The all things Poltical topic - We bear our banners aloft, boots like Drums Our Cadence quick, our countenance dire.

[Raithe]

WW3 warning: China to draw in 'EVERYBODY' with 'dangerous and nasty spat' with Australia (msn.com)

Political commentator and author Gordon Chang warned of a world war 3 conflict due to deteriorating international relations with China. During an interview with Express.co.uk, Mr Chang insisted China was causing problems across the globe. He noted that it was causing tensions to rise with nations like India, China, Japan and Taiwan with aggressive military action.
Mr Chang warned this could escalate quickly and cause a mass conflict.

Mr Chang said: "Anything can cause tensions to escalate between China and any of its neighbours or any nation in the world.
"China right now is in engaging in increasingly provocative and dangerous behaviour.
"This is going to draw in everybody in all probability.
"This is largely because countries are concerned and they are starting to act in concert to protect themselves."

Mr Chang highlighted the many nations China is pressuring with its actions.

He said: "That is how this thing can spread and yes right now Beijing has a particularly nasty spat with Canberra.

"But it also has its troops deep into Indian territory, it is flying its planes through Taiwan air defence zone.
"There are Chinese encroachments in Nepal, India and China is sending its patrol boats into Japanese territorial waters.

"You name it, China is causing problems around the world."

The relationship between China and Australia deteriorating continues to spark fears of escalation.
Australia has a strong relationship with Taiwan, and backs the country's independence from mainland China.

In response, Beijing state media outlets have threatened to strike Canberra's military bases as "punishment" for their support for Taiwan.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Chinese state media outlet, The Global Times, said: "I suggest China make a plan to impose retaliatory punishment against Australia once it militarily interferes in the cross-Straits situation.

"The plan should include long-range strikes on the military facilities and relevant key facilities on Australian soil if it really sends its troops to China's offshore areas and combats against the PLA (People's Liberation Army)."

[pmp10]

9 hours ago, Ben No.4 said:

For an entirely different, but hugely important topic: climate change. The German constitutional court ruled in what can only be described as a landmark decision that the hitherto efforts of the German legislative to combat climate change were insufficient and ordered the parliament to draft newer, more far reaching laws.

That's all nice and well but that's just a legalistic argument.
Courts may declare themselves fit to decide on what the right emission targets are.
But they cannot set those targets or means of reaching them. 

[Ben No.4]

1 hour ago, Darkpriest said:

Before you will start virtue signaling, stop outsourcing pollution intensive jobs and stop buying services/products and components from pollution creating countries like China and India. Shut down air traffic over Germany as well

If you will do that, then I'll believe that you are taking care of green issues seriously, instead if virtue signaling for feel good points, while still contributing indirectly by increased consumption of high energy footprint products and services. 

A few things to consider here.

1. “Virtue signalling” is literally all the constitutional court can do (which basically is what pmp10 already said) as it lacks any enforcement mechanism and therefore has to rely on the wilful cooperation of all other actors. That being said, the German constitutional court enjoys a great deal of trust in Germany, in fact more so than parliament or government (sadly only in German: https://www.lto.de/recht/hintergruende/h/bverfg-ethik-kodex-vertrauen-bevoelkerung-erhalten-politik-wirtschaft-einfluss/), so it’s decisions hold weight. It is also worth nothing (as pertains to pmp10‘s argument) that the court in fact can set binding goals and bindingly (is that a word?) demand legislative action. Of course, in theory, the legislative doesn’t have to follow the ruling. Then again, in theory, no one has to follow any law.

 

2. When comparing Germany to China and India, we have to take into account population size. Doing that, we can see that Germany both emits (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita?tab=chart&time=1945..2017&country=DEU~CHN~IND) and consumes (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/consumption-co2-per-capita?tab=chart&country=DEU~CHN~IND) significantly more CO2 per capita, at least at this point in time. Of course, Germany has the greatest influence over itself. It is therefore not unreasonable for German institutions  to focus on Germany itself, with China and India (and the US) being, in certain respects, secondary considerations. But do see below. 

 

3. Consumption can be regulated, even if the goods in question are produced outside of Germany (this point, insofar, also addresses the question of outsourcing CO2-intensive jobs). The German government has proposed a supply-chain law (https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/search/supply-chain-act-1872076), which is expected to pass soon. This too is a direct result of “virtue signalling”, as a previous decision reached by the EU council upped the pressure on Germany to enact such a law (https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/eu-council-agreement-supply-chain-law-ups-pressure-germany-follow-suit). While the focus is mainly placed on working conditions and the effectiveness of the proposal must be questioned considering the lack of strong sanctions for companies breaking the law (https://www.socialeurope.eu/germanys-proposed-supply-chain-law-a-glass-half-empty), this basic means of legal action (supply-chain laws) could be used to great effect to address issues of pollution as well. Additionally, it is reasonable to assume stricter regulation in Germany would send strong “virtue signals” to other European countries and the EU as such, making similar regulation there more likely – which would be significant, considering the EU’s economic global weight.

Gorth is of course correct in pointing out the extreme degree of willingness in German politics to cooperate with China and accept working and environmental conditions there. VW’s production sites in Xinjiang (https://www.google.de/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/volkswagens-uighur-problem/av-55579947) stand out as exemplary of this. However, this does not undermine the importance of the court ruling but rather enhances it, as the government is bound by the court’s decisions and insofar forced to enact stricter regulation. In this context, it is worth noting that some of those who brought the issue before the court were not German, but in fact from Bangladesch and Nepal. The court recognises the principle right of everyone, including foreigners in foreign countries, to have their interests respected by the German government and legislative. In this case, this means an ability to demand sufficient environmental action. The degree of that is another question. But indeed, supply-chain laws, if written well (which currently does not seem to be the case), could make such law suits significantly easier.

 

In essence, 3. addresses the what you brought about not buying high pollution goods. It is in essence a valid and important argument, my only point being that we must recognise the fundamentally societal nature of the issue. Appeals to individual behaviour ultimately accomplish little. As for the issue of traffic, I’d intuitively agree that far reaching reform is necessary, that inner-German flights definitely and inner-European flights probably can and should be scrapped in favour of cheap and clean alternatives, probably trains. Alas, I know little about infrastructure.

Edited May 15, 2021 by Ben No.4

[Gorth]

9 hours ago, Ben No.4 said:

For an entirely different, but hugely important topic: climate change. The German constitutional court ruled in what can only be described as a landmark decision that the hitherto efforts of the German legislative to combat climate change were insufficient and ordered the parliament to draft newer, more far reaching laws. This decision mainly rests on two legal considerations. Firstly, Article 20a of the German constitution (the “Basic Law”) states that the protection of the natural environment is a core aim of the state. Secondly, the court views more drastic measures as a necessity to protect the freedom of citizens in the long run. As it recognises the insufficiency of Germany’s current efforts in combatting climate change, it argues as follows: inaction now leads to a worsening climate crisis, that would in the future make counter measures necessary. These however would be much more extreme than anything that would suffice if measures are already taken now. Therefore, citizens’ freedoms, when future generations are taken into consideration, will be much better preserved and protected to strong action now.

 

As Germany is a central player in the EU, the decision is likely to have a far reaching impact.

 

A short report on the decision and it’s context can be found here: https://verfassungsblog.de/the-constitution-speaks-in-the-future-tense/

 

The courts decision itself is, of course, in German. But the courts press statement has been officially translated to English: https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2021/bvg21-031.html

As long as Germany (and Germans) do business with China, they are in no position whatsoever to lecture anyone else on the subjects of human rights and environment issues, being a knowing accomplice to the violation of both. Claiming otherwise is hypocrisy.

At least I know the Australian federal government is a bunch of no good cretins owned mostly by the mineral and fossil fuel industry and they've made no secret of wanting to promote coal and it's like at the expense of renewable energy projects (and runs de facto concentration camps on remote islands to process "asylum seekers", although lets be honest the genuine asylum seekers are an almost non existing minority amongst the economic migrants)

They don't pretend to care about the environment (and actively fight windmills in true Don Quixote style, to prevent renewable energy from getting a foothold in Australia) or human rights (it's not profitable for the Liberal Party)

[Darkpriest]

6 hours ago, Gorth said:

Did I mention that I think the world would be better off without Facebook?

apparently the European Supreme Court does too

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/5/14/facebook-faces-devastating-data-transfer-ban-after-irish-ruling

Facebooks claim that privacy protection violates free speech because it makes targeted advertising harder or some such was dismissed by court and transmission of personal information of European users to the US had to end very soon (because nobody trusts the US to respect European data privacy laws)

I've told this somewhere last year, that there are rules across various companies, not to store non-US related sensitive data in US and if in the cloud service, just stream it as needed from other nodes. 

US and privicy of data are oxymorons.

[Darkpriest]

@Ben No.4

To be honest, it's been a while since any topic of high speed rail popped up on any serious level of decision making discussion. 

There is a lot to take on, as tracks in different countries of EU are often incompatibile and to build a high speed rail infrastructure, which could compete with conveniece of air traffic, that would take trillions of EUR. Although if any money printing could be excused, this type of a project would be one to get a pass from me. The infrastructure could also revitilize economcially some smaller hubs along the rail path, something, which air traffic would never do. 

Air traffic would be fine for travels outside of EU, should that ever be made reality. 

[Zoraptor]

Quote

WW3 warning: China to draw in 'EVERYBODY' with 'dangerous and nasty spat' with Australia (msn.com)

lol. British tabloid takes on international affairs are always hilarious in a hick racist uncle type way, and somehow their 'experts' always have the very hottest of hot takes.

Quote

..it is flying its planes through Taiwan air defence zone.

There's plenty to legitimately complain about in China's attitude to Taiwan, but this ain't it. Taiwan's ADIZ literally extends over mainland China, including a city of 8 million people (Fuzhou).

ADIZ also have literally zero legal standing, are self proclaimed and are routinely ignored by everyone except the country proclaiming them.

Quote

"There are Chinese encroachments in Nepal, India and China is sending its patrol boats into Japanese territorial waters.

And Bhutan, and the Philippines, and Vietnam, and more but OK.

Quote

"You name it, China is causing problems around the world."

lol, you named them, and they're all its neighbours. All to the east and south too, so it isn't even around the country, let alone the world.

Quote

 

In response, Beijing state media outlets have threatened to strike Canberra's military bases as "punishment" for their support for Taiwan.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Chinese state media outlet, The Global Times, said: "I suggest China make a plan to impose retaliatory punishment against Australia once it militarily interferes in the cross-Straits situation.

"The plan should include long-range strikes on the military facilities and relevant key facilities on Australian soil if it really sends its troops to China's offshore areas and combats against the PLA (People's Liberation Army)."

 

Uh yeah. In the situation that Australia has sent troops to fight the PLA it's not really a 'punishment' situation to hit targets in Australia, it's called being in a war with each other. No kidding they should have a plan to hit Australia in response, no doubt they have a plan already, for that. All I can really think of at to why this would be in the least bit surprising instead of blindingly obvious is because fights have typically been picked with those incapable of effectively fighting back instead of, well, China which most definitely can.

There's one or two steps between canceling port management contracts and whacking massive tarriffs on barley and China lobbing Long March rockets at Ramsay St or whatever though, just one or two.

[Darkpriest]

When I see British and diplomacy, I can't resist to reference to this. 

https://youtu.be/VOdnISwLkSs

[BruceVC]

18 minutes ago, Zoraptor said:

lol. British tabloid takes on international affairs are always hilarious in a hick racist uncle type way, and somehow their 'experts' always have the very hottest of hot takes.

There's plenty to legitimately complain about in China's attitude to Taiwan, but this ain't it. Taiwan's ADIZ literally extends over mainland China, including a city of 8 million people (Fuzhou).

ADIZ also have literally zero legal standing, are self proclaimed and are routinely ignored by everyone except the country proclaiming them.

And Bhutan, and the Philippines, and Vietnam, and more but OK.

lol, you named them, and they're all its neighbours. All to the east and south too, so it isn't even around the country, let alone the world.

Uh yeah. In the situation that Australia has sent troops to fight the PLA it's not really a 'punishment' situation to hit targets in Australia, it's called being in a war with each other. No kidding they should have a plan to hit Australia in response, no doubt they have a plan already, for that. All I can really think of at to why this would be in the least bit surprising instead of blindingly obvious is because fights have typically been picked with those incapable of effectively fighting back instead of, well, China which most definitely can.

There's one or two steps between canceling port management contracts and whacking massive tarriffs on barley and China lobbing Long March rockets at Ramsay St or whatever though, just one or two.

You sound like a CCP apologist Zora, what next are you going to tell us ....that Corona didnt come from China and the CCP respects human rights ?

[Guard Dog]

49 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

You sound like a CCP apologist Zora, what next are you going to tell us ....that Corona didnt come from China and the CCP respects human rights ?

I understand China’s rover landed on Mars today. Now they’re going to start stirring up trouble up there. I bet they’re going to send their rover to get to the best rocks ahead of all of ours!

[Darkpriest]

8 minutes ago, Guard Dog said:

I understand China’s rover landed on Mars today. Now they’re going to start stirring up trouble up there. I bet they’re going to send their rover to get to the best rocks ahead of all of ours!

Nah, theyl shoot down NASA copters and claim It's aliens

[BruceVC]

4 hours ago, Guard Dog said:

I understand China’s rover landed on Mars today. Now they’re going to start stirring up trouble up there. I bet they’re going to send their rover to get to the best rocks ahead of all of ours!

GD the CCP love their revisionist history and false narratives, do you know the Chinese propaganda machinery even had the audacity to recently suggest that Corona actually came from the USA...no jokes

https://www.ccn.com/did-coronavirus-originate-in-america-chinese-media-pushes-conspiracy/

But thats okay because the Great Wall was actually built by the USA, its true. I promise you, the West is responsible for this great ancient feat of architecture 

 

[Darkpriest]

Unorthodox opinion on the wealth accumulation. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/praise-1-they-provide-improving-standards-living-99-percent

While in principle I agree that this worked in the past, as wealth was built from investments, now it does not and will not work that well going forward, due to which investments return the most profit in the reality of free money provided by FED and tech leap displacing simple jobs and offshoring more complex jobs. 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Darkpriest

[Guard Dog]

'We've tried democracy and it failed': Adoring El Salvadorians swoon over their millennial dictator

 

 

[BruceVC]

2 minutes ago, Guard Dog said:

'We've tried democracy and it failed': Adoring El Salvadorians swoon over their millennial dictator

 

 

Its fine because citizens can just leave anytime they unhappy  and get granted citizenship in the USA ....and you dont even need papers, you just arrive at the border 

[Guard Dog]

3 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

Its fine because citizens can just leave anytime they unhappy  and get granted citizenship in the USA ....and you dont even need papers, you just arrive at the border 

About the size of it these days.

[Guard Dog]

Of course democracy does not mean liberty. And for that matter dictatorship does not necessarily mean tyranny. You can absolutely elect your tyrant and it’s at least theoretically possible a dictator would be respectful of individual liberty. The list of elected tyrants is a long one indeed the list of benevolent dictator is short. In fact I can’t think of one off the top of my head.

there are those here in this country who seem to think the democratically elected state is infallible because it represents “the will of the people“. That of course is a large quantity of night soil from a large male bovine.

[Sarex]

Damn...Israel is really going to finish this thing. They are really going all out this time.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

15 minutes ago, Sarex said:

Damn...Israel is really going to finish this thing. They are really going all out this time.

Unfortunately it looks that way or damn close to it. ****ing horrific.

[Sarex]

Last I hear they bombed a news outlet building which also housed a lot of their internet infrastructure, thou they gave warning beforehand for what's that worth.

[HoonDing]

Israel does what China don't.

[ComradeYellow]

1 hour ago, Guard Dog said:

Of course democracy does not mean liberty. And for that matter dictatorship does not necessarily mean tyranny. You can absolutely elect your tyrant and it’s at least theoretically possible a dictator would be respectful of individual liberty. The list of elected tyrants is a long one indeed the list of benevolent dictator is short. In fact I can’t think of one off the top of my head.

there are those here in this country who seem to think the democratically elected state is infallible because it represents “the will of the people“. That of course is a large quantity of night soil from a large male bovine.

Getting a good dictator is like winning the lottery.  If you do get one, everything is great!  But who the Hell wants to gamble like that in politics? xD

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Josip-Broz-Tito

It can happen though.

[ComradeYellow]

2 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Its fine because citizens can just leave anytime they unhappy  and get granted citizenship in the USA ....and you dont even need papers, you just arrive at the border 

So you want rigid uncompromising constitutional democracy but you also want strong police crackdown at the border.  is that the gist I'm getting here?

[BruceVC]

21 minutes ago, ComradeYellow said:

So you want rigid uncompromising constitutional democracy but you also want strong police crackdown at the border.  is that the gist I'm getting here?

Not at all, why would you think that ?

I want people to immigrate to countries legally and apply the way they suppose to so governments can understand and manage resources based on their number of people who live in the country 

We have a real crisis in SA with millions of illegal immigrants living in the country, porous borders and no way we can stop them coming. You dont want that in the USA, trust me. The problem is not immigrants , its illegal immigrants and the real drain it puts on limited  resources. Read the first link if you want to understand how this societal problem can lead to a unacceptable demands from illegal immigrants and you wonder why citizens are tired of it 

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/clock-ticking-for-cape-refugees-to-either-reintegrate-or-be-deported-088c0299-d714-4e18-a4de-3946bf55d7a9

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/316101-immigration-crackdown-in-south-africa.html

[Darkpriest]

1 hour ago, HoonDing said:

Israel does what China don't.

Imagine if China started bombing their muslim minority