http://my.opera.com/oldephartte/blog/2011/07/26/weekly-digest-for-talk-to-action
Hacking Democracy
The Toronto Hearings - 9/11 Truth for Peace and Justice - Interview with Graeme MacQueen
Graeme MacQueen, a member of the Steering Committee that is organizing the Toronto Hearings at Ryerson University in Toronto to examine the events of September 11, 2001 will be interviewed on Community Currency Radio Show this Thursday, July 7th. In the ten years that have followed the attacks, 9/11 has been used to launch wars, attack human and civil rights while the official narrative has been challenged by a growing mountain of evidence. Graeme MacQueen, a prominent professor and Director of the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster University took early retirement to devote his time and energy to peace and justice work with a focus on the events and anomalies of 9/11. While deception is a must for war, the campaign for 9/11 Truth hopes to lay a foundation for genuine peace and justice.
As 9/11 has been used to launch an endless "War on Terrorism" and assaults upon international law, human and civil rights, the hearings will seriously consider the best evidence since the 9/11 events occurred that challenge the U.S. government’s official investigations which are seriously flawed. As 9/11 lies have been used to pursue the 9/11 wars, the hope is that the truth about 9/11 will lead to peace and justice.
The International Center for 9/11 Studies which has successfully gained the release of approximately four terabytes of video evidence from the National Institute of Standards and Technology is the main sponsor of the hearings and their main focus has been on the scientific understanding of the destruction of the three World Trade Center buildings.
The international effort is being spearheaded by scholars, scientists, family members working together to examine the destruction of the World Trade Center, informed trading, air defense failures, the nature of state deception, and psychological resistance to accounts that challenge the official one.
Graeme MacQueen, born in Nova Scotia, received his Ph.D. in comparative religion from Harvard University, and taught in the Religious Studies department of McMaster University for 30 years. In 1989 he became founding Director of the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster, after which he helped develop the B.A. programme in Peace Studies and co-directed (with $2 million in government, UN and NGO funding) peace-building projects in Sri Lanka, Gaza, Croatia and Afghanistan. He has also contributed to the development of the Women’s Peace Brigade in north India (active now in several states) and was involved for some years in the Third Option, a peace initiative for Afghanistan. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters as well as four books.
He has specifically addressed the Peace Movement to urge them to overcome their psychological resistance to 9/11 and look at evidence challenging the official narrative. He has also written four articles for the Journal of 9/11 Studies, including 118 Witnesses: The Firefighters’ Testimony to Explosions in the Twin Towers .
How Politicians Dodge Questions
As political campaigns warm up for the 2012 elections, we'll tune into debates to learn where politicians stand on specific issues. Some will tackle questions head on, while others will dodge them entirely.
But the latter group -- the dodgers -- avoid providing direct answers better than we think, according to research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied.
In four studies, experts found that dodgers fly under the radar when they provide a similar answer to the question asked. A successful dodge leaves readers unsure of what the original question was by the end of the speaker's answer.
Discovery
- Time Travel Impossible, Say Scientists
- Was Amy Winehouse's Death Inevitable?
- All Non-Africans Part Neanderthal, Genetics Confirm
- Puzzle of the Week! Bee-Wearing Contest
- Winehouse Joins Rock Legends Dead at 27
- Top 5 Time Travel Methods from the Movies
- Sea Monsters Real & Imagined
- Six Mysterious and Famous Cryptids: Photos
- Faces of Our Ancestors
- Loch Ness Monster-Like Animal Filmed in Alaska?
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/04/gordon-duff-war-in-afghanistan-begin-lost-by-kingdom-crusader-islamophobes
When former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld assigned General Boykin the task of “Christianizing” the US Army, even if every hard hitting, foul mouthed war fighter had to be “cashiered” the task was taken to heart. Boykin’s efforts to infiltrate every level of the officer corps with Christian Zionists, notwithstanding they may be the worst leaders any military service has ever seen in wartime, was a tremendous success.
We now have an army ready to go to battle with Israel at her side except for one minor problem. Our allies are Muslims and winning our war depends on winning the hearts and minds of a Muslim population that is now seeing the absolute worst America has to offer, racism, bigotry and incompetence. The Wiki-leaks scandal forced the army to evaluate its performance, in fact put a gun to its head. The situation in Afghanistan had been steadily deteriorating since 2003 and American failures had bled over to Pakistan. Attempts to blame Pakistan’s ISI for American failures was a desperate measure to shift blame and save careers.
Christian Terrorism
http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2011/07/23/christian-terrorism/
Veterans Today
The Agonist
Clearly, All Christians Are Terrorists
That's the satirical note to take away from the events of Friday afternoon, when the Norwegian equivalent of a Teabagger decided to slaughter nearly 100 people, willingly and gladly:
“He has said that he believed the actions were atrocious, but that in his head they were necessary,” lawyer Geir Lippestad told independent TV2 news.
[...]Breivik hated “cultural marxists”, wanted a “crusade” against the spread of Islam and liked guns and weightlifting, web postings, acquaintances and officials said.
Actor 212 July 25, 2011 - 9:35am
Actor 212's diary | 4 comments | 4 new comments | read moreIraqi News
July 24
Iranian Exile Group Poses Vexing Issue for U.S. in Iraq
The more than 3,000 people living here once represented a powerful paramilitary organization bent on overthrowing the government in Iran. In the 1970s, the group killed Americans in Tehran, and after being given refuge by Saddam Hussein its members were suspected of serving as a mercenary unit that took part in his violent suppression of the Kurds in the north of Iraq and the Shiites in the south.
Now they are unwelcome in Iraq but believe they should be given protection in the United States — even though their group, known as the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, remains on the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations.
“You probably have in mind Hawaii,” said Ambassador Lawrence E. Butler, the American diplomat who has been negotiating with the group in recent sessions here.
“I suspect you don’t want to go to Guantánamo,” he added.
..
Adding to his difficulties, the group has a formidable and well-financed communications machine. It has attracted political figures like Howard Dean and Wesley K. Clark, the retired Army general, by paying them to make speeches in support of the group, fueling its resistance to a move and angering officials trying to bargain with it, like Mr. Butler.
Traitors - they also have a huge right wing following
Foreign investment begins to pour into Iraq
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been urging American companies to consider investments in Iraq and pushing the U.S. government to more aggressively represent the interests of American businesses in the country.
"We have invested a lot in Iraq over the last decade in blood and treasure, and it is really unfortunate if we permit our trading partners to sort of capitalize on that investment to our disadvantage," said Lionel Johnson, vice president of Middle East affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
** China's CNPC starts oil output in Iraq
** Al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad smashed
** Kurdish rebels kill Iranian commander, five guards
** Pentagon wants new Iraq security pact
** For wounded veteran, medical marijuana's been a godsend
Iranian Exile Group Poses Vexing Issue for U.S. in Iraq
The more than 3,000 people living here once represented a powerful paramilitary organization bent on overthrowing the government in Iran. In the 1970s, the group killed Americans in Tehran, and after being given refuge by Saddam Hussein its members were suspected of serving as a mercenary unit that took part in his violent suppression of the Kurds in the north of Iraq and the Shiites in the south.
Now they are unwelcome in Iraq but believe they should be given protection in the United States — even though their group, known as the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, remains on the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations.
“You probably have in mind Hawaii,” said Ambassador Lawrence E. Butler, the American diplomat who has been negotiating with the group in recent sessions here.
“I suspect you don’t want to go to Guantánamo,” he added.
..
Adding to his difficulties, the group has a formidable and well-financed communications machine. It has attracted political figures like Howard Dean and Wesley K. Clark, the retired Army general, by paying them to make speeches in support of the group, fueling its resistance to a move and angering officials trying to bargain with it, like Mr. Butler.
Traitors - they also have a huge right wing following
Foreign investment begins to pour into Iraq
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been urging American companies to consider investments in Iraq and pushing the U.S. government to more aggressively represent the interests of American businesses in the country.
"We have invested a lot in Iraq over the last decade in blood and treasure, and it is really unfortunate if we permit our trading partners to sort of capitalize on that investment to our disadvantage," said Lionel Johnson, vice president of Middle East affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
** China's CNPC starts oil output in Iraq
** Al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad smashed
** Kurdish rebels kill Iranian commander, five guards
** Pentagon wants new Iraq security pact
** For wounded veteran, medical marijuana's been a godsend
Tina July 24, 2011 - 7:19pm
Afghanistan Update: July 23
July 23
NATO hands control of Mazar-i-Sharif to Afghans
NATO troops on Saturday handed control of Afghanistan's northern capital Mazar-i-Sharif to local forces amid rising security fears just days after it was hit by a deadly bombing.
Mazar-i-Sharif is the sixth of seven areas to transition to Afghan control, but critics say the timetable is politically motivated and scepticism is running high over Afghan abilities to ward off a trenchant Taliban insurgency.
U.S. looks to European allies for defense help
The Pentagon is looking to save some money, so it wants European allies to pick up a greater share of the defense burden, according to a story of National Public Radio. The question, NPR says, is which way to look.
U.S. Aid Money Funding Afghan Insurgents
It’s bad enough when foreign aid dollars headed for a war zone are siphoned off by government insiders and their wealthy friends before reaching the impoverished people it is meant for. But it’s doubly frustrating when it ends up in the hands of the enemy.
A scathing report issued this week by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction indicated much of the U.S. assistance has been misspent, embezzled or indirectly given to militants, due to weak oversight on the part of the U.S. and corruption at the hands of Afghan officials.
** Vanderbilt study links military service in Middle East with serious lung disorder
** Taliban hang 8-year-old boy in Afghanistan
** Rethink Afghanistan
** Anti-Taliban group kills 13 militants in Pakistan
** Iran Frowns at Strategic Deal between US, Afghanistan
** Old War, New General in Afghanistan
Please check comments for related articles
NATO hands control of Mazar-i-Sharif to Afghans
NATO troops on Saturday handed control of Afghanistan's northern capital Mazar-i-Sharif to local forces amid rising security fears just days after it was hit by a deadly bombing.
Mazar-i-Sharif is the sixth of seven areas to transition to Afghan control, but critics say the timetable is politically motivated and scepticism is running high over Afghan abilities to ward off a trenchant Taliban insurgency.
U.S. looks to European allies for defense help
The Pentagon is looking to save some money, so it wants European allies to pick up a greater share of the defense burden, according to a story of National Public Radio. The question, NPR says, is which way to look.
U.S. Aid Money Funding Afghan Insurgents
It’s bad enough when foreign aid dollars headed for a war zone are siphoned off by government insiders and their wealthy friends before reaching the impoverished people it is meant for. But it’s doubly frustrating when it ends up in the hands of the enemy.
A scathing report issued this week by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction indicated much of the U.S. assistance has been misspent, embezzled or indirectly given to militants, due to weak oversight on the part of the U.S. and corruption at the hands of Afghan officials.
** Vanderbilt study links military service in Middle East with serious lung disorder
** Taliban hang 8-year-old boy in Afghanistan
** Rethink Afghanistan
** Anti-Taliban group kills 13 militants in Pakistan
** Iran Frowns at Strategic Deal between US, Afghanistan
** Old War, New General in Afghanistan
Please check comments for related articles
UK: Militarizing the police force
July 24
Press Association(UK) - Police role plan for Army officers
Army officers could be parachuted into the highest police ranks as part of a major Government shake-up.
Downing Street is looking at changes that would establish an "officer class" in local forces, according to the Sunday Times.
Senior intelligence personnel, civil servants and lawyers could also be fast-tracked into top positions, while university graduates could be put through a Sandhurst-style college to speed their progress.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons this week, we are interested in radical proposals for the future of leadership and training in the police service.
"Tom Winsor, the Government's independent reviewer of police pay and conditions, is considering the issue of entry into the police service and will make recommendations in the second part of his review, due to be published early next year."
I mean really, what could possibly go wrong with this idea...
Press Association(UK) - Police role plan for Army officers
Army officers could be parachuted into the highest police ranks as part of a major Government shake-up.
Downing Street is looking at changes that would establish an "officer class" in local forces, according to the Sunday Times.
Senior intelligence personnel, civil servants and lawyers could also be fast-tracked into top positions, while university graduates could be put through a Sandhurst-style college to speed their progress.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons this week, we are interested in radical proposals for the future of leadership and training in the police service.
"Tom Winsor, the Government's independent reviewer of police pay and conditions, is considering the issue of entry into the police service and will make recommendations in the second part of his review, due to be published early next year."
I mean really, what could possibly go wrong with this idea...
Tina July 24, 2011 - 4:23pm
Vince Cable launches attack on (US)'right wing nutters'
James Tapsfield | July 24
The Independent - Business Secretary Vince Cable today launched an extraordinary attack on "right wing nutters" in the US who are threatening to cripple the world economy.
Mr Cable said the row over whether to raise the American government's debt ceiling was a more serious crisis than the eurozone's problems.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he also suggested the Bank of England may have to engage in more quantitative easing - effectively printing money - as growth stalls.
Mr Cable said the deal struck in Europe last week to bail out countries such as Greece and Ireland had been a "significant step forward", without solving the fundamental issues.
But he added: "The irony of the situation at the moment, with markets opening tomorrow moning, is that the biggest threat to the world financial system comes from a few right-wing nutters.
I love the Brits, always so understated..
The Independent - Business Secretary Vince Cable today launched an extraordinary attack on "right wing nutters" in the US who are threatening to cripple the world economy.
Mr Cable said the row over whether to raise the American government's debt ceiling was a more serious crisis than the eurozone's problems.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he also suggested the Bank of England may have to engage in more quantitative easing - effectively printing money - as growth stalls.
Mr Cable said the deal struck in Europe last week to bail out countries such as Greece and Ireland had been a "significant step forward", without solving the fundamental issues.
But he added: "The irony of the situation at the moment, with markets opening tomorrow moning, is that the biggest threat to the world financial system comes from a few right-wing nutters.
I love the Brits, always so understated..
Western Water Report - Amateur and Anecdotal
Water gushing from the ground at 13,000 feet.
Here's what I have heard and experienced:
For the first time in 10 to 15 years the water of Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam has risen. Western states were preparing to go into a special water ration regime for the Colorado River water if levels had not risen.
My contact in Durango reports that Durango, Colorado was at the break even line for snow pack. At the northern end of Colorado at Steamboat Springs they had 216% normal snow while Durango had 100% and south of Durango, CO, had below average.
Jeff Wegerson July 23, 2011 - 10:34pm
The Giving Trees: Five Trees You’ve Never Heard of that Are Helping to End Hunger
Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.
We know that trees can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere. But what is less widely understood is how many of these trees can also help to bring an end to hunger and poverty.
Today, Nourishing the Planet takes a look at five varieties of tree that you have likely never heard of, but that are helping to alleviate hunger and poverty and protect the environment.
We know that trees can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere. But what is less widely understood is how many of these trees can also help to bring an end to hunger and poverty.
Today, Nourishing the Planet takes a look at five varieties of tree that you have likely never heard of, but that are helping to alleviate hunger and poverty and protect the environment.
borderjumpers July 20, 2011 - 1:09pm
 | Tens of Thousands in Israel Protest Rising Prices Tens of thousands of Israelis poured onto the streets in Tel Aviv to protest rising commodity, housing prices and stagnation in salaries Go to story | Go to homepage |
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| Debt Ceiling Extortion Yves Smith: The finance sector used extortion against the American people in 2007-09 and are doing it again now Go to story | Go to homepage |
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