nationalize the fed
nationalize the fed's JournalTPP Is ‘Fundamentally Flawed’ and Should Be Resisted, Says U.N. Human Rights Expert
Truthdig/RT Feb 3, 2016
The leading United Nations expert on human rights is calling upon the 12 nations considering the Trans-Pacific Partnership to reject the trade agreement, out of concern that it “is out of step with today’s international human rights regime.”
Alfred de Zayas, the U.N.’s independent expert on the promotion of democratic and equitable international order, said the TPP “is fundamentally flawed and should not be signed or ratified unless provision is made to guarantee the regulatory space of states.”
“I am concerned that notwithstanding enormous opposition by civil society worldwide, twelve countries are about to sign an agreement, which is the product of secret negotiations without multi-stakeholder democratic consultation,” de Zayas said in a statement ahead of Thursday’s meeting in New Zealand of trade representatives for the 12 Pacific Rim nations involved in the secretive talks over the TPP.
“Trade agreements are not ‘stand-alone’ legal regimes, but must conform with fundamental principles of international law, including transparency and accountability,” de Zayas said. “[Trade agreements] must not delay, circumvent, undermine or make impossible the fulfillment of human rights treaty obligations.”...
Read More: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/tpp_is_fundamentally_flawed_and_should_be_resisted_says_un_human_rights_e
https://www.rt.com/usa/331051-tpp-un-human-rights/
From Truthdig Comments:
Alice X • 3 hours ago
The TPP along with the upcoming TTiP and TiSA are designed to work around national sovereignty and regulation.
The TPP is correctly described as a Corporate Coup d'Etat. The others will be additional chapters.
The ultimate Neoliberal program. On that basis it is not flawed.
EasyJet unveils plan for 'hybrid' planes using hydrogen fuel cells
Daisy Carrington, for CNN February 2, 2016
(CNN)—On Tuesday easyJet announced plans to trial the use of hydrogen fuel cells on their planes.
The concept, which could convert their entire fleet of ordinary planes into hybrids without having to purchase new aircraft, could save a potential 50,000 tons of fuel and corresponding CO2 emissions each year.
The concept relies on hydrogen fuel cells which would be stored in the aircraft hold, and would allow a plane to taxi to and from the runway without using any fuel.
Considerable savings
The cells would capture energy from the aircraft braking on landing, and would charge lightweight batteries when the plane is on the ground, negating the aircraft's need to use jet fuel when taxiing. As 4% of the airline's fuel is consumed during taxiing, that comes out as a considerable saving...snip
The only waste is clean water
...Hydrogen technology has come a long way in the last five years, both in terms of how it's stored and how it's generated, notes Davies, which is what's enabling easyJet and other companies in the aviation industry to employ it in the push to bring down CO2 emissions...snip
Read More: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/02/aviation/easyjet-hybrid-plane-hydrogen-fuel-cell/index.html
The H2 Revolution has just begun
EasyJet knows- H2 is #1
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) Urges U.S. Leaders To Learn from Mistakes in Libya
Published on Feb 1, 2016: Interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News (1/29/16), Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard explains why it’s important that we learn from the mistakes made in Libya, so we don’t repeat them in Syria. She talks about "why it's important for those who are seeking to be our commander-in-chief to exercise foresight, to have a military mindset, where they are making decisions that will impact our country, our men and women in uniform, how we expand our resources.
They better be looking ahead to see what are the consequences to this decision. How will this country or that country react to the action that we take? What will our response to that be? And take down the line so that we don't end up being in a position today where we’re repeating the same mistakes of the past, just like we’re seeing in Libya: 2011, the President, Secretary Clinton, Sen. McCain, Sen. Graham, championed the overthrow of Gaddafi. The result today is a failed Libyan state with ISIS, Al- Qaeda and Islamic extremist groups poised to take over.”
Reminder- Debbie Wasserman-Shultz dis-invited Tulsi (a Vice Chair of the DNC) to the first Las Vegas debate last year. Here is what Tulsi had to say about that:
This Congresswoman is a rising star. And a surfer!
Extreme Recess: Surfing with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Sep 24, 2015
Official House Page: http://gabbard.house.gov/
Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/tulsipress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tulsigabbard
#TeamTulsi
Bill Moyers Flashback: Elizabeth Warren Tells a Story About Hillary Clinton, Wall Street & Lobbying
Bill Moyers.com Nov 18, 2015
At Saturday night’s Democratic debate, Face the Nation anchor John Dickerson asked Hillary Clinton whether she would be unduly influenced by the large campaign donations she receives from Wall Street. She responded that their support was due to her commitment to rebuilding after the 9/11 attacks. “I represented New York, and I represented New York on 9/11 when we were attacked,” Clinton said. “Where were we attacked? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan where Wall Street is. I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild. That was good for New York.”
The next day, International Business Times’ David Sirota and Andrew Perez reported that Hillary Clinton already was a top recipient of Wall Street cash before 9/11:
In her 2000 U.S. Senate race, Clinton vacuumed in more than $1.1 million from the securities and investment industry, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That made her the third-largest recipient of Wall Street money of any member of Congress or congressional candidate running in that entire election cycle, which concluded 10 months before 9/11.
Yesterday, Senator Bernie Sanders told CNN that Clinton’s answer was absurd. “The truth is Hillary Clinton and all of us in the Congress did everything that we could to try to rebuild New York City after that devastating attack,” he said. “But that has nothing to do with the question of the impact of Wall Street campaign contributions on her views on Wall Street.”
The exchange reminded us of a 2004 NOW interview with Elizabeth Warren. Before becoming the senior senator from Massachusetts, then-Harvard Law professor Warren joined Bill to discuss the problems facing middle-class Americans, and how “beholden” legislators may not always have their best interests in mind...snip
http://billmoyers.com/2015/11/18/flashback-elizabeth-warren-tells-a-story-about-hillary-clinton-wall-street-and-lobbying/
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/video_elizabeth_warren_has_known_for_years_hillary_clintons_20160131
Elizabeth Warren vs. Hillary Clinton (2004)
Published on Sep 26, 2014: The Bill Moyers show released a vintage clip of Senator Elizabeth Warren from 2004. In the video, Professor Warren talks about a meeting she had with then-first lady Hillary Clinton
UK Telegraph: Antidepressant risks to adults and under 18's may have been seriously underestimated
Antidepressants can raise the risk of suicide, biggest ever review findsAntidepressant use doubles the risk of suicide in under 18s and the risks to adults may have been seriously underestimated, researchers found
UK Telegraph Sarah Knapton, Science Editor 27 Jan 2016
Antidepressants can raise the risk of suicide, the biggest ever review has found, as pharmaceutical companies were accused of failing to report side-effects and even deaths linked to the drugs.
An analysis of 70 trials of the most common antidepressants - involving more than 18,000 people - found they doubled the risk of suicide and aggressive behaviour in under 18s. Although a similarly stark link was not seen in adults, the authors said misreporting of trial data could have led to a ‘serious under-estimation of the harms.
"It is absolutely horrendous that they have such disregard for human lives."
Professor Peter Gotzsche, Nordic Cochrane Centre
For years families have claimed that antidepressant medication drove their loved ones to commit suicide, but have been continually dismissed by medical companies and doctors who claimed a link was unproven.
The review - the biggest oif its kind into the effects of the drugs - was carried out by the Nordic Cochrane Centre and analysed by University College London (UCL) who today endorse the findings in an editorial in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
After comparing clinical trial information to actual patient reports the scientists found pharmaceutical companies had regularly misclassified deaths and suicidal events in people taking anti-depressants to "favour their products"...snip
"People in the United Kingdom are consuming more than four times as many antidepressants as they did two decades ago"
Dr Joanna Moncrieff, University College London
Read More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12126146/Antidepressants-can-raise-the-risk-of-suicide-biggest-ever-review-finds.html
Mandatory warning label:
When these white collar criminals can't "misclassify" deaths and studies, they resort to bribes. But we are all supposed to trust them anyway. F that. TRUST NO ONE
Big Pharma's Pathetic Medical Bribes are Quite Profitable
Pharmaceutical companies are low-balling how much they pay doctors by misspelling the names of their drugs in their reports to the federal government.
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/big-pharma-simple-trick-obscuring-medical-bribes
GlaxoSmithKline fined $490m by China for bribery
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29274822
What's driving Pharma's international bribery scandals?
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthcare/Whats-driving-Pharmas-international-bribery-scandals.html
Drug Company Accused of Bribing Doctors
Eleven current or former sales executives from TAP Pharmaceutical Products are going on trial, accused of paying kickbacks to doctors and hospitals to get them to buy the company's medications...
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=131602
Guardian: Japan begins work on 'world's largest' floating solar farm
The Guardian | Adam Vaughan | 27 January 2016
The Japanese electronics multinational Kyocera has begun work on what it says will be the world’s biggest floating solar farm. The power plant is being built on a reservoir in Japan’s Chiba prefecture and is anticipated to supply enough electricity for nearly 5,000 households when it is completed in early 2018.
Space-starved Japan has already seen several floating solar farms built as part of the country’s drive to exploit more renewable energy in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The shutdown of nuclear plants has seen Japan increasingly reliant on fossil fuel imports that have hit its emissions-cutting ambitions.
The Yamakura dam power plant will see more than 50,000 solar photovoltaic panels cover a 180,000 m sq area, but compared to other land-based plants it is relatively small. At 13.7MW when finished, it would not make the top 100 of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic farms...snip
Kyocera has already built three floating solar farms, which are much smaller than the new one, which was first announced in October 2014...snip
Read More: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/27/japan-begins-work-on-worlds-largest-floating-solar-farm
KYOCERA TCL Solar Begins Construction on 13.7MW Floating Solar Power Plant
Company’s fourth floating solar project, world’s largest, will be built on Japan’s Yamakura Dam reservoir
01/21/16
In a joint venture, Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced today that Kyocera TCL Solar LLC has started construction of the world’s largest*1 13.7 megawatt (MW) floating solar power plant on the Yamakura Dam reservoir, managed by the Public Enterprises Agency of Chiba Prefecture in Japan for industrial water services.
Scheduled for launch in FY2018 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2018), the plant will be comprised of approximately 51,000 Kyocera modules installed over a fresh water surface area of 180,000m2. The project will generate an estimated 16,170 megawatt hours (MWh) per year — enough electricity to power approximately 4,970 typical households*2 — while offsetting about 8,170 tons*3 of CO2 emissions annually. This is equal to 19,000 barrels of oil consumed*4.
http://www.kyocerasolar.com/about-kyocera/kyocera-solar/news/?id=197
(no audio)
Kyocera TCL Solar Inaugurates Floating Mega Solar Power Plants in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Apr 16, 2015: Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced today that Kyocera TCL Solar LLC, a joint venture established by the two companies, has completed construction of two floating mega-solar power plants at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The plants, inaugurated in late March, will generate an estimated 3,300 megawatt hours (MWh) per year in total— enough electricity to power approximately 920 typical households*.
Features
1. Floating solar power generating systems typically generate more electricity than ground-mount and rooftop systems due to the cooling effect of the water.
2. They reduce reservoir water evaporation and algae growth by shading the water.
3. Floating platforms are 100% recyclable, utilizing high-density polyethylene, which can withstand ultraviolet rays and resists corrosion.
4. The floating platforms are designed and engineered to withstand extreme physical stress, including typhoon conditions.
* Based on average annual use of 3,600kWh per household. Source: Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan
Existing Kyocera Floating Solar plant in Kagoshima
Kyocera Solar
http://www.kyocerasolar.com/
The GOP did not have single payer doctors and nurses arrested at a hearing
This will not be forgotten or forgiven. All the Democrats in the world can pretend it didn't happen but it did and every chance I get I will remind people. If Youtube takes this down there are backups. And there are backups to the backups. We will never forget. Ever. It was a disgrace and instead of dealing with it it's going down the rathole of history with some. Here's a reminder
Here's another one
DEMOCRATS DID NOT ALLOW SINGLE PAYER ON THE TABLE----- IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REMEMBER THIS or, don't, some of us will keep on with the facts. It's a f&cking lonely road, but someone has to walk it.
People had better start to realize that it's not an R vs D thing. If it's possible.
The health insurance mandate in Obamacare is an idea hatched in 1989 by Stuart M. Butler at The Heritage Foundation in a publication titled "Assuring Affordable Health Care for All Americans". This was also the model for Mitt Romney's health care plan in Massachusetts. http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/assuring-affordable-health-care-for-all-americans
Thousands gather in Malaysia for anti-TPP rally
Many demonstrators fear that the Southeast Asian country could lose control of its economy if it enters the Trans-Pacific Partnership with the United States.
By Melissa Goh, Malaysia Bureau Chief, Channel NewsAsia
Posted 23 Jan 2016
KUALA LUMPUR: Almost 5,000 Malaysians staged a three-hour long protest on Saturday (Jan 23) against plans to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), just days before parliament is due to open a debate on the free trade pact.
Led by opposition party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), non-governmental organisations and student unions, protesters armed with banners chanted anti-TPP slogans as they gathered in central Kuala Lumpur’s Padang Merbok.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's government has argued that Malaysia, which relies on exports of commodities, minerals and electronics, cannot afford to stay out of a trade zone whose participants account for 40 per cent of the global economy.
However, opponents of the TPP said they fear the pact would compromise national interests and favour foreign multinational companies. A special parliament session will convene from Tuesday to Thursday, to debate and vote on the controversial TPP bill.
Although the bill is likely to pass...snip more:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thousands-gather-in/2451410.html
Jan 23, 2016: Around 5,000 activists staged a three-hour protest in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, to oppose the government’s plan to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The protesters demanded that the government hold an open parliamentary debate on the topic this coming week.
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How many times did the TPP come up in the last (D) Debate? Would Americans protest like Malaysians if they knew about it? Probably not. Americans don't really protest anything anymore.
Salon: Emails expose close ties between Hillary Clinton and accused war criminal Henry Kissinger
Kissinger met regularly with Secretary Clinton, and applauded her hawkish foreign policy in a handwritten message
Salon.com by Ben Norton and Jared Flanery Jan 12, 2016
“I greatly admire the skill and aplomb with which you conduct our foreign policy,” wrote Henry Kissinger in a 2012 letter to “the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton.” The compliment was included as a handwritten postscript added to the printed letter.
The Feb. 7 letter, which was released in a batch of emails from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is a request that she help declassify documents from Kissinger’s time as secretary of state, which he says constitute “a unique record of a critical period in American foreign policy.”
(A scanned copy of Kissinger’s printed message to Clinton)
Critics say Kissinger helped carry out egregious war crimes in this critical period, during which he served as secretary of state under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
The late journalist Christopher Hitchens devoted an entire book to detailing the war crimes overseen by Kissinger, who infamously declared “The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer.”...snip
...In a June 2009 email titled “Startegy memo,” Clinton mentions an upcoming dinner she will be having with Kissinger — along with Cold War-era statesman and National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who pushed for the U.S. to arm Islamic extremist mujahideen militants in Afghanistan in order to fight the Soviet Union, giving rise to al-Qaeda and the Taliban....snip more- http://www.salon.com/2016/01/12/emails_expose_close_ties_between_hillary_clinton_and_accused_war_criminal_henry_kissinger/
Related: Hillary Clinton reviews Henry Kissinger’s ‘World Order’
By Hillary Clinton, WaPo
...Kissinger is a friend, and I relied on his counsel when I served as secretary of state. He checked in with me regularly, sharing astute observations about foreign leaders and sending me written reports on his travels. Though we have often seen the world and some of our challenges quite differently, and advocated different responses now and in the past, what comes through clearly in this new book is a conviction that we, and President Obama, share: a belief in the indispensability of continued American leadership in service of a just and liberal order...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hillary-clinton-reviews-henry-kissingers-world-order/2014/09/04/b280c654-31ea-11e4-8f02-03c644b2d7d0_story.html
US Taxpayers paid $43 Million Dollars for this ONE gas station in Afghanistan
Heather Goldin, CNN Tue November 3, 2015
Washington (CNN)—In a new report, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko said that a now-defunct task force spent nearly $43 million building a compressed natural gas filling station in Afghanistan.
The Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, which was created by the Department of Defense and directed towards reviving Afghanistan's economy in 2009, was disbanded in March.
The U.S. spent nearly $43 million to build this gas station in Afghanistan
"Although TFBSO achieved its immediate objective of building the CNG filling station, it apparently did so at an exorbitant cost to U.S. taxpayers," Sopko wrote to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in a report out in the final days of last month. "In comparison, SIGAR found that a CNG filling station in Pakistan costs no more than $500,000 to construct."
The report stated that the Afghanistan filling station cost 140 times as much as a CNG station in Pakistan.
Most concerning to Sopko was that overhead costs alone for the project reached $30 million...snip
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/politics/afghanistan-compressed-gas-filling-station/
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Every spare (borrowed) cent is spent on the military. It's a disgrace, and it's a disgrace that people aren't in the streets protesting. Congratulations. You watched the biggest ripoff in history. Eisenhower would be so proud.
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