Report endorsed by MPs from four parties says that governments misled Parliament to win support for new nuclear power stations +++++++++++++ by Fiona Harvey Guardian, January 31, 2012 Ministers misled parliament over the need to build a new fleet of nuclear power stations, distorting evidence and presenting to MPs a false summary of the analysis […]
Archive | January, 2012
Anti-immigration groups organize against book that exposes population myths
Lacking arguments of their own, anti-immigration groups on three continents have resorted to distributing an article they don’t agree with, by an author who rejects what they stand for – just because it is critical of “Too Many People?” (more…)
ExxonMobil pays no federal tax on $41 billion profit; still refuses to pay for Alaska cleanup
Every hour, the world’s largest oil company makes $5 million in profits ++++++++++++++ by Rebecca Leber Climate Progress, January 31, 2012 ExxonMobil had the largest profits of the Big Five oil companies in 2011, raking in $41.1 billion for the year. This 35 percent jump from last year is driven in large part by record-high oil […]
Ian Angus on population and the environment
Audio recording of Ian Angus on WBAI-FM, New York, January 28, 2012 (more…)
How can the climate change movement move ahead in 2012?
It is important not to underestimate the harm caused by the failure of negotiations in Copenhagen and Durban — but it is equally important not to succumb to pessimism. +++++++++++++ by Elaine Graham-Leigh Counterfire (UK), January 24, 2012 In the planning stages, the demonstration at the climate talks in Copenhagen in December 2009, and the associated […]
NZ socialist group dissolves to build ecosocialist movement
Resolution adopted by the 2012 convention of the New Zealand group Socialist Workers Organization ++++++++++ The defining event of our times is world capitalism’s historic slide towards collapse under the chaotic, intersecting and escalating pressures of five terminal crises: profitability, ecology, resources, imperial leadership, legitimacy. This is the context for this resolution of Socialist Worker’s […]
Secret documents expose Ottawa's tar sands enemies list; Environmentalists seek guarantee of regulator's impartiality
As the Harper government works with oil companies to slander and discredit opponents of tar sands, will the supposedly impartial regulator be trusted? (more…)
Hunger is a weapon of mass destruction
Every five seconds, a child under 10 dies of hunger. Thirty-five million people die each year from hunger or its immediate aftermath. One billion people are permanently and severely malnourished and the situation is becoming increasingly catastrophic (more…)
A warning for Africa: Carbon trading is a Ponzi scheme
The north’s climate debt to Africa should be paid not through such gambling but in genuine income transfers that reach ordinary people, who are taking the brunt of worsening climate chaos (more…)
The only thing green in biodiesel is money
It will take 200 years of continuous biodiesel production to pay off the carbon debt of the Indonesian palm plantations produce it … (more…)
John Ruskin: 'The real science of political economy'
[Quotes and Insights #22] “The real science of political economy, which has yet to be distinguished from the bastard science, as medicine from witchcraft, and astronomy from astrology, is that which teaches nations to desire and labour for the things that lead to life: and which teaches them to scorn and destroy the things that […]
Why do pale green NGOs support Obama?
The Sierra Club’s advertising campaign and its praise for Obama reveal how little it takes to appease mainstream, corporate-minded environmentalists. (more…)
Greedy Lying Bastards
Best movie title of 2012! A new documentary film exposes the environmental destruction, illness and death caused by the fossil fuel industry (more…)
Attenborough asks corporations to protect wilderness from poor people
Since we can’t stop poor people from breeding, let’s build fences to keep them out. And let’s ask the world’s biggest polluters to pay for the fences. (more…)
So far, the 21st century has had nine of the ten hottest years on record
So much for the claim that global warming is over … (more…)
UN food agencies: in bed with agribusiness
Giant food producers are buying influence, often through supposedly “charitable” foundations, to ensure that the UN shares their market-driven approaches (more…)
Future World Bank president explains why Africa is 'vastly underpolluted'
Obama’s nominee believes that “the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable” Thanks to Doug Henwood for this So Obama’s going to nominate Larry Summers to be president of the World Bank. Recall this passage from 1991 memo, actually written by Lant Pritchett but signed by […]
The largest oil spills in history, 1901 to present
This interactive map shows the largest oil spills from tanker accidents and drilling operations, as well as a number of other notable spills (more…)
"Towards Ecosocialism" proposes major shift for New Zealand socialist group
“We must be activists, but not as part of a separate organisation. Rather, our activism should occur as part of existing red and green groups, anywhere there is sufficient overlap in practice to allow us to raise our ecosocialist ideas.” (more…)
Democracy and the pathology of wealth
Video: social critic and noted author Michael Parenti on the reality of capitalism in corporate America. (more…)