Joined: Jan 18, 2008 Posts: 70 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:48 am Post subject: Europe as next superpower?
I think Europe is going to be the next superpower, the number one player in economics and politics. And i think Europe is going to accomplish that by giving the world peace and an example to follow.
Note: Europe has great potential, but i don't have an Utopian vision for it. Just as every other country/nation/empire in history it will become corrupt, go to war and collapse. For now, i think Europe is on it's way to become the next superpower.
Europe and the USA
The world is not happy with the USA as dominant nation. Exporting lies and war is not a good way to make friends. The Middle-East clearly hates the USA and the current situation is also making Europeans think; the European definition of 'freedom & democrazy' is a bit different then the American version.
As far as i know, nobody is really against Europe. I'm not saying that Europe is loved by the entire world, but if there is a choice between the 'American way' or the 'European way' many will choose for Europe.
The USA is the strongest nation in the world. The USA will always be military superior to anyone and that's ok. There is an old saying; "When two dogs fight for a bone, a third one walks away with it." After the USA pissed off most oil-exporting country's it's easy for Europe to invest, give economic opportunities and buy some oil.
Exporting peace not war
Europe is unique! As far as i know, most or maybe all country's/nations/empires came into existence after some sort of war. Many tried to use war to re-create the Roman Empire, to make Europe ONE again, but they all failed. Now this old dream is reality and we did it without using force. Remember: building an empire/superpower takes time and Europe is not finished yet.
Europe can export this peace to other places in the world, especially to the Middle-East. The USA didn't bring 'freedom & democrazy' to the Middle-East. The only thing they did is pissing those people off. But maybe Europe can! Europe has a way to get peacefull co-operation by offering economic opportunities. Economics can be a powerfull tool to prevent war.
Europe is "Green"
Peak Oil is a serious issue and everybody is going to suffer from it in one way or another. But i don't think Peak Oil is going to be a problem in the short term for Europe. Right now, Europe is selling the idea of alternative energy and conserving under the name of "Global Warming" and it's working. Television is educating us to recycle and be "aware" of energy. Company's are also competing to produce the best "green" product. New European laws, the Kyoto protocol and subsidies are stimulating us personally and as a country to think about energy use.
Many arguments against Peak Oil are sentences like; "technology can fix it", "the economy will provide", etc. In my opinion these arguments are not entirely false simply because people believe in it. If there is any hope in keeping our current lifestyles people will certainly TRY it. Afcourse i know alternative energy sources are not enough to keep our current lifestyles and replace fossil fuels. But Europe's infrastructure and technology is good enough to stay out of serious problems for a long time.
Have fun!
Roach _________________ "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." ~ Albert Einstein
Joined: Apr 09, 2007 Posts: 5335 Location: Alaska (its much bigger than Texas).
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:34 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
kakkerlak wrote:
i don't think Peak Oil is going to be a problem in the short term for Europe..... Europe's infrastructure and technology is good enough to stay out of serious problems for a long time.
That's GREAT!! Europe is indeed fortunate and visionary.
Oh...by the way....what will Europe use for fuel in its cars, trucks, boats, planes and farm equipment when the oil supply begins to shrink due to Peak Oil?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:55 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Biodiesel and ethanol, which will be grown in newly acquired lebensraum of their former equatorial African colonies. Strange how time goes on and things never change.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
kakkerlak wrote:
Exporting peace not war
Europe is unique! As far as i know, most or maybe all country's/nations/empires came into existence after some sort of war. Many tried to use war to re-create the Roman Empire, to make Europe ONE again, but they all failed. Now this old dream is reality and we did it without using force. Remember: building an empire/superpower takes time and Europe is not finished yet.
Roach
The second world war was exactly that: the war that united Europe. Maybe (and certainly luckily!) not in the way Hitler envisioned it, but it was the motor behind European unification.
Joined: Jan 18, 2008 Posts: 70 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Everybody is going to suffer from Peak Oil in one way or another and Europe is no exception. The question i ask myself is; who is going to suffer first and who is able to keep the suffering at the lowest levels for the longest time?
Plantagenet wrote:
Oh...by the way....what will Europe use for fuel in its cars, trucks, boats, planes and farm equipment when the oil supply begins to shrink due to Peak Oil?
Simple! We use oil and gas just like now. The only difference is that we are forced to use less of it. I'm not saying Europe is going to avoid or solve Peak Oil. I'm just saying Europe makes a good chance of delaying serious problems for some time. I expect Europe to develop many windmills, solar panels, biofuels, etc. in an attempt to get more energy and replace fossil fuels. We have the technology and the infrastructure to at least attempt to delay the effects of Peak Oil.
If Europe can't power it's cars, planes or farm equipment because of shrinking energy supply then it's very likely everybody suffers the same problem. When that's the case every little windmill and every solar panel makes a difference. For Europe to become a superpower, the number one player in economics and politics, cheap oil is not necessary, in a world where cheap oil doesn't exist anymore.
( It's difficult to explain what i mean; Right now the USA is the number one player in the world, the dominant nation. Some people fear China or Russia is going to be the next dominant nation. Some people think the world is going to end in total anarchy very soon. In my scenario Europe is going to be the next number one player, the dominant nation/country/superpower. ) _________________ "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." ~ Albert Einstein
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
The only way Europe will become the next superpower is if the rest of the world felt more threatened by attending interminable committee meetings in Brussels than it did by the use of force. With the exception of Britain and France (and for the French really only in a few special cases), pretty much all of Europe has shown itself to be profoundly unwilling to project force; without doing this Europe’s chances of becoming a superpower are roundabout zero.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:37 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Europe is old, has lots of sluggish burocracy. I think it has not the spirit of something new, hence I think it will not make the new superpower, if there will be any.
Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 420 Location: East edge of the Milky Way
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Not a chance in hell. With declining birthrates, and 'cultural stupor' that most EU nations exhibit, combine this with resurgent Muslim demographic pressure in most EU nations, and the only 'superpower' you may get is the Caliphate of Eurabia.
Kakkerlak, no disrespect, you live in the Netherlands, surely you must see indications of this?
It is my feeling that Europe will have to go through a metamorphosis before it can begin to become what you describe...and that metamophosis will likely be very bloody, and not too pretty when it's finished.
Alex
Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 420 Location: East edge of the Milky Way
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
If anything look towards Serbia, and Kosovo et al to get a glimpse of what may transpire in Europe. This has been Europe's history since the Middle Ages...often very violent and bloody. The only glimmer of civility, is what transpired with the peaceful breakup of Czechoslovakia into the Czech and Slovak nations...I doff my hat to them.
Alex
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:49 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Dukkha wrote:
The only way Europe will become the next superpower is if the rest of the world felt more threatened by attending interminable committee meetings in Brussels than it did by the use of force. With the exception of Britain and France (and for the French really only in a few special cases), pretty much all of Europe has shown itself to be profoundly unwilling to project force; without doing this Europe’s chances of becoming a superpower are roundabout zero.
Europe is going to be a political superpower effluencing a suasion not seen since the Pax Romana, but based upon what will appear to be a shining example of humanism. It won;t be that hard either, in a decade or less the whole world will be suffering and disillusioned because of sveral factors (peak oil, global warming as the drivers, the judgement of God also some may say.)
Once people buy in deeply to the Pax Europa they will cooperate strongly and find scapegoats in an attempt to ease the burden of their own guilt. Actually I guess to me more precise the idea of One World will probably find an energetic leader in Europe. That sounds really odd I know. But look we already have the EU, the AU, NU, the UN etc. There powerful multinational business and banking interests who all want the financial powerhouse they call 'one world.' (in many ways they have it already.) The last great world superpower will let other nations do it's fighting for it, it's power will be based on subtler though no less concrete assets. In the last particular nations or regions may not be as important as those entities which see themselves as global citizens. _________________ I return to you now at the turning of the tide.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
By mid-century, our European cousins who gave us the twin philosophies of communism and fascism will either have submitted to the Islamic invasion or rediscover nationalism. If nationalism wins the race, then the Einsatzgruppen will be reformed and will begin the process of cleaning out a whole new class of victims.
Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 420 Location: East edge of the Milky Way
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
'then the Einsatzgruppen will be reformed and will begin the process of cleaning out a whole new class of victims'. ~ Well put, cloud9...although they may change the name of these 'intervention' groups...leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and goes against this new EU idealism.
Cheers
Alex
Joined: Aug 21, 2007 Posts: 2546 Location: x y and z axis
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
next Superpower?
Will NOT be Europe...
Europe is very close to where all the action will take place...
...again.
Why?
The prophecy calls for the Kings of the East to march toward the middle east...looking for oil, I suspect to fuel the needs of the sleeping giants...who have been rudely awoken by the Capitalists who are attempting to hoard and control the world's energy reserves ...
Take a look at the party roster, who exactly has been invited to the Armageddon Party as scripted?
A party resembling a family reunion.
All of the invitees, the Jews, Christians and Muslims can trace their heritage back to Abe. Not Abe Lincoln.
Back to the Abraham the patriarch who does NOT eat green eggs and ham.
Abraham is the King of Western Theologies...or was he the Southern King who defeated the Western Kings?
Evidence of the Southern Kings who moved west is the New World Order imposed on the Americas...by the Europeans/Vatican.
But the Kings of the East now have a definite need for the black gold, the oil.
The Kings of the East China/India plan to crash the party.
The Kings of the North (Russia) also plan to crash the family reunion.
So goes the prophecy.
The rise of the Holy Roman Empire = Unified Germany + German Rat Pope + Germany's Christian Political Power
Europe / Middle East ... again ... will be the epicenter ... of all of the mayhem.
There are people in high places who follow a script contained within the 'scriptures'.
Why would anybody find that surprising?
namaste
golem _________________ Universal asymmetry=swastiKA=spin
“A theory is more impressive the greater is the simplicity of its premise, the more different are the kinds of things it relates and the more extended its range of applicability…”
-Einstein
Joined: Apr 09, 2007 Posts: 5335 Location: Alaska (its much bigger than Texas).
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
kakkerlak wrote:
I think Europe is going to be the next superpower, the number one player in economics and politics.
Could be. Europe is already an economic superpower.
Its more difficult to envision Europe as a political or military superpower, when Russia controls much of Europe's fuel supply and independent countries within Europe can have much different foreign policies, but if you add Russia to Europe then you will have an excellent chance to achieve the status as the #1 military and political superpower in the world that you seek.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Europe as next superpower?
Quote:
Oh...by the way....what will Europe use for fuel in its cars, trucks, boats, planes and farm equipment when the oil supply begins to shrink due to Peak Oil?
For cars, electricity and biodiesel can both be used. In the 1990s, it was possible to make a battery electric car that did 0-60 in < 9 seconds, top speed > 80 mph, and 150 miles range per charge at 70 mph using the NiMH batteries Chevron/GM suppressed, in volume production, sell at a profit for $25,000USD, and reach cost parity with gasoline powered cars at about $1.30/gallon gas factoring in periodic battery replacement(See "Evaluation of Electric Vehicle Production and Operating costs" by Cuenca and Gaines). Today, an EV with similar performance could be made with a similar price tag and double the range per charge with Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer batteries and perhaps cost parity with $3/gallon gasoline in high volume, but the auto industry won't do it. The fuel efficiency of Europe's cars could have been doubled more than 20 years ago without the consumer having to sacrifice a thing(Look up the 1981 Renault EVE at 70 mpg, 1982 Peugeot VERA+ at 87 mpg highway, 80s Volkswagen E80 at 99 mpg hwy, 1984 Volvo LCP 2000 at 81 mpg hwy, ect.), and even quadrupled today, thus making that biodiesel go a very long way!
Trucks could run on electricity and biodiesel as well.
So can boats.
Planes will have lots of problems, but slow-speed electric blimps could become common-place as a replacement for some air travel.
Farm equipment is especially adaptable to running on electricity, most especially tractors.
Wind and solar combined could easily generate all the electricity needed to run these things. Hemp could allow for the manufacture of biodiesel with minimal ecologial footprint and minimal soil erosion.
But Europe's government is very tax-hungry and still has industry giving money to politicians. Because of this, I doubt it will happen anytime soon. However, comparitively, the U.S. is much, much worse in terms of business giving money to politicians, and has a penchant for wanting to use expensive oil wars to make money for defense contractors. _________________ The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the old growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder. ~Thomas Jefferson
All times are GMT - 6 Hours Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Next
Page 1 of 7
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
