Category: Economic

Categories
Economic U.S.

Grand Blanc, Michigan Walmart Forced Eviction of Woman Living in the Store

Walmart, eviction, Grand Blanc, Michigan
Walmart, eviction, Grand Blanc, Michigan

A Walmart in Grand Blanc, Michigan had to engage in an eviction when a woman who had been staying in the store around the clock for days refused to leave. I know times may be tight for many people but is Walmart really the place you want to live? For some who spend a lot of time in the store this may seem like a dream, but be warned that it is illegal. The 45 year old female who has not been named apparently moved into the Walmart in Grand Blanc, Michigan on January 6, 2015, and she did not plan on leaving. Prior to her arrival in the store the woman had been staying with her son, but he lost his place because he had a problem with alcohol abuse.

The woman managed to blend in during the days she spent at the Grand Blanc, Michigan Walmart, and it was not until a manager reviewed the surveillance video for the store that eviction was even discussed. According to Grand Blanc Township Police Department Detective Matt Harburn “During the day, she’d just walk around and meander near the store. At night, apparently she’d go into the bathroom and sleep.” When store managers were going through video footage they realized that the female had been in the store for more than 48 hours, so they tried to get her to leave. When the woman refused several requests to leave the store police weer called in. Detective Hartburn told the media “When I first made contact with her she was sitting in a chair, she had her laptop in her lap with headphones in.”

 

Categories
Economic World

Warning Issued by Hassan Rouhani Over Drop In Oil Prices

Hassan Rouhani, drop in oil prices, warning issued
Hassan Rouhani, drop in oil prices, warning issued

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, has issued a warning over the recent drop in oil prices, and stating that countries which are behind decreasing oil costs would eventually regret the decision to keep current production levels. Rouhani also warned that UAE countries Kuwait and Saudi Arabia would suffer from the cost decrease right along with Iran. During the speech which was broadcast on the state television station Hassan stated “Those that have planned to decrease the prices against other countries will regret this decision. If Iran suffers from the drop in oil prices, know that other oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will suffer more than Iran.” Right now oil is at a 6 year low, but OPEC nations including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have refused to cut production in order to force a price increase. The economy of Kuwait is 95% dependent on oil sales, and in Saudi Arabia this percentage is close to 80%.

The warning issued by President Hassan Rouhani about the recent and severe drop in oil prices may have been made because Iran is also dependent on oil but the country does not have the vast reserves that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have. This means that the drop in oil prices will have a bigger impact on Iran that the other countries, and the economy of Iran may slow down and suffer damage if this happens. It is doubtful that other nations will take enough notice to boost the price of oil in the near future.

 

Categories
Canada Economic World

Is Shale Oil Responsible for Falling Oil Prices? OPEC Seems to Think So

OPEC, shale oil, falling oil prices
OPEC, shale oil, falling oil prices

According to the UAE it is not possible for OPEC alone to reverse falling oil prices, the output of shale oil also needs to be curbed as well according to the United Arab Emirates. Is this just sour grapes though? Shale oil has helped to bring oil prices down, but in the past OPEC could set costs and cause increases without any help. That is no longer true today as the world moves away from oil dependence on the volatile Middle East and towards alternatives like shale oil. According to Suhail al-Mazrouei, the UAE Energy Minister, “We cannot continue to be protecting a certain price. We have seen the oversupply, coming primarily from shale oil, and that needed to be corrected.” Not everyone shares this view though.

While OPEC may blame falling oil prices on shale oil the group did not lower their production from 30 million barrels a day during the November 2014 meeting, in the hopes that the lower prices would force the producers of shale oil to go under. Mazrouei said “We are telling the market and other producers to be rational, to be like OPEC and look at growth in the market.” Crude oil has fallen below $50 a barrel in some markets, and that has many in the Middle East looking at falling revenues. Right now oil is at the lowest point since 2009, 6 years ago. For drivers the falling oil prices are seen as a welcome relief though, with gas in some parts of the USA below $2 a gallon for the first time in a long time.

 

Categories
Economic Health

FDA Says Deadly Listeria Outbreak Traced to California Apple Plant

deadly listeria outbreak, California apple plant, FDA
deadly listeria outbreak, California apple plant, FDA

FDA officials have announced that a deadly listeria outbreak in the USA that sickened 32 people and killed 7 individuals has been traced to the Bidart Bros. apple processing plant which is located near the city of Bakersfield, California. Most of the people who became sick ate caramel coated apples from a package, and the listeria outbreak continued from October until December. The listeria strains found inside the processing plant are suspected to be the same strains that made many ill and killed several. The FDA released a statement which read “Those same strains were also found in Bidart Bros. apples collected from a retailer.” Listeria is a serious infection and the bacteria can be deadly to young children, the elderly, pregnant women and unborn children, and those who have a weakened immune system for any reason.

After the FDA release regarding the California apple plant and the deadly listeria outbreak company president Leonard Bidart released a statement that said “As a family-owned grower operating in California since the 1930s, we place safety at the forefront of everything we do. Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by the apple-related listeriosis outbreak.” In December the CDC issued a warning to consumers to avoid eating any packaged caramel apples, even those with additional toppings like nuts or sprinkles, until the cause of the deadly listeria outbreak could be identified and isolated. The saying an apple a day will keep the doctor away was not true in this situation, and the outbreak affected apple sales during one of the strongest times of the year.

 

Categories
Alberta Economic Ft Mac Politics

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Claims About Shell Canada Project Rejected by Court

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Shell Canada project
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Shell Canada project

A recent court ruling has rejected claims by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation concerning the Shell Canada project. The ACFN had claimed in federal court documents that Ottawa did not consult the group enough during the Shell Canada project review, and the group was hoping to have the project’s approval overturned by the court but this did not happen. AFCN Chief Allan Adams told the media “Regardless of this decision, it’s obvious to ACFN there has not been adequate consultation to thoroughly understand the long term impacts or proven ways to mitigate the destruction of these massive development projects.” Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq approved the Shell Canada project but attached 88 conditions which needed to be met.

When considering the claims by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation about the Shell Canada project Justice Daniele Tremblay-Lamer said “Within its jurisdictional authority, Canada has endeavoured to accommodate the ACFN with conditions binding on Shell and through more expansive regulatory schemes; in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction, Canada has committed itself to collaborating with Alberta and offering support. The Project’s conditions were designed with a measure of flexibility precisely so that they could adapt to changes and developments in the Project, which is still at the preliminary stage. Canada’s accommodations, adequate in themselves, bear witness to the attentive, responsive consultation that Canada has afforded the ACFN throughout the process.” Jeff Mann, who is the spokesperson for Shell Canada, had no comment when asked about the court’s ruling. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation group has not announced whether they will appeal the ruling or not.

 

Categories
Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Employee Layoffs at Shell Albian Sands Announced

Shell Albian Sands, employee layoffs
Shell Albian Sands, employee layoffs

Shell Albian Sands announces employee layoffs, saying the company will reduce the number of employees by up to 300 by March of 2015. The layoffs are the result of falling oil prices, and the company has announced their intention to reorganize their oilsands operations. According to Shell Albian Sands spokesperson Simone Marler “It’s no secret the oilsands industry has been facing challenges for some time. Recent oil prices have added to that pressure. We’ve been making tough choices along the way.” Employees who are laid off will be considered for other positions within the organization. Marler told reporters that “Any decision that affects our employees is something we do not take lightly. We recently had a look at our organization, and like with any company, we are always reviewing areas of our business to remain competitive.”

The recently announced employee layoffs at Shell Albian Sands are no surprise to oil industry insiders. The company has recently faced criticism over expanding the Jackpine mine, and critics have included environmental groups, First Nation groups, and Metis. According to one source “An approval with conditions by the regulator is not a final investment decision. That doesn’t mean we have made the final investment decision to do that expansion.” Gil McGowan, the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, has expressed sympathy for those affected by the employee layoffs at Shell Albian Sands. McGowan told the media “If Shell is losing money in other parts of the world, they should deal with those operations accordingly. They should not punish Alberta, where there is still money being made despite the drop in oil. At the very least, they should consider less draconian measures like hiring freezes as opposed to outright layoffs.”