World-News

Nadia Prupis, Truthout: "Efforts by the United Nations (UN), the US military and the Indian government to curb opium production in Afghanistan since 2007 have been largely ineffective, due in large part to the ties between the drug trade and the Taliban. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, the raw material harvested from poppies to make heroin, as well as alkaloids like codeine and morphine. According to two cables released this month by WikiLeaks, Afghanistan's supply of opium exceeds the world's demand for heroin, with its unsold stock currently totaling 12,400 tons. Taliban-linked drug cartels emerging along the southern border of the country, where 99 percent of production takes place, influence the majority of poppy cultivation by coercing farmers into growing the crops for a strong and well-supplied insurgency."

http://www.truth-out.org/opium-production-afghanistan-strong-and-corrupt-ever66611

--------

U.S. Marines Guard Afghanistan Poppy Fields For Heroin Production

U.S. Marines, sponsored by the U.S. taxpayer, stand vigilant watch over poppy fields in Afghanistan ensuring that the world is supplied with plenty of smack.

http://is.gd/CJKvtE


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Afghanistan
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=US+Marines
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=poppy
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=opium
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=heroin
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=taxpayer
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=insurgen
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Taliban
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=WikiLeaks
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Nadia+Prupis

-----

- The News York Times: Un comté de Californie criminalise l'installation des nouveaux compteurs électriques dits Mouchards (Smart-Meter: l'Ordonnance)

http://www.next-up.org/France/ERDF_Compteur_mouchard_Linky.php#1
-----

http://groups.google.com/group/omeganews/t/5a3554178f6df257?hl=de



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=swine+flu
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=H1N1
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=vaccin

-----

C4SS Center for a Stateless Society
by David D'Amato

01/03/11

Among the critical, if perhaps counterintuitive, insights of the free market Left is that, to attain economic justice for the worker as contemplated by the socialists, we must move in the direction of true economic freedom, not against it. Free markets made up of the profusion of exchanges that self-governing people might engage in would subvert today?s system of state-capitalism, an extortion scheme allowing middlemen to get between labor and the consumer (who, in any market, are largely the same group)...

http://c4ss.org/content/5688



Unlocking Uncle Sam?s House of Horrors

CounterPunch
by Richard Neville

01/05/11

The secrecy-busting by Wiki-leakers may take years to play out in the corridors of power, but there are signs on the ground that citizens are finally rubbing the sleep from their eyes. It?s an Aha moment: 'They've been lying to us all this time.' And so they have; law-breaking with impunity, instigating wars, abetting torture, renditions, secret jails; destroying documents, conspiring to steal DNA from diplomats, slaughtering civilians on several continents, plus much else besides and ? weirdly ? getting away with it. For how much longer?

http://counterpunch.org/neville01052011.html



Law and disorder

Antiwar.com Antiwar.com
by Philip Giraldi
01/06/11

The sorry state of American jurisprudence and vanishing liberties under Bush-Obama would rather suggest that the pot not be calling the kettle black, but, alas, the pumped-up-by-hubris elected and appointed leaders in Washington do not know the meaning of the expression 'shut up.' One would think they might be less tone deaf at a time when they are seeking a phony legal formula to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but that would suppose that someone in the federal bureaucracy actually knows what he is doing...

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2011/01/05/law-and-disorder/


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=state+capitalism
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Obama
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=liberties
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=impunity
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=civilian+deaths
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=secret+jail
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=rendition
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=torture
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=WikiLeaks
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Assange
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=David+D'Amato
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Richard+Neville
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Philip+Giraldi
-----

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/01/05-6



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=climate+change
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Arctic+sea+ice



-----

http://www.commondreams.org/video/2011/01/05-0

When Will Americans Get Indignant?
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/01/05-8

--------

New Congress begins with charades and death threats

The Nation
by Ari Melber

01/05/11

Repealing health care, a pure symbolic activity, is one of the first votes scheduled for next week. House Republicans know their bill will not pass the Senate or clear a presidential veto. Maybe they want to get their irrelevant votes out of the way early. But it gets worse. The bigger story is the truly bizarre threat to freeze the debt ceiling, which could theoretically place the United States in default and spark a larger recession or economic crisis...

http://tinyurl.com/2bj58oq



Is there room for political compromise in an era of permanent campaigning?

Christian Science Monitor
by Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson

01/04/11

As the 112th Congress convenes, it must work to preserve one of America's greatest and most threatened national resources -- compromise. To do this, it must rein in the mindset of constant campaigning that isn't fit for the reality of governing...

http://tinyurl.com/2c8zhu8


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=GOP
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=lobbyists
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=economic+crisis
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=recession
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=debt
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=healthcare
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Russ+Wellen
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ari+Melber
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Amy+Gutmann
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Dennis+Thompson

-----

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/01/05-6

--------

Census Bureau says 15.7 percent in poverty

Wednesday's report said 18 percent of children and 16.1 percent of the elderly live in poverty.

http://bit.ly/gb6HYd



Study: After Bankruptcy, Americans Need 10-20 Years To Recover

Compared to those who have similar social and economic backgrounds, people who declare bankruptcy catch up to non-filers in terms of savings in about 12 years, total income in 14 years, home ownership in 14 years, and net worth in 26 years.

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/bankruptcy.htm


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=poverty
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=bankruptcy
-----

UN food price index rises for sixth month in a row to highest since records began in 1990

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jan/05/world-food-prices-danger-record-high-un



Dramatic spike in gas prices forecast: Demand for oil keeps increasing

The former head of Shell Oil has warned that gas prices could hit $5 a gallon by 2012 because of fast-growing demand in emerging countries such as China and India, where more and more people are buying cars, combined with restraints on drilling in the U.S. in the wake of last year's disastrous Gulf oil spill.

http://bit.ly/eBthrS


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=food+prices
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=drilling
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=oil+spill
-----

Iraq's Supreme Audit Court says the US Ministry of Defense has failed to account for the USD 9.1 billion misspent discretionary funds during Iraq's occupation. According to Iraqi newspaper al-Bayanat al-Jadidah, this recent release follows the 2010 finding of USD 8.7 billion in Iraq funds not accounted for.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/158612.html


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Pentagon
-----

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Elected officials from Maine to Alabama, Ohio to Arizona, are pushing new legislation to limit the power of labor unions, particularly those representing government workers, in collective bargaining and politics.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27201.htm



Nader to the Times: 'There Is Too a Left!'

By Ruth Conniff

How can it be that in such dark economic times, most of the political energy in the country is focused on dismantling unions, undoing President Obama's modest effort at health care reform, and giving even more power and even larger tax breaks to the rich and big business?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27202.htm



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Obama
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Ralph+Nader
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=healthcare
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=tax+break
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=American+worker
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=wealthy
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Big+Business
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Steven+Greenhouse
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ruth+Conniff

-----

By Lawrence Davidson

These four stalwart defenders of the homeland from terrorism were lending material support to a designated terrorist organization through speech that was coordinated to enhance the cause of that group. As Giuliani put it, "The United States should not just be on your [the MEK's] side. It should be enthusiastically on your side. You want the same things we want."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27200.htm



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Giuliani
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Lawrence+Davidson
-----

By Layla Anwar

Every time I attempt to write an overall picture of the Iraq of before and after, I need to take a break, a choking feeling grips me in my throat and the rage rises again, like some lava from a volcano unwilling to die down.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27203.htm



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=occupation
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Layla+Anwar
-----

http://www.lewrockwell.com/akers/akers141.html



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Transportation+Security+Administration
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=privatizing
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=com/akers
-----

http://www.lewrockwell.com/casey/casey70.1.html



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=social+unrest
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Doug+Casey
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=/casey
-----

by Pastor Chuck Baldwin

Truth also demands courage and honesty, because sometimes it can be very painful to look at! It takes an honest man to desire truth, as truth will often reveal the character flaws in his own soul. It also takes courage to appreciate truth, as truth will often demand that one change his own opinion or conduct. Unfortunately, it does appear that the desire for truth has been replaced with a desire for deceit.........

http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin631.htm



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=com/baldwin

-----

In the face of four years of Senate filibusters at a record setting pace, preventing any possible real legislative progress for the American people, is it surprising that there would be strong calls for reforming this now most abused congressional tactic? Even the appointments of non-controversial federal judges have been systematically blocked in acts of obstructionism for their own sake.

Please speak out now. The votes are there to change this if only we bolster them up.

Stop The Filibuster Action Page: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1064.php

In particular, the purpose of a filibuster was supposed to be to make sure that real debate on the issues would not be shut down. But instead we find Republicans simply threatening to filibuster as a way of derailing the whole process of government, and the result is no actual public debate at all. So the most important reform must be that if opponents of a bill want to call for more debate, they must be forced to actually put one up. And then let the American people decide on their C-SPAN who is wasting the country's time and who is not.

This and other critically needed reforms are contained in a bill put forward by Senator Mark Udall from Colorado. The American people have deserved a fair up or down vote for the longest time, and it's high time they got one on this bill, which can be passed by just such a margin.

So please submit the action page above right now, which will send your instant message through our own dedicated fax server to your own senators. And after you do, also consider picking up one of the new "Stop The Filibuster" caps, to display your support for real legislative action.

Stop The Filibuster caps: http://www.peaceteam.net/stop_filibuster_cap.php

We can also tell you that production of our new full length feature film, about indicting Cheney for torture, is in high gear even as we speak. "The Last War Crime" is the story of what would have happened, and what should still happen, if any member of the Justice Department had the integrity to prosecute the war criminals who told knowing lies to get us entrapped into endless and counterproductive occupations of both Iraq and Afghanistan, using false confessions obtained by torture to sell them.

There was an interesting news item we just read about how Cheney is healthy enough with his new artificial assist heart pump to go out and see movies. So he certainly will have no excuse not to see "The Last War Crime", coming to a theatre near him, and you, very soon. At least then he will know how he really will be remembered by history.

Any donation you can make allows us to employ good progressive activists as cast and crew to make this new creative media project a reality. With your kind support we will have this destined to be controversial new film playing in theaters all over the country in the new year as a policy advocacy action. So here is a link directly to the page where you can get your own "Last War Crime" cap.

Last War Crime page: http://www.peaceteam.net/last_war_crime.php

And here is the Facebook link for the Stop The Filibuster action page further above.

[Facebook] Action Page: http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum1064

And this is the Twitter reply for this same action

@cxs #p1064

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.

usalone424b:145921

--------

Minority Again Uses Filibuster to Hijack Senate Will
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/03/06-0



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=filibuster
-----