Month: September 2015

Spratly Islands. Before and after pictures: September 2015

Despite having said the building had stopped, the Chinese have been busy. The Spratly islands is surely the greatest reclamation project in the history of man.

Spratly before and after photos

These before and after pictures from the Spratly archipalego were taken from Australia’s ABC.
The original article can be found here.

Before and after: China builds artificial islands in South China Sea

The installations are not visible, as the photo’s are exclusively satellite.

I’d like to see the Chinese release pictures of the facilities at a more natural angle.

If I come across such pictures, I’ll be sure to post them in a later post.

For now, we are led to believe that the following facilities have been installed on the new islands –

  • Landing strips
  • Helipads
  • Cement plants
  • Air defense guns
  • Radar
  • Satellite masts
  • Lighthouses

Read more of the article below. Continue reading “Spratly Islands. Before and after pictures: September 2015”

Japan’s law makers have a fistfight over pacifism

More evidence of Japans move toward militarism.

(Quatz)

 

 

Japanese legislators who want to protect the country’s 70-year tradition of pacifism resorted to violence today (Sept. 17) to defend their ideals.

Photos of a violent scuffle in a legislative committee meeting this morning reveal the depth of controversy in Japan over a new security bill. The measure, backed by prime minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling coalition, would expand Japan’s Self Defense Forces’ mandate, allowing it to assist overseas allies. Since 1947, when the country’s post World War Two constitution was enacted, Japan’s military has been restricted to acting only in cases of self-defense.

According to the BBC, this apparent shift toward remilitarization is not supported by the majority of Japanese.

In an ultimately futile attempt to prevent a vote from taking place, opposition lawmakers mobbed committee chairman Yoshitada Konoike, and deputy chairman Masahisa Sato. The bill was approved anyway, and is headed to the parliament’s upper chamber for a final vote.

epa04934279 Opposition lawmakers surround Masahisa Sato (C-L), deputy chairman of the upper chamber special committee on security legislation, during the special committee in Japan's parliament in Tokyo, Japan, 17 September 2015. Japan's opposition parties continue their effort to prevent the ruling parties from moving for a vote on national security bills expected to expand Japanese troops' oversea operations. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

epaselect epa04934275 Opposition lawmakers try to cover the face of Masahisa Sato, deputy chairman of the upper chamber special committee on security legislation, during a meeting of the special committee in Japan's parliament in Tokyo, Japan, 17 September 2015. Japan's opposition parties continue their effort to prevent the ruling parties from moving for a vote on national security bills expected to expand Japanese troops' oversea operations. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

epa04934524 Opposition lawmakers and ruling lawmakers mob around Yoshitada Konoike chairman of the upper chamber special committee on security legislation, as ruling parties lawmakers try to pass security bills during the special committee at Japan's parliament in Tokyo, Japan, 17 September 2015. In picture Japan lawmaker Hiroe Makiyama (green). EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

 

epa04933428 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures as he waits for the start of a final session at the upper chamber special committee on security legislation at the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, 16 September 2015. Opposition lawmakers are blocking the start of this final debate as thousands of protesters are staging a large demonstration outside the parliament building. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

 

Shocking new study shows 75% drop in fish population in past 40 years

Some eye watering figures here about the state of the planet’s most valuable ecosystem.

IBTIMES

 

WWF 2015 report
World Wild Life Fund reports 75% drop in marine species

Climate change and human interference has taken its devastating toll on ocean life as 49% of marine populations have been wiped out in the past 42 years, according to a new report. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Zoological Society of London study revealed that as global warming worsens and “over-exploiting fisheries” continues, the situation will only be exacerbated.

Additionally, the rate at which populations are diminishing is 10% worse than conservationists had predicted and is regarded as a “catastrophe”. Dr Louise Heaps, chief adviser on marine policy at WWF-UK, said: “As well as being a source of extraordinary natural beauty and wonder, healthy seas are the bedrock of a functioning global economy. By over-exploiting fisheries, degrading coastal habitats and not addressing global warming, we are sowing the seeds of ecological and economic catastrophe.”
Continue reading “Shocking new study shows 75% drop in fish population in past 40 years”

RyanAir passenger captures UFO footage

I like the odd UFO video.

Thought I’d get this one before it appears on the Yahoo! News front-page.

UFO on passenger flight from Eindhoven to Spain
Captured on Ryanair flight from Eindhoven to Spain

Background

A Dutch passenger captured UFO on video while on board the Ryanair airbus near Eindhoven, the Netherlands heading to Spain. Coincidentally, the passenger was recording because she enjoyed the view.

After 4 minutes recording this UFO event happened.

The engines made a lot of noise and the pilot made suddenly a sharp maneuver as the object passed under the wing.

VOD: World’s most Talented

Cyclist

How is it you know you’ve got a talent for something?

Does it mean when you’re a kid, the other kids are going to pick on you and single you out as a nerd?

This girl Nicole Frýbortová clearly has talent. She’s an ‘artistic cyclist’.

This video is a joy to watch. Not exactly a mainstream skill though….

nicole frybortova
Discovering a talent at an early age.

Hypnotist

Han Jiaying, a Chinese 5 year old discovered that she could put animals to sleep after someone brought a frog to her Kindergarten, (animal not French person), and she proceeded to put it to sleep by whispering to it. Continue reading “VOD: World’s most Talented”