fish+monkey

A month ago, Israel and the US started a war against Iran.

It was a war no one needed, no one (but them) wanted. And now it seems like it has spun out of control.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking the movement of oil tankers and cargo. It has been 4 weeks and the global economy is about to find out what that means.

Of course, fuel prices have sky rocketed. That was the obvious, immediate effect. But there is a lot more coming down the pipeline (pun intended).

Fertiliser is also stuck on those same boats. Meaning agriculture will soon take a double hit, from diesel and nutrients for the crops.

Sulphur, which is necessary for many industrial processes I can’t really speak to is also stuck there.

Helium, which most dummies like me are discovering is crucial for medical imaging machines like MRI is also due to become scarce and eventually run out.

Fun times. I am sure everyone needing an MRI can patiently wait for the most unhinged and bellicose countries to decide they have done enough damage. Surely it is not a matter of life or death for those patients.

And in New Zealand, our government coalition, which I like to call the Fossil Fools, have done the exact opposite of an adequate response.

This country is the last link of a long and complex supply chain for fuel, and pretty much anything else. And most countries who refine and supply petrol, diesel and jet fuel for NZ have already declared restriction, Force Majeure events and local emergencies.

Here? Nada. We’re good. Government says it is all normal no need to worry.

Which is bonkers. Because I do not belive for a second that a country restricting fuel for its own citizens will continue to sell it to 5 million idiots in the most remote corner of the planet who just refuse to adapt to a changing reality, because it would mean driving a wee bit less.

Dr. Timothy Welch from the University of Auckland has written an excellent piece on what should be a proper response. He advocates for free public transport. I couldn’t agree more.

But our government will not do that, mainly because it would betray their Car Brained obsession with roads, cars and fossil fuels as the one and only way of moving the economy.

I desperately wish to be proven wrong, and the government being able to pivot away from their reality denying.

But this is how they have approached the most significant threats we all face:

• Covid: it is over, no need to do anything. Let’s not even speak about it.
• Climate Change: either a hoax not be believed, or real but little New Zealand can’t and won’t do anything about it.
• Genocide in Gaza: Who knows if it is really bad. It has been nearly 3 years now, and the massacre is ongoing. But officially we have not taken a stand.
• Social inequality and wealth hoarding: It is good actually, poor people are poor because of their own weakness and poor choices. Let’s give more money to the wealthiest.

So now we stand on the brink of the worst war this century. One that will change the face of the planet and make us all poorer, hungrier and more disconnected.

The government is doing their best to ignore that too and clap for the Orange Buffoon in the White House.