It is probably a politically popular move in South Africa and especially considering the many problems South Africa is facing I understand your skepticism. However, it also makes historical sense SA does this.

Israel was one of the very few countries that continued its relationship with South Africa during apartheid. Israel would buy raw materials and South Africa weapons as well as technologies like nuclear. It’s the reason why South Africa actually had nuclear weapons for a while and still have nuclear energy (pretty sure still the only African country). Israel also helped them make petrol for vehicles out of coal, which sounds insane but was a way to seal with the sanctions against South Africa that prevented them from importing oil. The apartheid regime undoubtedly lasted longer because of Israel, and South Africans haven’t forgotten this.

The support for Palestine is widespread in South Africa because of this as well as the parallels between the apartheid regime and the Israeli government.

So yeah, it makes political sense for SA to take Israel to court like this, but I honestly think a big reason for it is historical and showing genuine support for Palestine.

FYI “The Hawks” is a branch of SAPS, the south African police services: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawks_(South_Africa)

Scary times for Argentina

It would be if it were true, but they’re just working on forming a coalition to create a majority in parliament and that always takes time. As a Dutch person I really don’t agree with the idea that Wilders is having a particularly hard time forming a coalition. If anything it’s going more smoothly than I expected. I think in a month or two we’ll see prime minister Wilders sitting next to Willy (the king).

Yeah I’m also Dutch and agree with this 100%. Forming a coalition always takes time. If anything I think they’re actually going quite fast. I was expecting the VVD and NSC to push back more than they are doing.

Honestly I’m fine with them creating this coalition quickly. The sooner it’s formed the sooner it can collapse.

I dislike Wilders as much as the next guy but criticizing his appearance just seems stupid. There is so much wrong with his words and actions, there’s really no need for discussing his looks.

He’s been in parliament since 1998. Longest currently serving parliamentarian I believe.

Don’t get me wrong I hate everything he stands for, but your comparison with Trump doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and I’m guessing is only based on his appearance.

Yeah I understand the context of Pim Fortuyn of course and I agree it’s not a good joke or anything like that. I just feel like this is made into way too big of a deal for what was probably an off thr cuff comment.

I do think that “fuck around and find out” should be true. Baudet for example is just a fascist who is friends with the Russians and wants to destroy democracy in the Netherlands. I honestly think that until his party is outlawed it’s a good thing he gets hit with umbrellas and beer bottles. Fuck him so hard, I don’t think what he says should be tolerated.

Ha! He’s a comedian making a joke. Perhaps not the best joke, but obviously a joke. He’s even on stage in his role as comedian.

After all the vile things Wilders has said that were dead serious I feel like this is nothing.

Probably good publicity for the comedian though, and of course it’s some political points for Wilders and the rest of the far-right (“look how violent these left-wing people of color are!”).

Seven

• the government doesn’t take climate change seriously
• it is basically impossible for a large group of people (including me) to ever buy a home
• any sort of nature here is dead and over half the country doesn’t seem to care
• inequality has been growing for decades
• the country is incredibly polarized
• after over a decade of neo liberal VVD policy, the majority of people apparently yearn for even more right wing policy
• Ajax are 12th in the eredivisie

Or course I’m being a bit dramatic but considering how things were I do think the Netherlands is going to shit a little bit. Of course it’s a better place to live than many other places, but in my opinion it’s definitely getting worse.

Things have been going shit here actually, and blaming minorities for a country’s problems is still a surefire way to win votes. As a dutch person I’m sad, embarrassed, and scared.

Why would his parents kill themselves if he is the one who committed the crimes? I don’t understand what his parents have to do with this.

I think to a large extent it’s a case of cognitive dissonance.

Loads of these people have defended Trump for years, supported him despite his obvious lies and grifts and so you kinda have to believe that whatever else he comes up with is also true. If you believe all his previous falsehoods, why not the next?

To admit he’s full of shit means your whole belief system has to change. Trump supporters have lost friends, alienated family, spent their money on him… It’s much easier to keep believing in him than it is to admit you’ve been wrong all this time, cause that would mean having to admit you’ve been taken for a fool this whole time AND it means all your efforts and sacrifices have been for nothing.

No this is a great thing. His opponent is an ally of the former president Rafael Correa, convicted of corruption and now hiding out in Belgium. She would bring him back and pardon him.

Correa constantly attacked the press, forced the US to close a naval base which kept the waters around Ecuador safe from drug cartels, and Correa himself has ties to criminal organizations.

If you only know this new president is center right and the woman who lost center left I understand you would think this is not a good result, but as a left of center person myself I am immensely relieved.

Same here. And their mortgage is lower than my rent.

Can’t complain too much though cause at least I can afford rent. Many other young people are still living with their parents, need housemates (who aren’t their significant other), or live in squalor.

Still, our generation has been fucked over in terms of housing. Home owners get so many benefits (loads of tax breaks, ability to install solar panels, etc) while renters are stuck. I don’t see it getting better anytime soon either.

Politically also a non-brainer, right? I would think the vast majority of voters would be in favour of higher wages for teachers. All over the world teachers don’t get paid enough and I don’t understand what the objections are to paying them more. Sure it costs money, but a highly educated new generation will pay that back manifold. Not to mention it’s obviously the right thing to do to pay people a decent wage.

Yeah but you won’t know if it will pay off until many years after studying, so it’s a gamble.

For the majority of cases having a university degree will give you a higher salary, not to mention the value of the experience of going to university as well as the connections you make there (both personally and professionally).

University in the US is just stupidly expensive and the loans have a crazy interest rate.

I’m from the Netherlands where you’ll receive money from the government while studying. You can take a loan on top of it with minimal interest and so it’s basically always worth it if you can afford it and are academically able to.

Your wish has been granted, there are plenty of countries other than Bhutan with relatively few tourists. Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia I think are all way less popular with tourists than Vietnam and Thailand, for example. Loads of countries in Africa are barely visited by tourists too. No need to pay a daily fee in those places.

With that attitude it sounds like they wouldn’t even want you to visit. A huge part of the appeal is that Bhutan remains very unique, with a distinct culture and few tourists.

They don’t want people to come who are looking to climb a famous mountain, go partying, chill on the beach, and other things people go to nearby countries for.

I’m from the Netherlands and certain parts of Amsterdam are full of tourists almost all the time, with very few normal people living there. Venice is an even more extreme example, or some party islands in Asia or the Mediterranean.

Bhutan goes in the opposite direction. By making it so expensive to visit they filter out a whole bunch of people who could/would ruin what they want to preserve.