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VULTURES’ PICNIC by Greg Palast Dutton/Penguin, New York, 20II ISBN 978-0-525-95207-7 (404pp hc) Available: www.amazon.com yo can tell from the title of investigative reporter Greg Palast's new book Vultures’ Picnic that the fare won't be too appetising. Within the first few pages, though, you know that you're in for a jaw- dropping excursion as Palast goes all-out to come to terms with the enormity—and intrigue—of the 2011 BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Ably assisted by his trusty fixer Badpenny and colleagues, Palast launches himself into hotspots around the world, including locations he visited back in the 1980s when he was investigating the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in Alaska, which also involved BP. In the process, he exposes BP's own spook squad and questionable modus operandi. Palast's dangerous quest takes him to Baku in Azerbaijan, Fukushima in Japan (revealing incredible links between TEPCO and certain Texas- based corporations), the US Gulf Coast, Geneva, London, New York, Sdo Paulo as well as the Arctic. It includes a grab bag of fascinating, if often unsavoury, characters. Ultimately, Palast provides breathtaking glimpses into the corruption at the heart of Big Oil and the Bigger Finance behind it. Every step of the way, Palast presents a & REVIEWS VULTURES?’ PICNIC staggering exposé. Interested by Greg Palast readers can go to Palast's website Dutton/Penguin, New York, 20II www.VulturesPicnic.com to keep up ISBN 978-0-525-95207-7 (404pp hc) to date with ongoing investigations. Available: www.amazon.com DISCONNECTING THE DOTS: wea bn bemoan How CIA and FBI Officials Helped Greg Palast Enable 9/11 and Evaded Government Investigations by Kevin Fenton Trine Day, Walterville, OR, USA, 2011 ISBN 978-0-9841858-5-6 (415pp tpb) a Available: www. TrineDay.com ee a 14 n his attempt to make sense of the y we VULTURES’ 9/11 attacks, History Commons . ib ao f PIGMIG een" || WATER FILTER In Pursuit of Petroleum stymying—that happened in the lead-up. He uses publicly available documents, including government PROTECT YOU AND YOUR ou can tell from the title of reports, court proceedings and investigative reporter Greg mainstream media sources, and FAMILY FROM UNWANTED Palast's new book Vultures’ Picnic that reckons that anyone with similar ADDITIVES IN YOUR WATER. the fare won't be too appetising. access to such information could put Within the first few pages, though, wo and two together. ve know that you're mer ‘ jaw- It's not a pretty picture for the US Topping excursion as Falast goes intelligence agencies. Fenton all-out to come to terms with the explains how the CIA, particularly ° — enormity—and intrigue—of the 2011 with its Alec Station Osama bin BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster Laden unit, went out of its way to * EVERY TAP AND SHOWER IN THE in the Gulf of Mexico. ; prevent key information from filtering HOUSE PROVIDED WITH CLEAN P Ably assisted by his trusty rer hrough to the FBI. The National AND SAFE WATER aapenny and colleagues, Palas Security Agency, with its extensive + NEVERBUYBOTTLEDWATER launches himself into hotspots phone-call intercepts of the Al Qaeda AGAIN around the world, including locations — jetwork from such far-flung places as he visited back in the 1980s when he yemen and Malaysia, certainly didn't * — MODELS SUITABLE FOR TOWN OR was investigating the Exxon Valdez help in sharing the vital intelligence TANK WATER oil spill disaster in Alaska, which also jt had gathered ahead of 9/I1. REMOVES: involved BP. In the process, he Just as the two Al Qaeda-linked . Fluoride andlenionne exposes BP's own spook squad and bombings in Africa in 1998 were ZR led W C i questionable modus operandi. . anticipated, so, too, were attacks on eS fater zontaminants Palast's dangerous ques takes him US soil. Fenton concludes from his * — Household & industrial Chemicals to Baku in Azerbaijan, Fukushima in analysis of this public-domain pole! Sve Japan (revealing incredible links evidence that certain CIA ° deities votes between TEPCO and certain Texas- F ‘ ~ operatives—answering to whom, he Aside —_ based corporations), he US cu doesn't know—had reason to , oa mu igh a Coas , Geneva, London, New Yor! ’ acilitate a terrorist attack on the US SOE Wyn alopucas AOS SAo Paulo as well as the Arctic. It itself and much more that may be includes a grab bag of fascinating, if , harming your family! often unsavoury, characters. ot only would it bring into aw the so-called Patriot Act, with all Ultimately, Palast provides its restrictions on citizens’ freedoms, PLEASE RING JIM ATKINSON ON breathtaki ji into th it would also help drive a larger 07 5449 1424 OR EMAIL rea nta ing glimpses into tne geostrategic realignment in which the : corruption at the heart of Big Oil and power elite had a significant stake. jim@aquafiltercorp.com.au the Bigger Finance behind it. Every In Disconnecting the Dots, Fenton FOR RE INFORMAT step of the way, Palast presents a 9 ea manages to connect quite a few. staggering exposé. Interested readers can go to Palast's website www.VulturesPicnic.com to keep up to date with ongoing investigations. _FROM — INEXPENSIVE TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN EVERY TAP AND SHOWER IN THE HOUSE PROVIDED WITH CLEAN AND SAFE WATER NEVER BUY BOTTLED WATER AGAIN MODELS SUITABLE FOR TOWN OR TANK WATER NEXUS ¢ 75 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2012 Fluoride and chlorine PLEASE RING JIM ATKINSON ON 07 5449 1424 OR EMAIL www.nexusmagazine.com