The Tide Is Turning in 2016. Profound Geopolitical and Economic Changes are Occurring…”Financially and geopolitically the Western economy has run out of gas”
By Joachim Hagopian
Global Research
January 22, 2016
Though pessimistic news still dominates and controls the headlines in both mainstream and alternative media worlds, a closer look at what’s going on right now might reveal glimpses of profound changes occurring just below the surface echo chambers. This presentation will focus on the most visible signs reflecting the current underlying transformative metamorphosis the earth is undergoing at what appears to be the most tumultuous, dangerous and exciting time in human history.
All high seas shipping around the entire globe has come to a screeching halt. The Baltic Dry Index, the foremost economic mechanism responsible for tracking international trade of industrial commodities like grain, iron ore, coal, cement and fertilizer, has been in a state of freefall. On Monday it plummeted to an all-time low of just 369 points. On Tuesday it fell even lower, another 1.63% to 363 points, taking a nosedive in the first three weeks of 2016’s first month alone to a whopping 24% drop. A latest check of Vessel Finder shows absolutely no cargo ships are in transit anywhere on the planet, clearly a historic first in modern history. Shipping companies are lamenting about the rising costs of transporting goods eating up their profits and thus keeping all cargo vessels worldwide sitting in their port docks. Brace yourself for depleted empty store shelves to start showing up in the coming weeks and months.
But another far more plausible explanation as to why global shipping has suddenly come to a standstill is because China for the first time as the emerging Asian powerhouse giant is now demanding all trade payment be transacted in Chinese Yuan. Over the last six months China has been steadily dumping its massive dollar reserves and ordered its banks to stop buying in US dollars. And now suddenly dozens of Chinese billionaire bankers and executives have mysteriously gone missing without a trace. With the faltering Chinese economy, the question becomes whether this phenomenon is payback for China’s economic woes or whether it’s part of a larger cover-up of corruption that could implicate high government officials.
Combine this latest development with last Friday’s bombshell announcement that this year Walmart will be closing 269 of its stores globally, the majority of which will be in America at 154 outlets, and the rippling of major shockwaves to come are already being felt early on in 2016. Walmart shares have plunged 30% in the last 12 months, reflecting the sobering reality that American consumers can no longer afford to indulge themselves buying up cheap junk from China they don’t need. If you believe the Walmart CEO, the massive closures are but a drop in the bucket, accounting for less than 1% of both the world’s largest retailer’s revenue as well as its global square footage.
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