Rounds 5 & 6 are in the books and the race for South America’s four automatic qualifying spots is heating up. A third of the way through the schedule, Brazil is relegated to the robin round with a North American runner up. Paraguay won at home beating Brazil 2-0 but suffered its first loss on Wednesday in the altitude of La Paz losing to Bolivia 4-2 but remains atop the stands. Argentina tied Ecuador at home and Brazil away to keep its hold on second place. Chile had the best week possible, winning two critical road games to climb in the standings from 7th to 4th. Colombia, despite suffering from a paucity of goals, tied twice on the road and is now the sole undefeated team in the regional and took over sole possession of third place.

Standings

Round 5
Uruguay v Venezuela 1-1
Argentina v Ecuador 1-1
Paraguay v Brazil 1-1
Peru v Colombia 1-1
Bolivia v Chile 0-2

Round 6
Uruguay v Peru 6-0
Bolivia v Paraguay 4-2
Brazil v Argentina 0-0
Ecuador v Colombia 0-0
Venezuela v Chile 2-3

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From Agence France Presse

“Jellyfish are an excellent bellwether for the environment,” explains Jacqueline Goy, of the Oceanographic Institute of Paris. “The more jellyfish, the stronger the signal that something has changed.”

As a scuba diver, the health of the world’s oceans is of paramount importance to me. No doubt, we should all care about the health of our oceans for they nourish us and sustain the equilibrium of the world’s climate. And it is increasingly clear that we are impacting them beyond the human capacity for repairing them.

Two centuries worth of data shows that jellyfish populations naturally swell every 12 years, remain stable four or six years, and then subside.

2008, however, will be the eighth consecutive year that medusae, as they are also known, will be present in massive numbers.

The over-exploitation of ocean resources by man has helped create a near-perfect environment in which these most primitive of ocean creatures can multiply unchecked, scientists say.

“When vertebrates, such as fish, disappear, then invertebrates — especially jellyfish — appear,” says Aguilar.

The collapse of fish populations boost this process in two important ways, he added. When predators such as tuna, sharks, and turtles vanish, not only do fewer jellyfish get eaten, they have less competition for food.

For more on the world’s oceans, please visit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Cousteau Society.

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Of the quarterfinals matches, the Portugal v Germany match was worthy of a final. And it lived up to expectations. After struggling in its first round matches, the mighty Mannschaft found their firepower at just the right time. Germany progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship for the first time since 1996 as goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack secured a 3-2 victory over Portugal in Basel. Portugal goes home, a bit of a disappointment with a 2-2 record. After opening round convincing victories over Turkey and the Czech Republic, the Portuguese stumbled in a meaningless game against Switzerland and in the very meaningful win or out quarterfinals.

For more on the matches and the tourney, please visit Euro2008. Tomorrow’s match is Croatia v. Turkey.

South American 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
I will update the results from this week’s Round 6 of matches when the Venezuela v Chile is complete. It’s now in the first half, 0-0. Other results from Round 6:

Uruguay v Peru 6-0
Bolivia v Paraguay 4-2
Ecuador v Colombia 0-0
Brasil v Argentina 0-0

Paraguay remains atop the standings with 13 points. Argentina, Colombia and Brasil follow. More after the match.

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Via the New York Times:

Senator Barack Obama announced on Thursday that he would not participate in the public financing system for presidential campaigns. He argued that the system had collapsed, and would put him at a disadvantage running against Senator John McCain, his likely Republican opponent.

With his decision, Mr. Obama became the first candidate of a major party to decline public financing — and the spending limits that go with it — since the system was created in 1976, after the Watergate scandals.

Mr. Obama made his announcement in a video message sent to supporters and posted on the Internet. While it was not a surprise — his aides have been hinting that he would take this step for two months — it represented a turnabout from his strong earlier suggestion that he would join the system. Mr. McCain has been a champion of public financing of campaign throughout his career.

Obama sure is “new and different.” This is going to be ugly. Of course Obama blames lobbyists yet again:

“The public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system,” he said. “John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And we’ve already seen that he’s not going to stop the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.”

Here’s his ruse: Obama to Lobbyists Use the Back Please. And funny how I don’t hear the Obama campaign moaning about MoveOn.org’s latest ad. Obama just broke the system. We’ve just returned to the Nixon era.

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With her popularity now down to 20% in polls, the embattled six month old government of Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner rallied her supporters in Buenos Aires’s Plaza de Mayo yesterday. Since March when her government slapped additional tariffs on soybean and wheat exports raising them to 45%, the rural sector in Argentina has been up in arms staging nationwide blockades and strikes. The strikes have effectively ended Argentine exports of soybeans, wheat and corn and are having a ripple effect on the prices of these commodities.

Via the Miami Herald:

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner told thousands of supporters Wednesday that a three-month strike against grain export-tax hikes was undemocratic and demanded that farmers lift road blockades that have caused food shortages across Argentina.

The massive rally in a Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo was seen as a show of force by Fernández de Kitchner and her husband, the former President, in response to anti-government protests fueled by the bitter standoff with Argentina’s farmers.

“In the name of democracy, free up the highways, let Argentines get back to work,” Fernández de Kitchner told supporters who filled the plaza, many waving blue and white Argentine flags.

The leaders of Argentina’s four main farmers’ groups said Wednesday night that they would continue the strike for two more days.

On Monday, the opponents of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner held a cacerolazo and stage numerous protests throughout Argentina. Here is an earlier post from 25 May 2008 on the protests in Argentina: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Has A Problem. The issue is really that Argentina has a fiscal crisis and that President Cristina Fernández de Kitchner and her Peronist party aims to raise revenue by taxing the rural sector of Argentina. The taxes only impede global trade in critical foodstuffs at a time when every last ounce is needed to solve a global food crisis.

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Via Clinton Democrats, today’s action item of the day:

Today Senator Barbara Mikulski joined Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to announce their “Checklist for Change,” a list of ten issues Congress can immediately address to improve the lives of the American people. They include: providing equal pay for equal work, keeping jobs in America, making health care affordable, taking care of our military families and veterans, restoring America’s credibility in the world, protecting our environment, making America energy independent, preparing for future disasters, enforcing fiscal accountability and protecting the family checkbook. This is a blatant pander - a “checklist” of hot button items to women.

Call me cynical, but this sudden urge to “do something” about issues most important to women strikes me as “just words.”

Please contact these leaders and tell them if they really care about the concerns of women they should stand up and endorse Hillary Clinton. If they care about equal rights and equal treatment that they should stand up against sexism in the Democratic party. If they care about women’s rights they should investigate the treatment of Hillary Clinton by the media. If they care about reforming healthcare, they should help Hillary Clinton get into the White House. If they care about keeping jobs in America, they should not be endorsing the guy that once again has flip-flopped on NAFTA.

Specifically ask Senator McCaskill “Why, after accepting approximately $500,000 from Emily’s List did you feel no obligation to back the more qualified female candidate for President?”

Sen. Klobuchar accepted roughly $300,000 from Emily’s List. Why didn’t she endorse Hillary?

Sen. Boxer was mum during this whole primary season. Why the sudden concern about women’s issues now? Senator Boxer launched an investigation into the horrific treatment of the Dixie Chicks after one of them publicly criticized Bush. Where is that outrage about the treatment Hillary has received? Where is the investigation?

Senator Claire MCCASKILL Contact Senator McCaskill

Senator Debbie STABENOW Contact Senator Stabenow

Senator Barbara BOXER Contact Senator Boxer

Senator Amy KLOBUCHAR Contact Senator Knobuchar

And remind them that it is hypocritical to support Barack Obama as an advocate for energy independence when he voted for the Bush-Cheney Energy Policy that was nothing more than than a giveway of taxpayer money to oil and energy companies. Remind them that Barack Obama has received more contributions from energy companies that all other candidates combined.

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Dan Koeppel in the New York Times has written an op-ed entitled Yes, We Will Have No Bananas pertaining to the rapid rise in banana prices at the market here in the United States. He writes:

The immediate reasons for the price increase are the rising cost of oil and reduced supply caused by floods in Ecuador, the world’s biggest banana exporter.

But Mr. Koeppel also notes that a new fungus threatens Latin American banana production and the region is highly susceptible because though there are hundreds of varieties of bananas, only one is grown commercially, the Cavendish. Here is some background on the world trade in bananas.

World Production of Bananas

In 2004, a total of 130 countries produced bananas. However, production, as well as exports and imports of bananas, are highly concentrated in a few countries. The 10 major banana producing countries accounted for about 75% of total banana production in 2004. India, Ecuador, Brazil and China alone account for half of total world producton of bananas. This concentration of banana production has increased over time although showing a different regional distribution. While the Latin American and Caribbean region dominated up to the 1980s, the Asian region took the lead in banana production during the 1990s. African production levels have remained relatively stable and is largely for domestic consumption.

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Here is the Thursday, June 19th, 2008 edition of interesting reads and events from around the world.

A Battle North of Kandahar
The New York Times reports that NATO and Afghan forces battled Taliban insurgents on Wednesday in this strategic district just a few miles north of the city of Kandahar.

Mbeki Meets with Mugagbe
South African President Thabo Mbeki met with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday amid concerns about rising political violence in the country a week before the crucial run-off presidential election. All Africa covers this part of the story. In separate news, the BBC reports that Zimbabwean Television will not air ads for the opposition MDC. In other news from Zimbabwe, Agence France Presse reports that four Zimbabwe opposition activists were found dead near Harare on Thursday ahead of next week’s presidential election with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change blaming the deaths on the ruling party.

SK President Lee Myung-bak Apologizes for Beef Row
South Korea’s embattled President Lee apologized on Thursday for a U.S. beef import deal that sparked mass street protests against his new government and will sack close aides to try to halt a dramatic slide in public support. The story from Reuters.

Bush Vetoes US Farm Bill, Congress Overrides
President Bush vetoed the farm bill again on Wednesday, but Congress quickly reapproved the $290 billion bill overriding the President for just the second time during his Administration. The Washington Post provides the coverage. President Bush Bush contends that the legislation, which extends agriculture and nutrition programs, is too expensive and too generous with subsidies for farmers. It’s rare but I agree with the President. Subsidies total $40 billion, about a quarter of that for corn. The corn subsidies could actually balloon depending on the market price for corn. Again from the Washington Post though it is unlikely in the near future as a result of the Iowa floods which have seen corn prices shoot up past $7 a bushel. A year ago, corn prices were $3.25 a bushel.

Malaysian PM Badawi Faces No Confidence Vote
The Asia Sentinel reports that Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now facing a no confidence vote, one that may end his political career.

Inflation in Finland
Inflation is a serious threat to Finland, warned Jyrki Katainen (cons), the Finnish finance minister, in an interview with the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Wednesday. For example food prices in May were up 10.0% compared to the previous year. According to Mr Katainen most of the price rises are due to circumstances outside of Finland that are beyond the country’s control. Finance ministry calculations suggest that without price rises in oil and food, inflation in Finland would be only at 2.5%, instead of the current 4.0%.

Europe to Ban Incandescent Lightbulbs
According to Der Spiegel, the European Union is planning to implement a phase-out of energy-wasting, climate-killing incandescent lightbulbs, starting next year. They will be replaced by energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs, which last 10 times longer. An energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulb uses one-fifth of the energy required by a conventional incandescent bulb and lasts 10 times longer. It may cost a little more than a traditional lightbulb, but the investment pays for itself many times over.

Protests in Chile over Education Bill
With next door neighbor Argentina embroiled in a three month long crisis, Chileans took the streets to protest a new government education policy. Police are using tear gas and water cannon in several Chilean cities to scatter thousands of students and school teachers. The protesters say the education bill fails to meet their demands for greater national control over education.

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