Disinfo: New Year fireworks cancelled because of migrants

Summary

In Paris, Brussels and other European cities, the fireworks on New Year’ Eve were cancelled. The Christmas tree is banned in many places, as well as bell ringing. On the one hand, it is European multiculturalism and tolerance that have gained strength. People are ready to sacrifice their traditional values and refuse to erect Christmas trees and other attributes of Christmas and New Year for migrants. They even try to avoid to speaking about these concepts themselves.

Disproof

Recurring disinformation narratives about the decline of Christianity in Europe as well as Christmas and New Years Eve traditions. This article also contains a popular anti-migrant narrative. Similar cases are: "Sweden cancelled Christmas TV concert not to irritate migrants", "France is banning Christmas symbols", or "In order not to aggravate people of other religions, there was no Christmas tree in Brussels". Regarding the use of fireworks, some European cities, such as Munich, have banned fireworks in some public areas of the city for safety reasons, rather than anything to do with migrants. In addition, the state-funded environmental watchdog Environment Action Germany (DUH) is calling on cities to consider banning members of the public from setting off their own pyrotechnics in areas struggling to meet air quality guidelines. The DUH also called for an outright ban on "archaic" fireworks and crackers using black powder (gunpowder), rather than a cleaner substitute. They also claimed that almost 60 percent of Germans are in favour of a general ban on firecrackers in densely populated cities. Regarding the cities specifically mentioned in the article, Brussels and Paris, 2019 New Year's Eve celebratory fireworks went ahead as per normal. Firework displays were cancelled in 2015, in both Brussels and Paris, due to a terrorist threat and in the wake of the November 13th 2019 attacks in Paris.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 178
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/12/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Keywords: migration, European Union, European values, Christmas, Europe, Migration crisis, Christianity
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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that any criticism of Russia voiced by any non-Russian entity, be it an NGO, a government, or a media outlet, is a symptom of pathological Russophobia afflicting all such institutions. In the course of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) investigation into the alleged state-sponsored doping operation, Russia has received the same treatment as any other country probed for doping violations. See here and here for comprehensive debunking by Polygraph.info.

Disinfo: Sanctions on Syria are illegal

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Disproof

In 2005, by UNSC Resolution 1636, the UN Security Council imposed travel bans and asset freezes on people suspected of being involved in the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, in which Syria was implicated by a UN report.

The EU implemented those measures by adopting Council Common Position 2005/888/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 305/2006.

Disinfo: White Helmets fabricated evidence used to bomb Syria

The United States has taken the fabrications of the White Helmets’ concerning “chemical attacks” in Syria as an excuse to call for direct airstrikes in this country.

Disproof

A recurring disinformation narrative claiming that chemical attack in Douma, Syria was staged, along with narratives aiming to discredit the White Helmets. See our and Bellingcat's reporting how Russian and Syrian state media have used fiction movies to "prove" that the Douma attack was fabricated.

The Report of the OPCW fact-finding mission in Syria regarding the incident of alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Douma states that "Based on the levels of chlorinated organic derivatives, detected in several environmental samples gathered at the sites of alleged use of toxic chemicals (Locations 2 and 4), which are not naturally present in the environment, the FFM concludes that the objects from which the samples were taken at both locations had been in contact with one or more substances containing reactive chlorine."