World Politics

[Mal]

5 hours ago, TheMightyEthan said:

I don't think they're in any danger of invasion from... *checks map*... Guatemala

Just Florida Men. 

[TheMightyEthan]

I do have to say, "Florida Man Attempts Overthrow of Venezuelan Dictator" is probably a peak for Florida Man headlines that it's going to take a while to top.

[MetalCaveman]

Just read about that... That was a thing. I would ask, why? But at this point I don't think there's a "why" anymore, it just is.

[TheMightyEthan]

The most recent thing I saw said there are indications he was hired by the legitimate government to do it.

[MetalCaveman]

Three doctors were murdered in their home in Torreon and a hospital in Guerrero closed its doors after receiving several threats.

 

The newest conspiracy theory is that the virus doesn't exist, and this is just a plot to keep people home so they can control society and establish a communist/socialist country... 

 

Also, certain groups are going insane over the fact that apparently Trump says he found evidence that Obama spied on him, and that somehow that means that Trump is our glorious saviour that will bring down the neoliberal empire of Calderón and his cohorts (how the two are connected I don't know).

 

The Fast and Furious thing seems to have surfaced once more too though I doubt anything will come out of it.  

 

Future generations will look at this time and go "The fuck was wrong with ya'll?!", or something like that.  

[Mister Jack]

I don't even have to look it up to know Trump hasn't found shit.

[Mal]

This post probably better served in the US politics thread but since it's all stems from COVID-19... 

 

If anything, he's spying on Obama and Hillary. He has the potential to do such thing, yes. Fuck, didn't he kind of imply/state that he did with his Twitter tirade with Obamagate or whatever shit it was from just yesterday? 

 

Anyhow, I find it kind of hilarious (I feel terrible for those who has no hand in this) that it seems like the White House is having an outbreak. 

[MetalCaveman]

After our president attacked doctors in one of his press conferences, saying that they were all greedy people who only helped those with money, he has backtracked, saying his comments were misunderstood, that what he meant was that doctors are selfless people who look after others....

 

So much for the hugs-not-bullets approach, it's by presidential decree that the army and navy are back on the streets, supposedly until the national guard gets its own stuff sorted out, though the decree states a five year period of activity. I wonder if the fact that violence continues to escalate finally pushed him to do something or if there's something else going on.

 

Not concerning at all that he said "you either support the 4T (as he calls his movement) or you support the old regimes of corruption... think about it" during his morning conference.

 

He has also called NYT and some other international outlets "well known media, but with a complete lack of morals/ethics" after they have criticised his response to the pandemic.

[deanb]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52616071

 

A rail worker in the UK has died of coronavirus after being spat on. The original suspect is still unknown, but no doubt now goes from assault to manslaughter.

 

Also we have a new covid plan, as anyone that follows us brits on Twitter on FB will know. How it's going to work fuck knows, since even cabint ministers were contradicting each other on the monday morning news, so good to know even they're clued up on what the PMs plan is. So with the VE day celebrations of people doing congas to the new plan that's sort of forcing people to go back to work (but also isn't, but once again who knows) we're now on to the ramp up to our second peak.

[Mal]

Wuhan has begun to get noticeable clusters of cases since they lifted their hard, weld your door shut, lockdown. So they're going through SIP (or something quite like it) and looks like they plan to test EVERYONE in the city. Timeline is a bit nebulous but seems like 10 days to draw up a plan and ramp up testing (seems like it has already started). I'm getting a sense of confusion and figuring it out as they go (as we all are). Initial reports mentioned maybe trying to test everyone in 10 days but that's is so out the range of the current reality. While nowhere near as dense, Wuhan is home to over 11 million people compared to NYC of over 8 million just to give the sense of scale (the Tri-State area would bump it up significantly though to 20-30 million depending on how you define it). This got to be a month(s) long process after figuring out the daunting logistics of it all. False positives and false negative rates is going to be absolutely scrutinized at this scale, even with multiple tests. Also crucial for such an effort is a robust and swift contact tracing program so any outbreaks doesn't go undetected and spread. A fairly strong SIP order (e.g., stick to your communities) should help.

 

Overall, I get a sense that China is really desperate to keep this under control with extreme means if necessary. Just a few weeks ago they locked down a small city bordering Russia after a few dozen cases popped up. Perhaps to maintain a strong sense of legitimacy (especially with President Xi) but also, I believe, as a sort of cold war with the West. The sacrifices, both personal and civil (from the pandemic and to both before and after), must be justified otherwise what was the point of it all? Us out in the West also have a series of identical and similar questions.

 

I feel the decisions made in the next month or two are going to be quite consequential. It will guide us in the move to the new normal with the pandemic and a new normal for after the pandemic.  

[MetalCaveman]

Apparently El Reforma a newspaper that has been highly critical of the current government received a threat from a man who claimed to be part of the Cartel del Golfo, claiming that if they kept criticising the president the cartel would blow up their offices, along with anyone there.

 

Unknown whether this was an actual sicario, a psycho fanatic, or just a troll, seriously concerning either way though, specially with how the president continues to antagonise all press that speaks ill of him, anyone, national or foreign that has anything negative to say "lacks morals, has no ethics, and supports the old regimes of corruption".

 

He also said the virus is under control and as part of his examples for this he used a graphic showing how, in one month there were 2100 deaths from Corona, while there were 2500 deaths from shootings and other violent crimes, so.... Yay?

 

There's also been 100 confirmed deaths from people who drank adulterated alcohol, after alcoholic drink manufacturers were considered non-essential. Some states have actually decreed "dry law", while others simply restrict the amount of alcohol they sell. My father recently asked to use my Amazon account to buy some whiskey, 'cause apparently all stores in the city are empty.  

[MetalCaveman]

The Canadian ambassador along with representatives of 19 countries of the European Union have sent letters to Rocio Nahle, who recently asked for a motion in which the new laws and regulations involving renewable energy would be approved in "fast track" (i.e. right now, without further consideration), asking her or some kind of representative from the Mexican government to meet with them regarding this sudden change as they all had projects involving renewable energies in Mexico and these will be cancelled or postponed indefinitely under the new regulations.

 

I doubt the our government will care about it, since it seems their plan is to get rid of any kind of renewable source in order to promote the use of oil, carbon and gas.

 

Related:

 

 

Air pollution levels haven't gone down in Mexico City, even with the order to stay at home and the reduction in vehicle use, the reason? 

 

Apparently it's due to the fact that the plant in Tula has been burning fuel oil like there's no tomorrow (presumably BECAUSE there's no tomorrow ), this is just one of the many plants that currently have the order to burn as much of the stuff as possible.

 

Good thing these aren't wind turbines though, those are ugly and ruin the view!*

 

*The president's words, not mine.  

[TheMightyEthan]

Sigh...

[MetalCaveman]

On the topic of renewable energy companies taking this matter to court, the president had this to say:

 

"They are in their right to complain, but really, instead of complaining, they should be apologising, asking for forgiveness."

 

Today, MORENA presented a new project which among its changes to the law and the constitution includes giving INEGI (national institute for geography and statistics) additional powers.

 

Powers such as being allowed to legally enter any property, and take note of everything an individual owns, everything valuable, every car or vehicle, anything and everything, they will also have unfettered access to bank accounts and any other source of income a person may have, if they are deemed to be above the "wellbeing standard" the individual will face sanctions, which may include seizing of any valuables and property the government may deem "beyond necessary".

 

This, according to them, to guarantee equal distribution of wealth and wellbeing.

 

I wonder what they'll have to say about the president's sons who, while he talks about how only one pair of shoes is needed and nothing more, are going around the world in private jets, buying multi million dollar cars and jewellery, and who made a killer deal with their own beer company after the president cancelled investment from a different brewery via "popular vote".

 

What will they do about Noroña, Bartlett, Gordillo, and of course the rather uneven distribution of wealth found in Badiraguato, Sinaloa?

 

They're also not doing anything about the people who operate "informally" owning businesses and more without being registered, therefore not paying any taxes.

 

They're trying to pass this as some sort of emergency plan to deal with the impact of COVID-19, claiming this will be the "new normal" after the pandemic is over. Ushering a new age of equality and progress, which will guide Mexico into a new future where we'll be the golden standard (once more, their words, not mine).

 

Ignoring the security issues involved with being told you're legally obligated to allow these people into your home, this plan is pure insanity and I hope it gets shot down quick.

 

I'm all for billionaires paying their due taxes and then some, all for preventing these assholes from getting richer while everyone else gets fucked, but measures like this target everyone EXCEPT those people, as they're either close friends with the right people ensuring they'll be left alone or have the means to simply move elsewhere.

 

This shit will affect people who save their money to buy a decent house, a working car (not new, just something that works), or even a nice tv, as these are all things the president has deemed "unnecessary for wellbeing" in his morning conferences. Anyone with a savings account (because having more money than what you need RIGHT NOW is neoliberal), anyone who worked their ass off to afford something cool they wanted of course, the rich will get away, 'cause they always do.

 

If this seems a bit rambly, that's 'cause I'm pissed about this whole thing and the way this government has been handling shit.

[TheMightyEthan]

That's just... I don't even know.

[MetalCaveman]

Man I sure picked a good time to catch up on the stuff that's going on here (had to take some time off or my head would go boom).

 

• Science and culture institutes are being defunded by up to 75%, science institutes and researchers have reported receiving letters "kindly requesting" them to "donate" their grants and other funds to support government projects.
• The National Commission of Protected Natural Habitats has been defunded by 75% as well *puts tinfoil hat on* curiously, this happened after the remains of several mammoths were found in the area where the president's airport is meant to go. *takes tinfoil hat off*
• In Guanajuato, 100 people killed in 7 days and counting.
• Even though we're still not out of it, not even close, they're starting to reopen the country, meanwhile, doctors keep being attacked, with many of them reporting that authorities did nothing to help them as "they had no real evidence of an attack", 'cause getting a bucket of bleach to the face does not count as an aggression apparently.
• The Government Secretary said she does not need to use a mask, because she is taking drops made from "citric nano-molecules" that destroy the virus. Her whole team has been "immunised" the same way.
• The president has said that next year we can vote for his part or vote "for corruption, theft and murder".
• A construction worker was killed by police officers for not wearing a mask.
• A senator who had been kidnapped was found... dead.
• A bit of good news, a judge pushed back the whole "no renewable energy" thing, for now.
• Back to the usual, there's been some comments made by some MORENA politicians about taking money from pension funds to "support victims of COVID", because we can't spare a single cent from the millions and millions being used for the airport, the refinery or the train.

And that's just part of it, there's so much more, but that's the biggest stuff going on.

[TheMightyEthan]

Well, everything in the US is just peachy. Yessir, no problems here.

[Mal]

59 minutes ago, MetalCaveman said:

The National Commission of Protected Natural Habitats has been defunded by 75% as well *puts tinfoil hat on* curiously, this happened after the remains of several mammoths were found in the area where the president's airport is meant to go. *takes tinfoil hat off*

Cataloging and protecting (significant) paleontological resources is literally the purpose of my job. Seems like you got a really good site which would require monitors like me to watch excavations. With that said, while it would delay the project with say a 50 foot buffer, work can go on elsewhere outside the buffer. If the call is made to extract, then a team (not me unless I get asked) will be there to extract (depending how complicated, we can probably be out in a week or two) while others monitor earthmoving elsewhere. If the fossils are really shitty, we just document it then work can resume. It's ain't hard!

 

In the end, you could have the fossils displayed at the airport or say a museum in say Mexico City to show off the rich pre-history of Mexico or the state/city the fossils were found. They're basically cool ass trophies that you don't have to rob indigenous people to get.

[MetalCaveman]

5 hours ago, Mal said:

Cataloging and protecting (significant) paleontological resources is literally the purpose of my job. Seems like you got a really good site which would require monitors like me to watch excavations. With that said, while it would delay the project with say a 50 foot buffer, work can go on elsewhere outside the buffer. If the call is made to extract, then a team (not me unless I get asked) will be there to extract (depending how complicated, we can probably be out in a week or two) while others monitor earthmoving elsewhere. If the fossils are really shitty, we just document it then work can resume. It's ain't hard!

 

In the end, you could have the fossils displayed at the airport or say a museum in say Mexico City to show off the rich pre-history of Mexico or the state/city the fossils were found. They're basically cool ass trophies that you don't have to rob indigenous people to get.

 

Thing is, that'd require caring about that kind of stuff, and being willing to accept delays, something this administration isn't willing/capable of.

 

 

 

Tlatelolco 2.0 here we come... I hope not.

[Mal]

Looks like we're starting to get rumblings against HCW and health experts. This will be fun. 

Edited June 12, 2020 by Mal

[MetalCaveman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate

 

Puro orgullo Mexicano. / Yay Mexico! 

 

Also our president currently seems like he's one bad day away from declaring himself God Emperor.

 

Oh yeah, FONATUR admitted the whole train thing is a fiasco, it's not properly researched, it's environmental impact will be greater than reported and in general it'll be a huge mess.

[MetalCaveman]

 

Defence Secretary Durazo, under oath "No one ordered us to release him (Ovidio)..."

 

The president "Yeah I ordered it, I told them to set him free and cancel the operation, it was the right thing, or many people would have died."

 

Reminder that back then there were 100 different official versions, among them one where the president claimed he had no knowledge of the whole thing. Also reminder that Sinaloa turned into a warzone back then.

 

Ah, and lest we forget, that time the president stopped what he was doing to personally greet El Chapo's mother, telling her he would do all he could to ensure his son would return to Mexico, all the while ignoring the families of people who have disappeared and/or been killed by cartels, sometimes accusing them of being "neoliberal paid actors" other times hiding behind social distancing to justify why he ignored them, conveniently skipping over how he had been in an event, surrounded by people and while he was wearing no mask or other form of protection.

 

In COVID news, CDMX being led by loyal followers of the president was ready to open up, while still in the red and with many more cases being reported every day, things got so bad that, in spite of what the president wants, they have now announced they won't be opening up yet.  

[TheMightyEthan]

Who is Ovidio?

[MetalCaveman]

5 minutes ago, TheMightyEthan said:

Who is Ovidio?

 

El Chapo's son and current leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, back in 2019 this happened after he was arrested:

 

On 10/17/2019 at 6:52 PM, MetalCaveman said:

So yeah, today has been a day (content warning I guess, nothing graphic, but may be a bit too much for some people):

 

 

Known as "Culiacanaso", a siege of the city that lasted the whole day.

 

After that it was a whole mess of everyone shifting the blame to someone else, the president first said he hadn't ordered his liberation, then said he didn't know anything about it, he revealed the names of the army officers and soldiers involved in the operation, blamed everyone else for trying to hurt the "good people" (as he calls the cartels), and now he says it WAS him who gave the order to release him, supposedly to protect the people of Sinaloa.

 

Again, given the treatment he's given to the Guzman family vs how he treats their victims, it is not that far-fetched to think there's something going on behind the scenes.

 

Either way, he now has accepted he was behind his liberation, even after the defence secretary said, again, under oath, that there had been no such order.

 

In related news, Celaya is on fire after members of a local cartel were arrested and Caborca, Sonora is a warzone supposedly because Quintero has returned to reclaim that land.

 

Ignoring the whole COVID thing, we're kinda drowning in blood here, the good news is you don't have to worry about a virus if you already have lead intoxication.  

 

Oh yeah, turns out this may be the president's attempt at hiding the fact he's put forward a motion to eliminate several different government offices and many independent ones, among them the INE, National Electoral Institute who oversees elections and ensures their fairness, and the INAI National Institute for Information Access who is in charge of maintaining transparency in what the government does, where does it spend money, etc. Many others will be disappearing if this goes through, but these are the biggest ones as we'll essentially lose fair elections and the ability to see where the money is going.

[MetalCaveman]

The president has once again attacked INE (National Electoral Institute) an independent organisation meant to ensure fair elections, in his words:

 

"It's the most expensive of its kind in the world, we're going to take a good look at it."

 

Following his comments about how he would be the "guardian of the elections" this is quite concerning. Add to this the fact that he's constantly stated that you either support him and his party or you support corruption and crime and we're in for a fun election cycle in 2021.

 

The attacks on INE and others stem from his belief that these are all "useless neoliberal wastes of money, that exist only to benefit the elite", never mind that he created the PROBEIS, an organisation that exists for the sole purpose of promoting his favourite sport, baseball and that uses government funding to achieve its goals. 

 

Also, IBERDROLA announced the cancellation of their CCGT plant in Veracruz, citing the fact that CFE refused to provide them with the necessary gas for its operation. This plant was supposed to be part of many to be built by this company, among them were some renewable ones, who knows what will happen to them now, this also comes after the president attacked them for their presence in the Mexican energy sector. CFE continues to burn fuel oil like there's no tomorrow (and at this point there might be no tomorrow).

 

In COVID news, no one can agree on what to do now, some people want to open now, others say to wait, Gattell keeps saying we have reached "peak new cases" every other week, the president keeps saying that honesty is the best way to prevent catching any virus, some people keep saying this is all a conspiracy (we're in the 5G towers cause COVID stage) and so on. Some states are already opening up, others are starting to relax on any kind of preventive measures taken.