Daily Archives: February 15, 2020

2020-02-15: News Headlines

The Canary (2020-02-15). Activists block traffic in London Fashion Week protest. thecanary.co Extinction Rebellion protesters angered motorists as they blocked roads in the capital on Saturday, demanding the cancellation of London Fashion Week.Dozens of demonstrators prevented traffic from passing through a busy intersection leading to The Strand in Westminster, where the world-famous trade show is being held.As queues of vehicles started to build up, taxi and lorry drivers could be heard honking their horns and swearing at the protesters.Extinction Rebellion a activists block traffic in The Strand in a protest against London Fashion Week (Aaron Chown/PA)The action was part of the environmental campaign g…

Paul Street (2020-02-15). About Last Week — and the Accelerated Drives to Extinction and Fascism. zcomm.org Just because you are an elitist, centrist political candidate who views progressive-populism with disdain doesn't mean you aren't willing to pretend to be a progressive-populist in your campaign rhetoric…

Extinction Rebellion San Francisco Bay Area (2020-02-15). Stop The Money Pipeline @Chase Action Planning Meeting. indybay.org Chochmat HaLev | 2215 Prince St, Berkeley, California 94705…

sputniknews (2020-02-15). Peek-A-Boo! Hiding in a Shoe, Snake Gives a Big SSSS-Scare to a Woman in India. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India hosts more than 270 species of snakes due to the tropical monsoon climate and it is even known for its snake charmers. One such snake had a little peek-a-boo moment with a woman in the Maloor district of the southern Indian state of Kerala.

sputniknews (2020-02-15). Science of Urine and Dung: Modi Gov't Seeks Research on Products from Waste of Indigenous Cows. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): From fighting religious conversions to beating the heat, the use of cow dung and urine has been quite popular in India, where the animal is deemed sacred. Now the Narendra Modi-led government's science and technology ministry wants researchers to work on products that can be made from the waste of indigenous cows.

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 Around the world, artists sound the alarm.

Christopher Ketcham (2020-02-14). The Medium Warps the Message Straight to Our Extinction. counterpunch.org I've been working lately on an article about Extinction Rebellion, the direct action movement that emerged out of England in 2019 and has since gone worldwide to spread the message that radical civil disobedience is the only way to alter our deranged course toward climate catastrophe. XR, as the movement is known, espouses a noble

teleSUR (2020-02-14). UN's Industry Promotion Body Provides Masks and Suits to China. telesurenglish.net The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will provide emergency response assistance to China to help fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a document signed here. | RELATED: | UNIDO will deliver 100,000 medical masks and 20,000 protective suits to China, and provide medical waste decontamination equipment with a capacity to deal with four tons per day, said the…

The Canary (2020-02-14). Unified rejection of Johnson's 'vanity project' bridge as a total waste of money. thecanary.co Boris Johnson's "vanity project" bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland would be a waste of money, ministers on both sides of the Irish Sea have said. | Johnson has said work is underway to establish the feasibility of a road crossing between Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway and Larne in Co Antrim. | The devolved administrations said the estimated £20bn cost should fund vital projects in both countries instead and expressed anger that they had not been consulted. | Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson said: "I strongly believe that if £20bn is available for investment in infrastruct…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-02-14). Climate Crisis Could Cause a Third of Plant and Animal Species to Disappear Within 50 Years: Study. commondreams.org The human-caused climate crisis could cause the extinction of 30% of the world's plant and animal species by 2070, even accounting for species' abilities to disperse and shift their niches to tolerate hotter temperatures, according to a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/frog.jpg

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-02-14). Video Reveals Threat of "Wholesale Transfer and Privatization of America's Public Lands" on Trump's Agenda, Says Watchdog Group. commondreams.org The event in question, which took place June 2019 and was hosted by the Interior Department, featured a keynote address by climate-denier Myron Ebell. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/video-interior-event-ebell-privatize.jpg

Colin Todhunter (2020-02-14). Menace on the Menu in Post-EU Britain. counterpunch.org Environmentalist Dr Rosemary Mason has just written the report 'Bayer Crop Science rules Britain after Brexit — the public and the press are being poisoned by pesticides'. It has been sent to editors of major media outlets in the UK. In it, she outlines her concerns for pesticide regulation, health and the environment in a

RT (2020-02-13). 'Worst idea ever!' Plans for Greta mural on North Dakota bakery scrapped after community outcry & boycott threats on social media. rt.com A planned mural featuring teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in North Dakota has been tossed to the wind after news of the project stoked outrage among locals, who flooded social media with protests and threats to boycott. | The 7-foot mural was slated to be posted on an exterior wall of the Brick Oven Bakery in the city of Bismarck, however when local media outlet KFYR-TV brought the story to its Facebook page on Tuesday night, residents were immediately up in arms, with the

teleSUR (2020-02-13). Boris Johnson Names Alok Sharma New COP26 President. telesurenglish.net Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Thursday his Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, as President of the Climate Change Summit (COP26) next November in Glasgow, Scotland. | RELATED: | The decision was announced shortly after Johnson's cabinet shuffle marked by the unexpected resignation of Treasury Secretary, Sajid Javid. Sharma will replace Claire O'Neill, who was fired in January. | According to the BBC, although…

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.

Eds. (2020-02-12). Climate emergency: Indonesia faces catastrophic floods, disappearing islands. mronline.org While the stark reality of the global climate emergency struck home in Australia with its worst bushfire season, its neighbour Indonesia faced catastrophic floods and islands disappearing below the rising sea. Green Left's Peter Boyle interviewed Yuyun Harmono, the climate change campaigner of Friends of the Earth Indonesia (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia — WAHLI). |

RT (2020-02-12). 'Dirty streets and human waste?' Twitter not buying survey claiming San Francisco is 'healthiest' US city. rt.com A new report names San Francisco, California the healthiest city in the United States, but the public seems skeptical, considering the endless coverage of the city's homeless crisis and unsanitary streets. | Though WalletHub is typically used to check credit scores, it turned its attention recently to grading cities in the United States based on how 'healthy' they are. According to their experts and number crunching, San Francisco This has come a…

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

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

Staff (2020-02-10). Headlines for February 10, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Deaths Soar as First U.S. Citizen Succumbs to Disease, Iowa Dem. Party Officially Gives Buttigieg the Lead as Candidates Prepare for New Hampshire Vote, Trump Budget Seeks Boost to Military and Nuclear Spending, Cuts to Social Programs and EPA, Two U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan, Trump Fires Key Impeachment Figures Following Acquittal, Thai Soldier Kills 29 People in Shooting Rampage, Brazilian Police Kill Hitman Suspected of Involvement in Marielle Franco's Assassination, Temperature Reaches Record-Breaking 65 Degrees in Antarctica, Extinction Rebellion Activists Demand New York Divest from Foss…

Fred_F (2020-02-07). Blaming overpopulation lets climate criminals off the hook. greenleft.org.au Within the climate movement, some sec…

Fred_F (2020-02-07). Animal rights groups' attempt to hijack climate movement rejected. greenleft.org.au

Fred_F (2020-02-07). Rebuilding resilient communities amid climate-induced drought and bushfires. greenleft.org.au The federal Coalition government's Drought Response, Resil…

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, …

2020-02-15: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Activists block traffic in London Fashion Week protest
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-02-15
Extinction Rebellion protesters angered motorists as they blocked roads in the capital on Saturday, demanding the cancellation of London Fashion Week.Dozens of demonstrators prevented traffic from passing through a busy intersection leading to The Strand in Westminster, where the world-famous trade show is being held.As queues of vehicles started to build up, taxi and lorry drivers could be heard honking their horns and swearing at the protesters.Extinction Rebellion a activists block traffic in The Strand in a protest against London Fashion Week (Aaron Chown/PA)The action was part of the environmental campaign g…
thecanary.co/discovery/2020/02/15/activists-block-traffic-in-london-fashion-week-protest/

Shut Down Canada Until it Solves its War, Oil, and Genocide Problem
David Swanson | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-15
Indigenous people in Canada are giving the world a demonstration of the power of nonviolent action. The justness of their cause

Stop The Money Pipeline @Chase Action Planning Meeting
Extinction Rebellion San Francisco Bay Area | indybay.org | 2020-02-15
Chochmat HaLev | 2215 Prince St, Berkeley, California 94705…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/13/18830653.php

Peek-A-Boo! Hiding in a Shoe, Snake Gives a Big SSSS-Scare to a Woman in India
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): India hosts more than 270 species of snakes due to the tropical monsoon climate and it is even known for its snake charmers. One such snake had a little peek-a-boo moment with a woman in the Maloor district of the southern Indian state of Kerala.
sputniknews.com/viral/202002151078320982-peek-a-boo-hiding-in-a-shoe-snake-gives-a-big-ssss-scare-to-a-woman-in-india-/

Science of Urine and Dung: Modi Gov't Seeks Research on Products from Waste of Indigenous Cows
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): From fighting religious conversions to beating the heat, the use of cow dung and urine has been quite popular in India, where the animal is deemed sacred. Now the Narendra Modi-led government's science and technology ministry wants researchers to work on products that can be made from the waste of indigenous cows.
sputniknews.com/india/202002151078322700-science-of-urine-and-dung-modi-govt-seeks-research-on-products-from-waste-of-indigenous-cows/

Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Yes. Here's Why
David Reichmuth | commondreams.org | 2020-02-14
Based on where EVs have been sold, driving the average EV produces global warming pollution equal to a gasoline vehicle that gets 88 miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy. (Photo: joel-t/iStock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/electric-cars-charging1500x900.jpeg
commondreams.org/views/2020/02/14/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-climate-yes-heres-why?cd-origin=rss

Visualizing the Climate Crisis in Barcelona
Peter Kuper | thenation.com | 2020-02-14
Around the world, artists sound the alarm.
thenation.com/article/environment/visualizing-the-climate-crisis-in-barcelona/

The Medium Warps the Message Straight to Our Extinction
Christopher Ketcham | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-14
I've been working lately on an article about Extinction Rebellion, the direct action movement that emerged out of England in 2019 and has since gone worldwide to spread the message that radical civil disobedience is the only way to alter our deranged course toward climate catastrophe. XR, as the movement is known, espouses a noble…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/14/the-medium-warps-the-message-straight-to-our-extinction/

Klobuchar Has Pushed Extreme Right-Wing Policy on Israel/Palestine
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-14
In recent days, much of the mainstream media has been focusing on the rise of centrist Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar as a serious contender in the Democratic presidential primary. Many in the more progressive wing of the party have been criticizing her positions on climate change and broader environmental concerns, as w…
truthout.org/articles/klobuchar-has-pushed-extreme-right-wing-policy-on-israel-palestine/

Unified rejection of Johnson's 'vanity project' bridge as a total waste of money
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-02-14
Boris Johnson's "vanity project" bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland would be a waste of money, ministers on both sides of the Irish Sea have said. | Johnson has said work is underway to establish the feasibility of a road crossing between Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway and Larne in Co Antrim. | The devolved administrations said the estimated £20bn cost should fund vital projects in both countries instead and expressed anger that they had not been consulted. | Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson said: "I strongly believe that if £20bn is available for investment in infrastruct…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/02/14/unified-rejection-of-johnsons-vanity-project-bridge-as-a-total-waste-of-money/

UN's Industry Promotion Body Provides Masks and Suits to China
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-14
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will provide emergency response assistance to China to help fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a document signed here. | RELATED: | China's Health Workers Are Frontline Fighters Against the Virus | UNIDO will deliver 100,000 medical masks and 20,000 protective suits to China, and provide medical waste decontamination equipment with a capacity to deal with four tons per day, said the…
telesurenglish.net/news/UNs-Industry-Promotion-Body-Provides-Masks-and-Suits-to-China-20200214-0014.html

Video Reveals Threat of "Wholesale Transfer and Privatization of America's Public Lands" on Trump's Agenda, Says Watchdog Group
Andrea Germanos, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-14
The event in question, which took place June 2019 and was hosted by the Interior Department, featured a keynote address by climate-denier Myron Ebell. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/video-interior-event-ebell-privatize.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/14/video-reveals-threat-wholesale-transfer-and-privatization-americas-public-lands?cd-origin=rss

Climate Crisis Could Cause a Third of Plant and Animal Species to Disappear Within 50 Years: Study
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-14
The human-caused climate crisis could cause the extinction of 30% of the world's plant and animal species by 2070, even accounting for species' abilities to disperse and shift their niches to tolerate hotter temperatures, according to a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/frog.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/14/climate-crisis-could-cause-third-plant-and-animal-species-disappear-within-50-years?cd-origin=rss

Menace on the Menu in Post-EU Britain
Colin Todhunter | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-14
Environmentalist Dr Rosemary Mason has just written the report 'Bayer Crop Science rules Britain after Brexit

'Worst idea ever!' Plans for Greta mural on North Dakota bakery scrapped after community outcry & boycott threats on social media
rt.com | 2020-02-13
A planned mural featuring teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in North Dakota has been tossed to the wind after news of the project stoked outrage among locals, who flooded social media with protests and threats to boycott. | The 7-foot mural was slated to be posted on an exterior wall of the Brick Oven Bakery in the city of Bismarck, however when local media outlet KFYR-TV brought the story to its Facebook page on Tuesday night, residents were immediately up in arms, with the post racking up over 1,000 comments…
rt.com/usa/480716-greta-mural-scrapped-outcry/

Mobile game aims to bridge gap between citizens and leaders on climate action
news.un.org | 2020-02-13
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1057391

Boris Johnson Names Alok Sharma New COP26 President
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-13
Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Thursday his Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, as President of the Climate Change Summit (COP26) next November in Glasgow, Scotland. | RELATED: | US, Australia, and More Snub Calls for Climate Action at COP25 | The decision was announced shortly after Johnson's cabinet shuffle marked by the unexpected resignation of Treasury Secretary, Sajid Javid. Sharma will replace Claire O'Neill, who was fired in January. | According to the BBC, although…
telesurenglish.net/news/boris-johnson-names-alok-sharma-new-cimate-change-summit-president-20200213-0026.html

People and the planet versus gas
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-13
mining Sam WainwrightIssue 1253 Australia Burrup Hub Green left fighting fundFebruary 13, 2020The bushfire emergency has not slowed the bipartisan charge to push the planet over the climate catastr…
greenleft.org.au/content/people-and-planet-versus-gas

Climate emergency: Indonesia faces catastrophic floods, disappearing islands
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-02-12
While the stark reality of the global climate emergency struck home in Australia with its worst bushfire season, its neighbour Indonesia faced catastrophic floods and islands disappearing below the rising sea. Green Left's Peter Boyle interviewed Yuyun Harmono, the climate change campaigner of Friends of the Earth Indonesia (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia

'Dirty streets and human waste?' Twitter not buying survey claiming San Francisco is 'healthiest' US city
rt.com | 2020-02-12
A new report names San Francisco, California the healthiest city in the United States, but the public seems skeptical, considering the endless coverage of the city's homeless crisis and unsanitary streets. | Though WalletHub is typically used to check credit scores, it turned its attention recently to grading cities in the United States based on how 'healthy' they are. According to their experts and number crunching, San Francisco came out on top. | This has come a…
rt.com/usa/480705-san-francisco-healthiest-city-survey/

'Stand down now', RFS volunteer tells Morrison
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-12
bushfires Robynne MurphyIssue 1253 Australia firefighters climate emergencyFebruary 12, 2020Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer truck driver Robynne Murphy has been on the bushfire frontline since Nov…
greenleft.org.au/content/stand-down-now-rfs-volunteer-tells-morrison

How climate change is driving food insecurity
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-11
Food security Pat BrewerIssue 1253 Australia East Africa desert locustsFebruary 11, 2020Along with extreme fires, a feature of a rapidly changing climate, Australia is experiencing droughts, floods, and…
greenleft.org.au/content/how-climate-change-driving-food-insecurity

Will the apocalyptic bushfires be a turning point in Australia's climate emergency?
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-11
bushfires Climate change Pip HinmanIssue 1253 Australia Australia's bushfire crisis climate emergencyFebruary 11…
greenleft.org.au/content/will-apocalyptic-bushfires-be-turning-point-australia-climate-emergency

Animal rights groups' attempt to hijack climate movement rejected
Fred_F | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-07
Climate Jacob Andrewartha Sue BoltonIssue 1252 Australia MelbourneFebruary 7, 2020Animal rights activist in Melbourne have harmed the climate movement and their own cause by attempting to stack mee…
greenleft.org.au/content/animal-justice-party-attempt-hijack-climate-movement-rejected

Blaming overpopulation lets climate criminals off the hook
Fred_F | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-07
Climate refugee rights Chloe DSIssue 1252 AustraliaFebruary 7, 2020The burden of responsibility for the climate crisis is often placed on poorer nations. But the reality is that the main culprits continue to be the rich and powerful 1%. | Within the climate movement, some sec…
greenleft.org.au/content/blaming-overpopulation-lets-climate-criminals-hook

Rebuilding resilient communities amid climate-induced drought and bushfires
Fred_F | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-07
Climate Elena GarciaIssue 1252 AustraliaFebruary 7, 2020The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into its attempts to deal with the worst impacts of a climate crisis it prefers to ignore. But this money will never achieve its stated aim nor reach those who need it most. | The federal Coalition government's Drought Response, Resil…
greenleft.org.au/content/rebuilding-resilient-communities-amid-climate-induced-drought-and-bushfires

Communities left financially devastated in wake of bushfires
Fred_F | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-07
Climate Graham MatthewsIssue 1252 Australia bushfiresFebruary 7, 2020The bushfires that have torn through the south coast of New South Wales and Ea…
greenleft.org.au/content/communities-left-financially-devastated-wake-bushfires

What Will it Take to Prevent Climate Collapse?
Brian Tokar | zcomm.org | 2020-02-02
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…
zcomm.org/zmagazine/what-will-it-take-to-prevent-climate-collapse/

Could the Climate Crisis Be "The Good News of Damnation"?
Lawrence Wittner | zcomm.org | 2020-01-26
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…
zcomm.org/zblogs/could-the-climate-crisis-be-the-good-news-of-damnation/