International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance

Published on Necessary and Proportionate.org, Info and Link received by Newsletter-Email, From: HURIDOCS, Date: Feb 11, 2014:

Dear reader, Privacy is a human right: People need it, governments have to protect it and business has to respect it. Too often, this is not the case.

Today is the day we fight back: Thousands of individuals, international experts and a coalition of NGOs from all around the globe demand an end to unchecked mass surveillance. Privacy is dear to everyone of them: It enables them to speak freely. To meet others without being watched. To know that it is their decision to share information about themselves.   Continuer la lecture de « International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance »

The Geopolitical Dimensions of the Coup in Ukraine: A Struggle for Power and Influence

Published on Global Research.ca (first on World Socialist Web Site WSWS), by Peter Schwarz, Feb 27, 2014.

“When the Soviet Union was collapsing in late 1991, Dick wanted to see the dismantlement not only of the Soviet Union and the Russian empire but of Russia itself, so it could never again be a threat to the rest of the world,” wrote former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in his recently published memoirs. Gates was referring to the then-Secretary of Defense, and later US Vice President, Dick Cheney.

The statement sheds light on the geopolitical dimensions of the recent putsch in Ukraine. What is at stake is not so much domestic issues—and not at all the fight against corruption and democracy—but rather an international struggle for power and influence that stretches back a quarter of a century … // Continuer la lecture de « The Geopolitical Dimensions of the Coup in Ukraine: A Struggle for Power and Influence »

US Culture of Secrecy & Security Overreach

Interview with Daniel Ellsberg, re-published on ZNet, by AlJazeera, February 26, 2014.

In 1971, US military analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaked thousands of pages of a top-secret study on the Vietnam War to the American press. The Pentagon Papers, as the leak would come to be called, revealed previously shrouded layers of deception on the part of the US executive branch regarding decades of military involvement in Indochina … // Continuer la lecture de « US Culture of Secrecy & Security Overreach »

Playing Real-Life Monopoly

Published on Counterpunch, by Alfredo Lopez, Feb 25, 2014.

It might seem like a game of Monopoly played by real monopolies and, with a tired groan, one might be tempted to dismiss it as part of an ugly but irreversible trend. But the merger of cable-television mammoth Comcast with its runner-up competitor Time-Warner Cable is a huge piece of news whose outcome, if it goes forward, will be crippling to communications in this country … //

… The courts can stop this merger. Most analysts doubt they will.   Continuer la lecture de « Playing Real-Life Monopoly »

The Murky Politics of the $15 Minimum Wage

Published on Worker’s Action, by Shamus Coke, Feb 24, 2014.

… And although Sawant has been assured by the Seattle mayor that $15 is a done deal, she’s warning the Seattle public otherwise. Sawant recently spoke at a conference organized by the coalition “$15 Now,” and blasted the intrigue of the mayor’s committee set up to implement the new wage. Sawant knows the inner workings of the committee because she’s on it.

Sawant’s speech warned Seattle that the Seattle 1% are plotting a counter-offensive, aimed at undermining $15 by adding a variety of exceptions, loopholes, and extending the implementation time. In response Sawant demanded “$15 now, no exceptions.” The “$15 Now” coalition is staying on the offensive, going into the neighborhoods to ensure that $15 is implemented — they’ve given the Mayor’s committee a deadline and are preparing to organize a ballot initiative if necessary.  Continuer la lecture de « The Murky Politics of the $15 Minimum Wage »

CELAC States: a shining example for the whole world

33 Latin America and Caribbean States  proclaim their region a Zone of Peace – Interview with Prof Dr iur et phil Alfred M. de Zayas, Geneva School of Diplomacy, published on Current Concerns, Feb 20, 2014.

In December 2011, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States / CELAC Communidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños was established. This community comprises 33 American states with the exception of the USA and Canada … //

… excerpt: …  Current Concerns: Professor de Zayas, how do you assess the Conference of Celac States 14 days ago in Havana? What results have been worked out by the countries of the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean States?   Continuer la lecture de « CELAC States: a shining example for the whole world »

Banks Are Obsolete: The Entire Parasitic Sector Can Be Eliminated

What else can we do with the $1.25 trillion we’ll save by eliminating these obsolete financial middleman parasites? A lot – Published on Washington’s Blog, by Charles Hush Smith, Feb 21, 2014.

… This entire parasitic middleman sector could be replaced with automated digital clearing houses and crowdfunded or non-bank loans. Why do we need banks to pay bills online? We don’t; any clearing house could charge a small fee for the transaction.

Why do we need banks when loans can be crowdfunded? If we can invest money in start-ups via Kickstarter, Indiegogo, RocketHub, AngelList, etc., why can’t we own a piece of someone’s auto loan or home mortgage?   Continuer la lecture de « Banks Are Obsolete: The Entire Parasitic Sector Can Be Eliminated »

more medieval music

uploaded by Unai Urigoiti-Irizabalbarrena:

uploaded by Caballerito de Arratia:

we in our world

The Secret History of Western Education

Videos with Charlotte T. Iserbyt – The Scientific Destruction of Minds:

Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt served as the head of policy at the Department of Education during the first administration of Ronald Reagan. While working there she discovered a long term strategic plan by the tax exempt foundations to transform America from a nation of rugged individualists and problem solvers to a country of servile, brainwashed minions who simply regurgitate whatever they’re told.  Continuer la lecture de « The Secret History of Western Education »

Alexej von Jawlensky, Gabriele Münter, Wassily Kandinsky – der Blaue Reiter

Find Alexej von Jawlensky:

when Old is leaving, the New is coming

Links:

Sealed files reveal US hunt for WikiLeaks associates, on Russia Today RT, Feb 17, 2014;   Continuer la lecture de « when Old is leaving, the New is coming »

Intercept: An Essential New Site by Greenwald, Scahill, and Company

Published on The Contrary Perspective, by blog owner, Feb 15, 2014.

In an age when many journalists are corporate-owned or are reduced by various pressures into stenographers for the powerful, it’s encouraging to hear of new journalistic ventures that promise to be critical of those in power. Glenn Greenwald, who’s established a reputation for outspoken journalism at Salon.com and The Guardian, and Jeremy Scahill, an investigative reporter and bestselling author of Blackwater as well as Dirty Wars, have established a new online magazine known as The Intercept (it’s available here: The NSA’s Secret Role in the U.S. Assassination Program).   Continuer la lecture de « Intercept: An Essential New Site by Greenwald, Scahill, and Company »

Venezuela: A Complex Psychological War

Published on ZNet, by Tamara Pearson, February 15, 2014.

… On top of this, we have the media constantly lying about what is going on here (in Venezuela) and about what the government does, as well as the verbal abuse towards Chavistas on social networks. Then, over the last few weeks, in some parts of Venezuela, the most violent sectors of the opposition have been active. Here in Merida it started off with a few “students” blocking the main road; burning tires and garbage on it, and throwing rocks at anyone who tried to get close. They had no placards. From last Friday those protests escalated, both in terms of violence, people involved, and roads closed. It has been hard to get to school, work, and the hospital, and the frustration, inconvenience, and fear that comes with these sorts of actions combines with the aforementioned economic insecurity. The cacerolas (pot banging protests) that started last night in my barrio and in a few others here and in other cities also cause anxiety.   Continuer la lecture de « Venezuela: A Complex Psychological War »

Online revolts can stop govt

Yesterday we defeated SOPA, today we battle NSA – Interview with Josh Levy, published on Russia Today RT, Feb 12, 2014.

Properly mobilized people can become a massive online force capable of blocking ‘dangerous bills’ and changing government policies, Josh Levy of the Free Press told RT. The participants of The Day We Fight Back campaign say their call to action is simple.

RT: What are the protesters trying to achieve? How exactly are they supposed to ‘fight back’?

  • Josh Levy: This day of action [Wednesday, February 11] is the next stop on the continuum of action that has taken place since Edward Snowden first revealed the extent of the NSA surveillance program back in June. It follows mass protests that took place in Washington DC in October, the huge online protest that took place in June after we’ve found out about all of these things. And what we have seen is that it has really changed the debate not only here in the US but around the world. And more and more people every day have turned away these programs and have tried to find the ways to stop them.   Continuer la lecture de « Online revolts can stop govt »