Major Banks Supporting Corrupt Regimes

clipped from us.oneworld.net As G20 finance ministers meet in London to discuss how to rescue the global financial system and prevent the next disaster, a new report by anti-corruption NGO Global Witness shows how some of the world's biggest banks have been dealing with some of the world's most corrupt regimes. By doing so they have facilitated corruption and looting of natural resource revenues, denying some of the world's poorest people a chance to escape poverty. "The same lax regulation that created the credit crunch has let some of the world's biggest banks facilitate the looting of natural resource wealth from poor countries," said Gavin Hayman, Global Witness Campaigns Director. "If resources like oil, gas and minerals are to truly help lift Africa and other poor regions out of poverty, then governments must take responsibility to stop banks doing business with corrupt dictators and their families."

Barclays helped oil-rich Equatorial Guinea long after clear evidence emerged ruling family were looting state oil revenues.

Hong Kong bank helped Republic of Congo ruling family spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in oil revenues on designer shopping sprees.

Citibank facilitated the funding of two vicious civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia by enabling the warlord Charles Taylor, now on trial for war crimes in the Hague, to loot timber revenues.

Deutsche Bank assisted the late president Niyazov of Turkmenistan, a notorious human rights abuser, to keep billions of dollars of state gas revenues under his personal control and off the national budget.

Dozens of British, European and Chinese banks have ignored laws and used loopholes to aid criminal and atrocious acts of human rights violations, money-laundering and theft.

We speak out against crimes against the poor while the rich are aided by banks to carry out their crimes. Disgusting.

'Mafia Cops' Get Life, and Their Pensions

There is something terribly wrong with anyone convicted of these heinous crimes receiving government pensions.

Despite having retired before being accused they committed the crimes as city employees, this alone should automatically negate their pensions.

The same goes for any government employee. There are instances of federal congressmen in prison receiving pensions. The latest most notable is Randy Cunningham: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/pretty_pensions.html

My research shows talk of banning this practice over the past several years, and Congress has unanimously passed legislation several times but nothing has changed.

How do politicians justify allowing a dishonored fellow politician or government employee to continue to reap the benefits of their position after bringing such dishonor to those positions?

clipped from www.nytimes.com two retired police detectives, Stephen Caracappa and Louis J. Eppolito, were convicted of serving as assassins and spies for the Mafia while they were employed as detectives for the Police Department Mr. Eppolito to life plus 100 years, and fined him $4.75 million Mr. Caracappa got life plus 80 years, and a fine of $4.25 million Both men have been drawing tax-free disability pensions from the city since they left the Police Department, according to city records Because they retired before they were accused of crimes, their pensions will continue Moreover, the pensions are not subject to seizure for payment of the fines, . The Daily News reported last year that 450 corrupt former officials, judges and police officers were receiving pensions

Don’t mess with this ‘easy mark’

I would like to take this opportunity to tip my hat and salute this gentleman, a 72-year-old ex-marine who gave a would-be low-life pickpocket what he deserves.

A story out of Grand Rapids, Michigan tells how while Bill Barnes was scratching off a losing $2 lottery ticket inside a gas station he felt a hand slip into his front-left pants pocket, where he had $300 in cash.

He immediately grabbed the person's wrist with his left hand and started throwing punches with his right, landing six or seven blows before a store manager intervened.

"I guess he thought I was an easy mark," Barnes, 72, told The Grand Rapids Press for a story Tuesday.

He's anything but an easy mark: Barnes served in the Marines, was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and retired after 20 years as an iron worker.

Jesse Daniel Rae, the 27-year-old Newaygo County man accused of trying to pick Barnes' pocket, was arraigned Monday in Rockford District Court on one count of unarmed robbery, a 15-year felony.

Barnes said he had just withdrawn the money from a bank machine and put it in the pocket of his shorts before driving to the Marathon service station and Next Door Food Store in Comstock Park, a Grand Rapids suburb.

He remembers noticing a patron acting suspiciously, asking the price of different brands of cigarettes and other items. While turned away, Barnes felt the hand in his pocket, so he took action.

"I guess I acted on instinct," he said.

Kent County sheriff's deputies said the store manager quickly came around the counter. The three of them struggled through the front door, where two witnesses said the manager slammed Rae to the ground and held him there.

"There was blood everywhere," said another manager on duty, Abby Ostrom, 25.

Barnes was a regional runner-up in Golden Gloves competition in the novice and open divisions before enlisting in the Marines in 1956.

He lived most of his adult life in Comstock Park with his wife Patricia before recently moving to Ottawa County. The couple have three children.

After retiring as an iron worker, he now works part-time as a starter at a golf course.

Barnes said he'd probably do the same thing again under the same circumstances, if for no other reason than what he would face back home.

"I wouldn't want my wife to give me hell for lettin' that guy get my money," he said with a smile.

Way to go Bill, we need a hell of a lot more people like you in this world.