Was it a year not to step on the toes?

Posted on 2022/11/18 by Marcus Ampe

Not a silent but (perhaps) less irritating year

Three years of Corona pandemic came along and except for China not many countries seem still to worry.

In Europe, something very different from a Coronavirus has caught our attention. The danger is that this virus could spread and kill many more people than Corona did.
It is about the Putin virus or Russian disease as Trump might start calling it.

Just as a lot of fake news came our way during the Trump era, a lot of work had to be done in recent years to ‘debunk’ those misleading or deceptive reports.
You might think that here on this site with the name “Stepping toes” would be the ideal place to strip such disseminated falsehoods or lie talk of credibility. People like to sell talking points, and in recent years it seemed to have become a sport to send as many falsehoods into the world as possible. But to counter the many false messages posted on social media, this site was actually not originally planned.

Last year may have reached the pinnacle of fake message spreading. It could not go on any longer. Something had to be done to restore honour to journalism and bring correct messages to the world.

Young people were increasingly reaching for their smartphones with all kinds of apps to follow Facebook and Instagram posts, as if they could get the very best news there. But correct messaging was far from there. Social media won out over the daily and weekly newspapers that lost out, raising the question of whether there was still a possibility of life for serious journalism.
While newspapers were under pressure and many wondered how to survive this resort to social media, blogs also came under fire. Google and WordPress thought no better of changing their systems. At Blogger, it made a lot of bloggers tired of the difficulties in the system and took refuge elsewhere. Thus, I too decided to take refuge in the WordPress that was familiar to me with the old editor, hoping that WordPress would not force everyone to have to use the hideous block editor (introduced in 2018) (because it is really totally impractical for free writing and design).

Converting all the Google sites to the new system took a lot of time, so there have been somewhat fewer articles on my WordPress sites over the last two years, except for this year at my newcomer.

It is for that newcomer that I would like to draw your attention today.

The format of that new WordPress site is not really new, as the newcomer is actually a continuation of the former Blogspot sites “Christadelphian World” and “Our World“. The only difference now is actually a result of an easier form of writing and shaping for publishing or publishing articles. Because this is now much easier than Blogspot, I can now provide more articles at the same time.

As the title for the site, I chose “Some View on the World” or “Enige Kijk op de Wereld” because the site wants to give a view of what is happening in the world, while also giving more clarity on certain facts.
In the first year of its new form, it has been a bit of a search to find a way to leave enough time for my other Christian websites, while still being able to provide a balanced news overview that can be relied upon to be verified reporting and thus present accurate facts to the reader.

I believe I now know roughly how to tackle it for 2023 and hope that with my outline I can attract enough readers to further follow the links provided in the articles as well.

I do hope still to provide a day-to-day events review, and do hope people will find it useful.
I shall continue to try to offer ideas and context and depth, as well as information: a combination of clarity (the facts to help you understand the world) and imagination (the ideas you need to build a better one).

This better world that needs to be worked on is extremely important. We must realise that it is not ‘five to twelve’, but that the hands have long been moving in the wrong direction and that the earth is crying out loudly for support. For far too long, we have neglected the earth and been careless with its resources. Now we have to bear the consequences. Global warming is a fact, although many still do not want to acknowledge it. On “Some View on the World” we do want to pay attention to that earth which we have been given on loan by the Creator. Indeed, it is high time we took our responsibility and took steps to address that climate change.

We don’t particularly want to tread on toes on that “new site”, but we do want to regularly draw attention to those issues that really should get our attention.

In a way, I also hope to have caught your attention and made you warm to go and take a look at that news site (or online newspaper) and (who knows) subscribe there too to be kept informed of new articles.

Be welcome to “Some View on the World”.

Additional reading

Turkey splinters Nato unity with veto against Finland and Sweden

Posted on 2022/05/30 by Christadelphians

Event

Turkey has broken Nato unity on Finland and Sweden’s push to join the alliance, blocking an initial vote on accession after President Erdogan demanded that the two countries hand over dozens of Turkish exiles he accused of “terrorism”. The veto came hours after Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, hailed a historic moment for western security following the submission of Sweden and Finland’s formal applications.

“This is a good day at a critical moment for our security. We all agree that we must stand together, and we all agree that this is an historic moment which we must seize. Every nation has the right to choose its own path.”

Nato ambassadors had met with the aim of swiftly processing the applications and to head off any Russian plans to undermine the security of the Nordic countries. The Turkish government’s opposition put a stop to the initial vote, according to reports from Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Comment

This week Finland and Sweden both formerly applied to join Nato – the military alliance that is designed to protect all nations in it from hostile states ie Russia.
Russia has reacted swiftly to this. Russia’s gas giant Gazprom confirmed it had completely halted all gas exports to Finland at 04:00 GMT on Saturday. This is the latest escalation of an energy payments row with the West. Turkey has said it will veto Finland and Sweden being able to join Nato. Most analysts don’t believe Turkey will be able to do this indefinitely though. Whatever the outcome we know that Turkey is allied to Russia when Putin finally decides to invade Israel.

Togarmah – figure in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10, the list of descendants of Noah that represents the peoples known to the ancient Hebrews. – Thargamos and his sons. The order of the figures from left to right is: Movakan, Bardos, Kartlos, Hayk, Lekos, Thargamos, Caucas, Egros. An opening folio of the Georgian Chronicles (Vakhtangiseuli redaction), 1700s.

Ezekiel speaks of Togarmah which covers much of modern day Turkey as one of the nations allied to Russia. We see Turkey on the fringe of the Nato alliance. It could end up leaving. The pieces are falling into place.

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah [Turkey] of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Ezekiel 38:6-7)

Andy Walton

Find the Weekly World Watch: 15-21 May 2022

Preceding

PM warns Vladimir Putin against ‘tragic mistake’ as tensions rise with Ukraine

Moscow lists demands for defusing Ukraine tensions

Putin lays out his demands in Turkish phone call

Additional reading

Food crisis looms as landmines litter Ukraine farmer’s fields

Posted on 2022/05/20 by Christadelphians

The Times, May 2, 2022

Event

Ukraine, one of the most fertile and productive countries in the world, has been known historically as the “bread basket of Europe”. Now it is facing a complex and unprecedented agricultural crisis, in which landmines are only one of numerous interlinked problems. The United Nations estimates this year’s harvest will be 20 per cent lower than normal; others predict the reduction will be as much as 30 per cent. Not only will this have a serious effect on the ability of Ukraine to feed itself — but also on people across the world, who depend, without even being aware of it, on Ukrainian wheat, Ukrainian corn, and Ukrainian sunflower seeds go into the flour, bread and cooking oil that feed people across the world. World food prices were rising anyway, and the invasion has accelerated this. The global food price index issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation recently made its biggest jump since it was established in 1990, thanks to all-time record prices for vegetable oils, cereals and meat.

Comment

The impact on food availability and food prices due to the war in Ukraine cannot be underestimated. Middle East and African nations rely heavily on Ukraine for wheat and corn. 60% of Lebanon’s wheat supply just prior to the war was being shipped in from Ukraine. Lebanon has only one month of wheat reserves remaining. Egypt (with over 100 million people to feed) is the world’s largest importer of wheat. 85% of all Egypt’s wheat come from just 2 places – Ukraine and Russia – who are both at war. The Arab Spring (a series of of anti government protests) which began in 2010 is put down to unrest caused by food shortages and increasing food prices. It resulted in regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Jesus says there will be famine (food shortage)…

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:10-11)

Events in Ukraine could cause a manmade famine. The word famine means “scarcity of harvest” which is happening in Ukraine…

Andy Walton,

Weekly World Watch > Download this week’s WWW

Additional reading

+++

Anti-Semitism: Dramatic rise in 2021, Israeli report says

Posted on 2022/05/05 by Christadelphians

BBC, April 22 + Audit of antisemitic incidents

Event

The number of anti-Semitic incidents around the world dramatically increased last year, a study by Tel Aviv University has found. The report identifies the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia as among countries where there was a sharp rise. This was fueled by radical left- and right-wing political movements and incitement on social media, it says. The report’s release coincides with Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Wednesday night. Known in Israel as Yom HaShoah, the day commemorates the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany across Europe during World War Two. The Anti-Semitism Worldwide Report 2021, by the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Humanities, is based on the analysis of dozens of studies from around the world, as well as information from law enforcement bodies, media and and Jewish organisations.

Comment

In these very last days we can expect anti-Semitism to increase. The Jews are often blamed for world crises. They are blamed for financial collapse, for conflict, for making the Covid19 virus etc etc. Social networks spread conspiracy theories about the Jews and this spreading of lies incites hatred. In the kingdom though it will be the exact opposite. We are told in Zechariah that 10 men will take hold of the skirt of one Jew and say

“We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Mankind will finally realise in the kingdom that the words of Jesus himself were true – that

“salvation is of the Jews.”

Through baptism we become adopted Jews as we are ”covered” in Christ who was a Jew and also God’s son. We are then related to the promises to Abraham….

23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:23)

Andy Walton

Weekly World Watch

Preceding

Objective views and not closing eyes for certain sayings

Additional reading

+++

‘Desperate’ Vladimir Putin may use tactical nuclear weapons, warns CIA chief

Posted on 2022/05/04 by Christadelphians

The Times, April 16

Russia’s setbacks could prompt President Putin to use tactical nuclear weapons, William Burns, the CIA director, has said. Moscow has a stockpile of about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, also known as low-yield or battlefield munitions, that can be deployed by air, sea or artillery. These are generally less potent than the bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 and the more powerful strategic weapons would not be used on a contested battlefield.

“Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that they’ve faced so far, militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons,”

Burns, 66, said during a speech at Georgia Tech university in Atlanta.

“I know President Biden is deeply concerned about avoiding a Third World War, about avoiding a threshold in which, you know, nuclear conflict becomes possible,”

said Burns, who was the ambassador to Moscow between 2005 and 2008.

Comment

Albert Einstein once said that he did not know what weapons would be used in World War 3, but World War 4 would be fought with sticks and stones. We don’t know what weapons will be used but there is a high possibility that nuclear weapons could be used.

When pushed into a corner and with nothing to lose a leader like Putin could push the button. Russian state TV said a few weeks ago

“Why do we need a world if Russia is not in it?”

They would countenance destroying the earth if Russia could not exist.

Jesus said “no flesh” (no creature) would survive if God did not intervene in sending Jesus…

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

Andy Walton

Weekly World Watch

Additional reading

Pledges to send more military assistance to Ukraine and Russian warnings

UN suspends Russia from human rights body over atrocities in Ukraine

Posted on 2022/04/15 by Christadelphians

Event:

United Nations (UN) General Assembly hall at the UN Headquarters, New York City, 2006

The United Nations general assembly has voted to suspend Russia from the human rights council after images of atrocities apparently showing civilians left dead in the streets with their hands bound emerged following Russian troops’ withdrawal from around Kyiv. The call for Russia’s removal from the UN’s top human rights body was led by the United States, which concluded that Russian forces had committed war crimes. In a vote yesterday it gained the support of 93 countries. They were urged on by Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador, who told diplomats that “pressing ‘no’ means pulling the trigger, and means a red dot on the [voting] screen, red as the blood of the innocent lives lost”. Russia had said it would consider a yes vote an unfriendly act that would affect its bilateral relations with those countries. President Biden said he applauded the “overwhelming vote.”

WWW Comment

Russia has become a pariah state and is being ostracised by the majority of nations in the world. It is hard to see how Russia comes back from this. Such is the violence and horror that Putin’s soldiers have carried out there is no chance he will ever be welcome in the institutions the world has created. But this makes Putin even more dangerous. Many analysts say he will resort to ever greater levels of atrocity. Isolated, angry but surrounded only by people who agree with his every word Putin will look to avenge his humiliation in Ukraine. Daniel 8 says that Putin (latter day Antiochus Epiphanes the original king of the north) will “cause a shocking amount of destruction”. Another version says he will “cause astounding devastation.” The AV says “he shall destroy wonderfully.”

Putin will not be cowed by events turning against him in Ukraine – he will destroy more.

At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. (Daniel 8:23-24 NLT)

Andy Walton

> Find the Weekly World Watch to download.

Putin lays out his demands in Turkish phone call

Posted on 2022/03/23 by Christadelphians

Turkey has positioned itself with great care to be the go-between with Russia and Ukraine – and this seems to be paying off.

On Thursday afternoon, President Vladimir Putin rang the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and told him what Russia’s precise demands were for a peace deal with Ukraine. The Russian demands fall into two categories. Chief among them is an acceptance by Ukraine that it should be neutral and should not apply to join Nato. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has already conceded this. Ukraine would have to undergo a disarmament process to ensure it wasn’t a threat to Russia. There would have to be protection for the Russian language in Ukraine. And there is something called de-Nazification. Russia will demand that the Ukrainian government should give up territory in eastern Ukraine. That will be deeply contentious. Russia will also demand that Ukraine should formally accept that Crimea.

Turkey is allied to Russia when Russia descends into Israel at some point in the future. But Turkey and Ukraine have a long chronology of historical, geographic, and cultural contact. Turkey became one of the first states in the world to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Ukraine in the early 90’s. Turkey’s relations with Russia are more cyclical. But overall they have improved significantly in recent years.

Russia became Turkey’s largest provider of energy, while many Turkish companies began to operate in Russia.

The Bible says that Turkey will be allied to Russia when it invades Israel. So it is interesting to see them playing the role of “go-between” at this time. Putin’s end game is to take east Ukraine – the final part of ancient Magog….

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard [protection] unto them. (Ezekiel 38:4)

Gomer and Togarmah are both areas of modern Turkey.

Andy Walton

Find this week’s: Weekly World Watch

Additional reading

Majority of US weapons promised to Ukraine in February delivered

Posted on 2022/03/11 by Christadelphians

March 4,2022

The United States has already delivered more than two thirds of the arms it promised in late February to Ukraine, whose forces are “effectively” using them to push back the Russians, a Pentagon official said Friday.
On February 26, Washington authorized $350 million of military equipment — the largest such package in US history — to bolster Kyiv against the Russian invasion, which began last week. An official with the US State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs told Congress this week that the package aimed to

“provide urgently needed ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles and the Stinger man portable air defense systems to Ukraine.”

Her testimony officially confirmed for the first time America’s delivery of the high-tech Stingers, which can be used to shoot down low-flying aircraft. The Pentagon official told reporters that out of the $350 million,

“we have already delivered to the Ukrainians $240 million-worth of that package, including some of the most needed capabilities like anti-armour capabilities.”

Having identified the king of Daniel 11 v 36-39 as Gog – the ruler of the Russian people – the king of the north – we can now see that the king of the south will “push” at him. The king of the south is US / UK predominately – as mentioned in Ezekiel 38 the parallel passage to Daniel 11:36 to the end. The push from the king of the south against Gog is a provocation – something painful. The word “push” is the Hebrew word to “gore” as in an animal with a horn attacking. A goat or bull goring you would be very painful although not life threatening in most cases. In this sense we are looking for a direct military provocation against Gog. Gog was originally a real and historical person and ruled the Magogites. These people lived in Southern Russia. Notice how the article says that US weapons are being used to “PUSH” back the Russians….

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: (Daniel 11:40)

KEY POINT – notice the colon at the end of “push at him:” The colon in the original text denotes a time gap. Russia doesn’t instantly come down into Israel. The inner ring war happens in this short gap of time

Andy Walton

Find the Weekly World Watch: Download Weekly World Watch

Preceding

PM warns Vladimir Putin against ‘tragic mistake’ as tensions rise with Ukraine

Additional reading

Antisemitism animating Putin’s claim to ‘denazify’ Ukraine

Posted on 2022/03/03 by Christadelphians

The Russian leader’s pretext for invasion recasts Ukraine’s Jewish president as a Nazi and Russian Christians as true victims of the Holocaust.
When Russian president Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at dawn on Thursday, he justified the “special military operation” as having the goal to “denazify” Ukraine.

Ukraine is a democratic country, whose popular president was elected, in a free and fair election, with over 70% of the vote. That president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is Jewish, and comes from a family partially wiped out in the Nazi Holocaust.

Vladimir Putin is himself a fascist autocrat. Fascism is a cult of the leader, who promises national restoration in the face of supposed humiliation by ethnic or religious minorities, liberals, immigrants etc. The dominant version of antisemitism alive in parts of eastern Europe today is that Jews employ the Holocaust to seize the victimhood narrative from the “real” victims of the Nazis, who are Russian Christians.

After Volodymyr Zelensky won the Ukrainian presidency in a landslide in April 2019, his country became the only country besides Israel with a Jewish president and prime minister. It’s remarkable given that only a tiny minority of Ukraine is Jewish. And yet Putin in his rationale for invading Ukraine said that his mission is to “denazify” Ukraine.
By claiming that the aim of the invasion is to “denazify” Ukraine, Putin appeals to the myths of contemporary eastern European antisemitism – that a global elite of Jews were (and are) the real agents of violence against Russian Christians and the real victims of the Nazis were not the Jews, but rather this group. Hence the hatred of Zelenskiy. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev denounced Zelenskiy as disgusting, corrupt and faithless. The true colours of Putin’s view of the Jews is now in the open….

a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. (Daniel 8:23-24 NLT)

Andy Walton

Find our > Weekly World Watch

Find also to read

Iran taunts Israel by testing missile named after medieval Jewish defeat

Posted on 2022/02/17 by Christadelphians

Iran has unveiled a terrifying new missile and give it a chilling name to taunt Israel. Images showing the long-range rocket being tested were broadcast on state television earlier this week. The weapon has a range of 900 miles, according to Iran, meaning it can hit US bases in the region and reach Israel. The missile has been dubbed the ‘Khaibar-buster’ by Tehran military chiefs, a reference to a medieval Jewish castle.

In 628CE, early Muslim warriors led by Muhammad overran the fortress and won a decisive military battle, cementing the reputation of the religion’s founder. With relations between Tel Aviv and Tehran at a low ebb after decades of hostilities, the provocative move will add to tensions in the region. Iranian media claimed the missile has high accuracy, is manufactured entirely on domestic soil and can evade defence systems.

It is interesting that Iran has named their new missile the Khaibar buster. Jews lived in Khaibar which was an oasis in modern day Saudi Arabia. A war was fought against them by muslims headed up by Mohammed which history says they won. Many muslims see this war as a foretaste of what will become of Israel. However, according to Jewish legend, the Jews of Khaybar remained in their territory and lived there as a nation of mighty warriors free from Muslim rule. Their fantastic survival in the desert attracted the attention of adventurers and travellers to the Orient from the twelfth century to modern times. Whatever the truth of that is we know with Bible in hand that the Jews will survive and Iran will never destroy Israel. In fact we are told that the pricking briers around Israel will be completely removed. All nations will one day worship at Jerusalem….

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:23)

Andy Walton

Find this week’s Weekly World Watch to download > Weekly World Watch

Preceding

Israel featured twice on list of potential 2022 conflicts

Iran nuclear talks on brink of collapse, diplomats warn

Additional reading

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Stepping Toes

Things said on this site possibly can upset someone

Category Archives: World

Turkey splinters Nato unity with veto against Finland and Sweden

Event

Comment

Additional reading

Food crisis looms as landmines litter Ukraine farmer’s fields

Event

Comment

Additional reading

Related

Anti-Semitism: Dramatic rise in 2021, Israeli report says

Event

Comment

Additional reading

Related

‘Desperate’ Vladimir Putin may use tactical nuclear weapons, warns CIA chief

Comment

Additional reading

UN suspends Russia from human rights body over atrocities in Ukraine

Putin lays out his demands in Turkish phone call

Additional reading

Majority of US weapons promised to Ukraine in February delivered

Additional reading

Antisemitism animating Putin’s claim to ‘denazify’ Ukraine

Find also to read

Iran taunts Israel by testing missile named after medieval Jewish defeat

Additional reading

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Not a silent but (perhaps) less irritating year

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