Palestinians Mark
64th Nakba Day
By Dr Salim Nazzal
May 15th 1948: The black day in humanity's contemporary history when Zionist terrorists wiped out Palestine
Five Reasons Why Drone Assassinations Are Illegal
By Bill Quigley
The use of drones to assassinate people violates US and international law in multiple ways. US military and civilian employees, who plan, target and execute people in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia are violating the law and, ultimately, risk prosecution. As the technology for drone attacks spreads, protests by the US that drone attacks by others are illegal will sound quite hollow. Continuation of flagrantly illegal drone attacks by the US also risks justifying the exact same actions, taken by others, against us
Australia 's Huge Coal, Gas & Iron Ore Exports Threaten Planet
By Dr Gideon Polya
Australia ignores top German climate change scientists who estimated in 2009 that the world must emit no more than 600 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) before 2050 if it is to have a reasonable chance of avoiding a catastrophic 2 degree Centigrade temperature rise. Australia 's annual domestic plus exported greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution is so high that it exceeded its “:fair share” of this terminal GHG pollution budget by mid-2011
Ah-Anti-Anti-Capitalista
By Mickey Z.
To be a capitalista is to act as if we are the last generation of humans. To be an anti-capitalista is to re-imagine our relationship with the natural world. Which role will you occupy? The future is waiting on your decision. We are the 99%. Join us...
US Envoys: Losing Lebanon—Visit By Visit
By Franklin Lamb
Washington has, in important strategic respects, handed Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and soon more of the Persian Gulf countries to Iran’s rising presence and influence. Next is likely Lebanon. Can Palestine be far behind?
Sonoma State University Shamed
By Shepherd Bliss
After four years of teaching various humanities courses at Sonoma State University in Northern California, I’m sad to report that our school sank to a new low on May 12 by awarding the notorious banker Sandy Weill and his wife Joan honorary doctorates. The retired CEO of Citigroup, once the world’s largest bank, purchased them for $12 million. He gave that ill-gotten money to the Green Music Center, an essentially non-educational pet project of President Ruben Arminana, which recently has dominated fund-raising at SSU
West Bengal: Increasing Political Prisoners
By Ranjit Sur
Hundreds of political activists who were in jail for their political activities in Left Front regime remains in jail without any hope of release in near future. An additional five hundred plus political activists joined them in jails for their political belief and activites in Trinomul Congress-Congress regime- that too in their 12 months of rule
U.S. And Canada Implementing Beyond The Border Perimeter Security Initiatives
By Dana Gabriel
As the U.S.-Canada action plan implementation process continues, there still remains many concerns with the further integration and militarization of the northern border. This includes the loss of sovereignty and risks to privacy rights related to more cross-border sharing of personal information. While there have been online consultations surrounding the perimeter security agreement, there has yet to be any open public hearings or congressional and parliamentary debates
14 May, 2012
Spanish Bank Debts Deepen Eurozone Crisis
By Nick Beams
The European financial crisis has taken another turn for the worse as doubts grow over the solvency of the Spanish banking system and the prospect of a Greek withdrawal from the eurozone becomes increasingly likely
Why U.S. Politicians Are Quiet About Europe's Meltdown
By Shamus Cooke
What will happen when Greece leaves the Euro? Foreign banks hold over $90 billion in Greek debt in the public and in the private sectors. These enormous losses could very well bring down banks in Europe and abroad
America As A Shining Drone Upon A Hill
By Tom Engelhardt
What they can’t see in the haze of exceptional self-congratulation is this: they are transforming the promise of America into a promise of death. And death, visited from the skies, isn’t precise. It isn’t glorious. It isn’t judicious. It certainly isn’t a shining vision. It’s hell. And it’s a global future for which, someday, no one will thank us
Colonized By Corporations
By Chris Hedges
A revolution has been unleashed across the globe. This revolution, a popular repudiation of the old order, is where we should direct all our energy and commitment. If we do not topple the corporate elites the ecosystem will be destroyed and massive numbers of human beings along with it. The struggle will be long
Raping Kids And Earth
By Dr. Glen Barry
The message of this essay is to call upon each of us to protect what is sacred and good in the next generation and their ecological habitat. It is these sorts of abuse - that we expect others to bear, unsupported, in silence and shame - that cause so much of Earth's ills. Childhood and ecocidal abuse must be spoken of until there is justice and resolution, until they are ended for a more just, fair, and sustainable world
Thou Shalt Not Kill
By John Scales Avery
Today, with the world poised on the edge of a disaster that might be produced by escalatory cycles of revenge and counter-revenge, we need to remember wise voices from the past, among them the voices of Tolstoy, Gandhi and King. They tell us of the immorality, waste and folly of war. They tell us to recognize the humanity of all other humans. They tell us to show the love and generosity of spirit that can turn enemies into friends
Building A Jewish And Democratic State: A Conversation With Peter Beinart
By Michael Lerner
Peter Beinart, formerly an editor of The New Republic, famous during most of the past thirty years for its support of many of the most right-wing policies of the State of Israel toward Palestinians and for its hostility toward American Jews supporting the Israeli peace movement, has caught the attention of U.S. media for his switch to a pro-peace perspective in the past few years. His book The Crisis of Zionism has stirred considerable controversy within the American Jewish community, to its credit
Restructuring Detroit, A Ghost Story (PDF)
By Tom Stephens
Inspired by Arundhati Roy a tragicomic treatment of 21st century Detroit. It features diverse human spirits and voices, attempting for real to face our issues and challenges
An Urgent Appeal To The Conscience of Nation on Koodankulam
By Concerned Citizens
Today is the 13th day of the Indefinite Hunger Strike in Idinthakarai village. It is appalling that nobody from the Tamil Nadu, or Central, Government has come to speak with the people, and that police strength in the area has been enhanced, with every possible intimidating tactic –including taking away the food ration cards of agitating villagers – being resorted to
Pathribal Fake Encounter Case Judgement: Indictment Sans Justice
By Abdul Majid Zargar
The Supreme Court judgment in Pathribal fake encounter case constitutes a severe assault on the right to life of common people living in conflict areas like Kashmir
Of Imperialism, Revisionism And The Culture War: A Critique of ‘Laal' And The Official ‘Left'
By Democratic Students' Union
Even after more than ten days after the May Day programme organised by JNUSU with Laal band from Pakistan, the debate centring it refuses to die down
13 May, 2012
Could A Changing Climate Set Off Volcanoes And Quakes?
By Fred Pearce
A British scientist argues that global warming could lead to a future of more intense volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. And while some dismiss his views as preposterous, he points to a body of recent research that shows a troubling link between climate change and the Earth’s most destructive geological events
Protests In Spain Greece France And Britain
By Farooque Chowdhury
Eurozone is in turmoil. Protests in different forms, from election verdict to marches, against bankers are razing countries in Europe while an indefinite-Greece is making euroscape scene blurred
Sins Of Our Fathers
By William A. Cook
The sins of the fathers began 64 years ago when they swore allegiance to a group of men who had taken control of Palestine from the British Government laying waste both the Arab people and the Mandate government of Britain regardless of agreements made and pledges of cooperation signed between the Mandate authorities and the Jewish Agency. It began with an oath that necessitated selling the soul
A Little Idea
By Mickey Z.
What little idea can you bring to your local occupation and how soon will you create this beautiful beginning?
Supreme Court Judgement On Right To Education : Much Ado For Nothing
By Anand Teltumbde
The Supreme Court judgment may be commendable. But the issue is much bigger than mere applicability of 25 percent reservation. If the government is really sincere, it must spare at least education from its neoliberal obsession and launch a common school system for all across the country up to the age of 18 years apace with the changed times
A Dangerous Development In The Human Rights Situation In Bangladesh
By Dr. K. M. A. Malik
The current government led by Awami League (AL) came to power in early 2009, with a manifesto that included zero-tolerance on human rights abuses. Bangladesh Constitution prohibits human rights violations and it is obligatory for the state organs to respect the principles of universal human rights. Unfortunately, the government has failed miserably to protect human rights for all its citizens
Ambedkar Cartoon Debate: A Perspective
By All India Students’ Association (AISA) and Left and Democratic Teachers' Forum (LDTF)
This particular cartoon in the textbook should therefore be subjected to a serious process of review by an appropriate panel of academics including the authors and other experts including leading dalit intellectuals. And if the cartoon is found wanting in sensitivity to existing discriminatory caste stereotypes in society, it should be replaced
12 May, 2012
Bush And Associates Found Guilty Of Torture
By Kuala Lumpur Foundation To Criminalise War
The five-panel tribunal unanimously delivered a guilty verdict against former United States President George W. Bush and his associates at the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal hearing
Bush Found Guilty Of War Crimes
By Yvonne Ridley
At the end of the week-long hearing, the five-panel tribunal unanimously delivered guilty verdicts against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and their key legal advisors who were all convicted as war criminals for torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment
Judge Deliberates On Whether To Save Earth's Atmosphere
By David Swanson
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Wilkins heard the arguments on Friday in Washington, D.C., and is deliberating now on the question of whether young people can sue to compel their government to take serious measures to stop global warming
Mullivaikaal – The Time For Mourning Is Over
By Karthick RM
The Tamil youth in Canada have decided to call the occasion as ‘Tamil Uprising Day’. That probably is the closest tribute to the spirit of those Tamil women and men who went down standing in May 2009
Book Review: “The Street Sweeper” By Elliot Perlman Raises Issue Of Faction Versus Fiction
By Dr Gideon Polya
“The Street Sweeper “ by Elliot Perlman is an enjoyable middle-brow novel with a coincidence-riddled and predictable plot redolent of TV crime dramas. However this politically partisan novel raises the issue of the legitimacy of fiction versus faction (historical fact-based fiction). “The Street Sweeper” fails because in its historical sweep of 80 years to the present it has an unacceptable Zionist bias and ignores relevant Elephant in the Room realities
Politics Through Food Habits
By Ram Puniyani
It seems Mother Cow may be the major emotive weapon to be used for the politics deriving its legitimacy from Hindu religions’ identity. Interestingly it reveals the twin goals of this politics. At surface it is to reduce the minorities to a status of second class citizen and at deeper level to subjugate dalits at social, political and cultural level
11 May, 2012
Suicide Bombs Claim 55 Lives In Damascus
By Chris Marsden
Yesterday’s double suicide bombing in the al-Qazzaz suburb of Damascus claimed at least 55 lives and injured 370. The blasts occurred at 7:56 a.m. at a crowded intersection that is home to a military intelligence complex. The bombs, which detonated almost simultaneously, tore to pieces children on their way to school and incinerated people in their cars going to work in the Syrian capital
Game Over For The Climate
By James Hansen
Global warming isn’t a prediction. It is happening. That is why I was so troubled to read a recent interview with President Obama in Rolling Stone in which he said that Canada would exploit the oil in its vast tar sands reserves “regardless of what we do.” If Canada proceeds, and we do nothing, it will be game over for the climate
New IMF Working Paper Models Impact Of Oil Limits On The Economy
By Gail Tverberg
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently issued a new working paper called “The Future of Oil: Geology versus Technology” (free PDF), which should be of interest to people who are following “peak oil” issues
Shale Gas: The View From Russia
By Dmitry Orlov
So this whole shale gas thing didn't work out as planned, did it? But could it have? Had it turned out to be much better in every way, could it have swung geopolitical influence away from Russia and Iran and back toward the US? Alas, no
The Peak Oil Crisis: Perspective
By Tom Whipple
While waiting to see how the Iranian nuclear confrontation and the various Eurozone crises sort themselves out, there is time to step back and look at the interaction of the major forces that will shape our future. While the problems of oil depletion are already upon us, shrinking resources are only a part of global dynamics currently
Visualize Gasoline
By Richard Heinberg
Visualizing gasoline won’t make more of it magically appear. But understanding the extent of our dependence on it helps us address our vulnerability to the inevitable process of depletion. Imagining a world without gasoline could be a useful first step in preparing for a future that’s coming at us whether we’re ready or not
Nuclear Israel: Image Of Apocalyptic Horror
By Ismail Salami
With over 300 to 400 nuclear bombs, Israel has been translated into an image of apocalyptic horror for the entire Middle East if not for the world
10 May, 2012
Congress Proposes Giving Israel An Extra $1 Billion
For Anti-Missile Defense Programs
By Tim King
The US House of Representatives Defense Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday approved almost $1 billion for Israel's anti-missile defense programs. Congressional Committee Proposal would raise US taxpayer support for Israel's military in 2013 to a record $4 billion
Bush And Associates Authorised Torture
Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal
The third day of the Kuala Lumpur war crimes tribunal hearing saw the prosecution present its submission to establish that the accused parties are indeed guilty as charged for the Crime of Torture and Crimes Against Humanity. In the last two days, three witnesses namely Abbas Abid, Moazzam Begg and Jameelah Hameedi gave their testimony of the tortures they had faced during their incarceration. Two additional Statutory Declarations (Ali Shalal and Rhuhel Ahmed) were read out and submitted to the tribunal
The Children Of Iraq:Was The Price Worth It? (PDF)
By Bie Kentane
This is a presentation given at the side event of the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal. Iraq has turned into one of the worst places for children in the Middle East and North Africa with around 3.5 million living in poverty, 1.5 million under the age of five undernourished and 100 infants dying every day
Colin Powell's Tangled Web
By David Swanson
A list of Powell's lying taken from an extensive report released by Congressman John Conyers: "The Constitution in Crisis; The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War."
The Energy Wars Heat Up
By Michael T. Klare
Six Recent Clashes and Conflicts on a Planet Heading Into Energy Overdrive
An Afghan Okinawa
By The Afghan Peace Volunteers
There is no U.S. troop withdrawal in 2014
Netanyahu Crowns Himself King Of Israel
By Jonathan Cook
Israelis barely had time to absorb the news that they were heading into a summer election when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday pulled the rug from underneath the charade. Rancourous early electioneering had provided cover for a secret agreement between Netanyahu and the main opposition party, Kadima, to form a new, expanded coalition government
Struggle Over Iran: Tumultuous Israeli Politics Will Not Usher Peace
By Ramzy Baroud
Israel is currently experiencing the kind of turmoil that may or may not affect its political hierarchy following the next general election. However, there is little reason to believe that any major transformations in the Israeli political landscape could be of benefit to Palestinians
Why The Civil Rights Model Will Not Work For Occupy
By Katherine M Acosta
What worked for the black civil rights movement (in the South – the strategy was less successful in the North ) will not work for Occupy. This is due, in part, to a changed political and economic environment, and in part to differing goals and values of the two movements
When All Is Said And Done
By Guy R. McPherson
Is fear such a great motivator that we allow complete destruction of the living planet to give ourselves a few more years to enable and further the destruction? Is the grip of culture so strong we cannot break free in defense of planetary habitat for our children? Have we moved so far away from the notion of resistance that we can’t organize a potluck dinner without seeking permission from the Department of Homeland Security?
America Is Under Attack!
By William T. Hathaway
Vicious fanatics are trying to kill us and destroy our country. They're blowing up our soldiers overseas. They've infiltrated our country. We must defend ourselves against these mad-dog berserkers before it's too late. This litany has been repeated by corporate-controlled media and politicians for years now, pumping fear into us. It is used to justify a massive ongoing war that has killed hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings and almost bankrupted the USA. But is it really true? Who started this war? When did it begin?
Australian Internet Censorship By Australian Government-Funded ABC
And Universities-Backed The Conversation
By Dr Gideon Polya
Resolute inaction by the Australian Government and major Australian institutions over Internet Censorship by the taxpayer-funded ABC (Australia's equivalent of the BBC) via its Late Night Live (LNL) program and by the taxpayer-, Australian universities- and CSIRO-backed and Australian academic–based web magazine The Conversation means that Australia has joined the ranks of countries involved in “pervasive Internet Censorship”
What’s Really At Stake In The Vodafone Tax Case
By Rahul Varman
The Supreme Court judgment in the Vodafone case argues that the 'corporate veil' cannot be pierced as long as there was no intention to avoid taxes.Rahul Varmanon how and why corporations in India manage to undermine the law and the public good for the sake of private profit
09 May, 2012
As The World Awakes, India Sleepwalks Into Nuclear Peril
By Niranjan Ramakrishnan
"As the world sleeps, India awakes to freedom", Jawaharlal Nehru declared as he became free India's first prime minister. It was the midnight hour of August 14-15, 1947. Today we might be on more solid ground in paraphrasing Nehru's words: "As the world awakes to its dangers, India sleepwalks into nuclear peril"
Global Temperatures Could Rise By More Than 2°C By Mid-Century: Report
By Common Dreams staff
40 years after original 'Limits to Growth' new report says 'short-termism' and 'over-consumption' killing planet
08 May, 2012
"Respect India” Campaign Launched
By People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy
‘Respect India’ is a call similar to ‘Quit India’ fervently made by the ordinary citizens of India here at Idinthakarai on May 8, 2012. ‘Quit India’ was a civil disobedience movement launched in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Quit India’ speech delivered on August 8, 1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. Gandhiji’s call for determined, but passive resistance appeared in his appeal to “Do or Die.” India is facing a similar “Do or Die” situation today as our sovereignty, independence, freedom, natural resources, livelihood of the poor, their right to life, and the very future of the country are at imminent peril
Koodankulam – Anti-Nuclear Struggle Continues
By Deepa Rajkumar
As Japan shut down its last reactor, the Koodankulam project is to go critical in ten days. Because Japan depends on local consensus for its nuclear decisions, unlike the World’s Largest Democracy, the views of Japanese people counts for something. In Koodankulam unrelenting state repression continues of the massive, non-violent struggle against the proposed nuclear plant there
A Rebellious World or A New Dark Age? On The History of the US Economy in Decline
By Noam Chomsky
The Occupy movement has been an extremely exciting development. Unprecedented, in fact. There’s never been anything like it that I can think of. If the bonds and associations it has established can be sustained through a long, dark period ahead -- because victory won’t come quickly -- it could prove a significant moment in American history
In Defense Of Occupation: Dealing With Skeptics
By Mickey Z.
If you find yourself in a similar conversation, see if you can get at least one participant to join you at the next Occupy event. Nothing explains Occupy better than participation
What Is The Limiting Factor?
By Herman Daly
Could we not take a short time-out from growth roulette to reconsider the steady-state economy? After all, the idea is deeply rooted in classical economics, as well as in physics and biology. Perpetual motion and infinite growth are not reasonable premises on which to base economic policy
New York Court Finds Defendants Guilty: 20 Freedom Fighters Expose Crimes of Stop-And-Frisk
By Li Onesto
On May 4—the fifth day of a (non-jury) trial of 20 people charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, stemming from an October 21, 2011 protest at the 28th Precinct in Harlem against the NYPD policy of stop-and-frisk—Judge Robert Mandelbaum found all defendants guilty. Three were found guilty of only one count; all were sentenced to time served and $120 fine; one defendant was also given community service
Adverse Effects Of Globalization
By John Scales Avery
Today, economic globalization aims at increased trade throughout the world. At first sight, this might seem to be a benefit. However, laws preventing the exploitation of labor are not universal. The same unspeakable conditions experienced by workers in factories and mines during the early phases of the Industrial Revolution in Europe can be found today among factory workers in Indonesia or children weaving oriental carpets in Pakistan; and it is estimated that in India alone there are 80,000,000 child laborers
The Portland Community Begins To Fight Austerity
By Shamus Cooke
On May 5th in Portland, Oregon, a group of 80 activists from a broad array of labor and community groups met to discuss the region's ongoing budget crises. Instead of simply complaining of cuts, however, the meeting was meant to discuss alternatives, both immediate and more structural
Engels On The State, Family, Education And Sex
By Thomas Riggins
In the last chapter of his book Anti-Dühring, Engels treats of the state, family,education and sex by critiquing the views of the German "socialist" and professor Eugen Dühring on these subjects. Dühring had created, on paper, a complete system of socialist governing through means of collectives which, Engels has pointed out in his analysis in earlier parts of this book, is completely unworkable and perpetuates the capitalist relations of production and distribution which socialism is supposed to abolish
Committee of Suspect Journalists
By Thomas C. Mountain
Press Watchdog Fails “Journalism for Beginners” in World Press Freedom Report
Shame On Sonoma State University
By Shepherd Bliss
Retired Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill will receive an honorary doctorate, as will his wife Joan, from Sonoma State University in Northern California on May 12. Some SSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni are upset by this degree, describing it as “dishonorable.”
07 May, 2012
Global Corporations Undermining Democracy Worldwide
By Isolda Agazzi
In a world where governments are increasingly subservient to global finance capital, multinationals are gaining ground in the fight against state regulations that aim to protect the environment, public health or social policies
Koodankulam Villagers To Return Voter ID Cards
By People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy
We request all our supporters in Tamil Nadu and the rest of India to return their Voter IDs to the local Tahsildar and express their opposition to the governments and show their solidarity with our campaign. Indians living abroad can return their Voter IDs to the Indian embassies in their respective countries
Fourteen Arrested Blocking BNSF Coal Train In White Rock
By Carrie Saxifrage
Fourteen Canadians were arrested for civil disobedience at 6 p.m. after sitting down on the tracks in front of an oncoming coal train in White Rock. Their vigil began at midnight, but Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) cancelled many of its scheduled runs in anticipation of the protest
The Oil Industry's Deceitful Promise Of American Energy Independence
By Kurt Cobb
The oil and gas industry would like you to believe that American energy independence is just around the corner. The question is, why do they want you to believe it now? After all, if energy independence were that easy to deliver, the industry would have done it a long time ago. Why has the industry chosen now, in particular, to begin a campaign of deceit to push the false promise of American energy independence?
The Poor And The Privileged And A Proposal On Resource Use
By Farooque Chowdhury
The Royal Society in the UK in a recent report focuses on the impact of “human population and consumption on the planet”. It suggests richest countries to consume less, and a more egalitarian pattern of consumption. The wealthiest group must urgently reduce their consumption to save the Earth, the report concludes
When Spies Rule The World
By K.P.Sasi
Why is the Indian State afraid of its own citizens? Is there a possible healthy governance of the Indian people without being spied upon? When will the people’s movements be free from the spies of the State? Why should the Indian people pay for the sustenance of a spy network which spy on them?
Zionist History: A Short Quiz
By Prof. Neve Gordon
Take this test to find out how much you know about the gradual shift in Israeli political thought over the decades
Western And Australian Pro-Zionist Mainstream Media Censorship Of
Muslim Holocaust And Palestinian Holocaust
By Dr Gideon Polya
Taxpayers must insist that taxpayer-funded media do not lie or censor under pain of reduction in taxpayer funding
Barbed Lives
By Ashutosh Sharma
The fence along the border with Pakistan, which has been erected several kilometres behind the zero line, has left hundreds of Indian villages sandwiched. Residents of such villages, which are almost cut off from the rest of the country, consider themselves prisoners in their own country, writes Ashutosh Sharma from Jammu and Kashmir
06 May, 2012
Thousands March As Japan Shuts Off Nuclear Power
By Yuri Kageyama
Thousands of Japanese marched to celebrate the switching off of the last of their nation's 50 nuclear reactors Saturday, waving banners shaped as giant fish that have become a potent anti-nuclear symbol. Japan was without electricity from nuclear power for the first time in four decades when the reactor at Tomari nuclear plant on the northern island of Hokkaido went offline for mandatory routine maintenance
The Lutfallah II Arms-Smuggling Scandal
By Franklin Lamb
The still unfolding Lutfallah II weapons running misadventure, in which a claimed Syrian-owned vessel registered in Sierra Leone but apparently flying the Egyptian flag, was detained off the Lebanese port of Batoun, by the Lebanese Army Marines because it was sailing too high in the water, and appeared “suspicious,” and was then found to contain 300,000 pounds of weapons may erupt unpredictably with serious political consequences for the region
Time For A Military Coup In Israel?
By Alan Hart
If a majority of Israel’s Jews wanted to cling on to Zionist mythology and continue down the path laid out by Netanyahu, there could only be catastrophe for all at some point, triggered, probably, by a final Zionist ethnic cleansing of Palestine
A Putsch Against War
By Uri Avnery
Generals and secret police chiefs get together for an attack on the politicians
Palestine: Time For A Change!
By Mazin Qumsiyeh
Palestinian political prisoners illegally held in Israeli jails are on hunger strike and some are near death. The population of strikers includes 200 child prisoners, 27 Palestinian legislative council members, and 456 prisoners from Gaza who have not been allowed family visits since 2007
Solidarity And Realpolitik: My Response To Jeff Halper
By Susan Abulhawa
I don’t presume to tell Israelis what they should or should not do but I would like to see Israelis concentrate on their own failures rather than ours. I would sure like to hear those who have made aliyah acknowledge that it was not their right to do so; that making aliyah is a crime against the native people who have been and continue to be forcibly expelled to make way for those making aliyah
Africa’s AU; A Tool Of Western Rule
By Thomas C. Mountain
The African Union (AU) has mutated into a particularly corrupt and brutal enforcer of western rule in Africa. When it comes to the interests of Pax Americana you must start with the crimes committed in the AU’s “War on Terror” in Somalia a.k.a. The War on the Somali people
Seven Myths Used To Debunk Peak Oil, Debunked
By Andrew McKay
So what are their arguments, and why are they so wrong? The top seven are listed below
Global Civil Society And The Rise Of The Civil Economy
By Robin Murray
The last thirty years has seen the re-emergence of a civil economic challenge, side by side with the advance of globalisation, as a distinct strand in the development of global civil society. Don’t underestimate its longterm significance in the glacial shifts now taking place in the world economy
Pakistan Judicial Commission On Osama Episode Fails To Complete Probe
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
With majority of Pakistanis skeptical about the assassination of Osama Ben Laden in the US military operation of May 2, 2011 on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan's judicial commission entrusted to probe the Osama episode has failed to complete its investigation till now
How Terry Jones Can Get Away With It
By Kourosh Ziabari
The infamous US Pastor Terry Jones burned copies of Quran n Saturday, April 28 in what was claimed as his protest to the detainment of a so-called Christian clergyman in Iran. Although the high-ranking officials of Islamic countries, including the Iranian statesmen condemned the renewed venture of burning the Holy Quran in strongest terms, the U.S. and European officials turned a blind eye to the blasphemy, tacitly endorsing the radical pastor
Jai Bhim Comrade, A Soulful Song Of The Nowhere People
By Dr Anand Teltumbde
A Review of Jai Bhim Comrade, a documentary by Anand Patwardhan
Killing Of Innocent In Self-Defence?
By Gladson Dungdung
The recently released, ‘Jharkhand Human Rights Report 2001-2011’exposes the killing of 550 people in the crossfire and arrest of 4372 people after branding them as Naxals in the state in last decade
05 May, 2012
Death Of Nonprofit Journalism?
By Josh Stearns
Nonprofit news organizations are winning awards and covering issues mainstream media doesn’t, so why is the IRS clamping down on nonprofit media?
A Warmer World And Weather Gone Wild: The Most Important Story of Our Lives
By Bill McKibben
It's too hot not to notice, and too important to remain passive
China’s Looming Conflict Between Energy And Water
By Christina Larson
In its quest to find new sources of energy, China is increasingly looking to its western provinces. But the nation’s push to develop fossil fuel and alternative sources has so far ignored a basic fact — western China simply lacks the water resources needed to support major new energy development
Will China Survive?
By Peter Goodchild
China may have large amounts of cash, but it is nevertheless short of almost everything needed to maintain human life. It may be wondered where its population is planning to live in the future, when China itself cannot hold those numbers
Palestinian Political Prisoners Subject To Collective Punishment
As Mass Hunger Strike Continues
By Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organisations
Israeli Prison Service is taking a series of collective and punitive measures against Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons currently engaged in a mass hunger strike. These measures include solitary confinement, daily fines of up to 500 NIS (€100), confiscation of salt for water, the denial of electricity supply and random cell and body searches
The Dysfunctional Ideology Of Jewishness
By Mazin Qumsiyeh
Review of Gilad Atzmon’s book, The Wandering Who? A Study of Jewish Identity Politic. Palestinian academic Mazin Qumsiyeh argues that Gilad Atzmon’s book The Wandering Who? provides invaluable insight into the ideology of Jewishness – crucial for understanding Israeli behaviour and the conflict in the Middle East – and urges people to engage with the ideas laid out in the book rather than dismiss it or seek to censor it
Daisy Cutters Into Daisies: #NoWarButClassWar
By Mickey Z
Green-spirited seed bombs and mean-spirited Daisy Cutters. Take a wild guess which one is illegal here in America. Seed bombing could get you arrested or sued
What About The Voters’ Rights Amendment?
By Charles Foerster
The Voters’ Rights Amendment may be the only way to unify all Americans to do something positive to overcome their shared disgust with their government, their political parties, and the puppet candidates that are forced upon them
Unlawful Imprisonment In Ethiopia
By Graham Peebles
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi presides over a brutal manipulative dictatorship that restricts all freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of the media in Ethiopia . Peaceful dissent is met with violence and false imprisonment. Intimidation and fear are the key tools in such repression, this must end and we the international community must ensure it is so
Investigate Killing Of Foreign Tourists In Kashmir
By Abdul Majid Zargar
There are now enough grounds to order reinvestigation of 1995 abduction & killing of six foreign tourists following startling revelations by a new book that they were killed by pro-government counter-insurgents fully aided & abetted by the security forces
Koodankulam: Hunger Strikers' Health Deteriorate
By People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy
The indefinite hunger strike has been going on for the past 5 days. Some 25 men have been on the fast since May 1 and 302 women and 10 more men have joined the strike on May 4, 2012. Many of the men have become very tired and are suffering from fatigue and nausea. Scores of women are suffering from severe headache this morning and some seem to be dehydrated because of the scorching summer heat. They need immediate medical advice and help
Coal Power Fiasco In India – Karnataka's Case Study
By Shankar Sharma
A large number of coal power plants in excess of 700,000 MW are reported to be in the various stages of planning, approval and implementation. Are they the best option available? Are they really sustainable?
Higher Education And Social Mobility Among MuslimsAnd Dalits In India ,
A Comparative Perspective In The Globalised Times
By Mr. Ajmal khan
This paper is an attempt to see how globalisation has impacted the higher education of Muslims and Dalits in India in a comparative and historic perspective. Based on the different secondary data sets, it tries to show how Dalit community across India has utilised the process of globalisation and achieved educational and social mobility mobility higher than Muslim
Electoral Equations And Secular Values
By Ram Puniyani
UP Assembly election results apart from other things are a pointer for the Congress party to take up the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, if it wants to make a positive contribution to Indian democracy
04 May, 2012
Obama Signs Strategic Pact In Afghanistan
By Peter Symonds
President Obama billed his secretive, fly-in, fly-out trip to Afghanistan in the early hours of Wednesday morning as marking a new dawn—the withdrawal of American troops and an end to more than a decade of war. In reality, the visit has set the stage for an open-ended US military presence in Afghanistan in line with Washington’s aims to transform the country into a permanent base of operations in Central Asia
Justice Requires Action To Stop Subjugation Of Palestinians
By Desmond Tutu
This harsh reality endured by millions of Palestinians requires people and organizations of conscience to divest from those companies — in this instance, from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett Packard — profiting from the occupation and subjugation of Palestinians
Illegal Settlements Bonanza: Israel Plots An Endgame
By Ramzy Baroud
There is no doubt that Israel is plotting its version of the endgame in Palestine, which sees Palestinians continuing to subsist in physical fragmentation and permanent occupation. Unless a popular Palestinian uprising takes hold, no one is likely to challenge what is actually an Israeli declaration of war against the Palestinian people
The Israeli-American-Iranian-Holocaust-Nobel Peace Prize Circus
By William Blum
Wiesel, like Obama, is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. As is Henry Kissinger and Menachim Begin. And several other such war-loving beauties. When will that monumental farce of a prize be put to sleep?
Extractive Capitalism And The Divisions In The Latin American Progressive Camp
By James Petras
There is a general consensus that regimes in seven countries in Latin America form what can be called the “progressive camp”: Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru and Venezuela. It is difficult to generalize about the performance of the progressive camp given the divergences in social and economic policies. But a “report card” of sorts can be drawn up
Hunger, Disease And $10 Billion Missing In South Sudan
By Thomas C. Mountain
South Sudan's leaders have stolen at least $10 billion in oil revenues shared with them by Sudan in the past 7 years. With somewhere between $12 to $17 billion turned over to South Sudan, Africa’s newest “government”, during this time frame some say estimates of only $10 billion stolen is to conservative
Israel Under Intelligence Fire Over Iran
By Dr. Ismail Salami
By way of countering the anti-regime remarks by the top military and intelligence people in Israel, Netanyahu and Barak have in recent days embarked on toning up their war rhetoric against Iran. In fact, the Zionist duo are steadfast in sowing the seeds of extremism, fear and hatred in order to give a cloak of legitimacy to a possible strike against the Islamic Republic
Ambedkar And Media
By Ratna Mala
This article explores the newspaper initiatives of Ambedkar, study the representation of Ambedkar in media and recognize his views on media. The paper will discuss the data observed using desk research
“Friends of Syria”: Not So Friends Of The Syrian People
By Ghali Hassan
The meeting of “Friends of Syria” in Istanbul was not a meeting for peace. Rather it was a prelude to instigate more violence and destruction in Syria. Whatever the outcome, “Friends of Syria” will be held to account for their complicity in crimes against the Syrian people
One Step Backward Taken
By John Scales Avery
It is doubtful whether Israel, a country with 300 nuclear weapons, would benefit in any way by attacking Iran on the pretext that Iran might soon be in a position to produce two or three bombs of its own. Iran has denied that it wants to produce such weapons, but an attack by Israel might push the Iranian government into militarization of its civilian nuclear power program
Obama’s Second Term: Forward March
By Joseph Grosso
Perhaps it is fitting that Barack Obama dispensed with ‘Change We Can Believe In’ and took up the banner of ‘Forward’ for his reelection campaign. Indeed it would have been preferable if he’d saved the trouble and gone with that from the beginning. Barack Obama was never serious about change as his administration from the start has continued the forward advance of corporate power and other reactionary interests
Fourth Round Of Indefinite Hunger Strike In Koodankulam
By People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy
The People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) has embarked upon the fourth round of indefinite hunger strike from May 1, 2012 against Koodankulam nuclear power plant
Condemn The Arrest of Advocate Shanavas By “Hi-tech Cell”!
By Concerned Citizens
The “Hi-tech Cell” of the Kerala Crime Branch arrested Advocate Shanavas, a leading human rights activist of Kerala in connection with the infamous Email surveillance scandal
Resist The Assaults On The People Of Nonadanga
By Democratic Students union
Resist the assaults on the people of Nonadanga by the fascist Trinamool government in Bengal! Fight for the immediate release of student activists Debolina and Abhignan! Support the Relief Campaign for the Evicted People of Nonadanga!
01 May, 2012
US Resumes Drone Killings In Pakistan
By Bill Van Auken
Washington ended a month-long pause in its campaign of drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas Sunday, killing four “suspected militants” in North Waziristan and provoking a formal protest from the government in Islamabad
US Has Become 'Nation of Assassins: Jeremy Scahill
By Common Dreams staff
International law experts, peace activists, journalists and human rights advocates from around the world gathered in Washington, DC over the weekend to inform the American public about US drone policy and the impact it is having on human populations throughout the world
You Are All Suspects Now. What Are You Going To Do About it?
By John Pilger
You are all potential terrorists. It matters not that you live in Britain, the United States, Australia or the Middle East. Citizenship is effectively abolished. Turn on your computer and the US Department of Homeland Security's National Operations Center may monitor whether you are typing not merely "al-Qaeda", but "exercise", "drill", "wave", "initiative" and "organisation": all proscribed words
Welcome To The Asylum
By Chris Hedges
When civilizations start to die they go insane. Let the ice sheets in the Arctic melt. Let the temperatures rise. Let the air, soil and water be poisoned. Let the forests die. Let the seas be emptied of life. Let one useless war after another be waged. Let the masses be thrust into extreme poverty and left without jobs while the elites, drunk on hedonism, accumulate vast fortunes through exploitation, speculation, fraud and theft. Reality, at the end, gets unplugged
The Children of Fallujah: The Hospital of Horrors
By Robert Fisk
Stillbirths, disabilities, deformities too distressing to describe - what lies behind the torments in Fallujah General Hospital?
The Iraqi Resistance Is Still Fine: Iraqi Scholar
An interview with Dr. Mohammad Bashir Al-Faidhi, the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq By Snorre Lindquist
May Day Started Here
By Noam Chomsky
People seem to know about May Day everywhere except where it began, here in the United States of America. That’s because those in power have done everything they can to erase its real meaning
Labor Not Loyalty on May 1
By David Swanson
Two key steps have helped to ruin May Day in the United States. First, Labor Day was created at a completely different time of year -- labor day without the struggle, labor day without the history, labor day without the labor movement. Second, Loyalty Day was created on May 1 st
Can We Expect The Economy To Keep Growing?
By Gail Tverberg
If we read the financial pages, economic growth seems to be viewed as the “normal” situation to which economies inevitably return. But is it really?
Obama's Election And The Union Movement
By Jack A. Smith
Perhaps the main ingredient in any possible Democratic presidential victory is the labor movement. Without it, Obama's chances plummet. AFL-CIO, Change to Win and a few independent unions are supplying Democratic candidates with over $400 million this year. Of equal importance, organized labor wants to field an estimated 400,000 campaign workers as well
Politics Of Poverty Estimates
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
The planning commission of India is set to change the poverty estimates in India after the latest survey done by National Sample Survey Organization 2010-11. According to new estimates, anyone who is earning below Rs 66.10 per day in urban areas and rupees 35.10 per day in the rural areas will be considered person Below Poverty Line. Such poverty estimates do not provide any justice to the cause of elimination of poverty which is endemic in India
