
Read more about Ancient Maps Proof of Lost Civilization ~ Graham Hancock
(NaturalHealth365) Radiotherapy radiation wavelengths were recently found, by UCLA Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, to transform breast cancer cells into highly malignant cancer stem cells. Clearly, it’s been shown, that the overuse of medical radiation (testing) can create cancer cells. In addition, we’ve been told that cancer rates are ‘soaring’ – but could western medicine be fabricating (falsely labeling) patients with cancer?
In reality, these breast cells were 30 times more malignant – post treatment. It is a known fact that a subpopulation of cancer stem cells, within tumors, will be made stronger and more malignant through chemotherapy and radiation.
What does this have to do with ‘non-cancerous’ conditions? Shamefully, everything, it is estimated that a third of all women diagnosed with breast cancer, actually have what’s called ‘localized breast cancer’ – a condition that resembles cancer, but will never cause harm. They have, up until now, undergone (unnecessary) mastectomies and/or chemotherapy – along with radiation treatment. Simply put, this is criminal and avoidable.
Keep in mind, radiation and chemotherapy tend to make cancer cells more aggressive. The ‘treatment’ actually causes cancer and conventional medicine actually admits to this truth.
Cancer patients will be shocked to read these statistics
According to the data, ‘incidentalomas’ are found in the lungs of 50% of otherwise healthy persons undergoing computed tomography of the chest; 23% in the kidneys and the liver. For those undergoing ultrasound examinations of the thyroid gland – the number is a shocking 67%.
The chance that these incidentalomas becoming a lethal cancer is well below 1%. Conventionally speaking, an incidentaloma is a tumor found by coincidence (incidental) without clinical symptoms or suspicion.
What has to be remembered is chemotherapy creates an unspecific stress – which causes cellular adaptations. This means, instead of just ‘drug resistance’, chemo creates a new environment and cells learn how to thrive in the presence of this stressful treatment protocol. Bottom line, after chemotherapy for a non-threatening tumor, you could be much sicker than when you started ‘therapy’.
Recently, a National Cancer Institute report published in JAMA confirmed that the medical community should stop calling low-risk lesions like DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) – cancer conditions.
Breast and prostate cancers are prime examples, said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “Looking at the epidemiology, a third of women have localized breast cancers that look like cancer but are never going to kill them,” he said.
Yet, a diagnosis that contains the word ‘cancer’ often causes so much anxiety for the patient and pressure on a physician to act that many women unnecessarily undergo radiation treatment or mastectomies, Brawley said.
“We cure these women who have these localized tumors, but they didn’t need to be cured,” Brawley said. “That’s a hard concept for even doctors to understand now.”
“Right now, we have women getting bilateral mastectomies for ductal carcinoma in situ, which is not a cancer,” Brawley said. “It’s the world turned upside down.”
The deception behind ‘cancer cure’ rates revealed
It has become apparent that these so called cancers are used to show the successful treatment of breast cancer. The cure rate is going up because the newer technology can find non existent cancers. Many so called cancer survivors report that they were treated for “ductal carcinoma in Situ.”
It has been estimated that 1.3 million cases of breast cancers were over diagnosed and over treated. This may account for the 1 in 3 chance of a women having breast cancer in her lifetime.
A subtle, yet significant, change has occurred within western medicine – in the last 50 plus years. Up to the 1960′s, most individuals visited their physicians when needed, which meant when they were ill or experienced some unknown symptoms.
Today, it seems as if the doctors’ office is a place to go to for ‘prevention’. Medical testing is so pervasive that it is done just as a precaution. When even healthy and asymptomatic people undergo testing – it is to look for disease.
The problem with a ‘disease searching’ mentality is that doctors are often pressured into labeling someone with a health condition – even when there’s nothing really discovered.
Many studies suggest that testing routinely identifies lesions that many patients would not need to know about in their lifetimes. These lesions only become a problem because we feel compelled to diagnose and treat them. Now, I’m not suggesting we bury our heads in the sand – but a second (or third) opinion can’t hurt to evaluate any given health issue. Never rush to conclusions – especially out of fear – when it comes to cancer treatment options.
Beware of ‘scare tactics’ used by conventional medicine
When diagnosed with cancer, many physicians use these scare tactics to trigger a quick (compliant) response from the patient. Advancements in diagnostic technology and procedures have increased the use of blockbuster drugs and has made oncologist (and drug companies) huge profits. I’m all for testing – when necessary – but remember you are in charge of your healthcare and no one should pressure you into making a decision about your life.
Looking at cancer as a symptom of cellular and environmental conditions is a healthy approach. To some of the most successful integrative physicians and alternative practitioners – it is the environment of the cell that has become inhospitable to normal cell function.
This view, which is gaining momentum, will show that radiation and chemotherapy adds to the cells stress burden. Treating every suspected case of so-called cancer will make healthy cells undergo profound genetic changes that make a real diagnosis of an invasive cancer more likely.
H. Gilbert Welch, a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, wrote a book Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health – which says it all…
The thing to remember is millions of women and men have subsequently been treated for non-existent threats to their health. They will not be reclassified as victims of misdiagnosis; there will be no legal recourse for compensations.
The information in journals such as, JAMA will not be common knowledge. There will be very few headlines stating these facts; it will be up to each individual to understand that their health is in their hands.
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About the author: Jonathan Landsman is the host of NaturalHealth365.com , the NaturalNews Talk Hour – a free, weekly health show and the NaturalNews Inner Circle – a monthly subscription to the brightest minds in natural health and healing.
Reaching hundreds of thousands of people, worldwide, as a personal health consultant, writer and radio talk show host – Jonathan has been educating the public on the health benefits of an organic (non-GMO) diet along with high-quality supplementation and healthy lifestyle habits including exercise and meditation.
References:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/experts-warn-of-dangers-of-overdiagnosis-and-treatment-of-cancer/2013/07/29/2659035e-f88d-11e2-b018-5b8251f0c56e_story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/22/opinion/cancer-survivor-or-victim-of-overdiagnosis.html?_r=0
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/808654
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/102/9/582.full
http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/12/4/R58
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/millions-wrongly-treated-cancer-national-cancer-institute-panel-confirms
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December 31 2013
Suicide bombing that killed 14 yesterday, today kills 17. Volgograd terror attack hits Russia a day after the railway station bombing. Now, just WHO is instigating WW3??!!
What the mainstream is making up is "Are they mad about the Olympics?" and such stupidity. InfoWars in true form digs further into this highly volitile situation.
"The security of the Olympics is controlled by the Saudi's"
The Russians are not taking any chances.
I have included two more vids along this topic for your viewing pleasure & information gathering.
Be prepared, be blessed!
Until recently, miraculous-healing mega-dose vitamin C could only be delivered through IV, and not orally. Those levels either blow out the bowel tolerance level or get urinated out before they can do their work. But now, you can achieve the results of IV mega-dose vitamin C orally, successfully. It’s called Liposomal vitamin C.
Liposomal vitamin C is a lipid encapsulation of ascorbic acid granules that delivers more vitamin C to cells orally than even mega-dose IV vitamin C. At first, vitamin C expert Dr. Thomas Levy found this hard to believe, even as clinical results were being achieved. He investigated further and was impressed.
It’s estimated that maybe 20% of IV vitamin C volume gets into cells, while 90% of liposomal C permeates tissue on a cellular level. Vitamin C is water soluble, and cell walls are fatty. Liposomal C is lipid (fatty substance) encapsulated on a molecular level.
This enables higher oral doses of vitamin C to permeate cells while not overwhelming bowel tolerance. If a cardiologist MD with years of experience administering mega-dose vitamin C such as Dr. Levy was impressed, you could be impressed too.
Real-Life Amazing Results
Some of you may be familiar with the story of New Zealand dairy farmer Alan Smith, who recovered rapidly from a coma due to flu complicated double pneumonia and leukemia. Many online versions make it seem his recovery was only from IV C.
Read: Man with Pneumonia Saved by High Dose Vitamin C
But after several legal attempts from Alan’s family to continue administering 50 to 100 grams of IV C after showing positive results when they were ready to pull the plug on his life support, the hospital cynically conceded to continue with only two grams of IV C daily.
That’s when his family members found out about a newly produced liposomal C which they brought to Alan daily. Each packet contained one gram of encapsulated vitamin C. Alan consumed six daily and achieved the miraculous results he had experienced with the 50 to 100 grams daily of IV C.
Yes, six grams of liposomal C did the work of 50 to 100 grams of IV C.
He walked out of the hospital in days on his own power. A year later, he was examined and there was no trace of leukemia either. Here’s a New Zealand 60 Minutes video clip that covers his story well.
Another example of liposomal C’s power: at the Fukushima hot spot, a team of orthomolecular (mega-dose supplement medicine) scientists administered 25 grams of IV C before working and six grams daily of liposomal C to one group of site clean-up workers while giving none to another group.
The vitamin C crew came back with no signs of radioactive poisoning while the crew without vitamin C showed high toxicity levels. That radioactive poisoned group was given the same IV and liposomal C treatments as the first group, and they all recovered.
This research team’s efforts at communicating their results were suppressed despite their pleas with various Japanese officials.
Liposomal Vitamin C: Easier Access and Lower Pricing Than Mega-Dose IV C
Practitioners who administer mega-dose IV vitamin C are not easy to find, and neither is insurance coverage. But orthomolecular.org provides a directory of practitioners who deliver mega-dose IV vitamin C.
Lypo-Spheric liposomal vitamin C is manufactured by Livon Labs, where you can get great information on how liposomal C works. But you can get it for around $30.00 U.S. for a box of 30 one gram gel packets from other sources. That may be pricey for normal vitamin C intake.
But for a serious condition, it’s easier than trying to find a practitioner who can administer IV mega-dose vitamin C, and it’s a lot less expensive.
Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes and should not be construed as medical advice.
Will the Second Amendment be completely eradicated in 2014?
Adan Salazar
Infowars.com
December 31, 2013
For many Americans, 2013 was the year “gun confiscation” became an undeniable reality, but it has merely set the precedent for what’s to come in 2014.
The Second Amendment represents the biggest obstacle blocking the elimination of individual sovereignty and private property, and is one of the only things preventing a total Homeland Security dictatorship.
However, in states like California and New York, laws restricting firearms have already been passed, and gun confiscation from private citizens is already being forcibly carried out.
As Infowars has furiously documented, numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have divulged they are being trained to confiscate Americans’ firearms. One Austin politician even flat-out stated this is the ultimate goal behind “gun control” (see below).
These warnings go hand-in-hand with rumors of a litmus test in which commanding officers gauge whether soldiers would feel comfortable firing on Americans who resist orders.
All of this leads us to question how long it will be before the rest of the nation imposes such measures, and begs the question as to whether military and police will ultimately comply with orders to violently engage the public.
Considering the frequency of attacks leveled at the Second Amendment, the question of the new year is: Will the Second Amendment be completely eradicated in 2014?
Here are just a few videos encapsulating the ensuing War on Gun Rights:
Message to Police
Upon noticing the prevailing culture of police brutality, a woman nicknamed “Josie the Outlaw” issued a viral public plea asking police to disobey unlawful orders, including raiding homes without warrants, illegally conducting checkpoints and confiscating Americans’ firearms.
Troops Ordered To Kill All Americans Who Do Not Turn In Guns
Last year, Infowars broke down how the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, eerily containing wording similar to a 1961 State Department memorandum (7277), outlined how “all types of weapons, notably including small arms and light weapons” would be targeted under the guise of preventing war.
Ron Paul Warns of 2nd American Revolution if Obama Bans Guns by Executive Order
Before Congressman Ron Paul left office, he appeared on the Alex Jones Show and asserted that Americans would view an effort by Obama to confiscate firearms as a “line in the sand.” “I don’t think the American people will (turn in their guns),” Paul stated.
Democratic Official Admits Plan To Confiscate Guns
Back in April of this year, Infowars exposed how Democratic City Council member and the potential next mayor of the City of Austin, Mike Martinez, admitted during an anti-gun rally hosted by Moms Demand Action that the ultimate goal behind their efforts was to “ban guns.”
EMERGENCY ALERT: Soldiers Warn of Coming Gun Confiscation and War Against Patriots
In an interview with Alex Jones in October, former Navy SEAL Ben Smith startlingly claimed members of the military were being questioned as to whether they felt “comfortable disarming American citizens.”
Gun Confiscation Begins In California
Californians have actually been surrendering their firearms since October 2007, according to a Bloomberg article which highlighted how citizens in the Golden State deemed “illegal” were having their guns taken, but in August, we documented how California also produced the label “Armed Prohibited Persons” (APPs) in order to further confiscate legally purchased guns from registered gun owners.
Lt. Col. Wants To Pry Guns From Your “Cold Dead Fingers”
And just this month, we exposed how an Esquire magazine article, written by a decorated military officer, indicated he was more than willing to “pry your gun from your cold, dead, fingers.”
Fortunately, not all is lost. 2013 was also the year the sleeping giant that is the American people became aware of the assault on the Bill of Rights.
After Infowars blew the lid off the DHS’s massive ammo splurges, and after Obama was re-elected, and after the tragedy at Sandy Hook spawned 23 executive orders aimed at firearms, and after Alex Jones sounded the alarm during his appearance on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, gun sales surged to all-time highs and an ammo shortage followed.
These are promising indicators that Americans won’t stand idly by as their gun rights are violated. This “line in the sand” must be firmly held in 2014 and beyond if Americans are to maintain our rights and the Second Amendment intact.
RELATED: Veteran’s Guns Confiscated After Forced ‘Psychiatric Evaluation’
RELATED: MAIG Director: No One in California Has Had Their Guns Confiscated
RELATED: Prepper Declared “Mentally Defective,” Put On FBI List
This article was posted: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 1:25 pm
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Source: Infowars
The outstanding artwork below from Chris Katko and New World Order Cartoons.
According to a recent report by World Net Daily, expected 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is embroiled in yet another international scandal. Still reeling from what many perceive as a botched response to the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, reports indicate the former secretary of state is being investigated by Egypt’s attorney general.
Hisham Barakat’s criminal complaint against Clinton alleges she conspired with the wife of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi – and the Muslim Brotherhood – to encourage rebels in the nation.
According to a translator, Morsi’s wife, Naglaa Mahmoud, reportedly claims to have a “treasure trove of secrets from the White House,” indicating Clinton “fears my wrath.”
Mahmoud goes on to confirm she “will not speak about Huma Abedin,” a former aide with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Sources indicate Mahmoud works with Abedin’s mother, Saleha, as a leader of the Muslim Sisterhood.
As Morsi heads to trial, the actions of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will likely be central themes. As the lamest of all presidential ducks, Obama’s sullied reputation can’t suffer much more as a result of charges filed against him.
The added controversy, however, is the last thing a fledgling Clinton campaign needs.
Mahmoud seems convinced Clinton will be “looking for the support of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood” in her pursuit of the Oval Office.
Read more at Western Journalism:
http://www.westernjournalism.com/hillary-clinton-faced-charges-egypt/#E7dOUbEX8jiJVE7J.99
First of all, be sure and watch 'each' video; not just the first one. They all go together, and they're all fairly short.
The real Hanukkah begins Saturday December 28 until January 4 in evening. Wait until you see what Stellarium shows happening during the real Hanukkah! Sagittarius, who represents Lucifer, will be crowned with a false light during the first few days!
What's more, if this all plays out the way the creator of the video(s) believes, Comet ISON, Judas Iscariot and a recent car bombing plays right in with the events that will lead up to the appearance of the Antichrist!
Be sure and watch each video, pray about it, and see what you think.
In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
There was a time when people used to wear watches to keep a track of time, but in the modern world when it was expected that a machine like this would be rendered useless and would become a piece of history and only be seen in museums, watch manufacturers took different train of thought and took watches to whole new level, biggest aspect of which being associating the word “luxury” with the watches and today in the world of style, wrist watches have become a statement of fashion, wearing an expensive designer watch in the business world is highly associated with a sense of pride and in our common day to day life it has become something to show off and brag about. So let us take a look at the top 10 brand of watches around the globe.
1. Rolex, Starting: $500
Based in Switzerland famous for its performance and reliability, Rolex is the most famous and largest manufacturer of luxury watches in the world, a brand worn and bragged about by celebrities and top business man. Officially registered in 1915 the company delivers watches manufactured by hand with the cutting-edge features, quality material used and the precision you would expect in such an expensive branded watch to have. They sell models starting from low thousands, and go all the way up to the gold models with studded diamonds that cost up to high lakhs. The reason of being on no. 1 position is because no other brand in the list matches to the popularity that this luxury watch brand has achieved.
2. Swatch, Starting: $450
Marked by bold new styling, design and marketing launched in 1983 by Nicolas Hayek, swatch saw remarkable success as soon as it came to market and the rage and popularity has still not fallen a bit. Famous for its advanced technology, its outstanding quality, wide variety of styles suitable for every occasion and the price range which makes it affordable for everyone who is looking for a great brand makes this brand a must have item, especially for any top class businessmen.
The name “Swatch” is a short form of “Second Watch” because the brand’s new watches were introduced with a new concept of watches as casual, fun, and relatively disposable accessories.
The company now sells more than a dozen different types of watches, including the Irony series, the Scuba series, the Skin family and even an Internet-connected watch that can download stock quotes, news headlines, weather reports, and other data called the Paparazzi series.
3. Omega, Starting: $400
Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Biel, Switzerland founded in 1848 by 23-year-old Louis Brandt now owned by the Swatch Group which is famous for high quality watches, well-known for sponsoring sports like golf and tennis and has frequently been the official timekeeper for the Olympics. It was the official timekeeper for the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics, and 2010 Winter Olympics.
Omega watches were the first choice of NASA and therefore was the first watch to be landed on the Moon, worn by Buzz Aldrin though Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on moon but he left his watch in the shuttle before stepping due to some reason.
Omega has been associated with James Bond movies since 1995 also Daniel Craig, the current James Bond wears the Omega Seamaster.
4. TAG heuer, Starting: $300
“Swiss Avant-Garde Since 1860” founded by Edouard Heuer, TAG Heuer was the company to introduce the world’s first automatic chronograph (specific type of watch that is used as a stopwatch combined with a display watch). TAG Heuer’s current lines include Formula One, Aquaracer, Link, Carrera, Monaco and Grand Carrera and it also manufactures eye wear, fashion accessories and mobile phones.
In 1911, Heuer manufactured timepieces to be mounted on the dashboards of automobiles, aircraft and boat designed specifically for needs of racers and rallyists. Heuer also introduced timing devices for ski and motor racing events, including Formula One.
Wearers and brand endorsers of TAG watches range from Barack Obama to Chris king and from Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio to our very own bollywood star Shahrukh Khan.
5. Rado, Starting: $300
Swiss luxury manufacturer of watches, considered a pioneer in the field of using scratch-proof materials, producing about half a million watches a year, Rado’s watches are available in more than 150 countries. The price of Rado watches range from $300 to $28,000 and those studded with diamond range from $30,000 to $250,000. RADO has received more than 20 elite international design awards, from the RED DOT Award to the iF Design Award.
In 1962 the Rado Diastar, the world’s first scratch-proof watch was launched which has been in production ever since and now sold as DiaStar The Original.
In 2004 RADO created a ‘high-tech diamond’, by the transformation of carbon into a nanocrystalline diamond, naming the watch V10K which is the hardest watch on Earth, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Here is video of GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy just DESTROYING the New York Times “investigative” report that claims Al-Qaeda had nothing to do with the Benghazi Terrorist attack that killed four Americans. Gowdy said the Times’ claim that the attack was the result of anger over an anti-Islamic video is easily refuted by asking, “Where did the violence in Benghazi come from before the video was ever released?” There had been numerous prior attacks on U.S. and other interests in Benghazi before there ever was a video. There is no answer for that!
The bottom line is that the New York Times is carrying water for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The Times’ attempt to put Benghazi to rest shows just how worried the Democrats are about the impact Benghazi could have on their political prospects going forward.
WND
Some tuna caught off California is showing evidence of radiation poisoning. (RT photo)
Like a slow-motion train wreck, the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster is still causing damage long after the world’s media has left the news story behind.
On March 11, 2011, the most powerful earthquake ever to hit Japan triggered a tsunami with waves that reached as high as 144 feet. These waves swamped the Fukushima nuclear power-plant complex, causing a resulting shutdown leading to the world’s worst nuclear incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
The accident has been rated a level 7, on a scale of 1 to 7, on theInternational Nuclear Event Scale.
As a result of this disaster, the complex’s coolant pumps failed to operate and the power plant reactors overheated, leading to a release of radionuclides directly into the ocean exceeding that from any previous accident.
Water is currently being pumped into the reactors in an attempt to keep them cool and prevent further explosions, but handling the water is becoming a problem.
The contaminated cooling water is being released directly into the ocean and is making its way into the ecosphere. Water from the storage tanks has also seeped into the groundwater and from there, into the ocean. Efforts to use a various barriers to prevent contamination have not completely stopped the leakage.
Reposted with permission
In 2014, there are two solar eclipses and two total lunar eclipses as follows.
2014 Apr 15: Total Lunar Eclipse |
2014 Apr 29: Annular Solar Eclipse |
2014 Oct 08: Total Lunar Eclipse |
2014 Oct 23: Partial Solar Eclipse |
Predictions for the eclipses are summarized in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. World maps show the regions of visibility for each eclipse. The lunar eclipse diagrams also include the path of the Moon through Earth's shadows. Contact times for each principal phase are tabulated along with the magnitudes and geocentric coordinates of the Sun and Moon at greatest eclipse.
All times and dates used in this publication are in Universal Time or UT. This astronomically derived time system is colloquially referred to as Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. To learn more about UT and how to convert UT to your own local time, see Time Zones and Universal Time.
source NASA
[This is a fabulous discovery using nature's own pattern to enhance the collection of solar energy. This is the real, conscious scientific process at work. Inspiring. - Zen]
“What do trees know that we don’t? 13-year-old inventor Aidan realized that trees use a mathematical formula to gather sunlight in crowded forests. Then he wondered why we don’t collect solar energy in the same way.”
Here’s another clip about Aiden’s work:
+++
[Hat tip: Q - tx!]
The post 13 Year Old Invents Fibonacci Solar Panel Design appeared first on Just Wondering - Alternative News and Opinions.
''HUGE SECOND SUN OVER SCOTLAND''...ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE!!!
2013 was a year in which lots of imbalances built up but none blew up. The US and Japan continued to monetize their debt, in the process cheapening the dollar and sending the yen to five-year lows versus the euro. China allowed its debt to soar with only the hint of a (quickly-addressed) credit crunch at year-end. The big banks got even bigger, while reporting record profits and paying record fines for the crimes that produced those profits. And asset markets ranging from equities to high-end real estate to rare art took off into the stratosphere.
Virtually all of this felt great for the participants and led many to conclude that the world’s problems were being solved. Instead, 2014 is likely to be a year in which at least some – and maybe all – of the above trends hit a wall. It’s hard to know which will hit first, but a pretty good bet is that the strong euro (the flip side of a weakening dollar and yen) sends mismanaged countries like France and Italy back into crisis. So let’s start there.
The basic premise of the currency war theme is that when a country takes on too much debt it eventually realizes that the only way out of its dilemma is to cheapen its currency to gain a trade advantage and make its debts less burdensome. This works for a while but since the cheap-currency benefits come at the expense of trading partners, the latter eventually retaliate with inflation of their own, putting the first country back in its original box.
In 2013 the US and especially Japan cheapened their currencies versus the euro, which was supported by the European Central Bank’s relative reluctance to monetize the eurozone’s debt. The following chart shows the euro in the past six months:
For more details:
Euro rises to more than 2-year high vs. dollar; yen falls
The euro jumped to its strongest level against the dollar in more than two years on Friday as banks adjusted positions for the year end, while the yen hit five-year lows for a second straight session.The dollar was broadly weaker against European currencies, including sterling and the Swiss franc. Thin liquidity likely helped exaggerate market moves.
The European Central Bank will take a snapshot of the capital positions of the region’s banks at the end of 2013 for an asset-quality review (AQR) next year to work out which of them will need fresh funds. The upcoming review has created some demand for euros to help shore up banks’ balance sheets, traders said.
“There’s a lot of attention on the AQR, and there’s some positioning ahead of the end of the calendar year,” said John Hardy, FX strategist at Danske Bank in Copenhagen.
Comments from Jens Weidmann, the Bundesbank chief and a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, also helped the euro. He warned that although the euro zone’s current low interest rate is justified, weak inflation does not give a license for “arbitrary monetary easing.
The euro rose as high as $1.3892, according to Reuters data, the highest since October 2011. It was last up 0.3 percent at $1.3738.
The currency has risen more than 10 cents from a low hit in July below $1.28, as the euro zone economy came out of a recession triggered by its debt crisis.
Unlike the U.S. and Japanese central banks, the European Central Bank has not been actively expanding its balance sheet, giving an additional boost to the euro.
Here’s what a stronger euro means for France, the second-largest and arguably worst-managed eurozone country:
French Economy Contracts 0.1% In Third Quarter
The final estimate of France’s gross domestic product, or GDP, in the third quarter remained unchanged at the previous estimation of a contraction of 0.1 percent, indicating that the euro zone’s second-largest economy is struggling to sustain the rebound it witnessed in the second quarter with a growth of 0.6 percent.The third-quarter GDP growth was in line with analysts’ estimates. According to data released on Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, the deficit in foreign-trade balance contributed (-0.6 points) to the contraction in the third quarter, compared to the positive (0.1 percent) contribution made in the preceding quarter.
Some thoughts
At the beginning of 2013, most of the eurozone was either still in recession or just barely climbing out. Then the euro started rising, making European products more expensive and therefore harder to sell, which depressed those countries’ export sectors and made debts more burdensome. So now, under the forced austerity of an appreciating currency, countries like France that were barely growing are back in contraction. And countries like Greece that were flat on their back are flirting with dissolution.
Recessions – especially never-ending recessions – are fatal for incumbent politicians, so pressure is building for a European version of Japan’s “Abenomics,” in which the European Central Bank is bullied into setting explicit inflation targets and monetizing as much debt as necessary to get there. The question is, will it happen before the downward momentum spawns political chaos that spreads to the rest of the world. See Italian President Warns of Violent Unrest in 2014 .