Plaidcast  |  World

Russia Shields Syria…sez Nyet! to UN

• Middle East
• World
• In Other News
• European Eurasia

The violence continues to escalate in Syria, where the entrenched regime of Bashar al-Assad continues a bloody repression of protestors who are trying to bring the ‘Arab Spring’ revolution to their country. In the latest news, Russia has now publicly stated that there is no way in hell they will allow any UN-sponsored and NATO-led invasion of Syria—the likes of which toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi last year. Say what? Why would Russia openly support a civilian-slaughtering regime? The Professor talks about some of the reasons for this Russian promise of a veto at the UN, and also why the Syrian regime has lasted longer than other Arab dictatorships which have bitten the dust much quicker.

Keywords: Syria, regime, Russia, veto, UN, Security Council, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Arab Spring, weapons, revolution

In Other News…Europe on the Eur-ropes?

• World
• In Other News
• European Eurasia

A bunch of seemingly unrelated stories are unfolding concurrently in Europe that really get at the heart of the struggle for the future of the European Union. Protests for/against states rights in Hungary; a referendum for EU membership in Croatia; and even a downgrading of credit rating to most of the Eurozone countries all play into a broader picture of where the European Union as a unit is heading. Will it become the “United States of Europe,” or will countries start bailing out of the organization altogether? Only time will tell, but get the latest lowdown on the EU from the Professor right here!

Keywords: EU, European Union, Hungary, protests, Croatia, referendum, membership, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, UK,

Professor Rant: SOPA stopper = Return of Democracy

• World
• In Other News
• The Americas

In the first full-on raging rant of the semester, the Professor talks about the deeper and more thought-provoking impact of the SOPA/PIPA internet protest that occurred yesterday, and how it reflects a new wave of democratic expression in the US. That is, it wasn’t just about internet freedoms and the power of innovation it brings, but also how the movement itself physically unfolded via social networking…a mechanism that mirrors other protests around the planet that are delivering power to the people, and out of the hands of corporations/kings/dictators in general. Power to the peeps, baby!

Keywords: SOPA, PIPA, Wikipedia, Google, Apple, iAuthor, MPAA, Arab Spring, social networking, protest, black-out, innovation

A Look Forward to 2012

• World
• In Other News

This plaidcast takes a 30-minute tour around the globe to look at likely trends, winners, and losers for the year ahead. Which countries and regions will continue to do awesome and/or improve their fortunes? Which ones will flounder and fail? Watch as Professor Pundit hypothesizes about the major global themes and situations that he will be expecting to rise or fall in 2012.

Keywords: BRIC, Brazil, China, India, Turkey, Australia, South America, US, Pakistan, Burma, Cuba, democracy, Africa, Japan, Europe, Russia, Mexico, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria

World Leaders Shake-Down in 2012

• World
• In Other News

As promised last podcast, the Professor now looks forward to the new year of 2012 to inform you of the details of the significant shift of world leadership going down in the next 365 days. From new leaders to be tested in North Korea, Italy and Spain; to election cycles in US, Mexico, France, Russia, and Taiwan; to major turnovers in China, Palestine and possibly Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen…the parade of new faces started in 2011 is going to be accelerated significantly in the coming year, and the Professor wants you to be in the know!

Related Plaidcasts:
In Other News…2011 World Leaders in Review!

Keywords: world leaders

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