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by Raúl Ilargi Meijer
August 24,
2022
from
TheAutomaticEarth Website
Eugène Delacroix
Liberty
Leading the People 1830
(French
Revolution of 1830)
There are tectonic rumblings throughout Europe and there
is no clear outcome just yet.
Leaders and borders may change...
However, it is clear that there is an orchestrated plan
to deconstruct the existing world order to prepare for
the "new", i.e., the WEF's
Great Reset, aka
Technocracy.
Source
As I read through the multitude of daily news articles about Russia,
Ukraine, NATO and EU, it's getting ever harder to escape the idea
that there is a controlled demolition of the continent happening.
And that neither its
"leaders", and certainly not its people, have any say in this. All
we get from those "leaders" are NATO or World Economic Forum talking
points.
The only independent
voice is Victor Orban, who is either silenced in western
media or painted as fully insane.
But Orban's Hungarians won't freeze this coming winter. He just
signed a new gas deal with Russia. The main reason that is provided
for all the others not doing that is of course Russia's Special
Military Operation in Ukraine.
Which is as insane as
Orban is, and "totally unprovoked", say the western media.
Noam Chomsky
summarized that best:
"Of course it was
provoked. Otherwise they wouldn't refer to it all the time as an
unprovoked invasion."
And no, it wasn't just
Russia/Ukraine, way before that Europe had already screwed up its
economies beyond recognition -if you cared to look under the hood.
But why make it worse?
I get a very strong
feeling that those EU "leaders" have alienated themselves far too
much from the people they purport to serve, and they'll regret it.
For now it's obvious among farmers, for instance, but when people
start freezing, they will want to know why.
And if no answer is
forthcoming that is both honest and satisfactory, many "leaders"
will have it coming for them.
The entire energy and food crisis is being sold as "inevitable", but
it is nothing of the kind. They are the result of choices being made
in Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam etc., about which nobody has asked
your opinion.
Something I jotted down a
few days ago:
Is the west using
Ukraine as an excuse to commit mass economic suicide?
And, you know,
fulfill some WEF-related goals?
Why else would
they cut off all economic ties to Moscow, at a time when
it's obvious they have no alternative sources for much of
what they import from Russia?
Moreover, why
does a country like Holland aim to close 10,000 of its farms
when it's crystal clear that that will exacerbate the coming
global food crises?
If you don't like Putin, that's fine, but why should your
own people suffer from what you like or not?
And of course you can
ask whether it's a good idea that a country the size of a
postage stamp is the world's no. 2 food exporter. But it is.
And if you try to
change that by doing a 180º, also on a postage stamp, it is very
obvious that is not going to go well. And all the so-called
leaders know this. But they still do it.
Prices for heating, petrol, as well as food, are set to go much
higher than they have already, mitigated only -perhaps- by the
fact that ever fewer people will be able to afford the ever
higher prices.
But now it's starting
to look like this was all scripted. Because "we" could have kept
communication channels with Russia open, "we" could have
negotiated for peace for the past 6 months.
Not doing that was a
deliberate choice. A choice that you and me, another "we"- had
no voice in whatsoever.
The Dutch could have negotiated with their farmers, and slowly
addressed their perceived problems with nitrogen oxides, while
keeping food production going. And we could have found a way to
keep Russian and Ukrainian crops available on world markets too.
But it doesn't feel at all like "we" wanted that.
Someone made a list of what EU won't get anymore with the Russia
boycott.:
"nat-gas, rare
earths, inert gases, potash, sulfur, uranium, palladium,
vanadium, cobalt, coke, titanium, nickel, lithium, plastics,
glass, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, ships, inks, airplanes,
polymers, medical and industrial gases, sealing rings &
membranes, power transmission, transformer and lube oils,
neon gas for microchip etching, etc., etc."
And that's not all.
Fertilizer!!
Why they do it, I
don't know. Do they WANT to kill their own economies? It makes
no sense.
And this will not be
over soon...
Reuters of course seeks
to blame Putin. But he's not the one who introduced the sanctions.
He's offered to let the gas and oil exports continue.
Putin bets
Winter Gas Chokehold will Yield Ukraine Peace - On his Terms
Source
Cold winters helped
Moscow defeat Napoleon and Hitler. President Vladimir Putin is
now betting that sky-rocketing energy prices and possible
shortages this winter will persuade Europe to strong arm Ukraine
into a truce - on Russia's terms.
That, say two Russian
sources familiar with Kremlin thinking, is the only path to
peace that Moscow sees, given Kyiv says it will not negotiate
until Russia leaves all of Ukraine
"We have time, we
can wait," said one source close to the Russian authorities,
who declined to be named because they are not authorized to
speak to the media.
"It's going to be
a difficult winter for Europeans.
We could see
protests, unrest. Some European leaders might think twice
about continuing to support Ukraine and think it's time for
a deal."
EU foreign policy chief
Josep Borrell wants Europeans to be obedient little critters,
and take the punishment for the policies he and his ilk have carved
out. Because "we" are destined to win.
Mr. Borrell is planning
to do just fine this winter, mind you. With the best steak your
money can buy, real fine wine, to be consumed in comfortably heated
homes, restaurants and offices.
A picture of Marie
Antoinette pops up in my brain.
'Weary'
Europeans must 'Bear Consequences' of Ukraine War as Putin will
Eventually Blink - EU's Borrell
Source
EU high
representative and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell
gave a surprisingly blunt assessment of the Ukraine war and
Europe's precarious position in an AFP interview published
Tuesday, admitting that Russian President Vladimir Putin
is betting on fracturing a united EU response amid the current
crisis situation of soaring prices and energy extreme
uncertainty headed into a long winter.
Borrell's words
seemed to come close to admitting that Putin's tactic is working
on some level, or at least will indeed chip away at European
resolve in the short and long run, given he chose words like EU
populations having to "endure" the deep economic pain and severe
energy crunch.
He cited the
"weariness" of Europeans while calling on leadership as well as
the common people to "bear the consequences" with continued
resolve.
Borrell explained to AFP that Putin sees,
"the weariness of
the Europeans and the reluctance of their citizens to bear
the consequences of support for Ukraine."
But Borrell suggested
that Europe will not back down no matter the leverage Moscow
might have, particularly when it comes to 'weaponization of
energy' - and called on citizens to continue to shoulder the
cost.
Who will blink
first?... appears to be the subtext here.
He urged:
"We will have to
endure, spread the costs within the EU," Borrell told AFP,
warning that keeping the 27 member states together was a
task to be carried out "day by day."
And yet, as some like
Hungary's Viktor Orbán have consistently argued since near the
start of the Feb.24 invasion, it is inevitable that some will be
forced to bear the "costs" much more than others.
Already this is being
seen with initiatives out of Brussels like rationing gas
consumption, which has further led to scenarios like German
towns and even residences being mandated to switch off lights or
resources for designated periods at night.
"More cold showers" -
many are also being told.
As we round the
corner of fall and enter the more frigid months, we are likely
to only see more headlines like this:
"German cities
impose cold showers and turn off lights amid Russian gas
crisis."
Talking of Marie
Antoinette...
Emmanuel Macron is
the little man of 'grand vision'. He foresees the 'End of
Abundance', a veritable "tipping point" in history. And he's just
the man to lead you through it.
I'll give him this:
he's got good speech
writers.
But speech writers don't
keep the people warm and fed.
Macron Warns
of 'End of Abundance'
Source
France is headed
toward the "end of abundance" and "sacrifices" have to be made
during what is a time of great upheaval, President Emmanuel
Macron told his cabinet on Wednesday upon returning from summer
break.
The country has faced
multiple challenges lately, ranging from the ongoing conflict
between Russia and Ukraine to the unprecedented drought that has
battered the whole European continent this summer.
Yet, Macron believes
that the crisis is actually of a,
"much bigger
scale and that structural changes are imminent.
Some could see
our destiny as being to constantly manage crises or
emergencies.
I believe that we
are living through a tipping point or great upheaval.
Firstly, because we are living through... what could seem
like the end of abundance," he said.
The country and its
citizens must be ready to make "sacrifices" to meet and overcome
the challenges they are facing, he continued.
"Our system based
on freedom in which we have become used to living, when we
need to defend it sometimes that can entail making
sacrifices," Macron added.
"Faced with this, we have duties, the first of which is to
speak frankly and very clearly without doom-mongering,"
Macron stressed.
The president called
upon his cabinet to show unity, be "serious" and "credible" and
urged ministers to avoid "demagogy."
"It's easy to
promise anything and everything, sometimes to say anything
and everything.
Do not give in to
these temptations, it is demagoguery," the president said,
adding that such an approach "flourishes" today "in all
democracies in a complex and frightening world."
There is a pattern in the
messages of today's Marie Antoinettes.
Borrell wants you to
take it lying down, Macron wants you to do that for a long time
(like the rest of your lives), and the Belgian PM makes it more
concrete: you'll be freezing for the next 10 years.
After which, supposedly,
renewables will have been built to keep your kids warm.
Spoiler: they won't be.
Belgian PM -
"Next 5-10 Winters will be Difficult" as Energy Crisis Worsens
Source
Belgian Prime
Minister Alexander De Croo might have spilled the beans
about the duration of Europe's energy crisis.
He told reporters
Monday,
"the next 5 to 10
winters will be difficult."
"The development
of the situation is very difficult throughout Europe," De
Croo told Belgium broadcaster VRT.
"In a number of
sectors, it is really difficult to deal with those high
energy prices. We are monitoring this closely, but we must
be transparent: the coming months will be difficult, the
coming winters will be difficult," he said.
The prime minister's
comments suggest replacing Russian natural gas imports could
take years, exerting further economic doom on the region's
economy in the form of energy hyperinflation.
From Greece, even more
concrete:
Energy subsidies.
€1.9 billion in one
month.
To keep the hordes
out of the streets.
Wait, that Belgian guy
said this will last 5-10 years.
How is the country
going to pay for that?
One thing that comes to
mind is Greeks will vote for anyone in the next election who vows to
talk to Putin ASAP, restore the countries' good relationships and
sign a gas deal.
The
Electricity Subsidy Shock
Source
A significant rise in
the price of electricity announced by state-controlled Public
Power Corporation (PPC)
for September forced the government to raise its electricity
subsidy for September to 1.9 billion euros, from €1.1 billion in
August.
The subsidy level
inevitably follows the PPC's pricing policy, since it is the
dominant player in the market, with 63% of consumers choosing
it.
While PPC had the
lowest price of all electricity providers in August (€0.48 per
kilowatt-hour) it raised its September price to €0.788 for those
consuming up to 500kWh per month and €0.80 for heavier
consumers.
In order to stick to
its commitment for an actual charge to consumers between
€0.14-0.17 per kWh the government had to adjust its subsidy
level accordingly, raising it by over 72%.
How long will this last,
you said?
Well, according to AP,
"Washington expects
Ukrainian forces 'to fight for years to come'."
"Included in the
package are advanced weapons that are still in the development
phase..."
'Months or
Years' before US Arms reach Ukraine - Media
Source
Years could pass
before some of the weapons in the upcoming "largest ever"
package of US military assistance to Kiev actually reach
Ukraine, according to Western media reports.
On Tuesday, a number
of mainstream media outlets cited anonymous US officials as
describing the impending announcement of a $3 billion package of
military aid to Ukraine.
If confirmed, it
would be the largest of its kind so far. Washington is by far
the biggest supplier of military hardware to Ukraine as it
fights against Russia. However, some of the promised equipment,
"will not be in
the hands of Ukrainian fighters for months or years,"
according to NBC News, one of the outlets that reported the
upcoming package.
Included in the
package are advanced weapons that are still in the development
phase, it explained.
The same caveat was cited by the Associated Press, which said
that it may take "a year or two" for the arms to reach the
battlefield, according to its sources.
Washington expects
Ukrainian forces "to fight for years to come," US officials told
the AP.
The
AeroVironment Switchblade 600
drone is an example of a weapon system that was promised to
Ukraine months ago but has yet to be delivered.
Defense News said
this week that the Pentagon plans to sign the contract necessary
for sending 10 of the so-called "kamikaze drones" within a
month.
Last month, Ukrainian
Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov called on foreign
suppliers of arms to use his country as a testing ground for new
weapons.
He pledged to provide
detailed reports about the experiences of Ukrainian soldiers
with the prototypes provided to them.
This is not going to go
well...
Not for the European
"leaders", not for the EU, not for Ukraine, and not for
Europeans...
We could start a little
bet as to how many leaders will still be in place by spring, and I
bet you Zelensky won't be one of them. Putin will...
As for the rest,
Rutte, Macron, we'll see...
But don't underestimate
the wrath of people with hungry and cold children.
It feels like almost
an alien image for 99% of Europeans, but it no longer will be.
And there is no logical
reason for this, there is only the ideology of a few handfuls of
little men with grand visions:
hate of everything
Russia has kept the west going for 100 years or more...
And these little
men feed off of that. They can only do that by refusing to
talk. Because that's exactly what Russia does not refuse.
Only, they want to talk
as equals.
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