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SPECIAL NEWS ALERT: 1 in 100 US Adults in Prison, All-time US Record, World’s Highest Rate

February 29, 2008 :: The Editors :: One Comment

For the first time in the nation’s history, 1 in every 100 adults in the United States is behind bars. Fully 1% of the adult population is in prison. The US incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world, including Communist China, with a population more than 4 times the size. The US [...]

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SPECIAL NEWS ALERT: Fidel Castro retires from Cuban leadership, potentially opening way for reform

February 20, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Fidel Castro has announced he will retire from leadership of the Cuban government; in a letter published by the official state newspaper, Granma, he wrote that he “will not accept, I repeat, I neither want nor will accept, the position of president of the Council of State and commander in chief”; the move comes after [...]

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FIdel Castro steps down as Cuban leader after 49 years in power; France, US, UK officially recognize Kosovo…

February 19, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

19 February :: At 81, Fidel Castro has announced his retirement as head of state, potentially opening door to political reform, after 49 years under the regime he founded when his revolution took power in 1959; Cuban exiles have expressed little enthusiasm as in past, due to his brother’s apparently firm hold on power… US, [...]

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SPECIAL NEWS ALERT: Fidel Castro retires from Cuban leadership, potentially opening way for reform

February 19, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Fidel Castro has announced he will retire from leadership of the Cuban government; in a letter published by the official state newspaper, Granma, he wrote that he “will not accept, I repeat, I neither want nor will accept, the position of president of the Council of State and commander in chief”; the move comes after [...]

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Dallas Morning News breaks US media silence on Sibel Edmonds case; Serbia pledges "peaceful" resistance to Kosovo independence…

February 18, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

18 February :: Dallas Morning News becomes first “mainstream” or corporate-owned US media outlet to run the now partially corroborated story regarding allegations of US officials’ selling nuclear secrets to foreign operatives, possibly to enemy, terrorists; DMN ran revised edition of Philip Giraldi’s investigative report from The American Conservative magazine questioning the US media’s role [...]

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ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: Reported "Zero" Count or Undercount of Obama Votes in Some NY Precincts Raises Questions

February 18, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

The Democratic party is again facing questions about its handling of the primary process in some precincts in New York City, where initial “unofficial” tallies reported zero votes for Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, rival of local junior senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for the party’s presidential nomination. The undercounts occurred in precincts bordering on precincts [...]

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Kosovo to declare independence from Serbia, EU to help organize new state; Musharraf says elections will go ahead in Pakistan…

February 17, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

17 February :: Kosovo to declare independence from Serbia today, according to reports from Pristina, EU agencies; EU officials said “around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo”, according to CNN, [...]

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Green Investment Boom Gets Traction: Fund Promises $10 Billion for Clean Energy

February 16, 2008 :: J.E. Robertson :: Comments Off

The coming green, renewable resource economyThe private investment fund Ceres, a group of institutional investors, has promised to devote $10 billion to investment in clean energy sources. The news comes as 3 of the world’s major oil companies call for coordinated policy on how to face climate change, constrain emissions, and a couple of months after 150 global corporations asked for a major boost in subsidized research into transitioning to clean energy technologies.

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Grain prices to soar by 35% in poor countries in 2008; US Senate bans harsh interrogations; bomb kills top Hezbollah agent in Damascus…

February 14, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

14 February :: Record-high grain prices will cause an untenable 35% minimum increase in poor nations’ expenditures for cereals imports through July 2008, reports UN Food and Agriculture Organization; prices have increased rapidly due to record oil prices, dramatic deterioration of arable land in China — turning world’s most populous nation into net importer of [...]

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POTOMAC PRIMARIES: Obama sweeps VA, DC, MD by wide margins, claims frontrunner status; McCain widens lead with sweep as well…

February 14, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Illinois senator Barack Obama scored three convincing wins over rival Hillary Clinton, senator for New York, in the Democrats’ ‘Potomac primaries’. Obama won Virginia by a margin of 64% tp 35%, Maryland by a margin of 60% to 37%, and the District of Columbia by a margin of 75% to 24%, over Clinton. Sen. Clinton [...]

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Dawn of the Anthropocene Epoch

February 11, 2008 :: J.E. Robertson :: Comments Off

At a meeting of European scientists, in Stockholm, Sweden, the man who coined the term ‘anthropocene’ to describe the new geological epoch in which human influence dominates natural processes, announced that the term has gained acceptance in a growing number of fields. The real import of the term, and of its increasing relevance to what science is showing about the effects of human civilization on the environment, globally, is that ecological information is increasingly vital to implementing human ambitions in a responsible and sustainable way.

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ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: Louisiana Democrats Disenfranchised When Party Registration Switched

February 11, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

The presidential campaign of Barack Obama has issued a statement regarding reports of voter-registration irregularities in Louisiana that allegedly led to the denial of the vote to hundreds of people. The Obama campaign website published the following: The Obama campaign submitted an urgent request for assistance to the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections today, [...]

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ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: Washington GOP Primary Called with 242 Vote Margin at Just 87% of Count

February 11, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

The presidential campaign of Mike Huckabee is “exploring all available legal options regarding the dubious final results for the state of Washington State Republican precinct caucuses”. The state’s Republican party halted the count at 87% of votes counted, a margin of just 242 votes separating John McCain from Mike Huckabee, and a reported 12,000 votes [...]

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ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: Louisiana Democrats Disenfranchised When Party Registration Switched

February 11, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

The presidential campaign of Barack Obama has issued a statement regarding reports of voter-registration irregularities in Louisiana that allegedly led to the denial of the vote to hundreds of people. The Obama campaign website published the following: The Obama campaign submitted an urgent request for assistance to the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections today, [...]

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ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: Washington GOP Primary Called with 242 Vote Margin at Just 87% of Count

February 11, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

The presidential campaign of Mike Huckabee is “exploring all available legal options regarding the dubious final results for the state of Washington State Republican precinct caucuses”. The state’s Republican party halted the count at 87% of votes counted, a margin of just 242 votes separating John McCain from Mike Huckabee, and a reported 12,000 votes [...]

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Khmer Rouge tribunal facing budget crisis; G7 warn global economy at risk; Obama takes Wash., Louisiana, Nebraska; Huckabee takes Kansas, LA……

February 10, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

10 February :: Highest official yet from Khmer Rouge Cambodian regime, accused of murdering 1.7 million people in ideological purge 3 decades ago, stands trial, but tribunal is facing managerial crisis, related to allegations of mismanagement and lack of sustainable budget… Financial ministers from the “G7″ group of industrialized democracies have said the prosperity of [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: Romney Quits Race, Obama Raises $7.2 million in 48 hours

February 8, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

After winning 7 states in the “near nationwide” primary voting on Tuesday, it looked like fmr. Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has retired from the race for the Republican nomination for the presidency. After pulling even with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for the first time in multiple nationwide polls, and winning 13 states on Super Tuesday, [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: New Mexico Faces Questions of Process Integrity in Democratic Caucus

February 7, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Reports from New Mexico are demonstrating a range of problems that faced voters during the Super Tuesday “nationwide primary” Democratic party caucuses there. The New Mexico caucus system is run by the party itself, and involves actual paper ballots, cast by each individual voting. But the list of voters eligible to participate is not maintained [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: New Mexico Faces Questions of Process Integrity in Democratic Caucus

February 7, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Reports from New Mexico are demonstrating a range of problems that faced voters during the Super Tuesday “nationwide primary” Democratic party caucuses there. The New Mexico caucus system is run by the party itself, and involves actual paper ballots, cast by each individual voting. But the list of voters eligible to participate is not maintained [...]

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Bush admin. says waterboarding legal, may be used again; Malay destruction of Hindu temples sparks anger; UK bugs MP without warrant…

February 7, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

7 February :: Bush spokesman says “waterboarding” is legal, may be authorized for use at any time, “under certain circumstances”; critics express disbelief, as two recent laws, Supreme Court ruling clearly bar use of abusive interrogation techniques; according to the LA Times “The technique has been traced to the Spanish Inquisition and has been the [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: Balloting Irregularities Reported in Los Angeles County, New Jersey & Georgia

February 6, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

As the most widespread presidential primary vote in US history took place yesterday, across the continent and beyond (American Samoa also voted), there were glitches, confusion and unjustifiable waits in states across the country. Three examples stand out: touchscreen machines failing in New Jersey, a suspiciously confusing ballot in Los Angeles, and multiple irregularities in [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: Balloting Irregularities Reported in Los Angeles County, New Jersey & Georgia

February 6, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

As the most widespread presidential primary vote in US history took place yesterday, across the continent and beyond (American Samoa also voted), there were glitches, confusion and unjustifiable waits in states across the country. Three examples stand out: touchscreen machines failing in New Jersey, a suspiciously confusing ballot in Los Angeles, and multiple irregularities in [...]

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Why Ethanol Production Will Drive World Food Prices Even Higher in 2008

February 6, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Lester R. Brown, EPI :: We are witnessing the beginning of one of the great tragedies of history. The United States, in a misguided effort to reduce its oil insecurity by converting grain into fuel for cars, is generating global food insecurity on a scale never seen before. The world is facing the most severe [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: Clinton, Obama Draw Even, McCain Takes Commanding Lead in GOP Race

February 6, 2008 :: The Editors :: 2 Comments

The figures from the biggest day of primary voting in US history are coming in, and reveal a lot of interesting detail about the make-up of the campaigns. Sen. John McCain was the day’s big winner, though he did not win enough delegates to seal the nomination. McCain, still struggling to convince many conservative Republicans, [...]

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Chad calm after France threatens to intervene to protect gov’t; CIA admits to using waterboarding in 3 interrogations; 24 states vote in primaries…

February 5, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

5 February :: Quiet in Chad capital N’Djamena, after France announces it will intervene to protect Déby gov’t, rebels pull back; at least one Darfur rebel group also said it would fight to protect Déby’s gov’t, as it considers Déby an ally in its fight against the Sudan regime of Omar al-Bashir… CIA Director Michael [...]

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SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES: As 24 States Go to Polls, Clinton in Dead Heat with Obama, McCain Leads GOP

February 5, 2008 :: The Editors :: 4 Comments

The biggest prize in the Super Tuesday 24-state primary vote today will be California, with more than 36 million inhabitants, the most populous state in the nation. Observers expect Clinton and Obama to nearly split the delegates available, which amount to more than 50% of the total. The Republican contest could be close to being [...]

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Final Bush Budget Shows Economic Weakness, Policies at Odds with Marketplace, Moment

February 5, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

Among the numerous scathing criticisms leveled against the record $3.1 trillion federal budget proposal —which will be the last of the George W. Bush White House— are fiscal irresponsibility, near record deficits, and plans to cut or eliminate fully 151 federal programs, in an effort to save just $18 billion, while base Defense Dept. spending [...]

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Bush presents record $3.1 trillion budget; France does not intervene to stop Chad rebels, despite UNSC approval; London creates low-emissions zone…

February 4, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

4 February :: US pres. George W. Bush has presented the nation’s first federal budget exceeding $3 billion in spending; while giving generous expansions to defense spending, the budget seeks to cut $196 billion from healthcare spending, and projects near record budget deficits for at least two years; Bush claims that part of the 6% [...]

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‘Davos Conversation’ Allows Public to Match Ideas with Policy-Makers

February 4, 2008 :: staff :: Comments Off

The ‘Davos Conversation’ is a multimedia effort to bring online public together with major policy-makers, activists and economists, to broaden the scope of debate at the World Economic Forum. The question which was used as a platform for the online forum was “what one thing would make the world a better place?” Individual citizens, government [...]

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Unified Earth Theory: Can Integrating Efforts to Reduce Poverty with Sustainable Development Heal Global Economy?

February 4, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

At the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, a range of ideas from international disease relief, healthcare, security, climate change, extreme poverty, and the responsibility of market incentives, took the discussions in a new direction. Fmr. US vice-president Al Gore spoke of the need for a “marriage” of policy regarding extreme poverty and the climate [...]

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Polar Bear May Be Listed by US as Endangered by Global Warming

February 4, 2008 :: The Editors :: 14 Comments

The global climate change crisis may soon enter a new phase in terms of human society’s reaction, efforts to curb harmful activities that exacerbate the problem. The United States Dept. of the Interior is considering a proposal to list the polar bear as the first species facing extinction specifically as a side-effect of global warming. [...]

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Chad rebels stage coup attempt, refugee aid may be stalled; Obama, McCain gain momentum in CA…

February 3, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

3 February :: Surge in violence in Chad appears to be coup attempt against Déby gov’t in N’Djamena; France has begun evacuating foreigners from Chad, in face of what could be severe violence between rebels, gov’t; rebel offensive comes just days before EU “humanitarian protection force” set to arrive in Chad… CSM reports “If President [...]

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Mentally disabled women used as suicide attackers in Baghdad; Google facing lawsuit for censorship in China…

February 2, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

2 February :: Wash. Post reports “Two mentally disabled women strapped with remote-control explosives — and possibly used as unwitting suicide bombers — brought carnage to the two pet bazaars, in attacks Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said sought to ‘turn Baghdad back to the pre-surge period’”; at least 99 people were killed in the two [...]

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3rd undersea internet cable cut in recent days; US economy loses 17,000 jobs, signaling slowdown; eye-tracking tech moves into video-gaming…

February 1, 2008 :: The Editors :: Comments Off

1 February :: After two undersea internet cables were cut by unknown means in recent days, in the Mediterranean, a third has been cut in the Persian Gulf, off the emirate of Dubai; two of the cables belong to FLAG Telecom, and the cuts interrupted phone and web traffic from Europe to India… Bloomberg reporting [...]

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Against the Good Nukes / Bad Nukes Fallacy

Cynicism often lends itself to the construction of intellectually convenient, overly facile descriptions of future events, which —bolstered by the impassioned worries and self-promotion of the cynic, the anti-prophet— quickly assume an air of prophetic certainty. Buoyed by the psychological satisfaction of carrying prophetic certainty within, the cynic then commits more and more fully to the proclamation of unshakeable doctrines about the future, based on bad-faith arguments and a passion for the despairing global outlook.

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