text:
The Wasichu's Last Stand
Fall of the White Man in American Politics
by Jack Random / November 14th, 2012
The Wasichu wore so many faces, an endless sea, wave after wave, more than the stars, and each one carried the same darkness beneath his pale skin, each afraid and filled with hate. Two thousand years of hatred and slaughter, two thousand years of death and poverty, two thousand years of genocide and white man rule yet still they feared and hated.
— From The Killing Spirit by Jack Random
Given the gender gap and the extraordinary racial divide demonstrated in the recent election, it does not take a political genius to conclude that today's Republican Party is more dependent on the white man than at any time since the civil rights movement under Lyndon Baines Johnson.
The Lakota had a name for the pale skinned invaders who came to their land, massacred their people, slaughtered the buffalo, spoiled their sacred lands and destroyed their way of life, pushing them and all native peoples to the brink of extinction. They called them the Wasichu.
The Wasichu has been translated to white eyes or pale face or the white man but its meaning goes deeper. It refers to a class of men who believe in conquering, killing, defeating all others and bending them to their will. It refers to men who are motivated by greed and power. It refers to men who would rather exploit the earth, kill its animals and rape its natural wonders rather than learning to live on the land in harmony.
More than anything else, the Wasichu represents the spirit of greed and that spirit has taken complete control of the Republican Party that was soundly rejected in the 2012 election.
The Wasichu has not changed but the nation has.
In 1876, one hundred years after the founding of the United States of America, the most infamous Indian killer in western lore foolishly attacked the largest encampment of Native Americans ever assembled in one place. The seven tribes of Lakota called it the Greasy Grass but it would be known in the annals of the nation's history by the white man's name: Little Bighorn.
Colonel George Armstrong Custer along with every member of his five companies in the notorious Seventh Cavalry was killed on the field of battle.
Watching Republican candidate Mitt Romney deliver his brief but gracious concession speech two hours after the issue was settled, I was reminded of Custer poised on Last Stand Hill, still believing that somehow fate would intervene, that reinforcements would arrive, that something miraculous would arise to deliver victory from certain defeat.
The miracle never happened and both Custer and Romney would suffer a crushing defeat. Custer's Seventh Cavalry would have its revenge years later at the Wounded Knee Massacre. Romney's Grand Old Party, the last bastion of white man rule, will have no such revenge.
History will record the 2012 presidential election as the white man's last stand.
For two and a quarter centuries the most exclusive white man's club in America was the executive office of the presidency. That exclusivity ended in 2008 with the election of Barrack Obama. His re-election in 2012 marked the last election in which any political party can hope to win based almost entirely on the support of white men.
Yes, Mitt Romney could have won this election by gaining two-thirds of the white male vote. The record will show a landslide victory in the Electoral College but the margin of victory in nearly all of the contested states was thin. President Obama won not only by dominating the minority vote but also by peeling off enough of the white woman vote to close the deal.
Had the Republicans not chosen to openly attack women's rights on equal pay, abortion and contraception, their chameleon standard bearer would likely have won.
Four years from now, given the same strategy and the same policies, it will not be so close. The march of changing demography, the browning of America, continues unabated.
Custer is dead and buried and this time the only revenge will come from women and the minorities as they redefine party politics in America.
The GOP will rue the day their corporate sponsors created and financed the Tea Party, that predominantly white working class coalition who took the reins of power by preaching fiscal conservatism but governed by attacking unions and pressing forward with their radical and increasingly unpopular social agenda.
A wholesale rejection of the Tea Party was one of the underlying themes of this election. If not for census year redistricting, the House of Representatives would have gone the way of the Senate. But redistricting cannot hold back the tide of demographics.
The GOP created this beast and the GOP must now perform the delicate operation of eradicating their influence without alienating their members.
The party must now cater to those it vilified only yesterday and the transformation has already begun. Within hours of the election results, spokespersons affiliated with the Republicans made the first overtures to the Latino community and the word Amnesty, verboten for over a decade, was introduced in the debate on immigration. The first test of the party's ability to bring the Tea Party radicals in line will be the Dream Act, a modest reform that will provide a pathway to legalization for young illegal immigrants.
Beyond immigration reform, the GOP must act to stop the erosion of support among women, particularly unmarried women. The party tried and failed to sever its ties to its candidates who spoke openly about the immorality of contraception, God's will when rape or incest results in pregnancy and other radical right positions. The party did little to separate itself from the decree that life begins at conception or the requirement that women who chose abortion must be compelled to undergo an intra-vaginal examination. That must and will change if the party wishes to be viable in future elections. We may even see movement on equal pay for equal work and day care for women in the workforce.
The Democrats will also be forced to the left on social issues. Obama initiated the process with his embrace of gay marriage and his executive decision that effectively enacted the Dream Act as long as he remains president. The process of liberalizing what is supposed to be the liberal party will continue as they attempt to hold on to their current advantage, even as they continue their rightward migration on economic issues.
The forgotten of the electorate in this equation is also the largest: the working people. The mystery factor is the working white man who has notoriously and consistently voted against his own interest for decades. In recent years working people have witnessed their jobs exported overseas, their homes foreclosed or devalued, their wages diminished and benefits stripped down to a bare minimum largely as a result of Republican policies. Still, they are counted on to get in line and vote GOP at every opportunity.
Some have suggested that white men or indeed the entire electorate is just plain dumb. I don't buy it. Many working class Americans may lack sufficient education and may choose to rely on a propaganda machine (Fox News, Rush Limbaugh) for political information but they are by no means dumb. Just surviving in the modern world requires moxy, know how, the ability to adapt and work with others. They may be misinformed, they may even be bamboozled but they are not dumb.
Others, including myself, have pointed to willful ignorance to explain the phenomenon of voting against one's interest. I stand by that conclusion but there is something else operating here, something underlying willful ignorance, something most everyone knows but very few in the world of mainstream political discourse openly discuss: Today's Democratic Party is not what it used to be.
There was a time when it could fairly be generalized that the Republicans were the party of business and Democrats were the party of labor. Today they are both the parties of big business (more specifically, large multi-national corporations). The difference is the Republicans are more so, clinging to deregulation and tax cuts for the elite even after the collapse of 2009, holding to an absolute support of Free Trade and openly attacking the very right of workers to organize in the workforce.
If the Democrats have done anything to secure the rights of labor I am not aware of it. Moreover, they have actively supported Free Trade, the single most important policy to all working people. They have won the support of organized labor by default.
Working people is the new frontier of American politics. If the Democrats restore their status as the party of labor, if they push hard for labor rights in America and embrace Fair Trade in our relations with other nations, they will become the dominant party for at least a generation to come. If they fail to take hold of labor, they will leave the door wide open to independent or third party challenge.
There are strong pro-labor and Fair Trade advocates within the Democratic Party, most notably Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The Senator won re-election in the most critical battleground state in the nation and did so against the full force of corporate funding and every dirty trick in Karl Rove's handbook.
Today the Democrats have a decided advantage but if they wish to secure the future, they would do well to listen to Senator Brown.
The white working man is dazed, confused, and cruising down the highway to political irrelevancy. He desperately needs a bridge to rejoin the fold. Fair trade and a strong push to protect American workers may provide that bridge.
Jack Random is the author of Ghost Dance Insurrection (Dry Bones Press) the Jazzman Chronicles, Volumes I and II (City Lights Books). The Chronicles have been published by Dissident Voice and others. Read other articles by Jack, or visit Jack's website.
This article was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 at 8:00am and is filed under Democrats, Original Peoples.


text:
// TODO: rework as non-CPF or make two tests out of it
#define TBB_PREVIEW_LOCAL_OBSERVER 1
#if __TBB_CPF_BUILD
    #define TBB_PREVIEW_TASK_ARENA 1
#endif

#include "tbb/tbb_config.h"
#include "harness.h"

#if __TBB_SCHEDULER_OBSERVER
#include "tbb/task_scheduler_observer.h"
#include "tbb/task_scheduler_init.h"
#include "tbb/atomic.h"
#include "tbb/task.h"
#include "../tbb/tls.h"
#include "tbb/tick_count.h"
#include "harness_barrier.h"

#if _MSC_VER && __TBB_NO_IMPLICIT_LINKAGE
// plays around __TBB_NO_IMPLICIT_LINKAGE. __TBB_LIB_NAME should be defined (in makefiles)
    #pragma comment(lib, __TBB_STRING(__TBB_LIB_NAME))
#endif

const int MaxFlagIndex = sizeof(uintptr_t)*8-1;

struct ObserverStats {
    tbb::atomic<int> m_entries;
    tbb::atomic<int> m_exits;
    tbb::atomic<int> m_workerEntries;
    tbb::atomic<int> m_workerExits;

    void Reset () {
        m_entries = m_exits = m_workerEntries = m_workerExits = 0;
    }

    void operator += ( const ObserverStats& s ) {
        m_entries += s.m_entries;
        m_exits += s.m_exits;
        m_workerEntries += s.m_workerEntries;
        m_workerExits += s.m_workerExits;
    }
};

struct ThreadState {
    uintptr_t m_flags;
    tbb::task_scheduler_observer *m_dyingObserver;
    bool m_isMaster;
    ThreadState() : m_flags(0), m_dyingObserver(NULL), m_isMaster(false) {}
};

tbb::internal::tls<ThreadState*> theLocalState;
static ObserverStats theStats;
static tbb::atomic<int> theNumObservers;

const int P = min( tbb::task_scheduler_init::default_num_threads(), (int)sizeof(int) * CHAR_BIT );

enum TestMode {
    //! Ensure timely workers destruction in order to guarantee all exit notification are fired.
    tmSynchronized = 1,
    //! Use local observer.
    tmLocalObservation = 2,
    //! Observer causes autoinitialization of the scheduler
    tmAutoinitialization = 4,
    //! test on_scheduler_leaving
    tmLeavingControl = 8
};

uintptr_t theTestMode,
          thePrevMode = 0;

class MyObserver : public tbb::task_scheduler_observer, public ObserverStats {
    uintptr_t m_flag;
    bool m_dying;
    tbb::atomic<int> m_leave_ticket;

    /*override*/
    void on_scheduler_entry( bool is_worker ) {
        ThreadState& state = *theLocalState;
        ASSERT( is_worker==!state.m_isMaster, NULL );
        if ( thePrevMode & tmSynchronized ) {
            ASSERT( !(state.m_flags & m_flag), "Observer repeatedly invoked for the same thread" );
            if ( theTestMode & tmLocalObservation )
                ASSERT( !state.m_flags, "Observer locality breached" );
        }
        if ( m_dying && theTestMode & tmLocalObservation ) {
            // In case of local observation a worker may enter the arena after
            // the wait for lagging on_entry calls in the MyObserver destructor
            // succeeds but before its base class tbb::task_scheduler_observer
            // destructor removes it from the internal list maintained by the
            // task scheduler. This will result in on_entry notification without,
            // subsequent on_exit as the observer is likely to be destroyed before
            // the worker discovers that the arena is empty and leaves it.
            //
            // To prevent statistics distortion, ignore the notifications for
            // observers about to be destroyed.
            ASSERT( !state.m_dyingObserver || state.m_dyingObserver != this || thePrevMode & tmSynchronized, NULL );
            state.m_dyingObserver = this;
            return;
        }
        state.m_dyingObserver = NULL;
        ++m_entries;
        state.m_flags |= m_flag;
        if ( is_worker )
            ++m_workerEntries;
    }
    /*override*/
    void on_scheduler_exit( bool is_worker ) {
        ThreadState& state = *theLocalState;
        ASSERT( is_worker==!state.m_isMaster, NULL );
        if ( m_dying && state.m_dyingObserver ) {
            ASSERT( state.m_dyingObserver == this, "Exit without entry (for a dying observer)" );
            state.m_dyingObserver = NULL;
            return;
        }
        ASSERT( state.m_flags & m_flag, "Exit without entry" );
        // TODO: if(!is_leaving_test()) // workers are not supposed to return back for leaving test
        state.m_flags &= ~m_flag;
        ++m_exits;
        if ( is_worker )
            ++m_workerExits;
    }
    /*override*/
    bool on_scheduler_leaving() {
        if( m_leave_ticket == 0 ) return true;
        return m_leave_ticket.fetch_and_store(-1) > 0;
    }
public:
    void test_leaving() { m_leave_ticket.store<tbb::relaxed>(-1); }
    void dismiss_one() { m_leave_ticket = 1; }
    bool is_leaving_test() { return m_leave_ticket.load<tbb::relaxed>() != 0; }

    MyObserver( uintptr_t flag )
        : tbb::task_scheduler_observer(theTestMode & tmLocalObservation ? true : false)
        , m_flag(flag)
        , m_dying(false)
    {
        m_leave_ticket.store<tbb::relaxed>(0);
        ++theNumObservers;
        Reset();
        // Local observer causes automatic scheduler initialization
        // in the current thread, so here, we must postpone the activation.
        if ( !(theTestMode & tmLocalObservation) )
            observe(true);
    }

    ~MyObserver () {
        m_dying = true;
        --theNumObservers;
        ASSERT( m_exits <= m_entries, NULL );
        if ( theTestMode & tmSynchronized ) {
            tbb::tick_count t0 = tbb::tick_count::now();
            while ( m_exits < m_entries && (tbb::tick_count::now() - t0).seconds() < 5 )
                Harness::Sleep(10);
            if ( m_exits < m_entries )
                REPORT( "Warning: Entry/exit count mismatch (%d, %d). Observer is broken or machine is overloaded.\n", (int)m_entries, (int)m_exits );
        }
        theStats += *this;
        // it is recommended to disable observation before destructor of the base class starts,
        // otherwise it can lead to concurrent notification callback on partly destroyed object,
        // which in turn can harm (in addition) if derived class has new virtual methods.
        // This class has no, and for test purposes we rely on implementation failsafe mechanism.
        //observe(false);
    }
}; // class MyObserver

Harness::SpinBarrier theGlobalBarrier;
bool theGlobalBarrierActive = true;

class FibTask : public tbb::task {
    const int N;
    uintptr_t m_flag;
    MyObserver &m_observer;
public:
    FibTask( int n, uintptr_t flags, MyObserver &obs ) : N(n), m_flag(flags), m_observer(obs) {}

    /*override*/ tbb::task* execute() {
        ASSERT( !(~theLocalState->m_flags & m_flag), NULL );
        if( N < 2 )
            return NULL;
        bool globalBarrierActive = false;
        if ( theLocalState->m_isMaster ) {
            if ( theGlobalBarrierActive ) {
                // This is the root task. Its N is equal to the number of threads.
                // Spawn a task for each worker.
                set_ref_count(N);
                for ( int i = 1; i < N; ++i )
                    spawn( *new( allocate_child() ) FibTask(20, m_flag, m_observer) );
                if ( theTestMode & tmSynchronized ) {
                    theGlobalBarrier.wait();
                    ASSERT( m_observer.m_entries >= N, "Wrong number of on_entry calls after the first barrier" );
                    // All the spawned tasks have been stolen by workers.
                    // Now wait for workers to spawn some more tasks for this thread to steal back.
                    theGlobalBarrier.wait();
                    ASSERT( !theGlobalBarrierActive, "Workers are expected to have reset this flag" );
                }
                else
                    theGlobalBarrierActive = false;
                wait_for_all();
                return NULL;
            }
        }
        else {
            if ( theGlobalBarrierActive ) {
                if ( theTestMode & tmSynchronized ) {
                    theGlobalBarrier.wait();
                    globalBarrierActive = true;
                }
                theGlobalBarrierActive = false;
            }
        }
        set_ref_count(3);
        spawn( *new( allocate_child() ) FibTask(N-1, m_flag, m_observer) );
        spawn( *new( allocate_child() ) FibTask(N-2, m_flag, m_observer) );
        if ( globalBarrierActive ) {
            // It's the first task executed by a worker. Release the master thread.
            theGlobalBarrier.wait();
        }
        wait_for_all();
        return NULL;
    }
}; // class FibTask

Harness::SpinBarrier theMasterBarrier;

class TestBody {
    int m_numThreads;
public:
    TestBody( int numThreads ) : m_numThreads(numThreads) {}

    void operator()( int i ) const {
        theLocalState->m_isMaster = true;
        uintptr_t f = i <= MaxFlagIndex ? 1<<i : 0;
        MyObserver o(f);
        if ( theTestMode & tmSynchronized )
            theMasterBarrier.wait();
        // when mode is local observation but not synchronized and when num threads == default
        if ( theTestMode & tmAutoinitialization )
            o.observe(true); // test autoinitialization can be done by observer
        // when mode is local synchronized observation and when num threads == default
        if ( theTestMode & tmLeavingControl )
            o.test_leaving();
        // Observer in enabled state must outlive the scheduler to ensure that
        // all exit notifications are called.
        tbb::task_scheduler_init init(m_numThreads);
        // when local & non-autoinitialized observation mode
        if ( theTestMode & tmLocalObservation )
            o.observe(true);
        for ( int j = 0; j < 2; ++j ) {
            tbb::task &t = *new( tbb::task::allocate_root() ) FibTask(m_numThreads, f, o);
            tbb::task::spawn_root_and_wait(t);
            thePrevMode = theTestMode;
        }
        if( o.is_leaving_test() ) {
            REMARK( "Testing on_scheduler_leaving()\n");
            ASSERT(o.m_workerEntries > 0, "Unbelievable");
            // TODO: start from 0?
            for ( int j = o.m_workerExits; j < o.m_workerEntries; j++ ) {
                REMARK( "Round %d: entries %d, exits %d\n", j, (int)o.m_workerEntries, (int)o.m_workerExits );
                ASSERT_WARNING(o.m_workerExits == j, "Workers unexpectedly leaved arena");
                o.dismiss_one();
                double n_seconds = 5;
                (Harness::TimedWaitWhileEq(n_seconds))(o.m_workerExits, j);
                ASSERT( n_seconds >= 0, "Time out while waiting for a worker to leave arena");
                __TBB_Yield();
            }
        }
    }
}; // class TestBody

Harness::SpinBarrier theWorkersBarrier;

class CleanerTask : public tbb::task {
public:
    tbb::task* execute () {
        theLocalState->m_flags = 0;
        theWorkersBarrier.wait();
        return NULL;
    }
};

void CleanLocalState () {
    tbb::task_scheduler_init init;
    tbb::task &r = *new( tbb::task::allocate_root() ) tbb::empty_task;
    r.set_ref_count(P + 1);
    for ( int i = 1; i < P; ++i )
        tbb::task::spawn( *new(r.allocate_child()) CleanerTask );
    r.spawn_and_wait_for_all( *new(r.allocate_child()) CleanerTask );
    tbb::task::destroy( r );
}

void TestObserver( int M, int T, uintptr_t testMode ) {
    theStats.Reset();
    theGlobalBarrierActive = true;
    theTestMode = testMode;
    NativeParallelFor( M, TestBody(T) );
    // When T (number of threads in arena, i.e. master + workers) is less than P
    // (hardware concurrency), more than T-1 workers can visit the same arena. This
    // is possible in case of imbalance or when other arenas are activated/deactivated
    // concurrently).
    ASSERT( !theNumObservers, "Unexpected alive observer(s)" );
    REMARK( "Entries %d / %d, exits %d\n", (int)theStats.m_entries, (int)theStats.m_workerEntries, (int)theStats.m_exits );
    if ( testMode & tmSynchronized ) {
        if ( testMode & tmLocalObservation ) {
            ASSERT( theStats.m_entries >= M * T, "Too few on_entry calls" );
            ASSERT( theStats.m_workerEntries >= M * (T - 1), "Too few worker entries" );
        }
        else {
            ASSERT( theStats.m_entries >= M * M * T, "Too few on_entry calls" );
            ASSERT( theStats.m_entries <= M * (P + 1), "Too many on_entry calls" );
            ASSERT( theStats.m_workerEntries >= M * M * (T - 1), "Too few worker entries" );
            ASSERT( theStats.m_workerEntries <= M * (P - 1), "Too many worker entries" );
        }
        ASSERT( theStats.m_entries == theStats.m_exits, "Entries/exits mismatch" );
    }
    else {
        ASSERT( theStats.m_entries >= M, "Too few on_entry calls" );
        ASSERT( theStats.m_exits >= M || (testMode & tmAutoinitialization), "Too few on_exit calls" );
        if ( !(testMode & tmLocalObservation) ) {
            ASSERT( theStats.m_entries <= M * M * P, "Too many on_entry calls" );
            ASSERT( theStats.m_exits <= M * M * T, "Too many on_exit calls" );
        }
        ASSERT( theStats.m_entries >= theStats.m_exits, "More exits than entries" );
    }
}

int TestMain () {
    if ( P < 2 )
        return Harness::Skipped;
    theNumObservers = 0;
    theWorkersBarrier.initialize(P);
    // Fully- and under-utilized mode
    for ( int M = 1; M < P; M <<= 1 ) {
        if ( M > P/2 ) {
            ASSERT( P & (P-1), "Can get here only in case of non power of two cores" );
            M = P/2;
            if ( M & (M-1) )
                break; // Already tested this configuration
        }
        int T = P / M;
        ASSERT( T > 1, NULL );
        REMARK( "Masters: %d; Arena size: %d\n", M, T );
        theMasterBarrier.initialize(M);
        theGlobalBarrier.initialize(M * T);
        TestObserver(M, T, 0);
        TestObserver(M, T, tmLocalObservation | ( T==P? tmAutoinitialization : 0) );
        CleanLocalState();
        TestObserver(M, T, tmSynchronized);
        TestObserver(M, T, tmSynchronized | tmLocalObservation
#if __TBB_TASK_ARENA
                     | ( T==P? tmLeavingControl : 0)
#endif
                     );
    }
    // Oversubscribed mode
    for ( int i = 0; i < 5; ++i ) {
        REMARK( "Masters: %d; Arena size: %d\n", P-1, P );
        TestObserver(P-1, P, 0);
        TestObserver(P-1, P, tmLocalObservation);
    }
    Harness::Sleep(20);
    return Harness::Done;
}

#else /* !__TBB_SCHEDULER_OBSERVER */

int TestMain () {
    return Harness::Skipped;
}
#endif /* !__TBB_SCHEDULER_OBSERVER */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
require 'rubygems'
require 'bundler'

require 'options'
require 'converter'

Converter.convert


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Vision problems - a common consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). New research on such disorders after TBI, is presented in the January issue of «Optometry and Vision Science», the official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Visual dysfunction after TBI takes various forms and contributes to long-term disability. The article refers to the links between the visual system and post-traumatic brain dysfunction. A new study shows similarities between sport concussions and more serious injuries faced by military personnel.
Posttraumatic visual impairment may occur alone or in combination with vestibular dysfunction (dizziness, loss of balance or). In a study led by Mark B. Swanson, evaluated the relationship between vision and problems in children with concussion. The project involved 276 children and adolescents with multiple symptoms of TBI after a duration of ten days or more.
Three weeks after the concussion in 46 percent of patients were reported visual impairment and 29 percent - learning difficulties. Among patients whose symptoms remained after 30 days, the rate of problems with academic performance is three times higher.
The study, led by Jose E. Aponte Capo Aeromedical Research Laboratory of the US Army evaluated the level of visual dysfunction in 500 men with two types of light injuries.
One-third of patients had significant vision problems and symptoms persisted one year after the injury. Eye pain was prevalent in the early stages, while the double vision (diplopia) arise later. The results indicate the need for constant vision rehabilitation. Scientists suggest that visual problems due to civil TBI, traumatic brain injury similar to the military.
Experts discuss the continuation of the research of vision problems after traumatic brain injury. Since 2009, Congress has provided annual funding for special programs for the study of such violations.
To better understand the visual consequences of TBI, and to apply these findings to health care, we need basic research.
Scientists have published the results of a study on the two gene mutations that cause retinal disease.
How microRNAs regulate biological processes in stem cells?


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text:
Fudan-MIT International MBA (Full-Time)
General Program Description About the School Accreditations FAQ
Business Studies ›
Business Administration ›
Study at one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, located in Shanghai at the heart of China's economic engine. Founded in 1905, Fudan University was the first institution of higher learning in China to set up a department of business education. The School of Management (FDSM) has grown into one of the top-class educational institutions in China. The MBA program was launched in 1996 through collaboration between the Fudan University School of Management and the MIT Sloan School of Management. It aims to cultivate professionals with an international perspective and entrepreneurial spirit, well-adjusted to the demands of economic globalization in China and the rest of the world. Fudan MBA Program Ranked among Top 50 in the Global MBA Programs by Financial Times, with continuous improvement in Ranking for 4 Consecutive Years. Salary Percentage Increase – No.1 in Asia, No.2 in the World.
Why Fudan-MIT International MBA Program
1) Collaboration between two leading business schools: The close cooperation with MIT Sloan School of Management is embodied in the faculty training, visiting professors, curriculum development, student projects, and complementary alumni networks.
2) Internationalized faculties: The faculty members (30-40% are international faculty) of the IMBA Program possess both rich academic backgrounds and extensive teaching experiences in business education. Students can also experience lectures by professors from MIT Sloan, industry experts, and business executives, who bring cutting-edge ideas and real-world experiences into the classroom.
3) Integrated Action Learning Projects (iLab): Abundant project-based learning programs (such as business plan competitions, the Fudan-MIT China- Lab project, the Fudan-Wharton GCP project, case development and simulations) provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in an international environment.
4) International student exchange program: As one of the only four member schools of the PIM Organization in mainland China, FDSM offers about 100 exchange seats from over 40 renowned international business schools to MBA students. Studying abroad can enhance cross-cultural communication skills and build up international exposure.
5) Professional career development service: The Fudan MBA Career Development Office, as the first of its kind in China, provides students with resources and professional service in career development and employment. Career services such as career planning, workshops, and personal consulting help students to better plan their career paths and enhance competitiveness for future career development.
6) Global alumni network: Full-time study builds strong friendships among the students, which will extend through the two-year program and beyond. This alumni network is a lifelong resource for the Fudan-MIT IMBA Program participants. In addition, IMBA alumni are invited to become a part of the MIT Sloan alumni network as affiliate alumni.
7) Best location in Shanghai, China: The Fudan School of Management is located in Shanghai, one of the world's fastest growing business hub, and the most influential economic, financial, cultural and technological center in China. While living and studying in Shanghai, students will have abundant opportunities to learn about globalization and capital formation in emerging markets along with an understanding of both Western and Chinese management practices.
The all-inclusive fee of the two-year IMBA Program is USD 34,100, which includes tuition, textbooks, action learning projects, seminars, events, dissertation. Additional costs will be housing, entertainment, transportation and other personal expenses such as laundry, dining or traveling fees.
The IMBA program offers a first year and second-year student scholarship based on student's GMAT score, academic performance, leadership potential and contributions to the program.
Hold a bachelor degree or above
Min. 2 years work experience
An acceptable GMAT or GRE score
Or other equivalent tests
Application Fee: USD ($) 130
Second Degree Options:
MIT Sloan MSMS Program
Yale SOM MAM Program
York Schulich MBA Program
Specialisation by Function:
Finance / General Management / Consulting / Marketing/ Entrepreneurship
Specialisation by Industry:
Financial Services / Consulting / IT / Venture Capital & Private Equity
Last updated Nov 2018
Fudan University School of Management
Founded in 1905, Fudan University was the first institution of higher learning in China to set up a department of business education. The School of Management (FDSM) has grown into one of the top- cla ... Read More
Founded in 1905, Fudan University was the first institution of higher learning in China to set up a department of business education. The School of Management (FDSM) has grown into one of the top- class educational institutions in China. The School has been awarded the First Prize for R&D Progress and the First Prize for Excellent Education Accomplishments, both on national levels. The school has also attained both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. Read less

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Do Hawks Eat Snakes?
Do Hawks Eat Snakes? Learn Why A Hawk's Diet Really 'Rattle's Snakes
Tanya Parkhi
Luca Demetriou
Amatullah Gulbargawala
This is a question that has long puzzled scientists and bird enthusiasts alike. And while the answer may not be definitively clear, we can certainly shed some light on the matter.
Raptors like the secretary bird, kite, and falcon prefer to eat small mammals like rodents, rats, rabbits, and squirrels. However, did you know that it is fairly common for different species of hawks to feed on snakes? The most notorious snake eater out of these is the red-tailed hawk. Hawks can fly and attack at an amazing speed, which helps them to deftly attack these creatures and feed on them. With such skills, it's not hard to see why they have so many choices! So, how exactly do they do it? Read on to find out more!
Snakes As Prey For Red-Tailed Hawks
Snakes can be an important food source for red-tailed hawks, as they are agile predators that can kill and eat prey that is much larger than themselves. Snakes can provide a valuable source of nutrients for red-tailed hawks and other hawks, including proteins, fats, and minerals.
Red-tailed hawks often hunt snakes by flying low to the ground and scanning the area for their prey. Once a snake is spotted, the hawk will swoop down on it and snatch it up in its talons. The hawk will then take the snake to a perch where it will consume it.
While hunting snakes is not common among hawks, red-tailed hawks seem to be especially fond of rattlesnakes. They can be an important part of their diet during certain times of the year. Snakes can be a valuable source of nutrients for red-tailed hawks, and help them to thrive in their environment.
Though rattlesnakes are dangerous animals they can only defend themselves if they are on land. Hawks are quite sneaky, and the snake often won't know that it has been attacked until it finds itself mid-air, caught securely within the hawk's talons. As they do not possess any limbs, there is no way for them to struggle or free themselves from the hawk's deadly grip. They are only able to use their abdominal muscles and move while they are on the ground- in the air, they are completely helpless.
In some cases, the hawk may even confront the snake instead of diving into it from above. It will land right in front of the snake and fan its feathers, trying to distract the snake. Following its carnivorous urges, the rattlesnake will open its mouth wide and lunge forward- in an attempt to swallow the hawk. However, the hawk will take that very moment to move forward and slash apart the snake's face with its deadly talons- and then feast upon the now dead snake. Vicious? Yes. But also highly effective in the case of larger snakes, when the hawk won't be able to support its weight.
Do hawks pick up snakes?
While hawks can kill snakes with their talons, it's more common for them to snatch up a snake by surprise. Hawks have very strong eyesight which allows them to spot prey from a great distance. They will often perch on a high spot overlooking a clearing or meadow where snakes are likely to be sunning themselves. They also have keen hearing which helps them to locate prey in dense vegetation. When a snake senses the hawk, it will usually try to escape by slithering away into the underbrush. However, hawks are very fast and agile flyers and can easily catch up to a fleeing snake. They then grab it by the head or neck and kill it with their sharp talons, and fly away while holding it in their claws. Hawks will also eat snakes that are already dead.
Some people think that hawks hunt snakes as a way to get rid of them from an area, but this is not actually the case. Hawks prefer preying on smaller mammals like rabbits and rodents, as well as lizards. Most hawks will only do so if they happen to come across one while hunting for other prey. In fact, hawks can actually help to keep snake populations in check by preying on the young and weak ones. So if you see a hawk hovering over your yard or garden, don't be alarmed - it's just doing its job!
Some hawks will pick up snakes and carry them around, while others will simply attack and kill the snake. It is likely that the behavior of a hawk towards snakes depends on its environment and prey availability. For example, if there are many snakes in the area where a hawk lives, that hawk may be more likely to hunt and eat them. However, if there are few snakes in the area, a hawk may instead scavenge for other prey items. Thus, it's difficult to say definitively whether or not hawks pick up snakes. However, it seems likely that at least some hawks do so occasionally.
One thing is for sure: hawks are incredibly skilled predators, and they play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Which species of snake are prey?
There are a couple of species of birds that feed on snakes. Some common birds that eat snakes include hawks, secretary birds, eagles, vultures, and owls. These birds are known as raptors, and they have sharp talons and beaks that help them kill and consume snakes. Additionally, some bird species such as crows and ravens have been known to scavenge dead or dying snakes. So overall, there are quite a few bird species that will take advantage of a snake meal if given the opportunity!
There are many different types of snakes, and hawks will eat a variety of them. They typically prey on the snakes that are easiest to catch such as rat snakes, bull snakes, garter snakes, gopher snakes, and water snakes. Red-tail hawks seem to be especially fond of rattlesnakes. In fact, they will also consume venomous snakes if the opportunity arises. Hawks have very strong jaws and sharp talons, which allow them to easily kill their prey. Once a snake is caught, the hawk will quickly tear it apart and swallow it whole. This can sometimes be difficult due to the size of some snakes, but the hawk's powerful digestive system quickly breaks down the flesh allowing it to be digested. While hawks do eat snakes on occasion, they primarily hunt other animals such as insects, rodents, wild rabbits, birds, and lizards. Occasionally, they have also been spotted including the eggs of other wild birds or reptiles in their diet.
So, do hawks eat larger species of snakes? There is some debate over whether hawks eat larger snakes like boas and anacondas or not. Some people say that hawks do eat anacondas while others say that they don't. However, if hawks were to eat larger snakes, it would likely be a rare occurrence. Anacondas are quite large animals, and they would be difficult prey for a hawk to take down. Furthermore, anacondas are not typically found in the same habitats as hawks. Therefore, it is unlikely that hawks and anacondas would come into contact with each other very often.
Which hawks attack snakes?
There are a few different types of hawks that will attack snakes. The red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, and the American kestrel are all known to prey on snakes. These hawks typically attack smaller snakes, but they have been known to take down larger ones as well. Hawks use their sharp talons to kill the snakes, and they often eat them whole.
The harriers are a group of hawks that do not typically attack snakes, but there are a few species in this group that will go after them if they are hungry enough. Coming under the most common hawks in North America is the marsh harrier that will prey on snakes. They typically hunt small rodents, but if they come across a snake, they will not hesitate to kill it.
The bald eagle is a type of raptor that does not typically prey on snakes. This is likely because the bald eagle prefers hunting down insects and mammals like rats, ground squirrels, rabbits, and other small animals. However, there have been cases where bald eagles have killed and eaten snakes, probably due to the lack of other resources. So while it is not common, it is definitely possible for these avian vultures to take down a snake.
All in all, it seems that most raptor species, apart from the dedicated snake eaters prefer other prey and will only resort to eating snakes when absolutely necessary.
When do snakes release venom?
Snakes release venom through their fangs when they bite prey or predators. Snakes use venom to immobilize their prey and to defend themselves from predators. Venom is a toxin that is injected into the bloodstream of the victim. The venom causes pain, swelling, and tissue damage. In some cases, the venom can be fatal. Venom is produced in special glands in the snake's head. When the snake bites its prey, the venom is released into the wound through its fangs. Some snakes also release venom when they are threatened or scared. Venomous snakes are usually easy to identify because they have distinctive markings on their heads. If you see a snake with a banded pattern on its head, it is likely to be poisonous. Some snakes, such as cobras, can also spit their venom at their victims. This is known as envenomation.
Snakes use their venom for different reasons. Some snakes will release their venom to defend themselves, while other snakes will use their venom to kill prey. There are also snakes that use their venom for both defensive and hunting purposes. Many venomous snake species eat their victims shortly after injecting them with venom.
Some people may think that all snakes release their venom when they bite, but this is not always the case. Some snake species will only release their venom if they are provoked or feel threatened. Other non-venomous snake species will not release any venom at all when they bite.
However, even this amazing level of defense may not save snakes from being attacked by hawks. Some snakes, like the garter snake, can release a foul-smelling musk to repel predators. Others may coil up and strike out with their sharp fangs. The king cobra is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, and it can also spit venom at its attacker. However, even a king cobra may not be able to defend itself from a determined hawk! The lightning speed at which hawks carry their prey to the skies leaves them utterly defenseless and unable to fight back. So, if a hawk sets its sights on a snake- you can guarantee that the snake won't live to see another day.
https://birdcageshere.com/2021/07/08/do-hawks-eat-rattlesnakes/,
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2018/04/01/snakes-as-prey-for-red-tailed-hawks/,
https://birdfeederhub.com/birds-that-eat-snakes/,
Tanya always had a knack for writing which encouraged her to be a part of several editorials and publications across print and digital media. During her school life, she was a prominent member of the editorial team at the school newspaper. While studying economics at Fergusson College, Pune, India, she got more opportunities to learn details of content creation. She wrote various blogs, articles, and essays that garnered appreciation from readers. Continuing her passion for writing, she accepted the role of a content creator, where she wrote articles on an array of topics. Tanya's write-ups reflect her love for traveling, learning about new cultures, and experiencing local traditions.


Just kidding, it was a fun game nonetheless. The shed pass word was harder then I had imagined.
I spent soooo much time to get that the star on the flag was light blue and not dark blue.Except that the story is nice cute and absurd (I love it). But a super cheap cinematic of the canoe at the end or some picture to congratulate the player would be cool.
can u make Yo Escape the moon?
Thank god for wolferc with that clue. Got everything else though. Good game.
The twelve makes sense, but only if a person understands feet and inches. Hint: the quotation mark on the clue board is there for a reason.
Thanks! Glad you got it!


text:
Q: vm_area_struct - find MAP_ANONYMOUS mapping How I can detect that area represented by vm_are_struct was mapped as ANONYMOUS?
I assume that vm_flags field contains VM_XXX flags but doesn't contain MAP_XX flags. Besides that vm_page_prot field contains something unexpected.

A: By checking anon_vma pointer (which should be set to non-NULL) and vm_file (which should be NULL, if mapping is related to a file):
if(vma->anon_vma != NULL && vma->vm_file == NULL) {
     // MAP_ANON
}

But anon_vma seem to be lazily allocated (not initialized immediately after mmap() is called).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
GWPF Newsletter: 'Economic emergency' puts the brakes on Boris Johnson's green agenda
Labels: Benny Peiser, Global Warming Policy Forum Newsletter
Radical activists ask Joe Biden to declare a 'climate emergency'
1) 'Economic emergency' puts the brakes on Boris Johnson's green agenda
GWPF, 26 November 2020
2) Britons to subsidise £billions for green jobs abroad as wind power contracts go overseas
3) New Zealand's left-wing government set to declare climate emergency
Reuters, 26 November 2020
4) Radical activists ask Joe Biden to declare a 'climate emergency'
Bloomberg, 25 November 2020
5) Benny Peiser: US climate envoy John Kerry warns China: 'Paris agreement is not enough'
6) Allies? What allies? John Kerry to turn up climate heat on Australian government
The Australian, 25 November 2020
7) Tilak Doshi: Fate of Middle East oil producers turns on Biden's actions on climate and Iran
South China Morning Post, 24 November 2020
8) Central Banks And Climate: A Case Of Mission Creep
John H Cochrane, Hoover Institution, 13 November 2020
Full details:
Outraged climate activists are blaming Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor, of eroding Boris Johnson's plans for a 'green industrial revolution'.
In his so-called Spending Review, Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor, yesterday announced that Britain's 'economy emergency has only just begun' and that it will negatively affect Britain's finances for decades to come.
Obviously, Sunak hardly mentioned the climate issue at all.
The Spending Review and its relegation of green issues to the bottom of priorities confirms reports that the Treasury is at odds with Boris Johnson's green hobby horse. Ten days ago, the Observer reported about the growing row about Boris's green agenda.
Boris Johnson's plans to relaunch his premiership with a blitz of announcements on combating climate change and the creation of tens of thousands of new green jobs are meeting stiff resistance from the cash-strapped Treasury, the Observer has been told.
Senior figures in Whitehall and advisers to the government on environmental issues say negotiations on the content of a major environmental speech by the prime minister are still ongoing between No 10, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy with just days to go before Johnson delivers the keynote address.
But many of these pledges involve long-term financial commitments of funding and subsidy which the Treasury is reluctant to make until the extent of the bills from the Covid crisis are better known.
"The Treasury is fighting back hard against a lot of the green plans and there is a battle going on with No 10," said a source close to the talks. "The PM wants to get on with it, with plans for the long term, but he is meeting a lot of resistance. You would expect that from the Treasury but with Covid it is of another order."
With the economic and financial crisis accelerating and an astronomical debt mountain building up fast, it is becoming absolutely obvious that Britain won't have the finances for years to come to splash out on costly Net Zero plans.
Even BBC's in-house climate campaigners are beginning to realise that the financial constraints will ultimately lead to further dilution, delays and U-turns.
The UK chancellor's Spending Review has been accused of undermining the prime minister's "green" vision by pushing ahead with a £27bn roads programme.
After several speeches in which Boris Johnson pledged to rescue the economy by "building back greener", Rishi Sunak's speech on Wednesday barely mentioned the climate.
He said he was pursuing the nation's priorities.
Mr Sunak put detailed numbers on the PM's recent green technology plan.
But he offered no increase on the £12bn Mr Johnson says the government has mobilised to tackle climate change – even though the sum is much less than what's been agreed in France, Germany and others.
Environment groups are most angry at the roads programme. The chancellor said it would ease congestion, improve commute times and "keep travel arteries open." It was essential, he said, because people are shunning public transport during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Campaigners said it would attract more traffic and increase emissions, when the PM says they should be falling.
Friends of the Earth's Mike Childs said: "He (Mr Sunak) has completely undermined the Prime Minister.
According to news reported today by the Construction Index, large parts of £billions in subsidies paid by UK households for the construction of the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm will go to factories in Poland and Belgium.
Boris's green jobs will be created here: Smulders yard in Hoboken, Belgium (Photo credit: Steven Maier)
The contract for manufacture and supply of monopiles and transition pieces has gone to Smulders, the Belgian subsidiary of Eiffage Métal, as part of a consortium with Sif (a Dutch company specialised in offshore foundations).
As a result approximately 260,000 tonnes of steelwork for first two phases of the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm project in England will be produced in Smulders' facilities in Poland and Belgium.
The contract is subject to financial close on the two phases, which is expected soon.
The Dogger Bank wind farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor, will be erected in the North Sea, 130km off from the Yorkshire coast of England. At 3.6 GW, it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world, and is being developed in three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.
The first two phases, Dogger Bank A and B, will require 190 foundations in total. Each foundation comprises a monopile and a transition piece in water depths varying from 18 to 63 metres.
For this contract, Smulders will manufacture the secondary steel of the transition pieces, and will assemble, coat and test the fully equipped transition pieces. Sif will manufacture and supply the monopiles and primary steel for the transition pieces, and marshal all foundation components.
Production in Smulders' facilities in Poland and Belgium will begin in May 2021. The assembly, which will be done at the Belgian Hoboken facility, is scheduled to last approximately 10 months. The first phase, Dogger Bank A, is expected to be operational in 2023.
see also Boris Johnson's green jobs for China
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government is to declare a climate emergency in a symbolic step to increase pressure for action to combat global warming.
The government will put forward a motion to declare the emergency next Wednesday, the government said as parliament reconvened after a general election won by Ardern's party.
"We've always considered climate change to be a huge threat to our region, and it is something we must take immediate action on," Ardern said, according to state broadcaster TVNZ.
"Unfortunately, we were unable to progress a motion around a climate emergency in parliament in the last term, but now we're able to."
Ardern returned to power last month delivering the biggest election victory for her centre-left Labour Party in half a century as voters rewarded her for a decisive response to the novel coronavirus.
Progressive environmentalists are mounting a long-shot bid to get President-elect Joe Biden to go beyond naming a climate czar and declare an environmental national emergency, borrowing a tactic employed by President Donald Trump to fund part of his border wall.
Invoking a climate emergency could give Biden the authority to circumvent Congress and fund clean energy projects, shut down crude oil exports, suspend offshore drilling and curtail the movement of fossil fuels on pipelines, trains, and ships, according to a research note by consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners.
"The president's powers to address climate change through an emergency are very, very large," said Kassie Siegel, an attorney with the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, which is lobbying Biden's team to act. "This is No. 1 on the list of things the Biden administration should do."
In a statement, Biden's transition team didn't explicitly address the question of a climate emergency, saying only that he plans to follow through on his policy platform to fight the climate crisis while creating millions of jobs. Biden's climate platform includes no mention of declaring a climate emergency.
In a clear sign that the incoming Biden administration is planning to move the goalposts of international climate negotiations and corner China, US climate envoy John Kerry has raised the stakes.
John Kerry: "All nations must raise ambition together, or we will all fail together."
In a short speech yesterday Kerry claimed that the Paris agreement on its own will not be enough to stop global warming in its tracks."
John Kerry, who was confirmed into his new role as climate envoy of the new US administration, used his first speech to stress that the United States is only responsible for 13% of global CO2 emissions and that more was necessary than adhering to the letters of the Paris agreement.
At the global meeting in Glasgow one year from now, all nations must raise ambition together or we will all fail together. Failure is not an option."
Kerry's message was unambiguously addressed at China which is coming under growing pressure from both the EU and the US.
The Biden administration's concern about the possible failure of COP26 to achieve a breakthrough in climate negotiations is understandable. Not only is communist China emerging as the world's new superpower, but its leadership has already preempted the anticipated moves by Western governments by taking the wind out of their sails.
Responding to the threat of carbon border taxes proposed by EU leaders and Joe Biden, China's communist leaders recently pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 – to international praise and cheering. President Xi Jinping's announcement was short on detail, but it significantly enhanced China's negotiating stance, kicking the ball firmly back into Europe's and America's courts.
As Kerry's speech signals, China's energy and climate policies are coming under growing pressure, likely to culminate in another showdown between the West and the Rest at the UN climate summit (COP26) in Glasgow next November. There can be no doubt that the new US administration, in close cooperation with the EU, will try, once again, to play the climate card to corner China.
Yet, as usual, this game plan is easier said than done. Chinese officials have already warned that any threat of trade war or carbon border taxes will undermine China's climate pledges. And whether the Chinese Communist Party is willing to let its energy-hungry economy being scrutinised and determined by Western governments remains highly unlikely.
In its editorial yesterday, the Wall Street Journal warned that China will demand a very high price for any compromise at COP26:
"Chinese leaders will be only too happy to make future promises on climate in return for American acquiescence today to their security priorities of Taiwan, the South China Sea and Huawei. Sending Mr. Kerry to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on climate is a recipe for returning home dressed in a barrel. An obsession with climate will turn a U.S. security strength into a vulnerability."
In light of China's insatiable energy demand in coming decades and its growing concern about energy security, it is unlikely that the new Biden administration will be able to succeed where Obama failed, i.e. to cut the Gordion knot of the international climate policy conundrum.
The orthodoxy that Joe Biden's executive team will make Australia comfortable is spectacularly wrong in one respect: the appointment of former secretary of state and presidential nominee John Kerry as special envoy for climate.
There is one certainty. Kerry will create problems for Australia and the Morrison government as a consequence of his brief from the incoming president.
It is obvious Biden has selected Kerry as a special global envoy not just to return America to the Paris Agreement but to champion stronger international action from the parties.
It will be Kerry's rhetoric, his symbolism and his close ties with Europe on climate change that will put inevitable pressures on the Morrison government.
Kerry is a natural Atlanticist who was involved in negotiating the Paris Agreement and believes climate change is a global security imperative.
Biden and Kerry in tandem will intensify the climate-change tempo across the developed world with many leaders joining the conga line.
Kerry's political history gives him a special status, though his reputation stands in contrast with few concrete achievements.
But he will transform global perceptions of the US after Donald Trump's hostility to the Paris accord and the entire progressive movement in Australia will have a rich series of messages from him with which to hound Scott Morrison.
Kerry, by the way, has never shown much interest in Australia — unlike many senior Americans — making his first visit here only in 2014 when he was secretary of state. His first overseas visit in that high office was, significantly, to the UK and Europe.
Tony Abbott as prime minister had to deal with Kerry as secretary of state and found him relentlessly focused on climate change as a security issue, a priority not shared by the Abbott government in its hierarchy of security concerns.
In this sense Biden has picked his man. Kerry said he was returning to government "to get America back on track to address the biggest challenge of this generation". As envoy for climate, Kerry will sit on the National Security Council — a pointer to the Biden-Kerry view that climate change is a security issue and that Kerry's job will be to persuade others nations into faster action.
Full post ($)
The fate of oil and gas producers in the Middle East hangs in the balance. They can expect a reprieve from low oil and gas prices if the US ceases to be the world's leading oil and gas producer – but if sanctions are dropped against Iran, even lower oil and gas prices await.
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House, one might presume that the campaign rhetoric of the Democratic Party will be pared back as the real costs of some of the more radical proposals become apparent. Most observers would contend, however, that the odds are low that a "tack back to the centre" (à la former president Bill Clinton) will happen.
The Middle East is at a crossroads, and Biden's policy choices will be critical in the outlook for the region's oil and gas producers. In his last debate with Donald Trump, Biden's pledge to "transition away from the oil industry" put climate change concerns as the top policy priority. The contrast in Republican and Democratic world views over fossil fuels and global energy geopolitics could not be starker. Biden is more committed than any previous presidential nominee to radical climate action.
The United States recently overtook Saudi Arabia as the world's largest petroleum producer. In response, Saudi Arabia launched last year a self-debilitating and unsuccessful price war to starve out the producers behind the US "shale revolution". But US oil producers have been facing pressure not only from Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Opec oil producers' cartel.
In 2017, a report by the US Director of National Intelligence accused forces in Russia, a major oil producer, of pushing anti-fracking environmental propaganda, and US intelligence reports have been cited in accusations of Russian funding for anti-fracking groups. "By targeting fracking, Putin hopes to increase oil and gas prices, destabilise the US economy and threaten America's energy independence," said a Newsweek report that year.
The surge in US oil and gas production over the past decade allowed Trump to pursue his "America first" and "energy dominance" agendas. It increased US foreign policy leverage, giving his administration greater latitude in supporting allies and sanctioning rivals.
But a Biden administration focused on constraining US oil and gas production in favour of renewable energy and climate policy priorities would deliver what Russia, Saudi Arabia and other Opec+ members have failed to achieve with an all-out price war – the incredible prospect of their largest competitor exiting voluntarily.
On the face of it, things could not look better for the major oil and gas producers. No price or disinformation wars need to be waged by US competitors if the Biden administration forces a "transition" away from oil and gas production. Russia's anti-fracking propaganda war appears to have been more effective than the Saudi price war – in that a Biden presidency would be stacked with climate change advisers who probably support the very same NGOs funded by Russian money.
Still, there are limits to what a US president can achieve. The Senate is likely to remain Republican-controlled and hence resistant to Biden's campaign pledge for net zero emissions in the power sector by 2035 and all of America by 2050.
Even if Democrats wrest back control of the Senate, support may not be forthcoming from the states that are dependent on fossil fuels or are major producers. Moderates from both parties in oil and gas-dependent states such as Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas would be fearful of destroying jobs and tax revenues while trying to recover from the pandemic recession.
The following is adapted from John H. Cochrane's remarks at the European Central Bank's Conference on Monetary Policy: Bridging Science and Practice. His full presentation about the challenges facing central banks is here.
Central banks are rushing headlong into climate policy. This is a mistake. It will destroy central banks' independence, their ability to fulfill their main missions to control inflation and stem financial crises, and people's faith in their impartiality and technical competence. And it won't help the climate.
In making this argument, I do not claim that climate change is fake or unimportant. None of the following comments reflect any argument with scientific fact. (I favor a uniform carbon tax in return for essentially no regulation, but this essay is not about carbon policy.)
The question is whether the European Central Bank (ECB), other central banks, or international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the Bank for International Settlements, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development should appoint themselves to take on climate policy—or other important social, environmental, or political causes—without a clear mandate to do so from politically accountable leaders.
The Western world faces a crisis of trust in our institutions, a crisis fed by a not-inaccurate perception that the elites who run such institutions don't know what they are doing, are politicized, and are going beyond the authority granted by accountable representatives.
Trust and independence must be earned by evident competence and institutional restraint. Yet central banks, not obviously competent to target inflation with interest rates; floundering to stop financial crisis by means other than wanton bailouts; and still not addressing obvious risks lying ahead; now want to be trusted to determine and implement their own climate change policy? (And next, likely, taking on inequality and social justice?)
We don't want the agency that delivers drinking water to make a list of socially and environmentally favored businesses and start turning off the water to disfavored companies. Nor should central banks. They should provide liquidity, period.
But a popular movement wants all institutions of society to jump into the social and political goals of the moment, regardless of boring legalities. Those constraints, of course, are essential for a functioning democratic society, for functioning independent technocratic institutions, and incidentally for making durable progress on those same important social and political goals.
Full essay
The London-based Global Warming Policy Forum is a world leading think tank on global warming policy issues. The GWPF newsletter is prepared by Director Dr Benny Peiser - for more information, please visit the website at www.thegwpf.com.
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