Good day to remind everyone of the guy who will be feted, mourned, and deified nationally and internationally as a "Grand strategist", "Mr. Realpolitik", 'Statesman", "Great Man of History" etc., etc.,
Everyone knows about the Vietnam war, and what happened in "Indo-China", much less so around the same time what happened in South Asia from 1970-71. Remains one of the toughest books I have ever read.
I see a lot of people sharing blanket condemnations of all of those who still remain on #Twitter / #Xitter , and I need you to slow down a bit.
Sure, in some cases this is justified - journalists should really know better. But there are a lot of communities on that platform that are vital to many people's well-being that haven't been replicated on the #Fediverse or elsewhere. Take #BlackTwitter - while #BlackMastodon is growing, it's still minuscule in comparison. The number of Twitter users in #Pakistan is staggering, while they are only a handful on #Mastodon . And so on, and so forth. Twitter was a lifeline to many marginalized people, and it still is - even though it gets worse every day - and we need to recognize this.
As a white European guy, it was easy for me to walk away from Twitter (I still have an account there, but I only post "you should go to Mastodon" stuff these days) - since it is easy to find people of a similar background to interact with. But this is NOT true for everyone!
So I'd like everyone to show a bit less contempt to the remaining Twitter users in general, and put some more effort in how to make the Fediverse friendlier to marginalized voices. Because there is MUCH work to be done here!
⚠️ Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube; the incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan's political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering
Henry Kissinger has died at age 100, his consulting firm said in a statement on Wednesday... The Yale University historian Greg Grandin, author of the biography Kissinger’s Shadow, estimates that Kissinger’s actions from 1969 through 1976, a period of eight brief years when Kissinger made Richard Nixon’s and then Gerald...
"As new #rains threaten the same areas hit by last year’s #floods, #Pakistan finds itself at the mercy of a pernicious pattern: #ClimateChange is driving more intense rainfall, which drives more intense flooding, which stymies #recovery from past floods.
Among all the challenges, the biggest might be #food. The flood’s impact on livestock and farmland has limited Pakistan’s ability to feed its citizens: 10.5 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity."
Activists across #SouthAsia had been loudly warning back-to-back climate disasters can permanently end harvests:
“The agricultural economy in all districts..is now three short crops in succession. Matured rice crops were swept away when the fields flooded in July, but over the next three months (i.e. Jul-Sep), we used to sow and harvest maize. Hopes for both crops are now gone.”
Interesting - the same moment telecoms networks were shut down across #Pakistan as polls opened for today's elections, satellite internet operator Yahsat (YahClick) saw a huge rise in connectivity - to whom this exclusive service is provided we don't know 🛰️ (data via @netblocks)
I know there’s no shortage of political drama in the world right now, but if you follow that sort of thing… Pakistan just jumped to the top of the list. In a shock upset, the party of the ex-PM who is currently in jail just won a majority of seats in parliament. Get out the popcorn and find a comfortable seat, this should be interesting. https://www.dawn.com/news/1813028#Pakistan#PakistanElection2024#Pakistanelections
"Last year, the gov imposed a 20% tax on solar panels, wind turbines and related technologies under the IMF programme, reversing the growth trend in solar markets..."
"..IMF loan conditions has forced the gov to abandon its flagship 600-megawatt solar project while resorting to easier.. coal power, in the 300MW Gwadar plant."
Meanwhile in #Pakistan, about 4 million Afghans, some of whom have been living in the country for over a decade, are being asked to go back. This includes those who are 'documented'
On #ClimateChange and the #UrbanHeatIsland effect in developing countries blindly following the American style of "development", personal stories from people trying to cope with these both climate and architecturally magnified heatwaves.
“The party of the imprisoned former prime minister of #Pakistan, Imran Khan, won the most seats in parliamentary elections this week, delivering a strong rebuke to the country’s powerful generals and throwing the political system into chaos”
Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Updated Thu, February 29, 2024 at 8:24 AM
#ClimateChange is fueling disasters, increasing concerns
"Experts say the #TexasWildfires highlighted the dangers natural disasters could pose to America's widespread #NuclearWeapons and energy networks. Eleven states are home to nuclear weapons, 28 to #NuclearPowerPlants and spent #NuclearFuel storage.
"In Texas, the fire's flames were spread by strong winds, dry conditions and unseasonably high temperatures, which broke records across the country — just the kind of conditions that experts have long warned are more likely as Earth warms.
"'We need more attention on the nexus of climate and nuclear,' said Kwong.
"Climate change effects have already caused nuclear concerns around the world: 'Places like #NorthKorea and #Pakistan are already facing these threats,' said Kwong.
"North Korea has experienced increases in #typhoons, #droughts and #flooding, according to the Royal United Services Institute, a United Kingdom-based defense think tank.
"In 2022, massive flooding covered more than one-third of the nation of Pakistan, affecting more than 33 million people."
Brilliant article on the challenges facing transition to renewables, and why its unlikely
"while the cost of renewable power is now lower than that of fossil fuels, renewables are not a profitable business. The particularities of the .. market structure are the causal factors here... Making sure that capital gets its pound of flesh has crippled the country."
Well referenced article by a thinktank based in #Pakistan summarizing the mechanism for #ClimateChange derived food inflation being observed in the country.
Doesn't add anything new except the fact none of the listed issues are predictions - they are observations and cited.
#ClimateCrisis is here, and as in the Global North, farmers/gardeners can see it clearly, but the rest barely.
We got married in our home town of #Lahore last Sunday & decided to use the opportunity of our friends & family gathered under one smog-filled sky to raise awareness about the #ClimateCrisis & platform local climate activists.
Its going to take time to get our own snaps sorted, but heres a thread of the highlights with links to sites/socials:
We invited local #ClimateChange activists, who have worked themselves on projects locally with minimal recognition and support, to our #ClimateWedding. We shared their work in our wedding newspaper, and in an exhibit at the venue. We are immensely thankful to them. Link’s to their social media posts below.
We know this is not a solution anymore but it is still the most basic action most of us can undertake ourselves, so at the wedding, we gifted citrus tree saplings (and rose plants) to our guests to take home and grow. We weren’t sure if any would take up the offer so ordered just enough for each family and…
Henry Kissinger, War Criminal Beloved by America’s Ruling Class, Finally Dies (www.rollingstone.com)
Henry Kissinger has died at age 100, his consulting firm said in a statement on Wednesday... The Yale University historian Greg Grandin, author of the biography Kissinger’s Shadow, estimates that Kissinger’s actions from 1969 through 1976, a period of eight brief years when Kissinger made Richard Nixon’s and then Gerald...