Cease-Fire Has Come To A Close

The six-month long cease-fire between the Israelis and Hamas will end on Friday, said Hamas, who are the Islamists who control the Gaza Strip. It is hard to really call this a cease fire, there has been fairly constant fighting throughout, which is probably why it is coming to an end. Both sides have said that they will retaliate to any attack upon their territory. Hamas said on their website that the cease-fire is ending because the Israelis did not follow through with the conditions. As the cease-fire drew to a close, attacks by the two factions have become more and more frequent. It is hard to tell whether or not these attacks are from the Israelis and Hamas seeing as there are so many smaller factions fighting the same battle. The Palestinian President is calling for the cease-fire to continue, but he is not in charge of the Gaza Strip, Hamas seized control of it in 2007 and have occupied it since.

The fighting between Israel and Hamas has been going on for to long, and there is no end is sight. Civilians lose there lives to this senseless fighting and the Israelis and Hamas know this, but they are determined not to let other side win. With the cease-fire things seemed as if they might be getting better. But we see now that the fighting will continue.

Clamshells Packaging: A Thing Of The Past

Hard to open packages, they encase everything we buy. From toys to electronics, and when we try and open them, we only end up hurting ourselves. The term most commonly used for this is “clamshell” packaging. Fortunately is seems as if clamshell packaging is on the way out. It was first introduced to showcase items like electronics and toys in clear plastic cases while still preventing shop lifting by making it difficult to easily open and stick in ones pocket. But now companies such as Sony, Amazon.com, and Microsoft are realizing that these tough to open packages are making things unnecessarily difficult for consumers and are working on new ways to package their products. Simplified packaging would not only make things easier on all consumers, it would also make things easier for the environment. By putting things in easy to open cardboard boxes you eliminate all the plastic and inserts that go into the current packages. One of ideas is to seal products in with an adhesive that is easy to pry open but makes a loud Velcro sound when opened. Microsoft’s prototype features plastic zippers.

New and innovative packaging technique and surely the way of the future; the consumer is sick and tired of cutting themselves to pieces while trying to open their goods, and it is taking a hefty toll on our environment.

http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Clamshell+packaging/1092159/story.html

Is Chrysler Going Under?

Chrysler, one of the big three auto makers in the United States, has decided to close all 30 of its manufacturing plants for one month. These closures are directly related to credit crisis. Chrysler says “there is still demand for its vehicles but that customers are unable to get financing deals” this is a major problem for the other two big auto makers in the U.S, Ford and Gm, but Chrysler seems to be the worst hit.

Chrysler employees are taking a forced break from their jobs, which, during the Christmas season especially, is not something that they want. They are being forced to rely on government unemployment benefits.

Chrysler has asked the government for a 7 billion dollar bailout saying that they risk bankruptcy is they do not receive it. The 14 billion dollar bailout for the entire U.S auto industry was recently scrapped. Chrysler is a privately owned company and some are wondering whether or not they should receive government aid.

The fact is millions of people will be out of work is Chrysler goes under. So the question becomes, risk having people all over the country lose their jobs. Or give 7 billion dollars to a private company.

A Lawful Excuse

Climate change is one of the biggest issues for demonstrators these days. Protest groups are staging rallies around the world is protest to all industry and effects climate. The Attorney General is asking the courts to “clamp down” on protesters on the issue of climate change. This comes after six Greenpeace activists were acquitted on charges of criminal damages to the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent Britain. "Ed Milliband wanted a social movement on climate change but this government doesn't seem to trust members of the public such as jurors to actually decide what's right and wrong on climate change," said Ben Stewart, who was one of the activists acquitted. They were protesting plans for a new generation station at the plant.

The big question on everyone’s mind is weather a “lawful excuse” can be used in defense to charges such as this one. The defense used maps and brought in scientists to prove that the introduction of this new station would cause great harm to the environment not only in Kent but around the world. The Prosecution argued that “allowance for demonstrations did not extend to breaking the law”

The problem is determining the difference between a demonstration that breaks the law, and one that does not. Protesters feel that demonstating peacefully does not get the message across, and the only way to do this is to take drastic measures.

What Happens Now?

This is probably the most exciting thing to happen in 50 years in Canadian politics. For all of you who haven’t been paying attention to what has been going on, Stephen Harper, the leader of the Conservative Party has prorogued parliament. Prorogued is the suspension of parliament, which is completely unnecessary and actually fowls everything up in this time of financial troubles. Harper did this in light of the fact that the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois formed a coalition government and were going to have a vote of no confidence to topple the Conservatives. This suspension will last until January 26^th. At that time the Conservatives will pitch a new financial stimulus package.

This whole situation is really mad which ever way you look at it. In the end this could just be another election, something a majority of Canadians do not want.

So now we basically have to wait and see and will happen. The big question is, will the coalition survive? And if it does, will they automatically vote down whatever Harper offers in terms of a stimulus package. Or, will they act according to what Canadians want and vote for the package if it suits the needs of Canadians.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada/COLUMN+MADNESS/1032939/story.html

Credit Crisis Hits Dubai

Credit Crisis Hits Dubai

For a long while now, Dubai has been a tourist hot-spot for spectacular architecture and beautiful coastlines. Building companies have been going strong now for many years building the worlds biggest and most beautiful structures. But it has finally happened. The Dubai real-estate market has collapsed and the fantastical building has come to a stand still.

Emaar, the company who built the Burj Dubai, has had a 79% drop in its stock, and their not the only ones. The general stock index of the Dubai financial markets has dropped from 6,315 to 2,012 this year alone. “Unless they've been funded by a sovereign wealth fund, they're being pulled” Has this really happened? Is there no money left in Dubai? It seems that the only way you’re getting your building anything is if you’re funding it out of your own very deep pockets. It seems that every project in Dubai is “on hold indefinitely.”

So now Dubai has conundrum, nobody will come to this fantasy land in the Middle East. They have built themselves up into one of the most expensive places in the world and now nobody can afford to go.

In my opinion Dubai will not simply die out. It is a beautiful place architecturally and once this credit crisis is fixed Dubai will go back to being a major tourist hotspot.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/nov/21/dubai-atlantis-palm