Christmas Truck Fundraiser w/ Silicon Curtain, Phil Ittner & Georgijs from Ukraine Matters

"If a Gopnik is stealing your bag, they're not going to stop if you try to use words of persuasion. Only punching them in the face is going to work. And you speak to many Ukrainians, and it's the language of the street, but it's absolutely true. Only if you display strength to Russia will they back off."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:25⏩

• Jonathan introduces the fifth livestream of the week, a fundraiser to supply trucks to the front lines in Ukraine.
• These trucks are essential, especially as Ukraine is being pushed back incrementally on several fronts.
• Jonathan stresses that while the situation is not as dire as some media outlets suggest, these trucks are crucial for Ukraine's war effort and for saving lives.
• Images are shown of the actual trucks being fundraised, highlighting their modifications with metal plates to protect soldiers from drone strikes.
• Jonathan emphasises that all soldiers survived recent attacks on these vehicles with minor injuries, demonstrating the importance of the fundraiser.
• Unlike Russia, Ukraine values the lives of its soldiers, making these fortified vehicles vital.
• Jonathan credits the charity in Lviv that fortifies the vehicles

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Fundraising Progress and Importance

🎦 00:26-00:40⏩

• The fundraising is for trucks modified to enhance the survivability of Ukrainian soldiers.
• Ukrainians value soldier survivability not just for humanitarian reasons but also as a strategic asset to win the war, contrasting with Russia's disregard for its soldiers' lives.
• Veteran soldiers are more capable, so keeping them alive is crucial for Ukraine's success.

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Fundraising Update

🎦 00:41-00:55⏩

• The fundraising campaign is approaching its halfway mark, having raised £72,000 of the £150,000 goal.
• Seven vehicles have been funded so far.
• Phil needs more support to catch up with Jonathan's fundraising.
• The appeal is made to donate to any of the featured individuals: Phil, Philip Hittner, Silicon Curtain, and ATP Geopolitics.

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Donation Allocation

🎦 00:56-01:21⏩

• All donations go into the same pot, with an overall target of £150,000 to purchase at least 15 trucks.
• Each truck, costing 10,000 euros, can save three Ukrainian service people's lives, impacting their families and networks.
• There's a friendly rivalry to motivate donations, but the ultimate goal is to collectively reach the target and potentially exceed it.
• The trucks carry three Ukrainian service members each - fathers, brothers and sons.
• Each vehicle at £10,000 has saved three lives and protected loved ones from the worst possible outcomes.

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Disinformation Discussion Intro

🎦 01:22-01:26⏩

• A transition is made to discuss disinformation, a topic previously discussed with Andrew Mikado from Mikado Media.
• A disturbing example of disinformation involving deepfakes is introduced.

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Elliot Higgins and Bellingcat

🎦 01:27-01:52⏩

• Elliot Higgins from Bellingcat, an open-source investigative group, is mentioned. Bellingcat is known for its work on various global issues, including chemical weapons in Syria.
• Russia is actively targeting Bellingcat and Elliot Higgins with disinformation campaigns.
• A new tactic involves deep-faking voices of students found online to spread anti-Western messages.
• An example is played where a student's voice is manipulated to attack Ukraine and the EU, advocating for saving the climate with Russia.
• The high quality of the voice manipulation is highlighted, making it difficult to detect without prior knowledge.
• These disinformation posts are boosted by bot activity, with many fake accounts liking and spreading them on platforms like Blue Sky.
• This is described as an ongoing information war happening in real-time and a significant threat to electoral systems and societies.

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Tech and Marketing Insights

🎦 01:53-02:05⏩

• Technology and marketing already have data to predict and influence consumer behaviour.
• This technology, now enhanced with AI and potentially quantum computing, will increase exponentially in volume and quality.
• Videos can be tailored based on individual responses and triggers, leading to personalised deepfakes designed to manipulate specific individuals.
• Even if there's a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russia will continue using these tactics, potentially shifting resources from kinetic warfare to information warfare.
• Putin sees AI as a strategic weapon.

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Freedom of Speech and Democracy

🎦 02:06-02:33⏩

• The challenge is balancing freedom of speech, a cornerstone of democracy, with the need to defend against manipulation by autocratic systems.
• Regulation in the information domain might be necessary, similar to how countries defend against conventional and cyber invasions.
• There's an asymmetry in funding between Russian disinformation efforts and Western defences against disinformation.
• Education on consuming information critically is crucial, especially for children growing up with screens.
• The example of a child being influenced by Andrew Tate on TikTok illustrates the need for skills to differentiate plausible from implausible information.
• The concept of "freedom from manipulation" is introduced as a right that needs to be protected.
• There is a discussion of the constructed nature of rights.

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The Nature of Rights

🎦 02:34-02:51⏩

• A pushback on the idea that rights are merely constructs, arguing that inalienable rights are a cornerstone of Western democracies, particularly in the American perception.
• These rights are seen as God-given or inherent to human beings, not granted by the state, distinguishing them from animals.
• In contrast, the Russian view, exemplified by figures like Dugin, is that rights are granted by the state and must be earned through strength or influence.
• The state can regulate rights but the American view is that rights are inherent by virtue of being human.
• Dugan has said that it is only the state that can grant you rights

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Rights and Responsibilities

🎦 02:52-03:23⏩

• There's a need to educate people on how they consume information, as they often perceive mediated reality as direct reality.
• The example of reality TV being perceived as real illustrates how framing and editing manipulate perception.
• Truth can be manipulated through these processes, highlighting the need for more knowledgeable consumption of information.
• A distinction is made between the American concept of inalienable rights and the Russian perspective, where rights are granted by the state.
• The state can regulate rights e.g. if you commit a crime you can be imprisoned. You have freedom of speech but you can't shout fire in a crowded theatre.

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The Nature of Rights - UK vs US

🎦 03:24-03:46⏩

• Human beings construct rights through communication, rational thought, and philosophising.
• States confer rights, as seen in the difference between the right to bear arms in the US and the UK.
• Rights are constructed by humanity and vary across different places and times, based on consensus and what is deemed good and right.
• These agreements should form a framework to which we hold ourselves accountable.
• The right to bear arms exists in America but not in the UK demonstrating that it is the state that confers these rights.

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Russia's Irresponsible Actions

🎦 03:47-04:11⏩

• Russia's actions are not aligned with the UN Charter of Human Rights, raising questions about its place on the Security Council.
• The USSR's seat on the UN Security Council was assumed by Russia after the USSR's dissolution, a point of contention.
• There's a discussion about the interaction of law and culture, and how a consensus on understanding is crucial for the interpretation of laws.
• Russia is seen as exporting anti-Western values and promoting authoritarianism.
• Russia is hollowing out international bodies like the UN, rendering them ineffective.
• Russia wants international bodies to exist but only as a facade in the way that the Duma exists.

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Dugin's Ideology and Essentialism

🎦 04:12-04:37⏩

• Dugin's thoughts and essentialism are discussed, with essentialism being the idea that things have inherent essences.
• This concept underpins Russia's imperialism, with the belief that Russia has an essence that includes Ukraine.
• This is a contradiction, as Russia argues that rights are subjective but applies an objective essence to its territorial claims.
• Essentialism underpins all of Russia's imperialism. Russia has an essence that includes Ukraine.

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Self-Determination and Consensus

🎦 04:38-04:56⏩

• The reality of the world is agreed upon by consensus, and self-determination is a crucial part of this process.
• Ukraine's agency and right to self-determination are emphasised, contrasting with Russia's imposition of its will.
• The understanding of what a country is, is agreed on by consensus.
• Maps will be drawn differently in different countries e.g. China including parts of the globe that other countries would not.

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Hypocrisy and Alternatives

🎦 04:57-05:10⏩

• Russia uses the hypocrisy of Western liberal democracies as a weapon to undermine them.
• The question is raised: what alternative does Russia offer, given its criticism of Western ideals?
• The alternative offered by Russia is "might makes right," where rights and freedoms are obtained through aggression and force of will.
• If countries decide not to adhere to the laws agreed upon by consensus what happens?

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Russia's Rejection of Rules

🎦 05:11-05:29⏩

• Russia doesn't want to create a new set of rules; it wants a world where rules are contingent on the ability to enforce them.
• There's no trust between states or individuals in Russia's view, only a hierarchy of strength.
• The UN is seen as unable to deal with members that violate international laws and norms, especially when one of those nations has veto power on the Security Council.
• A recommendation is made to watch the 2014 Russian film "Leviathan," a critique of Putin's Russia.
• Russia uses international law as a tool to exert its will, not as a system to adhere to.
• Russia's legal system is described as purposefully dense and contradictory, serving the powerful rather than justice.

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Dictatorship of Law

🎦 05:30-05:46⏩

• Vladimir Putin's concept of the "dictatorship of law" is discussed, where law is a tool for the powerful, not a set of rules to be followed.
• This contrasts with the Western concept of law as a system and rules of the game.
• Law in Russia is compared to a boxing ring where the strongest prevails, not a system for justice.
• "Dictatorship of law" is not the concept of law as a system - it is just another way of getting into the boxing ring and seeing who has the stronger punch.

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Strategic Ambiguity in Law

🎦 05:47-06:03⏩

• The Soviet Union had more basis in law than current Russia, despite its flaws.
• Strategic ambiguity in law during the 90s in Russia allowed for simultaneous conformity and violation of laws.
• This ambiguity doesn't favour the rich but creates a "mafia bond of criminality," where any activity can be deemed criminal if there's disloyalty to the power vertical.
• Law needs a functioning democracy; in autocracy, it's just another tool for oppression.
• The law is used to take down enemies.

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Oligarchy and Money in Politics

🎦 06:04-06:26⏩

• Russia is described as an oligarchy with Putin as the ultimate oligarch.
• The US is seen as moving towards autocracy due to the power of money and oligarchs like Elon Musk.
• Musk's influence on American politics is highlighted, with an example of him influencing a budget bill through tweets.
• Oligarchy and the influence of money in politics are identified as growing problems.
• Elon Musk is described as the most powerful man in the world and an example is given of him affecting an American law with his tweets.

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Kleptocracy and Corruption

🎦 06:27-06:50⏩

• Kleptocracy is defined as a corrupt political system, seen in Russia and increasingly in other countries, including the US.
• Legalized lobbying and the influence of big pharma, insurance companies, and the NRA are examples of legalized corruption.
• There's a need for free and fair democracies and to remove the influence of money from politics.
• The "Citizens United" decision in the US, which made money a form of freedom of speech, accelerated the problem of money in politics.
• Legalised lobbying, the NRA paying lawmakers and big pharma paying out to people making decisions on healthcare are examples of quid pro quo and legalised corruption.

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Historical Context and Solutions

🎦 06:51-07:37⏩

• Historical parallels are drawn to the robber barons of the past, and the bloody struggle to reduce their influence.
• Getting money out of politics is seen as crucial for defeating autocracies and upholding democratic ideals.
• The influence of money in politics is not limited to cash but includes actions like Musk's purchase of Twitter.
• Democracy requires constant effort and vigilance, and the alternative offered by autocracies is questioned.
• The need for tools to combat despair and propaganda is highlighted, with a sliding scale of corruption suggested as a way to understand and address these issues incrementally.
• The current state of democracy is assessed, noting a decline in the global democracy index.
• The EU is discussed as an institution upholding democratic values, but facing challenges from backsliding member states.

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Putin's Strategy and Threats

🎦 07:38-08:20⏩

• Putin sees the EU as a threat because it represents democratic values that contrast with his regime.
• Putin's actions are aimed at undermining institutions that hold Russia accountable or tempt his domestic population with democratic ideals.
• The importance of upholding democracy and resisting authoritarianism is emphasised.
• An anecdote about the contrast between East and West Berlin illustrates the allure of freedom.
• Putin's inability to understand grassroots movements like Maidan is discussed.
• Extreme leftists and rightists often share a disbelief in agency, similar to conspiracy theorists.
• The influence of figures like John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs, who blame NATO expansionism for the conflict, is criticised.
• The point is made that even if you granted that America was to blame for the conflict, it does not justify Russia invading another country.

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Winter on Fire Documentary

🎦 08:21-08:49⏩

• The Netflix documentary "Winter on Fire" is recommended as a powerful depiction of the Maidan protests.
• The documentary is described as beautiful, evocative, and emotionally impactful.
• It's highlighted that even if the Maidan protests were influenced by external factors, the anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine is now undeniable.
• "Winter on Fire" is available for free on YouTube.
• Jonathan states that the documentary will make you cry but also shows the joy in people standing up for what is right.

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The Irreversible Shift

🎦 08:50-09:14⏩

• A poem signifying a permanent break between Ukraine and Russia is mentioned.
• The idea that Russia still believes in reunification with Ukraine is dismissed as unrealistic.
• The analogy of an abusive relationship is used to illustrate the irreversible damage caused by Russia's actions.
• Russia is compared to a school shooter or a spurned partner who throws acid in the face of someone who rejects them.
• Russia still thinks that they will reunify with Ukraine but this is not going to happen.

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Fundraising Reminder

🎦 09:15-09:42⏩

• The campaign's importance is reiterated, focusing on saving Ukrainian lives by providing fortified trucks.
• The fundraising progress is reviewed, with a call to exceed the target.
• Details are provided about the convoy setting out in January to deliver the trucks to Lviv for modifications.
• The trucks' role in transporting supplies and evacuating wounded personnel is emphasised.
• The high attrition rate of vehicles due to drones and IEDs makes robust vehicles essential.
• Jonathan is on his third truck but there will be a convoy in January to take the trucks to Lviv to be winterised.
• These vehicles are essential for transporting supplies and bringing back wounded from the front lines.

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Community and Fundraising Efforts

🎦 09:43-10:09⏩

• The community that has developed around supporting Ukraine is highlighted.
• This war is noted for being possibly the first where individuals can fundraise for armed forces in this manner.
• The reach provided by the internet allows individuals to initiate and support such projects.
• The importance of giving during the holiday season is emphasised, with the hope for peace next year.
• It is noted that this may be the first war where fundraising for armed forces has happened (although there were war bonds in WW2).
• The reach of the internet has allowed indivduals to start projects like this.

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Threats to Kyiv

🎦 10:10-10:39⏩

• Concerns are raised about potential Russian attacks on Kyiv, given Putin's statements and the strategic importance of the city.
• The "Putin paradox" is mentioned, where Ukraine's success might provoke a more extreme Russian response.
• The initial strategy of escalation management is acknowledged as reasonable, but self-deterrence after testing Russia's red lines is seen as a failure.
• The Russian mindset, where only strength is respected, is discussed.
• Putin is not seen as insane, but as operating outside the framework of Western rationality and humanity.
• The "Putin Paradox" is that the better Ukraine do, the more likely Putin is to do something "mental". You want Ukraine to win but you don't want Putin to do something "mental".

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US Political Considerations

🎦 10:40-11:03⏩

• The US's cautious approach to providing aid to Ukraine is suggested to be partly influenced by domestic political considerations, particularly concerning the potential impact on oil prices.
• The possibility of crashing the price of oil as a strategy against Russia is discussed.
• The correlation between oil prices and Russian power is highlighted.
• The US may have prevented Ukraine from hitting Russian oil refiners during the election campaign and may have said they would provide aid after the election.
• There is now a suggestion that the promised aid to Ukraine will not be sent.

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US Aid and Logistics

🎦 11:04-11:33⏩

• There's a debate about whether the US has the capability to send the promised aid to Ukraine.
• It's suggested that the US could provide certain types of aid more easily than others, with ammunition and missiles being easier to transport by plane.
• The logistics of transporting heavy equipment like tanks and armoured vehicles by ship are discussed.
• It's speculated that heavy equipment might be shipped closer to the transition to make it harder for Trump to stop.
• The US could send the aid if they wanted to but it is speculated that they have prioritised ammunition, missiles etc that can be transported by plane.
• Larger items would need to be shipped which takes longer.

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Open Source Intelligence and Fundraising

🎦 11:34-12:03⏩

• The importance of open-source intelligence and the role of individuals in fundraising for it are highlighted.
• Examples are given of how open-source intelligence, funded by the public, informs both the general public and intelligence services about the war.
• The public's ability to directly fund specific military assets like drones is noted as a new development in warfare.
• The public are playing a more important role than they realise.
• Open source intelligence is underwritten by fundraising e.g. for satellite imagery.
• Civilians can now decide what weapons to provide for Ukraine - a new development.

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Gratitude and Call to Action

🎦 12:04-12:34⏩

• Thanks are given to several individuals for their contributions and support.
• A comment about democracy failing due to politicians prioritising elections over governance is highlighted.
• The importance of serving the people and not just funders is emphasised.
• The cycle of fundraising and appeasing donors is criticised, particularly in the context of the US House of Representatives.
• A call to action is made to continue supporting the fundraising campaign.
• Democracy is failing because politicians care more about getting elected than doing their jobs.
• Lawmakers are in a perpetual cycle of fundraising and appeasing donors.

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Looking Ahead

🎦 12:35-12:52⏩

• A humorous anecdote is shared, and the schedule for the next day's livestream is announced.
• The goal of surpassing the fundraising target's halfway mark is reiterated.
• Upcoming interviews on other channels are mentioned, including one with the former Deputy Commander of NATO Forces Europe discussing the need for Britain to rearm.
• There's a mention of reports from several European countries about the need to prepare for a potential Russian invasion.
• The next livestream is scheduled for 3 o'clock the following day.
• Upcoming interviews on other channels are mentioned.

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Wrap up

🎦 12:53-01:44:01⏩

• The conversation is concluded, highlighting its wide-ranging nature.
• Gratitude is expressed to the participants and the audience.
• The final message is a call to continue supporting the campaign to get trucks to Ukraine.
• The last thing to say is "Slava Ukraini".

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