Xbox was outsold by a little-known Kinect-style console during Black Friday
The Nex Playground crashed the Black Friday hardware chart in the US
US | Man Charged for Wiping Phone Before CBP Could Search It
The exact circumstances around the search are not known. But activist Samuel Tunick is charged with deleting data from a Google Pixel before CBP’s Tactical Terrorism Response Team could search it.
Archived version: archive.is/20251210041435/404m…
Case file: s3.documentcloud.org/documents…
Man Charged for Wiping Phone Before CBP Could Search It
A man in Atlanta has been arrested and charged for allegedly deleting data from a Google Pixel phone before a member of a secretive Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unit was able to search it, according to court records and social media posts reviewed by 404 Media. The man, Samuel Tunick, is described as a local Atlanta activist in Instagram and other posts discussing the case.The exact circumstances around the search—such as why CBP wanted to search the phone in the first place—are not known. But it is uncommon to see someone charged specifically for wiping a phone, a feature that is easily accessible in some privacy and security-focused devices.
💡
Do you know anything else about this case? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.This post is for subscribers only
Become a member to get access to all content
Subscribe now
Tourists to US would have to reveal five years of social media activity under new Trump plan
Tourists to US would have to reveal five years of social media activity under new Trump plan
Proposed plan would apply to tourists of all countries, including those not required to get a visa to visit the USChris Michael (The Guardian)
Microsoft Teams is getting a new location tracking feature that lets bosses snoop on staff – research shows it could cause workforce pushback
The new Microsoft Teams feature aims to improve office coordination by automatically updating location based on Wi-Fi
adhocfungus likes this.
Brazilian lawmakers approve bid to reduce Bolsonaro's jail term after ruckus
cross-posted from: lemmy.eco.br/post/18962989
On Tuesday, chaos broke out in Brazil's lower house ahead of a successful vote on a sentence-reduction bill for Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro. Leftist MP Glauber Braga was forcibly removed by police after denouncing a 'coup offensive' and occupying the Speaker's chair.Brazil's lower house of Congress approved a bill early on Wednesday, December 10, that could drastically reduce the sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been serving 27 years in jail for staging a coup. If ratified by the Senate, the 70-year-old far-right leader, who has been behind bars since late November, could see his sentence cut to just over two years.
Discord is force-restarting itself on Windows 11 to stop eating your RAM
A "temporary" solution as the company optimizes desktop app performance
https://www.techspot.com/news/110542-discord-force-restarting-itself-windows-11-stop-eating.html
A Developer Accidentally Found CSAM in AI Data. Google Banned Him For It
Mark Russo reported the dataset to all the right organizations, but still couldn't get into his accounts for months.
Archived version: archive.is/20251210153820/404m…
A Developer Accidentally Found CSAM in AI Data. Google Banned Him For It
Google suspended a mobile app developer’s accounts after he uploaded AI training data to his Google Drive. Unbeknownst to him, the widely used dataset, which is cited in a number of academic papers and distributed via an academic file sharing site, contained child sexual abuse material. The developer reported the dataset to a child safety organization, which eventually resulted in the dataset’s removal, but he claims Google’s has been "devastating.”A message from Google said his account “has content that involves a child being sexually abused or exploited. This is a severe violation of Google's policies and might be illegal.”
The incident shows how AI training data, which is collected by indiscriminately scraping the internet, can impact people who use it without realizing it contains illegal images. The incident also shows how hard it is to identify harmful images in training data composed of millions of images, which in this case were only discovered accidentally by a lone developer who tripped Google’s automated moderation tools.
💡
Have you discovered harmful materials in AI training data ? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at @emanuel.404. Otherwise, send me an email at emanuel@404media.co.In October, I wrote about the NudeNet dataset, which contains more than 700,000 images scraped from the internet, and which is used to train AI image classifiers to automatically detect nudity. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) said it found more than 120 images of identified or known victims of CSAM in the dataset, including nearly 70 images focused on the genital or anal area of children who are confirmed or appear to be pre-pubescent. “In some cases, images depicting sexual or abusive acts involving children and teenagers such as fellatio or penile-vaginal penetration,” C3P said.
In October, Lloyd Richardson, C3P's director of technology, told me that the organization decided to investigate the NudeNet training data after getting a tip from an individual via its cyber tipline that it might contain CSAM. After I published that story, a developer named Mark Russo contacted me to say that he’s the individual who tipped C3P, but that he’s still suffering the consequences of his discovery.
Russo, an independent developer, told me he was working on an on-device NSFW image detector. The app runs locally and can detect images locally so the content stays private. To benchmark his tool, Russo used NudeNet, a publicly available dataset that’s cited in a number of academic papers about content moderation. Russo unzipped the dataset into his Google Drive. Shortly after, his Google account was suspended for “inappropriate material.”
On July 31, Russo lost access to all the services associated with his Google account, including his Gmail of 14 years, Firebase, the platform that serves as the backend for his apps, AdMob, the mobile app monetization platform, and Google Cloud.
“This wasn’t just disruptive — it was devastating. I rely on these tools to develop, monitor, and maintain my apps,” Russo wrote on his personal blog. “With no access, I’m flying blind.”
Russo filed an appeal of Google’s decision the same day, explaining that the images came from NudeNet, which he believed was a reputable research dataset with only adult content. Google acknowledged the appeal, but upheld its suspension, and rejected a second appeal as well. He is still locked out of his Google account and the Google services associated with it.
Russo also contacted the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and C3P. C3P investigated the dataset, found CSAM, and notified Academic Torrents, where the NudeNet dataset was hosted, which removed it.
As C3P noted at the time, NudeNet was cited or used by more than 250 academic works. A non-exhaustive review of 50 of those academic projects found 134 made use of the NudeNet dataset, and 29 relied on the NudeNet classifier or model. But Russo is the only developer we know about who was banned for using it, and the only one who reported it to an organization that investigated that dataset and led to its removal.
After I reached out for comment, Google investigated Russo’s account again and reinstated it.
“Google is committed to fighting the spread of CSAM and we have robust protections against the dissemination of this type of content,” a Google spokesperson told me in an email. “In this case, while CSAM was detected in the user account, the review should have determined that the user's upload was non-malicious. The account in question has been reinstated, and we are committed to continuously improving our processes.”
“I understand I’m just an independent developer—the kind of person Google doesn’t care about,” Russo told me. “But that’s exactly why this story matters. It’s not just about me losing access; it’s about how the same systems that claim to fight abuse are silencing legitimate research and innovation through opaque automation [...]I tried to do the right thing — and I was punished.”
Home
As Canada’s tipline for reporting online child sexual abuse and exploitation, Cybertip.ca is dedicated to reducing child victimization through technology, education, public awareness, along with supporting survivors and their families.Cybertip.ca
Technology Channel reshared this.
Home insurance costs are up 150% in one part of California. This map shows premiums by county
Climate change is making insuring homes more risky — and more expensive. And in neighborhoods where that risk is the greatest, higher insurance costs are starting to eat into property values as well.
Main link is a gift link, though some people are asked to register. Not providing an archive.is link because Hearst lawyers don't like that.
Here’s where in California home insurance costs have risen the most
Devastating wildfires set the stage for an explosion in California insurance premiums in the last decade.Christian Leonard (San Francisco Chronicle)
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
- Diverted Funds: Christopher Dawson won hundreds of millions in federal contracts by promising to help Native Hawaiians. Instead, prosecutors say, he bought luxury homes.
- Poor Oversight: The Small Business Administration failed to police its business development program despite audits showing years of abuse.
- Few Changes: Even after federal agents raided the company and the SBA threatened to terminate it from the program, Dawson’s firms continued to win massive contracts.
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
A small business program allowed Christopher Dawson to win big contracts if he promised to uplift Native Hawaiians. Instead, federal prosecutors allege, he used the money to line his own pockets.Peter.DiCampo@propublica.org (ProPublica)
RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes
RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes | Osaka Metropolitan University
Official website for Osaka Metropolitan University. Established in 2022 through the merger of Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University.Osaka Metropolitan University
RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes
RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes | Osaka Metropolitan University
Official website for Osaka Metropolitan University. Established in 2022 through the merger of Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University.Osaka Metropolitan University
US wants 5 years some tourists' social media to enter the country
US wants 5 years some tourists' social media to enter the country
Digital rights advocates say it’s an affront to civil liberties.Mother Jones
These are not the "Epstein Files": Judge rules Epstein grand jury records from 2019 can be released
But in Wednesday's ruling, he said the materials could now be released because of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by US President Donald Trump last month.
The law requires the justice department to release investigative material related to Epstein by 19 December, including unclassified records, documents and communications.
It also allows the department to withhold files that involve active criminal investigations or raise privacy concerns.
Judge rules Epstein grand jury records from 2019 can be released
A federal judge says materials from the investigation can be unsealed because of a new law passed by Congress last month.Aoife Walsh (BBC News)
US jets tracked circling Gulf of Venezuela as tensions mount
Two US fighter jets were tracked circling the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries.
The F/A-18 Super Hornets appeared on flight tracking sites near Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city, at around 13:00 (17:00 GMT), before circling the gulf for about 40 minutes.
A US defence official told the Associated Press the F/A-18 jets had conducted a "routine training flight" in the area.
The incident comes amid a wave of US strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea, which the White House said were trafficking drugs to the US from Venezuela. Experts have raised questions over the legality of the strikes, which have killed more than 80 people.
US jets tracked circling Gulf of Venezuela as tensions mount
The F/A-18 Super Hornets appear on flight tracking sites near Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city.Matt Murphy (BBC News)
France: “We helped prevent a boycott of Israel from Eurovision 2026” - Eurovision News | Music | Fun
A clear message in support of Israel’s participation in Eurovision was delivered by France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Jean-Noël Barrot, who firmly rejected any possibility of a boycott. At the same time, he revealed that France not only voted in favour of Israel remaining in the contest but also played a decisive role in preventing such a boycott, as he characteristically stated.
The French minister expressed his satisfaction that Eurovision “did not succumb to pressure,” stressing France’s role in stopping a potential boycott targeting Israel. At the same time, he expressed deep regret over the decisions of certain European broadcasters who chose a different course.
Barrot condemned what he described as “obscurantism” promoted by those calling for boycotts in cultural venues and universities, questioning whether “we will reach the point of banning the books of David Grossman, the films of Amos Gitaï, or concerts by artists such as Avishai Cohen and Daniel Barenboïm.”
Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision
Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week.
"The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, next year," a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday.
"Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public."
Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision
Iceland joins Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 contest.Mark Savage (BBC News)
like this
Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision
Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week.
"The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, next year," a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday.
"Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public."
Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision
Iceland joins Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 contest.Mark Savage (BBC News)
copymyjalopy likes this.
“Stai Distruggendo la BATTERIA del tuo TELEFONO 😱 (non lo ricaricare MAI PIÙ così!)”
Figo, La Fica Fisica Che Ci Piace ha buttato fuori un altro video utile, oltre ai soliti pazzerelli che tipo boh… Oddio, beh, questo forse non è utile per me, perché io da infiniti anni conosco molto bene tutto quello che qui viene spiegato, perché io sono magica e speciale e decisamente meglio della media […]
octospacc.altervista.org/2025/…
"Stai Distruggendo la BATTERIA del tuo TELEFONO 😱 (non lo ricaricare MAI PIÙ così!)" - fritto misto di octospacc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUIN07mJ624 Figo, La Fica Fisica Che Ci Piace ha buttato fuori un altro video utile, oltre ai soliti pazzerelli che tipo bohminioctt (fritto misto di octospacc)
Meta offers EU users ad-light option in push to end investigation
Meta offers EU users ad-light option in push to end investigation
Facebook agrees to change “pay or consent” model after talks with European Commission.Financial Times (Ars Technica)
Impeachment articles filed against RFK Jr., claiming abuse of power
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) filed articles of impeachment against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wednesday, accusing him of abusing the powers of his office and undermining public health, putting Americans’ lives at risk.
He “has got to go,” Stevens said in a video announcing the impeachment articles. In an accompanying press statement, she said Kennedy, who rose to prominence as an ardent anti-vaccine activist, “has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people—spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk.” She called him the “biggest self-created threat to our health and safety.”
It is very unlikely that an impeachment push will gain traction in the Republican-controlled Congress. No other Democratic lawmakers are backing the articles.
Impeachment articles filed against RFK Jr., claiming abuse of power
He’s the “biggest self-created threat to our health and safety,” Stevens said.Beth Mole (Ars Technica)
like this
Sem anistia para golpistas de ontem e de hoje!
Sem anistia para golpistas de ontem e de hoje! - Pastor Henrique Vieira
Assine o abaixo-assinado e pressione o Congresso para impedir a anistia dos golpistas! Nós protegemos seus dados e respeitamos a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados. Veja aqui nossa política de privacidade. Ao enviar o formulário, você concorda com ela.Pastor Henrique Vieira
Valve: HDMI Forum Continues to Block HDMI 2.1 for Linux
The HDMI Forum, responsible for the HDMI specification, continues to stonewall open source. Valve's Steam Machine theoretically supports HDMI 2.1, but the mini-PC is software-limited to HDMI 2.0. As a result, more than 60 frames per second at 4K resolution are only possible with limitations.
Valve: HDMI Forum Continues to Block HDMI 2.1 for Linux
Technically, the Steam Machine supports HDMI 2.1. However, Valve and AMD are not allowed to offer an open-source driver for it.Mark Mantel (heise online)
like this
reshared this
like this
As long as the manufacturers are competing against each other, that's never going to happen.
The "gamer" consumer demographic has some of the most whiny, entitled vocal minorities. They're going to endlessly complain about the next generation of console needing a special cable/dongle to connect to their TV, one of the manufacturers are going to fold, and then the other one is going to walk back the lack of HDMI because they don't want to lose sales to their competitor.
When they say CachyOS is mostly for newer machines...what's "newer"
Been Manjaro for years and years. Latest update (due to my own screw-up...not the distro's fault) shit the bed and corrupted my timeshift backups (again...my fault...not the distro)
Wasn't too concerned because a) I keep everything on a backup drive, and b) I'm a big believer that every computer needs to be refreshed with a new install every few years anyway.
But now that that time is upon me, I got to thinking about maybe giving CachyOS a shot for the "performance improvements". But my desktop is coming up on 9 years old (AMD A10 processor). Would it even be worth it to try Cachy in that instance, or would the performance difference between that and Manjaro be negligible on that particular processor?
like this
What's interesting about CachyOS is you can install mods on any Arch you like. I have EndeavourOS (best Arch distro imho) and recently installed the CachyOS mods and it works great. Check out the following video for an easy guide.
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
CachyOS will work on older hardware as well. There are four repositories for x86-64 v1, v2, v3, and v4. If you have newer hardware, the v3 or v4 packages will theoretically give you better performance. That is probably what you are talking about.
That said, the v1 repos will work on x86-64 machines going back to 2003. Not exactly bleeding edge.
The only thing that I have noticed is that packages are not all in sync between repos with v1 lagging behind v3. For example, I think Cachy is already on the 6.18 kernel but the v1 repos still only have 6.17. I have seen svt-av1 lag as well.
I am not a CachyOS user so apologies if any of my info is dated.
I will never say anything bad about EndeavourOS.
In my personal life I have a few people I can rely on and I’m actually quite happy.
It’s the entire rest of the species that’s the constant disappointment.
How can I feel good about people in general when they’ve done the wrong thing my entire life?
When a video codec wins an Emmy
When a video codec wins an Emmy
The AV1 specification a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for its impact on how the world delivers video content.Kristina Bravo (The Mozilla Blog)
reshared this
More Powerful Hurricanes but Less Frequent: Was 2025 Hurricane Season a Glimpse of the Future?
More Powerful Hurricanes but Less Frequent: Was 2025 Hurricane Season a Glimpse of the Future?
Why we can expect stronger hurricanes in a climate-changed world.The Equation
like this
BREAKING: Judge Orders Release of Epstein Case Grand Jury Transcripts
BREAKING: Judge Orders Release of Epstein Case Grand Jury Transcripts
Judge Richard M. Berman granted a Justice Department motion on Wednesday to release secret grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case.Alex Griffing (Mediaite)
Wisconsin Tribes Have Helped the Lake Sturgeon Recover. Climate Change Is Stressing Its Ability to Adapt.
The ancient, enormous fish have lived on Earth for more than 150 million years but changing weather conditions have researchers questioning whether future generations will thrive.
Zillow’s short-sighted move to overlook climate risk | Welcome to the ‘la, la, la, can’t hear you’ climate era.
Zillow’s short-sighted move to overlook climate risk
Zillow pulled its flood and wildfire scores after complaints that the numbers hurt sales. But communities that actually act on these risks are saving money.Umair Irfan (Vox)
like this
I don't see this as a big deal. We all pretty much know what we're in for, even if we're not familiar with the area. You know Texas is hot, California catches fire and the Gulf Coast catches hurricanes.
In any case, I wouldn't trust a private company's data on climate risks. If I'm considering such a huge spend, going to do some due diligence. FEMA gave me a flood map in seconds, free.
Kinda funny the realtors backed Zillow up on this. Zillow should have told them to get bent, we need this because our competition has it. What are they gonna do? Not use Zillow? 😆
How one controversial startup hopes to cool the planet | And why many scientists are freaked out about the first serious for-profit company moving into the solar geoengineering field.
* archive.today
* web.archive.org
* ghostarchive.org
How one controversial startup hopes to cool the planet
And why many scientists are freaked out about the first serious for-profit company moving into the solar geoengineering field.James Temple (MIT Technology Review)
like this
dispelling myths
distributing the future isn't possible when profit is measured by greed alone
we are all expenditures in such a capitalist reasoning
COP30: capitalism’s steady march towards climate catastrophe
The latest round of COP talks, which concluded last week, have ended just as we might have predicted. The final agreement contains no direct mention of fossil fmarxist.com
"Causing irreversible environmental instability:" Panel Unveils “Dark Side” of the China’s Green Energy Push in Tibet
cross-posted from: lemmy.sdf.org/post/46910935
Archived[...]
China’s dominance in the renewable energy supply chain—especially in rare earth minerals, copper and lithium processing—has led to massive industrial expansion in Tibet. While promoted internationally as sustainable climate action, many projects have instead resulted in water contamination, ecosystem collapse, cultural displacement, and intensified political repression.
“Under the guise of green energy development, Tibet is being reshaped to fuel China’s economic and geopolitical ambitions,” said Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Deputy Director of the Tibet Policy Institute, in his welcome address. “These mines and mega-dams are marketed as climate-friendly, but they have devastated Tibet’s rivers, grasslands, wildlife habitats, and traditional communities.”
The Tibetan Plateau, often called the Third Pole, contains the world’s largest reserve of freshwater outside the polar regions. Its rivers support nearly 1.9 billion people across Asia. Yet, scientists have warned that the plateau is warming at nearly twice the global average, accelerating glacial melt and causing irreversible environmental instability.
[...]
Panel Unveils "Dark Side" of the People's Republic of China's Green Energy Push in Tibet
Experts warn of mining, dam disasters and human rights abuses behind Beijing’s green narrative Dharamshala: A panel discussion was held on 1 December 2025 at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, brought to light the severe ecological…Central Tibetan Administration
China risks emissions rebound amid policy shifts, experts warn
cross-posted from: lemmy.sdf.org/post/46910756
ArchivedThe world’s biggest carbon polluter is expected to keep total emissions flat in 2025 despite rising energy demand – a sign that clean power may, for the first time, fully offset the growth in electricity consumption, the analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed.
The country’s emissions only rose by 0.6% in 2024, a significantly slower pace of growth than the previous year, according to official Chinese government data published on Thursday.
But the Finland-based research group cautioned that a “concerning” policy environment for the next few years increased the risk of an emissions rebound. It added that China was also set to miss its key target for cutting carbon intensity – CO2 emissions per unit of gross domestic product – this year, meaning steeper reductions will be needed to hit its headline 2030 climate goal of slashing carbon intensity by 65%.
[...]
Record solar energy installations and strong growth in wind power capacity have increased the share of non-fossil fuel electricity this year, with emissions from the power sector set to decline for the first time since 2016, the report said. But that progress has been partially countered by the rapidly growing use of coal for the production of plastics and other chemical products, meaning overall emissions are expected to remain stable.
At the same time, experts have warned that China’s new pricing system for solar and wind projects risks slowing the clean energy boom. Under the new policy introduced last June, developers of new solar and wind power plants need to secure contracts with provincial authorities through competitive auctions, instead of being guaranteed a fixed price.
[...]
Coal power plants, on the other hand, are protected from this market-based system, relying instead on long-term power purchase agreements that lock in prices, Schäpe said, describing it as “unfair competition”.
China’s rapidly expanding coal power fleet is adding to the concerns. In 2025, the country has added the largest amount of coal-fired capacity since 2015, while progress on retiring older plants remains very slow, CREA’s report highlighted.
This runs contrary to a pledge made by President Xi Jinping in 2021 to “strictly control” new coal power projects. That commitment was omitted from Beijing’s updated national climate plan (NDC) submitted in late October ahead of COP30.
[...]
like this
New report warns of critical climate risks in Arab region
An excerpt:
The 22 Arab region countries covered in the WMO’s new State of the Climate report produce about a quarter of the world’s oil, yet directly account for only 5 to 7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions from their own territories. The climate paradox positions the region as both a linchpin of the global fossil-fuel economy and one of the most vulnerable geographic areas.WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said extreme heat is pushing communities in the region to their physical limits. Droughts show no sign of letting up in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions, but at the same time, parts of it have been devastated by record rains and flooding, she added.
New report warns of critical climate risks in Arab region
Foundations of daily life are being pushed to the brink by human-caused warming.Inside Climate News (Ars Technica)
New report warns of critical climate risks in Arab region
An excerpt:
The 22 Arab region countries covered in the WMO’s new State of the Climate report produce about a quarter of the world’s oil, yet directly account for only 5 to 7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions from their own territories. The climate paradox positions the region as both a linchpin of the global fossil-fuel economy and one of the most vulnerable geographic areas.WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said extreme heat is pushing communities in the region to their physical limits. Droughts show no sign of letting up in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions, but at the same time, parts of it have been devastated by record rains and flooding, she added.
New report warns of critical climate risks in Arab region
Foundations of daily life are being pushed to the brink by human-caused warming.Inside Climate News (Ars Technica)
like this
No. The middle east (people and governments alike knew the consequences of fossil fuels and they knew their precarious nature.
Make your choice. Live with the consequences of your actions.
😝
earth.org/global-carbon-emissi…
Don’t get me wrong, I hate the use of fossil fuel as much as the next guy, but you can’t blame a people for the consequences of everyone’s actions
Global Carbon Emissions: Richest 1% Match Emissions of 5 Billion People
The new Oxfam study proposes a tax of 60% on the incomes of the richest 1% globally, which would generate approximately US$6.4 trillion.Martina Igini (Earth.Org)
Future generations born in the region, i.e., the people who are actually going to suffer, had nothing to do with this shit.
I know moralizing gives a hit of dopamine but let's just do better.
Current generations made the choice for their progeny.
It's not exactly moralizing. Actions have consequences. *Gestures broadly out the window. Let's stop doing the obviously bad things and clutch our pearls at the obvious and predictable consequences.
Actions have consequences. *Gestures broadly out the window. Let’s stop doing the obviously bad things and clutch our pearls at the obvious and predictable consequences.
Yes, of course 100%. We are together shoulder to shoulder on this. With you 100%.
their progeny
This is where we are having our small difference. The word "their". I say "our". I am not going to wash my hands off of the future humans of the MENA region just because the rulers of their direct ancestors are doing shitty things.
EU climate chief criticises China, India and Saudi pushback on carbon tax
cross-posted from: mander.xyz/post/43026095
Web archive link...
The carbon border tax, which comes into force from January, was behind an attempt by the big exporters to scupper wider negotiations on climate action at the latest UN summit in Brazil.
Speaking in the aftermath at COP30, Wopke Hoekstra told the Financial Times that the petrostates had also been “more assertive” across the board in a bid to thwart climate agreements as the shift to cleaner energy systems accelerates.
“Some of those making money out of [fossil fuels] are seeking to prolong that process. We have seen this quite explicitly,” he said. “Some of the petrostates are seeking to at least slow down rather than speed up [the energy transition].”
He added: “I have sensed a certain sense of assertiveness that might not have been there five or 10 years ago.”
...
During public and closed-door meetings at the two-week talks, some of the developing countries argued the tax, or carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), was a unilateral measure that would drive up costs, restrict trade and hinder their ability to grow their economies.
The tax will initially apply to products such as steel, cement and fertilisers, and aims to ensure imported goods meet similar green standards to those produced inside the EU or face an additional charge.
...
Hoekstra said the criticism was “clearly not very credible”, adding that in one-on-one conversations many countries “acknowledge it is clearly a climate tool” rather than a trade measure.
...
More than 80 countries had rallied around a proposal at COP30 for a so-called road map to help countries wean their economies off fossil fuels.
But the plan failed to appear in the final agreement after objection from more than 30 other countries [particularly China, Russia, and petro-states in the Middle East]....
EU climate chief criticises China, India and Saudi pushback on carbon tax
Petrostates becoming ‘more assertive’, Wopke Hoekstra tells FTAlice Hancock (Financial Times)
eldavi
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •like this
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ likes this.
ashenone
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •partofthevoice
in reply to ashenone • • •TribblesBestFriend
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to TribblesBestFriend • • •RiverRock
in reply to TribblesBestFriend • • •fruitycoder
in reply to RiverRock • • •RiverRock
in reply to fruitycoder • • •This is a classic trope of American apologia. You pick a thing where we're clearly the worst, then just say that (Other country) is probably worse than us, but just expertly lying and hiding it, and hey both are bad and there's totally evidence (no evidence provided) so really there's no point in differentiating between these two totally equivalent things (that are incredibly different) and the correct answer is to be above it all (never having to admit you're wrong).
It's the final layer of imperial propaganda. Nobody can say with a straight face that the US is good anymore, so we cope by saying that everyone else is secretly just as bad or worse, so why bother taking a side?
like this
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ likes this.
fruitycoder
in reply to RiverRock • • •RiverRock
in reply to fruitycoder • • •It's imperial propaganda to respond to the fact that we are the biggest slave state by implying that the countries the empire wants you to hate are probably secretly worse. You didn't get that idea on your own, you learned to yadda yadda into equivocating the incomparable the same way we all did: through constant exposure to imperial media.
To pretend that everyone is an oppressor just like us, yes. That is imperial propaganda, designed to foster hopelessness and disengagement. If you confronted someone who was abusing their children to an absurd degree, and they responded by saying "Psh, everyone does it, probably", you would immediately see that for the weak deflection that it is. It's no different here.
"You know there are more sides than just the police and the parent here, right?"
Not when it comes to this argument. In this specific argument there are exactly two sides: what is known and verifiable on the one hand, and the habit of vague, proofless insinuation we were taught to engage in from childhood on the other. It's a coping mechanism, a way to make up reasons for the obvious not to be true when it makes us uncomfortable. In this case, the obvious is that we are the world's biggest perpetrator of the evil of slavery, and the cope is the fantasy that those sneaky Chinese are probably worse but hiding it.
fruitycoder
in reply to RiverRock • • •Not everyone and not even everyone in either state is "the oppressor". Their are clear factions that are in clear cases. Mind you this thread STARTED with a callout of slavery in China, was whataboutismed to include modern American slavery.
Again yes there are more sides. You say we, are the oppressor, but you're alone in that in this back and forth, I am actually opposed. I vote, organize, boycott, strike, etc against it. There are people in China that vote, organize, boycott, strike, etc against it. Me and them, and the many others around the world are on the same side here.
Its defeatist to just accept evil. Call it out. Its not normal. Its not ok. Its a decision made by some people and we should disempowet those that make those decisions and empower everyone else to be able to fight back however we can
RiverRock
in reply to fruitycoder • • •This thread started with you lazily repeating a jingoist cliche with no evidence, and me pointing out that our government are both world-historical liars and provably guilty of that exact crime at an unprecedented scale. It's like saying "this thread started with a callout of Miss Rachel's cannibalism, and was whataboutismed to include Richard Chase." Or "This thread started with a callout of Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons, and was whataboutismed to include the United States." This is not a matter of two equally guilty parties, this is a matter of what the world's biggest propaganda machine says about other countries to justify horrifying acts against them.
That's good, but makes it all the more important that you understand the dynamic at play here. Would you casually accuse Venezuela of being a narco state in league with jihadists, as the news here has insanely suggested? Of course not, because you would recognize that that's a story cooked up to justify American hostility towards Venezuela. "Chinese slavery" is no different. If you're on the side of the overwhelming masses of humanity, you have to be able to recognize this bullshit when you see it, or else you may find yourself repeating tall tales invented to justify people's repression by the world capitalist empire.
Correct, it's not normal or tolerated in most of the world, including China. The only countries saying it is normal there are the countries who are themselves guilty of it and seeking to muddy the waters by projecting their crimes, like how Israel accuses Hamas of harboring genocidal intent. You need to be more discerning about believing what the countries where slavery is legal and normal say about the countries where it isn't. Of course the slave states are going to try to tell you that everyone is doing it, that it's "whataboutism" to focus on their well-documented crimes and not on the crimes they want you to believe, with no evidence, that their rivals are committing. It's on you to be smarter than that.
fruitycoder
in reply to RiverRock • • •RiverRock
in reply to fruitycoder • • •"It" being something that doesn't exist
"It" being something that doesn't exist
Thanks, I will
An issue that doesn't exist
"Chinese slavery is super real bro, you gotta believe me. No I will not be backing up my jingoist hunch with anything, why do you hate justice?"
fruitycoder
in reply to RiverRock • • •m532
in reply to fruitycoder • • •RiverRock
in reply to fruitycoder • • •Cowbee [he/they]
in reply to fruitycoder • • •Lenin's Dumbbell
in reply to fruitycoder • • •Cowbee [he/they]
in reply to fruitycoder • • •fruitycoder
in reply to TribblesBestFriend • • •☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to fruitycoder • • •locuester
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to locuester • • •locuester
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •Lenin's Dumbbell
in reply to locuester • • •fruitycoder
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •No no those kids giving up education in order to keep their family afloat aren't being coerced or forced at all /s
The US admin also repeal anti slavery laws for migrant workers couldn't have more blatant on how they actually feel about the working class. The anti immigrant retoric here about "jobs" has always been a lie
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ likes this.
Greg Clarke
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •like this
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ likes this.
FatVegan
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to FatVegan • • •like this
geneva_convenience likes this.
AntiOutsideAktion
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •Sims
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •eleitl
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •don't like this
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ doesn't like this.
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to eleitl • • •eleitl
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •100 kUSD buys far too little of that, even in Russia and China.
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to eleitl • • •eleitl
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •Russia has that too, nevertheless Kinzhal and Kalibr (which are lower-Mach and don't carry a hypersonic glider stage) are both about 10 MUSD.
Just the costs of JP-10/decilin are considerable already.
Depending on the specs, I'd assume the price to be a few MUSD, never under 100 kUSD.
☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to eleitl • • •eleitl
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
in reply to eleitl • • •partofthevoice
in reply to eleitl • • •PolandIsAStateOfMind
in reply to eleitl • • •ShinkanTrain
in reply to ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ • • •like this
geneva_convenience likes this.