unblocktheplanet

Credit: the author, Google, BBC, Reddit, Quora, The Conversation. Proposed by Ghana, a major victim, 123 UN members have just declared the slave trade to be “the gravest crime against humanity”. The United States, Israel and Argentina voted against it. Fifty-two countries abstained, among them the UK and European states. WTF! Pulling down Confederate statues and renaming buildings doesn’t change the fact that an entire population fought a war to keep their slaves. When the war was over and the slaves were freed, they were worse off. Bonded sharecropper debtors living in poverty at the whim of a master. The master had no obligation to feed or clothe or house them, provide them medical care or education because they were no longer his property. They were still raped and lynched at will. I don’t think Black Africans were enslaved because of the colour of their skin, though that made them ‘inferior’ in the eyes of Whites. It was only about greed. Often their own people sold them. It is most surprising that almost no one questioned the humanity of owning human beings as property. Only the Quakers shouted down the slave trade and formed the Underground Railroad to the free North and Canada beyond. This has nothing to do with ‘it was a different time’. Every human being then knew this was wrong. It was always only about money. Money blinded the owners to any humanity. Across all global slave trades throughout history, tens of millions of people were enslaved. The exact number is difficult to determine, but current estimates break down as follows for major historical trades: Transatlantic Slave Trade This was the largest forced migration in history. Total embarked from Africa: Approximately 12.5 million Africans were forced onto ships between the early 16th and mid-19th centuries. Some estimates range from 12 to 15 million. Died during the voyage (Middle Passage): An estimated 1.8 to 2 million people died during the brutal ocean crossing. Total disembarked in the Americas: About 10.7 million people survived the journey and arrived in the Americas. The primary destinations were: Brazil (approx. 5.5 million) The Caribbean colonies (approx. 4.5 million) North America (approx. 388,000, a smaller percentage, though the population grew to 4 million by 1860 due to natural increase) Other Historical Slave Trades Millions more were trafficked through other, older slave trade routes: Trans-Saharan, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean trades: Between the 7th and 19th centuries, an estimated 10 to 18 million Africans were trafficked along these routes to North Africa, the Middle East, and Indian Ocean islands. Barbary slave trade: Between the 16th and 19th centuries, an estimated 1 to 1.25 million Europeans were captured by Barbary pirates and sold into slavery in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. This is where the term ‘white slavery’ was coined. During the 1800s slavery changed form. It became tied to European imperialism. Powerful nations such as Britain and France took over land in Africa and other regions. The countries that had been major slave traders became the leading imperial powers in Africa. For example, French forces in the late 1800s still captured people and forced them into service. Laws in French west Africa didn’t truly end slavery. They simply allowed colonial governments to take over land. The colonising countries often claimed they were bringing “civilisation”. Similarly, European colonisers in central Africa – especially under Belgian rule in the Congo Free State (1885-1908) – caused massive suffering and death. Around 10 million people died over about 40 years. MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR THEFT! Modern Slavery Slavery continues to exist in various forms today. Current estimates: As of 2021, an estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery globally, including forced labor and forced marriages. This number is higher than the total number of people involved in the entire transatlantic slave trade era. Although slavery is outlawed in every country, migration, debt, transnational labour, human trafficking both for labour and for prostitution are not only with us but rife. Many of these are bonded debtors including about 30% children under 16. Until the slaves work off their debt, they are not free. As inflated prices are charged them and interest builds up, they will never be free until they’re too old to work. I myself have seen house slaves in Mauritania and Brazil, brick kilns in Pakistan, carpet weavers in India and Turkey shipbreakers in Balochistan, builders in Dubai. There is no opportunity for solidarity or rebellion. The US Founding Fathers owned slaves. Thomas Jefferson had children with one of his slaves. Slaves were owned chattel, they could be beaten or killed but that would have been a bad return on a considerable investment. Women were raped, children born into slavery and families separated. When we think about slavery in the US, we forget about all the wage-slaves, eking out a meagre living, often homeless and in debt. There have been genocides across many countries, ethnic cleansing over territory and beliefs. So whose counts as the worst of the worst? Genocide is not counted in numbers. <deleted> is just another word for antisemitism.

Thanks, Ev. That gives me a bit of the picture. Prey on the few, prey on the different. This is not intended as a loaded question--I think you know me better than that: Is Israel warring on others because they are "outside the tribe"? The long thread here about "Arabs are Semites, too, doesn's antisemitism refer to them, too." Mostly you just need to go with what everyone will understand. I don't agree with all the IHRA manifestations--you likely know which one to which I'm referring--but antisemitism is Judenhaß.

Not in this country! Yes, I have experienced the complexity of Japanese toilets. More like rimming, eh. Bum gun suits me fine & I've set them up with adjustable water temp for my kids in Canada. Hope you use one!

On my afternoon klong walk, I was thinking about the idea of Israel, the promise of Israel, gained in its birth pains by militant terrorists such as Haganah. Let's say, by some magic, all Palestinians suddenly disappeared from the Occupied Territories. That would include Hamas, of course. By the same magic, Hezbollah disappeared both from Lebanon and Iran. Would Israelis feel any safer? Or would they find new "enemies" among their neighbours. Would they be cooperative participants with all other countries in the Middle East. A lot of people need enemies to validate themselves. That goes for countries, too. Israel was founded in violence. In 75 years, it seems there was no year of complete peace. Israelis were still on edge fulltime and so were their neighbours. And now the fear of antisemitism, "death to Israel" has brainwashed Israelis so they know no different way of thinking. They believe in this violence so much that it's merely an inconvenience to run to the bomb shelters! When one has resorted to violence as one's only strategy, I think it would be very hard, perhaps even almost impossible, for Israel to learn to be at peace. Pre-emptive violence is particularly heinous both to perpetrator and victim. The fear that your neighbour might attack you so you'd better burn down his house before he gets the chance. ### I've also been thinking about what historical event or chain of events began Judenhaß. I don't think it was the death of Christ. Jesus had few followers in his own time. Christianity grew out of proselytisation and forced conversion. Was it the fact that Jews did not seek to proselytise and convert, let's say in competition with Christianity, why they were in perpetual despise. Jews were among the most cultured and successful group in Western Europe. Were they despised for their appreciation of civilisation. Everywhere, not just the Middle East. Pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe, no civil or human rights aso. Hitler was merely the most extreme Judenhaß. Perhaps there is no answer. But, as one poster wrote, it has nothing to do with the behaviour of Jews. That's nonsense. As far as I can see, they kept to themselves, were law-abiding and didn't bother anybody.

Credit: the author and Google Major US news outlets frequently regarded as left-leaning or liberal by conservatives include CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and broadcast networks like NBC, CBS, ABC and NPR. Note no Murdoch outlets nor FOX is listed. Presumably they host content acceptable and understandable to America’s proud boys. Notably, The Guardian was too foreign to be listed, although often vilified for the “reasons” below. Not to mention those leftie Canadian CBC. Presumably, few read foreign language outlets in French, Spanish and Portuguese. However, Israeli media Ha’aretz, +972 and The Jerusalem Post bring up “difficult” topics. These are often described as "mainstream media" or "legacy media" and are frequently criticized for perceived liberal bias in reporting, story selection, and opinion coverage. According to AllSides and various analyses, other outlets frequently perceived as” left” by the right include: Legacy Print/News: The Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, USA Today (!). Surprised not to see People magazine and Playboy listed. Digital/Opinion: Huffington Post, Vox, Slate, Salon, Mother Jones, The Daily Beast, AlterNet and many others including podcasts. Not David Icke. Broadcasters/Wire: NPR, PBS, BBC, Reuters. Hard to know where those hard-liners get their news. Shock-jock talk radio? Let’s not say right-wing for a minute because…well, you know they’re not right, in their opinions or in their heads. Let’s call them “conservatives”. What, exactly, are they conserving??? “Left”? More like left behind!

The old Hebrewphile (Yiddishphile?) loves the dry and often self-deprecating Jewish humour. Your joke caused me to look up Jewish humour. There are likely a dozen books. Do you have a fave? Here's what I mean about hate, though I'm not certain about the veracity of the source, Middle East Eye. Perhaps they have an agenda--doesn't everybody? 82% of Israelis supported "removal" of Palestinians from Israeli and Gaza, including killing them. In fairness, 40% were opposed to such a drastic solution. Only 9% of IDF soldiers opposed. Israeli media outlets have echoed calls for the expulsion and killing of Palestinians. Recently, Israeli human rights organisations submitted a request to the Supreme Court to open an investigation against Channel 14, seen as loyal to Netanyahu, on suspicion of "incitement to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity".

How many vegans have you met, Neal? Did any of them tell you they were vegan unless you were buying them lunch? Hasn't happened to me. Nor would I have mentioned my own vegetarianism but for the subject and content of this post. What's for dinner? (Tell ya mine. Potato and eggplant cheese frittata. Remember to salt & fry the eggplants.)

Ev, I'm still mystified about this blind hatred. Probably all Jews are, too. There must be a historical era in which Jews were feared, usually the first step to hatred. You can't fight hate with hate. You can only fight hate with love. Israel's got it wrong. 62% supported war on Gaza, 67% support the war on Lebanon, 93% support the war on Iran, 49% support takeover of the West Bank where 700,000 Israeli emigrants have taken land. Yes, that's a lot of govt brainwashing. But it's also a lot of hate for a small country. Hate eats you alive from the inside out. And Israel could be so much more. P.S. It's beneath you to engage in this anti-Semite nonsense.

Antifa is antipol...

[Source: The New York Times; The Guardian] Eight million people took part in 3,000 US cities and 12 foreign countries on March 28. That’s 2.3% of the US population. It is likely the largest demonstration ever held anywhere. Until the next one… Looks good in orange, eh!

Media association condemns ‘violent assault’ on CNN crew by Israeli soldiers CNN team detained while reporting on aftermath of attack by settlers in West Bank, Foreign Press Association says Agence France-Presse: 28 Mar 2026 An international media association has condemned what it described as a “violent assault” by Israeli soldiers who detained a CNN crew in the occupied West Bank this week. A CNN team was reporting on the aftermath of an assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir on Thursday when it was detained by Israeli soldiers, the Foreign Press Association said on Saturday. “The soldiers aggressively targeted the crew and Palestinian civilians present, pointing their rifles at them,” the FPA said, even after the journalists identified themselves. “The soldiers repeatedly tried to infringe the CNN crew’s right to film, ordering the crew to stop filming and threatening to confiscate the camera. “Later, an IDF soldier approached CNN’s photojournalist from behind, placed him in a chokehold, slammed him to the ground and damaged his camera,” said the association, which represents hundreds of journalists in Israel and Palestine. The military said the incident would be looked into. The incident is the second such event involving CNN this month. Days ago, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a CNN producer was left with a fractured wrist after an “unprovoked assault” by Israeli police officers. That incident happened when journalists were documenting worshippers praying outside the walls of the Old City in East Jerusalem.

Hippie trail? Those were good times. O-tea! Israel's imperialistic crusades have only hardened with time. They think they can displace people by force, or kill them and take their land. Islam is often called a religion of violence. Rather than combatting that violence with peace, Judaism descided it was a great idea to adopt the practice. Didn't work for Islamic terrorist, won't work for Israeli terrorists. Even if Israel gets all it wants, the people under their jackboots will also never give up.

Australia is a big place but the Kooris should have chased off those White devils.

Genocides have occurred in many countries, religions and cultures. However, IHRA's definition of antisemitism, "Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis", just doesn't wash. There are just too many parallels. The difference is one of scale. This is not to deny the horrors of the Holocaust and, as the UN has recently pointed out, human slavery. However, Israel today is visiting those horrors upon their neighbours, no less despicable. As much as it pains me to say so, the comparison is apt. Israeli has not followed the agreement of the Balfour Mandate which includes both Jews and Arabs. Israel wants it all and it's willing to use terror to get it. Imperialism isabout trying to streal your neighbour's land.

Dear Foreign Minister, Look, it's time for Canada to speak out, loudly and clearly.. If we support two warmongers, the US and Israel, will will lose our identity as Canadians. Canada wants to build a peaceful world. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the IDF will “accelerate the destruction of Lebanese homes in the line of contact villages, to thwart threats to Israeli communities, in accordance with the model of Beit Hanoun and Rafah," which are cities in Gaza that were largely flattened. Since the start of the month Israel has killed over a thousand Lebanese and destroyed large swaths of Beirut. Before Hezbollah launched a half dozen rockets in response to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Israel violated the fifteen month ‘ceasefire’ 10,000 times, killing 300 Lebanese, according to the UN mission in Lebanon. As they seek to ethnically cleanse southern Lebanon, Israeli officials and commentators are openly calling to settle Jewish colonists there. Some see the war on Iran as an opportunity to extend Israel’s northern border to Lebanon's Litani River. A member of the Israeli government Zvi Sukkot declared, “We must conquer territory in southern Lebanon, destroy the villages there and annex the territory to the state of Israel.” The words 'territory' and 'terrorist' come from the same Latin root. Israel is now the Middle East's terrorists, all from seeking new territory for no reason except imperialism. Canada has sponsored by funding and training Lebanese Armed Forces against Hezbollah, millions of dollars in Canadian support. We've done our part. Ottawa must denounce the genocide in Southern Lebanon. Canada must stop intervening politically and militarily in Lebanon to undercut legitimate resistance to the “Greater Israel” project. From Lebanon to Gaza, the West Bank to Iran, it is Israel that is terrorizing the region. Since America's war on Vietnam, I never thought I'd have to use these words again: "imperialist aggressor", "war criminal", "self-determination". Israel's "determination" is to never stop murdering its neighbours. Enough, already. Canada supports invasion of another sovereign country? Are you kidding me? My Canada must stay out of conflict. Let's be the world's example for peace. Sincerely, CJ Hinke Tofino