Why should we trust what we are being told?
Rishi Sunak takes to the despatch for the first time as the UN prepares for COP27 and Iran gets into bed with Russia
Rishi Sunak took to the despatch box as Britain’s new Prime Minister for the first time today. Mr Sunak landed lots of blows on his opposite number, Sir Keir Starmer over brexit and the former labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. The Leader of the Opposition responded with calls for a General Election.
As the roars and cheers erupted around the house, I asked my self why we should trust anything we are being told? Why can’t ministers give a straight answer to a question, rather than blowing hot meaningless air? I have been critical of the government for the serious failings, capped off by Liz Truss’s mini-budget, but I really hope Mr Sunak can find a way to successfully lead the nation through the winter, but there are so many issues to deal with.
The 2022s is the decade of bad news, more conflict, mass human displacement and financial uncertainty for millions. I believe things will get worse before they get better.
British politics is a joke. The French, Germans and their European neighbours can be forgiven for lifting up two fingers towards the White Cliffs of Dover. The government shot themselves in the foot with the voters, the markets and the Bank of England. The new cabinet really is fighting on all fronts.
Crime, the environment, the NHS, the cost of living crisis, the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine. Did I miss anything? I wonder if Mr Sunak and his cabinet ministers have what it takes to address a myriad of domestic and international challenges?
Why is COP 27 being held in Egypt ?
Dr Mils Hills and I asked why COP 27 is being held in Egypt? President of Egypt - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi does not have a good human rights record, that’s according to Amnesty International. There is a raft of issues to address at this year’s meeting of global leaders, including human rights, as advocated under UN’s Sustainability Development Goals, 5, 11 & 16.
Do I expect the global delegates to have honest and sensible discussions? Not when you consider examples such as the consular case of Alaa Abdel Fattah, an activist with a British-born mother, who went on a hunger strike earlier this year. Alla Abdel Fattah is under lock and key at the pleasure of President al-Sisi. Maybe the government of Qatar will issue an apology over its human rights failings.
Why is the Football World Cup being held in Qatar?
Maybe Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, the FIFA president will issue an apology for the organisations decision to award Qatar the right to host the biggest soccer tournament.
There are allegations that Qatar bribed officials to support the country’s bid and engaged improperly with them prior to FIFA’s decision to award the games. According to the Parliamentary library, those allegations have not been proved.
The human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been stopped by police in Qatar while staging a protest against the Gulf state’s criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people. Source via The Guardian
Dozens and dozens of migrant workers lost their lives building the lavish stadiums for this year’s tournament. The Qatari government is under pressure to secure reforms for migrant workers. Families of those who lost their lives continue to seek compensation.
James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign minister has stated that people need to respect and tolerate Qatar’s local customs and values. That’s not what LGBTQ+ supporters will want to hear.
Watch with interest to see how the Qatari government deal with the multi-cultural global football supporters, and how the Egyptian authorities deal with climate protestors. I doubt any apologies will be received from President al-Sisi or from Mr Infantino.
Collaboration and cooperation is the only way to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions
The United Nations, scientists and activists continue to push for a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. I agree reducing emissions is vital for a sustainable future. So why then, is COP27 not mandated as a virtual conference? The approximate CO2 emissions of the UN Secretary-General’s round-trip from New York to Cairo is approximately 3TCO2e.
Over 90 heads of state will attend COP27, plus various representatives from various organisations. What if every delegate was able to/mandated to disclose their carbon footprint? Mmmmmm, food for thought. One head of state who will not attend this year’s conference is President Putin.
The conflict in Ukraine has turned into a proxy war between Iran and the West
In February I wrote why the Russian army struggled to make an impact during the first days of its special mission invasion of Ukraine. Eight months on, and the Russian army looks as disorganised now as it did on D+1.
The west continues to sponsor Ukrainian defence forces by providing key battlefield weapons, such as Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapons. As Newton’s Law states, For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and a new nation has been drawn into the conflict, Iran.
For the first time, Iran is involved in a major war on the European continent. Iranian military advisors, most likely members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are on the ground in occupied Ukraine—and possibly Belarus—to help Russia rain down deadly Iranian kamikaze drones on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Foreign Policy
Iran’s involvement further complicates the situation, and clearly Tehran is not afraid of reprisals from the United States. Tehran have much to gain on the battlefield by supporting Russia - not least testing its latest weapon systems.
Unlike Russia and Nato forces, Tehran’s military does not have the operational experience of fighting a connect war. Iran’s participation in Russia’s ware gives western intelligence agencies an opportunity to asses how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved.
Mr Putin and his Russian military is backed into a corner. What next for Mr Putin? The big question is whether the Kremlin will authorise the use of battlefield nuclear weapons. Per Euro News, Russian forces were performing secret work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, according to Ukraine's nuclear energy operator. Is a dirty bomb being prepared for the battlefield? The Kremlin must remember that wind changes in direction, and such use of crude tactics could backfire.
Mr Sunak has got a monumental task of rebuilding trust and bridges, but why should we trust him? At this moment, we don’t have much choice. The war in Ukraine and the social oppression in Qatar will severely test Mr Cleverly’s abilities to navigate two very complex situations.
Thank you for reading the Woz Report.