Avatar takes on a non-fiction afterlife: the meaning for mining and oil companies
Avatar had already succeeded beyond Hollywood’s wildest fantasies last month, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and winning nine Oscar nominations including “best feature film”. Since then it has taken on an impressive afterlife, inspiring oppressed peoples and their supporters to draw links between the blue-faced aliens and the real world.
James Cameron was working with old formulas. But he may not have appreciated how effectively the story would stir so many popular beliefs and prejudices. One belief: resources companies are up to no good.
BA’s biofuels plans mean a lot of garbage: the problem of “peak waste”
BA is planning a biofuels plant, as it makes its bid for the “green airline” ticket. Its proposed project, to be built in east London, would employ 1,200 people and produce 16m gallons of aviation fuel a year.
It is a smart move, stealing a march on Sir Richard Branson, leader of BA’s bitter rival Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard has been talking a lot about the danger of oil shortages – the “oil crunch”, as he has been calling it – as head of the UK business task force on peak oil, but has made only tentative attempts to position his company to face that threat.
However, BA’s plant would deliver only modest amounts of fuel, while consuming enormous quantities of London’s garbage.
There is a very real prospect that we will hit “peak waste” before we hit peak oil.
Scaroni defends Eni’s rising debt load (FT)
Demand set to boost margins at Formosa (FT)
Nomura agrees to buy Nexen’s European natural gas unit (Bloomberg)
Kea Petroleum faces market after successful Aim launch (FT)
Few options for Argentina in oil dispute (FT)
India refiners fall as government defers fuel price decision (Bloomberg)
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Insight into the financial, economic and policy aspects of energy and the environment.
