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warsofasoiaf · 9 months

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To follow up on that hypothetical, would France and the UK have declared war on the Soviets like they did when the Nazis invaded, or just protested diplomatically like they did when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia?

That's a question that really boils down to how the pacifist and rearmament lobbies in the UK handle the change, and the political instability in France that defined the 1930's.

In the UK, the rearmament lobby was energized after Munich and Chamberlain began rearming. A Munich-type situation probably doesn't happen in this scenario, but there's an open question of whether or not the rearmament lobby can successfully persuade the political establishment to begin rearming and quell the pacifist lobby. The British Tories were fairly hostile to the Soviet Union, but Labour was friendlier to the Soviets at the time period and would probably react with hostility to the idea of preparing for war against the Soviets.

In France, there was significant political unrest and violence in the streets amongst French communists and the far-right French Liga. If France began asserting the right for Eastern Europe and the Little Entente to independence from Communist subversion to be backed with force if necessary, chances are good that the PCF begins openly demonstrating against the government and starts preparations to destabilize the country, to overthrow it if they can.

Similarly, if Weimar Germany is still struggling, it's possible that KPD attempt their own coup in Weimar. That had always been an ambition of the Soviet Union, to take power in Germany following years of political gridlock and decreasing standards of living - it was the reason why the KPD had been quietly supportive of the Nazi Party in the first place, hoping that they would provoke a civil war that would decimate the Nazis and the Weimar government and leave them ripe for a Communist coup. It's possible that if France cannot extend support, Germany pushes for modifications to the Treaty of Versailles to defend themselves along the lines of Bulgaria with the Treaty of Neiully-sur-Seine, even revoking it if they can't gain any traction with the French political establishment.

So the answer to your question, sadly, depends on how this new 1930's shakes up and whether the disarmament lobby remains strong or if anti-communist and suspicion of the Soviet Union drive the United Kingdom, France, and possibly Weimar Germany to rearm and come to Eastern Europe's aid.

Thanks for the question, George.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#history #soviet union #what if #france #united kingdom #weimar germany

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theculturedmarxist · 1 year

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Down through the years, the ideologists of the ruling classes have repeatedly accused Marxists of exaggeration and even “catastrophitis,” as they drew out the deepening contradictions of capitalism, which threaten the very future of civilisation.

Those who agree with such assessments, endlessly regurgitated through media and academic outlets, would do well to examine the “Global Risks Report 2023” of the World Economic Forum (WEF) prepared for the annual gathering that is taking place this week in Davos, Switzerland.

The report paints a devastating picture of a socioeconomic system hurtling towards disaster, outside of the control of the ruling elites for which the WEF speaks.

The executive summary begins by noting that the first years of the present decade “have heralded a particularly disruptive period in human history.”

Then follows a paragraph worth quoting in full:

As 2023 begins, the world is facing a set of risks that feel both wholly new and eerily familiar. We have seen the return of “older risks”—inflation, cost-of-living crises, trade wars, capital outflow from emerging markets, widespread social unrest, geopolitical confrontation and the spectre of nuclear warfare—which few of this generation’s business leaders and public policy-makers have experienced. These are being amplified by comparatively new developments in the global risks landscape, including unsustainable levels of debt, a new era of low growth, low global investment and de-globalisation, a decline in human development after decades of progress, rapid and unconstrained development of dual-use (civilian and military) technologies, and the growing pressure of climate change impacts and ambitions in an ever-shrinking window for a transition to a 1.5C world. Together, these are converging to shape a unique and uncertain and turbulent decade to come.

The Marxist analysis of the present situation is presented in the New Year’s Perspective of the World Socialist Web Site (2023: The global capitalist crisis and the growing offensive of the international working class), which notes that the accumulating pressures of the world capitalist crisis have “attained the equivalent of critical mass: that is, they have reached the point where the dynamic of crisis has passed beyond the ability of governments to control the movement toward a social cataclysm.”

Everything in the Global Risks Report confirms, in its own way, the veracity of this analysis, which is probably why the WEF document has received little or no coverage in the so-called mainstream media.

The report traces out a series of deepening crises, including the ever-worsening economic outlook, the intensification of geopolitical conflicts and tensions that are not confined to Ukraine, but extend far more broadly, the rapid deterioration of health and health care, and the effects of climate change, both in terms of the weather and the decline in biodiversity.

One of the most significant shifts in 2022 was the ending of the ultra-low interest rate regime initiated in response to the global financial crisis in 2008 and extended after the financial crisis of March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The monetary tightening implemented by the Fed and other major central banks to suppress the global wages upsurge by the working class is driving the world economy into recession.

But according to the WEF report:

Even if some economies experience a softer-than-expected landing, the end of the low-interest rate era will have significant ramifications for governments, businesses and individuals. The knock-on effects will be felt most acutely by the most vulnerable parts of society and already-fragile states, contributing to rising poverty, hunger, violent protests, political instability and even state collapse. ... Governments will continue to face a dangerous balancing act between protecting a broad swathe of their citizens from an elongated cost-of-living crisis without embedding inflation—and meeting debt and servicing costs as revenues come under pressure from an economic downturn, an increasingly urgent transition to new energy systems, and a less stable geopolitical environment.

The report warns that social unrest and political instability will not be confined to emerging markets, as economic pressures hit the middle-income bracket:

Mounting citizen frustration at losses in human development and declining social mobility, together with a widening gap in values and equality, are posing existential challenges to political systems around the world.

The global slowdown and the development of recession in many parts of the world will increase geopolitical tensions and conflicts:

Economic warfare is becoming the norm with increasing clashes between global powers and state intervention in markets over the next two years.

Economic policies will not only be used defensively, but “increasingly offensively to constrain the rise of others.”

The report also points to the increase of military spending as a proportion of GDP by the US, along with others, and notes the decision by Japan to double its military spending:

Widespread defence spending, particularly on research and development, could deepen insecurity and promote a race between global and regional powers towards more advanced weaponry.

This will be accompanied by the rise of blocs that tie together countries across security, trade, innovation and investment.

The report does not raise it, but this assessment blows out of the water the World Economic Forum’s earlier pronouncements that the globalisation of production and finance through the operation of the “free market” would lead to peace and prosperity.

That analysis, advanced in the years following the dissolution of the USSR, ignored the fact, emphasised by the Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International, that such organic peaceful development was impossible because the world is riven by the contradiction between global economy and the nation-state system in which capitalism is rooted.

The WEF report contains little analysis of the extent of the pandemic, apparently subscribing to the view, contrary to the evidence, that COVID is in the past. But it does point to the crisis in health care and the threat of further pandemics, under conditions where health care systems are facing “intensifying financial pressure.”

It states:

As COVID-19 recedes from the headlines, complacency appears to be setting in on preparing for future pandemics and other global health threats. Healthcare systems face worker burnout and continued shortages at a time when fiscal consolidation risks deflecting attention and resources elsewhere. More frequent and widespread infectious disease outbreaks amidst a background of chronic diseases over the next decade risks pushing exhausted healthcare systems to the brink of failure around the world.

Health problems will also continue to mount because of the effects of climate change and the disintegration of ecosystems, leading to an increased occurrence of zoonotic diseases—those which, as with SARS and COVID, start in animals but then leap over into the human population.

An objective measure of human progress is the increase in life expectancy. Today, for the first time since World War II, it is starting to decline. According to the report: “People are living more years in poor health, and we may soon face a more sustained reversal in life expectancy gains beyond the influence of the pandemic.”

On the issue of climate change, as the prospect of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius fades into the distance, the report notes that climate and environmental issues are a core source of risks over the next decade, but are at the same time “the risks for which we are seen to be the least prepared.”

It adds:

The lack of deep, concerted progress on climate targets has exposed the divergence between what is scientifically necessary to achieve net zero and what is politically feasible.

The same point could be made on the question of COVID elimination, which, however, the WEF chooses to evade. It does not even approach an explanation for the policy of mass infection pursued by governments all over the world because that would mean touching on the “holy of holies”— capitalist property relations, on which the global economy is based, and which make impossible the application of science where it conflicts with the interests of private profit.

Summing up the situation, the report says that present and future risks

interact with each other to form a “polycrisis”—a cluster of related global risks with compounding effects, such that the overall impact exceeds the sum of each part.

Or, as the World Socialist Web Site’s New Year Perspective explains, the crisis of capitalism has reached a “critical mass.” That perspective makes another decisive point—that the actions of capitalist governments are increasingly irrational, and instead of alleviating the crisis, intensify it.

The same point is made in another way in the conclusion of the WEF report:

Without minimising the need for an effective response, the over-prioritisation of current challenges can quickly descend into a doom-loop of continuous global shocks, whereby resources are absorbed by crisis management, rather than directed to preparedness for future risks. Complex challenges cannot be solved by short-term decision-making—and yet long-term thinking alone is insufficient in the face of currently unfolding crises.

The image comes to mind of the boy rushing to put his finger in the dyke as the whole structure gives way to the flood.

Anyone still labouring under the illusion that the ruling classes have some progressive solution to the deepening crisis should read the concluding paragraph.

There we find the following:

In a complex risks outlook, there must be a better balance between national preparedness and global cooperation. We need to act together, to shape a pathway out of cascading crises and build collective preparedness to the next global shock, whatever form it might take. Leaders must embrace complexity and act on a balanced vision to create a stronger, prosperous shared future.

In other words, the ruling elites, above all the oligarchs gathered at Davos with a collective wealth of trillions of dollars, whose actions over decades have led to an existential crisis for humankind, are somehow to turn on a dime and lead the way out of the disaster.

In fact, they have no policies to halt the deepening catastrophe, nor can they develop any, because, in the final analysis, it is rooted not in their psyche, but in the objective contradictions of the capitalist mode of production, which they defend above all else.

The capitalist ruling classes, and their political representatives, are the chief obstacles to human progress. But that does not mean they have no program. They do. It is to place the full burden of the crisis of their system on the backs of the working class and oppressed masses.

They are condemned by history, but are still a living social force, with vast resources and centuries of counterrevolutionary political experience. The way forward does not lie in appeals for them to change course, but in summoning the power of an even greater social force—the international working class—to remove them.

But for that enormous power to become transformed from potentiality to actuality, the working class must be armed with a clearly worked out program, grounded on the historically developed program and strategic lessons extracted by the world Trotskyist movement, represented today solely by the International Committee of the Fourth International, over the course of a century of unrelenting political and theoretical struggle.

The conclusion is a simple one. As the New Year’s Perspective of the WSWS outlined, the future of humanity depends on the triumph of socialism, and the achievement of this necessary objective depends on the building of the ICFI as the world party of socialist revolution.

#wsws #davos #davos world economic forum #world economic forum #polycrisis #economics #politics #climate change #global warming #capitalism #late stage capitalism #covid 19 #covid #world war 3

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ridingancientrome · 4 months

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Unleash the Thrill: Riding Horses and History in Rome

The history of Ancient Rome is a captivating narrative that spans over a millennium, marked by triumphs, conflicts, cultural achievements, and the rise and fall of a colossal empire. From its legendary foundation in 753 BCE to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, Ancient Rome's story is one of power, innovation, and enduring influence.

The Mythical Origins: According to legend, Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf after being abandoned. The myth sets the stage for Rome's dramatic beginnings and hints at the city's destined greatness. While the story is mythical, it reflects the deep connection Romans felt to their city's origins.

The Roman Republic: The early centuries of Ancient Rome witnessed the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE, characterized by a system of checks and balances, elected officials, and citizen assemblies. The Republic expanded its territory through military conquests, encompassing the Italian Peninsula and eventually reaching the Mediterranean shores.

Punic Wars and Expansion: The Punic Wars (264–146 BCE) with Carthage were pivotal in Rome's expansion. The conflicts, particularly the Second Punic War led by the brilliant Carthaginian general Hannibal, solidified Rome's dominance in the Mediterranean. The acquisition of territories like Sicily, Corsica, and Hispania marked Rome as a formidable imperial power.

The Age of Julius Caesar and Augustus: The 1st century BCE saw the rise of Julius Caesar, a military genius and political strategist. His conquests and reforms led to his appointment as dictator, but his assassination in 44 BCE plunged Rome into turmoil. The ensuing power struggle culminated in the rise of Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, who later became the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, in 27 BCE.

Pax Romana: Under Augustus, Rome experienced a period of relative peace and stability known as the Pax Romana (27 BCE–180 CE). During this time, the empire reached its zenith, stretching from Britain to the Euphrates. Rome became a hub of culture, with architectural marvels like the Pantheon and the Colosseum, and literary achievements from poets like Virgil and historians like Tacitus.

Crisis and Decline: Despite the grandeur of the Pax Romana, the empire faced internal strife, economic challenges, and external threats. The 3rd century CE witnessed a series of crises, including political instability, economic decline, and military pressures from Germanic tribes and the Sassanian Empire. Diocletian's reforms and the division of the empire into East and West were attempts to address these challenges.

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: The 5th century CE brought further challenges, including invasions by Visigoths, Vandals, and the sack of Rome by the Visigoth king Alaric in 410 CE. In 476 CE, the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer, marking the traditional date for the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Legacy and Enduring Influence: The legacy of Ancient Rome is immeasurable. Its contributions to law, governance, engineering, architecture, literature, and philosophy continue to shape Western civilization. The Roman legal system laid the foundation for modern jurisprudence, the Latin language evolved into the Romance languages, and Roman engineering marvels still stand as testaments to their technological prowess.

Cultural Influence: The influence of Roman culture extended far beyond its territorial borders. The spread of Christianity, initially persecuted in Rome, eventually became the state religion and profoundly impacted the course of history. Latin literature, philosophy, and political thought formed the intellectual bedrock of the Renaissance, and Roman architectural principles influenced the design of countless structures throughout history.

The Enduring City: While the Western Roman Empire fell, the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, endured for nearly a millennium until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE. The city of Rome itself remained a spiritual and cultural center, and the Vatican City, within its boundaries, became the seat of the Catholic Church.

In conclusion, the history of Ancient Rome is a rich tapestry woven with the threads of conquest, innovation, cultural achievements, and the inevitable cycle of rise and fall. Its legacy persists in the foundations of modern societies, institutions, and cultural expressions, ensuring that the echoes of Ancient Rome resonate through the corridors of time.For more details visit our website : www.ridingancientrome.it

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temistonos12 · 6 months

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Crónica. GA2-240202501-AA1-EV03

INTRODUCTION

"Napoleon Bonaparte: A Revolutionary Figure Who Redefined Power and Shaped an Era"

The life and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte continue to captivate the world, as he remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in history. Born in Corsica in 1769, Napoleon's journey from a modest upbringing to becoming the Emperor of France is a remarkable tale of ambition, military genius, and political acumen. This chronicle dives into the captivating life of Napoleon Bonaparte, exploring his rise to power, his military conquests, and his lasting impact on Europe.

About Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon's story begins on the island of Corsica, a French territory at the time. As a young man, he exhibited exceptional intelligence and leadership qualities, which led to his enrollment at the renowned École Militaire in France. It was there that Napoleon honed his military skills and nurtured his ambition for greatness.

The French Revolution erupted in 1789, setting the stage for Napoleon's meteoric rise. During this turbulent period, he displayed extraordinary military talent, capturing the attention of revolutionary leaders. His strategic victories in Italy and his decisive actions during the defense of the French Directory in 1795 propelled him to prominence.

In 1799, Napoleon orchestrated a coup d'état, overthrowing the weak and unstable government and establishing the Consulate, with himself as First Consul. This marked a turning point in French history and the beginning of Napoleon's transformative rule. Through a series of political maneuvers and military campaigns, he consolidated power and positioned himself as the de facto ruler of France.

Napoleon's military prowess and strategic brilliance became the stuff of legends. From his triumphant Italian campaigns, where he defeated multiple European powers, to his audacious expedition to Egypt, he displayed an unparalleled ability to lead and inspire his troops. The Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 stands as a testament to his tactical genius, solidifying his reputation as one of history's greatest military commanders.

In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French, signaling a new era of French dominance in Europe. His imperial ambitions extended far beyond France's borders, as he embarked on a series of military campaigns to expand his empire. From the stunning victory at Jena-Auerstedt to the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, he reshaped the political landscape of Europe.

However, Napoleon's quest for power ultimately led to his downfall. The disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812 marked a turning point in his fortunes, as the harsh Russian winter and guerrilla warfare decimated his forces. Defeated in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, he was forced into exile on the island of Elba.

But Napoleon's spirit and ambition were not easily extinguished. In 1815, he made a dramatic return to France, known as the Hundred Days. Although he achieved some initial victories, including his famous victory at Waterloo, he was ultimately defeated by the combined forces of European powers and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he would spend his remaining years in seclusion.

Napoleon's legacy is complex and multifaceted. On one hand, he introduced numerous reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, which modernized legal systems and promoted equality. He also implemented economic and educational reforms that laid the foundation for modern France. On the other hand, his military campaigns resulted in immense human suffering and political instability across Europe.

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dan6085 · 1 year

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Here is a brief timeline of the history of Indonesia:

Prehistory:

- Archaeological evidence shows that humans have lived in what is now Indonesia for at least 1.5 million years. Early civilizations include the Tarumanagara and the Srivijaya Empire.

7th-14th century:

- The Srivijaya Empire, centered on the island of Sumatra, became a major center of trade and culture in Southeast Asia, with its influence extending throughout the region.

- The Majapahit Empire, based on the island of Java, reached its peak in the 14th century under the reign of King Hayam Wuruk, with the empire controlling much of what is now Indonesia, as well as parts of Malaysia and Singapore.

The Majapahit Empire was a powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that existed on the Indonesian island of Java from the late 13th century to the early 16th century. The empire was known for its military strength, cultural achievements, and political stability, and is considered one of the greatest empires in Southeast Asian history.

Here are some key facts and details about the Majapahit Empire:

- The Majapahit Empire was founded in 1293 by Raden Wijaya, who defeated the existing Mongol-linked kingdom of Singhasari and established his own kingdom at Trowulan in East Java.

- The empire reached its peak in the 14th century under the reign of King Hayam Wuruk, who ruled from 1350 to 1389. During his reign, the empire controlled much of what is now Indonesia, as well as parts of Malaysia and Singapore.

- The Majapahit Empire was known for its strong military, which allowed it to defeat invading armies and maintain its territorial control. The empire also had a well-organized bureaucracy, with officials appointed based on merit rather than birth.

- The empire was a center of culture and learning, with literature, art, and architecture flourishing during its reign. Notable works from this period include the Nagarakretagama, a 14th-century poem that describes the empire's political and cultural achievements, and the temples and palaces at Trowulan.

- The Majapahit Empire was a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom, with both religions coexisting and influencing each other. The empire was also known for its syncretic religious practices, which blended Hindu and Buddhist beliefs with local animism.

- The Majapahit Empire declined in the 15th century, due to a combination of factors including political instability, economic pressures, and invasions from neighboring kingdoms. The empire was eventually conquered by the Islamic Demak Sultanate in the early 16th century.

The legacy of the Majapahit Empire can still be seen in modern-day Indonesia, particularly in the country's cultural traditions and historical landmarks. The empire's emphasis on military strength, cultural achievements, and political stability helped to shape the identity of Indonesia as a nation, and its cultural achievements continue to inspire admiration and pride among the Indonesian people.

16th-19th century:

- The arrival of European powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, led to increased colonization and control over parts of Indonesia.

- The Dutch East India Company established a trading post in Jakarta in the early 17th century and gradually gained control over much of the archipelago. The Dutch colonial period lasted until the mid-20th century.

- Indonesia experienced a period of resistance and rebellion against colonial rule, including the Java War and the Aceh War.

20th century:

- Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945, with Sukarno becoming the country's first president.

- The country faced significant challenges in its early years, including political instability, economic struggles, and separatist movements in several regions.

- Sukarno's government was eventually overthrown in a military coup in 1965, led by General Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for the next three decades.

- Indonesia has experienced significant economic growth and development in recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia.

21st century:

- Indonesia has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including natural disasters, terrorism, and political unrest.

- The country has pursued policies aimed at promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and improving infrastructure and education.

- Indonesia has also sought to increase its role in regional and global politics, with the country hosting a number of high-profile events and conferences.

This timeline provides a brief overview of the history of Indonesia, but there are many more details and complexities to this story. Indonesia's rich cultural heritage and complex political history have made it a fascinating and dynamic country, with a unique identity that continues to evolve and develop.

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ill-will-editions · 4 years

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Covid-19: The 21st Century Begins Now Jérôme Baschet

Historians readily accept that the global 20th century began in 1914, with the onset of the cycle of the World Wars. One day it will no doubt be said that the 21st century began in 2020, with the introduction of SARS-CoV-2. The range of scenarios to come remains, of course, very open; but the sequence of events triggered by the spread of the Coronavirus offers a preview of the disasters that are bound to intensify in our convulsive world, marked as it is by the effects of a global warming well on its way towards an average increase of 3 or 4 degrees. What is happening before our eyes is an increasingly tight intertwining of multiple crisis factors, which it suffices for a random element, both unforeseen and widely announced, to activate. The collapse and unravelling of life, climate disorder, accelerated social decomposition, the discrediting of governments and political systems, the unbridled expansion of credit and financial fragility, failure to maintain a sufficient level of growth (to mention only a few): these dynamics all reinforce one another, generating an extreme vulnerability that derives from the fact that the world system is now in a situation of permanent structural crisis. Henceforth, any apparent stability is merely a mask for growing instability.

Philippe Sansonetti, a microbiologist and professor at the Collège de France, recently remarked that Covid-19 is an "Anthropocene disease”. The current pandemic is a total fact, in which the biological reality of the virus is inseparable from the societal and systemic conditions of its existence and spread. Invoking the Anthropocene — a new geological period in which the human species has become a force capable of modifying the biosphere on a global scale — invites us to take into account a threefold timeline: firstly, the recent period in which, under the pressure of perceptible evidence, we became aware, albeit too slowly, of this new era; secondly, the decades after 1945, which were those of the rise of consumer society and the great acceleration of all the markers of humanity's productive (and destructive) activity; lastly, the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries which, by setting in motion the cycle of fossil fuels and industrialization, caused the curve of greenhouse gas emissions to take off, thus marking the beginning of the Anthropocene.

The virus that afflicts us has been sent by the living, who have come to present us with the bill for the turmoil that we ourselves have caused. The Anthropocene means: in whatever befalls us, human responsibility is involved. But whose responsibility is it exactly? The three timelines mentioned above allow us to be more precise. On the most immediate horizon, our attention is monopolized by the staggering affair of the evaporation of mask stocks since 2009 and by the indolence that has failed to replenish them urgently as the epidemic approaches. This is merely one more aspect of Europe's overwhelming lack of preparation. In this inability to anticipate, we bear witness to another disease of the times, namely, its presentism, that force by which everything that extends beyond the immediate disappears from our view. The coldly calculative neoliberal methods of hospital management took care of the rest, with its persistent lack of resources, reduction in the number of beds, on top of a shortage of staff and personnel who are already exhausted during normal times. Care workers have been howling their despair for a long time, without being heard. Today, the criminal nature of long-standing policies has been proven to everyone. As Philippe Juvin, head of the emergency department at the Pompidou Hospital in Paris recently stated, "careless and incompetent people" have caused us to find ourselves "naked in the face of the epidemic". And if Emmanuel Macron wanted to set himself up as a war chief, he should not overlook the fact that this same rhetoric, invoked by so many rulers these days, could also one day one day turn (metaphorically?) into an accusation of high treason.

Glancing back over the second half of the twentieth century allows us to identify several of the major causalities behind the multiplication of zoonoses, those diseases caused by infectious agents that are able to make a species leap from animals to humans. The expansion of industrial livestock farming, with its despicable tendency toward concentration, led to the sort of deplorable health consequences we now know far too well (swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, etc.). Meanwhile, excessive urbanization and metropolization have shrunk the habitats of animals, pushing them into closer contact with humans (HIV and Ebola, in particular). These two factors may not have played a role in the case of SARS-CoV-2, although more still needs to be known about the entire chain of transmission. On the other hand, it is clear that the sale of wild animals in the Wuhan market would not have had such consequences had Wuhan not become one of the world capitals of the automobile industry. The globalization of economic flows is indeed at work; and this is the third causality to be invoked, all the more so as the senseless expansion of air traffic was the vector of the rapid planetary spread of the virus.

But we can't stop there; we must also look back two centuries and give the Anthropocene its real name: Capitalocene. For it is the result, not of the human species in general, but of a specific historical system. The principal characteristic of this system, capitalism, is that the bulk of production is based, above all else, on the imperative of turning a profit from the money invested (capital). Although its configurations are variable, the world is ultimately organized according to the imperious demands of the economy. The result has been a civilizational break with all previous human experience, in which private interest and competitive individualism now reign as supreme values, the obsession with pure quantity and the tyranny of urgency opening up a void in being. The result is also and above all a deadly productivist compulsion, one which lies at the origin of the overexploitation of natural resources, the accelerated disorganization of living things, and climate change.

When the current quarantine and health emergency ends, nothing will be the same as before; that much has been made clear. But what will change? Will our self-examination be limited to a short-term temporality, as is to be feared, or will we take into account the full cycle of the Capitalocene? We have now reached the threshold of the twenty-first century. The real war that is about to be waged will not have the Coronavirus as its enemy, but will be fought between two opposing options: on one side, there will be the continuation of a world in which the fanatical drive for merchandise reigns supreme and whose compulsive productivism will only lead to the deepening of the ongoing devastation; on the other side, there lies the invention, already being explored in a thousand places, of new ways of existing that would break with the categorical imperative of the economy, in order to lend priority to a good life for all. Preferring the joyful intensity of the qualitative to the false promises of an unlimited impossibility, the latter would combine an attentive concern for inhabited milieus and the interactions of the living with the construction of the common, mutual aid, and solidarity, and the collective capacity for self-organization and self-government.

The Coronavirus has come to sound the alarm and stop the mad train of a civilization hurtling towards the destruction of life on a mass scale. Shall we let it continue down its course, once again? That would only guarantee new and unprecedented disasters, which will make what we are experiencing now look pale in retrospect.

Paris, March 27, 2020

Translated by Ill Will Editions

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Jérôme Baschet is an historian currently teaching at the Autonomous University of Chiapas in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Author of several books on medieval history, he has also published Défaire la tyrannie du présent. Temporalités émergentes et futurs inédits (2018), La Rébellion zapatiste (2019), and Une Juste colère. Interrompre la destruction du monde, on the Gilets Jaunes.

#covid19 #climate catastrophe #france #translation #article

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bard-llama · 3 years

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Nilfgaard and International Relations

I’m in a rambling kind of mood, so I’ve decided I want to talk about Nilfgaard and part of why I think Emhyr did what he does. So, first off: this post will DEFINITELY have some spoilers for, in particular, How to Fluster an Elf, but it’s also my general canon for what’s up on the continent (except when it’s convenient for the plot that it be different lol)

So, first off, here is a map of the continent. I’m sharing this both because I’ll probably talk about some details with borders, but also because, as you can see, even before the Third Nilfgaardian War (the one that starts at the end of W2 and ends at the end of W3), the Nilfgaardian Empire is MASSIVE. And that’s important, because the more land and people you manage, the more work you gotta do to ensure that they can eat and prosper. (Like, seriously, I would NOT want Emhyr or Ciri’s jobs.) Additionally, every part of the Empire has its own culture and potentially language (I’m not sure who speaks Nilfgaardian vs ‘Common’ vs their own regional languages. Not every author can be Tolkien and develop an entire thesis on the history of language in their world lol).

Now, this part is just a headcanon, but I LOVE the idea that the warming and cooling cycles of the globe are triggered by events like the Conjunction of the Spheres and the White Frost (and, to a lesser extent, Ciri using her powers). Now, what am I talking about re: warming and cooling periods? Specifically, I am talking about glacial and interglacial periods (not the same as ice ages, which might happen within those periods), which are basically two parts of a cycle that changes over thousands of years. On Earth, we are in an interglacial period (which literally means that the glaciers are retreating) and the last glacial period (aka glaciers expanding and covering more land) ended 15000 years ago. So like, we are very much talking about change over time.

Why is any of this important? For two reasons:

The transition between periods is marked by climate extremes. As we’re discovering in reality, this can be really damaging - too much rain kills crops, too little kills crops. Unstable weather conditions tend to lead to storms, which can do a great deal of damage. Both temperature extremes can do their own damage as well. People can dye of exposure, but on a larger scale, crops and water access very much depend on consistent weather patterns. Additionally, these conditions are ripe for the spread of disease, which can devastate kingdoms and populations. tldr: the climate gets very unpredictable over the course of many years (like decades, not like centuries or millenia) and this leads to extreme weather events, famine, plague, drought, etc.

Once the changes settle, then, generally speaking (and pls note: i am not a scientist, this is stuff I learned from research and interpreted myself) - warming/interglacial periods can lead to population booms and expansion, because the glaciers withdraw, which means new land is available and habitable. When a society has a surplus of resources, it expands. When it doesn’t, when there are limited supplies and everyone has to fight over them, population decreases, because there isn’t enough to go around and because birth rates tend to be lower (at least, in a world with accessible birth control where people can choose if they want to have a child or not). Warmer temperatures also means that more diseases can thrive, so it’s not like interglacial periods are automatically paradise. But, typically speaking, interglacial periods are associated with more land and more food, which leads more people.

On the flipside, a glacial period (i.e. glaciers expand across the land) is associated with more limited resources and less habitable land (because it’s covered by glaciers).

Now here’s the really important thing. These periods (interglacial and glacial) are correlated with the earth’s tilt and orbit. Which means that while the northern hemisphere (i.e. Cintra and north thereabouts) is experiencing one thing, the southern hemisphere (i.e. Nilfgaard and all it’s conquered lands) is experiencing the opposite.

So how does any of this connect back to my headcanons for the Witcher? Well, I like the idea that the Conjunction of the Spheres triggered a glacial period in the north and an interglacial period in the south. I’ll go into more details under the cut, but the follow up to this is that the White Frost that Ciri defeats in the game triggers the change over again. And what did we say happens when one period transitions into another? Weather instability and all of its effects.

What does this mean broadly? Well, really it means two major things:

The actual transition from glacial to interglacial (for the north) and interglacial to glacial (for the south) would be marked by extreme climate changes, which leads to political unrest because crops are ruined and people starve. For both the north and south, this is bad news, but probably the north would be affected worse, simply because there’s already famine.

After the transition, the north would theoretically prosper as new land becomes available and more resources are found. The south, on the other hand, would lose land and resources as glaciers extend.

Now, all of this is significant because we KNOW that Nilfgaard studies science differently than the north. They know that the earth revolves around the sun. Do they also know that the orbit affects the climate? Maybe. If they don’t their elven ancestors probably did, simply because they live long enough to experience these changes (in my canon. Sapko’s elves only live a few hundred years, I think). The point is - Emhyr appears to be pretty well-studied (despite spending his formative years as a hedgehog), so when he starts seeing the extreme weather affecting the south, he could put two and two together and decide that he has to conquer the north, because the north has resources! And if a HUGE portion of his empire is experiencing extreme weather that destroys their crops, then he NEEDS the North’s resources! Which, yes, is ironic, because his invasion causes famine, but he probably dismisses that as the ‘casualties of war’.

Another factor is that Nilfgaard drafted pretty much every able-bodied man in the empire to serve in the war. Which is great, because numbers do make a huge difference in war, buuuuut it’s also bad, because now... who’s gonna harvest all the crops? Who’s gonna sow the fields for next year?

I feel like I was gonna say more, something about supply lines and Nilfgaard’s expansion plans, but I don’t really remember. The point is - Emhyr acts like he’s working on a deadline. Some of that is probably because of the political enemies he has back home (you know, those he didn’t murder and dance over their graves), but I wonder if some of it might not be because he sees the change coming and he wants to set up Nilfgaard to survive. And to do that, he needs the resources the north has.

Okay, here’s the part that’s a spoiler for How to Fluster an Elf - okay, so Ciri is Empress and Nilfgaard now owns 80% of the continent east of the Blue Mountains. But even with the resources from the war-torn north, I doubt it’s enough to keep things from getting... difficult. But here’s the important thing - Ciri is not Emhyr. So when Ciri sees what’s coming and worries about how to feed her people, her response isn’t “let’s conquer others who have food”, it’s “let’s ask for help and work together”. A novel idea, isn’t it? Actually ASKING for HELP. But you know what? Once that ask is out there, the rest is diplomacy. And diplomacy isn’t easy, but it’s sure as hell less costly than war (though ultimately may lead to war itself). I don’t know if Ciri would make a good war commander. But I do know that she could make an excellent diplomat if she tried. Because she’s been exposed to a LOT in her life and has learned how to accept people without trying to change them and how to see the world from their point of view. And honestly, that’s all diplomacy really is - figuring out what drives each actor and working on a compromise that meets as many of those needs as possible.

Anyway, this is a really long post basically saying that global change is on the horizon for the continent and it has and will continue to affect the decisions rulers make. Because a good ruler looks after their land and their people - which means feeding their people.

Plus, you know, armies also gotta eat.

#the witcher #nilfgaard #international politics #global climate periods #headcanons

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rhyanneee · 3 years

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World’s Literature

A. Southeast Asia

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ― J.R.R. Tolkein

Southeast Asia is composed of eleven countries of impressive diversity in religion, culture and history: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Based on my research, the predominant themes of Southeast Asian arts have been religion and national history. In religion the main interest was not so much in actual doctrine but in the life and personality of the Buddha and the personalities and lives of the Hindu gods. In national history the interest was in the legendary heroes of the past, and this theme appeared only after the great empires had fallen and the memories of their glory and power remained. The Buddha image, which went through various stages of development, remained the favorite motif of sculpture and painting. The depiction of scenes from his previous lives in fresco and relief sculpture also had the purpose of teaching the Buddhist ethics to the people, as the Jatakas emphasized certain moral virtues of the Buddha in his previous lives; it also gave an opportunity to the artist to introduce local color by using, as background, scenes from his own contemporary time. The depiction of scenes from the Hindu epics also had the same purpose and gave the same opportunity to the artist. Many figures from the Buddhist and Hindu scriptures, such as gods and goddesses, heroes and princesses, hermits and magicians, demons and dragons, flying horses and winged maidens, became fused with similar native figures, and, gradually, folklore plots became merged in the general religious themes.

B. East Asia

“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to my research, some of the themes in East Asia literature are Immortality, Unfaithfulness, Disrespect in the Society, Abused Marriages & Families, Religion, Traditional Practices, Traditional Beliefs and Social Class. Some of the books in East Asia were concerned of the ethical practices that were common in their society. Some of them are about “respect.” Respect is one of the most cherished virtues in the society, and many of the East Asian literatures have always expressed this in different ways, especially the need to respect the elderly and those in power. Another common theme that comes out of the books focuses on the abused marriages. In the two cases, we witness marriage partners engaging in abusive acts against their wives or husbands. There are so many books which possesses such styles and themes in literature.

C. South and West Asia

“There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.” ― P.G. Wodehouse

South Asia or Southern Asia is the southern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The West Asia region comprises of 12 member countries; Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Based on my research, the peoples of South Asia have had a continuous literature from the first appearance in the Punjab of a branch of the Indo-European-speaking peoples who also settled all of Europe and Iran. In India this branch of Indo-Aryans, as they are usually called, met earlier inhabitants with different languages and no doubt a different culture—possibly a culture akin to that of the Indus Valley civilization, which had a script, and perhaps a literature of its own, of which nothing is known. Certain to have been settled in India were peoples who spoke languages of Dravidian origin, as well as other languages, called Munda, now preserved only by aboriginal tribes, which show affinities with the languages of Southeast Asia. In the Hellenistic period literature and culture flourished in Western Asia. Traditional literary forms such as lists continued to be produced by the native population and were adapted by the new rulers. While there is little evidence for the creation of new narrative literature, which may in part be due to the fragmentary nature of our sources, existing epics, wisdom texts, and folktales were retold, rewritten, and transmitted. Greeks living in Western Asia created historiographical, ethnographical, and geographical works about their surroundings, inspiring in turn the Babylonian priest Berossus to write a reference work on Babylonia in Greek. Much as during the Persian Empire, political instability and changes in power led to a diverse and independent culture of writing. Continuity in all genres, writing systems, and languages remains the most important characteristic of Western Asian literature at least to the beginning of the Christian era.

D. Anglo-America and Europe

“Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.” ― Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet

Anglo-America most often refers to a region in the Americas in which English is a main language and British culture and the British Empire have had significant historical, ethnic, linguistic and cultural impact. Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It comprises the westernmost part of Eurasia and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east. Based on my research, like other national literatures, American literature was shaped by the history of the country that produced it. For almost a century and a half, America was merely a group of colonies scattered along the eastern seaboard of the North American continent—colonies from which a few hardy souls tentatively ventured westward. After a successful rebellion against the motherland, America became the United States, a nation. By the end of the 19th century this nation extended southward to the Gulf of Mexico, northward to the 49th parallel, and westward to the Pacific. By the end of the 19th century, too, it had taken its place among the powers of the world—its fortunes so interrelated with those of other nations that inevitably it became involved in two world wars and, following these conflicts, with the problems of Europe and East Asia. Meanwhile, the rise of science and industry, as well as changes in ways of thinking and feeling, wrought many modifications in people’s lives. All these factors in the development of the United States molded the literature of the country. Western European literature could be viewed as a parade of movements—Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Futurism, Structuralism, and so on indefinitely. European literature refers to the literature of Europe. European literature includes literature in many languages; among the most important of the modern written works are those in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Czech and Russian and works by the Scandinavians and Irish. Important classical and medieval traditions are those in Ancient Greek, Latin, Old Norse , Medieval French and the Italian Tuscan dialect of the renaissance. European literature, also known as Western literature, is the literature written in the context of Western culture in the languages of Europe, as several geographically or historically related languages. Diverse as they are, European literatures, like Indo-European languages, are parts of a common heritage belonging to a race of proud nations which boast the likes of Homer who wrote Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil who wrote the Aeneid, Dante who wrote Divine Comedy, Chaucer who wrote Canterbury Tales. These, and other literary masterpieces form part of what we call as Western Canon.

E. Africa

“Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.” ― Jane Yolen

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. With 1.3 billion people as of 2018, it accounts for about 16% of the world's human population. Based on my research about Africa’s Literature. Afro-Asiatic and African languages together with works written by Africans in European languages. Traditional written literature, which is limited to a smaller geographic area than is oral literature, is most characteristic of those sub-Saharan cultures that have participated in the cultures of the Mediterranean. In particular, there are written literatures in both Hausa and Arabic, created by the scholars of what is now northern Nigeria, and the Somali people have produced a traditional written literature. There are also works written in Geʿez (Ethiopic) and Amharic, two of the languages of Ethiopia, which is the one part of Africa where Christianity has been practiced long enough to be considered traditional. Works written in European languages date primarily from the 20th century onward. The literature of South Africa in English and Afrikaans is also covered in a separate article, South African literature.

F. Latin America

“Literature is news that stays news.” ― Ezra Pound

Latin America is a group of countries and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere where Romance languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French are predominantly spoken. According to my research about Latin America’s Literature. Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, and Emerging Literary Trends. The Latin American wars of Independence that occurred in the early nineteenth century in Latin America led to literary themes of identity, resistance, and human rights. Latin American literature, the national literatures of the Spanish-speaking countries of the Western Hemisphere. Historically, it also includes the literary expression of the highly developed American Indian civilizations conquered by the Spaniards. Over the years, Latin American literature has developed a rich and complex diversity of themes, forms, creative idioms, and styles. A concise survey of its development is provided here. For a history of literature written in Portuguese in Brazil, see Brazilian literature. Latin American literature refers to written and oral works created by authors in parts of North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Latin American authors usually write in Spanish, Portuguese, English, or a language native to their specific country. Latin American writers working in the United States can be classified as writing Latin American literature too. Latin American literature has a rich history starting in the Pre-Colombian period and working all the way up to modern day. With each period of Latin American history, came a genre that dominated the field. In this lesson, we will look at the main periods of Latin American literature, the genres that fueled those periods, and authors who are well known in Latin American literature.

Source:

Wikipedia, Britannica, Google and Online Library.

Saunar, Rhenz Rhyanne 11 - St. Alypius

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verfugen · 3 years

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Six Great Houses pt. 1

In Valga, many kingdoms, great and small, ruled by noble families rose and fell.

However, among them, none stand greater than the ‘Six Great Houses’ that stood the test of time since the Blood Pact Rebellion that resulted in the overthrow of the Wardens’ rule of the world. Each of the Houses at the time were purely composed of members of their own respective race: The Dwarves, Algridas, Amorians, Elves, Cyurens, and Humans. When the time came for each of the races to go about their own ways, the Houses became noble families, or clan leaders depending on who one asked. Eventually, they garnered political power through business and trade, and only continued to snowball in wealth and power under the guise of obscurity unchecked while human kingdoms’ aggressive expansionism left the world in a series of messy feudalistic states, kingdoms and clans.

At the start of the second millennium, a period of instability and paranoia set in after the entire world experienced the threat and terror of the abominable beings called: Rift Spawns for the very first time. These dark times saw the most fighting and political unrest of the world’s entire history. With the kingdoms fighting over disagreements and resources, unsanctioned wizards and witches running rampant, and constant state of fighting threatening to regress the world back to the dark ages like the times before Blood Pact Rebellion, the Six Houses, especially the human’s felt the need the bring the world back from the brink of self-imposed destruction and put it under a singular rule before it was all too late.

Thus, the Six Great Houses came out of the obscurity and launched an attack on the entire world with an overwhelming military might they’ve garnered under the nose of several noble families, clans and kingdoms. With it, they crushed any and all opposition that refused to adhere to the reasoning of united rule and order. This military campaign lasted for only five years, and experienced success like the world which had never seen and will never see again.

Throughout the campaign, the world saw technological spikes, and advancements of medical knowledge with the increase of war productions and body count from the prisoners of war. With bodies strewn behind them, and smoldering, blasted craters of what were once former kingdoms, the Six Houses came together once more and were forced to finally decide who would rule over all the lands they’ve conquered. Inevitably, none of them could agree -- and even when put to a vote, what was once allies became uneasy enemies. With their fingers on the trigger, daggers and bombs under the table, and tensions rising amongst the heads of the Six Houses, the world was on a brink of another war.

However, none of them could pull the trigger and threaten the world to regress back after so much was achieved. Therefore, they all came to a ceasefire agreement at the Winter Solace Conference of 2132 along with the Agreement of the Six at that same year, which was aimed to reduce the loss of civilian life by establishing a code of conduct during any potential warfare between the houses in any foreseeable future.

Agreement of the Six are as follows:

> Article I forbade usage of flying aerial warships for bombardment except against vital military targets, or military related infrastructures. > Article II forbade the usage of following: Chemical, Biological and any Mass Destructive Spells. It also further clarified that Mass-Destructive Spells scale magic to be up to city-wipers. > Article III established that surrender and truce’s universal symbol be of a white banner be no smaller than 170 inches being flown in the air. It also included investigative commissions for violations of the Agreement. As such, a neutral party outside of the House’s conflict take up investigative commissions. > Article IV allows for safe passage of any enemy forces that wishes to surrender, or establish a truce. This also extended to any humanitarians, noncombatants, and civilians through hostile territory. > Article V established POW (prisoners of war) that are soldiers be treated humanely regardless of gender, race, or house affiliations. > Article VI strictly forbade the usage of any unsanctioned wizards & witches’ services in combat. > Article VII forbade the usage of military force on civilian, humanitarians, and non-combatants in the cities and outside of them. However, this allowed the uses of espionage and intelligence operations. Unlike the rest of the articles, this was far less restrictive and only banned outright assassinations.

With the agreement established, the Houses went off to establish kingdoms of their own.

Polaris Concord, ruled by: House Hawkburn

“Guided by the Northern Star, we rise.” - Motto of House Hawkburn -

The Polaris Concord, carrying the symbol of Crimson Hawk rising above was first formed by Solace Hawkburn and is ruled by the system of pseudo-constitutional monarchy that grants substantial discretionary powers to the sovereign, which is the current head of the the House Hawkburn in an unbroken succession for the last millennia despite the past political unrests that resulted in a near civil war in 2257 within the House. To keep any members of the House potentially gaining any power independently, the Fourth Head of the Concord decided to divide the kingdom into five different states each headed by the senates, and following the senate, series of noble houses to advise them.

This allowed the nobility and senates hold great leverage of power at a national level due to states being given great autonomy on how they function. While the senates and nobility hold enormous power on their own, they are actually smart enough to recognize that should anyone go against the will of common people, let alone the laws established by the House Hawkburn, it will only lead to a form of political suicide. Therefore, the noble houses generally try not interfere or get too involved with public unless the senate absolutely requires them to do so.

In addition to this, to keep any senates and noble houses from potentially rising against the House Hawkburn, the Fourth Head laid out the liberties of the common: The right to liberty, to own and defend one’s own property, to happiness, to expect humane treatment, to privacy, and to participate in state government. These rights are guaranteed to the entire citizenry by the kingdom as a whole, ensuring one’s own belief and express for replacement of laws enforced by local governments. This also includes the right to petition for the removal of nobles or senates, or take direct action if neither nobles, senates, or the King himself are unwilling to act.

This would forever establish a guaranteed rule of the House Hawkburn of the Polaris Concord for many thousands of years to come.

#.ooc (bullets & respite)#.world building (the breath of the world)#tw: long post

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architectuul · 3 years

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The Greek Experiment

The first initiative for an architecture exhibition within the Venice Biennale was taken by La Biennale di Venezia in 1975 when Vittorio Gregotti was appointed as a director of Visual Arts. Since his appointment three major exhibitions were organised between 1975 and 1978 and finally in 1980 the Architecture department got detached from the Art Biennale and became independent under the presidency of Giuseppe Galasso (1979-1982), who appointed Paolo Portoghesi as director.

Read also “What Fundamentals? Revisiting Treasures in Disguise” and “The Introverted Seismograph”

It was that year when the 1st International Architecture Exhibition was held in Venice titled La presenza del passato. During the first 15 years there were no national pavilions participating to the Biennale, until its 5th edition in 1996 under the curation of Austrian architect Hans Hollein, who decided to follow the standards of the Visual Arts Biennale and hosted national participations for the first time.

Since then, most of the national pavilions throughout the years have attempted to demonstrate each country’s architecture history and special qualities by responding to each year’s curatorial agenda. However, very often there have been cases when architecture itself was 'overshadowed' by a socio-political condition (e.g a war, a revolution, a natural disaster, an economic crisis, etc.) affecting one or multiple countries. In these cases, national pavilions became bold statements and curators used them as pretext to express their ideas responding to the emergent condition. In the past two decades the European economy has suffered from a deep recession followed by a migrant crisis which triggered a general instability across the continent. As a result, Architecture Biennale reflected both on a national and an international level on these cases examining how the profession and built environment have been affected by these conditions.

Since 2010 Greece faced a great recession and among other countries has suffered extreme austerity measures that led ultimately to a humanitarian crisis. On top of that, the turmoil in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq pushed migrant flows towards Europe through Greece result into a refugee crisis after 2012. Within this context in the 13th Architecture Biennale curated by David Chipperfield under the theme Common Ground Athens was brought to the spotlight. As a response to the Greek crisis and economic meltdown, Panos Dragonas and Anna Skiada, the curators of the Greek pavilion, tried to address issues like the Athenian living standards and the deteriorating quality of public space focusing mainly on the typology of the Athenian apartment building, the fragmentation and decay of Athenian public space which led to the need to redefine the priorities of architectural design. In the following Biennale in 2014 under the topic Fundamentals by Rem Koolhaas, the appointed commissioner Yannis Aesopos shifted the focus from the ongoing crisis to tourism, examining how it has influenced the country’s modernisation through constructed tourism landscape.

One year later, on top of the economic crisis, Greece had to face immigration flows from Syria and Middle East which affected dramatically the economy and society. At the end of the same year, the Ministry of Environment and Energy appointed the Association of Greek Architects – Greek Union of Architects for the first time as commissioner of the Greek Pavilion for the 15th Architecture Biennale under the topic Reporting from the Front by Alejandro Aravena. At the beginning of 2016 with only 5 months remaining till the Biennale’s opening, the Association launched an open call for ideas and a few days later held an open conference where all contributors could present their ideas and proposals. In the following days, as there was neither agenda nor structure for the project's management, the Association announced that the preparation of the curatorial proposal and pavilion structure would be determined collectively through an open dialogue between the participants.

After the first meetings in which over 200 architects participated, smaller groups were formed and assigned with different tasks in order to manage Press and Communication, Pavilion’s Design, Sponsorships, Events and Catalogue’s editing. The different teams were supposed to work closely and come together once per week to brief all participants on the project's progress. Through this process the curatorial team had the chance to ‘re-discover collective procedures, the participatory spirit, the unification, the consultation (…) and democracy through an on-going dialogue which did not stop at physical presence but extended to the Internet framework of communication’. Five months later, while the initial conference attracted more than 200 architects, after an extensive process only 140 participants managed to follow up until the end and make it to the pavilion’s opening in May.

There’s room for all of us was the motto which had inspired the Greek participation. However, there were times during the process when the collective body couldn’t agree or decide collectively. There were times when individual voices were calling for a sabotage of the Biennale or suggesting for a bold statement to raise awareness regarding the refugees. There were even times when the collective was split, and the polyphony was creating confusion and chaos. Within the preparation period thousands of emails have been exchanged between participants and hundreds of hours were spent on web and live meetings in order for 140 people to conclude on complicated theoretical and technical issues. We quarrelled, we made it up, we quarrelled again. We were disappointed, we took fresh courage. During that lengthy and draining process some people left the group, while others who met for the first time became friends and work partners and there were even cases of people who were opposed or confronted during the overheated debates. It was definitely a difficult and challenging procedure which pushed most participants to their limits.

Only a few days before the opening the Pavilion was not ready and the number of participants who voluntarily would travel to Venice was not confirmed. A number of scheduled events was at risk and the funding had become a major issue while at the same time capital controls introduced in June in Greece made the situation even more complicated. Finally, the pavilion was completed just on time and some participants managed to get the funding and sponsorships to travel and organise their events in Venice. However, even within the 7-month period of the Biennale the collective had several arguments and numerous issues kept coming up.

Most participants ended up having bittersweet memories of their participation, but we could all agree that it was a useful experience through which certain lessons have been learnt especially on horizontal, non-hierarchical bodies and how they operate. There are definitely limitations in such schemes and balance is hard to be achieved between the individual and the collective. We could all agree that we would do a lot of things differently next time, however #ThisisACo_op was a very representative approach expressing the spirit and challenges of the time in a very critical moment for Greece.

♯ThisIsACo_op

The title of the Greek entry at the 15th Venice Architectural Biennale - ♯ThisIsACo_op - attempts to give expression to the nature of the process by means of which this participation has been realised, and also to express its basic argument on the importance of collective, co-operative, and democratic action. The choice of the title arose for an additional reason: as a reversal of the familiar hashtag ♯ThisIsACoup, which predominated on the internet after the frustration of the will of the overwhelming majority of the Greek people in the referendum of 5/7/2015, when it said ‘OCHI’ to the proposals of the creditors (the European Union and International Monetary Fund) for the imposition on Greece of new and extreme policies of austerity.

The logic of the use of the title as a hashtag is a further expression of an endeavour by means of which, as is the case with a hashtag, many different apprehensions people, and situations give rise to a common resultant, express themselves in the same space, and make up a unified body.

***

VAB 08: Dimitris Grozopoulos

Dimitris Grozopoulos is an Architect and Urban Designer. He studied Architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Master’s in Landscape & Urbanism from Kingston University London. After his graduation he has been teaching at the Master programme in Kingston University and has participated in crits and design workshops. His work has been featured in magazines, conferences and exhibitions such Architecture Drawing Prize exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum in London (2018), Future Architecture Platform programme (2017), Venice Architecture Biennale (2016), 3rd Think-Space Unconference in Zagreb (2013), etc. His main interest is focused on urban decay, regeneration strategies and brownfield sites. Within the last few years, he has been involved in several architecture and masterplan projects as well as in in numerous international competitions.

#vab #venice architecture biennial #cold cases

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tomasorban · 4 years

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Jantar Mantar – The Ancient Astronomical Observatories of India

The Jantar Mantar refers to a group of five astronomical observatories built in India during the 18th century. The largest and best-known of these observatories is located in Jaipur, a city founded by and named after Jai Singh II. This ruler was extremely interested in astronomy and therefore had an observatory built in the city he founded.

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is such an amazing feat of human ingenuity that it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Each Jantar Mantar contains various astronomical instruments , one of the most notable being the sundial. In fact, the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur boasts having the largest stone sundial in the world.

Origin of the Jantar Mantar

The word ‘Jantar Mantar’ is derived from a combination of two Sanskrit words, ‘yantra’ and ‘mantra’, the former meaning ‘instruments’, while the latter means ‘to calculate’. Therefore, the Jantar Mantar quite literally means ‘instruments to calculate’.

Indeed, the instruments built at these observatories were meant to perform various types of astronomical calculations. While the sundial is the instrument most are familiar with, there were also other more complex instruments. Some of these instruments will be discussed later on.

As already mentioned, there were five Jantar Mantar built around India. Apart from Jaipur, smaller observatories were built in Delhi (specifically in the area that later became New Delhi ), Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura. The earliest of these five Jantar Mantar was the one in Delhi, which was constructed in 1724, and the other four in the years that followed. The four subsequent Jantar Mantar were built in order to reaffirm the astronomical readings that were being recorded in Delhi.

One remarkable aspect of these observatories is that although some of the instruments, for instance, the sundial, are found in the different observatories, each Jantar Mantar is unique. None of the five Jantar Mantar are the same in terms of size, layout, and style. Today, all of the Jantar Mantar, apart from the one in Mathura, is still in existence and may be visited by the public.

The observatory in Mathura, incidentally, was demolished just before 1857, along with the fort that housed it. The Jantar Mantar were built on flat ground, free of trees, so that no shadow would obstruct the use of the instruments. The situation, however, has changed today.

At the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, for instance, accurate readings can no longer be made due to the tall buildings around the observatory. Nevertheless, some of the instruments are still being used to forecast weather and crop yields.

Jai Singh Builder of the Jantar Mantar

The construction of the Jantar Mantar was possible thanks to an extraordinary individual, Jai Singh II, the Hindu Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Amber (known also as the Kingdom of Jaipur or Jaipur State). Jai Singh was born in 1688 in Amber, in what is today the state of Rajasthan. In 1699, Jai Singh’s father, Bishan Singh, died, and was succeeded by his 11 year-old son.

When Jai Singh succeeded his father, the Kingdom of Amber was a feudatory of the Mughal Empire , which was the dominant power in the Indian subcontinent at that time. Since 1658, the Mughal Empire was ruled by Aurangzeb, widely considered to be the empire’s last great ruler, though also notorious for his political and religious intolerance.

Aurangzeb pursued an expansionist policy and it was during his reign that the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent. The predecessors of Jai Singh preferred dealing with the Mughals through diplomacy, rather than through force of arms, as their kingdom was situated not far from Delhi and Agra, the power centers of the Mughal Empire.

Therefore, when Jai Singh became the new ruler of Amber, he continued serving as a vassal of the Mughals. Nevertheless, he was a shrewd ruler and managed to gain the favor of Aurangzeb. Soon after his ascension, Jai Singh was ordered by Aurangzeb to serve in his military campaign against the Marathas in the Deccan.

Following his capture of the fort of Vishalgarh from the Marathas, Jai Singh was awarded the title ‘Sawai’, which means ‘one and a quarter’, which signifies that he was a quarter greater than his illustrious ancestor, Jai Singh I. In 1712, the title was officially recognized by an imperial edict, and in commemoration of this recognition, Jai Singh initiated the practice of flying two flags, one full and one quarter-sized. This practice, along with the title ‘Sawai’, was inherited by Jai Singh’s successors.

According to another story, it was Jai Singh’s wit that earned him the title ‘Sawai’. In this tale, Jai Singh was summoned by his overlord for contravening an agreement of not waging war against the Marathas. When the king arrived at Aurangzeb’s court, the emperor clasped his hands in greeting, while demanding an explanation for his actions.

Jai Singh, who was 15 at that time, replied that since Aurangzeb had extended his hand, it meant that the emperor would protect him and his kingdom. Aurangzeb was pleased with the reply and granted Jai Singh the title of ‘Sawai’.

After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire went through a period of political instability, despite having an emperor, Bahadur Shah, on the throne. The intolerant policies of Aurangzeb resulted in various rebellions across the empire, while palace intrigues and political conspiracies were rife in the Mughal court. In 1719, for instance, there were four successive emperors on the Peacock Throne .

That year also saw some sense of stability returning to the empire, when Muhammad Shah became emperor in late September. Compared to the last few Mughal emperors, Muhammad Shah had a long reign, as he ruled the empire until 1748. In the meantime, Jai Singh, being an astute ruler, was able to maintain his political importance in the turbulent years following Aurangzeb’s death.

In addition, when Muhammad Shah came to power, Jai Singh became a favorite of the emperor, just as he had been during the time of Aurangzeb. It was thanks to Jai Singh’s instigation, for instance, that Muhammad Shah abolished the Jaziya tax that was imposed on the empire’s Hindu subjects.

Jai Singh was not only a capable ruler, but also expressed great interest in various areas of science, most notably in astronomy. It was Jai Singh who brought to the attention of Muhammad Shah that there were certain astronomical discrepancies that may have an effect on the timing of both Hindu and Muslim holy events. In addition, the king expressed his desire to rectify these errors.

Muhammad Shah, being a cultured man, and a great patron of the arts, supported Jai Singh’s endeavor. Therefore, having received the emperor’s backing, Jai Singh built his first Jantar Mantar in Delhi in 1724. In 1728, the construction of another observatory began in Jaipur, Jai Singh’s new capital, which he had founded in the previous year.

Instruments of the Jantar Mantar

This Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was built on a plot of land just outside the City Palace and is situated within the walls of the original city. This is the largest of the five observatories that Jai Singh’s built, and is one of the best-known and most visited Jantar Mantar, since it is located in a major tourist destination .

More importantly, the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the most complete and elaborate of Jai Singh’s observatories, as it possesses the greatest number and variety of instruments. Some of the instruments, it may be added, are unique to this observatory. In total, the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur houses 22 astronomical instruments, 16 of which are masonry instruments, while the other six are made of metal.

One of the most impressive astronomical instruments at this observatory is the Samrat Yantra, which is sometimes called the ‘Supreme Instrument’. This is an equinoctial sundial and is little different, in terms of design, from other sundials that were being used in the preceding centuries. Jai Singh’s sundial, however, exceeds these other sundials in its precision, being capable of measuring time to an accuracy of two seconds.

In order to achieve this level of precision, the size of the instrument had to be huge. Therefore, standing at a height of 88 feet (27 meters), the sundial at Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is the largest in the world.

While the sundial is one of the simpler instruments at the Jantar Mantar, Jai Singh also had more complex pieces made for his observatories. One of the most complex of these is the Jai Prakash Yantra (which translates to mean ‘Light of Jai Instrument’). A description of how the instrument works is as follows:

“The Jai Prakash is a bowl shaped instrument, built partly above and partly below ground level, …. The interior surface is divided into segments, and recessed steps between the segments provide access for the observers. A taut cross-wire, suspended at the level of the rim, holds a metal plate with circular opening directly over the center of the bowl. This plate serves as a sighting device for night observations, and casts an easily identifiable shadow on the interior surface of the bowl for solar observation. The surfaces of the Jai Prakash are engraved with markings corresponding to an inverted view of both the azimuth-altitude, or horizon, and equatorial coordinate systems used to describe the position of celestial objects.”

Yet another instrument found in the Jantar Mantar is the Rama Yantra, which consists of “a pair of cylindrical structures, open to the sky, each with a pillar or pole at the center. The pillar/post and walls are of equal height, which is also equal to the radius of the structure. The floor and interior surface of the walls are inscribed with scales indicating angles of altitude and azimuth”.

This astronomical instrument is used to “observe the position of any celestial object by aligning an object in the sky with both the top of the central pillar, and the point on the floor or wall that completes the alignment”. It has been claimed that the Rama Yantra, along with the Jai Prakash and the Samrat Yantra were devised by Jai Singh himself, and that to some extent, their design ought to be attributed to the king’s personal ingenuity.

Decline of the Jantar Mantar

When Jai Singh died in 1743, his kingdom began to enter a period of decline, as his sons fought each other for the throne. At the same time, the Mughal Empire was weakening and was in fact breaking up. As a result, northern India became vulnerable and various powers seized the opportunity to attack the region.

Delhi was especially targeted, due to the riches it contained. For instance, the city was sacked by the Iranian ruler, Nader Shah, when he invaded northern India in 1739. In 1748, after the death of Muhammad Shah, the Marathas overran almost all of northern India. The Jantar Mantar at Delhi fell victim to these invaders.

The natural environment is also responsible for causing much damage to the Jantar Mantar. Due to their outdoor situation in a tropical area, maintenance and restorations had to be frequently carried out on the Jantar Mantar.

As a result of the political turmoil in the region, however, the successors of Jai Singh had more pressing matters to attend to. As a consequence, maintenance of the observatories was neglected and they were simply left to deteriorate.

During the 19th century, even the Jantar Mantar at Jaipur was temporarily abandoned. Fortunately, reconstructions of the instruments were made for this Jantar Mantar, and in the subsequent decades, efforts were made to maintain the site.

Today, this Jantar Mantar functions as a tourist attraction, and is used also as a public park and outdoor museum. Nevertheless, the deterioration of the instruments remains a problem even today. Weathering, the wear and tear of materials, as well as vandalism pose a threat to the site.

In 2010, it was reported that the biggest issue is the loss of the fine, calibrated markings on the instruments, which are eroding. These astronomical instruments demonstrate the ingenuity of Jai Singh and his achievements in the field of astronomy. Therefore, their deterioration needs to be addressed as soon as possible, so as to preserve these remarkable instruments for future generations.

#history #ancient #astronomy #science #india

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cryptoinvestingposts · 3 years

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Bitcoin - A Secure Crypto Investment for the longer term

Set network. Bitcoin provides a quick cheap and secure transaction alternative but few are willing to require the jump for it. therefore, the one-million-dollar question still lingers, is Bitcoin a secure crypto investment?

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The Downside

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The enigma surrounding the Bitcoin system may be a major factor to be considered. Anything can happen and everybody participating within the Bitcoin market is on a high alert. China in December 2013 eliminated the utilization of Bitcoin and this led to a drastic drop to its value from $1240 to $576 in only three weeks. Programmers also condition the functionalities of this global cryptocurrency investment and lots of question the thinking of risking their finances for a few group of geeks. This prevents many from venturing into the system and increases the danger of Bitcoin crypto investment ever highly.

Binary Options - A Secure Crypto Investment for the longer term

The forex market has caught tons of attention in past few years. Maybe because the guarantees seen on the sales pages of forex brokers and vendors seem to point thereto as how of easy money. However, because this market has some peculiarities which traders must be thoroughly reception with, many unprepared traders have seen themselves at the incorrect end of the market.

Crypto Investment vary in degrees and conditions. Some people will only invest with reputable institutions so as to scale back risk. With the utilization of popular online Search Engines, one is in a position to seem around and look for the choices that best fit them. On the flip side; with program Optimization, financial institutions (and other entities that perpetrate as such) can now look for customers who want what those institutions have.

Bitcoin is what some online investors are using since its creation in 2009. thereupon and therefore the introduction of binary options, some investors consider these crypto and cyber currencies as a litmus test of how the "normal" (or legal) markets are doing; while some have yet to approve the whole scene all at once.

Pros and cons of Binary Options

One amenities of binary options are that payouts are higher, fixed and known to you at first you start trading. Another significant benefit is that you simply can earn money no matter the magnitude of the worth changes within the stock, commodity or index you chose.

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The major drawback of high-low binary options is that the reward is usually but the danger. this suggests a trader must be right a high percentage of the time to hide losses. While reimbursement and risk will fluctuate from broker to broker and apparatus to instrument, one thing remnant constant: Losing trades will cost the trader quite she/he can make on winning trades. Other sorts of binary options (not high-low) may provide payouts where the reward is potentially greater than the danger.

Final Verdict

For those investors who are looking to take a position over an extended period of your time, binary options might not be the simplest facility for this. At the guts of binary options, is its ability to supply fast turnarounds to investors. during a number of binary options platforms, there are long run Cryptocurrency investment that are available but other traditional Crypto Investment options which are tailored to long-term results are more suited to satisfy these financial needs.

Also binary options cannot typically be executed before the expiration time while traditional options are often executed any time before the expiration time. Keeping this in mind can help investors understand how the payout is calculated and which timeframe they ought to be monitoring for his or her cryptocurrency investment.

If one were ready to ensure digital security of intangible assets, then Bitcoin would be the cryptocurrency investment for the long run. the worth of this crypto-cryptocurrency investment and lots of love it has been all increasing exponentially. i might believe a portfolio that has both Bitcoin also as Binary Options. this will supplement current stocks, bonds, forex, and precious metals portfolio and be managed by an Information Technology specialist. Trading binary options may be a choice that helps to develop and complement a financial strategy. Trying out this method of investing can cause simple, profitable and fast returns for the worldwide investor.

#crypto investment #cryptocurrency investment

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newstfionline · 4 years

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Saturday, October 24, 2020

Migration has plummeted during the pandemic (Economist) If there is one thing that people remember about the covid-19 pandemic, it is the experience of sheltering in place. Those looking to move abroad have had little choice but to stay put, too. A new report from the OECD, a think-tank, shows that travel restrictions introduced in response to the pandemic caused migration to rich countries to fall by half in the first half of the year, compared with 2019. The sharpest declines occurred in East Asia and Oceania. Rich countries there have succeeded better than most at stopping the spread of covid-19. This is in part because they were quick to recognise the threat and institute strict travel restrictions. Some countries in the region, including Japan, South Korea and New Zealand have just about stopped accepting new immigrants entirely.

Couples doing fine (Washington Post) While lots of the early pandemic and quarantine led to speculation about a spike in divorces that would ensue following couples being crammed into close quarters for extended periods, couples are actually doing pretty okay according to the latest edition of the American Family Survey: 58 percent of married men and women aged 18 to 55 said the pandemic made them appreciate their spouse more; while 8 percent said that the pandemic weakened their commitment to one another, 51 percent said it’d deepened it. The numbers bear it out too: five states report divorce stats in real time, and on balance filings are down for 2020. Year-to-date, divorce filings are down 19 percent in Florida, 13 percent in Rhode Island, 12 percent in Oregon and 9 percent in Missouri. Only Arizona, as of now, is up.

Faulty password security (Foreign Policy) A Dutch “white hat”—or ethical hacker—claims to have logged in to the Twitter account of U.S. President Donald Trump … simply by guessing his password. Victor Gevers, a security researcher, discovered the vulnerability last Friday before alerting U.S. security authorities. Gevers allegedly gained access using the password “maga2020!” but did not succumb to the temptation of tweeting to the president’s 87 million followers. Gevers attributes the lack of account security to Trump’s age. “‘Trump is over 70—elderly people often switch off two-step verification because they find it too complicated. My own mother, for instance.”

IMF concerned over post-COVID social unrest across Latin America (Reuters) The International Monetary Fund is concerned that social unrest will make a comeback in “lots of countries” across Latin America once the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, a top IMF official said on Thursday. Economies across Latin America and the Caribbean are forecast to contract as a group by 8.1% this year, with an uneven 2021 bounce at just 3.6%, and most countries are not seen returning to pre-COVID output levels until 2023, the Fund said earlier on Thursday. “Some of the determinants of social unease are going to worsen and that generates our concern for the region, for lots of countries in the region,” Alejandro Werner, the Fund’s director for the Western Hemisphere, said in an interview with Reuters. “Coming out of the pandemic, we will have a level of economic activity and employment that will be much lower than before, a level of poverty and income distribution that is worse,” he added. Protests that sometimes turned violent rocked countries including Chile, Ecuador and Colombia even before the pandemic hit, fueled by anger over inequality, corruption and government austerity policies.

In hard-hit Peru, worry mounts over both COVID-19 and dengue (AP) PUCALLPA, Peru—Two of Lidia Choque’s close family members had already gotten sick with the new coronavirus when the mosquitos arrived. The 53-year-old woman lives in a wooden house near the airport of a Peruvian city in the Amazon rainforest. City fumigators usually visit several times during the rainy season to eliminate the pests, but this year, because of the pandemic, they were absent. When she went to a hospital after coming down with a fever and body aches, doctors delivered a double diagnosis: COVID-19 and dengue. “I couldn’t even walk,” she said. As Peru grapples with one the world’s worst SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, another virus is starting to raise alarm: dengue. Health officials have reported over 35,000 cases this year, concentrated largely in the Amazon. The rise comes amid an overall dip in the number of new daily coronavirus infections, though authorities worry a second wave could strike as dengue cases rise.

French PM says 2nd virus wave is here, vastly extends curfew (AP) French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday a vast extension of the nightly curfew that is intended to curb the spiraling spread of the coronavirus, saying “the second wave is here.” The curfew imposed in eight regions of France last week, including Paris and its suburbs, is being extended to 38 more regions and Polynesia starting Friday at midnight, Castex said. It is likely to last six weeks before a review, he said. The extension means that 46 million of France’s 67 million people will be under 9 p.m.-6 a.m. curfews that prohibit them from being out and about during those hours except for limited reasons, such as walking a dog, traveling to and from work and catching a train or flight.

Putin: Russia-China military alliance can’t be ruled out (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday there is no need for a Russia-China military alliance now, but noted it could be forged in the future. Putin’s statement signaled deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing amid growing tensions in their relations with the United States. The Russian leader also made a strong call for extending the last remaining arms control pact between Moscow and Washington. Asked during a video conference with international foreign policy experts Thursday whether a military union between Moscow and Beijing was possible, Putin replied that “we don’t need it, but, theoretically, it’s quite possible to imagine it.” Russia and China have hailed their “strategic partnership,” but so far rejected any talk about the possibility of their forming a military alliance. Russia has sought to develop stronger ties with China as its relations with the West sank to post-Cold War lows over Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea, accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other rifts.

China hopes for change if Biden wins, but little likely (AP) Chinese leaders hope Washington will tone down conflicts over trade, technology and security if Joe Biden wins the Nov. 3 presidential election. But any shift is likely to be in style, not substance, as frustration with Beijing increases across the American political spectrum. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and their constituents seem disinclined to adopt a softer approach toward China, possibly presaging more strife ahead, regardless of the election’s outcome. U.S.-Chinese relations have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid an array of conflicts over the coronavirus pandemic, technology, trade, security and spying. Despite discord on so many other fronts, both parties are critical of Beijing’s trade record and stance toward Hong Kong, Taiwan and religious and ethnic minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang, where the ruling Communist Party has detained Muslims in political re-education camps. The American public is equally negative. Two-thirds of people surveyed in March by the Pew Research Center had “unfavorable views” of China, the highest since Pew started asking in 2005.

Myanmar’s second lockdown drives hunger in city slums (Reuters) After the first wave of coronavirus hit Myanmar in March, 36-year-old Ma Suu closed her salad stall and pawned her jewelry and gold to buy food to eat. During the second wave, when the government issued a stay-home order in September for Yangon, Ma Suu shut her stall again and sold her clothes, plates and pots. With nothing left to sell, her husband, an out of work construction laborer, has resorted to hunting for food in the open drains by the slum where they live on the outskirts of Myanmar’s largest city. “People are eating rats and snakes,” Ma Suu said through tears. “Without an income, they need to eat like that to feed their children.”

Bloated public salaries at heart of Iraq’s economic woes (AP) BAGHDAD—Long-time Iraqi civil servant Qusay Abdul-Amma panicked when his monthly salary was delayed. Days of waiting turned to weeks. He defaulted on rent and other bills. A graphic designer for the Health Ministry, he uses about half his salary to pay his rent of nearly 450,000 Iraqi dinars a month, roughly $400. If he fails to pay twice in a row his landlord will evict him and his family, he fears. Iraq’s government is struggling to pay the salaries of the ever-swelling ranks of public sector employees amid an unprecedented liquidity crisis caused by low oil prices. September’s salaries were delayed for weeks, and October’s still haven’t been paid as the government tries to borrow once again from Iraq’s currency reserves. The crisis has fueled fears of instability ahead of mass demonstrations this week. The political elite have used the patronage system to entrench their power. A major part of that patronage is handing out state jobs in return for support. The result has been a threefold increase in public workers since 2004. The government pays 400% more in salaries than it did 15 years ago. Around three quarters of the state’s expenditures in 2020 go to paying for the public sector—a massive drain on dwindling finances. “Now the situation is very dangerous,” said Mohammed al-Daraji, a lawmaker on parliament’s Finance Committee.

Israel warms to Sudan (Foreign Policy) An Israeli government delegation visited Sudan on Thursday, in the latest sign of warming ties between the two countries. Israeli officials reportedly met with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s head of state during its transitional government. Reuters reported on Thursday that Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is ready to normalize relations with Israel as long as the country’s parliament approves the move. That approval may be some time in coming, as Sudan has yet to form a transitional parliament.

Gunfire and barricades in Guinea as President heads for third term (Reuters) Gunfire rang out across Guinea’s capital Conakry on Friday and security forces dispersed protestors after results showed President Alpha Conde winning re-election in a poll that the opposition says was unconstitutional. Conde won around twice as many votes as his nearest rival, opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo, with 37 of 38 districts counted, preliminary results from the election commission showed on Thursday night. The president’s decision to run for a third term has sparked repeated protests over the past year, resulting in dozens of deaths, including at least 17 in skirmishes since Sunday’s vote. Conde says a constitutional referendum in March reset his two-term limit, but his opponents say he is breaking the law by holding onto power. Diallo’s camp said it has found evidence of fraud and will contest the result in the constitutional court.

Resentment, smoke linger in Nigeria’s streets after unrest (AP) Resentment lingered with the smell of charred tires Friday in Nigeria’s relatively calm streets after days of protests over police abuses, as authorities barely acknowledged reports of the military killing at least 12 peaceful demonstrators earlier this week. President Muhammadu Buhari in his first comments on the unrest didn’t mention the shootings that sparked international outrage, instead warning protesters against being used by “subversive elements” and “undermining national security and law and order” during a national address Thursday night. Soldiers remained in parts of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, on Friday. A 24-hour curfew had not yet been lifted. The protests turned violent Wednesday after the shooting as mobs vandalized and burned police stations, courthouses, TV stations and a hotel. Police battled angry crowds with tear gas and gunfire. The looting, gunfire, and street blockades continued Thursday.

#headlines #news

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theliberaltony · 4 years

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via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

When protests kicked off throughout the nation a week and a half ago, commentators turned to history to make sense of events. One year dominated the conversation: 1968. Racial tensions, clashes between police and protesters, a general sense of chaos — 1968 and 2020 seemed to have a lot in common. Observers wrote about how Trump’s use of “law and order” rhetoric echoed Richard Nixon and George Wallace in 1968. The comparison makes broader sense, too: 1968 was a destabilizing year in American politics, marked by Civil Rights protests, uprisings born out of racist oppression, assassinations, violence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago (classified later as a “police riot”) and protests against the Vietnam War. Racial tensions and inequality were at the center of the instability that year, with the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. sparking uprisings in cities across the country.

But 1968 isn’t the only chapter in American history that’s relevant to the current crisis. America has a long history of racial injustice, which makes it difficult to isolate any one precedent for the current environment. History has a way of building on itself; the injustices of one generation are passed on to the next, even as incremental progress is made. This is why I want to share with you three other episodes that also help contextualize the moment we’re in now. They, like 1968 and the broader Civil Rights movement, highlight the depths of violence and injustice that black Americans have faced, and explain why everyday political processes have failed to bring about lasting systemic change.

1990s: National attention on police brutality spurs action … sort of

The early 1990s saw two connected developments that still shape the dynamics of policing in the U.S. First, in 1991, before there were cell phones everywhere, a witness in Los Angeles caught police officers beating Rodney King on a hand-held camcorder, and the video caught the nation’s attention. The four officers charged in the incident were acquitted, which sparked further national outrage, and some Los Angeles residents took to the streets, turning to violence and destruction of property. In total, the demonstrations lasted for five days.

The Rodney King episode is different in important ways from the protests happening now over George Floyd’s death, but there are still some similarities. Namely, it was a high-profile incident of police brutality that underscored just how differently police treat black Americans from white Americans. Additionally, a bystander’s video recording of the officers beating King brought the incident to national audiences, heightening a broad sense of injustice when the verdict was announced.

The fallout after the King verdict is worth considering in this moment. For one, some research shows that the event triggered lower public trust in the police in Los Angeles, especially among African Americans.

The role of the federal government is instructive here as well. In 1992, California Gov. Pete Wilson requested military assistance under the Insurrection Act of 1807, which Trump has suggested he might also invoke now. But LA’s ordeal also prompted federal change — Congress passed legislation allowing the Department of Justice to order reforms of police departments found to have engaged in misconduct. That ability has allowed the federal government to investigate police departments and root out poor practices. This oversight, however, has not been enough to prevent police killings, as we saw again with Floyd.

This provision was also part of a larger piece of anti-crime legislation — the now somewhat-infamous 1994 crime bill that helped create the mass incarceration crisis and forced recent Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden to confront their past stances on crime. The crime bill arguably helped to create some of the challenges today’s protesters are responding to. As sociologist Philip McHarris explained in The Washington Post, the bill “flooded black communities with police, helped states to build prisons and established harsher sentencing policies.” These policies not only helped to create the conditions for further police violence, but by expanding policing and incarceration in the U.S., they also helped to diminish the political power of many black communities through disenfranchisement and disengagement.

The point is that while focusing national attention on police brutality brought about needed change in some respects, reforms fall short when the system charged with implementing that change has racist origins.

Reconstruction: The federal government fails to protect black lives

After the American Civil War ended slavery in 1865, there was no road map for what Southern society would look like, but white Americans quickly adoped two major changes that harmed formerly enslaved people. First, Southern states passed laws restricting black citizens’ freedoms and essentially preserving the abuses of slavery. Second, violence against freed people living in those areas changed form but very much continued, and included the destruction of homes and churches, and sexual violence.

Particularly relevant to the current moment: Then-President Andrew Johnson allowed all this to happen. He failed to extend federal protection to the victims of the violence that Southern whites were engaging in, and, through his liberal use of pardons and lax loyalty requirements, he even allowed former Confederate leaders to find important roles in new state governments. These individuals, once in power, enacted oppressive measures. As historian Annette Gordon-Reed describes in her biography of Johnson, simple things like hunting and fishing became criminal activities for many black Americans, meaning they were increasingly dependent on their employers for their livelihoods.

Johnson’s decision to allow both state and non-state violence against southern blacks deeply shaped American racial politics. The laws states adopted in this period ultimately created the status quo that the civils rights movement of the 1960s pushed back against.

But this historical period is also a pivotal one in understanding race relations in America today as it highlights the lasting repercussions of morally bankrupts presidential judgment. As my colleague Perry Bacon and I wrote a few days ago, the events of the last few days — and years — suggest that Trump is not interested in using federal power to help those protesting racial injustice, and is, at best, indifferent to those goals. Experts have compared Johnson to Trump for years. History shows us that when federal leaders ignore racial injustice and violence — and certainly when they embody and enshrine it — that injustice and violence continues unabated, even if its form changes.

Early 1900s: Black Americans organized and met opposition at every turn

The power structure created after the Civil War led to a lynching crisis in the South (and elsewhere in the U.S.). Thousands of lives were lost in this brutal and inhumane system of vigilante justice — journalist Ida B. Wells, for instance, wrote extensively to document the violence of lynching and to spread awareness nationwide about what was happening.

But it is also in this dark chapter of American history that black American activists entered a new phase in organizing against systemic racism, using a variety of approaches. As political scientist Megan Ming Francis has written, this period gave birth to civil rights organizations like the NAACP, which pushed to change policy through Congress, the White House and the courts.

Those efforts made a real difference. Francis emphasizes the way in which black Americans organized and achieved these changes despite their exclusion from much of the political process and lack of traditional political power. These groups increased public awareness, improved legal standards and persuaded presidents to publicly denounce lynching.

The struggles of this movement, however, also illustrate how slow and frustrating it can be to work through official government channels. For instance, at the urging of these early civil rights activists, the House of Representatives passed an anti-lynching bill. But the bill died in the Senate after a filibuster, and no federal anti-lynching law was ever passed. (The latest anti-lynching bill was held up in the Senate as recently as June 4, 2020.) The American political system makes change difficult. In both Congress and the White House, Southern votes exerted a great deal of influence, and the opponents of an anti-lynching bill had both political power and the power of the status quo.

Every moment in history is distinct, and there are no perfect parallels for what’s happening in 2020. However, looking at other points in both the distant and recent past helps us see how deeply racial injustice is ingrained in the American system. The 1968 comparison can be helpful, but it also tempts us to frame the situation in terms of tranquility and unrest. But “tranquility” has been defined by those in power — almost always whites. Looking at other events helps answer some deeper questions about why people have taken to the streets to demand change and why protesters may be able to accomplish more faster by disrupting “normal” life. Because the system itself is part of the problem, politics, again and again, has set up the rules to make it difficult to pursue accountability and justice within the system.

#IFTTT #Politics – FiveThirtyEight #politics #538 #Julia Azari

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dan6085 · 1 year

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Here is a brief timeline of the history of Cambodia:

Prehistory:

- Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have lived in what is now Cambodia for at least 6,000 years, with early civilizations including the Funan and Chenla kingdoms.

9th-13th century:

- The Khmer Empire was established in the 9th century, with its capital at Angkor. The empire was known for its impressive architecture and engineering, including the construction of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes.

- The Khmer Empire reached its peak in the 12th century, with King Jayavarman VII expanding the empire's territory and overseeing the construction of many new temples and public works.

The Khmer Empire was a powerful state that existed in Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th century. The empire was centered in what is now Cambodia and extended into parts of present-day Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Khmer Empire was known for its impressive architecture, engineering, art, and culture.

- The Khmer Empire was founded in 802 CE by King Jayavarman II, who established his capital at Roluos, near present-day Siem Reap in Cambodia.

- The Khmer Empire reached its peak in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II, who oversaw the construction of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

- Angkor Wat, along with other temple complexes such as Bayon and Ta Prohm, were built using advanced engineering techniques and were adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. These temples are now popular tourist attractions and are considered some of the greatest architectural achievements in human history.

- The Khmer Empire was a Hindu-Buddhist state, with the rulers and elite class adhering to Hinduism and Buddhism being the dominant religion among the common people.

- The Khmer Empire was known for its irrigation systems, which allowed for the cultivation of rice and other crops in large quantities. This contributed greatly to the empire's prosperity and allowed for the growth of its urban centers.

- The Khmer Empire declined in the 13th and 14th centuries due to a combination of factors, including climate change, environmental degradation, and political instability.

- The empire was eventually conquered by the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya in the 15th century, marking the end of the Khmer Empire as a major power in Southeast Asia.

The legacy of the Khmer Empire can still be seen in modern-day Cambodia, from the country's distinctive architecture and art to its cultural traditions and religious practices. The empire's accomplishments continue to inspire admiration and awe, and its ruins and monuments are recognized as important cultural and historical sites by both Cambodians and people around the world.

15th-19th century:

- The Khmer Empire declined in the 15th century, with the capital city of Angkor being abandoned. Cambodia became a vassal state of neighboring kingdoms, including Siam (now Thailand) and Vietnam.

- In the 19th century, Cambodia became a protectorate of France, which exerted significant influence over the country's politics and economy.

20th century:

- Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953, with Prince Norodom Sihanouk becoming the country's first independent ruler.

- Sihanouk was overthrown in a coup in 1970, and Cambodia became embroiled in the Vietnam War and the larger Cold War conflict.

- In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot, seized power in Cambodia and began a brutal regime that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

- The Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown in 1979, and Cambodia was placed under Vietnamese occupation. A civil war continued in the country throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

- In 1991, a peace agreement was signed between Cambodia's warring factions, leading to the establishment of a new government and the beginning of a period of reconstruction and development.

21st century:

- Cambodia has experienced significant economic growth in the 21st century, with tourism, garment manufacturing, and agriculture among its key industries.

- The country has also faced criticism for its human rights record, including restrictions on political freedoms and the suppression of opposition voices.

- In 2020, Cambodia faced significant economic and social challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country experiencing a sharp decline in tourism and other key sectors.

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