Energy Discussion

[Flash]

This seems interesting:

Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore relations

The regional rivals are expected to reopen their embassies within two months after talks in Beijing.

www.aljazeera.com

Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore relations​

The regional rivals are expected to reopen embassies within two months as they re-establish ties and a security agreement after Beijing talks.

That's a little surprising to me but given the really deep seated mutual loathing, going back before to well before the Shah fell, I don't think there'll be a great reordering of Middle East or Gulf geopolitics anytime soon.

 

[taxi1]

That's a little surprising to me but given the really deep seated mutual loathing, going back before to well before the Shah fell, I don't think there'll be a great reordering of Middle East or Gulf geopolitics anytime soon.

Friends close, enemies closer…?

 

[Griz882]

That's a little surprising to me but given the really deep seated mutual loathing, going back before to well before the Shah fell, I don't think there'll be a great reordering of Middle East or Gulf geopolitics anytime soon.

There is still the Sunni v Shia divide there that will always have them less than trusting of “the other.” I agree, no great reordering, just China on the verge of maybe learning some hard lessons about the Middle East.

 

[Flash]

Friends close, enemies closer…?

Kind of, I think the Crown Prince is trying to mend fences to a degree and show that Saudi Arabia doesn't need the US or the west since we were so mean to him after his Istanbul fiasco.

There is still the Sunni v Shia divide there that will always have them less than trusting of “the other.” I agree, no great reordering, just China on the verge of maybe learning some hard lessons about the Middle East.

The Arab vs Persian thing comes into play too, I was a little surprised at the common and casual disparaging of Iran and Iranians by the Arab military guys I worked with.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Your continue to post about the farmer protests in the Netherlands like it is some sort of existential crisis for them but fail to mention why the government is taking action. It is sort of like fishermen protesting fishing limits, there is good reason behind the policies if you bothered to look beyond the alarmist headlines.

Considering the results of the Dutch elections Wednesday night, it looks like a lot of them considered it existential. Will be interesting to see how Prime Minister Rutte reacts to this.

Populist Farmer Citizen Movement wins big in Dutch election

A new powerhouse of Dutch right-wing populism has seized the political center stage after winning its first provincial elections.

apnews.com

 

[number9]

Your continue to post about the farmer protests in the Netherlands like it is some sort of existential crisis for them but fail to mention why the government is taking action. It is sort of like fishermen protesting fishing limits, there is good reason behind the policies if you bothered to look beyond the alarmist headlines.

When I lived in Maine, it was somewhat common (even in the cities) to see a bumper sticker that said something along the lines of "NOAA Fisheries: ruining fishermen's livelihoods since 1970". Without limits, we'd have way fewer fish than we have today.. so yeah.

 

[Flash]

Considering the results of the Dutch elections Wednesday night, it looks like a lot of them considered it existential. Will be interesting to see how Prime Minister Rutte reacts to this.

Populist Farmer Citizen Movement wins big in Dutch election

A new powerhouse of Dutch right-wing populism has seized the political center stage after winning its first provincial elections.

apnews.com

Existential or not the party only gained control of 20% of the seats in the upper house of parliament, it also happens to be the exact same amount of seats the Green-Labour alliance got. So maybe existential for both sides?

When I lived in Maine, it was somewhat common (even in the cities) to see a bumper sticker that said something along the lines of "NOAA Fisheries: ruining fishermen's livelihoods since 1970". Without limits, we'd have way fewer fish than we have today.. so yeah.

Of course China is taking care of that worldwide now.

 

[wink]

Without limits, we'd have way fewer fish than we have today.. so yeah.

Of course, we have way fewer commercial fisherman today. So there is that. Can't say the signs were wrong. That said, @Flash is right about the Chinese.

 

[Flash]

Of course, we have way fewer commercial fisherman today. So there is that. Can't say the signs were wrong. That said, @Flash is right about the Chinese.

NOAA wasn't wrong either.

While probably behind a paywall for most here this is a great article with some very good graphics on China's global fishing fleet showing their worldwide reach and just how rapacious they are. Another article one not behind a paywall showing much the same.

 

[taxi1]

When I lived in Maine, it was somewhat common (even in the cities) to see a bumper sticker that said something along the lines of "NOAA Fisheries: ruining fishermen's livelihoods since 1970". Without limits, we'd have way fewer fish than we have today.. so yeah.

We have way fewer fish. We'd probably have no fish otherwise.



Humans aren't good at long range planning.

 

[number9]

We have way fewer fish. We'd probably have no fish otherwise.

View attachment 37830

Humans aren't good at long range planning.

That's what I meant, thank you for clarifying it. We have fewer now.. we'd have basically zero otherwise.

"Fishing down the food chain" is a real thing. Cod: a biography was a fascinating book.. you read historical accounts of fish numbers and how easy they were to catch then, and now they are (for all intents and purposes) virtually wiped out.

 

[sevenhelmet]

Of course China is taking care of that worldwide now.

Yeah, that shit is scary- I've seen it first-hand. China's going to take the rest of us down with them, and they don't care.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Existential or not the party only gained control of 20% of the seats in the upper house of parliament, it also happens to be the exact same amount of seats the Green-Labour alliance got. So maybe existential for both sides?



Of course China is taking care of that worldwide now.

Are you sure about those numbers being the same?

 

[Flash]

Are you sure about those numbers being the same?

Yup.

The Farmer-citizen movement (BBB) was only set up in 2019 in the wake of widespread farmers' protests. But with most votes counted they are due to win 15 of the Senate's seats with almost 20% of the vote....A left-wing Green-Labour alliance is also on course to win 15 Senate seats, while Prime Minister Mark Rutte's four-party coalition is poised to fall back to 24 - down eight seats.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Yup.

I reckon we will see 30 May, but me thinks the BBB will edge out Green-Labour.

Meanwhile in Texas:

Texas leaders threaten wind and solar boom with legislative push​

Bills that hobble renewables would slow decarbonisation in power-hungry state

Texas leaders threaten wind and solar boom with legislative push

Bills that hobble renewables would slow decarbonisation in power-hungry state

www.ft.com