Nukes Under Construction

"The Daily Reckoning" reports that of the nuclear power plants that are currently under construction around the world, of these, 42% reside in China; 16% in Russia and 11% in India. The G-7 countries, combined, account for only 3% of all nuclear plants currently under construction.

With the recent events in Japan, the U.S. is unlikely to shift strategies anytime soon. Now the Chinese, well that's another story. I'm sure that they'll "stay the course" on their energy plan. How nice it must be to have one!

India's Golden Acquisition

From Bloomberg:
Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- "India, the world’s biggest gold consumer, bought 200 metric tons from the International Monetary Fund for $6.7 billion as central banks show increased interest in diversifying their holdings to protect against a slumping dollar.

The transaction, equivalent to 8 percent of world annual mine production, was the IMF’s first such sale in nine years and propels India to the ninth-biggest government owner globally, according to figures from London-based research company GFMS Ltd. The country previously held 358 tons, the data show."

The entire article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aa6oc6Wz9Ftg

Zapata George On India

"Growth figures indicate the India is going to add 10 million people a year between the years of 2000 and 2030. That’s unbelievable. It really makes you wonder what’s going to happen to the per capita rate of energy consumption as these populations reach their projections. These expanding populations are going to start using up commodities and energy on a much higher per capita rate than they are doing now. In the US we consume 25 bbls of oil per person per year. In Japan, it’s 15. In Mexico it’s 7. But in Asia, the two fastest growing regions in the world, that figure is only 2 at the moment. But with the introduction of the Tata car, that number is going to take a leap forward. If it was a small population base, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But instead, it’s in an area that is home to 40 % of the world’s population. Those numbers become phenomenal. We really do need to think about what will happen when the oil shortages that are undoubtedly coming are upon is." Zapata George

How long can we (USA) continue to overconsume? 4% consuming a 25% share is unsustainable.

Limits of Growth By Tom Friedman

In 1972, the Club of Rome commissioned the book "The Limits of Growth" which presented the results from a computer model that forecasted the consequences that the human population might have on the earth's ecosystem in the future. Tom Friedman, in this Charlie Rose interview, presents an interesting look at the current economic crisis from this perspective. The interview also covers a broad range of timely topics including the future of India.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10171

Drunk on Kool-Aid

"The mushroom cloud never forms until the mania is over because people are too mesmerized by the boom to see even the most blatant abuse in their quest for 'easy money' ".

Robert Prechter - January 2009

I read this last week in a report and it rang so true. Every day on the news we see reports from within the "mushroom cloud". Everyone now has a theory on why and how, but 99% didn't see it coming. The "blatant abuse" has evolved during the entire expansion phase. The Madoff scam is a classic example. It didn't happen yesterday and it wasn't fallout from the mortgage crisis. It was one small piece of an overall cycle. Regulation is always laxed during the expansion. The SEC investigated Madoff during the expansion, but the hammer doesn't fall until the contraction phase gains momentum.

The cycle vibrates along and the herding mammals align in perfect synchronization. These unfolding events are the "flip side" of the last 26 years of excess. The mob's anger continues to grow as their long buzz wears off. For details, keep your eyes on Israel/Gaza, India/Pakistan, Greece, Russia/former Republics, Zimbabwee, and the Congo. When will N. Ireland reignite? That Christian struggle has always baffled me. Keep your ears on the ground and your eyes on the road!

Consumption and The Crisis in Iraq

The majority of wars in our history have been religiously based. Look at N. Ireland...Christians killing Christians... Yes, the propaganda makes each side out to be evil. A mother in Iraq is as caring as a mother in the US. A child in Iraq is as precious as a child in the US. Countries of people aren't evil, but their leaders can be.

My personal belief is that our interest in this region is purely about oil. It's about oil because you and I live in large houses, drive cars all the time, eat food out of plastic containers, and keep warm in the winter. We consume 25% of the worlds resources....you and I. This mission is about establishing a base for future conflicts to come in a region that is significant to the future well being of our country. Right or wrong, that's the plan. If it were about a humanitarian effort, we would then have to ask why are so many Africans suffering? Bosnians? and the list goes on. If it were about weapons of mass destruction, we'd be in N. Korea, India, and Pakistan. Yes, it's about oil, but you and I are responsible for it until we reduce our consumption by 80%. Are you committed?