Invasion of the Democracy Crushers: Oil Industry Monsters Work to Destroy th…

Invasion of the Democracy Crushers: Oil Industry Monsters Work to Destroy the Planet

via AlterNet.org by Rebecca Solnit, Tomdispatch.com on 10/24/10

Oil industry monsters from Texas are preying on California, pumping money into a campaign that would kill the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Petition: Tell Karl Rove: Stop the Lies

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: “Tell Karl Rove: Stop the Lies”

Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in
signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a
difference. We are trying to reach 5000 signatures – please sign here:
http://www.democrats.com/tell-karl-rove-stop-the-lies?source=proclus%40gnu-da…

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and
family to sign as well.

Thank you!

Michael L. Love,

: #Plant #biodiversity and animal species decline – #bats #bees #fungus #infection #plants #gmo #pesticides

Here are some notes that emerged from weekend discussion of bee hive
collape. It appears that the collapse results directly from a paired
virus and fungus, and further research is clearly indicated in order
to prevent collapse of valuable bee colonies, which are also crucial
to the ecosystem and human food production. Personally, I intend to
look further into the viral mechanism, but there is already something
that I can say about this, and about the fungus as well. Plant
biodiversity loss can result directly in an upsurge in viral and
fungal infections in animal populations.

I was disturbed to learn this morning from
http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/ that eastern bats are also
suffering a decline which may prove catastrophic, and that this
decline is the result of an emergent fungal infection. We need to
remember that a wide range of plants provide flavonoids and other
molecules which have been demostrated to impede fungal and viral
infections. When plant biodiversity declines, one can expect an
upsurge in such infections. This is observable in human populations
as well. When adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables decline,
an increase in disease and infection is observed.

In researching declines in animal population, it is of concern that
the agent which prevented infections may be endangered itself, so that
the connection is difficult to observe, but it is crucial that we
observe it and prevent species and biodiversity collapse. In fact, we
may indeed be preventing the collapse of our very own species.
Clearly, addressing the problem of climate change and global warming,
will help us to preserve ourselves by protecting the ecosystem and
biodiversity that we depend upon for our very survival. Bee colony
collapse provides an elegant example of this fact, since we require
bee pollenation for so much of our food production. It should be
noted that bat pollenation is required for many species of plants.

The conclusion is obvious. The observation of viral and fungal
pathogens in species collapse is an argument for biodiversity, not
against it. Moreover, plant biodiversity has not received the
attention that it deserves, but if we do not address it, loss of plant
biodiversity may become a species-level threat for humans as well. We
need to look far more carefully at the use of pesticides and
genetically modified organisms in light of these facts. Biodiversity
loss has already been observed in some areas where such measures have
been deployed.

In an age of climate change and global warming we must give more
attention to plant biodiversity, for it is the plants that are best
suited to repair the damage from accumulation of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere. Moreover, it is now becoming quite evident that life
itself depends on plant diversity for protection from various
infections and other maladies.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

BTW, if you want to take action on the situation with the bats, here
is the link. It is a wonderful halloween activity!

For Bats, the Future Is Spooky
http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5067

For Bats, the Future Is Spooky

This Halloween, what’s spookier than ghosts, zombies or hordes of eager trick-or-treaters headed for your front door?

Try this real-life horror: white-nose syndrome, the disease that is wiping out America’s bats. While bats are quintessential symbols of Halloween, these night-flying mammals are actually vital to keeping bug populations in check and protecting farm crops and forests from insect pests.

White-nose syndrome has been decimating bats for the past four winters, from the Northeast to the Mississippi River, and scientists fear it is headed for the West this coming winter. The fungus associated with the disease was already found on bats in western Oklahoma this spring!

Please join us in calling for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to declare the extreme decline of bats an emergency necessitating urgent action. With nine bat species already affected and the disease racing across the country into new caves and new populations, it’s time for a real plan and real action. This isn’t a late-night horror flick: This wildlife die-off is the real thing — and without bats, we’ll really have something to be scared of.

Visit http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5067 to take action now.

Robert Fisk: The shaming of America

Robert Fisk: The shaming of America

via The Independent – Robert Fisk RSS Feed on 10/23/10

As usual, the Arabs knew. They knew all about the mass torture, the promiscuous shooting of civilians, the outrageous use of air power against family homes, the vicious American and British mercenaries, the cemeteries of the innocent dead. All of Iraq knew. Because they were the victims.

Failed accountability, #WikiLeaks show true cost of war

Failed accountability, WikiLeaks show true cost of war

via Human Rights Now – Amnesty International USA Blog by Corporate Action Network on 10/26/10

The release by WikiLeaks late last week of 391,832 secret documents on the Iraq War has been said to be “…the most comprehensive and detailed account of any war ever to have entered the public record.” The revelations emerging from these documents showcase the culture of impunity that has plagued this war effort, including the U.S. government’s failure to adequately address rights violations linked to the corporations and contractors used to fight our wars.

As an August 22, 2006 report released by WikiLeaks stated

AFTER THE IED STRIKE A WITNESS REPORTS THE BLACKWATER EMPLOYEES FIRED INDISCRIMINATELY AT THE SCENE.

More than one year later, on September 16, 2007, Blackwater (now renamed Xe) guards, still benefiting from huge government contracts, shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, Baghdad. This is just one example of many that can be found in the leaked documents.

It is clear that the record of unjustified killings and violence by PSCs is far beyond what had previously been released to the public. As it stands, none of these incidents has resulted in prosecution, and even those cases that have moved forward have resulted in dismissal or failure to indict.  Recently, a case against Andrew J. Moonen, a former Blackwater guard who was accused of killing a guard assigned to an Iraqi VP while wandering drunk in the Green Zone, was dropped by the Justice Department, citing difficulties in obtaining evidence in war zones, and the granting of immunities to the defendant by American officials at the scene.

Even the most public of cases, including that against Blackwater guards for the shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, have resulted in dismissals in US courts.  This culture of impunity extends across PSC activities.  On September 11th, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in a 2 to 1 ruling dismissed a lawsuit brought against CACI International that alleged CACI personnel participated in torture and abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison.

By creating complex legal hurdles, issuing on the scene immunities, and failing to ensure an environment of transparency, oversight and accountability, we are shielding the true costs of our wars, not only financially but in human terms as well.  The release of these documents showcases just how terrible that cost is.

Let’s continue to call for accountability in conflict zones. Tell President Obama and Congress to respect human rights and counter terror with justice.