pdqcp

joined 2 years ago
[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That is a beautiful place, but with my tennis skills, I would serve it right off that cliff

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Siegfried is right on the money. There is a great book about it too, if anyone is interested, by John Lechner:

Death Is Our Business: Russian Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare

If you want something shorter:

https://xcancel.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1662844428854099969

New satellite imagery and official reports present evidence that the insufficient response to Wagner's activities in the Central African Republic fuels their aggressive expansion. For additional details on bloodstained African gold, please refer to my 🧡thread and video:

Upon arriving in CAR, Wagner sought control over gold and diamond flows as part of resource securing efforts, often resorting to violence. For instance, last year, Wagner fighters attacked gold mines near the CAR-Sudan border.

Wagner Group obtains control over CAR's gold and diamond mines, along with timber forests by providing armed support to the authorities. Taking advantage of the limited interest in Africa and restricted operational access, Wagner evades accountability for multiple crimes.

For example, in February 2021, escaping refugees reported that Wagner forces arrived in their town and committed a mass killing to establish dominance over nearby gold mines. The source link can be found in the image description.

According to a 2021 UN press release, the Wagner Group is involved in severe and systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. These violations encompass arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and mass summary executions.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on two companies: M Finans and Lobaye Invest. These companies are involved in providing "security services" in exchange for gold and diamond extraction. Despite sanctions, it appears that Wagner expansion continues

In addition to gold and diamonds, other resources like coffee and wood are also being extracted. According to French journalist @MathieuOlivier , Wagner has expanded its logistical operations into neighboring Cameroon, with the port of Douala serving as their commercial hub

Wagner's growing operations in Africa, particularly in the CAR, fund their campaigns in Ukraine and worldwide, enabling unhindered expansion. Insufficient international responses reinforce their colonial strategies, marked by executions and resource exploitation.

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Can't you go off-grid?

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

They will want bigger cars, soon enough we will have locomotives on our streets

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Sorry, I mistakenly read your original comment, transaction fees for USDC are actually free (gasless) via Base on Ethereum, eg: https://xcancel.com/coinbasewallet/status/1800653787960406031

Costs mentioned on my previous post are for other assets

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

It has been around USD 0.001~0.008, but they are scaling aggressively so fluctuations aren't as significant in the future regardless of usage. Details here: https://www.growthepie.com/fees

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

You can actually do it using USDC (USD stablecoin) on Ethereum via Base for free:

https://www.coinbase.com/en-br/developer-platform/discover/launches/zero-fee-usdc

Most people think of crypto as a scam, but there are actual useful products being built on Ethereum, and this is a great illustration on where it is a useful tool

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 weeks ago

You should engage locally to change your zoning laws to allow for that. Most places are only allowed to have single family homes and nothing else

Check out https://www.strongtowns.org/local if you want to get involved

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 weeks ago

The first one I saw reported as a Russian base housing electronic warfare systems, drone jammers and more as being struck by four GBU-39 (SDB):

https://newsie.social/@Tendar/114663664060831722

I'm not sure about the others

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

Any particular reason for the markers on the eggshell?

[–] pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 weeks ago

Yeah, I thought the battery was the black box

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