A Michael Broad Blog
NEWS AND OPINION: Russia thinks that furries (people who like to dress up as animals) as a trend is part of a Western plot to turn people into slaves! There appears to be in a drift towards more conspiracy theories in Russia since they invaded Ukraine. These are quite extreme views. By Western standards …
Currently, the only means of escape for Ukrainians trapped in the Russian-controlled east and south of Ukraine is through a northern crossing on the Ukraine-Russian border called the Kolotilovka Pokrovka checkpoint. It’s near the town of Sumy. This means that they have to travel huge distances from the south of Ukraine in Russian-controlled territory …
There’s a good chance that animal welfare is weaker in autocracies compared to democracies, but it’s not a simple yes or no answer. Despite that balanced beginning, I think you can almost guarantee that in autocracies and dictatorships, animal welfare is poorer than in true, well-established democracies. I discuss the topic below. For me, …
NEWS AND COMMENT: This is an effective but distressing video of Ukrainian animal rescuers rescuing cats and dogs in the almost totally destroyed Ukrainian town of Avdiivka from which Ukrainian troops withdrew as it had been surrounded by Russian troops and artillery for a long time. Ukrainian military commanders decided it was wiser to …
The kids – acting like canaries in a coal mine – are signalling to the adults that they are screwing up the management of the planet. The self-indulgent, egocentric adults don’t get it but the kids do. The kids see it and feel it. They see a bleak future but the adults are still …
In Putin’s big push to win the war in Ukraine he has increased the military budget to 30% of GDP. The average in the West is around 2%. In 2024, Russia is a war machine and a terrorist state. Most citizens of Russia are unaware of it except that they must be seeing substantially …
NEWS AND COMMENT: This is a very recent development which has come about because a ginger tabby-and-white domestic cat, Twix, was thrown off a Russian train in freezing conditions with deep snow on the ground because the cat had escaped his carrier while the owner was asleep and the attendant mistook the domestic cat …
NEWS AND COMMENT: This is a little story tucked away on the internet, almost invisible, but important, about the death of a rescue cat in Ukraine during the illegal war started by Russia which continues to be so devastating to people and animals. The story serves to highlight how the war is killing animals. …
