UPDATE: Chevron attacks Cabrera's Voodoo Economics.
Richard Cabrera is a supposed geologist and environmental expert based in Ecuador, and who's large damage estimates have played a major role in the case of Ecuador v. Chevron. His first estimate of Chevron's alledged environmental damage was $16 billion, but he's increased that to $27 billion to take into account Ecuadorians who may have been striken with cancer.
And here's the problem. No one knows where he got the new damage estimate from! What was the multiplier? Why? But I have another really basic question: who is this guy? I can't find anything in the way of a resume or a website listing from whatever university Prof Cabrera represents. In the 21st Century, how the hell can someone claim to be "a World-class expert" if no one can find them online around the World?
A search for "Richard Cabrera, geologist "yields nothing not connected with the Chevron case yet carrying his name. If the Chevron case isn't his first rodeo, then how can we be sure? Just because a court appointed him in Ecuador? He's supposed to be a World-known expert.
Cabrera's resume is something that must be investigated considering the gravity of the case he's involved in.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Obama's change means it's not just allies getting appointments. Instead he's forging a complex alloy cabinet.
If President-elect Obama chose his cabinet Secretaries from among his closest, long-time friends and asscociates he would hit the ground running with a known, trusted team but be accused of doing business the same way D.C. has been operating, of rewarding loyalty with political favors. It's almost certain that tomorrow Obama will formally designate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) as his new Secretary of State while retaining Dr. Robert Gates atop the Defense Department, which detractors argue is a failure to engineer change in Washington. This speaks volumes about Obama's intentions.
of Gates' approach and performance. The President-elect is sure to mandate examinations, including the procurement processes, but by retaining Gates he's giving a nod to the operational readiness and capability of the military. Obama's choice exhibits confidence in the Defense department's ability to carry out their missions - high praise for the work being done by the men and women who serve this country in uniform, while insuring a continuity that cannot pass unnoticed by those likely to provoke a military response and/or engage our armed forces.
In contrast, the selection of Senator Clinton for the State Department signals Obama's philosophical preference for reliance upon the soft power of strong diplomacy. The (anticipated) Clinton nomination foreshadows his early focus will be on a makeover at State from top to bottom. Hillary and Bill Clinton already have considerable global standing and influence. This shrewd appointment nonetheless positions the Senator in a challenging management role with diplomatic responsibilities far afield from the domestic policy issues such as health care she is noted for championing.
Leaders and common people around the globe followed Obama's improbable political rise with extraordinary fervor. Selecting a rival to head his outreach effort not only signals his obvious intent to watch that department closely, this union also insures the regular, collaborative, "normalized" participation of a former President in Obama's diplomatic endeavors around the world.
What Obama has set out to build, both within his administration and ultimately throughout the world, is the best community possible. He seeks a composite in the mold that immigrants to North America and their descendants celebrate each November on the quintessentially U.S. holiday of sustainability: Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving ultimately commemorates the unified strength and durability built when settlers to this nation cooperated with natives to prepare for and survive the adversity of winter.
Years after the event a rebellious cadre of intellectuals crafted the document that still epitomizes the best of what our government stands for, even though that government has not always acted as though our leaders embraced what the Constitution spells out.
Memo to the troops:
While there are other Pentagon appointments in the offing Obama is plainly endorsing the efficacyof Gates' approach and performance. The President-elect is sure to mandate examinations, including the procurement processes, but by retaining Gates he's giving a nod to the operational readiness and capability of the military. Obama's choice exhibits confidence in the Defense department's ability to carry out their missions - high praise for the work being done by the men and women who serve this country in uniform, while insuring a continuity that cannot pass unnoticed by those likely to provoke a military response and/or engage our armed forces.Message to the world:
In contrast, the selection of Senator Clinton for the State Department signals Obama's philosophical preference for reliance upon the soft power of strong diplomacy. The (anticipated) Clinton nomination foreshadows his early focus will be on a makeover at State from top to bottom. Hillary and Bill Clinton already have considerable global standing and influence. This shrewd appointment nonetheless positions the Senator in a challenging management role with diplomatic responsibilities far afield from the domestic policy issues such as health care she is noted for championing.Leaders and common people around the globe followed Obama's improbable political rise with extraordinary fervor. Selecting a rival to head his outreach effort not only signals his obvious intent to watch that department closely, this union also insures the regular, collaborative, "normalized" participation of a former President in Obama's diplomatic endeavors around the world.
Obama's challenge: re-engineering
Bringing major changes always provokes reactions from those who like the organization just fine the way it is. Try moving where the bread is in a grocery store and you'll find both staff and customers who resist. Now imagine the changes Obama envisions both within our borders and around the world: We've got people in the U.S. who think more government intervention will help immigration but less oversight is needed in the financial industry. Overseas, from drug profiteers to the Taliban bullies to pirates off the coast of Somalia, many want to exploit weakness while decrying the use of force by the United States and others fighting for fairness. Fortunately, peaceful co-existence, be it with your next-door neighbor or with a country steeped in traditions you don't understand, doesn't mean you have to kiss and like everybody.What Obama has set out to build, both within his administration and ultimately throughout the world, is the best community possible. He seeks a composite in the mold that immigrants to North America and their descendants celebrate each November on the quintessentially U.S. holiday of sustainability: Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving ultimately commemorates the unified strength and durability built when settlers to this nation cooperated with natives to prepare for and survive the adversity of winter. Years after the event a rebellious cadre of intellectuals crafted the document that still epitomizes the best of what our government stands for, even though that government has not always acted as though our leaders embraced what the Constitution spells out.Peaceful coexistence with the neighbors down the block and around the globe starts with accepting that all people are, in fact, created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights.
Obama's change, not just allies getting top appointments
Selecting Senator Clinton for the State Department signals Obama’s intended reliance on the soft power of strong diplomacy. The (anticipated) Clinton nomination foreshadows his early focus will be on a makeover at State. If Obama chose his cabinet from only allies that would be old-school D.C. politics. Instead he's forging a complex alloy cabinet.
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Trump Entertainment to miss interest payment
Facing tough competition and sliding revenue amid the economic meltdown, Trump Entertainment Resorts will have to skip a $53.1 million interest payment scheduled for Monday on its 8.5% senior secured notes due 2015 in order to maintain sufficient liquidity.
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Actor describes 'Die Hard' moment in Mumbai shootings
A Montreal actor who was wounded in last week's Mumbai terror attacks described finding himself in the midst of a real-life "Bruce Willis 'Die Hard' moment" as he came under a hail of gunfire.
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Giants Wide Reciever Burress Released from Hospital
New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was released from a New York hospital yesterday after suffering a leg wound in a shooting Friday, according to the Giants.
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Fortune Magazine: Why can't Microsoft make money online?
Microsoft, one of the most aggressively competitive, brainiac-attracting, technologically superior, and oh, yes, cash-gushingly profitable companies of all time, can't for the life of it make a dime on the Internet. It's not as if earning money on the web is such a remarkable feat. Even industry doormats Yahoo and AOL are profitable.
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'Obama cookie' bringing in a lot of dough - TODAY: Food
Want an example of the change Barack Obama is bringing? Ever since word spread about how much the president-elect and his family like the chocolate chunk cookies at Baby Boomers Cafe, the small Des Moines, Iowa restaurant can't bake them fast enough.
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Women Cheat in Early 30s to Maximise Chances of Reproducing
Researchers have discovered that women - unlike many men - instinctively prefer a monogamous relationship, mainly because they need help bringing up any resultant children. But if they do stray it's more likely to be when they enter their 30s as their biological clock starts ticking.
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CNN's Top 10 Political Turkeys of 2008
November 27 may be Turkey Day in America, but in the world of politics, every day is turkey day. Turkeys are foolish creatures -- overstuffed, noisy and self-important. A lot like the politicians on CNN's list of Turkeys of the Year.
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Mumbai, India Terrorist Attacks Byproduct of Unequal Income Distribution
In the wake of the horrible Mumbai, India terrorist attacks we have had conversations on the role of Radical Islam. But forgetten is the fact that the terrorists are not rich, they're poor.
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