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Automotive companies are not the only industry struggling with the horrible global recession we are witnessing. In Singapore, thousands of “ghost ships” anchor themselves close to shore, empty and without crew – because no one is sending, no one is buying. UK’s Daily Mail took a break from celebrity gossip to report on the financially-strapped Singapore fleet, which is larger then the US and British Navies. “An armada of freighters with no cargo, no crew, and without a destination between them.”

Look familiar?

According to the piece: “The size of the idle fleet becomes more palpable when the ships’ lights are switched on after sunset. From the small fishing villages that dot the coastline, a seemingly endless blaze of light stretches from one end of the horizon to another. Standing in the darkness among the palm trees and bamboo huts, as calls to prayer ring out from mosques further inland, is a surreal and strangely disorientating experience. It makes you feel as if you are adrift on a dark sea, staring at a city of light.” Globalization effects all – as consumers are more reluctant to spend their money (or credit, as the case was the past two decades) thus, retail stores and suppliers have cut back on orders to stock their shelves. The trickle down effect goes all the way back to the people who make the product, and the vessels that ship them.

It may be difficult to look beyond our own troubles with the economy, and America’s Auto Industry, to realize all the screwy things going on in the world today. Yes, the Auto Crisis is terrible, we’re not taking anything away from that situation – but I bet you we can find 5 other things happening on Earth more stressful then the collapse of industry in the USA. In fact, I know we can! DISCLAIMER: This may be the most downer of a blog post you’ll read all day.

Iran Elections

Earlier this week Iran’s official news agency announced that incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the Iran elections with 66% of the votes cast, leaving Mir-Hossein Mousavi had received 33% of the votes cast. The European Union and several western countries expressed concern over alleged irregularities during the vote. In protest, many college students and fellow Iranians staged…well protests…resulting in several deaths and many injuries by police in Tehran, the nation’s capital. But don’t worry, you can stay up to date with this extremely important revolution going on in The Middle East by following it on Twitter! Oh the wonders of technology, who needs newspapers?! (Source: Wikipedia News)

Darfur Genocide

Remember when you could buy a mouse pad or coffee mug asking for an end to the Darfur Genocide? Well, hate to break it to ya, but that might not have helped. United Nations officials confirmed that genocide did indeed occur under the watchful eye of government officials in the Sudan. “The United Nations says the Darfur conflict, which erupted in 2003, has killed as many as 300-thousand people and displaced nearly three million.” – So get out there a buy another t-shirt! (Source: VOA News)

The War in Iraq

Yes, we are still in Iraq. That place we ran into back around March of 2003, with tanks barreling down desert roads bringing shock and ya’ll, 6 years later we have 4,315 dead troops, 31,354 (official)/100,000 (estimated) injured and over 1.3 million killed Iraqi civilians. But I thought Obama was going to get us out of there? (Source: Anti-War.com)

Death of The Fishing Industry

According to very smart scientists we have an estimated 50 years of sea life left, thus leaving us only half a century remaining for trips to Red Lobster. “There will be virtually nothing left to fish from the seas by the middle of the century if current trends continue…” according to Steve Palumbi, a researcher from Stanford University in California, “Unless we fundamentally change the way we manage all the ocean species together, as working ecosystems, then this century is the last century of wild seafood.” (Source: BBC)

AIDS Outbreaks

Back in 2004, several adult film stars tested positive for HIV/AIDS – and it almost shut down a billion dollar industry. In 2009 those adult empires are facing another AIDS scare. An adult actress tested positive at AIM: Adult Industry Medical – Healthcare Foundation. however, the health org is not releasing her name, which has other performers really irritated. Many studios still don’t practice safe sex in their scenes – maybe now is (finally) the time for the to wrap it up. First, Joanna Angel gets her car stolen and now this! (Source: BlissTree)

There’s a reason we love Jon Stewart & The Daily Show – it’s because of how they can put all the world’s problems into prospective. Jon takes on the political hellfire being caused my America’s failing auto industry in a segment they call “Carmageddon ’09 Lemon Aid!”