McDonald's and Coca-Cola boycott calls grow over
Warning, some aspects of the report grow might make you blood pressure rise a little. Hospice staff and children forming the shape of a Z to support the war etc...
Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol?
BBC news are just showing the reality of the Home Offices ‘surge of staff’ to Calais to cope with the mass exodus of refugees across Europe
3 people, a box of ready salted crisps and some Kit Kat’s. The 3 people are there to tell them they can’t apply for visa’s there and need to go to Paris or Brussels to apply for one
What an utter and complete shitshow. Not that we should be remotely surprised with Priti Patel and Boris Johnson at the helm
Oh god this is just horrible
3 people, a box of ready salted crisps and some Kit Kat’s. The 3 people are there to tell them they can’t apply for visa’s there and need to go to Paris or Brussels to apply for one
I can't watch it as I'll likely put my for through the tv.
WRT the UK's handling of refugees....
I had stroll past the Russian consulate in Munich this afternoon. Red paint and lots of eggs thrown at the gates. Surprisingly not much polizei presence, just two guys sitting in a T5.
The British Consulate is a few doors down from the Russian consulate.
They've the union jack alongside the Ukrainian flag out front. I stoiod there looking at it whilst shaking my head. Someone came out and asked if I needed help.
Told them it was a piss take that they're showing solidarity with Ukraine despite not letting any into the county, whilst giving the Russians who finds the tory party time to remove their cash from the UK.
I was asked to leave otherwise they would call the police.
Told them it was a piss take that they’re showing solidarity with Ukraine despite not letting any into the county, whilst giving the Russians who finds the tory party time to remove their cash from the UK.
I was asked to leave otherwise they would call the police.
Good work! 👍
Na ja.... I left. Have had enough trouble with the Polizei over the last few years. GF told me before I left the house this morning that she's not got the energy to deal with more stress.
Still, got a few ideas. If only I were an old fart with nothing to lose.
I believe MacDonalds operates in Russia through a Chechen-owned franchise which limits what they can do - allegedly.
As if Ukrainian refugees didn't have enough shit to deal with the UK gov are being deliberately obstructive and unhelpful; johnson, patel and the rest are scum.
@ dantsw13
Reports that Russian demands have softened in talks.
-change constitution to not allow EU or NATO membership
-recognise crimea and Eastern autonomous regions as Russian
From the start of war Putin's objective has always been a big chuck of Ukraine and anything more (whole if possible) will be a bonus. He will push as far as he can and to take whatever he gains.
The only way to start a "proper" negotiation for Ukraine now is to force a stalemate in order for Ukraine to have a chance in negotiation, but I am afraid Ukraine will still be losing some grounds.
At the moment the West/NATO/EU has nobody that Putin/China considers worthy of their ears. Analysts in the far east just consider Biden and Harris as incompetent (Harris would be a disaster and completely out of her depth in dealing with this situation according to them) and looking at EU they can't even think of anyone worthy of persuading Putin to reconsider. The French President (young chap according to them like the Canadian PM) is not even considered. Bear in mind, Putin is "old schooled" and anyone younger and less experience than him is not worthy of an audience.
The only chance to prevent further loss of Ukraine now is to fight for a stalemate and to prolong it as long as possible to drain Russia financial resources, which is still very strong as Russia is supported by their "pal" (financially) the factory of the world (you know who that is).
Our lives will be severely impacted the longer the war continues and as energy is impacted greatly, I am afraid the green agenda (carbon emission etc but I will still reduce plastic usage) needs to be realistic. The current situation if it sows the seed of WW3, then it means we need to shelf the green agenda to prepare the mother of all wars which I hope will not happen, but I have a feeling it will probably happen in 30 to 40 years time. (if they stop now then everyone will recoup their strength, learn from this experience and prepare for next round)
I believe McDonalds operates in Russia through a Chechen-owned franchise which limits what they can do – allegedly
That BBC article claims that, unusually for McD's, they retain ownership of the majority of the restaurants
shermer - my source was an interviewee on R4 earlier but would appear he was wrong.
What pressure is US gov applying to coke, pepsi, kfc, burger King, Starbucks and others?
shermer – my source was an interviewee on R4 earlier but would appear he was wrong.
Oh man it could go either way on that one, ownership is prob really conplicated. Who knows!!
What pressure is US gov applying to coke, pepsi, kfc, burger King, Starbucks and others?
Good question. Not enough! There's people power too though- we can stop buying their stuff. I'm happy to do that, anything that feels like I'm contributing
Told them it was a piss take that they’re showing solidarity with Ukraine despite not letting any into the county, whilst giving the Russians who finds the tory party time to remove their cash from the UK.
👏👏👏
I'm doing my bit to reduce gas consumption. I damaged a CH pipe so now my heating's off.
Chris Bryant is a labour MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standards Committee. He actually has principles and was in charge of the Owen Patterson investigation. In this instance he had a Twitter spat with John Terry over his support of Abramovic.
Chris Bryant - a man with principles.
John Terry - couldn't even spell the word let alone show he has any.
I see Ireland has already taken in 1250 refugees from Ukraine. A country with a tiny population, even further away from the mainland than us.
Our government is beyond words I can say on here.
You're not wrong Chewkw,
Time will tell wether you are right but so far you have been the least wrong on this thread. Especially in the early days, when everyone was talking about regime change etc, you were saying the same things as you say now.
I put it down to you looking at media from other sources, not just western media. The way that the rest of the world views this war and is affected by it is more important than a lot of people think.
Poops, I bring you news!
UK has now accepted issued visas to..
300 Ukrainians.
6x more than before but still a pathetically small number and a non functioning 'system' presided over by a bunch of hypocrites with clear links to and reliance on dirty money.
You do realise that chewie is a geordie pretending to be from malaya - don't you?
He's sitting with a pint, a bag of crisps and a kit-kat in the Brockwell Seam.
a kit-kat in the Brockwell Seam.
Will it not melt?
"I’m doing my bit to reduce gas consumption. I damaged a CH pipe so now my heating’s off."
Good for you molgrips.
I've just been speaking to my partner in Nairobi, they're tightening their belts there too, literally. Sanctions mean there economy has been hit hard, they are no longer selling flowers to Russia and no longer importing grain.
They have 40% food poverty. This is going to cause poverty and famine around the word, and where might that lead?... Not everybody can do their bit by turning down the heating a bit and 'layering up'.
There was a thread for less important things related to the conflict but you asked for it to be closed down and you got your way, otherwise I'd have posted it on there.
we need to shelf the green agenda
Countries are about to face a choice on decarbonisation… accelerate it to reduce dependence on gas and oil from Russia (and the countries it invades) sooner… or ramp up extraction elsewhere. The likes of Farage have started a new campaign group to push for the later. Good grifting if you can get the work. I wouldn’t bet against the Conservatives taking the same route when the money starts appearing in their back pockets. It’s not the right choice for the UK though, our opportunities for renewables and storage systems are huge.
a kit-kat in the Brockwell Seam.
Will it not melt?
'Tis a pub not an actual seam.
Time will tell wether you are right but so far you have been the least wrong on this thread.
I want to be wrong in this situation but I see a very determine person. Very strong self belief with a lot of power and perfectly sane (he knows what he is doing as former KGB).
(has anyone ever got into some sort of argument that no matter what you cannot let go? The current situation in Ukraine is similar, a bit like pit bulls lock on each others)
I put it down to you looking at media from other sources, not just western media. The way that the rest of the world views this war and is affected by it is more important than a lot of people think.
Yes, other sources of the eastern block.
It’s not the right choice for the UK though, our opportunities for renewables and storage systems are huge.
Need to start self sufficient as much as possible to stand the chance as the world will chance in our life time.
Self sufficiency isn’t necessary: trade, including in energy, can carry on. Dependence on gas and oil fields will increasingly be a folly though… and recent moves by Russia are one in a long series of world events that should make that blindingly obvious to all.
Self sufficiency isn’t necessary, trade, including in energy, can carry on. Dependence on gas and oil fields will increasingly be a folly though… and recent moves by Russia are one in a long series of world events that should make that blindingly obvious to all.
Need to start making "things" again.
As the traditional Chinese saying (Not CCP) "you don't want to build a toilet just before you want to take a dump".
You do realise that chewie is a geordie pretending to be from malaya – don’t you?
LOL! I am trying to figure out if EU will be affected more or far east (developing country). I think the latter will be affected soon and many will suffer (financially).
has anyone ever got into some sort of argument that no matter what you cannot let go?
You are talking to STW, you know?
You are talking to STW, you know?
True that but multiple that by many times and you get Putin. Putin is not a leader for Russia without credential good or bad. To be leader in that region a person needs to be extremely determined and strong.
There was a thread for less important things related to the conflict but you asked for it to be closed down and you got your way, otherwise I’d have posted it on there
I feel that the wider implications of the sanctions brought in because of the war are appropriate here because they are part of the emerging situation.
That other thread got closed because there was nothing of value of interest happening on it, just entrenched bickering about who was the most racist. And that's all I'm going to say about that here.
Need to start making “things” again.
Isn’t that the truth. But we can’t all make the same things. And we need to grow things. But can’t all grow the same things.
But all a sidetrack in this thread. Whereas oil and gas dependancy is an important issue as regards Russia and Ukraine (and many other wars). Time to double efforts to move to renewables and storage. No more than double… throw everything at it.
"LOL! I am trying to figure out if EU will be affected more or far east (developing country). I think the latter will be affected soon and many will suffer (financially)."
By the far East do you mean Middlesbrough?
Round and round and round.
By the far East do you mean Middlesbrough?
The impact on developed countries will not be as severe as those in developing countries (SE Asia) as they are not financially strong. The last financial crisis in the far east was very hard and the current pandemic has also make life rather unbearable for many.
Isn’t that the truth. But we can’t all make the same things. And we need to grow things. But can’t all grow the same things.
You need the manufacturing capability back regardless of how simple that can be. Yes, growing stuff as well. Need to accelerate all of them to be honest.
From the start of war Putin’s objective has always been a big chuck of Ukraine and anything more (whole if possible) will be a bonus. He will push as far as he can and to take whatever he gains.
At best Putin will gain some southern territory near Crimea and every city he gets will gave been bombed to crap
And the territory he does take will mean years of insurgency the West is already supporting
His attack on Kyiv is desperately over extended, he's lost 1000s of troops including a lot of officers, and elite units decimated.
His much vaunted revamp of the Russian military seems to have been a joke, the Ukrainians have captured $100s of millions of his equipment (they have at lest 4 of his state of the art Pantsir missile platforms at $15m a pop!)
He's grossly underestimated Biden, who managed to convince the Germans to shut down Nordstream 2 and has rallied round and made Russia the most sanctioned country in the world, the Rouble has collapsed he's too scared to reopen his stock market.
Meanwhile Biden is providing Ukraine with real time intelligence that's making Russian airforce look like amateurs, 17,000 American antitank weapons delivered to Ukrainians
Now Sweden & Finland now want to join NATO
And Moldova, Georgia & Ukraine are being fast tracked to EU membership
Exactly the opposite of what he wanted
If this is what a Putin win looks like, what would failure have been?
Talking to Chewkws strongman point, one of the problems with negotiations between the West and Russia or China is that any negotiation isn't nation to nation, it's nation to administration.
In Democracies, one administration replaces another every four years or so. That can lead to negotions made by one administration being torn up by the next, they can do this because they have a democratic mandate.
So autocratic leaders look at our politicians as temporary, here today, gone tomorrow. It's a weakness in the democratic system that they recognise and seek to play to their advantage but beyond that comes the question of honour, they see us as dishonarable and don't trust us not to renege on any bilateral agreement.
Honour plays a more important part in most societies around the word but we give it too little consideration.. Who would trust us? Gadaffi made a deal with the West, giving up chemical weapons and look where he ended up.
Oh that deal? That was with the last guy...
And the territory he does take will mean years of insurgency the West is already supporting
Let him have that place to gain peace otherwise that place will become the sparks that set the fire.
His attack on Kyiv is desperately over extended, he’s lost 1000s of troops including a lot of officers, and elite units decimated.
That's because he miscalculated but the next person will not.
He’s grossly underestimated Biden, who managed to convince the Germans to shut down Nordstream 2 and has rallied round and made Russia the most sanctioned country in the world, the Rouble has collapsed he’s too scared to reopen his stock market.
I don't think he underestimated Biden.
As for sanctioned that effect is still unknown yet as they will dig deep as hardy people.
Talking to Chewkws strongman point, one of the problems with negotiations between the West and Russia or China is that any negotiation isn’t nation to nation, it’s nation to administration.
Whatever it takes to stop the situation escalating is the current objective. Doesn't matter who is talking to who.
Since European civilisation first began it has been in their nature to be ruled by a powerful dictator (absolute monarch, emperor, whatever) We have also seen periodic continent-wide conflicts, 100yrs war, 30yrs war, 7yrs war, Napoleonic wars, first World War, second World War just to name the obvious biggies.
Why do we think the unusual period of relative calm of the last 70yrs should be the new world order and not a weird blip?
.
Honour plays a more important part in most societies around the word but we give it too little consideration.. Who would trust us? Gadaffi made a deal with the West, giving up chemical weapons and look where he ended up.
Oh that deal? That was with the last guy…
See also Trump and the Iran nuclear deal. Why would Iran agree another one with Biden when the one they agreed with Obama only lasted twenty minutes?
And of course the Budapest memorandum. Russia has undoubtedly made the bigger breach there but we, the US and UK, are (probably understandably) reluctant to go all out in fulfilling our end of the bargain. We are seeing some action now, but this should have been done in 2014
The problem is that Putin believed his own hype
That Ukrainians wanted to be liberated from their nazi overlords and would throw down their arms & run.
The Germans would never not buy his gas.
The Russian army was now stronger than ever & not crippled by corruption & incompetence.
The West is disunited and world never agree harsh sanctions.
That Biden was clueless and wouldn't know how to counter Putin....
(When in fact Biden had been sending advisors to Ukraine for months)
https://twitter.com/TrentTelenko/status/1500974296277168135?t=-7FGKoQ8gNFHdEvD8J-Ozw&s=19
All wrong
"Why do we think the unusual period of relative calm of the last 70yrs should be the new world order and not a weird blip?"
In our house, if we start feeling a little too complacent about our little bubble of civilisation, we pull up a couple of episodes of "Vikings", to remind us what we are really like as a species.
The problem is that Putin believed his own hype
Not disputing that.
The question is how to make him realise that humanity is better off with some peace.
(When in fact Biden had been sending advisors to Ukraine for months)
That's the problem. If that is true then there are some truths in what they say in the east. The Chinese (CCCP) have been saying that the wolf pack has been slowly circulating and ganging on the bear. Remember one swipe from the bear can mean instant death. Then you have the dragon as backup while Saint George is having a snooze.
The question is how to make him realise that humanity is better off with some peace.
He won't, partly because he's surrounded himself with clueless yesmen
But that won't change the fact that his supply lines are critically overstretched no matter how much he rants & raves
That’s the problem. If that is true then there are some truths in what they say in the east. The Chinese (CCCP) have been saying that the wolf pack has been slowly circulating and ganging on the bear.
That'd be true if they were advising them on how to attack, but they were advising on how to defend & China smart enough to know that too.
The irony is that Putins gamble could go so wrong that he ends up losing lunhansk & Donetsk to a Ukrainian counter offensive (tho I think that's unlikely unless things go really downhill for Russians)
This is a mess entirely of his own making
Worryingly for Putin coldweather coming in, wind chill bringing temps down to -20
Thats bad news for 1000s of Russian conscripts with no fuel and food
And obviously even worse for many more civilians being shelled in cities that ha e been without power or water for days now
He won’t, partly because he’s surrounded himself with clueless yesmen
But that won’t change the fact that his supply lines are critically overstretched no matter how much he rants & raves
Then can the "yes" men be convinced to increase their courage?
I won't count on his logistic overstretched.
This is a mess entirely of his own making
I won't count the chickens before the eggs are hatch as this is not a simple situation that can be solved easily.
