The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.

"At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq'' civil war, a new law is unveiled that will allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves? Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly outsources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater? After a tsunami wipes out the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts? New Orleans residents, scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be re-opened." Klein not only kicks butt, she names names, notably economist Milton Friedman and his radical Chicago School of the 1950s and 60s which she notes "produced many of the leading neo-conservative and neo-liberal thinkers whose influence is still profound in Washington today." Stand up and take a bow, Donald Rumsfeld.

There's little doubt Klein's book--which arrived to enormous attention and fanfare thanks to her previous missive, the best-selling No Logo, will stir the ire of the right and corporate America. It's also true that Klein's assertions are coherent, comprehensively researched and footnoted, and she makes a very credible case. Even if the world isn't going to hell in a hand-basket just yet, it's nice to know a sharp customer like Klein is bearing witness to the backroom machinations of government and industry in times of turmoil. --Kim Hughes

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Bahrain criticized the Crackdown

21 April 2011, last updated at 19: 17 -ET, Caroline Hawley BBC News rights groups say four people have died, human rights groups are expressing growing concern about the maintenance of security crackdown in Bahrain.

Campaign group Physicians for human rights report has called for an international investigation of the use of "excessive force".

It says, at least among those arrested are 32 medics after the start of the protests.

The Government denied the reports were "false", suggest that the doctors have been arrested or detained without distinction.

However, for those who had been careful in the management of the offices of the block-which has been "overrun with political and sectarian activities"-were the subject of the investigation, the spokesman said.

' Died ' storage

Human rights workers to talk about climate change growing fear of Bahrain.

Physicians for human rights has argued that some doctors have been in the middle of the night in their homes as the legend of the men.

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organizations have so far failed to understand is that some of the most important Bahrain's. day-care services had not been the political and sectarian activities "

End Quote Maysoon Sabkar Government spokesman reported hundreds of people have been detained are doctors and prominent human rights activist. Others have lost their jobs to take part in the protests.

Rights groups, that many of those arrested have been held to their whereabouts Unknown, arbitrary, and that four of the prisoners have died in custody.

Physicians for human rights says, in the opinion of the medics have been allocated for arrest for surrender purposes because they have been treated the wounded Klimaflüchtlinge and see the evidence of abuses by security forces.

The International Committee of the Red Cross to visit prisoners in March after the request. It has been a reply.

For mounting concern in the middle of the Amnesty International has called on Bahrain's, the allies in order to put an end to what it calls by pressing the spiralling human rights crisis.

"Malicious propaganda"

William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, called on the Bahraini authorities to act in accordance with the law.

He said the arrests of opposition figures, the deaths due to torture allegations and parental responsibility, the denial of medical reports were very troubling.

However, Government spokesman Sabkar Maysoon, Physicians for human rights said the allegations were "completely FALSE".

"What have so far failed to understand some of the most important Bahrain's in the management of the locations, including Salmaniya medical complex, services had exceeded the political and sectarian activities," he said.

"After this propaganda of malware, the suspension of the services, medical care, severely endangering the life of isolation and spreading.

"This was completely unacceptable behaviour of the standard. These are responsible for, and organized into a proper, legal manner, "he said.

 

The Kingdom [Blu-ray]

Set in Saudi Arabia, The Kingdom is a political action thriller with good acting and wonderful visuals. Its so-so script, though, at times meanders aimlessly until a good explosion jolts the viewer's attention back to the screen. Jamie Foxx stars as FBI special agent Ronald Fleury, who leads an elite team into Saudi Arabia to find the terrorists who attacked American employees working in the Middle East. He has been given the unlikely deadline of five days to infiltrate the compound, with just his wit and his crew, which includes forensics expert Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner), explosives guru Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), and intelligence analyst Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman). It's unclear how helpful smarmy U.S. diplomat Damon Schmidt (Jeremy Piven) will be, but Fleury knows enough to surmise that the media-hungry Schmidt might not be completely trustworthy. Foxx and Garner have wonderful screen presence, but it's Bateman and Piven who get the best lines. Director Peter Berg peppers The Kingdom with actors he has worked with in the past. Berg, who guest-starred on Alias opposite Garner, casts Tim McGraw in a small role here. (The country singer also had a co-starring role in Berg's 2004 film Friday Night Lights.) And Kyle Chandler and Minka Kelly--two of Berg's lead actors from the Friday Night Lights television series, , make appearances in The Kingdom. The action sequences he creates are impressive and generate a sense of panic that The Kingdom producer Michael Mann (Miami Vice) undoubtedly applauds. While a tauter script would've rounded out the action nicely, the action in many cases does speak for itself. --Jae-Ha Kim

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The top 15 Tips for making purchases in the Middle East

It is a well known fact that every vacation includes the pleasure of shopping. Even difficult you could promise yourself that you will be able to resist the bargains (who often become clutter around the House after a few months), however you will end up in the souvenir shop for shopping "little" for your loved ones. If you travel to the Turkey, Egypt or the Morocco, it becomes hard to resist this incentive. As someone who frequently goes to the Middle East, I would like to share some of my personal experiences with North American travellers who intend to visit these countries:

(1) First rule: always negotiate in bazaars and Souks. Sellers of carpets, jewellery and leather shops work on basis of the commission. If ever accept the offer from the first or the second. Sometimes you can even get up to 70% discount on the original price.

(2) Try to judge the price by how much you would be willing to pay for it in your country of origin. Set the price in your mind and to y. On the other hand, always keep, in your mind, the value of the local currency. Try to think of the local currency; most of the articles may appear good markets when converted into USD, but could be very expensive for local populations. Therefore buy like a local.

(3) Most vendors include multiple languages, not to talk about what that is in front of them.

(4) Power use of "No thanks!": at least learn this expression in the local language and use it when you are harassed. Smile and walk.

(5) Keep out of sight credit cards and your own currency. It is easier to haggle over a price with your local currency "limited".

(6) Guides get commission on your purchases. If you are not satisfied with the price, try to come back to your free day and check the element similar to other stores. If another golden rule: having a free shopping day!

(7) Top tourist sites such as Khan El-Khalili usually visited in tours of Cairo or Grand Bazaar in Istanbul will be more expensive prices. Discover the residential areas of shopping for the best deals.

(8) For the items where quality is important are trying to find a fixed price store. You can pay little more but the quality will be higher.

Haggling 9) is necessary if you buy items of high value, such as gold and jewelry, but it is not always helpful with goods of low value the time and effort.

(10) Shops in the Middle East prefer cash. If you pay with cash instead of a credit card, you must have more power to obtain a good reduction.

(11) Always shop autour. Never buy in the first shop; You can always return. Traders try to persuade you that they offer the best value, but will not be offended when you say that you want to look around and come back.

(12) During the purchase of gold and silver negotiate on the price per gram, not the price per article.

(13) Usually little grocery shops, café, supermarket chains will be have fixed prices and bargaining is not accepted.

(14) Traders will show great hospitality. They say that the purchase is not necessary, they will invite you to their shop, offers a tea, coffee; in the end, you'll feel so much shame to leave without buying what either. Do not fall into this trap.

(15) If you buy more than one element or shopping with a group, you can haggle for a greater discount.

About the author:
Nile Aykut is the Director of the Anatolia in travel Marketing. Anatolia travel offer tours private and escorted to the Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan & Greece. http://www.anatoliatravels.com/

STAY ALERT Military Caffeine Energy Gum - CINNAMON - CASE (288 packs, 5 pieces per pack) - 100 mg Caffeine per piece

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The Middle East is a decent Environmentally Safe Place for human wars

Where human beings humans must have their wars? In the future, that they are in space, today, they are on the surface of the planet where we live. Is there a good place and a bad place to have a war? Similarly, if you are an environmentalist, I guess that you would say; Yes! Of course, you can also be anti-war too.

OK, so having a war is a bad idea right? Yes, but if you have one, Middle East , with all its desert regions is not a bad place to stage a human conflict. Consider whether you will be the negative environmental effects of human wars. Think to the types of wars of impacts on the environment as burned vehicles, sautéed field, fire, agent orange, mustard gas, land mines, napalm, air gas, depleted uranium missiles end guns, oil on the fire fieldsetc...

Did you know that 80% of 1900 and 2000 AD wars fought in the areas of robust biodiversity? This means that us has caused problems for other species all in the name of killing our own. Therefore, if we have a war where humans are busy doing something also stupid that kill their own species, the least that we could do is let all the other species from there!

Well, you know what? We are lucky because it looks like with any military race to the Middle East with countries such as the Iraq, Iran, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Pakistan, etc., that's probably where the next big war will take place. Please consider this and realize that this author does not mean to glorify the war anyway, simply raise a thought provoking theme.

Lance Winslow - Lance winslow Bio. Lance Winslow is also the founder of the car wash guys, a little cool Franchise company; www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html/.