Upcoming Updates on Ukraine and Canada; Final Alternative Media Links
So much has happened over the past month that it's hard to keep up. Here are some brief updates and links to alternative media sources that may provide some helpful commentary.
Over the past month, two major international stories have captivated millions. The first was the Canadian Freedom Convoy that sought to end various covid restrictions, especially vaccine mandates. The efforts of the Convoy were successful on some fronts, but those who supported or participated in the Convoy paid a steep price. I detailed the Canadian government’s authoritarian response to these peaceful protests in a previous article, and I hope to provide another update in the coming weeks.
The second story that is still gripping the world is the conflict in Ukraine. I wrote about this conflict several weeks ago and tried to provide some nuanced perspectives on the incredibly complex situation, and I hope to provide a longer update with additional information soon. As the fighting enters its second month, it’s not clear when or how the conflict can be resolved, but it’s undeniable that the people of Ukraine are suffering tremendously. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that U.S. sanctions and increasingly inflammatory rhetoric may draw the United States into further conflict with Russia and even China. May we pray that this does not happen, and may we pray that peace can be achieved soon and without further loss of life.
Alternative Media Sources for Investigating these Stories
In January and February, I published a series of articles on alternative media and the pursuit of truth (previous installments can be found at the following links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). Below are three more alternative media sources that are helpful in locating information that may not be discussed on mainstream or corporate media platforms. These three sites may be particularly helpful in researching the stories mentioned above, as one of the sites is more like a traditional news outlet and the other two are news aggregators that collect news and opinions from a variety of sources and perspectives.
As with the other alternative media sources I’ve shared, linking to these sources is not a blanket endorsement of all the content published or shared by these sites; indeed, I will disagree with some of the perspectives offered by some of the authors, and I would often present information differently were I the one writing the articles. But even though I may not agree with everything shared on these sites, they are extremely valuable for hearing different and nuanced perspectives—perspectives that will hopefully provide a more complete understanding of the events unfolding in our world.
(1) The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times is more like a traditional news site, but the content of the reporting is driven by facts and news instead of narratives and opinions. The site publishes a great deal of excellent written content, but its video content is also very well done. From the website:
“The Epoch Times is America’s fastest-growing independent news media. Founded in 2000, our mission is to bring you a truthful view of the world free from the influence of any government, corporation, or political party. We aim to tell you what we see, not how to think; we strive to deliver you a factual picture of reality that lets you form your own opinions. . . . [W]e believe that freedom of expression is the fire that forges a society’s best ideas, and that principle is also what drives the kind of classic American journalism we want to restore to the limelight.” Below is a link to the homepage and few sample articles of The Epoch Times’ journalism:
“Federal Government Mum on Non-COVID Mortality Spike in Americans Aged 18 to 49.”
“The ‘Defund the Police’ Movement Has a Broader Agenda and It’s Not to Stop the Killing of Black People: Brandon Tatum.”
(2) ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge is one of the best news aggregators in all of alternative media, linking to articles and videos from a variety of sources that are willing to critique mainstream narratives. Like many alternative media sites, ZeroHedge has often been accused of “peddling conspiracy theories,” and the site was even banned from Twitter in February 2020 for suggesting (with evidence) that covid-19 may have leaked from a lab. As most everyone now knows, many mainstream outlets suggested such a link roughly a year later without facing any such bans or being labeled conspiracy theorists. This instance is one example of genuine news that ZeroHedge will report on or link to potentially months in advance of corporate media. The site also links to many dissenting voices who offer evidence-based critiques of the prevailing narratives on covid and other issues. Below is a link to the homepage as well as an excerpt on the importance of anonymity to voicing dissent:
"[T]hough often maligned (typically by those frustrated by an inability to engage in ad hominem attacks), anonymous speech has a long and storied history in the United States. Used by the likes of Mark Twain (aka Samuel Langhorne Clemens) to criticize common ignorance, and perhaps most famously by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay (aka Publius) to write the Federalist Papers, we think ourselves in good company in using one or another nom de plume. Particularly in light of an emerging trend against vocalizing public dissent in the United States, we believe in the critical importance of anonymity and its role in dissident speech. . . . keeping authorship anonymous moves the focus of discussion to the content of speech and away from the speaker—as it should be." From the ZeroHedge Manifesto.
(3) LewRockwell.com
LewRockwell.com is the first alternative media site I ever visited, and I began reading the site more during my time in law school. Like ZeroHedge, this site gathers articles on a variety of topics from around the internet. A new set of articles is published everyday after midnight (except on Sundays), but the site also has two blogs (the “LRC Blog” and “Political Theatre”) that are updated more frequently and that provide more liberty-minded perspectives on daily events. From the site:
“The daily news and opinion site LewRockwell.com was founded in 1999 by anarcho-capitalists Lew Rockwell and Burt Blumert to help carry on the anti-war, anti-state, pro-market work of Murray N. Rothbard. . . . Lew strives to present a diverse daily selection of interesting articles from our writers and other sites, but he does not necessarily endorse every view expressed. He does, however, believe that each piece will repay your reading.”
As the description above makes clear, the site has a more libertarian leaning and a focus on free markets, and many articles will point out the flaws in big government policies and will advocate for less government intervention (this is what is often meant by “anti-state”). As with all the sites linked here (and like Lew says above), I will not agree with everything published on LewRockwell, but the arguments, ideas, and perspectives are worth considering. Moreover, the links provided can lead to other very helpful resources (e.g., LewRockwell is how I first learned of ZeroHedge, and ZeroHedge is how I first learned of Swiss Policy Research (Part 2) and OffGuardian (Part 3), etc. ). Below is a link to the homepage and direct links to the blogs.
Personal Note
As some of you know, I teach Criminal Justice & Legal Studies and Christian Studies at a small university (see my bio for more). I have not had as much time to write recently as we are nearing the end of the semester, but I am hoping to publish more regularly this summer. I will continue working steadily on the updates on Ukraine and Canada (and a few other pieces) in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I hope the sources above prove helpful.
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