Posted on 08/18/2007

JoAnne's Advice: I also suggest that you get a good international travel insurance plan that includes emergency medical evacuation and travel assistance such as contact the U.S. embassies on your behalf. I recommend Travel Cancellation Insurance, Liaison International, and Atlas Travel Series .
You'll be glad you did.

###

21st Century Money Making Opportunity
By JoAnne Green

Cutting corners never pays. Like many U.S. companies, toy manufacturer Mattel Inc. has outsourced the manufacturing of many of its products to China. Now Mattel is reaping the consequences of corner cutting by its Chinese partners. Many of you may have heard that Mattel has just voluntarily recalled 19 million toys worldwide along with 9.5 million in the U.S. It was Mattel’s second recall in a month. These toys were made in China and have been found to be potentially dangerous to children because of toxic components such as lead paint or defects such as loose magnets.

 Now Mattel has to store the millions of recalled toys in its warehouses until the company can figure out what to do with them. The question is how they are going to get rid of these millions of contaminated toys safely. They cannot crush these toys and dump the scraps into the landfills. That would turn the landfills into toxic waste dumps. They cannot burn these toys, either. That would put hazardous fumes into the atmosphere. Right now, the people at Mattel Inc. are no doubt banging their heads against the walls trying to figure out how to dispose of these million of contaminated toys in a manner that is environmentally safe while trying to control the costs of doing so as effectively as possible. Any workable solutions will carry a staggering price tag. If the folks at Mattel are not careful to make an environmentally sound decision, the government and environmental activists will go after them in the courts big time.

I believe that many opportunities are always hidden underneath every problem. So if you can brilliantly come up with a workable plan that shows Mattel how to destroy these millions of contaminated toys safely, I’ll bet that your future will be very bright financially. Mattel may even offer you a cushy position in the company. There is a huge money making opportunity here for some innovative and enterprising soul.  

###

Overseas Safety and Security:
Romania: Crimes Against Missionaries

The following report is compiled from open sources, local authorities, and U.S. embassies

Missionary work in Romania is challenging because some Romanians tend to view simple eye contact as a sign of aggression. Therefore, some missionaries were assaulted by the very same people with whom they had conversation the day before. The following recent incidents were reported by the missionaries:

In May, two missionaries were instructing a young male in the Tiglina 3 area of Galati. The next day, after 8:00 p.m., the missionaries encountered a group of three youths, one of whom was the young man they had spoken to the day before. The missionaries tried to speak to the youths, and the group turned violent. The recognized male kicked one of the missionaries in the head, and a second youth raised his fist in a threatening fashion to the second missionary. The two escaped the group and did not pursue legal action.

On July 18, 2007, two missionaries were walking on Str. Nicholae Balcescu street 2007, between 7 and 7:30 p.m., and suddenly heard noises behind them. Several youth, between 17 and 21 years old, each wearing a bandana across the nose and mouth, attacked the missionaries. No words were exchanged, no items taken, and the group eventually left the scene. The missionaries reported the incident to local police, who could only recall a few similar incidents in nearly two decades, where no threats were made and nothing was stolen. 

On July 21, 2007, Two missionaries were walking on the corner of Str. Brailei and Str. Domnmeasca, and saw two young men, similar in appearance to the aggressors of July 18. The young men kicked one of the missionaries in the leg and were quickly chased by nearby policemen. Ultimately the police returned and claimed they had lost track of the assailants, and recommended that the missionaries file a report. When the missionaries attempted to inform the local police about the attacks, the police expressed indifference and offered no real assistance.

JoAnne's Advice: Find out the location of the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Romania before you go. It is wise to deflect attention as much as possible while you are in a foreign land. If you become a crime victim in Romania, report to the local police and RSO office. I also suggest that you get a good international travel insurance plan that includes emergency medical evacuation and travel assistance such as contact the U.S. embassies on your behalf. I recommend Liaison International and Atlas Travel Series . You'll be glad you did.

###

Overseas Safety and Security:
India: Threat to attack the Taj Mahal

India celebrates its 60 years of independence from Britain today. There was a specific threat to attack the Taj Mahal on India’s Independence Day. Police put the famous white-marble monument under a tight security measure.

The Taj Mahal, recently voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world, is in the city of Agra about 210 kilometers (130 miles) southeast of India’s capital, New Delhi. (Source: Kheleej Time)

###

Air Travel Matters:
United Kingdom: Expecting delays at Heathrow Airport

On August 14, the U.S. Embassy in London reported the following condition at Heathrow Airport:

The Camp for Climate Action is holding a gathering near Heathrow Airport from Sunday, August 12, to Tuesday, August 21, 2007. The Camp is intended to highlight issues around the air travel industry and its alleged impact on climate change. 

The protestors have declared their intention to highlight their cause by disrupting Heathrow’s day-to-day operations. Protestors are expected to conduct numerous "Direct Actions" at various strategic locations around the airport. These likely will take the form of small groups blocking/disrupting roads, offices, car parks, or any other venue associated with the air travel industry. As well as the week-long plans for “Direct Actions,” there are plans for 24 hours of “Mass Action” between midday on Sunday, August 19, and midday on Monday, August 20, when the number of demonstrators, and the potential for disruption, is expected to increase. 

If you're traveling by car or taxi to/from Heathrow through August 21, 2007, please allow plenty of extra time for your journey - it is highly likely you will be delayed. You may want to consider other transportation options, such as the train or Underground. If you are collecting a visitor arriving at Heathrow, give prior warning that you may be delayed getting to the airport. 

My Advice: Check with the U.S. Embassy in London for safety and security report at http://london.usembassy.gov.. I recommend that purchase a good trip cancellation/interruption/delay insurance, such as RoundTrip Plan, before you go. You'll be glad you did.

###

Overseas Rail Safety
Russia: Train explosion

The following report was compiled from open press sources and embassy reports.

On August 13, 2007, at 9:40 p.m, an explosion hit a high-speed train traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia. The blast occurred near the village of Malaya Vishera, nearly 300 miles north of Moscow. The homemade explosive device, placed on the railway track, contained the equivalent of 4.4 pounds of TNT. The device damaged 800 meters of the track and forced 12 train cars to overturn. Over 60 people are reportedly injured; according to representatives of the Russian government, none are American. 

Russian authorities are considering the explosion to be a terrorist attack. At this time, no group has claimed responsibility. The insurgency in Russia’s embattled Chechnya province have launched attacks on passenger trains in the past, as recently as 2005. 

Although this attack was not targeting the U.S. private sector or American citizens, the U.S. authorities reminded American expats that impact from collateral damage can occur at any time.

JoAnne's Advice: Keep in mind that civil unrest, organized crimes, and terrorist activities continue to be major problems throughout Russia. There also are no adequate medical providers in many parts of Russia. Therefore, a good international medical plan and emergency medical evacuation insurance such as Liaison International and Liaison Traveler are essential for any travelers who visit or live in Russia.

###

Olympic Games Count Down:
China: Athletes' Major Concerns

Beijing Olympic Games will begin on 08/08/08. Tickets are available to buy online or offline. There have been numerous criticisms from many other countries about China's air pollution and food safety. International Olympic Committee (IOC) and athletes from many participating countries also have raised their concerns that air pollution may affect their practices before the games as well as their performances during the games.

To patch the air pollution problem, the Beijing government ordered that no cars will be allowed in the city during the games. To assure food safety for the athletes, mice will be used as food tasters.
(source: BBC)

JoAnne's Advice: If you go, keep in mind that you cannot sue the Chinese government if you get sick because of air pollution or food poisoning. So it is wise to protect yourself by getting a good international travel medical plan and emergency medical evacuation insurance coverage for the duration, such as Liaison International and Liaison Traveler. You'll be glad you did.

###

Overseas Government's Activities:
China: Using High-Tech Cameras to Monitor Its Residents

The Chinese government launched one of the world's most sophisticated high-tech monitor systems in Shenzhen this month to keep track every movement of residents in the city of 12.4 million people.  Shenzhen is located in the southern portion of the Guangdong Province, on the eastern shore of the Pearl River Delta. Shenzhen has become one of the highlighted city with rapid economic growth of China since 1980.

The government also installed approximately 20,000 surveillance cameras in southern China. These surveillance cameras will be guided by highly sophisticated computer software made by a U.S. company to recognize automatically the faces of residents in the areas. Most citizens will have to carry a Residency Card that is fitted with powerful computer chips. The data on the chip include not just the citizen's name and address but also work history, educational background, religion, ethnicity, police record, medical insurance status and landlord's phone number.

The Chinese government has ordered all large cities across the country to apply technology to police work and to issue high-tech residency cards to 150 million people who have moved to a city but not yet acquired permanent residency.

The Chinese Communist government relies on these sophisticated surveillance cameras to control the movements of its ordinary residents as well as the demonstrations of political dissidents. 
(Source: International Herald Tribune)

JoAnne's Advice: Keep in mind that China is authoritarian state ruled by a communist party. Everything in that country is run and controlled by the government. Freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion are allowed sparsely. Be extremely careful what you say and do.

###

Air Travel Matters:
Rome: Do You Know Where Your Luggage Are?

Most travelers will get very upset if their bags did not reach their destinations at the same time with their arrival. At one of the world's busiest airport, Fiumicino Airport in Rome, thousands of pieces of luggage were scattered to every corner of the airport on Sunday, August 05. The Italy's Civil Aviation Authority blamed outdated and obsolete equipment along with baggage handlers' sabotage that caused huge chaos. (source: BBC)

JoAnne's Advice: It is wise to get travel insurance with lost baggage coverage, such as RoundTrip Plan before you go.

###

Law of the Land:
Ecuador: U.S. environmentalist was expelled.

According to an Associated Press report, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador ordered on Saturday, August 4, the deportation of  a member of the environmental group Sea Shepherd, Sean O'Hearn.
Mr. O'Hearn is an American and a resident of Ecuador since 2006. He tried to "defend the sharks" by instigating  police seizure of two tons of shark fins that he claimed were illegally fished.

President Rafael Correa said on his Saturday morning radio show " I am not going to allow any foreigner to come here to tell us what to do."

Shark fins are to be known a high-priced delicacy in Asia. Each fin cost about US$80 to US$100.
The environmentalists like Mr. O'Hearn try to stop shark fishing for fins in Ecuador. They consider shark fishing to be illegal, but the Ecuadorian government disagrees.

JoAnne's Advice: Mind Your Own Business while you are in a foreign country. Respect the law and customs of your host country. Being an American or an environmental activist does not give you a license to disobey the law of your host country, and certainly does not give the right to decide what the law is.. You are just a guest there. Behave appropriately according to the local law and customs.