(2018-04-07). Canada's trade union-backed Liberal government clamps down on steel and aluminum imports. World Socialist Web Site Trudeau's protectionist measures, which help enforce Trump's trade war tariffs, include corporatist initiatives aimed at further integrating the unions with big business and the state.
(2018-04-06). Fox News Is Brazenly Ignoring Its Own Damning Interview With Scott Pruitt. AlterNet.org The network is taking extraordinary measures to cover for the president. | Seeking to recover from a storm of ethical scandals with a tour of conservative news outlets, embattled Environmental Protection Agency director Scott Pruitt sat down with Fox News' Ed Henry for an interview yesterday afternoon. Pruitt was surely hoping for the same softballs he has regularly received on the right-wing network. But to his credit, Henry grilled the EPA director, pushing back on Pruitt's defenses of his conduct. Journalists from other outlets have rightfully praised the interview, with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle commenting, "Ed Henry, good on you," after airing a portion of it this morning. Observers have largely been struck by the dog-bites-man quality of a Fox reporter savaging one of President Donald Trump's top appointees. But a review. . .
(2018-04-06). Degrading Newspapers' Business Sections. counterpunch.org It's alarming that there are far fewer media outlets for consumer protection news and features than there were thirty years ago. Recall the huge Phil Donahue Show, the regional radio show and TV news shows, the television networks and syndicated radio shows that would report and interview consumer advocates about the injustice, rip-offs, and harms More
(2018-04-06). Court Rules EPA Unlawfully Delayed Environmental Racism Investigations for Decades. Truthout Stories Father Phil Schmitter and other advocates from a predominately Black neighborhood in Flint, Michigan filed a civil rights complaint with the EPA more than 20 years before the city became a symbol of environmental racism. The EPA finally completed its investigation into the complaint last year, and only after environmental justice groups took the agency to federal court.Darlene McClendon, 62, at her home in Flint, Michigan, on October 11, 2016. (Photo: Brittany Greeson / The Washington Post via Getty Images) | Exposing the wrongdoing of those in power has never been more important. Support Truthout's independent, investigative journalism by making a donation! | A federal court ruled this week that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violated the Civil Rights Act by delaying investigations into environmental discrimination complaints for years, even decades. For plaintiff Phil Schmitter, a priest and social justice activist…
(2018-04-06). Shell Suppressed the Dangers of Fossil Fuel Emissions for Decades: Report. AlterNet.org New documents reveal scientists warned the oil giant as early as the 1980s. | Royal Dutch Shell's scientists warned the oil giant about the threat that fossil fuel emissions pose to the planet as early as the 1980s, according to a trove of documents obtained by a Dutch journalist and published Thursday at Climate Files. Environmental advocates say the documents—which bolster an investigative report published last year—demonstrate the "stunning" immorality of oil and gas companies. The records are expected to aid global efforts to hold the industry to account for its contributions to global warming. Okay, vast new trove of documents found by Dutch researcher show Shell too knew everything about climate change back in the 1980s. The basic immorality of these companies is stunning. #ShellKnew t. co/FnAQo7coJ3— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) April 5, 2018One such document, a confidential. . .
(2018-04-06). Confidential Shell Oil Report Prompts Lawsuit: They Knew About Climate Change Decades Ago. The Real News Network What Royal Dutch Shell knew about fossil fuel driving climate change and when they knew it is confirmed in Confidential Report published by Dutch source, prompting legal case against oil giant by environmental group Friends of the Earth…
(2018-04-06). Trump orders end of 'catch & release' immigration policy. RT US News President Donald Trump has signed an order ending the so-called 'catch and release' policy, under which US immigration officers allowed the release of 'caught' illegal immigrants back on US soil, pending their immigration hearing.
RT.com
(2018-04-06). Louisiana Bill Aims To Hypercriminalize Pipeline Protests (1/2). The Real News Network Civil rights lawyer Bill Quigley says that the legislation is driven by private oil companies who want to clamp down on environmental activists' First Amendment rights and preserve profits derived at the expense of communities of color…
(2018-04-06). Headlines for April 6, 2018. Democracy Now! Brazilian Judge Orders Former President Lula to Report to Prison, Oklahoma Teachers' Strike Shuts Schools for a Fifth Day, Puerto Rico to Close 283 Public Schools, NYPD Settles Lawsuit over Secret Muslim Surveillance Program, 14 States Sue EPA as Scandals Swirl Around Scott Pruitt, Trump Repeats Conspiracy Theories About Illegal Voters & Mexican Rapists, Prominent Latino Journalist Detained by ICE in Memphis, U.S. Condemns Palestinians for Protesting in Gaza, Turkey Admits to Seizing 80 Gov't Critics in Other Countries, Thousands Protest in Brooklyn over Police Killing of Bipolar African-American Man, Shell Knew: Documents Show Oil Giant Hid Dangers of Fossil Fuels for Decades, Michigan OKs Plan for Nestlé to Expand Water Bottling Operations Despite Public Outcry, Two Arrested at Protest Against Bayou Bridge Pipeline, Visionary Jazz Pianist Cecil Taylor, 89, Dies…
(2018-04-06). Will We Ever See the Results of the Mueller Investigation? Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists If you want to make sure you learn whether President Trump's campaign colluded with the Russians and whether Trump himself committed obstruction of justice, there's one thing you must do: Vote in November to take control of Congress away from the Republican Party. | Spoiler alert: We already have evidence that Trump at least tried his best to obstruct justice; and despite the president's frequent all-caps tweets to the contrary, collusion is still very much an open question. For more definitive answers, however, we have to await special counsel Robert Mueller's findings—and there is no guarantee we will learn, in detail, everything that he finds out. | The Washington Post reported this week that Mueller intends to produce a series of reports about the various issues he is probing, with the first likely to be on the obstruction of justice question. | The…
(2018-04-05). #DeleteFacebook? Not in Indian Country. AlterNet.org For tribal communities, Facebook delivers in times of need. |
(2018-04-05). Mark Zuckerberg Makes a Sudden 180 on Privacy—Is It for Real? MintPress News The backlash against high-tech's privacy-invading business model is growing—but one hard-hit Silicon Valley institution, Facebook, announced a potentially far-reaching reform late on Wednesday. | Over a 24-hour period, it appears that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg went from endorsing, " in spirit," soon-to-take-effect European Union privacy rules, to committing that Facebook will implement the EU rules across its global platform used by 2.2 billion people. The EU rules give people, not corporations, power over their personal data. | "We intend to make the same settings available everywhere, not only in Europe," Zuckerberg said, PoliticoPro reported. "We need to figure out what makes sense in different markets with the different laws and different places… But let me repeat this, we'll make all controls and settings the same everywhere, not just in Europe." | Zuckerberg's comments came hours after another company disclosure…
(2018-04-05). Outrage over protection of killer cops expressed at Sacramento City Council meeting. World Socialist Web Site Dozens of speakers denounced the City Council members and District Attorney for their indifference towards the murder of Stephon Clark and the broader social crisis in California's capital.
(2018-04-05). Zuckerberg Makes a 180 on Privacy—Is It for Real? AlterNet.org Civil liberties and human rights groups want Big Data to sign security pledge to protect user privacy. | The backlash against high-tech's privacy-invading business model is growing—but one hard-hit Silicon Valley institution, Facebook, announced a potentially far-reaching reform late on Wednesday. Over a 24-hour period, it appears that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg went from endorsing, " in spirit," soon-to-take-effect European Union privacy rules, to committing that Facebook will implement the EU rules across its global platform used by 2. 2 billion people. The EU rules give people, not corporations, power over their personal data. "We intend to make the same settings available everywhere, not only in Europe," Zuckerberg said, PoliticoPro reported. "We need to figure out what makes sense in different markets with the different laws and different places. . . But let me repeat this, we'll make all controls and settings the same. . .
(2018-04-05). Top Aide to Embattled EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Tenders Resignation. AlterNet.org Samantha Dravis steps down amid a burgeoning ethics scandal. | A top aide to the embattled Environmental Protection Agency head has resigned. Samantha Dravis, associate administrator of the EPA's office of policy, has stepped down from her position amid an ethics scandal involving EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, according to CNN reporters. Samantha Dravis, associate Administrator of EPA's office of policy and close aide to Scott Pruitt, has submitted her resignation, her attorney tells @sganim— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 5, 2018 Related Stories: White House Response Indicates That Scott Pruitt Will Probably Be Fired SoonTrump's EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Caught Living in Prime D. C. Condo Owned by Top Energy Lobbyist's Wife: ReportEPA Head Spends Over $100K in Taxpayer Money to Fly Around the World in First Class
(2018-04-05). Trump Expresses Confidence in EPA Chief as Questions Linger. Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists The president appears to throw embattled Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt a lifeline, even as a review of Pruitt's conduct by White House officials is underway. | The post Trump Expresses Confidence in EPA Chief as Questions Linger appeared first on Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists.
(2018-04-05). Climate Truth: a Plan for Sustainability. counterpunch.org There is a practical path for tackling climate change, for organizing from your house to your neighborhood, city, state and beyond. It's clear. It's simple. It's 3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per person per year as a goal and a measure for global sustainability. 3 tons is the basis for personal and collective action More
(2018-04-05). Trump administration axes Obama-era clean car standards. World Socialist Web Site The EPA's decision is the latest in a series of efforts aimed at gutting environmental regulations, particularly related to climate change.
(2018-04-05). Trump Escalates Already-Deadly U.S. Border Policies, Ordering National Guard to Mexican Border. Democracy Now! A new wave of troops could soon be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, even as border crossings by undocumented immigrants are at their lowest levels since 1971. The move comes as a caravan of Central American migrants and asylum seekers in Mexico has prompted a series of threats from President Trump. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports the Trump administration is requesting that the U.S. military build walls for at least one military base along the U.S.-Mexico border. We go to Tucson, Arizona, for an update from Todd Miller, a border security journalist and author of "Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security."
(2018-04-05). How the Wireless Industry Convinced the Public Cellphones Are Safe & Cherry-Picked Research on Risks. Democracy Now! Ninety-five out of every 100 American adults owns a cellphone today. And worldwide, three out of four adults now have cellphone access. The wireless industry is one of the fastest-growing on Earth, raking in annual sales of $440 billion in 2016. But are cellphones safe? A new investigation by The Nation suggests that's a question that cellphone giants prefer you don't ask. We speak with Mark Hertsgaard, The Nation's environment correspondent and investigative editor. His report, co-authored with Mark Dowie, is headlined "How Big Wireless Made Us Think That Cell Phones Are Safe."
(2018-04-05). Nuclear Power Firms Woo Middle East. Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists Nuclear power firms are scrambling to sell reactors to countries in one of the most troubled parts of the world, the Middle East. Many lack domestic customers and see this new market as a potential lifesaver. | A report last year by the US-based Center for Climate & Security included the Middle East in a list of what it called "potential crisis regions where combining security, climate, and nuclear risks must be addressed urgently." | The biggest prize is the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has announced plans to build 16 nuclear plants over the next 25 years at a cost of US$80 billion, part of an effort to diversify away from fossil fuels. South Korea, China, France, Russia, Japan and the United States are all bidding to build them. | In a region where renewables are half the price…
(2018-04-05). America's Gun Problem is a Police Problem. counterpunch.org In the wake of a crisis, proposals for reform are often radical and ill-conceived. Seattle radio host John Carlson's gun reform proposal, outlined in theWall Street Journal, boils America's violent crime problem down to one issue; people who shouldn't have guns do. But Carlson's proposals ignore the role of police violence in criminals' decisions to use More
(2018-04-05). Oil Firms' Multimillion-dollar Bribery Racket Bringing Death to the Streets of Iraq's Basra. Global Research Driving pick-up trucks, the hit squad prowled the streets of Basra in southern Iraq, searching for the oil contractor it had been sent to kill. When the gunmen finally cornered Kadhim Wattban near his home, just before midnight, the married …
(2018-04-04). Could the Cold War Return With a Vengeance? counterpunch.org Think of it as the most momentous military planning on Earth right now. Who's even paying attention, given the eternal changing of the guard at the White House, as well as the latest in tweets, sexual revelations, and investigations of every sort? And yet it increasingly looks as if, thanks to current Pentagon planning, a twenty-first-century version More
(2018-04-04). Most Likely to Succeed. counterpunch.org Oh very young, what will you leave us this time? You're only dancing on this earth for a short while. -Cat Stevens I heard these lyrics the other night while making dinner and realized it was one of those songs that has left a permanent imprint on me, the kind of song that intertwines with More
(2018-04-04). Atmospheric Burnings: The Re-entry of China's Tiangong-1. counterpunch.org The precipitous demise of China's prototype space station, Tiangong-1, was the sort of event that took earthbound discussions to more heavenly matters. Human beings, as is their wont, tend to follow the rules of colonisation with a certain automatism. In doing so, they have a distinct habit of leaving debris, a junking phenomenon that has seen More
(2018-04-04). Trump's Trade War With China Will Roil Economies of Many 2018 Election Battleground States. AlterNet.org Trump just handed voters another reason to vote for Democrats in some of 2018's most important races. | President Trump's escalating trade war with China is poised to roil key economic sectors of numerous 2018 political battleground states, where Republican incumbents already are facing a Democratic surge. On Wednesday, China announced tariffs worth $50 billion in retaliation against Trump's just-imposed tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and high-tech goods. The Chinese will impose a 25 percent tariff on 106 U. S. products including soybeans, cars and chemicals, it announced. It will also target U. S. corn, cotton, beef, orange juice, whiskey, tobacco, and several lubricants and plastic products. Beyond the boasts by White House National Trade Council director Peter Navarro on Fox Business on March 2 that no country would dare retaliate "for the simple reason that we are the most lucrative and biggest market in. . .
(2018-04-04). A Death in Louisiana's Cancer Alley Reinforces a Small Town's Fears of Industry Impacts. Truthout Stories Keith Hunter, long-time resident of St. James, Louisiana, in March 2017, roughly a year before he died. (Photo: Julie Dermansky) | Thirty seconds: That's how long it takes to support the independent journalism at Truthout. We're counting on you. Click here to chip in! | Sixty-year-old Keith Hunter lived in St. James, Louisiana, for roughly 27 years, and during that time, he watched as the sugarcane farms gave way to oil storage tanks and as a railroad terminal was being built down the road, all visible from his front yard. Hunter was an outspoken critic of the industrialization of his neighborhood. And in a similar fashion as some of his neighbors, Hunter died on February 10 following a respiratory illness. | The town of St. James lies in St. James Parish, about 50 miles west of New Orleans. Despite its location…
(2018-04-04). Trump proposes to deploy troops to US-Mexico border. World Socialist Web Site The deployment of the military on US soil to arrest or deter immigrants raises the specter of martial law and violates the basic democratic principle of posse comitatus.
(2018-04-03). Abortion and Human Rights in El Salvador. Human Rights Watch News Last August, I had the opportunity to testify before the Constitutional Tribunal in Chile, my home country, in support of a landmark law that decriminalized abortion in three circumstances. In my testimony before the court, I spoke about how Chile's total abortion ban, in effect for 28 years, undermined women's fundamental human rights. | I later was in the packed courtroom to hear arguments from other expert witnesses. Many people have strong, deeply held views on abortion. But the main question before the court was whether Chile's constitutional protection for the embryo or fetus could be reconciled with allowing women to terminate their pregnancies in certain circumstances—for example, when the life of the woman or girl is at risk, or when the pregnancy resulted from rape. This question is a central part of the debate in El Salvador, where the constitution recognizes the…
(2018-04-03). EPA Violated the Law by Failing to Investigate Civil Rights Complaints, Court Rules. The Intercept A court ruled today that the Environmental Protection Agency violated its duty to respond to civil rights complaints in a timely way. The case involved five organizations that had waited years for the EPA to respond to complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, or color. | The law requires the EPA to respond to parties that file civil rights complaints within 20 days, letting them know whether the agency plans to conduct an investigation. After opening an investigation, the EPA has 180 days to either dismiss a complaint or issue preliminary findings and recommendations based on what it finds in the investigation. But in each of the five cases, the groups waited years — in some cases, decades — for responses from the agency. | Among the groups suing…
(2018-04-03). Headlines for April 3, 2018. Democracy Now! EPA Orders Rollback of Obama-Era Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules, Report: Climate Change Driving Rapid Melting of Antarctica's Glaciers, Mexico to Crack Down on Migrant Caravans as Trump Tweets Threats, Trump Anti-Immigrant Tweets Follow Mar-a-Lago Meeting with Fox News Hosts, Justice Dept. Orders Immigration Court Quotas to Speed Deportations, Thousands of Striking Teachers Rally in Oklahoma, Kentucky State Capitals, Stocks Fall Amid Trade War Fears, as Trump Attacks Amazon on Twitter, Sinclair Broadcast Group Forces Anchors to Recite Trumpian Commentary, Syria: Rebels Evacuate Douma in Russia-Brokered Deal, Yemen: U.S.-Backed, Saudi-Led Coalition Airstrike Kills 12 Civilians, Afghan Government Airstrikes Kill At Least 70 at Kunduz Mosque, Trump Congratulates Egyptian President over Rigged Election Win, Philippines: Marawi Residents Return to Homes Left Devastated by War, South African Anti-Apartheid Activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Dies, Activists Blockade Puget Sound Energy HQ to Protest Natural Gas Plant…
(2018-04-03). The Misanthropy of Wild Wild Country. counterpunch.org Sometimes a great work comes along to confirm total hatred of the human race, purest misanthropy, a vision that realizes the finest thing at last is to toss aside the humans and go to the forest, hug the trees, make love to the earth, listen to the pollinators buzz — what remains of them (as More
(2018-04-03). Pentagon Plans for Three-Front "Long War" Against China and Russia. Truthout Stories Sailors inspect the landing gear of an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. (Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Spencer Roberts / US Navy) | Think of it as the most momentous military planning on Earth right now. Who's even paying attention, given the eternal changing of the guard at the White House, as well as the latest in tweets, sexual revelations, and investigations of every sort? And yet it increasingly looks as if, thanks to current Pentagon planning, a twenty-first-century version of the Cold War (with dangerous new twists) has begun and hardly anyone has even noticed. | In 2006, when the Department of Defense spelled out its future security role, it saw only one overriding mission: its "Long War" against international terrorism. "With its allies and partners, the United…
(2018-04-03). Pipeline Backed by Pruitt's Oil Lobbyist Landlord Approved While EPA Chief Was Receiving Sweetheart Rent. MintPress News As EPA chief and reigning number one seed in the " worst Trump cabinet member" bracket Scott Pruitt attempts to beat back accusations that he violated ethics rules by renting a room from the wife of powerful energy lobbyist J. Steven Hart, the New York Times revealed late Monday that Pruitt approved a massive pipeline project supported by Hart's firm at the same time he had access to what critics argue was an unusually low-priced rental. | "A giant pipeline that rips up a vast swath of America and wrecks the climate in exchange for a cheap condo," 350.org founder Bill McKibben tweeted in response to the new report. "Seems the perfect emblem of the Trump years." | While EPA officials immediately pushed back against the notion that Pruitt approved the project as a favor in exchange for the…
(2018-04-03). An Oil Price Rally Is Likely? Global Research Oil prices seesawed at the start of the week before jumping close to multi-year highs on geopolitical concerns, with Brent hitting $70 and WTI at $65. However, geopolitical pressure is only able to influence oil prices to such a degree …
(2018-04-03). The Bayer-Monsanto Merger Is Bad News for the Planet. Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists Two new studies from Europe show that the number of birds in agricultural areas of France has crashed by a third in just 15 years, with some species being almost eradicated. The collapse in the bird population mirrors the discovery last October that more than three quarters of all flying insects in Germany have vanished in just three decades. Insects are the staple food source of birds, the pollinators of fruits and the aerators of the soil. | The chief suspect in this mass extinction is the aggressive use of neonicotinoid pesticides, particularly imidacloprid and clothianidin, both made by the Germany-based chemical giant Bayer. These pesticides, along with toxic glyphosate herbicides such as Roundup, have delivered a one-two punch to monarch butterflies, honeybees and birds. But rather than banning these toxic chemicals, on March 21 the EU approved
(2018-04-02). The Isolation of Julian Assange Must Stop. counterpunch.org If it was ever clear that the case of Julian Assange was never just a legal case, but a struggle for the protection of basic human rights, it is now. | Citing his critical tweets about the recent detention of Catalan president Carles Puidgemont in Germany, and following pressure from the US, Spanish and UK governments, the Ecuadorian government has installed an electronic jammer to stop Assange communicating with the outside world via the internet and phone. More
(2018-04-02). The Isolation of Julian Assange Must Stop. Global Research If it was ever clear that the case of Julian Assange was never just a legal case, but a struggle for the protection of basic human rights, it is now. | Citing his critical tweets about the recent detention of Catalan …
(2018-04-02). Why Should the Poor Pay High Drug Prices? Truthout Stories (Photo: DedMityay / Getty Images) | We have seen a lot of hyperventilating in political circles over Donald Trump's recently proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. While these do not seem like well-considered policies, and are likely to do more harm than good even from the narrow standpoint of increasing manufacturing employment, they are not by themselves the horror story being presented. | Steel prices often fluctuate by 20 or 30 percent over the course of a year, as they did in 2016. If tariffs raise the price in the US by 10 percent, that would be unfortunate for downstream industries, but not exactly a catastrophe. | However, more important than the specifics of a steel tariff is the implicit assumption that the country as a whole has an interest in stronger and longer patent and copyright protection. Many pundits have attacked Trump's…
(2018-04-02). Trump's Protectionism and China's Emergence as a World Economic Power. Global Research US Presidents, European leaders and their academic spokespeople have attributed China's growing market shares, trade surpluses and technological power to its "theft" of western technology, "unfair" or non-reciprocal trade and restrictive investment practices. President Trump has launched a 'trade war', …
(2018-04-02). Climate Change, Biodiversity, Wildlife and the Ecosystem. Global Research Featured image: Sierpe river mangrove in Costa Rica. Credit: Tanguy de Saint-Cyr/ Shutterstock.com, via IPBES | A sweeping new report released today emphasizes just how intertwined the challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity truly are.The Paris Climate …
(2018-04-02). Boston Will Survive If It Can Prevent the Effects of Climate Change. AlterNet.org Climate scientists, architects and engineers are rethinking Boston to cope with rapidly rising sea levels. | The city of Boston made news in March for receiving four nor'easters in just three weeks. The storms led to piles of snow and coastal flooding. While hurricanes may famously (and fakely) bring sharks to flooded streets, Boston's floods really do bring swans. That might be a sweet and peaceful picture. But the reality is that much of Boston was built on fill and is subject to massive flooding. The city, known for its forward-thinking attitudes, takes the issue very seriously: Does it really want to surrender valuable real estate to mother nature? Paul Kirshen, a professor of climate adaptation at UMass's School for the Environment, is studying the idea of using barrier walls to protect Boston, though he stresses he doesn't advocate for. . .
(2018-04-02). Nations Won't Reach Paris Climate Goal Without Protecting Wildlife and Nature, Warns Report. Truthout Stories A sweeping new report emphasizes just how intertwined the challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity truly are. | The Paris Climate Agreement and several other United Nations (UN) pacts "all depend on the health and vitality of our natural environment in all its diversity and complexity," said Dr. Anne Larigauderie, executive secretary of the UN-backed organization behind the report. "Acting to protect and promote biodiversity is at least as important to achieving these commitments and to human well-being as is the fight against global climate change." | The report comes from the efforts of more than 550 scientists in over 100 nations, corralled by an organization often dubbed "the IPCC for biodiversity." | Much like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses the state of research on global warming and its impacts, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and…
(2018-04-02). Scandi Noir, Kim Wall and Murder. counterpunch.org Finland, a country noted for deep felt suicides executed during long dark winter months, has become the happiest nation on earth. This statistical superstition, contrived to feed a social-media diet free of substance and light on evidence, belies one fundamental point: Scandinavia can boast its examples of curious killings and extravagant murders. Little wonder, then, that More
(2018-04-02). Weapons for Anyone: 
Donald Trump and the Art of the Arms Deal. AlterNet.org Trump wants to peddle arms to the hottest spots on Earth. | It's one of those stories of the century that somehow never gets treated that way. For an astounding 25 of the past 26 years, the United States has been the leading arms dealer on the planet, at some moments in near monopolistic fashion. Its major weapons-producers, including Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin, regularly pour the latest in high-tech arms and munitions into the most explosive areas of the planet with ample assistance from the Pentagon. In recent years, the bulk of those arms have gone to the Greater Middle East. Donald Trump is only the latest American president to preside over a global arms sales bonanza. With remarkable enthusiasm, he's appointed himself America's number one weapons salesman and he couldn't be prouder of the job. . .
(2018-04-02). "Scandinavian Noir", Kim Wall and Murder. Global Research Finland, a country noted for deep felt suicides executed during long dark winter months, has become the happiest nation on earth. This statistical superstition, contrived to feed a social-media diet free of substance and light on evidence, belies one fundamental …
(2018-04-02). The Warm War: Russiamania at the Boiling Point. counterpunch.org Is it war yet? Yes, in too many respects. It's a relentless economic, diplomatic, and ideological war, spiced with (so far) just a dash of military war, and the strong scent of more to come. I mean war with Russia, of course, although Russia is the point target for a constellation of emerging adversaries the US is desperate to entame before any one or combination of them becomes too strong to defeat. More
(2018-04-02). Charles Blow: The American Justice System Was Designed to Kill Black Men. AlterNet.org Police shootings like the one that slayed Stephon Clark are a feature, not a bug. | Protests erupted in Sacramento, California and around the country this week after Stephon Clark was killed by police officers, the latest in what's become a regular occurrence in America. These protests are necessary and even briefly cathartic, but as Charles blow writes in his Monday column, the relief they provide is overshadowed by an ugly truth: the American justice system is designed to kill people of color. Whether it's Trayvon Martin in Florida, Michael Brown in St. Louis, Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Eric Garner in New York, or any of the other countless deaths at the hands of police, there is, a "ritualization of these traumas in which the shootings serve as catalysts, a lancing of the boil, in which decades of oppression, neglect, desperation and hopelessness. . .
(2018-04-02). The Outrage Over Trump's Syria Withdrawal: "We Took The Oil. We've Got To Keep The Oil" MintPress News Weekend editorials and cable news pundit shows reacted in disbelief and horror – with charges of "chaos" at the Trump White House over Syria policy, and claims that "ISIS will come back. | The post The Outrage Over Trump's Syria Withdrawal: "We Took The Oil. We've Got To Keep The Oil" appeared first on MintPress News.