Daily Archives: January 29, 2019

2019-01-29: News Headlines

Marilyn Bechtel (2019-01-29). San Francisco unions and community demand, 'No More Shutdowns!'. peoplesworld.org OAKLAND, Calif. — As unionists and supporters rallied around the country Jan. 25 to support locked-out federal workers, union and community members gathered at Oakland International Airport, with air traffic controllers, baggage screeners, Environmental Protection Agency workers, Coast Guard members and others who were enduring President Trump's unprecedented 35-day partial government shutdown. Just before the …

David Bacon (2019-01-29). Will Growers' Demands For Wage Cuts Get Help From The U.S. Government? zcomm.org The assault on farm worker wages has also surfaced in Congress as Republicans in the House and Senate introduced bills in the last two years to also end protections for H-2A workers and expand their recruitment…

Kate Aronoff (2019-01-29). Climate Change, Not Border Security, Is the Real National Emergency. zcomm.org The climate crisis advances at the behest of a small handful of of executives and the politicians bought by them. Left unchecked, it will make any kind of organized global community impossible…

Shane Quinn (2019-01-29). Will The Planet Recover from Nuclear and Climate Assaults to Flourish Again? globalresearch.ca Around 66 million years ago a city-sized asteroid crashed into south-eastern Mexico, finally leaving behind it a crater almost 100 miles in diameter. The asteroid collided with a force of about one billion atomic bombs, such as the one dropped …

Sophie Kasakove, Tracie Williams (2019-01-29). Is New York City's Public Housing Ready for the Next Storm? thenation.com Is New York City's Public Housing Ready for the Next Storm?

Dr. Gary G. Kohls (2019-01-29). The Experimental PolyMet Copper Sulfide Mine in Minnesota, the St Louis River, Lake Superior, and the Recent Brazilian Environmental Catastrophes. globalresearch.ca "ALL tailings 'ponds' are a problem. If they don't breach and spill massive amounts of toxic sludge into the environment like at Mount Polley, they leach that contamination slowly, poisoning the waters and lands (and aquifers) around them for centuries." …

amnesty (2019-01-29). Afghanistan: Protect human rights defenders. amnesty.org Against the backdrop of unrelenting civilian casualties in Afghanistan, Amnesty International called on the government to do more to protect human rights defenders as the country's human rights record was reviewed at the UN Human Rights Council. | At Afghanistan's Universal Periodic Review last week, member states of the UN Human Rights Council emphasized that the Afghan government needs to do more to introduce a protection mechanism for human rights defenders, implement existing laws, enhance women's participation, and protect civilians in conflict. | "There have been some welcome advances when it comes to human…

Sergi Halimi, Pierre Rimbert and E Altvater (2019-01-29). The Populist Makers and Dangerous Optimism. indybay.org The people vote and capital decides. Another capitalism appears that is marked by an anti-liberal and intolerant culture. The goal of the new capitalists is the same as the old capitalists: to make the rich even richer. Cheap money seduces to new speculation. The governing elites fail to prevent the threatening climate collapse and gamble away the future of coming generations.

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-01-29). 'Absolutely Unconscionable': Trump EPA Refuses to Limit Toxic Chemicals That Contaminate Drinking Water of Millions. commondreams.org In a decision deemed by critics unsurprising but also "absolutely unconscionable," the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportedly plans to refrain from regulating a pair of toxic chemicals linked to kidney and testicular cancer, even though they are contaminating millions of Americans' drinking water. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tap_water.jpg

Dan Bacher (2019-01-29). Oil industry, environmental leaders mark 50th anniversary of Santa Barbara Oil Spill. indybay.org "The 50th anniversary of the Santa Barbara oil spill is a grim reminder of how far we have to go in stopping not only offshore drilling, but onshore oil and gas expansion as well," said Tomás Morales Rebecchi, senior Central Coast organizer with Food & Water Watch. "If Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to lead opposition to the Trump administration's plans to expand dangerous offshore drilling, he should start by ending drilling in California state waters and onshore throughout the state."

Philip Doe (2019-01-28). Small Laws, Great Crimes: the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act. counterpunch.org It's been said that small laws breed great crimes. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act is such a law. The crimes committed against the people in its name are legion. But it got even more criminal last week when the Colorado Supreme Court decided the protection of public health and the environment was not the purpose More

teleSUR (2019-01-28). 'Age is No Obstacle': Egyptian Swimmer Still a Champion at 76. telesurenglish.net If dedication alone was a passport to glory, 76-year-old Egyptian swimmer Nagwa Yousef Ghorab would have won capfuls of medals by now. | RELATED: | Tennis Association Increases Rankings Protection for Returning Mothers | She first took to the pool at age four and became her country's under-16 backstroke and freestyle champion at 14. | She had to stop competing domestically at 18 because Egypt at that time ran no championships for adult swimmers — but she kept on…

Steve Downs (2019-01-28). The Nine Worst Lawfare Injustices in the US and What They Tell Us About Ourselves. counterpunch.org The law should apply equally to everyone. The 14thAmendment guarantees to all Americans the "equal protection of the laws". But when we go to war this guarantee is often violated. War means designating an "enemy" to be defeated using every available means including the law. We call this "lawfare" when the law, instead of providing More

Mel Gurtov (2019-01-28). The Shame of the One Percent Continues. counterpunch.org Speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sir David Attenborough called on government and business leaders to support, with practical plans, "United Nations decisions on climate change, sustainable development, and a new deal for nature." "What we do now, and in the next few years, will profoundly affect the next few thousand More

Mark Hertsgaard (2019-01-28). The Climate Kids Are Coming. thenation.com The Climate Kids Are Coming…

Graham Peebles (2019-01-28). Complacency and the Environmental Catastrophe. counterpunch.org Ask any reasonably well-informed person what the cause of climate change is and the chances are they will say greenhouse gas emissions (GGE's), but they would only be partially correct. While it is true that man-made GGE's are clogging Earth's lower atmosphere, trapping heat and resulting in widespread climate change, the underlying 21st century cause, More

David Underhill (2019-01-28). Those MAGA-Hatted Covington Kids. counterpunch.org Yes, the Black Hebrew Israelites spat racist taunts at the MAGA-hatted Kentucky high school kids. And yes, the drumming Native American inserted himself between the two groups. But the head MAGA boy did block the drummer's path and stood there with a defiant smirk that exactly duplicated the sneers of his predecessors a couple generations More

Rob Gowland (2019-01-28). Book Review: Darren Jew's 'Underwater Australia' shows ecosystem under threat. peoplesworld.org Life on Earth began in the seas. The variety of life in the oceans outdoes that on land and in the air combined. But ocean species are just as vulnerable as land based ones. And heaven knows, we've exterminated enough of the latter since humans learned how to apply machinery and explosives to the business …

Eds. (2019-01-27). A new abnormal. mronline.org Humanity now faces two simultaneous existential threats, either of which would be cause for extreme concern and immediate attention. These major threats—nuclear weapons and climate change—were exacerbated this past year by the increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world, amplifying risk from these and other threats and putting the future of […] | Source

Sharon Lerner (2019-01-27). The U.S. Military Plans to Keep Incinerating Toxic Firefighting Foam, Despite Health Risks. theintercept.com The U.S. military is moving ahead with plans to collect and destroy unused firefighting foam that contains the hazardous chemicals PFOS and PFOA. But in trying to solve one environmental problem related to these persistent chemicals, which have caused massive drinking water contamination, the Defense Department may be creating another. | More than 3 million gallons of the foam and related waste have been retrieved from U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, Army, and Air Force bases around th…

Democracy Now! (2019-01-24). Headlines for January 24, 2019. democracynow.org Venezuela Accuses U.S. of Attempting to Engineer Coup, Competing Senate Bills to End Government Shutdown Unlikely to Pass, Federal Workers Flood Senate Office Building to Protest Shutdown, Trump to Delay State of the Union Address Until Shutdown Ends, Witness: El Chapo's Sons Murdered Mexican Journalist Javier Valdez, Brazil: Son of President Bolsonaro Linked to Criminal Syndicate, Iowa Anti-Abortion Law Struck Down as New York Pro-Choice Bill Passes, Michael Cohen Cancels Congressional Testimony, Citing Trump's Threats, House Committee to Probe White House Handling of Security Clearances, U.S. Climate Science Ha…

ACLU (2019-01-24). A Disturbing Number of Missouri Towns Evict Residents for Calling the Police. aclu.org The ACLU is urging towns across Missouri to repeal unjust 'nuisance ordinances.' | Over the last few decades in towns and cities across America, local authorities have passed laws that punish people for calling 911 with steep fines and eviction, even when they are seeking police protection. Known as nuisance ordinances, these laws present victims of crime with an impossible choice. As a domestic violence survivor in St. Louis put it: "If I…

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-01-23). There Still Is Time to Limit Global Temperature Rise To 1.5 ∞C. therealnews.com Dr. Christopher Smith of Leeds University explains that meeting the goals of the Paris climate accord remains possible if we end meat consumption and build no new fossil fuels infrastructure

Democracy Now! (2019-01-22). Chase Iron Eyes: Trump's Mocking of Native Americans Gives License to Others to Denigrate My People. democracynow.org As we continue to look at the video that has gone viral showing a group of Catholic high school students apparently mocking an indigenous tribal elder near the Lincoln Memorial, we speak to Chase Iron Eyes, an activist and lead attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project. He is a spokesperson for the Indigenous Peoples March.

Democracy Now! (2019-01-22). "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee": David Treuer on Retelling Native American History. democracynow.org We end today's show with "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee," a stunning new book by David Treuer that looks at Native America from 1890 to the present day. The book's powerful mix of memoir, extensive interview and storytelling presents decades of indigenous history that have been sidelined by the mainstream. David Treuer is Ojibwe from the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Southern California.

James Nickerson (2019-01-14). Jay Inslee's Climate Change Gambit. progressive.org The issue of climate change was barely even mentioned during the last presidential race. Hopefully, Inslee's presence as a candidate will keep that from happening again.

Ralph Nader (2018-12-24). A "Massive Outlaw" zcomm.org Interview on Single Payer, Climate Devastation, Impeachment…

2019-01-29: Social Media Postees

Will Growers' Demands For Wage Cuts Get Help From The U.S. Government?
David Bacon | zcomm.org | 2019-01-29
The assault on farm worker wages has also surfaced in Congress as Republicans in the House and Senate introduced bills in the last two years to also end protections for H-2A workers and expand their recruitment…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/will-growers-demands-for-wage-cuts-get-help-from-the-u-s-government/

San Francisco unions and community demand, 'No More Shutdowns!'
Marilyn Bechtel | peoplesworld.org | 2019-01-29
OAKLAND, Calif. — As unionists and supporters rallied around the country Jan. 25 to support locked-out federal workers, union and community members gathered at Oakland International Airport, with air traffic controllers, baggage screeners, Environmental Protection Agency workers, Coast Guard members and others who were enduring President Trump's unprecedented 35-day partial government shutdown. Just before the …
peoplesworld.org/article/san-francisco-unions-and-community-demand-no-more-shutdowns/

Is New York City's Public Housing Ready for the Next Storm?
Sophie Kasakove, Tracie Williams | thenation.com | 2019-01-29
Is New York City's Public Housing Ready for the Next Storm?
thenation.com/article/new-york-climate-change-public-housing/

Will The Planet Recover from Nuclear and Climate Assaults to Flourish Again?
Shane Quinn | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-29
Around 66 million years ago a city-sized asteroid crashed into south-eastern Mexico, finally leaving behind it a crater almost 100 miles in diameter. The asteroid collided with a force of about one billion atomic bombs, such as the one dropped … | The post Will The Planet Recover from Nuclear and Climate Assaults to Flourish Again? appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/will-the-planet-recover-from-nuclear-and-climate-assaults-to-flourish-again/5666699

Climate Change, Not Border Security, Is the Real National Emergency
Kate Aronoff | zcomm.org | 2019-01-29
The climate crisis advances at the behest of a small handful of of executives and the politicians bought by them. Left unchecked, it will make any kind of organized global community impossible…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/climate-change-not-border-security-is-the-real-national-emergency/

The Experimental PolyMet Copper Sulfide Mine in Minnesota, the St Louis River, Lake Superior, and the Recent Brazilian Environmental Catastrophes
Dr. Gary G. Kohls | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-29
"ALL tailings 'ponds' are a problem. If they don't breach and spill massive amounts of toxic sludge into the environment like at Mount Polley, they leach that contamination slowly, poisoning the waters and lands (and aquifers) around them for centuries." … | The post The Experimental PolyMet Copper Sulfide Mine in Minnesota, the St Louis River, Lake Superior, and the Recent Brazilian Environmental Catastrophes appeared…
globalresearch.ca/the-experimental-polymet-copper-sulfide-mine-in-minnesota-the-st-louis-river-lake-superior-and-the-recent-brazilian-environmental-catastrophes/5666738

'Absolutely Unconscionable': Trump EPA Refuses to Limit Toxic Chemicals That Contaminate Drinking Water of Millions
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-01-29
In a decision deemed by critics unsurprising but also "absolutely unconscionable," the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportedly plans to refrain from regulating a pair of toxic chemicals linked to kidney and testicular cancer, even though they are contaminating millions of Americans' drinking water. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tap_water.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/29/absolutely-unconscionable-trump-epa-refuses-limit-toxic-chemicals-contaminate?cd-origin=rss

Afghanistan: Protect human rights defenders
amnesty | amnesty.org | 2019-01-29
Against the backdrop of unrelenting civilian casualties in Afghanistan, Amnesty International called on the government to do more to protect human rights defenders as the country's human rights record was reviewed at the UN Human Rights Council. | At Afghanistan's Universal Periodic Review last week, member states of the UN Human Rights Council emphasized that the Afghan government needs to do more to introduce a protection mechanism for human rights defenders, implement existing laws, enhance women's participation, and protect civilians in conflict. | "There have been some welcome advances when it comes to human…
amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/01/afghanistan-protect-human-rights-defenders/

The Populist Makers and Dangerous Optimism
Sergi Halimi, Pierre Rimbert and E Altvater | indybay.org | 2019-01-29
The people vote and capital decides. Another capitalism appears that is marked by an anti-liberal and intolerant culture. The goal of the new capitalists is the same as the old capitalists: to make the rich even richer. Cheap money seduces to new speculation. The governing elites fail to prevent the threatening climate collapse and gamble away the future of coming generations.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/01/28/18820875.php

Oil industry, environmental leaders mark 50th anniversary of Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Dan Bacher | indybay.org | 2019-01-29
"The 50th anniversary of the Santa Barbara oil spill is a grim reminder of how far we have to go in stopping not only offshore drilling, but onshore oil and gas expansion as well," said Tomás Morales Rebecchi, senior Central Coast organizer with Food & Water Watch. "If Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to lead opposition to the Trump administration's plans to expand dangerous offshore drilling, he should start by ending drilling in California state waters and onshore throughout the state."
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/01/28/18820879.php

'Age is No Obstacle': Egyptian Swimmer Still a Champion at 76
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-28
If dedication alone was a passport to glory, 76-year-old Egyptian swimmer Nagwa Yousef Ghorab would have won capfuls of medals by now. | RELATED: | Tennis Association Increases Rankings Protection for Returning Mothers | She first took to the pool at age four and became her country's under-16 backstroke and freestyle champion at 14. | She had to stop competing domestically at 18 because Egypt at that time ran no championships for adult swimmers — but she kept on…
telesurenglish.net/news/Age-is-No-Obstacle-Egyptian-Swimmer-Still-a-Champion-at-76-20190128-0023.html

Small Laws, Great Crimes: the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act
Philip Doe | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-28
It's been said that small laws breed great crimes. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act is such a law. The crimes committed against the people in its name are legion. But it got even more criminal last week when the Colorado Supreme Court decided the protection of public health and the environment was not the purpose…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/28/small-laws-great-crimes-the-colorado-oil-and-gas-conservation-act/

The Nine Worst Lawfare Injustices in the US and What They Tell Us About Ourselves
Steve Downs | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-28
The law should apply equally to everyone. The 14thAmendment guarantees to all Americans the "equal protection of the laws". But when we go to war this guarantee is often violated. War means designating an "enemy" to be defeated using every available means including the law. We call this "lawfare" when the law, instead of providing…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/28/the-nine-worst-lawfare-injustices-in-the-us-and-what-they-tell-us-about-ourselves/

The Shame of the One Percent Continues
Mel Gurtov | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-28
Speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sir David Attenborough called on government and business leaders to support, with practical plans, "United Nations decisions on climate change, sustainable development, and a new deal for nature."
counterpunch.org/2019/01/28/the-shame-of-the-one-percent-continues/

The Climate Kids Are Coming
Mark Hertsgaard | thenation.com | 2019-01-28
The Climate Kids Are Coming…
thenation.com/article/greta-thunberg-climate-change-davos/

Complacency and the Environmental Catastrophe
Graham Peebles | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-28
Ask any reasonably well-informed person what the cause of climate change is and the chances are they will say greenhouse gas emissions (GGE's), but they would only be partially correct. While it is true that man-made GGE's are clogging Earth's lower atmosphere, trapping heat and resulting in widespread climate change, the underlying 21st century cause,…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/28/complacency-and-the-environmental-catastrophe/

Those MAGA-Hatted Covington Kids
David Underhill | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-28
Yes, the Black Hebrew Israelites spat racist taunts at the MAGA-hatted Kentucky high school kids. And yes, the drumming Native American inserted himself between the two groups. But the head MAGA boy did block the drummer's path and stood there with a defiant smirk that exactly duplicated the sneers of his predecessors a couple generations…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/28/those-maga-hatted-covington-kids/

Book Review: Darren Jew's 'Underwater Australia' shows ecosystem under threat
Rob Gowland | peoplesworld.org | 2019-01-28
Life on Earth began in the seas. The variety of life in the oceans outdoes that on land and in the air combined. But ocean species are just as vulnerable as land based ones. And heaven knows, we've exterminated enough of the latter since humans learned how to apply machinery and explosives to the business …
peoplesworld.org/article/book-review-darren-jews-underwater-australia-shows-ecosystem-under-threat/

A new abnormal
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-01-27
Humanity now faces two simultaneous existential threats, either of which would be cause for extreme concern and immediate attention. These major threats–nuclear weapons and climate change–were exacerbated this past year by the increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world, amplifying risk from these and other threats and putting the future of […] | Source…
mronline.org/2019/01/26/a-new-abnormal/

The U.S. Military Plans to Keep Incinerating Toxic Firefighting Foam, Despite Health Risks
Sharon Lerner | theintercept.com | 2019-01-27
The U.S. military is moving ahead with plans to collect and destroy unused firefighting foam that contains the hazardous chemicals PFOS and PFOA. But in trying to solve one environmental problem related to these persistent chemicals, which have caused massive drinking water contamination, the Defense Department may be creating another. | More than 3 million gallons of the foam and related waste have been retrieved from U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, Army, and Air Force bases around th…
theintercept.com/2019/01/27/toxic-firefighting-foam-pfas-pfoa/

A Disturbing Number of Missouri Towns Evict Residents for Calling the Police
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-24
The ACLU is urging towns across Missouri to repeal unjust 'nuisance ordinances.' | Over the last few decades in towns and cities across America, local authorities have passed laws that punish people for calling 911 with steep fines and eviction, even when they are seeking police protection. Known as nuisance ordinances, these laws present victims of crime with an impossible choice. As a domestic violence survivor in St. Louis put it: "If I…
aclu.org/blog/womens-rights/violence-against-women/disturbing-number-missouri-towns-evict-residents-calling

There Still Is Time to Limit Global Temperature Rise To 1.5 ∞C
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-23
Dr. Christopher Smith of Leeds University explains that meeting the goals of the Paris climate accord remains possible if we end meat consumption and build no new fossil fuels infrastructure | The post There Still Is Time to Limit Global Temperature Rise To 1.5 ∞C appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/there-still-is-time-to-limit-global-temperature-rise-to-1-5-c

"I Was Absolutely Afraid": Indigenous Elder on "Mob Mentality" of MAGA Hat-Wearing Students in D.C
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-22
On Friday, thousands took part in the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The next day, video went viral of an interaction that took place soon after the march ended between an indigenous elder and a group of Catholic high school students from Kentucky who had attended a March for Life protest the same day. In the video, Omaha elder Nathan Phillips is seen peacefully playing his drum and singing while being encircled by the students–some of whom were wearing red "Make America Great Again" hats. The video appears to show the students taunting and mocking Phillips. Some of the students are seen makin…
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/22/i_was_absolutely_afraid_indigenous_elder

Chase Iron Eyes: Trump's Mocking of Native Americans Gives License to Others to Denigrate My People
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-22
As we continue to look at the video that has gone viral showing a group of Catholic high school students apparently mocking an indigenous tribal elder near the Lincoln Memorial, we speak to Chase Iron Eyes, an activist and lead attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project. He is a spokesperson for the Indigenous Peoples March.
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/22/chase_iron_eyes_trumps_mocking_of

"The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee": David Treuer on Retelling Native American History
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-22
We end today's show with "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee," a stunning new book by David Treuer that looks at Native America from 1890 to the present day. The book's powerful mix of memoir, extensive interview and storytelling presents decades of indigenous history that have been sidelined by the mainstream. David Treuer is Ojibwe from the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Southern California.
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/22/the_heartbeat_of_wounded_knee_david

Jay Inslee's Climate Change Gambit
James Nickerson | progressive.org | 2019-01-14
The issue of climate change was barely even mentioned during the last presidential race. Hopefully, Inslee's presence as a candidate will keep that from happening again.
progressive.org/op-eds/jay-inslee-climate-change-gambit-nickerson-190114/