Green Peace

How the Fight Against Climate Change Can Overcome Geopolitical Discord

The clean energy transition has reached adolescence. Its future direction is not yet set, and in the meantime, its internal paradoxes make for a volatile mix. Political leaders fret that ambitious steps to address climate change will aggravate geopolitical problems in a world already troubled by wars and humanitarian crises. Governments worried about energy security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have advocated for strategies that embrace both fossil fuels and clean alternatives, lest dependence on imported oil give way to reliance on imported lithium. Rising inflation and economic slowdowns, too, are exacerbating concerns that the energy transition will lead to job losses and price hikes. The warnings are coming in quick succession. In March, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink championed “energy pragmatism” in his most recent annual letter, and a few weeks later, a JPMorgan Chase report called for a “reality check” about the transition away from fossil fuels. In April, Haitham al-Ghais, the secretary-general of OPEC, wrote that the energy transition would require “realistic policies” that acknowledge rising demand for oil and gas.

The Futility of a Lebanon War

Israel has no military options that could achieve a better result than a negotiated solution or a return to the status quo.

As tensions have risen in the border area between Lebanon and Israel, many observers are predicting that Hezbollah and the Israeli military will soon be at war. On June 26, several governments began advising their citizens to leave Lebanon. Certainly, there is a high likelihood that some escalation will happen in the coming weeks, but for now we’re still not in the final stages of the build-up to a Lebanese-Israeli apocalypse.

Dieu, les juifs et nous : un contrat civilisationnel frauduleux

On entend souvent, dans la bouche des rabbins, que l’antisémitisme est la jalousie de celui qui n’a pas été choisi par Dieu — une sorte de complexe de Caïn.

Jacques Attali propose une variante plus subtile : «l’antisémitisme trouve sa source principale dans la détestation de celui à qui on voudrait ne rien devoir.» Que doivent les chrétiens aux juifs ? Dieu. Avant les juifs, nous ne connaissions pas Dieu. Grâce à eux, nous Le connaissons. Notre dette est incommensurable. Ça nous énerve.

Bomber, Arsonist, Soldier, Spy: A Documentary Unmasks Russia’s ‘Useful Idiots’ in CEE

Polish filmmaker Konrad Szolajski’s new documentary looks at nearly a decade of Russian sabotage, espionage and disinformation across Central and Eastern Europe, with an eery actuality.
“Putting the whole project together took a lot of time – it was very difficult,” Konrad Szolajski explains as we meet a few hours before the international premiere of his new documentary, Putin’s Playground, in Prague on June 10.

Les oligarchies : origines, caractéristiques et pérennité

Dans l’histoire des sociétés humaines, la concentration du pouvoir entre les mains d’une minorité privilégiée est un phénomène récurrent qui soulève des questions fondamentales sur la nature du pouvoir, la justice sociale et les fondements de la démocratie. Les oligarchies, ces systèmes où une élite restreinte exerce une influence disproportionnée sur la vie politique et économique d’un pays, incarnent cette tendance à la cristallisation du pouvoir.

The killing of top Iranian and Hezbollah operatives is a senseless carnage – or is it!?

There seems to be a hidden hand that pushes the players, and not anyone you would think of at first.

Over the last few months, we are witnessing a long line of assassinations of mainly top operatives, allegedly performed by Israeli units, acting in Lebanon, Syria and Iran. This should not boggle our minds, nor should we doubt the incentive. But something has changed, not in motivation and not in resolve, but in essence. The front page is clear and says as follows: Iran has masterminded the Attack on Israel and now it’s payback time. But Iran has been a nemesis for decades, and the list of targets makes no real sense, at least not at first.

The Third World War Has Been Cancelled.

Over the last month or two, the western media has been full of talk about “war” with Russia, and potentially other countries as well. For some, “World War 3” is now inevitable, for others “nuclear war” is just around the corner, for still others, because NATO and the West have agreed to transfer weapons that can theoretically strike Russia) this will inevitably “lead to full-scale war,” for still still others, the agreement signed in Pyongyang between Russia and North Korea will inevitably “lead to war”, and for yet others still, the West, and especially the US, is planning some kind of “war with China.” Here in France, serious articles have been written asking whether France will be “at war” with Russia, if the much discussed but so far not implemented proposals to send French specialists to Ukraine actually come about.

Iran-affiliated cell reportedly found storing explosives in Jordan’s capital

The Jordanian Public Security Directorate announced on June 22 that security forces are handling an investigative case in the South Marka area of the capital, Amman, according to the official Jordanian News Agency. Authorities stated that initial investigations indicated several individuals had been storing significant quantities of explosive materials inside a house.

Analysts worried by report of Sahel militants crossing into Nigeria

Regional security analysts are warning Nigerian authorities to take caution following a new report that armed militants operating in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have a found their way into northwest Nigeria through the borders of the Republic of Benin.

Wednesday’s security report, “Dangerous Liaisons” by the Dutch research think tank Clingendael Institute, is the latest indicator that militants are migrating from the Sahel to wealthier coastal nations in the region.