#Human rights violations Eastern Europe

[emancip8projectonline]

Dealing with the Past: Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in Eastern Europe

by Emancip8 Project

Addressing the legacies of conflict and human rights violations remain a significant challenge for many Eastern European countries. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) have been established in various global contexts to facilitate healing and promote justice, offering a valuable model for conflict-affected nations. This article will examine the potential role of TRCs in Eastern Europe, highlighting the importance of addressing the past to foster sustainable peace, and the challenges and opportunities associated with this process.

TRCs operate under the premise that revealing the truth about past human rights abuses is essential for reconciliation and social repair (Hayner, 2011). These commissions often conduct public hearings, collect testimonies, and produce comprehensive reports that document historical injustices. They may also recommend reparations, institutional reforms, and other measures to prevent the recurrence of violence (Bloomfield et al., 2003).

Eastern Europe has a complex history of armed conflicts, ethnic tensions, and human rights violations. The establishment of TRCs in the region could provide a crucial platform for addressing these issues, facilitating dialogue, and promoting understanding between divided communities (Minow, 1998). For example, the TRC in South Africa has been widely regarded as a successful model, contributing to a peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy (Gibson, 2004).

However, the implementation of TRCs in Eastern Europe is not without challenges. Establishing a TRC requires political will and commitment from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and affected communities (Lederach, 1997). The process must be sensitive to local cultural and historical contexts and should prioritize the needs and expectations of victims and survivors (Laplante & Theidon, 2007).

The role of international actors and the broader international community in supporting TRCs in Eastern Europe is also crucial. External assistance can provide necessary resources, technical expertise, and political support, but must be balanced with local ownership and agency (Brahm, 2007). Collaboration between local and international stakeholders can enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of TRCs, ensuring that they are tailored to the specific needs and contexts of Eastern European countries.

In conclusion, TRCs hold significant potential as a tool for addressing the past, promoting reconciliation, and fostering sustainable peace in Eastern Europe. While challenges remain, the successful implementation of TRCs in the region will depend on strong local ownership, international support, and a commitment to truth, justice, and healing.

References:

Bloomfield, D., Barnes, T., & Huyse, L. (Eds.). (2003). Reconciliation after violent conflict: A handbook. Stockholm: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Brahm, E. (2007). Uncovering the truth: Examining truth commission success and impact. International Studies Perspectives, 8(1), 16–35.

Gibson, J. L. (2004). Overcoming apartheid: Can truth reconcile a divided nation? The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 601(1), 201–215.

Hayner, P. B. (2011). Unspeakable truths: Transitional justice and the challenge of truth commissions. Routledge.

Laplante, L. J., & Theidon, K. S. (2007). Truth with Consequences: Justice and reparations in post-truth commission Peru. Human Rights Quarterly, 29(1), 228–250.

Lederach, J. P. (1997). Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies. Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace Press.

Minow, M. (1998). Between vengeance and forgiveness: Facing history after genocide and mass violence.

Read more at Emancip8 Project.

[reportwire]

Why the US is accusing Russia of crimes against humanity and what that means | CNN Politics

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. CNN  —  A year into Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the US has seen enough. “In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: These are crimes against humanity,” Vice President Kamala…

[breaknewsnow]

Russian Missile Strike: 30 Dead in Apartment Building Attack - Breaking News

[shamebats]

In October 2022, Slovenia’s parliament passed an amendment making it the very first eastern European country to equalise marriage and adoption laws for same-sex couples.

The historic moment followed a decision by the country’s top court in July, which found that banning same-sex marriage and adoption violated the country’s constitution, which prohibits discrimination.

After reaching its decision on 16 July, the court ordered the Slovenian parliament to bring legislation in line within six months, although the ruling took effect immediately.

Opponents of the legislation were given 15 days to contest the decision, which they did.

However, Slovenia’s Constitutional Court upheld the National Assembly’s decision to declare the referendum inadmissible on 11 January and the law was once more signed into the Official Gazette on 16 January, taking full effect on 31 January.

Article 3 of the Family Code now reads:

Marriage is the union of two people for life, whose conclusion, legal consequences and termination are governed by this Code.

Reacting to the news, the country’s president Nataša Pirc Musar said: “Human rights are neither left nor right. They are universal and we all have them.

Above all, they are never taken for granted, you have to fight for them every day."

It's official now! 🌈🎉

[totallynotcensorship]

i posted this once here and my personal but seeing the comments it seems it needs repeating

1- THERE IS NOTHING ANTI-SEMTIC ABOUT BEING ANTI-ZIONISTS

it isn't antisemitic to call actual monsters out on their human rights violations. by that logic criticizing the nazis would be racist towards Germans. you see how ridicules that is?

the target here is Zionism, not jewdism

2- zionism(and by extention israel) doesn't represent jewdism

Zionism is a nationalistic movement originating in eastern and central Europe that emerged in the latter part of the 19th century with the goal of founding a Jewish national state in Palestine

the ideology, goals, and actions of Zionists stand in stark contradiction to Jewish law.

the formation of a "jews state" is strictly forbidden according jewish law, as attested in talmud and midrash literature. and as attested by rabbis across time. according to which the return of the children of israel only happens by the hands of the messiah, not by forming an ethno-state

the actions of the state of israel ever sense it's foundation, from forcible evacuation of Palestinians, to continues murder and bloodshed are strictly outlawed by god's covenant as outlined in the books of the torah

3- most jews are NOT zionists. most zionists are NOT jewish

as outlined above: the laws of jewdism strictly forbids the idiology and actions. anyone not blinded by propaganda or bigotry can see this manifest it's self through the actions of groups like "jewish voices for piece", the public stands and talks by figures like Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, RABBI DOVID FELDMAN, and others. as well as the countless jew around the world who have been for decades and to this day protesting against the illegal colonist occupation by israel, and protesting for the return of the land of palestine to Palestinians.

israel is, and has been for decades, using antisemtism as a shield for criticism, while not caring for jewdism, it's practitioners, nor it's laws

Israel is a white settler colony, a continuation of the expansionist greed that led to the genocide, oppression, and land theft against the indigenous peoples of the Americas(be it america, canada, or the south American counties), of Australia, of new Zealand, of congo, of iraq, of afganistan, and of every single country, land, and people who suffered through europian colonialism

[mariacallous]

On Aug. 23, 1989—the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which established spheres of Soviet and German influence across Eastern Europe—approximately 2 million people across the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed a human chain stretching more than 400 miles in a sign of resistance to the Soviet Union’s occupation of their countries. Known as “The Baltic Way,” this extraordinary feat of organization was conducted under conditions of limited media freedom, without modern forms of digital information sharing, and in defiance of a brutal dictatorship that, although weakening, still had enough power to severely punish dissent.

Moscow’s response was an initial barrage of verbal and media hysterics, but, critically, it didn’t enact physical reprisals. Instead the pressure this protest exerted on Moscow led to the Soviet Congress admitting to the existence of the pact—after decades of denying it—and its role in violating “the sovereignty and independence” of the Baltic states. Although it would be another two years before these countries regained their independence, the Baltic Way was an influential public exertion of these states’ right to sovereignty.

The worldview driving the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact—that great powers have “spheres of influence” that afford them legitimate domination of a geographic region—remains present in Russia, and in Putin’s nationalist-imperialism, today. Since regaining their independence, the Baltic states have been striving to insulate themselves from the tragedy of their geographies, with borders bound to a country that can only ever be seen as a threat. Whatever ideas the various regimes of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, or Putin’s Russia have claimed to hold have all been merely façades for a culture of neighborhood subjugation.

Alongside their accession to NATO in 2004, collectively joining the European Union the same year has also been critical to the Baltics preserving their independence. NATO has provided the confidence of security, while the EU has provided the institutional arrangements that have allowed these countries to transform this security into opportunity. The combined GDP of the three states is now nearly four times larger than it was two decades ago, and all three are now deemed high-income countries.

Throughout this short period, the Baltics have arguably become the states that now best embody the broad ideals of the European Union. They have firm commitments to liberal democratic values, and a keen understanding of rules and institutions as the counterforce to authoritarianism. They are the countries that see Russia’s current aggression with the clearest eyes.

Yet ideals are often too intangible to protect against belligerent forces. Collective security relies on the practical, everyday aspects of integration. Values require being reinforced by interests—by the flow of goods, services, people, and culture. Central to those interests is Europe’s extensive network of train lines. The train has always been a potent symbol of European integration, its lines the veins of the continent, and crisscrossing the Schengen Area a demonstration of individual freedom, cosmopolitanism, and cooperative spirit.

Yet for the Baltics, there’s a problem.

On a recent morning, I left the Estonian capital of Tallinn with a final destination of the Latvian capital of Riga and found myself marooned in the Estonian town of Valga. There are currently no trains that run directly between the two Baltic capitals, a distance of approximately four hours by car. In order to get to Riga, you must first get the train to Valga and wait. Valga sits on the border with Latvia; the twin town of Valka lies on the Latvian side. Valka has no train station of its own, so it uses the Valga station.

When both countries were occupied by the Soviet Union, this wasn’t a problem, because trains could run straight through between the two capitals under the oversight of Soviet Railways. But upon gaining independence, both Estonia and Latvia needed to create new railway authorities and, contrary to the spirit of the Baltic Way, they decided not to coordinate train schedules. Even when both countries ascended to the free movement Schengen Area in 2007 this coordination was somehow not considered necessary.

Close to four hours after the train from Tallinn terminates at Valga, a train from Riga arrives at its final stop of Valka and prepares itself for the return journey. While Estonia dispensed with the last of its Soviet-era trains in 2015 and now runs slick Swiss-made electric rolling stock, Latvia hasn’t fully gotten there yet, with the route from Valka to Riga continuing to run old diesel-powered locomotives built in Ukraine’s Donbas region from the 1960s until the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Although traveling between Tallinn and Riga may be inefficient—and as a result I appeared to be the only passenger that day dumb enough to make the trip—since December last year train travel between Riga and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius is far easier, with one train daily in each direction. However, to connect into the European train network from Vilnius presents a far larger problem than just the coordination between railway authorities.

Trains within the rest of Europe run on standard-gauge tracks, but trains within the Baltic states run on broad gauge. Broad-gauge is otherwise known as Russian-gauge—presenting the Baltics with both a practical problem, and a symbolic one. To continue on into Poland and the wider European train network requires changing trains near the border. This is another inconvenience for passengers—although there is much better scheduling of trains than at the Estonia-Latvia border.

However, until recently, this was an even bigger problem for freight, with a time-consuming break-of-gauge facility causing long delays and congestion on the rail network. This problem has now been solved with the laying of a new standard gauge track from the Polish border to the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, creating a freight hub for goods from the Baltic region heading to and from the rest of Europe.

This new stretch of track serves as the first stage of the ambitious Rail Baltica project: a new high-speed rail line connecting the region’s major hubs to Warsaw and allowing for Baltic integration with each other and the wider European continent. Due for completion in 2030, the line will bring the Baltics into the trans-European rail network, extending the west-east corridor from Antwerp to Tallinn. By the mid-2040s, it is projected to annually handle around 52 million passenger trips and 11 million tons of cargo.

It is within these volumes the Baltic region’s interests will catch up to its values. During the occupations by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, the region’s rail networks were planned primarily to transport goods for Russia to and from the Baltic Sea ports of Tallinn, Riga, and Klaipeda. Serving Russia’s interests was built into the transport design. Rail Baltica’s objective is to reorient the region’s transport circulation—turning its back on Russia and moving towards Europe, at 155 miles per hour.

The ability to make such a reorientation has only been possible due to the security guarantees of NATO. The exclave of Kaliningrad is Russia’s only ice-free Baltic Sea port, meaning that the pressure from Moscow to once again make these other Baltic Sea ports vassals of Russia’s interests would be intense without the security to resist. Russia will undoubtedly see Rail Baltica as a strategic threat.

Yet as construction continues on the project, the specter of another grand bargain between autocratic figures now hangs over the Baltic states. The return of Donald Trump to the White House, with his hostility towards NATO and his promise of accommodation of Russia in Ukraine, means that once again smaller states may have their safety and independence crushed by the notion of larger countries’ “spheres of influence.”

Such a scenario would undoubtedly rekindle the spirit of resistance from 1989. However, the hope should be that the Baltic Way can instead remain free to demonstrate its values through the air-conditioned comfort of a scenic train ride.

[fluorescentbrains]

might regret engaging with this topic but I find the question “are jewish people indigenous to the land of israel?” to be at best irrelevant to the current geopolitical situation and at worst antisemitic for real, and it’s very frustrating to see people fall into its hole again and again. being indigenous doesn’t make it okay to bomb hospitals. there is a lot to say about the diverse ethnic groups living in israel and how they each came to live there, but it wouldn’t change the reality of human rights violations one way or another.

so when I see people spend their time and energy trying to argue that jews—or at least, some kinds of jews—actually have no ancestral connection to israel, I find that suspect. what does your position gain by asserting that jews are secretly white people in funny hats? well, I guess it makes the argument that israel is a colonial project more straightforward. but if you need jewish people to be alien invaders to strengthen your support for palestinian liberation, I question what is actually pulling on your moral compass. yes, the connection between the people and the land is something that is important and honored in many indigenous peoples movements. but I think there is a tendency for those with a more superficial understanding of the concept (and a certain cultural predilection) to revert to a blood-and-soil impulse that holds the nomadic and diasporic in contempt. violence is more justified if it’s against aliens. violence is more contemptible when perpetrated by aliens. it’s an impulse that, no exaggeration, has been one of the primary killers of jews for hundreds of years.

wherever you believe the jews “really” came from, the people of that place probably disagree with you. my jewish ancestors came to states to escape persecution in eastern europe.* they were considered aliens there, despite their long history in the region. and in gentile imaginations jews are frequently not only aliens but some sort of deceitful, nefarious changelings who merely pretend to belong—who must be rooted out and expelled for the health of the nation.

so, do you see why leaning on “the jews don’t belong there” as a pillar of your understanding props up an antisemitic ideology? do you at least see why many people are going to judge you to be antisemitic no matter how strenuously you insist you do not personally have any problem with jews living in your country? this is not an argument that will lead you anywhere productive. at best you will waste your time on pseudoscientific inquiries into the genetic history of the jewish people. at worst you will find yourself platforming actual nazis.

[thoughtlessarse]

The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has expressed concern over Poland’s response to the migration crisis on its border with Belarus. He warns that the practice of sending border crossers back to Belarus, including some who have sought to claim asylum, may violate international law. O’Flaherty also criticised the introduction of an exclusion zone on the Polish side of the border as well as plans to soften rules on the use of firearms by officers. In a response to the commissioner’s remarks, a Polish deputy minister has assured him that Poland respects its legal and humanitarian responsibilities but also noted that the situation at the border is one “that neither international law nor Polish law could have predicted”. In a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk sent last week, O’Flaherty said that evidence shows that 7,317 people were “summarily returned to Belarus” between December 2023 – when Tusk’s government came to power – and June this year. In some cases, this concerned people who had claimed asylum in Poland. The commissioner noted that this continues a practice begun in 2021 under the former government in response to a migration crisis that has seen Belarus encourage and assist tens of thousands of people – mainly from the Middle East, Asia and Africa – to try to cross into Poland.

continue reading

O'Flaherty is going to be surprised when he learns about the rest of the EU's eastern and southern borders and what happens there.

[romanationmovement]

Roma and Jews share unconditional connections rooted in their historical experiences of marginalization, persecution, and cultural resilience.

Here are some key reasons for their interconnected histories and solidarities:

1. Shared History of Persecution:

Both Roma and Jews have faced centuries of discrimination, oppression, and violence across Europe. During the Holocaust, the Nazis targeted both groups for extermination, resulting in the genocide of six million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Roma.

2. Cultural Marginalisation:

Both communities have historically been marginalised and excluded from mainstream society. They have been stereotyped, ostracized, and forced into segregated living conditions, which has fostered a sense of shared struggle.

3. Survival and Resilience:

Despite the systemic efforts to annihilate their identities, both Roma and Jews have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Their cultural traditions, languages, and identities have survived through continuous adaptation and strong community bonds.

4. Diaspora and Statelessness:

Both groups have experienced statelessness and widespread diasporas. Jews were historically without a homeland until the establishment of Israel, while the Roma have never had a recognized national homeland, contributing to their continuous movement and dispersion across borders.

5. Solidarity Movements:

In contemporary times, both communities have often stood in solidarity with one another in the fight against racism, xenophobia, and human rights violations. Shared experiences have led to mutual support in various social justice movements.

6. Cultural Interactions:

Throughout history, Roma and Jews have interacted and influenced each other's cultures in areas where their communities coexisted, particularly in Eastern Europe. This has included exchanges in music, art, and traditions.

7. Identity and Memory:

Both groups place a strong emphasis on preserving their historical memories and cultural identities. They work to educate others about their histories, particularly the atrocities they faced, to ensure such events are neither forgotten nor repeated.

The unconditional connections between Roma and Jews stem from a profound understanding of each other's historical suffering and an enduring commitment to cultural preservation and mutual support in the face of ongoing challenges.

[disorder-rat]

It's going to be a long text, but bear with me. It's important.

As you know, there's a whole lot of people out there, refusing to acknowledge the human rights of people - as if, disabled people, queers, trans folk or even entire ethnic groups are somehow inferior or don't deserve the rights as much, as others - more privileged ones - like myself.

I'm white. I'm living in Poland, I've never experienced racism, I've never been discriminated against. Granted, I'm Eastern European, so Scandinavian folk and Westerners tend to be assholes because of that. But I am privileged and I acknowledge that.

I'm not going to talk about obvious fascists and supremacists here. You all know the drill already. I'd like to share with you my concerns about "enlightened centrism", liberalism and appeasement.

I'll start by stating the obvious, yet rather controversial take. Those prone to ignoring the human rights of others are also in danger of losing their own. That's why I'm not really in favour of trusting liberals on that particular issue.

Yet, we have to deal with them. From my experience, there's a lot of my fellow Poles having no real issue with genocide at our border with Belarus. Yes, I've called it a genocide - because it is one. If you didn't know - and you probably didn't, because the whole matter is obfuscated by media and the polish government - there's a crisis at our border. For two years, refugees from middle east travel through Belarus and are encouraged by it's Machiavellian totalitarian regime to "storm" Polish border. They are desperate for a better life in Poland and Europe in general and because of that, they are being used as a political tool to drive Poland into crisis. Despite the European laws clearly stating, that every person crossing the border is ought to be detained and put into "transfer shelter" under the protection of the state, obliged to provide food a bed and the bare minimum to survive - until the decision whether they are allowed to stay or not is made, and if it's made in favour of transferring the refugee back to the border safely - Polish government and border troops don't give a flying fuck and actively murder the refugees by transferring them to the marshes, woods and borderline shooting them or driving them back. No matter the cold, heat or rain.

Not so long ago, a viral meme went out into the wilderness of the internet.

It portrayed the (Syrian?) refugee, hanging head-down from the giant fuck-off fence. The imagine caused a general enthusiastic uproar from the Polish right, which found the photo funny, calling the poor fellow "A bat".

The genocide is generally kept silent and any kind of support, any attempt and journalism set to expose it is being silenced by force. Even I myself might be at risk of being detained and possibly arrested - although I doubt it and I don't care. I'm relatively safe. That being said, I took part in reaching out and helping the refugees directly.

The issue is generally ignored and the violation of human rights of people crossing the border is met with 76% public approval of people in Poland, according to GUS studies. This is fucking terrifying. 76% of people applicable to the study is okay with murdering the poor, innocent people at our border because - obviously, the economy will suffer. Because providing aid to a fellow human being is obviously going to result in degradation of one's comfort. Because we can ignore the human rights of these "dirty brown masses" bringing foreign culture and religion to our fantastic country.

This. This makes me s o f u c k i n g s i c k.

To whoever agrees with treating people like that - you deserve that to happen to you. And it will probably happen. The power-mongers in charge will gradually move on. All you liberal centrists saying it's alright, because it doesn't involve you - it does. And it will bite you in the ass sooner or later.

I don't understand how you can be so selfish, egoistic and heartless to say "yes" to treating fellow humans like garbage, just because they don't look or think like you.

If you are looking for someone ruining this country, this world - just fucking look in the mirror, you economic liberal, you conservative, you nationalist, you fascist cunt.

You are all complicit and you are all garbage human beings and deserve to suffer the consequences. But you obviously won't, because justice doesn't exist. The world is not fair and liberty is a myth.

And to whomever reads this and agrees, please, do your best to keep watch for human rights. Watch out for your fellow humans, especially the most vulnerable ones. All we have is each other and if we are not to look after each and every one of us - why even engage in society?

Compassion is key. It's what the world needs in these troubling times.

To all my comrades, actively trying to make the world better - you are the reason it all makes sense. You are the future and you are on the right side of history.

And even if we fall and fail - there's no shame in that. There's no shame in failing if you tried.

And we must try our best.

Sincerely, an anarchist.

[dwestfieldblog]

ABOULIA

So, God save the King eh? At 100 million pounds, his cosplay bash was well worth the moolah…indeed, my bosom swelled with pride to read that Take That, Lionel Richie and two of the Muppets were there to aid the celebrations. Nothing but the best for GB. A few houses around here still have massive British flags hanging down from 2nd floor windows, one has a long string of pennants attached down to a broken wall. Nice metaphor. Those against the monarchy were arrested outside the coronation whether or not they had padlocks, rape alarms and superglue with which to protest. Peaceful protest in a democracy? Stay at home and rant quietly lest thy neighbours report thee. Had a chat with a woman up the street about Brexit and patriotism…who said; ‘The Scottish are Scots, the Welsh are Welsh, the Irish are Irish but the English are British’.

Imagine this mentality multiplied on similar themes all over the world, and we get the current Russian war, Sudan, racists, Arab wars, Trump fans, Chinese ‘communists’, fundamentalists etc, etc. THIS group, OUR group are the most important, enslave the others and if they disagree with such inhuman bondage, punish until pliant or just kill them. Behold, the Elite have become as Gods. Robert Anton Wilson said that he had always taken the viewpoint that sure there was an elite running the world…and it was him and his friends. A more optimystic viewpoint to have, good humour is better for the immune system than hatred, says Dave, arf arf.

Very glad to see Finland join NATO in April, Turkey and Hungary continue to hum and haa over Sweden assession as the former are moaning about Kurds and the latter because of the suspension of EU funds, cancelled due to its dodgy practices…Orban is not really a big fan of democracy…the Trump of Eastern Europe, still trying to stay mates with Vlad. As is Erdogan. Massive human rights violations under him ensured Turkey won’t be getting into the Good Guys club (arf) of the EU anytime soon. However, they are both in NATO (Turkey has the second largest army) and should know far better than to kow tow to Putin on any level. Let’s hope the May 14th election will up seat Racip Tayyip. Get him out, peacefully but surely.

An American parent complained that a school history trip featuring Michelangelo’s statue of David was ‘pornographic’ and suddenly the principal is sacked. One parent. Of a 12-year-old. A modest, circumcised stone penis and testicles is offensive? Must have been a ‘christian’. The western world 2023; Art is pornography now. And Kali bless the NRA. People should be aggressively tested for intelligence before they are allowed to have children. Especially in America. How do these ‘adults’ function on this planet? What next, Mona Lisa veiled because of the curve of her breast and suggestive smile? The masses are dumb partly because they pander to the minority of the dumber.

Apparently, the international arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Belova (Children’s Rights Commissioner (sic) for Baldhead) are ‘outrageous and unacceptable’. Invasion, murder and mass kidnap deportations of children for reprogramming are not decent legal reasons? Ok. Foully rotten to see the two Ruscist slapheads Prigozhin and mad Vlad dick measuring over ammunition and dead bodies. And today, the glorious May Day Victory parade in Moscow featured one tank. Not quite Beijing or Pyongyang standards. ‘The world is at a turning point’ said Vlad, still ranting about the ‘nazis’ in Ukraine. That would be the nazis who democratically elected a Jewish actor as their president. Seems likely huh? And again with ‘the West wants to destroy Russia’ rhetoric. No they don’t Vlad, just you and your band of criminals. You are not Russia.

Xi Jinping in Moscow, still slyly giving tacit and very complicit support for the War as they don’t much approve of areas seeking to remain independent of big brother. (Witness also, their keen support for the mass murdering Myanmar junta) Winnie the Pooh, leader for life just like Putin. Tik Tok/tick tock you bastards. At least Xi seems to have chosen his successor…Surely Mad Vlad is not loopy enough to think the appallingly insane Medvedev could take over? Lock them all together in a bunker with one pistol.

Meanwhile the West must utterly excrete (I said excrete not execute) Trump and Boris. Might just be possible (please Shiva) but unlikely the East will ever get shot of (I said shot of not shoot) Putin and Pooh. As said before in other formats by my hand, the West might be decadent liars and killers but those in the East make us look like clones of the Dalai Lama. How will the world ever move forward into love, peace and net zero? AI has the solution…remove the need for any humanity whatsoever. Or improve and evolve them. Now there’s an idea, quick, trap it, regulate it, drive it underground to build in supressed power…

Boris Johnson swore to tell the whole truth about Partygate but did he FK? He needs to be swamped with lawsuit after lawsuit just like his brother in harm Trump. The perfect empty reality tv stars of the West with Megan Markle as their Victim Queen. Risible Sunak goes to school giving a lecture about the importance of Maths, failing to appreciate the bitter irony of his mis handling of his previous job and the billions lost due to foul pandemic deals, cronies and Brexit. And his own extended family getting business deals via policy….

Conservatives Thatcher and Major led the country for 18 years and the government was a brown shower of corruption by its end, leading to a landslide victory by Tony Blair which kept the Labour party in power (don’t count Gordon Brown) for 13 years, also ending in scandal and corruption. This current gang of criminals and morons of the Tory party have now been in power for 13 years. And this country has been irrevocably ruined by them. (Opinion based on stats and business reports.) There is no possible way Labour can shore up the finances, employment, and health care system of this country in a term or two unless some type of V for Vendetta type crackdown (but this time for real) is enforced. So we will be treated to the sight of bullshitter Boris et al ridiculing the new Government as they wade through a swamp of sewage which they will inherit. Much the same way as the Republicans did when Obama took over the massive deficit they had created and for which they then blamed him.

The holy DAO…a decentralised autonomous organisation free of governmental control and hierarchies, sounds good? As usual, depends on the character of the humans involved. Hierarchies always develop according to variations on the food chain and even an equally skilled pack (animal or man) working as a team will allow pragmatic nature to select a top dog. The round table still reserved the biggest chair for the king. Use nationalism, religion, fear, a cocktail of all three. Never fails. Never will. Kill for your country, protect your family and uphold the common values. (But Sir, what if the common values are based on wilful ignorance due to obviously selectively released information and encouraged prejudice? Questions a timid voice from the back of the class.)

Politicians are advised of underling psychology and act accordingly.  The constant daily manipulation of the millions who are seemingly unable to think for themselves, apparently prefer the clearly corrupt to control their reactions for them. Stir the mass, wind them up and watch them go, basing reactions on whipped up emotion rather than actual facts. Country after country, group after group. Still blaming the Bignoses (or, if you are Russian, the Bignoses AND the Nazis, not quite yet understanding their own current actions and words are in no way dissimilar to Nazis.) What are all these poor little racist didums going to do when Soros departs for higher planes? The good Christians will have to get louder about Bill Gates or the dodgy android Zuckerberg. Or Elon…

(Musk says Artificial intelligence is a dangerous thing, while buying into it. ‘Civilisation destruction’ a strong possibility he said, while buying into it. After all, who wants to be left behind in the race to destroy humanity and make money? Loved the beautiful press release from Elon’s people that his spaceship Starship (arf) experienced a ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation’. I will call my next mental breakdown that. Unless he has copywritten it already.)

‘If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers’ Thomas Pynchon Gravity’s Rainbow. The West and East will never stop their chosen methods of manipulation, why should they when they work so well? Millions’ noisy addictive focused attention on the dreams of fake lives in fame and glamour and millions more afraid of the totalitarian knock on the door. Almost all avoiding the question of ‘Who are these whorepigs governing us? ‘And ‘Can any among us truly rule fairly when man lacks consistent self-control?’. The instinct to survive turns into greed, More ! is never satisfied, so faster and faster swirling into the void of absolute entropy upon which leaders have tried to enforce control, but have failed (and will continue to do so) because they have spent centuries hollowing the centre.

‘Democracy is indispensable to socialism’. Lenin, hmmm, he also said: ‘It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be rationed’. Easy to say when your boss has all the gulags. ‘A lie told often enough becomes the truth’, and don’t the leaders on all sides just believe that as an immutable fact? Whereas when one repeats a provable fact, it maintains its structural integrity in the face of unbelieving ridicule That said, even E=MC squared is only a pixel in the cosmic landscape. It is the thoughts of ‘God’ which are the sub atomic particles transforming to waves, once observed by the individual which flow through mirrors of ‘neural pathways’ in all dimensions.

This is me sober, just on Alta Rica coffee in the afternoon, listening to The Stargazers Assistant, Mirrors and Tides, Shivers and Voids on headphones. With a crunchy red apple, just before a colossal rain storm. And a day later with Popol Vuh’s  beauty on speakers, trying hard to avoid the crushing aboulia which is now constantly at the door of the heart. Dopamine circuits malfunctioning. When my respect for someone ends, they are Done, never been afraid to cull dead weight and now…it has come round to me. Like best friends, I have given myself many extra undeserved chances but now as Leonard said ‘the evidence accumulates’ and has become overwhelming…Need to do a couple more decent things with a new Will once the overlong and criminal process of inheritance tax is over months from now and then let go.

A lady up my road lost her husband last month to rapid onset dementia; I had met him some weeks before and had a fine thirty-minute conversation on many topics.  He had been a gunner in bombers in the second world war and adored music, but during his last two weeks when his wife brought him tapes to the hospital of Mozart et al, he ordered her ‘Turn that noise off’. I had always thought that however ill I would get in the future, as long as I could hear music, there would be still be joy in life. Never occurred to me how the brain can change its mind so definitively about what was Loved. 

Shivered.

‘I dream of a government that resembles jury service’. Jaz. Damn right. People who want to serve and improve/evolve society. A group only in temporary power for a fixed length of time before being replaced by similar albeit individual minds. Not years of lying greedy scumbags changing laws to suit their needs and handing out contracts to their mates before checking they can actually deliver. The flaws in this idea remain large and revolve around finding humans who are actually steadfast but flexible, rationally intuitive, good hearted without being wishy washy and strong enough to remain incorruptible by vested interests. Hmm, seems verrry likely. So, just allow nuclear war by arseholes or AI to breed humans the right way. A Matrix Terminator future. Or?

Happy springtime rising into summer, stay healthy, be free, realise in glimpses.

[tmctales]

Tides of Tension PT3

Chapter Three: The World in Turmoil

In the midst of the American-Chinese Annexation War, the world was plunged into turmoil. As the conflict raged on, it sent shockwaves across the global stage, affecting nations near and far.

Part One: Economic Fallout

The economic consequences of the war were devastating. Stock markets around the world plummeted as uncertainty gripped investors. Trade routes in the Pacific were disrupted, leading to shortages of essential goods, from electronics to food. Global supply chains fractured, causing economic recession on a scale not seen since the Great Depression.

Countries that depended on exports to the United States and China faced particularly dire circumstances. Nations in Southeast Asia, heavily reliant on manufacturing and trade, saw their economies contract sharply. Unemployment soared, and social unrest followed in its wake.

Part Two: Rising Alliances

As the conflict continued, nations worldwide faced a critical decision: align with one of the superpowers or remain neutral. The lines of allegiance began to form, creating new geopolitical alliances.

In Europe, the European Union, faced with the economic fallout and a disrupted global order, sought unity among its member states. They pledged to support each other and maintain a position of neutrality in the ongoing war.

Russia, keen to exert its influence in the midst of the chaos, forged a strategic alliance with China. The Sino-Russian pact sent shockwaves through the international community, dramatically altering the balance of power.

NATO, on the other hand, rallied its member states in a show of solidarity with the United States. They reinforced their military presence in Eastern Europe as a deterrent against any expansionist ambitions from the Sino-Russian alliance.

Part Three: Humanitarian Crises

As the war dragged on, humanitarian crises unfolded in various parts of the world. Refugees flooded neighboring countries, straining resources and infrastructure. In Southeast Asia, makeshift camps were set up to accommodate those fleeing the conflict in the South China Sea.

Human rights organizations sounded alarms about civilian casualties and violations of international law. Reports of atrocities and war crimes on both sides drew condemnation from around the world.

Inside the United States and China, citizens grappled with the emotional toll of the war. Families were torn apart, and communities were fractured as loved ones served in the military or faced the hardships brought on by the conflict.

Part Four: The Quest for Peace

Despite the devastating toll of the war, the quest for peace continued. Diplomatic efforts persisted, with world leaders working tirelessly to find a resolution. The United Nations remained a focal point for these efforts, with peacekeepers deployed to conflict zones in an attempt to prevent further bloodshed.

Civil society also played a crucial role. Global peace rallies, social media campaigns, and grassroots movements called for an end to the war. Activists from both sides of the conflict came together in a remarkable display of unity, urging their governments to seek a peaceful resolution.

In the darkest hours of the American-Chinese Annexation War, the world yearned for a glimmer of hope, a chance to step back from the brink of catastrophe and chart a path toward reconciliation. But with the stakes higher than ever and the war showing no signs of abating, the road to peace remained a treacherous and uncertain journey.

Written on September 23rd, 2023 3.15pm (United Kingdom Time) TMarsh-Connors©

[lifestyleturkey]

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association

The Appeal and Declaration

The authors of the Appeal wrote and signed a Declaration to be added to the Memorandum of Dissidents from four Eastern European countries. This was done to commemorate the anniversary of the Hungarian uprising and to acknowledge the events in Berlin, Prague, and Poland. The Declaration was signed by Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev.

Formation of the Association

On 16 January 1988, these six individuals founded the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association. The main goal of the Association is to defend human rights and freedoms that have been severely violated by the communist regime in Bulgaria for over forty years. The group aimed to raise awareness about human rights issues and push for reforms.

Historical Context

The events that inspired the Declaration include the Hungarian uprising of 1956, the Prague Spring of 1968, and the rise of Solidarity in Poland in the early 1980s. Each of these events represented a struggle for freedom against oppressive regimes. The authors recognized that their fight for human rights was part of a larger movement across Eastern Europe Private Tours Bulgaria Varna.

Objectives of the Association

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association sought to bring attention to the many human rights violations occurring in Bulgaria. The founders aimed to create a platform where citizens could express their grievances and seek justice. They wanted to provide a voice for those who had suffered under the communist regime and promote the idea that every person has the right to basic freedoms.

Challenges Ahead

The founding members of the Association faced significant risks. The communist government was known for its harsh treatment of dissidents, including surveillance, imprisonment, and other forms of repression. Despite these dangers, the founders were determined to advocate for change and encourage others to join their cause.

Impact on Society

The establishment of the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association marked a significant step in the fight for freedom and human rights in Bulgaria. The group’s efforts inspired many citizens to become more aware of their rights and to stand up against injustices. It was an important moment in the history of Bulgaria, showing that a desire for change was growing among the people.

The actions of Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev created a foundation for human rights advocacy in Bulgaria. By forming the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association, they joined a larger movement across Eastern Europe aimed at challenging oppressive regimes and promoting individual freedoms. Their courage and commitment to human rights continue to inspire future generations in the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

[pubmusiclife]

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association

The Appeal and Declaration

The authors of the Appeal wrote and signed a Declaration to be added to the Memorandum of Dissidents from four Eastern European countries. This was done to commemorate the anniversary of the Hungarian uprising and to acknowledge the events in Berlin, Prague, and Poland. The Declaration was signed by Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev.

Formation of the Association

On 16 January 1988, these six individuals founded the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association. The main goal of the Association is to defend human rights and freedoms that have been severely violated by the communist regime in Bulgaria for over forty years. The group aimed to raise awareness about human rights issues and push for reforms.

Historical Context

The events that inspired the Declaration include the Hungarian uprising of 1956, the Prague Spring of 1968, and the rise of Solidarity in Poland in the early 1980s. Each of these events represented a struggle for freedom against oppressive regimes. The authors recognized that their fight for human rights was part of a larger movement across Eastern Europe Private Tours Bulgaria Varna.

Objectives of the Association

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association sought to bring attention to the many human rights violations occurring in Bulgaria. The founders aimed to create a platform where citizens could express their grievances and seek justice. They wanted to provide a voice for those who had suffered under the communist regime and promote the idea that every person has the right to basic freedoms.

Challenges Ahead

The founding members of the Association faced significant risks. The communist government was known for its harsh treatment of dissidents, including surveillance, imprisonment, and other forms of repression. Despite these dangers, the founders were determined to advocate for change and encourage others to join their cause.

Impact on Society

The establishment of the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association marked a significant step in the fight for freedom and human rights in Bulgaria. The group’s efforts inspired many citizens to become more aware of their rights and to stand up against injustices. It was an important moment in the history of Bulgaria, showing that a desire for change was growing among the people.

The actions of Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev created a foundation for human rights advocacy in Bulgaria. By forming the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association, they joined a larger movement across Eastern Europe aimed at challenging oppressive regimes and promoting individual freedoms. Their courage and commitment to human rights continue to inspire future generations in the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

[mariacallous]

The Russian military carried out at least 36 double-tap strikes against Ukraine from the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 to August 2024, killing over 100 people, according to a recent report by Truth Hounds, a Ukrainian non-profit organization that documents and investigates war crimes. Twenty such attacks were carried out this year alone.

A double-tap attack is an illegal military tactic in which an initial strike is followed by a delayed second strike, usually intended to kill or injure first responders who arrive at the scene and cause panic among the population. Russia has been using this tactic extensively in Ukraine and previously in Syria alongside Bashar al-Assad's government forces.

According to Truth Hounds, their report confirms that Moscow deliberately uses double-tap attacks to hinder humanitarian aid efforts, with Russian propaganda framing the killing of Ukrainian first responders as justified.

Truth Hounds verified 36 cases of Russian double-tap strikes, although the overall number of incidents displaying the characteristics of double-tap attacks exceeds 60.

According to the report titled "Cruelty Cascade: Examining the Pattern of Russian Double-Tap Strikes in Ukraine," Russian forces have dramatically increased the use of this tactic in 2024, with instances this year alone surpassing the verified cases from the previous two years combined.

Over 100 people were killed in the 36 double-tap attacks, verified by Truth Hounds, but it is unclear how many of them died as a result of the secondary strikes, Roman Koval, the organization’s head of research, told the Kyiv Independent.

In July 2024, Andrii Danyk, the head of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, reported that 93 emergency workers had been killed and almost 400 injured since the start of the full-scale invasion, though not all of these casualties had resulted from Russia's double-tap attacks.

Russian double-tap strikes wounded nearly 350 civilians from April 2022 to April 2024, said Timothy Hanway, the acting U.S. envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in an address on April 25. Hanway also highlighted that Russia's usage of this illegal tactic had been increasing.  

Since 2014, Truth Hounds has been documenting and investigating international crimes and severe human rights violations across Ukraine and other conflict zones in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Their latest report delves into the pattern and impact of Russian double-tap strikes in Ukraine, offering a legal assessment of these actions and their implications.

In collaboration with the White Helmets — a humanitarian organization focused on helping communities prepare for, respond to, and rebuild after attacks in Syria — Truth Hounds established “a strong connection” between Russia's use of double-tap attacks in Syria and Ukraine, according to the organization’s press release. In July 2023, the White Helmets reported having lost over 300 volunteers in the Syrian war, with the majority killed in double-tap attacks.

In an earlier comment for the Kyiv Independent, Janine di Giovanni, a human rights reporter and investigator with over 30 years of experience working in war zones, called Russian double-tap attacks "a part of a larger strategy of punishment and control," noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has a pattern of attacking civilians indiscriminately."

Truth Hounds suggested in the report that the rise of Russian double-tap attacks in 2024 could be linked to the appointment of a new commander of the Russian Missile Troops and Artillery, along with a new head of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry. "This fact warrants further investigation to uncover the underlying interdependencies, including potential shifts in operational strategy or tactical priorities under their leadership."

The report also assesses the conditions under which double-tap strikes could be considered war crimes. These attacks violate the provisions of the Rome Statute, which explicitly forbids intentional targeting of civilians, and violate the article protecting medical and humanitarian personnel from attacks.

"Our research has thoroughly demonstrated that even if the first strike targets a legitimate military target, the second strike — typically delayed and aimed at rescuers and wounded personnel — crosses the line of legality, transforming these actions into war crimes," said Yuriy Uhryn, a lawyer at Truth Hounds, in a press release shared by the organization.

Based on the report, Truth Hounds outlined a set of recommendations for the Ukrainian and foreign governments, international organizations, and the International Criminal Court. These include investigating Russian double-tap strikes in both Ukraine and Syria, increasing support for Ukrainian and Syrian first responders, promoting public condemnation of these war crimes, and advocating for stronger sanctions against Russia.

“The current situation highlights a critical pattern: impunity for international crimes tends to facilitate their recurrence, placing civilians in increasingly precarious positions,” Truth Hounds said in a statement. “The absence of effective measures to address such violations undermines international norms and emboldens those who commit these acts.”

Ukrainian authorities recorded almost 140,000 war crimes committed by Russian troops in the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the United for Justice conference in Kyiv on Sept. 11. Slightly over 100 people were found guilty of war crimes as of late March, most of them in absentia, according to Zmina, a Ukrainian human rights organization.

Truth Hounds believes it’s crucial to continue investigating Russian double-tap attacks and prosecuting the perpetrators.

“People who lost their loved ones to such attacks or were directly affected by them demand justice, and even if this demand can be satisfied only partially through sentences in absentia, it is still worth doing,” said Koval.

“Russian suspects in war crimes still travel abroad, and such cases are not isolated. Considering that war crimes do not have a statute of limitations, this also significantly increases the chances of their arrest when they leave Russia sooner or later.”

[hairfashionstyle]

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association

The Appeal and Declaration

The authors of the Appeal wrote and signed a Declaration to be added to the Memorandum of Dissidents from four Eastern European countries. This was done to commemorate the anniversary of the Hungarian uprising and to acknowledge the events in Berlin, Prague, and Poland. The Declaration was signed by Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev.

Formation of the Association

On 16 January 1988, these six individuals founded the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association. The main goal of the Association is to defend human rights and freedoms that have been severely violated by the communist regime in Bulgaria for over forty years. The group aimed to raise awareness about human rights issues and push for reforms.

Historical Context

The events that inspired the Declaration include the Hungarian uprising of 1956, the Prague Spring of 1968, and the rise of Solidarity in Poland in the early 1980s. Each of these events represented a struggle for freedom against oppressive regimes. The authors recognized that their fight for human rights was part of a larger movement across Eastern Europe Private Tours Bulgaria Varna.

Objectives of the Association

The Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association sought to bring attention to the many human rights violations occurring in Bulgaria. The founders aimed to create a platform where citizens could express their grievances and seek justice. They wanted to provide a voice for those who had suffered under the communist regime and promote the idea that every person has the right to basic freedoms.

Challenges Ahead

The founding members of the Association faced significant risks. The communist government was known for its harsh treatment of dissidents, including surveillance, imprisonment, and other forms of repression. Despite these dangers, the founders were determined to advocate for change and encourage others to join their cause.

Impact on Society

The establishment of the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association marked a significant step in the fight for freedom and human rights in Bulgaria. The group’s efforts inspired many citizens to become more aware of their rights and to stand up against injustices. It was an important moment in the history of Bulgaria, showing that a desire for change was growing among the people.

The actions of Iliya Minev, Eduard Genov, Grigor Simov, Tseko Krustev, Stefan Savovski, and Bozhidar Statev created a foundation for human rights advocacy in Bulgaria. By forming the Bulgarian Independent Human Rights Association, they joined a larger movement across Eastern Europe aimed at challenging oppressive regimes and promoting individual freedoms. Their courage and commitment to human rights continue to inspire future generations in the ongoing fight for justice and equality.