From this week’s news on: politics & democracy, and international affairs

[Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised]  

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/. 

Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are shown in green. I have loosely grouped the posts where such seemed reasonable, but that is subjective (i.e., my opinion - others are free to disagree), and challenging, as some posts belong in multiple “groups”.

From this week’s news on politics & democracy, and international affairs (note: I may continue to add links for a few days, possibly up to a week, after these are published), and noting the conflicts, listed here, for instance, and other global; issues, such as those listed here, that may not have made it into this weeks news: 

• by Estonia’s minister of foreign affairs:   “2023 has shown us the misery big-power politics creates. Here’s how we can do things differently”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/20/big-power-politics-world-order-un-icc   Well worth reading and considering - includes second and third generation rights   
  

 

• “What the World needs Now is another Winter Truce”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/world-another-winter.html   The title is referring to what is often referred to as the Christmas truce (correctly identified as a mutiny in the article) of 1914 in World War (part) One. The article is a little simplistic, verging on glib at times (for instance, not all who do not serve do so for principled reasons - the majority do, but not all [see this on draft avoidance vs. draft resistance]), but the sentiment is admirable, and, if true, the statement that some Israeli reservists are refusing to serve is significant   
  

• “How Sudan has become the world's 'forgotten war' | DW News”   https://youtu.be/ybtzULzr4T8?si=kn1GcxGxGVI7SzbB    The title says it all ...   and   “Sudan: When it is ‘maximalist’ to demand fighters vacate civilian homes | Opinions | Al Jazeera”   https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/18/sudan-when-it-is-maximalist-to-demand-fighters-vacate-civilian-homes   This is actually a deep analysis of, and backgrounder on, the conflict, including the alleged role of the UAE, and the fact that it is not a “squabble between two generals” - which is why efforts to acheive peace or even just a ceasefire have not worked   See also   “Tensions rise between Sudan army, United Arab Emirates”   https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/tensions-rise-between-sudan-army-united-arab-emirates-4471828   “For months, Sudan's army kept silent amid alleged Emirati interference in the country's civil war, but its anger has finally boiled over, leading to harsh exchanges between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi”  
  

• “After a Ceasefire, Would Russia Simply Fight Again? - War on the Rocks”   https://warontherocks.com/2023/12/after-a-ceasefire-would-russia-simply-fight-again/  
  

• “Myanmar rebels seize town from military junta despite China-backed ceasefire”   https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231216-myanmar-s-three-brotherhood-alliance-seizes-town-from-military-despite-china-backed-ceasefire   According to the article, the ceasefire China backed was not with all three organisations, and a major trading route with CHina has been lost. Half a million people have been displaced   See also   “'Unprecedented' weapons seizures in Myanmar boost anti-junta resistance morale”   https://observers.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231220-unprecedented-weapons-seizures-in-myanmar-boost-anti-junta-resistance-morale         Defeating the junta is only the first step in Myanmar becoming a true democracy: the fact that the overturning is being accomplished by a coalition with otherwise disparate goals is going to make what comes after more difficult   

• “China rights activist goes on trial for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ | China | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/19/china-human-rights-activist-li-qiaochu-trial   and   “An AI-driven influence operation is spreading pro-China [and anti-USA] propaganda across YouTube”   https://theconversation.com/an-ai-driven-influence-operation-is-spreading-pro-china-propaganda-across-youtube-219962  
  

• “Russia’s foreign minister tours North Africa as anger toward the West swells across the region”   https://apnews.com/article/russia-morocco-tunisia-war-lavrov-c825c46f0177b6cef72db1343d4134ce   
  

• “Kremlin critic Navalny taken from Moscow prison to unknown location: spokesperson”   https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231215-kremlin-critic-navalny-taken-from-moscow-prison-to-unknown-location   This is a MAJOR concern ...    and, in a very significant move, “Russian courts halt cases against Alexei Navalny after jailed activist disappears | Alexei Navalny | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/18/courts-halt-cases-against-alexei-navalny-after-disappearance-of-jailed-activist  
  

• “‘Prison or bullet’: new Argentina government promises harsh response to protest”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/17/argentina-president-javier-milei-security-guidelines-protests-currency-devaluation   “Protesting individuals and organizations will be identified with “video, digital or manual means” – and then billed for the cost of sending security forces to police their demonstrations”   So Argentina’s incoming far right government will use the traditional fascist suppression of dissent - but by crippling financial sanctions as well as (possibly crippling) police violence      Meanwhile, in Germany, the conservative opposition are jumping on the xenophobic hate of the hate-and-kill refugees plan initiated by Australia and subsequently used by others      “CDU seeks to win back German voters with its own Rwanda asylum plan”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/17/cdu-german-voters-rwanda-asylum-plan-refugees-immigration   

• “US officials monitored pro-Assange protests in Australia for ‘anti-US sentiment’, documents reveal | Julian Assange | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/20/us-officials-monitored-pro-assange-protests-in-australia-for-anti-us-sentiment-documents-reveal   My main concern with this is what methods were used.If it is just reviewing publicly available information such as news reports, that is tolerable; but if it gets into snooping on Australian citizens, that is an unconscionable breach of our sovereignty - as are instances of us doing likewise to others   

• “‘Kagame’s agents are looking for me’: dissidents in UK say Rwanda is not safe”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/22/rwanda-dissidents-uk-imminent-threat-reject-rishi-sunak-claim-rwanda-safe   “Rwandan dissidents living in the UK who have received police warnings about assassination attempts from the African country’s agents have spoken of their shock and dismay at [the UK Prime Minister]’s insistence that it is a safe country”   
  

• “When Extreme Nativism Crosses International Boundaries | Lawfare”   https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/when-extreme-nativism-crosses-international-boundaries   This is about hypocritical white supremacists from the US state of Texas breaching Mexico’s sovereignty by arrogantly and imperially  taking their xenophobia onto Mexican land   

• subject to the result of appeals, bigotted despotic fascist former potus45 has been ruled ineligible for the primaries ballots in one US state on the basis of having committed armed insurrection - which is a provision adopted after the US Civil War. The primaries are held before the US presidential election to select candidates from the two main parties. See:   “Donald Trump disqualified from running for president in Colorado | DW News”   https://youtu.be/Bg7j0uxQd6c?si=CoMq_Nz-BCrk2Rv2   and   “Donald Trump disqualified from Colorado presidential primary ballot over Capitol riot”   https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/donald-trump-disqualified-from-colorado-presidential-primary-ballot-over-capitol-riot/cc5sajcdj   and   “Colorado supreme court disqualifies Trump from state’s 2024 ballot”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/19/trump-colorado-presidential-ballot-disqualified-14th-amendment   and   “Court deals Trump a major election blow”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/trump-news/2023/12/20/donald-trump-colorado-court   While this is significant - particularly as potus45 has not been convicted regarding the attempted insurrection, it should be noted that the state concerned (Colorado) provides around 2% of the electors to the US electoral college (which is an outdated, inappropriate, unfair and unfit for purpose system that should have been replaced by direct preferential voting decades ago). I consider it likely that the US state of Georgia could adopt something similar, providing another 3% of electors. If I was extremely optimistic, I suspect some other states in the US north east and nearby could take similar stances, giving up to around 20% more of the electors, although California (10% of the electors) used to be my main hope of doing something similar ... but not given the mood of that state of late. However, given the advantages for other candidates of not having to campaign against potus45 where potus45 is ineligible, the impact (particularly the ability to redirect spending) may exceed the theoretical mathematical impact. That could be vital given US President Biden's poor polling numbers. While this is good for democracy in general, as well as in the USA, don’t forget: this is subject to appeal, but also, court cases are under way which may - if they are completed before the next US presidential election - be of great significance and impact as well (if they are completed if and after potus45 is re-elected, he can pardon himself [the arguments about admission of guilt are inconsequential should that happen] from federal cases, and I doubt state cases would be enforceable enough to have an impact). US voters choosing decency is still the greatest hope the USA and, given its potential impact on other parts of the world, global democracy have.  
  

• “Why hidden xenophobia is surging into the open”   https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03973-9   “Sociologist Mathew Creighton at University College Dublin argues in his upcoming book, Hidden Hate, that economic concerns are an “an excuse rather than a motive”. A percentage of the population harbours strategically hidden xenophobic sentiments, he suggests. As a result, what might look like a rise in hatred is often a reduction in the social stigma against expressing xenophobia publicly.”   

• “France passes controversial immigration bill amid deep division in Macron’s party”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/20/france-immigration-bill-passed-controversy-emmanuel-macron-marine-le-pen   “Strict new law contains so many hardline measures that the far-right Marine Le Pen has claimed it as an ‘ideological victory’”   This has created a major political crisis, and reflects the turn towards fascism that a fearful populace may unthinkingly adopt in times of trouble, enabled by fearful, small-picture, next-election-only focused politicians   
  

• “Chile voters reject conservative constitution in second referendum”   https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231217-chile-voters-reject-conservative-constitution-to-replace-dictatorship-era-text   “Chilean voters on Sunday rejected a proposed new constitution drafted by a conservative-led committee, electoral service Servel said, meaning the charter imposed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will remain in force”   The first option was too progressive for a society with strong conservative elements (which was a classic case of forgetting to educate/advocate and generally take people with you - voters rule in a democracy, not politicians nor bureaucrats), this one was too conservative for a society with strong progressive elements. No-one has thought of something centrist or moderate, or a step towards something that isn’t a dictator’s dream   

 

• “Women's rights take centre stage in DR Congo election”   https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20231216-a-feminist-president-women-s-rights-take-centre-stage-in-dr-congo-election   This might be good   but the elections have problems, such as   “Why EAC won't send observers to DR Congo's elections”   https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/why-eac-won-t-send-observers-to-dr-congo-s-elections-4468828   &   “Congo’s elections face enormous logistical problems sparking concerns about the vote’s credibility”   https://apnews.com/article/congo-presidential-elections-felix-tshisekedi-be37278674b8df476228396925cfd48e   

• [Content Warning - disturbing testimony]   “'Worse than death': Surviving sexual violence in Cameroon's anglophone crisis”   https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20231217-worse-than-death-surviving-sexual-violence-in-cameroon-s-anglophone-crisis  
  

• “Michael Pascoe: The IPA is taking Gina Rinehart for a ride down the garden path”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/12/23/michael-pascoe-gina-rinehart-is-being-ripped-off-by-the-ipa   “The Australian public ... [is] being ripped off by the tax-deductible status afforded the IPA’s culture warriors and political campaigns”  
  

• “From COVID to climate: Queensland’s new emissions pledge shows state governments are once again leading change”   https://theconversation.com/from-covid-to-climate-queenslands-new-emissions-pledge-shows-state-governments-are-once-again-leading-change-220040   Qld still needs to fix it police abuses, youth, and racism problems (the article includes a reminder on why the Commonwealth is still essential)  
  

• “Building Tomorrow Today: A Fair Economy, End to Poverty, Inclusive Communities, and a Livable Climate - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/building-tomorrow-today-a-fair-economy-end-to-poverty-inclusive-communities-and-a-livable-climate/   This is an EXCELLENT article - and includes a question for readers and call to action  See also   “Empowering Australians: A Progressive Vision for National Prosperity - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/empowering-australians-a-progressive-vision-for-national-prosperity/   and   “To build a better world, stop chasing economic growth”   https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04029-8  

• “The Americanisation of Australian politics: watching the Atlas Network - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/the-americanisation-of-australian-politics-watching-the-atlas-network/   

• “Tax ombudsman criticises ATO’s robotax for not considering ‘financial vulnerability’ of recipients”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/17/tax-ombudsman-criticises-atos-robotax-for-not-considering-financial-vulnerability-of-recipients   Hmm ... “RoboTax” sounds right   See also   “‘You are deceased’: Services Australia bungle results in woman losing bank accounts and pension – twice”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/22/you-are-deceased-services-australia-bungle-results-in-woman-losing-bank-accounts-and-pension-twice  
  

• “Michael Pascoe: RBA caught snoozing on stage-three tax cuts and inflation”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/12/20/pascoe-rba-stage-3-tax-cuts   Hmm ... that does nothing for anyone’s confidence in that part of our public service ...   
  

• “Understanding Moral Injury”   https://youtu.be/AybMPLVbtvg?si=InFQcI_VZQWr_DNn   In workplaces   

• “The Hidden Flaw of Performance Reviews”   https://m.youtube.com/shorts/XQT8_SAwwUY   These are quite obvious, IMO   
  

From the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance’s (International IDEA)  Global State of Democracy (GSOD) Initiative:

improvements have occurred (last month) in:   Germany,   Indonesia,  

declines have occurred (last month) in:  Brazil,   Belarus,   Bangladesh,   Azerbaijan,   Canada (antisemitic hate crimes over events in Gaza),   Cameroon,   Burkina Faso,  

My links for activism post may aid any activism  you may decide to do on any/all of these.

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering”.