Common Dreams Highlights | Thursday, 2 April 2015

Featured… New Report Debunks ‘Myth’ That GMOs are Key to Feeding the World by Lauren McCauley Over the past 20 years, the report notes, global crop yields have only grown by 20 percent—despite the massive investment in biotechnology. On the other hand, it continues, in recent decades “the dominant source of yield improvements has been traditional crossbreeding, and that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.” News… Despite Dire Scientific Warnings, GOP Leaders Vow to Bury Global Climate Deal by Lauren McCauley “Even if the job-killing and likely illegal Clean Power Plan were fully implemented, the United States could not meet the targets laid out in this proposed new plan,” McConnell said. In Reversal, Arkansas Governor Says He Won’t Sign Pro-Discrimination Bill by Jon Queally The bill passed by Arkansas legislators on Wednesday mirrors enacted in Indiana last week that created a national backlash and a wave of criticism against similar laws in other states. Astroturf on Steroids: Did Right-Wing Group Fake Anti-Net Neutrality Emails? by Deirdre Fulton For Free Press, which is leading the fight for an open Internet and net neutrality protections, the revelations are unsurprising. “There’s a relatively small community of organizations fighting against net neutrality,” Free Press senior director of strategy Tim Karr said in a statement to Common Dreams. Chorus of Outrage as Obama Administration Approves Arctic Drilling for Shell Oil by Nadia Prupis The decision opens up 30 million acres in the Chuchki Sea to fossil fuel exploration and drilling, a move which state and national green groups called “unconscionable.” Disregarding Human Rights Concerns, US Resumes Arm Shipments to Egypt by Jon Queally The move comes as Egypt has joined with Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations to launch airstrikes, and possibly a ground invasion, of Yemen. Oregon Seeks to Become First State to Limit Antibiotic Use at Factory Farms by Deirdre Fulton bacteria commonly present on farms are mutating into stronger, antibiotic-resistant strains, which in turn find their way to the human population through numerous pathways, including contaminated food, airborne dust blowing off farms, and water and soil polluted with contaminated feces. Closer to Justice as Palestine Joins International Criminal Court by Lauren McCauley “As Palestine formally becomes a State Party to the Rome Statute today,” Al-Malki said, “the world is also a step closer to ending a long era of impunity and injustice. Indeed, today brings us closer to our shared goals of justice and peace.” more news… Views… Feeding the World – Without GMOs by Emily Cassidy GE crops have done nothing to improve global food security—and there’s little reason to think that they will any time soon. Burning Our Bridges: Failing Infrastructure in the Age of Corporate Tax-Dodging by Sarah Anderson & Scott Klinger To generate funds to shore up our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, the U.S. Congress is considering giving corporations large tax cuts on their offshore profits….The last time we tried this, in 2004, it failed miserably. Iran Demands Lifting of Sanctions for ‘Irreversible’ Moves, Says Insider by Gareth Porter Iran has already made some significant concessions on the sanctions issue, the source revealed. Guilty of Being Poor by Karen Dolan When a community issues arrest warrants for more offenses than it has residents, something’s deeply wrong. A democratic society that purports “freedom and justice for all” can’t coexist with one that profiles and criminalizes poor people and communities of color. How Ohio’s Energy Economy Became a Radioactive 19th Century Relic by Harvey Wasserman After being at the cusp of major solar and wind power advances, the state has all but killed the prospects for any large new green energy projects. The state may now miss one of history’s biggest and most profitable technological transformations. The Backlash Against Discrimination And GOP’s “Indiana” Problem by Terrance Heath In 2016 and beyond, Republicans will find it hard to strike a balance between “religious freedom” and discrimination. They will find it even harder to choose between either “caving” and alienating their base, or alienating the growing majority of voters and facing a grassroots onslaught. more views… Newswire… Amnesty International: Death Penalty 2014: Alarming Rise in Death Sentences as Governments Resorted to Capital Punishment to Combat Crime and Terrorism Right Livelihood Award Foundation: World Health Day: Genetically Engineered Crops are “False Miracles”, Warn Global Experts Human Rights Watch: ICC: Palestine is Newest Member Center for Biological Diversity: In Bow to Industry Over Science, Feds Backpedal on Protecting Imperiled Bat CAIR Calls for FBI Hate Crime Probe of ‘Get Out’ Vandalism Targeting Sudanese Refugees in Alaska Reprieve: Release Gitmo Force-Feeding Videos, Media Outlets Tell Obama more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights | Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Featured… US Climate Plan ‘Treats the Wound But Does Not Stop the Bleeding’ by Lauren McCauley As the White House unveils blueprint for emission reductions ahead of UN climate talks, groups warn that unless US moves beyond fossil fuels it will not avert climate catastrophe. News… Revulsion and Revolt: Backlash Against Indiana’s Pro-Discrimination Law Grows by Jon Queally ‘To see folks actively speaking out and taking a stand, people you never thought would say something about it, it says a lot.’ With New Abortion Bill, Arizona Writes Medical Malpractice into Law by Deirdre Fulton ‘This is unacceptable and not how safe medical care of any kind is provided,’ says women’s health advocate. Seattle City Council Unanimously Declares Opposition to Fast Track, TPP by Deirdre Fulton ‘Few things counterpose the interests of multinational corporations to the interests of workers, the environment, and democracy’ like the TPP, says councilmember Kshama Sawant. From Original 15 to More Than 80, Student Loan Strike Numbers Grow by Jon Queally ‘It’s been a month since 15 former students of the failing for-profit giant Corinthian Colleges said they would not pay a dime of their student loans because the school broke the law.’ ‘Still Struggling’: Study of Gulf Species Contradicts BP’s Slick Corporate Spin by Deirdre Fulton ‘It may take years or even decades before the full impacts are known, and more research is clearly needed,’ reads National Wildlife Federation report. President Obama Grants Clemency to 22 Drug Offenders by Lauren McCauley Executive Orders issued to correct ‘outdated’ and overblown sentencing for non-violent drug offenders swept up in War on Drugs. more news… Views… Trans-Pacific Partnership Proves Rules Are Rigged in Favor of the 1 Percent by Katrina vanden Heuvel Our global trade and tax policies have been and still are controlled by corporate and financial interests. They, not workers or consumers, write the rules. The Real Way to Judge the US Climate Pledge by Jamie Henn If we don’t see global emissions peak and rapidly decline in the next few years, the world will be on track for disaster. Honoring Cesar Chavez’s Birthday by Supporting the Farm Workers for Whom He Gave His Life by Arturo Rodriguez The United Farm Workers carries on Cesar’s legacy every day by aggressively helping farm workers organize, negotiate union contracts and win new legal protections. Menendez Downfall Could Be Diplomacy’s Windfall by Medea Benjamin & Katie Powers Menendez plays loose with issues of war and peace. Indiana Just Sentenced a Woman Convicted of Feticide to 20 Years in Prison by Michelle Goldberg Indiana’s law allowing discrimination against gay people is not the only reason that the state deserves our opprobrium. It’s also about to become the first state to imprison a woman for what it says is the death of a baby born after an attempted abortion. When Being Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli Is the Same Thing by Robert Shetterly On why I painted physician, author, and peace activist Alice Rothchild. more views… Newswire… Center for Biological Diversity: Obama Administration Announces Weak Carbon Pollution Cuts Ahead of Paris Climate Talks Brennan Center for Justice: NYPD Inspector General to Tackle Surveillance, Excessive Force in Coming Year Freedom to Marry: Mary Bonauto & Douglas Hallward-Driemeier to Argue Marriage Cases at SCOTUS Friends of the Earth: US Announces Weak Contribution to Paris Agreement ACLU: Federal Court Rules for Indian Families in ACLU Lawsuit more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights | Monday, 30 March 2015

Featured… Taking Aim at Clinton, Former Maryland Governor Says Presidency ‘Not a Crown’ by Lauren McCauley Testing the waters for potential nomination bid, Martin O’Malley calls for a president willing to take on ‘wealthy, special interests.’ News… TPP Opponents Mobilize as Powerful Forces Seek to Ram Through ‘Fast Track’ Trade Authority by Deirdre Fulton Lawmakers in favor of the pro-corporate trade deals hope to vote on Fast Track legislation in mid-April. Syria’s President Assad: US Airstrikes a Recruiting Bonanza for ISIS by Jon Queally Americans would like to ‘sugar coat’ the situation, says Bashar al-Assad, but the situation in his country is only being made worse by airstrikes. ‘Heart Over Hard’: Thousands Protest Austerity in Brussels by Deirdre Fulton Demonstrators call for Belgian government to tackle fraud and enact higher taxes on the rich. GMO Seed Theft Equals National Security Threat, Argues Government by Lauren McCauley Defense attorneys say spying on alleged Chinese seed plotters in trade dispute signifies ‘breathtaking’ overreach. After Talking to Washington Post About Low Wages, Hotel Worker Fired by Common Dreams staff In original profile, journalist wrote that Shanna Tippen’s experience ‘reflects a more realistic picture’ of life on minimum wage. As Chaos in Yemen Continues, Air Strike Kills Dozens at Refugee Camp by Deirdre Fulton Roughly 500 new families arrived in the camp over the last two days, escaping bombings in other parts of the country. more news… Views… There’s a Reason the Big Banks Aren’t Mad with Hillary by John Atcheson And Why Those Emails Matter Why the NCAA Should Move the Final Four Out of Indiana by Dave Zirin “Here is a time to say that despite the branding, the swooshes and the ads everywhere, money is really not the most important part of college athletics.” Report: Big Education Firms Spend Millions Lobbying for Pro-Testing Policies by Valerie Strauss Four top testing companies collectively spent more than $20 million lobbying in states and on Capitol Hill from 2009 to 2014. Balancing the Tensions of Afghanistan’s Ashraf Ghani by Ralph Nader “Above all, President Ghani wants to neutralize anybody or anything that undermines or distracts from his focus on building trust in government.” You Owe Us, Corporations: Four Reasons Why, and One Way to Pay by Paul Buchheit Corporate profits are at their highest level in 85 years, growing by 171 percent in the first half of the Obama presidency. Black America’s State of Surveillance by Malkia Cyril “Black people and other people of color have lived for centuries with surveillance practices aimed at maintaining a racial hierarchy.” more views… Newswire… National Lawyers Guild Student Chapters to Hold Country-Wide “Black Lives Matter” Day of Action 4/2/15 U.S. Right to Know Calls for Investigation of Monsanto Cover Up, Harassment of USDA Scientists 350.org: Paris Makes Strides Towards Ditching Investments in Fossil Fuels Reprieve: UK Government ‘Trying to Prevent Justice’ for Rendition Victims Public Citizen: As Dark Money Monsters Torment Investors, Shareholders Need SEC Chair to Be Superhero; They Ask: “Where Is Mary Jo White?” more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights Thursday, 12 March, 2015

Featured… With TPP at ‘Make-or-Break Point,’ Fast Track Foes Prepare for Battle by Deirdre Fulton Stakeholders in the U.S. who have lined up against the agreement also see the next few weeks as a critical turning point in the fight over Fast Track and the so-called “free trade” deals that authority is designed to promote. News… Sanders: Iran Letter Shows GOP Senators Just ‘Itching for War’ by Jon Queally Despite the rhetoric of the letter, there is no evidence showing Iran has an active nuclear weapons program and the nation’s leadership has repeatedly stated that it has no current ambitions for such a program. On Ukraine, Will Obama Heed Call for Caution? by Lauren McCauley Obama’s reluctance contrasts the opinions of other lawmakers and officials, who in recent days have continued to push for sending armaments. Ferguson Police Chief, City Manager Resign by Nadia Prupis Both men were named in the U.S. Justice Department’s scathing report on the racist and unconstitutional policing and municipal court system in the city. Scientist Who Exposed Health Impacts of Burn Pits in Iraq Awarded Rachel Carson Prize by Lauren McCauley The team’s findings matched samples of titanium and magnesium found in the lungs of U.S. veterans who had been exposed to burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Savabieasfahani says she is hoping to expand her research in Iraq, now that people “are more aware of the situation.” In Turnaround, Swedish Supreme Court to Hear Assange Appeal by Nadia Prupis Assange has repeatedly argued that extradition to Sweden will allow him to be sent to the U.S., where he faces espionage and conspiracy charges for his role in publishing a cache of military and State Department documents in 2010. Unjust Public Policies Drive the Massive Racial Wealth Gap in America: Study by Sarah Lazare It is vital “to find new opportunities to address the way that we’re constantly perpetuating this disparity between black, white and Latino families,” Ruetschlin continued. The Women are Coming, and They Mean Peace: Historic March Across Korean DMZ Announced by Andrea Germanos The walk is spearheaded by Women De-Militarize the Zone, an effort founded by writer and peace activist Christine Ahn, who wrote that “the DMZ continues to divide the Korean peninsula with recurring tensions that serve as a sobering reminder of the possibility of renewed war.” more news… Views… Fukushima: Amidst Radioactive Ruins, Renewable Energy Revolution Soars by Harvey Wasserman It’s a fight we can’t afford to lose. It’s a victory we must soon embrace … with the utmost relief and joy. The Student Debt Time Bomb by Chuck Collins This debt keeps young people from starting families, buying houses, and taking risks on new businesses. It also exacerbates the growing problem of wealth inequality and declining social mobility, since it gives debt-free graduates from wealthier families an enormous head start over their peers. Official Washington’s Delusions on Delusions by Robert Parry The chasm between reality and the U.S. political/media elite continues to widen with Official Washington’s actions toward Iran and Russia making “the world’s sole remaining superpower” look either like a Banana Republic (on Iran) or an Orwellian Dystopia (regarding Russia). After Ringling’s Announcement, What’s the Next Elephant in the Room? by Paul Shapiro For too long, we’ve ignored the consequences of our actions against the animals with whom we share our planet, and the results have been profoundly regrettable for both them and us. A Lesson from Fukushima: A Safe, Clean Energy Future Will Be Nuclear-Free by Kendra Ulrich Relying on nuclear to fulfill Japan’s climate obligations is betting the future of the planet and generations of people to come on a politician’s fantasy. The Risks of Mishandling the Tikrit Offensive by Sharif Nashashibi It requires inclusivity and respect for human rights. Otherwise, ISIL will either make a comeback, or will be eclipsed further down the line by another jihadist successor. Will Podemos Rescue Spain’s Unemployed Youths? by Mark Weisbrot Unemployment is what matters most; there is substantial evidence that long-term unemployment has numerous social costs besides loss of income, including on mental and physical health, suicide rates, life expectancy, and the well-being of the children of the unemployed. more views… Newswire… National People’s Action: TODAY—We Rise: National Day of Action to Put People and Planet First Physicians for Human Rights: Doctors in the Crosshairs: Four Years of Attacks on Health Care in Syria Committee to Protect Journalists: Ethiopia Suspected of Spying on Independent TV Network ESAT Freedom to Marry: Washington Post Ad Showcases Broad Business Support for the Freedom to Marry Nationwide CAIR Calls on Maine, New Jersey GOP Chairs to Repudiate Prejudiced Comments by Officials Center for Biological Diversity: Feds Propose More Than 330,000 Acres of Critical Habitat for Black Pine Snakes more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights | Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Featured… Netanyahu Threatens War In Speech to Congress by Phyllis Bennis Realizing he has insufficient clout to stop the negotiations, Netanyahu demanded a back-up position: If not “no” deal, then we can have a better deal. His vision of a “better” deal, however, is grounded in Iranian surrender. News… Bank of England Issues Warning Over Looming ‘Carbon Bubble’ Threat by Deirdre Fulton ‘As the world increasingly limits carbon emissions, and moves to alternative energy sources, investments in fossil fuels…may take a huge hit,’ predicts one of Europe’s oldest banks. Nearly 60 Lawmakers Boycott Netanyahu Speech by Lauren McCauley Condemning Netanyahu’s efforts to “sabotage diplomacy,” grassroots groups also rallied around the boycott and called on lawmakers ahead of time to skip the speech. As Bibi Marches on Congress, Obama Says If Iran Talks Fail ‘Military Actions’ Await by Jon Queally “I don’t think it’s permanently destructive,” Obama told Reuters in reference to Netanyahu’s visit, “but I think it’s a distraction from what should be our focus. And our focus should be: how do we stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon?” New Study Shows California Droughts Driven by Climate Change and Here to Stay by Sarah Lazare The researchers concluded that human-driven global warming is exacerbating and increasing the confluent warm and dry conditions that have produced the state’s most severe droughts. Body-Cam Company Has Financial Ties to Police Chiefs by Nadia Prupis While the demand for body cameras among law enforcement has risen in the wake of the high-profile police killings of unarmed citizens, critics are noting the potential for biased dealings when police chiefs profit off of private companies. Clinton Skirted Public Disclosure Laws While Heading State Department by Lauren McCauley “It is very difficult to conceive of a scenario — short of nuclear winter — where an agency would be justified in allowing its cabinet-level head officer to solely use a private email communications channel for the conduct of government business,” Baron said. more news… Views… For Peace, We Must Defeat Netanyahu on Iran Diplomacy by Robert Naiman If we want to have a serious conversation about how to beat Netanyahu on settlements, the fight over Iran diplomacy should be required reading, because we’re facing the same adversaries, with the key difference right now being that on the second front, we have far fewer friends. Eight Lessons for Progressives Inspired by Syriza by Ted Fertik & Dan Cantor Syriza is standing up to the powers-that-be in European capitalism in a way that seems almost impossible to imagine in places like Canada and the United States. Playing Chicken with Nuclear War by Robert Parry A swaggering goofiness has come to dominate how the United States reacts to Russia, with American politicians and journalists dashing off tweets and op-eds, rushing to judgment about the perfidy of Moscow’s leaders, blaming them for almost anything and everything. David Petraeus Gets Hand-Slap for Leaking, Two Point Enhancement for Obstruction of Justice by Marcy Wheeler The Department of Justice basically completely wiped away the crime of covering up his crime of leaking some of the country’s most sensitive secrets to his mistress. What Climate Crisis? Sales of SUVs Booming in Europe by Andy Rowell The so-called eco-consciousness of the industry – where fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles were pushed – has gone. Arctic Nightmare: Obama, Shell, and the Fate of the Far North by Subhankar Banerjee Think of drilling in the Arctic as a future catastrophe in a single enticing package. more views… Newswire… ACLU: DHS Funding Bill Passes With Harmful Immigration Family Detention Provisions Brennan Center for Justice: BRIEF: Legal Ethicists Urge Wisconsin Justices to Consider Recusal in Gov. Scott Walker Campaign Finance Case Institute for Public Accuracy: Netanyahu Speech: Nuclear Threat CAIR Asks Tennessee Legislature to Drop Anti-Muslim ‘No-Go Zone’ Bill Western Environmental Law Center: Conservationists Challenge Wildlife Services’ Authority to Kill Wolves in Washington Violence Policy Center: ATF Proposal to Restrict Certain Types of AR-15 Ammo Direct Result of Gun Industry’s Design and Marketing of Armor-Piercing Assault Pistols, VPC Report Shows more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights | Friday, 27 February, 2015

Featured… Majority of Americans Agree Fighting Climate Change a ‘Moral Obligation’ by Nadia Prupis Of the 2,827 people surveyed in the poll, 66 percent said world leaders are ethically bound to reduce carbon emissions, while 72 percent believed that responsibility lay with themselves as well. News… As Fast Track Looms, Opposition Mounts to Corporate-Friendly Trade Deals by Deirdre Fulton Warren and other senators took to the chamber floor on Thursday to further voice their concern that passing Fast Track authority, which would cede the nuts and bolts of crafting trade agreements to the executive branch for at least four years, will undermine the U.S. economy. Gaza Rebuild Effort Could Take 100 Years: Oxfam by Andrea Germanos The organization’s statement comes six months after a ceasefire agreement ended Israel’s 50-day assault on Gaza, which left over 2,100 Palestinians dead, decimated thousands of structures, and weakened already damaged infrastructure systems. As Antarctica Melts Away, Seas Could Rise Ten Feet Within 100 Years by Deirdre Fulton Parts of Antarctica are thawing so quickly, the continent has become “ground zero of global climate change without a doubt,” Harvard geophysicist Jerry Mitrovica told AP. The Destruction of Afghan Lives, Captured in US Dollars by Jon Queally An armored vehicle ran over a six-year-old boy’s legs: $11,000. A jingle truck was “blown up by mistake”: $15,000. A controlled detonation broke eight windows in a mosque: $106. A boy drowned in an anti-tank ditch: $1,916. Methane-Explosion Craters Could Be Latest Indicators of a Warming Planet by Sarah Lazare Perhaps most alarming is what the funnels reveal about the rising temperature the Arctic, which is heating twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Great Recession Linked to Rising Suicides Among Middle-Aged Americans by Sarah Lazare Economic crises kill in more ways than one. more news… Views… 10 Reasons To Pray for AIPAC’s Decline by Medea Benjamin From topping a catastrophic war with Iran to finally solving the Israel/Palestine conflict, an essential starting point is breaking AIPAC’s grip on U.S. policy. Our Anti-Immigrant Racism Is Rooted in History by Sonali Kolhatkar Solalinde opined, “You don’t have to kill an immigrant with a bullet. You also kill an immigrant with discrimination, with injustice, to not recognize them, to deny them citizenship. They’re human beings.” For Suffering Palestinians, the Obama-Netanyahu “Rift” Is a Side Show by Ali Abunimah The lesson Palestinians have repeatedly learned is that whether they fight or stay quiet, Israel will be allowed to do as it pleases. When Politics Is Local, Who Decides? by David Morris The arguments for stripping people of their right to protect and enhance the health and vitality of their communities are weak. They reflect a fundamental distrust in the intelligence and capacity of the American people. Congress Is Poised to Introduce a Bill to Fast Track TPP So It’s Time to Act Now by Maira Sutton Unless this opaque, undemocratic process is fixed, and state officials uphold the interests of users rather than trampling our rights, we have no choice but to fight trade deals like the TPP. “A Red Letter Day” at the FCC – Net Neutrality Wins by Michael Winship “You did this,” Free Press President Craig Aaron told the gathering, as they held up signs and stamped their feet against the cold. “This is your victory, we did it together. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we defend this win in Congress, in the courts and in the streets.” more views… Newswire… National Whistleblowers Center: Senate to Hold Hearing on FBI’s Treatment of Whistleblowers Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir: Reverend Billy Faces Up To One Year in Jail After Arrest For Sermon in Grand Central Terminal Public Citizen: Reporters’ Memo: President’s Annual March 1 Trade Report and Agenda ACLU: Kentucky Legal Team Files Brief at US Supreme Court Challenging Marriage Bans for Same-Sex Couples Amnesty International: Three Women Held in Secret Detention Over Tweets Reprieve: Houthi Authorities In Yemen Must Confirm Safety of US Citizen and Give Access to Counsel, Says Lawyer more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights Tuesday, February 10, 2015

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Featured… Plan B? What Happened to Plan A? by Pat Mooney Precisely at the moment when climate denial is losing steam, it’s crucial to prevent it from being replaced with unicorn-like fantasies of magical technologies that allow the status quo to continue. News… Big Backers of Clinton Foundation Found in Leaked Swiss Bank Files: Report by Jon Queally With Hillary Clinton now considered the Democratic Party frontrunner for 2016, the revelations may once again cast a special shadow over such dealings. Federal Campaign to Save Monarch Fails to Address Root Cause of Decline by Deirdre Fulton The butterfly’s decline has been linked to the proliferation of glyphosate, a primary ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup and one of the very few herbicides that kills milkweed. The monarch exclusively lays its eggs on plants in the milkweed family. ‘Deeply Unsettling’: Allegation of Translator Link to CIA Torture Site Halts 9/11 Hearing by Andrea Germanos Amnesty International said the incident marked “just the latest in a string of serious incidents that have marked the inherently unfair military commission process at Guantánamo Bay.” 13-Year-Old Boy Who Lived In Fear of US Drones, Killed by CIA Strike in Yemen by Jon Queally “In their eyes, we don’t deserve to live like people in the rest of the world,” said the victim ahead of his ultimate death, “and we don’t have feelings or emotions or cry or feel pain like all the other humans around the world.” New Report on Lynching Reveals Sinister Legacy of ‘Racial Terrorism’ in America by Lauren McCauley The report further suggests that the decline of lynching was tied to the rise of capital punishment—”a more palatable form of violence.” Lawsuits Launched to Target Missouri ‘Debtors’ Prisons’ Scheme by Nadia Prupis Filed Sunday, the lawsuits charge that Ferguson and Jennings routinely jail people for being unable to pay traffic tickets, court fees, and other fines, housing them in “deplorable conditions” and locking them into a cycle of “increased fees, debts, extortion, and cruel jailings.” more news… Views… Saying No to Torture: A Gallery of American Heroes by Rebecca Gordon Some of those who rejected torture, like CIA official John Kiriakou and an as-yet-unnamed Navy nurse, directly refused to practice it. Some risked reputations and careers to let the people of this country know what their government was doing. Sometimes an entire agency, like the FBI, refused to be involved in torture. The Shift: A Note from Lexington Federal Prison by Kathy Kelly Our society barely recognizes the futility of imprisoning people for onerously long sentences. I think of Mukherjee and wonder whether U.S. people invested as much money in cancer research as they did in Super Bowl celebrations this year. Wretched US Journalism on Ukraine by Robert Parry With very few exceptions, the mainstream U.S. media has simply regurgitated the propaganda from the U.S. State Department and other entities favoring western Ukrainians. There has been little effort to view the worsening crisis through the eyes of ethnic Russian Ukrainians living in the east or the Russians witnessing a political and humanitarian crisis on their border. Why Public Banks Outperform Private Banks: Unfair Competition or a Better Mousetrap? by Ellen Brown To truly eliminate unfair competition, the giant monopolistic multinational corporations should be broken up, since they have an obvious unfair trade advantage over small farmers and small businesses. But that outcome is liable to be long in coming. The Debt Slavery Must End to Prevent Environmental Catastrophes: Will Greece Kick Start a Paradigm Shift? by Stefano Balbi A not-so-subtle fil rouge, contingent upon both resource consumption and waste production, exists between economic and ecological debts. Society, blinded by the paradigm of growth, has long lost this connection. This may be the time when a wider public can reconnect the dots. An Arms Race Won’t Help Ukraine by Katrina vanden Heuvel In every respect, sending more weapons to Ukraine would be recklessly counterproductive. It defies common sense that the United States is considering such a move, especially when the principal victims of continued violence in the region will be innocent civilians in eastern Ukraine. more views… Newswire… Oil Change International: Groups File FOIA Request with US Dept. of Commerce for Crude Oil Export Ban Exceptions Government Accountability Project: “American Whistleblower Tour” Comes to AU Public Citizen to Urge FEC to Rein in Out-of-Control Election Spending Worldwatch Institute: No Jobs on a Dead Planet: Trade Unions Join the Transition to a Greener Economy Center for Food Safety: FWS Campaign to Save Monarchs is Inadequate, Misses Major Driver in Population Decline Free Press: Why Commissioner Pai Is 100 Percent Wrong on Net Neutrality more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights Saturday February 7, 2015

Featured… The Fiery Cage and the Lynching Tree, Brutality’s Never Far Away by Bill Moyers Yes, it was hard to get back to sleep the night we heard the news of the Jordanian pilot’s horrendous end. ISIS be damned! I thought. But with the next breath I could only think that our own barbarians did not have to wait at any gate. They were insiders. Home grown. Godly. Our neighbors, friends, and kin. People like us. News… In Latest Vindication of Snowden, Court Rules UK Mass Surveillance Illegal by Nadia Prupis IPT’s decision marks the first time that the highly-secretive court has ever ruled against any of the U.K.’s intelligence services in its entire 15-year existence. Greek Minister: Poison of Troika Austerity Fueling Rise of Nazi Party by Jon Queally In his remarks, Varoufakis said that if the does not Troika bend and accept new terms, there is serious risk that the spiraling impacts of the economic Depression in his country will continue to fuel the rise of fascist, rightwing forces within his country. Blockade Delivers Climate Message to Calif. Gov. Brown: Stop Fracking by Sarah Lazare “Fracking poisons the food that we eat, that we feed to our families, and that we serve to our customers,” Veronica Garcia, organizer with labor union UNITE HERE 2850, declared in a press statement released ahead of the action. “The oil industry is affecting our communities. It’s happening in our backyards, not the bosses’ backyard.” Yemen: Shiite Rebels Announce Takeover of Country by Andrea Germanos The Houthis’ announcement follows a Wednesday deadline set by the rebels for political parties to “to reach a solution and fill the vacuum.” In Landmark Ruling, Canada to Allow Assisted Suicide by Nadia Prupis ‘I do not want to die slowly, piece by piece. I do not want to waste away unconscious in a hospital bed. I do not want to die wracked with pain.’ ‘Zero Tolerance’: A Worldwide Call to Eliminate the Brutal Practice of FGM by Deirdre Fulton The focus of this year’s commemoration is on the troubling ‘medicalization’ of FGM, a trend in which healthcare providers engage in the practice, in turn lending their tacit approval. Around one in five girls have been cut by a trained health-care provider, they say, with that number going as high as three in four girls in some countries. more news… Views… ‘Fighting for the Places We Love’: A Vision for the Climate Battles to Come by Naomi Klein & May Boeve There are various reasons why, if we get the right set of incentives in place—both political and economic—it can be a really, really good time to get off fossil fuels and push very aggressively toward a decentralized, renewables-based economy. US, Ukraine and Russia: What Went Wrong? by Kim Scipes Mearsheimer says, “The Russians have made clear that Ukraine is a core strategic area.” In other words, they will defend it at all costs: their response to crisis in Ukraine is similar to what the US would do if a nuclear-armed “opponent” were to try to take over Canada or Mexico. The Re-Colonization of Africa by Jim Goodman While most countries in Africa have no commercial plantings of Genetically Modified (GM or GMO) crops, many are conducting trials, aided by and politically pushed by Western governments. While AGRA claims their partners are not currently selling GM seeds in Africa, the push is clearly there. Is ISIL’s ‘Shock and Awe’ More Awe-ful Because One Victim? by Juan Cole The US shock and awe campaign failed to shock or awe. The Iraqi military turned guerrilla and harried US troops for 8 1/2 years, then many of the ex-Baath officers and trained soldiers deserted secular nationalism, turned to al-Qaeda-type ideologies, formed Daesh and took over western and northern Iraq and eastern Syria. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Tripped Up by Truth by Mary Bottari & Jonas Persson The ideological sneak attack on a great public institution is classic Walker. Safety Is Life-or-Death, Say Refinery Strikers by Samantha Winslow When oil refinery workers walk onto the job, they enter a world of hazards. Any mistakes or malfunctions can harm workers inside—and also the surrounding community. more views… Newswire… CAIR Welcomes President Obama’s Prayer Breakfast Remarks on Islam, Urges Visit to U.S. Mosque Amnesty International: UK: ‘Historic’ surveillance ruling finds intelligence-sharing illegal Center for Biological Diversity: Protest Will Target Obama Plan to Open Atlantic, Arctic to Offshore Drilling Center for Constitutional Rights: Abu Ghraib Torture Case Against Private Military Contractor Back in Court Drug Policy Alliance: Been Here for Years: DPA Salutes Black Drug Policy Reformers Council of Canadians: Support the Call for an Inquiry on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women more newswire…

Common Dreams Highlights | Wednesday January 28, 2015

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What They’re Not Telling You About Monsanto’s Role in Ukraine | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community

What They’re Not Telling You About Monsanto’s Role in UkraineSkip to main conte

Will this be a takeover of Ukraine’s farmland?

by
Christina Sarich

There are many facets to the conflict in Ukraine that have been overlooked by most media outlets. The role of western biotech firms is just one of them. (Image: via Natural Society)

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) is helping biotech run the latest war in Ukraine. Make no mistake that what is happening in the Ukraine now is deeply tied to the interests of Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, and other big players in the poison food game.

Monsanto has an office in Ukraine. While this does not shout ‘culpability’ from every corner, it is no different than the US military’s habit to place bases in places that they want to gain political control. The opening of this office coincided with land grabs with loans from the IMF and World Bank to one of the world’s most hated corporations – all in support of their biotech takeover.

Previously, there was a ban on private sector land ownership in the country – but it was lifted ‘just in time’ for Monsanto to have its way with the Ukraine.

In fact, a bit of political maneuvering by the IMF gave the Ukraine a $17 billion loan – but only if they would open up to biotech farming and the selling of Monsanto’s poison crops and chemicals – destroying a farmland that is one of the most pristine in all of Europe. Farm equipment dealer, Deere, along with seed producers Dupont and Monsanto, will have a heyday.

In the guise of ‘aid,’ a claim has been made on Ukraine’s vast agricultural riches. It is the world’s third largest exporter of corn and fifth largest exporter of wheat. Ukraine has deep, rich, black soil that can grow almost anything, and its ability to produce high volumes of GM grain is what made biotech come rushing to take it over.

As reported by The Ecologist, according to the Oakland Institute:

“Whereas Ukraine does not allow the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture, Article 404 of the EU agreement, which relates to agriculture, includes a clause that has generally gone unnoticed: it indicates, among other things, that both parties will cooperate to extend the use of biotechnologies.

There is no doubt that this provision meets the expectations of the agribusiness industry. As observed by Michael Cox, research director at the investment bank Piper Jaffray, ‘Ukraine and, to a wider extent, Eastern Europe, are among the most promising growth markets for farm-equipment giant Deere, as well as seed producers Monsanto and DuPont’.”

The nation WAS Europe’s breadbasket – and now in an act of bio-warfare, it will become the wasteland that many US farmlands have become due to copious amounts of herbicide spraying, the depletion of soil, and the overall disruption of a perfect ecosystem.

The aim of US government entities is to support the takeover of Ukraine for biotech interests (among other strategies involving the prop-up of a failing cabalistic banking system that Russia has also refused with its new alignment with BRICS and its own payment system called SWIFT). This is similar to biotech’s desiredtakeover of Hawaiian islands and land in Africa.

The Ukraine war has many angles that haven’t been exposed to the general public – and you can bet that biotech has their hands in the proverbial corn pie.

© 2015 Natural Society

Christina Sarich is a contributing writer for the Natural Society.

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