(2021-02-02). The Resilience Doctrine: How Disasters Can Encourage Social Change. counterpunch.org 
Part 2 of a 4-part Primer on Disaster Collectivism in the Climate and Pandemic Crises. Disasters sometimes have a way of focusing public attention on basic human needs and long-term ecological survival. According to the Shareable network, survival is not even possible without a "sharing transformation," or "a movement of movements emerging from the grassroots up
(2021-02-02). Biden's Green Energy Plans are just Market Wisdom: Norway's Investment Fund just Dumped $6 Bn. in Oil Stocks. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Some have questioned how realistic Biden's plans are to move the US rapidly off fossil fuels. In fact, it is the fossil fuels that are unrealistic. Burning petroleum and coal are bad for everyone's health and destined to make earth swelteringly hot, with lots of climate catastrophes and extreme weather. …
(2021-02-02). Catholic panel wrestles with gap between Biden, bishops on sexuality issues. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—When it comes to comprehensive immigration reform, combatting climate change, tackling endemic racism, and closing the yawning gap between the rich and the rest of us, the nation's Catholic bishops, its president who is a practicing Catholic, Joe Biden, and Pope Francis I are all on the same page. So are Biden, the bishops, and …
(2021-02-02). The nation can't afford Republicans' stimulus sabotage. peoplesworld.org 
In his first ten days in office, Joe Biden launched an intense effort to address the "cascading crises" that America faces. In addition to issuing executive orders to reverse several of Trump's most poisonous acts—ending federal contracting with private prisons, reviving enforcement of discrimination laws, ending the Muslim ban, re-entering the Paris Climate Accord, and …
(2021-02-02). On Inauguration Day, Police Nationwide Went After Left-Wing Protesters. truthout.org 
The storming of the U.S. Capitol by armed far right activists shifted the political climate for much of the U.S., despite the fact that anti-fascist activists and researchers had been warning for years that this type of response was imminent. While the tone and behavior of the far right had escalated since the election — a result of Donald Trump's failure to win a second term and his explosive conspiracy theories — the events on January 6 showed that the risks were not just street-level…
(2021-02-01). Camp: It's Now or Never — We Stare Into the Abyss. scheerpost.com By Lee Camp / Original to ScheerPost This column is hopeful. I promise. The northern white rhinoceros is now functionally extinct. Sudan — the last male of his kind — passed away recently. There are two females remaining but obviously they can produce no more of their species without a male — and mating with nearby giraffes is not something in which they seem interested. This is not the end but… |
(2021-02-01). The Appointment of Samantha Powers is Bad News for USAID. counterpunch.org 
For all its faults, USAID — the US Agency for International Development — will be one of the most vitally important agencies of the Biden administration. The confluence of Covid-19, global warming, famines in the Horn of Africa, forced migration and a series of unending proxy wars in the Middle East is a perfect storm that
(2021-02-01). The Appointment of Samantha Power is Bad News for USAID. counterpunch.org For all its faults, USAID — the US Agency for International Development — will be one of the most vitally important agencies of the Biden administration. The confluence of Covid-19, global warming, famines in the Horn of Africa, forced migration and a series of unending proxy wars in the Middle East is a perfect storm that
(2021-02-01). Shooting Down Deficit Hawks. realprogressives.org 
Deficit hawks, like dive-bombing kamikazes, are out now again, circling the battleship of our collective efforts to save ourselves. Can we pay ourselves to produce, distribute, and administer the Covid vaccine to every American in six months? No! say the dive-bombing Kamikazes—we cannot collect enough taxes to pay for that. It would require the government to borrow hundreds of billions more, increasing our "deficit" and the national "debt." Can we pay ourselves to design and build a low-carbon infrastructure that will help put a cap on global warming? No and No! say the circling deficit hawks—and h…
(2021-02-01). 'We Should All Be Water Protectors'. zcomm.org "We owe it to future generations, to the Indigenous communities we've signed treaties with, and to every living being on this planet to stop building fossil fuel infrastructure."
(2021-02-01). Wednesday 2/10: Protect Sacred Water: Digital Rally to #StopLine3 w/ Indigenous Frontline Water Protectors. indybay.org Virtual protest…
(2021-02-01). 'Listen to the science' — new study details global warming emergency. peoplesworld.org 
Climate campaigners on Thursday pointed to a study showing that Earth is hotter than it's ever been during the entire epoch of human civilization as the latest proof of the need to treat human-caused global heating like the dire emergency that it is. On Wednesday, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature published a report revealing that an analysis of …
(2021-02-01). China rolls out carbon trading scheme in a bid to meet its ambitious 2060 neutrality goal. rt.com 
Beijing has officially rolled out its repeatedly delayed Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), aimed at reducing its greenhouse gas output. Beijing is expecting its emissions to peak before 2030 and become "carbon neutral" by 2060. | The scheme officially entered into force on Monday, covering some 2,260 power plants across the nation. Said plants contributed to around 40 percent of all the carbon dioxide emissions China produced last year. | At later stages, the ETS will also include other enterprises that produce a minimum of 24,000 tons of carbon equivalent a year. | The ETS scheme is founded on a market-based app…
(2021-02-01). Biden-Kerry International Climate Politricks. counterpunch.org 
Is U.S. President Joe Biden's January 27 Executive Order to address 'climate crisis' as good as many activists claim, enough to reverse earlier scepticism? To be sure, it's great that the word crisis is consistently deployed, not just 'climate change.' Applause is due Biden's commands to halt fossil fuel subsidies and new oil and gas
(2021-02-01). "Listen to the science" — new study details global warming emergency. peoplesworld.org Climate campaigners on Thursday pointed to a study showing that Earth is hotter than it's ever been during the entire epoch of human civilization as the latest proof of the need to treat human-caused global heating like the dire emergency that it is. On Wednesday, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature published a report revealing that an analysis of ocean …
(2021-02-01). Protest groups join forces to occupy Israeli arms company building. thecanary.co Demonstrators have blocked the entrance of a factory where they claim deadly arms are made. | Protesters from Palestine Action and Extinction Rebellion, armed with banners and red paint, said their early-morning raid on the Israeli-owned Elbit Ferranti factory in Oldham, Greater Manchester, is because they "will not accept an economy based on devastation, occupation and war". A press release from the two groups stated that: Activists from Palestine Action and Extinction Rebellion are occupying an Israeli-owned arms factory in Oldham, forcing the site to halt its production of deadly weapons. Several have blocked t…
(2021-02-01). Biden Urged to 'Be the Hero' to Save American Bumblebee From Extinction. commondreams.org "It is our hope that the Biden administration grasps the gravity of this moment." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/american-bumblebee-biden-esa-petition.jpg …
(2021-02-01). Joe Biden and the climate crisis: What a difference two weeks makes. salon.com Biden's blitz on climate policy is impressive — but what it really reveals is a broad American consensus…
(2021-02-01). Why Phoenix may be uninhabitable by the end of this century. salon.com Factors like climate change and the destruction of urban foliage are causing cities like Phoenix to overheat…
(2021-02-01). Biden's First Climate Actions Are Missing Coal's Long Tail. thenation.com Biden's First Climate Actions Are Missing Coal's Long Tail…
(2021-01-31). Israeli Scientists make Strides toward Recyclable Perovskite Solar Panels. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Solar panels have plummeted 80% in price during the past decade, but they are still relatively expensive and depend on mined silicon. They are also a big waste challenge, since they aren't recyclable and they have toxic chemicals in them. Silicon panels last up to 30 years, but gradually lose …
(2021-01-31). On The Green New Deal, Nationalization, & Class Politics. counterpunch.org 
Humanity has precious time to drastically and uniformly act to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate carbon-intensive economic activity before ecological collapse materializes. However, the struggle presented is not that simple. The challenge also requires providing economic relief for workers and recognizing contradictions in the prevailing economic model that created the climate crisis when undertaking a
(2021-01-31). All Hands on Deck: Biden plans to fight climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before. juancole.com 
By Bill Ritter Jr. | — Joe Biden is preparing to deal with climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before — by mobilizing his entire administration to take on the challenge from every angle in a strategic, integrated way. The strategy is evident in the people Biden has chosen for his …
(2021-01-31). 'We Should All Be Water Protectors': Ilhan Omar Visits #StopLine3 Organizers Day After Activists Block Enbridge Worksites. commondreams.org "We owe it to future generations, to the Indigenous communities we've signed treaties with, and to every living being on this planet to stop building fossil fuel infrastructure." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/line_3_jan2021.jpg …
(2021-01-30). The Heat: Leaders address climate and COVID-19 at Davos. america.cgtn.com 
Climate change, COVID-19 and the impact on the global economy topped this week's agenda at the World Economic Forum. We'll bring you the highlights…
(2021-01-30). Stopping Keystone Pipeline Is First Step Toward Environmental Justice. zcomm.org Indigenous groups and environmental activists are also calling on President Biden to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline and Enbridge Line 3…
(2021-01-30). Plans for a new coal mine undermine the UK's commitment to net zero climate targets. thecanary.co Approved plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria will produce more emissions than any of the others currently open in the UK, a climate group has warned. | What priorities?: | The Climate Change Committee (CCC) made the claim in a letter to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick. It came after Jenrick decided not to call in the plans for an inquiry earlier this month. The new mine, near Whitehaven, will be used to extract coking coal for steel production. It was granted planning permission by Cumbria County Council in October 2020. | CCC chair lord Deben said in a letter to Jenrick that the decision not to cal…
(2021-01-30). Open toileting plagues cities in Zimbabwe. yenisafak.com With flies hovering all over the vicinity of the crowded slums of Epworth, an urban settlement approximately 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of the Zimbabwean capital Harare, laden plastic paper bags lie scattered on streets and sidewalks, with small children rummaging through garbage and vendors going about their normal business oblivious to the wafting stench of human waste.For 45-year-old Tambudzai Munondo, one of the residents in the slums of Epworth, strangely, they have become used to co-exist with human waste, saying they cannot do anything about it."Most of these homes you see here have no toilets and it'