How We Are Impoverished, Gentrified and Silenced – and What To Do About It by John Pilger

Dandelion Salad

by John Pilger
johnpilger.com
25 July 2013

Image by Lorianne DiSabato via Flickr

I have known my postman for more than 20 years. Conscientious and good-humoured, he is the embodiment of public service at its best. The other day, I asked him, “Why are you standing in front of each door like a soldier on parade?”

“New system,” he replied, “I am no longer required simply to post the letters through the door. I have to approach every door in a certain way and put the letters through in a certain way.”

What!? A Charismatic, Public Drinking Water Manager by Ralph Nader

Dandelion Salad

by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
July 24, 2013

Image by p_a_h via Flickr

In contrast to years of serious underinvestment in America’s public drinking water works that has invited takeover drives by large corporations hustling city governments, George S. Hawkins, general manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, or DC Water for short, is leading a comeback in the nation’s Capital. A career environmentalist, Mr. Hawkins, in just nineteen months on the job, has brought immense energy, vision, and ambitious, overdue plans to the forefront. Consequently, people are calling this public servant the rarest of names – a charismatic leader.

Egypt’s Military Junta Playing With Fire by Finian Cunningham + Nazemroaya: Political Turmoil and Chaos in Egypt

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from PressTV
July 26, 2013

Image by MoudBarthez via Flickr

Egypt’s military strongman General Al Sisi is playing with fire that may engulf the North African country with even more internecine bloodshed. This week on state TV, Al Sisi called for massive street protests to face down “terrorists” who, he said, were destabilizing Egypt’s national security.

He also claimed that such popular show of strength would give the Egyptian army “a mandate” to use violence to restore order.