The term "Iron Curtain" was used by Winston Churchill to describe a divide between <span>Western and Soviet spheres of influence.</span>
After the defeat in WWII, Germany's capital, Berlin was divided into four zones which were separately governed by France,Britain,US and the USSR. In 1946,the three nations merge the zone of France, Britain and US to be governed by one government, USSR strongly protested against it as the merged zones account for 75% of Germany's original population. In reaction,USSR cut off all land routes linking Berlin and the Western zone,claiming that it was to protect USSR's economy. The event was known as Berlin Blockade.
He is so deep into the walk that all that is left to him is the walk itself. He lost all his hopes, his dreams and likely had before the walk even started. The walk was a giant death wish and he was going on till he met it.
Well fossil fuels are such a largely used resource in the economy it is hard to transition from it since its so depended on for many things.