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2 Dead, 4 Injured In Chile As Gas Price Hike Protests Turn Deadly

Tyler Durden's picture




 

It must be that 0% Chile unemployment leading to zero economic slack, and resulting in surging inflation that is the reason for the most recent deadly escalation borne from surging prices. Because otherwise it would mean that the chairman was either blatantly lying when he said he was 100% confident global inflation would not run out of control, or, as usual, the Princeton academic with no real world experience had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. From Business Week: " Protests over gas price increases of 17 percent are intensifying in
far southern Chile. Already, two women protesters have been killed and a
baby was among those injured when a truck smashed into a barricade and
knocked them into a bonfire.
About 21 people have been arrested. Police say the trucker fled the scene in Punta Arenas early Wednesday. He had been driving without lights on. The protests are the first major political challenge to face
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera this year. He made a campaign promise
that gas prices wouldn't rise, but the state-owned petroleum company
has had trouble maintaining supplies. Chile imports 93 percent of its
gas."

h/t Archfool

 

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Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:51 | 871975 Ham Wallet
Ham Wallet's picture

Maybe they need to cool the vitriolic rhetoric?

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:33 | 872108 Careless Whisper
Careless Whisper's picture

just STFU and agree with the politicians. the people exist for them.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 02:44 | 872386 4xaddict
4xaddict's picture

I wonder how Sovereign Man is feeling now his last bastion of safety has riots!

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 04:30 | 872435 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

I wonder how Sovereign Man is feeling now his last bastion of safety has riots!

 

Indeed an important remark.

One must always remember that leaving the US exposes one as a potential target for US foreign policies, that dropping US nationality pushes one on the side of non US citizens.

This should be the first consideration of any US citizen wishing to leave the US: am I ready to get targeted by US foreign policies, at least the scale effect policies?

If one wants to get protected from the violence of a ganglord, one must stay on the ganglord's turf, as ganglords maintain close range stability by exporting violence.

 Gang, gang, gang. If you understand gang, you understand the US. And make better choices.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 06:52 | 872477 malikai
malikai's picture

"This should be the first consideration of any US citizen wishing to leave the US: am I ready to get targeted by US foreign policies, at least the scale effect policies?"

That's a bit excessive. Don't underestimate the ability of people to both blend in with their environment and their ability to denounce the evil of the empire. Also, how many people in the world hate Canadians? Did you know that many US citizens living overseas easily pass for Canadians? I've done it several times in arab countries. It works.

What I find interesting is the fact that they are protesting a mere 17% rise. That's pence. Between jan 06 and april 08 the price of crude doubled. There should have been a revolution over that one, but I don't recall such things.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 08:43 | 872537 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

Wooooo. That is either a marvellous misunderstanding or a poor attempt at rewriting.

 

Did I state anything like the threat comes from the locals? Of course, selling as a Canadian work as locals are not racist and have beef against the US citizens.

I only stated when a US citizen leaves motherland, he or she should be prepared to be targeted by US foreign policies. US policies.

If you move and live in a corner of the world the US is determined to starve to loosen up trade discussions, you are in for the ride. The US wont stop from implementing their policies because you are on ground. Grows even worse if you relinquished your nationality.

The best way to escape from the US policies is to stay at home, US hometown.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 09:48 | 872661 Tanz der Lemminge
Tanz der Lemminge's picture

no problem for him .... as long as his newletter subs don't go down

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:54 | 872853 InExile
InExile's picture

I was thinking the same.  I was also wondering if that guy posting here that went to Panama came back with his wallet.

 

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:52 | 871980 Sophist Economicus
Sophist Economicus's picture

Would they settle for sugar instead?

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 06:19 | 872465 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

I already said it so many times:

Stun guns for the police don't work. ONLY RIOT GUNS WORK!! THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM RIOT GUNS.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:00 | 872869 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

That's a bingo! 

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:00 | 871990 PalmiticGlycerin
PalmiticGlycerin's picture

Mr. Lira?

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:03 | 871995 bob_dabolina
bob_dabolina's picture

This is not entirely Ben's fault.

But we are getting to the point in-terms of food/energy prices where the blame will fall squarely on his shoulders.

It will get interesting in the short.

Or...this could be the change that we've been waiting for (world wide)

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:04 | 872004 Xibalba
Xibalba's picture

"the Princeton academic with no real world experience had absolutely no idea what he was talking about."  - How is it that one can study business from a person who never actually owned one?  This American education camp concept always baffled me. 

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:12 | 872024 Ham Wallet
Ham Wallet's picture

It makes you realize how true & funny that scene in "Back to School" w/ Rodney Dangerfield is, when he gets into an argument with his economic prof. on how to start a business.

"Maybe bribes, kick-backs and mafia payoffs are how you do business, but they are not part of the legitimate business world"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVDGmjz7eM

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:06 | 872009 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

Police say the trucker fled the scene in Punta Arenas early Wednesday. He had been driving without lights on.

God, this sounds so much like it might have been Trucker Ben, designated driver for our drunken economy.

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:11 | 872022 gwar5
gwar5's picture

Unfortunately the truck driver just added more fuel to the fire.

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:23 | 872062 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

awwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:17 | 872043 NOTW777
NOTW777's picture

the left will blame this on sarah palin and rush

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:23 | 872065 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

I blame NASCAR

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 04:23 | 872432 gravitas
gravitas's picture

I lol'd

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 00:36 | 872253 snowball777
snowball777's picture

Nope; all issues in Chile are blamed on the CIA.

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:28 | 872082 Buck Johnson
Buck Johnson's picture

The sick thing is that with this inflation increasing faster and faster, nothing that we or anybody can do will change the inflation increase.  And thats because it took close to 2 years for it to get to this point and it will take at least that long for it to reverse.  But also if the do cut off the money spigot, it will stall the economy.  We are in a situation that we can't get out of without alot of pain.

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:30 | 872090 Nihilarian
Nihilarian's picture

I'm sure price controls will solve this problem. Eh, comrades?

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:47 | 872151 bagoshine
bagoshine's picture

Sorry zh. Story to headline causal fail this time.  nounverbadjective

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:53 | 872176 Caviar Emptor
Caviar Emptor's picture

Bad news for the non-oil producing South American nations. But as we've seen with food riots elsewhere, prices are hurting average people all over the world. The Fed has exported inflation and many people have already been saying it. That's why the rush to prevent capital inflows into Asian economies. There's a chance the global economy will flame out now and take the US with it. 

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:55 | 872178 outamyeffinway
outamyeffinway's picture

I find it quite disturbing that Chile imports 93% of it's gas. Simon Black, what say you? Chile's one of my destination choices.........suddenly I ponder......

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:48 | 872838 archfool
archfool's picture

Btw... this "gas" in Chile is Natural Gas.... Not gasoline.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:03 | 872878 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

I know it is cold there most of the time (that is why they call it Chili).  But isn't it summer down under?  Odd time for NG inflation.  Must be Ben's fault.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 19:19 | 874738 outamyeffinway
outamyeffinway's picture

Ah, thanks for the clarification.    :)

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 00:18 | 872226 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

Time to stage another miner's rescue on global TV for the sheeple to tune in to.

Maybe we can have another glimpse of the abbandoned lunar rover out there on the Atacama desert.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 00:39 | 872257 snowball777
snowball777's picture

I'd claim to have uncovered detailed info about 2012, including how much sooner 'the end' could be; cue Geraldo.

Does the tinfoil make your head itch?

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 00:50 | 872278 Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

No but it keeps us a couple volts lower during the magnetic portal openings.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/30oct_ftes/

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 01:27 | 872330 trav7777
trav7777's picture

mmm...tasty protestor barbecue

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 03:03 | 872393 walcott
walcott's picture

petroleum bitchez...

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 07:18 | 872487 Popo
Popo's picture

Wake me up when 50,000 people storm the prime-minister's house and drag him through the streets.  Or the banking community flees the country due to safety issues.  Or the G20 issues travel restrictions to Chile because the riots have engulfed the city.

2 people dead?  If this is the scale of rioting we can expect then this is a non-issue.  

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 07:31 | 872492 pazmaker
pazmaker's picture

I wonder if they will have a memorial service for those killed with the Chilean President giving a heart warming emotional speech televised nationally on Chilean tv? 

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:26 | 872783 hangemhigh
hangemhigh's picture
TO: pazmaker
on Thu, 01/13/2011 - 06:31
#872492

"I wonder if they will have a memorial service for those killed with the Chilean President giving a heart warming emotional speech televised nationally on Chilean tv?"

 

a genuinely pathetic display of recidivist pols photo op/gravy training a truly tragic event...............

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:46 | 872824 Rogerwilco
Rogerwilco's picture

Southern Chile has always been semi-autonomous, and there is always some kind of trouble brewing when The Man tries to assert authority. The Spanish literally gave up in their attempts to subjugate the Mapuche tribes that live there. To put it in terms Americans can understand, think of the region as a giant Indian reservation with several modern cities. Residents enjoy many freebies and heavily subsidized services from a central government far away. The proposed increase in propane prices made the natives restless. Don't try to read too much into this or generalize it to the rest of Chile.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:50 | 872843 archfool
archfool's picture

Very good response that puts this in perspective.  And yes, "gas" in Chile is Natural Gas, not gasoline.  And NG would make more sense for heating/fueling in a remote location.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:53 | 872851 caferrell
caferrell's picture

Tyler,

I'm almost always on board, but this article on Chile and gas is misleading or just wrong. Chile imports most of its natural gas - correct, but the production of gas in Chile comes from the Región de Magallanes, where the riots are happening.

The reason is that the gas fields in far southern Chile are not connected to the rest of Chile by pipeline. It has always been sold in Magallanes at a price well below international prices (less than half). The minister of Mining has decided that gas should be sold at international levels, not at a price that subsidizes Magallanes.

Chile is suffering under rising prices, especially in food and fuels. The combination of inflation and the strong peso is a challenge for exporters of fruit, salmon, fish, wood products, wine. But unemployment is lower thanthe twenty year average. Chile is doing well. The riots in Punta Arenas are not something that affects the rest of the country.

Chris Ferrell
Puerto Montt, Chile

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:58 | 872864 InExile
InExile's picture

Your thoughts on Simon Black's assessment of Chile would be appreciated.  Your thoughts on the local perception of US ex-pats specifically?  Thanks.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:08 | 872896 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

Beautiful place. 

http://images.travelpod.com/users/aaron-dana/2.1289594631.6_puerto-montt.jpg

Is Spanish neccesarry, or can English only speakers do well?

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:31 | 872933 Rogerwilco
Rogerwilco's picture

Spanish is necessary outside of hotels in large cities, but the "Spanish" they speak in Chile is not the same language you learned in high school.

Go there and dive in, you will pick up the lingo in no time. The country is beautiful, in place and spirit.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:10 | 872909 caferrell
caferrell's picture


Here’s an article (in Spanish) from La Tercera newspaper about the gas affair in Magallanes.http://www.latercera.com/noticia/politica/2011/01/674-337870-9-gobierno-dice-que-no-se-esta-imponiendo-el-alza-del-gas-en-magallanes.shtml

Having spent some time in Punta Arenas I can assure you that the ridiculously low price of gas has led to an incredibly wasteful use of the resource. As the minister says, if the price is not raised, causing people to conserve gas, then the supply will run out in 7 years.

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:20 | 872949 Rogerwilco
Rogerwilco's picture

Another news resource in English:

http://www.ilovechile.cl/

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!