Michael Klare is my colleague at Hampshire College and a very good friend. He has written an essay for The Nation entitled “The United States and NATO Are Preparing for a Major War With Russia”. I have posted many articles about the build-up by NATO and the various provocative moves taken by Russia in Ukraine and along its western border. The situation is a classic example of the Security Dilemma: where one side is engaged in defensive moves that are unquestionably interpreted as aggressive by the other side. It is a very dangerous condition.
An international court at the Hague is scheduled to rule on the Philippines case against China on the matter of maritime claims in the South China Sea. China has refused to participate in the proceedings and has stated publicly that it will not abide by the ruling. But a ruling against the Chinese claims will certainly damage the credibility of China and will cast China as a breaker of international law. The ruling will be closely examined by all states and the reactions of all involved will determine the course of future events.
I am always amazed at the creativity of some people on the internet (and hopelessly depressed by the idiots who also populate the web). One person has compiled some before and after photographs of some of the most famous cities in the world. The changes are breathtaking and they should make us aware of how powerful the impact of human activity can be. Below is a before and after photograph of Shanghai, China.
World Politics News 
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