Chapter 1522: Trapped in one's own cocoon
William said, "As you said, all of Europe is playing the 'environmental protection card' right now. If they want to attack their opponents, they start with 'environmental protection'. Sweden has promoted an uneducated teenager as a so-called 'environmental protection princess'. Why would they promote someone like this? To use her as a tool to attack their opponents."
Xiao Peng snorted coldly, "Don't mention this idiot. She's been attacking Daxia all the time, and she even told us to use knives and forks instead of chopsticks for environmental protection. Doesn't this idiot know that chopsticks are made of bamboo, which is a plant! Much more environmentally friendly than making knives and forks! The funny thing is, she keeps saying she can see carbon dioxide with the naked eye. Why doesn't she just say she wears her underwear outside with a capital 'S' on her chest? Her fans really believe this nonsense."
William said, "Xiao, we have to admit that the level of education among our European people is now lagging behind that of Daxia."
Xiao Peng nodded and said, "I can see that this is something you all like. It makes management and deception easier this way. But I can't believe the entire EU is praising her so much."
William didn't deny it. He sighed deeply, "Xiao, there's nothing we can do about her attack on Daxia. We can't deny that Daxia is developing so well right now. This forces us to attack Daxia from all sides. If we can't prove you're wrong, we can only admit that we're wrong. If that happens, our country will be in great turmoil."
Xiao Peng shook his head and said nothing. This was a matter of the buttocks ruling the head. There were so many people who secretly tried to trip others up when they saw others living better than themselves! And they really weren't just playing the "environmental card" to deal with Daxia, but all developing countries.
Virtually every country in the world experiences some level of environmental pollution during economic development. There are the so-called "eight major public health problems"—widespread illnesses caused by environmental pollution. For example, the 1952 London smog incident, where air pollutants directly caused the deaths of over 10,000 people, is a case in point.
These "eight major pollution-related diseases" all occur in today's "developed countries" without exception, namely Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
Why are there only four countries?
Among the eight major pollution-related diseases, Japan has four and the United States has two.
They're now desperately promoting "environmental protection" because they've already been through that phase, even moving some outdated, polluting industries to developing countries, further contributing to pollution. Now they're demanding that developing countries all conserve energy and reduce emissions! Despite their righteous talk, their real purpose is to restrict the development of developing countries and maintain their own advantage.
"William, are you sure you want to discuss this with me?" Xiao Peng said with a sullen expression, "I'm afraid I'll end up spanking you if I discuss this."
But William said, "What I want to tell you is not about Daxia, but about Northern Europe."
"Huh?" Xiao Peng was stunned.
William said, "In fact, we are the biggest victims of the 'environmental protection'. In your words, we are 'shooting ourselves in the foot'."
"Huh?" Xiao Peng was stunned.
William explained: "Two years ago, there were over 4,000 environmental protection-related protests across the EU."
"How much?" Xiao Peng exclaimed.
William repeated, "More than four thousand times. Currently, industrial and agricultural development in Europe is being strangled by these environmental groups. Forget growth, even maintaining the status quo is difficult! This situation is currently faced by most EU countries. However, Nordic countries, represented by Sweden and Denmark, have intensified their environmental awareness campaigns to enhance their regional influence, further causing chaos in Southern Europe. Due to their different national industrial structures, agriculture and heavy industry account for a larger proportion of the economy and employ a larger number of people in Southern Europe. It's extremely difficult for us to accept this situation, but we can't resist—after all, no one in Europe dares to oppose 'environmental protection' these days."
Xiao Peng thought for a moment and said, "Just now you said that the countries that support Paul Watson are basically all from southern Europe. I understand now. Paul Watson is one of the means you use to contain the Nordic countries!"
Tsk tsk, that's the EU. They keep saying they must be united, but in reality they're only doing things that hold each other back.
William asked in return, "Xiao, did you know that the ships in 'Neptune's Fleet' were without a vassal state for a period of time?"
Xiao Peng nodded. This matter was actually quite famous.
Although Paul Watson is American, and Sea Shepherd is also based in the US, their ships are based in the UK and Belize. Belize was once a British colony and is now a member of the Commonwealth. Xiao Peng still didn't understand why his ship was based in the UK, but after William explained it, he understood a little better—the UK also wanted to promote environmental protection at the time. Sweden had the "Eco-Princess," and they had Sea Shepherd.
But Paul Watson's actions were too radical! So radical that even Britain couldn't stand it! So Britain and Belize directly banned the registration of Paul Watson's ships! Paul Watson's fleet became a "black ship" without a country!
This incident had a huge impact at the time, with countless people criticizing Britain for not supporting environmental protection. They also experienced what it meant to "trap oneself in a cocoon."
William continued, "Xiao, do you know which country Neptune's Fleet was later registered in?"
Xiao Peng shook his head: "I said I don't like that person. Naturally, I don't know anything about him."
William gave the answer: "It's us, the Netherlands!"
"Ah?" Xiao Peng was stunned.
William said, "We need to curb the Nordic countries' weapons that use environmental protection as a tool. Paul Watson and his 'Ocean Shepherd' are our solution."
After hearing this, Xiao Peng said, "But what does this have to do with me?"
William said, "We want to clear Paul Watson's name, and the only way to do that is to find the black ship that rammed the Danish warship in the Faroe Islands. But the ship just disappeared, as if it had never existed. After much thought, the only explanation we can come up with is that it sank."
Xiao Peng was stunned: "It sank?"
William said, "It's a simple logic: think about who will benefit the most from this. That's definitely Denmark! They can simply put themselves in the victim's shoes. The once-criticized whaling activities will be ignored and turned into sympathy and understanding. Xiao, if the death of a few people and the destruction of a warship can reverse the disadvantage, they are not incapable of doing it. I would probably do the same if it were me."
"Hmm... I finally understand. It turns out you're all black-hearted and rotten-hearted people!"
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