Spencer Ackerman | Julian Assange Went After Former Ally, Barrett Brown. It Backfired Epically.

DEAR RUSSIAN TROLLS: 

SINCE YOU'RE CRAWLING ALL OVER MY INCONSEQUENTIAL BLOG......

YOU MIGHT FIND THIS ARTICLE OF INTEREST...BUT THEN YOU KNEW IT ALREADY.

LOOKS LIKE Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Evgeny Prigozhin are in DEEP DOO!

Prosecutors contend Concord is controlled by Evgeny Prigozhin, a businessman identified by Russian media as being close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and who U.S. officials have said has extensive ties to Russia’s military and political establishment.

The company is one of three entities, along with 13 Russian individuals, indicted by the special counsel’s office in an alleged criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper with the 2016 U.S. election, boost Trump and disparage his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

13 August 18 PM It's Live on the HomePage Now: Reader Supported News The Futility of “Emergency Only” Contributing | We are blessed with supporters, readers, and community members who sustain Reader Supported News month in and month out. But for some reason, that is only when it becomes clear that the organization is absolutely desperate. That’s something that we really want to move away from. For the sake of the organization and the community that we serve. In solidarity. / Marc Ash, Founder Reader Supported News Sure, I'll make a donation! Spencer Ackerman | Julian Assange Went After Former Ally, Barrett Brown. It Backfired Epically.  Spencer Ackerman, The Daily Beast Ackerman writes: "A botched power play by Julian Assange has led to a split within a key organization supporting whistleblowers and leaves the WikiLeaks founder more isolated than ever among his core constituency of radical transparency activists." READ MORE FBI agent Peter Strzok. (photo: Roll Call) FBI Fires Peter Strzok, Political Lightning Rod Who Criticized Trump Philip Ewing, NPR Ewing writes: "The FBI has fired an embattled special agent who was removed from the Russia inquiry after internal investigators discovered he had criticized then-candidate Donald Trump in text messages with another bureau official." READ MORE Robert Mueller. (photo: AP) US Judge Allows Mueller Case Against Russian Company to Proceed Reuters Excerpt: "A U.S. judge on Monday backed Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the federal Russia investigation, allowing a case to proceed against a Russian company accused of helping fund a propaganda operation to sway the 2016 presidential election in Donald Trump's favor." READ MORE A group of protesters rally against 'fake news' outside CNN's headquarters. (photo: unknown) 'Not the Enemy of the People': 70 News Organizations Will Blast Trump's Attack on the Media Cleve R. Wootson Jr., The Washington Post Wootson writes: "The editorial board of the Boston Globe is proposing that newspapers across the nation express their disdain for the president's rhetoric on Aug. 16 with the best weapon they have: their collective voice." READ MORE Christine Hallquist, 62, former CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative, is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination for Vermont governor in the 14 August primary election. (photo: Wilson Ring/AP) Vermont Primary Could Pave Way for First Transgender Governor in US Adam Gabbatt, Guardian UK Gabbatt writes: "If Christine Hallquist can win Tuesday's Democratic primary, and go on to run for Vermont governor, it will be the first time in history that Americans will be able to vote for a transgender woman for such a senior political role." READ MORE Fisherman Jimmy Lalla, 36, moves a bike at his home near the water in Woodland, Trinidad. He and the first mate on their fishing vessel fled a pirate attack by jumping overboard; the boat's captain was kidnapped and is still missing. (photo: WP) "They Be Pirates": An Old Scourge Is Reappearing in the Caribbean Anthony Faiola, The Washington Post Faiola writes: "In the flickers of sunlight off the cobalt blue of the Caribbean sea, the vessel appeared as a cut on the horizon. It sailed closer. But the crew of the Asheena took no heed." READ MORE New Zealand's Whanganui River. (photo: Jason Pratt) Granting Legal Rights to Rivers: Is International Law Ready? Mara Tignino and Laura E. Turley, The Revelator Excerpt: "Last year, four rivers were granted legal rights: the Whanganui in New Zealand, Rio Atrato in Colombia, and the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in India. These four cases present powerful examples of the increasing relevance of rights-centered environmental protection." READ MORE Contribute to RSN Become a Fan of RSN on Facebook and Twitter Update My Monthly Donation

RSN: Voters Send Lawmakers Back to DC With a Message: Protect the Environment From Trump, Sorry, Republicans, but Most People Support Single-Payer Health Care

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NOTIFICATION TO OUR READERS ON DONATIONS - At this stage, the April funding drive is doing so poorly, we have no chance to finish this month's drive. We do not have the reserve assets to sustain significant losses. We are, we must, turn all of our attention to fundraising at this time. Your attention please. / Marc Ash - Founder, Reader Supported News

Sure, I'll make a donation!

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Juan Cole | ISIL Terror-Trolls French Election, Supporting Far Right; Will France Fall for It? 
 
Juan Cole, Informed Comment 
Cole writes: "Thursday's shooting at the Champs Elysee, left one policeman dead, another gravely injured, a third lightly wounded along with a German tourist shot in the heel." 
READ MORE

Surgeon General Dismissed, Replaced by Trump Administration 
Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY 
Eversley writes "The White House administration on Friday dismissed U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, saying it is continuing the process of transitioning to new leadership." 
READ MORE

Hundreds of Thousands Join March for Science Rallies Across the World 
Oliver Milman, Guardian UK 
Milman writes: "Hundreds of thousands of climate researchers, oceanographers, bird watchers and other supporters of science rallied in marches around the world on Saturday, in an attempt to bolster scientists' increasingly precarious status with politicians." 
READ MORE

Five Questions for the House's New Russia Investigator 
Morgan Chalfant, The Hill 
Chalfant writes: "Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) is taking the reins of the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russia following the recusal of Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)." 
READ MORE

Sorry, Republicans, but Most People Support Single-Payer Health Care 
Catherine Rampell, The Washington Post 
Rampell writes: "Despite the rise of the tea party and unified Republican control of government, one decidedly anti-free-market idea appears ascendant: single-payer health care." 
READ MORE

UN: Honduras Must Do More to Protect Indigenous Rights 
teleSUR 
Excerpt: "Amid systematic violence against Indigenous and environmental activists in Honduras, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz met with affected communities and urged the Honduran government to increase dialogue with Indigenous peoples and to respect their land and cultural rights." 
READ MORE

Voters Send Lawmakers Back to DC With a Message: Protect the Environment From Trump 
Mark Hand, ThinkProgress 
Hand writes: "The extreme anti-environment policies of President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers are inspiring a growing number of Americans to learn about climate change and join campaigns to fight budget cuts targeting the Environmental Protection Agency and other green programs." 
READ MORE

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CounterCurrents: Farmers Continue To Suffer Pains Of Demonetisation, It Wasn’t All Bad: 5 Signs Of Positive Change In 2016

Dear Friend,

As India's demonetisation enters 52nd day, and also the promised 50 day window of Prime Minister Narendra Modi    has passed, things are not getting any better. There is no cash in ATMs, long queues still continue. More than that many people have nothing to withdraw from ATMs! The worst hit are farmers. Moin Qazi tells the plight of farmers in his article "Farmers Continue To Suffer Pains Of Demonetisation". Farmers are dumping onions and tomatos on the road. Whatever they can sell, they are selling    at throw away prices, as the accompanying video from ABP News shows. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to address the nation tomorrow. Perhaps he would announce some sops to win votes in the upcoming elections. They may divert the public anger and even may please some people for some time. But the pain of demonetisation is not going to go away any time soon. 

As the year draws to a close, Sarah van Gelder looks back at 2016, and sees some positives. She closes the article with this advice "We are living on a planet with a carbon-saturated atmosphere, in a time of increasing inequality and terrifying violence. Trump’s administration won’t get us where we need to go, but neither would the Democratic Party’s corporate-friendly policies. So, even as we enter a time that could be quite dark, we should focus not on finding a way back to an Obama/Clinton past, but on how to move forward by nurturing the seeds of real change that began to germinate in 2016."

Donald Trump's election was a wake up call. Ron Forthofer, a retired Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas says, the Trump nightmare is nothing new. It has been going on for many decades. Many people chose not to wake up to the reality. Now that Trump is here it's time for action. He concludes the article "If the message of ‘peace on earth’ is to have any meaning, all people must realize that the ‘others’ are fellow human beings whose lives have the same value as ours."

Take a look at a Photo Essay on the protest led by Standing Rock Sioux indigenous Americans against Dakota Access Pipleline that has grown into a huge movement for environmental protection.

Viswanath L, an IIT Kharagpur canditate takes our attention to the technological and ethical pit falls of India's controversial biometric Aadhar project. 

And also more stories from around the world. 

If you don't mind, and if you think the content of this news letter is critical for the dignified living and survival of humanity and other species on earth, please forward it to your friends and spread the word. It's time for humanity to come together as one family! You can subscribe to our news letter here http://www.countercurrents.org/news-letter/. 

In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org




Farmers Continue To Suffer Pains Of Demonetisation
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/farmers-continue-to-suffer-pains-of-demonetisation/

The farm sector has taken the worst scalds. The government’s decision triggered a nationwide cash crunch that sent farm prices   crashing to rock-bottom levels, bringing misery to millions of farmers.





Bastar Police Continue Their Vendetta Against Women Human Rights Defenders
by Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/bastar-police-continue-their-vendetta-against-women-human-rights-defenders/

Advocate Shalini Gera and her colleagues of JagLAG who were in Jagdalpur in connection with a case of false encounter of a young Adivasi boy (1), were confronted on the night of 27 December by a police team which entered the dharamshala where they were staying and accused them of trying to exchange demonetised notes on behalf of the Maoists. Despite the fact that they were following up on an order by the Chhattisgarh HC for exhumation and a second post-mortem in the case and their accommodation had been arranged by the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Adv Shalini and her colleagues were ordered to come to the police station for interrogation. Attempts were also made to forcibly search their rooms and belongings. When asked to produce a warrant, the SI in charge of the team became even more aggressive and abusive. It took a personal call from the Divisional Commissioner to the SI to force the police to back off.






It Wasn’t All Bad: 5 Signs Of Positive Change In 2016
by Sarah van Gelder 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/it-wasnt-all-bad-5-signs-of-positive-change-in-2016/

We are living on a planet with a carbon-saturated atmosphere, in a time of increasing inequality and terrifying violence. Trump’s administration won’t get us where we need to go, but neither would the Democratic Party’s corporate-friendly policies. So, even as we enter a time that could be quite dark, we should focus not on finding a way back to an Obama/Clinton past, but on how to move forward by nurturing the seeds of real change that began to germinate in 2016.






Wakeup Call
by Ron Forthofer 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/wakeup-call/

If the message of ‘peace on earth’ is to have any meaning, all people must realize that the ‘others’ are fellow human beings whose lives have the same value as ours.





20 Photos: My Seven Months Of Living At Standing Rock
by Desiree Kane 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/20-photos-my-seven-months-of-living-at-standing-rock/

A Photo Essay on the protest led by Standing Rock Sioux indigenous Americans against Dakota Access Pipleline that has grown into a huge movement for environmental protection







The Case Against Aadhaar
by Viswanath L 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/the-case-against-aadhaar/

The Aadhaar programme proposes to set up technological barriers to the commission of fraud, but takes no responsibility towards the identity crisis it may cause to bona fide citizens. The big data it generates, together with the continuous collection of citizens’ biometric data,is a frontal attack on the future of civil liberties in our country. On these counts the Aadhaar programme should be scrapped ab initio.The Aadhaar Act, which provides a semblance of legality to it, actually exposes the unviability of the underlying technology in the clearest possible terms and should help the Supreme Court in concluding the matter at the earliest.






Shivaji Statue: Why Important For Hindutva Brigade
by T Navin

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/shivaji-statue-why-important-for-hindutva-brigade/

The Hindutva advocates see in Shivaji a symbolism for promoting their concept of Hindu Rashtra through propagation of anti-minority attitude. Statue remains a means for reinforcing this mindset and promoting Hindutva.






Kashmir 2016: The Year Of Unrest Is Fading Out
by Gowhar Naz 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/kashmir-2016-the-year-of-unrest-is-fading-out/

As 2016 draws to a close and we move into 2017 – the start of a new year. It is that time of the year, when you get to look back with the mixed feelings on what you did and what you missed out on. No wonder, you didn’t do anything significant this year, like winning some tournament, or a gold medal in the academics. As Kashmir dealt with the worst kind of an outbreak (which was a new season) of unrest in six years.






My Romance With A Village Postman
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/30/my-romance-with-a-village-postman/

When I write this diary I feel extremely dismayed with the way the Indian village postman has receded into the far horizons of the rural landscape .The traditional postman has been slowly consigned to grandma’s folklores and lullaby tales  . But it is an image that just won’t get washed away by the driftwood of history. The image will keep revisiting us.  The postman remains a   hero for those of my generation .Everyone knows for sure that the new digital show kids can’t provide the warmth and intimacy that has gone along with the figure of the traditional postman.

RSN: Leaked TTIP Documents Cast Doubt on EU-US Trade Deal

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FOCUS: Leaked TTIP Documents Cast Doubt on EU-US Trade Deal 
 
Arthur Neslen, Guardian UK 
Neslen writes: "Talks for a free trade deal between Europe and the US face a serious impasse with 'irreconcilable' differences in some areas, according to leaked negotiating texts." 
READ MORE

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Greenpeace says internal documents show US attempts to lower or circumvent EU protection for environment and public health

alks for a free trade deal between Europe and the US face a serious impasse with “irreconcilable” differences in some areas, according to leaked negotiating texts.

The two sides are also at odds over US demands that would require the EU to break promises it has made on environmental protection.

President Obama said last week he was confident a deal could be reached. But the leaked negotiating drafts and internal positions, which were obtained by Greenpeace and seen by the Guardian, paint a very different picture.

“Discussions on cosmetics remain very difficult and the scope of common objectives fairly limited,” says one internal note by EU trade negotiators. Because of a European ban on animal testing, “the EU and US approaches remain irreconcilable and EU market access problems will therefore remain,” the note says.

Talks on engineering were also “characterised by continuous reluctance on the part of the US to engage in this sector,” the confidential briefing says.

These problems are not mentioned in a separate report on the state of the talks, also leaked, which the European commission has prepared for scrutiny by the European parliament.

These outline the positions exchanged between EU and US negotiators between the 12th and the 13th round of TTIP talks, which took place in New York last week.

The public document offers a robust defence of the EU’s right to regulate and create a court-like system for disputes, unlike the internal note, which does not mention them.

Jorgo Riss, the director of Greenpeace EU, said: “These leaked documents give us an unparalleled look at the scope of US demands to lower or circumvent EU protections for environment and public health as part of TTIP. The EU position is very bad, and the US position is terrible. The prospect of a TTIP compromising within that range is an awful one. The way is being cleared for a race to the bottom in environmental, consumer protection and public health standards.”

US proposals include an obligation on the EU to inform its industries of any planned regulations in advance, and to allow them the same input into EU regulatory processes as European firms.

American firms could influence the content of EU laws at several points along the regulatory line, including through a plethora of proposed technical working groups and committees.

“Before the EU could even pass a regulation, it would have to go through a gruelling impact assessment process in which the bloc would have to show interested US parties that no voluntary measures, or less exacting regulatory ones, were possible,” Riss said.

The US is also proposing new articles on “science and risk” to give firms greater regulatory say. Disputes over pesticides residues and food safety would be dealt with by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Codex Alimentarius system.

Environmentalists say the body has loose rules on corporate influence, allowing employees of companies such as BASF, Nestle and Coca Cola to sit on – and sometimes lead – national delegations. Some 44% of its decisions on pesticides residues have been less stringent than EU ones, with 40% of rough equivalence and 16% being more demanding, according to Greenpeace.

GM foods could also find a widening window into Europe, with the US pushing for a working group to adopt a “low level presence initiative”. This would allow the import of cargo containing traces of unauthorised GM strains. The EU currently blocks these because of food safety and cross-pollination concerns.

The EU has not yet accepted the US demands, but they are uncontested in the negotiators’ note, and no counter-proposals have been made in these areas.

In January, the EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström said [pdf] the precautionary principle, obliging regulatory caution where there is scientific doubt, was a core and non-negotiable EU principle. She said: “We will defend the precautionary approach to regulation in Europe, in TTIP and in all our other agreements.” But the principle is not mentioned in the 248 pages of TTIP negotiating texts.

The European commission has also promised to safeguard environmental laws, defend international standards and protect the EU’s right to set high green benchmarks in future.

But the new leak will not placate critics of the deal, who have pointed to attempts by fossil fuel firms and others to influence its outcome, as a sign of things to come.

The EU negotiators internal note says “the US expressed that it would have to consult with its chemical industry on how to position itself” on issues of market access for non-agricultural goods.

Where industry lobbying in regulatory processes is concerned, the US also “insisted” that the EU be “required” to involve US experts in its development of electrotechnical standards.

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/36648-focus-leaked-ttip-documents-cast-doubt-on-eu-us-trade-deal

Exploding Trains!

ANYWHERE there are RAILS, there could be HAZARDOUS CARGOES! 

Simply taking the Commuter Rail to Boston reveals tanker cars parked on sidings being transported at night. 

Please add your name! 

It's time to make rail shipments safer for the protection of us all. 

We’re real close to a win on this one, but we aren’t there yet. Last year, we called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue strong rules getting unsafe, outdated oil trains off the rails. DOT responded with new rules, but they don’t go nearly far enough to protect the environment or public safety. I’ve joined my colleagues in supporting legislation to finish the job, and we’re calling on Congress to pass the bill. Join us! New rules put into place will allow these old railcars to continue rattling through Oregon, without much incentive for operators to upgrade their fleet. These trains travel through sensitive environmental areas carrying hazardous materials – like oil. If those railcars aren’t of the highest standard, then we’re all at risk. We know what’s at stake if one of these cars spills into the Columbia River Gorge, or leads to a catastrophic explosion in one of our communities. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.  And I know you’re not either. Add your name to our petition and tell Congress that we have to go one step further to protect our communities. It’s time for action. Sign up and help us make the case! Jeff No more unsafe oil trains >>

Paid for by Jeff Merkley for Oregon.

Reply from Senator Ed Markey

Below is a reply received from Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey.

Massachusetts should be proud they elected a forward-thinking Senator to represent them!

EDWARD J. MARKEY MASSACHUSETTS		218 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510 (202) 224-2742
	United States Senate June 5, 2014

 

Thank you for contacting me about the wildfires and the Endangered Species Act. It was good to hear from you.

I share your concern and I have long worked to protect the environment, halt the advancement of climate change and to create new jobs in our clean energy economy.

While I serving in the House of Representatives, I was the Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee where I spearheaded attempts to move investment dollars from over-funded nuclear and fossil fuel programs to greatly-needed clean energy research and development programs. I have also supported numerous projects to promote these 21st century growth industries, which include the nation's first offshore wind power project off of Cape Cod. In the 111th Congress, I co-authored The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), popularly referred to as "the Waxman-Markey Bill," the first and only comprehensive climate and energy bill ever to pass a chamber of Congress. The bill would have reduced U.S. carbon pollution by 17 percent from 2005 levels and required 20 percent of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.

On October 31, 2013, I introduced the American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act (S. 1627), as the first bill I proposed in the U.S. Senate. The American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act would create huge benefits for consumers, create jobs, and protect the environment by requiring electric utilities to obtain a minimum of 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass by 2025. The bill also requires electric and natural gas utilities to implement energy efficiency programs that would save the equivalent of 15 percent and 10 percent of sales, respectively, by 2025. The American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act would complement existing state programs and ensure that the United States is not left behind by the 118 other nations that already have clean energy targets in place.

The backbone of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has always been its commitment to use science to protect species from extinction. Preventing extinction and helping species to recover is not just the right thing to do, it is the economically sensible thing to do. Biodiversity of plants, fish and wildlife provide us with important benefits from lifesaving drugs to clean drinking water. In Massachusetts, outdoor, wildlife and coastal tourism delivers significant benefits our state economy and supports thousands of jobs. Under the ESA, iconic species such as the bald eagle, black-footed ferret, and American crocodile have recovered and continue to thrive.

As a result of climate change, record high temperatures, and insect infestations wildfires in our western states are burning more frequently and with greater intensity than we have ever seen before. That is why, while serving in the House, I introduced the Depleting Risk from Insect infestation, Soil erosion and Catastrophic fire Act, (H.R. 5960). My bill would help to address the scourge of bark beetle infestations on western forests and help to speed up the contracting process to remove dying or dead trees, which serve as potential kindling for forest fires. In the Senate, I will continue to monitor the protection of the whitebark pine under the ESA. I will also continue to work in a bipartisan manner to address the risks of climate change and dangerous wildfires and will fight for legislation that will create new jobs in the clean energy economy, and protect the health of citizens and the environment.

Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. To sign up for my newsletter, visit http://www.markey.senate.gov/newsletter. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Markey
United States Senator