Tag Archives: america

Keystone Pipeline deal may strike oil

February 2, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Keystone Pipeline deal may strike oil

by: Dr. Samori Swygert

According to an article published by the New York Times, the controversial approval of the Keystone Pipeline may be approaching soon.

Copy and paste this link for NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE : www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/us/politics/report-may-ease-way-to-approval-of-keystone-pipeline.html?_r=0

The pipeline would extend from Canada all the way to the Gulf Coast. The geographical dimensions would account for 1,700 miles of pipeline , and has a speculated output of 830,000 barrels of oil a day. One barrel of oil contains 42 gallons.

Weighing the benefits and risks

The major controversy is positioned between the environmental and economic impact. Many lobby and environmental groups raise legitimate concerns about the impact of global warming, Greenhouse gases, and carbon emission. The groups that show opposition to the possible approval are : NextGen Climate, The National Wildlife Federation, and Friends of the Earth. The Inspector General had conducted an investigation in which the State Department released an environmental impact report. The report appeared to lessen the extent or severity of environmental impact from construction of the Keystone Pipeline. The report also notes a potential 17% increase in Greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction.

However, the article in the New York Times pointed out that a member of the TransCanada company (the company that will participate in construction) helped draft the environmental report. This resulted in a high point of critique on conflict of interests.

President Barack Obama is on record for expressing concerns about the environmental impact. However, the report of reduced environmental havoc may influence the President to approve the construction.

This is a critical issue because the United States has consistently expressed future goals of establishing independence on foreign oil reserves. Moreover, this may foster a stronger bond between America and Canada as indicated in the article. Lastly, this is an opportunity for job creation, and everybody in America understands the severity of the unemployment rate. The article references creation of 3,900 jobs for constructing the pipeline. I’m sure other jobs will be created that are associated with it, such as; operations and maintenance.

The Alternative to the Keystone Pipeline

The alternative to this is the transport of Canadian oil sands via railway, but industry leaders are skeptical due to the risk of recent railway derailments and explosions. This alternative includes more risks. Citizens of the towns in or around the prospected tracts of construction have to juggle between jobs and the risk of health. We’ve seen what happened in West Virginia when a coal company haphazardly leaked thousands of gallons of a toxic coal cleaner into the city’s water, and put 300,000 people at risk. The leak also inconvenienced restaurants, and other local businesses.

Ultimately John Kerry has to evaluate all the data within the report and has to meet with various American agencies like the EPA, Department of Commerce and more.

I truly hope that the Executive Branch, and the corporate portion of the deal are operating at the highest standards of care and integrity. What we sacrifice for profit will only resurface as an expense later. Neglecting to responsibly account for the environment will reveal itself as new budget items, and present itself as a new national crisis. We also must expand our research into solar like China, and other renewable energy resources.

What are your thoughts??

National & Local Politics

Crackhead Congressman Escapes Prison And Unemployment, Blacks Should Be Outraged

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

by: Dr. Samori Swygert

The rapture-like incarceration of African Americans has decimated the African American community. It’s blatantly clear that two systems of justice exist for blacks and whites. The selective enforcement of authority and skewed application of justice are at work NOW.

The African American community needs to flood their local congressman, President Obama, state legislators, and civic organizations’ offices with letters, emails, and phone calls.

Tea Party-Backed, Republican Florida State Representative of the 19^th district, Trey Radel, is allowed back to work as a UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN after being caught and arrested for purchasing cocaine in the Nation’s Capital.

HOW CAN TREY RADEL RETURN TO STATE LEGISLATURE AND PASS LAWS, WHEN BLACKS THAT SERVE TIME ARE PAROLED AND NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE??? I remember when this occurred at the close of 2013, and it quietly got swept under the rug and muted. I knew this was going to happen.

When a congressman who knows the crime of narcotic possession and use, intentionally ignores the law and conducts an illegal narcotics transaction, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and serve the same FEDERAL MANDATORY MINIMUMS that the average young black male has been incarcerated for. He went on an apology campaign and enrolled in a rehabilitation program, and has been vindicated.

Countless African Americans have said “sorry,” and the judge accepts their apology, but reads them their sentence, bangs the gavel, and sends these young men and women away for 10 years. Why is Trey Radel different?

He is a lawmaker, he is fully cognizant of what the law and penalties are. This sets up the precedent for “above the law” behavior, impunity, and carte blanche attitudes.

So I’m not just asking to relieve him of his position, I’m encouraging each and every reader to either call for his imprisonment, or release all nonviolent drug offenders that have been jailed!!!!! If you are African American and have any concern about the unjust incarceration of our people, you need to flood social media the and airwaves about this. This is a slap in the face of JUSTICE.

You all should be tired of seeing black family members and friends doing time in jail, but white offenders either receive rehabilitation, hours of community service, a $1,000 fine, or are characterized with a mental illness to defer and reduce the full criminal punishment.

Here are further examples of the differing systems of justice that exist for black and whites:

Paris Hilton, Heidi Fleiss and Lindsay Lohan versus Darrell Padget

Paris Hilton (white female actress and heir to Hilton family) was pulled over in 2010, and lied to an officer, saying that one gram of cocaine in her purse was not hers and doesn’t know how it got there. Later she admitted that the cocaine was hers, and apologized. The felony cocaine possession charge was dropped, and she was granted a misdemeanor and a fine.

Lindsay Lohan (white female actress) crashed a car while driving drunk, and fled the scene of the crime. Lindsay also admitted to using cocaine, she only did 14 days in jail, and underwent psychotherapy and performed community service. She has had numerous subsequent brushes with the law and narcotics. Technically, Lindsay Lohan should be serving 25 years -to-life in prison, according to the California 3 Strikes Law, because she has exceeded her 3 violation threshhold!!!! However, she is not. She is as free as freebase!

Heidi Fleiss (famous white female call girl pímp) was busted with 392 marijuana plants at her home without a manufacturing and growing license, but was considered cooperative and had exotic birds to take care of, so she was not arrested.

Why are black drug offenders not offered the same opportunities to remedy their drug violations and receive exoneration? Dr. Boyce Watkins alerted many people to the story of Darrell Padget (an African American male) who served 20 years in jail for possession of one gram of crack and charged with intent to sell. Click here to read more about his case.

The investigators should mandate they reveal who their supplier is. Failure to do that makes them complicit and allows drug dealing to continue. The media and their suppression tactics of stalling and deliberate failure to report, perpetuates this “under the radar” Cottonelle Charmin justice.

Winona Ryder versus the average African American thief In 2001 Winona Ryder (white actress) was busted trying to steal $5,500 worth of high-end fashion clothes and accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue. That amount of money fits the eligibility criteria to charge her with Grand Larceny. Ultimately, she was sentenced to 3 years probation, 480 hours of community service, and ordered to pay fines and reimburse Saks Fifth Avenue. How many African American youth are serving jail time for petty theft?

The list goes on and on, and I can furnish the comparisons. However, the first stop is TREY RADEL! This is a horrible example of American Justice, and a perfect example of its double standard. Again, specifically call for his resignation and time in jail. Call for the release of nonviolent drug offenders and provide rehabilitation and job training. We don’t need drug addicts making and passing our laws. What type of sick society are we condoning?? EQUALITY, EQUITY, AND NON-BIASED, UNIFORMED APPLICATION OF THE LAW IS WHAT WE DEMAND REGARDLESS OF RACE OR SOCIAL CLASS!!!

LOCK HIM UP, STRIP AWAY HIS RIGHT TO VOTE, AND HAVE HIM ASSEMBLE OFFICE FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES FOR UNICOR IN THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, LIKE THE REST OF THE INMATES! ARE YOU COOL WITH YOUR TAX MONEY FURNISHING THIS COKEHEAD’S HABIT?

Global Issues

How China Is Poised For Global Economic Domination

January 24, 2014 admin Leave a comment

by Dr. Samori Swygert

China is strategically positioning itself as the real superpower. Many economists, pundits, and news media outlets would like to reduce China to an over-crowded, communist country with a one-child policy, and a pollution problem. However, China has been meticulously calculative and shrewd in their foreign affairs.

America boasts about being the most mightiest nation on earth. However, we are faltering and requiring continuous infusions of dollars from the Federal Reserve to preserve economic stability.We’re struggling with a $17 trillion debt. We spend billions upon billions of dollars on defense, war, and national security. We’ve seen how Greece and other nations in Europe are struggling with austerity, and the crippling ripples of economic imbalance. However, China has managed to stay above the monetary carnage, and remain independent of World Bank welfare.

China and Oil Trade

First, according to a New York Times article, China purchases approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil a day from Iraq. The Chinese government is reportedly investing $2 billion dollars a year into Iraq. They have constructed their own airport in the desert that borders Iraq and Iran. The Chinese government uses the airport to fly their own oil workers into Iraq, and they are developing direct flights into Baghdad from Shanghai and Beijing. The article even explains how China has trained their workers to speak Arabic with an Iraqi accent! The U.S. eliminated Sadaam, but China really benefited. Iraq is the 2nd biggest oil producer after the Saudis, according to OPEC. This is beneficial to Iraq because they use oil revenue to fund military and other governmental operations.

China and the Rare Earth Metal Market

Many nations (including America) use rare earth metals and oxides like Neodymium, Praseodynium, and 15 other rare earth metals in that class to build your favorite iPhones, computers, tablets, and even our very own missile defense system. Well, China controls 95% of the global trade of these rare earth metals. This dynamic is not necessarily due to their economic acumen, but because most of these metals are geographically located in China!

However, China is aware of the need and demand for these metals in modern technology, and put an export quota on these precious minerals. This drove the stock prices soaring through the roof. One of the major Chinese rare earth companies, China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Company, is even building a new plant to increase production of the metals. This new plant is primed to produce ~7,000 tons of the metals per year. Their only real competition is an Australian company named the Lynas Corporation. The demand is high as China has pumped out ~ 31,000 tons in one year. Apple should keep relations nice and cozy!

China and South America’s Emerging Economy

China is also heavily invested in South America. The Southern Pacific Review published an article this October. The author, Walker Rowe, stated that Chile is looking for foreign investors, and has invited a Shanghai investment banking company to attend their International Investment Forum Chile 2014, which is scheduled for January 13-16 in 2014. He reports that China already has 3 mining companies in Chile ( Jia He Wei Ye, Golden Resource, Sky Solar), and the National Development Bank of China is involved. Moreover, Chile lacks the natural resources of oil, natural gas and coal on a sustainable scale. China has already worked out plans to develop solar power for Chile. According to the article, “Sky Solar is set to operate 75,600 solar panels over 42 hectares of desert”. To put the cherry on top of the sweet deal, Chile signed a free trade agreement with China that exempts 97% of goods from import tariffs!!!

In Argentina, Lenovo (Chinese technology manufacturer) has partnered with an Argentinian based company named Newsan, in a tax-free locale called Tierra del Fuego, and are building computers, tablets, and other electronic devices.

The Aluminum Corporation of China has setup their copper mining operations in Toromocho, Peru. Brazil has allowed two Chinese car manufacturers (JAC and Chery) to build plants there. They’re projecting to build at least 100,000 cars per year, per company. Ecuador has reportedly signed a $1.4 billion dollar agreement with China’s ECSA mining company to operate its’ El Mirador copper mine. Bolivia has agreed to let China’s CITIC Guoan Group conduct research into Bolivia’s lithium and potassium reserves. This is huge potential for the lithium ion battery market. The article stated that Bolivia has 10,582 square kilometers of salt flats, and that’s where the lithium reserves are located.

China and America

China has already taken over Detroit. An article in Forbes Magazine by Gordon Chang describes how Chinese investors are purchasing property in bulk, by the hundreds. The Dongdu International Group of Shanghai has already purchased the David Scott, and Detroit Free Press Buildings for $9.4 million in a September auction. Over the past few decades there has been an influx of products that are stamped with “Made in China”. These products include various technologies, home furnishings, entertainment consoles, and yes the Nike Airs that teenagers die over.

Unfortunately, China is aware of America’s financial status and has repeatedly vocalized trade concerns over the growing impotency of the American Dollar, and whether to even honor it.

China and Africa

Anybody that follows geopolitical events and economics, knows that Africa has become the global kiosk for natural resources. I wont go in depth about this, I’ll encourage you to read an article I posted about Africa on BlackBlueDog.com

Conclusion

In conclusion, China does an amazing job at remaining neutral in global conflict. This semi-congenial approach allows them to establish amicable rapports internationally to their economic benefit. Their global posture permits them to conduct trade agreements with countries that have an aversion to U.S. foreign policy. Where do you think we fit in this as African Americans?? America can take notes from China, ……and obviously, I should have asked Santa for the Mandarin edition of Rosetta Stone for Christmas. Peace!!