CitizenFour, the acclaimed documentary about Edward Snowden, is widely available. Maybe we need to remind ourselves that the Snowden's disclosures may have faded into the background, but the U.S. government’s all-out assault on democracy & freedom continues today, and the ongoing prosecution and intimidation of whistle-blowers is shameful. Despite the lies and protestations … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: Freedom under attack — CitizenFour
transparency
Is explosive crude oil traveling through your community?
Trainloads of crude oil from the Bakken shale in ND do pass through the Valley — and these trains travel through the center of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, often right next to the Lehigh River. This raises major safety concerns and serious questions about how to protect people. The Wall Street Journal's map of rail shipments estimates 1–10 trains/wk on the Norfolk … [Read more...] about Is explosive crude oil traveling through your community?
Photos of recent crude oil derailments
Most trains reach their destinations safely, of course. Derailments are not common, but— but when a train carrying explosive crude or natural gas does derail and catch fire, the results can be disastrous, as the photos below show. December 2013 – Casselton, ND April 2014 – Lac-Mégantic, Quebec: November 2013 – Pickens County, Alabama: … [Read more...] about Photos of recent crude oil derailments
FYI: Whistleblowers, Warrior Cops, and the Growing Security State
Recent articles depicting increasingly invasive & authoritarian practices of the government, including violent & militarized local police forces: 10 Things That Don't Make Sense About Obama's Security State, by Juan Cole – Reader Supported News, August 2013 Manning Defense Exposes a Dysfunctional Chain of Command, by Scott Galindez – Reader Supported News, August … [Read more...] about FYI: Whistleblowers, Warrior Cops, and the Growing Security State
FYI: Whistleblowers for democracy [UPDATED]
The mainstream media seem to parrot the government line that whistleblowers are a threat to national security. [In reality, they are only a threat to the corrupt officials who are the real threat to our nation.] Why the Ruling Class Is So Upset About Edward Snowden, by Gary Leupp on CounterpunchThe Anti-Empire Report #118, by William BlumEdward Snowden: Profile in Courage, … [Read more...] about FYI: Whistleblowers for democracy [UPDATED]
It shouldn’t take a disaster before we act!
March 25, 2011—It shouldn't take a disaster before we can see the need for precautions to protect people from catastrophic failures of technology—especially since it is quite predictable that they will occur. The nuclear industry has a long history of deception and lies. [But the same can be said for the resource extraction industries—think Massey Energy and the coal-mine … [Read more...] about It shouldn’t take a disaster before we act!
What’s all the Fuss About Wikileaks?
Why is there so much fuss about this Wikileaks release? The latest round of leaks doesn't reveal much that's new or even shocking, unless you believe that what governments and government officials say is usually true. The reaction reveals a lot though: Most of the outcry seems to be from the right wing, which suggests that these people are upset by the simple act of people … [Read more...] about What’s all the Fuss About Wikileaks?
Wikileaks
Once again, Wikileaks and founder Julian Assange are being assailed for putting lives at risk or damaging the diplomatic process. The Express-Times even had an editorial today condemning Assange for ‘placing some people, relationships, and military operations at risk.’ I don't know about you, but I find it bizarre that anyone—but especially a newspaper—should blame the … [Read more...] about Wikileaks