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Best of the Web: Heavy rain causes floods and landslides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 31 inches of rainfall in 48 hours - 16 killed (UPDATES)

Chave Weather
YouTube
Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:49 UTC
flood
Looking at the impact of heavy rain on Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on March 31st and April 1st 2022.

Heavy overnight rain caused flash floods that filled streets as drain systems were overwhelmed.

A level 4 alert was raised as homes were flooded, destroying possessions. Power and gas supplies were turned off with warning sirens sounded.

Roads were closed with traffic stopped as roads became impassable. As flood waters subsided, streets were filled with debris and garbage.

In rural areas in Rio de Janeiro state, floods and landslides were seen, including in the town of Parati, where roads were closed after a landslide.


Comment: Update 2 April

AFP reports:
Brazil: Floods and landslides kill eight, 13 missing

Two days of heavy rain trigger flash floods and landslides across Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state.

Torrential rains have triggered flash floods and landslides across Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, killing at least eight people including six children and leaving 13 missing, authorities said on Saturday.

Two days of heavy rain have battered a broad swath of the southeastern state's Atlantic coast, the latest in a series of deadly storms in Brazil that experts have said are being aggravated by climate change.

The latest floods and landslides come six weeks after flash floods and landslides killed 233 people in the scenic city of Petropolis, the Brazilian empire's 19th-century summer capital, also in Rio state.

This time, the areas hit hardest included the tourist town of Paraty, a seaside colonial city known for its picturesque cobblestone streets and colourful houses.

Officials on Saturday there said a landslide in the Ponta Negra neighbourhood had killed a mother and five of her children, ages two, five, eight, 10 and 15.

A sixth child was rescued alive and taken to the hospital, they said.

In all, seven houses were swept away in landslides in the city, and another four people injured. Seventy-one families were forced from their homes, officials said.

Two more victims were killed in the cities of Mesquita and Angra dos Reis, where another 13 people remain missing, said Congressman Marcelo Freixo, who represents the state of 17.5 million people.

In Angra, the victim was a four-year-old girl buried in a landslide, while in Mesquita, 40km (25 miles) northwest of Rio de Janeiro city, a 38-year-old man was electrocuted trying to help another person escape the flooding, media reports said.

The storms turned streets into rivers in several cities on Friday night, sweeping up cars and triggering landslides - a frequent tragedy in the rainy season, especially in poor hillside communities.

Officials in Angra said the city had received 655 millimetres (26 inches) of rain in 48 hours, "levels never before registered in the municipality".

The federal government said it had sent military aircraft to help the local rescue effort, and dispatched national disaster response secretary Alexandre Lucas to the state.
Update 3 April

Floodlist reports:
At least 16 people have lost their lives after record rainfall of over 800 mm in 48 hours triggered flash floods and landslides in Baixada Fluminense and Costa Verde regions of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Landslide in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 2022.
© Corpo de Bombeiros Militar do Estado do Rio de JaneiroLandslide in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 2022.
The tourist town of Paraty in the south western corner of the state was one of the worst affected areas. Local officials reported that a landslide in the Ponta Negra neighbourhood destroyed 7 houses, burying at least 8 residents from the same family. As of 02 April, 7 people had died in the incident with one person rescued alive.

Paraty's Municipal Department of Social Assistance said it had helped 219 affected families in 22 neighbourhoods. Around 71 families had been displaced and move to temporary shelters, including in municipal schools. The municipality declared a State of Public Calamity on 02 April 2022.

Parts of neighbouring municipality of municipality of Angra dos Reis saw a record 809 mm of rain in 48 hours to 02 April 2022. Floods and landslides have caused severe damage and fatalities and the municipality also declared a State of Public Calamity on 02 April 2022.

As of 03 April, Brazil's National Civil Defence reported 8 fatalities and 3 people missing in Angra dos Reis. Fire fighters have rescued 5 people. A total of 181 people have moved from their homes to temporary accommodation.

Local media also reported a weather-related fatality in Mesquita, 40km northwest of Rio de Janeiro city, where a man was electrocuted in flood waters whilst trying to help another person. Municipal authorities said the cause of death was still being investigated. Roads have been closed and homes damaged by floods landslides. Authorities have assisted dozens of affected families. Mesquita recorded 266 mm of rain in about six hours on 02 April, officials said.

Over 230 people lost their lives in two spates of floods and landslides in Petrópolis in the Fluminense Mountain Region of the state State in February and March this year.


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Eye 2

Best of the Web: Political Ponerology: The Study of Evil in the Political Realm

Winston Smith
Escaping Mass Psychosis
Tue, 29 Mar 2022 16:26 UTC
ponerology book new edition
© Red Pill Press
Part 1

A little while ago I introduced you to Andrzej Łobaczewski (1921-2007), a Polish psychologist who spent much of his adult life under communism before emigrating to the USA in 1977.

I thought you might like to explore with me the observations and ideas that Łobaczewski formulated under oppressive circumstances and at the hand of evil men. This exploration would be in the spirit of gleaning wisdom for our own struggle with oppressive circumstances (as opposed to a mere fascination for a dark time of history) and to understand what Łobaczewski terms political ponerology - the study of evil in the political realm. I don't always agree with Łobaczewski on some aspects of the neurological/psychological side of psychopathology1 that leads to evil, but I have almost 40 years of new data and insight on the brain that Łobaczewski didn't have in 1984 and before. Nevertheless, he had the lived experience - something of immense value for the purposes of insight.

These are strange and dark days. During the height of the so called pandemic media was saturated with lies, but you could, with some effort of discernment and no small amount of personal research, work out who was lying and why (maybe the 'why' was fuzzy, but the lies became obvious). But since the beginning of the Ukraine/Russian war the propaganda from every side has been pushed into overdrive. Multiple and wildly differing perspectives, all convinced that they alone see the truth, are spewed out in a free-for-all cacophony over the airwaves. Just when you think you've put together the bits of information that amount to some semblance of truth, along comes another revelation that makes you doubt your mosaic-like version of reality. We intuit that the world has gone completely bonkers but putting your finger on exactly who's crazy and why is complex. Time, for me at least, to go to those who have been in these circumstances before and to see what they can offer.
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Quenelle - Golden

Best of the Web: Gold-backed ruble could be a gamechanger - precious metals analyst


RT
Sat, 02 Apr 2022 06:56 UTC
Russian Gold
© BullionStarRussian gold bars stored in wooden boxes in the Gokhran vaults, Moscow.
The Bank of Russia has resumed gold purchases this week, but more importantly, the regulator is doing so at a fixed price of 5,000 rubles ($59) per 1 gram between March 28 and June 30, raising the possibility of Russia returning to the gold standard for the first time in over a century.

If the country takes the next step, as has been proposed this week, to sell its commodities priced in rubles, these combined moves could have huge implications for the ruble, the US dollar, and the global economy.

To get some answers, RT spoke to precious metals analyst Ronan Manly at BullionStar Singapore.

Comment: The Pathocrats aren't going to give up their position without a fight and so it's looking like the situation on the global stage, particularly in some regions, is going to get pretty ugly: The Science of Evil: A Personal Review of Political Ponerology

For an idea of what may be up ahead, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon urged the population to stockpile food and to be ready to defend the independence of their state.
"This year will be the most difficult for mankind in all respects, above all in terms of food security," Rakhmon said in his congratulatory message on the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan. "At a time when the political, military, economic and social situation in the world is extremely tense, crisis, complex and dangerous, the independence and freedom of individual countries and the structure of their statehood are seriously questioned. We must always be ready to defend the priceless good of our lives - state independence.

Rakhmon stressed that it is necessary "to solve the issue of a two-year supply of food in each family:

"Every family should think about providing for itself, produce as much as possible and stock up on the necessary food for two years."
There's every reason to believe that his advice is based on solid reasoning: And check out SOTT radio's:


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Megaphone

Best of the Web: Pakistan PM Imran Khan accuses US of meddling & trying to oust him in address to nation

Matthew Lodge
Daily Mail
Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:39 UTC
Imran Khan
© ANI Photo/PTVPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses nation in a televised speech on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has accused the United States of trying to oust him from power in an extraordinary TV rant amid the threat of a no-confidence vote in his leadership.

The former cricketer turned politician is currently facing the biggest challenge to his rule since he was elected in 2018, with opposition parties accusing him of economic mismanagement and foreign-policy bungling.

No Pakistan premier has ever seen out a full term, and a debate on a no-confidence motion against him in parliament was postponed.

It comes as the government is also battling to contain a rise in militancy by the Pakistan Taliban, which on Wednesday announced an offensive against security forces during Ramadan, due to begin within days with the sighting of the next new moon.


Comment: The question is whether the 'Pakistan Taliban' are the same as Afghanistan's Taliban, because in Afghanistan the Taliban are under the watch of Russia and China and it's unlikely they would tolerate unfounded aggression towards Pakistan, a partner of theirs. One wonders whether those causing problems in Pakistan is actually under the control of the US.


Comment: The West is getting so desperate that it's sanctioning itself out of the global economy and is messily lashing out at any country showing autonomy:

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Putin

Best of the Web: Putin's popularity CLIMBS in Russia since launch of military operation in Ukraine


RFE/RL
Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:14 UTC
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at a Moscow stadium on March 18.
A new Russian opinion poll shows that President Vladimir Putin has gotten a boost in ratings since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The Levada Center said in a survey released on March 30 that more than 80 percent of Russian respondents support his actions.

The poll was the first Levada has conducted since the conflict began on February 24.

The survey also showed 83 percent of Russians backing Putin, up from 71 percent in early February.

The survey was conducted on March 24-30 in face-to-face interviews with 1,632 Russians across the country. The margin of error was 3.4 percentage points.

The findings match up with those of Kremlin-backed, state-funded pollsters, which also showed Putin's approval ratings at above 80 percent.

Comment: Russia is not interested in occupying Ukraine. On the battlefield they are going very slowly and very carefully so they can avoid any unnecessary civilian casualties.

It hurts the psychopathic PTB to see that the Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoys a very high support among the people, not just in Russia but across the entire planet.

See also:

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Putin

Best of the Web: President Putin's full remarks at the oil for ruble announcement


The Saker
Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:51 UTC
Putin's ear
© BrookingsRussian President Vladimir Putin
The video that we could obtain, was only a snippet and that is posted here.

The full address is worth taking a look at, as Mr Putin in no uncertain terms told the west and Europe what they are doing. I caution that this is a machine translation, so, fine parsing of words may not be productive. This is the gist of what Mr Putin said.

As the Kremlin website is more down than up, this machine translation came via a poster on Moon of Alabama. We thank you for grabbing it, karlof1.

— — — — — -
Today I have signed an Executive Order that establishes the rules for trade in Russian natural gas with so-called unfriendly states. We offer counterparties from such countries a clear and transparent scheme. To purchase Russian natural gas, they must open ruble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payment will be made for gas delivered starting tomorrow, from April 1 of this year.

If such payments are not made, we will consider it a failure to fulfill obligations on the part of buyers - with all the ensuing consequences. No one sells anything to us for free, and we're not going to do charity either. That is, existing contracts will be stopped.
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Pirates

Best of the Web: US veteran who volunteered to fight for Ukraine describes 'suicide mission'

Alex Rubinstein
The Gray Zone
Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:00 UTC
ukraine military
An American volunteer for Ukraine tells The Grayzone how his foreign legion tried to use him as cannon fodder.
A decade after Henry Hoeft joined the US Army at age 18, he was back on the battlefield, but this time as a volunteer for a foreign military engaged in a proxy war against a powerful foe. After answering the Ukrainian government's call for foreign fighters this February, however, the American veteran quickly decided he was being sent on a "suicide mission" against the Russian military.

After escaping with his life, claiming his own allies had threatened to shoot him in the back, Hoeft posted a viral message advising other Westerners against joining the fight in Ukraine. Within days, he was at the center of a global information war, with the military for which he had volunteered publicly branding him a Russian agent.

Comment: Also check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: Russia is LOSING the war in Ukraine! Or is it?



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People 2

Best of the Web: White House: 'Early' trans surgeries, hormones are 'crucial' for kids, teens who identify as trans

Mary Margaret Olohan
The Daily Wire
Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:01 UTC
biden close up
© Win McNamee/Getty Images
"Early" transgender surgeries, hormone treatment, and affirmations are "crucial" for the health of kids and teens who identify as transgender and nonbinary, President Joe Biden's administration said in messaging released Thursday.

The White House flagged a resource from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health on "Transgender Day of Visibility" intended to "inform parents and guardians, educators, and other persons supporting children and adolescents with information on what is gender-affirming care and why it is important to transgender, nonbinary, and other gender expansive young people's well-being."

Gender-affirming care is a phrase used by transgender activists and media to mask the more grisly sounding transgender top and bottom surgeries, including removing a biological women's breasts, removing a biological man's genitals, sculpting a fake penis on a biological woman, facial feminization or facial masculinization, and more.

Comment: The pushing of the trans agenda is ruining countless lives feeding on vulnerable children and young adults. The fact that the White House is encouraging this, while unsurprising, is an egregious crime against the youth. Every one of the people pushing this should be held accountable.

See also:

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Bulb

Best of the Web: Another breakaway republic wants to unite with Russia


RT
Thu, 31 Mar 2022 15:53 UTC
South Ossetia
© Getty Images / Borisenkov Andrei
South Ossetia, a partially recognized republic in the Caucasus region, will soon be taking legal steps in an attempt to join the Russian Federation, its president, Anatoly Bibilov, has announced.

Most of the world officially regards the territory as part of Georgia, although Tbilisi hasn't held control since the Soviet collapse in 1991.

"I believe that unification with Russia is our strategic goal. Our path, the aspirations of our people. And we will move along this path. We will take appropriate legal steps in the near future. The Republic of South Ossetia will be part of its historical homeland - Russia," Bibilov said.

Located in the South Caucasus, South Ossetia fought a brutal war with Georgia, in the early 1990s, and was recognized by Russia as an independent republic following the 2008 military conflict between Russia and Georgia, prompted by Tbilisi's forces shelling the region, where Russian peacekeepers were stationed.
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Black Magic

Best of the Web: California introduces new bill that would allow mothers to kill their babies up to 7 days after birth


Miami Standard News
Thu, 24 Mar 2022 06:59 UTC
Baby
After assaulting basic human rights for over two years, California Governor Gavin Newsom is working on a new INFANTICIDE bill that would legalize the murder of children up to nine months gestation and in the week(s) after birth. The bill has been proposed by Newsom's "Future of Abortion Council" which makes recommendations to "strengthen and expand" abortions in the state of California.

Under California AB 2223, a mother will be shielded from civil and criminal charges for any "actions or omissions" related to her pregnancy. These actions include not only abortion in any stage of pregnancy, but also "perinatal death." Perinatal death is defined as the death of a newborn up to seven days or more.

Comment: What level of insanity and ponerisation do we have in our society when the murder of unborn and born children would be codified as a legal act, and advertised as "women's reproductive rights." This is just unbelievable and unacceptable for any normal human being.

See also:

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