Sunday, March 27, 2022

NYT opinion: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fueled by fossils

Please check out Farhad Manjoo's opinion in the New York Times:

On one hand, it would seem uncontroversial to point out that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a war enabled and exacerbated by the world’s insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. It couldn’t not be so: Russia is a petrostate...By accelerating our transition to cheap and abundant renewable fuels, we can address two grave threats to the planet at once: the climate-warming, air-polluting menace of hydrocarbons and the dictators who rule their supply.

And yet American politicians on the left sure seem incapable of drawing out this connection, don’t they?

"If the 'climate lobby' were truly so powerful," Manjoo says, "it might have long ago prevented Europe from building its society upon a devilish bargain with Russian energy."

But that is past. Looking forward: Will the Democrats be able to pass Build Back Better legislation — with or without Sen. Joe Manchin?

"We’re in a Fossil Fuel War. Biden Should Say So." Farhad Manjoo. New York Times. March 24, 2022.

Also, Thomas L. Friedman:

This is our umpteenth confrontation with a petro-dictator whose viciousness and recklessness are possible only because of the oil wealth he extracts from the ground. No matter how the war ends in Ukraine, it needs to end with America finally, formally, categorically and irreversibly ending its addiction to oil.

"How to Defeat Putin and Save the Planet." Thomas L. Friedman. New York Times. March 29, 2022.


CNN explains:

"The September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which pumped methane gas from Russia to Germany, was a major flashpoint in the energy war between Europe and Russia. Amid its invasion of Ukraine, Russia halted all gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 at the time, blaming Western sanctions for causing technical difficulties. Authorities have yet to determine who was behind the sabotage.

At the time of the leak, UN Environment Programme detected on satellite a massive plume of concentrated methane. It later reported the ruptures were likely the largest single release of methane ever recorded."

— "Sweden’s climate pollution should have been down. The Nord Stream pipeline leak sent it skyrocketing," Rachel Ramirez, CNN, December 14, 2023

See also: "In near unanimous vote, European lawmakers call for Russia to be declared a 'terrorist' regime" CNN, October 2022.

heating pipes

October 2024: Russia appears to be getting help from North Korean soldiers to invade Ukraine.

We scrutinized unverified Russian social media videos and located North Korean soldiers training at a military complex in Russia’s Far East, potentially preparing for deployment. I know lots of ppl canceled subscriptions, so I’m sharing a gift link and threading screenshots here. wapo.st/3UqOYpz

[image or embed]

— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee.bsky.social) October 26, 2024 at 10:31 AM

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