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Stable Genius
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It's very disappointing to see Albanese not even offer the slightest of friendly/constructive gestures towards Beijing China is still our largest export destination but the U.S. has us hoodwinked into believing we are under threat.
I was listening to a press conference from the Pacific Island Forum yesterday and he was pressed on what he was going to say to Solomon Island's Prime Minister Sogavare regarding China, but his reply was nothing of any substance. I'll be listening closely to Sogavare's response today, it'll be a lot closer to the truth.
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Stable Genius
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So what happened at the Pacific Islands forum in Fiji? Well, the 2 Chinese embassy officials who attended were booted out! but not before they got to listen to Kamala Harris via video link, where she informed the room that U.S. imperialism is back baby 
After having very little to do with the South Pacific since the end of the Cold War the U.S. has decided it's time to change all that. Along with $60 million a year for the next 10 years there will be a U.S. embassy in Tonga and Kiribati and CIA affiliated spy's the U.S. Peace Corp deployed to "the region".... chopstick was right again 
In 2015, the Peace Corp partnered briefly with United States Agency for International Development USAID scroll down to 'Controversies and Criticism'.
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Kryptos
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I mean, this was announced almost a year ago...It's part of Biden's plan to counter China, which has been building infrastructure there.
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Falcon91Wolvrn03
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: Kryptos] 1
#27864879 - 07/16/22 02:15 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kryptos said: I mean, this was announced almost a year ago...It's part of Biden's plan to counter China, which has been building infrastructure there.
Is China not allowed to build infrastructure there? Only the West?
Or is there more to the story that I don't know about (I don't know much about Tonga or Kiribati).
-------------------- I am in a minority on the shroomery, as I frequently defend the opposing side when they have a point about something or when my side make believes something about them. I also attack my side if I think they're wrong. People here get very confused by that and think it means I prefer the other side.
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Kryptos
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China is allowed to build infrastructure wherever it wants to.
For geopolitical reasons, the US would strongly prefer that the US built the infrastructure.
Under Trump, many foreign infrastructure projects were neglected, giving China a significant lead. Biden is now trying to catch up.
I don't care much either way, but I have a slight preference for the US to remain the world power, because I don't speak Chinese. And like to smoke weed. And not work 72 hours per week.
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Stable Genius
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: Kryptos] 1
#27864925 - 07/16/22 03:02 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kryptos said: I mean, this was announced almost a year ago...It's part of Biden's plan to counter China, which has been building infrastructure there.
Which part of Harris's announcement was announced a year ago? Tripling the aid? The new embassy's in Tonga and Kiribati? The Peace Corp arriving?
Sogavare better stay in line or he'll end up getting a big spoonful of democracy.
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Kryptos
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The Peace Corp was definitely announced a while ago, those little islands have been begging for them to come back ever since they left in the 90s. The embassy was announced a while back too. Not sure about aid.
There were rumblings after, I think China started building a port in Tonga? There were concerns that China would redo the Sri Lanka play by building a much larger port than necessary, waiting for it to go bankrupt, and then forcing it into a 99 year lease to China while putting the entire island into massive debt. Economic annexation.
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Stable Genius
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: Kryptos] 1
#27865155 - 07/16/22 06:00 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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I was just going to post that yes I found where the Peace Corp was announced.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf
There's not much of any substance in that document for Pacific Island Nations but reference after reference regarding Taiwan, which is of course the main reason why the Biden administration is engaging further in the region. Once again it's more about U.S. hegemony rather than assistance for any noble purpose.
Prime Minister Sogavare has once again stated that there will be no Chinese military base in the Solomon's.
Quote:
"I have said it before and I will say it again, that is not in someone's interest, nor the interest of the region for any military base, to be established in any Pacific Island country, let alone Solomon Islands."
"The moment we establish a foreign military base, we immediately become an enemy. And we also put our country and our people as targets for potential military strikes," he said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-14/sogavare-says-no-chinese-military-base-in-solomon-islands/101237702
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Stable Genius
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: Kryptos] 1
#27865701 - 07/17/22 03:50 AM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kryptos said: China is allowed to build infrastructure wherever it wants to.
For geopolitical reasons, the US would strongly prefer that the US built the infrastructure.
Under Trump, many foreign infrastructure projects were neglected, giving China a significant lead. Biden is now trying to catch up.
I don't care much either way, but I have a slight preference for the US to remain the world power, because I don't speak Chinese. And like to smoke weed. And not work 72 hours per week.
If you do a Google search you may be surprised at Chinese working conditions.
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Brian Jones
Club 27



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I got 996 from several sources. 9am to 9pm 6 days a week. They said it was coming under scrutiny. That was the office people. Another source said 40 hours per week was standard, but that could get pushed if need arises. Most sources agreed that everyone gets at least one day off. Couldn't find anything about the actual peasants.
If abuse of labor is common in the U.S. I would have a hard time believing it's not worse in China. European labor are more organized and have much better conditions. I'm not holding my breath waiting for conditions to improve in the U.S. or China.
-------------------- "The Rolling Stones will break up over Brian Jones' dead body" John Lennon I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either. The worst thing about corruption is that it works so well,
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Stable Genius
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: Brian Jones]
#27865729 - 07/17/22 05:01 AM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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It looks like it ranges from reasonable to terrible depending on the industry. I wasn't aware that unionism even existed, but once again it depends on the industry.
Some places get a 44hr week.
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Brian Jones
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Yes, I read there are a lot of regional differences as well. All of East Asia can produce and sell products at prices that the West can't possibly compete with, but it requires a lot of exploitation of labor.
-------------------- "The Rolling Stones will break up over Brian Jones' dead body" John Lennon I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either. The worst thing about corruption is that it works so well,
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Kryptos
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Quote:
Stable Genius said:
Quote:
Kryptos said: China is allowed to build infrastructure wherever it wants to.
For geopolitical reasons, the US would strongly prefer that the US built the infrastructure.
Under Trump, many foreign infrastructure projects were neglected, giving China a significant lead. Biden is now trying to catch up.
I don't care much either way, but I have a slight preference for the US to remain the world power, because I don't speak Chinese. And like to smoke weed. And not work 72 hours per week.
If you do a Google search you may be surprised at Chinese working conditions.
If you mean "surprisingly somehow even worse than the US", then I'd agree. Of course, I don't find it all that surprising to begin with.
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Stable Genius
Radicalised


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Quote:
Falcon91Wolvrn03 said:
Quote:
Kryptos said: I mean, this was announced almost a year ago...It's part of Biden's plan to counter China, which has been building infrastructure there.
Is China not allowed to build infrastructure there? Only the West?
Or is there more to the story that I don't know about (I don't know much about Tonga or Kiribati).
Both Tonga and Kiribati are suffering badly from rising sea levels/climate change, particularly Kiribati.
I think the significant thing with Kiribati(pronounced ki-ree-bas) recently is their boycott of the Pacific Island Nations Forum last week. The role of Secretary General is supposed to be shared between the countries and I think Kiribati has only held the position once. This was one of the reasons their President gave. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/10/kiribati-withdraws-from-pacific-islands-forum-pif-micronesia
Quote:
In February 2021, Micronesian leaders announced plans to leave the regional body after their candidate for secretary general of the forum was passed over in favour of a Polynesian candidate, despite a “gentleman’s agreement” that the top job should be shared between Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian candidates.
However, there has been mutterings that China influenced the decision to pull out. The relationship between Kiribati and China is probably the closest out of all the Pacific Islands. They've signed numerous agreements with the Chinese in the last few years, reversed their stance on Taiwan, and probably why the U.S. is keen to gain some leverage with a new embassy and $$ to help combat climate change, poverty, Chinese influence etc.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/12/china-influenced-kiribati-exit-from-pacific-islands-forum-mp-claims
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Falcon91Wolvrn03
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Sky News has an interesting piece critisizing Zelensky.
I'm not familiar with Sky News or Cory Bernardi, but he makes sense here.
It's got over a million views.
-------------------- I am in a minority on the shroomery, as I frequently defend the opposing side when they have a point about something or when my side make believes something about them. I also attack my side if I think they're wrong. People here get very confused by that and think it means I prefer the other side.
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Stable Genius
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Holy shit!
I've copied this and a response into the Ukraine thread. That's awesome!
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Stable Genius
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This story about the two murdered Saudi sisters is concerning.
They had been in Australia since 2018 and were seeking asylum. Police know very little about them apparently.
The story caught my eye again last week when the unit they died in went back on the market for rent with a strange disclaimer in the add;
Quote:
"Disclaimer: This property has found two deceased persons on 07/06/2022, crime scene has been established and it is still under police investigation."
"According to the police, this is not a random crime and will not be a potential risk for the community."
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/sydney-apartment-where-saudi-sisters-asra-and-amaal-were-found-dead-is-listed-for-rent-with-a-shocking-disclaimer/news-story/81324261805aa056bce6ca90da69b2d2
The police seem to be doing a shitty job at investigating this. I'm not making any conspiracy claims, I'm just saying they appear clueless about how to investigate this crime properly. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/one-tool-the-police-havent-yet-used-that-could-help-solve-the-mysterious-saudi-sister-tragedy/1neld0iqf?dlb=
The ABC has been investigating and appear to have interviewed more people close to the scene that the police have The Background Briefing audio clip is interesting and they're going to release a story on this soon. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-02/contents-of-apartment-of-two-saudi-sisters-revealed/101287882
Ooo! just checked, it went up online at 2am last night, I'm going to listen to it now https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/what-happened-saudi-sisters-alsehli-saudi-canterbury-asylum/14007712
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sudly
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Registered: 01/05/15
Posts: 11,594
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Quote:
Falcon91Wolvrn03 said: Sky News has an interesting piece critisizing Zelensky.
I'm not familiar with Sky News or Cory Bernardi, but he makes sense here.
It's got over a million views.
Sky news is fox news down under, a trademark of Murdoch.
Kamala is a useless shill, and the US gave Ukraine a slushfund with no stipulations for the arming of the Azov battalion.
This is a blatant attempt to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Quote:
In justifying the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the narrative oriented around Ukrainian neo-Nazism continued, and the Azov Regiment has similarly played a central role under the pretext of "denazifying" Ukraine, with Russian media claiming its overwhelming presence and influence within Ukraine to paint a picture of the whole of the Ukrainian government and military as under Nazi control.
There is data, numbers and stats left out of this pretext that give actual context to the claims.
Quote:
This should come as no shock to anyone who watched Vladimir Putin’s speech on the eve of the invasion. He stated his intention to “denazify” Ukraine because it was led by a far-right government. People who engage with this online are not having good-faith discussions about the political composition of the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian civil society. They are derailing those debates by trying to legitimise Putin’s attempt to destroy Ukrainian democracy.
To explain this phenomenon, we must start with an honest appraisal of Ukraine’s far-right problem. The existence of the Azov Battalion, a far-right militia, is an issue that has been widely publicised in the Western press. It was founded in 2014, the same year as the pro-European Maidan Revolution and Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. In the same year, the Azov Battalion was incorporated into Ukraine’s National Guard, and in 2016 separated its political and military wings. Former members of the group have been investigated for serious hate crimes.
There is no way to sugar-coat this story: the racist views of senior Azov figures since its founding can be accurately described as neo-Nazi. The fact that the Ukrainian government is openly collaborating with a group with this history is a grave issue for any liberal, democrat or human rights activist.
Membership figures for the Azov Battalion are hard to come by: recent estimates range from 1,000 to 3,000. For the purposes of debate, let’s assume that the membership stands at 10,000, as a spokesperson for Azov’s political wing claimed in 2018 in relation to the wider far-right “Azov movement”. Let’s further assume that all of those members are involved in the military wing and that, despite their denials, all of the members of Azov also hold explicitly neo-Nazi political beliefs.
The number of active military personnel in Ukraine, pre-war, was 196,000. To put that number into context, Azov’s maximum strength would be 5.1 per cent of Ukraine’s armed forces.
But this still doesn’t tell us the whole picture. How has Ukraine’s far right fared in elections? According to Putin, the country is run by Nazis. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, far-right parties put forward a united slate but finished with a paltry 2 per cent of the vote. Comparatively, the new party established by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, a Russian-speaking Jew who had won the presidency in April of that year with a 73 per cent landslide, won 43 per cent of the votes.
None of these figures are presented here with the intention of sanitising or dismissing the very credible threat that Ukraine’s far right poses to ethnic minorities or wider civil society in the country. They are intended to put that threat into context, because it is being used by Moscow to justify a naked war of aggression against the Ukrainian people and against Ukraine’s young and fragile democracy.
https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/ukraine/2022/04/why-focusing-on-the-azov-battalion-means-we-are-falling-into-putins-trap
-------------------- I am whatever Darwin needs me to be.
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Stable Genius
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Re: The Australian Politics Thread [Re: sudly] 1
#27894226 - 08/08/22 12:27 AM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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The Australian Citizen's Party did a great segment on the abysmal failure of the current U.S. administration regarding China/Ukraine in their latest report.
They include Scott Ritter and Colonel Douglas McGregor in their list of quoted speakers.
I won't spoil who the person was that described someone in the U.S. government as an alcoholic dementia patient but that line is gold.
I'm soooo glad we have people like this in Aus politics.
Scroll to 24.40
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sudly
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Registered: 01/05/15
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How is my money worth less and my Hecs worth more when my cost of living goes up..
I'm not learning more, it's not an asset, there isn't interest. The value of my degree is increasing faster than the way I've been given to pay it off. After four years I now owe the same as I did when I finished my degree on a 27k loan.
I got duped. I mean I got my degree and I didn't fail anything, and my Hecs is more average than most. I earn more than 60k a year and the way the system is set up at the moment I may retire before it works.
When I signed up for university I didn't think I'd pay it off before 10 or 20 years, but it never came across my desk from tutors, professors, teachers or peers that my and our hex debt will not slowly diminish over time. The interest free design was promoted and the indexation was not admonished.
We slip our 17 year olds a major contract and distract them with promises of interest free loans for a tuition that itself won't educate us on the fine print, terms and conditions.
Was I the folly?
-------------------- I am whatever Darwin needs me to be.
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