| Time |
Event |
| 2:33a |
Marina Ovsyannikova fled house arrest
Dissident TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova has fled from house arrest
in Russia. She faces possibly 10 years
in prison for criticizing Putin on live TV in March.
Much like his some-time American ally,
the corrupter, Putin any reports that contradict his propaganda
"fake news". Putin has made that a crime and prosecutes people for it.
The corrupter would do the same, if he could. |
| 2:33a |
Protesting against clothing restrictions in Iran
High School girls in Iran are now protesting against clothing
restrictions.
The Iranian regime is nonplussed by masses of young women, even girls, who
are burning their veils in public and chanting "Death to Khamenei."
I speculate that it is a mistake for the US to apply additional
sanctions — surely minuscule in their practical effect — since that
lends justification to the regimes' claim that the protesters are in
cahoots with the US. As far as can see, there is nothing effective
that the US can do to help the protesters. |
| 2:33a |
Conservative conference
* The RSPB, National Trust, green farmers and anti-frackers all got it in
the neck at the Conservative conference.*
Is "growth" a desirable goal? Putting aside the deeper long-term
questions about whether further economic growth is sustainable,
it is clear that "growth" under plutocratist Tories would
go to the wealthy, and would not benefit most Britons. Why should
that kind of "growth" be a valid goal for government policies?
Greenpeace activists: *No one voted for Liz Truss's policies. That's
why we stormed her conference speech.*
That statement is basically true, but it exaggerates: some small
number of Britons did vote for them. Truss is an MP and won that seat
in a district election. A minority of the Tory MPs agree with her,
and some Britons voted for them. But these voters add up to far too
few to win a national election.
*Greenpeace UK analysis has identified at least seven areas across
environmental protection, climate action, workers’ rights and tackling
inequality where policies either confirmed or being considered by Truss
and her ministers are at odds with the 2019 Conservative manifesto.* |
| 2:33a |
Russia will test the west's resolve again
*Ukraine won back territory and support, but Russia will test the
west’s resolve again.*
The article presents several indications that Putin has no real intention
of using nuclear weapons. Let's not be defeated by shadows. |
| 2:33a |
Covid recovery in "jeopardy" if poorer countries aren't helped
*US Covid recovery in "jeopardy" unless poorer countries helped, group
[of members of congress] warns.* |
| 2:33a |
Reports on corporations' profits
The US issues monthly reports on prices, jobs, and wages.
But there are no such reports on corporations' profits.
We ought to have those reports too. |
| 2:33a |
Ukraine call for privatization and flexibility of work
Ukraine's economic advisor calls for privatization and flexibility of work.
(I presume that last would include making it easier to fire employees.)
Also, more borrowing.
It may be that Ukraine's system is too inflexible, but any steps in
that direction must be taken with great care, because there are plenty
of advisors who serve the banks that want to lend you more than you
can pay and denominate the loans in a foreign currency. This path has
led many countries into a debt trap. |
| 2:33a |
(satire) Things to never say to Amazon listening device
(satire) Things you should never say to your Amazon listening device. |
| 2:33a |
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| 2:33a |
Truss backs down on tax cut for rich
Truss backed down from a planned tax cut for rich people, but many
planned give-aways to companies remain in the plan. |
| 2:33a |
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| 2:33a |
CIA predictions on Ukraine
The CIA predicted the Putin forces would rapidly conquer Ukraine.
Asked to explain this failure to predict correctly, they say they
underestimated the effect of the pervasive corruption in Russia.
The US also suffers from pervasive corruption — less than Russia
historically, but Republicans' by-hook-or-by-crook attitude is
boosting it. The military-industrial complex is a major center of
corruption. I hope Congress thinks about this when funding more F35
airplanes. |
| 2:33a |
Futile demand for "climate justice"
On the futile demand for "climate justice".
The supporters of this demand are responding to the level of disaster
that we have seen in the past few years — disasters that
civilization, countries, and international trade can for the most part
survive, albeit with considerable pain. To rebuild after these disasters
is well within the capabilities of wealthy countries.
After a disaster of that level, a country can find those responsible
and make them compensate those who suffered the most. It would be
right to do so.
Global heating disaster is going to be far too bad for compensation.
To measure the damages in money would give a meaningless number, far
beyond what anyone could pay. The countries that today are wealthy
will by that time be struggling to save the lives of most of their own
people — and eventually fail to do so. If you had that much money,
in Africa, say, you couldn't buy feed the hungry with it, as food will
be scarce globally.
Our priority for action, and our main demand, must be to reduce the
extent of the coming disaster. |
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