(2018-12-17). ELN Calls Ceasefire, Asks Gov't To Resume Havana Peace Talks. telesurenglish.net The National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia declared a 12-day Christmas truce Monday that will begin Sunday, Dec. 23. They also requested that President Ivan Duque resume peace talks in Cuba. | RELATED: | Colombia: ELN Ceasefire Negotiations Resume in Quito | The Marxist organization's Central Command (COCE) released a statement late Sunday night saying that the "National Liberation Army will cease offensive operations from December 23, 2018, to January 3, 2019, to provide a climate of t…
(2018-12-17). Headlines for December 17, 2018. democracynow.org Countries Adopt "Rulebook" to Implement Paris Climate Agreement, Ryan Zinke Steps Down as Interior Secretary as Ethics Scandals Mount, Mick Mulvaney to Replace John Kelly as Trump's Acting Chief of Staff, Texas Judge Declares Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional, White House Threatens Government Shutdown over Border Wall Funds, Family Demands Answers in Death of 7-Year-Old Girl in Border Patrol Custody, ICE Arrests and Deportations Under Trump Rise in 2018, Michael Cohen Says Trump Knew Hush Money Payments Were Wrong, Giuliani Says Trump Pursued Moscow Skyscraper Deal into November 2016, Reuters: Johnson & Johnso…
(2018-12-17). Making Trump and Other Climate Criminals Pay. counterpunch.org 
Warnings from climate scientists and climate monitoring organizations are growing progressively more dire, frightening and depressing. There is new evidence that the melt rate of Greenland's mile-thick ice cover is starting to happen at a "runaway" pace — one that could end up raising sea levels by some 23 feet. New evidence too that Western Antarctica, with enough More
(2018-12-17). Honduras Declared Country Most Affected By Climate Change As Floods Close Airport. telesurenglish.net Authorities in Honduras have closed the Roatan airport due to low visibility and flooding in the country's Caribbean region. | RELATED: | 7 Sentenced for Environmental Activist Berta Caceres' Murder | More than 5,000 residents in the northern departments of Colon, Atlantida, Cortes and Bahia Island, where the Roatan airport is located have been suffering from below average temperatures and heavy rains since last week. Major floods in the area forced the government to place Cortes, A…
(2018-12-17). Federal Court Rules Obamacare Unconstitutional. globalresearch.ca On Friday, federal District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled the Obama regime's 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) unconstitutional over its mandate requiring all Americans buy health insurance, negating their right to opt out. | O'Conner said the mandate …
(2018-12-17). Ralph Nader on Single Payer, Climate Devastation, Impeachment & Why Mulvaney Is a "Massive Outlaw" democracynow.org 
As President Trump threatens to shut down the federal government over border wall funding, there have been some shake-ups in the White House. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will resign as he faces at least 17 federal investigations into suspected ethics violations. A former fossil fuel industry lobbyist, David Bernhardt, will become the interim interior secretary. Meanwhile, Trump has tapped Mick Mulvaney to become acting chief of staff to replace Gen. John Kelly. Mulvaney already holds two posts in the administration: White House budget director and acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And…
(2018-12-17). The Trump Administration's Approach to the Environment Is Immoral. truthdig.com A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists accuses Trump's Interior Department of "relentless attacks on science ranging from suppressing and sidelining the work of the department's scientists to systematically refusing to act on climate change." | To put it mildly, this is concerning. | The Union of Concerned Scientists is an advocacy group whose words are chosen to advance their viewpoint. They refer often to "science," which we assume to be non ideological, universal, and…
(2018-12-17). 'Salvini law' could make thousands of refugees homeless. aljazeera.com Warnings of humanitarian and security crises in Italy as new law ends protection for vulnerable migrants.
(2018-12-17). Amazon Employees Praised for Using Shareholder Status to Demand Comprehensive Climate Plan. commondreams.org A small group of Amazon workers is receiving big praise for their efforts to force their employer to be a better steward of the planet. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/amazon.jpeg…
(2018-12-17). State Water Board Approves Increased Flows for the Lower San Joaquin River. indybay.org Members of California Indian Tribes spoke in support of the San Joaquin water flow standard at the hearing. | "The destruction of the rivers is genocide on the fish and the genocide on fish is the genocide of the indigenous people of these rivers," Mahlija Florendo, Yurok/Karuk/Hupa, and organizer for Save California's Salmon, told the board before the vote. "So I am here today to tell you that these flows are critical to the land, the rivers, the fish and the people. No dams, no diversions, no pipelines!'
(2018-12-17). Nigeria: The Harvest of Death – Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders in Nigeria. amnesty.org This report documents the violent clashes between members of farmer communities and members of herder communities in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts of the country, over access to resources: water, land and pasture. It also documents the failure of the Nigerian government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protection of lives and property by refusing to investigate, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of attacks. The report shows how government's inaction fuels impunity, resulting in attacks and reprisal attacks, with at least 3,641 people killed between January 2016 and October…
(2018-12-17). Can Canada's Tar Sands Industry Be Profitable Without Government Subsidies? therealnews.com 
Todd Paglia of Stand Earth says Canadians taxpayers increasingly foot the bill for Canada's fossil fuels industry
(2018-12-17). Atlantic Seismic Survey Permits Granted After Surge in Lobbying. truthout.org Though communities along the Atlantic Coast have expressed overwhelming opposition to seismic testing for offshore oil and gas reserves, and scientists have warned that the deafeningly loud technology threatens the critically endangered right whale, the Trump admini…
(2018-12-16). Dutch Build Artificial Islands to Bring Wildlife Back. telesurenglish.net Dutch ranger Andre Donker sighs as he looks out at the rippling grey waters of the Markermeer, one of Europe's largest freshwater lakes. "Once upon a time it was teeming with fish here," he says. | RELATED: | UN Climate Talks End in Agreement at COP24 in Katowice | But this vast 700-square-kilometer expanse of water, which regulates the level of water in the rest of the Netherlands, had become until recently nothing more than a cloudy mass devoid of aquatic life. | Now the hope is that a…
(2018-12-16). Belgium: Far-Right March Against UN Migrant Pact Turns Violent. telesurenglish.net Thousands of people marched in Brussels Sunday against a U.N. pact aimed at fostering cooperation on migration, eclipsing a smaller demonstration in support of the deal, the signing of which brought down Belgium's government last week. | RELATED | Thousands in Brussels March Peacefully Against Global Warming | Police said some 5,500 people marched in the bigger protest, organized by Flemish right-wing parties in the part of the capital where main European Union institutions are lo…
(2018-12-16). Can an Unequal Earth Beat Climate Change? commondreams.org We either keep fossil fuels in the ground, or all of us are going to fry. So essentially posits still another new blockbuster study on climate change, this one just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Our fossil-fuel industrial economy, the study details, has made for the fastest climate changes our Earth has ever seen.
(2018-12-16). Despite US, Russian & Saudi Opposition, Climate Summit Reaffirms Paris Goals. commondreams.org The agreements reached are wholly inadequate and do not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis we are in. But they might have a positive psychological effect, in keeping the Paris goals alive and encouraging governments to encourage companies and consumers to take action.
(2018-12-16). The 10 Most Appalling Articles in the Weekly Standard's Short and Dreadful Life. theintercept.com 
From its coverage of Iraq and gay marriage to Syria and climate change, here are plenty of reasons for everyone to dance on the Weekly Standard's grave.
(2018-12-16). How US-Saudi War Turned Yemen into the Biggest Crisis on Earth. therealnews.com 
Medea Benjamin discusses the US-Saudi war on Yemen and attempts by peace activists and Congress to stop the conflict
(2018-12-16). New Federal Report Could Boost Climate Fight in the Courts. truthout.org We have a bit of internal conflict within the federal government these days, to put it mildly. On the one hand, there's our climate-denying president, not to mention a solidly red Senate that's not exactly jumping at the chance to take action on climate change. On the other, we have a now blue House of Representatives, and the 13 federal agencies that in late November issued the country's Fourth National Climate Assessment, a grim report on how climate change is already impa…
(2018-12-15). 'Morally Unacceptable': Final Deal Out of COP24 Sorely Lacking in Urgency and Action, Climate Campaigners Say. commondreams.org Climate action groups slammed the outcome of the 24th annual Conference of the Parties (COP24) in Katowice, Poland on Saturday, calling the agreement reached by about 200 diplomats and negotiators "barely adequate" as plan to ensure that countries will follow through with their emissions reduction pledges. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2018-12-15_at_4.06.00_pm.jpg…
(2018-12-15). UN Climate Talks "Compromise" Our Future. therealnews.com 
As COP24 comes to a close, Greenpeace's Cassady Craighill says advocates are pushing world leaders to do more than Paris Climate Accord demands—and to listen to frontline communities
(2018-12-14). Bangladeshi Scientist: World Leaders Must Take Urgent Action to Prevent Climate Crisis Rise. democracynow.org 
At the U.N. Climate talks in Katowice, Poland, we speak with climate scientist Saleemul Huq, who is advising the bloc of least developed countries in the climate negotiations, about their demands. He is director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Bangladesh.
(2018-12-14). Climate Change and the Limits of Reason. counterpunch.org 
Modern urban-industrial man is given to the raping of anything and everything natural on which he can fasten his talons. He rapes the sea; he rapes the soil; the natural resources of the earth. He rapes the atmosphere. He rapes the future of his own civilization. Instead of living off of nature's surplus, which he More
(2018-12-14). Hundreds of Activists Stage Sit-in Against Big Polluters on Final Day of COP24 U.N. Climate Talks. democracynow.org 
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, on Friday, demanding bolder action from world leaders on climate change. The action was organized by the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice. Demonstrators filled the staircase inside the conference center holding banners reading "Which side are you on?" and "People Not Polluters" and "System change not climate change." As protesters marched out of U.N. climate talks, Democracy Now! spoke with Maya Menezes, Canadian climate activist and member of the Canadian Youth Delegation with the climate justice organization The Leap. Sh…
(2018-12-14). Extinction Rebellion: UK Protesters Are Supergluing Themselves to Buildings to Fight Climate Crisis. democracynow.org 
As protests erupt at the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, we speak with Liam Geary Baulch, part of the new movement called Extinction Rebellion that began six months ago in the United Kingdom and has now spread to 35 countries. Members are taking extreme action to fight the climate crisis, including supergluing themselves to government buildings, shutting down London Bridge and taking to the streets to sound the alarm about the impending catastrophe of global warming. They are demanding governments commit to legally binding measures to slash consumption and reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025.
(2018-12-14). Climate Strike: Heeding Call of Greta Thunberg, Polish Students Walk Out of Class. democracynow.org 
Fifteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has called for a global climate strike today to protest inaction at the U.N. climate summit. Greta made international headlines after she refused to go to school in August and began a School Strike for Climate. Greta made the call for today's strike in a video posted on Twitter.
(2018-12-14). Trouble in Paradise: Climate change is war against the poor. peoplesworld.org 
On the 8th of November, Paradise went up in flames. This small town in Northern California held about 28,000 people, many retirees on a fixed budget. This was not a rich town. The median household income was $41,000, 94 percent of the residents were white, and a third of the town was occupied by people who rented their …
(2018-12-14). "We Are Not Prepared to Die": Ex-Maldives President Warns of Catastrophic Climate Change. democracynow.org 
"We are not prepared to die." Those are the words that Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the low-lying island country of Maldives, delivered at the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, this week. In an impassioned plea for nations to overcome their differences, he urged world leaders to take decisive action to tackle climate change. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed returned home to his island nation in November after two years in exile. Just a month later, Nasheed is now leading the Maldives delegation at the U.N. climate summit. We speak with him from the U.N. climate talks.
(2018-12-14). From Obama to Trump, Climate Negotiations Are Being Run by the Same Crew of American Technocrats. theintercept.com On Monday, the Trump administration hosted an event on behalf of the fossil fuel industry at the United Nations climate talks in Poland, known as COP24. It was almost identical to the one it hosted at last year's climate talks in Germany: trying to write coal, oil, and gas into the world's response to climate change, and bemoaning "alarmism" on climate. Both were disrupted by organizers from the United States voicing their opposition, and both received more media coverage than just about anything else happening at either talks, which this year are focused on arriving at a deeply technical rulebook to implement th…
(2018-12-14). How School Districts Weaponize Child Protection Services Against Parents. theantimedia.com 
Parents are increasingly required to obey, to conform to a school's demands even if they believe such orders may not be appropriate for their child. (FEE) — Schooling is adept at rooting out individuality and enforcing compliance. In his book, Understanding Power, Noam Chomsky writes: "In fact, the whole educational and professional training system is a very …
(2018-12-13). As U.N. Calls for Urgent Action on Climate Change, U.S. Seeks to Dilute Pact to Cut Carbon Emissions. democracynow.org 
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a dire warning Wednesday that nations must act now to save humanity from devastating climate change. Despite this call to action, talks here in Katowice have been hindered by the United States and the world's other biggest polluters, who are promoting fossil fuels and focusing on reducing emissions in developing countries but not their own. Talks are supposed to conclude Friday, but negotiators have expressed little hope in meeting the deadline. "It's really hypocritical that the United States is here, negotiating in what I would characterize as bad faith," says Meen…
(2018-12-13). Fossil-Free Costa Rica: How One Country Is Pursuing Decarbonization Despite Global Inaction. democracynow.org 
As world leaders struggle to agree on a plan to curb global emissions at the U.N. climate talks in Katowice, Poland, we look at Costa Rica's plan to go fossil-free beginning next year. It will be the first country in the world to decarbonize its economy. Costa Rica generates more than 90 percent of its electricity using renewable energy. Costa Rican officials have announced they want to host U.N. climate talks in 2019, since Brazil rescinded its offer to host the summit following the election of right-wing climate change denier President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. We speak with Mónica Araya, a Costa Rican climate acti…
(2018-12-13). You Are Stealing Our Future: Greta Thunberg, 15, Condemns the World's Inaction on Climate Change. democracynow.org 
Fifteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the U.N. plenary last night in Katowice, Poland, condemning global inaction in the face of catastrophic climate change.
(2018-12-13). Green New Deal Advocates Shouldn't Overlook Militarism. mintpressnews.com In the spirit of a new year and a new Congress, 2019 may well be our best and last opportunity to steer our ship of state away from the twin planetary perils of environmental chaos and militarism, charting a course toward an earth-affirming 21st century. | The environmental crisis was laid bare by the sobering December report of the UN Climate panel: If the world fails to mobilize within the next 12 years on the level of a moon shot, and gear up to change our energy usage from toxic fossil, nuclear and industrial biomass fuels to the already known solutions for employing solar, wind, hydro, geothermal energy and…
(2018-12-13). A "Conference of Polluters": How Fossil Fuel Companies Are Shaping Policy at the U.N. Climate Summit. democracynow.org 
Officials from nearly 200 countries are in Katowice, Poland, to negotiate how to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement. But so are representatives from many of the world's largest fossil fuel companies, including a lobby group that represents BP, Shell and ExxonMobil. Just last week, The Intercept reported that an executive from Shell Oil told participants at a COP side event that Shell helped draft a portion of the 2015 Paris climate agreement dealing with emissions mitigation. This week, activists protested outside an event hosted by Shell. Among them was Nnimmo Bassey, a Nigerian environmental activist and the di…
(2018-12-13). Elizabeth Warren Has a Track Record of Taking on the Rich and Powerful. Don't Write Her Off for 2020. theintercept.com 
Sen. Warren stumbled with a DNA test on her Native American ancestry. But she's harder on Wall Street than Kamala Harris and Cory Booker combined.
(2018-12-13). US Consumer Board Conceals how Wells Fargo Fleeces Students. therealnews.com 
The Consumer Financial Protection Board kept a detailed report about how Wells Fargo has long been involved in charging students up to three times more for financial services than other banks do. Why did the CFPB not reveal this? Bill Black explains
(2018-12-12). Trump's Energy Adviser Runs Away When Questioned by Democracy Now! at U.N. Climate Talks. democracynow.org 
The Trump administration is promoting fossil fuels at the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, despite outcry from climate activists and world leaders concerned about the devastating threat of climate change. Chief among Trump's representatives at the climate summit is Wells Griffith, special assistant to the president for international energy and environment. He is a longtime Republican operative who served as deputy chief of staff to Reince Priebus when Priebus was chair of the Republican National Committee. Amy Goodman attempted to question Wells Griffith about the Trump administration's climate policy at…
(2018-12-12). "Ha, Ha, Ha": At U.N. Climate Talks, Protesters Laugh Out Trump Admin Official Pushing Fossil Fuels. democracynow.org 
Democracy Now! was in the room when indigenous and youth leaders disrupted an event Monday hosted by Trump administration officials promoting fossil fuels and nuclear interests at the U.N. climate talks in Katowice, Poland. Wells Griffith, special assistant to the president for international energy and environment, represented the U.S. at the event. Griffith said in his remarks, "We strongly believe that no country should have to sacrifice economic prosperity or energy security in pursuit of environmental sustainability." Moments later, nearly a hundred protesters began laughing, drowning out Griffith, calling th…
(2018-12-12). Typhoon Haiyan Survivor: Fossil Fuel Companies Killed My Family by Hastening Climate Change. democracynow.org 
As we broadcast from the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, world leaders and officials from nearly 200 countries are here to negotiate how to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement. But three years after Paris, they appear no closer to curbing global emissions and halting catastrophic climate change. New studies show global carbon emissions may have risen as much as 3.7 percent in 2018, marking the second annual increase in a row. As the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that humanity has only a dozen years to mitigate climate change or face global catastrophe, we speak with Joanna Sustent…
(2018-12-11). School Strike for Climate: Meet 15-Year-Old Activist Greta Thunberg, Who Inspired a Global Movement. democracynow.org 
As government ministers from around the globe gather in Katowice, Poland, for the final days of the 24th U.N. climate summit, we speak with 15-year-old activist Greta Thunberg, who denounced politicians here last week for their inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She has garnered global attention for carrying out a weekly school strike against climate change in her home country of Sweden. "We need to change ourselves now, because tomorrow it might be too late," says Thunberg. We are also joined by her father, Svante Thunberg, a Swedish actor.
(2018-12-11). "Our Leaders Are Behaving Like Children": Teen Climate Activist Confronts World Leaders at U.N. Summit. democracynow.org 
Democracy Now! is broadcasting from the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, this week, where world leaders gathered to negotiate climate solutions were confronted last week by a teenage climate activist who says they are not doing enough to turn back the clock and prevent catastrophic climate change. Fifteen-year-old Greta Thunberg stunned the world last week when she denounced world leaders for inaction and told them: "change is coming whether they like it or not. The people will rise to the challenge. And since our leaders are behaving like children, we will have to take the responsibility they should have…
(2018-12-11). Congress Must Take Action on Toxins. progressive.org Why is the Environmental Protection Agency refusing to study PFAS? The toxic chemicals are found in drinking water around the country.
(2018-12-11). Climate Scientist: World's Richest Must Radically Change Lifestyles to Prevent Global Catastrophe. democracynow.org 
The 24th United Nations climate summit comes amid growing warnings about the catastrophic danger climate change poses to the world. In October, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that humanity has only a dozen years to mitigate climate change or face global catastrophe—with severe droughts, floods, sea level rise and extreme heat set to cause mass displacement and poverty. But on Saturday, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kuwait blocked language "welcoming" the landmark IPCC climate report. New studies show global carbon emissions may have risen as much 3.7 percent in 2018,…
(2018-12-11). Headlines for December 11, 2018. democracynow.org U.K.: Prime Minister May to Hold Emergency Talks with EU over Brexit, France: President Macron Offers Concessions to Protesters in TV Address, EPA Proposes Rollback of Water Protection Laws, Youth Climate Activists Flood Congress, Demanding "Green New Deal", COP24: Activists Take Over Trump Administration's Pro-Fossil Fuels Event, The Intercept: Shell Oil Helped Draft Paris Agreement, U.S. Rejects U.N. Migration Deal Backed by 164 Countries, U.K.: "Stansted 15" Activists Convicted of Terrorism for Preventing Deportation, California: Faith Leaders Arrested at Gathering to Support Migrants, Yemen Peace Talks Take P…
(2018-12-11). Young Climate Activists Storm Capitol Hill Demanding A Green New Deal. therealnews.com 
Over 140 were arrested in protests calling for Democratic leaders to create a plan to decarbonize the economy
(2018-12-10). "Shame on You!" Protesters Interrupt Trump Admin Promoting Coal & Fossil Fuels at U.N. Climate Talks. democracynow.org 
Just minutes before we began our Monday broadcast, Democracy Now! spoke to protesters at the U.N. climate summit in Katowice, Poland, as they interrupted a Trump administration event promoting coal and other fossil fuels. We speak with Diné climate activist Leona Morgan.
(2018-12-10). Climate movement attracts new generation of activists. greenleft.org.au 
The latter part of 2018 will be remembered for the re-emergence of climate action on the national agenda. | Independent Kerryn Phelps' win in the Wentworth byelection promising "meaningful environmental action" and Labor's subsequent adoption of a 50% renewable energy policy by 2030 has come in the midst of researcher Rebecca Huntley's findings that "climate and environmental concerns" have increasingly become "a test of leadership" for voters. | These centrist platforms, however, have been rightly superseded by the newest base of the climate movement: high school students. | Tired of the "dinosaurs in parliament…
(2018-12-09). Day 4: CTU charter school teachers continue strike. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – UNO/Acero teachers and paraprofessionals continue to strike at 15 schools, December 7. Since Tuesday, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) educators at UNO/Acero schools have held the picket lines and protested for more classroom resources, smaller class sizes, sanctuary protections for their immigrant students and fair wages—particularly for low-wage paraprofessionals. | The strike is the first of a charter operator in the nation. It began almost five years to the day after the charter operator's previous CEO was forced to resign for doling out insider contracts and living large on public dollar…