# articles

feed_id: 13d4f994b1e20166d95f07eb7dda1a22
title: Australia's global heating costs
uri: Australia-s-global-heating-costs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Australia%27s_global_heating_costs%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/06/eye-watering-climate-change-disasters-will-cost-australia-billions-each-year-study-finds">Global heating disasters will cost Australia an enormous amount</a>,
estimated at 73 billion dollars (Australian dollars, I am guessing)
per year by 2060, even in the scenario where we curb global heating.
<p>
Since global heating often goes faster than was predicted, we should
take that as a lower bound.


feed_id: 6d7c1c534339bc38bb05a46e99522ab9
title: Land loss
uri: Land-loss
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Land_loss%29
content:
<p>
Legal effects of cultural wrinkles <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/06/leading-cause-black-land-loss-how-climate-crisis-supercharging-dispossession">exclude the property of some black
families in the US</a> from the aid that might repair flooded their
houses.
<p>
This is a short-term issue, because most of those houses cannot be
kept operational in the long term.  As floods get worse, eventually
the house will succumb.


feed_id: dde955c45aea4998f348eaa538c584f9
title: Occupy Wall street
uri: Occupy-Wall-street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Occupy_Wall_street%29
content:
<p>
*Occupy Wall Street <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/06/occupy-wall-street-achieved-a-lot-even-if-it-may-not-feel-like-it">swept the world and achieved a lot</a>, even if it may not
feel like it.*
<p>
I felt sympathy with Occupy Wall Street, but was disappointed that it
didn't lead to campaigns of a form that I could effectively support.


feed_id: 3b5d25b348f907e1a03da3e20de4d45f
title: International wealth hiding
uri: International-wealth-hiding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28International_wealth_hiding%29
content:
<p>
To shut down the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/05/pandora-papers-offshore-tax-havens/">international system of wealth-hiding and tax evasion
would not be complex</a>.
  The difficult part is not the writing of new laws, but to get them adopted.
<p>
I usually group lawful tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion together
under the term "tax dodging" because, morally and structurally, they
are very similar.  They often function through the same intermediary
countries.


feed_id: 8573af2d10984497a4472f507fc71cdf
title: EU Actions
uri: EU-Actions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#6_October_2021_%28EU_Actions%29
content:
<p>
The Pandora Papers show <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/05/eu-action-against-tax-havens-is-inadequate-say-meps">the inaequacy of the EU's action against countries
that aid in disguising property</a>.


feed_id: 407a7552267594bd4727c899f2d2c65e
title: Delete Instacart
uri: Delete-Instacart
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#6_October_2021_%28Delete_Instacart%29
content:
<p>
Since 2019, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/05/instacart-shoppers-working-conditions-customers-delete-app">Instacart has reorganizde how it computes workers' pay, to
pay them much less</a>.  Now the workers ask users to stop dealing with
the company and delete its app.
<p>
I support their demands, as far as that goes -- but in addition to how the
company treats its workers, we must look at how it treats its customers.
It requires them to run nonfree software!  And it collects personal data
about them and puts that in a database!
<p>
I won't let anyone do that to me.  Instead, I go to the store, pick up
what I want, and pay cash.


feed_id: 5a962351d776302b73b561f4d75c2af2
title: Facebook fanning ethnic violence
uri: Facebook-fanning-ethnic-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Facebook_fanning_ethnic_violence%29

content:
<p>
Frances Haugen accused Facebook of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/07/facebooks-role-in-myanmar-and-ethiopia-under-new-scrutiny">"fanning ethnic violence" in Ethiopia</a>.


feed_id: 773f9a1924a9c82c271632ec2ca74a10
title: (Satire) Big present
uri: (Satire)-Big-present
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28%28Satire%29_Big_present%29
content:
<p>
(satire) *Imran Khan Explains Money Saved In Offshore Tax Haven Was To
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/imran-khan-explains-money-saved-in-offshore-tax-haven-w-1847796374">Buy Pakistani People A Big Present</a>.*


feed_id: 7f8bcfd5a7de062e9de34d6dedf658ec
title: (Satire) Facebook outrage
uri: (Satire)-Facebook-outrage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28%28Satire%29_Facebook_outrage%29
content:
<p>
(satire) *Mark Zuckerberg Vows Employees Responsible For Facebook
Outage Will Be <a href="https://www.theonion.com/mark-zuckerberg-vows-employees-responsible-for-facebook-1847802329">Bullied To Suicide</a>.*


feed_id: 6cf214d51a1e76834bd60de4e008cf64
title: Abortion restriction effects
uri: 2021-10-10-Abortion-restriction-effects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#6_October_2021_%28Abortion_restriction_effects%29
content:
<p>
What the Texas abortion-restriction law <a href="https://www.aclutx.org/en/news/cruel-and-violating-how-texas-abortion-law-assaults-our-fundamental-rights">does to women in Texas that
need an abortion.</a>


feed_id: aa938e4cbe2e4f0db883dab225d19e4b
title: Actions against tax-dodging
uri: Actions-against-tax-dodging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#8_October_2021_%28Actions_against_tax-dodging%29
content:
<p>
2/3 of the European Parliament voted for a resolution calling for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/european-parliament-approves-tougher-rules-on-offshore-wealth">stronger
action against tax-dodging via foreign countries</a>.
  It is not clear to what extent European countries will follow this.
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#12_March_2018_(Lack_of_democracy_in_EU)">The EU is not really very democratic</a>,
  and its role in adopting real
directives is rather weak.  However, a 2/3 majority could at least override
pressures from the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.


feed_id: 4301314a6dc5630b593548aac448e02f
title: Urgent: Log out of Facebook Nov 10
uri: Urgent-Log-out-of-Facebook-Nov-10
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Log_out_of_Facebook_Nov_10%29

content:
<p>

Everyone: <a href="https://thefacebooklogout.com/form/acre/">log out of Facebook</a> on Nov 10.
<p>
The organizers of that campaign aim to send a signal of displeasure.
That may do some good, but I suggest that you do more than that.  I
suggest that you refuse to be used by Facebook ever again.
<p>
You probably already know why we should refuse to be useds of
Facebook, but in case not, here is a <a href="https://stallman.org/facebook.html">list of lots of reasons</a>.


feed_id: 931e9ac352943f3aa05f05eb396ae7d7
title: Urgent: Hollywood non-actor workers' strike
uri: Urgent-Hollywood-non-actor-workers-strike
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Hollywood_non-actor_workers%27_strike%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on support the <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-now-give-film-and-television-workers-a-fair-deal">Hollywood non-actor workers' strike</a>.
<p>
I hate Hollywood for several reasons including <a href="defectivebydesign.org">DRM</a>
and unjust copyright laws.  Nonetheless I will defend workers from
exploitation.


feed_id: 26d01183277c396245adbf298c8190da
title: Urgent: Gratis meals for schoolchildren
uri: Urgent-Gratis-meals-for-schoolchildren
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Gratis_meals_for_schoolchildren%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on Congress to <a href="https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Advocacy">expand federal funds for gratis
meals for schoolchildren</a>.


feed_id: 3d35d732bc9e4bafa8724e5d85784eba
title: Urgent: Block new oil and gas wells
uri: Urgent-Block-new-oil-and-gas-wells
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Block_new_oil_and_gas_wells%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on Gov. Newsom and President Biden to <a href="https://act.stand.earth/page/34153/petition/1">block new oil
and gas wells</a> and other fossil fuel infrastructure.


feed_id: f614b82355798615ed21a3bea1f60f56
title: Urgent: Proposed arms sale to Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-Proposed-arms-sale-to-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Proposed_arms_sale_to_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on your Senators to <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/senate_block_saudi_sale">block the proposed arms sale</a> to
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>.


feed_id: f4d0d37a983aaab0a87b442f24a49384
title: Urgent: regulate disguised payday loans
uri: Urgent-regulate-disguised-payday-loans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_regulate_disguised_payday_loans%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on the CFPB to <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/add-your-name-tell-the-cfpb-not-to-let-predatory-lenders-use-a-loophole-to-evade-lending-laws-and-rip-off-struggling-working-families">regulate disguised payday loans</a> like
explicit payday loans.


feed_id: a2abe6d848970a769a53dcf42dd91478
title: "Election Audits" don't convince fanatics
uri: Election-Audits-don-t-convince-fanatics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Election_Audits_don%27t_convince_fanatics%29

content:
<p>

"Election audits" that find no wrongdoing do not convince the fanatics
who are positive that the wrecker really won in 2000.  They react by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/07/us-election-investigations-audit-wrongdoing-arizona">demanding
more investigation</a>.
The "steal" has become an article of faith for them, and "audits"
have become a barbaric ritual that they use to propagate the faith.
<p>
The "audit" in Arizona confirmed that Biden did win that state,
and with a slightly bigger margin.  It appears that the Republicans
who did the auditing were compelled, somehow, to judge each ballot
by impartial standards.
<p>
I predict that if Republicans do more of these "audits" they will try to
eliminate whatever factor had that effect.  They will look for ways to
report arbitrary, bogus results.


feed_id: 7da83faab13a4c7a763afb5be2f96ab1
title: Right-wing network OAN
uri: Right-wing-network-OAN
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Right-wing_network_OAN%29
content:
<p>

AT&T decided to start the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/">extreme right-wing network OAN</a>, and has been
its main impetus.
<p>
It is noteworthy that the CEO of OAN refers to mainstream media as
"the other side" from <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#faux">Faux News</a>.


feed_id: 306ebc4ed8b1e3c73c44bfef6e17cb38
title: (satire) Rare night out
uri: (satire)-Rare-night-out
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Rare_night_out%29
content:
<p>

(satire) *Watchdog Group Enjoys <a href="https://www.theonion.com/watchdog-group-enjoys-rare-night-out-after-getting-sitt-1847802125">Rare Night Out</a> After Getting Sitter To
Look After Telecom Industry.*


feed_id: e825b058d7838ded1d094ef082838ec8
title: Republican legislators in Michigan
uri: Republican-legislators-in-Michigan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Republican_legislators_in_Michigan%29

content:
<p>

Republican legislators in Michigan have passed laws to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/politics/michigan-whitmer-local-health-departments-mask-mandates/index.html">cut the funding
of school districts</a> that require people in schools to wear masks, or
require quarantine of people that have Covid-19.
<p>
Republicans control the Michigan legislature is that they rig the
elections using gerrymandering.  A majority of the votes are always
Democratic, and a majority of the legislature always Republican.  Now
that Republicanism means spreading disease, maybe it will be possible
for Michiganders to overcome the intentional unfairness of the
electoral system.


feed_id: 78df04351a509cc0afaec454bee8cfe8
title: Facebook's amplification of hate and disinformation
uri: Facebook-s-amplification-of-hate-and-disinformation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Facebook%27s_amplification_of_hate_and_disinformation%29

content:
<p>

The natural inclination in responding to Facebook's amplification of
hate and disinformation is to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/04/its-time-stand-up-facebook/">propose to censor specific forms of hate
and disinformation</a>.
However, that is a bad approach, because it would bring the government into
regulating which opinions are acceptable.
<p>
I suspect it would also fail to eliminate the opinions it is intended
to eliminate.  As long as Facebook continues with its business model
which specifically favors provoking hostility, it will design its
algorithm to promote hatred-provoking postings as much as it can get
away with.  It will encourage people to probe the official limits on
how to present hate.  They will find ways, just as they have in the
past.
<p>
Frances Haugan's testimony confirms my earlier conclusion that the
wrong of Facebook is not in specific nasty statements posted there,
but in the algorithm that promotes statements for being nasty.  That
algorithm is what it is because of the fact that spreading nasty
statements is profitable for Facebook.
<p>
So let's regulate that algorithm, not the kinds of points people can post
on Facebook.


feed_id: 34f7c96dc44fd1f796abe7ec2481e435
title: House Capitol attack panel
uri: House-Capitol-attack-panel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28House_Capitol_attack_panel%29
content:
<p>

*House Capitol attack panel <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/07/house-capitol-attack-committee-subpoenas">subpoenas key planners of "Stop the Steal"</a>
 rally [on Jan 6].*


feed_id: d98d7b641c9ded2488b2d3f75d4084b7
title: Police killings of civilians
uri: Police-killings-of-civilians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Police_killings_of_civilians%29
content:
<p>

*Police killings of civilians in the US have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/police-killings-of-civilians-in-the-us-have-been-undercounted-by-more-than-half-in-official-statistics-169133">undercounted by
more than half in official statistics</a>.*


feed_id: 8ffc24b23c94260bdb9b8d9ae2c81af5
title: Trial of Bernard Collaery
uri: Trial-of-Bernard-Collaery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Trial_of_Bernard_Collaery%29
content:
<p>

Australia's court ruled that the trial of Bernard Collaery, the lawyer
who represented Witness K, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/08/prosecution-of-bernard-collaery-an-insult-to-timor-leste-xanana-gusmao-says">can be public</a>.  They are on trial for
whistleblowing about Australia's spying on East Timor's government
while it was negotiating with Australia about ownership of the sea
bottom between the two companies and its resources, including fossil
fuel.
<p>
As for the fossil fuel itself, the world must not allow either
Australia or East Timor to extract it.  Civilization's survival
requires it to <em>stay in the ground</em>.
<p>
Strange that all coverage of this dispute


feed_id: ff9c09555a2c16496fbb54320347f266
title: Wrecker undermining 2020 election
uri: Wrecker-undermining-2020-election
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Wrecker_undermining_2020_election%29

content:
<p>

Various ways the wrecker tried to pressure officials to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/08/department-of-justice-report-key-takeaways-trump">undermine the
2020 election last December</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/07/trump-doj-election-result-justice-department">More info</a>.


feed_id: 843327fb89fc6f888fdc79ee2a894fdf
title: More accurate Covid-19 statistics
uri: More-accurate-Covid-19-statistics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28More_accurate_Covid-19_statistics%29

content:
<p>

Estimating deaths from Covid-19 from statistics on excess deaths seems
to be more accurate than following various governments' statistics.
It leads to figures from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/08/global-covid-death-toll-higher-pandemic">7 million to 18 millions</a>.


feed_id: 0c57ae2244e3731cecfc13c3f7100b95
title: NDAs in California
uri: NDAs-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28NDAs_in_California%29
content:
<p>

California has prohibited companies from using NDAs to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/08/california-companies-can-no-longer-silence-workers-in-victory-for-tech-activists">stop employees
from talking about harassment or discrimination at work</a>.
<p>
Is this really limited to employees only?  What about other workers,
such as temps, gig workers, and other "independent contractors"?
<p>
The other unjust kind of NDA is that which covers generally useful
technical information.  My experience with MIT's Xerox laser printer
taught me that it is wrong to sign a nondisclosure agreement covering
generally useful technical information such as software. and I
determined _never_ to agree to them.  I have never made an exception
for any software or knowledge I have.
<p>
Occasionally I have agreed to a nondisclosure agreement for software
knowing that I would never get a copy pf that software, so the
agreement would be void.  After all, it's nonfree software, so I do
not want to run it!


feed_id: ef3cd5e7884dd3b43ab330011bb1cde0
title: US marshalls beat up prisoners
uri: US-marshalls-beat-up-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28US_marshalls_beat_up_prisoners%29
content:
<p>

US marshalls <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/07/marshals-task-force-mississippi-beating-arrest/">beat up and whipped prisoners</a> who were handcuffed.
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> also knocked down, handcuffed and beat up a middle-aged
woman, a house-sitting friend of the family, whom one of the prisoners
called to for assistance.
<p>
The prisoners face grave charges, and arresting them may have been
just.  However, gratuitously hitting and whipping them in the process,
and injuring them, was not excusable.  Nor was beating up the
house-sitter.


feed_id: 56da33576fb1d40b5e7cdde96d303cdc
title: Homes in Ireland
uri: Homes-in-Ireland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Homes_in_Ireland%29
content:
<p>

Thousands of homes in Ireland were <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/homeowners-demand-full-payout-in-irelands-crumbling-homes-scandal">built with stone that crumbles</a>.
The state, typically plutocratic, is offering the victims who built the homes
only partial compensation.  They can't afford the rest.


feed_id: d770d55329ab03fb25922d1e993580d2
title: Cop26 climate conference
uri: Cop26-climate-conference
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Cop26_climate_conference%29
content:
<p>

Covid-19 restrictions could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/09/covid-restrictions-could-hinder-cop26-delegates-and-observers">exclude some poor countries</a> from the coming
Cop26 climate conference.


feed_id: 01b028fd979b7c49e375379292f05ef1
title: Pollution of wood stoves
uri: Pollution-of-wood-stoves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Pollution_of_wood_stoves%29
content:
<p>

Even new, "low pollution" wood stoves <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/09/eco-wood-stoves-emit-pollution-hgv-ecodesign">emit enormous amounts of
pollution</a>.


feed_id: 60f6f6ed071a204979c46de2446f17da
title: More frequent spills
uri: More-frequent-spills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28More_frequent_spills%29
content:
<p>

Given the intention to phase out fossil fuels, companies will try to
run the existing facilities with the smallest possible investment,
including investment in keeping them running safely.  That will tend
to mean <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/09/california-oil-spill-huntington-beach-infrastructure">more frequent spills</a>.


feed_id: ea6c2846086acaf118ccab49c3a30b88
title: Subpoena of Ali Alexander
uri: Subpoena-of-Ali-Alexander
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Subpoena_of_Ali_Alexander%29
content:
<p>

The House of Representatives has <a href="https://www.gregpalast.com/?p=28257">subpoena'd Ali Alexander</a>, who helped
organize the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">saboteur</a>-in-chief's rally on Jan 6 and then led people
toward the Capitol.


feed_id: 567931be4fd396a7a842f6e008e2d04e
title: (satire) Scab in the cereal factory
uri: (satire)-Scab-in-the-cereal-factory
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Scab_in_the_cereal_factory%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *"Can You <a href="https://www.theonion.com/can-you-help-the-scab-get-into-the-cereal-factory-re-1847813144">Help The Scab Get Into The Cereal Factory?</a>" Read
Instructions On Back Of Kellogg's Box.*


feed_id: 52ee73d7a87386cdfeb505e15156a3ea
title: (satire) Creepy old man
uri: (satire)-Creepy-old-man
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Creepy_old_man%29
content:
<p>

(satire) *Creepy Old Man Has <a href="https://www.theonion.com/creepy-old-man-has-book-filled-with-the-home-phone-numb-1847802679">Book Filled With The Home Phone Numbers</a>
Of Everyone In Town.*
<p>
I wonder how he gets new editions nowadays.  I thought they were no
longer published.  I can phone directory information to look up a
number, but I'd much rather be able to do so privately in a book.


feed_id: 162d3e397bb462b995dcb11e2c5aafb0
title: Noisy protest
uri: Noisy-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Noisy_protest%29
content:
<p>

*<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/08/noisy-protest-avoid-climate-catastrophe">Only noisy protest</a> makes politicians take action to avoid climate catastrophe.
From the Suffragettes to the anti-apartheid movement, people taking
disruptive action have been on the right side of history.*


feed_id: 389aad2d7200a920a6a900941b47830c
title: Crushing protest
uri: Crushing-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Crushing_protest%29
content:
<p>
Enbridge, the company building the Line 3 pipeline, paid <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in
Minnesota over 2 million dollars to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/05/line-3-pipeline-enbridge-paid-police-arrest-protesters">crush protests against its construction</a> --
  often in
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2020-sep-dec.html#8_December_2020_(Monitoring_cops)">especially thuggish ways</a>.


feed_id: cf1168a0b6cd339149bf681f83e0f47e
title: Australia's global heating costs
uri: 2021-10-10-Australia-s-global-heating-costs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Australia%27s_global_heating_costs%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/06/eye-watering-climate-change-disasters-will-cost-australia-billions-each-year-study-finds">Global heating disasters will cost Australia an enormous amount</a>,
estimated at 73 billion dollars (Australian dollars, I am guessing)
per year by 2060, even in the scenario where we curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.
<p>
Since <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> often goes faster than was predicted, we should
take that as a lower bound.


feed_id: 05842fe82a42eeffb0b3387d1d0f1e33
title: Urgent: no fund for trying to overturn elections
uri: Urgent-no-fund-for-trying-to-overturn-elections
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_no_fund_for_trying_to_overturn_elections%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/these-companies-are-funding-trumps-insurrectionists?nowrapper=true">call on GM, American Airlines, UPS and other companies</a>
not to fund the campaigns of Republicans that voted to overturn the election.


feed_id: 793f6d8d37289ac933aab0976b3f6772
title: Review of the book Hot Air
uri: Review-of-the-book-Hot-Air
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Review_of_the_book_Hot_Air%29
content:
<p>
Review of the book <em>Hot Air</em>, by climate scientist Peter Stott, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/09/hot-air-by-peter-stott-review-the-battle-against-climate-change-denial">which describes the battle against global heating denialism</a>.


feed_id: c9da95507877bf47825a8c487d9a74d5
title: When others stay silent
uri: When-others-stay-silent
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28When_others_stay_silent%29
content:
<p>
*When others stay silent about the ills of British capitalism, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/09/ills-british-capitalism-liar-boris-johnson">liars like
[Bogus] Johnson rush in</a>.*


feed_id: 1bb08d28bc298915f4c665ce5bef4653
title: Journalist murders
uri: Journalist-murders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Journalist_murders%29
content:
<p>
*Dmitry Muratov: the Nobel winner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/08/my-nobel-peace-prize-belongs-to-russias-murdered-journalists-says-dmitry-muratov">shining light on Russia journalist murders</a>.*


feed_id: 126c1fc3bb008fa06153cb0c1900d761
title: Symbol for Build Back Better bill
uri: Symbol-for-Build-Back-Better-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Symbol_for_Build_Back_Better_bill%29

content:
<p>
Progressives need to find a clear symbol <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/08/democrats-biden-reconciliation-bill">to represent the purpose of
the Build Back Better bill</a>.

<p>
The name "Build Back Better" is itself so vague that it fails to say
<em>why</em> that bill should be passed.  But I don't like the term "freedom"
as a description for it, because defining "freedom" as "more options"
is a fundamental mistake.

<p>
Perhaps "American Dream bill" would fit, because many of the provisions
would make the former "American dream" a plausible hope for most Americans
once again.


feed_id: f173ce7b57c88f626a635fb3623d502d
title: Too dangerous to deport people there
uri: Too-dangerous-to-deport-people-there
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Too_dangerous_to_deport_people_there%29

content:
<p>
Daniel Foote, US envoy to Haiti who resigned in protest, says that
Haiti is so unstable and dangerous <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/07/haiti-migrants-daniel-foote/">that it is dangerous to deport
people there</a>.


feed_id: ca5207bd4f8b69f2646f710c04a3fc8f
title: Drug prices
uri: 2021-10-11-Drug-prices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Drug_prices%29
content:
<p>
Senator Menendez represents Big Pharma, and <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/07/drug-pricing-reform-medicare-bob-menendez/">intends to torpedo plans to
let Medicare negotiate drug prices</a>.
   Other advanced countries have national medical systems which do
negotiate in this way.  In the US, the power of plutocracy has blocked this,
and with Menendez's help, may block it again.

<p>
However, the underlying problem is the existence of patents that
governments have bound themselves to respect even at the cost of
people's lives.

<p>
The argument for medical patents would lose much of its apparent force
if we took the tests for approval of medicines out of the hands
of the drug manufacturers.  That way of organizing them makes them
susceptible to corruption.
                           The funding for these tests should not have
a direct interest in whether the drug is approved or not.


feed_id: 1d2c6d14d29ec608fbfe4e41bddb7521
title: Asylum system
uri: Asylum-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Asylum_system%29
content:
<p>
Why the UK's asylum system takes ages to decide and makes horribly
wrong decisions &mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/08/home-office-refugees-asylum-claims-pressure-staff">explained by someone who was employed to interview
people and decide</a>.

<p>
Since the situation for deciding benefits for disabled people is
basically the same, I think this also explains why that system
mistreats people so badly.

<p>
To start with, they were told to judge cases on the curve &mdash; more
refusals than approvals.

<p>
Contrast that with what I say to guide the volunteers who look at
sites and recommend articles to me.  I may say, "From these sites,
please aim to send me around 5 articles per week &mdash; on the average."
But if a recommender who understands what I am likely to find
interesting finds 10 interesting articles one week, and only 2 the
next week, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> should send me 10 or 2, as it may be.

<p>
Of course, there's less at stake here, because articles don't have
rights the way human beings do.  If a recommender decides not to show
me an article. The article won't suffer pain or injustice.


feed_id: 6349fe3fc34b661a7bf5e995d8789021
title: Nobel Peace Prize
uri: Nobel-Peace-Prize
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Nobel_Peace_Prize%29
content:
<p>
The Nobel Peace Prize has been given <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/08/journalists-maria-ressa-and-dmitry-muratov-win-nobel-peace-prize">to two journalists who have persisted
against government repression</a>: 

<p>
  <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2020-mar-jun.html#17_June_2020_(Journalist_sentenced_to_prison)">Maria Ressa in the Philippines</a>,
  and Dmitry Muratov in Russia.


feed_id: 3ff890534faee85250cb5c22c917a264
title: Thugs talking about shooting indiscriminately
uri: Thugs-talking-about-shooting-indiscriminately
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Thugs_talking_about_shooting_indiscriminately%29

content:
<p>
Video evidence shows that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in Minneapolis talked about shooting
indiscriminately <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/us/minneapolis-police-body-camera-floyd-protests/index.html">with their plastic-coated metal bullets, before
actually doing so</a>.

<p>
They also dismissed and ridiculed the warning that white-supremacists
from out of state were trying to provoke violence.  <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2020-sep-dec.html#24_October_2020_(Right-wing_terrorism)">We now know that
really happened</a>.


feed_id: 4393d0bdc6e2ce2673ab5235385f7dbd
title: Celebrating freedom of speech
uri: Celebrating-freedom-of-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Celebrating_freedom_of_speech%29
content:
<p>
Artist Shilpa Gupta <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/07/shilpa-gupta-review-barbican-london">still celebrates freedom of speech and poets who
were imprisoned by tyranny</a>.

<p>
Although I revile what people wish to say nowadays, I don't believe
censorship can lead to anything but tyranny.  Frances Haugen's
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives//2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_(Interview_with_Facebook_whistleblower)">explanation of Facebook's damage</a>
                        shows that the remedy for the harm that
Facebook does is not in censoring specific categories of vicious
things, such as QAnonsense, anti-vax, hatred and "Biden stole the election",
  but rather in prohibiting the recommendation algorithm that multiplies
and propagates whatever gets the most response.  As long as we allow that to
continue, it will polarize society with irrationality along new dimensions.


feed_id: b86801ce7ac7aed2b25ab41fc2cdf63a
title: Losing parent or caregiver to Covid-19
uri: Losing-parent-or-caregiver-to-Covid-19
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Losing_parent_or_caregiver_to_Covid-19%29

content:
<p>
140,000 minors in the US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/covid-hidden-pandemic-children-parents-caregiver">lost a parent or caregiver to Covid-19</a>.

<p>
Some of those minors were children; others were adolescents.  The article
lumps them together, so we can't tell how many were in each age range.
Please do not call adolescents "children";
  that tends to infantilize them.

<p>
I expect that such loss tends to hurt children more than it hurts
adolescents.  I also expect that the parents of adolescents were more
likely to die from Covid-19, because they were likely to be older.
But this is just guesswork.

<p>
Like so many other woes, this woe tended to fall more heavily on
marginalized and disprivileged demographic groups.  Why so?  Some of
those people may have suffered from bias in the medical treatment they
received.
           I would guess that many were deterred from seeking
treatment by worries about how they would pay for it.  <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-may-aug.html#12_July_2012_(Urgent:_Support_medicare_for_all) ">We know how
to eliminate that problem</a>.
  Surely the comorbidities that are more common among those who are
poor and/or marginalized also had an effect.

<p>
The article linked to first in this note displays symbolic bigotry by
capitalizing "black" but not "white".  (To avoid endorsing bigotry,
capitalize both words or neither one.)  I object to bigotry, and
normally I decline to link to articles which promote it.  But I make
exceptions for some articles which give important information about
racism and its effects, or the fight to eliminate racism.  That
article is one of the exceptions.


feed_id: a4b0771b5b90a49ede7a25fe2bd88b0e
title: Poland and EU
uri: Poland-and-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Poland_and_EU%29
content:
<p>
Poland is headed for a confrontation with the EU <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/polish-court-rules-that-eu-laws-incompatible-with-its-constitution">about whether the EU courts
are superior to Polish courts</a>,
  as the EU requires of member countries.

<p>
I think the EU have to expel Poland rather than allow it to act as a member
only in the ways that it finds convenient.

<p>
The EU has fundamental shortcomings: <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-sep-dec.html#18_October_2019_(EU_and_democracy)">its lack of democracy</a>
  and the Euro banking system which forces countries into depressions
by denying them deficit spending.

<p>
However, what the Polish government wants is not improvements, but rather
the chance to make things worse.


feed_id: fc152e972a117a555a2946d33ec1310b
title: Stronger action against tax-dodging
uri: Stronger-action-against-tax-dodging
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Stronger_action_against_tax-dodging%29

content:
<p>
2/3 of the European Parliament voted for a resolution <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/european-parliament-approves-tougher-rules-on-offshore-wealth">calling for stronger
action against tax-dodging via foreign countries</a>.
  It is not clear to what extent European countries will follow this.
The EU <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-sep-dec.html#18_October_2019_(EU_and_democracy)">is not really very democratic</a>,
  and its role in adopting real
directives is rather weak.  However, a 2/3 majority could at least override
pressures from the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.


feed_id: 97a393428486b24f49ae5ae0d528de97
title: Talk in Arles, France
uri: Talk-in-Arles-France
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Talk_in_Arles%2C_France%29
content:
<p>
<p>Richard Stallman will be giving a talk in Arles, France, on October 14.</p>
<p><a href="https://stallman.org/talks.html">More info</a></p>


feed_id: 7f5f9e8965271f82f2be4e083c8c354d
title: NDAs in California
uri: 2021-10-11-NDAs-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28NDAs_in_California%29
content:
<p>

California has prohibited companies from using NDAs to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/08/california-companies-can-no-longer-silence-workers-in-victory-for-tech-activists">stop employees
from talking about harassment or discrimination at work</a>.
<p>
Is this really limited to employees only?  What about other workers,
such as temps, gig workers, and other "independent contractors"?
<p>
The other unjust kind of NDA is that which covers generally useful
technical information.  My experience with MIT's Xerox laser printer
taught me that it is wrong to sign a nondisclosure agreement covering
generally useful technical information such as software. and I
determined <em>never</em> to agree to them.  I have never made an exception
for any software or knowledge I have.
<p>
Occasionally I have agreed to a nondisclosure agreement for software
knowing that I would never get a copy pf that software, so the
agreement would be void.  After all, it's nonfree software, so I do
not want to run it!


feed_id: eb09dca7f1e60385783214176e5a1f76
title: Pervasive surveillance
uri: 2021-10-11-Pervasive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#7_October_2021_%28Pervasive_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Even in Singapore, people are bothered by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/06/dystopian-world-singapore-patrol-robots-stoke-fears-of-surveillance-state">an increase in the already-pervasive
surveillance</a>.
<p>
Singapore's government says the robots will not try to identify people
<em>during the trial of these robots</em>.  Perhaps it's true, but so what?
<p>
I am in favor of reminding people to keep their distance and wear masks.
Identifying them is another matter &mdash; it moves towards <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">a society in which
unsurveilled activity is impossible</a>.


feed_id: 4a15f360788a0767458451b1a66aac76
title: Urgent: urge Biden to move for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
uri: Urgent-urge-Biden-to-move-for-the-elimination-of-nuclear-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_US_citizens%3A_urge_Biden_to_move_for_the_elimination_of_nuclear_weapons%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/biden-we-want-a-world-free-from-nukes?source=em20211009&t=1006&akid=7280%2E223515%2Ei4sRdN"></a>


feed_id: 28ab9f92a8028588c8440e265715a43b
title: Urgent: not funding overturning election
uri: Urgent-not-funding-overturning-election
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_not_funding_overturning_election%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/these-companies-are-funding-trumps-insurrectionists?nowrapper=tr">call on GM, American Airlines, UPS and other companies</a> not
to fund the campaigns of Republicans that voted to overturn the
election.


feed_id: fd1ca255ddd9469ab3e225b39397bc46
title: Urgent: Prison Phone Justice Act
uri: Urgent-Prison-Phone-Justice-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Prison_Phone_Justice_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/congress_pass_phone_justice">call on Congress</a> to pass the Prison Phone Justice Act.

<p>
This would stop the price-gouging on prisoners' phone calls.


feed_id: 037fdd7994ad4290790aea8953d4cb6a
title: Urgent: eliminate nuclear weapons
uri: Urgent-eliminate-nuclear-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_eliminate_nuclear_weapons%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/biden-we-want-a-world-free-from-nukes">urge Biden</a> to move for the elimination of nuclear weapons.


feed_id: bb4c47446b7a83685b2e89ce9bc883f0
title: Gig labor in university
uri: Gig-labor-in-university
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Gig_labor_in_university%29
content:
<p>
The University of Cambridge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/09/cambridge-colleges-accused-exploiting-gig-economy-tutors">has resorted to gig labor for tutoring students</a>.


feed_id: 43c6baa90139805f11230f18aaee752f
title: Add-on to unfollow everyone
uri: Add-on-to-unfollow-everyone
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Add-on_to_unfollow_everyone%29
content:
<p>
A used of Facebook developed a browser add-on to make it easier
to unfollow everyone and make one's newsfeed empty.  Users loved it,
<a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/facebook-unfollow-everything-cease-desist.html">until Facebook threatened an absurd lawsuit that he could not afford
to defend</a>.

<p>
If the client software for Facebook were free, users could probably make
the newsfeed disappear by modifying that software.</p>


feed_id: 6e2527144f1f266d5c0b77bd3c2085b9
title: Flooding help-line
uri: Flooding-help-line
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Flooding_help-line%29
content:
<p>
*   Enq has a giant phone bank that floods the IRS help-line with
   simultaneous calls, so no one else can get through. Then they sell the
   right to take over a mature on-hold call &mdash; one that is near to being
   answered by a human being &mdash; <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/07/markets-in-everything/#no-th-enq">to busy tax professionals</a>.*


feed_id: 5c25dc53349f6e499c48bac3615ffa4d
title: Subscription based textbooks
uri: Subscription-based-textbooks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Subscription_based_textbooks%29
content:
<p>
US textbook publishers are colluding with universities <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/07/markets-in-everything/#no-th-enq">to bill
students for a subscription to each class's textbooks</a>.

<p>
This precludes any chance of avoiding their price gouging.
But there are more important issues at stake than money.
This scheme surely continues the usual injustices of <a href="media/6c20c24e.e-books.pdf" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/e-books.pdf">e-books</a>:
  <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org/">DRM</a>,
  identifying the user, and a contract promising to act like jerk.

<p>
The first article linked to above advocates "open access".
That term is weak &mdash; it asks for too little.  We should insist on
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/online-education.html">free/libre educational resources</a>,
  because most "open educational resources" are not free/libre.

<p>
It also uses <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">the misleading term "intellectual property"</a>,
  a bogus concept that spreads confusion every time it is used.


feed_id: beaf5e5a11978b06e9a4eb1ca09c144b
title: Report apps reporting user location
uri: Report-apps-reporting-user-location
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Report_apps_reporting_user_location%29

content:
<p>
A campaign asks the users of non-libre apps <a href="https://themarkup.org/privacy/2021/10/07/help-us-find-the-apps-that-sell-your-location">to report which ones report
the user's location</a>.
  There is no other straightforward way to make a list of those apps,
and their developers can change their behavior at any time.

<p>
A nonfree program gives its developers power over its users, <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">which makes
it an injustice</a>.
  I hope <em>you</em> don't use any non-libre apps, but if you do, it would be useful
to report on them.  You can do that and stop using them too.


feed_id: 93e8b0e774055234d367e70c7b4b0895
title: Giant sequoia trees
uri: 2021-10-12-Giant-sequoia-trees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Giant_sequoia_trees%29
content:
<p>
Fires this year <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/us/califronia-redwood-complex-fire-trnd/index.html">have burned hundreds of giant sequoia trees</a>.

<p>
That would be around .1% to .2% of the total.  Given their life spans,
this many per year, continued in the long term, can easily wipe them
out.  Along with hundreds of other species.

<p>
If civilization collapses, humans will no longer be able to fight the
fires very much, and they will sweep large parts of the American west
unchecked.


feed_id: 251529a9aa82de76fa0a126e27988d07
title: Academic freedoms
uri: Academic-freedoms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Academic_freedoms%29
content:
<p>
*University defends ‘academic freedoms’ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/07/university-defends-academic-freedoms-after-calls-to-sack-professor">after calls to sack professor</a>.*

<p>
The sad thing is that a university's defending the freedom to state
ones' opinions in a university should constitute news.


feed_id: ebc37e9e945d1182d61f4d50f9be6238
title: Bone Saw rehabilitated
uri: Bone-Saw-rehabilitated
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Bone_Saw_rehabilitated%29
content:
<p>
Crown Prince Bone Saw earlier demoted Saud al-Qahtani for his
involvement in organizing the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/08/saudi-aide-accused-of-directing-khashoggi-moves-closer-back-to-power">but is now
rehabilitating him</a>.
  Apparently three years in the cold is long enough punishment.


feed_id: ff9fe6e63d57d0cffe00d4f8a970628a
title: Pegasus
uri: 2021-10-12-Pegasus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Pegasus%29
content:
<p>
The developer of the Pegasus spyware package has commanded the program
&mdash; for all users, purportedly &mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/08/nso-pegasus-spyware-can-no-longer-target-uk-phone-numbers">to refuse to snoop on phone numbers
of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Israel</a>.
  Furthermore, these changes seem to have been imposed on preexisting
users of the program.

<p>
That would imply that either the program has a back door, or it has a
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">SaaSS component</a>.

<p>
We might consider that the proper solution is to take further steps in
the same direction, until the program is deactivated for <em>all phone
numbers</em>.  The manufacturer surely won't do that, though.  So let's put
that question aside and consider this from the standpoint of a user of
Pegasus.

<p>
Would you want your country's intelligence agency to be limited in
targets by a company that might obey other governments?  Should
governments accept being controlled by companies in this way?

<p>
Will the countries that are not thus protected start pressuring the
company to protect them, too?  For instance, what will France think of
this?  French ministers have been snooped on this way.

<p>
People who may be targets for spying can easily arrange to get US or
UK phone numbers.  If they do, will the company rescind this
protection?  If it can remotely protect certain phones, I suppose it
can likewise remotely unprotect certain phones.

<p>
The US and UK have a deal: when the US wants to snoop on an American,
since this would be illegal, the UK snoops on per and sends the US the
information.  And vice versa.  Is there a tweak in Pegasus to allow
the US and UK to continue doing that?


feed_id: 0ab24bd10247bfa67b8e8dc92e112a80
title: Fast track to disaster
uri: Fast-track-to-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Fast_track_to_disaster%29
content:
<p>
*Fast track to disaster? Brazil’s Grain Train plan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/brazil-grain-train-amazon-indigenous-soya-beans">raises fears for Amazon</a>.*


feed_id: 912ee8afec216475f0ef492da0f815ac
title: Repression court
uri: Repression-court
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Repression_court%29
content:
<p>
Hong Kong <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/hong-kong-plans-megacourt-deal-protest-arrests-backlog">is establishing a new court specifically for repression</a>.


feed_id: dd06dc4c304caea598ffd78e9c788fb4
title: Amazon rainforest is losing
uri: Amazon-rainforest-is-losing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Amazon_rainforest_is_losing%29
content:
<p>
*The Amazon rainforest is losing 200,000 acres a day.  Soon <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/07/the-amazon-rain-forest-is-losing-200000-acres-a-day-soon-it-will-be-too-late">it will be
 too late</a>.*


feed_id: 354d3c90c6204434b5a3048715b334f7
title: Urgent: urge Biden to move for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
uri: 2021-10-12-Urgent-urge-Biden-to-move-for-the-elimination-of-nuclear-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_US_citizens%3A_urge_Biden_to_move_for_the_elimination_of_nuclear_weapons%29

content:
<p>
US Citizens <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/biden-we-want-a-world-free-from-nukes?source=em20211009&t=1006&akid=7280%2E223515%2Ei4sRdN"></a>
Urge Biden to move for the elimination of nuclear weapons.


feed_id: 67b1b9f4006ee9ee0105a898583c9423
title: Celebrating freedom of speech
uri: 2021-10-12-Celebrating-freedom-of-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#11_October_2021_%28Celebrating_freedom_of_speech%29
content:
<p>
Artist Shilpa Gupta <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/07/shilpa-gupta-review-barbican-london">still celebrates freedom of speech and poets who
were imprisoned by tyranny</a>.

<p>
Although I revile what people wish to say nowadays, I don't believe
censorship can lead to anything but tyranny.  Frances Haugen's
explanation of Facebook's damage
                        shows that the remedy for the harm that
Facebook does is not in censoring specific categories of vicious
things, such as QAnonsense, anti-vax, hatred and "Biden stole the election",
  but rather in prohibiting the recommendation algorithm that multiplies
and propagates whatever gets the most response.  As long as we allow that to
continue, it will polarize society with irrationality along new dimensions.


feed_id: 918ec13c878b049941ac558c97ceb3e9
title: Facebook's amplification of hate and disinformation
uri: 2021-10-12-Facebook-s-amplification-of-hate-and-disinformation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#9_October_2021_%28Facebook%27s_amplification_of_hate_and_disinformation%29

content:
<p>

The natural inclination in responding to Facebook's amplification of
hate and disinformation is to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/04/its-time-stand-up-facebook/">propose to censor specific forms of hate
and disinformation</a>.
However, that is a bad approach, because it would bring the government into
regulating which opinions are acceptable.
<p>
I suspect it would also fail to eliminate the opinions it is intended
to eliminate.  As long as Facebook continues with its business model
which specifically favors provoking hostility, it will design its
algorithm to promote hatred-provoking postings as much as it can get
away with.  It will encourage people to probe the official limits on
how to present hate.  They will find ways, just as they have in the
past.
<p>
Frances Haugen's testimony confirms my earlier conclusion that the
wrong of Facebook is not in specific nasty statements posted there,
but in the algorithm that promotes statements for being nasty.  That
algorithm is what it is because of the fact that spreading nasty
statements is profitable for Facebook.
<p>
So let's regulate that algorithm, not the kinds of points people can post
on Facebook.


feed_id: e43d0817ad94038c3d34900aecf16a2f
title: Convicted thug
uri: 2021-10-12-Convicted-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#8_October_2021_%28Convicted_thug%29
content:
<p>
It turns out that the London <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> recently convicted of raping and
murdering a woman was accused, six years ago, of driving a car while
wearing nothing below the waist.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/04/wayne-couzens-case-how-do-you-lose-your-job-in-the-police">If he did so, does that matter</a>?
<p>
As far as I can see, lack of pants while driving has no significance
at all.  People a few feet away form the car generally cannot see the
absence of pants.  To call this "exposure" is exaggeration of the
facts.
<p>
His misogynist communications may well be connected with his crime,
but let's be careful not to demonize every unusual thing he did in
connection with sex.  You can't tell that someone will rape or murder
based on quirks, and we risk oppressing people if we suppose you can.


feed_id: 9cee318a47b47f8b703e8c59eefceb41
title: Urgent: Stop Wall Street from fueling climate crisis
uri: Urgent-Stop-Wall-Street-from-fueling-climate-crisis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_Wall_Street_from_fueling_climate_crisis%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.350.org/sign/yellen-petition/">call on Treasury Secretary Yellen</a> to stop Wall Street
from fueling the climate crisis.


feed_id: c0d62bb1ecf7ad9e2289e645db9ec5a4
title: Urgent: Stop funding OAN
uri: Urgent-Stop-funding-OAN
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_funding_OAN%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/att_dtv_drop_oann/">call on AT&amp;T and DirectTV</a> to stop funding the right-wing
channel OAN.


feed_id: 4e598054df6c094521d6e12936ed48b2
title: Urgent: ban single-use plastic in national parks
uri: Urgent-ban-single-use-plastic-in-national-parks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_ban_single-use_plastic_in_national_parks%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://action.storyofstuff.org/sign/Ban_SUPs_in_NPs/">call on Secretary Haaland</a> to ban the sale of single-use
plastics in national parks.


feed_id: 496cd36fc943896062a3e208a4083e05
title: Erosion of trade union power
uri: Erosion-of-trade-union-power
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Erosion_of_trade_union_power%29
content:
<p>
*Blame the erosion of trade union power, not migrants, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/10/blame-the-erosion-of-union-power-not-migrants-for-poor-wages">for poor
 wages</a>.*

<p>
Immigrant workers would not help business drive wages down
if those workers belonged to strong unions.


feed_id: 85a90ec63b8cd3b48d3ea765f7c21235
title: Worse than fuel shortages
uri: Worse-than-fuel-shortages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Worse_than_fuel_shortages%29
content:
<p>
*The Tories have persuaded voters [that "woke" is] <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/10/tories-fuel-shortages-war-on-woke-left-power">a threat worse than
fuel shortages</a>.*

<p>
Republicans are using the same approach in the US: using imaginary or
exaggerated bugaboos to distract Americans from the real threats
such as Covid-19, racism, climate mayhem, and starving the poor.


feed_id: f172fe1442fa050fa43d9478efb4e98f
title: Channel for foreign interference
uri: Channel-for-foreign-interference
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Channel_for_foreign_interference%29

content:
<p>
A Singapore journalist says that Singapore's new law, allowing the
government to restrict anyone by calling per a channel for "foreign
interference" based on ungrounded suspicion, and giving the target no
chance to object in court, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/11/singapores-new-foreign-interference-law-leaves-journalists-like-me-with-an-impossible-puzzle">will make it very hard to operate</a>.


feed_id: aced9142626db4d460e139cc6fdd9303
title: Dead planet
uri: Dead-planet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Dead_planet%29
content:
<p>
*Halt destruction of nature <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/11/halt-destruction-of-nature-or-risk-dead-planet-leading-businesses-warn-aoe">or risk "dead planet</a>," leading businesses warn.*


feed_id: 307a8b496c9af4bce5296d595551c16b
title: Advertisement urge
uri: Advertisement-urge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Advertisement_urge%29
content:
<p>
Every day, advertising urges us to do the opposite of what climate
defense requires, and tries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/advertising-industry-fuelling-climate-disaster-consumption">to reshape our values to make "more
consumption" paramount</a>.


feed_id: cd4a8af44eeb9839f8c087796d12376c
title: Shortages
uri: Shortages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Shortages%29
content:
<p>
The shortages due to "supply-chain problems" <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/just-in-time-supply-chains-logistical-capitalism">are due to "just-in-time"
processing</a>.
  The article mentions other shortages of goods that have the same cause.

<p>
In addition, we have seen a similar problem due to reducing the
number of hospital beds to the level that tends to be needed in a
normal year.
  That too is an example of optimizing the efficiency in the usual case
by reducing the slack needed to handle unusual cases.

<p>
I suspect that the delay <a href="https://stallman.org/archives//2021-jul-oct.html#8_October_2021_(12-hour_delay)">in shutting off the
Huntington Beach oil leak</a>
                          was due to optimizing for the usual case &mdash;
the "no leak today" case.  Why pay for the extra equipment and staff
just to save a few hours, in some case, in detecting a leak and
shutting it off?


feed_id: ce2cd940a4b9fcfb0203245ac7ddd7b1
title: War on drugs
uri: 2021-10-13-War-on-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28War_on_drugs%29
content:
<p>
Relatives of Philippinos killed in President Do-Dirty's war on drugs
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/11/we-have-to-show-courage-the-philippines-mothers-taking-duterte-and-his-war-on-drugs-to-court">are suing for damages</a>.


feed_id: 33df5442d6eb03be43ad2874b6154661
title: Underwater power cables
uri: Underwater-power-cables
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Underwater_power_cables%29
content:
<p>
The underwater cables that bring electric power from offshore wind farms
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/11/underwater-cables-renewables-affect-blood-cells-brown-crabs-study">generate magnetic fields that trap one species of crabs</a>.
  Engineers will look for ways to protect the crabs.

<p>
There is no reason to assume that other species of marine life are
immune to this effect.


feed_id: 21ddc2ac9b7aa121ee266cc4121be2bd
title: The berry torture
uri: The-berry-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28The_berry_torture%29
content:
<p>
New humorous article : <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/the-berry-torture.html">the berry torture</a>.


feed_id: 090c886e1a621d57921a6a4d5da0e04e
title: COVID-19 and authoritarianism
uri: COVID-19-and-authoritarianism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28COVID-19_and_authoritarianism%29
content:
<p>
*COVID-19 could nudge minds and societies <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-19-could-nudge-minds-and-societies-towards-authoritarianism-168540">towards authoritarianism</a>.*
  High levels of diseases that are contagious between humans
tend to make societies more authoritarian.


feed_id: 0c2d45b33204dbeb0d970bf688bb32f1
title: Biased against facts
uri: Biased-against-facts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Biased_against_facts%29
content:
<p>
Nobelist journalist Maria Ressa <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/09/facebook-biased-against-facts-nobel-peace-prize-winner-philippines-maria-ressa-misinformation">says Facebook is "biased against facts."</a>
  I never thought of it that way, but that fits what we know about it.
It does indeed "prioritize the spread of lies laced with anger
and hate over facts."<p>


feed_id: 5f80ce4b63f96cf1a2bf298a33db4134
title: Critical race theory
uri: 2021-10-13-Critical-race-theory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Critical_race_theory%29
content:
<p>
Explaining Critical Race Theory: Alan Singer explains that it is the
study of how racism influenced the development of the laws,
institutions and structure of the United States and its precursors,
and how <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/6/2056605/-Origin-and-Meaning-of-Critical-Race-Theory">those in turn influenced (and often perpetuated) racism
through the present day</a>.

<p>
This is a meaningful and important field of study, and shines a useful
light on history.  However, it does not include trying to prejudge any
individuals &mdash; how we judge people and their conduct is another
matter.  I do not feel guilty because I was born white; I don't think
anyone should feel guilty about the conditions and circumstances of
per birth.  However, I do include the elimination of racism among <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/necessary-changes.html">the
changes I think are important for society</a>.

<p>
Singer's article also explains how right-wing disinformationists have
distorted the idea of Critical Race Theory in order to mislead people
into supporting their extremism.  As usual, their statements have a
relationship to the real situation, but it is complex and indirect.
It is a mistake to presume that any specific thing they say is
actually true.  So don't try to understand the real situation based on
their statements!


feed_id: af9e76ab7e97c67cc7c74ff7f3513424
title: Urgent: ban single-use plastic in national parks
uri: 2021-10-13-Urgent-ban-single-use-plastic-in-national-parks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_ban_single-use_plastic_in_national_parks%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://action.storyofstuff.org/sign/Ban_SUPs_in_NPs/">call on Secretary Haaland</a> to ban the sale of single-use
plastics in national parks.


feed_id: fa4596cf12ddc71a6a95224b99f00de5
title: Hardship imposed on millions
uri: Hardship-imposed-on-millions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Tory_supportors_are_starting%29
content:
<p>
Tory supporters are starting to say that the hardship they are now<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/winter-of-discontent-supply-chain-crisis-austerity"">imposing on millions</a>
<p>
of poor people will be good for them -- it will build their character
<p>
The people with the worst character are the rich people that lobby to
impose more hardship on those who already suffer it.  Perhaps they
could use some character-building too.


feed_id: a1dfea3c2726ecab1179fdf0777c131a
title: A curious series of gaps
uri: A-curious-series-of-gaps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28A_curious_series_of_gaps%29
content:
<p>
A curious series of gaps in evidence about whether<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/11/maryland-police-officers-black-man-kwamena-ocran">Kwamena Ocran</a>
<p>
did or did not shoot a gun at a group of plainclothes thugs had the
ultimate effect of protecting them from charges for killing him.


feed_id: d85ef54f3ff0de26975eeb814e3321d0
title: British Museum has kept
uri: British-Museum-has-kept
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28British_Museum_has_kept%29
content:
<p>
For 150 years, the British Museum has kept<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/oct/11/uk-urged-return-religious-treasures-hidden-away-150-years-ethiopia">Ethiopian alter tablets</a>
<p>
Regardless of where the tablets end up, it would be a damned shame if
they don't get photographed and studied in the mean time.


feed_id: bd6cfdf56d74ac631a7d7f0a19711d73
title: Hardship imposed on millions
uri: 2021-10-13-Hardship-imposed-on-millions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Tory_supportors_are_starting%29
content:
<p>
Tory supporters are starting to say that the hardship they are now<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/winter-of-discontent-supply-chain-crisis-austerity">imposing on millions</a>
of poor people will be good for them &mdash; it will build their character
<p>
The people with the worst character are the rich people that lobby to
impose more hardship on those who already suffer it.  Perhaps they
could use some character-building too.


feed_id: 3abbefbacae723c7f6afde0ced9690ca
title: A curious series of gaps
uri: 2021-10-13-A-curious-series-of-gaps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28A_curious_series_of_gaps%29
content:
<p>
A curious series of gaps in evidence about whether<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/11/maryland-police-officers-black-man-kwamena-ocran">Kwamena Ocran</a>
did or did not shoot a gun at a group of plainclothes thugs had the
ultimate effect of protecting them from charges for killing him.


feed_id: b585b1a9ccbcc5ccfd822bebeeb3bde5
title: British Museum has kept
uri: 2021-10-13-British-Museum-has-kept
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28British_Museum_has_kept%29
content:
<p>
For 150 years, the British Museum has kept<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/oct/11/uk-urged-return-religious-treasures-hidden-away-150-years-ethiopia">Ethiopian alter tablets</a>
<p>
Regardless of where the tablets end up, it would be a damned shame if
they don't get photographed and studied in the mean time.


feed_id: 4de2b01d8f91d3edaf70c52eb6b5de83
title: Urgent: ban single-use plastic in national parks
uri: 2021-10-13-Urgent-ban-single-use-plastic-in-national-parks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_ban_single-use_plastic_in_national_parks%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://action.storyofstuff.org/sign/Ban_SUPs_in_NPs/">call on Secretary Haaland</a> to ban the sale of single-use
plastics in national parks.


feed_id: 99f6cd840d171e5b0227bd0ef36ff44d
title: Urgent: Break up tech monopolies
uri: Urgent-Break-up-tech-monopolies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Break_up_tech_monopolies%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: phone your congresscritter to support bills to break
up tech monopolies.
<p>
I've found information on five of them:
<p>
The American Innovation and Choice Online Act,
which prohibits the
use of a dominant platform to discriminate against rivals by giving
preference to its own products.
<p>
Platform Competition and Opportunity Act,
which bars the use of
acquisitions to smother competitive threats.
<p>
Ending Platform Monopolies Act,
which restrains dominant platforms
from using their power across multiple types of business to give
themselves unfair advantages.
<p>
The Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching Act,
or Access Act, which promotes competition by making it easier for
businesses and consumers to move data when they want to switch
to a new provider.
<p>
The Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, which amends filing fees and
provides the government with funds to pursue antitrust actions.

<p>The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.</p>
<p>If you call, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 297c13e686dba0805e3e57d50df24f99
title: Gaps in evidence
uri: Gaps-in-evidence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Gaps_in_evidence%29
content:
<p>

A curious series of gaps in evidence about whether Kwamena Ocran did
or did not shoot a gun at a group of plainclothes <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> had the
ultimate effect of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/11/maryland-police-officers-black-man-kwamena-ocran">protecting them from charges for killing him</a>.


feed_id: 94e9db9c762c62542bdf428181714724
title: Hardship of poor people
uri: Hardship-of-poor-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Hardship_of_poor_people%29
content:
<p>

Tory supporters are starting to say that the hardship they are now
imposing on millions of poor people will be good for them &mdash; it will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/winter-of-discontent-supply-chain-crisis-austerity"build their character</a>.
<p>
The people with the worst character are the rich people that lobby to
impose more hardship on those who already suffer it.  Perhaps they
could use some character-building too.


feed_id: 2a7b01597aafd6bf5f8d1f43541a5d89
title: (satire) Hating someone new
uri: (satire)-Hating-someone-new
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Hating_someone_new%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Woman In Giddy Honeymoon Stage Of <a href="https://www.theonion.com/woman-in-giddy-honeymoon-stage-of-hating-someone-new-1847818841">Hating Someone New</a>.*


feed_id: 9a71455dc48649aba4f70163d8fbac1e
title: Ethiopian tablets
uri: Ethiopian-tablets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Ethiopian_tablets%29
content:
<p>

For 150 years, the British Museum has kept Ethiopian alter tablets
hidden and has not allowed them to be studied or photographed.
Ethiopians <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/oct/11/uk-urged-return-religious-treasures-hidden-away-150-years-ethiopia">demand the return of these tablets</a>.
<p>
Regardless of where the tablets end up, it would be a damned shame if
they don't get photographed and studied in the mean time.


feed_id: 72930e3d23446b74ee8333aae94b77c2
title: Critical infrastructure in the US
uri: Critical-infrastructure-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Critical_infrastructure_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>

*25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/11/weather/infrastructure-flood-risk-climate-first-street/index.html">risk of failure</a>
due to flooding,*


feed_id: e786a8e7617851b078c11ea3ec4d69bf
title: Covid-19 vaccinated for the pregnant
uri: Covid-19-vaccinated-for-the-pregnant
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Covid-19_vaccinated_for_the_pregnant%29

content:
<p>

Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/11/one-in-six-most-critically-ill-patients-are-unvaccinated-pregnant-women-with-covid">especially important for the
pregnant</a>.


feed_id: 77a15f52408706ce97c23962faec7a15
title: Wages up in the US
uri: Wages-up-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Wages_up_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>

The shortage of labor is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/10/us-small-businesses-wages-gene-marks">pushing wages up in the US</a>.
This will be a big help for many low-paid workers, despite the
increase in prices that will result.
<p>
The author is mistaken in claiming that wage increases can never be
taken back.  Since the 1990s, we've seen companies impose pay cuts
and painful working conditions.


feed_id: d331f8dee9fc2a00382c6c46b168bd54
title: Jurisdictional rules
uri: Jurisdictional-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Jurisdictional_rules%29
content:
<p>

Jurisdictional rules make make it hard even to try to overturn the Texas
abortion-assistant bounty hunter law, even if the Supreme Court
upholds Roe v Wade.  However, there are <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/11/texas-abortion-ban-biden/">other things Biden could do</a> to
defeat it.
<p>
The fact that the law has found a loophole for states to effectively
abolish a constitutional right, with no recourse from federal courts,
indicates that this loophole is a threat to the idea of constitutional
rights in general, and absolutely must be closed.


feed_id: 8a53c1876293229ebea3d73a2a4f9b26
title: Mass deforestation
uri: Mass-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Mass_deforestation%29
content:
<p>

Brazilian activists asked the International Criminal Court to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/12/bolsonaro-must-be-held-criminally-responsible-for-assault-on-the-amazon-say-activists">investigate Bolsonaro for the crime of mass deforestation</a>.
<p>
Since deforestation endangers the survival of humanity, it ought to be
a crime.  But is there any law against it?  Could the ICC have legal
grounds to prosecute anyone for this?


feed_id: 451db109467986647ed687cea6c71982
title: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
uri: 2021-10-14-Reducing-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Reducing_greenhouse_gas_emissions%29

content:
<p>

A poll found that over 3/4 of the UK public <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/11/uk-public-backs-carbon-tax-high-flyer-levy-and-heat-pump-grants-study-shows">support eight strong measures
for reducing greenhouse gas emissions</a>.
<p>
A carbon tax should increase year by year on a preannounced schedule,
to give the vice a turn every year.  This way, investors will be able
to estimate what the carbon tax will do to the value of any proposed
investment, ten years or 20 years in the future.


feed_id: e22556cf762790849c51cb61025e649e
title: Near universal vaccination
uri: Near-universal-vaccination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Near_universal_vaccination%29
content:
<p>

*Living with Covid is not an option in New Zealand &mdash; we need <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/oct/12/living-with-covid-is-not-an-option-in-new-zealand-we-need-near-universal-vaccination">near
universal vaccination</a>.*
<p>
None of the arguments made in the article are specific to New Zealand,
as far as I can see.
<p>
It could be that new techniques can reduce the rate of infection from
indoor activities.  For instance, using UV light to sterilize indoor
air might be helpful.


feed_id: da64678cdab98dfd496aa09e240c4eba
title: Resistant and uncooperative officers
uri: Resistant-and-uncooperative-officers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Resistant_and_uncooperative_officers%29

content:
<p>

* The [London thug department] <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/11/uncooperative-officers-blocking-met-police-reform-says-ex-superintendent">shelved plans to reform its unit</a>
   dedicated to protecting politicians and diplomats [to avoid sexism
   and racism] because of "resistant and uncooperative" officers.*


feed_id: d9f8e901f7a7c5de068e8db670cb4a66
title: UK school laptops
uri: UK-school-laptops
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28UK_school_laptops%29
content:
<p>

*US schools gave kids laptops during the pandemic. Then they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/us-students-digital-surveillance-schools">spied on them</a>.*
The laptops were full of nonfree software, so the spying was done by
various companies as well as by the school.
<p>
It might make sense for parents to permit a counselor to monitor a
child's digital communications, one that has a medical professional's
commitment to confidentiality and normally cannot tell anyone about
what <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> finds in them.  However, when the child becomes an
adolescent, at some point that should not be allowed with out per
approval.
<p>
If the counselor behaves in a way that earns trust, the student may
choose to continue this, seeing that it is not dangerous and may be
helpful.


feed_id: 04e6073a30df4ad5f2b20459db1f1014
title: Dowries
uri: Dowries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Dowries%29
content:
<p>

A village in India reduced strife by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/12/evil-customs-why-a-kashmiri-village-abandoned-dowries">eliminating dowries</a>.


feed_id: 7823e3e6e608d82867bf6739a9c02862
title: A curious series of gaps
uri: 2021-10-14-A-curious-series-of-gaps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28A_curious_series_of_gaps%29
content:
<p>
A curious series of gaps in evidence about whether<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/11/maryland-police-officers-black-man-kwamena-ocran">Kwamena Ocran</a>
did or did not shoot a gun at a group of plainclothes <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> had the
ultimate effect of protecting them from charges for killing him.


feed_id: b967104f7b06293235053ed828643bd2
title: Worse than fuel shortages
uri: 2021-10-14-Worse-than-fuel-shortages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Worse_than_fuel_shortages%29
content:
<p>
*The Tories have persuaded voters [that "woke" is] <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/10/tories-fuel-shortages-war-on-woke-left-power">a threat worse than
fuel shortages</a>.*

<p>
Republicans are using the same approach in the US: using imaginary or
exaggerated bugaboos to distract Americans from the real threats
such as Covid-19, racism, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#climate">climate mayhem</a>, and starving the poor.


feed_id: 8182123c92a216022acae7b44757e7ff
title: Hardship of poor people
uri: 2021-10-14-Hardship-of-poor-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Hardship_of_poor_people%29
content:
<p>

Tory supporters are starting to say that the hardship they are now
imposing on millions of poor people will be good for them &mdash; it will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/winter-of-discontent-supply-chain-crisis-austerity">build their character</a>.
<p>
The people with the worst character are the rich people that lobby to
impose more hardship on those who already suffer it.  Perhaps they
could use some character-building too.


feed_id: 7189764201ce7304394c744e8aef90a0
title: Ethiopian tablets
uri: 2021-10-14-Ethiopian-tablets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#13_October_2021_%28Ethiopian_tablets%29
content:
<p>

For 150 years, the British Museum has kept Ethiopian altar tablets
hidden and has not allowed them to be studied or photographed.
Ethiopians <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/oct/11/uk-urged-return-religious-treasures-hidden-away-150-years-ethiopia">demand the return of these tablets</a>.
<p>
Regardless of where the tablets end up, it would be a damned shame if
they don't get photographed and studied in the mean time.


feed_id: fa0baa54288f7a449b67265d7baa8cd8
title: Add-on to unfollow everyone
uri: 2021-10-14-Add-on-to-unfollow-everyone
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#12_October_2021_%28Add-on_to_unfollow_everyone%29
content:
<p>
A used of Facebook developed a browser add-on to make it easier
to unfollow everyone and make one's newsfeed empty.  Users loved it,
<a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/facebook-unfollow-everything-cease-desist.html">until Facebook threatened an absurd lawsuit that he could not afford
to defend</a>.

<p>
If the client software for Facebook were free, users could probably make
the newsfeed disappear by modifying that software.</p>

<p>
"A used of Facebook" is not a typo.  Facebook does not have users,
it has useds.


feed_id: 0ad16f7f148b8a2cae0127d4a0af1f41
title: Poor housing
uri: Poor-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Poor_housing%29
content:
<p>
*Poor housing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/13/poor-housing-harms-health-of-20-of-renters-in-england-says-shelter">harms health of 20% of renters in England</a>, says Shelter.*


feed_id: 4c998329297158d8bf9ee05531937e20
title: Serious financial problems
uri: Serious-financial-problems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Serious_financial_problems%29
content:
<p>
*Serious financial problems <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/12/us-households-financial-problems-medical-care-food">afflict 40% of US households in recent months</a>.*


feed_id: 9c826ead4d2288603a8cf879dd72ef84
title: Used for surveillance
uri: Used-for-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Used_for_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Google and Amazon employees condemn those companies contract to
operate server activities for the Israeli government, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/12/google-amazon-workers-condemn-project-nimbus-israeli-military-contract">which reportedly
uses them to surveil Palestinians</a>.

<p>
I don't call them "cloud services" because there is no "cloud".
That term <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#CloudComputing">is designed to cloud users' minds</a>.


feed_id: 1083a2dbdbd94f112f875e07ec85e5d7
title: Three levels of blacklists
uri: Three-levels-of-blacklists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Three_levels_of_blacklists%29
content:
<p>
Facebook maintains three levels of blacklists <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/12/facebook-secret-blacklist-dangerous/">to restrain the tendency
of its recommendation/polarization algorithm to promote terrorism and
hate</a>.
  The blacklists don't prevent the tendency to polarize, only a
fraction of the situations where it does so.


feed_id: 2f1a6efe02c958b094f8c110f364ed65
title: Thugs using surveillance threat
uri: Thugs-using-surveillance-threat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Thugs_using_surveillance_threat%29

content:
<p>
The New York Thug Department, ironically, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/12/nypd-chinese-drones-surveillance/">uses Chinese drones that the
US government considers a surveillance threat</a>.

<p>
For most people in New York, surveillance and tracking by the NYPD
through these drones is a bigger danger than surveillance and tracking
by China through the same drones, but a few people will be exceptions.


feed_id: 566c84b3b05636ef9c3f1f7111e2cd9d
title: Pandora papers and well-known billionaires
uri: Pandora-papers-and-well-known-billionaires
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Pandora_papers_and_well-known_billionaires%29

content:
<p>
Why the well-known US billionaires <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/12/us-has-become-tax-haven-vile-and-vicious">don't appear prominently in the
Pandora papers</a>.


feed_id: 20d8bca0cb97a5fa60cb66cd34b79779
title: Surveillance of students
uri: 2021-10-14-Surveillance-of-students
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Surveillance_of_students%29
content:
<p>
Gaggle surveillance of students means an omniscient idiot is ready to
get a student in trouble with the school system or the law at any time,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/12/school-surveillance-dragnet-suicide-attempt-healing">based on details of what the student says</a>.

<p>
Don't be a fool &mdash; don't talk when the school is listening!

<p>
The trouble is caused when alerts from the system trigger other systems
that repress students in the name of "protecting" them.

<p>
Those other systems are generally intended to protect students from
real dangers of life.  If they could reliably tell when a real danger
exists, and if they were designed to "at least do no harm", they might
be helpful.  But that's easier said than done.  Perhaps we should fix
these systems, and make sure they are not overprotective and harmful,
before we impose them on all children and adolescents.


feed_id: 99404c91819d0ea76956bced96756b58
title: Victims of trafficking
uri: Victims-of-trafficking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Victims_of_trafficking%29
content:
<p>
The UK will be required to allow victims of trafficking to stay and work,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/12/trafficking-victims-should-be-granted-leave-to-remain-in-uk-high-court-rules">if and while they are making a claim for asylum</a>.

<p>
Given the systemic incompetence of the agency responsible for such
issues, I wonder if this ruling will be carried out, in practice.
Based on previous experience, I suspect that the agency will require
each individual to apply for these rights, and will forget to grant
20% of the requests.


feed_id: b460d4f516e275c7637e55a16edddb57
title: Hiding stolen money
uri: Hiding-stolen-money
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Hiding_stolen_money%29
content:
<p>
*The City of London <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/11/opinion/pandora-papers-britain-london.html">Is Hiding the World’s Stolen Money</a>.*
  Stated without hyperbole, Britain and its territories are operating
tax-dodging schemes that hide a large fraction of the world's
misappropriated wealth.


feed_id: e3e7eb0a8ecd01bb75fe7fa993adf398
title: Greenhouse gas contributions from cement
uri: Greenhouse-gas-contributions-from-cement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Greenhouse_gas_contributions_from_cement%29

content:
<p>
The world's main producers of cement <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/12/cement-makers-across-world-pledge-large-cut-in-emissions-by-2030-co2-net-zero-2050">have committed to eliminate
their greenhouse gas contributions by 2050</a>.

<p>
If they carry this out, it will make an important difference.  I do
wonder how they plan to achieve it.  Also, I think they should commit
to achieve a big fraction by 2035.


feed_id: a7ad1b5431088a6b7f730574bc8e88d3
title: Forbidding vaccine mandate
uri: Forbidding-vaccine-mandate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Forbidding_vaccine_mandate%29
content:
<p>
The governor of Texas claims <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/11/politics/texas-vaccine-mandate-greg-abbott/index.html">to have forbidden companies in Texas
from exercising a vaccine mandate</a>.

<p>
I suspect that the governor has no legal authority to impose this by
executive order.  Maybe companies can simply ignore it.


feed_id: 8ea69b0660230903cd1cdc7b46979460
title: Cryin'air
uri: 2021-10-14-Cryin-air
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Cryin%27air%29
content:
<p>
Another reason not to fly Cryin'air.  During the pandemic, it refused
refunds to passengers who were forbidden to travel, and they got their
credit cards to refund their payments.  Now they had bought new
tickets, and just as they arrived to board those flights, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/12/ryanair-bans-covid-refund-passengers-from-boarding-new-flights">they
received a last-minute demand to return those refunds</a>.


feed_id: b8dfd44e2043209b5d6ce91819c5564e
title: Polis
uri: Polis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Polis%29
content:
<p>
An experiment with Polis, a democratic discussion system,
found that it helped people <a href="http://www.civic-assembly.org/bowling-green-report/">find points of agreement and did not
magnify polarisation</a>.
  Of course, it could not eliminate points of real political
disagreement &mdash; nor was it intended to &mdash; but it seems to avoid
artificially magnifying them or producing them.

<p>
This shows what a corrected Facebook might be like.  If it does not
fit Facebook's business model, we should abolish Facebook's business
model.


feed_id: 092bf4f39f10e11498f90155fba2ed38
title: Suing school with no mandate
uri: Suing-school-with-no-mandate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#14_October_2021_%28Suing_school_with_no_mandate%29
content:
<p>
*Mothers sue after children <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/12/covid-wisconsin-schools-sued-health-safety">catch Covid at Wisconsin schools with no mandates</a>.*


feed_id: 3cc67c51ef4fad79133411c95e32f2b1
title: Borrowing to invest
uri: Borrowing-to-invest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Borrowing_to_invest%29
content:
<p>
The rapid increase in the value of cryptocurrencies and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/13/bitcoin-could-trigger-financial-meltdown-warns-bank-of-england-deputy">the suspicion that
people are borrowing money to invest in them makes them a source of financial
instability</a>.
  The value of a bitcoin could drop by 10 or 100 in a day.


feed_id: dc3c99f444877530e959d513885e403d
title: Stay in the ground
uri: Stay-in-the-ground
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Stay_in_the_ground%29
content:
<p>
*EU calls <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/13/eu-calls-for-arctics-oil-coal-and-gas-to-stay-in-the-ground">for Arctic’s oil, coal and gas to stay in the ground</a>.*

<p>
It is encouraging to see governments propose the measure that is
obviously correct, even if they propose it just for one part of the
globe.


feed_id: 6b39ef861d6c9888b222bd68c0508dc5
title: Reduce amount of salt in food
uri: Reduce-amount-of-salt-in-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Reduce_amount_of_salt_in_food%29
content:
<p>
The US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/13/fda-us-regulators-reduce-salt-potato-chips-fries">aims to reduce the amount of salt
in many kinds of widely eaten foods</a>.

<p>
This could save many lives.  And it could set a crucial example of
defending people from "market forces" that predictably do harm.


feed_id: 8240eb1cdca91a15252ee1fffe0e3086
title: Impeachment after Pandora papers
uri: Impeachment-after-Pandora-papers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Impeachment_after_Pandora_papers%29

content:
<p>
*Chile president Piñera <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/13/chile-sebastian-pinera-impeachment-proceedings-pandora-papers">faces impeachment after Pandora papers leak</a>.*

<p>
I don't know what Piñera actually did, but if he is caught in crime
I will rejoice at his punishment.

<p>
This article, like all Guardian articles about the Pandora papers,
equates "do something wrong" with "break a law".  Let's take care not
to incorporate that assumption into our thinking.  I agree that tax
evasion by the wealthy is unjust, as a general principle.  But when
they find lawful ways to dodge taxes, that is no to assume it isn't
wrong.


feed_id: 71230b69b06dc0b1cc7cfb59b0d4c96d
title: Former senators
uri: Former-senators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Former_senators%29
content:
<p>
*The Former Democratic Senators <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/13/medicare-drug-lobbying-former-democratic-senators/">Now Lobbying Against Medicare Drug
Price Negotiations</a>.*

<p>
I don't know any way to campaign against ex-senators.  We can't vote
them out of office.


feed_id: 3acdd3e95e8bf5cd4d184879e202bfc2
title: Maple Drive
uri: Maple-Drive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Maple_Drive%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/atlanta-in-chaos-after-city-changes-names-of-all-street-1847841031">satire</a>) *Atlanta In Chaos After City Changes Names Of All Streets To
"Maple Drive" To Distance Itself From Confederate Past.*


feed_id: 3600967de78ec3e93ae34f863b11020b
title: Unhappy nation
uri: Unhappy-nation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Unhappy_nation%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/unhappy-nation-wonders-if-it-just-projecting-45-approv-1847847720">satire</a>) *Unhappy Nation Wonders If It Just Projecting 45% Approval
Rating Of Itself Onto President.*


feed_id: 5e519b392e2781a1d01c6d00ea00d067
title: Unofficial general strike
uri: Unofficial-general-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Unofficial_general_strike%29
content:
<p>
*Is America experiencing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/13/american-workers-general-strike-robert-reich">an unofficial general strike</a>?*


feed_id: 2507148162cba9b135dd69748e7d7590
title: Breaking through barricades
uri: Breaking-through-barricades
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Breaking_through_barricades%29
content:
<p>
Truck drivers blocked by Insulate Britain activists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/13/drivers-threaten-insulate-britain-activists-in-essex-protests">tried to break
through barricades with their trucks</a>.

<p>
It is clear that this method of protest is backfiring.  It is
impossible to win a democratic political conflict by causing pain for
the public, because that alienates them instead of winning their support.
Protesters need to find a method of demanding government funds to
insulate homes that wins the support of people who live in homes.


feed_id: f6bf0359a2fb8bb0acf36e3ecfd25055
title: Censoring based on substance
uri: Censoring-based-on-substance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Censoring_based_on_substance%29
content:
<p>
The UK is planning to address the problem of hate-spreading antisocial
media by censorship based on substance, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/13/techscape-uk-online-safety-bill-could-set-tone-for-social-media-regulation-worldwide-facebook-google">rather than by fixing the
algorithm</a>.

<p>
I am not surprised, given <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-sep-dec.html#25 October 2004 (Charged with possessing a book)">the many levels</a> of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_December_2018_(">censorship</a> that the UK
already applies.

<p>
They take advantage of Frances Haugan's testimony as an excuse to
disregard what she said and install the repression that they have
always sought.


feed_id: 20f7fe945591ca8202a5132e6b55c285
title: Ethylene oxide
uri: Ethylene-oxide
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Ethylene_oxide%29
content:
<p>
The EPA continues letting manufacturers of ethylene oxide deny the toxicity
of that substance in EPA events, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/13/epa-ethylene-oxide-misinformation/">without correcting them</a>.


feed_id: d3fa6d130e2571991f964b739e70297c
title: Gas and electric bills
uri: Gas-and-electric-bills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Gas_and_electric_bills%29
content:
<p>
Millions of Americans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/13/us-utility-bills-shutoffs-debt-covid-coronavirus">can't pay their gas or electric bills and
are facing shutoffs</a>.


feed_id: 38ba8fc441cfc70365d48e4267cbe420
title: Political trick
uri: Political-trick
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Political_trick%29
content:
<p>
Dominic Cummings, who was Bogus Johnson's imperious advisor, claims that
the terribly flawed deal about customs duties and Northern Ireland,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/13/dominic-cummings-says-uk-always-intended-to-ditch-ni-protocol-brexit">was a political trick all along, intended to fail</a>.

<p>
The British people would be far better off with Corbyn as prime minister.
  His basic sincerity is the first of various reasons for this.


feed_id: b9fbe54c4ab450319815e14eb26ce8e9
title: Urgent: Repeal Hyde amendment
uri: 2021-10-15-Urgent-Repeal-Hyde-amendment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Repeal_Hyde_amendment%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-repeal-the-hyde-amendment/">call on Congress</a> to repeal the Hyde amendment and allow
use of federal funds to pay for abortions.

<p>
This is all the more important because the federal government could
pay to help women in Texas get abortions.


feed_id: 074a57d8a793b9be33debb33ba478d72
title: Urgent: end support in war
uri: Urgent-end-support-in-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_end_support_in_war%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=14082">call on Congress</a> to end US support for Salafi Arabia's
war in Yemen.

<p>
To sign <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">without running nonfree JavaScript code</a>
                                                from the web site,
use <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">the Salsalabs workaround</a>.


feed_id: 58bcdb3c236ff679f468993c9dca201c
title: Reduce amount of salt in food
uri: 2021-10-16-Reduce-amount-of-salt-in-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Reduce_amount_of_salt_in_food%29
content:
<p>
The US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/13/fda-us-regulators-reduce-salt-potato-chips-fries">aims to reduce the amount of salt
in many kinds of widely eaten foods</a>.

<p>
This could save many lives.  And it could set a crucial example of
defending people from "market forces" that predictably do harm.


feed_id: 3f18a8bb1423a43811522da965ca3564
title: Impeachment after Pandora papers
uri: 2021-10-16-Impeachment-after-Pandora-papers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#15_October_2021_%28Impeachment_after_Pandora_papers%29

content:
<p>
*Chile president Piñera
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/13/chile-sebastian-pinera-impeachment-proceedings-pandora-papers">faces
impeachment after Pandora papers leak</a>.*
<p>
I don't know what Piñera actually did, but if he is caught in crime
I will rejoice at his punishment.
<p>
This article, like all Guardian articles about the Pandora papers,
equates "do something wrong" with "break a law".  Let's take care not
to incorporate that assumption into our thinking.  I agree that tax
evasion by the wealthy is unjust, as a general principle.  But when
they find lawful ways to dodge taxes, that is not to assume it isn't
wrong.


feed_id: 2ed437290fd15aa81d161215996fd03c
title: Five biggest threats
uri: Five-biggest-threats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Five_biggest_threats%29
content:
<p>

*The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/14/five-biggest-threats-natural-world-how-we-can-stop-them-aoe">five biggest threats to our natural world</a> … and how we can stop them.*


feed_id: 1ab92c17e40ee25cfd609b37697566c6
title: Kurds of Rojava
uri: Kurds-of-Rojava
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Kurds_of_Rojava%29
content:
<p>

In Syria, the Kurds of Rojava are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/14/a-lull-not-a-loss-islamic-state-is-rebuilding-in-syria-say-kurdish-forces">still fighting the underground
remnants of PISSI</a>, with some help from the US and France.


feed_id: 5018c484972ef0951c4c556ea55459b8
title: John Deere workers
uri: John-Deere-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28John_Deere_workers%29
content:
<p>

John Deere exploits its workers as well as the farms that buy its
tractors full of nonfree software.  Now the company's US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/14/john-deere-workers-strike-contract-union">workers are
on strike</a>.


feed_id: 385533af59765d7585c0b15b962d33ba
title: Euboia mudslides
uri: Euboia-mudslides
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Euboia_mudslides%29
content:
<p>

The fires that burned a large part of the fires of Euboia (pronounced
Evia) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/14/fire-ravaged-greek-island-of-evia-hit-by-floods-and-mudslides">led the way for another disaster: mudslides</a>
on the slopes that no longer have trees to absorb the water and
hold the soil in place.


feed_id: 28aa7d86a6d05d7152fd6b3b4ca1d273
title: Uber, Lyft and Massachusetts
uri: Uber-Lyft-and-Massachusetts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Uber%2C_Lyft_and_Massachusetts%29

content:
<p>

Uber and Lyft hope the citizens of Massachusetts will vote to reduce
the drivers' rights.  If Proposition 22 passes, they <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2021/10/prop-22-uber-lyft-gig-economy-workers-pay-benefits">will be paid
effectively 4 dollars per hour</a> while on the job.


feed_id: c1ebb4413906556f9dded16fbcfc874b
title: (satire) True meaning of Christmas
uri: (satire)-True-meaning-of-Christmas
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_True_meaning_of_Christmas%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *White House Warns Supply Chain Shortages Could Lead
Americans To <a href="https://www.theonion.com/white-house-warns-supply-chain-shortages-could-lead-ame-1847855509">Discover True Meaning Of Christmas</a>.*


feed_id: c75a02337d8a1d80cece029d150e27d5
title: (satire) Bombed-out garage
uri: (satire)-Bombed-out-garage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Bombed-out_garage%29

content:
<p>

(satire) The founders of PISSI <a href="https://www.theonion.com/isis-recalls-starting-in-bombed-out-garage-1847841151">reminisce about starting in a bombed-out
garage</a>, confident they could outdo the competition.


feed_id: 62863a102adc5247ba2b8d405a3b0c5d
title: Leaving children unsupervised
uri: Leaving-children-unsupervised
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Leaving_children_unsupervised%29
content:
<p>

The freedom to leave children unsupervised for a while is <a href="https://letgrow.org/single-moms-let-grow/">especially
important for single parents</a>.


feed_id: 8a058b02ccaf519b602e17649dfc9d70
title: US disaster relief
uri: US-disaster-relief
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28US_disaster_relief%29
content:
<p>

US disaster relief <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/13/why-white-people-wealthier-disasters-but-others-suffer-illustrated-story">preferentially aids wealthier households</a>.  Poor families
are likely to lose big.


feed_id: e74f791609b25e03aa86e6ae5092e3c1
title: Prisoner in Washington, DC
uri: Prisoner-in-Washington-DC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Prisoner_in_Washington%2C_DC%29
content:
<p>

A prisoner in the Washington, DC, jail <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/politics/january-6-contempt-lamberth/index.html">had to sue to get needed surgery</a>.
<p>
The story has a fillip of superficial extra interest because the
prisoner in question was in jail for participating in the attack on
the Capitol.  But That shouldn't matter.  No prisoner should be denied
needed medical care.


feed_id: 347e64d59a3767f5ee800a82c5c2fd40
title: EPA plans reform
uri: EPA-plans-reform
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28EPA_plans_reform%29
content:
<p>

The EPA plans to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/14/epa-whistleblower-corruption-scientific-integrity/">reform the departments that deal with chemical
pollution and pesticides</a>, so that they won't be pushovers for business.


feed_id: e0b7e42fa9ec12ab2cabf49d15a94472
title: Cambridge UAE deal
uri: Cambridge-UAE-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Cambridge_UAE_deal%29
content:
<p>

In the face of public criticism, the University of Cambridge has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/14/cambridge-university-halts-400m-deal-with-uae-over-pegasus-spyware-claims">backed off from the proposed deal with the UAE</a>.


feed_id: 5897c0a1f1d3518840a10ac9208921a3
title: Welfare benefits garnished
uri: Welfare-benefits-garnished
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Welfare_benefits_garnished%29
content:
<p>

The UK is allowing creditors to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/14/disabled-woman-dwp-court-automatic-benefit-deductions">garnish the
welfare benefits for poor people</a>,
which are inadequate to start with.


feed_id: b763fa3dcd1c73097721c4c4b0fa150a
title: Homeless in Los Angeles
uri: Homeless-in-Los-Angeles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Homeless_in_Los_Angeles%29
content:
<p>

Los Angeles is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/14/los-angeles-macarthur-park-encampment-housing-crisis">clearing all the homeless people out of its parks</a>, one
by one. It gives housing to some of them, but what are the rest supposed to do?


feed_id: c54f3aa5d6517009e8a4565be707bf73
title: Amazon's private brands team
uri: Amazon-s-private-brands-team
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Amazon%27s_private_brands_team%29

content:
<p>

*Leaked documents reveal [Amazon]'s private-brands team in India
"secretly exploited internal data" to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/13/after-docs-show-what-we-feared-about-amazons-monopoly-power-warren-says-break-it">copy products from other
sellers</a>, and rigged search results.*
<p>
This direct anti-competitive behavior is on top of all the other
unjust things Amazon has done to everyone that it comes in contact with,
including customers.


feed_id: ccd52a6f77f3f8b36cc041dd1526d16b
title: UK cuts to health systems
uri: UK-cuts-to-health-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28UK_cuts_to_health_systems%29
content:
<p>

UK cuts to various systems that protect people's health <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/14/austerity-in-england-linked-to-more-than-50000-extra-deaths-in-five-years">seem to kill
around 10,000 people per year</a>.
<p>
This doesn't count cuts to welfare support, although those cuts make
people hungry or homeless.


feed_id: b3fa597a6dabcfde6e96764e0ff22bd2
title: Maori moral imperative
uri: Maori-moral-imperative
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Maori_moral_imperative%29
content:
<p>

Some Maori activists are trying to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/14/climate-study-linking-early-maori-fires-to-antarctic-changes-sparks-controversy">impose a moral imperative</a> that no
one is allowed to do research that pertains in any way to Maori without
having Maori in the team.
<p>
No group is entitled to demand control over all studies of topics that
relate to it.  Rather, every human being is morally entitled to
investigate any subject.
<p>
For some kinds of studies, it is important to have an expert on Maori
culture.  Most of those experts are Maori.  But that doesn't apply to
chemical testing of ice cores.


feed_id: d313e40756b66c31b5299b6178b1eb29
title: Origin of SARS-COV-2
uri: Origin-of-SARS-COV-2
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Origin_of_SARS-COV-2%29
content:
<p>

WHO will make a new effort to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/14/last-chance-who-reveals-new-team-to-investigate-covid-origins">pin down the origin of SARS-COV-2</a>, the virus
that causes Covid-19.


feed_id: 5526b13c8c8932a3e1df26d0fbe65c18
title: Remain in Mexico
uri: Remain-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Remain_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>

Biden said he will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/15/biden-reinstate-remain-in-mexico-trump">bring back the bully's "remain in Mexico" requirement</a>
for people that ask for asylum at the border with Mexico.


feed_id: 1315409baca5ba3a03bcd811d9fa0fbb
title: NYPD lawyer oversaw violent arrests
uri: NYPD-lawyer-oversaw-violent-arrests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28NYPD_lawyer_who_oversaw%29
content:
<p>
*NYPD Lawyer Who Oversaw <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/15/nypd-legal-observer-arrests-bronx-protests/">Violent Arrests of </a>
Legal Observers Should Be
Disciplined, Watchdog Says.*


feed_id: 53dfc976364a16329c2966371601c2ff
title: Chicago mayor files complaint
uri: Chicago-mayor-files-complaint
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Thug_union_vaccine_mandate%29
content:
<p>
*Chicago mayor files complaint against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/15/chicago-mayor-files-complaint-police-union-defying-vaccine-mandate">[thug] union</a>
for defying
vaccine mandate.*


feed_id: fe7125e7db75ea46a0c3d99459ae738c
title: Republican sabotaging public school
uri: Republican-sabotaging-public-school
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Republican_sabotaging_school%29
content:
<p>
The latest Republican pretext for
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/14/opinions/parental-control-smoke-screen-right-wing-activists-ben-ghiat/index.html">sabotaging public school</a>
is the
demand for parents to control the curriculum.

I would guess that they demand this only where the parents are white
and right-wing.


feed_id: fbb474f74caef9cd86e49da2d46b203b
title: England judge Amazon Ring
uri: England-judge-Amazon-Ring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Judge_in_england_amazon%29
content:
<p>
A judge in England ruled that using an Amazon Ring snooping device
that watched and listened to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/14/amazon-asks-ring-owners-to-respect-privacy-after-court-rules-usage-broke-law">neighbor's property</a>
violated her
privacy, so he awarded her substantial damages.
<p>
(She had actually moved to another home to avoid the surveillance.)

As I see it, what makes these "security" cameras in fact surveillance
cameras is that they can transmit the video and audio over the
network.  That capability makes them _surveillance_ cameras rather
than _security_ cameras.


feed_id: 7d4ea89e3ec4cbd2d586c76aaccc7591
title: (satire) *Trump Testing 2024 Waters
uri: (satire)-Trump-Testing-2024-Waters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_trump_testing_waters%29

content:
<p>
(satire) *Trump Testing 2024 Waters By <a href="https://www.theonion.com/trump-testing-2024-waters-by-inciting-iowans-to-burn-st-1847864099">Burn State
Capitol</a>
To Ground.*


feed_id: 09e56fca73e9de16155165c2ba49a1ae
title: Great Inflation
uri: Great-Inflation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28great_inflation_rise%29
content:
<p>
*Welcome to the Great Inflation &mdash; Or,  Why We Have to Pay for the <a href="https://eand.co/why-everything-is-suddenly-getting-more-expensive-and-why-it-wont-stop-cbf5a091f403">Hidden Costs</a> 
The article argues that inflation is going to run fast for quite a while.
Alongside increasing poverty.

This argument seenms plausible to me.  If you know of a reputable
counterargument, I'd like to see it.  No conspiratorial explanations,
please -- I am very skeptical of them.

I don't think this explains all of what is happening -- for instance,
although some jobs have disappeared, that doesn't explain why millions
of job offers are unfilled while millions of people need work.

The perverse and dangerous concentration of industry over the past few
decades has exacerbated the problems we face now.  For instance, if we
produced chips in 50 places rather than a handful, most of them would
not have problems at once.


feed_id: 1514fe4e8ac43419f1802738e88fe379
title: Merc Drug Prices
uri: Merc-Drug-Prices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Merck_drug_costs%29
content:
<p>
Merck wants to charge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/14/merck-drug-prices-us-healthcare-big-pharma">Americans $700 for a drug</a> 
that costs $18 to produce.

That is a ratio of around 39.

The fact that the US government paid for the development of this drug
adds a second kind of unfairness to the issue, but we should not
hammer too much on that, less people suppose it is OK to gouge on a
life-saving drug in countries that didn't fund its development.

The US should do what more advanced countries have done: set up
a national medical system, fund it well, and empower it to negotiate
the price per dose.


feed_id: 44988df8232025fbe219f20d78dabbb1
title: England judge Amazon Ring
uri: 2021-10-18-England-judge-Amazon-Ring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28Judge_in_england_amazon%29
content:
<p>
A judge in England ruled that using an Amazon Ring snooping device
that watched and listened to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/14/amazon-asks-ring-owners-to-respect-privacy-after-court-rules-usage-broke-law">neighbor's property</a>
violated her
privacy, so he awarded her substantial damages.
<p>
(She had actually moved to another home to avoid the surveillance.)

As I see it, what makes these "security" cameras in fact surveillance
cameras is that they can transmit the video and audio over the
network.  That capability makes them <em>surveillance</em> cameras rather
than <em>security</em> cameras.


feed_id: 930d8c4edd980a5b8a34aae759114a7a
title: Urgent: data collection
uri: Urgent-data-collection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_data_collection%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/enough-is-enough-tell-congress-to-pass-a-privacy-law-that-ends-facebooks-business-model-forever">call on Congress</a> to prohibit Facebook's approach to data
collection.

<p>
Note that "collecting, purchasing or otherwise acquiring user
information beyond what is needed to provide the service" is often interpreted
in a weak way.  If an organization can justify collecting certain data
because <em>its way of implementing the job</em> requires that data,
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/real-privacy-laws.html">it can easily make any data "necessary"</a>.


feed_id: 74387157881867a3d57ce8f303608e5a
title: Moving refugees to low-lying island
uri: Moving-refugees-to-low-lying-island
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Moving_refugees_to_low-lying_island%29

content:
<p>
Bangladesh is moving thousands of Rohingya refugees <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/15/un-quizzed-over-role-in-prison-like-island-camp-for-rohingya-refugees">to a low-lying
island where they could all drown</a>.


feed_id: 9342bf1ea4c7207edb56f99bcd72aa72
title: Defending human rights
uri: Defending-human-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Defending_human_rights%29
content:
<p>
Memorial, a Russian NGO, defends human rights and teaches about
Stalin's crimes against humanity.  It showed a movie about the mass
starvation of the 1930s, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/15/masked-men-storm-moscow-screening-of-film-about-stalin-era-famine">and a gang attacked the showing, apparently
with state backing</a>.

<p>
Putin is teaching Russians to admire Stalin, perhaps figuring that if
they admire one tyrant they will be happy with another.


feed_id: 76d6f5f415a04f50213867603ec995b3
title: Tax on vehicles
uri: Tax-on-vehicles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Tax_on_vehicles%29
content:
<p>
Many organizations are working <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/15/uk-public-warms-to-road-pricing-fuel-duty-replacement-considered">to convince the UK to tax
petroleum-burning vehicles less tax and electric vehicles more</a>.

<p>
If the government seeks to promote electric vehicles, this tax change
is foolish.


feed_id: 8d6060c09470f1436928e4b024713849
title: Pipeline
uri: 2021-10-18-Pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Pipeline%29
content:
<p>
The construction of a pipeline &mdash; even if its contents will be gas &mdash;
can cause lasting ecological damage <a href="https://grist.org/article/mountain-valley-pipeline-and-indigenous-land/">even before anything flows through
it</a>.

<p>
If these were the only problems of pipelines, they could be prevented
by building it in more expensive ways.  But they aren't the only ones,
of course.  We can't afford the existence of more fossil fuel
infrastructure.


feed_id: 123ef60808fa98aeb9a3426bfa2dcba8
title: Refugees dying from hunger and cold
uri: Refugees-dying-from-hunger-and-cold
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Refugees_dying_from_hunger_and_cold%29

content:
<p>
Refugees trapped between Belarus and Poland <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/15/poland-criticised-over-stranded-migrants-after-seventh-death-at-border">are dying from hunger and cold</a>.


feed_id: ac182d60b7c17d392578465522d49da3
title: Austerity
uri: 2021-10-18-Austerity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Austerity%29
content:
<p>
*Tory austerity caused misery &mdash; and now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/15/tory-austerity-deaths-cut-human-cost-cruel-policy">they want to make it worse</a>.*


feed_id: f485d237b4a7113465d9e7c5c3414c74
title: Attacking with lies
uri: Attacking-with-lies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Attacking_with_lies%29
content:
<p>
Republicans are attacking the Build Back Better bill <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/15/conservative-dark-money-ads-biden-build-back-better/">with lies about
what it says</a>.


feed_id: e1d83957176ec2150c05db9f0b2f34b2
title: Arrest of legal observers
uri: Arrest-of-legal-observers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Arrest_of_legal_observers%29
content:
<p>
*NYPD Lawyer Who Oversaw Violent Arrests of Legal Observers <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/15/nypd-legal-observer-arrests-bronx-protests/">Should Be
 Disciplined</a>, Watchdog Says.*


feed_id: 25ef944389b9b01c5abf6b47478f4c11
title: Filing complaint against thug union
uri: Filing-complaint-against-thug-union
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Filing_complaint_against_thug_union%29

content:
<p>
*Chicago mayor files complaint against [thug] union <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/15/chicago-mayor-files-complaint-police-union-defying-vaccine-mandate">for defying
vaccine mandate</a>.*


feed_id: 5bfd7d7216d1c8290b059ce2dfb709e8
title: Public school sabotage
uri: Public-school-sabotage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Public_school_sabotage%29
content:
<p>
The latest Republican pretext for sabotaging public school <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/14/opinions/parental-control-smoke-screen-right-wing-activists-ben-ghiat/index.html">is the
demand for parents to control the curriculum</a>.

<p>
I would guess that they demand this only where the parents are white
and right-wing.


feed_id: e71862886dd77ee3f9769b701a2499f5
title: Amazon Ring snooping
uri: Amazon-Ring-snooping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Amazon_Ring_snooping%29
content:
<p>
A judge in England ruled that using an Amazon Ring snooping device
that watched and listened to a neighbor's property violated her
privacy, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/14/amazon-asks-ring-owners-to-respect-privacy-after-court-rules-usage-broke-law">so he awarded her substantial damages</a>.
  (She had actually moved to another home to avoid the surveillance.)

<p>
As I see it, what makes these "security" cameras in fact surveillance
cameras is that they can transmit the video and audio over the
network.  That capability makes them <em>surveillance</em> cameras rather
than <em>security</em> cameras.


feed_id: 21244a5f23a9e8fc49aa72ea08c7fd96
title: Testing waters
uri: Testing-waters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Testing_waters%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/trump-testing-2024-waters-by-inciting-iowans-to-burn-st-1847864099">satire</a>) *Trump Testing 2024 Waters By Inciting Iowans To Burn State
Capitol To Ground.*


feed_id: 6fa73f8d1c653511d42033feb61616d6
title: The Great Inflation
uri: The-Great-Inflation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28The_Great_Inflation%29
content:
<p>
*Welcome to the Great Inflation &mdash; Or, <a href="https://eand.co/why-everything-is-suddenly-getting-more-expensive-and-why-it-wont-stop-cbf5a091f403">Why We Have to Pay for the Hidden Costs
of the Industrial Age</a>.*

<p>
The article argues that inflation is going to run fast for quite a while.
Alongside increasing poverty.

<p>
This argument seems plausible to me.  If you know of a reputable
counterargument, I'd like to see it.  No conspiratorial explanations,
please &mdash; I am very skeptical of them.

<p>
I don't think this explains all of what is happening &mdash; for instance,
although some jobs have disappeared, that doesn't explain why millions
of job offers are unfilled while millions of people need work.

<p>
The perverse and dangerous concentration of industry over the past few
decades has exacerbated the problems we face now.  For instance, if we
produced chips in 50 places rather than a handful, most of them would
not have problems at once.


feed_id: 50c35aede82b6c85dbc4eec8ec64f1a4
title: Drug cost
uri: Drug-cost
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Drug_cost%29
content:
<p>
Merck wants to charge Americans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/14/merck-drug-prices-us-healthcare-big-pharma">$700 for a drug that costs $18 to produce</a>.

<p>
That is a ratio of around 39.

<p>
The fact that the US government paid for the development of this drug
adds a second kind of unfairness to the issue, but we should not
hammer too much on that, lest people suppose it is OK to gouge on a
life-saving drug in countries that didn't fund its development.

<p>
The US should do what more advanced countries have done: set up
a national medical system, fund it well, and empower it to negotiate
the price per dose.


feed_id: d9fbc91529746b8680c377f363bd470d
title: Minting a $1tn coin
uri: Minting-a-1tn-coin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Minting_a_%241tn_coin%29
content:
<p>

*The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/15/the-case-for-minting-a-1tn-coin-to-deal-with-americas-debt-ceiling">case for minting a $1tn coin</a> to deal with America’s debt ceiling.*
<p>
This would be equivalent to abolishing the debt ceiling: it would
deprive Republicans of a recurring opportunity to hold America hostage
and demand real concessions that do real harm.  Why give them any more
opportunities?


feed_id: 34813cad7416c42c137d48efea7de654
title: Privacy fears
uri: Privacy-fears
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Privacy_fears%29
content:
<p>

*Privacy fears as Moscow metro <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/15/privacy-fears-moscow-metro-rolls-out-facial-recognition-pay-system">rolls out facial recognition pay system</a>.*
<p>
Supposedly this is safe for passengers because only the state's
repression ministry will have access to the records.
<p>
These cameras join almost 200,000 surveillance cameras on the street,
which have already been used for face recognition for purposes of
repression.


feed_id: ac52f7a9a91f9261e4619428e8ecc609
title: Regulation tear gas
uri: Regulation-tear-gas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Regulation_tear_gas%29
content:
<p>

A call for <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/weapon-war-cori-bush-decries-unregulated-use-tear-gas-us-civilians">regulating the use of tear gas</a> in the US.


feed_id: 66bc1965663303acdf6020bbd5d6a2e1
title: Conflicts of interest
uri: Conflicts-of-interest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Conflicts_of_interest%29
content:
<p>

Many US judges have personal or family <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/condemning-stunning-ethics-violations-warren-and-jayapal-demand-answers-us-judges">conflicts of interest</a>,
which may have corrupted the outcome of many cases.


feed_id: 997c523f588154b1b296ccb541c65a99
title: Crimes by corporations
uri: Crimes-by-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Crimes_by_corporations%29
content:
<p>

The US legal system <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/12/no-criminals-no-crimes/#get-out-of-jail-free-card">rarely if ever</a> punishes crimes committed by
corporations.
<p>
I love the quote from Robert Reich: "I'll believe corporations are
people when Texas executes one."


feed_id: 5176c886ccf0eddfcc7eaccf4040f4e3
title: Tropical wetlands
uri: Tropical-wetlands
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Tropical_wetlands%29
content:
<p>

*Tropical wetlands <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/17/tropical-wetlands-reduce-storm-impacts-and-save-thousands-of-lives-and-600bn-each-year-study-suggests">reduce storm impacts</a> and save thousands of lives
and $600bn each year, study suggests.*


feed_id: 552e76cdbccbfc3ba3d0054195a0530a
title: Iran nuclear talks
uri: Iran-nuclear-talks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Iran_nuclear_talks%29
content:
<p>

*Hawks on all sides <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/17/hawks-on-all-sides-ready-to-swoop-if-iran-drags-feet-on-nuclear-talks">ready to swoop if Iran drags feet on nuclear talks</a>.*


feed_id: bb1b7608a392902fb2a59e21348c1e7e
title: Hollywood strike averted
uri: Hollywood-strike-averted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Hollywood_strike_averted%29
content:
<p>

*<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/17/hollywood-strike-averted-after-union-and-producers-reach-last-minute-deal">Hollywood strike averted</a> after union and producers reach last-minute deal.*


feed_id: 239b11e055af6bad61890af3c11efcf4
title: (satire) Ghost pepper infant formula
uri: (satire)-Ghost-pepper-infant-formula
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Ghost_pepper_infant_formula%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Similac Introduces New <a href="https://www.theonion.com/similac-introduces-new-ghost-pepper-infant-formula-1847864335">Ghost Pepper Infant Formula</a>.*


feed_id: 45ed538ec76e92ca1d7fafaa99ec68a0
title: (satire Planet to raise human meat
uri: (satire-Planet-to-raise-human-meat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28%28satire_Planet_to_raise_human_meat%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Intergalactic Animal Rights Groups <a href="https://www.theonion.com/intergalactic-animal-rights-groups-condemn-use-of-bruta-1847840926">Condemn Use Of Brutal,
Unsanitary Planet To Raise Human Meat</a>.*


feed_id: 8eff4b2b8d4b9759b375c697cbe94aa0
title: Huntington beach oil spill
uri: Huntington-beach-oil-spill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Huntington_beach_oil_spill%29
content:
<p>

The Huntington Beach oil spill that poisoned wetlands was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/15/us/california-oil-spill-size/index.html">only 25,000 gallons</a>, much less oil than previously thought.  Despite the smaller
quantity, I don't think the damage to wetlands has got less.


feed_id: 07e55d989681fec9c8327ed30b64f836
title: Marshall Islands
uri: Marshall-Islands
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Marshall_Islands%29
content:
<p>

Modeling says that the Marshall Islands will be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/17/rising-sea-levels-threaten-marshall-islands-status-as-a-nation-world-bank-report-warns">essentially wiped out</a>
by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> effects.  Some islands will cease to exist.
Others will be greatly reduced.  The capital of the country will become
mostly uninhabitable. even the buildings that are not permanently flooded.


feed_id: 24eec3b3024b8f6c4853931324ce50a1
title: Novelist Sally Rooney
uri: Novelist-Sally-Rooney
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Novelist_Sally_Rooney%29
content:
<p>

Novelist Sally Rooney expressed support for Palestine by refusing to
allow a Hebrew translation of her latest book, and is being <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/16/lies-told-sally-rooney-refuses-ignore-israeli-apartheid/">criticized
with distortions</a>.
<p>
As I recall, the BDS movement calls for a boycott of Israeli
institutions, particularly those that support or take advantage of the
occupation of Palestine &mdash; not individual Israelis.  So I don't think
it suggests refusing to publish in Hebrew.
<p>
However, implicit in publishing a Hebrew translation of her book would
be to license that to an Israeli publishing company.  The movement
would ask people not to do that.
<p>
I myself don't support the Palestinian BDS movement.  What I do
support is the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#3_August_2016_(Products_made_in_Israeli_colonies)">boycott, started by Gush Shalom</a>, of <a href="http://settlement-products.wikia.com/wiki/Settlement_Products_Wikia">products made in
Israel's colonies in Palestinian territory</a>.


feed_id: c0712b83e15ebab9a9f3b684e4e5d748
title: Prosecuted for miscarriage
uri: Prosecuted-for-miscarriage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Prosecuted_for_miscarriage%29
content:
<p>
Over a thousand US women have been prosecuted for having miscarriages, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/16/policing-pregnancy-miscarriage-corporate-drug-pushers-go-free">or
for taking drugs (even prescribed by doctors) while pregnant</a>.


feed_id: 2ec539fb8825b6e0271e7b5f99fcf6ed
title: Monitoring stress
uri: Monitoring-stress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Monitoring_stress%29
content:
<p>
The US government wants to develop telemetry to monitor stress and
stress effects, <a href="https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/10/dhs-wants-wearables-track-employee-health-work-and-home/186106/">in agents that have high-stress jobs</a>.

<p>
I don't see anything wrong about this proposed use of the technology,
but I have a hunch that if this system works, the government will also
try to use it as a 24/7 lie detector (whether it is reliable or not).
Private businesses will impose it on their staff too.


feed_id: 5f4e385b0227266a5161850d08158584
title: Propaganda helping bring massacre
uri: Propaganda-helping-bring-massacre
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Propaganda_helping_bring_massacre%29

content:
<p>
British propaganda agents in Indonesia helped bring about the
1965-1966 massacre in which the army and its supporters <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/17/slaughter-in-indonesia-britains-secret-propaganda-war">murdered
500,000 or more Communists and people thought to support them</a>.


feed_id: 49c2c7471402e7ce1299cf2e625fc60f
title: Debilitating effects of long Covid
uri: Debilitating-effects-of-long-Covid
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Debilitating_effects_of_long_Covid%29

content:
<p>
*The debilitating effects of long Covid have just begun to hit
 economies.* A study of soccer players <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/17/the-debilitating-effects-of-long-covid-have-just-begun-to-hit-economies">shows the effect is
 substantial</a>.


feed_id: 449712916b99c95e2359a1320c6afa5d
title: Interesting food options
uri: Interesting-food-options
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Interesting_food_options%29
content:
<p>
Those who aim to profit by gentrifying a neighborhood find it useful to
bring in interesting food options, as a first step.  <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-food-became-the-perfect-beachhead-for-gentrification-167761">That makes wealthier
people interested in moving there</a>.


feed_id: 3570149ece49d5c14927835786d3a6e5
title: Demanding military dictatorship
uri: Demanding-military-dictatorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Demanding_military_dictatorship%29

content:
<p>
Protesters in Sudan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/17/pro-military-protesters-turn-out-for-second-day-in-sudanese-capital">are demanding military dictatorship</a>.

<p>
I have to join those who suspect that this is organized by a military
faction aiming to seize power.  Others are planning to rally in favor
of civilian government.

<p>
That government has surrendered to oppression by the IMF.  If these
protests really mean, "Break the IMF deal," I share the feeling.
The civilian government may have concluded that the loans are necessary
to avoid even worse suffering than the IMF dishes out.  However,
if the government doesn't acknowledge what damage the IMF will do,
people will consider it self-serving.

<p>
Would a military government reject an IMF "rescue"?
I tend to doubt it.  Dictators are generally happy to borrow
money that the people will have to pay back.


feed_id: 2fe9c5018ac0d48184650ad55ee88af7
title: Using Interpol for repression
uri: Using-Interpol-for-repression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Using_Interpol_for_repression%29
content:
<p>
Russia and other repressive regimes use Interpol as a system to
trigger repression without trial <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/17/has-interpol-become-the-long-arm-of-oppressive-regimes">against dissidents, protesters, and
people who only fail to follow orders</a>.

<p>
It is strange that the US doesn't make it standard practice to question
what Russia says about people.


feed_id: 22e05b1bf0e9bdb5933b53c6b74568dd
title: Ammunition for sensitive skin
uri: Ammunition-for-sensitive-skin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Ammunition_for_sensitive_skin%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/remington-introduces-ammunition-for-sensitive-skin-1847857477">satire</a>) *Remington Introduces Ammunition For Sensitive Skin.*


feed_id: 12ef52bbc9e9f6702b2301665f2f8257
title: Torture for unintentional possession
uri: Torture-for-unintentional-possession
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Torture_for_unintentional_possession%29

content:
<p>
British expat Billy Hood made the mistake of living in Dubai.  A
friend visited him and then sent him a message about having left
behind some CBD vaping fluid.  The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> of Dubai saw the message,
arrested Hood, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dubai-prison-cannabis-cbd-oil-b1938518.html">and tortured him into signing a confession he could not
read</a>.

<p>
Why torture and lie to imprison someone for what they knew was
unintentional possession?  Is it that the emir of Dubai <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_(Wife_of_Dubai">set them an
example of sadistic brutality</a>?
                        Is it that they have to meet a quota of
convictions per month?


feed_id: d2e87a378e3694a584d01ec2b1370631
title: Response to interest
uri: Response-to-interest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Response_to_interest%29
content:
<p>
Research found that TikTok responds to users that demonstrate interest
in antitransism <a href="https://boingboing.net/2021/10/12/tik-tok-shows-how-social-media-uses-transphobia-as-a-gateway-to-further-radicalization.html">by showing them right-wing extremism</a>.

<p>
This gives some confirmation to the idea that the recommendation
algorithms are what we should demand to regulate and control.

<p>
Antitransism is a kind of bigotry &mdash; <a href="https://stallman.org/antiglossary.html#phobia">please don't call it a "phobia"</a>.

<p>
Please don't call publications "content" &mdash; <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">that disparages all
publications</a>.


feed_id: a63bc22cd1431c764c5c368c81cc7e89
title: Threat of imaginary debt
uri: Threat-of-imaginary-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Threat_of_imaginary_debt%29
content:
<p>
The cable company Charter is making veiled threats against
ex-customers &mdash; threats <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/12/22722758/charter-spectrum-debt-forgiveness-letter-reporting-credit-agencies">to harm their credit ratings by alleging
unpaid imaginary debts</a>.


feed_id: d3912bfcf25c230bdd825763bce2708c
title: Urgent: no bullying of Department of Justice
uri: Urgent-no-bullying-of-Department-of-Justice
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_no_bullying_of_Department_of_Justice%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dont-let-future-presidents-follow-trumps-example">call on Congress</a> to stop future presidents from bullying
the Department of Justice.


feed_id: 1da6abe0ff96930729dcf86f564bdc63
title: Contradictory needs
uri: Contradictory-needs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#19_October_2021_%28Contradictory_needs%29
content:
<p>
Supposedly China needs coal mining <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/16/china-coal-and-cop26-can-the-worlds-biggest-emitter-give-up-its-dirty-habit">to provide employment in future
decades</a>.

<p>
Supposedly, China needs to encourage more births <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jan-apr.html#12_February_2021_(Birth_rate)">to avoid a shortage
of workers in future decades</a>.
  These predictions directly contradict each other, so at least one is
false.  But I think that both are false.

<p>
If China remains prosperous, and doesn't need everyone to work, it
will have the resources to support everyone with jobs in taking better
care of the old, the young, and the sick, and entertaining each other.

<p>
On the contrary, if China has an insufficiency of workers, it will be
able to accelerate the use of robots, delay retirement, and make do
with less conveniences.

<p>
What China cannot do is remain prosperous while beset increasingly by
extreme weather, crop failures, and rising seas.  The rice-growing
areas of South China are close to sea level and will be inundated,
including major cities such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nanjing and
Hangzhou.  To the east of Shanxi is the North China Plain which
will encounter fatal weather.  China had better focus on avoiding
the catastrophe it is creating with fossil fuels.


feed_id: 4fc7420335fc852d7a5392d195da7dab
title: (satire) *Trump Testing 2024 Waters
uri: 2021-10-19-(satire)-Trump-Testing-2024-Waters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#17_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_trump_testing_waters%29

content:
<p>
(satire) *Trump Testing 2024 Waters By <a href="https://www.theonion.com/trump-testing-2024-waters-by-inciting-iowans-to-burn-st-1847864099">Burning State
Capitol</a>
To Ground.*


feed_id: 7dc68560c4ab0fbae8e24dc51b76f6e0
title: Regulation of PFAs
uri: Regulation-of-PFAs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Regulation_of_PFAs%29
content:
<p>
The EPA has announced <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/18/epa-forever-chemicals-new-strategy">a plan to regulate PFAs more strictly</a>.


feed_id: 441696338ae405241aa052a715eaf535
title: Intentionally lying
uri: Intentionally-lying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Intentionally_lying%29
content:
<p>
Accusing Colin Powell of intentionally lying, when he publicly
insisted that the US <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/18/colin-powell-who-helped-george-w-bush-lie-nation-iraq-war-dead-84">had evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of
mass destruction</a>.


feed_id: fe1cb2658e81441323111b85c617950d
title: Reality TV shows actors abuses
uri: Reality-TV-shows-actors-abuses
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Reality_TV_shows_actors_abuses%29

content:
<p>
*Women on reality TV shows <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/18/women-on-reality-tv-shows-get-far-more-abuse-online-than-men-study">get far more abuse online than men</a> &mdash; study.*


feed_id: 4631c9bd05a72e7a544a3818078fbdd5
title: Last chance
uri: Last-chance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Last_chance%29
content:
<p>
"This is our last chance": Biden <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/18/joe-biden-climate-crisis-legislation">urged to act as climate agenda hangs by a
thread</a>.


feed_id: 1a82261a501cc66b6a8b2bd6fb5e8b96
title: Pigs and space
uri: Pigs-and-space
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Pigs_and_space%29
content:
<p>
A California law, that regulates how much space pigs being raised must
have to move around in, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/17/business/california-pork-prices-prop-12/index.html">might make pork a little more expensive</a>.

<p>
With luck, that will reduce Americans' meat consumption a little.
That would <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#10_June_2013_(Eat_less_meat)">be good for our health</a>.


feed_id: 08ca16b1e3c1135e93819f2fa1928b2b
title: Olive trees
uri: Olive-trees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Olive_trees%29
content:
<p>
Inhabitants of Israel's colonies in Palestinian territory are
systematically attacking Palestinians' olive trees.  <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/17/settler-attacks">Often soldiers
join the attack</a>.

<p>
This practice <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-mar-jun.html#30 June 2004 (Olive Trees)">has happened every year for many years</a>.
  The government almost never tries to protect Palestinians from
this mob violence.


feed_id: 2ee0caf3bf436d2441665f10cae478b8
title: Child in charge
uri: Child-in-charge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Child_in_charge%29
content:
<p>
Parents describe giving their child <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/17/we-put-our-child-in-charge-for-a-day-it-was-both-terrifying-and-freeing">one day of being in charge of the
household</a>.


feed_id: 005384e9c858854db0c0d1489f567728
title: Squeezing poor to death
uri: Squeezing-poor-to-death
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Squeezing_poor_to_death%29
content:
<p>
As usual, the companies that have lent money to poor countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/17/the-next-global-economic-emergency-deepening-debt-in-the-developing-world">intend to
squeeze their inhabitants to death</a>.


feed_id: e5bc71831923f3b8c0f0c1c020e01cd6
title: Aung San Suu Kyi "trial"
uri: Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#20_October_2021_%28Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_trial%29
content:
<p>
The Burmese military government is putting Aung San Suu Kyi on "trial"
and gives almost no information about this supposed "legal process".
However, her lawyer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/15/aung-san-suu-kyis-lawyer-says-he-has-been-barred-from-speaking-about-her-case">has given a little information about her, mainly about
her health</a>.

<p>
Now he has been forbidden to communicate with the media.


feed_id: 69c432f87dd6df40f4d4f8983bf29df3
title: Drug cost
uri: 2021-10-20-Drug-cost
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#18_October_2021_%28Drug_cost%29
content:
<p>
Merck wants to charge Americans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/14/merck-drug-prices-us-healthcare-big-pharma">$700 for a drug that costs $18 to produce</a>.

<p>
That is a ratio of around 39.

<p>
The fact that the US government paid for the development of this drug
adds a second kind of unfairness to the issue, but we should not
hammer too much on that, lest people suppose it is OK to gouge on a
life-saving drug in countries that didn't fund its development.

<p>
The US should do what more advanced countries have done: set up
a national medical system, fund it well, and empower it to negotiate
the price per dose.


feed_id: 2f5ef0fdd70b7faa6d4d4e81a8e75f3b
title: Urgent: don't finance toxic plastic factory
uri: Urgent-don-t-finance-toxic-plastic-factory
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_don%27t_finance_toxic_plastic_factory%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-formosa-plastics-petrochemicals-plant-in-cancer-alley?source=0921TheClimateRealityProject">call on Bank of America</a> not to finance a toxic plastic
factory in Louisiana's "cancer alley".


feed_id: f0366f04deab3193fe1b9c420b3444db
title: Oil companies complaining of conspiracy
uri: Oil-companies-complaining-of-conspiracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Oil_companies_complaining_of_conspiracy%29

content:
<p>
After some cities and counties in California sued oil companies over
the damage that sea-level rise will cause them, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/16/imperial-beach-california-exxon-mobil-climate-crisis">the oil companies
alleged a "conspiracy" between the city officials</a>.

<p>
In the long term, the only affordable way to cope with the damage that
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> will cause if it continues is to stop the heating.


feed_id: 53d44739a5b31ab96fda4e0c92fd1050
title: Tenure in universities
uri: Tenure-in-universities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Tenure_in_universities%29
content:
<p>
Georgia has undermined the system of tenure in its universities
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/us/georgia-university-system-tenure.html">by allowing university administrations to fire tenured professors</a>.

<p>
This will have the effect of censoring professors who might have considered
endorsing, or even investigating, an idea that lots of people condemn.


feed_id: cb34211293ac6777aa792ca146acd32a
title: Famous nudes from museums
uri: Famous-nudes-from-museums
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Famous_nudes_from_museums%29
content:
<p>
Modern-day prudery is so strictly opposed to exhibitionism that
museums <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/16/vienna-museums-open-adult-only-onlyfans-account-to-display-nudes">can't use their famous nudes to advertise their exhibitions</a>.

<p>
The saddest thing is that the "solution" they found uses TikTok, which
requires people to run nonfree software which will make them identify
themselves.


feed_id: dd74ef97f6d8c4541d6d2407b5cf7bfd
title: Urgent: visit a food bank
uri: Urgent-visit-a-food-bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_visit_a_food_bank%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app20048a?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=141">call on your congresscritter</a> to visit a food bank
and see what poverty is doing to millions of Americans.


feed_id: ce392aa2be2b6d51e1b721faa47e8ac4
title: Urgent: cancel student debt
uri: 2021-10-21-Urgent-cancel-student-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_cancel_student_debt%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.ayannapressley.com/sign/apem-20211013-cancel-student-debt/">call on Biden</a> to cancel student debt, as he promised.


feed_id: 7d74c57cda5003027462d764d9ba628d
title: Methane emissions
uri: 2021-10-21-Methane-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Methane_emissions%29
content:
<p>
The global campaign to reduce methane emissions <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/16/the-fight-against-climate-change-goes-beyond-reducing-co2-emissions">has failed to win support
from some of the biggest emitters</a>.


feed_id: af383bf4c352be05ec8514314c784fbe
title: National standards for computer security in schools
uri: National-standards-for-computer-security-in-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28National_standards_for_computer_security_in_schools%29

content:
<p>
The US has passed a law <a href="https://thejournal.com/articles/2021/10/08/k12-cybersecurity-act-signed-into-law.aspx?s=the_nu_121021&oly_enc_id=8397F0395867H4C">to set national standards for computer
security in schools</a>.

<p>
I expect the standards will disregard the main security threat in
school computing: the widespread use of dis-services run by companies,
including Google, Microsoft, Zoom and others, that collect personal
data about students, starting with their names.


feed_id: 4692fbdcfa63a6c9856cccda1ba74ea6
title: Labour spending
uri: Labour-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Labour_spending%29
content:
<p>
*Labour spending <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/15/labour-spending-more-on-legal-battles-than-campaigning-sources">more on legal battles than campaigning</a>, say sources.*

<p>
This supports my impression that the main goal of Labour's current
plutocratist leaders is to kill off the idealism of Corbyn and his
supporters.


feed_id: 4928ff1550fb154fa3cf8dd23437be1e
title: Serious risks
uri: Serious-risks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Serious_risks%29
content:
<p>
*Climate crisis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/15/climate-crisis-biden-administration-us-economy-report">poses ‘serious risks’ to US economy</a>, Biden
administration warns.*


feed_id: b47374954cdb04514626ceca744f0446
title: Reverse global deforestation
uri: Reverse-global-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Reverse_global_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
*UK to push plan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/15/uk-to-push-plan-to-halt-and-reverse-global-deforestation-by-2030-at-cop26-aoe">to ‘halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030’</a> at Cop26.*


feed_id: da5551d07e3d21407f331a3c158435cc
title: Urgent: protect shortfin mako shark
uri: Urgent-protect-shortfin-mako-shark
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_protect_shortfin_mako_shark%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.defenders.org/page/34410/action/1">call</a> for protecting the shortfin mako shark.


feed_id: 246aa8e2cc0c16ed573872542bef879d
title: Migrant boat drivers
uri: Migrant-boat-drivers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Migrant_boat_drivers%29
content:
<p>
The migrants who drive boats across the Mediterranean are not part of
the people-smuggling gangs that run the migration; they are passengers
who do this work in lieu of paying the usual fee.  But Italy
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/15/italy-using-anti-mafia-laws-to-scapegoat-migrant-boat-drivers-report-finds">prosecutes them as if they were part of the gang</a>.


feed_id: 46fa2620b5f4af10216d19d4c45f8ad2
title: Vulture capitalists buying newspapers
uri: Vulture-capitalists-buying-newspapers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Vulture_capitalists_buying_newspapers%29

content:
<p>
Vulture capitalists are buying US newspapers &mdash; some prestigious, some
not &mdash; and <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/16/sociopathic-monsters/#all-the-news-thats-fit-to-print">converting them into bargain basement aggregators</a>.


feed_id: e41f8d2022d30fa619718c17fc85db15
title: Factory farms of disease
uri: Factory-farms-of-disease
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#21_October_2021_%28Factory_farms_of_disease%29
content:
<p>
*Factory farms of disease: how industrial chicken production <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/18/factory-farms-of-disease-how-industrial-chicken-production-is-breeding-the-next-pandemic">is breeding the
next pandemic</a>.*


feed_id: 5c907d59cc502591d2667c97d5e442cb
title: Talk
uri: Talk
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Talk%29
content:
<p>
This Saturday, Oct 23, Richard Stallman will be giving an online talk for the 8dot8
conference, titled  Software libre, tu libertad, y tu ciberseguridad
(Free software, your freedom, and your cybersecurity).

<p><a href="https://stallman.org/talks.html">More info</a></p>


feed_id: bc83ab04e20629fb4157d1af30432fad
title: Urgent: Hold Bannon in contempt
uri: Urgent-Hold-Bannon-in-contempt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Hold_Bannon_in_contempt%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-on-hold-steve-bannon-in-criminal-contempt-of-congress?nowrapper=true">call on Congress</a> to hold Bannon in contempt
for refusing to testify about the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol.


feed_id: be39b0b83323aead00c69b6976d39de0
title: Protest linked to troll farm
uri: Protest-linked-to-troll-farm
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Protest_linked_to_troll_farm%29
content:
<p>
The protests in favor of a military coup in Sudan <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/facebook-shuts-fake-accounts-sudan-fig=">are linked with
a troll farm</a>.


feed_id: 63e6a3cb758dea9154ba37e9057b058d
title: Thug infiltration
uri: 2021-10-22-Thug-infiltration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Thug_infiltration%29
content:
<p>
The UK is investigating the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> that infiltrated various protest
movements under false identities decades ago, and had sexual
relationships with women participants, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/18/police-spies-inquiry-five-officers-allowed-to-give-evidence-in-secret">but is questioning them in
secret to conceal their identities</a>.


feed_id: c265661b7cb8ea89fd43576524a8e3fb
title: Lying witness in prison
uri: Lying-witness-in-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Lying_witness_in_prison%29
content:
<p>
The witness that lied to the US government about Julian Assange is now
in jail in Iceland <a href="https://stundin.is/grein/14117/">for engaging in a long series of business crimes</a>.


feed_id: 796e9683ccc41881d04f9865e79d8594
title: Face recognition in schools
uri: 2021-10-22-Face-recognition-in-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Face_recognition_in_schools%29
content:
<p>
A few UK schools will participate in a pilot project <a href="https://www.engadget.com/uk-school-facial-recognition-cafeteria-canteen-200457972.html">to identify students
for school lunches using face recognition</a>.
  This is wrong, but so is using fingerprints to do the job.

<p>
Schools should not identify students for lunch; they should simply
give lunch to every student in the school.


feed_id: ccc63b856bf27300052b932d505a4aee
title: Climate villains
uri: Climate-villains
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Climate_villains%29
content:
<p>
*Naming Climate Villains <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/18/2058744/-Naming-Climate-Villains-as-the-World-Burns">as the World Burns</a>.*


feed_id: a3ce7e2d29b990616a5d8e3aec154d17
title: Femcels
uri: Femcels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Femcels%29
content:
<p>
"Femcels" are women <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/18/i-feel-hurt-that-my-life-has-ended-up-here-the-women-who-are-involuntary-celibates">who have given up on ever having a sexual
relationship</a>.

<p>
Unlike the male "incels", these women don't blame or hate men for not
being attracted to them.  They see that as an inevitable a fact of life.
I understand their feelings.


feed_id: fa0ec9afcff8895030e8ae6e520ef911
title: Response to murder of an MP
uri: Response-to-murder-of-an-MP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Response_to_murder_of_an_MP%29
content:
<p>
The UK government is aching to respond to the murder of an MP with &mdash;
of course &mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/18/pm-urged-to-enact-davids-law-against-social-media-abuse-after-amesss-death">censorship (details to be defined), plus surveillance
(putting an end to anonymous communication)</a>.


feed_id: da5a438496e2a78367298de70c34e4dd
title: Qualified immunity
uri: 2021-10-22-Qualified-immunity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Qualified_immunity%29
content:
<p>
The Supreme Court <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/qualified-immunity-supreme-court/index.html">upheld the principle of "qualified immunity" for thugs</a>.
  This means that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> can't be convicted for any sort of violence
unless court cases have already established that it wasn't constitutionally
protected.

<p>
I've supported campaigns <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2021-mar-jun.html#8_March_2021_(Urgent:_End_qualified_immunity)">to legislate to change that</a>.


feed_id: 0c36738dfdeb98902279bb60a6e14f88
title: Testimony on unfair competition
uri: Testimony-on-unfair-competition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Testimony_on_unfair_competition%29

content:
<p>
Members of Congress accused Amazon of giving misleading or dishonest
testimony <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/business/amazon-congress-antitrust/index.html">about unfair competition</a>.


feed_id: f3a7c064f4af9d27bfef3dd127e3c6a2
title: Extracting more fossil fuels
uri: Extracting-more-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Extracting_more_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>
Fossil fuel companies plan to extract fossil fuels <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/20/planned-fossil-fuel-output-vastly-exceeds-climate-limits-says-un">at an increasing rate,
rather than diminishing it</a>.
  And governments are funding this expansion more than they are
funding renewable energy.


feed_id: faf887a22212a7c63b91e8ac33de4eea
title: Polio vaccination
uri: 2021-10-22-Polio-vaccination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Polio_vaccination%29
content:
<p>
The Taliban have agreed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/19/afghanistan-to-restart-polio-vaccination-programme-with-taliban-support">to restart polio vaccination in Afghanistan</a>.


feed_id: f123d80eb476a3af94ca0de8e2127209
title: Governments into smartphones
uri: Governments-into-smartphones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Governments_into_smartphones%29
content:
<p>
*Apple’s plan to scan images <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/16/apples-plan-to-scan-images-will-allow-governments-into-smartphones">will allow governments into smartphones</a>.*


feed_id: e187d00a866143048ced8fcba4afe379
title: High-tech methods of producing coffee
uri: High-tech-methods-of-producing-coffee
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28High-tech_methods_of_producing_coffee%29

content:
<p>
High-tech methods of producing coffee <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/16/lab-grown-coffee-eco-friendly">are far more efficient, in terms
of water use and greenhouse gas emissions</a>,
   but some oppose using these methods because today's coffee farmers
would no longer have a livelihood.

<p>
We <em>must</em> eliminate most greenhouse gas emissions, because the cost of
failing to do so can easily include the collapse of civilization and
billions of deaths.  We can't take the risk of continuing dangerous pollution
to make work for people.


feed_id: 774f51f510769590942d5210752fe73a
title: Urgent: Meeting in support of Julian Assange
uri: Urgent-Meeting-in-support-of-Julian-Assange
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Meeting_in_support_of_Julian_Assange%29

content:
<p>

<a href="http://masspeaceaction.org/event/the-war-on-journalism-the-case-of-julian-assange/">Meeting in support of Julian Assange</a>, Monday Oct 25 2pm-4pm
First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden St, Cambridge Mass.


feed_id: 2b8d95b916d2d89962778cdc7705908b
title: Urgent: Carried interest loophole
uri: Urgent-Carried-interest-loophole
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Carried_interest_loophole%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: phone your congresscritter to call for closing the
carried interest loophole.  This is explained in a <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2021-may-aug.html#11_May_2021_(Carried_interest_loophole)">previous pol note</a>.

<p>The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.</p>
<p>If you call, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0826af90a9561f02ba14bad0639e3ecb
title: Pfizer bullying governments
uri: Pfizer-bullying-governments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Pfizer_bullying_governments%29
content:
<p>

Pfizer uses its control over vaccine supply to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/19/exposed-how-pfizer-exploits-secretive-vaccine-contracts-strong-arm-governments">bully governments into
giving it special privileges</a>.
<p>
Please keep in mind that <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual property"</a> is a bogus concept which
misrepresents the various laws it pretends to refer to, and causes confusion
every time it is used.


feed_id: a524234be07dccab25df2af4127b6627
title: Hungary's opposition alliance
uri: Hungary-s-opposition-alliance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Hungary%27s_opposition_alliance%29

content:
<p>

Hungary's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/19/the-guardian-view-on-hungarys-anti-orban-alliance-the-making-of-an-opposition">opposition alliance</a> now faces the ultimate test: the
election for parliament, in which Orbán will either hold or lose
control over the government.


feed_id: 2675efea16b1aaf474abaf428c28995d
title: Unvaccinated individuals
uri: Unvaccinated-individuals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Unvaccinated_individuals%29
content:
<p>

*New analysis has suggested that unvaccinated individuals should expect
to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2021/oct/19/mortgage-lenders-need-to-warm-up-to-energy-efficient-homes">reinfected with Covid-19 every 16 months</a>, on average.*


feed_id: e409bd965c45ae82590262dc9630e235
title: Texas census figures
uri: Texas-census-figures
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Texas_census_figures%29
content:
<p>

Texas Republicans have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/19/texas-republicans-approve-redrawn-maps-decreasing-representation-minority-voters">twisted new census figures</a> to concentrate the increased fraction of Latins into a smaller number of congressional districts.


feed_id: c2ca08f50f4e1baf7f71d74b98711766
title: Toxic algae blooms
uri: Toxic-algae-blooms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Toxic_algae_blooms%29
content:
<p>

*<a href="https://grist.org/politics/toxic-algae-blooms-are-multiplying-the-government-has-no-plan-to-help/">Toxic algae blooms are multiplying</a>. The [US] government has no plan to help.*


feed_id: 0368b7bdaa10e6f8d8e77d6f351b8518
title: UK CO2 capture
uri: UK-CO2-capture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28UK_CO2_capture%29
content:
<p>

The UK is going to spend millions to pay for building <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/19/two-north-of-england-sites-selected-uk-carbon-capture-plan">two large
facilities for CO2 capture</a>,
<p>
CCS may eventually work, but we need to remember that (1) it will take
many years to finish these facilities, (2) it can't capture all the CO2
produced in the factory or power plant it is attached to, and (3)
building solar and wind power will avoid a lot more CO2 emissions for the
same amount of energy.  It might ultimately be useful, especially for
making concrete, since clean electricity won't help with that.


feed_id: b080a2cb75afc929f6887a5629853249
title: Heat pumps
uri: Heat-pumps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Heat_pumps%29
content:
<p>

The UK's plan to fund <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/18/5000-grants-unveiled-to-support-home-heat-pump-installation">replacement of 90,000 home boilers with heat pumps</a>
is at the same time a substantial step forward, and totally
inadequate.
<p>
That happens often because the efforts so far to defend the climate
are several orders of magnitude less than what is needed.
<p>
I've also read claims that these heat pumps are not very efficient.


feed_id: 1398c5b752f5a0cf95b6851120a5cb57
title: Vie to lead the Philippines
uri: Vie-to-lead-the-Philippines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Vie_to_lead_the_Philippines%29
content:
<p>

*‘Some call it a circus’: dictator’s son, boxing icon and former actor <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/some-call-it-a-circus-ictators-son-boxing-icon-and-former-actor-vie-to-lead-philippines">vie to lead Philippines</a>.*


feed_id: e09965960526fa3a1760d31717d9ea16
title: Denser housing
uri: Denser-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Denser_housing%29
content:
<p>

New Zealand is passing a law that will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/sweeping-housing-legislation-could-reshape-new-zealand-cities-for-decades-to-come">increase housing construction
and promote denser housing</a>.


feed_id: 2fcc6cd2a5da228cb851810c67f6c0e3
title: Paleolithic humans
uri: Paleolithic-humans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Paleolithic_humans%29
content:
<p>

Arguing that paleolithic humans in many parts of the world had a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/19/unfreezing-the-ice-age-the-truth-about-humanitys-deep-past">wide
range of social organizations</a>, and that it was quite usual for a
people to switch during the year between various forms of social
organizations &mdash; even between nomadic bands and farmers.
<p>
If it was common during hundreds of thousands of years to gain the
status of chief by success in leadership while alternating annually
between two levels of social organization with two different
relationship requirements for success, this would have been a
selective force towards ever greater emotional intelligence.


feed_id: ababf8614ef13034034a4519a91227fd
title: London Protest for Assange
uri: London-Protest-for-Assange
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28London_Protest_for_Assange%29
content:
<p>

In London, a last <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/18/after-cia-plot-revealed-press-freedom-coalition-says-doj-must-drop-assange-case">protest against the decision that Julian Assange
committed a crime</a> that justifies extradition.
<p>
Even more important than whether Assange is punished for publishing
important news about government crimes is whether the UK gets away with
a series of <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2021-may-aug.html#6_July_2021_(False_testimony_against_Assange)">lies and crimes</a> designed to railroad Assange.

<p>
Even more important than that is whether this cases establishes a
principle that publishing important news about government crimes is a
crime.


feed_id: cff9f49c4a3062be4c9ec5e37cf0dcc9
title: Religious exemptions
uri: 2021-10-23-Religious-exemptions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Religious_exemptions%29
content:
<p>

*"Religious exemptions" <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/19/religious-exemptions-us-covid-vaccine-mandates-california">threaten to undermine US Covid vaccine
 mandates</a>.*
<p>
The reason to require vaccination against Covid-19 is because being
vaccinated protects everyone, not only yourself.  For the same reason,
there should be no exceptions for any reason other than medical.


feed_id: 478e310297becb205900f6b8142f2ad4
title: Interruptions of female justices
uri: Interruptions-of-female-justices
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Interruptions_of_female_justices%29

content:
<p>

*Let her finish: interruptions of female justices led to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/oct/15/us-supreme-court-female-justices-interruptions-sonia-sotomayor">new supreme
court rules</a>.*


feed_id: 5af71d443804c1aa6dd26369d5ca7b2f
title: (satire) Concern over nothing
uri: (satire)-Concern-over-nothing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Concern_over_nothing%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *BREAKING: Concern Mounting Over <a href="https://www.theonion.com/breaking-concern-mounting-over-nothing-in-particular-1847892738">Nothing In Particular</a>.*


feed_id: d140221a20e7bfbd288b2ed134af02b2
title: War on drugs
uri: 2021-10-23-War-on-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28War_on_drugs%29
content:
<p>

How the War on Drugs <a href="https://uprootingthedrugwar.org/employment/">represses Americans in regard to work</a>.


feed_id: a0aa5ed1917cadb868757c25d8a4359c
title: (satire) Last universe blowing itself up
uri: (satire)-Last-universe-blowing-itself-up
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Last_universe_blowing_itself_up%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Study Finds Big Bang Result Of <a href="https://www.theonion.com/study-finds-big-bang-result-of-last-universe-blowing-it-1847885912">Last Universe Blowing Itself
Up</a> With Fireworks.*


feed_id: 120feb5329f549ac8476aac394183e89
title: Hindu-supremacist party
uri: Hindu-supremacist-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Hindu-supremacist_party%29
content:
<p>

The Hindu-supremacist party (BJP) has convinced Indian Hindus (84% of the
population) that they are <a href="https://time.com/6103284/india-hindu-supremacy-extremism-genocide-bjp-modi/">being oppressed by the Muslims</a> (14%) and
must make violent attacks to avoid being wiped out.
<p>
BJP's elected officials legitimize murder of Muslims,
while the former state of Kashmir suffers under a semi-occupation.


feed_id: b87c4c0e98e1bd358b37489847bab0f7
title: (satire) Latest misinformation
uri: (satire)-Latest-misinformation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Latest_misinformation%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Florida School Revises Covid Guidelines To <a href="https://www.theonion.com/florida-school-revises-covid-guidelines-to-reflect-late-1847888404">Reflect Latest
Misinformation</a>.*


feed_id: 8763c648fb60806c360dd7e58fdf42dd
title: Build back better bill
uri: Build-back-better-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Build_back_better_bill%29
content:
<p>

As Manchin demands to cut climate defense from the Build Back Better bill.
threatening to kill it, other Senate Democrats say they will <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/democratic-reaction-climate-provisions/index.html">kill it
if Manchin gets his way</a>.
<p>
If Manchin thought he could cut whatever he likes and the bill will go
through, maybe seeing that this would actually kill it will make him
accept a compromise.  At least, I hope so.


feed_id: a6952e55f63d54efbdf58ee53d63812d
title: MP Meetings
uri: MP-Meetings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28MP_Meetings%29
content:
<p>

After the murder of an MP, there is pressure in the UK to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/16/ex-tory-minister-urges-mps-end-face-to-face-meetings-public">move MP
meetings with the public to Zoom</a>! People who defend freedom in their computing would be excluded.
<p>
Perhaps it would be wise to move to online meetings, but they must not
limit these meetings to use of nonfree software.  Britons, please tell
your MP this ASAP.


feed_id: ecf839f7e0faa067bc67478072734a1b
title: Migrant pushbacks at Belarus border
uri: Migrant-pushbacks-at-Belarus-border
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Migrant_pushbacks_at_Belarus_border%29

content:
<p>

*Poland: Thousands <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211017192403/https://www.dw.com/en/poland-thousands-protest-against-migrant-pushbacks-at-belarus-border/a-59532143">protest against migrant pushbacks at Belarus border</a>.*


feed_id: 123560ebafdfbb1a5e87222597ddc6c6
title: JFK Assassination papers
uri: JFK-Assassination-papers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28JFK_Assassination_papers%29
content:
<p>

*Biden Faces <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/20/jfk-assassination-papers-cia-release/">Deadline for Release of More JFK Assassination Papers</a>.*


feed_id: 1934e07f5e85e0f05a8bbcafddfb7846
title: Syrian refugees
uri: 2021-10-23-Syrian-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28Syrian_refugees%29
content:
<p>

*   Five years to the day after a family of Syrian refugees were bundled on
   to a plane and deported to Turkey despite having lodged asylum claims
   in Greece, they are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/20/syrian-family-sue-eu-border-agency-over-removal-from-greece">taking their case to the European court of justice</a>.*
<p>
Many countries make a habit of deporting people before they have a
chance to apply for asylum and get to the end of the court process to
judge the claim.  That cheats them out of their legal rights.
<p>
I've see countries including the <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2019-jul-oct.html#28_September_2019_(The_butcher's_plan_for_those_seeking_asylum)">USA</a>, the <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2010-mar-jun.html#21%20June%202010%20(Plot%20thickens%20for%20deported%20Iraqi%20refugees)">UK</a>, <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#28_January_2017_(Turkish_soldier_extradition_refused)">Greece</a> and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_(Migrant_pushbacks_at_Belarus_border)">Poland</a>
accused of this.


feed_id: 63c5ba8ede707b5471983fd133ebffdb
title: London Protest for Assange
uri: 2021-10-24-London-Protest-for-Assange
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#22_October_2021_%28London_Protest_for_Assange%29
content:
<p>

In London, a last <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/18/after-cia-plot-revealed-press-freedom-coalition-says-doj-must-drop-assange-case">protest against the decision that Julian Assange
committed a crime</a> that justifies extradition.
<p>
Even more important than whether Assange is punished for publishing
important news about government crimes is whether the UK gets away with
a series of <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2021-may-aug.html#6_July_2021_(False_testimony_against_Assange)">lies and crimes</a> designed to railroad Assange.

<p>
Even more important than that is whether this case establishes a
principle that publishing important news about government crimes is a
crime.


feed_id: 0c04d4582890d821b2f04738b8c2a03b
title: Urgent: Get rid of the filibuster
uri: Urgent-Get-rid-of-the-filibuster
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Get_rid_of_the_filibuster%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: phone your senators at 1-833-497-4273 and say to
get rid of the filibuster.
<p>
Especially if you live in West Virginia or Arizona.


feed_id: 04cf967773db7c3c2adb9c7fd5df5a95
title: Global Biodiversity Conservation
uri: Global-Biodiversity-Conservation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Global_Biodiversity_Conservation%29

content:
<p>

*The United States <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/12/united-states-must-rejoin-global-biodiversity-conservation-community">Must Rejoin</a> the Global Biodiversity Conservation Community.*


feed_id: f098de733f0247250b9849092db5c75e
title: Future of Europe
uri: Future-of-Europe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Future_of_Europe%29
content:
<p>

*The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/20/future-europe-germany-finance-ministry-debt-eu">future of Europe is at stake</a> in the fight for Germany’s finance
 ministry.*
<p>
The world needs deficit spending, both to help the people rendered
poor by Covid-19, and to curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.  Politicians that oppose
this commit mass murder, and that's what the "Free Democrats" advocate.


feed_id: 11b738752c2105153a409682f8c6c724
title: National medical system
uri: 2021-10-24-National-medical-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28National_medical_system%29
content:
<p>

The US <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/13/pandemic-politics-5-reasons-why-medicare-all-must-be-part-workers-recovery">must establish a national medical system</a>, and not only to give
Americans better health and longer life.  There will be many secondary
benefits for the non-rich.


feed_id: 193c18da22cd692e111beecbe6eb7df2
title: (satire) Democrats in the Midterms
uri: (satire)-Democrats-in-the-Midterms
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Democrats_in_the_Midterms%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Experts Warn Everything That Will Happen Between Now And
November 2022 <a href="https://www.theonion.com/experts-warn-everything-that-will-happen-between-now-an-1847901377">Could Spell Trouble For Democrats In Midterms</a>.*
<p>
It's only mildly an exaggeration over what I have seen in CNN.


feed_id: 9582b5ae41b98193bc8702440dded9e4
title: Recipes for Covid vaccines
uri: Recipes-for-Covid-vaccines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Recipes_for_Covid_vaccines%29
content:
<p>

Some congressional Democrats have asked Biden to investigate whether
he has the legal authority to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/moderna-refuses-democrats-push-biden-share-vaccine-recipe-world">seize and publish</a> the recipes for making
Covid vaccines, saying it could be so.


feed_id: 01b4b8d9e9a7bcb2f53be9450e164b46
title: UN Human Rights Council
uri: 2021-10-24-UN-Human-Rights-Council
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28UN_Human_Rights_Council%29
content:
<p>

The US has been <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/us-urged-step-home-after-reelection-un-human-rights-council">reelected to the UN Human Rights Council</a>, but it still
needs to change policies so as to respect human rights.


feed_id: 64ad3d09b29480318672c7bf655cf0da
title: Patent waiver
uri: Patent-waiver
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Patent_waiver%29
content:
<p>

The UK and the EU have once again <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/15/how-many-more-people-must-die-eu-uk-under-fire-tanking-patent-waiver-talks">blocked a patent waiver for Covid-19
vaccines</a>.
<p>
That article is based on total acceptance of the twisted concept of
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual property"</a>.
That term is an over generalization and
misrepresents the laws it purports to describe.  It also embodies a
perverse choice of values.  The term was adopted, a few decades ago,
to make unjust rules seem inevitable and to make patent waivers seem
radical and shocking.
<p>
We would help the chances of implementing patent waivers, now and in
the future, by rejecting that term and the premises it promotes.
<p>

As for the TRIPES agreement, it implements bogus trickle-down
economics.  We should abolish it.


feed_id: 3ad417b2b7edc8a1eece47b09e789976
title: Low-income voters
uri: Low-income-voters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Low-income_voters%29
content:
<p>

Advances among <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/15/new-study-reveals-poor-low-income-voters-were-crucial-toppling-trump-2020">low-income voters were crucial</a> for Biden's victories in
several swing states.


feed_id: 398a29126112eb2a3cd08ebb02667f38
title: New torture device
uri: New-torture-device
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28New_torture_device%29
content:
<p>

The US deportation thugs have a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/15/it-was-torture-african-asylum-seekers-describe-restraint-agony-ice-death-flights">new torture device</a> with which they tie a victim up in a painful position in which perse almost can't breathe.
<p>
They used this to deport victims before their asylum hearings
determined whether they were entitled to remain in the US.


feed_id: 6ff5e9c9c54c1bb45d78d44bc26e0d37
title: John Deere
uri: 2021-10-24-John-Deere
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28John_Deere%29
content:
<p>

Farmers and tractor factory workers should realize they are all in the
same boat against an <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/16/corporations-shouldnt-be-master-our-fate">exploitative company such as John Deere</a>.


feed_id: 1cfdf042f3fdbed9cbd733e4a2e299ea
title: US Chamber of Commerce
uri: 2021-10-24-US-Chamber-of-Commerce
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28US_Chamber_of_Commerce%29
content:
<p>

Extinction Rebellion <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/welcome-chamber-climate-chaos-activists-target-powerful-lobbying-group">protested the headquarters of the US Chamber of
Commerce</a>, a plutocratist lobby group that helps fossil fuel companies
continue procuring the death of millions of people around the world.


feed_id: 89549a24ea6e1d8e76417f2261b4ff24
title: Ukraine and Georgia
uri: Ukraine-and-Georgia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Ukraine_and_Georgia%29
content:
<p>

The US is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/18/needlessly-provocative-austin-rebuked-again-opening-nato-door-ukraine-and-georgia">suspected of inviting Ukraine and Georgia</a> to join NATO.
<p>
That's a foolish strategy now, just as it was earlier in this century
when the US and Russia still had a mostly friendly relationship.
Indeed, the two might still have one, if the US had not <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2008-jul-oct.html#23%20August%202008%20(Was%20Georgia%20encouraged%20by%20US%20perception?)">encouraged
Georgia's belligerence toward Russia</a>.
<p>
Having buffer zones between powers is important for peace between them.


feed_id: 1650776cc8dd6d47df17b72e337bd02a
title: "Compromise" voting rights bill
uri: 2021-10-24-Compromise-voting-rights-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Compromise_voting_rights_bill%29
content:
<p>

Manchin proposed a weakened "compromise" voting rights bill, but he
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/19/end-filibuster-gop-ready-tank-even-manchins-compromise-voting-rights-bill">could not find ten Republicans to support it</a>.  They are determined to
rig the next election.
<p>
There's only one question left for Manchin and Sinema: will you let
the Republicans rig the election, or will you support that?
<p>
I've seen a rumor that Manchin is threatening to become a Republican.
That somehow doesn't surprise me.  But it is a dangerous threat,
as it would be considerably worse than what he is already doing.


feed_id: 13f924f6c3992a2322584d6d937281fe
title: Fossil fuel extraction
uri: Fossil-fuel-extraction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Fossil_fuel_extraction%29
content:
<p>

Queben announces the plan to put a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/20/whos-next-quebec-declares-end-fossil-fuel-extraction-province">end to fossil fuel extraction</a>.


feed_id: e98e8c6382c72fe89a41058e66deb98e
title: Ecuador's new president
uri: Ecuador-s-new-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Ecuador%27s_new_president%29
content:
<p>

Ecuador's new president is a hard-line plutocratist and extractivist,
who has declared the intention to flood the world with <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/18/policy-death-amazon-guardians-sue-ecuadors-president-over-oil-mining-decrees">disastrous
quantities of fossil fuel</a>.
<p>
Since <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> will kill hundreds of millions, or perhaps even
billions, we should think of fossil fuel extraction as a form of war.
Eventually we will need to threaten retaliation with war to stop the
extraction.


feed_id: 7b553f9bdf129ec1985222886f9c1953
title: Total
uri: Total
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Total%29
content:
<p>

The French oil company Total <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/20/bombshell-total-knew-about-climate-threat-fossil-fuels-decades-denied-it">knew in 1971</a> that its extraction of fossil fuels
would lead to global disaster.


feed_id: 913d03622cdb1e72c7f29798682994b3
title: (satire) Single reusable grocery bag
uri: (satire)-Single-reusable-grocery-bag
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28%28satire%29_Single_reusable_grocery_bag%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Biden <a href="https://www.theonion.com/biden-scales-down-2-trillion-climate-plan-to-single-re-1847901494">Scales Down $2 Trillion Climate Plan</a> To Single
Reusable Grocery Bag.*
However, that was still too much for Manchin.


feed_id: a46c53b6ef4c2631d9a970ec93303dae
title: Private equity
uri: Private-equity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Private_equity%29
content:
<p>

Senator Warren and others have proposed a bill to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/20/taking-aim-predatory-equity-firms-warren-leads-bill-stop-wall-street-looting">protect real businesses
from "private equity"</a>.


feed_id: e380baefd6b9a217106db24fa59fd5b4
title: Money over human health
uri: Money-over-human-health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Money_over_human_health%29
content:
<p>

An <a href="https://boingboing.net/2021/10/18/a-hospital-dumps-a-black-man-on-a-sidewalk-with-tubes-still-attached-he-is-found-unresponsive.html">extreme example</a> of how US hospitals prioritize money over human health.


feed_id: 79431f419d7d943e0ef7b0f84b6a4420
title: Urgent: Prosecute Bannon
uri: Urgent-Prosecute-Bannon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Prosecute_Bannon%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-the-doj-act-swiftly-to-arrest-and-prosecute-steve-bannon-after-the-house-vote-holding-him-in-criminal-contempt-of-congress?nowrapper=true">call on the Justice Department</a> to prosecute Bannon without delay.


feed_id: 1a9b6152d0fd3eb94a6e8dc3d56a1e55
title: Urgent: climate emergency
uri: Urgent-climate-emergency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_climate_emergency%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/12/biden-can-block-fossil-fuel-projects-pollution-equal-over-400-coal-plants-report">call on Biden</a> to stop approving fossil fuel projects and
declare a climate emergency.

<p>
Biden can personally block 24 large fossil
fuel projects, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/12/biden-can-block-fossil-fuel-projects-pollution-equal-over-400-coal-plants-report">achieving an enormous reduction in future greenhouse gas
emissions</a>.


feed_id: efa969c00e83371e89f95e8401970f9c
title: Urgent: chair of the Federal Reserve
uri: 2021-10-25-Urgent-chair-of-the-Federal-Reserve
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_chair_of_the_Federal_Reserve%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-president-biden-dont-nominate-trump-appointed-powell-to-a-2nd-term-running-the-federal-reserve?nowrapper=true">call on Biden</a> not to retain Jerome Powell as chair of
the Federal Reserve.


feed_id: ee85f15b952df84592047a41d69b1a60
title: Urgent: Fair pay
uri: Urgent-Fair-pay
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Fair_pay%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-now-demand-fair-pay-and-benefits-for-striking-john-deere-workers?nowrapper=true">call on John Deere</a> to give fair pay and benefits to
its workers (some of whom are now on strike).


feed_id: 958e722155b17412cacc15c95a72553a
title: Supreme Court legitimacy
uri: 2021-10-25-Supreme-Court-legitimacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Supreme_Court_legitimacy%29
content:
<p>
Jurists are concerned that expanding the US Supreme Court <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/15/progressives-biden-ignore-panel-advice-and-embrace-supreme-court-expansion">could
undermine the court's legitimacy</a>.

<p>
Indeed it could, but Republican
manipulations, and the decisions that result, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/21/americans-no-longer-have-faith-in-the-us-supreme-court-that-has-justices-worried">are doing exactly that</a>.

<p>
Biden should endorse expanding the court.

<p>
Expansion may not be the best solution.  I read an article proposing
instead to <em>reduce</em> the size of the court, which would kick the most
recently elected justices down to appeals courts.  However, we don't
need "the best solution" &mdash; any solution is better than none.

<p>
Meanwhile, any such plan will run into Manchin running interference
for the Republicans.


feed_id: 8b3941cd23558e7346f742dea742513e
title: Means-testing
uri: 2021-10-25-Means-testing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Means-testing%29
content:
<p>
*House Progressives to Pelosi: Reject Divisive Means-Testing <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/14/house-progressives-pelosi-reject-divisive-means-testing-favor-universal-benefits">in Favor
of Universal Benefits</a>.*

<p>
I sympathize completely with those who say that wealthy people should
be paying more, not receiving more.  But the amount we would get from
rich people by denying them these benefits would be minuscule, not
enough to justify the future weakness that would result from limiting
these benefits to poor people.

<p>
Instead, we should make the rich pay taxes on all their income and
property.  That would bring in far more funds.  However, Manchin
specifically opposes that too.

<p>
Why does the spending in the Build Back Better bill have to be
specifically "paid for"?  It's not something the US needs to do for
economic reasons.  Deficit spending is entirely possible, and
economically desirable now.  Congress doesn't trouble to make sure
increases in military spending are "paid for" by savings or taxes.

<p>
The reason is that plutocratists adopted an arbitrary "pay as you go"
rule for spending on things that will help Americans, and that applies
to the Build Back Better bill.


feed_id: 2706a138277e345bb08c78b597a48670
title: Threat to war
uri: Threat-to-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Threat_to_war%29
content:
<p>
*Assange: <a href="http://commonwonders.com/assange-a-threat-to-war-itself/">A Threat to War Itself</a>.*


feed_id: 00c0e9ee3d106e76816c11b70186f2ca
title: Antivax fanaticism
uri: Antivax-fanaticism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Antivax_fanaticism%29
content:
<p>
Antivax fanaticism <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2021/oct/20/populist-right-covid-conspiracists-moderate-culture-wars">is now splitting the right wing</a>.


feed_id: 2466743241e1e5726daf981262624001
title: Assassins
uri: Assassins
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Assassins%29
content:
<p>
Bolivia accuses the alleged assassins of President Moïse of having
tried to kill Luis Arce in Bolivia, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/20/haiti-assassination-bolivia-luis-arce/">before he was elected president</a>.


feed_id: 446ad67969d7e2f20d9535b43479e52b
title: Climate emergency
uri: 2021-10-25-Climate-emergency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Climate_emergency%29
content:
<p>
*If the US could get on a war footing in 1941, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/20/us-war-footing-1941-climate-emergency-earth-pearl-harbor">we can tackle the climate
emergency</a>.*


feed_id: 451b253e17326727175d795ce5061f47
title: Dangerous traps
uri: Dangerous-traps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Dangerous_traps%29
content:
<p>
Some congresscritters always treat proposals to help the non-rich as
dangerous traps to be avoided.  Strangely, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/20/unconscionable-hypocrisy-federal-spending-debate">they don't say the same
about military plans</a>.


feed_id: aad2be5bd5f43d65dff44af3174f1d87
title: Climate scientist
uri: Climate-scientist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Climate_scientist%29
content:
<p>
MIT invited climate scientist Dorian Abbot to give a talk, then
uninvited him under pressure from a mob <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/us/dorian-abbot-mit.html">who disapprove of some
of his political views</a>.

<p>
I support affirmative action.  Experiments show that judging
individuals' scientific work is systematically biased by racism and
sexism,
  and they affect people's chances in other ways too.
Affirmative action is a way of trying to counteract those effects.

<p>
At the same time, I defend freedom of speech, including the freedom to
state views that disagree with yours or mine.  It is wrong to exile
people from the scientific community over of their views about
affirmative action, or other issues.  Universities should resist
attempts to force people into conformity by bullying dissenters.  No
one in a university is entitled to be "protected" from encountering
expression of "inappropriate" views.  If you don't like them, argue
with them.

<p>
What about "citational justice"?  It stands to reason that racism and
sexism will affect how much any particular person's work gets cited,
since it affects how people judge that work.  Some kind of "citational
affirmative action" could be a good countermeasure, but it needs to be
limited, just as affirmative action in admissions is.

<p>
Perhaps, "when we cite A, let's also cite B or C."

<p>
The article linked to above displays the New York Times' usual
symbolic bigotry by capitalizing "black" but not "white".  (To avoid
endorsing bigotry, capitalize both words or neither one.)  I object to
bigotry, and normally I decline to link to articles which promote it.
But I make exceptions for some important articles.  Usually, they are
articles that give important information about racism or the fight to
eliminate racism.  This article gives important information about the
threat to the freedom to maintain heterodox views about anything that
many people want to censor.


feed_id: 3b773e79667f07aa7949c560ce42b2eb
title: Tuskless elephants
uri: 2021-10-25-Tuskless-elephants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Tuskless_elephants%29
content:
<p>
*Ivory poaching has led to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/ivory-poaching-evolution-tuskless-elephants-study">evolution of tuskless elephants</a>, study finds.*


feed_id: 92c0992ed8bb38dad7bebc9f380429b8
title: Pro-democracy demonstrators
uri: Pro-democracy-demonstrators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Pro-democracy_demonstrators%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/21/protesters-take-to-the-streets-demanding-full-civilian-rule-in-sudan">marched in Sudan</a>.

<p>
This shows that the people are not on the side of the protesters that
want a coup.  But even though the military don't have enough support
to make a coup look like "back by public demand", they still might
have a coup.


feed_id: 7ade68f7aac8ffce352685f1d4d295bc
title: Steve Bannon hold in criminal contempt
uri: Steve-Bannon-hold-in-criminal-contempt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Steve_Bannon_hold_in_criminal_contempt%29

content:
<p>
*House [of Representatives] holds Trump ally Steve Bannon <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/21/steve-bannon-house-vote-criminal-contempt-congress">in criminal
 contempt of Congress</a>.*

<p>
I am relieved that the House did not shrink from this confrontation,
because the trumpets believe they can get away with anything by
bluffing.


feed_id: 54f937966d716968b7225c3f92497855
title: Unvaccinated individuals
uri: 2021-10-26-Unvaccinated-individuals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Unvaccinated_individuals%29
content:
<p>

*New analysis has suggested that unvaccinated individuals should expect
to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/without-covid-19-jab-reinfection-may-occur-every-16-months-say-scientists <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/without-covid-19-jab-reinfection-may-occur-every-16-months-say-scientists>">reinfected with Covid-19 every 16 months</a>, on average.*


feed_id: 37c85967281d2acb9fdb0e9ae4d328de
title: Urgent: Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
uri: Urgent-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Fossil_Fuel_Non-Proliferation_Treaty%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on world leaders at COP26 to <a href="https://act.stand.earth/page/34663/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=email-ea">adopt a Fossil Fuel
Non-Proliferation Treaty</a>.


feed_id: 00df508b900bec0d56ed23c882a758ef
title: Covid increasing in UK
uri: Covid-increasing-in-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Covid_increasing_in_UK%29
content:
<p>

Covid is increasing in the UK despite most people's being vaccinated.
UK unions and medical officials call for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/unions-warn-of-winter-of-chaos-without-urgent-action-to-curb-covid">strict enforcement of mask
requirements and distancing</a>, to protect their workers.


feed_id: 5d1185dd4c37884fc7c42b76019048a4
title: Palestinian human rights organizations
uri: Palestinian-human-rights-organizations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Palestinian_human_rights_organizations%29

content:
<p>

Israel has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/israel-labels-palestinian-human-rights-groups-terrorist-organisations">labeled prominent Palestinian human rights organizations
as "terrorist"</a>, claiming that they secretly work for the PFLP.
<p>
It could perhaps be true that there are people in those organizations
that secretly work with some PFLP activists.  It might be difficult
for the organizations to prevent that, or even find out about it.
<p>
But given Israel's history of distortions and lies in regard to
Palestinians, and its contempt for their human rights, I don't
consider it plausible.  I have more confidence in B'tselem.


feed_id: 93db25ad1b8cc0a62dc020f472ec95e4
title: Race-based censorship
uri: Race-based-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Race-based_censorship%29
content:
<p>

The UK and New Zealand have agreed on a business-supremacy treaty that also
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/21/national-treasure-new-zealand-maori-haka-protected-in-trade-deal-with-uk">imposes race-based censorship</a>.
<p>
UK governments do not hesitate to censor, so the Tories probably
consider this an insignificant concession.  But it is an injustice
nonetheless.  We must defend the right to mock anyone whatsoever, or
soon we won't be allowed to mock anyone at all.
<p>
The idea of <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/cultural-appropriation.html">"Cultural appropriation"</a> as wrong is a misguided concept,
so analyze real situations based on better concepts.


feed_id: d7b1b37e9680781b2ff2b37533e6eb88
title: Kidney disease
uri: 2021-10-26-Kidney-disease
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Kidney_disease%29
content:
<p>

Increased heat in some regions is causing an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/21/global-heating-may-lead-to-epidemic-of-kidney-disease">increase in kidney disease</a>.


feed_id: 8ac32918f0b0bcc4784dadc107c21410
title: Climate defense
uri: 2021-10-26-Climate-defense
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Climate_defense%29
content:
<p>

While Manchin demands to eliminate climate defense from the Build Back
Better bill, the chair of House climate panel recognizes that it's
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/kathy-castor-interview-climate-crisis-democrats">already inadequate</a>.


feed_id: bd02c6efb6d6fe97c5ec809a8b4b3b90
title: Search engines
uri: Search-engines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Search_engines%29
content:
<p>

UK radio broadcasters have noticed that dis-services such as search
engines, especially voice-controlled ones such as Alexa, can
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/21/radio-industry-call-for-government-protection-from-smart-assistants">manipulate users into not listening to UK radio broadcasts</a>.


feed_id: c220ada282aac58754cae6cab53adb76
title: UN climate report
uri: UN-climate-report
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28UN_climate_report%29
content:
<p>

*Oil and coal-rich countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/oil-and-coal-rich-countries-lobbying-to-weaken-un-climate-report-leak-shows">lobbying to weaken UN climate report</a>, leak shows.*


feed_id: 718359756243d26e8383e1e31ca37ddc
title: Offering Manchin "compromises"
uri: Offering-Manchin-compromises
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Offering_Manchin_compromises%29
content:
<p>

Democrats are offering Manchin "compromises" that would effectively
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/21/compromising-climate-horrible-politics-deadly-policy-and-stupid-economics">vitiate the climate parts</a> of the Build Back Better bill.
<p>
That would give Manchin a total victory that costs him nothing.
<p>
It would be better to say that Manchin has blocked passage of the
bill.  Then he would receive the blame for that.


feed_id: 02b4b5d077d970ac17ed4f8c3a2df49e
title: Amazon workers
uri: 2021-10-26-Amazon-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Amazon_workers%29
content:
<p>

*Amazon workers in Staten Island to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/21/amazon-workers-union-election-nlrb">file for union vote</a>.*


feed_id: c57b4ef4dc2cf53251f357ca2d43605f
title: Climate risks
uri: Climate-risks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Climate_risks%29
content:
<p>

New Zealand will require the larger banks to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/world-first-new-zealand-law-will-force-banks-disclose-climate-impacts-investments">report on the climate risks
to their investments</a>.


feed_id: db0c9df68bce30044742cd3cf42063cc
title: Inheritance taxes
uri: Inheritance-taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Inheritance_taxes%29
content:
<p>

Billionaires use special kinds of trusts to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/21/phil-knight-case-study-how-dodge-over-36-billion-taxes">hand billions to their heirs
with no inheritance taxes</a>.


feed_id: 0f0d553c7b881d7d98dc3724f35fecb1
title: Guantanamo Imprisonment Illegal
uri: Guantanamo-Imprisonment-Illegal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Guantanamo_Imprisonment_Illegal%29

content:
<p>

*US Judge Rules Guantánamo [prisoner]'s <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/historic-victory-us-judge-rules-guantanamo-detainees-imprisonment-illegal">Imprisonment Illegal</a>.*
<p>
I expect this will be appealed up to the Supreme Court.  If it affirms
the decision, I am not confident that will result Asadullah Haroon
Gul's release.  That's because the US treats continued imprisonment as
the default, even if it is illegal, unless all the conditions combine
to make the prisoner's release an option.
<p>
That is clearly unjust.  If the US has no legal basis to
keep someone in prison, it must release per, even if that
means releasing per into the US as an immigrant.
<p>
If US officials didn't want that, they should have treated him
justly.


feed_id: 48221d045d9e481426556882e6fab8b3
title: Equal Rights Amendment
uri: 2021-10-26-Equal-Rights-Amendment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Equal_Rights_Amendment%29
content:
<p>

After Virginia ratified the Equal Rights (for women) Amendment,
the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s lawyers declared that it was too late, because the deadline
had passed.  A congresscritter says that that was mistaken, and that Biden
should <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/top-dem-calls-biden-toss-legally-erroneous-trump-memo-and-ratify-equal-rights">reject that conclusion and allow the ERA to enter the Constitution</a>.
<p>
I support the ERA.  I am not an expert on the legal question of whether
it is still possible for it to be adopted under the law from the 1970s.


feed_id: b9d141b0c66d0308c7c9b66e5d661fc6
title: Asylum officers
uri: Asylum-officers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Asylum_officers%29
content:
<p>

Asylum officers, who interview asylum-seekers, are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/report-details-jaw-dropping-abuse-asylum-seekers-us-border-agents">told of long lists
of crimes committed against them</a> by US border thugs.
<p>
These include beatings, threats of rape, rape, and tricking them into signing
away their legal rights.


feed_id: 787bafc07fde19d7d1ee50c4ee6184f7
title: Internet Service Providers
uri: Internet-Service-Providers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Internet_Service_Providers%29
content:
<p>

*Internet Service Providers <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93b9nv/internet-service-providers-collect-sell-horrifying-amount-of-sensitive-data-government-study-concludes">Collect, Sell Horrifying Amount of Sensitive Data</a>, Government Study Concludes.*
<p>
ISPs should be forbidden to install equipment to examine packets to learn
anything about the people talking on the internet.


feed_id: 7be5320b951736d53888f2585c55d252
title: Political prisoners
uri: Political-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Political_prisoners%29
content:
<p>

The Burmese military government released some political prisoners,
then <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/myanmar-over-100-political-prisoners-re-arrested-after-release-by-military">almost immediately arrested them again</a>.  It was apparently just a
cruel mind game.


feed_id: dec1bb713e20f17ce4b7df696dc959d5
title: Right-wing bias
uri: Right-wing-bias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Right-wing_bias%29
content:
<p>

Research has discovered that Twitter's
algorithm for promoting tweets results in a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/22/twitter-admits-bias-in-algorithm-for-rightwing-politicians-and-news-outlets">large right-wing bias</a>.
Twitter says it does not know what causes this.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/despite-politicians-and-pundits-claims-twitter-finds-algorithm-favors-right-wing">More information</a>.


feed_id: 2565f094bc26361e435af0c0e198052f
title: Proposed tax hikes
uri: Proposed-tax-hikes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_%28Proposed_tax_hikes%29
content:
<p>

*After Getting 'Stealth Bailout' During Pandemic, US Corporations Try
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/after-getting-stealth-bailout-during-pandemic-us-corporations-try-kill-proposed-tax">Kill Proposed Tax Hikes</a>.*


feed_id: 9d7af3ca604ad35e309ddd461485617f
title: Fossil fuel extraction
uri: 2021-10-26-Fossil-fuel-extraction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#24_October_2021_%28Fossil_fuel_extraction%29
content:
<p>

Quebec announces the plan to put a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/20/whos-next-quebec-declares-end-fossil-fuel-extraction-province">end to fossil fuel extraction</a>.


feed_id: 71df320358acfddcfbbc67027d350f82
title: Unvaccinated individuals
uri: 2021-10-26-Unvaccinated-individuals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Unvaccinated_individuals%29
content:
<p>

*New analysis has suggested that unvaccinated individuals should expect
to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/without-covid-19-jab-reinfection-may-occur-every-16-months-say-scientists">reinfected with Covid-19 every 16 months</a>, on average.*


feed_id: 76bc226fc27beef6c7e46521f23f2991
title: Gratis contraception
uri: Gratis-contraception
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Gratis_contraception%29
content:
<p>
Ireland is considering making contraception gratis for women of age
18-25, <a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/free-contraception-scheme-introduced-august-25279333">and later perhaps for other age ranges</a>.

<p>
There should be no lower age limit for gratis contraception.


feed_id: a46b67a1d9db671f84c4429f91cb3ebb
title: Denying people help for suicide
uri: Denying-people-help-for-suicide
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Denying_people_help_for_suicide%29

content:
<p>
This article argues for denying people help for suicide on the ground
that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/22/disabled-people-assisted-dying-bill">inadequate support for sick people would drive them to choose death</a>.

<p>
It does happen that some people choose suicide because their options
for living are lousy.  It must already happen that, in some cases,
their options for living could be better if they could have certain
kinds of help.  I agree it would be good to give them more help.  If
this leads more people to choose to stay alive, that's success.

<p>
But the question here is whether we should force people to suffer
longer when they would rather die.  The article implicitly assumes
that we can compel governments to improve aid for the sick and
disabled by making them people keep suffering.  This approach has not
been very effective so far.

<p>
Here's a subtle discussion <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/24/claiming-a-monopoly-on-truth-and-decency-is-no-way-to-win-the-assisted-dying-debate">of the disagreement over assisted suicide</a>.


feed_id: 6497a43b414b1da49642d2a501a8a156
title: Fighting for billions for fossil fuel
uri: Fighting-for-billions-for-fossil-fuel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Fighting_for_billions_for_fossil_fuel%29

content:
<p>
*Sen. Joe Manchin Has Been Fighting <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/22/manchin-climate-fossil-fuel-subsidies-reconciliation/">to Keep Billions in Subsidies for
Fossil Fuel Industry</a>.*


feed_id: 364ee71f1b325310c56cfe8a31d4962a
title: Testing out propaganda techniques
uri: Testing-out-propaganda-techniques
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Testing_out_propaganda_techniques%29

content:
<p>
*Canadian military leaders saw the pandemic as a unique opportunity <a href="https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/military-leaders-saw-pandemic-as-unique-opportunity-to-test-propaganda-techniques-on-canadians-forces-report-says">to 
test out propaganda techniques on an unsuspecting public</a>.*


feed_id: 07b450c8c6b0971e8e5cd9ef8847d08d
title: Cannabis legalization
uri: Cannabis-legalization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Cannabis_legalization%29
content:
<p>
*Luxembourg first in Europe <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/luxembourg-first-in-europe-to-legalise-growing-and-using-cannabis">to legalise growing and using cannabis</a>.*


feed_id: fe622988fbfc3d8d920e0d22936f44fb
title: Powers of public health officials
uri: Powers-of-public-health-officials
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Powers_of_public_health_officials%29

content:
<p>
Republicans are passing laws <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/22/us-public-health-crisis-covid-curbs-on-powers">to reduce the powers of public health
officials</a>.

<p>
This has a specific short-term goal, to prevent Americans from
protecting themselves from Republican Covid-spreading policies.  Also,
they have a pattern of shifting powers away from local or statewide
officials (safe from gerrymandering) to state legislatures (where the
Republican Party maintains power with a minority of votes via
gerrymandering).


feed_id: f7c8b9c7cd67cce072abd4cbdd69d97d
title: Pro-climate corporations
uri: Pro-climate-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Pro-climate_corporations%29
content:
<p>
*Self-Proclaimed Pro-Climate Corporations <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/self-proclaimed-pro-climate-corporations-have-been-giving-thousands-manchin-and">Have Been Giving Thousands to
Manchin and Sinema</a>.*


feed_id: 2a432ff8bcd334cd98064cdbae7a82ed
title: Guns in Hollywood movies
uri: Guns-in-Hollywood-movies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Guns_in_Hollywood_movies%29
content:
<p>
The prevalence of guns in Hollywood movies <a href="https://theconversation.com/hollywoods-love-of-guns-increases-the-risk-of-shootings-both-on-and-off-the-set-170489">has tripled since 1985</a>.
  This can influence people (especially children) who see the movie to
play with guns.


feed_id: 15945c19d3cedba92964651b26ceaceb
title: Business-supremacy treaty
uri: 2021-10-26-Business-supremacy-treaty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Business-supremacy_treaty%29
content:
<p>
Alleging that the UK-New Zealand business-supremacy treaty <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/23/new-trade-deals-are-unfair-on-farmers-and-wont-help-emissions">would
cause economic losses and undermine climate defense</a>.
  That's in addition to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives//2021-jul-oct.html#25_October_2021_(Race-based_censorship)">imposing a sort of race-based censorship</a>.
  


feed_id: 0a9343ca0f7f5daedd6d9a39db5f8923
title: Journalists and mother of journalist jailed
uri: Journalists-and-mother-of-journalist-jailed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Journalists_and_mother_of_journalist_jailed%29

content:
<p>
*Iranian women journalists, imprisoned journalist’s mother <a href="https://rsf.org/en/news/iranian-women-journalists-imprisoned-journalists-mother-jailed-arbitrarily">jailed arbitrarily</a>.*


feed_id: db6985beb6a3547a31f516e85bf6d827
title: Immigrant suicide review
uri: Immigrant-suicide-review
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Immigrant_suicide_review%29
content:
<p>
*ICE Review of Immigrant's Suicide Finds <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/23/ice-review-neglect-stewart-suicide-corecivic/">Falsified Documents, Neglect,
 and [use of solitary] Confinement</a>.*


feed_id: 4771d42776c8991b06cfe726a62b7ab6
title: Anti-war journalism
uri: Anti-war-journalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Anti-war_journalism%29
content:
<p>
*Fate Of Anti-War Journalism <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/22/fate-anti-war-journalism-lies-upcoming-assange-hearings">Lies in Upcoming Assange Hearings</a>.*
  Not directly in what happens to Assange himself, but in whether the US
can prosecute journalists and news publishers for "espionage" and entirely
disregard the public's right to know.


feed_id: 78c14256600cb2b93dc93281f7a2fc94
title: Seizing land and homes
uri: Seizing-land-and-homes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Seizing_land_and_homes%29
content:
<p>
Taliban are seizing land and homes from Afghans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/23/taliban-forcibly-evicting-hazaras-and-opponents-in-afghanistan">because of political
and religious disagreements</a>.


feed_id: 1bffc7eef993ec0519d829cb754948b0
title: Lobbying to weaken climate defense plan
uri: Lobbying-to-weaken-climate-defense-plan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Lobbying_to_weaken_climate_defense_plan%29

content:
<p>
Australia and Japan are lobbying <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/oil-and-coal-rich-countries-lobbying-to-weaken-un-climate-report-leak-shows">to weaken the world's climate defense plans</a>,
  alongside OPEC countries such as <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>.

<p>
If we had all known in the 1970s how dangerous Middle East oil would be
to the Earth's ecosphere, maybe world powers could have made an agreement
to keep most of it in the ground.


feed_id: 32e2505eb3671adbe4aaad37ce5566fa
title: Not over yet
uri: Not-over-yet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Not_over_yet%29
content:
<p>
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds Americans not to give up on the fight
for a real climate/relief bill.  <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/21/aoc-warns-corporate-lobbyists-would-love-people-give-deal-done">It's not over yet</a>.


feed_id: 49a036bf0323b599909d542ab73a3d99
title: Russian censorship boxes
uri: Russian-censorship-boxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Russian_censorship_boxes%29
content:
<p>
Russia has installed <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/technology/russia-internet-censorship-putin.html">censorship boxes</a> 
in many Russian ISPS and gatewys.
It can block specific pages of sites, and it can also slow them down.


feed_id: e5716911f044533c09cecac7e45ebf78
title: Rust safety rules
uri: Rust-safety-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Rust_safety_rules%29
content:
<p>
In the last days of filming the movie Rust, people in the crew
complained of violations of safety rules. Eventually some 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/23/fatal-film-set-shooting-followed-outcry-union-crew-members-over-safety-protocols">union
members walked out,</a> and the prouction replaced them with non-union
workers but did not fix the safety problems. This seems to be
related  to the death that occured on the set.


feed_id: 8932e71744afa60add1677c4bc8999a3
title: Plastic pollution
uri: 2021-10-27-Plastic-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Plastic_pollution_to_double%29
content:
<p>
Plastic pollution in waterways is projected to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/plastic-pollution-waterways-could-triple-2040-warns-un">double</a>
 by 2030 and
triple by 2040.


feed_id: a860f04c1ae01b829c0c5deaddc8e47a
title: Cheap excuse
uri: Cheap-excuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Friends_carbon_offsets%29
content:
<p>
Friends of the Earth has denounced <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/carbon-offsets-are-nothing-dangerous-con-job-warns-climate-group">"carbon offsets"</a>
as a cheap
excuse for avoiding the expensive task of really reducing greenhouse
emissions.


feed_id: 58b5db2cca33e30e904814ca4564e3a6
title: Eliminate the filibuster
uri: Eliminate-the-filibuster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28Biden_filibuster%29
content:
<p>
Biden has acknowledged the need to eliminate the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/and-maybe-more-biden-says-hes-open-reforming-filibuster-win-voting-rights">filibuster</a>


feed_id: 0c8cb5c80b74fe34cabbb8144f78e200
title: World conflict and chaos
uri: World-conflict-and-chaos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#26_October_2021_%28World_conflict%29
content:
<p>
*'World conflict and chaos' could be the result of a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/24/world-conflict-and-chaos-could-be-the-result-of-a-summit-failure">[climate] summit failure.</a>


feed_id: 395371bce9e59efd6f815de8104d26b8
title: Right to die
uri: Right-to-die
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Right_to_die%29
content:
<p>
Dutch right-to-die activist Wim van Dijk announced that he has sold
a suicide powder to 100 people, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/25/assisted-dying-dutch-psychologist-wim-van-dijk-suicide-powder-to-over-100-people">calls for a national debate about
assisted suicide</a>.

<p>
This manner of distributing means for suicide has a drawback: the same
chemical might well serve for murder.  It is surely possible to craft
rules that will enable people to commit suicide if they firmly and
persistently want to do that, while making other effects unlikely.


feed_id: e3989bc6c0f3022a5d15176b75efbeeb
title: Urgent: Taxing the rich more
uri: Urgent-Taxing-the-rich-more
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Taxing_the_rich_more%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to support taxing the rich more.

<p>
Here's a suggested script to say.

<blockquote>
 Hello, my name is _____________ and I’m a constituent of the    
 senator’s. I am calling to urge Senator _________ to support the    
 tax reform plan being put forward by Senator Wyden and Majority    
 Leader Schumer.    
     
 It will raise the revenue needed to fully fund the Build Back    
 Better plan by making the rich and corporations begin paying    
 their fair share of taxes.     
     
 Senator Wyden’s tax plan includes the Billionaires Income Tax,    
 which I strongly support. It is critical that billionaires start    
 paying taxes on their investment gains each year the same as    
 workers like me pay taxes on our wages each year.    
     
 Again, I urge the senator to support Senator Wyden’s tax plan and    
 his Billionaires Income Tax. Thank you.    

</blockquote>


feed_id: 5f21cdd2343221281874f14962a489e2
title: Legal persons
uri: Legal-persons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Legal_persons%29
content:
<p>
A US court recognized hippopotamoses in Colombia as "legal persons".
The article explains that this means much less the it sounds like,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/pablo-escobar-colombian-hippos-granted-rights-interested-persons-us-court">but also calls it a "milestone victory"</a>.

<p>
If hippopotamoses are treated legally as persons, there is no telling
what might be next to receive that privilege.  Corporations???


feed_id: 06e9b72af5cde4602b62fd49ed6360c9
title: Cutting fossil fuel use
uri: Cutting-fossil-fuel-use
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Cutting_fossil_fuel_use%29
content:
<p>
China promises <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/china-to-cut-fossil-fuel-use-to-below-20-by-2060">a substantial decrease in fossil fuel use by 2060</a>.
  However, it may not be as much as it sounds like.  If China doubles
its power output by 2060, 20% of that power amount would equal 40% of
the current power output.  That would still be a substantial decrease
compared with today's fossil fuel use, but China can and must do more.


feed_id: dc8decc99f4f884e72944a5f65e5fe98
title: Learning the ropes
uri: Learning-the-ropes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Learning_the_ropes%29
content:
<p>
*Learning the ropes: why Germany <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/why-germany-is-building-risk-into-its-playgrounds">is building risk into its playgrounds</a>.*


feed_id: 20aaea3546d736bbf82f4038c3a8b43f
title: Capture of cocaine leader
uri: Capture-of-cocaine-leader
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Capture_of_cocaine_leader%29
content:
<p>
The capture of one cocaine gang leader is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/colombia-dairo-antonio-usuga-capture-drug-trade">not likely to make any
important change in the drug smuggling industry</a>.
  There may be a temporary increase in violence as gangs reshape their power
relationships, but nothing fundamental.

<p>
Similarly, when the leader of a guerrilla organization or terrorist
organization is killed, don't expect that to change much.


feed_id: a897f262b3e64d3e60f6a4f6b4f3469e
title: Car-tracking license plate cameras
uri: Car-tracking-license-plate-cameras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Car-tracking_license_plate_cameras%29

content:
<p>
Car-tracking license plate cameras are now being sold aggressively to
cities and neighborhoods around the US.  <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/22/crime-suburbs-license-plate-readers/">Even individuals can buy them
and set them up</a>.

<p>
The article inexplicably presumes that there's nothing dangerous about
letting <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> departments run these cameras.  I think that's the most
dangerous mode of operating them.  However, allowing individuals and
businesses to run them is almost as bad, because some business will
start collecting and correlating the data.

<p>
Deleting all the data after 30 days is useless as a precaution if it
is practical to copy all the data to another server before it gets
deleted.

<p>
To make these cameras safe, getting the data out of the camera should
require physical access to the camera.  That will make them <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">security cameras
rather than surveillance cameras</a>.
                                        The inconvenience of this will
assure that people do it only in the case of real need.

<p>
It is ok for the camera to read a list of vehicles being sought
and alert someone when one of those vehicles passes by.


feed_id: 5053167a01f5cbcc7345e2b14acabca7
title: Plastic and greenhouse gas
uri: Plastic-and-greenhouse-gas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Plastic_and_greenhouse_gas%29
content:
<p>
Plastic generates a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emissions,
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/10/plastic-industry-pollution-to-overtake-coal-in-us-by-2030-report-says/">and it's increasing</a>.

<p>
Comparing the increase of plastic's emissions with the decrease of
coal burning emissions seems beside the point.  We need to decrease
them both.


feed_id: c74fb0c267e125e6fba904c57bb05e47
title: Iris scans
uri: Iris-scans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Iris_scans%29
content:
<p>
A hundred thousand suckers reportedly <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/10/more-than-100000-people-have-had-their-eyes-scanned-for-free-cryptocurrency/">gave out iris scans to get
a little of a new cryptocurrency</a>.


feed_id: e9994660eb2bbf2ee5852acd40c51eff
title: Attacking by air
uri: Attacking-by-air
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Attacking_by_air%29
content:
<p>
Ethiopia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/ethiopia-airstrikes-target-tigray-rebels-as-aerial-campaign-continues">is attacking Tigray by air</a>.

<p>
Ethiopia says it attacked military targets.  Tigray says a bomb hit a
hospital.  I have no way of telling what the truth is, because I know
of no source of information I can count on.  Even on bigger questions,
such as what the various armies are doing and with what amount of
success, we have very little information compared with (for instance)
Syria and Libya.


feed_id: 9e8412baf5e7c615bb8143b51d004819
title: Slowing down privacy efforts
uri: Slowing-down-privacy-efforts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Slowing_down_privacy_efforts%29
content:
<p>
Google claimed privately that it had succeeded in slowing down the
European Union's  efforts <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/technology/google-privacy-lawsuit.html">to regulate online services (and dis-services)
for users' privacy</a>.


feed_id: 62edc12b1649ffd0ea5f8c2253e08d2d
title: Indigenous groups
uri: Indigenous-groups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Indigenous_groups%29
content:
<p>
In Canada, an ethnic group with mixed ancestry has applied for (and
been granted) the same legal entitlements that indigenous groups get,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/canada-inuit-nunatukavut">this has created a conflict between them and the "pure" indigenous
groups</a>.


feed_id: 032c9a6a81991e2272b28fb433ce16b1
title: Recovering from Covid-19
uri: Recovering-from-Covid-19
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Recovering_from_Covid-19%29
content:
<p>
Anti-vaxxers now spread the questionable claim that recovering from Covid-19
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/24/which-protects-you-more-vaccination-or-prior-infection">gives more immunity than vaccination</a>.

<p>
I don't know whether there is a systematic difference between the
levels of immunity that result from Covid-19 infection and from
vaccination, but it's clear that the former is much more risky &mdash; the
chance of lasting disability after an infection seems to be more than
10%.

<p>
Given the choice between getting vaccinated now, or waiting to catch
the disease, it is far better to get vaccinated.


feed_id: 446a77e0b4d8adfbede43f001f657f78
title: Financial risks of climate crisis
uri: Financial-risks-of-climate-crisis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Financial_risks_of_climate_crisis%29

content:
<p>
*The White House released a report on the financial risks associated with
the climate crisis &mdash; a document critics say would have been promising
at some earlier point in history <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/face-planetary-emergency-us-climate-related-financial-risk-report-denounced-pitiful">but that falls "pitifully" short
given the urgency of the crisis</a>.*


feed_id: 3c6ed73cfea64092f0e9d68304acc626
title: Net-zero emissions by 2060
uri: Net-zero-emissions-by-2060
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Net-zero_emissions_by_2060%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> says it will achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions by
2060, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/23/energy/saudi-arabia-net-zero-target-climate-intl/index.html">even more late than the Paris agreement</a>.

<p>
The details hardly matter, given that this refers only to Salafi
Arabia's direct emissions, and does not include the emissions that
result in other countries from using the petroleum that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>
sells to them.

<p>
By contrast, the commitment to cut methane emissions by 2030 will be
significant, if it really happens.  Planting billions of trees could
do some good&hellip;if they survive <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 7e1e03ac29b9024131bbdf480c37b55f
title: Urgent: Taxing the rich more
uri: 2021-10-27-Urgent-Taxing-the-rich-more
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Taxing_the_rich_more%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to support taxing the rich more.

<p>
Here's a suggested script to say.

<blockquote>
 Hello, my name is _____________ and I&rsquo;m a constituent of the    
 senator&rsquo;s. I am calling to urge Senator _________ to support the    
 tax reform plan being put forward by Senator Wyden and Majority    
 Leader Schumer.    
     
 It will raise the revenue needed to fully fund the Build Back    
 Better plan by making the rich and corporations begin paying    
 their fair share of taxes.     
     
 Senator Wyden&rsquo;s tax plan includes the Billionaires Income Tax,    
 which I strongly support. It is critical that billionaires start    
 paying taxes on their investment gains each year the same as    
 workers like me pay taxes on our wages each year.    
     
 Again, I urge the senator to support Senator Wyden&rsquo;s tax plan and    
 his Billionaires Income Tax. Thank you.    

</blockquote>


feed_id: 6e53aac587862465ddcd5a1d02de95e2
title: Urgent: Taxing the rich more
uri: 2021-10-28-Urgent-Taxing-the-rich-more
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#27_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Taxing_the_rich_more%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to support taxing the rich more.

<p>
Here's a suggested script to say.

<blockquote>
 Hello, my name is _____________ and I'm a constituent of the    
 senator's. I am calling to urge Senator _________ to support the    
 tax reform plan being put forward by Senator Wyden and Majority    
 Leader Schumer.    
     
 It will raise the revenue needed to fully fund the Build Back    
 Better plan by making the rich and corporations begin paying    
 their fair share of taxes.     
     
 Senator Wyden's tax plan includes the Billionaires Income Tax,    
 which I strongly support. It is critical that billionaires start    
 paying taxes on their investment gains each year the same as    
 workers like me pay taxes on our wages each year.    
     
 Again, I urge the senator to support Senator Wyden's tax plan and    
 his Billionaires Income Tax. Thank you.    

</blockquote>


feed_id: 485edd381e20ad3fab498dbf58a53984
title: App consent
uri: App-consent
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28App_trust_permission_location%29
content:
<p>
How can you trust that an app really won't send some company your
location data, when 
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgmqz/huq-location-data-opt-out-no-consent">you tell it</a>
not to?
<p>
The only way you can trust a program not to do someting it isn't supposed
to do is if it is 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">free software,</a>
 so that the user community can check it.


feed_id: 1dc5505c81774583452caf95373417a3
title: Global pandemic health system
uri: Global-pandemic-health-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28global_pandemic_health_system%29
content:
<p>
Our awareness of what the world has done to deal with Covid-19 leads
us to envision, for the first time, a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/26/the-world-was-woefully-unprepared-for-a-pandemic-lets-be-ready-for-the-next-one">global medical system</a>
of
dealing properly with a global pandemic.  Alas, today's global medical
system is far from sufficient.
<p>
It won't be ready for the next pandemic either, unless we make it
a lot more capable.


feed_id: 4d7d2b04d555da61cf84f2a86f0973cb
title: Nigeria's population growth
uri: Nigeria-s-population-growth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Nigeria_population_herders%29
content:
<p>
Nigeria's population growth has taken up the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/27/days-of-roaming-free-are-over-for-nigeria-herders">land where herders</a>
<p>
used to
move their herds.


feed_id: d486797a1369b4f69eb92e0d8917ab90
title: DeSantis surgeon general
uri: DeSantis-surgeon-general
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28DeSantis_florida_covid%29
content:
<p>
DeSantis gave Florida a surgeon general that aims to spread Covid-19. 
<a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-florida-surgeon-general-mask-20211024-te4aqov7qjgypgqsfqq7624mea-story.html">"Ripper general"</a>
<p>
would be a more fitting title for him.
The ripper general went to a meeting in a state senator's office and
refused, by ideology, to wear a mask.  The senator told him to leave.
<p>
The article doesn't explicitly say so, but I think he did leave.

The fact that this senator has cancer, and therefore is extra
vulnerable to Covid-19, doesn't actually change the moral issue.  If
she did not have cancer, she would be no less entitled to have people
wear masks when in a room with her.


feed_id: 9d755bdeec0a05896add7156ea7be3d5
title: Corrupt judges calling shots
uri: Corrupt-judges-calling-shots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Corrupt_judges_calling_shots%29
content:
<p>
*[The corrupter]'s judges will call the shots for years to come.  The
[US] judicial system is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/25/trump-judges-supreme-court-justices-judiciary">broken [as a result].*</a>
<p>
Remember that Republicans in the Senate prepared to do this, by
blocking Obama from appointing any judges for years.

[pol note]


feed_id: 0d386eb6ee6a40a78c2a643d4572d441
title: Anthropic emissions
uri: Anthropic-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Anthropic_emissions_level%29
content:
<p>
Anthropic emissions have raised <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/25/humanity-way-track-wmo-says-atmospheric-carbon-level-unseen-3-million-years">Earth's CO2 concentration</a>
to a level
not seen for the past 3 million years.


feed_id: fd76f56ff4b960e8dc2025f0ab4a5485
title: Heavy rains caused floods
uri: Heavy-rains-caused-floods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Heavy_rains_caused_floods%29
content:
<p>
Rare heavy rains in California caused <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/25/california-storm-latest-weather-news-floods-mudslides-oregon-washington">caused floods and mudslides,</a>
but may
not leave enough in the soil to end the deep drought.


feed_id: eaf055b27da17d48cd4b38ee537f55fc
title: Free speech
uri: 2021-10-28-Free-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Banning_anon_stifle_speech%29
content:
<p>
*Banning anonymous social media accounts would only <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/25/banning-anonymous-social-media-accounts-stifle-free-speech-abuse">stifle free speech</a>
and democracy.*
<p>
I post a reference to that article because it is well-argued, but I
don't agree with it 100%.  I think that banning the posting of
"disturbing" language goes too far.  Also, it repeatedly refers to
an unspecified hypothetical individual as "them", and I find that
quite annoying.


feed_id: d4c50834dcf87081e0e4b50f0abb7052
title: Sexual harassment and bullying
uri: Sexual-harassment-and-bullying
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Sexual_harassment_and_bullying%29

content:
<p>
Over 20% of women in the UK military report (in a survey) receiving
sexual harassment, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/25/revealed-scale-of-abuse-and-sexual-harassment-of-women-in-uk-military">a like number report receiving emotional
bullying</a>.


feed_id: 31d4cad186d41ab27145d91e0cf44d9e
title: Secret committee
uri: Secret-committee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Secret_committee%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Party in Congress has a secret committee in charge
of committee assignments.  <a href="https://prospect.org/power/secretive-group-steering-the-dems/">Its rules and its membership are secret</a>.
  All we know about its operations is that
it seems very responsive to interests with lots of money.


feed_id: 76e1299940c3135d3fba7f207fcf9caa
title: Tracking data
uri: Tracking-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Tracking_data%29
content:
<p>
An FBI document explains <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vqkv/how-fbi-gets-phone-data-att-tmobile-verizon">how it gets tracking data from US phone
companies</a>.

<p>
The issue here is not whether phone companies should answer subpoenas.
Rather, it is what data they accumulate.

<p>
To track everyone's movements this way is not merely unjust to each
person tracked.  It threatens good government by facilitating the
identification of whistleblowers.  It threatens democracy itself, <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">by
facilitating the identification of dissidents</a>.

<p>
Therefore, I contend that phone companies should not be allowed to
retain tracking information about any person without first receiving a
specific court order.

<p>
As someone once told me, in what kind of state is the job of the
police easy?  In a police state.


feed_id: a0ea208e586376eb0fa5a386ac224487
title: Members of congress collaborating with attackers
uri: Members-of-congress-collaborating-with-attackers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Members_of_congress_collaborating_with_attackers%29

content:
<p>
Rolling Stone says that participants in the attack on the Capitol told
reporters (and the government) <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/exclusive-jan-6-organizers-met-congress-white-house-1245289/">that they were in planning meetings with
Republican members of Congress</a>.

<p>
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez called for expulsion of any members of Congress
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/25/any-lawmaker-involved-planning-jan-6-insurrection-must-be-expelled-says-aoc">that collaborated with the attack on the Capitol</a>.

<p>
I agree, but I fear that Republicans lack sufficient patriotism to expel
Republicans for trying to overthrow the government.


feed_id: bbfee4377318a666208b835c94e33c44
title: Stop the Money Pipeline
uri: Stop-the-Money-Pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Stop_the_Money_Pipeline%29
content:
<p>
I wish it were possible for me to support the campaign, Stop the Money
Pipeline, which aims to get banks to stop investing in fossil fuels.
I can't, because its web site depends on nonfree Javascript code to
the point where I cannot ethically refer anyone to it.

<p>
I would like ask them to change this, but the site shows no way to
contact them &mdash; no email address, no phone number, no postal address,
nothing.

<p>
Can anyone tell me a way to reach them?

<p>
In the mean time, they make one concrete recommendation that I can
state here: move your money (and organizations' money) out of Chase,
Wells Fargo, Citi and Bank of America.


feed_id: 1ecfcca3841c7023b79c629cc460b10f
title: Military takeover
uri: Military-takeover
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Military_takeover%29
content:
<p>
The military have taken over Sudan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/25/africa/sudan-coup-explained-intl-cmd/index.html">and arrested some or all of
the civilian government</a>.


feed_id: 3c12296e5ddfbb789eb3893c22d74823
title: Bullying school board meetings
uri: Bullying-school-board-meetings
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Bullying_school_board_meetings%29

content:
<p>
Funded right-wing groups <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/24/dont-mistake-school-board-protests-grassroots-campaign">are encouraging anti-maskers to bully school
board meetings</a>.


feed_id: 6d7899c5a72588645900da7df2fd0326
title: Private equity firms
uri: Private-equity-firms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Private_equity_firms%29
content:
<p>
*Doctors and medical experts say private equity firms and profiteering
   corporations <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/24/welcome-emergency-room-wall-street-honcho-will-decide-your-treatment">are putting American lives at risk and compromising the
   practice of medicine</a>.*


feed_id: 6740c3f2db7c85628967c8786f622eaf
title: Dooming civilization
uri: Dooming-civilization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Dooming_civilization%29
content:
<p>
Manchin may have doomed civilization by killing hope of adequate US
climate action.  Years before that, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/24/how-manchin-just-positioned-china-dominate-green-energy-21st-century">the first consequence could be a
big economic gain for China at US expense</a>.
  Perhaps some businesses and investors, too hard-nosed and
short-signed to care about the future of civilization 40 years from
now, will care enough to try to prevent that.


feed_id: d1a22597b24a96518ef596db036b7b39
title: Witchcraft
uri: 2021-10-28-Witchcraft
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Witchcraft%29
content:
<p>
A campaign aims to clear the name of the thousands of European women
(and some men) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/24/why-the-witch-hunt-victims-of-early-modern-britain-have-come-back-to-haunt-us">who were executed for imagined witchcraft</a>.

<p>
We should not allow fantasy about magic and witches, whether good or
bad, to distort our idea of reality.  In reality, there is no such
thing as magic.  There is advanced technology which can appear
"indistinguishable from magic", but it isn't really magic, and doesn't
involve devils.

<p>
There are real poisons, and are <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#19_May_2013_(UK_gov">occasionally used for murder</a>
                                                             or
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2020-sep-dec.html#16_December_2020_(Poisoning_of_Navalny)">attempted murder</a>,
   but they are physical substances and always administered by
non-magical means.


feed_id: 3604400edd4bc0a6f5a88f36ecc95602
title: Serving state badly
uri: Serving-state-badly
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Serving_state_badly%29
content:
<p>
West Virginia has problems due to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>: floods often block
roads and cut towns off from travel.  They also often cause long power
outages.  It needs both infrastructure improvements and a curb on
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.

<p>
Thus, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/27/west-virginia-joe-manchin-climate-crisis">Manchin is serving his state badly</a>.


feed_id: ee535277d41bf07ad12d0c07e048cc68
title: Location data
uri: 2021-10-28-Location-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Location_data%29
content:
<p>
How can you trust that an app really won't send some company your
location data, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgmqz/huq-location-data-opt-out-no-consent">when you tell it not to</a>?

<p>
The only way you can trust a program not to do something it isn't supposed
to do is if it is free software, <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">so that the user community can check it</a>.


feed_id: f1dc416c150311edb0f040f37b4be88f
title: Global medical system
uri: Global-medical-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28Global_medical_system%29
content:
<p>
Our awareness of what the world has done to deal with Covid-19 leads
us to envision, for the first time, a global medical system capable of
dealing properly with a global pandemic.  Alas, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/26/the-world-was-woefully-unprepared-for-a-pandemic-lets-be-ready-for-the-next-one">today's global medical
system is far from sufficient</a>.

<p>
It won't be ready for the next pandemic either, unless we make it
a lot more capable.


feed_id: 8801572ba62fb32c6693722391b087da
title: Urgent: demand testimony
uri: Urgent-demand-testimony
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_demand_testimony_capitol%29

content:
<p>
US Citizens: call on the house investigation to 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/exposed-members-of-congress-worked-with-insurrectionists?nowrapper=true&referrer=&source=email-new-marjorie-taylor-greene-met-with-insurrectionists">demand testimony from
the representatives</a>
accused of helping to plan the attack on the Capitol.


feed_id: 84500b6b941a7c3d9e130da1cdc186ae
title: Crime of recklessly exposing citizen to Covid-19
uri: Crime-of-recklessly-exposing-citizen-to-Covid-19
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Crime_of_recklessly_exposing_citizen_to_Covid-19%29

content:
<p>
The Brazilian Senate recommends charging Bolsonaro with crimes of
recklessly exposing Brazilians to Covid-19, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/27/the-guardian-view-on-bolsonaros-covid-strategy-murderous-folly">and being responsible for
as much as 300,000 deaths</a>.


feed_id: 2ac0561f636c550d331caa845478a05d
title: Labeling human rights defenders as terrorists
uri: Labeling-human-rights-defenders-as-terrorists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Labeling_human_rights_defenders_as_terrorists%29

content:
<p>
Amnesty and Human Rights Watch jointly condemned Israel's <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/10/israel-opt-designation-of-palestinian-civil-society-groups-as-terrorists-a-brazen-attack-on-human-rights/">labeling of
Palestinian human rights defenders as "terrorists"</a>.


feed_id: a4ac262ac4b08bf3c7b6322e2f89f6fb
title: Step up low-carbon policies
uri: Step-up-low-carbon-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Step_up_low-carbon_policies%29
content:
<p>
*World’s chief scientists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/world-leading-scientists">urge Cop26 attendees to step up low-carbon policies</a>.*


feed_id: f7695dbb26538c719e13c87fa4e8ed47
title: School safety officer charged with murder
uri: School-safety-officer-charged-with-murder
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28School_safety_officer_charged_with_murder%29

content:
<p>
*Long Beach school safety officer who shot teenager <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/27/california-school-safety-officer-murder-charges">charged with murder</a>.*

<p>
It's rare that school <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> actually kill a teenager, but quite common
that they send students to prison.  That's the real reason why schools
should not have them.


feed_id: 4940e410563e488d37719b6e5569212c
title: Construction complete
uri: Construction-complete
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Construction_complete%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/construction-finally-complete-on-pipeline-connecting-ch-1847918873">satire</a>) *Construction Finally Complete On Canal Connecting Chemical
Runoff With Mississippi River.*


feed_id: 65c4545198a0dea73ce0409fb71af605
title: Limits on constructing very tall buildings
uri: Limits-on-constructing-very-tall-buildings
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Limits_on_constructing_very_tall_buildings%29

content:
<p>
China will put <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/vanity-projects-china-to-introduce-tighter-limits-on-skyscrapers">limits on constructing very tall buildings</a>.
  They divert resources in a direction that isn't useful.


feed_id: bd42a18e0e5d06bbd98e8c52a186a6fc
title: Climate disasters
uri: Climate-disasters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Climate_disasters%29
content:
<p>
In Honduras, climate disasters <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/honduras-climate-crisis-floods-hurricanes-poor-community">rain down on the poor and there is nowhere
for them to go</a>.

<p>
When I think about this situation, I cannot escape the conclusion
that, in the long term, any solution to the problem of people with
nowhere to go must include limiting the population.


feed_id: b34405049351ff9cdd184792e1b1e03c
title: Oil extraction collapse
uri: Oil-extraction-collapse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Oil_extraction_collapse%29
content:
<p>
This article argues that oil extraction will collapse in the 2030s,
because the fraction of oil extracted that will 
<a href="https://bylinetimes.com/2021/10/20/oil-system-collapsing-so-fast-it-may-derail-renewables-warn-french-government-scientists/">have to be burned</a>
so
as to extract oil will increase to a level that won't be profitable
to continue.
<p>
I don't have the knowledge to judge whether this is true.  But if it
is, that may provide the necessary extra impetus to move the world
quickly to renewable energy.


feed_id: a494ffcab160ceb7ad571d1c3cf50842
title: Urgent: Stop Wallstreet Looking Act
uri: Urgent-Stop-Wallstreet-Looking-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_support_stop_wall_street%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: support the 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-now-become-a-grassroots-co-sponsor-of-the-stop-wall-street-looting-act?nowrapper=true&referrer=group-afr-advocacy-fund-c4&source=direct_link">Stop Wall Street Looting Act.</a>


feed_id: f4e223afbf62356de0dc80f83c8e6d8c
title: Protests rage
uri: Protests-rage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28US_condemns_takeover%29
content:
<p>
*Sudan coup: US condemns  
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/26/sudan-coup-us-condemns-military-takeover-as-protests-rage-overnight">military takeover</a>
as protests rage overnight.*


feed_id: 475ff2b9feb78c60972f9eebfaa3bb9d
title: Beyond Borders
uri: Beyond-Borders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28China_spying_beyond_borders%29
content:
<p>
China has an agency dedicated to expats from China, including
Tibetans.  Its mission is to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/26/we-are-so-divided-now-how-china-controls-thought-and-speech-beyond-its-borders">spy on them, pressure them, and occasionally
threaten, attack or kidnap them.</a>
<p>
I wonder: When the US catches Chinese agents stalking exiled Chinese
dissidents, what sort of crimes are they charged with, and what sort of
sentences do they serve?  Are the sentences long enough to discourage Chinese
from trying such violence, or do they consider it a slap on the wrist?


feed_id: 9894f56714fb6adff47ac54e92b068cf
title: Law to impose
uri: Law-to-impose
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Mexico_impose_regulation%29
content:
<p>
Mexico is passing a law to impose 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/26/regulating-indigenous-medicine-in-mexico-could-violate-rights">government regulation</a>
on traditional
medicine.


feed_id: 317c429fef0538d558bd78d94e07f808
title: Rise of Biometric data
uri: Rise-of-Biometric-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Biometric_data_rise%29
content:
<p>
*‘Conditioning an entire society’: the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/26/fearful-of-losing-their-homelands-islands-are-taking-australia-to-court-over-climate">rise of biometric data</a>
technology.*


feed_id: b59c6d4637901dfa662e05df14f02d11
title: Inhabitants are suing
uri: Inhabitants-are-suing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Global_warming_Inhabitants_suing%29

content:
<p>
Some islands between Australia and New Guinea will be inundated unless
we curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> fast.  Inhabitants are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/26/fearful-of-losing-their-homelands-islands-are-taking-australia-to-court-over-climate">suing Australia to demand this.</a>


feed_id: 903e99304c4e6d4e22138c8e222ad781
title: Urgent: Help workers unionize
uri: Urgent-Help-workers-unionize
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_help_workers_unionize%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on senators to pass the PRO Act, to help workers
<a href="https://act.pramilaforcongress.com/signup/ads_ms_PJ_juggproject_202110_EA_proact/">unionize.</a>


feed_id: 649ccc1befb949190bfc3c5e85cc3a71
title: Global disaster
uri: 2021-10-29-Global-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Fossil_fuel_accountable%29
content:
<p>
Half of US Democrats don't want to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/republicans-climate-crisis-big-oil-poll">"hold the fossil fuel companies
accountable"</a>
for putting Earth's climate on the path to global
disaster.
<p>
More info about the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment">survey results.</a>
<p>
I think that "holding those companies accountable" for the fire they
have started is a secondary issue.  What's most important is to push
them aside, and incapacitate them if necessary,. so they can't
interfere as we try to put it out.


feed_id: 9d7666e59805f1feba76f4e9ee303075
title: Fracking waste is leaking
uri: Fracking-waste-is-leaking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Toxic_fracking_waste_leak%29
content:
<p>
*Toxic fracking waste is
<a href="https://grist.org/accountability/fracking-waste-california-aqueduct-section-29-facility/">leaking into California groundwater</a>.*


feed_id: 65ce11e51219a4169775aad409d56898
title: Domestic abusers
uri: Domestic-abusers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28US_guns_domestic_abusers%29
content:
<p>
*How the US fails to take away guns from *
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/26/domestic-abuse-gun-violence-reveal">domestic abusers.</a>*


feed_id: 885c434df912ed5d9cfe8fa0bac8e6e6
title: Struggle for Covid Patients
uri: Struggle-for-Covid-Patients
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Covid_struggle_benefits%29
content:
<p>
*Another Struggle for Long Covid Patients:
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211029043916/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/us/long-covid-disability-benefits.html">Disability Benefits.</a>*


feed_id: 55ced23aa1a15129eee9de237a178aeb
title: General Strike
uri: General-Strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28South_korean_walk_off%29
content:
<p>
*Half a Million South Korean Workers Walk Off Jobs 
<a href="https://truthout.org/articles/half-a-million-south-korean-workers-prepare-to-walk-off-jobs-in-general-strike/">Walk Off Jobs </a>
in General Strike.*
<p>
It would be great to see American workers do that.


feed_id: c02a4204f36f51eeb51cdff956cb54ba
title: Divest from fossil fuel
uri: 2021-10-29-Divest-from-fossil-fuel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Dutch_divest_fossil_fuel%29
content:
<p>
A big Dutch pension fund has decided to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/abp-pension-fund-to-stop-investing-in-fossil-fuels-amid-climate-fears">divest from fossil fuel</a>
companies.


feed_id: eb732dc2b99bb5b620460ab839c58288
title: Violent hatred
uri: Violent-hatred
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28India_facebook_misinfo%29
content:
<p>
In February 2019 a Facebook employee in India created a test account
to see what Facebook would recommend to new users.  <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">Perse</a> saw the site
recommend a flood of violent
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-social-media-misinformation-narendra-modi-5e260159e59e6a62e56d55973094bb26">violent hatred</a>
Pakistan and against
Muslims.


feed_id: e9b8470660723712eb5e5297093b687c
title: Urgent: Demand elimination
uri: Urgent-Demand-elimination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_demand_elimination_abortion_law%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: demand elimination of
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-stop-six-week-abortion-bans-protect-our-reproductive-freedoms-2?nowrapper=true&referrer=group-the-people-united&source=2021NoAbortionBans_TPU">state laws that restrict abortions.</a>


feed_id: 1f0966434632b3714a8403965fba8d81
title: Urgent: regulate collection of data and algorithms
uri: Urgent-regulate-collection-of-data-and-algorithms
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_regulate_data_collection%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/fb_accountable/?akid=19598.9489429.5SknwM&rd=1&t=1002">regulate collection of data and of
algorithms</a>
to make decisions with it.


feed_id: b386058f6a936f0c7413d5bbed40db5f
title: Urgent: end gouging on prisoners' phone calls
uri: Urgent-end-gouging-on-prisoners-phone-calls
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_prison_price_gouaging_calls%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to end 
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/martha-wright-act/">gouging on prisoners' phone calls.</a>


feed_id: 48923fa54ade83d58195323b4a7bb3ab
title: Shun fossil fuel
uri: Shun-fossil-fuel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28tobacco_industry_eu%29
content:
<p>
*   Oil and gas companies should be treated like the tobacco industry and
   denied routine meetings with 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/shun-fossil-fuel-firms-by-treating-them-like-tobacco-industry-eu-urged">EU officials.</a>
*


feed_id: 6e0957a2c9b07fed1724cc9e6481576c
title: Surveillance power
uri: Surveillance-power
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Edtech_great_surveillance_power%29

content:
<p>
Edtech companies are already developing great power over the students
in the schools where they operate, and it will get worse.  They use
their 
<a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2021/10/25/algorithmic-injustice-in-education-why-tech-companies-should-require-a-license-to-operate-in-childrens-education/">surveillance power to manipulate students</a>
, and to direct students
into tracks towards various levels of knowledge, power and prestige.
<p>
They also structure their relationships so that they are never held responsible
for the consequences.
<p>
The article argues that these companies should need to have licenses
to operate.  I am not against that, but I would go further.  I say
that the data acquired in a school about any student must not leave
the school's control: whatever computers it gets onto must belong to
the school and run free software.  That way the school district and/or
parents can control what it does with those data.


feed_id: 326b03998dec4d44df286a28a1af7415
title: European bank to end all loans
uri: European-bank-to-end-all-loans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28European_bank_end_loans%29
content:
<p>
*European Investment Bank to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/european-investment-bank-to-close-loophole-allowing-it-to-lend-to-oil-and-gas-firms">end all loans</a>
 to oil and gas firms.*
<p>
It will no longer help oil companies develop wind farms, and that is a
good thing, because those projects help the oil company greenwash its
continued fossil fuel operations.  The same funds could go to a
wind farm project that is _not_ connected with an oil company.


feed_id: 1b8a7135eec47cd0da31c2277700ce47
title: Facebook metaverse
uri: Facebook-metaverse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Facebook_build_metaverse%29
content:
<p>
Facebook says it will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/28/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-meta-metaverse">build a "metaverse".</a>
  (Or is that "made it
worse"?)  That buzzword is not very precise about its meaning, so if
something does get built, we concretely know hardly anything about
what it might do.
<p>
What rhymes with "meta"?  "Data".  That's what Facebook wants,
and that's what we should refuse to give it.  Don't be a zucker!
<p>
I won't prejudge it just because Facebook is doing it, but we must suspect
it will mistreat its users.  We should pose these questions about it:


feed_id: 9154bb1c75b7ac3924e659bc3d52f062
title: European bank to end all loans
uri: 2021-10-30-European-bank-to-end-all-loans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28European_bank_end_loans%29
content:
<p>
*European Investment Bank to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/european-investment-bank-to-close-loophole-allowing-it-to-lend-to-oil-and-gas-firms">end all loans</a>
 to oil and gas firms.*
<p>
It will no longer help oil companies develop wind farms, and that is a
good thing, because those projects help the oil company greenwash its
continued fossil fuel operations.  The same funds could go to a
wind farm project that is <em>not</em> connected with an oil company.


feed_id: 7e103004c900c7216e5de2d81f924bc6
title: Facebook metaverse
uri: 2021-10-30-Facebook-metaverse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Facebook_build_metaverse%29
content:
<p>
Facebook says it will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/28/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-meta-metaverse">build a "metaverse".</a>
  (Or is that "made it
worse"?)  That buzzword is not very precise about its meaning, so if
something does get built, we concretely know hardly anything about
what it might do.
<p>
What rhymes with "meta"?  "Data".  That's what Facebook wants,
and that's what we should refuse to give it.  Don't be a zucker!
<p>
I won't prejudge it just because Facebook is doing it, but we must suspect
it will mistreat its users.  We should pose these questions about it:

<ul>
<li>Do we get to control our actions and perceptions through free software?</li>
<li>Can we be free from surveillance?</li>
<li>Can we stop it from manipulating us?</li>
</ul>


feed_id: 080d1efff4aba65317b8c2341612f860
title: State senator charged
uri: State-senator-charged
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28state_senator_charged_campaign%29

content:
<p>
A Tennessee Republican state senator, who is one of 
<a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/10/28/alec-leader-indicted-for-campaign-finance-conspiracy/">ALEC's leaders</a>
,
has been charged with violating campaign finance laws.


feed_id: 5db54da490929d6dbc168aa289a9d08a
title: Illegal action
uri: Illegal-action
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Alabama_schools_illegal_action%29

content:
<p>
Alabama Republicans have made it illegal for schools to teach that any
illegal action is a 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/28/2060676/-How-enlightened-was-the-European-Enlightenment-A-CRT-Lens-Lesson?_=2021-10-28T03:39:41.000-07:00">legitimate option.</a>
<p>
If interpreted in an evenhanded way, this excudes the American
Revolution from the curriculum, not to mention the civil rights
movement.  I expect Republicans to apply the law selectively.
<p>
Proper judges would declare it unconstitutional, not because of the
specifics but rather on general principes, but we cannot count on
today's judges to defend academic freedom.


feed_id: 9f0e66ef30e48dacc3ec23786ecc7549
title: Climate crisis
uri: 2021-10-30-Climate-crisis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Climate_crisis_undervalue_lives%29

content:
<p>
Discounting the value of your own future earnings is economically rational.
But when this is applied to economic models of the future of civilization,
it has the effect of
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-crisis-economists-grossly-undervalue-young-lives-warns-stern">discounting future generations down to insignificance.</a>
<p>
It is valid to discount our own future income, but it is not valid to
discount someone else's future income as if it were going to be yours.


feed_id: f52b2f7bfd9917657306bf3a732042f1
title: Sudan coup
uri: Sudan-coup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Sudan_coup_attempt_omar%29
content:
<p>
Background to the coup in Sudan. 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/seeds-of-sudan-coup-attempt-sown-after-fall-of-omar-al-bashir">coup in Sudan.</a>


feed_id: 7bdd9e843f6d507d0861c4392406abd2
title: Countdown to catastrophe
uri: Countdown-to-catastrophe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Famine_afghan_hunger_winter%29
content:
<p>
Famine will affect 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/25/countdown-to-catastrophe-half-of-afghans-face-hunger-this-winter-un">half the population</a>
of Afghanistan this winter.


feed_id: 93341b697f0d389c758397477bae9e64
title: Populist tax cuts
uri: Populist-tax-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28secretive_group_taxcuts%29
content:
<p>
A low-profile 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/25/secretive-group-influence-trumps-tax-cuts">right-wing lobbying group</a>
guided the bully's "populist"
tax cuts.
<p>
to help them benefit the rich more.


feed_id: 5559fc53623e00577262ee9c8ac63855
title: India emissions failure
uri: India-emissions-failure
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28India_emissions_failure%29
content:
<p>
Presenting emissions reduction goals in terms of reducing "emissions
intensity" of energy use, for a growing economy that uses ever more
energy, is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/not-a-solution-itself-india-questions-net-zero-targets-ahead-of-cop26">scheme to disguise failure</a>
That's what India is doing.
<p>
We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fast.  To hold
emissions steady while using more energy won't save our climate.


feed_id: d0e33ff563a921f372fefe549b539547
title: Unfair trial
uri: Unfair-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Julian_assange_unfair_trial%29
content:
<p>
The US, in order to get its hands on 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/27/free-julian-assange-now">Julian Assange and subject him
to an unfair trial</a>, has promised the UK that it won't imprison him
in brainwashing conditions at the outset.
<p>
But it reserves the right to change that decision later.

Wrong as it would be to imprison Assange for journalism, the worst
thing that has happened so far is the UK's decision that it will in
general extradite journalism suspects to the US, agreeing to the US
claim that journalism is "espionage".


feed_id: 85bbc356f3ce684b692563eee1253659
title: Refugee crisis
uri: 2021-10-30-Refugee-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Europe_refugee_crsis_1946%29
content:
<p>
Europe's refugee crisis from 1946, with which to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/27/moves-to-control-movement-of-refugees-in-europe-archive-1946">compare that</a>
of the
present day.


feed_id: 7721bff66d71c0a8489d74a99aa6b832
title: State senator charged
uri: 2021-10-31-State-senator-charged
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28state_senator_charged_campaign%29

content:
<p>
A Tennessee Republican state senator, who is one of 
<a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/10/28/alec-leader-indicted-for-campaign-finance-conspiracy/">ALEC's leaders</a>
,
has been charged with violating campaign finance laws.


feed_id: e8c7a8919186044bd03bf87a1dc0761a
title: Illegal action
uri: 2021-10-31-Illegal-action
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Alabama_schools_illegal_action%29

content:
<p>
Alabama Republicans have made it illegal for schools to teach that any
illegal action is a 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/28/2060676/-How-enlightened-was-the-European-Enlightenment-A-CRT-Lens-Lesson?_=2021-10-28T03:39:41.000-07:00">legitimate
option.</a>
<p>
If interpreted in an evenhanded way, this excludes the American
Revolution from the curriculum, not to mention the civil rights
movement.  I expect Republicans to apply the law selectively.
<p>
Proper judges would declare it unconstitutional, not because of the
specifics but rather on general principes, but we cannot count on
today's judges to defend academic freedom.


feed_id: e084884a5442c580a4fa0811f9bb8010
title: Populist tax cuts
uri: 2021-10-31-Populist-tax-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28secretive_group_taxcuts%29
content:
<p>
A low-profile 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/25/secretive-group-influence-trumps-tax-cuts">right-wing lobbying group</a>
guided the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s "populist"
tax cuts.
<p>
to help them benefit the rich more.


feed_id: d7338c884bcfa9a0acd716075ce7a345
title: Divest from fossil fuel
uri: 2021-10-31-Divest-from-fossil-fuel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28Dutch_divest_fossil_fuel%29
content:
<p>
A big Dutch pension fund has decided to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/abp-pension-fund-to-stop-investing-in-fossil-fuels-amid-climate-fears">divest from fossil fuel</a>
companies.


feed_id: 7e89f50cd879dbc5c97ebac39fdbbc5a
title: Violent hatred
uri: 2021-10-31-Violent-hatred
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#29_October_2021_%28India_facebook_misinfo%29
content:
<p>
In February 2019 a Facebook employee in India created a test account
to see what Facebook would recommend to new users.
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">Perse</a> saw the site
recommend a flood of 
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-social-media-misinformation-narendra-modi-5e260159e59e6a62e56d55973094bb26">violent
hatred</a> Pakistan and against Muslims.


feed_id: 68c14921423ab9eb736a92e205b26d7e
title: Sudanese military rulers
uri: Sudanese-military-rulers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Sudanese_military_arrest_democratic%29

content:
<p>
The Sudanese military rulers are arresting people who supported
democratic government
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/im-so-worried-spate-of-arrests-amid-sudan-military-coup">people who supported
democratic government</a>,  as well as journalists, and holding them
incommunicado.


feed_id: 1373f60a6eeaf7e978fe070557981473
title: Censorship and repression in India
uri: Censorship-and-repression-in-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28India_censorship_cricket_victory%29

content:
<p>
Censorship and repression in India reach a lunatic extreme: Indian
Muslims were arrested for celebrating Pakistan's 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/26/banks-irs-reporting-tax-evasion/">Pakistan's cricket victory</a>
over
India.


feed_id: c05493e26395404f1715d4babc61198b
title: Ultra wealthy tax cheats
uri: Ultra-wealthy-tax-cheats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Banks_biden_tax_cheats%29
content:
<p>
*Banks Lobby Against Biden Proposal to Crack Down on 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/26/banks-irs-reporting-tax-evasion/">Ultrawealthy</a>
Ultrawealthy "Tax
Cheats."*


feed_id: 4139697587ba63c158ddceda7cd4816d
title: Net zero is not enough
uri: Net-zero-is-not-enough
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Net_zero_not_enough%29
content:
<p>
*Net zero is not enough -– 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/net-zero-is-not-enough-we-need-to-build-a-nature-positive-future-aoe">we need to build a nature-positive future.</a>
*


feed_id: c0fae84a8a56ac14bd95738f7757f259
title: World is failing
uri: World-is-failing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28World_failing_climate_breakdown%29

content:
<p>
*World is failing to make changes needed to avoid climate breakdown,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/world-failing-make-changes-avoid-climate-breakdown-report">avoid climate breakdown,</a>
report
finds.*
<p>
*The make-or-break climate summit: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/cop26-what-at-stake-climate-summit">here’s what’s at stake at Cop26.</a>
*


feed_id: c462e675eb14f111c98a2296cf67ec68
title: Urgent: Demand Mastercard to reverse the rules
uri: Urgent-Demand-Mastercard-to-reverse-the-rules
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_demand_mastercard_reverse_rules%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Mastercard to 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/petition/mastercard-sex-work-work-end-your-unjust-policy">rules that effectively impose censorship about sex on web sites.</a>
Using the word "adult" as a euphemism for "involving or referring to sex" is misleading as it attempts to deny the fact
that adolescents are naturally fascinated with these matters.
perhaps we should call them "adulescent" instead of "adult".
<p>
Please do not use 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosphy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">"content"</a>
to refer to works of authorship or art --
Not even the ones you have a low opinion of, for whatever reason.
Because that usage inherently disparages <em>all</em> works, or <em>all</em>
publications.


feed_id: afe4fc95d55bbd34268d7e496f753eec
title: Sudan coup
uri: 2021-10-31-Sudan-coup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Sudan_coup_attempt_omar%29
content:
<p>
Background to the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/seeds-of-sudan-coup-attempt-sown-after-fall-of-omar-al-bashir">coup in Sudan.</a>


feed_id: 986964f9b64d7222c230dbf9dce80f66
title: UK has convicted climate activists
uri: UK-has-convicted-climate-activists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Uk_convicted_climate_activists%29

content:
<p>
The UK has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/dont-put-climate-activists-on-trial-cps-urged">convicted climate defense activists</a>
for painting "lies,
lies, lies" on the office of a denialist lobbying organization.
<p>
Compare this "criminal damage" with inundated cities and burning forests.


feed_id: 3422df8593644788b8c42736b992671c
title: FBI thug
uri: FBI-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Fbi_thug_harassment_oakland%29
content:
<p>
An FBI thug rushed into a store in Oakland and seconds later shot 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/30/jonathan-cortez-fbi-shooting-oakland">Jonathan Cortez dead.</a>
 The family demand to know why, and have been met
with harassment.


feed_id: 5962b63c862069387d314d0890a1be00
title: Censorship and repression in India
uri: 2021-10-31-Censorship-and-repression-in-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28India_censorship_cricket_victory%29

content:
<p>
Censorship and repression in India reach a lunatic extreme: Indian
Muslims were arrested for celebrating 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/indian-police-arrest-seven-for-celebrating-pakistan-cricket-win">Pakistan's cricket victory</a>
over
India.


feed_id: 171d73d67cf14a2847cc02573f660145
title: Beyond Extinction Rebellion
uri: Beyond-Extinction-Rebellion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Beyond_extinction_group%29
content:
<p>
*Beyond Extinction Rebellion: the [specialized] *
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/beyond-extinction-rebellion-the-protest-groups-fighting-on-the-climate-frontline">protest groups fighting
on the climate front line.</a>
*


feed_id: 58d5bd4ce086843b952f37206537107f
title: Burr suspected
uri: Burr-suspected
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Burr_secret_warning_stock%29
content:
<p>
Senator Burr is suspected of 
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/burrs-brother-in-law-called-stock-broker-one-minute-after-getting-off-phone-with-senator">giving his brother-in-law a secret
warning</a>
to sell stock because Covid-19 was on its way.


feed_id: 761e81ec9ef1333c3d867c337c098d2e
title: Climate solutions
uri: Climate-solutions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Climate_summit_solutions%29
content:
<p>
*   Nothing and everything and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/30/our-climate-demands-we-change-the-world-right-now-the-good-news-we-can">not nearly enough has changed in the six
   years since the Paris climate summit and agreement.</a>
   The four players in
   our climate future –- climate chaos, climate activism, climate solutions
   and climate finance –- are still on a playing field filled with floods,
   flames and false solutions.*


feed_id: 7da4281dcd681e7e42fd4fd2d8641692
title: US should cut military budget
uri: US-should-cut-military-budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28cut_military_budget_bbb%29
content:
<p>
*The US should cut the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/30/america-should-cut-pentagon-budget-fund-build-back-better">military budget</a>
to fund Build Back Better programs.*


feed_id: 2a620171f93d614b31370ecf18e944bb
title: Ultra wealthy tax cheats
uri: 2021-10-31-Ultra-wealthy-tax-cheats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Banks_biden_tax_cheats%29
content:
<p>
*Banks Lobby Against Biden Proposal to Crack Down on 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/26/banks-irs-reporting-tax-evasion/">Ultra wealthy</a>
Ultra wealthy "Tax
Cheats."*


feed_id: 120c4aeb2cc9aee8efb50127b83f0901
title: Urgent: Demand Mastercard to reverse the rules
uri: 2021-10-31-Urgent-Demand-Mastercard-to-reverse-the-rules
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#31_October_2021_%28Urgent%3A_demand_mastercard_reverse_rules%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Mastercard to 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/petition/mastercard-sex-work-work-end-your-unjust-policy">rules that effectively impose censorship about sex on web sites.</a>
Using the word "adult" as a euphemism for "involving or referring to sex" is misleading as it attempts to deny the fact
that adolescents are naturally fascinated with these matters.
perhaps we should call them "adolescent" instead of "adult".
<p>
Please do not use 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosphy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">"content"</a>
to refer to works of authorship or art --
Not even the ones you have a low opinion of, for whatever reason.
Because that usage inherently disparages <em>all</em> works, or <em>all</em>
publications.


feed_id: 7c8487d69d1ed70d401824f79835ad5e
title: Illegal action
uri: 2021-10-31-Illegal-action
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#30_October_2021_%28Alabama_schools_illegal_action%29

content:
<p>
Alabama Republicans have made it illegal for schools to teach that any
illegal action is a 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/28/2060676/-How-enlightened-was-the-European-Enlightenment-A-CRT-Lens-Lesson?_=2021-10-28T03:39:41.000-07:00">legitimate
option.</a>
<p>
If interpreted in an evenhanded way, this excludes the American
Revolution from the curriculum, not to mention the civil rights
movement.  I expect Republicans to apply the law selectively.
<p>
Proper judges would declare it unconstitutional, not because of the
specifics but rather on general principles, but we cannot count on
today's judges to defend academic freedom.


feed_id: 96788d42acf21b545a7c9de24c66964a
title: App consent
uri: 2021-10-31-App-consent
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-jul-oct.html#28_October_2021_%28App_trust_permission_location%29
content:
<p>
How can you trust that an app really won't send some company your
location data, when 
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgmqz/huq-location-data-opt-out-no-consent">you tell it</a>
not to?
<p>
The only way you can trust a program not to do something it isn't supposed
to do is if it is 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">free software,</a>
 so that the user community can check it.


feed_id: 92d27caf2b50346b727bd73961b0c5d0
title: Oklahoma outcry
uri: Oklahoma-outcry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Outcry_prisoner_vomits%29
content:
<p>
*Outcry after Oklahoma prisoner 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/29/oklahoma-prisoner-convulsed-vomited-execution-john-grant">vomits and convulses during execution.</a>
*
<p>
I am surprised that people give so much importance to whether the
person being excuted suffers during the process, because in my view
that is a secondary issue.  I think the principal wrong of the death
penalty is that the prisoner dies from it.
<p>
[pol note from many years ago where I state reasons for opposing th
death penalty]


feed_id: 7a9aba419c8ceb545717528f06eb8840
title: Breakthrough
uri: Breakthrough
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Cop26_require_make_good%29
content:
<p>
*Cop26 breakthrough will require 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/28/today-was-day-big-oil-lied-congress">require rich nations to finally make good</a>
<p>
Nobody has to suffer from this, if we get the funds by taxing the rich more.


feed_id: 6815042dd54cc132b69026ce4458cdb8
title: Oil company executives testified
uri: Oil-company-executives-testified
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Oil_exec_lied_congress%29
content:
<p>
Oil company executives testified to Congress and told
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/28/today-was-day-big-oil-lied-congress">blatant lies
about their past denial</a>
of global heating.
<p>
But they did admit to recent lobbying meetings with Manchin.

Rep. Maloney 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/exxon-ceo-accused-lying-climate-science-congressional-panel">specifically accused the Exxon CEO</a>
lying about climate
science. under oath.
<p>
There are plans to subpoena more testimony from these companies.

*What Big Oil knew about climate change, 

<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-big-oil-knew-about-climate-change-in-its-own-words-170642">in its own words.*</a>
<p>
Some conclusions about 

<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/28/theyre-lying-lots-climate-misinformation-detected-during-testimony-big-oil-ceos">planet-roaster strategy.</a>


feed_id: 43e9c317d8077fabccda6f1e1c065d95
title: Greenhouse gases
uri: Greenhouse-gases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Global_heating_emitters%29
content:
<p>
Global heating effects including fires and droughts, plus deforestation,
have turned some important forests into 
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/world/unesco-world-heritage-sites-carbon-emissions-climate/index.html">net emitters of greenhouse gases.</a>
<p>
This shows several examples of positive-feedback effects that magnify
the consequences of our emissions.  These examples are well-known, but
we keep discovering new ones.
Meanwhile, some countries are falsifying their progress by 
<a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/forest-counting-climate-change">citing
forests</a>
that don't really exist.


feed_id: dfcc61369569f9357246b2163c8dc844
title: Seven years
uri: Seven-years
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Eric_garner_nypd_inquiry%29
content:
<p>
Seven years after a 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/29/eric-garner-bill-de-blasio-nypd-killing-inquiry/">New York City thug</a>
killed Eric Garner, the high
officers of the thug department have refused to testify in an investigation of the killing.


feed_id: d5dc162799f8925efd964cbda75f5a11
title: Urgent: block merger of Amazon and MGM
uri: Urgent-block-merger-of-Amazon-and-MGM
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_block_merger_of_Amazon_and_MGM%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-ftc-to-block-the-amazon-mgm-deal">call on the FTC</a> to block the proposed merger of Amazon
and MGM.

<p>
Any merger that includes (or results in) a large company is harmful;
the details can make it even more harmful, or not.


feed_id: 0ac247626bea1bfc25cf1a61c9e4971f
title: Buying homes in flood zones
uri: Buying-homes-in-flood-zones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Buying_homes_in_flood_zones%29
content:
<p>
New Zealand is buying out the homes that are endangered by the
spreading flood zones.  It's much cheaper <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/30/forced-retreat-one-new-zealand-towns-fate-highlights-coming-fight-over-climate-adaptation">than trying to hold back the
floods</a>.

<p>
I would admire the people who stubbornly refuse to move, if their firm
stand could dissuade floods.  But the only way to do that is by
curbing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 11ea1b4d603e2dfcf432fa72dde43eca
title: Right to mock other people
uri: Right-to-mock-other-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Right_to_mock_other_people%29
content:
<p>
Canada's supreme court <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/29/canada-jeremy-gabriel-mike-ward-discrimination">has defended the right to mock other people</a>.

<p>
This is a central part of freedom of speech.  If it were illegal to
mock people and hurt their feelings, you can bet that the first people
you would be punished for mocking would be greedy billionaires and
right-wing politicians.


feed_id: c50b8a414c76b65533bbdfda2bc1d860
title: Gross manipulation of data
uri: Gross-manipulation-of-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Gross_manipulation_of_data%29
content:
<p>
*Australia’s 2050 net zero emissions plan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/30/australias-2050-net-zero-emissions-plan-relies-on-gross-manipulation-of-data-experts-say">relies on ‘gross
manipulation’ of data</a>, experts say.*

<p>
I am not surprised.  The leaders of Australia are <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a>.
After the big fires, they have been compelled to give lip service to
climate defense, but getting more than lip service out of them
will be difficult.


feed_id: 147f4cf308a205fee221fd93bad9b2d7
title: Making solar power more expensive
uri: Making-solar-power-more-expensive
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Making_solar_power_more_expensive%29

content:
<p>
California is considering a plan <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/10/29/clean-energy-groups-urge-california-reject-plan-increases-cost-residential-solar">to make home solar power more expensive</a>???


feed_id: b65bb5b1c90ae5dc06373540748f0118
title: Killer diet
uri: Killer-diet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Killer_diet%29
content:
<p>
Frances Moore Lappé: *<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/29/americas-killer-diet">America's Killer Diet</a>*.


feed_id: aaa9cab43a3c0830dd2e06cfc235fc32
title: Pressured to vote for independence
uri: Pressured-to-vote-for-independence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Pressured_to_vote_for_independence%29

content:
<p>
New Zealand is pressuring the people of the Tokelau Islands to vote
for independence from New Zealand, but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/30/is-it-to-satisfy-you-or-to-satisfy-us-why-new-zealands-pacific-colony-doesnt-want-independence">they keep voting to remain
a colony</a>.

<p>
The highest elevation in Tokelau is 5 meters above sea level.  Maybe
the people figure they will be forced to move to New Zealand later
this century.


feed_id: e1279af67ab50252315391ab018783a2
title: AI advances
uri: AI-advances
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28AI_advances%29
content:
<p>
AI is advancing rapidly, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/29/yeah-were-spooked-ai-starting-to-have-big-real-world-impact-says-expert">the dangers that researchers and science
fiction writers have imagined may hit us soon</a>.


feed_id: aa53ee2cd4954307a8951e2b9b81783d
title: New Fourth Party
uri: New-Fourth-Party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28New_Fourth_Party%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/andrew-yang-developing-new-fourth-party-after-failing-t-1847957168">satire</a>) *Andrew Yang Developing New Fourth Party After Failing To
Gain Support With Third Party.*


feed_id: 71f3bf73aab77e573885867ed56fe44b
title: Censure
uri: Censure
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Censure%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/texas-school-censors-all-of-huck-finn-except-the-n-wo-1847956839">satire</a>)  *Texas School Censors All Of ‘Huck Finn’ Except The N-Words.*

<p>
*This move will allow educators to focus on the key elements of an
American classic without fear of trafficking in the novel’s harmful
themes of compassion and racial equality.*


feed_id: cf1a0e97c6237477c6dda0c926baa8ce
title: Autonomous rocket
uri: Autonomous-rocket
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Autonomous_rocket%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/spacex-under-fire-after-autonomous-rocket-hits-pedestri-1847946787">satire</a>) *SpaceX Under Fire After Autonomous Rocket Hits Pedestrian.*


feed_id: 10833abdafb53da9e535cf90e8cc27db
title: Unfairly targeted
uri: Unfairly-targeted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Unfairly_targeted%29
content:
<p>
(<a href="https://www.theonion.com/billionaire-buying-sandwich-unfairly-targeted-with-5-s-1847956045">satire</a>) *Billionaire Buying Sandwich Unfairly Targeted With 5% Sales Tax.*


feed_id: ad51e29b3b7c555e9e4a6c5041e65732
title: Redemptive violence
uri: Redemptive-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Redemptive_violence%29
content:
<p>
*The Myth of Redemptive Violence* says that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/28/myth-redemptive-violence">the way to solve the
world's problems is by killing</a>.


feed_id: 1ea01dc961dc0523b8a2e0dc414edbab
title: Urgent: End support to war in Yemen
uri: Urgent-End-support-to-war-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_End_support_to_war_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=14082">call on your congresscritter</a> to end US support for the
war in Yemen.

<p>
To sign <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">without running nonfree JavaScript code</a>
                                                from the web site,
use <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">the Salsalabs workaround</a>.


feed_id: 4c73f22f9cd4b51c92c954c3afc3df94
title: Urgent: abolish PAT RIOT Act
uri: Urgent-abolish-PAT-RIOT-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_abolish_PAT_RIOT_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-demand-congress-end-the-us-surveillance-state-permanently-end-the-patriot-act-and-fight-warrantless-surveillance-everywhere-it-occurs?nowrapper=true">call on Congress</a> to abolish the PAT RIOT Act.


feed_id: 6729042194edbb1a3a6028d8b82eb895
title: FBI thug
uri: 2021-11-01-FBI-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#31_October_2021_%28Fbi_thug_harassment_oakland%29
content:
<p>
An FBI <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> rushed into a store in Oakland and seconds later shot 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/30/jonathan-cortez-fbi-shooting-oakland">Jonathan Cortez dead.</a>
 The family demand to know why, and have been met
with harassment.


feed_id: ca4b88c488a023236d7306be97e0b9b9
title: Beehive-protection AI
uri: Beehive-protection-AI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Beekeepers_ai_hives%29
content:
<p>
A company proposes to make 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/29/beehero-bee-colonies-collapse-us-high-tech-solution">beehive-protection AI systems</a>
beekeepers' hives.
<p>
I forecast these will do to beekeepers what John Deere tracters are
doing to farmers.


feed_id: 328533740cfc1d497c8c49e769986e76
title: Jubilee fund
uri: Jubilee-fund
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Jubilee_fund_cancel_debt%29
content:
<p>
The Rolling Jubilee Fund frees Americans from 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/29/debt-cancellation-carceral-bail/">debt-based perpetual
punishment by buying their debt and cancelling it.</a>


feed_id: 0d16f913346f19ec5fc39cb9d095db1b
title: Khan prisoner testified
uri: Khan-prisoner-testified
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Khan_prisoner_testified%29
content:
<p>
Majid Khan, prisoner in Guantanamo, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/29/going-die-guantanamo-prisoner-torture-testimony">has testified about how the US
tortured him.</a>
<p>
He has confessed to aiding al-Qa'ida, but we cannot know whether he
really did so.  Torture is quite effective at eliciting false
confessions -- that is what it's designed for -- so we cannot presume
he deserved the punishment he has already received.


feed_id: a51fe188e5d2a8a3229d2ad39e93fe20
title: Manchin denied paid leave
uri: Manchin-denied-paid-leave
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Manchin_denied_paid_leave%29
content:
<p>
*Joe Manchin single-handedly denied 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/29/joe-manchin-denied-us-families-paid-parental-leave">US families paid leave.</a>
*


feed_id: 111a1d1589e7ed82f6d95117f5478a69
title: Carbon tax
uri: 2021-11-01-Carbon-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Capitalism_killing_planet%29
content:
<p>
The companies that created the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/capitalism-is-killing-the-planet-its-time-to-stop-buying-into-our-own-destruction">world's biggest environmental problems</a>
also launch PR campaigns to distract individuals into striving to reduce
their personal contributions to these problems, instead of organizing to
change the systems that cause them.  They also lull people with the
fantasy that they might someday enjoy the life styles of millionaires.
<p>
I disagree with Monbiot's dismissal of a carbon tax.  If the tax rate
is big enough, and schduled to grow steadingly year by year, it can
mobilize massive investment in decarbonization along with general
divestment from fossil fuel companies.

What won't work is a small, token carbon tax.


feed_id: 66ccc637993b2442bca13e6258afb299
title: Urgent: Settle Build Back Batter bill
uri: Urgent-Settle-Build-Back-Batter-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Settle_Build_Back_Batter_bill%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: phone your congresscritter and say, refuse to have a vote on the
infrastructure bill until the Build Back Better bill is settled and certain
to be adopted.

<p>The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.</p>
<p>If you call, please spread the word!</p>

Recall that the infrastructure bill is a weak "bipartisan" compromise,
which progressives accepted only as part of a deal that the Build Back
Better bill would accompany it.  However, since September plutocratist
House Democrats have been trying to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#22_October_2021_(Build_back_better_bill)">separate them</a>;
if they succeed at that, Manchin
could kill the Build Back Better bill entirely.


feed_id: 99c2cfcc4069322610aa2fa7684cba8b
title: Urgent: Weak infrastructure bill
uri: Urgent-Weak-infrastructure-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Weak_infrastructure_bill%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on Congress to <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/demand-congress-hold-the-line-no-vote-on-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-compromise-without-a-vote-on-the-build-back-better-act">refuse to vote on the weak infrastructure
compromise</a> without a vote on the Build Back Better Act.
<p>
Even though plutocratists such as Manchin and Sinema got rid of 4/5 of
the original Build Back Better proposal, the Build Back Better act is
still crucial because it has a lot of climate defense.  We must insist
that it pass.


feed_id: caa42b3f29332a9ea8688c28601907d8
title: Punishment for requiring masks
uri: Punishment-for-requiring-masks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Punishment_for_requiring_masks%29

content:
<p>

Biden offered two California school boards federal funds to compensate
for the salary funds that Disease DeSantis denied them as punishment for
requiring masks.  Now DeSantis has <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/florida-strips-federal-funding-from-schools-as-further-punishment-for-masking/">arbitrarily fined them the same
amount again</a>.
<p>
This act violates federal law, so maybe a court will order Florida to deliver
those funds.


feed_id: 82905e4d564f969686dc3e95cbdea74a
title: "Metaverse"
uri: Metaverse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Metaverse%29
content:
<p>

Facebook's "metaverse" means many more kinds of sensors <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/facebook-metaverse-privacy-meta-what-it-means.html">feeding new
kinds of data</a> into each zucker's dossier.
<p>
Facebook's attempt to rebrand itself is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/29/hands-varoufakis-tells-zuckerberg-after-facebook-steals-meta-name-anti-capitalist">much worse than a distraction</a>.


feed_id: c726b7a0c4a592ddfe705009899c4f4f
title: (satire) Child care crisis
uri: (satire)-Child-care-crisis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28%28satire%29_Child_care_crisis%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Congress Addresses Child Care Crisis By <a href="https://www.theonion.com/congress-addresses-child-care-crisis-by-loosening-restr-1847958367">Loosening
Restrictions</a> On Locking Children In Car For 8 Hours.*


feed_id: 9b7b3ae4ac942372a15985ce090e9c38
title: Venezuela elections
uri: 2021-11-02-Venezuela-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Venezuela_elections%29
content:
<p>

Venezuela will have another election, with many parties, and the
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/29/us-policy-toward-venezuela-was-never-about-promoting-democracy">situation is complex</a>.  The US-supported extreme opposition is less
popular than moderate opposition.


feed_id: fba9a83ae7628ee3ddf2bcfac0a94db1
title: Renewable energy comparison
uri: Renewable-energy-comparison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Renewable_energy_comparison%29
content:
<p>

Comparing China's renewable energy with America's: both <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/28/world/china-us-climate-cop26-intl-hnk/index.html">grossly
inadequate</a> but in different ways.


feed_id: 9f6904ff2ec9de76d15d2098fdc8a12e
title: (satire) NRA
uri: (satire)-NRA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28%28satire%29_NRA%29
content:
<p>

(satire) *NRA Accuses ‘Rust’ Producers Of <a href="https://www.theonion.com/nra-accuses-rust-producers-of-endangering-crew-by-not-1847946985">Endangering Crew</a> By Not
Giving Everyone Guns.*


feed_id: 92e8438e69522c7dd7290b18ee1a5251
title: (satire) Pizza party
uri: (satire)-Pizza-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28%28satire%29_Pizza_party%29
content:
<p>

(satire) *Exxon Staff Wins <a href="https://www.theonion.com/exxon-staff-wins-company-wide-pizza-party-after-greenho-1847932632">Company-Wide Pizza Party</a> After Greenhouse
Gas Levels Hit New High.*


feed_id: 201505ecd4c4e16648ca6bf49db35674
title: 150,000 American deaths
uri: 150-000-American-deaths
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28150%2C000_American_deaths%29
content:
<p>

Estimating that the wrecker is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/28/trump-mass-murderer-former-presidents-top-pandemic-official-suggests-he">responsible for around 150,000 American deaths</a>,
by his failure to encourage Americans to wear masks from Sep 2020 to Jan 2021.


feed_id: 1a6295db04623fd65ae3c55aecb63a3c
title: Infrastructure to move from fossil fuels
uri: Infrastructure-to-move-from-fossil-fuels
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Infrastructure_to_move_from_fossil_fuels%29

content:
<p>

Proposing the sort of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/27/lets-not-miss-generational-opportunity-transform-our-fossil-fuel-economy">infrastructure program that the US really ought
to run</a>, in order to move rapidly away from fossil fuels.


feed_id: 895f0293626ea2af9644fa1a8d483a9f
title: European climate politics
uri: European-climate-politics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28European_climate_politics%29
content:
<p>

*   New research reveals how six fossil fuel giants <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/27/paris-glasgow-fossil-fuel-industry-blocking-climate-action">captured European
   climate politics</a>.*
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/27/not-just-immoral-deadly-how-corporate-lobbyists-ramped-spending-ahead-cop26">Likewise</a> in the US.


feed_id: 74e714a68ee356f3d3a44827d0d5bb70
title: Beehive-protection AI
uri: 2021-11-02-Beehive-protection-AI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Beekeepers_ai_hives%29
content:
<p>
A company proposes to make 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/29/beehero-bee-colonies-collapse-us-high-tech-solution">beehive-protection AI systems</a>
to protect beekeepers' hives.
<p>
I forecast these will do to beekeepers what John Deere tractors are
doing to farmers.


feed_id: 46cb36ef9e735c5cb18d3e56857b2c78
title: Oklahoma outcry
uri: 2021-11-02-Oklahoma-outcry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Outcry_prisoner_vomits%29
content:
<p>
*Outcry after Oklahoma prisoner 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/29/oklahoma-prisoner-convulsed-vomited-execution-john-grant">vomits and convulses during execution.</a>
*
<p>
I am surprised that people give so much importance to whether the
person being excuted suffers during the process, because in my view
that is a secondary issue.  I think the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-may-aug.html#14_August_2011_(Truth_About_Lethal_Injection)">principal wrong of the death
penalty is that the prisoner dies from it.


feed_id: a1118f401b2e66942e1e076fefd00c9e
title: Oil company executives testified
uri: 2021-11-02-Oil-company-executives-testified
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Oil_exec_lied_congress%29
content:
<p>
Oil company executives testified to Congress and told
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/28/today-was-day-big-oil-lied-congress">blatant lies
about their past denial</a>
of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.
<p>
But they did admit to recent lobbying meetings with Manchin.

Rep. Maloney 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/exxon-ceo-accused-lying-climate-science-congressional-panel">specifically accused the Exxon CEO</a>
lying about climate
science. under oath.
<p>
There are plans to subpoena more testimony from these companies.

*What Big Oil knew about climate change, 

<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-big-oil-knew-about-climate-change-in-its-own-words-170642">in its own words.*</a>
<p>
Some conclusions about 

<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/28/theyre-lying-lots-climate-misinformation-detected-during-testimony-big-oil-ceos">planet-roaster strategy.</a>


feed_id: 4e522024bdd5442fa01884d21937ba9a
title: Greenhouse gases
uri: 2021-11-02-Greenhouse-gases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Global_heating_emitters%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> effects including fires and droughts, plus deforestation,
have turned some important forests into 
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/world/unesco-world-heritage-sites-carbon-emissions-climate/index.html">net emitters of greenhouse gases.</a>
<p>
This shows several examples of positive-feedback effects that magnify
the consequences of our emissions.  These examples are well-known, but
we keep discovering new ones.
Meanwhile, some countries are falsifying their progress by 
<a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/forest-counting-climate-change">citing
forests</a>
that don't really exist.


feed_id: a2cad69c540b6a6fbaf910805cc32ffd
title: Seven years
uri: 2021-11-02-Seven-years
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Eric_garner_nypd_inquiry%29
content:
<p>
Seven years after a 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/10/29/eric-garner-bill-de-blasio-nypd-killing-inquiry/">New York City thug</a>
killed Eric Garner, the high
officers of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> department have refused to testify in an investigation of the killing.


feed_id: 299a848770d772bce0dd9b1a78b9af83
title: Sudanese military rulers
uri: 2021-11-02-Sudanese-military-rulers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#31_October_2021_%28Sudanese_military_arrest_democratic%29

content:
<p>
The Sudanese military rulers are arresting <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/im-so-worried-spate-of-arrests-amid-sudan-military-coup">people who supported
democratic government</a>,  as well as journalists, and holding them
incommunicado.


feed_id: 3629a5ac7143dddc1f17d27d48a5cd24
title: Crime of suing
uri: Crime-of-suing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Crime_of_suing%29
content:
<p>
An interview with Steven Donziger, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2021/10/27/steven_donziger_judicial_harassment_from_chevron">who has been sent to prison</a> 
  for
suing Chevron on behalf of Ecuadorians whose land was poisoned with oil.


feed_id: c7984957d485bf39ab384a1b101ac95c
title: Lawyers information
uri: Lawyers-information
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Lawyers_information%29
content:
<p>
UK prosecutors frequently fail to follow the legal requirement to tell
the defendant's lawyers any information that would help per case.  When this
becomes known, the case is dismissed.  Many cases <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/oct/31/courts-are-close-to-collapse-over-police-disclosure-failures">are now being dismissed in
this way</a>.
  Prosecutors say that their system
is not set up to carry out the requirement.


feed_id: 8d56a9b178274f74ea58da917723529f
title: Sacrifices
uri: Sacrifices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Sacrifices%29
content:
<p>
*Politicians talk about net zero &mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/31/politicians-net-zero-sacrifices-cop26-climate">but not the sacrifices we must make to get
there</a>.*


feed_id: 3d2f0f10b324a87bf339cc5137eadde6
title: Protection from privatisation
uri: Protection-from-privatisation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Protection_from_privatisation%29
content:
<p>
Announcing a campaign <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2021/10/why-we-must-fight-to-save-the-nhs-from-privatisation">to protect Britain's NHS from privatization</a>.


feed_id: 802479d232fac9db2a171d1407c94f2a
title: Corporations United decision
uri: 2021-11-02-Corporations-United-decision
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Corporations_United_decision%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#corporationsunited">Corporations United</a> decision (*) gave every industry the power to
sneer at Congress &mdash; <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/10/29/poisonous-citizens-united-decision-gave-corporations-power-slash-and-burn-build">and at non-rich Americans</a>.

<p>
* The official name of the organization was "Citizens United&hellip"
But since it represented corporations' rights, I call it "Corporations
United."


feed_id: 259805ef88d56fdf3e97ccd8b0a171bd
title: Exponential tech
uri: Exponential-tech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Exponential_tech%29
content:
<p>
Douglas Rushkoff: *<a href="https://onezero.medium.com/exponential-tech-doesnt-serve-social-good-c6263dc5ab66">Exponential Tech Doesn’t Serve Social Good</a>.*


feed_id: cf041d0165e6b0d2ee21df29cf702ba4
title: Drones in protests
uri: Drones-in-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Drones_in_protests%29
content:
<p>
The UK government wants to film protesters with drones operating 1500
feet up, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/29/police-england-wales-long-range-drone-footage-tender-filming">and identify them without their being able to tell</a>.


feed_id: 11223f83c5d3ba34c3b5b5c0cb3a6cfc
title: Killing of billionaire tax
uri: Killing-of-billionaire-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Killing_of_billionaire_tax%29
content:
<p>
Pelosi <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/28/pelosi-absolutely-destroyed-tax-billionaires-says-democratic-insider">helped Manchin kill the billionaire tax</a>.


feed_id: ecb74caaad8fc16dcfda8325d3be50eb
title: Fascist threat to democracy
uri: Fascist-threat-to-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Fascist_threat_to_democracy%29
content:
<p>
Prominent Liberal and Conservative activists and academics <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/164153/open-letter-defense-democracy">have joined
to condemn the fascist threat to democracy</a>.

<p>
This includes condemning the Republican Party as it has become,
despite the fact that some of them supported that party in the past.


feed_id: 0649750cbb461e00e395d90fd47b3e67
title: Driving while black
uri: 2021-11-02-Driving-while-black
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Driving_while_black%29
content:
<p>
*Philadelphia to become first major US city <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/30/us/philadelphia-driving-equality-bill/index.html">to ban police from stopping
drivers for low-level traffic violations</a>.*
  The point of this is to protect black drivers from one frequent opportunity
to harass them for "<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#14_July_2019_(Driving_while_black)">driving while black</a>".


feed_id: 7484fcdbe3282a8a008099605828679a
title: Preventing witnesses to testify
uri: Preventing-witnesses-to-testify
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Preventing_witnesses_to_testify%29

content:
<p>
The University of Florida told three professors they were forbidden
to testify as expert witnesses <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/30/us/university-of-florida-voting-rights/index.html">in a case against Florida's latest
voting restrictions law</a>.

<p>
What the state is doing is much worse than an infringement of academic freedom.
It is an attempt to bias the trial about the constitutionality of the
voting restrictions law, and thus a second attack on democracy piled
on the first one.


feed_id: f3518d0736b872d99b5a8e6d8e3c1ecf
title: Unjust laws
uri: Unjust-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Unjust_laws%29
content:
<p>
The history of <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/28/clintons-ghost/#felony-contempt-of-business-model">the DMCA and other similar unjust laws around the world</a>.

<p>
The DMCA's DRM exceptions process, every three years, is a repeated distraction
from campaigning for what we really need to do: legalize breaking DRM,
and <a href="https://DefectiveByDesign.org">make DRM a crime instead</a>.

<p>
See also my 1997 science fiction story, <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html">The Right To Read</a>,
                                                      which warned
about the dangers of the DMCA as it was still going through Congress.
As far as I can tell, it was the only science fiction story ever
published in the Communications of the ACM.


feed_id: 1c9553b65e242875e97b2df74fd8bdf8
title: Important issues at universities
uri: Important-issues-at-universities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Important_issues_at_universities%29

content:
<p>
Universities in the past welcomed argument about important issues.
Now, it seems, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/30/kathleen-stock-departure-shows-universities-cant-cope-with-argument">they let mobs hound those who disagree</a>.


feed_id: 51cce3ab6ae22f4b33dec18a8cf5ab31
title: Net zero sometime
uri: Net-zero-sometime
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Net_zero_sometime%29
content:
<p>
The G20 meeting <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/g20-pledge-to-take-climate-action-criticised-for-lacking-ambition">did not agree on aiming for net zero even in 2050</a>.


feed_id: 19e6d38dcde0daf7689a2037b3756605
title: Barricades
uri: Barricades
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#2_November_2021_%28Barricades%29
content:
<p>
*Sudan coup protesters <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/sudan-coup-protesters-man-barricades-on-seventh-day-of-unrest">man barricades on seventh day of unrest</a>.*

<p>
This followed a day of large protests <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/30/africa/sudan-coup-protests-intl/index.html">in which soldiers fired at protesters,
wounding and killing some</a>.


feed_id: 9baa61110dc0345ba1c9764c0e3e9d2d
title: Gross manipulation of data
uri: 2021-11-02-Gross-manipulation-of-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#1_November_2021_%28Gross_manipulation_of_data%29
content:
<p>
*Australia's 2050 net zero emissions plan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/30/australias-2050-net-zero-emissions-plan-relies-on-gross-manipulation-of-data-experts-say">relies on "gross
manipulation" of data</a>, experts say.*

<p>
I am not surprised.  The leaders of Australia are <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a>.
After the big fires, they have been compelled to give lip service to
climate defense, but getting more than lip service out of them
will be difficult.


feed_id: 1fe0e254c2683b18860eb36d386ff63a
title: Anti-semetic dog whistle
uri: Anti-semetic-dog-whistle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Extreme_right_zemmour_dreyfus%29
content:
<p>
Probable extreme-right French presidential candidate Zemmour is
using an anti-semitic dog whistle by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2021/oct/30/rise-of-far-right-puts-dreyfus-affair-into-spotlight-in-french-election-race">attacking Alfred Dreyfus.</a>


feed_id: 7ce99451b12dd3d52dd881d45024d9a2
title: Texas legislator has demanded
uri: Texas-legislator-has-demanded
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Texas_schools_race_gender%29
content:
<p>
A Republican Texas legislator has demanded that school districts
describe all the books they have that might make students feel
discomfort (or various other negative feelings) about their race or
gender.  
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/28/us/texas-school-books-race-gender-investigation/index.html">The aim seems to be censorship.</a>
<p>
To illustrate how broad the demand is, consider the plays of
Shakespeare.  Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and The Taming of the
Shrew might make students (and others too) uncomfortable for reasons
having to do with race and/or sex.

Will Republicans eventually move to ban them?

If they do, will progressives oppose the move -- or support it?


feed_id: 190c478404ce6b88cfd5df50720f4cb9
title: Halve greenhouse gas emissions
uri: Halve-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28New_zealand_greenhouse_gas%29
content:
<p>
*New Zealand pledges to halve 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/new-zealand-pledges-to-halve-greenhouse-emissions-by-2030">greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.</a>
*


feed_id: 3374775af4fb2b9acaca0277759589ea
title: EPA
uri: 2021-11-03-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28EPA%29
content:
<p>
*EPA Withheld Reports <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/11/01/epa-toxic-chemicals-reports-withheld/">of Substantial Risk Posed by 1,240 Chemicals</a>.*


feed_id: cd279759246ca2d773865494d46a66da
title: Illusion of progress
uri: Illusion-of-progress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Illusion_of_progress%29
content:
<p>
*   Optimistic assessments of progress on tackling the climate crisis were
   “an illusion”, the UN secretary general has said <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/climate-optimism-is-an-illusion-un-chief-tells-cop26">in a scathing critique
   of world leaders’ efforts so far to cut greenhouse gas emissions and
   stave off climate breakdown</a>.*


feed_id: ca0bac5fa34a68eb4318dad5d99320a9
title: Organise
uri: Organise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Organise%29
content:
<p>
*Don’t mourn, organise! Politics and poverty <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/01/politics-poverty-us-sitcom-superstore-series">have reached the US
sitcom -– and could change everything</a>.*


feed_id: 55a36f3c9156c56c2d13059c5f22b0af
title: Insufficient climate commitment
uri: Insufficient-climate-commitment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Insufficient_climate_commitment%29

content:
<p>
India has made a climate commitment <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/01/narendra-modi-pledges-india-will-reach-net-zero-emissions-by-2070">which won't make major reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions until decades from now</a>.
  All countries must push hard to reduce emissions, if we are to have
a chance of avoiding global disaster.

<p>
That global disaster will hit India hard.  Several major Indian cities
are on the coast, at very low elevation, including Mumbai, Kolkata,
Kochi and Kozhikode.


feed_id: 65a87f74e11f0c826c3659fe502bf811
title: City employees and vaccination
uri: City-employees-and-vaccination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28City_employees_and_vaccination%29

content:
<p>
New York City's order for city employees to get vaccinated <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-new-york/last-minute-shots-shrink-ranks-of-unvaccinated-new-york-cops-firefighters-idUSKBN2HM1XV">convinced a large
fraction to do so</a>.

<p>
However, some occupations have a substantial fraction of workers
who have yielded to right-wng brainwashing; they would rather die
than protect themselves and the public.

<p>
I regret that firefighters have fallen into this irrationality,
because a right-wing fireman is probably a good fireman nonetheless.
However, a right-wing cop is likely to be a racist thug,
therefore a threat to public safety.  It's good to get some
of them off the force.


feed_id: 54a093ecc4a4a26819b885f49d59153e
title: Manipulation of children
uri: Manipulation-of-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Manipulation_of_children%29
content:
<p>
*As teens left Facebook, <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/11/facebook-wanted-to-hook-6-year-olds-with-new-apps-documents-show/">company planned to lure 6-year-olds</a>, documents show.*

<p>
Let's take care not to focus on manipulation of children
in a way that would excuse Facebook's manipulation of teenagers and adults.


feed_id: 955f744eae16c5310b904cde5af83367
title: Sense of purpose
uri: Sense-of-purpose
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Sense_of_purpose%29
content:
<p>
Reporting from Cop26: *<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/the-sense-of-purpose-at-cop26-is-tangible">The sense of purpose at Cop26 is tangible</a>.*


feed_id: e7d7af24679fd338f40027a6cc0aac69
title: Deal to end deforestation
uri: Deal-to-end-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Deal_to_end_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
*Biden, Bolsonaro and Xi <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/biden-bolsonaro-and-xi-among-leaders-agreeing-to-end-deforestation-aoe">among leaders agreeing deal to end deforestation</a>.*

<p>
*   Campaigners warn Brazil may make empty promises at Cop26 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/do-not-trust-brazils-greenwashing-promises-say-amazon-activists">to gain access
   to conservation money</a>.*


feed_id: 43d3f4982c2265f37e89ca2ca30a43d8
title: Fundamental conflict
uri: Fundamental-conflict
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Fundamental_conflict%29
content:
<p>
The EU and Poland are headed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/31/boris-johnson-picked-wrong-side-polands-battle-with-eu-over-rule-of-law">for a fundamental conflict which neither
side can afford to lose</a>.

<p>
The EU has a grave flaw in that it is not very democratic.  In its
structure for legislating, democracy plays a weak role.  However, the
Polish right-wing government does not aim to change this.  Its goal is
to break the EU's defense of human rights and honest justice.


feed_id: 4a4adc7ff6a4c71860ced3c73f9152f8
title: Climate-protecting trends
uri: Climate-protecting-trends
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Climate_summary_trends%29
content:
<p>
A summary of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/31/reasons-to-be-hopeful-the-climate-solutions-available-now">climate-protecting trends</a>
that are seen across the
spectrum of human activity.
<p>
They are not growing fast enough -- we need governments to accelerate
them.


feed_id: ab399c07932f3a732bd5d550dba54643
title: Fundamental conflict
uri: 2021-11-03-Fundamental-conflict
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Poland_eu_conflict_flaw%29
content:
<p>
The EU and Poland are headed for a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/31/boris-johnson-picked-wrong-side-polands-battle-with-eu-over-rule-of-law">fundamental conflict which neither
side</a>
<p>
The EU has a grave flaw in that it is not very democratic.  In its
structure for legislating, democracy plays a weak role.  However, the
Polish right-wing government does not aim to change this.  Its goal is
to break the EU's defense of human rights and honest justice.


feed_id: 3b0a8cbc054adeedfa623476886505fb
title: Facebook promoting right-wing extremism
uri: Facebook-promoting-right-wing-extremism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_prevent_fbook_rightwing%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to pass laws to prevent Facebook from  
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-stop-offshore-drilling-now?nowrapper=true&referrer=group-civic-shout&source=direct_link">promoting right-wing extremism</a>
over other views.


feed_id: b68df45dae53a9f99e28978b2344485f
title: Ban offshore drilling
uri: Ban-offshore-drilling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_biden_ban_offshore_drilling%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Biden to ban 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-stop-offshore-drilling-now?nowrapper=true&referrer=group-civic-shout&source=direct_link">offshore drilling for fossil fuels.</a>


feed_id: 8913bec50cdc00630c332e056239718d
title: History of British colonization
uri: History-of-British-colonization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Nz_teach_british_colonization%29
content:
<p>
New Zealand schools will start teaching the history of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/nov/02/new-zealands-children-will-all-soon-study-the-countrys-brutal-history-its-not-before-time">British
colonization of New Zealand.</a>
<p>
It is important for New Zealanders to study this history.  I hope
however, that the courses will not fall into the widespread modern
myth of nasty Europeans vs the peaceful united native peoples.  The
Maori were far from peaceful or united before Europeans arrived, and
the desire to despoil others was not limited to Europeans alone.


feed_id: 827396da7f7b80d54caa273fd4a84cc2
title: Austraila will export "green hydrogen"
uri: Austraila-will-export-green-hydrogen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Australia_export_green_hydrogen%29

content:
<p>
Australia will export 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/31/jcb-signs-deal-to-import-hydrogen-from-australia-to-uk">"green hydrogen"</a>
to the UK.
<p>
That means hydrogen produced without consumption of fossil fuels.


feed_id: 797324bdabdb8a9f7995e068e4aa0573
title: Opponents pretending to be his supporters
uri: Opponents-pretending-to-be-his-supporters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Opponent_va_governor_pretending%29

content:
<p>
Opponents of Virginia's Republican candidate for governor, a
right-wing extremist, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/30/lincoln-project-glenn-youngkin-virginia-event">went to his rally pretending to be his supporters,</a>
<p>
While swinging the torches that rightwing extremists carried
in the violent rally in 2017.

<p>
It is valid to try to tie right-wing extremists to recent past acts of
violent right-wing extremism, but this way of doing it was wrong and foolish.
<p>
It is wrong because it can have the effect of a false-flag attack.
The Republican candidate denounced it as one, and that was easy to do
because the difference was small.  If you're going to criticize
someone through a comparison, you must show clearly and visibly that
it is a comparison rather than a falsehood.
<p>
Second, it could easily backfire by winning the Republican candidate
more support from white supremacists.


feed_id: 1b04f372695f914d5dee48af54494443
title: Extremists persecute the minority
uri: Extremists-persecute-the-minority
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28India_extremist_persecute_muslim%29

content:
<p>
Just as India's extemist Hindus persecute the Muslim minority,
Bangladesh's extremist Muslims persecute the Hindu minority.

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/hindu-muslim-violence-crosses-border-from-bangladesh-to-india">persecute the Hindu minority.</a>
<p>
The persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is not a new thing.
Taslima Nasrin's book <Em>Lajja</Em> described that persecution in 1992.
Persecution of Muslims in India is not new either.
<p>
I wonder if these two persecuted minorities can help each other.
Could Indian Muslims campaign in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi Hindus
campaign in India, for respect and coexistence?


feed_id: 83907b6b95d66eb64702f9b00e582802
title: An analysis of global heating
uri: An-analysis-of-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Global_heating_pressure_blocs%29
content:
<p>
An analysis of global heating world politics in 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/01/cop26-battle-capitalism-talks-countries-protest-movements">terms of three pressure blocs.</a>
<p>
I disagree with the author's final point.  The crucial priority in
decarbonizanion is not fairness, it is rapidity.
<p>
Going too slow, which the world's governments' current plans would to
do, risks causing the collapse of civilization and the death of nearly
everyone.  Even if those deaths are distributed "fairly", that would
still be a bad outcome.  We must at all costs act fast enough to
minimize the damage.


feed_id: 076ce9ced88ad75ebd5056021b3d1c27
title: Anti-vax Christian churches.
uri: Anti-vax-Christian-churches
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Africa_plagued_by_antivax%29
content:
<p>
Africa is plagued by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/01/the-sects-hampering-southern-africa-covid-vaccine-rollout">anti-vax Christian churches.</a>
<p>
We have observed similar problems with Christian sects in the US and
South Korea, and with Jews sects in the US and in Israel.


feed_id: f8f7e42c2da9ec77d75cabb033d43bdf
title: Global heating in time
uri: Global-heating-in-time
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Curb_global_heating_worse%29
content:
<p>
Governments democratic in form have not made an adequate effort
to curb global heating in time, but authoritarian rulers
are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/01/the-big-idea-is-democracy-up-to-the-task-of-climate-change">generally doing much worse.</a>
<p>
The article suggests, and I agree, that more and better democracy is
what we need.  I put a name to the problem: plutocracy, where
democracy ought to be.


feed_id: 654890e499a1a03a16cb90d421f14251
title: Regulations have blocked construction
uri: Regulations-have-blocked-construction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Ny_greenhouse_blocked_new%29
content:
<p>
New York State's new greenhouse emissions regulations have 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/10/fossil-fuels-doomed-in-new-york-as-regulator-blocks-new-gas-power-plants/">blocked
construction new gas-fired generators.</a>


feed_id: 5e6e1ecd0cbadeab057e88c6b3c264b5
title: Extreme weather
uri: 2021-11-04-Extreme-weather
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Extreme_weather_new_norm%29
content:
<p>
*The State of the Climate report for 2021: 
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59105963">Extreme weather events are "the new norm".</a>
*


feed_id: ac1f28a57dc99f52927e3f4726f8b9f4
title: Debunking the Philadelphia thugs' cynical report
uri: Debunking-the-Philadelphia-thugs-cynical-report
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Pa_thug_bystander_rape%29
content:
<p>
Debunking the Philadelphia thugs' cynical report: in fact, some
bystanders did take action when a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/01/philadelphia-police-bystanders-filming-mistaken-narrative/">rape was committed on a Philadelphia
subway train.</a>


feed_id: a2497c214cbab9c52c9005cf4b1235e8
title: Hello Fresh unionization drive
uri: Hello-Fresh-unionization-drive
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_hello_fresh_union_pay%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Hello Fresh to respect its 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-hellofresh-workers-organizing-a-union?source=102721-aflcio-email&link_id=4&can_id=8b24519448cbedadde1c8a966f94caad&email_referrer=email_1338924&email_subject=petition-hellofresh-workers-need-a-union">workers' unionization drive
and pay its workers enough to live on.</a>
<p>
I personally consider it out of the question to be a customer of Hello Fresh
because there is no way to do that anonymously.  But that is a separate
and unrelated issue.


feed_id: 4f84a897b017e1e0d28f360fb573413d
title: Defend abortion access for all
uri: Defend-abortion-access-for-all
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_defend_abortion_access_all%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on your senators to 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/send-message/defend-abortion-access-all">defend abortion access for all.</a>


feed_id: 23207ed238b51101fe5abe7acafac0b7
title: Unlock Afghanistan's assets
uri: Unlock-Afghanistan-s-assets
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_unlock_afghan_assets%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the US to unlock 
<a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/release_afghan_assets?source=em20211029&t=1006&akid=7333%2E223515%2EePaqIe">Afghanistan's assets so it can buy food.</a>


feed_id: 101cbeb8cc669ca4879a7e4f36253a78
title: Regulate cancer chemicals
uri: Regulate-cancer-chemicals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_regulate_cancer_chemicals%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the EPA to 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/regulate-cancer-causing-forever-chemicals?nowrapper=true&referrer=&source=email-sign-the-petition-regulate-forever-chemicals-2">speed up regulating PFAs.</a>


feed_id: b7146803b98f9ceb4a143d3769acc8f4
title: A San Francisco thug is charged
uri: A-San-Francisco-thug-is-charged
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Sf_thug_sean_moore%29
content:
<p>
A San Francisco thug is charged with manslaughter for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/02/san-francisco-police-kenneth-cha-charged-sean-moore">escalating a
nonviolent encounter</a>
with Sean Moore to the point of killing him.


feed_id: 0f20b6ef53a5522c33bfabf0886decf3
title: Hong Kong bans documentaries depicting protests
uri: Hong-Kong-bans-documentaries-depicting-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Hong_kong_bans_docu%29
content:
<p>
Hong Kong now officially 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/03/hong-kong-protests-filmmakers-decry-new-law-that-could-censor-a-moment-in-history">bans documentaries</a>
that depict the massive protests.
<p>
Some will be released by underground groups.


feed_id: 7f9e53f77f322b1e21d3577cd3de41f5
title: Voters reject bid
uri: Voters-reject-bid
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Mn_voters_reject_police_replace%29

content:
<p>
*Minneapolis voters reject bid to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/02/minneapolis-police-department-vote-result">replace police with public safety
 department.</a>
*
<p>
I'm disappointed; this would have made it possible to avoid using armed cops
on most instances.


feed_id: c482f259909aaa1a1477365db1638cd3
title: Bounty-hunter approach
uri: Bounty-hunter-approach
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Sotomayor_abortion_kagan_breyer%29

content:
<p>
Liberal justices argued in the Supreme Court that the Texas
bounty-hunter approach to prohibition would, if allowed to stand, 
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/01/politics/sotomayor-kagan-breyer-texas-abortion-arguments/index.html">enable any state to wipe out any constitutional right.</a>


feed_id: 2f480618402e9bdadd052112f4793d13
title: Woman spent 7 hours in er
uri: Woman-spent-7-hours-in-er
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Woman_spent_7_hours_er%29
content:
<p>
A US woman went to a hospital's emergency room and waited 7 hours
without being seen, so she left. 
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2021/11/01/woman-who-spent-7-hours-in-er-and-left-without-treatment-receives-hospital-bill-for-700.html">The hospital charged her $700 for that.</a>
<p>
Just imagine what they might have charged is someone had actually
looked at her problem!
<p>
The root of this problem is the structure of the US medical system,
which pressures each clinical unit to try to gouge patients.  We need
to replace it with a national medical system funded by the federal
government.


feed_id: 514606b9f67c5546f6444d13dec206dc
title: Britons march in memory
uri: Britons-march-in-memory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Britons_march_in_memory%29
content:
<p>
Every year, Britons march in memory of everyone that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/30/hundreds-march-to-remember-those-who-died-in-state-custody">died as a
prisoner of the British state. </a>
<p>
I don't use the word "custody" to describe this.


feed_id: 8d425f733a630b2ce95ce3fdc8360c99
title: Biden urged OPEC to increase it's oil output
uri: Biden-urged-OPEC-to-increase-it-s-oil-output
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Biden_opec_oil_output%29
content:
<p>
Biden urged 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/01/cop26-climate-talks-begin-biden-pressures-opec-boost-oil-production">OPEC to increase its oil output</a>
to relieve a temporary
shortfall of oil, and acknowledged the irony of this.
<p>
He's right, in a narrow sense.  However, I think the economic harm of
capping fossil fuel extraction at the current level would be far less
than the harm done by allowing extraction to increase as the market
would happen.
<p>
An intermediate option would be better if it reduces extraction
effectively and soon.  Perhaps Biden should have demanded such a deal
before asking OPEC to increase extraction.


feed_id: a54ef122b0e113125b937f0a8e3b67c7
title: Push to curb global heating
uri: Push-to-curb-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Archbishop_global_heating_nazi%29

content:
<p>
The Archbishop of Canterbury presented clearly how much is at stake
when political leaders decide how hard to push to curb global heating:
inadequate effort could 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/01/justin-welby-apologises-for-likening-climate-threat-to-nazis">result in a much bigger genocide</a>
 than the one
Hitler launched.
<p>
Apparently some criticized this statement as disrespectful to Jews,
and he apologized for the alleged disrespect.  This criticism puzzles
me, because I don't see any disrespect in his words.  They seem
entirely valid to me as a statement of the danger that we face.
What are you going to compare the biggest genocide of all time with,
other than the biggest known genocide of the past?
<p>
I think that 6 billion deaths from climate mayhem is plausible.  Of
course, that's just handwaving -- we can't know enough to make more
than a rough estimate.  If we take effective action and are lucky,
perhaps only a few hundred million will die from climate disorder.  If
we run into surprise positive feedbacks, all 7-8 billion humans could
die from climate disorder. All depends on how effectively we curb
global heating.


feed_id: 5f2ba2dbd6bef7a4eaabdca661a6df42
title: Gas smitters spend more
uri: Gas-smitters-spend-more
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Gas_smitters_spend_more%29
content:
<p>
The US and other main historical greenhouse gas smitters spend more
on keeping migrants out than they spend on 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/01/why-we-must-defund-global-climate-wall">helping poor countries
deal with global heating effects</a>
<p>
that drive people to leave.


feed_id: bd48633c0f4e7bf92f7acf92a46adcc4
title: Majid Khan's pseudo-trial
uri: Majid-Khan-s-pseudo-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Majid_torture_trial_gitmo%29
content:
<p>
The jury in Majid Khan's pseudo-trial condemned the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/01/gitmo-jurors-liken-cia-torture-acts-most-abusive-regimes-modern-history">torture he experienced</a>
and called for him to receive clemency.
<p>
Allowing Majid Khan to testify about how the US tortured him served
the cause of justice, but prosecuting him based on a confession that
was tortured out of him is a dangerous precedent.  Under the usual
rules of the US legal system, his confession should have been
considered inadmissable, the case against him should have been
dropped, and he should have been released.


feed_id: 555090b5717ad83f6a6c9a16e190c00f
title: Sanders is still fighting
uri: Sanders-is-still-fighting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Sanders_medicare_drug_prices%29
content:
<p>
Sanders is still fighting to allow Medicare to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/01/were-not-giving-sanders-other-progressives-fight-rescue-drug-price-reforms
">negotiate drug prices</a>
,
<p>
as the national medical services of more civilized countries do.  He
faces opposition from plutocratist Democrats as well as from
(plutocratist and then some) Republicans.


feed_id: 65e61d17b28d85f8094b1f5586737f04
title: Plan to halve greenhouse gases criticized
uri: Plan-to-halve-greenhouse-gases-criticized
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Nz_gases_accounting_trick%29
content:
<p>
*New Zealand plan to halve greenhouse gases criticised as an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/01/cop26-battle-capitalism-talks-countries-protest-movements">"accounting trick".</a>
*
<p>
It also depends on supposed 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/22/carbon-offsets-are-nothing-dangerous-con-job-warns-climate-group">"carbon offsets"</a>
that are not reliable.


feed_id: 18f1fea0ba44ea23f414086b9a758e99
title: Facebook to delete a billion faceprints
uri: Facebook-to-delete-a-billion-faceprints
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Facebook_delete_1bn_faceprints%29

content:
<p>
*Facebook to shut facial recognition system and delete 1bn 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/02/facebook-to-shut-facial-recognition-system-and-delete-1bn-faceprints">"faceprints".</a>
*
<p>
How significant the deletion of the faceprints is depends on how hard
it would be to regenerate each one.


feed_id: 6ee1c18fd1a431525188d1bc867709ba
title: Big banks pledge to reduce
uri: Big-banks-pledge-to-reduce
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Big_banks_pledge_reduce%29
content:
<p>
450 big banks and investment firms will pledge to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/worlds-biggest-banks-to-play-a-role-in-limiting-greenhouse-gas-emissions">reduce greenhouse emissions,</a>
<p>
but it looks like that pledge lacks firm requirements.


feed_id: 740fe48fc1f43dc142824bb88a717e16
title: Opponents pretending to be his supporters
uri: 2021-11-04-Opponents-pretending-to-be-his-supporters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Opponent_va_governor_pretending%29

content:
<p>
Opponents of Virginia's Republican candidate for governor, a
right-wing extremist, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/30/lincoln-project-glenn-youngkin-virginia-event">went to his rally pretending to be his supporters,</a>
<p>
While swinging the torches that rightwing extremists carried
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/08/12/white-supremacists-armed-tiki-torches-and-hate-denounced-uva">violent rally in 2017.</a>
<p>
It is valid to try to tie right-wing extremists to recent past acts of
violent right-wing extremism, but this way of doing it was wrong and foolish.
<p>
It is wrong because it can have the effect of a false-flag attack.
The Republican candidate denounced it as one, and that was easy to do
because the difference was small.  If you're going to criticize
someone through a comparison, you must show clearly and visibly that
it is a comparison rather than a falsehood.
<p>
Second, it could easily backfire by winning the Republican candidate
more support from white supremacists.


feed_id: e5832a029f2e7ce0128be1a3ee349810
title: Opponents pretending to be his supporters
uri: 2021-11-04-Opponents-pretending-to-be-his-supporters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28Opponent_va_governor_pretending%29

content:
<p>
Opponents of Virginia's Republican candidate for governor, a
right-wing extremist, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/30/lincoln-project-glenn-youngkin-virginia-event">went to his rally pretending to be his supporters,</a> 
while swinging the torches that rightwing extremists carried
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/08/12/white-supremacists-armed-tiki-torches-and-hate-denounced-uva">violent rally in 2017.</a>
<p>
It is valid to try to tie right-wing extremists to recent past acts of
violent right-wing extremism, but this way of doing it was wrong and foolish.
<p>
It is wrong because it can have the effect of a false-flag attack.
The Republican candidate denounced it as one, and that was easy to do
because the difference was small.  If you're going to criticize
someone through a comparison, you must show clearly and visibly that
it is a comparison rather than a falsehood.
<p>
Second, it could easily backfire by winning the Republican candidate
more support from white supremacists.


feed_id: 29190ba94e045244cb18ec98e4864a38
title: Extremists persecute the minority
uri: 2021-11-04-Extremists-persecute-the-minority
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#3_November_2021_%28India_extremist_persecute_muslim%29

content:
<p>
Just as India's extemist Hindus persecute the Muslim minority,
Bangladesh's extremist Muslims <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/hindu-muslim-violence-crosses-border-from-bangladesh-to-india">persecute the Hindu minority.</a>

<p>
The persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is not a new thing.
Taslima Nasrin's book <Em>Lajja</Em> described that persecution in 1992.
Persecution of Muslims in India is not new either.
<p>
I wonder if these two persecuted minorities can help each other.
Could Indian Muslims campaign in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi Hindus
campaign in India, for respect and coexistence?


feed_id: 32359886b2026402b79cba30a8105a9a
title: Planning to break away
uri: Planning-to-break-away
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Planning_to_break_away%29
content:
<p>
Bosnian Serbs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/02/bosnia-is-in-danger-of-breaking-up-warns-eus-top-official-in-the-state">are reportedly planning to break away from Bosnia again</a>.


feed_id: e6f40c5b48b12c73df7a531e6936d4e6
title: Bankers on strike
uri: Bankers-on-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Bankers_on_strike%29
content:
<p>
In Sudan, bankers are on strike to protest the military government.
This has brought much of the economy to a standstill, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/02/sudanese-bankers-stage-revolutionary-strike-after-military-coup">and is causing
hardship for people who don't have cash to buy food</a>.

<p>
Is it  correct to think of bankers as part of the people?
Is it a good thing that bankers can bring the country to its knees
by striking, or does it show they are dangerously powerful?

<p>
*Mercenaries, the army and Bashir-era business interests <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/02/sudan-coup-military-power-force">have seized
control and will sell the country’s resources to the highest bidder</a>.*


feed_id: f6953b337a01c5a38ca0801ef0412d9a
title: Improbable history
uri: Improbable-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Improbable_history%29
content:
<p>
Afghanistan's improbable history, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/01/now-time-be-angry-remembering-forgotten-afghanistan">from progressive king to
Communist civil war to religious fanatics</a>.


feed_id: 9d00097507ad649c4bce468de68aa92b
title: Push on green energy and cars
uri: Push-on-green-energy-and-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Push_on_green_energy_and_cars%29
content:
<p>
* UK, US and China among countries representing two-thirds of global
   economy to agree to push green energy and cars.* They plan to make
   many technologies cheaper and make them available to the whole
   world, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/02/world-leaders-announce-plan-to-make-green-tech-cheaper-than-alternatives">starting with clean electricity, electric vehicles, green
   steel, elecrolytic hydrogen and sustainable farming</a>.

<p>
This won't make the global heating problem fix itself &mdash; we will still need
to end deforestation, and fund quick adoption of these new solutions.
That will require a lot of investment in poor countries.


feed_id: 4e2375bf22c9c03a6755e012c62fed8e
title: Yahoo leaving
uri: Yahoo-leaving
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Yahoo_leaving%29
content:
<p>
Yahoo has ceased doing business in China <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/02/yahoo-withdraws-from-china-as-beijings-grip-on-tech-firms-tightens">rather than obey China's strict state surveillance laws</a>.

<p>
When it is impossible for a US company to operate justly in another country,
it should do as Yahoo just did, and cease operating there.


feed_id: 3f641c01e1274cca855a57c8e596dcf7
title: Death after being denied abortion
uri: Death-after-being-denied-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Death_after_being_denied_abortion%29

content:
<p>
A woman died in Poland as a result of being denied an abortion.  This <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/02/polish-activists-protest-after-first-death-in-wake-of-stricter-abortion-law">has
provoked protests</a>.

<p>
This was a special case &mdash; a late-stage abortion which most European
countries would permit on grounds of medical necessity.

<p>
The everyday issue of abortion rights concerns the rights of women who
simply don't want to have a baby.


feed_id: f3ada3512e2abf3e276ac6251e2fd726
title: Suing to block merger
uri: Suing-to-block-merger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Suing_to_block_merger%29
content:
<p>
The US is suing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/02/penguin-simon-schuster-justice-department-sues">to block the merger of Penguin with Simon &amp; Schuster</a>.

<p>
Finally, the US government treats big mergers the way it should never have
stopped treating them.


feed_id: 0d73276a75f9ad008478c6bb66673bfa
title: Antibiotic resistance
uri: 2021-11-04-Antibiotic-resistance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#4_November_2021_%28Antibiotic_resistance%29
content:
<p>
Bacterial infections are becoming ever more dangerous due to
antibiotic resistance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/antibiotic-resistance-is-at-a-crisis-point-government-support-for-academia-and-big-pharma-to-find-new-drugs-could-help-defeat-superbugs-169443">which spreads further every year</a>.
  In a few decades we will be back where we were in 1940, when there wasn't
much to help people fight fight off an infection in a wound.

<p>
The article proposes "more incentives" to develop new antibiotics.  I
fear that means "more patent power, as well as subsidies."  If we
aren't careful, that will result in antibiotics that are too expensive
for most people to use.

<p>
Let's learn a lesson from the other drugs that are so expensive people
die for lack of money.  Let's fund more research on antibiotics, and
exclude them from the patent system.


feed_id: a3b4261d853fe9f54ce6da2246551dc3
title: Great Barrier Reef
uri: 2021-11-05-Great-Barrier-Reef
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Great_Barrier_Reef%29
content:
<p>
If global heating continues, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/05/great-barrier-reefs-future-dealt-blow-as-study-finds-only-2-escaped-coral-bleaching">the Great Barrier Reef will be toast</a>.


feed_id: 3aa45e0b937a32ceb81c2639cde7c996
title: Cutting carbon emissions
uri: 2021-11-05-Cutting-carbon-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Cutting_carbom_emissions%29
content:
<p>
*Q&amp;A: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/04/qa-how-fast-do-we-need-to-cut-carbon-emissions">how fast do we need to cut carbon emissions?</a>*


feed_id: 5d54b149965b3a6a90a25e9127a1720d
title: A particular allele
uri: A-particular-allele
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28A_particular_allele%29
content:
<p>
60% of people from India and vicinity have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/04/gene-common-in-south-asian-people-doubles-risk-of-covid-death-study-finds">a particular allele (gene
variant) that doubles the chance of death from Covid-19</a>.
  However, the allele is also found (though less frequently) in other
human populations.
<p>
I wonder whether people should get tested for this allele.


feed_id: 3a5fcc5e0a1a456be083afec5692afc5
title: Removed for inciting violence
uri: Removed-for-inciting-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Removed_for_inciting_violence%29
content:
<p>
Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed posted on Facebook that he would
"bury" the Tigrayan rebels; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/facebook-removes-post-by-ethiopian-pm-for-inciting-violence">Facebook deleted the post for "inciting
violence"</a>.
  That is a rather absurd precaution, given that the two armies are at
war.
<p>
Why did Facebook do this?  I speculate that it is an attempt to ridicule
the idea of trying to stop Facebook from being used to provoke violence.


feed_id: f6c17f016f30a4ef3e1de1e413af149f
title: Israel calls Palestinian human rights groups terrorists
uri: Israel-calls-Palestinian-human-rights-groups-terrorists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Israel_calls_Palestinian_human_rights_groups_terrorists%29

content:
<p>
*A <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/11/04/secret-israel-dossier-palestinian-rights-terrorist/">secret document distributed by Israel to justify its terrorist designations of six prominent Palestinian human rights groups</a> shows no concrete evidence of involvement in violent
+activities by any of the groups.*


feed_id: 828183429fde654bd5ef6c6f07280bf3
title: Urgent: JPMorgan Chase and UBS
uri: Urgent-JPMorgan-Chase-and-UBS
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_JPMorgan_Chase_and_UBS%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on JPMorgan Chase and UBS to <a href="https://act.stand.earth/page/34989/petition/1">divest from Amazon oil
and gas, to avoid the destruction of the Amazon rainforest</a>.


feed_id: 2ee3e52d4347a6afe53de76bac62a594
title: Siberian lakes drying
uri: Siberian-lakes-drying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Siberian_lakes_drying%29
content:
<p>
In Siberia's north, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/summers-are-becoming-unbearable-living-on-the-frontline-of-global-heating">global heating in the summer is drying up lakes,
cratering the ground, and killing young deer</a>.


feed_id: e9e13ee95a63ffd2abfefca84c95b2ae
title: Collusion against workers
uri: Collusion-against-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Collusion_against_workers%29
content:
<p>
*Australia’s Largest Retail Union <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2021/11/australia-retail-workers-right-wing-union-sda-rest-employer-exploitation">Colludes With Bosses to Exploit Workers</a>.*


feed_id: 94c0458c61d3729e4b6126dde4b29b8e
title: Pizzeria robots
uri: Pizzeria-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Pizzeria_robots%29
content:
<p>
Some pizzerias are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-science-business-europe-5b7dbb782f89ef3d586eefb9a33d5e1c">using robots to deliver pizzas, rolling on
sidewalks -- and, horribly, they require the customer to have a
smartphone</a>.
<p>
I urge people to reject the <a href="https://stallman.org//stallman.org/food-delivery.html">food-delivery gig economy companies</a>
because they require customers to identify themselves and pay digitally
(as well as other reasons).
  By contrast, a human delivery agent working for the pizzeria can
accept payment in cash.
<p>
The robot is even worse.  You have to identify yourself, and you have to do
it with a phone.  Instead of paying workers too little, it gets rid of them.
<p>
Cambridge, Massachusetts, has posted signs on the street urging people to
go to the restaurant and pick up their order.


feed_id: 4d9fdf92c5110fc56a59d190d088569f
title: Cop26's worst outcome
uri: Cop26-s-worst-outcome
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Cop26%27s_worst_outcome%29
content:
<p>
*Cop26's worst outcome would be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/03/cop26-carbon-offsetting-greenwashing-paris-agreement">giving the green light to carbon offsetting.</a>*
<p>
*Cop26 has to be about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/03/cop26-fossil-fuels">keeping fossil fuels in the ground</a>. All else is
distraction.*


feed_id: d57191ceb09a0a14531ef05bc70ca151
title: Ethiopia war crimes
uri: Ethiopia-war-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Ethiopia_war_crimes%29
content:
<p>
*<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/03/possible-war-crimes-on-all-sides-in-ethiopian-conflict-report-tigray">Possible war crimes</a> on all sides in Ethiopian conflict,*
  according
to a joint investigation by the UN and Ethiopia.


feed_id: 49d00ecc5081662402f481e311ad390b
title: Poison packaging
uri: Poison-packaging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Poison_packaging%29
content:
<p>
The EPA must <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/03/your-fast-food-is-wrapped-in-grease-proof-ortho-phthalates-why-is-that-allowed">make sure the packaging of our food is not slowly poisoning us</a>.


feed_id: ab869431fe58041e1d7ad80a7bf2e09b
title: US Supreme Court may block CO2 regulations
uri: US-Supreme-Court-may-block-CO2-regulations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28US_Supreme_Court_may_block_CO2_regulations%29

content:
<p>
The US Supreme Court may <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/03/how-the-us-supreme-court-could-be-a-threat-to-climate-action-in-the-us">block all efforts to regulate CO2 emissions;
for instance, the emissions of fossil-fuel-fired generators</a>.


feed_id: 226ea3a36a73e4640e6cc5eac0b178d0
title: Ireland cattle
uri: Ireland-cattle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Ireland_cattle%29
content:
<p>
*Ireland would need to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/ireland-would-need-to-cull-up-to-13-million-cattle-to-reach-climate-targets">cull up to 1.3 million cattle to reach climate
targets</a>.*
<p>
If civilization's survival depends on it, Ireland must do it.


feed_id: e8e8e0e8af337c21ed3b9d15344e4ce3
title: World's greenhouse pledges
uri: World-s-greenhouse-pledges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28World%27s_greenhouse_pledges%29
content:
<p>
The world's greenhouse pledges, supposing they are carried out, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/cop26-emission-pledges-could-limit-global-heating-to-below-2c-india">might now
limit global heating to 2C</a>.
<p>
That's big progress, but not enough to avoid disaster, because (1) 2C
of heating will probably be disaster, and (2) positive feedbacks we
don't know about could come into play.


feed_id: 26731db25cbc85b382ff55e412282402
title: Biometric database
uri: Biometric-database
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Biometric_database%29
content:
<p>
*The dystopian danger of a <a href="https://restofworld.org/2021/the-dystopian-danger-of-a-mandatory-biometric-database-in-mexico/">mandatory biometric database in Mexico</a>.*


feed_id: de2a0d6e9d8b60be8e919788d9faf264
title: Fossil fuel subsidies
uri: 2021-11-05-Fossil-fuel-subsidies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Fossil_fuel_subsidies%29
content:
<p>
In the past 10 years, Australia has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/04/australian-fossil-fuel-projects-given-367bn-in-foreign-public-financing-over-a-decade">given fossil fuels 37 billion in subsidy;
renewable energy, only 3 billion.


feed_id: b9180e03557edc940b971dbf1c751ede
title: Trees alone are not the answer
uri: Trees-alone-are-not-the-answer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Trees_alone_are_not_the_answer%29

content:
<p>
Trying to curb global heating by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/planting-millions-of-trees-may-not-be-the-answer-to-deforestation">planting trees will not help much
unless it is done right</a> -- and that's not easy.


feed_id: 2051d8fe37aaccf3b600ba02742c55b4
title: Annoying tactics
uri: Annoying-tactics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Annoying_tactics%29
content:
<p>
Comparing Insulate Britain to the suffragettes shows that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/03/insulate-britain-protests-protesters-direct-action-climate-emergency">their
annoying tactics are justified</a>.
<p>
I don't doubt that the cause of saving civilization justifies blocking
highways as a protest.  I just hope it doesn't backfire.


feed_id: ece6ae44f25ad43b975ca31a39ada90a
title: NSO blacklisted
uri: NSO-blacklisted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28NSO_blacklisted%29
content:
<p>
The US has put NSO, the company that makes the Pegasus cracking software,
on a blacklist that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/03/blacklist-placement-us-views-nso-group-grave-threat">forbids its use of US technology products</a>.
<p>
I wonder if the US will be able to enforce that prohibition.  What NSO sells
is software.


feed_id: 38d26da68ce484c99f8bd19ceadb3e66
title: Bogus Johnson's private jet
uri: Bogus-Johnson-s-private-jet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Bogus_Johnson%27s_private_jet%29
content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson went by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/03/johnson-takes-private-jet-from-cop26-to-london-to-attend-dinner">private jet from the climate conference in
Glasgow to London for a reunion dinner</a>.
<p>
This makes his words about the need to reduce greenhouse emissions
look like total hypocrisy.


feed_id: 958ccde04ec8172a3bbcc785b31aaa6a
title: Westminster sleaze system
uri: Westminster-sleaze-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Westminster_sleaze_system%29
content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson has joined the effort to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/03/johnson-accused-of-corruption-as-he-tears-up-westminster-sleaze-fighting-system">protect MP charged with corruption
from being investigated through Parliament's system for such investigations</a>.
This is tantamount to a campaign to open Parliament to corruption
without limits, at least for his friends.


feed_id: 46383266e23863ebbd89e965951edd49
title: US racial integration
uri: US-racial-integration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28US_racial_integration%29
content:
<p>
Some economists say that if the US were racially integrated, that would
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/02/business/racial-integration-economic-growth/index.html">increase US economic growth a significant amount</a>.
<p>
I think the reason to try to end racism is more fundamental -- it's an
injustice.


feed_id: 18015467ae475a534d27825f9987ba20
title: Iran resumes nuclear deal talks
uri: Iran-resumes-nuclear-deal-talks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Iran_resumes_nuclear_deal_talks%29

content:
<p>
Iran has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/03/iran-sets-date-to-resume-talks-on-nuclear-deal-after-five-month-gap">agreed to resume talks on reinstating the non-nuclear deal</a>
that the wrecker cancelled.
<p>
*Biden Urged to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/02/no-time-waste-biden-urged-repair-us-iran-relations-humanitarian-aid">Repair US-Iran Relations With Humanitarian Aid</a>.*


feed_id: 17647f67a1c372011f575cd45858be2b
title: Terry Gilliam cancelled
uri: Terry-Gilliam-cancelled
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Terry_Gilliam_cancelled%29
content:
<p>
A stage production directed by Terry Gilliam has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/nov/02/musical-to-move-after-unrest-at-old-vic-over-terry-gilliam-remarks">cancelled
because staff at the theater objected to some of his political views</a>.
<p>
Cancellationists seek universal support for their political stances,
not by convincing everyone that they are right, but by bullying everyone
who states any doubts.


feed_id: 4c456ac721b57c46993f6d3cf0f4bcfa
title: President of Palau adminishes big emitters
uri: President-of-Palau-adminishes-big-emitters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28President_of_Palau_adminishes_big_emitters%29

content:
<p>
The President of Palau:
*Frankly speaking, there is no dignity to a slow and
painful death -— <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/02/you-might-well-bomb-our-islands-palau-president-admonishes-big-emitters-cop26">you might as well bomb our islands instead of making us
suffer only to witness our slow and fateful demise</a>.*


feed_id: caac08d12d42070d400a4f121fb7765a
title: Transition to clean energy
uri: Transition-to-clean-energy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Transition_to_clean_energy%29
content:
<p>
Arguing that the transition to clean energy will inevitably involve <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/02/how-much-worsening-energy-crisis-due-depletion">a stage
of using much less energy than now</a>.
  Depletion of the easy-extract fossil fuels will make energy more
expensive, years before we have enough green energy capacity to fill
ths shortfall.


feed_id: 35d268773163efb121b6af06eecdf00d
title: Methane regulations
uri: 2021-11-05-Methane-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Methane_regulations%29
content:
<p>
Biden has announced <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/02/politics/epa-methane-regulations/index.html">new EPA regulations to reduce methane emissions</a>.
<p>
*Biden's New Methane Rules <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/02/bidens-new-methane-rules-do-not-go-far-enough-slash-planet-warming-gas-critics">"Do Not Go Far Enough" to Slash Planet-Warming Gas</a>.*


feed_id: e0bc9d253b8525375cac80aa9acb3668
title: AI needs regulating
uri: AI-needs-regulating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28AI_needs_regulating%29
content:
<p>
The use of AI <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/01/the-guardian-view-on-spooky-science-ai-needs-regulating-before-its-too-late">should be regulated, when it affects the public</a>.


feed_id: 4a36a7e6ae765478d8ba9371a61e017f
title: Cop26 deforestation fund
uri: Cop26-deforestation-fund
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Cop26_deforestation_fund%29
content:
<p>
Cop26 has launched a fund that aims to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/cop26-indigenous-peoples-to-get-17bn-in-recognition-of-role-in-protecting-forests-aoe">give
1.7 billion dollars to indigenous peoples, and other local
communities, for the sake of ending deforestation</a>.
<p>
The money will be used to "support [their] capacity to govern
themselves collectively, assist with mapping and registration work,
back national land reform and help resolve conflict over territories."
<p>
This can be a good idea, but it needs to be done carefully.
Indigenous peoples are made up of human beings who have the same moral
and intellectual flexibility as other human beings.  After the US
divided up the land of various Indian reservations as private property
of various Indians, many of them agreed to sell that property to
whites.  (That was, I think, the US's aim in dividing the land.)
<p>
We should give local communities the authority to protect forests and
ecosystems, but not the authority to sell them or despoil them.


feed_id: 8b6de905648c35c1dbeee77831a5815f
title: Fracking subsidy
uri: Fracking-subsidy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#5_November_2021_%28Fracking_subsidy%29
content:
<p>
Australia's resources minister gave a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/02/australias-resources-minister-ignored-climate-risks-in-21m-grant-to-frack-nts-beetaloo-basin-court-hears">subsidy to a fracking project
without even considering climate effects</a>.
<p>
Australia should have a climate defense minister rather than a
"resources" minister.


feed_id: 81e98b81e5dee85475d8fa74422e6b64
title: Debt payments reduced
uri: Debt-payments-reduced
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Ny_taxi_medallion_owners%29
content:
<p>
New York City has reduced the debt payments for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/04/new-york-city-taxi-drivers-end-hunger-strike-debt-relief
">taxi medallion owners
who borrowed to buy a medallion.</a>
<p>
One of several contributing causes of the medallion owners' problem is
the arrival of Uber, which was prepared to lose billions of dollars a
year for many years to wipe out the taxi companies.
<p>
Uber would have been an injustice simply for the concentration of the
industry of replacing many small local companies with one large
company, even if there were nothing else wrong with it.  But its
biggest wrong is to its customers: it makes them run a nonfree app
on a nonfree operating system, and they can't pay anonymously since
the company does not accept cash.
<p>
Uber was compelled to stop running at a loss, and raise its prices.
Uber drivers make less than taxi drivers now.  Uber is now weak.
So choose a real taxi, and pay in cash!


feed_id: 9e375902231f72598384d135f73d85bc
title: Abuses in privatizing access to space
uri: Abuses-in-privatizing-access-to-space
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Warning_abuse_private_space%29
content:
<p>
Warning of potential abuses in 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/11/04/new-analysis-why-are-we-letting-monopolists-corner-space">privatizing access to space.</a>
<p>
Communications satellites are already private -- built and operated by
large companies which pay to launch them.  It is not clear to me that
SpaceX makes the situation very different.  But there may be problems
I do not recognize.


feed_id: c5412493407c4529f55b7c7c540e92d4
title: Zillow has given up
uri: Zillow-has-given-up
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Zillow_speculating_houses%29
content:
<p>
Zillow has given up on the business of 
<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10158485/Zillow-plans-lay-25-staff-putting-end-home-flipping-business.html">peculating in houses that other
people need as places to live.</a>


feed_id: 1a48f6b1afc7ea64716496915f84a07e
title: Tax dodging and hiding wealth
uri: Tax-dodging-and-hiding-wealth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Tax_dodging_wealth_hiding%29
content:
<p>
Each state and territory in the US has its own laws that determine how
much it 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/04/united-states-tax-havens">facilitates tax dodging and hiding wealth.</a>


feed_id: 6fe2dfaaf3ac55da93e4a0b8bd2df55e
title: Banks still financing fossil fuels
uri: Banks-still-financing-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Banks_financing_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>
*Banks are still financing fossil fuels –- 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/04/banks-are-still-financing-fossil-fuels-while-signing-up-to-net-zero-pledges">while signing up to net zero pledges.</a>*


feed_id: faafb364735b2b0d3b68c9ac9d441b9d
title: Toxic cocktail
uri: Toxic-cocktail
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Invisible_toxic_cocktail%29
content:
<p>
*"Invisible Toxic Cocktail" in 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/03/invisible-toxic-cocktail-tap-water-across-us-due-regulatory-capture-analysis">Tap Water Across US Due to "Regulatory
 Capture".*</a>
<p>
Many poisonous substances found in tap water 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/11/01/epa-toxic-chemicals-reports-withheld/">are not regulated at
all by the EPA.</a> These include the PFAs
<p>
plus many more.


feed_id: 7ccfc66b6c961168e9e8539eb48da72d
title: Urgent: Confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Gigi Sohn
uri: Urgent-Confirm-Jessica-Rosenworcel-and-Gigi-Sohn
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_senate_confirm_rosenworcel%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Senate to 
<a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/fcc_confirm_nominees/?akid=19724.9489429.dbm4Wz&rd=1&t=1002">confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and
Gigi Sohn in the FCC.</a>


feed_id: 05d82c9ec17a0f64409f5095c3b522b9
title: Oregon decriminalized possession of illegal drugs
uri: Oregon-decriminalized-possession-of-illegal-drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Oregon_decriminalized_illegal_drugs%29

content:
<p>
A year ago, Oregon decriminalized possession of illegal drugs.  This
article describes the benefits.
<a href="https://drugpolicy.org/press-release/2021/11/drug-decriminalization-oregon-one-year-later-thousands-lives-not-ruined"></a>


feed_id: e92fd5c69e0428838ba7cac96bfa78f8
title: Unreliable testimony
uri: Unreliable-testimony
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Morris_freed_conviction%29
content:
<p>
Baltimore's "conviction integrity unit" determined that David Morris
had been convicted of murder 
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/04/us/david-morris-exonerated-maryland-prison/index.html">based on unreliable testimony</a>
and invalid
evidence.  He will be freed after 17 years in prison.


feed_id: 5d9b82679df1adde6a4c00b1d1a7c52c
title: Democrats must go big and bold
uri: Democrats-must-go-big-and-bold
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Democrats_lesson_go_big%29
content:
<p>
*The real lesson of the election results? 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/05/the-real-lesson-of-the-election-results-democrats-must-go-big-and-bold">Democrats must go big and bold.</a>
*
Plutocratist Democrats say that plutocratist Democrat Terry McAuliffe 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/03/progressives-virginia-loss-corporate-democrats-have-only-themselves-blame">lost the Virginia governor's race because progressive Democrats are
stubbornly pushing for the progressive policies most Americans want.</a>
<p>
This makes no sense, but you have to expect plutocratist politicians
to blame progressives for everything.
<p>
(satire) *
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/democrats-spooked-by-loss-in-virginia-vow-to-work-twice-1847989834">Democrats Spooked By Loss In Virginia Vow To Work Twice As Hard To Muddle
Their Agenda.</a>*


feed_id: 7a7c61eab9625a5b21de4c030eb4623f
title: Pentagon investigad its last drone attack in Kabul
uri: Pentagon-investigad-its-last-drone-attack-in-Kabul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Ahmadi_drone_deadly_pentagon%29
content:
<p>
The Pentagon investigad its last drone attack in Kabul -- the one thet
killed the Ahmadi family -- and concluded that troops properly
followed the procedures intended to avoid attacking civilians.

Nonetheless, 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/04/denial-wrongdoing-deadly-kabul-strike-reveals-systemic-problem-pentagon-critics
">the procedures gave the wrong conclusion, and the attack
hit civilians.</a>

<p>
What this shows is that the procedures are not entirely reliable.
<p>
What is not so clear is whether there is a way to make the procedures
more reliable.  A way may exist, but we can't assume a priori that
there is one.  It's possible that the procedures are unreliable and
yet there is no way to make them reliable.
<p>
That sort of thing happens in war.  It is called "the fog of war" --
there are crucial facts that you need to know, which you can't know.
Without them, you have to make decisions based on guesses.
<p>
But what if the army changes the question?  What if it considers
an option that wasn't considered in August?
<p>
For instance, what if one drone hovers in front of the car, making it
slow down and stop, while another drone stays ready to attack?  The
reactions of the people in the car might show whether they are
bomb-throwers or harmless civilians.


feed_id: 281db7683f947db7c57b3031a9d33a24
title: US to state clearly its commitment to defending Taiwan
uri: US-to-state-clearly-its-commitment-to-defending-Taiwan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Schiff_us_defend_taiwan%29
content:
<p>
Senator Schiff 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/we-need-to-be-much-clearer-leading-democrat-schiff-questions-us-strategy-on-defending-taiwan">calls for the US to state clearly its commitment to
defending Taiwan if China attacks,</a>*
<p>
The logic of this is obvious: to make sure doesn't someday attack Taiwan
on the supposition that the US will not help Taiwan resist.
<p>
I am unable to judge how "strategic ambiguity" might help avoid an
attack, but I won't claim that is impossible.  I am no expert on
displomacy.


feed_id: e5ae6d73082a3fc2193c1d8b9892f341
title: Restoring mangrove swamps
uri: Restoring-mangrove-swamps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Mangrove_swamps_carbon_sea%29
content:
<p>
Restoring mangrove swamps could be an effective way of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/04/can-blue-carbon-make-offsetting-work-these-pioneers-think-so">sequestering
large amounts of carbon in the sea.</a>*
<p>
I see two possible problems with it.
<ul>
<li>
The amount that can be done is limited by the length of suitabkle
shoreline that can be used.
</li>
<li>
Whatever mangroves people restore,
sea-level rise could destroy in a few decades.
Will that release the carbon they will have sequestered?
</li>
</ul>


feed_id: cfe9315c3086c4629bbc14ccad34ee7c
title: NIH Officals worked with EcoHealth
uri: NIH-Officals-worked-with-EcoHealth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Nih_evade_restrictions_covid%29
content:
<p>
*NIH Officials Worked With EcoHealth Alliance to 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/11/03/coronavirus-research-ecohealth-nih-emails/">Evade Restrictions on
 Coronavirus Experiments.</a>*
<p>
These experiments took place in the Wuhan lab in China, with US
funding specifically to do these experiments, and the experimenters
pushed the safety limits.
<p>
These experiments did not cause a pandemic, but there was a risk they
could have done so.


feed_id: 144f189c9d66f5d8bdf828e37cbdbc45
title: John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement
uri: John-Lewis-Voting-Rights-Advancement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28John_lewis_time_runningout%29
content:
<p>
The Senate tried again to hold a vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights
Advancement Act, mainly to pressure Manchin and Sinema, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/03/senate-republicans-voting-rights-bill-john-lewis">who insist on
maintaining Republicans' power to block laws.</a>
<p>
*The Senate needs to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,
   and a suite of other democratic protections, in 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/03/time-running-out-protect-voting-rights">time for them to be
   implemented before the 2022 elections.</a>*


feed_id: 8e1e58d310e6a2cdf0ae04356956bdb3
title: Campaigns for and against ballot questions
uri: Campaigns-for-and-against-ballot-questions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Fec_ruled_foreign_contribute%29
content:
<p>The Federal Election Commission ruled that foreign companies (and perhaps foreign individials and governments too) 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/02/complete-attack-our-democracy-fec-rules-foreign-corporations-can-donate-influence-us">can contribute to campaigns for and against
ballot questions.</a>


feed_id: 54042047c7447d9dcd24cb323576aff4
title: Accusations of torture
uri: Accusations-of-torture
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Intl_criminal_court_venezuelan%29

content:
<p>
The International Criminal Court will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/venezuela-faces-landmark-icc-investigation-over-alleged-crimes-against-humanity">investigate accusations of torture
by Venezuelan state suppression forces</a> -- with Maduro's agreement.


feed_id: 8cecd577e8dc176e78082380693d6218
title: Exiled Nicaraguan opponents
uri: Exiled-Nicaraguan-opponents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Nicaraguan_exiles_election%29
content:
<p>
Interviews with exiled Nicaraguan opponents of the Ortega couple's
dictatorship, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/nicaraguan-exiles-election-daniel-ortega-dictatorship-rosario-murillo">including their daughter.</a>


feed_id: c5dc829a872aed04c2abc2aac9421811
title: Trudeau pressuring Michigan
uri: Trudeau-pressuring-Michigan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Trudeau_keep_dangerous_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
*Why is Trudeau pressuring  
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/04/why-is-trudeau-pressuring-michigan-to-keep-a-dangerous-oil-pipeline-open">Michigan to keep a dangerous oil pipeline open?</a>
*


feed_id: 9029751462f9af22a7e7d9d7700626f6
title: My life without a smartphone is getting harder and harder
uri: My-life-without-a-smartphone-is-getting-harder-and-harder
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Life_without_smartphone%29
content:
<p>
Author Jen Wasserstein says, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/04/my-life-without-a-smartphone-is-getting-harder-and-harder">"My life without a smartphone is getting
harder and harder."</a>

<p>
Good on her to resist, but she should stop doubting the rightness of
her resistance.
<p>
It is interesting to compare her account my own experiences this year
without any portable phone whatsoever, in Europe as well as the US.
There were inconvenient moments, but I always got through them.
<p>
I am fortified in my resistance by knowing powerful moral reasons to
conde,m portable phones.  It's not just that I find their effect on
other people alarming.  I recognize them as a threat to democracy 

<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">due
to their massive general surveillance</a>

<p>
as well as an injustice to each user (due to their remotely
modifiable nonfree software).  As a result, I never feel abashed about
rejecting them, nor ashamed if the ignorant look askance.  I am proud
of my resistance.
<p>
When a waiter tells me to scan a QR code, I move my finger slowly over
it while staring at it intently, as if a menu should magically appear.
After sufficient time, I may say, "It doesn't seem to be working."
Try it, it's fun!
<p>
Please join me in resisting the pressure to make everyone run nonfree
software. 

<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/saying-no-even-once.html">Even if you only say no once, saying no even once is helping.</a>
<p>
And once you've said no the first time, the second time is easier.


feed_id: 7c94355b09fe3be057a57e8f48f8484e
title: Extinction Rebellion protested at Cop26
uri: Extinction-Rebellion-protested-at-Cop26
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Extinction_cop26_greenwashing%29
content:
<p>
Extinction Rebellion protested at Cop26 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/03/greenwashing-murder-climate-movement-marches-against-polluters-lies-glasgow">against apparent greenwashing.</a>

<p>
The thugs are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/04/cop26-protesters-urge-sturgeon-to-act-over-intimidating-policing">threatening protesters and blocking protests.</a>


feed_id: 685d0b7ac5333d7fe006901186cb1014
title: Oregon decriminalized possession of illegal drugs
uri: 2021-11-07-Oregon-decriminalized-possession-of-illegal-drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Oregon_decriminalized_illegal_drugs%29

content:
<p>
A year ago, Oregon decriminalized possession of illegal drugs.  
<a href="https://drugpolicy.org/press-release/2021/11/drug-decriminalization-oregon-one-year-later-thousands-lives-not-ruined">This article describes the benefits</a>


feed_id: 4dda64c5cb912ac1f20a879e790a17ca
title: Urgent: Kaiser Permanente
uri: Urgent-Kaiser-Permanente
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Kaiser_Permanente%29
content:
<p>

US citizens: tell Kaiser Permanente to <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/kaiser-permanente">give its workers a raise</a>,
not a pay cut. That company is making big profits and can afford a raise.


feed_id: 786ad8c3bdecb5b7b5792f6c3bfc06bc
title: Urgent: Remove Manchin as Chairman
uri: Urgent-Remove-Manchin-as-Chairman
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Remove_Manchin_as_Chairman%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: call on the Senate to <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/replace-senator-joe-manchin-as-chairman-of-the-senate-committee-on-energy-and-natural-resources-now">remove Senator Joe Manchin as
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources</a>.


feed_id: fb869c861d748db75ea06d72c28bfeeb
title: Urgent: Social Security 2100 Act
uri: 2021-11-07-Urgent-Social-Security-2100-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Urgent%3A_Social_Security_2100_Act%29

content:
<p>

US citizens: state your <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/forms/become-a-grassroots-co-sponsor-of-the-social-security-2100-act">support for the Social Security 2100 Act</a>
(the link gives details).


feed_id: 69841c88b1dbdd84be978c55d0c1f043
title: (satire) Isolated district
uri: (satire)-Isolated-district
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28%28satire%29_Isolated_district%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Despondent Congressman <a href="https://www.theonion.com/despondent-congressman-gerrymanders-self-into-own-isola-1847987020">Gerrymanders Self Into Own Isolated District</a>.*


feed_id: 6897f4179c9063e264758067604716dc
title: (satire) Check to Joe Manchin
uri: (satire)-Check-to-Joe-Manchin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28%28satire%29_Check_to_Joe_Manchin%29

content:
<p>

(satire) *Biden Social Spending Bill Whittled Down To <a href="https://www.theonion.com/biden-social-spending-bill-whittled-down-to-10-billion-1847989883">$10 Billion
Check To Joe Manchin</a>.*


feed_id: d15eebd3a1049124e5467449073a510b
title: Insurers underwriting oil and gas
uri: Insurers-underwriting-oil-and-gas
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Insurers_underwriting_oil_and_gas%29

content:
<p>

*Major U.S. insurers <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/11/03/climate-scorecard-shows-insurance-industry-pouring-gasoline-fire">continue to underwrite</a> "the reckless expansion of oil and gas
infrastructure."*


feed_id: 867b688012aa4cae7f508bbd2a6c6cd4
title: UK deporting people to Jamaica
uri: UK-deporting-people-to-Jamaica
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28UK_deporting_people_to_Jamaica%29

content:
<p>

The UK is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/05/jamaican-diplomat-criticises-home-office-over-deportation-flight">deporting people to Jamaica</a> who grew up in the UK
and have no contacts in Jamaica.
<p>
It's wrong <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2020-jul-oct.html#23_July_2020_(Cruelty_of_absurd_deportation)">when the US does this</a>,
and wrong for other countries too.


feed_id: da570a3087908bd56b326fc11c2c5de2
title: Advertisement bans
uri: Advertisement-bans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Advertisement_bans%29
content:
<p>

Italy seems to have adopted a law that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/05/italian-senate-approves-law-banning-sexist-and-discriminatory-adverts">bans advertisements on the street</a>
that "perpetuate gender stereotypes".
That is extremely broad censorship, since an ad need not disparage
or insult anyone to be banned.  It is enough for it to show men and/or
women behaving in a customary way.  Showing a party where women wear
dresses and men wear suits would be forbidden.  Any scene in which
people are acting in accord with usual Italian sex roles is forbidden.
Advertising a romcom, or a James Bond movie, is almost impossible.


feed_id: 38468b081980f3aea17f5641aa40701b
title: Light sentence
uri: Light-sentence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Light_sentence%29
content:
<p>

Macron’s ex-bodyguard got a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/05/macron-ex-bodyguard-sentenced-for-assaulting-protesters">light sentence</a> (no prison time) for
attacking protesters.


feed_id: 8b9e6f32551bad841e3d03e88b6c46c9
title: Gift holiday
uri: Gift-holiday
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Gift_holiday%29
content:
<p>

Bogus Johnson will avoid the issue of the gift holiday he got from a
rich Tory by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/05/boris-johnson-will-not-declare-spanish-holiday-in-mps-register-says-no-10">not officially declaring it</a>.


feed_id: 6942fa6444ca4758bd93cbb725c88bc8
title: Ethiopia-Tigray war
uri: Ethiopia-Tigray-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2021-sep-dec.html#6_November_2021_%28Ethiopia-Tigray_war%29
content:
<p>

A summary of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/05/ethiopia-tigray-war-who-is-fighting-and-what-has-been-the-toll">what is known</a> about the Ethiopia-Tigray war.
<p>
Some questions that occur to me:

<ul>
  
<li>
Who is forbidding journalists from the front?  Is it Ethiopia?
If so, how come Tigray doesn't help them get in?  Does Tigray also
want to exclude them?  Is Ethiopia blockading Tigray?
</li>

<li>
Likewise, what stops humanitarian relief from reaching Tigray?
</li>

<li>
If Ethiopia is blockading Tigray, how is it maintaining
the blockade against Tigray's forces, which are defeating Ethiopia's
forces in Amhara?
</li>

<li>
How come Tigray has no radio communications with the outside world?
</li>

<li>
Why is Ethiopia so weak, militarily?
</li>

</ul>


