Image is of the Cobre Panama open-pit copper mine, located 120 kilometers west of Panama City.
Canada is a prolific mining country, hosting many of the world’s top mining corporations. Some of its extraction is local - for example, Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer of potash, a critical agricultural nutrient. Much of the extraction is abroad. Naturally, this means that Canada has cut a bloody, but often ignored, path through the global periphery, extracting minerals and causing environmental degradation.
A notable recent example is that of the Cobre Panama copper mine, which is owned by First Quantum Minerals, one of the largest mining companies in Canada. The company earned $10 billion in revenue in 2022, of which the Cobre Panama mine generated $1 billion. Protests in Panama about this mine have gone on for over a decade, urging for a greater share of the profits, protection of indigenous people, and stronger environmental protections. Canada has maintained a stoney silence (pun somewhat intended) on these movements.
On October 20th, the president of Panama, Cortizo, renewed the company’s mining concession for 20 years, after a halt in production since the end of 2022 due to negotiations and reform. Everybody hated this. In October, protestors took to the streets in sufficient numbers that Cortizo was forced to halt new mining approvals, and announced a public referendum on whether the contract with First Quantum should be repealed. This was immediately cut down, but the government decided to invalidate the new concession anyway in late November, calling it unconstitutional, and closing down the mine.
First Quantum Minerals has lost about half its market value since October. Various international banks have said that Panama could lose its investment-grade credit rating next year due to the income hit - the mine generated 5% of its GDP. The international arbitration process which First Quantum has initiated against Panama could last years.
The book Canada in the World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination handles Canada’s role as an imperialist, anti-indigenous, extractive state throughout its history, and is on our geopolitical reading list.
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Israel-Palestine Conflict
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.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
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.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
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 Telegram Channels:
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.
Follow up from the post 3 days ago
“New footage surfaced showing Israeli soldiers in Gaza using Palestinian civilians as human shields to advance into built-up areas. ◾️Several survivors stated that they were used by the Israeli army as human shields to advance into areas in Jabalia.”
The monstrous zionist occupation soldiers are singing songs during it too…
Milei government confirms massive devaluation of peso
spoiler
First measures announced by Economy Minister Luis Caputo; Official dollar moves from around 400 to 800 pesos per greenback, among host of other measures.
President Javier Milei’s government launched a major devaluation of the peso on Tuesday and a host of other measures as it attempts to head off a major economic crisis.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo, speaking in a delayed pre-recorded message, said that the peso would pass to 800 per United States dollar – a devaluation of more than 50 percent.
“The official exchange rate will go to 800 pesos” to the US dollar, up from 391 pesos earlier in the day, Caputo announced as part of a raft of “shock” measures to tackle triple-digit-inflation and cut spending. He also announced a reduction in the state’s generous subsidies of fuel and transport, without saying by how much.
Caputo announced around 10 measures in total, with most dedicated to slashing government spending. They included pre-announced steps like halving the number of government ministries and slashing secretariats. Money transfers to provincial governments (“discretionary transfers”) will also be trashed while all ongoing public works projects without external financing will be immediately suspended. “State employment contracts which have been in force for less than a year will not be renewed," said Caputo.
Other spending cuts he announced include the suspension of all state advertising for a year – which, he said, had cost 34 billion pesos in 2023. Subsidies for transport and energy services – huge expenditure for Argentina’s government – will also be slashed, he said, without providing further details. “This is the correct path,” declared Caputo, warning that continuing the status quo would lead Argentina into an even deeper crisis.
“We have to avoid catastrophe,” he said, due to “the worst inheritance” in the nation’s history. Echoing the line Milei used often on the campaign trail and in his inaugural speech, the minister declared: “There is no money.” Moments before the announcement, the new Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili summoned representatives from all the nation’s banks to a meeting scheduled for 9am Wednesday.
This is an important bit. Milei’s last efforts during the campaign were to coin the phrase “No hay más plata” (There’s no more money). According to him, and to the libertarians, the state’s treasury is completely dry and there’s no cash for anything other than “the essentials”. This means, for example, all public works are to be halted and taken over by the private sector. This might also serve as the basis for future massive privatizations, since the state “must get money”, therefore it will be “necessary” to privatize as many state services as possible…
IMF approval
In an attempt to compensate for the loss of purchasing-power, Caputo said the government would raise child benefit and food stamp payments by 50 percent. There was no word on any measures to protect the retired and elderly, a sector of the population which will be hit hard by the new measures.
While Caputo announced the exchange rate would slide to 800 pesos to the dollar, from about 391 in recent days, there was no immediate mention of the lifting of strict currency controls which have birthed a multitude of dollar exchanges and a thriving black-market where the dollar has sold for up to three times the official rate at times. Argentina’s government has for years strictly controlled the exchange rate of the peso to the dollar, which analysts have derided as an expensive fiction. The announcements won the immediate approval of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said the austerity was “aimed at improving public finances.”
“IMF staff welcome the measures announced earlier today by Argentina’s new Economy Minister Luis Caputo. These bold initial actions aim to significantly improve public finances in a manner that protects the most vulnerable in society and strengthens the foreign exchange regime. Their decisive implementation will help stabilise the economy and set the basis for more sustainable and private-sector led growth," read a statement signed by IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack. “IMF staff and the new Argentine authorities will work expeditiously in the period ahead. Following serious policy setbacks over the past few months, this new package provides a good foundation for further discussions to bring the existing Fund-supported programme back on track,” it concluded.
‘Economic disaster’
In his recorded message – which included a lengthy opening section in which Caputo tried to explain the rationale for the measures – the minister attempted to underline the severity of the “economic disaster” facing Argentina. The minister said the country had an “addiction” to spending to more than it earns, and had posted a fiscal deficit for 113 of the past 123 years.
Consumer prices have risen by more than 140 percent over the last 12 months and more than 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. “The fiscal deficit exceeds 5.5 points of gross domestic product with a Central Bank with an absolutely deteriorated balance sheet, without dollars in its assets and printing money of more than 20 points of GDP, thus causing inflation to currently sail at 300 percent per year and punish Argentines every day,” claimed Caputo.
He assured that the genesis of the problem “has always been the fiscal deficit,” as he outlined the package of economic measures. “If we continue as we are, we are inevitably heading towards hyperinflation,” he declared. “What we come to do is the opposite of what has always been done… to solve this problem at root, precisely so that we do not have to suffer these consequences anymore,” said Caputo. In relation to discretionary transfers from the National State to the provinces, Caputo maintained that they will be reduced “to a minimum” and added that these are “funds which, unfortunately, in our recent history have been used as a bargaining-chip to exchange political favours”.
With regard to public works, Caputo announced that “the National State will not tender any more new public works and will cancel the approved tenders whose development has not yet begun.”
“The reality is that there is no money to pay for more public works which, as all Argentines know, often end up in the pockets of politicians or businessmen on duty.” Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni had attempted to highlight the inheritance received by the Milei administration in his daily press conference and anticipated some of the announcements, such as a complete suspension of state advertising in media outlets.
“The measures will be in line with a strong fiscal cut, with some expansion in social items and this package will be accompanied by the removal of privileges,” trailed the spokesman. Caputo’s presentation was made after markets closed. Reaction is likely to come thick and fast on Wednesday morning. Local reporting said a first take at the video had been rejected by Caputo and others in Milei’s government. The video was reportedly re-recorded and eventually released two hours after initially planned.
Milei’s vow
Upon taking office last Sunday, Milei vowed to introduce a set of emergency measures he argued would save the country from “hyperinflation.” The 53-year-old libertarian and self-described “anarcho-capitalist” took office on Sunday vowing to slash public spending, warning the situation was likely to get a lot worse before it gets better. Annual inflation is currently at 140 percent and poverty levels at 40 percent in Latin-America’s third-biggest economy. Milei has vowed to cut spending by five percent of gross domestic product and has already streamlined the government from 18 ministries to nine. Recent governments have been heavy on intervention in prices and currency controls, welfare handouts and subsidies of fuel and transport – bus tickets cost only a few dollar cents.
During his campaign Milei’s main vow was to ditch the peso for the US dollar and shut down the Central Bank. However, with little power in Congress he has been forced to ally with members from the right-wing PRO party and has watered down some of his more fiery stances. Milei and his government have doubled down on the message that inflation, and the general economic situation, will worsen significantly before they get better. “We are going to be in poverty, and the situation is going to be much harder,” said teacher Gabriel Álvarez, 57, reacting to the announcements.
a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN … Of the 360,000 troops that entered Ukraine, including contract and conscript personnel, Russia has lost 315,000 on the battlefield
A completely separate reality.
Edit: also, weren’t most credible estimates of initial Russian troop strength on the order of ~200,000? Subtle way of playing down Ukraine’s initial failures in the south.
Haaretz Reporting 13 Israeli soldiers killed, mistakenly identified as Khamas.
Israeli suffering vs Palestinian suffering
If you’re wondering why the US isn’t allowing Israel to touch the Houthis, this is my 2 cents about what would happen from a past thread :
- Israel attacks Houthis.
- Houthis attack Saudi oil location due to the fact that they got chummier with Israel
- Inflation gets worse
- Biden loses election
a bottle was thrown at Milei during a parade. unfortunately it just missed
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
This thread is about the forced conscription of a Gazan civilian to act as a suicide bomber on behalf of the IDF. I edited it to improve the layout.
Thread by @MouinRabbani on Thread Reader App
THREAD: The following translation of a witness statement from the Gaza Strip was produced by a volunteer with the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate. It is provided here because it is an account that according to the translator “we find to be highly credible”. I am not in a position to verify it, but would suggest that doing so is an urgent task for those who claim to oppose human shields and suicide bombings, and demonstrate they are acting in support of a principle rather than of a state.
Translation [Brackets indicate the translator’s clarifications, I have made no corrections]
Prior to our apprehension within Majda Wasila School, located near Palestine Mosque in the western sector of Gaza City. [When this incident occurred, the civilian was in Majda Wasila School along with his family members and others, near Palestine Mosque in the western part of Gaza City.] I was approached by an [Israeli] officer who asked my name, occupation, and age.
He also sought information regarding my relatives and family. He then directed me to accompany him. When I asked about our destination, he said: “I am going to present you to your Lord akin to a bride.” Clarifying if he meant a groom, he elucidated, “a bride adorned in white attire and makeup.”
[In this dialogue, the Israeli soldier is making light of the possibility of killing the civilian.] I was escorted to a location next to a tunnel that belongs to the resistance. There, the Israeli officer outfitted me with a belt containing explosives and a GoPro camera affixed to my head. He secured a rope around my waist, with the directive, “When I tug the rope, you are to return to me.” I was held at gunpoint near the tunnel entrance and threatened with harm against my family.
While I was resisting compliance with his commands, he suddenly thrust me into the tunnel opening, where I landed and remained for approximately 3 minutes. Then he started yelling [at me to move] and fired shots to force me to move forward in the tunnel. I walked a distance of about 40 meters. He then pulled me from the tunnel using the rope, and said: “your Lord still does not desire your presence.”
I was handed over to the soldiers, who received instructions to find another individual of younger age. When I got back outside the tunnel, I discovered my family members still near the tunnel, and a child (15 years old) was taken from the group. Fortunately, he returned unharmed, and I saw him upon my release from detention.
The [Israeli military’s] objective underlying these actions is to avoid entering the tunnel. If the camera affixed to my head had detected the presence of resistance fighters within the tunnel, [the Israeli officer] would have detonated [the explosives on my belt], killing me and others. Further details will come out in the coming days.
End of Translation.
An Israeli acquaintance adds: What is described here is not “use of human shields”, but rather a much more severe crime: forced conscription of a civilian to act as a suicide bomber on behalf of the IDF.
That being said, there is ample evidence that the IDF is also using human shields in recent weeks, both in Gaza and in the West Bank (including one instance in which after using a Palestinian as a human shield the IDF apparently attempted to execute him: at the time reports indicated he survived the shooting).
I would also note that in [Operation] Cast Lead [in 2008-2009] there was a somewhat similar case, which in Israel is dubbed the “Child Procedure” incident, in which a 9-year-old Palestinian child was forced to open bags which the IDF suspected were wired to explode. “Child Procedure” is a paraphrase of “Neighbor Procedure”, the IDF-speak for using Palestinians as human shields (a practice notably used by newly popular “leftist” Yair Golan, who called it “very humane”.
It is widely assumed Golan will lead the leftist-Zionist camp in the upcoming elections).
End of comment by acquaintance and END OF THREAD
MNSBC anchor: “Let’s move on to George Santos he was off cameo and in court today…”
I was watching speed chess listening to MSNBC in the background and my brain was in legal mode and the Latin phrase “in camera” flashed in my head. For a sec - I somehow thought “off cameo” was a legal term. Then I realized she had actually said “off Cameo”.
US Homeland Security staff accuse leadership of turning ‘blind eye’ to Gaza
God I don’t want to mock them since they’re doing the right thing and all but c’mon. Even the little Eichmanns at DHS can’t stomach what Israel and the US is doing anymore. The imperial bureaucracy is getting soft folks, Cheney must be furious
“I’ve been very dedicated to the federal government,” one anonymous DHS official said. “I’ve served in different capacities. I very much believed in our mission. And then, after October 7, I feel like there has just been a drastic shift in this expectation of what we’re supposed to do when there’s a humanitarian crisis and what we’re actually doing when there’s politics involved, and that has a very, very scary, chilling impact.”
“There have been a lot of serious systemic and programmatic obstacles driven purely by politics"
Inaction has levied a steep toll on employees’ mental health, one described how colleagues with family in Gaza had received no support from DHS leadership as they tried to bring their relatives to safety.
A senior staff member who has spent more than a decade working for the federal government described having nightmares of losing his own children. He wakes up “with the knowledge that we’re not actually doing all that we can to provide programmes and relief for the Palestinians”.
“It’s definitely distressing and dispiriting to feel like, for political considerations, we’re not addressing [the conflict] in the same way that we would other previous, recent humanitarian crises, for instance, like Ukraine.”
slava palestine
Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’
about 40-45% of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions Israel has used have been unguided. The rest have been precision-guided munitions, the assessment says.
A US official told CNN that the US believes that the Israeli military is using the dumb bombs in conjunction with a tactic called “dive bombing,” or dropping a bomb while diving steeply in a fighter jet, which the official said makes the bombs more precise because it gets it closer to its target. The official said the US believes that an unguided munition dropped via dive-bombing is similarly precise to a guided munition.
They are trying to destroy Lebanon through different means than bombs. (articlein arabic)
"26% of families residing on Lebanese territory do not send their school-age children to school, while 52% of displaced Syrian families reported that they have school-age children who do not attend school. …
“The situation of children is not good,” according to the report, as mental illnesses associated with the crisis in the country have exhausted even those of school age, with 38% of families reporting that their children suffer from anxiety, and 24% from depression. But in the south, the figures become more serious, where the proportion of children suffering from anxiety reached 46%, and the proportion of those suffering from depression reached 29%. As for the level of Palestine refugee children, about half of them suffer from anxiety, and 30% from depression. … In a related context, the economic crisis has left deep scars on the material situation of families, and made them “on the edge of the abyss”. 84% of the households residing on the Lebanese territory borrow money to buy basic items from grocery stores and foodstuffs, 79% of which are from Lebanese households. The percentage of families sending their children to work has reached 16%, compared to 11% last April, while a third of families among displaced Syrians send their school-age children to work."
https://al-akhbar.com/Community/374169/ربع-الأطفال-في-لبنان-لا-يذهبون-إلى-المدار
