Though it was clear that Burkina Faso was eventually going to follow in the footsteps of Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR), Ouagadougou’s decision to break military ties with France was not as simple as media sound bites want us to believe. 

 The conventional wisdom is that these countries are walking away from their former colonial master, France, to forge alternative alliances with a new ally, Russia. These convenient analyses are largely shaped by the geopolitical tug-of-war between old and new superpowers: The US and its NATO allies on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other. 

When I tell some people that the inhabitants of certain mountains in Montenegro are trying to protect their home from being turned into a giant military training ground by NATO, they inform me that the training ground (which, up until that monent, they’d never heard of) in Montenegro (which they’d never heard of) is absolutely required because of Putin.

Needless to say, I think that Putin (and every living U.S. president, and quite a number of other world “leaders”) should be prosecuted for their crimes. But are we supposed to imagine Putin as the enemy of mindless support for militarism we know nothing about? I thought he was supposed to be the enemy of democracy.

UPCOMING: 

Sunday, February 12, 4-6pm, Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bryden Rd.

Four Seasons City Farm is a 501(c)(3) organization and has been making a difference in the health and well-being of the community on the near east side of Columbus since 2004. Our stated mission is to help “foster a sense of community and renew our urban neighborhood by beautifying our area by converting vacant lots into gardens, creating a self-sustaining and cooperative food system, and demonstrating a sense of belonging through our shared work.”

Our vision is to have a healthy neighborhood and healthier neighbors, where local food might come from across the street rather than across the country. Our vision also includes teaching job skills, creating jobs, and educating the community about the benefits of fresh, local, and organic food.

Four Seasons City Farm is a member of the Care and Share Time Bank, Community Shares of Mid-Ohio, and the Community Growers Network.

Enter the church via the back door; the church is handicap accessible.

Contact: Lynn Stan, 614-218-5613.

Saturday, February 11, 7-8pm
Join progressive friends on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906590837
Meeting ID: 839 06

Theme: Listen to voices of peace in a world of conflict.
Speakers:
Yurii Sheliazhenko live from Kyiv
of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement
on Ukraine War resistance
1. Overview of current affairs
2. Status if nonviolent/pacifism/conflict reduction
3. Importance/urgency for Territorial integrity and women leadership on path to “peace”
and
Megan Anderson from Cincinnati
Member of the Black Alliance for Peace Solidarity Network
Co-coordinator for the midwest region
on their 2023 goals and the Shutdown AFRICOM campaign
Q & A included.