The Free

Perceptionware / Big Carbon Profiteers blind us with Fake Solutions and Sack the Planet!

How to create an appearance of progress while doing nothing.

from thefreeonline / https://wp.me/pIJl9-E6u on 22nd Sept 2024 by George Monbiot at Monbiot.com (on Telegram: t.me/thefreeonline )

Let’s talk about perceptionware. Perceptionware is technology whose main purpose is to create an impression of action. Whether it will ever work at scale is less important, in some cases entirely beside the point. If it reassures the public and persuades government not to regulate damaging industries, that’s mission accomplished.

Managing perceptions is an expensive business. Real money, especially public money, is spent on fake solutions.

Take carbon capture and storage: catching and burying carbon dioxide emissions from power stations, oil and gas fields, and steel and cement plants.

For 20 years, it has spectacularly failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, its only clear successes involve enhanced oil recovery: carbon dioxide is used to drive oil out of geological formations that are otherwise difficult to exploit.

With astonishing chutzpah, some oil companies have claimed the small amount of carbon that remains trapped in the rocks as a climate benefit.

Though it is greatly outweighed by the extra oil extracted, they have, as a result, received billions in government subsidies.

The previous UK government pledged £20bn to “develop” carbon capture and storage: a technology that has been “developing” for 50 years. Astonishingly, Labour, despite cutting everything else, promised in its manifesto to sustain this investment.

The Great Carbon Capture Scam — Rex Weyler — The industry devised a plan to swindle money from the public purse by pretending to address the climate issue while using subsidies to increase oil production..

Anti-fascists jailed in Russia for Anti War protests need your help

Two teenagers from Chita in Siberia, Alexander Snezhkov and Lyubov Lizunova, were sentenced to 6 and 3.5 years for their anti-war position, they need help and solidarity!

via thefreeonline – https://wp.me/pIJl9-E5G on 19 sept. Редакция / Autonomous Action @avtonom_org_en (on Telegram: t.me/thefreeonline )

On April 25, 2024, the 1st District Military Court in a visiting session in Chita sentenced the antifascist Alexander Snezhkov to 6 years, and the antifascist Lyubov Lizunova to 3.5 years in prison. Vladislav Vishnevsky, who was involved in the same case, was sentenced to one and a half years of forced labor.

Snezhkov was found guilty under the article on vandalism motivated by political hostility because of a graffiti “Death to the regime”. Both were convicted under articles on calls to extremism and terrorism.

Snezhkov and Lizunova were detained in the autumn of 2022 in Chita on suspicion of graffiti and administration of telegram channels “75zlo” and “Shugan-25”, which published information about protests against the war in Ukraine, partisan actions and animal protection.

There are currently more than 900 people who are defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine.

Letter from Alexander Snezhkov’s mother:

“Good afternoon. I am the mother of Alexander Snezhkov, convicted under art. 280. part 1, art. 205. part 2, art.214 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to 6 years in a penal colony. Sasha has been in jail since January 2023.

I raised Sasha alone. My son graduated from 11th grade, did not continue to study, but went to work. He played sports, music and was very good at drawing. Subsequently, he created his own band, where he performed his songs. He is acutely aware of justice. There is an appeal ahead.

I am a group 1 disabled person (I had 2 strokes). All the savings that I had were spent. I owe the lawyer 150 thousand for the appeal. I do postal parcels for my son twice a month. Sasha really needs support right now. I hope for a fair court decision.”