Daily News Digest Archives
Daily News Digest May 17, 2016
As the Capitalist Robber Barons Steal from the 99% — Only the 1% Voted For Austerity — The 99% Should Decide On Austerity — Not Just The 1% Who Profit From Austerity!
Image of the Day:
Capitalist Political Language (Spin) 
The Militarization of Local Police Departments
Quotes of the Day:
It is organized violence on top which creates individual violence at the bottom. — Emma Goldman
The Gulf of Mexico is a very resilient ecosystem, but there is only so much abuse that it can take. With energy prices low, crude oil supplies at high levels, and remarkable advances in alternative forms of power, there is no need for this high level of offshore drilling activity in the Gulf, nor the environmental damage that it causes. It’s past time to put a halt on any new drilling. — Just what the Gulf didn’t need: A new oil spill
If you’ve turned on a corporate 24-hour news network in the last couple of days, those are three things that you have definitely heard about. But what you didn’t hear from the mainstream media is that the wildfires in Alberta, and in Alaska, are directly related to climate change. The media and the fossil fuel industry’s shills won’t tell you this, but there is no doubt about the fact that we are witnessing one of the most rapid periods of climate disruption in Earth’s history. — Fossil Fuel Billionaires Kill Children
. . . “Broadcasting and cable companies fear that honest ads might lead to fewer ads and less money in their coffers. Corporate and dark money interests hide in the shadows of anonymous attacks. Even our major newspapers shy away from covering this issue, perhaps looking more toward their bottom-line interests than the public interest. Some of them own other media properties…” Apart from recent exertions on net neutrality, the FCC has been subservient to big media companies and their docile Congressional allies who don’t want to properly enforce the 1934 Communications Act, which stipulates that radio and television broadcasting companies adhere to the legal standard of the “public interest, convenience and necessity” in presenting programming. That standard implies a fair balance between serious content, entertainment and advertisements. The FCC, mercilessly harassed into slumber by members of Congress, has been AWOL from its legal duties. On the bigger picture Copps writes, “Big money is corrupting our electoral process, strangling our civic dialogue, and endangering American self-government. The agency, the FCC, should respond to the petitions and complaints that have been filed and indicate if it is going to live up to its obligations.” Law and Order anyone?. . . . — Ralph Nader
Video the Day:
Journalist Eva Bartlett: “I’m Back From Syria. The Media Is Lying To You!”
Ende Gelände 2016: Germany
U.S.:
Preparing Iron Heal: The Pentagon Has Given Cops $2.2 BILLION in Military Weapons
North Korea, Following China and India, Pledges No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons–So Could Obama by John Laforge 
Welcome to 1984 — The artifice of corporate totalitarianism has been exposed.: The citizens, disgusted by the lies and manipulation, have turned on the political establishment. But the game is not over. Corporate power has within its arsenal potent forms of control. It will use them. As the pretense of democracy is unmasked, the naked fist of state repression takes its place. America is about—unless we act quickly—to get ugly. By Chris Hedges
Navy Allowed to Kill Nearly 12 Million Whales, Dolphins, Other Marine Mammals in the Pacific By Dahr Jamail 
How a digital divide leaves parts of rural America isolated: Low population density means phone and internet companies don’t upgrade services – but in the Navajo Nation vital infrastructure was never installed By Sam Thielman 
Environment:
April breaks global temperature record, marking seven months of new highs: Latest monthly figures add to string of recent temperature records and all but assure 2016 will be hottest year on record By Michael Slezak
‘Not a Symbol, A Signal’: Wave of Direct Actions Points to Fossil-Free Future: On final day of two-week Break Free mobilization, demonstrations take place in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Turkey, and beyond by Deirdre Fulton
Fossil Fuel Billionaires Kill Children: They’ll say that the modeling is imperfect, that the science is imprecise and that there is still disagreement in the scientific community. By Thom Hartmann
Organic, non-GMO agriculture and food prices can easily be made affordable… and it’s already being demonstrated in Peru By Sarah Landers
Ongoing/Big Energy Disasters!:
Just what the Gulf didn’t need: A new oil spill By Stuart Smith
Energy News:
11:44 AM EST on May 16th, 2016 | Nuclear Expert: Largest amount of Fukushima radiation fell on US West Coast and Pacific — “Why don’t we hear complaints from US?”… Officials are criminals and trying to cover it up — Public must be aware even more radiation is coming… “People need to realize impact of contamination on them”
Black Liberation/Civil Rights:
Alabama Prison Strike Organizer Speaks from Behind Bars: We Are Engaged in a Struggle for Our Lives A voice from solitary confinement speaks out. By Amy Goodman
Anatomy of a Snitch Scandal: How Orange County Prosecutors Covered Up Rampant Misuse of Jailhouse Informants By Jordan Smith 
Labor:
Economy:
World:
Maduro Orders Shuttered Factories Seized and Given to Workers: “I’m ready to do it to radicalize the Revolution,” Said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. “Those who don’t want to work can leave,”
Corrupt elites will fight to stop the dismantling of looting machines: States that get all their revenues from selling their oil, gas and minerals could easily turn into kleptocracies where the majority stay poor By Patrick Cockburn
Brazil: #FORATEMER (Témer Out!) occupies the streets of Sao Paulo
Health, Education, and Welfare: