top case

NUCLEAR BOMBS: Oppenheimer is an epic biographical thriller. But the film about the enigmatic man has its weaknesses. A proposal to most people with entertainment instead of facts?

FOR: The left-wing parties have put aside international work, the press is a microphone stand for NATO, the peace movement has become toothless – and Norwegians are a nation of cold warriors. Therefore a new party is needed!

FUTURE: Are we moving towards an international society that takes care of those who fall outside the established working life – and wisely converts today's military industry towards civilian tasks? It is possible that the new BRICS may point the way away from current Western ideology.

REFUGEES: In Sicily, MODERN TIMES meets Morgan Lescot on the rescue ship Ocean Viking for a conversation about boat refugees, challenges and Europe's responsibility. Is this a tragedy that will only increase?

JOURNALISM: In August, top American journalist Chris Hegdes visited Oslo to discuss Julian Assange's case. Assange has not only risked his career as a brilliant computer expert, but his entire life for the right to let the truth come out.

FILM FESTIVAL/CLIMATE: In the wake of the catastrophic forest fires on Evvia, the Greek island has had its own film festival, which is fittingly also a meeting point for discussing climate, environment and sustainability.

UKRAINE: Monuments and streets in honor of Nazi collaborators and neo-fascists in Ukraine with money from the US and the EU? For example, in cities all over Ukraine, many monuments have now been erected to Bandera – a Ukrainian Nazi collaborator. Or how about the 'Street of Heroes of the Azov Battalion' – a neo-fascist paramilitary formation? Socialist and communist symbols – from the red flag to the performance of the "Internationale" – are prohibited. So are all left-wing parties.

WATER: Do we know the figures behind today's water consumption? For example, cotton from the fashion industry accounts for 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions – more than aviation and shipping combined. It costs 2700 liters of water to produce a cotton T-shirt. 140 liters of water to produce a cup of coffee. And one kilogram of beef requires a whopping 14 liters of water. Must we always let capitalism trump the future?

COMMUNITY: The need to stem the fear of an uncertain future is great today. Racism, xenophobia, violence and authoritarianism are growing all over the world. We present here some alternatives to this.

RAPE: Russian soldiers today systematically use sexualized violence. And these abuses are not just due to 'bad discipline' or abuse of power. Commanders can also use sexualized violence as a kind of reward for their soldiers. Internationally, Russian officials categorically deny that soldiers have committed sexual crimes

EQUIPMENT: That the rest of the world, apart from the West, does not stand on the side of Norway, the USA and NATO when it comes to Ukraine today, is not surprising when we know the centuries of looting and colonial times, followed by imperialist wars and Western-backed coups. It is still "war and weapons that create peace" that is the narrative. Stop the race to a possible world war!

PROPAGANDA: Leaked classified intelligence documents from the White House revealed in April that Ukraine was soon facing a dramatic defeat – quite different from the propaganda we had all long heard. In this essay, our regular writer, John Y. Jones, looks at the many sides of propaganda – as we are today increasingly surrounded by fake news, unsubstantiated claims and politically biased information.

NORD STREAM: Does NRK allow itself to be led into propaganda? In the Shadow War about the blowing up of the Nord Stream, key information about the strong presence of Western ships is omitted, in order to direct suspicion towards two Russian ships.

PROPAGANDA: The documentary The Big Lie is the story of Jeremy Corbyn, Labor and the rot in British politics. Lord Keir, Keir Starmer, threw himself into the fight against his Labor predecessor with an appetite that only Stalin could display in eradicating former party veterans. And when commissioned reports about Corbyn's 'anti-Semitism' could not be confirmed, Starmer's method became to prevent direct dissemination of these. Rather, Starmer's people pulled out opportune parts which they propagandistically spread. Starmer could now become Britain's next prime minister.

PROPAGANDA:Learning the art of "lying masterfully" is important for all propagandists

iDEOLOGY: By agreeing on a suitable 'enemy', a disintegrated society finds coherence, energy and meaning. A totalitarian propaganda has led to the conclusion that Ukraine will now be allowed to use F-16 jets against the nuclear power Russia – with the major consequences this may entail.

VISUALLY: Graphic satire has become a weapon. The first 'caricature war' arose between Protestants and Catholics. Caricature is about – also in Ukraine and Russia – increasing morale in one's own ranks by ridiculing the enemy with all possible means and stereotypes – and praising one's own side.

ECOLOGY: On the one hand, plastic replaces more polluting building materials. On the other hand, we have enormous amounts of plastic waste. We have produced 7 billion tonnes of plastic as of today.

NAMIBIA: Dependence on Russian gas, Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine and provoked supply crises have put energy at the center of European politics. But in Namibia, the plan is now to focus on 'green' electricity where seawater is desalinated and produces hydrogen through electrolysis.

ARAB MOVIE DAYS: "Boy from Heaven" is first and foremost a well-composed suspense film, but at the same time gives an exciting insight into religious environments and political lines of conflict in today's Egypt.

SATIRE: MODERN TIMES has spoken to seven Ukrainian and one Russian cartoonist, all associated with the Libex network, about how they view their work in relation to the war in Ukraine.

UKRAINE: MODERN TIMES' regular commentator, John Y. Jones, gives us here in this essay (via Jacques Baud) an overview of the balance of power, the progression of the Ukraine war, the propaganda threat, the Russians' intentions and Western reactions, the Nazi accusations and lies campaigns.

ECOLOGY: Is it possible to have an earth free of war, a society free of violence, a love free of lies and a life free of anxiety? As someone has said: «It starts with water.» Here we look at three communities.

DAY SUNSHINE: There are now over 400 pages of critical interpretation and analysis of Dag Solstad's novel literature – from the philosophical journal Agora.

JENIN THEATRE: Recently many Palestinians were killed in Jenin. What does Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation entail in today's desperate situation? For The Freedom Theater in Jenin, the answer is still a cultural intifada. A performance is now being shown at the Human festival in Oslo.