2020-02-18: News Headlines

Mike Ludwig (2020-02-18). Sanders and AOC's Fracking Ban Angers Centrists and Their Fossil Fuel Backers. zcomm.org Source: Truthout Photo by J. Bicking/Shutterstock.com House Democrats have finally unveiled a flurry of climate bills aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but activists say only one proposal represents the "gold standard" for tackling the climate crisis: Legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that would ban fracking nationwide. While none of

Staff (2020-02-18). The Mass Extinction Humans Don't Realize Matters. truthdig.com Humankind could be about to bid farewell to friends it never got to know, as insect extinction overtakes countless species. | Most of the millions of insects that support life on the planet have yet to be named or described. And yet perhaps 500,000 species of beetles, butterflies, bees, ants and other six-legged creatures vital to the efficient working of natural ecosystems and commercial economies And this note…

teleSUR (2020-02-18). Caricom: 'Only With Unity, We Can Fight Against Imperialism'. telesurenglish.net The Community of the Caribbean (Caricom) begins Tuesday its 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting to discuss common policies on security, climate change, tourism, and trade. Its country members will also discuss a regional approach to the coronavirus virus and other noncommunicable diseases. | RELATED: | During the opening remarks, outgoing Caricom Chairman Allen Chastanet emphasized the importance of acting cooperatively to face common problem…

Evaggelos Vallianatos (2020-02-18). Herakles in the Age of Climate Chaos. counterpunch.org On Monday afternoon of February 10, 2020, I went to the Classics department of Pomona College for a lecture on Herakles. Chiara Sulprizio of Vanderbilt University used cartoons and animation to help us understand the lasting influence and power of classical mythology. She chose the Soviet Union and Russia to illustrate how animated Greek myths may have

Staff (2020-02-18). Extreme Weather Could Trigger a Recession Unlike We've Ever Seen. truthdig.com A new research paper warns that markets' failure to assess the risks of climate change poses a significant threat to the global economy.

sputniknews (2020-02-18). Work at Fukushima Plant May Be Disturbed Due to Coronavirus Flare-ups. sputniknews.com The coronavirus appears to be hurting quite a few business ties between China and its economic partners despite the epidemic showing signs of gradually waning, as evidenced by the rising numbers of those who've effectively battled it.

sputniknews (2020-02-18). Mysterious Gas Leak That Killed 14 Close to Pakistani Nuclear Power Plant Sparks 'Chernobyl' Fears. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The deaths and continued increase in the number of people affected by a gas leak of unknown origin has raised concerns among residents in the Pakistani coastal area of Keamari as the city's authorities have failed to identify the source of the gas leak and the type of gas involved.

Susan Price (2020-02-18). A year of record climate disasters in Africa. greenleft.org.au

Prabhat Patnaik (2020-02-17). Capitalism, socialism and over-production crises. mronline.org Unlike capitalism, socialism avoids any waste or slack, such as is caused by an over-production crisis, by raising the consumption of workers appropriately to avert it. |

The Canary (2020-02-17). Coastal landfill sites set to spill over into sea, expert warns. thecanary.co More than 1,200 coastal landfill sites are in danger of spilling their contents into the sea — leading to a pollution time bomb around the UK coastline.Powerful storms and rising sea levels mean once-hidden waste could be exposed to pollute oceans and beaches, according to coastal policy expert Mark Stratton."One of the biggest risks of doing nothing at these sites is that the defences will fail and you'll potentially have former landfill either eroding out onto the foreshore or leaching into the water. Alongside that there's a potential impact on human health depending on what's in the sites," he said.Landf…

Staff (2020-02-17). Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion to Fight Climate Change. truthdig.com NEW YORK — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Monday that he plans to spend $10 billion of his own fortune to help fight climate change. | Bezos, the world's richest man, said in an "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change," Bezos said in…

Eds. (2020-02-17). No excuses—we have to shut down the fossil fuel industry. mronline.org In the face of an ecological catastrophe as enormous and terrifying as this season's bushfires, you might think that policy might begin to shift, as those in power face up to the reality of human-induced climate change. But you'd be wrong. |

teleSUR (2020-02-17). US Activists Demand Lawmakers Back Green Deal, 20 Arrested. telesurenglish.net Twenty teenagers were arrested Monday in Washington D.C. at the United States (U.S.) Capitol, home of Congress, as they were demonstrating to demand the senators to back the Green New Deal legislation sponsored by Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. | RELATED: | The protesters were part of a climate action launched by more than 150 middle- and high-schoolers urging the lawmakers to "step u…

Tara Ritter (2020-02-17). A False Solution: Why Carbon Markets Don't Work for Agriculture. commondreams.org Addressing the climate crisis and ensuring a just transition to regenerative agricultural practices will take forward-thinking public investment combined with strong regulation. (Photo: Guido Lois) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/dirt_0.jpeg

pip.hinman (2020-02-17). National climate emergency summit showcases market wing of climate movement. greenleft.org.au

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-02-17). 'Done Playing by the Rules,' 20 Sunrise Activists Arrested at Capitol Protest Demanding Lawmakers Back Green New Deal. commondreams.org Over 150 middle- and high-schoolers gathered to demand senators "stand up or step aside" on the climate crisis. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sunrise-movement-middle-high-schoolers-green-new-deal.jpg

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-02-17). 'Victory for Farmers' as Jury Awards Grower $265 Million in Damages From Drift of Monsanto's Dicamba. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/dicamba-265million-victory-farmers.jpg

Eds. (2020-02-16). The climate and the fat tail risk. mronline.org My gap year ends in August, but it doesn't take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5 ∞ carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don't add up. |

news.un (2020-02-16). In Pakistan, Guterres urges world to step up climate action, praises support to Afghan refugees. news.un.org UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday began a three-day visit to Pakistan, recognizing the country's decades of "outstanding generosity and solidarity" as one of the world's largest hosts of refugees, and highlighting its commitment to climate action.

Eds. (2020-02-16). Marxism and the Climate Crisis: African Eco-Socialist Alternatives. mronline.org There is a rich inheritance of emancipatory Marxism in Africa, which includes Frantz Fanon, Ruth First, Samir Amin, Sam Moyo, Harold Wolpe and many others. Today, Satgar argues, the challenge is to defeat carbon capitalism accelerating the climate crisis and fomenting exclusionary nationalisms and for this there has to be a return to Marx. |

David Swanson (2020-02-15). Shut Down Canada Until it Solves its War, Oil, and Genocide Problem. dissidentvoice.org Indigenous people in Canada are giving the world a demonstration of the power of nonviolent action. The justness of their cause — defending the land from those who would destroy it for short term profit and the elimination of a habitable climate on earth — combined with their courage and the absence on their part …

Peter Kuper (2020-02-14). Visualizing the Climate Crisis in Barcelona. thenation.com Visualizing the Climate Crisis in Barcelona…

news.un (2020-02-13). Mobile game aims to bridge gap between citizens and leaders on climate action. news.un.org Millions of people worldwide will get to share their views on climate action through a UN campaign launched on Thursday aimed at connecting them with Governments and policy makers.

pip.hinman (2020-02-11). How climate change is driving food insecurity. greenleft.org.au

Susan Price (2020-02-11). Will the apocalyptic bushfires be a turning point in Australia's climate emergency? greenleft.org.au

Brian Tokar (2020-02-02). What Will it Take to Prevent Climate Collapse? zcomm.org Perhaps we can even begin to realize the dream of a liberated and truly interdependent global community of communities. The future of life on earth may depend on our ability to do just that…

Lawrence Wittner (2020-01-26). Could the Climate Crisis Be "The Good News of Damnation"? zcomm.org On August 12, 1945, six days after the U.S. government obliterated the city of Hiroshima with a single atomic bomb, Robert Hutchins, the president of the University of Chicago, delivered a remarkable public address. Speaking on his weekly radio program, the Chicago Roundtable, Hutchins observed that Leon Bloy, a French philosopher, had referred to "the

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …