Debt Relief and Regulation By Mike Whitney

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By Mike Whitney
March 09, 2009 “Information Clearing House”

“We’ve explained the difference between a recession and a depression before. But we’ll do it again. A recession is a pause in an otherwise healthy, growing economy. A depression is when the economy drops dead.” — Bill Bonner, The Daily Reckoning

There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that Obama’s economics team understands the fundamental problem with the banks and knows what needs to be done to fix it. The bad news is that Bernanke, Summers and Geithner all have close ties to the big banks and refuse to do what’s necessary. Instead, they keep propping up failing institutions with capital injections while concocting elaborate strategies for purchasing the banks bad assets through backdoor transactions. It’s all very opaque, despite the cheery public relations monikers they slap on their various “rescue” plans. This charade has gone on for more than a month while unemployment has continued to soar, the stock market has continued to plunge, and the country has slipped deeper into economic quicksand.

Financial reports show 5 biggest banks are ‘dead men walking

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By Greg Gordon and Kevin G. Hall
McClatchy Newspapers
3.9.09

WASHINGTON — America’s five largest banks, which already have received $145 billion in taxpayer bailout dollars, still face potentially catastrophic losses from exotic investments if economic conditions substantially worsen, their latest financial reports show.

Citibank, Bank of America, HSBC Bank USA, Wells Fargo Bank and J.P. Morgan Chase reported that their “current” net loss risks from derivatives — insurance-like bets tied to a loan or other underlying asset — surged to $587 billion as of Dec. 31. Buried in end-of-the-year regulatory reports that McClatchy has reviewed, the figures reflect a jump of 49 percent in just 90 days.

via Financial reports show 5 biggest banks are ‘dead men walking’ | McClatchy Washington Bureau

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Dmitry Orlov: The collapse of America is unavoidable

Argentina’s Economic Collapse (full video)

Kucinich: The path forward has to be with transparency

The Economy Sucks and or Collapse 2

Countdown: Path to the current financial situation & Stem cell research

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firedoglake

Countdown – Keith Olbermann describes the path to our current financial situation
03_09_09 visit: http://firedoglake.com

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Exclusive: Derivatives for Dummies by The Other Katherine Harris

Dmitry Orlov: The collapse of America is unavoidable

The Economy Sucks and or Collapse 2

Earth Focus: Episodes 1 & 12

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linktv

More at http://www.linktv.org/earthfocus

An environmental news magazine that puts a human face on environmental issues and legislation by featuring under-publicized stories about how environmental changes are affecting everyday people around the world. “Earth Focus” is produced for Link TV by Planet Vox.

This installment of Earth Focus features the following stories: An interview with Frank Loy, former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs from 1998 to 2001, who is now the Chairman of Environment 2004, an organization dedicated to electing leaders who understand the importance of environmental protection.

California raw almonds must be treated, judge rules

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By Michael Doyle
McClatchy Newspapers
3.9.09

WASHINGTON — A federal judge Monday upheld requirements that raw California almonds be treated to protect consumers from salmonella poisoning.

In a blow to organic almond producers and handlers, the Washington, D.C.-based judge rejected challenges to pasteurization requirements designed by the Almond Board of California. The Agriculture Department formally imposed the rules in March 2007, setting off sparks.

[…]

via California raw almonds must be treated, judge rules | McClatchy Washington Bureau

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Save Small Farms and Home Gardens: HB 875 by Jean Ann Van Krevelen

Nutritionally Depleted Food Robs The Public of Its Health by Guadamour

Food on Dandelion Salad

Save Small Farms and Home Gardens: HB 875 by Jean Ann Van Krevelen (H.R. 875)

Update 2: April 6, 2009 More info on HR 875 (not as bad as it seems)

Update 1: Mar. 26, 2009 added link to a petition; see below

Crossposted with permission from the author, thanks, Jean Ann.

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by Jean Ann Van Krevelen
Gardener to Farmer
March 09, 2009

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

I am not one to overreact about early legislative efforts. New bills are always stuffed full of language that will never make it to the final version. But HR 875 is a different matter.

It is not just the drastic regulatory language that scares me. It is that it represents agribusinesses next step on the path to world food domination. And though that sounds like an over exaggeration, it is not.

Mossad linked to 9/11 attacks: Report

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Press TV
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:26:15 GMT

At least 2,970 people died on the morning of September 11, most of them civilians.

New found information has implicated the Israeli Intelligence agency Mossad in the staging of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

According to a recent article published in the American Free Press weekly, the revelation that the cousin of alleged 9/11 hijacker Ziad al-Jarrah was in fact working as a longtime Mossad agent is proof that Israel had a hand in the terror attacks on US soil.

The New York Times recently reported that Lebanese national Ali al-Jarrah, a supposedly earnest Palestinian supporter, had been actually working as a highly valued spy for Israel over the past two decades.

Al-Jarrah reportedly admitted that he had been conducting covert espionage activities against Palestinian groups and the Lebanese Hezbollah since 1983.

“It is not the family’s first brush with notoriety. One of Mr. Jarrah’s cousins, Ziad al-Jarrah, was among the 19 hijackers who carried out the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,” said the Times.

His connections with one of the key masterminds of the terror attacks have fueled speculations about Israel’s recruitment of people claiming to be Muslims as undercover assets.

Israeli connections to 9/11, according to the New York Times, can be traced back to the five ‘dancing Israelis’ who were witnessed jumping and high-fiving with shouts of ‘joy and mockery’ as Flight 11 and Flight 175 slammed into the World Trade Center in New York.

[…]

via Press TV – Mossad linked to 9/11 attacks: Report

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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9/11 on Dandelion Salad

Viva Palestina: Gaza or bust + Viva Palestina breaks Gaza siege + Galloway’s Speech

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Press TV
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:24:35 GMT

The last 24 hours have probably been the blackest since the “Viva Palestina” convoy set off from London.

Yesterday the convoy members became the target of an orchestrated wave of violence first started by Egyptian police and then culminating in vicious attacks by unknown thugs.

The end result was a number of peace activists whose only aim is to take humanitarian aid into war torn Gaza were treated in hospital for head injuries.

[…]

Mercifully, the string of casualties was not too serious but the experience denied us the chance of fulfilling our mission to deliver aid to Gaza yesterday.

And dramatic images of the rioting and attacks could not be relayed to Press TV viewers because someone sabotaged the satellite van by deliberately cutting through a vital cable which would have beamed the shameful attacks across the world.

[…]

* To read Yvonne’s intriguing account of her experiences en route to Gaza check out the Features and Reflections section of Gaza Under “Siegefire”.

via Press TV – Viva Palestina: Gaza or bust

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‘Viva Palestina’ breaks Gaza siege

Press TV
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:24:44 GMT

Despite efforts to prevent ‘Viva Palestina’ from breaking a long-term blocked on the Gaza Strip the aid convoy has entered the costal sliver.

The convoy which made its way across Europe and North Africa arrived in the besieged strip on Monday, Press TV reported.

On Sunday, several activists traveling with the group were injured after the convoy was vandalized by a number of attackers in Egypt.

British lawmaker, George Galloway, who is traveling with the convoy, said that Egyptian authorities did not protect the convoy despite their promises. “They are blocking us inside, but they don’t protect us.”

The convoy of peace activists including Press TV presenter Yvonne Ridley and Film maker Hassan Ghani left London on February 14.

* To read Yvonne’s intriguing account of her experiences en route to Gaza check out the Features and Reflections section of Gaza Under “Siegefire”.

via Press TV – ‘Viva Palestina’ breaks Gaza siege

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George Galloway’s first speech from inside Gaza

vivagalloway

Viva Palestina has landed…

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Aid convoy completes arduous journey to Gaza

currentsituation

PressTv Report

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FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Viva Palestina Aid Convoy near Gaza + Gaza aid convoy attacked in Egypt

Israel-Palestine-Gaza-Occupation

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Donate to the online appeal for Gaza Convoy

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Nutritionally Depleted Food Robs The Public of Its Health by Guadamour

by Guadamour
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Guadamour’s blog post
March 09, 2009

Agriculture in the US is directly contributing to chronic disease by providing quantities of low-quality food to the public.

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

Agriculture expert Professor Michel Pollan recently wrote in an article in the New York Times, “Agriculture has been turned into a hugely profitable ‘agribusiness-‘ one that has completely lost its focus on providing nutritionally healthy food.”

The US agribusiness industry accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s gross national product and employs almost 25% of it’s labor force (there are even more people involved if one accounts for everyone involved in the transportation of the alleged food products). Two percent of that work force grows the food. The other 23% is busy refining, processing, chemically treating and packaging the alleged food product.

Dmitry Orlov: The collapse of America is unavoidable

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RussiaToday

America must work on starting a new economy and not restarting the old one or it will resemble the former Soviet Union, says author and blogger Dmitry Orlov.

Why are we in Afghanistan? Parts 1-7

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TheRealNews

The Real News Cafe: recorded live at the Gladstone in Toronto, a Real News panel takes on the Afghan war.

This is the first segment of a multi-part series on the Afghan war. Other segments will follow throughout the week.

Ray McGovern: Holding Our Leaders Accountable (must-see)

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This is good, please watch the entire video.   Don’t get discouraged, continue to speak out loudly.  ~ DS

talkingsticktv

Talk by Ray McGovern, 27-year Veteran of the CIA and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) speaking at the Veterans for Peace Northwest Regional Conference March 8, 2009 in Kirkland, WA.

Israel expands settlements in West Bank + More Arab residents ordered to evacuate in Al-Quds

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Posted with permission from Green Left Weekly

Stu Harrison
Green Left
28 February 2009

The Israeli apartheid state, seemingly unconcerned by worldwide outrage and condemnation of its latest attacks on Gaza, has set about extending its domination over the occupied territories.

Central to this colonial project has been the continued growth of illegal settlements throughout the West Bank. These areas are often controlled by Jewish religious hardliners, but populated by poorer Israelis enticed by government-subsidised housing.

Nylex succumbs to ‘oversupply’ of water tanks by Dave Holmes

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Posted with permission from Green Left Weekly

Green Left
Dave Holmes, Melbourne
28 February 2009

Plastics manufacturer Nylex has been placed in the hands of receivers. Nylex is a well-known name — the company produces the iconic Esky, water tanks, wheelie bins, hose and garden fittings, and interior trimmings for car manufacturers.