European Energy Crisis Pushing to Social Collapse By Richard Miller (London)
It is certainly looking bad here in Europe with the perfect storm of energy and resource/food crises. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), for example, warns that spiralling energy costs will lead to thousands of businesses collapsing, unless pandemic-style support measures are adopted, such as loans, and extra time to pay tax. The consequences of allowing these businesses, already vulnerable from the Covid plandemic lockdowns will be severe, with a possible economic collapse. While that idea was dismissed as conspiratorial a little while ago, after the revelations of the Great Reset of the World Economic Forum globalists, it now all seems to be part of the grand plan.
“The UK government needs to act decisively to help businesses with surging energy bills this winter as thousands of companies could collapse without further support, Britain's biggest business group has warned.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged the government to freeze business rates for another year and take quick and targeted action to prevent otherwise viable businesses from going bust.
The CBI said the government needs to target support at the households and companies most in need.
It called for extra money to make its way to households through the current energy bill support scheme.
“While helping struggling consumers remains the number one priority, we can’t afford to lose sight of the fact that many viable businesses are under pressure and could easily tip into distress without action," said Matthew Fell, the CBI's chief policy director.
"Firms aren’t asking for a handout. But they do need autumn to be the moment that the government grips the energy cost crisis. Decisive action now will give firms headroom on cash flow and prevent a short-term crunch becoming a longer-term crisis."
Nearly one in three businesses surveyed by the organisation said soaring gas prices are likely to stifle their investment in transitioning to net zero.
Meanwhile, 69% of firms said they expect energy bills to rise in the next three months, and nearly a third expect rises of more than 30%.
CBI also urged the government to give companies and the self-employed more time to pay their tax bills and provide easier access to pandemic-style loans to shore up their finances.
The CBI's intervention comes just days before Britain's energy regulator, Ofgem, is set to reveal the new energy price cap for the autumn period, which is widely expected to see average energy bills rise to around £3,500 from October, before then to potentially exceeding £4,600 from January.
The CBI also called for a massive energy efficiency drive to give people upfront financial support for improving their home insulation. Meanwhile, energy-intensive businesses should be given support to improve their efficiency.
“The impact of soaring energy prices on households is going to have serious consequences, not just for individuals but for the wider economy,” Fell added.
“A top Green Party official has caused controversy by suggesting Germans use washcloths instead of taking showers, as well as buying expensive eco-heating systems that are unaffordable for the average person.
The comments were made by Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann in response to the energy crisis, which will be exacerbated this winter as a result of gas shortages caused by the war in Ukraine.
“Even the washcloth is a useful invention,” the Green politician told Südwest-Presse.
Bragging about his own eco-credentials, Kretschmann boasted, “I have an electric car, I have a huge photovoltaic system on the roof.”
The pellet heating system Kretschmann uses in his home costs anything up to €21,000 euros and beyond, a figure completely unrealistic for Germans already struggling to pay their energy bills.
Remix News explained the actual environmental cost of Kretschmann’s so-called solution.
“Wired magazine reports that these devices rely primarily on wood pellets sourced from forests in the southeastern United States. They are then shipped halfway around the world to individuals like Kretschmann despite many scientists arguing that these pellets are just as polluting as coal.”
“Although they come from a renewable resource, forests are cut down across the U.S. to make this resource, and according to Greenpeace, the practice destroys biodiversity and ruins entire ecosystems. Scientists estimate it takes between 44 to over 100 years for these forests to grow back, and for those worried about climate change, they say this destruction of natural forests will cost the planet immeasurably.”
The reaction to Kretschmann’s advice probably wasn’t what the green politician anticipated, with the hashtag #Waschlappen hashtag (German for “washcloth”) trending on Twitter.
“Our country faces an energy crisis that threatens the prosperity of millions of people! And what is the answer of the green father Kretschmann? Don’t shower every day: ‘The #Waschlappen is also a useful invention.’ What kind of people actually govern Germany?” asked Gerhard Papke, the president of the German-Hungarian Society.
As we previously highlighted, Germany could be facing blackouts and the collapse of the power grid this winter after citizens began panic buying electric heaters over fears gas supplies could be cut off.
Supplies of firewood and heating stoves are also being exhausted, while cities across Germany are planning to use sports arenas and exhibition halls as ‘warm up spaces’ this winter to help freezing citizens who are unable to afford skyrocketing energy costs.
Germans have also been told to take fewer showers, wear more layers of clothing and avoid washing their clothes and driving their cars as often.
As we reported last week, the interior minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Herbert Reul (CDU), outrageously suggested Germans who may be planning to protest against energy blackouts were “enemies of the state” and “extremists” who want to overthrow the government.
Other observers are predicting riots in response to energy shortages that will make anti-lockdown unrest look like a “children’s birthday party.”
Comments