Alternative News
Articles from non-mainstream as opposed to corporate for profit sources.
As Putin kills civilians, Google caves to Kremlin censorship demands
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 07:57
- Written by editor
The world has learned horrifying new details about Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine, including mass graves and summary executions of civilians.
And thanks to reporting by The Intercept, we know that as these atrocities were being committed, Google was helping the Putin regime keep the Russian people in the dark about the war by requiring translators to abide by Russian censorship laws.
Our reporting has also revealed that Facebook is now allowing users to praise a Ukrainian neo-Nazi military unit previously banned from being discussed under the company’s policies — as long as users are “explicitly and exclusively praising their role in defending Ukraine.”
With little expertise and even less accountability, Big Tech companies like Facebook and Google are making life-or-death decisions about what information people...
Read more: As Putin kills civilians, Google caves to Kremlin censorship demands
Council Catch-Up
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 06:44
- Written by editor
Brazil's Indigenous people need your help NOW!
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 03:06
- Written by editor
A,
SumOfUs has joined forces with the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) to stop bill PL 191/2020.
If it passes this bill will open up Indigenous lands to industrial-scale mining – destroying pristine rainforest and devastating Indigenous communities.
Tomorrow, Brazil’s Congress will vote on the bill, and with multi-million dollar corporations like Vale, Anglo American and BlackRock backing this terrible law, there's a chance it could pass. But we can stop this horror.
More than 7,000 Indigenous people are in Brasilia right now fighting for their rights - and they’re asking for OUR help. Let’s make it clear to these greedy companies that people come before profit:
Yes, I'll tweet!According to Apib, the biggest threats posed by the bill are:
- It suppresses Indigenous peoples' exclusive right of possession over the lands they traditionally occupy;
- It opens up Indigenous lands to industrial-scale...
BC's Chief Forester Diane Nicholls Takes a Senior Role at Multinational Wood Pellet Corporation
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 12 April 2022 12:50
- Written by editor
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/04/07/BC-Chief-Forester-Jumps-Multinational-Wood-Pellet-Corporation/
Author: Ben Parfitt - 7 Apr 2022
Ben Parfitt is resource policy analyst for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ B.C. office.
At mid-afternoon on Monday, senior staff at B.C.’s Forests Ministry were told that one of their highest-ranking members — the province’s chief forester, Diane Nicholls — was entering a revolving door that would sweep her seamlessly out of government and into the industry her ministry regulates.“Diane is leaving us to further her work in sustainable forestry in the private sector in the role of VP [vice-president] sustainability for North America with Drax,” Rick Manwaring, forests deputy minister, said in an email to 30 of his colleagues. Drax, Manwaring added, “is a United Kingdom-based energy, carbon capture and pellet company and is establishing its presence in both the U.S. and Canada.”
Whether Manwaring himself chose those words or was assisted in drafting them by government communications staff is unknown.
But what can be said is that his email downplayed what Drax is or what its “presence” means for B.C.’s forests.
Here’s three things...
Supporting youth means years of impact
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 12 April 2022 09:05
- Written by editor
Dear Friend,
As a society, we have relied on youth standing up for what they think is right and just.
They have led the climate justice movement, advocated for the most marginalized in our society, and stood in front of policymakers to make their voice known. They have invited change with open arms.
That is why we are passionate about working with the younger generation - because we know our work will have impacts for years to come. Students today will bring their learnings far into adulthood. They will be the future change makers and advocates of justice. They will make a difference in the world we live in right now.
Every year, we organize our annual Youth Conference to engage with high school students from all over Metro Vancouver to talk about important issues relating to our civil liberties. We cover issues like Indigenous law, housing justice, employment rights and organizing skills.
But I know our work doesn’t...
Let's buy Nestlé?
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 12 April 2022 08:42
- Written by editor
A,
We've been so successful using shareholder action to get companies to change their bad behaviour...that they're trying to shut the whole program down!
After a SumOfUs shareholder resolution forced Apple to publish its first-ever human rights policy, the US stock regulator made a new rule -- anyone who wants to bring this kind of resolution will need to hold thousands of shares...and companies are setting VERY early deadlines to buy them!
They're trying to silence everyone but the richest shareholders. But A, we can beat them at their own game.
We already bought shares in Apple, Google, Facebook, and Bayer Monsanto. Now if 5000 people reading this email chip in the cost of a coffee, SumOfUs can buy enough shares in Nestlé to have our say at its AGM, ratcheting up the pressure over their stealing water from communities worldwide…and helping choke the ocean with disposable plastic.
For the next 24 hours, we will use everything you give to generate matching donations...
West Coast Climate Action News #47
- Details
- Published on Monday, 11 April 2022 15:14
- Written by editor
...
Boycott Value Village
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 10 April 2022 21:00
- Written by editor
PAOV – this petition is taking off on Change.org, and we think you might be interested in adding your name. Sign now to help:
Boycott Value Village
Stephanie C. started this petition to Thrifters, and it now has 3,677 signatures
Sign now with a clickThere have been significant price increases over the last few years at well-known secondhand retailer Value Village. It...
Zelenskyy Is Right: The U.N. Must Be Reformed. But It Never Will Be.
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 10 April 2022 16:23
- Written by editor
MarineLand
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 10 April 2022 15:22
- Written by editor
PAOV — Over 222,000 people are urging MarineLand to release Kiska, Canada’s last captive orca, into the care of a whale sanctuary. Kiska has been in captivity for over 40 years, after being captured off the coast of Iceland. She gave birth five times, but none of her calves survived. Kiska has been alone in her enclosure for 10 years. Join the hundreds of thousands of people calling for Kiska’s release, and sign the petition now.
Free Kiska, the Last Orca Held in Captivity in Canada
223,501 have signed Molly McKinney’s petition. Let’s get to 300,000!
“This catastrophe can be avoided”
- Details
- Published on Friday, 08 April 2022 15:42
- Written by editor
PAOV — Carruthers Creek in southern Ontario borders the province’s Greenbelt and is home to rare plants and animals, and protects the area from flooding and erosion. It’s also perfectly placed for developers and currently unprotected. Petition starter Ally is urging the province to add Carruthers Creek to Ontario’s Greenbelt, so it is permanently protected from development. If you agree, sign the petition now.
Save the Carruthers Creek Headwaters in Pickering, ON from development!
20,651 have signed Ally Zaheer’s petition. Let’s get to 25,000!
Read more: “This catastrophe can be avoided”
HUNGER STRIKERs START! Can saving BC's standing forests from mills, ships, and chips grow any more fervent?
- Details
- Published on Friday, 08 April 2022 11:44
- Written by editor
British Columbians,
It concerns ForestMarch BC 2022 that we have BC taxpayers so committed to saving forests and battling climate change that they are following Mahatma Gandhi and on April 1, embarked on a 25+ day hunger strike.
Is there any other issue in BC that has ever spawned such ardent actions for no personal gain?
"Deforestation is at the root of the climate emergency in British Columbia." - says old-growth forest activist Howard Breen who joined on this strike with Brent Eichler. Howard, Brent and others embark on solidarity fasts, seeking NDP Forestry Minister, Katrine Conroy meet their demand for a public meeting to discuss significant forestry concerns.
Metro warehouse strike + Boss Fight at the Bathhouse
- Details
- Published on Friday, 08 April 2022 02:59
- Written by editor
Moral and economic madness
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 April 2022 17:33
- Written by editor
Over $5 billion for Big Oil?
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 April 2022 17:22
- Written by editor
Paov,
Today, the Trudeau government presented the new federal budget. There’s a lot to unpack, but we were most struck by the announcement that fossil fuel companies investing in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), would receive over $2.6 billion over the next 5 years and $1.5 billion annually until 2030.1
This subsidy of well-over $5 billion for the oil and gas sector is far larger than any investment in real solutions that tackle the climate emergency.2 This is irresponsible and the opposite of what we need during a climate emergency.
Let me break down why this is an extremely dangerous decision.
CCUS is technology that attempts to “capture” greenhouse gasses produced from burning fossil fuels to repurpose or store them away.
The overwhelming majority of CCUS projects fail to deliver and the technology remains obscenely expensive and an unproven climate solution.3 Most infuriatingly, the only functional "use" for captured CO2 is injecting it into depleted underground reservoirs to extract oil that would otherwise be impossible to recover — in effect nullifying any benefits from capturing the carbon in the first place.4
In simplest terms, CCUS is a false...
“I want to see my mom again”
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 April 2022 15:49
- Written by editor
PAOV — In the past six weeks, over four million people have escaped Ukraine, looking to other countries for help and asylum. Canada has taken steps to speed up the immigration process, but many of the visa requirements remain difficult for people to complete while fleeing violence.
Darya’s family fled Ukraine, and arrived safely in Italy. They have been trying to secure Canadian visas, but are struggling to provide the required proof of ten years of employment and travel history.
Oleh’s mother, who is still in Ukraine, has been approved for a visa but cannot get to Poland to provide her biometric data.
This petition is urging the government to take further steps to make it easier to reunite families in Canada. If you agree, sign the petition now.
Read more: “I want to see my mom again”
A quick hello from the Iron & Earth team!
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 April 2022 13:57
- Written by editor
Paov --
I hope that this email finds you well!
Iron & Earth continues to grow and develop as an organization. It is as strong as our team members, and in recent months we have attracted some super star talents. As you might have already seen, especially off the back of our Climate Career Portal launch - which generated rave reviews! - we are continuously developing and growing. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce the new members and recent team changes.
Please welcome the new team members:
- Vincentia - Data Analysis Intern
- Cara - Media & Communications Intern
- Roland - HR Intern
- Amy - Security and Compliance Contractor
- Jonathan - Security and Compliance Contractor
- Chigozie - Security and Compliance Contractor
- David - Nation Builder Manager
Leaked: New Amazon Worker Chat App Would Ban Words Like “Union”
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 April 2022 03:05
- Written by editor
Advancing legal education
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 06 April 2022 10:08
- Written by editor
Dear Friend,
At the BCCLA, we fight for your civil liberties on multiple fronts.
You know us as fierce litigators and interveners in the courtroom, winning important cases and holding governments accountable.
You know us as advocates who are not afraid to stand up for unjust laws and policies, reading and analyzing papers and laws.
We’re also committed public legal educators. We know that educating the public on your rights is essential. Knowledge is power – and learning about our civil liberties shouldn’t begin the moment our rights are infringed upon.
People shouldn’t be intimidated when facing policing bodies. Marginalized communities shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves without resources. We must act now.
Would you make a donation today so we can continue our public education program? Your support today means we can organize workshops, our annual Youth Conferences, and put together educational resources like handbooks and factsheets.
...Big 5 Banks
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 06 April 2022 08:37
- Written by editor
RBC, TD, Scotia, BMO, and CIBC are bankrolling Coastal GasLink and its destruction of Wet’suwet’en territory to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.
The Big 5 banks can stop construction of Coastal GasLink Pipeline operations.
A,
The momentum is building to get the big 5 Canadian banks to stop financing Coastal GasLink Pipeline, the destructive project being forced through Wet’suwet’en territory without consent.
Two weeks ago, Hollywood A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Fonda, and Marisa Tomei joined the campaign against Coastal Gaslink Pipeline and called for RBC to end funding. And we know from well placed sources within RBC that executives are terrified of this pressure.
This and next week are when the RBC, TD, Scotia, CIBC, and BMO all have their annual meetings, a time when the banks celebrate their accomplishments. And while the media’s attention is on the Big 5 banks is the best time to...
