2019-09-21: News Headlines

Roger D. Harris (2019-09-21). On the Road to Damascus: International Conference in Syria on Sanctions and Its Blowback. mintpressnews.com Syrians say it\'s even harder now to make ends meet than it was during the height of their country\'s war because of intensified U.S and European sanctions.

Mehdi Hasan (2019-09-21). How the White Nationalists Who Love Trump Found Inspiration in the Group That Gave Us Narendra Modi. theintercept.com The anti-Muslim mass murderer Anders Breivik found inspiration in the Hindu nationalist group where Narendra Modi got his start as a far-right activist.

Staff (2019-09-21). 4 Million People Strike for Climate Action. therealnews.com Organizers say this was the largest youth-led demonstration in history. TRNN spoke to demonstrators in New York and Baltimore…

Edward Snowden (2019-09-21). Why I Decided Not To Delete My Old Internet Posts. theintercept.com While working for the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden helped build a system to enable the United States government to capture all phone calls, text messages, and emails. Six years ago, he provided documents about this electronic panopticon to journalists, and the shocking revelations that ensued set off massive changes — changes in attitudes and behaviors, in policies and technologies, across private industry and the public sector, in the U.S. and around the world. | Now, in his new memoir \" Permanent Record,\" Snowden explains how his revol…

The Canary (2019-09-21). NHS hospitals using vintage makeovers to help dementia patients. thecanary.co NHS hospitals are stepping back in time with vintage makeovers to help dementia patients cope with stress and anxiety.Old photographs and cinema films, ration books and a replica 1950s television have been used to decorate wards, rooms and corridors across the country in a visual throwback to the 1940s and 1950s.NHS England believes the \"dementia-friendly adaptations\" could help patients who can be more easily disorientated adjust to their surroundings, lessen the likelihood of falls and reduce their reliance on medicine, while the Alzheimer\'s Society says it could give them a sense of independence and improve bo…

WSWS (2019-09-21). Chelsea Manning imprisoned without charge for six months for refusing to testify against Julian Assange. wsws.org Manning helped expose the vast scale of the violence unleashed upon the people of the Middle East by the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Leighton Akio Woodhouse (2019-09-21). A New Generation of Activists Put Their Bodies on the Line to Defend California\'s Forests. theintercept.com The deforestation of the Amazon is recognized around the world as a catastrophe for global climate change. Far less recognized is the threat of deforestation of temperate rainforests, such as the enormous coastal forest that stretches from Northern California to Alaska. By some estimates, temperate rainforests sequester from 2 to 7 times as much carbon per acre as tropical rainforests like the Amazon. Keeping these ecosystems healthy and intact is an imperative part of avoiding a future of cataclysmic global warming. | In Humboldt County, California, activists have been fighting for decades to preserve the forest…

Vegan Peace Punk (2019-09-21). S.F. Global Climate Change Strike + interviews. indybay.org SF Bay Area Youth and Allies Climate Strike rally + interviews (video)…

Extinction Rebellion, Sunrise Movement (2019-09-21). Climate Strike: Sound the Alarm for Climate Change Silent Protest (SF). indybay.org Ferry Building, located on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. | Also: Map of additional San Francisco warning siren locations can be found here: | sfdem.org/outdoor-public-warning-system-0

Elected Officials to Protect California (2019-09-21). California School Board Officials Urge School Districts to Allow Students to Take Part in Global Climate Protest. indybay.org Statement from California School Board Members on Youth Climate Strikes…

WSWS (2019-09-21). Climate strike protesters speak out: \"There\'s willful blindness on this issue, because fixing it conflicts with capitalism\" wsws.org WSWS reporters spoke with climate strike protesters in cities around the globe.

WSWS (2019-09-21). US drone massacre in Afghanistan. wsws.org At least 30 Afghan farmers and day laborers were killed and 40 others injured Wednesday night in a US drone attack, despite previous notification given to local officials of farming activity in the area.

Ed Sykes (2019-09-21). Bernie Sanders gives a perfect reason for the US to pull out of endless war in Afghanistan. thecanary.co On 19 September, news broke that a US drone strike in Afghanistan had killed around 30 civilians. And presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said this, among other \"horrors of endless war\", was a perfect reason for the US to finally pull out of Afghanistan almost two decades after its 2001 invasion. | A U.S. airstrike was intended for ISIS, but killed 30 Afghan civilians. This is just one of the horrors of endless war. ISIS did not even exist when America invaded Afghanistan 18 years ago. | We need to end our longest war and bring o…

Ed Sykes (2019-09-21). Bernie Sanders gives a perfect reason for the US to pull out of endless war in Afghanistan. thecanary.co On 19 September, news broke that a US drone strike in Afghanistan had killed around 30 civilians. And presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said this, among other \"horrors of endless war\", was a perfect reason for the US to finally pull out of Afghanistan almost two decades after its 2001 invasion. | t.co/qYWMcn4agZ | — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 19, 2019<...

WSWS (2019-09-21). India\'s top court greenlights New Delhi prolonging Kashmir state-of-siege indefinitely. wsws.org India\'s Hindu-supremacist BJP government has imposed an unprecedented security clampdown to suppress mass opposition to the constitutional coup it mounted against Kashmir August 5.

Peter Koenig (2019-09-21). \"Houthi Attack\" on Saudi Oil Fields — a False Flag? The Financial Reaction Was Immediate. globalresearch.ca The financial reaction was immediate. Saudi stocks fell, the oil prices rose, then settled and later fell again. It was an immediate reaction of major banks\' algorithmic speculation with about 10,000 operational hits a second. A trial for larger things to come?

Phil Rockstroh (2019-09-21). A Careless Bully at the KFC at the End of Empire. dissidentvoice.org Will Trump go to war with the Iranians or the homeless? Or both? Trump is a coward. The nation of Iran has the means and the will to fight. Do you recall the will displayed by Iranians when repelling foreign invaders when Iraq attempted to invade Iran as a de facto US proxy force? Conversely, …

WSWS (2019-09-21). US sending more troops to Saudi Arabia amid rising war tensions. wsws.org The announcement followed a White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and his National Security Council to discuss proposals for military action against Iran.

350 Humboldt (2019-09-21). Humboldt Climate Strike. indybay.org Arcata Plaza Square…

Staff (2019-09-21). Trump\'s Solution to the Homelessness Crisis: Deregulation and Criminalization. truthout.org | | Donald Trump went to California this week and took out his wrecking ball against the country\'s most populous state. | First, he ordered an end to the 49-year-old Clean Air Act waiver allowing California to set higher fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions standards than the federal government. Then he used California\'s appalling housing crisis as a way to further bash the city and state gover…

WSWS (2019-09-21). Bushfires in Australia: Another symptom of climate change. wsws.org Early spring fires are an \"omen\" of an unprecedented and disastrous season ahead due to hot, windy and dry conditions.

UUSF Forum (2019-09-21). Strike for Climate Justice discussion. indybay.org Unitarian Universalist Society, San Francisco | 1187 Franklin @ Geary | San Francisco, Ca.

WSWS (2019-09-21). Millions march against climate change, capitalism and war. wsws.org \"Any talk about climate change must include socialism and the economic system.\"

Staff (2019-09-21). Climate Emergency Declarations Are the First Step. Here\'s What Comes Next. truthout.org | | Last week, the climate emergency movement reached a historic milestone — 1,000 governments across the world have declared a climate emergency. Cities and jurisdictions representing over 210 million people from New York, Paris, London and Sydney to New Haven, Austin and Sacramento have joined a movement that has spread to all parts of society including colleges and universities a…

Santa Cruz Global Climate Strike Coalition (2019-09-21). Santa Cruz Global Climate Strike. indybay.org Santa Cruz Wells Fargo 74 River St Santa Cruz…

Staff (2019-09-21). Corporate Agribusiness Is Blocking Important Action on the Climate. truthout.org | | Climate change action plans often call for less fossil fuel usage, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and a shift toward renewable energy sources. But one area that hasn\'t received the broader attention it deserves is industrial farming. | The latest report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determine…

Direct Action Monterey Network (2019-09-21). bonfire – Call for Submissions. indybay.org bonfire is a \'zine committed to connecting local voices and experiences to critical thought and global struggles. As we face climate disaster, intensifying state violence, emboldened white nationalism, and globalized capitalism that enriches the few at the expense of the many, there is a rising sense that the current system is no longer tenable. Now is the time to think beyond the limits of what we are told is possible and to imagine and bring to life the kind of world that can meaningfully sustain all of us.

Jason Ditz (2019-09-21). Pentagon Deploys US Forces to Defend Saudi Oil. theantimedia.com The Pentagon just announced that they will be deploying more U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia.

WSWS (2019-09-21). Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren mixes anti-corruption demagogy with identity politics at New York City rally. wsws.org Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren sought to bolster illusions that the Democratic Party is capable of reining in the domination of the US government by the super-rich.

Terra Cultura (2019-09-21). Tincture Making Workshop. indybay.org Terra Cultura is an Educational Eco-Arts Farm. | Our mission is to strengthen community resilience through education and collaboration in agroecology, sustainable living, and the arts. | We facilitate hands-on learning and cooperative projects that strengthen our food systems, environment, and communities. Together, we are nourishing a culture of environmental stewardship and honing the tools to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

anybody (2019-09-21). Elizabeth Warren organizing happy hour. indybay.org La Guerrera\'s Kitchen, Oakland…

WSWS (2019-09-21). \"Take control of the struggle!\" Logistics workers at UPS and FedEx support GM strike, warn of union treachery. wsws.org Workers at UPS, where the Teamsters union forced through a sellout last year, and at FedEx are closely watching the GM strike and support a unified struggle of the working class.

Julia Conley, staff writer (2019-09-21). \'We\'re Not Through\': After Biggest Climate Protest in History Draws 4 Million Worldwide, Campaigners Prepare for Week of Action. commondreams.org As organizers behind Friday's Global Climate Strike reported that four million children and adults attended marches and rallies all over the world—making it the biggest climate protest ever—they assured leaders who have been reticent to take bold climate action that the campaigners' work is far from over. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/picmonkey_image1_0.jpg

pip.hinman (2019-09-21). Is Moreland council using hostile architecture against homeless people? greenleft.org.au poverty Sue BoltonIssue 1238 Australia homelessness Moreland City Council MelbourneSeptember 21, 2019A public debate has erupted ove…

susan_p (2019-09-21). Italy: new government to stop the far-right. greenleft.org.au Italian politics Daniele FulviIssue 1238 Spain anti-racism anti-fascismSeptember 21, 2019Following weeks of negotiations, Italy\'s 5 Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD) have agreed to form a…

pip.hinman (2019-09-21). Extinction Rebellion blockades Melbourne bridge. greenleft.org.au climate emergencyIssue 1238 Australia Extinction Rebellion MelbourneSeptember 21, 2019Extinction Rebellion activists blockaded Princes Bridge in Melbourne\'s CBD for several hours on September 14. | Several dozen people were arrested. | Extinction Rebellion activis…

pip.hinman (2019-09-21). Extinction Rebellion debates stance on police: friend or foe? greenleft.org.au climate emergency Sarah HathwayIssue 1238 Australia Extinction Rebellion climate action policeSeptember 21, 2019On September…

Marc Brodine (2019-09-20). Green Strategy: Building the movement to stop climate change. peoplesworld.org The following is an excerpt from Marc Brodine\'s new book, Green Strategy: Path to Fundamental Transformation, available from International Publishers. The key to creating fundamental change is to create a movement broad enough, diverse enough, powerful enough, and sophisticated enough to embrace billions of people the world over. We can confidently predict that the environmental …

Valerie Reynoso (2019-09-20). The Rising Monopoly of Monsanto-Bayer. counterpunch.org Monsanto was an agrochemical and agricultural biotech company established in the US that became a large producer of GMO crops, with their main GMO crop having been corn. Monsanto was bought by Bayer, a German multinational pharmaceutical company, in late 2016 for $63 billion dollars. This deal was approved in early 2018 by the European Union More

Rachel M. Cohen (2019-09-20). The Environmental Left Is Softening on Carbon-Capture Technology. Maybe That\'s OK. theintercept.com At the start of this year, more than 600 environmental groups — including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Sunrise Movement — sent a letter to Congress saying they will \"vigorously oppose\" federal climate legislation that promotes \"corporate schemes\" like carbon-capture and storage. | Congress was not chastened. This past July, tucked in the Senate\'s $287 billion highway reauthorization bill, was a bipartisan measure to support carbon-ca…

Lee Hall (2019-09-20). Mayor Obedience Training, From the Pet Products Industry. counterpunch.org Mars Petcare US—purveyor of pet products including Whiskas Æ, Greenies‚Ñ¢, Sheba Æ, Cesar Æ, and Iams‚Ñ¢—is a division of the $35 billion Mars (M&Ms) chocolate empire. Mars chocolate is problematic in its own ways—serious ways—but today I focus on the corporation\'s pet fetish. Mars\'s 2019 BETTER CITIES FOR PETS‚Ñ¢ gimmick was announced at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Summer Meeting More

RT (2019-09-20). SHOCKER! Area 51 raid FLOPS as bunch of YouTubers chat up guards instead of running to \'see them aliens\' (PHOTOS). rt.com A viral prank that promised to see two million alien hunters breach the gates of Area 51 has ended with a whimper instead of a bang, drawing only a few dozen enthusiasts for the much-anticipated \'raid.\' | Initially a mock Facebook event, \"Storm Area 51\" quickly became a phenomenon that garnered interest from hundreds of thousands of netizens, who signed up to blaze past police and military guards to \"see them aliens\" at the top-secret Nevada facility. Some celebrities who\'d promised to join in heated up the memeful event even more, while the authorities tried to pour cold water on even the idea of a peaceful a…

Staff (2019-09-20). Activists Face Felony Charges for Blocking Houston Oil Tanker Corridor. therealnews.com Under a new law backed by Big Oil and passed in statehouses nationwide, Greenpeace USA activists face felony charges for the action. Texas is the second state to bring such charges under the \"critical infrastructure\" law…

Robert J. Burrowes (2019-09-20). The Struggle for Peace in Afghanistan: Is Community Engagement the Key? dissidentvoice.org I have just read a superb book by Mark Isaacs, an Australian who has documented several years of effort by a group of incredibly committed young people in Afghanistan to build peace in that war-torn country the only way it can be built: by learning, living and sharing peace. The book, titled The Kabul Peace …

Ismael Hossein-Zadeh (2019-09-20). Unipolar Governance of the Multipolar World. counterpunch.org The emergence in recent years of the economic and military powers in countries like China, Russia and India has given rise to theories and hopes of a multipolar world that could temper the heavy-handed unilateral/unipolar policies of the United States on a global level. Such hopes are further buoyed by the fact that these rising poles of economic development have instituted a number of regional international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the China-sponsored Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Eurasian Economic Union that incorporates Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzsta…

Miguel Gutierrez (2019-09-20). El Desmadre: The Colonial Roots of Anti-Mexican Violence. counterpunch.org On August 3, 2019 a white supremacist walked into a Walmart in El Paso, Texas and murdered 22 people and injured dozens more. Shortly before the attack, he posted online comments complaining about a \"Hispanic invasion.\" He later told authorities that he was specifically targeting \"Mexicans.\" Just a few days before the El Paso massacre, another shooting in Gilroy, California left 3 dead and many more injured. The murderer in this case had online postings about invading \"hordes of mestizos\" and recommended that people read a white supremacist favorite \"Might is Right\" which, among other things, exalts the racial su…

Tatiana Dias (2019-09-20). Brazil\'s Army Wanted to \"Occupy\" the Amazon Before. Leaked Audio Reveals Their Plan to Try Again. theintercept.com Jair Bolsonaro and Brazil\'s army are reviving an old dream of the dictatorship to bring industry, mining, and settlers to the Amazon.

Robert Scheer (2019-09-20). America Keeps Getting China All Wrong. truthdig.com For decades, China has been an enigmatic foe and friend to the United States. From trade to immigration, the two international giants have been linked in inextricable ways in recent years. With Donald Trump\'s current trade war with China and the Hong Kong protests hitting headlines, Americans are once again thinking about the Chinese in a more nuanced way. Yet there is still a lot of misinformation about the Asian nation circulating at all levels of American society, including within the Trump administrat…

Jimmysllama (2019-09-20). Through the Eyes of Jesselyn Radack: A Look at the Vital Role of Whistleblowers and Their Attorneys. mintpressnews.com \"By protecting whistleblowers, sources, and online activists, we facilitate robust investigative journalism, hold government to account, protect the freedoms of speech, privacy and the press, and foster the most critical component of democratic society: an informed citizenry.\" — Whistleblower and Source Protection Program…

Rob Urie (2019-09-20). Strike for the Environment, Strike for Social Justice, Strike! counterpunch.org A very large chasm exists between those in power, including most of the 2020 presidential candidates, and environmentalists and scientists intent on acting now to resolve growing environmental crises. To reiterate what is known, the United Nations, through its IPCC and the IPBES committees, has provided comprehensive evidence that little time remains to avert catastrophic global warming. And the world is already in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. More