Vaclav Smil Interview

The WFP recently interviewed scientist, environmentalist and author Vaclav Smil about globalisation and energy consumption. Smil is a prolific author and can count Buffet and Gates as two of his many admirers.

Taken from the interview:

Q: Do you call yourself an environmentalist?

A: Of course, but the first qualification for such a label should be an extensive quantitative understanding of nature. Without it, everything dissolves into emotional qualitative claims that may, or may not, have any real merit.

The same view could surely be applied to so many other things that the population opines and votes on - the first qualification being an extensive quantitative understanding of the facts. 

An Uneven Recovery

Peter Zeihan of STRATFOR gives a good summary of the current global economy and the outlook. Skip the preamble if you wish and head straight to 90 seconds in.