If the accuracy of the Japanese finance ministry’s revision of their GDP estimates are to be believed, then it appears the Nippon economy is, finally, awakening from its ‘Lost Decade’ of economic slumber following the collapse of its once heralded economy. According the their finance ministry, Japan’s GDP expanded +4.6% in 4Q 2009.
Two months ago, the provincial government where I live asked some of its disability service providers to help pay the provincial deficit – by returning a portion of money from previously signed government contracts. It was a particularly callous move being two weeks before Christmas. In Canada, like other countries, many services that are labeled […]
Goldman Sachs, after being generously bailed out, is now leading the Wall Street pack in the Eurozone, in fragile economies , such as Greece, by engaging in the same types of complex financial transactions that precipitated the global financial crisis. This is further proof that more vigorous regulatory reform and transparency is required of large financial institutions.
On Friday, Haiti marked the one month anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which had left the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere in the dire situation of providing food and shelter to nearly 1 million displaced survivors. Following recent outbreaks of violence by Haitians seeking food aid and supplies, feelings of desperation among […]
The NYT decided to count the ways in which China is threatened by the Intertubes these days. The piece combines the two major aspects of the Web’s foreign policy impact: online organizing as threat to authoritarian control, and cybersecurity data compromises. … While much of the rest of the world frets about Chinese cyberspying abroad, […]
I’ve been looking at energy and environmental policy for many years and I’m usually happily surprised when things take a smart turn. Even thoughtful, progressive policymakers like Barack Obama, though, wind up making bone-headed calls. Obama offers nuclear plant loan guarantee, as the FT reports, is one good example. I’m, to put it politely, less-than-sanguine […]
As the day dawns on love, millions of couples are exchanging gifts which symbolize their love and affection for each other. While the commercialization of this day of love has left many emptying their pockets, while others are left entangled in the brutal world of modern slavery. Much of our chocolaty symbol of love comes […]
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, has changed his mind. He loves big oil companies after all. The history of Big Oil and Hugo Chavez reads like one of those dysfunctional relationships most of us have at least briefly been involved in: he or she only loves you when they […]
That’s right. Even in this day and age, freelance and independent journalists working for such outfits like Reuters are fair game for the American brass. The United States has, and continues, to imprison foreign journalists. This behaviour calls into question the principles upon which the nation was founded. Double-standards are de rigeur in the land […]
Thursday, New York Times columnist Gail Collins spent significant time mocking New York City councilman Larry Seabrook, who is charged with doctoring a receipt for a bagel sandwich from $7 to $177. Most people around the country aren’t too surprised (but remain disgusted) by such behavior in politicians. Gail Collins should see what I see. […]
There was, of course, a lot of coverage from me, and much of the rest of the world it seems, on the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen in December – before, during and since. One of the critical agreements to come out of the conference was on finance. Pledges were made by […]
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from Robben Island, a gesture that symbolized an end to Apartheid. While Mandela’s human face and political eloquence will place him firmly in history as one of the world’s greatest icons, it was musician Hugh Masakela who provided the soundtrack to the anti-Apartheid […]
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