The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday it is suing German carmaker Volkswagen over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit alleges that the 600,000 two- and three-liter diesel engine vehicles that were installed with emissions-cheating software in fact emitted pollution that exceeds the EPA’s standards and resulted in harmful…
Cover Photo Credit: David Villarreal Fernández/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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US Wind Capacity Tops 70 Gigawatts In Major Renewable Milestone
Hundreds more gigawatts expected in the coming decades More than 70 gigawatts of wind power is installed around the U.S., according to new figures from the American Wind Energy Association. The milestone was hit in November. It took three years to get from 60 gigawatts to 70 gigawatts due to the temporary expiration of the Production… Read More
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“Why Die for Danzig?”: What Trump Has In Common With Other Far Right Leaders
Throughout the Western world, there have been groups sympathizing with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s return to “traditional values” and utilization of bellicose activity to alter conditions in other countries.
This has included a rejection of anything remotely “Western”, be it existing borders, or the well established fact that condoms severely limit the transmission of STIs.
This appeal to “traditional values” jives very well with other populist right parties in the West, who believe their way of life is under assault from: immigrants, the LGBT+ movement, and the world order established in the aftermath of the Second World War.
France’s National Front has advocated for: overturning French recognition of same sex marriages and adoption, severe strengthening immigration controls, and a strong rolling back free trade in favor of French made products.
The National Front also advocates for reorienting away from most of its European allies in favor of Russia. Incidentally, Russian banks have loaned National Front millions of euros.
The American nativist movement, including the infamous “Alt Right”, share many of the views of their French counterparts.
The American nativist movement has a strong interest in carrying out Mr. Trump’s proposed: temporary ban on Muslim immigration, general tightening of the southern border through increased barriers to immigration, skepticism of the merits of free trade, and hostility to honoring American security guarantees in both Europe and in East Asia.
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UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party), is one of the least radical of the populist Right parties, as one of its only defining issues is withdrawing from the EU.
However, party leader Nigel Farage has expressed some admiration with Vladimir Putin in the past, and an appreciable fraction of rank and file UKIPers share this view.
Other populist right parties share these views, and methods. Some, like National Front’s Jean-Marie Le Pen have endorsed their colleagues in other countries.
Si j’étais américain, je voterais Donald TRUMP… Mais que Dieu le protège !
— Jean-Marie Le Pen (@lepenjm) February 27, 2016
This mutual affinity among ideological fellow travelers carries over to Vladimir Putin.
A well documented game of international footsie has taken place between Putin and Trump, due to their mutual dislike of the European security system, and appreciation of “strong leaders”.
On other issues the populist right concur, to the detriment of European security. Trump has given some signs he would be open to Brexit, Marine Le Pen, intends to campaign in Britain for Brexit, and while the Kremlin has been largely silent, disintegration of the European system may lead to an unraveling of other portions.
On the issue of the war in Syria, the populist right stays in relative lock step.
Nigel Farage, who has previously expressed disdain for R2P inspired efforts, has supported cooperation with both Al-Assad and Russia in combating Islamic State, despite the Syrian regime being consistently the number one killer of non-combatants. Donald Trump has also said he “back’s Putin 100%”.
As the civil war in Syria is ongoing, and the Putin backed Assad regime continues to target civilians, this vast coalition is endorsing the continuation of the refugee crisis, which fuels anti immigrant sentiment in the West.
All parties benefit from this arrangement.
Europe’s far right gets into power, and the Russians create fissures in the Western security apparatus.
The words of French Neo-Socialist, and Vichy France official, Marcel Déat may be repeated with their original intent if the collaboration movement continues on its dangerous path. “Why die for Danzig?”
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us.
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Millennial Intelligencer: Burkina Faso’s Coup Is A Powder Keg Ready To Blow
By Curt Evans
A month to go before national elections and Burkina Faso is enduring yet another military overthrow.
Just last week, General Gilbert Diendere and a group of presidential guards took over the government by deposing interim President Michal Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida.
Diendere and the presidential guards were fiercely loyal to former President Blaise Compaore, the man who Kafando and Zida took down last year in a coup of their own.
General Diendere, the leader of the current coup had been given a take-it-or-leave-it deal by the Army Chiefs of the West African nation, to step down from his position by 10:00 GMT- 6 AM EST or he would be attacked. As the deadline came and went, there was no violence in the country, although the BBC reports that Army troops are massing in the capital of Ouagadougou to take back control.
Diendere has said that he was ready to hand over his power to transitional non military personnel powers.
“We do not want to fight but ultimately we will defend ourselves,” Diendere said according to Agence France-Presse.
Diendere and allies in the presidential guards assaulted a cabinet meeting and keeping the president and ministers that were present.
Diendere has a strong force behind him that consists of about 1,300 fighters ready to attack if he is harmed.The strong force is known as the presidential guard (RSP)- called that because they are devoted to former President Compaore (he also formed the group for his own protection.)
Compaore created the feared paramilitary unit to guarantee his own assurance in the wake of the 1987 assassination of his predecessor, the so called ” Che Guevara of Africa”, Thomas Sankara.
The troops were to surrender by 10 GMT or be attacked by the Army, but that deadline is now expired.
According to Al Jazeera reporter Nicolas Haque:
“Minutes before the deadline expired, General Diendere called a press conference and released a statement saying he wants to stand by the framework agreement that was negotiated with ECOWAS.”According to military leaders in the country, if the coup leaders were to surrender and disarm, they would be granted safety and not be attacked-hopefully avoided more bloodshed in a conflict that has already taken the lives of at least 10 protestors.
But even if that happens, there is still a big question hovering over the country: Can Burkina Faso really become a stable democracy?
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Cover Photo Credit: Jeff Attaway/Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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