2016/02/20 12:57:04
Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day.
The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week.
The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post.
The Cafe is now open for business … come on in and have a good time.
Saker Webmaster
Johnnie Carson, U.S. assistant secretary for African Affairs,
*China is a “very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals.*
exhibit a — africa
———————-
*One of the reasons China has become such an attractive investor to these African countries is because the Chinese model is decidedly different from that of the US and the western powers. Specifically, the Chinese don’t view aid in terms of loans, grants, or charity. Rather, they view financial aid in terms of mutually beneficial cooperation – win-win investment as the Beijing sometimes calls it. To be fair, there are of course instances of corruption, some negative byproducts in terms of uneven distribution, environmental degradation, and other effects which come with all forms of investment, regardless of who’s doing the investing. But what the Chinese offer is hard investment in infrastructure: roads, factories, airports, railways, ports, satellite and telecommunications networks, etc. that are required for them to get a return on their investment and to be able to further expand their economic investment on the continent.
And China does so without that negative product that the African people are so justifiably afraid of: debt.
In other words, when the Chinese come in to make an investment, they do so without the debt albatross to hang around the necks of African nations. There are no loans to be serviced when the Chinese are done with their investment. And this is one of the reasons why almost every country in Africa views China as a viable alternative to western financial investment and “aid.” And this is the danger that the US sees here.
The US knows, quite frankly, that because of its own economic issues and those of Europe as well, that it simply cannot compete with China in terms of investment in Africa. So, what the United States has chosen to do, and this is clear from the policy decisions and military engagement all over the continent, is to check Chinese economic penetration with military penetration. And that is really the overarching issue here: the US uses its military [and aq, boko haram, isis, sars, ebola…..] everywhere on the African continent to block Chinese economic engagement, penetration, and influence.* [1]
the sudan chapter
—————————–
*If one asks the question “who benefits from the South Sudanese civil war?” the answer is clear. The USA is presently the ONLY beneficiary of the ongoing horrors in South Sudan for this latest round of conflict has once again shut down the Chinese run oil fields in the country. [3]
The USA has determined that its in its “national interests” to deprive China of access to Africa’s oil fields and has succeeded in its goal of again shutting down Chinese oil production in Sudan, the only majority Chinese owned oil field in Africa
………………….
the USA via the CIA has been paying the salaries of the South Sudanese Army (SPLA) since 2009. In other words, both the soldiers (“rebels”) supporting Riek Machar and the soldier supporting President Salva Kiir are being paid by the USA, paid to kill each other
……………………….
I for one am really, really sick of Africans being portrayed as tribalistic animals murdering each other in never ending slaughters when the only real beneficiary of such are foreign powers, mainly the USA and its western vassals. If one does just a little research into these holocausts one begins to see who really benefits and when it comes to the civil war in South Sudan the only party presently benefiting from these crimes is the USA.* [2]
[1]
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/09/americas-imperial-footprint-in-africa/
[2]
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/23/the-usa-v-china-in-south-sudan/
This is a long comment and I don’t know if it is allowed, but not off topic imo. It is about new energy source and the latest development in cold fusion. I believe that in the near future cold fusion will become acknowledged and widely available for industrial use in the beginning and later for individual use too. This new technology will affect or even disrupt everything, especially energy industry (oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, and wind industries), politics and economics. First some background from here
http://new-symposium.org/#energysource
The mechanism behind the new energy source has been called LENR (Low energy nuclear reaction) or Cold Fusion, describable as a radiation-free reaction involving the atomic nucleus. Like nuclear reactions, it is carbon free and hugely compact—the energy from one gram of fuel corresponds to the energy from burning tons of oil, so the fuel for a car’s lifetime would fit in the palm of the hand. As opposed to known nuclear reactions, however, there’s no radiation, no hazardous fuel and no radioactive waste. The fuel consists of common, abundant and harmless elements such as nickel, hydrogen and lithium. Furthermore the operating temperature is moderate, enabling small form factors and versatile applications.
The physical process first received wide attention in 1989 when researchers Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons presented results that they described as cold fusion. Because their experiment was difficult to reproduce, the scientific community and media quickly labeled their results as imagination and pathological science. Yet a small group of researchers worldwide continued to study the phenomenon. Since then, clear observations of it have been made and published hundreds of times.
While those observations regarded reactions that were weak and difficult to reproduce, the Italian inventor Andrea Rossi made a breakthrough in 2011, demonstrating his so called E-Cat technology, releasing kilowatts of heat in what seemed to be a stable, repeatable process. Since then Rossi has continued to develop the technology and in 2012 he entered a commercial collaboration with the US industrial partner Industrial Heat. In August 2015, Rossi was granted a US patent on the technology.
This story is told by science and technology journalist Mats Lewan in his book An Impossible Invention.
In February 2015, Rossi and IH started a one-year commercial test of the technology on a customer’s industrial site, with a plant producing one megawatt of heat—the average consumption of about 300 Western households, including electricity, space heating, water heating and air conditioning. The test was completed on February 17, 2016, and the results, controlled by a third-party certifying institute, should be released in March.
Meanwhile, a few researchers have reproduced Rossi’s effect independently, and other companies are working with similar technology, among them U.S. based Brillouin Energy and Nanortech.
I am following from afar Andrea Rossi and his E-Cat (Energy Catalyzer) since January 2011 public demonstration in Bologna, Italy and I am convinced that his discovery is true. At the moment it is below the radar except in certain narrow scientific circles and among dedicated fans, but sooner or later that will change. Similarly, when the Wright brothers invented the airplane, first it was ignored, then everyone was laughing and scientists did not even bother to go to see if it works, because it was impossible according to the science and then, ten years later, airplanes have been used in the WWI.
Although majority isn’t aware of the recent progress because MSM doesn’t report about it and most of the scientists don’t want to consider it, the governments, some military institutions and big industry are aware. They finance research and some of them own patents in this field. For example Airbus, Toyota, SRI International, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), NASA Research Center Langley, Chinese Academy of Sciences, RECOM Kurchatov Institute Russia, Moscow State University …
I think that lately cold fusion is starting to be taken seriously because no one wants to be left behind. Examples:
Airbus publicly showed interest and hosted a workshop on low energy nuclear reactions in Toulouse, France in October last year.
http://www.e-catworld.com/2015/07/01/airbus-to-host-lenr-workshop-in-october/
Bill Gates is aware of cold fusion but doesn’t say it publicly. He visited Italian National Agency for New Technologies (ENEA) research labs in Italy at the end of 2014. Gates’ visit to ENEA included the briefing from Vittoriio Violante, the lead coordinator of Italy’s LENR/cold fusion research.
http://www.e-catworld.com/2014/11/14/bill-gates-addressed-at-enea-by-lenr-research-coordinator-what-does-he-know-about-lenr/
He is more than likely also aware of the E-Cat. It is known that Lowell Wood, who advises Gates on energy technology, was at the ICCF19 – International Conference on Cold Fusion – in Italy in spring 2015 where Tom Darden spoke. Tom Darden is one of the co-founders of Industrial Heat which owns the rights to Andrea Rossi’s E-Cat technology.
After discussions with several persons at the same conference and with his own sources, Mats Lewan (the author of the book An Impossible Invention) concluded, that there probably is good awareness of the latest LENR development at the political top level in the following countries: USA, China, Russia, France, Saudi-Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and gradually also India and maybe Japan.
http://www.e-catworld.com/2015/04/16/iccf-19-conversations-and-impressions-mats-lewan/
Just 3 days ago a 350-day commercial test of a one megawatt heat plant based on Andrea Rossi’s E-Cat was completed. The event must be considered historic since it’s the first time an industrially useful amount of energy is produced over such a long time from this kind of yet unexplained radiation-free nuclear reaction.
The report from the one-year trial, which has been controlled by a major independent third party certification institute, will be released in about a month, and until then no official information is provided on the test result. However, multiple sources have told Mats Lewan that the test has been successful with a very high COP, Coefficient of Performance, i.e. the ratio between output power and input power.
According to Rossi, commercialisation of similar industrial heat plants will be initiated as soon as possible, provided that the result is positive.
https://animpossibleinvention.com/2016/02/18/historic-event-one-year-1-megawatt-e-cat-trial-completed/
I don’t know how much a new developing energy source affects the markets but at least some analysts speculate, that it does.
Why the E-Cat is responsible for the fall of oil price
http://www.ecat-thenewfire.com/blog/e-cat-fall-oil-price/
It seems big banks know about cold fusion
https://animpossibleinvention.com/2015/02/02/it-seems-big-banks-know-about-cold-fusion/
The Saudis are Planning the Millenium IPO… Selling Aramco… Obviously They Believe #Oil has no Future. Does #LENR have Anything to Do With it?
http://www.sifferkoll.se/sifferkoll/the-saudis-are-planning-the-millenium-ipo-selling-aramco-obviously-oil-has-no-future-maybe-because-of-lenr/
…………………………………………………………….
Articles in Russian
– Vasily Kaltashov: Who Owns the Energy Owns the World
http://vz.ru/columns/2015/3/12/733833.html
– The revolution in energetics was accomplished! The place of organic fuels was taken by the Cold nuclear Transmutation.
By A.A. Rukhadze, Yu.N. Bazhutov, A.B. Karabut, V.G. Koltashov
http://vpk.name/forum/s188.html
…………………………………………………………………….
China
In 2014 a Nickel-Hydrogen Research Center in the Tianjin Huayuan Industrial Park in Tianjin, China was established. Tom Darden, Chairman of Industrial Heat was present at the opening ceremony.
An announce in Chinese about the opening in April 2014 of the Nichel Hydrogen Energy lab
http://gd.sina.com.cn/szfinance/cyb/2014-04-21/1207434.html
The leadership of Industrial Heat, which at least for the minute seems to be the company that could be the first to offer this technology for sale, has a stratagem to circumvent to what will surely become widespread opposition to the technology. Industrial Heat simply took the technology to China where PR firms, lobbyists, congressmen and TV commercials have zero impact on decision makers. Moreover, China, where people are dying from their own coal smoke, is desperately in need of a clean source of energy ASAP.
Last month (October 2015) some sort of an agreement to set up an R&D establishment in China was signed between Industrial Heat and the Chinese government. It seems likely that the technology being tested by Industrial Heat will be transferred to the Chinese government, who are in sore need of a fix for their environmental and economic problems, will evaluate the technology on its own merits and with little consideration for the disruption it could cause to existing industries.
https://fcnp.com/2015/11/10/the-peak-oil-crisis-the-next-keystone-debate/
There was a protest against NATO in Serbia today (government ratified the SOFA agreement with NATO which the same people first signed without any media notification, they tried to downplay the ratification too, but it had to be mentioned publicly and it generated outpour of longstanding silent resentment). The protest however was only to be heard about in the internet, the organized bus transport was tempered with, and the internet sites reporting about it had problems working… All the big media in Serbia, including the public media service financed from citizens, are still not mentioning the protest of few thousand people. Here is Sputnik info (2000 is an understatment , but more reliable figures are not in yet): http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160220/1035104782/serbia-russia-nato.html
And some photos: http://www.nspm.rs/hronika/u-subotu-u-beogradu-protest-protiv-nato-pod-sloganom-srbine-ti-si-na-potezu.html
Is very sad and disappointing to see the Evil winning.
Sat Feb 20, 2016 3:41
Sources: US Plotting to Control Bab al-Mandeb, UAE to Take Control of Socotra Islands
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941201000726
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Yemeni sources disclosed that the US and its regional allies are plotting to bring the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait and its Socotra islands under their control.
The former fugitive Yemeni President Mansour Hadi has signed an agreement with the UAE according to which the UAE can have access to the natural resources of Socotra islands for 100 years, informed sources said.
The newly signed agreement allows the Emirati government to invest in Socotra islands and turn the islands into a tourism hub.
According to the agreement, the Northern part of Yemen will remain under Saudi Arabia’s control while the UAE will take charge of Eastern Yemen.
Hard to believe Iran is as pathetic as Russia in doing absolutely nothing all these years having the same fifth columnists operating in the open.
Never shut down or ridden out of town.
They might just as well rename their national oil company back to ‘BP’.
Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:12
Chief of Staff Cautions Candidates to Distance Themselves from US, Britain
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941201001236
TEHRAN (FNA)- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Hassan Firouzabadi cautioned candidates who have received the support of the United States and Britain to either acquit or stand being accused of the stigma, after BBC Persia launched a campaign to encourage Iranian people to vote for certain nominees in the upcoming elections.
Addressing a group of military academics in Tehran on Saturday, Firouzabadi said, “Foreign meddling in Iran’s elections is an insult. The bitter reality is that the US-British media outlets are interfering in the election process. They support certain candidates and speak against others. It’s an indecent campaign and indeed an insult to the intelligence of the Iranian voters. It goes against the country’s independence and sovereignty.”
— Iran is as pathetic as Russia in doing absolutely nothing
Soft power. – Never heard ? It’s invisible for those who do not want to see :)
I love these cafe photos.
Stimulates good conversation with good cyber friends.
Where did you find them?
“I love these cafe photos. ”
yes, me too – thanks to the webmaster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The photos were found on google images and yandex images. The idea of the ‘Cafe’ came from a personal experience. In downtown Belgrade 30 years ago, I glanced inside a cafe, observed all of the Serbs smoking, drinking coffee, slivovitz and animately discussing the issues of the day. I have never forgotten that image, its still vibrant in my minds eye so it only seem a natural to use it here. … mod-hs
Im curious about the recent bombing that killed 20 odd Turkish pilots.
The kurds have been blamed but the lates info is that it was built with NATO military explosives and was dupported by a large organisation.
So , who stands to gain and why was it done?
IMO were it a NATO operation they would hardly use NATO explosives.
who bears malice to Turkish Pilots?
What large professional organisation is engaged in conflict with Turkey?
Who hasnt been voriciously blamed?
IMO Rus is the answer.
Playing them at their own game.
We all know that the axis tries to blame Rus for everything, unless it would be to Russias credit.
I suggest this is a clear warning to Turkey. “if you wish to play the game while pretending you are not, then we will simply play that way too. ”
I reckon we will see some mysterious deaths amongst the upper echilons of Turkish command next.
If Rus was not invilved then they would be blamed immediately. It would havebeen a part of the wider plan.
opinions?
and to continue, Its being put forward that this is a false flag by the turks. a perfectly viable hypothesis except that why target your own troops? especially airforce pilots!!!! far easier to hit downtown or aschool or hospital, and more effective in provoking public anger.
I mean if it were a turkish psyopp themilitary would figure that out pretty damn quick. killing civilians is one thing but attacking the very troops you will be useing yourself is another. self defeating .
There is simply no point in it.
If they wish to invade Syria then its not public opinion stopping them!?!? They couldnt care less about the public opinion.
They have control of the MSM , whatever happens they can spin it .After all , They bomb hospitals , shoot down planes and blame Russia!?!
and to continue to develope this idea. when all the hype about useing nukes was posed as the only answer to a full on invasion my first thought was , surely more effective to target the house of saud…..wipe out the entire rats nest and the entire operation would be in disaray . Same with the Turkish leadership, a non atributal “clinical strike ” or 10 would be far easier and more effective in both the short and long term.
Noone is going to fight a war under restrictions theother side does not have. self defeating playing by “the rules”(not that there really aremany/any)When the other side”cheats”.
A major war is best prevented but diplomacy wont do it alone especially when dealing with psycopaths .
There is a lot of research on this pathology and the approach required is well known already . In some ways they are very predictable and being able to predict actions reliably is the key to success in both chess and combat.
conversly being able to act unpredictabilly is the best defense.
People talk about who has the most powerfull military force , but in reality its not the physical that matters ultimately ,its the mind. defeat the mind and spirit and the body defeats itself.
Far better to deal with a problem earlier than later. Thats why pre-emptive strikes are the best strategy for success.
Minor surgery early on can prevent major surgery , with commensurately greater risk , from being needed later.
get in there, cut out the cancer and get out , and do it quitely, neatly and proffessionally.
cheers
Hi everybody!
Just wanted to drop by and say ‘hello’ to everybody here. I will spend the day on the road (yet again), but before I leave I wanted to thank you all for being here!
I will try to visit our “café” more often.
Hugs to all and have a great day,
The Saker
An interesting article on RI about many Russian Christians are furious about the meeting with the Pope:
http://russia-insider.com/en/christianity/joint-declaration-pope-patriarch-may-split-russian-orthodox-church/ri12987
“What treachery, what a betrayal of millions of the Russian believers!”
Many see the Catholic church as supremely evil, and believe that any cooperation with it is wrong. “Even the Jews do not do as they do”……
Dear The Saker,
You may be interested in this.
Rgds,
Veritas
Dear The Saker, You may be interested in this.
To be honest, I don’t want to comment much on this event. Let’s just say that I consider both participants to this meeting as total frauds. For them the purpose of this meeting was simply to increase each other’s credibility by participating in his “historical event” which, of course, was really a non-event, a PR opportunity for two scoundrels, that’s it.
An interesting story reported on RT today:
“Estonia charges three alleged Russian spies in closed trial
Three low-profile smugglers were convicted of assisting Russian security services in the period from October 2015 till February 2016 by an Estonian court. Men aged from 21 to 42 allegedly provided data on movements and operations of Estonian defense and border forces as well as its security service to Russian intelligence. They received prison sentences varying from 2 years to 4 years and 10 months behind bars, Estonia’s state prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. “The information on the trials and sentencing was released now as two of the trials were held behind closed doors, due to the nature of the crimes committed,” Ilmar Kahro, spokesman for the state prosecutor’s office, told Reuters.”
The “interesting” part of this is,”what kind of a democratic EU state allows “secret trials” to go on behind closed doors in their countries? And if that is now the “norm” for the EU. They no longer qualify to be considered “democracies”. And should not be permitted to use that title from today onward.From now on when reporting on EU states the term acceptable would be “dictatorships” in articles and posts referring to them.