News for today's 2018

Today's Teamster News 08.23.13

3:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/ups-upstate-new-york-supplement-ratified" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Ratify UPS Upstate New York Supplement</a>   IBT   ...UPS Teamsters in New York state ratified the Upstate New York supplement to the UPS national agreement yesterday with 65% voting in favor...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/waste-workers-cape-cod-ratify-first-contract" rel="nofollow">Teamster Waste Workers On Cape Cod Ratify First Contract</a>   IBT   ...Workers at Republic/Allied Waste, who serve all of Cape Cod, have ratified their first contract which contains many improvements. The workers joined Local 59 in New Bedford in 2012...<br /><a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1214153/teamsters-gains-a-foothold-in-ontario-hospitals" rel="nofollow">Teamsters gains a foothold in Ontario hospitals</a>  Teamsters Canada   ...Teamsters Union Local 419 has gained approximately 2000 new members as the result of a merger with the Ontario Workers' Union (OWU). The OWU represents 14 bargaining units with two of the more notible sized units being Humber River Hospital with three hospital locations and William Osler Health System with two hospital locations...<br /><a href="http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yoursouthhills/yoursouthhillsmore/4533009-74/contract-officers-percent#axzz2chvoOxxa" rel="nofollow">Pleasant Hills, Teamsters reach four-year contract agreement</a>   Pittsburgh Tribune-Review   ...Pleasant Hills Council has a tentative contract agreement with the Pleasant Hills police officers, who are represented by Teamsters Local 205 in White Oak, Pennsylvania. Wages would increase by 2.5 percent in the first and fourth years and 3 percent in the second and third years...<br /><a href="http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32707:three-union-members-to-return-to-work-at-lake-transit-congressman-urges-sides-to-continue-talks&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197" rel="nofollow">Congressman urges Teamsters, Lake Transit to continue talks</a>  Lake County News   ...On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Thompson sent Teamsters Local 665 President Ralph Miranda and Paratransit Services a letter urging the two sides to return to negotiations as soon as possible, noting the service stoppage is having a “devastating effect” on riders...<br /><a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/08/21/Richmond-Ikea-Dispute-Update/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters at Ikea Richmond, B.C. unanimously reject fourth contract offer</a>  The Tyee   ...Members of Teamsters Local 213 locked out of the Richmond Ikea since May have unanimously rejected a fourth contract offer from the company, while other unions are calling for a <a href="http://www.tssu.ca/2013/08/13/back-to-school-do-not-patronize-either-ikea-richmond-or-coquitlam/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">boycott</a> of the store. Ikea has been embroiled in a <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/06/12/Richmond-Ikea-Labour-Dispute/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bitter labor fight</a> with the union at the Richmond outlet in British Columbia since May 13, but reported $32 billion in revenues last year...<br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/higher-minimum-wage-public-agrees-republicans-remain-divided/story?id=20026021" rel="nofollow">Higher Minimum Wage: Public Agrees But Republicans Remain Divided</a>  ABC News   ...Republicans in Congress are divided over a measure that most Americans support: raising minimum wage...<br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175875/fired-walmart-workers-arrested-rally-announcing-labor-day-deadline#axzz2ceOpqMnF" rel="nofollow">Fired Walmart Workers Arrested at Rally Announcing Labor Day Deadline</a>  The Nation   ...Nine fired workers and a current employee were arrested around 2:30 pm Thursday after locking arms and sitting in front of the entrance to a Washington, DC, Walmart office. The planned act of civil disobedience concluded a noon rally at which workers announced a Labor Day deadline for Walmart to raise wages and reinstate workers they allege were fired for their activism. Twenty workers who joined a June strike by the labor group OUR Walmart have since been terminated; another fifty-some have been otherwise disciplined by Walmart...<br /><a href="http://www.mintpressnews.com/alt-labor-provides-support-for-fast-food-strikes/167449/" rel="nofollow">‘Alt Labor’ Provides Support For Fast-Food Strikes</a>  Mint Press News   ...On the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, thousands of low wage fast food workers are expected to walk off the job in what could be the largest single-day protest in the history of U.S. fast food. In a <a href="http://www.fastfoodforward.org/en/">$200 billion</a> per year industry, workers across the U.S. have taken part in protests, calling for $15 per hour and the right to form a union without intimidation...<br /><a href="http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201308220031" rel="nofollow">Japan-made parts to push up price of F-35 fighter jets for ASDF</a>  Asahi Shimbun    ...Two Japanese contractors will supply 24 components for the next-generation F-35 stealth fighters for the Air Self-Defense Force, which will push up the price by 50 percent, sources said. The F-35 will be built mainly by Lockheed Martin Corp., with parts procured in the United States, Britain and other countries participating in the project. The aircraft will be assembled in the United States, Italy and Japan...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-cohen/working-families-need-fai_b_3775696.html" rel="nofollow">Working Families Need Fair Trade, Not Free Trade</a> (opinion)  Huffington Post   ...Working families haven't seen much of an economic recovery, and we definitely can't afford to lose more manufacturing and service jobs to yet another free trade agreement. But that is exactly where we're headed if the <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/tpp" rel="nofollow">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a> moves ahead unchallenged...<br /><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/22/sources-koch-industries-not-buying-la-times-chicago-tribune/" rel="nofollow">Sources: Koch Industries not buying LA Times, Chicago Tribune</a>  The Daily Caller   ...The company determined that purchasing the newspapers was “not economically viable” and that both parties walked away from the negotiations, they said...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-20/amazon-ramps-up-13-9-billion-warehouse-building-spree.html" rel="nofollow">Amazon Ramps Up $13.9 Billion Warehouse Building Spree</a>  Bloomberg   ...<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AMZN:US">Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)</a> is stepping up a warehouse building spree, signaling the urgency of getting products to customers more quickly amid rising competition from <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/EBAY:US">EBay Inc. (EBAY)</a>and Wal-Mart Stores Inc...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-gathered-thousands-of-americans-e-mails-before-court-struck-down-program/2013/08/21/146ba4b6-0a90-11e3-b87c-476db8ac34cd_story.html?tid=pm_pop" rel="nofollow">NSA gathered thousands of Americans’ e-mails before court ordered it to revise its tactics</a>  Washington Post   ...For several years, the National Security Agency unlawfully gathered tens of thousands of e-mails and other electronic communications between Americans as part of a now-revised collection method, according to <a href="http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/fisa-court-documents-on-illegal-nsa-e-mail-collection-program/409/" rel="nofollow">a 2011 secret court opinion</a>...<br /><a href="http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/08/alec-declares-itself-exempt-public-disclosure-laws-and-challenged" rel="nofollow">ALEC declares itself exempt from public-disclosure laws, and is challenged</a>   MinnPost   ...Sometime in the last year or so, the super-secretive <a href="http://www.alec.org/">American Legislative Exchange Council</a> (ALEC), the group that helps its corporate and think-tank members get their wish lists into the hands of state lawmakers, decided to unilaterally declare itself exempt from public disclosure laws throughout the country...<br /><a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/speaking_in_raleigh_colin_powell_blasts_north_carolina_voting_law" rel="nofollow">Speaking in Raleigh, Colin Powell blasts North Carolina voting law</a>   News & Observer   ...With Gov. Pat McCrory in the audience, former Secretary of State Colin Powell took aim at North Carolina's new voting law Thursday, saying it hurts the Republican Party, punishes minority voters and makes it more difficult for everyone to vote...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/22/justice-department-will-challenge-texas-voter-id-law/?hpid=z1" rel="nofollow">Justice Department will challenge Texas Voter ID law</a>   Washington Post   ...The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that it will challenge Texas’s Voter ID law, saying it violates the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Constitution’s 14th and 15th Amendments...<br /><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/20/5666268/pension-systems-to-file-longer.html" rel="nofollow">Pension systems to file longer Chapter 9 objection</a>  Associated Press   ...A federal judge will let Detroit's two pensions systems file longer eligibility objections to emergency manager Kevyn Orr's bankruptcy petition...<br /><a href="http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2013/08/22/ceo-comes-out-swinging-in-favor-of-sb7-prevailing-wages-and-the-race-to-the-top/" rel="nofollow">CEO Comes Out Swinging in Favor of SB7, Prevailing Wages, and the Race to the Top</a>   We Party Patriots   ...In a recent <a href="http://www.modbee.com/2013/08/19/2872992/business-leaders-for-prevailing.html" rel="nofollow">op-ed for the Modesto Bee</a>, Mark Breslin, CEO of San Francisco-based United Contractors, explains why he favors California’s SB 7, a bill which would make charter cities eligible for public funds only if they follow prevailing wage guidelines...

Today's Teamster News 08.23.13

Teamsters Ratify UPS Upstate New York Supplement IBT ...UPS Teamsters in New York state ratified the Upstate New York supplement to the...

new sponsor - arianna belle

2:00 AM Anonymous 0

What better way to wrap up unofficial 'pillow week' with my official pillow source? A lot of you probably already know about <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=59" target="_blank">Arianna Belle</a>, maker of all things lovely, and if you don't you'll thank me in a minute.<br /><br />I found Arianna way back when while doing one of my late night Etsy pillow searches. (I know how to have a good time) She created my <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=91" target="_blank">Schumacher Ric Rac</a> pillow and I've been a member of her fan club ever since.<br /><br />Girlfriend can create anything you can dream up, her work is impeccable and her taste is spot on. Here are some I've added to my wish list. (take notes hubs)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vLXvhW_ZpCB_iq9V8pzL0pnizx8sD-mlJPVT8RKixbV0zj9vaFJIbBqsg0MzyE4MEjBuauGmDcIlP9-k4Hr9TcOFzzcImRyG9MXMr_bbnjMcOQnqTDghHfBS5rph6-b9mIaomeV9qh30/s1600/ariannabellepillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vLXvhW_ZpCB_iq9V8pzL0pnizx8sD-mlJPVT8RKixbV0zj9vaFJIbBqsg0MzyE4MEjBuauGmDcIlP9-k4Hr9TcOFzzcImRyG9MXMr_bbnjMcOQnqTDghHfBS5rph6-b9mIaomeV9qh30/s640/ariannabellepillows.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=98" target="_blank">1</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=88" target="_blank">2</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=104" target="_blank">3</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=83" target="_blank">4</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=105" target="_blank">5</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=89" target="_blank">6</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=119" target="_blank">7</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=70" target="_blank">8</a> // <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=90" target="_blank">9</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Check out her <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=59" target="_blank">shop</a> and prepare to drool. Welcome Arianna Belle to the LBD family, I'm happy you are here!<br /><br /><i>Interested in a sponsorship with little black door? <a href="mailto:news-these-days@gmail.com" target="_blank">Email me</a>!</i>

new sponsor - arianna belle

What better way to wrap up unofficial 'pillow week' with my official pillow source? A lot of you probably already know about Ariann...

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION

1:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOgQcMIhLUhaIUknnyaCvndyevb-biTWpAaNfNYSr0nw9lGZCjvDqlSe_ORJXQOVAS2E0Up-fhA2pTPneB9o3Zyo23jQkRh70HL-pSHQuoEQwRUrIdBtF9ZITTLfIdPnsBOnr7EjP-e6k/s1600/640x392_27469_154627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOgQcMIhLUhaIUknnyaCvndyevb-biTWpAaNfNYSr0nw9lGZCjvDqlSe_ORJXQOVAS2E0Up-fhA2pTPneB9o3Zyo23jQkRh70HL-pSHQuoEQwRUrIdBtF9ZITTLfIdPnsBOnr7EjP-e6k/s400/640x392_27469_154627.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MEDITERRANEAN GAS OUTLOOK THREATENED BY ARMED CONFLICT?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The population in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN region is expected to increase by as much as 35 percent in the next 20 years. Natural gas deposits in the Levant Basin are expected to keep the energy needs of the growing population satisfied indefinitely. Governments in the region are working quickly to get excess natural gas to the international market.  CYPRUS is already taking preliminary steps to start construction on a liquefied natural gas terminal and energy companies are queuing up in anticipation of an ISRAELI court decision on gas export polices. Ongoing conflict in SYRIA and territorial disputes between ISRAEL and LEBANON, however, may interfere with ambitions for the natural gas deposits in the MEDITERRANEAN SEA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2M6SGsvn47WACeHBP-aiwbaFqSMtwkbOquWC9_b_leI1Yo2VVsVmZanmm9pC7kuJTA_lNUV6BWI0L-i0g6x7z-rFqk10s8H3CmZy4kBi6w5Z6ss5fWZbz9Y7u-C8sst-4Qks7r4PN8mv/s1600/The-East-Med-pipeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2M6SGsvn47WACeHBP-aiwbaFqSMtwkbOquWC9_b_leI1Yo2VVsVmZanmm9pC7kuJTA_lNUV6BWI0L-i0g6x7z-rFqk10s8H3CmZy4kBi6w5Z6ss5fWZbz9Y7u-C8sst-4Qks7r4PN8mv/s320/The-East-Med-pipeline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CYPRUS reported its first offshore natural gas discovery just two years ago and is already laying the groundwork for an export terminal. Construction could start as early as 2015 and LNG exports are planned for 2020. Executives there <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-12/cyprus-studies-lng-export-expansion-beyond-12-billion-terminal.html">said</a>they'd likely have to make accommodations for natural gas from ISRAEL and LEBANON in their future export plans. Last year, one of AUSTRALIA'S biggest energy companies, Woodside Petroleum Ltd., <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/woodside-awaits-israel-court-decision-before-completing-gas-deal.html">said</a>it would fork over more than $2 billion for a stake in the Leviathan natural gas field. The company said this week it was waiting patiently for the ISRAELI courts to make a decision affecting gas export policies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Levant Basin has probable undiscovered natural gas resources of 122 trillion cubic feet. At current rates of consumption, that may be enough to meet domestic natural gas demand almost indefinitely. Leviathan, the biggest of the Levant fields with 18 trillion cubic feet of estimated recoverable reserves, was discovered three years ago and could start production by 2016. Tamar, with an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet of reserves, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-30/israel-begins-gas-production-at-tamar-field-in-boost-to-economy.html">started</a>production this year, four years after discovery.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TERRITORIAL DISPUTES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON COULD LIMIT THE NATURAL GAS POTENTIAL IN THE REGION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg4M00ITpVaxCF67PmWgf8hDZ-lI9lrQrHC38cWe1jTtbOxXxKrYwKUwQ34C76zLSaZ8oL42KjChKJu218Uv0gXlaSJ7fMBVTYdbqT-0zlcCshyphenhyphen-rBw3rYaxv6_tyLZAyrI6ojnPNbh9G/s1600/Lebanon-Israel-Maritime-border-dispute.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg4M00ITpVaxCF67PmWgf8hDZ-lI9lrQrHC38cWe1jTtbOxXxKrYwKUwQ34C76zLSaZ8oL42KjChKJu218Uv0gXlaSJ7fMBVTYdbqT-0zlcCshyphenhyphen-rBw3rYaxv6_tyLZAyrI6ojnPNbh9G/s1600/Lebanon-Israel-Maritime-border-dispute.gif" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration <a href="http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=EM">said</a> nearly all of the "significant" natural gas discoveries of natural gas made in the last 10 years or so are in the Levant Basin. Most of the discoveries were made in ISRAELI waters. LEBANON contends some of the natural gas lies within its territorial waters and two years ago, the ISRAELI military launched drones over its gas fields in the Mediterranean, saying it was fearful of a Hezbollah attack. Hezbollah took its 2006 war with ISRAEL as an sign it could take on its adversaries using conventional military means and, in 2011, Hezbollah <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/hezbollah-lebanon-will-not-let-israel-seize-its-natural-gas-1.373201">pledged</a>to use whatever means necessary to defend LEBANON'S national interests.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The EIA said armed conflict and territorial disputes could limit the natural gas potential in the region. In terms of oil, the EIA said SYRIA had the largest reserves as of January. Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut were the target of recent bombing campaigns as the Shiite organization faces more threats since acknowledging it was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/world/middleeast/hezbollah-makes-vow-to-step-up-sunni-fight.html">fighting </a>alongside pro-government forces in SYRIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SYRIA ALLEGEDLY DISCOVERED LARGE OIL AND NATURAL GAS IN ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/syrian-oil-and-gas-findings-propaganda.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/syrian-oil-and-gas-findings-propaganda.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN - IRAQ - SYRIA GAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN JULY 2012 WORTH US$10 BILLION</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/05/pipelineistan.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/05/pipelineistan.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TRANS ARABIAN PIPELINE “TAPLINE</span>”</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is no sign the conflict in SYRIA is letting up. The U.N. Security Council <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hold-emergency-meeting-syria-attack-20024783">said </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the alleged use of chemical weapons in SYRIA. Pro-Western lawmakers in Beirut, meanwhile, <a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2013/Aug-21/228089-future-raps-hezbollah-militia-like-measures.ashx">said</a>Hezbollah's security crackdown following last week's bombing was "an aggression against the state." The White House said the use of chemical weapons in SYRIA "crossed clear red lines that have existed within the international community for decades." But that was in June, the last time allegations of chemical weapons surfaced. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The population in the Mediterranean region could reach 62 million by 2030.  While representing less than 1 percent of the total proven oil and natural gas reserves, prolific offshore basins could alter the regional markets substantially. Conflict, however, could inhibit much of the regional development in the short-term. With most signs pointing to an escalation of the crisis in SYRIA, the energy sector won't be the only thing redefined in terms of regional dynamics.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Worthwhile to mention is that the SYRIAN conflict will most probably continue for some time, similar to the civil war in LEBANON, which lasted 15 years.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By Daniel J. Graeber via Oilprice.com</span></span></div>

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION

MEDITERRANEAN GAS OUTLOOK THREATENED BY ARMED CONFLICT? The population in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN region is expected to increase by as mu...

ISRAEL, GREECE, CYPRUS

12:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9NtwHGHY6wfNNFlbf0zSSIfEr_7q87yqFQaIskXHzm8J6QCqkUU4Zs85U3_jVQZ6xcbK_KKnRtG-OvAOEmIeNol1wsRuroNoeWiAbepD9JUdGuvYWevy1eK8t3kKvWTksZrXjmI1wdGk/s1600/Kipr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9NtwHGHY6wfNNFlbf0zSSIfEr_7q87yqFQaIskXHzm8J6QCqkUU4Zs85U3_jVQZ6xcbK_KKnRtG-OvAOEmIeNol1wsRuroNoeWiAbepD9JUdGuvYWevy1eK8t3kKvWTksZrXjmI1wdGk/s320/Kipr.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SIGN ENERGY AND WATER DEAL</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three-way agreement enhances cooperation over electricity, natural gas and sewage treatment</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL signed an agreement with GREECE and CYPRUS that promises to link the three countries’ electricity grids via an underwater cable. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The tripartite energy memorandum of understanding came after nearly a year of negotiations and was signed in Nicosia, CYPRUS, by Energy and Water Resources Minister Silvan Shalom; Nicos Kouyialis, the CYPRIOT minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment; and George Lakkotrypis, the GREEK minister for the environment, energy and climate change. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The underwater, 2,000-mega-watt EUROASIA Interconnector “will lift CYPRUS out of energy isolation, with cheaper electricity which will help our economy become more competitive,” Lakotrypis said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shalom said the “historic” agreement “demonstrates the strong and tightening relations between the countries.” He added that the “electric conduit can easily become a cable that will supply and export electricity to the EUROPEAN energy market, and provide us with energy security.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE AGREEMENT ALSO DEALT WITH NATURAL GAS AND WATER ISSUES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The three countries will work together to protect natural gas fields, and have launched a project to cooperate with treatment of sewage as well as recycling water for use in farming. TURKEY has challenged CYPRUS’S right to some of the gas fields it claims, and has even threatened military intervention.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ENERGY RUSH IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHANGING THE GEOPOLITICAL BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN REGION</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUfG96fzH6AU3ItOdNyABbHnpLJUrW_L3sRJC9uQN8McZOasm9SADFFxmIEykaAWch4FsPfCoDRmjLVe187ibdqy_i7BG-9pQWDdeU6K5pEk875ctR1ZzGQvEzAMGEwpW7J1CvLhZQGVf/s1600/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUfG96fzH6AU3ItOdNyABbHnpLJUrW_L3sRJC9uQN8McZOasm9SADFFxmIEykaAWch4FsPfCoDRmjLVe187ibdqy_i7BG-9pQWDdeU6K5pEk875ctR1ZzGQvEzAMGEwpW7J1CvLhZQGVf/s320/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kouyialis said that the agreement signed on marks the continuation of an already existing partnership. He noted that ISRAELI companies were involved in the establishment of three of his country’s four permanent desalination plants.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A new era of cooperation starts today in the field of sewage treatment and waste water reuse that will help CYPRUS improve its water balance, as substantial and constant quantities of recycled water will be utilized in the best possible way,” said Kouyialis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">REGIONAL WATER SECURITY A NECESSITY </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shalom said that “ISRAEL would like to give any help needed” and added that regional water security was necessary, “even though CYPRUS is not facing the same threats that ISRAEL is facing from terrorists.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IAF TO BE STATIONED IN CYPRUS</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS AND ISRAEL TO BECOME MAJOR GAS EXPORTERS IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL’S partnership with CYPRUS on natural gas is seen as a challenge to TURKEY, which has threatened Cyprus over gas fields it claims for itself. Jerusalem upgraded its relationship with CYPRUS and GREECE as its ties with TURKEY, once the Jewish state’s prime regional ally, began to deteriorate following the rise of Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2007.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information: </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY RESUMES NATO TIES WITH ISRAEL</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/israel-and-turkey.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/israel-and-turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE RESOURCES</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS: EMERGING GEO-STRATEGIC KEY PLAYER IN THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN? </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/cyprus-emerging-geo-strategic-key.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/cyprus-emerging-geo-strategic-key.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">By Asher Zeiger </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

ISRAEL, GREECE, CYPRUS

SIGN ENERGY AND WATER DEAL Three-way agreement enhances cooperation over electricity, natural gas and sewage treatment ISRAEL signed an agr...

Webinar recording: Mindmapping with iPads and other devices (by Carolyn Bruton)

11:57 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC5q-AbtwoeSTldBEF5qs2O6Nd9nEBVfQXPWIDnka7CTlme3BhnW0SUtT8rn-GuGptiLtWVmZAe5F3vmO1ETpXKadsEN-aLle1R7uUmLKnI6YSjaxpsUY3ogiYX9LFqRD-fgdvGRWWNg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday we held two SchoolNet webinars presented by Carolyn Bruton, a teacher who is an expert in Mindmapping. The first one took place at 3:30pm and the second one was a repeat that took place at 6:00 pm. Thank you to all who attended the webinars<br /><br /><strong>Presentation</strong>: <br />Carolyn’s presentation is given below – Carolyn has kindly agreed that teachers can download it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong>Recording link</strong>:<br />If you wish to listen to the presentation the recording link can be found at  <a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p9ns17glj1f/">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p9ns17glj1f/</a></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/25508395" style="border-bottom: #ccc 0px solid; border-left: #ccc 1px solid; border-right: #ccc 1px solid; border-top: #ccc 1px solid; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/Schoolnetsa11/mind-mapping-on-your-i-pad-and-other-devices-by-carolyn-bruton" target="_blank" title="Mind mapping on your i pad and other devices by Carolyn Bruton">Mind mapping on your i pad and other devices by Carolyn Bruton</a> </strong>from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/Schoolnetsa11" target="_blank">Schoolnet SA </a></strong></div></div></div></div></div>

webinars Webinar recording: Mindmapping with iPads and other devices (by Carolyn Bruton)

Yesterday we held two SchoolNet webinars presented by Carolyn Bruton, a teacher who is an expert in Mindmapping. The first one took place ...

How to Be a Famous Mommy Blogger

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hola all you folks hanging around the slowly dying Bloggerhood to the bitter end. IWS has a very special treat for y’all today. I’m joined by my very good friend, the super smart, funny, sweet, clever, talented and HAWT <b><a href="http://thankgoodnessforthegoodones.blogspot.com/">Gnetch</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dyinetch">AKA</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/uhohgnetchy">Little Miss Sunshine</a>!!!</b>IKR???!!!!  Anyway, we’re here today to give some of you budding Mommy/Daddy Bloggers out there some free advice on making it in the Blogging World. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> That’s right Jay and hello to the IWS world! Blogging may be dead but not for mommy blogs. Seems like mommy blogs will stay with us forever, at least until they stop having babies or their babies grow up. Since mommy/daddy blogs are pretty common, I have a few tips on how to be an EXTRAORDINARY mommy/daddy blogger.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jay:</b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> That’s right Gnetch babe! We are freaking EXPERTS on this shit. I mean just look at us, the happy mommy and daddy with our beautiful United Nations looking family which is a HUGE advantage in the mommy blogging world for obvious reasons</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6dIwQ-dHTVOMI3SNzMD3eagcZuhe2fYIUoE5K9j69OhLbudx4hNfpfglLBO7gLg2WfijlEucqWEJyfRVwlYg29OmkHetmwE2KUuQkKFWXDZN5JT80YspIehP1u4D18TMWtmw2CVgON9u/s1600/Angelina+Gnetch+Brad+Jay+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6dIwQ-dHTVOMI3SNzMD3eagcZuhe2fYIUoE5K9j69OhLbudx4hNfpfglLBO7gLg2WfijlEucqWEJyfRVwlYg29OmkHetmwE2KUuQkKFWXDZN5JT80YspIehP1u4D18TMWtmw2CVgON9u/s1600/Angelina+Gnetch+Brad+Jay+Family.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Anyway, here’s some very good advice for you other mommies and daddies out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> Giving your readers the impression that your baby is extra smart because they learned how to say "dada" at such an early age is pretty common. Readers have higher standards now. They're not impressed with "dada" anymore. Unless "dada" really means "fuck off", then that's extraordinary. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> You’re absolutely right on that. One of the biggest mistakes I see mommy/daddy bloggers make is they brag about some of the most mundane things their little snowflakes do that really aren’t all that special. Kids do cute shit all the time and they pretty much all do the same cute shit. You gotta make sure your kids stands out! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch: </b>Darn right! What’s important is for mommies and daddies to make readers think your baby is better than theirs. Do not just rely on them developing naturally. Teach them and let your readers think they're just naturally talented.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> What kinds of things should people be teaching their babies?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> In their first month, while your baby is still trying to adjust to this strange new world, teach them how to twerk. Oh, don't use the "they're just babies, their bones are still weak" bullshit. It's a tough world out there. Better train them early. Anyway, teach them how to twerk. This may take time, because one-month babies can't stand by themselves yet BUT it will be worth your effort. By the age of 3 months, they'll probably be twerking their way to you to ask for milk. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> That would be a pretty special baby right there! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> Oh, there’s more. In their third month, when your baby is strong enough to hold their head steadier (and can twerk), teach them how to pole dance. Install a pole in their crib and let them figure out what to do with it. They'll figure it out. The kid will reach for the pole, learn how to stand while holding on to the pole, and eventually learn how to dance. You’ll be surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> This when mom and dad need to get the video recorder out and make their kid a star right? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> Dude, you are so right. Make sure you document these talents on a video and post it on your blog. OHMYGOD, your baby has natural talent. Of course no one should know that you're the one who taught your baby. Our aim here is to make your baby sound special and be on Ellen before the age of 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> Special but not “SPECIAL” right? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> Ha! Right, we’re not talking hockey helmet special here. We’re talking Miley Cyrus special talent here. Most importantly though, to stand out as a mommy/daddy blogger, you have to make sure your baby reaches fame and popularity. Add a few drops of alcohol in their milk and have them snort a pinch of coke. You're gonna get hate for this, that's for sure. But what matters is that you and your baby are famous. Bad publicity is still publicity, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> Hell yeah! Rehab at the age 12? That’s gonna get your kid talked about on social media a lot and that’s where fame starts. From there make sure the kid relapses so they can go on Dr. Drew and Celebrity Rehab and then what happens? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch:</b> Your kids go on Oprah and then they get their very own reality show! And THAT’S how you measure success as a parent! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrFVc5EDz2d12tchPSINwRdTallBjqm2bN2aYj5AqRcJ1txAtK4vKEbyTkzyQCPCF9VV6wdP2RzEnRSBei1fvOteakpEkUHVtfeXYMzdwFp_oDAr7zAyech3lDTgEEvhYGWfXjQTIxdOr/s1600/Hot+Sexy+Asian+Babe+Eating+Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrFVc5EDz2d12tchPSINwRdTallBjqm2bN2aYj5AqRcJ1txAtK4vKEbyTkzyQCPCF9VV6wdP2RzEnRSBei1fvOteakpEkUHVtfeXYMzdwFp_oDAr7zAyech3lDTgEEvhYGWfXjQTIxdOr/s1600/Hot+Sexy+Asian+Babe+Eating+Pizza.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Jay:</b> Damn right babe! Thanks for sharing all your brilliant insight with us here today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Gnetch: </b>No, thank you! Anytime dude. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="mailto:jayman3768@gmail.com" target="_blank">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="mailto:jayman3768@gmail.com" target="_blank">  </a>                  <br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68">Facebook</a>                                             <br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">@Jayman_IWS</a>                                   <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://thankgoodnessforthegoodones.blogspot.com/">Gnetch’s Blog</a><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="mailto:iblogsowhat@gmail.com">iblogsowhat@gmail.com</a></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dyinetch">Gnetch’s Facebook</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/uhohgnetchy">@UhOhGnetchy</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

How to Be a Famous Mommy Blogger

Hola all you folks hanging around the slowly dying Bloggerhood to the bitter end. IWS has a very special treat for y’all today. I’m joined b...