Comments on: Why the European Union also needs to be Energy Independent http://www.prodromus.com/2008/08/19/why-the-european-union-also-needs-to-be-energy-independent A forerunner to the future... Why we need to become energy independent. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:21:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Prodromus http://www.prodromus.com/2008/08/19/why-the-european-union-also-needs-to-be-energy-independent/comment-page-1#comment-68 Prodromus Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:27:06 +0000 http://www.prodromus.com/?p=81#comment-68 I think with a hold on 25% of the oil and 50% of the national gas used in Europe, Russia does have a fair amount of control over the EU when it comes to energy supplies. Back in 2006, Russia's Gazprom briefly cut off gas supplies to Ukraine, bringing Hungary, Austria and Slovakia near shortage levels and forcing the EU to intervene. That is called control. I agree with you that the EU has done a much better job than the US in terms of renewable energy and conservation. Those are both areas that the US needs to invest in to become energy independent. When I discussed NATO's reaction, I was including the US. The global community is more willing to appease as opposed to confronting Russia. Confrontation does not just mean War. No one wants war with Russia, but we can impose economic and diplomatic sanctions. I think with a hold on 25% of the oil and 50% of the national gas used in Europe, Russia does have a fair amount of control over the EU when it comes to energy supplies. Back in 2006, Russia’s Gazprom briefly cut off gas supplies to Ukraine, bringing Hungary, Austria and Slovakia near shortage levels and forcing the EU to intervene. That is called control.

I agree with you that the EU has done a much better job than the US in terms of renewable energy and conservation. Those are both areas that the US needs to invest in to become energy independent.

When I discussed NATO’s reaction, I was including the US. The global community is more willing to appease as opposed to confronting Russia. Confrontation does not just mean War. No one wants war with Russia, but we can impose economic and diplomatic sanctions.

]]> By: Laane http://www.prodromus.com/2008/08/19/why-the-european-union-also-needs-to-be-energy-independent/comment-page-1#comment-65 Laane Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:06:27 +0000 http://www.prodromus.com/?p=81#comment-65 Not all of Europe is dependent upon Russian oil. And even though there's a European Union, that doesn't mean that the independence of the countries is lost. That means that Russia won't have as much control as you suggest. Another fact is that we in Europe are further in the development of other sources of energy than America. Take for instance windenergy. We're also better in saving energy in the household, and the way we built our houses are more targetted towards saving energy. I'm not very worried about Russia taking over the energy market. I think the way you're looking down on the reaction of the NATO is shortsighted. America is as much part of it as Europe. We here in Europe have a different culture as the one of America. The complicated situation of some former Sovjet Russion countries now belonging to Europe calls for a peacefull solution. Otherwise the poorest people will suffer. War isn't always the solution as many wars have shown. Laanes last blog post..<a href="http://www.laaneworld.com/2008/08/crashing.html" rel="nofollow">Crashing</a> Not all of Europe is dependent upon Russian oil.
And even though there’s a European Union, that doesn’t mean that the independence of the countries is lost.
That means that Russia won’t have as much control as you suggest.

Another fact is that we in Europe are further in the development of other sources of energy than America.
Take for instance windenergy.
We’re also better in saving energy in the household, and the way we built our houses are more targetted towards saving energy.

I’m not very worried about Russia taking over the energy market.

I think the way you’re looking down on the reaction of the NATO is shortsighted.
America is as much part of it as Europe.
We here in Europe have a different culture as the one of America. The complicated situation of some former Sovjet Russion countries now belonging to Europe calls for a peacefull solution. Otherwise the poorest people will suffer.
War isn’t always the solution as many wars have shown.

Laanes last blog post..Crashing

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