Image is of the Herðubreið tuya in northeast Iceland, formed when ice sheets covered Iceland thousands of years ago. It's not really relevant to the Grindavik situation but I think they look neat. The title also doesn't make much sense but I saw the pun and took it.
Off in Iceland, different kinds of tunnels are causing problems. Underneath the town of Grindavik in southwestern Iceland, not far from the capital of Reykjavik, tens of thousands of earthquakes are portending the movement of magma in tunnels underneath the peninsula, which could breach the surface and cause an eruption. The 4000 residents of the town have been evacuated as the magma has risen to less than a kilometer below the surface.TRG
Icelandic volcanism is pretty fascinating, with the country sitting on the mid-Atlantic ridge, the birthing line of new oceanic crustal rock running right down the Atlantic ocean for many thousands of kilometers, as well as a hotspot, an upwelling of mantle material of debated origin which also feeds otherwise-inexplicable volcanism in the middle of tectonic plates, like Yellowstone and Hawaii.
An additional factor here is the presence of glaciers. When a volcano erupts underneath a glacier, the melting water cools the lava rapidly, causing features usually seen in volcanoes that erupt under the sea like pillow basalts, but also unique features like tuyas, which are steep-sided but flat-topped volcanoes. The rapid melting of water can also cause glacial floods called jökulhlaups.
Icelandic volcanoes have had significant regional and even global impacts in the past. In 2010, the volcano Eyjafjallajökull, which was a volcano covered by an ice cap, erupted and the ash cloud spread across Europe, causing airline disruption for about a month which caused nearly $2 billion in total losses for airline companies - though this seems pretty quaint compared to the pandemic's impact on airlines in retrospect. Back in the 1780s, the Laki volcano killed a quarter of the Icelandic population due to sulphur dioxide causing massive crop failure and cattle death. This eruption's impacts spread to Europe and beyond, causing notable worldwide temperature drops and thus crop failures and may well have been a contributing factor to the outbreak of the French Revolution, which obviously heralded the death of the feudal order and the eventual primacy of capitalism in its place. That being said, any eruption at Grindavik is very probably not going to have any significant worldwide impacts - there are over a hundred volcanoes already in Iceland, and regular climate change is doing a great job at causing mayhem right now anyway. It's also still possible that there won't be an eruption at all, at least not in the short to medium term.
Friendly reminder: when commenting about a news event, especially something that just happened, please provide a source of some kind. While ideally this would be on nitter or archived, any source is preferable to none at all given.
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA daily-ish reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news (and has automated posting when the person running it goes to sleep).
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Various sources that are covering the Ukraine conflict are also covering the one in Palestine, like Rybar.
The Country of the Week is Iceland! Feel free to chime in with books, essays, longform articles, even stories and anecdotes or rants. More detail here.
This week's update is here!
Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.
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.
Part 3
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Politics:
Israel declares most of humanity illegitimate and irrelevantMR
Western Propaganda Gets More Desperate as World Majority Sides with China and Russia Against the US over GazaNC
22 House Dems join GOP in voting to censure Tlaib, only Palestinian-American in CongressRNN
Marine Le Pen's Far Right is Netanyahu-Washing Its AntisemitismJB
11 councillors quit UK Labour Party over leader's Gaza stancePD
Israeli Communists and others take peace protest ban to Supreme CourtPW
Israel Is Cracking Down on Internal DissentJB
Türkiye's president lashes out at West, Israel over Gaza conflictPD
South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, recalls all diplomatsAN
Palestinians Are Not Terrorists and Never Were: AlgeriaTS
Mexicans Reject the Genocide Perpetrated by Israel in GazaTS
Divergent positions: Argentina backs Israel, then condemns attacks in PalestineMP
Honduras Recalls Its Ambassador to Israel for ConsultationsTS
Bolivia Breaks-off Diplomatic Relations with Israel for ‘Crimes against Humanity’RS
Chile recalls Ambassador to Israel as violence in Gaza growsMP
Iran’s Proposed Embargo Could Cause Chaos in Oil Markets; but it won't ever happen so whateverNC
Over half of businesses in Israel suffer severe revenue loss due to conflict: surveyPD
Türkiye’s Middle Ground Position Becomes Untenable as US Intensifies ConflictsNC
Egypt Is Playing an Extremely High-Stakes Game in Gaza That Could End in GenocideNC
New York Times writer forced to resign after opposing Israeli genocide in GazaWSWS
Protests:
Israeli war on Gaza sparks ‘largest mass mobilization of Jews in American history’MR
Jewish Americans hold a wave of protests, arrests across the country calling for ceasefire in Gaza — pledge more protests to comeCD
'Not in our name’: Jewish collective occupies defence minister’s office over GazaGL
Thousands of workers and youth participate in global protests against Gaza genocideWSWS
Mass protests in Malaysia against Gaza genocideWSWS
How is the Canadian labour movement responding to Israel’s attacks on Gaza?CD
Over 100,000 march on Washington, DC for a free Palestine, demanding ceasefireRNN
300,000 March in Washington, D.C. for PalestineWSWS
Pro-Palestine activists in Baltimore demand immediate ceasefireRNN
Mainstream media ignores massive civil disobedience for Palestine that shut down New York’s Grand Central StationMR
Despite Intimidation, Union Voices Get Louder for Ceasefire in GazaLN
Pro-Palestine protesters 'shut-down' Oxford CircusMEE
Protests continue in New Zealand against genocide in Gaza, Labour MP booed off platformWSWS
Huge protests throughout the Asia-Pacific against the Gaza genocideWSWS
Economists for PalestineMR
Thousands of UK academics oppose government censorship of Palestinian solidarityWSWS
Brandeis and Columbia universities suspend pro-Palestinian student groupsWSWS
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities sanction Palestine solidarity, while keeping lid on pro-Israel sentimentEN
The ‘other’ Palestine protesters quietly shutting down arms factoriesOD
Belgian port workers refuse to load weapons bound for IsraelPW
As Blinken’s visit exposes Ankara’s complicity, Italian, Greek, Turkish unions call for industrial action to halt Israeli genocideWSWS
Oakland activists blockade port, delaying U.S. weapons cargo bound for IsraelPW
Barcelona port workers refuse to ship arms to IsraelWSWS
Activists block Boeing facility supplying bombs to IsraelMR
Left Critique:
The Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza: Understanding HistoryRM
ADL Data on Rise of Anti-Semitic Incidents Doesn’t Add Up; opposition to Gaza genocide is classified as "anti-semitic".MPN
Al-Aqsa Flood: Imperialism, Zionism and Reactionism in the 21st CenturyMR
Without Hamas, Gaza Would Still Not Be FreeSP
China:
Australian critical minerals vital for US war plans against ChinaWSWS
China tightens controls over rare earth exports, imports of key commodities including crude oil, iron oreSCMP
High-level China-US trade talks underscore the significance of healthy economic ties, dismiss 'decoupling'GT
US media outlet The China Project to close over lack of funds, showing challenges of ‘neutral path’ amid power rivalrySCMP
Biden, Xi set to pledge ban on AI in autonomous weapons like drones, nuclear warhead controlSCMP
Don’t count on Xi Jinping-Joe Biden meeting to yield breakthroughs, provided it happensSCMP
EU threatens tougher stance on China as concerns over Beijing’s economic policies grow in build-up to summitSCMP
Chinese Shandong carrier strike group ‘sails through Taiwan Strait’ after western Pacific drillsSCMP
Chinese warplane fired flares at Canadian chopper over South China SeaSCMP
Chinese navy tries to address pilot shortage by widening recruitment drive to postgraduatesSCMP
China urges Philippines to stop violations of China's territorial sovereignty near Ren’ai JiaoGT
Philippines Fights ‘Pro-Beijing Narratives’ as South China Sea Spats SwellCGS
Philippines Drops Railway Funding Request from China Amid South China Sea DisputesCGS
US, Chinese diplomats meet in Beijing to discuss maritime issues including South China SeaSCMP
Australian imperialism alarmed by East Timor, China “strategic partnership”WSWS
Chinese, Japanese diplomats meet ahead of possible Xi-Kishida meeting at Apec summitSCMP
Japan prepares to deploy fighter jets to Australia on a rotational basisWSWS
Japan urged to ‘signal early’ it would be part of Taiwan’s defence in a war with BeijingSCMP
"You guys better be ready and excited to sacrifice yourself for Taiwan!"
Russia:
Ukraine SitRep: Assassinations, Election Talk, Language WarMoA
Zelenskiy under mounting pressure as Ukraine's allies suggest ceasefire talksBNE
Zelensky: TIME may be on his side, but real time, isn'tRS
Rob Urie: Biden Visits Hitler’s Bunker, Sends for a Decorator: Israel and Ukraine EditionNC
The New Electric War Campaign – How the Russian Army Will Select the Ukrainian TargetsNC
Is this the beginning of the end of the war in Ukraine?RS
The walls are closing in.
EU-China summit slated for December as wary Brussels eyes firms flouting Russia sanctionsSCMP
Putin Warns of Intensification of Sanctions Against RussiaTS
EC to investigate Bulgaria for exploiting Russian oil sanctions loopholes that earned the Kremlin €1bnBNE
Serbia exporting dual-use goods to Russia despite pledge not to help bypass sanctionsBNE
Part 4
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Labour:
After 112 years, there’s a permanent, onsite Triangle Shirtwaist Fire memorialPW
‘They’re making a huge mistake’: Master Lock workers speak out on plant closureRNN
Reports: Amazon an “industry leader” in workplace injuries, sufferingPW
Four GM plants vote down UAW deal as momentum builds against sellout contractWSWS
Thousands of US pharmacy workers mount 3-day “pharmageddon” wildcat strikeWSWS
Department of Labor investigates payroll “glitch,” which left tens of thousands of postal workers without paychecksWSWS
US Artists and Studios Reach Tentative Deal to End StrikeTS
South Australian public school staff strike again for better wages and conditionsWSWS
Australia: Newcastle steelworkers strike over pay and conditionsWSWS
Hundreds of thousands of Quebec public sector workers stage walkouts after CAQ government reiterates demand for real wage cutsWSWS
Sri Lanka: Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers demand pay rises, oppose austerity measuresWSWS
Left and Right:
New Syriza leader Kasselakis exposed as pro-capitalist, austerity supporting Reagan worshipperWSWS
Michael Roberts reviews Branco Milanovic's Visions of Inequality, particularly focussing on his treatment of Marx in the book and what he gets wrong (and, sometimes, right). Roberts also updates us on the global debt problem rising, both in developing countries and the United States.[MR](Debt distress) And finally, reviews a book recapping 50 years of dependency theory.MR
From Gaza and Cuba, they ask–are you human like us?: The Forty-Fifth Newsletter (2023).MR
A Democratic Socialist Looks Back on 50 Years in Leftist ActivismCA
The rise of the modern imperial systemGL
Degrowth and the Global South: remarks on the twin problem of structural interdependenciesDE
Book of Xi Jinping's discourses on Chinese modernization published;CGTN China’s Xi Jinping says Communist Party control too weak in rural areas, new book revealsSCMP Western Left and the U.S.-China contradictionMR
LGBTQIA:
Content Warning - this section is not usually good news.
Nearly All LGBTQ+ Youth Exposed to Online Bullying: HRC ReportAdvocate
Idaho's Anti-Transgender School Restroom Law Blocked by CourtAdvocate
Energy:
Rooftop solar, an emerging solution to Bihar’s land shortage that’s stalling renewable progressMB
Michigan Poised to Join States Requiring 100 Percent Clean ElectricityICN
New Study Finds Overwhelming Evidence of Harms From FrackingDS
Oil and Gas Companies Spill Millions of Gallons of Wastewater in TexasICN
Review suggests few oil and gas companies committed to renewable energyAN
Climate and Biodiversity:
Chinese-led study suggests extreme weather is helping invaders replace native animals globallySCMP
More funding needed for polar research as ice keeps meltingMP
What the Melting of Antarctic Ice Shelves Means for the PlanetICN
Forests' 'catastrophic ecosystem collapse'EC
New Study Warns of an Imminent Spike of Planetary Warming and Deepens Divides Among Climate ScientistsICN
Drop in deforestation of Brazilian Amazon reportedMP
Planned Fossil Fuel Production Vastly Exceeds the World’s Climate Goals, ‘Throwing Humanity’s Future Into Question’ICN
Tourism Industry Emissions Are Still Significant WorldwideTS
Revealed: ‘Greenwashing’ cruise ships burning diesel despite energy pledgeOD
Shapiro Orders New Controls on the Oil and Gas Industry in Pennsylvania, Targeting Methane Emissions and Drilling ChemicalsICN
Basically nobody in Britain believes world leaders will act on promises made at the most important conference in human historyEC
Deep Rifts at UN Loss and Damage Talks Cast a Shadow on Upcoming Climate ConferenceICN
Similar to Mexico’s Hurricane Otis, Storm Ciarán Took Europe by SurpriseICN
Miscellaneous Analysis:
How Declining Sperm Counts Have Seeded A Crisis of American IndividualismCA
Boarding Schools Probe Tells US History of GenocideTS
We Want Them Infected: The integration of pseudoscience into the US pandemic responseWSWS
UK COVID Inquiry reveals how Johnson government planned mass murderWSWS
Boris Johnson said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’OD
Dipshittery and Cope:
Blow to Putin as Russia faces UK trial over $60bn Yukos oil battleBiltarals
DTEK energy company claims $ 267 million victory in The Hague against Russia over Crimea assetsBilaterals
The walls are closing in.
I Love My Trans Comrades!