Ukraine
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I simply had to say something, so I composed this song and animated video in support of the people of Ukraine.
As a note, I used several SketchUp models in the animation (thanks Fredo for Animator) -
I heard this song years ago, frankly it should be played everywhere. Especially now.
I have to say that it punches above its weight but everything is in there. Enjoy.
https://thealternateroutes.com/albums/nothing_more/
Listen to it, buy it if you like it, the whole album is great and based on being positive.
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The more time passes the more I get assured that Poo-tin is defeated in Ukraine! It replicates two different management points of views, the power of all confronting power of one!
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@dale said:
I simply had to say something, so I composed this song and animated video in support of the people of Ukraine.
As a note, I used several SketchUp models in the animation (thanks Fredo for Animator)Bravo dale! A great gesture indeed. I will spread it around.
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I've just listened to the António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Sergey Lavrov, RF Minister of Foreign Affairs, comments/answers to the Press on the DW covered meeting outcome. This is the link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBy2TEfsXUs
Its well worth listening.At long last talks between the UN and the RF have begun. This is the only way some sort of positive progress will happen and hopefully a resolution to the conflict will be reached.
What I took from the press conference was that a totally neutral entity that is acceptable to all parties will have to be found to act as a mediator. I have no idea want or who could fill this role.
My major concern now is that Putin may resort to using tactical nuclear weapons after Germany has rowed in with the supply of anti aircraft tanks etc.
The more one thinks about it, the situation is Ukraine plus NATO backing (minus nuke supply) versus the Russian Federation. Now that Putin is in a corner, the West must be very careful and broker a settlement that does not, whether we like it or not, make Putin look like a looser. Remember what happened after WWI! The ill conceived armistice's draconian penalties indirectly brought Hitler to power and WWII with the loss of 50M souls.
It's said that, 'It's an ill wind that blows no good!'. One doesn't have to look too hard to find the bunch that is laughing all the way to the bank. It looks like it's the Arms Trade as warned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his Military-Industrial Complex Speech 1961.
To get an overview of the Arms Trade, it's worth watching 'Follow the Money' (Booming global trade: Seller, buyers and profiteers) on Deutsche Welle> dw.com here, https://youtu.be/UjiFzmYVG7w?list=PLT6yxVwBEbi0AKJXT8tseRoYHctKpD1Fj
BTW, the reporter is an Irishman, Arthur Sillivan. He presents very well,
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Thanks Mike.
I just want the conversation to continue. -
@dale said:
Thanks Mike.
I just want the conversation to continue.You are totally right dale. There are so many silly distractions these days, film actor's law suits with their ex-wives etc etc that folks easily forget about the important things and as we know the most important issue the world is facing at the moment is the Ukraine conflict. If the worst case scenario plays out there, little else will matter.
We need to get as much information as we can about the situation and keep public opinion focused/active on the issue and push for a resolution even if all we can do is highlight the issue.
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About all we as average Joe's can do is talk, as long as we do this it cannot be swept under the carpet by newer events, as Putin wants.
It may not get anywhere but I send an email to the Duma most days.
I know but they will at least see the thing before they delete it.
My point to them is that they should save Russia from Putin, the saving of the Ukraine would be a bonus to that, just a question of altering the semantics for the different parties.
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@mike amos said:
About all we as average Joe's can do is talk, as long as we do this it cannot be swept under the carpet by newer events, as Putin wants.
It may not get anywhere but I send an email to the Duma most days.
I know but they will at least see the thing before they delete it.
My point to them is that they should save Russia from Putin, the saving of the Ukraine would be a bonus to that, just a question of altering the semantics for the different parties.
That is a very positive step Mike. Do you have the correct email address and are your emails in English? I will follow your lead.
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Absolutely love this direct approach Mike. I agree, please post the contact info.
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Just listened to Ilya Ponomarev being interviewed on DW, he was a member of the Russian parliament and the only Russian lawmaker who voted against the annexation of Crimea in 2014. He was then forced out and now lives in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where he has joined the territorial defense forces.
Of course he is very much anti Putin but reassures us that in his opinion Putin will not press the 'Red Button' as he is far too fond of living the good life. His overall assessment of Putin is very measured and he points out many traits in his character, both good and very bad.
This is the link to the interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV4tLpuy7Rk
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The closest I can get to this is. http://duma.gov.ru/en/contacts/citizen/
This is an English language page but I must warn you that I have had intrusion attempts on my pc and it has been very squirrely lately meaning a complete reinstall of my Firefox installation and settings have been all over the place.
Nothing destructive, just a pain to deal with so happy for small whatever.
The more we can stick this in their faces the less they can hide from the truth.
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Interesting Mike. Russia has expended a lot of energy on disruption through hacking.
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They have enough capability to be a lot more than annoying. I was talking to a microsnot tech support guy years ago with windoze problems. He say's "Just let me take control for a while and I'll fix it". He managed to mess up the fan activation and temp settings and next thing I know my pc was fried. Microsnot, the most dedicated company for keeping their customers gear safe. They said, "HAHAHAHAHAHA sue us". The bill was, as they say in films, Exquisite and smarted but only lots. Having said this I specced up a mac (Last Mac I used was a 2e) and it came to over £15k including ex forces discount. I might have had a little seating area dampness that day, seriously.....
Only too easy to do apparently and the kremlins could have done much worse than look around and cause minor disruption should they have felt like it.
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That worrying to say the least.
I've just listened to Full interview with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by ALARABIYA NEWS (English)
I don’t know if the questions were pre-agreed but nevertheless the interviewer looks to have not pulled and punches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DwOZOaJfY4
One comment here from a listener,
"As much as I feel disturbed by the plight of the Ukrainian people, it is difficult not to see that NATO has been playing a very dangerous game in Eastern Europe. This whole mess is clearly the result of a breakdown in relations between Russia and NATO. Appreciate the efforts of Al Arabiya in showing us the other side of the story".
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As much as the Russian people are being misled, the danger of the PRC is, in the long term much greater. Totally disgusted with the UN failure to do more than talk. Bullies do not understand being told, "You must stop". The last decent UN action was Korea and there is no formal peace there yet. Merely a cease fire which mostly holds apart from the North deciding the lob shells over the border and sink South Korean military ships here and there. Nothing to brag about.
The UN simply MUST sort out ground forces, set a buffer zone and then enforce it which just takes strength of will. I really think Putin would be removed quite quickly which would reduce the price we are ALL going to have to pay. If a proper UN force moved forward there is not much the Russian military could do in it's current state.
So, Mr UN general secretary or whatever you want to call yourself. GET MOVING. NOW,
The orange president stated that the UN was a spent force and useless, sadly he is right in that.
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@mike amos said:
So, Mr UN general secretary or whatever you want to call yourself. GET MOVING. NOW,
The orange president stated that the UN was a spent force and useless, sadly he is right in that.
It's very sad to look at the UN. You are right, 'Stop it now' messages are simply a waste of time. Still, with a total restructure the UN could be a very fair and positive force. As I've said before, I think the first step would have to be to take it out of New York and set it up in an democratically agreed country or maybe better yet have it move every four years. If it can be done with the Olympics why not the UN. At least the move would keep them on their toes.
The real worry as far as I am concerned is not the 'Red Button' being pressed. It's what they are calling 'Flash War' that might set things off on an irreversible direction. Check out,
The future of modern warfare: How technology is transforming conflict | DW Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/ -
You got it right there.
The future of warfare is already here. Mass denial of service attacks originating from Russian, NK and PRC government/military led units aimed at debilitation of industry and transport infrastructure have been going on for a while now.
Folk are quite amazed at how the PRC navy and air force have advanced so far so quick. The PRC navy already out numbers the local and near waters opposition by a significant number and even come close to equaling the number of ships in the USN (Total combat ships). This advance comes from allowing espionage at extremely high levels for many years. The US and NATO countries do the research, the PRC acquire that research and build the ships/systems and the rest tap out of funds and have nothing left to build anything. WE in the west have wasted billions and I kid you not. Three infantry APC/IFV projects between the Germans, the UK, Germany and the US lost in the region of $35-40 billion. We got nothing out of that to show for the outlay. We simply cannot afford to allow this to go for the benefit of nations who want to run the world with their own sense of how things should be. I do NOT want eh world according to Chairman whatever of the PRC with Russia and NK ad Vassal states and the rest of us as worker ants. Thank you.
Considering the losses the Russians have been encouraged to absorb and their less than stellar ability to supply their own troops, what chance would they have WHEN the PRC pull the trigger and move on Siberia which they have coveted for many decades.
This is just the opening act. WHEN the real war kicks off the tan coloured eminence will fall everywhere. Putin has to be stopped and the PRC given the warning that their ambitions WILL be countered.
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The military rise of China looks to me to have been facilitated by the West through their switching of manufacturing to China on a HUGE scale and at the cost of JOBS AT HOME!
This is a major fault in our type of Democracy. It can be adjusted and there are some great formulas to hand that work.
I recommend listening to Prof Richard Wolff talk about how ruinous hardcore capitalism might be brought to heal with a sprinkling of socialism. He talks about the Mondragon Cooperatives and the huge amount of success they have had in Northern Spain. One stat that stuck in my head was that the salary manager of any coop was topped at eight times the salary of the least paid worker in the coop. This still puts the manager's salary at an average of €240,000, reasonable I feel and if the manager wants more all he has to do is get the lowest paid worker's salary up. For every €1 their salary increases, his can increase by €8!
Richard Wolff on the Mondragon cooperatives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKbukSeZ29o -
The Russian invasion pattern:
- Invade
Ask for something you have never had
Insist and intimidate, there are always some politicians to buy or be intimidated,
Now you have something or a great share of something you never had!
This is really insane. That Red Button has turned into a modern bullying tool in the hands of insanity!
- Invade
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