This recent video of Prof Jeffrey Sachs explaining his perception of the current situation in Europe may be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiaAoLAgQL4
Class war time
Hey, this Community is specifically for world news with some specific relevance to Australia. We’re sometimes lenient when it comes from an Australian news source, but otherwise the news should have some significant focus on how it affects Australia in particular, or some group of Australians such as a politician, an Aussie sporting team, etc.
The Guardian has an Australian site, but this article seems to be from the original UK version, co-written by a UK-based and Spain-based journalist. Did it have some other particular relevance to this Community that I’m missing?
The Guardian has an Australian site, but this article seems to be from the original UK version, co-written by a UK-based and Spain-based journalist.
Fair point, I’ll check for Australian authors before posting Guardian articles from now on.
Did it have some other particular relevance
“unaffordable housing and the cost of living” seem to me to be pretty relevant to the Australian context.
That article could’ve been just two words: Look around.
I hope our local overlords take heed.
People are sick and tired of the inequality. Across all sectors of our society.
I’d rather we just got rid of our overlords, peacefully if possible.
peacefully if possible
We’ll vote, protest, strike, and argue our way to socialism, and when inevitably the ruling class uses violence against us to put a stop to it, violence will become necessary.
I agree, violence as the primary strategy to remove our overlords seems dubious and bound to backfire, in my opinion.
We have not had the history of wars and uprisings that Europe has had over the centuries because white Australia is such a young nation.
Imo, to avoid the extremes of mental distress and illness, and anger and politically-motivated violence (of which we’ve had serious glimpses, e.g. Christchurch and Bondi massacres, the attack on Haines) our govt needs to increase help to ordinary people and decrease involvement in external military mess-ups (Israel) and ‘deals’ (AUKUS).
EDIT: and we must also wake each other up to the evil uses of social media and other digital technology.
Here’s a related article that gives a really clear picture of how events have been like dominos: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/europe-protests-explained-as-demonstrations-grow/107285508
At the same time we must remember that Europe is facing the possibility of greater war because of the way they are dealing with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A lot of money which should be going to everyday Europeans and their health, housing and education services is being spent on weapons to arm Ukraine. I’ll add that some countries have also spent a lot of money on military aid to Israel, though not as much in recent times.
I was listening to an analyst who says that Ukraine keeps asking for billions of Euros and European countries have been paying in the hope this will diminish Russia’s strength. It ain’t working. And now they’ve got major civil unrest on their hands. In the meantime, many right-wing sources are taking advantage by blaming immigration which can only add to the civil conflict.
I hope our govt is looking deeply into this and introducing all the measures they can to ease the economic burden on ordinary Australians and not allowing people to be misdirected by the PHONEY party which will do even worse by them.
I was listening to an analyst who says that Ukraine keeps asking for billions of Euros and European countries have been paying in the hope this will diminish Russia’s strength. It ain’t working. And now they’ve got major civil unrest on their hands. In the meantime, many right-wing sources are taking advantage by blaming immigration which can only add to the civil conflict.
Your comment is twisted, the military aid has turned the russian offensive around and Ukraine is systematically dismantling russian frontlines, it just feels like a weird time to emphasize it being a stalemate is what I am saying.
This war is in a stalemate in the way a brick thrown into the air is magically levitating at the top of its arc.
Have a listen to this journalist, Max Blumenthal, (2mins) who will give you some insight as to what is happening in Europe and Britain. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Getw2DQSk6Y
I am not an expert in the R-U conflict. I did not say the situation is a stalemate. I am repeating what I heard the analyst say (who did not say the situation is a stalemate either). He said that all the billions of euros spent so far have not had the quick effect the Europeans had hoped for.
And, Zelenskyy keeps asking for more billions. In the light of the economic problems everyday Europeans are facing, it has not been a wise strategy.
Framing this issue as Zelensky asking for billions causing social unrest reeks of low effort Russian propaganda.
As I said before, I am not an expert in this conflict but I have heard similar analyses from different, very qualified analysts and commentators. If you wish for me to send you some links let me know.
And as I just said, saying it that way reeks of Russian propaganda. Framing Ukraine as a burden that is causing unrest instead of the reality of combination of poor policies (housing issues in Spain and cost of living in France), dissatisfied citizens, and foreign agitation.
Please read my original post. I did not say that the Ukraine situation has caused the unrest. It is an additional factor which has been a significant influence. The war has been going on for 5 years and has been a drain to some European countries which are caught up in funding the Ukranian govt.
I agree with you about “the reality of combination of poor policies…, dissatisfied citizens, and foreign agitation”. The Ukraine war and its effects are another factor that can be added to that combination.
The framing is still wrong though. Unrest has been caused by Russia’s invasion not Ukraine’s need for support. This why I am pointing out how it is Russian propaganda in nature because it frames it from their perspective that Ukraine is the problem. This is backed up by their disinformation campaign blaming countries problems on immigration and funding Ukraine.
