November 10, 2015

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee on the TPP: "It’s far worse than we thought"

“After years of secret negotiations, classified drafts and unprecedented influence from multinational corporations and special interests, the American people can finally see the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

It’s far worse then we thought. Far from being the most progressive trade deal ever negotiated, it’s a template to ship American jobs overseas while undermining global human rights, environmental protections and labor standards.

We’ve watched this happen before with other bad trade deals. Since 1994, California has lost one in four manufacturing jobs because of NAFTA and other WTO agreements. This is unacceptable. Trade deals should create good-paying American jobs, not send them overseas.

In addition to the loss of American jobs, I am deeply troubled by the TPP’s impact on access to lifesaving medicines. ...........(more)

https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/create-american-jobs-don-t-offshore-them-with-tpp

November 10, 2015

Thom Hartmann: Exposing the Disastrous TPP

Published on Nov 9, 2015

With the details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) no longer secret Thom discusses what’s in the trade deal with Public Citizen's Melinda St. Louis, radio host and author Ari Rabin-Havt, and the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Kevin Kearns.

November 10, 2015

This thread was locked. .... I've read the forum guidelines and......

..... received an explanation from the hosts. I still don't understand why it was locked. ..... Could someone please further explain it to me? .. And again, I rarely complain about these things, but this seems to me to be a beyond the pale when it comes to censorship.

The thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134118372


Regards,
marmar

November 10, 2015

Kudos, Justice Sotomayor. To the other ones: Have you no decency?

The Supreme Court for a number of years has sided with cops in police brutality cases.

The justices did it again Monday, issuing an unsigned summary decision granting immunity to a Texas officer who shot and killed a motorist fleeing police, even though the officer lacked training or even specific orders to open fire.

In so many words, the court ruled the shooting death was legally justified.

The case arose from a civil rights lawsuit against Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Chadrin Mullenix, who wasn't involved in the chase but had responded to a checkpoint along its route to help intercept a vehicle driven by Israel Leija. Leija was wanted on an arrest warrant, and had fled when police officers tried to serve the warrant at a Sonic restaurant.

When Mullenix observed that other officers had already set up tire spikes beneath an overpass to disable Leija's car, he considered his own solo strategy: He grabbed his service rifle, hopped atop the overpass and got into "shooting position."

Mullenix had asked a superior for permission to proceed, but by the time he was in position, he claimed, he was to hear the order to stand by to "see if the spikes work first." Once Leija was within his range of vision, Mullenix shot six rounds. Moments later, Leija's car hit the median and flipped over two and a half times. ..................(more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sotomayor-supreme-court-cop-violence_563cee79e4b0307f2cad466a?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013&section=politics

November 9, 2015

Sea World keeps on applying the lipstick

(Bloomberg) SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., the theme-park operator under fire from animal activists, will convert its killer whale shows in San Diego to put the animals in a more natural setting and emphasize conservation instead of tricks, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The newspaper cited documents posted online for an investor day presentation set for Monday by Orlando, Florida-based SeaWorld. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

SeaWorld is contending with negative publicity about its signature attraction following the 2013 release “Blackfish,” a documentary that’s critical of its orca care. Last month, the California Coastal Commission approved a $100 million expansion of the company’s San Diego killer whale tank, under the condition that the company stop breeding the whales there. The company said it will sue to reverse that decision. ...................(more)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-09/seaworld-to-redo-orca-shows-with-greener-message-newspaper-says

November 9, 2015

TPP Trade Pact Would Give Wall Street a Trump Card to Block Regulations

(The Intercept) Banks and other financial institutions would be able to use provisions in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership to block new regulations that cut into their profits, according to the text of the trade pact released this week.

In what may be the biggest gift to banks in a deal full of giveaways to Hollywood, the drug industry and technology firms, financial institutions would be able to appeal any national rules they didn’t like to independent, international tribunals staffed by friendly corporate lawyers.

That could nullify a proposal by Hillary Clinton to impose a “risk fee” on financial firms — or the Elizabeth Warren/Bernie Sanders plan to reinstate the firewall between investment and commercial banks.

Financial firms could demand compensation for these measures that would make them too expensive to manage. ...........(more)

https://theintercept.com/2015/11/06/ttp-trade-pact-would-give-wall-street-a-trump-card-to-block-regulations/

November 9, 2015

Novak Djokovic continues his dominance

PARIS -- Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-2, 6-4 to win the Paris Masters for the third straight year and a record fourth time overall, dominating the second-seeded Briton from the outset in a one-sided final.

The top-ranked Serb was largely untroubled in clinching his 10th title of the season -- four ahead of Roger Federer and six more than Murray. It was the 58th title of his career and 26th in Masters events, two more than Federer and one behind leader Rafael Nadal.

"If you are going for the perfection, you might reach excellence," the 10-time Grand Slam champion said after dispatching Murray in 1 hour, 33 minutes. "That's the kind of mindset I have."

Djokovic also extended his winning streak to 22 matches, and he will be the favorite to win the season-ending ATP finals for the fourth straight time when that tournament starts in London on Nov. 15.

The only major he did not win this year was the French Open, losing the final to Stan Wawrinka, and it remains the only big trophy missing from his fast-growing collection of 58 career titles. .....................(more)

http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/14080498/novak-djokovic-beats-andy-murray-win-paris-masters-title

November 9, 2015

Teacher Fired Over Anti-Bullying Video

Published on Nov 8, 2015

A middle school teacher in Kansas showed his students an anti-bullying video. The short film depicted a world where homosexuality was normal but heterosexuality was discriminated against. The community protested the video being shown and the teacher has been dismissed. Ana Kasparian (The Point) and John Iadarola (Think Tank) hosts of The Young Turks discuss.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/freaked-out-conservative-parents-force-kansas-teacher-out-of-his-job-for-showing-students-anti-bullying-video/

November 9, 2015

Greenhouse Gases Reached Record Highs In 2014

GENEVA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2014 as the relentless fueling of climate change makes the planet more dangerous for future generations, the World Meteorological Organization said on Monday.

"Every year we say that time is running out. We have to act NOW to slash greenhouse gasemissions if we are to have a chance to keep the increase in temperatures to manageable levels," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said in a statement.

Graphs issued by the United Nations agency showed levels of carbon dioxide, the maingreenhouse gas, climbing steadily towards the 400 parts per million (ppm) level, having hit a new record every year since reliable records began in 1984.

Carbon dioxide levels averaged 397.7 ppm in 2014 but briefly breached the 400 ppm barrier in the northern hemisphere in early 2014, and again globally in early 2015.

Soon 400 ppm will be a permanent reality, Jarraud said. .......................(more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/greenhouse-gases-record-levels-co2-methane_56407068e4b0b24aee4acc83

November 9, 2015

"You Have to Speak Up": Viggo Mortensen Defends Quentin Tarantino's Criticism of Police Killings

Published on Nov 5, 2015

Award-winning film director Quentin Tarantino is refusing to back down from his criticism of police brutality, even as police unions have launched a campaign to boycott his films. Tarantino sparked controversy after he called fatal police shootings "murders" during the Rise Up October rally against police brutality in New York City on October 24. Tarantino’s comments have come under intense criticism, with several major police unions calling for a boycott of his films. "[Tarantino] clearly saw what anybody with eyes on their head could see," says Academy Award-nominated actor Viggo Mortensen. "What’s troubling is the tacit condoning of these abuses of power by certain police officers by their bosses, by people who should know better." Mortensen also looks back on his own brush with a right-wing political backlash, after he famously wore a T-shirt on the PBS show Charlie Rose that said "No more blood for oil."

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