False Alarm: Feds Swarm Chicago Metra Train After Detecting Nuclear Risk

 

(CBS) — It was stunning for those who watched Thursday night as federal agents investigated a possible nuclear threat at Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center.

CBS 2′s photojournalist Lana Hinshaw-Klann happened to be at the scene and used a cell-phone camera to record agents in action. Reporter Dave Savini looks into what agents were looking for and what they found.

Sources say the agents were members of the elite TSA VIPR team on the 5:04pm Union Pacific West line. They were carrying hand-held nuclear-detection devices that picked up a reading.

VIPR teams were created after the 2004 bombing of a train in Madrid, Spain, to protect U.S. transportation.

At the Ogilvie station, officers held the train and searched for a person or bag that posed a potential nuclear threat.

Jerry Jones, a Chicago lawyer, was heading home on that train. He says the federal officers narrowed the trouble to the area where he was sitting.

“I had no idea I was the center of the activity,” he says.

The special security team must have picked up on him as he entered the station and walked up the stairs, Jones says. Little did he know a nuclear stress test he had at a hospital earlier in the day had set off silent alarms and sent security scurrying.

The TSA team passed by him several times before ending up on his train car. Finally, he got a clue when an agent questioned the man right next to him and asked, ‘Sir, do you have an explanation as to why I am getting a high isotope reading on your bag?’”

“The fellow’s jaw dropped,” Jones said.

Once the agent said the word “isotope,” Jones says he realized he was the one they were looking for. He raised his hand to say he had a nuclear stress test.

The tests can leave patients emitting radiation for some time. After showing identification and proof of the nuclear test, Jones and the other passengers were allowed to go on their way.

He says he’s satisfied with the way authorities acted, “knowing there are people on the lookout for this type of thing,” and was pleased with the way officers and passengers behaved.

Patients undergoing nuclear testing can request a card they can give to security if they travel afterward. Doctors have done this for air travelers.

The most violent country in Europe: Britain is also worse than South Africa and U.S.

Yo piers MORGAN, CNN, and MSNBC (GE / Comcast)

By James Slack

London Daily Mail (2009)

Britain’s violent crime record is worse than any other country in the European union, it has been revealed.

Official crime figures show the UK also has a worse rate for all types of violence than the U.S. and even South Africa – widely considered one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

The figures comes on the day new Home Secretary Alan Johnson makes his first major speech on crime, promising to be tough on loutish behaviour.

In the decade following the party’s election in 1997, the number of recorded violent attacks soared by 77 per cent to 1.158million – or more than two every minute.

The figures, compiled from reports released by the European Commission and United Nations, also show:

• The UK has the second highest overall crime rate in the EU.
• It has a higher homicide rate than most of our western European neighbours, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• The UK has the fifth highest robbery rate in the EU.
• It has the fourth highest burglary rate and the highest absolute number of burglaries in the EU, with double the number of offences than recorded in Germany and France.

But it is the naming of Britain as the most violent country in the EU that is most shocking. The analysis is based on the number of crimes per 100,000 residents. (Yes Piers…. There are more people in the USA thus more violence!) 

In the UK, there are 2,034 offences per 100,000 people, way ahead of second-placed Austria with a rate of 1,677.

 

The U.S. has a violence rate of 466 crimes per 100,000 residents, Canada 935, Australia 92 and South Africa 1,609.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘This is a damning indictment of this government’s comprehensive failure over more than a decade to tackle the deep rooted social problems in our society, and the knock on effect on crime and anti-social behaviour.

‘We’re now on our fourth Home Secretary this parliament, and all we are getting is a rehash of old initiatives that didn’t work the first time round. More than ever Britain needs a change of direction.’

The figures, compiled by the Tories, are considered the most accurate and up-to-date available.

But criminologists say crime figures can be affected by many factors, including different criminal justice systems and differences in how crime is reported and measured.

In Britain, an affray is considered a violent crime, while in other countries it will only be logged if a person is physically injured.

There are also degrees of violence. While the UK ranks above South Africa for all violent crime, South Africans suffer more than 20,000 murders each year – compared with Britain’s 921 in 2007.

Experts say there are a number of reasons why violence is soaring in the UK. These include Labour’s decision to relax the licensing laws to allow round-the-clock opening, which has led to a rise in the number of serious assaults taking place in the early hours of the morning.

But Police Minister David Hanson said: ‘These figures are misleading.
Levels of police recorded crime statistics from different countries are simply not comparable since they are affected by many factors, for example the recording of violent crime in other countries may not include behaviour that we would categorise as violent crime.

‘Violent crime in England and Wales has fallen by almost a half a peak in 1995 but we are not complacent and know there is still work to do. That is why last year we published ‘Saving lives. Reducing harm. Protecting the public. An Action Plan for Tackling Violence 2008-11′.’

The timing of the Europe-wide violence figures is a blow for Mr Johnson, who will today seek to reassert Labour’s law and order credentials.

In his first major speech on crime since becoming Home Secretary, Mr Johnson is expected to promise a concerted crack down on antisocial behaviour.

He wants to set up a website to allow the public to see what is taking place in their neighbourhood, such as the number of louts who have been served with Asbos.

Mr Johnson is also known to support early intervention to stop children going off the rails.

 

 

 

FASCISM RISING; Europe, Austerity General Strikes In Greece, Italy, Portugal & Spain Met With POLICE VIOLENCE

It’s time for these countries to leave the super disaster known as the European Union… the ultimate example of undemocratic top down bureaucratic failure in denial.

 

2012.11.14 Video; Street Battles Across Europe As General Strike Turns Violent (RT, youtube.com):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSDGIURSNJk&w=560&h=315]

 

Hundreds of thousands of Europe’s beleaguered citizens went on strike or snarled the streets of capitals of Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, at times clashing with riot police, as they demanded that governments stop cutting benefits and create more jobs.

 

FASCISM RISING; EU, ‘Catastrophe About To Happen’, ‘GERMANY Enforces Same Austerity That Paved Way To THIRD REICH’, F. William Engdahl

“[The EU]… it’s a catastrophe about to happen…” – F. William Engdahl

 

In the following interview F. William Engdahl is suggesting that the austerity being forced upon various Euro countries is going “to bailout banks in France and elsewhere in the EU that are technically in insolvency because of their exposure…”.

I’ve heard this same idea suggested by other economists, and that the “elsewhere in the EU” just happens to be Germany, which coincidentally is leading the way in forcing, via threats, other EU countries to impose harsh austerity on their citizens.  Historically austerity is a proven failure… it collapses economies, it does not grow them, it creates a negative feedback loop… this is a well know fact, therefore one must wonder if there’s not a hidden agenda to intentionally implode all these country’s economies, to destroy their sovereignty via debt, to achieve the EU fascists admitted goal of “deeper integration”.

 

F. William Engdahl (emphasis mine):

“… the core problem, I maintain, is NOT a sovereign debt problem, not the sovereign debt of Greece, nor of Italy, or other countries, the core problem has been from the beginning, and remains, a banking system, the major international banks in Europe, that are defacto INSOLVENT, and being held afloat on life support from the ECB (European Central Bank)… so the bailout measures toward Greece have not done anything to help the Greek economy, or stabilize Greece, they’ve gone to bailout banks in France and elsewhere in the EU that are technically in insolvency because of their exposure…”

“… I can’t imagine if you PLANNED A SCENARIO TO GET EVERYTHING WRONG in the way that the EU governments have done in the last four years of this crisis, or three and a half years… but from the get go they’ve shied away from any resolute action on the banks involved in the dodgy lending in the first place, during the financial bubble years… so those banks remain the source of the problem, there’s no lending going on to the real economy, and that’s the root cause of 25 percent unemployment in Spain, and Greece, and elsewhere across the EU… so the austerity that’s being demanded by EU governments, like Germany, is having the effect, and the irony is that this is what Bruning did in 1931 that paved the way for the Third Reich because of the unemployment across Germany, and Germany is enforcing that same policy on Greece, Spain, and other weaker southern European countries…”

 

2012.10.26 ‘Germany Enforces Same Austerity That Paved Way To Third Reich’ (F. William Engdahl) (RT, youtube.com):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZQzGeuBLQ&w=480&h=360]

 

One in four people are now officially out of work in Spain as unemployment in the debt-ridden country reaches another record. The grim news comes as Madrid’s transport workers go on strike, adding to a sixth day of protests in the capital against austerity cuts.

That’s as another epicentre of the EU crisis – Greece – looks likely to miss its promised deficit deadline. The forecast from the International Monetary Fund’s debt inspectors comes a year after EU leaders applauded what they considered a key deal to save Athens.

Author and publicist William Engdahl, says all the measures the EU leaders are imposing are failing to address the core problems on the continent.

 

 

FASCISM RISING; Nigel Farage To EU Parliament, ‘TOTAL SUBJUGATION’ To This ‘NEW ORDER’, ‘EuroZone At A Very Dark Place’, ‘NEO NAZI POLITICS ON THE RISE’

“Fascism is the gravedigger of old Europe.  Now the forces of the Fascist International are rising.” – Asvero Gravelli, Towards The Fascist International (1932)

 

Nigel Farage’s address to the EU Parliament yesterday was absolutely brilliant.  Farage accused EU President Herman Van Rompuy of being “the quiet assassin of Nation State democracy”, he says Van Rompuy wants “the total subjugation of The States to completely undemocratic structures based in Brussels”, and that Van Rompuy “saw the bailouts as your opportunity to take control”.  Spain’s bailout is encouraged “so that they too are subjugated to this New Order” of Europe… ‘the EuroZone is at a very dark place now’ with ‘Neo Nazi politics on the rise‘… wow.

For more information on the Fascist “New Order” and “New World Order” see my article on Mitt Romney’s promotion of the NeoCon economic theory of “CREATIVE DESTRUCTION”, which has its roots in fascism.  Obama also supports “CREATIVE DESTRUCTION” because Obama is also a fascist, but of a different school… the connection here is that the NeoCons are not Conservatives, but rather Trotskyite Communists.

So in reply to the comment by “LOL” who accused me of being some kind of Obama loving Communist when saying “Obama has done more “Creative destruction” in 3 years than anyone has since 1960. Get off your communist soapbox and remove your blinders.”… I say yes, I agree completely, Obama also believes in “CREATIVE DESTRUCTION”, and if you’d actually read the recommended attached article you would have discovered the Communist connection to the NeoCons… they are all working together.

Needless to say, Fascism is rising in America and Europe at exactly the same time… this is not by chance.

 

 

2012.10.23 UKIP Nigel Farage; ‘Bailouts’ Are A Means For Total Subjugation To EU Control (youtube.com):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFdxBxQpZ-g&w=560&h=315]

 

UK Independence party leader Nigel Farage speaks in the European parliament October 2012.

 

 

Markets Await ‘Helicopter Ben,’ But May Be Disappointed

UPDATE: BEN SAID NO! TO FREE MONEY FOR BANKS – MAYBE LATER…. MARKETS PLUNGE!
Hint hint – wing wink… Total Control of markets held hostage by international bankers using your promised wealth. Sick of it yet? Now go hedge short and shut up.

The expectations are so high for Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke Thursday to say something revealing about more Fed easing that he can probably only disappoint markets.

CNBC

 

Tim Hawley | Photographer’s Choice | Getty Images

Bernanke’s 10 a.m. testimony before the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, comes on the heels of a major stock market rally, inspired in part by optimism for more Fed easing.

“What’s he (Bernanke) going to say? Is he really going to get in a helicopter and dump money?” said Steve Massocca of Wedbush Securities.

Developments in Europe could also be key Thursday, after a Reuters story Wednesday quoting German officials said a deal is in the works that would enable Spain to recapitalize its banks with aid from euro zone countries, but without strict new reforms. Markets will be watching as Spain conducts a bond auction, ahead of the New York market open.

“Anything out of Europe that would suggest they put an even stronger band-aid on their issues, and if you also get some support from the Fed, then I do think there’s a possibility we continue this rally, but I think we’re increasingly dependant on monetary policy to keep things going,” said Gina Martin Adams, institutional equities strategist at Wells Fargo Securities.

 

Adams said the market’s outsized move Wednesday was a concern. “Any time you get these  gigantic moves it actually gives me a little bit of pause with respect to a bear market trend,” she said.

Even though some analysts see little impact from further Fed easing with already historic low yields, all types of risk assets roared ahead Wednesday while Treasurys and bunds yields snapped higher as investors unloaded securities that were the safe havens of choice just a week ago.

Fed Vice Chair Janet Yellen, however, may have served as a messenger for the Fed chairman when she spoke in Boston Wednesday evening, making a case for more easing.

“There are a number of significant downside risks to the economic outlook, and hence it may well be appropriate to insure against adverse shocks that could push the economy into territory where a self-reinforcing downward spiral of economic weakness would be difficult to arrest,” she said in a speech prepared for delivery at an event organized by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank.

Bernanke’s tone on the economy will be key, as it was the poor May jobs report last Friday that turned the market view from a Fed on hold to a Fed that may take action at the June meeting or later.

“He does need to very specifically reaffirm his commitment to easing and his willingness to ease, and probably acknowledge a lighter economic scenario. I don’t know that the market is so keyed up on his speech that there will be a reaction. I would be a little more worried about Spain then I would Bernanke to move the market,” Adams said.

Bernanke got the nickname “Helicopter Ben” after he referred to a statement by Nobel economist Milton Friedman about fighting deflation by using a helicopter drop of money.

“There’s just been, for the last 48, 72 hours a growing feeling that a 10 percent decline in the stock market is as deep a decline as you would get with Ben Bernanke lurking tomorrow,” said Dan Greenhaus, global strategist with BTIG.

 

Besides Bernanke, there is a group of Fed speakers during the day, and there is some key datas, including the 8:30 a.m. weekly jobless claims. Consumer credit is reported at 3 p.m.

San Francisco Fed President John Williams reiterated just before the market close Wednesday that the Fed must be ready to do more to achieve its goals of maximum employment and price stability.

Thursday’s Fed speakers include Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren who is on a panel in Denmark at 5:45 a.m. ET; Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart, who speaks on  the economy and policy at 12:10 p.m., and Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota who spekas on monetary policy at 1:15 p.m.

Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher speaks on the Chinese currency at 3:30 p.m., and Chicago Fed President Charles Evvans will be interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on “Closing Bell” at 4:10 p.m.

The Fed also meets on Basel III recommendation on banks at 3:10 p.m. ET.

Traders also said the victory of Republican Gov. Scott Walker in the Wisconsin recall election is a good sign for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and a negative for President Barack Obama.

“I think that’s resonating with people,” said Massocca. “We’re no longer killing politicians that make moves to reduce deficit spending. It sounds like the public is fully supporting it.”

The stock market Wednesday continued to gain after the Fed released its beige book at 2 p.m. which said the U.S. economy expanded at a “moderate rate” in March and April, better than its previous modest to moderate rate. The Fed, however, also noted that its contacts were less optimistic.

“It’s a little bit more upbeat than I might have thought—a little less subdued,” said David Ader, chief Treasury strategist at CRT Capital. “This is marginal stuff. It was before the nonfarm payrolls and other things. So in context, it sort of comes across as old news.”

Earlier Wednesday, the European Central Bank kept rates unchanged, initially disappointing markets. The Bank of England meets Thursday morning, and there’s speculation it will carry out another round of easing.

The type and timing of Fed easing has become the new debate on Wall Street, replacing expectations that the Fed was not ready to do more quantitative easing. But a weak series of economic reports and the dismal jobs report for May, showing just 69,000 jobs created, sparked new expectations the Fed would take action.

One theory is that the Fed extends its Operation Twist, which is scheduled to expire at the end of the month. That program differs from quantitative easing in that the Fed buys longer duration Treasurys and sells an equal number of shorter duration notes, without expanding its balance sheet.

If the Fed decides to do a “QE3,” that could involve the outright purchase of more securities—mortgages or Treasurys.

 

Bilderberg 2012 List Of Participants Revealed?

By Jurriaan Maessen – ExplosiveReports
theintelhub.com
May 22, 2012

 

Here is a list of Bilderberg Participants 2012 floating around on the web. I was unable to trace back the source to this list, so I have no idea if it is accurate.

What stands out from this particular list is a plethora of Obama administration officials and American business kingpins. Also a formidable delegation from Spain, Italy and- significantly: Turkey (as a non-EU member Turkey is doing stunningly well. Is Bilderberg trying to sweet talk the Turks into joining?).

Another curious lapse seems to be the absence of David Rockefeller’s name on the list- a lapse you wouldn’t expect in a fake list.

List:

Honorary President:

BEL Davignon, Etienne Vice President, Suez-Tractebel

NLD Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Ex- Honorary Secretary
NLD Hommen, Jan H.M. President, ING Group
NLD Beatrix, queen of the Netherlands
NLD Rinnooy Kan, Alexander H.G. President Social Economic Council (SER)

BEL Huyghebaert, Jan President Board of Directors, KBC Group

USA Altman, Roger C. President, Evercore Partners Inc.
USA Arrison, Sonia Author & policy analyst
USA Collins, Timothy C. Senior Managing Director & CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC
USA Ferguson, Niall Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University
USA Feldstein, Martin S. George F. Baker Professor of Economics, Harvard University
USA Gates, William H. (Bill Gates) Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation & President, Microsoft Corporation
USA Gordon, Philip H. Assistant Secretary of State for European & Eurasian Affairs
USA Graham, Donald E. President & CEO, The Washington Post Company
USA Holbrooke, Richard C. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
USA Hormats, Robert D. Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs
USA Johnson, James A. Vice President, Perseus, LLC
USA Keane, John M. Senior Partner, SCP Partners
USA Kissinger, Henry A. President, Kissinger Associates, Inc
USA Kleinfeld, Klaus President & CEO, Alcoa
USA Kravis, Henry R. Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
USA Kravis, Marie-Josée Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc
USA Leer, Eric S. President & Director, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT
USA Mathews, Jessica T. President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
USA Mundie, Craig J. Chief Research & Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
USA Naím, Moisés, Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Policy
USA Orszag, Peter R. Director, Office of Management & Budget
USA Parker, Sean Managing Partner, Founders Fund
USA Pearl, Frank H. President & CEO, Perseus, LLC
USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
USA Rose, Charlie Producer, Rose Communications
USA Rubin, Robert E., Co-President, Council on Foreign Relations; Ex- Secretary of Treasury
USA Schmidt, Eric CEO & President Google
USA Steinberg, James B. Deputy Secretary of State
USA Summers, Lawrence H., Director, National Economic Council
USA Thiel, Peter A. President, Clarium Capital Management, LLC
USA Varney, Christine A. Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust
USA Volcker, Paul A. President, Economic Recovery Advisory Board

GBR Agius, Marcus President, Barclays Bank PLC
GBR Kerr, John Member, House of Lords; Deputy President, Royal Dutch Shell plc.
GBR Micklethwait, John, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
GBR Oldham, John National Clinical Lead for Quality & Productivity
GBR Taylor, J. Martin President, Syngenta International AG

ESP Alierta, César President & CEO, Telefónica
ESP Botín, Ana P. Executive President, Banesto
ESP Carvajal Urquijo, Jaime Managing Director, Advent International
ESP Cebrián, Juan Luis CEO, PRISA
ESP Cisneros, Gustavo A. President/CEO, Cisneros Group of Companies
ESP Entrecanales, José M. President, Acciona
ESP León Gross, Bernardino Secretary General, Office do Primeiro Ministro
ESP Nin Génova, Juan María President and CEO, La Caixa
ESP Polanco, President, Grupo PRISA
ESP Rodriguez Inciarte, Matías Executive Vice Presidente Grupo Santeer
ESP Queen of Spain

DEU Ackermann, Josef President Management Board and Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
DEU Enders, Thomas CEO, Airbus SAS
DEU Löscher, Peter President Board of Management, Siemens AG
DEU Scholz, Olaf Vice President, SPD

INT Almunia, Joaquín Commissioner, European Commission
INT Gucht, Karel de Commissioner, European Commission
INT Kroes, Neelie Commissioner, European Commission
INT Moyo, Dambisa F. Economist e Author
INT Sheeran, Josette Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme
INT Solana Madariaga, Javier Ex- Secretary General, Council of European Union
INT Stigson, Björn Presidente, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
INT Tumpel-Gugerell, Gertrude Member Executive Board, European Central Bank

SWE Bäckström, Urban Director General, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
SWE Bildt, Carl Minister of Foreign Affairs
SWE Renström, Lars President & CEO, Alfa Laval

PRT Balsemão, Francisco Pinto President & CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; former prime minster
PRT Rangel, Paulo Member, European Parliament
PRT Teixeira dos Santos, Former Minister of State & Finance

ITA Bernabè, Franco CEO, Telecom Italia S.p.A.
ITA Conti, Fulvio CEO & General Manager, Enel SpA
ITA Elkann, John President, Fiat S.p.A.
ITA Monti, Mario President, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
ITA Padoa-Schioppa, Tommaso Ex- Minister of Finance; President of Notre Europe
ITA Rocca, Gianfelice President, Techint
ITA Scaroni, Paolo CEO, Eni S.p.A.

FIN Blåfield, Antti Senior Editorial Writer, Helsingin Sanomat
FIN Katainen, Jyrki Minister of Finance
FIN Ollila, Jorma President, Royal Dutch Shell plc
FIN Wahlroos, Björn President, Sampo plc

NOR Bretzæg, Svein Richard CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA
NOR Magnus, Birger President, Storebre ASA
NOR Myklebust, Egil Ex- President Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA

AUT Bronner, Oscar Publisher e Editor, Der Steard
AUT Fischer, Heinz Federal President
AUT Scholten, Rudolf Member Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG

FRA Castries, Henri, President Management Board & CEO, AXA
FRA Lauvergeon, Anne President Executive Board, AREVA
FRA Montbrial, Thierry de President, French Institute for International Relations
FRA Ramanantsoa, Bernard Dean, HEC Paris Group

CAN Clark, W. Edmund President/CEO, TD Bank Financial Group
CAN Campbell, Gordon Premier of British Columbia
CAN Mansbridge, Peter Chief Correspondent, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CAN McKenna, Frank Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group
CAN Prichard, J. Robert S. President/CEO, Metrolinx
CAN Reisman, Heather M. Chair e CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.

GRC David, George A. President Coca-Cola H.B.C. S.A.
GRC Papaconstantinou, George Minister of Finance
GRC Tsoukalis, Loukas President, ELIAMEP

DNK Eldrup, CEO, DONG Energy
DNK Federspiel, Ulrik Vice Presidente Global Affairs, Haldor Topsøe A/S
DNK Nyrup Rasmussen, Ex- Prime Minister

IRL Gallagher, Paul Attorney General
IRL Sutherland Peter D. President, Goldman Sachs International

TUR Gürel, Z. Damla Special Adviser to the President on EU Affairs
TUR Koç, Mustafa V. President, Koç Holding A.?.
TUR Çakir, Ruben, Journalist
TUR Özilhan, Tuncay President, Anadolu Group
TUR Sabanci Dinçer, Suzan President, Akbank

CHE Vasella, Daniel L. President, Novartis AG
CHE Voser, Peter CEO, Royal Dutch Shell plc
CHE Waldvogel, Francis A. President, Novartis Venture Fund

Rapporteurs:

GBR: Bredow, Vendeline von, Business Correspondent, The Economist
GBR: Wooldridge, Adrian D., Business Correspondent, The Economist

This article first appeared on Jurriaan Maessen’s website explosivereports.com

Why Bother? One in seven thinks end of world is coming

 

(Reuters) – - Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.

The end of the Mayan calendar, which spans about 5,125 years, on December 21, 2012 has sparked interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.

“Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming,” said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.

“Perhaps it is because of the media attention coming from one interpretation of the Mayan prophecy that states the world ‘ends’ in our calendar year 2012,” Gottfried said, adding that some Mayan scholars have disputed the interpretation.

Responses to the international poll of 16,262 people in more than 20 countries varied widely with only six percent of French residents believing in an impending Armageddon in their lifetime, compared to 22 percent in Turkey and the United States and slightly less in South Africa and Argentina.

But only seven percent in Belgium and eight percent in Great Britain feared an end to the world during their lives.

About one in 10 people globally also said they were experiencing fear or anxiety about the impending end of the world in 2012. The greatest numbers were in Russia and Poland, the fewest in Great Britain.

Gottfried also said that people with lower education or household income levels, as well as those under 35 years old, were more likely to believe in an apocalypse during their lifetime or in 2012, or have anxiety over the prospect.

“Perhaps those who are older have lived long enough to not be as concerned with what happens to their future,” she explained.

Ipsos questioned people in China, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Italy, South Africa, Great Britain, Indonesia, Germany.

Spain Bans Big Cash… Is the USA Far behind?

 

 

Spain baby snatching scandal begins prosecution

An 80 year old Catholic nun has appeared in court in Madrid accused of being part of a massive baby-snatching ring.
She is the first person to be charged in a bizarre case that has gripped Spain.
Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego reports from Seville.