Saturday, October 26, 2013

Falling birth rate, a blessing for humanity, deadly for capitalism

Bloomberg: "Japan's demographics are worthy of study. How it balances a fast-aging population, a gigantic debt burden and a negligible birthrate -- if that's even possible -- will offer insights to officials in China, German and the U.S. in the years ahead. But portraying Japanese as libido-less oddballs and looking for clues in their culture only dehumanizes a nation. It misses Japan's pioneering role in one of the biggest economic challenges of this century as developed nations mature."
Cheap oil has peaked. Oil can only get more expensive. This means a great contraction of capitalism. There will be default on debt and much hardship will be passed to whomever is politically weak. They are now setting us up for letting old people suffer because "there are not enough young people." Don't fall for this, if inequality and waste are stopped there is enough for gradual degrowth and a low birth rate is a blessing. To end waste, we must stop producing cars.
Capitalism needs growth, and that means growing population, even if half of us have to starve. They are terrified of low birth rates. Humanity doesn't need growth, we need prudence and equality.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Japan on gas, coal power building spree to fill nuclear void | Reuters

Japan on gas, coal power building spree to fill nuclear void | Reuters: "(Reuters) - Japan plans to start up 14 new gas and coal-fired power plants by the end of 2014, allowing a switch away from pricey oil, as Tokyo struggles with a shutdown of nuclear reactors and energy imports drive a record trade deficit."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Taipei Metro (mass transit) set to pass 6 billion passenger trips per year

Taipei Times: "The annual ridership of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is expected to top 6 billion passengers today, marking a new chapter in MRT services since the system’s inception in 1996, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday."