Tuesday, December 04, 2012
News Links, December 4-5, 2012
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
It's curtains for Australia's great resources boom
"There's new evidence that the nation is approaching a critical turning point in the investment cycle that's set to create serious problems for the economy."
It's curtains for Australia's great resources boom
"There's new evidence that the nation is approaching a critical turning point in the investment cycle that's set to create serious problems for the economy."
British Airways to cut 400 cabin crew jobs
East European Air Cutbacks on State Austerity Hurt Travel
East European Air Cutbacks on State Austerity Hurt Travel
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
UN Calls on Israel to Open Nuclear Program to Inspections
"The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Israel to open its nuclear program for inspection 'without further delay.'"
"The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Israel to open its nuclear program for inspection 'without further delay.'"
Indian navy ready to deploy to South China Sea as tensions climb
"India has declared itself ready to deploy naval vessels to the South China Sea to protect its oil-exploration interests there, a potential new escalation of tensions in a disputed area where fears of armed conflict have been growing steadily."
Dollar-Less Iranians Discover Virtual Currency
"India has declared itself ready to deploy naval vessels to the South China Sea to protect its oil-exploration interests there, a potential new escalation of tensions in a disputed area where fears of armed conflict have been growing steadily."
Dollar-Less Iranians Discover Virtual Currency
"Iranians are resorting to virtual currency to move money into and out of the country in a way that Western authorities find hard to detect."
Amsterdam to create 'scum villages'
"Amsterdam is to create "Scum villages" where nuisance neighbours and anti-social tenants will be exiled from the city and rehoused in caravans or containers with "minimal services" under constant police supervision."
"Amsterdam is to create "Scum villages" where nuisance neighbours and anti-social tenants will be exiled from the city and rehoused in caravans or containers with "minimal services" under constant police supervision."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Violent mass protest continue in Slovenia
## Energy/resources ##
Central Asia: Falling Temperatures, Failing Energy Supplies
"The blackouts usually start this time of year. As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, Central Asia's aging energy infrastructure struggles to keep up, leaving residents cold and in the dark."
Gas-rich Qatar to invest up to $20 billion in solar energy plant
"The blackouts usually start this time of year. As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, Central Asia's aging energy infrastructure struggles to keep up, leaving residents cold and in the dark."
Gas-rich Qatar to invest up to $20 billion in solar energy plant
The enemy of solar in desert regions is dust. -- RF
But it doesn't seem to have much of a downward effect on oil prices. -- RF
Commentary: Identifying the "oil" we're most worried about (Robert Hirsch)
Evaluating production potential of mature US oil, gas shale plays (Oil & Gas Journal)
A bit long and technical, but a useful analysis for those interested in the technical aspects. The big take-home lesson is, as one would expect, that decline rates are very high and recovery efficiencies are very low. This is bad news for industrial society, which was built on a much more favorable energy regime. -- RF
Brazilian oil giant Petrobras dumps NZ exploration permits
Indian Business Press Trashes China's Electrical Grid Ambitions
Indian Business Press Trashes China's Electrical Grid Ambitions
China's Oil Quest Comes to Iraq
"While China's oil dealings with countries like Iran and Sudan receive global attention, its budding relationship with Iraq may turn out to be the most important."
Record Asia Oil Takeovers Match U.S. Pace for First Time: Energy
"While China's oil dealings with countries like Iran and Sudan receive global attention, its budding relationship with Iraq may turn out to be the most important."
Record Asia Oil Takeovers Match U.S. Pace for First Time: Energy
Vancouver thieves target storm drain grates
## Got food? ##
Food shortage to reach critical phase in Asia, Africa
## Got food? ##
Food shortage to reach critical phase in Asia, Africa
## Lifestyle Solutions ##
Russia's ecological miracle
## Environment/health ##
Brought in ballast, aggressive seaweed spreads along East Coast
"An invasive Asian seaweed that likely was brought to the New England coast from Europe has spread across more than 400 miles of Atlantic coastline since it was first discovered in U.S. waters off Rhode Island in 2009, biologists say."
The root of this problem is that populations grew too quickly thanks to cheap energy. -- RF
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Reporters sans Frontières launch censored content website
Swiss spy agency warns U.S., Britain about huge data leak
"Secret information on counter-terrorism shared by foreign governments may have been compromised by a massive data theft by a senior IT technician for the NDB, Switzerland's intelligence service, European national security sources said."
"Secret information on counter-terrorism shared by foreign governments may have been compromised by a massive data theft by a senior IT technician for the NDB, Switzerland's intelligence service, European national security sources said."
Cops to Congress: We need logs of Americans' text messages
## Systemic breakdown ##
Epic 125-mile traffic jam keeps drivers in gridlock for entire weekend (Russia)
## Systemic breakdown ##
Epic 125-mile traffic jam keeps drivers in gridlock for entire weekend (Russia)
"At a regular press conference Monday morning Japan's top government spokesman said the country's public roadways have become old and will 'need a huge investment' to ensure their safety in the future."
Key artery's closure blow to transport, bus firms
"Travel agencies and transport companies scrambled to deal with cancellations and rerouting Monday after the deadly Sasago Tunnel accident closed off the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture — a major east-west artery."
"Travel agencies and transport companies scrambled to deal with cancellations and rerouting Monday after the deadly Sasago Tunnel accident closed off the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture — a major east-west artery."
## China ##
Is the Latest World's Tallest Building a Boondoggle?
Chinese clothing manufacturers buried under excess stock
"With inventories already hitting record high levels in the first half the year, clothing manufacturers in China are struggling to clear an enormous backlog of stock, yet there seems to be no immediate solution to the pressure under current economic conditions."
How Hard Will The China-Japan Islands Dispute Hit The Chinese Economy?
## US ##
Low-Wage Jobs Cause More Problems Than They Solve
Pollution from oil refinery accidents on the rise in Louisiana
Manufacturing ISM Plummets To Lowest Print Since July 2009
U.S. GDP on the road to zero growth by 2050Pollution from oil refinery accidents on the rise in Louisiana
Manufacturing ISM Plummets To Lowest Print Since July 2009
I can't imagine why it would take until 2050 to reach zero growth. The economy will contract before then. -- RF
