While NFC payment systems have existed long before Apple Pay, the popularity of Apple phones has created a introduced mobile payment to a much larger audience. The original idea of systems such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet is provide a safe and secure method of storing credit card information on a mobile phone, capable of making convenient payments by simply tapping NFC enabled devices. Banks have enthusiastically supported mobile payments, seeing them as a method of increasing purchases made with credit cards.

For a while, NFC has been a different way to pay, used rather infrequently by early adopters of said technology. However, with Apple Pay introducing mobile payment to the masses, suddenly retailers want a share of the mobile payment market. Retail staples like Walmart, Kmart, 7-Eleven, and Best Buy have banded together to create a new payment system called CurrentC, while disabling the NFC readers that were previously installed. It will not be surprising if other retailers follow suit. CurrentC’s biggest PoD is drawing directly from checking accounts, eliminating credit card fees. In addition, CurrentC will reward users with coupons. But the fact that it is forced on customers is unhealthy behavior. In fact, it has received much backlash.

Mobile payments do not yet have a de facto standard. However, CurrentC and its backers are just stifling technological growth.

Source:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/25/7069863/retailers-are-disabling-nfc-readers-to-shut-out-apple-pay

Despite the Canadian government and Enbridge’s wishes, many First Nations groups refuse to allow the pipeline to be build. The opposition group is led by the Yinka Dene Alliance who claim that the proposed pipeline would devastate their traditional land.

In 2010, a Enbridge pipeline carrying tar sand oil burst in Michigan, pouring almost a million gallons of crude oil into the Kalamazoo river. One of the main fears for First Nations groups is the effect an oil spill could have on the ecosystem, namely on sockeye salmon and the Nechako white sturgeon, culturally important species.

The lifestyle led by First Nations group relies on traditional food and land, and it should be protected. Many First Nations groups worked in keyohs, areas where families had the right to gather food and hunt. The land has a rich history, essentially each families home. The pipelines would completely destroy the systematic keyoh system.

Enbridge however does has the support of some groups. The company claims 26 of the 40 First Nations groups on the proposed path have already signed equity sharing agreements.

Though it would be impossible to garner the support of each First Nations group, so long as there are groups opposed to the destruction of their native land, Enbridge and the Canadian government have no right to build a pipeline through their homes.

Sources:

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Premier+urges+cooperation+more+litigation+government+natives+reach+fork+road/10194776/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html

FireChat, an app designed to connect friends at crowded venues has been pushed to the spotlight by recent protests in Hong Kong. Instead of using cellular networks or internet access, the app relies on bluetooth or peer-to-peer wifi to send messages to people within 70 meters of the user. It creates a public forum organized in a geographic location. This makes it hard for authorities to monitor and crack down on conversations.

It was adopted by the Occupy protesters amid fears of an internet shutdown by the authorities. The app was quickly pushed into the top downloads of Apple’s Appstore and Google Play.

Originally made by Open Garden for entertainment purposes, the app’s rise to the limelight has proved that it is useful in countries with censorship and countries with poor internet connectivity. The app may gain traction due to recent events.

Apps with large user bases have lots of value to investors due to the potential for localized advertisements. Recently the value of similar apps has skyrocketed. WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for 19 billion dollars. Will FireChat be the next app sold for over a billion dollars?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102055796#.
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-firechat-hong-kong-20141001-story.html?track=rss