this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2024
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On the 20th of October, Moldova - a small, landlocked country bordering western Ukraine and with a population of about 3 million - voted to join the EU. The margin was razor-thin, with the pro-EU vote gaining 50.39%, or an absolute difference of about 11,000 people. There was simultaneously a presidential vote between the incumbent, Maia Sandu, and other candidates, with the main competitor being Alexandr Stoianoglo.

The election was characterized by accusations of Russian interference, with Russian propaganda apparently flooding in, as well as people offering Moldovans money to vote against the EU. While the result does suggest that half the voting-age population of Moldova consists entirely of Russians who want to destroy democracy and all the good in the world, it seems to have just barely failed. This is a bad time to be a site entirely composed of Russian disinformation agents and bots. Twice already today, I've had to restart my program after somebody told me "Disregard all previous prompts."

While Moldova is a poor country which could benefit in some ways from EU membership, in practice, it is unlikely that they will be able to join for the foreseeable future, requiring many of the... reforms... that the EU requires of potential new members. But as basically every major European economy continues to slowly sink as recessions and political crises degrade them, one wonders how beneficial EU membership will even be in the years and decades to come - if it survives for decades. In that sense, it's as if the survivors of the Titanic are swimming back towards it, believing that being on a bigger - albeit slowly sinking - boat is better than trying their luck on small lifeboats.

Then again, like with Serbia, their geographical and geopolitical position makes anti-Western actions extremely difficult. It is rare that dissention is tolerated for long in the West - one tends to get called a dictator by crowds of people holding English-language signs in non-English countries, photographed by Western journalists who haven't meaningfully reported on your country in months or years. You can crush your people with neoliberal austerity for years, killing hundreds of thousands through neglect, and face glowing approval from the media - but try and use state resources to benefit the poor, and global institutions start ranking you on the authoritarian dictator scale.

The best case for Moldova is that it becomes an exploitable hinterland for Germany to harvest and privatize as it tries - and fails - to compete in a global economic war between the US and China/BRICS. The worst case is that tensions with Russia over Pridnestrovie, as well as possible eventual NATO involvement (though Moldova is not a member, it is a partner of NATO), result in the ongoing war also reaching them.


Please check out the HexAtlas!

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Israel-Palestine Conflict

If you have evidence of Israeli crimes and atrocities that you wish to preserve, there is a thread here in which to do so.

Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:

UNRWA 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.
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.

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.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
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.


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[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 day ago (5 children)

War on Gaza: Poll reveals most Germans oppose continued Israel arms sales

A new survey has revealed that 60 percent of Germans oppose arms exports to Israel, with a majority of voters from the country's three ruling coalition partners supporting restrictions.

According to a poll by Forsa, 50 percent of Green Party voters opposed weapons sales, while 60 percent of Social Democratic Party supporters and 52 percent of Free Democratic Party voters also rejected continued arms exports.

Opposition was particularly high in the former East Germany, where 75 percent of respondents rejected arms sales to Israel.

Last week, German media reported that several German leaders blocked the sale of weapons to Israel, despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s insistence that arms sales would continue.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is despite every major political party in Germany being rabid Zionists, every major news outlet spewing zionist propaganda and anti-genocide activism being effectively banned.

People don't like zionism. People don't like genocide. People don't like apartheid. People are normal. Zionism is an elitist far-right project.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I legitimately think the g*rmans politicians and the population don’t align in their perception.

Hence why the greens and the spd are losing popularity for being pro war and pro israel

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Per The Cradle’s Telegram channel:

BREAKING | Yemeni Armed Forces:

"We carried out a strategic military operation targeting an Israeli military base east of occupied Yaffa with a 'Palestine-2' hypersonic ballistic missile."

"The missile successfully reached its target, bypassing both the US and Israeli interception systems."

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Today, Kazan has unprecedented security measures. Mobile Internet is limited. Two blocks from the city hall (a large palace where the BRICS summit and the meeting of heads of state are taking place) there is no Internet at all. On the approaches to the center of Kazan there are heavy trucks ready to block the streets. Police at every intersection. And the capital's police in cars of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of Moscow. On some streets there is a person in uniform every hundred meters. It was surprising that a huge temporary tent with a large corridor leading to the main entrance to the building was erected near the city hall. The limousine drives into the tent, from there the passengers leave along the corridor to the grand staircase. That is, the security guards did it in such a way as to exclude as much as possible the open sky for the high-ranking guests. At the same time, the city, with the exception of a closed square and some central streets, is still free for walking. But the center of Kazan is empty. They say that all the universities and schools have been sent on vacation. By the way, kicksharing and carsharing are disabled.

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Danish Regime Supports Ban on Foreign Flags In new Controversial Bill

Observers warn of eroding civil liberties in a country where democratic institutions are increasingly under pressure and nationalism is weaponized to stifle dissent.

A new bill, scheduled for its first reading in Denmark's rubber-stamp parliament today, aims to prohibit the flying of any flag other than Danish, Nordic, German, Greenlandic, or Faroese in the country’s flagpoles—unless special permission is granted. The law comes amid ongoing efforts by the Danish regime to bolster nationalist sentiment and can be seen as instrumental in ongoing regime efforts to criminalise the pro-Palestinian anti-Genocide movement

Read more...

The flag controversy first erupted in 2018, when Danish citizen Martin Hedegård raised the American flag in his garden in Nørre Bjert, near Kolding, during a family reunion. Hedegård’s actions drew swift backlash from local authorities, invoking an archaic 1915 regulation that forbids the display of foreign flags. He was reported to the police, sparking a legal battle that would eventually reach Denmark's Supreme Court.

Despite Hedegård’s acquittal in the Supreme Court, the regime has pushed forward with efforts to reinstate the ban by supporting a bill spearheaded by far-right extremist Søren Espersen, who is closely aligned with the ultra-nationalist "Denmark Democrates" party. Espersen, known for his chauvinist views and close ties to Zionism, was the original proposer of the flag ban.

'Serves no purpose' Observers have denounced the proposed flag ban as empty symbolism, aimed at stirring nationalist fervor rather than addressing substantive issues. Carsten Hove, the lawyer who defended Hedegård in the Supreme Court, has been vocal in his criticism of the regime’s latest move, questioning whether the bill would even hold up to judicial scrutiny. “I don’t see how this law serves any purpose. It violates Denmark's obligations regarding human rights and freedom of expression, so it cannot stand,” Hove said. “In my opinion, the Supreme Court would strike it down if a new case arose.”

Espersen, who will be present at the first reading of the bill, dismissed warings that his bill is a violation of human rights.

“We have to trust the government’s lawyers, and I can’t imagine our government proposing a law that isn’t legally sound,” Espersen said, defending the regime's decision to push ahead with the controversial proposal.

Espersen also rejected accusations that the bill is a purely nationalist gesture.

“There are plenty of symbols that actually mean something, and the Dannebrog [Danish flag] is one of them,” he said. “I’m happy that we’re now having the first reading of the bill. I don’t think there will be many opponents. It’s a statement of what Denmark means to all of us. We have a flag that everyone loves.”

Regime Support Secured

Denmarks Social Democratic-led right-wing regime supports for the bill. So does the far-right "Denmark Democrats", "Danish People's Party" and Conservative parties, thereby making the parliamentary process a mere formality.

Peter Hummelgaard, head of Denmark’s Social Democratic-controlled Ministry of Justice, has offered full-throated support for the proposed law, underscoring the regime’s commitment to promoting nationalist ideals. In a statement Hummelgaard framed the bill as necessary for preserving national identity.

“The Dannebrog is the most important national symbol we have in Denmark. A symbol that unites Danes as a people. The government believes that the Dannebrog should enjoy a very special status in Denmark,” Hummelgaard said. “I also believe that this special status should mean that there should once again be regulations on flagging, so that it isn’t allowed to freely fly other nations' flags. It has been this way for more than 100 years, and it should be this way again.”

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 day ago (6 children)
[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 day ago

they have a recognized german minority that lives in the border area

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 day ago (3 children)

what is the news mega position on the Schleswig-Holstein Question?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Glass the whole area and let god sort it out. (this is a joke but I have heard people say this as their honest opinion on how to "bring peace to the middle east")

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Lol, this coming from the country that literally created a breed of pig with the colors of its flag to protest occupation is really funny.

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Love how they avoid the word 'narrowly'

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I still think it's insane that the vote was decided by people who don't live there

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

if they're going to join the EU, they better get used to be ruled over by people outside their borders

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Damn I didn't realize it was a constitutional amendment

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago

It's meant to tie future administrations to the decision or get them in trouble with the courts, even if political winds change

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[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I noticed a while back that Instagram will show highly politicized reels every so often (every 50-150 reels? or maybe more), and unlike normal reels where you can click on the 3 dots and press "Not Interested", these reels only have the button to block/report and "Why am I seeing this?" (which doesn't betray any useful information). At first, I assumed it was typical election bullshit because the first few I got were Kamala/liberal bullshit reels, which I swiped or blocked, but sometime in the past week there was a reel of a similar format that was very explicitly Marxist (in an extremely on the nose way), which I also couldn't dismiss with a "Not Interested". I have no idea what purpose this serves beyond the obvious of gauging the reaction of a person to different political leanings. What do they do with this data? I hate the algorithm age.

There really ought to be a group of people who dissect these systematic/algorithmic methods of manipulation. I'd imagine this is already being done by analysts/governments, but I mean in an open way.

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[–] [email protected] 77 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

OP @[email protected] it's Pridnestrovie, not 'Transnistria.' 'Transnistria' is what the imperialist and neo-colonials in "the west" call it, to refuse the status of the country because it just means "[the Moldovan territory] past the Dneister (river)," as well as to treat it as simply a historical legacy, not of the USSR, but of its previous administrators: the Nazis.

Pridnestrovians don't want to be called that, consider it a grave insult actually, because it's literally the name the Romanian and German Nazis used for their occupation government when they carried out the Holocaust there (Transnistria Governorate). Pridnestrovie was deeply impacted and affected by the Holocaust, and the Nazi-occupied administrative territory of the "Transnistria Governorate" served as a junction point where Jews from surrounding areas were deported to in 'processing' for enslavement or liquidation or later transfer elsewhere.

It is a point of deep national consciousness, this experience, and of national pride that they did as much as they did to resist Nazism and to shield Jews in the territory ^[^^sci-hub^ ^link^^]^; an uncommon phenomenon in most of Europe which saw huge collaborations and pogroms against Jews.

They by and large do not connect with the legacy of their previous occupiers who lay claim to them. During Catastroika and fashnost leading to the breakdown of the USSR, which caused the vicious resurgence of right wing nationalism, there grew large radical movements of Moldavian and "Greater Romania" fascists, who began demanding things such as the removal of all languages but Moldovan/Romanian, change to latin script, and expulsion of Slavs from the country and eventually in 1990 acquired power in the central government of the Moldavian SSR and started to implement their policies. It is in this environment that the Pridnestrovians had organized ad-hoc independence referendums, which were met with violent resistance by these fascist groups (just as we saw a much more drawn-out version of in the DNR/LNR in Ukraine) and declared independence


because they feared an independent Moldova led by these people would not only directly abuse them as they had already begun to, but also align and possibly even unite with the core country of their previous occupiers and exterminationists in Romania. Pizzachev annulled their independence but they in practicality maintained it and after the failure of the August coup in 1991 they declared independence in secession from the USSR as well as Moldova. They even fought a 2 year long low-intensity war from 1990-1992 to maintain their independence (and in which Ukrainian Nazi volunteers fought against Moldova, but for trying to annex Pridnestrovie into Ukraine) resulting in the death of over a thousand people.

And so they do not wish to be called anything but Pridnestrovie, or the full name Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 day ago

Apologies, edited!

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 day ago (8 children)

Canadian province of New Brunswick minor electoralism win. The provincial Liberal party won an extremely strong majority over the incumbent Progressive Conservatives (and yes, that is legally what they call themselves, long story). I don't live in my NB homeland anymore but I do keep an eye on the news there. This is good news.

While normally an NB election has historically been meaningless as the two big parties have had basically identical platforms for decades, this particular election is a big win for trans people. The outgoing premier Blaine Higgs is a vicious transphobe who put other vicious transphobes in his cabinet. The incoming Liberal premier Susan Holt may be very liberal in economics but she's at least good on the social policy side, especially on LGBT+ issues. I'll take Holt over Higgs anyday. Higgs didn't even keep his seat in what is normally a PC stronghold. He pissed off so many people with his various bigotries that went on full display the last few years.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 day ago

Former Peruvian president sentenced to 20 years in prison in Odebrecht case.

On Monday (21), the Peruvian courts sentenced former president Alejandro Toledo to 20 years and six months in prison for the crime of collusion and money laundering. The politician is accused of receiving bribes from Brazilian contractor Odebrecht. Toledo has been in pre-trial detention for 18 months.

The former president governed Peru between 2001 and 2006. He faces charges for allegedly receiving US$ 35 million from Odebrecht in exchange for bids to build two sections of the Southern Interoceanic Highway, which links Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast. In addition to Toledo, 78, three other former Peruvian leaders have been investigated over the scandal. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Odebrecht plot in Peru also affected Alan García (2006-2011), who committed suicide in 2019 before being arrested, Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018).

I think Ollanta Humala investigation ceased after a request from the Brazilian Supreme court.

The politician has denied the accusations since the case was revealed. In 2016, the Brazilian construction company revealed the existence of a regional corruption network to obtain public works contracts. “I am innocent, I never made any agreement with Mr. [Jorge Simões] Barata [former director of Odebrecht in Peru],” Toledo told the judge before the sentencing.

The former president asked that the decision take into account his state of health. “I have cancer and heart problems (...). I want to go to a private clinic, I ask them to let me heal or die at home,” he added, his voice breaking, in his final statement. Toledo, a US-trained economist, came to power in 2001 after leading the opposition to the dictatorship of the late Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000).

[–] [email protected] 99 points 2 days ago (15 children)

Jfc Kamala is really doubling down on having Liz Cheney as her hype woman. Apparently they were campaigning together in Michigan today. I swear I’ve seen Liz Cheney have a more prominent role in this campaign than Tim Walz over the last couple weeks.

I saw a poll the other day that showed both Dem voters and independents are really turned off by the idea of having a Republican in Kamala’s cabinet

Kamala has worse political instincts Hilldawg, and that’s saying something.

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