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24 Qualities of smart geniuses
Monday 28 November 2011
The worlds greatest geniuses have all had 24 personality characteristics in common and you can develop the same traits yourself, says an expert.
“Most people have the mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made”, declared clinical psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrious, founder and director of the Self-Programmed Control Center of Los Angeles and author of the book, Towards Greater Freedom and Happiness.
“But if you look at the lives of the worlds greatest geniuses like Edison, Socrates, DaVinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, you will discover they all had 24 personality characteristics in common.
“These are traits that anyone can develop. It makes no difference how old you are, how much education you have, or what you have accomplished to date. Adopting these personality characteristics enables you to operate on a genius level.”
Here are the Characteristics Dr. Barrios lists, which enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and fruitful ideas:
DRIVE. Geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and long. They’re willing to give all they’ve got to a project. Develop your drive by focusing on your future success, and keep going.
COURAGE. It takes courage to do things others consider impossible. Stop worrying about what people will think if you’re different.
DEVOTION TO GOALS. Geniuses know what they want and go after it. Get control of your life and schedule. Have something specific to accomplish each day.
KNOWLEDGE. Geniuses continually accumulate information. Never go to sleep at night without having learned at least one new thing each day. Read. And question people who know.
HONESTY. Geniuses are frank, forthright and honest. Take the responsibility for things that go wrong. Be willing to admit, ‘I goofed’, and learn from your mistakes.
OPTIMISM. Geniuses never doubt they will succeed. Deliberately focus your mind on something good coming up.
ABILITY TO JUDGE. Try to understand the facts of a situation before you judge. Evaluate things on an opened minded, unprejudiced basis and be willing to change your mind.
ENTHUSIASM. Geniuses are so excited about what they are doing, it encourages others to cooperate with them. Really believe that things will turn out well. Don’t hold back.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHANCES. Overcome your fear of failure. You won’t be afraid to take chances once you realize you can learn from your mistakes.
DYNAMIC ENERGY. Don’t sit on your butt waiting for something good to happen. Be determined to make it happen.
ENTERPRISE. Geniuses are opportunity seekers. Be willing to take on jobs others won’t touch. Never be afraid to try the unknown.
PERSUASION. Geniuses know how to motivate people to help them get ahead. You’ll find it easy to be persuasive if you believe in what you’re doing.
OUTGOINGNESS. I’ve found geniuses able to make friends easily and be easy on their friends. Be a ‘booster’ not somebody who puts others down. That attitude will win you many valuable friends.
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. Geniuses are able to effectively get their ideas across to others. Take every opportunity to explain your ideas to others.
PATIENCE. Be patient with others most of the time, but always be impatient with your self. Expect far more of yourself than others.
PERCEPTION. Geniuses have their mental radar working full time. Think more of others’ needs and wants than you do of your own.
PERFECTIONISM. Geniuses cannot tolerate mediocrity, particularly in themselves. Never be easily satisfied with your self. Always strive to do better.
SENSE OF HUMOR. Be willing to laugh at your own expense. Don’t take offense when the joke is on you.
VERSATILITY. The more things you learn to accomplish, the more confidence you will develop. Don’t shy away from new endeavors.
ADAPTABILITY. Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Resist doing things the same old way. Be willing to consider new options.
CURIOSITY. An inquisitive, curious mind will help you seek out new information. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know it all. Always ask questions about things you don’t understand.
INDIVIDUALISM. Do things the way you think they should be done, without fearing somebody’s disapproval.
IDEALISM. Keep your feet on the ground – but have your head in the clouds. Strive to achieve great things, not just for yourself, but for the better of mankind.
IMAGINATION. Geniuses know how to think in new combinations, see things from a different perspective, than anyone else. Unclutter your mental environment to develop this type of imagination. Give yourself time each day to daydream, to fantasize, to drift into a dreamy inner life the way you did as a child.
Source link: http://www.jimwestergren.com/24-qualities-that-geniuses-have-in-common/
“Most people have the mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made”, declared clinical psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrious, founder and director of the Self-Programmed Control Center of Los Angeles and author of the book, Towards Greater Freedom and Happiness.
“But if you look at the lives of the worlds greatest geniuses like Edison, Socrates, DaVinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, you will discover they all had 24 personality characteristics in common.
“These are traits that anyone can develop. It makes no difference how old you are, how much education you have, or what you have accomplished to date. Adopting these personality characteristics enables you to operate on a genius level.”
Here are the Characteristics Dr. Barrios lists, which enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and fruitful ideas:
DRIVE. Geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and long. They’re willing to give all they’ve got to a project. Develop your drive by focusing on your future success, and keep going.
COURAGE. It takes courage to do things others consider impossible. Stop worrying about what people will think if you’re different.
DEVOTION TO GOALS. Geniuses know what they want and go after it. Get control of your life and schedule. Have something specific to accomplish each day.
KNOWLEDGE. Geniuses continually accumulate information. Never go to sleep at night without having learned at least one new thing each day. Read. And question people who know.
HONESTY. Geniuses are frank, forthright and honest. Take the responsibility for things that go wrong. Be willing to admit, ‘I goofed’, and learn from your mistakes.
OPTIMISM. Geniuses never doubt they will succeed. Deliberately focus your mind on something good coming up.
ABILITY TO JUDGE. Try to understand the facts of a situation before you judge. Evaluate things on an opened minded, unprejudiced basis and be willing to change your mind.
ENTHUSIASM. Geniuses are so excited about what they are doing, it encourages others to cooperate with them. Really believe that things will turn out well. Don’t hold back.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHANCES. Overcome your fear of failure. You won’t be afraid to take chances once you realize you can learn from your mistakes.
DYNAMIC ENERGY. Don’t sit on your butt waiting for something good to happen. Be determined to make it happen.
ENTERPRISE. Geniuses are opportunity seekers. Be willing to take on jobs others won’t touch. Never be afraid to try the unknown.
PERSUASION. Geniuses know how to motivate people to help them get ahead. You’ll find it easy to be persuasive if you believe in what you’re doing.
OUTGOINGNESS. I’ve found geniuses able to make friends easily and be easy on their friends. Be a ‘booster’ not somebody who puts others down. That attitude will win you many valuable friends.
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. Geniuses are able to effectively get their ideas across to others. Take every opportunity to explain your ideas to others.
PATIENCE. Be patient with others most of the time, but always be impatient with your self. Expect far more of yourself than others.
PERCEPTION. Geniuses have their mental radar working full time. Think more of others’ needs and wants than you do of your own.
PERFECTIONISM. Geniuses cannot tolerate mediocrity, particularly in themselves. Never be easily satisfied with your self. Always strive to do better.
SENSE OF HUMOR. Be willing to laugh at your own expense. Don’t take offense when the joke is on you.
VERSATILITY. The more things you learn to accomplish, the more confidence you will develop. Don’t shy away from new endeavors.
ADAPTABILITY. Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Resist doing things the same old way. Be willing to consider new options.
CURIOSITY. An inquisitive, curious mind will help you seek out new information. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know it all. Always ask questions about things you don’t understand.
INDIVIDUALISM. Do things the way you think they should be done, without fearing somebody’s disapproval.
IDEALISM. Keep your feet on the ground – but have your head in the clouds. Strive to achieve great things, not just for yourself, but for the better of mankind.
IMAGINATION. Geniuses know how to think in new combinations, see things from a different perspective, than anyone else. Unclutter your mental environment to develop this type of imagination. Give yourself time each day to daydream, to fantasize, to drift into a dreamy inner life the way you did as a child.
Source link: http://www.jimwestergren.com/24-qualities-that-geniuses-have-in-common/
11 Steps To Brilliant Thinking
Sunday 27 November 2011
1. Distinctions
What do I see? New ideas are the result of perceiving new distinctions.
2. Identity
Who am I? Why are these ideas important to me and why am I driven to share them with the world? Have I made my identity clear to the audience so they know where I am coming from?
3. Implications
Where do my ideas lead? If what I am saying is true, then what are all the consequences I can imagine?
4. Testing
What am I blind to? Have I imagined how my ideas might impact a variety of situations, places, and people? Have I questioned everything about my assumptions? What would prove me wrong? Can I create a model of my work, and find precise analogues.
5. Precedent
Who else has seen something like this? By asserting that I have something to say, I am entering into the great conversation of ideas that stretches back through the centuries. We cannot have knowledge of everything that was said before we got around to thinking, but we must try to know important precedent thought in our area.
6. Need
Who needs this knowledge? If what I am saying is so, who would this knowledge be valuable for? This question forces us out of focusing solely in our own area and may lead us to find the universals in our thinking. Understanding who needs us most will also help us in crafting what we say, because we will want to be useful to those who will give what we have to say highest priority.
7. Foundation
Are there underlying principles? What is the world I’m working in? What are the underlying values expressed here? What are the applicable rules or structure that obtain here? Can I pull these together into a coherent group or body of law?
8. Completion
Is everything here? If this is valuable for someone, am I giving my audience everything they need for this to be useful? If everything they need is not here, am I including referrals for the other information they will need in order to know enough to take action or teach others?
9. Connection
Who am I addressing? Do we understand the frame of reference of our audience?
Are we writing for our reader, speaking to our listener, carefully guiding the experience of our user?
10. Impact
Where do I want to go? In creating this work I have launched an alter ego of myself which will eventually take on a life of its own. If this development or body of knowledge succeeds in the marketplace of ideas, will it help me fulfill my goals for my life? Are the identities of the creators, the creation, and the users, aligned?
11. Advocacy
Am I supporting the adoption of my ideas? My thinking stands for me. Now, I must stand for what I have created.
source: http://www.endleofon.com/11-steps-to-brilliant-thinking/
What do I see? New ideas are the result of perceiving new distinctions.
2. Identity
Who am I? Why are these ideas important to me and why am I driven to share them with the world? Have I made my identity clear to the audience so they know where I am coming from?
3. Implications
Where do my ideas lead? If what I am saying is true, then what are all the consequences I can imagine?
4. Testing
What am I blind to? Have I imagined how my ideas might impact a variety of situations, places, and people? Have I questioned everything about my assumptions? What would prove me wrong? Can I create a model of my work, and find precise analogues.
5. Precedent
Who else has seen something like this? By asserting that I have something to say, I am entering into the great conversation of ideas that stretches back through the centuries. We cannot have knowledge of everything that was said before we got around to thinking, but we must try to know important precedent thought in our area.
6. Need
Who needs this knowledge? If what I am saying is so, who would this knowledge be valuable for? This question forces us out of focusing solely in our own area and may lead us to find the universals in our thinking. Understanding who needs us most will also help us in crafting what we say, because we will want to be useful to those who will give what we have to say highest priority.
7. Foundation
Are there underlying principles? What is the world I’m working in? What are the underlying values expressed here? What are the applicable rules or structure that obtain here? Can I pull these together into a coherent group or body of law?
8. Completion
Is everything here? If this is valuable for someone, am I giving my audience everything they need for this to be useful? If everything they need is not here, am I including referrals for the other information they will need in order to know enough to take action or teach others?
9. Connection
Who am I addressing? Do we understand the frame of reference of our audience?
Are we writing for our reader, speaking to our listener, carefully guiding the experience of our user?
10. Impact
Where do I want to go? In creating this work I have launched an alter ego of myself which will eventually take on a life of its own. If this development or body of knowledge succeeds in the marketplace of ideas, will it help me fulfill my goals for my life? Are the identities of the creators, the creation, and the users, aligned?
11. Advocacy
Am I supporting the adoption of my ideas? My thinking stands for me. Now, I must stand for what I have created.
source: http://www.endleofon.com/11-steps-to-brilliant-thinking/
14 Crowdfunding Websites
Thursday 17 November 2011
The following is a list of crowdfunding websites that can help your social enterprise, green business, or nonprofit organization get off the ground:
33needs
is a recent crowdfunding startup that connects microinvestors with social entrepreneurs who have big ideas in categories such as sustainable food, health, education, and the environment. Investors can earn a percentage of revenue in exchange for their support.
A unique specialty crowdfunding website that may be useful to some social enterprises is AppBackr, which allows Apple developers to get funding upfront for iPhone, iPod, and iPad apps in the concept stage by selling the app wholesale to backers, who receive a percentage of the profits for the apps they have purchased. Many app buyers also assist developers with marketing and promoting their apps, in order to ensure that their investment is fully recouped! With a growing number of social enterprises tapping into the explosive apps market to raise awareness and sell products or services, AppBackr may be a useful tool to help offset app development costs, and even gain some extra promotional help!
Buzzbnk
is a crowdfunding platform especially for social enterprises that allows funders to donate either money or time to support social enterprises working in a wide variety of fields. Though based in the UK, it is open to social ventures operating anywhere in the world. Social enterprises must submit their project proposal to Buzzbnk and the Buzzbnk team will work with the social enterprise to help develop appropriate fundraising targets and benefits or rewards to offer funders.
CauseVox offers nonprofit organizations a fully customizable fundraising page that makes collecting money from supporters easy. Supporters can also create their own personalized fundraising pages. Social media integration makes it easy to embed YouTube videos, Flickr slideshows, and more.
ChipIn
is a simple widget that can be posted on blogs, websites, and many social media profiles and that allows individuals, private groups, non-profits, and others to raise money easily online.
Crowdcube
bills itself as “the world’s first equity-based crowdfunding community dedicated to business investment.” In exchange for microinvestments of as little as £10, investors can fund worthy enterprises and in exchange gain a share of direct equity in the business. Crowdcube is currently available only to UK-based investors and entrepreneurs who have or can start a UK Limited Company, but hopes to expand to other regions in the future.
FirstGiving
has helped more than 8,000 non-profit organizations connect with more than 13 million donors and raise more than $1 billion dollars to date. The site allows non-profit supporters to create their own fundraising page to raise money for the cause of their choice.
Give.fm
allows nonprofit organizations and individuals to set up a campaign to raise money for causes ranging from local soccer teams to international efforts to fight poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation, and more. The site works by allowing donors to set up recurring microdonations of as little as 10 cents per day!
One of the best known crowdfunding websites is Kickstarter, which rose to fame after the open source Facebook alternative Diaspora raised more than $200,000 on the site. Kickstarter funds creative projects such as independent films and music albums, books, software, citizen journalism, theatrical productions, and more. Project creators are required to offer rewards to donors, such as bonus musical tracks, autographed books, signed prints, free performance tickets, or similar. Although Kickstarter cannot be used to fund social enterprise start-ups, it can be a great source of funding for social enterprises and non-profits hoping to use creative projects to raise awareness of their cause, as well as for social-minded creative enterprises such as non-profit theater companies and independent music producers. More great crowdfunding sites focusing on creative projects include IndieGoGo, RocketHub, UK-based Crowdfunder, and Australian-based Pozible.
Peerbackers offers entrepreneurs and non-profits of all types the opportunity to raise funding for their idea from their friends, family, and peers. Rather than financial returns or equity, backers receive rewards such as free or discounted versions of the products or services offered by the company.
ProFounder
caters to entrepreneurs – social or otherwise – who are looking for alternative sources of venture capital. ProFounder provides a secure platform where entrepreneurs can raise money from family members, friends, and other connections, who then receive a share of the profits when the business they have invested in succeeds. This revenue sharing system is good for investors and good for entrepreneurs, because it doesn’t commit entrepreneurs to making debt payments (potentially with high interest rates) during periods of bad business, only when the business is successful and profitable!
Razoo
is a crowdfunding platform for non-profits and charities that allows individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations to set up a fundraising page to raise money for their own cause or their other cause of choice. Razoo also allows team campaigns.
Sponsume
is a 2010 crowdfunding startup that allows both creative projects and social enterprises to raise funding on the site. Sponsume is currently free to use, but does plan to start charging fees in the future.
Spot.us
is a unique crowdfunding platform that supports citizen journalists by funding their investigations of specific topics. Spot.us can be a very useful tool for organizations seeking to raise awareness through hard-hitting investigative journalism or similar means.
Start
Some Good is a new crowdfunding startup that launched in February 2011 with the goal of connecting social entrepreneurs with crowdfunded venture capital. Start Some Good allows both for-profit and non-profit social enterprises to post fundraising campaigns to the site. Team members will help review the campaign’s goals and rewards to ensure they’re a good match for Start Some Good’s philosophy.
Have we left any crowdfunding websites for social entrepreneurs out of this list? Please comment below to let us know!
source:http://www.greenmarketing.tv/2011/03/16/social-entrepreneur-funding-options-crowdfunding/
33needs
is a recent crowdfunding startup that connects microinvestors with social entrepreneurs who have big ideas in categories such as sustainable food, health, education, and the environment. Investors can earn a percentage of revenue in exchange for their support.
A unique specialty crowdfunding website that may be useful to some social enterprises is AppBackr, which allows Apple developers to get funding upfront for iPhone, iPod, and iPad apps in the concept stage by selling the app wholesale to backers, who receive a percentage of the profits for the apps they have purchased. Many app buyers also assist developers with marketing and promoting their apps, in order to ensure that their investment is fully recouped! With a growing number of social enterprises tapping into the explosive apps market to raise awareness and sell products or services, AppBackr may be a useful tool to help offset app development costs, and even gain some extra promotional help!
Buzzbnk
is a crowdfunding platform especially for social enterprises that allows funders to donate either money or time to support social enterprises working in a wide variety of fields. Though based in the UK, it is open to social ventures operating anywhere in the world. Social enterprises must submit their project proposal to Buzzbnk and the Buzzbnk team will work with the social enterprise to help develop appropriate fundraising targets and benefits or rewards to offer funders.
CauseVox offers nonprofit organizations a fully customizable fundraising page that makes collecting money from supporters easy. Supporters can also create their own personalized fundraising pages. Social media integration makes it easy to embed YouTube videos, Flickr slideshows, and more.
ChipIn
is a simple widget that can be posted on blogs, websites, and many social media profiles and that allows individuals, private groups, non-profits, and others to raise money easily online.
Crowdcube
bills itself as “the world’s first equity-based crowdfunding community dedicated to business investment.” In exchange for microinvestments of as little as £10, investors can fund worthy enterprises and in exchange gain a share of direct equity in the business. Crowdcube is currently available only to UK-based investors and entrepreneurs who have or can start a UK Limited Company, but hopes to expand to other regions in the future.
FirstGiving
has helped more than 8,000 non-profit organizations connect with more than 13 million donors and raise more than $1 billion dollars to date. The site allows non-profit supporters to create their own fundraising page to raise money for the cause of their choice.
Give.fm
allows nonprofit organizations and individuals to set up a campaign to raise money for causes ranging from local soccer teams to international efforts to fight poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation, and more. The site works by allowing donors to set up recurring microdonations of as little as 10 cents per day!
One of the best known crowdfunding websites is Kickstarter, which rose to fame after the open source Facebook alternative Diaspora raised more than $200,000 on the site. Kickstarter funds creative projects such as independent films and music albums, books, software, citizen journalism, theatrical productions, and more. Project creators are required to offer rewards to donors, such as bonus musical tracks, autographed books, signed prints, free performance tickets, or similar. Although Kickstarter cannot be used to fund social enterprise start-ups, it can be a great source of funding for social enterprises and non-profits hoping to use creative projects to raise awareness of their cause, as well as for social-minded creative enterprises such as non-profit theater companies and independent music producers. More great crowdfunding sites focusing on creative projects include IndieGoGo, RocketHub, UK-based Crowdfunder, and Australian-based Pozible.
Peerbackers offers entrepreneurs and non-profits of all types the opportunity to raise funding for their idea from their friends, family, and peers. Rather than financial returns or equity, backers receive rewards such as free or discounted versions of the products or services offered by the company.
ProFounder
caters to entrepreneurs – social or otherwise – who are looking for alternative sources of venture capital. ProFounder provides a secure platform where entrepreneurs can raise money from family members, friends, and other connections, who then receive a share of the profits when the business they have invested in succeeds. This revenue sharing system is good for investors and good for entrepreneurs, because it doesn’t commit entrepreneurs to making debt payments (potentially with high interest rates) during periods of bad business, only when the business is successful and profitable!
Razoo
is a crowdfunding platform for non-profits and charities that allows individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations to set up a fundraising page to raise money for their own cause or their other cause of choice. Razoo also allows team campaigns.
Sponsume
is a 2010 crowdfunding startup that allows both creative projects and social enterprises to raise funding on the site. Sponsume is currently free to use, but does plan to start charging fees in the future.
Spot.us
is a unique crowdfunding platform that supports citizen journalists by funding their investigations of specific topics. Spot.us can be a very useful tool for organizations seeking to raise awareness through hard-hitting investigative journalism or similar means.
Start
Some Good is a new crowdfunding startup that launched in February 2011 with the goal of connecting social entrepreneurs with crowdfunded venture capital. Start Some Good allows both for-profit and non-profit social enterprises to post fundraising campaigns to the site. Team members will help review the campaign’s goals and rewards to ensure they’re a good match for Start Some Good’s philosophy.
Have we left any crowdfunding websites for social entrepreneurs out of this list? Please comment below to let us know!
source:http://www.greenmarketing.tv/2011/03/16/social-entrepreneur-funding-options-crowdfunding/
Top 20 Qualities of Smart People
Wednesday 16 November 2011
In today’s competitive world, it pays to be smart. No matter how smart you are, I am sure there is something you could “get smarter” about. Below are some qualities of smart people. As you read the list, ask yourself: Am I as smart as I could be in this area? How could I get smarter?
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Are Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, “He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,” they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is “self.”
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn’t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don’t. They would agree with what the quote, “A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.” They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Are Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Are Resourceful
Smart people don’t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Authority
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called “experts” say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Their Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They “swing out there” often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Themselves
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for “have to’s” and one for “want to’s.”
14. Are Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Themselves
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Are Students of Life
author:by: Michelle Casto
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Are Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, “He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,” they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is “self.”
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn’t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don’t. They would agree with what the quote, “A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.” They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Are Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Are Resourceful
Smart people don’t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Authority
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called “experts” say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Their Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn’t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They “swing out there” often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Themselves
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don’t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for “have to’s” and one for “want to’s.”
14. Are Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other’s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning’s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Themselves
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Are Students of Life
author:by: Michelle Casto
40% of Firms Failing to Tackle Energy Efficiency, UK Says
Thursday 10 November 2011
More than 40 percent of companies ranked on their energy efficiency actions by the U.K. government failed to score a single point, it emerged yesterday.
The Environment Agency’s Performance League Table ranks participants in the Carbon Reduction Commitment program, under which companies of a certain size have to purchase allowances for every ton of CO2 they emit. Unlike the EU cap and trade scheme, the CRC covers non-carbon-intensive sectors.
Among the 22 organizations in joint first place on the CRC list were Manchester United, Johnson Wax, British American Tobacco, CB Richard Ellis, resort operator Center Parcs and several government agencies, including the Department of Energy and Climate Change. (Snapshot of the 22 organizations, above left.)
Of the 2,103 companies ranked, 803 tied for last place, all with zero points. They included many major companies such as AstraZeneca, ConocoPhillips, Diageo, electronics retailer Dixons, Goldman Sachs, Halliburton, Kodak, Kraft Foods, Orange, Pfizer, Rio Tinto, Sodexo, Virgin Atlantic and Xerox.
Despite this, Environment Agency director of environment and business Ed Mitchell said he was “very encouraged” that 60 per cent of the organizations had taken steps to improve their energy management, BusinessGreen reported.
The table was based on reports submitted by the companies, and judges participants on the basis of early actions taken to improve their energy efficiency. Half of the score is based on what percentage of the organization’s electricity and gas supplies are covered by smart meter readings, and the other half is based on the proportion of emissions certified by the Carbon Trust or equivalent body.
But businesses are castigating the U.K. government for the rankings, saying the table paints a false picture of their performance.
The Engineering Employers Federation told the Press Association that the table is redundant, because the government had eliminated the financial incentive for companies to improve their energy efficiency. The federation’s head of climate and environment, Gareth Stace, said companies are worrying about the table’s effect on their reputations.
The British Retail Consortium said the table will confuse customers and investors because it doesn’t measure companies’ overall environmental performance, Fresh Business Thinking reported.
David Symons, a director at WSP Environment and Energy, told Edie.net that the table “perversely” failed to consider companies’ actual energy efficiency. He said the table’s metrics meant that some companies at the bottom of the table are actually more energy efficient, or have made greater progress to lower their emissions, than those at the top.
But some companies said they thought the table was a fair reflection of businesses progress, and lack thereof. Vincent Neate, head of KPMG UK’s climate change and sustainability practice, told Business Green that he expected many companies would use the table to begin making peer-to-peer comparisons,
source: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/11/09/40-of-firms-failing-to-tackle-energy-efficiency-uk-says/
The Environment Agency’s Performance League Table ranks participants in the Carbon Reduction Commitment program, under which companies of a certain size have to purchase allowances for every ton of CO2 they emit. Unlike the EU cap and trade scheme, the CRC covers non-carbon-intensive sectors.
Among the 22 organizations in joint first place on the CRC list were Manchester United, Johnson Wax, British American Tobacco, CB Richard Ellis, resort operator Center Parcs and several government agencies, including the Department of Energy and Climate Change. (Snapshot of the 22 organizations, above left.)
Of the 2,103 companies ranked, 803 tied for last place, all with zero points. They included many major companies such as AstraZeneca, ConocoPhillips, Diageo, electronics retailer Dixons, Goldman Sachs, Halliburton, Kodak, Kraft Foods, Orange, Pfizer, Rio Tinto, Sodexo, Virgin Atlantic and Xerox.
Despite this, Environment Agency director of environment and business Ed Mitchell said he was “very encouraged” that 60 per cent of the organizations had taken steps to improve their energy management, BusinessGreen reported.
The table was based on reports submitted by the companies, and judges participants on the basis of early actions taken to improve their energy efficiency. Half of the score is based on what percentage of the organization’s electricity and gas supplies are covered by smart meter readings, and the other half is based on the proportion of emissions certified by the Carbon Trust or equivalent body.
But businesses are castigating the U.K. government for the rankings, saying the table paints a false picture of their performance.
The Engineering Employers Federation told the Press Association that the table is redundant, because the government had eliminated the financial incentive for companies to improve their energy efficiency. The federation’s head of climate and environment, Gareth Stace, said companies are worrying about the table’s effect on their reputations.
The British Retail Consortium said the table will confuse customers and investors because it doesn’t measure companies’ overall environmental performance, Fresh Business Thinking reported.
David Symons, a director at WSP Environment and Energy, told Edie.net that the table “perversely” failed to consider companies’ actual energy efficiency. He said the table’s metrics meant that some companies at the bottom of the table are actually more energy efficient, or have made greater progress to lower their emissions, than those at the top.
But some companies said they thought the table was a fair reflection of businesses progress, and lack thereof. Vincent Neate, head of KPMG UK’s climate change and sustainability practice, told Business Green that he expected many companies would use the table to begin making peer-to-peer comparisons,
source: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/11/09/40-of-firms-failing-to-tackle-energy-efficiency-uk-says/
Motorists to reap from fuel saving device Share
By David Ssempijja
PANTHER, a Japanese technology that helps motorists save fuel by up to 35%, has been introduced onto the local market.The technology was invented in Japan five years ago by H.Udo San, a globally respected scientist for perfecting factory automation designing technology.
The portable device is inserted into the cigarette lighter of a car, it connects to the computer system that links to the electrical system, picks power from the alternator (electricity generator), distributes and stabilises power supply to numerous electrical equipment of the vehicles like; air conditioners, lights, wiper, music systems among others.
The vehicles’ fuel consumption levels have a relationship with power distribution within different parts, meaning that the vehicle will consume more fuel when the power circulation is unstable and the reverse is true.
The car battery stores 12volts (V) electricity, though the alternator makes 14v when the car is in motion.The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) also known as the car computer, operates at 13.5v; this is the normal stability levels.
However, as the car grows older, the alternator’s is unable to produce enough electricity during heavy charging such as low reviving, higher air-conditioner demand; once collective electrical devices are used at the same time.
The battery is supposed to supplement the fall in electrical supply, but being a mechanical (and not electronic), it does not start immediately it should, which leads to a break fraction in electrical supply due to the battery’s slow first reaction.
This is when the panther fills the gap in order for the ECU to keep stable and functioning as intended, keeping the vehicle at optimal performance, and hence it needs less energy to propel the vehicle, and thus saves fuel in the process.
“We have basically been using panther for the last five months; as a result, my company saves 35% on fuel costs, I recommend that this technology should be the way to go especially at this time when fuel prices are escalating, ” says Ronald Mugisha, a proprietor of a local firm dealing in cargo and passenger transport.
“Panther works in both diesel and petrol engine vehicles, those that use 12v batteries like minibuses, prados, salon cars are recommended for ordinary panther; while vehicles that use 24v batteries like tippers, trucks, buses and trailers, go for the Panther plus type,” according to Kalule Daniel, the regional marketing manager for Panther and Carcare Products, a Rashid Khamis Road Old Kampala based local company authorised to distribute the technology in Africa.
He says that the device is more suitable for vehicles that have clocked 30,000 kilometres, because new cars just coming from the assembly line, are already efficient as their alternators are still new. What the Panther would do to a brand new car, is to ensure the parts do not deteriorate faster.
Kalule says that the product has been certified by standards bodies in other African countries including the local Uganda National Bureau of Standards. Panther has a life span of three years but can last three years.
Mathius Katongole, a vehicle mechanic at Kisekka market says that Panther was manufactured with technology that enables a thorough combustion (burning) of fuel; thus, making it eco-friendly (green product) and every drop put in the engine is maximally utilised.
“Panther needs no expert to install, just plug it in the cigarette lighter socket, it light Green, and it starts saving fuel for you instantly. It has not effect on the engine and does not even touch the fuel itself, and hence there is no way it will spoil the engine. In any event, it will make the vehicle more efficient with less vibration” he says.
He adds that the device lowers the engine noise and enhances its performance by increasing the torque (engine power) by up to 12%, allowing the vehicle command impressive speed pace.
“You will definitely enjoy driving your car with the panther on and save money for the next three years,” says the expert.
PANTHER, a Japanese technology that helps motorists save fuel by up to 35%, has been introduced onto the local market.The technology was invented in Japan five years ago by H.Udo San, a globally respected scientist for perfecting factory automation designing technology.
The portable device is inserted into the cigarette lighter of a car, it connects to the computer system that links to the electrical system, picks power from the alternator (electricity generator), distributes and stabilises power supply to numerous electrical equipment of the vehicles like; air conditioners, lights, wiper, music systems among others.
The vehicles’ fuel consumption levels have a relationship with power distribution within different parts, meaning that the vehicle will consume more fuel when the power circulation is unstable and the reverse is true.
The car battery stores 12volts (V) electricity, though the alternator makes 14v when the car is in motion.The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) also known as the car computer, operates at 13.5v; this is the normal stability levels.
However, as the car grows older, the alternator’s is unable to produce enough electricity during heavy charging such as low reviving, higher air-conditioner demand; once collective electrical devices are used at the same time.
The battery is supposed to supplement the fall in electrical supply, but being a mechanical (and not electronic), it does not start immediately it should, which leads to a break fraction in electrical supply due to the battery’s slow first reaction.
This is when the panther fills the gap in order for the ECU to keep stable and functioning as intended, keeping the vehicle at optimal performance, and hence it needs less energy to propel the vehicle, and thus saves fuel in the process.
“We have basically been using panther for the last five months; as a result, my company saves 35% on fuel costs, I recommend that this technology should be the way to go especially at this time when fuel prices are escalating, ” says Ronald Mugisha, a proprietor of a local firm dealing in cargo and passenger transport.
“Panther works in both diesel and petrol engine vehicles, those that use 12v batteries like minibuses, prados, salon cars are recommended for ordinary panther; while vehicles that use 24v batteries like tippers, trucks, buses and trailers, go for the Panther plus type,” according to Kalule Daniel, the regional marketing manager for Panther and Carcare Products, a Rashid Khamis Road Old Kampala based local company authorised to distribute the technology in Africa.
He says that the device is more suitable for vehicles that have clocked 30,000 kilometres, because new cars just coming from the assembly line, are already efficient as their alternators are still new. What the Panther would do to a brand new car, is to ensure the parts do not deteriorate faster.
Kalule says that the product has been certified by standards bodies in other African countries including the local Uganda National Bureau of Standards. Panther has a life span of three years but can last three years.
Mathius Katongole, a vehicle mechanic at Kisekka market says that Panther was manufactured with technology that enables a thorough combustion (burning) of fuel; thus, making it eco-friendly (green product) and every drop put in the engine is maximally utilised.
“Panther needs no expert to install, just plug it in the cigarette lighter socket, it light Green, and it starts saving fuel for you instantly. It has not effect on the engine and does not even touch the fuel itself, and hence there is no way it will spoil the engine. In any event, it will make the vehicle more efficient with less vibration” he says.
He adds that the device lowers the engine noise and enhances its performance by increasing the torque (engine power) by up to 12%, allowing the vehicle command impressive speed pace.
“You will definitely enjoy driving your car with the panther on and save money for the next three years,” says the expert.
Cameron Directs £95 Million To SMEs
Article Date: Nov 10 2011
Todd Cardy
Prime Minister David Cameron
Prime minister David Cameron has announced a business growth package that will see an extra £95 million investment in the Regional Growth Fund directed to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The package, which will be administered by high street banks the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HSBC, has been designed to assist SMEs considering investing in new capital assets.
Cameron told the Exporting for Growth conference in central London today, ‘Often it’s a small investment – maybe just £30,000 – that can create the jobs and kick-start the innovation and exports that we need.
‘But these are the very loans that you simply can’t get without personal guarantees, like putting up your house – and even then the banks might say no. That’s got to change – and we’re going to use the Regional Growth Fund to help change it.’
Under the deal, the government will provide £95 million of new Regional Growth Fund money to SMEs, with RBS and HSBC administering the scheme and providing new lending as part of the campaign.
The Regional Growth Fund is a £1.4 billion fund, which is designed to encourage enterprise, growth and jobs in the private sector and support areas and communities that are dependent on the public sector.
Cameron adds, ‘By working with high street banks like this we will give support to those SMEs that can’t access commercial funding and we will help areas of our country that other forms of business lending can’t reach.
‘That’s great news for small businesses, great news for local communities and a great example of how banks are stepping up to the challenge of getting our economy moving.’
Cameron also flagged that details of a new scheme for SMEs, called ‘credit easing’, could be announced within weeks. The scheme, which George Osborne outlined during his Conservative Party conference speech in October, would extend corporate bonds to smaller businesses and see the government lend to SMEs by buying billion of pounds worth of bonds. It would allows the businesses to raise cash without having to rely on bank loans.
He says, ‘Over the coming weeks we are going to look at the whole range of options to improve the ability of companies to borrow or access funding – including, for example, through credit easing.
‘So I want everyone in this hall to take the message out from here that these funds are available to SMEs. The ones who’ve tried and failed to get credit, the ones with no trading history, the ones with no collateral to put up against a loan.
‘There are billions of pounds waiting in banks and in other investment funds. The money is there now.’
Todd Cardy
Prime Minister David Cameron
Prime minister David Cameron has announced a business growth package that will see an extra £95 million investment in the Regional Growth Fund directed to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The package, which will be administered by high street banks the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HSBC, has been designed to assist SMEs considering investing in new capital assets.
Cameron told the Exporting for Growth conference in central London today, ‘Often it’s a small investment – maybe just £30,000 – that can create the jobs and kick-start the innovation and exports that we need.
‘But these are the very loans that you simply can’t get without personal guarantees, like putting up your house – and even then the banks might say no. That’s got to change – and we’re going to use the Regional Growth Fund to help change it.’
Under the deal, the government will provide £95 million of new Regional Growth Fund money to SMEs, with RBS and HSBC administering the scheme and providing new lending as part of the campaign.
The Regional Growth Fund is a £1.4 billion fund, which is designed to encourage enterprise, growth and jobs in the private sector and support areas and communities that are dependent on the public sector.
Cameron adds, ‘By working with high street banks like this we will give support to those SMEs that can’t access commercial funding and we will help areas of our country that other forms of business lending can’t reach.
‘That’s great news for small businesses, great news for local communities and a great example of how banks are stepping up to the challenge of getting our economy moving.’
Cameron also flagged that details of a new scheme for SMEs, called ‘credit easing’, could be announced within weeks. The scheme, which George Osborne outlined during his Conservative Party conference speech in October, would extend corporate bonds to smaller businesses and see the government lend to SMEs by buying billion of pounds worth of bonds. It would allows the businesses to raise cash without having to rely on bank loans.
He says, ‘Over the coming weeks we are going to look at the whole range of options to improve the ability of companies to borrow or access funding – including, for example, through credit easing.
‘So I want everyone in this hall to take the message out from here that these funds are available to SMEs. The ones who’ve tried and failed to get credit, the ones with no trading history, the ones with no collateral to put up against a loan.
‘There are billions of pounds waiting in banks and in other investment funds. The money is there now.’
A Financial Nightmare For Italy: The Yield Curve For Italian Bonds Is Turning Upside Down
What we are all watching unfold right now is a complete and total financial nightmare for Italy. Italian bond yields are soaring to incredibly dangerous levels, and now the yield curve for Italian bonds is turning upside down. So what does that mean? Normally, government debt securities that have a longer maturity pay a higher interest rate. There is typically more risk when you hold a bond for an extended period of time, so investors normally demand a higher return for holding debt over longer time periods. But when investors feel as though a major economic downturn or a substantial financial crisis is coming, the yield on short-term bonds will often rise above the yield for long-term bonds. This happened to Greece, to Ireland and to Portugal and all three of them ended up needing bailouts. Now it is happening to Italy and Spain may follow shortly, but the EU cannot afford to bail out either of them. An inverted yield curve is a major red flag. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be much hope that there is going to be a solution to this European debt crisis any time soon.
We are witnessing a crisis of confidence in the European financial system. All over Europe bond yields went soaring today. When I finished my article about the financial crisis in Italy on Tuesday night, the yield on 10 year Italian bonds was at 6.7 percent. I awoke today to learn that it had risen to 7.2 percent.
But even more importantly, the yield on 5 year Italian bonds is now sitting at about 7.5 percent, and the yield on 2 year Italian bonds is about 7.2 percent.
The yield curve for Italian bonds is in the process of turning upside down.
If you want to see a frightening chart, just look at this chart that shows what has happened to 2 year Italian bonds recently.
Do phrases like “heading straight up” and “going through the roof” come to mind?
This comes despite rampant Italian bond buying by the European Central Bank. CNBC is reporting that the European Central Bank was aggressively buying up 2 year Italian bonds and 10 year Italian bonds on Wednesday.
So what does it say when even open market manipulation by the European Central Bank is not working?
Of course some in the financial community are saying that the European Central Bank is not going far enough. Some prominent financial professionals are even calling on the European Central Bank to buy up a trillion euros worth of European bonds in order to soothe the markets.
Part of the reason why Italian bond yields rose so much on Wednesday was that London clearing house LCH Clearnet raised margin requirements on Italian government bonds.
But that doesn’t explain why bond yields all over Europe were soaring.
The reality is that bond yields for Spain, Belgium, Austria and France also skyrocketed on Wednesday.
This is a crisis that is rapidly engulfing all of Europe.
But at this point, bond yields in Europe are still way too low. European leaders shattered confidence when they announced that they were going to ask private Greek bondholders to take a 50% haircut. So now rational investors have got to be asking themselves why they would want to hold any sovereign European debt at all.
There is no way in the world that any rational investor should invest in European bonds at these levels.
Are you kidding me?
If there is a very good chance that private bondholders will be forced to take huge haircuts on these bonds at some point in the future then they should be demanding much, much higher returns than this.
But if bond yields continue to go up in Europe, we are going to quickly come to a moment of very great crisis.
The following is what Rod Smyth of Riverfront Investment Group recently told his clients about the situation that is unfolding in Italy….
“In our view, 7% is a ‘tipping point’ for any large debt-laden country and is the level at which Greece, Portugal and Ireland were forced to accept assistance”
Other analysts are speaking of a “point of no return”. For example, check out what a report that was just released by Barclays Capital had to say….
“At this point, Italy may be beyond the point of no return. While reform may be necessary, we doubt that Italian economic reforms alone will be sufficient to rehabilitate the Italian credit and eliminate the possibility of a debilitating confidence crisis that could overwhelm the positive effects of a reform agenda, however well conceived and implemented.”
But unlike Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the EU simply cannot afford to bail out Italy.
Italy’s national debt is approximately 2.7 times larger than the national debts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal put together.
Plus, as I noted earlier, Spain is heading down the exact same road as Italy.
Europe has simply piled up way, way too much debt and now they are going to pay the price.
Global financial markets are very nervous right now. You can almost smell the panic in the air. As a CNBC article posted on Wednesday noted, one prominent think tank actually believes that there is a 65 percent chance that we will see a “banking crisis” by the end of November….
“There is a 65 percent chance of a banking crisis between November 23-26 following a Greek default and a run on the Italian banking system, according to analysts at Exclusive Analysis, a research firm that focuses on global risks.”
Personally, I believe that particular think tank is being way too pessimistic, but this just shows how much fear is out there right now.
It seems more likely to me that the European debt crisis will really unravel once we get into 2012. And when it does, it just won’t be a few countries that feel the pain.
For example, when Italy goes down many of their neighbors will be in a massive amount of trouble as well. As you can see from this chart, France has massive exposure to Italian debt.
Just like we saw a few years ago, a financial crisis can be very much like a game of dominoes. Once the financial dominoes start tumbling, it will be hard to predict where the damage will end.
Some believe that what is coming is going to be even worse than the financial nightmare of a few years ago. For example, the following is what renowned investor Jim Rogers recently told CNBC….
“In 2002 it was bad, in 2008 it was worse and 2012 or 2013 is going to be worse still – be careful”
Rogers says that the reason the next crisis is going to be so bad is because debt levels are so much higher than they were back then….
“Last time, America quadrupled its debt. The system is much more extended now, and America cannot quadruple its debt again. Greece cannot double its debt again. The next time around is going to be much worse”
So what is the “endgame” for this crisis?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is saying that fundamental changes are needed….
“It is time for a breakthrough to a new Europe”
So what kind of a “breakthrough” is she talking about? Well, Merkel says that the ultimate solution to this crisis is going to require even tighter integration for Europe….
“That will mean more Europe, not less Europe”
As I have written about previously, the political and financial elite of Europe are not going to give up on the EU because of a few bumps in the road. In fact, at some point they are likely to propose a “United States of Europe” as the ultimate solution to this crisis.
But being more like the United States is not necessarily a solution to anything.
The U.S. is 15 trillion dollars in debt and extreme poverty is spreading like wildfire in this nation.
No, the real problem is government debt and the central banks of the western world which act as perpetual debt machines.
By not objecting to central banks and demanding change, those of us living in the western world have allowed ourselves to become enslaved to gigantic mountains of debt. Unless something dramatically changes, our children and our grandchildren will suffer under the weight of this debt for as long as they live
source :http://www.yolohub.com/economy/a-financial-nightmare-for-italy-the-yield-curve-for-italian-bonds-is-turning-upside-down:
We are witnessing a crisis of confidence in the European financial system. All over Europe bond yields went soaring today. When I finished my article about the financial crisis in Italy on Tuesday night, the yield on 10 year Italian bonds was at 6.7 percent. I awoke today to learn that it had risen to 7.2 percent.
But even more importantly, the yield on 5 year Italian bonds is now sitting at about 7.5 percent, and the yield on 2 year Italian bonds is about 7.2 percent.
The yield curve for Italian bonds is in the process of turning upside down.
If you want to see a frightening chart, just look at this chart that shows what has happened to 2 year Italian bonds recently.
Do phrases like “heading straight up” and “going through the roof” come to mind?
This comes despite rampant Italian bond buying by the European Central Bank. CNBC is reporting that the European Central Bank was aggressively buying up 2 year Italian bonds and 10 year Italian bonds on Wednesday.
So what does it say when even open market manipulation by the European Central Bank is not working?
Of course some in the financial community are saying that the European Central Bank is not going far enough. Some prominent financial professionals are even calling on the European Central Bank to buy up a trillion euros worth of European bonds in order to soothe the markets.
Part of the reason why Italian bond yields rose so much on Wednesday was that London clearing house LCH Clearnet raised margin requirements on Italian government bonds.
But that doesn’t explain why bond yields all over Europe were soaring.
The reality is that bond yields for Spain, Belgium, Austria and France also skyrocketed on Wednesday.
This is a crisis that is rapidly engulfing all of Europe.
But at this point, bond yields in Europe are still way too low. European leaders shattered confidence when they announced that they were going to ask private Greek bondholders to take a 50% haircut. So now rational investors have got to be asking themselves why they would want to hold any sovereign European debt at all.
There is no way in the world that any rational investor should invest in European bonds at these levels.
Are you kidding me?
If there is a very good chance that private bondholders will be forced to take huge haircuts on these bonds at some point in the future then they should be demanding much, much higher returns than this.
But if bond yields continue to go up in Europe, we are going to quickly come to a moment of very great crisis.
The following is what Rod Smyth of Riverfront Investment Group recently told his clients about the situation that is unfolding in Italy….
“In our view, 7% is a ‘tipping point’ for any large debt-laden country and is the level at which Greece, Portugal and Ireland were forced to accept assistance”
Other analysts are speaking of a “point of no return”. For example, check out what a report that was just released by Barclays Capital had to say….
“At this point, Italy may be beyond the point of no return. While reform may be necessary, we doubt that Italian economic reforms alone will be sufficient to rehabilitate the Italian credit and eliminate the possibility of a debilitating confidence crisis that could overwhelm the positive effects of a reform agenda, however well conceived and implemented.”
But unlike Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the EU simply cannot afford to bail out Italy.
Italy’s national debt is approximately 2.7 times larger than the national debts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal put together.
Plus, as I noted earlier, Spain is heading down the exact same road as Italy.
Europe has simply piled up way, way too much debt and now they are going to pay the price.
Global financial markets are very nervous right now. You can almost smell the panic in the air. As a CNBC article posted on Wednesday noted, one prominent think tank actually believes that there is a 65 percent chance that we will see a “banking crisis” by the end of November….
“There is a 65 percent chance of a banking crisis between November 23-26 following a Greek default and a run on the Italian banking system, according to analysts at Exclusive Analysis, a research firm that focuses on global risks.”
Personally, I believe that particular think tank is being way too pessimistic, but this just shows how much fear is out there right now.
It seems more likely to me that the European debt crisis will really unravel once we get into 2012. And when it does, it just won’t be a few countries that feel the pain.
For example, when Italy goes down many of their neighbors will be in a massive amount of trouble as well. As you can see from this chart, France has massive exposure to Italian debt.
Just like we saw a few years ago, a financial crisis can be very much like a game of dominoes. Once the financial dominoes start tumbling, it will be hard to predict where the damage will end.
Some believe that what is coming is going to be even worse than the financial nightmare of a few years ago. For example, the following is what renowned investor Jim Rogers recently told CNBC….
“In 2002 it was bad, in 2008 it was worse and 2012 or 2013 is going to be worse still – be careful”
Rogers says that the reason the next crisis is going to be so bad is because debt levels are so much higher than they were back then….
“Last time, America quadrupled its debt. The system is much more extended now, and America cannot quadruple its debt again. Greece cannot double its debt again. The next time around is going to be much worse”
So what is the “endgame” for this crisis?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is saying that fundamental changes are needed….
“It is time for a breakthrough to a new Europe”
So what kind of a “breakthrough” is she talking about? Well, Merkel says that the ultimate solution to this crisis is going to require even tighter integration for Europe….
“That will mean more Europe, not less Europe”
As I have written about previously, the political and financial elite of Europe are not going to give up on the EU because of a few bumps in the road. In fact, at some point they are likely to propose a “United States of Europe” as the ultimate solution to this crisis.
But being more like the United States is not necessarily a solution to anything.
The U.S. is 15 trillion dollars in debt and extreme poverty is spreading like wildfire in this nation.
No, the real problem is government debt and the central banks of the western world which act as perpetual debt machines.
By not objecting to central banks and demanding change, those of us living in the western world have allowed ourselves to become enslaved to gigantic mountains of debt. Unless something dramatically changes, our children and our grandchildren will suffer under the weight of this debt for as long as they live
source :http://www.yolohub.com/economy/a-financial-nightmare-for-italy-the-yield-curve-for-italian-bonds-is-turning-upside-down:
Brussels warns on risk of UK double-dip
The British economy will stagnate until next summer with a significant risk of a double-dip recession, the European Commission concludes in its latest forecasts which also show the government’s deficit reduction strategy is failing.
In EU-wide forecasts, which assume that financial markets regain their poise and the eurozone sorts out its woes, the outlook for Britain is still very weak, with growth forecasts sharply revised down and a new black hole in the public finances.
More
ON THIS STORY
Growth outlook for eurozone worsens
OECD urges co-ordination to avoid recession
UK trade deficit widens in September
Fears grow over global euro effect
ON THIS TOPIC
VAT loophole to be closed
Osborne looks to slash benefits bill
Tax team to hunt wealthy evaders
Borrowing data boost deficit hopes
For the EU as a whole, including Britain, “a deep and prolonged recession complemented by continued market turmoil cannot be excluded,” Marco Buti, the head of economic and financial affairs at the Commission, warned in the introduction to the forecasts.
Coming on the day the Bank of England decided to leave monetary policy unchanged, the forecasts for the British economy are no better than those for the eurozone. The Commission expects no more than 0.1 per cent growth a quarter over the next nine months, adding that a contraction, creating a double-dip “cannot be ruled out”.
Slashing its forecast for household consumption, investment and exports, the Commission said: “The slowdown which began at the end of 2010 now looks more like a prolonged soft patch than a simple weather-related blip”.
It predicts 0.7 per cent growth for 2011, 0.6 per cent growth in 2012 and 1.5 per cent growth in 2013. These weak growth rates – which imply rising unemployment and worse public finances – are much lower than the equivalent official forecasts of 1.7 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.9 per cent produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility in March.
The figures will come as a blow to George Osborne, chancellor, since they give superficial ammunition to Labour’s critique that “too far too fast” deficit reduction is snuffing out economic growth.
Even more of a concern to the Treasury, however, will be the fiscal forecasts – which the OBR uses to benchmark its own forecasts – showing slow growth to be a persistent feature so deficit reduction will fall short of the chancellor’s plans.
The Commission has cut the amount of slack it believes to be in the economy by 1.5 percentage points of national income, enough the OBR says for it to declare that Mr Osborne has less than a 50:50 chance of meeting his ambition of eliminating the current budget deficit by the time of the next election.
This target is measured after taking account of the economic cycle and the Commission’s pessimism on economic slack means it has revised higher its structural budget deficit forecast for 2011 from 6.5 per cent of national income to 8 per cent in 2011.
That increase in the structural deficit implies Mr Osborne will either need to find £22bn a year more from tax increases or spending cuts immediately or commit to the grind of public spending austerity continuing well after the next election.
The Commission forecast said: “The worsening growth outlook implies clear downward risks to the latest UK official fiscal forecasts published in March”.
The Commission’s conclusions on the likely strength of the public finances come a week after the National Institute of Economic and Social Research forecast the government was set to miss its other fiscal rule – that public debt must be a declining share of national income by 2015-16 – and the International Monetary Fund’s September forecast a persistent £12bn-a-year shortfall in the public finances.
The OBR benchmarks its forecasts – particularly on the degree of slack in the economy – against these other organisations. Unless it makes different forecasting judgments, much more favourable to Mr Osborne, the fiscal watchdog’s next forecasts, due in the Autumn Statement on November 29, are set to be extremely challenging for the chancellor.
By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
In EU-wide forecasts, which assume that financial markets regain their poise and the eurozone sorts out its woes, the outlook for Britain is still very weak, with growth forecasts sharply revised down and a new black hole in the public finances.
More
ON THIS STORY
Growth outlook for eurozone worsens
OECD urges co-ordination to avoid recession
UK trade deficit widens in September
Fears grow over global euro effect
ON THIS TOPIC
VAT loophole to be closed
Osborne looks to slash benefits bill
Tax team to hunt wealthy evaders
Borrowing data boost deficit hopes
For the EU as a whole, including Britain, “a deep and prolonged recession complemented by continued market turmoil cannot be excluded,” Marco Buti, the head of economic and financial affairs at the Commission, warned in the introduction to the forecasts.
Coming on the day the Bank of England decided to leave monetary policy unchanged, the forecasts for the British economy are no better than those for the eurozone. The Commission expects no more than 0.1 per cent growth a quarter over the next nine months, adding that a contraction, creating a double-dip “cannot be ruled out”.
Slashing its forecast for household consumption, investment and exports, the Commission said: “The slowdown which began at the end of 2010 now looks more like a prolonged soft patch than a simple weather-related blip”.
It predicts 0.7 per cent growth for 2011, 0.6 per cent growth in 2012 and 1.5 per cent growth in 2013. These weak growth rates – which imply rising unemployment and worse public finances – are much lower than the equivalent official forecasts of 1.7 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.9 per cent produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility in March.
The figures will come as a blow to George Osborne, chancellor, since they give superficial ammunition to Labour’s critique that “too far too fast” deficit reduction is snuffing out economic growth.
Even more of a concern to the Treasury, however, will be the fiscal forecasts – which the OBR uses to benchmark its own forecasts – showing slow growth to be a persistent feature so deficit reduction will fall short of the chancellor’s plans.
The Commission has cut the amount of slack it believes to be in the economy by 1.5 percentage points of national income, enough the OBR says for it to declare that Mr Osborne has less than a 50:50 chance of meeting his ambition of eliminating the current budget deficit by the time of the next election.
This target is measured after taking account of the economic cycle and the Commission’s pessimism on economic slack means it has revised higher its structural budget deficit forecast for 2011 from 6.5 per cent of national income to 8 per cent in 2011.
That increase in the structural deficit implies Mr Osborne will either need to find £22bn a year more from tax increases or spending cuts immediately or commit to the grind of public spending austerity continuing well after the next election.
The Commission forecast said: “The worsening growth outlook implies clear downward risks to the latest UK official fiscal forecasts published in March”.
The Commission’s conclusions on the likely strength of the public finances come a week after the National Institute of Economic and Social Research forecast the government was set to miss its other fiscal rule – that public debt must be a declining share of national income by 2015-16 – and the International Monetary Fund’s September forecast a persistent £12bn-a-year shortfall in the public finances.
The OBR benchmarks its forecasts – particularly on the degree of slack in the economy – against these other organisations. Unless it makes different forecasting judgments, much more favourable to Mr Osborne, the fiscal watchdog’s next forecasts, due in the Autumn Statement on November 29, are set to be extremely challenging for the chancellor.
By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
Brussels warns on risk of UK double-dip
The British economy will stagnate until next summer with a significant risk of a double-dip recession, the European Commission concludes in its latest forecasts which also show the government’s deficit reduction strategy is failing.
In EU-wide forecasts, which assume that financial markets regain their poise and the eurozone sorts out its woes, the outlook for Britain is still very weak, with growth forecasts sharply revised down and a new black hole in the public finances.
More
ON THIS STORY
Growth outlook for eurozone worsens
OECD urges co-ordination to avoid recession
UK trade deficit widens in September
Fears grow over global euro effect
ON THIS TOPIC
VAT loophole to be closed
Osborne looks to slash benefits bill
Tax team to hunt wealthy evaders
Borrowing data boost deficit hopes
For the EU as a whole, including Britain, “a deep and prolonged recession complemented by continued market turmoil cannot be excluded,” Marco Buti, the head of economic and financial affairs at the Commission, warned in the introduction to the forecasts.
Coming on the day the Bank of England decided to leave monetary policy unchanged, the forecasts for the British economy are no better than those for the eurozone. The Commission expects no more than 0.1 per cent growth a quarter over the next nine months, adding that a contraction, creating a double-dip “cannot be ruled out”.
Slashing its forecast for household consumption, investment and exports, the Commission said: “The slowdown which began at the end of 2010 now looks more like a prolonged soft patch than a simple weather-related blip”.
It predicts 0.7 per cent growth for 2011, 0.6 per cent growth in 2012 and 1.5 per cent growth in 2013. These weak growth rates – which imply rising unemployment and worse public finances – are much lower than the equivalent official forecasts of 1.7 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.9 per cent produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility in March.
The figures will come as a blow to George Osborne, chancellor, since they give superficial ammunition to Labour’s critique that “too far too fast” deficit reduction is snuffing out economic growth.
Even more of a concern to the Treasury, however, will be the fiscal forecasts – which the OBR uses to benchmark its own forecasts – showing slow growth to be a persistent feature so deficit reduction will fall short of the chancellor’s plans.
The Commission has cut the amount of slack it believes to be in the economy by 1.5 percentage points of national income, enough the OBR says for it to declare that Mr Osborne has less than a 50:50 chance of meeting his ambition of eliminating the current budget deficit by the time of the next election.
This target is measured after taking account of the economic cycle and the Commission’s pessimism on economic slack means it has revised higher its structural budget deficit forecast for 2011 from 6.5 per cent of national income to 8 per cent in 2011.
That increase in the structural deficit implies Mr Osborne will either need to find £22bn a year more from tax increases or spending cuts immediately or commit to the grind of public spending austerity continuing well after the next election.
The Commission forecast said: “The worsening growth outlook implies clear downward risks to the latest UK official fiscal forecasts published in March”.
The Commission’s conclusions on the likely strength of the public finances come a week after the National Institute of Economic and Social Research forecast the government was set to miss its other fiscal rule – that public debt must be a declining share of national income by 2015-16 – and the International Monetary Fund’s September forecast a persistent £12bn-a-year shortfall in the public finances.
The OBR benchmarks its forecasts – particularly on the degree of slack in the economy – against these other organisations. Unless it makes different forecasting judgments, much more favourable to Mr Osborne, the fiscal watchdog’s next forecasts, due in the Autumn Statement on November 29, are set to be extremely challenging for the chancellor.
By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
In EU-wide forecasts, which assume that financial markets regain their poise and the eurozone sorts out its woes, the outlook for Britain is still very weak, with growth forecasts sharply revised down and a new black hole in the public finances.
More
ON THIS STORY
Growth outlook for eurozone worsens
OECD urges co-ordination to avoid recession
UK trade deficit widens in September
Fears grow over global euro effect
ON THIS TOPIC
VAT loophole to be closed
Osborne looks to slash benefits bill
Tax team to hunt wealthy evaders
Borrowing data boost deficit hopes
For the EU as a whole, including Britain, “a deep and prolonged recession complemented by continued market turmoil cannot be excluded,” Marco Buti, the head of economic and financial affairs at the Commission, warned in the introduction to the forecasts.
Coming on the day the Bank of England decided to leave monetary policy unchanged, the forecasts for the British economy are no better than those for the eurozone. The Commission expects no more than 0.1 per cent growth a quarter over the next nine months, adding that a contraction, creating a double-dip “cannot be ruled out”.
Slashing its forecast for household consumption, investment and exports, the Commission said: “The slowdown which began at the end of 2010 now looks more like a prolonged soft patch than a simple weather-related blip”.
It predicts 0.7 per cent growth for 2011, 0.6 per cent growth in 2012 and 1.5 per cent growth in 2013. These weak growth rates – which imply rising unemployment and worse public finances – are much lower than the equivalent official forecasts of 1.7 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.9 per cent produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility in March.
The figures will come as a blow to George Osborne, chancellor, since they give superficial ammunition to Labour’s critique that “too far too fast” deficit reduction is snuffing out economic growth.
Even more of a concern to the Treasury, however, will be the fiscal forecasts – which the OBR uses to benchmark its own forecasts – showing slow growth to be a persistent feature so deficit reduction will fall short of the chancellor’s plans.
The Commission has cut the amount of slack it believes to be in the economy by 1.5 percentage points of national income, enough the OBR says for it to declare that Mr Osborne has less than a 50:50 chance of meeting his ambition of eliminating the current budget deficit by the time of the next election.
This target is measured after taking account of the economic cycle and the Commission’s pessimism on economic slack means it has revised higher its structural budget deficit forecast for 2011 from 6.5 per cent of national income to 8 per cent in 2011.
That increase in the structural deficit implies Mr Osborne will either need to find £22bn a year more from tax increases or spending cuts immediately or commit to the grind of public spending austerity continuing well after the next election.
The Commission forecast said: “The worsening growth outlook implies clear downward risks to the latest UK official fiscal forecasts published in March”.
The Commission’s conclusions on the likely strength of the public finances come a week after the National Institute of Economic and Social Research forecast the government was set to miss its other fiscal rule – that public debt must be a declining share of national income by 2015-16 – and the International Monetary Fund’s September forecast a persistent £12bn-a-year shortfall in the public finances.
The OBR benchmarks its forecasts – particularly on the degree of slack in the economy – against these other organisations. Unless it makes different forecasting judgments, much more favourable to Mr Osborne, the fiscal watchdog’s next forecasts, due in the Autumn Statement on November 29, are set to be extremely challenging for the chancellor.
By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
With Greece being the word and the eurozone still in pain the markets are in panic mode.
So what should you do?
“Buy on dips”
Portfolio Battered and Bruised?
Having recieved more 'big hits' than were delivered in this year's Rugby World Cup, investors and their portfolios are emerging from a 3-month period which has left them battered and bruised. The US debt downgrade, fears over the US economy and the unfolding events in Europe have rocked the markets forcing many investors into a frenzied panic.
Unlike the majority of investors, here at Fat Prophets we have retained our composure even as the panic escalated... and we ensured our Members did likewise. With investor sentiment approaching a bearish extreme, we noticed that valuations were pricing in a very dire global scenario, suggesting that economic meltdown was a formality.
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
From the words of master investor Warren Buffet:
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
In your report we disclose how to exploit this simple and effective methodology and provide substantial evidence from numerous profits we have made.
Time is a key component for any investment opportunity. Buying on dips is an imperative strategy for any investor. This is a must read report!
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
Fear not, to give us your contact details.
Many investors have been burnt before with numerous investment scams ranging from unfounded alternative investments to boiler room operations.
So it is only fitting to provide a list of facts comforting you to submit your contact details in confidence.
Credibility – Fat Prophets analysts are the ‘go-to’ people for the media, ranging from the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC to the printed press.
Regulated - being FSA regulated, you have the confidence our i’s and t’s have been dotted and crossed. Also you are protected by the FSA compensation scheme.
Durability – Having recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary, we must be doing something right. We have been making stock recommendations daily for the last 10 years.
Competence – We invest in areas which will provide our Members with the greatest returns. Our in-house research team is dominated by analysts holding the hugely respected Chartered Financial Analyst or CFA qualification.
Impartial – Being advisory only, we have no vested interests. If we tell you to buy, hold or sell it is because we believe your performance will benefit as a result… no other reason.
We are clearly trusted to air our views on the markets.
About Us
About Fat Prophets
Let's get something straight. We do not claim to provide all the "best kept secrets in the stock market." We are however confident that we can uncover enough 'hidden gems' and overlooked investment opportunities to fatten the wallets of our Members over time.
What we offer is the support of a team of specialists (not journalists), working full time to enhance your trading and investing experience. Fat Prophets is one of the few genuine independent research houses catering for private investors, providing insightful market analysis as well as ''Buy'',''Sell'' and ''Hold'' recommendations on the latest investment opportunities.
Our success, actually our Members success, is verifiable and consistent. Over the last 7 years the average annual return of our UK portfolio has regularly outperforming the FTSE 100 by quite some distance *. Most importantly our strike rate is outstanding: in closing 88 positions we have lost out on only 9.
This successful strike rate of over 89% means in concrete terms, that every time our members decide to act on our recommendations they can do so with the utmost confidence. Our weekly research reports provide recommendations using fundamental and technical analysis. We advise on the 4 key recommendations about investing –
What stocks to Buy?
Why Buy them?
When to Buy?
When to Sell?
As we are NOT Stock Brokers, you can be reassured our advice is geared to better your wealth nothing else!
Our reports cover UK, US and Australian Equities. Fat Prophets have earned a prestigious name in the industry and thus are regularly invited on the BBC, CNBC, Bloomberg and many other leading media sources to air our sought after views.
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
Best regards,
Fat Prophets
“Buy on dips”
Portfolio Battered and Bruised?
Having recieved more 'big hits' than were delivered in this year's Rugby World Cup, investors and their portfolios are emerging from a 3-month period which has left them battered and bruised. The US debt downgrade, fears over the US economy and the unfolding events in Europe have rocked the markets forcing many investors into a frenzied panic.
Unlike the majority of investors, here at Fat Prophets we have retained our composure even as the panic escalated... and we ensured our Members did likewise. With investor sentiment approaching a bearish extreme, we noticed that valuations were pricing in a very dire global scenario, suggesting that economic meltdown was a formality.
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
From the words of master investor Warren Buffet:
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
In your report we disclose how to exploit this simple and effective methodology and provide substantial evidence from numerous profits we have made.
Time is a key component for any investment opportunity. Buying on dips is an imperative strategy for any investor. This is a must read report!
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
Fear not, to give us your contact details.
Many investors have been burnt before with numerous investment scams ranging from unfounded alternative investments to boiler room operations.
So it is only fitting to provide a list of facts comforting you to submit your contact details in confidence.
Credibility – Fat Prophets analysts are the ‘go-to’ people for the media, ranging from the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC to the printed press.
Regulated - being FSA regulated, you have the confidence our i’s and t’s have been dotted and crossed. Also you are protected by the FSA compensation scheme.
Durability – Having recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary, we must be doing something right. We have been making stock recommendations daily for the last 10 years.
Competence – We invest in areas which will provide our Members with the greatest returns. Our in-house research team is dominated by analysts holding the hugely respected Chartered Financial Analyst or CFA qualification.
Impartial – Being advisory only, we have no vested interests. If we tell you to buy, hold or sell it is because we believe your performance will benefit as a result… no other reason.
We are clearly trusted to air our views on the markets.
About Us
About Fat Prophets
Let's get something straight. We do not claim to provide all the "best kept secrets in the stock market." We are however confident that we can uncover enough 'hidden gems' and overlooked investment opportunities to fatten the wallets of our Members over time.
What we offer is the support of a team of specialists (not journalists), working full time to enhance your trading and investing experience. Fat Prophets is one of the few genuine independent research houses catering for private investors, providing insightful market analysis as well as ''Buy'',''Sell'' and ''Hold'' recommendations on the latest investment opportunities.
Our success, actually our Members success, is verifiable and consistent. Over the last 7 years the average annual return of our UK portfolio has regularly outperforming the FTSE 100 by quite some distance *. Most importantly our strike rate is outstanding: in closing 88 positions we have lost out on only 9.
This successful strike rate of over 89% means in concrete terms, that every time our members decide to act on our recommendations they can do so with the utmost confidence. Our weekly research reports provide recommendations using fundamental and technical analysis. We advise on the 4 key recommendations about investing –
What stocks to Buy?
Why Buy them?
When to Buy?
When to Sell?
As we are NOT Stock Brokers, you can be reassured our advice is geared to better your wealth nothing else!
Our reports cover UK, US and Australian Equities. Fat Prophets have earned a prestigious name in the industry and thus are regularly invited on the BBC, CNBC, Bloomberg and many other leading media sources to air our sought after views.
Click here to receive your complementary guide, The Art of Buying on Dips
Best regards,
Fat Prophets
Importance of webinars
Monday 7 November 2011
Wondering how to communicate with your clients and customers in a more effective way? Consider webinars, a live web conference or seminar that is conducted over the internet. Webinars include video conferencing, audio broadcasting, and other types of internet streaming facilities to get your message to your target audience.
Webinars are especially useful for communication with large, scattered groups around the world. Webinars enable viewers to attend your presentations right on their computers, thus saving time and money on organizing events and traveling. Due to these advantages, many businesses are using webinars to promote their products online. Webinars are a powerful tool that can increase your company’s revenue as well as productivity considerably.
Not just for businesses, webinars are also be used by industry experts or popular personalities to speak on highly relevant topics, such as best practices, trends, or case studies.
To use webinars and deliver a real time experience to your target audience, visit TalkPoint.com. TalkPoint’s Webinar solution integrates advanced features to provide you with all the benefits of webcasting your message. Choose TalkPoint’s Audio or Video platform to deliver your content. The high quality videos used in video conferencing will help you engage your attendees until the last word. We also provide guided training sessions and a dedicated production manager to enable you to proceed with your event easily and without a hitch. With additional live or on demand Q&A, live polling, and exit polling sessions, TalkPoint Webinars encourage interactivity among you and your clients.
With additional features, such as source tracking, client branding, and video insertion you can be sure that TalkPoint Webinars are the best option in the marketplace.
sources: http://blogs.talkpoint.com/uncategorized/importance-of-webinars-2/
Webinars are especially useful for communication with large, scattered groups around the world. Webinars enable viewers to attend your presentations right on their computers, thus saving time and money on organizing events and traveling. Due to these advantages, many businesses are using webinars to promote their products online. Webinars are a powerful tool that can increase your company’s revenue as well as productivity considerably.
Not just for businesses, webinars are also be used by industry experts or popular personalities to speak on highly relevant topics, such as best practices, trends, or case studies.
To use webinars and deliver a real time experience to your target audience, visit TalkPoint.com. TalkPoint’s Webinar solution integrates advanced features to provide you with all the benefits of webcasting your message. Choose TalkPoint’s Audio or Video platform to deliver your content. The high quality videos used in video conferencing will help you engage your attendees until the last word. We also provide guided training sessions and a dedicated production manager to enable you to proceed with your event easily and without a hitch. With additional live or on demand Q&A, live polling, and exit polling sessions, TalkPoint Webinars encourage interactivity among you and your clients.
With additional features, such as source tracking, client branding, and video insertion you can be sure that TalkPoint Webinars are the best option in the marketplace.
sources: http://blogs.talkpoint.com/uncategorized/importance-of-webinars-2/
Taking Care of Business
By Joel Makower, Chairman & Executive Editor
Amid the political, economic and social whirlwind that passes for daily news these days, the public has shifted its collective gaze away from environmental and climate issues -- to the extent its gaze was ever focused there in the first place.
Simply put, "saving the earth" has taken a back seat to "saving the day."
In that light, I've taken a look this week at a couple of surveys of Americans' attitudes toward sustainability issues, and the results aren't encouraging. While the years -- decades, really -- of educational and marketing campaigns are paying off in the form of increased overall awareness, the citizenry is simply not turning that into action. Even when it comes to cutting their own home energy bills, as Leslie Guevarra reports.
And when it comes to climate change, the deck is stacked against them, as my friend and colleague Cara Pike explains. She's been looking for several years at consumer attitudes, particularly toward climate change, and explains why we're losing the battle for their hearts and minds.
Green Building's Growing Markets: On a more optimistic note, green building seems to be doing reasonably well, considering the dismal state of the overall building and real estate markets. At least, that's what Rob Watson tells me. He'll be providing the details on Tuesday, when we publish our annual Green Building Market & Impact Report. Join Watson and John Matthews, Chief Sustainability Officer at Diversey in a free webcast to hear the latest green building trends. Registration required.
BSR, AOK: Last week's BSR conference brought more than 1,000 professionals to San Francisco to examine the state of the art of corporate social responsibility. Our editorial team was there in force. You can the fruits of their labors below, with more here. You'll also find stories of announcements made at or around the event: Enablon's new networking platform, Best Buy's new focus on home energy, and Levi's growing quest for "better cotton."
Amid the political, economic and social whirlwind that passes for daily news these days, the public has shifted its collective gaze away from environmental and climate issues -- to the extent its gaze was ever focused there in the first place.
Simply put, "saving the earth" has taken a back seat to "saving the day."
In that light, I've taken a look this week at a couple of surveys of Americans' attitudes toward sustainability issues, and the results aren't encouraging. While the years -- decades, really -- of educational and marketing campaigns are paying off in the form of increased overall awareness, the citizenry is simply not turning that into action. Even when it comes to cutting their own home energy bills, as Leslie Guevarra reports.
And when it comes to climate change, the deck is stacked against them, as my friend and colleague Cara Pike explains. She's been looking for several years at consumer attitudes, particularly toward climate change, and explains why we're losing the battle for their hearts and minds.
Green Building's Growing Markets: On a more optimistic note, green building seems to be doing reasonably well, considering the dismal state of the overall building and real estate markets. At least, that's what Rob Watson tells me. He'll be providing the details on Tuesday, when we publish our annual Green Building Market & Impact Report. Join Watson and John Matthews, Chief Sustainability Officer at Diversey in a free webcast to hear the latest green building trends. Registration required.
BSR, AOK: Last week's BSR conference brought more than 1,000 professionals to San Francisco to examine the state of the art of corporate social responsibility. Our editorial team was there in force. You can the fruits of their labors below, with more here. You'll also find stories of announcements made at or around the event: Enablon's new networking platform, Best Buy's new focus on home energy, and Levi's growing quest for "better cotton."
Saudi Arabia's Worst Fears Are Coming True
Sunday 6 November 2011
By Keith Kohl | Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Believe it or not, running out of oil is not the Saudis' worst fear.
Not even close.
Would you have cause to worry if you were sitting on 262 billion barrels?
(Granted, we're assuming the Saudis aren't cooking the books, and that most of their future production is of much lower quality than what they were pumping decades ago... That particular problem isn't unique to Saudi Arabia.)
The Saudis aren't losing sleep over production, either.
If nothing else, they boast the world's greatest spare capacity.
It all depends who's doing the talking, but the general consensus is that the Saudis can pump out an additional 2 to 3 million barrels per day to about 12 million barrels per day.
But that's it.
And the number of countries that can actually increase oil production make up a very short list...
Advertisement
How Canada Became the World's Richest Nation
You don't know it yet, but our future landlords aren't the Chinese or the Indians...
They live much closer. And for their entire history, they have always played second fiddle to power, reach, and economic mass of the United States.
But that's all about to change.
You see, just to our North — locked away in land that's frozen for half the year — is a resource worth ten times the U.S. GDP.
The Canadians have been sitting on it for decades, but now, with a recently perfected technology, they're about to become the world's next and last great oil superpower.
Get the details here.
The Saudis' Worst Fear
We may have celebrated the birth of the planet's 7 billionth inhabitant earlier this week, but you can bet there were people who took the announcement as less than happy news...
Population growth is actually the thing the Saudis fear most.
The country's population has grown nearly 18% since the turn of the 21st century, and the trend does not bode well:
Along with their vast oil wealth, oil demand is sure to follow:
In 2010, Saudi Arabia consumed approximately 2.4 million barrels per day.
Sounds like a drop in the bucket when you consider the fact that their Ghawar oil field produces twice that amount...
As is usually the case, the devil is in the details.
The country's oil demand has jumped 50% over the last seven years. During that time, population grew less than 8%.
Truth is the Saudis are becoming just as addicted to crude as we are.
And at this rate, they will need three million barrels per day to stay afloat.
Advertisement
One Metal, Infinite Solutions
The U.S. Army wants it to build drones...
NASA's already used it to mount telescopes...
Computer companies think it's the key to faster processing...
And it's all controlled by a tiny, 20-cent mining and manufacturing firm.
In order to make up this demand, the Saudis will be forced to cut into their exports.
The Saudis have lost the title of the world's largest oil producer. Russia's production was in excess of 10 million barrels per day last year. The Saudis only averaged 9.7 million bbls/d during the same period.
Imagine how the world will be begging for Saudi oil when the rest of the planet's reserves are tapped out...
Enjoy your weekend,
Keith Kohl
Editor, Energy and Capital
Believe it or not, running out of oil is not the Saudis' worst fear.
Not even close.
Would you have cause to worry if you were sitting on 262 billion barrels?
(Granted, we're assuming the Saudis aren't cooking the books, and that most of their future production is of much lower quality than what they were pumping decades ago... That particular problem isn't unique to Saudi Arabia.)
The Saudis aren't losing sleep over production, either.
If nothing else, they boast the world's greatest spare capacity.
It all depends who's doing the talking, but the general consensus is that the Saudis can pump out an additional 2 to 3 million barrels per day to about 12 million barrels per day.
But that's it.
And the number of countries that can actually increase oil production make up a very short list...
Advertisement
How Canada Became the World's Richest Nation
You don't know it yet, but our future landlords aren't the Chinese or the Indians...
They live much closer. And for their entire history, they have always played second fiddle to power, reach, and economic mass of the United States.
But that's all about to change.
You see, just to our North — locked away in land that's frozen for half the year — is a resource worth ten times the U.S. GDP.
The Canadians have been sitting on it for decades, but now, with a recently perfected technology, they're about to become the world's next and last great oil superpower.
Get the details here.
The Saudis' Worst Fear
We may have celebrated the birth of the planet's 7 billionth inhabitant earlier this week, but you can bet there were people who took the announcement as less than happy news...
Population growth is actually the thing the Saudis fear most.
The country's population has grown nearly 18% since the turn of the 21st century, and the trend does not bode well:
Along with their vast oil wealth, oil demand is sure to follow:
In 2010, Saudi Arabia consumed approximately 2.4 million barrels per day.
Sounds like a drop in the bucket when you consider the fact that their Ghawar oil field produces twice that amount...
As is usually the case, the devil is in the details.
The country's oil demand has jumped 50% over the last seven years. During that time, population grew less than 8%.
Truth is the Saudis are becoming just as addicted to crude as we are.
And at this rate, they will need three million barrels per day to stay afloat.
Advertisement
One Metal, Infinite Solutions
The U.S. Army wants it to build drones...
NASA's already used it to mount telescopes...
Computer companies think it's the key to faster processing...
And it's all controlled by a tiny, 20-cent mining and manufacturing firm.
In order to make up this demand, the Saudis will be forced to cut into their exports.
The Saudis have lost the title of the world's largest oil producer. Russia's production was in excess of 10 million barrels per day last year. The Saudis only averaged 9.7 million bbls/d during the same period.
Imagine how the world will be begging for Saudi oil when the rest of the planet's reserves are tapped out...
Enjoy your weekend,
Keith Kohl
Editor, Energy and Capital
Smart Green Globalisation
smart green Globalisation is a global call for all national, institutions, government, the all local community and stakeholders to take a unified green responsibility to save the world from carbon toxic materials to better green /eco-friendly world where all nations in the world take green innovative methods to save the world using alternative energy and green products and services taking green marketing to help green customers save money, reuse and recycle to their daily habits helping green entrepreneurs to set up global green companies
Green globalisation - engagement and self-reliance
They say we have to do all this if we want to make a living, but this isn't true. There is an alternative framework and I call that alternative "Green Globalisation".
On the one hand green globalisation is about engagement with the world. It's about engaging with the world politically to push sustainability and fairness and, it's about engaging with the world economically to trade goods and services that won't destroy the planet. On the other hand green globalisation is about developing our self-reliance and relying on our own resources. We need to engage with the world to achieve sustainable outcomes, and we need to develop our national and community self-reliance.
Thomas Jefferson once said that American democracy would fall if everyone became wage slaves because people would no longer be independent. You don't have to endorse that statement entirely to get a sense of what he was on about. We will not be good global citizens if we simply become dependent on foreign multinationals, a distant outpost of globalisation incorporated, a branch office of Monster Corporation. To be a good global citizen we need a degree of self-reliance — a degree of internal strength from which we can engage with the rest of the world.
Green globalisation means acting as a global citizen
So how have Greens been engaging in globalisation, green globalisation? The first thing is that we have been acting as good global citizens.
Green parties and the green movement the world over have been working together to get progress on reducing greenhouse emissions. There is no global green party telling us all what to do, rather we are all looking at the science, understanding the problem and working for solutions. Green parties and the green movement around the world are working to keep governments accountable.
Greens in Australia and the United States, strong willed characters that they are, are leading the charge to get those countries to sign up to the Kyoto climate protection treaty or at the very least to sign up to the second round of Kyoto that will start after 2012. And we will win.
Governments around the world have been attempting to find excuses why their country or their economy should get some exemption from a global agreement and greens have been saying "no this is a global problem and only a global solution will work".
When the National Party campaigned against the Kyoto climate protection treaty, it was the Greens that stepped in with a voice of global reason — we must play our part as the fourth worst emitter per person if we expect other countries to play their part. When the Labour Party abandoned the carbon charge in 2005 it was the Greens that kept alive the idea of putting a price on greenhouse emissions to make sure there is a price signal to the market that emitting greenhouse gases costs the planet. Price signals aren't the whole picture but they are an important part of it. It would have been easy for Kyoto to have unravelled over the last few years but it was the green movement around the world that held it together so that now very few mainstream parties are talking about getting out of Kyoto. The fact that the Kyoto climate protection treaty has held and will now get stronger is a victory for green globalisation and every green in this room and around the world can be congratulated for that.
Greens have also been engaging in globalisation by challenging the World Trade Organisation both inside and outside. The WTO is set up to privilege the freedom of commerce and places the environment and people second. When the Europeans floated the idea of putting a border tax on non-Kyoto countries that are not playing their part in climate change, the US and Australian governments looked to the WTO to protect them from such a border tax as a restriction on trade.
Greens have intervened in WTO cases to push for the environment and people to be brought into the picture. We have had some successes but the WTO is still putting the health of commerce ahead of the health of the planet and people.
While the Labour National Party uncritically accept the parameters of the WTO, the Green movement has been working to change those parameters and to ensure that global environmental agreements trump global trade agreements — because if there is no environment there is no economy. It would be fair to say that green globalisation still has some way to go in changing the international rules of commerce but we have not finished with it yet.
Green globalisation means standing up for democracy in China alongside those many millions of Chinese that want democracy. While the Labour National Party bends over backwards to get a free trade deal with China regardless of the cost to NZ and regardless that it means muting our criticism of the democratic, environmental and human rights violations going on, the Greens support Chinese democrats, environmentalists and trade unionists to advance rights for Chinese people and protect the rapidly deteriorating environment in China. When the New Zealand police took instructions from the Chinese Embassy and removed a press gallery accredited journalist from a public ceremony it was the Greens that stood up for democracy and freedom of speech. In doing this we are part of a global movement for more democracy in China.
Green globalisation is different to corporate globalisation. It is about people all over the planet recognising that we share common concerns and acting together globally and locally.
Green globalisation is about encouraging values of caring for people and planet. The onslaught of the new right in the 1980s and 1990s has left a cultural legacy of a certain hardness to the suffering of others and a callousness at profit maximising at all possible costs. The brazen and unconcerned response of Solid Energy to public outrage at their covert infiltration of protest groups and the callous response of Mercury Energy in Auckland are perhaps obvious symbols of this culture of disconnect by the global elites from everyday people.
Green globalisation means trading in goods and services that don't cost the earth.
The Greens have been acting as global citizens but we have also been encouraging and facilitating the emergence of a sustainable international economy.
The phenomenal growth of the organics' sector is an indicator of things to come. It's great to see the Green budget funding for Organics Aotearoa New Zealand have borne fruit. OANZ has a target of a billion dollar organics sector by 2013. Demand for organics is growing at 10% to 20% per annum globally driven by green consumers demands for sustainable food. Fonterra for example is currently producing 25 different organic products and is aiming to have 200 organic dairy farms by 2013. Fonterra is paying farmers a 20% premium on organic milk. An organic dairy industry that does not destroy the aquifers and waterways of the nation, in a country that meets its international climate change commitments, is a dairy industry that we look forward to being proud of.
Of course none of this would have been possible if the pro genetic engineering forces had won back in 2001-2002. By now GE grasses would have spread across the country which would have spelt the end of organic dairy production. Organics is by definition GE free. It was the Green Party and the GE Free movement that kept our options open as an organic food producer. It's worth remembering that the Labour National Party attacked the Greens for our stance on GE in the 2002 election. The country as a whole is now starting to reap the benefits of the foresight of the green movement and our victory in stopping commercial scale GE crops. Labour National said we would destroy the economy. In fact it was the Greens that kept the nation's economic options open to go down the organic path, a path that offers us a clean environment and a secure economic future.
The world has a hunger for clean sustainable food and we have an opportunity to supply that food and get a premium price for it. Already conventionally produced milk solids from New Zealand get a premium because of the international perception of clean and green New Zealand — well let's turn that perception into a reality before the truth is out.
Tourism is our largest single export industry and people come here because New Zealand is safe, because of our fantastic natural environment, and because of the distinct cultural identity of tangata whenua. The successful 100% Pure New Zealand advertising campaign builds on our image as clean and green. Now tell me who is responsible for building the biggest export earner that we have? Is it the financial globalisation ideologues in the National Party who when last in government wanted to log the ancient beech forests on the west coast of the south island? Or is the biggest export earner we have in existence because of the band of grassroots activists in Native Forest Action and the Greens who fought to stop the logging? Would two million tourists a year come to see a logging operation? Who has done the most for the New Zealand economy, Don Elder with his coal mining operations or the late Kevin Smith who made sure that tens of thousands of hectares of ancient forests were saved from the chainsaw so that they could become the centrepiece of our single largest export earner, the tourist industry.
While there are great challenges ahead for tourism in a carbon constrained world, it is another example of the economic power of green globalisation. Tourists care about the environment and that's why they come. But will people still want to come here if Lake Taupo becomes a dead zone full of toxic algae because of fertiliser seepage?
Tourism is happening right now, organics is rapidly developing but there are also some industries that are not too far away. Here's just a few:
The development of an indigenous New Zealand wind generator manufacturing industry bodes well for our future. Wind at the right scale and in the right place is one of the energies of the future and Windflow is a great New Zealand success story that I suspect one day will be a major exporter of high tech wind turbines creating carbon free electricity for people around the world.
Its turbines are of an intermediate size that communities can own rather than the huge industrial size turbines which have their place but can alienate communities.
Investments in tidal and wave power technology now will pay dividends well into the future as countries look for renewable sources of energy generation. We have an opportunity to take the lead in wind and tidal technology to meet our own energy needs and to sell overseas to help other people meet theirs.
The technology to convert wood into liquid biofuels may well be part of the answer to rising fuel prices and climate change. Using woody biomass doesn't have all the problems associated with corn in the US and palm oil in south east Asia. Biojoule, a company based in Taupo is using a non invasive species of willow to produce the woody material to feed into a fermenter using waste heat from a geothermal plant to process the willow into ethanol. It's still experimental and will need careful consideration as to the energy inputs versus energy outputs and whether it displaces other crops but it is promising.
And what about investing in research into the use of wood as a replacement to steel and cement in building. Wood laminates layer wood together to create structural components that are as strong as steel and cement. But in the process they act as a carbon sink and displace the production of steel and cement both of which result in masses of greenhouse emissions. We could become world leaders in this technology.
And the rise of the fair trade movement offers further opportunities for us to engage in trade with developing countries that is both fair and sustainable.
The facts speak for themselves. It is green industries that significantly underpin our exports right now and it is the green industries like organics and renewable energy that will underpin our exports in the future.
Green globalisation and self-reliance
But if on the one hand green globalisation is about engaging with the world to make it more sustainable and fairer, engaging in the world to trade goods and services that are fair and sustainable, the other side of green globalisation is about acting locally to increase our own sustainability and self-reliance.
Self-reliance comes out of locally produced food. The flourishing of farmers' markets around the country is a tremendously positive sign. People buying food produced locally is exactly the kind of self-reliance that is compatible with green globalisation, especially when that food is organic as well, as much of it is at farmers markets. Greens have been talking for a long time about encouraging local production and consumption of food and it's great to see it actually happening.
But how ridiculous is it that the Labour Government continues to oppose mandatory country of origin labelling of food so that consumers in supermarkets don't know whether they are supporting local food producers. In light of the mounting evidence of systemic pollution of food production in China, it is the height of arrogance that this government denies consumers the basic protection of knowing where their food is coming from.
There is also the self-reliance that comes out of making use of our own renewable energy sources instead of imported fossil fuels. How crazy is the National Labour Party's obsession with motorway construction. As the price of oil continues to increase and will only go up further as we approach the point of peak oil production, the government is investing in infrastructure dependent on oil. A key part of the inflationary pressures in the New Zealand economy over the last couple of years has been rising oil prices. We should be investing in public transport infrastructure run on renewably generated electricity instead of road using oil. The electrification of the Auckland rail network is the first step in Auckland but we want to do more — we need to extend the electric rail line back under the city to make a proper loop rather than the dead end that Britomart currently is.
In Wellington we have finally managed to secure the upgrade of the electric trolley buses after a long campaign by the Greens and once the Makara wind project proceeds those buses will truly be powered by the wind. A fantastic alternative to oil based car transport but investment in rail remains woefully inadequate.
Now wind generation has its issues and one of the things we really want to push is to give individuals and communities the ability to generate their own electricity from their own smaller scale wind generators and solar panels on their roofs. New Zealand owned Windflow that I mentioned earlier has developed an innovative 500kw wind generator which is producing power in Manawatu right now. How about giving some incentives for communities around the country to put in one or two or three of these smaller scale generators and let the community get the profits from them. Why should every wind farm be industrial scale?
And why is it virtually impossible to sell renewable electricity to the grid from small scale producers. Why are the regulators letting the electricity companies get away with making it virtually impossible to feed in power to the grid from photovoltaic solar panels on your own roof? They do it overseas why can't we do it here?
We have tremendous opportunities to develop our own renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar, tidal and wave power. The talk of importing liquefied natural gas into the country is a recipe for perpetual dependence on overseas energy sources that is completely avoidable.
There is the self-reliance of manufacturing more of our stuff in New Zealand. The Greens' Buy Kiwi Made campaign encourages exactly that kind of self-reliance. By making and consuming more of our own products we reduce our import bill and take some of the pressure off our chronic current account deficit and reduce our contribution to the vast proliferation in oil used to ship products all over the world.
We also need to look to being more self reliant financially. The Greens were proud to deliver the necessary votes in Parliament alongside Labour and the then Alliance party to get Kiwibank off the ground and it is doing well. Locally owned TSB bank is a stellar financial performer. Prometheus is a New Zealand ethical investment company that is going from strength to strength. If we don't want to see hundreds of millions of dollars go overseas in bank profits to foreign owners every year then we need to develop greater self reliance in the financial sector. We have made a small start and we can do more.
These are all examples of how greater self-reliance will place us in a stronger position to engage in the world more on our own terms, rather than simply accept the terms offered up by financial or corporate globalisation.
There is an emerging green globalisation that sees people around the world engaging with each to protect the global commons and to trade in environmentally sustainable goods and services. And there is a green globalisation that sees people being self-reliant in things that make sense such as local food production and local energy sources. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a part of this green globalisation and we are playing an increasingly important part in New Zealand politics.
A stronger Green identity — Green member and supporter launch
The influence of the Greens in national politics in disproportionately greater than our numbers in the House and is greater than the two spokespeople roles we achieved under the Cooperation Agreement with Labour. The Greens are now firmly established in New Zealand politics because what we say makes sense in a finite world.
Some say the Greens are the third party of New Zealand politics but I say we are the second party because Labour and National are very similar in so many ways. For both of them sustainability is an add-on when the focus groups tell them it's trendy. For the Greens sustainability and fairness is at the very core of who we are.
As I have travelled around the country on the Climate Defence Tour over the last few weeks I have been struck by the growing strength and influence of the party in towns and regions across the country. But this increased influence is placing tremendous pressures on our capacity to perform this greater role. The Greens do not have the giant secret corporate donors that National, in particular, has. There are no Hollow Men bankrolling the party. We rely on our members and supporters to fund the party and indeed to pay my salary.
So in order to help us achieve our goals of a fair and sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand and a fair and sustainable world, today we are launching a member and supporter drive. We want to join up more members, but we are also aware that there are many people who for whatever reason don't or can't join the Green Party but would like to support us in our work. And that is why we are launching the Green Supporter — someone who helps the party out financially without being an actual member.
So I would say to the many New Zealanders who care for this place and this planet and all of its people, and who care for the incredible plants and animals that we share the planet with, become a Green supporter or a Green member and help us care for this place and each other.
The Green Party has an ambition and a vision that these islands will shine like a beacon to the world for sustainability, justice, peace and democracy.
As the great New Zealand patriot Rod Donald once said: "We have high expectations in the Greens, of ourselves and for our nation".
source: 1.Green Conference & AGM 2007, Nelson (http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/green-globalisation-engagement-and-self-reliance)
2.smart independent Team
Green globalisation - engagement and self-reliance
They say we have to do all this if we want to make a living, but this isn't true. There is an alternative framework and I call that alternative "Green Globalisation".
On the one hand green globalisation is about engagement with the world. It's about engaging with the world politically to push sustainability and fairness and, it's about engaging with the world economically to trade goods and services that won't destroy the planet. On the other hand green globalisation is about developing our self-reliance and relying on our own resources. We need to engage with the world to achieve sustainable outcomes, and we need to develop our national and community self-reliance.
Thomas Jefferson once said that American democracy would fall if everyone became wage slaves because people would no longer be independent. You don't have to endorse that statement entirely to get a sense of what he was on about. We will not be good global citizens if we simply become dependent on foreign multinationals, a distant outpost of globalisation incorporated, a branch office of Monster Corporation. To be a good global citizen we need a degree of self-reliance — a degree of internal strength from which we can engage with the rest of the world.
Green globalisation means acting as a global citizen
So how have Greens been engaging in globalisation, green globalisation? The first thing is that we have been acting as good global citizens.
Green parties and the green movement the world over have been working together to get progress on reducing greenhouse emissions. There is no global green party telling us all what to do, rather we are all looking at the science, understanding the problem and working for solutions. Green parties and the green movement around the world are working to keep governments accountable.
Greens in Australia and the United States, strong willed characters that they are, are leading the charge to get those countries to sign up to the Kyoto climate protection treaty or at the very least to sign up to the second round of Kyoto that will start after 2012. And we will win.
Governments around the world have been attempting to find excuses why their country or their economy should get some exemption from a global agreement and greens have been saying "no this is a global problem and only a global solution will work".
When the National Party campaigned against the Kyoto climate protection treaty, it was the Greens that stepped in with a voice of global reason — we must play our part as the fourth worst emitter per person if we expect other countries to play their part. When the Labour Party abandoned the carbon charge in 2005 it was the Greens that kept alive the idea of putting a price on greenhouse emissions to make sure there is a price signal to the market that emitting greenhouse gases costs the planet. Price signals aren't the whole picture but they are an important part of it. It would have been easy for Kyoto to have unravelled over the last few years but it was the green movement around the world that held it together so that now very few mainstream parties are talking about getting out of Kyoto. The fact that the Kyoto climate protection treaty has held and will now get stronger is a victory for green globalisation and every green in this room and around the world can be congratulated for that.
Greens have also been engaging in globalisation by challenging the World Trade Organisation both inside and outside. The WTO is set up to privilege the freedom of commerce and places the environment and people second. When the Europeans floated the idea of putting a border tax on non-Kyoto countries that are not playing their part in climate change, the US and Australian governments looked to the WTO to protect them from such a border tax as a restriction on trade.
Greens have intervened in WTO cases to push for the environment and people to be brought into the picture. We have had some successes but the WTO is still putting the health of commerce ahead of the health of the planet and people.
While the Labour National Party uncritically accept the parameters of the WTO, the Green movement has been working to change those parameters and to ensure that global environmental agreements trump global trade agreements — because if there is no environment there is no economy. It would be fair to say that green globalisation still has some way to go in changing the international rules of commerce but we have not finished with it yet.
Green globalisation means standing up for democracy in China alongside those many millions of Chinese that want democracy. While the Labour National Party bends over backwards to get a free trade deal with China regardless of the cost to NZ and regardless that it means muting our criticism of the democratic, environmental and human rights violations going on, the Greens support Chinese democrats, environmentalists and trade unionists to advance rights for Chinese people and protect the rapidly deteriorating environment in China. When the New Zealand police took instructions from the Chinese Embassy and removed a press gallery accredited journalist from a public ceremony it was the Greens that stood up for democracy and freedom of speech. In doing this we are part of a global movement for more democracy in China.
Green globalisation is different to corporate globalisation. It is about people all over the planet recognising that we share common concerns and acting together globally and locally.
Green globalisation is about encouraging values of caring for people and planet. The onslaught of the new right in the 1980s and 1990s has left a cultural legacy of a certain hardness to the suffering of others and a callousness at profit maximising at all possible costs. The brazen and unconcerned response of Solid Energy to public outrage at their covert infiltration of protest groups and the callous response of Mercury Energy in Auckland are perhaps obvious symbols of this culture of disconnect by the global elites from everyday people.
Green globalisation means trading in goods and services that don't cost the earth.
The Greens have been acting as global citizens but we have also been encouraging and facilitating the emergence of a sustainable international economy.
The phenomenal growth of the organics' sector is an indicator of things to come. It's great to see the Green budget funding for Organics Aotearoa New Zealand have borne fruit. OANZ has a target of a billion dollar organics sector by 2013. Demand for organics is growing at 10% to 20% per annum globally driven by green consumers demands for sustainable food. Fonterra for example is currently producing 25 different organic products and is aiming to have 200 organic dairy farms by 2013. Fonterra is paying farmers a 20% premium on organic milk. An organic dairy industry that does not destroy the aquifers and waterways of the nation, in a country that meets its international climate change commitments, is a dairy industry that we look forward to being proud of.
Of course none of this would have been possible if the pro genetic engineering forces had won back in 2001-2002. By now GE grasses would have spread across the country which would have spelt the end of organic dairy production. Organics is by definition GE free. It was the Green Party and the GE Free movement that kept our options open as an organic food producer. It's worth remembering that the Labour National Party attacked the Greens for our stance on GE in the 2002 election. The country as a whole is now starting to reap the benefits of the foresight of the green movement and our victory in stopping commercial scale GE crops. Labour National said we would destroy the economy. In fact it was the Greens that kept the nation's economic options open to go down the organic path, a path that offers us a clean environment and a secure economic future.
The world has a hunger for clean sustainable food and we have an opportunity to supply that food and get a premium price for it. Already conventionally produced milk solids from New Zealand get a premium because of the international perception of clean and green New Zealand — well let's turn that perception into a reality before the truth is out.
Tourism is our largest single export industry and people come here because New Zealand is safe, because of our fantastic natural environment, and because of the distinct cultural identity of tangata whenua. The successful 100% Pure New Zealand advertising campaign builds on our image as clean and green. Now tell me who is responsible for building the biggest export earner that we have? Is it the financial globalisation ideologues in the National Party who when last in government wanted to log the ancient beech forests on the west coast of the south island? Or is the biggest export earner we have in existence because of the band of grassroots activists in Native Forest Action and the Greens who fought to stop the logging? Would two million tourists a year come to see a logging operation? Who has done the most for the New Zealand economy, Don Elder with his coal mining operations or the late Kevin Smith who made sure that tens of thousands of hectares of ancient forests were saved from the chainsaw so that they could become the centrepiece of our single largest export earner, the tourist industry.
While there are great challenges ahead for tourism in a carbon constrained world, it is another example of the economic power of green globalisation. Tourists care about the environment and that's why they come. But will people still want to come here if Lake Taupo becomes a dead zone full of toxic algae because of fertiliser seepage?
Tourism is happening right now, organics is rapidly developing but there are also some industries that are not too far away. Here's just a few:
The development of an indigenous New Zealand wind generator manufacturing industry bodes well for our future. Wind at the right scale and in the right place is one of the energies of the future and Windflow is a great New Zealand success story that I suspect one day will be a major exporter of high tech wind turbines creating carbon free electricity for people around the world.
Its turbines are of an intermediate size that communities can own rather than the huge industrial size turbines which have their place but can alienate communities.
Investments in tidal and wave power technology now will pay dividends well into the future as countries look for renewable sources of energy generation. We have an opportunity to take the lead in wind and tidal technology to meet our own energy needs and to sell overseas to help other people meet theirs.
The technology to convert wood into liquid biofuels may well be part of the answer to rising fuel prices and climate change. Using woody biomass doesn't have all the problems associated with corn in the US and palm oil in south east Asia. Biojoule, a company based in Taupo is using a non invasive species of willow to produce the woody material to feed into a fermenter using waste heat from a geothermal plant to process the willow into ethanol. It's still experimental and will need careful consideration as to the energy inputs versus energy outputs and whether it displaces other crops but it is promising.
And what about investing in research into the use of wood as a replacement to steel and cement in building. Wood laminates layer wood together to create structural components that are as strong as steel and cement. But in the process they act as a carbon sink and displace the production of steel and cement both of which result in masses of greenhouse emissions. We could become world leaders in this technology.
And the rise of the fair trade movement offers further opportunities for us to engage in trade with developing countries that is both fair and sustainable.
The facts speak for themselves. It is green industries that significantly underpin our exports right now and it is the green industries like organics and renewable energy that will underpin our exports in the future.
Green globalisation and self-reliance
But if on the one hand green globalisation is about engaging with the world to make it more sustainable and fairer, engaging in the world to trade goods and services that are fair and sustainable, the other side of green globalisation is about acting locally to increase our own sustainability and self-reliance.
Self-reliance comes out of locally produced food. The flourishing of farmers' markets around the country is a tremendously positive sign. People buying food produced locally is exactly the kind of self-reliance that is compatible with green globalisation, especially when that food is organic as well, as much of it is at farmers markets. Greens have been talking for a long time about encouraging local production and consumption of food and it's great to see it actually happening.
But how ridiculous is it that the Labour Government continues to oppose mandatory country of origin labelling of food so that consumers in supermarkets don't know whether they are supporting local food producers. In light of the mounting evidence of systemic pollution of food production in China, it is the height of arrogance that this government denies consumers the basic protection of knowing where their food is coming from.
There is also the self-reliance that comes out of making use of our own renewable energy sources instead of imported fossil fuels. How crazy is the National Labour Party's obsession with motorway construction. As the price of oil continues to increase and will only go up further as we approach the point of peak oil production, the government is investing in infrastructure dependent on oil. A key part of the inflationary pressures in the New Zealand economy over the last couple of years has been rising oil prices. We should be investing in public transport infrastructure run on renewably generated electricity instead of road using oil. The electrification of the Auckland rail network is the first step in Auckland but we want to do more — we need to extend the electric rail line back under the city to make a proper loop rather than the dead end that Britomart currently is.
In Wellington we have finally managed to secure the upgrade of the electric trolley buses after a long campaign by the Greens and once the Makara wind project proceeds those buses will truly be powered by the wind. A fantastic alternative to oil based car transport but investment in rail remains woefully inadequate.
Now wind generation has its issues and one of the things we really want to push is to give individuals and communities the ability to generate their own electricity from their own smaller scale wind generators and solar panels on their roofs. New Zealand owned Windflow that I mentioned earlier has developed an innovative 500kw wind generator which is producing power in Manawatu right now. How about giving some incentives for communities around the country to put in one or two or three of these smaller scale generators and let the community get the profits from them. Why should every wind farm be industrial scale?
And why is it virtually impossible to sell renewable electricity to the grid from small scale producers. Why are the regulators letting the electricity companies get away with making it virtually impossible to feed in power to the grid from photovoltaic solar panels on your own roof? They do it overseas why can't we do it here?
We have tremendous opportunities to develop our own renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar, tidal and wave power. The talk of importing liquefied natural gas into the country is a recipe for perpetual dependence on overseas energy sources that is completely avoidable.
There is the self-reliance of manufacturing more of our stuff in New Zealand. The Greens' Buy Kiwi Made campaign encourages exactly that kind of self-reliance. By making and consuming more of our own products we reduce our import bill and take some of the pressure off our chronic current account deficit and reduce our contribution to the vast proliferation in oil used to ship products all over the world.
We also need to look to being more self reliant financially. The Greens were proud to deliver the necessary votes in Parliament alongside Labour and the then Alliance party to get Kiwibank off the ground and it is doing well. Locally owned TSB bank is a stellar financial performer. Prometheus is a New Zealand ethical investment company that is going from strength to strength. If we don't want to see hundreds of millions of dollars go overseas in bank profits to foreign owners every year then we need to develop greater self reliance in the financial sector. We have made a small start and we can do more.
These are all examples of how greater self-reliance will place us in a stronger position to engage in the world more on our own terms, rather than simply accept the terms offered up by financial or corporate globalisation.
There is an emerging green globalisation that sees people around the world engaging with each to protect the global commons and to trade in environmentally sustainable goods and services. And there is a green globalisation that sees people being self-reliant in things that make sense such as local food production and local energy sources. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a part of this green globalisation and we are playing an increasingly important part in New Zealand politics.
A stronger Green identity — Green member and supporter launch
The influence of the Greens in national politics in disproportionately greater than our numbers in the House and is greater than the two spokespeople roles we achieved under the Cooperation Agreement with Labour. The Greens are now firmly established in New Zealand politics because what we say makes sense in a finite world.
Some say the Greens are the third party of New Zealand politics but I say we are the second party because Labour and National are very similar in so many ways. For both of them sustainability is an add-on when the focus groups tell them it's trendy. For the Greens sustainability and fairness is at the very core of who we are.
As I have travelled around the country on the Climate Defence Tour over the last few weeks I have been struck by the growing strength and influence of the party in towns and regions across the country. But this increased influence is placing tremendous pressures on our capacity to perform this greater role. The Greens do not have the giant secret corporate donors that National, in particular, has. There are no Hollow Men bankrolling the party. We rely on our members and supporters to fund the party and indeed to pay my salary.
So in order to help us achieve our goals of a fair and sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand and a fair and sustainable world, today we are launching a member and supporter drive. We want to join up more members, but we are also aware that there are many people who for whatever reason don't or can't join the Green Party but would like to support us in our work. And that is why we are launching the Green Supporter — someone who helps the party out financially without being an actual member.
So I would say to the many New Zealanders who care for this place and this planet and all of its people, and who care for the incredible plants and animals that we share the planet with, become a Green supporter or a Green member and help us care for this place and each other.
The Green Party has an ambition and a vision that these islands will shine like a beacon to the world for sustainability, justice, peace and democracy.
As the great New Zealand patriot Rod Donald once said: "We have high expectations in the Greens, of ourselves and for our nation".
source: 1.Green Conference & AGM 2007, Nelson (http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/green-globalisation-engagement-and-self-reliance)
2.smart independent Team
9 ways To Reduce your Supply side Energy Cost
1. consolidate all you utility billing data in a single place all parties in your organisation can use it easily
2. pay the lowest cost tariffs you can
3. in deregulated markets chooses the lowest cost provide for your usage patterns
4. Avoid over paying your utility fund billing errors
5. Take advantage of all utility relates and incentives
6.claim all the carbon credits you can
7. don't let your utilities sit on large amounts of your deposit money
8.when you open new facilities or locations make sure you're billed at the most favourable rate from the start
9.Take advantage of other special programs your utilities may offer
source: David Vanican, VERISAIE Envirinmental leader white paper
2. pay the lowest cost tariffs you can
3. in deregulated markets chooses the lowest cost provide for your usage patterns
4. Avoid over paying your utility fund billing errors
5. Take advantage of all utility relates and incentives
6.claim all the carbon credits you can
7. don't let your utilities sit on large amounts of your deposit money
8.when you open new facilities or locations make sure you're billed at the most favourable rate from the start
9.Take advantage of other special programs your utilities may offer
source: David Vanican, VERISAIE Envirinmental leader white paper
Tips To Set Up A Successful Budget
Many people prepare a budget, stick to it, but fail to achieve results. The continuous failure indicates just one thing - something is going wrong. It is time to review your budget and find those loop holes. The best way to do this is to look at the fundamentals. Always remember, if you have not taken care of the basic things properly, even a well-formed and well-planned budget may turn out to be a big disaster. Here is a brief rundown on how to put your budget on the right track.
Why You Are Setting Up A Budget?
Are you setting up a budget just because your friends and colleagues say it is a good idea? If that is the case, you are less likely to succeed in your efforts. Likewise, even following a personal finance workbook word-to-word may not help much because financial situations vary from one person to another. You just have to stick to the fundamental idea – spend lesser than what you earn. The idea is to find your spending weaknesses and get stronger in those areas.
Do You Have A Long-Term Goal In Mind?
In order to prepare a successful budget, it is very important for you to keep a concrete long-term goal in mind. The goal for you may be to achieve the ability to go for a career change, saving for a house, or paying off your debts. This goal is important because budgeting often requires you to make some difficult choices. You may have to cut down your entertainment expenses. You may have to start practicing frugality. These things can be very easy to accomplish when you know that these little uncomfortable choices will actually result in a major gain. Having a specific and tangible long-term goal will keep you motivated.
Have Accurate Data Of How Much You Earn And How Much You Spend
The amount of your annual salary is not the correct figure for your actual income. For example, if you are making $60000 a year, it does not mean you earn $5000 a month. In order to find the accurate figure, you should subtract the amount of income tax and other charges, such as health insurance and auto insurance. Once you do this, you actual income may fall down to $4000 or even less per month. You have to plan your budget considering this figure in mind. Likewise, you should also calculate your expenses in real numbers. You can do this by looking at your regular and irregular bills.
Emergency Fund
While you are adjusting the expenses in your budget, you should also make some room for the “unexpected surprises”. You can do this easily by stocking away a little amount every month in the emergency fund.
Last, but not the least, you should always remember, budgeting is like diet planning. If you have unrealistic goals to achieve, you will never be able to succeed. You definitely cannot reduce your entertainment expenses by 80%. Go slow while trimming down your expenses. Start with a 5% reduction and trim it a bit more after some time and some success. The idea is to make sure that your budget is not based on false assumptions.
sources: http://keep-your-cash.com/tips-to-set-up-a-successful-budget/
Why You Are Setting Up A Budget?
Are you setting up a budget just because your friends and colleagues say it is a good idea? If that is the case, you are less likely to succeed in your efforts. Likewise, even following a personal finance workbook word-to-word may not help much because financial situations vary from one person to another. You just have to stick to the fundamental idea – spend lesser than what you earn. The idea is to find your spending weaknesses and get stronger in those areas.
Do You Have A Long-Term Goal In Mind?
In order to prepare a successful budget, it is very important for you to keep a concrete long-term goal in mind. The goal for you may be to achieve the ability to go for a career change, saving for a house, or paying off your debts. This goal is important because budgeting often requires you to make some difficult choices. You may have to cut down your entertainment expenses. You may have to start practicing frugality. These things can be very easy to accomplish when you know that these little uncomfortable choices will actually result in a major gain. Having a specific and tangible long-term goal will keep you motivated.
Have Accurate Data Of How Much You Earn And How Much You Spend
The amount of your annual salary is not the correct figure for your actual income. For example, if you are making $60000 a year, it does not mean you earn $5000 a month. In order to find the accurate figure, you should subtract the amount of income tax and other charges, such as health insurance and auto insurance. Once you do this, you actual income may fall down to $4000 or even less per month. You have to plan your budget considering this figure in mind. Likewise, you should also calculate your expenses in real numbers. You can do this by looking at your regular and irregular bills.
Emergency Fund
While you are adjusting the expenses in your budget, you should also make some room for the “unexpected surprises”. You can do this easily by stocking away a little amount every month in the emergency fund.
Last, but not the least, you should always remember, budgeting is like diet planning. If you have unrealistic goals to achieve, you will never be able to succeed. You definitely cannot reduce your entertainment expenses by 80%. Go slow while trimming down your expenses. Start with a 5% reduction and trim it a bit more after some time and some success. The idea is to make sure that your budget is not based on false assumptions.
sources: http://keep-your-cash.com/tips-to-set-up-a-successful-budget/
I Fear for the Future energy and capital practical investment analysis in new energy economy
Tuesday 1 November 2011
By Nick Hodge | Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
In one of his first-ever articles for Energy & Capital, Chris Nelder asked, “Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?”
The question stems from research done by Dr. Albert Bartlett at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Here's an excerpt from his findings:
Bacteria grow by doubling. One bacterium divides to become two, the two divide to become 4, become 8, 16 and so on. Suppose we had bacteria that doubled in number this way every minute. Suppose we put one of these bacteria into an empty bottle at eleven in the morning, and then observe that the bottle is full at twelve noon. There's our case of just ordinary steady growth, it has a doubling time of one minute, and it's in the finite environment of one bottle. I want to ask you three questions.
Number one; at which time was the bottle half full? Well, would you believe 11:59, one minute before 12, because they double in number every minute?
Second question: if you were an average bacterium in that bottle at what time would you first realize that you were running of space? Well let's just look at the last minute in the bottle. At 12 noon it's full, one minute before it's half full, 2 minutes before its 1/4 full, then 1/8, then 1/16. Let me ask you: at 5 minutes before 12, when the bottle is only 3% full, and 97% is open space just yearning for development, how many of you would realize there's a problem?
Population growth and/or growth in the rates of consumption of resources cannot be sustained. That's simple arithmetic. It's intellectually dishonest to talk about saving the environment, which is sustainability, without stressing the obvious facts that stopping population growth is a necessary condition for saving the environment and for sustainability.
The point is worth pondering.
As Dr. Bartlett also notes, if our 1.3%-per-year population growth rate continues, “the world population would grow to a density of one person per square meter on the dry land surface of the earth in just 780 years, and then the mass of people would equal the mass of the earth in just 2,400 years."
It's why he ultimately concluded: "The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function."
Advertisement
There Are Now 7 Billion People in the World
But the amount of oil we have stays the same.
Unless the law of supply and demand is broken...
Oil prices have to rise.
You can get burned, or you can take advantage.
Your choice.
I Fear for the Future
I don't fear for my future.
I don't even fear for my kids' futures. (I don't have any yet. More on that below.)
What I fear for is my great-grandkids' futures, for the effects of the most severe problems we face today won't be felt until that time.
It's sad, but the effects are happening literally on a glacial scale.
If they happened faster, we'd act with more urgency.
I've been telling you for months the world's population would hit 7 billion this year. The milestone occurred this week with little fanfare. I guess global resource woes are no match for news coverage against an early Northeast snow...
Anyhow, it's this yeast idea that's had my brain turning for the past few days.
And I've concluded that many of us are not smarter than yeast — or at least, we're way more easily distracted. None of the yeast realized they'd be out of space in a minute's time. Frankly, not many humans do, either.
Take a look at this chart of population growth since the Homo genus appeared:
Just like the yeast, we had plenty of space (and resources) for so long that we were unable to feel the coming constraints.
We only had 1 billion people on earth at the turn of the nineteenth century. Then something called the Industrial Revolution happened, making machine power more easy to come by than manpower and cheap food available to all who needed it.
From there, even though it took us all of eternity to reach 1 billion, we hit 2 billion in 1922, 3 billion in 1959, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, and 7 billion just this week.
Notice anything there?
Advertisement
East African Nation about to become Trillion-Dollar Economy
Today, its GDP is just around $40 billion... but in a few short years, this number could grow by a factor of 100.
And it's all because of a fossil fuel deposit — one of the biggest ever discovered.
Find out who just bought this property — and the staggering resource they're about to pump out.
There are fewer and fewer years between each billion we add on.
It took 118 years to go from 1 billion to 2 billion.
It only took 12 years to get from 6 billion to 7 billion.
We'll Try, We'll Profit
It's no coincidence that a chart of global population syncs up perfectly with a chart of corn yield per acre:The ability to get more grain from the same fields is, after all, the main contributing factor to our exploding population.
What allowed for this explosion in production?
Cheap oil and gas, fertilizers, hybrid seeds, mechanized equipment, etc.
Cheap is the key word here. Corn prices fell inversely to production increases:
But how much more corn — or wheat or rice or rye or soy or canola or, or, or — can we continue to extract from the same acreage?
How much more oil can we extract? Can we get it fast enough?
Make no mistake; many of the problems we face today can be directly attributed to a sharp rise in population: water shortages and disease in the Third World, immigration, health care...
No one can come out and say, “We must start limiting population.” (Death Panels, anyone?)
Instead, we'll try to innovate and engineer our way out of the population problem. And our solutions will continue to push the limits of man and technology.
Think about it...
When we needed more oil in 1959, where did we go? We went to Saudi Arabia, where there was plenty of easy oil.
What do we do today? We heat up bitumen frozen underground in sedimentary rock using steam assisted gravity drainage. We didn't do that with 3 billion people on the earth...
Ever hear of a rare earth shortage in 1987? That's because there were two billion less of us needing electronics, advanced motors, and batteries.
The lead time between innovation and reality is tenuous, to be sure.
Remember the food crisis three years ago, where sharply rising prices in 2006 and 2007 (CORRELATION ALERT: because of rising oil prices) led to panics and stockpiling in early 2008?
Brazil and India banned rice exports. Riots broke out from Burkina Faso to Somalia. George W. Bush asked Congress to approve $770 million for international food aid. But by October, something else was on everyone's mind...
Bush went from asking for food aid to signing the $700 billion TARP bailout into law.
And while the worries of recession still dominate the minds of many, those of us who understand the exponential function know more problems await us.
The arrival of our 7 billionth inhabitant felt like a good time to remind you of that.
Cheap energy and land are where your money should be. That's where mine is.
Call it like you see it,
Nick Hodge
Editor, Energy and Capital
P.S. I wanted to pass along one other sentiment without having to claim direct responsibility for it. A comment I found on a related article while doing research allows me to do that perfectly. This commenter laments:
The real tragedy is that we are having the wrong kind of babies. That survival of the fittest is not happening but society is getting dumber. I know so many highly educated people who don't plan to have any children and high school dropouts that are bragging about grandchildren at 40. All we are breeding into society are macho, aggressive males and females who are unable to count the days of the month. These traits are not going to work well as the environment goes down because of overpopulation. I fear for the future.
... me, too.
Related Articles
Preparing for Energy Battle
Population's Effect on the Future of Energy
Weekend: Population, Food, and Oil
Water Scarcity Creating Investment Opportunities
From the Archives...
Owes for Energy Department Loan
2011-10-31 - Brianna Panzica
Population Hits a Milestone on Halloween
2011-10-31 - Brianna Panzica
Energy and Capital's Weekend Edition
2011-10-29 - Nick Hodge
Odd Trends for the 3rd Quarter
2011-10-28 - Brianna Panzica
The Two Best Investments in U.S. Oil Security
2011-10-28 - Keith Kohl
Economic Releases for the week of Monday, October 31st, 2011:
Nov 01 - ISM Index
Nov 03 - Productivity
Nov 04 - Average Workweek
Nov 04 - Hourly Earnings
Oct 31 - Chicago PMI
Nov 01 - Construction Spending
Nov 01 - Auto and Truck Sales
Nov 02 - MBA Mortgage Purchase Index
Nov 03 - Factory Orders
Nov 03 - ISM Services
Nov 04 - Nonfarm Payrolls
Nov 04 - Unemployment Rate
Brought to you by Wealth Daily
This email was sent to mutebijackson@yahoo.com . You can manage your subscription and get our privacy policy here.
Energy and Capital, Copyright © 2011, Angel Publishing LLC, 1012 Morton St, Baltimore, MD 21201. All rights reserved. No statement or expression of opinion, or any other matter herein, directly or indirectly, is an offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or financial instruments mentioned. While we believe the sources of information to be reliable, we in no way represent or guarantee the accuracy of the statements made herein. Energy and Capital does not provide individual investment counseling, act as an investment advisor, or individually advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. The publisher, editors and consultants of Angel Publishing may actively trade in the investments discussed in this newsletter. They may have substantial positions in the securities recommended and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. Neither the publisher nor the editors are registered investment advisors. Subscribers should not view this publication as offering personalized legal or investment counseling. Investments recommended in this publication should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company in question. Unauthorized reproduction of this newsletter or its contents by Xerography, facsimile, or any other means is illegal and punishable by law.
Please note: It is not our intention to send email to anyone who doesn't want it. If you're not sure why you're getting this e-letter, or no longer wish to receive it, get more info here, including our privacy policy and information on how to manage your subscription.
In one of his first-ever articles for Energy & Capital, Chris Nelder asked, “Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?”
The question stems from research done by Dr. Albert Bartlett at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Here's an excerpt from his findings:
Bacteria grow by doubling. One bacterium divides to become two, the two divide to become 4, become 8, 16 and so on. Suppose we had bacteria that doubled in number this way every minute. Suppose we put one of these bacteria into an empty bottle at eleven in the morning, and then observe that the bottle is full at twelve noon. There's our case of just ordinary steady growth, it has a doubling time of one minute, and it's in the finite environment of one bottle. I want to ask you three questions.
Number one; at which time was the bottle half full? Well, would you believe 11:59, one minute before 12, because they double in number every minute?
Second question: if you were an average bacterium in that bottle at what time would you first realize that you were running of space? Well let's just look at the last minute in the bottle. At 12 noon it's full, one minute before it's half full, 2 minutes before its 1/4 full, then 1/8, then 1/16. Let me ask you: at 5 minutes before 12, when the bottle is only 3% full, and 97% is open space just yearning for development, how many of you would realize there's a problem?
Population growth and/or growth in the rates of consumption of resources cannot be sustained. That's simple arithmetic. It's intellectually dishonest to talk about saving the environment, which is sustainability, without stressing the obvious facts that stopping population growth is a necessary condition for saving the environment and for sustainability.
The point is worth pondering.
As Dr. Bartlett also notes, if our 1.3%-per-year population growth rate continues, “the world population would grow to a density of one person per square meter on the dry land surface of the earth in just 780 years, and then the mass of people would equal the mass of the earth in just 2,400 years."
It's why he ultimately concluded: "The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function."
Advertisement
There Are Now 7 Billion People in the World
But the amount of oil we have stays the same.
Unless the law of supply and demand is broken...
Oil prices have to rise.
You can get burned, or you can take advantage.
Your choice.
I Fear for the Future
I don't fear for my future.
I don't even fear for my kids' futures. (I don't have any yet. More on that below.)
What I fear for is my great-grandkids' futures, for the effects of the most severe problems we face today won't be felt until that time.
It's sad, but the effects are happening literally on a glacial scale.
If they happened faster, we'd act with more urgency.
I've been telling you for months the world's population would hit 7 billion this year. The milestone occurred this week with little fanfare. I guess global resource woes are no match for news coverage against an early Northeast snow...
Anyhow, it's this yeast idea that's had my brain turning for the past few days.
And I've concluded that many of us are not smarter than yeast — or at least, we're way more easily distracted. None of the yeast realized they'd be out of space in a minute's time. Frankly, not many humans do, either.
Take a look at this chart of population growth since the Homo genus appeared:
Just like the yeast, we had plenty of space (and resources) for so long that we were unable to feel the coming constraints.
We only had 1 billion people on earth at the turn of the nineteenth century. Then something called the Industrial Revolution happened, making machine power more easy to come by than manpower and cheap food available to all who needed it.
From there, even though it took us all of eternity to reach 1 billion, we hit 2 billion in 1922, 3 billion in 1959, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, and 7 billion just this week.
Notice anything there?
Advertisement
East African Nation about to become Trillion-Dollar Economy
Today, its GDP is just around $40 billion... but in a few short years, this number could grow by a factor of 100.
And it's all because of a fossil fuel deposit — one of the biggest ever discovered.
Find out who just bought this property — and the staggering resource they're about to pump out.
There are fewer and fewer years between each billion we add on.
It took 118 years to go from 1 billion to 2 billion.
It only took 12 years to get from 6 billion to 7 billion.
We'll Try, We'll Profit
It's no coincidence that a chart of global population syncs up perfectly with a chart of corn yield per acre:The ability to get more grain from the same fields is, after all, the main contributing factor to our exploding population.
What allowed for this explosion in production?
Cheap oil and gas, fertilizers, hybrid seeds, mechanized equipment, etc.
Cheap is the key word here. Corn prices fell inversely to production increases:
But how much more corn — or wheat or rice or rye or soy or canola or, or, or — can we continue to extract from the same acreage?
How much more oil can we extract? Can we get it fast enough?
Make no mistake; many of the problems we face today can be directly attributed to a sharp rise in population: water shortages and disease in the Third World, immigration, health care...
No one can come out and say, “We must start limiting population.” (Death Panels, anyone?)
Instead, we'll try to innovate and engineer our way out of the population problem. And our solutions will continue to push the limits of man and technology.
Think about it...
When we needed more oil in 1959, where did we go? We went to Saudi Arabia, where there was plenty of easy oil.
What do we do today? We heat up bitumen frozen underground in sedimentary rock using steam assisted gravity drainage. We didn't do that with 3 billion people on the earth...
Ever hear of a rare earth shortage in 1987? That's because there were two billion less of us needing electronics, advanced motors, and batteries.
The lead time between innovation and reality is tenuous, to be sure.
Remember the food crisis three years ago, where sharply rising prices in 2006 and 2007 (CORRELATION ALERT: because of rising oil prices) led to panics and stockpiling in early 2008?
Brazil and India banned rice exports. Riots broke out from Burkina Faso to Somalia. George W. Bush asked Congress to approve $770 million for international food aid. But by October, something else was on everyone's mind...
Bush went from asking for food aid to signing the $700 billion TARP bailout into law.
And while the worries of recession still dominate the minds of many, those of us who understand the exponential function know more problems await us.
The arrival of our 7 billionth inhabitant felt like a good time to remind you of that.
Cheap energy and land are where your money should be. That's where mine is.
Call it like you see it,
Nick Hodge
Editor, Energy and Capital
P.S. I wanted to pass along one other sentiment without having to claim direct responsibility for it. A comment I found on a related article while doing research allows me to do that perfectly. This commenter laments:
The real tragedy is that we are having the wrong kind of babies. That survival of the fittest is not happening but society is getting dumber. I know so many highly educated people who don't plan to have any children and high school dropouts that are bragging about grandchildren at 40. All we are breeding into society are macho, aggressive males and females who are unable to count the days of the month. These traits are not going to work well as the environment goes down because of overpopulation. I fear for the future.
... me, too.
Related Articles
Preparing for Energy Battle
Population's Effect on the Future of Energy
Weekend: Population, Food, and Oil
Water Scarcity Creating Investment Opportunities
From the Archives...
Owes for Energy Department Loan
2011-10-31 - Brianna Panzica
Population Hits a Milestone on Halloween
2011-10-31 - Brianna Panzica
Energy and Capital's Weekend Edition
2011-10-29 - Nick Hodge
Odd Trends for the 3rd Quarter
2011-10-28 - Brianna Panzica
The Two Best Investments in U.S. Oil Security
2011-10-28 - Keith Kohl
Economic Releases for the week of Monday, October 31st, 2011:
Nov 01 - ISM Index
Nov 03 - Productivity
Nov 04 - Average Workweek
Nov 04 - Hourly Earnings
Oct 31 - Chicago PMI
Nov 01 - Construction Spending
Nov 01 - Auto and Truck Sales
Nov 02 - MBA Mortgage Purchase Index
Nov 03 - Factory Orders
Nov 03 - ISM Services
Nov 04 - Nonfarm Payrolls
Nov 04 - Unemployment Rate
Brought to you by Wealth Daily
This email was sent to mutebijackson@yahoo.com . You can manage your subscription and get our privacy policy here.
Energy and Capital, Copyright © 2011, Angel Publishing LLC, 1012 Morton St, Baltimore, MD 21201. All rights reserved. No statement or expression of opinion, or any other matter herein, directly or indirectly, is an offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or financial instruments mentioned. While we believe the sources of information to be reliable, we in no way represent or guarantee the accuracy of the statements made herein. Energy and Capital does not provide individual investment counseling, act as an investment advisor, or individually advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. The publisher, editors and consultants of Angel Publishing may actively trade in the investments discussed in this newsletter. They may have substantial positions in the securities recommended and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. Neither the publisher nor the editors are registered investment advisors. Subscribers should not view this publication as offering personalized legal or investment counseling. Investments recommended in this publication should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company in question. Unauthorized reproduction of this newsletter or its contents by Xerography, facsimile, or any other means is illegal and punishable by law.
Please note: It is not our intention to send email to anyone who doesn't want it. If you're not sure why you're getting this e-letter, or no longer wish to receive it, get more info here, including our privacy policy and information on how to manage your subscription.
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