"On the Barricades" — s04e48 #OntheBarricades #otb #Ukraine #classtruggle #workingclass #Russia #EasternEurope ?? Please, support us via PayPal at https://paypal.me/thebarricade or by becoming a Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thebarricade ?? Olena Lyunchenko, a PhD candidate at York University in Toronto, came On the Barricades to discuss how she experienced some of the reactions that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Olena is the author of the brilliant article “On the Frontier of Whiteness? Expropriation, War, and Social Reproduction in Ukraine” in which she first tackled the issue of the hypocritical reactions to the severe crisis in her country. She was brave enough to denounce the theatrics of the Housing Corporations in Canada. Just months ago, they were evicting migrants who were unable to pay rent due to the Covid pandemic. However, they suddenly discovered their humane side in offering shelter to Ukrainian refugees. Olena Lyubchenko and Maria Cernat debate the booming Ukrainian surrogacy business and its political economy. Why did Ukraine become such a hub for wealthy Westerners in search of surrogate mothers? How do race, gender, and class contribute to this situation? Join us On the Barricades to find out more about it! Check out the hosts' channels on Telegram ??? Maria ➡️ https://t.me/maria_cernat Boyan ➡️ https://t.me/BoyanStanislavski ?Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TheBarricade ? Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/thebarricade ? Spotify: http://bit.ly/Barricade_SF ? SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/baricada ? Facebook: https://facebook.com/EnBaricada/ ? Twitter: https://twitter.com/_the_barricade_ ?? Please, support us via PayPal at https://paypal.me/thebarricade or by becoming a Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thebarricade ?? ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNHGSfpq29Q

Last month the Romanian Parliament was the scene of a verbal confrontation unprecedented in Romanian politics, which resulted in the leader of AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) publicly threatening Diana Șoșoaca with sexual assault. In January, Romanian hauliers and farmers tried to blockade Bucharest, the Romanian capital, to make their demands heard. Maria Cernat talks to Bojan Stanisłavski about the events. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSS3XgUhDsA

While we were discussing NATO and Bulgaria Arto brought up an important point re the nature of capitalism. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YinZSj2zTAw

? Telegram: https://t.me/the_barricade ? Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebarricade ? Thanks so much! In the latest episode of "On the Barricades," host Boyan Stanislavski welcomes Urszula Kuczyńska, a distinguished commentator and former politician of the social-democratic Razem party, for an insightful discussion on the tumultuous landscape of Polish politics following the recent seismic shift in power. As the opposition takes the helm, the duo delves into the ramifications of this unexpected political transition, examining the challenges, controversies, and consequences that have emerged in its wake. From the opposition's readiness to govern to the impact on democracy, women's rights, and the LGBT community, Stanislavski and Kuczyńska offer a comprehensive analysis of the current state of affairs in Poland, shedding light on the historical resentments that continue to shape its politics and the potential paths forward amidst escalating conflicts and legal crises. 00:07 ― 02:00 **Introduction and Overview**: The hosts set the stage by introducing the current political climate in Poland, emphasizing the unexpected victory of the former opposition led by @DonaldTusk over the until-recently ruling Law and Justice party @pisorgpl They express intrigue over the series of events that have unfolded since the former opposition's takeover, hinting at the complexities and challenges that lie ahead in navigating the political landscape. 02:00 ― 04:00 **Lack of Preparedness of the Opposition**: A deeper dive into the former opposition's readiness reveals a stark lack of preparation for governance. The hosts discuss how the coalition of coalitions led by @PlatformaRP despite their victory, clearly seemed to lack a clear, coherent plan for leading the country, raising questions about their ability to effectively manage the responsibilities of government and parliament. 04:00 ― 06:00 **Impact on Democracy and Liberal Values**: Concerns are raised about the broader implications of the opposition's actions and stance on the foundational principles of democracy and liberal values in Poland. The discussion touches on how the current political dynamics might affect the practice of democracy, the respect for liberal values, and the overall health of parliamentary practices in the nation. 06:00 ― 08:00 **Women's Rights and Abortion Laws**: The conversation turns to the critical issue of women's rights, specifically focusing on abortion laws. Participants critically assess the opposition's commitments made during their campaign and the apparent failure to follow through on these promises, reflecting on the impact of this inaction on the movement for women's rights in Poland. 08:00 ― 10:00 **LGBT Community's Expectations vs. Reality**: The expectations of the LGBT community from the new government are juxtaposed against the reality of the political support they have received. The hosts explore the gap between the promises made to the LGBT community and the tangible actions (or lack thereof) taken by the new government to address their concerns and rights. 10:00 ― 12:00 **Historical Resentments Shaping Politics**: The discussion delves into the historical context, exploring how longstanding resentments and grievances from the past continue to shape the current political narrative in Poland. The hosts contemplate the influence of historical events on the cyclical nature of political power struggles and the challenges this poses for moving forward. 12:00 ― 14:00 **Controversial Actions by the New Ruling Coalition**: Attention is drawn to a series of controversial actions undertaken by the new ruling coalition, including the jailing of key political figures associated with the previous government and the aggressive takeover of state media. These actions are scrutinized for their potential to exacerbate political tensions and undermine democratic norms. 14:00 ― 16:00 **Legal and Constitutional Crises**: The legal and constitutional ramifications of the new government's actions are examined in detail. The hosts discuss the ensuing crises within Poland's judiciary system, highlighting the challenges and controversies surrounding the legality and constitutionality of the government's recent actions. 16:00 ― 18:00 **Escalation of Political Conflict**: The escalating political conflict is a cause for concern, with the hosts expressing apprehension about the deepening divisions within Polish society. They reflect on the potential consequences of continued escalation and the need for a resolution to prevent further polarization and escalation. 18:00 **Reflections on Political Stability and Governance**: The hosts reflect on the pressing need for stable, responsible governance in Poland. They emphasize the importance of transcending entrenched political divisions and adopting a more collaborative, thoughtful approach to governance in order to effectively address the complex challenges facing the nation. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A25ZSh2zhJc