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Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Radar Pulses Currently In Virginia Like Before the 7.7 Earthquake in Mexico.



I would like to remind everyone about the strange RADAR pulses out of Mexico the day of the Large 7.7M earthquake on October 28, 2012 .. 

This makes twice now, a strange RADAR pulse and a Large Earthquake on the West Coast of Canada -- Both 7.7 magnitude as well.


http://climate.cod.edu/flanis/satellite/1km/index.php?type=Virginias-rad-48


THIS IS SUPER INTERESTING!




http://weather.cod.edu/satrad/nexrad/




http://sincedutch.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/10282012-mexico-canada-spiral-vortex-shaped-radar-return/



WERE THERE RADAR WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE ALASKAN EARTHQUAKE OF 7.5 MAGNITUDE ON THE 5TH?  I CANNOT FIND THE ABILITY WITH NEXRAD TO LOOK BACK AT THAT.


http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000ejqv#summary

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Romney Sways Voters & is Now on Track!


Romney now on track

Mitt Romney leads President Obama in national polls, and the president is approaching his all-time low in the RealClearPolitics average. Romney leads in some key swing states (e.g., Florida, Colorado and North Carolina) and has largely erased the deficit in others (Ohio, Virginia, Nevada). His approval rating (the likability rating so many liberals have obsessed about) is in positive territory; the gap between the two candidates’ approval ratings has all but disappeared.
Obama is below 60 on Intrade. Crowds for Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) are swelling in battleground states like Ohio. The Associated Press reported:
The crowds tell the story. As Election Day nears, Mitt Romney is drawing large and excited throngs. Look to dusty Iowa cornfields, rain-soaked Virginia parks, the muddy fields of the Shelby County Fairgrounds, where a crowd of 9,500 — almost half of this western Ohio town — gathered among the barns and stables on a frigid October evening this week to glimpse the Republican presidential contender. . . . He drew an estimated 12,000 people to a central Florida rally last weekend, 1,200 to an Iowa town of just 1,000, and several hundred more to Newport News, Va., under heavy October rain.
“People wonder why it is I’m so confident we’re going to win. I’m confident because I see you here on a day like this. This is unbelievable,” Romney said, his wet hair stuck to the side of his face. Soaked supporters standing in muddy puddles cheered as he delivered an abridged version of his standard campaign speech. Some wore ponchos, while many others stood shivering and drenched, hands in pockets.
This is all the more remarkable since Romney was never the favorite of the right-wing base.
The New York Times grudgingly concedes that Romney continues to surge. His “bounce” from the Oct. 3 debate hasn’t faded. His state polling in swing states has followed his national surge.
All of this suggests that the presidential race changed in some fundamental way after the first debate. It can certainly change again, but it is silly to deny that the first debate has been more significant than any one event in the 2012 election.
What happened? For one thing the debate exposed what many Republicans suspected, namely that some of Obama’s support was shallow, rooted in habit or from failure to consider Romney might be a viable alternative. Even in the heady days after the Democratic National Convention Obama did not reach more than 50 percent in the RCP averages or even in any week of Gallup tracking polls.
Recall that virtually the entire Obama strategy was aimed to discredit and delegitimize Romney as a candidate. The avalanche of negative ads in the summer, however, failed (barely) to do so. With Romney’s extraordinary debate performance, it now becomes nearly impossible to vilify him. Unfortunately for Obama he’s got no Plan B. He never devised an impressive second-term agenda. He has either unpopular (Obamacare) or unhelpful (raise taxes) or small beans (hire 100,000 teachers) proposals. Romney has therefore been able to deploy his “we can’t afford four more years” argument quite effectively.
And finally, as many of us suspected, foreign policy has become a front-burner issue. The attack on the Benghazi Consulate has now resonated with mainstream media and has become a story about competence and credibility. This may not have contributed to Romney’s rise, but it will assist him in holding off Obama.
For this, Romney owes a debt of gratitude to Vice President Biden, who elevated the issue in the debate through blatant misstatements. And in pointing the finger at the intelligence community, Biden risks a backlash in the form of leaks and testimony from those who aren’t going to take the fall for politicians. James Risen of the New York Times picks up on just one story line that just weeks ago hadn’t garnered much attention, as he writes:
The large private security firms that have protected American diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan sought State Department contracts in Libya, and at least one made a personal pitch to the ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, who was killed in the militants’ attack in Benghazi on Sept. 11, according to a senior official at one firm.
But given the Libyan edict banning the contractors, the Obama administration was eager to reduce the American footprint there. After initially soliciting bids from major security companies for work in Libya, State Department officials never followed through.
“We went in to make a pitch, and nothing happened,” said the security firm official. He said the State Department could have found a way around the Libyans’ objections if it had wanted to.
Be prepared to see the drip-drip-drip of more revelations as whistleblowers get in line to tell their side of the story.
Romney has not won this race yet. A rotten debate performance could reset the race once more. Obama and his Chicago political hacks may have an October surprise or two up their collective sleeves. But now time and momentum are on Romney’s side. He appears to a plurality of voters to be not just an alternative to Obama but a good one. Unless that changes and changes fast (remember early voting is ongoing), Romney will win.

Addressing Attacks Against Mitt Romney Regarding Attempt to Improve Lyme Care in Virginia

As most people might guess, I have Lyme Disease. I’ve had it for 10 years now. I’m not here to defend Romney or endorse him. I’m here to explain how sad it is that few media outlets are focusing on the real issue. And that’s Lyme Disease, the epidemic.
At this point, I could care less what Mitt’s intent is for that Virginia mailer.  We can speculate all we want, but why? We aren’t Romney or his team of brains that think up his campaign tactics. I do, however, think this is a good chance to view exactly how divided science, politics, the medical industry and patients are on this ONE topic.
Whether citizens in any one of these populations of people care to admit or not (if they even have an inkling), this disease is currently the largest vector-borne disease in America. Much like HIV was dubbed the “gay man’s disease” in the 80′s, Chronic Lyme Disease is getting ridiculed, overlooked, and dismissed without much attempt at further scientific research, aside from privately funded studies.
Why is this a political disease? Ask the politicians. Between Dearborn, OSP A and Plum Island, I’d say there is a whole lot of room for investigation. Of course, mainstream readers aren’t going to be reading about those topics, because the media has presented a neat and tidy scenario that makes Lyme activists, much like myself, “conspiracy theorists”.
I could care less about the criminals involved with creating this controversy. They will receive their Karma when they are ready to learn about the receiving end of disease. Whether they learn in this lifetime or the next is not up to me, but them, if you believe in that sort of thing. That’s really not my concern. Right now, Lyme patients need help. We need science. We need better (more sensitive) testing, we need treatments that WORK. Government has done nothing to support scientific research in chronic lyme disease.
Online “science” and news blogs are directing their attention on the WRONG thing. Forget about Romney for a second. Forget about what you think you know about this disease. Ask George W. Bush if he went to an IDSA trained doctor for his Lyme disease. Ask Bush how long he treated his infection. ANSWER: longer than 4 weeks, which is the max amount of time given to non-presidential Lyme patients with a newly diagnosed case only. Anything longer than that, you’re on your own.
What is being attempted by Romney is beyond description.LymeDisease.org explains it best in their blog post.
In there they discuss how Durland Fish, one of the IDSA authors, firmly believes Chronic Lyme Disease doesn’t exist. Where is the scientific evidence that it doesn’t exist? Where are the scientific studies the proves 4 weeks of doxycycline cures Lyme Disease? THAT is what doesn’t exist, because it’s never been done. What Mr. Fish IS good at is yelling at peaceful IDSA Guideline protesters, claiming they are “all crazy” and “you don’t know what you’re talking about,” while he flailed his arms about in a demeaning manner. What was he so upset about, if he has science backing his (flawed) guidelines up? 
Unfortunately, mass media is going to support what the “authorities” say and label it as truth, while grouping Romney with the rest of the “quacks” in support of Lyme Disease awareness, prevention and proper treatment. Epidemic monsters like Lyme Disease cannot be kept in the closet forever. The US government knows this. The IDSA knows this. It’s a matter of what will they do to make themselves look like the heroes when they have no choice but to address these very real concerns.
If you want to understand the Lyme epidemic and the issues within the divided medical community, read “Cure Unknown”  by Pamela Weintraub. She’s a talented and objective medical science journalist who happened to have Lyme after moving to upstate New York, along with her husband and children. The disease is devastatingly real. Some of these “writers” on these “science” and political news blogs (see links below) could really benefit by learning how to become self-thinking humans. It’s really not entirely difficult. All you need is a spine, a brain, and some balls.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Fungal Meningitis Outbreak. 7 Dead. 64 Sick.

Rare Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Rises; 7 Dead, 64 Sick
PHOTO: The meningitis death toll has risen to seven, while the outbreak has spread to 64 people, according to the CDC.



By 
 (@katiemoisse) and  (@alyssanewcomb)



A rare fungal meningitis that has been linked to spinal steroid injections has killed seven people and sickened 64 across nine states, health officials said today.
The latest cases were confirmed in Minnesota and Ohio, according to figures posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.
The other states with reported cases are Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia and Maryland.
The outbreak of aspergillus meningitis has been linked to spinal steroid injections, a common treatment for back pain. A sealed vial of the steroid, called methylprednisolone acetate, was found to contain fungus, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"FDA is in the process of further identifying the fungal contaminate," said Dr. Ilisa Bernstein, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance. "Our investigation into the source of this outbreak is still ongoing."
The steroid came from the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., a specialty pharmacy that has recalled three lots of the drug and shut down operations. Calls to the pharmacy were not immediately returned and their website is down.
Roughly 75 clinics in 23 states that received the recalled lots have been instructed to notify all affected patients.
"If patients are concerned, they should contact their physician to find out if they received a medicine from one of these lots," said Dr. Benjamin Park of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding that most of the cases occurred in older adults who were healthy aside from back pain.
Meningitis affects the membranous lining of the brain and spinal cord. Early symptoms of fungal meningitis, such as headache, fever, dizziness, nausea and slurred speech, are subtler than those of bacterial meningitis and can take nearly a month to appear. Left untreated, the inflammatory disease can cause permanent neurological damage and death.
"Fungal meningitis in general is rare. But aspergillus meningitis -- the kind we're talking about here -- is super rare and very serious," said Dr. William Schaffner, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "There's no such thing as mild aspergillus meningitis."
The disease is diagnosed with a lumbar puncture, which draws cerebrospinal fluid from the spine that can be inspected for signs of the disease. Once detected, it can be treated with high doses of intravenous antifungal medications.
"Treatment could be prolonged, possibly on the order of months," said Park, adding that the IV treatment would require a hospital stay.
Unlike bacterial and viral meningitis, fungal meningitis is not transmitted from person to person and only people who received the steroid injections are thought to be at risk.
The FDA has, however, advised health providers to stop using any product made by the New England Compounding Center during the investigation.

CDC: Death toll in rare fungal meningitis outbreak linked to steroid injections rises to 7

ATLANTA — Health officials say the death toll in a rare fungal meningitis outbreak across several states has risen to seven.
In updated figures posted to its website Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak has spread to more than 60 people across nine states.
Minnesota and Ohio are the two latest states to report confirmed cases linked to a steroid produced by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. The steroid has been recalled, and health officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have been injected with it.
The New England Compounding Center has said it is cooperating with health investigators to determine the source of the infections.

    Thursday, May 31, 2012

    2012 Bilderberg Meeting Official Participant List

    Bilderberg Meetings

    Chantilly, Virginia, USA, 31 May-3 June 2012


    Final List of Participants

    Chairman
    FRACastries, Henri deChairman and CEO, AXA Group



    DEUAckermann, JosefChairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
    GBRAgius, MarcusChairman, Barclays plc
    USAAjami, FouadSenior Fellow, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University
    USAAlexander, Keith B.Commander, US Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency
    INTAlmunia, JoaquínVice-President - Commissioner for Competition, European Commission
    USAAltman, Roger C.Chairman, Evercore Partners
    PRTAmado, LuísChairman, Banco Internacional do Funchal (BANIF)
    NORAndresen, Johan H.Owner and CEO, FERD
    FINApunen, MattiDirector, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA
    TURBabacan, AliDeputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs
    PRTBalsemão, Francisco PintoPresident and CEO, Impresa; Former Prime Minister
    FRABaverez, NicolasPartner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    FRABéchu, ChristopheSenator, and Chairman, General Council of Maine-et-Loire
    BELBelgium, H.R.H. Prince Philippe of 
    TURBerberoğlu, EnisEditor-in-Chief, Hürriyet Newspaper
    ITABernabè, FrancoChairman and CEO, Telecom Italia
    GBRBoles, NickMember of Parliament
    SWEBonnier, JonasPresident and CEO, Bonnier AB
    NORBrandtzæg, Svein RichardPresident and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA
    AUTBronner, OscarPublisher, Der Standard Medienwelt
    SWECarlsson, GunillaMinister for International Development Cooperation
    CANCarney, Mark J.Governor, Bank of Canada
    ESPCebrián, Juan LuisCEO, PRISA; Chairman, El País
    AUTCernko, WillibaldCEO, UniCredit Bank Austria AG
    FRAChalendar, Pierre André deChairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain
    DNKChristiansen, JeppeCEO, Maj Invest
    RUSChubais, Anatoly B.CEO, OJSC RUSNANO
    CANClark, W. EdmundGroup President and CEO, TD Bank Group
    GBRClarke, KennethMember of Parliament, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Justice
    USACollins, Timothy C.CEO and Senior Managing Director, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC
    ITAConti, FulvioCEO and General Manager, Enel S.p.A.
    USADaniels, Jr., Mitchell E.Governor of Indiana
    USADeMuth, ChristopherDistinguished Fellow, Hudson Institute
    USADonilon, Thomas E.National Security Advisor, The White House
    GBRDudley, RobertGroup Chief Executive, BP plc
    ITAElkann, JohnChairman, Fiat S.p.A.
    DEUEnders, ThomasCEO, Airbus
    USAEvans, J. MichaelVice Chairman, Global Head of Growth Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co.
    AUTFaymann, WernerFederal Chancellor
    DNKFederspiel, UlrikExecutive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/S
    USAFerguson, NiallLaurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University
    GBRFlint, Douglas J.Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc
    CHNFu, YingVice Minister of Foreign Affairs
    IRLGallagher, PaulFormer Attorney General; Senior Counsel
    USAGephardt, Richard A.President and CEO, Gephardt Group
    GRCGiannitsis, AnastasiosFormer Minister of Interior; Professor of Development and International Economics, University of Athens
    USAGoolsbee, Austan D.Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
    USAGraham, Donald E.Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company
    ITAGruber, LilliJournalist - Anchorwoman, La 7 TV
    INTGucht, Karel deCommissioner for Trade, European Commission
    NLDHalberstadt, VictorProfessor of Economics, Leiden University; Former Honorary Secretary  General of Bilderberg Meetings
    USAHarris, BrittCIO, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
    USAHoffman, ReidCo-founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedIn
    CHNHuang, YipingProfessor of Economics, China Center for Economic Research, Peking University
    USAHuntsman, Jr., Jon M.Chairman, Huntsman Cancer Foundation
    DEUIschinger, WolfgangChairman, Munich Security Conference; Global Head Government Relations, Allianz SE
    RUSIvanov, Igor S.Associate member, Russian Academy of Science; President, Russian International Affairs Council
    FRAIzraelewicz, ErikCEO, Le Monde
    USAJacobs, Kenneth M.Chairman and CEO, Lazard
    USAJohnson, James A.Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC
    USAJordan, Jr., Vernon E.Senior Managing Director, Lazard
    USAKarp, AlexanderCEO, Palantir Technologies
    USAKarsner, AlexanderExecutive Chairman, Manifest Energy, Inc
    FRAKarvar, AnoushehInspector, Inter-ministerial Audit and Evaluation Office for Social, Health, Employment and Labor Policies  
    RUSKasparov, GarryChairman, United Civil Front (of Russia)
    GBRKerr, JohnIndependent Member, House of Lords
    USAKerry, JohnSenator for Massachusetts
    TURKeyman, E. FuatDirector, Istanbul Policy Center and Professor of International Relations, Sabanci University
    USAKissinger, Henry A.Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc.
    USAKleinfeld, KlausChairman and CEO, Alcoa
    TURKoç, MustafaChairman, Koç Holding A.Ş.
    DEUKoch, RolandCEO, Bilfinger Berger SE
    INTKodmani, BassmaMember of the Executive Bureau and Head of Foreign Affairs, Syrian National Council
    USAKravis, Henry R.Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
    USAKravis, Marie-JoséeSenior Fellow, Hudson Institute
    INTKroes, NeelieVice President, European Commission; Commissioner for Digital Agenda
    USAKrupp, FredPresident, Environmental Defense Fund
    INTLamy, PascalDirector-General, World Trade Organization
    ITALetta, EnricoDeputy Leader, Democratic Party (PD)
    ISRLevite, Ariel E.Nonresident Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    USALi, ChengDirector of Research and Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution
    USALipsky, JohnDistinguished Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University
    USALiveris, Andrew N.President, Chairman and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company
    DEULöscher, PeterPresident and CEO, Siemens AG
    USALynn, William J.Chairman and CEO, DRS Technologies, Inc.
    GBRMandelson, PeterMember, House of Lords; Chairman, Global Counsel
    USAMathews, Jessica T.President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    DENMchangama, JacobDirector of Legal Affairs, Center for Political Studies (CEPOS)
    CANMcKenna, FrankDeputy Chair, TD Bank Group
    USAMehlman, Kenneth B.Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
    GBRMicklethwait, JohnEditor-in-Chief, The Economist
    FRAMontbrial, Thierry dePresident, French Institute for International Relations
    PRTMoreira da Silva, JorgeFirst Vice-President, Partido Social Democrata (PSD)
    USAMundie, Craig J.Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
    DEUNass, MatthiasChief International Correspondent, Die Zeit
    NLDNetherlands, H.M. the Queen of the
    ESPNin Génova, Juan MaríaDeputy Chairman and CEO, Caixabank
    IRLNoonan, MichaelMinister for Finance
    USANoonan, PeggyAuthor, Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
    FINOllila, JormaChairman, Royal Dutch Shell, plc
    USAOrszag, Peter R.Vice Chairman, Citigroup
    GRCPapalexopoulos, DimitriManaging Director, Titan Cement Co.
    NLDPechtold, AlexanderParliamentary Leader, Democrats '66 (D66)
    USAPerle, Richard N.Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
    NLDPolman, PaulCEO, Unilever PLC
    CANPrichard, J. Robert S.Chair, Torys LLP
    ISRRabinovich, ItamarGlobal Distinguished Professor, New York University
    GBRRachman, GideonChief Foreign Affairs Commentator, The Financial Times
    USARattner, StevenChairman, Willett Advisors LLC
    CANRedford, Alison M.Premier of Alberta
    CANReisman, Heather M.CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
    DEUReitzle, WolfgangCEO & President, Linde AG
    USARogoff, Kenneth S.Professor of Economics, Harvard University
    USARose, CharlieExecutive Editor and Anchor, Charlie Rose
    USARoss, Dennis B.Counselor, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
    POLRostowski, JacekMinister of Finance
    USARubin, Robert E.Co-Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Secretary of the Treasury
    NLDRutte, MarkPrime Minister
    ESPSáenz de Santamaría Antón, SorayaVice President and Minister for the Presidency
    NLDScheffer, PaulProfessor of European Studies, Tilburg University
    USASchmidt, Eric E.Executive Chairman, Google Inc.
    AUTScholten, RudolfMember of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
    FRASenard, Jean-DominiqueCEO, Michelin Group
    USAShambaugh, DavidDirector, China Policy Program, George Washington University
    INTSheeran, JosetteVice Chairman, World Economic Forum
    FINSiilasmaa, RistoChairman of the Board of Directors, Nokia Corporation
    USASpeyer, Jerry I. Chairman and Co-CEO, Tishman Speyer
    CHESupino, PietroChairman and Publisher, Tamedia AG
    IRLSutherland, Peter D.Chairman, Goldman Sachs International
    USAThiel, Peter A.President, Clarium Capital / Thiel Capital
    TURTimuray, SerpilCEO, Vodafone Turkey
    DEUTrittin, JürgenParliamentary Leader, Alliance 90/The Greens
    GRCTsoukalis, LoukasPresident, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy
    FINUrpilainen, JuttaMinister of Finance
    CHEVasella, Daniel L.Chairman, Novartis AG
    INTVimont, PierreExecutive Secretary General, European External Action Service
    GBRVoser, PeterCEO, Royal Dutch Shell plc
    SWEWallenberg, JacobChairman, Investor AB
    USAWarsh, KevinDistinguished Visiting Fellow, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University
    GBRWolf, Martin H.Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times
    USAWolfensohn, James D.Chairman and CEO, Wolfensohn and Company
    CANWright, Nigel S.Chief of Staff, Office of the Prime Minister
    USAYergin, DanielChairman, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates
    INTZoellick, Robert B.President, The World Bank Group




    Rapporteurs
    GBRBredow, Vendeline vonBusiness Correspondent, The Economist
    GBRWooldridge, Adrian D.Foreign Correspondent, The Economist

    Bilderberg Meetings


    The 60th Bilderberg Meeting will be held in Chantilly, Virginia, USA from 31 May - 3 June 2012. The Conference will deal mainly with political, economic and societal issues like Transatlantic Relations, Evolution of the Political Landscape in Europe and the US, Austerity and Growth in Developed Economies, Cyber Security, Energy Challenges, the Future of Democracy, Russia, China and the Middle East.
    Approximately 145 participants will attend of whom about two-thirds come from Europe and the balance from North America and other countries. About one-third is from government and politics, and two-thirds are from finance, industry, labor, education, and communications. The meeting is private in order to encourage frank and open discussion.

    Bilderberg takes its name from the hotel in Holland, where the first meeting took place in May 1954. That pioneering meeting grew out of the concern expressed by leading citizens on both sides of the Atlantic that Western Europe and North America were not working together as closely as they should on common problems of critical importance. It was felt that regular, off-the-record discussions would help create a better understanding of the complex forces and major trends affecting Western nations in the difficult post-war period.
    The Cold War has now ended. But in practically all respects there are more, not fewer, common problems - from trade to jobs, from monetary policy to investment, from ecological challenges to the task of promoting international security. It is hard to think of any major issue in either Europe or North America whose unilateral solution would not have repercussions for the other.
    Thus the concept of  a European-American forum has not been overtaken by time. The dialogue between these two regions  is still - even increasingly - critical.

    What is unique about Bilderberg as a forum is the broad cross-section of leading citizens that are assembled for nearly three days of informal and off-the-record discussion about topics of current concern especially in the fields of foreign affairs and the international economy; the strong feeling among participants that in view of the differing attitudes and experiences of the Western nations, there remains a clear need to further develop an understanding in which these concerns can be accommodated; the privacy of the meetings, which has no purpose other than to allow  participants to speak their minds openly and freely.
    In short, Bilderberg is a small, flexible, informal and off-the-record international forum in which different viewpoints can be expressed and mutual understanding enhanced.

    Bilderberg's only activity is its annual Conference. At the meetings, no resolutions are proposed, no votes taken, and no policy statements issued. Since 1954, fifty-nine conferences have been held. The names of the participants are made available to the press.  Participants are chosen for their experience, their knowledge, and their standing; all participants attend Bilderberg in a private and not an official capacity.

    For further information refer to www.bilderbergmeetings.org. A list of participants is attached.

    31 May 2012

    Governance

    Bilderberg is governed by a Steering Committee which designates a Chairman; members are elected for a term of four years and can be re-elected. There are no other members of the Bilderberg conference. The Chair's main responsibilities are to chair the Steering Committee and to prepare with the Steering Committee the conference program, the selection of participants. He also makes suggestions to the Steering Committee regarding its composition. The Executive Secretary reports to the Chairman.

    Chairman

    Henri de Castries
    Chairman and CEO, AXA Group

    DEUAckermann, JosefChairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
    GBRAgius, MarcusChairman, Barclays plc
    USAAltman, Roger C.Chairman, Evercore Partners Inc.
    PRTBalsemão, Francisco PintoPresident and CEO, IMPRESA; Former Prime Minister
    FRABaverez, NicolasPartner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    ITABernabè, FrancoChairman and CEO, Telecom Italia
    ESPCebrián, Juan LuisCEO, PRISA; Chairman, El País
    CANClark, W. EdmundPresident and CEO, TD Bank Group
    GBRClarke, KennethMember of Parliament, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Justice
    BELDavignon, EtienneMinister of State
    DEUEnders, ThomasCEO, Airbus
    DNKFederspiel, UlrikExecutive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/S
    NLDHalberstadt, VictorProfessor of Public Economics, Leiden University
    USAJacobs, Kenneth M.Chairman and CEO, Lazard
    USAJohnson, James A.Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC
    GBRKerr, JohnIndependent Member, House of Lords
    USAKleinfeld, KlausChairman and CEO, Alcoa
    TURKoç, Mustafa V.Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.
    USAKravis, Marie-JoséeSenior Fellow, Hudson Institute
    USAMathews, Jessica T.President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    USAMundie, Craig J.Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
    NORMyklebust, EgilFormer Chairman of the Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA
    DEUNass, MatthiasChief International Correspondent, Die Zeit
    FINOllila, JormaChairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
    USAPerle, Richard N.Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
    CANReisman, HeatherCEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
    AUTScholten, RudolfMember of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
    IRLSutherland, Peter D.Chairman, Goldman Sachs International
    USAThiel, Peter A.President, Clarium Capital / Thiel Capital
    GRCTsoukalis, LoukasPresident, ELIAMEP
    CHEVasella, Daniel L.Chairman, Novartis AG
    SWEWallenberg, JacobChairman, Investor AB

    Member Advisory Group

    USADavid Rockefeller