Welcome to Monday, February 7th, associates...

The U.S. will deploy an additional 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe amid Russia’s ongoing military buildup on Ukraine’s borders. 

The deployment will involve troops currently in Europe and in the continental U.S. and is being done on a bilateral or trilateral basis at the invitation of the governments involved. It’s distinct from the 8,500 American troops who were placed on heightened readiness as part of the NATO Response Force.

The U.S. and NATO aren’t moving troops to Ukraine, which isn’t a member of the alliance, as efforts to help Ukraine’s military have been limited to training support and the provision of equipment like shoulder-fired anti-tank and anti-air missiles.

The Russian military presence has grown to more than 130,000 troops in areas near Ukraine’s border in recent days and is expected to grow larger as troops arrive in Belarus for what Russia says are planned exercises. 

Do you support or oppose the deployment of 3,000 troops to NATO’s eastern flank?

Amnesty Report: Israel's Policies Amount to 'Apartheid'

Israel’s practices, policies, and state laws against Palestinians amount to apartheid, as reported by Amnesty International, a global movement campaigning for human rights.

Amnesty’s report, “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and a Crime against Humanity”, investigates how the Jewish state enforces a system of oppression and tyranny to control the Palestinian people. 

The people of Palestine were displaced by the war of 1948-49, which led to the creation of Israel. The UN believes 5.3 million people were displaced. The state’s legal regime refuses Palestinians the right to their former homes, stating it would overwhelm the state and threaten its existence. 

Do you agree with the report?

Your Playlist for the Planet

Recently, WinTogether and Music 4 Climate Justice asked:

“What’s your theme song for earth?”

Your answers were out of this world. 

There were the classics, including “Imagine” by John Lennon, Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”, and U.S.A. for Africa’s “We Are The World."

And, of course, the playlist features many M4CJ-affiliated musicians: Bootsy Collins, Stevie Van Zandt, and Chew Fu's "M4CJ theme song," Akon's “Freedom," Rocky Dawuni, Ayumi Ueda, Dan Kiernan, Jean Rohe, Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith , Jonah Smith, Karla Schickele , and Nadino Calapucha (Kambak).

And so, without further exposition, here’s the compilation of your responses…

Music has the incredible power to enact change and bring people together.

M4CJ understands this--it's a revolutionary movement that brings musical artists and environmental justice together, in the pursuit of a more equitable future for the earth and all its inhabitants. 

Support climate justice and get the chance to win amazing prizes

All the Memes Fit to Post

And, In The End...

In honor of Rose Day, may we present the Fords playing with puppies in the Rose Garden:

—Josh Herman

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