Alternative News

Articles from non-mainstream as opposed to corporate for profit sources.

50 Reasons Why We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima

Details: Published on Monday, 03 February 2014 00:40; Written by editor

by Harvey Wasserman

[This is the first in a two part series]

Fukushima’s missing melted cores and radioactive gushers continue to fester in secret.

Japan’s harsh dictatorial censorship has been matched by a global corporate media blackout aimed—successfully—at keeping Fukushima out of the public eye.

But that doesn’t keep the actual radiation out of our ecosystem, our markets … or our bodies.

Speculation on the ultimate impact ranges from the utterly harmless to the intensely apocalyptic .

But the basic reality is simple: for seven decades, government Bomb factories and privately-owned reactors have spewed massive quantities of unmonitored radiation into the biosphere.

The impacts of these emissions on human and ecological health are unknown primarily because the nuclear industry has resolutely refused to study them.

Indeed, the official presumption has always been that showing proof of damage from nuclear Bomb tests and commercial reactors falls to the victims, not the perpetrators.

And that in any case, the industry will be held virtually harmless.

This “see no evil, pay no damages” mindset dates from the Bombing of Hiroshima to Fukushima to the disaster coming next … which could be happening as you read this.

Here are 50 preliminary reasons why this radioactive legacy demands we prepare for the worst for our oceans, our planet, our economy … ourselves.

Stand with the Oglala Lakota Nation Against Keystone XL Pipeline

Details: Published on Sunday, 02 February 2014 18:21; Written by editor

Paov --

Idle No More and Defenders of the Land stand with the Lakota Nation, Owe Aku, Protect the Sacred, Honor the Earth, and all land defenders opposing Keystone XL. We stand with our neighbours to honour the treaties, protect sacred water, and to defend the Indigenous ways of life.

Below is a statement from Honor the Earth that has been developed in collaboration with the Oglala Sioux Nation, Owe Aku, and Protect the Sacred. Check the information links below and organize a vigil in your community in solidarity with the Lakota resistance to the Keystone XL Pipeline.

"The Oglala Lakota Nation has taken leadership by saying "NO" to the Keystone XL Pipeline. They have done what is right for the land, for their people, who, from grassroots organizers like Owe Aku and Protect the Sacred, have called on their leaders to stand and protect their sacred lands. And they have: KXL will NOT cross their treaty territory, which extends past the reservation boundaries. Their horses are ready. So are ours. We stand with the Lakota Nation, we stand on the side of protecting sacred water, we stand for Indigenous land-based lifeways which will NOT be corrupted by a hazardous, toxic pipeline. WE ALL NEED TO STAND WITH THEM.

On Friday, January 27th, the State Department issued its Environmental Impact Statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline. president Obama said that he won't approve the pipeline if it increases carbon emissions. The report was drafted in coordination with consultants who have worked for TransCanada -- the company seeking to build the pipeline. Jack Gerard, the head of the American Petroleum Institute, was briefed by "sources within the administration" on the timing and content of the report before its release, and was pleased to say that it will not impact the environment.

As Native Nations, we're ready to protect our homelands from this pipeline, and we need to SHORE UP OUR SUPPORT of organizations like Owe Aku and Protect the Sacred, who are on the ground organizing in the Lakota Nation.

This week @ rabble.ca: Now playing in progressive film

Details: Published on Saturday, 01 February 2014 18:24; Written by editor

rabble.ca - News for the rest of us

31 Jan 2014

Hey rabble readers!

We only have a couple of weeks left in our winter donation drive. Our goal is $20,000 and we have raised $11,485 so far. We can still make it with your help! Congrats to M. from Tweed, Ontario, our weekly donation drive prize winner. With your donation of $20 or more, you can win rabble swag too!

It just got easier to host movie night at your place. In her new progressive film blog, Amira Elghawaby brings you films you might not have heard about in the mainstream that explore social justice issues. Ready? Set? Start your popcorn makers!

Are you an experienced audio producer and...

Lucia died in the custody of Canadian border security

Details: Published on Saturday, 01 February 2014 17:55; Written by editor

The is a new petition at Change.org and we think you might be interested in signing it:

Migrant Dignity, not Migrant Death! @MinStevenBlaney @BCcoroner Order a full, transparent, independent civilian inquiry and investigation into Lucia’s death.

By No One Is Illegal (Coast Salish Territories - Vancouver) Sign the Petition

Yesterday we confirmed the tragic news of Lucia Vega Jimenez’s death while under Canadian Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) custody. (1)

Lucia was a 42-year old Mexican migrant who worked in Vancouver, Canada as a hotel worker. She was arrested by Transit police for an unpaid bus ticket and then transferred to immigration authorities, who detained and incarcerated her at a provincial prison pending deportation.(2) From there she was transferred to the detention holding cells at the Vancouver International Airport on December 19, 2013, and on December 20, 2013 she was rushed to the hospital.

Only 36 Hours Left to Support Idle No More-Defenders of the Land Crowdfunding Campaign!

Details: Published on Thursday, 30 January 2014 12:40; Written by editor

...

Romani victims remembered on Holocaust Memorial Day

Details: Published on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 12:48; Written by editor

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Rikker it adrée tute’s kokero see an’ kek’ll jin.

Keep it a secret in your own heart, and nobody will know it... the Tao of the Roma/Traveller Rumi... ----------

This year (1944) in Roma/Traveller history...Zigeunemacht = Night of the Gypsies at Auschwitz

28/01/2014

By DAMIAN LE BAS
Editor

Right: Romani people in Belzec extermination camp, Poland. The total number of Romani victims of the camp was unknown: almost 500,000 Jews were murdered there, with only one or two survivors

HOLOCAUST Memorial Day services have been taking place around the world, with many now mentioning the victims of O Porrajmos- Romani for The Devouring- the Romani genocide often referred to as "the forgotten Holocaust".

Yesterday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon spoke of the day he visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, where thousands of Romanies were imprisoned following Heinrich Himmler's "Auschwitz Decree" in December, 1942.

Federal Privacy Commissioner report released = PRIVACY VIOLATED!!

Details: Published on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 12:48; Written by editor

Special Report to Parliament

Checks and Controls: Reinforcing Privacy Protection and Oversight for the Canadian Intelligence Community in an Era of Cyber-Surveillance

January 28, 2014

PDF Version eBook Version

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
112 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1H3

IP54-55/2014E-PDF
978-1-100-23180-8

Introduction: Mandate of our Office and the Purpose of this Report

How has the National Security Context Changed?

What has been the Impact on Privacy?

Specific Accountability Challenges in the Intelligence Context

Survey of Oversight and Review Models for Intelligence Agencies

Recommendations for Improvement

Conclusion: Privacy as Part of Intelligence Oversight

Acknowledgements

Appendix A: Historical Summary of Past OPC Recommendations on Oversight, Controls and Privacy Protections for Intelligence Activities

Sources

Orcas for Sochi

Details: Published on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 11:24; Written by editor

Two wild orca whales have been captured and are on their way to the Sochi Olympics, all so Russian company, White Sphere, can cash in on the Winter Games.

Tell White Sphere not to display wild orcas at the Olympics.

Two wild orca whales have been captured by Russian hunters, and are on their way to be displayed for human entertainment in a dolphinarium at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

White Sphere, the Russian company behind this, is just looking to make a fast buck from the tourists who will be descending on to Sochi during the Games. It couldn't care less that the orcas were stolen from their ocean home.

The mammals, which can grow up to 22ft long and swim 100 miles a day, are set to be kept in a “small concrete tank” after a 4,614-mile flight from the far east of Russia. Animal experts say that transporting orcas causes them stress, that keeping them in captivity shortens their life and can even turn them dangerously “psychotic”.

Tell White Sphere not to display these wild orcas for entertainment.

Read more: Orcas for Sochi

Join a Wave of Idle No More Winter Teach-Ins

Details: Published on Tuesday, 28 January 2014 07:00; Written by editor

...

Kellogg's Update

Details: Published on Monday, 27 January 2014 14:24; Written by editor

Kellogg's has a chance to save the last orangutans from the brink of extinction -- but it will only act if we speak out now.

We're meeting with Kellogg's on Wednesday -- send a personal message to Kellogg's CEO demanding a strong commitment to protect the rainforest.

A few weeks ago, we shared some amazing news: after six months of pressure from SumOfUs members and our friends, Kellogg's played a key role in pushing the world’s largest palm oil company to promise to stop destroying the rainforest.

But now, Kellogg's is refusing to make a strong promise of its own to eliminate deforestation -- and until they act, the orangutans are in danger.

Kellogg's is expected to release a new palm oil commitment any day now, but it looks like it might fail to include any serious penalties for suppliers that break the rules, or any strict timeline for implementation. We know that Kellogg's cares what we think -- now we need to remind it that we're still paying attention. Can you send a personal message to Kellogg's CEO, John Bryant, telling him to take a stand for the rainforest?

Click here to send a message to Kellogg's CEO demanding a strong commitment to protect the last orangutans -- we'll deliver them in a meeting with Kellogg's on Wednesday.

2 days: Monsanto

Details: Published on Monday, 27 January 2014 14:24; Written by editor

Monsanto is refusing to come clean to its own shareholders on the risks of GMOs. With all of our support, SumOfUs organizers are heading to St Louis to support the crucial shareholder vote.

Now, we need to show all the big shareholders and the Monsanto board of directors that we’re watching. Sign the petition now to demand Monsanto stop hiding the costs and risks of GMOs from its own shareholders.

It’s business as usual for Monsanto: insist it’s doing nothing wrong, while opposing any request to be open about the risks of GMOs.

But this time, it’s Monsanto’s own shareholders who are asking questions. Their simple request is that Monsanto stops keeping them in the dark on genetically-modified food -- and they need our support.

After over 6,000 of us chipped in, SumOfUs organizers are headed to St Louis for the crucial shareholder vote -- working tirelessly to win the support of the big investment funds. But unless Monsanto and its shareholders feel the massive community opposition to their agenda, they’ll conclude they can ignore us and vote against GMO transparency. That’s why we need to act now.

Sign the petition to tell Monsanto: don’t hide the costs of GMOs from your shareholders and the public. We’ll deliver our voices at Monsanto’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.

National Union condemns murder and violent attacks in Colombia and demands end to violence

Details: Published on Saturday, 25 January 2014 14:24; Written by editor

Responding to recent attack of Óscar Arturo Orozco, President of the Caldas branch of the Confederación Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), and the murder of Ever Luis Marín Rolong, a regional leader of the SINALTRACEBA brewery workers union.

Ottawa (17 Jan. 2014) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging the President of Colombia to act to end the violence against trade union leaders in his country.

James Clancy, National President of NUPGE, raised the issue of the ongoing violence and attacks in a letter to Colombian President Santos.

"It saddens me to be once again writing to you to raise concerns from the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), one of Canada's largest trade unions, over the ongoing attacks and threats against trade union leaders in your country." wrote Clancy.

Two murders and an assault within past three months

Amazing response! -- Monsanto exposed

Details: Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 16:24; Written by editor

Wow -- already over 6,000 of us have donated, and organizers are rushing to Monsanto HQ to support this crucial shareholder vote. If you haven't already, can you chip in just $1 now to help us secure ads in the local media so Monsanto knows we're watching?

Monsanto: it's one of the greatest corporate scandals of our time. This mega-corporation has paid off our politicians, taken over our regulators, and bullied public opponents into submission while it silently monopolizes our food system with its genetically-engineered products.

Now a brave group of Monsanto shareholders are making a stand -- the crucial vote is only one week away, and they desperately need our support to force Monsanto to face up to the risks associated with GMOs. Monsanto has been keeping us and its shareholders in the dark for too long -- this shareholder resolution tells Monsanto to be open with the risks of GMO.

Stop Deforestation in the Paraguayan Chaco

Details: Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 09:48; Written by editor

We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.

Urgent action: Tell Paraguay to protect Ayoreo land from deforestation

A new study has found that the Paraguayan Chaco has the fastest rate of deforestation in the world. This is disastrous news for the Ayoreo tribe who rely entirely on the forest for their survival. Uncontacted members of the tribe are being forced to flee from ranchers bulldozing their land for cattle ranching.

Please write to Paraguay’s Environment Minister asking her to protect the Ayoreo's land This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.?bcc=info%This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&subject=Stop%20the%20Deforestation%20of%20Ayoreo%20Land&body=Dear%20Minister%20Cristina%20Morales%20Palarea%2C%0A%0AI%E2%80%99m%20appalled%20to%20learn%20that%20the%20Chaco%20has%20the%20fastest%20rate%20of%20deforestation%20in%20the%20world.%20The%20forest%20is%20home%20to%20uncontacted%20Ayoreo%20Indians%20who%20cannot%20survive%20without%20it.%0A%0ABrazilian%20company%20Yaguarete%20Pora%20S.A.%20is%20rapidly%20destroying%20the%20last%20hiding%20place%20of%20the%20vulnerable%20Ayoreo.%20Soon%20the%20Indians%20will%20have%20nowhere%20left%20to%20live.%0A%0APlease%20uphold%20Paraguayan%20and%20international%20law%20by%20protecting%20the%20Ayoreo's%20land%20claim%20and%20prohibiting%20the%20companies%20from%20carrying%20out%20any%20further%20work.%0A%0ASincerely%2C%0A%0A" style="color:#ffffff" target="_blank">Click here to send a pre-written message

Or if this doesn't work for you, you can use this text to send an email to the Minister at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:

Monsanto exposed

Details: Published on Tuesday, 21 January 2014 16:48; Written by editor

PAOV,

This is a serious shareholder proposal, and some big, credible investors are already supportive. But many of the biggest investment and retirement funds that invest OUR money are lining up to vote with Monsanto bosses against transparency.

These big institutional investors think that no one's watching them -- and unless we do something now, they'll be right. Together, we can make sure shareholders know what's up and that we're watching -- and secure their votes against Monsanto's corporate racket.

The vote happens in just one week. We understand if you can't, but if just 5,000 of us can chip in $1 now, we can launch our urgent campaign to tell Monsanto to come clean on GMOs.

Here's just some of what we could do if we all chip in now:

Secure advertising in Monsanto's home town of St Louis, Missouri, so that shareholders hear our message as they arrive to vote and know we're watching
Send organizers to St Louis to raise a media storm outside the shareholder meeting with creative tactics, to make sure the public knows what's happening
Buy a small, strategic stake in Monsanto -- so that we can speak out as shareholders ourselves and demand they act

Is the CFIA coming to kill your livestock and bankrupt your farm? UPDATE

Details: Published on Tuesday, 21 January 2014 01:51; Written by editor

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Destroys Entire Flock of Healthy & Endangered Heritage Sheep and then Quarantines Farm and Charges Farmers with Conspiracy for Resisting

http://www.gofundme.com/FarmedAndDangerous

WHY can the CFIA do this...

What is scrapie?

On the Radio—Andy Oudman (1290 AM CJBK, London ON) and Pam Killeen interviewed raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt and myself about our legal cases and the incredible amount our government is spending.

LISTEN HERE -- http://tinyurl.com/pd475ka

Created by Montana Jones

Contact

Apparently I am farmed and dangerous… But I am not a criminal. I'm a shepherd, farmer and writer who has been preserving rare Shropshire sheep for the last 12 years, and farming various... more

Donate to Legal Fund

What a way to start 2014!

Details: Published on Monday, 20 January 2014 16:48; Written by editor

Survival Tribes News Act Now Donate

What a way to start the new year!

Thanks to your energy, enthusiasm and generosity, we can already celebrate two extraordinary successes in 2014.

Just one week after the Brazilian army started a massive operation to remove loggers and ranchers from the Awá tribe's lands, we've had another huge victory: the Indian government has blocked a mine that would have devastated the Dongria Kondh tribe.

Vedanta Resources, a British mining giant, was so confident the mine would go ahead it even built a $1billion refinery at the foot of the Dongria's hills. But after a huge campaign involving the Dongria, their Indian supporters and Survival International, the project has been scrapped.

These two stunning achievements are together a wonderful illustration of how ordinary people around the world, mobilized by highly-focused campaigns, can achieve victories no-one would have thought possible.

On behalf of the Dongria and the Awá, THANK YOU.

Stephen Corry
Director

P.S. Elsewhere, sadly, tribal people continue to be persecuted: in Botswana, we've just had reports of a young Bushman being beaten up and detained by paramilitary police, who accused him of hunting. It's just the latest incident in a relentless history of bullying tactics to drive the Bushmen from their land.

Your action and donations have helped secure the future of the Awá and the Dongria Kondh – with more help we can achieve similar success for Africa's last hunting Bushmen.

Monsanto's biggest secret exposed

Details: Published on Monday, 20 January 2014 14:24; Written by editor

In just one week, a brave group of Monsanto shareholders are calling on the company to come clean on the risks associated with GMOs.
With Monsanto figthing to defeat the vote, these shareholders desperately need our support to unleash a plan to put the retirement funds that invest OUR money in the spotlight, and push them to support this crucial vote.
Can you chip in just $3 now to push Monsanto to come clean on GMOs?

The vote happens in just one week. We understand if you can't, but if just 5,000 of us can chip in $3 now, we can launch our urgent campaign to tell Monsanto to come clean on GMOs.

Here's just some of what we could do if we all chip in now:

Secure advertising in Monsanto's home town of St Louis, Missouri, so that shareholders hear our message as they arrive to vote and know we're watching
Send organizers to St Louis to raise a media storm outside the shareholder meeting with creative tactics, to make sure the public knows what's happening
Buy a small, strategic stake in Monsanto -- so that we can speak out as shareholders ourselves and demand they act

This has never happened before.

Details: Published on Monday, 20 January 2014 13:24; Written by editor

Last week we disrupted the Harper Conservatives’ 2014 PR launch by crashing the Prime Minister’s first public appearance of the year. Instead of airing Harper’s scripted soundbytes, the media and the country were talking about climate change and media muzzling.

See the impact in this new video.

The debate that was stirred by our action forced a Conservative MP to publicly admit that climate change is connected to extreme weather events like the Alberta floods and the Ontario ice storm. As CBC reported, this was “a first by a member of the federal Conservatives.” 1 This MP even acknowledged a core principle of climate justice, that the most devastating impacts are being experienced by “developing countries.”

You can see how this unfolded live on national TV in this new video.

Breaking: Supreme Court to hear Dying with Dignity Appeal

Details: Published on Friday, 17 January 2014 14:00; Written by editor

Dying with Dignity Timeline

Carter v. Canada

April 2011 The BCCLA files a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the laws that make it a criminal offense to assist seriously and incurably ill people to die.

June 2012 The BC Supreme Court strikes down the ban on physician-assisted dying, giving Parliament one year to draft new legislation and granting plaintiff Gloria Taylor the right to seek a dignified death.

July 2012 The federal government announces they will appeal the BC Supreme Court’s decision.

March 2013 The BCCLA fights to defend our lower court victory against the government’s appeal at the BC Court of Appeal.

October 2013 The BC Court of Appeal releases its decision ruling that only the Supreme Court can overturn the 1993 Rodriguez decision on...