#and no this is NOT to put the blame on other middle eastern countries

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

Of the 19 hijackers who carried out the Sept 11 attacks:

15 were from Saudi Arabia (a powerful/oil-rich country the U.S. works hard to maintain diplomatic relations with)

2 were from the United Arab Emirates (also a powerful/oil-rich country the U.S. works hard to maintain diplomatic relations with)

1 was from Egypt, 1 from Lebanon.

None of the hijackers were from Iraq.

None of the Sept 11 hijackers were Iraqi.

None of the 9/11 hijackers were from Iraq.

[jewish-sideblog]

Any time I see people call Israel a settler colonialist state I think about the history of the Mizrahi Jews who remained in Judea.

Mizrahi Jews in the seventh century, whose families had lived as native Israelites for 1,800 years, watching the Rashidun Caliphate move the first major wave of Arab Muslim migration into the imperial conquest they called "Military Palestine".

Mizrahi Jews who, over the course of the next 1,200 years, remained in the Levant. The ones who faced persecution, pogroms, and massacres under the Caliphates and Ottomans. The ones who stood strong and stayed put, as access to holy sites they had prayed at for three thousand years were taken from them. The ones who were faced with a choice between conversion and death, but chose neither.

Mizrahi Jews who watched as the modern State of Israel was established-- perhaps sighing in relief for just a moment. Maybe now, they would not be persecuted minorities in the land they had lived in for over three thousand years. Only to see other Mizrahim forced to flee their homes in Morocco, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran... Muslim-ruled countries that, through official law or social persecution, intentionally forced other Middle Eastern Jews to leave their homes and settle in Israel.

And the Mizrahi Jews today, who are the majority of the population of Israel. Most Israelis today are either Mizrahim who had lived in what is now Israeli territory for millennia, or Mizrahim who lived nearby and were forced by Muslim-majority nations to immigrate to Israel. Now, they get called "settler colonists", they get called "Europeans", they get called "fascists" and "Zionists". The world accuses them of occupying and stealing Palestinian land.

What were they supposed to have done differently?

Edit 12/27/23: Not so friendly reminder that if your "rebuttal" is to blame the actions of the Israeli government on Israeli civilians, I'm not even gonna bother to read the whole thing. I'll start believing that's a valid argument when average Americans get brought to the Hague for what the US government did in Cambodia.

[crazy-lazy-elder-sims]

The west is gonna start convincing everyone that the only solution to the genocide to to take the remaining millions of palastinians from rafah and put them somewhere els

That is not a solution as displacement of indigenous people is not a solution and israhells government will not stop they will invade the other countries they displaced palastinians too and carpet bomb them too you saw how they could just level an entire floor in a building in lebanon and attack inside of lebanon and jordan they. Dont. Care. They will level the area and eradicate Arabs and middle easterns regardless.

Israhell's entire point of exsistance is to destabilize the area and allow US to take over the resources and trading routes of the area the Zionist hide behind the idea of "taking out hamas and terrorist" and "reclaiming land" and "a stable place in the middle east" but they will not stop whatsoever untill the fulfill thier original goal and put immense pressure on anyone and anything to fulfill these goals. But international pressure is also working, slowly, but its still working, talking about the events and the martyrs and the war crimes never forgeting whats happning, boycotts, calling your representativeas, and non stop protesting is working and previously pro-isrhell governments are turning around. Do not give up do not think its too late to speak up do not give into the pressure, do not think its over Palestine will be free.

Palastinians will live on palastinian land that is the only solution to the genocide it is a free Palestine.

From the river to the sea palastine will be free.

Edit just to clarify: i only blame and condem the israhelli government and the pro israhell golobal powers governments not the people!!!! Not jews or americans or anything like that !! Only pro-israhell shit

[menalez]

You're only perpetuating the stereotype of muslims being misogynistic monsters by reblogging such videos which are used to further dehumanize and justify their slaughter especially at a time like this. Blaming misogyny or homophobia on religions shows lack of knowledge towards the roots of these oppressions at best. Believe it or not, misogyny won't disappear even if all religions disappeared of the face of earth. Call out misogyny by all means but if you're blaming a particular religion as the reason for this you're only helping in purplewashing. Before you try to say you're a muslim woman who'd suffered under Islam, I too am a muslim from Pakistan, and lived a far less privileged life than you. None of that stopped me from realizing that religion meant nothing to the men of my family or any other men I know when it came to their own lives. It was only a tool that was used to control our lives and women like me had to suffer it because we were further disfranchised by living in a country ravaged by imperialism.

i agree, religion is used as a reinforcer, it is not the root. it’s not religion making them freaks, but religion helps them justify it. i’ve said so repeatedly. you would probably know that if you actually read my opinions on religion!

but please don’t tell me to not discuss men being misogynistic because simply discussing it somehow enables stereotypes. i have every right as a middle eastern & muslim woman to share things about the reality of women of similar backgrounds. the same way you have every right to share pakistani or south asian men’s misogyny. it’s not your place at all to argue that i cant talk about our struggles bc talking about it somehow makes people racist. racists will use anything to justify their racism, blaming women of colour for discussing what men in closer proximity to us put us through for ppl’s racism is honestly pretty awful.

[beardedmrbean]

I’m with brosef; I also didn’t think there were so many Nazis. Didn’t realize that all the far lefts screaming about Nazis being everywhere was actually about them. They were trying to let us know.

more likely they were trying to distract everyone, misdirection by pointing at a pastor that just wants to speak to his flock not over the internet, or truckers that would like to not be forced to take a vaccine without any knowledge of long term effects, or a veteran who would like to show that they love the country they served by placing flags around their yard, or a group of restaurant patrons that show their patriotism by standing up and joining in with the national anthem, or people that would like to speak about the great things about living in a nation where they're allowed to openly dissent and speak their minds without also condemning some injustice

And on and on.

___________________________-

Those of us that remember 9/11 and the days and weeks after will likely recall a strong level of patriotism and unity and all that good stuff, as a nation we were in shock.

On top of that there was a very loud minority of people that decided that every single person that looked vaguely middle eastern was involved and needed to be punished and a lot of animosity was brought on to not only the Islamic community (who were the intended targets) but also the Sikh and Hindu community because like most racists they were pretty damn ignorant.

It's a stain on our country that that happened, and is still happening occasionally.

I don't remember any significant amount of sanctioned protests calling for the destruction of an entire country and people when that was all going down, note significant because yes it did happen but nothing like what we're getting now with academics and institutes of higher education joining the fray on the side of genocide instead of reason.

This is a headline from yesterday I held on to

wonder if NATO knows what a proportionate response is and that in this instance it would involve the the intentional murder of hundreds of civilians, proportional would not include giving northern gaza 24 hours to get the civilians out before sending people in, that's going to cost the IDF in lives because it's also 24 hours for booby traps, snipers nests, and various other defensive devices and fortifications to be put together

That's what they've done on top of everything else over the decades to try and minimize civilian death hamass could keep it from happening too, if they wanted the people of gaza to be safe they could surrender, but they likely won't.

And the people on the left and the right that hate Jewish people will firmly place all of the blame on Israel and the Jewish people in general, because the had the audacity to be there first and somehow build all their holy sites right underneath the Islamic ones.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Of course, it’s true that China accounts for more than half the world’s coal power — and is the world’s largest carbon-dioxide emitter. It’s also true that U.S. CO2 emissions have declined over the years, while China’s are now nearly twice the U.S.’s. And it’s also true that, as David Holt, president of the fossil-fueled Consumer Energy Alliance recently wrote, China is home to 23 of the “top 25” cities “responsible for 52 percent of the planet’s urban greenhouse gas emissions.” But that fact doesn’t magically vacate the U.S.’s responsibility for its own emissions.

Nor does it obviate the fact that, as Mongabay pointed out, “historically, the U.S. is responsible for a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas output.” That’s despite being home to less than 5 percent of the world’s population. In fact, the study Holt cited on emissions in China also noted that China’s per capita output is still below “wealthier countries” like the U.S. and those in Europe.

[...]

Simply put, corporate America has fueled much of China’s carbon-belching industrial behemoth. U.S. corporations and investors exploited China’s relatively few environmental regulations, along with its vast supply of cheap labor, in an effort to minimize the cost of doing their business. U.S. corporations were able to relocate their manufacturing to China thanks in no small part to All-American economic policies emphasizing maximum profit and avoidance of regulations. Those policies, in turn, globalized the supply chains that made those profitable regulatory dodges possible.

[...]

...there’s a direct correlation between the rise of China as Corporate America’s offshore factory and China’s rise as the world’s leading fossil fuel-burning, carbon-emitting nation. You can see the “lift-off” point after it was granted [Permanent Normal Trading Relations] in 2001.

Currently, U.S. corporations and consumers directly drive at least one-fifth of China’s industrial carbon output. But that doesn’t fully account for the indirect, carbon-polluting oil-driven supply chain that takes oil and gas out of the ground in the Middle East and ships it to China, where it is burned for fuel and manufactured into hydrocarbon-based plastic products. Those products get shipped overseas to ports on the West and East Coasts of the United States before being trucked to retail outlets and home shoppers around the country, with CO2 produced every step of the way. Even worse, China’s mass production of hydrocarbon-based plastic for the U.S. market helps sustain the global oil industry’s heavily subsidized business model.

China’s carbon production is also indirectly subsidized by the U.S. military, which is the de facto guarantor of the international oil economy and, specifically, of oil and gas shipments from U.S. partners in the Persian Gulf to China. The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, among other military assets, ensures the free flow of hydrocarbons into China’s fossil-fueled factories. In 2020, according to World’s Top Exports, nearly “half (47.1 percent) of Chinese imported crude oil originated from nine Middle Eastern nations,” with U.S.-protected Saudi Arabia atop the list of China’s main oil providers. The U.S. is ninth on the list. In 2020, the U.S. and its staunch allies in the United Arab Emirates and oil-rich Norway were the only countries increasing oil exports to China’s carbon-generating industrial sector, while the rest saw declines.

[mariacallous]

As Israel reeled in the wake of Hamas’s violent rampage 10 days ago and Palestinians in Gaza braced under retaliatory airstrikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin knew just who to blame: the United States. Three days after Hamas militants breached the fortified border with Israel, the Russian leader offered his first remarks on the explosion of violence in the Middle East.

“This is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East,” he said during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani. Dmitry Medvedev, the increasingly caustic former Russian president, had earlier chimed in to decry the United States’ “manic obsession to incite conflicts” around the world, and Russian state TV loyally followed its cue in broadcasts that followed.

Russia may not have had any hand in or even foreknowledge of Hamas’s surprise attack that has cost 1,400 Israeli lives and about 200 hostages so far, but the country’s opportunistic president spies an opening amid the chaos that has ensued. The Israel-Hamas war has, after 600 days of fruitless fighting in Ukraine, given Moscow a priceless opportunity to turn the West’s eyes elsewhere, as well as a poisoned-chalice chance to reshape its entire approach to the Middle East.

“Putin benefits from global chaos. His goal remains the destruction of the current international system,” said Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

For the Kremlin, the first and most immediate fruits of the renewed war in the Middle East are found far away—on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine and on Capitol Hill in Washington. While Israel was fending off a surprise attack, reorganizing its scattered troops, and preparing a devastating counterblow to crush Hamas, Moscow launched a hugely ambitious, if costly, 10-day attack to retake territory around Avdiivka, in the Donbas region of Ukraine. What two weeks ago would have snared the world’s attention has now struggled to make headlines, thanks to the turmoil in southern Israel.

“They might exploit it because it will distract from Ukraine,” Adm. Rob Bauer, NATO’s senior military officer, said in an interview at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters last week.

The longer-term gain could come in Washington. The Israel-Hamas war has suddenly shrunk the bandwidth of even the majority of legislators who had long supported U.S. aid for Ukraine’s fight for national survival; the need to rush aid to Israel has put immediate assistance to Kyiv in some doubt. Even pro-Ukraine lawmakers such as Rep. Don Bacon urge prioritizing deliveries of arms to Israel, precisely as the Biden administration seeks to link funding for all U.S. defense priorities in one big omnibus.

If there were tensions before over the U.S. ability to bolster Ukraine while ramping up support for Taiwan, those have only been heightened by the threat to a country that is politically near and dear to much of Washington. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, no less than U.S. President Joe Biden himself, was lambasted by conservatives for suggesting that the United States could continue to fund multiple wars. For the Kremlin, those are sweet chirpings.

What is more complicated is Russia’s position in the Middle East. For years, Moscow has been skilled at working with all parties in the region, including archrivals such as Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hamas. Russia has managed to cozy up to Cyprus while courting Turkey, even while it moved closer to Egypt, and it supported Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. Amid the complex web of alliances and enmities in the Middle East, Russia has distinguished itself in its ability to work with all sides by making itself indispensable to various players in the region.

“The idea is you don’t side with one against the other, you play one off against the other,” said Mark Katz, a professor at George Mason University and an expert on Russia’s foreign policy.

It’s a policy that dates back to the tsarist era, Katz said, but one that might be about to change.

“Look at how Russia did not directly condemn Hamas at the U.N. Security Council—it signals clearly [Putin’s] preference for anti-American forces even as he is trying to balance,” Borshchevskaya said.

The first tripwire for Russia in the region may be its growing reliance on Iran for drones to be used on the battlefield in Ukraine—even as Tehran, a longtime backer of both Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, lurches closer to playing an active role in the widening conflict.

A limited conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza would likely come as a welcome distraction for the Kremlin. But a wider war between Israel and another Iran-backed proxy could raise the stakes of Moscow’s balancing act, forcing it to come down more on Tehran’s side, said Hanna Notte, the Eurasia director for the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. “I’m not sure that’s something that Russia really wants,” she said.

While Moscow may seek to offer its services as a mediator, experts are skeptical that the Kremlin had a realistic role to play in any prospective talks. Until last year, a few bright spots of collaboration remained in the Middle East between Moscow and the West as Russian diplomats worked assiduously with the United States to help preserve and revive the Iran nuclear deal. That all changed following the invasion of Ukraine, and countering the U.S. has become the near-singular preoccupation of Russian foreign policy.

“You see this zero-sum logic playing out,” Notte said.

[remedywriter]

Till The End Of Time

Issue 1

(Steve Rogers x fem!OC)

A/n: It's been awhile since I've been on tumblr. Hope I got the format right.

Warnings: murder, mentions of terrorism.

Brooklyn Barlowe was assigned to a new murder case. Being a detective, it wasn't unusual for her to be dealing with stuff like this. But she was a little intrested in how she ended up solving a murder case for a failed S.H.I.E.L.D. mission. When arriving on the scene of the crime, she was shocked to see Captain America. Brooke knew he worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. before, but she thought all of that ended when it was discovered that H.Y.D.R.A. infiltrated them. He looked depressed. Truly upset at the scene before him. She could've just started working kn the case, but she had a heart. She just couldn't bare to see him that upset with himself.

Brooklyn walked over to him and pat his shoulder. He turned up and looked at her.

"Was this your case?" She asked.

Steve nodded. "I didn't make it. It's all my fault."

"Don't blame yourself. I can guarantee you it wasn't your fault. Just because you didn't save him, doesn't mean you should blame yourself." Brooklyn stated.

"I know. I just can't help it." Steve sighed. "I know I can't save everyone, but I still have to try."

"A good start would be telling me what happened?" Brooklyn suggested. "My name's Brooklyn Barlowe. My friends call me Brooke."

"Steve Rogers." Steve smiled.

"I know." She laughed. "So can you tell me how we got to this?"

"I got an assignment to rescue a captured S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. I tracked the bad guys down and figured out they were here. They must've found out I was coming. The agent was dead when I arrived."

"I'm sorry." Brooke said. "You said you could track them down. How?"

"They were spotted coming here after purchasing illegal weapons from the black market. S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to track down the dealer, but I couldn't save the agent." Steve explained.

"A weapons dealer." Brooke repeated. She grabbed a notepad and started writing things down. "These 'bad guys'. What exactly... makes them 'bad'? Who are they?"

"Terrorists from the middle east." Steve explained. "They're known for bombing schools. They started doing it in the Asia, then they became a S.H.I.E.L.D. problem when they attempted to do it here."

"But they failed?" Brooke asked.

"The agent. He was undercover as a weapons dealer. He got caught when they realized the bomb was a dud." Steve sighed. He still couldn't get passed the fact that he let someone die.

"Thank you, Mr. Rogers. I think I have an idea." Brooke smirked. "And," She tore off a piece of paper from her notepad. "if you need some cheering up sometime, here's my number."

Steve took the note. "Thank you, Ms. Barlowe."

"Please, call me Brooke." Brooklyn smiled. "I'm too young to be Ms. Barlowe."

Steve laughed. "Guess I'm just a little old fashioned."

"Maybe that's a good thing." Brooklyn smirked before she left. She went over and took a look at the crime scene.

The body of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent was in pretty good condition, other then the fact that he was dead. He had a bullet hole in his forehead, but nowhere else. For terrorists, they really didn't seem to treat him that badly. Even his death was quick and easy. It seemed a little suspicious for people who would be so willing to kill innocent children.

"What do we know about him?" Brooke asked the Forensic Examiner.

"Name's Mr. George Skinley. S.H.I.E.L.D Agent. Went undercover and got caught. No wife, no kids, no family." The man answered.

"Do you have his wallet?" She asked. The man nodded. "May I take a look?"

The man nodded again. Brooke put on some gloves before analyzing the wallet. She opened it and found a picture of him and a woman. She looked Middle Eastern.

"No wife, eh?" Brooke asked. "Well he liked someone enough to put her in his wallet."

She went back to looking through it. There were receipts for purchases made out of country.

"Did Mr. Skinley happen to visit the Middle East for this assignment?" She asked. The Foresic guy didn't know, so she asked a S.H.I.E.L.D. investigator.

"If he left, it wasn't for this assignment. As far as our records go, he was never given an assignment that would involve him leaving the country." The S.H.I.E.L.D Agent explained.

"Well I know what happened." Brooke announced. "He was a double agent. S.H.I.E.L.D. thought he was working for them, the terrorists thought he was working for them. His kidnapping after the weapons deal was a fake. They needed to get him away from S.H.I.E.L.D. for awhile. But they found out he had given them up when Captain America was sent to rescue him. So they killed him and left."

"And how do you know this?" The S.H.I.E.L.D agent asked.

"His wallet. He made purchases out of the country not too long ago. He has a picture with a Middle Eastern woman in a location that's not in America. Not to mention his body." Brooke explained. "No rope burns. No marks. Not even a single bruise. If he was their prisoner, that wouldn't be the case. Besides, why would they kidnap him? There were no demands, no ransom. They would've killed him. But he was on their side. Or so they thought. If he was truly on their side, he would've left with them. He didn't. They killed him. The only reason? He really was working for S.H.I.E.L.D. after all. Therefore, the only possible solution is he was a double agent."

"Wow." Steve gasped.

"I'll get some people working on confirming this theory." The S.H.I.E.L.D agent said. "Thank you for your help, Miss Barlowe."

"You're welcome, but I'm not finished." Brooke replied. "One of the receipts in his wallet is for a real legitimate weapons dealer. He even has the phone number, meeting place, and date written in a code on the back. I'm ex military though. I know a code when I see one. Have this deciphered, intercept their trade, and you've caught both the buyer and the dealer."

"I'll have people working on deciphering this code immediately." The S.H.I.E.L.D agent nodded.

Brooke was about to leave when Steve approached her.

"That was something." He laughed. "Ex military you say?"

"I was in the army for a couple years. I fought in the War of Iraq. I put together that there was going to be an assassination attempt on one of my commanders. I stopped it. He said I had a talent and should become a detective. So I did." Brooke explained.

"Thank you for your service." Steve smiled.

"Thank me? Captain America just thanked me?" Brooklyn laughed.

"Just because one soldier saves a thousand men, doesn't mean the soldier that saves one is any less a hero." Steve replied.

"You've saved a thousand men?" Brooke asked.

"It was an analogy." Steve laughed.

"But... have you?" Brooke pushed.

"I guess you'll have to ask me that another time. Perhaps when I need you to 'cheer me up'." Steve smiled.

"Ok." Brooke smiled back. "But I wouldn't feel guilty about not saving a guy who was working with terrorists."

"Don't worry." Steve chuckled. "I won't."

[saratogaroadwrites]

For King and Country (55/122)

For King and Country | saratogaroad rating: T total wordcount:  280,466 characters: Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, Roland Crane, Aranella, Batu, Tani, Lofty, Leander Aristidies, Bracken Meadows relationships: Roland Crane & Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, Aranella & Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, Roland Crane & Aranella, Batu & Tani, Batu & Evan, Tani & Evan, Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum & Lofty, Rolander other tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Mother-Son Relationship, Father-Son Relationship, Place Slowly Becomes Home People Slowly Become Family, Found Family, For Want of A Nail warnings: none

Pulled from his world by mysterious powers, former president Roland Crane finds himself caught in the middle of a coup meant to take the life of the young King Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum. Joining forces with Aranella, the pair of them set out to aid Evan in making his dream of a kingdom where everyone can live happily ever after a reality.

But the road to peace is a long and treacherous one and there is no promise of success in a world where darkness spreads ever thicker with each passing day. If they are to stand a chance, they must stand together, for king and for country.

(A retelling.)

=

“O’course, we’d be glad to have ye as neighbors,” Mr. Wright said, hands clasped behind his back. “We been livin’ out there by ouerselves for many a generation now. Neighbors oughta be good for the little’uns.”

“Yes,” Queen Nerea said with a smile. “And we have been isolated for far too long. It is high time we did away with such things.”

Standing alongside the conference table, Evan beamed. It had barely been a day since they had returned to Evermore, and already Queen Nerea was making allies and looking for a place to settle her people once more. He couldn’t blame her, really; the Hydropolitans were being provided for, but they were all wedged in tightly in the southern barracks and needed space.

Roland had muttered something about sardines in a can when Auntie Martha had brought that tidbit of information, which really just left Evan more confused than before. What was a can and why did someone put fish in it? Resolved to ask about it another time, Evan had set the oddity aside. The priority was the Hydropolitans right now.

“Of course, we would not want to crowd you, or encroach on Longfang’s territory.” Queen Nerea was saying, “I will admit I am unfamiliar with the Summerlands.”

“Well,” Evan leaned over the table, looking over the Summerlands. There was miles of empty coast to consider, especially once one had swung into the Calmlands. Thinking back to Roland’s lessons, he considered their options. They would need a good, defensible location, one where they could easily access food and water while trade routes were established.

He eyed a cove to the southwest of Goldpaw, the mountains rising high in a circle around them, but then set it aside. No, that was too defended and too out of reach. Just getting the ships there would take weeks! He scrunched up his nose and looked again, then—

“What about here?” He asked, pointing to a small-looking island drawn at nearly the southern end of the world. Mr. Wright leaned over, squinting for a moment, before he nodded.

“Aye, Larboard Isle. Good eye, Yer Majesty.” He looked up to a pensive Queen Nerea. “’Tis plenty safe, and bigger than this ‘ere map would say. Plenty ‘o space to grow, an’ Sailboard Isle’s much the same if ye need the room.”

Leander, having been silently watching them up until now, made a pensive noise.

“They do seem readily accessible, though we would have to shore up the Isle’s eastern side from the Rift.”

Queen Nerea eyed him amusedly. “I do believe we are capable of a shield spell or two, Leander,” She smiled as he sputtered, cheeks going pink, before she turned her attention back to Mr. Wright. “If you truly do not mind us being so close, I believe we will take your advice.”

Mr. Wright grinned back at her, his old eyes warm as he said, “Aye, Yer Majesty. We’d be happy to have ye. If ye’d like, I could go take a look at yer ships? Be sure they’re set for the trip?”

“That would be wonderful,” Queen Nerea returned with a small bow, “thank you. I will join you shortly.”

Mr. Wright nodded, excusing himself from the room. Once the door shut behind him, Queen Nerea turned to Evan and smiled.

“Truly,” she said, “You’ve a wonderful Kingdom. I am only sorry that we cannot aid you more,” She sighed. “Even should these Isles be suitable for settling, it will be some time until Hydropolis is ready to offer anything beyond a signature on a document.”

Evan shook his head. Queen Nerea had joined Hydropolis—or at least, what was left of it—to the Union the night before, in a quietly understated ceremony. They were allies now, but even if they hadn’t been…

“That’s alright,” He said, “You don’t owe us anything. I’m just glad we were able to save your people.”

“If I may be so bold,” Leander cleared his throat, looking to Queen Nerea, “Perhaps I can be of some assistance in this matter?” When Queen Nerea tilted her head for him to continue, he adjusted his glasses. “I believe I speak for all of Hydropolis when I say we owe Evermore a debt we can never truly repay, but…” He glanced at Evan, who stared back at him with wide eyes. “If it is at all possible, I would pledge my services to you and your Kingdom, King Evan. It is the least I can do.”

Evan stared at him for a moment, then forcibly shook off his surprise.

“Oh, no—you don’t have to do that!” He said, “Truly—”

“Truly,” Leander spoke over him, startling even himself, “I do not offer my services solely out of a need to repay you, but…” He took in a deep breath and then said, “I want to. If you intend to face Doloran, you will need all the help that can be mustered. I would be glad to offer my services—that is—” He looked to a peacefully smiling Queen Nerea, “If you can spare me—”

“After the past three hundred years?” She asked with amusement shaking her tone, “I cannot blame you for needing a change of scenery. Very well. If King Evan accepts,” She looked at him, and Evan nodded. If Leander was doing this out of want and not thinking he had to repay them, then yes! They would be glad to have him. Queen Nerea smiled softly as she turned back to her friend. “I release you from your duties as Archon. Go, aid them where you can. I will care for our people in the meantime, so long as you make me a promise here and now.”

Leander pressed a hand to his heart. “Of course. Anything.”

Queen Nerea reached up, cupping Leander’s cheek in one hand. She said softly, “Try to come back in one piece. You’ve a kingdom to rule when all is said and done.”

“Nerea!” Leander sputtered.

Standing just off to Evan’s right, Roland turned a laugh into a polite cough.

“Don’t worry,” He said when they turned their attention to him. “We’ll make sure he stays in line.”

“Or at least in very good company,” Nella said with a sideways glance at Roland. He looked aside as if to say I have no idea what you’re talking about, and Evan struggled to hold back his giggles. Instead, he nodded to Queen Nerea and the slightly pink Leander. Taking a deep breath of his own, Evan pulled on his lessons of formality.

“We accept your kind offer of assistance, Archon Leander,” he said, though maybe the title didn’t fit anymore. “For the duration of your stay with us, you will be working with Roland.”

If either of the men were surprised, neither showed it. Leander smiled gently, placing a hand to his heart and bowing.

“Thank you, King Evan. It will be an honor.” He turned his head to Roland and said, “Roland, I will try not to disappoint you.”

Roland chuckled softly. “Something tells me you won’t.” Pushing away from the table, he nodded to Evan and then stepped aside. “We should get to work. Your Majesty,” He looked to Queen Nerea, “If you’d like an escort to the docks, we can—”

“Thank you,” Queen Nerea said with a knowing look in her eyes. Evan tilted his head; what was that for? “But that will not be necessary. See to your duties, both of you.” She turned once more to Evan. “King Evan, I look forward to when next we meet.”

“As do I,” he replied with a smile, “Take care, your Majesty.”

Queen Nerea’s smile lingered as she headed out of the room, Roland and Leander a couple of paces behind her. Roland pulled the door to the conference room shut, leaving Evan and Nella alone inside. Nella eyed the door with a pensive frown.

“You know,” She said, “I’m not sure I should be glad Roland will have someone keeping an eye on him from now on, or worried about the trouble those two could get into.”

Evan laughed, sitting down and leaning his arms on the table.

“I think they’ll be alright,” he said as he slumped onto his forearms, “They get along quite well already.”

“Yes, they do,” Nella said. She lay a warm hand on his back and asked, “Are you feeling well, Evan? You’re not still worn out, are you?”

Evan shook his head. “No, I’m alright.” He said, watching dust and particles swirl in a beam of sunlight. “I’m just glad to be back home.”

When Nella wordlessly pulled him into her arms a moment later, Evan leaned in and sighed contentedly.

It was good to be home.

[rityl2]

Field Work Chapter 13

Although there is a negative stigma surrounding the topic of Immigration, Immigrants make up the majority of the labor force in the United States. To put it plainly, our economy doesn't function without them.

This week, I was tasked to interview a friend, relative, or neighbor of immigrant status and tell their story and how they came to the United States.

For this exercise, the individual I chose to interview will be referred to as "Mohammed". When I began conducting the interview, I first asked Mohammed why he chose to emigrate; Mohammed explained to me that it was not by his choice that he left Kyrgyzstan. When Mohammed was a toddler, his parents chose to leave the country in hopes of being able to provide their child a more privilege life with better educational and economic opportunity. At the age of 3, Mohammed and his parents boarded their plane and traveled to Maryland.

In order to successfully immigrate, one must follow the necessary steps which include securing the proper documentation and a job before leaving their homeland. When asked about the documentation his parents obtained, Mohammed shared that they had all secured green cards by individually filing.

After safely arriving in the united states, Mohammed and his family chose to settle down in Pikesville Maryland.

It is very uncommon as an immigrant to face zero roadblocks along the journey; so naturally, I inquired about the hardships Mohammed and his family faced while assimilating. Mohammed shared that the biggest roadblock in his journey was the language barrier; Mohammed exclaimed that Russian was the first language he learned and having not yet learned English proved challenging for his early education. Mohammed also shared that due to his fathers nontraditional education, he could not pursue a stable career immediately to provide for his family.

Other roadblocks Mohammed faced were his ethnicity, name, and religion. Following the events of September 11th, It became increasingly difficult for Middle Eastern and Indian immigrants to live peacefully due to the fact that many people unjustly blamed them for the catastrophe that transpired. Mohammed was one to be affected by this; having a traditional Islamic name and the pigmentation of his skin presented themselves as roadblocks because of the jeering and bullying that came with it. Mohammed believed that because of the backlash and anti Islam sentiments that came his way in abundance, he did not belong. For a while, Mohammed held on to this belief, which was counterproductive for his success.

At the conclusion of the interview, I asked Mohammed if at any point assimilating became easier, to which he responded that it had. Mohammed's parents were able to work their way up in society and provide a better living for Mohammed, his mother now owning a clinic, and his father a landscaping business. Mohammed shared that only by persevering and going against the odds could he and his family have experienced such success, he ended the interview with the exclamation "you must always take chances in life to succeed, being comfortable while being in a uncomfortable position is the key".

[richo1915]

The lack of much economic progress, except in Israel and, through extreme oil revenues, in some of the Gulf states, was more significant for the future of the region than the shifting Cold War allegiances of Middle Eastern states. Much as in other Third World countries, the secular nationalist regimes in the Middle East failed to deliver the kind of improvements in their daily lives that most people were looking for.

Instead they got increasingly high-handed and undemocratic governments, in alliances with foreign powers to whom the lives of their peoples seemed to count for little. Not surprisingly, some younger people began looking for other forms of authority and purpose to dedicate themselves to. Especially after the 1973 war, a sense of hopelessness and humiliation drove thousands to attend Islamic schools and mosques where preachers blamed the failures of Arab regimes on their detachment from God.

Contemporary political interpretations of Islam were of course nothing new among Muslims in the Middle East or elsewhere. But up to the mid-197os such groups -the so-called Islamists- were small and persecuted minorities.

Even in Saudi Arabia, where the king claimed to base his whole political system on Islam, only government approved Islamists were allowed. Egypt, Syria, and Iraq had all banned the Muslim Brotherhood, and those who believed in a political role for Muslim leaders disappeared into the regimes' prisons, or worse.

Gradually Islamists turned toward underground organization and terrorism. In Syria the Baathists allegedly used chemical weapons among other armaments to put down an Islamist rebellion in the west in 1982. At least ten thousand people were killed.

But the pressure various Islamist organizations were put under by Middle Eastern governments only seemed to strengthen them. Their faith, and the belief that God was the ultimate authority of all things political, made persecution easier to bear.

Some groups, such as the Brotherhood in Egypt, also began to extend their popularity through assistance programs in poor neighborhoods. When those using such services were arrested by the regime, they admitted that they would rather support Muslims who did something for the poor than a regime that talked loudly but did very little. The regimes were also vulnerable to criticism of corruption, subservience to foreign powers, and their now famous inability to destroy Israel.

[xtruss]

From Reichstag Fire to War Criminal Colin Powell's Anthrax Vial: Top 8 False Flags in History

The alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma on April 7 served as a pretext for US, French and British airstrikes against the Middle Eastern country on April 14. Sputnik France contributor Irina Dmitrieva decided to look back at a few other incidents which led to wars in the decades, centuries and millennia past.

The suspected Douma attack prompted the US and its allies to fire over 100 missiles into Syria, just hours before the arrival of a fact-finding mission by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Days earlier, Russian chemical warfare specialists visited the site of the alleged attack, finding no traces of chemical weapons use. Furthermore, the video evidence purporting to show the fallout from a chemical attack at a Douma hospital has come under intense scrutiny amid eyewitness testimony suggesting that no chemical attack had taken place.

Sputnik contributor Irina Dmitrieva outlined eight other egregious cases of false flag attacks used to serve some political or military goal.

Reichstag Fire

On the night of February 27, 1933, Reichstag Palace, the seat of the German parliament in Berlin, was ravaged by fire. Police arrived on the scene and arrested Marinus van der Lubbe, an unemployed Dutch communist. Germany's fledgling Nazi authorities used the fire for political purposes, presenting it as a criminal act by Germany's then-powerful communist opposition. The fire put an end to personal freedom in the Weimar Republic, and marked the beginning of the campaign to crush all opposition to the Nazis.

Reichstag fire. Archive photo. CC0/Record Group 208: Records of the Office of War Information, 1926 — 1951/Firemen work on the burning Reichstag

"There are several versions about what happened that night, from an act of an individual to a Nazi conspiracy," Dmitrieva wrote. "Subsequent investigations found that the building was already burning in several areas by the time the Dutch communist arrived. French historian Jacques Delarue believes that the act of arson was committed by a Nazi stormtrooper on the initiative of Hermann Goering."

Vial of Anthrax in the Lead-up to Iraq War

On February 5, 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered a speech at the UN, waving a prop vial of anthrax, meant to represent Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's supposed efforts to hide his weapons of mass destruction. The UN Security Council refused to support US-led intervention. However, a month and a half later, the US and the UK started a military operation anyway.

The image seen round the world of War Criminal Secretary of State Colin Powell (Now Staying, Resting, Rotting, and Burning 🔥 in Hell Forever) and his mock vial of anthrax,which he held up during a presentation before the UN on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction program, February 5, 2003. © AP Photo/Elise Amendola

The Iraq War cost the coalition thousands of military casualties, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians were killed. The war also led to the near collapse of the state of Iraq, and the rise of Daesh (ISIS).* No substantial evidence of biological, chemical or nuclear weapons were never found.

A year after the war began, War Criminal Boak Bollocks Powell admitted (After Killing Millions of Innocents in an Illegal War) that he had been misinformed, and that the details in his UN presentation were "WRONG." WTF?

Mukden Incident

The Mukden Incident, also known as the Manchurian Incident, took place on the night of September 18, 1931, and marked the beginning of the Second World War in Asia. The incident saw soldiers of Japan's Kwantung Army laying a bomb near the railway track at the Japan-leased South Manchuria Railway near the city of Mukden, on the border with Japanese-controlled Korea. Tokyo blamed the incident on China, thus justifying its invasion of Manchuria. The invasion succeeded, and Japan's occupation lasted until August 1945. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East established in Tokyo after the war under the Potsdam agreements concluded that several senior Japanese officers were responsible for the plot.

Japanese troops enter Manchuria following the Mukden incident. CC0//Japanese cavalry entering Mukden (Shenyang) Gulf of Tonkin Incident

The incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 2nd and 4th, 1964 triggered the American war in Vietnam. According to the version long adhered to by the United States, North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the US Navy destroyer USS Maddox on August 2nd in international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin, prompting a skirmish.

Photograph taken from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731) during her engagement with three North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin, 2 August 1964. The view shows one of the boats racing by, with what appears to be smoke from Maddox' shells in its wake. CC0/U.S. Navy - Official U.S. Navy photo USN 711524 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command / the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731)

Following the incident, President Lyndon Johnson ordered the destroyer USS Turner Joy to support the Maddox, and on the night of August 4, they made their way back to the Gulf of Tonkin, where they were again 'attacked' by unidentified enemies and returned fire. US aviation deployed to the area did not manage to find the 'enemy ships', but Washington was informed.

The incident prompted Congress to authorize President Johnson to start a military operation in Vietnam on August 7, 1964. By 1965, the US had sent over 200,000 troops to the country, with the number going up to over 500,000 by 1968. The Vietnam War lasted a decade, and led to the deaths of over 58,000 US servicemen, and up to 3.1 million Vietnamese, as well as 300,000 Cambodians and 62,000 Laotians.

In 2003, former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara admitted that the attack on the Maddox on August 4 and used to justify the war never took place. Two years later, documents declassified by the NSA confirmed that doubts about the Tonkin attack were raised from the very beginning of the investigation.

USS Maine Explosion

On February 15, 1898, an explosion took place on the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor, killing 260 men, or two thirds of the ship's crew. Washington immediately blamed Spain, which controlled Cuba at the time, for the attack, with US media presenting Spain's guilt as an established fact despite a lack of evidence.

USS Maine (archives photo) CC0/Detroit Publishing Co., Copyright Claimant, Publisher/U.S.S. Maine.

On April 19, Congress passed a resolution demanding that Spain leave Cuba. Days later, US forces opened fire on Spanish emplacements in Havana. By mid-August 1898, Madrid lost the war. Under the peace treaty, Spain was forced to transfer its colonies in Asia and Latin America, including the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba, to the United States.

A 1976 investigation by US Admiral Hyman G. Rickover conducted an investigation, concluding that the sinking of the Maine may have been caused a spontaneous combustion in the ship's coal bins, an issue which afflicted other ships at the time.

Mainila Incident

The shelling of Mainila, the incident which led to the Soviet-Finnish Winter War, took place on November 26, 1939. The same day, the Soviet government sent a note of protest to the Finnish government, accusing Finnish forces of firing seven artillery shells into Soviet forces, which led four dead and nine injured. Moscow demanded that Finland withdraw its troops 20-25 km from the border. Helsinki demanded that Moscow do the same.

Red Army troops in Karelia during Winter War. ©Sputnik/Go to the mediabank

Moscow refused, since this would mean withdrawing into Leningrad. Red Army commanders were ordered to initiate return fire to any attacks along the border. Four days later, Soviet forces began an invasion of Finland. For decades afterward, Soviet historians argued that Finland was to blame for the incident. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, new theories arose in Russia, including that the incident was staged by the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, or that the November 26 incident did not lead to any Soviet losses in the first place. In 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin denounced the Winter War as a war of aggression.

Gleiwitz Incident

The Gleiwitz incident was organized by the Nazis in Gleiwitz, eastern Germany (now Poland) on August 31, 1939.

The Gliwice radio tower. CC BY-SA 3.0/Smerus/The Gliwice Radio Tower

On the night of August 31, German soldiers dressed in Polish military uniforms seized a radio transmitter at Gleiwitz, calling on the Polish minority in Silesia to rise up and overthrow Adolf Hitler.

The false flag attack, dubbed Operation Himmler, was intended to legitimize the Nazi German invasion of Poland. Details of the false flag attack were revealed by the confession of SS functionary Alfred Naujocks at the Nuremberg Trials in 1945.

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On September 3 and 4, France and Britain joined the war, prompting the start of the Second World War in Europe.

Great Fire of Rome

False flags are by no means just a product of the last two centuries. On July 18, 64 BC, Rome, one of the largest cities of Antiquity, was struck by a fire which raged six days and seven nights, completely destroying three of the city's fourteen districts and damaging seven others, and leading to thousands of deaths.

Emperor Neuro among the ruins of Rome. Painting by Carl Theodor von Piloty. CC0/Carl Theodor von Piloty (1826-1886)/Nero Views the Burning of Rome

Emperor Nero took immediate steps to restore the city, but this did not silence rumors that he was responsible for the blaze. This prompted the emperor to blame Christians. Roman historian Tacitus emphasized that the persecution of Christians began immediately after the fire.

"Any resemblance between these historical provocations and current events is accidental," Dmitrieva wrote. However, "just as the Great Fire of Rome led to atrocities against civilian populations, any provocation today can lead to violence and even war. Let's hope that no country in the world will compel humanity to pay this price in the name of its national interests," the journalist concluded.

— Ilya Tsukanov | April 20, 2018 | Sputnik international

[niswa]

The Effects of Colonialism on Women Today; The integration of Patriarchal Norms and Values

Patriarchal traditions and ideals have been ingrained in Middle Eastern countries for a very long time. Through numerous historical occurrences, colonialism being one of them, these standards have been reinforced and assimilated into Middle Eastern civilizations. Between 1798 and 1882, Britain sought three main goals in the Middle East: ensuring the Ottoman Empire's unity, preserving stability in Iran and the Persian Gulf, and guarding access to trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean. Local communities were subjected to colonial forces like the British, French, and Ottomans throughout this time, who imposed their cultural and social norms on them. They accomplished this, among other things, by promoting patriarchal standards and beliefs in their colonies. A patriarchal social structure places men in positions of dominance, with women serving as their subordinates. Several Middle Eastern communities already had this structure in place, but colonisation contributed to its institutionalisation.

With the reinforcement of gender norms and stereotypes, the colonial powers imposed their patriarchal beliefs. It was anticipated that women would stay in the home and submit to men. Outside of the home, they were prohibited from engaging in political, social, or commercial activities. This further marginalized women and reaffirmed the notion that they were less valuable than men, reinforcing the patriarchal beliefs that already prevailed in the area. The Middle East's adoption of patriarchal norms and beliefs has been greatly influenced by colonialism. The cultural, social, and legal frameworks imposed by the colonial powers served to perpetuate gender norms and stereotypes and further marginalize women. These mechanisms, which were created to uphold the patriarchal order, were justifiable in the name of progress and modernity. To challenge and abolish this system, it is crucial to understand the historical causes of patriarchy in the Middle East. As an organization, we believe the creation of these gender norms put in place through colonialism, is harmful to the women of the Middle East. These norms create restrictions on opportunities for women in leadership, employment, and education. The integration of patriarchal norms also contributes to objectification. Instead of being respected as persons with their own desires, objectives, and aspirations, they are regarded as objects of male desire. They are also subject to double standards and are frequently held to different standards than men, especially when it comes to relationships and sexuality. resulting in discrimination such as victim blaming. We believe that ignoring these issues is just as bad as inflicting them upon these women, and hope that one day the world will be aware of the negative impacts colonialism has had within the Middle East.

References

Moghadam, V. M. (1992). Development and Patriarchy: The Middle East and North Africa in Economic and Demographic Transition. World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University.

[landofopp]

Africa – The land of opportunities

 BDB India

 January 23, 2023

Uncategorized

One-fifth of all land on Earth is located in Africa. Africa, which is widely recognised as the continent where the human species first emerged, was home to more than 965 million people in 2007. The population of the continent has changed significantly over time with the current population of 1.4 billion people. This population is equivalent to 16.72% of the total world population and they account for around 2.8% of global economic output. African habitats and landscapes have changed as a result of that population’s changing demographics. Although environmental change is not a recent phenomenon in Africa, it has become more rapid, as it has in many other parts of the world. Amid all the excitement is a wave of young idealistic, social entrepreneurs, coming back or completing their education and remaining in Africa, determined to help shape the future.

Africa, with 54 nations and a combined land area of 30 million km (twelve million square miles), Africa makes up 20% of the planet’s habitable landmass. The overall length of Africa’s coastlines is 41,184 kilometres (25,596 miles). The continent is divided into Northern, Eastern, Western, Southern and central Africa.

In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Africa as a whole underwent a change with increased democracy, peace, economic growth and prosperity. The world had a new perspective on Africa and developed a keen interest in its development. China and India, two developing nations, took the initiative and influenced this attitude.

Few questions the size of the African continent and its resources, which have a combined land mass larger than that of India, China, the US, and Europe put together. However, only a few people up until recently recognised it as a market that is quickly expanding. Over the past ten years, the continent of Africa has had an economic growth of 5% annually on average.

There are numerous “Africas” with diverse economies, ranging from oil exporters like Nigeria, Angola, Libya, and Algeria to countries like Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco that already have economies that are more diversified and have GDP per capita of well over $2000. Many nations including Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Cameroon, are in the process of shifting from agricultural to manufacturing and service economies.

Commodity prices have influenced Africa’s growth because the continent holds a third of the world’s mineral resources, 10% of the world’s oil reserves, and over 70% of the world’s diamond production. The dependence on a few important commodities, and consequently their global price, has caused a great deal of market uncertainty, particularly with regard to several of Africa’s currencies.

Several countries have been working hard to expand other economic sectors as part of an effort to diversify away from resource-based economies. To date, growth has been seen in manufacturing, services, and tourism in particular (although, whether from ebola, localised terrorism or national political change, growth from the latter source is evidently volatile).

A Glimpse of the Future

The following summarise the key predictions and observations of the present and historical trends, providing a glimpse into Africa’s future:

Africa has a wide range of economies, including low-, lower-middle-, upper-middle-, and high-income nations. The fragility or conflict-affectedness of 18 African nations was graded. By utilising its resources and population, the continent was ready to forge a whole new course for development. Average growth rates in Africa did not yet correspond to this idea. The region of sub-Saharan Africa was predicted to grow by 2.6% in 2019, up slightly from 2.5% in 2018. Nevertheless, Africa had four of the world’s fastest-growing economies: Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda. Both national and global issues were blamed for the slow growth.

This year, the economies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Niger, Rwanda, and South Sudan, as well as the island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius, are predicted to develop at rates of GDP growth of 6% or more. Before the pandemic, several sub-Saharan African economies saw record-breaking growth. For instance, over the past 20 years, Ethiopia and Rwanda have had some of the world’s fastest growth rates, averaging more than 7.5 percent annually. However, because income data at the subnational level are occasionally unavailable, it is less certain if the benefits of economic expansion have been distributed fairly among areas within countries.

When we looked more closely at the variables influencing regional disparity, it is discovered that growth was mostly attributable to advancements in the foundational infrastructure that allowed lagging regions to catch up to national levels more quickly. The number of night lights per person more than doubled in the most underdeveloped areas, with oil exporting nations and frontier markets like Ghana and Kenya seeing the largest increases.

Africa’s fastest-growing Economies

The 54 countries of Africa have assumed centre stage in the global investment agenda; African markets have experienced unprecedented expansion thanks to foreign direct investment and multinational projects in vital sectors including energy, infrastructure, and banking. The vibrant economies of Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola, and other countries present exciting opportunities for international industry and African residents alike. Many of these countries anticipate GDP growth rates in excess of 7% per year, every year, for decades to come.

https://bdbipl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Web-capture_24-1-2023_113725_.jpeg

African Resource Dominance

Africa is home to 30% of the world’s mineral resources and 25% of the world’s natural biodiversity, but it also has significant untapped resource potential. Nearly half the world’s gold and one-third of all minerals are in Africa. In contrast to the ageing populations of Europe and China, Africa has a young population. A strong skills base across many regions offers considerable labour potential. With metropolitan regions accounting for two-thirds of population growth, there is great potential for a rising creative class and innovation hotspots like the “Silicon Savannah” in Nairobi, Kenya, or Kigali, Rwanda.

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, ocean energy, green hydrogen, etc. have enormous potential for Africa.

The abundance of natural resources in Africa opens up a wide range of opportunities for the growth of a thriving bio-economy. It could promote economic growth and climate-proof the production of food, health care, energy, and industrial goods for a population that is expanding and urbanising.

The strategic raw materials that are essential for digitalization and green technologies are found in Africa, including battery minerals like cobalt, manganese, graphite, and copper. Increased local processing, value addition, and resource-driven industrialization are goals of the African Mining Vision.

African economies must use their resources to create prosperity for their own population. Regional development could undergo a structural transformation as a result of digitization. Through indigenous manufacturing capability, the African Continental Free Trade Area has a significant potential to foster regional growth and development.

Natural resources in Africa offer a special chance to promote both economic and human development. However, there are considerable barriers standing in the way of African nations achieving this potential. First, there are issues with sustainable development and governance, such as bad investment choices and ineffective income management, environmental issues, desertification, resource conservation, and the eviction of communities from their ancestral lands. In addition to poor border controls, a lack of human security, a decline in investment, bad policy decisions, and a decline in biodiversity and formal trade, weak institutions also result in these negative consequences.

Africa and the Global Players – Trade

A quick glance at the globe map demonstrates Africa’s dominant position. Australia is situated at the same latitudes as the southern half of Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea wash its coasts. It is bordered on the west by North and South America, on the north by Europe, on the north by the Middle East, and on the east by Asia. However, geography can be misleading. Africa has historically had less influence on world affairs than other continents like Asia and Europe.

The largest and nearest neighbour to Africa is the European Union. Its the most significant trade partner, financial backer, humanitarian aid and development aid donor, and a major peace and security contributor. The partnership’s economic and financial aspects deserve consideration. According to official statistics from 2017, Europe accounts for 35.9% of all trade between Africa and the continent, with EY making up 32.7% of all imports and 41.1% of all exports.

Africa deals with a constantly shifting global trade environment that presents new chances and difficulties for boosting growth and lowering poverty. Emerging trends are dominated by the proliferation of regional trade agreements, often at the expense of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the fourth Industrial Revolution and the subsequent rise of labour-saving technologies, Asia’s emergence as the next great economic power, increased production fragmentation, and quick changes in global value chains (GVCs).

There are a variety of experiences with regard to how AGOA (The African Growth and Opportunity Act) has been used throughout the region, including those who completely missed the opportunity (Central and West Africa), those who initially registered strong growth before either experiencing a sharp decline or stagnation (many in Southern Africa) and latecomers who made significant progress (East African countries, including Ethiopia and Kenya).

African nations continue to be mostly dependent on exports of primary goods from the agricultural, mining, and extractive industries despite efforts to diversify their export sources. Long-term, this has negative effects on inclusive growth since it dims opportunities for industrialization and the creation of human capital, among other things.

Africa’s Trade Integration with India

With the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which included 32 countries, the African continent initially engaged in trade integration. India’s entire exports to the African Union in 2019 came to USD 29.59 billion, while its total imports were USD 38.74 billion. Nigeria accounts for the largest share of India’s imports from the African Union (27.39%), followed by South Africa (17.12%), Angola (9.81%), Ghana (6.44%), and Egypt (6.44%). (5.17 percent). South Africa (13.46 percent), Nigeria (12.43 percent), Egypt (8.98 percent), Mozambique (7.22 percent), and Kenya receive the majority of India’s exports (6.53 percent).

India has trading ties with various smaller African nations even though the bulk of its commerce is with South Africa and Nigeria. India has increased the variety of its trade with Africa in recent decades. [40] The mix of goods that India exports to the continent has changed from textile yarns to petroleum, medicinal, chemical, and manufactured goods. At the same time, considering the extensive natural resource base in Africa, India’s import basket is nevertheless broad even though it is dominated by primary products and natural resources.

With the exception of Mauritius, India attracted investments from South Africa, Seychelles, Mozambique, and Uganda throughout the previous five years (2015–2020). Some of the major industries in which Africa has received FDI from Indiaa include telecommunications services, cement manufacture, financial leasing, power generation, air transportation activities, and advertising services. If investments from Mauritius are removed, some of the major sectors for investment include financial services, healthcare services (mostly from South Africa), and pharmaceutical product manufacturing (Seychelles, Mozambique, and South Africa) (South Africa).

The services sector accounts for the majority of investments from India to Africa, and within this sector, the bilateral tax agreement between the two countries is mostly responsible. However, there are some tendencies in bilateral trade that are complementary to India’s, particularly in the case of resource-seeking ventures in the mining and chemical sectors. Under the African Continental Free Trade, these ties in trade and investment can be strengthened.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread application of containment measures, such as lockdowns, social exclusion, and border closures, caused supply and demand shocks and a significant contraction in world trade. The trajectory of global trade, however, reversed in 2021 as a result of a sustained increase in global demand and output growth following a gradual easing of containment measures related to the pandemic, the widespread use of vaccines, and support from monetary and fiscal stimulus programmes that helped to improve trade performance.

https://bdbipl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Web-capture_24-1-2023_115440_.jpeg

Even while the percentage in 2020 was significantly lower than the pre-pandemic share of 89.26 percent recorded in 2019, the combined contribution of China and India in Africa’s exports to Asia remained strong, rising from 87.66 percent in 2020 to 88.33 percent in 2021. Over the past three years, their total export share from Africa to the rest of the globe has averaged around 24.2%,  solidifying their status as Africa’s sole top trading partners.

Although the performance in 2020 showed a minor deceleration due to the pandemic, India’s proportion of Africa’s exports to Asia has also been strong over the last three years, increasing by 25.91 percent in 2021 from 23.43 percent in 2020 and 26.3 percent in 2019.

From 6.29 percent in 2020 and 7.26 percent in 2019, India’s share of Africa’s total merchandise exports to the world increased to 7.21 percent in 2021. African exports to India have outpaced imports since 2006, allowing the continent to enjoy a trade surplus that increased to US$13.37 billion in 2022 from US$4.58 billion in 2020.

Conclusion

While Africa primarily exports crude oil, gold, coal, and other minerals, India’s principal exports to Africa are pharmaceuticals and refined petroleum products. With total investments in Africa totalling over $74 billion in recent years, India has become one of the top five investors in the continent. Additionally, Indian businesses are becoming more prevalent in resource-rich nations like Ghana and Nigeria. Some key areas have been marked out to catalyse Indian investments in Africa for a special focus :

Promote bilateral commerce and investment between India and Africa under the AfCFTA, as its legal procedures will permit significantly more of both. To increase market access for its products and services, Indian business could coordinate their activities with the goals of the free trade agreement.

Information technology, other emerging technologies, IT services, health, education, legal services, and other industries with a broad scope are among the potential services traded with Africa.

In the post-covid age, prospects in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are particularly important. India’s achievements in the production of drugs and vaccines, as well as its more recent strides in telemedicine, are assets that may be used.

A strong digital infrastructure is essential for overall development across all industries and could help to accelerate economic growth. The digital transformation of Africa will help the continent realise its Agenda 2063.

India should invest in creating the crucial infrastructure so that international supply chains may function effectively in Africa.

Growing Indian construction initiatives show the expansion of economic ties with Africa. India has contributed significantly to these initiatives through grants, concessional loans, and capacity-building programmes, all of which have impacted considerably Africa’s socioeconomic growth.

To maximise output and boost employment rates, the majority of African nations are fusing structural reform initiatives with historically successful industries. Some of the industries have succeeded in exceeding their projections in this endeavour

[meowmaids]

In the same way that we have renamed Hanson’s from leprosy, Acquired Immunodeficiency from “Gay Related Immunodeficienc’ aka GRID (yes this was a real term used by medical practitioners) and racist terms when discussing MSG which is naturally occurring in everyday food like tomatoes , I really do think “monkey pox’ should NOT be renamed M pox but something else entirely because of the racist connotations

A wide range of mammals can become infected with this particular strain of pox but also with other orthopox viruses

Including other orthopox viruses in marine mammals:

Just like how corona viruses are large family of viruses that affect animal from minks to camels (first link below) it is NOT helpful to confine the name to one species. Animals who may expose humans to this orthopox virus include “Natural host of monkeypox virus Various animal species have been identified as susceptible to monkeypox virus. This includes rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, non-human primates and other species. Uncertainty remains on the natural history of monkeypox virus and further studies are needed to identify the exact reservoir(s) and how virus circulation is maintained in nature.” (Second link below)

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Coronaviruses-and-Animals.aspx?TSPD_101_R0=087ed344cfab20001434b1b0a69c2ead0cba5806efbc96914f3bc4ed01ce5b6d1f9cb9d1057d23c4084ad416771430004593730e9bb137218d018db2866ff32d62a110cab501b0e52755f206f3d45907ff05ef30da39fcfa34dce1a813fcdadf

So what should it be called? Well with hemogragic fevers, and respiratory corona viruses naming them after a location where patients is first treated can bring not only stigma to a community but may confines a disease to a certain community in the public perception. The three examples I listed with hemograic fevers, and corona viruses are Ebola which is named after the river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Middle eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) and how early in the pandemic we were strains by where they first appeared often by country.

And while MERS and Rock mountain spotted fever may be slightly better examples of naming disease on geography they are not without their flaws. It is evident though in naming viruses, or variants particularly of new, high case numbers, and severe illness after a country may inadvertently be placing blame on that country for the ‘outbreak of the disease’.

No country is responsible for disease just because it was reported or discovered somewhere first does not mean it originated from there or that it is only in that area. I don’t think I can emphasize this enough but blame only seeks to separate communities and instead of asking how can be best help patients? Or how can we allocate resources equitably? How can we put health care practitioners into contact to communicate ideas ect

From this we can could have an acronym for most frequently seen symptoms, note it is an orthopox virus. Something along the lines of :ACRONYM Orthivid variant #

[chelleztjs18]

Haha I just put together the random things I remember about you, but the eyebag will always be the main nickname 😅

Oh that's cute. That's like the room my niece has. She has a shelf for her plushies and since she has a lot, her mom also stacked the rocking chair with the rest of the plushies. I'm really to blame, cause whenever I see a cute plushy or a character she likes in plushy form, I buy it.

Wow a 9ft tree! That's really huge. I think the tallest I've ever had was 6ft. I remember when I was younger, I'm always the one decorating the tree and putting the decorations around the house. Maybe that's why now I don't do it much. And yes! Show us some pictures! I always enjoy seeing other people's Christmas trees and decorations.

I like sandwiches and baked foods. Oh I see, yes I do. But like in Italian foods. I haven't really had much Indian food because one time I tried it and it was so spicy, so I didn't wanna try any other.

Ok, I will try that chocolate 😌 but you'll have to try something that I recommend as well! I'm just not sure what though hahaha

This is one of my favorite jokes: when are you not american? When you are in the bathroom. (Because European). 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I would choose the personal chef. Because I want to have a meal ready anytime I asked for it hahaha I don't mind cleaning, but when it comes to cooking, I get so lazy.

Would you rather have rainy days or snowy mornings?

- CuriousGeorge

hahhaa yeah I know.. i like all the nicknames, they are so me. LOL.

she really likes plushies so she always buy them. When I buy her toys, I always pick the educating ones or books or anything for her to learn different languages.

ah i see yeah i got what u meant, because u been doing it for a while n now u r just done. hahaha. especially when u live by urself.. I love decorating my own place. I love soft lights n cozy feelings with dark colors.

what's ur favorite colors?

and here are some pictures.

i looove sandwich! I prefer sandwich over burger. i think sandwich are better that burger. Especially if it's cold cut sandwich. what's ur fav sandwich or fav cold cut meat? do u have fav cheese?

I'm okay with Italian. Not a big fan of pasta. but I love bruscheta and my favorite italian food is mushroom rissotto. I want to try to make it someday, i checked it n it's pretty hard to make.

I love indian food or middle eastern food. I really want to learn how to make it. especially the rice dishes.

I guess that's it, i love rice dishes from any country.hahaha. especially if it's use bunch of herbs and spices. I saw some videos of different rice dishes from different countries n they all look so good. The best i can do is making Jambalaya. my friends and my best friend love the jambalaya i make.hahaha.

I remembered in indonesia, i went to this middle eastern restaurant, they have this rice dish, it's like briyani rice (maybe it is) but it's cooked with spices n it smells so good and they put cashew nuts and raisin in it n served with some beef or lamb curry with it and some bread like indian naan bread oh my god, that one bite was full of flavors that exploded in my mouth, I got foodgasm. lol. the crunchiness of the cashew nuts and the sweetness from the raisins paired perfect with the savory n a little bitterness from whatever the spices in it. it was bold flavor. i love food with bold flavor.haha.sorry i rambled. I love baked food too. so does it mean u like breads?

yes please do try the chocolate n i will try the ones u rec me.

hahaha that's a funny joke.:D tell me more jokes u have?

ah i see, i dont mind cooking, i love cooking..but cleaning after cooking actually hard. that's why i always clean the kitchen before I cook so it will not be so dirty after cooking and all the utensils or plates or bowls i use while cooking, i will rinse it right away before i stack it properly in the sink hahaha,, yeah i'm that weird.. you realize that you r making friends with a weird person who likes to write, right? hahahahaahah. u can still back out before it's too late. lol

i love snowy mornings if i dont have to live it everyday or if it's not too much. So for this question, i will pick rainy days. I just love rain so much, especially when it's cold n gloomy.

next questions? i hope u r still awake. sorry it takes time to answer this. :D

Cheerio!