Image is of the Germany coal power plant Staudinger, taken from this article.
Germany has closed down its last three nuclear power plants, after decades of protests against them in the wake of Chernobyl and then Fukushima. They were going to be shut down last summer, but then some obscure event happened in Ukraine or something, and that kept them alive for a little while longer as energy uncertainty mounted.
Now with the assurances that their natural gas supply will be healthy and sufficient, as their pipeline to Russia that supplied much of their gas is now gone, and new renewables will be sure to fill the gap, as Baerbock does everything in her power to anger China (the dominant renewables and rare earths manufacturer on the planet) things are looking bright for the German economy and energy sector, making this the right time to finally shut down those pesky nuclear power plants, which emit orders of magnitude less pollution and less radiation than coal power plants.
The European environmental movement is going swimmingly.
Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.
Here is the archive of important pieces of analysis from throughout the war that we've collected.
April 17th's update is here in the comments.
April 18th's update is here in the comments.
April 21st's update is here in the comments.
Links and Stuff
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Add to the above list if you can, thank you.
Resources For Understanding The War Beyond The Bulletins
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. I recommend their map more than the channel at this point, as an increasing subscriber count has greatly diminished their quality.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have decent analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: neo-conservative sources but their reporting of the war (so far) seems to line up with reality better than most liberal sources. Beware of chuddery.
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 journalist reporting in the warzone.
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 still quite reactionary in terms of gender and sexuality and race, so beware). 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 ~ Another 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's army.
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.
Miguel Díaz-Canel has been re-elected President of Cuba
:diaz-canel-troll: :fidel-salute-big:
Amazing how many of the problems in this war have come from the Soviets being too good at making stuff.
Russia can't use aircraft for a year because the S-300 is too good. Requires months of missiles barrages to reduce ex-Soviet stockpiles to depletion.
Going through apartment buildings in cities is a slog because the buildings were built so sturdy.
Also hard to go through cities because of all the giant factory complexes.
Can't blow up the Dniper bridges without giant missiles or bombs because they were built to be so strong.
Imagine running an interview with a guy named "Adolf" from the "Spartan Storm" brigade on Hitler's birthday.
Remember, these Hungarian fascists were once "pro-democracy anticommunist freedom fighters". Orban was once a darling of the Clinton administration.
New study shows poverty is the fourth highest leading cause of death for adults in US. The study estimates there were 183k deaths due to poverty in the US in 2019. Those are essentially state-sanctioned murders as this country refuses to entertain the idea of building a society that puts people first i.e. socialism.
For those of you keeping score at home, I think you can plausibly attribute count up about 700k-800k or so state-sanctioned deaths in the USSR in the Stalin era. Capitalist USA can get to that number in 4 years from the social murder of poor people.
Love seeing western state funded Media getting riled up for getting labelled so.
Libs and a fash tech bro fighting? I'd watch that except the CBC libs wont get any good shots in.
The libs are so mad about this, apparently being labelled accurately is gonna threaten Canadian broadcasting standards or something lol
If journalists of our geopolitical rivals could stand the label so can we, fuckin west can talk a big game but can't take any
China and Russia should open embassies with Tribal Nations in the US and Canada.
I know this isn't news but I thought this mega would appreciate the discussion more.
In retrospect we definitely were overdue transitioning from shoot and cry to "bomb and cry" instead.
Considering how much US intervention is just bombing the fuck out of people with little to no recourse.
I'd say the US is well past "bomb and cry" and a good chunk through "bomb and call the people you bombed gay for getting bombed"
Judging by the lib twitter zeitgeist, we're now back at "bomb and say they were all terrorists" again.
That's Christopher Nolan for you, he really honed his skills on those Dark Knight movies
Christopher Nolan, "the world's greatest living Victorian filmmaker."
By "his skills" you mean "being a hack that screws up telling other people's stories"
You had me till the last bit. You don't have to like The Shining but Kubrick is a boss. Dr. Strangelove (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb) is a masterpiece.
It's probably my terminal TrueAnon brain and it could be a coincidence but it's super sus how Chris Nolan always puts out topical movies that enforce a super establishment worldview on current topics (the Patriot Act for The Dark Knight, Occupy for The Dark Knight Rises etc), the fact he's a massive Tony Blair stan doesn't make him seem any less dodgy either.
Log onto my doctor's patient portal randomly to see if I scheduled my next general follow-up in advance with my GP the last time I saw him.
Notice random $309.00 charge. 'That's weird!' I think and click on it.
It's the out of pocket cost for the in-office dermatologist my GP sent me to, to get a cyst drained back in March. Why is it $300?
Oh well the actual billing code for the drainage of the abscess (10060) comes out to about $360.00. My insurance paid $328 of that. So there's 32/300 - what else??
Oh, they coded it as an Office Established Patient Level 4 (99214)? Which is $278.00 and isn't covered at all by my insurance. Weird, I think, I've never been coded anything but a Level 3, which costs $284.59 and is covered fully, by my GP - even when I saw him and had to get prescribed treatment for an STD. So what's the difference?
In order to bill for a followup 99214 for an established patient, the physician must provide 2 of 3 of the following components:
- a detailed history
- a detailed physical exam
- medical decision making (MDM) of moderate complexity
Now, MDM is based on time normally - and I'm sitting here thinking "I came in at 4:15 and left around 4:45" because the cyst had already partially drained three days prior so it did not take her long to take a scalpel to it and then squeeze out a little bit of pus before slapping a bandage on it, so not really a moderate risk or decision of moderate complexity. Surely that's not MDM worth a full $280.00.
Oh, it's because I got prescribed a fucking 5 pills of Doxycycline that I NEVER picked up and didn't even know about?? I'm fucking losing my shit. Stupid fucking ass healthcare system. I literally told her that I'd been given a prescription of Doxycycline by my GP for the cyst prior to him sending me to her, when she asked if I wanted any antibiotics, why did she prescribe them regardless?? oh right, to get that extra $$$. :joker-amerikkklap: best country in the world. dunno why my dumbass even bothered to show up for the appointment given it had already drained two days prior, but fuck me I guess I should've just taken a scalpel to it myself like I'd planned.
:amerikkka:
Imagine having to learn the minutiae of your doctor's office administrator's job in order to afford medical care and not get ripped off.
thankfully I was blessed with parents who have spent a combined half-a-century in various healthcare jobs so I was already like "itemized bill", knew something was off from a glance at the bill, and have picked up enough from years of listening to them gripe about coding that it wasn't too hard to just go to fairhealthconsumer.org/medical to look up the codes and then do a bit further research with AAPC/AMA for coding criteria.
of course, those same parents joked "lol I probably would've coded your annoying ass as a level 4 too if you were my patient" when I asked them what they thought about it last night :lea-why: but they're not really wrong because clearly my first instinct was to do as much research as possible so I can be that supremely annoying guy who asks his doctor's office administrator "why didn't you add a modifier 25 to that 10060" angrily over the phone lmao
I wonder if you could avoid it just saying "I specifically requested not to be prescribed this because I already have it and never picked it up" and see if they drop the fee. They might just tell you to fuck off but it'd be cool to not pay $250 bucks
the day we lose 72t is the day we lose this whole news section
Hexbear will be led astray and fall to infighting
I take a week off every two months to recharge my batteries, and next week is that week! I especially need to prepare if the surprise Ukrainian counteroffensive that has been dated for April 30th and the order of operations explained in detail by various outlets is actually gonna happen on that date. I will, of course, post the megathread and continue to put bits and pieces in the thread - I might even summarize a couple Mercouris videos if I find the energy in me.
Update for April 21st
UN is concerned about US spying on UN leader. UK wants to build submarines with Turkey. Russian inflation falls below 3%. Massive increase in Afghanistan poverty since 2020. China constructs Antarctic stations. Heat and drought in Asia, Africa. Ukraine wants South Africa to arrest Putin. Sudan conflict continues as ceasefires break. Little success on long covid research. Lavrov on tour in South America; reinforces Cuba ties.
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Events
Globally
People's Daily: United Nations lodges concern over reported U.S. eavesdropping on UN chief
"The UN has made it clear that such actions are inconsistent with the obligations of the United States of America enumerated in the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations," said a UN spokesman.
Circle of Blue: Iron Mine in Sweden Could Undercut UNESCO Indigenous Protections
In northern Sweden’s Laponian Area — traditional homelands of the Sámi people and a UNESCO World Heritage site — a proposed iron mine threatens waters and caribou habitat.
As shortages in the Yellow River continue, water users in northwest China’s Hetao Plain and Mongolia are put on high alert.
Plans to expand irrigation systems near Doñana National Park, known for its protected wetlands, marshes, and lake systems, cause controversy in Spain.
In the wake of a proposal to create an artificial lake near Jackson, Mississippi, the Pearl River has been listed as one America’s most endangered rivers.
Europe
Inside Climate News: Intensifying Cycle of Extreme Heat And Drought Grips Europe
Western Asia
MEE: Turkey elections: Kilicdaroglu takes aim at Bayraktar TB2 maker
The Turkish opposition's presidential candidate has angered the company behind Turkey's famed Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, by saying the country’s burgeoning defence industry must be largely controlled by the state and the private sector shouldn’t be permitted to produce weapons alone.
MEE: UK wants to build submarines with Turkey, says Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that the United Kingdom would like to work with Turkey to build submarines.
"Today, Turkey's shipyards are those that have captured a certain place in the world maritime race," Erdogan said, addressing a group of youth in Istanbul.
"Those who come from America or Pakistan to build frigates for us, and those who say, ‘Can we build such an aircraft carrier in Turkey, can we build a submarine?’ At the moment, the UK wants to cooperate with us on the construction of submarines."
Responsible Statecraft: With — or despite — US influence, Yemen appears poised for real peace
Despite what the Pentagon leaks suggest and a real sour note from the top U.S. diplomat as recently as this fall — threatening to protract the conflict even further — it looks like there may be hope for all sides to end the Yemen war after all.
Central Asia
RT: Russian inflation drops below 3%
Annualized inflation in Russia has continued to slow, dropping to a rate of 2.82% for the week of April 11-17, according to data from the Ministry of Economic Development.
MEE: Afghanistan's economy close to collapse with 85 percent of people in poverty: UN
Nearly 34 million Afghans are living in poverty and the country’s economy is on the brink of collapse, a new UN report shows.
According to the report, in 2020 the number of Afghans in poverty was 19 million compared to 34 million now, a 15 million increase. Much of the blame had to do with the Taliban taking over the following year and the sudden loss of international aid and access to finance, the report noted.
MEE: UN official floats recognition of Taliban ahead of meeting in Doha
The UN secretary general Antonio Guterres is convening an international meeting on Afghanistan in May in Doha, Qatar, where envoys will seek a "durable way forward" for the war-ravaged nation, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Eastern Asia and Oceania
CNA: China ramps up construction on new Antarctic station: Report
China is increasing its Antarctic footprint according to new satellite imagery collected by a Washington-based think tank that shows construction has resumed for the first time since 2018 on the country's fifth station in the southern polar region.
Beijing has sought to develop new shipping routes in the Arctic and expand its research in Antarctica, but Western governments worry its increasing presence in the polar regions could provide the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with better surveillance capabilities.
SCMP: US cannot store arms in Philippines to defend Taiwan, Manila says in ‘friends to all’ policy
I'm not even sure what the point of saying this is. Does the Philippine government believe that the sovereignty over their own country takes precedent over the United States? Have they not studied history? The White House gets the vote on whether they get to store arms there, not the Philippines.
Common Dreams: 'What the Climate Emergency Looks Like': Extreme Heat Busts Records Across Asia
Hundreds of millions of people throughout Asia are suffering Wednesday as a deadly heatwave turbocharged by the fossil fuel-driven climate crisis continues to pummel large swaths of the continent, with little relief in sight—reigniting calls for immediate action to slash greenhouse gas pollution.
Record-high temperatures have been observed in several Asian countries this month, including at 109 weather stations across 12 Chinese provinces on Monday. Scorching heat in India, meanwhile, has killed more than a dozen people and forced school closures this week.
Africa
Africa News: Libya: "historic" opportunity to end the crisis, according to the UN
The Libyans face "a historic opportunity to overcome" the crisis in which their country has been mired since 2011, the UN envoy to Libya said on Tuesday, still hoping for elections to be held this year.
Africa News: Tunisians on the frontlines of battle against a severe drought
With less water falling as rain to fill them, none of Tunisia's thirty dams are even a third full, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Africa News: Morocco: Record inflation and exports spike food prices
Africa News: Ukraine pleads for Putin's arrest in South Africa
Africa News: South Africa braces for dark winter as power shortages persist
South Africa, the continent's most industrialised country, is in the grip of an energy crisis that critics say is much deeper than the authorities openly acknowledge.
The periodic electricity blackouts are expected to reach a critical stage as winter arrives in the Southern Hemisphere and sends energy demand soaring, experts warn.
Africa News: Sudan: Thousands flee as ceasefire fails to hold
Sixth day of fighting in Sudan as ceasefire between the army and the powerful paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) failed. This is the second ceasefire they have broken.
North America
Africa News: USA: African-American nationalists accused of acting for Russia
The US Department of Justice on Tuesday indicted the founder and three members of an African-American nationalist group, accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence services to influence elections in the United States.
WSWS: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Railroad Workers United pass blame for strike ban onto each other
Climate Change News: US bets big on carbon-sucking machines
The US has offered $3.5 billion in grants towards direct air capture, hoping to bring down the costs of removing carbon from the atmosphere
Common Dreams: 'Striking and Distressing': More Than a Third of US Residents Breathe Unhealthy Air
Stat News: The NIH has poured $1 billion into long Covid research — with little to show for it
WASHINGTON — The federal government has burned through more than $1 billion to study long Covid, an effort to help the millions of Americans who experience brain fog, fatigue, and other symptoms after recovering from a coronavirus infection.
There’s basically nothing to show for it.
The National Institutes of Health hasn’t signed up a single patient to test any potential treatments — despite a clear mandate from Congress to study them. And the few trials it is planning have already drawn a firestorm of criticism, especially one intervention that experts and advocates say may actually make some patients’ long Covid symptoms worse.
