Time for a change.

The EU, following a survey is proposing to stick to summer time only, the results of the survey showed that the majority of people were against switching backwards and forwards an hour every year. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was reported by the BBC said millions “believe that in future, summer time should be year-round, and that’s what will happen.”

Nothing happens very quickly in the EU and the proposal needs the support of all 28 governments. I think it will happen. I wish it would happen here too. Stick to summer time and regular sleep patterns please.

Talking of the EU Brexit needs to be agreed by November, so it’s said or will be a no deal, “stick it,” option. The UK Conservative party has been savaging itself for years on EU membership and I would not be surprised to see a new Conservative party leader and UK Prime Minister over it.

I read that Argentina has raised its interest rates to 60 per cent. Yes, that’s sixty. The troubled nation has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an early release of a US$50 billion loan. Apparently, investors are concerned that Argentina could default on government debt. Inflation is around 30 per cent and getting worse. Amongst such political turbulence it doesn’t take much for civil unrest to take hold. Never mind the investors, imagine what 30 per cent plus inflation and 60 per cent interest rates would affect your ability to get by.

The NAFTA talks go on. I don’t know how it’s possible to make a deal when the leader of the U.S. administration is likely to tear it up on a whim. I think there needs to be some sort of paradigm shift. Maybe November’s mid terms will provide it.

Another book on what’s going on at the Whitehouse. This one, by respected investigative Bob Woodward of Watergate fame is going to be very difficult to discredit, it not impossible. The TV and movie producers must be chafing at the bit to make something about the Trump Whitehouse once this administration passes. To me it looks like a mixture of The West Wing, Soap and The Gong Show.

Japan, well known for its seismic activity, has been hit by a savage typhoon, mud slides and earthquakes. It’s been reported that three million households were without power at one time. That’s maybe six, seven million people?

In Alaska a volcano south of Anchorage is showing signs of activity leading to the issuing of an aviation advisory. I wonder about the wisdom of running pipeline infrastructure through areas that are subject to seismic activity, let alone mud slides. I think we must start to replace the U.S. as a Canadian raw material energy customer as quickly as we can. If this current administration persists and the U.S. becomes self sufficient in oil, what then? “You ain’t seen nothing yet” as the song goes? We’re going to have to consider any which way but south to get product out, add value in country too. Time for some firm and committed leadership and an appreciation and ability to paint the big picture.