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Tor Kr. Birkeland

@torkristianx.bsky.social
56 followers 83 following 70 posts

Peacebuilding, nonviolence, democracy, arms trade regulation. Author of Turkey - The Middle Kingdom / Tyrkia - hele historien kort fortalt. English and Norwegian.

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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Svarer @pcfrolich.bsky.social i E24 om ikkevold vs. vold. e24.no/internasjona...
e24.no
Vold er farligere enn ikkevold
Fredsbevegelsen kan ikke svare på alt det gale som sies om den eller fredspolitikk, men når kilden er lederen for Utenriks- og forsvarskomiteen på Stortinget, må vi si ifra om de viktigste feilene og ...
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
For anybody scratching their heads about Turkey now. Professor Berk Esen explains how this is clearly against the constitution. "So at this point I don't know what to expect from the legal process."
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2... This is reminiscent of the madman warlord Joseph Kony of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda who said he would fight until nobody wanted to fight any more.
theguardian.com
Middle East crisis live: US to block Iranian ports for ‘as long as it takes’ and is ready to restart combat if talks fail, Hegseth warns
Pentagon chief said that the US is ‘reloading with more power than before’ and Iran has choice of ‘the easy way or the hard way’
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Not sure why @rutgerbregman.com didn't post this himself here. If you'll only watch one Instagram post this month, watch this. www.instagram.com/reel/DReWPuKjX1e/
instagram.com
Login • Instagram
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
A good take on Putin and Netanyahu. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Trump refuses to accept that for Netanyahu and Putin forever war is the only option | Simon Tisdall
The US president thought he could impose peace through sheer personality, but he didn’t reckon with two leaders with so much to lose, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Horrible reality. Very well put.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
The 220 top buyers of Trump's memecoin will have dinner with him at his golf club tonight. The average price of admission is $1M per person. Trump is literally selling access to government to the highest bidders.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Good stuff indeed! If you're curious about the conclusion, the workshop identified four urgent tasks: 1. Establishing a consortium like Coders without Borders or a similar collaborative to connect AI developers with democracy movements.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
This seems pretty significant, no?
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Den beste nyheten i dag, på Norges grunnlovsdag: Den svenske journalisten Joakim Medin er hjemme etter 51 dager i tyrkisk fengsel! www.etc.se/story/joakim...
etc.se
Joakim Medin är hemma
Efter 51 dagar fängslad i Turkiet är Dagens ETC-journalisten Joakim Medin hemma.
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SIPRI.bsky.social @sipri.org · 09/05/2025
#FactFriday ➡️ Military spending increased in all world regions, with particularly rapid growth in both Europe and the Middle East. Explore the data: www.sipri.org/databases/milex Accurate, dependable information matters more than ever. Invest in the facts. Support #SIPRI: bit.ly/4gI9QkX
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Imamoğlu's lawyer was arrested. Now the lawyer's lawyer has been arrested. What could possibly happen next? 🤔
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
"So ask yourself the question: what’s the “great honour and glory” of your life? What do you hope one day to look back on?" Inspiring by @rutgerbregman.com www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Turks feeling insulted every time Atatürk is criticized or labeled as a dictator, is one important factor keeping democracy at bay in Turkey.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
A thriller of a 1984-type story from China, very well written by @murongxuecun.bsky.social. A shorter version is available at The Guardian with the title " ‘Why would he take such a risk?’ My censor and me" madeinchinajournal.com/2025/04/03/m...
madeinchinajournal.com
Me and My Censor | Made in China Journal
When Liu Lipeng first contacted me in July 2020, I was still in China. I initially wanted to write this as a fictional short story, but I didn’t have the courage to do it at the time because it would ...
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
There are weekly, nonviolent protests in Slovakia, against the Russia-leaning prime minister. They build on the successful ousting of a neo-Nazi governor in 2017. "Our key message since December 2024 is simple: 'Slovakia is Europe. We are Europe'." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
In Slovakia, our grassroots movement helped oust a neo-Nazi. We can do it again | Alexandra Bitušíková
Professor Alexandra Bitušíková explains how face-to-face local activism was crucial in bringing down the neo-Nazi People’s Party Our Slovakia
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Her omtales Kongsberg Gruppen som en av de mest omsatte aksjene på børsen. I en verden hvor normale folk ønsker å unngå krig, er det samtidig mest normalt å tjene penger på krig. Dette kunne vi endret på hvis vi ville. e24.no/boers-og-fin...
e24.no
Oslo Børs raser etter tollsjokk: – Litt krisestemning
Global børssmell og kraftig oljeprisfall sender børsgiganter rett ned.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Turks are leaving X for Bluesky because X is censoring users upon requests from the Turkish authoritarian government.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
So, will it be a pro-democracy movement in Turkey or simply a CHP or frustration movement? I'm thinking demanding the release of Demirtaş would be a sign that it's pro-democracy.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
There are 35 billionaires in Turkey whose combined wealth is almost three times that of the poorest 42.5 million in the country (i.e. the bottom 50%.) Which puts the current protests in a broader context than simply anti-Erdoğan.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Will we see a peak participation higher than 3.5% of the population in Turkey at a key event?
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
They're active in construction and energy because that's where the real money is. They use their media ownership to provide regime-friendly news in exchange for huge government contracts in construction and energy.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
"the presidency said Medin was 'known for anti-Turkey news,'" but also added “This arrest decision has no connection whatsoever to journalistic activities." So...known for news, not journalistic activities. Makes perfect sense. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
theguardian.com
Turkey says Swedish journalist detained on terror charges and for ‘insulting the president’
Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, was arrested on Thursday when his plane landed
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
1/7. In case you haven’t been following, here is a short summary of the misnamed Russian-American "peace process" regarding Ukraine.
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Turkish Minute @turkishminute.com · 27/03/2025
CHP officially names jailed mayor its presidential candidate
turkishminute.com
CHP officially names jailed mayor its presidential candidate - Turkish Minute
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has officially declared Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed mayor of İstanbul, its candidate for president. The decision was made unanimously during...
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Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Har deltagit i ett informativt heldagsmöte på Utrikespolitiska institutet om Syrien. Nästa alla Syrienexperter jag hör säger samma sak: Lyft sanktionerna igår! Syrien behöver massivt stöd nu! Al Sharaa är ingen ängel men alternativen är värre. Sverige & EU bör agera omedelbart. Det är sent.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Excellent from @selimkoru.bsky.social kulturkampftr.substack.com/p/turkey-res...
kulturkampftr.substack.com
Turkey Resists
By arresting İmamoğlu, Erdoğan banks on public apathy. He's getting the opposite.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
There's a lot of humor in the current protests in Turkey. I'll post some of it in this thread. This poster says "The elves and dwarves didn't like each other, but together they defeated Sauron."
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
To my Turkish brothers and sisters who might need it these days: Ten tips for keeping your protests nonviolent when some in your group get violent: 1. De-escalate Immediately – Speak calmly to the individual(s) and urge them to stop, reminding them that the protest is nonviolent.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Like peeing your pants to stay warm, as we say in Norway.
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Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
A thread about doing science in Trump’s America.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“In my six decades of legal practice, I have never witnessed a trial as unfair as the one against Greenpeace that just ended in the courts of North Dakota … Greenpeace has a very strong case on appeal." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Greenpeace must pay at least $660m over Dakota pipeline protests, says jury
Non-profit, which will appeal decision, says lawsuits like this are aimed at ‘destroying the right to peaceful protest’
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Waging Nonviolence @wagingnonviolence.org · 18/03/2025
There is a robust pro-democracy majority in America, but it needs to be more vocal and take action to defend our shared values.
wagingnonviolence.org
There's a new silent majority — and they need to be activated
There is a robust pro-democracy majority in America, but it needs to be more vocal and take action to defend our shared values.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Men kjære VG, hva ble han dømt for? Fire tiltalepunkter, men hva? Ville dere slått dere til ro med å beskrive en voldtekt, et drap eller skatteunndragelse kun som "en forbrytelse"? www.vg.no/nyheter/i/63...
vg.no
Jan Petrovskij (Voislav Torden) dømt for krigsforbrytelser i Ukraina
Jan Petrovskij, som kaller seg Voislav Torden, ble funnet skyldig i fire av fem tiltalepunkter.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
"If there isn’t [a Tesla Takedown protest] at the Tesla showroom nearest you, you can start one just by showing up with some friends or family, maybe making some cardboard signs." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk targeted me over Tesla protests. That proves our movement is working
I’ve always believed the people are powerful. Now we know the world’s richest man does too
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Trudeau: I want to speak first directly to the American people… your government has chosen to do this to you. Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk. They have chosen to raise costs for American consumers on everyday essential items…
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
The Separation of Powers in the US system is squeaking and rattling surprisingly loudly. Only now do they seem to discover all the loose bolts. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Trump’s firing of watchdog agency chief illegal and would give ‘license to bully officials’, judge rules
Case is seen as early test of scope of presidential authority as Trump seeks to rein in federal agencies’ independence
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 01/03/2025
This was the plan all along
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Make America a Banana Republic
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Er Musk en "sløserijeger"? Det er rent tøv, og at NRK kaller ham det, skaper et inntrykk av at det er sløsing dette handler om. Det gjør det ikke. Det handler om skattelettelser til seg selv i milliardklassen, finansiert ved å kutte i velferd som de fattigste nå får. www.nrk.no/urix/etater-...
nrk.no
Etater i USA ber ansatte ikke svare på krav fra Musk
Flere statlige etater i USA har bedt sine ansatte ikke følge sløserijeger Elon Musks pålegg om å skrive en erklæring om hva de har oppnådd den siste uken.
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Erica Chenoweth @chenoweth.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Powerful.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
What we hear is "Ukraine started the war" and other loud noise. Meanwhile, corruption is quietly legalized and normalized. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
theatlantic.com
Trump Says the Corrupt Part Out Loud
It’s infrastructure week, but for bribery.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
The irony of the richest man in the world almost single-handedly destroying an agency designed to help the world’s poor, so that the U.S. federal budget has more room for another giant tax cut for the richest man in the world and his pals, should not be lost on anyone. [Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Don't let Trump flood your zone. Stay focused. Keep your eye on what this corrupt regime is really doing — looting the government to line their own pockets with massive tax cuts and the ability to steer more federal contracts their way.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Får USAs upålitelighet noen innvirkning på Norges EU-motstandere, tro?
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Excellent by @rbreich.bsky.social "This is Trump’s game: huge demonstrations of power, wielded unpredictably. (...) He’s doing this for himself and for the world’s oligarchy, which, in turn, is busily siphoning off the wealth of the world." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
What is motivating Trump’s reckless trade war? | Robert Reich
The point is to show the world – not just Canada and Mexico – that he’s willing to mete out big punishments
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Erica Chenoweth @chenoweth.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
“All I know is that it was, apparently, possible to maintain a sense of facts and values — not only not to obey in advance but not to obey at all. If that was possible in the Soviet Union half a century ago, then it is certainly possible in the United States today.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | To Obey Trump or Not to Obey
The voluntarily surrender of the public’s power is how autocracies are built.
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
52% of gen. Z in UK think "the UK would be a better place if a strong leader was in charge who does not have to bother with parliament or elections." I doubt the situation is much better elsewhere. The future looks dark. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Here’s a shocking finding, gen Z: democracy isn’t perfect | David Mitchell
According to a new poll, half of our 13- to 27-year-olds can’t see the point of all those time-wasting elections and parliaments. Why do they not know that authoritarianism is worse?
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Tor Kr. Birkeland @torkristianx.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
1. Have no leader; making it harder for authorities to disrupt the protests. 2. All demonstrations must be peaceful, and any debris has to be cleaned up. 3. All decisions must be made democratically during hour-long plenary sessions in their university faculties. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
‘We are done with corruption’: how the students of Serbia rose up against the system
In a country grappling with weak rule of law, many seek freedom from a government long seen as authoritarian
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