Thread image created by yours truly, depicting Iran and Pakistan very impolitely not asking whether America, on the other side of the planet, is okay with them transporting gas around.


The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has long been obstructed by American involvement in the region. Iran completed its section of the pipeline quite quickly, but Pakistan has been unable to finish its construction for a decade due to the fear of falling afoul of American sanctions on Iran. The United States has repeatedly tried to pressure Pakistan to give up the project and obtain gas from other countries instead. Recent articles on the state of the pipeline are contradictory, with some stating that Iran or Pakistan have given up on the pipeline while American sanctions persist. Pakistani officials reject this framing, saying that they are still working with Iran to try and get the project completed somehow. Nonetheless, Iran is becoming increasingly frustrated and is threatening a legal battle and a demand for reparations.

Meanwhile, back in Niger, the $13 billion under-construction pipeline connecting Nigeria and other West African countries to Spain and Italy will likely face delays due to the sanctions applied by the West and ECOWAS on Niger. Those following the European gas fiasco will be aware that while Spain and Italy have been impacted by the energy crisis, they have been very busy making deals with African countries to replace their Russian gas, and thus stand a better chance than Germany of making it through the crisis with their industries somewhat intact. The coup has thrown a wrench into their plans, though they can still obtain some gas from northern African countries.

And, last but not least, America tried for years to stop the construction of the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia, which culminated in them deciding to blow them up late last year.

All in all - the United States really does not like it when countries build up energy infrastructure and gain some independence from them.


Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.

This week's first update is here in the comments.

This week's second update is here in the comments.

This week's third update is here in the comments.

Links and Stuff

The bulletins site is down.

Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists

Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Add to the above list if you can.


Resources For Understanding The War


Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.

Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.

Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.

Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.

On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.

Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.


Telegram Channels

Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.

Pro-Russian

https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.

https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.

https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.

https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.

https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.

https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.

https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.

https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.

https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.

Pro-Ukraine

Almost every Western media outlet.

https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.

https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.


Last week's discussion post.


  • SeventyTwoTrillion [he/him]
    hexagon
    M
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago
    expand

    LGBTQIA+


    CW: transphobia

    Chess Governing Body Bars Trans Women From Women's CompetitionsAdvocate

    The game’s governing body, the International Chess Federation, a.k.a. FIDE, released guidelines Monday saying trans women have “no right to participate in official FIDE events for women” until the federation completes further study. The group also said trans men will be stripped of titles they won as women before they transitioned, again pending further review. Titles “can be renewed if the person changes the gender back to a woman,” the guidelines said. They came out a week before their effective date.

    80% of LGBTQ+ People Feel Less Safe Due to Gender-Affirming Care BansAdvocate

    North Carolina Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto of 3 Anti-LGBTQ+ BillsAdvocate

    One limits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools, similar to Florida’s infamous “don’t say gay” law. Another bans gender-affirming medical procedures for transgender minors. The third bars trans girls from playing on female sports teams in public schools and certain private ones, from middle school through college.

    All of the measures now become law and take effect immediately, although trans minors already receiving gender-affirming care as of August 1 can continue on it if they have parental consent and their doctors say it is medically necessary.

    end CW


    Climate and the Environment


    Efforts made to bring back red-crowned cranes from brink of extinctionANN

    Irish fishermen fear climate crisis will end fishing in IrelandAM

    Can US and EU unseat China as the dominant supplier of green energy tech globally? Highly unlikely, experts saySCMP

    China to scale up wind and solar recycling to tackle environmental impact of decommissioned hardwareSCMP

    China, the world’s largest renewable energy producer, will set up a recycling system for ageing solar panels and wind turbines in an effort to tackle millions of tonnes of equipment slated for retirement in the coming years, according to the state planner.

    Discrediting carbon creditsEcologist

    Carbon capture is only a way to make people feel good about continuing emissionsBNE

    Essentially, yes.

    Joe Biden’s DOJ Is Claiming “There Is No Constitutional Right to a Stable Climate”Jacobin

    California’s Top Methane Emitter is a Vast Cattle Feedlot. For Now, Federal and State Greenhouse Gas Regulators Are Giving It a Pass.ICN

    A Texas Dairy Ranks Among the State’s Biggest Methane Emitters. But Don’t Ask the EPA or the State About ItICN

    An analysis by Inside Climate News, building on work by Climate TRACE, shows that tracking cattle emissions, site by site, is doable. But government databases specifically exempt agricultural operations from their greenhouse gas accounting.

    Microplastics in J&K’s waterbodies dangerous to ecosystems and humans alikeMongabay

    A new study has confirmed the presence of microplastic contaminants in Jhelum river, locally known as Vyeth, in Jammu and Kashmir. The study suggests that improper municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal sites along the Jhelum river are a potential source of these microplastics.

    How an ancient Chinese city used ‘collective power’ to divert the threat of floodsSCMP


    I Love My Trans Comrades!


    Check out !traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns@hexbear.net !


    • daisy
      ·
      1 year ago

      The game’s governing body, the International Chess Federation, a.k.a. FIDE, released guidelines Monday saying trans women have “no right to participate in official FIDE events for women” until the federation completes further study. The group also said trans men will be stripped of titles they won as women before they transitioned, again pending further review. Titles “can be renewed if the person changes the gender back to a woman,” the guidelines said. They came out a week before their effective date.

      Thought #1: What sort of advantage do trans people have over cis people in chess?

      Thought #2: Why the hell are chess competitions gendered in the first place?

      • Starlet [she/her, it/its]
        ·
        1 year ago

        What sort of advantage do trans people have over cis people in chess?

        They think that men are naturally smarter than women, I guess

      • DictatrshipOfTheseus [comrade/them, any]
        ·
        1 year ago

        It's been a few years since I watched it, and it's not specifically about trans people, but I remember Shaun made (as usual) an excellent video about women and chess, dismantling the ridiculous arguments that because there are more higher-ranked male chess players, men's brainpans are better suited (than those of the emotional feeemale) for the kind of logical thinking that chess requires.