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Jan 1, 2010, 2:42:16 PM1/1/10

Government of the USA in Exile Free Americans Reaching Out to
Amerika's Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free Via
<pr...@usa-exile.org<mailto:pr...@usa-exile.org>> January 1, 2010:
Wishing You a Decade Free of Decadence

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24296.htm

Humanitybs Right to Life

The leader of the Cuban Revolution writes about the adverse effects
of climate change and the embarrassing series of events that resulted
in the failure of the Copenhagen Summit

By Fidel Castro

December 31, 2009 "Juventud Rebelde <mailto:dig...@jrebelde.cip.cu>
" -- Climate change is already causing enormous damage and hundreds
of millions of poor people are enduring the consequences.

The most advanced research centers have claimed that there is little
time to avoid an irreversible catastrophe. James Hansen, from the
NASA Goddard Institute, has said that a proportion of 350 parts of
carbon dioxide by million is still tolerable; however, the figure
today is 390 and growing at a pace of 2 parts by million every year
exceeding the levels of 600 thousand years ago. Each one of the
past two decades has been the warmest since the first records were
taken while carbon dioxide increased 80 parts by million in the
past 150 years.

The meltdown of ice in the Arctic Sea and of the huge two-kilometer
thick icecap covering Greenland; of the South American glaciers
feeding its main fresh water sources and the enormous volume covering
the Antarctic; of the remaining icecap on the Kilimanjaro, the ice
on the Himalayan and the large frozen area of Siberia are visible.
Outstanding scientists fear abrupt quantitative changes in these
natural phenomena that bring about the change.

Humanity entertained high hopes in the Copenhagen Summit after the
Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997 entered into force in 2005. The
resounding failure of the Summit gave rise to shameful episodes
that call for due clarification.

The United States, with less than 5% of the world population releases
25% of the carbon dioxide. The new US President had promised to
cooperate with the international effort to tackle a new problem
that afflicts that country as much as the rest of the world. In the
meetings leading to the Summit, it became clear that the leaders
of that nation and of the wealthiest countries were maneuvering to
place the burden of sacrifices on the emergent and poor countries.

A great number of leaders and thousands of representatives of social
movements and scientific institutions, determined to fight for the
preservation of humanity from the greatest risk in history, converged
in Copenhagen on the invitation of the organizers of the Summit.
Ibd rather avoid reference to details of the brutality of the Danish
police force against thousands of protesters and invitees from
social and scientific movements who traveled to the Danish capital.
Ibll focus on the political features of the Summit.

Actually, chaos prevailed in Copenhagen where incredible things
happened. The social movements and scientific institutions were not
allowed to attend the debates. There were heads of State and
Government who could not even express their views on crucial issues.
Obama and the leaders of the wealthiest nations took over the
conference, with the complicity of the Danish government. The United
Nations agencies were pushed to the background.

Barack Obama, the last to arrive on the day of the Summit for a
12-hour stay, met with two groups of invitees carefully chosen by
him and his staff, and in the company of one of them met at the
plenary hall with the rest of the high-level delegations. He made
his remarks and left right away through the back door. Except for
the small group chosen by him, the other representatives of countries
were prevented from taking the floor during that plenary session.
The presidents of Bolivia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
were allowed to speak because the Chairman of the Summit had no
choice but to give them the floor in light of the strong pressures
of those present.

In an adjacent room, Obama brought together the leaders of the
wealthiest nations, some of the most important emerging States and
two very poor countries. He then introduced a document, negotiated
with two or three of the most important countries, ignored the UN
General Assembly, gave a press conference and left like Julius
Caesar after one of his victorious wars in Asia Minor that led him
to say: bI came, I saw, I conquered.b

Even Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had said
on October 19: bIf we do not reach a deal over the next few months,
let us be in no doubt, since once the damage from unchecked emissions
growth is done, no retrospective global agreement in some future
period can undo that choice. By then it will be irretrievably too
late...b

Brown concluded his speech with these dramatic words: bWe cannot
afford to fail. If we fail now we will pay a heavy price. If we act
now, if we act together, if we act with vision and resolve, success
at Copenhagen is still within our reach, but, if we falter, the
Earth will itself be at risk and, for the planet, there is no Plan
B.b

But later he arrogantly said that the United Nations could not be
taken hostage by a group of countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia,
Nicaragua and Tuvalu. At the same time, he accused China, India,
Brazil, South Africa and other emerging countries of being lured
by the United States into signing a document that throws the Kyoto
Protocol in the wastebasket without a binding agreement involving
the United States and its wealthy allies.

I find it necessary to recall that the United Nations Organization
was born hardly six decades ago, after the last World War, when
there were no more than fifty independent countries. Today, after
the hateful colonial system ceased to exist thanks to the resolute
struggle of the peoples, it has a membership of over 190 independent
nations. For many years, even the Peoplebs Republic of China was
denied admission to the UN while a puppet regime was its representative
in that institution and in the privileged Security Council.

The tenacious support of the growing number of Third World nations
would prove indispensable to Chinabs international recognition and
become an extremely significant element for the acceptance of that
countrybs rights at the UN by the United States and its NATO allies.

It was the Soviet Union that made the greatest contribution to the
heroic fight against fascism. More than 25 million of its people
perished while the country was terribly devastated. It was from
that struggle that it emerged as a superpower with the capacity to
partly balance the absolute domination of the US imperial system
and the former colonial powers to plunder the Third World countries
unrestrictedly. Following the demise of the USSR, the United States
extended its political and military power to the East, --up to
Russiabs heart-- and enhanced its influence on the rest of Europe.
Therefore, what happened in Copenhagen came as no surprise.

I want to insist on how unfair and outrageous were the remarks of
the Prime Minister of the UK and the Yankee attempt to impose as
the Summit Accord a document that was at no time discussed with the
attending countries.

During his press conference of December 21, Cubabs Foreign Minister
Bruno Rodriguez made a statement that cannot be disproved. I will
quote from some of its paragraphs: bI would like to emphasize that
no agreement of the Conference of the Parties was reached in
Copenhagen, that no decision was made as to binding or nonbinding
commitments or pertaining to International Law; that simply did not
happen. There was no agreement in Copenhagen.b

bThe Summit was a failure and a deception for the world [...] the
lack of political will was left in the open...b

b...it was a step backward in the actions of the international
community to prevent or mitigate the effects of climate change...b

b...the average world temperature could rise by 5 degrees...b

Right then our Foreign Minister adds other interesting data on the
likely consequences of climate change according to the latest
scientific research.

b...from the Kyoto Protocol until today the developed countriesb
emissions rose by 12.8%... and 55% of that volume corresponds to
the United States.b

bThe average annual oil consumption is 25 barrels for an American,
11 barrels for a European, less than 2 barrels for a Chinese and
less than 1 barrel for a Latin American or Caribbean citizen.b

bThirty countries, including those of the European Union, are
consuming 80% of the fuel produced.b

The fact is that the developed countries signatories of the Kyoto
Protocol increased their emissions dramatically. Now, they want to
replace the adopted bases of the emissions from 1990 with those of
2005. This means that the United States, which is the main source
of emissions, would be reducing its emissions of 25 years ago in
only 3%. It is a shameful mockery of the world public opinion.

The Cuban foreign minister, speaking on behalf of a group of ALBA
member countries, defended China, India, Brazil, South Africa and
other important emerging-economies states. He stressed the concept
adopted in Kyoto that bcommon but differentiated responsibilities
mean that the responsibility of the historical accumulators and the
developed countries, who are the culprits of this catastrophe,
differs from that of the small island states and the South countries,
above all the least developed...b

bResponsibility means financing; responsibility means technology
transfer on adequate terms. But, at this point, Obama resorts to a
game of words and instead of talking of common but differentiated
responsibilities, he speaks of bcommon but differentiated responses.bb

b...he then leaves the plenary hall without taking the trouble of
listening to anybody; he had neither listened to anybody before
taking the floor.b

In a subsequent press conference, before departing from the Danish
capital, Obama had said: bThere has been a meaningful and unprecedented
breakthrough here in Copenhagen. For the first time in history, the
largest economies have come to jointly accept responsibilities.b

In his clear and irrefutable presentation, our Foreign Minister
said: bWhat does it mean that bthe largest economies have come to
jointly accept responsibilitiesb? It means that they are placing a
large part of the burden of financing the relief and adaptation of
countries, mostly the South countries, to climate change on China,
Brazil, India and South Africa. Because it must be said that in
Copenhagen we witnessed an assault, a holdup against China, Brazil,
India and South Africa, and against every other euphemistically
called developing country.b

These were the resounding and undeniable words used by our Foreign
Minister to describe what happened in Copenhagen.

I must add that, when at 10:00 a.m. on December 19 our Vicepresident
Esteban Lazo and the Cuban Foreign Minister had already left, a
belated attempt was made to resurrect the Copenhagen cadaver as a
Summit Accord. At that moment, practically every head of State had
left and there was hardly any minister around. Again, the denunciation
by the remaining members of the delegations from Cuba, Venezuela,
Bolivia, Nicaragua and other countries could defeat the maneuver.
That was the end of the inglorious Summit.

Another fact that should not be overlooked is that at the most
critical moment of that day, in the wee small hours, the Cuban
Foreign Minister, together with the delegations waging the honorable
battle, offered UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon their cooperation
in the ever harder struggle being fought as well as in future efforts
necessary to preserve the life of our species.

The environmental group Wild World Fund has warned that if emissions
are not drastically reduced climate change will go unchecked in the
next 5 to 10 years.

But there is no need to prove the substance of what is said here
that Obama did.

The US President stated on Wednesday, December 23, that people are
justified in being disappointed about the outcome of the Summit on
Climate Change. In an interview with the CBS television network,
the President said that binstead of a total collapse if nothing had
been done, which would have been a huge step backward; at least we
could remain more or less where we were...b

According to the press dispatch, Obama is the target of most criticism
from the countries that nearly unanimously feel that the result of
the Summit was disastrous.

Now, the UN is in a quandary since many countries would find it
humiliating to ask others to adhere to the arrogant and antidemocratic
accord.

To carry on with the battle and to claim in every meeting, particularly
in those of Bonn and Mexico, humanitybs right to life, with the
morale and the strength that truth provides, is in my opinion the
only way to proceed.

Fidel Castro Ruz - December 26, 2009 - 8:15 p.m.

====================================================================

News Updates from Citizens For Legitimate Government 31 Dec 2009
http://www.legitgov.org All links are here:

http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

The Pre-Ball-Dropping-New Year's Eve Bad News Dump begins: Judge
Dismisses Charges in Blackwater
Shooting<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126229226969112429.html>
31 Dec 2009 3:49 P.M. ET A federal judge dismissed all charges
against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards charged in a
deadly Baghdad shooting. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina said
Thursday that the Justice Department overstepped its bounds and
wrongly used evidence it wasn't allowed to see. He said the
government's explanations have been contradictory, unbelievable and
not credible. Blackwater contractors were hired to guard State
Department diplomats in Iraq. Prosecutors say the guards fired on
unarmed civilians in a busy intersection in 2007, killing innocent
people.

Allegation: Blackwater hiring youths in Peshawar to carry out attacks
and suicide
bombings<http://www.legitgov.org/price_obusha_afpak_war_031009.html> --Just
as the CLG has asserted from the get-go. Wait
untilBlackwater<http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=216088>
gets hold of one of Pakistan's nukes, detonates it, blames 'al-Qaeda'
and plunges the US into WWIII. I am thinking the lucrative contract
for Xe to 'clean up' in the aftermath of the nuclear explosion has
already been drafted. Blackwater needs to be eliminated before they
become as big as Goldman Sachs and Citi - 'too big' to destroy.
--Lori Price<http://www.legitgov.org/lori_price_clg_writings.html>

Mufti Usmani holds Blackwater responsible for
blast<http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=216088> 31 Dec 2009
Contrary to the claim and media reports by the media about
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan taking responsibility of the Ashura bomb
blast, Mufti Mohammed Rafi Usmani held US agency Blackwater responsible
for the gory incident that claimed more than 40 lives. Addressing
a news conference along with Muhammed Taqi, Mufti Muhammed Naeem,
Maulana Tanver-ul-Haq and others on Wednesday, Mufti Usmani said
that Blackwater was involved in the killing of innocent people in
the Muharram procession. He said that soon after the blast, shops
in the citybs economic hub were set ablaze which proved that the
attack was "pre-planned and organized". Mufti Usmani said that the
incident was a conspiracy against Islam and the government totally
failed to control the situation, as it was the responsibility of
the government to provide security to the citizens and to protect
the property... He alleged that Blackwater was hiring youths in
Peshawar to carry out attacks and suicide bombings.

=======================================================================================================================

European Parliament to Investigate WHO and bPandemicb Scandal

by F. William Engdahl

Global Research<http://www.globalresearch.ca/>, December 31, 2009

The Council of Europe member states will launch an inquiry in January
2010 on the influence of the pharmaceutical companies on the global
swine flu campaign, focusing especially on extent of the pharmabs
industrybs influence on WHO. The Health Committee of the EU Parliament
has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the inquiry. The
step is a long-overdue move to public transparency of a bGolden
Triangleb of drug corruption between WHO, the pharma industry and
academic scientists that has permanently damaged the lives of
millions and even caused death.

The parliament motion was introduced by Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, former
SPD Member of the German Bundestag and now Chairman of the European
Parliament Health Committee. Wodarg is a medical doctor and
epidemiologist, a specialist in lung disease and environmental
medicine, who considers the current bpandemicb Swine Flu campaign
of the WHO to be bone of the greatest medicine scandals of the
Century.b[1]

The text of the resolution just passed by a sufficient number in
the Council of Europe Parliament says among other things, bIn order
to promote their patented drugs and vaccines against flu, pharmaceutical
companies influenced scientists and official agencies, responsible
for public health standards to alarm governments worldwide and make
them squander tight health resources for inefficient vaccine
strategies and needlessly expose millions of healthy people to the
risk of an unknown amount of side-effects of insufficiently tested
vaccines. The "bird-flu"-campaign (2005/06) combined with the
"swine-flu"-campaign seem to have caused a great deal of damage not
only to some vaccinated patients and to public health-budgets, but
to the credibility and accountability of important international
health-agencies.b[2]

The Parliamentary inquiry will look into the issue of bfalsified
pandemicb that was declared by WHO in June 2009 on the advice of
its group of academic experts, SAGE, many of whose members have
been documented to have intense financial ties to the same
pharmaceutical giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Novartis, who
benefit from the production of drugs and untested H1N1 vaccines.
They will investigate the influence of the pharma industry in
creation of a worldwide campaign against the so-called H5N1 bAvian
Flub and H1N1 Swine Flu. The inquiry will be given burgentb priority
in the general assembly of the parliament.

In his official statement to the Committee, Wodarg criticized the
influence of the pharma industry on scientists and officials of
WHO, stating that it has led to the situation where bunnecessarily
millions of healthy people are exposed to the risk of poorly tested
vaccines,b and that, for a flu strain that is bvastly less harmfulb
than all previous flu epidemics.

Wodarg says the role of the WHO and its the pandemic emergency
declaration in June needs to be the special focus of the European
Parliamentary inquiry. For the first time, the WHO criteria for a
pandemic was changed in April 2009 as the first Mexico cases were
reported, to make not the actual risk of a disease but the number
of cases of the disease basis to declare bPandemic.b By classifying
the swine flu as pandemic, nations were compelled to implement
pandemic plans and also the purchase swine flu vaccines. Because
WHO is not subject to any parliamentary control, Wodarg argues it
is necessary for governments to insist on accountability. The inquiry
will also to look at the role of the two critical agencies in Germany
issuing guidelines on the pandemic, the Paul-Ehrlich and the
Robert-Koch Institute.

Bravo!

F. William Engdahl is author of Full Spectrum Dominance: Totalitarian
Democracy in the New World Order. He may be contacted through his
website,
www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net<http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net/>.

----------------------------

http://www.theflucase.com/

THE JANE BURGERMEISTER WEBSITE - INVESTIGATING THE SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

* Possible Avian Flu Outbreak Affecting Birds In West Bengal,
India<http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2438%3Apossible-avian-flu-outbreak-in-birds-west-bengal-india&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64&lang=en>
* Garlic In China Considered The Swine Flu Fighter Of
2009<http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2437%3Agarlic-in-china-considered-the-swine-flu-fighter-of-2009&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64&lang=en>
* Algerian Doctors Recommend Good Nutrition Instead Of H1N1
Jab<http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2436%3Aalgerian-doctors-recommend-good-nutrition-instead-of-h1n1-jab&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64&lang=en>
* WHO Chief Dr Chan Admits She Hasn't Had Swine Flu
Vaccine<http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2432%3Awho-chief-dr-chan-admits-she-hasnt-had-swine-flu-vaccine&catid=41%3Ahighlighted-news&Itemid=105&lang=en>

-------------------- http://thebirdflupandemic.com/

Mother Of 8 Year Old Girl Filled With Regret Now That Her Daughter
Is Experiencing Uncontrollable Body Movements After Getting The
H1N1 Swine Flu
Vaccine<http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/mother-of-8-year-old-girl-filled-with-regret-now-that-her-daughter-is-experiencing-uncontrollable-body-movements-after-getting-the-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine-after-getting-the-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine>

[cid:79FF8729-7ADB-4503-AFBA-873B5B1C6529@local]

It seems like every day we receive heartbreaking stories like the
one that you are about to read. Thousands upon thousands of lives
are being shattered by the H1N1 swine flu vaccine and yet the
mainstream media will not report on all of these horrifying side
effects that people are experiencing. The story posted below comes
from a reader named Sheryl. She thought that she was being a good
mother by having her 8 year old daughter with asthma get the H1N1
swine flu vaccine. Unfortunately her young daughter quickly developed
uncontrollable body movements which have not stopped. The doctors
have not been able to help her daughter so far, and so she has to
watch her daughter suffer tremendously every day without any assurance
that she will ever recover. Please pray for Sheryl, and please
share this story with as many people as possible. The only way
that we are going to be able to save lives is by sharing these
stories with as many people as we can. The following is Sheryl's
story.... (Read
More).....<http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/mother-of-8-year-old-girl-filled-with-regret-now-that-her-daughter-is-experiencing-uncontrollable-body-movements-after-getting-the-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine-after-getting-the-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine>

----------------------------------

http://www.recombinomics.com/whats_new.html

Tamiflu Resistance Continues to Expand in the United States (12/31/09
23:05)<http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12310902/H274Y_US_51.html>

H1N1 D225G in Lungs of Patients Across Russia (12/31/09
21:21)<http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12310901/D225G_Russia.html>

=======================================================================================

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24290.htm

Afghan Civilians Handcuffed And Killed By US Occupation Forces:
Report

Western troops accused of executing 10 Afghan civilians, including
children

By Jerome Starkey In Kabul

December 31, 2009 "The
Times<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6971638.ece>"
--American-led troops were accused yesterday of dragging innocent
children from their beds and shooting them during a night raid that
left ten people dead.

Afghan government investigators said that eight schoolchildren were
killed, all but one of them from the same family. Locals said that
some victims were handcuffed before being killed.

Western military sources said that the dead were all part of an
Afghan terrorist cell responsible for manufacturing improvised
explosive devices (IEDs), which have claimed the lives of countless
soldiers and civilians.

bThis was a joint operation that was conducted against an IED cell
that Afghan and US officials had been developing information against
for some time,b said a senior Nato insider. But he admitted that
bthe facts about what actually went down are in disputeb.

The allegations of civilian casualties led to protests in Kabul and
Jalalabad, with children as young as 10 chanting bDeath to Americab
and demanding that foreign forces should leave Afghanistan at once.

President Karzai sent a team of investigators to Narang district,
in eastern Kunar province, after reports of a massacre first surfaced
on Monday.

bThe delegation concluded that a unit of international forces
descended from a plane Sunday night into Ghazi Khan village in
Narang district of the eastern province of Kunar and took ten people
from three homes, eight of them school students in grades six, nine
and ten, one of them a guest, the rest from the same family, and
shot them dead,b a statement on President Karzaibs website said.

Assadullah Wafa, who led the investigation, said that US soldiers
flew to Kunar from Kabul, suggesting that they were part of a special
forces unit.

bAt around 1 am, three nights ago, some American troops with
helicopters left Kabul and landed around 2km away from the village,b
he told The Times. bThe troops walked from the helicopters to the
houses and, according to my investigation, they gathered all the
students from two rooms, into one room, and opened fire.b Mr Wafa,
a former governor of Helmand province, met President Karzai to
discuss his findings yesterday. bI spoke to the local headmaster,b
he said. bItbs impossible they were al-Qaeda. They were children,
they were civilians, they were innocent. I condemn this attack.b

In a telephone interview last night, the headmaster said that the
victims were asleep in three rooms when the troops arrived. bSeven
students were in one room,b said Rahman Jan Ehsas. bA student and
one guest were in another room, a guest room, and a farmer was
asleep with his wife in a third building.

bFirst the foreign troops entered the guest room and shot two of
them. Then they entered another room and handcuffed the seven
students. Then they killed them. Abdul Khaliq [the farmer] heard
shooting and came outside. When they saw him they shot him as well.
He was outside. Thatbs why his wife wasnbt killed.b

A local elder, Jan Mohammed, said that three boys were killed in
one room and five were handcuffed before they were shot. bI saw
their school books covered in blood,b he said.

The investigation found that eight of the victims were aged from
11 to 17. The guest was a shepherd boy, 12, called Samar Gul, the
headmaster said. He said that six of the students were at high
school and two were at primary school. He said that all the students
were his nephews. In Jalalabad, protesters set alight a US flag and
an effigy of President Obama after chanting bDeath to Obamab and
bDeath to foreign forcesb. In Kabul, protesters held up banners
showing photographs of dead children alongside placards demanding
bForeign troops leave Afghanistanb and bStop killing usb.

Hekmatullah, 10, a protester, said: bWebre sick of Americans bombing
us.b Samiullah Miakhel, 60, a protester. said: bThe Americans are
just all the time killing civilians.b

Natobs International Security Assistance Force said that there was
bno direct evidence to substantiateb Mr Wafabs claims that unarmed
civilians were harmed in what it described as a bjoint coalition
and Afghan security forceb operation.

bAs the joint assault force entered the village they came under
fire from several buildings and in returning fire killed nine
individuals,b he said.

=======================================================================================

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/01-4 Published on Friday,
January 1, 2010 by CommonDreams.org<http://www.commondreams.org/>

New Year's Resolution: Mountaintop Removal Ends in 2010

by Jeff Biggers

This is the year that mountaintop removal ends.

This is the year we begin to the just transition in the coalfields--climate
ground zero--with a real commitment to sustainable economic development
for a clean energy future.

This is what we know: Mountaintop removal provides less than 8-10
percent of all national coal production, while utilities coal
stockpiles have increased during the summer for the first time in
25 years; while absentee coal companies slash mining jobs and idle
higher-cost mines to keep their stock holders happy in a period of
slumping demand; and, as recent U.S. Geological Survey estimates
place "peak coal" production as early as 2020.

In the meantime, this absolutely unnecessary process of strip mining
has devastated the peace and prosperity of a region for over a
generation--thousands of Americans have been forced to relocate
from their ancestral properties, communities and their watersheds
have been poisoned by heavy metals and toxic pollution, 500 mountains
and 1.2 million acres of hardwood forests in the carbon sink of
Appalachia have been blown to bits, and nearly 2,000 miles of
headwater streams and waterways have been jammed with mining waste.

To understand the scope of the destruction on American soil, every
American should watch filmmaker extraordinaire Chad Steven's video,
Leveling Appalachia.<http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2198>

This is what we also know: The well-meaning EPA has suspended various
mountaintop removal permits, but still lacks the resolve and ultimate
authority to abolish this reckless form of mining operation, despite
indisputable Clean Water Act violations; the Office on Surface
Mining Reclamation Enforcement lacks the resolve to reverse the
Bush administration's blatant manipulation of the Stream Buffer
Zone before 2011, and President Barack Obama, despite his presidential
campaign promises to find another way of mining coal without blowing
up our nation's oldest mountain range and historic communities,
lacks the resolve to halt the most egregious human rights and
environmental violation in our nation.

In the meantime, investment for green jobs and clean energy is
desperately needed in the Appalachian coalfields, as part of a just
transition: Every coal miner deserves a right to a sustainable
livelihood. This means that coalfield residents, like all Americans,
deserve a road map for a feasible transition to clean-energy jobs
-- including a Coal Miner's GI Bill for retraining and a massive
reinvestment in sustainable economic development in coalfield
communities -- before we reach a point of no return.

The last hope now remains in the US Congress, where the Clean Water
Protection Act<http://www.ilovemountains.org/clean-water-protection-act/>
in the House and the Appalachian Restoration Act in the Senate,
moves swiftly along with a growing number of co-sponsors.

Last February, US b)Rep. b)Frankb) Pallone b)Jr.b) brilliantly
spelled
out<http://www.ilovemountains.org/ftp/lobbying/cwpa/Frank-Pallone-floor-statement-Feb-23-2009.pdf>
the situation on the Congressional Floor:

This is b)not b)just b)another b)environmental b)issueb)bbb)it's a
b)matter b)of b)justice b)andb) fundamentalb) humanb) rightsb)bbb)the
b)right b)of b)all b)people b)to b)live b)free b)fromb) the b)fearb)
that b)ab) boulderb) might b)killb) theirb) child b)in b)the b)middle
b)of b)the b)night; b)theb) rightb) tob) sendb) yourb) childrenb)
to b)a b)schoolb) not b)threatenedb) by b)billions b)of b)gallons
b)ofb) coal b)slurry; b)the b)right b)tob) preserve b)the b)streams
b)and b)valleys b)thatb) have b)beenb) part b)ofb) their b)way b)of
b)life; b)and b)theb) right b)to b)protectb) their b)own b)land,b)
no b)matter b)howb) muchb) coalb) might b)be b)underneath.b)

b)This b)legislation b)would b)amend b)the b)Clean b)Water b)Act
b)to b)clarify b)that b)toxic b)rubble b)createdb) by b)mountaintop
b)removal b)coalbmining b)cannot b)bb)e definedb) asb)"fill
b)material"b)andb) dumpedb) into b)the b)headwater b)streamsb) of
b)Appalachia.

b)b) b)It b)is b)simply b)inappropriate b)to b)allow b)the b)excess
b)spoilb) fromb) this b)type b)of b)miningb) to b)beb) dumpedb) in
b)mountain b)streamsb) where b)it b)canb) pollute b)waterways,
b)fill b)valleys, b)andb) inb) someb) cases,b) potentially b)endangerb)
the b)lives b)of b)area b)residents.b)

b)I b)believe b)thatb) theb) federal b)government b)hasb) a
b)responsibility b)to b)protect b)these b)rights,b) not b)to
b)giveb)massive b)miningb) companies b)a b)free b)pass b)to b)dumpb)
their b)waste b)intob) a b)nearbyb) stream.b)

b)We b)can b)no b)longer b)allowb) the b)coal b)industry b)to
b)dictate b)our b)environmental b)policy b)with regard to Mountaintop
Removal.

If you wish to end mountaintop removal this year, join the incredible
I Love Mountains Campaign<http://www.ilovemountains.org/>--an
alliance of the coalfields citizens groups on the frontlines of our
nation's most important clean energy and climate battle--and find
out how you can help, how you can donate, and most importantly, how
you can make sure your members of Congress are supporters and
co-sponsors of these historic bills.

2010--the year mountaintop removal finally ends.

Jeff Biggers is the author of The United States of
Appalachia<https://www.amazon.com/dp/1593761511?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1593761511&adid=0GXCPPK9PGV2FE1XYMY9&>,
and the forthcoming, Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy
of Coal in the Heartland (The Nation/Basic Books).

=======================================================================================

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24295.htm

Lining Up for the Wall Street Gravy Train

By Mike Whitney

December 31, 2009 "Information Clearing
House<http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/>" -- British economist
John Maynard Keynes, believed in capitalism, but he was also sharply
critical of its structural flaws. He summed it up succinctly like
this:

"Our analysis shows... that long-run development is not inherent
in the capitalist economy. Thus, specific 'development factors' are
required to sustain a long-run upward movement."

What Keynes was alluding to is the fact that mature capitalist
economies tend towards stagnation. What happens, is that the rate
of return on investment begins to dwindle as overcapacity builds.
That causes declining profits which lead to belt-tightening, rising
unemployment and falling demand. As investment drops off further,
growth slows correspondingly and the economy dips into a protracted
slump. This corrosive stagnation is the challenge that all advanced
capitalist economies face. The solution--as Keynes notes--lies in
"specific development factors", which in today's terms means
"financial innovations".

Financial innovation, like derivatives contracts and securitization,
have created vast new opportunities for investment and profitmaking.
This complex netherworld of highly-leveraged debt-instruments and
off-balance sheet operations, constitutes a shadow economy where
the process of capital accumulation persists despite pervasive
inertia in the underlying economy. This is why the Fed and the
Treasury have been doing their best to stitch the system back
together without changing its basic structure. The same is true of
Congress, which has gone to great lengths to preserve the
profit-generating instruments which brought the global financial
system to the brink of disaster. This is from the Wall Street
Journal:

"Lobbying by Wall Street has blunted efforts to step up regulation
on derivatives trading by carving out exceptions or leaving the
status quo in place. Derivatives took blame for some of the worst
debacles of the financial crisis. But a year after regulators and
critics began calling for an overhaul in the way they are traded,
some efforts have been shelved and others have been watered down.

The two main issues concerning regulators were trading and clearing
of swaps, which allow investors to bet on or hedge movements in
currencies, interest rates and many other things. Swaps generally
trade privately, leaving competitors and regulators in the dark
about the scope of their risks. In November 2008, the chairman of
the Senate Agriculture Committee proposed forcing all derivatives
trading onto exchanges, where their prices could be publicly disclosed
and margin requirements imposed to insure that participants could
make good on their market bets.

But a financial-overhaul bill passed by the House of Representatives
on Dec. 11 watered down or eliminated these requirements. The measure
still allows for voice brokering and allows dealers to use alternatives
to public exchanges." ("How Overhauling Derivatives Died" Randall
Smith and Sarah Lynch, WSJ)

"Voice brokering" is Wall Street parlance for making a deal over
the phone. It makes a joke out of the anemic regulations passed
into law by congressmen who are essentially agents of Wall Street.

The bottom line is that financial institutions will not be forced
to trade trillions of dollars of derivatives on public exchanges
where margin requirements would protect taxpayers against potential
losses. Instead, Congress has given Wall Street the green light to
continue selling products that are insufficiently capitalized so
they can keep raking in gigantic profits. That means it's only a
matter of time before another one of the financial giants keels
over from its bad bets. It will be AIG all over again.

But derivatives are just part of the problem. The real issue is a
financial model that doesn't really work and offers no tangible
benefit to society. In its present form, the system--with its exotic
OTC markets, its off-book SIVs and SPEs, and its opaque Dark Pools
and High Frequency Trading-- is more snake oil than high finance.
It does not "efficiently allocate capital to productive activity"
as advertised, but--more often than not--diverts it away from
production altogether into paper claims on all manner of financial
exotica. So called "innovations" have had less to do with increasing
the overall vitality of the economy or improving living standards
than they do with circumventing regulations to enhance earnings by
maximizing leverage. Deregulation has utterly transformed the system;
creating a financial Frankenstein that hides its activities off
public exchanges, that transfers the risk of losses onto the taxpayer,
and that requires explicit government guarantees just to attract
investment. It's a mug's game where only a small group of high-stakes
speculators come up winners.

The same is true of the Fed's emergency lending programs. They're
just another swindle wrapped in fancy public relations ribbon.
Ostensibly, the facilities are supposed to provide cheap capital
in exchange for dodgy collateral. But that's not a loan; it's a
subsidy, and it helps to obscure the true, market price of the
assets. As systemic regulator, the Fed has every right to provide
liquidity during times of market stress or turbulence. But it does
not have the right to help financial institutions conceal their
losses by paying exorbitant prices for downgraded junk bonds. That's
picking winners and losers, which is far beyond the Fed's mandate.

Quantitative easing (QE) is another Fed boondoggle. The program has
been hyped as a way to get the banks to increase lending to businesses
and consumers by creating over $1 trillion of excess bank reserves.
But instead of increasing lending, QE does the exact opposite; it
creates generous incentives for not lending. The banks who qualify
have been taking the Fed's zero-rate reserves and exchanging them
for safe, 10-year Treasury bonds which yield 3.5%. What a deal! Fed
chairman Ben Bernanke has promised to maintain this policy for "an
extended period" which means the banks will continue to reap the
benefits of this stealth bailout for the foreseeable future.

This is the real reason the banks aren't lending, because the Fed
is paying them not to. It's not a matter of creditworthy applicants.
It's a matter of hopelessly mangled monetary policy. The ongoing
credit contraction can be blamed on one man alone; Ben Bernanke.

Even though QE is mainly a backdoor way to recapitalize the banks;
some lending has continued, although not to consumers and businesses.
So where has the money gone? Here's part of the answer from the
Wall Street Journal:

"Former Salvadoran finance minister Manuel Hinds points out in the
latest issue of International Finance that banks have indeed been
shirking on their day job of transforming increased deposits into
increased private-sector credit. But they haven't quit entirely.
In fact, they've funneled significant new funds into nonbank financial
institutionsbwhich have not lent them on. What's happening is that
U.S. banks have been behaving exactly like developing country banks
during earlier crises, such as Indonesian banks in the late
1990sbraising lending to their worst borrowers to keep them alive,
lest the banks themselves collapse from their borrowers' defaults.

For U.S. banks, these zombie borrowers are their affiliated financial
entities set up to manage so-called off-balance-sheet activitiesbsuch
as the famous SIVs (structured investment vehicles) created by
Citigroup and others during the boom. Thus, the massive fiscal and
monetary bailouts of the banks have served to worsen the credit
misallocation that led to the general economic collapse in 2008."
("Prepare for a Keynesian Hangover", Ben Steill, Wall Street Journal)

So the banks are not only taking depositors money and using it in
high-risk derivatives transactions and currency "carry trades",
they're also propping up the long daisy-chain of insolvent creditors
whose default could domino Lehman-like through the entire financial
system. Funny how the media skips little tidbits like this when
they give their rosy evening roundup.

And then there's this; on Christmas Eve, the Treasury Dept announced
that it would lift existing caps on the mortgage-finance giants
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The two GSE's will no longer be limited
to a ceiling of $200 billion in losses each. Although, the Treasury's
action looks like it was designed to support the housing market,
the real beneficiaries are the banks whose balance sheets are coming
under greater pressure from the relentless uptick in foreclosures.
It is widely believed that Treasury is laying the groundwork for a
major revision of the Obama's mortgage modification program which
has, so far, been a dismal failure. If the critics are right, the
administration is planning to slash the principle on millions of
mortgages sometime in 2010, thus shifting the sizable losses onto
the US taxpayer. Otherwise, the banks will face potential losses
on another 4 million foreclosures in the next year alone. (according
to Credit Suisse)

Economist Dean Baker says that the Treasury's surprise announcement
is an indication that Fannie and Freddie may have paid too much for
the mortgage-backed securities they bought back in 2008 when the
GSE's were used as a dumping ground for distressed bank assets.
Here's Baker:

"This would mean that they were paying too much for mortgages and
mortgage-backed securities bought from banks after the financial
meltdown was already in full swing. This was the original purpose
of the TARP program. Of course, TARP came with at least some
restrictions and disclosure requirements. If Fannie and Freddie are
overpaying for mortgages, then there are no conditions whatsoever
put on the banks that get the money." (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:
Just a four Letter Word, Dean Baker, Huffington Post)

The Treasury's action is tantamount to another stealth bailout by
industry reps working within the Obama administration. All policymaking
seems to revolve around two fundamental tenets: Increase the profit
potential for the big Wall Street banks, and crimp the flow of
credit to the real economy to increase privatization, crush the
labor movement, and reduce the population to third world poverty.
That's Neoliberalism in a nutshell and, apparently, Obama's economic
dogma. In fact, as economist L. Randall Wray points out, Obama's
new health care bill is just more of the same; another ginormous
handout to Wall Street disguised as public policy. Here's Wray:

"There is a huge untapped market of some 50 million people who are
not paying insurance premiumsband the number grows every year because
employers drop coverage and people canbt afford premiums. Solution?
Health insurance breformb that requires everyone to turn over their
pay to Wall Street. Canbt afford the premiums? That is OKbUncle Sam
will kick in a few hundred billion to help out the insurers. Of
course, do not expect more health care or better health outcomes
because that has nothing to do with breformb b& Wall Streetbs
insurersb& see a missed opportunity. Theybll collect the extra
premiums and deny the claims. This is just another bailout of the
financial system, because the tens of trillions of dollars already
committed are not nearly enough."(Healthcare Diversions Part 3: The
Financialization of Health and Everything Else in the Universe" L.
Randall Wray)

It's no wonder that the Obama administration's appeal to China to
"expand its domestic market" focuses exclusively on health care and
retirement programs. Wall Street is just lining up for the next
gravy train.

======================================================================================================================

http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/144896/the_year_in_pot%3A_top_10_events_that_will_change_the_way_we_think_about_marijuana?page=entire

The Year in Pot: Top 10 Events That Will Change the Way We Think
About Marijuana

By Paul Armentano<http://www.alternet.org/authors/3513/>,
NORML<http://norml.org/>. Posted January 1, 2010.

There has been a tidal shift in politics and on Marijuana laws in
America, from Obama lightening up on pot prosecutions to the
recognition of cancer prevention properties.

#1 Obama Administration: Donbt Focus On Medical Marijuana Prosecutions
United States Deputy Attorney General David Ogden issued a
memorandum<http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192> to federal
prosecutors in October directing them to not bfocus federal resources
b& on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous
compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use
of marijuana.b The directive upheld a campaign promise by President
Barack Obama, who had previously
pledged<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUziSfMwAw> that he was
bnot going to be using Justice Department resources to try to
circumvent state laws on this issue.b Read the full story
here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7998>.

#2 Public Support For Legalizing Pot Hits All-Time High A majority
of U.S. voters now support legalizing marijuana, according to a
national
poll<http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/34651/most_americans_support_legalizing_marijuana>
of 1,004 likely voters published in December by Angus Reid. The
Angus Reid Public Opinion poll results echo those of separate
national polls conducted this year by
Gallup<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7996>,
Zogby<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7806>, ABC
News<http://blog.norml.org/2009/04/30/abc-news-publics-support-for-pot-legalization-has-never-been-higher/>,
CBS
News<http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/02/americans-growing-kinder-to-bud.html>,
Rasmussen
Reports<http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/02/americans-growing-kinder-to-bud.html>,
and the California Field
Poll<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/30/BA1417BHMA.DTL&hw=marijuana&sn=005&sc=443>,
each of which reported greater public support for marijuana
legalization than ever before. Read the full story
here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8054>.

#3 Lifetime Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Cancer Risk The
moderate long-term use of cannabis is associated with a reduced
risk of head and neck cancer, according to the results of a
population-based control study published in August by the journal
Cancer Prevention Research. Authors
reported<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19638490>, bAfter
adjusting for potential confounders (including smoking and alcohol
drinking), 10 to 20 years of marijuana use was associated with a
significantly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.b
Read the full story here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7944>.

#4 AMA Calls For Review Of Marijuanabs Prohibitive Status In November,
the American Medical Association resolved that marijuana should
longer be classified as a Schedule I prohibited substance. Drugs
classified in Schedule I are
defined<http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/1-csa.htm#Schedule%20I> as
possessing bno currently accepted use in treatment in the United
States.b In a separate action, the AMA also
determined<http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/AMA_Report.pdf>,
bResults of short term controlled trials indicate that smoked
cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric
intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may
relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.b
Read the full story here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8020>.

#5 California: Lawmakers Hold Historic Hearing On Marijuana
Legalization State lawmakers heard
testimony<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7999> in October in
support of taxing and regulating the commercial production and
distribution of cannabis for adults age 21 and older. Additional
hearings, as well as a vote on Assembly Bill 390: the Marijuana
Control, Regulation, and Education
Act<http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12758896#at>,
are scheduled for January 12, 2010. Read the full story
here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8002>.

#6 Maine Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure;
Dispensaries Coming To Rhode Island, Washington, DC In 2010 Voters
in November decided in favor of a statewide
measure<http://www.mainepatientsrights.org/Petition%20MEDICAL%20MARIJUANA.pdf>
that allows for the state to license non-profit facilities to
distribute medical cannabis to qualified patients. The vote marked
the first time that citizens ever approved a statewide ballot
proposal authorizing the creation of dispensaries. In June, Rhode
Island lawmakers enacted<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7901>
a similar measure. In December, Congress
lifted<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7901> federal restrictions
to allow for the DC City Council to implement provisions of a
ten-year-old medical marijuana law that would allow for the use and
distribution of medicinal cannabis in the District of Columbia.
Read the full story here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8011>.

#7 Oakland: Voters Approve First-In-The-Nation Medical Marijuana
Business Tax In July 80 percent of municipal voters approved Ballot
Measure F<http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/07/21/ca/alm/meas/F/>, the
nationbs first ever business tax on the retail sales of cannabis.
The tax, which takes effect on January 1, imposes an exclusive tax
for bcannabis businessesb of $18 for every $1,000 of gross receipts.
Read the full story here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7937>.

#8 Rasmussen Poll: Majority Of Americans Say Marijuana Is Safer
Than Alcohol More than half of American adults believe that alcohol
is bmore dangerousb than marijuana, according to the results of a
national telephone
poll<http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/august_2009/51_rate_alcohol_more_dangerous_than_marijuana>
of 1,000 likely voters published in September by Rasmussen Reports.
Fifty-one percent of respondents, including a majority of women,
rated the use of marijuana to be less dangerous than alcohol. Only
19 percent of those polled said that cannabis is the more dangerous
of the two substances. Read the full story
here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7965>.

#9 Many Teens See Medical Cannabis As Alternative Treatment Option
Some one-third of adolescents view their use of marijuana as
therapeutic rather than recreational, according to survey data
published<http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/4/1/7> in May
by the journal Substance Abuse, Treatment, Prevention and Policy.
Teens most commonly reported using cannabis therapeutically to
counter symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), physical pain, and sleeplessness.
In November several mainstream media
outlets<http://blog.norml.org/2009/11/23/parents-treating-children-with-medical-marijuana-cited-in-mainstream-media/>,
including The New York Times and Good Morning America, featured
stories on adolescents using marijuana as a medicine. Read the full
story
here<http://blog.norml.org/2009/11/23/parents-treating-children-with-medical-marijuana-cited-in-mainstream-media/>.

#10 Oregon NORML Opens bCannabis CafC),b Media Frenzy Follows In
November Oregon NORM<http://www.ornorml.org/>L
opened<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8024> the statebs first
cafC) catering to state-authorized medical marijuana patients.
Unlike conventional marijuana dispensaries that operate in states
like California and Colorado, medical cannabis is not sold on the
premises, nor is the primary function of the cafC) to dispense
marijuana. bThis is not a medical marijuana dispensary with a cafC);
this is a cafC) for medical marijuana patients,b said Madeline
Martinez<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7522>, Oregon NORML
Executive Director. The Associated Press,
Reuters<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AD06O20091114>, USA
Today<http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-11-23-cannibis-oregon_N.htm>,
The New York
Times<http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/americas-first-cannabis-cafe-open/>,
and Democracy
Now<http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/24/portlands_cannabis_cafe_is_the_first>
were among the hundreds of media outlets that covered the story.
Read the full story here<http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8024>.

Paul Armentano is the deputy director of NORML<http://www.norml.org/>
(the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), and
is the co-author of the book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We
Driving People to Drink<http://www.marijuanaissafer.com/> (2009,
Chelsea Green).

=======================================================================================================================

From: Kevin Barrett <kbar...@merr.com<mailto:kbar...@merr.com>>
Date: December 31, 2009 4:54:24 PM GMT-05:00 Subject: Will 2010 be
the year Americans finally decide to fight back?

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Kevin Barrett

PS Tuesday's canceled James Petras interview will be rescheduled
for late February or early March.

http://truthjihad.blogspot.com/2009/12/will-2010-be-year-americans-finally.html

"Why Aren't Americans Fighting Back?"

A non-US-citizen celebrates an attack on the CIA, and asks why
Americans tolerate occupation

A foreign friend of mine, who must remain nameless here, recently
contacted me to wish me a happy New Year and to celebrate the
martyrdom operation in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of eight
CIA agents. "This is wonderful!" he enthused. "Eight CIA agents at
once! They must have had excellent intelligence and pulled everything
off perfectly."

I said I found it hard to get excited about a bunch of people getting
killed, regardless of what they may have done to deserve it.

"That is the problem with you Americans," he said. "Half of you are
too stupid to resist your oppressors, and the other half reject
violence even when it is justified and necessary."

I told him I was flattered to be considered part of the non-stupid
segment of the American public, but that even as a non-stupid
non-pacifist I often find it hard to know when violence is justified
or necessary.

"If your country were invaded and occupied by a hostile foreign
power, your people slaughtered and tortured, your women raped, your
religion and customs violated, your resources looted, would violent
resistance be justified and necessary?"

"Of course."

"So when the people of Afghanistan blow up eight CIA agents, are
their actions justified and necessary?"

"From their point of view, sure."

"What about from your point of view?"

"As an American citizen, I'm trying to change things peacefully
through legal, Constitutionally-protected means of protest."

"You would be much more effective if you built a real resistance
movement and blew up CIA agents. Or better yet CIA directors."

I explained to him that I wouldn't have the faintest idea of how
to go about blowing up a CIA director even if I wanted to. It's
obviously a lot more complicated than "stick a fuse up his ass,
light it, and run like hell." And not all CIA directors are 100%
bad. Remember William Colby? And what about all those former CIA
people who have spoken out for 9/11 truth? What if somebody had
blown them up?

"Your country is occupied by CIA-Mossad and the finance mafia that
runs it," he said. "They killed the Kennedies. They killed Martin
Luther King, Jr. They killed Wellstone. They killed Gary Webb. They
kill everyone that gets in their way. They start wars that kill
millions. They rig your elections. They listen to your telephone
conversations, read your emails, and use your cell phone as a roving
microphone. They blackmail everyone of note, and if they can't
blackmail them, they frame them or neutralize them or kill them.
Every American President since Reagan has been a CIA agent. Your
Constitution is a dead letter. It was dead long before 9/11."

I admitted that this was all true.

"Your country is under occupation. In Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq,
Somalia, and other places, when people are occupied, they fight
back. Why won't Americans fight back?"

I explained that a lot of us are fighting back. It's called the
infowar.

"Infowar is great," he said. "But it doesn't cost them enough to
change their way of doing business. If you want a bad man to change
his behavior, you have to give him some incentive for change. You
have to raise the cost of the bad behavior until it becomes
intolerable. A lot of grumbling on the internet doesn't really cost
them very much."

What would be the best way to raise the cost, I asked. A general
strike? Riots in the streets?

"Yes, those are time-honored methods," he said.

I explained that the whole point of the infowar is to wake enough
people up so that some day soon, when the economy gets bad enough,
people will take to the streets, and the cops and troops will be
on our side...like the final scene in V-for-Vendetta.

"V wasn't afraid to use violence as part of his infowar," he said.
"Nor are the people of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ireland,
Somalia, the Basque country, Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Yemen, and
everywhere else on earth where people are fighting occupation by
the global financiers and their hired guns.

"What counts is having a culture of resistance. Where there is a
culture of resistance, everybody pitches in to help. Some people
set off bombs or organize attacks on occupation forces. Others, the
great majority, fight the infowar and build a support network for
the actual fighters. Even the biggest pacifist, where there is a
culture of resistance, helps the resistance fighters by providing
food, clothing, money, shelter, and encouragement, and by misdirecting
the authorities and refusing all cooperation with them and sabotaging
them whenever the opportunity arises."

I asked why pacifists would be helping an armed resistance.

"Because they recognize that the violence is coming from the occupier,
and that only attacks on the lives and property of the occupier can
raise the cost of occupation high enough to end it."

"But most Americans don't perceive themselves as victims of a violent
occupation," I said. "We of the smart half see ourselves as occupiers
of other countries, while the dumb ones see themselves as potential
victims of violent terrorists who attack us because they hate our
freedoms."

"Forget the dumb half," he said. "You need to convince the smart
half that they are not occupiers. Why should Americans identify
with the evil assholes who are raping the planet? Americans are
under violent occupation, just like the people of other occupied
lands, and they should build an effective resistance. You need to
convince them to start thinking of it as an actual war, not just
an infowar. In an actual war, the only thing that matters is reducing
the enemy's ability to wage war, and to raise the cost of his
continuing to wage war until the cost becomes intolerable."

I said I had no idea how to do that. Wouldn't attacks on lives and
property be counterproductive?

"It depends whose lives and property," he answered. "Attacking
ordinary Americans in their passenger airplanes and office buildings
helps the occupiers, not the resistance. That's why the occupiers
are behind so much false-flag terrorism. But attacks on the leading
men behind the occupation of planet Earth...now that could be very
productive. Attacks on their property, kidnapping of their loved
ones, and of course assassinations, these tactics would raise the
price of their behavior. If the powerful men who craft the evil
policies had to live in fear, they would have a powerful disincentive
to continue crafting evil policies."

Kidnappings? Assassinations? Are you kidding?! That would be WRONG,
I screamed, Nixonesque in my self-consciousness, that would be SO
wrong! Why, the very idea! How utterly APPALLING! Don't you realize
that the bad guys could be listening in even as we speak?!

My friend just chortled, remarked on what a hopeless bunch of boobs
Americans are, told me that he wouldn't ask me to celebrate any
more blastings of CIA agents, wished me well in my infowar, and
went back to wherever he came from.

I chewed over his words for quite some time. I decided I'm not sure
I entirely agree with him, but I'll tell you this: they'd have to
waterboard me quite a bit before I'd give up his name.

=======================================================================================================================

http://ricefarmer.blogspot.com/ Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tanker Glut

There is a big oil tanker
glut<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=abS1HzLIvy_k&pos=13>.
Letbs consider what this means. One interpretation leads to the
conclusion that there is also an oil glut, and therefore, peak oil
is a crock of baloney. In fact, itbs estimated that about 100 million
barrels of crude and distillates are stored at sea in tankers,
waiting for higher prices. But is 100 million barrels a bglutb?
Considering that the world consumes well over 80 million bpd, the
oil and distillates stored in tankers come to a little over one
daybs supply. Some may call that a glut; I call it a mighty thin
cushion. If the worldbs oil supply were disrupted even for a short
time, those 100 million barrels would disappear in no time. And as
I write this, the price of crude is again closing in on $80/bbl as
we head into the coldest part of the year in the northern hemisphere.
If there truly is an oil glut, why isnbt crude half that price or
less?

So if this does not signal an oil glut, whatbs really going on? The
answer is that therebs a glut of shipping
capacity<http://www.thestreet.com/story/10642891/1/chart-room-dry-bulk-shippings-future.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI>
for everything. Since the world economy experienced its first wave
of collapse in 2008, far less of everything is being
shipped<http://seekingalpha.com/article/176504-if-there-s-a-recovery-underway-how-come-no-one-is-shipping-anything>,
as reflected by the Baltic Dry
Index<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index>. In fact, about
the only thing that has been propping up the BDI these days is
Chinese<http://www.businessinsider.com/the-baltic-dry-index-is-collapsing-2009-12>
stockpiling<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aLIDyGomgfV8>.

Therefore, the many tankers and dry-bulk ships sitting idle at sea
are a manifestation of world economic collapse, not of a glut of
anything. Prior to the first wave of collapse in 2008, dry-bulk
shippers were enjoying high rates, which is why there are so many
new ships on order. When the next wave of collapse washes over the
world, webll see a lot more idled capacity.

Permanent Link<http://ricefarmer.blogspot.com/2009/12/tanker-glut.html>
posted by Rice Farmer @ 9:23 PM
[cid:65137635-8823-4FB8-958B-A3DBE1718509@local] Thursday, December
24, 2009

-----------------------

US Statesb Fiscal Deterioration

The fiscal situation of US states is going from bad to worse.
California is $68 billion in the
hole<http://sdgln.com/news/2009/12/23/california-budget-crisis-diaries-state-s-public-debt-68-billion>
and begging for help from the federal
government<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFdI2wUyyroI&pos=5>.
Help from the federal government of course means that taxpayers in
other states will foot the bill. There goes the nationbs love for
California. Arizona is staring into the
abyss<http://www.resistnet.com/forum/topics/arizonas-coming-government?xg_source=activity>.
New York State parks are shutting
down<http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=73032&provider=gnews>.
New Jersey is slashing its
budget<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5if1l4ILY8Z61gSCXUWXRO8JKvMHgD9CP3IAG0>.
Hawaiibs tourism decline is battering the beleaguered
state<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BM44A20091223> (see
the recent post on Hawaii, below). So many people have defected
from Michigan that the statebs population is now below 10
million<http://www.detnews.com/article/20091223/METRO/912230379/Michigan-s-population-drops-below-10M>.
And nationally, state and local governments have $530 billion in
unfunded pension
liabilities<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BM4FC20091223>. This
last item is the tip of the iceberg, as pension systems around the
world are in big trouble.

This is what happens to a system predicated on economic growth when
growth slows and begins its decline. In that connection, take a
look at this
chart<http://seekingalpha.com/article/179760-what-is-the-connection-between-oil-and-gdp-growth>
and then assure me that we will return to the good old days.

Permanent
Link<http://ricefarmer.blogspot.com/2009/12/us-states-fiscal-deterioration.html>
posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:29 PM
[cid:551AD644-7F6E-41D0-A5C4-388695249366@local]

======================================================================================

From: <ne...@worldgathering.net<mailto:ne...@worldgathering.net>>
Date: January 1, 2010 7:39:11 AM GMT-05:00 To:
<act...@worldgathering.net<mailto:act...@worldgathering.net>>
Subject: Can You Get Your Bearings? Try: REINCARNATION

World Gathering For Truth ~ http://worldgathering.net

Can You Get Your Bearings? Try: REINCARNATION
http://worldgathering.net/2010/news200.html

Confused... Things don't make sense... Desperate?

The Church in Rome used to teach Reincarnation.

Then around 500 AD, the Church dropped reincarnation from its dogma.

Everyone who completely follows that Church's doctrine has been
confused ever since.

We have continuous lives: we are always alive.

For many people, the way you are living now is the nearest you will
come to death.

When we 'die', it is just a transition point, before going on
somewhere else.

We are always alive.

The continuous reality for the soul is: to choose to live, or to
live in a way that is like 'living death'. ie to not choose to be
fully alive. If we are not 'alive', we are dead or dying.

Simple choice. Simple outcome.

Living life in a fully alive manner leads to growth and fulfillment.

To consciously choose to not be fully alive leads to increasing
problems... and this is what the world, as a whole, has today...

increasing problems.

It's a simple choice:

to be alive and living - or dead and dying.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Can You Get Your Bearings? Try: REINCARNATION
http://worldgathering.net/2010/news200.html

======================================================================================

From: Stephanie Sutton
<ssu...@phisciences.com<mailto:ssu...@phisciences.com>> Date:
January 1, 2010 1:10:25 PM GMT-05:00 Subject: Here's the final
version of the video "Hi Phi" complete with cameo appearance -
Patrick Flanagan

http://www.youtube.com<http://www.youtube.com/>/watch?v=vtX27XIXOAE

Spread it around....share it with your friends........take a course
in PHI.........don't forget to look into each other's eyes and
remember to NOT TOUCH!!!! Love, Steph

==========================================================================

From: Daren <ulm...@googlemail.com<mailto:ulm...@googlemail.com>>
Date: Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:37 PM Subject: Goodnewspipeline (A
Spiritual Conspiracy)

Hello Everyone,

Wanted to pass along my deep appreciation for each of you tonight.
Though we are in a very unique time of transition globally (macro
& micro), I am grateful to have you in my life to experience these
exciting/challenging times together. As most of you know, I believe
relationships are one of the primary lessons we are to learn in
this dimension and I want to make sure each of you clearly knows
that I LOVE YOU!

For an inspirational, I'm passing along the poem/short story I've
adopted as my "mantra/prayer/reminder" regarding my purpose and
role during these times (It hangs right above my computer monitor).
I hope it is a source of encouragement for you as we enter into the
new Gregorian Calendar Year of 2010. Would bring me great delight
if you decided to adopt this as one of your new years resolutions
(Let me know if you don't mind). HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Many Blessings, Daren

A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY

On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and
things seem dark.

But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening
underground An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals
are being called to a higher light.

It is a silent revolution.

From the inside out. >From the ground up.

This is a Global operation.

A Spiritual Conspiracy.

There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet.

You won't see us on the T.V.

You won't read about us in the newspaper You won't hear about us
on the radio We don't seek any glory We don't wear any uniform We
come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles Most of us work
anonymously We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country
and culture of the world Cities big and small, mountains and valleys,
in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands You could pass by
one of us on the street and not even notice We go undercover We
remain behind the scenes It is of no concern to us who takes the
final credit But simply that the work gets done Occasionally we
spot each other in the street We give a quiet nod and continue on
our way During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs But
behind the false storefront at night is where the real work takes
a place Some call us the Conscious Army We are slowly creating a
new world with the power of our minds and hearts We follow, with
passion and joy Our orders come from the Central Spiritual Intelligence

We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking Poems
~ Hugs ~ Music ~ Photography ~ Movies ~ Kind words ~ Smiles ~
Meditation and prayer ~ Dance ~ Social activism ~ Websites Blogs ~
Random acts of kindness...

We each express ourselves in our own unique ways with our own unique
gifts and talents Be the change you want to see in the world That
is the motto that fills our hearts We know it is the only way real
transformation takes place We know that quietly and humbly we have
the power of all the oceans combined Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains It is not even visible at first
glance And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the
centuries to come Love is the new religion of the 21st century You
don't have to be a highly educated person Or have any exceptional
knowledge to understand it It comes from the intelligence of the
heart Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human
beings Be the change you want to see in the world Nobody else can
do it for you We are now recruiting Perhaps you will join us Or
already have.

All are welcome The door is open

~ author unknown

=========================================================================

From: Rick Davis <rda...@yin.or.jp<mailto:rda...@yin.or.jp>> Date:
December 31, 2009 8:10:03 PM GMT-05:00 Subject: News links, January
1, 2010

Power vacuum leaves Nigeria `ripe for
jihadists'<http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744412--power-vacuum-leaves-nigeria-ripe-for-jihadists>

bIndia ready for war with China,
Pakistanb<http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=26382>

Pakistan: Mufti Usmani holds Blackwater responsible for
blast<http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=216088>

Gold ends at $1,096.20, up 24.8 percent in
2009<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BU3LY20091231> Oil ends
2009 78 percent above year-ago
level<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B30OK20091231>

A US pipeline for jihad in
Somalia?<http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2009/1230/A-US-pipeline-for-jihad-in-Somalia>

Vietnam urges rapid development of indigenous defence
industry<http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdi/jdi091223_1_n.shtml>

Yemeni Forces Raid Al-Qaida Hideout, Clashes
Erupt<http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=9453164> US preparing
for Yemen air
strikes<http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-preparing-for-yemen-air-strikes-20091230-ljuk.html>

NATO Kills at Least Eight Afghan Civilians in Fresh Air
Strike<http://news.antiwar.com/2009/12/31/nato-kills-at-least-eight-afghan-civilians-in-helmand-air-strike/>
Eight US 'CIA agents' killed in Afghanistan bomb
attack<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8435502.stm> Taliban
infiltrator who killed 7 from CIA wore Afghan
uniform<http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/81543.html>

Iraq: The 'coalition of the willing' becomes an army of
one<http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/81544.html>

China Property Bubble May Lead to U.S.-Style Real Estate
Slump<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=arp0XyPoRxW0&pos=10>

Kazakhstan denies uranium deal with
Iran<http://rt.com/Politics/2009-12-30/kazakhstan-denies-uranium-deal.html>

UAE: Fishermen face rash of attacks at
sea<http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100101/NATIONAL/701019707/1001>

Dismantling the Infrastructure: A Scientific
Approach<http://www.culturechange.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=584&Itemid=1>

Japan's population declines further in
2009<http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japans-population-declines-further-in-2009>

US: Which states are facing the worst budget deficits in
2010?<http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/1230/Which-states-are-facing-the-worst-budget-deficits-in-2010>
Move your money to community
banks<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/move-your-money-a-new-yea_b_406022.html>
New figures show (another) drop in Mexicans coming to the
US<http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2009/1230/New-figures-show-another-drop-in-Mexicans-coming-to-the-US>
FAA and taxpayers prop up small, little-used
airports<http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-12-31-private-airports_N.htm>
Judge throws out Blackwater manslaughter
charges<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BU3PJ20091231> Beef
in E. coli recall was mechanically
tenderized<http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-12-30-e-coli-meat_N.htm>
New York State Borrows Internally to Cover Record General Fund
Gap<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=atfwsvsRteEE>
Federal court restricts Taser use by
police<http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-taser30-2009dec30,0,3444530.story?track=rss>
In Wake Of Airline Incident: Drumbeat For US War In
Yemen<http://www.countercurrents.org/auken291209.htm> Colorado's
minimum wage becomes 1st in US to
drop<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091231/ap_on_bi_ge/us_minimum_wage_drop;_ylt=As9gW319Q5V0_wVi6ZU9oJSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNvNG5xZTlpBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjMxL3VzX21pbmltdW1fd2FnZV9kcm9wBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2NvbG9yYWRvc21pbg-->
Detroit flight plot may prove boon for security
firms<http://rawstory.com/2009/12/detroit-flight-plot-prove-boon-security-firms/>
Ron Paul suggests bagendab to expand terror war, attack American
liberty<http://rawstory.com/2009/12/ron-paul-suggests-agenda-expand-terror-war-attack-american-liberty/>
Unemployment sets a grim record in
2009<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34641146/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/>

======================================================================================

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