alanjjohnstone
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Long-term cuts in coal consumption are a key part of China’s energy, environment and climate goals, but the fivefold increase in new mine approvals in the first-half of 2019 suggests China’s targets still provide ample room for shorter-term growth. China’s energy regulator gave the go-ahead to build 141 million tonnes of new annual coal production capacity from January to June, compared to 25 million tonnes over the whole of last year.
Lauri Myllyvirta, senior energy analyst with environmental group Greenpeace, said, “it is alarming that China’s energy planning seems to be driving at roughly maintaining current levels of coal output for the coming decade or two, which is very hard to reconcile with the goal of the Paris agreement ,” he said. “Especially given that oil and gas consumption is still increasing, it’s imperative that coal use starts falling again after rebounding for the past three years.”
Industry groups expect coal-fired power capacity to increase over the next few years, with investments in nuclear and renewables still insufficient to cover rising energy demand. A study published earlier this year also suggested China’s targets would allow the construction of another 290 GW of coal-fired capacity in the coming years.
China is convinced it can continue to raise coal production and consumption while significantly reducing emissions.
Michelle Manook, chief executive of the World Coal Association, an industry lobby group, told Reuters the focus should be on cutting emissions rather than banning coal entirely. “It’s not about transitioning away from any one source of energy. it’s about transitioning to cleaner energy. And with investment, coal has a significant role.”
It appears that the Ohio killer may have been motivated by his hate for women.
https://www.dw.com/en/ohio-shooter-interested-in-violent-ideology-fbi/a-49923093
Is Nicola Sturgeon a good judge of character?
“Boris Johnson does talk a good game. He’s one of these guys that talks utter nonsense with complete conviction and confidence. I’m a fully paid-up believer in the power of optimism in politics, but there is a line between optimism and delusion and selling something that is not true.
That’s where the Brexit argument has made the mistake – and Boris Johnson in particular. He shrugs his shoulders quite literally when you talk to him about the consequences of crashing out at the end of October with no deal as if they don’t matter or he can wish them away.”
An interesting essay but what struck me is that the basis of the theory is not in Capital but the draft notes that Engels collated and published as Volume 3 of Capital.
Just how important is the idea of the tendency if Marx himself relegated to some future work to be written at some indeterminate time?
Having heard the supposed cause behind the shootings…violent video games…The Republicans, bribed by the NRA, are presenting a world of fantasy themselves.
“The material conditions and situation will eventually determine the actual practice of any idea or theory.”
“You still can’t explain how ‘material conditions’ determine human ideas or theories.”I think I placed my comment, LBird, in a context and not as a stand alone declaration or definition
Regardless of whatever ideology is held, as Burns said:
“facts are chiels that winna ding.”What we consider as facts determine ideas and theories. But facts do change.
I specifically gave the example of that a doctor who disregards his or her belief system when practice and experience shows it does not accord with reality of curing patients.
The belief system may well not be religious…it could be a treatment or procedure that was previously approved and recommended but new facts changed the situation. And often that comes with new and better technology allowing for more efficient diagnosis.
Our thoughts are always in motion and our understanding of things is never static but also fluid and flowing.
I suppose some one more versed in philosophy will refer to the hypothesis that one never stands in the same river. But for you and me , simple souls that we are, all we know is our feet always gets wet.
An article advocating vote for the lesser evil
The USA escalates and intensifies their sanctions.
As we said before…with capitalism, if you are down on the ground, don’t expect a helping hand to get up but be prepared for being kicked in the kidneys.
The former US treasury secretary Larry Summers has said, “Britain has no leverage, Britain is desperate…it needs an agreement very soon. When you have a desperate partner, that’s when you strike the hardest bargain.”
I recall many years ago when the nurses first began to protest about their conditions but declined to put patients in harms way by withdrawing their labour, my own union and some others such as the NUM, called upon members to strike for them but it was a recommendation to the members. Many of us when the nurses march passed our office, joined in solidarity. Nothing dramatic, nothing earth-shaking but a gesture of support that was appreciated by the nurses and provided them confidence. I dare say that will be what will happen on the 20th and the 27th.
As for where the action will take place, it may mean watching social media and responding quickly to get to the scene.
I did mention in another post on another topic that a leaflet may not be the wisest means of communication…a re-usable little red flag with our logo and slogan was my suggestion…
If we miss this opportunity, be assured there will be many, many, more protests and demonstrations escalating until it is the final wake for the death of the planet…ok…i’m exaggerating… but as the severity of the effects of climate change is experienced, the more angry and demanding will the protests become
“… determine what we produce without me understanding or participating in all the ins and outs of the process…”
LBird, I not only know my capacity to understand things which means I defer to those with greater knowledge – read Bakunin on the shoe-maker. But I am also aware of what interests me and how I focus and concentrate on the things that interest me. I have no desire to know everything there is to know. That is very different from
“…I’m well use to the ignorance of the majority every time …”
And yes I am accustomed to the ignorance of my fellow workers who are imbued with the ideology that our masters instil into us. I would be a fool to deny the many beliefs and attitudes a lot of my fellow-workers demonstrate on an almost daily basis I find objectionable.
But I have witnessed these change and seen the growth of tolerance in such things as another’s sexuality or race. But I still feel we have a long way to go for them to challenge the “common-sense” acceptance to the “rights” of private of property, the innate quality violence and aggression in human nature etc. When it comes to understanding ourselves, my fellow-workers have a long way to go…but they are getting there.
“…But I will not be trusting them to be an astronomer. Nor entrusting my health in the hands of someone who advocates homeopathic cures. I will decide such decisions…”
My point if it needs elaborating is that “If someone wants to go on believing the sun goes around the earth – so be it, he or she can, if so wished.” I’m not going to be dictatorial and impose my version of the truth. But I will not passively acquiesce to views I consider wrong.
The material conditions and situation will eventually determine the actual practice of any idea or theory. A doctor may well be a devout follower of some religion but when it comes understanding anatomy and treatments, scripture in whatever holy book is ignored. However, if some “healer” still trusts in faith of the supernatural then I will be making another choice on who I seek medical advice from.
I do not consider the debate and discussion on socialism and the individual to have been resolved. For sure we are not atomized isolated individuals and I am not Robinson Crusoe but equally nor are we all clones of one another.
Things go from bad to worse.
Chinese companies have stopped buying U.S. agricultural products, China’s Commerce Ministry said
The U.S. Treasury Department announced late on Monday that China was manipulating its currency, knocking the U.S. dollar
U.S. stocks plunged to their worst loss of the year Monday and investors around the world scrambled to sell on worries about how much President Donald Trump’s worsening trade war will damage the global economy.
One of Germany’s largest unions, Verdi, called on its members to join the Fridays for Future protests as well, with Verdi head Frank Bsirske telling the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that “we need a much more consistent approach to climate change policy.”
He said, however, that he was not calling on union members to skip work, but attend the demonstrations at the end of their shifts.
Having been initially reticent hoping for a EU alliance but finding little enthusiasm, the UK now joins the US in “policing” the Persian Gulf, even though the US has a much wider remit i.e. to enforce its unilateral sanctions on Iran than the UK.
Very much disappeared under the radar since the rise of AOC is Trotskyist Kshama Sawant. We rarely hear much of her these days. But now she is up for re-election to Seattle’s city council. The wealthy elite, particularly Amazon, have not forgotten her and are determined to oust her, using their enormous financial power.
“This race and indeed all of the city’s elections this year will be a referendum on one fundamental question: who gets to run Seattle? Big business like Amazon and real estate corporations, or working people?” Sawant told the Guardian.
