We Germans Condemn The Iranian Regime’s Brutality Toward Protestors

November 15, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Dependency, Energy, Energy Crisis, Gas, Germans, Germany, Greens, Iran, Pipelines, Putin, Renewables, Sanctions Leave a comment

As well as their open hostility toward Israel.

But boy oh boy their gas sure doesn’t stink.

Germany in secret talks to buy Iranian oil amid Russian war sanctions – The chief economist for the partially state-owned bank LBBW in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg announced that Germany is engaged in secret talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran to buy Iranian oil.

“Intensive talks are already being held behind the scenes with Venezuela, Iran or Algeria to cover Germany’s oil and gasoline needs.”

Is Germany Finally Waking Up?

November 9, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: China, Chips, Economy, Elmos, Europe, Germany, Takeovers Leave a comment

Probably not. But still. It’s starting to roll around a little in its sleep.

German economy ministry favours blocking Chinese takeover of Elmos’ chip production – Germany’s economy ministry has recommended to the cabinet that the government block the Chinese takeover of Elmos’ (ELGG.DE) chip factory, saying it would pose a threat to national security, ministry sources said on Tuesday.

Brexit Was Yesterday

November 8, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hustle (Hoax) Tags: Britain, Dependency, Energy, Gas, Germany, Greens, Pipelines, Putin, UK Leave a comment

Let’s let bygones be bygones. We’re friends again, right?

Now that we need to come groveling for your natural gas?

Germany keen to discuss natural gas pact with UK amid supply risk – Officials interested in deal that would allow two countries to bail each other out in event of shortages.

Such an agreement could be mutually beneficial for both London and Berlin, the German civil servant in charge of rationing in the case of a supply crisis told the Guardian in an interview.

Mixed Signals

November 7, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: China, Dependency, EU, Europe, Germany, Olaf Scholz, SPD Leave a comment

And all of them bad.

The next German Alleingang (going it alone).

European Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market Thierry Breton, a Frenchman, warned Scholz: “The time for naivety is over. We must be on guard.” The behaviour of the individual EU members towards China must be coordinated and not decided alone, “as China apparently prefers.” French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that he and Scholz should fly to China together at a later date to demonstrate European unity, a suggestion which Scholz ignored.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen also attacked Scholz sharply. He accused him of damaging Germany’s foreign policy during his trip, “because it costs us our partners’ trust. It does not even strengthen our reputation with the Chinese, because they only react to strength and despise weakness.”

German Of The Day: “Keine Deutsche Sonderwege”

October 27, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hurt Feelings, Hypocrisy Tags: Dependency, Economy, Energy Crisis, EU, EU Zone, France, German, Germany, Inflation, Language Leave a comment

That means no (more) Germany going it alone.

That’s a very popular political mantra here. You normally hear it right before Germany goes it alone again.

France and Germany’s relationship questioned as Scholz goes alone on policy – Germany has been criticized for approving a 200 billion euro ($200.2 billion) rescue package.

Fresh tensions between France and Germany are challenging their relationship at a time when their unity is critical for broader European policy in tackling the energy crisis.

The leaders of the two nations will meet in Paris on Wednesday, but this encounter almost got canceled.

German Of The Day: Arbeitsplatzabbau

October 25, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: Economy, Employment, Energy Crisis, Energy Dependency, Gas, German, Germany, Greens, Jobs, Language, Pipelines, Putin, Renewables Leave a comment

That means job cuts.

Energy crisis: Quarter of German companies ‘plan to cut jobs’ – In order to tackle rising energy prices, a quarter of German companies revealed in a new survey that they planned to cut jobs, among other cost saving measures.

Around 25 percent of German companies plan to axe jobs as a cost saving measure, according to a survey of 1,080 German firms led by the Munich-based Stiftung Familienunternehmen released on Monday.

Why Should We Worry About Becoming Too Dependent On China?

October 21, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: China, Dependency, EU, Germany, Illusions, Russia Leave a comment

It worked out great with Russia, didn’t it?

Germany’s Continued Illusions About China and Russia – Berlin’s pursuit of economic and political ties with Beijing and Moscow has created dangerous dependencies. A change in strategy would benefit both Germany and the EU

Over the years, these two authoritarian regimes embedded themselves in the German economy and ingratiated themselves with the elites. Such developments prevented the EU from forging a coherent, critical strategy toward both Moscow and Beijing.

Gott Sei Dank

October 20, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hypocrisy Tags: Brexit, EU, Exports, German, Germans, Germany, Imports, Language Leave a comment

Thank God. The Germans are relieved. For a while there things were starting to look way too positive.

Post-Brexit-wise.

Positive trend in German exports to Britain no cause for optimism – DIHK.

German exports to Britain this year could grow for the first time since 2015, statstics office data showed, but the DIHK business association said the numbers did not mark a turn for the better, especially in light of Britain’s current turbulence.

German Fracking Doesn’t Stink

October 18, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hypocrisy Tags: Dependency, Energy, Gas, German, Germany, Language, Pipelines, Putin, Renewables Leave a comment

Not like that yucky US-Amerikan fracking does.

German of the day: Wir sollten Fracking ernsthaft in Erwägung ziehen. That means “We should seriously consider fracking.”

Reinhard Ploss was head of chip company Infineon, now he heads the German government’s Future Council. Here he talks about how Germany should respond to the energy crisis and why robots are the future.

Now That We Face A Crippling Shortage Of Natural Gas…

October 17, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Dependency, Energy, Energy Crisis, Gas, German, Germans, Germany, Greens, Nuclear energy, Pipelines, Putin, Renewables Leave a comment

Let’s turn off our remaining nuclear power plants too.

We have a reputation for being gründlich (thorough), after all.

Germany’s scramble to revamp its energy policy – Germany woke up too late to the risks of energy dependence on Russia. Moscow’s natural gas shutoff may make it one of the hardest-hit EU economies.

At a dinner at the German embassy in London on October 23, 1980, German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt shocked British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when he told her that West Germany relied upon the Soviet Union for 14 percent of its daily natural gas consumption. “That was very dangerous and unwise,” she said. Mr. Schmidt responded, “My dear Margaret, the Russians have always been the most reliable suppliers. They need us as much as we need them. There is no danger at all.” For nearly 40 years, the chancellor’s optimistic assessment appeared accurate, and Germany’s dependence on Russian gas only kept increasing.

Observing Hermann

“Was interessiert mich mein Geschwätz von gestern?”

Category Archives: Heconomy