# articles

feed_id: 7957c8c48456b8be891163211c49384b
title: Democrats' First Bill
uri: Democrats-First-Bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28Democrats%27_First_Bill%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/11/12/665635832/democrats-say-their-first-bill-will-focus-on-strengthening-democracy-at-home">Democrats Say Their First Bill Will Focus On Strengthening Democracy</a>: automatic voter registration, strengthen the Voting Rights Act, limit partisan redistricting and tighten campaign finance laws.</p>
<p>On this one issue, Pelosi is on the right side. However, that is not the case for many other issues, so I still support replacing her with someone more progressive.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 01207dcfc27c64fe4ced38198ec5e1cc
title: North and South Korea steps peace
uri: North-and-South-Korea-steps-peace
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28North_and_South_Korea_steps_peace%29

content:
<p>South Korea and North Korea are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/16/koreas-cold-war-about-end?cd-origin=rss">steadily taking many small steps in the direction of peace</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f4c2b4957965480f3cafd5a02c27d4d5
title: US: Pentagon audit fail
uri: US-Pentagon-audit-fail
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28US%3A_Pentagon_audit_fail%29
content:
<p>The Department of "Defense" <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/16/insult-american-people-outrage-after-pentagon-fails-first-ever-audit?cd-origin=rss">has tried to audit its accounts</a>.</p>
<p>Even though the audit did not come clean, trying it is the first step towards reaching that goal.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 539efed3d717bcbd224e50c2ca217860
title: US: history of voter suppression
uri: US-history-of-voter-suppression
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28US%3A_history_of_voter_suppression%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/14/why-no-one-talking-uncounted-suppressed-votes-florida">The US has practiced voter suppression for 150 years</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 12941d6ee2774e7717bdcbb949d8184a
title: Problems with Pelosi's policies
uri: Problems-with-Pelosi-s-policies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28Problems_with_Pelosi%27s_policies%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/16/pelosi-problem-runs-deep?cd-origin=rss">Suggesting how progressives can work to overcome Rep. Pelosi's center-right policies</a>, such as spending even more money on the military and rejecting Medicare for all.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5bb8d8fb754453d62b4cfb5dd645e3d3
title: Amazon HQ2 scam affects public housing
uri: Amazon-HQ2-scam-affects-public-housing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28Amazon_HQ2_scam_affects_public_housing%29

content:
<p>Amazon's NYC swindle <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/16/it-keeps-getting-uglier-true-costs-hq2-scam-emerge-public-housing-and-school-offices?cd-origin=rss">includes gobbling the space planned for 1500 units of public housing</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e8db6cf8f761d6a0cbb3a3d87e2663e2
title: Arkansas drops Medicaid for 12,000 people
uri: Arkansas-drops-Medicaid-for-12-000-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28Arkansas_drops_Medicaid_for_12%2C000_people%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/16/new-figures-showing-thousands-more-kicked-arkansas-medicaid-alarming?cd-origin=rss">Arkansas has kicked 12,000 people out of Medicaid</a>, using their unemployment as an excuse.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e14a95e3b1be805deddd74a25c3f7d72
title: Crown Prince begins court-ordered community service
uri: Crown-Prince-begins-court-ordered-community-service
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#29_November_2018_%28Crown_Prince_begins_court-ordered_community_service%29

content:
<p>(satire) <a href="https://www.theonion.com/saudi-crown-prince-begins-100-hours-of-court-ordered-co-1830471371">Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman began serving his 100 hours of court-ordered community service Thursday for murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: db63010ecce70343f3319cb9412633c2
title: Urgent: No Fossil Fuel Money pledge
uri: Urgent-No-Fossil-Fuel-Money-pledge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_No_Fossil_Fuel_Money_pledge%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/NFFM-2019/">Call
on House Democrats</a> to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.
<p>
Democrats must stand up to planet-roaster businesses
by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/27/fight-climate-emergency-democrats-told-we-need-leaders-backbone-stand-big-polluters">rejecting
their financial support</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 11bc6977fa16b4004f792681b1c9a1f2
title: Urgent: White nationalism
uri: Urgent-White-nationalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_White_nationalism%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject_white_nationalism">Call
on Congress</a> to reject white nationalism.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a91e04e71f07e86d8e1c2a29003fe5a1
title: Urgent: Barbara Lee
uri: 2018-12-01-Urgent-Barbara-Lee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Barbara_Lee%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call your Democratic congresscritter &mdash; more
precisely, whoever has been elected as your congresscritter for 2019
&mdash;
and <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/27/barbara-lee-house-democratic-caucus-chair/">call
for supporting Barbara Lee</a> for head of the House Democratic
Caucus.
</p>
<p>
  The Capitol Switchboard
  numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.
</p>
<p>
Alas, that is the only special position in the House that is being
contested in this way.  For the others, we have to hope that the
occupants feel pressure to act more progressive.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b65477fa4a71bc8e571c76307291c09c
title: What working people want
uri: What-working-people-want
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28What_working_people_want%29
content:
<p>
Leftists have a tendency to tell working
people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/trump-boris-johnson-rightwing-populists">what
they ought to want</a>.
<p>
The article's accusation against cultural elites is somewhat
misguided.  The people who decide what ideas get expressed on TV are
not the "cultural" elite, and not leftist.  They are in the
advertising department, and they are right-wing.


feed_id: 12d92b351d26bccfd0407b0d310136e7
title: Sex workers in India
uri: Sex-workers-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Sex_workers_in_India%29
content:
<p>
Sex workers in India face the threat of
being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/23/prison-better-women-cry-foul-over-celebrated-indian-charity">"rescued"
by kidnaping</a> and then "rehabilitated" through slave labor while
held incommunicado in a place that is not officially a prison.


feed_id: 20ed5805444d05514dc53e134944f5e8
title: Flowering crops for bees
uri: Flowering-crops-for-bees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Flowering_crops_for_bees%29
content:
<p>
Including flowering crops in most farms
could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/scientist-unveils-blueprint-to-save-bees-and-enrich-farmers">help
save bees</a>.
<p>
However, we would need to avoid the pesticides that kill bees.


feed_id: 71305f59ce080ae90c64acc697527a86
title: Curatorial journalism
uri: Curatorial-journalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Curatorial_journalism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/22/trump-russia-too-complex-to-report-we-must-turn-curatorial-journalism">Curatorial
journalism</a> collects and correlates thousands of stories, published
across many years, to establish the facts of a complex series of
events such as the Trump-Russia relationship.


feed_id: 26a25c9a148cf3bd7e20cb88a7b545a3
title: Sexual violence in Uganda
uri: Sexual-violence-in-Uganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Sexual_violence_in_Uganda%29
content:
<p>
Ugandan Courts Hold Special Sessions to
Clear <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/22/ugandan-courts-hold-special-sessions-to-clear-backlog-of-sexual-violence-cases">Backlog
of Sexual Violence Cases</a>.


feed_id: 2565c500446572ae2091e11f26ae008f
title: War crime in Yemen
uri: War-crime-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28War_crime_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
The Famine Facing Yemen Is a War Crime
&mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/22/famine-yemen-war-crime-civilians-saudi-coalition">It
Must Be Investigated</a>.


feed_id: cee0c63ec81b30b9b6a725849e312636
title: Antisemitism accusations
uri: Antisemitism-accusations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Antisemitism_accusations%29
content:
<p>
A group of right-wing
Jews <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/22/israel-boycott-canary-mission-blacklist/">operates
a web site</a> that doxes and criticizes people for either (1)
antisemitism or (2) defending Palestinians' rights, and equates both
of them with each other and with terrorism.  Americans listed there
have lost their jobs and been questioned by FBI agents.


feed_id: 2647a0a162bc803ff8ec88fcc610a399
title: Detailed progressive agenda
uri: Detailed-progressive-agenda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Detailed_progressive_agenda%29
content:
<p>
Just Being Anti-Trump 'Not Good Enough': Sanders Urges Democrats in
New Congress
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/22/just-being-anti-trump-not-good-enough-sanders-urges-democrats-new-congress-embrace">Embrace
This Detailed Progressive Agenda</a>.


feed_id: f9421894de16ecf9df3bef5347b2c04a
title: Escaping EU plutocratism
uri: Escaping-EU-plutocratism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Escaping_EU_plutocratism%29
content:
<p>
A Corbynite explains her support for leaving the EU:
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/22/austerity-corbyn-eu-brexit-peoples-vote">escape
its plutocratism</a>.


feed_id: ef59a0daf1c68788cea90b8238bcc1df
title: Prosecution of Assange
uri: Prosecution-of-Assange
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Prosecution_of_Assange%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/22/prosecution-julian-assange-americas-betrayal-its-own-ideals">Prosecution
of Julian Assange</a>, America's Betrayal of Its Own Ideals.


feed_id: 414dd7a4dc4c1df69dc205567f06cd8e
title: Comey testimony
uri: Comey-testimony
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Comey_testimony%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/22/james-comey-resist-house-subpoena-if-hearing-is-not-public">Comey
demands</a> that his testimony to the House of Representatives be
public so that the Republicans can't lie about it.
<p>
It is possible in principle that this would have the side effect of
blocking questioning about secrets.  But I don't know whether that
is really a factor for this issue.


feed_id: 3e94124fc28fcf2049c7c426ebb497ba
title: Children's mental health
uri: Children-s-mental-health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Children%27s_mental_health%29
content:
<p>
Why
do <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/22/why-do-more-young-people-have-mental-health-problems">1/4
of British children and adolescents</a> have a mental health problem?
<p>
There are several causes, but some of them are <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>'s work.
Poverty causes stress for the parents and the children.


feed_id: 450b94b4952e648449df736d2aacc6fb
title: Matthew Hedges' research
uri: Matthew-Hedges-research
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Matthew_Hedges%27_research%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/22/matthew-hedges-uae-insight-could-have-made-him-target">Speculation
about</a> how Matthew Hedges' PhD research could have led the
repressive UAE to want to imprison him.


feed_id: 04521fd683dc0858a174135b7293acb2
title: Khashoggi's murder
uri: Khashoggi-s-murder
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Khashoggi%27s_murder%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/21/right-cue-saudi-foreign-minister-uses-trumps-remarks-legitimize-kingdoms-denials">citing
the bullshitter</a> to pretend that the acting king didn't plan
Khashoggi's murder.
<p>
If this conspiracy of bullshit succeeds, it will show that countries
can get away with assassination, as well as mass murder, with the
support of the US.


feed_id: 4c286d2db22ca0d67b7f82852ea73940
title: Making someone stateless
uri: Making-someone-stateless
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#1_December_2018_%28Making_someone_stateless%29
content:
<p>
Australia proposes
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/23/proposed-terrorism-laws-risk-making-australians-stateless-law-council-warns">imitate
the UK's loophole</a> that permits taking away citizenship even when
it might make someone stateless.
<p>
This
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_October_2018_(Stateless_man_imprisoned_in_Canada)">not
a far-fetched concern</a>.


feed_id: 7a617c76aba5101f59dc2de30ce91091
title: UK universities and fossil fuel companies
uri: UK-universities-and-fossil-fuel-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28UK_universities_and_fossil_fuel_companies%29

content:
<p>
Many UK universities have a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/22/its-like-tobacco-funding-health-research-should-universities-take-money-from-fossil-fuel">big
financial relationship with the fossil fuel companies</a>.  Imperial
University held a "green innovation fair", but when students protested
there against the university's legitimization of fossil fuel
companies, "security" forced them to stop.
<p>
I occasionally hand out such leaflets at MIT, usually about 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">massive
surveillance</a> and the danger of 
<a href="media/2cb433ef.driverless-cars.odt" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/articles/driverless-cars.odt">supposedly autonomous
cars</a>.


feed_id: 03ba09b28562f7745ea1b82718256d48
title: Dubai branch of Birmingham University
uri: Dubai-branch-of-Birmingham-University
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Dubai_branch_of_Birmingham_University%29

content:
<p>
Birmingham University (in the UK) has set up a branch in Dubai.  The
teachers have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/22/birmingham-university-staff-boycott-uae-campus-dubai-matthew-hedges">voted
not to do any work or provide any support for that branch</a>.


feed_id: a95f87a0f283afccb8b1eebbb0e29b9e
title: Promotion of Facebook on public radio
uri: Promotion-of-Facebook-on-public-radio
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Promotion_of_Facebook_on_public_radio%29

content:
<p>
A correspondent on CBC radio asked, on the air, why a public radio
channel promotes Facebook 
<a href="https://www.macleans.ca/society/technology/read-the-interview-about-facebook-the-cbc-refuses-to-publish/">instead
of promoting democracy</a>.


feed_id: 128c42580baddf80c15f3cac9ff8b7fb
title: Protest in France
uri: Protest-in-France
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Protest_in_France%29
content:
<p>
Some of the French protesters have turned to violence.  In an
interesting reversal, the state blames the violence on 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/24/french-gilets-jaunes-protests-turn-violent-on-the-streets-of-paris">some
right-wing infiltrators</a> and defends the legitimacy of the rest.


feed_id: 208ccc67e37a866f6ad07be1718ccd6c
title: Copyright on taste of food
uri: Copyright-on-taste-of-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Copyright_on_taste_of_food%29
content:
<p>
A potential legal disaster has been avoided: the EU has decided that
the 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/11/24/court-rules-that-you-cant-copyright-tast">taste
of a food cannot be copyrighted</a>.


feed_id: a3e8807934b48946e19acd6aa96bde4e
title: Programs to curb global heating
uri: Programs-to-curb-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Programs_to_curb_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
The Swedish Green Party has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/24/isabella-lovin-trolled-trump-swedish-minister-climate-change-mission-fishing-ban">introduced
many programs to curb global heating</a>, including some at the EU
level.


feed_id: 912b4ff22b8ac8829e0a2fb02f7eecd1
title: When the NRA says, "good guy with a gun"
uri: When-the-NRA-says-good-guy-with-a-gun
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28When_the_NRA_says%2C_good_guy_with_a_gun%29

content:
<p>
When the NRA says, "a good guy with a gun," 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814926">it really means "a
white guy with a gun."</a>  In a mall near Birmingham, Alabama, a man
started shooting people; a black man with a gun chased him.  Some
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> appeared and shot the latter man dead, then asserted he was the
shooter.
<p>
In the US, the right to carry a gun applies only to whites, since
blacks know they are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_July_2016_(Bearing_arms_while_black)">likely
to be killed just for having a legal gun</a>.


feed_id: bdba61f6082418709584368743191d74
title: Self-injection rooms
uri: 2018-12-03-Self-injection-rooms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Self-injection_rooms%29
content:
<p>
The US government 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/11/23/the-lives-we-can-save-in-calif">threatens
to arrest anyone that supervises a self-injection room</a>.
California's government didn't have the gumption to go against this.
<p>
The extent of the danger of opioid use is not due only to Purdue
Pharma.  These policies contribute to it too.


feed_id: 7d3ae25a0523393fcf745017da00f32d
title: Universities with fossil fuel investments
uri: Universities-with-fossil-fuel-investments
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Universities_with_fossil_fuel_investments%29

content:
<p>
Prestigious universities have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/23/universities-leading-climate-research-must-stop-funding-fossil-fuels">large
investments in fossil fuel companies</a>.  They ought to divest.


feed_id: f7b2ddb97eb754b6a2522d86eeba4a40
title: Deforestation in Brazil
uri: 2018-12-03-Deforestation-in-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Deforestation_in_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
Brazil Records 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/24/brazil-records-worst-annual-deforestation-for-a-decade">Worst
Annual Deforestation for a Decade</a>.  And Bolsonaro has stated he
wants even more.


feed_id: 82baa6bd458e0a3182c0aa03234e1ffb
title: Airline seating algorithms
uri: Airline-seating-algorithms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Airline_seating_algorithms%29
content:
<p>
Some airlines intentionally separate passengers of the same family
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airline-flights-pay-extra-to-sit-together-split-up-family-algorithm-minister-a8640771.html">unless
they pay extra</a>.


feed_id: 3c781b8aed2ee9aaccafa2b6527ab25d
title: Texas Board of Education
uri: Texas-Board-of-Education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Texas_Board_of_Education%29
content:
<p>
The Texas Board of Education has 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814824">admitted that the
US Civil War was about slavery</a>.


feed_id: 843a16506db145036491b7c8bf30d204
title: Australia's south coast
uri: Australia-s-south-coast
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Australias_south_coast%29
content:
<p>
Australia should not allow oil drilling off its south coast, which is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/24/drilling-in-the-great-australian-bight-is-not-worth-the-risk">full
of unique species</a>.  An oil spill there could cause tens of
billions of dollars worth of damages, not counting extinctions.


feed_id: f293dcde794b4fe15f3d7df6efaf7b13
title: Renaming a town for a political cause
uri: Renaming-a-town-for-a-political-cause
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Renaming_a_town_for_a_political_cause%29

content:
<p>
PETA is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/nov/23/how-hapless-wool-got-blanketed-by-petas-shock-publicity">trying
to pressure and bribe the town of Wool</a> to rename itself to "Vegan
Wool".
<p>
I would oppose renaming my city to endorse any political cause, even
if I support that cause myself.  I think that would be almost as bad
as 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2007-jul-oct.html#19%20August%202007%20(Radio%20Ads%20on%20School%20Buses)">naming
stadiums after businesses</a>.


feed_id: dfc4166fd1cde3b2eab842f3016bf1b5
title: Bully's ties with Salafi Arabia
uri: Bully-s-ties-with-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Bullys_ties_with_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
The incoming House Democrats 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/23/house-democrats-adam-schiff-trump-khashoggi">plan
to investigate the bully's ties with Salafi Arabia</a>, and how his
whitewashing of the acting king for assassinating Jamal Khashoggi
relates to them.


feed_id: 7babbfb7ae58454aa532686907be8280
title: Global heating effects
uri: 2018-12-03-Global-heating-effects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Global_heating_effects%29
content:
<p>
The US national climate assessment says that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> effects
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/climate-change-america-us-government-report">will
soon cause "substantial damages" to many regions of the US</a>.  The
scientists whose work is reported say that the government weakened
their conclusions and then tried to avoid attention to it.


feed_id: 67b5ff7837f2175d4b27b3e1d474291e
title: California "felony murder" law
uri: California-felony-murder-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28California_felony_murder_law%29
content:
<p>
California has narrowed its "felony murder" law, which is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/23/california-felony-murder-rule/">used
to convict people of murders that they did not plan, anticipate, or
help commit</a>.  Hundreds of people may be freed from prison.


feed_id: 9f650bc51f2abbdd4c96ec36eb5a245b
title: Selling arms to Salafi Arabia
uri: Selling-arms-to-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Selling_arms_to_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
Comparing smuggling arms to Iran to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/british-arms-trade-feeds-war-in-yemen">selling
arms to Salafi Arabia</a>.
<p>
Iran is not involved in any aerial warfare, so its combat aircraft are
not likely to be fighting in the near future unless the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> launches
an attack.


feed_id: 9798095022f175eeac3d1528b69fb63c
title: Amazon warehouse workers on strike
uri: Amazon-warehouse-workers-on-strike
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Amazon_warehouse_workers_on_strike%29

content:
<p>
Amazon warehouse workers are on strike in several European countries,
condemning 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814772">dangerous working
conditions as well as low pay</a>.


feed_id: aa2f973823606a950085c63143e8815b
title: Road-blocking protests in France
uri: Road-blocking-protests-in-France
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Road-blocking_protests_in_France%29

content:
<p>
The road-blocking protests in France 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/frances-gilets-jaunes-leave-macron-feeling-decidely-off-colour">now
aim at inequality and plutocracy</a> rather than just increasing the
gasoline tax.
<p>
I am happy to see this change, from a shortsighted and mistaken cause
to a valid cause.
<p>
Taxing fossil fuels more is vitally necessary.  We desperately need to
reduce the use of them, and only taxing them can put the market to
work on doing so.  However, plutocracy and inequality are unjust, and
not necessary for any valid reason.


feed_id: 88873cf078d49ac203712ab597ea3a64
title: Tory welfare cuts
uri: 2018-12-03-Tory-welfare-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Tory_welfare_cuts%29
content:
<p>
Tory welfare cuts are driving many destitute people to consider
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/23/hastings-benefits-desperation-charities-welfare-advice">suicide</a>.


feed_id: 8647e30d60809d359b9ccf6df11c4189
title: Prison torture in UAE
uri: Prison-torture-in-UAE
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Prison_torture_in_UAE%29
content:
<p>
David Haigh was tortured in prison in the UAE (Dubai), and says that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/justice-uae-dubai-british-academic-matthew-hedges">public
condemnation and pressure is the only way to get prisoners out</a>.
He urges people to avoid going there, and other forms of international
pressure.
<p>
The UAE
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/hopes-grow-for-release-of-uk-academic-matthew-hedges-jailed-for-life-in-uae">might
be thinking of pardoning him</a>, in response to the pressure.
<p>
Matthew Hedges, the recently imprisoned "spy", was reportedly
researching "Emirate tribal structures and their views on the war in
Yemen".  The idea that people's views on issues are secret, and that
researching them constitutes spying, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/hedges-case-a-sign-of-uae-kickback-against-western-criticism">makes
sense only if repression is taken for granted as a premise</a>.


feed_id: 0fa89bcb89374dc642e03248b84bd100
title: Thugs interfering with Labour Party
uri: Thugs-interfering-with-Labour-Party
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Thugs_interfering_with_Labour_Party%29

content:
<p>
Michael Segalov, a UK journalist, was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/my-court-case-against-the-police-is-a-victory-for-press-freedom">ordered
by thugs not to attend the 2017 Labour Party conference</a>.  They
refused to give any grounds for this.
<p>
He sued, and proved that the decision by the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> department was based
partly on false information.  Before the trial, given no grounds,
Segalov had no chance to demonstrate that the grounds were false.
<p>
Worse, the decision was based on equating "participation in a protest"
with "threat of terrorism".
<p>
The UK <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#3_October_2015_(Thugs_tracking_politicians)">long
history of interfering with the Labour Party</a>, and of
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-sep-dec.html#8%20December%202009%20(Abuse%20of%20anti-terrorist%20laws%20acknowledged%20by%20UK%20cops)">labeling
peaceful leftist protesters as dangerous criminals</a>.


feed_id: 5af9b8694966d0d8db3b93b4d0d9d2ff
title: Boycott of Dubai book festival
uri: Boycott-of-Dubai-book-festival
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Boycott_of_Dubai_book_festival%29

content:
<p>
Some authors will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/22/authors-boycott-uae-book-festival-over-matthew-hodges-jailing">boycott
the Dubai book festival</a>.
<p>
Even when there is nothing specific to boycott, you'd be wise not to
go to Dubai or any part of the UAE.


feed_id: b3326d3b6367fd132901fbac9ba7b320
title: Arctic sea ice
uri: 2018-12-03-Arctic-sea-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Arctic_sea_ice%29
content:
<p>
The Arctic has heated up so much that there is still little sea ice in
some regions.  Species that depend on it, such as polar bears, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/slow-arctic-freeze-raises-risk-of-polar-bear-extinction-say-scientists">could
be wiped out locally this year</a>.


feed_id: 31cec496b999983c6194355201ae9804
title: Excess of migrating Starlings
uri: Excess-of-migrating-Starlings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Excess_of_migrating_Starlings%29
content:
<p>
It had to happen someday: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/falcons-drafted-in-to-scare-off-defecating-starlings-from-rome">animal
rights advocates call it "barbaric"</a> to use tame falcons to chase
away some of the excess of starlings that migrate through Rome.  There
are other places in Italy where they could stop.
<p>
What about all the wild falcons &mdash; what are they supposed to do?
Not to mention lions and wolves.


feed_id: bfb9c98d38dc562692b62979f40bbc6c
title: Chinese repression
uri: 2018-12-03-Chinese-repression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Chinese_repression%29
content:
<p>
The Chinese Export We Really Should Be Worried About: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/chinese-export-repression-xi-jinping-mao-china-hong-kong">Repression</a>.


feed_id: 4fbd6bf8933ebe108c877399289518f8
title: Ouster of Cuban doctors in Brazil
uri: Ouster-of-Cuban-doctors-in-Brazil
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Ouster_of_Cuban_doctors_in_Brazil%29

content:
<p>
Brazil may not be able to replace the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/23/brazil-fears-it-cant-fill-abrupt-vacancies-after-cuban-doctors-withdraw">Cuban
doctors that Bolsonaro is now ousting</a>.  However, I don't think he
will be disappointed that poor and indigenous people won't get medical
care.


feed_id: 6a70bad23517a151d21a892b6a98b4ff
title: Commercial sales holidays
uri: Commercial-sales-holidays
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Commercial_sales_holidays%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/black-friday-joy-of-missing-out">Joy
of Missing Out</a> on commercial sales holidays.


feed_id: 1bdecef6ebdd45b48018c7c8d989c5db
title: Geoengineering to cool the Earth
uri: Geoengineering-to-cool-the-Earth
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Geoengineering_to_cool_the_Earth%29

content:
<p>
Geoengineering to cool the Earth 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/solar-geoengineering-could-be-remarkably-inexpensive-report">might
be doable for 2 billion dollars per year</a>.  It would delay global
heating disaster, perhaps long enough to take other permanent
measures.
<p>
It would not stop ocean acidification, which 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-sep-dec.html#9%20December%202010%20(No%20more%20coral%20reefs%20by%202050)">threatens
to wipe out all coral and molluscs</a> and make some species act in
<a href="https://stallman.org/notes/2014-jan-apr.html#14_April_2014_(Emboldened_by_chemistry)">crazy,
dangerous ways</a>.
<p>
It would also not stop the increased CO<sub>2</sub> from
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#13_May_2017_(Human_hea">making
many food plants produce less protein</a>.
<p>
All in all, it would be better to push renewables and electric
storage.


feed_id: e32e6ae516b4e50d802de1f44fabc0d5
title: Stolen wages
uri: Stolen-wages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Stolen_wages%29
content:
<p>
A government agency in Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/22/more-than-1m-in-lost-wages-recovered-for-2500-fruit-farm-workers">recovered
a million dollars in stolen wages</a> for farm workers.
<p>
Since these crimes are committed by the stronger against the weaker,
we can expect conscience to play little role in dissuading them.  The
penalties for such cheating need to be enough that the farm companies
won't risk trying it.


feed_id: 84d28882b51350600bfa56f84a07e5b9
title: Chinese writer prison sentence
uri: Chinese-writer-prison-sentence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Chinese_writer_prison_sentence%29

content:
<p>A Chinese writer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/20/chinese-writer-tianyi-sentenced-to-decade-in-prison-for-gay-erotic-novel">was sentenced to 10 years in prison for publishing a novel about a homosexual relationship</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f4c01060efdd592fe5372268e84f86e6
title: Air Pollution Cuts Lifespan
uri: Air-Pollution-Cuts-Lifespan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Air_Pollution_Cuts_Lifespan%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/20/air-pollution-cuts-global-average-lifespan-by-nearly-two-years-study">Air Pollution Cuts Global Average Lifespan by Nearly Two Years</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b8d4ce401cba31ec165692aa8deca044
title: FCC may be hiding data
uri: FCC-may-be-hiding-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28FCC_may_be_hiding_data%29
content:
<p>Former Staffers Say <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ev3z8n/former-staffers-say-fcc-may-be-hiding-data-showing-broadband-industry-problems">FCC May Be Hiding Data Showing Broadband Industry Problems</a>.  (More precisely, not providing the speeds they claim to provide.)</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a965b1b9fac8e329dc21bb01bef616b6
title: Global heating: Int'l. Maritime Organization hampering efforts
uri: Global-heating-Int-l-Maritime-Organization-hampering-efforts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Global_heating%3A_Int%27l._Maritime_Organization_hampering_efforts%29

content:
<p>The International Maritime Organization has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/20/international-maritime-organization-transparency-international">been operating in secret to hamper efforts to reduce shipping's contribution to global heating</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ce14a2a932ab7f5cacc2a449d13b4db0
title: US: Trump sent troops to border
uri: US-Trump-sent-troops-to-border
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28US%3A_Trump_sent_troops_to_border%29

content:
<p><a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/11/20/200-mil-for-nothing.html">The bullshitter sent 6,000 US troops to the border with Mexico as an election stunt</a>.  Supposedly they were to block the caravan of Central American migrants.  But he knows that idea never made any sense, so he is sending them back to base now even though the caravan is still in Mexico.</p>
<p>I've read that some members of the caravan are in Tijuana, right near the California border.  But that is not where the soldiers were sent.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5fbcd6bad709926b792d29a9cb8770bd
title: Climate change protester arrested
uri: Climate-change-protester-arrested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Climate_change_protester_arrested%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/20/i-was-arrested-climate-change-protest-direct-action-extinction-rebellion">"I was arrested at a climate change protest –- it was worth it."</a></p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 27a182471d654ce978d633a4d09ec2a1
title: Lobbying to defeat Medicare for All
uri: Lobbying-to-defeat-Medicare-for-All
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Lobbying_to_defeat_Medicare_for_All%29

content:
<p>Leaked: <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/20/medicare-for-all-healthcare-industry/">the secret PR and lobbying plan of private medical insurance to defeat Medicare for All</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2ee8741dda11584cad3e9cded4b40aeb
title: Ivanka Trump's personal email account
uri: Ivanka-Trump-s-personal-email-account
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Ivanka_Trump%27s_personal_email_account%29

content:
<p>Ivanka Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/19/ivanka-trump-personal-email-account-government-hillary-clinton">used a personal email account for official business</a>.</p>
<p>This actually doesn't matter.  It also didn't actually matter that Hillary Clinton did the same thing.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4b0854986d709c20e51f3f0020c7ee36
title: Whale consumed 1,000 plastic pieces
uri: Whale-consumed-1-000-plastic-pieces
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Whale_consumed_1%2C000_plastic_pieces%29

content:
<p>Indonesia: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/20/indonesia-dead-whale-had-1000-pieces-of-plastic-in-stomach">Dead Whale Had 1,000 Pieces of Plastic in Stomach</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f73f9f387d4193e368e2b6acb5a1e110
title: Trump's asylum ban blocked
uri: Trump-s-asylum-ban-blocked
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Trump%27s_asylum_ban_blocked%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/20/trump-asylum-ban-blocked-federal-judge-us-mexico-border">A court blocked the bully's order to refuse asylum to border-crossers</a>. The law says the opposite.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c88072b0aa47e22b4192d8a5236d390c
title: Interpol considering Russian chief
uri: Interpol-considering-Russian-chief
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Interpol_considering_Russian_chief%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/20/interpol-alexander-prokopchuk-russia-uk-mps">Interpol did not learn a lesson from having a Chinese official as its chief</a>.  It is now considering a Russian who has previously tried to use Interpol for Russian trickery.</p>
<p>This would "put the assassin in charge of the murder investigation."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b93964abd87eaace0ebfb5eaa2924183
title: Let them vape
uri: Let-them-vape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Let_them_vape%29
content:
<p>E-cigarettes have a good effect (helping people avoid the harm of smoking tobacco) and a bad effect (getting some people addicted to nicotine).  <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/NmtEmAKK0rI/stossel-let-them-vape">Are we weighing the good against the bad carefully</a>?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2130e2630beb2e997285fa3760937dd9
title: Georgia: rigged election
uri: Georgia-rigged-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Georgia%3A_rigged_election%29
content:
<p>Stacey Abrams, defeated by Kemp in an election he personally rigged, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/18/systematic-disenfranchisement-georgia-says-stacey-abrams-should-be-call-arms-us?cd-origin=rss">refused to endorse the procedure as legitimate</a>.</p>
<p>Bravo!</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 93d9089457540f0d6386df21084807b1
title: Charities risk becoming irrelevant
uri: Charities-risk-becoming-irrelevant
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#2_December_2018_%28Charities_risk_becoming_irrelevant%29

content:
<p>When charitable organizations mimic corporations, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/20/charities-risk-becoming-irrelevant-warns-new-report">they stop fighting for the people they are meant to help</a>, and become soulless.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 46a240d0918bca87f4ded6d68dbb3aca
title: "Lie detector" app
uri: Lie-detector-app
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Lie_detector_app%29
content:
<p>
The European Union is planning to interrogate visa applicants in
extremely intrusive ways, which will involve a special 
<a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2018/11/14/lie-detector-tests-europe/">"lie
detector" app</a>.
<p>
Whether the app is reliable in telling truth from lies is not clear.
However, from the article it is almost certain that the app is nonfree
software, and
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">that
in itself is an injustice</a>, before you even get to the moral issues
of what it <em>does</em>.


feed_id: 9dcdeee6078fd2e7d4114fe9db852aee
title: Progressive movement
uri: Progressive-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Progressive_movement%29
content:
<p>
It is useful for the progressive movement to ally with the forms
of Christianity that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/24/religion-populism-progressives-trump">promote
equality and helping the poor</a>.


feed_id: 7a465405cb4aabd2756a76cb5e8ad3a5
title: Danger of rule by AIs
uri: Danger-of-rule-by-AIs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Danger_of_rule_by_AIs%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/25/victims-of-superintelligent-firms-ruthless-behaviour-of-big-data">power
of large corporations</a> &mdash; effectively, intelligent machines
whose components are human &mdash; illustrates the danger of rule by
AIs.
<p>
A corporation is fundamentally similar to a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/made-for-you.html">heartless AI</a> that doesn't
care about people.


feed_id: 0ac7b241bdc20af1270f20079c01ce96
title: US private immigration prison companies
uri: US-private-immigration-prison-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28US_private_immigration_prison_companies%29

content:
<p>
US private immigration prison companies 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/25/private-prison-companies-served-with-lawsuits-over-usng-detainee-labor">hire
asylum seekers for a pittance</a>.  They effectively compel the asylum
seekers to work for a pittance by denying them essentials such as
toothpaste.  Now they are being sued for this.
<p>
The claim that someone agreed to work for less than the minimum wage
is no excuse for failing to pay the minimum wage.


feed_id: fef2eca183ea58fec51ba48bc84c9fe0
title: Threat to abortion rights
uri: Threat-to-abortion-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Threat_to_abortion_rights%29
content:
<p>
Yet another threat to abortion rights: 
<a href="https://www.futurity.org/embryos-lawsuits-legal-rights-1915162-2/">exploiting
an accident that spoiled frozen ova and embryos</a> to try to claim
that each of them was a "death."
<p>
The just way to handle these accidents is to treat the eggs and
embryos as property with special sentimental value.


feed_id: 2fc78fc23c82fb2daef543669717a8c2
title: Tax breaks for businesses
uri: Tax-breaks-for-businesses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Tax_breaks_for_businesses%29
content:
<p>
The dirty history of businesses 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/25/end-subsidy-wars-amazon-took-advantage-system-thats-baked-americas-economy-we-must">playing
cities and states for bigger tax breaks</a>.
<p>
The solutions proposed here would be useful, but don't forget 
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/states-union.html">my proposal for the states to
form a union to stop this</a>.


feed_id: a9ac0614f7cd8c708e93e95cec8b9d5d
title: Use of AI as "lie detector"
uri: Use-of-AI-as-lie-detector
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Use_of_AI_as_lie_detector%29
content:
<p>
Use of AI to analyze voice as a "lie detector", whether it really
works or not, could be used for 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/25/voice-risk-analysis-ac-global/">aiwashing
racist bias</a>.


feed_id: 6026561245e02067dec33127f5fbf365
title: The concept of "identity theft"
uri: The-concept-of-identity-theft
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28The_concept_of_identity_theft%29
content:
<p>
The concept of "identity theft" was 
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/25/identity-theft-is-daylight-robbery-banks">made
up by banks so as to make you responsible for the loss</a>, when
someone else defrauds the bank.


feed_id: 3fd40a261d7f545f2192d65dc44f3187
title: Huntington's disease
uri: Huntington-s-disease
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Huntingtons_disease%29
content:
<p>
A woman is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/25/woman-inherited-fatal-illness-sue-doctors-groundbreaking-case-huntingtons">suing
the NHS for not telling her that her father had Huntington's
disease</a> (a genetic disease).  If she had known earlier, she could
have ensured, when conceiving a child, that the child did not have the
disease.


feed_id: 631522064f88abdd43f643c49e839c3a
title: Tories, Definers, and Facebook
uri: Tories-Definers-and-Facebook
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Tories%2C_Definers%2C_and_Facebook%29

content:
<p>
Tories 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/25/tory-links-us-lobby-firm-facebook-smear-scandal">have
been connected with Definers</a>, the company that "defended" Facebook
through associating an organization that criticizes it with Soros.


feed_id: f7f47b26aa167d8cc5041a29ac1a8953
title: Large donors to political organizations
uri: Large-donors-to-political-organizations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Large_donors_to_political_organizations%29

content:
<p>
Michigan's Republicans, defeated in the election, are 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814284">planning to pass a
law to hide the names</a> of large donors to political organizations
that support specific candidates but are not part of their campaigns.


feed_id: 20a73d2ce147264cb13aec82cc4f7fa3
title: NYU's support for the UAE
uri: NYU-s-support-for-the-UAE
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28NYUs_support_for_the_UAE%29
content:
<p>
Calling on New York University to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/23/new-york-university-urged-to-use-uae-links-to-help-jailed-uk-academic">threaten
to end its support for the UAE</a>, which includes a branch campus
there.


feed_id: 19022fffd2380dc8508f0e955f4a48cc
title: Amazon warehouse workers strike
uri: Amazon-warehouse-workers-strike
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Amazon_warehouse_workers_strike%29

content:
<p>
Amazon warehouse workers 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/23/we-are-not-robots-amazon-workers-across-europe-walk-out-black-friday-over-low-wages">went
on strike in Europe on Friday</a>.


feed_id: bcdee29b15ca399457d952168cdf529f
title: Global heating
uri: 2018-12-04-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Charts show 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/24/3-charts-what-trump-doesnt-want-you-know-about-climate-emergency">how
badly global heating will hit the US</a> in this century.


feed_id: d118e90c1ace7ad0d72d479fec843677
title: Snooping CPAP machines
uri: Snooping-CPAP-machines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Snooping_CPAP_machines%29
content:
<p>
Some new CPAP machines track users' sleep every night, and 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/you-snooze-you-lose-insurers-make-the-old-adage-literally-true/">transmit
the information directly to the manufacturer</a>.
<p>
The article does not say how they transmit it, but if it is done with
a cellular modem, that also tracks where they sleep.
<p>
This is the sort of "feature" that should be illegal.


feed_id: d82e1b8cb77c948e2978034c9284cc21
title: Campaign funds from business
uri: Campaign-funds-from-business
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Campaign_funds_from_business%29
content:
<p>
Many successful progressive candidates this year 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/23/corporate-pacs-cling-relevance-amid-rise-progressives-refusing-big-business">refused
campaign funds from business</a>, but the businesses are not licked
yet.  They are scrambling to maintain their power in Washington, and
they have plenty of money to do it with.


feed_id: e925d6d4a50c714f497e9487533f0fbe
title: Satirical fake news site
uri: Satirical-fake-news-site
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Satirical_fake_news_site%29
content:
<p>
A satirical fake news site 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nothing-on-this-page-is-real-how-lies-become-truth-in-online-america/2018/11/17/edd44cc8-e85a-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html">publishes
incredible whoppers as a trap for credulous right-wingers</a>.  The
idea is to tell them afterward that they should learn not to believe
everything they read.
<p>
It would be a great hack, except for the fact that some credulous
right-wingers continue to believe the stories even after the site says
they were false.


feed_id: ff15bd2dd71c014f48065057ce1617fd
title: Paying your way through college
uri: Paying-your-way-through-college
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Paying_your_way_through_college%29

content:
<p>
In the UK it is possible to pay your way through college by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/nov/24/work-night-shifts-sainsburys-university-living-costs-loan">working
full time in a supermarket at the same time</a>.
<p>
It should not be necessary for people to do this.  But I think it is
not even possible to do this in the US &mdash; college is too
expensive.


feed_id: e6e025e638f6086dd04ddf5aa1ed8a66
title: Amazon's control of Alexa
uri: Amazon-s-control-of-Alexa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Amazons_control_of_Alexa%29
content:
<p>
Alexa presents itself to users as a servant, but it is a corrupt
servant that takes kickbacks.  Here is how 
<a href="https://amzadvisers.com/amazons-alexa-chooses-products-buy/">Amazon
controls which products it will offer</a> to customers.
<p>
Amazon already has too much power over the marketplace.  For the sake
of preserving competition, systems like Alexa should be prohibited by
law.  Of course, that is not to mention all the <em>other</em>
injustices of Amazon and of this product.
<p>
Note how the article starts with propaganda in favor of such products.


feed_id: a047bfb6d344d7a804606c29f2099795
title: Retail-promotion holidays
uri: Retail-promotion-holidays
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Retail-promotion_holidays%29
content:
<p>
"Black Friday" is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/23/black-friday-retail-workers-face-long-hours-poor-pay-and-anxiety-through-the-roof">blackest
for the low-paid workers in the stores</a>.
<p>
"Cyber Monday" is a
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/23/skip-cyber-monday-support-real-local-busines">campaign
to kill local retail stores and eliminate jobs</a>.  If you care about
your town, buy from local stores.  And pay cash, so no database knows
what you bought.
<p>
I have never had anything to do with either of them.  Decades ago I
opted out of celebrating retail-promotion holidays which now include
Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Halloween, and
probably others coming in the next few years.
<p>
It makes me sad to read about the people who are so poor they can
barely pay for their necessities, and yet load themselves down with
buying gifts that they can't afford.  >However, I don't respond with
the intended reaction &mdash; "The worst thing is that he can't even
afford to buy some toys for children in the family."  Instead, I want
to tell them, "Forget the toys!  Buy the food and the medicine you
need!"


feed_id: 9de1f3fa58089ee6ad968348839d2bc8
title: Automated copyright censorship
uri: 2018-12-04-Automated-copyright-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Automated_copyright_censorship%29

content:
<p>
The EU's required automated copyright censorship regime 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/11/article-13-if-you-want-force-google-pay-artists-more-force-google-pay-artists-more">would
do nothing to pay artists more</a> (and not much even to pay
publishers more, not that we should care).  The effective way to pay
artists more is with a mandatory payment <em>to the artist</em> for
commercial redistribution.
<p>
The law would need to be carefully designed so that the publishers
could not take these payments away from the artists through some nasty
contracts.  It should be a crime for the publisher to ask how much of
these payments some artist receives.


feed_id: 23c7d75a43a55600512358ecba49400b
title: Medicare for All
uri: 2018-12-04-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
An MD argues for Medicare for All, and 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/22/why-medicare-all-ideal-discussion-thanksgiving">refutes
plutocratist objections</a>.
<p>
Almost half of Americans that have medical insurance now find that its
deductibles 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814021">cost so much that
they can't get much benefit from it</a>.  Medicare for All would fix
that.


feed_id: f2a22cba7c397bd8cb402fd61765b15b
title: Urgent: Demands for climate justice
uri: Urgent-Demands-for-climate-justice
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Demands_for_climate_justice%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/add-your-name-sign-the-peoples-demands-for-climate-justice-2/?nowrapper=true">support</a>
the People's Demands for Climate Justice.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 62526babd3a3335affc22ee3b6176d73
title: Urgent: NYC cash payment law
uri: Urgent-NYC-cash-payment-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_NYC_cash_payment_law%29

content:
<p>
Residents of New York City: call on your city council representative
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/28/legislation-bans-cashless-business-policy-discrimination">support
the law</a> requiring retail businesses to accept payment in cash.
<p>
I suggest stating that this is not <em>only</em> for the sake of poor
people who don't or can't have bank payment cards, but also for the
sake of people that don't want their purchases to be put in a data
base.  I hope you're one of them &mdash; if not, you can learn to be
one.
</p>


feed_id: 60d1fe0ced95ff5edf2165b6023a4955
title: Textbooks in India
uri: Textbooks-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Textbooks_in_India%29
content:
<p>
The Hindu-nationalists are using their political power
to <a href="https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/12/06/indias-dangerous-new-curriculum/">fill
India's school textbooks</a> with bogus history and adulation of
ancient Hindu rulers and modern Hindu religious extremists.
<p>
Some of them also praise fascism and Hitler.


feed_id: 31e54fe960a572b5d52699796a346c51
title: Amazon unionization
uri: Amazon-unionization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Amazon_unionization%29
content:
<p>
Proposal: Make Amazon permit
unionization <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/11/26/1815206/-If-Amazon-Wants-New-York-Make-It-Unionize">as
a condition</a> for getting its proposed New York City campus.
<p>
I am not sure whether this is better than just saying no.  There are
advantages to each one.


feed_id: bebc396b79eef722cf648a5ad71c1064
title: Soros' organizations
uri: Soros-organizations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Soros%27_organizations%29
content:
<p>
Judging by his enemies, George Soros seems to be rather admirable.
Erdoğan is the latest authoritarian ruler
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/26/george-soross-open-society-foundation-to-pull-out-of-turkey">force
his organizations out</a>.


feed_id: 41c34c5e381a65ef4a62f4838a786ac8
title: Whitaker's fanaticism
uri: Whitaker-s-fanaticism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Whitaker%27s_fanaticism%29
content:
<p>
Whitaker, proposed by the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> for acting attorney general, is a
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/26/revealed-matthew-whitaker-anti-abortion-policies">fanatical
Christian</a>, even more hostile toward abortion rights than Sessions.


feed_id: 9cf9802d9e89af578205ed580e9f4165
title: Inequality issues
uri: Inequality-issues
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Inequality_issues%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/26/facts-privileged-americans-dont-want-us-know">Some
rarely mentioned issues</a> that increase inequality and suffering in
the US.


feed_id: b72d1fc5d38a5f01c9eeb10928964743
title: Student housing project
uri: Student-housing-project
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Student_housing_project%29
content:
<p>
A student housing project in Stuttgart was built by student residents,
and the current
residents <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/nov/26/a-playground-for-grown-up-kids-inside-the-student-housing-built-by-its-residents-bauhausle-stuttgart">continue
to maintain it</a> and change it.


feed_id: 53fbb2f83017d2d6c176f7c0a1451663
title: Cruise ship fines
uri: Cruise-ship-fines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Cruise_ship_fines%29
content:
<p>
France
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/26/cruise-ship-captain-fined-100000-for-using-dirty-fuel">fining
cruise ship captains</a> and owners for using fuel that makes
excessive air pollution.


feed_id: 833066f7c802bbdd8d855ab33e91ec34
title: Global heating protests
uri: Global-heating-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Global_heating_protests%29
content:
<p>
Protests that block roads can wake people up, but launching an
adequate effort to curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>
requires <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/26/climate-crisis-blocking-roads-extinction-rebellion-labour">winning
the state's backing</a>.


feed_id: f95b487c225aba4e4b28e246a3668162
title: Matthew Hedges
uri: 2018-12-04-Matthew-Hedges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Matthew_Hedges%29
content:
<p>
The UAE
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/26/matthew-hedges-jailed-british-academic-pardoned-by-uae">pardoned
Matthew Hedges</a>.
<p>
This does not alter the basic situation of that country, which remains
equally repressive.  The universities that have established branches
in the UAE should pull back from them.


feed_id: 924278eab4d2ae66679f422c50a076d0
title: Dilemma in postcolonial countries
uri: Dilemma-in-postcolonial-countries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Dilemma_in_postcolonial_countries%29

content:
<p>
Dissidents and artists in repressive postcolonial
countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/26/jamal-khashoggi-white-privilege-murder-middle-east-dissidents">face
a dilemma</a>: stay home and face repression, or seek safety in some
former colonial power which respects human rights more, but be
interpreted as an excuse for past colonialism.


feed_id: 98c86c5e2e32323b5bf7b76a64aec99c
title: NPR's coverage of Amazon
uri: NPR-s-coverage-of-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28NPR%27s_coverage_of_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
National Public Radio rewarded Amazon's funding
with <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/25/npr-infomercial-its-sponsor-amazon-omits-labor-and-environmental-criticisms">a
one-sided paean</a> to Amazon's convenience and advanced methods,
saying nothing about the injustices it does.


feed_id: 201aa05d1078bf7bf1e22f05407916c3
title: Remote control of stolen cars
uri: Remote-control-of-stolen-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Remote_control_of_stolen_cars%29
content:
<p>
Is it a good thing if the state can grab your car by remote control if
stolen?  <a href="https://yro.slashdot.org/story/18/11/25/0137258/can-the-police-remotely-drive-your-stolen-car-into-custody">It
might be dangerous.</a>


feed_id: a17df70deadacc47a1520686a4393c92
title: Public housing inspectors
uri: Public-housing-inspectors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Public_housing_inspectors%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> Carson of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
is <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1813218">doing quiet
sabotage</a> by letting the number of inspectors dwindle, which means
that public housing gradually becomes degraded and unsafe.


feed_id: cdf7ad074e64b0d9b8f2522400566f02
title: Repatriation
uri: Repatriation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Repatriation%29
content:
<p>
The idea of "repatriating" artistic treasures taken by imperial powers
sometimes
involves <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/nov/25/benin-bronzes-why-western-museums-should-keep-treasures">simplifying
history</a>, focusing on only one injustice out of a history of many
such.
<p>
Projecting modern standards of right and wrong back into the past is
often misguided and simplistic.  The principle  that nations shouldn't
try to defeat other nations and take their land is a modern advance in
morality.  We should campaign to uphold that principle against nations
that violate it today.
<p>
In the past, though, just about every nation got its land by taking it
from some other nation.  Empires were generally created by subjugating
other nations, and that surely includes Benin.  That was not merely
common practice, it was also considered acceptable.  If we were to
judge their past conduct by modern standards, we would condemn
almost every nation.


feed_id: 3838088ce0e9140a87975e7fb61f57f5
title: Hispanics with Jewish ancestry
uri: Hispanics-with-Jewish-ancestry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#3_December_2018_%28Hispanics_with_Jewish_ancestry%29

content:
<p>
Many US hispanics whose ancestors included Jews expelled from Spain
are
now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/26/us-hispanics-descended-from-sephardic-jews-seek-spanish-citizenship">seeking
Spanish citizenship</a>.
<p>
The state of human rights in Spain is not all that good, but the
danger of getting much worse seems greater in the US.


feed_id: 910713d0fc92f8dfa0ef1a31bf5f8bfd
title: Very urgent: Bombardment of Yemen
uri: Very-urgent-Bombardment-of-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Very_urgent%3A_Bombardment_of_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/call-senate-end-war-yemen_dec">phone
your senators</a> to urge them to vote for the resolution to cut off
US support for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>'s bombardment and invasion of Yemen.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: c5189134f47369072ea77d683a61ca23
title: Urgent: Green New Deal
uri: Urgent-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/GND-resolution">call
on Democratic representatives</a> to support establishing a Green New
Deal committee.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 064d008d8fef3577e0b9313919a5f61e
title: Urgent: Acosta
uri: Urgent-Acosta
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Acosta%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/acosta-resign">call
    on Secretary of Labor Acosta</a> to resign.
</p>
<p>
Also <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/impeach-acosta/">call
on the House of Representatives</a> to impeach him.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9a09409b59cc5d52f23369bdd545b201
title: Urgent: Prescription drug prices
uri: Urgent-Prescription-drug-prices
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Prescription_drug_prices%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/sanders_khanna_big_pharma">call
on Congress</a> to support the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: edf603fa96e636c448534f96223ddb9c
title: Urgent: Manchin
uri: Urgent-Manchin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Manchin%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/call/anyonebutmanchin/">phone
Senator Schumer's office</a> and call on him to choose someone other
than planet roaster Manchin for the ranking Democrat in the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 08fd18f205800a0fe7007644e4f42487
title: Seismic exploration
uri: Seismic-exploration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Seismic_exploration%29
content:
<p>
The marauder's men have authorized seismic exploration off the
Atlantic coast.  In the short
term <a href="https://us.whales.org/news/2018/11/trump-administration-to-authorize-permits-to-allow-seismic-testing-in-endangered-north">this
can kill</a> some of the endangered North Atlantic right whales.
<p>
In the longer term it creates the danger that oil will be extracted,
and whatever doesn't spill and poison marine life will be burned and
endanger all life.


feed_id: 58740b7843e902dd6cc0a390a66de067
title: Training US thugs in Israel
uri: Training-US-thugs-in-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Training_US_thugs_in_Israel%29
content:
<p>
Israel regularly invites US <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> for training.  Now Americans in some
places
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/29/junket-taking-local-police-train-israeli-military-embroiled-local-controversies">objecting
to this</a>.
<p>
What would they learn from Israeli <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>?  How to dehumanize?


feed_id: 3c9b0783a03a9fb55094fab923149f74
title: MLK on anti-poverty efforts
uri: MLK-on-anti-poverty-efforts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28MLK_on_anti-poverty_efforts%29
content:
<p>
Martin Luther
King <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/29/its-time-we-must-jam-demonic-destructive-suction-tube">saw
and reproved the elimination</a> of programs to cut poverty, in favor
of fighting the Vietnam War.
<p>
That war was based on lies about a fictitious attack by North Vietnam,
lies
which <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#27_September_2017_(The_US_intervention_in_Vietnam)">the
US government has since admitted</a>.
<p>
When will we have a Congress that has the courage to refuse to feed
the military-industrial complex, and refuse to fight wars that don't
have any justification?  Pulling out of the war in Yemen would be a
good start.


feed_id: d9fb124a174797244140dd6bd0ef8b8b
title: Meat without animals
uri: Meat-without-animals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Meat_without_animals%29
content:
<p>
Progress is being made
towards <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/29/meat-poultry-sustainable-affordable-solution-lab-grown">making
meat without animals</a>.
<p>
I expect it will be a lot more efficient than growing real animals,
because only a small fraction of the animal is the meat that people
want to eat.


feed_id: b5dec66218f5fd9666ff8425ea462751
title: Interview notes
uri: Interview-notes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Interview_notes%29
content:
<p>
Canada's supreme court ordered a reporter
to <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/zmdy33/this-is-a-dark-day-for-press-freedom">hand
over his notes</a> from an interview with someone accused of being a
member of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.
<p>
Catching and stopping supporters of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> is important, but there were
tens of thousands of them and surely still are thousands.  Only a few
of them could possibly be prosecuted by using reporters' notes, and
that would not make much of a dent in <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.  (Indeed, it required a
war to achieve that.)  So is it worth endangering the free press to
build a case against one member of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>?  Especially one who is reported
to be dead?
<p>
I have to suspect that the state's purpose is precisely to intimidate
journalists and their sources.
<p>
I wonder if journalists could entrust their notes to a sanctuary in
another country which won't give them back the notes unless they show
they are not threatened.


feed_id: a35cca63b1b69d13962a98de19b1b7a8
title: Wildfires in Queensland
uri: Wildfires-in-Queensland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Wildfires_in_Queensland%29
content:
<p>
Queensland, the northernmost part of Australia, is encountering
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/02/queensland-bushfires-heatwave-dry-lightning-and-cyclone-threaten-state">worst
wildfire situation ever</a>.  A few days ago, hundreds of wildfires
were burning.  And it is not even summer.


feed_id: 7784d2f0394cd0a2f1717f032330a533
title: Patagonia donations
uri: Patagonia-donations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Patagonia_donations%29
content:
<p>
The company Patagonia
will <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1816005">donate its
windfall</a> from the 2017 Republican tax attacks to environmental
charities.


feed_id: bffe273a32c8f9c2801110ed0ec06c8f
title: Meeting with Putin
uri: Meeting-with-Putin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Meeting_with_Putin%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter said he would cancel his meeting with Putin, but
reportedly Putin ordered him to come to the
meeting <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1816181">and he
obeyed</a>.


feed_id: 322824bafb42b4be842239dad2388072
title: PFOA and PFOS
uri: PFOA-and-PFOS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28PFOA_and_PFOS%29
content:
<p>
PFOA and PFOS &mdash; chemicals that are used in nonstick pans,
waterproof products, and firefighting foam
&mdash; <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/30/pfoa-and-pfos-cause-lower-sperm-counts-and-smaller-penises-study-finds/">reduce
male fertility</a>.
<p>
The study was done on men exposed to those chemicals through
industrial pollution.  Whether contact with consumer products could
give people a big enough dose to have an effect is apparently not
clear.
<p>
A moderate reduction of human fertility is a change for the better,
for the next few decades, but since these chemicals never degrade they
could accumulate ever-larger quantities.


feed_id: bd13f37d2d5d89df82c79a16f7677709
title: Global heating across the US
uri: Global-heating-across-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Global_heating_across_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Why <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/30/climate-report-trump-buried-analysis-by-region">No
US Region Is Safe</a> from [global heating].


feed_id: 32cd9bab7646c143d405eeae282a538e
title: Amazon colonization
uri: Amazon-colonization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Amazon_colonization%29
content:
<p>
"New Yorkers won't give up the fight
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/30/new-yorkers-wont-give-up-the-fight-to-stop-amazon-colonising-our-city">stop
Amazon colonising our city</a>."


feed_id: 8565480aa2682683bf15e9de013ffc93
title: Wisconsin election rules
uri: Wisconsin-election-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Wisconsin_election_rules%29
content:
<p>
How Wisconsin
Republiars <a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2018/11/13425/wisconsin-gop-hopes-pull-rug-out-under-new-governor-rig-key-supreme-court">plan
to change the election rules</a> so as to maintain control of the
state's supreme court, and thus preserve their gerrymander to maintain
minority control of the state's legislature.


feed_id: d5029c8039da1b3878d46945733c0797
title: Marijuana vs meat
uri: Marijuana-vs-meat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Marijuana_vs_meat%29
content:
<p>
"We ban [marijuana] but let people eat as much meat as they
want.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/we-ban-cannabis-but-let-people-eat-as-much-meat-as-they-want-does-that-make-sense">That
makes no sense.</a>"


feed_id: f3b8fcf6695524c1c4e8571bc3aff202
title: Helicopter photos
uri: Helicopter-photos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Helicopter_photos%29
content:
<p>
Muhammed Fathi Abulkasem, a university student, visited Egypt and took
photos out the window of his plane as it was landing.  Some of the
photos included a military helicopter at the airport.  He now faces
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/30/british-student-who-took-photo-from-plane-faces-egypt-spying-trial">insane
charge of spying</a>.
<p>
Anything that is exposed to the view of thousands of people is no secret.


feed_id: df4533d706930fa6b8b7f2a0c5665820
title: House Raytheon executives
uri: House-Raytheon-executives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28House_Raytheon_executives%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; a Senate resolution to end the U.S. role in the war
   in Yemen was roundly rejected Thursday
   by <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/senate-bill-to-end-u-s-role-in-yemen-war-rejected-by-h-1830746674">House
   Raytheon executives</a>.


feed_id: 7c21efaeca6a5374f7c2349afe6d7112
title: Facebook page shutdowns
uri: 2018-12-07-Facebook-page-shutdowns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Facebook_page_shutdowns%29
content:
<p>
It looks like Facebook is shutting down news and political pages,
apparently <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/who-will-fix-facebook-759916/">based
on their political orientations</a>.
<p>
You can reduce Facebook's importance and power by using it as little
as possible
&mdash; <a href="https://stallman.org/facebook.html">ideally
never</a>.  If you don't let Facebook decide what news you see, its
political censorship won't affect you.
<p>
We can reduce Facebook's importance and power even more by campaigning
against it and by not publishing through it.  Don't depend for
publishing your works on a company that calls your publications
"content".


feed_id: c4edc1b17baebba67da5a85f1f119038
title: Mark Lamont Hill
uri: Mark-Lamont-Hill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Mark_Lamont_Hill%29
content:
<p>
CNN <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/nov/29/cnn-marc-lamont-hill-israel">fired
commentator Mark Lamont Hill</a> for speaking in favor of boycotting
Israel for the sake of equal rights for Palestinians.  This
was <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/29/cnn-submits-to-right-wing-outrage-mob-fires-marc-lamont-due-to-his-offensive-defense-of-palestinians-at-the-un/">described
as "antisemitism"</a>.
<p>
His talk advocated a single state made up of what are now Israel and
Palestine &mdash; a solution I do not support &mdash; and treats them
unequally by calling that single state "Palestine".  I don't like that
position, but it is not antisemitic, because Israel and Jews are not
the same.
<p>
I reject the claim that having two states is impossible, because the
US has the power to pressure Israel quite firmly, and maybe it could
bring about the return of the Palestinian land Israeli fanatics have
colonized, if it tried.  The US government is unwilling to try, but
since it is unwilling to do anything towards any scheme for peace and
equality between Israel and Palestine, that is no argument for
preferring one such scheme to
another.  <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#24_September_2012_(Two-state_solution_explained)">Following
Uri Avnery</a>,
I advocate two states.
<p>
I am not dead-set on that solution.  If Israelis and Palestinians come
to support some other scheme for peace, then unless there is something
gravely unjust about it, I will support giving it a try.


feed_id: c26d6cda5e9af4c74ec7c677d1dcd6e5
title: Zuckerberg hospital
uri: Zuckerberg-hospital
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Zuckerberg_hospital%29
content:
<p>
Some in San Francisco do not like the fact that the city's general
hospital has been renamed after Zuckerberg,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/28/mark-zuckerberg-hospital-san-francisco-name-removed-chan-zuckerberg-initiative">one
official has proposed</a> to change the name back.
<p>
I think that the practice of naming institutions and buildings after
donors is in general a form of decadence, regardless of who the donors
are.
<p>
Whether the donors have a bad influence on the organization's
activities is a different question: sometimes that happens, but not
always.  I don't think Zuckerberg's money would tend to corrupt the
activity of a hospital &mdash; as far as I know, he has no special
interests regarding hospitals.  However, his money or Facebook's money
might corrupt other kinds of organizations where they do have
interests at stake.
<p>
The Gates Foundation's money has served
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#17_February_2014_(Gates_Foundation's_plan_for_redesigning_education_in_US)">impose
his policy ideas</a> on education in the US.


feed_id: bd8d1eb1a37eaed43a48a6319cd4466a
title: School strike for global heating
uri: School-strike-for-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28School_strike_for_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/27/im-striking-school-protest-inaction-climate-change-you-should-too">Greta
Thunberg explains</a> her school strike and weekly protest to demand
curbing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> fast.
<blockquote>
"Some say I should be in school. But why should any young person be made
   to study for a future when no one is doing enough to save that future?
   What is the point of learning facts when the most important facts given
   by the finest scientists are ignored by our politicians?"
</blockquote>


feed_id: c93d6244f43a29bebd7d9eec6af699bc
title: Intimidation of Uyghurs
uri: Intimidation-of-Uyghurs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_%28Intimidation_of_Uyghurs%29
content:
<p>
China intimidates Uyghurs even outside China, through
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/28/a-community-in-unbelievable-pain-the-terror-and-sorrow-of-australias-uighurs">threat
to their relatives</a>.
<p>
The way China treats non-Uyghur Chinese
expats <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#30_March_2016_(Zhang_Ping)">is
similar</a>, just not as brutal.


feed_id: 8f14c48fedcd8f77e49f32eac5f1955d
title: Armed guards and teachers at schools
uri: Armed-guards-and-teachers-at-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Armed_guards_and_teachers_at_schools%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/11/19/1813909/-Armed-Guards-and-Teachers-Won-t-Make-Schools-Safer?_=2018-11-19T03:17:05.533-08:00">School systems should not waste money on armed guards</a> -- they don't make students safer in school because school is generally the safest place they ever go.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9efbfede50c5d45f1257358deacdd94e
title: Gaza: Israel crimes campaign
uri: Gaza-Israel-crimes-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Gaza%3A_Israel_crimes_campaign%29

content:
<p><a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2018/11/what-gaza-wants/?utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=15c70ee7df-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b86bace129-15c70ee7df-398418937&mc_cid=15c70ee7df&mc_eid=5196141150">Gazans call on people to pressure their governments</a> to tell Israel to stop its crimes in Gaza.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 754a5cd11d1f97f7297406933206b139
title: Michigan: Judge orders ICE to release detainees
uri: Michigan-Judge-orders-ICE-to-release-detainees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Michigan%3A_Judge_orders_ICE_to_release_detainees%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1814273">A court has ordered the release</a> of some Iraqis who were jailed for the sake of deportation that cannot be done.</p>
<p>They were jailed on the pretense that they would be deported, but it is impossible to deport them and the government knows that.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 066f3724becdeba1253be81fa4bce9db
title: Rental evictions in Spain
uri: Rental-evictions-in-Spain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Rental_evictions_in_Spain%29
content:
<p>There have been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/26/spanish-woman-eviction-madrid-rents">tens of thousands of evictions in Spain this year</a>. One woman jumped out the window rather than be evicted.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0669dc10ec28b7a7eb9778bad24eeeea
title: Woolsey Fire chemical contamination
uri: Woolsey-Fire-chemical-contamination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Woolsey_Fire_chemical_contamination%29

content:
<p>The wildfire that burned parts of Malibu (and lots more) seems to have started near where the Santa Susana Field Laboratory's experimental nuclear reactor was ruined by a nuclear accident.  <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/california-wildfire-likely-spread-nuclear-contamination-from-toxic-site/">Some fallout may have been spread in the air</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4c619d2c62e10dc3a886e5fff9c3200d
title: Plutocratists push to block Pelosi
uri: Plutocratists-push-to-block-Pelosi
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Plutocratists_push_to_block_Pelosi%29

content:
<p>Plutocratist Democrats propose <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/26/nancy-pelosi-speaker-no-labels-mark-penn/">to make the election of the Speaker of the House require Republican support</a>.  That shows whose side they are on.</p>
<p>They probably won't succeed in blocking the election of Pelosi, but  Pelosi herself is too centrist to campaign against plutocracy.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 50a2565f752e0c0f1d67b5f71d70c78b
title: Ireland phasing out peat burning
uri: Ireland-phasing-out-peat-burning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Ireland_phasing_out_peat_burning%29

content:
<p>Ireland is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/ireland-closes-peat-bogs-climate-change">phasing out the practice of extracting peat and burning it</a>, perhaps going no faster than the bogs are being exhausted.  But the bogs that were already dried out and mined will continue spewing greenhouse gases unless they are filled with water again.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d9e2d9e8c72286d2b80376a8cc34e331
title: France: antisemitism
uri: France-antisemitism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28France%3A_antisemitism%29
content:
<p>The French state's refusal to recognize race is intended to discourage racist politics.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/how-the-murders-of-two-elderly-jewish-women-shook-france-antisemitism-mireille-knoll-sarah-halimi">It has not been entirely successful</a>.</p>
<p>This does not necessarily mean the policy is doing no good, or that it is clear how to do better.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 293895b5e2e18e4350db2fb46c29fced
title: Europe: diesel emissions cost
uri: Europe-diesel-emissions-cost
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Europe%3A_diesel_emissions_cost%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/27/health-effects-of-diesel-cost-european-taxpayers-billions">Diesel emissions cost Europe 70 billion per year</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 96bac2ee53113d1c68b00012e99311e6
title: City bikes monopolies
uri: City-bikes-monopolies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28City_bikes_monopolies%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/27/airbnb-city-bikes-sharing-economy-big-money">What was touted as a "sharing economy" has evolved into a domain of quasi-monopolies</a> which are now changing from platforms into owners of things for rent.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 28bcbf936f54381107c86a06dee6573f
title: Afghanistan food crisis worsens
uri: Afghanistan-food-crisis-worsens
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Afghanistan_food_crisis_worsens%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/27/uk-pledges-35m-to-afghanistan-as-food-crisis-worsens">A drought in Afghanistan has cut "agricultural output" by about half</a>. It is not clear what portion of that decrease is in food production and what part in opium, but there is a big shortage of food.</p>
<p>Both kinds of decrease cause instability, and any instability will be useful for the Taliban.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: abb58555b92a14932c0a6008c1aa9bb6
title: Manafort's plea bargain cancelled
uri: Manafort-s-plea-bargain-cancelled
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Manafort%27s_plea_bargain_cancelled%29

content:
<p>Mueller cancelled Manafort's plea bargain, saying that Manafort has given the FBI false testimony.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/tuesday-briefing-manafort-lies-mean-plea-deal-is-off-says-mueller">Manafort will face prosecution</a>.</p>
<p>This is a setback, because Manafort's testimony would have been helped to convict bigwigs including perhaps the cheater himself.  Sentencing Manafort to start a long prison term soon is at best a consolation prize. And if the cheater pardons him, he may not spend much time in prison.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 92d1a24b32c0a5a79937b9ea9ade5fdb
title: General Motors to close factories
uri: General-Motors-to-close-factories
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28General_Motors_to_close_factories%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/26/gm-cutting-workforce-closing-factories-after-getting-514-million-windfall-gop?cd-origin=rss">General Motors will fire 15% of its US workers and close factories</a>, presumably to move production somewhere else.</p>
<p>This shows how foolish it is to try to keep jobs in the US by cutting taxes on business.  We have cut those taxes drastically in the past 5 decades, and all it achieved was a lot more inequality.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: caf8005f3a8c9e7620dfd446d2c4a024
title: American public favors war ending
uri: American-public-favors-war-ending
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28American_public_favors_war_ending%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/26/new-hope-war-powers-vote-poll-shows-american-public-strongly-favors-end-us-backed?cd-origin=rss">Most Americans want the US to stop aiding Salafi America in bombarding and crushing Yemen</a>.  Sanders says he thinks the Senate can pass something to end US participation.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a4d444b4515343767abca7517e6577c1
title: US and Saudi Arabia arms sales
uri: US-and-Saudi-Arabia-arms-sales
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28US_and_Saudi_Arabia_arms_sales%29

content:
<p>The bullshitter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/20/donald-trump-saudi-arabia-arms-sales-jamal-khashoggi">said that the US really really needs to sell arms</a> to Salafi Arabia, but that was bullshit.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ef1afc143952e45c3a0175e70acc649f
title: Urgent: INF nuclear treaty
uri: Urgent-INF-nuclear-treaty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_INF_nuclear_treaty%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13525">call
on your congresscritter and senators</a> to protect the INF nuclear
treaty and don't fund the weapons systems that would violate it.
</p>
<p>
To sign this without running nonfree software, use
the <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">Salsalabs
method</a>.
</p>
<p>If you send a letter, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3bdec4efa3ac0c59810291a696e2c27f
title: Urgent: Sanders in 2020
uri: Urgent-Sanders-in-2020
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Sanders_in_2020%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/run-bernie-run/?nowrapper=true">Urge
Bernie Sanders</a> to run for president in 2020.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 585da97fe4381b87fd941d28b5024e8c
title: Urgent: Protect abortion rights
uri: Urgent-Protect-abortion-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_abortion_rights%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/letter/legislators-make-reproductive-freedom-priority-2019/">call
on your legislators</a> to protect abortion rights.
</p>
<p>If you send a letter, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 53d93b67c54cb6b1ee49f82d532a2416
title: Urgent: Sinclair advertising
uri: Urgent-Sinclair-advertising
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Sinclair_advertising%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/stop-sinclair/">call
on companies</a> to stop advertising in Sinclair Broadcast Group's TV
channels.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: e652396205fba534275c5ac90db3c63e
title: Urgent: Thank for Yemen resolution
uri: Urgent-Thank-for-Yemen-resolution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Thank_for_Yemen_resolution%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/thank-your-senators-voting-end-support-war-yemen">Thank
your senators</a> for voting to take the Yemen resolution out of
committee (if they did so).
</p>


feed_id: 0c63b1bd0dd453a5ef38cb3b05bd971e
title: Free press and hedge funds
uri: Free-press-and-hedge-funds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Free_press_and_hedge_funds%29
content:
<p>
Jim Hightower: "Our right to a free press is meaningless if hedge funds
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/01/free-free-press-wall-street-plunder">can
gobble up and gut</a> the community newspapers that exercise it."


feed_id: 83d7587a6c5bed3865d5663e8a35cf12
title: Back doors in Australia
uri: 2018-12-08-Back-doors-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Back_doors_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
Whether to require back doors for the state in encryption has become
one of
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/02/scott-morrison-blew-up-bipartisan-compromise-on-encryption-says-labor">paramount
political issues</a> in Australia.
<p>
Alas, Labor's criticism of the law is based on secondary issues &mdash;
that parties other than the state might break security using the back
door &mdash; rather than mentioning that the goal itself is dangerous and unjust.
<p>
Look at how Australia has treated the refugees it has dumped into
prison
on <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_October_2018_(Refugees_without_medical_care_on_Nauru)">Nauru</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#25_May_2017_(Manus_Island_refugees)">Manus</a>.
Look at
the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#10_July_2018_(Bugging_of_East_Timor_negotiators)">prosecution
of the whistleblower</a> who revealed that Australia was snooping on
the diplomats of East Timor during a negotiation.
One cannot presume that the Australian government will not act
with cruelty and oppression.
<p>
Some day someone might find a way to reliably limit a back door to
real state agencies.  That will invalidate the secondary argument, but
it won't make the spying requirement acceptable.  If Australians want
to defend their country's freedom in the long term, if they don't want
their country to become like China, they must move beyond the weak
argument about unintended consequences and focus on the injustice of
the intended consequences.
<p>
Australians, why wait?  Please spread the word.


feed_id: 9458c9fbb734fb8bd9f70b033585e3ec
title: Editing germlines
uri: Editing-germlines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Editing_germlines%29
content:
<p>
There
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/dont-dismiss-gene-editing-on-account-of-one-rogue-case">nothing
fundamentally wrong</a> with editing germlines.
<p>
The reason this method of genetic editing affects the germline is that
it affects the whole body &mdash; which therefore includes the
germline.  It can be done early in development.
<p>
To cure genetic problems that result from genetically-guided incorrect
fetal development can only be done in this way.  Once you're going to
do something so fundamental, there is no benefit in leaving the
problem uncorrected in the germline, to spring up again in the next
generation, even if that could be done.
<p>
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the approach, but in the
present state of inexperience, there are risks that things will go
wrong.  But I suspect that many of them could be avoided by aborting
fetuses that are developing visibly wrong.


feed_id: d42cf341bf1b4c7f9084efe2f06e821a
title: Trusting thug departments
uri: Trusting-thug-departments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Trusting_thug_departments%29
content:
<p>
To be seen as making society safer and better, rather than as an
occupying army, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> departments need to win the public's trust.  The
only way to do that is
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/toting-guns-ramming-mopeds-no-wat-to-build-trust-in-our-police">behave
in a way</a> that earns that trust.


feed_id: 230fd53cc68502b18f53ff6e77984058
title: The gilets jaunes
uri: The-gilets-jaunes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28The_gilets_jaunes%29
content:
<p>
The gilets jaunes in France are denouncing more or less the same
problem that the US suffers: life is getting harder for all but a
wealthy fraction, because there
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/france-is-deeply-fractured-gilets-jeunes-just-a-symptom">not
enough good jobs</a>.
<p>
I support them wholeheartedly, except for their demand for low prices
for gasoline and diesel fuel.


feed_id: f0bfd68b6a4c46ff7239020d1a90cfe8
title: 'Counterfeit' goods
uri: Counterfeit-goods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28%27Counterfeit%27_goods%29
content:
<p>
The article about the danger of "counterfeit"
goods <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/02/whether-youre-unaware-or-dont-care-counterfeit-goods-pose-a-serious-threat">makes
false arguments</a>.
<p>
The word "counterfeit" is sometimes used for inferior imitation
products.  But nowadays it is used also as propaganda by the copyright
industry to smear copies it does not authorize.  These copies are
normally in no way inferior to the authorized copies, and often much,
much better because they don't mistreat
people <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">as
authorized copies do</a>.
<p>
As for manufacture in sweatshops, we have no reason to suppose that
the "real" products are not made that way.  If we want to ensure that
products are made by well-treated workers, trademark
enforcement <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#30_April_2018_(Factories_in_Bangladesh)">won't
do the job</a>;
we need rather to establish laws to hold importers
responsible for how suppliers in other countries treat their workers.


feed_id: 1a4a64a5db5595212802a4434aaac92d
title: App store and antitrust law
uri: App-store-and-antitrust-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28App_store_and_antitrust_law%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/apple-control-freak-is-it-guilty-of-abusing-its-monopoly-power">Supreme
Court will decide</a> whether Apple's censorship power, imposed by
limiting users of iThings to apps in Apple's store, violates US
antitrust law.
<p>
US antitrust law is so narrow nowadays that a verdict in favor of
Apple would signify nothing on the moral level.  Apple's censorship is
an <a href="https://gnu.org/malware/proprietary-censorship.html
">injustice to the users</a>.
If it is not illegal now, we should make it illegal.


feed_id: e58e8e0918870abd35a4a629f1ad0747
title: Anonymous publication
uri: Anonymous-publication
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Anonymous_publication%29
content:
<p>
Some academics meet with real repression for expressing hated ideas.
The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/02/journal-of-controversial-ideas-jeff-mcmahan-peter-singer-francesca-minerva-identity-politics">journal
for anonymous publication</a> will serve a real purpose.
<p>
As the article shows, this danger is not limited to defense of
Palestinians' rights.
<p>
There is a resemblance between protecting authors from death threats
and denial of employment with the safe spaces that protect
students from insults and attacks.  However, when safe spaces
are used to censor, they are not at all similar to this journal.


feed_id: 74b9ec7caaa7522523bb34abe5ece06f
title: Portrait of a planet
uri: Portrait-of-a-planet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Portrait_of_a_planet%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/02/world-verge-climate-catastophe">Portrait
of a Planet</a> on the Verge of Climate Catastrophe.


feed_id: f2c1a5d88404683ed23d21a917dfff9b
title: Hate crimes against Palestinians
uri: Hate-crimes-against-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Hate_crimes_against_Palestinians%29

content:
<p>
In occupied Palestine, hate crimes by Israelis against Palestinians
are
frequent.  <a href="https://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781696">Here</a>
are <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/jewish-settlers-damage-palestinian-property-in-w-bank/1306894">typical
examples</a>.


feed_id: 80e8cb7712380609ebe91521b6cb5bbf
title: Green New Deal
uri: Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
It
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/30/we-can-pay-green-new-deal">silly
to ask</a> how to "pay for" the Green New Deal, since failing to
implement it will cause so much damage that we can't afford not to do
it.


feed_id: f05754e8f85e74428dafc5e9957c29c1
title: Medicare for All
uri: 2018-12-08-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
The question, "How could we pay for Medicare for All," is foolish
because it is based on a false assumption.  The right question is,
"How shall we use
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/30/easy-pay-something-costs-less-new-study-shows-medicare-all-would-save-us-51-trillion">$500
billion annual savings</a> from Medicare for All?"


feed_id: e4fd0f47695fb6d474c65bf681fa77d8
title: Informative G20 seminar
uri: Informative-G20-seminar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Informative_G20_seminar%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip;member leaders at the G20 Summit attended the Saudi
   Crown
   Prince’s <a href="https://www.theonion.com/g20-leaders-attend-saudi-crown-prince-s-informative-sem-1830780063">informative
   seminar</a> Friday on eliminating dissident journalists.


feed_id: 64516c1e99201f3a7ef7c75e777a6f8d
title: Bribing Putin
uri: Bribing-Putin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Bribing_Putin%29
content:
<p>
The
cheater <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/trump-organization-considered-giving-putin-penthouse-moscow-tower_us_5c010127e4b0249dce739c70">planned
in 2016 to bribe Putin</a> by giving him the penthouse in the planned
Moscow Trump Tower.
If, that is, the concept of "bribe" is meaningful in the context
of a kleptocracy where corruption is everywhere.


feed_id: bf7fece8fff0a1b33c14a454b8802d91
title: Facebook's Soros investigation
uri: Facebook-s-Soros-investigation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Facebook%27s_Soros_investigation%29

content:
<p>
Sheryl
Sandberg <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-facebook-sandberg-soros-20181130-story.html">Asked
Facebook Staff</a> to Investigate George Soros' Finances.
<p>
Having seen that order could easily have led employees and contractors
to choose him as a point of attack against the protest group.
<p>
Her order was in response to a speech by
Soros, <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/11/29/sandberg-spied-on-soros.html">copied
here</a>.
<p>
I agree completely with his criticism of Facebook and Google, though
he doesn't recognize some of their worst problems &mdash; collection of
personal data, and nonfree software, and the concept that one of the
main dangers of large companies is their political power.
<p>
Did
Facebook <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/01/questions-we-should-be-asking-about-facebooks-smear-campaign-against-its-critics">manipulate
its useds</a> so that they would see and believe the smears against
its critics?


feed_id: 967f6659cd1dd16381ba5559e26d218f
title: Tesla cars
uri: Tesla-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Tesla_cars%29
content:
<p>
Tesla cars in China <a href="https://apnews.com/4a749a4211904784826b45e812cff4ca">report their location in real time</a>.
What about Tesla cars in the US?
<p>
All "connected" cars report their location because the "connection"
works via a cellular modem.  Every cell phone is tracked the same way,
but you can turn off the phone (maybe), and you can certainly leave it
home.
<p>
I think we need laws to require cars to have a way to turn off the
car's "connection" at the physical level, a way that malicious
software can't override.


feed_id: 480beba51181d1b72b5396ea6f82d3c1
title: St Louis protesters
uri: St-Louis-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28St_Louis_protesters%29
content:
<p>
St Louis protesters for Black Lives Matter are aware of what a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/11/30/its-still-blast-beating-people-st-louis-police-indicted-assault-undercover-officer-posing-protester/?noredirect=on">lucky
coincidence it was that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> beating up protesters attacked an
undercover thug</a> who was infiltrating the protest.  For once, thugs
could not get away with impunity after maiming someone for pleasure.
<p>
We know it was for pleasure because of the text message one of the
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> sent, about how much fun it would be to attack protesters.


feed_id: ef6a7f85f112925ae284e7a7a53be6d2
title: Netanyahu
uri: 2018-12-10-Netanyahu
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Netanyahu%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/02/police-recommend-indicting-benjamin-netanyahu-on-bribery-charges">Netanyahu faces corruption charges</a>, unless his influence is enough to
get
them dropped.


feed_id: 66ac9d139bc138d6bfd0ee32b7f7c50e
title: Hotel room
uri: Hotel-room
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Hotel_room%29
content:
<p>
Ariel Dorfman <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/george-hw-bush-family">tells of when he stopped Bush I from getting the hotel
room in Sydney that he wanted</a>, by refusing to cede it to him.  Though
that was small payback for the cruel things that Bush I did to the US,
and to Chile.


feed_id: 1de5b3a2a2ad1169cc5a499dd50dc660
title: Left behind in poverty
uri: Left-behind-in-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Left_behind_in_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Leaving parts of society behind in poverty is not the work of a
magical
"invisible hand".  It's the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/01/our-elites-refuse-accept-responsibility-leaving-behind-left-behind?cd-origin=rss">result of laws set up by plutocracy</a>.


feed_id: 800182714e17958ce98979ea28cec0bc
title: Urgent: Registrar of copyrights
uri: Urgent-Registrar-of-copyrights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Registrar_of_copyrights%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators and congresscritter to oppose making
the registrar of copyrights
a <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#14_April_2017_(Control_over_copyright_policy)">presidential
political appointment</a>.
</p>
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard
numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3b35e07107ef015e9d8f82df0e028a4a
title: Cindy Hyde-Smith
uri: Cindy-Hyde-Smith
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Cindy_Hyde-Smith%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/censure_cindy_hyde_smith">call
on the Senate</a> to censure Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for apologizing for
slavery and supporting bigotry.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: fb750a4a576620ab45c7c80dd835dce4
title: Urgent: Sinclair Broadcasting
uri: Urgent-Sinclair-Broadcasting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Sinclair_Broadcasting%29

content:
<p>
In the
US: <a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/sinclair_fire_boris">call
on Sinclair Broadcasting</a> to fire Epshteyn.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: cf04e948961308699d9239f61d9fb434
title: Urgent: Military-industrial complex
uri: Urgent-Military-industrial-complex
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Military-industrial_complex%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-would-be-house-leaders-to-give-back-weapons-money">Call
on powerful Congresscritters</a> to return large campaign donations
from the military-industrial complex.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 2f96033105a87006de831a36c58d7cbd
title: Reparation for slavery
uri: Reparation-for-slavery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Reparation_for_slavery%29
content:
<p>
Reparations for Slavery
Are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/30/reparations-slavery-sins-parent-child-reparative-justice-holocaust">Not
about Punishing Children</a> for Parents' Sins.
<p>
I basically agree with the conclusion, but not with the whole of the
argument he uses.  The concept of "collective guilt" is misguided:
we are not "guilty" in any sense of past crimes.
<p>
However, "guilt" is a red herring in this discussion, because
responsibility is broader than guilt.  Today's descendants of the
victims of past systematic bigotry suffer damage today as a
consequence, so society has the responsibility to make up for that
&mdash; to cure the damage.  You and I are not guilty of that past
systematic bigotry, but the responsibility to cure the continuing
damage falls on us.


feed_id: d77ee17b4b53b8ce49dfa245c8cc1ed4
title: Russia's 'anti-extremism' law
uri: Russia-s-anti-extremism-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Russia%27s_%27anti-extremism%27_law%29

content:
<p>
Russia's "anti-extremism" law is being used
to <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/09/08/russian-feminist-blogger-faces.html">prosecute
a feminist</a> for a joke about beating up men.


feed_id: 12f823467079506220220f6f64554d59
title: Jailing a news editor
uri: Jailing-a-news-editor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Jailing_a_news_editor%29
content:
<p>
Do-dirty
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/03/philippines-journalist-maria-ressa-turn-herself-in-police-warrant-rappler">planning
to jail a news editor</a> based on unlikely tax evasion charges.
<p>
The charges are unlikely a priori because that's the sort of thing
rich people do and expect to get away with; but investigative
journalists would hardly take the risk of offering a valid excuse to
prosecute them.


feed_id: 7a28f7abc4c8dee97cc6659c0fd2af3f
title: Hong Kong 'democracy'
uri: Hong-Kong-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Hong_Kong_%27democracy%27%29
content:
<p>
Hong Kong "democracy" is now only
for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/03/hong-kong-pro-democracy-lawmaker-barred-from-running-in-local-election">supporters
of Chinese power</a>.


feed_id: f0fa7bc1a76d85a3b724726afaa60b77
title: Anti-fascists in Heraklion
uri: Anti-fascists-in-Heraklion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Anti-fascists_in_Heraklion%29
content:
<p>
How anti-fascists in Heraklion, the capital of
Crete, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/dec/03/their-ideas-had-no-place-here-how-crete-kicked-out-golden-dawn">kicked
out</a> the fascist extremist party.


feed_id: 458fbf5f3b9870b969ad306c188708f6
title: Funding abortions
uri: Funding-abortions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Funding_abortions%29
content:
<p>
The US government
should <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/03/yes-i-do-want-your-taxes-to-pay-for-abortion">fund
abortions</a>.
<p>
You can't stop your taxes from being used to fund new nuclear weapons,
or locking up refugee minors and using them as bait to find and deport
their relatives.  Does it make sense to treat abortion as if it were
worse than those?


feed_id: 78d07c4ad801985da3087b3e859954b4
title: Poland climate conference
uri: Poland-climate-conference
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Poland_climate_conference%29
content:
<p>
The Poland climate conference is supposed to work out detailed plans
for curbing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, but the event not only faces opposition
from planet-roaster states, the Polish
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/03/we-are-last-generation-that-can-stop-climate-change-un-summit">undermined
it from the outset</a> by allowing two coal companies an influential
role.


feed_id: a9944d05b88fe98e87521d56647bead8
title: Netanyahu corruption charges
uri: Netanyahu-corruption-charges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Netanyahu_corruption_charges%29
content:
<p>
More about
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/02/netanyahu-faces-another-possible-indictment-bribe-get-glowing-media-coverage">new
corruption charges</a> that Netanyahu faces.


feed_id: c243438b40d7062eca7ac514b1cd4dd3
title: New NAFTA criticism
uri: New-NAFTA-criticism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28New_NAFTA_criticism%29
content:
<p>
Progressive
legislators <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/30/nafta-20-signed-deal-corporate-one-percent">criticize
the new NAFTA</a>.


feed_id: ee7a22488fd3ad3134cfae4d0a59133f
title: Jim Hightower
uri: Jim-Hightower
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Jim_Hightower%29
content:
<p>
The Jim Hightower column I recently linked to was censored by the
syndicate that normally distributes his columns.  It seems that the
hedge funds he rebuked own the newspapers that the syndicate
distributes to, so
it <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/30/banned-newspapers-criticizing-newspapers-jim-hightower-against-corporate-wall">won't
publish any criticism</a> of them.


feed_id: 5905a54714b5a740a45986cfbe8c23bf
title: Syrian refugee student beaten
uri: Syrian-refugee-student-beaten
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Syrian_refugee_student_beaten%29

content:
<p>
A racist British student beat up a Syrian refugee student, Jamal, out
of hatred.  This led to threats of violence against the perpetrator.
So <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/30/syrian-boy-jamal-asks-people-not-to-attack-his-alleged-bully-huddersfield">Jamal
asked people</a> not to resort to violence.


feed_id: f09d253547610c297ef19f8135c6ce11
title: Under Putin's thumb
uri: Under-Putin-s-thumb
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Under_Putin%27s_thumb%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1816618">We now have
proof</a> that the bullshitter was under Putin's thumb.
<p>
It appears
that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#6_December_2018_(Meeting_with_Putin)">he
still is</a>.


feed_id: eacf3572baf5916603722f8cf4163dbc
title: Corporate feminism
uri: Corporate-feminism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Corporate_feminism%29
content:
<p>
We
must <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/sheryl-sandberg-lean-out-corporate-feminism">reject
the "corporate feminism"</a> that cites the success of some female
CEOs as a distraction from justice and equality for women who are not
executives of big companies.


feed_id: fc1d3a68dc840ca934189ed3afabc4c6
title: Oligarchy psyche
uri: Oligarchy-psyche
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Oligarchy_psyche%29
content:
<p>
Understanding the Psyche of Today's American
Oligarchy <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/understanding-the-psyche-of-todays-american-oligarchy-through-magazine-ads">through
Magazine Ads</a> (in The New Yorker).


feed_id: bbc87d24e007586dd67ccdfad0b87759
title: Canceling UK citizenship
uri: Canceling-UK-citizenship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#10_December_2018_%28Canceling_UK_citizenship%29
content:
<p>
The UK cancels citizens' citizenship without a trial, arbitrarily,
citing a law with vague conditions.  Nowadays it has a loophole so
that it can leave the victim stateless.  At least one victim was lured
into making a trip to a country
that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/17/unbecoming-british-kamila-shamsie-citizens-exile">handed
him to the CIA</a>.


feed_id: b21396ae45cd5692cdee2d8108939c22
title: Manafort's plea bargain cancelled
uri: 2018-12-11-Manafort-s-plea-bargain-cancelled
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#8_December_2018_%28Manafort%27s_plea_bargain_cancelled%29

content:
<p>Mueller cancelled Manafort's plea bargain, saying that Manafort has given the FBI false testimony.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/tuesday-briefing-manafort-lies-mean-plea-deal-is-off-says-mueller">Manafort will face prosecution</a>.</p>
<p>This is a setback, because Manafort's testimony would have been helped to convict bigwigs including perhaps <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> himself.  Sentencing Manafort to start a long prison term soon is at best a consolation prize. And if the cheater pardons him, he may not spend much time in prison.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 92daf4b253dc9a03524ecfee9d5213d1
title: Data provided to HHS
uri: Data-provided-to-HHS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Data_provided_to_HHS%29
content:
<p>
Data Provided to HHS to Vett Sponsors of Unaccompanied Children 
<a href="https://cdt.org/blog/data-provided-to-hhs-to-vett-sponsors-of-unaccompanied-children-should-not-be-repurposed-for-immigration-enforcement/">Should
Not Be Repurposed for Immigration Enforcement</a>.


feed_id: 579262a53550af63887b56f9a9047a8c
title: System based on trust
uri: System-based-on-trust
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28System_based_on_trust%29
content:
<p>
So many examples of elites caught lying have made it almost
impossible for people to trust anyone.  So 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/nov/29/why-we-stopped-trusting-elites-the-new-populism">liberal
democracy, a system based on trust, falls down</a>.
<p>
Not 100% impossible, though.  I trust Bernie Sanders.


feed_id: 88b4673169061d2e90dd88c3337ac84d
title: Fanatical Israeli "settlers"
uri: 2018-12-12-Fanatical-Israeli-settlers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Fanatical_Israeli_settlers%29
content:
<p>
The Ewaiwe family are Palestinians that live in Hebron.  Fanatical
Israeli "settlers" are trying to push Palestinians out of Hebron, one
by one.  So they 
<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/israel-moving-rapidly-annexation-envoy-181125133850565.html">attack
the Ewaiwe home</a>, over and over, trying to drive them out.
<p>
"Settlers" attacks now target 
<a href="https://israelpalestinenews.org/israeli-government-target-educational-institutions-escalate-settlements-activities/">elementary
schools</a> as well as 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#2_November_2017_(Palestinian_olives)">olive
trees</a> and
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_November_2018_(Demolition_of_Palestinian_homes)">homes</a>.


feed_id: 0c0f03324fef8fca157296ddd543f6df
title: Injured Gaza protesters
uri: Injured-Gaza-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Injured_Gaza_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Israel Has Injured 
<a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-has-injured-24000-gaza-protesters">24,000
Gaza Protesters</a>.


feed_id: c5f3ee88cff71d14da8af7fc8d9bcda6
title: Israel wants "cultural loyalty" law
uri: Israel-wants-cultural-loyalty-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Israel_wants_cultural_loyalty_law%29

content:
<p>
"No, democracies don't have 'cultural loyalty' laws."  But 
<a href="https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/no-democracies-dont-have-cultural-loyalty-laws/">Israel
wants one</a>.


feed_id: fe9a5fedea7b5c955afbbf8ac45a8db9
title: Bangladesh building prison camps
uri: Bangladesh-building-prison-camps
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Bangladesh_building_prison_camps%29

content:
<p>
Bangladesh is building 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/footage-shows-prison-like-units-built-for-rohingya-on-bangladesh-island">prison
camps for the Rohingya</a>, in an isolated low-lying island under
military control where they would be inaccessible to journalists.
<p>
Did Bangladesh get this idea from the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s treatment of refugees?
<p>
In a few years, a typhoon will drown the island.


feed_id: ebeda16d771cd3371fa0292d8fd23ad1
title: Domestic violence
uri: 2018-12-12-Domestic-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Domestic_violence%29
content:
<p>
Most women who are killed, are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/26/mark-shame-all-our-societies-un-finds-more-women-killed-domestic-violence-any-other">killed
by their relatives or lovers</a>.


feed_id: 9df76cf8115725fc1df9369315caf24a
title: Genetically modified babies
uri: Genetically-modified-babies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Genetically_modified_babies%29
content:
<p>
Looking at the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/28/scientist-in-china-defends-human-embryo-gene-editing">moral
arguments</a> about genetically modified babies.
<p>
People seem to think there is something fundamentally wrong with the
idea.  I think they are repeating the silliness about "playing god"
that we used to come across 60 years ago.  In principle, there is
nothing wrong with making genetically modified babies.
<p>
There is a problem in our present state of ignorance: the danger that
something will go wrong and produce babies that are somehow damaged.
That is a valid reason not to make genetically modified babies -- for
now.
<p>
If we develop ways to make babies that are somehow superior, we should
make that option available to all babies at no cost.  It would be
unfair to deny the benefits to anyone.


feed_id: c1ada8f342ab6f041d196f168052b812
title: Right-wing extremists in Brazil
uri: Right-wing-extremists-in-Brazil
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Right-wing_extremists_in_Brazil%29

content:
<p>
Right-wing extremists could convert a movement for "objectivity" in
Brazil's schools into an 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/11/28/academic-freedom-under-attack-in-brazil">excuse
to repress teachers that supported the Workers Party</a>.


feed_id: 8486a1cd6133c8b188e520cc3ab45a25
title: US border thugs
uri: 2018-12-12-US-border-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28US_border_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1815773">grasp at straws and
loopholes</a> to block reunion of refugee families.


feed_id: 4a1672b2255a3c50c3c9d6b02364696b
title: Security and dignity
uri: Security-and-dignity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Security_and_dignity%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/28/people-of-color-liberals-democrats-solve-problems">Americans that aren't white are not similar to each other</a>.  "'People of color' is a pretty meaningless category today, and one that will become even more meaningless in the future&hellip; What we should be asking is, what policies would we need to allow people to reach their full potentials, to live in security and dignity?"</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cac0c0fd51ca1bb99156f08981119af0
title: Prohibiting online ads for sex work
uri: Prohibiting-online-ads-for-sex-work
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Prohibiting_online_ads_for_sex_work%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/28/california-sex-workers-crackdown">The result of prohibiting online ads for sex work is that prostitutes have to seek customers on the street</a> -- where they tend to be raped, harassed, and arrested.  It does not help them that their would-be customers are arrested, too.</p>
<p>The article refers to arrested customers as "predatory".  Perhaps some of them really were predatory, but if so that was by chance, if the criterion for arresting them was that they were looking for a prostitute to hire.  Supposedly this practice is justified because they might by chance have hired a prostitute who was enslaved. However, for those prostitutes who are indeed enslaved, arresting their customers does not help free them, and neither does arresting the prostitutes.</p>
<p>Applying the same logic to other fields, the state would arrest would-be customers of manicures, fish, fruits and vegetables, laundry, and houses, because those things too are sometimes provided by enslaved workers.  Fortunately, this misguided solution is not proposed for those fields.</p>
<p>To "hold abusers accountable" is a laudable goal, but I have a disturbing feeling that when the DA says "abusers" it means "customers", not violent men.</p>
<p>I hope these women find a better life, but the repressive laws are part of the obstacles in their way.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 46fbda4945864e11066fdd76e9272cbb
title: AI shaping people's decisions
uri: AI-shaping-people-s-decisions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28AI_shaping_people%27s_decisions%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/28/jack-ma-ai-dystopian-cities-communist-party-china">When big companies use AI to "predict</a>" (i.e., shape) people's decisions, it hardly matters whether that is called "capitalism" or "communism".  Because either way, it is dehumanisingly totalitarian.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 025a21920714de21b9f65b6a3ffe939f
title: Afghan civilians killed
uri: Afghan-civilians-killed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Afghan_civilians_killed%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/afghanistan-civilians-killed-us-air-strike-helmand-province">The Taliban attacked Afghan government forces</a>, so they called in an air strike, which killed Afghan civilians.</p>
<p>Mistakes happen even in peacetime; in the fog of war, avoiding them is even more difficult.  While the war continues, things like this will happen.  Thus, the decision about whether to continue the war includes deciding whether more things like this will happen.</p>
<p>The real question is, is there a reason to continue the war?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6dfc52b8dd024a3ad19896f387fc9923
title: The Onion: Putin condemned Ukrainian occupation
uri: The-Onion-Putin-condemned-Ukrainian-occupation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28The_Onion%3A_Putin_condemned_Ukrainian_occupation%29

content:
<p>(satire) <a href="https://www.theonion.com/putin-condemns-ukrainian-people-s-unprovoked-1-000-year-1830667218">Russian president Vladimir Putin condemned on Monday the unprovoked 1,000-year Ukrainian occupation of South Russia</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f21c1d678f60218bf5946765cf8cb5a0
title: Zinke's request to National Archives
uri: Zinke-s-request-to-National-Archives
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Zinke%27s_request_to_National_Archives%29

content:
<p>Saboteur Zinke <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/26/unacceptable-groups-urge-national-archives-reject-zinkes-request-destroy-federal?cd-origin=rss">wants the National Archives to destroy lots of documents</a> from the process of deciding questions such as how and whether to protect endangered species.</p>
<p>Their loss would make it impossible to investigate whether the department operated honestly or not.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 98e546795a5f5383abf537cc4ee79ebd
title: Khashoggi senate briefing
uri: Khashoggi-senate-briefing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Khashoggi_senate_briefing%29
content:
<p>The bully told CIA head (and torturer) Haspel <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/jamal-khashoggi-murder-senate-briefing-saudi-arabia-gina-haspel-white-house">not to testify before the Senate about the murder of Khashoggi</a>, including what she heard in the recording that Turkey has.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 68e4577f93917577a237a310fae19989
title: Need to cut greenhouse gas emissions
uri: Need-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Need_to_cut_greenhouse_gas_emissions%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/27/world-triple-efforts-climate-change-un-global-warming">To hold global heating at 1.5C</a>, we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.</p>
<p>It follows that reduction plans whose targets are after 2030 are a distraction.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6c3a779e321205e35b3c5509cc7ddd0d
title: CEO taxes
uri: CEO-taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28CEO_taxes%29
content:
<p><a href="https://truthout.org/articles/restore-higher-tax-rates-for-corporations-that-cant-contain-ceo-pay/">Proposal: "Restore higher tax rates for corporations that can’t contain CEO pay."</a></p>
<p>I disagree.  There is no reason to allow any companies the unwarranted 2017 tax cut.  What we should do is cancel that tax cut entirely, then increase the tax rate for high individual incomes so that the CEOs will pay more taxes.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2c72c7e7183c9f3a1f5baa4866c6b33c
title: US: Rushed US climate report
uri: US-Rushed-US-climate-report
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28US%3A_Rushed_US_climate_report%29

content:
<p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/latest-dire-us-climate-report-was-pushed-out-on-black-friday/">Republican officials specifically rushed the release of the latest US climate report</a> to make it come out on the day after Thanksgiving.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6642e56529e84eab7890de853d87ca8c
title: Herbicides for dinner
uri: Herbicides-for-dinner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Herbicides_for_dinner%29
content:
<p>Large farms spray herbicides to kill the crop plants in order to take off their seeds more efficiently.  <a href="http://nautil.us/issue/66/clockwork/herbicide-is-whats-for-dinner">The result is more herbicides in our food</a>.  Since herbicides affect gut bacteria, that can effect human health.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9bfcadbecd1c0732e03ed673febb322e
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2018-12-12-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/27/green-new-deal-congress-climate-change/">The pathway to a Green New Deal</a>, if fully designed by early 2020 as it should be, will give Americans an opportunity to make climate safety a major election issue.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f567072da3fb02c5b349e0cb8aa503dc
title: US government war on vaping
uri: US-government-war-on-vaping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28US_government_war_on_vaping%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/kZ2_RV7Kl0g/the-governments-foolish-war-on-vaping">The US seems to be planning to make e-cigarettes hard to access</a> without measuring and comparing the positive health effects with the negative health effects.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6d9cb6fcf0e224826518ddfe5f80f3b4
title: Tories budget cuts
uri: Tories-budget-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Tories_budget_cuts%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/28/free-education-schools-money-parents-children">Tories are in effect eliminating gratis public education in the UK</a>. Their budget cuts, and punishment of any school that is below average, have pushed schools to demand increasing amounts of "donations" from parents.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 03d374af5cff725acdc78bd4cbd41772
title: Wildfires and logging
uri: Wildfires-and-logging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Wildfires_and_logging%29
content:
<p>Republican pets of the logging industry are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/27/wildfires-ryan-zinke-logging-environment-thinning">citing the recent California fires as a reason to cut down some of the trees in California forests</a> -- a practice that makes fires spread faster.</p>
<p>The rational response would be to curb the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> which is making fires more dangerous.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 37b2ca64b88e99bc78c2bd988dad8ef3
title: US: E coli lettuce contamination
uri: US-E-coli-lettuce-contamination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28US%3A_E_coli_lettuce_contamination%29

content:
<p>The US would avoid E coli contamination of lettuce <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/KgQn9nkzj6E/1815550">if the saboteur in chief had not postponed the new regulations about the water used for irrigation</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 3a620b383aca8ee61870ca40868cc0c4
title: Lu Guang detained in Xinjiang
uri: Lu-Guang-detained-in-Xinjiang
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Lu_Guang_detained_in_Xinjiang%29

content:
<p>Chinese photographer Lu Guang, who photographed poor people and environmental problems, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/award-winning-chinese-photographer-lu-guang-detained-in-xinjiang-says-wife">has been jailed incommunicado</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f1c13ed8f87d302bba664c1f098713fd
title: Brazil's Bolsonaro canceled climate conference
uri: Brazil-s-Bolsonaro-canceled-climate-conference
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Brazil%27s_Bolsonaro_canceled_climate_conference%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/brazil-reneges-on-hosting-un-climate-talks-under-bolsonaro-presidency">Bolsonaro has cancel-led, outright, an international climate conference</a> scheduled for next year.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 96ff40a18d5ca2b0f0ab938d4011ffe4
title: Bangladesh safety inspection system shutting down
uri: Bangladesh-safety-inspection-system-shutting-down
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Bangladesh_safety_inspection_system_shutting_down%29

content:
<p>Bangladesh agreed to a safety inspection system so that no more clothing factories would collapse on their workers.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/international-inspectors-to-leave-bangladesh-after-factory-fire">Now it is shutting down that system</a>.</p>
<p>I suspect that the well-known front companies ("brands") which sell the clothing objected to the expense, and that they made the government to take the blame instead of them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 28b56da95d2b874854846d69327d9796
title: Microplastics toxins
uri: Microplastics-toxins
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Microplastics_toxins%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/microplastic-toxins-leave-shellfish-at-mercy-of-predators-research">Microplastics poison periwinkles</a> so that they cannot protect themselves from being eaten.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c8c5cd158fd0d356a29afad0f9eae743
title: Democratic Caucus Chair
uri: Democratic-Caucus-Chair
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Democratic_Caucus_Chair%29
content:
<p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/27/barbara-lee-house-democratic-caucus-chair/">Progressives in Congress hope to elect Barbara Lee</a> as head of the House Democratic Caucus.</p>
<p>Alas, that is the only special position in the House that is being contested in this way.  For the others, we have to hope that the occupants feel pressure to act more progressive.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c8d1cbd23431cefb8069dd9e5533ee87
title: Trump tried to bury climate report
uri: Trump-tried-to-bury-climate-report
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Trump_tried_to_bury_climate_report%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/27/climate-change-report-trump-air-pollution-global-warming">The Climate Report Trump Tried to Bury</a> -– Key Findings No 2: Some Pollution Action Is Far Better Than None.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 696c11c93dc2cae09475ed7d27c23192
title: French personal data regulation
uri: French-personal-data-regulation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28French_personal_data_regulation%29

content:
<p>The French personal data regulation authority <a href="https://brave.com/cnil-consent-rtb/">ruled that the system whereby companies bid to show a particular user an ad at that very moment violates the GDPR</a>, because it shows the bidders that user's personal data without consent.</p>
<p>This relates to the fact that "consent" for data collection is meaningless because <a href="https://hbr.org/2018/09/stop-thinking-about-consent-it-isnt-possible-and-it-isnt-right">it is impossible to express what actions the consent is for</a>.</p>
<p>But even if that problem had a solution, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/03/facebook-abusing-data-law-privacy-big-tech-surveillance">it is so easy for sites to manufacture "consent"</a> that it can't be enough to permit the surveillance.</p>
<p>I will be glad if this decision throws a monkey wrench into the system that motivates collecting so much personal data, and especially if it makes some of that collection not worth doing.  But that won't be enough to convince me to hand over any personal data. and won't convince me that it is safe for society to permit this massive surveillance to happen at all, "consent" or no "consent".</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 06a837c53aa17aa1d9c7005e95e4bfcb
title: Australia: anti-piracy law
uri: Australia-anti-piracy-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Australia%3A_anti-piracy_law%29
content:
<p><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/aussie-senate-dismisses-concerns-approves-new-tough-anti-piracy-law-181127/">Australia is moving towards extreme repression of sites that get used for file-sharing</a>, even when that isn't their purpose.</p>
<p>To resist copyright repression, we must stop granting any legitimacy to its goal.  Sharing is good.  To interfere with sharing is evil.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 40ec4e0c65b81650a8c82133e0889643
title: Civil rights under attack
uri: Civil-rights-under-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Civil_rights_under_attack%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/27/civil-rights-under-serious-attack-across-the-globe">Around 60% of the countries on Earth are repressing dissent</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 396a3f3fe5f9f9d1df65b1c352e23383
title: UK: national ID cards
uri: UK-national-ID-cards
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28UK%3A_national_ID_cards%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/20/peoples-vote-eu-immigration-controls-brexit">The UK is threatened again with national ID cards</a>.</p>
<p>Don't be suckered by talk of "new technology" and "secure".  "New technology" means (1) they could track you more often and (2) it would be more vulnerable to data breaches and sabotage.  "Secure" means "secure against <i>you</i>."</p>
<p>Even if you want to reduce the number of immigrants, you can see that a small increase in immigrants is a small price to pay for freedom,</p>
<p>Is the No2ID campaign still operating?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 76579e15d33fcc74f459591cf2c51441
title: Green New Deal as our civil rights movement
uri: Green-New-Deal-as-our-civil-rights-movement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Green_New_Deal_as_our_civil_rights_movement%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/19/green-new-deal-our-civil-rights-movement-john-lewis-joins?cd-origin=rss">The suffering of global heating disaster will fall first and most heavily on minorities and workers</a>.  Progressive politicians who have focused on other issues are starting to take up the Green New Deal.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 503a74a694eb3f23416d36f2fb6f70b2
title: PG&E seems to be going bankrupt
uri: PG-E-seems-to-be-going-bankrupt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28PG%26E_seems_to_be_going_bankrupt%29

content:
<p>PG&E, the electric company in most of California, seems to be going bankrupt <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/19/pge-dont-break-it-take-it-over?cd-origin=rss">because of expected liability for the burning of the town of Paradise</a>.  This provides an opportunity to convert it into a public agency, controlled by local people and putting excess funds into safety and the cities where it operates.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5c2b6dc3f860511bb6cf0780a7085be4
title: Trump attacking freedom of press
uri: Trump-attacking-freedom-of-press
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Trump_attacking_freedom_of_press%29

content:
<p>James Risen said: bad as Obama was on the issue of freedom of the press, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/19/journalist-james-risen-trump-attacking-free-press-way-we-havent-seen-modern-american?cd-origin=rss">the bullshitter is even worse</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4a5fb623fb81c5aeb2a0cbcf314b1b69
title: Walmart part-time wages
uri: Walmart-part-time-wages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#11_December_2018_%28Walmart_part-time_wages%29
content:
<p>Walmart's part-time employees -- which are half of its employees -- <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/19/they-obviously-can-afford-workers-call-walmart-raise-minimum-wage-15-hour?cd-origin=rss">call for the company to pay them $15 an hour</a>.  It can afford that.</p>
<p>Since Walmart does a lot of harm to society in general, I don't shop there.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: fd029a9e14995580df885014bc9c2d25
title: Urgent: Ocelots
uri: Urgent-Ocelots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Ocelots%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3403">protect
US ocelots</a> &mdash; oppose the border wall.
</p>
<p>If you send a message, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d69456e499fc1744b2bd4af7c55b7c0c
title: Urgent: Yasuni National Park
uri: Urgent-Yasuni-National-Park
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Yasuni_National_Park%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://amazonwatch.org/take-action/urge-ecuadors-new-oil-friendly-environmental-minister-to-reject-yasuni-oil-drilling">call
on Ecuador</a> to protect the Yasuni National Park by not allowing oil
drilling there.
</p>
<p>
You can sign without running nonfree software by using Lynx.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 7b40aa3eb30f4b45a4cadd87dda37e18
title: Urgent: Congress staff and interns
uri: Urgent-Congress-staff-and-interns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Congress_staff_and_interns%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/tell-congress-pay-your-staff-and-interns-fair-wage/">Call
on Congress</a> to pay staff and interns a fair wage.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: bc0ff918ba732da2500ee94115a0bd7d
title: Urgent: Kratom
uri: 2018-12-12-Urgent-Kratom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Kratom%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://engage.drugpolicy.org/secure/defend-kratom-from-the-dea">tell
    the DEA</a> not to ban Kratom.
</p>
<p>
With JS disabled, The footer may overlap or hide some of the
submission form.  To fix this, reduce the width of the browser to
450px or less (mobile view).  That should cause the overlapping
text to be vertically sequential.
</p>
<p>If you send a message, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: cb1f4a1f5cfb07af41271173a7db5393
title: UK treaties with the US
uri: UK-treaties-with-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28UK_treaties_with_the_US%29
content:
<p>
UK plutocratists with lots of political power want to take the UK out
of the European Union because it would enable them to force the UK into
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/04/post-brexit-free-trade-deal-us-rightwing-thinktanks">horrible
business-supremacy treaties</a> with the US.


feed_id: e01834291b323935bc3d808268436a5c
title: Apple store theater
uri: Apple-store-theater
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Apple_store_theater%29
content:
<p>
Apple stores
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/03/claps-and-cheers-apple-stores-carefully-managed-drama">cunningly
designed theater</a>, somewhat like Disneyland.
The employees are all young because people with dependents can't
afford the low pay.


feed_id: a8edc5d094a3ccbb191f2a8b8f66f848
title: Voter ID lawsuit in UK
uri: Voter-ID-lawsuit-in-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Voter_ID_lawsuit_in_UK%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/04/voter-id-trials-in-england-face-legal-challenge">A
lawsuit attempts</a> to prevent the Tories from bringing US-style
voter suppression to the UK.


feed_id: 804c8f7323e4bc05b08cb77936adf259
title: French fuel tax
uri: French-fuel-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28French_fuel_tax%29
content:
<p>
Macron
will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/french-government-to-suspend-fuel-tax-increase-say-reports">"suspend"
the fuel tax increase</a>.
<p>
How sad &mdash; of all the demands of the gilets jaunes, this is the
one that is misguided.


feed_id: dd7bb5ffaf3ec5c27c91fc0f38be00eb
title: Starvation in Yemen
uri: 2018-12-12-Starvation-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Starvation_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
Why acting king Mohammed bin Salman of Salafi
Arabia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/04/mohammed-bin-salman-should-be-prosecuted-over-the-yemen-conflict">should
be prosecuted</a> for causing starvation in Yemen.


feed_id: 150b7da89a3f930200809b6c3a13f30a
title: Implicit bias
uri: Implicit-bias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Implicit_bias%29
content:
<p>
How some scientific tests try
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/02/unconscious-bias-what-is-it-and-can-it-be-eliminated">detect
implicit bias</a>, and attempts to teach people to keep it in check.


feed_id: a8157fc50c7a6a2a16e232525a3ad240
title: Children walking outside
uri: Children-walking-outside
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Children_walking_outside%29
content:
<p>
If some fool calls the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> because a child was seen walking outside,
you can organize to teach people
that <a href="https://letgrow.org/to-grandmothers-house-he-went-busybodies-alert-cops-to-boy-8-walking-alone/">this
is safer</a> (as well as less stressful) than driving per around.


feed_id: 9ba967af15f85d15a7ed0e888d52d98f
title: Salmonella
uri: Salmonella
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Salmonella%29
content:
<p>
The
USDA's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/02/2017-thanksgiving-salmonella-outbreak-still-us-why">inability
to end the salmonella infestation</a> in turkeys that started a year
ago is another reason not to transfer all US food inspection to the
USDA.


feed_id: b81aee372f6389e1149236c5f837cdc6
title: Wildfires to typhoon
uri: Wildfires-to-typhoon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Wildfires_to_typhoon%29
content:
<p>
Australia's "catastrophic" wildfires have worn out fire crews, but now
it seems that they will be extinguished by another kind of
disaster: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/04/bushfires-tropics-queensland-terrifying-new-reality-cyclones-flooding">a
typhoon</a>.
<p>
Crews will not have time to convert their equipment from fighting fires
to aiding the victims of typhoons.


feed_id: 38a146a29ebf7e696541fe4f0fa61737
title: Congressional trip to Palestine
uri: Congressional-trip-to-Palestine
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Congressional_trip_to_Palestine%29

content:
<p>
Rep. Tlaib plans to lead a group of newly elected congresscritters to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/03/rashida-tlaib-palestine-israel-aipac-congress-trip/">visit
Israel and Palestine</a>, and see what it looks like from the
Palestinian side &mdahs; as a way of counteracting AIPAC's guided
visit that shows the Israeli side.


feed_id: 3878543afec58d610727e624a2c13481
title: Aggressive debt collectors
uri: Aggressive-debt-collectors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Aggressive_debt_collectors%29
content:
<p>
Aggressive Debt
Collectors <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/03/aggressive-debt-collectors-raise-risk-of-suicide">Raise
Risk of Suicide</a>.


feed_id: 9fbd3d3d0038c6be7b0428cd4c980574
title: Missile testing in Iran
uri: Missile-testing-in-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Missile_testing_in_Iran%29
content:
<p>
The numbskull's cancellation of the non-nuclear deal with Iran may
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/03/iran-missile-tests-may-breach-un-resolution-france-uk-warn">already
be bearing fruit</a> in the form of Iranian tests of new medium-range
ballistic missile.
<p>
This might violate the deal, if the deal had not been cancelled.


feed_id: e96132310e2068052b23a15c74d35d5e
title: Emantic Bradford Jr
uri: Emantic-Bradford-Jr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Emantic_Bradford_Jr%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> shot and killed Emantic Bradford Jr as he was running after
someone who had shot people in a mall.  They jumped to the conclusion
he was the shooter, and shot him immediately.  They say he was a
threat, but the autopsy shows he
was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/03/ej-bradford-alabama-police-mall-shooting-autopsy">facing
away from them</a> when they shot him.
<p>
This is typical of such incidents.  Once <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> jump to such a conclusion,
they ignore everything else.


feed_id: 60cdabc4f0b89d13db46fa187ebfb0f5
title: George HW Bush
uri: George-HW-Bush
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28George_HW_Bush%29
content:
<p>
George HW Bush's Presidential Campaign
Was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/03/george-hw-bush-presidential-campaign">Nothing
to be Proud of</a>.
<p>
Bush's Sordid Saudi Ties Set Template for Trump &mdash; [Bush]
Was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/04/george-hw-bush-saudi-arabia-donald-trump">Just
More Subtle</a>.


feed_id: d54ecae178b649a4c713cfac76bd6c58
title: Charging Mohammed bin Salman
uri: Charging-Mohammed-bin-Salman
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#12_December_2018_%28Charging_Mohammed_bin_Salman%29
content:
<p>
Argentine
prosecutors <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/argentina-prosecutors-considering-charges-against-mohammed-bin-salman-at-g20">may
place charges</a> against Salafi Arabia's acting king, for war crimes
in Yemen as well as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
<p>
Don't visiting heads of state normally get diplomatic immunity?  To
prosecute him, I think it would be necessary to deny him diplomatic
immunity before he comes to Argentina.  If that happens, I suppose he
would not come to the meeting, so there would be no actual chance of
prosecuting him.  Nonetheless, it would be worth doing: the political
impact of his staying away to avoid charges would be powerful.


feed_id: 80fe99a86cedb39174d91361afcaa0cd
title: Ukraine's ports
uri: Ukraine-s-ports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Ukraines_ports%29
content:
<p>
Russia has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/ukraine-ports-partially-unblocked-by-russia-says-kiev">stopped
blockading Ukraine's ports, while claiming it never blockaded
them</a>.  The claim seems like typical Putin disinformation.
<p>
I speculate that Putin was probing to see how far he could advance.


feed_id: 437d90873b7eec74de5cdcfe509e4607
title: Environmental effect of growing marijuana
uri: Environmental-effect-of-growing-marijuana
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Environmental_effect_of_growing_marijuana%29

content:
<p>
Growing marijuana 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/04/canada-marijuana-legalization-environment-impact">could
harm the environment</a> &mdash; since so many other chemicals we
produce tend to do so.


feed_id: 6f31530e1aff051352bce03b8fe328bc
title: Prudery and censorship
uri: Prudery-and-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Prudery_and_censorship%29
content:
<p>
Tumblr is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/04/images-of-jesus-superheroes-caught-up-tumblr-porn-ban">using
"AI" to find the photos that will presently be banned</a>.  This
results in 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2018/dec/04/why-french-kiss-got-the-kiss-off">lots
of stupid errors</a>, but unless that shames the company into
reversing its policy, it won't change anything.
<p>
(Note: Tumblr seems to depend on nonfree Javascript code, so I myself
cannot see anything there, and I urge people not to run that code.)
<p>
I doubt I ever heard French Kiss, and if I did hear it I would
probably have considered it superficial titillation and annoying.  But
my personal taste does not matter.  Prudish censorship threatens to
increase sexual repression.
<p>
If this keeps up, instead of teenagers that know about sex only from
porn &mdash; alas, mostly sexist porn &mdash; we will once again have
teenagers that know nothing about what makes for sex, and have no idea
who to ask.


feed_id: 5e4946601fd2ddaf5e02324355c832ae
title: Globalized high-volume food industry
uri: Globalized-high-volume-food-industry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Globalized_high-volume_food_industry%29

content:
<p>
The globalized high-volume food industry was designed by plutocrats
for plutocrats, and it 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/04/unlike-globalized-food-system-local-food-wont-destroy-environment">does
harm of many kinds</a>: economic, ecological, medical, and
agricultural.


feed_id: d222c6b43c7679307710adca740c9088
title: Black manager for Facebook quits
uri: Black-manager-for-Facebook-quits
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Black_manager_for_Facebook_quits%29

content:
<p>
A black manager for Facebook quit, and posted on Facebook that
Facebook had treated black useds and black staff badly and had
censored blacks' postings.
<p>
Facebook 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/04/facebook-mark-s-luckie-african-american-workers-users">deleted
his post</a>, saying it went against "community standards".


feed_id: c55e9b263d1c6a6f6c61ddb5e07f8186
title: The Afghan army
uri: The-Afghan-army
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28The_Afghan_army%29
content:
<p>
The Afghan army is being worn down and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/us-army-chief-says-death-toll-of-afghan-security-forces-is-unsustainable">could
not continue to fight with the current casualty levels</a>.  A US
general proposes to help them improve, but he can't guess how long it
would take for them to become capable of continuing the stalemate.
<p>
That is because there is no concrete reason to suppose they could ever
become capable of doing so.  For over 10 years, the Afghan army has
had no chance of standing up unless the US props it up.  The question
is, what is the point of trying?


feed_id: afd567bbd4a4086706fe487c456fed56
title: Recovery from agricultural pollution
uri: Recovery-from-agricultural-pollution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Recovery_from_agricultural_pollution%29

content:
<p>
A Roman city in Switzerland killed life in a nearby lake due to
agricultural pollution, and it took 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/04/terrawatch-roman-records-show-lasting-effects-of-pollution">300
years</a> for the lake to become normal again.


feed_id: 3e4b6a5ed538e1e465c9b4f4c0109f7d
title: Facilitators of tax evasion charged
uri: Facilitators-of-tax-evasion-charged
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Facilitators_of_tax_evasion_charged%29

content:
<p>
Facilitators of tax evasion, exposed in the Panama Papers, have been
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/panama-papers-investigation-four-men-charged-us">charged
for it in the US</a>.


feed_id: 8b57600c54e552e5dbfa4d01cf593f80
title: Divestment from US deportation prisons
uri: Divestment-from-US-deportation-prisons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Divestment_from_US_deportation_prisons%29

content:
<p>
Canadians are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/03/canadians-call-pension-fund-stop-investing-us-private-prison-firms-profiting-brutal">demanding
that the Canada Pension Fund divest</a> from privatized US deportation
prisons.
<p>
I wish Sum of Us made its petitions signable without running nonfree
software.  I would sign and promote many of them, if the mechanism
they use were acceptable to promote.


feed_id: c9e282cb1f29c118e212398623f8118c
title: Courage
uri: Courage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Courage%29
content:
<p>
Being kind and good within your own circle is good, but in order to
defeat organized malignant evil, we 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/03/opposite-evil-no-longer-goodness">need
courage</a>.


feed_id: b3954799786e99bcebc8f9752f42351a
title: Walmart replacing workers with robots
uri: Walmart-replacing-workers-with-robots
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Walmart_replacing_workers_with_robots%29

content:
<p>
Rather than pay workers a living wage, Walmart is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/03/see-how-well-gop-tax-scam-creating-jobs-walmart-announces-plans-360-robot-janitors">replacing
cleaning workers with robots</a>.
<p>
Businesses are not fundamentally entitled to rights.  There is no
reason we should allow companies to automate jobs away.


feed_id: abef8101efa3d2b2db7353e0a1b2bdcd
title: Ending global heating
uri: Ending-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Ending_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Fighting World War II required 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/03/who-are-extremists-who-are-rational-ones">state
planning, public investment, and tight control of markets</a>.  Now we
can do it to end <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.
<p>
In the process, we could spread the wealth around.


feed_id: e367234987bd3698d9d7d413783028e8
title: The bullshitter's lies
uri: The-bullshitter-s-lies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28The_bullshitters_lies%29
content:
<p>
Like the emperors he aims to follow, the bullshitter doesn't lie with
the intention that people mistake his lies for truth, but rather with
the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/03/why-we-need-go-back-fascism-101">intention
that they pretend to believe while knowing it is a lie</a>.
<p>
The Republiars have given him that power, which is what makes him (and
them) enemies of the US Constitution, which every Federal official has
sworn to defend.
<p>
If we defeat the bullshitter's power grab, those who now support him
will continue to be present in the US, in substantial numbers, for a
few decades.  How can we enable them to climb down from the insane
mental state that the bullshitter has led them into?


feed_id: 7f1cb734fce0f02db38dd813f26caeca
title: Impeaching the bullshitter
uri: Impeaching-the-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Impeaching_the_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
Even though impeaching the bullshitter is unlikely to remove him from
office (since Senate Republicans will protect him regardless of his
crimes), the process would give House Democrats 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/03/5-reasons-trump-wont-fire-mueller">grounds
to investigate every area of his life and expose many crimes</a>.


feed_id: cbaac79b2bdd7796fdd225df1fb0773e
title: London thugs ram mopeds with cars
uri: London-thugs-ram-mopeds-with-cars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28London_thugs_ram_mopeds_with_cars%29

content:
<p>
London <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have boasted of the effectiveness of their new tactic to
stop moped-riding thieves: ramming them with cars.  Not surprisingly,
a moped rider has been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/04/met-police-driver-faces-criminal-investigation-after-ramming-moped">seriously
injured</a> this way.


feed_id: cacdf4843bcec7a21f5b3e84743e5250
title: Manafort and Moreno
uri: Manafort-and-Moreno
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Manafort_and_Moreno%29
content:
<p>
A rumor has it that Manafort tried to make a deal with Ecuadorian
president Moreno to 
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/12/03/manafort-wikileaks-assange.html">deliver
Julian Assange to the US in exchange for concessions of economic
value</a>, and that Moreno was quite interested.


feed_id: 45bba87241fffca97b5d322dbdc6e370
title: Right-wing extremist party's funding
uri: Right-wing-extremist-party-s-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Right-wing_extremist_partys_funding%29

content:
<p>
Germany's new right-wing extremist party seems to have got its start
with 
<a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/billionaire-backing-may-have-helped-launch-afd-a-1241029.html">funds
from a secretive billionaire</a>, who arranged to start a right-wing
extremist news outlet.


feed_id: c0eb547620dc36292342c3b6a0929822
title: US deportation
uri: 2018-12-14-US-deportation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28US_deportation%29
content:
<p>
The US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>, with help of local thug departments, jailed
Peter Sean Brown and were going to deport him to Jamaica.  They simply
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/03/us/us-citizen-detained-ice/">ignored
his statement that he was born in the US</a>, and insisted he was
Jamaican, because he had gone there as a tourist once.
<p>
He was 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1817018">jailed for
weeks</a>.
<p>
Everyone makes mistakes, but there is no excuse for clinging
obstinately to a mistake.
<p>
I would expect that trying to deport him to Jamaica would have failed.
Jamaica must have no record of him as a citizen, and must have a
record of admitting him as a tourist, so I expect it would not have
let him in.
<p>
Or would it have?  Is Jamaica so afraid of the US that it would accept
anyone the US claims is "Jamaican"?


feed_id: 0dc3ed7f7689edac95b00461e526af48
title: Proportional representation
uri: Proportional-representation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Proportional_representation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/12/03/a-seemingly-ingenious-simple.html">Giving
congresscritters proportional votes</a> would enable proportional
representation of the voters.
<p>
It is straightforward to extend this system to cover more than two
parties, but that would require even more congresscritters.


feed_id: 870384cc25ba7137584e382ece5e54ad
title: Murder of dissidents in Iran
uri: Murder-of-dissidents-in-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Murder_of_dissidents_in_Iran%29
content:
<p>
Amnesty International accuses Iran of covering up the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/04/iran-committing-crimes-against-humanity-concealing-fate-thousands-slaughtered">murder
of thousands of dissidents in 1988</a>.
<p>
Iran killed dissidents during elections much 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-may-aug.html#17%20June%202009%20(Doubts%20about%20Iranian%20election%20increase)">more
recently</a>.


feed_id: fd7a0e363c99f2045466233baa53404c
title: Public support for carbon tax
uri: Public-support-for-carbon-tax
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Public_support_for_carbon_tax%29

content:
<p>
British Columbia won 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/how-to-make-a-carbon-tax-popular-give-the-profits-to-the-people">strong
public support</a> for its carbon tax by making it revenue-neutral:
the money it raises is put into other tax cuts.
<p>
That policy takes the sting away, for the middle class.  But not for
poor people, because they don't pay much in other taxes so tax cuts
won't reach them much.
<p>
One solution is to replace parts of the tax cuts with some aid for the
poor.


feed_id: aceeb04519189f5dd2fb724ad6705944
title: Suspected election fraud in NC
uri: Suspected-election-fraud-in-NC
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Suspected_election_fraud_in_NC%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1816943">Centralized
fraud</a> is suspected in a close congressional election in North
Carolina.


feed_id: a1590eff3e1c6a11bd5bc976f63aad85
title: 2020 Democratic nomination
uri: 2020-Democratic-nomination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%282020_Democratic_nomination%29
content:
<p>
For the 2020 Democratic nomination, we 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/04/what-it-means-hillary-clinton-might-run-president-2020">may
again face the challenge of defeating Clinton</a>.


feed_id: 456458d896027e0389b5f79dba2c239a
title: Deportation in the UK
uri: Deportation-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Deportation_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The Tories were pilloried for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/03/home-office-under-fire-over-commonwealth-deportations-windrush">systematically
deporting people who had moved to Britain many years ago from former
colonies</a>, and who were entitled to citizenship.  It agreed give
them a fair chance at citizenship, but didn't bother trying to find
them and tell them that.


feed_id: 61e0e5c120c81418c5a8cea0b16bdd04
title: Facebook's support for censorship
uri: Facebook-s-support-for-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Facebooks_support_for_censorship%29

content:
<p>
It appears that Sheryl Sandberg 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181130/07303141138/facebooks-policy-team-steamrolled-fosta-sheryl-sandbergs-personal-priorities.shtml">personally
intervened to make Facebook support the censorship law, FOSTA</a>.
<p>
That an executive alters a company's policy for ethical reasons does
not seem fundamentally wrong to me.  I reject the perverse idea that a
company must put its own profits above any idea of right and wrong.
Indeed, it was only in the 1980s that 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-mar-jun.html#18_April_2012_(Shareholders)">US
plutocrats started effectively promoting that idea</a>.
<p>
However, I think it is a crying shame that Sandberg's conscience
pushed censorship on the internet and made life more dangerous for
sex workers.


feed_id: 1262782c2492e38a9424f45435075c63
title: Uber drivers in debt
uri: Uber-drivers-in-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Uber_drivers_in_debt%29
content:
<p>
Uber 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/04/my-life-is-spent-in-this-car-uber-drives-indian-workers-to-despair">led
drivers in India into taking on debt</a> to buy cars, them cut their
pay so that they now have to work over 12 hours every day.


feed_id: 10ccbb308b44ac0bd1f5cfd12f612a15
title: Escape from Dubai
uri: Escape-from-Dubai
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_%28Escape_from_Dubai%29
content:
<p>
A princess from Dubai planned for seven years how to escape her life
of captivity.  The plan almost succeeded, but 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/missing-emirati-princess-latifa-al-maktoum-had-planned-escape-for-seven-years">commandos
grabbed her from a yacht when she had almost reached India</a>.  One
must suppose that the commandos were sent by her father, the emir.
<p>
No one has heard from her since, and she might have been killed, or
killed herself rather than be captured.  Or she may be imprisoned in
permanent solitary confinement (see Princess, by Jean Sasson, for
another instance of this).


feed_id: c7cbc526c60da250bdd0f8035684f037
title: Urgent: Envoy to the UN
uri: Urgent-Envoy-to-the-UN
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Envoy_to_the_UN%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/tell-senate-no-on-nauert">call
on senators</a> to reject Nauert as envoy to the UN.  She has no
pertinent experience except promoting hatred.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 96080e2d60ad58c16d4e9764c9681a00
title: Urgent: Ways and Means Committee
uri: Urgent-Ways-and-Means-Committee
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Ways_and_Means_Committee%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/aoc_ways_means">call
on Rep. Pelosi</a> to put Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on the Ways and Means
Committee.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ee26601a3f70ff38e5f72659060bd078
title: Urgent: Republican veto power
uri: Urgent-Republican-veto-power
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Republican_veto_power%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/pelosi_paygo">Tell
future Speaker Pelosi</a> not to give Republicans veto power over the
Democratic agenda.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 7275d88c2de7d45b653052a28f459d6c
title: Urgent: Foreign Affairs Committee
uri: Urgent-Foreign-Affairs-Committee
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Foreign_Affairs_Committee%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/rep-eliot-engel-should-not-chair-foreign-affairs-committee">Call
on Democrats</a> not to let militarist Rep. Engel head the Foreign
Affairs Committee.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 438bc46585d24aa3c664ddd308806c6e
title: Maine's prisons
uri: Maine-s-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Maine%27s_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Maine's prisons used to be effective in rehabilitating prisoners.
Around 15 years ago
they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/us-prisons-maine-rehabilitation-punishment">turned
to dehumanizing prisoners</a>.  When they are released, they usually
go back to crime.
<p>
I wonder what caused the change.  Budget cuts?  Right-wing ideology?


feed_id: d151f5ea385bd15ab314c4b9db81bab4
title: Disney's Ariel doll
uri: Disney-s-Ariel-doll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Disney%27s_Ariel_doll%29
content:
<p>
Revealed: Disney's [40 or 50 dollar] Ariel doll earns a Chinese worker
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/06/revealed-disney-ariel-doll-earns-chinese-worker-1p">one
cent</a>.


feed_id: b89f46fe8cde1f8acae7be945157e08c
title: Troll factories
uri: Troll-factories
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Troll_factories%29
content:
<p>
European Commission
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/eu-disinformation-war-russia-fake-news">Help
Member States Recognize</a> Work of Kremlin "Troll Factories" (and
recognize it quickly).


feed_id: 4ddba25d3876be26bede38dc4bc78dc9
title: Torture loophole
uri: Torture-loophole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Torture_loophole%29
content:
<p>
Israel's supreme court
has <a href="https://972mag.com/top-court-gives-israel-even-broader-powers-to-use-torture/138946/">broadened
the loophole</a> that permits torture.


feed_id: f78e2917fc2c054c439c7b75d162eb9c
title: Interrogation techniques
uri: Interrogation-techniques
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Interrogation_techniques%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; CIA director Gina Haspel briefed senators Tuesday on
the <a href="https://www.theonion.com/gina-haspel-briefs-senators-on-saudis-shockingly-unin-1830864371">"shockingly
uninspired" techniques</a> employed by Saudi government agents during
the interrogation of Jamal Khashoggi&hellip; Haspel added that, had
she been responsible for such a "hack" interrogation, she would be
denying it as well.


feed_id: 55b14267df02a9adf4d44b536735a02f
title: Sneaking into Gaza
uri: Sneaking-into-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Sneaking_into_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers snuck into
Gaza <a href="https://972mag.com/botched-gaza-raid-puts-humanitarian-workers-risk/138834/">disguised
as workers</a> for a humanitarian aid organization, with fake
credentials.
<p>
This is a despicable tactic because it endangers humanitarian aid.
The
US <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-nov-feb.html#23_January_2018_(Polio_vaccination)">did
this in Pakistan</a> to find Osama bin Laden, and the distrust this
created <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#30_March_2018_(Allowing_polio_vaccination)">set
back the cause</a> of eradicating polio for years.


feed_id: 00261bcb8f6aa972438c9edf9bac519b
title: Boycott of Israeli colonies
uri: Boycott-of-Israeli-colonies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Boycott_of_Israeli_colonies%29
content:
<p>
Chile's
congress <a href="http://imemc.org/article/chilean-congress-votes-to-ban-products-from-illegal-israeli-settlements/">passed
a resolution</a> to boycott products of the Israeli colonies in
Palestinian territory.


feed_id: 56fa758d1eb24e741fad570faab5215d
title: Arresting Palestinian minors
uri: Arresting-Palestinian-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Arresting_Palestinian_minors%29
content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers arrest hundreds of Palestinian minors every year,
often with no charges (which is sometimes because they are not really
accused of anything, just used as
hostages).  <a href="https://972mag.com/israeli-parents-protest-arrests-of-palestinian-children-in-central-tel-aviv/138803/">Then
the brainwashing begins.</a>
<p>
This treatment is just the sort of thing to stimulate Palestinian hatred.
If the Israeli government wanted to make Palestinians get violent and thus
prevent any possibility of peace, this would be just the way.
<p>
Hmm, is it possible that that's the real motive for this practice?


feed_id: 917e547609f707e0b828ac7d5d27134f
title: Lead pipes in Flint
uri: Lead-pipes-in-Flint
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Lead_pipes_in_Flint%29
content:
<p>
Flint, Michigan, was supposed to replace all the lead pipes leading to
homes, but took a shortcut
and <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/04/city-misleads-flint-residents-thousands-lead-pipes-likely-remain-flint">has
not checked them all</a>.


feed_id: f59c8b8f69d31ed227af5db5115a47d3
title: Coal in Poland
uri: Coal-in-Poland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Coal_in_Poland%29
content:
<p>
Chase Bank is
funding <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/04/world-gathers-cop24-chase-bank-found-undermining-paris-agreement-financing-coal">new
coal development</a> in Poland.


feed_id: 825acebae50e2d4273f6aa3ff16dbf9c
title: Wisconsin dissolved
uri: Wisconsin-dissolved
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Wisconsin_dissolved%29
content:
<p>
(satire) The GOP-controlled Wisconsin
legislature <a href="https://www.theonion.com/1830857553">voted
Tuesday to dissolve</a> [that state] rather than let governor-elect
Tony Evers and other members of the Democratic Party have it.


feed_id: cd65a981d1785a237b0dced589f72fe9
title: Net neutrality comments
uri: Net-neutrality-comments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Net_neutrality_comments%29
content:
<p>
The FCC
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/04/what-fcc-hiding-net-neutrality-deadline-looms-agency-refuses-foia-requests-crucial">denying
FOIA requests</a> for information pertinent to the fake comments that
pretended to come from individuals in favor of ending network
neutrality.
<p>
Ajit Pai pretends those comments were bona fide.  One must suspect
that he wants congresscritters to find it easy to pretend to believe
this.  That suggests he has a certain amount of power to get
Republicans
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#13_December_2018_(The_bullshitters_lies)">pretend
to believe lies</a>, but feels he had better not push it too far.


feed_id: 8593f5057d37f44873cbc63e2cb1e488
title: Bias of London thugs
uri: Bias-of-London-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Bias_of_London_thugs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/05/met-police-use-tasers-and-restraints-more-often-against-black-people">Statistics
demonstrate</a> bias against blacks in London thugs' use of handcuffs
and tasers.


feed_id: b688cfd00bcfa4a136edb3a0c18a655d
title: 'Extreme pornography' conviction
uri: Extreme-pornography-conviction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28%27Extreme_pornography%27_conviction%29

content:
<p>
Prudish censorship attacks again in the UK, convicting someone for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/05/stakeknife-informant-freddie-scappaticci-pleads-guilty-to-pornography-charges">possessing
"extreme pornography"</a>, including images of sex with animals.
<p>
I can't imagine a possible reason to punish people for this.  The
article does not report that the animals were harmed, or that they
objected to the experience, or that they thought of it as sexual.  The
law does not consider these questions pertinent.
<p>
What is, however, clear is that prohibiting the possession of copies
of some image or text &mdash; no matter what that image or text may be
&mdash; threatens human rights.  It creates excuses to search through
people's possessions and files.  It creates ways to make people
vulnerable to criminal charges without their cooperation or even their
knowledge.  All such laws must be repealed.


feed_id: fdf9e976a9a0d3342c5a0dce15753802
title: Tar sand oil investments
uri: Tar-sand-oil-investments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_%28Tar_sand_oil_investments%29
content:
<p>
Barclays bank customers are reproving the bank for investing in tar
sand oil extraction, and some are threatening
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/05/barclays-customers-threaten-leave-en-masse-tar-sands-investment-greenpeace">move
their bank accounts</a>.


feed_id: efc36083b935cb0c2e2c13c8bce9804a
title: Urgent: Emantic Bradford
uri: Urgent-Emantic-Bradford
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Emantic_Bradford%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justice-for-emantic/">call
on the district attorney</a> to charge the thug that shot Emantic
Bradford.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f367aee5741e47d3ccfa7332d0dc2b7f
title: Urgent: Military budget
uri: Urgent-Military-budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Military_budget%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/open-letter-to-senator-bernie-sanders">call
on Sanders</a> to oppose militarism and advocate cutting the military
budget.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 7ad6b25c3cbfe53df0027d8e90a0b34e
title: Urgent: Republican tax giveaways
uri: Urgent-Republican-tax-giveaways
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Republican_tax_giveaways%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/brady_tax_2018">Call
on Congress</a> to block new Republican tax giveaways to business.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8401c975f7ab72a8ba3cf46e50fc5c30
title: Urgent: Rights of asylum seekers
uri: Urgent-Rights-of-asylum-seekers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Rights_of_asylum_seekers%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://somos.presente.org/petitions/launch-a-un-investigation-into-the-violation-of-refugee-rights-at-the-mexican-border/">call
on the</a> United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights and High
Commissioner on Refugees to launch a UN investigation into US
violations of the human rights of asylum seekers.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0be89fbb8fc95a62bc47eca2ce97ebba
title: Gratis public transport
uri: 2018-12-17-Gratis-public-transport
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Gratis_public_transport%29
content:
<p>
Luxembourg will
make <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/luxembourg-to-become-first-country-to-make-all-public-transport-free">all
public transport gratis</a>.  Riders will not need any sort of
tickets.


feed_id: 3426b46f919aa9def4b3d4d7342aec6b
title: Greenland's ice cap
uri: Greenland-s-ice-cap
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Greenland%27s_ice_cap%29
content:
<p>
Greenland's ice cap is
melting <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/sea-levels-may-rise-more-rapidly-due-to-greenland-ice-melt">faster
than we thought</a>, so the estimates of sea level rise need to be
revised upwards.
<p>
Any sort of unexpected positive feedback will lead to more global
heating effects.


feed_id: be848ca5b0944c5172311727a6584f65
title: UK school privatization
uri: UK-school-privatization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28UK_school_privatization%29
content:
<p>
Parents in a UK school district
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/05/private-takeover-schools-forced-academisation-waltham-holy-cross">fighting
hard to prevent</a> their public school* from being privatized.
<p>
The policy being applied here is transparently an excuse to privatize
many public schools.  It is supposed to make the schools better, but if they
really wanted that result, they would be willing to convert them back.
<p>
Has Labour said anything about unprivatizing these schools?
<p>
* I am using US terminology, which makes more sense to the readers of
  this site.


feed_id: 30b69433281b91bd6775690d2b1899be
title: INF nuclear missile treaty
uri: INF-nuclear-missile-treaty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28INF_nuclear_missile_treaty%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter has become a little more sophisticated in regard to
the INF nuclear missile treaty.  Instead of simply saying he will
cancel it, he now says he will cancel
it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/us-inf-russia-nuclear-treaty-deadline">unless
Russia corrects its violations</a> within 60 days.
<p>
The US and Russia accuse each other of violations.  If the bullshitter
gets a little more wise, maybe they can negotiate returning to mutual
compliance with the treaty.


feed_id: aea905fa842c5022fef89592e66a7513
title: New Hampshire Secretary of State
uri: New-Hampshire-Secretary-of-State
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28New_Hampshire_Secretary_of_State%29

content:
<p>
A very plutocratist Democrat who supports voter suppression was
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1817262">reelected as
Secretary of State</a> in New Hampshire, with support from some
plutocratist Democrat legislators as well as Republicans.
<p>
I hope the people of New Hampshire run progressives against those
plutocratist Democrat legislators.


feed_id: 41efb913a0e49e33afdfedc8bcceb523
title: Internal Facebook documents
uri: Internal-Facebook-documents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Internal_Facebook_documents%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/7xyenz/internal-documents-show-facebook-has-never-deserved-our-trust-or-our-data">Internal
Documents Show</a> Facebook Has Never Deserved Our Trust or Our Data.
<p>
No system deserves such trust.


feed_id: 7f04e756796135cd724a9e86a430a4fa
title: Manipulative chatbots
uri: Manipulative-chatbots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Manipulative_chatbots%29
content:
<p>
Even today's rather limited chatbots are a tool
to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/opinion/chatbots-ai-democracy-free-speech.html">manipulate
the public</a>.


feed_id: e6d23a52834a1fbb28cc0a4b1bf6f096
title: Facebook on Android
uri: Facebook-on-Android
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Facebook_on_Android%29
content:
<p>
Facebook used trickery to
get <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/05/technology/facebook-emails-privacy-data.html">personal
data of Android users</a>.


feed_id: f3b8974ef96b20ddc21094c07aff2efa
title: Fake news on WhatsApp
uri: Fake-news-on-WhatsApp
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Fake_news_on_WhatsApp%29
content:
<p>
Bolsonaro's supporters used WhatsApp
to <a href="https://theconversation.com/whatsapp-skewed-brazilian-election-proving-social-medias-danger-to-democracy-106476">spread
fake news</a>.


feed_id: 0891fdab3d2830578cd8e45bf5051451
title: Designing against loneliness
uri: Designing-against-loneliness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Designing_against_loneliness%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/designing-cities-to-counter-loneliness-lets-explore-the-possibilities-104853">Ideas
for designing cities</a> to encourage people to talk with each other
instead of being lonely.


feed_id: 7d4da68dad9b0ac9f0bbe78940ae4dec
title: Fight in west Papua
uri: Fight-in-west-Papua
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Fight_in_west_Papua%29
content:
<p>
Independence fighters in West Papua had a fight and killed people.
Were
they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/06/west-papua-independence-leader-urges-calm-after-killings">Indonesian
soldiers, or civilians</a>?


feed_id: 8c72fb968e789cde33c707c0058fc9ab
title: Artists in Cuba
uri: Artists-in-Cuba
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Artists_in_Cuba%29
content:
<p>
Cuba
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/dec/06/cuba-artists-tania-bruguera-arrest-crackdown-decree-349">arrested
artists</a> that planned to protest a new law that would require all
artists and musicians to get government licenses.
<p>
Cuba
has <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2007-jan-apr.html#23%20March%202007%20(Proyecto%20Varela)">continued</a>
to
be <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2012-jul-oct.html#23_July_2012_%28Cuban_dissident_Oswaldo_Paya_dead%29">repressive</a>
in <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#09_March_2013_(Driver_of_the_car_Oswaldo)">recent
years</a>.


feed_id: 1f11cd2b4c89f89c01ce483c76cca8d4
title: Heat waves and global heating
uri: Heat-waves-and-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Heat_waves_and_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
The UK's deadly heat wave last summer almost
certainly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/06/climate-change-made-uk-heatwave-30-times-more-likely-met-office">would
not have happened</a> if not for global heating.


feed_id: 83ea831cab878f0021075419d68559fd
title: Children paying for financial crisis
uri: Children-paying-for-financial-crisis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Children_paying_for_financial_crisis%29

content:
<p>
How Tories made working-class
children <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/working-class-children-financial-crisis-cuts">pay
for the 2008 financial crisis</a>.


feed_id: e8792c13775df06714e9c9bbb7470c65
title: Protests against Macron
uri: Protests-against-Macron
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#16_December_2018_%28Protests_against_Macron%29
content:
<p>
Macron
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/macron-clinton-blair-backlash">facing
protests</a> because of his dooH niboR policies.


feed_id: 0df8b0c4b7284e7765b8925e69c25e07
title: Texas school shooting lawsuit
uri: Texas-school-shooting-lawsuit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Texas_school_shooting_lawsuit%29

content:
<p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/28/texas-school-shooting-pakistani-exchange-student-family-lawsuit">parents of a school shooter are being sued</a> for failing to keep their guns away from him.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b5402c751ac8e1cfe5190c6103ca1347
title: Australia: gratis barbecue called off
uri: Australia-gratis-barbecue-called-off
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Australia%3A_gratis_barbecue_called_off%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/29/life-on-the-breadline-450-on-a-coffee-who-can-afford-that">An Australian so poor that she can't always afford to eat</a> went to a workshop on economizing more for the gratis barbecue than because she expected useful advice.</p>
<p>The suggestions were aimed at people who had the spending habits of the well-off, useless for the participants who were really poor.  The barbecue was cancelled.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c856d33709b98cca2f54e878bf0c9f56
title: Manafort cheated on plea deal
uri: Manafort-cheated-on-plea-deal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Manafort_cheated_on_plea_deal%29

content:
<p>Manafort cheated on his plea deal <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/MdoiNfBhNW0/1815723">by having his lawyers tell the cheater's lawyers what questions Mueller asked him</a>.  As well as by lying in his answers.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c890dd41c85bd6c05b0e47f7ce144c63
title: US: Office of Refugee Resettlement
uri: US-Office-of-Refugee-Resettlement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28US%3A_Office_of_Refugee_Resettlement%29

content:
<p>The US Office of Refugee Resettlement <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/28/office-of-refugee-resettelement-migrant-children-sponsors-deportation">tricks minors into informing on relatives in the US that might sponsor them</a> -- then uses this info to arrest and deport those relatives.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f71696ff62f2b5087c5398914aee7961
title: Yemen militia armed by west
uri: Yemen-militia-armed-by-west
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Yemen_militia_armed_by_west%29
content:
<p>Arms sold by the US and UK to Salafi Arabia and its allies in Yemen are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/28/arms-yemen-militia-were-supplied-by-west-find-analysts">diverted in substantial quantities to the black market</a>, in which they are sold to al-Qa'ida and PISSI, as well as the Houthis.</p>
<p>Some terrorist groups have been integrated into the "army of Yemen" which is allied to Salafi Arabia.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f821846287994f963542e0b5ba730761
title: House Democratic Caucus
uri: House-Democratic-Caucus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28House_Democratic_Caucus%29
content:
<p>The center-right "moderate" Democrats <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/28/progressives-outraged-house-democrats-elect-big-money-centrist-hakeem-jeffries-over?cd-origin=rss">defeated Barbara Lee as head of the House Democratic Caucus</a>.</p>
<p>In 2020 I will once again donate to organizations such as Justice Democrats that support only progressive Democrats.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ea7fa1fd6a873ced9edeb03472c8b288
title: New Zealand blocks Huawei
uri: New-Zealand-blocks-Huawei
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28New_Zealand_blocks_Huawei%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/28/new-zealand-blocks-huawei-5g-equipment-on-security-concerns">New Zealand joins other countries</a> in recognizing that using Huawei equipment in critical infrastructure is a threat to national security.</p>
<p>Using proprietary software in critical infrastructure, or in critical state agencies, <a href="https://gnu.org/government">threatens national security in the same way</a>, no matter who the developer is.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5b9dcb5c69b718395c6d9293fbdb2eff
title: Global Food System broken
uri: Global-Food-System-broken
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Global_Food_System_broken%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/global-food-system-is-broken-say-worlds-science-academies">Global Food System Is Broken, Say World's Science Academies</a>.</p>
<p>We make so much meat that it makes people sick, while the resulting deforestation and the methane produced by cattle are driving global heating faster.</p>
<p>However, the claim that "reducing meat and dairy consumption is the single biggest way individuals can lessen their impact on the planet" is incorrect because it overlooks the real biggest way: <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">have fewer children or none</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 706832d3d8187a27e23473024430aeee
title: College drop out rate
uri: College-drop-out-rate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28College_drop_out_rate%29
content:
<p><a href="https://letgrow.org/30-of-college-freshmen-dont-return-for-sophomore-year-another-reason-to-let-grow/">30% of Americans that start college drop out after the first year</a>.</p>
<p>This could be because they have suddenly been asked to manage their own lives and they never had a chance to start to learn how to do that,</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4c5f57dd5623e35f6a39190360c962a8
title: Russia risks HIV epidemic
uri: Russia-risks-HIV-epidemic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Russia_risks_HIV_epidemic%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/stigma-means-russia-risks-hiv-epidemic-as-cases-rise">Russia is falling down on the job of treating HIV</a>, and the disease is spreading outside the high-risk groups.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e2d869183429769b7295b950d404ca28
title: US: Hyde Amendment
uri: US-Hyde-Amendment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28US%3A_Hyde_Amendment%29
content:
<p>There is a chance that Democrats in the House may put an end to the Hyde Amendment, <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/QF5EU8ye0Y0/1815529">which prohibits use of US government funds for abortions</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ab7d455edf50d0ebe174ee590bad59d5
title: Philippines: thugs sentenced
uri: Philippines-thugs-sentenced
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Philippines%3A_thugs_sentenced%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/philippines-police-jailed-for-murdering-teenager-in-dutertes-drug-war">Three Philippine thugs have been sentenced to 40 years in prison without parole</a> for murdering a high-school student, then lying about the circumstances.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bf1c697c0d21c0419244e2f342a3d1f1
title: US Afghanistan war
uri: US-Afghanistan-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28US_Afghanistan_war%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/Iv5cHUDdUrY/why-are-we-still-in-afghanistan">The US can't ever win the war in Afghanistan</a>, but has arranged for Americans not to notice very often that it is continuing and the situation is slowly but steadily getting worse.</p>
<p>What the North Vietnamese minister explains the situation in a nutshell.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4013172e2fc83d7ed1c6504c3f9b144c
title: UN resolution calling for cease fire blocked
uri: UN-resolution-calling-for-cease-fire-blocked
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28UN_resolution_calling_for_cease_fire_blocked%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/un-yemen-ceasefire-resolution-blocked-saudi-uae-blackmail">A UN resolution calling for a cease-fire in the port of Hodeida was blocked</a> at the UN by the US and China, together with threats by Salafi Arabia to cancel proposed peace talks.</p>
<p>Peace talks are likely to take months to reach an agreement, if they ever do, so I think a truce in Hodeida is more urgent than starting the peace talks.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 288c50dc2dad9842df0f68352958173b
title: Australia: refugee faces deportation
uri: Australia-refugee-faces-deportation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Australia%3A_refugee_faces_deportation%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/29/australian-refugee-football-player-faces-deportation-after-arrest-in-thailand">Interpol is helping Bahrain grab a refugee that got asylum in Australia</a>, because he went with his sports team to Thailand.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: afc77e6aefb0b34dac080e40e1b967fc
title: Urgent: First Step Act
uri: Urgent-First-Step-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_First_Step_Act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://engage.drugpolicy.org/secure/us-senate-vote-soon-pass-first-step-act">call
on Congress</a> to support the First Step Act.
</p>
<p>If you send a message, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a555b9be60d1749ed3eed617287e6a77
title: Urgent: Climate leadership
uri: 2018-12-19-Urgent-Climate-leadership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Climate_leadership%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/peoples-lofoten-declaration-IM-CTA">Demand
real climate leadership</a>.
</p>
<p>
The petition specifies what it means by that.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f4577cf0a55380e72b690370d5d52566
title: Urgent: Walmart wages
uri: Urgent-Walmart-wages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Walmart_wages%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://www.united4respect.org/15now">Tell
Walmart</a> to pay workers $15 an hour.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 399a0e22b34de5102184887fe5ad1175
title: Urgent: Attorney general
uri: Urgent-Attorney-general
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Attorney_general%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://engage.drugpolicy.org/secure/trump%E2%80%99s-pick-attorney-general-might-be-bad-jeff-sessions">call
on your senators</a> to reject Barr as attorney general.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b788073e53fa90a6d7bb1f8f89ce5caa
title: MSF rescue ship
uri: MSF-rescue-ship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28MSF_rescue_ship%29
content:
<p>
European
governments <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/07/dark-day-migrant-rescue-ship-aquarius-ends-operations-mediterranean">have
made it impossible</a> for Médecins Sans Frontières to continue
operating the ship that rescued tens of thousands of refugees from
drowning.
<p>
I am sure that MSF knows how to dispose of that waste properly, and I
am confident that it did so.  I suspect the accusations of being
fabricated.


feed_id: b04992adcb540d6db775ab98fb490c89
title: Tourists in New Zealand
uri: Tourists-in-New-Zealand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Tourists_in_New_Zealand%29
content:
<p>
Tourists queue to take photos at Mt Roys
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/07/instacrammed-the-big-fib-at-the-heart-of-new-zealand-picture-perfect-peaks">struggle
to make it appear</a> like peaceful solitude.


feed_id: 81e7c87a896e181e0b608dafa85484b7
title: Kennedy School event
uri: Kennedy-School-event
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Kennedy_School_event%29
content:
<p>
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government set up an "orientation" event
for newly elected congresscritters, co-hosted by a right-wing "think
tank" pressure group, and featuring
executives <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/06/lobbyists-are-here-goldman-sachs-here-wheres-labor-activists-tlaib-and-ocasio-cortez">speaking
plutocratist propaganda</a>.
<p>
The event is "bipartisan", meaning it wants to recruit representatives
of both parties as plutocratists.
<p>
Reps Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib refused to play the game, while Ayanna
Pressley <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/05/choosing-peoplesorientation-pressley-and-ocasio-cortez-protest-right-wing-backed">spoke
at a protest nearby</a>.
<p>
Shame on the Kennedy School for letting itself be used this way.


feed_id: fd03818711d5cf687b606365500cdfc7
title: Sage grouse protections
uri: Sage-grouse-protections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Sage_grouse_protections%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/06/trump-administration-plans-to-weaken-protections-for-sage-grouse">Reducing
the protections</a> for the sage grouse would push its ecosystem
closer to elimination.
<p>
Doing this to drill for oil would globally push millions of species closer
to extinction, including perhaps our own.


feed_id: 1d85f278ed25c8f7e1ebcd59cfd91c53
title: Leaving the Ecuadorian embassy
uri: Leaving-the-Ecuadorian-embassy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Leaving_the_Ecuadorian_embassy%29

content:
<p>
President Moreno says that it is safe for Assange to leave the
Ecuadorian
embassy, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/06/ecuador-says-uk-has-given-guarantees-for-assange-to-leave-embassy">based
on a commitment</a> that appears to me less than adequate.
<p>
The UK has committed not to extradite Assange to a country where he
could possibly face a death sentence.  Assuming it will keep its
commitment, he can leave the embassy with no risk of being executed.
But that hardly means it would be <em>safe</em>.


feed_id: 22d1ab59e28db218688292391536b239
title: Mass extinction
uri: 2018-12-19-Mass-extinction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Mass_extinction%29
content:
<p>
The mass extinction of 250 million years ago
was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/06/global-warming-extinction-report-the-great-dying">caused
by global heating</a>.


feed_id: de4f1c43e7d3e45915c6c1e15bb33880
title: Dead presidents
uri: Dead-presidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Dead_presidents%29
content:
<p>
It’s Good to Argue About Dead
Presidents.  <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/06/its-good-argue-about-dead-presidents">Here
is more</a> of what Bush I did that's good to argue about.


feed_id: 32a76adb32bc8c5483057be22a04444d
title: Marking ballots by hand
uri: Marking-ballots-by-hand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Marking_ballots_by_hand%29
content:
<p>
Why Voters
Should <a href="https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2018/12/03/why-voters-should-mark-ballots-by-hand/">Mark
Ballots by Hand</a>.


feed_id: aa445e005078e00c8d46648438c0600d
title: Glyphosate and cancer
uri: 2018-12-19-Glyphosate-and-cancer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Glyphosate_and_cancer%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/the-weedkiller-in-our-food-is-killing-us">There
is more evidence</a> that glyphosate causes cancer.


feed_id: 7c8eefb14f949806c357a9d8e14c98ae
title: Georgia nuclear plant
uri: Georgia-nuclear-plant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Georgia_nuclear_plant%29
content:
<p>
The Fight over a Georgia Nuclear Plant Shows
We <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/03/the-fight-over-a-georgia-nuclear-plant-shows-we-need-to-ban-dark-money">Need
to Ban Dark Money</a>.


feed_id: a91ed3004ce18a876dd383c86e865efe
title: Huawei equipment
uri: Huawei-equipment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Huawei_equipment%29
content:
<p>
Governments and telecommunication companies are recognizing that they
can't trust telecommunications equipment by Huawei &mdash; it
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/05/bt-removing-huawei-equipment-from-parts-of-4g-network">likely
to contain devices</a> that spy for China.
<p>
What beats me is why they think it is safe to trust a likely enemy in
a "non-core role".  That would still present plenty of opportunity for
spying.
<p>
It also beats me why anyone thinks it is safe to use systems made by
Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc.  Their proprietary
software <a href="https://gnu.org/malware/proprietary-surveillance.html
">snoops on the user</a>.


feed_id: 9cf71b72add5a9c7d0b39fc5c48a09b2
title: Increasing carbon emissions
uri: Increasing-carbon-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Increasing_carbon_emissions%29
content:
<p>
The world's carbon
emissions <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/brutal-news-global-carbon-emissions-jump-to-all-time-high-in-2018">are
still increasing</a>, despite all efforts to reduce them.


feed_id: 56081f1b800b826e9a5596b5e28ea3b0
title: Abortion law in Ireland
uri: Abortion-law-in-Ireland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Abortion_law_in_Ireland%29
content:
<p>
After the Irish people voted to legalize abortion, the legislature is
trying to
create <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/04/abortion-law-ireland-voted-dail-listen">bureaucratic
impediments</a> that you'd expect from US Republicans.


feed_id: 764bb22e9cc2d7d3f4750843c3bf4c2c
title: Racism in the UK
uri: Racism-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Racism_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Blacks in the UK regularly feel they have
encountered <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/02/revealed-the-stark-evidence-of-everyday-racial-bias-in-britain">racism
in everyday life</a>.


feed_id: 6d0881414443b407b7019a80db758a21
title: Rapper imitation
uri: Rapper-imitation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Rapper_imitation%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/dec/05/brooklyn-rapper-sues-fortnite-video-game-stole-dance">new
threat to expand copyright</a>, from a rapper claiming no one should
be allowed to imitate his "moves".
<p>
I hope judges understand that ruling in his favor would cripple art.


feed_id: a11b9fcd1ae7f2243e6624347165d979
title: Yemen militia armed by west
uri: 2018-12-19-Yemen-militia-armed-by-west
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Yemen_militia_armed_by_west%29
content:
<p>Arms sold by the US and UK to Salafi Arabia and its allies in Yemen are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/28/arms-yemen-militia-were-supplied-by-west-find-analysts">diverted in substantial quantities to the black market</a>, in which they are sold to al-Qa'ida and PISSI, as well as the Houthis.</p>
<p>Some terrorist groups have been integrated into the "army of Yemen" which is allied to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e179f256d32d5d89637b02ecf963bd13
title: Global Food System broken
uri: 2018-12-19-Global-Food-System-broken
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_%28Global_Food_System_broken%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/global-food-system-is-broken-say-worlds-science-academies">Global Food System Is Broken, Say World's Science Academies</a>.</p>
<p>We make so much meat that it makes people sick, while the resulting deforestation and the methane produced by cattle are driving <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> faster.</p>
<p>However, the claim that "reducing meat and dairy consumption is the single biggest way individuals can lessen their impact on the planet" is incorrect because it overlooks the real biggest way: <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">have fewer children or none</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 3e89317586c390d9f9f639581d1c43de
title: China: children policy
uri: China-children-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28China%3A_children_policy%29
content:
<p>China stopped ordering couples to have just one child.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/29/communist-party-china-bedroom">Now it has started pressuring them to have more children</a>.</p>
<p>This is insane.  China does not need a higher birth rate; it needs a lower population.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a491ed2e190e639d7f9aad55b6137e4d
title: Ukraine: Russia blockading ports
uri: Ukraine-Russia-blockading-ports
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Ukraine%3A_Russia_blockading_ports%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/russia-blocked-ukrainian-azov-sea-ports-minister">Ukraine says that Russia is waging overt war</a> with Ukraine by blockading its ports in the Sea of Azov.</p>
<p>De facto, Russia has been at war with Ukraine for years through its support for rebels in the Donbass region.  But Russia has always pretended that was not so.  I wonder whether Russia will say there is no blockade.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a9a4c5c76f1e33b64e8218c9ac753439
title: Argentina considers prosecuting king of Salafi Arabia
uri: Argentina-considers-prosecuting-king-of-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Argentina_considers_prosecuting_king_of_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/argentina-prosecutor-takes-on-case-against-mohammed-bin-salman">Argentina has decided to consider prosecute the acting king of Salafi Arabia</a>, if he is not being investigated in Salafi Arabia or Yemen. However, it won't develop fast enough to stop his visit.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 94c72ea0b77e237aac1769fe587f8d8b
title: Amazon and NYC
uri: Amazon-and-NYC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Amazon_and_NYC%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/28/new-york-labor-leaders-amazon-workers">Union organizers in NYC condemned Amazon</a> for its history of mistreating workers, and said they wanted the company kept out.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8a94b4ab12bea4da1df75c3fa34347cf
title: Global heating health emergency
uri: Global-heating-health-emergency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Global_heating_health_emergency%29

content:
<p>Global heating is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/climate-change-already-a-health-emergency-say-experts">already causing a health emergency</a>.  Imagine the damage it will cause 20 years from now!</p>
<p>Global heating will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/climate-report-trump-tried-kill-key-finding-water-battle">make the use of water supplies harder to manage</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ab984f67632dea4ceefb6610c1238124
title: US Democratic party leadership
uri: US-Democratic-party-leadership
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28US_Democratic_party_leadership%29

content:
<p>The more numerous progressive Democrats in Congress need to firm themselves up <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/27/democratic-party-leadership-upside-down?cd-origin=rss">so that they don't bow to the power of the centrist House leadership</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e2992da85af814338927f51b0d979aa0
title: Global heating denial
uri: 2018-12-20-Global-heating-denial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Global_heating_denial%29
content:
<p>Denial of global heating, in the face of the facts, is depravity: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/opinion/climate-change-denial-republican.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion">lying for pay even though it endangers the survival of civilization</a>. The Republican Party has been, for six years, the party of depravity.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1963773183d22730a2dbc05a7a5969d9
title: Migrant minor "temporary" prison
uri: Migrant-minor-temporary-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Migrant_minor_%2522temporary%2522_prison%29

content:
<p>The "temporary" prison for migrant minors now holds 2,300 prisoners, <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/qk2b-w0q_j4/1815806">and looks like it will be permanent</a>.</p>
<p>In the prison, hugging is forbidden.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: eeb4da7b6743f613fa813b9d7ff6290f
title: Manafort-Assange Meetings
uri: Manafort-Assange-Meetings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Manafort-Assange_Meetings%29
content:
<p>'This Is Sketchy': <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/27/sketchy-critics-warn-against-blind-acceptance-explosive-guardian-report-about-secret?cd-origin=rss">Critics Warn Against Blind Acceptance of Explosive Guardian Report About Secret Manafort-Assange Meetings</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: af60d38269505b772839294fd8235624
title: Abizaid as U.S. ambassador
uri: Abizaid-as-U-S-ambassador
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Abizaid_as_U.S._ambassador%29
content:
<p>General Abizaid as ambassador to Salafi Arabia <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/27/rule-number-one-warfare-know-your-enemy?cd-origin=rss">might give the US a chance to learn something realistic about that country</a>, bypassing the biases of right-wingers with commercial dealings with that country's rulers.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5f32af1abe05f615ebe95e748c7b3496
title: Fixing Campaign Finance
uri: Fixing-Campaign-Finance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Fixing_Campaign_Finance%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/27/fixing-campaign-finance-needs-be-center-democracy-reform?cd-origin=rss">Fixing Campaign Finance Needs to Be at the Center of Democracy Reform</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5550f78811cb162146bf00b7dae59875
title: Airbnb Israel decision
uri: Airbnb-Israel-decision
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Airbnb_Israel_decision%29
content:
<p>Airbnb's refusal to list rooms in Israel's colonies in Palestine is not antisemitic; rather, <a href="https://972mag.com/airbnbs-decision-isnt-about-the-jews-its-about-the-occupation/138794/">it upholds nondiscrimination and international law</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ae96ac98060f56103dcbff5c43fdf8f2
title: Israel arm sales
uri: Israel-arm-sales
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Israel_arm_sales%29
content:
<p>Israel has supported many cruel regimes in war and repression <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/11/israel-arms-sales-eitay-mack-idf">through sales of arms and training soldiers</a>.  The details, surely embarrassing, are concealed through secrecy and censorship.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a0f80a6b3578cc11bed3d57d219af0d6
title: Netanyahu ceasefire
uri: Netanyahu-ceasefire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Netanyahu_ceasefire%29
content:
<p><a href="https://countercurrents.org/2018/11/20/netanyahus-ceasefire-is-meant-to-keep-gaza-imprisoned/">Netanyahu is supporting Hamas in order to keep Palestinians divided</a>, and agreed to a truce in Gaza for that purpose.  But most Israelis are now so right-wing that they just want to kill more Palestinians.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: fc4f18fd31932dba7db707b797b740b8
title: Google Employee's letter
uri: Google-Employee-s-letter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Google_Employee%27s_letter%29
content:
<p>Google employees' letter <a href="https://medium.com/@googlersagainstdragonfly/we-are-google-employees-google-must-drop-dragonfly-4c8a30c5e5eb">demanding that Google drop the censoring and surveilling search engine for China</a>.</p>
<p>The sad thing is that what Google Search does in the US differs only in degree from this atrocious project -- with Google Search in Europe somewhere in the middle.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6deedbbd424a210676189e145d5a023a
title: Amazon homelessness
uri: Amazon-homelessness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Amazon_homelessness%29
content:
<p>"I’d bet those &hellip; dollars that Amazon’s giving to fight homelessness will come as cold comfort to those in Long Island City and Crystal City <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/28/amazon-gives-end-homelessness-thats-rich?cd-origin=rss">who are about to be made homeless</a> [by Amazon's new offices]."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9f243bcb5104a944abb04927552f9e0f
title: Schumer and "border security"
uri: Schumer-and-border-security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Schumer_and_%2522border_security%2522%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/28/political-cowardice-fury-schumer-offering-16-billion-trumps-anti-immigrant-agenda?cd-origin=rss">Senator Schumer demonstrated his weakness in confronting right-wing policies</a> by agreeing to 1.6 billion for "border security" which is too harsh already.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6d7c8b230bfeb98f53cd8dc504d75739
title: Florida: Hurricane Michael food industry
uri: Florida-Hurricane-Michael-food-industry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Florida%3A_Hurricane_Michael_food_industry%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/28/florida-hurricane-michael-food-industry-effects-oysters-beluga-caviar">Hurricane Michael devastated the oyster and shrimp industries in Florida</a>, which were still suffering from BP's oil spill years ago.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d7b03ed3691a6106c1b6f09df8b85411
title: Urgent: Buying back stocks
uri: Urgent-Buying-back-stocks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Buying_back_stocks%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop_walmart_act">support
Sanders' bill</a> to stop corporations from buying their own stock, if
they pay workers under $15 per hour.
</p>
<p>
Until a few decades ago, corporations in the US were not
allowed to buy back their own stock.  How about reversing that change,
as well as the hundreds of others that have deregulated corporations?
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 211b10a3e824b5e0a10e02e0c8454efa
title: Urgent: Blackwood deforestation
uri: Urgent-Blackwood-deforestation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Blackwood_deforestation%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://amazonwatch.org/take-action/tell-blackrock-stop-financing-amazon-and-climate-destruction">Tall
Blackwood</a> to stop funding deforestation.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0cd70ec2e79c69d950f6c26a231550b8
title: Urgent: Military funds
uri: Urgent-Military-funds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Military_funds%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ask-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-include-the-military-in-the-green-new-deal">urge
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez</a> to cut military funds to fund the Green New
Deal (and to reduce US military activity).
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a6309e7983c4a7349296f8c5509eac1d
title: Urgent: Foreign Affairs Committee
uri: 2018-12-20-Urgent-Foreign-Affairs-Committee
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Foreign_Affairs_Committee%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/rep-eliot-engel-should-not-chair-foreign-affairs-committee">call
on congressional Democrats</a> not to make militarist Rep. Engel head
of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: fef2ecc3ed32af5c468c203540510585
title: Urgent: Arms sales to Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-Arms-sales-to-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Arms_sales_to_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13501">call
on Congress</a> to block arms sales to Salafi Arabia.
</p>
<p>
To sign without running their Javascript code, use
the <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">Salsalabs
method</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0ffb231b02e76dd77176da7ad943d488
title: Food aid to Gaza
uri: Food-aid-to-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Food_aid_to_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Gaza
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/07/more-food-not-less-us-cuts-leave-palestinian-refugees-in-crisis-donald-trump-aid">sliding
into hunger</a> after the US stopped funding food aid.
<p>
The root cause is the Israeli siege of Gaza, which
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-nov-feb.html#10_January_2018_(Gaza's_hospitals)">an
act of war</a>.


feed_id: 2542eb75792552b9a8829fe96f9ce981
title: Wealth inequality
uri: 2018-12-20-Wealth-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Wealth_inequality%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/07/why-dont-we-riot-over-wealth-inequality">Why
Don’t We Riot</a> Over Wealth Inequality?
<p>
Perhaps the irrational psychological tendency to feel more upset
about losing a dollar than about getting one less dollar plays a part.


feed_id: 5cf9a34155c55910913ccf7cec4d66e8
title: Cocoa and deforestation
uri: Cocoa-and-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Cocoa_and_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
Africa Cocoa
Industry <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/07/africa-cocoa-industry-failing-deforestation-pledge-campaigners">Failing
on Deforestation Pledge</a>.


feed_id: 6ec78c2531b358945144182e97005575
title: Global heating and sickness
uri: Global-heating-and-sickness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Global_heating_and_sickness%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> effects
make <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/12/6/1817404/-An-Open-Letter-to-Donald-Trump-Climate-Change-Will-Make-Us-Sicker">millions
of people sick</a>.


feed_id: e4fff04a802e18ef7e2a9d3138e710f2
title: Organized election fraud
uri: Organized-election-fraud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Organized_election_fraud%29
content:
<p>
After decades of distraction campaigns about hypothetical fraud
committed by individual voters,
Republicans <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/06/after-years-fearmongering-mythical-threat-voter-fraud-gop-silence-now-deafening-real">show
little interest</a> in the real case of organized election fraud
committed by Republicans.
<p>
Perhaps this is because they have grown so comfortable with
voter-suppression and gerrymandering.  Those measures are not,
strictly speaking, fraud, but they are the moral equivalent of fraud.


feed_id: 105cc0ff6fb7d8b5a2b63bb312b2c405
title: What sea turtles swallow
uri: What-sea-turtles-swallow
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28What_sea_turtles_swallow%29
content:
<p>
Scientists caught 100 sea turtles and studied what was in their
stomachs.  <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/05/great-shame-taken-oceans-around-world-100-sea-turtles-new-study-had-plastics-their">Every
one of them</a> had swallowed many pieces of plastic, as well as
objects such as cigarettes.


feed_id: 7045e67b1ca1b40988deebe0071debcf
title: What Bush I did
uri: What-Bush-I-did
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28What_Bush_I_did%29
content:
<p>
As mainstream media dwell only on the good things that Bush I did,
Glenn Greenwald and Mehdi
Hasan <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/04/george-h-w-bush-the-inconvenient-truth/">present
the bad things also</a>.


feed_id: 77ff15c15a395b99425c5d6f6571afe0
title: UK landlord fines
uri: UK-landlord-fines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28UK_landlord_fines%29
content:
<p>
A landlord in the UK will have to pay
around <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/05/rogue-landlord-in-harrow-faces-jail-if-he-doesnt-pay-15m-fine">2
million dollars in fines</a> to avoid going to jail for renting people
tiny apartments with conditions that endanger health.
<p>
The landlords that gouge the poor for intolerable living conditions
deserve punishment, but giving everyone adequate housing requires more
than just fining and jailing exploiters.  Britain needs to make more
housing available, and rapidly.  Otherwise these tenants will be
living in even worse conditions, on the street.


feed_id: 60c467980e716f8d52fd19af39de004d
title: Tony Evers
uri: Tony-Evers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Tony_Evers%29
content:
<p>
(satire) the Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature was working
   to <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/wisconsin-legislature-weakens-incoming-democratic-gover-1830884970">weaken
   incoming Democratic governor</a> Tony Evers by restricting his
   access to food, water, and shelter, sources confirmed Wednesday.


feed_id: bfa8ce9d38109f73c41e4f033e281482
title: Scapegoating immigrants
uri: Scapegoating-immigrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Scapegoating_immigrants%29
content:
<p>
Republicans have been using lies and scapegoating
immigrants <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/05/bushs-legacy-so-different-trumps">for
a long time</a>.  That is how Bush I got himself elected.
<p>
Where the bullshitter differs from Republican liars such as Bush I is
that they felt obliged to present a consistent false picture, rather than
totally incoherent fluctuating bullshit.


feed_id: 6bfa8289499ea8bcfe15abfd89481fad
title: Xcel Energy
uri: Xcel-Energy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Xcel_Energy%29
content:
<p>
Xcel Energy, a US electric utility, has set a target
of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/05/xcel-energy-first-us-utility-set-100-carbon-reduction-target">80%
renewable energy by 2030</a>.
<p>
Its 100% target for 2050 is less important because what is crucial now
is to make fast reductions.
<p>
What we usually see nowadays
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/05/fury-snp-climate-hypocrisy">just
the opposite</a>: planning to extract every last drop from oil
deposits which we desperately need to leave in the ground.


feed_id: 43f3f165246e691de3ae2bd97d7e726d
title: Iranian government
uri: Iranian-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Iranian_government%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s plan to bring down the Iranian
government <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/05/trumps-international-anti-iran-coalition-looks-its-falling-apart-he-doesnt-have">is
not working</a>, and he may find obstacles to starting a war there.


feed_id: d0b20d19ba71d779eb149098d8cd73ff
title: Increase in emissions
uri: Increase-in-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Increase_in_emissions%29
content:
<p>
This year's increase in greenhouse gas emissions comes mainly
from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/05/record-high-carbon-emissions-show-we-are-speeding-towards-precipice-irrevocable">China,
India and the US</a>.


feed_id: d11dc1b065d2b664263c9a9eeb63b260
title: Record-high emissions
uri: Record-high-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#20_December_2018_%28Record-high_emissions%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/05/record-high-carbon-emissions-show-we-are-speeding-towards-precipice-irrevocable">Record-High
Carbon Emissions</a> Show 'We Are Speeding Towards the Precipice of
Irrevocable Climate Chaos'.


feed_id: 7d28d949fc9dc70d39594439adee7b2e
title: Urgent: War in Yemen
uri: 2018-12-23-Urgent-War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/house_yemen_bill/">Call
on the House of Representatives</a> to vote on pulling the US out of
the war in Yemen.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8db94e95ff24ebfd01a4313be949fc1b
title: Urgent: Cyntoia Brown
uri: Urgent-Cyntoia-Brown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Cyntoia_Brown%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Free_Cyntoia_Brown">support
clemency</a> for Cyntoia Brown.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0ed7d2c81bd8b28fa9fd4dbf3d65b12e
title: Urgent: Protection of voting rights
uri: Urgent-Protection-of-voting-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Protection_of_voting_rights%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/democracy_reform">Call
on the House of Representatives</a> to keep HR 1 a strong protection
for voting rights.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 25a60308e4e7531a98882199ff909b70
title: NYPD drone policy
uri: NYPD-drone-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28NYPD_drone_policy%29
content:
<p>
ACLU: New NYPD Drone Policy Represents
a <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/new-nypd-drone-policy-represents-serious-threat">Serious
Threat to Privacy</a>.


feed_id: d38f004b718c76d34dee6dd7b7e7c6d3
title: TSA data collection
uri: TSA-data-collection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28TSA_data_collection%29
content:
<p>
The TSA is changing from the Theater of Security Authority to the
Total Surveillance Agency &mdash; planning
to <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/12/tsas-roadmap-airport-surveillance-moves-dangerous-direction">collect
travelers' fingerprints and face photos</a>, even sneakily.


feed_id: ecefe1dda2a4f38ce50959226dc636af
title: Beto O'Rourke
uri: Beto-O-Rourke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Beto_O%27Rourke%29
content:
<p>
Beto O'Rourke's record in Congress
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/06/why-progressive-texan-cant-get-excited-about-beto-orourke">not
very progressive</a>.  Defeating Ted Cruz would have been good, but we
want a good replacement, not someone like Obama.


feed_id: 587f44787eb4ec3fc9f94396d2baeb1d
title: Cohen's testimony
uri: Cohen-s-testimony
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Cohen%27s_testimony%29
content:
<p>
Michael Cohen testified that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> asked him to seek Russian
contacts after the presidential campaign had
started.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/07/robert-mueller-trump-russia-investigation-cohen-flynn-manafort">Here
is that</a>, and other things that we have learned recently from
Mueller's investigation.


feed_id: 84c4413492c385194eb61328480e5a88
title: Killer of Heather Heyer
uri: Killer-of-Heather-Heyer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Killer_of_Heather_Heyer%29
content:
<p>
The white supremacist that killed Heather Heyer has
been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/07/charlottesville-james-fields-guilty-murder-heather-heyer">convicted
of murder</a>.
<p>
He deserves to go to prison, but the death
penalty <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-may-aug.html#14_August_2011_(Truth_About_Lethal_Injection)">is
never justified</a>, not even for hate crimes.


feed_id: 0e1d334da61369a7a54df3f3dd048f08
title: Australian cyber-sabotage
uri: Australian-cyber-sabotage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Australian_cyber-sabotage%29
content:
<p>
Under Australia's new cyber-sabotage law, the state can compel a
company
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/08/australias-war-on-encryption-the-sweeping-new-powers-rushed-into-law">secretly
install sabotage software</a> into your computer.  This includes
Australian companies, and companies such as Apple, Google and
Microsoft that operate in Australia.
<p>
The targets of this attack include whistleblowers and journalists.
<p>
The unjust power that Australia has just taken is far more dangerous than any
of the crimes this is supposed to be used to protect against.


feed_id: dfe78d3d07a43dacb2b5ec49ec736933
title: Election monitors in Spain
uri: Election-monitors-in-Spain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Election_monitors_in_Spain%29
content:
<p>
Election monitors appointed to supervise the honest conduct of the
Catalan independence referendum
now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/07/grave-concern-for-electoral-monitors-facing-jail-in-spain">face
criminal charges</a> and could be imprisoned for many years.


feed_id: d13a21d5e6c8d2840e7e949caa5fa5ec
title: William Barr
uri: William-Barr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28William_Barr%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a>'s nominee for attorney general
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/07/donald-trump-nominates-william-barr-attorney-general">made
partisan statements</a> about the Trump-Russia investigation.
<p>
Trump's Pick for Attorney
General <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/07/william-barr-attorney-general/">Pushed
for Military Strikes</a> on Drug Traffickers, Questioned Asylum Law.


feed_id: c7edd5af0bf8e757b115f6d5f0d75b05
title: Voter suppression schemes
uri: Voter-suppression-schemes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Voter_suppression_schemes%29
content:
<p>
Republican politicians in several states are
pushing <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/americans-endorsed-voting-rights-2018-some-state-lawmakers-want-sabotage-these">new
voter-suppression schemes</a>.


feed_id: 8ffdd0da02fcc305f0156d4b326265a1
title: Insurance in California
uri: Insurance-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Insurance_in_California%29
content:
<p>
A regional insurance company that covered homes in Northern California
has
been <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/cost-of-california-wildfire-has-caused-an-insurance-company-to-go-out-of-business-47af82955e80/">bankrupted
by claims</a> for houses destroyed by the recent wildfire.
<p>
Fortunately, the state set up a backup insurance system to handle such
situations, so the insurance claimants will still get some money, but perhaps
not all that they were supposed to get.


feed_id: dc27821f408eea57b831e5419fe5a486
title: Diane Rwigara
uri: Diane-Rwigara
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Diane_Rwigara%29
content:
<p>
Rwandan president Kagame prosecuted opposition leader Diane Rwigara
for crimes that seem to be fabricated,
but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/06/critic-of-rwandan-president-cleared-of-insurrection-and-forgery">she
was acquitted</a>.


feed_id: a34d6fdd928c3d9c8b779e077c6f5877
title: Zone in Saxony
uri: Zone-in-Saxony
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Zone_in_Saxony%29
content:
<p>
Saxony, a region of Germany,
is <a href="https://edri.org/edri-members-in-joint-protest-against-surveillance-zone-in-saxony/">setting
up a zone</a> near the border that permits a wide range of repression.


feed_id: 44b53b5d8e2d654b29bacbabf2457479
title: Refugees in Italy
uri: Refugees-in-Italy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Refugees_in_Italy%29
content:
<p>
In Italy, refugees that have not been given asylum are
being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/07/vulnerable-migrants-made-homeless-after-italy-passes-salvini-decree">tossed
out on the street</a> to beg, since they are forbidden to work.


feed_id: 20763c8920bc438b77f30b6bff8a9723
title: Koch brothers and the UK
uri: Koch-brothers-and-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Koch_brothers_and_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The Koch brothers
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/07/us-billionaires-hard-right-britain-spiked-magazine-charles-david-koch-foundation">funding
plutocratist deregulationism</a> in the UK as well as in the US.
<p>
Their philosophy is laissez faire, laissez mourir.


feed_id: a90e6b48302dea523c7737d8f1c127fa
title: Advertorials for China
uri: Advertorials-for-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#22_December_2018_%28Advertorials_for_China%29
content:
<p>
China is paying many news publishers
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/07/china-plan-for-global-media-dominance-propaganda-xi-jinping">include
propaganda advertorials</a> for China.


feed_id: 6cf2a063bc196e163599d815fae410fc
title: Urgent: Kevin McAleenan
uri: Urgent-Kevin-McAleenan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Kevin_McAleenan%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/mcAleenan_resign">demand</a>
that Commissioner Kevin McAleenan of the border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> agency resign.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: be223443f31a7a42acd9cfe5d84e8a51
title: Urgent: School-to-prison pipeline
uri: Urgent-School-to-prison-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_School-to-prison_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-youthdemand">call
on Congress</a> to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
</p>
<p>If you send a letter, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: c2f2dda5c798b0d8976eb4795c41dfa4
title: Urgent: Blackrock
uri: Urgent-Blackrock
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Blackrock%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/blackrock-divest">call
on Blackrock</a> to divest from fossil fuels.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 1d0927d836729696b86d6588c7511ecf
title: Urgent: Green New Deal
uri: 2018-12-24-Urgent-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/pass-the-green-new-deal/">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Green New Deal.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 52ab9bd2e9364f21693669b5f5a75a3a
title: Journalists in Palestine
uri: Journalists-in-Palestine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Journalists_in_Palestine%29
content:
<p>
Journalists meeting in Palestine protested at a checkpoint in the
annexation wall, so Israeli
thugs <a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2018/11/international-and-palestinian-journalists-tear-gassed/">fired
tear gas</a> at them.
<p>
The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Journalists">International
Federation of Journalists</a> is a federation of journalists' unions
from many countries.


feed_id: 0239b2d55a204b6ee33c2b6f37c196f7
title: Shooting thugs
uri: Shooting-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Shooting_thugs%29
content:
<p>
If you see <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> committing physical grievous violence without just
cause, <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/07/when-nonviolence-isnt-enough">is
it ethically legitimate</a> to stop them by shooting them?
<p>
The article presents the Special Immunity Thesis and the Moral Parity
Thesis.  I think the Special Immunity is valid but only to a certain
extent.  You, as well as the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>, must not resort to violence if
it isn't necessary.


feed_id: 65dacd4d95755be5f95e2b92727878a9
title: Work requirement in Wisconsin
uri: Work-requirement-in-Wisconsin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Work_requirement_in_Wisconsin%29

content:
<p>
Wisconsin Republicans, as a parting shot against the state's poor
people,
have <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/06/wisconsin-food-stamps-drug-testing/">imposed
a work requirement</a> and a drug test requirement on food stamps and
Medicaid.
<p>
The new Democratic governor will be unable to undo this because
Republicans will still control the legislature.  However, they may
conflict with federal law, so courts might overturn them.
<p>
I wonder if Wisconsin allows an initiative petition to undo this.


feed_id: 82849b08a0a9b70a91ddcf4303a23386
title: Call logs to Facebook
uri: Call-logs-to-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Call_logs_to_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
Facebook got "consent" to upload call logs automatically from Android
phones <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/06/facebook-emails-reveal-discussions-over-call-log-consent">while
disguising</a> what the "consent" was for.


feed_id: fd8defbe899acc81ae98adb8f23a2622
title: Face recognition at airport
uri: Face-recognition-at-airport
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Face_recognition_at_airport%29
content:
<p>
Delta airlines has given international passengers departing Atlanta
the convenient and attractive option of
being <a href="https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/first-us-face-recognition-terminal-opens-at-atlanta-airport/4688125.html">tracked
by face recognition</a> instead of showing passports.


feed_id: f58d2b5318615dee5e46122060f0fe9a
title: Outsourcing internet censorship
uri: Outsourcing-internet-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Outsourcing_internet_censorship%29

content:
<p>
La Quadrature: European Governments Agree
to <a href="https://www.laquadrature.net/en/2018/12/06/european-governments-agree-to-outsource-internet-censorship-to-google-and-facebook/">Outsource
Internet Censorship</a> to Google and Facebook.
And allow the state <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
to order deletion of anything, with an hour's deadline.


feed_id: 0803a694e0af482dde23b293dc0e5e4b
title: Uyghurs outside China
uri: Uyghurs-outside-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Uyghurs_outside_China%29
content:
<p>
Uyghurs living in Australia and the US say the Chinese government
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/07/uighur-leaders-warn-chinas-actions-could-be-precursors-to-genocide">sends
agents to question them</a> and threaten them, and treats their
relatives in China as hostages.
<p>
The idea that China might exterminate Uyghurs seems to be an extrapolation.
I would not put that past China, but our condemnation will rest on a
stronger foundation if we limit it to what China is known to be doing
and refrain from treating possibilities as deeds.


feed_id: 2281811cf5786f340e85a3ef73289e18
title: Monarch butterflies
uri: 2018-12-24-Monarch-butterflies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Monarch_butterflies%29
content:
<p>
It used to be that millions of monarch butterflies lived through the
California winter.
Now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/07/its-a-sad-reality-a-troubling-trend-sees-a-97-decline-in-monarch-butterflies">there
are only 30,000</a>.
<p>
This creates a danger they could be wiped out in various ways.


feed_id: 2e878a1e8b4a9afa86fd77c274934124
title: Cap-and-trade and Shell
uri: Cap-and-trade-and-Shell
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Cap-and-trade_and_Shell%29
content:
<p>
Shell's management says that Shell
was <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/08/shell-oil-executive-boasts-that-his-company-influenced-the-paris-agreement/">closely
involved in writing</a> the Paris climate agreement.  It seems Shell
wants to make cap-and-trade the only form of regulation or measure
used to reduce emissions.
<p>
This would be a grave policy mistake, because cap-and-trade systems
are <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#21_November_2012_(EUs_greenhouse_emissions_cap-and-trade_system_gamed)">vulnerable
to being gamed</a>.
If companies find loopholes, or insert loopholes, they could then
obey the rules without actually reducing emissions.


feed_id: 28ef47fad4f2da2c5d8165a37cb550e0
title: Airline fuel efficiency
uri: Airline-fuel-efficiency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Airline_fuel_efficiency%29
content:
<p>
Although new airliners are more fuel-efficient than older ones, the
number of new planes
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/08/airlines-ignoring-efficient-planes-carbon-targets-tui-airways-atmosfair-index-virgin-atlantic">too
small to make much difference</a> in efficiency.
<p>
Even if the whole fleet became substantially more efficient, the
increase in flying would cancel that out.  We need to tax jet fuel
enough to stop the increase.
<p>
When the EU tried to start this, the
US <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#05_September_2013_(US_stopping_EU_from_taxing_airlines_for_CO2_emissions)">slapped
it back</a>.


feed_id: d5d273d0c207c9d7dbb4c85589523d28
title: Global heating and lobsters
uri: Global-heating-and-lobsters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Global_heating_and_lobsters%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a>
will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/08/we-live-in-a-lobstocracy-maine-feeling-effects-of-climate-change-lobster-fishing">wipe
out lobsters</a> off the coast of Maine.


feed_id: 06675aa573bd5410637d5fa55c8ac7bd
title: Pruitt's emails
uri: Pruitt-s-emails
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Pruitt%27s_emails%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> Pruitt used a personal email account for public business,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/08/epa-chief-scott-pruitt-personal-emails">ignored
the EPA requirement</a> to send in those emails within 20 days.
<p>
It's far from the worst thing he did.  It matters as an instance of the
Republican double standard.


feed_id: e97b8a3ea4fb1d4ec48a79bf110e0db9
title: The cheater's golf course
uri: The-cheater-s-golf-course
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28The_cheater%27s_golf_course%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a>'s golf course in New Jersey hires unauthorized immigrants
and the
supervisors <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/08/victorina-morales-undocumented-trump-golf-club-employee-speaks-out">bully
the workers</a>.


feed_id: 91df0b788602eb3c801891b42db96105
title: Verifying drugs
uri: Verifying-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Verifying_drugs%29
content:
<p>
Offering to test and verify drugs for the
public <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/08/testing-drugs-festivals-lifesaver-study">is
very effective</a> at preventing medical problems.
<p>
Legalizing the drugs would have the same effect, since commercially
sold drugs would generally contain what they are advertised to contain.


feed_id: 97b4897732d6ec650965b076071d6877
title: Texas church shooter
uri: Texas-church-shooter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#24_December_2018_%28Texas_church_shooter%29
content:
<p>
The US Air
Force <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/08/devin-kelley-texas-church-shooting-air-force-fingerprints">Missed
Four Chances</a> to Stop Texas Church Shooter from Buying Guns.


feed_id: 2913ac32f9c8269b2d54370f91905d31
title: Tokyo Olympics Venues
uri: Tokyo-Olympics-Venues
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Tokyo_Olympics_Venues%29
content:
<p>Tokyo Olympics Venues ‘<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/29/tokyo-olympics-venues-built-with-wood-from-threatened-rainforests">Built with Wood from Threatened Rainforests</a>’.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d676211d4ebc1b06bfee89eb2b0b327d
title: Russia blockading Ukrainian port
uri: Russia-blockading-Ukrainian-port
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Russia_blockading_Ukrainian_port%29

content:
<p>Russia is blockading the Ukrainian port of Mariupol and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/danger-never-went-away-ukrainian-cities-feel-cornered-by-russia">might do so indefinitely</a>.  This is an indisputable act of war.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d0241c26b9b3d648959c913fe17fd10d
title: US border thugs take minors
uri: US-border-thugs-take-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28US_border_thugs_take_minors%29
content:
<p>US border thugs can take refugee minors away from their parents by accusing the parents of being gang members.  <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/q2dMVrzASbk/1815959">They don't need to convince a judge, so they don't need a reason</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5c5cb61f065bd25e4e99de609486fd80
title: Cambridge Analytica fashion industry
uri: Cambridge-Analytica-fashion-industry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Cambridge_Analytica_fashion_industry%29

content:
<p>Cambridge Analytica <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/nov/29/christopher-wylie-the-fashion-industry-was-crucial-to-the-election-of-donald-trump">used Facebook's database to figure out that certain clothing brands correlated with right-wing extremism</a>, then recruited people who liked those brands for the bigot's campaign.</p>
<p>If we want this sort of campaigning to occur, we should give all candidates the opportunity to use the database.  But I think it is better to give every candidates a way to send a message occasionally to all voters that want to receive candidates' messages.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 389f215ff69d3aa6cd07ab69dc251d82
title: Senate Democrats report on Mulvaney
uri: Senate-Democrats-report-on-Mulvaney
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Senate_Democrats_report_on_Mulvaney%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/mFoOgF-Z5Bk/1815871">Senate Democrats report</a> on the deep sabotage that Mulvaney, chief saboteur of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has done secretly in that agency.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2cf228032eb966fc53f28c2355a40753
title: Obama medical insurance plan sabotaged
uri: Obama-medical-insurance-plan-sabotaged
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Obama_medical_insurance_plan_sabotaged%29

content:
<p>Republiars' latest plan to sabotage Obama's medical insurance plan <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/xcuIhpXELB0/1816028">works by authorizing various sorts of cheating and confusion</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c072b2d7a298a0d8cfb9fcaf2f9eb0c4
title: Japan politicians covering up forced labor
uri: Japan-politicians-covering-up-forced-labor
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Japan_politicians_covering_up_forced_labor%29

content:
<p>The right-wing ruling politicians of Japan are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/30/japanese-paper-sparks-anger-as-it-ditches-ww2-forced-labour-term">covering up the history of forcing women in occupied countries into prostitution</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: de12aafe54bb4549eda919ff9bccce50
title: Millenials spend less on goods
uri: Millenials-spend-less-on-goods
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Millenials_spend_less_on_goods%29

content:
<p>The reason millenials spend less money on goods is economic, not cultural: <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/FylWccE1iEs/1815993">they have less money to spend</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1d0b06585b0f397a7754f75895e1182f
title: Social media community governance principles
uri: Social-media-community-governance-principles
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Social_media_community_governance_principles%29

content:
<p><a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/11/26/without-social-organizations.html">Proposing community governance principles for social media and platforms</a>.</p>
<p>They seem useful, but I don't think they will be adequate to protect people from massive surveillance.  It will be hard to stir up, among users who have already surrendered their privacy, enough political will to impose anonymous use on a company with a business model that depends on accumulating personal data.</p>
<p>For that <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">we need strict laws against collecting data</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 92ae63fad63d3b2565e3cc8e075deaa8
title: Greedy Big Pharma and AIDS
uri: Greedy-Big-Pharma-and-AIDS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Greedy_Big_Pharma_and_AIDS%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/28/whats-keeping-world-ending-aids-greedy-big-pharma-bad-policy?cd-origin=rss">What’s Keeping the World From Ending AIDS: Greedy Big Pharma, Bad Policy</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bff4c4f6f248c5200b134fa549b1a53f
title: Corporations tax cuts leave public schools desperate
uri: Corporations-tax-cuts-leave-public-schools-desperate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Corporations_tax_cuts_leave_public_schools_desperate%29

content:
<p><a href="https://truthout.org/articles/bake-sales-cant-fix-school-funding-pinch-caused-by-corporate-tax-cuts/">Cuts in tax rates for corporations have left US public schools desperate</a>. They pressure parents to pay for supplies, but nowadays some US families can barely afford food and rent.</p>
<p>For this reason and dozens more, we need to make the rich pay more tax.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c73c4a2467952411f1b6c62ff970b4c8
title: Miami: Thug chief perfect record
uri: Miami-Thug-chief-perfect-record
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Miami%3A_Thug_chief_perfect_record%29

content:
<p>A Florida thug chief achieved a perfect record for catching burglars <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article222205540.html">by choosing the usual suspects (i.e., black males) and framing them</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ce7ea51dfc09b1f3296e682857145d1b
title: Israeli company spyware
uri: Israeli-company-spyware
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Israeli_company_spyware%29
content:
<p>Israel <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/28/israel-rogue-nso-group-must-have-licence-revoked-over-controversial-surveillance?cd-origin=rss">refused to cancel the export license</a> for the company whose spyware was used by some other country to try to insert malware into an Amnesty International staffer's computer.</p>
<p>That country might be Salafi Arabia.  It was a customer for that software, and it surely regards defenders of human rights (such as Amnesty International) as its enemies.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5fb12ed66464d44a4014d947063ee76f
title: EU greenhouse gas emissions
uri: EU-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28EU_greenhouse_gas_emissions%29
content:
<p>The EU proposes to aim for zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/28/good-step-forward-not-enough-say-climate-campaigners-eus-proposal-go-climate-neutral?cd-origin=rss">but that is too late</a>!</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4f17c45352b93b37d801f5500b2eaecc
title: US war in Yemen
uri: US-war-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28US_war_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>Almost 2/3 of the US Senate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/28/historic-vote-senate-advances-war-powers-resolution-end-us-complicity-saudi-assault?cd-origin=rss">voted for a discharge petition that will lead to a vote soon on the resolution to stop US participation in the war in Yemen</a>.</p>
<p>The senators that voted for the discharge petition will not necessarily all vote for the resolution itself.  But not all their votes are needed to pass it.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0f6d9f0976f0ca0c96a93808c51cd1bf
title: Bernie Presidency
uri: Bernie-Presidency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Bernie_Presidency%29
content:
<p><a href="https://theweek.com/articles/808843/what-bernie-needs-win-presidency">Proposing that Sanders and the progressives need to learn to fight hard and dirty</a>, so that in 2020 we will win.</p>
<p>I support learning to fight hard.  But we should not do dirty tricks such as lying about what we intend to do.  The way we can win is by championing the progressive policies that most Americans support.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 13ab234978d58f849b53d804c793a455
title: UK: Labour plan for vote on boardroom pay
uri: UK-Labour-plan-for-vote-on-boardroom-pay
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28UK%3A_Labour_plan_for_vote_on_boardroom_pay%29

content:
<p>Labour <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/27/labour-plan-to-give-customers-of-big-firms-vote-on-boardroom-pay">proposes systems to limit and publicize executive pay</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4bc1a595d9316cd520dec4147e3695f6
title: EU censorship-by-police directive
uri: EU-censorship-by-police-directive
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28EU_censorship-by-police_directive%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.laquadrature.net/en/2018/11/28/will-the-anti-terrorist-regulation-destroy-signal-telegram-and-protonmail/">The EU's censorship-by-police directive covers communication</a>, not just publication, so it would prohibit end-to-end encrypted services such as Telegram and Signal.</p>
<p>The French government is <a href="https://www.laquadrature.net/en/2018/11/28/antiterrorism-censorship-macron-teams-up-with-the-web-giants-to-set-up-mass-surveillance/">going all-out to prevent public debate about this directive</a>, which would expose everyone in the EU to the danger of state repression in the name of "protecting" them from the far smaller danger of terrorism.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0839c77ccf626e5d976b3e267d591c09
title: Some Billionaires shift to support moderate Dems
uri: Some-Billionaires-shift-to-support-moderate-Dems
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Some_Billionaires_shift_to_support_moderate_Dems%29

content:
<p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/29/no-labels-nancy-pelosi-speaker-house-no-labels/">Some billionaires have shifted from funding overt Republicans</a> to funding center-right "moderate" Democrats that resemble the Republicans of 10 years ago.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 20f061cff8fdae1d338a34f1cc5db824
title: Chile: Camilo Catrillance death
uri: Chile-Camilo-Catrillance-death
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Chile%3A_Camilo_Catrillance_death%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/chile-camilo-catrillanca-death-four-police-officers-arrested">Chilean thugs have been arrested for killing a Mapuche</a> who drove away on his tractor when he saw the thugs approach.</p>
<p>The thug who fired the shot discarded the recording of his helmet camera, then lied about that.</p>
<p>These thugs belong to a heavily armed unit that was dispatched to repress the Mapuche.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 00d6307bacc2928b23b39962268a28cc
title: Projected US sea rise this century
uri: Projected-US-sea-rise-this-century
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Projected_US_sea_rise_this_century%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/29/climate-report-trump-tried-to-bury-rising-seas-coastal-residents">US cities are not preparing for the possible 8 feet of sea-level rise</a> projected for this century.</p>
<p>However, hitting a tipping point (and we don't know where those are) could result in a lot more rise.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 38ddda8f114781e3b34cb0013f09ddb3
title: Australia: student strike to protect climate
uri: Australia-student-strike-to-protect-climate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Australia%3A_student_strike_to_protect_climate%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/30/climate-change-strike-thousands-of-students-to-join-national-protest">Students will go on strike across Australia</a> to demand action to protect the climate.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d4426768ae1ce1ba5927d1b103e62597
title: Voter suppression in Georgia
uri: 2018-12-26-Voter-suppression-in-Georgia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Voter_suppression_in_Georgia%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/klVwYVwfjsw/1815989">Stacy Adams is championing a campaign</a> to end voter suppression in Georgia.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bc2f3a92395693c03a8affddbe6ed1ba
title: Michael Cohen lied to protect the cheater
uri: Michael-Cohen-lied-to-protect-the-cheater
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Michael_Cohen_lied_to_protect_the_cheater%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/29/michael-cohen-kremlin-russia-mueller-trump">Michael Cohen testified that he had lied to protect the cheater</a>, and that he had maintained contact with Russian officials over many months and discussed it with the cheater himself.</p>
<p>This <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/29/michael-cohen-mueller-donald-trump-analysis">could lead to charges against the cheater or his family</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8162254292f26b080cef8e1cdc2ea6a5
title: Berta Cáceres murder convictions
uri: Berta-Cáceres-murder-convictions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Berta_C%25C3%25A1ceres_murder_convictions%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/berta-caceres-seven-men-convicted-conspiracy-murder-honduras">Seven Hondurans have been convicted</a> of murdering Berta Cáceres.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: fb0372d42d8d3c2a04bf2653570c4fdc
title: Far-Right populists degeneracy
uri: Far-Right-populists-degeneracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Far-Right_populists_degeneracy%29

content:
<p>"<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/28/white-supremacy-degeneracy-far-right-populists">Today's far-right populists relish the idea that they can be morally contemptible, yet still prevail.</a>"</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 49e29b01cddca365f707d20991ecc66e
title: Michigan minimum wage initiative
uri: Michigan-minimum-wage-initiative
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Michigan_minimum_wage_initiative%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/4TsRnEc3oJ8/1815621">Michigan Republicans preempted a people's initiative to raise the minimum wage by passing a similar law</a>.  This was just a trick to arrange to be able to repeal the measures during the lame duck session.</p>
<p>The citizens will have to repeat the initiative petition to overcome the Republiars.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 991479908ecd18f673cc387321e0bb0a
title: BoingBoing: Autocracy loves confusion
uri: BoingBoing-Autocracy-loves-confusion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28BoingBoing%3A_Autocracy_loves_confusion%29

content:
<p><a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/11/27/autocracy-loves-confusion.html">Autocracies depend on fake news to keep the people from communicating and uniting</a>.  Democracies depend on communication with trust, which is undermined by fake news.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a9db752ccd7025b180a79d32b30b4c93
title: Georgia: Woman sues after cotton candy mistaken for meth
uri: Georgia-Woman-sues-after-cotton-candy-mistaken-for-meth
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Georgia%3A_Woman_sues_after_cotton_candy_mistaken_for_meth%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2018/11/26/woman-sues-after-spending-months-jail-over-cotton-candy-mistaken-meth/">Georgia jailed Dasha Fincher for months</a> after a drug test mistook blue dye in cotton candy for methamphetamine.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1519e29ff51b19e609d26918d68112da
title: Netherlands church holding services to protect refugees
uri: Netherlands-church-holding-services-to-protect-refugees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Netherlands_church_holding_services_to_protect_refugees%29

content:
<p><a href="https://qz.com/1470153/a-dutch-church-is-holding-non-stop-services-for-a-refugee-family/">A church in the Netherlands has been holding services nonstop for 27 days</a> to protect refugees from deportation.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e858de97650d913029ffae54bbaa9b54
title: Sheryl Sandberg Corporate Feminism
uri: Sheryl-Sandberg-Corporate-Feminism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Sheryl_Sandberg_Corporate_Feminism%29

content:
<p>"<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/sheryl-sandberg-lean-out-corporate-feminism">Having more women in powerful positions means nothing if all they’re doing is leaning into exploitative capitalist conventions</a>."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 057de47db72e0ba48fa2725183a2df7a
title: Donald Trump Male Voters
uri: Donald-Trump-Male-Voters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Donald_Trump_Male_Voters%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/7dc2b7Q496g/1816048">Research Says Men Who Are Insecure About Their 'Manhood' Tend to Be Donald Trump Voters</a>.</p>
<p>Can we make it embarrassing for me to admit support for the bully?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7afe6b8cf574bd717931928541dd666a
title: Journalist's report from Libya
uri: Journalist-s-report-from-Libya
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Journalist%27s_report_from_Libya%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/01/inside-tripoli-chaos-corruption-militas-rule-streets">A journalist's report from Libya, plus one interview with a former Qadhafi-era dissident</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ae74fc7bd8d87e9ec1ae5cad2e988710
title: EU copyright directive
uri: 2018-12-26-EU-copyright-directive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28EU_copyright_directive%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/11/yes-eus-new-copyrightdirective-all-about-filters">The EU is so desperate to give the copyright industry more power</a> that it pretends that article 13 does not impose filters for automated censorship.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5c8c2ac4187a05b04ae247c5145aa037
title: Google and China censorship
uri: Google-and-China-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Google_and_China_censorship%29
content:
<p>"<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/01/google-china-censorship-human-rights/">I quit Google over its censored Chinese search engine.</a>"</p>
<p>The company's responses to his criticism were vague, and directed at arguing that censorship and snooping aren't really so bad.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c510577006b9d06644eb326aee5c99ec
title: Spending on Prison
uri: Spending-on-Prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Spending_on_Prison%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/0NaQ0CMT-os/1816020">Many states spend far more on prisons than they do on schools</a>.  Spending more on schools might save a lot more money on prisons.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6fa708c8bd92ad74a93ed75a1caadcd9
title: UK: Racist bullying
uri: UK-Racist-bullying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28UK%3A_Racist_bullying%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/i-know-all-about-being-bullied-by-rascists">Racist beatings were so common in the UK, 40 years ago, that they would hardly attract notice</a>.  The fact that they now shock people shows that they have become a lot less frequent.  That is progress.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f6f58b0fad8e6c0e750e75aabba77268
title: NAFTA Version 2
uri: NAFTA-Version-2
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28NAFTA_Version_2%29
content:
<p>Version 2 of NAFTA <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/30/nafta-replacement-us-mexico-canada-agreement-signed">has some improvements</a>.</p>
<p>I wonder what new nastiness it might have, though Can anyone find out? Has someone checked the area of copyrights?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 220a7f435bf31972f701562a9196ae96
title: The one black Republican blocked Thomas Farr nomination
uri: The-one-black-Republican-blocked-Thomas-Farr-nomination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28The_one_black_Republican_blocked_Thomas_Farr_nomination%29

content:
<p>The one black Republican senator <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/tto-KPLGFE8/1816210">blocked the nomination of Thomas Farr as a federal judge</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c545e40a186ea436904cc195f634fddf
title: Toxic Prudery
uri: Toxic-Prudery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Toxic_Prudery%29
content:
<p>An Indian woman who won a suit for women to be allowed to enter a temple <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/30/indian-woman-who-braved-temple-protest-arrested-for-exposed-thigh">has been arrested for posting a video in which her thigh was visible</a>.</p>
<p>This is an extreme level of toxic prudery.  It doesn't usually reach that level in the US, but it is toxic anyway.  It is often associated with religiosity.</p>
<p>We should all get used to appearing naked in public, and then the problem will disappear.  So will revenge porn.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: da42c80305a30c3ccd4bb321a0a56009
title: Hakeem Jeffries charter schools
uri: Hakeem-Jeffries-charter-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Hakeem_Jeffries_charter_schools%29

content:
<p>The center-right Democrat that was elected as head of the Democratic House caucus chair is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/30/hakeem-jeffries-charter-schools/">supported by a campaign of rich people that want to break teachers' unions and privatize public schools</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ec878e0acc28ce364222f80a49fabc61
title: Poverty and Amazon Prime
uri: Poverty-and-Amazon-Prime
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Poverty_and_Amazon_Prime%29
content:
<p><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/11/quitting-amazon-prime-boycott-shopping-labor.html">Many Americans are so overloaded that they can't afford to stop buying from Amazon</a>.  In other words, it is a trap that pushes many Americans into poverty while giving them a little help in coping with that poverty.</p>
<p>If we provide working people with an adequate standard of living, they could afford to escape.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e5bc2f0c0956c9e42a8b805317cd9695
title: Former Dallas Thug charged with murder
uri: Former-Dallas-Thug-charged-with-murder
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Former_Dallas_Thug_charged_with_murder%29

content:
<p>The former Dallas thug that went into a neighbor's apartment and shot him and then made up a variety of incredible excuses <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/30/amber-guyger-indicted-murder-botham-jean">has been charged with murder</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d9ca40f7249649fb07602a035dabc655
title: Whitaker lied investigators
uri: Whitaker-lied-investigators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Whitaker_lied_investigators%29
content:
<p>Whitaker, proposed as acting attorney general, <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/Ant66Whwqyk/1816244">lied to federal investigators about his patent threat business</a>.</p>
<p>(Try him, and if convicted) Lock him up!</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0b5f8b4291792fcdab85eaeafad20fa1
title: Urgent: HR 1
uri: Urgent-HR-1
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_HR_1%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/congress-we-demand-a-democracy-that-works-for-us?nowrapper=true">call
on Congressional Democrats</a> to make HR 1 bold and strong.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: adad5f8fdbcd9c5897a7717fab8794f8
title: Urgent: Bottle deposits
uri: Urgent-Bottle-deposits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Bottle_deposits%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="http://action.storyofstuff.org/sign/stop-killing-plastic-pollution-solutions/">call
on Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé</a> to stop lobbying against bottle
deposits.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b02543e14305f99fa56620d119651e1e
title: Urgent: Amazon's face recognition
uri: 2018-12-27-Urgent-Amazon-s-face-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Amazon%27s_face_recognition%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/tell-amazon-stop-developing-dangerous-facial-recognition-services-immediately/">Tell
Amazon</a> to stop developing dangerous face-recognition services.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a6531cc04bbb02d9731090bd75d4f948
title: Urgent: Amazon military work
uri: Urgent-Amazon-military-work
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Amazon_military_work%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13545">call
on Amazon employees</a> to refuse military work.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ac25118c4e01ec233487af8719736716
title: Stumblr censorship
uri: Stumblr-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Stumblr_censorship%29
content:
<p>
Steve Jobs used Apple's censorship power to impose prudery on the net,
and this is part of why <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#stumblr">Stumblr</a>
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/11/tumblr-porn-ban-heteronormative-silicon-valley-sex-lives">now
deleting everything</a> that won't be rated G.
<p>
I tried to view a Tumblr page, but its contents did not appear.  It
seemed to be totally dependent on nonfree Javascript code.  Whatever
may disappear from Tumblr, I personally will not miss it.
Nonetheless, I am concerned about this issue because creeping prudish
censorship is dangerous in general; we should fight it in general.
<p>
Let us therefore invite Apple to go fuck itself and post a selfie of
that act on <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#stumblr">Stumblr</a>.


feed_id: 6c9c2c76c69587e534824d5a76e33197
title: Mobile app tracking
uri: Mobile-app-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Mobile_app_tracking%29
content:
<p>
mobile apps
often <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/10/business/location-data-privacy-apps.html">track
the user's movements</a>.  Each user's location history starts out
anonymized, but it is not hard to identify the user by correlating
that data with other data.
<p>
This malicious functionality exists because the programs involved are
nonfree.
<p>
If these apps were free/libre, users could change them not to send
location data, or to send spoofed location data.  If the operating
systems were free/libre, users could change them to offer the option
of spoofing the app with incorrect location data.
<p>
You might fondly believe that if a certain app charges for use, then
it won't track the user, but there is no objective reason to assume
that is always true.  Paying to use an app does not forcibly stop
it from tracking the user's movements.


feed_id: 8d5c9f7b7289196c0bf7e386d5f7a5e7
title: Sanders Institute's gathering
uri: Sanders-Institute-s-gathering
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Sanders_Institute%27s_gathering%29

content:
<p>
The Sanders Institute's Gathering Was About Saving the World, But It
Was <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/10/sanders-institutes-gathering-was-about-saving-world-it-was-not-about-bernie-sanders">Not
About Bernie Sanders</a>.


feed_id: db06f228d602b6561eb0f1e175f8ca9f
title: White House ficus
uri: White-House-ficus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28White_House_ficus%29
content:
<p>
(satire) officials announced Monday that a high-level White House
ficus would leave for the State Arboretum of Virginia after
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/white-house-ficus-to-leave-for-virginia-arboretum-after-1830989844">declining
the president’s offer</a> to be chief of staff.


feed_id: 2cd32d192880d6727784fbe6c13982e2
title: Public toilet sensors
uri: Public-toilet-sensors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Public_toilet_sensors%29
content:
<p>
(satire) those sensors that flush public
toilets <a href="https://www.theonion.com/report-those-sensors-that-flush-public-toilets-were-al-1830988233">were
also cameras</a> this whole time.


feed_id: 40f5e813ace03a3fd180c82fe5c111cd
title: Increasing inequality
uri: Increasing-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Increasing_inequality%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/10/inequality-be-suffered-our-children">Some
ideas</a> of the sort of society that massive increasing inequality is
likely to impose in the coming decades, unless we tax the rich.


feed_id: d36d64298104773ee0f01a3189ba92ea
title: Deportation blockers
uri: Deportation-blockers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Deportation_blockers%29
content:
<p>
By <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/10/activists-convicted-of-terror-offence-for-blocking-stansted-deportation-flight">sentencing
nonviolent deportation-blockers</a> to a terrorist crime, the UK
government has demonstrated once again the great danger of
"anti-terrorism" laws and policies.


feed_id: 9f63b8c4dbce6e368a60921769c53948
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2018-12-27-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/10/nomoreexcuses-mass-action-capitol-hill-demand-dems-back-green-new-deal-instead">1000
activists</a> are visiting Congress to demand that Democrats press for
a Green New Deal.


feed_id: a9ef1f1dbf94e41c40a572842c5d6fb3
title: Global heating and sugar maples
uri: Global-heating-and-sugar-maples
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Global_heating_and_sugar_maples%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a>
will <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/12/07/673713824/not-so-sweet-climate-change-means-slow-growing-sugar-maples-study-finds">harm
sugar maples</a>; the result will be less maple syrup, also less CO2
removed from the air.
<p>
This is another one of the positive feedback loops that prevent us from seeing
just the edge of the carbon cliff we are rushing towards.


feed_id: baa740a0d3d268077304709c321ece45
title: Teacher strike in Chicago
uri: Teacher-strike-in-Chicago
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Teacher_strike_in_Chicago%29
content:
<p>
Teachers <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1818199">went on
strike</a> in a Chicago charter school chain.  Its CEO gets a high
salary; they don't.
<p>
They will get somewhat better pay and working
conditions <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/10/inequality-center-chicago-charter-school-strikes">as
a result</a> of the strike.


feed_id: e7d7e7398c50e1e27ff229930b8aca60
title: San Diego border fence
uri: San-Diego-border-fence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28San_Diego_border_fence%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/10/love-knows-no-borders-agents-arrest-32-as-religious-leaders-gather-at-us-border">400
leaders of various churches</a> protested at the San Diego border
fence supporting asylum seekers.


feed_id: 08999bfc9254dd4716fa48de9c34004f
title: Human rights in Britain
uri: Human-rights-in-Britain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Human_rights_in_Britain%29
content:
<p>
"Britain's long tradition of respect for human
rights <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/10/britain-tradition-human-rights-70-years-universal-declaration-sadiq-khan">is
under threat</a>."
<p>
I would say the threat started in the 90s when the UK started
repealing some of the traditional "rights of Englishmen"; this
included <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2006-sep-dec.html#16%20November%202006%20(B'liar%20wants%20more%20censorship)">adopting
censorship</a> based on various reasons including
mere <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#3_June_2016_(Censorship_in_the_UK)">opinions
that are nasty</a>,
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#28_January_2014_(Sentenced_without_a_trial_for_suspicion_of_perhaps_intending_to_commit_crimes)">punishment
based on suspicion</a>.


feed_id: 93e9a378f356bbb30cb7ffa91a1dbaf7
title: Student visiting Egypt
uri: Student-visiting-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Student_visiting_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
After facing international pressure,
Egypt <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/egypt-frees-british-student-muhammed-fathi-abulkasem-arrested-spying">freed
a visiting student</a> who took a photo from the plane's window which
happened to include a photo of a military aircraft at the same
airport.
<p>
Why risk visiting a country that arrests people for absurd reasons?


feed_id: 3671c8fb90f49b11c23df5ce01a6c088
title: Oil from Trans Mountain Pipeline
uri: Oil-from-Trans-Mountain-Pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Oil_from_Trans_Mountain_Pipeline%29

content:
<p>
An oil spill from a ship carrying oil from the Trans Mountain Pipeline
would <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/08/i-went-dungeness-crabbing-washington-heres-why-im-concerned-about-increased">do
lasting damage</a> to ocean life, including species we want to
preserve as well as species we eat.
<p>
However, that local calamity would be just a footnote compared to the
disaster that will be caused when the oil does <em>not</em> spill.  We
need to
leave <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#20_February_2016_(Fight_to_keep_fossil_fuel_in_ground)">80%
of known fossil fuel reserves</a> in the ground, and since tar sands
oil has a particularly high ratio of greenhouse gas emissions to
energy delivered, the tar sands oil should be first.
<p>
Canadian indigenous peoples are determined
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/09/alberta-tar-sands-production-cuts-here-stay-indigenous-led-movement-will-make-sure">block
all new pipelines</a> for export of tar sands oil.


feed_id: 7bc787023ff0cc018bf1a72250c119a1
title: 173 minors held prisoner
uri: 173-minors-held-prisoner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28173_minors_held_prisoner%29
content:
<p>
The US government is
still <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1817641">holding
prisoner 173 minors</a> that border thugs took away from their
parents.
<p>
The US uses various excuses for them.  Some of them have found no
sponsors to go to because the
US <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#25_September_2018_(Children_used_as_deportation_bait)">used
them as bait</a> to deport the relatives that could have sponsored
them.
The parents that were deported, and said they did not want their
children sent to them, agreed in many cases to be deported, rather than
filing an appeal, because US agents lied to them.  This history does
not excuse the US government of responsibility.


feed_id: 8dfc41a7e7cc80b2870fdeedb75a221e
title: Israeli company spyware
uri: 2018-12-27-Israeli-company-spyware
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Israeli_company_spyware%29
content:
<p>Israel <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/28/israel-rogue-nso-group-must-have-licence-revoked-over-controversial-surveillance?cd-origin=rss">refused to cancel the export license</a> for the company whose spyware was used by some other country to try to insert malware into an Amnesty International staffer's computer.</p>
<p>That country might be <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>.  It was a customer for that software, and it surely regards defenders of human rights (such as Amnesty International) as its enemies.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 89a18486d68ffd4fcc2016d09d7312c5
title: Chile: Camilo Catrillance death
uri: 2018-12-27-Chile-Camilo-Catrillance-death
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Chile%3A_Camilo_Catrillance_death%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/chile-camilo-catrillanca-death-four-police-officers-arrested">Chilean thugs have been arrested for killing a Mapuche</a> who drove away on his tractor when he saw the thugs approach.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> who fired the shot discarded the recording of his helmet camera, then lied about that.</p>
<p>These <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> belong to a heavily armed unit that was dispatched to repress the Mapuche.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e52e9d429839ba0c9f8adfd5bb9851e5
title: Donald Trump Male Voters
uri: 2018-12-27-Donald-Trump-Male-Voters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_%28Donald_Trump_Male_Voters%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/7dc2b7Q496g/1816048">Research Says Men Who Are Insecure About Their 'Manhood' Tend to Be Donald Trump Voters</a>.</p>
<p>Can we make it embarrassing for me to admit support for the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 940b4d51da2c64de78d4e119e80ed94e
title: Urgent: William Barr
uri: Urgent-William-Barr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_William_Barr%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject_william_barr">call
on the Senate</a> to reject Barr as attorney general, for right-wing
extremist views and because he has stated he wants to shut down
Mueller's investigation.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f227983046819db00959e25befa11f54
title: Urgent: Human rights for corporations
uri: Urgent-Human-rights-for-corporations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Human_rights_for_corporations%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://movetoamend.org/motion">support Amending
the US Constitution</a> to say that corporations are not human beings
and are not entitled to human rights.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 15854e8dc74ad03960b14fb49b71c784
title: Urgent: US arms sales
uri: Urgent-US-arms-sales
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_US_arms_sales%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Stop_Saudi_armsdeal">call
on Congress</a> to stop arms sales to Salafi Arabia and the UAE.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d473da426412e579eac6b8de5289b553
title: Attack against Kurds
uri: Attack-against-Kurds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Attack_against_Kurds%29
content:
<p>
Erdoğan
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/12/turkey-primed-to-start-offensive-against-us-backed-kurds-in-syria">ready
to launch an attack</a> against the Kurds of Rojava.
<p>
I don't think they can depend on the US for protection, and all other
relevant powers are opposed to them.  I fear the worst.


feed_id: d85c0579fce2e35aa6ddd8e3f2ac96c6
title: Search engine for China
uri: Search-engine-for-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Search_engine_for_China%29
content:
<p>
Google's search engine for China would
also <a href="https://tech.slashdot.org/story/18/11/27/1439236/google-workers-sign-letter-seeking-end-to-china-search-project">be
a surveillance system</a> for China, showing the state every query and
who made it.  "Search for freedom, go to jail!"


feed_id: f5b8da028d39f0c7ab613db0f7e00515
title: Bringing back buffalo
uri: Bringing-back-buffalo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Bringing_back_buffalo%29
content:
<p>
Some Amerindian tribes
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/12/how-native-american-tribes-are-bringing-back-the-bison-from-brink-of-extinction">bringing
back buffalo</a> to their lands, and the buffalos' effect on the land
enables other native species thrive.


feed_id: aee02c6778f7cac350a751dedc615d6d
title: Achieving emission cuts
uri: Achieving-emission-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Achieving_emission_cuts%29
content:
<p>
Australia proposes to achieve the Paris climate agreement emission
cuts
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/12/australia-likely-to-use-controversial-kyoto-loophole-to-meet-paris-agreement">counting
earlier emissions decreases</a>.
<p>
I doubt that this legalistic argument will persuade the Earth's
atmosphere to cool off.


feed_id: 767e6b3388d6ed4c1986d278998d23b8
title: Dag Hammarskjöld
uri: Dag-Hammarskjöld
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Dag_Hammarskjold%29
content:
<p>
The UK and South Africa
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/12/dag-hammarskjold-crash-inquiry-uk-and-south-africa-criticised-for-not-cooperating">refusing
to cooperate</a> with an investigation into the suspicious death of UN
Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961.


feed_id: 9276da3aed12c0a74131600b01c46adf
title: Gilets jaunes interviews
uri: Gilets-jaunes-interviews
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Gilets_jaunes_interviews%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/gilets-jaunes-paris-protesters-france">Interviews</a>
with gilets jaunes in a small French town.


feed_id: 18eadc0a276c33ee4f5a1dbd31da04df
title: Resisting Amazon
uri: Resisting-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Resisting_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
Someone with very little will-power
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/shopping-habits-amazon-alexa">decided
to resist Amazon</a> because of how it underpays workers.
<p>
If you're aware of the tracking it does to customers, you'll have
a stronger spine for rejecting Amazon.


feed_id: 77f5ccf0fc2361e61c6d9465b931c36b
title: US midwest farming
uri: US-midwest-farming
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28US_midwest_farming%29
content:
<p>
Farming in the US midwest is being hit
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/12/as-climate-change-bites-in-americas-midwest-farmers-are-desperate-to-ring-the-alarm">heat,
humidity and floods</a>, all due to global heating.


feed_id: b1e5031adb0b5679de0837a532e6a134
title: Rule for raising taxes
uri: Rule-for-raising-taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Rule_for_raising_taxes%29
content:
<p>
A victory for progressives in the House of
Representatives: <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/11/house-of-representatives-progressive-caucus/">they
will eliminate</a> for the next session a Republican-introduced rule
requiring 60% support for raising taxes on the wealthy.
<p>
The fact that Democrats continued this rule for 24 years, even at
times when that party controlled the House of Representatives, shows
how much influence the plutocratists have had in the Democratic Party.


feed_id: f35791b38dd3d01b12e3e90490753821
title: Vanuatu's accusation
uri: Vanuatu-s-accusation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Vanuatu%27s_accusation%29
content:
<p>
Vanuatu
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/11/us-accused-of-obstructing-talks-at-un-climate-change-summit">accused
the US government</a> of betraying the American people as well as the
rest of the world by pushing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.
<p>
Bravo!
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> want to keep control of the global conversation,
to keep it focused on details such as whether to "note" or "welcome" a
report about how close we are to disaster, and far away from
considering any action adequate to avoid the disaster.


feed_id: c09ab1ed72a594b456689c52c7d4c1fb
title: Dissident bands in Russia
uri: Dissident-bands-in-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Dissident_bands_in_Russia%29
content:
<p>
Dissident music bands in Russia are facing heavy censorship as
thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/12/were-not-scared-bands-defy-russian-crackdown-on-political-music">close
down their concerts</a>.


feed_id: 1ec84dfc57da1fb78cff0effb220dea7
title: Barr's views
uri: Barr-s-views
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Barr%27s_views%29
content:
<p>
Barr, the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s nominee for attorney general, supports the "War on
Drugs" even to
the <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/12/william-barrs-never-ending-war">point
of actual war</a>.
<p>
He also supports "forfeiture", a legalistic excuse to take people's property
arbitrarily based on alleged supposed crimes, without trying them for the
supposed crimes.


feed_id: ef6911fd06e8d5c0fd47f99c189d25c8
title: Italian churches
uri: Italian-churches
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Italian_churches%29
content:
<p>
Italian
Priests <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/italian-priests-vow-to-open-church-doors-to-evictees-from-immigration-centres">Vow
to Open Church Doors</a> to Evictees from Immigration Centres.


feed_id: 89872406dea46afb55b87c361d970ea8
title: Violence against sex workers
uri: Violence-against-sex-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Violence_against_sex_workers%29
content:
<p>
Criminalization of sex workers makes violence against them by their
clients <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/11/criminalisation-of-sex-work-normalises-violence-review-finds">much
more frequent</a>.
<p>
A similar result was observed in Canada, where it is the client rather than
the sex worker who can be prosecuted for the transaction.
<p>
I am surprised that clients are happy with the idea of being
identified in a data base.  Think of what trouble they could face if
they were identified as having done this.


feed_id: eb213839e1caa1ecb7c6face3a0ff819
title: Melting ice sheet
uri: 2018-12-28-Melting-ice-sheet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#28_December_2018_%28Melting_ice_sheet%29
content:
<p>
The ice sheet of East
Antarctica <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/11/east-antarctica-glacial-stronghold-melting-amid-climate-change">has
started melting</a>.
This suggests that sea level rise will be more than previously predicted.
Perhaps a lot more.


feed_id: e0b21a46c3010aa6d1ed9d3017c27c32
title: Australia imitates US voter-ID laws
uri: Australia-imitates-US-voter-ID-laws
content: <p>
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Australia_imitates_US_voter-ID_laws%29


feed_id: 3a6428f40388c5615d8687642eb63aed
title: Journalists murdered during 2018
uri: Journalists-murdered-during-2018
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Journalists_murdered_during_2018%29

content:
<p>
Remembering 
<href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/05/journalists-murdered-khashoggi-kuciak-panama-papers">nine
journalists</a> that were murdered during 2018.


feed_id: 26590912513a418376056273167d888f
title: Migration from Africa
uri: Migration-from-Africa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Migration_from_Africa%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/05/invest-africa-youth-now-before-migration-to-europe-doubles-un-gilbert-houngbo">Invest
in Africa's Youth</a> Before Migration to Europe Doubles, Says UN
Official.
<p>
I think it would be more efficient to invest in avoiding the birth of
some African youth.  Surely a million IUDs cost less than sending a
million people to school.


feed_id: fd4ccf2d7817c74a34bacf17855e81f9
title: Hindu extremism
uri: Hindu-extremism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Hindu_extremism%29
content:
<p>
Hindu extremists have 
<a href="https://www.justicenews.co.in/christians-stage-peace-rally-in-varanasi-against-forced-church-closures/">forced
churches in Varanasi to close</a>.  Christians have held a "peace
rally" to ask for their religious freedoms to be restored.
<p>
The Hindu extremist party that rules India is becoming ever more
oppressive.


feed_id: 24af8838000ff1028b7827a0071e518a
title: Macron reconsiders tax cut for rich
uri: Macron-reconsiders-tax-cut-for-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Macron_reconsiders_tax_cut_for_rich%29

content:
<p>
Macron has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/france-wealth-tax-changes-gilets-jaunes-protests-president-macron">decided
to reconsider</a> a tax cut that mainly serves the rich.
<p>
This is a real victory.


feed_id: ad83b1aca7f2754b129927191a499714
title: Amazon warehouse workers
uri: 2018-12-31-Amazon-warehouse-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Amazon_warehouse_workers%29
content:
<p>
Amazon warehouse workers say they are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/05/hate-lugging-cat-litter-dont-make-us-amazon-warehouse-workers-do-it">forced
to speed up and ignore safety rules</a>.


feed_id: 59c038d6df7fa6b1366c52cf289786c0
title: Chinook salmon
uri: Chinook-salmon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Chinook_salmon%29
content:
<p>
Chinook salmon in Canada are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/canada-chinook-salmon-endangered">in
big trouble</a>.


feed_id: c6fbd8a972b307c43470191e1dc276bd
title: Psychological bullying in Dubai
uri: Psychological-bullying-in-Dubai
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Psychological_bullying_in_Dubai%29

content:
<p>
Matthew Hedges said his jailers in Dubai 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/matthew-hedges-determined-clear-name-uae-spying-ordeal">psychologically
bullied him into a false confession of spying</a>.
<p>
He also said they tried to recruit him to spy on the British foreign
ministry and would believe he did not work there.


feed_id: 876b00561c7b9c29147baad45bcce539
title: Beef and global heating
uri: Beef-and-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Beef_and_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
To keep eating beef at the current rate, we 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/beef-eating-must-fall-drastically-as-world-population-grows-report">would
have to wipe out all forests by 2050</a>.  Also, it would result in catastrophic global heating.
<p>
The best way to deal with the projected need for 50% more food
is to cut the birth rate so we <em>won't</em> need 50% more.


feed_id: 84fff533a1cbc4b7e7fb0904a7bc0da3
title: Australia's anti-encryption law
uri: Australia-s-anti-encryption-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Australias_anti-encrpytion_law%29

content:
<p>
Australia's parliament has approved a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/05/labor-and-coalition-in-last-minute-blowup-over-encryption-deal">somewhat
weakened form of the new anti-encryption law</a>.
<p>
It might, possibly, be compatible with human rights, but I don't
expect such good fortune.


feed_id: 6dd0398da5b345ef446d0b5082dec337
title: Palestinian shot in back
uri: Palestinian-shot-in-back
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Palestinian_shot_in_back%29
content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/12/04/shot-head-his-back-soldiers">shot
Muhammad Habali in the back as he was walking away</a>.  Habali was
killed.
<p>
This typical of the way soldiers treat Palestinians.


feed_id: a99ef0760b6f2429b517e8cc36c13313
title: Violent right-wing extremism
uri: Violent-right-wing-extremism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Violent_right-wing_extremism%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing extremists protesting in Sacramento hit and stabbed
antifascist counterprotesters.  The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> accused the victims of
various crimes, but 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/05/antifa-charges-california-activists-stabbing">did
nothing to punish the perpetrators</a>.
<p>
Around the world, many <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> support violent right-wing extremism.
The Sacramento <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> investigated 100 counterprotesters.  They could
have investigated the violence if they had wanted to.  They must
support the right-wing extremists and their violence.


feed_id: aa29ced8f7ef269555a9e9bb654fcddc
title: Food banks used as "photo opportunity"
uri: Food-banks-used-as-photo-opportunity
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Food_banks_used_as_photo_opportunity%29

content:
<p>
Corbyn said Conservative MPs are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/05/food-banks-are-not-photo-ops-for-tory-mps-corbyn-tells-may">using
food banks as "a photo opportunity."</a>
<p>
It is only natural that Tory MPs seek photo ops with food banks.
After striving for years to make food banks more central to the lives
of Britons, they wish to vaunt their achievements.


feed_id: 788a96bca37f985af7d70370dfec7b6a
title: Journalists smeared as "spies"
uri: Journalists-smeared-as-spies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Journalists_smeared_as_spies%29
content:
<p>
French journalists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/french-journalists-labelled-spies-india-sand-mining-assignment">investigating
corruption in sand-mining in India</a> face accusations of crimes, and
have been smeared as "spies".
<p>
It looks like the corruption is so powerful that the crooks can direct
the state's power against anyone who wants to expose it.


feed_id: 523a6a6f256435625dd7365965e69553
title: Global heating
uri: 2018-12-31-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Save 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/save-millions-of-lives-by-tackling-climate-change-says-world-health-organization">Millions
of Lives</a> by Tackling [global heating], Says WHO.


feed_id: d8e7b10387cff4a9a83e049252551b17
title: When a political leader dies
uri: When-a-political-leader-dies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28When_a_political_leader_dies%29
content:
<p>
When a political leader dies, we should not suffer 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/05/why-should-we-be-civil-and-respectful-when-a-political-figure-dies">amnesia
about important bad things that the leader did</a>.
<p>
Don't forget how President Bush I 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/04/george-bushs-legacy-isnt-so-peaceful">connived
at murderous fascist governments in South America</a>.
<p>
When Steve Jobs died, I refused to hush up about 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-sep-dec.html#06_October_2011_(Steve_Jobs)">the
great harm that he (through Apple) had done to human freedom</a>.


feed_id: 606d108ad684144aaee5169999b88f93
title: Double jeopardy
uri: Double-jeopardy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Double_jeopardy%29
content:
<p>
Prosecuting someone for the same act as a state crime and as a federal crime
effectively 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/05/stop-ignoring-double-jeopardy">undermines
the Constitution's prohibition of double jeopardy</a>.
<p>
I can see several ways to reconcile the various goals here.
For instance, federal charges, if pursued to a verdict,
could pre-empt state charges.  Or any sentence served for a state
conviction could count towards the sentence for a federal conviction
and vice versa.


feed_id: e3f8ecac9df18aad8665eee449274220
title: The Strand
uri: The-Strand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28The_Strand%29
content:
<p>
The Strand bookstore says that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/05/new-yorks-strand-bookshop-begs-to-avoid-official-landmarking">designating
its building as a landmark could make it shut down</a>.


feed_id: fb1ee85b38283cb991358c033f0d897c
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2018-12-31-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
Making the 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/05/green-new-deal-proposal-impacts/">Green
New Deal</a> concrete.


feed_id: 1955f124333febf3a31174551ae332f8
title: EU plans changes in banking
uri: EU-plans-changes-in-banking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28EU_plans_changes_in_banking%29
content:
<p>
The EU plans changes in banking 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/european-union-dependence-on-dollar-to-be-reduced-under-new-proposals">so
that the US cannot interfere with EU trade with other countries</a>.
<p>
It makes eminent sense for the EU to protect itself from US
numbskulls, but the matter would not be as important if the EU were
doing enough to reduce its use of fossil fuels.


feed_id: 41497950afc7b476b18efddbcfddf0ae
title: Axolotl heading for extinction
uri: Axolotl-heading-for-extinction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Axolotl_heading_for_extinction%29

content:
<p>
The axolotl is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/dec/04/axolotls-in-crisis-the-fight-to-save-the-water-monster-of-mexico-city">heading
for extinction in the wild</a>, due to pollution and introduced fish.


feed_id: 320136b9eb73393896213114f705d2c6
title: Right-wing conspiracy theory
uri: Right-wing-conspiracy-theory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Right-wing_conspiracy_theory%29
content:
<p>
The claim that Google has a left-wing bias seems to be a right-wing
conspiracy theory, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/04/google-facebook-anti-conservative-bias-claims">based
on no real evidence</a>.
<p>
Some have claimed that Google has a centrist bias.  I don't know
whether that is true, but there is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#31_July_2017_(Google_excluding_WSWS)">some
suggestive evidence for it</a>.


feed_id: 14904b984158fc6a7ab4fb8833520564
title: School strike for protection of climate
uri: School-strike-for-protection-of-climate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28School_strike_for_protection_of_climate%29

content:
<p>
20,000 students in several countries have joined 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/04/leaders-like-children-school-strike-founder-greta-thunberg-tells-un-climate-summit">Greta
Thunberg's school strike to demand protection of the climate</a>.
They have recognized that action now is a matter of life or death for
them.
<p>
It could be a matter of life or death for people now in their 20s and
30s, but they don't see this so clearly.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/04/our-leaders-are-behaving-children-we-will-have-take-responsibility">More
information</a>.


feed_id: c3c7f6e65c11d552fa197959997388fc
title: Bill to punish boycott of Israel
uri: Bill-to-punish-boycott-of-Israel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Bill_to_punish_boycott_of_Israel%29

content:
<p>
The US Senate is trying to jam a bill to punish companies that boycott
Israel.  The ACLU warns that this is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/04/israel-anti-boycott-act-lame-duck/">unconstitutional</a>.


feed_id: 29716280d55decae44c744fbe2d9d68b
title: "Democratic" facilitators of plutocracy
uri: Democratic-facilitators-of-plutocracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Democratic_facilitators_of_plutocracy%29

content:
<p>
While the extreme plutocratists of the Republican party demand radical
changes to favor the rich, their "Democratic" facilitators that call
themselves "No Label" call for meeting the Republicans half way,
meaning a slower slide to favor the rich.  They 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/04/no-labels-funding-private-equity/">urge
us not to resist the plutocratists so hard</a>.


feed_id: 51d6be5393d214847de34af3ddb9f078
title: Urgent: Tucker Carlson
uri: Urgent-Tucker-Carlson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Tucker_Carlson%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/carlson-boycott">Call
on advertisers</a> to stop supporting Tucker Carlson.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 85c3d841efb8f96e8cafdb2c6f3c88b8
title: Urgent: Insurance coverage for abortion
uri: Urgent-Insurance-coverage-for-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Insurance_coverage_for_abortion%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/letter/tell-hhs-dont-eliminate-insurance-coverage-abortion/">call
on the Department of HHS</a> not to eliminate insurance coverage for
abortion.
</p>
<p>If you send a comment, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 5b3d091d32e2e4968b4fca41d40b8b13
title: Canadians arrested in China
uri: Canadians-arrested-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Canadians_arrested_in_China%29
content:
<p>
China seems to
have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/17/china-detained-canadians-trump-meng-wanzhou">arrested
two Canadians</a> as retaliation for Canada's arrest of a Huawei
executive.  To defend itself, the US and Canada must cite their
independent judiciaries and rule of law.
<p>
We cannot argue that the US would never twist the law for political
reasons.  <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>
has <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#3_August_2018_(Separated_refugee_families)">done
precisely that</a> to keep refugees in prison.
We cannot take for granted that the two Canadians did not
commit some real crime.  But we do know that they won't get justice in
their trials in China.
<p>
Working against the US, in this dispute about which country respects
justice, will be the existence of imprisonment without trial in
Guantanamo.


feed_id: 9e05892ed1b486716e152bd9171628b5
title: Medical misinformation
uri: 2018-12-31-Medical-misinformation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Medical_misinformation%29
content:
<p>
Medical misinformation on the internet puts
people's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/opinion/statin-side-effects-cancer.html">health
and lives in danger</a>.


feed_id: cf863bbc3d70bd212f7b7f7caa999c27
title: Eviction in Ireland
uri: Eviction-in-Ireland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Eviction_in_Ireland%29
content:
<p>
Unknown
people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/17/masked-vigilantes-attack-guards-at-irish-farmhouse-after-eviction">attacked
security guards</a> posted around a home in Ireland after they had
evicted the inhabitants.
<p>
An eviction without a court order would certainly be wrong,
but having a court order does not automatically excuse it.
When the law, and the power of the state, serve the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>
against the poor, they do not have moral authority.
<p>
The Irish state should first make sure nobody is made homeless by
eviction, and only then attend to the wishes of the banks.


feed_id: dce8dec5c76f3e93272364cb58f1dbe2
title: Global Compact for Migration
uri: Global-Compact-for-Migration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Global_Compact_for_Migration%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180713_agreed_outc">Global
Compact for Migration</a> is an agreement, to be developed, that will
aim to protect the rights of migrants, including preventing
trafficking and enslavement, and preventing the disasters that force
people to migrate.


feed_id: 0ec55d2568722fde0af2a7cafc7624f7
title: Extinction Revolution
uri: Extinction-Revolution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Extinction_Revolution%29
content:
<p>
Extinction Revolution is
organizing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/17/climate-change-activists-vow-step-up-protests-around-world">more
climate defense rallies</a> around the world.
<p>
This is the spirit we need, to have any chance of doing enough and
soon enough to avoid <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> disaster.


feed_id: c93e5e7b807ded5f1f76c1473d6ec63c
title: Children and mobile computers
uri: Children-and-mobile-computers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Children_and_mobile_computers%29

content:
<p>
Using mobile computers tends to make
children <a href="https://theconversation.com/worry-over-kids-excessive-smartphone-use-is-more-justified-than-ever-before-108585">neglect
other ways</a> of interacting with people, and promote insomnia.
<p>
This is before we even get to the intentionally manipulative and
controlling nature of
the <a href="https://gnu.org/malware/malware-mobiles.html">software IN
the computers</a>.


feed_id: 0d0eb46b36a3a58080be3f86abd75b8b
title: Placating the privileged
uri: Placating-the-privileged
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Placating_the_privileged%29
content:
<p>
Progressives: Be Careful of the Comfort
of <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1818851">Placating the
Privileged</a> at the Expense of the Afflicted.
<p>
This article refers to a letter in which Martin Luther King, Jr.,
criticized white "moderates" who said that blacks should not be in
such a hurry to win equality &mdash; they should wait a few centuries and
see what happens.
<p>
The area in which I most hear the argument that "We must not tell
people how bad things are, or it would discourage them" is that of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, in which we know from the hard figures that each year lost
makes it less likely we can avoid the disaster at all.


feed_id: 51415265cec4597774b46eef0493312c
title: Loyalty oath to Israel
uri: Loyalty-oath-to-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Loyalty_oath_to_Israel%29
content:
<p>
Texas, New York, California and many other states impose a political
loyalty oath on some public employees &mdash; a loyalty oath to
Israel.  The US congress is
now <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/17/israel-texas-anti-bds-law/">considering
imposing one</a>.
<p>
Since I support the boycott of companies that operate in Israel's
colonies in Palestinian territory, a boycott that
was <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#19_October_2018_(Boycott_of_Israeli_institutions)">launched
in Israel</a> by Uri Avnery,
I am one of the many excluded from those jobs for their political views.
<p>
Israel, keep your hands off Americans' freedom!


feed_id: 84c98fb91a7b0754f2adcd1cbcd0fcb7
title: Najib Razak
uri: Najib-Razak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Najib_Razak%29
content:
<p>
Goldman Sachs and some of its
staff <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/17/1mdb-scandal-malaysia-files-charges-against-goldman-sachs">face
charges</a> in regard to Najib Razak's mega-corruption.


feed_id: b4a9f8507972c7a0c2c88c6f1b20fcd6
title: Overprotection
uri: 2018-12-31-Overprotection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Overprotection%29
content:
<p>
The
year's <a href="https://letgrow.org/the-top-10-worst-helicopter-parenting-moments-of-2018-and-one-great-one/">top
ten incidents</a> of oppressive overprotection of the more-or-less
young &mdash; children, adolescents, and even college students that
are legally adults.
<p>
I speculate that the general acceptance of overprotection of minors
promotes acceptance of overprotection of everyone, including massive
surveillance.  Regardless of your age, this threatens you.


feed_id: b4f0a3342616bcc4b8311b03bc0f00dc
title: Climate sabotage and inequality
uri: Climate-sabotage-and-inequality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Climate_sabotage_and_inequality%29

content:
<p>
The countries that sabotage efforts to protect Earth's climate are the
ones <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/16/can-unequal-earth-beat-climate-change">with
the most inequality</a>.
<p>
I conjecture that the high inequality is the result of the richest's having
taken control of those countries' governments years ago, and that control
enables the same plutocrats to make the governments let our planet roast.


feed_id: 222948b41fdf3218fce3971286a4b36d
title: Slave labor in China
uri: Slave-labor-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Slave_labor_in_China%29
content:
<p>
China is using the million imprisoned
Uyghurs <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/world/asia/xinjiang-china-forced-labor-camps-uighurs.html">as
slave labor</a>.
<p>
The
US <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#6_July_2018_(Treating_immigrants_as_slaves)">does
something similar</a> in its immigration prisons.
It is an injustice in both countries.


feed_id: 8384db1fd2c84b7bb0c5b75ddee35cbd
title: Department of the Interior
uri: Department-of-the-Interior
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Department_of_the_Interior%29
content:
<p>
An official purged from the Department of the Interior by Zinke
describes
the <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/monumental-disaster-at-the-department-of-the-interior/">many
kinds of sabotage</a> he carried out.
His brief summary:
<blockquote>
the largest reduction in public lands protection in our nation’s
   history; a systematic failure to acknowledge or act on climate
   change; unprecedented constraints on the funding and communication
   of science; and a blatant disregard for public health and safety.
</blockquote>


feed_id: 2a7ceed7aca5fa4ca0e20cfc8e4cc609
title: Championing compromise
uri: Championing-compromise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Championing_compromise%29
content:
<p>
When "moderate"
politicians <a href="https://theweek.com/articles/811962/impossibility-bipartisan-healthcare-compromise">champion
"compromise"</a>, what they really stand for is "preserve at all costs
the privilege of the elite".


feed_id: dd6cd29213057542253726335e815b15
title: Leila Ali Elmi
uri: Leila-Ali-Elmi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_%28Leila_Ali_Elmi%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/17/leila-ali-elmi-somali-born-mp-sweden-swing-right">Swedish
Green MP Leila Ali Elmi</a> stands for eliminating the discrimination
and segregation against immigrants.


feed_id: 909903e434f288f56a5cf68569e9434e
title: Urgent: Medicare for All
uri: 2019-01-02-Urgent-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://sign.actiontaker.org/page/s/MFA-JA-Pass-Medicare-For-All-V2">call
on the House of Representatives</a> to vote on Medicare for All.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9cd689a11543e32c07b904c4e8acd327
title: Urgent: Investigate Zinke
uri: Urgent-Investigate-Zinke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_Zinke%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/investigate_zinke">call
on the House of Representatives</a> to investigate Saboteur Zinke.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3003e06b6aaba61c294a0521cb15f732
title: Yanomami reservation
uri: Yanomami-reservation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Yanomami_reservation%29
content:
<p>
Bolsonaro <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/18/brazil-biggest-tribal-reserve-faces-uncertain-future-under-jair-bolsonaro">wants
to take away</a> part of the Yanomami reservation.
<p>
The Yanomami reserve also functions more or less as a wildlife reserve
and a carbon sink.  Converting even part of it to plantations therefore
would hurry and increase <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> and extinction disaster.


feed_id: 28227cf05c16e335e1322ffbebf41bba
title: Hong Kong visitors
uri: Hong-Kong-visitors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Hong_Kong_visitors%29
content:
<p>
China is trying to intimidate visitors to Hong Kong
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/18/hong-kong-tabloid-with-china-links-tails-visiting-us-australian-academic">tailing
one researcher</a> and publishing details of his movements.
<p>
He was followed by human agents, but it is expensive to follow many
people that way.  However, many governments can get now follow
everyone with the same thoroughness using using cameras and their cell
phones.  That is the real threat to
our <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">privacy
and political freedom</a>,
and that is what we must fight to eliminate.


feed_id: b50d5dd2cef67388d3f31636f97b5995
title: Sanders' supporters
uri: Sanders-supporters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Sanders%27_supporters%29
content:
<p>
The mainstream media pretend that Bernie Sanders' supporters are
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/17/how-come-so-many-bernie-bros-are-women-and-people-color">mainly
white males</a>.


feed_id: f324530be8607e0fa29c531115ef000c
title: Automated welfare system
uri: Automated-welfare-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Automated_welfare_system%29
content:
<p>
Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/18/expert-attacks-centrelink-robo-debt-and-moral-bankruptcy-that-allows-it">operates
an automated system</a> that supposes welfare recipients owe the state
money, unless they can prove to the robot that they don't.
<p>
At the moral level, whether this system is illegal under Australian
law is a side issue.  That many of the "debts" it collects are bogus
is evil, but not the system's principal evil.  The principal evil is
that it squeezes poor people harder, when they are already squeezed
to the crushing point.
<p>
Australia should tax the rich and businesses more, so as to give the poor
a life that is not quite so hard.


feed_id: 9e7da3a94bf2de9f4eead8ae93232f5a
title: Arrested Huawei executive
uri: Arrested-Huawei-executive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Arrested_Huawei_executive%29
content:
<p>
Arresting Huawei's executive may spare Canada
a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/18/canada-china-trade-deal-huawei">new
business-supremacy treaty</a>.
<p>
The article is based on, and takes for granted, the "free trade"
ideology, which is used as an excuse for governments to compete to
give business more power
(<a href="https://stallman.org/business-supremacy-treaties.html">and
the people less</a>).
<p>
An <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#4_June_2018_(Pipeline_required_by_treaty)">existing
business-supremacy treaty</a> between Canada and China may be the
reason it is desperate to export more tar sands oil.


feed_id: 7538660b337aa77c1491e7883ba1a0cb
title: US and UK children in poverty
uri: US-and-UK-children-in-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28US_and_UK_children_in_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Millions of children in the US and UK are growing up in poverty.  This
is a political
choice, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/18/outrage-child-poverty-britain-us">imposed
by plutocratist government</a>.
<p>
The stress caused by poverty provokes violence, mainly against women
and children.  The stress itself
can <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#03_July_2014_(The_permanent_stress_caused_by_poverty)">scar
children for life</a>.


feed_id: 1d5fc14895e50c4b8c344e03cc65dd14
title: Treatment of Saudi ruler
uri: Treatment-of-Saudi-ruler
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Treatment_of_Saudi_ruler%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; the Trump administration launched
a <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/trump-administration-launches-human-rights-investigatio-1831153052">human
rights investigation</a> Monday into the Senate’s harsh treatment of
Saudi ruler Mohammad bin Salman.


feed_id: 72d96316f5e0aeb682f8e4ca5dad0149
title: Funding the Green New Deal
uri: Funding-the-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Funding_the_Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
Public banks
could <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/17/radical-plan-fund-green-new-deal-just-might-work">fund
the Green New Deal</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/17/12-reasons-labor-should-demand-green-new-deal">12
Reasons</a> Labor Should Demand a Green New Deal.


feed_id: 9cd1c499e1f4a3ca28b35f79f99c9f7b
title: Troll army tactics
uri: Troll-army-tactics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Troll_army_tactics%29
content:
<p>
The Russian <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#trump">troll</a> army was very clever in using US racism
to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/12/17/1819647/-Senate-report-on-Russia-s-social-media-effort-shows-how-Racism-drove-results-on-both-right-and-left">convince
blacks not to vote</a>.
<p>
That was the Republicans' first line of defense against black voters.
The second line
was <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#12_November_2016_(The_election_was_stolen)">voter
suppression</a>, and the
third, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_August_2016_(Republican_gerrymandering)">gerrymandering</a>.
<p>
The Russian ad campaign exploited a problem that the US really has:
plutocratist politicians tend to be mostly interested in the voters
only at election time.  That is mostly true but not 100% true, and
racism is one of the injustices that plutocratists Democrats do make
some efforts to reduce &mdash; but only in the ways that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>
don't veto.


feed_id: 34660a655069952f85cd8f0e69740156
title: Zinke's apology
uri: Zinke-s-apology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Zinke%27s_apology%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Ryan Zinke apologized Monday for misusing government funds by
   sending the members of the ethics
   committee <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/ryan-zinke-apologizes-for-misuse-of-government-funds-by-1831156792">a
   $160,000 vase</a>.


feed_id: 846b0e794d005ee14e46158541903e57
title: New World Order
uri: New-World-Order
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28New_World_Order%29
content:
<p>
The "New World Order" really exists.  It is <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, and it
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/17/new-world-order-here">run
by oligarchs and plutocratists</a>.


feed_id: 224fb098a261dbcbb1981a0654ed8ad2
title: Covering for extremism
uri: Covering-for-extremism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Covering_for_extremism%29
content:
<p>
Republicans have covered for right-wing extremism and neo-Nazis ever
since 2007, recruiting political support by presenting efforts to
limit hate
as <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1819163">attacks on
Republicanism</a>.
<p>
In the past, that was false.  Now that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>
has converted the Republican Party into the Right-Wing Extremist Party,
the claim has become true.


feed_id: 6fd9ac69b60ccd2ff7b9f5b24832d464
title: Quitting without notice
uri: Quitting-without-notice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Quitting_without_notice%29
content:
<p>
Employees in the US
increasingly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2018/dec/17/is-it-ever-ok-to-ghost-your-job-to-leave-work-one-day-and-never-go-back">quit
a job without notice</a>.  This is a reflection of how little some
employers value them.


feed_id: 2d6ca1dc368087c8c8d6b57bb461c080
title: 2016 propaganda
uri: 2016-propaganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%282016_propaganda%29
content:
<p>
Russian
disinformation <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/17/russian-propagandists-targeted-african-americans-2016-election">sent
out black propaganda</a> claiming that Clinton was funded by the KKK,
and similar lies.
<p>
She was not funded by the KKK, and those lies are not excusable.
Alas, she was supported by the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> &mdash; that was no lie.


feed_id: bc08ce3037369b3052429ed31d5ea46d
title: Earth's habitability
uri: Earth-s-habitability
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_January_2019_%28Earth%27s_habitability%29
content:
<p>
Decisions
Made <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/17/un-climate-talks-set-stage-for-humanitys-two-most-crucial-years">from
Now to 2020</a> Will Determine to What Extent Earth Remains Habitable.
<p>
I'm afraid they will have to delay until 2021 to have a chance of a
good outcome.


feed_id: 082c11d0d16d50666e23823c578822ec
title: Urgent: Giving a home to refugees
uri: Urgent-Giving-a-home-to-refugees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Giving_a_home_to_refugees%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/children_orr_ice">Please
tell Alex Azar and Kirstjen Nielsen</a> to stop sharing data about
people who offer to give a home to refugee minors.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 15320b05e5d247d0459eceb6e22034a2
title: Urgent: Kirstjen Nielsen
uri: 2019-01-04-Urgent-Kirstjen-Nielsen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Kirstjen_Nielsen%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/nielsen-resign/">call
on Kirstjen Nielsen</a> to resign.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: fa3e24f2690ebbcd26e49a91923d7dc7
title: Blind amphibian
uri: Blind-amphibian
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Blind_amphibian%29
content:
<p>
Blind Creature That Buries Head in
Sand <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/blind-amphibian-named-after-trumps-climate-change-stance">Named
After Donald Trump</a>.


feed_id: 0ddeb01c1c452eea1c15471a194d4441
title: Nuclear armed AIs
uri: Nuclear-armed-AIs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Nuclear_armed_AIs%29
content:
<p>
Even worse than killer
robots: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/18/coming-hyperwaralexa-launch-our-nukes">nuclear
armed AIs</a>.


feed_id: 622429d2a3745b0078528bcf9a02f36b
title: Christina Engelhardt
uri: Christina-Engelhardt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Christina_Engelhardt%29
content:
<p>
Christina Engelhardt's love affair with Woody Allen lasted 8 years,
then they parted as friends.  They
both <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/18/former-model-claims-underage-relationship-with-woody-allen-in-1970s-christina-engelhardt">remembered
it fondly</a>.
<p>
This is the sort of relationship that everyone's life should be filled
with.  I pity those who see something wrong in it.


feed_id: 0a45fbe1d70b1cf521b615b364faf261
title: Mandatory paid family leave
uri: Mandatory-paid-family-leave
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Mandatory_paid_family_leave%29
content:
<p>
Washington State has set up
a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/18/washington-paid-family-leave-law-trend">mandatory
paid family leave</a> system.
<p>
To make this fulfill its mission, we need to extend it to the people
who are now compelled to be "independent contractors".


feed_id: f0bc73f1a1965df0da9547d703806190
title: First Step Act
uri: First-Step-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28First_Step_Act%29
content:
<p>
The Senate
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/first-step-act-criminal-justice-reform-passes-senate">passed
the First Step Act</a>, which will reduce mandatory minimum sentences
and make them less mandatory.  Thousands of prisoners will be
released.
<p>
It will also begin to bring back the concept of rehabilitation into federal
prisons, which was discarded a few decades ago in a fit of vindictiveness.


feed_id: e24e373946917a8347d9189c3fb8bade
title: Complaints about Kavanaugh
uri: Complaints-about-Kavanaugh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Complaints_about_Kavanaugh%29
content:
<p>
The 83 ethics complaints made about Kavanaugh
can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/brett-kavanaugh-improper-conduct-claims-judicial-council">no
longer be acted on</a> due to his undeserved elevation to the Supreme
Court.


feed_id: f96a065c5d2c9af7218a83739b0eaa53
title: Trump Foundation
uri: 2019-01-04-Trump-Foundation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Trump_Foundation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a>
will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/trump-foundation-shutdown-lawsuit">shut
down the Trump Foundation</a> because it has been caught in a "pattern
of illegality".


feed_id: b6dc9ca002c7f8f1d59019e53ff715af
title: Phone searches at the US border
uri: Phone-searches-at-the-US-border
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Phone_searches_at_the_US_border%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5zny7/haisam-elsharkawi-lawsuit-against-us-government-cbp-dhs-unlock-phone">Challenging</a>
the US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>' right to search a departing passenger's phone,
and deny the passenger an attorney.


feed_id: eb6875e64ca4d63826a5f850f1021495
title: Overtime law in Hungary
uri: Overtime-law-in-Hungary
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Overtime_law_in_Hungary%29
content:
<p>
Orbán's forced-overtime-paid-late-if-at-all law
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/18/hungary-opposition-plans-more-protests-after-slave-law-passes-viktor-orban">roused
Hungarians</a> to campaign forcefully against his anti-freedom regime.


feed_id: 76bb7f3519dba9938a47dfbcbcd8e727
title: Chromium's domination
uri: Chromium-s-domination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Chromium%27s_domination%29
content:
<p>
Chromium's domination of the world wide
web <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/12/the-web-now-belongs-to-google-and-that-should-worry-us-all/">puts
the web in danger</a>.


feed_id: f68ad8f91c8f98f9259ef2e9c0abd205
title: FOSTA censorship of Kristof
uri: FOSTA-censorship-of-Kristof
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28FOSTA_censorship_of_Kristof%29
content:
<p>
Nick Kristof led the fight for the FOSTA censorship law.  Now his own
article <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181216/16493741237/ny-times-columnist-nick-kristof-led-charge-to-get-facebook-to-censor-content-now-whining-that-facebook-censors-his-content.shtml">has
been censored</a> in the name of that law.


feed_id: 9849ff43975d89a0795e9888dee68ca1
title: Searching computers at US border
uri: Searching-computers-at-US-border
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Searching_computers_at_US_border%29

content:
<p>
US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
regularly <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181213/18014241223/report-cbps-border-device-search-program-is-undersupervised-catastrophe.shtml">disregard
all their rules</a> when searching people's computers, rules that were
supposed to prevent abuses of their search power.
<p>
These violations were discovered in 2007, but the agency has not even
started to correct the unjust habits.  What this implies is that rules
are an ineffective method for establishing any rights for people
entering the US.


feed_id: 1065dc211653de613cfed6ab9f586892
title: Illegal criticism
uri: Illegal-criticism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Illegal_criticism%29
content:
<p>
In many US states, people can be prosecuted and
jailed <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/internet-speech/new-hampshire-police-arrested-man-being-mean-them-internet">for
criticizing someone</a>.
<p>
The laws say that only intentional false statements can be prosecuted,
but it is easy to falsely claim that a criticism is false.  The
bullshitter does this constantly.
<p>
These laws should all be eliminated.


feed_id: 19f2cb471d3b241c4615983332433e3e
title: Dead suspect loophole
uri: Dead-suspect-loophole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Dead_suspect_loophole%29
content:
<p>
In Texas,
the <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/18/dead-suspect-loophole-texas-police-jail">"dead
suspect loophole"</a> assures secrecy for thugs that kill someone.
<p>
Anyone they kill is a "suspect" because they always find some
accusation to make.


feed_id: 396d96107a9bb06a00dcd0b2065e531f
title: Nigeria's 'fake news'
uri: Nigeria-s-fake-news
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_January_2019_%28Nigeria%27s_%27fake_news%27%29
content:
<p>
Nigeria's government calls Amnesty International's reports of human
rights
violations <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/18/nigeria-concerned-over-amnesty-internationals-damaging-activities">fake
news</a>.


feed_id: b77086866c4b18a61cd3387a608c783b
title: Official points of entry to US
uri: Official-points-of-entry-to-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Official_points_of_entry_to_US%29
content:
<p>
There are many official points of entry from Mexico into the US, but
most of
them <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/19/us-mexico-border-migrants-claim-asylum-difficulties">block
migrants from claiming asylum</a>, which they have a legal right to
do.


feed_id: c4dc27d39e8dd4ce7a6ea493d65e67b5
title: Access to Facebook data
uri: Access-to-Facebook-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Access_to_Facebook_data%29
content:
<p>
Facebook allowed big companies (including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and
Sony) special access to its useds' personal
data, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/19/facebook-shared-user-data-private-messages-netflix-spotify-amazon-microsoft-sony">setting
aside its supposed rules</a> for use of that data.


feed_id: a9ba97627d9fe673070c9e49da44d971
title: Facebook's location tracking
uri: Facebook-s-location-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Facebook%27s_location_tracking%29
content:
<p>
Facebook <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/19/facebook-users-avoid-location-based-ads-settings-investigation-reveals">imposes
location tracking</a> on its useds, and location-based advertising
too.
<p>
In my view, the mere fact that a used of Facebook cannot prevent Facebook
from finding out per location and putting it in a data base is an injustice,
a threat to the used's human rights, and in some cases even per safety.


feed_id: 160c56b53c1550f27d77aec7cf03daeb
title: Massacre of Sikhs in 1984
uri: Massacre-of-Sikhs-in-1984
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Massacre_of_Sikhs_in_1984%29
content:
<p>
An Indian
politician <a href="http://www.minoritiesofindia.org/crimes-humanity-former-indian-mp-convicted-1984-sikh-genocide/">has
been convicted</a> of leading a massacre of Sikhs in 1984.
<p>
After some Sikhs assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, violent
Hindus organized massacres of whatever Sikhs they could get their
hands on.  Prosecuting the leaders has been difficult and slow.


feed_id: c63e1c261f4605920eac48b65d835678
title: GM houseplants
uri: GM-houseplants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28GM_houseplants%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/19/houseplant-rabbit-dna-reduce-air-pollution-study-devils-ivy">Genetically
modified houseplants</a> can clean up harmful chemicals in the air.
<p>
Each genetic modification is a different issue as regards effects on
humans and the environment.  A houseplant doesn't have as much opportunity
to cause problems as a food crop, for instance.


feed_id: 0703e1f550210b8aabcfa39f7f4c83dc
title: Choice for president
uri: Choice-for-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Choice_for_president%29
content:
<p>
Why Bernie Sanders Is (Still)
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/19/why-bernie-sanders-is-still-the-most-progressive-choice-for-president">Most
Progressive Choice</a> for President.
<p>
I disagree with Robinson on one point: we should not judge candidates by
their demographics.  I admire Ocasio-Cortez, and I'd gladly vote for her
for just about any office, but that's because of what she fights for, not
because of her "identity".


feed_id: 7aea28c1f625bdc3aab6829614ba10b7
title: Hungary's state TV
uri: Hungary-s-state-TV
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Hungary%27s_state_TV%29
content:
<p>
"I <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/19/occupy-hungary-opposition-mps-protest-viktor-orban">occupied
Hungary’s state TV studios</a> with other MPs. This is only the
start."


feed_id: e62b29e3a2cb5d9db5a61cbb2ba61671
title: Underdose of opioid
uri: Underdose-of-opioid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Underdose_of_opioid%29
content:
<p>
An underdose of
opioid <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/19/punishing-patients-wont-reduce-opioid-de">can
kill you</a>, if the pain is more than you can stand.


feed_id: 2aeb15f9f01f209242c8dc9f41f3df1c
title: Troops from Syria
uri: Troops-from-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Troops_from_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> has decided
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/19/us-troops-syria-withdrawal-trump">pull
the US troops from Syria</a> even though PISSI
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/19/has-isis-been-defeated-in-syria-as-trump-claims">not
been entirely defeated</a>.
This would leave Turkey a clear path to destroy Rojava.
<p>
I guess the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> can't resist trying to destroy a secularist and
socialist polity
that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#10_May_2018_(Attacking_Rojava)">respects
human rights</a> and treats women as equal.


feed_id: 49f1e32eee9051d8eaff3b2f8a235fb9
title: Guber in the UK
uri: 2019-01-05-Guber-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Guber_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Drivers for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> in the UK are
now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/19/uber-loses-appeal-over-driver-employment-rights">entitled
to minimum wage</a> and other rights of workers.
<p>
However, that is limited to on country.  Meanwhile, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> continues to
do <a href="https://stallman.org/uber.html">Orwellian tracking</a> of
its customers.


feed_id: c1b403176633e410ab4b7d9a54c57c50
title: Murders in the Philippines
uri: Murders-in-the-Philippines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Murders_in_the_Philippines%29
content:
<p>
12,000 to 20,000 people have been murdered in the Philippines
in the name of the "War on Drugs."  The official count recognizes
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/19/dutertes-philippines-drug-war-death-toll-rises-above-5000">only
5,000 of them</a>.
<p>
How many of them were really drug dealers, we have no way of knowing,
since killing them was a substitute for a trial.


feed_id: f8c0547aa204b83b8f7bebc12a376034
title: Coal subsidies in Poland
uri: Coal-subsidies-in-Poland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Coal_subsidies_in_Poland%29
content:
<p>
Poland <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/19/eu-coal-subsidy-phase-out-completely-inconsistent-paris-climate-deal">extracted
a concession</a> from the EU to extend coal subsidies, so that coal
plants could still be subsidized until 2035 &mdash; far past the time
when they must be closed.
<p>
Unless we try harder, we are doomed.
<p>
I propose declaring that operating a coal-burning power plant after
the start of 2022 constitutes an act of war against all other
countries.


feed_id: 5723a0a1b0d8cecc610fc2236e9e33df
title: Music festival in Sweden
uri: Music-festival-in-Sweden
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Music_festival_in_Sweden%29
content:
<p>
A music festival in Sweden, which told males that they were not
welcome, has
been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/19/statement-swedish-women-only-music-festival-guilty-gender-discrimination">judged
to violate laws</a> against gender discrimination.
<p>
We cannot condone "women-only" and condemn "men-only".


feed_id: 5484b96c7df3bd1e6c0d90a0961e8c66
title: Sweets at the cash register
uri: Sweets-at-the-cash-register
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Sweets_at_the_cash_register%29
content:
<p>
A study found that people buy less sweets and eat less sweets, if
sweets
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/18/removing-sweets-from-checkouts-could-help-tackle-obesity-study">not
displayed in the line</a> for the cash register.


feed_id: bc701d31055c145360ed366c544d7f40
title: Executive pay
uri: Executive-pay
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_January_2019_%28Executive_pay%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/18/jeff-bezos-has-enough-its-time-maximum-wage">Proposing
an upper limit</a> on what companies pay their top executives: 100
times the pay of the lowest-paid workers.
<p>
I support this idea, but in order for it to be effective, we would
have to close the loopholes.  These include hiring via subcontractors,
and making workers into "independent contractors".
<p>
We can also limit the stock options that executives can get
in a similar fashion.
<p>
I also support raising the maximum income tax rate for high incomes.


feed_id: d51c328b0b9e43c87a0d05831f5face8
title: Urgent: Funds for US government
uri: Urgent-Funds-for-US-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Funds_for_US_government%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/mcconnell_shutdown_2019">call
on Senator McConnell</a> to hold a vote on restoring funds for the US
government.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 48439efd94de6cbc2797b772decbffcd
title: Urgent: Violence Against Women Act
uri: Urgent-Violence-Against-Women-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Violence_Against_Women_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/VAWA_2019">call
on Congress</a> to bring back the Violence Against Women Act.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 6806035b708dd3c6280614c8d9c470a3
title: Google and US government
uri: Google-and-US-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Google_and_US_government%29
content:
<p>
Google and other surveillance-based companies
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/20/googles-earth-how-the-tech-giant-is-helping-the-state-spy-on-us">closely
integrated</a> with the US government, feeding it all the data they
get about people.
<p>
Neither Google nor the US government deserves this ingenuous trust.
We must put an end to the data collection; regardless of the fool's
convenience it offers, we must squash it.


feed_id: 2a8cef34524b19f4d4ec7f82142bb37d
title: Family history
uri: Family-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Family_history%29
content:
<p>
The Family
History <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/15/opinion/sunday/dna-ancestry-test.html">DNA
Can't Reveal</a>.


feed_id: 5c71b8d8666e5035a4e2341f2b1cc591
title: Huang Qi
uri: Huang-Qi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Huang_Qi%29
content:
<p>
Human rights activist Huang Qi is dying in Chinese prison, denied
medical care.  His grandmother campaigned to free him, and she has now
been jailed after arriving in Beijing to appeal to officials to
release him,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/the-last-time-i-saw-granny-pu-85-year-old-mother-of-chinese-dissident-seized-by-police">has
been held incommunicado</a>.


feed_id: 11ba082638d6607e08234eceadb0ceee
title: Single-use plastic
uri: 2019-01-07-Single-use-plastic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Single-use_plastic%29
content:
<p>
The EU is moving to ban single-use plastic
goods <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/19/significant-first-blow-plastic-pollution-monster-eu-reaches-landmark-deal-single-use">for
a list of purposes</a>.
<p>
Apparently the problem of plastic films for packaging has not been
addressed.


feed_id: ec83c96603e743e8b912bbfc079af50a
title: Refusing asylum
uri: Refusing-asylum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Refusing_asylum%29
content:
<p>
A
court <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/19/judge-strikes-down-trump-dojs-attempt-obliterate-asylum-protections-victims-domestic">struck
down the bully's order</a> to refuse to grant asylum on grounds of
persecution by a spouse or a gang.


feed_id: b18cb4072d9ce01b15a519c1ecc8b5f4
title: Water at border thug station
uri: Water-at-border-thug-station
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Water_at_border_thug_station%29
content:
<p>
Rep. Al Green, regarding the border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> station that didn't give
Jakelin Caal Maquin any water: "the only reason why this facility is
still open as it is now is
because <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1820151">[TV news]
cameras can’t get in</a>."


feed_id: 0e995c27a40e33bcd3713905b5c65ea5
title: EU copyright censorship
uri: EU-copyright-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28EU_copyright_censorship%29
content:
<p>
The new EU copyright directive, in particular Article 13's required
copyright censorship system, has the power
to <a href="https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/false-flag/">kill
investigative journalism</a>.


feed_id: ceb1f8495d5cbf5e743bb1a3143a5da7
title: Elsevier redirect
uri: Elsevier-redirect
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Elsevier_redirect%29
content:
<p>
The ISP bahnhof.se is threatened
with <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/isp-faces-net-neutrality-investigation-for-pirate-site-blocking-retaliation-181217/">punishment
for violating network neutrality</a>, because it sends visitors to
elsevier.com to a page that condemns Elsevier, first, rather than
sending them directly to Elsevier's site.
<p>
It is true that this violates network neutrality, but this violation is mild
compared with the one that Swedish government has imposed for Elsevier.


feed_id: 4450f00a0b6653fbe78ae45ddcad3835
title: No-fault car insurance
uri: No-fault-car-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28No-fault_car_insurance%29
content:
<p>
The predecessor of NAFTA already put business in the driver's seat so
much that
it <a href="http://economicdemocracy.org/trade/nafta.elainebernard.html">blocked
Ontario</a> from adopting no-fault car insurance.
<p>
NAFTA, which followed, did this even more.  The TPP
does it even more.


feed_id: a6d59ea2b604f239930e965241cfedbd
title: Donations to O'Rourke
uri: Donations-to-O-Rourke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Donations_to_O%27Rourke%29
content:
<p>
Beto O'Rourke promised not to accept fossil fuel money via PACs, but
he <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/18/draft-beto-campaign-launches-just-orourke-booted-no-fossil-fuel-money-pledge-list">accepted
several donations</a> from fossil fuel executives.
<p>
He is a "centrist" (center-right
plutocratist), <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/18/beto-we-hardly-knew-ye">not
a progressive</a>.
No wonder the Democratic Party establishment is trying to push him
as a candidate for president.


feed_id: b4099fb46eb2ed47fad655da5079bd9f
title: Unions and medical insurance
uri: Unions-and-medical-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Unions_and_medical_insurance%29
content:
<p>
US labor unions have become so absorbed in fighting for medical
insurance as a work benefit that
they <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/18/why-are-these-labor-unions-opposing-medicare-all">have
trouble making the leap</a> to Medicare for All.


feed_id: b2a1f81ba469d96ee4f21cb6d4e4372a
title: Israeli army's revenge
uri: Israeli-army-s-revenge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Israeli_army%27s_revenge%29
content:
<p>
The Israeli army
now <a href="https://972mag.com/revenge-israeli-military-objective/139261/">fights
for personal revenge</a>, which armies are not supposed to do.


feed_id: 5a07e0080d0fa1df9c65a6a64daa26e1
title: Tear gas in Palestinian schools
uri: Tear-gas-in-Palestinian-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Tear_gas_in_Palestinian_schools%29

content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers fired tear gas near and into various Palestinian
schools.  There was no unrest before the soldiers started it.
They <a href="http://imemc.org/article/hebron-schools-gassed-video/">fired
into a schoolyard</a> across a wall without even seeing who was there.
<p>
Other
soldiers <a href="https://972mag.com/israeli-army-shatters-illusion-normalcy-ramallah/139232/">blocked
all traffic</a> in and out of Ramallah.
<p>
Extremist fanatics terrorized two Palestinian schools near Nablus as
Israeli soldiers stood by
to <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181216-palestine-two-schools-evacuated-as-israeli-gunman-open-fires-outside/">protect
the extremists</a>.


feed_id: 3fbfd6e66c58eda34643b0bbc595cd1d
title: Purpose of corporations
uri: Purpose-of-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Purpose_of_corporations%29
content:
<p>
The now-standard US business idea that a corporation exists to make
money for its stockholders has been
a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/18/economy-built-around-stock-market-certain-end-looking-mess-we-call-america">failure
in business</a> as well as a failure for America and Americans.


feed_id: fea24941a14928caee343793a1fbda1b
title: Criticism in Thailand
uri: Criticism-in-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_%28Criticism_in_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
In Thailand, saying that a dress is
ugly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/19/youtube-host-faces-charges-for-criticising-thai-princesss-miss-universe-dress">is
a crime</a>, if it was designed by someone in the royal family.


feed_id: 7bc4d4cae707e6cf12279bc0a2eb04e1
title: Urgent: St Louis reforms
uri: Urgent-St-Louis-reforms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_St_Louis_reforms%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/tell-prosecutor-elect-wesley-bell-commit-to-justice-within-your-first-100-days">call
on the new St Louis county prosecutor</a> to carry out his promised
reforms quickly.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8a555e52d4b61dfc632f7eb39d6dc5df
title: Urgent: US funding bill
uri: Urgent-US-funding-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_US_funding_bill%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/no-wall-funding/">call
on Congress</a> to demand a clean funding bill that doesn't boost
hostility to immigrants.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 1da6a895a024c4814f322ee78d8898d8
title: Urgent: Find a better bank
uri: Urgent-Find-a-better-bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Find_a_better_bank%29
content:
<p>
In the US: <a href="https://www.greenamerica.org/getabetterbank">find
a bank</a> that lends to the local green economy.
</p>


feed_id: f34e86fb728dfa8be24aac3ec38cf330
title: Meat inspector positions
uri: Meat-inspector-positions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Meat_inspector_positions%29
content:
<p>
The US Department of Agriculture
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/19/usda-wont-disclose-latest-meat-inspector-vacancy-rates-shortages-threaten-food">stopped
publishing data</a> about the number of vacant positions for meat
inspectors.


feed_id: 9f7a1e93f86599f9fc77135a9bc03d72
title: Whitaker on the investigation
uri: Whitaker-on-the-investigation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Whitaker_on_the_investigation%29
content:
<p>
Whitaker
says <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/20/matt-whitaker-acting-attorney-general-mueller-inquiry-recuse">he
will exercise control</a> over Mueller's investigation.
He might shut it down, or he might limit what issues Mueller can
investigate.


feed_id: 12d3036521cf08b24598631ed4ce0a2e
title: Urban planning
uri: Urban-planning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Urban_planning%29
content:
<p>
Urban Planning Is Failing Children And Breaching Their Human Rights
&mdash;
Here's <a href="https://theconversation.com/urban-planning-is-failing-children-and-breaching-their-human-rights-heres-what-needs-to-be-done-107824">What
Needs to be Done</a>.


feed_id: 366079b87cf29c82914b39d5e5ec0ef4
title: Replacing Facebook
uri: Replacing-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Replacing_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
We Should Replace
Facebook <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/vbanny/we-should-replace-facebook-with-personal-websites">With
Personal Websites</a>.
<p>
If you run your web site on free software, you can make it do what you want,
and it won't force you into doing anything else.
<p>
However, in order for these sites not to snoop like Facebook, they
need to be run on many different servers, and organizations need to
once again run their own servers.


feed_id: dbef8d49f6a8a4688694fcdd83110c66
title: Canadian protests
uri: Canadian-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Canadian_protests%29
content:
<p>
Canadians
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/canada-yellow-vest-protests-gilets-jaunes">protesting
in the street</a>, demanding accelerated global heating.  Some of them
are right-wing extremists too.


feed_id: b1cb4e1599a810689e4cbf233709f77b
title: WWF's wildlife refuge
uri: WWF-s-wildlife-refuge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28WWF%27s_wildlife_refuge%29
content:
<p>
The WWF has pushed
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/20/letters-implicate-wwf-illegal-land-grab-and-human-rights-abuses">create
a wildlife refuge</a> in a place where indigenous people don't want
it.
<p>
Which should get priority?  Preserving other species, or preserving
other tribes of humans?  I tend to think it is the former, because
species are more different, than tribes and in most cases more
separate as well.


feed_id: e135d6fb136bbcab8208db3289aa49dd
title: Brazil's environment minister
uri: Brazil-s-environment-minister
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Brazil%27s_environment_minister%29

content:
<p>
Brazil's new environment minister
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/brazil-environmental-minister-still-likely-to-serve-bolsonaro-despite-misconduct">already
been fined</a> for pro-business corruption.


feed_id: 2821195beb7427b99233482a04cdee4a
title: Natural system interactions
uri: Natural-system-interactions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Natural_system_interactions%29
content:
<p>
Different natural systems turn out to have many unexpected
interactions, and many of them
create <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/20/risks-of-domino-effect-of-tipping-points-greater-than-thought-study-says">unexpected
positive feedbacks</a> for global heating.
It follows that the climate cliff, which we can't see, is closer
than we knew.


feed_id: efe89462e41de9dbb532bc4ef11f5a17
title: 'Protected' marine areas
uri: Protected-marine-areas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28%27Protected%27_marine_areas%29
content:
<p>
Europe's "protected" marine areas
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/20/marine-life-worse-off-inside-protected-areas-analysis-reveals">not
protected effectively</a>.  They are subject to heavy fishing, and
vulnerable species are more rare there than elsewhere.


feed_id: 1dc4c6d79df0fefb8d9778b879ecd7e5
title: Hodeida
uri: 2019-01-10-Hodeida
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Hodeida%29
content:
<p>
The US and Salafi
Arabia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/saudi-and-us-resistance-delays-un-resolution-on-yemen">are
playing politics</a> with the proposed UN resolution for a cease-fire
in Hodeida.


feed_id: 1691e54b6ddd0db83ee856cda0e9f274
title: Nominated attorney general
uri: Nominated-attorney-general
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Nominated_attorney_general%29
content:
<p>
Barr, nominated for attorney
general, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/20/william-barr-trump-attorney-general-muller-investigation-memo">criticized
the Mueller investigation</a>.


feed_id: 60f52049a09e74ec66b9cadb074677fe
title: Pipeline lawsuit
uri: Pipeline-lawsuit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Pipeline_lawsuit%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/20/enbridge-line-3-pipeline-battle-protest-minnesota">Suing
to block</a> another planet-roaster pipeline for tar sands oil.


feed_id: ac802f78f16b0ca46c471ac757132cef
title: Replacement iPhone batteries
uri: Replacement-iPhone-batteries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Replacement_iPhone_batteries%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/20/iphone-owners-have-less-than-two-weeks-to-replace-battery-for-25">Charging
far too much</a> for replacement batteries is part of Apple's pressure
for people to buy a new model even if the old one was good enough.


feed_id: 01fa3004f177b9cd2dd83a8920c805cc
title: Food stamp work requirement
uri: Food-stamp-work-requirement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Food_stamp_work_requirement%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> now wants to impose
a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/20/trump-administration-food-stamps-snap-regulations">national
work requirement</a> for food stamps.


feed_id: eff6425d999ad95279cbe7ecca03dbb2
title: Beto O'Rourke's votes
uri: Beto-O-Rourke-s-votes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Beto_O%27Rourke%27s_votes%29
content:
<p>
Beto O'Rourke
Frequently <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/20/beto-orourke-congressional-votes-analysis-capital-and-main">Voted
for Republican Legislation</a>.


feed_id: 3cc48fc78f96517b70b4ab5c450c97d3
title: Huntington Bank
uri: Huntington-Bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Huntington_Bank%29
content:
<p>
Tell Huntington Bank that
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/bankingwhileblack-not-crime/?source=emailgraphic&t=1007&akid=22753%2E1242918%2EeBuPrT">an apology in words is not enough</a> to be
forgiven for refusing to cash a black man's paycheck and calling the
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> to arrest him.
<p>
I am most worried by the idea of demanding people's fingerprints to
cash
their checks.  This advance in biometric tracking threatens everyone.
How much does this happen in the US?


feed_id: b2b711127e8b998588094273f662bacb
title: Lobbyists
uri: Lobbyists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Lobbyists%29
content:
<p>
Senator Warren <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/04/slamming-joe-lieberman-joining-chinese-telecom-giant-warren-calls-lifetime-ban?cd-origin=rss">proposes to ban former members of Congress from working
as lobbyists</a>.
<p>
I am in favor of the idea.  I am concerned that it might perhaps be
unconstitutional, just as long-term noncompete agreements are, but
I am no expert on that question.


feed_id: a7c58a2d8272517ca5f81d50974803eb
title: Leave the US
uri: Leave-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Leave_the_US%29
content:
<p>
The bully <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/05/poll-notes-trump-effect-american-desire-leave-us-permanently-surges?cd-origin=rss">has made many Americans</a>, in of the groups he targets with
hostility, want to leave the US.
<p>
I can understand that wish, but there is no other place that millions
of Americans can move to.  Anyway, Americans should not give up and
flee, not now.  We have a chance to defeat the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> and the
plutocratists in 2020.  We should not throw in the towel.
<p>
If we don't fight and win, nowhere on Earth will be reliably safe from
global disaster, or even from repression in the next decade.


feed_id: e73cd1a7994550f392352f4c45a3ece4
title: Persistent cheating
uri: Persistent-cheating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Persistent_cheating%29
content:
<p>
Workers at Wells Fargo Bank say they
<ahref="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/04/wells-fargo-fake-accounts-scandal-employees">still experience the same
pressure</a>
to sell that previously led to persistent cheating of customers.


feed_id: 9d969ce16df77f8dc05bbff122b2eac7
title: Forced Overtime
uri: Forced-Overtime
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#9_January_2019_%28Forced_Overtime%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/05/thousands-in-budapest-march-against-slave-law-forcing-overtime-on-workers">Hungarians continue protesting</a> against the forced overtime law.


feed_id: b171a6c5f41cbecfbaeb30549d1bbddb
title: Urgent: Platform for the bullshitter
uri: Urgent-Platform-for-the-bullshitter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Platform_for_the_bullshitter%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Networks_Trump">call
on the major TV networks</a> not to give the bullshitter a platform.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b045515b418f52d70abb068305c958fe
title: Urgent: Right to migrate
uri: Urgent-Right-to-migrate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Right_to_migrate%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-respect-the-human-right-to-migrate-and-end-militarization-at-the-border?nowrapper=true">Call
on Congress</a> to respect the human right to migrate and end
militarization at the border.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: c2e1502f80269e7272249ab0cf66724b
title: Rats in New York City
uri: Rats-in-New-York-City
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Rats_in_New_York_City%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a>
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/21/new-york-rat-crisis-climate-change">enabling
rats to increase</a> in New York City.


feed_id: 10855d89bd45eed61a2894fc42852d0b
title: Newly discovered plants
uri: Newly-discovered-plants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Newly_discovered_plants%29
content:
<p>
New plants recently discovered
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/21/from-spectacular-orchids-to-towering-trees-2018s-top-new-plant-discoveries">close
to extinction</a> due to human activities.  Some seem to have become
extinct before the finds were categorized and published.


feed_id: dfb180820841f43b400659bd2df0ddc3
title: Giving pets as gifts
uri: Giving-pets-as-gifts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Giving_pets_as_gifts%29
content:
<p>
Working to end the practice
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/21/adoption-ban-reminds-germans-pets-are-not-just-for-christmas">giving
pets as gifts</a> to people who may not be prepared to take care of
them.


feed_id: 1cc3adb8a61c90ab78a7fe8b4e0ddfbb
title: Genetic data identification
uri: Genetic-data-identification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Genetic_data_identification%29
content:
<p>
Collections of genetic data enable the state to identify you if it has
records for even a few of your third cousins.
This <a href="https://theconversation.com/dramatic-advances-in-forensics-expose-the-need-for-genetic-data-legislation-105397">creates
various dangers</a> for everyone.
<p>
The concept of property does not fit this problem, as the article
recognizes.  So why propose to think along those lines?  It is the
ideology of capitalism.  If the only tool you have is "ownership",
everything looks like a "property".


feed_id: 9f83cc9aa9c08e115bc752c4a2c532cd
title: Subcontracted Facebook workers
uri: Subcontracted-Facebook-workers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Subcontracted_Facebook_workers%29

content:
<p>
Facebook pays its subcontracted workers very little, and treats them
in a way that is cruel if not fraudulent.  When they demanded better
treatment, the subcontractor told them
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/20/facebook-contractors-filter-digital-labor-dispute-christmas">shut
up or quit</a>.
<p>
Subcontracting enables Facebook to disclaim legal responsibility for
all of this, but morally Facebook is entirely responsible.
<p>
If company A buys goods or services from company B, and none of the
workers of B are particularly associated with company A's purchase,
there is usually no reason to hold A responsible for how B treats
workers.  But when B is hired to provide people to work for A, morally
speaking they are working for A.  We should change the law to match
the morality.


feed_id: b96d3eda74ac5c043abdfacc6ea20c4e
title: Steny Hoyer
uri: Steny-Hoyer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Steny_Hoyer%29
content:
<p>
Rep. Steny Hoyer plans to make the new Green New Deal committee
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/20/steny-hoyer-accused-trying-shield-fossil-fuel-industry-kneecapping-green-new-deal">specially
powerless</a>.
He is a plutocratistic Democrat, so it is clear why he wants to do this.


feed_id: 72c329ccd8050698577010d58ee5fb99
title: Peter Stuyvesant
uri: Peter-Stuyvesant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Peter_Stuyvesant%29
content:
<p>
Peter Stuyvesant participated in slavery and antisemitism in New Amsterdam,
<a href="https://newyorkhistoryblog.org/2018/12/the-case-against-peter-stuyvesant/">without
moral hesitation</a>.


feed_id: c5996f252aad82353a70b667961a54ba
title: UK immigration prison coverup
uri: UK-immigration-prison-coverup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28UK_immigration_prison_coverup%29
content:
<p>
Michal Netyks committed suicide in UK immigration prison after he
found out he was going to be deported.  The prison
authority <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/20/home-office-criticised-for-deleting-records-on-death-of-detainee">deleted
some of the records</a> about this, in an apparent coverup.


feed_id: 81f4a609b465dc77ca50e6559117b1fe
title: Immigration prisons in Libya
uri: Immigration-prisons-in-Libya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Immigration_prisons_in_Libya%29
content:
<p>
The
UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/20/asylum-seeker-to-sue-uk-for-funding-libyan-detention-centres">funds
immigration prisons in Libya</a> in which refugees are treated with
cruelty.


feed_id: 8f264eccf85317f2f11c36b55b8bb811
title: Christmas eviction
uri: Christmas-eviction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Christmas_eviction%29
content:
<p>
UK
landlords <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/dec/20/disabled-woman-evicted-before-christmas-for-highlighting-the-damp">boast
of the power</a> to evict tenants at Christmas as revenge if they
complain about dangerous conditions in their homes.


feed_id: d09aea5d41bb80fc3d6bba1e1c655f3a
title: Congressional committee heads
uri: Congressional-committee-heads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Congressional_committee_heads%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/20/progressive-groups-urge-pelosi-limit-corporate-power-key-committees">Asking
Rep. Pelosi</a> to keep the most right-wing of congressional Democrats
from being the heads of the committees where they could do the most
good for the companies that they serve.


feed_id: 95d6c5653483a313ef9c3bc2ad06cd01
title: Floating Guantanamos
uri: Floating-Guantanamos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Floating_Guantanamos%29
content:
<p>
The US employs coast guard ships
as <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/20/americas-mixed-messages-board-uss-detention">floating
Guantanamos</a>; prisoners are shackled on deck, exposed to wind and
rain; their legal rights are disregarded; they are presumed guilty.


feed_id: 4fbf3c5c8dc91734576c9d8f132be102
title: Office of Drug Manufacturing
uri: Office-of-Drug-Manufacturing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Office_of_Drug_Manufacturing%29
content:
<p>
The
proposed <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/20/last-good-first-step-toward-public-pharmaceuticals">Office
of Drug Manufacturing</a> would make sure generic drugs are available,
and from a sufficient number of suppliers, to keep prices down.
<p>
This would address one part of the problem of outrageous drug prices
in the US.  Medicare for All
would <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#4_May_2017_(Price_of_insulin)">do
the whole job</a>, as it does in civilized countries.


feed_id: fb107f6fe6aca5de501497b5dde7800f
title: Tasers and violence
uri: Tasers-and-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Tasers_and_violence%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/20/police-stun-guns-force-assault-study">study
of London thugs</a> found that thugs that carry tasers are twice as
likely to become violent.  And more likely to be attacked with
violence.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> without tasers were more likely to commit violence when they
were in the company of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> that did have tasers.


feed_id: 39f80d4e8b5c81ede5f8df449f651077
title: Washington DC's renewable commitment
uri: Washington-DC-s-renewable-commitment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Washington_DC%27s_renewable_commitment%29

content:
<p>
Washington, DC, has committed to move the city
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/19/washington-dc-city-council-enacts-americas-boldest-renewable-energy-law-yet">100%
renewable electricity by 2032</a>.
<p>
That is quick enough to really push things.


feed_id: 10c07a510e7ca2b5b6cfa0a241a70be1
title: Computerized facial recognition
uri: Computerized-facial-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Computerized_facial_recognition%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/17/should-we-be-worried-about-computerized-facial-recognition">Should We Be Worried About Computerized Facial Recognition</a>?</p>
<p>Yes! It should be a crime to set up or operate a system that tries to recognize faces seen in public places, unless they are designed with limits that prevent them from tracking people other than suspects designated by specific court orders.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 92cbfdf4d2799825ba063d7c54778e98
title: Negativity on social platforms
uri: Negativity-on-social-platforms
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Negativity_on_social_platforms%29

content:
<p> Increase Exposure to Negative And Inflammatory [messages] in Online Social Systems.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 336c9ab9ff097de6b3487ba6c6697b44
title: UK: spy agency crack computers
uri: UK-spy-agency-crack-computers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28UK%3A_spy_agency_crack_computers%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/08/gchq-bulk-hacking-hacking-human-rights-privacy-alarm">The UK digital spy agency can get authorization to break into any and all computers</a> in some very large class.  And it expects to do this more and more often.</p>
<p>This effectively eliminates the vital safeguard for human rights -- the requirement for a specific search warrant.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6603b40e805d4685699c25524563c80f
title: Italy: right-wing radicalism
uri: Italy-right-wing-radicalism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Italy%3A_right-wing_radicalism%29

content:
<p>The EU sits on Italy, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/16/europes-merciless-treatment-of-italy-only-hardens-popular-resentment">keeping it from escaping poverty</a>; this is driving Italy towards right-wing radicalism.</p>
<p>As long as the EU keeps blocking elected governments from doing anything to help the people that elected them, the people will reject them for their failure and vote for a more radical party.</p>
<p>I see two ways this slide could end: with the election of a party that will confront the EU with an economic hand grenade in its hands and win some concessions, or with the election of a party that will be so repressive that it won't allow people to replace it.</p>
<p>The latter is the only way a party can lastingly impose the ever-increasing suffering that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> demand. I fear the Lega will soon get the chance to do that.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9cedee198f43b231eddb34ee0ec65b9f
title: Kushner and Saudis
uri: Kushner-and-Saudis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Kushner_and_Saudis%29
content:
<p>The Wooing of Jared Kushner: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/08/world/middleeast/saudi-mbs-jared-kushner.html?action=click&module=Top">How the Saudis Got a Friend in the White House</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 64ea1381560bd5292f177fbab603dd6b
title: David Mayer watch list
uri: David-Mayer-watch-list
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28David_Mayer_watch_list%29
content:
<p>Actual US systems for recognizing "terrorists" <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/16/akhmed-one-armed-isis-terrorist-alias-david-mayer-historian-secret-watch-list">are so incompetent that they can't distinguish 90-year-old David Mayer from a one-armed dead man</a>.</p>
<p>These systems that supposedly "protect" us from terrorists do more harm to Americans than the terrorists themselves do.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 15f961d6739c50a663df10280cb18c3d
title: Algorithmic tyrannic control
uri: Algorithmic-tyrannic-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Algorithmic_tyrannic_control%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/F0xUGGQRlCk/can-algorithms-run-things-bett">Ever-advancing surveillance technologies and algorithms</a> for controlling people threaten to create tyranny beyond the fictional 1984.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9139d74e5d43c3141b9fc52c7417cec3
title: Ugandan politician in hiding
uri: Ugandan-politician-in-hiding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Ugandan_politician_in_hiding%29
content:
<p>Ugandan opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi (stage name Bobi Wine) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/16/ugandan-pop-star-mp-bobi-wine-in-hiding-after-police-raid">has been facing repression for some time for his politics</a>.  Now thugs raided the hotel where he was staying before giving a concert, but he got away.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 793a6045d29418e207220bfe7b92662e
title: Israel want US to push out Palestinians
uri: Israel-want-US-to-push-out-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Israel_want_US_to_push_out_Palestinians%29

content:
<p>Israel wants the US to pay Palestinians <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/16/israel-messianic-jews-ethinic-cleansing-palestinians-pence/">to "voluntarily" move out of Palestine</a>.</p>
<p>A plan like this might be ethical if the carrot were not accompanied by lots of sticks with blades on their sides.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8cd0a7b63014e35c22954cbce7dd9ec4
title: Cuban journalist jailed in US
uri: Cuban-journalist-jailed-in-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Cuban_journalist_jailed_in_US%29
content:
<p>Journalist Serafín Morán Santiago has been exiled from Cuba for his writings, so he cannot be deported there.  So US border thugs have kept him in jail for 7 months while <a href="https://cpj.org/blog/2018/12/journalists-fleeing-threats-at-home-trapped-in-ice.php">pondering whether to give him asylum</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f1da9610de3dd9e455ba5e46c5303bb6
title: Johnson & Johnson asbestos
uri: Johnson-Johnson-asbestos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Johnson_%26_Johnson_asbestos%29
content:
<p>Johnson & Johnson discovered that some lots of Baby Powder contained trace amounts of asbestos.  <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/">Even these trace amounts are enough to cause cancer in some of the users</a>,  The company covered this up.</p>
<p>I wonder if the same is true of all talcum powder.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4528be6778ca8a68c0dc39b29316f170
title: Fossil fuel divestment
uri: 2019-01-12-Fossil-fuel-divestment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Fossil_fuel_divestment%29
content:
<p>Investors whose portfolios add up to 8 trillion dollars <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/16/divestment-fossil-fuel-industry-trillions-dollars-investments-carbon">have endorsed divestment from fossil fuels</a>, and it is starting to hamper the fossil fuel companies.</p>
<p>A few years ago I read that US fossil fuel companies are having trouble hiring staff.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 83525070a69df85ef9e29acc0133f551
title: Venezuelan opposition likely worse than president
uri: Venezuelan-opposition-likely-worse-than-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Venezuelan_opposition_likely_worse_than_president%29

content:
<p>Cruel and unjust as Venezuelan president Maduro is, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/16/liberate-venezuela-from-maduro-urges-bolsonaro-ally">the opposition is likely to be worse</a>.  They are allied with Bolsonaro, who openly proposes to commit similar injustices, which means he is likely to go even further.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cfac02b1960434aaf4df4362197b3d1c
title: Costa Rica's cloud forest
uri: Costa-Rica-s-cloud-forest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Costa_Rica%27s_cloud_forest%29
content:
<p>Costa Rica's cloud forest is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/16/head-in-the-clouds-climate-change-nalini-nadkarni-costa-rica-monteverde">on the way to being wiped out</a>.  Thousands of species that are endemic to the cloud forest could face extinction.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 07a327e01f0c7e6e8fff9288162b8f42
title: US needs Medicare for all
uri: US-needs-Medicare-for-all
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28US_needs_Medicare_for_all%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/15/take-it-me-tweaks-wont-fix-healthcare?cd-origin=rss">A former insurance company executive says</a> the US needs Medicare for All; the so-called "compromise" would enable private insurance companies to "skim the cream" of patients that don't need much medical care, while dumping only the expensive patients onto public funds.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 25d6cb03262133b444e22dfd39ac5c85
title: US sanctions against Iran affect UK students
uri: US-sanctions-against-Iran-affect-UK-students
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28US_sanctions_against_Iran_affect_UK_students%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/15/uk-universitity-tells-iranin-student-pay-tuition-fees-in-cash-trump-sanctions">Iranian students in UK universities face expulsion</a> because US sanctions against Iran are stopping them from transferring the tuition fees to the UK.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 3791d65ba5cc4b40d4839faf6105dccb
title: Maria Butina plea deal
uri: Maria-Butina-plea-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Maria_Butina_plea_deal%29
content:
<p><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/maria-butina-accused-russian-agent-reaches-plea-deal/story?id=59719083">Maria Butina has plead guilty to hooking up officials and donors of the NRA with the Kremlin</a>, whence they hoped to receive support for their activities.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 685f29413bf22b21b0e86393447d7bf0
title: Computer security on ships
uri: Computer-security-on-ships
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Computer_security_on_ships%29
content:
<p>Flaws in computer security on ships <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/ships-infected-with-ransomware-usb-malware-worms/">puts them in danger of collision or shipwreck</a>.</p>
<p>I suggest that over-reliance on digital systems for the operation of a ship is a fundamental design flaw, which ought to be illegal. One ship was saved from disaster by having paper charts for backup. Every ship should be required to carry paper charts.</p>
<p>Redundancy of systems requires redefinition, too.  Having another computer as backup is worthless if it is easy to take over both of them digitally.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7f17f8b9b8afd29dda6761d7f636c3cb
title: Europe: right-to-repair
uri: Europe-right-to-repair
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Europe%3A_right-to-repair%29
content:
<p><a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9k487p/protesters-are-slowly-winning-electronics-right-to-repair-battles-in-europe">Protesters Are Slowly Winning Electronics Right-to-Repair Battles in Europe</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c593c754f707229171f8aa98dee39f9e
title: Hungary: law allows companies to demand overtime
uri: Hungary-law-allows-companies-to-demand-overtime
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Hungary%3A_law_allows_companies_to_demand_overtime%29

content:
<p>Hungary's nominally democratic government has passed a law allowing companies to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46551904">demand 400 hours of overtime annually from a worker</a>, and not even pay for it until years later.  (Which perhaps means never, if the company is shut down.)</p>
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feed_id: 287c5d2face55169872c65ecfcc14969
title: Town asks fossil fuel companies to pay
uri: Town-asks-fossil-fuel-companies-to-pay
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Town_asks_fossil_fuel_companies_to_pay%29

content:
<p>The town of Whistler, in Canada, <a href="https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/whistler-wants-albertan-oil-and-gas-company-to-pay-for-resorts-climate-change-costs">has asked fossil fuel companies to pay the expenses that global heating is causing it</a>.</p>
<p>The planet-roaster representative who said that it seems strange to single out specific <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> for this request has a valid point.  The right way to handle this would be with a world-wide carbon tax, which would increase every year until it is clear that net emissions will go sufficiently negative.</p>
<p>However, their other hand just blocked all real progress at the Poland climate conference, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/16/what-was-agreed-at-cop24-in-poland-and-why-did-it-take-so-long">which was unable to agree on targets that would do the job, or specific measures to take</a>.</p>
<p>Given their intentional wrongdoing, they have no valid argument against any plan to hold them responsible.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/15/morally-unacceptable-final-deal-out-cop24-sorely-lacking-urgency-and-action-climate?cd-origin=rss">'Morally Unacceptable': Final Deal Out of COP24 Sorely Lacking in Urgency and Action, Climate Campaigners Say</a>.</p>
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feed_id: 5f000da88b0430ee717a3be982e76ed0
title: Poland: powerful fossil fuel companies
uri: Poland-powerful-fossil-fuel-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Poland%3A_powerful_fossil_fuel_companies%29

content:
<p>The fossil fuel companies' power over the Poland climate conference was so strong that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/14/cop24-organizers-accused-censoring-climate-campaigners-while-letting-pro-fossil-fuel?cd-origin=rss">they got the UN officials in charge to censor the terms</a> "dirty energy" and "fossil fuel companies".</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 328271e485f77569e2a4e042bf51221d
title: Wisconsin: state governor had power taken
uri: Wisconsin-state-governor-had-power-taken
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Wisconsin%3A_state_governor_had_power_taken%29

content:
<p>Wisconsin's Republicans have taken away the principal power of the state governor, <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/eSiaAYlhiKA/1819241">except for those in the state's constitution which is harder to change</a>.</p>
</li></p>


