News outlets are officially reporting that the ‘No’ side has won a decisive victory in Greece, rejecting a bailout offer from foreign creditors that would have imposed further austerity and economic hardship. Reuters reports that government officials “immediately said they would try to restart talks with European partners,” perhaps as soon as Sunday night. 25% of votes in, #oxi leading by 60%. Estimates that this will …
We pledge allegiance to the United States of Inc.: Corporations become nation-states in Silicon Valley’s latest utopian management scheme – LAURA MILLER
During my desultory post-graduation years in San Francisco, I lived in a big duplex with three roommates. We had bands, fledging writing gigs and other financially unpromising passions, until one of us threw over la vie bohème to work at a consulting firm. We teased him mercilessly for using nonsensical catchphrases like “think outside the box” and for getting a …
Walmart secretly hides $76 billion in overseas tax havens after pillaging American businesses by Jonathan Benson
Just because Walmart figured out a way to sell consumer products for cheaper than your local mom and pop shop, effectively putting it out of business, doesn’t mean that this multinational corporation is evil — or so goes the claim by many a radical capitalist in defense of one of the world’s most hated businesses. Too bad this isn’t actually …
Scientists warn of species loss due to man-made landscapes
Study found 35% fewer bird species in agricultural habitats Researchers say farmland is a poor substitute for natural areas but simple improvements could make a difference to biodiversity conservation Research led by the University of Exeter has found a substantial reduction in bird species living in cultivated mango orchards compared to natural habitats in Southern Africa. The results, which are …
Countries must deal with health risks of more frequent heatwaves: UN By Agnes PEDRERO
The UN urged countries Wednesday to create preparedness systems to counter the health risks of heatwaves, as they become ever more frequent and intense, and dangerous, due to climate change. For the first time, the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) and its World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have joined forces to create guidelines for experts and authorities for how to lower …
If ISIL had burned down 4 Churches, it would have been Headline News By Juan Cole
Seven African-American churches have burned down in the past week and at least four of these southern Black churches were victims of deliberate arson, and possibly six were. This news is being reported tentatively and in the passive mood. The churches burned or were burned. But that arson directed at an African-American church in the South after the Roof murders is likely the …
Has Washington Gone Looney Tunes? – F. William Engdahl
Given a series of recent speeches by leading US officials and actions, the question must be frankly posed: Has Washington gone collectively looney tunes? Even as the governments of the EU are moving to buck US pressures and ease the sanctions, the Obama Administration seems intent on marching in the direction of a nuclear confrontation with Russia. As the ancient …
The Superpower Conundrum: The Rise and Fall of Just About Everything By Tom Engelhardt
The rise and fall of great powers and their imperial domains has been a central fact of history for centuries. It’s been a sensible, repeatedly validated framework for thinking about the fate of the planet. So it’s hardly surprising, when faced with a country once regularly labeled the “sole superpower,” “the last superpower,” or even the global “hyperpower” and now, …
Wilderness areas need buffer zones to protect from human development by Staff Writers
Despite heavy development, the U.S. still has millions of acres of pristine wild lands. Coveted for their beauty, these wilderness areas draw innumerable outdoor enthusiasts eager for a taste of primitive nature. But University of Georgia researchers say these federally protected nature areas have a problem: Their boundaries have become prime real estate. As the country’s population continues to grow, …
How Zionism Corrupts Judaism By Daniel C. Maguire
Like the Palestinian people, Judaism is also suffering from siege and occupation. Zionism, a Nineteenth Century hallucinatory piece of fictive theology and a vicious ideology, has gotten a demonic grip on much of modern Jewish consciousness and has taken possession of U.S. policies in the Middle East. Zionism is not Judaism; Judaism is 3,000 years old. Zionism is a heretical …