Monthly Archives: January 2019

2019-01-30: News Headlines

Democracy Now! (2019-01-30). Allan Nairn: Trump's Venezuela Envoy Elliott Abrams Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide. democracynow.org In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide. Abrams w…

Combined Sources (2019-01-30). Trump's absurd attempt to use cold spell to deny global warming. peoplesworld.org

Eds. (2019-01-30). 'I have faith in our generation'. mronline.org The last few Thursdays, Brussels' streets have been flooded with students who skip school to march for climate justice. The third march, held 24 January, attracted 32,000 people. | Source

commondreams (2019-01-30). Study: Return of Supersonic Planes Would Be Dirty, Noisy Climate Disaster. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Karl Grossman (2019-01-30). A Theology of Power: Mike Pence and the Dominionists. counterpunch.org Those involved in what's become a major component of the evangelical right in the United States call themselves "dominionists." They follow "dominion theology." Pointing to the Bible, they emphasize that in it God gave humans "dominion" over the natural world and life in it. This, they believe, gives them license to exploit the earth. Further, More

Will Parrish (2019-01-30). How Police, Private Security, and Energy Companies Are Preparing for a New Pipeline Standoff. theintercept.com Law enforcement has been monitoring opposition to Enbridge Line 3 and seeking guidance from officials who led the militarized response at Standing Rock.

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-01-30). Another County Just Banned New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure. therealnews.com Climate justice advocate Anthony Rogers-Wright explains why a growing number of jurisdictions are saying no more fossil fuel extractions

Diablo Rising Tide (2019-01-30). Stop Fossil Fuels! Protect the Climate! with German anti-coal group Ende Gelande. indybay.org On Friday March 8th at 630pm, join Diablo Rising Tide as we host climate | organizers with the German anti-coal direct action group Ende Gelande to | discuss their epic campaign to stop the coal mines of the Rhineland | region and protect the Hambach Forest.

Shared by Merula Furtado (2019-01-30). After Years of Republican Rule, the House Takes on Voting Rights. truthout.org Natalie Landreth, a senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, remembers testifying before Congress in support of a bill to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act back in 2006. At the time, the reauthorization legislation passed the Senate with a near unanimous approval from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. | "Support for VRA Reauthorization was wide and nonpartisan, Republicans by and large didn't vote against it, it passed something like 96-0," Landreth said in an interview. "Now Sen. Mitch McConnell is suggesting that the H.R. 1 and other voting bills won't even make it to the Senate floor? T…

Sergi Halimi, Pierre Rimbert and E Altvater (2019-01-30). 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.

Dan Bacher (2019-01-30). 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."

Shared by Cherise (2019-01-30). Trump's Venezuela Envoy Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide. truthout.org In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of Indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later…

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?

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…

amnesty (2019-01-29). Ecuador: Government imposes unjust restrictions on Venezuelans entering the country. amnesty.org In response to the situation reported at the Rumichaca border crossing between Ecuador and Colombia, where the Ecuadorian authorities are preventing Venezuelans from entering the country, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International said: | "Amnesty International calls on the government of President Lenin Moreno to stop imposing unfair restrictions on Venezuelans trying to enter the country, for example demanding a criminal record certificate. In practice, these measures foment xenophobia and stop people in need of international protection from entering the country." |

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…

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…

Paul Dobson (2018-12-20). ANC Deputy Julio Escalona: 'The People are Angry Because They Consider that We Aren't Doing Our Job'. venezuelanalysis.com The revolutionary's criticisms came during the passing of 2019's budget, 75% of which is destined for "social protection."

2019-01-30: Social Media Postees

Allan Nairn: Trump's Venezuela Envoy Elliott Abrams Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-30
In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide. Abrams w…
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/30/allan_nairn_trump_s_venezuela_envoy

Trump's absurd attempt to use cold spell to deny global warming
Combined Sources | peoplesworld.org | 2019-01-30
peoplesworld.org/article/trumps-absurd-attempt-to-use-cold-spell-to-deny-global-warming/

'I have faith in our generation'
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-01-30
The last few Thursdays, Brussels' streets have been flooded with students who skip school to march for climate justice. The third march, held 24 January, attracted 32,000 people. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/01/30/i-have-faith-in-our-generation/

Study: Return of Supersonic Planes Would Be Dirty, Noisy Climate Disaster
commondreams | commondreams.org | 2019-01-30
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/30/study-return-supersonic-planes-would-be-dirty-noisy-climate-disaster?cd-origin=rss

A Theology of Power: Mike Pence and the Dominionists
Karl Grossman | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-30
Those involved in what's become a major component of the evangelical right in the United States call themselves "dominionists." They follow "dominion theology." Pointing to the Bible, they emphasize that in it God gave humans "dominion" over the natural world and life in it. This, they believe, gives them license to exploit the earth. Further,…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/30/a-theology-of-power-mike-pence-and-the-dominionists/

Stop Fossil Fuels! Protect the Climate! with German anti-coal group Ende Gelande
Diablo Rising Tide | indybay.org | 2019-01-30
On Friday March 8th at 630pm, join Diablo Rising Tide as we host climate | organizers with the German anti-coal direct action group Ende Gelande to | discuss their epic campaign to stop the coal mines of the Rhineland | region and protect the Hambach Forest.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/01/29/18820898.php

Trump's Venezuela Envoy Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide
Shared by Cherise | truthout.org | 2019-01-30
In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of Indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later…
truthout.org/video/trumps-venezuela-envoy-is-a-war-criminal-who-has-abetted-genocide/

After Years of Republican Rule, the House Takes on Voting Rights
Shared by Merula Furtado | truthout.org | 2019-01-30
Natalie Landreth, a senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, remembers testifying before Congress in support of a bill to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act back in 2006. At the time, the reauthorization legislation passed the Senate with a near unanimous approval from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. | "Support for VRA Reauthorization was wide and nonpartisan, Republicans by and large didn't vote against it, it passed something like 96-0," Landreth said in an interview. "Now Sen. Mitch McConnell is suggesting that the H.R. 1 and other voting bills won't even make it to the Senate floor? T…
truthout.org/articles/after-years-of-republican-rule-the-house-takes-on-voting-rights/

The Populist Makers and Dangerous Optimism
Sergi Halimi, Pierre Rimbert and E Altvater | indybay.org | 2019-01-30
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

Another County Just Banned New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-30
Climate justice advocate Anthony Rogers-Wright explains why a growing number of jurisdictions are saying no more fossil fuel extractions | The post Another County Just Banned New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/another-county-just-banned-new-fossil-fuel-infrastructure

Oil industry, environmental leaders mark 50th anniversary of Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Dan Bacher | indybay.org | 2019-01-30
"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

How Police, Private Security, and Energy Companies Are Preparing for a New Pipeline Standoff
Will Parrish | theintercept.com | 2019-01-30
Law enforcement has been monitoring opposition to Enbridge Line 3 and seeking guidance from officials who led the militarized response at Standing Rock. | The post How Police, Private Security, and Energy Companies Are Preparing for a New Pipeline Standoff appeared first on The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2019/01/30/enbridge-line-3-pipeline-minnesota/

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/

Ecuador: Government imposes unjust restrictions on Venezuelans entering the country
amnesty | amnesty.org | 2019-01-29
In response to the situation reported at the Rumichaca border crossing between Ecuador and Colombia, where the Ecuadorian authorities are preventing Venezuelans from entering the country, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International said: | "Amnesty International calls on the government of President Lenin Moreno to stop imposing unfair restrictions on Venezuelans trying to enter the country, for example demanding a criminal record certificate. In practice, these measures foment xenophobia and stop people in need of international protection from entering the country." |
amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/01/ecuador-gobierno-impone-restricciones-injustas-al-ingreso-de-personas-venezolanas/

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 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/

"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/