siraj shariff

Londoner.Cultural nomad.Neurotic.Expect rants about film,comics,sci-fi,philosophy,spirituality,conspiracy theories, politics and music.

[Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand]

Extremely good and clear-eyed article by former senior Italian diplomat @MarcoCarnelos.

I especially like this extract:

"The US-led rules-based international system is a more recent evolution of American political thinking: a self-referential mindset twisted to the interests of Washington and its allies.

This order is based on neoliberal ideology and imbued with double standards, of which the tragedy unfolding in Gaza is the latest and most visible example.

Based on a series of assumptions, such as US exceptionalism and the undisputed superiority of western democracies (ie, 'western civilisation'), this system claims national laws as universal ones. It assumes a set of values and connected rules, but is quite careful not to implement them when they collide with its own interests. This order can be summarised by an informal motto: 'For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law.'

Unsurprisingly, the report from the US intelligence community blames China, Russia and Iran, along with a handful of non-state actors (including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and the Houthis in Yemen) for challenging not only the rules of the international system, but above all, US 'primacy within it'.

It seems that the real crime is not challenging the system itself, but rather US hegemony. Yet, while such a preposterous position could still have been accepted a few years ago, it is now openly challenged - or at least resented - by many countries across the so-called Global South.

Only a minority of countries in Europe and East Asia consider US primacy to be an essential prerequisite of a stable international system. In fact, scrutiny of the last two decades of history proves the opposite.

The global order is shifting from a unipolar configuration centred on the US to a multipolar one. Throughout history, empires have risen and then collapsed. US policymakers would be wise to adjust to these rules of history and give up on the notion of their indispensability. They now face a binary choice: accept history’s verdict, as the UK has progressively done since 1945, or catastrophically resist it.

A reference to the Gaza crisis in the report is even more enlightening about the US intelligence community’s dystopian views: 'One need only look at the Gaza crisis - triggered by a highly capable non-state terrorist group in Hamas, fueled in part by a regionally ambitious Iran, and exacerbated by narratives encouraged by China and Russia to undermine the United States on the global stage - to see how a regional crisis can have widespread spillover effects and complicate international cooperation on other pressing issues.'

This passage suggests that the US intelligence community is fundamentally incapable of seeing the conflict in Gaza for what it really is: a national liberation struggle triggered by decades of brutal and unpunished Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, facilitated by massive US weapons deliveries and a political shield at the UN Security Council, where the Israeli government would otherwise be held accountable for its war crimes.

The US narrative - that the events of 7 October are also traceable to Chinese and Russian attempts to undermine Washington on the global stage - borders on the ridiculous.

The real factor undermining the global standing of the US is not the alleged actions of certain autocracies, but mostly Washington’s own international behaviour and double standards, exemplified by its unwavering support for Israel’s bloodbath in Gaza - an assault that violates all the rules that the US has been preaching for decades."

[Daniel Thind @thind]

finished a thing 👀 #indiedev
https://t.co/tUKDErtLoK

[Daniel Thind @thind]

Development shot of the lighthouse
#gamedev #pcgames

[Daniel Thind @thind]

Alternative views of the interdimensional RTS
#screenshotsaturday #indiedev

[Daniel Thind @thind]

Finally starting to look like something
#indiedev #gamedev #Rts

[Nick Tannahill @FireFlyNick]

I’m running a half marathon next month! Raising money for the awesome @WarChildUK ❤️

I’ll be taking on the @EalingHalf and attempting to beat my PB ⏱

Please consider donating (if you can afford to) or just give me a cheeky RT 😬

https://t.co/gQFjUBcEsF

[Lowkey @Lowkey0nline]

Important to remember that both in Britain and the US, there was a price paid by Black Lives Matter for standing with the Palestinians ❤️

[Dr Rosena @DrRosena]

This announcement today will have created anxiety and stress for many. Don't be afraid to reach out for help if you are worried about your mental health:
Samaritans: 116 123
CALM: 0800 58 58 58
Young Minds: 0800 018 2138
The Mix (under 25s): 0808 808 4994

[Daniel Thind @thind]

Beyond the Forest - beginning the first build #screenshotsaturday #indiegame #libgdx

[. @jdpoc]

Regarding those 128 fake #NHS Staff accounts posting for 'Herd Mentality' and support of the Govt that were set up by @DHSCgovuk or their marketing agency ...

Posts were sent using Hootsuite, a mass-posting tool. Account registered to 1 person with 4 assigned contributors.

[siraj shariff @easypak]

@FireFlyNick Dude I've literally just seen this. I really need to use Twitter more ❤️

[siraj shariff @easypak]

I just re-read this dude. Such a great piece.
@billrosethorn https://t.co/pIWg59dHJ5

[Momentum 🌹 @PeoplesMomentum]

Nailed it 👌👌

[Calgie @christiancalgie]

Get ready for 3 days of this

[Olaf Falafel @OFalafel]

Next level prank caller https://t.co/J32PYv3h9p

[Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1]

Greta Thunberg at #UNGA: "This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you come to us young people for hope. How dare you. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words."
Via ABC

[Alex Martin @Alexmartin1232]

Every time the commentators pronounce Haller's name, this is all I can think of. @CHABUDDYGEEZY #AVLWHU

[Ben See @ClimateBen]

Things that will be gone by 2029:

1. The Great Barrier Reef.
2. The Amazon Rainforest.
3. Arctic Ice.
4. Orangutans, Rhinos, Sea Turtles.
5. Adequate water supply.
6. Reliable food production.
7. A safe climate.
8. Human existence as we know it.

This is the real news. Isn't it?