Quote (MaliceMizer @ Oct 15 2019 04:32pm)

sounds like you need some CPS in your life

Quote (balrog66 @ Oct 14 2019 05:10pm)

So there's been a chain of protests in the Netherlands over the last few weeks.

The first being protests organized by Extinction Rebellion, which all fall under the umbrella of civil disobedience and were peaceful on all terms. Protesters were asked by police if they wanted to leave or be arrested and police was fairly gentle.

On the other side we have farmers protesting against a new set of regulations following a report that our soil is becoming increasingly toxic to the ecosystems in our country due to nitrogen emissions (NOx and ammonia). The high concentration and intensive farming practices make for bad localized air and soil quality. Now the government announced that farmers won't be able to emit as much of nitrogen related substances anymore, and the farmers got very very very mad.

They've already had one protest in The Hague where they shut down most of the country's highways by driving on em to The Hague with their tractors, and today it escalated. Farmers in all provinces went to the provincial governments and demanded the nitrogen-related regulation to be abandoned. 3-4 Provincial governments have already conceded. In Groningen, the farmers actually breached the doors of the provincial government building by driving a tractor into it. At the same time they're throwing eggs, tomatoes and straw at the reporters.

Meanwhile the police is doing jack shit. I gotta say, at first I was more or less with the farmers. I grew up near farms and know plenty of well-meaning farmers who treat their animals well. But they're starting to win me over to the other side with this shit.

I'm also incredibly disappointed in the spine of our local governments and the police. If it's a bunch of kids or elderly protesting they have no qualms in arresting people or grabbing the nightstick but some farmers and suddenly all they do is stand and shout. Fuck them too.

Quote

LONDON (Reuters) - A woman appeared in court on Wednesday charged with terrorism offences including scoping out St Paul’s cathedral as a possible bomb target.

Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 36, was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to appear again at the Old Bailey court on Nov. 1, police said.

Shaikh, of Hayes, west London, was charged with preparing terrorist acts between August and October this year including making contact with someone she believed could help her make explosives.

The preparations also included traveling to London and staying at a hotel to conduct reconnaissance, police added in a statement.

The statement of charges said she “noted the hotel’s suitability as a target for a bomb (and) attended St Paul’s to scope it, for security and for the best place to plant a second bomb.”

She is also charged with preparing the words of a pledge of allegiance to Islamic State.

Quote (zarkadon @ 15 Oct 2019 22:58)

You talk without understanding how things work. It doesn't matter if Catalonia isn't independent, the Spanish central government can't control the Mossos. The Catalan regional police is directly and exclusively under the orders of the separatist government. The only time the central government can chime in and send its police is if the Catalan government requests aid or if there is an order by the Supreme Court (which is what happened on the day of the referendum, as the Court ordered the central government to send police to stop the referendum from happening).

The truth is the Mossos have by far a much worse reputation here in Spain than the national police. They are the only police regional police force that has had to ban the use of rubber ball shotguns do to the trigger-happy record of its policemen. Although, tbf protests in Catalonia have always been more violent than in other parts of Spain... and I'm not talking about separatist protests; but also anti-austerity protests, or even every time Barça wins a title, there is a lot of street vandalism. It's perhaps part of the heritage of the historical anarchist movement that was really strong in Catalonia until Franco's dictatorship. Of course, the majority of protesters are always peaceful... it's usually the youth groups of the radical party CUP and their friends which cause turmoil and glorify antifa culture.

Quote (fender @ 16 Oct 2019 21:55)

how many candidates to lead the 'separatist government' did the central government arrest or charge with rebellion again? you can't possibly assume there is no pressure from the central government in that matter.

and again, those people are demonstrating against the central government's decision to make those charges and jail their political leaders.

btw, it's quite interesting how in earlier discussions you tried your best to downplay catalonian uniqueness, but when it serves to make a negative point, you have no problem pointing out how uniquely violent they are, and their special heritage and history.

Quote (balrog66 @ Oct 15 2019 01:08pm)

https://nos.nl/artikel/2306196-vader-zit-met-kinderen-jaren-in-kelder-ruinerwold-wachtend-op-einde-der-tijden.html



Most wtf Dutch story of the year me thinks.

@Skinned: What a case this would be to work on as a therapist/social worker.

Quote (balrog66 @ 17 Oct 2019 17:46)

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/17/boris-johnson-and-eu-reach-brexit-deal-without-dup-backing

New Brexit news: There is a deal, Juncker has ruled out an extension for the 31 October deadline. Now it's up to UK Parliament and House of Lords.

Can BoJo whip the votes for this deal? DUP seems a lost cause with the treatment of NI in this deal. Corbyn also expressed his disapproval, though some Labour members might vote in favour.

Grab your popcorn and enjoy I'd say.