I guess all these years we've been active in preserving local water sheds for anadramous fish habitat and building agrarian community outreach for quality food production could all be trashed in the blink of an eye because of the illusion of separation.... terrifying. We're all, every species, intimately linked on this blue planet for survival, there's is no us and them, just US. We'll continue to, not watch TV or scroll social media (except CJ of course), hug the grandkids a little harder and longer and grow food to share... how else can we dispel the illusion of separation?
This is heart wrenching. Caitlin, do know that my community is working hard and has been working hard for over a decade to raise this issue. This article rings true in every way. Perhaps you can amplify our humble efforts to prevent nuclear war from happening. Our website is: https://www.stopww3.co.uk
The Pentagon is not going to allow a nuclear war with Russia. Really, they want to avoid it as much as we do. That said, accidents can and have happened, so American imperial foreign policy is every bit as deranged and demented as you say.
The Grayzone video with Scott Ritter is long but really fascinating with lots of interesting anecdotes re: CIA, UN bioweapons inspections in Iraq and even Madeleine Albright's dislike of Ritter because he refused to compromise as a UN official and cave in to US security service shenanigans.
Caitlin, I agree enthusiastically with nearly all of what you write, but I have some qualms about the "treasure each moment" theme on which you ended today's column. It's too much like "live in the present." That attitude is part of the reason that we're in our present pickle. We need more of a balance between living in the present and planning for the future.
(And many people, almost half of us, also like to base part of their life in the past, in their "heritage." See https://keirsey.com/temperament/guardian-overview/. Maybe that needs to be part of the balance too. I confess to not understanding that part; personally, that's not my own temperament.)
Capitalism does not and cannot plan for the future. That's because capitalist enterprises compete against each other for investors, and investors will move their money to whichever enterprise makes the fastest SHORT-TERM profits. That is why corporate executives are killing the planet.
And our society is steered by capitalism, not democracy. Gilens and Page proved statistically in 2014 that America is not really a democracy: Regardless of election results, the corporations get the public policies they want and the rest of us don't. An example: Every president has a big tax cut for the rich or some other big transfer of wealth toward the rich, even though this concentration of wealth is ultimately destroying the economy and will eventually make the rich less so. They are "treasuring the moment."
On the one hand you write that we should treasure the moment, and that is undeniably true. On the other you're surprised that everyone remains blase about the risk. The problem is that the average person has no power to mitigate the risk, so the best way for them to appreciate the moment is to ignore it.
Most people do understand the risk and would love to reduce it. In order for them to be able to do so, our political system must be improved to the point where they have the capacity. There may or may not be time to do this before catastrophe strikes, but since nothing else is working there's no reason not to try.
Your ending is so perfect, after all the scary information. I am also more inclined to be present where I am. To be alive and know it brings happiness for no other reason.
As ever, a brilliant article. In 1968 the protestor faced batons and bullets(i got a scar), in 2022 the protestor faces biological and digital bugs(gives me a scare). So everyone the protestor met/meets can be injured. From the drain i am circling, i am calling for inaction. Ahimsa cannot be expressed in large gatherings, for the recent past(i concur) has shown the electronic media’s ability to reshape the public perception of outdoor protests, thereby minimizing the impact of actions that have attendant maximal risk.
Soon i will be “talking” with my grandfather about what happened to the planet he left me. Now i am talking with my grandchildren about a prorogued planetary power on a personal level. “Nietos, huelga general ahorita! Thanks.
The concept of little nuclear bombs is like that of being a little bit dead. Such are the tricks of the human mind, especially when its fevered-up with thoughts of war and domination. But this is why Putin and Russia's actions were absolutely well-calculated: backing down when the Western plan from some time back was clearly to divide and destroy Russia, nuke capability be damned, is not a winning strategy. Because that is how the West, led by the US, thinks: weakness is a chink in the armour, and an invitation they can no more resist than can the blood trail of a weakened animal be resisted by a voracious predator. So there is that consolation: Russians are extremely intelligent. Losing a large proportion of your people to stop the Nazi predator, and no thanks for it either, has taught them well. They had no choice in Ukraine, it was the only logical move. If the West must overturn the chessboard, it is on their heads.
I keep hearing from various people how Russia's ground war is losing, but I can't find any real reliable information out there. Personally, I hope he isn't losing.
The Duran (Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou) are worth checking out. Truth, of course, is the first casualty of war, but The Duran does a good job of sifting through the propaganda from all sides and providing thoughtful interpretations.
I guess all these years we've been active in preserving local water sheds for anadramous fish habitat and building agrarian community outreach for quality food production could all be trashed in the blink of an eye because of the illusion of separation.... terrifying. We're all, every species, intimately linked on this blue planet for survival, there's is no us and them, just US. We'll continue to, not watch TV or scroll social media (except CJ of course), hug the grandkids a little harder and longer and grow food to share... how else can we dispel the illusion of separation?
As a retaliatory measure, I propose we change the name of the Russian roulette to 'Freedom roulette'
But 'Murikan patriots only do it with autoloader sidearms >.40 Cal or 10mm, or fully automatic rifles at church, bar or mall?
This is heart wrenching. Caitlin, do know that my community is working hard and has been working hard for over a decade to raise this issue. This article rings true in every way. Perhaps you can amplify our humble efforts to prevent nuclear war from happening. Our website is: https://www.stopww3.co.uk
Here's a bit of optimism for you:
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/23/pentagon-drops-truth-bombs-to-stave-off-war-with-russia/
The Pentagon is not going to allow a nuclear war with Russia. Really, they want to avoid it as much as we do. That said, accidents can and have happened, so American imperial foreign policy is every bit as deranged and demented as you say.
Aligned with your POV CJ. I hope everyone gets their boosters before it all goes up in smoke.
Really funny.
The Grayzone video with Scott Ritter is long but really fascinating with lots of interesting anecdotes re: CIA, UN bioweapons inspections in Iraq and even Madeleine Albright's dislike of Ritter because he refused to compromise as a UN official and cave in to US security service shenanigans.
Caitlin, I agree enthusiastically with nearly all of what you write, but I have some qualms about the "treasure each moment" theme on which you ended today's column. It's too much like "live in the present." That attitude is part of the reason that we're in our present pickle. We need more of a balance between living in the present and planning for the future.
(And many people, almost half of us, also like to base part of their life in the past, in their "heritage." See https://keirsey.com/temperament/guardian-overview/. Maybe that needs to be part of the balance too. I confess to not understanding that part; personally, that's not my own temperament.)
Capitalism does not and cannot plan for the future. That's because capitalist enterprises compete against each other for investors, and investors will move their money to whichever enterprise makes the fastest SHORT-TERM profits. That is why corporate executives are killing the planet.
And our society is steered by capitalism, not democracy. Gilens and Page proved statistically in 2014 that America is not really a democracy: Regardless of election results, the corporations get the public policies they want and the rest of us don't. An example: Every president has a big tax cut for the rich or some other big transfer of wealth toward the rich, even though this concentration of wealth is ultimately destroying the economy and will eventually make the rich less so. They are "treasuring the moment."
On the one hand you write that we should treasure the moment, and that is undeniably true. On the other you're surprised that everyone remains blase about the risk. The problem is that the average person has no power to mitigate the risk, so the best way for them to appreciate the moment is to ignore it.
Most people do understand the risk and would love to reduce it. In order for them to be able to do so, our political system must be improved to the point where they have the capacity. There may or may not be time to do this before catastrophe strikes, but since nothing else is working there's no reason not to try.
https://rangevoting.org
https://electionscience.org
Your ending is so perfect, after all the scary information. I am also more inclined to be present where I am. To be alive and know it brings happiness for no other reason.
As ever, a brilliant article. In 1968 the protestor faced batons and bullets(i got a scar), in 2022 the protestor faces biological and digital bugs(gives me a scare). So everyone the protestor met/meets can be injured. From the drain i am circling, i am calling for inaction. Ahimsa cannot be expressed in large gatherings, for the recent past(i concur) has shown the electronic media’s ability to reshape the public perception of outdoor protests, thereby minimizing the impact of actions that have attendant maximal risk.
Soon i will be “talking” with my grandfather about what happened to the planet he left me. Now i am talking with my grandchildren about a prorogued planetary power on a personal level. “Nietos, huelga general ahorita! Thanks.
Has anyone else picked up a smoking habit over the past year? Now I understand why soldiers in war movies always have cigarettes...
Took 35 years to quit them so, only a mushroom cloud on the horizon would have me smoke again.
Who gives a shit what you think Nazi!
If the worst happens, surely the living will envy the dead...
The concept of little nuclear bombs is like that of being a little bit dead. Such are the tricks of the human mind, especially when its fevered-up with thoughts of war and domination. But this is why Putin and Russia's actions were absolutely well-calculated: backing down when the Western plan from some time back was clearly to divide and destroy Russia, nuke capability be damned, is not a winning strategy. Because that is how the West, led by the US, thinks: weakness is a chink in the armour, and an invitation they can no more resist than can the blood trail of a weakened animal be resisted by a voracious predator. So there is that consolation: Russians are extremely intelligent. Losing a large proportion of your people to stop the Nazi predator, and no thanks for it either, has taught them well. They had no choice in Ukraine, it was the only logical move. If the West must overturn the chessboard, it is on their heads.
I keep hearing from various people how Russia's ground war is losing, but I can't find any real reliable information out there. Personally, I hope he isn't losing.
The Duran (Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou) are worth checking out. Truth, of course, is the first casualty of war, but The Duran does a good job of sifting through the propaganda from all sides and providing thoughtful interpretations.
Thoughtful piece. I cover the nuclear issue from a historical perspective in my latest https://shadowlightblog.substack.com/p/ukraine-reloaded