unicorn

It would be more accurate to say that the whole world (except the leadership in Belarus) hates Putin. Russian planes are quite limited as to which airspaces they can fly over these days.

I agree that these infantile acts of vandalism hurt, rather than help, the causes they're trying to promote. Had I been a supporter of the organisation involved, I would certainly have withdrawn my support, for example. I can somewhat at least understand Greenpeace, which harasses ships which hunt whales directly. However, neither London's National Gallery nor the artists involved are climate change deniers or promoters, so attacks on them are unwarranted. I suspect that these protesters were spoiled brats as children. In all likelihood, when they acted up as children, their parents gave into their tantrums instead of disciplining them. This probably taught these people behaviors which are ineffective and counter-productive in adulthood. When I was a practicing physician, I'd counsel parents to respond more effectively to misbehavior. If a child starts screaming that he wants candy while at the supermarket, buying the candy will shut him up for now, but will encourage further misbehavior. The appropriate response would be to tell the child that if he does not quiet down immediately, there will be no candy or desert for a week (ramping up the consequences if the misbehavior continues or escalates). Unchecked, these children become juvenile delinquents, and then criminals as adults (as seen here).

Obviously, no one can deny climate change. However, your post seems to imply that the issue is "too complex" to pin this change on human activity. I'm not a climate scientist. That being said, virtually all those who are climate scientists seem fairly convinced that human activity, fossil fuels in particular, are the prime cause of the climate change we're all seeing. Unless you've been educated and trained to study this issue, I feel it's the height of arrogance to claim you know better than the actual scientists in this field, thereby pronouncing the issue as being "too complex" to pin to human activity. I wonder where it is that you could live that you used to, but no longer need to use air conditioning. That being said, your personal experience should not be relevant regarding an issue which has been well-studied by scientists around the globe. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/10/more-999-studies-agree-humans-caused-climate-change "More than 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientific papers agree that climate change is mainly caused by humans, according to a new survey of 88,125 climate-related studies. The research updates a similar 2013 paper revealing that 97% of studies published between 1991 and 2012 supported the idea that human activities are altering Earth’s climate. The current survey examines the literature published from 2012 to November 2020 to explore whether the consensus has changed. “We are virtually certain that the consensus is well over 99% now and that it’s pretty much case closed for any meaningful public conversation about the reality of human-caused climate change,” said Mark Lynas, a visiting fellow at the Alliance for Science and the paper’s first author. Reviewed Scientific Literature,” which published Oct. 19 in the journal Environmental Research Letters...". https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/17/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/#:~:text=Yes%2C the vast majority of,global warming and climate change. "Yes, the vast majority of actively publishing climate scientists – 97 percent – agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change. Most of the leading science organizations around the world have issued public statements expressing this, including international and U.S. science academies, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a whole host of reputable scientific bodies around the world. A list of these organizations is provided here...".

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/europe/ukraine-military-chief-assistant-grenade-death-intl/index.html "...Major Gennadiy Chastyakov, who served as the assistant to Valery Zaluzhny, had received a gift box from a colleague for his birthday on Monday that contained several “Western model” grenades, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram. Chastyakov’s 13-year-old son then picked up one of the grenades and started turning the ring, Klymenko wrote. As Chastyakov took the grenade from him, the ring was pulled out and the weapon detonated...".

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/24648918/evan-ellingson-dead-child-star-home-san-bernardino/ "Former actor Evan Ellingson has died at 35. The actor, who appeared in numerous television shows and films including 24, CSI: Miami, and My Sister's Keeper, died at his home in San Bernardino, California... Evan's father, Michael, shared with the outlet that his son had been struggling with drugs in the past. The star seemed to be "better of late," but his sudden death is a complete shock to the grieving family. Evan's brother, Austin, also died of a drug overdose in 2008, according to IMDB...". Very sad.

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The significant difference between Russia/USSR and every other country on the planet, is that Russia/USSR is the only country that brags about how many of its own citizens it kills versus how successful they are at preventing their own citizens' deaths. Listen to any Russian talk about WW2, for instance, and you will be drowned out by the thumping of his chest at how proud he is of all his country's own deaths. Quite sad, actually. During the battle of Iwo Jima, 3 times fewer US troops died than Japanese, although the Japanese were defending from fortified positions. The fact that your leaders kill their own people is nothing to beam with pride over. Instead of being a source of pride, it's a sad commentary on the Russia psyche.

There's a tautology for you. Obviously, if the movement failed, it didn't result in a country, so it cannot be named. One cannot name the Basque Republic, Tamil Republic, nor the Catalan Republic because those peoples' fights for independence failed. Your question was the equivalent to asking "Name me someone who failed but succeeded." Just silliness, really. Of course, there are quite a few countries which de facto govern themselves, but are not recognized either universally (i.e. Kosovo), or even barely at all (i.e. Transnistria).

Yes, because, as we all know, if Paraguay were to send missiles into civilian areas of Bolivia, Bolivia would just sit there and invite Paraguay to send some more. But Bolivia should know something about starting a conflict without knowing how it would end. The conflict they started with Chile resulted in that country now being land-locked.

Ridiculous. Only a complete fool would believe that a civilian power station has any (much less significant) military relevance. I doubt you're a complete fool, so I don't know why you would post such garbage. It's obvious to just about everyone that bombing these power stations has no function but to hurt civilians. Putin isn't bombing those power stations to give him any military advantage, as you well know.

Sorry, but you're factually wrong (NOT a matter of opinion): https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/military-objectives/ "...The destruction of the object—in whole or in part—capturing it, or neutralizing it must show a specific military advantage. Hence, attacks that will result in solely unspecified or potential advantage are prohibited...". Civilian power stations are NOT legal targets, but rather terroristic ones.

I cannot believe that anyone in this discussion could be so ignorant as to be unaware that Israel is the #1 recipient in US financial largess, and could not have flourished to the extent it has without the US's generosity: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2023-10-10/how-much-aid-does-the-u-s-give-to-israel "...The United States has given Israel more than $260 billion in combined military and economic aid since World War II, plus about $10 billion more in contributions for missile defense systems like the Iron Dome, a U.S. News analysis finds. That’s the most granted to any country throughout that time frame, and around $100 billion more than Egypt, the second-highest recipient historically...". Had the Palestinians received such aid, obviously they would be doing quite well. Also, Israel controls most traffic in and out of Palestine, as well as their power and water. Yes, Palestinians should have recognized Israel by now, and Israel should also long ago have recognized Palestine. For its part, the US should not have allowed this situation to continue indefinitely. The US should have put its foot down and said "Peace in this area is in the US's interest. We will donate generously to both Israel and Palestine, and help the two countries flourish, IF AND ONLY IF each recognizes the other's right to exist." I personally can't see this happening with either Hamas or BN at the helm, and the US should make the voters of Palestine and Israel aware that their votes have consequences.

Well, at least you are informed that your blessed Putin intentionally bombs critical civilian infrastructure, rather than military targets, in violations of international military law. As you therefore know, and everyone else knows, Putin is intentionally targeting and terrorizing civilians, rather than enemy troops.

I do agree in this case, since there was no immediate threat. However, in the case of missile launch sites and munitions storage areas placed under schools and hospitals, that's on Hamas, since potentially many Israeli civilian lives are at stake. I would think, however, that taking out dozens of civilians to kill one military leader probably does represent a war crime. If it doesn't, it should. That goes beyond decency. Just because Hamas behaves like animals shouldn't given the IDF the green light to do whatever they feel like with no accountability.

It doesn't matter what the religion or nationality. Hamas has no respect for any human life. They even kill their own people, by putting munitions under schools, hospitals, and other civilian targets, in clear violation of international military law.

Since it's factually false, where's the irony? That EM is a liar?

Absolutely absurd. Since Putin controls all of the press, obviously Russians are only going to hear great things about him. If Trump were also able to be the dictator he wished he could be, we'd only think great things about him as well. Even though Trump only controls Fox News, those who listen to Fox believe Trump's a victim rather than the fraud, liar, thief, and cheat that he is. At least he's not a murderer, as far as I know. Of course, you may say that most Russians are already aware that Putin's a mass murderer, liar, cheat, and thief, and I suppose that Russian admiration for murderers does say something about the Russian people. That being said, as you well know, any credible opponent of Putin's will find himself either dead or incarcerated. Only a fool would say that Putin's support is legitimate.

That's a ridiculous statement and you know it. Putin will murder anyone of importance who even speaks against him, much less run against him. It's quite preposterous to say he was elected. Putin is simply a murderer, and you and everyone else knows this.

I've been as surprised by the popularity of BN as of DT. I mean, even if one were to agree with his policies, how can one support someone so completely lacking of any moral fiber or character? One so completely bereft of any sense of honesty or trustworthiness?

Sociopaths usually get their due eventually. Still waiting to see Trump sent to the jailhouse.

I hope he wins the primary. It will be the Democrats' best chance. If anyone can lose against Trump, it's Biden.

I agree. As with other religions, Buddhism is rooted in faith and a belief system, rather than on facts and science. While not monotheistic, it involves prayer, a religious caste, devotion, and so on. Although quite different from the Abrahamic religions, it certainly requires buying into a certain mindset. And, as with other religions, there have been wars and murders in its name (look at Myanmar).