Image is from this SCMP article.
Much of the analysis below is sourced from Michael Roberts’ great website.
Japan’s ruling parliamentary coalition, consisting of the LDP (purple) and it’s junior coalition partner Komeito (in light pink) have lost their ruling majority. They have ruled post-war Japan for almost its entire history. The LDP is currently led by Shigeru Ishiba after Kishida stood down due to a corruption scandal, and ties to the Unification Church.
While geopolitical factors (over the cold war between the US and China, etc) may have played a role, by far the biggest reason for this result in the poor economic conditions over the past few years. Inflation has risen and real wages have fallen, with little relief for the working class via things like tax reductions. While inequality in Japan is not as extreme as in America, it is still profound, with the top 10% possessing 60% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% possess just 5%.
Shinzo Abe previously tried to boost economic performance through monetary easing and fiscal deficits, while Kishida ran on a “new capitalism” which rejected Abe’s neoliberalism and promised to reduce inequality. Nothing substantial has resulted from all this, however, other than increasing corporate wealth. Innovation continues to fall, and domestic profitability is low, resulting in decreasing investment at home by Japanese corporations. Labour productivity growth has only slightly picked up since the mid-2000s and is falling again. The rate of profit has fallen by half since the 1960s, and Japan has been in a manufacturing recession - or very close to it - since late 2022. In essence: there is no choice but between stagnation or decline.
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Last week’s thread is here.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel’s destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia’s youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don’t want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it’s just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists’ side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR’s former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR’s forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster’s telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a ‘propaganda tax’, if you don’t believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
https://xcancel.com/RealPeltierHQ/status/1851348146955366410
LEONARD PELTIER HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED
Monday October 28, 2024 Leonard Peltier was hospitalized. It is imperative that Leonard Peltier receive an emergency medical transfer to a facility such as FMC Rochester.
Leonard’s attorneys have submitted an urgent medical transfer request based upon the medical analysis of the independent medical physician who visits Leonard regularly at USP Coleman I. His attorneys have also repeatedly warned the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) of the very risks which caused Leonard’s hospitalization, but have been ignored. As USP Coleman I can not appropriately address Leonard’s medical needs, Leonard should be transferred to a medical facility equipped to meet his medical needs. A medical transfer to FMC Rochester not only ensures adequate medical care, but proximity to Leonard’s homelands and family, which is consistent with BOP policy.
Enough is enough. Mere apologies are insufficient. On World Political Prisoner Day, tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30th, the Committee encourage Leonard’s supporters and all justice loving people to contact Senators Jon Ossoff and Amy Klobuchar, who serve on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and demand that Leonard Peltier receive an urgent medical transfer. If your senator is on the Judiciary Committee please contact them. A full list can be found at freeleonardpeltiernow.org on the Donate/Act Now page. Act now.
Inter-imperialist rivalry time:
https://xcancel.com/african_stream/status/1851176429121142976However, the US Africa Command head, Michael Langley, sent a letter to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stating Benin may be working to strengthen its military relationship with France, especially in the border zone near Burkina Faso and Niger. The French ambassador to Benin replied that the United States had no right to comment on French bases in Benin.
Omfg so many liberals on the metro going to Kamala’s speech. I went to the hockey game instead. Go Rangers!
Interesting analysis of Iran’s political (and soon to be military) response to the Zionist attack (CW: Looking through his Twitter, apparently he’s some cringe patsoc. But the tweets are interesting enough.):
https://xcancel.com/FORTRESSMAXXING/status/1851226851529588739But then, Khamenei, being the intelligent strategist that he is, made a speech in front of family members of martyrs & using only 60 words on the topic of Israel & the attack, said that Iran must retaliate, but he leaves the nature of the retaliation up to state/military official
Even the editors of Ayatollah Khamenei’s official website presented the speech in such a way as to make it seem like he was saying don’t retaliate. But if you listen to the speech, it’s very clear that he is giving orders for a retaliation.
The foreign-backed Opposition and channels like BBC Persian and Iran International are now shocked as well, saying that this must be a sign that Ayatollah Khamenei is suffering from “ill health” and has “lost his mind.”
Immediately after the speech, New York Times published an article saying Khamenei is “about to die”, giving his enemies (both implicit & explicit) in Iran an excuse to kill him and get away with it. Aka Westophiles implement a similar action as to what likely happened to Raisi.
Opposition channels are even analysing his speech saying “you can hear impending death in Khamenei’s voice”. They’re essentially calling for his assassination now.
This is also why Israel called for a second series of strikes, in retribution for the attempt on Netanyahu’s life. They basically want to kill Khamenei. And these strikes that they want to conduct would be pre-emptive strikes for the strikes that Khamenei has ordered.
Once again, it has become clear as day that the only man truly defending Iran’s sovereignty and the achievements of the Islamic Revolution in the post-Khomeini era is Ayatollah Khamenei. His enemies have finally had enough and now it seems like they’re going to try to kill him.
By the way, important but unreported news: the “Society of Teachers and Scholars of the Qom Seminary”, an organisation close to the Reformist movement, published a statement the other day saying that the only way to achieve peace in Palestine is to implement a two-state solution.
They also state that Iran must recognize the State of Israel. This is the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic that this has happened with an official organization. Previously only a few house arrested politicians (like former reformist president Khatami) said this.
Wow. Amber is even more a piece of shit than I thought: Amber A’Lee Frost: Vulgarity and the Dirtbag Left | Doomscroll
Transphobic, ageist, ableist (already knew this one), liberal/reactionary/climate-denial (thinks the Black Panthers were stupid/ineffective, shits on mutual aid, thinks anarchists are just propertarians, mostly shits on anti-imperialism, and her stance on revolution is that you should shut up and accept another New Deal (laughs)), etc. Like, people have memed about her a lot, but I’m not sure how much folks realize how actually bad she is when she gets the full spotlight.
There’s a twitter account that organizes and posts photos and screenshots of Israeli soldiers and their social media posts admitting to war crimes. I’m surprised it hasn’t been banned yet.
Some news from Gaza, Lebanon, and the Donbass.
Palestinian resistance forces eliminated four members of the ‘elite’ Zionist “Refaim” sniper unit in northern Gaza: https://thecradle.co/articles/gaza-resistance-kills-four-israeli-soldiers-from-elite-sniper-unit
Lebanese resistance forces destroyed a Zionist Merkava tank near El Hamames along the border: https://tass.com/world/1863801
Recent video footage of Russian forces having fully liberated the small DPR city of Selidovo: https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/Selidovo:2
Shit I missed a Zionazi dunking session… but y’all I gotta say not a single 
? Oh well next time…Lithuania Holds 2nd Round of Parliamentary Elections - Telesur English
Article
A total of 126 candidates from 11 parties are competing in this round, with two candidates contesting in each constituency. On Sunday, the second round of Lithuania’s parliamentary elections started to elect 63 members of the Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament, for a four-year term, according to the Central Electoral Commission (VRK).
In the first round, 78 out of 141 Seimas members were elected, with the second round now focusing on filling the remaining 63 seats. In 8 out of 71 single-member constituencies, winners were determined in the first round.
During the first round, 70 of the Seimas seats were won by six parties. The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party secured 18 seats, followed closely by the ruling Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats with 17 seats. The Dawn of the Nemunas party placed third with 14 seats.
Three additional parties, the Union of Democrats “For Lithuania,” the Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union, also gained representation in the Seimas.
A total of 126 candidates from 11 parties are competing in the second round, with two candidates contesting in each constituency.
The candidate with the highest number of votes in a single-mandate constituency, regardless of voter turnout, is declared elected in the run-off. If both candidates receive the same number of votes, the one who garnered more votes in the first round will win the seat.
In this country bordering the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus, around two million people are expected to vote. The Social Democrats of Vilija Blinkevičiūtė are also expected to win the election.
Donald Trump’s Supporters Gather in Downtown New York - Telesur English
Article
He is expected to appear alongside other high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Dana White.
On Sunday, thousands of supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gathered around Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. They arrived at the site hours before the former U.S. president was set to appear at this venue to hold a rally, marking the beginning of his campaign’s final week.
The arrival of Trump supporters led to road closures and traffic disruptions several hours before the start of the rally, which is set to begin at 5 p.m. and is expected to attract some 19,500 people. The crowd was decked out in red “Make America Great Again” hats and shirts with slogans like “No more bullshit!”
Trump is expected to appear alongside other high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.
The Republican candidate has dared to appear in a predominantly Democratic city and a state that all polls indicate favors his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. This will be his second rally in New York since his appearance in the Bronx on May 23.
The police presence around Madison Square Garden has been especially heavy because the concert venue is located near the major transportation hub of Penn Station, and there were concerns about potential anti-Trump protests.
“He best represents family values. That’s why we’ll vote for him,” said one supporter. Orthodox Jews who managed to secure coveted tickets to the rally stated, “With Trump, the alliance with Israel is solid, much better than with Harris, whose stance we’re not sure about.”
According to Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez, the choice of Madison Square Garden for this major rally reflects his intention to “speak to all voters from the media capital of the world, New York.”
Backstabbing in BRICS? President Maduro has just revealed that Brazil told him that they would not veto Venezuela’s membership, but at the last minute Lula’s government blocked them off.
yea, it was 100% about the venezuelan elections drama about them not doing what Lula told them
In neither here nor there news: bitcoin is close to reaching all time high again
The Mythology Behind the Grameen Bank
We look at the history of Bangladesh’s New Leader Mohammed Yunus
The day after the color revolution in Bangladesh, Mohammed Yunus, founder of the Grameen bank, a darling of the west, and a favorite of the Clinton foundation was coronated as “Chief advisor” to the new interim government. To understand the man, and how he will govern in Bangladesh, it is important to understand his history.
Before occupying his newest role as Bangladeshi Juan Guaido, Mohammed Yunus rose to fame in the 1990s, for his Grameen bank, a bank whose purpose was to give micro-loans to poor people. It eventually expanded to create a cottage industry with his Grameen Telecom, Grameen Fisheries, Grameen Danone Food and more!
In his effort to promote the Grameen Bank, Mohammed Yunus has made outrageous claims about his micro-loan program. He once said, “Poverty will be eradicated in a generation. Our children will have to go to a `poverty museum’ to see what all the fuss was about."
Even after 40 years of founding his ‘revolutionary’ institution, Bangladesh remains as poor as ever with 71.4% of the population living on less than $5.50 a day, while 1.3 million children are engaged in child labor. Sadly, people in Bangladesh experience poverty first-hand, and life, itself, is the poverty museum.
However, if we look at articles and literature on the Grameen Bank in the West, it mostly consists of hagiographies and repetition of outlandish claims made by Mohammed Yunus. A cursory examination proves that it is anything but a poverty relief program and the only thing these micro-loans guarantee is that their borrowers will take on more predatory loans.
The theory of micro-lending goes something like this: Give an impoverished, destitute villager 10,000 Takas as a loan. They will use that money to open up a Bhel Puri stand (or something similar), and then, with the income they generate from the Bhel Puri stand, they would not only repay the loan, but they will lift themselves out of poverty using their Bhel Puri straps.
By the fucking way, has any other big entity supporter country has a party with explicit goals of sanctioning pisrael (die linke doing struggle sessions as far as i know, bsw is kinda soft for weapon embargo, greens in uk are for embargo but not sanctions i don’t think).
Is this some kinda universal point of being shit?
I increasingly understand the world in terms of communism and anti-communism (fascism).
Anyone else listen to the TrueAnon 2-parter on Klanada? I think it’s mostly review for most Hexbears but I learned a lot.
