Carbon Emissions Hit 400ppm. So what?

My latest article dumps on the nitwit theories about CO2 emissions. Further, it points out that far from being higher they have been much higher in the past. The ancient Egyptians driving SUV's perhaps?

For the full article go to The Commentator (UK) or to Energy Tribune (US).

The World is Not Running Out of Oil - But Europe Is

The upshot of Europe's incoherent energy strategy is closing in...as my article published at Energy Tribune (US) and The Commentator (UK) reveals. Here's a taster:

It’s almost as if the world is turning while the Eurocracy, somehow, manages to stand still. While the rest of the world recognises the on-going inherent reality that oil is still an indispensable player, ideological Brussels politicians prefer playing with windmills and funny plastic sheets.

The great petroleum geologist Wallace Pratt said, "Oil is found in the minds of men". He was referring to the theory of making new discoveries. In the case of Eurocrats, however, it’s more of a practical observation.

The Coming Arab Winter

The final part of our trilogy on the fast- changing face of geopolitics in the Middle East - the direct result of energy discoveries (not least via fracking) is published here at The Commentator (UK) and here at Energy Tribune (US).

OPEC Fracked (or 'The Collapse of OPEC Power')

The days when OPEC could hold the Western powers to ransom over oil are over - and here's why.

See my article here at The Commentator or here at Energy Tribune (slightly different versions).

Spanking Liberals: Why the young left is so vicious

My take on the above anti-Thatcher protests - or, more pertinently, the depth of viciousness in them - just published here at The Commentator. Here's a taster:

Should we celebrate the death of the anti-Thatcher protestors? The short answer is: No. Why? For one, it’s not who we as conservatives and responsible citizens are. Far too often these days, however, it is an increasing number on the left, and especially the young left, that fall into this category.

We on the right may disagree vehemently with our political opponents but we do not wish them dead, nor do we ‘celebrate’ their death. Not least, for the sake of the loved ones they have left behind. Why then is celebrating, even calling for the deaths of political opponents, becoming an increasing trait of leftism?

The fact is that the vicious bile emanating from the largely student-led anti-Thatcher protestors shocked even many of Margaret Thatcher’s political detractors. There is a sheer sickness of mind that afflicts a significant element of the hard left. If they were mature enough to look at themselves for just a moment, they would see what Joe Average sees: their rage transcends mere hatred becoming something darkly evil.

The trouble is of course that the ‘student’ left has no experience of life. They have yet to contribute anything to life. Not without reason did AJP Taylor (a lifelong socialist by the way) pen, “It’s a sure sign of political backwardness when any movement is led by students.” Another oft-quoted dictum (which may or may not have been said by Churchill) has it: “If you’re not a liberal at twenty-five you have no heart. If you’re not a conservative at thirty-five you have no brain.” Fair enough.

On the whole, as most of us remember only too well, we tend to hold vastly different views at 40 than we did at 20. The implication of all this wisdom of course is that, on the whole, to be young is to display immaturity. Thus the predilection of the young to support the left is also just that: immature.

Margaret Thatcher: Politician and Christian

This post is an elegy to a very fine Christian lady and a political colossus who saved our country from becoming yet another basket case socialist economy.

The following extract is taken from a forthcoming article to be published in May in the US in the excellent Reformed magazine (I write for it regularly) Christian Renewal.

God bless you Maggie. I look forward to seeing you on the other side.

She held office for eleven years from 1979 to 1990. In 1988, in a quite remarkable speech by a prime minister, she explained to a Church of Scotland audience the Christian basis of her political convictions. She began by saying that she would be speaking “personally as a Christian, as well as politician”. She went on to share her view that the Bible offered a “view of the universe, a proper attitude to work, and principles to shape economic and social life.” She explained, “We are told we must work and use our talents to create wealth. ‘If a man will not work he shall not eat’ wrote St Paul to the Thessalonians. Indeed, abundance rather than poverty has a legitimacy which derives from the very nature of Creation.”

She recognized that a key scriptural theme revealed that personal responsibility rooted in faith in Christ was at the heart of all Godly living. Indeed, she believed that growing socialism with the its inherent encouragement of increasing dependency on government and its corollary, an entitlement culture, posed a serious threat to the economy and to democratic freedom. The issue of self-reliance and her stated objective of “rolling back socialism” were thus recurring themes during her administration. But again, it was couched in Judeo-Christian language. “You know, there is no such thing as society,” she famously said, “only individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s our duty to look after ourselves, and then to look after our neighbour. People have got entitlements too much in mind, without obligations. There’s no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.”

“We must not profess the Christian faith and go to Church simply because we want social reforms and benefits or a better standard of behaviour,” she told one Christian gathering, “but because we accept the sanctity of life, the responsibility that comes with freedom and the supreme sacrifice of Christ.”

Fracking: No Earthquake Threat, says Definitive British Study

My article covering this latest study of fracking and its consequences globally.

Go here to Energy Tribune (US) for the full article or here to The Commentator (UK).

Margaret Thatcher: Death of a Political Colossus

I remember well the 1970s. The country was in a desperate economic plight. The unions were demanding ludicrous pat rises of 30 percent and upwards. Union leaders were constantly at No 10 demanding this and that. Maggie changed all that and, quite literally, saved the country from becoming an economic basket case.

The idiot National and Union of Students (among others) out celebrating her demise today are too dumb to grasp any of this. It is entrepreneurial (capitalistic) wealth creation policies and self-reliance not an entitlement culture and every-increasing welfare and government dependency that helps people to draw themselves out of poverty. Margaret Thatcher understood that. When she took office unemployment was 13 percent in the UK! When she left office around 5.5 percent. Think about it.

Rest in peace, Maggie. For my published article and elegy go to Energy Tribune (US) or to The Commentator (UK).

Israel's Rise to Energy Superpower Under Way

A major shift away from the power of the OPEC 'tyrannies' is under way as Israel's enormous gas and oil finds start to pump. And it's only the beginning of a paradigm shift "West" in terms of great energy security in the West.

For the full article go here to Energy Tribune (US) or here to The Commentator (UK).

Russia's New Middle East Energy Game

A story overshadowed by the Cyprus banking crisis that is the real BIG story impacting the geopolitcs of the Middle East - and which most of the media has missed. Here's a taster:

But if anything offers a litmus test for trends in hard-nosed realpolitik, it’s the cutting of strategic international energy deals. While the Western media persists in warning of apocalyptic consequences should Iran’s nuclear ambitions lead to outright conflict with Israel – a conflict drawing in Russia et al. – an entirely different scenario is developing as Moscow is buying long-term into the Israeli-Cypriot gas and oil energy bonanza.

For the full article go to Energy Tribune (US) or The Commentator (UK).

UK Steals Lead Over Europe in Shale Gas Stakes

The Budget morsel most of the media missed in terms of its vital long-term impact on the UK economy covered in the above article from me.

For the full article go here to The Commentator (UK).

The Green Agenda and the Political Tipping Point

One government has already been brought down by its green policies. Others may soon follow...my article spelling it out. Go here for the full article to Energy Tribune.

Climate Consensus? What Climate Consensus?

My latest published here at Energy Tribune.

UK Shale Numbers Could Be Stratospheric

Great news for the UK energy user and for the economy - just not for the green medievalists...published first here at The Comentator (UK) then here at Energy Tribune.

Wind power & the 'Greenfellas' Connection

My latest article just published here at The Commentator.

Here's a taster:

The simple fact is, harnessing the power of the elements has always attracted the ‘romantic’ in us. Unfortunately, romantic notions and our fancies about harnessing ‘free’ wind and sun power have little to do with hard-nosed energy and economic realities. Just ask ‘Mr Green Energy’ Al Gore. Sure on the face of it, he’s a leader of the new green romantics – except of course when it comes to real world business deals. Gore made $100 million from the US government’s investment in green energy – just before dumping his green shares when the government gravy train showed signs of derailing.

Whether its ripping off the public purse with false claims or suspending one’s moral principles to pursue personal enrichment, corruption breeds corruption, including criminal corruption.

In Italy the guaranteed rake-off from Italy’s generous wind power and green energy regime has, since 2009, increasingly attracted Mafia involvement. After shaking down farmers to gain title to their lands, ‘legitimate’ Mafia operators then bid for EU wind subsidies buying off any political opposition.

Okay, so most wind entrepreneurs aren’t the Sopranos. But ‘incentivized’ corruption of the ‘social levy’ element of wind power has had its day. The wind industry must stand on its own feet in the free marketplace or, in the parlance of a ‘Greenfellas’ movie, be blown away in the attempt.