Russia

By David Cortright | – ( Waging Nonviolence) – Putin’s greatest vulnerability may be his dependence on the willingness of Russian soldiers to do his dirty work. Although many in Russia have been conditioned to accept Kremlin propaganda, others have doubts about the war, including some of the troops who have been sent to fight […]

Climate Crisis

Germany reduces dependence on Russian Oil from 35% to 12%, aims to End Imports

Kerstine Appunn

( Clean Energy Wire ) – Germany has reduced its dependence on Russian crude oil from 35 to 12 percent and will take steps to replace the remaining deliveries to the Russian-operated Schwedt refinery within the next days, said the economy and climate minister. As Gazprom stopped supplies of natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria […]

Africa

Pain of Tunisia, Ghana, Global South from Ukraine War being Ignored by Eurocentric Media

Ramzy Baroud

( Middle East Monitor ) – While international news headlines remain largely focused on the war in Ukraine, little attention is given to the horrific consequences of the war which are felt in many regions around the world. Even when these repercussions are discussed, disproportionate coverage is allocated to European countries, like Germany and Austria, […]

European Union

Russia’s Weaponization of Natural Gas could backfire by Destroying Demand for It

The Conversation

By Michael E. Webber, University of Texas at Austin | – In December 2006, The Economist magazine published a cover drawing of Russian president Vladimir Putin, dressed like a 1930s gangster in a dark suit and fedora hat, under the headline “Don’t Mess with Russia.” Putin held a gasoline nozzle, gripping it like a machine […]

Food Insecurity

A year of Hunger: How the Russia-Ukraine War is worsening climate-linked Food Crises

The Conversation

By Ro McFarlane, University of Canberra; Nenad Naumovski, University of Canberra; and Shawn Somerset, University of Canberra | – Global wheat prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The two nations account for 30%of the world’s wheat exports. That means many low-income nations who are net food importers are bracing for a year […]

Democracy

France: Macron’s Pyrrhic Victory — Is his Neoliberalism Producing the Far Right?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Romain Brunet at France 24 termed Emannuel Macron’s win in the presidential election a “Pyrrhic victory.” In 280-275 BC, Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus on the west coast of Greece, launched a war against the Roman Republic. He won some battles, but at such great cost that he may as […]

Food Security

Ukraine Crisis: Yemen urgently needs Seeds to Avoid Famine given Global Wheat Shortages

Daniel Martin Varisco

(Special to Informed Comment) – On top of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis created by a seven year war, Yemen is facing a new threat to feeding its people due to the impact of the Ukraine crisis. The FAO points out that almost half of the population is “undernourished” with famine conditions in some areas. […]

Climate Crisis

Are We Approaching the most Dangerous Point in Human History?

Tom Engelhardt

( Tomdispatch.com ) – Face it, we’re living in a world that, while anything but exceptional, is increasingly the exception to every rule. Only the other day, 93-year-old Noam Chomsky had something to say about that. Mind you, he’s seen a bit of our world since, in 1939, he wrote his first article for his […]

History

The Ukraine Invasion and the Weight of the Crimean War: “We hate most those we harm the most”

Hugh J. Curran

Orono, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – There are some fascinating similarities between the Crimean War of the 1850s and the Ukraine War of 2022. According to Norman Rich, author of “The Crimean War” its main purpose was the containment of an expanding Russia as European powers had become fearful of Russia’s extension of power […]