Received an e-mail from a friend a few days back about China and some statistics that show how this country is such a powerhouse
China has 19% of the world’s population, but consumes
... 53% of the world's cement
... 48% of the world's iron ore
... 47% of the world's coal
... and the majority of just about every major commodity.
In 2010, China produced 11 times more steel than the United States New World Record: China made and sold 18 million vehicles in 2010. There are more pigs in China than in the next 43 pork producing nations combined. China is currently the number one producer in the world of wind and solar power. China currently controls more than 90% of the total global supply of rare earth elements. In the past 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to 2nd place in the world in published scientific research articles. China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the entire globe. At the end of March 2011, China accumulated US$3.04 trillion in foreign currency reserves- the largest stockpile on the entire globe. While they manufacture 80% of the worlds solar panels, they install less than 5%. And, build a new coal fired power station every week and in 1 year turn on more new coal powered electricity than Australia 's total outputAlready the largest carbon dioxide emitter, output will rise 70% by 2020
... 53% of the world's cement
... 48% of the world's iron ore
... 47% of the world's coal
... and the majority of just about every major commodity.
In 2010, China produced 11 times more steel than the United States New World Record: China made and sold 18 million vehicles in 2010. There are more pigs in China than in the next 43 pork producing nations combined. China is currently the number one producer in the world of wind and solar power. China currently controls more than 90% of the total global supply of rare earth elements. In the past 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to 2nd place in the world in published scientific research articles. China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the entire globe. At the end of March 2011, China accumulated US$3.04 trillion in foreign currency reserves- the largest stockpile on the entire globe. While they manufacture 80% of the worlds solar panels, they install less than 5%. And, build a new coal fired power station every week and in 1 year turn on more new coal powered electricity than Australia 's total outputAlready the largest carbon dioxide emitter, output will rise 70% by 2020
On Tuesday I decided to go and re-new my drivers and bike licence so that unlike millions of other fellow South Africans I will actually have a valid drivers licence, all I can say is Thank God we only have to do it once per year. I was up before the local rooster and headed off to the department about 9 kms from home. Arrived at 6.45 am and stood in a queue to be let in the premises that only opens at 7.45am. payed a queue jumper R20 to give me a space 4th from the front of the line (best R20 that I have spent for a while). I was clever and the day before got the forms and asked about what Ii needed to bring with as this allowed me to go straight to the area that i needed to present my forms and get my eyes tested. Gates opened and it was like the January sale at PEP stores or telling the general workers of the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) that there is a free buffet, thankfully I had a large man just behind me that acted as a natural barrier so the hordes behind me could not penetrate. Was worried about having my eyes tested because over the last 5 years they have got a little, let’s just say I need reading glasses. That went well and by 8.10 am I was on the way to the cashiers section, if I thought I was going to be out there in a few minutes I was sadly mistaken. I should have hired a person from Q for mesolutions to sit on the benches to wait for me (next time).To cut a long story short with only 2 tellers on duty out of 5 and the second one only arrived after a large well dressed African gent complained about the lack of service (so you know how bad it was)I love it when black dudes complain to other black government workers because it shows that it’s not just us whities, the darkies can also get “gat vol” (pissed off). Got out of the building at 10.30am. But it’s done now and I just have to wait 2 months for my new licence.
This week was a rather slow one, no training, so tried to keep myself ?? at work, there is only so much looking at the OHSACT or training material you can do before you start falling asleep and drooling like my granddad over a bowl of oats.
Ok so it now seems that I won’t be signed off on SAMTRAC this year but only early next year (probably March). Disappointed as really wanted to do it this year and the added bonus is that i would then get a decent (well hopefully) pay increase that will allow us to do things like normal people do like have meat with our pasta and pay the electricity account on a semi regular basis. ‘Oh well while others forge ahead I seem to be slipping back”. If I don’t get signed off on SAMTRAC early next year I will have to sell a vital organ or look for employment elsewhere that will pay me better. Even the hospitality industry may be an option.
Read an article about the mayor of Greytown who after being elected the mayor refused his salary and donated instead to fix roads and start crèches, not just that he also donated R700 000 of his own money to this fund......................”Yeah i know my thoughts exactly” Who is this guy and why cant he be the President of SA...............Not sure what his name is but he made his money in the Construction industry and started his work career selling items out of the boot of his car, a true example of how a Mayor of a city, town or village should act.
Managed to watch the opening of the RWC........was ok but nothing brilliant. The All Blacks beat Tonga 41/10 but the Tongans played better than the score suggested, other scores from the RWC this weekend were Scotland 34 Rumania 24, Japan 21 France 47 (was 25/21 for France and the Japs could have won it at one stage), Fiji 49 Namibia 25 and England 13 Argentina 9 (Poms came back from 9/3 to win the game) they always do this start slow and then find themselves in a semi or final). Australia beat Italy 32/6 but only after playing a better game in the second half. Ireland beat the USA 22/10.Pirates played Chiefs in the final of the super 8 and beat them 1/0 with the winning goal being scored late into the second period of extra time.
In the Currie cup The Sharks beat the Pumas 33/20 but had to come from behind and once again the Cheetahs managed to throw a game away by letting the Bulls put over a 3 pointer in injury time to draw the match 22 all, WP beat the Leopards 49/21 and the Lions who are now 5 points ahead at the top of the Currie cup log beat the Griquas 41/25.
Ok well that was to F&^%ing close for comfort, we started off well and then as we do when that happens went to sleep. Must say that the ref who obviously went to the Paddy O Brien school of rugby coaching as he was probably one of Wales’s best players, that penalty that he gave Wales (which thankfully they missed and would have given them the lead with only a few minutes to play) should have been a Bok penalty. 17 /16 was the final score. It was not what we wanted but a win even by one point is better than a loss.
Ok well this week is nearly over, hopefully next week will be a better one, i am training the whole week, which is good.
Have a good one
Ciao
SPAD
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