• 15 Posts
  • 65 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: January 4th, 2024
  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•Evidence of Bad Empanada doxxing Bay Area 415?
    17·
    3 days ago

    If by evidence you mean screenshots of BadEmpanada actually admitting to the act of doxxing bayarea415 or detailed forensics of BE collecting data from BA415, well there is none that I found.

    HOWEVER, there was a post in Lemmygrad where a user explained that BadEmpanada was actually celebrating the doxxing against bayarea415 and even broadcast some PII(Personal Identifiable Information) that were available from the doxxing -> https://lemmygrad.ml/post/1426210

    He then ridicules BayArea415 for actually being a foreclosure lawyer, as if this is something hypocritical and anti-leftist. As far as I understand he was defending the people who’ve had their houses be foreclosed.

    The “foreclosure lawyer” data is PII and BE should have never shared that information in his channel.

    Sadly, due to the problem with the images in Lemmygrad, some of the images posted by that user won’t load.

  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•What's even the point of the current US offensive on Iran?
    6·
    17 days ago

    Even if they are occupied with those military bases, it didn’t stop the Gulf states to seek China or to change their payment currency to Yuan. Also, remember that the bombing of Qatar changed them and it lead them to seek other defense pacts. Soon, we will see those changes.

    As for Iraq, they are in the process of dismantling those US military bases so the only powerful control left is in the economic area. All of that control will wither out when there are viable material alternatives to Western dominated trade routes and the West’s economic system. That’s why the Eurasian energy chain is very important.

    Just like any sanctions against Israel didn’t have any effect due to Western backing, Western sanctions will no longer have any effect in West Asian countries if strong material alternatives to the Western economic system appear.

  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•What's even the point of the current US offensive on Iran?
    23·
    18 days ago

    Sadly, the author didn’t explain that point in particular. However, I can speculate that it has to do with the USD. If all the logistic framework and the material conditions allow for a complete abandonment of SWIFT/USD/other important imperialist dominated tools for international trading, this will allow countries to drop the USD and US treasuries at record levels.

    If countries around the world(or at least in Asia) drop US treasuries and USD, the entire foundation of the USD will be broken and that will allow hyperinflation to rock the USA. This in part will destroy their ability to fund their own institutions(CIA, DEA, USAID, ICE) and even their military. Adding to this, it will open the possibility of plenty of countries that already are in the BRICS alternative to boycott the USA.

    That’s my take. I could be wrong but I reach that conclusion from other takes on the USD.

  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•What's even the point of the current US offensive on Iran?
    55·
    18 days ago

    I posted an analysis from Pepe Escobar and his theory seems to be a much better explanation to me:

    The real objective is to definitively destroy the last independent link in the Eurasian energy chain that essentially connects Russia with China, strategically passing through Central Asia and Iran. It is to permanently sever the most crucial energy corridor of the 21st century.

    Think about it carefully for a moment. Iran is not just Iran. Iran is the strategically crucial energy corridor between Russian oil and gas and expanding Asian markets. Iran is the geographic link that allows China to access massive energy resources without relying on shipping lanes controlled by the U.S. Navy.

    Iran is, quite literally, the master key that can make or completely destroy the entire multipolar architecture that Russia and China have been systematically building over the past 15 years of strategic coordination. And here is the chronological detail that should send shivers down the spine of any serious geopolitical analyst on the planet.

    The American empire and its European vassals have a very specific window of approximately four to six months before the full expansion of BRICS Plus is definitively and irreversibly consolidated. Before the new parallel financial system is fully operational and functional. Before the new overland trade routes of the Belt and Road Initiative render the entire Western system of global maritime control completely irrelevant.

    This is their last real chance, and they know it perfectly well in Washington. That’s why the desperation is palpable, why the brutality is so blatant, why they are completely willing to risk a regional conflagration that could spiral completely out of control.

  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•I wanted to ask if anyone has any better information on this report.
    9·
    19 days ago

    Sorry, it took me a while to response. The second one which is the Joint Stock already existed long before this. The newest one is the private companies under contracts. I put on bold the most important part because it allows plenty of currencies including dollars or others like Yuan.

    • The Organic Hydrocarbons Law introduces adjustments that grant greater autonomy to minority shareholders in mixed enterprises and enable contracts with private companies for primary activities , without compromising the sovereignty of the State under the control of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum . (this is what you mentioned)

    • The new Article 36 allows these shareholders to directly market their production quota, provided the sale price exceeds that achieved by state-owned companies and the income is declared to the Central Bank of Venezuela , the Ministry, and the oil tax system. They can also open and manage bank accounts in any currency and jurisdiction to increase the flow of foreign currency, and exercise the technical and operational management of the company—directly or through a specialized service provider—under ministerial supervision. The regulation aims to guarantee operational efficiency, the application of international best practices, and competitive production costs , maintaining economic and financial equilibrium until the return on investment is achieved.

    As for the the tax benefits, it is not exactly that but royalties. A royalty is a payment made to a company(or this case the Venezuelan gov’t) for using their natural resources.

    • Article 52 (formerly 44) defines the royalty at 30% of the volume of hydrocarbons extracted, but the National Executive may reduce it to 20% for contracted private companies or to 15% for joint ventures when it is demonstrated that the project is not economically viable at the full rate. The royalty may be reinstated if conditions improve.

    In other words, if the company reports good ROI, the royalty will go back to the highest amount.

    Another important aspect is the strengthening of state oversight:

    • Article 64 (formerly 57) strengthens state control over the marketing of hydrocarbons and derivatives, which is primarily exercised by state-owned enterprises. The National Executive may exceptionally authorize other companies to market directly if they demonstrate higher sales prices and guarantee effective state control. This authorization does not imply the transfer of ownership of oil fields, and the Ministry may suspend or revoke it for non-compliance, price discrepancies, disruption of domestic supply, or serious violations.

    • These provisions seek to attract investment and specialized knowledge, ensuring that private participation contributes to national development, talent development and income optimization under the principles of economic sovereignty and strategic resource management.

    Now, the question of the “Why” to all of this is because Venezuelan crude oil is classified as “heavy”.

    To extract and process, you need a huge amount of resources and investment. To finish the idea, let me share with you a Cuban analysis about this topic:

    spoiler

    During the Bretton Woods agreements, it was decided to adopt the US dollar as the international currency on the condition that the Federal Reserve (the country’s central bank) would maintain the gold standard, but in 1971 this was definitively abandoned; so the dollar became a de facto fiat currency backed by US government taxation and with no intrinsic value, but with its own legal value.
    What you have just read was the beginning of the end for the US, and its fall is inevitable (meaning something that cannot be fought against).
    Let’s go back to Venezuela. Well, those poor millionaires have a big problem because black gold is a vital, extremely necessary commodity, but it is extremely expensive to exploit, and to do so requires investments that not everyone is willing to make. The proof? Venezuela. Why do you think the big company magnates showed no enthusiasm at the meeting with Trump, except for Chevron, which is the only one authorized to operate in Venezuela?
    Because it’s simpler than you think: it requires $100 billion in investment. Why are investments in the oil sector so complex? It’s also simple: they are things that cannot be taken away if there is a breach of contract, and that is the crux of the matter.

    Those who comment on trivial matters, do they really know what they are talking about? For example, if Venezuelans obtain the investments necessary to reach 3.5 million barrels per day, remember that the US must buy 7 million barrels of oil per day, and rising, since they have already reached “peak oil” in their main basin (Permian), and the US has oil for between 7 and 10 years. Producing and consuming all of its production of 14 million barrels.
    Is it so hard to understand that Venezuela consumes 200,000 barrels per day and currently produces around 800,000 barrels per day? It has a surplus of 600,000, while the US produces 14 million per day and consumes 21 million per day. Who has a serious dependency problem, the US or Venezuela?

    Then comes the second question: how is oil produced? And that’s another story altogether. The most expensive production in the world is that of the US. Why? Because it is done by hydraulic fracturing, which is not only the most expensive method, but also the most environmentally unfriendly. In addition, depending on the type of oil—whether it is extra heavy, heavy, light, etc.—it will require different refining processes.

    Surplus in the oil market: Increased production and slow demand growth are putting pressure on prices. Commodity Market Outlook, a flagship report published by the World Bank. The series presents brief summaries of specific sections from the publication.

    Oil prices rose 5 percent toward the end of the month after new US sanctions on Russian oil companies were announced, with Brent closing at around $65 per barrel (bbl) on October 29. Throughout 2025, oil prices declined due to ongoing trade policy tensions and concerns about oversupply, with occasional short-term increases in response to geopolitical events. The decline in Brent contributed to the price of Urals crude falling below $60 per barrel—the cap in place since February 2025—before introducing a lower cap of $47.6 per barrel in September.

    Growth in oil demand continues to weaken. According to estimates, global oil demand increased by only 0.8 million barrels per day (mb/d), or 0.7% year-on-year, in the third quarter of 2025, an indicator that growth remains slow relative to the 2015-19 average. This trend is expected to continue, resulting in annual demand of 103.8 mb/d in 2025 and 104.5 mb/d in 2026. According to projections, oil consumption in advanced economies will remain stable, while growth in China is likely to moderate due to the accelerated adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. In India, one of the countries contributing significantly to global growth, demand growth will be driven by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, naphtha, and diesel.

    Oil supply is projected to increase in 2025 and 2026 as new production comes online. Production in 2025 could grow by 3 mb/d year-on-year (2.9%) to reach 106.1 mb/d, with a projected increase to 108.5 mb/d in 2026. In 2025, supply growth is projected to resume in the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENA), accelerate in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and slow in advanced economies. Almost half of the increase in 2025 can be attributed to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+), reflecting higher production targets.

    Well, let’s move on to 2026, which is the present. Last year, there was already growth of almost 3%, reaching 106 million barrels per day. Don’t forget that the US consumes 21 million barrels, or 20%, even though it accounts for 4.7% of the world’s population. In other words, it consumes 420% of what any other human being on the planet consumes (on average).

    Where’s the catch? If production in Venezuela is reactivated and increases from 600,000 barrels to 3.2 million barrels on the world market, the price will plummet, and US companies, which have extremely high production costs of between US$45 and US$55 per barrel, while in West Asia it is between US$15 and US$20, and in Russia between US$21 and US$24, in Venezuela it is between US$13 and US$18.

    It is the delta between production and sale that is the cornerstone of the oil industry. The US no longer buys almost anything from Saudi Arabia, it is marginal, but it must bring together nine countries with marginal sales, including Venezuela and one major country, Canada, which sells 4.3 million barrels of oil per day, and the 2.7 million it lacks is covered by the other nine countries.

    Now, if you don’t understand that, it’s not my problem, it’s yours. Venezuela requires a broad and enormous investment process, which did not exist before Chávez, during Chávez, or after Chávez. Maduro, with this government, and especially with Delcy, since she is the vice president in charge of oil and the economic and productive sphere, made the biggest bet of Chavismo to get out of the “oil revenue” matrix, because the necessary investments were not made. Each profitable well requires approximately US$200 million, so just 100 wells would require US$20 billion.

  • rainpizza@lemmygrad.mltoAsk Lemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml•I wanted to ask if anyone has any better information on this report.
    27·
    20 days ago

    As usual, this western media is sharing false information. The reality is that the Venezuelan National Assembly approved modifications that enable private operation without state debt, reduction of royalties based on economic viability, and online publication of oil revenues.

    The complete context can be found here -> https://www.telesurtv.net/que-cambia-con-reforma-petrolera-venezuela/

    Brief teaser:

    spoiler

    The reform introduces a structural change: the formalization of Productive Participation Contracts (CPPs) . Under this model, operating companies assume the comprehensive management of projects at their own risk and cost, which boosts activity without committing the State to debt or direct financial obligations.

    This mechanism allowed for a production of 1.2 million barrels per day in 2025 and attracted investments of nearly $900 million , as detailed by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.

    Deputy Jesús Faría emphasized that this regulatory change responds to the successful practices already evaluated under the Anti-Blockade Law , aimed at consolidating national independence and the recovery of industry.