Grain, Oil, and the Unfreeing of the Seas with John Konrad - on Midrats
people have to eat and work
This week we were reminded, again, that the world relies on the free flow of goods at market prices across its oceans to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Most of the world consumes more food and fuel than it can produce locally. Most of the world's people live from paycheck to paycheck, and entire societies' stability rely on the grain and oil that economically can only be moved internationally at sea.
In a story as old has time, there are power who are using that need as leverage by threatening - or proposing to threaten - access to the seas they have access to.
In this case it is the Russians threatening grain shipments through the Black Sea, and the Iranians the shipments of oil and gas.
Joining us for the full hour this Sunday from 5-6pm Eastern to discuss this threat and how to address it will be returning guest Captain John Konrad.
John is the founder and CEO of gCaptain and author of the book Fire On The Horizon. He is licensed to captain the world's largest commercial ships and has sailed from ports around the world. John has built some of the world's most advanced ships and managed billion-dollar offshore construction projects in some of the world's harshest marine environments. John is a distinguished alumnus of New York Maritime College.
Join us live if you can, but if not you can always get the podcast later.
My favorite quote in the podcast: “I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid, and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent — their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy — they make up 90% of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent — he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief.” - General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
news.clearancejobs.com/2019/10/08/the-four-classes-of-military-officers-or-office-workers-clever-diligent-stupid-and-lazy/
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/coordinated-efforts-to-restore-the-black-sea-grain-initiative-zelenskyy-held-talks-with-erdogan/
"They coordinated efforts to resume the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Due to Russia’s actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are threatened with hunger. Together, we must prevent a global food catastrophe."
'Asia" - read China
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/ukraine-will-ask-the-european-commission-to-compensate-for-the-costs-of-grain-transportation-to-european-ports/
"Ukraine has asked the European Commission to compensate for the costs of transporting Ukrainian agricultural products to distant European ports. This was announced by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky during the telethon of the Yedyni Novyny (United News) telethon.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/ukraine-wheat-september-15-deadline-unacceptable-for-hungary/
"The deadline of 15 September imposed on the countries of the European Union bordering Ukraine for the lifting of the ban on the import of cereals from the country at war is “unacceptable to us”. So said the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture István Nagy, during a press conference in Warsaw, together with his counterparts from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia."
Potential rift forming. Fortunately, the State Department is led by the smartest person in the room, Antony Blinken, so this should be patched over fairly quickly.