(2019-12-11). 'Tax the Rich' Is No Longer Just a Political Slogan. commondreams.org Years of rank avarice and arrogance have caught up with the superrich and their enablers, turning "billionaire" into a synonym for "thief" and focusing rising public anger on the inequality they've fostered.(Photo: Austin Kirk/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/money_11.jpeg …
(2019-12-11). Documentary about journalist Robert Fisk a highlight of Toronto International Film Festival. peoplesworld.org 
TORONTO—One of the most progressive films at the Toronto International Film Festival this year was a National Film Board of Canada documentary, This Is Not a Movie, celebrating the work of lifelong foreign correspondent Robert Fisk. For more than 40 years, he's reported on some of the most violent and divisive conflicts in the world. …
(2019-12-11). Impeachment: It's not just about Trump but also deepening democracy. peoplesworld.org 
This is truly an extraordinary moment. Now, for only the fourth time in U.S. history, a president faces impeachment. Impeachment is a huge people's victory. And let's be clear—it is a victory born of struggle. The American people from many different walks of life compelled the House of Representatives to take this step. It may not …
(2019-12-11). Elected by Donors: How the University of Cape Town Was Bullied into Embracing Israel. mintpressnews.com 
While the story may only seem relevant in South Africa's political and academic contexts, in reality, it exemplifies the nature of a brewing war between supporters of Palestinian rights and Israeli interests, worldwide.
(2019-12-11). Papers Owned by Oligarchs Unsurprisingly Oppose a Wealth Tax. fair.org 
When wealth-tax advocates like senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are two of the top three contenders for winning the 2020 Democratic primaries, you can bet that the US ruling class is terrified by the possibility of being slightly less rich (FAIR.org, 4/16/19). Notably, US oligarch Jeff Bezos (who ow…
(2019-12-11). The Scariest Climate Stories Emerging From the Arctic. truthdig.com 
This piece originally appeared on Informed Comment. | NOAA has issued its annual report on the Arctic. It is a big report, but there are some terrifying findings. | Because this point is not always made in journalism, it is important to underline why these monstrous things are happening. It is because you are driving your gasoline-fueled automobile and heating your house with coal and voting for politicians like Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. The wrecking of our beaut…
(2019-12-11). Thunberg 'a Bit Surprised' to Be Time 'Person of the Year'. truthdig.com 
The Swedish activist who has sparked a youth climate protest movement after starting a solo protest is the youngest at 16 to earn the honor.
(2019-12-11). How the FBI Botched Its Russia Inquiry, One of the Most Closely Watched Cases in Its History. theintercept.com 
The investigation was slowed by communication failures, concerns about political optics, and an overall lack of urgency, along with plenty of mistakes.
(2019-12-11). Will the Democratic Presidential Nomination Be Bought? indybay.org Billionaires on a shopping spree…
(2019-12-11). Plutocrats Are Trying to Buy the Democratic Nomination. truthdig.com From three different vectors, the oligarchy is on the march to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. Pete Buttigieg has made big gains. A timeworn ally of corporate power, Joe Biden, is on a campaign for his last hurrah. And Michael Bloomberg is swooping down from plutocratic heights. | Those three men are a team of rivals—each fiercely competitive for an individual triumph, yet arrayed against common ideological foes named Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. | The obvious differences between Buttigieg, Biden and Bloomberg are apt to distract from their underlying political similarities. Fundamen…
(2019-12-11). Israeli Troops Invade West Bank; Abduct Seven Palestinians. imemc.org In pre-dawn raids on Wednesday, Israeli forces invaded several parts of the West Bank, driving into sleeping towns and refugee camps and forcing residents out of bed, abducting seven and ransacking a number of homes. They also fired tear gas to disperse residents of the invaded areas who had come …
(2019-12-11). SEP (UK) candidate Dennis Leech speaks at hustings in Manchester. wsws.org Leech emphasised the global campaign to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and prevent his extradition to the US.
(2019-12-11). Julian Assange, Thanks for Warning Japanese About Washington. counterpunch.org "The hostility or fear against WikiLeaks that resides in these arguments [about whether to publish or not] comes from a philosophy that these things should be kept between the people in question and not revealed, so as not to disturb smooth diplomacy." The WikiLeaks shock has retaught us a basic principle of journalism, he adds. More
(2019-12-11). Corporate media silent on journalists' letter demanding freedom for Julian Assange. wsws.org The media blackout continues the nine-year collaboration of major outlets in the US-led campaign to smear, vilify and silence the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
(2019-12-11). US-backed parties have infiltrated Lebanon's protests, pushing the country toward war amid economic collapse. thegrayzone.com By joining the roadblocks around Beirut, protesters allowed themselves to be used by US-allied parties playing a dangerous game that…
(2019-12-11). Jeremy Corbyn faces Russiagate smear campaign before UK vote. thegrayzone.com Jeremy Corbyn, a real progressive, could win UK's elections. Max Blumenthal joins Pushback to discuss how powerful forces are trying…
(2019-12-11). Riot Police Attack Peaceful Protesters in Colombian Capital. telesurenglish.net On Tuesday, the Mobile Riot Squadron ( Esmad ) carried out attacks against the protesters who were peacefully demonstrating at the National University of Colombia in the capital city of Bogotá. | RELATED: | Colombia: UN Denounces Murder Of 86 Human Rights Defenders | According to reports from social activists, the attacks against the protesters who participated in the peaceful demonstrations began shortly after they gathered at the university in the Colombian capital. | The people…
(2019-12-11). Protesters Call for Climate Justice at the Peoples' Summit in Chile. truthout.org Overshadowed by events in Madrid, where the United Nations COP25 conference is taking place, activists in the Chilean capital, Santiago, are eager that social justice becomes more central to international climate discussions. On December 2, the first day of COP25, more than 100 environmental groups launched a parallel conference in Santiago. And on Friday, several thousand people participated in a series of marches organized by these groups and their allies. | The week-long Peoples' Summit drew climate…
(2019-12-11). On International Human Rights Day, Oppose U.S. Coup in Bolivia and Global Lawlessness: Black Alliance for Peace (BAP). globalresearch.ca December 10, 2019, on this day 71 years ago the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was launched by the United Nations. The Declaration reflected the agreed-upon principles that were expected to usher in a new period in which this …
(2019-12-11). Colombia: Medellin Will Host a Concert Pro National Strike. telesurenglish.net A student assembly of the University of Antioquia summoned at least 30 local bands to play in Medellin, on December 22nd in support of the national strike, as it happened previously in Bogota with the concert 'A song for Colombia'. | RELATED: | Riot Police Attack Peaceful Protesters in Colombian Capital | The show "will not only be musical, but will be mixed with comparsas (carnival singers)", Alejandra Montoya, one of the organizers of the ev…
(2019-12-11). Operation Condor 2.0 Expanded. dissidentvoice.org According to US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, the US will help "legitimate governments" in Latin America, in order to prevent protests from "morphing into riots". From what we are seeing this "legitimization" may be expanded to rest of the world. Because Washington-instigated destabilizing unrest goes on throughout the world. We may as well call …
(2019-12-11). Indian Parliament Passes Controversial Citizenship Law. telesurenglish.net India's ruling Hindu nationalist government on Wednesday won parliamentary approval for a far-reaching citizenship law that critics say undermines the country's secular constitution, as protests against the legislation intensified. | RELATED: | India's 'Anti-Muslim' Citizenship Bill Sparks Mass Protests | The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to grant Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan before 20…
(2019-12-11). Algerian Gov't Paves the Way for Foreign Financial Institutions. telesurenglish.net Algeria's Interim President Abdelkader Bensalah Wednesday signed the "finance law" which defines the 2020 fiscal budget, reduces public spending, eliminates some conditions for foreign investments, and allows indebtedness with International Financial Institutions (IFIs). | RELATED: | Algeria: Protesters Rally Against Dec. 12 Presidential Election | This hap…
(2019-12-11). Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "Timely Visit" to Washington. Coincides with House Impeachment Procedure. Discusses "Russiagate" with Trump in Oval Office. globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov met with Pompeo at the State Department as well as Trump in the White House Oval Office. | Several issues discussed including "Russiagate" | [Careful timing?: | "House Democrats will begin work on completing their articles of …
(2019-12-11). Sudan's Withdrawal from Yemen Is Part of Its Alignment with the U.S. globalresearch.ca In an October article, I made the argument that Yemen has become Saudi Arabia's "Vietnam" because despite their technological, demographical and economical advantage over Yemen, it has completely failed to break the Yemeni resistance, headed by the Houthi-led Ansarullah …
(2019-12-11). As in the US, British voters face a stark choice between a gentleman and a rogue. thecanary.co As the UK goes to the polls on December 12, the two men leading the country's major political parties could not be more different. One is a perfect gentleman; the other a perfect rogue. But something is seriously amiss. If this is the case, then how come the rogue is leading the polls and the gentleman is the undoubted underdog? The answer lies in the power structures of the mainstream media. | A stark contrast: | That the current prime minister's career — both before and after he entered politics — has been a chequered one i…
(2019-12-11). How Africa Could Power a Green Revolution. counterpunch.org Just before this year's global climate summit opened in Madrid recently, researchers announced that emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels will hit a record high in 2019. Although the 0.6 percent rate of growth is less than last year's 2.1 percent, the total which must be cut to prevent the most catastrophic and irreversible More
(2019-12-11). Ideology or Popularity: How Will Britain Vote? counterpunch.org It's not news that Jeremy Corbyn isn't a popular figure. It's also not news that Jeremy Corbyn's policies are hugely popular with the British public. Why should the first of these appear to matter more than the second? The answer, of course lies in something that we've known for a long time. The British press cater to elites. More
(2019-12-11). Modern Family Progressivism. counterpunch.org In a recent New York Times' column, Thomas Edsall defends progressives against Attorney General William Barr and other social conservatives who charge them with wanton destruction of the family. Edsall is right to call out Barr and others for "marketing apocalyptic hogwash" to get Trump reelected, but his argument concedes too much to social conservatives. More
(2019-12-11). Interference Paranoia: Russia, Reddit and the British Election. counterpunch.org In some ways, it is a very British thing: fair play is expected; the reasonable person with all faculties intact, going about the business of living and voting. Little thought is given to the fact that these assumptions are as much constructions, faàßades of rhetorical merit rather than reality. Voters need not be reasonable, and More
(2019-12-11). Congress: The Snail's Pace Race. counterpunch.org I don't keep count, but I see lots of headlines like this one from The Hill, dated December 5: "Congress races to beat deadline on shutdown." Reporters Jordain Carney and Niv Elis tell us that "Congress is racing the clock" and working on a "tight time frame" to pass yet another stopgap spending measure ("continuing More
(2019-12-11). Australia's Big Smoke. counterpunch.org I am in Sydney, having just spent 6 days in Brisbane to the north. The area around, and to the south of, Sydney has been engulfed by extensive wildfires which have been burning since August. This includes 20% of the Blue Mountains world heritage area. More
(2019-12-11). Homogenizing India: the Citizenship Debate. counterpunch.org The federal government of India has yet to realize its obligations toward minorities. India's progress will be greatly hindered unless the federal government as well as the majority community assure minorities that their honor, liberty, and rights will be fully protected. In a diverse country, it is not only for the majority community to approve More
(2019-12-11). Who Will Protect Us From an Unpatriotic Patriot Act? counterpunch.org "It is the responsibility of the patriot to protect his country from its government." — Thomas Paine While Congress subjects the nation to its impeachment-flavored brand of bread-and-circus politics, our civil liberties continue to die a slow, painful death by a thousand cuts. Case in point: while Americans have been fixated on the carefully orchestrated More
(2019-12-11). The Most Significant Afghanistan Papers Revelation. theantimedia.com The Washington Post has published undeniable evidence that the US government has been lying to the public about the war in Afghanistan.
(2019-12-11). Leadership Strips Approved Antiwar Measures From NDAA. theantimedia.com The final version makes no attempt to rein in the military in any serious way.
(2019-12-11). Video: President al-Assad: Europe Was the Main Player in Creating Chaos in Syria. globalresearch.ca President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria is going to come out of the war stronger and the future of Syria is promising and the situation is much better, pointing out to the achievements of the Syrian Arab army in the …
(2019-12-11). Death Toll from New Zealand Volcano Eruption Rises to 8. telesurenglish.net New Zealand officials lifted the death toll from this week's volcano eruption to eight on Thursday after two victims died in hospital, as ongoing seismic activity prevented teams from accessing the island to recover bodies. | RELATED: | Peru Announces State of Emergency After Volcano Displaces 1,300 | Authorities said eight bodies remained on the islan…
(2019-12-11). Impeachment Eve Vigil. indybay.org Gateway Park, Castro Street and El Camino Real, Mountain View…
(2019-12-11). Are These Two Articles of Impeachment the Best the Democrats Can Do? truthout.org When the House Democratic leadership announced on Tuesday morning that only two articles of impeachment will be charged against Donald Trump — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — I was ready to start flipping tables and punching holes in the drywall. | After everything that has transpired in the three years since that wad of pub cheese first darkened the White House doorstep, after all the…
(2019-12-11). What Do Young People Think About Impeaching Trump? thenation.com What Do Young People Think About Impeaching Trump?
(2019-12-11). Democrats release articles of impeachment against Trump on "national security" grounds. wsws.org The articles of impeachment assert that the president "betrayed the nation" and "compromised the national security of the United States" by temporarily delaying military aid to Ukraine.
(2019-12-11). Last Straw as Teachers in France Join Nationwide Strike. globalresearch.ca One of the many groups taking part in the massive general strike in France this week, and joining forces with the year-long Yellow Jackets movement, are the country's public school teachers. The "coup de grâce" for teachers was the Macron …
(2019-12-11). Food Stamps Saved My Life. truthdig.com You may have heard about the Trump administration's latest attack on very poor Americans: a punitive new restriction that will cut SNAP benefits for 688,000 people. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is our country's most popular and effective nutrition assistance program. | Growing up, my family got food stamps — and oh, I hated it. I hated standing in line at the grocery store, knowing we'd be paying with coupons that would brand us as "poo…
(2019-12-11). 'Bolivian Coup Plotters to Be Tried for Massacres' Morales Says. telesurenglish.net Bolivia's former President Evo Morales Wednesday said that the main actors involved in the coup d'etat against him will be tried for the massacres committed in Sacaba and Senkala. | RELATED: | Evo Morales Vows to Return to Bolivia After Right-Wing Coup | The Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) leader highlighted the preliminary results of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) special mission, which confirmed killings in Cochabamba and El Alto during the coup d'etat i…
(2019-12-11). AXA, Divest from Israel's Climate Apartheid: Day of Action Roundup. imemc.org December 10, 2019 / Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) / France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland The second global AXA Day of Action included mobilizations all around the world, on the same day as the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and the 4th global climate strike. The second global AXA Day of …
(2019-12-11). BDS: The Full Menu of Rights. imemc.org 12-10-19 / Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) / Palestine On the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Resolution 194 affirming Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homes, the BDS movement insists on "the full menu of rights" for the indigenous Palestinians. Exactly 71 years ago, …
(2019-12-11). Chevron to Write Down Assets by at Least $10 Billion, Elevating Investor Concern. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-12-11). PG&E reaches minimal $13.5 billion settlement with victims of Californian fires. wsws.org If approved, the deal will do nothing to make victims and their families whole, and will position PG&E to qualify for a $21 billion state wildfire fund to bail them out of future liabilities.
(2019-12-11). Brazilian Workers Party backs Bolsonaro's draconian "anti-crime" bill. wsws.org The vote has shattered the year-long claim by Bolsonaro's opposition that it represents some kind of democratic "resistance".