When I was writing the reads last week, the planes were on the way, but the bombs hadn’t dropped on Iran yet. Even so the world was already boiling over in fear due to the escalation taking place in the Middle East. Since then, not only are we all dealing with the horror of what this action means long-term, we’ve also seen a completely bonkers show on the world stage, from US leadership to the bizarre sycophancy coming out of NATO.
It really is something we’ve never seen before, and it’s hard to feel steady in a world tipping over the edge, with leaders showing none of the skills required to ensure peace and prosperity.
I mean, did you see this? US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikes | Israel-Iran conflict | Al Jazeera. This is not a man that should oversee the world’s most powerful military. His boss isn’t a good idea either.
So much has happened, but the idea that anyone questioning the success of the mission – which is impossible to quantify and probably will be for months – is the idea that any criticism is directed at the people flying the planes and not about whether it was an actual success. Gaslighting much?
I know the US bends over backwards to honour its troops – which it should – but it’s got nothing to do with them and everything to do with those claiming “complete obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capability, when we have NO IDEA if it actually happened. None. Zero. And technically speaking, the depth of the facilities and capabilities of the bombs to penetrate to this depth, already leave room for significant doubt on the complete success of the mission.
Oh, and if escalation does happen – which we all know it will – remember this significant piece of news? Current US leadership are not serious people in any way!
Onto NATO, um, what is Mark Rutte on? Inside NATO chief Mark Rutte’s charm offensive on Trump that shocked as much as it delivered | CNN.
“You are flying into another big success in the Hague this evening,” Rutte’s message read.
“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” he continued.
“You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.”
Trump’s decision to attack Iran’s nuclear program was “extremely impressive,” the NATO chief told Trump. “The signal it sends to the rest of the world that this president, when it comes to it, yes, he is a man of peace, but if necessary, he is willing to use strength.”
It wasn’t just Rutte either, but are we just looking at diplomacy on steroids? That is how I read it initially, but I’m not 100% sure what’s going on. Everything just feels completely bonkers! Maybe this little moment is the answer to my ponderings, and it’s just a new style of diplomacy for the Trump era. What do you think?
Meanwhile, the world burns, and honestly, this is the biggest story of our time, not that you’d know it. Especially looking at the shenanigans going on over in Venice! How out of touch are the world’s elite? Bonkers, right?
Too right Extinction Rebellion!
Because, you know
The US is just seeing an end to a brutal heatwave, as the UK and Europe is about to face it’s own hell – Extreme heatwave hits Europe with temperatures expected up to 44°C | Euronews. Please take the heat seriously. It kills.
We haven’t heard much about heat deaths, but they are being recorded, with two UPS drivers dying of heatstroke in June – Dallas, Texas letter carrier Jacob Taylor dies in extreme heat, second USPS worker to die in June – World Socialist Web Site.
And at a graduation in New Jersey, it saw a mass casualty event due to the heat – Over 100 people fall ill at New Jersey graduations in ‘mass casualty’ incident due to extreme heat.
Please, please, please, do not leave children or pets in cars any time of the year – Rising summer heat increases risk of child deaths in hot cars – ABC News.
Beyond heat, good luck to all in the path of hurricanes – Pentagon Halts Critical Hurricane Data Feed, Raising Alarm Ahead of Peak Storm Season – TechStory.
Onto the ice – Suddenly, in 2023, there was an enormous drop. About 2.5 million sq km of Antarctic sea ice went missing relative to the average before 2023. The anomaly was of such a magnitude that it’s quite hard for scientists to know what to make of it. It has been described as a five sigma event – ‘It looks more likely with each day we burn fossil fuels’: polar scientist on Antarctic tipping points | Oceans | The Guardian.
Here’s Bill McKibben’s take on the polycrisis – it’s simultaneously the most important scientific story on the planet (in terms of physics and chemistry, but also everything from meteorology and agriculture to public health) with the largest imaginable economic effects, which should mean (but doesn’t) that it should dominate our political life. Understanding how those three spheres interacts means trying to figure out everything from human psychology to geopolitics, and much in between So many moving pieces – resilience.
I have been following Brazilian climate scientist Carlos Nobre for at least a decade. When he speaks, we should listen – ‘We are perilously close to the point of no return’: climate scientist on Amazon rainforest’s future | Amazon rainforest | The Guardian.
Wait, what? Glass bottles found to contain more microplastics than plastic bottles.
And Alaska has called its first-ever heat advisory, read all about it – Alaska just hit a climate milestone — its first-ever heat advisory | Grist.
What are we doing to address all of this? Not much.
According to Oxfam, billionaires have seen real-terms gains of $33.9tn for world’s richest 1% ‘enough to end annual global poverty 22 times over.’ Make no mistake about it, the wealthiest will cost us a live-able planet – Billionaires’ wealth surged $6.5tn over past decade, Oxfam reports | The super-rich | The Guardian.
And finally, boobs ‘A marker of luxury and arrogance’: why gravity-defying boobs are back – and what they say about the state of the world | Life and style | The Guardian.
Favorite memes, cartoons, Tweets, etc…
Well, the President of the US (or daddy) drops fucks freely these days, so I suppose it’s fair game.
A new business idea. I thought my sister would enjoy this coffee cup, but it appears a lot of people in my life want one! You too?
Just in case you need a reminder about what the warning signs are for a cult, you’re welcome.
World War III indeed…
And finally, this got a lot of eyeballs this week. If you are one of the un-numb ones, congratulations. That’s a mighty achievement for all of us.
My content and my pals
The Sh*t Show had two parts. The wonderful Katie Critchlow, co-founder and co-CEO of Re-Genus joined us to talk about food security and soil health – one of the most important issues of our time, and then David, Joe and I dug into a conversation on the chaos in the media this last week. Have a listen if you couldn’t join us live.
And look at this, number 39 on the Best 100 Fearless Women Podcasts. Nice one.
Dig into the news
Plenty more to read, listen to or watch, so do click through to the reads at the image below, and a reminder, this platform has articles going back weeks, so have a scan and read/watch/listen to whatever jumps out at you.
Let me know what caught your attention? Or share with me what has your attention now? There’s a lot going on, which means none of us can cover everything. Besides, it’s always great to get feedback so I know I’m delivering something of value.
Cheers
Andrea
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