Different worldviews

Russia threatened yesterday to disrupt gas supplies to Europe within days, opening a new front in the showdown over Ukraine. President Putin demanded immediate advance payments from Kiev to keep the gas taps on in the depths of winter. Cutting off gas would be likely to hit transit flows to Europe. His ultimatum came on the day that the EU announced ambitious plans for an “energy union” to end Russia’s energy stranglehold over the continent.

The Times, today (£)

Lancashire county councillors have rejected plans for fracking company Cuadrilla to carry out seismic and pressure monitoring at a county site.

Planning officers, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency recommended approval.

But the development control committee turned down the application which had received more than 300 objections.

The BBC, today

Comments

[Athelstan.]

On Salamis - didn't the Persians blame climate change?

Wasn't it their super computer and the tide-surge forecast model?

Heard a rumour that, Xerxes, he said, virtually - you're right and "those damned modellers @mesopotamiamet.com a thousand curses be upon their dodgy stats heads!"

[Vernon E]

We are all domed anyway.

[hunter]

Russia is merely celebrating the success and reality of the wind power industry.

[JerryM]

Want to know who you're really dealing with in Russia?

Today long-time opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was murdered just a few hundred yards from the Krelim. His killing has all the hallmarks of an execution by the cowardly dwarf zek's minions ... Nemtsov was shot in the back from a moving car.

My Russian friends fear that this now signals open season on any and all dissent.

Presumably RightWingGit is quietly satisfied.

In the meantime IMO, any pol / councillor / local jobsworth who gets in the way of fracking should be facing a charge of treason.

[sherlock1]

JerryM et al - marginally off-topic but probably relevant - I note that Cyprus has given permission for the Russian navy to use a port there.
Mr Putin insists its 'nothing to worry about'...
Oh, that's alright then...

[Martyn]

Nothing to worry about sherlock1 GCHQ has a listening post on Cyprus with a gravel road perimeter.