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For decades, climate activists have tried to sound the alarm on a warming planet. But protests, marches, boycotts, petitions, strikes and other non-violent means of drawing attention to climate change have not stopped fossil fuel emissions from increasing. As extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires and storms proliferate, some activists are arguing for more drastic action: climate sabotage.

Last month, activists in New York deflated the tires of gas-guzzling SUVs in a rich neighborhood to protest their emissions. And in southern France this month, a separate group filled golf course holes with cement after golf greens were exempted from water bans during a severe drought. On a bigger scale, vandals in Canada caused millions of dollars in damage this year and halted operations on a key worksite for a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline project.

Those in favor of sabotage argue that time is running out to make any meaningful change to the world's climate trajectory. But many critics are questioning the effectiveness of an escalation strategy. They say destroying property undermines the climate movement’s credibility and alienates supporters. However, experts forecast acts of sabotage will multiply as the urgency to act grows.

In this episode of The Stream, we'll discuss the pitfalls and pros of climate sabotage, and what it will take to finally change the status quo.

While in Saudi Arabia last month, US President Joe Biden stressed that the United States was ''not going anywhere'' and wouldn’t ''walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran''. But did his words reassure anyone?

High on his agenda was the prospect of a nuclear deal with Iran. But he expressed zero interest in resurrecting the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Steven Cook tells host Steve Clemons that the US agenda for the Middle East has become severely diminished.

Like the rest of the world, the United States has seen record temperatures, drought and wildfires in recent years - some of the long-predicted consequences of made-made global warming.

In August 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law a spending bill that – among other provisions for healthcare and tax reform – will commit nearly $370bn to tackling the climate crisis and reducing the carbon emissions of the world’s largest economy. It's a sign perhaps that the US government is finally taking the problem seriously.

But although awareness is increasing, surprising numbers of Americans still maintain that scientific proof of climate change is exaggerated, faked or even part of a sinister plot to control their lives.

In this two-part film for People & Power, French filmmakers Ibar Aibar and Fanny Chauvin explore these contradictions as they go in search of some of those already affected by the searing heat and those who stubbornly refuse to accept the evidence in front of their eyes.

DR Congo is opening parts of the world’s second largest rainforest to oil and gas companies, alarming environmentalists and world leaders who warn that exploiting the region could severely undermine the global fight against climate change.

The Congo Basin is among 30 blocks of the country where DR Congo’s government is auctioning hydrocarbon exploration permits. Ministers say oil and gas reserves in the areas up for auction are worth more than half a trillion dollars, and could bring long overdue economic relief to some of the world’s poorest people.

But scientists and environmental groups say allowing oil and gas exploration in the Congo Basin would spur hunting, deforestation, pollution and carbon emissions in one of the world’s most critically-important carbon sinks, affecting millions of people in local communities and deepening the challenge of tackling global heating.

The Congo basin rainforest absorbs 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year – a figure that would plummet if land is cleared for fossil fuels exploration. Hundreds of millions of tons of climate-warming carbon held in the basin’s peatlands would also be released into the atmosphere if it is disturbed. Conservation groups are alarmed that some of the blocks of land up for auction extend into parts of Virunga national park, one of the world’s last remaining homes to endangered mountain gorillas.

The United States is among countries urging DR Congo to reconsider the auctions, which come just months after DR Congo’s government signed a $500m deal at Cop26 aimed at protecting the Congo basin.

In this episode of The Stream we'll look at why DR Congo is opening up one of its most environmentally sensitive regions to big oil and gas, and what its exploitation could mean for the local, regional and global climate.

Thousands of South Africans have joined a protest march organised by trade unions.

They're frustrated by rising unemployment, increasing food and fuel costs, and daily power outages.

Rallies have taken place in all provinces, with the largest in Cape Town and the capital, Pretoria.

Two powerful trade union federations had called for 'a total shutdown of the economy'.

They are demanding a cap on fuel prices, a stable electricity supply and a basic minimum wage.

But will the mass action make a difference?

Presenter: Tom Mcrae

Guests:

Bheki Ntshalintshali, general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

Jannie Roussouw, economist and visiting professor at Wits Business School

Dakota Legoete, national spokesman of the African National Congress

As China and Taiwan ramp up their military drills amid strained cross-strait and US-China relations, uneasy questions over the future of a democratic Taiwan loom for the island’s 23 million inhabitants.

Increased air and sea military exercises have been carried out on both sides of the Taiwan Strait this month after a controversial visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered Chinese officials.

In recent years, Beijing has become more aggressive in declaring its ambitions to take over the island and has threatened force against the Taiwanese if they declare independence. US President Joe Biden recently reiterated US forces’ commitment to defend the island militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.  

One of Asia’s most progressive democracies, Taiwan is a de facto independent state with its own government, national defence and foreign affairs. Yet, due to Beijing's unyielding insistence that it will someday be a part of China, only 14 states globally have official diplomatic ties with the island.
 
So what does the future hold for Taiwan? In this episode of The Stream, we'll discuss the impact of recent cross-strait events on Taiwan and the outlook for the island.

Diplomats believe they're close to restoring the Iran nuclear deal, four years after the U.S. pulled out.

The European Union laid down what it called its final offer earlier this month.

Its foreign policy chief says Tehran has given a 'reasonable' response to the proposal.

All sides are waiting for the U.S. to reply.

So what are the final hurdles to a new agreement?

Presenter: Laura Kyle

Guests:

MOHAMMAD MARANDI - Adviser to the Iranian negotiation team

HAMIDREZA AZIZI - Visiting Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs

ALEX VATANKA - Director and Senior Fellow, The Middle East Institute

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to Felicitated Abhilasha at the State Teachers Award 2021.

Abhilasha was awarded the State Teacher Award 2021 by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Watch Video Timeline: 1:25:20

LIVE: China Captured on the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Bottle Neck (Y Junction) and other regions in Ladakh of India | AICC Press Briefing By Kapil Sibal via video conferencing.

The West Bank and East Jerusalem are at the heart of any future Palestinian state.

But, occupied by Israeli forces since 1967 and now threatened by annexation, Palestinian dreams of their own homeland look increasingly impossible.

Israel's Prime Minister wants to declare sovereignty over illegal settlements, both in the west bank and the Jordan valley.

Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to begin annexation now, at the beginning of July.

But his coalition government partner Benny Gantz says combatting the coronavirus should come first.

The Palestinian leadership, major EU countries and Arab states all object to annexation.

But the seizure of more Palestinian land is seen to be in line with Donald Trump's proposals for peace in the region.

So, what does it all mean for the Middle East?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests;
Mustafa Barghouti - Leader of the Palestinian National Initiative and Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
Said Arikat - Political Writer and Analyst
Amichai Stein - Political Writer and Diplomatic Correspondent