Very many thanks to this month’s kind sponsor, John Bee, who wishes me to exhort, “Go Steelers!”
“Chinese Ship’s Crew Suspected of Deliberately Dragging Anchor for 100 Miles to Cut Baltic Cables…
“NATO warships surround Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier at the center of an international probe into suspected sabotage… The Chinese commercial vessel is central to an investigation of suspected sabotage that threatens to test the limits of maritime law—and heighten tensions between Beijing and European capitals.”
“Donald Tusk calls for naval patrols in Baltic Sea to counter Russian sabotage…
“Poland is pushing Nordic and Baltic states to patrol their waters jointly against any Russian sabotage attempts, following the suspicious severing of two data cables last week.”
https://www.ft.com/content/f0e06907-3ae1-4415-ac2c-fe0be86a23ec
“TDC, Denmark’s largest telecom provider, experienced widespread service outages earlier today, leaving thousands of customers unable to make calls — including to emergency services at 112…
“The news emerges as concerns mount over undersea internet data cables being cut or damaged, with incidents reported in several European countries, including Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania.”
https://theins.ru/en/news/276713
“Russia’s hybrid warfare may trigger NATO defence clause, Germany says…
“NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned earlier this month that Moscow was conducting “an intensifying campaign of hybrid attacks” on Western targets, and said the frontline of Russia’s war in Ukraine had extended to the Baltic region and across Europe.”
“Germany has a plan for a possible World War III…
“Operation Deutschland’ is a 1,000-page document detailing the measures the German government would take to protect critical infrastructure and mobilize its own troops, as well as assist in the mobilization of NATO troops, should Europe face a potential conflict.”
https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2024/11/27/germany-has-a-plan-for-a-possible-world-war-iii/
“Russian spies in love triangle were to be used in ‘honeytrap’ operation across Europe, court hears…
“Katrin Ivanova, 33, a lab assistant, and Vanya Gaberova, 30, a beautician, were intended to be “in direct contact” with targets “as sexual bait to capture more information”, the Old Bailey heard.”
“Russia’s central bank said on Wednesday it would stop foreign currency purchases in order to ease pressure on the financial markets after the rouble weakened beyond 110 to the U.S. dollar, down by one-third since early August.
“The central bank said it had decided not to buy foreign currency on the domestic market from Nov. 28 until the end of the year…”
“Putin says Russia would use all weapons at its disposal if Ukraine got nuclear weapons…
“”If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do? In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasize this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia. Everything: we will not allow it. We’ll be watching their every move”, Putin said…”
“Putin orders Satan II to be ready to deploy for nuclear war…
“According to multiple reports citing Russian state media, Putin ordered that Satan II be ready for battle ‘as soon as possible.’ The move comes after Ukraine used US-made ATACMS missiles on November 25 and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russia a couple of days later.”
“Trump’s Ukraine envoy pick proposed forcing peace talks by withdrawing US weapons…
“Keith Kellogg… proposes ending the war by withdrawing weapons from Ukraine if it doesn’t enter peace talks – and giving even more weapons to Ukraine if Russia doesn’t do the same.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/28/trump-keith-kellogg-russia-ukraine
“Trump and the AfD: how Germany’s hard right is courting president-elect…
“In recent days pictures have emerged of politicians from the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and some of its most prominent young sympathisers posing with Trump at his base in Mar-a-Lago after assisting the Republican election campaign in Florida.”
“Georgia: Violent clashes break out in Tbilisi as government suspends talks on joining EU…
“Police clashed with protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi early on Friday, after the country’s ruling party said the government would suspend talks on European Union accession until 2028.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/georgia-protest-irakli-kobakhidze-salome-zourabichvili
“Romania orders election recount after shock far-right win…
“Calin Georgescu, earlier a little-known independent candidate, won the first round of the election with 22.9% of the vote, and is expected to face off against centrist Elena Lasconi in a runoff on December 8. Lasconi garnered a little over 19% of the vote.”
https://www.dw.com/en/romania-orders-election-recount-after-shock-far-right-win/a-70911174
“French bond yields surpass Greece’s amid budget concerns…
“France’s budget deficit is on track to exceed 6 per cent of GDP this year, more than double the EU’s target of 3 per cent. Brussels has put France in an “excessive deficit” monitoring process to push it to cut deficits over a five-year period.”
https://www.ft.com/content/b7d0280e-1f1f-479f-8f11-372ebf33abbe
“Le Pen slams France’s ‘unjust’ budget as markets brace for government collapse…
“Lawmakers have been debating Barnier’s budget for weeks, but with the end of the year nearing it has become increasingly clear that the prime minister will need to use a constitutional backdoor to pass it.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-far-right-michel-barnier-crying-wolf-government-collapse/
“Bank of Japan’s retreat from low rates heightens Japan’s debt troubles.
“The Bank of Japan’s retreat from a decade-long radical stimulus is pressuring the government to rethink the way it funds its big spending packages with additional debt, a challenge made more daunting by political demands for permanent tax breaks.”
“Chinese bond market grapples with ‘Japanification’…
“China’s long-term bond yields have fallen below Japan’s for the first time, as investors bet that the world’s second-biggest economy will become bogged down by the deflation that has long afflicted its neighbour.”
https://www.ft.com/content/d299727e-41a1-480b-a44d-780b290bc3c
“Taiwan’s president set to visit Hawaii and Guam, drawing Beijing’s ire.
“Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during an upcoming trip to the Pacific, prompting condemnations from China, which could respond by staging a fresh round of military drills near the island democracy.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/29/asia/taiwan-president-us-hawaii-hnk-intl/index.html
“‘Everything is expensive!’ Bolivia faces a shocking economic collapse…
“Fuel is rapidly becoming one of Bolivia’s scarcest commodities. Long lines of vehicles snake for several kilometers outside gas stations all over Bolivia, once South America’s second-largest producer of natural gas.”
“Cuba decrees contingency plan, new restrictions as energy crisis deepens…
“Cuba this week asked state and private businesses to generate more of their own electricity from renewable resources and to limit their use of air conditioning, among other conservation measures…”
“Military vehicle mows down woman as post-election protests roil Mozambique…
“Mozambique has been gripped by weeks of protests after elections in which Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate of the Frelimo party which has ruled the southern African country since 1975, secured 70.7% of the vote, according to official results.”
“Macron acknowledges 1944 ‘massacre’ of West African troops by French army…
“The soldiers had fought alongside the French during World War II, but were killed by their French counterparts in what historians believe was a dispute over unpaid wages.”
“Chad ends defence cooperation agreement with France…
“The statement said the central African nation, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the region, wanted to fully assert its sovereignty, and redefine its strategic partnerships after 66 years of independence.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/chad-ends-defence-cooperation-agreement-with-france-2024-11-28/
“Chad struggles as refugees pour in from Sudan.
“Chad, one of the world’s poorest countries, urgently needs help supporting over a million refugees. The majority of these have fled the civil war in neighboring Sudan.”
https://www.dw.com/en/chad-struggles-as-refugees-pour-in-from-sudan/video-70912825
“South Sudan President Calls for Calm Amid Rumors of Army Tension…
“Pressure on Salva Kiir has mounted since February, when a pipeline that ferried more than 150,000 barrels of crude oil to the Red Sea coastline in Sudan ceased operating after a blockage.”
“‘Winter in Gaza means more people will die shivering’: Cold and rain pose added threat to displaced Palestinians…
“Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been displaced multiple times from Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip are now facing another threat – the arrival of harsh winter weather.”
“Yemen’s Houthis will keep up their attacks on Israel, their leader said on Thursday, two days into a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
““The operations from the Yemeni front to support the Palestinian people with missiles and drones towards the Israeli enemy are continuing,” Abdulmalik al-Houthi said…”
“Israel and Hezbollah trade accusations of ceasefire violations…
“The exchange of accusations highlights the fragility of the ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and France to end the conflict.”
“Turkey’s economy sank into a recession over the summer, as high interest rates squeezed economic activity as the country’s central bank sought to tame inflation.
“Gross domestic product shrank by 0.2% on a quarterly basis between July and September, according to data from the Turkish statistical agency on Friday…”
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/turkeys-economy-tumbles-into-recession-9d31fa9a
“Over 200 Dead, Syrian Rebels Cut Key Highway As Clashes Escalate In Aleppo…
“Jihadist fighters cut the Damascus to Aleppo highway on Thursday during an offensive that a monitor says killed around 200, including civilians hit by Russian air force strikes.”
“Iran says it could end ban on possessing nuclear weapons if sanctions reimposed…
“Western officials will be concerned by Foreign Minister, Araghchi’s warning over the reimposition of sanctions, which were lifted when Iran signed the 2015 deal intended to limit its nuclear activities.”
“Pakistani security forces pushed a protester off a 25-foot tall stack of shipping containers as they were accused of opening fire on supporters of Imran Khan at a huge demonstration in Islamabad…
“Aides of the jailed former prime minister claim up to 40 people died and hundreds were injured during unrest in Islamabad.”
“Bangladesh police clash with protesters as Hindu leader detained…
“Police in Bangladesh have used tear gas against Hindus protesting against the arrest of a religious leader as neighbouring India called for ensuring the safety of Hindus and minorities in the Muslim-majority nation.”
“ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar junta chief…
“The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC) is seeking an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, for crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdowns against the country’s Rohingya minority…”
“Antarctic luxury cruise passengers go on hunger strike over engine failure…
““Many of the passengers are very angry and it was getting nasty yesterday,” the source on the ship said. “The company needs to make a better offer to quell the continuing rising anger.””
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You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” thread.
I never liked the cruise ship industry. I think I ranted on that here before. I doubt fasting will last very long on a luxury cruise liner.
Cruise ships emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air. A medium-sized cruise ship emits as much greenhouse gas as 12,000 cars.
Cruise ships dump large amounts of untreated sewage, graywater, and other waste into the ocean. A large cruise ship can generate over 1 million gallons of graywater and 210,000 gallons of sewage in a single week.
Cruise ships release ballast water into the ocean, which can carry non-native plants and animals that can harm local species. Ballast water can also carry diseases like cholera.
Cruise ships are not held to the same environmental protection standards as other industries that produce similar amounts of waste.
And the tourists are just as bad – Go to Antarctica on a cruise ship – You want adventure do it like Ernest Shackleton.
Thank you for that rundown, Edward. I guess you could add noise pollution, stressing marine life, to your list.
I’m not quite sure why I felt the urge to post that article. I suppose it was something about the level of entitlement it suggested and the childish petulance, not to mention irony, of people on a luxury cruise refusing food as a means of protest.
When I was a kid, I loved a series of books called “Just William” about a mischievous schoolboy. He had a horribly spoilt neighbour, a little girl called Violet Elizabeth Bott, who would threaten “to scream and scream until I’m sick” if she didn’t get her way. It reminded me of that. 😂
Remember the “Goldilocks Economy”?:
it was the USA’s idea of an ideal war-driven economic Paradise that everyone has pretended never happened but which paved the …
… way to a dusty death, lighted by fools.
Out, out, brief candle!
Capitalism’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets its hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: a dusty tale
Told by multiple maniacs, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing …
… Even as its economic engine steamrolls over, bulldozes under and blasts to smithereen everything of grace and beauty that hampers its ballyhooed romp of creative destruction.
A study by the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology in Stanford, California, found:
“between 2000 and 2004, worldwide carbon dioxide emissions increased by 3.1 percent a year, about three times as fast as the 1.1 percent rate of increase in the 1990s.”
So after barely 5 years of COP meetings the globe, as it ramped up its production of “renewable energy”, practically tripled its production of emissions; so by all means, full speed ahead!
We are all aboard the cruise ship 🚢 of fools, floating effortlessly inside a rudderless glorified container ship that is taking us to a destination we will never arrive at: hence, it is now the accepted meme that “the journey is the destination”, which seems to me to be little more than a sanguine way of saying, as a certain Talking Head once opined, “We’re on the Road to Nowhere”. And isn’t nowhere Oblivion?
Thank you, Rob, for that thoughtful and poetic comment. You capture the tragedy and absurdity of our predicament nicely. Oblivion may well be where we are headed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htzgQgtaVPk
The hunger strike aboard the SH Diana—a luxury cruise marooned by technical failures—echoes the absurdity of humanity’s broader “cruise” through the 21st century. Like passengers on a rudderless ship, we collectively navigate uncharted waters of ecological collapse, economic mismanagement, and societal discontent, armed only with outdated maps and the blind faith that the journey itself is the destination.
Consider the so-called Goldilocks Economy, the myth of a “just right” balance that fueled capitalist expansion under the guise of progress. That narrative, like the cruise industry’s promises of luxury, was built on fragile machinery, destined to overheat or stall. When emissions triple under the banner of “renewable energy” or wealth gaps widen in the name of “economic growth,” the cracks in the hull become undeniable. Yet, like passengers protesting a refund with hunger strikes, our collective responses often lack proportion or focus.
The luxury cruise becomes an apt metaphor for our global predicament: a glorified container ship, trapped in the icy waters of reality while we debate compensation for unmet expectations. We strut and fret our hour upon the stage, manufacturing crises of convenience as the real engines of destruction—unchecked capitalism, environmental degradation, and systemic inequality—continue their inexorable march.
“We’re on the road to nowhere,” sang the Talking Heads, a refrain that fits both the ship’s misadventure and the grander trajectory of our civilization. The hunger strikers demand resolution, but their protest, like much of modern outrage, feels hollow—more sound and fury, signifying nothing. Oblivion looms not because of a failed itinerary but because, as passengers on this planetary cruise, we refuse to confront the true costs of our journey.
So, full speed ahead! Whether on a luxury liner or a burning planet, we embrace the illusion that forward momentum is progress, oblivious to the inevitability of collision.
Nice … and this article seems to be intent on making your point in one fell swoop:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/corporation-under-fire-plans-raze-104510154.html
Ain’t humans clever?
Zip, re luxury cruise ships, the Titanic metaphor has been done to death – but only because it does such a great job of encapsulating our predicament: the hubris, the extravagance, the social inequality, the inevitability of disaster once tipping points have been breached, and the dire paucity of survival options.
Except we don’t even have a “Carpathia” steaming our way.
All great comments. They help me. Not sure how much longer I can stay (relatively) sane!
Cruise ships aren’t the problem. It’s entitled family, friends & neighbors that ride the boats, own stock in cruise lines & don’t care about the destruction of the environment by their entitlement. Don’t like the government? It’s the voters that voted officials into office that gives one the sads. Don’t like one’s economic situation? How’s that free market capitalism working out for all the economic geniuses? The most power an individual has is the power to boycott. As I’ve said before I’m boycotting those that vote against my best interest. Let’s see if their political revenge extremism is more important than their wallets.
How about free advice: Know your enemy! As the truth gets more unpleasant, I will be charging for all the brilliant advice, 😉
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/business/tariffs-mexico-canada-more-expensive/index.html
Trade war on top of everything else collapsing and going to shit!
I am hoping that there is some playing to the crowd by Trump on this issue and some gamesmanship, with him intending to impose tariffs strategically and in fairly limited or temporary ways.
The prospect of a full-blown and potentially very destabilising global trade war is unnerving to contemplate.
The Tea Act of 1773 sounds like a tax on Americans to pay for the failure of a corporation or was it a bailout for the rich that lead to a revolution. Rhymes with tariff? Wonderful little snippet from The Greatest Document – Declaration of Independence. “–That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,”
440 million guns gives support to those that won’t stand for the next administration’s tariffs. Wonder how a revolution will benefit the economy? Hope no one sticks their foot in their mouths saying it can’t happen. We had a revolution & a civil war. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! We bad! We bad! We don’t play. Anticipation, my big ol’ butt, bring it on.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” “It is it’s natural manure.”
We are full of shit! 😉
“Hope no one sticks their foot in their mouths saying it can’t happen.”
I would not be so bold, TR. Who knows what political surprises a global trade war and a huge financial crash could spring on us?
“Wealth of Elon Musk
2012: $2,000,000,000
2023: $248,800,000,000
Wealth of Jeff Bezos
2012: $18,400,000,000
2023: $160,900,000,000
Wealth of Mark Zuckerberg
2012: $17,500,000,000
2023: $105,200,000,000
Federal Minimum Wage
2012: $7.25
2023: $7.25
Three words: tax the rich.” – onecaliberal
How about some different finger pointing – “If you’re so damn smart,why aren’t you rich?” Sorry to offend the hypocritical failures.
Having the time of my life! 😉