Loukas

Loukas, 9 hours ago to random

This just reminded me that, even though Sweden has a government which depends on the far-right it has not rescinded its recognition of Palestine.

In fact the foreign minister openly said they would not do so in this parliamentary answer. https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/skriftlig-fraga/aterkallande-av-erkannandet-av-palestina_hb1196/
https://press.coop/@AJEnglish/112485260949868924

Loukas, 14 hours ago to random

In other Sweden-UK history news. In 1940 the Brits seized some Swedish warships and promised to return them (eventually) as long as Sweden transferred American aircraft contracts to them.

Loukas, 1 day ago to random

The, now legendary, Robert Rankin answers a question about why one of his Brentford Triangle characters is called Omally.

Loukas, 1 day ago to random

Today I learned that the prefab voting booths they are setting up in my local library is called "The Benjamin Franklin."

Politics. All about those Benjamins.

Loukas, 2 days ago to random

It's ironic and depressing how all the other Swedish parties have policy points or slogans on their EU parliament posters, while the Social Democrats just say, "yeah...vote for us because of... vibes".

Loukas, 7 days ago to random

Today I learned about Gustav Adolf Church in Liverpool, the oldest Swedish church in the UK, completed 1884.

Loukas, 7 days ago to random

Them: you are culturally Christian, because of Christmas.

Me: it is Odin's day, my dudes.

Loukas, 8 days ago to random

Half a million displaced by floods in Brasil. Half. A. Million.

We're going to keep seeing these numbers and we're going to get numb to seeing them, and it'll be the new normal. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/persistent-brazil-floods-raise-specter-climate-migration-2024-05-13/?taid=6642658ec92493000158bfd7&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Loukas, 9 days ago (edited 9 days ago) to random

1/6
The 'green movement' and 'peace movement' don't exist, or at least not in the way most people think these movements exist.

The term movement is really inspiring. It has the air of a huge wave of people moving towards reaching some goal. Unfortunately I think people expect the wrong things from most movements called 'peace' or 'green' (or climate) and that leads to a lot of confusion and wasted energy.

People generally conflate protest movements like this with social movements.

Loukas, 9 days ago to random

I have a slightly higher amount of energy than usual.

rubs hands

Time to over-commit and get burnt out again.

Loukas, 9 days ago to random

Genuine question: do we see any signs of ’proletarianisation’ in the campus protests.

For decades university staff have been treated worse and worse. Is there any sign that they now have less loyalty to university authorities and norms because of this?

Loukas, 9 days ago to random

A clever person once said to me: Sweden isn't less racist than Denmark. It's just ten years behind.

Now Sweden's government plans to force public service to adopt a nationalistic line, as Denmark did in 2018.
https://mastodon.nu/@anderslindberg/112431787560076692

Loukas, 21 days ago to random

The Orhem independent cafe in Stockholm was hit by a fire last night, just before their season opening for the First of May. The collective running it says the fire was on the outside of the shutters, "but no one shall stop us gathering today" and they will be serving sandwiches, cakes and coffee despite now having no running water or electricity. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/brand-i-orhem-polis-dementerar-explosion

Loukas, 22 days ago to random

Sweden's Christian Democrats (KD) will lose their seat in the EU parliament, suggests a survey by Swedish Radio News showing them polling just a quarter of their 2019 vote.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats are up by ten points in this poll on their 2019 result.

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/kristdemokraterna-hamnar-under-sparren-i-europaparlamentet-i-ny-matning-infor-valet

Loukas, 22 days ago to random

Swedish wind power set to pass nuclear next year, based on current level of investment, says industry. State energy agency agrees this passing of nuclear will happen before 2027.

https://klimatgranskaren.se/siffrorna-visar-gigantisk-fornybar-boom-i-sverige/

Loukas, 23 days ago to Russia

Crucial but depressing insight on #Chechnya, via @kevinrothrock The fact that the whole of #Russia has become more violent and militarised means Kadyrov dying is less of a problem for the Kremlin - because Chechnya can now be ruled using the 'new normal' levels of extreme repression. https://open.spotify.com/episode/00luGpaWljjQvDbL7OKOhL?si=7_t_XmthRwynzd5mB2MMvA

Loukas, 25 days ago to random

Several thousand have gathered in a snap demo against the Nazi attack in Stockholm last week. The leaders of the Left Party and Social Democratic Party were there.

Loukas, 25 days ago to random

This article has some decent factual information in it, but the constant shrill framing that the crisis would 'tear Europe apart' is clearly just aimed at getting clicks from English and American readers who don't understand EU well.

EU cooperation is indeed always very difficult and is constantly hard - that's precisely why EU has structures so that countries don't need to like or trust each other in order to work together, long-term.

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-second-term-presidency-united-states-tear-europe-eu-apart/?mc_cid=0edfd1a70e

Loukas, 26 days ago to random

The EU is abandoning its Mastodon project.

I had thought the main way Mastodon could develop into a major social media was by attracting bodies who want to respect EU law and similar regulation. If even the EU institutions themselves don't prioritise it, then that's another nail in the coffin.
https://www.edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/press-releases/2024/edps-decentralised-social-media-pilot-end-successful-story_en

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

Swedish: bevis

Dutch: bewijs

Dutch is basically just Swedish with all the trimmings.

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

"The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."

• George Orwell (1945)

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

Ok guys, the fascists are using violence to take power. So far we've done a lot. We've said they look silly. We've even pointed out they are stupid. So now I think it's time we hit them hard and we hit them fast, by pointing out the logical flaws in their arguments.

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

Because Mastodon doesn't group notifications I can no longer see your likes, so I recommend you write LIKE on a piece of paper and wrap it on a carrier pigeon.

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

Me, trapped in the desert for days, "If I don't get a glass of water I'll die."

Reply guy pulling over his car, winds down the window: "I think you'll find water can be conveyed in lots of kinds of containers. You're welcome." Drives off.

Loukas, 27 days ago to random

People think Sweden is so peaceful, but we have regular skolskjuts here as well.