Free Republic

Journalist and independent filmmaker Lauren Southern announced her retirement from the political public sphere to take on a more full, private life. Just 23 years old, Southern plans on furthering her education, and has not ruled out political contributions in the future. “Farewell,” Southern posted in a tweet... “I’ve enjoyed this all greatly but it’s time to start a new chapter of my life. Thank you to all my incredible colleagues who I’ll be cheering on in their fight for truth – and my wonderful supporters who made all I’ve done possible.” “I have long wanted to pursue this less...

When it comes to support for President Vladimir Putin’s international positions, the South African (SA) Government has been among the most consistent and enthusiastic of any in the world. However, Russian policy in South Africa has been damaged by the behaviour of Russian oligarchs and state businesses implicated in the corrupt schemes of former SA president Jacob Zuma; he is now facing multiple indictments for seeking and taking bribes for himself and his family. Putin’s landing in Johannesburg on Thursday ought to have been the signal for a fresh start. Ahead of his departure from Moscow, Putin’s advisor on foreign...

During the years of the ANC’s guerilla struggle against white rule in South Africa, Zuma was its head of military intelligence. He and other political associates received training in the Soviet Bloc, then one of the ANC’s allies. Putin and some of his close associates today were officers of the Soviet intelligence and security services during this period. An important ANC policy document in 2015, A Better Africa in a Better and Just World, reflected a pro-Russian worldview. It extolled the value of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and quoted Lenin approvingly on the tranformation of society. The document also...

Vladimir Putin may frighten some countries, but Russia gives many South Africans a warm and fuzzy feeling. They remember support in decades past: during apartheid the Soviet Union provided military training and arms to the African National Congress (ANC), as well as to other liberation movements on the continent. Some surprisingly common South African first names—such as Soviet, Moscow and Lenin—are living tributes to these old ties. Sputnik Ratau, born shortly after the first satellite’s launch, is a spokesman for the water and sanitation department. A high school in KwaZulu-Natal is named after Eric Mtshali, a stalwart of the struggle...

Lower Greenbrier River Byway Wins Grant to Make Plan by Chris Chanlett The Lower Greenbrier River Byway project is awaking from a long winter’s nap. Recently the West Virginia Department of Transportation informed the group that its grant application to write a Corridor Management Plan [ this is the whole problem right here, they get the money , write up their plan, then the WVDOH and The NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife and so on, come into play, rip up the local’s plan, and then goes to the process of Environmental Impact Plans, that turn out to not get...