| Energy Realism this past week focused on those chasing the woke dollars, and how, exactly, dreamy Europe still finds itself under the thumb of the world’s ultimate energy realist: Vladimir Putin. Our Senior Fellow Rupert Darwall starts us off: ESG and the “Woke Money” will not save us. Reading between the lines, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s recent comments have even admitted that. In fact, he finds himself warning of the very danger that BlackRock’s climate plans will bring about. Woke activism is not about investing; it is politics by other means. ESG has twinned with climate litigation to become the feel-good strategy to “fight climate change.” Jonathan Chanis exposes a frivolous case in Baltimore that blames our energy companies for droughts, hurricanes, and other environmental disasters. This latest effort for the zealots to manipulate state law is critical: the federal courts have already said that there is no legal or factual foundation for these climate lawsuits. Unfortunately, the recent court victory against oil giant Shell showed that Europe might be, once again, going down the wrong path, one that the U.S. must avoid at all costs. Lucas Bergkamp explains how “Friends of the Earth” is now trying to bring the entire Dutch business community to its knees. Europe is falling even faster into the Green Abyss. Somehow, this activist private organization that represents only a minuscule part of the Dutch citizenry has been appointed legislature, executive, judge, and bailiff all in one. Green progressives want to put “the cart before the horse.” They dangerously insist on blocking the domestic production of irreplaceable resources like oil and gas while demand is still rising. Talk about economic dislocation. Gene Yaw discusses the empty rhetoric of fracking bans. It truly is a numbers game: fracking accounts for over 90% of U.S. oil and gas supply, and oil and gas supply 70% of U.S. energy. Since the fracking boom took flight in 2008, U.S. natural gas production has soared 70%, and we are now the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), perhaps the world’s fastest-growing commodity. The crisis in Ukraine demonstrates how vital U.S. gas is to help allies in Europe, where fantastical green policies have left them at the mercy of Putin’s energy death grip. Craig Stevens realizes that the solution is twofold: grow our own production and exports. In the News Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge S&P Global Callie Patteson, Steven Nelson, New York Post Alexander Richter, Think Geoenergy Callie Patteson, New York Post Andrew Stuttaford, National Review Irina Slav, Oil Price Yun Li, CNBC Kirk Moore, National Fisherman Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge Sarah Bowman, IndyStar Zero Hedge, Oil Price Simon Henderson, The Hill Tsvetana Paraskova, Oil Price NPR WION The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is at the centre of a disagreement between Germany and the US. How an $11-billion pipeline project connecting Germany and Russia has divided the West? ... CNBC International TV Former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry shares his views on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline amid fears Russia may invade Ukraine. Fox Business Price Futures Group senior analyst Phil Flynn discusses the impact of uncertainty overseas on oil markets, warning that if a war were to erupt 'we could all pay the price.' Verdis Group Craig Moody spoke about ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) at the Business Ethics Alliance 2021 EthicSpace Conference here in Omaha. ESG is becoming bigger piece of our conversa... World Economic Forum We are transitioning to a new type of capitalism, melding the creation of prosperity, serving society and caring for the planet. How are early movers using the International Business... BBC News China has been accused of slavery and genocide in the Xinjiang region but that’s a far cry from the way it’s being painted ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. CNBC Television Jeff Currie, Goldman Sachs head of commodity research, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to explain what's behind the increase in oil prices, which hit a seven-year high on Tuesday. | 