Migrants on the Belarus-Poland border.
Image Credit: James Hill for the New York Times
November 15-19 News
1. US Capitol Riot ‘Q-Anon Shaman’ Arrest
Jacob Chansley, a so-called ‘Q-Anon Shaman’ and Trump supporter involved in the Storming of the US Capitol on January 6th of 2021, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony count of obstruction in an official proceeding. Chansley had previously told the FBI that he arrived at DC in January “at the request of the president” as all “patriots” were called to the city to protect American Democracy after the 2020 presidential elections. Despite now stating to have renounced his support for former President Donald Trump and Q-Anon, regretting his actions at the Capitol and saying that he has “no excuse” for such, Chansley has received one of the longest sentences given to the January 6th rioters so far. Only time will tell what other information is disclosed about the actions and intentions behind the January 6th Capitol riots, revealing more and more about Donald Trump’s last moments as US President.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59253090
2. Poland-Belarus Border Crisis
As dozens of refugee migrant families attempt to cross the border between Poland and Belarus, freezing temperatures and the lack of humanitarian aid have led to nine deaths and dozens of reported injuries conducted by border authorities. Poland has recently deployed border police firing teargas and water cannons at refugees, reinforcing its border fencing and blocking access from journalists and organizations seeking to help these migrants. Despite Poland’s disproportionate response to the situation (something which has breached humanitarian law according to the United Nations), its need to react has been seen as ‘understandable’ given that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has allegedly lured Middle Eastern migrants to the region, inciting a border crisis, subsequently making use of them as pawns for political gain. Lukashenko has played into the European Union’s (EU) policies by allowing the movement of migrants into EU territories. Given the organization’s immigration policies, always seeking to guarantee asylum to those in need, Poland is required to take in these refugees while Belarus rids itself of the ‘burden’ of Middle Eastern immigration into its territory, something which has increased substantially in the last few years. It is expected that more will still come to pass as the EU and UN respond to the situation.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/16/poland-belarus-border-crisis-eu-refugees
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/briefing/poland-belarus-border-crisis.html
3. Denmark Accuses the UK of Breaking Brexit Fishing Deal
Denmark has recently accused the UK of breaking a post-Brexit fishing deal over the ban of bottom trawling in a North Sea conservation zone, a ban promoted by environmentalists in an effort to see the resurgence of North Sea marine fauna. Denmark’s fisheries minister Rasmus Prehn had found the UK’s breach of the agreement “unacceptable,” further increasing post-Brexit tensions between the UK and EU member states. Denmark has committed to “promoting the long-term sustainability” of its surrounding marine fauna with the ban, something seen as critical as such environmental plans have been violated by the UK. Due to this, environmentalists have blamed the country for its lack of concern for the environment and harmful actions towards it, especially when it is not the environment of its own territory, an action seen both as selfish and unfair. Nevertheless, the British government has rejected the claim to its breach of the agreement, arguing that regulatory measures should be discussed between the two countries to solve the supposed issue.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
[Research conducted by Global Politics student Catarina Esteves]
EAC PRESS 