Consumers are increasingly rejecting “the Great Reset” initiatives like electric vehicles, fake meat, and COVID-19 vaccines. Complaints range from the impracticality of EVs in cold weather and long-distance travel to the falling interest and stock values in fake meat and pharmaceutical companies. The dissatisfaction extends to other areas like online learning and social media platforms, suggesting a broader market rejection of these changes. This trend is seen as a triumph of consumer choice and a pushback against enforced conformity, with many hoping it continues to shape the market in 2024.
In the world of health, scientists are warning of a new COVID strain, known as JN.1, which they suggest could cause a global “heart failure pandemic.” The strain is said to affect the ACE2 receptors, which are common in the heart. Health officials have advised caution, particularly around New Year’s Eve celebrations, due to the potential strain on hospitals.
In the Middle East, the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Houthi military in Yemen continues to escalate. The Houthi military has targeted vessels owned or controlled by Israel, exposing the elaborate scheme of corporate camouflage used by Israel to conceal its shipping operations. This has led to shipping, port, and military officials in France, Italy, Spain, and Greece arranging secret safe-passage deals with Yemen and Iran, resulting in a blockade on Israel’s cargoes, vessels, and ports.
In the world of finance, Stellar’s “Real World” campaign, featuring Idris Elba, promotes the idea of a more equitable and borderless financial system. However, Stellar’s involvement in facilitating Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) raises concerns about privacy and surveillance. The push for borderless financial systems and interoperability could potentially undermine traditional nation states and lead to a global digital currency controlled by the power elite.
In the United States, the top New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to save more money, according to a Statista’s Consumer Insights survey. This marks a shift from previous years, where resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier, and lose weight were more common. Other popular resolutions include reducing stress from work and spending less time on social media.
Sources
Financial Goals Take Center Stage as Top New Year's Resolutions for Americans in 2024
Planning to save more money is top of mind for many Americans making resolutions for 2024.
Source | Submitted by aaronmckeon
Wide-Ranging Conversation Explores COVID-19, Vaccines, Science, and More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us4N4KL7VkI
Source | Submitted by nils-grimley
Crypto Players' Push for CBDCs Reveals Power Grab in Financial System
Indeed, the political class has a track record of using talking points like ‘equity’ and ‘protecting the environment’ to push top-down, sweeping policy initiatives slated to deplete traditional policymaking processes in favor of opaque global governance structures, where infrastructure previously facilitated by states is increasingly swallowed up by corporations, corporate-dominated public-private partnerships, and other organizations and institutions unaccountable to the public.
Source | Submitted by nils-grimley
Houthi Attacks Reveal Concealed Israeli Shipping Connections
The reply the Arab militaries fighting against Israel have made is that there is no innocent oil tanker or container ship moving within missile or drone range of Israel, the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean unless it can prove it.
Source | Submitted by nils-grimley
Scientists Warn of Global "Heart Failure Pandemic" Caused by New COVID Strain
Scientists are warning that a new COVID strain will cause a global “heart failure pandemic,” prompting much skepticism.
Source | Submitted by aaronmckeon
EV Craze Peaks as Consumers Realize Tesla is "Not a Real Car"
It’s a toy, sometimes a fun one, but not a real car. For that, you need gas.
Source | Submitted by aaronmckeon
