2020-03-14: News Headlines

Juan Cole (2020-03-14). Why Burning Fossil Fuels is to Today's Pandemics as Fleas were to the Black Death. zcomm.org There is an exact analogy between Trump's treatment of Covid-19 and his treatment of the climate emergency. In both cases, he and his surrogates attacked the science and took pride in giving the finger to reality…

Staff (2020-03-14). To Help Stem Coronavirus, Lift Sanctions on Iran. truthout.org The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is far from the first proof of how intertwined we are as a global community. The climate crisis and the refugee crisis have long been glaring examples that the wars or CO2 emissions on one continent risk the lives and well-being of people on another continent. What coronavirus is providing, however, is a unique opportunity to look specifically at how the intentional damage caused to one country's healthcare system can make it harder for the entire world to address a pandemic. | The cor…

Staff (2020-03-14). This Recession Calls for A Bigger, Greener Stimulus. truthdig.com Every crisis is also an opportunity, as the saying goes, and this is especially true of historic crises like the current coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, as Kate Aranoff writes in a new piece at the New Republic, the U.S. government looks determined to squander one of the greatest opportunities presented by the economic crisis shadowing the health crisis: The chance to pass a stimulus package that moves toward the emissions goals demanded by the science of climate change. | While the subject of carbon emissions may seem unrelated to the virus, the climate crisis is so severe that it can no longer be so easily…

yenisafak (2020-03-14). Climate activist to make electricity-powered 11,000-mile journey. yenisafak.com Traveling to more than 30 countries to sound the alarm on the global climate crisis, an eight-year-old Indian activist is now preparing for a journey of over 11,000 miles from India to the U.K. via electric car to increase awareness against the fossil-fuel-based economy."This will be one of my biggest missions in life as part of my Child Movement to fight the global climate crisis," Licypriya Kangujam told Anadolu Agency on her trip which she plans to launch on Sept. 13, 2020, ahead of international COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.On March 5, she announced the journey to cross 18 countries in 90 days, re…

John Bachtell (2020-03-13). People's World can't exist without you. peoplesworld.org Dear People's World readers, We live in uncertain and frightening times. In addition to the global peril posed by the climate crisis, humanity faces an immediate coronavirus pandemic and what looks like a global economic crisis. As a People's World reader, you value the truth and a radical, working-class perspective to get you through the …

Judith Deutsch (2020-03-13). Climate Victims Violent? Klare's Paean to the American Military. counterpunch.org Michael Klare's new book, All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon's Perspective on Climate Change, is an uncritical paean to the American military. He credits the Pentagon with taking climate science seriously. But he does not question, bring contradictory evidence, or analyze the military's self-appointed role as global manager of climate-related human disorder. Klare's work is

RT (2020-03-13). End of an era? Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board. rt.com Microsoft co-founder and tech icon Bill Gates has resigned from the company's board of directors, stating he will dedicate more of his energies to philanthropy, but will continue to advise CEO Satya Nadella. | The firm announced the move on Friday afternoon, noting that Gates would now spend more time on "his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education," as well as climate change. | "It's been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years," company CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement. "Bill founded our company with a belief in the democ…

Charles Komanoff (2020-03-13). Bill de Blasio, Climate Troll. counterpunch.org Bike ticket sting at 59th and 1st Avenue. Two cops ticketing, I think, when folks turn right on red coming south/off the Queensboro Bridge. Good lord, how do you schedule the spring ticket traps at the same time as you tell people to bike to work? Those tweets, from a bicycle commuter and local journalist,

commondreams (2020-03-13). Briefing: Biden Versus Sanders on the Common Sense Climate Policies Voters Want. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Colin Todhunter (2020-03-13). Dependency, Distress and No Durable Agronomic Benefits: The Story of Bt Cotton in India. dissidentvoice.org In the early 2000s, genetically modified (GM) Bt insecticidal cotton was being heavily promoted in India on the basis that it would cut pesticide use dramatically, boost yields and contribute to the financial well-being of farmers. Private sector Bt cotton hybrids now cover over 90% of the area under cotton. Supporters of Bt cotton have wasted …

Staff (2020-03-13). The FDA Is Forcing the CDC to Waste Time Double Testing Some Coronavirus Cases. truthdig.com The FDA's strict guidance on test confirmations is one of several obstacles that has slowed the federal government's response to COVID-19. The FDA could change its rules to speed things up, but hasn't.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-03-13). 'Coronavirus Isn't Stopping Us!': Youth Activists Adapt to Global Pandemic With Digital #ClimateStrikeOnline. commondreams.org "In the face of a crisis we act according to science and fact." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/climatestrikeonline-coronavirus.jpg

Staff (2020-03-12). Bernie Sanders: We Are Winning "Ideological" & "Generational" Debate, Now Need to Win "Electability" democracynow.org After a disappointing showing in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential primaries, Senator Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he will stay in the race. In his address from Burlington, Vermont, Sanders challenged his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, to address key issues like economic inequality, healthcare access and the climate crisis. Sanders is set to debate Biden this Sunday in Arizona. "It is not just the ideological debate that our progressive movement is winning. We are winning the generational debate," Sanders said. "While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those peopl…

John Ranson (2020-03-12). As HS2 plans 'despicable' woodland destruction, opponents unite to 'Stand for the Trees'. thecanary.co Critics of the controversial A press release for the event says local campaigners will join with supporters from StopHS2, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust, Extinction Rebellion, Save Cubbington Woods, and Wildlife Rebellion "to defend ancient woodlands in Warwickshire, the first of over 100 set to be destroyed or damaged by HS2". The "Resistance Rally" will oppose "HS2's imminent felling of ancient woodlands i…

news.un (2020-03-11). Climate change: educating students to fight the crisis. news.un.org With the latest UN climate report containing worrying evidence that climate change is having a major effect on all aspects of the environment, how can teachers help children and adults to sort through the growing mass of information, avoid being overwhelmed, and come to an understanding of the challenges, and potential solutions, to what the UN Secretary-General has called "an existential crisis"?>

Shawgi Tell (2020-03-11). Charter School Oversight Remains Weak. dissidentvoice.org In 2016, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) called for a moratorium on new charter schools, citing many problems with these privatized schools, including poor performance, extensive waste, widespread segregation, and inadequate accountability. Oversight, transparency, accountability, and good governance have never been the strong suits of charter schools or charter school …

Stuart Munckton (2020-03-04). Eight new books for an ecosocialist bookshelf. greenleft.org.au By John Bellamy Foster & Brett Clark
| Monthly Review Press, 2020 | Foster and Clark examine how capitalism plunders natu…

Lawrence Wittner (2020-03-02). Could the climate crisis be "The Good News of Damnation"? zcomm.org There really is no other solution to the onrushing climate catastrophe than for people and nations to forget their tribal animosities and start behaving as part of a world society…

CounterSpin (2020-02-21). Paul Paz y Miño, Saqib Bhatti & Beverly Bell on Environmental Justice & Cross-National Solidarity. fair.org There will only be an increasing number of frontline struggles between extractive, climate-disrupting industry and those willing to stand up to it. Corporate media's inadequate attention, and unwillingness to truly call out the moneyed interests causing present and future harms, make them more often part of the problem than the solution.

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, …