TRANSITION ST. ASAPH

## Global economic meltdown ##

Asia Deficits Swell as Soaring Oil Makes Leaders Delay Subsidy Reductions
Japan Quake’s Economic Impact Worse than First Feared

“Japan’s economics minister warned on Tuesday that the economic damage from last month’s earthquake and tsunami is likely to be worse than initially thought as power shortages will crimp factory output and restrict supply chains. “

Taiwan close to passing luxury tax in response to widening wealth gap
“Taiwan’s planned tax on everything from speculative real estate deals to yachts targets a politically volatile and growing wealth gap.”

## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##
Libya: Alain Juppe says Nato is ‘not doing enough’

MPs arrested over fuel price protests (Uganda)

Pakistan Tells U.S. It Must Sharply Cut C.I.A. Activities (NYT)

Yemenis decry immunity for president
“Tens of thousands hold protests against mediation by the GCC aimed at ending political crisis.”

Mexico drug war’s latest victim: the lime
“The lime, a staple of Mexico’s taco culture, quadrupled in price to almost $4 a kilo (2.2 pounds) in December and January, drug traffickers blamed for meddling in the supply chain.”

“A top U.S. general expressed concern to Congress on Tuesday about the expanding reach of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, warning it was no longer solely focused on India or even South Asia.”

“Saudi Arabia has recently shown interest in medium-sized U.S. warships as part of its naval buildup to counter Iran, particularly surface vessels capable of countering asymmetric and air threats.”

## Energy/resources ##

Switzerland says considering nuclear shutdown
Ethanol producers look into the weeds for corn substitute
Brazil’s Petrobras Looks to Chinese Financing

The limits to solar thermal energy
“It is very commonly assumed that we can move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources without significant change in the lifestyles and systems of rich countries. People might think that some things would have to be quite different, such as the kinds of cars they drive, but it seems to be taken for granted that the transition could be made without any threat to the growth economy, the free enterprise market system, or affluent living standards.”

Train running late? Blame high copper prices
“Thieves lured by surging copper prices are creating a nightmare for European railways, sparking large-scale disruption, eroding profits and damaging their reputations.”

A Survey of the World’s Radioactive No-Go Zones (Spiegel)

“Everyone knows about Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and, now, Fukushima. But what about Semipalatinsk, Palomares and Kyshtym? The world is full of nuclear disaster zones — showing just how dangerous the technology really is.”

## Got food? ##
China Pork Binge Driving Iowa-Sized Soy Imports on Shortage

“All the soybeans in Iowa won’t be enough to meet the anticipated surge in China’s imports over the next four years as the nation feeds a record pig herd and drives bean prices to an all-time high.”

## Environment/health ##

Fukushima radiation taints US milk supplies at levels 300% higher than EPA maximums
The Mighty Blueberry

“Lesser-known relatives of the E. coli bacteria strain behind outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in the United States could be just as dangerous, researchers say.”

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
‘Stun Ray’ Will Blind You Into Submission

## Japan ##

Video: Nuclear Engineer demonstrates How Fukushima’s Fuel Rods Melted and Shattered

## China ##
A city of 260 million. Where else but China?

## UK ##
U.K. Retail Sales Plunge Most in 16 Years as Inflation Squeezes Households

## US ##

“Big banks like Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc should be reclassified as government-sponsored entities and have their activities restricted, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.”

“2012 is shaping up to be the blockbuster main event of the ongoing financial crisis. Massive amounts of new debt, vast quantities of additional digital dollars and the spark of higher interest rates will set off version 2.0 of the credit-driven financial implosion.”
Wave of consolidation may be coming in military electronics

“The prospect of big declines in military spending has to raise doubts about whether all of the players currently operating in the military electronics space can survive over the long run.”
Must read! Cramer’s View of the Market Is Now ‘Grim’

“The current federal bridge-repair program provides $5.2 billion a year, compared with what the Federal Highway Administration estimates is a backlog of $71 billion of repair needs.”

Gas Prices Move Closer To The Tipping Point
Escalating fuel costs push import prices
Inflation Actually Near 10% Using Older Measure