The Week on Twitter: Syria Airstrikes, Kylie Jenner, & ZuckerBaby
This week, the UK voted in favour of airstrikes in Syria, Hilary Benn made a speech, Kylie Jenner used a wheelchair as a fashion accessory, and lots of people marched to save the climate. Mark Zuckerberg also had a baby, and pledged to give away 99% of his Facebook shares.
UK carry out first airstrikes in #Syria
On Wednesday, British MPs voted in favour of launching airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria. A ten hour Commons debate saw 397 members of parliament vote to approve the bombing operation. According to Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, the strikes could last up to three years.
Upon the announcement of the Commons’ decision, many took to Twitter to condemn the motion, which will ultimately lead to the death of thousands more civilians. Although Labour’s Shadow Secretary Hilary Benn declared that, unlike ISIS, the UK is not acting with the intention of killing innocent people, many dismissed his words as sensationalism, despite major media outlets describing his speech as “extraordinary” and “powerful.”
The first strikes were carried out on Thursday morning on an oil field in Eastern Syria.
Many 'sickened' by British MPs' laughter shortly after approving air strikes in Syria https://t.co/YE7qr4mDWg pic.twitter.com/0Vfh68EqJk
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) December 3, 2015
At least Tony Blair can stop sweating like a nonce in an ice cream van queue. We'll never see the Chilcot report now. #Syria #Iraq
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) December 3, 2015
"How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism?" – Howard Zinn #Syria
— Lex Loopington (@lex_looper) December 2, 2015
After his storming close to the debate, Hilary Benn to headline Glastonbury. pic.twitter.com/DZhZYHfBKK
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) December 3, 2015
#NotInMyName trended across the UK as those opposing airstrikes expressed their disappointment with their government’s decision. Many people in Scotland conveyed distinct frustration as they felt they had been dragged into a war they did not support.
Here we go again. Scotland dragged into a war that she doesn't vote for.
397 MPs vote for war
223 MPs vote against#SyriaVote #NotInMyName— Cllr Julie McKenzie (@joolsmc) December 2, 2015
No money for the NHS, but we can afford this apparently #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/z4mjr53qRh
— oorpatronsaintofcats (@patronsaintofca) December 3, 2015
Every day since he took power, @David_Cameron manages to make me ever more ashamed to be British. Genocidal wanker. #NotInMyName
— Darren Ashley (@Darren_Ashley77) December 3, 2015
''You can bomb a person, you can't bomb an ideology'' #NotInMyName
— SOAK (@Soakofficial) December 2, 2015
The UK has just mourned the death of innocent French people dying but are enthusiastic about doing the same thing to Syrians #NotInMyName
— crazy dog lady™ (@VickyArcher1) December 2, 2015
#KylieJenner pisses of lots of people in photoshoot for #InterviewMagazine
Kylie Jenner has done another very Kylie Jenner thing. During the week, fashion magazine Interview released a cover shoot of the reality TV appearing, misogynistic boyfriend having, on-point contouring 18 year old in a wheelchair.
The photo features Jenner sitting in the wheelchair, wearing some sort of latex swimsuit number while staring vacantly ahead. Since its release, it has received a lot of criticism from many members of the disabled community, who deem the photo both an offensive ploy to glamourise the use of wheelchairs, and a prime example of ableism.
Some were quick to defend Jenner’s shoot, stating that it was very unlikely she made the decision herself, and that the crux of the blame lies with the publication. Others didn’t see anything wrong with the photos at all, and hailed Jenner an inspiration to young girls everywhere. Those people were wrong.
@KylieJenner wow being in a wheelchair is so fun and fashionable! #Ableism is the ultimate fashion statement! pic.twitter.com/lOScQnODhy
— Ophelia Brown (@bandaidknees) December 1, 2015
This is offensive and disgusting. Ableism is real and this just reinforces it. A wheelchair as a prop? @KylieJenner pic.twitter.com/UgAWbyKcR5
— Gregory Brown (@Whalewatchmeplz) December 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/basedonika/status/671715669755502592
NEWSFLASH: BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR IS NOT A GLAMOROUS FASHION STATEMENT⁉️@KylieJenner this is ableism. pic.twitter.com/piZxJSo2sM
— hay (@hxyleylxtour) December 1, 2015
if you consider #KylieJenner using a wheelchair as a prop wrong, i full expect you to feel the same about people using glasses for fashion.
— Spookmaster General (@meltonwhiz) December 2, 2015
Alright Chloe.
#ClimateMarch takes the world by storm #COP21
November 29th saw a large amount of people from a large amount of different countries march to save the environment. Over 700,000 people took to the streets all over the world to promote the use of clean energy, encourage carbon emission reductions, and advocate for a safer planet for the future.
The global march was held just before the UN’s climate summit in Paris. The thousands who partook in the march did so to convince their countries’ leaders to take action before it’s too late.
See stunning images of the 785,000 people at the #ClimateMarch this weekend https://t.co/R9fmN7vKdO pic.twitter.com/CiInVsR1Vi
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 30, 2015
It's official: more than 700,000 people took part in yesterday's global #climatemarch #COP21 pic.twitter.com/HrB9Xdsbmk
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) November 30, 2015
Massive #climatemarch in Dublin, and good to see @trocaire in the thick of it! pic.twitter.com/BRUIi4w9ut
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) November 29, 2015
From today's #climatemarch in London. Organisers said about 50,000 people participated. @vicenews pic.twitter.com/D0FFSVYBdG
— Sally Hayden (@sallyhayd) November 29, 2015
Man, the Parisians know how to be poetic no matter what. Shoes in lieu of #ClimateMarch when rally was disallowed. pic.twitter.com/fvpdzgiY6N
— Scott Spark (@scottspark) November 29, 2015
#MarkZuckerberg creates child and gives shares away
On Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuzkerberg announced the birth of his baby daughter to the world while also announcing that he was planning to give away 99% of his company stock. In a 2000 word open letter to his new baby Max, Zuckerberg declared that he and his wife had decided to use all of those shares to “focus on two ideas: advancing human potential and promoting equality.”
Lots of people thought the letter was really nice and that Zuckerberg was a great fella, doing great things, making the world a great place, etc. Others took issue with his decision to use a Limited Liability Company rather than a non-profit organisation, as it meant that the Zuckerbergs could join up with other companies and make investments in stuff and continue to do lots of other business-y type things while also saving the world.
Some people even accused Zuckerberg of using the philanthropic initiative to get some handy tax breaks, which he has firmly denied.
It is fantastic that #MarkZuckerberg is donating 99% of his socks to charity. Good man.
— Duncan Whitehead (@DuncanWhitehead) December 2, 2015
Zuckerberg set up an LLC, not a foundation. It's an investment vehicle with great PR. Nobody said he wasn't a genius.
— Jesse Eisinger (@eisingerj) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/Jim_Capie/status/672112110894252037
https://twitter.com/emma_c_williams/status/671950828027183104
can someone photoshop my face onto the face of mark zuckerberg's newborn child? pic.twitter.com/TnS1jqQ4jY
— patrick perkins (@packieperkins) December 2, 2015
Featured image via interviewmagazine.com