Seems kinda hypocritical for those who never respected the referendum result to now condemn Johnson for having no respect for democracy. Brexiteers will be keen to make this point, I imagine! Ugh.
Can’t help feeling that the liberal left’s refusal to accept the result was always going to lead us here. We should have all recognized the result, and the closeness of it, and fought for a compromise deal that respected it imo, especially after most voters voted for parties in the 2017 election that were promising to do so.
But we are where we are, and now we need to do whatever we can to stop Johnson and his pack of ultra neoliberal psychos! (Probably a lost cause now though 😩).
Wednesday 28 August 2019
Tuesday 27 August 2019
Industrial Agriculture is Killing The Planet
Some links to watch/read:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/18/small-farming-renaissance-greed-agriculture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbNEYZGYoI&fbclid=IwAR1PuUMv4f4glHyX7WTJKUZMpo8ayvyQBk4VDP0TG3fK_xLFvFLUyY5jfgM
https://youtu.be/7Qucanp7iXc?fbclid=IwAR1PFexYtVZVrimSV3QREz4OQSeANWiPgQi7pGoCgihPcQOTxo2r5d9vUX8
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/18/small-farming-renaissance-greed-agriculture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbNEYZGYoI&fbclid=IwAR1PuUMv4f4glHyX7WTJKUZMpo8ayvyQBk4VDP0TG3fK_xLFvFLUyY5jfgM
https://youtu.be/7Qucanp7iXc?fbclid=IwAR1PFexYtVZVrimSV3QREz4OQSeANWiPgQi7pGoCgihPcQOTxo2r5d9vUX8
Big Money for Notre Dam, But Not For The Amazon
$670million for the Notre Dam.
$22million for the Amazon Rainforest.
This just highlights how insane it is to let billionaires run the world!
Following decades of neoliberal privatization, our leaders, even if they wanted to respond appropriately to something like this, are powerless to the will of the billionaires and corporations that profit from the kind of ecocidal plunder we see in the Amazon.
Only a socialist movement can change things! We need to take control.
$22million for the Amazon Rainforest.
This just highlights how insane it is to let billionaires run the world!
Following decades of neoliberal privatization, our leaders, even if they wanted to respond appropriately to something like this, are powerless to the will of the billionaires and corporations that profit from the kind of ecocidal plunder we see in the Amazon.
Only a socialist movement can change things! We need to take control.
Tuesday 20 August 2019
Hong Kong protests due to neoliberalism?
In this podcast, Chinese-American academic, Carl Zha, says that the anger in Hong Kong is largely a result of neoliberalism and elite corruption - just like in the west. But western neoliberals, via the media, the NED, etc, are attempting to manipulate the protestors, and us foreign onlookers, so that we all blame China instead. Similarly to how they manipulate many westerners back home into blaming immigrants/Muslims/Russia etc, (for the problems caused by neoliberalism).
Bolsonaro, the Amazon Rainforest, and Western Imperialism
Far-right rulers like Bolsonaro in Brazil, who will gladly destroy the Amazon Rainforest for profit, are an inevitable consequence of a US-imposed neoliberal world order that disempowers the masses, empowers greedy, psychotic elites, and prioritises profits above all else. Only collective action and socialism can end this destruction.
Ask yourself - would you destroy our environment, bomb children in Yemen, starve Iranians and Venezuelans to death, plunder resources from indigenous peoples, etc, just to make a few quid? No, of course you bloody wouldn’t!
We’re not in control. A few psychopaths, and their psychopathic system, are.
WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL.
Of note...
US imperialism has already killed millions, often suppressing progressive, leftist movements around the world in pursuit of resources and profit, and it is literally going to destroy the planet. We must stop it. Again - WE MUST TAKE CONTROL, from the imperialists, the capitalist elites, the planet-killing corporations. The only way we can do this is to embrace socialism. We’ll need a huge amount of political will to take on (and takeover) these destructive powerful forces that currently rule our world, and to radically change the system. And this will require massive grassroots movements, gutsy activism, and bold socialist leadership. We need an awakening of our consciences, and we need unity.
.................
Condemnation From Western Capitalists Is Meaningless
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has suddenly decided that France will refuse to sign the EU trade deal with Brazil. For anyone to believe that the neoliberal Macron is the guy to confront capitalist plunder of the planet is quite frankly nuts. Why has he only just now decided to oppose the trade deal? Has he only just discovered how horrifying Bolsonaro is? No, of course not. He already knew this. There was just not public outcry about it before. The man clearly has zero principles and is in politics for the prestige, the power, the money.
Canadian President, Justin Trudeau, has also spoken out about what is happening. But has he expressed the kind of venom towards the overtly fascistic and ecodial, Bolsonaro, as he did towards the socialist Maduro in Venezuela, whom he called a 'brutal dictator'? No.
Compare the actions of Macron and Trudeau (and other neoliberal leaders/states) towards Brazil, to the actions they have taken towards Venezuela, where they have supported the US coup attempt, sanctions, and the recognition of right-wing Guaido as President. Why are there no calls for sanctions against Brazil? Why don't they recognise the politically persecuted, Lula, as President? Perhaps because socialism is the FAR greater threat, to the neoliberal world order, than fascism - which is pretty great for capitalism?
Western elites developed the western world by plundering the planet, ignoring the environmental impact and causing the climate crisis we now face. They continue to do so - as demonstrated by the targeting of oil rich Venezuela. So it is pure hypocrisy for them to condemn others for doing so. It enables Bolsonaro to justifiably accuse the west of having a ‘colonialist mentality’.
Until there is revolutionary socialist change in the west, and until we atone for our many sins, (by cancelling debts, sharing wealth etc), any outcry from our governments about non-western countries doing what the west has been doing for centuries, is unfortunately, worthless.
Obviously this doesn’t mean that we, NGOs, the UN, etc, shouldn't speak out about it - I’m just referring to capitalist western governments/elites. But what we need to speak out about most is our own government's criminality; about western imperialism, as it is that which fuels the rise of Bolsonaro's ilk!
Ask yourself - would you destroy our environment, bomb children in Yemen, starve Iranians and Venezuelans to death, plunder resources from indigenous peoples, etc, just to make a few quid? No, of course you bloody wouldn’t!
We’re not in control. A few psychopaths, and their psychopathic system, are.
WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL.
Of note...
- The supposedly lefty EU is currently signing a trade deal with ecocidal thug, Bolsonaro, despite what he's doing to the Amazon and despite his blatantly fascistic tendencies. Meanwhile, the EU sanctions socialists in Venezuela, (who’ve just been trying to give Venezuelans rights to healthcare, housing etc). The current EU is, unfortunately, an anti-democratic, imperialist, neoliberal disaster. It is part of the problem and, somehow, needs to be radically reformed. As John Pilger states in this wide-ranging interview, the EU is an arm of aggressive military alliance, NATO.
- The Brazilian leftist and former President, Lula, is currently in prison in Brazil on false charges. He says “Everything that is happening has the hand of the United States on it".
- Our 'mainstream' media system is a propaganda machine for the status quo; for continuing and advancing this destructive, elite-driven, neoliberal world order. It's taken weeks for outlets like the BBC to even report on what has been happening to the Amazon, and anti-Bolsonaro protests have been ignored, (whilst pro-neoliberalism protests in Hong Kong have been widely reported).
US imperialism has already killed millions, often suppressing progressive, leftist movements around the world in pursuit of resources and profit, and it is literally going to destroy the planet. We must stop it. Again - WE MUST TAKE CONTROL, from the imperialists, the capitalist elites, the planet-killing corporations. The only way we can do this is to embrace socialism. We’ll need a huge amount of political will to take on (and takeover) these destructive powerful forces that currently rule our world, and to radically change the system. And this will require massive grassroots movements, gutsy activism, and bold socialist leadership. We need an awakening of our consciences, and we need unity.
.................
Condemnation From Western Capitalists Is Meaningless
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has suddenly decided that France will refuse to sign the EU trade deal with Brazil. For anyone to believe that the neoliberal Macron is the guy to confront capitalist plunder of the planet is quite frankly nuts. Why has he only just now decided to oppose the trade deal? Has he only just discovered how horrifying Bolsonaro is? No, of course not. He already knew this. There was just not public outcry about it before. The man clearly has zero principles and is in politics for the prestige, the power, the money.
Canadian President, Justin Trudeau, has also spoken out about what is happening. But has he expressed the kind of venom towards the overtly fascistic and ecodial, Bolsonaro, as he did towards the socialist Maduro in Venezuela, whom he called a 'brutal dictator'? No.
Compare the actions of Macron and Trudeau (and other neoliberal leaders/states) towards Brazil, to the actions they have taken towards Venezuela, where they have supported the US coup attempt, sanctions, and the recognition of right-wing Guaido as President. Why are there no calls for sanctions against Brazil? Why don't they recognise the politically persecuted, Lula, as President? Perhaps because socialism is the FAR greater threat, to the neoliberal world order, than fascism - which is pretty great for capitalism?
Western elites developed the western world by plundering the planet, ignoring the environmental impact and causing the climate crisis we now face. They continue to do so - as demonstrated by the targeting of oil rich Venezuela. So it is pure hypocrisy for them to condemn others for doing so. It enables Bolsonaro to justifiably accuse the west of having a ‘colonialist mentality’.
Until there is revolutionary socialist change in the west, and until we atone for our many sins, (by cancelling debts, sharing wealth etc), any outcry from our governments about non-western countries doing what the west has been doing for centuries, is unfortunately, worthless.
Obviously this doesn’t mean that we, NGOs, the UN, etc, shouldn't speak out about it - I’m just referring to capitalist western governments/elites. But what we need to speak out about most is our own government's criminality; about western imperialism, as it is that which fuels the rise of Bolsonaro's ilk!
Monday 19 August 2019
Western MSM is a Matrix of pro-US Empire Propaganda
Why is all of this barely being reported in western mass media:
Protests and human rights abuses (including the murder of environmentalists/LGBT activists) in Honduras, where a US-backed coup in 2009 installed a virtual dictatorship.
Protests in Brazil, following the imprisonment on false charges of popular left-wing leader, Lula, which led to the election of proud fascist Bolsonaro, who is threatening journalists, killing indigenous people, destroying the Amazon rainforest for profit, etc.
Protests and repression in Haiti, where the US has long been meddling and imposing disaster capitalism.
Yellow Vest protests in France, which have been ongoing for about 40 consecutive weeks, and in which several protestors have been killed, thousands injured, and thousands arrested.
Protests and human rights abuses in West Papua.
Protests in Ecuador against their neoliberal President.
Protests in Chile, where the President has declared war on the protestors and deployed tanks into cities - 22 have so far been killed.
Etc.
All of the above protest movements are directed at regimes that were installed by/are closely tied with, the US.
Meanwhile, protests in Hong Kong/Russia/Venezuela, have been all over MSM. All of these protest movements are directed at regimes that are ‘enemies’ of the US. And all of these protest movements are being fuelled by the US - via the National Endowment for Democracy, a CIA off-shoot.
So basically...
Protests against regimes that are supported by the US/western capitalist interests are underreported.
Protests that are against US enemies and that are being orchestrated/fuelled by the CIA, are widely reported.
Also, the way in which the protests are framed will often be different depending on whether they are directed at US-proxy regimes. For example, it's more likely that a confrontation between protestors and authorities will be described as a 'crackdown', when those authorities are a target of the US, and 'clashes', when they are not.
And many things will be almost completely ignored - like Venezuelan rallies in support of Maduro. Like the fact that illegal US sanctions are killing tens of thousands. Like millions of Venezuelans signing a letter denouncing US imperialism. Like the fact that some anti-government protestors in Venezuela have been extremely violent, even burning people alive. Etc.
And of course, neoliberal politicians in the west push all of this propaganda, and will be far more likely to call for an investigation into government criminality if that government is a target of the west. See here how liberal EU politician, Guy Verhofstadt, calls for an investigation into state oppression in Hong Kong, but meanwhile he is silent about the (far worse) oppression in France.
And of course, the fact that the US/western agencies are meddling all over the place either goes completely unmentioned, or is framed in such a way as to justify it.
Western MSM is a matrix of pro-US Empire/neoliberal globalist propaganda. Please avoid! Instead, try:
https://www.thecanary.co
https://thegrayzone.com
https://www.mintpressnews.com
https://fair.org
https://consortiumnews.com
Protests and human rights abuses (including the murder of environmentalists/LGBT activists) in Honduras, where a US-backed coup in 2009 installed a virtual dictatorship.
Protests in Brazil, following the imprisonment on false charges of popular left-wing leader, Lula, which led to the election of proud fascist Bolsonaro, who is threatening journalists, killing indigenous people, destroying the Amazon rainforest for profit, etc.
Protests and repression in Haiti, where the US has long been meddling and imposing disaster capitalism.
Yellow Vest protests in France, which have been ongoing for about 40 consecutive weeks, and in which several protestors have been killed, thousands injured, and thousands arrested.
Protests and human rights abuses in West Papua.
Protests in Ecuador against their neoliberal President.
Protests in Chile, where the President has declared war on the protestors and deployed tanks into cities - 22 have so far been killed.
Etc.
All of the above protest movements are directed at regimes that were installed by/are closely tied with, the US.
Meanwhile, protests in Hong Kong/Russia/Venezuela, have been all over MSM. All of these protest movements are directed at regimes that are ‘enemies’ of the US. And all of these protest movements are being fuelled by the US - via the National Endowment for Democracy, a CIA off-shoot.
So basically...
Protests against regimes that are supported by the US/western capitalist interests are underreported.
Protests that are against US enemies and that are being orchestrated/fuelled by the CIA, are widely reported.
Also, the way in which the protests are framed will often be different depending on whether they are directed at US-proxy regimes. For example, it's more likely that a confrontation between protestors and authorities will be described as a 'crackdown', when those authorities are a target of the US, and 'clashes', when they are not.
And many things will be almost completely ignored - like Venezuelan rallies in support of Maduro. Like the fact that illegal US sanctions are killing tens of thousands. Like millions of Venezuelans signing a letter denouncing US imperialism. Like the fact that some anti-government protestors in Venezuela have been extremely violent, even burning people alive. Etc.
And of course, neoliberal politicians in the west push all of this propaganda, and will be far more likely to call for an investigation into government criminality if that government is a target of the west. See here how liberal EU politician, Guy Verhofstadt, calls for an investigation into state oppression in Hong Kong, but meanwhile he is silent about the (far worse) oppression in France.
And of course, the fact that the US/western agencies are meddling all over the place either goes completely unmentioned, or is framed in such a way as to justify it.
Western MSM is a matrix of pro-US Empire/neoliberal globalist propaganda. Please avoid! Instead, try:
https://www.thecanary.co
https://thegrayzone.com
https://www.mintpressnews.com
https://fair.org
https://consortiumnews.com
Wednesday 7 August 2019
Why has Labour been reluctant to back a second referendum?
1. They are democrats, so they respected the result of the first referendum. However, they also recognised that Leave only won by a small margin. So they thought a compromise soft Brexit would be best, and would help bring people on both sides together.
2. There was/is little reason to assume that Leave wouldn’t win again, in a second referendum. Also, another campaign would be extremely divisive, even more so that the the first.
3. They knew there was/is no majority for a second referendum in parliament, so given this and given that Leave would probably win again, enthusiastically backing another referendum would be completely pointless, achieving nothing bar angering/radicalizing lots of people, potentially making a no deal exit more likely, and alienating Labour-supporting Leavers. Labour did unexpectedly well in the 2017 general election partly because they took in millions of these left-wing Leave voters, thanks to a manifesto that pledged to respect the referendum. A full second referendum/Remain position will kiss goodbye to these voters. Liberal hardcore Remainers are unlikely to ever vote for a socialist Labour Party, whatever their Brexit position, so it’s important to keep the Lexiteers on side.
Given all the above, they have remained neutral/open-minded to all possibilities, whilst allowing the Tories to implode, making a general election more likely - only a Labour government will address the anger that pushed many right-wingers into voting Leave.
Also, Labour did back options in Parliament to avoid a no deal, including a customs union, and a second referendum, several times. (Whilst Lib Dems and Greens opposed/abstained from the former - thus making no deal more likely). They may have already lost the the Lexit vote because of this, (and because their new position is for a referendum on any deal), but to pretend their were any good options for Labour in this Brexit fiasco is disingenuous.
(work in progress)
2. There was/is little reason to assume that Leave wouldn’t win again, in a second referendum. Also, another campaign would be extremely divisive, even more so that the the first.
3. They knew there was/is no majority for a second referendum in parliament, so given this and given that Leave would probably win again, enthusiastically backing another referendum would be completely pointless, achieving nothing bar angering/radicalizing lots of people, potentially making a no deal exit more likely, and alienating Labour-supporting Leavers. Labour did unexpectedly well in the 2017 general election partly because they took in millions of these left-wing Leave voters, thanks to a manifesto that pledged to respect the referendum. A full second referendum/Remain position will kiss goodbye to these voters. Liberal hardcore Remainers are unlikely to ever vote for a socialist Labour Party, whatever their Brexit position, so it’s important to keep the Lexiteers on side.
Given all the above, they have remained neutral/open-minded to all possibilities, whilst allowing the Tories to implode, making a general election more likely - only a Labour government will address the anger that pushed many right-wingers into voting Leave.
Also, Labour did back options in Parliament to avoid a no deal, including a customs union, and a second referendum, several times. (Whilst Lib Dems and Greens opposed/abstained from the former - thus making no deal more likely). They may have already lost the the Lexit vote because of this, (and because their new position is for a referendum on any deal), but to pretend their were any good options for Labour in this Brexit fiasco is disingenuous.
(work in progress)
Tuesday 6 August 2019
Hong Kong Hypocrisy
I’ve just seen some videos of violence by protestors in Hong Kong. They’ve thrown bricks at police stations, attacked people (inc elderly folks) on the street, harassed women who’ve dared to express anger at the protestors for waving the flag of the British Empire that ravaged their country and their ancestors.
Check out @CarlZha's twitter if you want to see these videos.
Also, the US - which would harshly crack down on such protests if they were happening on their soil - is openly meddling in Hong Kong in support of these protests - see here.
Funny how all this is largely ignored in western media?
Meanwhile, the same media will eagerly report on any violence by the Yellow Vest protestors in France, and downplay the state crackdown which has killed and maimed many. And they will eagerly report on (mostly/completely fabricated) ‘Russian meddling’.
Western MSM = propaganda machine for US Empire/western elite interests.
(NB not saying I have no sympathy for the protests in HK. It’s a difficult situation and I do. Just pointing out the hypocrisies and bias of MSM reporting!).
Saturday 3 August 2019
Support The Canary and all Left Media!
Surely anyone with two brain cells can see MSM for what it is by now?
Just look at the level of scrutiny and criticism Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is currently getting for her meeting with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, which she agreed to in order to help bring about PEACE, compared with the level of scrutiny and criticism other western politicians get when they meet with fascist Saudi despots, for WAR and arms deals.
See the attention given to protests and human rights abuses in Moscow, Hong Kong and Venezuela, compared to protests and human rights abuses in France, Haiti, Honduras, and all other countries with pro-US regimes.
See how Russiagate has been peddled for three years; a completely deranged conspiracy theory that Trump is working for Putin, (despite Trump’s consistently anti-Russia policies! Like just pulling out of the INF Treaty).
See the outrage at Russia’s alleged interference in the US election, and the silence about FAR more aggressive US interference all around the world, (which has killed 20-30 million people).
See how all kinds of US war propaganda is still published unquestioningly despite the US’s long history of imperialist atrocities.
See how it is never mentioned that the west consistently breaks international law. Eg by collectively punishing disobedient countries via sanctions, starving thousands to death.
See how the real driving factor behind western foreign policy - oil, profit and power - is never mentioned.
See how lifelong anti-war and anti-racist activist Jeremy Corbyn is smeared as antisemitic. Meanwhile war criminals like Blair and Alastair Campbell are treated like respectable elderly statesmen.
Etc etc etc.
People are waking up to all this, and to the general messed up state of our world, and as a result there’s now loads of new media that is unashamedly on the side of people+planet, rather than on the side of the warmongers and corporatists. Inevitably these outlets, like The Canary, are being targeted by centrists and establishment media, so it’s important we all support them. Here’s a few others that I have followed for a while now and that seem to me to do a pretty good job of speaking truth to power:
https://therealnews.com
https://thegrayzone.com
https://www.mintpressnews.com
https://fair.org
https://consortiumnews.com
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