talkingsticktv on Sep 17, 2009
Interview with Frances Moore Lappe author of “Democracy’s Edge: Choosing to Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life” given November 6, 2005.
Month: September 2009
An Epoch of Rest by William Bowles
By William Bowles
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Creative-i
17 September 2009
“It is right and necessary that all men should have work to do which is shall be worth doing, and be of itself pleasant to do; and which shall be done under such conditions as would make it neither overwearisome nor over-anxious.” — William Morris, ‘Art and Socialism’.
I first read William Morris’s News from Nowhere, his future history of a ‘return’ to an idealized vision of a pre-capitalist society, part feudal, part agrarian socialism, when I was a teenager, and perhaps oddly, I also read it as a science fiction novel.
Long dismissed by ‘purist’ Marxists as unworkable, in light of the fact that even the original socialist version of industrial society is no more viable than the capitalist one, perhaps it’s time to reconsider Morris’s allegedly utopian vision. And in any case, one can already see the outlines forming of some kind of small-scale, co-operative, community, small business type economy emerging on the back of the information technology revolution (minus all the corporate/state stuff of course) that has much in common with Morris’s vision. ‘All’ that remains be done is to get rid of corporate capitalism and its parasitic ruling political class.
Combat “Enablers”: DON’T GO!!! Open letter to the troops from Gold Star Mom, Cindy Sheehan
submitted on Buzzflash
by Cindy Sheehan
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox Blog
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox
Sept. 17, 2009
Dear Combat “Enablers” and other Troops,
I read an article in the Army Times recently that said 3000 more troops will be deployed to Afghanistan and 1000 more to Iraq.
“The troops are what the military calls “combat enablers” — noncombat troops who specialize in areas such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; explosives ordnance disposal; medical and mental health; and personnel administration. They will deploy in team-sized elements as opposed to larger units,” according to the article.
Czech left welcomes U.S. decision to give up radar base
Thanks to Rick Rozoff for sending this to DS.
ČeskéNoviny.cz
Czech News Agency
September 17, 2009
Prague: The Czech Social Democrats (CSSD), the Communists (KSCM) as well as anti-radar activists today welcomed the U.S. decision to withdraw from its missile defence project that reckoned with a radar in the Czech Republic and a missile base in Poland.
CSSD chairman Jiri Paroubek and Jan Majicek, from the No Bases movement, called the decision by the U.S. administration of President Barack Obama “a victory of the Czech people.”
“I am glad that the decision proved that we were right….It was confirmed that there are no reasons for the establishment of the U.S. missile defence shield,” Paroubek told CTK.
Real “Norma Rae” Dies of Cancer After Insurer Delayed Treatment
by Sue Sturgis | Facing South
t r u t h o u t
Monday 14 September 2009
The North Carolina union organizer who was the inspiration for the movie “Norma Rae” died on Friday of brain cancer after a battle with her insurance company, which delayed her treatment. She was 68.
Crystal Lee Sutton, formerly Crystal Lee Jordan, was fired from her job folding towels at the J.P. Stevens textile plant in her hometown of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. for trying to organize a union in the early 1970s. Her last action at the plant — writing the word “UNION” on a piece of cardboard and standing on her work table, leading her co-workers to turn off their machines in solidarity — was memorialized in the 1979 film by actress Sally Field. The police physically removed Sutton from the plant for her action.
[…]
via t r u t h o u t | Real “Norma Rae” Dies of Cancer After Insurer Delayed Treatment
h/t: Brent
see
Kucinich: The Incredible Disappearing Public Option it’s Insurance Care instead of Health Care
Reframing the Health Care Debate by Jason Bryer
Obama drops missile shield for Czech Republic
RussiaToday
September 17, 2009
The U.S. is to shelve the Bush administration’s plans for a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Barack Obama confirmed the decision in a telephone conversation with the Czech prime minister, according to the country’s media.
Fusion Centers To Obtain Access To Classified Military Intelligence
American Civil Liberties Union
Sept 15, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that it was giving state and local fusion centers access to the classified military intelligence in Department of Defense (DOD) databases. The federal government has facilitated the growth of a network of fusion centers since 9/11 to expand information collection and sharing practices among law enforcement agencies, the private sector and the intelligence community.
Allowing fusion centers access to DOD classified information appears to be a shift in policy. The New York Times reported in July that “Janet Napolitano, the homeland security secretary, said … that fusion centers were not intended to have a military presence, and that she was not aware of ones that did.”
Exclusive: The Evils of Low Intensity Warfare, by Gary Sudborough
Warning
This article may contain text depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be read by a mature audience.
by Gary Sudborough
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Sept.16, 2009
Among the numerous conditions afflicting Third World people today are starvation, disease, war and injurious devices or substances left behind by invading armies like land mines, cluster bombs, Agent Orange and depleted uranium. A little discussed occurrence, which makes life extremely miserable for many people, is a tactic of counterinsurgency and intimidation called low intensity warfare. It depends for its success on torture, mutilation, disappearances and other methods designed to shock and reduce the civilian population to docility and acceptance of the conditions imposed on them. These conditions often have much to do with facilitating the extraction of wealth from these Third World countries by multinational corporations, i.e., sweatshops, structural adjustments and so-called free trade.
Black Sea Crisis Deepens As Threat To Iran Grows by Rick Rozoff
by Rick Rozoff
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/message/41676
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/black-sea-crisis-deepens-as-threat-to-iran-grows/
September 16, 2009
Tensions are mounting in the Black Sea with the threat of another conflict between U.S. and NATO client state Georgia and Russia as Washington is manifesting plans for possible military strikes against Iran in both word and deed.
Referring to Georgia having recently impounded several vessels off the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, reportedly 23 in total this year, the New York Times wrote on September 9 that “Rising tensions between Russia and Georgia over shipping rights to a breakaway Georgian region have opened a potential new theater for conflict between the countries, a little more than a year after they went to war.” [1]
Turkey detains 6 suspects for 2003 Istanbul bombings
Propaganda Alert
compiled by Cem Ertür
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
16 September 2009
1) Turkey detains 6 suspects for 2003 Istanbul bombings (September 2009)
2) [from the archives] Turkish Top Military Brass meets Wolfowitz one day before Istanbul Attacks (November 2003)
3) [from the archives] Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz Turkish Media Availability (November 2003)
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3777921,00.html
Turkey detains 6 suspects for 2003 Istanbul bombings
Ynetnews, 16 September 2009
Six people suspected of involvement in 2003 al Qaeda suicide bombings that killed dozens at synagogues and an HSBC bank branch were detained on Wednesday, Turkish police said.
The detentions were made in Istanbul, where the bombings occurred, police said in a statement.
Seven militants, including a Syrian al Qaeda member, were sentenced to life in prison [in February 2007] for their connection with the 2003 bombings.
_____________________
Continue reading
International People’s Declaration of Peace (video; final version)
cindyforcongress
September 16, 2009 Continue reading
Kucinich: The Incredible Disappearing Public Option it’s Insurance Care instead of Health Care
So sorry that the audio sucks. What Kucinich has to say is important, we need a mass movement for Single Payer Medicare for All, HR 676.
firedoglake
September 16, 2009
Vodpod videos no longer available.
more about “Kucinich: Insurance Care instead of H…“, posted with vodpod
***
Roy Rogers’ Horse Saves Health Care
by Dennis Kucinich
kucinich.us
Tuesday, 16 September 2009
The Senate cannot pass a health care bill with a public option. The House cannot pass a bill without one. The public wants a public option. The insurance industry wants a private mandate. The White House is in trouble on this and is calling upon the Senate to find a way out of this dark passage.
The Best Book on Iraq Yet: Dexter Filkins’ The Forever War, by Daniel N. White
by Daniel N. White
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Sept. 16, 2009
The Forever War, by Dexter Filkins, is perhaps the best book written to date by an American news reporter about the American military adventures under Bush II. A majority of his competition, it must be said, is some of the worst second-rate hackwork cranked out that ever wasted forest resources in cashing in quick and to kiss up to the Army or the Republicans. Still, he’s got some decent competition–Ricks, Chakandrasan, Packer, Wright–they’ve all turned up fair or better books so far. Filkins takes the prize, however, for having the cojones to say in his book many of the unpleasant truths about American actions in the war zones. Honesty is always the best policy for reporters too, and honesty in reporting starts with honesty about yourself. Continue reading
Peter Schiff: Americans must prepare for deepening unemployment, inflation and possible breadlines + Schiff Announces Run
Updated: Sept 17, 2009
RussiaToday
September 16, 2009
Rockstar Economist Peter Schiff tells RT’s Marina Portnaya that Lehman Brothers failure was a success not a failure. He says Americans will face increasing unemployment, inflation, and possible bread-lines if government backed bail-outs continue.
Robert Fisk lashes out at West in Middle East
RussiaToday
September 16, 2009
Our exclusive interview goes to the heart of the Middle East issue, which is constantly in focus.
RT’s Peter Lavelle spoke to Robert Fisk in Lebanon, who’s one of the most renowned journalists and authors on the subject.
Dandelion Salad 