2011 doom and gloom predictions

I’m posting these in the hope I’m completely wrong:

1. A long, cold winter drives fuel prices to record levels, which double and then treble following events below. Chinese made solar panels begin to reach a price where sales increase dramatically – and rise steeply over coming years furthering powering China towards superpower status as America’s decline accelerates - with the dollar crashing.

2. The ‘War on Terror’ goes from bad to worse – major losses in Afghanistan and the beginning of a forced pull out. Instability in Pakistan threatens the government and then just as we thought things couldn’t get worse Iranian nuclear facilities are bombed (by Israel with a nod from the US) or possibly with the use of US bunker buster flown from Diego Garcia. Mass protests across the Arab world are the beginning of a period of dramatically intensifying conflict affecting oil supplies (oil tankers holed by Iranian attack boats). Israel now under emergency war conditions as attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas increase, while bombing raids on Iran become a regular occurrence inflaming tensions and anti-Americanism worldwide.

3. The European Union’s economy, like the world economy, is hit severely. Petrol rationing becomes commonplace and a version of the three day week looms as fuel shortages grow. Countries completely dependent on importing their fuel supplies such as Ireland face huge economic problems and begin to default on their debts and their governments fall. Like Argentina this is the beginning of a slow crawl back from the abyss. The Euro is in turmoil as Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy and Belgium face economic chaos, but somehow survives (if not in every Mediterranean country) despite Ireland moving back to the Punt – for a number of years a virtual economic outcast. Germany assumes greater control of European financial policy and the days of fat cat bank bonuses are well and truly over as more banks are nationalised.

4. Gold prices double as the prospect of a return to the gold standard becomes a looming reality. Pound sterling grows in strength further strangling the so called economic recovery. Protests against the cuts see the first use of water cannon on the British mainland. Lib-Dem rebels reduce the government’s majority to a hand full of votes and Clegg and Cameron’s popularity sink to an all time low. There is a failed and very public attempt on Clegg’s life and security is stepped up.

5. American economic decline becomes obvious in fresh international humiliations for Obama as China, Brazil, Russia and India flex their diplomatic muscle over a number of issues including the crisis in the Middle East where they force Israel to cease bombing Iran. A new economic order is emerging rapidly from the ashes of the financial and economic crisis and the US and Europe.

6. People start to think about growing their own food and thousands of gardens are turned to food production as food prices rocket and unemployment increases. Africa and South America continue to improve as price of raw materials goes up.

7. X Factor on the front page of The Sun for 365 days running.

8. The coalition comes under massive strain and falls apart as the vote for alternative voting is turned down by voters angry at Lib Dems. Coalition breaks up in 2012 and Cameron wins a majority. Clegg rejected and Simon Hughes becomes news leader but Liberals have been destroyed as a political force. Cameron sniggers in dastardly fashion and starts pump priming the economy - rising in popularity as a fragile economic stability returns.

9. Slade go to number 1 at Christmas 2011.

10. Another white Christmas and ‘travel chaos’ resumes.