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The Butcher of Kiev may already be dead

Rumours circulate that Putin's puppet Yanukovych, who fled Ukraine to avoid trial for his criminal acts, has suffered a heart attach and is now brain dead.

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In the worst USSR traditions, that Putin is reintroducing, Yanukovych could be maintained on life support to retain the sole remaining fig leave for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Some sources claim that he is already dead and beyond even token maintenance.

One source claims that Yanukovych was executed on Putin's orders at 03:00 hrs Zulu today. This claim is based on reports that Putin was very angry about Yanukovych's failure to kill enough demonstrators to crush the democratic rising in the Ukraine and was enraged by the courageous demonstration of the Ukraine's paralympic team at Sochi. Yanukovych was seen as an embarrassment by Putin and killing him is not as unlikely as it may at first seem. It does match old USSR practices, with which General Putin would be very familiar with from his days as a senior KGB officer, where an execution would be disguised as a heart attack and the corpse was then maintained to provide the illusion that a recovery might be possible. If Yanukovych has been killed it is unlikely to have been by the favoured methods of Russian intelligence services because live cremation would have destroyed the body and that may still be needed in a hospital bed. The likely method would have been by lethal injection, allowing the corpse to be displayed as though gravely ill.

It has been pointed out that the primary Russian objective was to annex Crimea. Now that has been achieved, Yanukovych only had value if Putin intended to invade all remaining areas of the Ukraine. It now seems likely that this year he only wants to grab Eastern Ukraine and could maintain a fiction that Yanukovych is still alive but grave long enough to invade the Eastern provinces of the Ukraine. It has also been pointed out that Putin was surprised by the movement of NATO forces into the Baltic states and Poland which were apparently the next targets after swallowing all of Ukraine. It is conjectured that the US and Britain may have already privately warned Putin that he faces military action if he attempts further invasions.

The situation remains grave because it is following the slide into war in 1914, when Russian mobilization and threats to invade the Balkans states triggered the progressive spreading of mobilization and preparations for war in response to Russian and German aggression.

Defiance and Protest - thunderous applause

Carbon output for wind turbines has not been accurately calculated

RenewableUK today commented on the announcement by HM Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government of allocation of the latest round of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund.

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RenewableUK today commented on the announcement by HM Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government of allocation of the latest round of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund.

The Fund which was set up in 2012 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has now been through several rounds with this latest allocation round worth £27.7 million to 50 projects across the UK. £17 million of this year’s fund went to projects in areas hit by floods, with £5 million from the fund’s reserves going to the Government’s programme for flood.recovery.

The grants are funded by the Government from the income from the Crown Estate’s Marine Assets, including the revenue they receive from offshore wind sites.

Nick Medic, Director of Offshore Renewables at RenewableUK commented: “It’s fantastic to see the revenues from offshore wind being put to such good use. Across the UK we’re seeing community enterprises and local tourism facilities given a shot in the arm. The growing revenues from developing the UK’s fantastic offshore wind resource mean this important fund will be able to do more and more over the coming years”.

Mr Medic went on to say: “Offshore wind is a win-win for coastal communities – between 2010 and 2013 the number of direct jobs in the sector doubled, and today over 12,500 people are employed directly or indirectly in the offshore wind sector. As well as the jobs created, it’s also producing revenues for the Crown Estate which then go towards this vital funding.”

Eastern Shipbuilding delivers another Bravante PSV

March 7, 2014—Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., Panama City, FL, recently delivered Bravante VI to Boldini S.A, a member of Brazil's Bravante Group.The vessel is the second of five STX SV290 platform supply vessels that Eastern is building for Boldini. The 284 ft vessels are AC diesel-electric, twin Z-drive propelled with four Cummins QSK-60DM 16-cylinder turbo-charged IMO Tier II diesel generator engines each rated at 1,825 kW at 1,800 rev/min.

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Gulf of Guinea crew kidnaps surge
These most recent attacks make this the largest surge over a three month period since Dryad Maritime Intelligence's records began with eight vessels attacked and 20 crew members kidnapped.


Wind farm support cats to have Rolls-Royce water jets
The workboats, one 24-meter and two 26-meter aluminum catamarans, will each feature two Rolls-Royce 56A3 stainless steel water jets.


Jones Act tanker to be converted to shuttle in Poland
Overseas Tampa, one of the Veteran Class Jones Act products tankers built by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, looks to be headed to Poland for conversion to a shuttle tanker at Remontowa Shipyard.


Kleven takes over Bergen Group OCV contracts
The hulls are currently under construction at Daewoo's Mangalia, Romania, shipyard and are scheduled to arrive in Norway in the second and fourth quarters of this year.

Sydney & London Properties and leading U.S. real estate developer Related Companies today announced that they have formed partnership to pursue redevelopment of the Euston station area subject to Government consent to pursue the project.

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Sydney & London Properties act as Project Manager for the Euston Estate – the only landowner other than Network Rail Infrastructure Limited on the existing 12 acre Euston station site. Related Companies is the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States and is currently developing Hudson Yards a 28-acre mixed-use development over 30 live rail tracks in midtown Manhattan.

 

The Euston Regeneration Partnership (ERP) believes that material funding created by a public-private partnership would allow for a the realisation of a world class station, whilst providing a comprehensive mixed-use re-development creating significant financial incentives for the Government and Camden council to pursue this alternative.

 

Richard Anning, Chief Executive of Sydney & London Properties commented:

“We held a world-wide search for a developer with the experience, skills, track-record and financial capabilities to partner on this project and are pleased to team up with Related Companies, whose vast expertise and ability to source capital will help us realise Euston’s vast potential. The size, range, success and innovative nature of Related’s previous projects speak for themselves including the massive 17 million square foot Hudson Yards project, which is the largest real estate project in the US and has a number of key similarities with Euston, including the necessity to work above live rail tracks. Both Sydney & London and Related believe there is significant potential in a broad scale re-development scheme on the 35 acres site proposed by the Hybrid Bill and are staunchly committed to exploring the opportunity.We believe our proposal can provide the best outcome for all of Euston’s stakeholders and will continue to discuss our plans with the Government and other stakeholders until a decision on the station’s future is reached.”

 

Kenneth Wong, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Development of Related Companies said, “We have long known that London is a world-leading market and are very excited by the opportunity to collaborate with Sydney & London Properties and the public sector to redevelop the Euston Station area. We understand that all interested parties, including Parliament, will undertake a thorough process of deciding HS2 and the opportunity for over-station development. We look forward to contributing to that dialogue and are committed to seeing this process through to conclusion. Related has an over 40 year track record of delivering transformational mixed-use developments including the ambitious 17 million square foot Hudson Yards project that is redefining 28 acres of Manhattan’s west side. Working together with all stakeholders we will create a dynamic program that will connect to the fabric of the city, create a new destination and realize the area’s full potential. “

Secured Energy Bonds plc (‘SEB’) has confirmed plans to develop a nationwide programme of rooftop solar projects in 22 English schools. The multi-school development - which is in keeping with the Government’s policies on the switch to clean energy within educational establishments - involves no capital outlay on the part of the schools. What is more, it allows the schools to buy the power generated on site at a heavily discounted rate, delivering savings of circa £1.4m on their electricity bills, and a reduction of some 561 metric tonnes of carbon in the process!

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SEB, which is a subsidiary of global diversified clean energy company CBD Energy Limited, is set to install more than 1.25mWp in the first round of investment, with announcements regarding further school developments likely to follow. The sites were procured in partnership with leading project development manager and originator Solar Cells Ltd.

Excellent news
Commenting on the commission, Chris Hall, Business Development Executive and spokesperson for Solar Cells Ltd said: “The UK has developed just 2.5GW of solar capacity to date, against a government target of 20GW by 2020, and with bank loans and other more traditional forms of finance still proving hard to come by, and prospective clients struggling with a host of spending priorities, the installation of a solar array will seem prohibitively high, indeed to many a luxury. It is for that very reason that we developed our free solar power initiative, and we are delighted to have secured this first round of development for our client Secured Energy Bonds plc.

“The Company absorbs absolutely all of the costs involved in the installation, and the initiative is available to all manner of organisations able to offer a suitable rooftop site, in both the public sector and business – in agriculture, industry and many other fields. It means all sorts of organisations can enjoy the full range of benefits which come with solar power, reducing their energy bills whilst playing their part in the switch to cleaner energy sources.

“The financial model that we have constructed, to develop solar projects on large non-domestic sites, is we believe a great addition in this growing market, as capital outlay, return over the investment period, and counterparty risk have each presented significant hurdles in developing sites in recent years. The Secured Energy Bonds initiative makes solar development truly accessible.”

SECURED ENERGY BONDS PLC TO DEVELOP 22 ROOFTOP SOLAR PROJECTS../2

An attractive investment opportunity
Chris Hall’s sentiments are echoed by SEB Chairman, Gerry McGowan: “Growing numbers recognise the need to develop new, cleaner energy sources, and the savings made by installing solar helps to reduce overheads for schools and businesses alike.

Solar power is beneficial for both the local economy and the economy at large, and it is for that reason that we established Secured Energy Bonds plc and began marketing Energy Bonds, which represent an excellent opportunity for people to make a socially responsible investment in new green energy projects, and to play their part in building a greener, cleaner future.”

Where next for SEB?
The education sector is likely to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of SEB’s programme of investments as school budgets are tight and a shorter term view needs to be taken on investments. With the removal of counterparty risk and a highly competitive Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) there are opportunities across all sectors to benefit from free rooftop solar installations. By way of example, a mid-sized rooftop of around 1600m2 of usable space – consuming a national average production level (950kWp/kWh) - could save well in excess of £400,000 over the course of the lease. The flexibility of its structure can be beneficial to landlords and tenants alike, and with a 10 year option due for imminent release, the options across all manner of sectors are numerous.

“It’s important to understand what organisations are looking for when structuring a product that speaks to both their corporate social responsibility and cost saving initiatives”, said Chris Hall, “and coupling a product that is both free but fully supported and maintained will stand us in good stead going forward.”

Pony camp, Camp 15. Ponies (left to right) Snippetts, Nobby, Michael and Jimmy Pigg, Great Ice Barrier, 19 November 1911

The Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge has launched an appeal to save Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ‘lost’ polar negatives. A last minute stay of execution means it now has until 25 March to save the negatives for the nation.

Watch Ranulph Fiennes' appeal on YouTube to find out more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG69kAPlVyU

 

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Due to the overwhelming level of public support and assistance from public bodies and charities, The Scott Polar Research Institute has already raised a fifth of the purchase price of £275,000 in just six weeks. Following careful negotiation, the vendors have agreed to extend the original deadline for the sale of these historic images. The Institute now has until 25 March to raise the necessary funds to purchase Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s rediscovered photographic negatives, taken in 1911 on the British Antarctic Expedition, for its Polar Museum.

As part of the Institute’s redoubling of efforts to secure the negatives, it has today launched a video of Britain's greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, giving his full support to the appeal and explaining the importance of preserving the negatives for the nation. Fiennes stresses the uniqueness of the negatives and their importance both to the national heritage and to research.

In the video, Sir Ranulph Fiennes says: “The negatives of Scott’s lost photographs are of major significance to the national heritage. Scott’s attainment of the South Pole and his subsequent death captured the public imagination on its discovery in 1913 and continues to exercise an extraordinary fascination. The negatives are a key component of the expedition’s material legacy as an object and as a collection in themselves. Although the Scott Polar Research Institute holds prints of a number of these photographs, acquiring the negatives is very important. They take us right back to the point of origin, a fact made all the more exciting given that the Institute also holds the camera on which they were taken. Unlike a print, of which any number can be made, the negatives are unique and would be a huge asset to the Institute.”

The extension to the deadline gives time to approach further funding bodies and private donors. The generosity of the public is vital in the race to ensure that the negatives remain available to all in perpetuity, for research and exhibition.

Julian Dowdeswell, Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute, said: “There has been an extraordinarily generous response to the appeal, proving how important Scott remains in the national imagination. Every donation, however small, brings us closer to reaching our goal of £275,000. With this new extension, I am confident we can raise the remaining funds to acquire the negatives.”

The Polar Museum needs to find a further £200,000 in the next three weeks to avoid the prospect of the 113 photographic negatives being sold at auction.

The negatives are a record of Scott’s earliest attempts - under the guidance of expedition photographer Herbert Ponting - through to his unparalleled images of his team on the Southern Journey. The force, control and beauty of his portraits and landscapes number them among some of the finest early images of the Antarctic.

The Polar Museum is already home to the remaining prints of Scott's photographs, Herbert Ponting’s glass plate negatives and Ponting’s presentation album from the same expedition. Added to that are the prints and albums of all the other expedition members equipped with a camera. Together, they form the most comprehensive photographic record of the expedition held anywhere in the world.

Anyone able to make a donation can do so here: http://bit.ly/1nWQz0k

“Plans to implement the newly proposed Automatic Data Sharing agreement are ambitious. The G20 is to reach a decision on how governments swap data at the next meeting in September. However, financial institutions will be expected to annually report on accounts held by foreign citizens or companies by the end of 2015.

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In order to be prepared for the automatic exchange of information on a global basis, financial institutions will need to act now. By starting to maintain and match the internal data that is sourced from multiple systems, organisations will be able to develop a single customer view that meets regulators demands whilst minimising the risks of errors, omissions and multiple reporting on the same taxpayer. However, the challenge for many financial institutions will be battling with incomplete data sets that require remediation and enhancement. As a result, some organisations will be required to develop processes to interact with clients for data gathering and introduce specific mechanisms that record such interactions to demonstrate due diligence and adhere to the principle of Treating Customers Fairly.”

· 2013 INRIX Traffic Scorecard Report shows traffic congestion in Europe on the rise for the first time in two years

· UK ranked 6th for worst traffic in Europe with drivers wasting approximately 30 hours last year in gridlock

· Londoners face 2nd worst congestion in Europe wasting approximately 82 hours in 2013, up 10 hours from 2012

· A 14-mile stretch of the A4 near London named UK’s worst road; costing drivers approximately 91 hours last year

LONDON, UK, 4th March 2014 – A new report from leading traffic information and driver services provider INRIX shows traffic congestion in Europe rose in 2013 for the first time in two years. According to the 2013 Annual INRIX Traffic Scorecard, traffic congestion across Europe increased approximately 6 percent in the last three quarters of the year.

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In the UK, drivers wasted approximately 30 hours in traffic congestion in 2013, one more hour than 2012. Overall, motorists in the UK spent less time in traffic than fellow drivers in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg and approximately 30 fewer hours than travellers in Europe’s worst country for traffic, Belgium.

 

Traffic congestion was up in 9 of the 18 UK cities analysed. The biggest increase in traffic congestion was London (+13%) where drivers sat idle for 82 hours in traffic, 10 more hours than 2012. Based on the amount of hours wasted last year in traffic, the UK’s ten worst metropolitan areas for driving were:

 

Rank

UK Metropolitan Area

Hours Wasted in 2013

Change from 2012 (in hours)

1

London commute zone

82

10

2

Gr. Manchester

46

2

3

Merseyside

39

2

4

S. Nottinghamshire

39

4

5

Gr. Birmingham

33

1

6

Gr. Belfast

31

1

7

S. Yorkshire

26

-1

8

Leeds-Bradford

25

2

9

Avon & N. Somerset

24

0

10

Portsmouth-Fareham

24

-1

 

“So goes traffic, so goes the economy,” said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO, INRIX. “While bad news for drivers, increases in traffic congestion in Europe are signs of a slowly recovering economy.”

 

The UK economy grew 1.9%[1] in 2013 – its strongest growth since 2007. Unemployment fell steadily throughout the year[2] contributing to the increase in UK traffic congestion as more people headed back to work.

 

The UK vs Europe: How We Measure Up

The amount of time British drivers spent in traffic throughout the year has risen slightly, from 29 hours in 2012 to 30 hours in 2013. This puts the UK in sixth place in Europe, behind Belgium (1st), the Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg respectively. Drivers in Belgium spent almost twice as long in traffic (58 hours) as British drivers in 2013. The most congested European city is Brussels, where drivers spent 83 hours in traffic last year.

 

Based on the average hours wasted annually across the countries analysed, Europe’s worst countries for traffic congestion in 2013 were:

 

2013 Rank

2012 Rank

Country

Hours Wasted in Traffic in 2013

Hours Wasted in Traffic in 2012

Change in Hours Wasted from 2012 to 2013

1

1

Belgium

58

58

no change

2

2

Netherlands

44

51

-7

3

4

Germany

35

36

-1

4

3

France

35

37

-2

5

6

Luxembourg

31

28

3

6

5

United Kingdom

30

29

1

7

10

Italy

25

22

3

8

9

Switzerland

25

22

3

9

7

Austria

22

25

-3

10

11

Ireland

20

19

1

11

8

Spain

17

25

-8

12

12

Hungary

9

15

-6

13

13

Portugal

6

11

-5

 

The UK’s Worst Roads for Traffic

 

For the first time, the INRIX Traffic Scorecard this year identifies the worst roads for traffic in the U.K. and other countries worldwide. Based on total annual hours of delay in the worst peak period (either morning or evening), the UK’s 10 Worst Roads for Traffic last year were:

Rank

Metropolitan Area

Road(s)

Between

And

Distance (miles)

Worst Peak Period (am /pm)

Total Delay per Year (hours)

1

London

A4

Central London

The M4

14.2

pm

91

2

London

A4

The M4

Central London

14.7

pm

73

3

London

A215

Camberwell

Croydon turn off

9.55

pm

67

4

London

A217

Morden

Chelsea

10.4

pm

67

5

London

A1/A1(M)

Finchley

Barbican

8.43

pm

66

6

London

A23

Croydon

Westminster Bridge Road

8.62

pm

63

7

London

A205

Catford

Woolwich Ferry

6.86

pm

60

8

London

A41

Central London

M1

7.54

pm

52

9

London

A12

Stratford

M25

13.6

pm

50

10

London

A406

Chiswick Roundabout

Neasden Junction

5.88

pm

48

 

 

 

WORST ROADS OUTSIDE OF LONDON

 

Rank

Metropolitan Area

Road(s)

Between

And

Distance (miles)

Worst Peak Period (am /pm)

Total Delay per Year (hours)

1

Birmingham

M6

J10 Wolverhampton East

J7 Birmingham (North)

10.22

am

36

2

Edinburgh

A8

Princes Street: Edinburgh

Maybury Road: Edinburgh

5.15

pm

32

3

Glasgow

M8

J13 Provan

J19 Anderston Cross

4.21

pm

26

4

Manchester

A5103

M60 J5: Northenden

Mancunian Way

4.55

am

26

5

Glasgow

M8

J25 Cardonald

J20 Kingston Bridge

8.43

pm

24

6

Edinburgh

A720

Edinburgh Services: Musselburgh

Wester Hailes

10.27

am

23

7

Manchester

M60

J9 Trafford Park

J13 Worsley

4.88

pm

20

8

Manchester

A580

Boothstown: Worsley

Swinton Park Manchester

7.21

pm

20

9

Chester

A51

Turning for Great Barrow: Stamford Bridge

The Bars: Chester City Centre

4.57

pm

19

 

 

 

The Traffic Situation in Mainland Europe in 2013

INRIX analysed data from 13 European countries and the congestion landscape generally aligned closely with each country’s economic outlook. Those nations struggling with high unemployment and low or negative growth in 2013 typically recorded lower traffic congestion than in 2012. Spain and Portugal are both examples of this trend: in 2013 Spain’s economy contracted by 1.2%[3] and Portugal experienced record unemployment.

The data shows a marked difference from 2012 where all of the European countries saw decreases in congestion. In 2013, five nations recorded increases in congestion according to the INRIX Index: the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Italy. The Swiss[4] and British economies both grew by 1.9% in 2013. Although full-year figures have not been released for Ireland and Luxembourg, estimates show that Ireland is expected to grow by 1.3%[5] and Luxembourg by 1.9%[6] in 2013. The general trend is that the countries showing increased congestion have a positive economic outlook, while those economies still struggling are experiencing less congested roads.

The INRIX Traffic Scorecard analysed traffic in major metropolitan areas across Europe, providing a comprehensive snapshot into the intractable issues of urban traffic congestion. In the countries analysed by the report, the Top 25 most congested cities in Europe and annual average hours wasted in traffic are:

2013 Rank

2012 Rank

Metropolitan area

Hours Wasted in 2013

Annual Change in Hours from 2012

1

1

Brussels

83

0

2

3

London commute zone

82

9

3

2

Antwerp

78

1

4

4

Rotterdam

63

-8

5

5

Stuttgart

60

-5

6

9

Cologne

56

-2

7

13

Milan

56

5

8

6

Paris

55

-8

9

10

Ghent

54

1

10

15

Karlsruhe

53

5

11

8

Amsterdam

50

-9

12

11

‘s Gravenhage

49

-3

13

14

Dusseldorf

49

-2

14

12

Hamburg

48

-3

15

7

Utrecht

48

-13

16

19

Gr. Manchester

46

1

17

18

Munich

44

-0

18

17

Lyon

44

-3

19

22

Grenoble

42

1

20

20

Charleroi

41

-1

21

16

Bordeaux

41

-5

22

23

Ruhrgebiet

40

0

23

21

Toulouse

39

-1

24

24

Merseyside

39

2

25

25

S. Nottinghamshire

39

3

About the INRIX Traffic Scorecard

The INRIX Traffic Scorecard measures the traffic congestion problem by going beyond traditional limitations of road sensors and statistical sampling techniques by analysing an historical archive of real-time data crowd-sourced from actual vehicles travelling on major metropolitan roadways.

INRIX analyses trillions of real-time data points from over a hundred sources including crowd-sourced data from a variety of commercial vehicles, including taxis, airport shuttles, service delivery vans, long haul trucks as well as consumer vehicles and mobile devices. Each data report from these GPS-equipped vehicles and devices includes the speed, location and heading of a particular vehicle at a reported date and time. In creating the INRIX Traffic Scorecard, INRIX analyses information for more than one million kilometres of motorways and secondary roads in Europe and nearly two million miles of roads in North America during every hour of the day to generate the most comprehensive and timely congestion analyses to date, covering the largest metropolitan areas in 15 countries.

The same data used to generate the Scorecard also powers INRIX Traffic, a free smartphone app that helps drivers avoid frustrating delays stuck in traffic. The INRIX Traffic app helps drivers never be late with insights from the world’s largest traffic network into the fastest routes from home to work, recommended departure and travel times, traffic forecasts and personalised traffic alerts unique to driver’s routes. More information about INRIX Traffic can be found at http://inrixtraffic.com.

More details on traffic congestion in a particular country and how countries and cities compare to each other, along with an executive summary of the report’s key findings are now available at scorecard.inrix.com. The extensive data powering the INRIX Traffic Scorecard is immediately available under license for further analysis and review by government agencies and commercial organisations.

The slide into World War Three has begun. Not what Putin wanted, but a very real possibility. He won't be the first dictator to get what he deserves rather than what he wanted.

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Putin rightly decided that there was a serious lack of leadership in the West and assumed that now was the time to start pushing hard to recreate a fascist Soviet Union, absorbing all the states that broke free when the old Soviet Union collapsed.

He could see Britain without a real Government as the LibCon/LibDem coalition began to unwind in the approach to the 1915 General Election. He was greatly encouraged by Ed Milliband voting against any action to protect Syrians from Putin's friend and client Assad.

He saw the laughable EUSSR as a paper tiger with a clown as President and a useless former quango queen as Lord High Eurocrat for Foreign Affairs and Direct Action.

Crucially, he recognized just how useless Hussein Obama was and how the US was busy scrapping its military to fund the seriously flawed ObamaCare program that is so flawed that US legislators took early steps to exempt themselves from its provisions.

What he overlooked is that a cornered rat can be very dangerous and the global communications now available to virtually every citizen in the world makes it very difficult to use the old dictator's trick of claiming to be 'protecting' his nationals and then attempting to destabilize the target country and force it to fight back. The Russian position if as laughable as the potential protectors of Ukraine are incompetent clowns.

As information continues to come out of the Russian Occupation Zone in Crimea, it appears that the Ukraine is fighting back in a very civilized way. Ukraine soldiers are marching on the Russians without weapons. This is brave and may prove tragic in the short term but dramatically increase pressures on Putin. There are emerging stories that unarmed Ukraine civilians have been planning to create unarmed protective rings around the besieged Ukraine military installations in the Crimea and that the Russians are trying to turn of power and water to the besieged sites. This may lead on to further Russian brutality and expose the Russian actions for what they are even to the most obtuse.

Paralympians are placed in a very difficult position because their natural desire to compete after long months of training weigh against the natural human desire to avoid any action that could give even the smallest comfort to Putin's fascists. Banning Officials from travel to the Paralympics is not adequate and a call should go to athletes to appeal to their sense of humanity and honour, while plans to restage the Paralympics in a democratic country should receive priority.

The economic sanctions come in two parts. The markets reacted very quickly, wiping billions off the value of Russian stocks and its currency value. The more damaging actions will take longer and for Russians offer the further danger that the sanctions are like a super tanker - they take a while to get started, but then prove very difficult to stop. Even if Putin decided to withdraw completely from the Ukraine, including the removal of the Black Sea fleet from the Crimean bases, the Russian economy will continue to be hit for months to come as legal sanctions take time to disengage and the finance community takes time to recover any confidence in Russian markets.

The longest term damage to the Russian economy could prove to be to its gas and oil production. Europe has received a wakeup call and wise politicians, and there are some still, will look to ways of dramatically reducing dependence on Russian oil and gas, steps that should have been taken a long time ago but were frustrated by climate fraudsters. With the decline of North Sea oil and gas, fracking offers Britain a very real prospect of regaining control of its energy needs.

In the short to medium term the very real danger is now presented as NATO reviews the situation. Poland has called for an emergency meeting and the NATO treaty calls on all members to support any single or multiple members who are threatened. Poland and the other former western slave states of the USSR, who have already joined NATO, fully understand General Putin and his mafia friends. They know that Russian annexation of the Ukraine or any part of it precedes threats directly to them. There is a very real possibility that NATO will go to full war alert in response to the Russian mobilization. If Russian continues to expand out of the Crimea, NATO could well move into the Ukraine in response to the calls already made by the Ukraine Government, but primarily to protect NATO territory from the Russians. Once that happens a minor action or error anywhere along the front or within Crimea could trigger direct military action from NATO with the very real possibility that this may escalate to nuclear exchanges.

Right now, Putin has recreated both the prelude to WWI and the prelude to WWII. By mobilizing Russian forces it makes the mobilization of NATO almost unavoidable just as the period before WWI saw miscalculation after miscalculation following on from Russian mobilization. As in the run up to WWII, German fascists, just like Putin's fascists, tried to con the world that the invasion of Poland was just to protect German ethnic groups from Polish violence. Just as Putin has been doing, Special Forces were used, together with propaganda, in an attempt to create the illusion that invasion was only to protect the innocent. In the period before 1914, and in the period before 1939, weak politicians in Britain, France and the US allowed the aggressors to think they were just too weak to present any threat to the aggressors. In the event, even the weak turned and war became a terrible result but one which was inevitable from the miscalculations of the aggressors.

The danger increases because Putin is now as much a victim of circumstances. He is moving beyond the point where he controls events. If he gives in to the international community's very reasonable demands to withdraw all Russian military forces from the Crimea and the rest of the Ukraine, he may still not be quick enough to avoid the risk of an exchange of fire and descent into all out war.

It will be very difficult for the weak politicians leading the West to avoid military escalation, even though they have no appetite for war. The military will be advising an end to delay and the demonstration of western military strength. That may now be unavoidable, but it is very important for the free world to begin long term actions to remove for generations the ability of Russia to again threaten the peace of the world. A concerted and strategic plan for sanctions will increase the probability that Putin will be overthrown and that he and any surviving conspirators will face war crimes trials. If Western politicians can only work together to a long term plan, war can be avoided but Putin and his cronies can be destroyed.