Nexus - 0404 - New Times Magazine-pages

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... GL@BAL NEWS ... NEWS crime, the Department of Justice (DoJ) continues to show little interest in taking the problem seriously. Based on the centralised records main- tained by the DoJ, the data shows that when it comes to white-collar crime, the federal government almost never brings criminal charges against businesses. O the more than 51,000 federal crimina indictments in 1994, only 250—less than one-half of one per cent—involved crimi- nal violations of the nation's environmen- tal, occupational health and safety, an consumer product-safety laws. Given the huge number of corporations, the private admissions by business lawyers that their organisations often break the law, and a well-documented record o repeated violations, the minuscule number of federal criminal allegations hardly squares with the corporate view of busi- ness as the victim of a federal government run amok. These businesses generate yearly rev- enues of US$200 to $300 billion and are increasingly owned or subsidised by Wall Street giants such as American Express, Bank America, Citibank, Ford, NationsBank and Western Union. While affluent credit-card holders can pay as little as six to eight per cent annual interest, low-income people are paying as much as 240 per cent for a loan from a pawnbroker, 300 per cent for a finance company loan, and even an amazing 2,000 per cent for a fast payday’ loan from a check-cashing outlet. to "pan, tilt, zoom and focus". Another type of surveillance camera cur- rently in development boasts the equiva- lent of X-ray vision and can penetrate clothing to 'see’ concealed weapons, plastic explosives or drugs. Known as the passive millimetre wave imager, it can also see through walls and detect activity. Other emerging fields of surveillance include intelligent transportation systems (ITS) which track the movements of all people using public or private transport. Such systems are linked to ordinary bank accounts and can generate records that show a driver's name and address and the exact time and place where tolls have been charged. Nine states in the US already use similar systems to track over 250,000 vehicles every day, and 12 more states will soon put their own systems on line. #8: Big Brother Goes High-Tech Information on individuals in the devel- oped world can now be obtained by gov- ernments and corporations using new sur- veillance, identification and networking technologies. These new technologies are rapidly facilitating the mass and routine surveillance of large segments of the popu- lation—without the need for warrants and formal investigations. In Britain, nearly all public areas are monitored by over 150,000 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV). Equipped with a powerful zoom lens, each camera can read the wording on a cigarette packet at 100 yards. These cameras can track individuals wherever they go—even within buildings. The FBI has developed miniaturised CCTV units that it can put into a "lamp, clock, radio, duffel bag, purse, picture frame, utility pole, coin telephone and other [objects]" and then control remotely #9: US Troops Exposed to Depleted Uranium During Gulf War Depleted uranium (DU) weapons were used for the first time in a war situation in the Persian Gulf in 1991 and were hailed as a new and incredibly effective weapon by the Department of Defense (DoD). Although army training manuals were written in the 1980s to warn tank crews and commanders of the dangers associated with DU rounds, the Pentagon failed to warn Gulf War troops of the dangers. The DoD did circulate a memo to Gulf War commanders that contained three key points: any vehicle or system struck by a DU penetrator can be assumed to be conta- #6: New Mega-Merged Banking formal investigations. Depleted uranium (DU) weapons were Behemoths = Big Risk In Britain, nearly all public areas are _used for the first time in a war situation it 1995 was a record year for bank merg- _ monitored by over 150,000 closed-circuit —_ the Persian Gulf in 1991 and were hailec ers. Chase Manhattan and Chemical Bank television cameras (CCTV). Equipped as a new and incredibly effective weapor combined to create the nation's largest | with a powerful zoom lens, each camera _ by the Department of Defense (DoD). bank, with US$300 billion in assets; while can read the wording on a cigarette packet Although army training manuals were on the west coast, the merger of First at 100 yards. These cameras can track —_ written in the 1980s to warn tank crews Interstate and Wells Fargo created anew _ individuals wherever they go—even within and commanders of the dangers associate giant with over US$100 billion in assets. buildings. with DU rounds, the Pentagon failed tc The massive consolidation of the The FBI has developed miniaturised — warn Gulf War troops of the dangers. nation's banking resources has resulted in © CCTV units that it can put into a "lamp, The DoD did circulate a memo to Gul 71.5 per cent of US banking assets being _ clock, radio, duffel bag, purse, picture © War commanders that contained three ke: controlled by the 100 largest banking frame, utility pole, coin telephone and __ points: any vehicle or system struck by : organisations, representing less than one __ other [objects]" and then control remotely — DU penetrator can be assumed to be conta per cent of the total banks in the nation. Studies have found that banks in concentrated markets tend to charge higher rates for certain types of loans, and tend to offer lower interest rates on certain types of deposits than do banks in less concentrated markets. THAT'S RIdicuLous! you SHOULDN'T \ Do THAT. GOD 1S WATCHING, #7: Cashing in on Poverty Corporate America is in the poverty business and making huge profits from the destitute in the United States. Sixty million poor people without bank accounts or access to competitive-rate loans must instead use pawn shops, check-cashing outlets, rent-to-own stores, finance companies and Liek #7: Cashing in on Poverty Corporate America is in the poverty business and making huge profits from the destitute in the United States. Sixty million poor people without bank accounts or access to competitive-rate loans tead use pawn shops, ng outlets, rent-to-own stores, finance companies and high-interest mortgage lenders. JUNE - JULY 1997 NEXUS 7