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News and Analysis

What's Cap and Trade? A New Video Breaks it Down and Reveals the Plan as a ScamWhat's Cap and Trade? A New Video Breaks it Down and Reveals the Plan as a Scam

By Janet Redman, MinuteMan Media. December 3, 2009.
Environment: It's a scheme that tries to sell business-as-usual as a solution to global warming. Here's how it works.

The First Projections for Water in 2010 Are Out: Prepare Now for Another Dry YearThe First Projections for Water in 2010 Are Out: Prepare Now for Another Dry Year

By Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute. December 3, 2009.
Water: California's water supply projections are grossly misunderstood by the media and the public and are misused by narrow water interests in the state.

Why Fermentation Is the Key to Local Foods and Good HealthWhy Fermentation Is the Key to Local Foods and Good Health

By Makenna Goodman, Chelsea Green Publishing. December 3, 2009.
Health and Wellness: Authors Sandor Katz reveals the secrets of fermentation and the growing underground food movement.

Senate Climate Bill Progress Report: Senate Climate Bill Progress Report: "Definite Republican Votes," Dems Have New Demands

By Brian Merchant, TreeHugger. December 3, 2009.
Environment: The status of the Senate clean energy reform bill may have fallen a bit out of focus as of late. But it's still very much alive -- and doing rather well, actually.

Surprise: Schwarzenegger Uses 'Drought' Announcement to Promote Canal, DamsSurprise: Schwarzenegger Uses 'Drought' Announcement to Promote Canal, Dams

By Dan Bacher, AlterNet. December 3, 2009.
Water: A broad coalition oppose the peripheral canal because it would inevitably result in the increased diversion of Delta water to corporate agribusiness and southern California.

25 Years Since the Bhopal Disaster, We've All Become Victims of the Chemical Industry25 Years Since the Bhopal Disaster, We've All Become Victims of the Chemical Industry

By Gary Cohen, AlterNet. December 3, 2009.
Health and Wellness: The Centers for Disease Control has documented that the average American carries more than 100 toxic chemicals in his or her body.

The Placebo Effect: Studies Reveal How Fake Medicine Actually Reduces PainThe Placebo Effect: Studies Reveal How Fake Medicine Actually Reduces Pain

By Michael Haederle, Miller-McCune.com. December 3, 2009.
Health and Wellness: New medical research is finding that the pain relief induced by placebos may come from releasing the body's own chemical pain relievers.

Fed Up With FederalismFed Up With Federalism

By Harold Meyerson, The American Prospect. December 3, 2009.
Politics: How America's commitment to states' rights is undermining our economic recovery.

Why Direct Action Is the Only Realistic Path to Climate ReformWhy Direct Action Is the Only Realistic Path to Climate Reform

By Chris Hedges, Truthdig. December 2, 2009.
Environment: The U.S. government won't shut down coal plants -- the nation's biggest global warming contributor. It's up to citizens to fix the damage that's been done.

Cabot Oil and Gas Faces Lawsuit in Marcellus DrillingCabot Oil and Gas Faces Lawsuit in Marcellus Drilling

By Adam Federman, Earth Island Journal. December 2, 2009.
Water: The company, which had to pay $120,000 in pollution fines earlier this year, has denied charges that it's poisoning Pennsylvania's water.

Teflon Dick: How Cheney Uses Media For ProtectionTeflon Dick: How Cheney Uses Media For Protection

By Linda Milazzo, AlterNet. December 2, 2009.
Media and Technology: Dick Cheney has used the complicit American media, his most powerful anti-prosecution tool, to near Machiavellian perfection.

What the FBI's Murder of a Black Panther Can Teach Us 40 Years LaterWhat the FBI's Murder of a Black Panther Can Teach Us 40 Years Later

By Jeffrey Haas, The Nation. December 2, 2009.
Rights and Liberties: The legacy of Fred Hampton, who was assassinated under COINTELPRO in 1969, should be our demand that U.S. officials be held accountable when they break the law.

Italy's Media Wrestle With Immigrant-BashingItaly's Media Wrestle With Immigrant-Bashing

By Sandip Roy, New America Media. December 2, 2009.
Immigration: Italy's cultural landscape is undergoing a significant (and, for some, exciting) change. But will native Italians tolerate it?

Congress Can Kill Outlandish Bonuses for Wall Streeters: Why Won't They?Congress Can Kill Outlandish Bonuses for Wall Streeters: Why Won't They?

By Sam Pizzigati, Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality. December 2, 2009.
Politics: We need more protection from corporate greed than the current mainstream antidotes provide. Americans get this. Too bad moderate reformers don't.

The Money Behind Moon's Washington TimesThe Money Behind Moon's Washington Times

By Rory O'Connor, MediaChannel.org. December 2, 2009.
Media and Technology: Where did all the money come from to keep the money-losing Moonie paper afloat all these years?

Ehrenreich: The Pink-Ribbon Breast Cancer CultEhrenreich: The Pink-Ribbon Breast Cancer Cult

By Barbara Ehrenreich, Tomdispatch.com. December 2, 2009.
Reproductive Justice and Gender: What feminists don't need, no matter how many "races for the cure" they run, is a ladies’ auxiliary to the cancer-industrial complex.

Hightower: What Is Obama Getting Us into in Afghanistan?Hightower: What Is Obama Getting Us into in Afghanistan?

By Jim Hightower, Creators Syndicate. December 2, 2009.
World: Cut the music, and let's all ponder what Barack Obama, Roberts Gates, Stanley McChrystal and Co. are getting us into ... and whether we really want to go there.

Obama's Afghan Surge Rationale Contradicts His Own Recent PositionObama's Afghan Surge Rationale Contradicts His Own Recent Position

By Gareth Porter, IPS News. December 2, 2009.
Politics: Obama's rationale for escalation in Afghanistan is based on a notion that he recently rejected: the supposedly indissoluble link between the Taliban insurgency and al Qaeda.

Copenhagen, U.S.A.: Don't Miss the Dec. 7 Showdown Over Climate Change Here in AmericaCopenhagen, U.S.A.: Don't Miss the Dec. 7 Showdown Over Climate Change Here in America

By Jeff Biggers, AlterNet. December 2, 2009.
Environment: The same day that world leaders are set to meet in Denmark, many Americans will converge on the U.S.'s biggest environmental ground zero: the Appalachian coalfields.

A Humanitarian Disaster in the Making Along the Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline -- Who's Watching?A Humanitarian Disaster in the Making Along the Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline -- Who's Watching?

By Brendan Schwartz, Valery Nodem, AlterNet. December 2, 2009.
World: The discovery of oil in Chad was supposed to allieviate poverty and human suffering, but it's only enriched Western Oil companies and the local dictators.

The Most Urgent Threat to World Peace Is … CanadaThe Most Urgent Threat to World Peace Is … Canada

By George Monbiot, Monbiot.com. December 2, 2009.
Environment: The harm this country could do in the next two weeks will outweigh all the good it has done in a century.

Waiting with 45,000 People Afraid of Losing Their Homes -- Ground Zero in America's Mortgage MeltdownWaiting with 45,000 People Afraid of Losing Their Homes -- Ground Zero in America's Mortgage Meltdown

By Andy Kroll, Tomdispatch.com. December 2, 2009.
Politics: The American home-owner's dream is on life support: millions are suffering disastrous subprime mortgages or sky-high interest rates.

The Recession Is Taking a Bite Out of Meat ConsumptionThe Recession Is Taking a Bite Out of Meat Consumption

By Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet. December 2, 2009.
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: More than half of Americans have cut back on meat. Martha Stewart broadcasts a meatless Thanksgiving show. What gives?

Obama's Misguided War Speech Shouldn't Be the Last Word on AfghanistanObama's Misguided War Speech Shouldn't Be the Last Word on Afghanistan

By John Nichols, The Nation. December 1, 2009.
World: Presidents are not supposed to begin and end the discussion about war. With both parties divided over Afghanistan, it's time for Congress to debate the Obama's war plan.

With the Copenhagen Summit Approaching, a Global Climate Movement EmergesWith the Copenhagen Summit Approaching, a Global Climate Movement Emerges

By Bryan Farrell, Indypendent. December 1, 2009.
Environment: From Britain to Australia, members of an enormous, diverse climate movement are getting organized.

Pennsylvania Residents Sue Gas Driller for Contamination, Health ConcernsPennsylvania Residents Sue Gas Driller for Contamination, Health Concerns

By Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica. December 1, 2009.
Health and Wellness: The civil case, filed in Scranton, Pa., seeks to stop future drilling in the Marcellus Shale by Cabot Oil and Gas near the town of Dimock.

Detroit Restaurant Workers Rally Against Wage-Stealing Restaurant ChainDetroit Restaurant Workers Rally Against Wage-Stealing Restaurant Chain

By Paul Abowd, Labor Notes. December 1, 2009.
Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: Members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan demonstrated against a slew of minimum-wage violations.

Will A Long-Awaited Israel/Palestine Prisoner Swap Finally Go Through?Will A Long-Awaited Israel/Palestine Prisoner Swap Finally Go Through?

By Jerrold Kessel, Pierre Klochendler, IPS News. December 1, 2009.
World: Whether or not Marwan Barghouti will be among those released on the Palestinian side could have important implications for the peace process.

Why Is the Department of Homeland Security Incarcerating Refugees Across the U.S.?Why Is the Department of Homeland Security Incarcerating Refugees Across the U.S.?

By Emily Creighton, Immigration Impact. December 1, 2009.
Rights and Liberties: The DHS should re-consider its policy of jailing "unadjusted" refugees.

Activists Protest Natural Resources Defense Council for Collaborating With PollutersActivists Protest Natural Resources Defense Council for Collaborating With Polluters

By Joseph Huff-Hannon, Huffington Post. December 1, 2009.
Politics: The protestors say that the environmental advocacy group has aligned itself with corporate interests whose goals for reducing emissions are far too limited.

Michael Moore: An Open Letter to President Obama on AfghanistanMichael Moore: An Open Letter to President Obama on Afghanistan

By Michael Moore, MichaelMoore.com. December 1, 2009.
World: You still have the opportunity to save thousands of lives and live up to your campaign promises. Don't become the next war president, Mr. Obama.

Have Women's Lives Improved Globally?Have Women's Lives Improved Globally?

By Laura Liswood, Women's Media Center. November 30, 2009.
Reproductive Justice and Gender: The World Economic Forum reported some major progress in the lives of women and girls in some surprising places.

What Do Levi Johnston, Evangelicals and Oprah Have in Common? They All Blind Us to What Really MattersWhat Do Levi Johnston, Evangelicals and Oprah Have in Common? They All Blind Us to What Really Matters

By Chris Hedges, Truthdig. November 30, 2009.
Media and Technology: Our obsessions revolve around the trivial and the absurd, while the course of human history is changing. Those who choose reality over fantasy are derided as pessimists.

30,000 More Troops? Obama Gives Orders For New Afghan Strategy30,000 More Troops? Obama Gives Orders For New Afghan Strategy

Agence France Presse. November 30, 2009.
Obama has already ordered the new strategy implemented and is informing the leaders of Russia, Britain and France of his plans.

Why Is the Media So Obsessed With Horrifying Images of African-American Mothers?Why Is the Media So Obsessed With Horrifying Images of African-American Mothers?

By Melissa Harris-Lacewell, The Nation. November 30, 2009.
Rights and Liberties: With Michelle Obama in the White House, I expected a resurgence of the Claire Huxtable stereotype. Instead, hideous depictions of abusive, irresponsible black moms are everywhere.

Revealed: Astroturf Groups Planning Massive California Water Grab to Benefit Big Ag and SoCalRevealed: Astroturf Groups Planning Massive California Water Grab to Benefit Big Ag and SoCal

By Dan Bacher, AlterNet. November 28, 2009.
Water: Their ultimate goals are to increase water exports from the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to corporate agribusiness and southern California.

Our Lives Are Filled With Worthless Crap That's Destroying the Earth: Here's What You Can DoOur Lives Are Filled With Worthless Crap That's Destroying the Earth: Here's What You Can Do

By Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin, In These Times. November 28, 2009.
Environment: The way to lower the quantity of energy required to make and distribute short-lived consumer goods is to make them durable, repairable and upgradable.

How One Journalist Learned About Modern Union-Busting the Hard WayHow One Journalist Learned About Modern Union-Busting the Hard Way

By Seth Sandronsky, AlterNet. November 28, 2009.
Rights and Liberties: Sara Steffens thought that labor negotiations were civilized affairs ... until her newsroom became a battlefield.

Republican Playbook on Immigration Debate Long on Emotions, Short on FactsRepublican Playbook on Immigration Debate Long on Emotions, Short on Facts

By Mary Giovagnoli, Immigration Impact. November 27, 2009.
Immigration: Senate Republicans have “thoughtfully’ provided immigration advocates with their strategy for opposing immigration reform in 2010.

Lou Dobbs, Looking at Public Office, Says He's in Favor of Policy He Used to Spin as Lou Dobbs, Looking at Public Office, Says He's in Favor of Policy He Used to Spin as "Shamnesty for Illegals"

By Joshua Holland, AlterNet. November 26, 2009.
Politics: Dobbs said he now favors the very legalization process for unauthorized immigrants that he's long derided as a brain-dead "amnesty".