Profits soar, wages dive

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Free public transport is the future

Could public transport in the UK ever be free? - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent: "... Taavi Pukk from Savisaar's Centre Party: "There's no doubt that free public transport is the future." Pukk points out that 75 per cent of respondents in Tallinn's referendum on the issue voted "yes", though turnout was low, just one-fifth of those eligible actually voted. Savisaar claims he's set on turning Tallinn into Europe's greenest city and tells us that, as well as helping the poor, the free transport move will get drivers out of their cars. Something for nothing is a compelling proposition: a spike in public transport use of 15 per cent is predicted.

Neighbouring Lithuania and Latvia are looking on eagerly – both their capital cities, Vilnius and Riga, are considering following Tallinn's lead. Rich Helsinki, across the chilly Baltic, is reportedly interested, too."

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If there is plenty of oil, why are the oil wars heating up?

Russian expert warns of possibility of large-scale war in Middle East: Voice of Russia: "In an interview with the Voice of Russia, Russian analyst Konstantin Sivkov said: “Deploying these missiles in Turkey will be dangerous for Syrian military planes – this is obvious. A lesser obvious thing is that Turkey is getting ready for a war against Syria. If an attack on Syria from the territory of Turkey does take place, this will most likely be an attack not of the Turkish army, but of NATO’s forces.”

“The Middle East is getting ready for a large-sale battle which will very likely affect the Russian part of the Caucasus, and this, in its turn, will be reflected on the entire Russia,” Mr. Sivkov added."

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Energy conservation and the Jevons principle

The Jevons principle is simple. If demand for energy is strong, efficiency is subsumed in greater use.

Currently fossil fuel energy is constrained mainly by price. So what is the effect of conservation measures such as insulation, and fuel efficiency? Both appear to affect demand, but in fact, they do not challenge autosprawl, a main source of the strong demand for energy. Consequently they simply facilitate more consumption by relieving price pressure.

Free transit, however, would begin a process of culture change. Cities would become more attractive. The critical mass of the auto would be broken. Sprawl would become more expensive. Autosprawl subsidy would be seen as a burden instead of a necessary expense. If the savings were used for education and health, the birthrate would fall. The suburbs could be converted to organic farms.

Oligarchy Sends Signal to Usher in the Illusory “Green Economy” | Wrong Kind of Green | the NGOs & conservation groups that are bargaining away our future

Oligarchy Sends Signal to Usher in the Illusory “Green Economy” | Wrong Kind of Green | the NGOs & conservation groups that are bargaining away our future: " One can safely assume that the ruling elite, in tandem with the non-profit industrial complex and the corporate-media complex having been working on rolling out the “green economy” onto the world stage since the Rio summit. What we witness now is the strategy being released, in waves in order to resonate.

What we are about to witness will be the greatest psyops of the 21st century.

Capitalism and humanity. Till death do we part."

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UN report says we are doing less than nothing on climate

Slow pace of carbon cuts brings catastrophic climate change closer: UN | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "The world is straying further away from commitments to combat climate change, bringing the prospect of catastrophic global warming a step closer, a UN report said on Wednesday. The warning came as nearly 200 governments prepare to meet in Qatar for international climate negotiations starting next Monday."

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Tallinn prepares for free public transport in 2013

Tallinn to Buy 40 New Buses | Society | News | ERR: "The capital's public transport operator, Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS, has announced a purchase tender for 40 new buses which, if all goes according to plan, should be cruising Tallinn's streets by December 2013."

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Bakken shale oil another bump on a downward slope

Petroleum Truth Report

Petroleum Truth Report: "After production peaked in 1970, not even the discovery of Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in the U.S. (12.8 billion barrels produced to date), brought production back to the 1970 peak. Including the recent increase from shale oil, the gap between production and consumption is approximately 9 million barrels of oil per day, almost as much as 1970 peak production."

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Response of capitalism to #climatechange, increase fossil-fuel subsidy

Fossil fuels get billions more in subsidies than renewables: IEA - MarketWatch.com: "The same IEA report also said fossil fuels attracted about $523 billion in government subsidies in 2011, up by 30% from 2010.  That compares to $88 billion for renewable energy.  The heaviest subsidies typically take place in parts of the Middle East and Africa, the study said."

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Petrol prices spark uprising in Jordan

(AFP Photo / Khalil Mazraawi)

US not impressed with Arab spring reaching Jordan? — RT: "With more than 158 people arrested, 71 injured and one killed since the start of Jordanian protests on Tuesday, tonight Amman saw the escalation of the unrest in a way Jordan has never seen. Angry crowds have been shouting out Arab spring slogans and demanding King Abdullah go.
“Freedom, freedom, down with Abdullah,” protesters chanted, despite public insults of the Jordanian King being punishable with time in jail."