Eleanor Sharpston now @akulith.bsky.social

Today, Alex Pretti should have turned 38 years old. RETWEET to honor Pretti's life on his birthday ❤️

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En juillet 1941, dans le cauchemar vivant du camp de concentration d’Auschwitz, un sergent polonais nommé Franciszek Gajowniczek entendit les mots qui signifiaient sa mort — et s’effondra à genoux en pleurant pour sa femme et ses enfants. Saviez-vous qu’à ce moment précis, alors que presque toute espérance avait été brisée, un homme s’avança calmement et proposa de mourir à sa place ? Voici ce qui s’est passé. Un prisonnier s’était évadé, et les nazis étaient furieux. Leur règle tordue était simple : pour chaque évasion, dix hommes choisis au hasard seraient enfermés dans un bunker de la faim pour mourir lentement. C’était leur manière d’écraser toute idée de liberté. Franciszek était un mari. Un père. Et quand son numéro fut appelé, il s’effondra. « Ma femme ! Mes enfants ! » cria-t-il, sachant qu’il ne les reverrait jamais. Alors, du milieu des prisonniers affamés en uniformes rayés, un homme s’avança. Amaigri, épuisé, comme tous les autres. Mais sa voix était calme. « Je suis prêtre catholique, » dit-il simplement. « Je n’ai pas de famille. Laissez-moi prendre sa place. » Il s’appelait Maximilien Kolbe. Il avait 47 ans. Et il venait de faire un choix qui allait résonner à travers les générations. Avant la guerre, Kolbe était un moine franciscain — un érudit, un écrivain, un homme qui avait consacré sa vie à la foi et à la bonté. Quand les nazis envahirent la Pologne en 1939, il ne se cacha pas. Il abrita des réfugiés juifs dans son monastère. Il continua à imprimer des journaux qui disaient la vérité, à une époque où la vérité était dangereuse. Pour ce courage, la Gestapo l’arrêta en 1941 et l’envoya à Auschwitz comme prisonnier 16670. Même là — dans ce lieu conçu pour ôter toute humanité — Kolbe devint une lumière silencieuse. Il partageait ses maigres rations. Murmurait des prières. Consolait les brisés. Et quand le moment arriva, il offrit sa vie. Les gardes acceptèrent. Kolbe et neuf autres furent enfermés dans le bunker de la faim — une cellule sans fenêtres où ils devaient mourir de soif et de faim. Pendant deux semaines atroces, Kolbe tint bon. Un à un, les autres moururent. Mais Kolbe ne désespéra pas. Il guida les prières. Chanta des hymnes. Tena la main des mourants et leur rappela qu’ils n’étaient pas seuls. Le 14 août 1941, impatients de vider le bunker, les gardes lui injectèrent de l’acide phénique. Il mourut le bras tendu, paisible jusqu’au bout. Et Franciszek ? Il survécut. Il sortit vivant d’Auschwitz et de la guerre. Il retrouva sa femme et ses enfants. Et pendant 52 ans — jusqu’en 1995 — il raconta l’histoire de Kolbe à tous ceux qui voulaient l’entendre, afin que le monde n’oublie jamais. En 1982, le pape Jean-Paul II canonisa Kolbe, le qualifiant de « Martyr de la Charité ». Il fut la première personne canonisée pour être morte volontairement à la place d’un autre. J’aime la manière dont cet acte d’amour, longtemps oublié, nous rappelle que même dans les lieux les plus sombres, le choix d’une seule personne peut briller comme un phare. Kolbe ne venait ni du pouvoir ni du privilège dans ce camp — il venait du même enfer que les autres. Mais il a choisi la compassion quand le monde exigeait la cruauté. Il a choisi la vie d’un autre avant la sienne. Cela fait réfléchir : si un homme a pu faire cela à Auschwitz, que pourrions-nous faire avec ne serait-ce qu’une fraction de ce courage dans nos vies quotidiennes ? La prochaine fois que vous vous demandez si la bonté compte, pensez à Maximilien Kolbe avançant dans cette file — et partagez cette histoire pour que son sacrifice ne soit jamais oublié. 💙🕊️

I just walked by this poster. Four hours in Greenland, the hatred for Trump is palpable. Just finished two interviews. AG of Greenland and two nurses. Greenland citizens were recently told to get their rifles into working order. 57 k Greenlanders were told to clean and ready their weapons, gather five days of food, preparing for an invasion. 37k long rifles in Greenland. They are prepared to fight. Every single citizen. They still are. Yes NATO No PEDO.

I can relate to this.

Finland answered the call of a friend and ally, the United States, when it requested military assistance, even though Finland was not yet a member of NATO at the time. Finnish soldiers fought, were wounded, and lost their lives in that war. It is hard to imagine a more insulting statement from the leader of a country that has received help and support than to belittle those who provided that assistance and made such sacrifices.

Vsevolod Kozhemyako is a Ukrainian billionaire. He did not flee the country when russia launched its full-scale invasion. He did not relocate his assets, hire lobbyists, or issue carefully worded statements from a safe distance. Instead, Vsevolod took up arms and went to the front. He used his own resources to form and equip a volunteer unit that later became known as the Khartia Battalion. Today, he does not merely fund this battalion — he serves with it. His unit has been engaged in some of the hardest fighting in the Kharkiv region, directly confronting russian forces where the war is most brutal and least forgiving. This fact alone dismantles a persistent and convenient myth: that Ukraine’s war is fought only by the poor, the desperate, or the expendable, while the wealthy remain insulated from sacrifice. In Ukraine, people from every social class have been pulled into the same existential struggle. Teachers have become medics. Engineers have become drone operators. Business owners, professionals, and yes, even billionaires, have become soldiers. This war has stripped away the comfort of moral ambiguity. When a country is facing an attempt at erasure, there is no neutral ground. There is only the choice to defend what exists or to watch it be destroyed. Kozhemyako’s decision reflects a broader Ukrainian reality: responsibility is not outsourced, and survival is not someone else’s job. That is why Ukraine continues to fight, despite the imbalance of resources and the exhaustion of a fourth year of war. And that is why russia, despite its brutality and scale, has failed to achieve its aims. Ukraine is defended not by abstractions or narratives, but by people who chose to stay, to fight, and to carry the cost themselves. Source: Telegraph

Statement from the Premier of Greenland 🇬🇱 January 13, 2026 3:40 pm First and foremost, I would like to repeat: Greenland is not for sale. Today, we have discussed our cooperation between Greenland and Denmark. And let me clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland is based on the rule of law and democratic values with self-government under the Kingdom of Denmark. The situation is very very serious and geopolitical interests have put massive pressure on our country and its population. Greenland is, as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of NATO. We have great faith in the NATO-alliance. And know that NATO supports us in this situation. And the support from Europe and Denmark is absolutely crucial in the current situation. We stand together for the inviolability of territories, for democratic values and for the protection of democracy. Our goal and wish is to continue a peaceful dialogue based on cooperation with respect for our constitutional position, international law and the right to our country, and our right to self-determination. But there is one thing everybody must understand. • Greenland does not want to be owned by the USA. • Greenland does not want to be governed by the USA. • Greenland does not want to be part of the USA. We choose the Greenland, we know today, and which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. We face a geopolitical crisis. And if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO, we choose the Kingdom of Denmark, we choose the EU. It is not time for internal discussions and division. It is time to stand together and continue to build upon the community we know and the community we wish for. Source; Government of Greenland

The Premier of Greenland has just posted the following on his Facebook page, accompanied by a photo of all members of Parliament (photo from 2025): 🇬🇱 I know that many people are following the situation closely. And I fully understand if there is concern. That is why it is important to be absolutely clear. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and part of NATO through the Realm. This means that our security and defence belong within NATO. This is a fundamental and firm line. In these years, there is significant international attention on our country. Also within NATO. That in itself is positive. Our country has strategic importance, and our security matters. To us. To our allies. And to stability in the Arctic. Naalakkersuisut (Gov. of Greenland) will therefore work to ensure that the development of defence in and around Greenland takes place in close cooperation with NATO. In dialogue with our allies, including the United States. And in cooperation with Denmark. We are a democratic society that makes our own decisions. And our actions are based on international law and the rule of law 🇬🇱

Zelensky’s background in entertainment may have prepared him for handling the theater of Trump’s intervention in the war. He has the discipline of the actor pretending to believe a script that he knows to be false. Yes, he has on occasion “broken character,” as he did famously in that White House showdown, and let his frustrations show. But he has now perfected the script. He wants to keep Trump talking, which means he must pretend to take him seriously. He figured out a long time ago that for Trump the main thing is the media appearance. It’s the show. And the TV platform where Trump gets to be on center stage. The former comedian meets the former TV reality show star. Meanwhile Zelensky makes demands of his own against Trump and Putin which cleverly puts the onus for failure on them. This, to the contrary, shows a diplomatic skill one would not expect of a mere former comedian. It is truly masterful in such a situation where he supposedly has so few “cards.” This man has fundamentally been transformed by the experiences of the war. If he succeeds, historians will study it for centuries.

Truly delighted to see, in the New Year’s Honours list, that my colleagues from the CJEU Judge Christopher Vajda KC and Judge Ian Forrester KC have now received appropriate recognition for their service.

And I am looking forward just as much to working with @phatsilk_qc and @mcdermottkc!

@BohuslavskaKate The King doesn’t do politics, but when he needs to make a point it is unmistakable. This is him saying to the world Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Let's get the facts straight regarding Trump's newest statements about Greenland: 1) Greenland has been owned by Denmark since 1380 and is today a fully integrated but self-governing part of Denmark. Very much like Alaska is part of the USA. 2) The USA does not have any historical claims to Greenland. On contrary they have signed numerous treaties with Denmark recognising Danish ownership. 3) The USA does NOT need Greenland for national security. The USA already has a defence agreement with Denmark that allows the USA to have as much military presence as they want in Greenland. They have decided to only have 150 troops currently. Why? Because: 4) Neither China nor Russia have any presence in Greenland at all. No companies, no mining, no consulates. Nothing. And they do not threaten Greenland. The only threat against Greenland is the USA. x.com/Reuters/status…

Premier of Greenland 🇬🇱 statement this morning; This morning, I am both saddened and grateful 🇬🇱 Saddened, because during a press conference last night, the President of the United States once again expressed a desire to take over Greenland. With such statements, our country is reduced to a question of security and power. That is not how we see ourselves, and it is not how Greenland can or should be spoken about. We are a people with a long history, a strong culture, and a vibrant democracy. We are a country with responsibility for our own territory and for our own future. Our territorial integrity and our right to self-determination are firmly anchored in international law and cannot simply be ignored. That is also why I am grateful. Thank you to everyone here at home for the clear support and unity that has been shown. The calmness and dignity with which you have met this situation send a strong signal of a people who stand firm in their values and in their responsibility. I would also like to thank heads of government and partners around the world who have clearly and unequivocally expressed their respect for Greenland, for our democratic institutions, and for the fundamental principles of international law. That support confirms that we here at home do not stand alone. Once again: Greenland is our country. Decisions are made here. And I will at all times fight for our freedom and our right to decide for ourselves and to shape our own future. For now, I hope that the peace of Christmas can settle over us all. Merry Christmas 🇬🇱💙🇬🇱

There appears to be some confusion about the historical and legal foundations of the relationship between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. A brief clarification of the relevant facts may therefore be useful. Greenland was first settled by Norsemen in AD 985, when settlers from present-day Iceland - then part of the Norwegian cultural sphere - established communities in southern Greenland. At the time of their arrival, the areas in which they settled were uninhabited. It is therefore historically inaccurate to describe this settlement as “colonization” in the modern sense of the term. During the Middle Ages, Greenland followed Norway into the personal union with Denmark in 1380. When Denmark and Norway separated in 1814 under the Treaty of Kiel, Greenland remained under Danish sovereignty. The Norse settlements disappeared in the early fifteenth century. Danish presence in Greenland was re-established in 1721, initiating a continuous Danish administration that has lasted ever since. The United States formally and unequivocally recognized Danish sovereignty over Greenland in 1917, in connection with Denmark’s sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States. As part of that agreement, the United States explicitly acknowledged Denmark’s full sovereignty over Greenland. This recognition has never been revoked, qualified, or legally contested. During the Second World War, Denmark and the United States entered into close and pragmatic cooperation regarding Greenland’s defense. Following the German occupation of Denmark in 1940, the United States established a series of military installations in Greenland - the so-called Bluie bases - with Danish consent. This cooperation laid the foundation for the enduring strategic partnership between Denmark and the United States in the Arctic. That partnership was formalized in the 1951 Defense Agreement, which grants the United States exceptionally broad rights to operate military installations in Greenland. Few allied countries have ever extended such latitude to a partner power. The agreement reflects a high degree of Danish trust and a shared understanding of Greenland’s strategic importance. Certain adjustments were introduced with the Igaliku Agreement of 2004, which clarified consultation mechanisms and the role of Greenland’s Home Rule authorities. These modifications, however, did not fundamentally alter the wide operational freedom granted to the United States under the 1951 framework. In short, there is no historical, legal, or strategic rationale for reverting to nineteenth-century concepts of unilateral territorial revision or for questioning the international legal status of territories belonging to allied states. Such ideas are incompatible with both international law and the long-standing partnership between Denmark and the United States.

Premier of Greenland statement today; “Dear fellow citizens 🇬🇱 Once again, we have woken up to a new statement from the American president, who has now appointed a special envoy to Greenland. It may sound significant, but it does not change anything for us here at home. We decide our own future. Greenland is our country. We have our own democracy, our own decisions, and a strong community that stands firm. Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, and territorial integrity must be respected. We are happy to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, but this must always be done with respect for us and for our values and wishes. There is no reason for concern. We stand together, and we stand firm 💪 Take good care of one another as we approach Christmas 💙🇬🇱💙”

Many people idealize Ukrainians. Some imagine us as berserkers charging toward Valhalla; others think we love freedom so fiercely that we are ready to die for it. But the truth is simpler — and more human. We want to survive, both as individuals and as a nation. We want our children not to face another war in 10–20 years. And we understand that fighting gives us a chance to live, while surrender means death. Not just the death of a nation. Your own death as well. Maybe not on the battlefield, not from a drone or a rocket, but quietly. They will come to your home at night, take you away, and you will vanish. No headlines. No outrage. Everything on the surface will look peaceful — just fewer people around. It happened to my great-grandfather and his three brothers. They were taken in the night and disappeared. No information, no grave, nothing. Only decades later did I find in an online archive that they were executed in 1938 in Zhytomyr. My mother never even knew when or how her grandfather died. If Russia occupies more land, this can happen again — to anyone. If it happens to me, you won’t know either. Trump will claim he “made peace” and that no one is dying on the battlefield. But the killing will continue in the occupied territories, hidden from view. And it will happen everywhere Russia is allowed to advance. What do you think will happen to the 400,000 people living in the region Putin wants as part of the “peace deal” that Witkoff is pushing? And we remember 1933. The Soviet regime confiscated food from Ukrainians, and millions starved. My great-grandmother survived the Holodomor at age 13. Sixty years later she still panicked when the potato harvest was slightly worse than usual. Gareth Jones, a Welsh journalist, reported the truth — but the US bought cheap grain because it was a “good deal,” and other journalists mocked him. Think about this: up to 10 million people died in a man-made famine, and the world shrugged. It was genocide on the scale of the Holocaust, yet few know about it. If Ukrainians in occupied territories start disappearing again, will anyone care? Even I — with all my posts — could end up on their kill lists. The Moscow regime is already repeating the same atrocities. Look at the mass graves in the cities liberated in 2022. Listen to the witnesses. So understand this: for Ukrainians, “peace” can be far scarier than war if it simply means giving Russia what it wants. That is why we keep fighting. And one more thing — idealizing Ukrainians creates the illusion that every Ukrainian must be perfect. But we are real people, not movie characters. We have traitors who work for Moscow. We have thieves who steal even during war. We have those who flee because not everyone is ready to risk their life. War exposes the true nature of people: some become heroes, others lose any honor they had. But the fact remains: Ukraine has been resisting for four years against an army feared by most “civilized” countries. That alone speaks for itself. Author: Volodymyr Kukharenko

A detestable desecration; the act of a worthless egomaniac unfit to lick the underside of JFK's boots.

must be a speck in my eye .....