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A closer look into how the Ukraine tension is impacting Europe

September 1, 2014

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Discussion
30 Comments
    Sep 01, 2014 01:25 AM

    Chris, I see a similar situation in the middle east. How many Syrians are homeless, no food, no shelter, no jobs, no future, and no opportunities. What are we looking at here 3 to 4 million people. When you think about the rest of the middle east, what a mess.

    Sep 01, 2014 01:35 AM

    I cannot imagine Germany going through with further sanctions against Russia given that she (Germany) has 3-500 industries over there, and which would lead to some 50,000 jobs going belly up.

      Sep 01, 2014 01:42 AM

      The unelected officials in Brussels have the only say if Europe will put further sanctions against Russia. Germany can’t do anything about it. If the Brussels gang says jump, the EU countries have to jump.

      If you haven’t had your Labor day laugh yet, read this : http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29004060

        Sep 01, 2014 01:24 AM

        Even funnier than that are the commercials airing in Ukraine now trying to get people to conserve energy…possibly the best goofy sanctions commercial, though, was the German Ag minister in front of the cameras recently with his endorsement of “An apple a day keeps the Putin away” silliness:
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dxZsW128Y
        In case you hadn’t heard, the story line is that Europeans should eat a LOT more in order to mop up all the food Russia has embargoed.

          Sep 01, 2014 01:25 AM

          Oh — and Merkel seemingly DID get those plutocrat morons at the E.U. to at least wait a week before actually doing anything else

        Sep 01, 2014 01:39 PM

        Hairdryers? Well okay!

        If you know anyone who wants to rent their place this winter for $1700/month let us know. Who knows, we could be playing golf together this year!

          Sep 02, 2014 02:33 AM

          Sure thing Al. You can take my place. I will throw in all the servants at no extra cost and we can hang out putting the greens. I am a pissy person to be around though and I don’t touch red wine. Too low class for that. It is beer or stale water in my neck of the woods but I really prefer to avoid water if at all possible. I hear fish have sex in the stuff.

    Sep 01, 2014 01:40 AM

    And now for an inspiring interview. Nolan Watson of Sandstorm Gold is quite some guy.
    http://www.investing.com/analysis/sandstorm-ceo:-junior-miners-better-off-with-streams-over-debt-223904

    Sep 01, 2014 01:42 AM

    Chris ! Don’t forget france has a muslim invasion and day don’t work ! insanity total insanity ! Day talking Arabic ! Long live the NEW WORLD ORDER !

    Sep 01, 2014 01:55 AM

    Chris – forget hair-dryers, we had a run on high powered vacuum cleaners yesterday Quite stupid since a lower powered vac takes longer and thus an equal amount of energy as those now relegated to the scrap heap. Same thing due to happen to electric mowers….!
    Incidentally Jim Willie informs us that the U.S. does roughly 10% of the commerce which Europe does with Russia.

      Sep 01, 2014 01:40 PM

      I had that same thought about the high powered vacumn cleaners when I read the article!

    Sep 01, 2014 01:04 AM

    I can see Russia demanding gold for gas from Europe this winter, at this point who would want anybody’s fiat currency in exchange for a hard asset. Germany maybe able to pay with high tech machinery but the rest of their euro cousins have nothing to offer Russia.

    During the Nazi occupation of France home heating meant Parisians went out to the Champs Elysee with a saw in winter and cut the trees down. Coal could be an option but not one that is easily implemented overnight.

      Sep 01, 2014 01:59 AM

      DT Check out Jim Willie of Golden Jackass – says that Germany is already in secret talks with Putin, whereby it Germany will guarantee Russia annexing parts of E.Ukraine, along with keeping her fresh water port in W.Crimea then Germany will receive a guaranteed supply of Russian oil/gas.
      Germany ain’t going to play ball with Europe and more so the States for very much longer. Winter approaching.

        Sep 01, 2014 01:29 AM

        I didn’t hear this from Jim Willie directly, but suspect – and hope – this is correct. As I am writing in my own new issue, Putin’s actions/proposals of recent days actually go right along with what Merkel has either overtly or implicitly said is the way out of this whole mess in the end. Hopefully, she and Putin can carve out a workable solution and freeze out the plutocrat ninnies of the E.U. and the US/NATO chicken hawks and war mongers.

        Sep 01, 2014 01:11 AM

        Interesting Andrew, I am reading that this winter will be very cold, all in all a cruel irony. Britain is not exactly in the catbird’s seat especially with the Scottish separatist vote but they are better off I would think than mainland Europe. What actions if any are you expecting from your government, Cameron and Obama seem to be in lockstep or are they.

          Sep 01, 2014 01:11 PM

          And it could get really damn cold if that simmering Icelandic Volcano blows up this fall or winter. Last time a really big one blew there were famines and food shortages as crops failed from Asia to Europe. Even Egypt saw crops go bad.

          How an Icelandic volcano helped spark the French Revolution
          http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/15/iceland-volcano-weather-french-revolution

            Sep 01, 2014 01:39 PM

            And just in case anyone was not aware of how big a threat Bardarbunga Volcano in Iceland really is you ought to read up a little on the topic. The volcano called Laki that exploded in 1783 and killed tens of thousands in Iceland and Europe while freezing rivers to a standstill in America and causing famines across the Northern Hemisphere was just a pipsqueak compared to this mother. They are siblings. Both are in the same neighborhood. Oh Oh!

            An enormous volcano in Iceland may be preparing to erupt

            “Imagine a typical volcano. Then picture a 16-mile-wide volcano that stretched from Philadelphia to 30 miles past New York City. Now imagine this gargantuan volcano squished under a thick ice sheet that would unleash a torrent of meltwater as soon as an eruption began. Finally, envision this super-massive, ice-encased volcano unleashing the largest lava flow on Earth in the last 12,000 years, and you’ll probably have some idea as to why Iceland’s authorities are sounding the alarm over the recent rumbling emerging from the Bárðarbunga volcano”……… Still more alarming was the eruption of the nearby Laki volcano complex in 1783-4, which unleashed a cloud of highly toxic gas that killed 25 percent of Iceland’s residents before killing thousands more in Europe. Bárðarbunga is Laki’s big sister”.

            An ENORMOUS volcano in Iceland may be preparing to erupt
            http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/266585/speedreads-an-enormous-volcano-in-iceland-may-be-preparing-to-erupt

        Sep 01, 2014 01:50 PM

        Very possible Reverend. Self interest is a powerful emotion.

        CFS
        Sep 01, 2014 01:56 PM

        Merkel and Putin approach things pragmatically, not ideologically.

          CFS
          Sep 01, 2014 01:02 PM

          Both Merkel and Putin speak perfectly fluently in German and Russian.
          I.e. Merkel will speak in German, Putin in Russian…..no translators needed. Every inflection and nuance perfectly understood.
          That allows compromises and agreements to be more easily reached.

        Jim Willie is always a great listen to…………….

      Sep 01, 2014 01:58 PM

      Those were some very tough desperate Frenchmen, Dick. I don’t know if you have ever tried to saw or split live frozen trees but let me assure you it is brutally hard work. I had to do it a few times on the farm but I really loathed the job. Just backbreaking….. and the tools dull faster than you can get a cut finished. It’s the chopping that warms you up though. Even if you can’t make a lousy hot coffee after thirty minutes of swinging an anvil.

      Note to self: Chop wood while the sun shines.

    Sep 01, 2014 01:40 AM

    Not sure DT where Cameron stands. By all accounts he’s a weak man, who likes to appear authoritative but that’s only his Old Etonian mask! Still Britain needs to start declaring her colours very soon by coming out of from under Obama’s skirts. If not Germany’s Frankfurt could steal a major march over the City of London when it comes to new banking arrangements with Russia and China. Furthermore, should Scotland say yes to independence in three weeks time and our economic/politicl clout is further weakened. The independence vote is narrowing by the day.

      Sep 01, 2014 01:02 PM

      Wow! Talk about bad timing!

        Sep 01, 2014 01:17 PM

        Good timing ! All looking RUSSIA now ! Day all work tougher ! TV play’s humanity ! tomorrow football !

        Sep 02, 2014 02:14 AM

        Hunh? It is perfect timing, Al. To not take this kind of action under the circumstances would smack of stupidity, weakness and lack of focus. Long term goals are at issue. Bargaining chips are being collected and acquired by both sides. Israel cannot simply bear the brunt of a severe public chastising over this Hamas led provocation and war without some symbolic steps today to create some negotiating flexibility later down the road. Keep in mind there are Palestinian communities and lands within Israel proper that are are currently being negotiated in exchange/swap for West Bank lands and rights. This will serve to apply a little extra pressure to bring that about. But lets not get our knickers in a knot about it. A thousand acres does not even count as a small farm anymore. It is a tiny piece of dirt only 4/10 the size of a square kilometer for Gods sake. So this is a story blown all out of proportion. If it was punishment Israel was seeking to mete out they would be seizing something much more significant and probably something much larger. Not an unpopulated barren rocky piece of land. There are targets of much greater significance.

      CFS
      Sep 01, 2014 01:11 PM

      The land involved is basically rocks with sand and gravel right there. No water. Productive uses: only for paving over to make roads or for building a housing area.
      Cannot be farmed.

        Sep 02, 2014 02:15 AM

        Exactly. It is symbolic only. Just to make a point.