Current Crisis in Lebanon

[Rio Cana]

Strange that no one here has mentioned the situation in Lebanon. In reality, you do not hear much about what is happening their. Currently, Lebanon is on the verge of economic and social collapse. There currency has lost 90% of its value. Due to hyper-inflation, food and medicine has become quite expensive that is if you can find food or medicine. Health services are collapsing. Most of the time they have no fuel to run the power plants. Retail fuel is even becoming scarce and expensive. Even the military is in need of money which explains why they take tourists on helicopter rides. Wonder how they can afford or even find fuel for those helicopters.

They say Iran will be sending more fuel. But also they say, the oil rich nations of the region which use to send millions to prop up the economy of Lebanon are not really sending much money since Lebanon is an ally of Iran. Currently, the US will be sending millions to Lebanon. US also called for other nations to do the same. But the US also called for Lebanon to greatly curtail corruption which is a big problem. Seems Lebanon is run by elite groups.

Seems the solution to there problems is a complete change in there political and economic system. So what is your solution to all of this. Is what is happening in Lebanon a sign of the direction most nations in the world will fall into.

[Democratic Republic of Arztotzka]

This crisis seems to just be due to the tensions of the middle east and general instability of it all. The corruption is present in many government across the middle east, and the iran partnership just seems to be making it worse. I wouldn't say this will happen to most countries, but it can definitely be said for more underdeveloped regions of the world that this could possibly happen to them.

[Gonswanza]

The only other nation that I'm aware of that has a crisis for fuel and/or power is China, but that's more due to the blockade and cut ties with Aussie coal companies, as they are being rolled back in favor of "alternative power solutions"... Pair that to Manchuria struggling to push coal into China at a higher price due to mile-long traffic jams and China being forced to shut down coal plants, and you have a near-perfect recipe for disaster.

However, it's not going to happen to everyone else, as it would take a hell of a lot of disasters and unfortunate events to result in a global energy crisis on the same scale as Lebanon. Even if a Carrington (style) Event were to occur again, we'd see an economic collapse plus some areas being left in darkness for up to a year or more, but it still wouldn't be too harsh, unless we talk about impoverished third world countries which would be absolutely screwed for decades.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Their power has been restored at least

Ideally i would like to see other countries in the middle east chip in and try and prop up Lebanon providing supplies, fuel etc in large scales as a failed state on the brink of collapse is not good for anyone, particularly Lebanon which went through a ton of internal conflict and collapse not that long ago. But i doubt many countries in the ME will do that given the power struggles between the likes of Saudi Arabia and Iran or the others which have had wars and their own internal difficulties such as Syria and Iraq.

[Rio Cana]

When it comes to crisis, seems some have forgotten the situation in the UK. over not having enough truckers to deliver fuel to the service stations. Where I am located, since a new private company took over the management of the public utility, the amount of loss of power has greatly increased. Having our economy in heavy debt and with prices increasing for everything does not help the common person.

Even in the US, the crisis is from drought to fire caused by global warming which is causing movements of large populations. Then there is the crisis happening from food stores to other item stores, demand is not being met. For example, a supermarket owner in Maine says he has not seen something like this since he started working in the food industry 50 years ago. He orders certain things but if he is lucky he only gets 50% of what he ordered. Yes, the US is in need of truckers. Manufacturers are in need of supplies. Cargo shippers are in need of shipping containers. Shipping containers are stacked up in areas of the world where they are not needed. For example, shipping a container from China to the US use to cost around $2000. Its now can run from $12000 to $16000. The virus seems to have put the global trade system out of balance. And I am not even mentioning the Taiwan situation which is heating up.

So are you sure most nations are not going to end up like Lebanon.

[Gonswanza]

Their power has been restored at least

Ideally i would like to see other countries in the middle east chip in and try and prop up Lebanon providing supplies, fuel etc in large scales as a failed state on the brink of collapse is not good for anyone, particularly Lebanon which went through a ton of internal conflict and collapse not that long ago. But i doubt many countries in the ME will do that given the power struggles between the likes of Saudi Arabia and Iran or the others which have had wars and their own internal difficulties such as Syria and Iraq.

Paired to the Middle Eastern cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

[Dogmeat]

Seems the solution to there problems is a complete change in there political and economic system.

From interviews I've heard with Lebanese people the sort of "vibe" I got was:
A) Everyone acknowledges that the political system is broken, corrupt, and massively unfair. But,
B) They pretty much all think that if they try to change it there will be another civil war. And almost anything is better than a civil war.

So yeah, I don't know what to do about any of this. Lebanon is a very wobbly Jenga tower. And I don't know if the right thing to do is let it fall to the ground and rebuild, or to try and prop it up somehow. I, and most people, are mostly just afraid to touch it.

[Sungoldy-China]

2021 will be the best year in the next ten years.

Can hear the sound of the approaching storm.