Welcome to European Tribune. It's gone a bit quiet around here these days, but it's still going.

Crisis What Crisis???

by Oui Fri Jul 8th, 2022 at 08:05:35 PM EST

As I have written after the Summer of 2021 where the Biden administration was trying to gain new footing after the disaster of the Taliban conquering all of Afghanistan and the US and allies barely escaped unscathed from Kabul, reminiscence of the Vietnam War defeat and the escape by helicopters from the U.S. Embassy compound in Saigon. A traumatic experience for the generation of Joe Biden.

I do the write-ups as I see the situation unfold from a multitude of reports from press on the ground and the live reports from over half a dozen TV stations from diverse location around the globe. I call it as I see it.

World powers have never refrained from committing war crimes, intrusion on sovereign nations either by covert acts of sabotage and espionage or what we have seen since 911 the murders by drones and high-tech. Policy of regime-change is an irreconcilable with the founding of the United Nations during the Second World War and the ratification and signatories of the UN Charter.

Not UN Charter But US Charter Is Rule of the West


Crisis what Crisis??? | Oct. 21, 2021 |

The gas market is confronted with a fairly rapidly increasing demand for gas, but why does the supply not follow, Aad Correljé wonders.

Recently we have been taken by surprise by the gas crisis! As if the developments of the past period could not have been foreseen... Of course, the moment and the specific combination of the current circumstances cannot be predicted. But the fact is that in a market with the characteristics of the gas market, these kinds of price movements can always arise. Now we talk about compensation. But the question is rather how do we keep the calf away from the well before it drowns.

A series of causes have been identified for the current market excess. The loss of gas demand due to Corona, with low investments and a squeeze in gas production as a result. The gradual closure of Groningen. Shipping all LNG to Asia. The decrease in gas production in the North Sea and in the Netherlands. The high consumption in the spring. The Russians who do not deliver more than they are contractually obliged. Maintenance in the Norwegian system. And the gas storages that are not sufficiently filled.

And all in a situation where energy demand is rising again as a result of the economic recovery after Corona. It is important here that this happens synchronously in a large part of the world and also in Europe. In the Netherlands, this has a significant effect on gas demand, because our industry and horticulture are gas-fired. And when it comes to covering our need for electricity, we have to fall back on gas-fired power stations due to the closure of coal-fired power stations and lower wind and solar energy production.

The gas market is therefore confronted with a fairly rapidly increasing demand for gas, but why does the supply not follow? After all, in recent decades we have become convinced that in the free market, price will ensure that both gas producers and consumers will react rationally to shifts in supply and demand. And that they will therefore immediately produce and consume more or less according to the degree of scarcity, informed by the price in relation to their production costs or their usefulness as buyers.

United In Rightwing US Heritage Sort of Warmongers

'Progressives' Drinking Neocon Kool-Aid

John Mearsheimer and Noam Chomsky are amongst the 2% not buying into the war propaganda narrative as Europe and Peace has been corrupted by violent interventions across the globe in the last two decades.

European Union and the Nobel Peace Prize - 2012

      The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 was awarded to the European Union
      "for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and
      reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."

Through the first term of Joe Biden, his foreign policy of vengeance and Trump's MAGA opened the brutal Blitzkrieg across Europe where total lack of leadership and insight into history and a vision of the future has doomed coming generations. New Europe be damned! You refused to abide by the founding principles of the European Union and build an aggressive military alliance with the United States through NATO military command.

Western Media Bias and Hypocrisy In Politics

Russia-Ukraine war: Bias and Double standards of media is shameful

However, the global citizens and all the countries' leaders have been tensed in recent times on account of the war situation between Russia and Ukraine. The fact remains that we are being informed about the terrific situation by conventional media and social media. We have seen the aggression of Russia, the response from the Ukrainian people, and the activities of other global leaders.

Interestingly, the media's double standard has become a burning issue all over the world. In comparison to people suffering from wars in Yemen, Libya, Ethiopia, Palestine, and Syria, the Western media has portrayed Ukraine's suffering as "different" and labelled Ukrainians as "civilized."

We have seen conflict raging for decades in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Syria, Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh to save their lives, the mighty kings are dropping bombs to innocent Yemeni citizens, so the people from countries are not civilized? What about them? The media are avoiding them clearly.

David Sakvarelidze, a former deputy general prosecutor in Ukraine, was interviewed by the BBC, and he shared his thoughts, "This is really upsetting for me since I watch Europeans with blue eyes and blonde hair being slaughtered on a daily basis as a result of the missile attacks, helicopter attacks, and rocket attacks carried out by Putin's forces."

Oops! The people, then, with blue eyes and blonde hair, are bombing in the Middle East and Africa; this is not a big issue.

In addition, news coverage of mass Ukrainians protecting their country by preparing Molotov cocktails and arming themselves with state-issued machine guns has already been hailed as "heroic," and these individuals have been referred to as "freedom fighters."

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There are countless additional aspects to examine, such as the fact that severe sanctions and the censorship of Russian media sources such as RT in Europe have not been commensurate with the Iraq invasion or the Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen, which has continued to this day.

When an NBC News reporter asked about how Poland's refugee policy has changed since the last refugee crisis from Syria, the reporter responded, "Actually, these are not Syrian refugees; rather, they are Ukrainian refugees from the neighboring country of Ukraine." In the sense that these are Christians, they're white, and they're very similar to people who live in Poland!

News of Israel's barbaric treatment of unarmed Palestinians is reported in almost all Western media in a somewhat different way. The use of force by the aggressors in their 'propaganda style' is largely concealed. All media use the words such as 'clash','conflict', and 'property dispute' in their news and leaders' conversations on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. It goes without saying that using this kind of 'passive voice' suppresses the 'cause' or 'target' of violence. Yet, now in the case of the Ukraine conflict, they are just using words like 'aggression', 'invasion', 'attack', 'kill', 'illegal step'. This is absolute hypocrisy, isn't it?

Determining Terrorism and war crimes

In the book, On Western Terrorism: From Hiroshima to Drone Warfare, Noam Chomsky and Andre Vltchek, detail the Western world's bloody history of terrorism from the Second World War to the present day. However, those invasions and involvement in the affairs of other countries - think Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iran, and Panama - are perceived as being directed against "uncivilized" populations. Ukraine has been described as "civilized."

The very experienced BBC interviewer didn't push back on this racist implied statement.

Propaganda in war to desensitize citizens to cruelty for worse to come. Following the principles of British war propaganda WWI, WWII, Syria and the war in Ukraine.

Careless Talk: Tensions within British Domestic Propaganda during the Second World War

Questionable Governmental procedures often hindered Britain's chance of winning the war. Incredibly meticulous plans for protecting the nation's art treasures, yet little preparation was made for the civil defence of its population. A catalogue of authoritarian blunders shows in frightening detail just how close Britain came to becoming a totalitarian state. Propaganda fed to the people bore scant relation to the facts, and dark forces like racism found a ready outlet in wartime society. Crime continued to flourish, and the class tensions in prewar society were often thrown into sharp relief. Careless Talk is a stimulating, unsentimental portrait of a nation at arms.

Boris Johnson has vandalised the political architecture of Britain, Ireland and Europe | The Guardian Opinion |

It seems rather apt that Boris Johnson pocketed a huge advance from a publisher for a book about William Shakespeare but never got round to writing it. Johnson's rise and fall hovers between cheap farce and theatre of the absurd. It has none of the grandeur of tragedy. The only line of Shakespeare's that came to mind at his political demise was the first bit of Mark Antony's elegy for Julius Caesar: "The evil that men do lives after them". If the good that Johnson did in his public life is to be interred with his bones, the coffin will be light enough. But the evil will weigh heavily on the coming decades.

This is what is so strange about Johnson's place in history. It is hard to think of a figure at once so fatuous and so consequential, so flippant and yet so profoundly influential. His reign was short - its malign hangover will last long. He was a politician so incompetent that he could not keep himself in office even with a thumping parliamentary majority, a sycophantic press and a cabinet specially selected for slavish self-abasement. Yet he has remade the political architecture of Britain, of Ireland and of Europe.

Johnson's dark genius was to shape Britain in his own image. His roguishness has made it a rogue state, openly defiant of international law. His triviality has diminished it in the eyes of the world. His relentless mendacity and blatantly self-seeking abuse of power have ruined its reputation for democratic decency. His bad jokes made the country he professes to love increasingly risible.

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The worst aspect of this is his reckless sabotaging of the Good Friday agreement. It is possible to imagine that Johnson was smug enough to think that both British and EU political institutions were sufficiently robust to withstand his own cynical abuse of them.

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He deliberately trivialised the problems of the Irish border, comparing it to the line between two traffic zones in London. He dismissed Northern Ireland as the tail that was wagging the Brexit dog - an irritating appendage, in other words. He played with the delusions of his admirers in the Democratic Unionist party, egging them on or abandoning them as the mood took him. He lied repeatedly about the meaning of the protocol he negotiated. He introduced legislation deliberately designed to make Northern Ireland a source of open-ended conflict with the EU.

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On 1 July this year, Johnson tweeted that "25 years ago, we made a promise to the people of Hong Kong. We intend to keep it." The Chinese embassy in Dublin retweeted this with a reply: "2 years ago, we made a promise to the Northern Ireland Protocol (sic). We are determined to break it." The terrible thing is that the Chinese were, in this respect, right: Johnson's behaviour has given them license to ignore the obligations they entered into 25 years ago.

This is the level to which Johnson has reduced Britain on the world stage, making it fair game for the taunts of tyrants. Even while Johnson was doing good by supporting Ukraine, he was simultaneously giving Vladimir Putin grounds to believe that the west only pretends to believe in the rule of law. This descent is not just bad for the UK. It is bad for the whole democratic world.

Great Britain became the vanguard on provoking war with Russia at the behest of colonial ambition to oppress Russia into submission and Wester style democracy.

How Boris Johnson's secret visit to Kyiv became a PR masterstroke

After Brexit, Great Britain can take NATO forward in its wake sailing towards Indo-Pacific and confront the Chinese Empire. AUKUS and QUAD are the magic terms.

Qatar Partnership Delivery In 2024

Gasspeicher in Deutschland: So hoch ist der Füllstand

Display:
'Stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened': Biden mourns Japan's Abe after assassination | Politico |

    Biden pivoted to the United States' gun violence issues, emphasizing the low number of firearm-related killings in Japan compared to the thousands of cases in the U.S. this year.

    "The fact is that one thing did strike my attention: That this is the first use of a weapon to murder someone in Japan [this year]. They have one, one, one," the president said. "I do not believe it's likely to have -- but I don't know yet -- any profound destabilizing impact on Japanese security or Japanese solidarity."

    Biden underscored U.S. confidence in the strength of Japanese democracy in a later call with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to a White House readout.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 08:49:59 AM EST

NY Post no mention of Putin or Xi Jinping:
Several other world leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris, former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and disgraced British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have also offered their condolences in the aftermath of Abe's death.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 08:51:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sends his condolences to the family ...

Putin hails ex-Japanese PM's contribution to relations with Russia | TASS |

The office of Russian President Vladimir Putin said he conveyed his "deepest condolences" to Abe's mother, Yoko and wife, Akie. He called the former prime minister an "exceptional politician" who contributed significantly to Russo-Japanese ties and said his memory would remain in his heart.

    "I maintained regular contact with Shinzo, who consistently displayed his remarkable personal and professional qualities. The bright memory of this wonderful person will always remain in the hearts of all those who knew him. I wish you and your family members strength and courage in the face of this painful and irretrievable loss."

Putin and Abe met in person over 25 times and held about ten phone calls. Their last meeting took place in the fall of 2019 and their last telephone conversation was held on August 31, 2020, when Putin called Abe to thank him for cooperation and his contribution to relations between the two countries. Abe, in turn, praised years-long constructive interaction with the Russian president.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 08:53:55 AM EST
Leaders worldwide pay tribute to former Japan PM Abe | Kyodo News |

"China is shocked," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference. He added that Abe had "made contributions to promoting the improvement and development of China-Japan relations."

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen called Abe's death a "brutal and cowardly murder" and said a "wonderful person, great democrat and champion of the multilateral world order has passed away."

The office of Russian President Vladimir Putin said he conveyed his "deepest condolences" to Abe's mother, Yoko and wife, Akie. He called the former prime minister an "exceptional politician" who contributed significantly to Russo-Japanese ties and said his memory would remain in his heart.

Aiming to make a breakthrough in negotiations over a territorial row, Abe met with Putin over 20 times during his tenure from 2012 to build personal trust and promote joint economic activities on disputed islands.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 08:55:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Zelensky had Boris Johnson as ear whisperer how to gain peace .... dumb fool.

Proposed reconstruction budget stands at 760,000,000,000 US dollars.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 10:51:42 AM EST
Does a protracted conflict favour Russia or Ukraine?

The typical war is short. Since 1815, the median duration of wars between states has been just over three months, calculates Paul Poast of the University of Chicago. In 2003 America toppled the government of Iraq in just 20 days. The conflict that Armenia and Azerbaijan fought over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 was over in 44. Yet Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered its fifth month, and shows no sign of drawing to a close. "I am afraid that we need to steel ourselves for a long war," wrote Boris Johnson, Britain's prime minister, in mid-June. Jens Stoltenberg, Nato's secretary-general, echoed his warning: "We must prepare for the fact that it could take years."

In the early days of the invasion the West worried that Ukrainian forces would be swiftly overwhelmed by Russia's superior firepower and resistance would collapse. Now the fears are different: that Ukraine has not adjusted its strategy enough to fight a sustained war of attrition; that it will run out of soldiers and munitions; that months of pummelling will cause its economy to collapse; that the will to fight may ebb as the going gets even tougher. Russia, too, is subject to many of the same pressures, with the conflict chewing up its young men, sapping its economy and accelerating its descent into dictatorship. A protracted conflict will also test the resolve of Ukraine's Western allies, as the price of food and energy soars, inflation riles voters and Ukraine's requests for weapons and cash escalate. A long war, in short, will test both sides in new ways.

Long War Journal of all conflicts, proxy wars included ...

    Korean War - stalemate negotiated 70 year ceasefire

    Vietnam War 1955-1973 - defeat United States

    Soviet-Afghan War 1979-1989 - defeat USSR

    Iraq-Iran war - 1980-1988

    Chechen Wars - 1994-1996 and 1999-2000 (8 months-24 days)

    UA-Afghan War 2001-2021 - defeat United States, alliance not partner in "peace" talks

    Georgia War 2008 - ends by negotiated ceasefire

    Libyan Civil War Nato intervention - 2011-present

    Syrian Civil War foreign alliance intervention - 2011-present

    Israel In state of permanent war - 1948-present

Not talking to Russia is very costly and unrealistic to bring an end to hostilities.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 10:55:11 AM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 01:00:03 PM EST

The Deer Hunter follows a group of Pennsylvania steelworkers from their blue-collar lives, hunting in the woods of the Alleghenies, to the hell of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Next to Apocalypse Now an extraordinary film.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 at 09:43:27 PM EST
Ukraine urges Trudeau to ship Siemens gas turbine to Kyiv, not Berlin ...

Canada caught between allies as Germany presses for return of Russian turbine

Canada faces a tough choice this weekend between angering Germany and offending Ukraine as it ponders the fate of a large gas turbine that has been undergoing repairs in the workshops of Siemens Energy Canada.

The turbine normally drives gas through the Nord Stream One pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany. Last month, while undergoing scheduled maintenance at a Siemens Energy facility in Montreal, the turbine was caught up in sanctions the Trudeau government brought against its owner, Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom.

Russia responded by cutting the flow of gas through the pipeline by 60 per cent. It has said since that unless the turbine is returned by Monday, July 11, it will not restore normal flow.



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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 10:20:16 AM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 10:21:09 AM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 10:23:19 AM EST
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Siemens to supply industrial gas turbines for gas processing facility in Alberta, Canada

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 10:29:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
That there is some Lithuania-quality comedy in the annals of the NEW! "rules-based" order of "favored nation" sanction waiver eligibility.

The German finance ministry indicated that "if it makes taking the decision easier for the Canadians in the legal sense," Germany could propose Ottawa send Berlin the machinery rather than to Gazprom [evidently in] Russia[n territory rather than 20K leagues under the Baltic Sea.]
< wipes tears >
"We are asking Canada to not return the Gazprom turbine to [OEM Siemens Energy.de], but to Ukraine," Sergiy Makogon, the chief executive officer of Ukraine's gas transmission system OGTSU wrote on Facebook earlier.
I reckon, they think they can use it to replace the one they sabotaged in May.
"Ukraine can transport the totality of Nord Stream volume [supplied by RUSSIA]," said Makogon, referring to the Yamal pipeline which passes through [BELARUS on the way to] Poland [BUT NOT URAINE]


Around 50% of all natural gas from the Russian Federation is transited by the Ukrainian GTS.
Expiration of the valid contract with Gazprom: 1 Jan 2020
by Cat on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 05:35:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 10:14:04 PM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 10:54:25 PM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 10:55:30 PM EST
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The Turbine, 2 months ago

Ukraine to halt key Russian gas transit to Europe, use alternative: transfer from Novopskov compressor station in Luhansk to Sudzha connection in Kharkiv region

The Turbine, 1 month ago

The issue is not in commerce but in politics: the Ukrainian GTS is ready to compensate for the volume of Nord Stream-1, but Gazprom does not use even the booked capacity, 15 June

As of 15 June 2022, the capacity of the Ukrainian GTS booked and paid for by Gazprom [but not diverted from Luhansk entry point to] the Sudzha entry point amounts to 77.2 million cubic meters per day. The current actual level of [Russian gas] does not exceed 42 million cubic meters per day. Gazprom can use 35 million cubic meters per day of booked capacity without additional actions or costs.
Gas TSO of Ukraine called on the European Parliament to protect Ukrainian consumers by stopping Nord Stream-1, 16 June
In their address to the MEPs, Sergiy Makogon and Farid Safarov reiterated the importance of the Ukrainian GTS, which has dual use: [Russian] gas transit to the EU and [Russian] gas supply to domestic consumers for humanitarian use - heating and cooking. Preservation of [Russian gas] transit via the territory of Ukraine until the introduction of a total ["]embargo["] on Russian gas [exports by the RF] protects [?] the Ukrainian gas transportation infrastructure from deliberate destruction by the Russian occupiers. And the continuation of [Russian gas] transit via the Ukrainian route is possible in case of blocking alternative gas supply routes to Europe and limiting the use of Nord Stream-1.
[...]
In addition, the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which transits natural gas from Russia to Germany via [Belarus and] Poland and has a capacity of about 90 million cubic meters per day, has not been used for more than a month since Poland rejected Russian gas delivery. Accordingly, if Gazprom does not want to book the capacity of the indicated pipeline, its customers have an opportunity to do so themselves, having determined the border between Poland and Belarus as the gas delivery point.

Today
euractiv | Ukraine cries foul as Canada sends Nord Stream 1 turbine to Germany, 11 July

Ukraine's energy and foreign ministries said on Sunday they were "deeply disappointed" by Canada's decision to hand back the repaired turbine to [Siemens Energy AG in] Germany.

The statement,

This dangerous precedent violates international solidarity, goes against the principle of the rule of law and will have only one consequence: it will strengthen moscow's sense of impunity.

russia is able continue to supply gas to Germany in full without this turbine[ or EU Russian gas "embargo"].

Firstly, the Nord Stream 1 compressor station is equipped with several turbines, including backup ones. One of the turbines is currently in Canada. However, according to gazprom's decision, only three turbines are currently operating, several others have been turned off without explanation. Transportation volumes have been reduced by russia from 167 to 67 million cubic meters (mcm) of [Russian] gas per day.

Secondly, russia is able to continue uninterrupted gas supplies to the EU even if for some reason transportation through Nord Stream 1 is impossible. In particular, russia can use the transit capacity through Ukraine that gazprom has already paid for. Currently, gazprom uses less than 40% of the [TSOUA] contracted capacity...

published on the energy [sic] ministry's website, called on the Canadian government to reverse its decision and said that returning the turbine would amount to adjusting the sanctions imposed [by NATO members] on Moscow "to the whims of Russia."
rather than material risks associated with any gas delivery across the UA in a Donbas artillary PANDEMIC
by Cat on Tue Jul 12th, 2022 at 01:38:19 AM EST
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'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:41:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Their own choice 😠

And people wonder why under mr. Samsom's leadership the PvdA has been reduced to an irrelevant fringe party in Dutch politics.
Let's hope Diederik does the same with the EU.

Diederik Samsom has been a leading voice of red socialist policy of the Labour Party, support of Greenpeace, activist and has studied nuclear energy. Today he is earning big bucks as advisor to Frans Timmermans with the European Commission.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 05:50:43 PM EST
Because of a tumultuous world and Europe needs economic support from Canada ...

Selling out blue collar working people, labour rights to big corporations and neoliberal economic policy. Upper chamber pulls through and joins Rutte & Co.

EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 05:52:29 PM EST
UK Liz Truss signs trade treaty with Canada produce and labor rights

Canada announces steps to ensure stability for Canada-United Kingdom trade in goods

Canada and the UK sign a memorandum of understanding that includes the commitments each country will take to ensure continued preferential tariff treatment of goods from the date CETA ceases to apply to the UK until the date that the Canada-UK TCA enters into force.

12 EU Member States can still stop CETA | Foodwatch - March 2021 |

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 05:53:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
First 100 days and Greens can tear up their ideals of peace in Europe. Just not ready to meet reality of America as superpower and their national interest to follow through on their NWO.

Green Party campaign 2021 -- Security, Peace, Disarmament

We stand for peace, disarmament and cooperative security.

Millions of people are fleeing war, oppression or the destruction of their livelihoods due to climate change and environmental degradation. The challenges are numerous: humanitarian crises, climate catastrophe, international terrorism and aggressive foreign policies of authoritarian states.

We Greens in the Bundestag stand for peace, disarmament, cooperative security and a culture of military restraint as well as a strengthening of parliamentary rights. Our policy aims to prevent conflicts from arising in the first place. We demand that civil crisis prevention be placed at the center of German foreign policy and that we be committed to international disarmament and arms control. We support the right of every country to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. In addition, we reject arms deliveries to war and crisis areas.

The Bundeswehr can make a contribution to international peacekeeping. It must act in a system of mutual collective security - primarily under the leadership of the United Nations (UN).



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:07:34 PM EST
    The Aber das wundert doch schon lange nicht mehr.
    Die Grünen sind seit langer Zeit bereits an vorderster
    Linie für Militarisierung und Kriegshetze. Was J. Fischer
    begann, setzt A. Baerbock und Konsorten fort...

Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt paid tribute to Andriy Melnyk after his dismissal as Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany
.
Zugleich distanzierte sich Göring-Eckardt von Melnyks Äußerungen über den ukrainischen Nationalisten und Antisemiten Stepan Bandera. Melnyk hatte in einem Interview bestritten, dass Bandera ein Massenmörder von Juden und Polen gewesen sei.

Tireless effort for a free Ukraine that honors its true liberators: Stepan Bandera.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 09:04:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Obvious Consequences

The cost of war ... a small price for freedom. 🫡

Germany is standing in front of the ruins of an almost disastrous energy policy that has been in place for many years. It will be many more years before a resilient strategy that is compatible with the climate goals is implemented, which also guarantees security of supply and promises a price level that is competitive from an economic point of view. There should be no illusions about the necessary change in energy policy, which will consume a lot of money.

First of all, however, it is important to create the conditions as quickly as possible to bring the country through a period in which Russian gas has become a scarce commodity. This challenge takes place at a time when people are experiencing the highest rates of inflation in decades, a fall into recession, not only for the German economy, cannot be ruled out and the most important gas supplier is waging a criminal, imperialist war, which it is also waging strategically must not gain the interest of the West.



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by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 09:56:30 AM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:08:51 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 05:03:54 PM EST
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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:11:54 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:14:02 PM EST
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In GB, hope evaporates as glaciers melt faster and faster | Dawn News |

Glaciers in the Himalaya, Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges have melted rapidly, creating thousands of glacial lakes in the country's northern areas.

Around 30 of these lakes are at risk of sudden hazardous flooding, known as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), the climate change ministry said earlier this week, adding that around seven million people were vulnerable.



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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:14:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
We all make choices for war or peace ☮️ #StopNato



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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 08:16:33 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:33:56 PM EST
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:35:33 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:36:42 PM EST
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Shutdown Extended of Fire-Damaged Texas LNG Export Site | June 20, 2022 |

Freeport LNG expects partial operation to resume in early September at its $13.5-billion liquefied natural gas plant and export terminal in Freeport, Texas, following a June 8 gas leak-triggered fire and explosion in its piping system. But the firm said it could take until the end of 2022 for all repairs and regulatory clearances to enable full operation of the facility--which accounts for about 20% of total U.S. export capacity and about 4% of global capacity. The shutdown has already generated unease in key LNG supply markets, particularly in Europe.

The gas release at the plant, located on Quintana Island south of Galveston, created a natural gas vapor cloud that exploded and set fire to nearby piping insulation and cabling in the pipe racks that support gas transfer from storage tanks to the dock on the intercoastal waterway. 

US and Asia have long-term LNG contracts ...

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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:38:41 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 10th, 2022 at 09:39:42 PM EST


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by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 08:27:14 AM EST

Translation:
Russia has reduced supplies to Italy by a third compared to the average of the last few days. This was announced by Eni. "Gazprom - writes the Italian company - has announced that for Monday it will supply volumes of gas equal to approximately 21 million cubic meters per day, compared to an average of about 32 million cubic meters per day in recent days".

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 08:28:23 AM EST

Translation:
The maintenance of #NordStream1 has started, in ten days #gas should flow through the pipeline again. But the federal government is also preparing for an emergency - a #Gasnotstand if #Gazprom then stops deliveries completely.

Europe on edge as Nord Stream Russian gas link enters maintenance | TRT World |

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 09:02:05 AM EST



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 at 10:16:22 AM EST
Growth expectations lowered across all EU member states.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 01:55:35 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 01:56:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Apparently the fuel price has been capped by Berlin so the consumer is not billed for the market price. The Dutch already are hit with the market price as Mark Rutte is a free market neo-liberal and the government should not intervene, nor regulate.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 01:58:02 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 01:59:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 02:00:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
"Apparently the fuel price has been capped by Berlin "

Nonsense. So embarrassing for this site!

by Katrin on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 04:30:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Perhaps a reality check is due?

Subsidy German Energy Market for Consumers

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Aug 11th, 2022 at 11:15:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Price adjustment to stabilise the gas market

Gas importers are having to look for alternative supplies and compensate for the supply shortfalls at a considerable cost, and they are often unable to pass on the additional costs to their customers due to contractual provisions. This results in considerable losses for the respective companies, which they will only be able to absorb for a limited period. This situation threatens the collapse of companies that are key to the functioning of the gas market and supply security.

Energy Security Act allows for gas surcharge

This is why we need a way to offset the high procurement costs incurred by importers. The Energy Security Act provides for the imposition of a net price adjustment, which involves distributing the additional costs incurred through the procurement of alternative gas supplies among consumers by means of a surcharge. The Federal Government has now passed the relevant Gas Price Adjustment Ordinance. All gas consumers will be subject to the surcharge from 1 October 2022, and it will end on 1 April 2024. The surcharge will be invoiced up to 30 September 2024: it will be charged on a monthly basis and is subject to adjustment every three months.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Aug 11th, 2022 at 11:16:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Follow-up post ....

German cost of living and energy poverty crisis

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Aug 11th, 2022 at 11:16:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]
No way the market gas price will triple in 2023 compared to July 2022.

UK: What is the energy price cap and how high will bills go? | BBC News |

France to force EDF to take €8.4bn hit with energy bill cap

The French government will force EDF, the state energy giant, to take an €8.4bn (£7bn) financial hit to protect households from rocketing energy costs by limiting bill hikes to 4% this year.

The company lost a fifth of its market value on Friday after the French government set out plans to cap rising energy bills, which include forcing EDF to sell electricity generated by its fleet of nuclear reactors to rival home suppliers at well below the current record high market prices.

The move underlines pressure on governments across Europe to help households squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis.

Which countries are doing the most to tackle energy bills?

In The Netherlands the tax burden on energy bills for households is 50% ... thus in 2021 the tax is €1000 for an energy bill of €2000. The energy price has more than tripled, let's say the energy bill is now €6000.  Tax part is €3000. The government gives a one-off rebate of €400 and per July 1 will lower VAT from 21% to 9% until Jan. 1, 2023 when the winter season really begins. Thus the relief is minimal and for the lowest incomes energy poverty abounds. For daily groceries the inflation is above 14%.

Germany a delayed increase in energy bills based on yearly average ...

German households could see 'four-digit' rise in energy costs this winter

Just one year ago, the cost of a megawatt hour of gas was around €20. This has since risen to around €140 per megawatt hour, leading to fears that bills could be as much as eight times higher than before.

However, Habeck said that bills would be based on yearly averages rather than the most recent prices, meaning the costs wouldn't be as high as some fear.

"It's won't be as terrible as that," he said. "At least, we hope it won't." 

From this information, my educated guess was correct.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 06:41:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Russian gas imports will be replaced by combined other sources with LNG production to cover 20%.

However the biggest gain is reduction in consumption due to high price and household and industry savings. Where coal can replace gas in electricity plants, those steps have been taken.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 11:18:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jul 15th, 2022 at 10:19:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

An energy cost increase of €3000 for low income means poverty, for high income it's a bit less of affluence, reshuffling some assets. No pain.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jul 15th, 2022 at 05:06:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Not all of us.  Look at the Western Oligarchs.
by rifek on Sun Jul 17th, 2022 at 06:43:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
How much does the energy we consume cost? - EU second half 2021

Natural gas prices for household consumers, including taxes and levies, were highest in Sweden (EUR 19 per 100 kWh), Denmark (EUR 12 per 100 kWh), the Netherlands and Spain (both EUR 11 per 100 kWh), and lowest in Hungary (EUR 3 per 100 kWh), Croatia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Latvia (EUR 4 per 100 kWh each). The share of taxes and levies in gas price was highest in the Netherlands (58 %) and lowest in Greece (6 %).



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 08:59:29 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 09:00:56 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 09:02:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Weekly trend of natural gas and LNG prices

The Northeast Asian assessed spot LNG price JKM for the previous week (4 July-8 July) rose to USD 44/MBtu on 5 July from USD 41/MBtu the previous week, supported by rising temperatures in Japan and Korea due to a heat wave, but fell to USD 39/MBtu on 6 July as market sentiment turned bearish due to weaker demand in Asia and the end of a strike in Norway.

The European gas price TTF rose to USD 50.4/MBtu on 5 July from USD 45.1/MBtu the previous week on supply concerns due to expanded strike plans at offshore oil and natural gas sites in Norway.

The U.S. gas price HH fell to USD 5.5/MBtu on 6 July, down from USD 5.7/MBtu the previous week, reversed to USD 6.3/MBtu on 7 July and fell to USD 6.0/MBtu on 8 July.

Clear which economies will suffer 2022 through 2025.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 09:03:50 PM EST

Translation:
The first TTF annual contract is entering "uncharted territory". Today, the highest price level ever (€145/MWh) has been tapped since the emergence of the TTF market. In the past 30 days, the annual price rose by as much as 80%. Uncharted

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 at 09:05:48 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jul 15th, 2022 at 05:07:57 PM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Fri Jul 15th, 2022 at 05:09:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jul 17th, 2022 at 01:33:23 AM EST


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 18th, 2022 at 07:26:15 PM EST
German energy exports increase

Deutschland exportiert schon seit Jahren mehr Strom als es importiert. Auch dieses Jahr - wie üblich - einige Terawattstunden in die Benelux-Staaten und nach Tschechien. Ungewöhnlich allerdings: Mehr als acht Terawattstunden flossen nach Frankreich, zusätzlich gute zehn Terrawattstunden nach Österreich, mehr als drei in die Schweiz. Wobei davon ein großer Teil weiter nach Italien floss, das normalerweise auch französischen Atomstrom kauft. So liefen deutsche Gaskraftwerke eben auch, um den Ausfall maroder französischer Reaktoren auszugleichen.

This steady supply of Oui's fake news is so embarrassing for ET

by Katrin on Wed Jul 20th, 2022 at 10:04:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 18th, 2022 at 07:27:50 PM EST
Russian gas supplies to EU drop via all routes, except TurkStream | EurActiv |

'Force majeure'

According to a letter seen by Reuters on Monday, Gazprom has declared force majeure on gas supplies to Europe to its bigger customer, namely Germany.

The letter said Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline, could not fulfil its supply obligations owing to "extraordinary" circumstances outside its control.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Mon Jul 18th, 2022 at 10:05:22 PM EST
So playing nice with Russia isn't actually working out. Hope Germany has been filling up its reserves as fast as possible! Could be a pretty cold winter.
by asdf on Tue Jul 19th, 2022 at 02:41:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I mean, did we? Stealing their dragon hoard is probably not the best move if you want them to keep sending gas.
by generic on Tue Jul 19th, 2022 at 10:23:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
euronews | Gas flows through Nord Stream to resume after 10-day maintenance, 19 July
Gazprom is expected to restart gas flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline Thursday, after the completion of a 10-day maintenance that has put EU leaders on edge. Two sources familiar with the plans confirmed the information to Reuters.
Russia seen restarting gas exports from Nord Stream 1 on schedule, 19 July
...
"They (Gazprom) will return to the levels seen before July 11," one of the sources said of the gas volumes expected via Nord Stream 1 from Thursday [21 July?!].
...
In a letter dated July 14, however, Gazprom said it was retroactively declaring force majeure on supplies from June 14, a legal clause meaning it cannot guarantee gas delivery because of exceptional circumstances "a provision in a contract that frees both parties from obligation if an extraordinary event directly prevents one or both parties from performing".
The Turbine's whereabouts are unclear.

Kommersant, a Russian newspaper, reported Canada sent the equipment by plane on 17 July [to Germany].

Gazprom's largest customers in Germany, Uniper and RWE, have received letters from the company announcing force majeure since June 14. At the same time, Gazprom announced The Detention of The Turbine for Nord Stream in Canada, reducing supplies through the pipeline to 40% of the design capacity. According to analysts, by such actions Gazprom is trying to protect itself from paying fines for underdeliveries.[...] Force majeure applies to deliveries for the last month, that is, from June 14th. In theory, force majeure can release Gazprom from the obligation to pay fines and compensation for undersupply of gas via Nord Stream. The company reduced the flow through this gas pipeline on June 14, explaining this by Siemens Energy's failure to fulfill its obligations to repair the gas pumping unit for the Portovaya compressor station.

So far, only the German Uniper and RWE have officially confirmed the receipt of such a letter from Gazprom. Uniper considers the announcement of force majeure unreasonable, RWE did not provide additional comments.

"It is difficult to say whether Nord Stream 1 will run after ten days of maintenance. The past has often shown that technical reasons are often excuses for political decisions. Of course, this could happen again," Robert Habeck, Germany's vice-chancellor psychic, said earlier this month. "Nobody can see inside Putin's head, so we do not know what will happen."
Kommersant | "Sanction pressure is already starting to take its toll", 19 July
KOMMERSANT: There are more than a hundred foreign gas turbines in Russia. Do you see this as a threat to the energy system?

Vasily KISELEV, Community of Energy Consumers: There is no threat. We are now being told that we should save the engine life of foreign turbines. In fact, they are proposed to be mothballed, but at the same time they continue to pay for their capacity and put up with an increase in the price of electricity, which will inevitably arise due to a reduction in cheap supply. Turbines will remain, but what to do with them next? How serious then are the intentions to make their own turbines? Perhaps, on the contrary, these power units should be turned on at full capacity and electricity prices should be reduced? Such a move would help the economy.

by Cat on Tue Jul 19th, 2022 at 07:54:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
vOLdEmoRT: Gas price in Europe drops as Russian pipeline resumes deliveries

The price of August futures for natural gas at the TTF hub in the Netherlands dropped to $1,556 per 1,000 cubic meters [BWAH!] at round 06:01 GMT, or €145 ($148) per megawatt-hour in household terms, according to data from London's Intercontinental Exchange.

Gas supplies via the Nord Stream gas pipeline resumed at 04:00 GMT [BWAH!] on July 21 and, according to the pipeline operator Nord Stream AG, pumping has already reached the pre-shutdown level of 40% capacity.

Gazprom suspended flow through the route for annual maintenance on July 11. Supply had already been reduced by 60% in June, after The Turbine from the pipeline's compressor station was held in Canada amid sanctions. Gazprom said it needed the part to restore full capacity and Ottawa allowed it to be returned to Germany earlier this month [17 July].

sooooo Habecksplainin with Ukrainian World Congress characteristics developing ...
by Cat on Thu Jul 21st, 2022 at 04:34:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Churchill look-alike BJ left in time of war ... unforgivable.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Wed Jul 20th, 2022 at 07:08:53 AM EST
NATO is watching ...



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Wed Jul 20th, 2022 at 07:31:58 AM EST
The US coup d'etat of 2014 has backfired ...
watch his excellency former US Ambassador to the United Nations ...

John Bolton: Proud of A Hard Day's Work

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Wed Jul 20th, 2022 at 07:32:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]


'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Wed Jul 20th, 2022 at 01:49:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Cradle | Tajikistan repatriates hundreds from SDF-run Al-Hawl camp in Syria, 25 July
Tajik ambassador to Kuwait, Zabidullah Zabidov, landed in Qamishli on 25 July to welcome 146 Tajik nationals, including 104 children, rescued by the Syrian Red Cross from [US-backed] Kurdish-run Al-Hawl camp.
[...]
Al-Hawl camp hosts families related to ISIS fighters who surrendered after the armed group lost its last stronghold in Baghuz to the US-led international coalition in 2019. The SDF camp is divided into nine sectors that host at least 56,000 prisoners, of whom 29,152 are Iraqi and 18,863 are Syrian. The camp also hosts 8,109 foreigners from 54 different nationalities in a separate area known as `the migrant sector'.
[...]
"It will take 30 years before foreign children stuck in unsafe camps in northeast Syria can return home if repatriations continue at the current rate," Save the Children, a UK-based NGO, says in its report.
by Cat on Wed Jul 27th, 2022 at 12:05:30 AM EST
America's Legacy of intervention and regime change in the Levant: Iraq and Syria.

SDF Kurdish-run Al-Hawl refugee camp

Nearly 60,000 wife's and children from the last battle of hardened and radicalized ISIL fighters. The 40 tons of gold and the oil production facilities were the spoils of war for the US supported SDF Kurdish fighters.

"US demands ISIS handover 40 tons of gold in eastern Euphrates region: Daesh monitor".

Battle of Baghuz Fawqani

Part of the 2017-2019 Deir ez-Zor campaign,
the Rojava-Islamist conflict, and the
American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War

The UK was a major contributor to totalitarian disinformation on Syria and supported the Arabian foreign fighters battling for Saudi Arabia and Qatar to overthrow Bashir Assad, a dictator of a sovereign state.

British women, children face 'barbaric' conditions in Syrian camps: Report | Arab News |

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Wed Jul 27th, 2022 at 06:37:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We have today announced our 2022 interim results. Our financial performance was good, against a backdrop of high and volatile commodity prices, we continue to make good progress towards the 3-point turnaround strategy. A full breakdown is available here ...

Centrica interim results press statement

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jul 28th, 2022 at 08:57:35 AM EST
replicating like the stars
by Cat on Thu Jul 28th, 2022 at 11:18:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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