This very informative 9 minute video from Ros Atkins, helps explains all the links in the chain - worldwide - that are causing problems: here.
If you think it is all going to blow over quickly, sadly, you are wrong.
Russia blames the EU for the current gas crisis, the EU blames Russia. Russia, who supples 35% of gas to the EU, says they could offer more!
The world has continued to move more and more products to China, all in the name of greed.
It was cheaper to have products made there (and Asia) because of desperate people willing to work for a pittance. How many times do you buy anything and find it made in China/Asia - hundreds of times I suspect.
The world as a whole just doesn't make anything themselves anymore, chosing instead to outsource them and use the 'just in time' policy that is currently crippling us all.
Taiwan is responsible for most of the worlds 'chips', see here.
Guess who is threatening Taiwan - yup - China. I wonder why!!!!!
Climate change is affecting more countries causing severe crop failures, not just occasionally, but now more regularly. Worldwide aquafers (which took millions of years to form) are drying up due to drought (some are nearly empty). They are drawn up for farm irrigation but what happens when they all run dry. Already they have gone from green to amber, now red - worldwide, see the third in a trilogy of water programmes from the BBC - here.
To say I was shocked by all three was an understatement yet scientists have been screaming warnings for decades and no-one has listened, particualarly the more affluent countries.
Unfortunately, the BBC links might not work outside the UK.
J's first job was as an apprentice cabinet maker, straight from school in 1978. He was made redundant in 1980, because... it was cheaper for furniture to be made in China etc and shipped over. The small independent he worked for just couldn't compete. Now,that seems to apply to most things, and it's one of the reasons I'd rather buy second hand wherever possible.
ReplyDeleteIt’s worrying to know it’s been going on that long.
DeleteOh heck that's a cheery post for a dull October afternoon!
ReplyDeleteA very long time ago someone said the 3rd and last World War would be caused by famine and thirst. I don't know who it was but I remembered it and now it's probably right
Potentially very true:(Even 10 or so years ago when we were investing savings, the adviser said water would be the next big thing.
DeleteWell that cheered me up no end!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, it's way past the time when we should have all forced our governments to actually do something of use to this planet we call home, there really is no other on standby.
Unfortunately the more I read about how little green energy is currently contributing, the more I realise how difficult it will be change over.
Delete