Monthly Archives: July 2014

‘Do Nothing’ U.S. Congress in Iran Nuclear Deal ?

OpEd

Davindranauth Shiwratan

Friday, July 11, 2014

‘Do Nothing’ U.S. Congress in Iran Nuclear Deal?

The U.S. Congress would be counter-productive and an obstacle in the effort to accomplish the negotiations for a possible nuclear accord between Tehran, the capital of Iran, and six world powers; including the permanent five members: United States, Great Britain, France, China, and Russia of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC); plus Germany (P5+1).

A large group of bipartisan US lawmakers from the House of Representatives, 344 out of 435 members, signed a letter to President Barack Obama to involve the congress in any decision (PressTV). The US Congress have been suspicious of the negotiations that they have threatened not to lift sanctions on Iran if they are not satisfied with the terms of the agreement (Sanger. The New York Times).

US Congress has an overall 8% approval rating among the American Public. This congress would outsource its gridlock from the Capitol Hill chambers to overseas on the negotiations’ table and showcase political theater for the global press. Neither Compromise nor Diplomacy exists within the current legislative branch. There are always winners and losers in US politics at home as American Foreign Policy abroad.

Why would the US Congress get involve in the negotiations between Tehran and the six world powers? Most US lawmakers, especially in the House of Representatives, are campaigning to win the upcoming 2014 Midterm elections in the United States this November. This is a great opportunity to receive monetary campaign contributions from the Pro-Israel lobby groups and special interests affiliated with the Military-Industrial Complex in exchange to sponsor a bill(s) or an amendment(s).

What would the US Congress do? The US Congress would listen to the cash flow from the campaign contributors to make the decision to guarantee the victory and regain their seats on Election Day for another term in public office. According to PressTV, the Israeli regime and its lobby groups have been urging the already skeptical US lawmakers to increase sanctions on Iran over its nuclear energy program. In August 2013, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports and other economic sectors, including mining and automobile industries.

However, a similar legislation died in the US Senate when President Barack Obama said he would veto the anti-Iran sanctions bill after Tehran, capital of Iran, and the six world powers signed a historic interim nuclear agreement in November 2013. Under the deal, that is scheduled to expire on 2014 July 20th with an additional extension, Iran was offered some sanctions relief and in return limited its nuclear energy program (PressTV).

Iran and the six world powers are holding extensive closed-door discussions to narrow their differences and reach a final deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program as the July 20th deadline approaches (PressTV).

Iran argues that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence indicating diversion in Tehran’s nuclear energy program toward military purposes (PressTV).

The Israeli regime seeks to become the only military power in the Middle Eastern region. The State of Israel has an estimated 400 nuclear warheads in its facilities. In May 2014, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that would grant Israel over $600 million of American taxpayers’ money in military aid. The legislation authorizes $351 million for Israel’s Iron Dome missile system and $269 million for its David’s Sling and Arrow 3 missile programs (PressTV).

 

Bibliography

Sanger, David E. “Kerry to Join Talks on Iran as Deadline Draws Near.”

The New York Times 11 July 2014.

https://global-factiva-com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/ga/default.aspx?imt=2&ao=14&aod=1811683

“Obama repeats anti-Iran war rhetoric.” Press TV  8 July 2014.

http://edition.presstv.ir/iphone/detail.aspx?id=370393

“Congress pushing for say on Iran deal.” Press TV 11 July 2014.

http://edition.presstv.ir/iphone/detail.aspx?id=370797

“US Congress will further support Israel.” Press TV 12 July 2014.

http://edition.presstv.ir/iphone/detail.aspx?id=370944

“New York’s new 9/11 Investigation could stop global holocaust.” Press TV 11 July 2014.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/11/370830/911-probe-could-stop-global-holocaust/

 

 

 

 

Emerging World Economies BRICS to launch Development Bank

International Relations, , , , , , , , ,

Davindranauth Shiwratan

July 12, 2014

BRICS launching Development Bank

The 5 major emerging world economies, BRICS, are expected to launch their development bank at a summit on July 15 in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The BRICS bank will present an alternative solution to the Western global banking system comprised of the Bretton Woods institutions – the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The new bank will provide a collective foreign exchange reserve and a fund for financing development projects in order to address the needs of emerging and poor economies.

Under the deal, the two largest emerging world economies, China and Brazil, agreed to remove nearly half of their trade exchanges out of the US dollar zone. The BRICS countries will contribute up to $10 billion each in starting the development bank. It could take several years to be operating. The bank will function on national currencies rather than using a single currency; it will be adopted in bilateral and multilateral trade deals.

BRICS countries make up over 40% of the world’s population and account for more than 25% of the global GDP. The leaders of BRICS will decide over the location for the bank’s headquarters between Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India.

BRICS members say the current global balance of power is unworkable, with institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) irrelevant in addressing matters concerning global economics. (PressTV)

 Source:

“BRICS to launch development​ bank.” Press TV 12 July 2014.

http://edition.presstv.ir/iphone/detail.aspx?id=370950

 

 

Decline in Pollinators; U.S. Agriculture at Risk

Public Policy, , , , , , ,

Davindranauth Shiwratan

June 10, 2014

Decline in Pollinators; U.S. Agriculture at Risk

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 17 billion honey bees have been killed and injured across the United States and could put $15 billion worth of fruits, nuts, and vegetables at risk. Honey bees are important pollinators for both flowers and agricultural crops.

The list of crops that simply would not grow without honey bees is lengthy: Apples, cucumbers, broccoli, onions, pumpkins, carrots, avocados, almonds, etc.

We need honey bees to pollinate many of our favorite fruits and vegetables, the United States could lose $15 billion worth of crops – not to mention what it would do to your diet.

Beekeepers first sounded the alarm about disappearing bees in 2006. Seemingly healthy bees were simply abandoning their hives en masse, never to return. Researchers call the mass disappearance Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), and they estimate that nearly one-third of all honey bee colonies in the country [United States] have vanished.

Scientists studying the disorder believe a combination of factors could be making bees sick, including pesticide exposure, invasive parasitic mites, an inadequate food supply and a new virus that targets bees’ immune systems. More research is essential to determine the exact cause of the bees’ distress.

The Natural Resources Defense Council states the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) has so far failed to aggressively seek out a solution. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allotted $20 million over the next five years for research, that amount pales in comparison with the potential loss of $15 billion worth of crops that [honey] bees pollinate every year.

Fruits and Nuts

Almonds

Apples

Apricots

Avocadoes

Blueberries

Boysenberries

Cherries

Citrus

Cranberries

Grapes

Kiwifruit

Loganberries

Macadamia nuts

Nectarines

Olives

Peaches

Pears

Plums/Prunes

Raspberries

Strawberries
Vegetables

Asparagus

Broccoli

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Cucumbers

Cantaloupe

Honeydew

Onions

Pumpkins

Squash

Watermelons
Field Crops

 

Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa Seed

Cotton Lint

Cotton Seed

Legume Seed

Peanuts

Rapeseed

Soybeans

Sugar Beets

Sunflowers

 

Source:

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp