4x07| Liz Cheney's Speech
on DJ Trump's fitness for office -- one of the great speeches of our time | UkraineCurt Readings & Musings [2024 x 07]
Hello possums!
We reckon that Liz Cheney’s speech on DJ Trump’s fitness for office, delivered at the birthplace of the Republican Party of the USA, is one of the great speeches of our time:—
¶ ¶ Cosmopolitan Globalist (Claire Berlinski & al.)☼☼☼
—Liz Cheney and Kamala Harris
{If you’re weary of our going on and on about Moscow/RF imperialism, skip down to }. If you’re still reading, Kate Tsurkan has a made an excellent start to her series ‘Explaining Ukraine’:—
☼¶ ☼ ψ The Kyiv Independent group
Explaining Ukraine Kate Tsurkan }
Many commentators have noted that faulty Western assessment of Ukraine and RF has hindered Ukraine. (See, for example, Ryan, O’Brien, Eliot Cohen, Greene.) Nick Cohen writes it out in ‘journalese’ :—
☼¶ ☼Nick Cohen (Writing from London)
☼How Western intelligence agencies helped Vladimir Putin The bloody consequences of misjudging Ukraine’s will to resist
Timothy Snyder’s essay for Americans is of interest to others concerned about US power:—
☼¶ ☼Timothy Snyder
☼Trump's Hitlerian Month A September to Remember
These essays outline the situation in the Holy Land and Levant — Drezner’s is careful and measured, Cooper’s is, well, sarcastosauric :—
¶ ¶ Daniel W. Drezner☼☼☼
—The Middle East Earthquakes Some obvious and not-so-obvious events that could shake up the region.
☼¶ ☼Sarcastosaurus (Tom Cooper)
☼(Annual) Post on Why do I think about the situation in the Middle East the Way I do
Netanyahu's Assassination of Nasrallah
Cheers dears!
+The Woes of the West+
☼☼America and Other Problems☼☼
☼¶ ☼Radicalist (DJ Volodzko)
☼Animal Farm: Lessons for a Free Press On the scariest children's story of all time
☼¶ ☼Sam Greene (TL;DRussia)
☼TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup 29 September 2024: Future perfect, plus texts and tunes
☼¶ ☼Michael Ryan (Mick, QvM/MMJ, Futura Doctrina)
☼Trump v Harris: Implications for Ukraine Two articles that explore what Harris and Trump administrations might mean for the trajectory of the war in Ukraine.
¶ ¶ Anne Applebaum☼☼☼
—The only way the Ukraine war can end Russia has to be persuaded to stop fighting — Ms Applebaum & ‘The Atlantic’ have made this essay freely available.
☼¶ ☼Persuasion (Yascha Mounk & al.)
☼Four Big Myths about the Election (Part I) These wrong assumptions about the electorate distort our understanding of American politics.
☼¶ ☼Michael McFaul
☼I Wish This Was an Election Just About Policy Differences on Tax Cuts or Regulation. But It’s Not Tragically, the future of American democracy is also on the ballot.
+Not so woeful+
¶ ¶ Adam Tooze☼☼☼
—Chartbook 322: "Can We Consume Our Surplus?" or John Maynard Keynes on "The Influence of Furniture on Love"
☼¶ ☼Timothy Garton Ash
☼Hints of hope in Hungary In Budapest, I find Orbán's regime unexpectedly shaken
+... and in the Left corner ...+
☼☼For everyone, but of special interest to Social Democrats, Bolshevik imperialists, and other lefties☼☼
☼¶ ☼ ψ The Kyiv Independent group
Explaining Ukraine Kate Tsurkan
+Wayfarers’ Watch+
☼☼For everyone, but especially for people interested in religion and theology☼☼
Pope Francis' October prayer intention: 'For a shared mission' (Was ‘Apostolate of Prayer’)
\ Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of October "for a shared mission," and calls on all faithful in whatever vocation they may have to do ...
Two beautiful essays from ‘Church Life Journal’ —
by
Jennifer Newsome Martin, on diversity.
and
Marcel Proust's View from the Persecutor's Side
in which
Joshua Hren situates Proust’s writing in the tradition of what we might call “prophetic fiction leading to conversion”.
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group:— Dmytro Vovk heads the Center for Research on the Rule of Law and Religion. We spoke with him [about] “On the protection of the constitutional order in the sphere of activity of religious organizations”.
Geting beyond “‘Hellenism corrupted Xtianity’ vs ‘Hellenism enriched Xtianity’”:—
— “Jonathan Z Smith: The Core Idea I Learned from the Greatest Historian of Religion of our Time!” James Tabor
+Femme Vitale+
☼¶ ☼Reactionary Feminist (Mary Harrington)
—Shulamith Firestone and the Meat Masks The troubled feminist visionary never lost her gift for prophecySee also
‘Meat Lego Gnosticism and the Myth of Progress’ by Phil Cotnoir
¶ ¶ Anne Applebaum☼☼☼
—Freedom's just another word... and we don't agree what it means
—Why America Needs Rights4Girls A conversation with Yasmin Vafa, co-founder of Rights4Girls, a nonprofit that advocates for the dignity and rights of young women and girls. Michael Judge
+Greensleeves+
☼☼Green News, and other material which doesn’t fit elsewhere☼☼
☼¶ ☼Gordian Knot (Jack Devanney & al.)
☼The Three Mile Island 1 Restart
President [Biden]'s speech on the power grid
REPOWER FAQ
☼¶ ☼ψ Euromaidan Press
Russia’s war devastates Black Sea ecosystems and communities. A year after the Kakhovka dam attack, activists are racing against the clock to prevent an eco-collapse fuelled by drifting mines and war-driven pollution. Théo Prouvost
☼¶ ☼Persuasion (Yascha Mounk & al.)
☼Amanda Ripley on How to Survive Disaster Yascha Mounk and Amanda Ripley discuss what natural catastrophes reveal about human nature.
The Next Climate Conversation Is About Marine Clouds Researchers are trying to find out: could we cool the planet using sea salt?
☼¶ People & Nature
Making Homes and Energy Transition in Nigeria, by Tom Ackers. A free, downloadable PDF published today. Please share! Tom outlines the growing need for homes and the widespread slum dwelling forced on to Nigerians by gaping social inequalities. He looks at the potential for housing needs to be met in sustainable ways that do not aggravate the climate crisis or other ruptures of society’s relationship with nature
+Klaus Wits+
☼☼About war☼☼
☼Decoding the Credibility of Russian Nuclear Threats Russia revises its nuclear doctrine, expanding the scenarios for potential nuclear use. How credible is the threat? Fabian Hoffmann
☼¶ CEPA, CSIS, CftNI &c.
Inside Ukraine’s Drone High Command By Mitzi Perdue
Wired Ukraine Is Decentralizing Energy Production to Protect Itself From Russia The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is equipping schools and hospitals with solar panels and energy storage systems to nullify Russian attacks on the country's power plants.
☼¶ ☼Michael Ryan (Mick, QvM/MMJ, Futura Doctrina)
☼Mobilisation in the 21st Century Revitalising military mobilisation by orchestrating people, industry, and ideas to create a powerful deterrent against potential aggressors - and to win wars if deterrence fails.
☼Ukraine War: Putin's Autumn Spoiling Campaign With major offensive efforts constantly coming up short, Putin's orc generals are fighting to prevent Ukraine from gaining an edge heading into 2025. Delay and pray is Putin's last, best hope. Andrew Tanner
Iran Hits Israel: Post-Strike Assessment Iran's latest bombardment of targets in Israel is bound to reverberate across the globe. The veil of Israeli and allied technological invincibility has again been pierced; escalation is probable.
Andrew Tanner:— Ukraine War: On Training Better Leaders Leadership is one of the oldest fields of study. The Ukraine War has once again demonstrated that military institutions decay, innovators forced to rewrite core practices every few generations.
¶ ¶ Centre for Defence Strategies (CDS) — Ukrainian security think tank☼☼☼
General conclusion:
Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, which began in the fall of 2023, continue to yield gradual tactical results in certain areas of the front, but there are no significant operational achievements.
Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct an effective strategic defensive operation, inflicting substantial losses on Russian troops, slowly conceding territories but preventing the enemy from achieving operational success.
Ukrainian Defense Forces face serious operational challenges and limitations that allow Russian troops the opportunity to achieve tactically significant successes.
The enemy does not have sufficient manpower and material resources to indefinitely sustain its offensive efforts, especially in the eastern part of Ukraine.
The capture of Vuhledar will not radically change the operational situation in western Donetsk Oblast, and the enemy will find it difficult to achieve its operational objectives in this area.
Offensive operations targeting operationally significant goals, such as efforts to capture Chasiv Yar and push Ukrainian Defense Forces from the left bank of the Oskil River, have either stalled or significantly slowed down.
The Russian military command accumulated operational reserves and resources for a summer 2024 offensive, which have been nearly exhausted in recent months of exhausting battles.
+Right on+
☼☼Sometimes about Conservatives and Liberals of the ‘right’☼☼
¶ ¶ Cosmopolitan Globalist (Claire Berlinski & al.)☼☼☼
—Liz Cheney and Kamala Harris
☼
☼
+Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union+
☼☼(Mostly from the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group)☼☼
Young Crimean Tatar gets 12-year sentence for non-existent plan to attack Russian puppet ‘minister’ 26.09.2024
16-year ‘sentence’ in occupied Luhansk oblast for opposing Russian invasion of Ukraine 27.09.2024
Gruesome murders as ‘collateral damage’ in Russia’s use of criminals for war against Ukraine
Relentless torment and 14-year sentences because Russia needed another 'Crimean saboteur' show trial 30.09.2024
Russia uses surreal charges and crippling fines to silence veteran Crimean Tatar newspaper
Protecting the Rights of Prisoners Deported from the Occupied Territories of Ukraine: Challenges and Solutions 02.10.2024
Dmytro Vovk: What awaits Ukraine after the law banning the [ROC]?
Schoolcildren in Russia and occupied Ukraine forced to ‘celebrate’ Russian annexation as ‘reunification’ 04.10.2024
Russian ‘justice’ in occupied Crimea - 17-year sentence and shattered childhoods for discussing a book in 2015
+Toots etcetera+
ChrisO_wiki @ChrisO_wiki@mastodon.social
1/ A recent video of a Russian soldier who was handcuffed and beaten in a [RF] hospital when he asked for treatment is not an isolated incident, according to Russian milbloggers. They say that soldiers who survive assaults are often mistreated afterwards. …
Mark @mark_melbin@mastodon.online
… those … who wittingly or unwittingly spread Russian #propaganda. [—] Common themes are blaming Ukraine/NATO/the West for #Russia's genocide in Ukraine, while attacking Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. You're either for genocide or against. Appearances on Russia Today (RT) are also a red flag.
Barns \ Pilger \ Cronau \ Menadue \ Assange \ Kostakidis \ Johnstone
+In the Offing+
Milestone in the history of Ukrainian Studies in Australia —
on-line registration now available.
"The Tale of the Sunflower and Its Travels in Ukraine" — Inaugural lecture by the first Mykola Zerov Fellow in Ukrainian Studies at the University of Melbourne — Dr Iryna Skubii
Event organised by: Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne.
Tuesday 15 October 2024. Light refreshments: 5:15 p.m.; lecture: 6.15 p.m. AEDT. Forum Theatre (Room 153), Arts West Building, The University of Melbourne.
To register for in-person or online attendance: please follow this link. Online attendees will receive the Zoom link prior to the lecture.
Abstract:
The sunflower, a vibrant and essential part of global cuisine, holds a unique place in Ukraine's cultural and historical landscape. Today, sunflower oil is a staple in local and regional cuisine, and the flower's bright imagery is deeply woven into the nation's cultural fabric. Yet, many might be surprised to learn that the sunflower, known as soniashnyk in Ukrainian, is not native to the local forest-steppe and steppe lands. First cultivated by Indigenous peoples in the Americas, sunflowers were introduced to Europe, then to the Russian Empire, and eventually became one of the most common crops in Ukraine. The sunflower has thrived in Eastern Europe, evolving into a cornerstone of Ukraine’s economy as the country has emerged as the world’s leading exporter of sunflower seeds and oil.
While the sunflower is a cherished icon in Ukrainian literature and art and a popular symbol of resilience, its environmental impact has not received the critical attention it deserves, particularly regarding its role in soil degradation and the spread of monoculture farming. This lecture will delve into the complex history of sunflowers within Ukraine’s economic, cultural, and environmental landscapes. By examining this agricultural plant as a source of food, cultural significance, and national wealth, the talk will illuminate the intricate relationship between sunflowers, Ukraine’s history, and its land.
Iryna Skubii is the inaugural Mykola Zerov Fellow in Ukrainian Studies at the University of Melbourne. She obtained her PhD in History from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (Canada) and a Candidate of Science degree in History from V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine). Her publications focus on Ukraine’s history of trade, consumption, materialities, and human-environmental relationships during the early Soviet period, including the Soviet famines, as well as social and environmental history. She is the author of the book Trade in Kharkiv in the Years of NEP: Economy and Everyday Life (1921-1929).
+The Living Spirit+
"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful."
— Dr Samuel Johnson (English author, linguist & lexicographer, 13 December 1784, aged 75 years) in The History of Rasselas.
☼¶ ☼ Jesuit Post (USA)
Persevering in Conversion: After the Cannonball Moment comes the Thorny Path by Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ
+Start every day with a smile, and get it over with+
☼☼W.C. Fields — William Claude Dukenfield (1946 z 25, aged 66)☼☼
“I’ve convinced our eight-year-old that I hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner; so now she vacuums whenever she’s cross with me.” (ParentingHack@AnnieMcCarren)
☼☼
+Resources & Publication Details+
The Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine is a reputable source for inquiries about Ukraine; it's also a 'first-stop' place for inquiries about surrounding countries. A good place to go before Wiki.
JustPeace Ukraine is published by the Rvrd Martin Arnold ☼☼Abbe.Martincurt@gmail.com☼☼ who welcomes comments & suggestions and notification of typos & errors. | For more information about Martin, go to ☼☼https://gravatar.com/martinoarnold☼☼
+Church, Art, Culture, Ethics, Politics & News+
+From religiously-identified institutions+
☼¶ ☼Church Life Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame
Max Scheler on Human Exceptionalism in a Technocratic Society
Dylan Belton on animals.
-
T. Adam Van Wart on the New Jerusalem.
-
The Theological Basis for Christian Service
John Cavadini on charity.
-
Corpus Mysticum: The Divorce of the Mystical from the Sacramental Body
Henri de Lubac on the mystical body.
-
Jennifer Newsome Martin on diversity.
-
The Need for an Honest Conversation About the Nature of Our Witness
Ralph D'Elia on a wounded witness.
-
The Eucharist and the Transformation of Politics
Robert Dunn on citizenship.
-
Marcel Proust's View from the Persecutor's Side
Joshua Hren on conversion.
☼¶ ☼Crux (Glendale)
How the church’s vast talent pool represents an ironic obstacle to reform One of the premier ironies of contemporary Catholic life is that the seemingly endless poll of passionate and devoted Catholics out there, forever ready to serve if the pope asks, actually constitutes a principal obstacle to reform. By John L. Allen Jr.
☼¶ ☼Jewish Council of Australia
Newsletter: Reflections on one year of genocide, a new Jewish year, and opportunities for change
In a few days we welcome the month of Tishrei, the first month in the Hebrew calendar. A month of beginnings, festivities, and solemn introspection. Tishrei is an opportunity to think about the year that was and what we want to bring into our worlds in the year to come; we open the Machzor, open the Ark, and open our hearts. We fast and we feast, we forgive and forget, and we hold our communities closer for Tishrei is a month of togetherness. | We pound our fists on our chests and say that we … have sinned, because we know that our individual redemption and salvation is tied with that of our communities. As Rabbis Katz and Rosenberg remind us in their beautiful book For Times Such as These (2024), during Tishrei 'we transform our individual burdens into collective responsibilities'. | We wish you a deeply meaningful Jewish new year, and may we all be so fortunate as to keep building communities of solidarity across social divides. | On that note, there is still so much work to get done, and two ways you can support our work are by donating to our Ko-fi (donations currently not tax deductible) and signing the Council’s statement of Core Values, either as a Jewish supporter or non-Jewish ally.
2024 s 29 — Thank you to everyone who came to our event yesterday with Peter Beinart. We had 473 people register to attend the event, and raised $4545 for the Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA). \ This event will be the first of many Jewish Council conversations, which we will hold both in-person and online. \ For those who missed out, here is a link to the full recording of the event. At the Jewish Council, we want to speak to more people than just our bubble and to foster diverse visions of Jewishness. Please share the recording with friends or family who wouldn't otherwise hear this perspective.
https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/news-media | To receive bulletins from JCA, write to jewishcouncil@jewishcouncil.com.au
☼¶ ☼Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University — Public Orthodoxy
This essay by Sylvester, a prelate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (formerly UOC-MP), clarifies questions about the law “On protecting the constitutional order in the field of the activities of religious organisations” and freedom of religion and conscience.
My summary: The wording of the statute gives cause for concern, but if the law courts show an ounce of common sense, no harm will be done:—
A Democracy Test for Ukraine What Threats to Religious Freedom Does the New Law Impose? by Archbishop Sylvester (Stoychev)
And this essay by John Jillions, sometime curate of Holy Annunciation parish in Queensland:—
Tradition and Change by Very Rev. Dr. John Jillions
The Russian Orthodox Church and the Babylonian-Byzantine Legacy Exploring the Order of the XXV World Russian People's Council in the Light of V. S. Solovyov’s View of Russian Byzantinism by Fadi Abu-Deeb
Solovyov’s warnings, critiques, and comments on the political and anti-Western attitudes of the Russian Orthodox Church seem to remain applicable even today.
Nationalism and Ecumenicism: Why Politics Matters by Roland Clark
☼¶ ☼Outreach (a lesbigatesque Catholic resource from New York)
Why do the disciples not understand suffering? (Wis 2:12, 17-20; Jas 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37) James Martin, S.J.
Does Jesus really want us to cut off our hands? (Num 11: 25-29; Jas. 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)
☼¶ ☼Psephizo
What does the rise of artificial intelligence tell us about being human? View Article
What’s the problem? What’s the Solution? The problem with ‘racial justice’ appointments \ John Root
☼¶ ☼Society of Jesus: Thinking Faith (England & Wales), America and the Jesuit Post (USA) Eureka Street (Victoria) &c.
Psalm 8 and ‘anthropo-eccentricity’ Luke Taylor on ‘What a piece of work is man.’ Beautiful reading, ioo, for the Season of Creation.
Persevering in Conversion: After the Cannonball Moment comes the Thorny Path by Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ
☼¶ ☼Vatican News, Sala Stampa &c.
Pope Francis' October prayer intention: 'For a shared mission' (Was ‘Apostolate of Prayer’)
Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of October "for a shared mission," and calls on all faithful in whatever vocation they may have to do ...
+From Ukrainian publishers+
☼¶ ☼ψ Euromaidan Press
Russia’s war devastates Black Sea ecosystems and communities. A year after the Kakhovka dam attack, activists are racing against the clock to prevent an eco-collapse fuelled by drifting mines and war-driven pollution. Théo Prouvost
Zelenskyy confirms successful flight tests of domestically produced ballistic missile. “We are focusing on missile and drone programs recently,” Ukraine Defense Minister Umierov noted. By Yuri Zoria
☼¶ ☼ ψ The Kyiv Independent group, including Ukraine Daily, Belarus Weekly
Explaining Ukraine Kate Tsurkan
Historical grievances resurface in Polish-Ukrainian relations, threatening to stall Kyiv’s EU accession by Dinara Khalilova
Lithuania asks ICC to investigate Lukashenko for crimes against humanity
War Notes by Francis Farrell Hello dear readers, this is Francis Farrell back today with this week’s War Notes, coming at you from home in Kyiv. \ I am in between overseas trips at the moment, but since I have been back in Kyiv, autumn has finally well and truly arrived here, and with it, thoughts of the winter ahead of us.
☼☼Some interesting or worthy items are marked with some combination of the banner with the strange device [εξηλσιορ*ψ]☼☼
[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
+Tl;dr — From many sources+
☼¶ ☼AP News
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits Pennsylvania ammunition plant to thank workers and ask for more By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and TARA COPP[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ The Atlantic
The Only Way the Ukraine War Can End Russia has to stop fighting. By Anne Applebaum[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ The Atlantic Council
There can be no sustainable peace in Europe without security for Ukraine Mykola Bielieskov — research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior analyst at Ukrainian NGO “Come Back Alive.”[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Putin will keep escalating his nuclear blackmail until it stops working By Peter Dickinson[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Ukraine needs international investors to maintain defense tech momentum By Mykhailo Fedorov[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Kyiv’s allies should boost Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russia By David Kirichenko[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ The BBC, ABC, CBC, NZBC &c.
BBC Monitoring Disinformation Watch Newsletter 18 Sep - 1 Oct 2024 — Russian election interference efforts 'focus on the Harris-Walz campaign' \ 'Deepfake' caller posing as Ukraine's ex-foreign minister talks to US Senator \ Ukraine denies Russian reports of 'concentration camps' in Kursk Region \ Moldova denies Russian F-16 'base' claims \ Poland: PM accuses 'Russian accounts' of sowing panic during floods \ and more.[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ Bellingcat
Find the Right Open Source Research Tools With Bellingcat’s New Online Investigations Toolkit
☼¶ ☼Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Chinese nuclear weapons, 2024 \ Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns & Mackenzie Knight
☼¶ Carnegie (politika, Russia Eurasia)
Why Is Belarus Freeing Political Prisoners? The unusual move is likely a signal to the West that Minsk is uncomfortable about the prospect of permanent dependence on Moscow. Artyom Shraibman
Taiwan and the Limits of the Russia-China Friendship. Eugene Rumer
Is Georgia Headed for Another Revolution? The Georgian Dream party has effectively threatened that if the opposition loses the upcoming election, it may lose legal means of fighting for power in the future. In other words, the authorities themselves are putting the opposition in a situation where street battles are the key to its survival. Alexander Atasuntsev
Is a “Shadow Fleet” of Oil Tankers Really Circumventing the Russian Price Cap? With a quarter of the global tanker fleet transporting Russian cargo in 2024, the so-called “shadow fleet” is neither as separate nor as obscure as might have been thought. Sergey Vakulenko
Moldovan Elections to Spotlight Decline of Support for Russia Amid the war in Ukraine, almost every politician in Moldova wants to avoid being seen as strongly pro-Russian. But public support for Russia remains significant. Vladimir Solovyov
How Serious a Threat Is Russia’s New Nuclear Doctrine? Russia’s nuclear shield insures it against NATO’s large-scale involvement in the war in Ukraine, but below that threshold, the West is doing more and more to support its Ukrainian allies, leaving the Kremlin facing the difficult question of how to restore the effectiveness of its deterrent. Alexander Gabuev
☼¶ CEPA, CSIS, CftNI &c.
Inside Ukraine’s Drone High Command By Mitzi Perdue[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
E
☼¶ Engelsberg Ideas
2024s21 From trade routes to temples, Nicholas Morton explores how ancient India’s ideas and inventions left an indelible mark on civilisations from China to the Roman Empire.
Rachel Cockerell profiles the novelist Israel Zangwill, forgotten creator of the Melting Pot.
A mix of faith, fear, and control has shaped Christianity's conflicting teachings about human sexuality over the centuries. Katherine Harvey reviews Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch.
Jonathan Patrick reflects on how, even after a long hiatus, the unapologetically highbrow musicality of The Bathers transforms Glasgow's sandstone tenements into the perfect backdrop of romance and timeless memories.
We are living through a shift in the balance of power between states and the private sector, writes Ulrike Franke, with vast implications for modern conflict.
Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony melds song, majestic orchestral forces and moments of intimacy and emotion. Benjamin Poore reflects on a recent performance in an unlikely location: a converted car park in urban London.
Shashank Joshi on how private intelligence companies are competing with state agencies and transforming the age-old craft of espionage into a high-stakes technological arms race.
☼¶ The European Council / Council of the European Union
Library guide on EU-UN relations
New books added to the Council Library's collection - September 2024
Think Tank reports on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ European Council on Foreign Relations Update
2024 s 27 Like the titular character in the movie “Barbie”, the EU is prone to regarding itself as more perfect than it really is. But a year of wars and elections has exposed the under-participation in Europe of non-white and Muslim Europeans, central and eastern Europeans, and young EU citizens. Ignoring these blind spots could have long-term repercussions on democracy inside the bloc, argues Pawel Zerka in the European Sentiment Compass 2024. \ Last week’s UN Summit of the Future should also spur Europe to forge new partnerships with the global south, writes Anthony Dworkin. The EU should address these countries’ needs and uphold the UN’s Global Digital Compact to prevent further fragmentation of technology regulation and close digital divides, argues Giorgio Verdi. \ With just over one month to go before the American election, during her visit to New York Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni consolidated her relationship with tech mogul and Donald Trump supporter, Elon Musk. In this week’s World in 30 Minutes, Mark Leonard welcomes Lykke Friis, Sylvie Kauffmann, and Arturo Varvelli to discuss how Meloni’s Italy is shaping global and European politics.
☼¶ Foreign Affairs (The Council on Foreign Relations [US])
What the U.S. Election Means for Ukraine A Trump Win Would Cause a Crisis for Kyiv—but Wouldn’t Guarantee Defeat By Alexander Vindman[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
America’s Strategy of Renewal Rebuilding Leadership for a New World By Antony J. Blinken
☼¶ ☼Foundations
Why Britain has stagnated by Ben Southwood, Samuel Hughes, Sam Bowman
☼¶ Guardian
The shapeshifter: Who is the real Giorgia Meloni? By Alexander Stille
The cement company that paid millions to Isis: Was Lafarge complicit in crimes against humanity? By Samanth Subramanian
The west’s cautious approach seeks to avoid escalation in Ukraine. It may have the opposite effect Putin will not stop unless he is forced to. It’s time to change the way we think about nuclear deterrence, and commit to securing victory By Andriy Zagorodnyuk
☼¶ ☼Hong Kong Foundation, Committee for Freedom in
Newsletter. The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Betrays British Values \ The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation condemns the British Chamber (BritCham) of Commerce in Hong Kong for its disgraceful decision to invite John Lee, a sanctioned individual under U.S. law, and Chinese Communist Party enforcer Cui Jianchun as keynote speakers at the BritCham Hong Kong 2024 Summit on September 24. BritCham has not only betrayed its principles but turned its back on core British values of democracy and the rule of law. \ Meanwhile, British citizen Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong pro-democracy media outlet Apple Daily, has been imprisoned for over 1,300 days on national security law charges. Instead of using its influence to demand Lai’s immediate and unconditional release, BritCham has chosen to cozy up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), undermining the very freedoms it claims to champion.
The other British invasion — How UK lingo conquered the US Ben Yagoda
I
☼¶ Institute for the Study of War
¶ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
2024 x 03 — The Russian offensive effort in eastern Ukraine that began in fall 2023 continues to produce gradual Russian tactical gains in specific sectors of the front, but operationally significant gains will likely continue to elude Russian forces. Ukrainian forces are conducting an effective defense in depth along the frontline, inflicting significant losses upon Russian forces while slowly giving ground but preventing the Russian military from making more rapid gains on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces do face serious operational challenges and constraints, which are providing Russian forces with opportunities to pursue tactically significant gains. Russian forces do not have the available manpower and materiel to continue intensified offensive efforts indefinitely, however, and current Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine will likely culminate in the coming months, if not weeks, as Ukrainian officials and ISW have previously assessed.
☼¶ The Interpreter (Lowy Institute)
China narrows US lead on military capability, and India replaces Japan as Asia’s third-ranked power — 2024 Asia Power Index Key Findings Report, by Project Lead Susannah Patton, Data Analyst Jack Sato, and the Institute’s Director of Research Hervé Lemahieu. The lead authors also published an essay in Foreign Affairs analysing America’s post-primacy role in the region’s balance of power: Asia Has No Hegemon.
2024s ABC Chair Kim Williams delivered a thoughtful Lowy Institute Media Lecture on the importance of truth in public life and journalism. He also spoke with me about his ambitions to reopen the ABC’s Beijing bureau, the importance of journalistic impartiality, and the role of fact-checking. \ I was delighted to welcome World Bank President Ajay Banga to Bligh Street this month, during his first visit to the region since being appointed to the role. We discussed the pressing economic issues confronting the world, how the World Bank is responding, and the life lessons he’s learned from cricket.
Trump may surprise us on the Ukraine war Mick Ryan 2/10/24 If Donald Trump can’t achieve a quick solution in Ukraine, he could well turn on Putin and increase US support to Ukraine.
☼¶ ☼Journal of Peace Research
To compete or strategically retreat? The global diffusion of reconnaissance strike \ Michael C Horowitz and Joshua A Schwartz
☼¶ Meduza
‘A life-saving service’ Women’s rights activists lead the charge in Armenia’s fight against domestic violence. By Teresa Di Mauro
☼¶ Moscow Times &c.
2024 s 28 President Vladimir Putin proposed revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine that would allow it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a large-scale air attack. Under the proposed changes, Moscow would also consider any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack by both. Widely seen as an explicit reference to Ukraine and its Western backers, some experts say the changes amount to little more than threats.
The Russia Report Issue 220 Sarah Hurst
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☼¶ OVD-Info and the Dissident Digest https://en.ovdinfo.org/dissident-digest
2024 s 25 — You might be thinking that the Kremlin’s repression is limited exclusively to inside Russia, or at worst, to Ukraine; in fact, it stretches far beyond, reaching across mountains and oceans — targeting Russians abroad.
2024 x 02 — Bodies One of authoritarianism’s key features is that sooner or later authoritarian governments want to control bodies — especially those of women.
☼¶ People & Nature
Making Homes and Energy Transition in Nigeria, by Tom Ackers. A free, downloadable PDF published today. Please share! Tom outlines the growing need for homes and the widespread slum dwelling forced on to Nigerians by gaping social inequalities. He looks at the potential for housing needs to be met in sustainable ways that do not aggravate the climate crisis or other ruptures of society’s relationship with nature
☼¶ Project Syndicate, George Soros &c.
The Sources of Russian Conduct Nina L. Khrushcheva
☼¶ Riddle Russia
Russia’s tired ‘Hydraulic Keynesianism’ Nick Trickett suggests that Russia’s wartime economic spending plans are rapidly running out of steam "The Russian economy is exhausting itself. Growth won in 2022−2023 has become a drag on GDP today as the economy has hit its productive limits. That’s not «military Keynesianism.» It’s war spending as a slow acting poison"[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Putin after Mongolia Anton Barbashin on how Russia’s symbolic victories on the international stage conceal growing uncertainties in its cooperation with key partners "It is not that Russia is isolated and Putin has become an outcast. Moscow has enough strength to create the appearance of an active foreign policy agenda, full of ideas and attractive economic deals. But on closer inspection, we see an increasingly complex picture of partnerships built on the needs of war and financial incentives."[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Elections without candidates Ksenia Smolyakova explains why Russia’s current elections are so low key "It is the level of local self-government that today has the greatest potential for the rapid revival of real elections, political discussion and competition, because here the public political struggle is still alive."[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
☼¶ The Strategist — The Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Securing Australia’s supply chains through targeted investments in manufacturing John Coyne | 3 October 2024 Australia needs a policy for delivering the minimum manufacturing capacity that would ensure national resilience, security and economic prosperity.[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
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☼¶ War Translated and other like journals
—National Interest Zelenskyy’s Changing Leadership Style What does the latest cabinet reshuffle tell us about how Zelenskyy is governing Ukraine? by Andreas Umland, Julia Kazdobina
☼¶ Die Zeit et cetera
Wired Ukraine Is Decentralizing Energy Production to Protect Itself From Russia The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is equipping schools and hospitals with solar panels and energy storage systems to nullify Russian attacks on the country's power plants.[εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Review of Paul D’Anieri, Ukraine and Russia. From Civilized Divorce to Uncivil War . Cambridge & New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2019, xii + 282pp., £22.99 p/b. By TOMASZ BRAUN, Deputy Rector, Lazarski University, Warsaw, Poland. Email: t.braun@lazarski.edu.pl [εξηλσιορ*ψ]
Good-bye & bless you!
*_* Хай живе вільна Україна *_* "L’Ukraine a toujours aspiré à être libre"—Voltaire *_* Няхай жыве вольная Украіна *_* Larga vida a Ucrania libre *_* Да здравствует свободная Украина *_* Long live free Ukraine *_* 自由乌克兰万岁 *_* تحي أوكرانيا حرة *_*