Oil drilling disaster in Indonesia

This video from the USA is called Robert Redford on Saving the Arctic Refuge.

From the BBC:

The eruption of the Lusi mud volcano in Indonesia was caused by drilling for oil and gas, a meeting of 74 leading geologists has concluded.

Lusi erupted in May 2006 and continues to spew out boiling mud, displacing around 30,000 people in East Java.

Drilling firm Lapindo Brantas denies a nearby well was the trigger, blaming an earthquake 280km (174 miles) away.

Around 10,000 families who have lost their homes are awaiting compensation, which could run as high as $70m (£43m).

After debating new evidence at a conference in South Africa, most geologists voted drilling as the cause.

Correspondents describe the result a significant development in the tug-of-war to establish liability for the disaster.

Mud slinging

The debate on the cause of the eruption took place at a meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, in Cape Town.

Petroleum geologists are very often dependent on Big Oil for employment, so it is significant that even so they made this decision.

In Alaska and elsewhere in the USA, Sarah Palin and John McCain are screaming Drill, baby drill! Even in vulnerable areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If they would win the elections, disasters like now in Indonesia may be expected in the USA.

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US author Studs Terkel dies

This video from the USA says about itself:

Harry Kreisler welcomes Studs Terkel, prize-winning author and radio broadcast personality, on this edition of Conversations with History. Series: “Conversations with History” [2/2004]

From British daily The Guardian:

Studs Terkel, voice of America’s uncelebrated, dies aged 96

• Pulitzer prize-winner told stories of the working class
• Death follows fall at his home two weeks ago

See also here. And here.

A Studs Terkel interview about the Iraq war is here.

See also here.

Israeli contradictions lead to general election

This video is called Young Israelis seek cheaper cost of living in Berlin despite governement criticism.

Escape from Treblinka death camp: here.

By Jean Shaoul:

Political stalemate forces general election in Israel

1st November 2008

Israel will go to the polls to elect a parliament on February 10, some 12 months earlier than scheduled.

In the meantime, the disgraced Ehud Olmert, who faces six investigations into corruption, will resume the leadership of the Kadima party and continue as prime minister, despite his resignation from the party leadership on July 30. Olmert said the country had too many pressing security needs for him to leave office immediately.

Israel will continue to be ruled by a lame duck government under conditions of mounting political and financial instability globally, within the region and Israel itself. This will be the sixth general election held before its due date, with none of the governments completing a full four-year term.

The decision to call an election follows the failure of Tzipi Livni, who narrowly won the leadership of the Kadima party in September following Olmert’s resignation, to form a majority coalition under her leadership. Kadima holds 29 seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament, the Knesset, and rules in coalition with Labour, with 19 seats, and the Pensioners Party, which has eight seats and has split into two warring factions. Shas, an ultra-orthodox party with 12 seats, refused to remain within the coalition.

From British daily The Independent:

Benjamin Netanyahu, a front-runner for the Israeli premiership, has been severely criticised by a former Speaker of the Knesset and head of the Jewish Agency for comparing the threat posed by Iran to that of pre-war Nazi Germany.

Mr Netanyahu, whose Likud Party is running neck and neck in the polls with Kadima, led by Tzipi Livni, has gone further than his rivals in implying he might authorise a unilateral attack on Iranian nuclear installations.

Jewish youths jailed for neo-Nazi attacks in Israel: here.

Related articles

• Israeli minister resigns in protest over PM’s policies
• Israeli cabinet backs bill which critics describe as ‘undemocratic’
• Livni: I Will Not Support The Jewish Nationality Bill In Knesset Vote

Financial crisis continuing

This video from Democracy NOW! in the USA is called Demonstrators Rally on Wall Street Against Federal Bailout.

The economic crisis continues.

Huge IMF bailout for emerging economies: here.

Wall Street’s Great Heist of 2008: here.

From British daily The Guardian:

Rescued bank to pay millions in bonuses

Royal Bank of Scotland, which is being bailed out with £20bn of taxpayers’ money, has signalled it is preparing to pay bonuses to thousands of staff despite government pledges to crack down on City pay.

See also here.