During This Economic Crisis, Capitalism’s Three Point Political Program: 1. Austerity, 2. Scapegoating Blacks, Minorities, and ‘Illegal Immigrants’ for Unemployment, and 3. The Iron Heel.
Democracy?: As the Capitalist Robber Barons Steal from the 99% — Only the 1% Voted For Austerity — The 99% Should Decide On Austerity — Not Just Those Who Profit From Austerity! Under Austerity, All of the World Will Eventually Be Pauperized, Humbled, and Desecrated Like Greece and Puerto Rico!
In referring to the EPA’s statements, the article quotes Joel Kupferman, the executive director of the Environmental Law and Justice Project: ‘They’ve [EPA] created this false climate that things are safe,’ he said. Alerted to concerns about Tabb’s building, he said, ‘the project hired an independent industrial hygienist to conduct tests of surfaces there on Dec. 3, using methods published by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The tests found the presence of settled asbestos 555 times above the suggested acceptable level.’ … Scientists with HP Environmental Inc. of Reston, Va., warn that the asbestos dust in Lower Manhattan is so finely pulverized that the EPA’s more conventional tests may not pick it up. Cancer from these known carcinogenic dusts released by the WTC towers implosion takes 20 to 30 years to develop. From my understanding of the risks from carcinogenic materials that I and other house painters have been exposed to during the course of work (”According to the International Association for Research on Cancer, “occupational Exposure as a Painters is carcinogenic.”), exposures 555 times the legally permissible level may well create a catastrophe hundreds of times more destructive to human lives than the initial implosion! — Roland Sheppard, 9-11 World Trade Center Dust Cloud: How Many Will Die!
Videos of the Day:
Empire Files: The Sacrifice Zones of Hurricane Harvey In this second installment of special coverage of Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath, Abby Martin explores how the petrochemical industry dominates the city and why its low-income, Black and Latino areas are in the highest-risk areas for flooding and pollution. Watch more on teleSUR
Humanity Is Being Split into Two Groups: The Privileged and the Billions Who Face Plunder, Trauma and Suffering The West continues to throw gasoline on its fires. ByVijay PrashadClinton, Assange and the War on Truth As Secretary of State, she approved the world’s biggest ever arms sale to her benefactors in Saudi Arabia, worth more than $80 billion. Thanks to her, US arms sales to the world — for use in stricken countries like Yemen — doubled. This was revealed by WikiLeaks and published by TheNew York Times. No one doubts the emails are authentic. The subsequent campaign to smear WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, as “agents of Russia”, has grown into a spectacular fantasy known as “Russiagate”. The “plot” is said to have been signed off by Vladimir Putin himself. There is not a shred of evidence. by John Pilger
Environment:
Toxic Cleanups Kill:
Post-hurricane cleanup could kill more workers than storms themselves The two hurricanes that battered Texas and Florida left 200 people dead but neglect of health and safety among mainly day laborers could exact a great toll More workers could die from the long-term effects of cleaning up after hurricanes Harvey and Irma than were killed by the storms, according to a nationwide network of workplace health and safety groups. The mainland US death toll for the two hurricanes, which battered Texas and Florida in August and September, now stands at approximately 200 people. But according to Jessica Martinez, executive director of National Council of Occupation Safety and Health (Cosh), a nationwide network of workplace health and safety groups, a greater number of people will die cleaning up in their wake “if more resources aren’t put into health and safety training from post-cleanup”. By Mike Elk
9-11 World Trade Center Dust Cloud: How Many Will Die The “dustification” and the implosion of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers sent clouds of carcinogenic dust across New York City. These towers were built in the late 1970s and asbestos was one of many carcinogenic materials that were used in their construction. Everyone familiar with construction and the carcinogens that are contained in high rise structures, immediately knew that there was a grave risk for all who were downwind from the dust cloud which was formed from the burning and crumbling of the building. By Roland Sheppard
Why Has the E.P.A. Shifted on Toxic Chemicals? An Industry Insider Helps Call the Shots A scientist who worked for the chemical industry now shapes policy on hazardous chemicals. Within the E.P.A., there is fear that public health is at risk. (At right, a signing ceremony for new rules on toxic chemicals.) By Eric Lipton
Note That the Cleanup Worker Has Not Protect Gear On To Protect Him From The Toxirns —R.S.
The E.P.A.’s Top 10 Toxic Threats, and Industry’s Pushback The Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of 10 toxic threats it will evaluate first under a law passed last year intended to crack down on hazardous chemicals. They are among 90 chemicals identified by the agency that may harm children, damage nerve tissue, cause cancer, contaminate the environment, accumulate in the bloodstream or show up in consumer products. As the review begins, industry and other interest groups are urging the E.P.A. to limit any restrictions By Eric Lipton
Cancer and Blue-Collar Workers — Who Cares? This paper was presented before the President’s Cancer Panel meeting on “Lung Cancer: Societal and It is reported that the National Cancer Institute (NCD Clinical Implications” last October 5 at Tysons Corner, Virginia. This article by Peter Infante is a cogent summary of recent information on the number of workers ex- posed to carcinogens in the U.S. and the inadequacy or incompleteness of current regulations. Dr. Infante has been a leader for many years in pointing out the risks of cancer and other serious diseases borne by workers, and he made this recent eloquent presentation to the President’s Cancer Panel last October. By Peter F. Infante
Economy:Two of the Biggest Bailed Out Derivative Banks, Citi and Merrill, Get Fined for Breaking Derivatives RulesOver the past month, with little media attention, both Citigroup and Merrill Lynch have received fines from regulatory bodies for failure to properly report their trading in derivatives – an opaque trading arena that played a significant role in bringing down both firms during the financial crisis. As reported by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2011, Citigroup received $2.5 trillion in cumulative, secret low cost loans from the Federal Reserve during the 2007-2010 financial crisis while Merrill received $1.9 trillion. These loans, many at almost zero interest rates, were made without the authorization or awareness of Congress. (See GAO chart below.) The loans to the two firms were on top of the publicly disclosed and Congress-approved TARP bailout funds. By Pam Martens and Russ Martens
World:
Half a Million March in Massive Uprising Against Spanish Plan to Overtake Catalonia Catalans poured into the streets of Barcelona Saturday following the Spanish prime minister announcement that he would move to take control of their region by Julia Conley, staff writerSpain’s coup against Catalan democracy 450,000 marched today in Barcelona (according to local police) with tens of thousands gathering in other towns and cities across Catalonia, to demand freedom for the two Jordis (held without bail on sedition charges) and to reject the Article 155 coup announced by Spanish president Rajoy in the morning. By Jorge Martin Health, Science, Education, and Welfare:
The 1%’s Mercenaries
Quotes of the Day:
Clinton, Assange and the War on Truth As Secretary of State, she approved the world’s biggest ever arms sale to her benefactors in Saudi Arabia, worth more than $80 billion. Thanks to her, US arms sales to the world — for use in stricken countries like Yemen — doubled. This was revealed by WikiLeaks and published by The New York Times. No one doubts the emails are authentic. The subsequent campaign to smear WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, as “agents of Russia”, has grown into a spectacular fantasy known as “Russiagate”. The “plot” is said to have been signed off by Vladimir Putin himself. There is not a shred of evidence. by John Pilger
Ongoing Big Energy Crisis:
Black Liberation/Civil Rights:
Health, Science, Education, and Welfare:
