by David Zinczenko

Natural news

Two out of three people in America today are either overweight or obese. That means every time you sit down in an airplane or a packed movie theater, more likely than not you’re going to wind up as the lean center of a fat sandwich. But as you look right and left and see nothing but heft, you can’t help but think, What happened?

How did we all get so darn fat?

Well, the simple answer is that we eat more calories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that American men eat 7 percent more calories than they did in 1971; American women eat a whopping 18 ­percent more—an additional 335 calories a day!

But the harder question is this: Why do we eat so many more calories? Are we suddenly more gluttonous? Do we have some kind of collective death wish? Is the entire country hellbent on qualifying for the next season of Biggest Loser? No. There’s an even crazier reason: It’s the food!

We’ve added extra calories to traditional foods, often in cheap, mass-producaed vehicles like high fructose corn syrup. These new freak foods are designed not by chefs, but by lab technicians packing every morsel with maximum calories at minimum cost—with little or no regard to dietary impact. Indeed, Eat This, Not That! 2011 has uncovered the truth about some of your favorite fast food and grocery store items and how they’re causing you to pack on unnecessary pounds. It’s enough to kill your appetite, which—in these cases, anyway—would be a good thing.

THE FAST-FOOD HAMBURGER

The great American staple. Don’t worry, burgers really do come from cows—but have you ever wondered how those giant chains process and distribute so much meat so cheaply? And . . . are you sure you want to know? The Truth: Most fastfood hamburger patties begin their voyage to your buns in the hands of a company called Beef Products.

The company specializes in taking slaughterhouse trimmings—heads and hooves and the like—that are traditionally used only in pet food and cooking oil, and turning them into patties. The challenge is getting this byproduct meat clean enough for human consumption, as both E. coli and salmonella like to concentrate themselves in the fatty deposits. The company has developed a process for killing beef-based pathogens by forcing the ground meat through pipes and exposing it to ammonia gas—the same chemical you might use to clean your bathroom.

Not only has the USDA approved the process, but it’s also allowed those who sell the beef to keep it hidden from their customers. At Beef Products’ behest, ammonia gas has been deemed a “processing agent” that need not be identified on nutrition labels. Never mind that if ammonia gets on your skin, it can cause severe burning, and if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. Add to the gross-out factor the fact that after moving through this lengthy industrial process, a single beef patty can consist of cobbled-together pieces from different cows from all over the world—a practice that only increases the odds of contamination.

­by the El Reportero’s news services

Daniel Ortega

“Defense of national sovereignty”. This was Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s justification for three defense and security bills which the oppositionled congress passed earlier this week and which significantly tighten his grip on security and enhance the powers of the armed forces.

The approval of the laws, which critics claim have the sole domestic aim of incorporating the military (Nicaragua’s most trusted institution) into Ortega’s political project ahead of the November 2011 elections, suggests the success (and possible objective) of his decision to revive longstanding border tensions over the San Juan River with Costa Rica.

What does the Euro crisis mean for Latin America?

The crisis in the Eurozone has generated a certain amount of schadenfreude in South America. Only 20 years ago, European governments and the IMF were preaching to Latin-American governments

about the need to limit fiscal deficits and reform their banking sectors.

Is Peru’s stability at risk?

Peru’s long-term political stability is at risk as social and political pressures mount in the run up to the general election on 11 April 2011.

Macro-economically speaking, Peru goes from strength to strength: real annual GDP growth is set for around 8.6 percent in 2010.

However, the political hijacking of social conflict and protests, which often erupts into violence, may increase in the run-up to the elections.

It is not just the elections that act as a catalyst for political instability. The recently published findings of the Latin American Opinion Project (Lapop)’s regional citizens’ survey paint a grim (and worrying) picture for Peru.

One in which disillusionment and dissatisfaction with democracy, the current political system and its institutions are bubbling away below the surface ready to erupt at any time. Similar conclusions can be drawn from the latest Latinobarómetro survey published on 3 December.

­Peruvian FM for Strengthened Links with Bolivia, Chile

Lima, Dec 28 (Prensa Latina) Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde refused to discuss an alleged Chilean formula for a Bolivian outlet to the sea without sovereignty, and defended the development of trinational pro-integration poles.

Asked about the likely corridor through the northern tip of Chile, over which Peru has rights and requires its consent for a transfer, he said that if the proposal is made, Peru will examine it and he refused to make any comment until then.

On the version that Chile would offer a sea outlet to Bolivia through a corridor without sovereignty in the northern tip of Chile, Garcia said that in such a proposal was made it would be considered.

“They can be terms of rights, as those Peru has in Arica, but this will be discussed at the right moment.

I think that Chile is interested in a good relation with Bolivia and Peru is interested in that, too,” he said.

He also highlighted the need to strengthen relations among Peru, Bolivia and Chile in order to develop trinational pro-integration poles.

47 World Figures to Attend Rousseff Inauguration

A total of 47 world figures have confirmed their attendance at the inauguration of Brazilian President-elect Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s first woman president.

More than 12 heads of state have announced their attendance at the investiture on Saturday, including the presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Paraguay, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said.

(Latin News and Prensa Latina contributed to this report.)

by Dana Gabriel

In the last year, the bilateral process has been the primary means used to advance North American integration, which has drawn little attention. With the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) seemingly stalled after being exposed and discredited, the U.S. channeled trilateral negotiations to parallel bilateral discussions with both Canada and Mexico.

Recent reports of a tentative Canada-U.S. security and trade agreement has once again highlighted the wholeprocess of deep continental integration. The U.S. is formulating a strategy with the aim of implementing a North American security perimeter.

NAFTA has allowed the U.S. to further extend its political and economic influence over the continent.

Through the SPP, it has evolved to include more security issues. Based on the war on drugs and the war on terrorism, the U.S. is developing a North American security strategy with the goal being to push out its security perimeter.

The Merida Initiative conceived in 2007 and launched the following year by the Bush administration, signalled a new era of U.S.-Mexico security collaboration.

The plan has provided Mexico with millions in funding for law enforcement, military equipment and surveillance technology. Under the pretext of combating illegal drug-trafficking and fighting transnational organized crime, the U.S. has been able to exert more authority over Mexican security policies. President Obama has continued and expanded the Merida Initiative. The U.S. and Mexico have further broadened and deepened their cooperation.

A U.S. State Department fact sheet entitled United States-Mexico Security Partnership: Progress and Impact proclaimed how both, “governments have built on the foundations of the Merida Initiative to establish four strategic areas to guide our cooperation and institutionalize our partnership: disrupt organized criminal groups; strengthen institutions; create a 21 st century border; and build strong and resilient communities.”

A New Border Vision for the 21st century is, “based on the principles of joint border management, co-responsibility for crossborder crime, and shared commitment to the effi cient flow of legal commerce and travel.” A U.S.-Mexico declaration issued in May, further highlights key goals in strengthening border security. In order to better coordinate the implementation of joint initiatives, the Twenty-First Century Border Bilateral Executive Steering Committee (ESC) was also established. On December 15, the ESC’s inaugural meeting was held where a Bilateral Action Plan was adopted.

This included initiatives in areas of bi-national infrastructure coordination, risk management, pre-clearance, pre-screening and pre-inspection, along with greater law enforcement cooperation. The ESC also announced other cross-border and pilot projects. They agreed to expand trusted traveler and shipper programs in order to facilitate the fl ow of people and goods between the two countries.

The specific goals that were laid out set in motion a bilateral agenda for the next year. They represent a move towards a common perimeter approach to border management and security, which could later require harmonization of immigration and customs standards.

It is unclear whether the Obama administration will attempt to overhaul immigration laws in the coming year. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 S. 3982 was introduced in September, but never came to a vote in the last Congress. In SEC 121. Annual Report on Improving North American Security Information Exchange, it refers to, “developing and implementing an immigration security strategy for North America that utilizes a common security perimeter by enhancing technical assistance for programsand systems to support advance automated reporting and risk targeting of international passengers.” Previous failed security and immigration bills have also contained similar language pertaining to a shared security perimeter around the continent.

There are fears that a leaked draft declaration between Canada and the U.S. entitled Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for PerimeterSecurity and Competitiveness could concede more control to American interests. According to the draft proposal, the agreementwould work towards establishing a perimeter approach to security. This includes closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies, an integrated cargo strategy, as well as joint programs for port and border security and screening. The aim is to further facilitate travel and trade across the northern border.

After a one year hiatus, Canada is set to host the next edition of the North American Leaders Summit in 2011. The recent North American Foreign Ministers Meeting was used to build on the progress made since the last leaders summit which was held in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2009. It helped shape theagenda for the upcoming ­summit, where the whole trilateral process in regards to continental integration could be recast. As 2010 comes to a close, it appears as if North American integration is back on the front burner.

Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyo urownleader@hotmail.com.  Visit his blog at beyourown leader.blogspot.com.

por Mark Carney

Different religious denominations participated in a candle vigil in support of hotel workers in SF.

December, for several western religions, is a month held sacred, and a month in which, perhaps not coincidentally, social harmony is especially esteemed. This past Wednesday, December 8, the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) and the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-San Francisco), joined Local 2, the San Francisco hotel workers’ union, in a candlelight procession around Union Square to protest the stalled contract negotiations with the luxury hotels of downtown San Francisco. The procession, consisting of eight life-size candles and a banner reading “Shine A Light on Economic Justice for 12,000 Hotel Workers”, circled Union Square, and then delivered a life-size “holiday card” to Hyatt hotel management.

The eight candles symbolized the eighth night of Hanukkah, regarding which Rabbi Julie Sax-Taller, of the PJA, said,” One aspect of the miracle we celebrate during Hanukkah is the miracle of faithÑdespite that it appeared that they had only a small supply of fuel, the people took the step of faith as they lit the lamp in the ancient Temple. We can join the workers in having faith that they are on a worthy journey toward justice and dignity in the workplace.”

Members of the local faith community, according to a press release, urged the hotel industry ” to treat workers with respect and dignity, and provide just wages and safe working conditions.” At present, contract negotiations between Local 2 and hotel management have not resulted in any signifi cant agreements. Management is insisting that workers pay more for health insurance, and that wages remain stable. Local 2, on the other hand, refuses to agree to increases in health care premiums, and would like small wage increases.

The procession ended at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, owned by the Pritzker family. While Hyatt workers across North America experienced layoffs, increased workloads, reduced hours, and increasing rates of injury, the Pritzker family cashed out over $900 million in Hyatt shares. Company performance, too, was bright, as “higher levels of corporate and group business resulted in improved  ­performance at convention and business hotels”, in the words of Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian. Hilton, another of the luxury hotels with which Local 2 is negotiating, is owned by Blackstone Group, one of the largest private equity firms on Wall Street. Blackstone recently persuaded the Federal Reserve to write off $180 million of its debt, despite clearly having the resources to pay it off. Indeed, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Blackstone expects revenue to increase by 50% this year.

For workers in these hotels struggling to pay their bills, the splendor and glory of high fi nance is less comprehensible. As Caddie Lin, a housekeeper at the Grand Hyatt, said ”I don’t understand how these hotel corporations can demand unaffordable concessions from us, especially as they keep growing. We make them millions. When will they start investing in us?