Nice Work Anti-Nuclear Activists!!!

This piece of news comes from Democracy Now!

Congratulations are in order for this committed group to not only help shut down this unnecessary facility, but to get the attention of the nation with their efforts as well!

 U.S. Shuts Down Tennessee Uranium Facility After Anti-Nuclear Protesters Infiltrate

 The U.S. government’s lone site for handling and processing weapons-grade uranium has been temporarily shut down after anti-nuclear activists infiltrated the premises. Three activists — including an 82-year old nun — reportedly cut through fences to paint slogans and throw blood on the wall of the Y12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Y12 facility processes uranium for new hydrogen bombs. Calling themselves the "Transform Now Plowshares," the three activists appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge in Knoxville on Thursday. The facility will remain shut down at least until next week. U.S. officials have maintained no nuclear materials were jeopardized, but experts have marveled at how a small group could have infiltrated the high-risk site. One former congressional investigator and security consultant called the breach the "worst we’ve ever seen."

 Wow, nice work ladies and gents! Here's a few other links to what went down:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/03/us-usa-securtity-nuclear-idUSBRE8720VK20120803

http://www.tennessean.com/viewart/20120802/NEWS21/308020025/Nuke-plant-shuts-down-on-security-breach?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/02/13092159-oak-ridge-uranium-plant-shut-after-protesters-breach-4-fences-reach-building?lite

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/238865/group/homepage/

 Not to mention what's been going on in Japan... 

http://tehrantimes.com/world/100226-thousands-in-japan-stage-anti-nuclear-rally

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/anti-nuclear-protesters-surround-japanese-parliament-gubernatorial-election-highlights-issue/2012/07/29/gJQADU1uHX_story.html

We know by now that nuclear energy is costly and has catastrophic potential issues for people and the planet. Is it worth it? Only if you want to support the hegemonic powers that be and their continued efforts to be intimidating world powers.

Is it Worth it to Keep Fixing Such an Obviously Broke System?

What will it take for a critical mass in the U.S. to answer this question honestly, and put forth efforts to learn from the mistakes of the past and take meaningful steps towards creating a future that's vibrant for all living creatures? At the core of all issues across the planet are the governmental bodies that perpetuate ills socially and environmentally. If you haven't yet had the epiphany that Republicans aren't that different than Democrats it's time for some summer reading! Although on a whole the U.S. system is and has been deeply flawed for some time, and continues to perpetuate mass ills for many, with well-being for a few, one way to keep one foot in and one foot out is to support third party politics in the upcoming election. The two party system is a direct representation of the falsity of this so called American democracy, and while the system as a whole is broke, the least one can do while it still exists-besides lobbying for ways to dismantle it and change it for the betterment of all-is to support people like Jill Stein.

The Green Party recently nominated the physician and activist for the upcoming election. Jill's running mate is the anti-poverty activist Cheri Honkala. In reality, parties attached to this ongoing system will not and can not bring the change necessary to those of us who believe in a justice centered world for all. However, the reality is this system continues to thrive, and unfortunately even the failures of the first African-American president, who ran on "Hope and Change", have still not shown people that it doesn't matter who the president is so long as corporations run the government and capitalism is the financial, economic and political ideology that rules. At the same time this upcoming election and its winners will shape American life to some degree so like capitalism "we" must play the game as its forces play on us, so let's educate ourselves on what's wrong, why it continues to be wrong, and beyond advocating for total change support those who shift the current paradigm enough so others might be more open to seeking the true answer outside of the political shackles that continue to rule 99.9% of the world.

A quote from Jill: "I strongly agree that grassroots democracy grows from the local community up, but at the same time, we have a state of emergency I think at the national level. And to silence the only hope of an opposition voice in this election when so much is at stake, I think would be a terrible loss for the American people. There’s no reason why Americans should have to walk into the voting booth in November and have only, effectively, two Wall Street-sponsored choices."
 

The Earth is at a "Tipping Point"

While many who actively follow issues related to health and well-being of the earth have already known this for years, a new study in the journal Nature is making waves. The article points to a cumulative effect of climate change, population growth and the continued destruction and damage done to environmental systems across the globe that are leading to a total planetary collapse of ecosystem health for future generations. The paper specifically says that the earth is at a "tipping point" right now, again, something many of you have known for many years. It's always interesting to note what sparks controversy in mainstream society and what articles, books, TV shows, and other forms of media go viral in today's globalized world. Well, a few years back it was peak oil, and now, on the heels of the Rio+20 that will be held this June, it seems that this article is turning heads. Why? In reality, it's no matter because it's true and has been true for quite some time. Climate change is the issues that has brought environmental issues to the forefront of the globalized world, and even though first world countries love to point at the "third world" for global population growth issues without adequately taking accountability for being the empires that helped create a model for countries like India and China to follow, the earth is clearly facing massive issues of ill health. While in the author's opinion no individual or anything human-based can and will ever truly kill this planet, it's very clear human can in fact have an impact on ecosystem health. As a species we may die-off before the earth can regenerate in peace, but as much as one can while they are still here and alive on this planet any and everything you can do to be in solidarity with social and environmental movements across the country is essential for the well-being of future generations to come. Take a minute and read up on what's being said about this article from the links I'll provide below, follow what goes down at the Rio+20, and stay engaged. One only needs to look into what's happening in Syria right now, across the Middle East, and on the streets of the NATO protests in Chicago to understand the "tipping point" has been here for quite some time, and isn't going anywhere anytime soon unless conscious efforts are made to combat war and systems of oppression while fighting for the healthiest options for our planet. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0607-global-tipping-20120607,0,4125302.story http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0607/Earth-s-ecosystems-nearing-catastrophic-tipping-point-warn-scientists-video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ&feature=player_embedded http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/3149/20120607/earth-headed-towards-tipping-point.htm http://www.vancouverobserver.com/sustainability/2012/06/06/new-tipping-point-study-warns-total-irreversible-collapse-global-ecosystem http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/earth-tipping-point-study_n_1577835.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10723.html

99% Day!!!!

"No Work, No Shopping, Occupy Everywhere": May Day Special on OWS, Immigration, Labor Protests

 This is a nationwide day of solidarity on a day best known for immigrants rights or as International Worker's Day. If you're not out in the streets take some time to get educated and find some way to support the 99% and the fight for justice for all people on this planet, not just the 1% that systems of power are set in place to support! This link will bring you to a great video and discussion on the matter, courtesy of DemocracyNow!

This link is also interesting, especially for the racist, classist, and otherwise oppressive comments that speak to why this day is such an important one in the struggle for peace, justice, and sustainability.       

"War is the Enemy of the Poor": Cornel West and Tavis Smiley on Poverty, MLK, Election 2012

A must watch (last 10 minutes) video with two of the most influential and righteous Black scholars in the world today. Enjoy!

Thanks as always to Democracy Now!   

Should Men Choose What Rights Women Have Over Their Own Bodies?

If you answered yes then you're reading the wrong blog. Or actually you're not and should keep reading to become better educated.

Recent news has been highlighting the struggle for women to maintain reproductive rights over their own bodies. Interestingly this debate has been tied to arguments surrounding religious freedom and those dogmatic institutions that put forth a belief system that women should not be able to obtain contraceptives.

The Personhood Bill is at the center of this reproductive debate regarding women and the reproductive rights women have in a lawful sense.

This article,

http://www.thelamron.com/opinion/new-legislation-should-not-limit-individual-women-s-reproductive-rights-1.2804226#.T1CL481WGPU

will fill you in more as will this current (3/1/12) headline from democracynow.org

Limbaugh Calls Student Birth Control Activist a "Slut"

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate is expected to defeat a symbolic Republican-backed measure today that would exempt Catholic institutions from a White House mandate requiring birth control coverage. The right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh made headlines on Wednesday after calling a student reproductive rights activist "a slut" for campaigning in favor of contraception coverage for women. Limbaugh made the comment during a rant on his radio broadcast.

Rush Limbaugh: "What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? Makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She’s having so much sex, she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."

The student, Sandra Fluke, is a third-year law student and a member of the group Georgetown Law Students for Reproductive Justice. She was barred from testimony at an all-male panel on contraception on Capitol Hill last month. The day after her testimony was blocked, Fluke appeared on Democracy Now!

Sandra Fluke: "I strongly believe that our government has to legislate for reality, not ideology. So, if we don’t provide contraception coverage and healthcare, that’s not going to stop anyone from having sex, whether they should or should not be. And we really have to take care of women’s healthcare and not worry about policing their moral choices."

This link is a very useful resource that reminds us all that "isms" like sexism are unfortunately still alive and well and must continue to be combated by those who truly seek peace, justice, and sustainability!

http://www.democracynow.org/topics/womens_rights

Syria and its Pro Democracy Uprising

The wave of action from "Arab Spring" has continued throughout the Middle East during this past year, and perhaps nowhere has the action been more chaotic and confrontational than Syria. Here are a few recent headlines as told by democracynow.org

U.N.: Syria Uprising Toll Passes 7,500

Syrian forces have launched a ground attack on the embattled city of Homs today after a nearly month-long siege. The neighborhood of Baba Amr reportedly came under heavy shelling overnight before Syrian troops swept in. The latest violence comes as the United Nations now says more than 7,500 people have been killed in the Assad regime’s crackdown on the nearly year-long uprising. U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe announced the new death toll figure in comments before the U.N. Security Council.

Lynn Pascoe: "The disproportionate use of force and military aggression against civilian population by authorities has driven the largely peaceful opposition forces to resort to armed resistance. While we cannot give exact casualty figures, there are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children. The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people."

13 Activists Killed Helping Evacuate British Photographer from Syria

A number of foreign journalists are said to be trapped in areas of Homs that are coming under heavy fire. On Tuesday, British photographer Paul Conroy was safely escorted to neighboring Lebanon by a group of Syrian activists. Thirteen of Conroy’s rescuers were reportedly killed in the escape. There were reports another journalist, Edith Bouvier of France, also escaped to Lebanon, but her status remains unconfirmed.

U.S. Drafts New U.N. Security Council Measure on Syria

The United States has reportedly drafted an outline for a new U.N. Security Council measure that would focus on delivering humanitarian aid to Syria. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney spoke about the effort on Tuesday.

Jay Carney: "I think that we need to focus on those actions which have the greatest chance of success. And that includes efforts to organize humanitarian aid. It includes efforts to further isolate and pressure Assad. It includes efforts to assist the Syrian opposition to organize itself and unify and then continue to work with our allies at the highest levels to examine additional steps that might be taken."

U.N. Human Rights Chief Calls for ICC Probe of Syrian Officials

At the United Nations, Syrian diplomats walked out of a U.N. Human Rights Council session on the crisis in Syria in protest of widespread criticism. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said she would back the investigation of Syrian officials by the International Criminal Court.

Navi Pillay: "In the face of the unspeakable violations that take place every moment, I remain convinced that referring the situation of Syria to the International Criminal Court will be a step in the right direction. The international community must unite in sending a clear message to the Syrian authorities, and the Security Council must assume its responsibility to protect the population of Syria."

An interesting story, "Foreign Intervention in Syria? A Debate with Joshua Landis and Karam Nachar"

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/2/22/foreign_intervention_in_syria_a_debate

No one wants lives to be taken and humans to suffer. Will the people's voices be listened to?