Common Dreams Highlights | Wednesday January 28, 2015

Featured… Five Years After: Long Live Howard Zinn by Bill Bigelow Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what Howard would say about something—the growth of the climate justice movement, #BlackLivesMatter, the new Selma film, the killings at the Charlie Hebdo offices. News… US Drone Kills Sixth Grade Boy in Yemen, says Human Rights Group by Lauren McCauley Mohammed Saleh Qayed Taeiman, described as ‘a normal kid,’ killed four years after father and brother were both killed in 2011 drone strike. US Engaged in Massive Car Spying Program by Andrea Germanos Documents obtained by ACLU reveal vast expansion of DEA’s license plate reader database. The Oligarch Party: Koch Bros Vow Nearly $1 Billion for 2016 Elections by Deirdre Fulton The Koch Brothers announced the historic budget to donors and elected officials at an annual winter meeting. Scientists Are Clear: Big Winter Storms Influenced by Warming Planet by Lauren McCauley Warmer oceans and atmosphere likely contributing to the two to three feet of snowfall expected to blanket much of the Northeast. Guilty Verdict for CIA Agent Called ‘New Low’ in War on Whistleblowers by Jon Queally As case grounded ‘largely on circumstantial evidence’ results in guilty verdict, advocates for Jeffrey Sterling say government has gone too far. NSA Began Warrantless Surveillance Without Congressional Approval by Nadia Prupis Newly declassified documents show intelligence agency spied on emails, phone calls before passage of surveillance act. more news… Views… The Invisible Man: Jeffrey Sterling, CIA Whistleblower by Norman Solomon The mass media have suddenly discovered Jeffrey Sterling — after his conviction Monday afternoon as a CIA whistleblower. A Student Jubilee! Liberate 41 Million Americans From Crushing Loan Debt by Richard Eskow, Mary Green Swig, and Steven Swig A student debt “jubilee” would reflect both the values upon which this nation was founded, and the economic principles which have sustained it through its greatest periods of growth and prosperity. The Heat is On: Via Campesina and Allies Challenge Climate Capitalism by Salena Tramel A growing movements of those on the frontlines of climate disruption argue that the high-level political remedies touted at venues such as the COP amount to false promises and leave out marginalized voices. Media Take On Greek Elections: Mad Leftists Win in Protest by Laura Flanders Alexis Tsipras’s victory was generally described as a protest vote, or a vote against austerity. Which it certainly was, but there’s a bit more to it, and it’s interesting stuff. Not So Fast, Net Neutrality… by Michael Winship Together, the ISP companies and Congress have come up with a plan to legislatively derail Net neutrality that would bring a smile to the lips of Machiavelli. The Collapse of Europe? by John Feffer The European Union may be on the verge of regime collapse. more views… Newswire… National People’s Action: Community Groups Rally Outside Payday Lending Stores to Protect Consumers from Predatory Loans Union of Concerned Scientists: To Avoid Worst Consequences of Climate Change, Solutions Must Include Land Use Sector Center for Biological Diversity: Obama Plan Will Open Arctic and Atlantic Oceans to Dangers of Drilling Center for Biological Diversity: Monarch Numbers Up Slightly, But Butterfly Still at Risk of Extinction National Nurses United Announce Donation to International Medical Corps for Ebola Health Work in West Africa Food & Water Watch Blasts Approval of Biggest Supermarket Merger more newswire…