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Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

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Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#281

Post by rjzzleep »

lyu07282 wrote: post #243
rjzzleep wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The tensions don't exist because of its oil. They exist because of their natural resources which may or may not include oil. Look all over africa for examples. Being rich in natural resources is a bit like being a really hot girl around a bunch of abusive predatory men. They'll shower her with gifts and tell her how amazing she is until she says: "no, I don't want to sleep with you" and all hell breaks loose.

western economists unironically call it the resource curse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_curse examples include Saudi Arabia, Norway and Alaska. Oh no wait bad examples.

Pretty cool examples bro, Saudi Arabia had a bloody history, where the brits helped the current monarchy take over in the 18th century. The US has 5 military bases there btw. One might consider that a (now) peaceful occupation.

I didn't know Alaska was a country.

I don't really know much about Norway's petrolium history, but I can't say I'm surprised that they weren't invaded for their oil, which is in the sea to begin with.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#282

Post by vintermann »

megaman8 wrote: post #279
npalli wrote: post #166

With India also discovering a very large amount of lithium reserves very recently, lithium might end up being abundant and accelerate the EV transition even faster. [1] https://innovationorigins.com/en/india-discovers-5-5-of-worl...

If you were to electrify all the vehicles in the world today (and the developing world hasn't even got lots of cars yet), it would take 1/2 the world's known supply of lithium. and those batteries only last about 8 to 10 years. Lithium become abundant, no way. Not with the amounts we're using up per capita and the enormous population on this planet. the green revolution is just getting started and there's definitely…

> and those batteries only last about 8 to 10 years.

Presumably, they don't stop being lithium after 8-10 years.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#283

Post by edflsafoiewq »

fsloth wrote: post #128
ijustlovemath wrote: post #27

It's a little bit sickening that so many of these initial comments are joking about the US going to war over the lithium.

It's not sickening, it's a poignant reflection of history, especially since the current status of Iran was effectively caused by a previous western coup to capture the oil production.

The current state of Iran is a result of the Revolution.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#284

Post by swarnie »

matthewdgreen wrote: post #76
swarnie wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO everyone has nukes or no one does. Will China/Russia/USA give up theirs or do they see them as essential for "national security"? And if they are essential then what moral authority do they have to deny security to others?

If everyone has nukes, the probability of a nuclear exchange goes towards 1. The probability of nukes landing on your city goes towards 1. We survived the last seventy-five years due to a relentless geopolitical exercise in limiting the proliferation of these weapons, often at great (moral and concrete cost.) We won’t survive an environment where every single tin-pot dictator has thermonuclear weapons mounted on ICBM…

Nukes have only been used by one country.

Logic dictates we disarm them first and see how the rest plays out =)

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#285

Post by unmole »

recuter wrote: post #185
uoaei wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my experience, there's quite a heavy level of organic criticism for how Iran has been treated in general. We can trust you're a "real person" just as much as you, us. Diverting critiques on the basis of "astroturfing" is so HRC '16.

Poor Ayatollahs. They surely deserve to be treated better. :( And yet regardless of how poorly it was treated or "what is fair", which is all the whining is ever about, nobody can remotely come up with a reason for why Iran getting a nuclear weapon would be a positive development for anybody. This is a dangerous game, regardless of your politics. Astroturfing does not necessarily imply bots, comrade.

> why Iran getting a nuclear weapon would be a positive development for anybody.

Nuclear weapons deter invasions.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#286

Post by u801e »

recuter wrote: post #185
uoaei wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my experience, there's quite a heavy level of organic criticism for how Iran has been treated in general. We can trust you're a "real person" just as much as you, us. Diverting critiques on the basis of "astroturfing" is so HRC '16.

Poor Ayatollahs. They surely deserve to be treated better. :( And yet regardless of how poorly it was treated or "what is fair", which is all the whining is ever about, nobody can remotely come up with a reason for why Iran getting a nuclear weapon would be a positive development for anybody. This is a dangerous game, regardless of your politics. Astroturfing does not necessarily imply bots, comrade.

> nobody can remotely come up with a reason for why Iran getting a nuclear weapon would be a positive development for anybody.

Whether it's a positive or negative development really doesn't matter. What matters is what actually happens once that occurs.

When India and Pakistan developed and tested nuclear weapons, we didn't see proliferation or development of nuclear capability in the region. Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, etc. didn't start their own nuclear programs.

So in the event Iran gets nuclear weapons, it's likely nothing of consequence will happen.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#287

Post by quotz »

localplume wrote: post #225
londons_explore wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Large scale protests like this are frequently externally influenced. I really wouldn't be surprised if in 50 years time when top secret documents are released to archives we don't find that these protests are being financially supported or organised by USA/Israel/the west. It wouldn't be the first time [1][2][3] [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r... [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am…

You frame it like its a bad thing when it very much isn't; the Iranian people deserve to be freed of the current tyranny under which they struggle. A more western-aligned Iran would be best for its people and for the entire Middle East. It also doesn't negate the brave efforts of the people there protesting the regime.

You forget that the Iranian revolution of the 70s was a direct result of the Iraninan government and the shah being a western puppet state, and that the people actually overthrew that government in support of their own religious government, no external politics involved. In fact the West pretty much stood helpless as they really didnt want that happening, hence why the hostilities now. Since ancient times, Persia always went their own way, even after the Arab domination in the 8th century they emerged as a reshaped Islamic Persia, rather than just a province.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#288

Post by ag315 »

epistasis wrote: post #264
ag315 wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I'm less optimistic than you on solar power, you're absolutely right about ethanol, which is easily one of the worst and most inefficient power sources we could have possibly chosen to invest in. It's a significant indictment of the US political system that so much money was shoveled into it.

I'm not sure why you are subjectively calling my number-based argument "optimistic." What do you mean by that?

Happy to discuss the numbers of your numbers-based argument, but you didn't cite your sources.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#289

Post by rr888 »

epistasis wrote: post #271
rr888 wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Utilities are huge financial organzations that have to provide secure generation and transportation over decades. Just because solar is cheaper now doesn't mean you can replace everything in just a few years. Also Solar might work great in California but Nebraska not so much.

> Also Solar might work great in California but Nebraska not so much If you think that solar doesn't work fantastically in Nebraska, then I think you need to reevaluate the data, and start holding your utility to account. Solar works great in Minnesota, with lower solar resources than Nebraska. The key difference is whether the utility will allow a financially beneficial decision to made, not the fundamental economic…

The main point is people in Northern lattitudes needs most of their energy in the Winter, especially winter nights. Its a very different problem to Southern states where peak energy use is hot sunny days.

As for distortions the biggest problem with retail users is that panels have changed the market but people still expect to use the old rules. Eg be self sufficient 320 days a year but expect eletricity on demand at the same low rates on the few days they need the grid. That isn't scalable and home solar people are getting an unfair advantage from the system, which is why utilities (rightfully) dont like it.

Re: Iran discovers world’s second largest lithium reserve

#290

Post by saiya-jin »

SuoDuanDao wrote: post #253
lyu07282 wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

western economists unironically call it the resource curse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_curse examples include Saudi Arabia, Norway and Alaska. Oh no wait bad examples.

Saudi Arabia is hardly a desirable model, though enough money admittedly papers over a lot of human rights abuses. In the above example it's like a hot girl with severe mental health issues. Norway's sovereign wealth fund is a strategy to escape the resource curse. It's like a hot girl with high self esteem and a handgun in her purse. Alaska is one state in a country that has other things going for it. It's like a ho…

If Alaska would be a separate state maybe there would be a reason for concern /s

I think 'resource curse' got it a bit backward although effect is straightforward and obvious - it allows a-holes aka bottom of society to rise, gives them extra booster rockets to rise fast (ie capture diamond mine, or oil fields like ISIL and sell via Turkey which was their primary income).

Norway got it right because well its Norway, similar would happen if it was found ie in Switzerland. Some basic human decency ingrained deep in population and thus also in politics and those who set things up for future. If that's not present and society is more everybody-for-themselves, then yes it becomes the curse and more burden than benefit.

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