Creative-i : Trying to make sense of things in this crazy, capitalist world and then change it

The End of Capitalism Theory argues that capitalism will not be able to overcome these limits to growth, and therefore it is only a matter of time before we are living in a non-capitalist world. A paradigm shift towards a new society is underway

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Tagged afghanistan, America, BP, oil, pakistan

2010 07 28 CounterCurrents Comments (0) Permalink

Information Clearing House Newsletter 27 July, 2010: Wikileaks: US Attack Killed 300 Civilians

27 July, 2010 — Information Clearing House

Ahmadinejad: US Will Start New Mideast Wars
By Press TV
“We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot, according to which they seek to launch a psychological war on Iran,” Ahmadinejad stated in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Monday. “They plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months,” he added.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26027.htm

Wikileaks: US Attack Killed 300 Civilians In Afghanistan: Report

By David Leigh
Locals told Reuters that up to 300 civilians – as well as a number of Taliban – were killed in the air strike after they had been rounded up to watch a Taliban-organised public hanging of two suspected spies.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26026.htm

War Bill Could Be Stopped Today With 144 Votes

By Ryan Grim
“Once again, war is being paid for with a credit card while investments in our children’s future are tossed aside”
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26033.htm

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Tagged afghanistan, Attack Killed, Information Clearing House, US, war

2010 07 28 Information Clearing House Comments (0) Permalink

IPS 27 July, 2010: Feeding the Future – Green Revolution Has Little to Offer New Hungry Mouths

27 July, 2010 — IPS

More than 1 billion people suffer hunger today, according to the UN. A crucial part of this complex problem is food production and distribution. Is it possible to increase food production in an environmentally and socially sustainable way? Can modernisation, research and investment enhance food security? Is there anything to learn from traditional knowledge? How do trade and energy policies affect the equation? And gender? Where and when is food aid really needed? Can the upswing of commodity prices be positive for some countries? How are farmers coping with climate change?

IPS finds the stories behind the current food crisis to understand local and global causes of shortages and rising prices, and their long term effects.

AFRICA: Everything but Arms Deal Doesn’t Benefit Enough People
Isolda Agazzi
GENEVA, Jul 15 – The Everything but Arms trade initiative, which provides preferential treatment to poor countries, benefits only a limited range of people in the target populations. It should also be expanded to more countries, civil society organisations say.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52166

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Tagged africa, food, green revolution, IPS, news

2010 07 28 Interpress News Service Comments (0) Permalink

URUK Net 26 July, 2010 Part 2: U.S. Treats Iraqis Like ‘Well-Trained Lab Mice’!

U.S. Treats Iraqis Like ‘Well-Trained Lab Mice’!
By Mahdi Qassem, Sotal Iraq
July 26, 2010 – …There’s no doubt that Iraq and its people have suffered terribly, their country transformed into an active and effective laboratory. Strange and fantastic events beyond the imagination occur every day in Iraq. These include organized killings, untold physical damage and destruction, a growing scarcity of public services and bottlenecks in their delivery, the mockery by powerful politicians (though political mafia gangs) regarding the most basic humanitarian and national values and commitments, as well as a complete disregard for institutional responsibility. Iraqi leaders have turned their backs on a suffering population, allowing the unending expansion of chaos and destruction until it has spun completely out of control into something bigger than Iraq itself…
Truly: it’s as if Iraq has become an effective laboratory, as if its people have become domesticated mice for an experiment, after being injected with heavy doses of religious and sectarian serum that turns rational thinking into ignorance, compelling them to accustom themselves to living in primitive caves under the conditions that have been imposed on them. …

Read the full article / Leggi l’articolo completo: www.uruknet.de/?p=68318

Wikileaks files ‘may reveal thousands of war crimes’
By Paula Fentiman and Sam Marsden, Press Association
Monday, 26 July 2010 – The Afghanistan files released by WikiLeaks could contain details of “thousands” of potential war crimes, the founder of the whistleblowers’ website said today. Julian Assange told reporters at a press conference at the Frontline Club in central London: “It is up to a court to decide clearly whether something is in the end a crime. “That said, on the face of it, there does appear to be evidence of war crimes in this material.”..

Read the full article / Leggi l’articolo completo: www.uruknet.de/?p=68315

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Tagged Creative-i on Iraq, URUK, URUK Net, war, water

2010 07 28 URUK Net Comments (0) Permalink

Russia, Afghanistan and Starwars: Westward Hu By Eric Walberg

28 July, 2010 — Eric Walberg

Russia’s accommodation of the US and NATO continues apace, with new support of the Afghan war and even missile defence, notes Eric Walberg

The Atlantists are on the ascendant these days in Moscow. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev’s hamburger lunch with United States President Barack Obama during his visit to Silicon Valley last month apparently left a pleasant taste in his mouth. Now relations with NATO are on the mend, as Russia plans to send 27 Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan, NATO Military Committee Chairman Giampaolo di Paola said after a meeting with Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Nikolai Makarov last Friday. Rosoboronexport has even offered to throw in the first three helicopters for free.

Makarov went further, telling di Paola that Russia was now ready to work with NATO “to pool efforts to find solutions to contemporary challenges and threats to international security”. Di Paola welcomed the Russian general’s offer, assuring him that NATO views Moscow as a “strong strategic partner, not as a threat or an enemy”. He spoke vaguely about new members having to “meet NATO standards”, avoiding the U(kraine) and G(eorgia) words during their press conference. Russian and NATO experts will draft a joint action plan for 2011 within the next few months, he said.

Tagged afghanistan, Creative-i on Russia, Eric Walberg, Starwars

2010 07 28 Creative-i on Afghanistan
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VTJP Palestine/Israel Newslinks 26 July, 2010: Israel wages war against media and activists

News

International Middle East Media Center

Israel destroys Bedouin village
IMEMC – 27 Jul 2010 – Tuesday July 27, 2010 – 16:55, 1300 police officers and security personnel guarded the area as bulldozers demolished a Bedouin village near Rahat.

U.S. To Abbas: Go to direct talks to stop home demolitions and freeze settlements
IMEMC – 27 Jul 2010 – Tuesday July 27, 2010 – 16:51, An Internal Palestinian memo issued by the Negotiation department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization warned the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of rescinding his preconditions to direct talks with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamine Netanyahu as political suicide, Palestinian media sources reported.

British PM Cameron criticizes Gaza Flotilla attack
IMEMC – 27 Jul 2010 – Tuesday July 27, 2010 – 16:07, While visiting Turkey, Cameron blasts the Gaza raid while maintaining Israel’s right to its internal inquiry.

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Tagged israel, media, VTJP, VTJP Palestine, war

2010 07 28 VTJP Palestine/Israel Comments (0) Permalink

Military Resistance 8G23 28 July, 2010: Keep The Message Strong

Military Resistance 8G23.pdf

The Military Resistance Summer Fund Raising Raffle Is On Now

U.S. soldier, Beijia, Iraq 2008. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Tagged AP, Creative-i on Iraq

2010 07 28 Military Resistance Comments (0) Permalink

New at Climate and Capitalism 23-28 July, 2010

28 July, 2010 — Climate & Capitalism

28 July, 2010 – Dissecting Those ‘Overpopulation’ Numbers: Appendix to Part Two: Rates versus Ratios

27 July, 2010 – ‘Sustainable Population?’ Australian PM Targets Immigrants and Refugees

23 July, 2010 – Australian Election: Vote Socialist and Greens, Put Abbott Last!

Tagged Australia, overpopulation

2010 07 28 Climate & Capitalism Comments (0) Permalink

Sam Knight, “Iceland after the Fall”

27 July, 2010 — MRZine

Financial crises and uncertainty go hand in hand; some make sacrifices and others plan on having to. But how many countries stricken by the global crisis actually feel existentially threatened?

Iceland does. Since the start of the kreppa (‘catastrophe’ in Icelandic) in the fall of 2008, the small island nation of 320,000 has had to contend with the serious possibility of mass migration. IMF intervention and private debt gone public galore has left the country with a grim future. Knee-deep in kreppa, it could be slim pickings for Icelanders for years to come.

Thankfully, this crisis has taught Icelanders that they don’t have to put up with all this kreppa and should question their new-found debt. A popular revolt called the Kitchenware Revolution occurred in January 2009, forcing the resignation of the government that privatized Iceland’s financial system, let it implode, then refused to take responsibility. A generation of Icelanders learned that democracy, sometimes, means grabbing the system by the horns.

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Tagged banking crisis, Iceland, Icesave, ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme

2010 07 27 Creative-i on Europe Comments (0) Permalink

US “sparked Russian spy sensation” in wake of WikiLeaks broadside – RT

27 July, 2010 — RT

In an effort to distract attention from the release of thousands of secret documents on the Afghanistan War, the US rounded up 11 Russian ‘spies’ according to internal sources.

Just weeks after being hung out to dry after getting branded in the US media spin machine as ‘spies’, the wrist-slapped Russians are back in Moscow, where ‘their future looks bright,’ Prime Minister Vladimir Putin assured them.

Anna Chapman, for example, whose perky good looks were enhanced by an alluring cloak-and-dagger lifestyle that never seemed to get more exciting than a trip to the local coffee shop, suddenly acquired enough star collateral to reject an invitation by actress Angelina Jolie to the Russian premiere of the film ‘Salt’, in which Brad’s better half plays – all too surreally in light of recent events – a suspected Russian spy.

Tagged Anna Chapman, Russian spy ring

2010 07 27 Creative-i on Russia
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“American Radical” Norman Finkelstein: Israel losing PR campaign

27 July, 2010 — RT

US author, academic and outspoken Palestinian supporter, Norman Finkelstein accuses the US of coddling Israel and is lobbying to speak at the United Nations to promote progress for a Middle-East Peace Process.

Norman Finkelstein has never been far from controversy. The American Jew is banned from Israel and pledges full support for the Palestinian people. The author and former professor has lost jobs and faced death threats for his opinions. His views have been documented in the film ‘The American Radical’. He spoke to RT.

RT: We’d like to start with a question about the documentary ‘American Radical’. It has been described in many ways one of them being ‘an intimate portrait of a man behind the controversy’. Tell me about the documentary – why you decided to make this film.

Tagged israel, Norman Finkelstein

2010 07 27 Creative-i Videos
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State of Denial: After the Big Leak, Spinning for War By Norman Solomon

27 July, 2010 — Norman Solomon.

Washington’s spin machine is in overdrive to counter the massive leak of documents on Afghanistan. Much of the counterattack revolves around the theme that the documents aren’t particularly relevant to this year’s new-and-improved war effort.

The White House seized on the timeframe of the documents released by WikiLeaks. “The period of time covered in these documents (January 2004-December 2009) is before the President announced his new strategy,” a White House email told reporters on Sunday evening. “Some of the disconcerting things reported are exactly why the President ordered a three month policy review and a change in strategy.”

Tagged Norman Solomon, obama, WIKILEAKS

2010 07 27 Creative-i on Afghanistan
Creative-i on the USA
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WikiLeaks reveals civilians are fair game in US war tactics – RT Top Stories

27 July, 2010 — RT Top Stories

The US military is desperately trying to close-in on the sources behind the biggest leak in its history: the latest major Wikileaks exposé that includes evidence of the killing of innocent citizens.

Pentagon chiefs admit it will take weeks to assess the damage to US-led operations in Afghanistan after the latest revelations on something that any military would try to keep under wraps – civilians killed during an operation.

This April, the Pentagon saw one of its skeletons walk out of the closet: a secret video of American soldiers opening what looks like indiscriminate fire in a Baghdad suburb three years ago.

Back then, more than a dozen people were reported dead, including two Reuters news staff. Two children were wounded.

Tagged RT, US, WIKILEAKS

2010 07 27 Creative-i Videos
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Wikileaks Files raise questions over civilian casualties

27 July, 2010 — The Real News Network

Channel 4:Wikileaks reports which suggest disparity between UN and US civilian casualty figures
As news emerges of 45 civilians killed in a rocket attack by Nato-led forces last week, Channel 4 News investigates Wikileaks US military “secret” reports which suggest a disparity between UN and US civilian casualty figures.

Wikileaks Files raise questions over civilian c…, posted with vodpod

At least 45 civilians, many women and children, were killed in a rocket attack by the Nato-led force in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province last week, according to a spokesman for the Afghan government.

Tagged civilian casuaties, Julian Assange, Wikileaks Files

2010 07 27 From the Editor Comments (0) Permalink

Afghan files: Task Force 373 – the Taliban hunters

27 July, 2010 — The Real News Network

Channel 4 News analyses claims Task Force 373 appeared to botch attempts to kill al-Qaida operatives

Afghan files: Task Force 373 – the Taliban hunters, posted with vodpod

As the founder of Wikileaks claims there is “prima-facie” evidence of “war crimes” within secret Afghan documents written by US military forces, Channel 4 News analyses claims Task Force 373 appeared to botch attempts to kill al-Qaida operatives.

Tagged Task Force 373

2010 07 27 Creative-i Videos
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URUK Net 26 July, 2010: 52 civilians killed by NATO rocket fire in S. Afghanistan: official

26 July, 2010 — URUK Net

Let Us All Solemnly Praise Wikileaks
Arthur Silber
July 26, 2010 – We properly should offer recognition and honor to the great heroism of the people at Wikileaks… When you face a genocidal serial murderer, a murderer without conscience or soul, it is your obligation as a minimally decent human being to oppose him in any way you can. Through its leak of material such as that now made public, Wikileaks seeks to fulfill this solemn responsibility. Long may it thrive, until the blessed day when its services are no longer required…

Read the full article / Leggi l’articolo completo: www.uruknet.de/?p=68296

52 civilians killed by NATO rocket fire in S. Afghanistan: official
Xinhua
July 26, 2010— More than 50 non-combatants were killed by NATO troops in the troubled Helmand province in south Afghanistan on Friday, a spokesman to Presidential Palace said on Monday. “Fifty-two civilians were killed in Sangin district on Friday as NATO forces fired a rocket,” Siamak Heravi told Xinhua. However, he did not give more details, saying a statement would be released in this regard. Early on Saturday locals in Sangin district said that more than 50 civilians including women and children were killed as NATO’s aircraft dropped bomb…

Read the full article / Leggi l’articolo completo: www.uruknet.de/?p=68307

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Tagged afghanistan, NATO, US

2010 07 27 URUK Net Comments (0) Permalink

Israel’s Insane War on Iran Must Be Prevented By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

26 July, 2010 — Global Research

Israel’s attack on a humanitarian aid ship headed for Gaza may prove to be the greatest strategic error the government has ever made. Like the Soweto riots in South Africa in 1976, or Bloody Sunday – the American civil rights march on March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, where police opened fire and killed civilians – the Mavi Marmora affair crossed a red line. It has triggered an international wave of condemnation, expressing a shift in attitude toward Israel. The hope is that this international outrage, flanked by growing anti-government dissent inside the country, will provoke an identity crisis among the elite and people of Israel, shake up the political kaleidoscope and allow for a viable pro-peace force to emerge. Unless this occurs, new Israeli aggression, including against Iran, will remain high on their immediate agenda.

The details of the May 31 events are well known, documented by passengers on the Mavi Marmora headed for Gaza. Among the most dramatic was the eye-witness account of Ken O’Keefe on BBC’s Hard Talk show, who effectively dismantled attempts by his interviewer to legitimize the Israeli position (that the passengers were armed terrorists etc.), and established that the Israeli military opened fire immediately after boarding the ship, killing 9 in cold blood.(1) German doctor Matthias Jochheim, a member of the IPPNW on board, has delivered his own low-key, sober version, confirming the same facts.(2)