The difference between places that are currently in such a state where revolution is becoming inevitable have become more intense since this "crackdown" on occupiers began. Places like Edmonton have noticed their public support drop significantly. While Edmonton took part in the initial movement, there is no revolution here. This is not to say however that one isn't on the way.
I've noted several times in past posts that during this global economic collapse, Canada and particularly Alberta are closer to the bottom of the list rather than the top. At some point in the near future a tipping point will be reached where the primary debtor nations we rely on to import large portions of product will simply no longer afford this product. In July I noted that our U.S. oil market is stagnating. This is not to say that it will dry up completely, it is to say that growth will not be sufficient. Of course "Harper's bet" was obvious when you consider events such as this. The problem with relying on China though is that on top of energy shortages their economy is over-heated. Their export base is falling out from under them and "housing bubble" is an understatement.
Alberta may just find itself another stagnating economy by the time we can export to it. The other question of course is exactly how much oil can we supply to keep growth going to stop stagnation? It seems the "whole world" is all of a sudden on our doorsteps; but under ideal conditions we apparently will only be providing 3million barrels / day by 2020.
Oh by the way, if you are having trouble finding that information it is because it far down the page. Notice the structure of these articles. In the second paragraph:
Rivals Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (386) each have bought a piece of Syncrude, one of the dozens of companies that are blasting, digging and steaming soil laden with 143 billion barrels of molasseslike crude called bitumen, Bloomberg Markets magazine reports in its January issue. Only Saudi Arabia, with 264 billion barrels, and Venezuela, with 211 billion, enjoy greater proven reserves, a BP Plc energy reviewfound in June.But it's not until the 23rd paragraph (albeit some is quoted one liners) that you actually get the important information:
Daily oil-sands output will double to 3 million barrels by 2020 and contribute 3 percent of world supply, up from 1.7 percent today, predicts energy researcher IHS CERA in Englewood, Colorado. Neftex’s Wells says he expects that daily output of traditional, non-OPEC crude will hold steady through 2020 and then drop 17 percent to 33 million barrels during the next decade, based on the firm’s worldwide geologic studies.This brings me back to the coming revolution, yes even here in good ol' Canada. What looks like a "great new oil boom" heading our way is actually an energy scramble amongst the large oil-consuming and stagnating economies. All of these countries at our doorstep need ever-increasing amounts of oil for "economic recovery". By dedicating everything we have to servicing these economies we are tying ourselves to many dying economies, it's the exact same issue as with the U.S.! It might prolong the pain for awhile, but not forever. It's not a solution to anything, and it doesn't address the core problems the global economy currently faces.
Many people who recently discovered they are not in the club, had no idea that was about to happen to them. Some are now joining the fledging Occupy revolution and I truly hope they are awake to what's becoming of our once great society and it is this awakening that government's or rather the system fears the most.
Recently I read a rebuttal by Erik Kain of Forbes (of whom I greatly respect as a journalist) against Naomi Wolf's recent article on Occupy. His argument against the idea of coordinated action against Occupy (in the form of some sort of conspiracy) was that different cities had been dealing with protestors in different ways. In this case however I have to agree with Wolf.
Coordinated action never implies the same action. It implies the same result. So what is the goal of a crackdown on Occupy? "Health and Safety" is a bogus cover, yet is appearing everywhere. Its such a weak argument to say these people are in danger in a park, but not elsewhere within the city. It's the sort of double-think we expect in the novel 1984. The idea of absolute control is also too simplistic; just because instructions come from the top doesn't mean everyone on the chain on the way down nessecarily respects or agrees with these decisions. Also I would like to direct Erik to the last 10 minutes of this radio broadcast a police officer calls in talking about "bogus evidence" they are getting from DHS. Naomi in this case is not joking when talking about a coming civil war as the tactics of war are already in use (I don't know if even she knows how serious it actually is though).
Coordinated action has been occurring here in Canada, before the actual protest even began. The way our government dealt with Occupy was efficient, swift, and to this I have to give them some credit. Our government is a lot better at managing information than the U.S. intelligence is. To the CSIS agents inevitably reading this post, congratulations. You really have stomped out the revolution in the form of Occupy before it even began. Their strategy was simple in hindsight. They advertised the movement weeks in advance, this ensures that professional activists that your average joe has been trying to ignore for years get the heads up. This also provided a comfort to the people learning about it at home, in that they can trust the media to report on it because they heard about it from the media. Essentially they kick started this movement before people were ready but when enough Canadians had shown interest. Their goal? to preempt support for this movement (revolution) in the future.
Now in the future, when the need truly does arise for us Canadians to join the fight against international bankers the tainted brandname of occupy (and everything it stood for) will no longer be an option.
My advice to Occupy Edmonton would be to get out of the spotlight, now. Plan for spring, as during this winter it's likely Canada will be taking several severe economic hits. By next spring I believe people will be ready and will need the Occupy movement. Most people here do not yet understand why it's happening and until they do, until they see it in their backyards and their pocket books it will not make any sense. "Necessity is the mother of invention", and I would also add innovation and that includes innovation in your own frame of mind.
If you follow financial journals this sense uncertainty and fear is just as present. Everyone knows that this methodology is unsustainable .
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that humanity has written itself into a corner and now needs to think our way out.
Protesting is still asking other people to solve your problems. While awareness and a well established narrative is key, it would be foolish to misunderstand the dynamics at play because we have anthropomorphism a faceless "they".
They as they are, well are a complex social mechanism with individuals within it trapped cognitively.
(Lobster trap for the human mind so to speak.)
Not to say that there are not malevolent forces in this world. They are but they are in no means united like the Cobra Commander on GI JOE.
Occupy is about new ideas, not about anger. Anger right now is like digging our own grave.
In this case, CSIS is "they".
ReplyDeleteI agree: "Protesting is still asking other people to solve your problems" -- please see here: http://hellberta.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-out-with-old-in-with-new.html
Thanks for the comment :)
This has been a concern of CSIS for a long time: http://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/pblctns/prspctvs/200008-eng.asp
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I'd like to bounce some ideas off you on the nature of the failure of the Vancouver protests, but I didn't want to post my thoughts because they are very personal and bitter. I'd like to see what you make of it, tell me if you have the time!
ReplyDeletesend me an email, innadiated@gmail.com -- I always have the time.
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ReplyDelete