Cargo cult: Why America cannot have nice things - Asia Times

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Also, I’ve been scared of changing

‘ Reason I’ve built my existence around you

But day makes you braver

Yet children get older

And I’m getting older to

&nbsp, &nbsp, – Fleetwood Mac

The Biden administration plans to impose 100 % tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, according to media reports. Before November, the President needs to rig the coalition ballot and shield his right from “weak on China” charges.

Both issues can be resolved cheaply using Electric tariffs. Americans wo n’t feel a thing. Trucks are exported to the US by China infrequently. Large, stupid and happy – American life may bring on as if nothing happened.

In the US, novel vehicles typically cost$ 48, 000. In the Ford F- 150 collection- up, that’s a late- range XLT version. A Toyota Crown in Nightshade cut at the middle of the range.

And it’s a Tesla Model 3 with the longer- collection, two motors, all- vehicle generate package. Americans may be envious of the world because of these high-quality motor choices because they are all highly regarded vehicles.

No… no they may never. Americans are paying ridiculous prices for utter dog piles in comparison to what is currently on the market in China. For$ 40, 000, Foreign buyers may get a best- of- the- line Tesla Model S similar dual- motor 4WD BYD Han.

Hyundai cut costs on its Sonata sedan from$ 42, 000 to$ 17, 000. And Chinese buyers can purchase a BYD Qin plug-in combination for less than half the price of Toyota’s Corolla hybrid for$ 11,000. &nbsp,

Most Americans are unaware that they do n’t have nice things, which is Biden’s saving grace. Some Americans complain about the lack of high-speed road. How can you lose what you never possessed?

If you’ve never experienced 300 Mbps download speeds, you wo n’t question AT&amp, T marketing 100 Mbps as 5G. If every pupil goes$ 40, 000 into debt to pay for school, it’s not considered a stress on America’s fresh.

New York City’s train has always been like that. People will continue to purchase$ 48, 000 dog mounds and other similar vehicles if Foreign EVs are prohibited in the US.

Of course, the pretense ca n’t go on forever. There are well-traveled, smart Americans who are aware of what is happening elsewhere. Unfortunately, they have n’t had much success bringing those nice things home.

For centuries, China has consistently on- shored the best the world has to offer. The systematic process has been a remarkable success, despite still missing a few crucial pieces ( cutting-edge chip factories and commercial airplanes ).

In the Pacific Melanesia, members of the” cargo cult” aped the behavior of powerful societies in an effort to bring in more valuable” cargo” to their islands.

Maybe this required the creation of intricate but comical imitations of modern technology and infrastructure, such as wooden planes and impromptu landing strips, but they never succeeded in producing the desired result.

1,600 feet of recently completed high-speed rail track, which the California High-Speed Rail Authority proudly dubbed the” Fres no River Viaduct,” are located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. It took nine years to build and apparently cost$ 11 billion.

Two decades after Congress allocated$ 7.5 billion to build 500, 000 EV charging stations, seven have been completed. TSMC’s Arizona device fantastic has been called a “debacle” by media store Rest of the World, replete with employee dissension, produce- work and higher turnover.

The Pentagon sent hundreds of military-grade robots to Ukraine, but they were turned down in favor of less expensive and more reliable off-the-shelf models from China’s DJI, according to the WSJ.

Every naval strategist is advocating for a Whole of Government Effort ( WOGE ) to revitalize American shipbuilding, whose capacity has fallen to 0.4 % of China’s. There are a lot of eggheads currently running around Washington supporting all-type WOGEs.

This extends from the political variety of fresh energy WOGEs to military WOGEs, science and technology WOGEs, and reform WOGEs. WOGES are all over the news and had their supporters attributed mysterious powers.

Anthropologists then dismiss the cartoonish” cargo religion” conceptualization as basic. Traditional island cultures were shattered by contemporary technology, leading to a painful upheaval and societal upheaval that just occasionally expressed in funny ways.

Island cultures were longer led by “big guys” who set objectives, doled out sources and settled disputes. Gentlemen were referred to as “rubbish men” if they were unable to appreciate in these interpersonal interactions. When the” cargo” of the modern world sank in, island large men and all the favors they had previously offered lost value, causing “rubbish people” to rule entire civilizations.

Social entrepreneurs rose up with the promise to reclaim the islands ‘ former golden age, restore traditional morality, and/or summon valuable cargo. The foolish airplanes, landing strips and manage towers were a small part of the movement, derisively hyped by European snickering.

In the end,” cargo cults” were attempting to create new social structures and structures in societies that had been destroyed by sudden external contact with the modern world.

On a social levels, Han Feizi sympathizes with the Washington WOGE activists and the California High-Speed Rail Authority. After all, how do cargo cults from Qing Dynasty boxers who led a brave but fruitless rebellion against foreigners differ?

But, love cannot override the fact that the Melanesians were blinded by goods sects as they groped their way into the modern world, just as the Boxer Rebellion made things worse for Qing Dynasty China.

If the payment concerned refuses to provide assistance from experts in the field, a budget and a mission are just as useless for building high-speed road as a wood and wood airplane are for delivering cargo. Similar to how blocking the most affordable and technologically advanced products from British businesses makes the transition to clean electricity easier.

To be sure, Han Feizi understands why huge taxes are being implemented. American automakers wo n’t be able to survive the present era without them. Inexplicable are the consequences of losing such a crucial sector on both the economic and societal fronts.

Of course, this serves as justification for numerous” just this once” bailouts of the industry, including the” chicken tax” on imported pickup trucks, guaranteed loans to export quotas for Japanese cars, more guaranteed loans to EV subsidies, and now 100 % tariffs on Chinese EVs.

It begs the question of why General Motors, Ford, Jeep/Dodge and Tesla are reporting substantial profits while Americans suffer a cost of living crisis, no helped by$ 50, 000 get- up vehicles with$ 12, 000 profits?

Why, in addition to receiving sizable income over the past ten years, were Ford and GM permitted to return$ 12 billion and$ 18 billion to shareholders, both, through enormous share buybacks?

General Motors, Ford, and Jeep/Dodge have never been held accountable for wasting years of government support and have shown no capacity to rise to the occasion.

As consumers in the Global South start driving more advanced vehicles than Americans, goods worship habits will become more and more apparent as the Big Three attempt to compete with China’s EVs under state shelter.

The US properly twisted Japan’s finger in the 1990s, forcing them to build local businesses. China required domestic production from all multinational corporations through regional joint ventures. The US, but, may not be able to pull off something similar this time around.

The US has not been the world’s largest vehicle business for 15 years, selling simply fifth as many products as China. The International South currently purchases three times as many trucks as the US, which is not just China. America, as they say, will not be negotiating from a position of strength.

Officials are unsure whether to believe Chinese cars, even those produced in the US, because they fear there will be millions of spy cars scurrying through British streets.

Bytedance’s encounter with TikTok may give Chinese automakers delay, after achieving large implementation and dazzling success, officials moved in for the steal. For 13 % of global markets ( 6 % excluding pickup trucks ), is it worth the aggravation?

Governments are unable to withstand plans where the advantages are concentrated but the costs are spread, according to social scientist Mancur Olson.

China’s EVs will likely be subject to a further sediment level of inefficiency that has grown in the late-stage democracy that interest groups have socially captured.

Let’s face it, Detroit’s chances of rising to the occasion are comparable to those of California’s high-speed bridge project, which was completed on time and on budget.

Cargo religions no more exist in Melanesia. It was a society that had been devastated by modernity’s actions, which was unfortunate but apparently unavoidable. Through spiritual rituals that made them immune to shots, China’s Boxer fortified themselves for their revolution. It did n’t work.

Every nation may travel to the shores of civilization to escape the sand of denial and suffering. America is no exception.

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Manaporn defends Land Bridge plan

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PUBLISHED: 14 Does 2024 at 06: 28

Manaporn defends Land Bridge plan
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, is in Ranong province in January to visit the Land Bridge initiative, which connects the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. ( Photo: Government House )

The administration’s plan to construct the one trillion-baht Land Bridge proposal has been defended by Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri on Monday, saying it has attracted a lot of foreign investors ‘ attention.

Samart Ratchapolsitte, a former Democrat president, just questioned the megaproject’s cost-effectiveness and doubted whether it would materialize despite the president’s show to attract investment. Ms Manaporn made the comment in response.

During Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s new attend to China, more than 30 businesses from different companies, including China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), and Chinese investors have sent members to Japan to check the project’s viability, she said.

According to Ms. Manaporn, these potential investors are expected to take a decision when the Southern Economic Corridor ( SEC ) law, which the Transport Ministry is developing, is finished.

Within the next four months of this year’s fiscal year, the government is expected to complete the SEC law’s draft, and it will deliver investment invitations in 2025.

One of the numerous big investment initiatives that the government is attempting to promote among foreigners is the Land Bridge project.

When completed, it will start up a new connection between the Pacific and Indian oceans, with strong- sea ports at both conclusion of the website, in Chumphon and Ranong, according to the plan.

Due to the scheme’s planned phases, critics are concerned about its economic costs, environmental effects, and completion date.

The second step is anticipated to start in 2026 and wrap up in 2030.

The Assistant Minister to the Transport Ministry, Kritchanon Aiyapanya, said on Monday that Mr. Samart’s queries regarding the Land Bridge proposal do not accurately reflect the current situation and could stifle misunderstandings between investors and the general public.

He claimed that the plan has been completely researched, with many different organizations confirming that the new course would help reduce travel times and costs, making it a practical alternative to the heavily congested Strait of Malacca.

Additionally, Mr. Kritchanon added that potential investors in China, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States have shown a lot of attention in the program.

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Renewable diesel trials for airside vehicles begin at Changi Airport

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SINGAPORE: &nbsp, In an effort to decarbonise Singapore’s aerospace industry, tests may be conducted on the use of alternative fuel for large and professional aircraft vehicles operating at Changi Airport. &nbsp,

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore ( CAAS ) stated in a media release on Monday ( May 13 ) that the trials, which are anticipated to last a year, will inform future decisions regarding using renewable diesel to power such vehicles. &nbsp,

By 2030, Singapore plans to reduce domestic aviation emissions from aircraft activities by 20 % from their 2019 levels.

It has also set a goal of net-zero domestic and international aircraft emissions by 2050, including emissions from global airlines operated by Singapore-based users. &nbsp,

A blueprint that may help Singapore become a more lasting air gateway was released in February by CAAS. &nbsp, This included switching to cleaner energy for flight cars.

The move is to be achieved in three ways&nbsp, – electricity, the use of biodiesel and exploring the use of gas- driven flight cars, said CAAS.

The federal aviation authority noted that there are only a few electric vehicle variants for the over 1,800 heavy and specialized vehicles and earth assistance equipment at Changi Airport, compared to the commonly available alternatives for light vehicles like cars and vans. &nbsp,

Thus,” a key around- term decarbonisation pathway for such vehicles is the use of biofuels, and in particular clean diesel”, it said. &nbsp,

Green diesel emits 95 % less lifecycle carbon emissions than conventional fossil fuel, according to CAAS.

” It can be used as a ‘ cut in’ successor in existing diesel engines without modification, and touch the existing transportation, storage, and distribution system for fuel, with little adjustments”, the national aircraft expert said. &nbsp,

According to the company, “it can also be blended with fossil diesel in any proportion,” in order to adjust their investments in cleaner energy in line with their decarbonization objectives.

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Why students care so much about Gaza - Asia Times

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In recent weeks, student activists have protested the continuing fight in Gaza on campuses all over the world.

Although the protests on American campuses have been mostly relaxing, tensions are starting to escalate. New incidents of student clashes and hate speech have been reported. Additionally, there have been shocking scenes of authorities interventions throughout the US to stifle similar protests nationwide.

The kids, and many others, are protesting the loss of life and worsening problems in the current Gaza fight.

The Israeli Defense Forces ‘ response to the Arab hostage-taking attack last year is thought to have resulted in more than 34 000 deaths, with many of the hostages held by Hamas still unreported. The UN has described this as “full-blown hunger,” which affects numerous Palestinians.

Certainly, the situation in Gaza calls for urgent global interest and a peaceful resolution. Far from it, though, there are other military conflicts or humanitarian crises in the world.

Why, therefore, has the Gaza combat generated such zealous and sustained attention, particularly among young people? Why do some people protest on this particular problem but not others?

Strong, stunning narrative

The reasons people choose to protest are several different things. Personal, household or group influences are strong desires to become an activist. However, social media news coverage and stories can be enough to spark action even for those who do n’t have a clear cause.

Some reports or tales, according to research, have greater power than others in galvanizing political activism. In the case of the Gaza war, I think three aspects of the tale contributed to the rise of considerable opposition moves around the world.

Second, narratives are strong motivators of activity when they combine aspects of what cultural movements researchers call “breach” and “resonance”.

A crisis tale, like the one in Gaza, attracts and holds person’s interest because it upsets us. It represents a “breach” with our anticipation of how life should be and what we deem appropriate.

A compelling narrative must also be” historically relevant,” which is to say, in line with our understanding of how the world operates. That is to say, it may indicate a familiar story.

The pictures of children and families who have been harmed by the Gaza combat tell a tragic, but recognized, story. And this has spurred activists to take legal action to right the violation.

An “ideal prey”

Next, protesters frequently feel inspired to take collective action to protect or support an “ideal victim.”

The power of this core figure compelled action, in addition to the term “ideal victim,” is not excellent, and the idea is ever-present in consciousness campaigns and protest movements. In scientific terms, excellent victims are those seen as being honest and powerless.

Campaigns for the Palestinian people’s cause previously failed to have the same level of support or urgency as they do now. The Israeli Defence Forces ‘ military might in the current Gaza conflict, in contrast to the risk of the human population there, highlights the “ideal target” in need of protesters ‘ most immediate responses.

Of course, there are many “ideal victims” in conflicts and crises all over the world whose stories do n’t inspire collective action.

Their stories are n’t being featured in news publications or on social media, which contributes to this. While the “ideal target” must be recognized as useless, they must also be able to tell their tale to encourage others to work, either themselves or through their activists. Carelessness renders some conflict victims visible.

Substantial effect

Third, when there is a distinct call to action and activists can see a place for themselves in the narrative, protest or social activity is frequently more successful.

The necessity and “real-time” nature of the Gaza conflict are key motivators for action. The Israeli-Palestinian fight is not fresh, but it has been unfolding right in front of us since October when Israelis were kidnapped and killed during the Hamas abuse and the government used power to confront it.

The idea of a surface assault on Rafah seems to be driving protesters ‘ interest, as it may be at a crucial point in the fight where their protests could potentially have a real effect.

When other forms of engagement fail to bring about change, the motivation to protest even rises exponentially. Protest movements manifest themselves as a result of social leaders disobeying petitions and images from community organizations. And when legislatures do n’t act, protesters demand that others take legal action.

For instance, some students are urging their universities to shut down Israeli companies that are more loosely connected to the occupied West Bank and Gaza in order to demonstrate in a symbolic way during the current protests.

This is part of the wider boycott, divest and sanction ( or BDS ) campaign, which uses political consumerism and political investorism as protest tactics.

The divestiture demand gives protesters an attainable goal with a regional target: their individual universities, despite the incomprehensible nature of the conflict in Gaza. Protesting at this critical moment, with an attainable demand, allows campaigners to compose themselves into the storyline. They have a role to play in the harmony drive.

In recent days, this activity has led to substantial results. Three Jewish companies linked to communities in the occupied Palestinian territories have been agreed to by Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. After the school made the announcement, kids began dismantling their opposition station.

Protest is not always about achieving specific requirements, though. Protests also have a major symbolic benefit in promoting causes and inspiring others.

Students protesting for peace exemplify a wider tale information that fighting for justice is a worthwhile endeavor, whether they are motivated by strong reports, a need to guard subjects, or the chance to have an impact.

Erin O’Brien is Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University

The Conversation has republished this essay under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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Things I would tell my younger self: Singapore's king of swing Jeremy Monteiro

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Up then, Jeremy was producing tunes for businesses, ranging from Kentucky Fried Chicken to blister product manufacturers. Additionally, he wrote and performed the music for National Day, including We Are Singapore and Count On Me Singapore. Additionally, he regularly performed music and song on his own.

Unsurprisingly, his routine extended way beyond a common nine- to- five.

Jeremy described how he would get his morning paperwork ready for the day recording session at his workshop. &nbsp,

” I would then run back, have a quick breakfast with my family, touch my son on his nose, rush off to my music concert, perform from 9pm until evening, and then go back to my workshop to mix the song I recorded in the evening.

” I was merely burning the candle at both ends, “he said.

Jeremy just came to an abrupt end to his jam-packed plan when he collapsed on stage after having from a filthy glass during the break of his show.

He claimed that the physician had given him “zero immunity” because he had exhausted himself. &nbsp,

” I may get really tired from something, perhaps a cup that was not washed correctly, “he said, adding that he was hospitalised for a year.

Since then, I’ve made a promise to myself that whenever I see the yellow lamps of pushing myself too hard, I’ll just back off, sometimes to my colleagues ‘ shock and anger. ” &nbsp,

KNOWING YOUR JOB AND WORK’S Difference

Jeremy has conducted hundreds of interviews throughout his career, and he is no man to the internet. Notably, he constantly emphasises one place: There is a distinction between our job and work.

While our work is something we do to pay the bills, our labor is our life goal, he explained.

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Commentary: From pop concerts in Singapore to cocktails in New York, Singlish is becoming a global commodity

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What is terminology commodification? The term “language commodification” describes the process of translating a speech into a product that may be promoted and sold.

There are many cases of Singlish being commodified. The most obvious is found in products that contain Singlish statements or expressions. One can see many stores selling T- tops, carriers, badges and mugs with Singlish words printed on them, making them quirky tourist souvenirs.

Another prime example of Singlish being commodified is the New York City martini table. Not only is the table named Singlish, it likewise sells Singlish- named wines.

Commodification can also be seen in ads. International organizations, from McDonald’s to Subaru, apply Singlish in their marketing efforts as part of their marketing strategy to appeal to local consumers.

Singlish is used by the state as a packaging exercise when it wants Singaporeans to feel proud of their country, as evidenced by the Singlish floats that were paraded during the SG50 National Day festivities in 2015, as well as Singlish banners and social media posts that were used to promote Singapore Day events for foreigners.

The government recruited Singapore’s much-loved company Phua Chu Kang, the principal character in the well-known 1990s TV sitcom, for a series of rap music videos to transmit important health information during the SARS and COVID- 19 pandemics.

Singlish statements were frequently used throughout these films. The COVID- 19 movies for as Getting Your Shot, Steady Pom Pi Pi, and PCK- Singapore Get Steady!, went zoonotic and caught the attention of foreign media. To date, both films have received 1.7 million views on YouTube.

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US, China taking over EU's green energy transition - Asia Times

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The EU’s environment plan is in trouble.

The Green Deal, which aims to reduce the world’s carbon emissions by 55 % by 2030, had a promising beginning thanks to the passage of several significant pieces of legislation, including a new carbon border tax and a ban on the sale of new combustion-powered vehicles starting in 2035.

Increasingly, but, Europeans are rebelling against natural limitations of which they have trouble seeing the benefits. The alarming number of Chinese and US companies entering the EU energy market poses yet another less-discussed but crucial threat to the republic’s shift to green power and energy.

In our book,” Energy: How to Recover Our European Ambition” ( published in French ), we shed light on this overlooked issue ahead of European elections that will be critical for the EU’s energy strategy, and call on the bloc to carefully weigh up cooperation and competition with sovereignty.

China’s clean share

China now has access to 80 % of the world’s clean-tech manufacturing capacity in 11 different industries, including solar wafers and a large number of lithium-ion battery components, despite the lack of any statistical data.

Foreign investors first stepped in in the early 2010s to take advantage of the country’s sovereign debt crisis to buy large stakes in what have long been seen as” republic” industries, such as power transmission and distribution systems.

Major among those was the nation’s largest utility organization, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), generally known as the State Grid – the world’s third- biggest company nevertheless by revenue, behind Walmart, Saudi Aramco and Amazon as of March. The largest hydroelectric energy advanced in the world, Three Gorges Corp., is also becoming more prevalent.

For example, in Portugal, Three Gorges Corp. won the selling for the Portuguese administration’s 21 % interest in EDP- Energias de Portugal SA in 2010. Meanwhile, in Italy, SGCC expanded its presence by collaborating with the Italian government in 2014, acquiring a 35 % share in the CDP Reti fund, thereby attaining a blocking minority at the local gas network operator, SNAM, and electricity transmission network operator, Terna.

In Greece, the State Grid significantly increased its position by acquiring a 24 % interest in the Greek government’s federal power distribution network operator in 2016.

While Portugal, Italy, and Greece were major goals, Chinese investors have even acquired systems in Luxembourg. Last but not least, let’s not forget that China’s green-tech sector has supplied Europe with affordable solar panels and electric vehicles ( EVs ).

US making advances

The United States is even hoping to benefit from the EU’s ill thought-out energy plan, which raises the stakes even further.

Russia’s conflict with Ukraine has never diminished the United States ‘ standing in terms of power, particularly in the EU. In fact, the EU was fast to impose sanctions against its long-term trading partner to lessen its dependence, even though Russian gas was anticipated to serve as a bridge fuel in the move to electricity, especially for Germany.

The United States has grown to be the largest LNG exporter and supplier in Europe, partially filling the gap left by Moscow. This development encourages US trade while keeping home energy costs low, thereby widening the price gap as energy inflation in Europe undermines its standing as a resource-intensive industry’s comparative competitiveness and appeal.

Beyond these issues with power supply, EU member states are struggling to articulate a common vision, which raises concerns with strategic autonomy and independence.

With an attempt to form a European nuclear alliance established in November 2023, French companies, particularly those in France, have made an effort to develop fourth-generation small modular nuclear reactors ( SMR ).

However, countries like Italy, Belgium, and Romania are currently working with Westinghouse Electric Company to create lead-cooled fast reactors.

The coordination gap is another way that John Kerry’s confirmation of American influence in Europe can be benefited by. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland were chosen to participate in the” Clean Fuel from SMR” international consortium, which includes American companies and will provide funding for coal-to-SMR feasibility studies.

These EU nations are turning to Americans to construct new nuclear power plants despite the EU’s continued opposition to any support for nuclear projects developed on its soil, primarily because of their funding and technical expertise.

Cracks in net- zero

At a time when the bloc is considering decarbonizing, the size of these foreign investments in renewable energy, new nuclear facilities, and grid development may have a significant impact on its strategic independence.

These investments raise concerns over continental energy security, given the still fragmented nature of Europe’s energy landscape:

  • Short-term, supply issues caused by the energy crisis only lead to a shift in our energy dependence issue and a turning point for the EU.
  • In the face of Chinese dumping and US protectionionism, Europe will need to defend its domestic energy producers or grid operators after being neglected for a while.

One dependency must be eliminated before it becomes a new one, which is Europe’s biggest challenge. To replace imports of fossil fuels ( coal, gas, and oil ) that are harmful to the climate, the EU member states must accelerate and coordinate the development of their “green” technologies.

Toward green sovereignty

Due to these risks, the bloc must not only pay more attention to non-EU companies, but also assume greater responsibility for its own energy system. How can it do this, all while pursuing the vision of the “green, secure and affordable energy supply” set out in its Green Deal?

We advise that EU member states put forth more effort to create truly European energy grids. Our electricity system will increasingly rely on a variety of renewable energy sources as we move toward decarbonization. These arrangements will require extensive, interconnected networks that must be developed and strengthened by EU member states themselves.

A second emergency is green energy financing. The European Climate Neutrality Observatory warned in November that the bloc’s failure to reach its net-zero goals could be brought on by a lack of public investment in green energy and other advances.

Member states cut the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP ) fund, which is intended for renewable energy and clean technology, to 1.5 billion euros in February, as opposed to takingheed of the warning.

Our book calls for a radical change of course by establishing a” European transition savings account” to attract private savings, on the one hand, and a” European sovereign fund” that receives proceeds from carbon-priced revenues, on the other.

The upcoming European elections will determine whether these will actually be implemented. Results that point to a higher European ambition might be useful for us to identify safe, affordable, and affordable solutions.

At the other end of the spectrum, further veering to the nationalistic right could carry harmful effects for the bloc’s economic clout and, paradoxically, sovereignty.

Michel Derdevet, president of the organization Confrontations Europe, coauthored this article. Patrick Criqui is the director and energy economist at Université Grenoble Alpes ( UGA ), and Caroline Sebi is the chair of the Grenoble École de Management ( GEM).

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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AI won't save us but cybernetics could - Asia Times

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Lu Qiyuan, a well-known scholar in China, recently claimed that the US has four years to avoid a significant political, social, and economic crisis. It must implement one of three reforms: structural political reform, ensuring that the money no longer serves as the world’s supply money, or launching a new wave of artificial intelligence ( AI)-driven economic growth.

If Lu Qiyuan is best, the US is facing a Herculean task. The primary participants and supporters of the current political system, the US’s corporate and financial companies, would be met with fierce opposition from structural reform. They are strongly rooted in the federal government and hold the reins over the national press.

After the West banned Russia from the world financial system, it will also be a battle to keep the money as the world’s supply money. The money system’s illegal weaponization spooked the rest of the world, which was exactly what it was trying to accomplish. De- devaluation has become a world buzzword.

Another big challenge faces the third option, which is to increase productivity exponentially thanks to AI. From the Third to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there are generations of transitions in the world. China is expected to guide the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while the US initiated the Third Industrial Revolution, which was preceded by the Internet and ICT trend.

China is the country that actually uses AI.

Industry 4.0 is the fusion of digital, biological, and physical technologies and the large- scale deployment of AI, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and the Internet of Things ( IoT ). China, the largest stock in the world, produces almost all of the equipment needed for Industry 4.0, and it has the infrastructure to support it.

Mystical aura, conflicted emotions

AI also has a spiritual underbelly. The general public, especially in the West, has indifferent thoughts about AI. Many people are concerned that private may be compromised by AI. While some claim that some tech companies may be monopolizing AI, experts contend that AI could outshine human intelligence and pose a threat to humanity’s future.

The more extreme concerns about AI can be traced to science ( cyber ) fiction. Some cyberfiction depicts AI as a global mind that has a head of its and terrible purposes: taking over the world, enslaving society, or worse – eliminating people. Which business, nation, or another organization would create an AI system that could rule the world or be able to do so is not made clear.

Additionally, AI alarmists frequently overlook the fact that autonomous systems are based in defined areas. They were created to fulfill a particular set of requirements. Playing games and analyzing health X-rays are not possible in an AI system developed for a self-driving car. No automaker may create a self-driving vehicle with its own ideas.

AI is not only website- certain, it is also culture- specific. We will receive two very different responses when enquiring about the best economic system for the 21st century from large language models ( LLM) like ChatGPT and its Chinese counterpart ERNIE. Any LLM will be able to match its creators ‘ view.

When viewed as a set of bionics, the first comprehensive idea of linear computing developed in the 1940s, AI appears less difficult. AI is built on the same ( binary- Boolean ) platform as Robotics. Technically speaking, it uses a self-learning algorithms and is a branch of cybernetics. It could be called Robotics 2.0.

Analog servers were the first model of servers. Instead of distinct binary values, they based their calculations on variations in ongoing electrical current. In the 1940s, circuit technology advancements made it possible to use linear computers, and the majority of computer professionals concurred that binary techniques were more robust and program-friendly.

In the 1940s, the British scientist Norbert Wiener developed a theoretical foundation for binary technology, which he called Robotics. With the aid of binary choices (yes or no ) and Boolean logic ( IF, THEN, AND, OR, etc. ), Wiener demonstrated that binary computers are ideal for controlling complex systems. ).

In robotic systems, comments is a crucial component.

The pilot system on airplanes is a textbook illustration of a cyber system. Boolean operators allow the pilot to steer the plane from point A to point B within the navigator’s parameters. The driver makes a program correction when the aircraft is in powerful side winds. If it encounters solid winds, it does rev up the machines to keep on schedule.

After World War II, cyber theory was crucial to the development of technology and other manufacturing technologies. It made it possible for engineers to create control techniques for performance and reliability while modeling complex systems and predicting how they would behave. The conceptual foundation for contemporary technology was also provided by robotics.

In the 1950s, the arts embraced robotics. Among people, it was used to analyze social systems, organizations, and managing processes. Cybernetics provides tools for selection- making processes, corporate habits, control technology and systems thinking.

The cyber method is based on three actions: plan, estimate and navigate. The schedule defines the goal or destination, the measurement determines the required tools, and the wheel, using a feedback system, guidelines the system to its place. The process can be applied to any method, whether an pilot, a manufacturer or an entire country.

Bionics is a branch of a multidisciplinary discipline. AI will help to stop the age of expertise.

Norbert Wiener called this new scientific robotics to show its standard work: wheel. The term robotics derives from the Greek kybernētēs, meaning” I steer, travel, information, work as a pilot”.

The commander of a fleet was referred to in Plato as the “world.” The first instance of a direct comments system was a ship’s rudder. The Latin problem, gubernātor, is the root of the current phrase state or to regulate.

Robotics even spread to the cultural, political and economic regions. Following World War II, the Five and Ten Year Plans were influenced by cyber principles. Although they had a combined victory, China continued to use long-term planning even after the 1970s market liberalization. &nbsp,

Deng Xiaoping’s second Five- Time Schedule called for laying the foundation for modernization, infrastructure development, and agrarian modernization. China’s transition from an agricultural nation to an industrialized one was the goal. &nbsp,

Additionally, Xi Jinping’s current Five-Year Plan had ambitious objectives. Among others, it calls for” a society in which no one is poor and everyone receives an education, has paid employment, more than enough food and clothing, access to medical services, old- age support, a home and a comfortable life”.

For China, planning is an imperative. The population is significantly declining. A growing number of elderly people will need to receive physical and financial care from a population that is shrinking. Industry 4.0 technology will need to be at the rescue.

In Industry 4.0, humans have to meet technology halfway

Cybernetics is a branch of a multidisciplinary discipline. It offers a framework for all aspects of human development – social, ecological, political, and technological, even psychological and philosophical. Moreover, cybernetics is neutral, a- political, universal and based on binary logic.

A plan is all that cybernetics requires. Without a plan, as Plato pointed out, society is like a ship at sea without a destination, a captain or a rudder. Cybernetics requires that we state our intentions, allocate the needed resources and select reliable navigators.

The fundamental distinction between artificial intelligence and cybernetics is due to a plan’s predominance. In the cybernetics framework, AI is “merely” a tool in a larger context. It can make a plan, but it ca n’t help us get there more quickly. Only people can come up with a plan and reach agreement on the goal.

Human feedback system, from “Cybernetics in Health Care”, Milsum and Laszlo

Chinese economist Lu, in his advice to the US government, &nbsp, argues that the US urgently needs a plan. In the last 40 years, China and the nation have exchanged locations. China industrialized, the US de- industrialized. Millions of Chinese people migrated to the middle class, and millions of Americans emigrated. China had a plan, the US did not.

The fate of the US is a global concern. The US is in a financial death spiral without taking care of its debt. The national budget’s interest payments on the national debt are now the largest budgetary item. The cost of paying off the debt could outweigh any other government expenditures unless the nation makes a drastic and agonizing course correction. &nbsp,

According to economists, a nation that can print its own currency is never bankrupt. Technically speaking, that may be true, but it does not explain why a nation that can print its own currency also needs to borrow US$ 34 trillion to pay its government. This contradictory system will be put to the test by the BRICS and the growing de-dollarization coalition.

Global debt is approaching now over$ 300 trillion, or 235 % of global GDP, the highest since the Napoleonic Wars. A dollar implosion would have a negative impact on all of the world’s nations, as well as the global fiat system. Skilled navigators are necessary to navigate the world to the other side of the debt crisis.

New Thinking

The word cybernetics was first used in the modern political context by André- Marie Ampère, the French scientist and philosopher who discovered electromagnetism. Ampère, who also studied social and political systems, argued that” the future science of governance should be called cybernetics”.

Physicist Bruce Lindsay, author of the 1970&nbsp, paper” The Larger Cybernetics”, speculated on Ampère’s reasoning for using the term cybernetics. He wrote:

Ampère first used the term” cybernetique” to refer to the science of government in this memoir. Since the word “helmsman” or “governor” is used in Greek to indicate the person in charge of the ship’s direction, he clearly felt appropriate.

It is possible to say that this is the beginning of the formal recognition of control science, even though it does not appear that Ampère’s definition attracted much attention in the nineteenth century, nor does it do so in the present, until Norbert Wiener revived the term in his 1948 book, Cybernetics, making an effort to establish the subject in a more formal way.

Ampère may have influenced German philosopher Martin Heidegger, who studied the human relation to technology ( he spoke of” technicity.” ) Heidegger claimed that Friedrich Nietzsche’s nihilism had reached its zenith in a 1966 interview with Der Spiegel, which made it clear that European philosophy was insufficiently prepared to deal with technological developments. Asked what comes after philosophy, Heidegger replied:” Cybernetics.”

Heidegger added another way of thinking, “adding,” meaning the way that Nietzsche’s method of thinking contributed to the development of technology’s fundamental thrust.

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