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Page added on December 3, 2018
How to save the world from ‘perfect storm’
Global warming is just one example of a problem that does not recognise national boundaries. Pandemics, migration, extremism, nuclear proliferation are some of the other problems that would be unresponsive to nationalist solutions. Someone has to rise to the occasion.
The subcontinent is, according to previous US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, “the most dangerous place” on earth.
Barbara W Tuchman’s book ‘The Guns of August’ is the definitive account of the seemingly unconnected and localised actions that came together in the aftermath of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in June 2014 to set off the ‘perfect storm’ of World War 1. A tour d’horizon of global politics today leaves one with a sense of déjà vu. Strident nationalism, narrowly-defined public agendas, egotistical and autocratic leadership … these are the defining features of the current political landscape. These were the forces described by Tuchman that slowly, unpredictably but inexorably pushed the world over the abyss in 1914. With America seeking an isolationist shell, Europe re-imagining its future, Russia looking to recreate the ‘Soviet Union’, and China pushing to regain its past pre-eminence, the question arises: Which country will provide the international leadership to forestall another ‘perfect storm’? Is this an opportunity for India to bestride the global stage?
Last month, on November 11, the leaders of 70 nations gathered in Paris, France, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice Day—the day Germany signed the instrument of surrender that brought World War 1 to an end. This commemorative event should have been an occasion for the assembled leaders to reflect on the devastating consequences of jingoistic nationalism, misdirected pride and inflated egos. Instead, most used it as a platform to pander to their domestic constituencies. US President Donald Trump declared that he was a nationalist and tweeted that Europe should pay for its own defence. French President Emmanuel Macron retorted that “patriotism was the exact opposite of nationalism” and, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called for the creation of a Joint European Army. It was ironic that, on the day that marked the end of the bloodiest war in history hitherto, the leaders talked of institutions and structures of conflict than of avenues for securing sustainable peace.
The phrase ‘perfect storm’ describes the unexpected or unanticipated confluence of seemingly unrelated events that leads to massive, possibly systemic, adverse ramifications. This phrase is now used broadly and across all disciplines—finance, economics, geopolitics and social. But it was first coined to describe a meteorological event. Bob Case, an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US, forecast on October 27, 1991, based on satellite imagery, that a huge cold front was on collision course with a high pressure system somewhere along the North American East Coast, and “to add gasoline to the fire … the dying hurricane Grace (would deliver) immense tropical energy (and create thereby) a perfect storm.” Case indicated that the impact could be devastating. His forecast was prescient. The eastern seaboard was hit by hurricane force winds and 100-feet waves, and the damage was extensive. The phrase entered common parlance after the release of the film ‘The Perfect Storm’.
There is a connection between the commemorative occasion in Paris and the term ‘perfect storm’. The former revealed the chasm between the populist and narrow opportunism of current political leadership and the need for institutional structures to tackle the transnational problems of global warming, extremism, pandemics and refugees. The latter is a forewarning that if this chasm is not narrowed and eventually bridged, the world could, one day, find itself caught in the vortex of the ‘perfect storm’ of resource-scarcity, geopolitical chaos, and climate-induced devastation.
In the aftermath of World War 2, the world set up multilateral, rules-based and liberal institutions. The objective was to provide a forum for ‘jaw jaw’ and not ‘war, war’, to paraphrase Winston Churchill. These institutions were effective, notwithstanding the onset of the Cold War. Today, this liberal order has been effectively upended. The United Nations (UN) has lost much of its teeth; the World Trade Organisation is struggling to retain its legitimacy as the custodian of the international trading system; the idea of a confederated Europe has been effectively shelved; and most worrying, the ‘Make America Great Again’ nationalism of Trump’s America has opened up space for China and Russia to cast themselves as the custodians of a stable international order. All this is happening when the world is in dire need for international institutions of governance.
The challenge of global warming highlights this need. The Paris Climate Summit was a major step forward in creating such an international for a, but it clearly lacks the required authority or sanction. The UN has reported, for instance, that the developed countries have not fully met their Paris commitment to provide $100 billion annually to the poorer countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In itself, this might not be an issue. But when considered against the scientific reality that temperatures are increasing but maybe not everywhere; that sea levels are rising but stealthily; that fires are wiping out places but locally—the wild fire that recently ravaged California is illustrative—and draw in the analogy of the multiple axis of conflicts that buffeted Europe in the early 20th century which then converged following the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince to set off a global conflict, one has to worry about the possibility that the gradual creep of climate change caused by the absence of effective international institutions may confluence suddenly into the ‘perfect storm’ of a global catastrophe.
Global warming is only one example of a problem that does not recognise national boundaries. Pandemics, migration, extremism, nuclear proliferation are some of the other problems that would be unresponsive to nationalist solutions.
The subcontinent is, according to previous US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, “the most dangerous place” on earth. This is because two nuclear powers have an uncomfortable adversarial relationship. Furthermore, it is home to nearly one-fourth of the world’s population. These factors alone compel India to do more than simply hope the above problems will not metastasise into a global catastrophe. It must pro-actively work to forestall such an outcome.
The principles of non-alignment were never popular with the superpowers. They did, however, enable India to punch above its weight. Today, India has the space and the moral heft to once again provide global leadership. It should not hesitate to do so.
37 Comments on "How to save the world from ‘perfect storm’"
onlooker on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 3:50 pm
What about the fact that Men are becoming infertle, pretty international problem
https://www.gq.com/story/sperm-count-zero?fbclid=IwAR2Qvl2urFjAWUyRF-90MDySpjzcrFOdlNprDDBmJhPFiJ0HSHU9TpmDKkY
Cloggie on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 4:06 pm
Time to clean out your 401k package, throw out Shell, BP, Exxon and swap for Siemens, Orsted, Vestas, van Oord, Sif, etc., etc. This is going to be the largest government corporate subsidy program in world history. Buying shares is now connected to the survival of the planet, no less.
Antius on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 5:50 pm
Adsorbant enhanced compressed air energy storage.
https://briefs.techconnect.org/wp-content/volumes/Nanotech2011v1/pdf/655.pdf
At 20 bar, a volume of zeolite adsorbant, will soak up five times as much compressed air as an empty tank of the same volume. The adsorbant is low density and highly porous.
For vehicles powered by compressed air, this improves energy density by a factor of five. When used in combination with hydraulic hybrid technology, the use of adsorbants allows cars with range up to 50km on air alone, using low cost carbon steel pressure tanks operating at pressures of 20 bar.
Adsorbants could allow compressed air hybrid vehicles to meet the range requirements of 90% of car journeys in European countries. If indeed we are to transition to autonomous vehicles, then this is a more sustainable power source than batteries or IC engines.
makati1 on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 6:25 pm
Read the headline. Checked the source. Stopped reading. Another hopium fluff piece to earn a paycheck.
GetAVasectomyAndLetTheSpecieDie on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 9:58 pm
Maybe the world is not supposed to be saved. Maybe the world is suppose to self destroyed in chaos, blood, violence and fire and cold.
Only the world know what is coming next. Typical opinion piece putting human being at the top of world and protector of the world.
Maybe the world will do what it pleased. Maybe the world want blood and chaos.
Chrome Mags on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 11:02 pm
“…the world could, one day, find itself caught in the vortex of the ‘perfect storm’ of resource-scarcity, geopolitical chaos, and climate-induced devastation.”
Aren’t we experiencing some of that now? It will only get worse, so the only thing people can do is try and insulate themselves from the worst of it. Have your own solar system, E vehicle to run off of the solar, stockpile freeze dried food, multiple ways to cook it, stored water supply, buckets of silver coins for trading for food, and anything else you can think of en masse.
makati1 on Mon, 3rd Dec 2018 11:11 pm
Chrome Mags, yes, preparing for the future is the best way to ease through it with the least pain. Unfortunately few even realize what is coming, let alone doing anything to prepare. When it happens, they will want to blame others for their own lack of preperation.
Americans are so brainwashed, for the most part, that they cannot believe it could even happen to the “indispensable/exceptional” country. They are being told constantly that everything is great and getting better. Few have any idea what is happening outside their own neighborhood, certainly not what is happening in the rest of the world, except what they are told by their masters. “Go back to sleep. We are protecting you”.
Cloggie on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 12:35 am
Empire fatigue:
“Donald Trump wants talks with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping to end ‘uncontrollable arms race’”
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/donald-trump-wants-talks-with-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-to-end-uncontrollable
Finally some sense.
Free Speech Forum on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 1:53 am
If you are an American who was taught to love freedom, you might think Americans who hate the Bill of Rights are traitors.
anon on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 2:28 am
sorry, i dont quite get what was the point the author here was trying to make…. some rambling about the generally crappy state of things, with no real understanding of the forces driving it, and some whining about how the globalist institutions are somehow losing power, and then wrapped up with some kind of rallying call for india to assume leadership and ‘save’ the world? what does ‘save’ even mean here? for the living earth, it would mean totally dismantling industrial civilization starting this very moment. for the elites it means doing anything possible to keep this train wreck rolling a little longer.
we dont need their kind of salvation, indeed it is killing us.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 4:57 am
“Have your own solar system, E vehicle to run off of the solar”
Chrome, I thought that too but then I checked into what it costs. You need a huge system to charge an EV. A smaller golf cart like vehicle is fine. I eventually shit canned the idea and just bought a 1800watt system for home use. I am planning to add 1000 watt wind turbine:
“Bergey Excel 1 KW Wind Turbine Package”
https://tinyurl.com/ybzqd8ye
My next purchase after the wind turbine is an electric tractor I can run my hay equipment with. I need a 30HP at the PTO to do this. That is down the road because currently there is nothing commercial here in the states. It is my hope that changes. I know the Europeans are heading in that direction especially the Germans. Here is an example:
“Fendt to launch e100 Vario battery-electric compact tractor in 2018”
https://tinyurl.com/y7hb8xvh
“stockpile freeze dried food, multiple ways to cook it, stored water supply, buckets of silver coins for trading for food, and anything else you can think of en masse.”
You got it. Have at least some of this. I have done the homework and effort on this now for a decade. Anything you all here want to know about a doomstead just ask. I am not bragging this is just my thing. I like doing it. I know the wrong type of collapse and it will not save me but we just don’t know how the world is going to unwind.
Cloggie on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 5:03 am
Oh the timing!
EU court has ruled that the UK can unilaterally revoke article 50 and carry on as an EU member as if the Brexit circus never happened:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6458121/Britain-unilaterally-stop-Brexit-process-European-Court-Justice-says.html
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 5:16 am
“Italy, The EU, And The Fall Of The Roman Empire”
https://tinyurl.com/ydewdjxw
“The EU leadership is trying to contain a crisis that is emerging at increasing speed: this challenge comprises the rise of contumacious states (i.e. the UK, Poland, Hungary and Italy), or of defiant, historic ‘cultural blocs’ (i.e. Catalonia) – all of whom are explicitly disenchanted with the notion of some coerced convergence towards a uniform EU-administered ‘order’, with its austere monetary ‘disciplines’. They even dismiss the EU’s claim to be, somehow, a part of a greater civilizational order of moral values.”
“It was Carl Schmitt – the political philosopher – however, who warned strongly against the possibility of what he called a negative katechon accelerator. This would seem to apply – exactly – to the situation in which the EU presently finds itself. This was a notion, held by the ancients, that historical events often have a ‘backstage’ contrarian dimension – that is to say that some given ‘intent’ or action (by say, the EU), may end upaccelerating precisely those processes which it was meant to slow down or to halt. For Schmitt, this explained the paradox through which a ‘braking action’ (such as the one being undertaken by the EU) may actually reverse itself, in an unwanted acceleration of the very processes the EU intends to oppose. Schmitt called this an ‘involuntary’ effect, since it produced effects opposed to the original intent. For the ancients, it simply reminded them that we humans often are merely history’s objects, rather than its causal subjects.”
“This is the essential contradiction: that ineluctable economic divarication and polarization is transforming Europe into a continent torn by unresolved internal contradiction. On the one hand it castigates Italy for its debts, and on the other, it has been the ECB which has pursued interest rate ‘repression’ into negative territory, and has monetized debt to the equivalence of one-third of Europe’s global output. How can the EU not have expected banks and businesses not to have loaded up on ‘positive-carry’ debt? How can they have expected Banks not to have inflated their balance sheets with ‘free debt’ to the point of becoming ‘too big to fail’? The global explosion of debt is a macro problem that vastly transcends the microcosm of Italy. Like the ancient Roman Empire, the EU has atrophied in its ‘order’ to become an obstacle to change, and, with no alternative, but to hold tight to a ‘braking action’ that will ultimately produce effects, completely at odds to the original intent (i.e. involuntary, negative Katechon).”
I AM THE MOB on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 5:41 am
Trump is building a new liberal world order, says Pompeo
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/04/us-president-donald-trump-is-building-a-new-liberal-world-order-says-mike-pompeo?CMP=twt_gu
Trump has turned into a raging globalist neoCon..
Cloggie on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 6:43 am
“Italy, The EU, And The Fall Of The Roman Empire””
The path of European integration:
EGKS > EEC > EC > EU > Euro- Siberian Confederation=PBM=Gaullist Europe of the Fatherlands
The EU is an offshoot of the Marxist West, that is about to fall apart, not a minute too early.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 6:56 am
Sounds like someone is suffering from the delusions of what is driving the “katechon accelerator” within the EU union. PBM is a fantasy of Euro neo-Gaullist/Nazi Empire dreamers. The countries that could make up the PBM Empire would likely never coexist and surely the lessor nations would never allow domination by these greater powers. All Euros have always been competitors. Their biggest defeats and victories have been among each other in recent history. They are likely doomed to this historical Pandora’s box of extreme nationalism”
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 7:05 am
“Macron Folds: France Suspends Fuel Tax Hike After “Yellow Vest” Riots”
https://tinyurl.com/ycuomgwj
“With his popularity rating at record lows (recent polls put it at around 26%, on par with Hollande), his capital city burning and the populists he defeated during his stunning electoral victory last year making serious electoral inroads, French President Emmanuel Macron finally caved, and on Tuesday ordered a six month suspension of planned ‘fuel taxes’ which spurred widespread and destructive protests across France over the past three weeks.”
“The movement was named for the highly visible “yellow vests” that all French motorists are required to store in their cars. Macron justified the gas tax by saying it was essential for combating climate change. But his decision to suspend the tax marks a deeply embarrassing moment for the president, who is in Poland this week to discuss actions to combat climate change with other European leaders. Meanwhile, amid the pervasive dissatisfaction with Macron and his policies, the fuel tax protests morphed into a broader anti-Macron movement, as the French people have criticized him for policies that they believe favor the rich over the working and middle-class.”
“Recent polls have shown that most of France supports the cause of the yellow vests. Similar protests have broken out around Europe, spreading to Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, more protests are scheduled: Christophe Castaner, the French interior minister, said on Sunday that measures under consideration by the government include the imposition of a state of emergency and the deployment of soldiers to help contain the next protests, which are scheduled for Saturday.”
Darrell Cloud on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 7:06 am
Devolution is the order of the day. We have reached peak complexity. Paris is burning, Find a way to get out of the mainstream of the flow of events. If you are in the middle of it you will be swept away.
Cloggie on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 7:34 am
If it were up to idiots like empire dave and the rest of the massmurdering and lying anglos and their kiken owners, the EU would not exist.
Yet.it.does.
For the the moment it is even too much for Americans to bomb their own “allies” in Europe. But most anglos would love to see Europe fall apart.
Thank God there are also Chinese and Russians in this world who have no illusions about anglo intentions.
And there is a growing number of white americans who hate third world usa and eventually can be instrumentalized for Eurasian interests and rewarded with a white ethno-state, just like China is going to be rewarded with Australia, just like France was rewarded by Britain in 1918 with Elzas-Lotharingen.
Slowly but surely the Eurasian ring of steel is closing around anglo necks. In the coming few weeks/months it is going to be decided if Britains opts tor WW3 neutrality or volunteers to be slaughtered as well.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 7:38 am
whining of a wounded animal is what I am reading. Your fantasy world is not materializing like you have hoped.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 7:39 am
JuanP what I enjoy is knowing you are not smart enough to debate me and win. This means I have won and you have been defeated. It also shows you are a cheater and a liar and a poor loser. It shows you don’t give a shit about anybody but yourself. You don’t care that others do not like your bad behavior. I bet you shit on your family and your wife too because behavior like this reflects on the rest of your life IOW you are an immoral narcissistic piece of shit. I enjoy moderating and neutering you. BTW it is good exposure too. A dumbass like you spending so much time attacking me just shows others I have a message that is kicking your ass so you play dirty to fight it.
I AM THE MOB on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 8:06 am
Clogg
China has the worlds largest debt of over 300 percent of GDP and they are Europe are the worlds largest oil importers..So when the global shortage hits, they will collapse faster than the soviet union did (two years)..
Peak Oil & Drastic Oil Shortages Imminent, Says IEA
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/11/22/peak-oil-drastic-oil-shortages-imminent-says-iea/
You are going to become one disillusioned old man..
JuanP on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 8:21 am
Delusional Davy “JuanP what I enjoy is knowing you are not smart enough to debate me and win. This means I have won and you have been defeated. It also shows you are a cheater and a liar and a poor loser. It shows you don’t give a shit about anybody but yourself. You don’t care that others do not like your bad behavior. I bet you shit on your family and your wife too because behavior like this reflects on the rest of your life IOW you are an immoral narcissistic piece of shit.”
You are projecting again, Exceptionalist! ROFLMFAO! What a whiny bitch you are!
JuanP on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 8:23 am
Delusional Davy “whining of a wounded animal is what I am reading. Your fantasy world is not materializing like you have hoped.”
Projecting some more, Exceptionalist? LOL! Your projections are a very clear window into your sick, twisted mindless brain!
Dumb JuanP on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 9:20 am
I have yet to make an intelligent comment. Only having a GED might have something to do with it
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 10:38 am
Sorry everyone for the above sock puppetry. I was projecting again. I do that a lot.
Dirty Juan on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 10:54 am
I am stupid JuanP who needed tutoring to get my GED. I act like I have a PHD on life but one need only review my comments and tell I am full of shit. I cheerlead anything anti-American thinking that makes me look smart. I don’t care that everything I have this country gave me. I am that kind of person who is ungrateful and a freeloader.
DerHundistLos on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:22 am
GetAVasectomyAndLetTheSpecieDie
You nailed it right on the bullseye:
“Maybe the world is not supposed to be saved. Maybe the world is suppose to self destroyed in chaos, blood, violence and fire and cold.
Only the world know what is coming next. Typical opinion piece putting human being at the top of world and protector of the world.
Maybe the world will do what it pleased. Maybe the world want blood and chaos.”
From Clogged:
“Donald Trump wants talks with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping to end ‘uncontrollable arms race’”
Clogged, talk is all too cheap and meaningless. Meanwhile in the real world, contrary to your sense of “relief”, the Trump administration continues to provide substantial funding increases for the military.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:33 am
Dirty Juan is me. I’m projecting again.
Dirty Juan on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:36 am
I am dirty Juan and I took Davy’s identity above. Why, because I am a coward and a cheat
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:42 am
Dirty Juan is a figment of my imagination. He only exists inside of my head. That can’t be a good sign.
Davy on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:44 am
I will keep doing this identity theft cheating because I am a shitty person that does not give a shit about others.
Dirty Juan on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:47 am
LOL, I can steal Davy’s name constantly and there is nothing he can do I know you the rest of the board don’t like it either but FUCK you guys. I do what I want.
JuanP on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 11:54 am
I am enjoying this big time, Exceptionalist! LOL!
Sissyfuss on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 2:31 pm
Mak, there’s more goes on than meets the eye. A Fourth Turning, magnetic pole shift, less oxygen to breathe everyday? Something is going on with the youth. They understand what their elders are leaving them. At last, a generation that gets survival. If there be a Civil War we gotta cut down on the number of factions. Instead of Left vs Right it could be Youth against the Walking Dead. Damn these interesting times!
Cloggie on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 2:40 pm
“If there be a Civil War”
Sissyfuss on Tue, 4th Dec 2018 4:51 pm
What do you have in Alaska when you experience a major quake as the permafrost frost melts. More migrant caravans but these will be heading South, by dog.