Indonesia wildfire razes nearly 300 homes in Bangka Belitung
A forest fire on Indonesia's Sumatra island has destroyed nearly 300 homes in Bangka Belitung province, forcing hundreds of residents to flee. Local officials said the blaze moved rapidly toward a settlement after wind direction changed over peatland in the area. The fire has added to a wider pattern of severe wildfires and haze affecting parts of the country during the dry season.South Bangka regency head Riza Herdavid said residents first noticed the fire approaching their village on Saturday and tried to extinguish it themselves using portable water pumps. He said the fire had been smouldering beneath peatland before the... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Indonesia wildfire haze lawsuit targets government over annual fires
Indigenous and civil society groups in Indonesian Borneo have filed a class action lawsuit accusing the government of gross negligence over wildfires that have spread toxic haze across parts of Southeast Asia. The case was heard in Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, where judges adjourned the opening session until 21 October after none of the named defendants attended. The lawsuit names President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants.The plaintiffs are seeking comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures, including coverage of residents' healthcare costs. Their lawyer, Glorio Sanen, said the case was intended as a... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]

