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Post by Celestial on Mar 10, 2022 5:29:45 GMT -5
Hey, Celestial (and anyone else directly affected by all this). It's been a long time since I posted anything, but I never lost my bookmark here. I think I remember you, after I'd posted a video for Ukraine's Got Talent from another forum way back when, and you were kind enough to provide the translation for the last caption in the act of that young woman doing the live sand-art picture story. Hope everything is okay for you and your family. Certainly praying for Ukraine's safety, and for its people to be safe as well. Thank you for reaching out. Gosh, that feels like a lifetime ago, although now I remember that sand art was also about war... As a general update, my family are okay. 3/4 of them are in Ukraine (paternal grandparents, maternal grandad), in Kharkiv, holding strong. Or at least as strong as you can be under constant bombardment. Their homes are still standing and they have amenities. Physically, they are fine. My maternal gran, meanwhile, has fled to Poland and is stuck in Krakow. We're trying to get her to come over here, but the visa system for the UK is a Kafkaesque nightmare. Me and my mum are fighting to change that, and I have hope, because there's a lot of press attention to the process and plenty of public outrage. Actually, I have a Twitter thread about it, which I encourage people to share. I firmly believe my country will survive this. But I too hope it will end quickly so that further bloodshed can be avoided and I can return to see my homeland and my family. It is a matter of months. We just have to hold on.
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Post by Ginz ❤ on Mar 10, 2022 13:45:36 GMT -5
This is a small thing, but itch.io is doing a charity bundle for Ukraine. You got your usual smattering of big-name indies from the past few years, then lots and lots of cool-looking niche titles, TTRPGs, game assets and other odds and ends. There's even some ebooks in there ( this one about how to invent fantasy religions looks cool) and the minimum contribution to get the whole bundle is $10 USD. They've raised over 3m as of this writing, and I'm throwing in my ten bucks as well. Details on the specific charities being supported are on the left as you scroll down. Woah, that's amazing. The charities they're donating to sound wonderful too. Thank you for the heads-up! I just posted about it in a couple of Discords I'm in from Twitch streamers I watch. <3
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Post by Celestial on Mar 14, 2022 6:26:05 GMT -5
The European Association of Zoos and Aquariums has launched an appeal for Ukrainian zoos asking for money. You can find it here. I already threw in £20. This has a deep, personal meaning to me because one of the zoos they are in touch with- Kharkiv Zoo- is where I spent a lot of my childhood. They also recently completed a refurbishment of the zoo, which is the worst timing. Whatever your stance on zoos, I hope we can agree that the animals did not deserve any of this and right now, they deserve to be looked after. The ethics of keeping animals in zoos is moot if said animals do not make it through the war. At this point in time, the best people to ensure that are the zookeepers. Last thing we want is monkeys living wild in the Derzprom building in Kharkiv like they did in World War Two.
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Post by Celestial on Mar 17, 2022 3:20:41 GMT -5
I wrote a post a few days ago about how I was frustrated with Western analysts and their takes on what is happening that betray their western biases. Seems like I was not alone. A Polish professor threw together an amazing article that perfectly captures my annoyance. Give it a read.
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Post by Kat on Mar 20, 2022 9:45:33 GMT -5
With only over a month left in the period leading up to the Philippine elections this May, and with the rising gas prices and a country still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and shoddy governance, these elections are make or break, and two frontrunners for the presidential post have emerged.
One is Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His namesake is THE infamous Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator who held power for 20 years, and whose regime was marked with excessive national debt, his wife Imelda's opulent lifestyle and what can only be described as an "edifice complex" (gotta build ALL THESE NICE LOOKING BUILDINGS), the shuttering of Congress, human rights violations, state-enforced disappearances, and censorship up the wazoo. Ferdinand and Imelda hold the Guinness world record for the biggest theft from a government - and to this day, the Philippines is still paying the debts they left behind. Ferdinand Senior had fake war credentials, there are rumors that he had a huge store of gold (allegedly bigger than the total amount of gold that exists in the entire world today), and...he came from the same law school I did.
But why am I telling you all this? It's because Marcos Junior is nothing like his father. He pretends to have a degree from Oxford when all he has is a "special diploma" and there are true accounts of him being a terrible student. He benefited from all the ill-gotten wealth, entered politics, but he does not have Marcos Senior's charisma or intellect. He can't even speak the language of the region he has ties to (Ilocano). And he has been convicted of tax evasion, and he and his family have yet to pay the astronomical estate taxes since their father's death in 1989. To top it all off, he has a wide disinformation network that paints the Marcos era as "the golden age" of the Philippines and claims that THEY are the victims. Marcos Junior is running on a platform that promises unity, among other things, but not much in the way of concrete plans. When he ran for vice president in 2016 and lost to his fiercest rival (more on her later, but you have heard of her from me by now), he spent the next five years crying that he was cheated despite the fact that the same election process also brought Duterte into power. As a politician, he's pretty unnoticeable.
If you do your research with the right sources and history, you'll know what I'm saying is correct. You'd think that with all these receipts of how horrible the Marcos era was and how mediocre Marcos Jr. is as a politician, Filipinos would be aware that putting Marcos Jr. into power means we are exposing ourselves to a repeat of martial law and allowing the Marcoses the opportunity to sanitize their public image and destroy all efforts to bring them to justice.
You'd think.
But that's not the case.
Marcos Jr. is leading the surveys by a majority which is saying something as there are ten presidential candidates running right now. Many ordinary Filipinos want to vote for him for many reasons - they believed the lies about the Marcos era, that it was a golden age, crime was low, they had many infrastructure achievements (sure, we'll give them that, but they were funded with huge debts and you can bet your bottom dollar that they'd pocket the rest of the money), heck, they even believed the lies about them having a huge stash of gold which would explain their billions. They are so disillusioned that they believe that the EDSA Revolution, which unseated Marcos Sr., was a failure, and it just brought us all back to square one. They are eating up his empty promises of unity when he has been the most divisive candidate of all. They bear such an irrational hatred for the opposition that they are willing to vote for the opposition's perceived enemy. With all the fact-checking, the history, and the accounts of the truth, they perceived Marcos Jr. as the victim of bullying, the underdog, and want him to win. And they think the country can't and shouldn't be led by a woman, especially not by a woman from the opposition.
Let's go to that woman.
Vice President Leni Robredo has a real degree in economics, a real law degree and license to practice law, and a few honorary degrees besides. She spent her life devoted to public service as a pro bono lawyer and a teacher. She defended women and children and farmers. She was the strong right hand of her husband, a mayor who became renowned for his humble, hands-on leadership, and was catapulted into politics upon his untimely death in 2013. She defeated a local dynasty in her district to win a seat in congress before coming from last place in surveys to winning the vice presidency last 2016. After being booted from Duterte's cabinet, and despite a small budget compared to the president's huge intelligence fund (which wound up being used to tag opposition figures as communist insurgents based on handwritten matrices of all things, also I would like to remind everyone that our Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, was one of those who were "red-tagged" all because she dared to speak out against the paltry support athletes get from the government), she partnered with many private sectors and local governments for housing and livelihood projects, then efforts to control the pandemic including making testing more accessible, providing incentives for people to get tested (see, people did not want to isolate because that meant missing 2 weeks of work), creating a telemedicine network and sending complete care packages. She spoke out against the Duterte government's excesses and at one point accepted its challenge to run the anti-drug campaign. They fired her after several days just as she had begun to sit down with foreign experts on the subject and gather data. The Commission on Audit has lauded her office for its flawless accounting records, and her statement of assets and liabilities is always up for anyone who wants to look into her net worth. She is not part of any political dynasty. People from all walks of life, all professions, all gender identities, have endorsed or supported her candidacy. Her rallies are always packed, full of energy, full of prominent celebrities, all awash in pink.
I want you to form an impression of her based on what I just told you. Now, I want you to look at all these misconceptions and false information imbibed by so many Filipinos.
- She's weak because she's a woman. She can't run the country. - She's elitist (guys, AND MARCOS JR. ISN'T?? He wouldn't walk barefoot past a rice paddy!) - She's stupid because she stammers and can't speak Tagalog right (at this juncture I want to say she comes from a different region from me, where Tagalog is NOT the main language). - She had something to do with her husband's death. - She's just a puppet for the Liberal Party and the Aquino family (Corazon Aquino was sworn in as president after Marcos and restored democracy and oversaw the creation of a new Constitution tailored to block another Marcos era, and her son was Duterte's predecessor). - She's only running to block Marcos Jr. from winning the presidency. - She's incompetent, what has she done anyway aside from tearing down the government? - The Marcos era was the golden age, we have to bring that back. - Marcos Jr. is quiet, he doesn't tear down any other candidates he's pure as the driven snow uwu - Marcos Jr. was young when martial law happened, he couldn't have known anything!!! - Robredo's supporters are elite and mean, I don't want to vote for her because her supporters are meeeeean. - The media and historians are all biased THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT I KNOW FROM YOUTUBE/FACEBOOK/TIKTOK - The Aquinos covered up all the good things about the Marcoses. - The Marcoses > Aquinos (tbh both families have their flaws and mistakes and controversies) - Books can be edited. Tiktok can't. - The Liberal Party destroyed the Philippines these past 36 years after martial law. - Under Marcos we can be like Singapore or South Korea. - My parents/grandparents told me martial law was good, therefore it must be good. - The people killed/tortured/arrested during martial law were communists/criminals, as long as you were good you'll be fine. - "The sins of the father are not the sins of the son." (Yet, these same people would pin the Aquinos' flaws or perceived flaws on Robredo, who has no relation to them at all.) - SHE WANTS TO GO TO WAR WITH CHINA/RUSSIA (because she said she would take a stand with Ukraine and would stand against China, which continues to encroach upon our maritime territory) - Stop asking me, respect my opinion!!! - He will make the Philippines great again. (so you admit that the Philippines became un-great under Duterte, then?) - I just want to vote Marcos, okay!!! WHY ARE ALL OF YOU GANGING UP ON ME??? - [insert name calling and badly spliced videos here]
So, as you can see, the Marcoses have successfully created a new image for themselves that's spreading among the Filipino people. It doesn't help that our education isn't really the best, so many young people are growing up thinking the Marcos era was good or believe what their parents/grandparents say, never mind that some families (like mine) actually got through martial law unscathed and that does not in any way invalidate or erase the many human rights violations that occurred - heck, many survivors are still here today telling their stories! I actually shot back at a commenter who used the "my grandparents told me" argument by saying "yeah well Super Grandpa told me martial law as bad, what say you" and I never got a response. Not only that, the feel-good videos and stuff on Tiktok, etc. draw people more than those big heavy fact-checking truth posts or those statistics or those stories of martial law victims.
And here's the thing.
Marcos Jr. doesn't go to debates. He has no plans on how to curb the effects of this pandemic or climbing gas prices. He is a tax evader and a benefactor of ill-gotten wealth. He has not apologized or offered to return the money his family stole from the government. He claims that attempts to make him pay taxes are "fake news". He spent so much money, time and energy contesting an election result because he couldn't accept that Robredo bested him last 2016. There have been many instances of vote-buying at his rallies which are barely packed so they hand out money and goods to people who show up. Duterte at one point has insinuated that he is an illegal drug user. He has no stellar track record of public service or achievements and the achievements he claims to have are fake.
Yet, he's leading the surveys. He remains popular despite all that. In contrast, Robredo is the biggest victim of disinformation, with many concerted attempts to discredit her, tarnish her reputation, and now she and her supporters are being "red-tagged" or accused of being communist rebels or being affiliated with the same. Newspapers and online trolls are eating this story up.
The Philippines, at this rate, is throwing away a chance to turn its entire life around in favor of old authoritarian nostalgia and empty motherhood statements and "uwu poor baby Marcos is always bullied by those mean media people and fact checkers". It's hard to reach out to many Marcos supporters as they have closed their minds, but if we cannot do this, we will be doomed to repeat history. It'll be another six years of authoritarianism. Perhaps Marcos Jr. will not impose martial law like his father, but he will certainly throw the Philippines under the bus to keep his family and his wealth safe.
The rallies tell us that the movement is growing. But it has to continue growing. It's an uphill battle from here on out. Super Grandpa tells me many of Robredo's supporters are the elite and educated, or those who have witnessed or experienced her kindness and service firsthand, or her political allies. Many people on the ground will not be impressed by truth or facts. In fact, they will see it as more elitism from us. They will see it as us trying to underestimate them. And it's so hard because we know what's right, and we are seeing our people pivot toward authoritarianism out of impatience for change. Elect a tough man, they say. Filipinos are just undisciplined rabble who need to be kept in line, they say.
But we say #NeverAgain to another Marcos in Malacanang - or another Duterte, for that matter, considering his daughter is Marcos Jr.'s running mate.
Just wanted to add that many of Marcos Jr.'s supporters are corrupt politicians and dynasties; despite the fact that Robredo is a far second on the surveys, they are clearly afraid of her, and how she inspires volunteerism and compassion in Filipinos from all walks of life.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 20, 2022 13:53:11 GMT -5
In addition, Canada makes no apologies for speaking the truth to the invaders.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 22, 2022 21:24:17 GMT -5
Is this an attempt at a false flag? Or just incompetence? I have a feeling it’s the former but it was done poorly because it was too obvious.
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Post by Celestial on Mar 23, 2022 4:06:22 GMT -5
Is this an attempt at a false flag? Or just incompetence? I have a feeling it’s the former but it was done poorly because it was too obvious. If it was a false flag, the propaganda machine of Russia would have been squawking about it before and after the fact. This is plain old stupidity. Their communications are awful, and the troops are so spooked and desperate that they are going to make mistakes. Let's all give up any idea that the Russian army is in any way competent. Their only tactics are "bomb everything" and "zerg rush". They have only had success before this because they fought armies that were either smaller, less well equipped or were civilians or rebels.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 23, 2022 12:24:47 GMT -5
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 26, 2022 12:24:28 GMT -5
Ugh this is embarrassing. (Liberty, MO is located in the Kansas City metro area and is about a 30-40 minute drive from my area) apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-business-kansas-missouri-b6240ed4d6bada628e59c24b29d68669Fortunately, his station is low-power and probably not listened to much. He has the right to air Radio Sputnik, but we all have the right to criticize him for distributing propaganda from Russian state media. Not to mention he also airs other awful viewpoints besides Radio Sputnik. Honestly, I find this embarrassing for my metro area. I really wish he would not air this garbage on our airwaves.
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Post by Celestial on Mar 30, 2022 17:09:20 GMT -5
Things are still very much ongoing. Ukraine has launched limited counteroffensives, but so far, it is still a developing front. I do not wish to speculate, though of course, I pray for the best. I am making this post to discuss a more pressing, immediate issue. A lot of people have been wanting to donate, and a lot of people have been donating. That is all excellent. However, I need to tell you this: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DONATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS!! The ICRC has expressed interest in opening a humanitarian centre in Rostov-on-Don in Russia. This is very, very bad. A lot of people have been forcefully taken from Ukrainian territories, mostly Mariupol, and are being put through "filtration camps" by Russia in forced deportations. Children are having their identity erased, which is tantamount to genocide. The ICRC, through their opening of centres, helps legitimise this. Please do not support them. Sources: www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-asks-red-cross-not-open-office-russias-rostov-on-don-2022-03-27/uacrisis.org/en/human-rights-committee-opposes-opening-red-cross-office-in-rostov-on-donIf you want to donate money to Ukraine (and I urge that you do), give either to our national bank for the army and humanitarian needs. For an actual charity, Come Back Alive is my favourite. The best ones right now are ones that help the war effort.
(As far as I am aware, local chapters of the Red Cross are okay, but the Red Cross does have issues with not all their money going to the cause that is required, so be careful.)
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Apr 2, 2022 9:16:51 GMT -5
So this is partially why the Russian military lacks the competency to conduct a war: finance.yahoo.com/news/why-russias-military-is-so-shabby-214049654.htmlLooks like money is getting stolen from the military budget to do… idk what they do, buy another yacht? And now everyone is afraid to tell Putin the truth because they have no idea what he would do to them. As the article also states, the US is better at the accountability part and we know where money is spent. However the US has a massive military industrial complex with projects that consistently go over budget… Like the F-35. Or political favors and such things. Plus we spend way too much money on defense to the point where we don’t have enough to take care of our own domestic affairs. I mean it sickens me that we can’t take care of our own veterans. “Ah so you are a veteran now? No more Tricare for you. Find your own healthcare. We can’t afford to help you there anymore.”
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Apr 11, 2022 15:08:57 GMT -5
Alright, we have to do something.
They escalated first. Give Ukraine planes, weapons, whatever they need.
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Post by Celestial on Apr 14, 2022 1:54:58 GMT -5
...Sooooo...how about that Russian warship, huh? What we know so far about about the damaged Russian ship- BBCLast night, the Russian cruiser and flagship of the Black Sea Fleet "Moskva" (Moscow) was allegedly hit by two Neptune cruise missiles of Ukrainian origin. It reported a fire and was sinking, in quite stormy weather too. Rescue boats were observed at the last known location on ship radar. First reported on social media, looks like it's true: Russia has admitted as much in its own propaganda news, and in less lying news, BBC has reported on it. This is an amazing strategic and moral victory. From accounts of my own family, cruise missiles are being fired from the Black Sea as far inland as Kharkiv, my home city. If this thing is taken out, they cannot fire as close to shore, and certainly not from this ship, as it is out of commission, by the looks of it. Also, yes, this is the same warship that fired on Snake Island. So it seems like it went where it was told to go. In a different article, BBC said it was told to "go to hell", but um, nah, it was way more profane than that. I'm sure y'all know. Regardless, it's where it needs to be. c: EDIT: Correction to my last post. I said it was firing cruise missiles. This is not true. It was defending boats that fired the Kalibr cruise missiles. Still good. Means they can be picked off. There are also reports that the ship is still afloat, so we shall have to wait and see. Regardless, it is badly damaged and likely out of commission for as long as this war lasts.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Apr 14, 2022 10:35:34 GMT -5
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