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5.1.12

意外!紅海火山爆發 爆出一個新小島

  2011-12-30
美國太空總署28日公布兩張紅海朱拜爾群島的衛星照片,左圖是2007年10月24日的照片,右圖是2011年12月23日的照片,顯示紅海海底火山爆發,噴出的熔岩在原有的兩座小島之間創造了一座新島嶼。
由於紅海海底火山爆發,在葉門西岸的朱拜爾群島附近,創造了一座新島嶼。根據在附近作業的漁民指出,他們於12月19日看到火山熔岩噴發90呎(約30公尺)高。
數日後美國太空總署(NASA)地球觀測所也證明在魯吉地與海科克島之間,可能已有一座新島浮出海面。
NASA表示,地球觀測1號衛星於12月所拍到的影像中,在原來是海面的位置生出了一塊新的陸地。「島上升起濃濃的煙霧,可能是火山灰與水氣」。這座新島的最高點距海面僅70公尺,附近居民正在為新島命名。
據NASA網站的資料指出,附近原有10座小島,都是因海底火山噴發所創造的。當地是紅海斷層的一部分,將非洲及阿拉伯半島分開。由於距離陸地頗遠,因此海底火山爆發很少被發現。
例如在2007年時,附近也曾有火山爆發,造成8人死亡,並創造了一座新島;還有厄利垂亞與伊索匹亞間的阿發三角火山群,及南葉門與沙烏地阿拉伯火山新生地等。地質一學家擔心如果火山繼續爆發,當地的島嶼可能最後會與陸地相連。
全球每年火山所噴發的熔岩有75%來自海底火山。已知的海底火山便有5千座以上,但現代科技仍很難發現何處的火山爆發。
來源:聯合報

多米尼加共和國6級地震

香港天文台稱,本港時間下午5時35分錄得多米尼加共和國發生6級地震。
天文台表示,地震震中位於北緯18.4度,西經70.3度,即聖多明各西南偏西約43公里處。(即時新聞)
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/多米尼加共和國6級地震-103215950.html

塔利班殺15巴基斯坦士兵

塔利班殺死上月在巴基斯坦西北部挾持的15名巴基斯坦士兵,並宣稱將發動更多報復。
據外電報道,巴基斯坦塔利班發言人5日稱,作為對巴基斯坦軍隊在巴阿邊境地區對塔利班打擊行動的報復,他們已經殺死了15名挾持的巴軍士兵。
「這是針對巴基斯坦部隊在開伯爾打死我們同志的報復行動。」塔利班還宣稱今後會發動更多類似襲擊,「我們不久還將發起針對(巴基斯坦軍隊)其他行動的報復。」
巴基斯坦部隊在西北部開伯爾部落地區及其附近打擊武裝分子的行動已經持續了4年多的時間。
巴軍已經證實發現了15具屍體,這些中槍的屍體明顯帶有被拷打的痕迹。
塔利班武裝去年12月23日在襲擊西北部開伯爾-普什圖省的一處邊檢站時挾持了這15名士兵。還造成至少1名巴安全人員喪生,4人受傷。
塔利班日前曾宣稱,他們將盡量避免綁架或殺害無辜平民,但會繼續發動自殺襲擊,與巴基斯坦安全部隊及其盟友戰鬥下去。此外,他們也將繼續參與在阿富汗的襲擊行動。
巴基斯坦塔利班發言人伊赫桑還說,巴基斯坦塔利班沒有宣布任何停火協議,將來也沒有這種計劃,他們的成員將繼續在巴基斯坦的行動。
他還否認巴基斯坦塔利班正將攻擊目標轉向阿富汗。他說:「對於我們來說,巴基斯坦與阿富汗同樣重要,因此我們不會停止在這里的活動。」
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/塔利班殺15巴基斯坦士兵-084217522.html

日本茨城縣野豬肉放射性銫含量超標

日本茨城縣的野豬肉輻射超標,當局在兩隻捕獲的野豬,驗出放射性銫含量,較每千克五百貝克的上限標準,分別超出40及90貝可,牠們在上月廿八日至元旦日期間,在石岡市捕獲,同時捉到的另外兩隻野豬,就未有超標。有關野豬肉未有流出市面,將會銷毀。

日本政府上月二日,禁止出售茨城縣的野豬肉,但其後准許上月廿一日之後,在石岡市捕獲的野豬出售,條件是必須逐隻檢驗。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/日本茨城縣野豬肉放射性銫含量超標-092600627.html

歐巴馬將公布美軍精實戰略

(法新社華盛頓4日電) 官員說,美國總統歐巴馬明天將視察國防部,並公布修正後的美軍戰略;這項軍事戰略反映出國防支出進入節約的年代,且美國將更關注中國大陸可能帶來的威脅。
美國五角大廈的「國防戰略檢討」預料將擘畫美軍在財政壓力下的道路。因為歐巴馬政府準備在未來10年再削減4500億美元的支出。
白宮今天發表聲明,這項檢討「將指導預算應該花在哪些優先項目上,以及推動施政的決策」。
歐巴馬將由國防部長潘內達(Leon Panetta)與參謀首長聯席會議主席鄧普西(Martin Dempsey)陪同。他們之前已經矢言,即使計畫削減支出,仍將維持美軍優勢。
在充斥政治的選舉年,美國官員一直希望塑造歐巴馬的國防支出政策是謹慎且經過深思熟慮的形象,而且許多官員堅稱,削減國防支出都經過部隊指揮官檢討戰略後決定。
官員與分析家說,這項檢討將要求以海空軍對付中國與伊朗的威脅,同時放棄需要大批地面部隊且漫長的反叛亂作戰。
要求匿名的國防部官員告訴法新社,這項戰略呼應潘內達與其他高級官員稍早主張的:建立規模較小且更靈活的部隊,增強美軍在亞洲的重要性,同時在中東派駐大批海軍軍力。
這名官員說,根據這項計畫,美軍應該準備好,嚇阻伊朗不要封鎖波斯灣重要的石油運輸海道,同時對抗中國宰制南海國際海域的動作。
官員說,預料這項新戰略將揚棄美軍同時發動2場戰爭的主義。美國防部內部一直在討論要不要改變這種政策。
取而代之的是,美國將準備好打1場戰爭,同時在另一個地方展開阻擊戰,以阻止發生第2場戰爭。
2001年之前,美國防部的準備是同時打2場戰爭,但指揮官在打阿富汗與伊拉克戰爭時發現這樣兵員會不足。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/歐巴馬將公布美軍精實戰略-023503577.html

波音明年擬關閉軍用機廠

世界上最大的飛機公司波音公司4日宣布,計劃於2013年年底之前,關閉公司在堪薩斯州威奇托的軍用飛機廠。

波音公司防務、航天和安全部門負責飛機維修、改造和升級事務的副總裁兼總經理巴斯說,計劃關閉這家軍用飛機廠的原因是,由於美國防預算大幅削減,該軍用飛機廠原有的訂單基本完工,新訂單日益枯竭。

巴斯說,根據最新的產業重組和裁員計劃,威奇托波音工廠此前承擔的飛機維修、改造和支持任務,將改由德克薩斯州的聖安東尼奧波音工廠承擔;工程設計任務將改由俄克拉何馬城的波音工廠承擔。威奇托波音工廠將從2012年第三季度開始裁員。該廠將於2013年底關閉。

根據美國總統奧巴馬簽署的國防預算法案,2012年度,美國防務預算總額為6620億美元,較2011年度至少削減了380億美元。未來10年美國防務預算有可能每年削減500億美元。

波音公司從1929年起在堪薩斯州威奇托設軍用飛機廠,二戰期間該軍用飛機廠一度僱用4萬人,鼎盛時期每天出廠4架轟炸機。此後的40多年裏,該軍用飛機廠一直是當地的支柱產業,對當地的經濟發展和就業貢獻最大。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/波音明年擬關閉軍用機廠-024500771.html

喪屍蚤蠅滅絕蜂群

全球各地連續多年不斷發生大批蜜蜂離奇死亡,科學家致力研究仍未能找到這個被稱為蜂群衰竭失調 (Colony collapse disorder,CCD)現象的成因。美國生物學家最近發現,一種「喪屍蒼蠅」會在蜜蜂體內寄生產卵,並支配牠們的行為,最終令牠們死亡,危害人類食物 鏈。
自○六年起在全球多個地方出現CCD現象,確切原因未明。三藩市州立大學生物教授哈費爾尼克發現,過去已證實會寄生於大黃蜂體內的一種蚤蠅(Apocephalus borealis),亦會在蜜蜂的體內寄生。
蚤蠅會在蜜蜂肚內產卵,並干擾牠們的生理時鐘、方向感及行為,令牠們如喪屍般失去自主能力,出現在夜間活動、不斷打圈爬行及無法站起來等奇怪徵狀。
被蚤蠅寄生的蜜蜂最終會不由自主地離開蜂巢,到有光的地方聚集並死亡,蜜蜂死後約七天,蚤蠅幼蟲便會在蜜蜂屍體的頭及胸部之間爬出。

解開多年謎團

這 些蜜蜂和蚤蠅體內多數攜有一種會損害翅膀的病毒,及一種稱為東方蜜蜂微孢子蟲(Nosema ceranae)的真菌,它們都可能是導致CCD的病源體,暗示CCD或與蚤蠅有關,這或能為蜜蜂死亡謎團提供多一個解釋。由於研究員還未知道蚤蠅何時何 地肆虐,仍未有方法阻止牠們在蜜蜂身上寄生。
雖然哈費爾尼克暫時只在加州及南達科他州的蜂巢上發現蚤蠅的蹤迹,他認為這種寄生蒼蠅對蜜蜂來說,是一種新出現又嚴重的威脅,或會危害到整個北美洲的蜂群。

全球各地多年來不斷有大批蜜蜂離奇死亡。圖為蜂農檢查蜂巢。(資料圖片)

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20120105/00423_001.html

北美首現禍延全球蜂群衰竭失調致死

蜂群衰竭失調(CCD)是指大量蜜蜂突然集體死亡的不正常現象,○六年在北美開始出現,目前已蔓延至 歐亞多國,受影響蜜蜂數以億計。CCD的成因眾說紛紜,包括全球暖化、手機輻射干擾導致蜜蜂導航系統錯亂、病毒和真菌令蜜蜂消化及營養不良而死、殺蟲劑令 蜜蜂抵抗力降低及神經中毒等。
界定蜂群是否受到CCD影響的條件包括:蜂巢內沒有任何完全成熟的蜜蜂,只有少量或完全沒有蜜蜂屍骸;蜂巢內只有蜜蜂幼蟲;蜂巢內有花粉或蜂蜜積存等。
http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20120105/00423_003.html

美國批准基因食品改造食物上市

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Wholesale Approval of Genetically Engineered Foods

Obama Administration Disappoints/Angers Public: Agent Orange Herbicide Ingredient Would be Widely Used in Agriculture

Would you eat food from this farmer?
WISCONSIN - Over the holidays, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its approval of a novel strain of genetically engineered corn, developed by Monsanto, purportedly being “drought tolerant.”

Despite receiving nearly 45,000 public comments in opposition to this particular genetically engineered (GE) corn variety (and only 23 comments in favor), the Obama administration gave Monsanto the green light to release its newest GE corn variety freely into the environment and American food supply, without any governmental oversight or safety tracking.

“President Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack just sent a clear message to the American public that they do not care about our concerns with genetically engineered food and their questionable safety, adverse environmental impacts, and detrimental effects on farmers, especially organic farmers,” says Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst with The Cornucopia Institute.

“This is just the latest in a string of approvals of genetically engineered crops, and it is clear that despite campaign promises of change from Obama, he has not had the courage to stand strong against the powerful agribusiness and biotechnology lobbies,” Kastel added.


In addition to its announcement approving Monsanto’s newest GE corn variety, the USDA also opened a 60-day public comment period for two additional petitions – one for Monsanto’s GE soybean containing higher levels of an omega-3 fatty acid, that does not naturally occur in soybeans, and the other from Dow AgroSciences for corn that has been genetically engineered to better resist the poisonous herbicide 2,4-D.

The public can comment on Dow's 2,4-D corn at:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0103-0001

While the USDA attempts to assure the public that 2,4-D is safe, scientists have raised serious concerns about the safety of this herbicide, which was used as a key ingredient in “Agent Orange,” used to defoliate forests and croplands in the Vietnam War.

2,4-D is a chlorophenoxy herbicide, and scientists around the world have reported increased cancer risks in association with its use, especially for soft tissue sarcoma and malignant lymphoma. Four separate studies in the United States reported an association with chlorophenoxy herbicide use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"The concern is that, just like Monsanto's genetically engineered corn that is resistant to RoundUp™ (glyphosate) herbicide, the approval of a cultivar resistant to 2,4-D will cause an exponential increase in the use of this toxic agrichemical," Kastel stated.

Research by the EPA found that babies born in counties with high rates of 2,4-D application to farm fields were significantly more likely to be born with birth defects of the respiratory and circulatory systems, as well as defects of the musculoskeletal system like clubfoot, fused digits and extra digits. These birth defects were 60% to 90% more likely in counties with higher 2,4-D application rates.

The results also showed a higher likelihood of birth defects in babies conceived in the spring, when herbicide application rates peak.

In its petition, Dow AgroSciences states that 2,4-D is increasingly important for chemical farmers because of the presence of weeds that have developed resistance to glyphosate, as a result of the widespread use of Monsanto’s genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant crops.

When Monsanto introduced glyphosate, it was touted as a safer and less toxic alternative to herbicides like 2,4-D. Now, an emerging body of scientific literature is raising serious concerns about the safety of glyphosate as well.

“The concern that the use of GE crops, which are resistant to particular herbicides, leads to the creation of 'superweeds' is now shown to be valid and serious, as even the chemical companies now recognize and admit this is a problem,” says Kastel.

“In 2012 the USDA is proposing approving a new GE corn variety that is resistant to a different toxic herbicide, escalating the toxic treadmill in chemical-dependent agriculture,” said Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides. “This is nothing more than a band-aid solution to a serious problem, and will only give rise to more superweeds, more herbicide pollution in our environment, more herbicide poisoning, while likely leading to the need for even more toxic herbicides a couple of years down the line. This foolish circle has to end,” Feldman said.

Farm research groups like The Cornucopia Institute are also concerned with the impact of genetically engineered crops on organic farmers, whose organic crops are already at risk of contamination with Monsanto’s unnatural DNA, from pollen drift.

In its Environmental Assessment of the “drought tolerant” Monsanto corn, the USDA conceded that gene flow of corn pollen is likely to occur. It is well-established that corn pollen travels, and pollen from genetically engineered plants will contaminate natural corn plants.

“The irony, of course, is that organic fields and crops are much more drought tolerant, because common sense and field trials show healthy and biologically active organic soil retains moisture much better than tired and depleted soil on conventional monoculture farms, and organic crops are healthier and more robust than conventional crops,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, a researcher at Cornucopia.

“But Monsanto cannot profit from healthy soil and healthy organic crops, while they can profit from genetically engineering, patenting, and owning new life forms,” Vallaeys continued. “It’s unfortunate that the Obama administration is equally misguided by supporting Monsanto and Dow’s petitions and ignoring citizens' demand for an immediate end to approving these genetically engineered crops in our food supply.”

The newest genetically engineered soybean petitioned by Monsanto is one of the first to claim a public health benefit, since it has been engineered to contain higher levels of an omega-3 fatty acid, stearidonic acid.

“Genetically engineering a ubiquitous monoculture crop to contain higher levels of just one particular nutrient will not solve our public health crisis, and might even exacerbate it, since a healthy diet is about much more than simply increasing the levels of one particular omega-3 fatty acid,” said Vallaeys. “It’s another band-aid solution that will do little to address the root of the problem with our nation’s “nutrition” problem, which is people eating too many processed foods containing corn and soybean derivatives, and not eating a varied diet of nutrient-rich wholesome foods.”

The USDA surveyed 43 foods and compared their nutritional content in 1999 to original testing that took place in 1950. Half of the nutrients measured declined by 6 to 38%. "Industrial agriculture, as compared to organics, have relegated our diets to a lot of empty calories," Vallaeys added.

On the campaign trail in 2007, the President said that genetically modified foods should be labeled because Americans “should know what they are buying.”

Despite promises of change, Mr. Obama appointed former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as USDA Secretary, who had gained notoriety in agricultural circles after being named Governor of the Year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Obama subsequently appointed two pro-GMO agrochemical company lobbyists to powerful positions in his administration. Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto lobbyist, became food czar at the Food and Drug Administration. Islam Siddiqui, a lifelong pesticide lobbyist and GMO advocate, was appointed Chief Agricultural Negotiator.

These appointments revealed the tight grip that Monsanto and other biotech corporations have on elected officials, and raised further doubts regarding the promises for change by the current administration.

Adding insult to injury, the Obama USDA’s timing for announcing notices related to genetic engineering mirrors the Bush administration's approach of burying the news and actively discouraging public participation. The FDA declared GMO salmon was safe, on the Friday before the long Labor Day weekend in 2010.

Then the USDA made their highly controversial decision to deregulate GMO alfalfa during the busy holiday season of 2010. Their decision is being challenged by The Cornucopia Institute, Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety and scores of other plaintiffs in federal court.

More recently, the announcement that Monsanto’s newest genetically engineered corn had been deregulated, and that Monsanto and Dow had petitioned for additional approval of GMO corn and soybeans, came the week between Christmas and the New Year Day holiday.

"When attempting to bury controversial news, it's not uncommon for the government to issue press releases on days when the public isn't paying attention and the news media is on vacation," noted Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel. "The Bush administration did the same thing when announcing that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) had entered the domestic food chain."

Citizens can comment on the proposed approval of Dow’s 2,4-D tolerant corn and Monsanto’s stearidonic acid soybeans until February 27, 2012.

An online petition opposing Dow's 2,4-D corn variety, which will be sent to President Obama and Secretary Vilsack, can be signed here.

CONTACT: Cornucopia Institute
Mark Kastel
Email: kastel@cornucopia.org

The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit farm policy research group, is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Their Organic Integrity Project acts as a corporate and governmental watchdog assuring that no compromises to the credibility of organic farming methods and the food it produces are made in the pursuit of profit. Their web page can be viewed at www.cornucopia.org
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/01/wholesale-approval-of-genetically.html

有趣:金字塔其實是特斯拉塔(Tesla Towers)?

INTERESTING: Were the Pyramids Actually Tesla Towers?

美國和北約在全球的征途上 - 第二部分

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

U.S. and NATO are on the march worldwide – part II

Madison Ruppert, Contributing Writer
Activist Post

Recently I wrote a relatively exhaustive article on the geopolitical maneuvering being carried out by the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is now engaging in activities far beyond that which it was created to do.

This is part two of what will likely become a long-running series covering these global developments and the implications thereof.

Unfortunately, most of the news is presented in bite-sized portions which purposefully do not connect the clearly relevant events in order to present the average reader with a better understanding of what it all means, which is exactly why I’m writing these articles in an attempt to counter this method of disinformation. This disjointed method of presenting information allows for compartmentalization and an artificial separation of issues which are all clearly part of a greater trend.

It now appears that the West – and thus the United States and NATO at the forefront – is attempting to isolate a group of countries that includes as the most major constituents Russia and China.

This is being done through a multi-pronged approach which lends itself to being hidden under the guise of random events and developments that are not officially related.

Of course, once one aggregates all of these issues as I have done, it becomes quite clear that they are all indeed part of a greater push around the world.

This includes a significantly greater presence in the Asia-Pacific region to stifle China and/or goad the large nation into engaging in hostilities over the South China Sea dispute, which would justify a brutal Western assault.


“In 2008 our enemy [Russia] thought that [Georgia] was leveled to the ground, but in recent years an opinion has been firmly established throughout the entire post-Soviet space – in Ukraine, in Central Asia, among our neighbors and even in Russia – that Georgia is an absolute leader in terms of carrying out reforms and fighting corruption,” Georgian President Saakashvili said.

Saakashvili also touched on the prospect of Georgia becoming a full member in the EU, although Civil Georgia’s coverage makes no mention of NATO.

Saakashvili stated that in 2011 “everyone in the European Union seriously started [saying] that Georgia should become in following years [a] full-fledged member of the EU and this is a real geopolitical revolution.”

Indeed it would be a huge boon for the West to bring Georgia into the EU and NATO, while exerting more control over the nation and leveraging its strategic position near Russia, along with putting Georgia into increased receivership and dependence.

China’s Xinhua also recently published a piece speculating about the South Caucuses being a spot in which another crisis could emerge, especially seeing that will likely serve as a pipeline after Western troops (supposedly) leave Iraq.

Azerbaijan

The Georgian integration dovetails with the efforts to bring Azerbaijan into the sphere of the United States and thus NATO along with the rest of Eastern Europe.

Azerbaijan is also becoming increasingly chummy with the Western powers, most notably the United States, which is inseparable from NATO and NATO from it.

According to Trend, both the Azerbaijanis and NATO have endorsed the third stage of a pact which was first signed in 2005.

The third stage of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, or IPAP, between NATO and the small country of Azerbaijan, relatively close to Russia, covers cooperation between the alliance and the Azerbaijani government throughout 2012 and 2013.

Trend states that the IPAP covers four sections but then lists a great deal more than four issues which the agreement covers.

The sections they list are: politics and security, defense and military issues, public information, civil emergency planning, science and environmental issues, administrative issues, security of information, resources and legal issues, which seems pretty comprehensive in scope.

Given that phase one and two of the IPAP have already been successfully implemented, it is only logical to assume that stage three will be similar, especially since Trend says that the first two phases “were highly appreciated at various levels by NATO officials.”

Azerbaijan is far from alone in having an IPAP in place in the region, indeed the alliance is pushing for increased integration with most of Eastern Europe in order to further encircle Russia and strengthen regional ties.

Currently the following nations have IPAPs implemented (in order of signing from earliest to most recent): Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in 2008.

It was also announced by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s press service on December 30 that Azerbaijan and the United States will be holding bilateral military consultations on January 12-13.

These meetings will be held in Washington and the issues being discussed are not public according to the Azeri-Press Agency (APA).

This begs the question: what is being discussed that is too sensitive to publicize? If it is just matters surrounding the third phase of the IPAP, surely these matters should be public given that they involve the people of both Azerbaijan and America alike?

Even if the meeting is totally innocent and the subjects being discussed are harmless, it is surely going to do little to allay Russia’s concerns when a nearby nation is engaging in closed-door discussions with the United States, especially if the discussions touch on the ABM system.

Oddly enough, the APA reported on the Commander in Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard Myles Deering’s visit to Azerbaijan last December.

In an interview Deering stated that he had met with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, noting, “we have a lot of similarities. That is the reason why Oklahoma [is] a partner of Azerbaijan. Because Azerbaijan has the oil and natural resources as [does] Oklahoma.”

It is quite clear that the United States is pushing to integrate Azerbaijan tightly into the NATO framework, even if just under the guise of the IPAP.

Japan-India-Philippines-Australia

The majority of the previous installment was spent discussing the intricate web of relations in the Asia-Pacific region that is bringing together the United States with Japan, India and Australia.

These ties are all multilateral and complex but all are indeed troubling to those who relish peace, along with those whose objections might not be so pure of heart, like China – which is far from a guilt-free nation when it comes to these dastardly machinations.

The state-run media out of China has been expressing some serious concerns over the decision to lift the self-imposed Japanese ban on the arms trade and the increasingly tight integration of the Japanese and Indian militaries.

Not to mention the fact that Australia will be providing nuclear materials to India – a factor I covered in the previous installment, which you truly must read if you have yet to do so – and the American military presence in the region is getting a major upgrade.

There are also concerns over Japanese arms experts to the Philippines, which also just received a patrol vessel from the United States Coast Guard to be deployed in a region relatively close to the disputed South China Sea.

As I previously said, while there are regions of the Philippines that are closer than Palawan Island where it is being deployed, the ship is capable of carrying out a month-long mission so travel to the South China Sea would be no problem.

However, currently it is patrolling the rich Malampaya Oil Fields and other areas to the west of the Palawan province, although this is not likely to make China too happy even if it is totally innocuous.

Liu Jianyong, a man described as an expert on Japan studies at Tsinghua University, points out that the lifting of the arms ban allows for the export of arms to Japan’s neighbors and allies which will at first be done under the auspices of maritime security.

“But offensive weapons may eventually enter the picture, because that’s the only way to fuel its indigenous defense industry,” he said.

This is quite true as like every industry, the market needs to continue to expand in order for profit to grow and once the need for all defense maritime security equipment is met, there will still need to be more sales.

Therefore, it is only logical that Japanese contractors, like their American counterparts, will continue to create equipment even though there is actually no real need for it.

Liu states that in the long-term this Japanese policy shift will prove to be detrimental for China, especially when the inevitable maritime disputes arise.

“When these countries engage in maritime disputes with China – that’s when the impact of this policy may come to affect us,” he said.

It isn’t too hard to understand why China might see themselves as a potential target of the rapidly developing partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, which will likely serve to increase the already significant tensions.

Zhao Gancheng, the director of the South Asia research department at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, stated that Indian-Japanese arms trade may indeed make tensions even stronger in the region because of China’s status as a potential – if not likely – target.

Zhao sees this as a contradiction because while Japan “wants to counter china by linking with countries such as the US, India and Australia … it is aware of the fact that Sino-Japanese relations are a prerequisite for its quest to become a normal country.”

“So personally, I think the policy is itself contradictory,” Zhao added.

Zhao’s point was underlined by the announcement on December 26 that China and Japan have agreed to begin direct trading of their currencies, although chances are that Zhao is attempting to say that the Japanese are being contradictory but not the Chinese.

It was also said that Japan would be applying to buy Chinese bonds in 2012 after Japanese Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

This seemingly oxymoronic relationship is quite interesting, seeing that Japan seems to be drawing military and diplomatic support from one side, while increasing economic ties on the other while the relationships are ostensibly contradictory.

This is one of the many cases that makes me wonder if all of this geopolitical maneuvering very well might be pure theatrics in an attempt to distract the public from the fact that the most powerful nations of the world are in fact working together towards total economic hegemony due to the ruling elite in all nations having the same interests.

Of course, this is pure speculation and the growing tension in the region does have all the hallmarks of a real conflict in the making.

Then again, the defense industry requires perpetual war, so it very well might be the case that the powers controlling the governments of these nations are pushing their countries towards war, while making sure that their economic hegemony remains unchallenged in order to ensure future profits.

Afghanistan-Pakistan (often referred to as AfPak or Af-Pak)

Relations between Pakistan and NATO are, to say the least, unstable at this point. While the strain is nothing quite new, it has become considerably worse after NATO aircraft invaded Pakistani airspace and killed 24 Pakistani troops on November 26.

This led to the Pakistanis demanding that the Shamsi military base be vacated and a complete halt on drone strikes, along with restrictions on the transfer of military supplies which contributed to a $400/gal. price tag on gasoline in Afghanistan, which of course the American taxpayer is put on the hook for.

This is evidenced by the Pakistani refusal to allow new American drone bases on their sovereign territory.

This is leaving the United States searching for more locations in central Asia and Afghanistan from which to launch their deadly drones.

Currently the United States is operating seven drone bases in Pakistan, one of which is run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while the rest are joint operations between the Army, Air Force and Navy.

Anonymous officials have stated that the United States is currently considering additional covert military bases in central Asia in order to continue the controversial drone strikes in Pakistan against alleged militants.

However, it appears that they are meeting some resistance as the Central Asian Republics (CARs) have reportedly refused to allow bases to be built due to pressure from Russia.

It seems quite likely that this will act as yet another issue which weighs on the strained ties between NATO and Russia, as it has become clear that the West truly does not appreciate any opposition whatsoever, no matter how legitimate it may be.

The drone program in Pakistan has killed an estimated 3,659 people since 2004, including civilians and suspected militants.

In 2011 alone, 78 attacks killed about 607 people and 306 strikes have occurred since 2004 according to the Conflict Monitoring Center (CMC), a think tank based out of Islamabad, Pakistan which monitors conflict scenarios in South Asia.

The numbers provided by the Long War Journal are slightly different and are broken down in more detail at the link cited.

Abdullah Khan, the director of the CMC told Pakistan’s The Nation that the American drone program is “not as convenient and easy as it used to be. There are too many operational constraints involved in launching drone strikes from Khost compared to Shamsi.”

“Secondly, given that Pakistan has completely disrupted intelligence sharing on drones, it’s next to impossible for them (CIA) to continue with drones here,” Khan added.

The Khost provincial government spokesman Mubarez Zadran expressed ignorance as to the presence of covert military bases for drones in the province, which The Nation rightly points out is “something nobody would want to speak on,” given the thick veil of secrecy under which they operate.

Similarly, the United States embassy in Islamabad and NATO do not officially comment on the CIA’s drone program and NATO’s officials in Afghanistan deny any involvement with drone strikes in Pakistan.

Russia continues to disagree with the sustained presence of the United States and NATO in Afghanistan, and it looks unlikely that it is going to change any time soon if the loya jirga in November is any indication.

The Nation reports that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s October visit to Pakistan came on the heels of “a secretive agreement on drones as part of the renewed military Pak-US cooperation after a spree of hostility.”

“Unearthed by The Nation on October 22nd, the agreement envisaged resumption of intelligence cooperation between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and CIA for hunting down the militants on both sides of the border,” they added.

There is also the matter of strategic partnerships between Afghanistan and the European nations of England, France and Italy.

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet announced that French armed forces would remain in Afghanistan post-2014 yesterday with Pajhwok Afghan News reporting that strategic agreements with England and Italy were also announced by Janan Musazai, the spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Musazai stated that more discusses regarding the proposed Afghan-American strategic agreement needed to be held, while Pajhwok Afghan News points out that the accord was discussed originally at the loya jirga almost two months ago.

“The delegates gave a conditional green signal to the agreement allowing the Americans to establish military bases in Afghanistan,” they report.

The mainstream Western media has been conspicuously silent on this and continues to pretend that the rapidly approaching date of 2014 will be honored by any of the major players, which is a wholly laughable assertion.

As is the case with Japan’s security ties pulling one way and economic ties with China pulling in another, it appears that Afghanistan is attempting to balance their relations with the United States with Iran and other nations with seemingly opposing interests like Russia and China.

This was highlighted by the deal with Europe’s contrast with the fuel agreement between Afghanistan and Iran and the recent Afghan oil deal with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC).

It is also quite interesting that the United States just acquired the “Avenger” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drone, which is being billed as the largest and fasted hunter-killer drone ever, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., the same company behind the MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers.

This is odd given that drone operations in Pakistan are seemingly going to become more difficult, although it could very well be flying out of one of the many new secret drone bases which will be used to launch incursions into Somalia and Yemen and possibly other locales.

There is also the worrisome possibility that the so-called Predator C could be used against us here at home given that the domestic use of drones is increasing at a disturbing pace.

However, I find this highly unlikely given that the newest model evades radar, travels at 460 miles per hour and can carry a payload of up to 15,800 pounds which translates to a great deal of firepower.

The expansion of the drone program both inside and outside the United States is troubling for me and many others due to the fact that there are actually civilians in the so-called “kill chain” and drone pilots can be operating up to four drones at once with little training compared to traditional aircraft.

Drone pilots require less than 25% of the training that normal pilots receive, 44 hours instead of 200 to be exact.

There is also the matter of the immense number of personnel required to run the drones. Keeping a Predator in the air for 24 hours requires a whopping 168 people, while the Global Hawk needs 300, according to the Air Force.

This is quite a large figure compared to the 100 personnel required for a mission on with an F-16 fighter jet, although the Los Angeles Times doesn’t make it clear if that is also for a 24-hour period or for a shorter mission.

The constant expansion of the drone program defies logic yet is unquestioned, for the same reason that I discussed earlier in the case of Japan.

The so-called defense contractors need to make money, and in order to do so they need to continue to receive government funds which can only be done by providing a product.

This requires perpetual conflict and a war with no end, which is exactly what the “War on Terror” happens to be.

The expansion of NATO and Western hegemony is not an issue that is going away any time soon and thus I will have no choice but to continue to cover this as much as possible.

All of the geopolitical rumblings we are witnessing at this point seem to be pointing in one direction: conflict. There is an undeniable trend towards encircling China and Russia, isolating them while of course continuing to do business.

I cannot be sure if all of this is purely superficial, or if there is actually a fundamental schism between the West along with the nations being swallowed up by its influence and nations like Russia, China and Iran; or, if it is just being done to continue to manufacture a need for one of the world’s most profitable industries: war.

I need feedback and information to continue to write these articles as best as possible, so if you have anything to share please do not hesitate to contact me at Admin@EndtheLie.com with anything and everything you have.

This article first appeared at End the Lie

Madison Ruppert is the Editor and Owner-Operator of the alternative news and analysis database End The Lie and has no affiliation with any NGO, political party, economic school, or other organization/cause. He is available for podcast and radio interviews. If you have questions, comments, or corrections feel free to contact him at admin@EndtheLie.com
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/01/us-and-nato-are-on-march-worldwide-part.html

俄發射失敗探測器將墜地球

俄羅斯發射失敗的火星探測器「火衛-土壤」的殘骸,將於1月15日墜落地球表面。

「火衛-土壤」於11月9日從哈薩克斯坦拜科努爾航天發射場發射升空,但因主發動機沒按時啟動,令探測器留在近低軌道上。

俄聯邦太空總署此前稱,「火衛一-土壤」探測器落在地球表面的碎片估計有20至30個,總重量不超過200公斤,有毒物質將全部燒盡。

「火衛-土壤」探測器搭載有中國首個火星探測器「螢火一號」。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/俄發射失敗探測器將墜地球-141218073.html

美單方制裁伊朗 大陸反對

(法新社北京4日電) 美國總統歐巴馬日前簽署法案,使制裁伊朗中央銀行新措施生效,中國大陸今天表
示,反對「單方面」制裁伊朗,美國、英國和加拿大去年11月即說,準備對伊朗實施更多制裁,因為證據指伊朗追求研發核武。中國大陸外交部發言人洪磊在答覆有關美國制裁伊朗的提問時說:「中國反對任何國家將其國內法置於國際法之上,並片面對其他國家施加制裁。」(譯者:中央社許宏裕)
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/美單方制裁伊朗-大陸反對-165003861.html

美計畫裁減數萬地面部隊

(路透華盛頓4日電)美國財政緊縮之際,熟知計畫的美國官員今天說,歐巴馬政府明天將公布「更切合實際」的美軍未來發展道路,同時計畫削減數萬地面部隊兵力,並投入更多資源到空軍與海軍。

官員說,加上美國防部預算成長減慢,這項美國安全利益的戰略檢討,也將強調美國在亞洲的能見度,整體上對於歐洲、非洲與拉丁美洲的關注會比較少。

雖然明天不會公布確切的預算削減與裁軍數字,官員向路透社證實,陸軍與陸戰隊未來10年將裁員10%至15%,相當於裁減數萬名士兵。

這項戰略檢討最大的改變是接受美國即使擁有全球最多的軍事預算,都無法負擔同時打1場以上大型戰爭所需的地面部隊。美國防部數十年來預算決策的中心思想是「同時打2場戰爭並要求全部取勝」的所謂「win-win戰略」,最新的檢討放棄這項戰略。

美國戰略變成「贏-阻撓」,讓美軍可以打一場戰爭並阻止或妨礙另一場衝突。這個計畫還包括認知到,如果白宮要與其他國家開戰,將需要加強取得民眾支持,並在必要時大幅仰賴後備軍人與國民兵。

官員解釋白宮這項戰略檢討:「利比亞的例子可以證明,沒必要一直維持地面部隊。」

這名官員補充說:「我們讓戰略更加完善,更切合實際需要。」

美國總統歐巴馬明天將在國防部協助公布這項檢討,預料他將強調美國防預算一直在成長且將繼續增加,只是成長速度變慢。

歐巴馬政府消息人士說,駐歐美軍編制,包括現在派駐阿富汗的兵員,也將大幅減少。他強調,最終員額尚未確定。

官員說:「部分陸軍旅開始撤離阿富汗時,基本上他們就是解編。」

由於財政緊縮籠罩歐洲聯盟,許多美國在北大西洋公約組織的重要夥伴也將面臨國防預算大幅削減的情況。

歐巴馬可能面臨國防鷹派國會議員的批評,其中有許多人是在野的共和黨人,他們將質疑歐巴馬對於維持美軍軍力的承諾。

國防部長潘內達(Leon Panetta)與參謀首長聯席會議主席鄧普西(Martin Dempsey)將在歐巴馬演說後召開記者會,公布這項檢討案。歐巴馬的談話預料將強調,有必要在國家預算吃緊時,控制支出。

白宮發言人卡尼(Jay Carney)說,國防支出削減源自於8月債務上限協議,應該謹慎為之。債務上限協議規定,10年內削減支出4890億美元。

卡尼本週告訴記者:「總統清楚地告訴執政團隊,我們必須嚴格檢討國防支出,確保削減支出沒有過與不及,並符合我們首要施政項目。」

潘內達今天下午大部分時間都在向國會領袖簡報這項檢討案。眾議院軍事委員會資深民主黨籍議員史密斯(Adam Smith)與潘內達談過之後說,這項檢討案目的在評估美國未來戰略先後順序,而不是確定預算削減金額。

史密斯說,繼續在歐洲及亞洲派駐大量部隊,特別是為了對付伊朗與北韓,是這個檢討的首要之務。因此確保軍人獲得充分照顧,才能保證這支全志願役的部隊能夠發揮戰力。

美國防部發言人柯比(John Kirby)說,隨著美軍結束阿富汗與伊拉克戰爭,重新評估海外美軍角色是恰當的。

他今天說:「從作戰的角度來看,檢討美軍現在的作為,以及未來10至15年應有作為,與應該準備擁有什麼樣的能力,現在的時間是恰當的。」

柯比說:「因此,是的,預算遭到削減確實是進行檢討的原因,但坦白說,是目前的事件驅使我們展開檢討。」中央社(翻譯)
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/美計畫裁減數萬地面部隊-014600177.html

伊朗:永不放棄鈾濃縮活動

伊朗外交部發言人梅赫曼帕拉斯特4日在接受新華社記者專訪時說,伊朗永遠不會放棄鈾濃縮活動。

梅赫曼帕拉斯特說:「我們國家永遠不會放棄鈾濃縮活動……伊朗的核計劃完全出於和平目的,這是我們的基本權利之一。」

他說,伊朗隨時準備重啟核談判,但相關各方應當與伊朗坐下來商量並確定三點,即談判時間、談判地點和談判內容。

伊朗首席核談判代表賈利利2011年9月曾致信歐盟外交和安全政策高級代表阿什頓,表示「伊朗已準備好與伊核問題有關各方就共同話題進行談判,伊朗(以往)的立場未發生任何改變」。

伊朗常駐國際原子能機構代表蘇丹尼耶上月20日說,伊朗已邀請國際原子能機構核查人員參觀伊朗核設施。

伊朗與美國、英國、法國、俄羅斯、中國和德國六國的最近一輪核談判2011年1月22日在土耳其伊斯坦布爾結束。由於雙方在鈾濃縮等問題上存在根本分歧,會談未取得實質性成果。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/伊朗-永不放棄鈾濃縮活動-003225487.html

加漢iPad當護照過境美國

(綜合報道)(星島日報報道)美國蘋果公司出產的平板電腦iPad用途廣泛,甚至可以用來充當護照,順利過關。一名男子較早時從加拿大進入美國時,發現忘了帶護照,他向關員出示iPad,裏面儲存了預先掃描的護照副本,關員網開一面,批准他入境。

  三十三歲加拿大男子馬丁•賴斯說,他上周從魁北克家中出發,拿一批聖誕禮物到美國送給朋友的孩子。當他距離美加邊界大約半小時車程時,才發現忘記帶護照。如果他折回寓所取護照的話,要花兩小時,他後來決定直接去邊境。

  預先掃描護照

  馬丁說:「我當時心裏想,最低限度試一試。」去到出入境關卡時,他把情況如實告訴關員。該名關員顯得有點生氣,但仍接受他的解釋,並讓他開着iPad出示預先掃描的加拿大護照副本,並以駕駛執照核實身分,最後批准他入境。

  馬丁謂:「他取走了我的iPad,研究了五、六分鐘。當他回來時,又靜默了一段時間,最後祝我聖誕快樂,批准我入境。」

  美國海關及出入境事務局規定,只接受加拿大人出示正本護照、升級版駕駛執照或Nexus通行證,方可入境,但從來沒有提到會接受掃描或影印副本。

  他當天在美國辦理完事務後,即日過境返回蒙特利爾,同樣出示iPad,順利進入加拿大。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/加漢ipad當護照過境美國-220838872.html

歐盟就伊朗石油禁運達初步共識

歐盟外交官表示,歐洲國家政府已原則上同意禁止進口伊朗石油,此舉將對德黑蘭當局構成嚴重打擊。美國財政部表示,伊朗的石油收益將會被打斷,而不致擾亂全球石油市場。

法國外交部長朱佩表示,針對伊朗石油進口禁令的計劃可能會在1月30日里斯本召開的歐盟外長會議上決定。

歐盟外交官說:「已獲致很大進展,原則上同意石油禁運。」但外交人士表示,各方在禁運何時生效以及現有石油合同如何處理方面,存在分歧。美國國務院發言人形容歐盟此舉是「美方樂於見到的舉措。」

此外,美國財政部長蓋特納下週將走訪中國和日本,討論美國對伊朗的制裁措施以及全球經濟情勢。

歐盟對於應否禁運伊朗石油一直意見分歧,但在希臘、西班牙和其他進口伊朗原油國家撤回反對後,於去年12月底獲得突破。
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/歐盟就伊朗石油禁運達初步共識-021500253.html

關於彼爾德伯格會議(Bilderberg Group)的背景介紹

關於彼爾德伯格會議(Bilderberg Group)的背景介紹

轉載自宋鴻兵的部落格 2009/05/27

多年以來,一直有傳聞說存在著一個秘密的由商界和政界權貴組成的精英俱樂部組織。每年的五月份或六月份的某一個周末,他們會從不同國家、不同地區匯聚到一起,商討及制定世界規則、製造或毀滅一個總統甚或是一個國家、設計戰爭及交易…那不是小說,這確實存在。

有觀察家們認為,這些政經精英們同時是多個國家政府、企業及國際組織的重要成員,憑著相互之間千絲萬縷的聯繫及關係,他們向目標國家政府及國際組織進行游說,在一些重大國際事務上施加決定性的影響力……

2004年6月3日,被認為參與全球政治陰謀的世界上最神秘的組織—BILDERBERG GROUP在意大利的STRESA舉行了她的50周年慶典和年會。四天裡,這些西方主要政治操縱者、商界領袖、銀行業者、大企業家及著名戰略家們,在意大利北部的一家五星級旅館討論有關全球的政經話題。

2004年被邀請的人物包括BP老板布洛文尼、美國參議員愛德華、比爾‧蓋茨夫人等,過去參會的人還包括有季辛吉、查爾斯王子、林頓、倫斯裴、英國教育部長、北愛爾蘭大臣、歐委會貿易委員、西班牙國王和英國首相布萊爾,等等。BILDERBERG GROUP,已被指控在背後操縱影響世界的命運……

“如果那些年我們就向公眾開放,我們就不可能為世界制定發展計劃。不過,世界越來越複雜,並準備向世界政府邁進。由知識精英和世界銀行家組成的超國家主權實體肯定好過過去數世紀實踐的國家自決。”—彼爾德伯格俱樂部(Bilderberg.club)永久會員大衛‧洛克菲勒(David Rockefeller)1991年如是說。

超級秘密的彼爾德伯格俱樂部2005年年會邀請了120名政治家、商界領袖、銀行家以及所謂的戰略思想家出席-與會者的太太們不參與。時間:2005年05月5~8日;地點:德國慕尼黑(Munich)以東60公里處的一家酒店;基本設施:豪華的房間、美麗的湖泊、高爾夫球場等;安全:絕對保障;全球媒體報導:根本沒有。

彼爾德伯格俱樂部絕對是個“西方”精英組織,也即由美國人和歐洲人組成,該俱樂部拒不接受亞洲人、中東人、拉美人或非洲人。確切的說,彼爾德伯格俱樂部是宇宙的主宰者。即便經過精心挑選的媒體從業人員知道早在數周甚至數月前就提前決定的事,只有當事件發生時,媒體才發表相關報導。

《紐約時報》和《金融時報》參加過許多次彼爾德伯格俱樂部的會議。不過,它們只能被迫保持沈默。(詳見2003年05月22日《亞洲時報在線》有關在凡爾賽-Versailles舉行的2003年彼爾德伯格會議的報導-“彼爾德伯格俱樂部:宇宙的主宰者”。)

彼爾德伯格俱樂部有總部-設在荷蘭(Holland)西部的萊頓市(Leiden),甚至還有電話號碼。但沒有網站。少數獨立偵探,如英國的東尼‧戈斯林(Tony Gosling)或美國的詹姆斯‧塔克(James Tucker,跟縱彼爾德伯格俱樂部長達30年)要費盡心機才能獲得有關彼爾德伯格會議位址和議程的消息。

塔克今年晚些時候將出版一本關於彼爾德伯格俱樂部的書。歷史學家皮埃爾‧維勒馬雷斯特(Pierre.de.Villemarest)和記者威廉‧沃爾福(William Wolf)已經聯合出版了《拒不讓公眾了解的事實和紀事》(Facts and Chronicles Denied to the Public),其中卷一和卷二講述了彼爾德伯格俱樂部的秘密發展史。

畢業於列日大學(the University of Liege)的比利時社會學家吉尤因斯(Geoffrey Geuens)所著的一本書有一章也是專門講述彼爾德伯格俱樂部的。雖然吉尤因斯譴責彼爾德伯格俱樂部過分神秘,但他不支持陰謀論:他更喜歡研究彼爾德伯格俱樂部如何暴露權力運作方式以及政治、經濟和媒體之間的密切關係。

媒體在彼爾德伯格俱樂部面前總是溫順得像沉默的羔羊。2005年,《金融時報》以典型的手法搶先報導,對沸沸揚揚的陰謀論淡化處理。事實上,任何質疑這個世界上最強大的俱樂部的人都會被嘲笑成陰謀論者。英國參議員或美國決策者等彼爾德伯格俱樂部成員說它“只不過是一個討論問題的地方”,一個人人都可以“自由發表意見”的“論壇”。

歐洲委員會(the European Commission)前副主席、彼爾德伯格俱樂部成員達維格農(Etienne Davignon)堅持說“這不是資本家操縱世界的陰謀”。法國國際關係學院(the French Institute of International Relations)院長、加入彼爾德伯格俱樂部長達近30年的蒂埃里‧蒙布利亞爾(Thierry.de.Montbrial)該這只不過是個“俱樂部”而已。

例如,彼爾德伯格2002年會議的正式新聞稿說,“俱樂部的唯一活動是舉行年會。會上不提出任何決議、也不進行投票、不發表任何政策聲明。彼爾德伯格俱樂部只是一個“靈活、非正式的小型國際論壇。與會者在論壇上可以發表各種不同的觀點,增進彼此了解。”事實上,這就是所謂的“跨大西洋關係”的全部所在。


俱樂部會員來頭不小

彼爾德伯格俱樂部的名字取自荷蘭一家旅館,由荷蘭的伯恩哈德親王(Prince Bernhard)於1954年一手創立。德國出生的伯恩哈德曾是納粹黨正式成員。

眾所周知,普雷斯科特‧布希(Prescott.Bush)是W.A.Harriman.&.Co的負責人,該機構在哈里曼(Averell Harriman)和德國商業大亨泰賽因(Fritz Thyssen)的幫助下曾資助希特勒(Adolf.Hitler)以及納粹黨人。

哈奇(Alden Hatch)寫了一本關於伯恩哈德親王的自傳,他在書中堅持說彼爾德伯格俱樂部是歐洲共同體(後改名為歐盟)的搖籃。他指出該俱樂部的最終目標是建立世界政府。

彼爾德伯格俱樂部的成員與外交關係委員會(Council on Foreign Relations)、朝聖者協會(the Pilgrims Society)、三邊委員會(Trilateral Commission)和著名的“圓桌會議 ”(The Round Table,1910年英國牛津和劍橋建立的精英組織)有密切關係。

圓桌會議(否認自己是正式組織)要求建立更有效的全球帝國形式,以便在整個20世紀維持英美霸權。

彼爾德伯格俱樂部的永久會員包括美國前國務卿亨利‧季辛吉(Henry Kissinger)、JP摩根國際委員會的大衛‧洛克菲勒、納爾遜‧洛克菲勒(Nelson Rockefeller)、英國菲利普王子(Prince Philip)、在甘迺迪總統政府內任美國國防部長後來又任世界銀行總裁的麥克納馬拉(Robert Mc Namara)、英國前首相佘契爾夫人(Margaret Thatcher)、法國前總統(和歐洲憲法的主要制訂者)德斯坦(Valery.Giscard.d'’Estaing)、美國國防部長拉姆斯費爾德(Donald Rumsfeld)、美國前國家安全顧問布里津斯基(Zbigniew Brzezinski)和美聯儲主席艾倫‧格林斯潘(Alan Greenspan)。

金融財團羅斯柴爾德家族(Rothschild Family)主持了很多屆彼爾德伯格會議。1962年和1973年在瑞典度假聖地薩爾特舍巴登(Saltsjobaden)舉行的兩屆彼爾德伯格年會都是由瓦倫堡(Wallenberg,又譯沃倫伯格)家族主辦。

這當中有些人比其它人的控制權更大。他們是領導委員會的成員,包括德意志銀行(Deutsche Bank)首席執行長約瑟夫‧阿克曼 (Josef Ackermann)、諾基亞(Nokia)老板約瑪‧奧利拉(Jorma Ollila)、戴姆勒-克萊斯勒汽車集團(Daimler Chrysler)的施倫普(Jeurgen Schrempp)、前北約主席、現高盛公司(Goldman Sachs)主席薩瑟蘭 (Peter Sutherland)、即將卸任的世界銀行總裁沃爾芬森(James Wolfensohn)和“黑暗王子”理查‧珀爾(Richard Perle)。

伊拉克戰爭的設計師、即將出任世界銀行總裁的伍夫‧維茨(Paul Wolfowitz)也是彼爾德伯格俱樂部的永久會員。喬治‧布希(George Bush)在彼爾德伯格2005年會議期間碰巧在鄰國荷蘭參加二戰勝利周年紀念。他也許順道參加了該俱樂部的年會。
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!_4qwYw6ZGQQ0SgBMthp8sw--/article?mid=6215

聯合國接管美國各地市政廳!