As the date of the British referendum about whether the UK should remain a member of the EU came closer, tension in the Remain camp increased. This was quite unexpected since one way or the other, the general feeling had been that the British people would massively vote to remain, as happened in a similar referendum many years ago. During the referendum campaign, the majority in favour of remaining would grow.
It seems like this has failed to happen. Results of public opinion polls are not being presented consistently; some seem to show that the remain side is in the lead; others the reverse. What is clear though is that neither of the two can claim a commanding majority.
Outside the UK too, especially within the European institutions, the anxieties about the outcome are increasing. In Europe, the view seems to be spreading that if the British opt for Brexit, the prestige of the Union will have been severely dented. In this regard, the decision taken this week by Der Spiegel magazine was quite significant: it dedicated an important portion of its issue to Brexit and ran a cover featuring the plea in English: Please don’t go!
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Cruelty
Popular sentiment against cruelty to animals has hardened in Malta, which is a good thing. There were times when literally, some people used to enjoy seeing animals suffer or indeed being tortured just for the fun of it. Fundamentally the problem was a lack of education.
Today apart from the organizers of animal fights (cocks, dogs etc.) for betting purposes, the worst cases of cruelty to animals arise mostly from indifference or inattention to an animal’s welfare, rather than from premeditated spite.
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Daesh
Reports indicate that Daesh, the Islamic extremist organization which carried out countless atrocities in past years, is on the retreat in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Let’s hope things stay that way.
It is also being reported that many of its fighters who came to it originally from Europe are now returning. Their pay had been drastically cut and the prospects of ongoing defeats on the ground, have been increasing the probability they would be killed during airraids in which they would have no chance to respond to attacks on their positions and facilities.
The return of these defeated fighters, disappointed as they will be with their experiences, might be opening a new,more dangerous chapter in the development of contemporary terrorism. The nature of terrorist attacks that could be mounted and the manner by which they get planned could change in unpredictable ways.
All attacks carried out up to now were actioned by people we all consider to be “extremists”. They were prepared to die in the devastation they were themselves creating. Now the same people will be carrying out their attacks driven too by a sense of despair. How will their “methods” change?