world

Tuesday April 5, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday April 5, 2016 Kill it, spin it Ð Putin will do anything to stifle the Panama Papers story The Panama Papers are a wake-up call for anyone who may have doubted how deeply cronyism and corruption are rooted into RussiaÕs leadership. But for those who have followed the inner workings of PutinÕs presidency for the past 16 years or so, they are as much confirmation as revelation. What will be truly fascinating is watching how this new mass of information is dealt with by the Putin regime over time, and how this might affect an already tense relationship between the Kremlin and the west. The first time a large amount of information was leaked about RussiaÕs power system was in 2010, when a trove of US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks described a Òvirtual mafia stateÓ and a system in which the Russian president allegedly used proxies to hide Òillicit wealthÓ. These documents were damaging enough, detailing a kleptocratic authoritarian system where Russian officials, oligarchs and organised crime came together to amass large fortunes. At the time, the Kremlin dismissed this as Ònothing interesting or worthy of commentÓ. One key difference today is that the Panama Papers have emerged at a time when relations between Russia and the west are at an all-time low. When the WikiLeaks documents were published, the US and Russia were still officially in a ÒresetÓ phase, with pledges of cooperation on issues ranging from Afghanistan to nuclear disarmament. But since then, itÕs all been downhill. The Russian government spoke earlier this year of a Ònew cold warÓ. Russian strategic bomber planes have flown over parts of Europe. Nato and the US are deploying new forces in the east of the continent. RussiaÕs annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine have led to western sanctions. Along with low oil prices, this has put RussiaÕs economy under severe strain Ð with many analysts wondering whether that might

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 5, 2016

Kill it, spin it – Putin will do anything to stifle the Panama Papers story

The Panama Papers are a wake-up call for anyone who may have doubted how deeply cronyism and corruption are rooted into Russia’s leadership. But for those who have followed the inner workings of Putin’s presidency for the past 16 years or so, they are as much confirmation as revelation.

What will be truly fascinating is watching how this new mass of information is dealt with by the Putin regime over time, and how this might affect an already tense relationship between the Kremlin and the west.

The first time a large amount of information was leaked about Russia’s power system was in 2010, when a trove of US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks described a “virtual mafia state” and a system in which the Russian president allegedly used proxies to hide “illicit wealth”. These documents were damaging enough, detailing a kleptocratic authoritarian system where Russian officials, oligarchs and organised crime came together to amass large fortunes. At the time, the Kremlin dismissed this as “nothing interesting or worthy of comment”.

One key difference today is that the Panama Papers have emerged at a time when relations between Russia and the west are at an all-time low. When the WikiLeaks documents were published, the US and Russia were still officially in a “reset” phase, with pledges of cooperation on issues ranging from Afghanistan to nuclear disarmament. But since then, it’s all been downhill. The Russian government spoke earlier this year of a “new cold war”. Russian strategic bomber planes have flown over parts of Europe. Nato and the US are deploying new forces in the east of the continent. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine have led to western sanctions.

Along with low oil prices, this has put Russia’s economy under severe strain – with many analysts wondering whether that might lead to more aggressive ultra-nationalism in Moscow. Arguably, one key turning point, in this deterioration of relations with the west, came when the Russian regime accused Washington of stoking street demonstrations against the regime in 2011-12. (Continued: The Guardian)

 

Posted to Le Vif, L’express, Brussels, Belgium

Thursday January 8, 2014

Thursday January 8, 2014Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 8, 2014

12 dead, shooters on the run, after ‘terror’ attack at Paris newspaper

A French police official says 12 people are dead in a shooting at a satirical weekly newspaper in central Paris and the attackers are still at large.

Four more people are in critical condition and an additional 20 have been injured, police said.

Two of the dead are police officers. French media reported the weekly’s chief editor and other staff were among the dead.

Paris has been put on the highest state of alert for a terrorist attack.

“France is in a state of shock,” French President Francois Hollande said at the scene of Wednesday’s shooting at Charlie Hebdo.

“Journalists and police were killed,” Holland said.

Hollande called it “a terrorist attack, there is no doubt. We must show we are a country united.”

The French newspaper Le Figaro reported the satirical cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier and two others cartoonists were dead.

The French newspaper Le Monde also quoted several police sources as saying Charbonnier, who is also direction of publication, and cartoonist Riss were among the dead.

A few minutes before the shooting, Charlie Hebdo’s Twitter account published a Charbonnier cartoon that said, “Best wishes, to al-Baghdadi also,” a reference to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who is called the leader of the violent terrorist group Islamic State.

Charlie Hebdo’s cover this week is on Submission, a book by Michel Houellebecq released Wednesday, which is sparking controversy with its depiction of a fictional France of the future led by an Islamic party and a Muslim president who bans women from the workplace.

The attackers are on the run, Holland said. He said all potential terrorist targets have been put under the highest protection, adding that several possible attacks have been foiled in recent weeks.

From Washington, London, Brussels and Rome, leaders condemned the attack.

Most of the victims were part of the magazine’s newsroom, Matthieu Lamarre, a spokesman for the Paris Mayor’s office, said.

The solidarity slogan “Je suis Charlie” was quickly trending on Twitter.

The satirical weekly has drawn repeated threats for its caricatures of the Prophett Mohammed, among other controversial sketches. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Graeme’s Gallery 2014: World

An exclusive gallery of International cartoons (not included in the print edition of the Spectator)…
Graeme Gallery 2014 - World, International

September 5, 2014
October 22, 2014
March 4, 2014
July 18, 2014
February 6, 2014
February 20, 2014

 

Coming tomorrow: Graeme’s Gallery, the Ontario edition

Wednesday December 24, 2014

2014-12-24bEditorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, (Originally drawn in 2001) – Wednesday December 24, 2014

Tale of 1914 Christmas Day Truce Is Inspiring

The Christmas Truce, when British and German soldiers were said to have suddenly stopped fighting on the Western Front for a few hours on Christmas Day 1914, is written in history.

What started with the singing of “Stille Nacht” on the German side, followed by a response of “Silent Night,” was said to have included an impromptu soccer game on the No Man’s Land between the opposing trenches.

“We all grew up with the story of soldiers from both sides putting down their arms on Christmas Day when gunfire gave way to gifts,” Prince William said at a ceremony in England two weeks ago to unveil a memorial to the event.

“Football,” the prince continued, “has the power to bring people together and break down barriers. It is vital that 100 years on, we keep the Christmas Truce story alive. It remains wholly relevant today as a message of hope and humanity, even in the bleakest of times.”

Hope and humanity and perhaps, ultimately, futility.

Soccer is a remarkable game that crosses boundaries around this world. But whatever took place on that day a century ago did not stop the carnage that took an estimated 16 million lives, nor did it break down barriers to prevent wars today.

“Sport, not war” has to be among the most contrite of phrases.

The sculpture unveiled by Prince William was designed by a 10-year-old boy, Spencer Turner. It depicts two hands clasped in friendship inside the outline of a ball. It is simple, brilliant and full of boyish hope.

And grown men are running with that hope. There have been re-enactments of the reported No Man’s Land game, including a match between the British Army and German Army teams in Aldershot, England, and a game in Belgium this week near the Flemish field where the truce happened. (Continued: New York Times)

Friday August 30, 2013

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The HamiltonSpectator -

Obama: ‘No decision yet’ on Syria strike

US President Barack Obama has said he has not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria.

But he said he had concluded Syrian government forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Speaking on US television, Mr Obama said the use of chemical weapons affected US national interests and that sending a “shot across the bows” could have a positive impact on Syria’s war.

His comments follow a day of behind-the-scenes wrangling at the UN.

The UK had been pushing for permanent members of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution which would have authorised measures to protect civilians in Syria.

But Syrian ally Russia refused to agree to the resolution and the meeting produced no end to the diplomatic stalemate which has long characterised the UN position on Syria.

The US State Department criticised “Russian intransigence” and said it could not allow diplomatic paralysis to serve as a shield for the Syrian leadership.

Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the eastern Mediterranean.

The ships are being sent to strengthen the navy’s presence in the area because of the “well-known situation” there, the Russian news agency Interfax has said. (Source: BBC News)

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