Tipping Points Everywhere: The Amazon, Russian Bombings & The Azov Battalion

In this episode, Alex talks about a new study that says the Amazon may be at a tipping point where it could be a savanna in several decades. He then discusses the recent bombings at a Ukrainian base near the Polish border, and how the threat of conflict between Russia and Nato may be approaching. Finally, he goes into the Azov Battalion, a neo-nazi group that is fighting against the Russians in Ukraine. In this episode:

• Alex discusses a study by the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. The study says that “the Amazon rainforest is reaching a tipping point where it is shifting from rainforest to more of a savanna.” This is obviously problematic because a savanna means that the trees are spread out and would not be able to trap the amount of carbon dioxide that is necessary to help from exasperating climate change. Alex also goes into how the atrocious policies of Jair Bolsanaro are making this situation worse. 

 

• Alex gives an update on the Ukrainian invasion. After the bombing of the Yavoriv near the Polish border on Sunday, the Guardian reported that “Britain said the incident marked a significant escalation of the conflict and the proximity of the attack to Poland’s border, less than 10 miles away, prompted the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to warn that any fire, even accidental, on a neighboring Nato country would trigger a full-force Nato response.” 

 

• Alex gives background and analysis of the Azov Battalion. This is a neo-nazi group that has been somewhat absorbed into the Ukrainian National Guard and is helping to fight against the Russians. Alex mentions that this group’s existence and support from some Ukrainians may have helped justify Putin’s denazification of Ukraine.