Finally Friday?

It’s already Saturday 1/29/2022 In Yemen…

A huge portion of the American people live by the ole’ #TGIF mantra in seeking the ‘relief’ of the weekend respite from the daily toil of the work week.  From sporting events to social gatherings to binge drinking and/or eating… Americans love their weekends.  But many forget that all that work usually toiling and tooling away for the benefit of someone else does provide then means by which to celebrate their ‘freedom’

This morning during my Friday morning Scroll & Troll I ran across an essay written by one of America’s absolute experts on Constitutional issues. As a former Attorney, Judge and Professor this guy is one of the go to opinions when it comes to how the federal government is supposed to act under the U.S. Constitution.  Yesterday he published something titled “Our Constitution Is Now Dysfunctional”… (Link Posted Below)

About halfway through the essay, Napolitano brings up the Post 9/11 US policies targeting ‘terrorists’.  “Julian Assange sits in a British dungeon awaiting decisions on his extradition to the U.S. because he courageously, lawfully and constitutionally published documents and videos demonstrating conclusively that Bush's use of drones targeted and murdered Afghan and Iraqi civilians, and his administration covered it up.” But the next paragraph is where it get’s more interesting. Napolitano sort of mentions Obama’s dirty deeds… let me explain why this in particular caught my eye.  

I have been for quite sometime been championing raising awareness of the targeted extrajudicial assassinations of Americans and at least two of those murders were due to Corruption Of Blood.  Here’s the quick and dirty run down on what is #FactNotFiction: President Obama ordered two targeted separate attacks on American citizens that ended up with their deaths.  One of those persons was an outspoken Muslim Cleric…  that had not ever been charged with any crimes by the way and the other person was his 16/17 year old son that was killed while eating at a diner with his cousin who was also a child.  The attack on the son came 2 weeks after the attack that killed his father.    The Obama White House Press Secretary said this when questioned about the killing of the American child; “I would suggest that you should have a far more responsible father if they are truly concerned about the well-being of their children.”  For some reason the Obama loving press let it go… 

(( Pause… This is probably the hundredth or more time that I have narrated these events and it pisses me off that the Presidency is still getting away with it!))

Below is the part that Andrew Napolitano left out of his essay… Why?  

The girl in the picture posted with this ranting is Nora, the little sister to the teenager murdered by Obama. She had made it to the age of 8 living with her widowed mother and grandparents. In fact, her ancestors  have been there since the mid 900s  when 10 tribes migrated away from the coastal plain and outside influence up onto the plateau that is now home for nearly 50000 people.   Coincidentally one of the people that migrated into Northern Yemen was a blood relative of Mohammed. 

They formed a confederation that became one of the strongest and longest lasting regimes in Arabian history.  Until it was discovered that there was potential for natural resources as expressed by the Ottoman Empire and the British became interested… they secured their foothold by supplying a successful resistance in this region to the invasion of the Ottomans.  

That foothold remained long enough that the new technologies used to search for minerals had advanced enough that drones were also used to do magnetic mapping and frequency specific radar surveys of several known wide range deposits.  In the Mid-1990s a Canadian Mining Exploration company obtained the rights to two known deposits… one deposit has almost unheard of levels of Gold… in fact there’s a rather rich large range of it.  But the people that live up around these deposits don’t want their land destroyed and their way of life decimated by profiteering to feed secularism.  A little more in that after We catch up to little Nora on this day 5 years ago…

Sometime early in the morning of January 29, 2017 American troops attacked a ‘compound’ where Nora and her family lived.  Little Nora never reach 9 because she ended up shot in the neck during an American military action in a foreign nation that the US has no business operating in.  She died in her wounded American mother’s arms… 

But the story gets even deeper… But the questions have to be asked first.  

Why is America participating in and supplying arms to supply a military action to take over a mountainous area of Yemen?  Is it because the people from there are opposed to being subjected to outside control of their lives and the subsequent invasion upon their homelands by Western ideals and bulldozers?  They know it’s coming… wherever man finds G.O.D. He vows to wreak havoc and hell until the people and then the land are destroyed and forgotten.  

What’s so damned important about this little spot on Earth that the Worlds powers are paying each other to kill people for? It’s not democracy… because in that region of the world one Islamic government is pretty much just like the next one that may come along.  Even when it comes to corruption… and that of course is directly tied to money.  

Yemen has a lot of minerals and gas that the Western industrial nations want to exploit.  The age of using military might to take resources has never gone away, it merely was rebranded over and over again.  But that’s not where it starts… First they try economic colonialism and this is what happened to Yemen. 

Why has Yemen been involved in a 8 year long Civil War? The oil revenues from production were in decline thus reducing the amount of money the Yemen government had to maintain social programs and itself.  So they chose to begin reducing spending on social subsidy programs and the cuts disproportionately affected the populations in Northern Yemen.  The tipping point was when the Yemeni government cut the nearly 80% subsidies for consumer fuels which caused the price of everything to skyrocket and consumer goods rapidly became scarce.  This all in a country that is full of fuels… but wait those fuels are exported elsewhere while the resident populations live in ‘poverty’ dependent upon bureaucratic handouts.  The Houthi movement in Yemen is taking a truly Islamic approach to how Yemen is to be run.   

Islam directs society to have as little impact upon the Earth as possible.  But even man falls from his Faith at times and a lot of those times have to do with wanting more money and power.  As globalism grew, so did the need for resources and Anglo Corporatists corrupted government leaders in the resource rich Middle East and in particular the Arabian Peninsula.  When the Houthi government took charge and shut down all mineral exploration and took over the oil and gas production, they cut out the ‘middleman’ in the form of British and Canadian exploration and development corporations.  A direct stab into their wallets… of course Saudi Arabia doesn’t want a Orthodox Republic that opposes resource development and ecocolonialism for a neighbor.  So they get the US and UK to fund a War to oust a government in another nation… for whose benefit? Certainly not Yemen or even America’s for that matter.  

The American media buries this… Congress ignores it and Americans act like it’s no big deal. When the elite can use Americans to murder Americans with impunity… the Judge does get it right, Our Constitution has become broken.  And I hear the sigh of #AmericanApathy across the land. 

Napolitano Essay Link:

Our Constitution Is Now Dysfunctional | Newsmax.com

#CorruptionOfBlood Reading:

https://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2021/03/corruption-of-blood.html?m=1

چین په افغانستان کې بریالی شو

Who Won In AFG‽

The People’s Republic of China… that’s who.  In reading up on the issues surrounding Alaska’s Natural Gas development… namely the deal brokered by former Governor Bill Walker, I found an very interesting article about ‘Biden’s Plan’ to turn America more ‘green’.  That plan which I’ll link below involves selling massive amounts of LNG to China in exchange for favorable trade status for China’s green energy products.  So the money will swish back and forth…

But here’s the catch… now that China is rapidly RE-establishing relations with the Taliban to gain access to both minerals and gas, they aren’t going to need as much gas from Us and they gain pretty much unfettered access to a massive mineral trove.  That means a glut which causes lower prices and less income thus less production which means a hit on the economy. 

That slushing of global money is going to slow way down… and the cost of the ‘Green Dream’ is going to rise and rise and rise.  America has become socio-economically dependent upon China… even indebted to them.  

The United State essentially financed China’s dominance in Southwest Asia with monies and blood.  That’s all in top of the Obama Administration allowing PRC surrogates access to the top levels of the American sciences institutes.  Why did China even have a Virus that the American government invented? 
Some links: https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/572932-china-seeks-to-extend-critical-minerals-monopoly-with-help-of?amp
https://www.arctictoday.com/a-us-coast-guard-patrol-unexpectedly-encountered-chinese-warships-near-alaskas-aleutian-islands/
https://aedcweb.com/past-events-2/opportunity-alaska-trade-mission-to-china/
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/long-term-us-china-liquefied-natural-gas-trade-will-bring-strategic-benefits-to-both-countries/
And even two years ago the Taliban was parlaying with China: https://www.voanews.com/amp/south-central-asia_taliban-leaders-visit-china-discuss-dead-us-talks/6176251.html
Oh and now China’s access to US built military infrastructure… https://www.oann.com/china-seeks-to-control-u-s-airbase-in-afghanistan/

#AmericanStatusUpdate #NoPebbleMine

#AmericanStatusUpdate 3-4-21

BTW Folks... I was granted access to my Twitter account again. So if your curious about my more regular rantings and miscellaneous thoughts on all manner of current events you can find my profile and newest #AmericanStatusUpdate with an Exclusive State of The Union video and commentary here: 

https://twitter.com/JonRCorbett/status/1367518379075014656?s=20

So since being booted from almost all forms of social media and being the subject of the unconstitutional semi-public/confidential investigation by the City of Dillingham... I've been pretty busy refocusing on some more pertinent issues. I still stand 100% behind everything I have ever written, said or done regarding all interactions I have ever had with the City. That's about all I can relay on that matter as I am under advice of counsel to lay low until we figure out what they are doing.

I can however speak to an issue that is close to heart and soul... Protecting Bristol Bay.  Several days ago the Biden Administration accepted an appeal to a mine permitting decision.  The mining project in question is the Pebble Mine.  On numerous occasions, We the People of Alaska have clearly stated that we do not want this mine developed on Our land.  Opposition to this perpetual destruction was affirmed when the majority of Alaskan voters ratified the Bristol Bay Forever Initiative.  Even the Trump Administration was vocal in their opposition to this massive mining disaster being pushed by a foreign corporation and corrupted politicians.  

#WeThePeople said #NoPebble... #Biden heard #NoRebel.

#StopBombingSyria!

Which brings me to ask... Why is Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy so blatantly disregarding the voices of Alaskans on the Pebble Mine issue?

Just a reminder to Governor Dunleavy: The Alaska Constitution is extremely clear about  development and commonly owned resources.  No resource shall be developed at the risk of another and that all development is for the best sustained use for the benefit of Alaska. Seriously... go have your LT. Governor and/or AG look it up. Better yet I will provide a couple of the relevant passages here:

Article VIII – Natural Resources

§ 3. Common Use

Wherever occurring in their natural state, fish, wildlife, and waters are reserved to the people for common use.

§ 4. Sustained Yield

Fish, forests, wildlife, grasslands, and all other replenishable resources belonging to the State shall be utilized, developed, and maintained on the sustained yield principle, subject to preferences among beneficial uses.  

AK Constitution Link

CLICK HERE

Bristol Bay Economics (Fish vs. Mining)

Here's just a little something on Bristol Bay and the economics of Fishing v. Mining:

I oppose the development of Pebble and other mining prospects for a couple of complex reasons:

The first and foremost is the perpetual threat to the naturally occurring resources that are already being exploited by outside and foreign entities. But what about any actual benefits that the fisheries actually provide?  Let’s take a look at this passage; “And what of all those jobs that the fisheries provide? According the Alaska Department of Labor reports Nonresident Seafood Workers make up 75.5% of the workforce. According to New Food Economy, Bristol Bay processors bring in about 4500 workers annually to staff the fish plants and only about 15% of those workers are from Alaska and much less from Bristol Bay. These jobs usually pay about $10 per hour and workers usually work about 15 hours per day... further reducing the potential economic benefit of the fisheries by about $20Million. The fact that most of the processors are outside and foreign corporations also has a great impact on where the value of the fisheries actually ends up.

The overwhelming majority of drift fishing permits are also owned by out of region fishermen with over 50% being owned by non-Alaskans. In 2014, Bristol Bay residents only accounted for 11.7% of the fishery value.”

Just this week it became known that the State of Alaska has joined into a federal program aimed at boosting economic development in which they named 25 ‘Economic Opportunity Zones’ “as part of a federal program designed to drive long-term capital to distressed communities. A total of 60 census tracts were identified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as low-income communities that were eligible for the designation. Of these, the State was able to nominate as many as 25 of these tracts as Opportunity Zones. When selecting from among the eligible tracts, the State weighed numerous considerations based on available information and public input from business and community leaders across the state, including:

• Economic hardship

• Geographic representation

• Project feasibility

• Alignment with existing initiatives

• Community support

On the surface after reviewing the referenced criteria, it would seem that Southwestern Alaska would be prime for this, but no southwest regions were listed excepting the Aleutians and St. Paul; Island.  Bristol Bay, the Y-K Delta and Alaska Peninsula were totally excluded. This really makes one curious as to just what our Representative and Senator in the Alaska State Legislature are actually doing for Bristol Bay.

Secondly is the fact that even if developed, the fiscal benefits will not really exist as I explained on another comment on this thread.  Currently the Mineral taxation structure in Alaska has been the same since the mid-1950s and recent efforts to change them have been stonewalled in the Alaska State Legislature.  The ‘base rate’ on mineral extraction is 7% but there are also mechanisms that can be used to reduce and even negate that as shown below. 

“Mining License Tax Up to 7% of net income and royalties received in connection with mining properties and activities in Alaska. Quarry rock, sand and gravel, and marketable earth mining operations are exempt from the mining license tax. New mining operations exempt for 3-1/2 years after production begins.”

Depending on how PLP sets up their actual business model, if they ‘sell’ the raw ore at the dock in Amakdedori, they may actually be exempted from paying any taxes on the billions and billions of dollars’ worth of minerals expected to be extracted.  They will only be paying whatever taxes that the Lake and Peninsula Borough levies.  Even then at that point it is plausible that PLP will challenge those taxes using the State model as legal justification because the claim lies on State of Alaska property.

Moving on to the supposed economic boost through employment issue… under the new ‘foot in the door’ plan as submitted by PLP, they say that during the construction phase of the project that there will be about 2000 workers involved and then about 850 workers during an expected 20 year operations period.  So let’s work with those numbers for now:

According the Pebble website:

Mining workers average making $108000.00 annually X 850 workers equals $91800000 X .75 (AK resident workforce participation rate) = $68,850,000.00 in annual wages X 20 Years of expected project life = $1,377,000,000.00

So… in all fairness, I submitted a list of questions to the Pebble Limited Partnership concerning their plans for employment and economic development. Here they are with answers provided by Mike Heatwole:

1.     What is the targeted ‘in-region’ hire rate?

A – Our goal remains to hire as many regional residents as we can.  We recognize this will take some work and have worked for many years on a workforce development strategy – much of it modeled on what our colleagues are proposing at Donlin Gold.  One key aspect is our plan to use construction as a technical training ground for operational jobs.  Additionally, there will be programs in place to encourage upward mobility.  Sharing a story from a colleague from a mine in Nunavut: http://nunavutnews.com/nunavut-news/baker-lake-woman-fulfills-goals-at-meadowbank/ .  We get a lot of criticism that all of the jobs will go to people outside the region and take advantage of every opportunity to explain why that’s not the case.  We do recognize that some of the higher wage jobs require specialized skill sets and that’s why we need a workforce plan so we can work with people so they know what’s required and to find ways we can help.  Back to Donlin, their booklet does a great job showing the skills needed for each job.  Here’s a link:  https://www.donlingold.com/careers/potential-jobs-at-donlin-gold/ .  I’m hopeful we can publish something similar for Pebble later this year.

2.     What is the mineral severance tax rate that will be applicable to your project, both State and Lake & Peninsula Borough?

A – Like all mining projects in Alaska, Pebble will be subject to the Alaska Mining License Tax and the state corporate income tax.  Additionally, since we are on state land we’ll be subject to a royalty too.  I believe the MLT is 7% on net income and the royalty is 3% on net income.  Our internal estimate is that we’ll pay about $60 million/year to the state on the current plan.  For the LPB, they have a 1.5% severance tax on gross and our internal calculation places it at about $20 million/year.  We are working on a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) that will be released later this year that will add more detail on the financial questions.

3.     Is PLP looking to contract with regional ANCSA entities other than IDC & APC for construction and maintenance operations?

A – Short answer is yes.  Ideally, we’d like to establish a long term business relationship with BBNC.  For example, we’re very interested in having a third party entity build and operate our power plant.  As you’ve probably read, we are including extra capacity in our energy infrastructure to be in position to share gas and/or electricity with interested communities and will work with regional interests and the state about how they can get the infrastructure in place to make this a reality.  There will be a lot of dialog about this in the months and years ahead.  Thus, the opportunity for a regional interest to own the power plant would go a long way toward helping with this.  There are other opportunities regarding infrastructure that we’d be interested in pursuing similar relationships – e.g. the port.  We also want to work with other interested village corporations – esp. for operations contracting opportunities.  This is one reason we undertook the relationship last year with ASRC – to start the process of ensuring the Lake Area VC’s can fully participate in the long term contracting opportunities with Pebble  Additionally, this is where the in-region hire opportunity really exists.

4.     Is PLP also looking to help nearby communities develop infrastructure and commerce opportunities that will benefit from the projected long-term workforce?

A – Again, short answer is yes.  We want to be a good neighbor with the communities around us.  Regarding infrastructure, we have indicated that our transportation corridor will be private.  Our view is that this is where the conversation will begin with the communities.  We can then talk about controlled access – primarily to ensure safety along the road.  Unrestricted access could present significant safety concerns.  A private road also allows for subsistence protections.  We know that there is interest among the proximal communities about access to the road, port, and ferry.  It’s also our intention to work out a way to get goods to nearby communities to take advantage of lower transportation costs.”

In closing, I want to point out that until the powers that be in Bristol Bay actually make a concerted effort at reconciliation towards true unity and sustainability, Our communities will remain vulnerable for future exploitation by outside and foreign resource development.  This doesn’t just apply to minerals and carbon fuels but obviously also to the fisheries.  We live in a region suffering from high rates of unemployment, welfare dependence, substance abuse, crime and domestic violence.  These faltering socio-economic trends do not seem to be abating either.  This is absolutely unacceptable on so many levels… something has to be done sooner than later. 

RESOURCE REFERENCES:

Mining Taxes: http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/7.15.2017.pdf

Mining Tax OpEd: https://www.adn.com/economy/article/alaska-getting-its-fair-share-mining/2013/06/17/

Pebble Economics: https://www.pebblepartnership.com/economics.html

Pebble Application: https://pebbleprojecteis.com/files/12_22_2017_POA_2017-271_DA_Application_Pebble_Limited_Partnership_Attach_D.pdf

State of Alaska Designates Opportunity Zones : https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/0/pub/042018%20PR18-017%20Opportunity%20Zones%20selected_w%20attachment.pdf

Source: What The Fish‽ (https://www.facebook.com/theBAYpac/photos/a.596252490452935.1073741829.456713607740158/1632146390196868/?type=3)

PDF Version: https://www.docdroid.net/GIfnFGd/bb-economics-and-the-pebble-mine.pdf#page=4

theBAYpac: https://www.facebook.com/theBAYpac/

Corps Of Engineers Pebble EIS Testimony

4-3-2018

Pebble Mine EIS Comments Can Be Submitted Here: https://pebbleprojecteis.com/publiccomments/new

View Submitted Comments Here:
https://pebbleprojecteis.com/publiccomments/list

Currently the US Army Corps of Engineers is taking public testimony on the plan by a foreign and outside corporations to build a mine on top of the Bristol Bay Wild Salmon spawning grounds.  This facility will be so large that it will be visible from space.  Beyond the mine itself, there will be an 83 mile long transportation corridor from the site to Iliamna Lake across the lake to Kokhanok and then over to Amakdedori on the western side of Cook Inlet. Part of that transportation corridor is a 12inch Natural Gas pipeline that will be supplied by nearly 100 miles of under-water pipeline coming from the Kenai Peninsula. 

Personally, I am adamantly opposed to the development of the Pebble project or another subsequent project in this region.  As I have been researching and writing (links @ bottom) about this and other mineral exploration projects in this region for a decade or more, I have come to this conclusion;  The risks are just too high to perpetually imperil such a great resource area for a 20 year ‘get rich quick scheme being offered by outside and foreign corporations. This one project is just the toe in the door… so with the other explored claims this ‘gold rush’ will last maybe 40 years with really not much apparent in-region benefit. However, when discussing the potential for development, its only common sense to prepare for what may happen, not doing so can lead to ending up with the short stick. 

Fact: It is highly likely that the Pebble Mine will proceed to development and the residents of Bristol Bay must be prepared for what will happen.  That nearly 200 miles of pipeline has to be built and maintained by someone.  Our regional ANCSA Corporation is already in the pipeline construction and maintenance industry.  Seems like a perfect fit for the people to get some benefit like jobs and dividend income.  Those communities along the corridor will also benefit from access to lower cost and cleaner Natural Gas for electricity, heating and cooking. Here’s a question for Pebble…  Will that pipeline be capable of providing gas even farther into Bristol Bay?

When this development comes along. Bristol Bay has to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity and have a ‘seat at the table’ to ensure that We do get the most We can out of Our resources.  We also have to have that seat at the table to do all that we can to make sure that any resource development is done with the best possible practices and remediation.  If we don’t then we’re going to be stuck with the scraps and mess. 

In closing I want to refer readers to this:

Regional Resource Development Resolution

September 2, 2013 at 8:53am

We the members of theBAYpac do set forth this document of resolution and recommendations for consideration by our fellow Bristol Bay residents:

    In understanding that it is Our duty as people to stand up and protect the future use of All resources that lie within the boundaries as set forth by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), We the members of theBAYpac have developed this document to serve as a guideline for encouraging public participation in all aspects of resource development. 

Resource development in this document is defined as:

            Exploration, Development and Extraction of ALL Natural Resources.

   The goals of this document are to address 5 key issues surrounding regional resource development that We see as critical to the future sustainability of Bristol Bay. 

1. Safe and Sustainable Resource Development

2. Reclamation and Mitigation of Development

3. Irrevocable Trust  

4. Social Welfare Advancement

5. Regional Resource Control

Read more of the resolution here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/512177485527103/

Dirty Diamonds in Bristol Bay: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/09/dirty-diamonds-apartheid-dead-salmon.html

Why people don’t trust Pebble with Video: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-else-to-say-about-pebble.html

The Politics & Science of Pebble Mine: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/06/you-dont-have-to-be-scientist-to.html

Strikes Against The Salmon: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/07/strikes-against-salmon.html

Other mining projects in Bristol Bay: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/11/bristol-bay-in-under-attack.html

The Engineering and Flaws of Pebble Mine: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2012/06/pebble-reality.html

Save Bristol Bay – Continued

Opening up my email this morning and I find an email from The Alaska Center.  I have screen capped it so it’s easier to dissect.  Despite my own position on the possible development of industrial scaled open pit and cave mines in the headwaters of the last truly wild and thriving all encompassing Salmonidae spawning grounds, hyperbole and ½ facts are in fact not really helpful in trying to resist what seems to be almost certain.  Let’s review a few key facts about the situation…

1.    The unprecedented actions that the EPA was pursuing in denying the developers and stakeholders of the proposed Pebble Project due process in an already multi-layered permitting system are quite honestly un-constitutional. 

2.    Alaskan Voters approved a ballot measure in 2014 called the Bristol Bay Forever Initiative by a margin of 65.94% to 34.06%. 

3.    All Alaskans are stakeholders in this particular project as it resides on State of Alaska property.  That means that it is Our say in what happens to Our resources, not the federal government. 

I have been involved in opposing the development of the proposed Pebble Mine for a decade plus and have not changed my position at all… however I have changed my mind on the “How” to protect Bristol Bay from perpetual destruction from any resource development and exploitation.  Here’s a link to my submitted comments to the EPA’s Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment: http://jonrcorbett.blogspot.com/2013/06/public-comments-to-usepas-bristol-bay.html 

For the most part I still stand by those comments exacting the point of supporting any pre-emptive veto of a not yet submitted permitting application.  I believe that with the political conditions in Alaska because of the Bristol Bay Forever Initiative, it would be best for everyone to agree that the assessment is relevant, but the federal government should not interfere with the operations of the State of Alaska and the use of Our property.  I also fully support those Bristol Bay community members taking a seat at the Pebble table.  We must have that input, because if Alaskans do eventually allow mining in Bristol Bay, someone has to be looking out for a Place That’s Always Been.