 problem may end up making the quake and tsunami look like quite small and limited problems.