A Cuban who worked for the CIA (but was a double agent, really working for his own country) says that the CIA specifically promoted right-wing student movements in Venezuela.

He believes that this process started before Chavez was elected; that the goal was to shift Latin American universities from left-wing influences to right-wing influences.

The UK cut benefits for half a million poor families that live in apartments with an extra room. Only 6% of them have moved to a smaller apartment.

This is because there are hardly any smaller apartments available in the UK — few were built.

The rest of those half million families are simply suffering under pressure to do the impossible. This serves the government's cruel purpose, which is to paint them as lazy spongers while pushing them into worse poverty.

The Australian government plans to streamline the approval process for trashing things, including dumping waste on the Great Barrier Reef.

There is a sick rationality to this. The same government is going all out to promote CO₂ emissions, which will destroy the Great Barrier Reef entirely in a few decades. No wonder it doesn't care if some parts are destroyed a little sooner.

World writers call on Turkey to respect freedom of expression.

US citizens: call on Congress to renew the Production Tax Credit for wind-based electricity.