Signs & Portents
A news blog for updates on PaganSquare, Witches&Pagans, SageWoman, Crone, and anything else related to BBI Media's community and web services. Check here for news about our site, information about our social media presence, and any changes in either our services or features. May or may not be run by a sapient serpent.
Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, February 16
We take a look at life in America under a Muslim city council. Germany and Russia clash in Europe. And the United Nations weighs in on the humanitarian catastrophe of the Syrian Civil War. It's Fiery Tuesday, our weekly segment on political and societal news from around the world. All this and more for the Pagan New Beagle!
Throughout the West there's a wide fear surrounding the imposition of sharia or "Islamic law" on non-Muslim majority communities. But what's the reality of living under Muslim administration in the America? The Nation takes a look at the one municipality in America with a Muslim majority city council.
As China extends its influence abroad, it's trade ties to other countries increases. But alongside benign forms of influence such as an increased understanding of the Chinese languages or investment in local development, China has exerted its power to silence critics. One recent example is discussed by The News Lens, discussing a case where a Chinese dissident journalist was found and "disappeared" in Thailand.
On the other side of the world Germany and Russia, once amiable if not outright friendly, have grown increasingly hostile as the European Union and Ukraine increase ties with one another. In response to these overtures to Ukraine, Russia has launched a propaganda campaign against Western countries and Germany, one of the most important members of the EU, has become one of the predominant foci of their ire.
Years after it began, the Syrian Civil War continues to wage on, destroying lives in the process. The United Nations recently commissioned an inquiry into the conflict to determine the extent of humanitarian damage inflicted and war crimes perpetuated by the participants. The new report is vehement in its criticism of the Syrian government, declaring the mass deaths in Syrian prisons a campaign of "extermination."
Who are the Syrian refugees arriving in Europe and North America? If your answer is "mostly young men" you might be surprised. According to Unicef, women and children currently make up the majority of refugees arriving in Macedonia.
Top image by Marc Müller
Comments
-
Please login first in order for you to submit comments
