Recent eruptions similar to those 300 yrs ago / Lava dome confirmed; experts warn more violent blasts could be in offing at Shinmoedake peak

Volcanic experts have sounded an ominous warning about the recent eruptions on Shinmoedake peak, saying they closely resemble highly destructive blasts that occurred there nearly 300 years ago.

One of more than 20 volcanic peaks in the Kirishima mountain range on the Kagoshima-Miyazaki prefectural border, Shinmoedake is believed to have formed between 7,300 and 25,000 years ago.

Most of the recorded eruptions on the Kirishima range have occurred at Shinmoedake and Ohachi peaks.

Small eruptions caused by phreatic explosions were observed on Shinmoedake from March to May last year. Phreatic explosions occur when the heat of rising magma causes underground water to boil and steam pressure rises.

According to experts, however, the eruptions that have taken place since Wednesday are explosive eruptions characteristic of phreatomagmatic explosions, which are caused when magma and underground water directly interact. Read More..

17 peacocks found dead in Wankaner, West India in 3 Days

WANKANER: Seventeen peacocks have been found dead in the last four days from Vidi area near Gadhiya Dungar in Wankaner. While carcasses of 13 peacocks were recovered on January 25 and 26, four more dead birds were found on January 28.

Though preliminary investigations by the forest department indicate food poisoning as the cause of death, viral infection is not ruled out. "The carcasses were detected by Kana Rajgor, who alerted the forest department on January 25. Upon inspection, we found five dead peacocks and more dead birds were found strewn across the area on January 26. It may be noted that bird lovers of Wankaner come to Vidi area to feed birds," round forest officer M S Makadiya told mediapersons.

The carcasses were sent to Junagadh veterinary hospital, where veterinarian Dilipsinh Barad hinted at the possibility of food poisoning as the cause of death. "The birds might have died after consuming poisonous seeds. However, the possibility of some viral fever causing the deaths can not be ruled out. The exact cause of the tragedy will be known only after the postmortem," he said.

The bird carcasses will be sent to Anand Veterinary Laboratory for postmortem, and the report is expected in the next two to three days. Source...

Thousands of dead fish found in Erie, St. Clair

TRAVERSE CITY — Officials say cold weather and a fish virus likely are to blame for thousands of dead gizzard shad found recently in Lakes Erie and St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River.

The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News report that the weather and viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, are suspected in the fish deaths. Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Toledo took samples of dead shad Thursday and Friday that showed signs of the fish virus.

Shad deaths are typical in the winter. It's expected to take a month to determine whether the fish had VHS.

Although not dangerous for humans, the virus has previously caused large fish kills in Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. It also has turned up in Lake Michigan. Source...

BREAKING NEWS - Magnitude 6.1Hits JAN MAYEN ISLAND REGION 29th Jan 2011

JAN MAYEN (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck near the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen on early Saturday morning, seismologists said, but no tsunami alert was issued.

The 6.1-magnitude earthquake at 6.55 a.m. local time (GMT) was centered just east of Jan Mayen, a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean that belongs to Norway. It is partly covered by glaciers and is located about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of central Greenland, or 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) west of the North Cape in Norway.

The strong earthquake struck just 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). No damage or casualties were expected as the island is usually uninhabited.

A seismologist with the USGS said Saturday’s earthquake was the largest in the region since a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on April 14, 2004, but smaller earthquakes occur more frequently. “This part of the world, the earthquakes, it’s a spreading ridge, so the plates are moving away from each other. They normally don’t produce large earthquakes,” the seismologist said. Source.

World business leaders told flying saucers are real & extraterrestrials exist

At five thousand dollars a ticket, some business leaders got more than they bargained for when they attended the first day of the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They were told flying saucers are real, and they had better start thinking about the business implications of extraterrestrial life and technologies. Convened each year by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, the GCF brings together business and political leaders to discuss ways of promoting business competitiveness. For the first time at its annual conference, the GCF held a panel discussing UFOs and extraterrestrial life. Titled “Learning from Outer Space” the panel comprised five speakers who all endorsed the view that extraterrestrial life is real, and has many implications for the world as we know it.

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Developing Story: Syria is also moving to shut down Internet as protests spread

On the same day that Egypt has suspended online activity, Syria has also blocked internet service.

Syria is known for a tight control of the internet, which was tightened further after the unrest in TUnisia, reports Reuters. Now, Al Arabiya is reporting that internet services have gone down completely in the country.

Follow the developing story here

Interactive Map: The Tunisia effect - The turmoil spreads

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stepped down on Jan. 14 following a month of violent demonstrations over worsening economic conditions, corruption and political repression.

The protests started after Mohamed Bouazizi, a fruit vendor, set himself on fire after police seized his goods.

He later died.

Access Map Here

Is World on Brink of Global Revolution?

An uprising in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the country’s 23-year long dictatorship of President Ben Ali. A new ‘transitional’ government was formed, but the protests continued demanding a totally new government without the relics of the previous tyranny. Protests in Algeria have continued for weeks, as rage mounts against rising food prices, corruption and state oppression. Protests in Jordan forced the King to call on the military to surround cities with tanks and set up checkpoints. Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Cairo demanding an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of activists, opposition leaders and students rallied in the capitol of Yemen against the corrupt dictatorship of President Saleh, in power since 1978. Saleh has been, with U.S. military assistance, attempting to crush a rebel movement in the north and a massive secessionist movement growing in the south, called the “Southern Movement.” Protests in Bolivia against rising food prices forced the populist government of Evo Morales to backtrack on plans to cut subsidies. Chile erupted in protests as demonstrators railed against rising fuel prices. Anti-government demonstrations broke out in Albania, resulting in the deaths of several protesters.

"To put it bluntly: in earlier times, it was easier to control one million people than to physically kill one million people; today, it is infinitely easier to kill one million people than to control one million people."

- Zbigniew Brzezinski

Former U.S. National Security Advisor

Co-Founder of the Trilateral Commission

Member, Board of Trustees, Center for Strategic and International Studies

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America is Hiding That It's Bankrupt: IMF shows figures that US is worse off than Greece

Was the 2009 Christmas "Underwear Bomber" Really a US Goverment Agent?

Wikileaks: America Behind Egypt Protests?

The American government secretly backed leading figures behind the Egyptian uprising who have been planning “regime change” for the past three years, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

The American Embassy in Cairo helped a young dissident attend a US-sponsored summit for activists in New York, while working to keep his identity secret from Egyptian state police.

On his return to Cairo in December 2008, the activist told US diplomats that an alliance of opposition groups had drawn up a plan to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak and install a democratic government in 2011.

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