Fox, GOP team up to lie about Net Neutrality

Beware of misinformation in the media on the critical issue of net neutrality legislation that is soon to be entering an open comment period before implementation. The key to the law are provisions to bar telecoms from controlling access to lawful content, to maintain an open Internet, and does NOT represent broader federal or FCC regulations for users as commentators on Fox and other outlets would have you believe.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/07/991900/-Fox,-GOP-team-up-to-lie-about-Net-Neutrality?utm

Bureaucrats in Oak Park, Michigan Threaten Woman With Jail Time For Growing Vegetables in Her Own Front Yard

There's a disturbing amount of persecution going on around the country of people who grow their own food and this case in Michigan has created quite a media-fueled firestorm. Since this story was published, and thousands of citizens flooded Oak Park with support for the farming lady, a judge dismissed the charges though the city retains the right to bring them again. 
http://www.NaturalNews.com/032960_Julie_Bass_home_gardening.html

Story Update:
Oak Park Drops Charges After Unfavorable Press, Pursuing Other Misdemeanors in Court
http://www.naturalnews.com/033010_Oak_Park_Julie_Bass.html

With Arctic Ice at Record Low, NSIDC Director Serreze says “we are on track to see an ice-free summer by 2030. It is an overall downward spiral.”

The alarming decline of Arctic Ice is accelerating according to recent sties based on satellite imaging and other analysis. The implications of the continued melting of the polar ice caps is enormous for civilizations across the globe and we'd better take collective actions throughout the world if we are to have a chance to slow these trends and stem global warming.
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/16/266463/arctic-ice-at-record-low-nsidc-director-serreze-ice-free-summer-by-2030-downward-spiral/

Inside ALEC, The Koch-Funded Group Behind Right-Wing State Laws

More on ALEC, the right-wing sponsored American Legislative Exchange Council, and a host of specific legislation that's been developed and disseminated by this organization among conservative lawmakers. The Right is certainly well-organized and aggressive in pursuing its radical agenda. The goal is to reduce the power of public sector unions by curtailing their collective bargaining rights and ability to function as a political opposition to capital, and open the doors for privatization of services in big cities around the country. The rest of us better get with the game or we'll be very sorry indeed.
http://www.alternet.org/news/151627/inside_alec,_the_koch-funded_group_behind_right-wing_state_laws/?utm

Investigate Murdoch's News Corp.? Nah.

Some members of Congress and other organizations are calling for a DOJ or Congressional investigation of News Corps conduct in its news gathering activities springing out of the revelation in Britain that Ruppert Murdoch's behemoth media company hacked into private communications in the search for scandalous news. The owner of Fox News and the WSJ could potentially be investigated for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in this case and also may be guilty of similar practices with regard to 9/11 victim's families. I'd love to see this media mogul under the glare of a full-blown investigation but there don't seem to be much will to investigate at this point.
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/07/will-congress-investigate-news-corp

From Hired Guns to Hired Hands: A Center for Responsive Politics 'Revolving Door' Investigation

Remember presidential candidate Barack Obama railing against the influence of lobbyists in Washington during his campaign? Well, after failing to keep former lobbyists out of his own administration and getting slammed in the 2010 midterm elections, legions of former lobbyists are now crawling throughout federal agencies and Congress with unprecedented access and influence on governance. The Center for Responsive Politics has conducted an investigation into this problem, one of the key issues preventing our elected officials from truly representing the public interest, and their extensive report can be read here.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/07/from-hired-guns-to-hired-hands.html

New York Governor Cuomo Should Count Each Reason for Banning Fracking

Fracking is a major issue throughout much of the country and it's at the top of the list of current issues in the state of New York. Governor Cuomo recently indicated that he is inclined to allow dangerous and virtually unregulated hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in 85% of the state, only banning it from the NYC and Syracuse watersheds. Food & Water Watch and many other organizations, farmers and businessmen are pushing for a statewide ban on the destructive banning practice. This link provides a short video urging Cuomo to ban fracking and a petition to get personally involved in this battle.
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/new-york-governor-cuomo-should-count-each-reason-for-banning-fracking/

Bradley Manning Torture Probe Monitoring By U.S. Violates U.N. Rules: Official

The United States disregard for international conventions related to treatment and UN access to prisoners is deplorable. in their efforts to discourage future whistleblowers in the military and elsewhere in government, the Obama Administration has consistently trampled Bradley Manning civil rights and dignity. I'd like to think that American democracy could withstand the scrutiny of its actions without resorting to uncivilized efforts to intimidate and silence critics.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/bradley-manning-torture-probe-monitoring-violates-un-rules-_n_895485.html

GMO Rice is On It’s Way to a Store Near You

An amusing video about the promotion of GMO Rice in the UK, produced by Greenpeace. Check it out; it's a light treatment of a heavy issue and touches on many of the concerns we should all have about GMO foods.
http://farmwars.info/?p=6403&utm

Codex Commission – Voluntary GMO Labeling Okay with WTO?

Some reasonably good news, for a change, on the GMO labeling front. The US dropped its 20-year opposition to a World Trade Organization Codex Alimentarius agreement stating that countries who decide to label GMOs in food will not be subject to WTO unfair trade litigation. However, the proof will be in the pudding and the biotechs and their allies will likely try to influence the language of the agreement to make implementation of labeling difficult so as to protect their GMO-based profits.
http://farmwars.info/?p=6408&utm

GOP Lawmaker Refuses To Believe The Fact That Rep. Eric Cantor Is Shorting U.S. Treasury Bonds

I previously posted the story from Salon about Eric Cantor's short position on US debt. I haven't seen much other coverage on this issue but believe it should be a big national story about the ethical issues of lawmakers and that Cantor should divest himself of this investment. Cantor, it turns out, is also a big defender of banks and has fought against regulating mortgage related issues including opposition to preventing banks from robo-signing in foreclosure activities. Meanwhile, this ThinkProgress report details a GOP lawmaker's response of disbelief when confronted with Cantor's investment. Why isn't the national media on this story that is so pertinent to the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations?
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/08/263264/olson-cantor-shorting-treasury/

Scary maps of the new climate normal

More evidence of a warming planet and some information related to these patterns in the US and their effects on plant and pest life.
http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-07-08-scary-maps-of-the-new-climate-normal

Chinese oil spill half the size of London went unreported for a month

This outrageous story demonstrates once again that industry (whether Capitalist or Communist) will keep the public in the dark about environmental and health catastrophes without vigilant oversight from the media and regulators. The unmitigated gall of the Chinese in this case is a fresh example of industrial priorities; maintain profits over public health concerns whenever possible. It's only the scale of this spill and the resulting oil slick that brought this event out in the open.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/jul/07/china-oil-spill-cover-up-bohai-sea?CMP=twt_fd

Don’t Gimme That Filet-O-Fish!

This Food & Water Watch piece questions the integrity of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) labels on fish products that are supposed to indicate sustainable fishery practices. They point out that the organization profits from the products that receive its labels and in the case of McDonald's Filet O' Fish, recently blessed with the sustainable label, fails to adhere to rigorous definitions of sustainable seafood.
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/don’t-gimme-that-filet-o-fish/

Women’s Groups Call on Judge to Step Down Pending Investigation into Choking Incident

I'd love to see this intolerant, misogynist, controversial and conservative member of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court step down while his actions are being investigated. Don't count on him doing so on his own though - there's too much at stake in Wisconsin politics, and he's too much of a political animal, for Prosser to go down quietly. Beware of the spin on this case as Prosser and his friends in the media are already mounting a "blame the victim" campaign.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/07/10874/women’s-groups-call-judge-step-down-pending-investigation-choking-incident

Cuomo's no liberal lion

Despite legalizing gay marriage in New York and his opposition to the Indian Point nuclear power plant, Governor Cuomo has coddled Wall Street, the oil and gas industry and other corporate interests at the expense of ordinary citizens, according to David Sirota.
http://www.salon.com/news/david_sirota/2011/07/05/cuomo_not_liberal_lion/index.html

In One of His First Public Appearances Since Arrest, Julian Assange Explains How WikiLeaks Has Turned World Politics Upside Down

Amy Goodman recently moderated a discussion between the persecuted Julian Assange of WikiLeaks and the Slovenian philosopher, Slavoj Zizek,  covering a wide range of issues related to transparency issues, whistleblowers and Assange's house arrest and other legal issues. The founder of WikiLeaks has not been charged with a crime in any country but nonetheless has had to fight extradition for questioning in a peculiar Swedish case. This is a fascinating discussion of perhaps the most critical issue facing humanity today; the battle between the proponents of secrecy, most often used to suppress politically sensitive details of governance, with those who fight to protect the right to publish information about the state's actions with or without its approval. As you will see in this piece, information matters. 
http://www.alternet.org/news/151531/in_one_of_his_first_public_appearances_since_arrest,_julian_assange_explains_how_wikileaks_has_turned_world_politics_upside_down/?utm

Full Video of Assange/Zizek Interview from Democracy Now!
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/7/5/watch_full_video_of_wikileaks_julian_assange_philosopher_slavoj_iek_with_amy_goodman

WikiLeaks News and Views from Greg Mitchell at The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/blog/161816/wikileaks-news-views-blog-wednesday-july-6

Fourth of July Lies

A WORTHWHILE OPINION TO READ ON THIS THE 4TH OF JULY. THE BIRTHDAY OF MY COUNTRY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YES WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH TO CELEBRATE, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEWN A DARK SIDE INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT THAT NEEDS SOME REFLECTION ON THIS HOLIDAY. THIS ARTICLE BY JUNE TERPSTRA CLEARLY BRINGS UP SOME HARSH CHALLENGES WE ARE UP AGAINST.

June Terpstra, Ph.D. is an activist, educator and university lecturer in Justice studies, Criminal Justice and sociology. She has founded numerous programs for homeless, abused, youth and oppressed people in the U.S.A. She is presently teaching courses on law and terrorism, social justice, resistance, criminology, and juvenile Justice. She is a former Community Research Fellow and doctoral graduate of Loyola University Chicago.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28482.htm

France Bans Fracking Nationwide

Food & Water Watch reports on the vote by the French Senate to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing in that nation, and to revoke all existing permits. Meanwhile, the state of New Jersey has voted to ban fracking but it remains to be seen whether Governor Christie will sign it into law, a big question indeed. In North Carolina Gov. Perdue vetoed a bill that would have opened that state to fracking. In Texas, Gov. Perry signed a bill that requires oil and gas companies there to reveal ALL of the chemicals used in fracking within the state. Hallelujah! In New York, however, after a DEC report on fracking the state is banning it from the NYC and Syracuse watersheds but allowing it under more rigorous regulation in 85% of the marcellus shale region. Not good enough so we'll have to keep pushing for a statewide ban.
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/freedom-fracking-in-the-u-s-a/

France Vote Outlaws ‘Fracking’ Shale for Natural Gas, Oil Extraction
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-01/france-vote-outlaws-fracking-shale-for-natural-gas-oil-extraction.html

NYS - New Recommendations Issued in Hydraulic Fracturing Review
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/75403.html

New York Proposes Permanent Ban on Fracking Near Watershed and State Land
http://www.propublica.org/article/fracking-still-on-hold-in-new-york-pending-environmental-review

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Opens Fracking Floodgates
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/06/10869/new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-opens-fracking-floodgates

When Scientists Take to the Streets It’s Time to Listen Up

Climate Scientists in Australia are taking to the streets to combat the persistent non-science claims of climate deniers. Many Australian scientists have received death threats for work that documents the evidence that global warming is severely disrupting weather patterns throughout the world.
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/02/257869/when-scientists-take-to-the-streets-it’s-time-to-listen-up/