The Polls

[salsim]

1. SCO Summit is scheduled to take place in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1....the event will be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders from over 20 member-states, with representatives of 10 international organizations

2. China Victory Day Parade, scheduled for September 3, 2025, will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese aggression....Xi Jinping to host Vladimir Putin, Kim Jon Un, and other heads of state in Beijing

 

[salsim]

this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and China is one of the founding members, also the first country to sign the UN Charter....the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, arrived in China to attend the SCO Summit

 

[Offbeat]

‘Europe is the core – America joined as an offshoot’: the historian challenging what ‘the west’ means

Was the ‘western alliance’ dreamt up to further American and British interests? Georgios Varouxakis argues that the idea is older, quintessentially European, and even anti-imperialist

www.theguardian.com

Interesting reading on how the term “the west” originated. It is interesting to read that it was created as opposition to big bad Russia

If I read this correctly 200 years back the Western Europe feared expansion from Tsarist Russia. Though many were themselves imperial powers. And if I remember my history right it was the French and German that went marching to invade Russia (and got defeated). Russia I think suffered a defeat to Japanese in 19th century.

 

[Offbeat]

Pedro Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a failure

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine the west’s global standing

www.theguardian.com

Both Putin and Netenyahu have been declared war criminals (or whatever the correct term is) by the ICC. Putin for abducting children.

Netenyahu and Israel have killed far more civilians and children than Russia. Most of the world has taken note of American and western double standards. Belatedly some western countries are taking steps to finally denounce Israel. After it has been determined by scholars that it is indeed committing genocide in Gaza and starving people deliberately. The Israeli society itself is divided at what Netenyahu and his cronies are perpetrating. Yet when the west seeks support from others on Ukraine, it is ironic how they have tended to defend Israel whose has bombarded civilians, kids, aid workers, and journalists with impunity.

 

[MamboJazz]

‘Europe is the core – America joined as an offshoot’: the historian challenging what ‘the west’ means

Was the ‘western alliance’ dreamt up to further American and British interests? Georgios Varouxakis argues that the idea is older, quintessentially European, and even anti-imperialist

www.theguardian.com

Interesting reading on how the term “the west” originated. It is interesting to read that it was created as opposition to big bad Russia

If I read this correctly 200 years back the Western Europe feared expansion from Tsarist Russia. Though many were themselves imperial powers. And if I remember my history right it was the French and German that went marching to invade Russia (and got defeated). Russia I think suffered a defeat to Japanese in 19th century.

"From Plato to Nato" is a nice slogan I didn't know yet meaning the west started with the greeks fighting off the persians.

People always need an enemy, otherwise they would maybe start concentrating on their inner self, which would make many people collapse. The british fought with Russia against Napoleon, but after 1815 they started seeing Russia as enemy in asia: famously both started fighting over Afghanistan.

 

[bailar y tocar]

"From Plato to Nato" is a nice slogan I didn't know yet meaning the west started with the greeks fighting off the persians.

People always need an enemy, otherwise they would maybe start concentrating on their inner self, which would make many people collapse. The british fought with Russia against Napoleon, but after 1815 they started seeing Russia as enemy in asia: famously both started fighting over Afghanistan.

And then there was the Crimean war with Britain, France, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire against the Russian Empire. In that one the "west" was with the Turks.

 

[bailar y tocar]

And then there was the Crimean war with Britain, France, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire against the Russian Empire. In that one the "west" was with the Turks.

I just read up on the Crimean War again. I had forgotten what it was about. Substitute the name "Ottoman Empire" with "Ukraine" and Russian Empire with Russia and it reads as if this was today.

 

[Offbeat]

Why is the U.K. arresting peaceful protesters on terrorism charges?

“We’re not talking to anybody, we’re not being interviewed, we’re simply sitting there with a sign,” said 74-year-old Richard Whitmore-Jones.

www.nbcnews.com

I been seeing the headlines about British gov categorizing PA as terrorist organization.

Now reading a bit more details, it is puzzling why they would designate window breakers as terrorists. Charge people holding placards under terrorism. That is ridiculous. There are people in Britain who support terrorist activities and protest but I do not think they get charged under that law.

Democratic govts find it convenient to slap terrorist labels when it isn’t deserved.

 

[Offbeat]

We will never surrender our flag, Sir Keir Starmer says

The prime minister said the flag represents "our diverse country" and he will not allow people to feel intimidated.

www.bbc.com

I keep reading headlines that 150,000 turned up for far-right rally in London. That’s a big number for the country size of UK. They must be really well mobilized to turn up in such number. Counter protestors were only 5000.

Was it really far right or just right?

 

[salsim]

Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, addressed the nation during the traditional Grito de Independencia de México....El Grito de Dolores, delivered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16, 1810, marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish colonial rule....today, every September 16, this event is celebrated with ceremonies and festivities throughout the country, El Grito de Independencia de México in 2025 marked a milestone in its history, for the first time, it was headed by a female president, take care all

1. El Grito Ceremony
2. the festivity

 

[salsim]

One on One with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "The beliefs in the UN Charter, international law, and justice drive us forward"

 

[1derpalm]

U.S. F-35 pilots escort the Russian President's aircraft from Alaska to Siberia to hand over Putin's plane to the Russian Su-57s....remember that there is a close frontier from Alaska to Siberia, take care all

And that is how u.s will take over canada. By allowing the Russians to invade via Alaska and having xanada beg for help in return for giving up some land. Slow take over.

 

[Offbeat]

And that is how u.s will take over canada. By allowing the Russians to invade via Alaska and having xanada beg for help in return for giving up some land. Slow take over.

You think that is what those two discussed at the summit in Alaska ? How to carve up Canada! They both said parts of what they discussed was confidential.

 

[1derpalm]

You think that is what those two discussed at the summit in Alaska ? How to carve up Canada! They both said parts of what they discussed was confidential.

No. But I wouldn't put it past the u.s. to turn a blind eye like Churchill did for pearl Harbour.

 

[salsim]

today, i came across this peculiar video about a playful and ungovernable deliveryman with a bicycle, who ran into an ICE patrol in Chicago....the ICE patrol was ignoring him and laughing at his behaviour until the delivery guy dropped his phone and stopped to pick it up, in the disorder, a witty and riotous escape

 

[Offbeat]

Germany’s anti-diversity backlash isn’t fatigue – it’s strategy masquerading as neutrality | Fatma Aydemir

Neither Trump’s US nor the rise of the AfD explains it all. Self-styled progressives in the arts must take a hard look at themselves too, says Guardian Europe columnist Fatma Aydemir

www.theguardian.com

Interesting perspective that applies to right wing reactionary politics world over. You see similar in form of revisionist history, othering, and anti-liberal attacks from the right in countries like India and Japan too.

 

[1derpalm]

I hate humans

 

[Offbeat]

Slovakia marks ‘dark day’ as LGBTQ+ rights rolled back in parliament

Amendment to constitution stipulates that male and female are the only recognised sexes and makes adoption nearly impossible for same-sex couples

www.theguardian.com

 

[salsim]

The U.S. government has begun shutting down after Congress failed to reach a funding deal before a midnight deadline. Jessi Mitchell anchored CBS News' special report.

 

[bailar y tocar]

I hate humans

Get a dog.