A perfect storm

The last 3 years have been tough. First, the pandemic that was directly followed by the invasion of Ukraine. Personally, I think the Russian invasion would have come a little sooner if it hadn't been for the pandemic.

Europe's past and some current governments have made themselves dependent on Russian gas by phasing out their nuclear power. I guess this gas dependence gave Russia the confidence to invade Ukraine. Because who would dare to come with sanctions with a silent threat to have the energy cut off to their own country.

That Ukraine was/is? one of the world's largest grain supplier may have contributed to further hope that the rest of the world would look away in order not to risk a food shortage.

This coupled with incredibly reckless monetary policy over many years of negative interest rates during boom times has created the perfect storm for Europe's citizens. A constantly rampant inflation despite several interest rate increases from the central banks. When the interest rate hikes now start to break the banks, it will be even bleaker for the common man. We probably have another couple of tough years left before things turn around.

In my opinion, many governments have allowed various environmental organizations to completely set the agenda when it comes to decommissioning nuclear power and thereby significantly contributed to this situation.