9 Comments
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Ivan Lukić's avatar

EUropeans and Anglo-Americans will pay dearly for their arrogance and malevolence.

Karen Pleschutznig's avatar

Our leaders in Europe have barely been able to hang onto power in the relatively better times. They’ve been busy not talking about real problems for a long time, and it seems busy recently not recognizing actual crises coming. I think at least half of them see the coming problems as financial instability rather than physical shortages. It will not be pretty.

Peace2051's avatar

It is a potential learning moment to adjust to using 20% less hydrocarbons, Karen. Once the world adjusts to this without forcing the most economically vulnerable to carry the burden, rise and repeat. 40% less, 60% less... Let's save what's left of the global biosphere even if the surface temperatures will continue to rise. Survival of posterity depends on it.

The Complex Now's avatar

Thanks, Ugo. I think the essence of contemporary propaganda lies in the systematic operation of decontextualization. The mainstream neutralizes what Edgar Morin defines as "complex thought" by isolating the event from its system of global flows, reducing multidimensionality to a linear and polarized narrative.

Peace2051's avatar

It's so easy, Ugo, for the public at large to forget that we are still in a state of war with the victim of an illegal war, Iran. If the shoe were on the other foot, if Oak Ridge had been bombed last June and three successive Decapitations of the US federal government had taken place recently (presumably the White House, Congress and the Senate?) would the US be ready to be "reasonable" and make a deal with the attacker? If to save face the US resumes it's active attacks in the coming weeks, we risk massive asymmetrical retaliation in this war of attrition. It's better to heed Xi's wisdom that there's no reason to carry on these operations in the Middle East.

Jan Steinman's avatar

"The media speaks of the Iran conflict in the past tense."

I find CBC coverage here in Canada to be almost daily. It is not alarmist, but neither is it "rose coloured glasses". They do keep projecting prices to continue increasing, even though Canada is a net exporter.

Jan Barendrecht's avatar

There only are blogs mentioning economic collapse, and started their existence long ago, like this one: https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com

The question nobody dares to ask is "what would have to be done to reduce consumption to eliminate the shortage?"

The DuckDuckgo AI writes

"Energy consumption declined by approximately 4.5% globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to lockdown measures that reduced industrial and commercial activity. This decline was accompanied by a significant drop in energy-related CO2 emissions, which fell by about 6.3%."

That wouldn't be enough now, but it's impossible that the global "Faustuses in charge" have overlooked an "updated" scenario that would have priority over the USraeli caused resource shortages.

Doug Belknap's avatar

Perhaps justice will be served. Start creating a list of who is responsible.

The previous war criminals: Bush, Clinton, Obama, Biden, Blair, etc etc should be first on the podium followed closely by our current gargoyles posing as world leaders.

Flush the toilet . . .

Peace2051's avatar

Doug, nature is going to flush your toilet that you refer to. We are already triaged for survival and the master class think their money will save them while the world falls apart. For reference: https://4billiondead.org/ Nature doesn't care about our politics: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/