Let's try and get 1,000,000 replies to this post

There are absinthe types without anise, which is what causes the strong licorice taste. Somehow, I felt more miserable after those, even though I can't stand licorice.

So, how are you doing today, MC? Still got both ears, I trust?
 
Currently reading up on Central Asian and world economics. Did you know that 12% of Kyrgyzstan's GDP is generated from a gold mine in possession of a Canadian company?
 
The Kyrgyz parliament obtained ownership of 33% of that company in 2012 that it intended to trade in for 67% of the mine earlier this month, but the company declined, saying anything over 50% would not be approved by shareholders. The result are popular protests in the country demanding nationalisation of the mining company, which however would scare off investors sought for development of another gold mine in the country. Seriously, this is fascinating stuff.
 
That's the sort of thing when you have a mostly-dictatorial government up against a mostly-dictatorial company. Kinda reminds me of what happened in Iran before the USA installed the Shah, hmm?
 
What is more, they Kyrgyz are so dependent of their gold exports because China apparently uses every trick in the book to prevent them from developing their rare earth depots.
 
That I did not know. What sort of things is China stopping them from developing, and more importantly, why?
 
Simple. China has the world's monopoly on rare earth trade. In 2010, 97% of the world's rare earth was produced in China. Moreover, Chinese companies are buying into foreign rare earth producing companies, or simply buying mines abroad, in countries like Zimbabwe or Zambia. And China has been acting as a monopolist, by shutting down its mines "for environmental reasons" and such. But whenever some other country tries to profit from its own rare earth resources, China can threaten to open the floodgates and drown all those profits again. Why are they doing this? To keep their monopoly intact, and hold onto one of its most important sources of income. Deng Xiaoping has said that rare earth is to China what petroleum is to Arabia. Australian and Canadian companies are looking into opening new mines, and both sides are struggling for depots in Greenland. Remember Hans Island?.
 
Well, there was a reason why Ottawa sent a battleship and several helicopters to an uninhabited island of 1.3 km² far north of the polar circle, and it wasn't the nice weather.
 
Well, yeah. The island has resources, and Stephen Harper's a nationalistic jackbooted thug. Of course he'd send a military force. Though the navy in me winces when you call a frigate a "battleship".
 
Fine, it was a frigate. All I'm saying is, we are going to hear a lot more of the Arctic in the future.
 
Of course we are. Who knows what sort of stuff will become more easily available in places like Siberia, Greenland, Alaska, and the Northwest Territories as the climate change reveals more land and allows for more accessible shipping routes? That's why governments are wagging dicks about it now.
 
Yes, and that's why we should take note of the Chinese buying major assets in Greenland, and of the parliament in Copenhagen wondering why Nuuk didn't consult it first, despite that being the law. Could there be an igloo-shaped embassy building in the works in Beijing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top