#state leadership conference

[townpostin]

VHP Jharkhand Reshuffles Leadership at Three-Day Meet in Koderma

New appointments announced for Jamshedpur and other units during Koderma conference Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Jharkhand state meeting concludes with organizational changes and strategic discussions on Hindu unity. JAMSHEDPUR – VHP Jharkhand state committee meeting in Koderma ends with leadership changes for Jamshedpur metropolitan area and other units. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Jharkhand…

[wausaupilot]

DCE HOSA member advances to International Leadership Conference

D.C. Everest Senior High School student Emma Schueller recently placed second at the HOSA State Leadership Conference held in Wisconsin Dells and will head to Houston, Texas, in late June to participate in the HOSA International Leadership Conference. Schueller and three other DCE HOSA members competed in a series of career-themed events, and also received First Aid for Severe Trauma, or FAST,…

[theambitiouswoman]

How To Become A Brand New Person ✨✨

Self Reflect:

Journal daily.

Think about past decisions and how they impacted your life.

Meditate regularly.

Create a vision board to visualize your goals.

Review your strengths and weaknesses.

Identify your core values and beliefs.

Figure out your passions and interests.

Think about your childhood dreams and aspirations.

Evaluate your current state of happiness and fulfillment.

Set Clear Goals:

Define specific career goals, like "Get promoted within two years."

Set health goals, like "Lose 20 pounds in six months."

Create financial goals such as "Save $10,000 for a vacation."

Establish personal development goals, like "Read 24 books in a year."

Set relationship goals, such as "Improve communication with my partner."

Define education goals, like "Complete a master's degree in three years."

Set travel goals, like "Visit five new countries in the next two years."

Create hobbies and interests goals, such as "Learn to play a musical instrument."

Set community or volunteer goals, like "Volunteer 100 hours this year."

Establish mindfulness or self-care goals, such as "Practice meditation daily."

Self Care:

Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Prioritize getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.

Practice in relaxation techniques like deep breathing or yoga.

Take regular breaks at work to avoid burnout.

Schedule "me time" for activities you enjoy.

Limit exposure to stressors and toxic people.

Practice regular skincare and grooming routines.

Seek regular medical check-ups and screenings.

Stay hydrated by drinking enough water daily.

Personal Development:

Read a book every month from various genres.

Attend workshops or seminars on topics of interest.

Learn a new language or musical instrument.

Take online courses to acquire new skills.

Set aside time for daily reflection and self improvement.

Seek a mentor in your field for guidance.

Attend conferences and networking events.

Start a side project or hobby to expand your abilities.

Practice public speaking or communication skills.

Do creative activities like painting, writing, or photography.

Create a Support System:

Build a close knit group of friends who uplift and inspire you.

Join clubs or organizations aligned with your interests.

Connect with a mentor or life coach.

Attend family gatherings to maintain bonds.

Be open and honest in your communication with loved ones.

Seek advice from trusted colleagues or supervisors.

Attend support groups for specific challenges (e.g., addiction recovery).

Cultivate online connections through social media.

Find a therapist or counselor for emotional support.

Participate in community or volunteer activities to meet like minded people.

Change Habits:

Cut back on sugary or processed foods.

Reduce screen time and increase physical activity.

Practice gratitude by keeping a daily journal.

Manage stress through mindfulness meditation.

Limit procrastination by setting specific deadlines.

Reduce negative self-talk by practicing self-compassion.

Establish a regular exercise routine.

Create a budget and stick to it.

Develop a morning and evening routine for consistency.

Overcome Fear and Self Doubt:

Face a specific fear head-on (example: public speaking).

Challenge your negative thoughts with positive affirmations.

Seek therapy to address underlying fears or traumas.

Take small, calculated risks to build confidence.

Visualize success in challenging situations.

Surround yourself with supportive and encouraging people.

Journal about your fears and doubts to gain clarity.

Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small.

Focus on your strengths and accomplishments.

Embrace failure as a valuable learning experience.

Embrace Change:

Relocate to a new city or country.

Switch careers or industries to pursue your passion.

Take on leadership roles in your workplace.

Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone.

Embrace new technologies and digital tools.

Travel to unfamiliar destinations.

Start a new hobby or creative endeavor.

Change your daily routine to add variety.

Adjust your mindset to see change as an opportunity.

Seek out diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

Practice Gratitude:

Write down three things you're grateful for each day.

Express gratitude to loved ones regularly.

Create a gratitude jar and add notes of appreciation.

Reflect on the positive aspects of challenging situations.

Show gratitude by volunteering or helping others in need.

Send thank-you notes or messages to people who've helped you.

Keep a gratitude journal and review it regularly.

Share your gratitude openly during family meals or gatherings.

Focus on the present moment and appreciate the little things.

Practice gratitude even in times of adversity.

Be Patient:

Set realistic expectations for your progress.

Accept that personal growth takes time.

Focus on the journey rather than the destination.

Learn from setbacks and view them as opportunities to improve.

Celebrate small milestones along the way.

Practice self-compassion during challenging times.

Stay committed to your goals, even when progress is slow.

Keep a journal to track your personal growth.

Recognize that patience is a valuable skill in personal transformation.

Celebrate Small Wins:

Treat yourself to your favorite meal or dessert.

Reward yourself with a spa day or self-care activity.

Share your achievements with friends and loved ones.

Create a vision board to visualize your successes.

Acknowledge and congratulate yourself in a journal.

Give yourself permission to take a break and relax.

Display reminders of your accomplishments in your workspace.

Take a day off to celebrate a major milestone.

Host a small gathering to mark your achievements.

Set aside time to reflect on how far you've come.

Maintain Balance:

Set clear boundaries in your personal and work life.

Prioritize self care activities in your daily routine.

Schedule regular breaks and downtime.

Learn to say "no" when necessary to avoid overcommitment.

Evaluate your work life balance regularly.

Seek support from friends and family to avoid burnout.

Be kind to yourself and accept imperfections.

Practice mindfulness to stay present and grounded.

Revisit your priorities and adjust them as needed.

Embrace self love and self acceptance as part of your daily life.

[sreepadamangaraj]

Summer Owens was the opening keynote speaker for the FCCLA Georgia State Leadership

[opencommunion]

"The settler such as one finds in Algeria, in Angola, in Kenya, in Rhodesia and in the Union of South Africa is obstinately hostile to any attack on his supremacy. We do not say to the settler: ‘You are a stranger, go away.’ We do not say to him: ‘We will take over the leadership of the country and make you pay for your crimes and those of your ancestors.’ We do not tell him that ‘to the past hatred of the Black we will oppose the present and future hatred of the white man’. We say to him: ‘We are Algerians, banish all racism from our land, all forms of oppression and let us work for man, for the flourishing of man and for the enrichment of humanity.’ The settler replies, and the French government supports him: ‘Algeria is French.’ In Angola: Angola is Portuguese. In the Union of South Africa: The Union of South Africa is a white state.

... No, the violence of the Algerian people is neither a hatred of peace nor a rejection of human relations, nor a conviction that only war can put an end to the colonial regime in Algeria. The Algerian people have chosen the unique solution that was left to them and this choice will hold firm for us. General de Gaulle said: ‘We must break the Algerian people.’ We reply: ‘Let us negotiate, find a solution that is commensurate with contemporary history. But know that if you want to break the Algerian people, you will have to accept seeing your armies break themselves against the rampart of the glorious Algerian soldiers.’"

Frantz Fanon, "Why We Use Violence," Address to the Accra Positive Action Conference, April 1960, trans. Robert JC Young in Alienation and Freedom, 2018

[whatisonthemoon]

Chicago Tribune: Clerics Urge Pardon for Rev. Moon (1985)

WASHINGTON — A group of religious leaders ranging from the political Right to the political Left marked the release of Rev. Sun Myung Moon from prison Tuesday by calling for a presidential pardon and urging that the government resist the erosion of religious freedom.

Rev. Moon, a 65-year-old Korean evangelist, was released at midnight from a halfway house in Brooklyn, N.Y., after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence for tax evasion. He went to his New York home before traveling to Washington Tuesday night for a banquet celebrating his release.

Rev. Moon told the audience of more than 1,600 that his imprisonment had given him an opportunity for prayer and meditation on ''what America must do to fulfill God`s will.''

''I was not there because of my personal actions or mistakes, yet I did not brood with resentment or hatred for those who persecuted me,'' the leader of the Unification Church said to a standing ovation.

Rev. Jerry Falwell, leader of the Moral Majority, and Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, appearing jointly and later separately at a press conference here, both argued that the federal government had wrongly prosecuted Rev. Moon.

''Because of the unpopularity of his religious beliefs, he received a . . . prison sentence . . . when E.F. Hutton hasn`t been touched on the wrists yet,'' Rev. Falwell said, referring to the Justice Department`s decision to prosecute the Hutton company but none of its officers in an alleged check-kiting scheme.

Rev. Lowery said, ''The President, who steadfastly claims to uphold the separation of church and state and who proclaims his support of religious freedom, has been strangely silent as the number of intrusions swell to unprecedented levels during his administration.''

He criticized many of his fellow clergymen, some of whom ''have been willing to give line-item support to the struggle for freedom and liberty for all.''

In a petition being circulated for a presidential pardon for Rev. Moon, the religious leaders said individual churches or denominations, not the government, should decide how church money should be spent. The petition said, ''A man innocent of intentional wrongdoing has served a jail sentence. That alone says enough to warrant a pardon.''

Although many major religious organizations were not represented at the Washington press conference, Rev. Falwell claimed broad support but noted that many of those present agree on little else.

[read-marx-and-lenin]

Hi, I’m sorry to bother you. I’ve been attempting to unlearn what I’ve been taught about the DPRK from western outlets, but I’ve gotten stuck on a facet that you can, perhaps, speak to. As is often harped on here in the west, there seems to be a dynastic quality to the leadership, namely the Kim family. Now the fixation that the people have on their leaders I can understand, we can observe the same kind of obsessive fervor in many countries in the west (especially the US). I guess I don’t fully understand the political structure of the DPRK, nor the people’s relations to it. I apologize for the vagueness of this question, and thank you very much for your time.

It is understandable that most people will have no idea about the political structure of the DPRK, and the title of "Supreme Leader" can be confusing if you don't understand how the DPRK's government works.

The political structure of the DPRK is based around democratic centralism, similar to the USSR. Kim Jong-un was elected to the positions of general secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs Commission, which grants him the honorific title of "Supreme Leader" and makes him the representative of the state. However, he is not the head of government. That would be the premier, Kim Tok-hun (unrelated to Kim Jong-un, Kim is simply a very common surname in Korea.) Kim Tok-hun also serves as the vice president of the State Affairs Commission.

The highest organ of the DPRK, meanwhile, is the Supreme People's Assembly, which is a multi-party legislature that votes on laws and constitutional amendments and is responsible for electing both the Premier and the President of State Affairs, among other positions. While there are multiple political parties in the DPRK, the Worker's Party holds a privileged position under the constitution. So while the position of General Secretary does not confer any formal governmental powers, it is still a powerful political position in the country.

The Premier is the head of the Cabinet, which is the administrative and executive body of the DPRK. While the SPA creates laws, amends the constitution, and decides the budget, the Cabinet administers the implementation of them.

The SAC directs the orientation of state policy in the DPRK. While they do not write laws directly, they can issue directives to guide the SPA in determining which laws to write. However, the SAC is ultimately accountable to the SPA and not above it. The SPA is responsible for electing the SAC in the first place and has the authority to recall its members. So while the SAC is not directly elected by the people, it does not hold greater power than the SPA whose members are directly elected.

Members of the SPA are elected by all citizens 17 and older alongside members of local assemblies (compare governors vs senators in the US.) Elections are conducted via secret ballot. Anyone has the right to run for election regardless of party affiliation, which is why there are multiple parties represented in the SPA as well as independent members.

You can read more about the DPRK governmental structure in the DPRK constitution here:

[zvaigzdelasas]

Speaking to reporters, Netanyahu insisted that there was no alternative to “complete victory” over Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s hawkish response came hours after he met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken[...] Blinken said later that there was still a path to a deal.

The Hamas proposal envisaged a three-stage process over four-and-a-half months, during which Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from the enclave, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel would be freed, according to a copy of the group’s counteroffer obtained by CNN.[...]

Israel’s aim was “complete victory” in Gaza, Netanyahu said. “The victory is achievable; it’s not a matter of years or decades, it’s a matter of months.”

In a late-night press conference in Tel Aviv, Blinken suggested negotiations could still move forward, saying he believed Netanyahu’s “delusional” remark referred to specific elements of the Hamas proposals that were unacceptable.[...]

Hamas had proposed a three-phase deal, each lasting 45 days, that would also see the gradual release of hostages held in the enclave in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – as well as the start of a massive humanitarian and rebuilding effort.

Contrary to earlier demands, Hamas did not call for an immediate end to the war. Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place during the truce and the remaining hostages would only be released once a final deal to end the war was agreed, the document said.[...]

Netanyahu has pledged not to stop the campaign until Israel destroys Hamas once and for all.[...]

The Israeli former hostage Adina Moshe criticized Netanyahu, saying there “won’t be any hostages to release” if his government continued its plan to completely eliminate Hamas.[...]

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters also delivered a message directly to Netanyahu and the Israeli War Cabinet in a press release on Wednesday. “If the hostages are not returned home: the citizens of Israel should know they live in a state that is not committed to their security, that the mutual responsibility in it has died,” the families forum said. “They who do not protect their citizens will find that their citizens lose faith in them and their leadership.”

7 Feb 24

[decolonize-the-everything]

Article from March 2021

source on reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, reaffirmed U.S. opposition to an International Criminal Court probe of possible war crimes in the Palestinian Territories, the White House said. The call, the first between the two since Harris and President Joe Biden took office in January, came a day after the ICC prosecutor said she would launch the probe, prompting swift rejections by Washington and Jerusalem.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who will be replaced by British prosecutor Karim Khan on June 16, said in December 2019 that war crimes had been or were being committed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. She named both the Israel Defense Forces and armed Palestinian groups such as Hamas as possible perpetrators.

Harris and Netanyahu noted their governments’ "opposition to the International Criminal Court’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel," the White House said.

The two agreed to continue to cooperate on regional security issues, specifically Iran’s nuclear program and "dangerous" behavior, the White House statement said. Harris "emphasized the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security," the statement added.

Article from Feb 2024

"Speaking at this year's Munich Security Conference in Germany, Harris noted Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and increased instability and conflict in the Middle East.

[...]

"In these unsettled times, it is clear America cannot retreat," Harris said. "America must stand strong for democracy. We must stand in defense of international rules and norms. And we must stand with our allies." Harris said her address came amid questions about the future of America's role as a global leader. "These are questions that the American people must also ask ourselves: whether it is in America's interest to fight for democracy or to accept the rise of dictators and whether it is in America's interest to continue to work lockstep with our allies and partners or go it alone," she said.

Article from July 25, 2024, after the ICJ ruling on Palestine and after ICC applications for Netanyahu's arrest as a war criminal were posted

Vice President Kamala Harris today met with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel at the White House. The Vice President reiterated her longstanding and unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel and the people of Israel. They discussed the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to ensure Israel can defend itself from threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and the importance of combatting the rise in Antisemitism globally. The Vice President again condemned Hamas as a brutal terrorist organization as well as individuals associating with Hamas, noting that pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and must not be tolerated.

Article from July 25, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris slammed instances of “despicable acts” and “dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric” after Wednesday’s demonstration in D.C., in which thousands converged to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and the ongoing war in Gaza. Throngs of demonstrators descended on the capital’s Union Station as Netanyahu addressed Congress, calling for an end to the war that Gaza health authorities say has killed more than 40,000 people

You are not pushing her left. Nobody is.

This February she was at the Munich Security Conference in Germany giving war criminals a morale boost.

After protests even after people had self immolated; although Aaron Bushnell hadn't by that event yet.

But the fact that it happened just a short 2 weeks later and she still supports Israel today? The fact she's reaffirming her support as she runs for president and wants us to give her the power to enable a certified war criminal?

Nobody is pushing her left. People died! They're still dying! Theyre setting themselves on fire, and she doesn't care.

All the hope in the world won't make that untrue.

No amount of peaceful protests or voting blue has saved anyone and Kamala will not be the exception. She's perfectly content with genocide and war crimes despite all her pretending to care about marginalized people and our oppression.

[centrally-unplanned]

This article about Hamas's strategic planning in the lead up to the October assault was at least a partial mind-changer for me. So far I had been viewing Hamas as executing a "bait" attack on Israel for international & domestic political reasons. Kill enough Israelis, and in particular take some hostages, to force Israel to invade Gaza; which you want because that will re-inflame radicalism, tank Israel's growing coziness with Arab states like the Gulf Monarchies, and keep the Palestine Question front-and-center on people's agendas.

What it was not about was achieving any sense of a military victory; Hamas did not think they would be able to defeat the IDF on the field, or even truly hold them back. They thought they would do better than they have in defending Gaza, to be honest, but the goal wasn't to "win" in that way or anything. The actions of Israel, in their inflamed bloodlust, would be the fulcrum of progress for Hamas. It was the most logical interpretation of their strategy, because tbh its working, Israel's strategy void has bungled this war at every level. Of course if it is "worth it" is a completely separate question - Hamas is playing a game from deep, deep in the red, if you aren't going to fold and pack it up from that position these are the hail mary plays you make.

This article, a long (and sometimes overly windy) interview with two career members of the Palestinian governing orgs (primarily Fatah), shines a very different light on that. They outline that over the past ~decade, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar coalesced power around his own faction of highly fundamentalist adherents that convinced itself that divine favor was shining on them and they would be able to actually defeat Israel in the field. The most compelling evidence for this is a conference they held planning the post-conquest occupation of Israel:

So detailed were the plans that participants in the conference began to draw up list of all the properties in Israel and appointed representatives to deal with the assets that would be seized by Hamas. "We have a registry of the numbers of Israeli apartments and institutions, educational institutions and schools, gas stations, power stations and sewage systems, and we have no choice but to get ready to manage them," Obeid told the conference.

They even called people up to ask if they would take the job of governor of this-of-that province! This was not a bored-Friday white paper by any means. They discussed defensive plans and counter-offensives like that was on the table. Sinwar outlined conquest as the goal.

If we accept this premise, it naturally lends itself to the question "okay how did they get the rest of Hamas to go along with this?" Because Hamas is not all These Kinds of People, its a governing state that does politics on the international stage after all. One of the reasons I leaned towards my interpretation was that, for the past ~decade, Hamas has actually been doing a glam-up rebranding of the org to make it more moderate & respectable in international eyes. The 2017 Charter Revision is the biggest example, which included say disavowing the idea that this was a religious war (distinguishing between zionism & judaism), and loosely admitting to the idea that they could recognize Israel as a country if terms were met. Actions like these show actors who are pretty level-headed. Were they inauthentic? Did they change their mind?

Maybe a bit, but its more than they aren't the same people. Right alongside the build-up to the October attack was a purging & sidelining of whole swaths of Hamas leadership. Many were not even informed of the attack - though they knew something was coming. Apparently it leaked on October 2nd, and a bunch of leaders just immediately fled the Strip for safety. This one is the most amusing:

Haniyeh's eldest son took a similar course of action. Around midday on October 2, Abed Haniyeh chaired a meeting of the Palestinian sports committee, which is headed by the minister of sports, Jibril Rajoub. Suddenly he received a phone call, left the room for a few minutes and then returned, pale and confused. He immediately informed the committee – whose members were in a Zoom conference with counterparts in the West Bank – that he had to leave for the Rafah crossing straightaway, as he had just learned that his wife had to undergo fertility treatment in the United Arab Emirates. (He was lying.) He granted full power of attorney to his deputy and left the Gaza Strip hurriedly.

That is one way to duck out of a pointless meeting, take notes people!

So instead of my hail mary politics play, what you have is a story of an institutional coup by a radical faction - which for extremist resistance groups is an ever-present threat. None of this means the "bait" strategy part is wrong of course, that was definitely still the point - but this argument here claims that goal of the bait was to bring the IDF into Gaza where it could be defeated in the field with their extensive fortifications, and then presumably inspire others like Hezbollah to jump on the moment of weakness and besiege Israel proper.

So....is this true? There are two gigantic caveats on this article: the first is that the people being interviewed do not primarily work for Hamas - they are members of Fatah, the leading faction of the PLO. They hate Hamas, they are not Hamas leaders themselves, they have every incentive to paint Hamas as irredeemable. You really can't take this story simply at their word. But they aren't outsiders - they hate Hamas but they work with them constantly, that is how it works, people rotate around in the Palestine orgs. They have met personally and worked with dozens of Hamas leaders; one of them was even called to be offered one of those post-war occupation governorships! (He said no lol) So its a big red flag but not a damning one. And things like the fleeing leaders, the conference on the occupation, those all 100% happened. They released press on it, they weren't hiding it.

The second caveat is that its just really not uncommon for large organizations, particularly extremist ones, to engage in mainly performative actions at scale. The South Korean government still maintains a department that plans for the administration of North Korea for example! Not totally useless ofc, but it writes exactly the reports you think it does that get put in a bin and never touched. Sometimes its appeasing internal factions, sometimes its PR, sometimes its just institutional inertia. Its absolutely believable that Hamas would make a big plan for how they would conquer Israel because otherwise...what do you tell the commanders, exactly? Why are they fighting again? A significant percentage of the lower-level fighters need that belief, so you give it to them. While certainly there is a fundamentalist faction in Hamas, are they ones winning? Or are they just another faction being played against?

I don't see enough evidence to say, but there is enough to make me pause. I'm not sold on it in the end, that is my final conclusion. I think more brains than Sinwar were involved in this and they had more realistic aspirations. And yet the level of commitment and disorganization does suggest that at least some of what was pushing events forward was a group immune to doubts being at the wheel. Certainly interested in researching more.

[wosogwrites]

You were the best, but you were the worst

Chapter 1

Captain Lucy Bronze x Captain Ona Batlle

Summary: Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle are rival captains of the two biggest clubs in women’s football, and they totally, absolutely, utterly hate each others guts

2.2k words

Disclaimer: sorry about the shitty translated spanish and catalan. there are no big plans for it to become 18+ (although i’m not against it) but serious themes discussed and a lot of swearing

The changing room bench was split in two, the wood splintering onto the floor, Lucy Bronze’s cleated foot amongst it.

“For fucks sake,” she groaned deeply, spinning away and throwing her boots to the side.

Sent off because of two yellow cards was never a good look, especially not as the captain and definitely not during the most important match of the season.

They were going to lose she knew that almost for certain. 80th minute 2-1 down and a player down. The glimmer of hope for the game had vanished, along with the hope of winning the league.

It was an awful way to end the season for FC Lleons, having been toe to toe with forever rivals FC Valquíries for the entire year, it all came down to the final match. A draw or a win and the Lleons would take the title, a measly draw was all they needed and Lucy had bottled it.

She flopped down on the bench and raked her blunt nails through her hair, the match day bun she usually found comforting tugging painfully at the scalp.

She’d still be on that pitch if it wasn’t for her. Her stupid face. Her annoying voice. Her horrible personality. Lucy had been told from a young age to never use the word hate, her mum would say ‘Lucy its not hate, you don’t hate, you just dislike’. But at 30 years old, she officially disagreed with her mother, cause ‘dislike’ was no where near strong enough to describe her feelings towards Ona Batlle.

Ona Batlle, the Captain of FC Valquíries and the biggest pain in the arse. Both football teams were located in Barcelona, where Lucy relocated to from England 7 years ago. It has always been a historic rivalry but since the leadership of the two women it has become far deeper and bigger.

Ultimately it had been beneficial to both clubs, they competed in matches, for the league, for the best facilities, for the best most popular players. Consequently, they had both grown exponentially in the past four years, women’s football along with it. The game was dramatic and thrilling and just what was needed to reel the fans in, and Lucy and Ona were the figureheads of it all.

———

4 years ago

“Oh hi you’re Ona right?” Lucy asked holding her hand out to a younger woman in a Valquíries training kit.

They were standing in the hallway waiting to be called into their first press conference of the season. Coincidentally both teams had lost their captain and both girls had been awarded the new captaincy.

“Si si Lucy I presume?” Ona responded, her voice deeper than Lucy had remembered from the pitch. Their hands met in a firm shake, a warm smile from each of them.

“Yep that’s me,” she paused taking in the rival captain in front of her, “You’re smaller up close.”

Ona’s eyebrows shot into her hairline, “Was that meant to be a compliment?”

Lucy nodded, “It’s whatever you want it to be.”

“Huh misterioso.”

“Eres mi enemigo, tengo que serlo,” Lucy shrugs

“Enemigo? Un poco duro”

“Hm but true”

“Noted,” Ona folded her arms and leaned against the wall. Lucy followed suit copying her actions almost exactly. Their eyes narrowed facing each other, tense, but a certain buzz passed between them.

The door to the side of them swung open with a loud creek, a bald man in a polo interrupting them, “They’re ready for you now.”

“Thanks,” Lucy chimed, but as she bounced off of the wall, a soft hand behind her grasped her tattooed wrist pulling her back.

“It’s our first conference as captains,” Ona stated, their faces so close Lucy could see the freckle on her upper lip, “And I know this whole rivalry is a big deal to you for some reason.”

Lucy nodded slowly, hesitantly.

Ona’s eyes met her’s, “Don’t fuck it up.”

She dropped Lucy’s wrist like it was burning, grinned toothily, and walked calmly through the door.

“Yeah this is gonna be fun,” Lucy muttered.

———

Nothing about this was fun, she’d ruined the teams chances purely because she couldn’t keep her stupid mouth shut. She’d still be on that pitch now if she’d not let it all get to her.

Interrupted by the click of the cleats down the corridor, she pulled her sweat soaked, grass stained shirt over her head and heard the team begin to file in behind her.

“Fucking hell Luce”

“Ok wow”

“Jesus are you okay”

Words, voices, sounds.

She kept her head bowed and put on a new shirt, she’d shower when she got home the last thing she wanted was to hang about.

“Hey Luce, I know it’s bad but it’s a team sport nothing is solely your fault,” a hand cautiously rested on her shoulder.

Shocker, Lucy Bronze was being a shit captain once again.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself out of this haze.

The team relied on her, and there was no way the right back was going to let them see her like this, she had to keep stability in her team if they had any chance of improving next season.

Lucy turned towards the hand, LJ stood there wincing out a half smile, which Lucy shot right back, “Fuck sorry kid.”

The changing room was silent apart from the shuffle of clothes and the knocking of shoes, Lucy interrupted it projecting towards the team, “Seriously guys I’m really really really ridiculously sorry. I let them get the better of me when as your captain I should be the most composed here. I should be the one sticking up for your mistakes not the other way round. I mean shit,” she gestured towards the mess of the bench next to her, “That’s not a captain.”

She sighed deeply, taking in the scene before her, her teammates faces red and tired, hair frazzled and eyes sullen. “I’ve had the pleasure of this position for four years now and I’d understand if you didn’t feel I was the corre—“

“Woah no no no,” Mariona, a star Catalonian forward, spoke over her. “You are this team Lucy, you make it what it is. Who fucking cares that you blew up like that, ets humà no?? You’re bigger than that.”

A chorus of ‘Exactly’, ‘Si’ and ‘mmhmm’ rang out amongst the team.

“We were so close, without you we’d be miles away,” encouraged Patri, a midfielder.

Lucy chuckled lightly, “We said that last year.”

Patri shrugged, “Maybe, but last year was different we came off a convincing league win and then didn’t expect the Valks huge step up, we weren’t ready. We’ve improved and that’s what matters.”

LJ spoke up again, “We’d crumble without you as our captain, I think we can all agree on that.”

There were no objections, only a wave of nods.

“But if you don’t want to be we aren’t forcing you, you can go back to just being Lucy Bronze the defender, not Lucy Bronze the captain.”

Now Lucy’s far from being an openly emotional human, but it felt like someone was twisting a nail into the back of her eyes.

“Wow,” she gasped out finally, “Yeah I’ll get my shit together I can promise you that,” she said earnestly, “You guys have become my family, I never thought when I arrived seven years ago it would be anything remotely like this. I love you all okay.” She gave LJ a strong pat on the back.

“Now vamos!! I’ll see you next week for the end of season party,” Lucy cheered followed with an echo of hollering and clapping from the team.

She slid her trainers on and grabbed her bag, trying to leave as quickly as possible. She’d definitely have to speak to their coach, Sarina, there’s no way she was leaving the rivals stadium without a proper talking to.

She clawed her way out of the changing room and into the hallway, breathing a sigh of relief when she knew she was alone again. The girls had done a good job of making her feel a little better about the situation, two minutes ago it felt like the world was ending and now it just felt like she’d been stabbed in the knee five times. Still bad but an improvement. Lucy just wanted to get the impending chat with Sarina over and done with and get home to her dog.

The hallway was dark, but she could hear the victory chants and songs vibrating off the walls. Lucy just shook her head and picked up the pace ignoring the new sting in her chest.

“Shit ow-“

“Lo siento fuck-“

Lost in her thoughts she’d walked round a corner and straight into someone, their heads knocking in the process. The dark corridor worsening the situation.

“Woah sorry about that are you okay?” Lucy asked immediately whilst rubbing at her forehead, christ why was their head so hard.

“Bronze?” the figure spoke and a light flickered on outside, casting a streak through the window illuminating them.

“Batlle,” Lucy responded dryly taking in the sight in front of her. Ona Batlle stood there in all her frustrating victorious glory, her shirt changed like Lucy, but instead of a plain black top she was sporting a deep red t-shirt that read ‘Campeonas de la Liga’. A pair of ridiculous ski goggles rested above her brown eyes, the culprit of Lucy’s now throbbing head.

“You come to join the party,” Ona began in her accented english.

Lucy was far from in the mood for that right now, especially not with the oppositions captain. But if anything had become second nature to her it was conversing (arguing) with Ona Batlle.

“Not if it means having to wear that monstrosity,” she gestured.

“Yeah I agree I don’t think you could pull it off, red’s not your colour.”

“And cocky isn’t yours, it doesn’t suit you badger,” Lucy retorts, “Now excuse me-“

“We need to talk,”

“No we don’t-“

“Yes we do,” Ona’s fingertips pressed into Lucy’s hipbone forcing her to take a step back into the wall behind her, “We went too far today.”

“No not we you,” Lucy’s finger pointed at Ona their bodies so close it brushed the Spaniards chest, “If this is your way of apologising-”

“I’m not apologising, it was purely tactical.”

“You told me I needed a therapist.”

“After you said,” her fingers formed quotation marks and her voice raised an octave, “Your parents must be disappointed in you, can’t even stop our slowest winger.”

“Oh come on that’s not even bad.”

“Keep my family out of your mouth.”

“Aw is it a sore subject couldn’t help but notice they aren’t here for the most important match of the season,” Lucy taunted.

“You’re a prick.”

“Wow learning british insults just for me, I’m flattered.”

Ona groaned her neck extending in frustration, “Dios, tu cabeza es tan grande que me sorprende que incluso quepas en el campo.”

Lucy smirked, “Huh, nadie se ha quejado nunca de mi cabeza.”

Ona rolled her eyes dramatically, “Go to hell.”

“Only if you come with me,” Lucy searched Ona’s eyes for something, anything, but they remained blank like there was a gate guarding her mind.

The Spaniard seethed, and turned away, letting Lucy breathe for half a second. Ona pressed her blue painted nails into her temple and sighed deeply.

Then she turned on her heal aggressively and breeched Lucy’s space once again.

“I am serious Lucy,” she whispered, the first name striking her in the chest, “We have to remain professional, everyone’s eyes are on us we can’t make a joke out of women’s football.”

“And whose fault is that,” Lucy whispered back harshly, “We agreed we’d never speak of it again, you used it against me professionally.”

“Fuck fine it won’t happen again,” Ona craned her head up slightly, their eyes connecting, Lucy almost believed her.

The air was charged, as it often was between them, Lucy always assumed it was the hatred brewing.

Lucy brought her tattooed hand up between them, reaching towards Ona’s head, who didn’t move an inch, her eyes still locked onto the green of Lucy’s. The british right back pulled the goggles away from Ona’s forehead and up over her messy bun. The shorter woman just stood there watching her.

“Thanks for these,” Lucy finally spoke swinging the goggles band around on her finger, “They’ll look good on me.”

She leaned down her lips brushing against the Spaniards ear, “Your pretty face is gonna get thrashed next season-”

“Lucy,” a new voice boomed.

Ona retreated away from her like she had the plague.

“Sarina Hi,” Lucy said calmly.

“You good for a word,” the Dutch woman asked.

Lucy smiled through gritted teeth, she adored her coach but this wasn’t going to be easy, “Of course.”

She turned away from the Valquíries captain and begun walking towards her coach.

“Oh and Ona,” she looked over her shoulder, “You may want to get maintenance to have a look at your away changing room, the benches don’t seem stable.”

With a furrowed brow and a shake of her head the younger captain waltzed off in the direction of the music.

———

Dun dun duhhhhhh

sorry guys i’m such a tease and hadn’t realised how long it would take me to finalise

[cartermagazine]

Today In History

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Baptist minister and civil rights activist, was born in Atlanta, GA, on this date January 15, 1929.

Dr. King led the first mass civil rights movement in the United States. He was an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world.

Among his many efforts, King headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Through his nonviolent activism and inspirational speeches, he played a pivotal role in ending legal segregation of Black Americans, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors.

King continues to be remembered as one of the most influential and inspirational Black leaders in history.

CARTER™️ Magazine

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

For Lula, Milei Has Gone From Being a Nuisance to Being a Problem

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has aspirations for regional and global leadership. Standing in Lula’s way is the fact that he cannot even get a meeting with his counterpart from neighboring Argentina, President Javier Milei.

Seven months after Milei’s inauguration, the two leaders have met only once and even then briefly, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting last month in Italy. Otherwise, they have unartfully dodged each other as they have darted around the region and the world promoting their opposing ideological views.

Lula’s global agenda is expansive. He wants Brazil to have a permanent United Nations Security Council seat. He plans for the country to take a leading role in climate change negotiations as he hosts the U.N. COP30 Climate Change Conference in Brazil next year. He has tried to insert himself as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict. And when BRICS—the political grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—moved to expand last year, Lula made sure to bring along Argentina under then-President Alberto Fernandez as one of its new members.

Milei withdrew Argentina from the BRICS expansion process as soon as he took office in December. That’s consistent with his desire to move the country away from China and closer to the United States. Besides that, he has not clearly outlined an international agenda for his country. But Milei definitely has an international agenda for himself. He has portrayed himself as an ally of Israel and Ukraine, a contrast to Latin America’s left-wing leaders who have opposed the former’s war in Gaza and mainly attempted to remain neutral on the latter’s fight against Russian aggression.

Ideologically, Milei is attempting to turn himself into a global icon for free market libertarianism, speaking at conferences in South America, the U.S. and Europe, and meeting with venture capital investors and social media stars. He uses strong rhetoric in favor of capitalism and against any form of what he views as socialism or Marxism. His relatively extreme views, which only appeal to a small minority of Argentine voters who comprise his base, get him wild cheers overseas.

Continue reading.

[silicacid]

Spain PM: We’ll recognise Palestine even without EU support

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will move forward with recognising the State of Palestine “even if [Madrid] does not receive sufficient support” within the European Union, Anadolu news agency reported.

Speaking to the press in Madrid yesterday, Sanchez renewed his vision that “ending the conflicts between Israel and Hamas is based on the two-state solution.”

“The Palestinian state must be recognised first for the international peace conference initiative to be held under the leadership of Spain.”

He pointed out that more than 130 countries recognise the State of Palestine, adding that only the US and some European Union countries have not done so yet.

“It is worth making efforts to take initiatives within the European Union to recognise Palestine, and if that does not happen, Spain’s drive to recognise Palestine will continue,” he said.

Sanchez called on the European Union to take the same position on Israel as it did against Russia following its attacks on Ukraine, calling on the leaders of the EU countries to “refrain from the policy of double standards”.

“If the European Union remains silent regarding Israel’s human rights violations and its occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, it will face the risk of isolation in the international community, and Europe must review its policies.”

He stressed that resolving the existing problems between Israel and Palestine “is in Europe’s moral and geopolitical interest.”