View allAll Photos Tagged GODBless
A gloomy day and just listening to some songs at the moment ..
Music should be shared with everyone as it is a magnificent collective experience. :)
Godbless guys
Nachdem bereits am 17. November 2024 in Berlin-Mitte eine Großdemonstration mit Julija Nawalnaja, Ilja Jaschin und Wladimir Kara-Mursa stattgefunden hatte, versammelten sich am 1. März 2025 erneut vorrangig Menschen aus der exilrussischen Diaspora sowie exilrussische Oppositinelle und Menschen aus der Diaspora in Berlin-Mitte, um gegen Wladimir Putin und seinen Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine zu demonstrieren, aber auch gegen den US-Präsidenten Donald Trump. Die Anzahl der Teilnehmer fiel in diesem Jahr allerdings geringfügiger aus.
Zu der Demonstration hatten wiederholt die Witwe des russischen Dissidenten Alexej Nawalny sowie die bereits genannten Oppositionspolitiker Jaschin und Kara-Mursa aufgerufen.
Im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr war diesmal die ukrainische Diaspora optisch sehr marginal vertreten. Die dort anwesenden Demonstranten einte vorrangig der Wunsch nach einem freien, demokratischen Russland bzw. einem Russland ohne Putin und die Beendigung des Krieges. Nichts desto trotz gab es viele Plakate, auf denen z.B. "Taurus ist das beste Verhandlungsmittel", "Mehr Waffen für die Verteidigung der Ukraine", "Go to hell Putin", "Ukraine braucht Europa JETZT" oder "Zerstört Putlers Regime!" standen. Putler ist eine Wortschöpfung aus Putin und Hitler. Antifaschisten störten sich an der Trikolore Russlands, die in diesem Jahr auf dem Protestmarsch vorrangig vorherrschte. Ein Plakat eines Aktivisten zeigte verdeckt die Flagge des Nationalsozialismus, welche von der sich lösenden Flagge der russischen Förderation bedeckt war. Weiterhin gab es Plakate wie: "Godbless Ukraine", "Taurus für die Ukraine", ein Demonstrant machte auf das Victim Blaming aufmerksam, mit dem die Ukraine seit über einem Jahrzehnt überzogen wird (und aktuell durch Trump), eine Demonstrantin präsentierte die Russische Flagge in zerrissener Form und ein weiterer Aktivist trug ein Schild vor sich her, auf denen er die Farben der Trikolore umgeschrieben hatte. Die Farbe Rot beschrieb er z.B. mit: "Death to Regime". Eine russische Flagge mit der Aufschrift "Russland für Frieden und Freiheit" war ebenfalls zu sehen.
Die exilrussische Diaspora besticht eigentlich seit Beginn des Angriffskrieges mit einer eigenen Flaggen, die nur in (hell)blau-weiß gehalten ist (siehe die Organisation DemokratiJA in Berlin). Auf die rote Farbe wird verzichtet, die für "Blut" steht. Die Verwendung der Trikolore war bisher vor allem bei den beiden exilrussischen Nawalnaya-Protesten zu sehen.
Neben Nawalnaja, Jaschin und Kara-Mursa war auch der Doppelstaatler Kevin Lick u.a. am Frontbanner zugegen, der 2023 minderjährig wegen angeblicher Spionage in ein Strafgefangenenlager verschleppt wurde und im August 2024 beim großen Gefangenenaustausch des Westens mit Moskau mit den beiden bereits erwähnten Oppositionspolitikern Wladimir Kara-Mursa und Ilja Jaschinwieder freikam.
Weiter waren laut BZ Berlin auch Demonstranten aus Estland und den Niederlanden angereist, um an dieser Protestaktion teilnehmen zu können.
An der Demonstration beteiligten sich Demokraten, Liberale und Libertäre u.a. mit Organisationen wie z.B. die Jugenddemokratische Bewegung "Vesna" u.a. mit ihrem Banner: "Democracy in Russia is essential for Peace!", die in Russland mittlerweile verbotene Menschenrechtsorganisation Memorial, "Free political Prisoners" Banner (Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen) oder die mir bis dato noch nicht bekannte Organisation "Europa Radicale".
Auch QR-Code´s wurden auf zwei Plakaten einer Frau beworben, die auf die russische NGO-Seite OVD-Info verwiesen. Von dort aus gelangt man zu einer Website, von der aus Briefe an politische Gefangene geschickt werden können. OVD-Info wurde 2021 von Russland als "ausländischer Agent" eingestuft.
Wie auch im letzten Jahr war bei dieser Demonstration vermehrt die Gadsden flag (gelbe Fahne mit Schlange) zu sehen. Diese wird zunehmend von extremen Rechten und Verschwörungsideologen verwendet, wobei weiterhin auch Libertäre diese Flagge nutzen. Früher stand die Flagge in den USA symbolisch für Patriotismus, Regierungskritik und die Begrenzung der Macht der Regierung. Ihre Bedeutung ist daher umstritten und kontextabhängig.
Weiterhin gab es Flaggen (sehr wahrscheinlich nicht angelehnt an LGBT sondern als Symbol der Peace-Flagge) mit dem Adler der russischen Förderation auf dem Hintergrund der Regenbogenfarben, was für Irritationen sorgte. Einige Teilnehmer führten europäische Flaggen mit sich, während andere Bilder von politischen Gefangenen oder Alexej Nawalny zeigten.
Bereits während der Auftaktkundgebung liefen immer wieder Mitglieder der neonazistischen Kleinstpartei III. Weg resp. ihre Jugendorganisation "Nationalrevolutionäre Jugend" (NRJ) in die Menge der Demonstranten. Erkennbar am Logo des Eichenkranzes und später auch an ihren Plakaten wie z.B. "Antikommunistische Jugend".
Nur kurze Zeit später formierten sich mit blauen Flaggen, Armbinden und Plakaten um die 50 Neonazis am Potsdamer Platz, die der russisch-rechtsextremen Miliz "Russische Freiwilligenkorps" (RDK/RVC) angehören, die auch beim III. Weg rekrutieren. Sie riefen u.a. "Echte Russen gegen Putin". Unter diese mischten sich auch bekannte Mitglieder vom III. Weg, die ihre Symboliken mit denen des Korps tauschten. Mitglieder des Freiwilligenkorps verteilten in der Menge ihre Flugblätter. Das Freiwilligenkorps kämpft in der Ukraine gegen Russland.
Dagegen gab es vereinzelt Proteste in Form von: "Nazis raus" Rufen und der Block rund um Vesna und weitere stellten sich eine zeitlang gegen den Milizen-Block.
Das Russische Freiwilligenkoprs lief letztendlich an letzter Stelle mit der Demonstration bis zum Brandenburger Tor mit.
Die russische Opposition (und auch Exil-Opposition) ist sehr vielschichtig und auch zerstritten, was Inhalte samt Ideologien und den "Führungsanspruch" betrifft. In einem Punkt aber sind sich alle einig: das Regime in Russland muss weg. Es ist ein Phänomen, was in jedem Land vorherrscht, welches sich im Umbruch oder in einem Krieg befindet bzw. sich aus einer Diktatur und Aggression befreien will. Fakt ist aber, das hier ein russisches Narrativ des Kremls bedient wurde, was letztendlich wieder negativ auf die Ukraine zurück fällt.
Auf "Länder Analysen" mit einer aktuellen Ausgabe von Boris Ginzburg: "Opposition – aber gegen wen und wogegen? Zu den Motiven der ukrainischen Skepsis gegenüber der russischen Exilopposition" kann man sich diesbezüglich näher belesen, siehe Link in den Quellen.
Vom Potsdamer Platz aus zog die Demonstration über die Leipziger Straße, Stadtmitte, Friedrichstraße (am Russischen Haus vorbei) weiter über den Boulevard Unter den Linden (an der Russischen Botschaft vorbei) bis zur Abschlusskundgebung am Brandenburger Tor. Bis auf einen Polizisten, der mich ohne Grund und für mich nicht sichtbar während des Fotografierens körperlich grob rückwärts weg stieß und nach meinem Hinweis auf die Presse zu mir meinte, "ich könne von hinten fotografieren" verlief die Veranstaltung ohne weitere Vorkommnisse.
Im Februar jährte sich der Todestag von Alexej Nawalny zum ersten, der des russischen Oppositionellen Boris Nemzow zum zehnten und der Angriff Russlands auf die Ukraine zum dritten Mal.
Putin sei verantwortlich für diese Verbrechen, erklärten die Veranstalter. "Darum gehen wir auf die Straße – gegen Morde, gegen Putin, gegen den Krieg, für den Frieden, für die Freiheit, für das Recht, ohne Angst zu leben."
Laut den Veranstaltern vom Team Nawalny Deutschland nahmen etwa 3.500 Menschen an der Demonstration teil, während die Polizei die Teilnehmerzahl zunächst auf etwa 800 beim Start des Marsches und 500 bei der Abschlusskundgebung schätzte.
hinzugezogene Quellen:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesna_(Russia)
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_(Menschenrechtsorganisation) und memopzk.org/en/
laender-analysen.de/russland-analysen/461/exil-opposition...
www.srf.ch/news/international/russisches-freiwilligenkorp...
www.belltower.news/vorfall-in-brjansk-warum-ist-der-neona...
web.archive.org/web/20230522171052/https://www.zdf.de/nac...
Presseberichte vom Tag:
www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/mitte/demo-in-berlin-gegen-kriegs...
www.berliner-zeitung.de/news/demo-in-berlin-gegen-donald-...
www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/berlin/rbb-hunderte-men...
www.t-online.de/region/berlin/id_100617232/berlin-hundert...
www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/stop-putin-stop-trump-hunderte...
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© Streichphotography
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Alle Verstöße werden geahndet und rechtlich verfolgt!
Vielen Dank!
Stand: Februar 2025
I visited Springbank Cemetery on the 14th September 2018 ,a CWG cemetery that takes a good few hours to walk around.
Description
Opened in 1884, Springbank is still in use.
There are 94 Commonwealth graves within the cemetery.
A working cemetery, lair plans are available at the Lodge by the entrance on Countesswells Road.
Lair records containing records of burial and ownership for the burial plots available from Bereavement Services Aberdeen City Council at Marischal College, Aberdeen. There is a second entrance on Springfield Road.
My Beautiful mum passed away this morning , she was my best friend, my Mentor , my world, Godbless mum xxxx
Memorial Day...............................Have you thanked a soldier today? You should! They protect us and keep us safe! Today is the day to Honor the ones who paid the highest price of all. They done it with pride and Honor. I'd Like to Thank them all! For the ones who gave it all and are no longer with us God Bless and your families miss you, but we all respect what you did for us! For our soldiers still protecting us I'd like to Thank all of you! What y'all do is not easy and we are waiting for your return home. I pray for your safety every day! God Bless you and your families! It's an Honor to know you're keeping us safe! Y'all ARE THE BEST <3 ............................Freedom is not Free and y'all pay the price for us THANKS Xo
Apparently, this car wash is having some issues with it's digital signage
Photographed in Centerville Wisconsin
Saturday March 15th, 2025
Piper Alpha was a North Sea oil production platform operated by Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd.
The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil-only platform and later converted to add gas production. An explosion, and the resulting oil and gas fires, destroyed it on 6 July 1988, killing 167, including two crewmen of a rescue vessel; 61 survived.
The total insured loss was about £1.7 billion (US$3.4 billion). At the time of the disaster, the platform accounted for approximately ten percent of North Sea oil and gas production, and the accident was the worst offshore oil disaster in terms of lives lost and industry impact.
The Kirk of St Nicholas in Union Street, Aberdeen has dedicated a chapel in memory of those who perished and there is a memorial sculpture in the Rose Garden of Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen. Thirty bodies were never recovered.
During the late 1970s, major works were carried out to enable the platform to meet UK Government gas export requirements and after this work had been completed, Piper Alpha was operating in what was known as phase 2 mode (operating with the Gas Conservation Module (GCM)) since the end of 1980 up until July 1988; phase 2 mode was its normal operating state. In the late 1980s, major construction, maintenance and upgrade works had been planned by Occidental and by July 1988, the rig was already well into major work activities, with six major projects identified including the change-out of the GCM unit which meant that the rig had been put back into its initial phase 1 mode (i.e. operating without a GCM unit).
Despite the complex and demanding work schedule, Occidental made the decision to continue operating the platform in phase 1 mode throughout this period and not to shut it down, as had been originally planned. The planning and controls that were put in place were thought to be adequate. Therefore, Piper continued to export oil at just under 120,000 barrels per day and to export Tartan gas at some 33 MMSCFD (million standard cubic feet per day) during this demanding period.
Because the platform was completely destroyed, and many of those involved died, analysis of events can only suggest a possible chain of events based on known facts. Some witnesses to the events question the official timeline.
12:00 noon Two condensate pumps, designated A and B, displaced the platform's condensate for transport to the coast. On the morning of 6 July, Pump A's pressure safety valve (PSV #504) was removed for routine maintenance. The pump's two-yearly overhaul was planned but had not started. The open condensate pipe was temporarily sealed with a disk cover (flat metal disc also called a blind flange or blank flange). Because the work could not be completed by 6:00 p.m., the disc cover remained in place. It was hand-tightened only. The on-duty engineer filled in a permit which stated that Pump A was not ready and must not be switched on under any circumstances.
6:00 p.m. The day shift ended, and the night shift started with 62 men running Piper Alpha. As he found the on-duty custodian busy, the engineer neglected to inform him of the condition of Pump A. Instead he placed the permit in the control centre and left. This permit disappeared and was not found. Coincidentally there was another permit issued for the general overhaul of Pump A that had not yet begun.
7:00 p.m. Like many other offshore platforms, Piper Alpha had an automatic fire-fighting system, driven by both diesel and electric pumps (the latter were disabled by the initial explosions). The diesel pumps were designed to suck in large amounts of sea water for fire fighting; the pumps had an automatic control to start them in case of fire (although they could not be remotely started from the control room in an emergency). However, the fire-fighting system was under manual control on the evening of 6 July: the Piper Alpha procedure adopted by the Offshore Installation Manager(OIM) required manual control of the pumps whenever divers were in the water (as they were for approximately 12 hours a day during summer) although in reality, the risk was not seen as significant for divers unless a diver was closer than 10–15 feet (3–5 m) from any of the four 120 feet (40 m) level caged intakes.
A recommendation from an earlier audit had suggested that a procedure be developed to keep the pumps in automatic mode if divers were not working in the vicinity of the intakes as was the practice on the Claymore platform, but this was never developed or implemented.
9:45 p.m. Because of problems with the methanol system earlier in the day, methane clathrate (a flammable ice) had started to accumulate in the gas compression system pipework, causing a blockage. Due to this blockage, condensate (natural gas liquids NGL) Pump B stopped and could not be restarted. As the entire power supply of the offshore construction work depended on this pump, the manager had only a few minutes to bring the pump back online, otherwise the power supply would fail completely. A search was made through the documents to determine whether Condensate Pump A could be started.
9:52 p.m. The permit for the overhaul was found, but not the other permit stating that the pump must not be started under any circumstances due to the missing safety valve. The valve was in a different location from the pump and therefore the permits were stored in different boxes, as they were sorted by location. None of those present were aware that a vital part of the machine had been removed. The manager assumed from the existing documents that it would be safe to start Pump A. The missing valve was not noticed by anyone, particularly as the metal disc replacing the safety valve was several metres above ground level and obscured by machinery.
9:55 p.m. First Explosion Condensate Pump A was switched on. Gas flowed into the pump, and because of the missing safety valve, produced an overpressure which the loosely fitted metal disc did not withstand.
Gas audibly leaked out at high pressure, drawing the attention of several men and triggering six gas alarms including the high level gas alarm. Before anyone could act, the gas ignited and exploded, blowing through the firewall made up of 2.5 by 1.5 m (8 by 5 ft) panels bolted together, which were not designed to withstand explosions. The custodian pressed the emergency stop button, closing huge valves in the sea lines and ceasing all oil and gas extraction.
Theoretically, the platform would then have been isolated from the flow of oil and gas and the fire contained. However, because the platform was originally built for oil, the firewalls were designed to resist fire rather than withstand explosions. The first explosion broke the firewall and dislodged panels around Module (B). One of the flying panels ruptured a small condensate pipe, creating another fire.
10:04 p.m. The control room of Piper Alpha was abandoned. "Mayday" was signalled via radio by radio operator David Kinrade. Piper Alpha'sdesign made no allowances for the destruction of the control room, and the platform's organisation disintegrated. No attempt was made to use loudspeakers or to order an evacuation.
Emergency procedures instructed personnel to make their way to lifeboat stations, but the fire prevented them from doing so. Instead many of the men moved to the fireproofed accommodation block beneath the helicopter deck to await further instructions. Wind, fire and smoke prevented helicopter landings and no further instructions were given, with smoke beginning to seep into the personnel block.
As the crisis mounted, two men donned protective gear and attempted to reach the diesel pumping machinery below decks and activate the firefighting system. They were never seen again.
The fire would have burnt out were it not being fed with oil from both Tartan and the Claymore platforms, the resulting back pressure forcing fresh fuel out of ruptured pipework on Piper, directly into the heart of the fire. The Claymore platform continued pumping oil until the second explosion because the manager had no permission from the Occidental control centre to shut down. Also, the connecting gas pipeline to Tartan continued to pump, as its manager had been directed by his superior. The reason for this procedure was the huge cost of such a shut down. It would have taken several days to restart production after a stop, with substantial financial consequences.
Gas pipelines of both 16 in (41 cm) and 18 in (46 cm) diameter ran to Piper Alpha. Two years earlier Occidental management ordered a study, the results of which warned of the dangers of these gas lines. Because of their length and diameter, it would have taken several hours to reduce their pressure, which meant fighting a fire fuelled by them would have been all but impossible. Although the management admitted how devastating a gas explosion would be, Claymore and Tartan were not switched off with the first emergency call.
10:05 p.m. The Search and Rescue station at RAF Lossiemouth receives the first call notifying them of the possibility of an emergency, and a No. 202 Sqn Sea King helicopter, "Rescue 138", takes off at the request of the Coastguardstation at Aberdeen. The station at RAF Boulmer is also notified, and a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod from RAF Kinloss is sent to the area to act as "On-Scene Commander" and "Rescue Zero-One".
10:20 p.m. Tartan Gas Line Rupture Tartan's gas line (pressurised to 120 Atmospheres) melted and ruptured, releasing 15-30 tonnes of high pressure gas every second, which immediately ignited. From that moment on, the platform's destruction was assured.
10:30 p.m. The Tharos, a large semi-submersible fire fighting, rescue and accommodation vessel, drew alongside Piper Alpha. The Tharos used its water cannon where it could, but it was restricted, because the cannon was so powerful it would injure or kill anyone hit by the water.
10:50 p.m. MCP-01 Gas Line Rupture The second gas line ruptured (the riser for the MCP-01 platform), ejecting millions of cubic feet of gas into the conflagration and increased its intensity. Huge flames shot over 300 ft (90 m) in the air. The Tharos was driven off by the fearsome heat, which began to melt the surrounding machinery and steelwork. It was only after this explosion that the Claymore platform stopped pumping oil. Personnel still left alive were either desperately sheltering in the scorched, smoke-filled accommodation block or leaping from the various deck levels, including the helideck, 175 ft (50 m) into the North Sea. The explosion also killed two crewmen on a fast rescue boat launched from the standby vessel Sandhaven and the six Piper Alpha crewmen they had rescued from the water.
11:18 p.m. Claymore Gas Line Rupture The gas pipeline connecting Piper Alpha to the Claymore Platform ruptured, adding even more fuel to the already massive firestorm that engulfed Piper Alpha.
11:35 p.m. Helicopter "Rescue 138" from Lossiemouth arrives at the scene.
11:37 p.m. Tharos contacts Nimrod "Rescue Zero-One" to appraise him of the situation. A standby vessel has picked up 25 casualties, including three with serious burns, and one with an injury. Tharos requests the evacuation of its non-essential personnel to make room for incoming casualties. "Rescue 138" is requested to evacuate 12 non-essential personnel from Tharos to transfer to Ocean Victory, before returning with paramedics.
11:50 p.m. With critical support structures burned away, and with nothing to support the heavier structures on top, the platform began to collapse. One of the cranes collapsed, followed by the drilling derrick. The generation and utilities Module (D), which included the fireproofed accommodation block, slipped into the sea, taking the crewmen huddled inside with it. The largest part of the platform followed it. "Rescue 138" lands on Tharos and picks up the 12 non-essential personnel, before leaving for Ocean Victory.
11:55 p.m. "Rescue 138" arrives at Ocean Victory and lands the 12 passengers before returning to Tharos with 4 of Ocean Victory's paramedics.
00:07 a.m., 7 July "Rescue 138" lands paramedics on Ocean Victory.
00:17 a.m. "Rescue 138" winches up serious burns casualties picked up by the Standby Safety Vessel, MV Silver Pit.
00:25 a.m. First seriously-injured survivor of Piper Alpha is winched aboard "Rescue 138".
00:45 a.m. The entire platform had gone. Module (A) was all that remained of Piper Alpha.
00:48 a.m. "Rescue 138" lands on Tharos with three casualties picked up from MV Silver Pit.
00:58 a.m. Civilian Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of Bristow Helicopters arrives at Tharos from Aberdeen with Medical Emergency Team.
01:47 a.m. Coastguard helicopter land on Tharos with more casualties.
02:25 a.m. First helicopter leaves Tharos with casualties for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
03:27 a.m. "Rescue 138" lands on Tharos with the bodies of two fatalities. "Rescue 138" then leaves to refuel on the drilling rig Santa Fe 140.
05:15 a.m. "Rescue 137" arrives at Tharos and after landing, then leaves taking casualties to Aberdeen.
06:21 a.m. Uninjured survivors of Piper Alphaleave Tharos by civilian S-61 helicopter for Aberdeen.
07:25 a.m. "Rescue 138" picks up remaining survivors from Tharos for transfer to Aberdeen.
At the time of the disaster 226 people were on the platform; 165 died and 61 survived. Two men from the Standby Vessel Sandhaven were also killed.
To let you go just like that--
a coin tossed into a pond
for good luck, godbless, good riddance.
Or pieces of paper crumpled
after wiping off the dogshit
smeared on the sole of the shoe.
To let you seek your own level
at the gutter. Let you
have your way with your life
unloaded on the dump truck
and driven downwind
out of earshot and sight
away away away.
From "To let you go just like that"
By Ricardo de Ungria
A series of photos from in and around Indianapolis' 2012 Gencon celebration complete with costumery and even a bit of the night-life afterwards.
3/ 365 FEED ON THE WORDS OF GOD
May 7 is National Day of Prayer in the US.
"I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know"
Godbless You Guys!
Strobist Info:
SB800 top of subject triggered by CLS.