Monthly Archives: July 2015

Losing the Big Game: Why Mass Extinction is not that surprising

Earth Day flag. By John McConnell (flag designer) NASA (Earth photograph) SiBr4 (flag image) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Earth Day flag. By John McConnell (flag designer) NASA (Earth photograph) SiBr4 (flag image) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By now, you’ve heard the reports that we are headed into another period of mass extinction on planet earth. The last time the planet experienced mass extinction at this scale was approximately 65 million years ago, when an asteroid hit in the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is often said that those who do not follow history are doomed to repeat it. In this case, the history being repeated is earth’s history, which moves at a completely different time scale than that of modern man.

The first thing that must be targeted is the species that have failed to harmonize with the balance of the ecosystems within which they exist. To accomplish extinction, all major food sources are disrupted, weather is changed, and other “anomalies” add to the struggle. Diseases, bacterias, viruses and other established enemies of the targeted specie all appears. If all else fails, you can add earthquakes, tsunamis, drought, wildfire, volcanic eruptions and hoards of insects to finish things off for the offender.

Umm…. Pause here for a moment. We have ocean acidification, polar caps melting, volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, all the afore-mentioned “natural” disasters. This does not suggest mankind might be the target, does it?

Well, we’re also on the brink of losing the pollinator of the world, the bees, because of pesticides developed by Monsanto. The majority of our civilization lives in coastal regions, which will begin flooding as the polar caps melt. Island nations at low sea levels will be wiped off the map.

We have managed to poison much of our fresh water supply. What has not been poisoned will be soon, as fracking continues despite all scientific evidence that explains its dangers. Major portions of what used to be crop land have been lost to drought or are now being used to grow alternative fuel sources, such as ethanol.

We now know we have caused the extinction of species before understanding their importance. We have outbreaks of ebola, plagues, explosion of algae blooms that can kill humans and dogs,  HIV, cancers, and a multitude of health conditions brought on by the chemicals in our food, our environment and even in our hygiene products.

To top all this off, we have developed the most efficient ways of killing each other in all of history. Between all the weapons of war, drones and chemicals, we attempts to “ethnically cleanse” large populations from our midst. We pay officials to carry guns and shoot our citizens for unjustifiable reasons.  We murder each other and those we don’t know.

Maybe we are alarmed for no reason. We don’t believe we are. Mass extinction is not a threat aimed at the species we think are cute and fuzzy. It is aimed at us, the worst species to ever have inhabited the planet, clearly proving a total disregard for all life other than self. Even after being given the gift of intelligence, our complete savagry has brought us to the point of rejection from Mother Earth.

Share Button

The 2016 Race – Media vs The People

In case you haven’t noticed, the 2016 presidential race is well underway. Currently, there are 455 people who have filed a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) with the FEC to register as a 2016 presidential candidate.

Of course, media coverage is essential to having a successful campaign, so the vast majority of these hopefuls will slip beneath the radar of the American public to become a footnote in history. However, there’s more candidates getting media coverage than is usual, due to the number of Fox News regulars who are running on the Republican side.

On the Democrat side, it was assumed by the media that Hillary Clinton would run virtually unopposed by anybody in her party. There was an effort to draft Elizabeth Warren, but Warren herself put an end to that, stating on numerous occasions that she would not run. Which brings us to the surprise of this election season so far; the rise of Bernie Sanders as a force in national politics.

At first look, you’d never expect Bernie to be a contender. He’s an unabashed socialist. He looks like your grumpy old uncle, and really doesn’t have any charisma. Yet, he’s been drawing huge crowds wherever he goes.

The national media is doing its best to downplay Bernie’s campaign. We’ve heard that he’s too old. We’ve heard that his policies are too far to the left for the moderates in the party; that he only appeals to the millennials; that his support is only among the white, college educated demographic, and that he doesn’t appeal to the older, blue collar moderate Democrat base. If that is the case, how would you explain this?

Bernie Sanders in Denver on June 20, 2015. Photo via Facebook

Bernie Sanders in Denver on June 20, 2015. Photo via Facebook

Continue reading

Share Button

Fossil Fuel Funding Boycott Puts Spotlight on Clinton Campaign

The Nation and 350 Action call on congressional and presidential hopefuls to reject contributions from oil and gas companies

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published July 7, 2015

Despite her rhetoric on climate, Clinton is the only major democratic presidential candidate who has not responded to the pledge. (Photo: Hillary Clinton/ Facebook)

Despite her rhetoric on climate, Clinton is the only major democratic presidential candidate who has not responded to the pledge. (Photo: Hillary Clinton/ Facebook)

Progressive groups have a challenge for presidential hopefuls: Put your money where your mouth is on the climate, and swear off contributions from fossil fuel companies.

To affirm their commitment to taking on the climate crisis and “standing up to the corrupting influence of fossil-fuel companies,” the campaign, launched on Monday by The Nation and 350 Action, is calling on 2016 presidential and congressional candidates to sign a pledge committing to “neither solicit nor accept campaign contributions from any oil, gas, or coal company.”

The Nation editors said they have asked each of the major declared presidential candidates in the the Democratic, Republican, and Green parties if they would be willing to honor the pledge. Continue reading

Share Button

On Brink of ‘Irreparable Split’ Between Rich and Poor Nations, European Leaders Scramble

Emboldened by anti-austerity referendum, Tsipras to address European Parliament on Wednesday

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published July 7, 2015

Experts say the onus is now on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to back an "ethical approach," and ease Greece's debt burden. (Photo: NumberTen/cc/flickr)

Experts say the onus is now on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to back an “ethical approach,” and ease Greece’s debt burden. (Photo: NumberTen/cc/flickr)

In the wake of Greece’s historic ‘No’ vote this weekend, European leaders are scrambling to cement a new deal after the resounding rejection of the austerity program that has heretofore dominated fiscal policy and conversation.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz confirmed that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will address parliament plenary on Wednesday morning. Tsipras is expected to put forth a new written proposal for financial aid, one that reflects the wishes of the people—who on Sunday voted overwhelmingly against the latest bailout offer, which would have imposed further austerity and economic hardship.

On Tuesday, European heads of state are meeting in Brussels to discuss the pending economic crisis. According to reports, Tsipras will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande ahead of the evening’s leaders’ summit to discuss his plan. Tsipras is expected to call for the country’s €323bn ($356bn) debt to be reduced by up to 30 percent, with a 20-year grace period, BBC reports. Continue reading

Share Button

The Perfect Storm

By National Climatic Data Center (National Ocanic and Atmospheric Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By National Climatic Data Center (National Ocanic and Atmospheric Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

When America fought WWI and WWII, there was an expression used by those who returned home to describe “war” to friends and family.

“War is days of unimaginable boredom interspersed with moments of abject terror.”

There are times when daily news presents nothing but trivial stories that mean little to the conscious plane of activism. There are no marches. Absent are the rallies and speeches, save the prattling of political candidates.

These are what we call the days of unimaginable dread, while we take a deep breath and wait for the abject terror of the next oppressive measure to be taken.

Unless you stop for a moment and reflect on all that has grown silent in so strangely a sudden manner. Have you noticed that all these things are coming to a boiling point, all at the same time? Continue reading

Share Button

Latest Tally Shows Raging Assault on Reproductive Rights Nationwide

Since start of year, state legislatures have enacted no fewer than 51 anti-choice measures

By Deirdre Fulton, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published July 3, 2015

A protest against Focus on the Family's "Stand for the Family" event at the Xcel Energy Center, planned by OutFront Minnesota. Photo by Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

A protest against Focus on the Family’s “Stand for the Family” event at the Xcel Energy Center, planned by OutFront Minnesota. Photo by Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The right-wing assault on women’s health and reproductive rights continues to rage in state legislatures across the United States, with a new report showing that in the first half of 2015 alone, states enacted no fewer than 51 wide-ranging abortion restrictions.

According to the New York-based research non-profit the Guttmacher Institute, many of the new laws focused on four areas: waiting periods, abortions after the first trimestermedication abortion, and so-called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) provisions such as ambulatory surgical center requirements.

However, the report notes: “Even as states continue to pass new abortion restrictions, the Supreme Court is poised to hear one, and maybe two, major abortion cases in the coming year.” Continue reading

Share Button

Greece needs a Plan C: for the commons and communality

Whatever the outcome of the referendum, tough times are ahead. To survive, Greek society will need to reinvigorate the commons and communal solidarity.

By Jerome Roos. Published July 4, 2015 at ROAR Magazine.

Post image for Greece needs a Plan C: for the commons and communality

A solidarity kitchen in Greece. The poster in the back reads “Free Food for All” (by Marko Djurika).

As the Greek debt crisis enters its dramatic apotheosis — with an unprecedented default on the IMF last Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of anti-austerity protesters taking to the streets on Friday, and a historic referendum scheduled for Sunday — concerns are growing over the state of the Greek economy.

The decision by the European creditors and the European Central Bank to basically cut off Greece’s banking system from continued emergency support has forced the government to close all private banks and impose far-reaching capital controls. As a result, Greek companies can no longer pay foreign suppliers and are already starting to run short on food, pharmaceuticals and other key imports. Some pensioners are struggling to obtain their much-needed cash. Continue reading

Share Button

As Record Settlement Announced Over BP Gulf Oil Disaster, Lesson Is Clear: Clean Energy Now

‘These penalties are inadequate to deter a company of the size of BP from further criminal and negligent conduct,’ says attorney

By Andrea Germanos, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published July 2, 2015.

“It’s finally time to learn our lesson from the BP spill and all the spills that have happened since then,” says the Center for Biological Diversity’s Miyoko Sakashita.  (Photo: US Coast Guard)

BP and the Justice Department announced Thursday the agreement of an $18.7 billion settlement over federal, state, and local claims stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental groups responded to the settlement by stressing that the damage from the 2010 oil disaster is ongoing; that the funds must be used to restore the Gulf and its communities; and that the lessons of the disaster should be heeded by moving towards a clean energy future.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch noted the historic amount of the settlement, saying in a statement: “If approved by the court, this settlement would be the largest settlement with a single entity in American history.”

Her statement adds that the settlement “would justly and comprehensively address outstanding federal and state claims, including Clean Water Act civil penalties and natural resource damages.” Continue reading

Share Button

California’s drought: the canary in the coalmine?

There is no place on earth that can be safe, secure or healthy in a world that is running out of water.

Written by Maude Barlow. Published 6-30-15 in OpenDemocracy.

Photo by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

On April 1, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown ordered officials to impose mandatory water restrictions in his drought stricken state for the first time in history. The news was carried around the world.  “Climate change” was named as the culprit— and it is.

Glaciers are melting in the arctic and drastically-reduced snowfall in the Sierra Nevada Mountains has lowered the amount of run-off that the state depends on for water renewal. But there’s another side to this story and it’s this: human abuse and mismanagement of water is actually a cause of climate change, and that needs to be placed at the center of our thinking about environmental destruction and regeneration.

In this sense, California is the ‘canary in the coalmine’ of a growing water crisis, and what’s happening there shows why all of us must transform our thinking, action, and relationships to this most precious of resources.

For decades, there has been massive engineering of the state’s water supplies through pipelines, canals and aqueducts in order to supply a small number of powerful farmers in California’s Central Valley. Eighty percent of all water in California goes to agriculture, much of it to grow water-intensive crops for export. Alfalfa hay, for example, which is mostly exported to Japan, uses 15 per cent of the state’s water. Almonds (80 per cent of the world’s production) use another 10 per cent. Continue reading

Share Button

TISA Exposed: ‘Holy Grail’ of Leaks Reveals Detailed Plot for Corporate Takeover

Fifty-two-nation Trade in Services Agreement uses trade regulations ‘as a smokescreen to limit citizen rights,’ says labor leader

At a protest in Geneva last year. (Photo: Annette Dubois/flickr/cc)

At a protest in Geneva last year. (Photo: Annette Dubois/flickr/cc)

Written by Deidre Fulton, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 7-1-15.

Days ahead of another round of secret international negotiations, WikiLeaks on Wednesday released what it described as “a modern journalistic holy grail: the secret Core Text for the largest ‘trade deal’ in history.”

That deal is the Trade in Services Agreement, or TISA, currently being negotiated by 52 nations that together account for two-thirds of global GDP. Those nations are the United States, the 28 members of the European Union, and 23 other countries, including Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Israel. According to WikiLeaks, TISA “is the largest component of the United States’ strategic neoliberal ‘trade’ treaty triumvirate,” which also includes the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Pact (TTIP).

“Together, the three treaties form not only a new legal order shaped for transnational corporations, but a new economic ‘grand enclosure,’ which excludes China and all other BRICS countries,” declared WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in a press statement. What’s more, it adds, “[a]ll three treaties have been subject to stringent criticism for the lack of transparency and public consultation in their negotiation processes.”

The texts published Wednesday cover everything from financial services to telecommunications to migrant labor protections. Continue reading

Share Button